The tavern is bustling with life, this is the closest I have come to normalcy in I am not sure how long. A rather tall young man stands beside me, hollering at a bartender. He orders the same as everyone in here, I am sure ale is the only thing they serve.

Pulling down my mask, I take a sip of mine and find that it doesn't taste as bad as I had expected. Looking around to see the majority of old men with beer bellies peeking out of the bottom of their dirt-stained shirts is really a sight to see.

"You're new here?" the man asks next to me and I look around to figure out who he is talking to. His bright blue eyes light up. "Yes, you," he laughs and I clear my throat.

"Yes, I am. What gave it away?" I joke and a smile tugs at his lips. His dark hair is rather long, hitting just the tops of his shoulders and he seems rather buff. The sword at his side tells me all I need to know. He's a guard.

"Out of all places you go for a drink you chose this place. You're definitely new," his voice is full of nothing but humour. "What happened to your hand?" he questions, looking down at the gauze.

"You're here so it can't be that bad and... it was a minor inconvenience," I explain and take another swig of ale. I can already feel its effects - it really must be strong stuff. I am more than glad I came here. I could do with a night of not being told what to do.

"I guard the docks so it is only around the corner. I merely come here through ease," he explains and I nod in understanding. "Would you allow me the pleasure of knowing your name?" he questions and takes a step closer.

"Does the cloak and mask not tell you that I am not here to fish out information about myself," it's my turn to step forward.

"Maybe I was more so thinking that I would be the one to take it off of you tonight," he leans down and whispers in my ear. I can't help the heat that rushes through my cheeks.

"Bold, aren't you?" I can't help the smirk that resides on my lips. I most definitely did not come here to warm a strangers bed nor am I going to but a few harmless flirts with someone I'm never going to see again won't hurt anybody.

"Lordre. Killian Lordre," he holds out his hand for me to shake and I take it hesitantly. Killian's hand is rough and calloused but you would expect nothing less from a guard.

"Nice to meet you," our hands separate and I take the mug of ale, taking a big gulp before setting down the empty glass on the bar top. Killian looks at me with wide eyes but he quickly recovers, his lax expression returning.

"You can tell a lot about people from just their eyes," Killian begins and I furrow my brows, not sure as to where he is going with this. "I must say you have, quite possibly, the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen."

I can't help the laugh the breaks through me. "I bet you say that to all of your mistresses," I hold back another laugh for both of our sakes.

"Actually, I like to switch up my lines every so often," he shrugs, taking a drink of his ale before he finishes it completely and slams his glass down. "Another round?" Killian questions, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"You know it," I smile and he waves over a waitress.

I'm not sure how many rounds in we are but we have migrated to the dance floor, which seems to be wherever you want it to be. The man in the far corner plays the accordion as people loop arms with their partners, twirling to the beat.

I can't help the laughter that ripples through me and against my better judgement, I pull off the cloak - finding that I am getting far too hot. I have had my mask off for as long as I can remember and no one has said a word so what's the difference.

As soon as the cloak is off I throw it onto a chair and Killian smiles devilishly before tugging my arm and pulling me to collide with his chest.

"I was hoping that I was going to do that," he slurs and I can't help the drunken laughter that resonates through me as we dance to the music.

"It was a moment of spontaneity. I wasn't planning on taking it off but it is scorching in here," my voice matches his - several slurs jumbled into one sentence. I really should stop drinking, I have to find my way back to the palace.

Killian twirls me around before his hands rest idly on my hips. Our drunken dance is one full of several twirls and stumbles, our footing being embarrassingly wrong. I have never felt so free.

However, we don't look half as bad at dancing as the civilians around us. We had just watched a rather plump woman stumble into a table as soon as she stood up, spilling all of her drink over an elderly fellow.

The whole tavern had erupted into a fit of laughter.

"When will I see you again?" he shouts over the music as we continue dancing. My mood immediately dampens at Killian's question.

"I'm afraid you probably will not. My life... it doesn't allow me to do things like this," I explain and he nods his head in understanding before he tugs me closer to him. Killian's hands roam my body and I feel the effects of the beer now more than ever.

"Well, we best make the most of tonight," his hand wraps around mine and he leads me to the back of the tavern. Gods, I should not be doing this.

We stop at a door before Killian reaches into his pocket for the keys that have the label office on them. "Let's just say I am well acquainted with the owner and I definitely didn't steal these from behind the bar."

"I never saw anything," I laugh and the door unlocks to reveal said office.

Killian guides me in before closing the door behind us. We stand there, our eyes boring into each other. Our chests are almost touching from our close proximity. I'd never thought in a million years that I'd spend my freedom getting drunk at a tavern with a complete stranger.

He leans down and I feel his soft lips kiss the base of my neck. I can't help but sigh in relief at the feeling. Killian lifts me up and I wrap my legs around him before he places me down on the desk - the wood cold against the backs of my thighs.

"Are you still ever so reluctant as to tell me your name?" his hands part my thighs as he continues to kiss my neck. I arch my back as he kisses lower, across my chest.

"Your mouth will not sway me," I breathe as his hand travels between my legs, the pads of his fingers brushing over my underwear causing me to gasp in shock.

"We'll see about that," he smirks and Killian kisses me harshly as his fingers loop around my underwear, pulling them down. His hands squeeze my thighs as he gets on his knees before me.

Killian kisses the inside of my knee before trailing kisses higher.

A low woosh sounds and I look to the side to see a note but before I can even process what it says, Killian pulls me towards him by my hips and his mouth connects with me. I can't help the small moan escaping from my lips.

I look over to read the note but find it hard to even keep my eyes open from the intense amount of pleasure coursing through me. I tangle my hand in Killian's dark locks, relishing how smooth it is.

Where the hell are you? - D

Oh no, no, no. No! "Killian," I try to sound stern but it comes out as more of a moan. Heavens, I need to go - he needs to stop.

"You taste so sweet," he murmurs against me and I can feel myself growing closer to the edge. Gods, I better not remember this in the morning - I am so screwed. Darian is going to kill me as soon as I step foot through the palace doors.

"Killian... I need to go," I groan but he continues his sweet assault. His hands kneed my thighs as he spreads them further, bearing me to him. I can feel the heat growing in my stomach, can feel that I am moments away from falling into eternal bliss.

With one last slide of his tongue, I throw my head back becoming completely undone. Killian stands from his position, placing himself between my thighs.

I rest my head on his chest, trying to compose my heavy breathing. "I am sure that I will not forget you," his voice is noticeably deeper and I lift my head to see him smirking. I can't help but smile as he kisses the tip of my nose.

"I can say the same thing about you," I flash him a smug smile before he moves so that I can put my underwear back on.

I turn towards the note and quickly scribble a message before Killian can see what I am doing.

In the library for research reasons. - N

"Until we meet again," Killian takes my hand in his before kissing the top of it. How chivalrous of him despite what we have just done.

"Until we meet again," I whisper and take one last look into those blue eyes. My feet force me out of the door and I make a point to not look back as my hand slips from his.

I've never had such a night in my life and I can only wish that this isn't the last.

I had managed to find my cloak and mask and I returned them to their rightful place - covering my identity. I had stumbled my way through the woods, falling over more times than I would like to admit.

So much for me being in a library researching. I am in the middle of a forest drunk out of my mind. What an eventful life I live - I am sure it would make for a pleasantly good novel.

I trip over an exceptionally large branch and almost land face first in a patch of wet mud. But thank the heavens, my hands saved me. I am laying there laughing to myself when I hear the sound of chanting and crackling.

I look in the direction of where the noise is coming from to find the shadows of people reflected onto the trees by something magnificently bright.

Scrambling to my feet, I follow the light. I keep my steps as light as possible as I near the people. My hand slaps over my mouth and I throw myself behind a tree when I see who it is.

Agnis and witches from the coven surround a blazing fire, chanting words I cannot understand no matter how hard I try. It looks like a ritual of some sort. My thoughts are confirmed when I watch them smear a red substance across their foreheads.

"Blood of the babe!" Agnis screeches and I feel sick to my stomach. "Eyes of the goat!" she then crushes them in her hands. "Hair of the future Queen!" it's as though I can't breathe.

This is most definitely a ritual and an evil one. Not one for restoring nature's balance or healing but something far, far darker.

"Come forth, father! Let us rid the Earth of this girl! She is not worthy of the power she bestows! She must not be trusted!" all of the witches chant. "When she realises how powerful she is, we will not stand a chance against her! Let us stop her!" Agnis screams.

I move to retreat but my foot lands on another twig, snapping it. All of their heads turn my way and I drop to the floor. "Father, is it your presence that rejoices us?" a different witch calls out.

Nothing happens, no one emerges... just silence. The witches begin wailing and I have to hold my hands over my ears. A wail so deafening curls through the air that I feel something leaking from my ears and my eyes.

My vision blurs and I wipe my eyes to find my fingertips smeared with blood. The wailing continues until it feels as though my head is going to explode.

Then it stops. The fire goes out and the witches disappear.

It takes me a while to regain composure but when my head finally feels as though it is not going to burst, I wipe the blood dripping down my neck and hastily make my way back.

I stand before the palace doors and vouch that there is no way of me getting in. That is until I notice a window open on the second floor and a trusty drain pipe that I figure I could use to climb up.

Grabbing the pipe with a firm grip, I hoist myself up and fit my feet into the crooks of the wall. The ascent is slow and tiresome - my drunken state not making it any easier.

When I finally reach the window, I lift my leg and stick it through the opening. Latching one hand around the window seal, I pull with all my might to get in. Because, if I fall it's a broken neck for me.

As soon as I am in, I realise how awkward my position is. I try to find an easier way to get through but said awkward position results in me falling onto the floor and smacking my head.

"Gods, I am never drinking again," I groan to myself. I need to get to the library and now. Clambering to my feet, I walk as quickly as possible to the library - well run really.

As soon as I am through the library doors I hear him. "Nova!" he bellows and my heart leaps in my chest. I break into a sprint towards the library stairs and it feels as though I am running from the intruder all over again.

I need to get as far down as I can because I know for a fact that he has swept through the top floors more times than I can even begin to count.

"Okay, you can deal with this," I whisper to myself. "No... you cannot deal with this," I go even faster and my intoxicated self ends up tripping down the bottom step. Meaning I land flat on my face.

"Nova!" his voice is rougher this time and closer. I know that he is gaining on me but this blasted ale has caused me to run nowhere but into walls. "Nova!" his voice is right next to me.

I grab the closest book, open it, and throw myself into a chair. My breathing is laboured but I do well in hiding it as he rounds the corner.

As soon as Darian's face comes into view beneath the small oil lamp hanging from the ceiling, I give him a huge smile. "Fancy seeing you here," I laugh awkwardly.