Laughter and joy echoed from the friends as they shoved the two centaurs into a room. Mae and Earnest were very much annoyed by this whole thing. They knew what their friends were doing and neither wanted this. But as the door slammed shut and locked, the two centaurs was stuck in there, completely alone.

It was a small room with very little space to sit. A single candle stood on a table with two plates of food. It gave the soft feel of a romantic evening. Which neither wanted, or cared about. The two stayed quiet for a solid five minutes, before Mae coughed and tried to speak.

"They don't mean anything by it," Mae straightened her stance. "They just want us to get along."

"Their help is pointless," Earnest replied.

"I don't think it's all that bad."

"This is our lives!" Earnest stomped his hoof on the floor. "The war is over. Now let's go our separate ways."

Mae shook her head. "You don't see what they see." She grabbed a drink, only to let go of it.

Earnest huffed at the plate of food. "I do not care for it."

"Neither do I," Mae's tone was stern and harsh. She leaned her head away from the plate. "The war is over!" She affirmed his words.

Earnest placed a hand over his chest. "Yes... but at what cost?" His eyes looked over the room, despite the fluffy and romantic feel, this place looked empty to him. "We have lost too many for victory."

Mae swallowed hard. "Indeed, we have." Her voice cracked as she said those words. She took a drink of water and clean her throat.

Earnest nodded and walked forward. He sat down on a chair while Mae did the same. "Do you think the others will be okay if we just eat and leave?"

Mae lowered her head. "No... but I suppose it's better than standing here and doing nothing." She reached out for some food and took a bite. It tasted bitter, but still good. "Maybe afterward we sneak away drink something harder."

"Like what? Gort's milk?" Earnest smirked.

"You know very well he sneaks alcohol in there all the time." Mae grinned back. "Though, if anything Vankar has the harder stuff."

Earnest raised an eyebrow. "Which are you after? Getting drunk or having a horrible hangover afterword." He took a larger bite of his food. "Or both?"

Mae shook her head. "Both would be great." She gulped down her drink. "I can't believe I'm saying that."

"Why not?" Earnest asked.

"Because my father hated drinking alcohol." Mae scraped up more food. "He would always say that it dulled the senses."

Earnest chuckled. "So he wouldn't drink?"

"Not at all." Mae's face scrunched up. "He preferred a fine tea. Unlike our glorious hero!" She held up her empty drink. "He preferred a strong and dark coffee. The more bitter the better!"

"Sounds like they were both brave men." Earnest finished his plate.

"They were both heroes." Mae chomped the final bits of her food. "And now they're gone..." She blinked her eyes. "But I should be thankful for what they've..." She stopped herself from finishing her sentence.

Earnest watched Mae stay silent for a solid moment. Eventaully he sighed returned the subject. "Those fools outside, can't they see this peace is only temporary."

"Is it..." Mae grumbled and turned away. "Can't we make it last forever..."

He picked up a fork and threw it across the room. "They are blinded by peace."

"And..." Mae looked down at her food. "And maybe you are blind too."

"What?!" Earnest raised an eyebrow.

Mae took a deep breath. She wasn't sure how to continue so she began with a question. "Why did they choose now to try and push us together?"

"What do you mean?" Earnest rubbed his chin. "I'm not certain why."

"Becuase we are both blind..." She placed down her fork and leaned her eyes up to him. "Blind to the peace they see."

Earnest sat up and was shocked by her sudden statement. "You weren't there!" He stopped himself and tried to continue with a better voice but rage tipped each continuing. "I lost everything in the battle of Uranbatol!" He threw down his hands. "I watched as each of my soldiers were tortured and killed!"

"I know!" Mae shouted back just as loud. "But you weren't there either in Granseal when I watch my father get ripped in half by that monster!"

"Your father was a soldier too!" Earnest growled. "Protecting his king."

"We found you in a jail cell. You watch your soldiers die from a distance." She knocked the table out of the way and got right in his face. "Meanwhile, I was forced to hold my father as he took his last breath!"

Tears finally broke from both of them.

"You..." Earnest stepped back. "You got to be by his side in a moment of silence..." His head dropped. "Meanwhile, I watched them leave this world to my screams. You held his hands... I was forced to hold cold iron bars."

Water poured down both their faces. Mae never cried... Earnest never cried. They were soldiers and had been raised to only see strength in fighting, never showing emotions. This was the first time for either of them. Both of them eventually fell to their knees, their foreheads touching the ground. Their shoulders laid upon one another, still weeping.

"Is this what peace feels like?!" Earnest asked.

"I don't know!" Mae replied.

"I hate it..."

"I hate it too..."

The next day, the two centaurs exited the room and went back downstairs. Everyone watched them carefully as they walked past. Mae and Earnest kept their eyes down, trying their hardest to ignore them. Even after they reached the middle of the hall, they didn't say a word to each other.