CHAPTER 4: THE MOMENT.

(POV: Mysterious Narrator.)

The morning after the gathering for Lady's birthday, Thomas awoke earlier than usual for he had to do some patrolling in some of Sodor's unknown regions due to the highly possibility of a misuser around those areas. Though he seemed to still be solemn from the events of the night before, he was still not one to give up. As he then walked downstairs with his uniform equipped, he found himself being embraced by his entire family.

"Uh.. What's with the sudden hug?"

"Just to be a bit of support, little brother." Timothy replied.

"Just to let you know that we care." Billster added.

"We just want to do this before you leave, Thomas." Tanya replied. "I swear to you, your father and I WILL work something out with his majesty, so you can be with Lady."

Thomas cracked a small smile as he heard that.

"Thanks, you guys." He said as his family released him. "I better get going now. I'll see you all later."

As his family then saw him off, Thomas dashed off to meet up with his patrol team. Meanwhile, Proteus was busy practicing his swordsmanship, when Lady slowly crept in.

"Proteus." She said. "Do you have a moment?"

"Of course, Lady." He replied. "What do you need?"

"Well..." Lady began. "I need you to ensure that no-one goes after me."

Proteus raised an eyebrow.

"Are you going somewhere?"

"Sort of." Lady replied. "After a certain dream or vision that I had last night, I got this very bad vibe within my spine. I want to find out whether or not that my vibe is or isn't right, brother. For it may be life or death for a certain someone we know."

As Proteus heard all of Lady's explanation, he nodded in agreement.

"I understand your reasons. I'll ensure that Allen doesn't follow you. Go and do what you feel is right."

As Lady then cracked a smile, she turned heel and dashed off to where her vision of the night before was telling her to go.

(POV: Thomas.)

As I then arrived at the meet up point, I sighed in dismay for I was to work with two of Allen's guards. As I then walked up to them, the leading one spoke.

"Thomas Billinton, I'd presume?"

"Yeah." I replied, expecting an insult like how his prince did.

"You're quite the swordsman from what I hear. And Dang! Do you have impressive feats as a Sorcerer-Knight."

"Uh... Why thank you." I stammered in reply, being surprised by how kind this guard was.

"Don't mention it." He replied. "Now, let us get going."

"Right."

As we went along the path, we battled and slain many different monsters, clearing it up more and more as we did so. However, as we walked along, something about the silent broadsword user bugged me. He was too silent, and he acted as if he was awaiting for the right moment for something. As we continued on, the sun eventually got to the mid point within the sky, signaling the time of noon. It was then when we sat down, and the patrol leader handed us the bags of food. With how bugged I was by the level of shadiness that the broadsword user had, I found to have no appetite and so only drank the water. As I began to drink it, a sneer crossed the silent guard's face, and it was then did IT occur to me.

"Argh! We've been poisoned!" I croaked, as I found my entire body to be paralyzed.

"Darn it!" The leader croaked to the broadsword user. "Why are you doing this?"

"Orders, sir." The broadsword user replied. "I would tell you who gave me them, but sadly that's confidential."

He then proceeded to hack and stab the leader with his broadsword.

"Did you ever learn to never always believe a sudden misuser sighting, especially one with little information on their identity like the one were following?" He quizzed as he continued to stab the patrol leader. "Who knows what would've happened IF you did, sir. Maybe you could've saved your miserable life!"

As he then said that, the broadsword user dealt the final blow, and killed the patrol leader. As he then turned towards me, I saw the murderous intent within his eyes, as he then stabbed me in the thigh.

"Any last words, boy?" He asked me, as he then removed his sword, and stabbed me in the arm.

"Is this it?!" I thought. "Is this where it all ends for me?!"

"Tick-tock! It's your last chance to say something, kid!" The cold blooded killer said tauntingly to me as he readied to stab his sword into my stomach. "I guess you are really going to die then."

As blood seeped out of my wounds, I found my vision getting fainter, and my breathing slower. I felt my end come closer and closer with every second. My heart rate, lowering and lowering. As I felt the pain from my wounds, I really started to feel helpless, and defenseless. My end was coming, and there was nothing I could do to stop it. Or so... that is what I thought.

"Thomas! Don't you dare die now! SHE still needs you!"

My eyes shot open as I heard those words, for HE was indeed right. Lady still needed me, and I was not going to give up here. Struggling, I grasped onto the blade that was being stabbed into me, and tried to pull it out.

"Why are you even bothering to put up a struggle?!" Sniggered the killer before me. "Are you THAT afraid to die?!"

"No." I croaked. "I-I'm just not ready to die yet."

"Really?!" The killer exclaimed. "Then that makes things so much more fun here!"

As I tried to win this fight of life or death, I found that I was losing as my hand began to lose its grip. But, as this happened, did a miracle come find its way to me, sending the killer fly backwards. As she then used a healing sigil on me, I saw the shimmer of worry within her starry eyes.

"Thomas.." She then said to me. "Please tell me that this isn't just a dream. Please tell me that I saved you."

"You did, Lady." I replied softly. "There's no need to worry."

(POV: Lady.)

As I took in Thomas's words, I couldn't help but be very relieved and happy. He was still alive, and I really wasn't dreaming. As I then got ready to admit it all right then and there, the very man who tried to kill him, stood back on his feet. Feeling very cross and enraged over the fact that he tried to kill the boy whom I love, I drew my rapier and used a sword spell on him.

"AH! STOP! PLEASE! STOP! I BEG OF YOU!"

As I then saw him drop his sword and got down on his knees, I was just about to do the finishing blow when...

"PLEASE DON'T KILL ME!"

I hesitated on doing so after hearing that, however, that would be a mistake, for he picked up his sword again and parried my rapier.

"The most obvious thing to avoid, and you fell for it!"

"KLANG!" Sound the blades, as Thomas then parried the attack.

"SLASH!"

Thomas had slashed the killer.

As I then watched Thomas fall to his knees, dropping Excalibur, I could see the solemn expression on his face. He was clearly upset and very rattled by what happened. I wanted to grab his hand to comfort him, but... Something else told me to not. Something, within me.

"T-this, was my fault wasn't it?" I asked as I began to sob. "Once again, I proved myself to be no more than a burden to you, Thomas."

"Lady.." he gasped after hearing me. "But, you..."

"I don't deserve to have you, Thomas." I continued. "I have never stopped to think on how you might feel constantly having a magicborn princess who's unable to really defend herself against a lot of foes! It's because of that fact, I'm cruel to you."

As I saw Thomas's face, it was clear that he was taking in EVERYTHING that I had just told him. Heartbroken and frightened, I picked even more of my strength to say the next few words to him.

"Thomas, for your sake, I will take you off of the Sorcerer-Knights roster."

As I then cried and cried, I never found myself being so terrible. IF I had only been truthful, or stronger, not one bit of this mess would have happened. Feeling horrible, I stood back up, and got ready to head home. But as I did so, Thomas did the same.

"Lady..." My sorcerer-knight then said to me. "Please forgive me for what comes next."

As he then turned around and grabbed my shoulder, I was for certain that I was going to feel Thomas's wrath. However, my fears and worries within this moment all became irrelevant as he then did the ONE gesture that I thought would never happen. He had kissed me full on the mouth. As our lips then separated from one another, Thomas kneeled down respectfully before me. As I looked at him, I was still and silent. Thomas did not show any anger or resentment towards me after I said how cruel I was to him, just compassion and love.

"Lady.." He then began to speak. "Never once have you been cruel to me, nor have you been a burden to me. Sorcerer-Knight or not, I had picked up those blades in hopes of defending everyone whom I care for and love. You are the one who is the most important to me, and no matter whether you take me out of the roster or not, I will chase after you so I can defend you. I know that I'm not worthy of saying this..." He then went on. "But my life and my swords are yours to be defended by, and yours alone. I love you, Lady. So please, smile, and never cry."

"T-Thomas..." I stammered in shock, as my Sorcerer-Knight finished his declaration.

My heart pounded so rapidly after hearing those words. Thomas had just admitted his love for me, and I couldn't help but be so joyful. As his words then rang out to me, I knew just what to ask.

"Thomas... will you be my husband?"

"Yes." He replied with a smile as he stood back up once more. "I'll be more than willing to stay by your side as your spouse, Lady."

(POV: Mysterious Narrator.)

As Thomas finished giving his answer, Lady smiled and embraced the boy whom she loved. As he then wiped away the tears on her face, the joy was very visually immense upon the nobleman and the magicborn. They had let out their encased feelings, and were now officially lovers.

(To be continued...)