A/N: I made a few changes to the last chapter as well as bits of the others. You can go back and re-read them if you like but the only main changes I made were;
The mountains are now named the Otkir Mountains (pronounced ot-keer) and Henry has a last name, he is now Baron Henry Alder. He is Amelia's uncle on her mother's side so they shouldn't have had the same last name.
I also made a minor change to Amelia's reflection on her and Charlie's fight at the start of the last chapter.

Anyway! Enough rambling, I hope you all enjoy this chapter, I thought I'd give Charlie and Amelia's relationship a bit of love :)
As always, comment your opinions below and vote if you enjoyed it!

            Six weeks had passed since Moon's death. I sat at my window seat, my head resting against the glass, as I stared at nothing. A light summer rain began to fall lazily into the courtyard below, the patches of wildflowers greedily drinking up the first raindrops they'd had in a long time. I thought of Charlie who would still be hard at work in his forge despite the weather. I thought of Charlie often, unsure of how to approach him after the awkward nature of our last conversation. Still grieving over Moon and stricken with fear over the cloaked figure, I had not been into the village since that day. I let out a heavy sigh and hugged my knees to my chest, cold despite the humid weather, as I continued to stare into space. My daydreaming was soon interrupted by a knock at my door, followed by the soft footfalls of my maid.

"What is it Tia?" I sighed, not looking away from the window.

"A letter M'lady," she replied, ignoring my nettled tone.

"If it's another letter about my marriage to Sir William or an invitation to their home, leave it with the others," I responded, gesturing to a pile of unopened letters on a nearby table.

"It's not from Sir William M'lady. I was in town today running an errand for your uncle and the blacksmith told me to give it to you."

At the mention of Charlie, I sat up properly and reached out for the letter, hastily opening it. Realising Tia was still in the room I looked up at her and said,

"Thank you for delivering this, you may consider yourself dismissed for the rest of today and this evening. You've earned a break. Perhaps you could spend it with that man you've been speaking so fondly of." At my words a surprised grin spread across her blushing face and she curtseyed multiple times saying,

"Thank you M'lady. Of course M'lady," before darting out of the room.

          Once I was alone I read the letter. It was the first time I had received a letter from him but I recognised his script from the fake Sir Lewis letter.

Dearest Amelia,

I know it is foolish of me to send this letter, but I have not seen nor heard from you in weeks. Are you well? Has something happened? I know we squabbled but I want you to know that I am no longer upset and have recognised the flaws in my plan that you spoke of. As for the matter of love between us, while my feelings have not changed, I will not ask you to respond to them unless you wish to do so.

With love,

Charles.

A single tear of pure joy slipped past my eyelashes and splashed onto the parchment between my trembling fingers. Feeling happy for the first time in weeks I decided to respond to the letter in person. I had never felt the need to see a single person so much before. I should have known he would not take my rejection of his love to heart for long. I hastened into my den and changed into my black robes. I ran through the Queen's Wood, warm despite the rain that had begun to fall harder now, soaking through my clothes within minutes of me emerging from beneath the canopy of thick foliage.

          I arrived in the town drenched and breathless but I did not care. I continued to run, my wet hair clinging to my face and neck, stopping just outside the door to Charlie's home. He had abandoned the forge for the moment, most likely forced inside by the heavy rainfall. I hesitated at the door, my adrenaline subsiding as I tried to formulate what I would say when I saw him. I knocked tentatively on the thick wood in front of me and awaited a response. I heard the scraping of wood against stone followed by heavy footfalls approaching the door. It swung open with a loud groan and revealed Charlie, the rain causing his blue eyes to bloom like two sapphires against his lightly tanned skin. His face lit up with surprise when he saw me, he looked up and down my rain soaked figure and said,

"I assume you got my letter?"

"Yes, I did. Can I come in?" I responded, unable to stop the blush spreading across my face. Charlie stepped aside and opened the door further, motioning for me to come in. His house was small but it was simple and cosy, a roaring fire was blazing against the far wall and steam rose from a fresh bowl of stew on the table.

"Did I interrupt your supper?" I asked, my voice awkward as he removed my cloak from my shoulders.

"I had only just sat down actually, you're welcome to join me," he responded, still not looking at me.

"I'd like that," I said softly, sitting down on the remaining seat at the table. Wordlessly, Charlie left the room, returning with a piece of white linen that he then handed to me. I looked up at him in confusion.

"For your hair," he explained.

"Oh! Thank you," I replied, as I rubbed the water from my long hair.

          Charlie served me a bowl of the stew before sitting down to eat his own, keeping his eyes downcast. I stopped drying my hair and stared at him, my gaze hard as I said,

"What's wrong Charles? I thought you wanted to see me." He looked up at me for a moment, clearing his throat to say,

"I did. I mean I do. I'm glad you're here. It's just harder than I thought it would be..." He trailed off but I knew what he was trying to say. I reached out and took his hand in my own, relishing in the warmth that was spreading to my cold fingers. A conflicted expression crossed his face but he did not pull his hand away. I looked up at him and said,

"I am still here. I am still the same person you've known for all these years. Surely we can still converse as friends?" He considered my words for a moment before giving me a small smile as he returned my grip on his hand with his own.

"Of course," he said, "I'm sorry."

"There's nothing to apologise for," I snorted, "I'm just glad to have you back."

"If you weren't upset with me, what took you so long to come back into the village?" Charlie asked, raising an eyebrow.

"The horses have been dying from a sickness and Moon, well she..." I couldn't finish my sentence without risking a bout of tears.

"Oh Amelia..." He exhaled, bringing my hand up to face, his lips brushing lightly against my skin. Suddenly embarrassed, I blushed, withdrawing my hand so I could eat the stew that lay before me. After mentioning Moon, dinner became a quiet affair, however it was not an uncomfortable silence. Once I had emptied my bowl Charlie cleared it away. I went over to help him tidy up but he shooed me away.

"I'm fine over here, why don't you go sit in front of the fire and finish drying off before you catch a cold," he chuckled. I protested but he pushed me toward a brown lounge seat that faced towards the fireplace.

          It was only when I sprawled out in front of the fire that I realised just how cold I was. I shivered violently and held my hands out in front of me, trying to absorb as much of the fire's heat as I possibly could. Charlie brought one of the wooden chairs over to sit next to me, and I noticed I was taking up both ends of the seat.

"I'm sorry, do you want me to move?" I asked, beginning to shift my legs from the seat.

"Don't worry about it," he replied with a smile, the real Charlie finally reappearing.

"Although," he continued, "you may want to take your wet clothes off."

"Charles!" I gasped, shrinking away from him in my seat.

"I didn't mean it like that!" he replied, his eyes wide and his cheeks pink. "Some of my mother's clothes might fit you..." he trailed off and I frowned.

"Are you sure that's okay?" I responded. He nodded and showed me to his old bedroom where he now stored his parents' belongings. It had been a year since Charlie had taken over the forge when his father died, but his mother had died in childbirth, making her possessions far more valuable to him as they made up for his lack of memories with her. Charlie left the room to give me some privacy as I dressed into a simple cotton dress, its blue colouring complimenting my grey eyes. Charlie was seated on the lounge seat when I emerged, he turned to look at me and made a soft noise as he took in my appearance. I blushed bright pink as I felt his gaze on me. Dressed like a commoner I must have looked far more attainable than I did as Skylar, and it was tormenting him. I walked over to him and sat in front of the fire once more, painfully aware of our proximity to one another.

"Tha..." I tried to speak as Charlie said,

"You look beautiful." My cheeks grew even hotter at those words.

"Thank you," I managed to utter, my eyes downcast in embarrassment. Noticing my expression Charlie began to fill the silence with chatter about what happened in the village during our weeks apart and I felt myself begin to doze off, the warmth of the fire seeping into my bones. I was so tired. So tired that even as I began to slip sideways I did not stop myself. I was so content and warm, living out a small slice of my own personal heaven. I was already asleep when my head landed in Charlie's lap.

          When I awoke the room was dark, save for the dying embers of the fire in front of me. I could hear someone's soft snoring and realised with a start that my head was resting on Charlie's lap, his arms encircling me. I sat up immediately and tried to rouse him. He blinked sleepily and squinted his eyes, trying to make out my face.

"Amelia?" he mumbled, "what's wrong?"

"What's wrong?" I hissed, "it's almost dawn!" Charlie looked confused for a moment until realisation dawned on him. He hastily moved away from me and set about collecting my clothes which had been drying by the fire. He thrust them into my arms and I hurried into the other room to change. I folded his mother's dress neatly and returned its proper place in a large wooden chest. Once I was dressed I went over to the door where Charlie was waiting with my cloak. After donning it, I enveloped him in a quick embrace that he returned as we said our farewells. I ran faster than ever through the village into the Queen's Wood, I knew I had only a few minutes before Tia would be in my room to prepare it for when I awoke. When I emerged from my wardrobe I was sure that my heart had stopped for a moment. I had opened the door to reveal Tia sitting on my bed, her face streaked with tears. When she saw me she began to bawl even harder, her sobs shaking her entire body.

"Tia!" I cried, not bothering with an explanation about my sudden appearance, "what's wrong?" She looked up at me, her blue eyes bloodshot from crying, as she choked out a few words,

"It's all my fault M'lady. He's gone because of me..."