A/N: So very near the end now, so hopefully, some action! Hope you all like.

Engagement

The theatre passed in a blurr, there was nothing remarkable about the event that could hold Boa's attention. Her mind was too busy running over the conversation she had had with Quiffin, to think about anything else.

To excuse herself, Boa had feigned a headache, touching her hand to her forehead every now and then. Carrion found that no matter how he tried to engage her in a conversation, Boa would slip away into silence once more. Clearly distracted, Boa couldn't wait to return to the tower.

She politely turned down Carrion's offer of seeing more of the town, even though a few days ago this would have seemed appealing. Suddenly, she realised what had taken her to Midnight in the first place, wasn't going to be what sent her home. She realised how stupid she had been to think she could solve all her problems herself. She had just made an even bigger mess for herself, and nothing at all had been resolved. She hoped that Quiffin was being speedy in arranging their passage home, as she was beginning to think Carrion would discover something was amiss.

Sitting beside him in the carriage had never felt so confined, she was afraid to even move in case he said something to her. She breathed steadily, forcing air in and out of her lungs, afraid that she would forget to breathe if she did not.

Carrion didn't seem to notice her discomfort, and barely looked at her at all. But Boa couldn't shake the feeling that somehow he knew what was in her mind. It was an anxious thought that plagued her journey.

Back at the tower, and Boa forced herself to stay in the carriage until the door was opened for her. The footman then escorted her up the steps, and left her by the door. For a brief moment Boa was all alone, Carrion had stayed behind with the carriage to speak to the driver. Boa hesitated, she didn't want to seem too keen to leave him, she waited for him too look over and tell her to go inside. But there seemed to be a problem, and Carrion's attention was fixed with the carriage and it's animals.

Boa turned her back on them all, and walked into the warm. Instantly she was greeted by servants, waiting for her orders. Boa handed her shawl to one of the maids and walked away from them all. The maid followed Boa to her room and inside, put the shawl on a chair, and then left.

Boa waited until the girl's footsteps were distant, before she spoke.

"Aelda, help me change."

"So, you're going?" Aelda asked as she unzipped the back of Boa's dress. "If you're caught you will not be able to explain this away."

Boa stepped out of her dress and handed it over. She pulled on her trousers, and buttoned them up.

"Then lets hope I'm not caught," Boa said flippantly as she fastened the buttons on her shirt. "I'll need a coat," she remarked as she looked at herself. "And I should wear my boots."

Aelda found the items requested in silence. It wasn't her place to say what the Princess should do, and she had done all the advising she could. She wished that Prince Quiffin had read the letter, then maybe he would have put a stop to this. But he hadn't, and Boa seemed determined to go.

"Must you go?" Aelda asked desperately, it was her last chance to dissuade her.

Boa nodded whilst looking at her reflection.

"We have a lot to talk about. If I don't go, I may never have an other opportunity."

Aelda nodded. If her Princess became Queen of Midnight, she'd never see Finnegan Hobb again.

Boa stepped out into the garden with a pounding heart. She looked around for any spies, but couldn't seem to see clearly. Her heart was dictating her every action, and her heart was telling her to be reckless.

Once out in the darkness, Boa felt vulnerable. She had come alone, as instructed, and was risking everything on this letter being a true one. If Finnegan didn't show, she didn't know what she would do. A false letter may have come from any quarter, from someone that didn't like the fact that she was here.

She shuddered. This thought had only just occurred to her, and she hadn't had the opportunity to weigh it up. But it was too late now. She had to keep going, keep walking until she found the meeting place, there was no option of going back.

The grove was empty. No sign of Finnegan, no sign of anybody. Boa stood alone wondering whether she was in the right place at all, when to her right she heard someone call her name.

"Finnegan?" she whispered.

"Yes, it's me," he replied.

Boa looked around. She could still see no one.

"Why are you hiding?" she asked.

"I can't be seen, it's too dangerous. For you, more than it is for me."

Boa listened to the wind carry his voice away. They were in danger, but more danger hardly mattered.

"Come out, I don't care what the consequences are, we have to speak to each other properly," Boa said.

There was tense moment where Boa feared he had left her, refusing to show himself and put her in more danger. But then there he was, walking towards her, the light of the stars brightening his image.

Boa stared at him. She found she had no words to say. A tear began to form in her eye, when she remembered how happy they had been together in the sun, before this had ever happened.

"Oh Boa," he said sadly.

Boa's tears fell down her cheeks, released by his pity. He should have been angry, she could have dealt with that, but pity was more than she could take.

"Please don't look at me," Boa said turning her head. "I have acted so wrong to you."

He took a step forward towards her, but Boa shook her head.

"You were right, this place is changing me. I don't know who I am anymore. I just do what he tells me, and I'm scared that I'll never see my home again."

This time Finnegan ignored her protests, and brought her into his arms. Her tears didn't come in sobs, just sad streams of sorrow. She felt weak in his arms, as if all the fight had gone from her body, and she was resigned to her fate as Queen of Midnight.

"Boa it doesn't matter what has happened. Just come home with me. I love you, I always have. I know you have a good heart, even though you have been lead astray here. Come back with me, don't stay here. Marry me instead, you know that I love you."

Boa looked up at his worried face. So much love she saw there, and wondered why any of it fell on her. She deserved none of his love, but she loved him for his consistency. Yes he loved her. He was not exciting, or mysterious, but he was a kind man, who was forgiving.

"Why couldn't you have asked me before?" Boa asked. "Before I ruined myself. Before he ever touched me. Why now? Why, couldn't you have asked me when I was pure?"

"Boa, no one is ever 'pure'. I would be a fool indeed if I expected you to be. I have faults too, many, and if you marry me then they'll probably drive you mad! But don't you want to find out?"

Boa nodded.

"I want to go home."

"I will take you back to your father…" Finnegan said pulling away. Boa shook her head and pulled him back.

"No, I want to marry you, then I'll be home."

Boa smiled at his shocked face. Her heart felt light once more, and her head dizzy. For a moment she felt strong once more. No longer a prisoner. She could make her own choices, and she had chosen.

"Oh!" he said kissing her forehead. "Boa you won't regret it! Let's go now, just you and me."

"No, I cant," she said suddenly. "Tomorrow, tomorrow I will meet you, and we will go."

It took some time to persuade Finnegan to leave her in the tower, but Boa was felt there was still something she needed to do. Something needed to be said to Lord Carrion, some leave must be taken. Whilst they hardly saw eye to eye, he had welcomed her into his home, and deserved an explanation of some kind.

Boa watched Finnegan leave. She felt a smile on her face, one that she couldn't wipe away. Happily she turned to walk back to the tower, but as her eyes turned to the path, her blood seemed to stop in her veins, and she turned ice cold.

Carrion was staring at her with what looked like murder in his eyes. She had never been scared of Lord Carrion before, and the fear was overwhelming.

Boa felt the silence would burn her ears, even the wind had stopped to listen. Very ominously, in voice that seemed to flood over her skin with it's venom, Carrion whispered: Congratulations.