Ok, it's cool! I'm alive, you don't have to worry. I updated chapter eight in two weeks and this chapter after 3 months, talk about being a late updater -_-" I'm so sorry about this, but I only finished my exams a few days ago. Hope you like the Chappie^^

Disclaimer: I, sadly, own nothing.

Charmed
Chapter 9: The life we once had.

Alice laid in bed; tears were still falling from her eyes. She looked to her right to find Runo still sound asleep, after all it was the middle of the night. Dimity looked at her master concerned; she hated the fact that there was nothing she could do to make her happy.

Her encounter with Shun was just minutes ago, she was happy to see him, but her happiness didn't matter. Shun was always the suspicious type, and once he had something in mind; he would do anything to prove it. It worried her.

She put much effort in casting a spell strong enough to hide the affects of their bond all these years, but she knew he felt it at the times she had lost control. She wanted him to move on and forget about her, for sooner or later, he would have to. She was surprised enough to know he didn't.

Things were not like this before. She remembers times when everything and everyone lived in peace. There were a truce between the rivals, but it ended so soon. And…it was her fault.

…

She looked through the opened space between the door and the wall. She made sure not to make any sound. Her parents were there, sitting on the throne. A man stood beside her father, she identified him as Shun's father. They were arguing with a woman that had a very long brown hair.

Their voices waked her up from her deep sleep; she left her room and walked in the direction of the voices to reach the throne room. She listened carefully to what they were saying.

"But, her existence was kept a secret from the public as agreed," he father spoke. She sensed the worry and fear in her father's tone.

"Yes, but word has spread that she lives in the castle. Everyone knows that the Darkus holder was found," Verona explained.
"You must understand that if she wasn't to die, the truce shall end,"

The queen started crying, how was she ever to do such thing to her daughter? Her father was feeling the same as his wife. The young Alice was horrified by the news. Why did that woman want her dead? What could she have done? She was only a nine year old girl. Silent tears fell from her eyes.

Marcus eyed Verona with his sharp look. He just didn't trust her.
"Is that the truth…or are you looking to kill our heir. 'She is a young girl. She shouldn't be punished for what the ancients have done' weren't those your words?" he said.

"Time has changed now. If we don't follow orders, our people will rebel! Do you want that?" she half shouted.

"I'd rather die than to kill an innocent girl," Marcus said just as loud. "We won't do it. You may do what ever you please," he continued gaining the coolness of his voice as he folded his arms in front of his chest.

"Very well, then. I have warned and because of your decision, the truce is no more. If you won't kill her, then we will," Verona said and disappeared inside a hidden gate.

Alice quickly put a hand on her mouth to stop herself from gasping as more tears fell down her face. She backed away from the door and started running in the corridor.

…

War started once more on the land that was once peaceful. All gates with the code of 98 were closed and only Voldons were able to open them. Many people from both sides lost their lives. Each time, the wizards moved closer and closer to the castle. With each passing day, her fear grew.

Alice sat in the shade of a tree. She was hugging her legs; placing her head on her knees as her hair fell on the sides of her legs. Her fairy flew by her side, but she just wasn't able to cheer her mistress up.

Shun came closer to his fiancée; he couldn't bear to see her in such condition, but he too, didn't know what to do. He sat by her side and tried to read her mind; just so he would know the problem. He was surprised of what he knew.

"Hey! Don't you ever think that it's your fault! How can you think that, Alicia?" he said and placed a hand around her shoulders. She, slightly, looked up.

"They…they want to kill me, that's why the war started. So it's my fault," she answered, but stopped herself from crying in front of him.

"Even if that's their purpose, everyone in this castle is ready to risk his life to save you," Shun reassured.

"Then I must feel safe if you are the one protecting me," Alice said with a smile. Shun withdrew his arm and put it behind his head as he rested it on the tree.

"I didn't say I would protect you. I don't have time to rescue little girls," he taunted.

Alice puffed her cheeks a little and turned her back to him. But, after a few seconds, she started laughing and turned back to give Shun a hug. He was more than taken aback. After she broke apart, she looked at him, her smile back on her face.

"Thank you," she muttered. Shun shrugged.

"It was nothing," he said, and stood up. "I have to go now, see ya," waving goodbye, he left.

…

"You always knew how to make me feel better," Alice said to herself. That raised the worry Dimity felt.

"Alice…" she said, but Alice didn't seem to hear her.

Abruptly, the crystal placed on Runo's table started to glow. Alice noticed it and quickly wiped her tears away and ordered the bed to descend. She looked at the crystal and it stopped glowing.

No face was apparent on the crystal, just fogy surroundings. She put a blank expression on her face.

"How are you, dear Alice?" the voice asked.

"I am fine, my Lord," she answered, trying not to show her fear and sorrow through her voice.

"Enjoying your little visit," The voice said once more. Alice nodded.
"But, you must remember that I allowed you to see them again in one condition. He is not to know who you are, or I might forget about my promise,"

"He suspects, but I knew he would. I'm not doing anything to confirm his believes. Just as I promised,'' Alice said.

"I hope you are saying the truth, because if you are not…well, you know what'll happen," the voice threatened with a maniac voice.
"I will talk to you again Alice. Remember, you have only a few days left," and with that the call ended.

Alice fell on the ground as a cold shiver went down her spine.

Shun, finally, laid himself down in his bed. His eyes were open, staring at the ceiling. He gave no care into changing his clothes; he was not feeling like to do anything, at that moment.

He stayed up, unable to sleep. He didn't know how Dan managed to after everything he had told him. The table lamp was on, providing some light in the dark room.

The window was opened and it was still snowing outside, yet he didn't shiver out of coldness for he never noticed. He was lost in thought. His expressions showed nothing, but confusion for it all what filled his heart right now.

He was an assassin, a knight, a fighter. He was a brave, fearless young man, but yet his heart ached every time he remembered her. Each one of his companions felt strange about the situation, some even dared to mock him for not forgetting her after all this time.

It was a childish love, they said. A man must not fall this hard for any woman, or she'll be the reason of his destruction. He had heard that a million times and for the million times he tried to follow their words, but he was never able to. It hurt. It hurt, not to know how to let a feeling disappear. He didn't even know if he wanted to let go, somehow, feeling the pain of their separation, feeling that rage and need for revenge kept him alive…Unlike her.

The day he lost her wasn't something he can forget. No matter how much he had wished for that.

…

"Come on! Is that the best you could do?" Shun said as he swayed his sword in front of the knight's face. The tip of the sword was close to knight's face and as a reaction, he froze in place. Shun used this to disarm his opponent, skillfully.

The knight fell on the floor, next to his colleagues who, too, lost to Shun. The king's knights looked at each other, embarrassed they had lost to a fourteen year old.

"If the wizards were as strong as he is, we would have lost the war, already," one of the knights joked. The others laughed with him. They, afterwards, left the courtyard to go and continue their own training. Shun put his sword down and stretched a bit, tired of 'playing' with the knights.

Shun felt a hand pressing on his shoulder, as if using it for support. He looked to his side to find Dan putting his other hand on his knee while gasping for air. Shun raised his eyebrow at his friend.

"Dan! What's wrong?" Shun asked. Dan looked up and took a deep breath then took hold of both of Shun's shoulders and started shaking him while yelling ''She's back!'' over and over. Shun grabbed Dan's hand and threw him on the ground. Dan hit it with a thud.

"What is your problem? And, who came back?" Shun asked while dusting his left arm with his right hand. Dan recovered quickly from the fall and stood back up on his feet.

"I don't know…her name starts with an 'A' and rhymes with 'Alicia'," he said, putting a hand around his chin in a thinking way. Shun looked at him wide eyed.

The war that started in the outskirts of the capital city of Valdolit, spread, and the fighting armies were moving deeper and deeper inside the city. And one day, hundreds of wizards were able to break through the castle's gates.

It was a blood bath with all what the word had in meaning. People were thrown on the ground, bruised badly and bleeding nearly to death. Everyone was trying his best to stop the intruders from entering the royal wing. But, sadly, they were not able to stop them all.

The royal family was murdered for wanting to protect their daughter. But, the young princess was able to run away through a secret passage inside the castle. It had been almost a year since the incident and Shun hadn't seen his fiancée in a long time. Her whereabouts were not known. The knights had to look for her. Shun nearly lost hope.

"Are you speaking the truth or are you playing games on me? Where is she?" Shun asked and it was his turn to shake Dan for him to get his answers.

"She…is…" Dan was not able to complete because of the dizziness he felt.

"Here," a sweet voice from behind Shun asked. Shun slowly turned around, scared that it was his ears deceiving him. But when he turned around, it wasn't a dream. It was truly happening and she was right in front of him, clad in a light green gown.

Shun stood there for a good minute or two staring at her. How he missed seeing that caring smile forming on her face! He then, at the realization of his doing, cleared his throat and extended a hand for her to shake. She took his hand in hers.

"Is that all the welcoming I get? Didn't you miss me… as I missed you?" she asked in a teasing way, but blushed at her last sentence and put her head down. Shun smirked.

"Why should I miss you? Did you even left? I never noticed," he taunted. Alice raised her face as the blush covering it disappeared.

"You are still the same! You haven't learnt how to act like a true gentleman," she said.

"Alicia, you were away for a year, not for a whole century!" Dan mocked and started laughing. He got a punch in the stomach by an angry Shun.

"No, Dan. It's just my fault that I came to see him before mother and father," she said, addressing Shun's parents. She turned around to leave, but a hand around her wrist, stopped her. She turned around to look at the owner of the hand.

"I was joking. I did miss you. Please, don't go," Shun asked in a caring tone. Alice smiled at him and gave him a hug which he returned.

Dan started laughing at the scene, that earned him another punch in the stomach, which he took as a cue for him to leave.

Shun and Alicia took a walk in the garden, afterwards. They kept talking and talking, catching up on what they have missed. They came to sit on the edge of the fountain, present in the middle of the garden, after a while of walking.

"Where have you been all this time?" Shun asked as she laid her head on his lap.

"Well, my mother and I agreed on a hideout for me, in case they were ever to enter the castle. I wasn't to leave, but to wait for the knights to find me. I used my fake name as well so the family I stayed with won't know who I am," she explained. "I am glad I came back to where I belong, by your side," she said as a trace of pink crossed her cheeks.

"Yes, me too," Shun said and the two started leaning in. Their lips were about to touch when an 'Awwwwwww!' was heard. Shun recognized it as his mother's. They quickly broke apart and Shun gave his mother a glare.

"Don't glare at me like that, darling, I couldn't help it," she said and went to sit next to her future daughter in law. "I really missed you, my child," she said and hugged her. Alicia hugged back.

"Did you let her rest, Shun? It's getting dark and she didn't get the time to rest," Seera said and winked at Shun. Shun scratched his head.

"She's right. You better go and rest and I'll see you later," Shun said and the two stood up.

"Then, I shall go to my chamber. Goodnight, Shun, everyone," she said and bowed politely. She gracefully made her way to her old chambers. The knights had told her that her room was set and repaired for her.

"You need to learn how to be a gentleman. You should have bought her flowers in the least," Seera said and pointed to the rose's garden behind them. She smiled and left with Shun's mother to set a welcoming party.

Shun looked at the roses and sighed. He went to the garden and started to pick roses of every colour. He held them in his hand and kept glancing at them for some time, debating whether to give it to Alicia now, or to wait till the morning. He took a deep breath and decided to just give it to her now.

He walked down the courtyard, trying to pick up a phrase to say to Alicia as he gives her the roses. He didn't find anything suiting and just decided to improvise when he gets there.

"We need more water over here!" a sound said from a distance.

"The fire is spreading! We need more water!" another one said. The flowers fell from Shun's hand as he started running to where the voices were.

When he reached the palace, the view was horrifying! Flames in the colours of orange and red were burning the wings of the palace. The burnt wood was falling down. Men struggled to keep the fire under control, no matter how much water they got, it was not enough. Shun grabbed hold of a man's collar.

"What's happening in here?" he screamed in the man's face.

"The royal wing is on fire! Someone burnt the whole place, sir. They say that the princess…is still there, sir," As Shun heard those words, he froze. He let go of the man.

"GO! Go bring more water, hurry!" he said and the man followed the orders.

Shun looked at the palace. His mind was telling him to move, to help save the one he loves, but his body didn't obey. He stood there, unable to move, while people ran around him, rapidly. Sounds of the sizzling fire, screams of the people and splashes of the water mixed themselves in his ear giving him no time to concentrate and think of something.

He stood, in the middle of that mess. He felt helpless and useless. His heart was beating wildly, as worry and fear took over his feelings. He looked at his hands, why wasn't he moving? Why was not he helping? Why? He didn't know.

After hours, the fire was finally put off. The remains of the walls were now black in colour. Shun waited for the rescue team to search for survivors. A part of him, doubted it. The group of men got out of the falling building, but no one was with them. Not even one person. One of them came closer to Shun and put a hand on his shoulder. He showed him a golden, heart-shaped necklace.

"This is the only thing we have found," he said. Shun took it from him as tears started falling from his eyes. He fell to his knees.

"Alicia!" he cried.

After a while, the attackers were identified as wizards. From that moment forward, Shun sworn to burry them with his own hands.

…

Shun quickly shook his head. He didn't know why he was remembering her death while she was alive. Or at least, he hoped so.

"Shun? Are you alright?" Sarity asked him as she flew close to his face.

"Yes, I'm fine. I was just, thinking," he said.

"It looks like you were thinking about an unpleasant memory," she stated and pointed to his face.

Shun touched his cheeks with his right hand. They became, slightly, wet. He had been crying, yet he hadn't even noticed. He wiped them away and hid the hurt he felt behind a cold tone.

"I'm just fine!" he repeated. Sarity sighed and returned to her pearl, still worried about her master.

Alicia, if it was really you, then…please just tell me. For tomorrow is my last chance to know.

That how she 'died', how she survived is another story. I hope you guys liked it. I will do my best to update soon as I have more time now.

R&R

P.S: go to my profile and read 'my upcoming stories' section then go check out the pole I set there. Vote for which story should I write first?