"Nora, sheath your swords. My sister and I need to have a private conversation. If bad comes to worse and we have to fight, don't interfere unless I call for your help. Is that clear?" She whispered loud enough for only me to hear.

However, I guess Tania heard, because she smiled satisfactorily. I guess that answered Queen Alea's question. She couldn't have heard what Queen Alea had said unless she was really a Mylidred.

There was actually only one Mylidred in my generation and he had beautiful grey eyes, soft silky black hair and was easily the most beautiful man I'd ever seen. I closed my eyes, remembering how beautiful his eyes looked and how those eyes twinkled when he was with me just for a moment.

I opened my eyes to see the same grey eyes staring back at me from behind Tania and I felt like I was I was going to get a heart attack.

I blinked multiple times just to be sure I wasn't hallucinating and when I was sure I wasn't, I turned to The Queen. The same man I grew up with was right here and he was standing right behind Tania. I really wanted to strangle that bastard but I didn't want to face him yet.

"But, Your Majesty..."

"No. Go out. Get some fresh air or something with the young man behind Tania. You'll thank me later. I need to have a word with my sister."

" Your Majesty, I..."

"Nora!"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

I bowed low then turned back to our guests. I glared at the man that stood behind Tania. If looks could kill, he'd be twenty feet under by now. I was so going kill that bastard. His eyes crinkled as the corners as they twinkled mischieviously at me and I knew he was amused. I was definitely going to slap that amusement off his face.

"Kerran, why don't you go sightseeing with... Nora here while her Queen and I have a chat." Kerran nodded at her once.

'He was working with her?! More reasons to kill him!' I flexed my fingers.

"Your Majesty." I bowed to The Queen. She nodded. I turned to Kerran, giving him a look to follow me.

I didn't pay attention to Tania. I let the Queen handle her because she wished me to, not because I wanted her to. I walked away from them, heading towards Kerran's direction and stopped right in front of him, giving him a once-over.

"So..." He trailed, probably expecting me to make conversation with him. I wasn't in the mood for a bloody conversation. What I really wanted to do was strangle the life out of this idiot.

I titled my head at him giving him my best sarcastic smile for a while before wiping it off my face again. I simply turned around and marched away, quite quickly for that matter, not caring whether he was following or not.

Apparently he was, because he ran and caught up with me, opting to walk beside me, and I wondered whether he knew 'when someone was trying their best not to strangle him to death' or not.

"You're mad." He pointed it out and I snorted and continued my march away from him.

Like I didn't already know that!

"You don't say." It came out sarcastically. You can't really blame me.

"Yup. Most definitely mad. And she's mad at me at that. Even worse." He murmured loud enough for only me to hear. I ignored him as I marched past him. Or rather tried to march past him.

He caught my arm before I got too far and pulled me into a hug.

"Nora, Nora, Nora..." He whispered right beside my ear. His arms caged mine along with my body in a hug. His breath was hot against my ear, making me shiver involuntarily.

I didn't protest, I didn't even struggle. I just stood there. He was the only man who could do that to me, (hug me, I mean), and unfortunately he was on Tania's side.

And as though he could hear my thoughts, he spoke, "I know you don't trust me. You might not even believe half the things I'll say, and you would get even more angry with me, but before I tell you, I need you to do something for me."

"And why do you think I'll be willing to do anything for you? Do I look like I'm in a cheerful mood right now? Even if I was, do you think I'll be willing to do anything for you?!" My voice was getting louder now.

"Nora please." There seemed to be pain in his eyes and his tone sounded extremely genuine.

"What is it you want, Kerran?" I was gritting my teeth in annoyance as each second passed.

"I need you to promise me something." His eyes were pleading with me already and he hadn't even asked what he wanted me to promise.

"What?!" My tone was snappy and impatient now. The nerve of this bastard. He had the audacity to still ask me of a promise.

"Promise me that you'll try to hear me out and see things my way before making any conclusions about me. Please."

I simply stared at him.

"You don't even need to forgive me. Just try to understand. I could spend the whole of eternity begging your forgiveness."

I looked dow, away from his eyes for a while before my eyes flicked back to his. His were filled with desperacy and need. So much that I couldn't refuse him.

"I promise. Now could you let go of me, please?"

" Not yet. Just enjoy it."

"Ok, I don't have time for this." I struggled against his hold. I had forgotten just how strong he was.

"Kerran! Let me go! Now!" I was shouting, but he simply shushed me and placed his head atop my own.

"Kerran!" I was beyond angry. "I'm the second in command! I have more important things to do than to stand here with you, in case you didn't know."

"Wow! You need this way more than I thought."

"Kerran!" Was it possible to get even more pissed off than I already was, because I think that was pretty much how I felt then. He only chuckled, pulled me impossibly closer against him, holding me tight with one hand but not enough to hurt me, as he placed my hands on his chest then stroked my hair with his other hand.

"You really need to stop stressing." He planted a kiss on my forehead. "I'm proud of you by the way."

I knew he was going to say that.

"It's not possible for me to train you, only for you to end up a common soldier. That's just not possible."

"Your already big head must be getting bigger."

"Nah, I think my head is perfectly fine." He kissed my cheek. I was going to murder him.

We were stepping into sunlight now. The black and silver shaped Mylidred earring on his left ear caught the light snatching my attention immediately. I noticed his mode of dressing hadn't changed one bit; black leather jacket, black leather jeans, black tee - shirt, black combat boots, black leather belt, 6 silver rings and a silver necklace from his mum.

Right now he wore his black armour instead of a leather jacket. He led me to a house quite far from the water room.

"You know, for someone who hasn't been here for the past 7 years, you sure seem to know your way around here quite well." I gave him a sarcastic smile.

"I'll have to explain that..." It was only when I looked closely that I realized he had brought me to his parents' house.

"I'll need to change first so we can go out." He told me as soon as we stepped inside.

"You know what? I don't think we need to go out. You can say what you need to say right here, right now!"

"I still need to change. A little help with the armor please?" I frowned but helped him nonetheless.

"Thanks." I handed it to him without replying. Without warning, he took off the black shirt he was wearing underneath his armor.

I turned my back to him, running my hands through my hair in frustration. This man was just so frustrating.

"Kerran!" I moaned.

"What?" He had the audacity to chuckle.

"Don't you have a room or something?"

"Actually, I do, but I'm not changing completely, so stop being childish." I could hear the smirk in his voice.

"Childish?! You're calling me childish?! I'm not the one who ran away from home without telling his best friend and comes back after 7 years, pretending like nothing happened."

He said nothing after my outburst. Silence. Then he spoke, "You promised to hear me out." His voice was soft, as though he was genuinely hurt by what I said.

At this point I couldn't even believe a word of what he said. He was gone for so long, he could've changed in every way. He might not be the same person I knew 7 years ago, but I promised, so I'll try to hear him out.

"You might not be the same person I once knew. Instead of telling me the problem so I could help you out, you just upped and ran away, and you call me childish?" I asked. I heard his footsteps leave the room and come back.

I turned back around. He'd taken the armour away and he had worn another shirt. His leather jacket was on the sofa. He was staring at me with an expression I couldn't decipher.

Another thing that had changed about him. When he was here, I knew all his facial expressions. Now that had changed as well.

He crossed the room to meet me in long strides and engulfed me into a hug.

"I'm so sorry." He said, " I didn't think that... No, I didn't think. End of story. I'm very sorry about that. I honestly have a lot is explaining to do."