SEVEN

Celeste didn't realize just how famished she was until she sat at the little table next to Karen and across from Will and Thomas. Yogi sat at the head of the table and smiled pleasantly at her. It made her a little wary, to be honest.

"Nothing tastes better than a fish that was alive an hour ago," He said.

Celeste stared at the plate of fish and roasted potatoes. No doubt, it was not what she was used to. But her stomach grumbled violently when she got a sniff of the delicious aroma.

"What's the matter, princess?" Will asked suddenly, an odd mixture of amusement and hostility in his eyes.

"Food not good enough for you?"

Celeste glared menacingly at him, swallowing a spoonful of mashed potatoes to prove a point. Will only smirked at her. It made her even angrier.

"William here's just sour that after three bloody hours, he couldn't catch a thing" Thomas grinned at her. Will glared at him, but there was no hostility in his eyes this time.

"Really Tommy? Dissing my fishing skills in front of the future queen ?"

Celeste shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

"Shut up Will" Both Karen and Thomas said in union. Will's face fell into mock despair.

"You know I hate it when you gang up on me!" He said dramatically waving his arms.

"Will," Yogi said in exasperation.

"Not you too Yogi. Next thing I know, princess there'll join your little team"

Celeste almost choked on the fish at the fact that she was suddenly part of the conversation.

"I don't like you. I have no choice" she said bluntly. Laughter ran around the table and she too had to admit the expression Will wore was amusing.

"Gee thanks. I don't like you either" Will said.

"It is not her fault. You're not very likable Will" Thomas said matter of factly.

"You wound me, Tommy," Will said holding his heart.

Their shenanigans continued for the rest of dinner.

When Celeste had finished her food, her was stomach satisfyingly full.

She then decided to address the elephant in the room. Celeste turned to Yogi, forcing a smile. It was harder than she thought it would be, and she almost cringed.

"I want to thank you. For taking me in, sheltering me when you knew it was a great risk, and being kind to me" Yogi started to speak but she cut him off

"But its time to leave for me"

Yogi remained silent as the Karen burst into protests.

"You can't leave!" She argued.

"She's right," Thomas said indignantly.

"You're in no shape to make the journey. And Valentine's men won't just let you waltz through. Where would you even go?"

"To my uncle," Celeste said trying to keep her temper in check.

"He's there with some of our soldiers in Tournfort. He won't just let Valentine get away! Once he sees that I'm alive, we'll drive Valentine and his forces out. "

Will laughed. Utter silence hung in the room as Celeste angrily turned to Will.

"You think this is funny?" She snapped.

"I do actually. It's funny how you think this is so simple. Do you even know if you can trust this uncle of yours?"

"Of course I can" Celeste snarled. "He's family"

"Doesn't prove anything" Will said shrugging.

"I don't know about your family," Celeste said frostily. "But I know mine pretty well"

Will's eyes narrowed in slits and his jaw clenched.

" So what? You're going to walk to Tournfort?"

"I can find a horse"

"And when Valentine's men find you, you'll curtsy for them?"

"I happen to be very skilled with a sword!" Celeste's voice rose in volume.

"That's funny. You've been inside your little castle walls all your life princess. You wouldn't even last a day out there" Will said harshly.

"Then come with me by all means. Escort me to my uncle. You'll be rewarded " Celeste fought back. To her fury, Will laughed again.

"Risk our lives for you? Do you think that's what we're supposed to do? That it's our duty to our queen? That our lives don't mean a damn compared to yours?" Venom laced Will's words. Celeste flinched.

"I never meant that!" She cried.

"I neve- I CAN'T JUST LET MY PEOPLE DIE!" She cried furiously. She didn't know why she was trying so hard to make him understand. She shouldn't have even cared about that he thought.

"That's rich! Very funny"

"I wasn't trying to be funny!" Celeste snapped.

"Don',t" Will bellowed getting up from his chair. "Don't pretend you give a damn about your people! All you care about is saving your ass and getting revenge!"

Thomas got up at once, placing a hand on Will's chest to calm him down. Celeste saw red, hurt was evident on her face.

"You don't know a thing about me," She said, her voice shaking with fury before she rushed out of the room and straight out the front door. She could hear Karen and Thomas call out to her, but she didn't care. She marched ahead, her fists still clenched painfully.

She grunted, kicking a tree in anger.

"That ugly-ass piece of crap! " She mumbled furiously.

"That arrogant prick, the biggest asshole in the history of assholes" She spat as she walked faster.

What had she ever done to make him hate her? She was finally thinking he wasn't that bad when he had to go on and say those awful things. Tear sprung into her vision as she hastily wiped them. She wouldn't cry over a stupid boy she had just met yesterday.

She had nothing to prove to him.

But then why did a small part of her agree with every word he had said?