Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Author's Note: Thank you for those still reading this story. I had wanted to get this up over the weekend and was unable to. I hope you enjoy this.

To The Beginning

It didn't take them too long to get to the Barren Plains. She had never come this far and it worried her since she did not know what to expect. Sky was quiet but Jacob continued to talk. He reminded her a bit of Syd.

"So I told the Captain that I didn't care which way he went but I was going South," The younger man paused for a moment before continuing, "Of course then he told me if I didn't stay with him then he would bring me back to my Father and I couldn't stop that from happening." He shook his head, "It's completely unfair when he plays that way."

"He has a point. You going off on your own never ends well." Sky said glancing at his brother.

Jacob shrugged, "This time I did find you though."

"And how are you on your own this time?"

"I simply said I was going for a short ride."

"And who did you tell?"

"Benjamin."

"The stable boy?"

Z couldn't help but think about the fact that the only person who knew she had gone after Sky was their stable boy. She then said the thing that popped into her mind, "And he couldn't stop you."

Jacob turned towards her with an easy grin, "No. He couldn't. Though I'm sure he'll have told someone by now."

Sky also turned back to Z with a glare. This time she shrugged, "he couldn't stop him." She couldn't help but like Jacob. The thing was he was so different from Sky, and yet being around Jacob had caused some tension to leave Sky…he seemed to relax a bit more.

"I like Elizabeth."

"Z."

He tilted his head, "Z?"

"I go by Z."

"Alright, Z. I like you. It'll be good to have you in the family."

Z looked over at Sky who looked down at his horse. After a few minutes he looked around, "There's one of the shelters over there, we should rest there for a while."

"You have shelters?"

Sky nodded, "Since we need to cross the Barren Plain and it is much further a days ride we have shelters in different locations to provide a resting point."

"That makes sense."

Sky nodded and turned his horse slightly east, Jacob and Z followed suit and soon the three were all moving towards the shelter.

The shelter turned out to be a few different buildings, one being a rather large stable for the animals. They had put the horses in there and cleaned and fed them before they went into one of the other buildings.

There wasn't much in the building, there were some beds, seats and cupboards with what Z found out contained food. When she looked at the two brothers curiously Sky explained that the soldiers would come every so often and check things out. They tried to keep a bit of food in there in case people had wondered too long and were out of food. And then Sky had answered her next question about water. There was a covered well in the field in the middle of the buildings.

After they had checked the other building they had some bread and water and decided to sit down for the remainder of the day and then the night.

Once they were settled Jacob began talking again, "I'm glad I bumped into you two, not that I can't handle being by myself, it's not really that hard to do, it's just easier when you're with someone. So did you two travel together? No you couldn't have done that. How did you two end up in the Dying Woods?"

Sky shrugged, "I was heading home. I was attacked."

Jacob looked to Z, "Were you with him? In the woods already?"

Z was glad it was dark and that neither man could see her face, she kept her face on the wall behind the two of them as she answered, "I was…coming after Sky."

At that moment she was sure Sky was staring at her, neither of them had been able to talk and with Jacob she was sure that they wouldn't get a chance to do so. Hopefully Jacob wouldn't catch onto what she was saying though, "You were following my brother? Because of your engagement?"

Z wasn't sure what to say about this. Glancing over at Sky she saw him with his lips pursed in deep concentration. Z thought carefully on how to avoid telling him the whole truth…either of them…and still tell some of it, "The Woods are dangerous. Nothing wrong with wanting to make sure others are able to make it through the path safely."

"You don't have to lie, I understand what you're getting at." Jacob said and then shook his head, "I don't think Father will appreciate that you were alone with a female. Though at least you are going to be married, that'll help."

Sky shook his head, "I think we should sleep, we'll have a long day tomorrow crossing the rest of the Plain. We'll be able to make it if we have a good head start. I'll take the first watch."

After that it got quiet and Z figured that Jacob had fallen asleep. She knew that she should get some sleep but also knew that she needed to talk with Sky. Sighing she sat up a little and looked towards Sky, "I think we need to talk."

"I don't think there is anything to talk about. When we return we'll have some soldiers come and you can go back home."

She sat up the rest of the way, "Is that how you're going to be?"

"What?"

"Be difficult. Maybe if you didn't shut yourself off like this you could actually interact with more people and they might see a good side of you."

Sky stood and walked a few feet away from Jacob and Z, "I don't need to do anything. You helped fight that creature, what more do you want?"

This time Z stood and walked over by him, "I didn't go after you just in the hopes that I could find another hideous beast to fight. Trust me that was the last thing on my mind. I'm not just about to run somewhere to try to get hurt."

"You don't always think things through."

"Neither do you." Sky didn't respond instead he turned his head and looked away. Z sighed, "Look I'm not trying to fight with you. I'm just trying to understand why you left in the first place."

"There was no reason to linger. I spoke with your Father; you do not need to worry about anything."

"Worry about what?" She wasn't sure what he was getting at, he wasn't making any sense and she was starting to get more frustrated.

Sky was quiet for a few minutes before speaking so quietly that she was sure it was so Jacob wouldn't hear if he had woken up, "I apologize about the kiss, I did not mean to force it on you."

She tilted her head, "Force it on me?"

"Look, you made it obvious that you do not wish to follow through with this betrothal, I am only making it easier on you."

"You do not know my mind. You shouldn't assume such things. Did it ever occur to you that you should have spoken with me?"

"I am not a little child."

"I stopped kissing you and you run away."

"You were betrothed and you ran away."

Z stared at him before turning away, "Two different events. Besides if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't have changed what I did."

"Neither would I."

She turned back to him, "Even with how you feel now?"

Sky pursed his lips, "You need to rest; we have a long journey tomorrow." He turned around.

Z wanted to strangle him. Taking a deep breath she realized that she needed to just get it out before she couldn't anymore, "I thought you were still betrothed to my sister and I wasn't going to do anything to hurt her. I can't. Sky…I…" Z stopped unsure of exactly what else to say to the silent man.

Z looked up in surprise as he turned around, "I thought you knew."

"What? That you weren't betrothed anymore? No, I had no idea."

"So you shoved me away because of that?"

"Yes. It's not like you said anything. Instead you came up and just kissed me. That was it."

"I didn't just walk up and…that would have been utterly ridiculous. We were talking."

"And then you kissed me."

"We have established that. I don't think it's a topic for discussion, although perhaps in insanity maybe."

"Insanity. For what? You to kiss me or me to shove you away?"

"I shouldn't have kissed you. Otherwise this whole mess could have been avoided."

Z felt suddenly foolish for following him. If he didn't care about her? But then why did he kiss her, "You regret it?"

"It only caused a huge mess. And pointless arguments," He gestured around the room, "which led us to here."

"Well then you really should have thought through all the resulting events that could have occurred. Then it would have saved you from being here with me."

Sky closed his eyes briefly while clenching his jaw, "I didn't say that."

"You said you wished you hadn't kissed me. How else am I supposed to take that?"

He looked at her closely, "You were glad I did kiss you though?"

"I was under the impression you were betrothed. I was only thinking of that and my sister."

"And that's why you didn't pull away the moment it happened?"

"Considering you say you catch onto things quickly you're a bit slow with this news."

"Slow? I was merely coming to an understanding of what you were talking about."

"It wasn't that difficult."

"Then perhaps you should just say it instead of stepping around the item that you wish to discuss."

The two had moved closer in their quiet argument. The second Z realized what Sky was meaning she leaned up and kissed him. Instead of pulling away he responded and the two shared a kiss that was just as heated as their argument had been. It started out quite fierce and almost desperate but it slowly morphed into a slower kiss, but one still filled with passion.

As Sky's arms encircled her and brought her closer Z had a feeling that this was only the beginning.