Since she had first realized how she felt about Matiyan she had hoped that he felt that way too, maybe a little more than just a friend. But it wasn't looking like she Ciarra was going to get her wish…

Ci-Ci's hand seemed to go limp in Matiyan's for a moment while she contemplated these things.

Looking down once more, she scolded herself for this immature behavior and forced herself to think of Matiyan's current condition, and not her own wishes.

"How are you feeling?" she asked softly.

Once back to the reality of the small, white hospital room, she gently slid her hand out of his and rested it on the bed next to where it had been held so securely.

" Good. About as good as someone with scrapes, gashes and a broken arm can."

Matiyan laughed. He knew Ciarra was getting uncomfortable and changed the subject so she wouldn't cry. He knew a lot about her but, as she probable thought, a little too much. How she would get mad at the very sight of Lan. How her locket would shine near the mountains. How she had these terrible dreams and still had energy the next day.

Matiyan could remember vaguely the days before he met Ciarra. They were filled with days of joy and sadness. Sad that his parents would always be away on some diplomacy mission, but happy when he out-smarted Cianna in swordplay practice. He didn't think of it much since Haksa attacked, though. All he could think about was how to stop him and free the people of his carnage.

" How are you feeling?"

Ciarra sighed, not knowing exactly how to answer Matiyan's simple question.

"Good…for someone who witnessed someone that they care about being beaten relentlessly, and then was worried nearly to the point of tears can," She said, forcing a smile. She looked at him straight, wondering if he'd gotten her hint.

" Ciarra…"

Matiyan was kind of shocked, but in a good way. He always liked Ciarra he knew she probable liked him. Ciarra meant the world to him and he would never have let her out of his sight. Ciarra was his only friend, so he knew he'd always watch out for her. Matiyan then hugged her.

"… I love you more than anything. I've had friends, but they're all gone, and you're not going to be one of them!"

Ciarra's eyes widened. She had definitely not been expecting that. Even if it was just a hug, the words that came before it where more than she could take.

Gradually she came to her senses and hugged Matiyan back, a small smile playing on her lips. She closed her eyes and sighed, pulling away slightly.

"You…love me?"

" Yes," He replied, " after these years… I've wanted to say that since we started this journey. You are the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. Inside and out."

Indeed Ciarra is! How her long black hair would fly in the wind. Her beautiful brown eyes that look as the stars at night; her smile that shone happiness to all people around her; her witty sense of humor that no one could deny. How hard working she is and how nice she can be. How could one not love her?

" I love you from the bottom of my heart, Ciarra."

He kissed her.

Ciarra suddenly felt light headed and dizzy, and the room began to spin. To stop it from doing so, she closed her eyes and, quite amazed, kissed Matiyan back. Her mind was now spinning with thoughts of what Matiyan had said of her; about her beauty and that he loved her from the bottom of her heart. It was spinning as the room had been before she and shut her eyes as she experienced the one thing that she had subconsciously hoped would happen since that fateful day a few years ago.

She couldn't bring herself to believe the things that he had said right away. Ciarra had never really thought of herself as beautiful, but very plain. Her hair hung limp with very few curls, like a lifeless piece of rubbish, and her eyes were brown, not a color that she would immediately consider pretty. And inside was just about the same. How could someone who was so mixed up inside be beautiful there as well? She was always unsure of herself, always in a different mood. Nothing about her seemed consistent, and she was quick to cry.

But despite what Ci-Ci thought of her, Matiyan, the one person whose opinion of her mattered to her, still thought of her as beautiful. So she forced herself to believe it.

Pulling away from the heaven that had been Matiyan's kiss, Ci-Ci opened her eyes. Much to her surprise, the room was no longer spinning and the lightheaded feeling was almost completely gone. In their place was a wonderful, warm feeling.

"I…love you, too," she said shyly, looking down. As she shifted her gaze she noticed a faint glow being emitted from her pendant. Looking back up at him, she smiled.

" And I you," Matiyan replied, " but I must rest, for now, anyway. Do take care of the others?"

So he laid his head down and slept, thinking of one thing: what would have happened if he never met Ciarra? The one that brought him joy. The one that makes him laugh. The one that no one else could compare to… He'd probable be wandering. Searching for nothing. Maybe he would have joined the army. Perhaps he would have gone and fought against Haksa anyway.

The world's crazy and no one knows what would have happened. But all he wanted was to do now was sleep.

And he did just that.

Ciarra smiled and nodded. She would take care of the others for him. She would do anything for Matiyan. Anything.

Still in partial disbelief from the events that had just taken place, Ci-Ci sat and waited until she was sure that Matiyan was asleep. Once he was, she looked at him for a moment, then kissed him softly on the cheek and whispered, "Good night."

As she walked out into the hall she smiled.

Once back at the Stock Pot Inn which was where they had all agreed to spend the night before all of this had happened and was, quite conveniently, not far at all from the hospital where Matiyan was staying, she headed straight around back to check on ShadowFire. She was sure that the others had had enough sense and common courtesy to take her horse back with them and put him up for the night when they had left for the inn, but she just wanted to be sure.

Ciarra thought of her other companions and wondered if they had become at all curious as to her staying at the hospital for so long. She wondered if they had even been there, or if they had just been waiting for her to come back to them and give them word as to how Matiyan was fairing. If one of them had, in fact, been to the hospital, they no doubt would've gone to Matiyan's room, and yet no one had come in. What if someone had been in the doorway of the room, about to come in, and had seen the interesting words and actions taking place between she and Matiyan? Embarrassed even by the though, she immediately shook it out of her mind.

Once at the stables, Ci-Ci entered and was thrilled to find ShadowFire standing up in a stall. In the darkness and against his jet black figure she couldn't tell if his eyes were open or closed, but when he whinnied in response to her moving closer to him, her question was answered. Soundlessly so as not to wake or frighten any of the other animals being boarded there she opened up the stable door and walked in, taking her horses muzzle and hugging it to her cheek.

"Oh, ShadowFire, hello," she whispered happily.

ShadowFire snorted his response and kicked at the ground with his hoof, happy to see his friend again. He neighed quite loudly, and a few rustles could be heard from a few of the other stalls.

"Shh, dear," Ciarra muttered, giggling. She stroked his neck and kissed his muzzle. "Just wait until you hear what happened."

And, without even a word to her other companions, Ciarra proceeded to explain the night's events to her jet-black companion, now not the only one she could trust