Sorry for how short it is. My original goal for this story was (and I think I deserve what I got because of this) six pages a day, but I've been sick for a couple days, and I didn't have any time to write at all. I think that from now on I'll plan for six pages a week (does this still seem a bit much to you?), possibly more, meaning another chapter, not a longer one. So, as is my constant wish, PLEASE REVIEW! If you review me, I will review one of yours (not all, mind you, for those of you who have, like, fifteen) so PLEASE REVIEW! Thanks, and enjoy!

When In Rome

"You are to be my bodyguard?" I ask curiously, trying to pretend my heart is not beating fast, though I said not five minutes ago that it was only natural to feel this way.
"Yes." he replies. His voice is deep and soft, yet resonating at the same time.
"U-um, oh, I s-see." I find myself stammering. Even though there has to be at least four arm lengths between him and I, his nearness to me is making my body malfunction.
"Not scared of him, are we?" taunts Aedyn, crossing his arms and smirking at me.
"N-no!" I stammer, not helping at all.
Cohl sighs a long, deep sigh filled with feeling, and I find myself wanting to go to him and comfort him, to make him stop sighing and make all the hurt he has about his size go away.
"Well, now that you two have bonded," Aedyn says with a smirk. I am frustrated to find that even his smirk is beautiful. "Cohl, take her to your tent. She will be sleeping in there tonight." To my surprise Cohl blushes at his words. I find myself blushing as well.
"Is that really necessary?" asks Cohl, trying to cover up the fact that he was blushing by making his voice rather gruff.
"How are you to properly guard her if you are nowhere near her?" asks Aedyn, a teasing smile on his face. He is making fun of Cohl. For enjoyment.
I find that I dislike this. I highly dislike this. I dislike it enough to pick up a handful of snow, ball it up, though it makes my hands cold to do so, and throw it at him. It hits him in the ear, and he spins around to glare at me.
"What was that for?!" he yells. He bends down to scoop up some snow, but I am too quick, and am already throwing another. This one hits him on the neck, and he gather up his shoulders, making it slide down his tunic. I find myself giggling at his antics as he jump around and tries to get it out. Unfortunately, I leave myself unguarded, and he manages to throw one my way. It hits my uncovered arm, and it hurts.
"Oh Mercy!" I hiss, feeling the snow that stuck to my arm melt slowly down to my wrist. I gather up more snow, making as many balls as I can, and then I throw them all at him in quick succession. I send a silent prayer to Mercy as they all land where I aim. He yelps with each hit, but still focuses on making some of his own than trying to dodge mine.
Before he can throw another, the older human steps in.
"That's enough. It is time for you to get some rest, Princess, Cohl, even you, Aedyn, though you will protest greatly, I know. Please get to bed, all of you; I will keep watch until morning. It is only a few more hours," he says, noticing Aedyn beginning to protest. "I can stay awake a few more hours." He motions us away. "Princess, you are to go to with Cohl to his tent for the night. Aedyn, stay nearby there. You are to deflect all scrutiny from her until he have figured out what to do." Aedyn nods, then grabs my arm to lead me away. I shake him off.
"I am no longer Princess of this Kingdom." I state quietly, but in the way my mother has, where her words seem to echo around whatever space she is in. "As such, you may call me by my name."
"And what is your name?" asks-to my surprise, not to mention joy-
Cohl.
"Jaelys." I say. Their eyes widen.
"That is the name of the very first Queen of the Fae." says Aedyn, staring at me suspiciously, as if I chose my name. "Why would he name his daughter after our Queen?"
"I do not know, nor do I particularly care. But that is what you may call me by, and nothing else, for I do not like pet names."
Aedyn snorts derisively, an act that my father made illegal in court. "You say that you are no longer a princess, but you still act like one, Princess." He says the last word with a sneer as he grabs my arm again and begins to pull away. I let him, this time, although the thought of sleeping in the same tent as Cohl is electrifying... and frightening. Because I have never slept in a room with another person, and, Mercy knows, never in a tent with a man.
I glare ahead of me, at Aedyn. I have certainly never slept in a tent that is anywhere close to a Fae, and if it is this Fae, than I do not want to, but sadly it seems I have no choice.
I stalk next to him, wanting to be "haughty princess" but not wanting to prove to him that I am, in fact, still very much a princess. So instead, I focus on Cohl. He is just the thing to focus on, because for some reason he calms me down as soon as I think about him. Soon, I could almost be described as happy, but for the fact that Aedyn is still gripping my arm. I would shake him off, but I am not sure if that would be considered princess-like or not, so I do not. But I wish-oh, how I wish-that I could shake him off and run to catch up to Cohl.
Suddenly, I realize just how cold I am. I am, in fact, shivering, something that has never happened to me in reality, though I have experienced it plenty of times in the world of books.
"I'm cold," I say, before I stop to wonder if it will sound like I am still a princess.
Cohl stops, allowing us to catch up with him. "Here," he says, shrugging of his warm wolfskin coat for me to wear. "Wear this."
I feel myself blush. "I-I couldn't, you would be cold if I wore this."
"No, I will be fine. I am used to the cold. I come from much farther North than this." He continues to hold it out for me. "Here." he repeats, shaking it a little.
"Thank you." I say quietly, humbly. I accept his coat, slipping my arms through the sleeves. I am instantly as warm as I would be when standing in front of a fire. I draw the hood up over my face, sticking my nose in the fur, to warm it, and to smell for any faint scent of Cohl, though I do not know his scent yet. I vow to myself that I will find out soon, but the warmth has made me sleepy. The hours spent trying to free myself- not to mention when I was crying-have taken their toll on me, and I feel my eyes flutter shut. I try in vain to keep them open, but I am just too tired. The last thing I am aware of is the sensation of falling, and being caught by someone.
I hope it is Cohl.