Author's Notes: So this one was written before I went to the gym, just forgot to post it so here it is. As always I love to know what you guys are thinking so don't hesitate to leave me a review. I'm working diligently on this one as well as Taro Love and some one shots for Pet. It's a load of fun for me. I wouldn't have it any other way though. Anyways I'm off to write some more or watch some A/o fanvids on youtube. Haven't decided yet what's going to happen. Hell I may end up watching Nightmare Before Christmas again. Try to reminiscence on childhood since Hollywood is content to fuck it up for me. So those are my plans for the next couple of hours. If I get more written I may post it tonight if it gets edited in time. If not well I'll get to it tomorrow. All right enough rambling...love you guys!

Chapter 3

Olivia sat at the small round table at the back of the tavern. She took a sip from the wooden chalice and broke off a small bit of the bread looking to the large fireplace burning so brightly. Candles lit up the wooden tavern and loud boisterous laughter from the soldiers stationed here that were taking advantage of the hospitality found within its walls. She remained quiet even when the soldiers left and a pretty blonde barmaid came up to her.

"It's not often we get strangers around here." She gave her a warm smile. "It's such a small place and there really isn't much around here." She added.

"Well I'm only passing through. I may stay a few days though." Olivia offered giving a small lopsided grin to the pretty maid.

The woman nodded, "Would you like another cup of port?"

"No. Thank you though."

"Perhaps some sweet wine?"

Olivia shook her head.

The woman looked down and nodded, "Well if you need anything, anything at all just let me know?"

"Of course. What was your name?"

Bright blue eyes met hers. "Serena."

"Serena. That's a beautiful name. My name is Olivia."

Serena smiled at her and Olivia smiled back. "Should you need some….company while you're here…"

"I'll be certain I'll call for you."

Olivia sighed as she went to her room above the tavern. She'd kept her status as Captain in the King's army hidden not wanting to draw any attention while she sought out the concerned citizen she was trying to find for her father. And if she was honest it was for no one but her father that she was doing this.

She rose to her feet laying enough money and a little extra for the beautiful bar maid to cover the costs of her food and drink for the evening. She made her way slowly past the rapidly emptying tables and up the large wooden stairs to her room above the tavern for the night. She thought briefly of asking the beautiful blonde to join her and then thought against it not wanting to be distracted even if her body cried out at the thought of a pretty woman. She sighed and undid the belt holding her sword laying it beside the bed so that if the need arose to defend herself she was capable. She continued to undress until she was down on her cotton undergarments and laid down on the bed glancing at the fire that had been lit earlier. She settled comfortably and wondered if she should pen a letter to Elliot before deciding against it. It was late and she was tired from the four day long trek to get here even though she was riding.

She settled down drawing the rough blankets up against her before closing her eyes and ignoring her body's cries for the touch of the pretty blonde woman on the floor below finally fell into a restless sleep.

Alex sighed as she walked slowly into the woods not realizing that she was being followed. She'd made this trek so many times that she didn't even consider the new dark visitor her friend had been gushing about was actually only a few steps behind her following her easily.

Olivia watched the statuesque blonde walking into the woods away from the village. She knew she was actually looking for a man but her curiosity was picqued at the way the blonde so easily skirted around everyone hardly speaking as she walked towards the outskirts and then away from the village.

Alex made her way up the hill that led towards her herb garden but took a right instead heading deeper into the woods near the waterfall and river that the people drew their water from. She pushed aside a large branch moving into the clearing and knelt down next to the grave markers. She laid her hand on her mother's grave stone touching the coolness of the wood gently. She traced her fingers over the flower Serena's own father had carved into it before he'd been taken by a bout of pneumonia two months after her own parents had been killed.

She didn't speak merely allowed herself the sad comfort of visiting her parents after they'd been so brutally ripped from her. Olivia watched from her place hiding behind the large tree noting the sadness in the beautiful blonde's face. She wondered if the people in these graves were someone close to her but knew she shouldn't continue to intrude. She slowly turned making her way back to the village her thoughts haunted by the beautiful blonde and the sadness in her sky blue eyes.

"Would you like some company tonight?"

"Huh?" Olivia looked up shaking her head to pull herself away from the thoughts of the beautiful blonde woman she'd seen earlier in the day.

Serena frowned, "Is something wrong? You seem distracted." She offered setting the pitcher of wine she was carrying down and looking at Olivia in concern.

"I'm sorry? Did you ask me something?" Olivia blinked and Serena smiled.

"I asked if you'd like another cup of port?"

"Yeah that'd be great thanks."

Serena smiled and nodded though as soon as her back as turned she frowned. She wondered what had distracted the beautiful stranger who had seemed interested enough in her presence the night before. She moved around carefully trying so hard not to show how disappointed she was that the stranger had all but blown her off for the night. She wasn't paying attention where she was going until one of the soldiers slammed into her.

"Watch where you're going slut!" The man spoke angrily as she hit the ground twisting her ankle the in process.

She looked down wincing at his voice and reaching for her ankle. She heard the other men laugh and did her best to get up the wine she'd been carrying spilled all over her dress soaking into her skin. She limped to the counter which caused Jack to come around. "Serena you okay? Those boys push you around?" He asked concerned. Though there was nothing they could do about it he could at least make sure the poor girl was all right. He'd promised her father before he died that he would look out for her and Adam.

"I'm fine. I hurt my ankle though. Would you mind seeing if Alex would come look at it?"

"Of course." The man immediately agreed. He called over one of the other girls that worked for him and asked her to go get Alex to take care of the ankle. "Go into the back Serena. I'll send Alex to you to take a look at your ankle when she gets here."

Olivia had watched the whole thing play out from her place at the corner table. As any warrior knew it did you no good to let your back be exposed and she'd chosen a perfect location that afforded her a view of her enemies before they got to view her. She frowned at the soldier's words incensed by the way he'd spoken to the pretty blonde but knew she couldn't get involved. It would blow her cover if she got involved.

She watched the little blonde limp to the older man behind the bar and then into the back hearing the soldiers laughing boisterously at the same time. She looked down at the wooden plate and took a sip of the port she'd been drinking. She swirled the liquid around in the cup before looking up when she heard the soldiers quiet down. She gasped as the beautiful blonde from earlier in the day stepped into the tavern. The men were all eyeing her and smirking obviously liking the way she looked. Even Olivia found herself eyeing the beautiful blonde. The woman moved past them, her head held high refusing to even acknowledge the smirking at her. Olivia smiled slightly she liked the way the blonde kept her head up and refused to even acknowledge the hungry looks directed her way. She watched the woman speak to the older man and then move behind the bar.

She looked down listening quietly to the sounds around her. "That girl is sexy." She heard the soldiers talking.

"Too bad her old man got in between us getting a good bite out of her." The soldiers laughed.

"Don't worry he's not there anymore. Neither is her screaming old lady. She's all alone." The men smirked. "I think we ought to go have some fun with our winter princess boys."

Olivia followed the beautiful blonde outside much later after listening to the soldiers talking about her she knew they had plans to make their so called winter princess melt. She waited in the shadows every time the blonde glanced over her shoulder. Seemingly hearing something she knelt down and removed a small knife from her boot. Olivia blinked shocked when the woman pulled the knife and watched as she continued to walk handling the knife as easily as she handled the sword. She wondered if the woman knew how to fight then thought about what the soldiers said. Her parents aren't there anymore, that was them in the graves. The pretty blonde's sadness was due to soldiers who were trying to take advantage of her. She followed her all the way back to her home making sure she got inside and made her way around the little house checking that there was no one waiting to ambush the blonde. When she was certain she was safe she finally made her way back to the tavern and to her temporary room satisfied with her impromptu mission.

Author's Notes: MWAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHA! I couldn't resist using Serena against Olivia. Though I don't mind the pairing A/O all the way people! But I figured you know since Olivia likes blue eyed blondes it would give her someone to eye a bit. Anyways let me know what you think yeah?