Gunther and Sofia were circling each other, wooden swords at the ready.

"Go easy on him, Sofia!" Jane called.

"I went easy on Sir Ivon, I'm not that harsh on humans." Sofia replied, eyes trained on Gunther's. Her hair was tied into a braid again.

Gunther lunged for the first strike.

Sofia blocked it.

The game was on, they clashed swords multiple times.

Their swords became locked together, it was a battle of strength now.

Gunther's thoughts went into overdrive.

"Give up yet, squire?" She smirked.

"No!" He could feel her breath fanning on his lips, he could almost taste her, and her eyes were burning bright with a teasing glint in them. If he leaned just a few inches closer, he could... kiss her.

She gave a shove with her sword and that ended the spar, with Gunther on his rear. "I win." She winked.

"Maybe Gunther was distracted by Sofia's beauty!" Lavinia called out.

Gunther stood up and looked to their audience. "No, she's just strong. Even when she's holding back." He resorted.

Jane was grinning. No, you were definitely distracted. "Can I spar with you, Sofia?" She asked.

Sofia nodded.

Gunther gave Jane his sword.

"I think she's good for you." She whispered.

He blushed. "Not you too." He frowned.

She winked. "Make sure I get an invite to the wedding."

She sparred with Sofia, who was a little easier on her, given the strength difference.

But again, Sofia came out victor.

"Wow! I was wrong about you. Do you think you can train me, Lady Sofia?" Cuthbert asked.

Sofia nodded. "If your father permits it."

He grinned and nodded.

The next afternoon, Jane and Sofia went into town to buy dresses, the ball was the day after next so they needed to get moving so Sofia could fix them up.

"What colour should I wear?" Jane asked, looking through the array of gowns on sale in the shop.

Sofia thought. "Maybe forest green or something, to match your eyes." She suggested.

Jane looked at her. "I'm surprised that you're not carrying your sword." She remarked.

Sofia smirked. "Oh, but I am."

Jane frowned.

Sofia leaned in to whisper. "My dagger, it transforms into any weapon that I had in that bag. I only carried the bag so it'd look less suspicious. All of my weapons can be summoned at my command as long as I have this dagger."

Jane stared. "You're full of tricks. You'll be doing Jester's job soon." She giggled.

"About Jester..."

"What about him?"

"You know he has romantic feelings about you, right?"

Jane blushed. "I have noticed a few signs."

"Then why don't you act upon them, you're not children anymore. I say give him a chance, before somebody else does." Sofia picked out a purple number and put it against her to see if the colour was right. "Do you have feelings for Jester?"

"I believe I do... but I don't really understand love. I can tell if two people have feelings for each other, but when it comes to myself I have no idea."

Sofia nodded and settled for the purple gown. "Do you want a list of signs? Like how you know?"

Jane nodded.

"I'll do it as questions. Number one; do you think about him a lot?"

"Yes, I think about him all the time."

"Number two; if you saw him with another girl, being friendly and singing a ballad to her... how would you feel?"

Jane thought for a moment. "I guess I would feel a bit jealous... sad... and scared that she'll steal him away from me and I'll never see him."

"Lastly, if he were to leave tomorrow, what would you do?"

"I'd get on Dragon and find him, I'd tell him he's too important to me, that he can't leave me and that I can't be without him. I'd follow him anywhere to bring him back."

Sofia grinned. "You're in love, Squire Jane." She looked at the green dress that Jane was looking at. "That one."

Jane met her eyes and nodded.

They walked through town with the new dresses in paper bags.

"So, how do I let him know?" Jane asked.

Sofia thought for a moment. "I know he's entertaining at the ball, but ask him to escort you there beforehand, and ask for a dance when he's on a break."

Jane smiled. It was nice to talk to a girl who had the same mind set as her. "Will you ever fall in love again?" She asked.

Sofia looked to the ground. "I swore I wouldn't, but I still got another thousand or so years left to live, so I'm sure I'll meet someone, someday... who will accept me... all of me, for who and what I am."

"Like Gunther..." Jane mused.

Sofia nearly dropped her bag. "Jane, Gunther and I are just friends. Good friends."

"Hear me out, I know he's a pig, but he treats you with the uttermost respect. You've changed him for the better. When I see the look in his eyes when he sees you, there's nothing but admiration. I've never heard him laugh, like really laugh out of happiness, until you came along."

Sofia sighed. "But he's mortal. I am not. I don't want to be broken hearted again."

"There's always Dragon." Jane laughed.

Sofia made a face. "He's cute, but far too young for me. As is anything that roams the earth I would think." She snickered.

They walked past a cart.

"Sofia?"

Speak of the devil.

The girls turned around.

"Jane too." Gunther smiled at them.

Jane leaned in to Sofia and spoke barely a whisper. "He never used to smile like that either."

Only Sofia could hear her. Sofia blushed slightly.

"Sofia?"

She met Gunther's eyes. "Hey, what are you doing in town?" She asked with a smile of her own, trying to control her beating heart.

"Helping my father, of course." He rolled his eyes. "This is our house."

"Gunther, get moving!" The merchant came out of the house. "Oh, it's you again, Lady Knight, Squire Jane." He bowed his head to Sofia but gave a snort to Jane. He gave Sofia the once over. "Aren't you a little cold, Lady Knight? Shouldn't you cover up more?" He chuckled.

Gunther took a good look at what his father was referring to.

She was wearing a shirt that was tied above her middle, revealing her lean and built abdomen muscles, and black skin tight pants and her black open jacket, boots, and gloves.

She shrugged. "I'm perfectly warm enough, sir. I just find it easier to run when I don't have heavy clothing or armour to drag me down."

"But, surely, as a knight. It is more suitable to wear armour for protection." The merchant snorted.

"I'm far too fast for any blade or arrow to strike me, sir." She smirked.

Gunther was watching again as this girl stepped up to his father. He was enjoying the show. "Father, I can vouch for that."

He frowned.

"My bag!" They heard a lady shout.

Sofia located the woman, and the thief. "Hold this." She tossed the bag to Jane and sprinted after the man.

Gunther watched her go, she jumped from roof to roof to avoid the crowd, and then she jumped off. "She's got him." He affirmed.

Sure enough, Sofia came back, dragging the man behind her. "Where's the woman?"

Jane pointed out the lady, who was staring in amazement.

Sofia handed Jane the money bag. "Give this to her whilst I tie him up?"

Jane nodded and dropped the bags onto the ground and ran over to the lady.

"Impressive as ever, Sofia." Gunther chuckled, shooting his father a look.

The merchant looked in shock.

Sofia snorted softly. "This is nothing." She took out her dagger and cut off a length of her hair.

Gunther stared as she braided the hair and tied it around the man's wrists.

She hauled the man to his feet. "My hair is stronger steel, so don't even bother to pull away from it." She growled into his ear. She looked over to the merchant. "May I borrow your horse and cart? I need to take him back to the castle." She said.

"And why would I give you it and not expect anything in return?" He smirked.

Sofia sighed and dipped her hand into her pocket and pulled out a money bag. "Since I can't threaten you with a dagger, since you are my dear friend's father... how about I pay you gratefully?" She poured the contents of the bag into her hand and held it out to him.

It wasn't just coins, but precious stones such as ruby, emerald and sapphire.

"Where did you steal this from?" He asked.

Sofia laughed. "Believe me, I'm nothing like that. This is from my treasury. Will you accept my offer or not?"

"Treasury?"

"No more questions, take it so I can get this scum-bag back to the castle."

Gunther stared at the riches too. I guess she is a queen...

The merchant took the money greedily. "It's all yours, I expect Gunther to bring it back tomorrow."

Sofia nodded.

"I'll be going back too, father. I need to do knight duties." Gunther put in.

The merchant nodded, not really listening, just staring at the jewels in his hand.

Gunther got onto the back of the cart. "You give me the bags and the man, I'll keep an eye on him."

Sofia lifted the thief upon the cart with ease. "One thief for you."

"Are you even human?" The thief asked.

She looked at him. "If I said no, would it matter?" She walked around and hopped onto the driver's seat and took the reins. "Jane?" She looked to see the red-head running back.

"Sorry, that lady thanked me a thousand times... oh, she's coming over."

"Thank you ever so much, I was taking that money to the doctor for my daughter's medicine." The lady took a flower from her basket. "I've been selling these to make money for it, but here's one for you for catching that thief for me."

Sofia accepted the flower and looked at the woman's face closely. She looked rather pale and malnourished. "How about you keep the money you've earned and take this." She took out her pouch again and poured gold coins onto her hand and placed it in the woman's. "I am also a healer... give me your address and I will be there tonight." She smiled kindly.

Gunther was looking over his shoulder at her. Who wouldn't adore her?!

"Goodness me... really?" The lady looked on the verge of tears.

Sofia nodded. "I never go back on a promise, ma'am. I shall be there, just let me know where you live and your daughter will be well by dawn."

The merchant was listening to this. How can she promise this... is she a sorceress? He looked to his son who clearly was love struck.

The woman curled her fingers around the coins. "Thank you my dear. We live on the dairy farm, you go down this road and it's the first farm you see. I'm known as the flower lady here, so if you need to ask for directions, everyone knows where my farm is." She sniffed back tears.

Sofia crouched down, since she was still on the cart, and took the ladies hands in her own. "It will be my pleasure ma'am."

The woman met her eyes. "Beauty, grace, kindness and strength... what is your name child? I have not seen your pretty face anywhere around here."

Sofia stood straight. "I am Sofia, Knight of the king's court." She bowed, gracefully.

The woman curtsied slightly. "Well, I will be waiting for you, my Lady. Thank you ever so much." She then went away.

Sofia sat and took the reins from Jane.

The merchant stopped her. "How do you suppose you cure her daughter? The doctor doesn't even know the cure!"

She met his eyes. "I've told you before not to underestimate me, sir." At that, she cracked the reins and they were off up the road towards the castle.

Gunther smiled to himself, one hand on the prisoner's ties.

"Sir, are you sweet on the pretty scary young lady?" The prisoner asked.

Gunther gave him a glare. "Silence."

He chuckled. "Thought so." Was all he said.

When they entered the castle grounds, they handed the prisoner over to the guards.

"Lad?" He hissed to Gunther, stopping him following the girls.

Gunther looked to him.

"If you love her lad, don't wait till it's too late to tell her." At that he nodded to the guards to take him away.

Gunther looked to the floor. "What is love exactly?" He muttered.

Sofia was sat up in the rafters of the stables, sewing the dresses, with a bit of magic here and there. She was almost done with Jane's, sewing silvery thread in the front, making a subtle design of dragon scales.

She jumped when she heard someone coming up the ladders. She sniffed. Gunther?

"Hello, pretty Lady Knight." His head popped up and smiled at her. Why did I call her that?!

She smiled softly in return. "Hello, dear Squire."

He sat down next to her and watched her work. "You're doing something very honourable, helping that woman." He stated. "And helping Jane with her dress."

She felt his breath against her hair. "If we could all be kind to one person a day, the world would be a much more enjoyable place to live in, don't you think?" She met his stormy eyes, which were closer to her than she expected. Their noses brushed together. She looked away quickly. "Sorry." She muttered.

He cleared his throat. Thinking of how to divert the attention. "About your hair... you cut it."

She laughed. "It grows back very quickly."

"Why did you use it?"

"It's stronger than ropes or chains, and it was my only resource at the time." She continued sewing.

Gunther looked at the pattern. "Ah, yes. That's definitely got Jane written all over it." He grinned. "You are a fine seamstress. When will your talents end?" He teased.

Sofia sighed. "When you've lived as long as I have, you pick up a lot. Even as a dragon, I watched humans sew and do other things and logged the techniques in my brain. When I turned into a human, I put those memories into use. I made my own clothes from fabric I could get from markets."

"It's funny to think of something so fierce and large, thinking about sewing." He commented.

She shrugged. "I wanted to marry the dragon-slayer and be the perfect wife. So, I studied humans for ideas." She muttered.

Of course... him. "Do you think of him? Even now."

"I still have a place in my heart that belongs to him, but he doesn't come to mind that often." She stitched another scale.

"About going to the farm... I'll go with you, just in case you get lost. I know the way since my father trades with them."

"I'd appreciate that, thank you."

He sat with his back against a bundle of hay, looking at her. Three days... really? It's taken me three days to fall for you... my pretty dragon queen... He reached out and took a piece of hay out of her hair. "So, you know if you find your flame... you'll be a dragon again... will you leave?"

She paused and swallowed thickly. "There's no guarantee that the flame is still alight, it's been seven years... but I guess if I got it back, I'd figure out a way to transform at will... if I can't, I honestly don't know, I don't know if I'd even remember my time here... as a human."

He nodded. "Understandable." No... Don't leave me behind! He didn't have the heart to speak selfishly right now. She had searched for the flame for years, who is he to stop her from completing her task?

"Would you miss me?"

Her question hit him like a frozen arrow. "What sort of question is that? Of course, I will! You are my best friend, Sofia."

She looked to him. "At least I know some people who care enough." She looked outside, it was sunset. "We need to go, before it gets dark." She stated, packing her sewing kit away and covering the dress with a sheet.

Gunther frowned at her actions.

"I want to surprise Jane with it." She explained, jumping down from the rafters.

"You surprise everyone, every day." He remarked.

She smiled at him and summoned her cloak as he prepared his horse.

"Get on." Gunther held out his hand to her to pull her onto the beast.

She accepted it and sat behind him, with her hands on his waist.

"Hold on..." He muttered and they were off.