YAY! I updated fast haha. Well glad to have passes all my exams so maybe that's why I'm in such a good mood to write because this means I'll GRADUATE! Yay!

Anyway, here's another chapter so enjoy and review

The sky was beginning to darken by the time they reached the Lupine Lands. Auria shifted back into her human form and looked on to the forests as Ulrik followed afterward. No one knew of his presence in the Ordeal and she had no intention of revealing his identity until she knew that the right moment had arrived. If Lumina still had any wits about her, she would give Ierek the potion out of fear of Ierek's abandonment and thus lead him to his death. She felt a pang of regret for a moment as she thought on Lumina's pain when she would finally realize what she had done. Eventually, Lumina would have to accept that it all for the greater good and that Ierek was neither a good man nor a good leader.

"What are we to do now?" Auria turned toward Ulrik as he spoke and found him resting against a tree with his eyes closed. He was tired but not exhausted to the point that he could not partake in the Ordeal. At least, that was what she hoped for.

"You are to wait until the moon fully rises. Until then you must rest and regain your strength." Auria walked toward Ulrik and gathered his hands in hers in a sign of reassurance for them both. "I have faith in you. I am sure that when everyone sees that you are alive they will have no doubt of who is truly meant to be king."

Ulrik opened his eyes and looked off into the distance, his gaze lost and no doubt thinking on the responsibility he was about to take. Things would no longer be so easy for him and he would no longer be alone. His time at Wyvern's Court was a time to remember for it gave him knowledge of his surroundings and gave him something better to strive for. If he was victorious, he would make it his duty to pass his knowledge to others and form the clan his father had dreamt of.

"Do you remember when you first fought me?" Ulrik's light words were filled with aching of longing for the old days. Auria had been with him since they were children and thinking on the old days took off the fear of the Ordeal.

Auria smiled to herself as she remembered. She sat beside him, her knee resting lightly against his as she allowed herself to relax and remember. She had always bested him in a fight; in fact she had always been the best fighter. Though she was sure that Ulrik could have beaten her easily, he was far too gentle of heart to ever cause her harm. She loved him for that. He had been her friend since childhood and most importantly he had been seen to be her mate by Vesta. Everything that she had done since his departure had all been done with the intention that he would return one day. All that would happen after he set foot in the ordeal would be left to fate.

"You look so distant… are you plotting something?" Ulrik nudged Auria playfully with his elbow as she sat beside him and then laughed.

Auria glanced at him and then began to laugh as well. She had missed his laugh… she had missed hers. No matter that there was no real reason for their newfound joy, they both found delight in it. It would probably be their last moment of peace and delight before their life took a new turn.

Both sat there in silence watching the time pass by slowly. They took in the soft rustling sounds of forest life and the smell of the soft and rain-dampened earth. A small squirrel would run up in the trees and rest there only to play now and then with another squirrel. The sound of a running spring of water nearby relaxed them both as well as the sound of the soft breeze that rustled the trees. And then, there was the flap of wings. Magnificent and powerful wings as it landed in a tree. The bird made no sound to identify itself and neither Ulrik nor Auria looked up to see who had intruded upon them. Most likely, it was some traveling creature taking a rest amongst the top of the trees only to regain flight once more. No need to worry.

"We missed you Ulrik. I missed you. No matter what happens here I assure that I have had faith in you…"

Ulrik turned to face Auria and for the briefest moment his eyes filled with doubt. There was a fear in her voice that made him nervous. "Do you think I will come out victorious?"

Auria stiffened and cleared her throat. It was a failed attempt to relax and appear unconcerned but the silver eyes meeting hers disconcerted her. Her thoughts raced as she began to think of what would become of all of them if Ulrik came out defeated. She closed her eyes tightly and attempted to visualize Ulrik as their king and nothing more.

"I've dreamt and I assure you that if you relax now and keep your mind clear then you will be victorious." With that said she stood from the ground and gave Ulrik a quick kiss on the cheek. She had never been afraid of things but giving him a kiss brought her back to being a child, unknowing of what would happen next. He looked lost for a moment as well; his expression and his eyes slowly trying to comprehend what Auria meant to say and had replaced with a kiss. She gave him a small playful shove on the shoulder and laughed as she walked away from him. Auria had no idea why she had the impulse to kiss him though it had only been briefly on the cheek. She dared not look back at him for fear that he might register what she had really been feeling. She could only hope that the small shove that she had given him playfully would steer him from the truth of her feelings.