"It is not in the stars to hold our destiny, but in ourselves."
              -William Shakespeare

The night was still.

Peaceful.

Euphoric.

Quiet.

"Ouch!"

Almost.

You frowned, turning to look at the chestnut headed male sitting behind you.

"Can you please be more gentle? It feels like you're trying to kill me!" You exclaimed.

Jungkook frowned at your words, and thumped at a spot just below your wound in response.

"Ow! What was that for?!" You asked harshly, holding your shoulder from the pain.

Jungkook shrugged his shoulders and returned to dressing your wound.

"That was because you keep yelling at me." He stated nonchalantly.

You sighed, turning to face the fire infront of you again, beginning to fiddle with your hands.

Your heart began to speed up as Jungkook's soft fingers brushed the skin of your back while he cleaned your wound, but you tried not to think about that.

After the Umbra attack, everyone continued to ride ahead, and travel. The poison from the monster was still trying to fully leave your system, so you would often feel queasy and light headed.

Jimin seemed to notice, though and stopped the company to make camp for the night. In all honesty you didn't want to stop, you wanted to keep riding until you got there.

You hated the feeling of being useless, and defenseless. The sooner you left this land the better.

"I never got to thank you," You stated quietly, catching Jungkook's attention. "For saving my life, back there."

Jungkook's golden eyes widened slightly at your suddenly kind tone. A sarcastic remark, rested on the tip of his tongue, but he bit it back, deciding it would be better to acknowledge you.

In the short time he'd known you, the two of you had been bickering friendly, back and forth . Never once, had he actually had a heart-to-heart conversation with you, but that didn't stop him from caring about you, not even a little bit.

You were a mystery to him. Something he could continue to study, but never fully understand. The way you saw the world, mesmerized him. You were different from any woman he had ever met before.

"You're welcome." The chestnut headed man stated, continuing to dress your wounds.

You sighed out, your blue eyes trailing over each of the men that sat gathered together by the fire. You and Jungkook were a few feet away from them so your conversation wasn't heard.

"And I'm sorry about calling you a pedophile." You said.

Jungkook chuckled, pulling down your shirt once he finished dressing your wound.

"It's okay, I don't even know what that means."

You smiled lightly, nodding your head.

"It must really suck to have to marry someone you don't love." You stated quietly.

Jungkook's eyes widened slightly at your bluntness, as he began placing the bandages back into Namjoon's saddle bag.

A sigh escaped his lips.

"Indeed, It does...... suck?"

You watched as Jungkook moved and sat down on the ground beside of you, resting the saddle bag between his legs.

"Then why are you marrying her?" You asked.

Jungkook frowned.

"It is for the betterment and progression of my kingdom, and I, as a prince, am more than happy to take any steps necessary to better my kingdom."He stated monotonously.

You frowned.

"That sounds like something the king drilled into your head." You said.

Jungkook smiled bitterly, casting his gaze up to the starry sky.

"He has been telling me that since I was a child, I suppose it was his way of teaching me my priorities."

You nodded in understanding.

"I'm sorry." You stated. "It sounds like your childhood wasn't the best in the world."

Jungkook nodded.

"On the day princess Cassandra was born I became engaged to wed her. I was eight years old."

Your eyes widened as you stared at the prince beside you in awe.

"You were so young!" You said.

Jungkook faced you for a moment, before looking back at the sky.

"My father liked to plan ahead."

You nodded, a frown evident on your features.

"When I was younger, I thought that since I wasn't the heir to the throne, I wouldn't have to study hard like my older brothers, but now that I'm older I've come to realize that, because I am not heir to the throne, I have to work that much harder to prove my worth." He said.

You shook your head and placed your hand on his bicep, causing him to look at you.

"You are his son, you shouldn't have to prove yourself just to get him to treat you like a human being. You are an amazing person, heir or no heir, and your father should be able to see that."

Jungkook smiled at your words.

"If only the rest of this land could think how you do, y/n. I'm sure the world in which I live would be a much better place." He said.

You frowned, removing your hand from him.

"You shouldn't be treated that way."

Jungkook nodded.

"You're right, but the world is a harsh place, where duty comes before the matter of ones heart. Even if I find little pleasure in it."

"I think," you breathed. Jungkooks eyes resting on your form. " the world is only as good a place as you make it." You said turning to face him. "You should allow your own happiness to be top priority, even if that means your father gets angry with you. You only get one life, it's actually your duty to live it as fully as possible, and you won't be doing that if you marry someone you don't love."

Jungkooks eyes widened at your wise words, a soft smile making its way onto his face.

"You have wisdom far beyond your years y/n. I hope that one day I, too can speak with such understanding of the world."

You chuckled.

"Oh, I have no understanding of the world, all I have to go on is a little bit of hope."

Jungkook smiled at your words, watching as you fiddled with your hands in your lap.

"Namjoon always says," Jungkook started "hope is seeing light, in spite of being surrounded by darkness."

-----------------------

"She is something, isn't she?"

Taehyung jumped at Namjoon's sudden appearance, a hand flying towards his chest.

"You mustn't scare me like that, Namjoon." Taehyung stated breathlessly.

The sorcerer smiled, his golden eyes trailing over to watch your form laugh beside Jungkook, a few feet away.

He had watched Taehyung stare at you for a while. The Kings lavender eyes would hardly ever leave your small form. Namjoon has begun to notice a pattern in the Kings  behavior. He was always either worrying, smiling, or laughing because of you.

It seemed to the sorcerer that you had in fact made quite the impact on Taehyung's life, even if you had only just arrived four days ago and Namjoon could see why. You were beautiful and full of vibrant life. Every word that came from your mouth was different and exciting, Something Namjoon had never experienced before.

"My apologies, Taehyung. I didn't mean to startle you." He spoke softly.

Taehyung nodded, casting his lavender eyes back to you.

"They seem to be getting along." Namjoon stated.

Taehyung nodded again.

"She seems to make friends quickly." The king said.

Namjoon smiled.

"You worry for her, don't you?" He asked.

Taehyung nodded.

"She is so good and pure, yet she is afflicted with a terrible curse." He stated lowly. "I only wish to protect her."

Namjoon nodded.

"Maybe we should be thankful for the curse."

Taehyung's eyes snapped to the magicians.

"What?"

Namjoon chuckled.

"If she were not cursed with dragon fire, you would never have met her, and you would still be back at your castle, in a large library reading all day. Jimin would be meeting with the elders, Jin would be drinking, Jungkook would be training, and I'd still be making countless potions for the king's illness." Namjoon laughed. "We should be thankful for the chance to get away from our otherwise depressing lives."

Taehyung nodded slowly.

"Still, I can't help but wish, I'd met her under better circumstances. Preferably ones where we aren't all put in jeopardy."

Namjoon chuckled.

"I understand, my friend."

Taehyung sighed.

"No, no you don't." He stated, rubbing his hands together. "At the castle, when she was attacked by those people, I thought my chest was going to explode from worry. I could see her, I didn't know if someone had grabbed her or attacked her or worse. I almost killed Nathaniel, because he laid his hands on her. I even threatened him with war." Taehyung frowned. "I worry for her so much."

Namjoon nodded, patting Taehyung's back.

"Y/n is a strong woman. She can protect herself, you've no need to worry."

Taehyung nodded.

He knew Namjoon was right, he always was, but still, Taehyung couldn't help but feel like something bad was about to happen soon.

And you know what?

He was right.

A/N,
*peeks out from behind curtain* Okay, I know that this chapter is extremely short, but I really needed to post something. I haven't posted anything in so long, and I felt really bad! Hopefully I can get another chapter up and posted by tomorrow, if not then Wednesday...... maybe. Anyway, thanks to everyone reading and please comment and tell me what you think.

~Max