"Amrod what are you doing?"I asked, sheathing my sword.

"What were you doing in the woods?"He asked, his face was like stone, I couldnt read it.I laughed and rubbed the back of my neck.

"Trying to out run embarrassment I guess."I laughed.

"Do not go into these woods Aoife."He said, taking a step towards me.

"Why?"I asked.

"You were in the Seelie kingdom, if they were to kidnap you or anything, I wouldnt be able to do anything."He said.I frowned.

"Who was the knight? was he?"I asked.

"My brother."He whispered, I barely heard him.

"Brother?Wouldnt he be Unseelie then as well?"I asked.

"No.I was born Seelie, I was traded, each Queen was required to give her best knight to the opposite kingdom as part of the peace pact."He said.I could see pain flash in his eyes.

"Im sorry."I seemed taken aback, then angry.

"What?"He demanded.

"Im sorry."I repeated.

"Why would you be sorry for me?"He asked, stepping forward again, instinctivly I took a step back.

"You lost everything you knew, your home, your possessions, your family.I know what thats I wished I had someone to tell me they were sorry.I thought you might as well."I said, getting irritated that he was becoming agrressive.

"You think you know, but you dont."He irked me.

"I dont know what?What its like to go from helping people to killing them?To having everything you could ever need, and then nothing you want, or losing your family?Or your best friend?I dont know that? I lost everything too!Your not the only one in all the realms, Im sure of that."I said."You and I elven knight, are not so different."I hissed, I realised I had been moving towards him while I was speaking.I hadnt even noticed, but now he was backed up against the wall.I swallowed and backed to clear my head.

"Perhaps you are , you and I are not that different after all."He down at me, the height difference really was incredible.

"Is there anything you needed knight?"I smiled.

"Not at all.."He began to walk by me."...assassin."He growled in my ear as he walked away.I ground my jaw.

"Why have you been watching me?"I asked.I heard him stop a few meters from the door."Ever since that night in the 've been apearing every night at ?You dont seem like the type to follow, from what I see, your much more forward about things."As soon as the words left my mouth, I wished I could swallow them.I heard him move, but I was froze.

"How would you know mortal?"He asked,hands on my shoulders, voice in my ear."Perhaps I like to size up my prey."His breath moved my hair.I was hyper aware.I had an idea.

"Or, perhaps, we were spotted, all those years ago in the forrest."I said, I could hear a sharp intake of breath.

"Someone with power saw you escorting me out."I said.

"Your very good, continue."Amrod whispered.

"Someone who is either an opponent, someone who hates you, used me as leverage, or someone who gives you orders."I speculated."Which is it?"I asked.

"The Unseelie Queen spies saw me escorting you out of the reported, and I was given orders to watch you."He whispered.

"Ahh, I wasnt too far off."I said."Now, do prey tell why the Unseelie Queen would have taken an interest in a human apothecary, the fae surely know more about plants than I ever would couldnt have possibly known I was going to become one of the most lethal people on this what caught her attention?"

"I do not question her orders, nor her thoughts."He nearly spat her as if the very word tasted like bile.I hadnt noticed his hands wandering, but now they gripped my hips tightly.I swallowed.I regretted saying the words that insulted him and brought his being so close to mine.

"Do not tell me that I frighten you."He chuckled."When you brought this on upon yourself."

"Very little frightens me knight, there are only the things I am ordered to do, and the things that make me I get a little joy out of a mission then thats a other than that Amrod,I am a would do best to remember that."I said, willing my voice to stay even.

"We both know thats not true, assassin, you felt emotions now that their not so raw, your training yourself to become the emotionless killer you described now."His lips danced lightly on my neck.I heard a bell ring through the castle,and pages running through the halls yelling that dinner was being served.I used the distraction to grab his left hand, and twist behind his back, placing him in an arm him to kneel.

"Emotions made me weak, I do not intend on being weak again."I knew that, I would never become the shell I described, but emotions stung more than the sting of a blade.I didnt want to have the feeling of losing someone again.I could hear him inhale to reply, but I spun on heel releasing him and walking out of my door.I pulled up my hood and walked to dinner.I was silent through the rest of the every night I felt the pendant grow on the trip back. I was riding in the carriage when the Prncess finally said something.

"Guard, you've been awefull quiet, listening to my endless chatter."She said.

"Milady, I have nothing to speak of."I said, gave me a sad smile.

"Did something happen?Ever since you took the ride in the forrest you've been quiet."She said.I gave her a small smile.

"It does not concern you Milady, with all due respect."I sighed.

"Dont make me order you."She said.

"Milady, a ghost from my past visited me, that is all."I said."The Empire has nothing to worry about."I assured.I hated lying, but I couldnt tell her that I was visited by an elven would have her father discharge me for mental illness.

"If you ever want to talk about it, Im here."She said.
"Milady, honestly, I've never been one for talking."I knight decided at that moment to apear at the window and talk with switched spots so that they could talk with ease.I felt my pendant grow warm, but it was the middle of the day.I looked to my right, and I saw him upon a black clydesdale, only the steed's eyes were red, instead of a warm was keeping pace with me.I rode up to the window,

"Milady, do not fret, but I must stop for a while."I said in a stage whisper."I will catch up with you, untill then Im sure that the good knight here will keep you perfectly safe.

"Of course."She said, and the knight nodded.I rode up the small hill into the elven knight rode up next to me.

"Can you stop?"He asked.

"No."I said sharply.I could see shock in his face.

"I apologize if I have offended you."He said.

"Why would you care?You're only following orders after all."I said.

"Are you hurt?"He asked.

"Amrod, I have been hurt before, but I am not hurt.I do not care, how can I?I lost the only thing I had."I said.

"Can we stop?"He asked.

"I must keep up with the convoy."I pulled his horse to a stop in front of mine, and my steed had to skid to avoid hitting the black horse's flank.I glared at him and regathered my reins.

"Aoife, we need to talk."He said.

"And I need to my job."I sighed,

"Can we meet, at the tunnel entrance?"He asked.

"I dont know maybe, I've heard rumours that I might have a new assignment."It was my turn to sigh.I looked into his eyes and gave in.

"Very well.I will meet you at the tunnel entrance at you're late, I'll leave."I nodded.I turned my steed to the road and galloped to catch the convoy, which I did with short run lifted my spirits if only slightly.I road beside the carriage the rest of the were back to the Imperial city by had been travelling for maybe two weeks.I bathed and dressed, braided my hair and strolled amongst the flower beds.I would have to get a new partner.I wasnt good enough to go solo.A small feeling of dread grew as the sun sank lower and lower in the sky.I left the palace and strode through the parted like Moses Parting the red Sea.I walked through with ease.I didnt want to be someone they I was.I walked silently through the tunnel and waited.