I was returning from the manner class to my room. I tried my best to ignore the elves who were wolf whistling me. I thought the Elvish ladies would be rude and cold to me but they were kind and warm. I walked hurriedly when I saw Emily walking past me, as I were a stone pillar.

I felt down. I really missed her. I don't know what to do to make her talk to me. I looked around at the men who were calling out to me and winking. I never had boys drooling over me ever before... Usually it was Emily who received all the male attentions.

I slumped down at my bed and sighed so heavily I felt better. A maiden elf came over and handed me my lunch in a big tray. There was deer stew and turkey. I ate it trying to relish it's taste but something was turning my stomach over.

Guilt... I felt guilty in some way. Not talking to Emily and being in two directions. We were two different person. Having two different personalities. Having two different interests. Having two different wishes. But we were still friends. I miss her...

I couldn't take it anymore... I was down. I needed some space from all this. I was frustrated and felt suffocated. I walked out of my room. I walked down the training ground to the place where I was learning archery. It was the only place I felt calm and could breath. I sat down beneath the trunk of a crooked tree. Silent tears were rolling down my cheeks. I knew my face was turning red. It always turns red when I'm crying. I sniffed. I wish Joseph was here. He always knew the best thing to do when I was in trouble or needed help. I miss that goofball. I miss mom and dad.

I wish I had taken that brooch I had left at the cave. It would have atleast reminded me that there is still hope and I could still go home. I just want a shoulder to cry on. Now I have no one.

These thoughts made me even more desperate and I started crying openly. It was really silent and my cries were slowly echoing the forest. But I'm sure no one could hear me when suddenly an arrow flew past and hit the bullseye. Right at the bullseye. I jumped up suddenly. I turned to look at the direction the arrow had passed. It was somewhere above the trees. I searched the trees standing there and my heart skipped a beat when I saw an elf sitting on the crooked tree I was resting on.

'Hi Daemeon...' I said rubbing and wiping my eyes fast, 'What are you doing here?'. He jumped off the tree like a cat on its feet. 'You were crying' he said. 'I know' I replied, it's no use lying, he probably was there the whole time. 'Why?' he asked, 'I was sad' I replied coyly. He raised an eyebrow. 'I just miss home and-' ' Your friend' he completed for me. '

Yes. Emily too' I said biting back the tears. Daemeon nodded. 'Why are you here?' he asked. 'I was troubled' I replied. ' I come here when I'm troubled too... It's like my secret paradise' he said.

He looked straight at me and continued ' I never showed this to anybody'. 'Then why'd you bring me here? For practise and all that. You might regret it now right?' I said. 'No... I actually feel happy about it' he said smoothly. I blushed. 'How's all the classes going?' he asked kindly. 'Its going pretty well for me' I said.

'Your friend's having trouble going throught it?' he asked, 'Yes I think so. But I'm not sure because she rarely talks to me now' I said sadly. 'Luthiann and I figured you two were upset with each other. I think she's jealous' he said with no hesitation. 'I felt the same way too but why? I know she was very popular at my place. Well mannered and beautiful. She's everything I dreamt to be' I said awkwardly.

'But didn't you notice? She's not the one popular here, you are. Your talented and you grasped all the Elvish manners and combat skills easily, something that took others and her to learn it properly for days. You are absolutely stunning. You might consider her beautiful but you have this certain glow around you that turns all head' he said earnestly and completed 'Including mine'. I did not blush or shy away from that but looked at him excitedly and said 'You really think so?'. He nodded looking at me. And I felt his sincerity in his cold eyes. I smiled and went to him and hugged him. 'Thank you. I really needed someone to cheer me up'. He patted on my back. I pulled back and smiled at him. He gave me a side smile and said 'Well as now your cheered up I'll leave you to your thoughts', saying so he walked away.

I was truly cheered up. Then I began thinking backwards. Oh my God....I just hugged Daemeon. Oh...he just said he's interested in me, or so I think. I began walking thinking about it hard when I heard the sound of someone hammering. I walked towards the sound. And saw a small hut like hut... Yes just a hut...it was incomplete and shabby. I liked it.

I got in and saw no one. The hammering had stopped. But the hammering inside my heart had just started. I just peeked here and there and after consoling myself I turned to walk away. 'What do you think your doing here' I heard a hoarse voice say. I turned around and saw Airen sitting on top of a plank and doing something. 'Have you just come here to gawk?' he asked rudely. 'No. No I'm sorry. I'll leave' I said.

'No stay. It was getting pretty quite and boring here' said Airen. 'Come join me. You can walk through that plank over there and climb up here' he said pointing at a thick secure plank at his immediate right. And I saw his eyes look hopefully at mine.

'Yeah I'll join you' I said while holding up my robe to get up. He extended his hand to help me up and I gladly excepted it. His hands were really smooth, strong and warm. I felt instantly heating up. I sat near him. I had expected him to sweat from working but he smelled of grass and jasmines. 'So why are you here?' he repeated. 'Oh I just heard hammering noices so I came up to check' I said shrugging. 'Fair enough' he said, 'Oh by the way I saw you fighting with Luthiann in combat. It really was smooth and impressive'.

' I- thank you' he said and started ruffling his straight long brown hair. I felt my heart hit hard on my chest.

'Is that girl Emily your friend?' he asked. 'Yes she is' I said confused. 'Could you tell her to stop talking and following me everywhere the ground. It's really embarrassing. Not even the Elvish woman do that. It's really disrespectful' he said surprisingly calm. 'I'm sorry about her. I'll try telling her' I said slowly. He nodded. We sat there awkwardly silent. When a question I always wanted to ask popped up in my head.

'How old are you?' I asked. I thought he'd refuse to tell me his age but he said '580...'. 'So your older than lady Aquailean?' I asked surprised. 'Yes' he said 'She turns out to be my sister'. Oh...ok. ' How old do u think Daemeon and the king are?' I asked. ' I do know Daemeon is 579 years but the king... He's quite ancient so it's hard to tell his age' he said. Wow...they truly are really old. Immortality is truly something.

We talked about his world for a long time. It was really fun. Daemeon was just an on topic person. But Airen on the other hand was open minded and very interesting to talk to. It was getting dark by then so Airen helped me down and offered to take me back to the palace with him. I agreed. We walked talking happily about all kind of stuff, like things we like to do and eat.

My mood was getting better. After reaching the gate he kissed my hand softly that send shivers to my spine. 'I enjoyed the day with you. I hope we can meet together sometimes' he said still holding my hand and caressing it. 'Yes I would love that' I said pleasantly while my butterflies in my stomach started to do backflips.

I went into my room. Wow...this day turned out to be better than expected. I really connected with Daemeon and Airen. I found out both of them are showing interests in me. Well I'm not sure about that of coarse. After having a quick dinner I went to sleep

At the middle of the night I heard someone whisper in my ear. 'Hey. Hey. You awake? Get up'. I got up immediately and saw a dark figure beside me on the bed. 'Who the hell!' I yelled and jumped backwards. 'Whoah shhh...it's me Emily'. 'Emily you scared the living bejesus out of me' I said shaking, 'What are you doing here in the middle of the night?' I asked.

'I- I came here to apologize' she said. 'Its fine' I said. 'No it's not. I was selfish and- and yes...jealous' she said. 'Why were you jealous' I asked. 'Because you got all the attention and praise from the people around here when I felt I was the one who truly was to get all your getting. The boys, the fame, the praise. So yeah I was jealous'.

'Its fine actually. I shouldn't have yelled at you or fight with you in the first place' I said looking at her kindly. I saw Emily's eyes start glistening. Emily burst into tears. 'I really missed you. I felt so lonely and bad' she said sobbing. The fairies had started to start peeking at us. She jumped and hugged me tight. I hugged her back. 'I missed you too. I wanted to talk to you so bad. I'm never going to stay upset with ever again' I promised. 'Yeah me neither' she said.....