Arlen walked beside Emerald who was taking him in between the forest trails to show him her house.

After having sudden misunderstandings varying between them, Emerald knew that the limited time she has with him, she has to spend it wisely.

"Just around this corne'. Right.....ther'." Emerald pointed to a well built house that had about two guards pacing in front of it.

Arlen's eyes widened and eyebrows shot up as he saw the house of his lady. It was small yet classy, better than his horrendous cottage.

"That?" Arlen asked still confused. Emerald nodded.

"But did ya nay say that ya lived in a forest?" Arlen questioned turning to her.

"Aye. And that's nay lie ther'. This is just where I...grew up and where my actual place is. But I just like to stay in the forest....with nature and surrounded by that beauty." Arlen nodded and smiled at her.

Suddenly he looked behind and saw a squirrel which startled him causing him to fall on his derriere making the leaves around him crunch and scrunch.

Emerald face palmed herself and was about to say something when they heard.

"Oye! Who's there? Show yourself!" Arlen looked up at her with eyes wide as saucers and Emerald just shook her head puckering her lips.

When they didn't respond they heard another question which they also ignored. "You peasants!" Shortly after the yell a boomerang came flying and hit Arlen just by an inch. Gladly he ducked on time with his heart racing badly.

He was about to run away with Emerald when he was grabbed and thrown in front of the guards on the ground.

"Who're you?" He heard one of the guards ask him as he checked for any weapons on the now panting Arlen.

"Arlen. I work for thee Lord. I don't mean any harm." Arlen said raising his hands up in surrender.

He looked back and saw Emerald still behind the tree looking at him with sweat beads forming on her forehead.

He smiled at her but that smile was wiped off when he was grabbed by his collar and was forced to stand up on the ground.

"What's a peasant like you doing here?" The guard or the scary guy according to Arlen, asked.

He looked behind and saw one more guard looking at him with a grimace. Nothing new to him.

"I came with my beauty to visit the residence." Arlen spoke grabbing the guards hand and making him let go of his collar which was now ripped out.

Both the guards looked at each other and gave each other a look. "Your beauty? You're nay handsome."

Arlen looked at them confused when the guard shook his head and asked. "That house?"

Arlen nodded and gulped not wanting to get in any more trouble.

The guard gave each other a side glance and smirked. "Off you go. But donot get scared on the way." He winked at Arlen and Arlen just looked down.

He looked back and saw Emerald running towards him. He looked back at the guards and saw them bickering while still watching Arlen closely with their narrowed eyes.

Arlen just smiled at Emerald who looked just as scared as him but for her reasons.

They reached the iron gates and Emerald took him up the stairs to her supposed floor.

Arlen pushed open the soiled looking door. Nothing like the doors beside it. It was more crooked more soiled and further more it stinked worse than a cow's dung.

Emerald just walked in and inhaled deeply while Arlen just looked around trying his best not to die.

"Welcome to my... house" Emerald spoke all of a sudden turning back to look at him.

She laughed looking at him trying his best to control his breath, "It's okay. I'll just use a perfume oil." Arlen nodded watching Emerald disappear into one of the doors.

He looked around and saw the room he was in. It had a huge mattress laying in the middle with a fireplace and huge cellar behind him.

But what shocked him was that the place looked somewhat empty. It didn't look like somebody lived there. There was no wood in the fireplace, no utensils in the cellar nor was their any fabric on the mattress.

He started walking and saw only one more door. He turned to it and saw Emerald coming out of the room. She jumped back startled while Arlen just muttered an apology and took off to go back.

"Uh.... Tea?" she asked him and he just looked at her thinking how she'll magically make the tea appear.

"I don't see any utensils layin' around."

She smiled at him and pointed at the cellar where a bronze pot was already steaming.

He looked at her and nodded slowly while narrowing his eyes at the pot.

He went over to her and poured himself some tea and drank it.

His eyes contoured an expression of disgust when he took a sip, "Tastes quite... Exquisite." He said choosing his words carefully rather than speaking straight forwardly.

She nodded and just looked at him.

"How do ya like my house?" Emerald asked standing in front of him as if mocking him.

He shrugged and placed the steel cup down not wanting to go through the taste torture any more.

"Well.... Ya were so adamant to come h're. Now ya have arrived. What-no, How... How does it feel?"

She asked him raising her eyebrows looking at him searching his eyes.

"It's shit." He nodded and she bursted out laughing.

"I like the energy. But Gramercy for being nothing but truthful."

He nodded and picked up his tea to sip. His face turned into a grimace realizing and making the beauty laugh.

"How old are ya?" Emerald shook her head rapidly trying to come over what he asked.

Where did that come from? She thought.

"Why so bewildered?" He asked looking at her expression.

She just blinked and sat down on the floor.

What's the poor mattress for? Arlen thought.

"Nay that it is any of your business but Iam older than ya." She spoke with a face contouring a sneer.

He shut up instantly suddenly feeling his demons coming close. His eyes welled up with tears noticing her sneer. He had never seen her treat him like how other's did and it hurt him to know she was hating him now, being annoyed by his presence.

"Quit contradicting Arlen. Ya know I didn't mean it. I-well-I just... I got protective of my privacy. Ya know how Iam. Apology Arlen. Please look at me."

Emerald spoke softly while crouching to look at the man who had his face down.

"I apologize Arlen." She whispered and he looked up at her.

"Ya don't hate me." Emerald shook her head instantly.

If anything it's quite the opposite. She thought and smiled.

"It's okay. I hate myself too." He spoke and wiped his eyes that had moisture filled in them.

"Ya shouldn't."

"But I do."

"Then stop hating yourself! Stop hurting yourself! When will ya understand that I- that people love ya?"

He closed his eyes exhaling and inhaling just like how Emerald taught him to whenever he felt his demons close by.

"If I can see ya as the perfect one, than why can't ya?" Emerald asked him feeling guilt drowning her in.

Arlen sniffled his tears and jokingly said, "Apology. I just... It's quite hot here. My eyes are sweatin'." Emerald smiled and he did too feeling the tension around them decrease.

"Iam okay. It's okay. Everything's okay. It's okay if you're with me......Ya are with me, Right?" He asked tilting his head which had Emerald's heart beating fast.

She nodded but stopped once he asked, "Forever?"

She couldn't answer. She felt her mouth go dry her skin go pale. She froze.

"Right?" He asked and all she could do was respond with a light mumble.

"Forever. Aye." He smiled at her forgetting all his tears.

It was silent for a while when Emerald asked, "When is your birth day?" Emerald asked him diverting the topic not knowing that she'll be receiving another shock.

"Uh- my what?"

"Birth day?.... Like the day ya were born.. Naked." She blushed and shamelessly winked at him to which he chuckled.

"Aye nay... We don't discuss that." He said ruffling his hand through his hair.

"Why nay?" She asked him frowning.

"Nay reason. Nay one likes me, always spent my birth day with my boats and flowers thinking about my parents watching over me."

Emerald pouted as her heart swelled for the 20 year old man who was being cute as ever.

"It's okay. Iam h're. I'll be h're from now on. When is it?"

He smiled at her gratefully, bowing a little. He wanted nothing more than to place a kiss on the lady's hand but refrained.

"Exactly 60 sunrises from now."

"Wait. What?" Emerald felt the air knocked out of her lungs. She felt like collapsing.

"Nay. It's nay then. It's nay!"

Arlen shook his head and confirmed that it was then.

"Leave"

"What?" Arlen asked standing straight after hearing her mood switch.

"Leave. Right now."

"Emerald I don't understand love."

"I can't, I once again did it, I-no. Just.. Leave. Please!" She was in tears by now and dropped to the floor feeling the world closing on her.

"I can help ya tell me. Please let-"

"Just leave!"

Arlen raised his hands and without uttering any word he left, but not before whispering.

"I love ya"