Meanwhile, River was in front of her vanity, brushing her hair. She felt lighter than air itself. Christian had acctually said she looked beautiful. Rushing over to the closet, River began searching for the prettiest dress Madam Dujour had available, but found nothing as good as the red one. Thankfully, the tailor was coming tomorrow and she'd find the best dress to really make him think her beautiful. Seeing her locket had slipped from her hand, River bent to retrieve it.
The now familiar whizzing sound flew through River's ears and she was on the ground before the arrow thunked into the oak wardrobe door. Lifting her head, River felt angry that Orion had found them. She wanted to stay.
Grabbing the arrow, River was surprised to find a note tied to it. Gripping the note, River was thanking the servant girl that had blown out most of her candles making her unrecognizable in the dark. Slipping out of her room, River trotted to Christian's room down the hall, unrolling the letter and tossing the arrow aside.
Passing the extravagant paintings and marble columns, River prayed Orion couldn't shoot between the pillars. Upon reaching Christian's room, River was dismayed to find him asleep. Rushing to the side of the huge bed, she shook his shoulders violently.
Slowly his large green eyes opened and he let out a soft laugh. "You again..." he murmured sleepily. River frowned as she held out the note. Christian sat straight up as he recognized the writing.

I hear you have the famous River Cathoren with you, Christian. Too bad I can't stop by to see the wench. I'll be back after I finish some business.

Christian tossed the note aside, realizing this was no whimsical dream. It was a nightmare. "What business is he talking about, Christian??" River questioned innocently. Christian stared at her, racking his brain. Orion had a cousin who owned a palace or two. He loved parties. A ball, that's what. Orion's cousin's ball, one of the most attended events in the country.
Christian looked hard into River's eyes. "We need to get to work on you. Much quicker then we should but we have to be prepared to leave in two weeks." River did a double take. "Tw-Two weeks?!" she gasped. Christian nodded. "I-I-I can't, Christian..." she started to sob. "I can't do this. I- I'm not smart enough or--" Christian moved closer his hands clamping onto her arms.
"Yes you can, and yes you are. You're very bright River and I can tell you were meant to do this task. Not only because of your father and mother, but because you need to. Orion is a menace to society. You're my partner now, River.
"We work together to keep each other alive so that when we catch Orion, you can do whatever you want without any fear. You can do this River, I know it." River gazed tearfully at him before leaping forward and hugging him. Christian fell backwards, listening to her sob.
Almost as if he were compelled to, he lifted his arms and held her tight. River's head rested against his shoulder as they lay there. "D-Do you really believe I can d-do it??" Gently Christian raised her head and looked into her eyes.
"Yes, River..." he whispered in a strangly strong voice. "I do think you can." River's eyes searched his. Slowly he leaned up and planted a light kiss on her forehead, the retreated to her temple, her cheeks. River felt like shivering as he began to lean up to capture the rest of her when a sudden scream and crash made them both jump.
The glanced edgily at each other. "Stay here..." River whispered preparing to climb off the bed. Christian snatched her hand and held out a dagger. "Just be careful." Taking the weapon, River slipped out the door. Servants were rushing towards Madam Dujour's room.
Gripping the knife firmly in her hand, she watched the servants retreated as two of them were shot down. Slipping into the door, River gasped as she saw a tall fair young man poised over Madam Dujour an arrow at her heart. "Tell me where River Cathorn is!!" he shrieked anxiously, a menacing glare in his eyes, flickering in the candles.
River slowly slipped past the window lattice. She feared to throw the knife in his back in case he fired at the last minute. The only way to make sure Madam Dujour was safe was to call the man's attention to herself. Grabbing a nearby vase, she hurled it at the man's head. With the crash he turned around. "I'm River Cathoren!! Leave the woman alone!!" she yelled.
The man's menacing light blue gaze frightened her as they glimmered. "Ah...you are more lovely then my master expects you to be, Miss Cathoren. I will be sure to give him a detailed picture of you once I have you from that nightdress."
Slinging his bow over his shoulder, he back River into the wall, letting Madam escape. River kept her expression frightened as the wheels in her brain continued to function. The man gave her a wicked grin as he pressed himself against her.
"You've never had a man before...that's why you're scared. You're more scared of this--" with that he dropped his britches, making River's eyes widen as his manhood pressed against her belly. "Then you are of me killing you. Aren't you??" River made her lip tremble and she nodded.
The man let out a growl and started to move to take off her nightdress. "No. P-Please. A-At least...kiss me first?? I-I've never even kissed a man. Especially one s-s-so handsome." The man's grin widened. "Of course young one..." River leaned up to accept the bruising kiss before she worked her hand from behind her and thrust the knife into the man's chest.
His hands gripped her arms hard before he slumped to the floor. Suddenly a heavy wave of guilt washed over her as the man's blood washed onto her hands. She had killed a man. She was no better then Orion Kammora.

Slipping against the wall, River covered her face and began crying. Christian came in and when he saw the blood on River's hands he could tell what was running through her mind. Hobbling over, Christian was afraid to approach too quickly. "River..." he whispered, stopping about three feet from her. "Stay away." she suddenly sobbed.
Christian gulped. "Oh River...please, talk to me. I know exactly what you're going through--" "No you don't!! I killed him Christian!! He came up to me and I was acctually trying to get him against me!! And then I killed him!!" Christian took his last few strides towards the girl and pulled her up.
"I don't know wh-what made me do it..." River cried against his chest. Christian sighed as he smoothed her hair. "Instinct. What made your father kill Joesph Kammora?? Instinct, knowing the man would come after you and I. You killed him because you knew he would hurt you or someone you know."
Christian pulled away to look into her still streaming face, dabbed with drops of blood. "And in my opinion, I'm glad you killed him when you did because--then you'd be dead too and that's what Orion wants. He wants you to give up River. If you don't and fight there's always the chance that you'll win."
River gave him a teary smile before wiping her face on her sleeve. "Now...let's get some sleep." Christian called for triple duty around his home and a second set of gaurds in his, Rivers, and Madam's rooms.
River helped him to the room. "Thank you...for snapping me out of that." Christian squeezed her shoulder. "No problem..." River gave him a mysterious smile as she walked to the door. "Sleep well M'Lady. Your classes start tomorrow at dawn."