It is a day or so before I am strong enough to get off the couch...well at least until Tryan and Elise think I am strong enough to get off the couch. The morning after my "incident" I felt fine, except for a headache, but Tryan insisted that I take it easy at least another day. Even with resting, my head is still splitting the day Tryan takes me into town.

"How are you feeling?" Tryan asks, glancing at me as we ride down the mountain side together.

"Fine," I lie. My head is killing me, but I don't want him to know that. I want to see the ocean more than anything and if Tryan knew I was in pain, he would probably march us right back to the house. I have to start to wonder if this poison is making it harder for me to heal. My head shouldn't be hurting this bad after almost two days.

"Are you sure? If not we can go back."

"I'm fine, Tryan, really." I give him my best reassuring smile.

"Well, alright then, but, please, let me know if anything bothers you."

I smile. It was so sweet the way he cared so much. As Moira said, he puts his whole heart into it. Butterflies flare up in my stomach the closer we get to town. I have never seen the ocean up close, let alone touched it. Scarlet seems to sense my excitement because she pulls at her bit, eager to get down the mountain. "Hey, you want to race?" I ask.

"You sure you're up for it?"

I smile mischievously and kick Scarlet into a gallop.

"Hey! No fair!" I hear Tryan laugh as we race down the mountain side. My hair tie comes undone and I reach back and grab it just before it flies away and my hair whips around my face in the wind. When I reach the edge of the village, I stop and look over my shoulder at Tryan.

"Hurry up!"

Tryan slows Sunny to a trot as he gets closer.

"You cheated," he says, wrinkling his nose.

"I did no such thing. I merely gave myself the advantage." I smile.

"Like I said, you cheated."

"If you say so."

"I do. I will decide your punishment later."

I laugh. "My punishment? You're starting to sound like my father!"

Tryan joins in my laughter and for once, I feel normal.

We ride to the market place, where Moira and Granna sell their pies. Tryan dismounts and gently helps me down from Scarlet and my spine tingles from his touch. We find a place to tie the horses up and walk side by side down the road toward the shore. There are buildings on either side of the cobblestone road, some large and some small. People bustle up and down the street, going from vendor to vendor and living out their lives. It's quite a beautiful dance for someone who has spent her whole life having things done for her.

I realize that I still haven't apologized to Tryan for my behavior the other night. I glance over at him as he takes determined steps down the road.

"Tryan?"

"Yes?"

I take a deep breath. "I want to apologize for yelling at you the other night. I was upset and I took it out on you and it was wrong. I was rude and inconsiderate, especially after everything you've done for me. I'm sorry."

He stops and faces me, taking my hand. "Elaerya, please don't apologize for that. I was the one out of line and should be apologizing to you. You are and always will be my Princess and I need to remember that."

For some reason, his words sting. "Tryan, please don't think of me as your Princess. I am your friend and I want you to think of me that way."

His eyes twinkle as he smiles and he squeezes my hand, lingering a moment before he drops it.

"Thank you, Elaerya. I am your friend, too, and always hope to be."

I wrap my arms around him, breathing in his familiar scent, and he returns the warm hug. "You will always be my friend, Tryan. Always."

He pulls away and smiles at me. "Good. Now, do you trust me?"

I look up at him, puzzled. "More than anything. Why?"

He smiles mischievously. "Close your eyes."

"Close my eyes?"

"Just do it. Trust me."

I smile. "Alright." I close my eyes and feel him take my hands.

"Keep them closed and follow me."

Tryan leads me down the road by my hands and I can hear the sound of the waves get closer and closer. I can only imagine what a sight we are to all the passersby.

"If I trip and land on my face, you're a dead man."

He laughs. "I won't let you fall. I promise. Now watch your step here. The sand is a little soft."

I step carefully onto the sand and sink ever so slightly, throwing me off my balance, but Tryan supports me with his strong arm. "Are your eyes still closed?"

"Yes."

"Alright, now stand right here."

I can hear the waves lapping at the shore a few feet in front of me.

"Can I open my eyes now?"

"Alright, you can open them."

I open my eyes and gasp. Before me is a huge expanse of bright blue ocean as far as I can see. The waves dance on the snow white sand at my feet, as if wanting me to join in their joyful game. It is absolutely breathtaking!

"Oh, Tryan!" I whisper. "This is magnificent!"

"I knew you would like it," Tryan smiles, looking pleased.

"I love it! This is more than I could have imagined!"

Another mischievous smile crosses Tryan's lips.

"What?" I ask him suspiciously.

"I just decided your punishment."

I place my hands on my hips. "Oh? And what would that be?"

"You're going to get wet!" he says, scooping up a handful of water and tossing it at me.

I squeal as the cold water hits me and scoop up a handful to throw back at him.

We splash each other with the chilly water, squealing and laughing, until we are both drenched.

Then, Tryan takes a hold of my wrists and pulls me to him and I look up into his blue eyes, laughing. He looks at me intensely and gently tucks a piece of my wet hair behind my ear. I brush a stray piece of hair from his eyes and study his handsome face, my eyes lingering on a small scar on his cheek.

"Is this from when that man hit you after he tried to kidnap me?" I ask, gently touching it. He nods and a wave of sorrow washes over me, knowing that I had caused him this pain. "I'm so sorry," I whisper, tears in my eyes.

Tryan takes my hand. "Don't be sorry. This wasn't your fault."

I feel awful. If there was anything at all I could have done to prevent it, I would have. I search his face for any sign of regret or hurt and find none. All I see is a heart full of love and compassion.

Impulsively, I stand on my toes and press my lips to his cheek where the scar is, wishing my kiss would somehow take away all the pain I've caused him.

As I pull away, Tryan tenderly turns my face to him and presses his own lips against mine. I wrap my arms around his neck, sinking deeper into his kiss. Knee deep in the majestic ocean and soaked from the freezing water, I feel as though I am on fire. Lacing my fingers through Tryan's dark hair, I feel his arms sure and strong against my back and I never want this moment to end. Then, a sharp pain in my arm makes me cry out and I turn away from him, holding my arm and shaking some sense back into my head.

"Elaerya, are you alright?" he asks, concerned.

How could I have let this happen? I look at him sadly, tears forming at my eyelids. "Tryan, this...you and I...this is wrong," I whisper. "This should never have happened in the first place."

"Why not?" he challenges. "What is so wrong with it? You have feelings for me, don't you?"

I look away from him, knowing that he is right.

"Don't you?" he urges.

"I don't know, Tryan!" I spit out at him, trying not to cry, without success. "I honestly don't know what I feel. This is all so new to me and I really don't know what to do."

"Admit your feelings, Elaerya. Don't run from them."

I start pacing along the shoreline. "That's the thing! I don't know what I feel, Tryan! I just don't know! It's all so new and confusing and you shouldn't be trying to force me to do this!" I sink to the sand, pulling my knees to my chest and bury my face in my arms, sobbing. Why was he making this so difficult?! I hear Tryan kneel in front of me.

"Hey," he says softly, cautiously touching my arm. "I'm sorry. I would never force you to do anything you didn't want to."

I look up at him and my heart melts at the sight of his guilty expression.

"I'm not ready yet, Tryan. I'm not ready to think that way."

"Then take all the time you need to. I can wait until you're ready."

If my heart was in control of my body and not my brain, I would kiss him right now just for saying he would wait for me. Moira was right.

I am slowly falling for this boy and he is making it awfully hard for me not to.