Authors note: First off sorry for the long delay! I've decided to dedicate Sunday nights to writing fanfiction to keep myself on track. This doesn't necessarily mean I'll have a post every week, because I might not like what I write, but at least this will insure a chapter every couple of weeks. Which is much better than the 6 months to a year I've been doing. I have to thank those of you that have stuck with this story even with crazy long periods of wait!

Secondly, I've started a new story that will tie my fanfictions Love Conquers and Lacey and Matron together once they're finished. I'm not going to give too much away, but I'm very excited for the next part of these stories and I hope you guys will be too! =)

I've also started revising my stories to fix the grammar mistakes or clean up the rushed writing. This story I have finished revising, mainly because all I did was add a few more details and fixed the grammar. Don't worry though, the plot line is the same and there's no reason to reread it if you don't want.

Well onto the story!

Jayne-

"You still believe the blindfold isn't too much?" I asked Drake when I almost tripped in a dip in the ground and he had to grab me before I fell.

"Yes I do." His tone was light as usual, "It adds an air of mystery." He continued dragging me along by the hand.

I scoffed at that, "I think you just find it amusing to make me look ridiculous."

"Well, there's that too." I could hear his smile and I giggled in response.

We walked a little longer, until my feet landed on something hard…stone? That was strange…we had been heading in the direction of the woods.

"Here we are." He whispered close to my ear as he pulled off the blindfold.

It took my eyes a minute to adjust after wearing it so long, but when they did I was met with an extraordinary sight. We were at what looked like old ruins of a temple. Most of it was crumbled to the ground, but part of the floor was still there, along with an archway which we stood under now and there were still enough walls to this particular room where if you were seated you'd have total privacy. I noticed the walls were painted with old intricate words that I wouldn't ever be able to decipher in this lifetime or the next and there were pictures of gods dancing around the words.

A temple of the old religion.

Then I noticed the modern additions in the form of a blanket on the floor, along with two goblets and a basket. I turned around to Drake and smiled.

"A picnic?" I looked back at the blanket and cautiously stepped forward. I stopped in front of it and turned towards him, "I've never had a picnic before." I confessed.

He raised his eyebrows at this, "Really? Well then…I'm even more glad that I chose this particular outing. Here sit down."

I did as he instructed, folding my legs under myself, watching him start unpacking what was in the basket. I couldn't help but continue to smirk at him.

He noticed and chuckled, "What's with the goofy smile, Jayne?"

I gave a mocked gasp, "Is my smile goofy?"

He winked, "It's a cute goofy, don't worry." I laughed as he started pouring wine and handed one of the goblets to me.

"So, what is this place?" I asked looking around again.

"It's a temple to the old religion." He answered, handing out food, "The high priests and priestesses would come out here for long stays of meditation." He explained, "This was long before the village was here, so it was a good spot for that; quiet. When Highlands was almost all completely converted a few of the last remaining priests and priestesses came out here and built the village as a way to keep part of their spirituality with them."

I honestly never would have guessed that the sleepy town of Dina had any sort of history, let alone an interesting one like that. A part of me felt special for living in a town that was once the grounds of such sacred practices. I thought-not for the first time-that there was a chance I could be happy here, if only it weren't for my thoughts of Lance that never seemed to give me rest.

We settled into our picnic for a while then, talking of nothing of great importance, joking the majority of the time as well. I appreciated his wit and humor, not much could bring me to smile anymore.

"Tell me about Benbourgh." He requested quite randomly and I was taken back for a second by the suggestion.

"Um…" I started, no longer able to meet his gaze. It wasn't a topic I was sure I was quite ready to dive into, either because of bad memories of my job as a slave, embarrassment that I had been brought into that station, or because just hearing the country's name put Lance forcefully in the front of my mind. But at the same time a part of me missed the castle that had been my home my whole life and liked the idea of being able to share that with someone, "What would you like to know?"

He shrugged, playing at nonchalance, but I could tell there was something specific he wanted to ask. I was almost too frightened to find out what that was, "What did the castle look like? What was it like working there? How did you spend your days?" He shrugged again, "Anything really. I'm curious about what your life was like before here."

"Well the castle was high above the Crowned City and the city itself was in the valley below. The castle was large and extravagant." I began to explain, "The Queen spared no expense in decorating it. She claimed it was cold prior to her marriage to the King and she felt as if she was a soldier in the barracks when she first moved in. Queen Bethany was always finding a new room to decorate or a reason to redo another." I gave a slight smile at that, thinking of all the times I helped with the decorating and not just the manual work, she frequently asked my opinion, "My days were long I suppose. I woke up helped the Queen and Princess ready, made their beds, ran their laundry to the washwomen, served them breakfast, then cleaned and ran whatever errands they needed until dinner, then I'd serve the nobles." I shrugged myself this time, "It was tiring by the end of the day, but my job was one of the coziest and I never had any complaints. It was definitely better than working in the fields or kitchens."

"You never wanted out?" he asked gently.

"Well of course I did," I answered honestly, "But not because of the work. I wanted to be able to make my own choices…love who I wanted."

He sighed, "Your prince?"

"Yes…" I said hesitantly, "When we started our romantic relationship, that's when I began to find my station unfair." I glanced over to Drake, "I would have done anything to be with him."

He nodded at that, "But…" he started and it seemed he was stepping over eggshells. He knew I didn't take kindly to judgment on Lance and I's relationship, "Now that he's not here…well…do you regret it?"

I sighed, lying back down on the blanket, staring up at the clouds. So much for escaping my thoughts… but at the same time it felt good to talk it out; to voice the thoughts that have taken over my mind, leaving so little room for much else.

I stayed silent a long time before answering, though it was a simple conclusion in my heart, I knew it might not make much sense to an outside observer, "How could I regret it when I have Lily?" I glanced over at him and he gave a smile to that, "Besides, I would have spent my entire life wondering 'what if' if I hadn't taken that step with Lance. My feelings for him were too strong. I'm glad I took that chance and now know." But did I know? It seemed simple when you put the facts together. He hadn't shown up, no messenger either. That means he asked specifically for no one to be sent. But still a part of me wondered why he made the decision to give up on us when he had seemed so dedicated to keeping us together all that time.

I wondered if Bethany had told him I was with child…the thought of him knowing crushed my heart even more, thinking he could intentionally hurt my precious daughter that way. A tear that I couldn't hold in, rolled down my cheek at that.

"Jayne.." I heard Drake's voice, soft, as he leaned over my face and brushed the tear away with his thumb, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry. I let my curiosity of this faceless prince get the better of me and shouldn't have. It has brought you distress. I'm sorry." He bent down to kiss my cheek where the tear had been, "I'm sorry."

I smiled sweetly up at him, "There is nothing to be sorry for. I'm so glad you brought me here today. You are a good friend to me." He smiled at that and we spent the rest of the afternoon, laying in the sun and enjoying one another's company.

Lance-

I was on my fourth cup of ale an hour into one of my father's parties, with Zeke sitting by my side.

"Just a thought," he said, "But it might be hard to convince Jayne to come back to you if when you find her, you're a drunk." I shot him a sharp glance that he didn't take too seriously, "I'm just saying, Lance…"

I shook my head at this, finished the rest of my cup in one gulp, and signaled for a slave to bring me more.

"What do you think is taking Harold so long?" I growled out after my goblet was refilled.

"It hasn't even been a full moon yet." Zeke answered, "Give him some time. He doesn't have much to go on." He leaned in closer to me, as to make sure no one overheard, "But he is the best and I do have faith he will find her. It's just going to take time. Can you wait for her?"

I sent him another sharp glance, "That's all I've been doing, Zeke. So yes, of course, I can wait for her."

He smiled and sat back, "Good. Now we just have to work on your alcohol dependency and you'll have the potential for a great future."

I held back the urge to hit him and chose to send another glare his way while he chuckled.

"There you are!" My father's, deceptively cheerful voice rang out in front of me, and I looked up, "I would like you to meet someone." He gestured to a pretty fair skinned girl with Auburn hair that stood slightly behind him, "Lance, this is Lady Elyse of Mann. Elyse, dear this is my son Prince Lance." She gave a low curtsey that showed off her cleavage quite clearly with her incredibly low cut dress.

Did my father use the pet name dear with her? God this couldn't be good…

"Your Highness, I am pleased to meet you and I feel privileged to be able to spend this time with you." We're spending time together now?

"She's going to be visiting us for the next two moons." He said, answering my unspoken questions, he turned to me smirking, "I expect you two will become fast friends."