Chapter 19

We had a wonderful picnic. We ate strawberries, chocolate, cookies and some of his mom's famous flatbread. The flatbread was my favorite because we could choose what toppings to put on. We talked and talked about everything under the sun, he also gave me his jacket at one point because it got chilly. After we ate, we lay down on the blanket to look at the stars.

"Look, that one's a butterfly." I say pointing at a cluster of stars.

"No, no it looks like a dog!" I look at him, shocked.

We both laugh and lay in silence for a little while before my mind starts drifting and all sorts of questions form in my mind.

"What would've happened if I followed the other trail?" I ask still drawing pictures with my finger.

"You would've fallen of a small cliff or into a water pool." He chuckles to himself.

"Mhm luckily I'm good at following directions."

"That you are."

After a while of more failed attempts at drawing pictures, Finn asks. "So, how was tonight? Be honest."

"Well, it was great but I still haven't completely forgiven you for being a jackass." I say and sit up.

He sighs. "I know, it was worth a try though. What can I do to make it up to you?"

I smirk at him. "Oh no no no, I'm not making it that easy. You'll have to figure it out all on your own." I sit up, giving him his jacket back.

I start packing the food up while Finn just stares at me. "You know, you could help me." I say exasperated.

"I was planning to, but I got distracted." He gives me a once over, smirks and starts packing away the strawberries.

I feel heat creeping up my neck and I look away before he can see the blush no doubt staining my cheeks red.

"Can I ask you something?" I say when I'm done packing away the bread.

"Go for it."

"You're sister said that you bring a lot of... uhm girls here. Is that true?" I play with the edge of the basket holding our food, avoiding eye contact.

"She told you about that, did she?" He looks slightly panicked but recovers quickly. "Yea it's true."

I feel a bit hurt, but I did ask. I push down the tears. "Ok...uhm well I'm going to head back. I'm sure you're mom is starting to worry." I grab my flowers, the rose and the letter. "Thank you, by the way. It was really sweet of you to do this."

"You don't have to go." He whispers quietly.

"I uhm... think it's the best thing to do right now."

I give him a small smile before hurrying back to the castle. I enter through the kitchen hoping no one's there. Thankfully, I'm alone but I can hear David and Ariel arguing in the next room. I don't want to intrude but I hear my name being mentioned and I can't help but listen at the door.

"You seem to really like her, why don't you go be with her!?" I hear Ariel's muffled voice.

"Why do you keep insisting I like her? My job was to bring her here and nothing more. I actually find her quite stuck up." I'm shocked. I stumble back into the table. I think it's time to break this conversation up.

I open the door, look at David, hoping he can see the hurt and anger on my face. I see the realization in his but I quickly run back to my room before he can say anything. I get a sense of deja vu when I sit on my bed. I don't have anymore tears left to cry so I just lie there.

There were a few knocks on my door but I ignored them and they eventually stopped. Later, somewhere in the castle, a clock chimed twelve. It's pitch black outside but I decide to go for a walk in anyway. I tip toe down the stairs and out the back door. I race towards the trees, searching for the water pool Finn mentioned. After searching for what felt like forever, I finally find it. I walk through the trees toward it but stop when I see a figure sitting on a large, flat rock.

"Dacian?" I slowly walk closer.

He looks up and I can see a red, angry scar running across his left cheek. I gasp and rush toward him. He quickly looks down, but I grab his face, turning his head slowly. He looks at me with caution.

"What happened!?" I turn his face from side to side trying to get the best angle.

I push some of my magic into his face to heal it. He jerks away at first but when I do it again, he sighs but let's me heal him. The scar turns a bright pink and then dissapears completely.

"You were right." He quietly whispers. "Crystal just wanted to use me to get to you. I refused to give her you're location and she just... attacked me. "

I'm still holding his face in my hands, but I let go and reach for his hands in stead. I sit back on my hunches, holding his hands in mine.

"I'm so sorry. I know you've known and cared for her. If it makes you feel any better, it's been horrible here as well."

"Why would that make me feel beter? What happened though?" His mood shifts immediately.

"Oh you know, Finn is an idiot and David is a lying snake." I shrug like it's no big deal.

"What happened?" He repeats.

I tell him the story from the beginning to end. He stares at me, then stands up abruptly.

"I'm going to kill David! And what the hell was Finn thinking!" He stalks of towards the castle and I run to catch up with him.

I grab his arm and make him turn around to look at me. "What're you going to do? Please don't hurt them."

He sighs and rubs his hand through his hair. "Alright, but I'm still going to talk to them." He smiles softly when he looks at me and we walk to the castle together.

We rushed up to my room as quietly as we can. I shut my door and turn to look at him. "We'll suprise everyone tomorrow with your arrival. Now... I'm going to sleep. You can sleep wherever you want." I tell him while climbing under the covers.

He quietly walks to the bed and lies down on the other side. "Good night."

~~~°°°~~~

The next morning when I open my eyes, it feels gritty and stiff. I turn around and almost fell of the bed in fright. I honestly thought it was a dream but here next to me lies Dacian. He looks kind of cute with his hair falling into his eyes and his lips partly open.

His eyes flicker open and he smiles at me. "Good morning sleeping beauty. Ready to meet the people I really don't want to be around?" I say with all the enthusiasm of a drowned cat.

"Always. Now how should we do this?"

"Well, first I'd like to get dressed. Then we can go downstairs, I'm guessing they're going to be there and you can set them straight. What do you think?"

"Mhm...I think that'll work. " He laughs and we both get of the bed at the same time.

We quickly get dressed and walk downstairs. I open the door to the dining hall where I smell food. I walk in first and for some reason everyone yells at me at the same time.

I step back into Dacian and the whole room goes silent. "Who's this?" Finn aks from his side by the table. He narrows his eyes in anger.

"This is Dacian, my brother." I hold my head up high, grab Finn's hand and walk toward two open spots at the table.

Everyone stares in silence. "You're very tall. Pick me up!" Lisa squeals from beside us.

"Now dear, you can't just say that to a guest!" Aurora gasps in horror and hurries to pick her up.

"No no, it's alright." Dacian picks her up and spins her around.

Lisa squeals in delight and laughs when he puts her down. Aurora smiles and goes back to her chair. I can see Finn glaring at Dacian, but when I look around I can't see David.

When Dacian and Lisa sit down I ask. "Where's David?"