"Sofia, wait!" Gunther grabbed her arm and pulled her back. They were in the courtyard.

Smithy came out to see what was going on.

"Where did that story come from?" Gunther demanded to know.

Sofia shook her head. "It's a story that I've heard on my travels."

"Sofia? Are you okay?" Smithy asked.

Sofia met his eyes and nodded.

It must be dragon related. Smithy gripped the rag in his hand.

Gunther sighed. "Then why is it that you look on the verge of tears?" He asked.

She met his stormy grey eyes. "It's a sad story, it always brings me to tears." She pulled her arm from his grasp. "Let's go and get dinner." She said, turning, and heading towards the kitchen.

Jester, Jane, and Rake were already sat at the table when Smithy, Sofia and Gunther arrived.

"How was entertaining the Princess?" Jane asked.

"Okay I guess." Sofia sat next to Jester.

"What did she have you do?" He asked her.

"Tell her a story about magic and love."

"Did you satisfy her?" He laughed a little. "I never seem to have the right one for her expectations."

"She seemed to like it." She shrugged,

Gunther snorted from across from her, next to Rake. "The girl couldn't keep her eyes off you." He remarked.

"It's a surprise seeing you here, Gunther." Pepper said, putting a bowl of stew in front of him. "You normally make yourself something."

He shrugged. "I'm too tired to even think of cooking. Thank you Pepper."

Pepper stared. He has never thanked me for food before! She glanced at Sofia then to him again. I wonder...

"So, Jester, have you wrote your new ballad for the ball this weekend?" Jane asked.

Jester sighed. "I have written a little, but it still needs work." He took a bite out of his stew.

"You should write it about Sofia's story, the one that she told the Princess." Gunther suggested.

Sofia wanted to kick him, she sent him a glare instead.

"Oh, what was it about?" Pepper asked, sitting down with her stew.

Sofia blushed. "It wasn't that good, I can't really remember it. I made it up as I went along." She said.

"A dragon queen who wished to be human to be able to be with her one love. But the sorcerer who said he'd grant her wish, turns her into an eleven-year-old and steals a flame, which could transform her back. I can't remember the details." Gunther added.

"Sounds interesting." Jane stated. "I think you should tell us the story."

Sofia shrugged. "One day maybe."

Smithy looked at her from the corner of his eye. Did she tell the story about herself? A dragon cursed with the body of a human?

Sofia met his eyes for a brief second then looked away. She stood up having finished her meal. "I need to go and do something." She muttered and left the table.

Jane looked to Gunther.

His eyes were downcast.

"Gunther... what happened?" She asked.

He shook her head. "When she told the story, I could hear every emotion in her voice, sadness and anger mostly. She was almost in tears when she had finished."

Smithy got up. "Thank you for the food Pepper." He smiled and left, heading for his shed.

Sofia was sat in the back corner of Smithy's shed when he found her.

"What's the matter?" He asked, kneeling in front of her.

"I should never had told the story, it just brought back memories I'd rather forget." She sniffed.

She's crying?! He sat beside her. "I'm here. If you ever need someone to talk to." He took his gloves off and caught a tear with his finger. He sighed and put his arm around the crying girl.

She subconsciously leaned into his chest. "Thank you."

After a few minutes, Smithy was about to speak again when he noticed something. He looked down at Sofia's face, to find her fast asleep. Now what do I do?! He sighed. I could carry her to the tower... but it'd look weird.

"Smithy!" Gunther's voice called. "Have you seen the new girl?"

Smithy felt his stomach clench. "She's here, Gunther." He replied.

Gunther walked in and found the lady knight fast asleep on the blacksmith. "What's going on here?" He hissed.

Smithy shrugged. "She was crying and needed a shoulder, I didn't think she'd fall asleep." He explained. "Help?"

Gunther stared at the sleeping beauty. "If I must." He knelt and put an arm around her back and one under her legs and lifted her up, bridal style. "She's staying with Jane, yes?"

Smithy nodded. "Thank you, Gunther."

He nodded. "I think I made her cry, so I might as well make sure she gets home safe." He stated.

Smithy looked down. You certainly weren't the soul reason she cried...

Gunther caught the look in the blacksmith's eyes. "What do you know, Smithy?"

Smithy shook his head. "Just as much as you do." It is the truth if he heard the story.

Gunther sighed and left, heading to Jane's tower. "What are you hiding?" He whispered.

He got up to the tower. Sofia was surprisingly light, considering her muscle build.

"Jane!" He hissed through the door.

It opened to reveal the red-head. "Oh, you found her! Where was she?" She stepped back, letting him in.

Gunther put Sofia onto the hammock and took off her shoes, before covering her with a blanket. "She was with Smithy."

Jane frowned. "Why him? He's a nice person and everything but I didn't think they were that close."

Gunther shrugged. "Maybe she just needed a place to hide, Smithy is good at listening and not talking. I bet he can keep secrets better than anyone."

Jane nodded. "Thank you, for a biscuit weevil you know how to treat the new girl." She added with a smirk.

Gunther sneered. "At least she acts remotely like a girl, unlike a certain frog rider I know."

"Oh, get out!" Jane pushed him out of her room.