The next morning, Sofia woke up with a start.

She glanced around, noticing Jane still sleeping soundly in her bed, she remembered the day before. She sighed. "I need to apologise to Smithy..." She got up and changed in record timing. She left the room quietly.

It wasn't too early; the sun was up and it was a relatively pleasant weather.

She dropped from the battlements, which were a good ten-feet-high, and landed on her feet at the bottom.

"Please don't break your neck." Gunther's voice startled her.

She turned to see him standing by the stables. "Gunther? Why are you awake?"

He snorted. "I'm not a lazy bum like Jane. Plus, I found it hard to sleep."

She frowned. "Are you alright?" She asked, moving towards him.

He smiled slightly. "I should be asking you that."

She tilted her head.

"You walked off in a state after dinner, you ended up in Smithy's forge and when he comforted you, you fell asleep crying." He listed.

Her eyes widened. "How do you know I cried... in Smithy's forge?"

He chuckled. "I'm the one who had to carry you out and up to bed." He stated.

She blushed and looked away. "R-really...? I'm sorry... thank you." She couldn't meet his eyes.

He took in her appearance this morning.

She had her hair down in waves and was wearing a beige coloured shirt that was hanging loosely on her body, tucked casually into her tight legged black pants. As expected, she was stunning, and absolutely adorable when she got all flustered.

He reached out and patted her head. "It's alright. I'm sorry if I upset you."

She frowned. "You didn't do anything wrong."

He shrugged. "I brought up the story that made you sad. But I want to know something... why does it affect you so bad?" He moved so he was right in front of her. "You can talk to me you know. I won't tell anyone, knights' code and all that." He smiled.

She met his eyes. "Why are you being nice to me?" She asked.

Now it was his turn to blush. "I don't know... you're new and you know what it's like to be alone, just like me. I'd like to think we could stick together, help each other out."

"Alone? You have people all around you, how can you say that you're alone?"

He scratched the back of his neck. "I may be surrounded by people. But nobody particularly likes me. Mainly because of my last name and because I was a somewhat ass when I first became an apprentice, especially to Jane."

She snorted. "Serves you right."

He felt hurt. "You're just like the rest of them, aren't you?!"

She shook her head. "Not at all, I'm willing to give you my hand in friendship. I believe never to judge a book by its cover or its reputation."

He stared at her.

She held out her hand. "Friends?"

He grinned and took her hand in his. You really are something else. He brought her hand to his lips unconsciously and kissed it lightly. "Most definitely."

She pulled her hand away. "Now I really need to go and say sorry to Smithy... this is so embarrassing!" She walked away.

Gunther stared after her. She really does smell of smoke, and spices. Like Jane sometimes does after she's rode Dragon. Could it be that she has a connection with them? He sighed and decided to follow her. If she tells anyone, I bet its Smithy. They had gotten all cosy yesterday... He felt a stab of jealousy in his chest.

Sofia got to the forge. "Smithy? Are you here?" She called out.

The blacksmith came out of the shed. "Sofia..." His cheeks were tinted pink, remembering the night before.

"I am so sorry about yesterday!" She bowed. "I offloaded all my problems onto you not once but twice, I used you as a shoulder to cry on even though we have just met, I am sorry." She felt her eyes sting again. She met his.

He smiled and put down his hammer and removed his gloves.

Gunther was hidden in a nearby stable, with a view of what was going on, but he couldn't hear much. The noise of the forge drowned them out.

He watched as the blacksmith dropped his gloves and pulled the lady knight into a hug.

That sly git, he's slicker than he makes out. He growled slightly.

Sofia's eyes widened, but she returned the hug.

"You needn't apologise. You are my friend, I followed you because I was afraid that you were really upset, and I was right. Why my forge was the first place you chose, I don't know. But I'm glad I found you."

She pulled away from his embrace. "Thank you."

He smiled and returned to work. "Fresh fire in the forge if you're hungry?" He chuckled.

She followed him inside, laughing. "Why thank you, dear blacksmith."

Gunther couldn't handle it anymore, he made his way to the forge.

"So, what other magic is classed as dragon magic? All our Dragon can do is set fire to everything."

Gunther's ears twitched at the blacksmith's question.

"Let's see... some have healing magic; we can read memories by tasting someone's tears."

Did she just say 'we' as in including herself?! Gunther's head was spinning.

"So why did you not tell me you sort of ruled over the dragons? I know that story that you told the princess had to be an account of your own life."

What?! Gunther burst into the forge room to see Sofia holding a flame in her hand and continue to eat it.

Eat it!

She looked over to see Gunther standing there wide eyed. "I knew you were listening."

He stared at the beauty. "You... You're the dragon queen? The one cursed to live as a human? The story is true?"

Sofia stepped towards him.

He took a step back. He saw the pain in her eyes. He turned and strode out of the forge.

Sofia and Smithy shared a look.

Sofia ran out and followed Gunther, who was heading to his quarters.