Something touches my shoulder and I wake up with a jolt, a loud gasp exploding out of me. Hale steps back with a curse, pulling his hand back quickly. I have a moment of horrible, heart pounding confusion where I can't remember where I am or what I'm doing here.

"Gods Talia, you scared me," Hale whispers loudly, bracing himself against my bed. It's still dark and I have no idea what time it is.

"I scared you?"I mean to sound incredulous but it just comes out shaky. I press a hand against my forehead, trying to gather my thoughts. Struggling to cling to my dream as it dissolves, I have a strange feeling that I was dreaming about my mother.

"It's time for our training, unless you thought you'd take the day off and sleep in.'' Hale's tone of voice tells me exactly what he thinks of that.

I blink, confused. Weren't we fighting? Is this some weird thing friends do where they pretend like nothing happened? 

I'm not very good at pretending.

"Perhaps that's exactly what I plan to do. You know, being such a weakling and all, I thought I'd give up training and trying all together, and just laze around all day.''

"Oh, stop being petulant.''

"Did you enjoy getting punched so much that you're here for a second one?''

"Don' t use that snarly tone of voice with me,'' he cheerfully whispers." I brought you a present. An apology of sorts.''

"A present?'' I perk up, throwing back the blanket and sitting up to see if he's holding anything. Then I remember I'm still mad at him. "I mean, why am I not surprised you'd try to buy my forgiveness with a present? Typical male response.''

"You don't want it then?'' I can't see his eyes in the dark but I know they're laughing at me.

"No thank you.'' He gets up like he's going to leave. ''But you could just leave it here if you'd like.''

Hale chuckles lowly and something in my stomach warms. I'm still hurt but vastly relieved to see that the playful, kind Hale I've come to know is back.

"You only get your present if you get up and come train with me. It's waiting for you at our clearing.'' I don't miss the way he says ours rather than his.

"Gods, I'll give you each a present if you'll shut the hell up,'' someone that sounds suspiciously like Garth grumbles from a bed to our left.

I have to cover my face to smother my giggles, but I pull myself from the warmth of my bed and tug my boots on, lacing them up tightly.

Twice, I catch a peek of Hale's smug face as I follow him through the trees and consider turning around just to irk him. But I can't deny that I'm burning with curiosity over the "apology present". Plus, I don't have it in me to turn him away when he's clearly going through the effort to mend things between us. 

I briefly consider apologizing for punching him in the face but decide against it. He deserved it, even he can't say otherwise.

Once we reached the clearing, my eyes immediately go to the package sitting on the big boulder. It's wrapped in bulky cloth so it's hard to tell anything about it expect that it's long and relatively flat. 

I glance around. Since there's nothing else out of place, I assume it's my present. Unless he's going to have a bunch of servants bring me a huge breakfast feast. My mouth waters that the thought. I miss the way Father makes biscuits with crispy brown edges and slathers them in strawberry jam. I sigh wistfully and Hale shoots me a strange look.

He goes over to the parcel then turns to me and, for a second, looks like he wants to say something. I feel oddly nervous. I've never gotten a present from someone who isn't family and definitely never from an attractive young man.

"Here." He thrusts it at me, not meeting my eye, and I think that maybe I'm not the only one feeling uncomfortable with this. I feel a little better.

I take it and fold back the layers of cloth until a sword emerges. It's a simple short sword with a wire wrapped hilt, the cross guard curving slightly downwards. Though it's simple, the blade is free of any nicks, no wear visibly anywhere. It looks like a sword that is meant to be underestimated by your enemies until they find it deep in their gut.

''I got permission from Sebastian and had it made for you. With how much of a struggle we've been having finding you a sword, I thought perhaps making you one might be a better approach.'' Hale rubs the back of his neck, eyes on the sword.

I don't know how to respond. I wonder what it says about me that the sight of this sword sends my heart fluttering more than a new dress or bouquet of flowers ever could. Lady Bedivere would be appalled. 

Struggling to find something to say, I grab the sword, feeling the perfect fit of my hand against the cool wire grip. I give it an experimental swing, surprised and pleased with how light it feels.

"Do you like it? I know I should have asked first but I wanted it to be a surprise. I know it's rather plain but-'' Hale reaches for it, still not looking at me. I catch his hand with my own.

"It's perfect. Thank you so much.'' I give his hand a gentle squeeze, fingers wrapped warmly around my own. Green eyes meet mine and he looks pleased, a small smile pulling up the corners of his mouth. It's like the sun coming out from behind the clouds, stunning and warm.

"Enough for your forgiveness? I said some cruel things, things I didn't mean. I hope you know that. I don't know your situation or the things you've been through. I don't even know your reason for being here.'' He exhales loudly. "I had no right to judge and my anger was misplaced. I'm truly sorry.''

I pretend to think about it for a second, even though I'd decided to forgive him the second I followed him here. "Well... I suppose since you're one of my only friends, I have no choice but to forgive you.''

"The power of friendship prevails again,'' he declares grandly, making me laugh. I think that we realize at the same time that I'm still holding his hand. Feeling daring and flushed with happiness, I let my touch linger for a second longer before letting go.

Hale looks away, cheeks flushed from the cold. 

"You can start with the basic stretches," he finally says, reaching out to take the sword from me. I pout, not wanting to hand it over but he gives me a stern look. "You can use it when we have sword training with everyone else later. I don't think it's going to help you much with your stretches, unless you're looking to impale yourself."

I sigh, letting him take it and set it back on the boulder. We'll play later, I promise it silently, thinking to looks rather lonely without my hand wrapped around its hilt. 

___________

By the time that sword training finally starts, I'm jumping with excitement. Hale gave me the leather scabbard and belt that goes with the sword, letting me wear it over to the training grounds before I had to put it with the others. The weight around my hips felt right. 

"I see you have a new toy to play with.'' Maddox says lowly, coming over as I straps my sword back on. "Does the captain treat all of his whores this special, or is it just you?''

I ignore him. With most of the boys keeping an eye on me, Maddox must have decided on verbal abuse as his new plan of attack. Growing up with a family who was a constant source of gossip, I can handle a few insults.

"You tell me,'' I say coolly. His face goes red and he thinks for a second before stomping off, clearly finding verbal sparring not as rewarding as brute force.

Pushing him from my mind, I wave Gareth and Elias over, wanting to show off my new sword. They seem underwhelmed, much to my disappointment.

"Yep, that is a sword... It sure looks pokey.'' Gareth eyes it critically. "But why is it so stumpy?''

"Hey! Watch the way you're talking to her.'' I rub my sword protectively. "'I'd like to see you use a giant sword when you're my size.''

"Her? Last time I checked, swords are things, not ladies.'' He leers at my sword. "Trust me, I would have noticed if it had breasts.''

I smack him on the arm. "She's definitely a her and she's going to stab you if you keep speaking about her so disrespectfully.''

"My apologies.'' He bows extravagantly. "And where did you acquire such a stumpy- I mean, lovely, lady sword?''

"Hale made it for me actually.'' I can feel a big embarrassing grin on my face but can't seem to get rid of it.

"Technically,'' Hale says, coming up behind me. ''The blacksmith made it. I simply gave him the info he needed to make sure it worked for you.''

"Well done Hale, you sure do know how to woo them.'' Gareth claps Hale on the shoulder. "After all, what girl wants flowers? Swords are obviously the sure way into a girl's heart.''

"You're just jealous that you didn't think of it first,'' Hale says, brushing his hand off of his shoulder.

"That's certainly true- but you don't have to rub it in.'''

Elias is rolling his eyes so much that he has to be feeling dizzy.

"Moving past my eternal jealousy at Hale's superior wooing techniques... How did you get the blacksmith to make you a sword? He growls at me like an animal if I ask him for anything.'' Gareth pulls his lips back and bares his teeth like some sort of grotesque animal. 

On top of being abnormally cranky at any given time, I've also heard that the blacksmith here is notorious for drinking on the job and taking forever to get anything done.

''He owed me a favor,'' Hale says, smiling mysteriously. 

Gareth and Elias look at each other in astonishment. But no amount of prodding will get him to tell why the blacksmith of all people owed him a favor. Giving up, they meander away to spar, leaving Hale and I alone.

"Okay, spill it. Why did the blacksmith owe you a favor?''

"Let's just say that I found him in a compromising position with a lady from the castle,'' Hale mock whispers with a mischievous looking glint in his green eyes.

I can help the loud gasp that escapes. "Please tell me it was Lady Bedivere.'' I would kill to have something over her, especially something as scandalous as that. Oh, the damage I could do with that soft of information.

''No, it-'' Hale stops and gives me a puzzled look. ''How do you know Lady Bedivere?''

I freeze, realizing my mistake. As if my association with Sebastian isn't weird enough already, there's really no reason for a nobody like me to even know who Lady Bedivere is. My brain spins.

''I met her on my first day here. Sebastian needed to speak to her about something and she took an instant disliking to me. How do you know her?'' I'm trying to sound nonchalant but Hale still looks confused.

"I met her a few times when I came here with my father. She was Queen Evelyn's lady in waiting and she just never left. She was always here when we came to visit.'' He speaks almost absentmindedly, like he's thinking about something else. I just hope it's not how much he hates me lying to him.

"Oh yeah, I remember Sebastian mentioning your father is a general or something?'' I'm desperately trying to change the subject.

"Yes.'' 

A short response is what I always get when I inquired about his family. He never talks about them for some reason, not that I can judge him. I avoid talking about mine as much as possible too, but I have Willow to protect. I wonder if he is protecting someone as well. I try to not dwell on it too much, as it makes me sympathize with his frustration at not knowing a little too much.

We spar and I'm thrilled to feel how quick and light the sword seems in comparison to the swords I'd been using previously. Even Hale comments that I seem more balanced and in tune with my weapon. I feel like a warrior princess from one of the stories Mother used to read to me and Willow. 

Then, Sebastian comes hurrying down the path and heads straight towards us. He usually finds an excuse to come over and visit, giving pointers or making suggestions. I can tell that he misses Hale and their easygoing, brotherly relationship never fails to make me smile. But I've been seeing less of him lately, his struggles with handling defense by himself taking up so much of his time. Especially when, he tells me that the rest of the council seems content to just wait for Willow to handle it.

Today though, I can tell something is wrong. His hair is all messy, like when he gets agitated and runs his hands through it. His mouth is a single tense line on his face. My stomach sinks.

He gives Hale a nod and tired smile. "Talia, I was hoping to have a quick word with you.'' Hale takes that as his cue to move away, giving us some space to speak.

"I don't want to alarm you," Sebastian says, leaning in close, his voice lowered. "But that friend of mine who works as one of Willow's personal guards, Kassia- she came and found me this morning. Apparently something happened last night and there was a lot of screaming coming from Willow's room, causing the guards to run in. Kassia said that there have been multiple nights like this now, but the guards have been forbidden from talking about it.'' 

At my alarmed look, he leans over and gives my shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Don't worry, I've been told that she's unharmed.''

"I have to go see her. Right now.'' Anything else was out of the question. I should have known something was wrong when I didn't hear from her for a few days.

"You can't go storming into the castle. They won't let you in without permission and especially not with a weapon!" He gestures a little wildly at the sword strapped to my side.

"Then take this-" I struggle with the belt for a second then throw everything at him. He barely catches it. "And you'd better hope no one tries to stop me."

"Talia-" Sebastian starts but I'm off and running before I can hear what he's trying to say. Probably something along the lines of me getting thrown in the dungeon or just waiting until I get permission to see Willow. If something is wrong with her, I'm not going to wait. And I don't need anyone's permission to see my sister.