Hello all who read this! It's been a while since we updated, and that is entirely my fault. Sorry... :/

But here is a new chapter! The story should be wrapping up in the next couple of chapters, so be prepared for a lot to happen. I tried to write a lot for this chapter to make up for the long wait.

I love you all!

Please rate if you like it and comment to tell us what you think! I really love getting comments and being able to respond! Even if it's just to say "hi" or "why on Earth did you make us wait so long for the chapter, you stupid woman?!"

The video for this chapter is "Safe & Sound" by Taylor Swift. I think it fits the chapter pretty well... :)

I hope you like the chapter!

-meTdot

Amelia/Annette POV

A flash of pain strikes behind my eyes. I drop the remainder of my cold soup as my hands go up to hold my head in shock.

A beautiful crying boy covered in dirt and a stunning woman whose skirt I hold onto. "I am Gabriel, third son of King Richard!"

Fatigue and dancing. Fire. Fear.

The same boy, grown up, in a metal cell. The room is gently rocking, like on a ship. "You survived."

My body curls in on itself as the pain vanishes as quickly as it came. Memories. I don't realize tears have come to my eyes until my face is gently pulled up and the drops are wiped from my cheeks. I face the same boy from the brief memories. His hair is longer and curlier now. His cheeks are sunken in and dirty. His eyes are dull, devoid of any of the grief or mischief I saw in them in my memories. His face is so handsome and familiar that it brings more tears to my eyes. Gabriel, he called himself.

"Gabriel?" I breathe out in question. His eyebrows furrow.

"It is I, dear Amelia. What has happened to you?" he questions, holding one of my hands tenderly in one of his and feeling the bump on my head with the other. The name Amelia sounds so much more familiar coming from his lips than from that other man's, but it still feels uncomfortable. Gabriel's voice is deep and sends chills down my spine.

"Is that my name? Amelia?" I hold his hand tightly in my own. Gabriel's brow furrows even further.

"What? What has happened? Do you not know who you are?" Gabriel begins to stand, but I tug on his hand to keep him with me. For some reason, I fear that if I let him go, something terrible might happen to him.

I look up at Luke as he approaches Gabriel and me, his hand on his sword.

"Your Highness? Is there a problem?" he questions, startling Gabriel. When Gabriel jumps in alarm, Luke's hand on his sword tightens. Your Highness? Oh. Right. In my memory, he said he was the son of a king, so that would make him a prince. I loosen my hold on Gabriel's hand as he stands to face Luke.

"Do you know what happened to this girl?" Gabriel questions Luke, pulling me protectively to his side.

"I mean no disrespect, Your Highness, but what does the condition of a Romani girl matter to you? Shouldn't you be worrying more about your brother?" Luke raises his eyebrow at Gabriel, his voice hard.

"This Romani girl, as you put it, and her condition, matter more to me than my own life. I have known her for years, and I demand that you tell me what you know of her!" Gabriel thunders, his grip on me tightening painfully. Luke's hand drops from his sword and he bows his head slightly to Gabriel.

"I apologize, Your Highness. I came across her with two of your brother's soldiers and rescued her from their obviously immoral intentions. She has no memory of her past or her name. I have been calling her Syeira. Yesterday, a man approached her and called her 'Amelia,' claiming to be her betrothed, but I told him he would have to wait until today to speak to her and discuss matters. I do not trust him. He has the look of a pirate." Luke's eyes shift over to mine as he tells the last part to Gabriel. A pirate. That Jasper man did have that look; I'm briefly startled that for some reason I know what a pirate looks like. Maybe that is why he made me feel uneasy. Gabriel's hold on me goes slack.

"Was...was the man's name Jasper?" he questions, his voice quiet and his eyes to the ground.

"I believe I heard him use that name." Luke and Gabriel look at me and I nod hesitantly. Gabriel sighs and runs a hand down his face. His unruly hair flops right back on his forehead. I feel the urge to push his hair out of his eyes.

"Jasper is indeed her betrothed," he says to Luke before looking at me. "Your birth name, given to you by your Romani parents, is Amelia, but you have been living on a pirate ship for the past eight years by the name of Annette. Jasper is your betrothed by his Romani mother and stepfather, but was raised by his pirate father, Captain Ronder, whose ship you were living on." Gabriel looks tired and looks at me with despondent eyes. Luke looks shocked. My mind reels. I am Romani, but a pirate by choice? I am betrothed to the Jasper man. And my name...I have two. Annette feels more natural to me. I voice that and Gabriel barks out a laugh.

"That was your mother's name," he replies, humor in his voice. The news stuns me. But he said was. My mother must be deceased. The thought sobers me.

"I..." I have no idea how to respond to all of that information. "How do I know you?" I ask meekly. Gabriel laughs bitterly.

"I met you when I was young. Later, you and your mother danced for my father; it was about that time that you escaped to Captain Ronder's ship. I was in love with you - thought I was in love with you - so I spent many years searching for you. With the help of your father, I was finally able to find you," Gabriel says as he sits down next to me on the bench.

"Did I love you?" I ask. I gasp and cover my mouth with my hands, my eyes wide. Why did I ask that? Gabriel chuckles and Luke grunts, plopping down on a bench opposite to Gabriel and me.

"I'm not quite sure. I think at one point, but that changed after you met Jasper. You fight him, but you love him. You're a rebel and very spunky, if I may say so. Most of the time I have no idea whether you will listen to what I say or do the exact opposite, usually the second," Gabriel smiles widely at me. Luke chuckles as I shoot him a glare.

"How are you here?" For some reason, since the moment I saw him, the question has been nagging at the back of my mind. Gabriel clears his throat.

"Well...I was kidnapped..." I gasp and Gabriel sends me a reassuring smile. "But I have come to an agreement with the man, Duncan, holding me captive. I am helping these men to get my brother off of the throne so that I can take my rightful place as king."

"You were kidnapped?" I clutch at his arm. It feels like a stone has been dropped into my stomach. "Are you okay?" Gabriel chuckles again. I don't find the situation at all funny and frown at him.

"I am quite okay. It led me back to you. Other than a bump like yours, though not as serious, I am not injured at all. It's also about time I took action and took my throne so that I can care for my people."

Luke looks up at the sky and jumps up.

"We must hurry! We have to meet with that Jasper!" I hop up with him, not very excited at the prospect of seeing that man again as he made me feel uneasy. Now that I know more about him though, I am intrigued. Gabriel stands up, too, eyeing me warily.

"I would like to go with you. Let me speak to Duncan for a moment." Gabriel saunters off to a tent. I can't help but to stare at him as he walks away. My mind buzzes. I glance at Luke and catch him smirking at me.

"What?" I ask as we walk over to his horse to prepare him for riding.

"You fancy the prince. Maybe you truly love this Jasper, but right now, all you know is of Prince Gabriel, and you fancy him," Luke sounds bitter as he says this. I put my hand on his arm gently.

"Luke?" I question his tone. Part of me is concerned and the other part of me, probably the Romani, pirate, rebel part of me I'm no longer familiar with, is annoyed with his attitude and wants to know why he is acting in such a manner.

"I..." Luke's shoulders slump, "I hope you are able to get your memories back and be happy with Gabriel or Jasper." Luke's tone sounds resolved as he swings onto his horse and holds his hand down to me. I get on behind him as Gabriel rides up on a horse of his own.

"I have the rest of the day before Duncan requests that I be back," he says, turning his horse toward the road. The ride back to the inn seems even longer than the ride to the camp was. My mind wanders with all that has been told to me about myself. I muse on Luke's words. Do I fancy Gabriel?

Jasper's POV

I wait in the tavern where Amelia and the man were yesterday. I tap my foot impatiently, holding my second empty beer mug between my hands. The bartender, Grace, walks by again, wiping the bar and looking at me suspiciously.

"You better not be here to hurt that dear Syeira," she says to me before walking off to take another order. I blink at her and scowl. If I were in my pirate attire rather than the Romani outfit I wore for my wedding to Amelia, Grace would be staying away from me and not daring to threaten me. Moments like these make me realize just how much more of a pirate I am than a Romani. Nothing made me happier, other than the brief moments I thought I would be marrying Amelia, than when Amelia said she didn't want to live with the Romani.

A hand claps on my shoulder and I almost harm the guy who dared to touch me before I'm stunned into the realization that it is Gabe; I consider maiming him anyway, but decide it's not worth the effort.

"How did you get here? And how did you find me?" I grunt at him, not entirely pleased to see that he is okay.

"I'm working with some people, and I came with Amelia and Luke," he says, his bloody hand still on my shoulder, as he sits beside me and gestures to Grace for a beer. As Gabe settles in beside me, Luke sits down on my other side. I hate feeling corned and begin to tense up, my hand immediately finding the dagger I have concealed. Amelia sits down next to Luke; too far away for my comfort, but I have to remember that she has no idea who I am.

"Luke," I nod at the general and glance at Amelia. She looks better than yesterday, though still quieter and more reserved than her usual self.

"That is General to you," Luke - General Luke -  says to me, putting his hand on Amelia's arm. It takes all of my willpower not to stand up and skewer the general with my sword. Gabriel must have sensed my thoughts, because he puts his hand lightly on my arm. I glance at it in distaste and he slowly peels it off, shooting me a look. Luke and Amelia are whispering to my side.

"Um...Gabriel?" Amelia leans over to look at him. My insides turn to ice. The way she says his name is the same way she said it when she first was on my father's ship and we began speaking. The way she says it is like when she still loved him. My hand clenches into a fist as I look at her face. She looks at him with big, questioning eyes. Her eyes are filled with an emotion I would rather not see her directing at any other man. We were finally supposed to be wed a couple of days ago, now this?

"Yes, Amelia?" Gabriel responds, taking his mug gently from Grace.

"Am I old enough to drink?" she asks innocently. "Luke says I look too young, but I'm really craving a beer for some reason." Gabriel chuckles.

"Maybe not, but that hasn't stopped you in the past." Amelia shoves Luke playfully on the shoulder as she gestures at Grace for two more beers. I close my eyes tightly. This can't be happening. I feel like I'm losing her all over again. She hasn't looked at me once.

"Amelia?" I call her name softly. "Love?" She looks over at me quickly before glancing at Gabriel, who nods. My insides freeze even more. Amelia looks at me again and it's like she's looking at a stranger.

"I'm going to be honest with you," she says quietly, "I have no idea who you are besides what Gabriel has told me. I got a flash of my memory back, but...I still know nothing of you from myself." Her words tear at me even more. She knows Gabriel, but I am just a stranger to her.

"I... I understand. I'm sorry if I scared you yesterday," I mutter back, hoping I don't sound as desolate as I feel. At least she doesn't remember my betrayal. And maybe I won't have to tell her of her father until much later. That prospect manages to cheer me up only slightly.

"I'm sorry I don't remember you. I know you mean a lot to me, and I to you..." she trails off. Gabriel couldn't have told her that, could he have? I glance at him. He gives me a small smile. Well damn. The man seems to be giving her up after all.

"Can I take you out, alone, to talk? To maybe try to jog your memory a little?" I ask her hesitantly. I am all for alone time with her, albeit probably not the kind she wants right now, but whatever time I can get with her is time I will treasure. Luke clears his throat.

"I don't know about that, pirate boy," he says, his voice bitter. I turn to face him, my hand on my sword.

"Excuse me?" I retort, my lip curling and my inside churning.

"You heard me! I don't trust you, you dirty pirate," he spits at me. Amelia gasps and fury flashes across her face. I let go of my sword, suddenly worried that I did something wrong to make her not trust me even more. Amelia stands up, her eyes on fire. The look she directs at Luke is one I have always tried to avoid.

"Gabriel said that I'm a pirate! I may have been born a gypsy, but so was he, Luke. I think I will take you up on that offer, Jasper, but I want Gabriel within shouting distance," I raise an eyebrow at her request, but comply. When she says my name, my stomach dips and my mind buzzes in bliss.

I lead her to the docks and sit down on a rotting bench facing the sea. I glance at her as she sits down tentatively beside me. It takes me a moment to compose myself and think of something to say. The last time I saw her was when she knew who I was and our wedding - a wedding she was about to run from - was crashed by soldiers.

"This is the first place we docked together," I whisper to her, trying not to destroy the calmness in the air. I remember that day vividly and wish to go back to it when things weren't as complicated.

"Really?" she asks, turning to face me a bit more. I nod my head, leaning back on the seat more and stretching out my legs. I cross my arms and tuck them behind my head.

"You were still having a hard time answering to Annette, so my father thought you were hard of hearing. He wouldn't let you go into the pub, but he made you sit out here by the boat so he knew you would hear when it was time to leave. I brought you a beer from the bar and sat out here with you. That's when you told me your name wasn't really Annette. I think that moment started off our...relationship." I was hesitant to call it a friendship because it was so much more than that, but I didn't want to call it anything more in fear that it might scared her off. Amelia laughs. Her laugh is husky and it makes my insides tighten. I want more than anything else in this moment to take her into my arms and kiss her senseless, but I'm pretty sure that would cause problems with her and her two bodyguards. Amelia sobers. Her expression turns hesitant.

"Gabriel...he said that we...that we are betrothed. And...he said that...well...he said we love each other... Is that true?" Amelia squeezes her eyes shut like she does when she is mortified of something she said, which isn't that often as she's generally reckless and fearless. Her eyelashes fan across her cheeks. I chuckle at her light blush. Quickly, so I can't second-guess myself, I reach out and grasp her small hand in my own.

"We are betrothed...by our parents. I'm being honest here, so cut me some slack, but you're not too keen on the whole marrying me thing, love. I...I love you. I'm not quite sure if you love me the same way, but I like to think so," I say quietly, half hoping she hears me so I don't have to repeat myself and half hoping she doesn't hear me admit my love and her reluctance to marry me. Her eyes open slowly and her blush deepens. Her eyes are mesmerizing, but I can't help glancing down at her lips. Somehow, we've moved closer together. If I wasn't afraid I'd scare her away, I would close the space and taste her lips. Amelia lets out a shaky breath. I close my eyes tightly and do something I know I'll regret later: I move away.

"I have a weird feeling in my stomach," she whispers and blushes again. I move her hair out of her face.

"You once told me it felt like lady bugs crawling around in your stomach, like a thousand butterflies fluttering around," I whisper. I leave out the part where she punched me after she said that and didn't speak to me until I corned her in the crow's nest a couple nights later.

We've moved closer again. I let out the shaky breath this time. Amelia leans in closer and holds my forearms, my hands resting on her cheeks.

"Please don't move away again," she whispers, and this time she doesn't blush. She slowly brings her lips up to mine, pausing slightly away so that I can feel her breath every time she breathes out. I swiftly close the small gap when I can't resist any longer.

Her lips are like a drug. I feel the same drumming in my stomach that she had described. My body turns to heat as I pull her closer, pulling her slightly onto my lap. I run my hands through her hair, tugging on it to angle her face closer. I kiss her urgently, trying to convey all of my desperation and my fear of losing her. Her hands tug at the collar of my shirt. One of them manages to slip inside and onto my skin and I think I've somehow managed to go to heaven. I want more, so much more, but I have to stop before I do something that might be too much for her right now, like put my hands down her top...or up the skirt of her dress. Using all of the self-control I have, I gently pull away from her, nipping at her bottom lip a couple of times before I'm able to completely pull away. I rest my forehead on hers, both of our breathing erratic.

"Wow," she whispers. I trace her lips with my fingertip. "I don't think I fancy Gabriel anymore." I raise an eyebrow. I feel I should be angered by that statement, but my mind is still buzzing and I can't find it in me to think of anything besides kissing her again and pulling her so close to me that neither of us can tell where the other ends or begins.

"Well, that's good to hear." Sarcasm leaks into my voice. My heart is racing. My father would be ashamed of my sappiness, but he isn't here and all the opinions I need to hear come from the one still resting on my lap, her hands on my collar and mine around her perfect waist.

Amelia/Annette

Oh wow. That is all I can think right now. Oh wow. For a brief moment, I had a flash of a crow's nest, the night sky, and a similar kissing event; I think it might be pieces of a memory. I have no clue what motivated me to tell him to not move away again, but I am so glad I did. All uneasiness of being around him has vanished and been replaced by attraction.

I clear my throat and try to collect some of my thoughts. I avoid looking into his blue eyes or anywhere near his lips, knowing that doing so will lead to me kissing him all over again. The prospect isn't terrible, but I know that we really need to get back to the camp before dark.

"Gabriel has to get back. We should probably go," I attempt to appear unaffected, but know I am failing horribly. I feel like the old me with all of her memories wouldn't be so affected by this. I would probably saunter off to grab a beer or something and leave Jasper all bothered and pining for me, but, unfortunately, I am no longer the same person, so I'm going to enjoy sitting on his lap with his hands resting on my waist and my hands curved on his very muscular and very appealing chest for just a little while longer.

I rest my head on his shoulder and enjoy the warm feeling it brings. Part of me says being this close to him is wrong because I don't even really know him, but the other part is calling me stupid and saying that he is my betrothed and the one I apparently love. His jet black hair flows in the salty breeze, tickling my face a little, but I am too comfortable to move or brush his hair aside.

After a while of me sitting on his lap enjoying the view and him kissing his way up and down my neck, Jasper finally shifts me off of his lap and stands up, stretching a bit before reaching for my hand. I take his hand and reluctantly get up off of the bench. We walk back hand-in-hand to where Gabriel is laying on the ground looking up at the sky. He sits up as we approach. The grin he gives us shows that he knows exactly what we did. That cheeky bastard.

"Where is Luke?" I ask to avoid any comments that might be made. Gabriel chuckles and gives me a knowing look.

"Getting the horses. We need to leave soon if we are to make it back to the camp by dark. Jasper, you're coming with us."

"Why wouldn't I?" Jasper replies. He lets go of my hand, and I immediately wish he hadn't. I sit down beside Gabriel as I watch Jasper walk back to the inn to gather his belongings and fetch his horse.

"Enjoy your alone time?" Gabriel chuckles, but something sounds off with his tone. I look at him intently. He avoids eye contact and instead draws circles in the dusty dirt. Something clicks in my brain.

"You never stopped loving me," I say, astonished. "But...you said you thought you loved me, past tense even..." Gabriel looks into my eyes briefly and goes back to drawing circles.

"I am no good for you," he mutters. "My love for you is poisonous and unrealistic. I dream of loving you, but I need to fulfill my duty to my kingdom, not chase after a hopeless dream. Jasper, he truly loves you. You deserve a man that can love you like you deserve, not a coward who loves you because it fancies him." I stare at him, speechless. Anger bubbles up inside me.

"Who are you to decide if you are right or wrong for me? You are a coward. You run away from not only your responsibilities, but your feelings as well. If I am not good enough for you to love, then have the decency to say so and leave me alone!" I slap him and jump up. His cheek turns bright red where I slapped him and my hand stings. I feel no guilt. "You are right, I do deserve much better than you. It is not your right to decide that though," I spit at him. I storm off to find Luke, rage boiling in me at Gabriel's confession. He loves me, but he made the decision for me about who I should love!

I find Luke as he brings the horses out of the stable where we left them to be cared for. Jasper comes out behind him with his own steed. Fuming, I storm up to them. There are luckily four horses so I can ride alone.

"Let us go," I grind out.

"Whoa there! What happened?" Luke questions me. I ignore him and pull myself up onto one of the horses.

"Fetch Gabriel and let us leave." Gabriel's name comes out like a curse. Luke stares at me hesitantly before obeying me and taking Gabriel his horse.

I gentle hand touches my arm and I tense. A gentle kiss on my neck cools my temper.

"What did the prince say?" Jasper asks me quietly. I trot my horse forward and he follows beside me.

"It is not of importance," I reply sharply, not wanting to share with him Gabriel's words or decision. I have a feeling Jasper knows of Gabriel's decision, which doesn't make the situation any better. Jasper remains silent and falls behind me.

During the ride back to the camp, I remain ahead until Luke decides halfway there to ride alongside me. We engage in small talk and I learn a lot about his childhood and his family. He avoids discussing his sister, but we do talk about her a little. Luke loved her dearly and looked up to her immensely. His sister, Johanne, was the one who convinced him to join the royal army and to fight for the good in the world. He doesn't say it, but I know that Johanne's death caused a giant hole in his heart. Seeing his face as he talks about her makes me think about Gabriel. I realize now, after my time with Jasper, that my feelings for Gabriel are not strong, but I do care for him. After a couple of minutes of silence, I tell Luke that I am going to speak to Gabriel. He gives me a small smile, and I know he is proud of my decision.

I slow my horse down to wait for Gabriel. I give Jasper a pleading look and he nods his head at me before riding ahead to talk with Luke; Luke and he still do not like each other, but I think they are trying to be civil for my sake. Gabriel refuses to meet my eyes and keeps his head down.

"I'm...Gabriel...I'm..." I can't get the words out. I'm not sorry for what I said to him, but I do regret the bad feelings between us. I choose my words carefully. "I wish life were easier. I wish I had my memories or that we could truly love each other and be happy. You are right that you need to fulfill your duty to your kingdom. I-" Gabriel cuts me off. His expression is bleak.

"I had no right to say what I did. My kingdom...if I loved you like I should, loving you would not affect my duty to my kingdom. The truth is..." Gabriel takes a big breath and I cut him off before he can continue. I do not want to know the truth. At this point, the truth will either break me or make me angry at him again, neither of which I want.

"No, Gabriel. Don't. I will continue to be by your side when it counts, but I also have my own duties. I have a duty to try to pursue my feelings, no matter what anyone else says is best for me, and to try to regain my memories. I have a duty to myself, and you to yourself, and that is so much more important than dreaming of a love that cannot be." My chest feels lighter having said that. I am saddened, but I know what I say is the truth.

I, too, have hopelessly dreamed of loving Gabriel; I know I did before I lost my memories and my brief memories of him fooled me into doing it again before I spoke with Jasper. Gabriel is perfect in every way. When I sleep, I dream of a world where Gabriel and I are in love and blissful and together, but when I am awake I know that the reality is that Jasper has grounded me in the past and will continue to do so in the future and that he and I are compatible in a way that Gabriel's position as royalty will never allow. My heart and my mind tell me that, with or without my memories, being Jasper is the better decision, no matter how blissful I think being with Gabriel could be. My heart swells with the realization. I want nothing more than to race ahead and proclaim to Jasper my love for him, but I am sobered by the anguished look on Gabriel's face, the thought that doing so might seem idiotic to Jasper, and the haze of smoke in the distance that catches my attention. No fire the soldiers might make would create that much smoke.

"Luke!" I shout racing ahead to him, Gabriel by my side. I point to the smoke when Luke turns to me in acknowledgement. The men see the smoke and immediately race ahead. I somehow manage to keep up with them. They shout to each other, preparing for the worst.

The worst wouldn't be good enough to describe what we find at the camp.

Fire burns all round. Memories flash through my head of a previous event filled with blood and fire and pain: another battle that I'm pretty sure ended with the loss of my memories.

Somehow, without even thinking about it, I am off my horse and plunging my sword through a man in a king's army uniform. He has no time to react before he is dead and crumpled on the ground.

Luke shouts for me, but I lose sight of him in the attack. Men shout and fight all around. Tents, trees, and grass blaze with fire. Gabriel fights his way to me.

"Whatever happens, know that I love you. Know that I want what is best for you," he says, grabbing my hand and shoving me aside as he cuts the head off of a man who was trying to attack me from behind. The sight doesn't bother me though I know it should. Blood splatters my face and my clothes. I wipe off the blood from my face with a sadistic grin. I tear my arm from Gabriel's grip and run away from him into the battle. Gabriel shouts after me but I ignore him as I attack a man who just murdered a soldier I spoke to earlier as I ate my soup. The memory feels like a lifetime ago as I kill the man.

The fighting clears my mind. I kill man after man as they continue to kill soldiers from my side of the battle. I receive a cut to my midsection, but the slight pain only drives my frenzied attack even more. At one point, Jasper runs by me to hand me a dagger and give me a swift kiss on the lips. The sentiment leaves me grinning even wider as I use the new weapon to increase my accuracy and carnage.

Luke and I end up fighting back-to-back when I am finally able to fight my way over to him. He has received a cut to his arm and across his face, but he too seems even more determined to kill the attackers in response. He roars in ire as he skewers the man he has been fighting with. His clothes are covered in blood, as are mine. My choice of clothing - a dress - seems very impractical at the moment, but I work around the burden of a skirt; I have ripped off the bottom to make it easier to navigate the field.

Luke sees a man slay one of his soldiers and runs off in anger to kill the man. I only have a moment to watch them fight before I am attacked. As I kill the man who attacked me, I see Gabriel struggling to defend himself against two men. The men obviously know who Gabriel is and are gleeful at the prospect of defeating him. I race over to them and stab one of them in the back and through his heart. He falls limp and drops as I draw my sword out. Gabriel has no problem overthrowing the other man. Gabriel shoots me a grin in thanks.

I grasp my sword in one hand and the dagger in the other, still surprised that I know how to use a weapon and fight. I stow the dagger and grab hold of Gabriel's bloody jacket. The smoke from the still-blazing fire makes it hard to see or breathe any more. I find Jasper in the battle and keep one eye on him as he fights three people simultaneously with a smirk on his face. I wince every time one of them gets close to harming him and every time someone else joins their little fight. I feel the urge to run to help him, but just as I am, he defeats the last man with ease. Jasper immediately turns to fight again.

Luke runs up, blood streaming down his arm and coating his sword.

"Your Highness! We've lost too many people. We must retreat. We must storm the castle with the original plans and all of the people we have left. There is no time left!" he shouts, keeping an eye out for any people who might ambush. His eyes meet mine. He looks worried. The cut on his cheek looks bad and is sure to scar. I reach out my hand to grip his in comfort. As his hand grasps mine, he shoots me a smile. He tightens his grip before letting go.

"Be brave," he mouths to me, turning to run back into the thick of the battle to announce to our soldiers to retreat. My heart constricts in fear seconds before my life crashes down around me.

A harpoon comes out of nowhere, headed straight for Gabriel. I shout, trying to jump in the way of it, but Luke pushes me aside. It gets Luke right through the chest. Gabriel pulls me down to the ground as Luke collapses beside us. Luke's bloody sword tumbles out of his hand. Blood runs out of his mouth as he struggles to breathe. His hands grasp at the air. I pull Luke to me, my eyes searching his own.

"No," I whisper, distraught. "Please, no." Tears pool in my eyes and stream down my cheeks. "Luke!"

Gabriel tugs on my arm. His eyes look into my own, tormented.

"Amelia..." he trails.

"No!" I shout, pulling away from him. "I will not leave him! He saved your life!" I pull Luke closer to me, not caring about his blood getting all over me. His clammy hand cups my cheek.

"You...you made me not so sad. You made my life more than...revenge," Luke takes a shaky breath as I hold his hand to my cheek. Sobs wrack my body. "I...I...lov--" Luke's head falls to the side, his eyes wide and staring. I only knew him for a day, but he grew to be so important to me. Luke saved me. Without Luke I may be dead or wishing I was.

"Oh god," I hiccup. "Luke..."

Jasper slides to the ground beside me out of nowhere and seizes me by the shoulders. He reaches down and closes Luke's eyes before tearing me from Luke's lifeless body. I struggle against him, tears blurring my vision.

"We have to go. If we stay, we will die, too. I know you care about him, but don't let his death be in vain," he says, pulling me further away from Luke. Jasper pulls me into his arms and shelters me with his body as we run from the battlefield. Being in his arms means nothing as we leave behind my friend. Luke saved my life when I first met him. Luke died saving Gabriel's life. My mind is numb. Everything around me ceases to exist. We stop by our horses, a safe distance from the battle...and too far from Luke. I barely hear Jasper talking to me. His hands run through my hair but I barely feel it. I struggle against his hold again.

"Luke...Luke...Oh God, no...Luke..." I repeat over and over again. It's all I can manage. Jasper pulls my face to his and presses his lips gently to mine. My mind resurfaces and I start sobbing again. Jasper kisses me again and I tumble into his embrace. He rubs my back gently.

"We need to leave, love. Everyone is retreating. We need to leave, my love," he says to me, pulling back and kissing my lips, wet and salty with my tears, again. I nod numbly and allow myself to be pulled onto the horse behind Jasper. I hold him tightly to me. Somehow, miraculously, he has received no wounds. I rest my cheek on his back and squeeze my eyes closed. My head aches, but I pay it no mind.

We gallop after Gabriel as he leads the surviving men away from King Christian's attacking army and to a safe place to regroup and prepare for our attack. I don't know anything of the plans, but am ready for whatever is demanded of me. I will avenge Luke.

Dead bodies litter the ground. My eyes stay on Luke's body in the distance as we ride quickly away. I have cried all the tears I can cry. My gasps for air have slowed to steady breathing. 

It is time for Gabriel to fight for his rightful throne, for his kingdom. It is time for King Christian to pay.

We ride away from the battlefield to prepare for yet another battle, this time to take the castle.