EPOV:

"You look very handsome in uniform, Finn." I took my time looking over him. Hey, why not? I was allowed now, right?

"You look pretty handsome in uniform yourself, Enna," he said with a chuckle.

"Very funny," I said sarcastically. We were both wearing military uniforms that Finn had spotted hanging on a tree branch by the creek. I momentarily questioned what would happen when some soldiers found their clothes missing. They were probably swimming in the creek or something. Oh well, serves them right. They're the ones who chose to work for my father.

I had my black curls tucked up into a hat, and I was trying to look as manly as I could, hoping that my curves wouldn't give me away. I puffed out my stomach and tried to look bigger and flatter. I exhaled loudly.

"Finn, I don't think I'll be able to pull this off. They'll probably recognize me as soon as I set foot onto their camp." That would be a bad situation, like walking into a trap.

"Enna, you'll do fine. Just walk quickly and whatever you do, stay by my side."

"Okay," I sighed. "I trust you, Finn." I gave him a quick kiss.

"I feel like I'm kissing a guy," Finn said, half-smirking, half-smiling. I kissed him again, more passionately.

When we pulled apart, he looked breathless. "Apparently, I don't know what I've been missing," he said with a grin on his face.

At this, I laughed as well. He joined in, and we went in to a random fit of hysterical laughing. I turns out we didn't notice we were enjoying ourselves a little too loudly.

A soldier had heard us and said, "Hey! You two there! What are you guys doing?"

I looked at Finn, panicking. He looked a little shocked and frightened, too, staring straight ahead.

"Don't you know that we're having a party over here? Come drink and be merry!" the man said laughing, much louder than necessary. Apparently, they were serving ale at this "party", and he had had his fair share.

I held my place in the bushes on the outskirts of the little settlement. I was anxious, and Finn confused me as he started pulling me forward. I clutched onto the back of his uniform, hoping that the other man couldn't see. It might look a little conspicuous to see me, a "man", touching another man in such a way. We didn't really need any attention called to us.

We began walking towards him. At least we knew that the disguise was working so far, at least. The soldier was oblivious that we weren't actual members of the army.

I took one last look at Finn. His face seemed confident and easy going, but the look in his eyes said he was afraid. He was putting on a mask, getting into his part.

"Finn, what's wrong?" I whispered, concerned.

"Nothing," he said, frowning. I couldn't figure out what he was hiding. There was obviously something he wanted to say, but I didn't pressure him.

A minute later, he sighed and said, "Enna, if something happens, just run. Don't look back and don't worry about me. Just run; protect yourself."

I snorted. "I couldn't leave you behind, Finn," I told him, appalled.

"Enna. Listen to me," he said, his voice harsh. He turned and looked me in the eyes as he said, "if anything was to happen to you, I couldn't forgive myself, alright? So just listen to me and do what I say. Do you understand?" Normally, I would have been angry about the way he was talking to me, but I knew what he was trying to protect me. He was showing he cared by sacrificing myself.

"Fine," I said to him. I didn't like to lie to him, but, knowing that if I had to choose, I would always try to save him over of myself. There was no way I would say that out loud, though.

We'd finally reached the man who had called to us. He took a good, long look at us, and slurred, "I've never seen you lads before. What're your names?"

Finn spoke for both of us. "I'm Brendan. And this is Emmett. We're new to this camp."

"I'm Sarveno. Are you guys going to the party?"

"No-"

He cut Finn off. "But you have to come to the party!" You could barely understand what he was saying, he was so drunk. I rolled my eyes, but he wasn't paying attention. "There'll be a man's two favorite things: women and booze." He snickered, like he had just said the most hilarious thing he had ever heard, and gave Finn a friendly nudge in the side. He recoiled from the touch, but shocked me with what he spoke next.

"Alright. I guess it wouldn't hurt if-" Finn began.

"Great! I'll show you the way," Sarveno shouted as he began to stumble towards the campsite. He gestured for us to follow him towards the big lit up tent. It was surrounded by groups of little tents and campfires. You could hear the men's voices from where we were.

When he was out of earshot, I pulled on Finn's arm, stopping his progress towards the party. I glared at him and snapped, "What, it's not enough to walk through their camp? We have to join their vile parties, as well?"

My tone startled him. As he spoke, he looked at me, confused and careful, like if he wasn't cautious, I would snap. Well, I didn't mean to have that impression on him, but what was he thinking? "Look, Enna, he put me in a tough position. From what you've told me about your army, if I would have said no to such an offer as women and booze, then he would've been suspicious."

He had a point. Drat. I sighed, feeling like an overreacting idiot. "I guess you're right. I'm sorry." I kissed him on the cheek, trying to make up for my suddenly foul mood.

"That's okay." He smiled and slid his arm around my waist. I laughed. He was completely unaware that his actions could unravel our whole plan.

"Uh, Finn?"

"Hmm?" he replied, distractedly happy.

"I don't know about you, but I think that when one soldier puts his arm around another soldier's waist, it probably looks a teensy bit suspicious. At the least, it looks odd."

He looked confused for a minute, but then he caught on. "Ahh." He removed his arm. "Oh, right. Sorry."

"Just remember: I'm not your girlfriend here. I'm just your friend. Who's also a man."

"Wait, did you say you're my girlfriend?" He backtracked, grinning widely.

I rolled my eyes. "Finn, this isn't the time or the place for this conversation," I said with a smile as I hurried ahead to catch up with Sarveno.

He was paused at the entrance of the party. "Heaven on Earth is right through here, my friends," the soldier stated cheerfully as he lifted the flap on the largest tent in the camp. He moved his arm, gesturing for us to walk ahead inside.

Finn and I entered the tent together through the door, but as soon as we set foot inside, we were instantly separated and surrounded by a crowd—of women. Ohhh no. They were clearly Ladies of the Night. I blushed because it seemed that I was getting more attention from these women than Finn was. This is wrong on so many levels, I thought to myself. It seems my disguise was working a little too well.

The women began calling out numbers. I was confused at first, but I soon shuddered when I realized that these numbers were prices.

"Five dollars."

"Four-fifty."

"Two seventy-five."

"Free," a woman purred.

Free. The word rang through the tent like a gunshot. Everyone turned to see what was happening.

"Who's free?" A man shouted noisily, nearly falling from his stool by the makeshift bar in his excitement.

"I'm only free for this pretty boy here, with the black hair and blue, blue eyes," said the woman who claimed she was free. I saw the men around me sigh and return to whatever they had been doing before, defeated.

I realized that the woman was speaking to me. Oh boy.

She began pulling at my collar. I blushed and looked to Finn for help, but he looked like he was about to burst out laughing. Gee. Some guy, I thought, glaring at him.

I turned my gaze back to the woman in front of me. I cringed. She was hardly a woman at all. She was a pretty girl, around my age. Pity shot through me when I thought of the situation she must be in for her to resort to such atrocities. I felt guilty to know that such things were taking place in my very own kingdom. I had no idea. I decided that when I became Queen, I would do something about the poverty that had overcome my country.

She was still looking at me expectantly, looking for my attention. I had to tell her something, and it wasn't like I could use the lack of money as an excuse.

"I'm not interested," was all I could say, and it just the short sentence I had to force out sounded like a squeak. It sounded weak and pathetic. She looked sad and dejected for a moment. Then she recovered, and she smirked at me. She ran over to Finn, followed by all the other women who weren't already committed to one of the other men in the tent.

That same woman that had been all over me a moment ago now put her hands on Finn's chest and began to kiss his neck. His face was a mix of horror and confusion. I felt my face drain of color, and the pity I felt for her suddenly vaporized as she began to move her hands down his body and kiss his jaw line. Then she stopped kissing him and whispered something into his ear. He shook his head quickly, while she went back to caressing his chest, his stomach…

Skank! Slut! Whore! I couldn't watch any more of this.

I felt my thought process take a nose dive. How could he do this to me? I thought he had wanted me! How wrong I was to bear my heart so completely to someone. I felt tears welling up in my eyes. I couldn't cry, I was supposed to be a soldier. I tried to fight back the tears, but to no avail. A glistening tear traced the contours of my cheek as it made its descent. Screw the act.

I couldn't believe it. I glared at Finn in disbelief and anger as he tried to push her away gently and swiftly, meeting my horrified stare. She was reluctant, as she obviously wasn't used to being turned down twice in a row. She grabbed a hold of his tunic, holding on with all her might, refusing to let him reject her.

He grabbed her wrists and pried her hands off of his shirt, shoving her with force in the process, trying to get over to me. She went tumbling to the ground. The look on her face was shocked and priceless and I couldn't help thinking condescending, evil things toward her. Haha, little slut, it's me he wants.

He looked down at her with surprise written all over his face. It was clear that he hadn't meant to knock her down. He mumbled, "Sorry," quickly and extended his hand to help her up. Instead of taking it, she looked up at him, glaring, and spit at him. He didn't wait around for her to change her mind. He just shook his head and started to run. When he ran by me, he grabbed my hand, dragging me out along with him.

We ran outside the tent into the cool night air. He pulled me around the corner, to the back of the tent. You could hear the whore inside yelling at some one to back off. Once we stopped and regained our breath, he looked at me with his intense, burning, beautiful green eyes. As if that wasn't enough to melt me, he said, "Enna, I never will hurt you like that again. I didn't want to in the first place. She wouldn't let me go! All I could think about the whole time was you and how bad you must be hurting. I never meant to hurt you, Enna, and I'll never, ever, ever do it again, as long as I live. I promise, Enna." I don't know when he last took a breath, he was so worried, trying to explain himself to me.

He looked at me with expectant eyes waiting for me to say something. I opened my mouth to speak, but shut it again. There was only one thing I could say to convey what I wanted to say, and it took a lot of courage just to think it. I took a deep breath in preparation, and blurted it out before my twisted mind could stop me.

"I love you, Finn," I whispered.

His face lit up. Suddenly I was in his arms and he was kissing my neck, burying his face in my hair and cheek. "I know. I love you, too," he said, moving to my jaw. "I love you."

My heart just about stopped, thinking about how perfect this moment was.

He gathered me into his arms, cradling me, and sat down. He started rocking us back and forth, with me in his lap. Then he was kissing my cheeks, my forehead, my hair, and finally my lips, saying, "I love you, Enna, I love you," all the while.