When Sofia woke up the next morning, she was aching all over. She tried to sit up, but there was a weight on her, preventing her from doing so.

I recognise that scent... She glanced to her left to be met by Gunther's sleeping face. His arm was over her waist, holding on tightly. Was he here all night? She reached over and stroked his cheek. "Thank you..." She whispered.

Gunther stirred.

"Gunther?" She poked his cheek. "It's time to wake up."

He opened his eyes, meeting her blue ones, which had their sparkle back. "Sofia?" He mumbled, still fighting the urge to go back to sleep. It's so warm...

"Could you please let go of me?" She smiled.

His eyes widened and he looked at the way he was laying. He sat up. "I am so sorry!" He exclaimed.

She giggled. "It's quite alright." She petted his hair affectionately. "Thank you for keeping me company."

He sighed. "You're okay..." He leaned over and wrapped his arms around her. "Thank heavens that you're okay..."

She smiled softly and returned his embrace.

There was a soft knock at the door that made them jump apart.

"Yes?" Gunther choked out.

The woman, Sally, walked in. "Oh good, you two are awake!" She smiled at them.

Sofia stood up off the bed and bowed to her. "Thank you for your hospitality, ma'am."

Gunther got up too. "Yes, thank you for letting us stay the night."

She walked over to Sofia and embraced her. "You are an angel sent from the heavens. Thank you for saving my daughter." She whispered. She placed a kiss on Sofia's cheek and then went to Gunter and repeated the act. "You too, Sir Gunther." She went to the door. "You may have some breakfast before you go, I'll be downstairs when you're ready." She left, closing the door behind her.

Gunther chuckled. "Are you hungry?" He looked to her to see her clutching her heart. "Sofia?!" He hissed going to her side. "What do you need?" He asked.

She shook him off and pointed to the embers in the fire place. "Fire... I need fire... before you ask, I can't eat my own."

Gunther panicked. "Maybe in the daughter's room..." He took her hand and pulled her across the hall into the daughter's room which was empty, the fire still burned though. "Here..." He led her to it.

She dropped to her knees and took a flame, inhaling it through her mouth before letting out a grateful sigh. The pain eased and she felt her magic coursing through her veins. "Thank you."

He snorted. "You will be the death of me, pretty lady knight." He held out his hand to pull her up.

She smiled and accepted his hand before looking around for her cloak and jacket. She found them where she put them on the chair.

Downstairs the two were met by three pairs of watching eyes.

"How are you, young Lady? You gave us a scare last night?" The father, Hugh, asked.

Sofia bowed. "I apologise, sir. I hadn't slept well for a few nights, and I am afraid that the exhaustion caught up with me."

"Well sit down and eat before you leave." He ordered the two.

Rebecca stood up and went over to the Lady Knight and hugged her around the middle. "Thank you so much!" She looked up at Sofia's face. "You saved me. I feel very well now."

Sofia pulled away and knelt in front of the little girl. "Well, I am very glad that you are." She tapped her on the nose. "Now you have to promise to be good for your mama and papa for me." She kissed her forehead.

"I promise!" She grinned.

"Come and eat Rebecca." Sally said with a smile on her face.

They all sat and had bread, butter and cheese and a cup of milk.

"This is the perks of working at a dairy." Sally grinned.

"Thank you, ma'am." Sofia returned the smile with a brilliant one of her own.

Sofia and Gunther stood to leave.

"Thanks again!" Sally hugged them both.

Hugh took Sofia's hand and kissed it. "You'll make a fine wife one day, Lady Sofia."

Sofia looked away. "Thank you, sir."

"Rebecca why don't you go with Sofia to ready the horse, whilst I have a private word with Sir Gunther." Sally said.

Sofia shot Gunther a look.

He nodded.

Sofia held her hand out to Rebecca. "Come on, then." She smiled softly.

Rebecca took her hand eagerly and led her out to the stable where they had put Gunther's horse for the night.

Sally went up to the bedroom.

Hugh looked to Gunther. "You are unlike what I expected, for being the son of Mr Breech. I am sorry for jumping to judge." He bowed his head.

Gunther waved it off. "To be honest, I wasn't much better than him when I was growing up. I was rather... unpleasant to be around."

Hugh chuckled. "And then came along a beautiful young lady to change your ways."

Gunther looked down. "I guess so. I was always rude and distant from people because I knew they judged me for my name. But she didn't... she offered me friendship unconditionally. It made me so happy and it made me realise that the other people at the castle didn't judge me until I treat them cruelly. Thanks to her I have a lot of people that I wish to call my friends." He smiled.

Sally came back down with a small rectangular box and handed it to Gunther.

"What is this?" He asked, opening the lid.

Laying in the box was a silver necklace with a diamond and sapphire pendent.

"That was a gift to my great grandmother from my great grandfather, who was a dragon-slayer. The story is that there was a magnificent dragon with black scales and brilliant blue eyes, this dragon saved my great grandfather, he thanked her, saying he didn't wish to leave his wife and children behind in this world without him, otherwise they wouldn't survive.

The dragon gave him some gold and this necklace, telling him to quit such a dangerous job and buy some land where he can grow crops and such. She said to give the necklace to his wife to show her his undying love." Sally's eyes glittered with tears. "This is the land he bought, and it's been in our family ever since. I was going to hand it to my daughter, she knew this but asked that I gave it to you so you can give it to the one you love." She smiled. "Give it to that darling girl that captured your heart... and never let her go."

He stared at her. "But Sofia and I are-"

"Just good friends, I know." She winked. "Don't wait too long, otherwise another handsome knight might snatch her up and you'll lose her forever." She kissed his cheek.

He nodded and put the box into his shoulder bag. "Thank you, ma'am." He bowed.

"Go get her Lad." Hugh patted his head.

Gunther smiled and walked out of the front door.

The couple followed him out.

They were greeted by Sofia and Rebecca who were chasing each other around the drive way to the house. Gunther's horse was ready and tied to the gate.

Rebecca was currently chasing Sofia, who was obviously being a lot slower than normal to give the girl a chance.

Gunther leaned against the door watching them with a slight smile on his face.

Sofia stopped, noticing the audience.

"Got you!" Rebecca grabbed Sofia by the middle, the force of the impact resulted in Sofia toppling into a pile of clean hay, taking Rebecca with her.

Everyone laughed.

Gunther clutched his stomach, walking over to them.

Rebecca had gotten up and danced around the ground happily. "I'm so happy to be outside again."

Gunther looked down at Sofia, who was covered in hay. "I'm surprised that you got knocked down by a little girl, pretty lady knight." He smirked.

She glared up at him. "A real gentleman would help a lady up, not laugh at her, dear Squire." She shot back with a smirk of her own.

He laughed again. "I guess you're right..." He held out his hand.

She took it.

Sally watched the interaction. "They're so right for each other..." She whispered.

Hugh chuckled. "Don't go planning their wedding yet, I sense some sort of pain within that girl. Through all the smiles, there's something within her heart that isn't right." He added.

Sally nodded. "Her eyes, although they seem happy when she's with him, they have an element of sadness within them."

Sofia and Gunther walked over to them for their final goodbyes.

"Well, we'll be leaving now, Sir Theodore will be having kittens with us gone for so long." Sofia said.

"Sofia! Will you come to visit me?" Rebecca tugged Sofia's cloak.

Sofia knelt in front of her. "I'll come whenever I can. If that's alright with your mama and papa." She glanced up at the girl's parents.

"You're welcome anytime, my Lady." Hugh confirmed.

Rebecca cheered then hugged Sofia around the neck. "See you soon." She whispered.

"Most definitely." Sofia stood straight. "Make sure she drinks a lot to make sure her fever doesn't return. But she's out of danger now. I'd appreciate if you kept this to yourselves too. I have my knight duties that have to take priority so I can't heal everyone who comes to me with a cold."

Sally nodded. "You have our word, dear."

Sofia got up onto the horse, behind Gunther. "Goodbye." She waved.

Then they headed back to the castle.

"Does everyone who meets you fall in love with you?" Gunther chuckled.

Sofia laughed. "I don't know. Have you?" She joked.

"What? No!" He snorted.

She smiled. "Good."

He felt his heart tighten. "So, for this ball tomorrow. Do you want me to escort you from the tower?" He asked, trying to change the subject.

"I'd like that." She rested her head on his back.

He placed his hand onto hers, which was on his stomach. "Do me a favour?"

She nodded.

"Please don't scare me like you did last night again." He gripped her hand.

She snorted softly. "I can't promise anything, but I'll keep it in mind."

"Gunther! Where's my cart lad?"

They hadn't noticed that they were passing the merchant's house, which he was outside of.

"I'm sorry father, there was an emergency, knight business." He halted his horse next to his father. "I'll bring it back this afternoon."

The merchant shot a look at Sofia who met his gaze.

"Yes, sir?" She asked.

Gunther looked between them.

"I was thinking last night... you can't just be a traveller from a forest and have that much money, if you have so much money, why work for the king when you could well be richer than him?"

Gunther felt his anger spark.

Sofia sighed. "Just because I have money doesn't mean I don't have to work to prove I earned it, sir. The money has been passed down to me from my ancestors. It's in a very well hidden place, so I have no fear that bandits or thieves will steal it."

"Who were your parents? What did they do?"

"I don't recall having any." She replied.

"Father! Stop interrogating her! She is a knight of the king's court. She deserves your respect." Gunther snapped.

His father glared up at him.

"You can pick up the cart by yourself." He motioned the horse to move again and headed for the castle again. "I'm sorry about him, Sofia." He muttered.

She gripped the fabric at his stomach. "It's alright, it was just hard thinking up a story." She sighed. "Thank you for that." She held on tighter.

He blushed. "No problem. It's not like I live with him anymore. But he could renounce the money he pays for my knight training." He added.

"If he does that, I shall pay for it. I have more than a thousand years' worth of savings." She added when he started to object.

He took her hand from his middle and brought it to his lips. "You really are one of a kind." He muttered.

She giggled. "You're growing soft, Squire Gunther." She placed her hand back on his stomach.