Winter was bored in the tent. So She opened the tent flap and asked, as nicely as She could "may I speak with Nathaniel?"

The gaurd nodded, and someone went to get Nathaniel.

Nathaniel had made His way back to camp, and was trying to sleep in His tent. When He heard Winter wanted to talk with Him.
This aughta be good. He thought.

He went out of His tent and noticed it was a nice sunny day.
Hmm maybe a walk with Her wouldn't be that bad.

When He came into the tent where Winter was, He saw Her on the other side of the room. with Her arms crossed, giving Him a condessending, disaproving, impatient, stubborn look.
How can she ever forgive me? Thought Nathaniel. "well, how about a walk?"

Winter got up, and Nathaniel opened the tent door very gentlman-like. Then Nathaniel followed Winter out.

As they were walking there was a strained silence between them.

Winter and Nathaniel tried to ignore that they were ferousiosly mad at each other, and themselfs. But the underline feeling of the silence wasn't comradship.

When they passed by the prison pit, Winter looked at Nathaniel confusedly at the noise She heard. Nathaniel saw it and smiled, He had forgotten Winter hadn't been there when they had 'helped' the Dirish have a place to stay for the night. So Nathaniel decided to have some fun "oh, those are just the soldiers we captured last night. You would have known if you hadn't gone traipsing around the woods." He accused.

"Ohh! So now it's my fault is it?" She was geting even angrier at Him, if that was even possible.

"well, of course it's your fault that you didn't know." He replied frustrated.

"Humph! Well I don't care. It's your fault I haven't found out until now!" She said, finally getting the better of Him.

Oh no! Maybe I should have thought this through before accusing Her. Thought Nathaniel "oh? And why is that?" though He knew perfectly well why.

"I would think it was obviouse! Well if it's not obviouse. Let me enlighten you" said Winter supiriorily "you! Well first you forced my hands behind my back, and rather roughly dragged me back to camp. Then, you put me in a gaurded tent! Like some criminal or prisoner indignantly! What'd I ever do to you? Or anyone els in this camp for that matter!" There! She had said it, the very acts Nathaniel hadn't owned up to.

They were still at the pit where the Dirish were, they had stopped walking when Winter had started yelling at Nathaniel.

During their 'argument' as Winter was calling it, She had noticed that the captured Dirish had had Her fellow war prisoners in the pit with them. So she asked Nathaniel to let them out and untie them. Though, She didn't know if He would. She had, just kinda told Him everything He did was wrong.

Nathaniel had been quiet through all of Winter's accusations. but when Winter had asked for Him to release the Neric soldiers, He did give the order for it to be done.

The Neric soldiers were a little surprized at seeing Winter as a girl.

After Winter's identity was discovered, some old dresses were loaned to Her. so she could wear them, only if She wanted to, of course. And She was wearing one now.

The Neric soldiers were all in thier early twentys, most of them had sun bleached blond hair, and were big and strong. Back, before thay had been captured, they had treated Winter like a little brother, Her being a girl didn't change thier atitude towards Her. If anything, they teased Her even more because of it.

When the Neric started making plans to get back to Neric. Nathaniel, being His stupid self, said "woahh, what makes you so certain you're free to go?"

"huhh?" asked one of the soldiers.

"what makes you so sure?" repeated Nathaniel "Winter here, has been my captive for this here last month" He said, hugging Winter by the shoulder, proving His ownership.

This infuriated Winter. She threw off His arm and ran away as fast as She could, crying. She knew Nathaniel would just catch Her again. She didn't run for freedom though, but rather the feel of it, that running gives you. Running away from Nathaniel, the biggest monster She had come to, hate, love, like, was angry at. Her feelings were so confused, She just needed to get away.
Well that was stupid. Thought Nathaniel. Though, He had the Neric soldiers put in a gaurded tent anyways.

Nathaniel was one of those people who, once He is accused of somthing wrong He did. He plays the part given Him, to justify His actions. And for this reason Nathaniel said what He said to the soldiers about Winter. And why, now they were imprisoned in a tent.

Nathaniel sent out a messenger to find Winter And tell Her He wanted to speak with Her. And that He would not capture Her as He had done that morning.

The messenger found all of Nathaniel's actions rather amussing. As She walked through the trees, She wondered why a man in love, would take the girl He was in love with captive. It made no sense.

Marie, the mesenger, was very new to camp, She had shown up only a couple weeks before. She was the only other girl in camp, and that was part of the reason why she was picked to go find Winter. The other reason was, that She exelled at tracking, faster than anyone els in camp.

Marie knew Nathaniel loved Winter, or felt deeply about Her, from whispers around camp and what Marie could see before Her. If I should be in love, I certainly would not want the man capturing me! Thought Marie.

Winter had run until She came to a part of the forest She hadn't been before. She found a dry place in a shallow indent of a big rock. And there, worn out and emotionally spent, She fell into a heavy slumber.

Marie found Winter after she had woken up, in the late afternoon. After She delivered Nathaniels mesage She waited for a reply from Winter. Winter told Marie to tell Nathaniel if He wanted to talk to Her so bad, then He should come Himself.

So Marie headed back to camp to tell Nathaniel what Winter Had said.

"where's Winter?" asked Nathaniel as soon as He saw Marie. He had been pacing the camp borders ever since the sun had begun to set.

"She says if you want to talk to Her so much, that you should go to Her to talk." Marie had kinda enjoyed being trusted enough to look for Winter by Herself.

"where exactly is She?" asked Nathaniel.

"in a less used part of the woods. I could show you if you like." offered Marie

"thanks!" So they started walking.

"do you like Winter?" Marie figured the best way to find out Nathaniels feelings, was to ask Him directly.

"why wouldn't I?"

Marie shrugged "you seem like you love Her, yet you treat Her like a runaway criminal"

"well, I don't treat Her like a criminal. Just, today I was a little strict." He said indignantly.

"strict? Strictness is for children or dogs! Winter is neither."

Nathaniel shrugged not having anything to say to that.

They walked for a while in silence. Nathaniel was trying to remember how old Marie was. She can't be much older than twelve. The same age Winter teased me she was. Thought Nathaniel. "how old are you?"

This surprizes Marie a little, but She answered "just turned fifteen." cheerily.

"hmm"

They made it to the clearing where Winter was at about midnight. "so what do you want to do?" whispered Marie.

"I'll figure that out" answered Nathaniel.
Ya know? Sometimes He's really stupid. Thought Marie.

Marie stayed back, while Nathaniel quietly snuck up to Winter, He sat down and got Himself comfortable. Marie did the same in Her hiding place a little ways in from the clearing.

The sun had just come up in he morning, and the birds were chirping merrily, Winter woke up relaxed and happy. Until she remembered yesterday and looked around, sure enough, there was Nathaniel looking at Her, His eyes taking Her captive. "Ohh, does this ever end?" said Winter quietly to Herself.

"what was that?" asked Nathaniel friendily, He had made some herb tea-like leafy drink for breakfast.

He didn't look like that scary of an enemy right now, He looked tired. Serves Him right to be. Thought Winter. For staying up two nights in a row to capture me! A part of Her found it kind of sweet He'd do that for Her. But she quickly scolded Herself.

They sat there for a while in silence. Winter wondering why Nathaniel cared so much? Why did He want to capture Her? His actions made no sense.

There was still silence while Nathaniel found the best way to aproach Winter. How could He keep Her from leaving again. When Her desire was to do just that? "good morning"

"umm, no" said Winter accusingly.

"good morning" repeated Nathaniel with a smile. even if He was trying to convince Her to stay, He couldn't pass up an oportunity to annoy Her. It was just to tempting.

She was about to explode on Him and lecture Him! She was really mad, She didn't Care what He would do. She'd just run away again, and again, and again! No matter what He did.

He set a cup with the tea in it on Her side of a flat rock between them. She took it without a word. This is Nathaniels cup, uhgg! Why do I have to rely on Him for everything? Thought Winter. She drank the tea slowly, taking Her time. She didn't know what Nathaniel would do next, and she wanted to postpone that for as long as possible.

"well, best head off towards camp." said Nathaniel, when Winter was finished. And He started putting out the fire He had used to warm the tea.

"No!" refused Winter. Who does He think He is!

"why not? The day isn't getting any younger."

"forget the day, I'm not going."

Uhgg Winter was going to make Him talk, but He still had the upper hand. And it wasn't just because He was stronger than Winter. With His plan Winter would have to stay in camp, not with chains of metal, but of honor and trust. "why not?"

"don't even pretend you don't know!" this was getting frustrating for Winter.

"I'm pretending I don't know" said Nathaniel with an evil grin, annoying Her was just way too much fun.
Uhgg! He's so frustrating! Thought Winter. "treating me like a prisoner, and keeping my friends prisoners! Oh, you have no heart, no sense of caring!"

Nathaniel brushed off all Winter's accusations, She was just so cute when She was mad. "ok, Hhh" sighed Nathaniel "what do I do?"

"You stop being stupid!" said Winter, surprized by His reaction.

"I'll make you a deal: you stay and I let your friends go, your friends stay and you can go. You decide" proposed Nathaniel.

"that's not much of a choice!" Winter shot back, how is it possible that someone is this evil?

"Not much of a choice, but the only one you seem to have." said Nathaniel smugly.

"you put me in a position I don't care for" maybe She could talk Him out of this, but Nathaniel was really not being cooperative.

"when will you have my answer?" maybe She'd get some more time to think.

"Tonight."

"And if I run?"

"then I'll take it you would have made your dicision. I would keep the men captive. Though, I would be sure to tell them it was your decision, and therefor for the better." said Nathaniel, glad that She was taking Him seriously.
Uhgg! He's really in such a horrible mood! Thought Winter.

So Winter walked back to camp, Nathaniel leading the way, and Marie trailing far behind.

When they entered camp, Nathaniel escorted Winter to a tent and left Her there to make Her decision.

She would stay. If She left She would be as bad as Nathaniel for keeping the men captive. Though, it would really be Nathaniel's fault if they were kept captive.

After leaving Winter in Her tent, Nathaniel wondered if He was doing the right thing. Of course I'm not. But it's my only choice.

So when night came Nathaniel went to inquire after Winter.

When He entered Winter looked up from Her thinking. "what will it be?" asked Nathaniel, He was kind of curious.

"I'll stay"