When Zachary next awoke, gray light filtered through the boards on the windows. The wind outside sounded tamer. Instead of the wild pounding of rain on the boarded windows and doors, he heard just a constant rumble of heavy droplets falling. His eyes tightly shut briefly to try to ward off the pounding pain in his head, like hoofbeats stepping upon his brain.

"Good morning sleepy head." Laren's chipper voice grated against his head and he winced.

Zachary sat up and slowly swung his legs over the edge of the couch. Rubbing the back of his neck he looked up at his big sister, "Maybe lower your joy a couple of degrees?"

"No can do, moonling." Zachary groaned. Laren came around to stand in front of Zachary. "The storm has lessened, and the cook has prepared the first big breakfast since the storm came down on us. Aaaaand," she paused, whipped the blanket off of him, "there's steaming tea and a fresh pot of kauv at the table as well for his grumpy Highness."

Zachary glared at her.

Laren glared back with her arms crossed and her slippered foot tapping the wood floor.

"The woman I love has forsaken me. I have given up my appointed position to come to a strange place where I barely know a soul. I have no home, nor a job. Pray, tell me what I have to be joyful about?"

She leveled him with a single glance, then she retorted with rapid-fire precision, "Karigan has not forsaken you. You are not in a strange place. You know Karigan, me, and Stevic. And you just got here yesterday, for gods' sake, give yourself time to find a place to build your dream farm and find a job that you want to do! Now get your arse out of that couch, be social, and come break your fast! You'll feel better when you do."

When he didn't get up and continued to glare at her, Laren suddenly kicked him in the shin. "OW-!"

"Get up!" she shouted.

"What is going on out here?" he heard another voice ask. Zachary glanced back to find Stevic standing and watching them from the base of the stairs.

Laren kicked him again. "Ow! Stop Laren, I'm getting up!" She continued to tower over him as Zachary slowly and carefully extricated himself from the couch cushions. His head pounded but he got to his feet and slowly approached Stevic. He held his hand out to the other (baffled) man, "Good morning Stevic. It was brief the other night, but I'm Zachary Hillander."

Stevic smiled brightly at him, "Aye, good morning to you as well. I am sorry for your treatment so far," Stevic glared pointedly at Laren beside him, "But-"

Karigan came quickly down the stairs and found the trio in their conversation. She stared at Zachary for a moment before she moved. She came beside them and took an additional swipe at Zachary's head, smacking him in the back of it. "Ow! Damnit to all hells Karigan!" he shouted and watched as she never hesitated in walking away.

Stevic spun around to shout at her back, "Karigan Helgadorf G'ladheon!"

Her chuckling was heard as she passed the threshold to the dining room.

Zachary rubbed his aching head as Stevic said with a hand on his arm, "I am so sorry! I promise, she's not usually like this."

Zachary waved him off, "I know. Don't fret about it, she's always been difficult."

"I'M NOT DIFFICULT!" her shout was heard from the dining room. Zachary rolled his eyes.

Stevic shook his head, "Difficult or not, she should not be acting-"

Zachary smiled through his pain, "She's coping, Stevic. Laren is right . . . she needs time." Zachary looked into the other man's eyes, trying to convey his earnestness, "Please."

Stevic sighed, visibly deflating. He held his hand out to Laren, bringing her closer to him, and kissed her lightly on the lips. When he looked back up at Zachary, he smiled slightly, "Come join us for breakfast."

Zachary smiled slightly and nodded, "Thank you. I would love that."

Stevic gently led Zachary down the hall toward the dining room. Inside was a large dining room table topped with a beautiful feast of breads, eggs, various meats, colorful fruits, jams, water, kauv, and a pot of steaming water for tea. Just looking at the meal made Zachary's mouth water, and he didn't even think that was possible. There were 2 servants leaving the room, likely to the kitchen to eat their own meal. And that left Zachary, Karigan, Laren, and Stevic in the room. Zachary asked as he pulled out a chair, "Where are your sisters, Stevic? I haven't met them yet and I'd love to make their acquaintance."

Stevic smiled as he sat at the head of the table, Laren to his right. "They ventured out earlier this morning right as the storm beginning letting up. They help the orphanage when they can and were concerned for the children," he explained.

Karigan silently slid into the chair at Stevic's left, which happened to be next to Zachary. Zachary cleared his throat in an attempt to release some of the awkwardness he felt. He attempted to ignore it as he reached for a mug and the tea pot.

Stevic asked Zachary, "Did you meet Thomas Gillian on the road?"

Zachary stirred in some honey to his tea and replied, "Yes, sir." He chuckled at the memory of their meeting.

Stevic nodded, "Aye, I recognized Duke immediately as I put him in the stable the other night. How did you two meet?"

Zachary chuckled again and Laren grinned at him, "What are you so giggly for, moonling?"

Still chuckling, Zachary started, "We met in Rivertown. I was looking for a place to stay the night and I asked Thomas as I passed by. He . . . um, suggested an inn down the road. We met later that evening over dinner and struck up a friendship. He was actually the one that told me about the storm and convinced me to push through the night to get here."

Laren sighed from her place, "That was still a reckless thing to do, Zachary. Coastal storms are dangerous. It's a miracle that you and Duke made it here unharmed."

"Aye, lad," Stevic added, "I tried to convince Kari and Laren to evacuate as soon as we heard, but they're too stubborn for their own good."

"I wasn't going to leave you alone, da," Karigan spoke up, not looking up from her plate.

Stevic reached out and gripped her hand, "Aye lass, I love you too." Zachary's eyes softened as he watched the exchange. There was a quiet moment where all that was heard was the screeching of silverware on dishes. And then Stevic asked, "Where did Thomas send you, Zachary?"

Zachary smiled again, "The Golden Rudder."

What Karigan had sipped the moment before attempted to go down the wrong pipe as she suddenly inhaled at the shock, sending her into a fit of coughing and hacking. Zachary looked to her and, in a split second of not thinking, put his hand on her back and rubbed it gently. She didn't brush him off, so Zachary took that as a good sign.

Stevic and Laren meanwhile were laughing in their own seats, confusing Zachary all the more as to what was going on. Wiping tears from her eyes, Laren said breathlessly, "Now I know where the giggling came from, moonling. Oh gods . . .!" She broke into laughter again.

With his hand still on Karigan's back, Zachary asked, "What is the matter?"

With her hand covering her face, Laren answered, "The Golden Rudder, the brothel. Moonling," she wiped her eyes again, "On one of Karigan's many missions, there was the accident and she and Rider Duff had to stay at the Golden Rudder for a time."

Zachary's eyes widened as the realization came upon him. That was why it sounded so familiar! Zachary covered his mouth to cover his resulting laughter. His hand still lay on Karigan's back as her coughing began to subside. In fact, Zachary had eyes only for Karigan and failed to notice that Stevic watched them with a slight smile.

Zachary finally removed his hand and took a sip of his honeyed tea and was glad to note that the headache was subsiding slightly.

After the room settled again, Stevic asked Zachary, "So Zachary, what are your plans? I have to admit I was shocked to hear of your resignation."

Zachary sighed and picked at his food. Briefly, he glanced over at Karigan to find that she refused to meet his eyes. "Honestly sir, I'm not completely sure of that myself," he paused, gathering his thoughts. "I don't know how much Laren has told you of me, but I've never wanted to be a lord, let alone a king! My dream has always been to live by the sea and live off of the land." Zachary hesitated and decided to finish, "I have children, that is true. But I want to marry the woman I love and start a family with her." He saw Stevic's and Laren's eyes shoot to Karigan. Zachary looked down at his plate again, suddenly afraid to look at Karigan himself. "That's my dream, sir," he said, quieter this time.

Stevic leaned his elbows on the table, scratching at his beard in thought. And then he asked Zachary, "I hope you can forgive my probing, but can you tell me a little more on your thinking? Why now? And what draws you to live the common life?"

Zachary meditated on it for a bit, reaching out to take a drink from his tea. He aimed to be honest and open with Stevic. Not only did he want to establish a friendship with the man, as Zachary could count the number of friends on one hand. But also it was Karigan's father, the man who he would someday ask for Karigan's hand. If she would so have him. He answered, "To answer your first question, Stevic. I chose to do this now because I felt that it was the perfect time. In my time as king, I got Sacoridia through the war with Mornhavon and Second Empire. I'm sure it will be what I will be remembered for. I didn't do it before, since . . ." he shrugged, "I suppose I didn't have a good enough reason to go against everything I had been trained for."

Zachary glanced at Karigan, and this time, their eyes met. His saddened as he was lost in thought. He didn't leave before the war, before Karigan, because he didn't have a reason to leave. He supposed one could say he feared the unknown. But he was glad that he didn't leave before, because he would have never met Karigan.

Karigan looked away from him, a thin glistening of tears covering her eyes.

"I think what draws me to this life, Stevic, is the freedom that you have," Zachary looked up and met Stevic's eyes straight on. "You are free to forge your own destiny, to create your own path. You are free to live where you want to, and to travel when you want. You are free to find your passions, build your career. You are free to marry who you want without repercussions, to build my family with whoever I want.

"You see Stevic, in the nobility, your path is already set for you at your birth. And it doesn't happen very often that there are changes to that path. I was groomed, trained, for governance and then the crown later. My father and the nobility told me what I would be doing and I was forced to go along with it. I would take the throne, marry a noblewoman, sire children, lead a kingdom, and then die. That's it. And even sometimes, your spouse is already chosen for you at birth or when you're too young to know better. Some might say that I might have feared the unknown. But I really had no reason to divert from that path. I had no hope for a future of my own choosing."

Laren suddenly stood from her chair, circled the table and came to stand behind Zachary. She then bent at the waist to wrap her arms around him. Zachary reached up to hold her arms to him and heard her sniffle in his hair. Tears pricked at his own eyes. As this was as much new information for Stevic, it was also a revelation for Zachary. His eyes fell to Karigan again, to see her with her hand covering her mouth, tears falling from her eyes as well.

Gathering himself, Zachary finished, "It was only after the war was won and after the kingdom's line of succession was assured, that I came to the realization that I needed to do what was right for me. And I know that may sound selfish," Zachary felt Laren shake her head, "but I had spent my whole life up to that point being selfless. I had nothing left to give because I was not being filled." He took in a deep breath, "I knew that Queen Estora would be a fine queen for the kingdom, as she had done exceptional work during my absences during the war. And the Prince Zachary and Princess Esmere will be raised to take up the mantle when their time has come."

Stevic looked at him carefully, "You left your children with no hope of their own futures?"

The knife wrenched painfully in Zachary's heart and tears fell down his cheeks, "I know. I wish I could change things for them, I want to. But there is only so much that I could do for them, even while I was king. I had the crown, but I was essentially shackled."

Laren straightened somewhat, placing a quick kiss to the top of his head before she returned to her own chair. The room fell quiet with the occasional sniffle here and there. And then Stevic asked quietly, "And you've that hope now?"

Zachary looked up at him, "Yes sir. I am finally free." Stevic nodded, his eyes boring into Zachary's. And then in a moment, Stevic went back to his breakfast.

Conversation turned less serious as breakfast wore on and Zachary came to enjoy Stevic's company all the more in that time. As they finished and stood to leave, Stevic pulled Zachary to the side. He quietly said to Zachary, "Would you join me for tea tonight, after supper? I would like to speak with you privately, man to man."

Zachary's heart jumped anxiously in his chest. What could he want to speak with Zachary about privately? Did he know about he and Karigan? He nodded numbly, "Yes sir. I look forward to it."

The other man smiled slightly, "Excellent. See you at supper then, Zachary."

He and Stevic left the dining room together and Laren met them near the front door. Stevic grabbed a cloak from the hanger by the door and asked Laren, "Love, will you show Zachary his room upstairs? I need to go check on the condition of the warehouses."

Laren smiled and nodded, meeting him to give him a brief kiss on the lips before Stevic opened the door and left. Zachary looked around, where had Karigan gone? Laren watched him expectantly, but he hesitated, looking around the living room. And then he spotted the large back door leading outside ajar. Zachary looked at Laren questioningly. She smiled, "There is a large back porch out there with some chairs. She likes to go out and sit."

A combination of hope and fear gripped him, "Do you think . . .?"

She shrugged, then added, "There might me a bit of a chill from the rain still." She gave him a knowing look before leaving him.

Zachary looked between where Laren left and the door, trying to decide his next step. Should he risk it? The moments at breakfast . . . might she be amendable to listen to him now? Taking a deep breath, Zachary went back to the dining room and filled a new mug with hot tea as well as his own. Then he took his chance.

Slowly creeping the back door open, Zachary peeked out. The sky was gray as it rained. But it was a calming rain that had little to no breeze. It was a stark contrast from before! Looking farther, he did find Karigan sitting on the top step of the porch leading to the beach. She had her arms wrapped around her tightly as she looked out at the open sea. Her growing hair was pulled back with a leather band and some tendrils had fallen out of the band, framing her face and blowing with the little breeze.

Zachary carefully stepped out and approached, his heart pounding in his chest. He sent a silent prayer to the gods that they could work out the disagreement. Please, help her see, he prayed.

He came to a stop to the side and behind her and silently offered the extra mug of tea. She looked up at it and then him and considered it a moment. His heart raced and he fought against his hand shaking. And then she took it, looking back out at the sea. Zachary took a step back, considering. Should he stay, or should he leave her be? They didn't speak and the only sound was the rain drumming on the roof above them and the sound of the sea. But she didn't speak, and his heart sank. Feeling defeated, Zachary turned to head back inside.

"Please stay." Zachary stopped in his tracks and looked back at her. She still faced the sea, but she looked back over her shoulder at him. He smiled slightly and carefully moved to sit beside her on the step. They didn't speak, but instead sat in companionable silence, drinking at the tea. Then she said, "I'm sorry Zachary."

Zachary looked at her, his brows furrowed, "There's no need-"

"There is," she retorted, her hands wrapping around the mug for warmth, "I've been cruel to you since you arrived."

"Kari. I understand-" he tried to say. But she stopped him.

"No, you don't," she sniffled and wiped at her eyes. "I understand why you did what you did. And I'm proud of you for taking that step," she looked up at him and he was blown away at the earnestness he saw in her eyes. "But what you don't understand is what I've been feeling.

"I-" Karigan looked back out at the ocean and swiped at her eyes again, "I killed so many for you. I was hurt, I was tortured, for you. I fought for king and country. I am permanently changed because I was a Green Rider. Your Green Rider. I've lost friends who have died for you." She looked back at him, "And when I heard, from a trader coming from Sacor City that you decided to give all of that up. It felt like -it feels like- a betrayal of that sacrifice, Zachary." She stared at him, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Please understand," her quivering voice pleaded.

Zachary set his mug to the side and reached out to take one of her hands in both of his. She was crying, as he bent his head to kiss her hand fervently. Now he understood the anger. All he wanted to do was hold her, but he didn't know how much she would accept. He looked back up at her and a hand reached out to cup her cheek, "I do understand. I do," he said. He hoped and prayed to the gods now that she could see in his eyes the love, forgiveness, and understanding. "I am so sorry that my actions led to you feeling like this. It was not my intention, at all. I am forever indebted to you and to those who were lost in my stead. And I wish," he put more feeling into his next words, "I wish that you had never been hurt and tortured, and had to kill for me. I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you." He kissed her hand again, "I never meant that. And now I really do feel selfish," he laughed mirthlessly.

She shook her head, "No, please. You aren't selfish Zachary. You have never been selfish." Zachary felt more tears threaten to spill over. Without speaking, he held her hand and brought it to his chest and held it close to him. He took a moment to close his eyes and revel in her nearness. And then he felt her move. He looked up to see that she too had put her mug to the side and reached out to him. She put her free hand to the back of his head and pulled him toward her, pressing her lips to his. He felt her tears mingle with his as that single kiss poured out all of the love that had been kept hidden for so long. Zachary pulled her closer to him and wrapped his arm around her. Their lips parted, but they held each other close and cried together. Zachary's heart, in that moment, finally felt whole. He felt more than saw her shake her head as it was buried in his neck, "You're not selfish Zachary. I love you. I love you so much."

In a wave of emotion upon hearing those words, Zachary loosened his other arm and circled her tighter to him. "I love you to Kari. By dearest Kari, I love you so much," he muttered into her hair, tears screaming from his eyes. He breathed her in, unwilling to let her go now that they were together and she was willing. His heart soared in his chest. For a brief moment, he pulled back and looked into her weepy eyes shining with love, "Dearest, I don't ever want to be without you. Never again. I don't know what's next for me, but I want you by my side. I know it's to soon to ask you to marry me, but I would be the happiest man if you allowed me to court you."

Her radiant smile shined bright, despite the gray rainy day. She nodded, "Yes, of course." They laughed together and shared more kisses as the rain drummed around them. Zachary's heart lifted as he held her close to him. For once, he saw the pieces of his life falling into place.

Unbeknownst to them, Laren looked on from the crack in the door. She smiled and nodded to herself in approval. She retreated into the warmth of the estate. And Stevic watched the interaction from a distance on the road to Corsa. Yes, he would need to speak with Zachary tonight. With a click to his horse, he rode on down the road.

Okie dokie. So, when I originally thought up this story, I originally planned on extending out Karigan's anger to last a lot longer. But I recently decided to go this route and think it turned out good.

I hope you guys enjoy! As usual, review/follow/favorite. Until next time.