Her glowing mood was already changing as she went to her room. Thoughts of the ensuing battle displaced everything else in her mind, and she cursed herself for being so stupid as to injure herself at such an important time. Could they really afford the amount of time it would take for her to heal? She knew the answer was no. She would have to do what she could to lessen the pain, and then simply bear it.

Her thoughts returned to Martin. She could not imagine the immense pressure that was on him. She knew that she should not further burden him with her own emotion, but something in her refused to be repressed. She knew it was only a matter of time until her speech betrayed her. How long could she maintain her charade of being his friend and supporter, and that alone, without any sense of greater… devotion? I'll talk to him as soon as we talk to the Countess. Who knows, we might not even survive this battle, and I want him to know what I'm thinking. If he doesn't feel the same way… I don't know, something tells me that… that isn't the case. But if I'm wrong, and after all this is over, if we survive, he'll never have to see me again if he doesn't want to. Avoid any potential awkwardness. And- I… have absolutely no idea what is going on. The only thing I'm sure of is that- I love him.

She reemerged from her room in an embroidered tunic and pair of sensible but respectable pants, ready to speak to Martin again about the task at hand. As usual, she found him in the Great Hall, poring over his books, since he had little better to do at the moment. The battle plans were set; the Countess' permission was all that was needed.

Martin was in another world, oblivious to what was happening around him. He would have been pacing around the room if doing so wouldn't have garnered unwanted attention. He didn't particularly feel like talking to anybody right now, much less being asked what was bothering him. It was so wearisome to be constantly fawned over, yet burdened with such high expectations. He was so absorbed in thought that he didn't even notice Rina enter the room and greet him. I never thought it would be like this. I have no idea how she feels, and this is hardly the time for sentiment. It seems so sudden, but it's been building and growing since Kvatch … But we are at war. There is a battle on our hands. But- if we were to… die, which may be entirely possible, I would want her to know first that I… love her? I love her. I love her!

"Martin?" a familiar voice asked, interrupting his thoughts. "Are you okay?"

"Rina! Oh, yes, sorry. Rather distracted," he conceded, rather lamely.

"Are you ready to go speak with the Countess?" she asked him.

"Whenever you are. Are you feeling up to the journey?" he replied.

"As long as I'm careful, I think I'll be okay. I mixed up a harrada poultice to numb my foot but I'm not really sure if it would work."

"It should, as long as the concentration isn't high enough to cause problems," he answered vaguely.

"G- good… Are you ready to go talk to the countess? If you are, I can go now to let her know. Oh, could I borrow your horse? Mine's run off-" she started to say after a pause, stopping when she saw his startled expression.

"Is it-"

"No, no, it's not stolen. It was a gift from… Well, truthfully, it was the horse presented to me by my… boss in the Dark Brotherhood. Shadowmere. You'd know him if you saw him, big, black, bridle with a silver skull on it. Hard to miss. Oh yes, and red eyes. I realize the bridle may scare some people, but I haven't had the heart to change it. I like it too much."

"I think I've… seen him. Where did he go?" Martin asked.

"That's the thing, I really don't know. I think he gets offended when I go off somewhere without him. He's probably back at Fort Farragut, where his former master lived. Best damn horse is all of Cyrodiil, but never stays where I leave him," Rina said, finishing her lengthy explanation.

"Well then, you are certainly welcome to use mine. I should see you in about an hour, then. I'll go get Baurus and Jauffre, and… I think I go need to make myself presentable. Look authoritative and all that, you know," Martin said, venturing a small smile as he grasped the torn hem of his robe. He seemed nervous.

You'd be presentable in a prison uniform, Rina thought. "You needn't go get Baurus and Jauffre; I can tell them before I leave," she said out loud. "Hopefully Jauffre is awake. One would think the Grandmaster would be a light sleeper, but that man sleeps like a log. I had to wake him up when I was delivering the Amulet to Weynon Priory. It was about two in the morning, I think."

Martin and Rina chuckled. And his snoring has been keeping me awake, even though he's in the next room, he thought.In a moment, the Rina companionably put a hand on his shoulder. He jumped slightly, and she awkwardly withdrew it at once, with something of an embarrassed look. She quickly tried to change the subject. What did you do that for, idiot?!

"Gah- er, don't worry, your Highness. Everything will get sorted out."

Everything.