Also later,

"Commander Hahn," I greeted the General's strong son after the wedding meeting. Father had to stay behind to discuss some pressing matters of the war, but I delighted in the idea of spending some time with whom he chose for me.

"Princess Yue," he said, startled, as I approached him. "How nice to see you again. But, please, as I said before, call me Hahn."

"Oh, yes, of course. Well, Hahn, I was about to ask you if you would accompany me on an evening walk through the gardens."

With another gallant bow, he said, "Of course, My Lady. Or, Yue, as you prefer?" He peered up at me from his lowered state.

"Yes, Yue is just fine," I said sweetly as a light blush crept across my cheeks. My, was he handsome. And polite! I wanted so desperately for us to be close - romantically speaking, of course. As he stood there, low to the ground, looking up at me, a lock of hair fell into his face. It took some effort, but I resisted the temptation to lift it away from his sparkling eyes. Hahn simply smiled and shook his head, and his hair swept perfectly back into place. A soft giggle escaped my lips at the sight. Once he righted himself, we strolled down the corridors of the palace that would lead us through to the gardens. Along the way I thought I should tell him what I had on my mind. "Hahn," I began slowly. I said his name experimentally, still unsure if I was comfortable saying it. But I have to mention, it had a certain ring to it. It was nice to say his name, and just his name. Without a title.

"Yes, Yue?" He turned to face me.

"Not that I am trying to press this on you, but I would like to remind you that, someday, we are to be married,"

He chuckled, but not to be rude. "Well, yes, I think we are both well aware of that."

"Well then, is it truly appropriate to bow to me?"

Hahn squinted and looked off somewhere as if there was something he had forgotten, then continued walking. "What do you mean?"

"What I am asking is that you do not bow to me. If we are to be wed, then we shall be as equals - neither one of a higher status. And, apart from that, it is God that truly deserves to be bowed to, for he gave life to all, not to mention social statuses."

"Ah, but Yue, we are not wed yet! And since that is so, you are still a princess, and I an officer in the navy."

"That is true. But still..."

Hahn stopped walking for a moment and faced me again. He lifted his hand, but he hesitated, and set it back down.

"No, please, do what you want," I said softly.

An inkling of a smile played on the corners of his lips as he raised his hand again, and held it against my cheek gently, as if cradling a baby seal-bird. "For you then, I will do as you have requested."

My heart skipped a beat when he touched me. The warmth of his hand seeped through his glove to my skin, and I was thankful for the glove, so that he would not have felt how warm my cheeks had grown on their own. "Thank you."

For an instant, it seemed almost as if he was leaning toward me, but it must have been a trick of the moonlight because his hand remained there for a moment longer before he returned it to his side. Again I had to refrain myself. I didn't want to appear too eager by immediately reaching for his hand...by wrapping my fingers around his...by swinging our hands back and forth romantically... Ack! Stop it, Yue. This is only your second time alone with him!

"Hahn," I began again.

This time he didn't stop walking. It seemed his mind was elsewhere. "Yes, Yue?"

"What is your favorite color?"

"My favorite...color?" He asked, still distracted. "Why would you want to know that?"

"Well, I figured I ought to know something about you," I said as we toured the gardens. By an older ice carving I began to absent-mindedly run my fingers along the grooves in the waves that were a part of the Great Flood in 40 BG. Or maybe it wasn't absent-mindedly, maybe it was more out of nerves. We had only met the other day and already I had at least twice mentioned the wedding-to-be. "We shall be spending a lot of time together soon, and I, well, I thought we should start small, and kind of...I don't know, work up to the deeper topics."

"Deeper topics...?" His tone fell slightly, as if he had lost some interest in the conversation.

"Well, I, uh," I politely cleared my throat. As a princess and as a girl, it was unflattering to have to stutter - especially in front of someone of great importance. When I had collected myself, I simply clarified. "Subjects not worth speaking of at this time. Now, as for an answer...?"

Puzzled, he turned his head toward me. At least at that time I knew he was paying attention. Or, he wanted me to think that he was. "What was the question again?"

It wasn't a difficult question to ask, nor repeat, so I did so without complaining.

"Blue."

"Oh. Of...course." Silently I had hoped for something a little different. But I supposed that blue was an easy color to come across here. Unless... "What shade of blue?"

Again Hahn squinted in confusion - with a slight hint if irritation? "What does that matter? Blue is blue, isn't it?"

"I-I suppose," I said. His change in tone surprised me. "What I meant to ask was whether you preferred light blue over dark blue, or the reciprocal, or perhaps somewhere between...?"

"No, no preference. Just...blue."

"Ah. Okay." I didn't insist. Instead, I redirected the topic of conversation. "What are the tasks assigned to you while on duty as Commander?"

There was a sudden burst of light that illuminated his pale blue eyes, and his step seemed lighter and faster. "Now you've done it!"

At that point I wasn't sure what to think. Was he excited? Upset? Angry? Were these emotions caused by me? Or by some outside force? Carefully I asked my next question, so as not to cause another outburst. "Um, might I ask what I have done?"

"Asked a question I can answer with enthusiasm!"

"Oh! Then I am glad to have pleased you," I said. I prompted him to answer my previous query.

"Oh, right. Of the five commanders of the entire navy, I am the youngest, by nearly half of the others' lifetimes. My job is to 'command' three fleets out of fifteen," he began. His voice indicated his strong sense of self-worth, and for good reason, I supposed. "There are a lot of technicalities to the job, but I can spare you the details for now. They are incredibly complicated and it might be a little difficult for someone like you to understand."

I couldn't help but feel insulted by his latter comment, but I dismissed it almost immediately, for surely he did not mean to be rude. Besides, I was impressed with how well he could handle himself. He was in charge of three fleets after all. Is that not worth encouragement? "Congratulations. You are very accomplished for one so young."

I must not have made myself very clear to him. He took offense to my praise, I could see, for he did not sound angry, but he did seem to restrain his true thoughts. "Don't think that just because I am young, I am ignorant and inexperienced."

"That...that is not what I intended to say," I said, directing my gaze toward my feet. "Truly, I was only trying to support you. I apologize for doing anything otherwise."

Hahn merely brushed my concerns aside and his expression softened. "No worries. If you still have any doubts, however, I could always demonstrate to you the strength and skill I possess."

"Oh?" I asked, surprised, as I raised my head to look at him. "And how might you do that?"

Again, he appeared calm, but his voice was barred. "Do you question my abilities?"

"No, of course not," I answered, attempting to remedy the situation. "I am only curious. I have yet to see you in action, and is it not natural for a girl to want to...to know what her fiance is capable of?"

"Well, I suppose that's one way of putting it. Alright then, if you really wanna see some action, follow me to the armory! There I can show you what I can do."

"Oh, Hahn, I couldn't!" I protested in a soft, but urgent voice. My eyes flickered back an forth nervously. "I-I mean, I shall come to see you, just...not at this time. It is getting late, and seeing as it would be you and I alone, what might people say?" My eyes continued to dart around the gardens, searching for eavesdroppers or perhaps for some gossip who would love to share a story of scandal. With it being so long past noon, and with little moonlight to go by, there was no clear indication if anyone was lurking about. Suddenly I felt very tired, and I requested that Hahn might escort me back to my bedchamber.

After a quick compliance to my request, Hahn continued our conversation where we left off. "As you like, Yue. In three days time, then, meet me in the sparring ring in the basement of the East Wing."

"Of course. I shall meet you there in three days time."

My acquiescence was given in its entirety as soon as we reached the entrance to my bedchamber. I said a hasty farewell as I slowly shut the door. It wasn't my intention to be rude, but...I am guilty in that I feel awkward. Even though my marriage is to be less than a year from now, it is still uncomfortable to have Hahn so near to my most personal rooms. How I wish Mother were here with me to discuss this with me. She always knew the right thing to say...

All discomfort aside, I am glad to have spent some time with Hahn today. In general he seems like someone who has achieved much beyond his years. What should it matter if he has slight shifts in mood from time to time? That is a natural occurrence for teenagers of any gender, correct? He will surely grow out of it in time. I should like to think that someday he would make a fine husband.

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Kat: Hey guys! Thanks for reading my next chapter! Sorry it took so long to complete. I've had some maaaajor loads of hmwk lately, but as soon as I got a break, I had some equally torturous writer's block! Is there anything more frustrating? So...anyway, here's the deal. I'm still trying to come up with things for Yue to do in the year before she turns 16 (when the Gaang shows up), but what I did here was foreshadow a lil of what Hahn will turn out to be like later. For now though, she still seems pretty set on trying to get to know him so that she may one day be happily married. I'm probably giving away a lil too much here, but y'all probably already know where this is going anyway, so...idk! You tell me! Seriously, if you have ANY ideas, please tell me. Leave a review with any questions, comments, or concerns(or ideas!) you have & I'll get back to you asap!

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Also, I have NOOOO earthly idea what all the positions/tasks are in the navy, so I'm just kinda makin' it up as I go along. Please no negative comments!