The blisters on her feet were not going to stop her, now. Neither was the smoke in her eyes. Or the fires burning around her. It most certainly wasn't going to be the men shooting her people down. Logan's men were still wearing their purple uniforms overlapped with silver armor. They did not frighten her. Not while she was wielding her sword strongly in one hand and commanding her troops with the other. She looked behind her. There was Ben, aiming his rifle with precision. She looked in front of her. And there was Walter. He held out his hand to her, motioning to move forward.

"We have to keep moving," she shouted.

Everywhere around her, buildings were crashing to the ground. That and the roaring flames were the only things she could really hear. There was a loud boom coming from the wall above her. She could only guess it was the cannons, warding off anyone trying to get into the gate. Her heart sunk when she realized it wasn't just her men scrambling around trying to get somewhere. It was the civilians, too. Most of them had made it down the dock. There wasn't any firepower down there and the boats were loading up with people trying to escape. The Aurorans acted as ferrymen and lead the civilians to a safer shore. But others… they were trying to get to the castle. They thought the walls would be safe. But no one was getting through that gate. Not while Logan was still cowering at his throne.

In all of its burning rage, a house toppled onto the road. Eleanor jumped back to avoid the coals that were slung into the air.

"We'll have to go around," Walter shouted.

"We don't have time," she replied, looking around for a way out.

"Through here," Ben motioned to a house at their right.

It was on the road below them and a hole had been burned through the top. The fire had somewhat subsided, allowing a passage through the home. But it wouldn't be for long. The fire may have calmed, but the house would crumble any moment.

"You're bloody crazy, Finn. But let's move it. Before we get stuck out here."

Walter jumped through first. He immediately put his arm over his face. The smoke was almost too much to bear. But they didn't have much of a choice. Ben soon followed. And after seeing the floor boards holding the two men, Eleanor leapt in after them. She felt the house shake when she landed.

"Go! Go!" she yelled.

They took off, jumping off the second floor to the floor below. The stairs had been taken out some time before they arrived. It was an obstacle course to the door. They dodged falling planks, jumped over pieces of broken furniture, and tried to avoid the flames reaching out to them as they ran by. Walter made it out and ducked to take cover. But they had reached a rendezvous point where their men had already made progress. Ben soon followed. He sprinted to the middle of the street before turning around. He had just caught his breath when he realized Elle hadn't made it out. And the top of the house had begun to collapse.

"Elle!" he shouted.

"Get out of there," Walter called after her.

Inside, Eleanor had been caught by a falling plank. It had knocked the hat right off her head and left a nasty gash above her brow. She couldn't see out of her left eye. And with the smoke and heat around her, it stung worse than the biggest hornet. She could hear pieces of the roof crashing above her. She had no other choice but to run blindly to the doorway ahead.

Holding his breath and praying the roof could somehow stay up, Ben started walking toward he house. He was about to go inside when Eleanor came bursting through the door, running right into him. He caught her by the arms.

"What the hell happened?"

"I got knocked around a bit," she said, trying to keep her left eye shut tight. "I lost my hat."

"The old mercenary hat?" he chuckled. "I told you not to bring it."

"It was fitting," she panted.

He lifted the hair from her face and examined her wound.

There she went. Walking by him as he saluted her. The castle was right in front of them, now. There was no turning back. The crown would be on her head by morning. But why was he so nervous? Why was he thinking about stopping her? Images ran through his head. Carrying her through the desert. And then the night after, holding her while she cried in fear for Walter. And then just only minutes ago when he was going risk his life rushing into a building that was bound to collapse to save her life. That was when it hit him. It was now or never. Ben knew it would be a matter of time before he quite possibly never saw Eleanor again. He looked at her back as she went to walk away. It was exactly like when he had first met her. Torn clothes, soot covered face, covered in blood, and a fire in her eyes. He had waited long enough for that kiss.

"Elle," he shouted.

But before she could do anything, he grabbed her by the arm and spun her around. She couldn't say anything. Not with him right on top of her. Not while he was kissing her. He just placed his lips right over hers, his hands clenching her arms. Her eyes were wide open. But as he felt her relax, he loosened his grip. Then she closed her eyes. The noises around her were suddenly muffled. It was like there was no fire or gunshots. She could hear Ben's breathing. The smell of his smoky clothes. And the taste of salt. She had enough slack in her arms now to move them. And she grasped his forearms as he still held onto her.

No one said anything. They all just stopped and stared in awe. They watched quietly as they stopped. They didn't look at each other. Their eyes still closed, not wanting to open them to see the chaos around them. Their foreheads were still touching. And all was still and silent.

"Ahem," Walter grunted noisily.

Eleanor's eyes bolted open. She wiped the remaining saliva from her mouth and let go of Ben. Feeling rather proud of himself, he tilted his head back and looked at the stars smiling down on him. He released Elle, letting his hand glide down the side of her arm. He shot Walter an eye-raising glance and a cheeky grin. It was all Walter could do to keep his mouth shut and shake his head.