So...

"I do not know how you have the ability to be extremely helpful and yet inconsiderate at the same time!" Zuph exclaimed.

"You are right, it is a gift from the most high." Elihu teased irritated Zuph even more.

"I hate that I am stuck with you." he scoffed.

"And I love that you are stuck with me, most of my days have been so boring, your love story is making my days more interesting." Elihu admitted.

"Well my love story is not for your amusement, if you keep this up, I might as well stop telling you important things like this." Zuph said.

"Oh please, be my guest, go ahead, who else will give you tangible advice like me?" Elihu replied leisurely causing Zuph to scoff, he knew he was right, whether he liked it or not, Elihu was too knowledgeable in things like this and he needed his help.

"That is what I thought, anyway, just relax and let me enjoy this." Elihu laughed.

"Let me just give you a warning, do not dare tell anyone else this." Zuph warned causing Elihu to frown.

"What do you take me for? Some sort of gossip?! Of course I had no intention to tell anyone about this." 

"Oh, we both know how gossipy you can be." Zuph replied.

"I am thoroughly offended Zuph, you really think so little of me, I was never going to tell anyone about this." Elihu insisted.

"You were not?" Zuph asked disbelievingly.

"Yes, I was not, do you think you will be able to keep things under control if everyone knew of what is happening between you and Nora?" he asked.

"No."

"You see, so there was no way I was going to tell anyone else about this, except you wish to tell them yourself." he said.

"No, I had no intention to tell anyone else." he replied.

"Good, so we are on the same page, do not accuse me baselessly, I might be funny, but I am no gossip, even though I do like to hear news, I am not the informant, rather the one being informed." Elihu said as Zuph laughed and shook his head.

"Whatever you say, I apologize if I offended you." he replied.

"Apology accepted, now let's go get our horses, we have to go on a quick patrol." Elihu said as Zuph nodded.

...

Nora smiled, she had just delivered the last letter and was on her way back to Wura's office. 

She was so satisfied with the task she had just completed that she did not notice Mero who had seen her from afar.

He could not help but watch her as she looked so happy. He contemplated going to talk to her. He wanted to speak to her so badly, he wished that they could have a conversation, just one conversation would be enough for him to apologize to her genuinely.

But he knew that she was not ready for that, she asked explicitly that he never see her, and he wanted to respect her wishes, so, as much as he wanted to go to her and ask for her forgiveness, he stayed where he was.

...

Nora smiled as she walked back to her tent. Today had been a good day, she had spent some time by the queen's side just like old times. It felt really nice to have things go back to normal, even if it was just a little bit.

Her smile brightened when she saw Zuph standing outside her tent. It was strange that he was here, they did not discuss seeing each other today, regardless, she was happy to see him here.

"I did not expect to see you here." she said smiling.

"I know, but I just wanted to come and check on you." he replied smiling.

"That is really thoughtful of you, would you like to come inside?" she asked as he nodded and followed behind her.

"You know, had I known that you would have been here, I would have eaten my dinner here with you instead of in the kitchen." she laughed removing her hair from a bun.

"That is alright, I also had dinner already, we can have dinner together tomorrow if you wish." he replied.

"Sure, that sounds wonderful." she smiled as she took off her shoes.

"So... how was your day?" Zuph asked, he wondered if he was being too forward by asking her, but Nora did not seem to mind, if anything her posture, body language and the way she attended to other things she had to do while he was here showed how comfortable she was with his presence now.

Compared to how uncomfortable she was a few days ago, Zuph could not help but feel relieved and a little bit happy that she was used to his presence by now.

"Well, it was good, actually I got really bored, so I had to go to her majesty's office and she gave me some extra duties, it felt so good to actually be by her side again, it almost felt like everything was normal again." she said smiling.

"I am happy that you enjoyed your day, I wish that everything truly does return to normal soon." he said.

"Yes, me too, but for now, I am taking it each day at a time." she replied as he nodded.

"So, how was your day? Did you see Mero?" she asked and he nodded.

"Yes, I saw Mero, I apologized and asked for my previous duties back." he said.

"And what did he say?" she asked.

"Well, he accepted my apology and I have my previous duties back, which I am grateful to have." he said.

"That sounds nice, but you do not look as happy as I thought you would be." she replied.

"I cannot be happy when that man continues to pretend as if he did not hurt you." he replied.

"I understand that Zuph, I really do, but you sound so angry, and I worry that one day you will be unable to control your emotions and end up doing something you will regret." she said worriedly.

"You do not have to worry about me, that will never happen, I have to pretend as if I have moved on in order for Mero to trust me so I can get close enough to him in order to find out the truth." he said as she sighed.

"I do not know Zuph, I feel like I got you involved in all this nonsense." she said looking down.

"You did not get me involved in this, I want to be involved because I care about you, and you deserve the truth, you deserve to know why Mero decided to hurt you the way you did, you deserve to know how long he had stopped having interest in you and yet he still pretended like he did."

Nora was silent, his words were just bringing back all the negative feelings she had felt that day Mero had ended things with her.

"I am sorry that this upsets you Nora, but this is the truth and you need to know the truth, and I am ready to find out the truth for you." Zuph said.

"I appreciate that Zuph, I really do, but Mero is not a man that trusts easily, especially not after you fought with him over me, there might be a possibility that he is suspicious of your sudden apology." she said.

"What makes you so sure he does not suspect you in anyway? I just want you to be careful, I prefer you remain a knight instead of ruining your life without me." she said.

"You can never ruin my life Nora, never." he said so resolutely and seriously that she felt her heart pounding in her chest.

"Everything I do for is not a mistake, I am ready to do anything it takes to make you happy." he smiled.

"I am... Zuph, I honestly do not know what to say... you do not have to be so serious, I... honestly, I feel that my life will be fine if I do not know." she replied unable to speak clearly, she did not know what made him so prepared to do anything for her.

"Oh, but I do, I want to assure you that you can always count on me, always." he smiled, he realized that he was saying too much and Elihu had warned him against that.

"I know I can Zuph, thank you." she smiled.

"You do not need to thank me, I have a feeling that you would do the same for me if I was the one in your shoes." he smiled as she laughed.

"Of course, I would definitely do the same for you, what are friends for?" she laughed as he laughed.

"Well, I have to take my leave now, Elihu and I are on night duty, I will see you tomorrow." he smiled.

"See you tomorrow Zuph." she replied while smiling as he took his leave.