A/N: Short chapter, but I needed a bridge of sorts. These "bridge" chapters kill me. I have several more written, just had to figure out how to get there. So I worked backwards a bit.

In my restlessness, I could barely sleep.

A few doors down, my father lay in his bed, worried sick about my sister, who had escaped in the night nearly a week ago.

I had begged her to stay, but she insisted that she loved Allen, and she was going after him. I could do nothing to dissuade her.

And so I watched with a heavy heart as the tiny boat made its way through the dark channels.

I dreamt about that night, about letting her go.

I dreamt about her, and…about Allen.

He was in Marlene's arms, held Millerna in his. And that girl, Hitomi Kanzaki.

I ran away from them, the tears streaming down my cheeks.

And ran straight into Folken.

But it wasn't the Folken I had met a few weeks ago, but neither was it the Folken I knew when I was young. He was something in between.

And I was no longer the twenty-one years I was now. I was younger, and so was he, and I didn't seem to pay it any attention.

"Eries!" He laughed as I ran smack into him. He held me by the shoulders and looked down at me. "Whatever is the problem?"

And I looked up at him, and my lip trembled, and I buried my face in his shirt, and cried. He pulled me into his embrace, and held me, laying his cheek on my head. He ran his hand up and down my back, ever so gently, making soft shushing noises.

"Eries, what's wrong? You can tell me."

I sniffled. "Allen, he doesn't love me."

He held me away from him for a moment, and with one thumb wiped a tear from my cheek. "Of course he does. Who wouldn't love you?"

"No one ever says it. I'm alone, Folken. No one ever says it."

"I love you, Eries," he said with a sad smile, and he just looked into my eyes, in this light they were a purply-red, like mulberries. I stared back at him, at his sad smile.

Then he pulled me to him, gingerly, and my heart raced. He closed his eyes, and bent his head towards mine, and for a moment I was confused. What was going on? Then I closed my eyes, and tilted my head up to his.

His lips met mine, and it sent a rush of prickles across my face, into my hair, down my spine, to my hands, which trembled as I held them away from our bodies, unsure what to do next.

He pulled back from me, and I inhaled deeply, and opened my eyes. His eyes were twinkling, and I couldn't help but smile. I laid my head on his chest, and I was happy.

"Princess! Princess! A ship, Princess!" A handmaiden shook me awake, and I saw the fright in her face.

"What?" I threw back the covers, and reached for my dressing gown. I stood, and pulled it around my body, tying a knot at the waist.

"Your sister, Princess. Princess Millerna has returned!"

I stared at her for a moment, my mouth agape, before telling her to fetch me proper clothes.

So. She's back. And who comes back with her?

I touched my lips briefly, the sensation from my dream still echoing there.

What is going through your head?

I…I don't know.