A FEW DAYS LATER. In the cozy abode of Kate and Merig, the aroma of breakfast fills the air as Kate busily prepares her favorite morning meal in the kitchen. Meanwhile, Merig is upstairs, donning his gear in preparation for another day of guard duty. Once he’s all set, he descends the stairs and enters the kitchen, where he finds Kate. Wrapping his arms around her from behind, he leans in to plant a gentle kiss on her cheek, and Kate warmly acknowledges his presence.

(K)Hello, my love, breakfast will be done soon.

(M)Smells amazing as always, sweetheart.

(K)You're wearing your old gear. I thought you had new gear.

(M)I do, I have to go get it at the headquarters since I haven't left the house in a few days.

(K)It's because of me, I'm sorry.

(M)No need to be sorry, I was taking care of my wife and you’re all I cared about. How are you feeling this morning?

(K)Much better. The medicine Nessa sent over really helped with the vomiting.

(M)That's good, I’m happy to hear that, honey. I’m sure after being cooped up here you'll be glad to leave the house.

(K)Yeah I would, I want to go to the pub today, I've been stuck here for the past few days, and I miss everyone.

(M)I'm sure everyone misses you, too.

(K)I'm sure everyone misses you as well since Larry and Ash have been the ones training Barth in the forest.

(M)From what Barth said, they've been having fun and Larry told me that Barth is doing great.

(K)I knew he would. He's a badass. And I’m sure you’ll be very excited to use the new bow Dad sent you.

(M)Oh, I’m very much excited to test it out on some bandits.

(K)And I’m sure Larry, Ash, and Barth are going to be happy to kick ass with you. New title, new weapon, new you.

(M)That’s right, but one thing that I know will never change, is my love for you, my wife.

(K)[smiles] I’m a new me as well, having the “wife” title and my love for you will never change, either, my husband.

(M)Commander, Knight, and husband, I proudly wield all three titles, but the husband title will be my proudest one.

(K)Wife may be my only title, but it will always be my proudest as well.

(M)Maybe in the future, you’ll wield the “mom” title.

(K)[smiles] I’ll proudly wear that title as well.

(M)You’d be a wonderful mother.

(K)You’d be a phenomenal father. Our sons will be just like their father and you can train them if they wish to be a part of the Royal Guards.

(M)Yeah, only if they want to, I won’t force them.

(K)Not sure how many children I’d want to have. I’m an only child, so I think two would be enough. But it just all depends on what the universe has in store for us.

(M)I think two would be fine. Siblings are good to have. Just look at Barth and I.

(K)Two heads are better than one, but there would also be chaos in this house. Come to think of it, we would need a bigger house. This house only has two bedrooms.

(M)That’s true, I didn’t think of that. I’m sure we can still live here with the first one. Then if we end up having a second, we can upgrade to a bigger house, then.

(K)That’s a good idea, but…

(M)What’s wrong, sweetheart?

(K)I’m not exactly sure if I can have children.

(M)What do you mean?

(K)...I’m not exactly sure if I’m ready to talk about it, my love.

(M)It’s okay, honey, I understand. You don't have to tell me.

(K)I'm sorry, you're my husband and I probably shouldn't be keeping anything from you. I trust you and I love you more than anything and you're not the only one I shouldn't be hiding my past from. Maybe one of these days when all of us are together, I'll talk about it.

(M)Sweetheart, you’re not obligated to tell me anything just because I’m your husband. Your past is your business. If you tell me, then I’ll listen. If you don’t want to tell me, I understand.

(K)Okay, my love, I’ll mentally prepare myself to share my past with you.

(M)Whenever you’re ready, honey, I’m here.

(K)Alright, but for now, I’ll finish breakfast so you can eat and head out for your first day as a knight.

(M)[smiles] Alright sweetheart, it’s been a few days since I’ve had your cooking. I cooked for us, but it’s not as good as yours. I told you I’d get addicted to your amazing food.

(K)[smiles] Your cooking was amazing, too, my love. It really helped me feel better.

(M)Good, I’m glad it helped you.

(K)I love you, my earth.

(M)I love you, too, my moon.

As the sun filters through the kitchen window, Kate and Merig share a sweet kiss, the warmth of their affection lingering in the air. With breakfast sizzling on the stove, they settle down to savor their meal, relishing the quiet joy of the morning together. Once their plates are empty, Kate walks Merig to the door, where they exchange heartfelt goodbyes for the day. He pulls her close for a gentle kiss, their smiles brightening the moment before he steps outside. Just then, Larry appears from next door, his friendly grin lighting up the scene as he greets the couple.

(L)Good morning, you two.

(M)Hey, buddy.

(K)Good morning, Larry.

(L)You look like you’re feeling better, Kate.

(K)I’m starting to feel much better.

(L)Well, it’s Ash’s day off, she said last night she plans on coming to see you. She’s still asleep, but she should be waking up soon.

(K)Sounds good. I cooked breakfast if you’re hungry.

(L)As much as I’d love to, I’ll just grab something from the pub.

(K)Alright, I’m sure you’re excited to have Merig back. I’m sorry I hogged him these past few days.

(L)Think nothing of it, Kate. He took care of his wife. You come first before his job. I didn’t mind standing in for him. If it was Ash that got sick, I would’ve dropped everything, too.

(M)Our women come first.

(L)That’s right and Ash and I will be married soon. But she’s still my first priority.

(K)I get it, I’ll try not to get sick again. The medicine that Nessa sent over really helped.

(L)It can’t be helped, Kate, people get sick. Even us goblins get sick and it’s not fun.

(M)He’s right and I know you’d do the same for me and help me get better.

(K)Of course I would, honey, I’ve done it before.

(M)Exactly, so there’s no reason why I can’t take care of you. I’m more than happy to help my wife feel better.

(K)Alright, my love, I’ll see you later. I told Merig that I plan on going to the pub. I’m sure Ash would want to come with me.

(L)Sounds like fun. We’ll see you later.

(K)Alright, keep Barth in line.

(L)Oh, we will.

(M)We’ll meet you at the pub this afternoon if you’re still there.

(K)Okay, honey, I love you. Have a wonderful day.

(M)I will, I love you, too, sweetheart.

Kate and Merig share a tender farewell kiss for the morning, savoring the moment before Merig and Larry set off to tackle their morning tasks. With a soft sigh, Kate retreats into the house, eagerly anticipating Ashley's arrival for breakfast. Meanwhile, at the training grounds, Cormac is honing his skills, diligently practicing his aim with a crossbow. Deirdre stands nearby, her eyes fixed on him as he repeatedly sends bolts flying toward the target. With a steady hand, Cormac reloads, takes a deep breath, and focuses intently. He releases the trigger, and the bolt soars through the air, striking the target with pinpoint accuracy right in the center.

(C)Another bullseye.

(DD)You're getting better at holding the crossbow, Cormac, I'm proud of you.

(C)Thanks, I'm proud of myself, too. I'm starting to get used to the weight again, and it's becoming easier to shoot.

(DD)Was it that hard before?

(C)Well, when I first shot a bolt after my recovery, it actually kind of hurt to pull the trigger since it takes some strength to do so. The muscles in my shoulder tensed up badly, but I kept going because I needed to build my strength back up. After a while, it didn't hurt so bad. It had just been a while since I shot a crossbow.

(DD)It's okay, I think you're doing wonderful. Don’t forget to take it slow and take breaks if you need to.

(C)Don’t worry, I will and with you here talking to me and keeping me company, I’m doing much better.

(DD)[smiles] Good, I’ll be here whenever you need me to cheer you on.

(C)I really appreciate it, Deirdre. You’ve been wonderful.

(DD)[blush] That’s what I’m here for. Gordo looks like he’s having fun, too.

(C)Yeah, he’s been strengthening his legs for the last couple of months. His kicks have gotten a lot more powerful lately.

(DD)That’s good. Do you two plan on sparring today?

(C)Maybe for a bit. Hey Gordo! You want to spar with me, today!?

(G)Only if you want to!

(C)Yeah, we can, just let me know when you’re ready!

(G)Will do!

(DD)I wouldn’t mind watching you two spar. It’ll be fun.

(C)Do you know what else will be fun?

(DD)What’s that?

(C)Taking you out again soon, I want to take you back out to the forest if you want to.

(DD)[smiles] I’d love to, Cormac, it’ll be so much fun. It’s a sunny day so it will be perfect to gather some flowers. Oh! There’s a place where sunflowers grow and I want to go there. It’s not too far into the forest and I know exactly where they grow.

(C)Alright, we can do that.

(DD)I’ll pick a few and take them to Grandma Silvia. She loves to plant them in her garden. I might even take a few and harvest the sunflower seeds. They’re so good when they’re roasted and seasoned. You have to try them.

(C)I definitely will. I actually really like sunflower seeds.

(DD)Then I’ll roast some for you, it’ll be so much fun.

(C)It definitely will be. As long as I’m spending time with you, Deirdre, I’ll always enjoy myself.

(DD)[smiles] I always enjoy myself when I spend time with you, too, Cormac. We’ll have so much fun gathering flowers, there are a few that Grandma Silvia requested I gather for her.

(C)Well, it’s a good thing we’ll be going out there. I’d be happy to help you gather what she needs.

(DD)You don’t have to, we’re supposed to have fun and I don’t want to make you work harder than you already are.

(C)I don’t mind one bit, Deirdre. If it helps, I’ll do it. Besides, if it means I get to spend time with you, then it won’t bother me at all.

(DD)[smiles] You’re the sweetest, Cormac.

(C)Hey, you’re a sweet person, too, and I owe you a lot for taking all that time and taking care of me when you didn’t have to.

(DD)I know, but I wanted to. I couldn’t let you suffer from the pain you were going through. I didn’t want your life to be at risk, so I did what I thought was right.

(C)I’ll always be very grateful for what you did for me.

(DD)I’ll always be grateful that I met someone like you, Cormac. I guess we can both be grateful for each other.

(C)Of course, no harm in that.

(DD)By the way, have you heard anything about Kate?

(C)I saw her yesterday, and she said she was starting to feel better.

(DD)Oh, that’s good, I’m so glad. I hope we see her at the pub today.

(C)She’s been wanting to hang out with us, so odds are she’ll be there and we can go see her this afternoon after my training for today. Then we can head out to the forest.

(DD)[smiles] Sounds good to me, I can’t wait.

(C)[smiles] Me, either, it’ll be fun. I’ll finish my target practice, then I'll spar with Gordo.

(DD)Alright, I’m here to cheer you on.

(C)Thank you, Deirdre.

(DD)No, thank you, Cormac.

Cormac and Deirdre exchange a warm smile before he resumes his target practice with his trusty crossbow, gearing up for a sparring match with Gordo. Meanwhile, at Kate and Merig’s cozy home, Kate brews herself a pot of fresh tea. Suddenly, a knock at the door interrupts her moment of tranquility. Brightening at the sound, she strides over to open it, revealing Ashley standing there with a cheerful grin. Kate welcomes her inside, gently shutting the door behind them.

(A)Good morning, you.

(K)Good morning, I just made myself some tea and there’s breakfast if you’re hungry.

(A)Oh absolutely, I missed coming over to eat your cooking.

(K)It’s only been a few days, Ash.

(A)I know, but still. But that doesn’t matter. How are you feeling?

(K)I’m starting to feel better, the nausea isn’t so bad and the vomiting stopped yesterday.

(A)That’s good. I’m glad you’re at least starting to feel better.

(K)Me too. Nessa gave me that medicine and it helped a lot. My fever went down as well and Merig was here, taking such good care of me.

(A)Of course he was and I’m sure you enjoyed all the attention he gave you.

(K)[smiles] Guilty as charged, but hey, is it such a bad thing to want attention from the love of my life?

(A)Of course not. I remember when I was sick not too long ago, and Larry stayed home to take care of me. He was there with me the whole time until I got better and Merig didn’t mind letting him stay home to take care of me.

(K)That’s sweet of him. He loves you to death, so of course he would do that for you.

(A)Our goblins are wonderful and they’re so good to us.

(K)That they are…makes me feel very lucky to have Merig…

(A)What’s wrong, Kate?

(K)Merig and I talked about children. He said I’d be a wonderful mother.

(A)He’s not wrong. You’d be a phenomenal mother, just like your own mother.

(K)Yeah, but, I also brought up that I don’t know if I can even have kids, not since…him.

(A)Yeah, I know, I’m sure it’ll be fine and you’ll be able to have kids, no problem.

(K)Ash, I think it’s time I told him about my past.

(A)[sigh] That’s all up to you, honey. I know it’s not something you wanted to happen. You’re living a better life and you’re not in that situation anymore. Merig might get very angry when you decide to tell him.

(K)I know he would, which is why I’ve avoided saying anything. He understands that it’s my past, and he said it’s all up to me if I want to tell him. I told him that I’m going to be mentally preparing myself and I plan on telling him soon.

(A)Okay, hon, just know that we are here for you, especially Merig. That goblin loves you with every fiber of his existence.

(K)I know, I just figured it was time since we’ve discussed having children. I’m not exactly sure how much damage was done for me to determine if I’m even able to bear children again.

(A)I understand, it’s hard to tell. You can always go see Nessa, and she might be able to help.

(K)Do you think she’d be able to tell me anything?

(A)I’m sure she can. It wouldn’t hurt to visit her and ask. She is a woman, after all, and a healer.

(K)Right, then I’ll go see her and talk to her. Will you go with me?

(A)Of course, love, you’re my best friend. Besides, I was there when everything happened and I’m here for you.

(K)Thank you, Ash, it’s been weighing on me. But I’m very lucky and blessed to be with someone who loves me and is good to me. Merig has been my light, and the love he gives me is more than I could ever ask for. He’s the best thing that has ever happened to me, and I’ll never love anyone else as much as I love him.

(A)I know, sweetheart, you know he loves you so much and you’re the best thing that ever happened to that goblin, too. He has never looked at another woman the way he looks at you, and his heart belongs to you.

(K)[smiles] Remember when you hinted that we made love in nature on our honeymoon?

(A)[giggles] Yeah, but that was a joke.

(K)Well, it actually happened, he took me to this place in the forest that was protected and it had a beautiful waterfall and flowers blooming everywhere as well as a little pond and a brook that the water was flowing through and a hammock connected to the trees. It was absolutely beautiful, and we took off our clothes and he laid me down on the grass and we made love in nature. We became one that day. Our bodies and souls were intertwined and connected. We gave ourselves to each other and worshiped each other as well as the earth, and it was the most beautiful thing I had ever experienced. Merig and I belong to each other and I willingly gave myself to him. He’s mine and I’m his and we’re soulmates, Ash.

(A)That’s so beautiful, Kate. You two getting married was the best thing to happen to you and Merig.

(K)It really was and I’m trying not to tear up, but it’s a beautiful thing to experience and I hope you experience the same thing with Larry. The moment your souls become one, you’ll understand.

(A)I can’t wait till that happens. I have no doubt in my mind that Larry loves me. But if we experience such a thing as that, I’ll be free of any pain from my past and it will be a feeling that is out of this world.

(K)It will be, I promise. Our lives are perfect. Ash and I don’t regret coming here. Leaving home and living here was the best decision that I ever made.

(A)I don’t regret it either, Kate and I wouldn’t trade this life for any other. Following my dream and meeting Larry, bringing you here, and everything else that happened. The betrayal that happened with Ryan is a distant memory, although it came back to haunt me while you and Merig were on your honeymoon, which I’ve already told you about.

(K)Yeah, I’m sorry, Ash, at least Rachel is banned from the pub and she can’t harass other men who are taken or married.

(A)Yeah, I’m happy about it, but she still lives in the city so she could try something outside of the pub. But I threatened that if she came near me or Larry I’d break her nose.

(K)[giggles] I’d love to see that, but I’d do the same if she did that shit again with Merig outside of the pub.

(A)But hey, our goblins love us too much to be swayed by another woman.

(K)That’s true, Larry only has eyes for you and Merig seems to only love me.

(A)That’s right and no one can take them away from us.

(K)Nope, Merig and I belong to each other like I said, it’s a done deal, and it’s sealed with our rings, our marriage certificate, I have his surname and we made love in the forest while our souls and bodies intertwined, and became one.

(A)That’s right, the wedding and love-making ritual sealed your fate and you are forever bound and connected, destined to be together for eternity.

(K)That was the plan and I’ll never be miserable again…I’ll never be hurt again.

(A)Exactly, Merig would never hurt you, hon, he loves you way too much.

(K)I know, it has never crossed his mind from what he said and I trust him. I told him he’d be a wonderful father.

(A)Oh, he definitely would. We’ll have little goblins running around here and it’ll be so cute. Little Merig clones.[giggles]

(K)[giggles] I know, I can’t wait. But let’s go see Nessa to determine if we can even make that happen.

(A)Alright, then we’ll head to the pub and hang out until our goblins are finished with their guard duties.

(K)Sounds good. Let’s eat first, though. I know you’ve been craving my food.

(A)Oh definitely, let’s eat.

Kate and Ashley share a delightful breakfast, savoring each bite before making their way to the healer to consult with Nessa. Meanwhile, in the depths of the forest, Merig, Larry, and Barth have completed their inspection of the traps and mines set by Ashley, carefully removing the ones that had been triggered. The trio then embarks on a patrol of the area, engaging in lively conversation as they traverse the woods together.

(B)You know, with all of those activated mines and traps, you’d think we’d find bandits caught in them.

(M)When it comes to the mines, it’s honestly just to deter them from coming around here. As for the traps, there’s always more than one bandit, so if one gets trapped, the others help it escape. Again, it’s just another way to deter them from being around the city.

(L)Yeah, if we had good enough traps to keep them while they’re caught, then we could essentially put them in prison for threatening the city. But the queen doesn’t want to deal with a bunch of bandits in her prison that could be used by people who commit higher crimes.

(B)That makes sense, there’s so many bandits around Uladh. We’d have to set up hundreds of prisons just to house them.

(M)Exactly, so it’s just our job to keep them away or kill them.

(L)In other words, that’s why I call it pest control.

(B)But hey, it’s a fun job. And you have a new toy, Merig.

(M)I sure do and I can’t wait to use it. But at the same time, I want to just keep it at home as a memento from Tom.

(L)Whatever you want to do with it, pal, it’s all up to you.

(B)I’d personally like to see you fight with it.

(M)I’m sure it works just like any other bow. It’s just a cosmetic difference to my other bows.

(L)Yeah, but I’m sure you’ll shoot arrows better with it. It’s a highlander bow, very sought after for its powerful nature.

(M)Yeah, I know, I’ve wanted one for years. I wonder how Tom even knew that.

(B)I’m guessing Kate told him. Tom probably asked so he could do something nice for you since he and Joanna couldn’t make it to your knighting ceremony.

(L)That makes logical sense. But hey, at least Tom was thinking of you. He really seems to love his son-in-law.

(M)[chuckles] I’ve taken a liking to them as well. They’re my family now, as well as Barth’s.

(B)That’s right, we’re one big family now, except for the in-laws who hate us from Joanna’s side.

(M)Yeah, Kate’s aunt Sharon did show up before the wedding to try to sabotage it.

(L)Yeah, I remember. She thought she was big and bad until you, me, Barth and Gordo stood up to her.

(B)That bitch marched right into the pub and put her hands on Kate for daring to fall in love with a Fomor. The way Merig handled her was calmer than I was, but he put his hands on her right back for hitting Kate and she realized she wasn’t so big and bad anymore.

(M)I told her where to shove it and that Kate was an adult and could do what she wanted. Tom and Jo gave us their blessing, and that’s all we needed to get married. I told her if she ever set foot in Tara again, I wouldn’t hesitate to put her in prison for a day or so. I even showed her my red eyes and that whole side of me, and she was terrified. She called me a demon and told Kate she was marrying the devil.

(L)She comes to Tara and puts her hands on Kate, who was innocent in that situation, and she calls you the devil? Pot, meet kettle.

(B)Eh, screw her, she probably wouldn’t know love if it bit her in the ass.

(M)I couldn’t care less. She’s not a part of Kate’s or my life, nor am I offended by what she said. She means nothing to me and that bitch can stay the hell away from Kate for what she did to her. No one puts their hands on my wife. I don’t care if you're family. I wouldn’t put my hands on Kate in that way, so I won’t let anyone else do it.

(L)That’s right, you gotta protect the love of your life by any means necessary. I would’ve done the same if it were Ash, but I would’ve done worse. Kate’s aunt would’ve been on the ground.

(B)Yeah, I would’ve gotten more physical with her as well. The audacity of that woman.

(M)It’s over and I took care of her. Kate and I are happily married, and we didn’t need her approval.

(L)Exactly, you didn’t need anyone’s approval.

(M)We mentioned starting a family at breakfast.

(B)Oh?

(M)Yeah, I told her she’d be a wonderful mother, and she said I’d be a good father. But then she got a bit…apprehensive and said she wasn’t sure if she was able to have kids.

(L)What does that mean?

(M)I’m not sure, she said it has something to do with her past. Maybe she got hurt, or she has a medical condition. I would still love her even if she can’t have kids, of course. She said she’s ready to talk about her past. I'm sure she plans on talking to us when we all go to the pub today.

(B)I hope it’s nothing serious.

(M)With the way she talked, I think it is.

(L)Well, whatever it is, we’ll do what we can to support her.

(M)So will I, she’s my wife. If something bad happened to her in her past, that’s her business, not mine. But she said she doesn’t want to keep it from me anymore.

(B)Then let her tell her story. We’ll all be there to listen. We won’t judge her if she can’t bear children.

(L)Yeah, I’m sure you still love her, regardless.

(M)Absolutely I do, she’s still the love of my life, why wouldn’t I?

(B)Some people can be heartless, though, but I know you aren’t like that, Merig.

(L)Yeah, we know how much you love Kate, since the moment she set foot in Tara and met your love-struck ass.

(M)[chuckles] I’ll never forget.

(L)And neither will she.

(M)I hope Cormac is training well.

(B)He said he’s been doing great, he just needs to keep working on his strength and aim. Deirdre has been helping him focus.

(M)Yeah, I told her she could watch him train. It’s good to know that she’s helping him and it seems a love between them is blossoming.

(L)I notice that too, be prepared to hear some good things happen with those two.

(B)Cormac says he plans on taking her back out here to tell Deirdre how he feels. We’ll see how that goes.

(M)Yeah, that’s what he told Kate and me. He’s excited and really loves Deirdre.

(L)He’s in love and we didn’t think that was possible.

(M)Actually, he told us he’s been in love before and was with a woman back in Taill before everything happened in his past.

(L)Well, that’s news to me. I wonder why he never told us.

(M)Just like Kate, Cormac’s past is his business. He was probably too hurt by it. But he said he’s moved on and Deirdre is the woman for him.

(L)Well, I’m glad he was able to move past it and meet Deirdre.

(B)He deserves it, though, maybe it’ll be good for him and he’ll quit hating himself.

(M)Yeah, that’s practically what Kate and I told him. He needs to let go of the past.

(L)That he does. I love him to death and he’s our friend. We want to see him happy.

(M)Absolutely, everyone needs happiness in life.

(L)Except for bandits, they deserve to taste the steel of my blades.

(M)[chuckles] Hopefully we’ll run into some. Let’s go patrol the area.

(B)Sounds like fun. I’m up for some ass-kicking.

(L)Same, let’s split up. We’ll meet back here when we’re done.

(M)Alright, let’s go.

The trio of goblins command their horses and gallop off into the depths of the forest, each taking a different path to scout for any lurking bandits. Meanwhile, at the familiar pub, Ashley and Kate are nestled at their favorite table, lost in lively conversation and laughter. Suddenly, the door swings open, and Sarah steps inside. Spotting her friends, she beams with delight and strides over to greet them with a warm smile.

(S)Hey, you two.

(K)Hey, Sarah, fancy meeting you here.

(S)I took the day off. Nessa was nice enough since I’ve been working almost non-stop this week.

(A)What a coincidence, it’s my day off, too. But that was nice of Nessa to give you a break. You work hard and you deserve it.

(S)I guess I do. I slept in and when I woke up, I thought about coming here. I was hoping you two would be here, so I was happy to see you both sitting here.

(K)Yeah, we’ve been here for a while. Merig, Larry, and Barth are out on patrol. I stopped by to see Nessa before we came here.

(S)Oh? Is everything okay? How are you feeling?

(K)I’m actually doing better, that medicine you brought me was a blessing. I haven’t vomited since the day you brought it to me.

(S)That’s wonderful, I’m so glad you’re doing better.

(A)Me, too, I was worried about you.

(K)I’m just fine. I went to see Nessa for another reason that I’ll talk about when everyone shows up here, if they do that is.

(S)Okay, no problem.

(K)So, is this your day off to go on that date with Barth?

(S)[blush] You keep calling it a date, he’s just taking me out to dinner, that’s all.

(A)Honey, that’s a date. Kate and Merig went to dinner on their first date.

(S)[sigh] That’s not why I have the day off. He said he’d let me know when he wants to take me out. When that happens, I’ll take the day off. Nessa said she’ll have no problem with it.

(K)That’s good. I hope you have fun on your date.

(A)Maybe he’ll take you out tonight, you never know. But I’m sure you’ll have fun either way.

(S)Barth said he had a whole day planned, so I think we’re going to have a lot of fun. But there’s something I want to talk to you both about before the others get here.

(A)Sure, love, is something wrong?

(S)No, actually, quite the opposite. I think I have feelings for Barth, like…I think I love him.

(K)[smiles] You’re just now figuring that out? It was obvious to us, just like it was obvious that Cormac and Deirdre love each other.

(A)Oh definitely, the way you and Barth talk to each other, it’s so cute to watch. Reminds me of how Kate and Merig interacted before they confessed their love for each other.

(S)I just get this feeling whenever I see him, it’s a good feeling. I feel really happy when he talks to me and comes to visit me at the healer. He even gave me this bracelet. It has a bunny charm on it. I haven’t got to show you, Ash.

(A)Oh, that is so cute, Sarah. He told me he was going to buy you something at the market. Somehow, he knew you love rabbits.

(S)I told him a while back, he asked what my favorite animal was. I love rabbits and he loves dragons. But he also gave me a little bunny statue to put near my flowers at my workstation.

(A)Barth said you were taking good care of those.

(S)Yep, I didn’t want them dying, so I gave the flowers what they needed to survive in my vase. The cute little bunny statue was perfect to sit next to the periwinkles. Ever since then, I look at that bunny and my bracelet, and I think about Barth.

(K)That’s love, my dear, and everything else you’ve described.

(A)She’s right. Ever since you healed his arm and took care of him, he’s taken a strong liking to you. He first came to us when Kate and Merig were on their honeymoon and he asked our advice on how to make you smile. I’m the one that told him about the periwinkles, but don’t tell him I told you, sshh.

(S)[giggles] I figured it was you who told him and I’m glad you did. I noticed he was kind of flirting with me around that time and even before then, it was subtle.

(K)I noticed after that fight with the bandits, he was very grateful that you healed him.

(S)I didn’t think he’d develop a crush on me. But I didn’t exactly expect to develop a crush on him, either.

(A)It happens when you least expect it, hon, it happened to me and it happened to Kate.

(S)And to think, they’re not even human, and oddly enough, I don’t mind.

(K)When it comes to love, you don’t care about the other’s differences in appearance. All that matters is the love you have for each other.

(A)That’s right, and it’s obvious that Barth has taken a liking to you.

(S)[smiles] I can’t wait for our date, I’m actually kind of nervous.

(K)It’ll wear off and you’ll feel excitement rather than anxiety, trust me.

(S)I’m trying not to be so anxious, I just hope I don’t say anything stupid or my shy side sneaks up on me and I clam up. It’ll be so embarrassing if that happened and Barth wouldn’t want anything to do with me.

(K)That’s not true, Sarah. Barth is a very patient person, I promise. If something is bothering you, tell him and he will understand. He was very patient with me when he was helping me train my magic.

(A)He’s a really sweet person, he won’t be upset if you get overwhelmed.

(K)Yeah, he’ll be there to calm you down if you’re overwhelmed.

(S)I know, he’s done it before for me, I just worry he’ll get frustrated with me. You both know me.

(A)Oh honey, you worry too much about things like that.

(K)Barth isn’t like that. I promise you don’t have anything to worry about.

(S)[sigh] Okay, I trust your judgment and from my own experience. It’s just, I worry that people will get tired of me, that’s all. You already know how it was when we were teenagers. I was a shy person and clumsy. Before I met you two, people would always get mad at me for being clumsy and overwhelmed with anxiety. It was all because of people who treated me like shit and ever since then, I’ve always been so isolated and shy. But Barth has really been patient and kind to me ever since I met him that day I found you two. He even offered to buy me lunch that day and he didn’t get upset when I got scared and backed away from him. I remember he smiled at me and held out his hand and didn’t walk any closer to me. It’s as if he understood me right away and that’s why I was so quick to become friends with everyone.

(A)That's Barth for you. He is just as kind-hearted as Merig. They are brothers, after all.

(K)And we’d never get tired of you, Sarah. You have us and everyone else who absolutely adore you, and so does Barth. You’re a healer and you’ve treated most of the people in the group and we all appreciate what you’ve done. You helped save Cormac, and you saved Barth as well, and it seems he’s especially grateful for you. He’s brought you those flowers and gave you a cute bracelet and that statue. He even wants to take you out on a day-long date. If I didn’t know any better, I think Barth is in love with you.

(S)[blush] Do you think so?

(A)Oh, it’s obvious, about as obvious as it was before Kate and Merig got together. You could tell those two were in love and we see it with you and Barth.

(K)I felt the same way you did. Always smiling, butterflies in your stomach. Can't wait to see him again, always thinking about him. Yeah, that was definitely me.

(S)[smiles] I think you're both right and I'm just overthinking things. Barth has been wonderful to me and I'm being silly for thinking the way that I do. I'll go on a date with him and I'll have fun, no matter how nervous I am.

(K)Good, you deserve a fun day with him. I'm sure he'll have just as much fun, too.

(A)I don't doubt that you'll both have a great time together. Cormac and Deirdre are practically dating right now. It's so cute to see them. Deirdre is a sweetheart and Cormac is sweet to her, too.

(S)I hope for the best for them.

(K)We hope for the best for you, too, Sarah.

(S)[smiles] Thanks, and you were right. I'm more excited than nervous now.

(K)See? It's a great feeling, isn't it?

(S)Definitely.

(K)Also, I want to ask you something, Sarah.

(S)Sure, what is it?

(K)I've told you about my past, what happened to me before Ash and I came here.

(S)Yeah, I remember, it broke my heart when you told me, I even cried.

(K)Well, I’m thinking about telling everyone else about it, but I’m not sure how to go about doing that.

(S)It won’t be an easy thing to talk about, that’s for sure. Just know that we’re here for you if you decide to tell everyone.

(K)I know, I just don’t want to keep it a secret any longer so people can understand me better.

(S)We love you, Kate. We understand that you’re a wonderful person. You’re kind, caring, selfless, helpful, loving, and so much more. I know it’s easy to understand things on the surface, but there are things going on that are much deeper and you’ve overcome what happened to you, but the pain never really goes away. That’s how it has been with me since my mom died, so I sympathize with you.

(K)I know and you’re an amazing friend, both of you. I really don’t know what I would’ve done without Ash. What happened to me occurred after you left to go study medicine and healing.

(S)I’m sorry that I wasn’t there, I would’ve helped you too.

(K)Don’t be sorry, you were chasing your dream, and I wasn’t going to stop you.

(S)Well, I’m here now and I’ll do what I can to help you through whatever still lingers.

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

(K)Thank you, Sarah, that means a lot.

(S)Of course, I’ll always be your friend, and Ash, too.

(A)That’s right, honey, you’re my sister. You may not be blood, but you might as well be. Blood doesn’t matter when you have people that care about you like family.

(K)You’re absolutely right, and I’m a fool for not seeing that.

(A)No, Kate, you’re not. We still love you and you didn’t go through that alone because I was there. I’m still here and I always will be. We all will.

(K)You’re going to make me cry. I love you both so much.

(S)We love you, too, Kate.

(A)We love you, hon, now let’s have some fun here and wait for these goblins of ours.

(K)[smiles] Alright, I want to see my husband and give him a big hug and a kiss.

(A)They should be here soon.

The women continue their chatter at the table, their laughter filling the air as the morning drifts by. Later on, just as the pub door swings open, the rest of their group strolls in, making their way toward the table for the afternoon and taking their seats respectively. A shadowy figure glides over to Kate, standing beside her as the other two women from across the table glance up, their curiosity piqued. Confusion flickers across Kate's face until she catches a glimpse of the figure from the corner of her eye and looks up. With a playful gesture, the figure lowers his mask, unveiling Merig's familiar smile directed at her. He settles into the seat next to Kate, leaning in closer as they share a tender kiss. Kate beams at Merig, her voice bubbling with joy as she greets him.

(K)Good afternoon, my love, how was the patrol?

(M)Same as usual, no bandits today.

(K)Well, that’s no fun. Did Barth behave himself?

(B)I can’t believe you’d imply that I wouldn't. I’m hurt, sis.

(K)[giggles] I just have to be sure.

(L)Yeah, he behaved himself. We kept him in line.[smirk]

(K)[giggles] Good. It’s also good to see you, Deirdre. Did you have fun watching Cormac and Gordo?

(DD)I sure did. They sparred, and it was amazing to watch.

(K)How’s your shoulder doing, Cormac?

(C)It’s doing better, I had a cramp in it after a while. I took a rest and Deirdre massaged it for me and it’s fine now.

(K)Good. How did the sparring go?

(G)The sparring was fun. That’s the most I’ve run around the training grounds in the last few days. It’s a good thing I’ve been strengthening my legs or I don’t think I would’ve been able to keep doing it.

(M)You’re doing great, Gordo, you and Cormac both are getting stronger. I’m glad you’re taking it slow, Cormac, and taking rest breaks.

(C)Yeah, but it’s getting better and I’m happy about it.

(K)I’m so glad to hear that.

(M)How are you feeling, sweetheart?

(K)I’m feeling a lot better, honey. I’ve been sitting here with Ash and Sarah and we’ve been enjoying ourselves.

(M)Good, if you need anything, just let me know.

(K)You just got back from patrol. I’m sure you’re tired. I’ll be just fine.

(M)You know I don’t mind, honey.

(K)I know, my love, just sit and relax with me, that’s all I need.

(M)Then I’m here.

(K)[smiles] I also noticed you’re wearing your new armor. You look very handsome.

(M)I thought you’d like it. I’ll be keeping it at home and changing into it each morning.

(K)[blush] Well I love it, it suits you.

(A)[giggles] Uh no, I know that look on your face. You better watch out, Merig. Your wife just might take you home and we won't see you both for a few days.

(K)I have no idea what you're talking about.[smirk]

(A)You liar, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

(L)[chuckles] If that happens, we’d see him days later with a big smile on his face.

(B)No doubt about that, he’d need a few days to rest too.

(A)[giggles]Kate would blush every time she saw him after that.

(K)[giggles] Damnit, you've revealed my diabolical plan to hold my husband hostage at home.

(L)All joking aside, Kate’s right, it suits you as a knight.

(C)It really does, and it’s black and silver, so it matches your new bow.

(G)Definitely, you look badass, Merig.

(M)Yeah, I like it, but the bad part is, it can be itchy after a while, especially the headpiece.

Merig carefully lifts the headpiece from his head, setting it down on the table before him. He then absentmindedly scratches his droopy right ear, a wave of relief washing over him as the itch subsides. Kate, noticing his comfort, smiles at him and leans in to scratch his left ear as well. Merig pauses, his eyes fluttering shut as a gentle smile spreads across his face, savoring the soothing sensation. Gradually, he tilts his head toward Kate, resting it tenderly against her shoulder and chest. As she continues to scratch his ear, he speaks to her in a soft, tranquil tone.

(M)Oh thank you, my moon, I love you so much, just please don’t stop.

(K)[giggles] As you wish, my love.

(L)Be careful, he might start kicking his leg.

(B)I bet it feels good though, I can understand the itchiness from the headpieces, it’s not fun.

(G)Oh definitely not, especially since you have to wear it all day.

(C)I’m sure it won’t be fun when I have to start wearing them.

(L)You’re lucky you don’t have to wear it yet, Cormac, I’ll feel bad for you when you do.

(A)[giggles] I think he might fall asleep.

(M)I’m still awake, it just feels really good.

(K)Here, I’ll even scratch the other one, too.

(M)Oh my moon, you’re spoiling me.

(K)[giggles] That’s what I’m here for, my love.

Moments later, the pub door swings open, revealing a man with tousled dark hair, clad in black attire. He strides confidently to the bar and settles into a seat close to Sherry. Ashley, glancing over at the bar, catches sight of him, but her expression quickly shifts. A look of sheer horror washes over her face, draining it of color as her eyes grow wide in shock, leaving her speechless. Kate, still scratching Merig's ear, looks over at Ashley, noticing the sudden change in her friend's demeanor, and furrows her brow in concern before breaking the silence.

(K)Hey Ash, what's wrong? You look like you've just seen a ghost.

(S)Yeah, you look pale. Are you getting sick too?

(A)No, but I feel like I will be. And Kate, you wouldn’t be too far off. A ghost from the past just came through the door. It’s him.

(K)Who?

(A)Him...you know who I'm talking about. He’s at the bar, with dark wavy hair, and wearing black.

Kate's gaze remains fixed on Ashley, but her expression transforms into one of utter disbelief, her eyes wide with shock and her mouth hanging slightly open. With a slow, cautious movement, Kate turns her head, her eyes darting towards the bar, where a man sits, catching her attention, she immediately recognizes him. Merig, sensing the sudden tension, lifts his head from Kate's shoulder and sits up straight, his expression worried and alert. Kate's face contorts in horror as she slowly turns back to look at Ashley, their eyes locking in a silent, terrified stare. The air is thick with tension as Merig, the other goblins, and the women at the table turn to look at the mysterious man at the bar. Cormac's eyes in particular widen as big as Ashley and Kate's, his expression seems as if he recognizes the man. All eyes then shift back to Kate, who breaks the heavy silence with a frightened whimper, her voice trembling with anxiety.

(K)No...Ash this can't be, what the hell is he doing here?

(A)I have no idea, Kate.

(M)Who is he, sweetheart?

Kate abruptly falls silent, casting a swift glance at Merig, who is seated beside her, her face still frozen in a look of terror. For a brief moment, silence envelops Kate as she turns her gaze back to Ashley. After a moment of contemplation, Ashley gives a gentle nod to Kate, her voice dropping to a hushed and earnest tone as she prepares to speak.

(A)I think it's time we tell them.

(M)Tell us what?

(K)About my past, I know I've only vaguely mentioned it, but I've never gone into detail about what actually happened. You and I talked earlier this morning, Merig, and I talked about revealing my past to everyone.

(B)Sis, who is that guy?

(G)Yeah, now I'm genuinely concerned. Did he do something to you, Kate? In which case, we'll take care of him.

Kate falls into silence once more, her gaze sweeping over her circle of friends, each face etched with concern, eager to hear what she has to share. Kate's expression shifts to one of uncertainty, but she steadies herself with a deep breath, bracing to unveil the tale of her history with that man. Turning to Merig, whose expression is also laced with worry. Kate begins to speak, her voice a blend of anxiety and calm.

(K)Merig, my love, what I'm about to tell you may make you very angry, so please try your best to just sit here with me and listen and don't do anything irrational, okay? That goes for the rest of you hearing this. Ash and Sarah already know the story.

(B)I promise I’ll try to keep my cool, sis.

(L)Same, we don’t want to cause a scene.

(C)Yeah, we’re all here to listen.

(DD)I’m here, too, you can tell us anything.

(G)You have my word, Kate, I'll sit right here.

(M)I'll do my best, sweetheart, but if he hurt you, then I can't promise anything. Who is that man, honey?

(K)[sigh]...He's my ex-fiancé, his name is Sean. When I was still living back home in Taill, I met him and we fell in love. This was before my mom got sick and Ash hadn't moved here to Tara yet. I wanted so badly to forget he even existed in my life, but it seems I don't get that luxury. When we started dating, he was wonderful and treated me with love and kindness and I loved him and he loved me. After a while of dating, we became official. A few months later, he proposed to me and I said "yes”. I was happy and my life was perfect...so I thought. We started living together and everything was great, but things slowly started changing with him. First, he’d make backhanded comments about my appearance, put me down, and make me feel terrible about myself. He even told me I looked fat when he saw me naked and it affected my self-esteem.

(L)Seriously?! Oh, that alone already makes me want to go punch him in the throat.

(B)I’m right there with you, Larry. That pisses me off.

(C)That’s a cruel thing to say to someone you supposedly love.

(DD)Very cruel and it’s not true at all.

(G)Exactly, you’re not fat, Kate, at least I don’t think so.

(M)I don’t think so either, I absolutely love your naked body and you're anything but.

(K)I know you do, my love. Sometimes I do still think that way about myself, but I don’t for the most part since you always tell me how beautiful I am, so it helps me a lot.

(M)And I’ll never stop telling you that. You’re my wife and I would never put you down.

(K)I know you wouldn’t, honey. Anyway, after a while, it started escalating. He would get upset with me over the smallest things. If I didn’t feel like cooking my food for him or if I didn’t feel like being intimate. Thankfully, he never forced himself on me.

(B)Good cause if he did, I’d get up from this seat and grab him and take him outside in the alley and beat the shit out of him.

(L)I’d join you, pal, and I’d have my fun with him.

(G)I think we all would.

(C)You’re absolutely right about that, Gordo.

(K)Don’t do anything, you guys promised to keep your composure.

(M)She’s right, as much as I’d like to give him a piece of my mind already, I said I’d do my best to stay calm.

(B)I promised I’d “try”, I didn’t promise I “would”.

(K)Barth, please don’t provoke him. I don’t need any trouble.

(B)…Alright, sis.

(DD)I’d like to hear more.

(K)Anyway, I was afraid to do anything around the house, so I just did whatever he told me so that he didn’t get upset or yell at me. But no matter what I did, it wasn’t good enough for him. As time went on, he started to get possessive of me and didn’t let me leave the house most days. My parents and even Ash would come over and check on me and he’d tell them that I was fine, but wouldn’t let them come in and see me, or let me leave and see them. I was starting to get fed up, and I told him he couldn’t keep doing that, but he said that he could do whatever he wanted since we were getting married and that I didn’t have a choice.

(B)Oh boy, I bet I know where this is going.

(L)I may regret promising not to cause trouble.

(M)Sweetheart…what did he do to you?

(K)…Well, I finally had enough of his behavior and being told that I had no autonomy of my own. One day, my parents were able to come see me since Sean was away from the house. They invited me to dinner that night and I figured I’d tell them what was going on at the restaurant that we planned on going to and maybe figure out what I could do to get out of that situation. Looking back on it, I should’ve just told them everything when they came to visit me, but I didn’t know what was going to transpire that night. I was getting ready to leave and told Sean that I was going to see my parents for dinner and he tried stopping me and told me that I wasn’t going anywhere. I told him I was going to see my parents, whether he liked it or not, but he blocked my path and started shoving me away from the front door. I never thought Sean would put his hands on me like that and get violent, but little did I know that it would boil down to that. I told him I’d had enough of him treating me the way he was and that I was leaving him. But that only angered him, and he told me that he wasn’t going to let me leave him. Sean came closer to me and grabbed my arms really hard and I told him that he was hurting me but he didn't care and he wouldn’t let go. I used all of my strength and shoved him as hard as I could, but Sean was too strong and he shoved me again really hard and my back hit the wall behind me. I fell to the floor, but I got back up and he stomped over to me and I had a feeling he would do something to hurt me, so I shoved Sean again before he could grab me and he stumbled backward and hit the dining table, but he caught himself. He got back to his feet, and he glared at me with so much anger in his eyes, it was frightening. He walked up to me and told me that I’d regret doing that to him and that he’d put me in my place. The next thing I knew, I watched Sean raise his hand and for a split second I saw the back of his hand coming toward me…and then he hit me across my face. He hit me so hard, that I fell back to the floor and my glasses flew off of my face. I was completely in disbelief, but I managed to get back up again. My first thought was to try to run to the door since Sean wasn’t blocking it anymore and so I did. But he was too fast and as soon as I grabbed the door handle, I felt him grab me by my hair and he pulled me back and away from the door. He got in my face and put his hand around my neck and squeezed so hard, I could hardly breathe. Sean told me that I had made the biggest mistake of my life…he then proceeded to throw me around and beat me.

Kate surveys the group once again, noticing the expressions of disbelief and fury etched on their faces, with Merig standing out the most. His crimson eyes blaze with anger, fixed intently on the table, fists tightly clenched as he struggles to maintain his composure while absorbing Kate’s tale. Gordo and Cormac wear looks of distress and horror, their gazes filled with guilt as they turn to Kate, then exchange a distraught glance before bowing their heads in shame. Deirdre, equally horrified, has tears streaming down her cheeks, her mouth covered in shock. Meanwhile, Barth and Larry cast scornful glances at Sean, who remains seated at the bar, before Barth finally breaks the tense silence.

(B)Alright, Larry, it’s time to go kick his ass.

(L)Right behind you, pal.

(K)Barth, Larry, no.

(B)Sis, after hearing all of that, my blood is lava right now and you expect me not to do anything?

(DD)He’s a monster, and he didn’t deserve such a sweet and loving person like you, Kate.

(M)Kate sweetheart, my wife, my moon, the love of my life. Give me one reason why we shouldn’t take that asshole outside and tear him apart.

(K)Because you’ll risk your jobs if you do anything like that, especially if it’s unprovoked.

(B)Oh, I’m provoked alright and so are the rest of us. Nothing good came out of that story, sis.

(K)You’re in luck, there’s a happy ending to it. In the middle of everything, there was a knock at the door. We heard a voice call out, and it was my dad, so I screamed for his help as loud as I could. Next thing I know, the door bursts open and my dad barges in and sees me bloody and bruised on the ground with Sean standing over me. My dad glared at Sean and he told me to go upstairs and pack my things and that he was getting me out of there. My dad walked over and picked me up and helped me up the stairs to gather what I needed. While I was up there, my dad went back downstairs and proceeded to beat the life out of Sean.

(B)Go, Tom!

(DD)Your dad was so brave and I’d expect it from him since you’re precious to him.

(L)Of course, Tom was the hero, he’s your dad. His instincts kicked in and he went into full Papa Bear mode.

(B)Did you see what your dad did to Sean?

(K)I wish I did, I was still upstairs. I washed the blood off my face after I gathered all of my stuff and went downstairs. I saw Sean lying on the floor and he was beaten up pretty badly, he almost looked like he was dead.

(M)I would’ve been okay with that if he was. But knowing that your dad gave him what he deserved, makes me less angry.

(K)Well, there was a happy ending to that part of the story, but sadly it didn't end there.

(B)Oh boy, this guy is definitely on my shit list.

(L)Let me guess, he never left you alone, even after your dad gave him the beating of his life.

(K)[sigh] You’d be right, he tried everything to terrorize me. I went to live with Ash and Sean stalked me in public and made me afraid to leave the house. He even sent me threatening letters and told me that I made the biggest mistake of my life by leaving him. Then one night, I woke up to a chilly breeze coming through my window, so I got out of bed to close it, thinking that maybe I’d opened it to get some air and forgot to close it. When I turned around to go back to bed, I was met with Sean, who had broken into the house through that window. I couldn’t speak. I was so scared, and he grabbed me by my throat with both hands and pinned me against the wall. He didn’t let go and I couldn’t breathe or move and I had a feeling that it would be my last night on earth. But alas, another hero emerged…

Kate halts in her tracks, her gaze shifting to meet Ashley's, sitting across from her, a gentle smile gracing Kate's lips. Ashley meets Kate's eyes, her own smile tinged with shyness. The rest of the group, sensing the moment, shifts their attention to Ashley, quickly understanding that Kate is speaking about her, and they erupt in admiration for her courage.

(M)Ash? You saved Kate's life.

(DD)You’re so brave, Ash.

(L)Of course, she is. That’s my woman. She's a badass.

(S)She was always protective of Kate and me when we were teenagers. She didn’t let anyone bully us.

(B)Nice going Ash, what did you do to Sean?

(A)I snuck up behind him and hit him over the head with a wood club. He let go of Kate and fell to the ground. I knocked the bastard out cold.

(K)I saw my life flashing before my eyes and I felt as if I was starting to fade out. Then I saw something hit Sean in the back of the head and I saw him drop to the floor and I was able to breathe again. I immediately gasped for air and was coughing so hard that I felt faint, so I sat on the floor to catch my breath.

(A)I tied Sean up and Kate and I went over to her parent’s house and told her dad everything. Tom came over and Sean got another good beating from him. Poor Kate had bruises on her neck for weeks and Sean was locked up for pretty much almost murdering Kate.

(K)I thought he was still in prison, but it seems he got out. After all that, I wanted to start my life over and Ash and I talked about moving here and we talked about leaving together. But that’s when my mom got sick and Ash and I stayed to help take care of her. Ash stayed for a while but she decided to come here to live and when my mom got well again, I decided to come here, too, so Ash came and got me and here we are today. I just never thought I’d see Sean again and when I looked over there at that bar, my stomach dropped and my heart sank. I don’t want him to know that I’m here. He can’t know.

(M)It’s okay, sweetheart, you’re safe here. He’s never going to hurt you again and we won’t let him.

(B)He’s right, sis, and we will be with you at all times if we need to.

(S)You can always come to the healer and sit with me and talk to Nessa and me.

(DD)You can even come to the training grounds with me, Cormac, and Gordo.

(G)We can be your bodyguards if you need us to.

(C)Yeah, I definitely don't mind doing that. I may still be a guard in training, but it's my job to protect you and make sure you're safe, too.

(L)You let your old pal Larry take care of him if he comes near you. I’ll kick his ass and slash him up.

(K)No, you guys have better things to do.

(M)Sweetheart, I hate to say this, and don't take this the wrong way, but it’s not up for discussion. I'll be right here at your side every minute of every day. I don’t care what I’m doing. If you need me to sit here in the pub, or go out shopping with you, or even stay home with you, I will, no questions asked. That piece of shit isn't going to come near you if I have anything to say about it.

(K)[sigh] Hopefully he isn’t here for long, so you don’t have to do all that, my love.

(M)I’ll do it regardless, I don't care. You’re my wife and I will protect you.

(B)We’ll do the same if Merig can’t be here with you for whatever reason. We protected you once and we’ll do it again, sis.

(L)I have to agree with the Flynn brothers on this one, Kate. We don’t want to risk anything happening to you. It’s strange that he just shows up here in the pub out of the blue. There’s a chance that he already knows you’re here in Tara and probably wants his revenge like he threatened.

(G)He’s right, Kate, and I’ll do what I can to protect you, too.

(C)I will too, what he did to you was heinous…but it’s not far from the horrible things I did.

(K)Cormac, don’t do that, don’t you dare compare the two because in reality what Sean did is ten times worse than that. Although, I’m pretty sure he’s out for revenge as well, but at least you realized that revenge wasn’t the path to take. Besides, you redeemed yourself, remember? You’re working on letting go of that hatred toward yourself.

(C)That doesn’t make me feel any better about it, Kate, I still hold that guilt and shame.

(G)Same here, now I just feel even more ashamed of myself. I honestly don’t know what to do but feel more guilty.

(K)Hey, both of you became better people, and you made up for what you did. If Sean knows I’m here, then he definitely has intentions of getting to me. And he probably doesn’t even know that I’m married to Merig, or what he’s capable of. So Sean just might get a wake-up call if he tries anything to hurt me.

(M)You’re absolutely right about that, sweetheart. He’s not going to lay a finger on you. I’ll kill him if he does, but he can’t be that stupid.

(B)Unless he’s just that crazy and obsessed with you, Kate. I refuse to call it love because what he showed you wasn’t love.

(L)That’s right, I’d never raise my hands to Ash, that’s not what love is. She's precious to me and I made her a promise to love her and touch her with kindness, not violence and hate. Isn’t that right, my beautiful red-hot flame?

(A)[smiles] That’s right, honey, and you're so good to me. I love you.

(L)I love you too, gorgeous.

(C)I do have to confess something, Kate.

(K)Sure Cormac, what’s wrong?

(C)I actually know him.

(K)Sean? How do you know him?

(C)...He’s the one that gave me this scar on my face.

(K)What, are you serious?

(C)That story I told you all, about being good friends with a human only to be betrayed. He’s the one that betrayed me. That’s Sean Richwood, right?

(K)Yeah, that’s him, I’m so sorry Cormac, I had no idea he was the one that did that.

(C)You have nothing to be sorry for. I’m sure it was before he met you since he wasn’t with anyone romantically at the time.

(K)Most likely, but he never told me about you. But he did have a pretty strong hatred for Fomors, which should’ve been the biggest red flag since I don’t have a hatred for Fomors.

(DD)That’s the man that hurt you, Cormac?

(C)Yeah he is, it’s okay, though, Deirdre.

(DD)I’ll protect you from him. He won’t hurt you again, either.

(C)It’ll be okay. If he tries hurting me, then I’ll fight back. I don’t want you getting involved and getting yourself hurt.

(DD)[sigh] Okay, it just makes me so mad. He’s a horrible person.

(G)I feel terrible, Kate, and I feel I didn’t deserve your forgiveness.

(K)Gordo, not you too. We all talked about this and I told you that you’re both redeemed and forgiven.

(G)I know, but hearing all of that, I just can’t help but feel conflicted.

(K)I understand, but you don’t have to feel that way. It’s all in the past and we created a clean slate. Just let all that water flow under the bridge, both of you.

(G)[sigh] I’ll try my best, Kate, but I can’t promise anything.

(C)I’m going to have to agree with him, we feel terrible.

(K)One day, you two will forgive yourselves.

(M)She's right, you guys denounced your ways and became better Fomors to society. And if Larry is right, then this asshole is probably looking for Kate so he can hurt her.

(S)I’m just glad you were able to escape Sean. I had gone off to study more advanced medicine, so I never heard about it, until you told me when your parents came to visit before your wedding. I’m so sorry that happened to you and you didn’t deserve it and it breaks my heart to know that he caused you pain.

(DD)It breaks my heart, too.

(K)He broke my heart, as well as a few bones in my body. I was at the healer in Taill for a week after he beat me and I had nightmares about it. I don’t have those nightmares anymore, thankfully, but I still have the scars on the inside and out and you’ve seen some of those scars, my love.

(M)Come to think of it, I have noticed some visible scars on your body. I never knew where they came from and I was always kind of curious, but I never pried.

(K)Well, that’s where they came from and now you know. When Jeff hit me last year, all of those memories came rushing back and so did the pain. That’s also why I was scared when I saw you get angry at him, Merig.

(M)I’m so sorry, sweetheart, I had no idea.

(K)It’s okay, my love. You made everything better that night when we made love for the first time.

(M)That’s right, I’ll always remember it. It was the second-best night of my life. The first was getting married to you and making love to you on our honeymoon.

(K)[smiles] That was the best night of my life, too. But now I have Sean to deal with and if he does know that I’m here, I wouldn’t put it past him to stalk me. He was always good at finding out where I was after I left him. It’s one reason why I came here so that I didn’t have to worry about him anymore. My stomach hurts just knowing that he’s here and my anxiety is through the roof. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, my love.

(M)Don’t be sorry, I didn't expect you to tell me about your past, because I want to be a part of your future and the new beginning, remember?

(K)You're absolutely right, honey, I told myself that I'd tell you one day if it was necessary.

(M)I understand, but hey, you don't have to deal with him at all this time, sweetheart. I will protect you like I always do.

(K)I know you will, my love. You're so good at it, too. I just can't help but worry that if he was able to break into Ash's house back home, then what's stopping him from breaking into our house?

(M)I am…your husband, I'm stopping him. I'll tear his limbs off if he so much as walks down our street since I'll be able to smell him and hear him. My moon, you forget I'm not human and my strength is greater than his and so is my temper when my eyes turn red. You also know I'm a light sleeper, so if anyone breaks into our house, I'll wake up almost instantly. I also have hundreds of Royal Guards at my command who will annihilate him if I order them to do so.

(B)He's right, Kate, and I'm a part of the guards and I'll happily obey those orders.

(L)Same here. It's our job to protect citizens and if he decides he wants to become a threat, then we have to do that job.

(G)I'll gladly take on that responsibility to protect you, Kate.

(C)That's right, that's the entire purpose of why I joined the guards. He won't hurt you if he knows what's good for him.

(A)The goblins are right again, Kate.

(DD)Yeah, they've got a point. They're trained to protect and they're stronger. That man sounds like a coward and I'm sure he wouldn't dare hurt you if he knew these guys and what they can do.

(B)That’s right, Deirdre, I'm the second strongest next to Merig.

(L)Hey whoa, I'm his second in command and I've trained longer than you, so that's false.

(B)We'll see about that, but when it comes to this scumbag, I don't think it matters who's the strongest as long as we kick his ass.

(L)Oh absolutely, with all five of us goblins fighting him, he wouldn't stand a snowball's chance in hell. But I'm sure Merig has the biggest desire out of all of us to destroy him.

(M)You bet your ass, I do. He's sadly mistaken if he even thinks he's going to get his filthy hands on my wife.

(K)...There’s one more thing.

(B)Alright, let’s hear it and then I’ll go drag him out of here.

(K)Barth, stop it and listen, please.

(B)Alright...but I’m really losing my patience with this guy, sis.

(L)[sigh] Let’s hear it.

(K)Merig, my love, we talked this morning about having children and I said I didn’t know if I was able to have any.

(M)Yeah, I remember…Kate, don’t tell me.

(K)[sigh] After Sean was finally put away, I started feeling sick, and I felt that way for days. Ash took me back to the healer and when I was lying on the bed, I felt this pain in my stomach. It hurt so bad and I screamed so loud and blood started coming out of me…and so did a baby…but it was very small…and lifeless.

(B)Oh my god, you had a miscarriage.

(K)[nods] I did. Sean made me lose my first child.

(M)...You were pregnant?

(K)Yes, my love, I was. The beating that Sean gave me and him almost killing me cut off enough oxygen to the baby, that it died and I gave birth to a stillborn.

(DD)[gasp] He killed your baby, he’s a monster.

(C)It’s okay, Deirdre, I know you’re upset. Just breathe and stay calm.

(DD)I’m sorry, Cormac, it just makes me so mad.

(C)I understand, I think it’s making everyone at the table mad, especially Merig.

(L)I’m sure Merig is seeing red right about now, just like his eyes.

(B)I’m seeing red, too, and it’s taking everything in me not to join Merig in ending that asshole’s life.

(M)I’m trying really hard not to get up from this table and put an arrow through his head.

(C)I’m so sorry, Kate, you lost a child. That can’t be an easy thing to go through.

(G)I can’t even begin to imagine how you felt.

(K)It honestly took a lot of support from the people around me to help me heal. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to bear children again.

(M)I’m sorry, honey, I had no idea.

(K)Because I’m just now telling you, my love. I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you sooner.

(M)There’s nothing you have to apologize for, honey. Don’t even think about being sorry.

(B)Yeah, it was your story to tell, if you even wanted to tell it.

(K)I was actually going to tell you all when you got here. Then Sean showed up and it pretty much forced me to tell you.

(A)It’s my fault. I had to say something when he came in.

(K)It’s not your fault, Ash, it’s good that you said something.

(S)She’s right, now we know that he’s here, and he’s a potential threat.

(M)He won’t be a threat for long, not on my watch.

(L)Absolutely not, we’ll be on guard and on high alert.

(K)I don’t want him seeing me here, so let’s stay here until he leaves.

(M)Okay, sweetheart, just stay close to me and I’ll protect you from him.

(K)I know you will, honey, I’m just a bucket of nerves.

(B)It’ll be okay, sis, I’m keeping an eye on him. Just breathe and keep talking to us.

(K)[sigh] Okay, I’m sorry you all, I didn’t think this would happen. If I’m being honest, I’m actually really scared that he’s here. But at the same time, I feel safe with you all here.

(M)We understand and we don’t blame you for being scared.

(L)We won’t let anything happen to you, Kate.

(B)That’s right, sis, you have nothing to worry about. If he does approach you, just know that we’ll be here to tell him to screw off.

(K)I’m trying not to have a panic attack.

(M)It’s okay, sweetheart, just focus on me and take deep breaths, okay?

(K)It’s fine, just hold my hand, please.

(M)Of course, whatever helps you.

(K)When he leaves, I want to go home.

(M)We can do that.

(K)I hate to cut our time here short.

(B)Don’t even worry, sis, I can only imagine those horrible memories are flooding your mind.

(K)They are and I almost forgot about all of them and the pain when Merig and I first got together. Like I said, I know I’ve vaguely mentioned my past, so I didn’t completely forget since that’s not exactly something that someone can truly forget. After Merig and I talked about having children this morning, that’s when I realized that he needed to know what happened to me and now you all know as well.

(L)We’re here for you, Kate, especially Merig. You've seen him get angry. He'll protect you from that piece of shit, and so will the rest of us.

(K)Just don't do anything irrational, okay?

(M)As long as he stays away from you and doesn't start trouble. But if he's here looking for you, then I can't guarantee his safety. My need to protect you is stronger than it's ever been.

(K)I didn't mean for this to happen.

(M)It’s not your fault, sweetheart. It's my job as your husband to protect you from harm. I'm sure if he wants his revenge, he plans on hurting you. Sorry about his luck, but he's not getting his revenge.

(B)Not a chance in hell, he can get over himself. He just wants someone he can put his filthy hands on and control and for some reason, it has to be Kate.

(C)Once he realized he couldn't do that with her anymore since she left, it pissed him off. But he went as far as attempting to end her life, but he ended the life of her unborn child.

(A)I remember it so vividly when the baby came out, Kate screamed so loud it was earsplitting. I held her for hours one night when she woke up from a nightmare and she cried so much. My sweet best friend was subjected to that horror and I thought she'd never recover. Even after all of that, she's still the amazing person she is today.

(DD)You’re a strong person, Kate, I admire that.

(S)I was very shocked when she told me and it was hard to believe that someone could do such a thing to someone as sweet as her. It broke my heart, and I thought, “Why would someone do something so cruel to someone else who's willing to give that person the world, only for them to be treated that way?”

(DD)Those were my exact thoughts, too.

(B)Unfortunately, there are terrible people in this world, Sarah, and they don't deserve someone like Kate.

(L)Absolutely not. Cormac, Gordo, you think you don't deserve love or happiness, but you deserve it way more than that piece of shit over there.

(K)I agree, I forgave you both, but I'll never forgive Sean for what he did to me.

(M)She’s right, his crime is unforgivable compared to yours.

(C)I guess we can't argue with that, but I still don’t feel any better about what I did.

(G)Same here, it doesn’t minimize our crimes.

(K)But at least you sought forgiveness and denounced your ways, that’s what matters. If I know Sean, he did none of those things and even if he did, I’d never forgive him for what he did. He continued to hurt me and made me lose my first child who was still growing inside me and I can’t bring it back to life like I did with Merig.

(C)I understand now, I won’t say I feel better about myself because I shouldn’t, but I hate myself less.

(K)Good, just like I don’t hate you, just what you did. You should feel the same way.

(G)I feel more angry with that guy than I do with myself.

(M)I think everyone here does.

(K)Let’s wait until he leaves and we can go home.

(A)Yeah, I don’t want him seeing me either.

(L)If he comes near you too, I’ll rip his throat out.

(B)We’ll all stay here until he leaves. I’m still keeping an eye on him.

(K)Okay, thank you all for being here. It means a lot.

(B)It’s no skin off my back, sis. This is what we’re here for, remember?

(L)You’re not alone, remember that.

(K)Of course, how could I ever forget what amazing people I have in my life? I love you all, especially you, my love.

(M)I love you, too, honey, I’m not going anywhere.

(B)Me either, we’re a big family and I’m proud to be a part of it.

(A)Me too. We all love you as well, Kate.

(K)[smiles] I know, I’ll admit because of what he did to me, sometimes I don’t love myself and it’s why I questioned how I got so lucky to have this life after leaving that one.

(M)Because you deserve better and you knew that, that’s why you came here.

(K)That’s right, I found better, and I never expected to find such a wonderful husband along with a wonderful brother-in-law, or an amazing friend group.

(B)Great things happen when you least expect it, sis, and since you’re the amazing person that you are, you deserve it, as Merig said.

(K)I’m so grateful to you all. I just hope Sean doesn’t start trouble, but I have a feeling that he will.

(M)And if he does, we’ll be ready. If I have to, I'll have security watch him and make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid. Maybe even get Eirawen involved.

(K)I hope it doesn’t come to that, but I agree. I just want to take my mind off of it for now, so let’s just keep talking and wait until he leaves and we can go home.

(M)Alright, sweetheart, we’ll do that.

The two exchange warm smiles and share a tender kiss as Merig tenderly takes Kate's hands in his, all while the group continues their lively chatter, waiting for Sean to finish at the pub. Later that evening, in the cozy confines of Kate and Merig’s home, they prepare for bed. Kate lost in thought and wearing a worried expression as she changes into something more comfortable, catches Merig's attention. He notices her gaze fixed on the floor and approaches her gently, cradling her face in his hands, and lifting her chin to meet his gaze. His eyes soften, and a warm smile spreads across his face as he caresses her cheek, prompting a smile in return from Kate. He leans in for a kiss, then pulls back slightly, speaking to her in a soothing tone.

(M)Hey, I know you’re worried and I understand why you would be. But in this house, you are safe and secure. Tomorrow I want you to go to the training grounds with Cormac and Gordo until I’m finished with patrol. When their training session is done, you can go with them to the pub. I won’t let you be alone anywhere in the city.

(K)[nods] Okay, that helps me not worry so much. But at the same time, I want you with me.

(M)If that’s what you want, I can have Larry, Ash, and Barth take over for me outside the city while I stay in the city with you.

(K)I don’t want you to abandon your guard duties just for me.

(M)Sweetheart, do you remember what I said last year when all that chaos happened?

(K)You said a lot of things. What are you speaking about specifically?

(M)I wouldn’t be abandoning my job, because it’s my job to protect you. It’s not just because it’s my duty as a guard, but because you’re my wife and it’s my duty as your husband.

(K)[sigh] I understand, but we don’t even know why Sean is even here to begin with.

(M)It doesn’t matter why he’s here. With everything you told us at the pub, I have reason to believe he’s looking for you and he doesn’t know who I am if that’s the case.

(K)Maybe he does. Either because of our wedding since you’re the commander of the guards or because my parents heard about it at home and people back home talked about it. The fact that he’s out of prison makes me wonder how he got out.

(M)It’s possible that he escaped or they figured he served his sentence and released him.

(K)He had a ten-year sentence. It hasn’t been that long since he was put away.

(M)It’ll be okay. Like I said, he can’t hurt you as long as I’m with you.

(K)I understand, my love. I’m so sorry you have to drop everything because of this.

(M)Honey, please don’t apologize, you have nothing to be sorry for. As the commander and your husband, I’m very much okay with dropping everything because it’s what I feel is right, and it’s what I’m supposed to do for you as my wife as I said.

(K)Alright, my love, I’ll do my best not to worry. You just have no idea what Sean is capable of and when it comes to me, he’ll stop at nothing to get to me.

(M)He won’t even get the chance to lay a hand on you, I’ll make sure of that. Hearing what you told us, it’s all I need to know about his intentions. You're my wife, Kate. He has no rights to you anymore.

(K)I know that and I gave myself to you and I belong to you. I trust you and I feel so safe with you.

(M)The doors are locked and so are the windows. He’s not getting in here and not without a fight. It’s on him if he decides to come here and I’ll tear him apart.

(K)I know, honey, I don’t feel scared here at home. I’m just worried about leaving and running into him.

(M)And I’ll be right by your side, sweetheart. I won’t let you out of my sight. If we run into him, you hide behind me and I’ll deal with him.

(K)Okay, my love, I won’t leave your side, either. I’d honestly be too scared to, especially if I have to use the restroom.

(M)Ash can go with you if we’re at the pub. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind.

(K)Which reminds me, I should probably tell Sherry everything so that she knows who Sean is. Maybe she won’t let him in, or you can have a guard put outside like you said so he doesn’t come in.

(M)Both are good ideas, I may have a guard follow us and have a few guard the training grounds. We’ll figure it out tomorrow, but for now, let’s get some sleep.

(K)Alright, honey, will you hold me all night?

(M)Of course, sweetheart, anything you need from me.

(K)[sigh] I didn't want what happened to me to keep me from moving on and being happy again. You made me forget about all of that pain and I’ve felt all the love you gave me and I still do.

(M)And I will only ever give you love, Kate, that's what I'm supposed to do. I can't even imagine myself doing something so abhorrent to the woman I love.

(K)I know, honey, and that's what makes you so different and it's probably the biggest reason I fell in love with you. You’re the polar opposite of Sean and I sensed that about you. After the year we spent making memories, the night you told me you loved me was the night you had my heart in your hands.

(M)And that was the night I put my heart in your hands and gave it to you.

(K)Our hearts beat in unison, I can feel it.

(M)I can, too, it’s very soothing. Come on, let’s get into bed.

(K)Yes, my love.

Merig tenderly takes Kate's hand, guiding her to the bed where they both nestle in, seeking comfort. As they lie down, Merig wraps his arms around Kate, pulling the blanket over them both. They gaze into each other's eyes, the warmth of the moment enveloping them. With a gentle embrace, Merig draws Kate closer, leaning in for a sweet kiss. They share this intimate connection for a few heartbeats before parting, exchanging soft smiles. However, Kate's eyes glisten with unshed tears, cascading down the corners of her eyes. Merig, with a gentle touch, brushes the tears away, his voice a soothing whisper.

(M)Don’t cry, my moon, I don’t like seeing you cry.

(K)I know, I’m sorry. I just thought I’d never see Sean again, and I was hoping I wouldn’t.

(M)I can feel your anxiety and dread. I want to make it go away.

(K)I know, my love, and you are, for the most part. We’re connected. You feel what I feel and I feel what you feel. I feel your determination and your instinct to shield me, and I also feel your hatred toward Sean. I hate him, too, but I fear him more.

(M)I understand and I’m sure if he got the chance, he’d hurt you again. But that isn’t going to happen. He’d have to kill me first.

(K)Let’s not think about a situation like that. I lost you once. I don’t want to lose you again. I lost my baby that was growing inside of my belly and I refuse to let him take another life that is so precious to me.

(M)I’m sorry, honey, I’m an idiot. Please forgive me.

(K)It’s okay, I’ll protect you, too, just as you protect me. Just like me, you have everyone in our life that will protect you, too.

(M)I know, but you come first.

(K)We both come first. I won’t let you put me before yourself. We’re in this together and if I’m not fighting alone, neither are you.

(M)I understand, sweetheart, we are one and our souls and bodies are connected.

(K)That’s right and I won’t let you fight this battle alone. We protect each other. That’s my job as your wife, just as much as it is your job as my husband. I love you, my earth, with all of my heart and soul. You are my heart and soul.

(M)And you’re my heart and soul, too. I love you, my moon. We protect each other and we fight together.

(K)Yes, my love, but for now we sleep.

(M)Alright, sweetheart. Goodnight, my beautiful wife.

(K)Goodnight, my wonderful husband.

The two lock gazes, their eyes reflecting a world of emotions as Merig gently strokes Kate's cheek, leaning in for yet another kiss. Kate snuggles closer, resting her ear against his chest, her eyes fluttering shut as Merig envelops her in his warm embrace. He lies awake, holding her securely, a frown etched on his brow as thoughts swirl in his mind, protective instincts flaring within him.

(M)Sean, you piece of shit, you better stay the hell away from Kate. She's MY wife and I will protect her from you. I promise you, if you touch one hair on her head, I will end you.

Merig gently presses his lips to Kate's forehead, continuing to envelop her in a warm embrace as he closes his eyes, surrendering to the peacefulness of sleep. In another part of the tranquil city night, Barth strolls alongside Sarah, guiding her home after a delightful dinner together. As Sarah clings to his arm, they meander through the dimly lit streets, engaged in a lively conversation that fills the stillness around them.

(B)Sorry, we didn't spend the entire day together as we planned.

(S)It's perfectly fine, Barth, I had no problem just having dinner with you. I had a great time. You made me laugh so hard, I snorted. It was so embarrassing, but I couldn't help it.

(B)I think it was cute when you snorted.

(S)[giggles] I loved it when you kept tossing food at the guy behind you who kept talking so loud.

(B)Yeah, he shut up real quick when he was convinced that food was falling from the ceiling. He was ruining our fun, and I wasn't going to have that.

(S)It wasn't ruined, you just made it better and more entertaining.

(B)Well, I'm glad I could provide some comedic relief.

(S)I very much enjoyed myself.

(B)So would you ever want to do this again? Have dinner with me, I mean.

(S)Actually, I would like that a lot.

(B)Really?

(S)Yeah, I had a lot of fun. The next day I have off. We can spend an entire day together like we planned.

(B)Alright, just let me know when and I'll ask Merig for a day off as well.

(S)Sounds good.

(B)So what do you think about this whole thing with Kate's ex-fiancé?

(S)I really hope he isn't here to hurt Kate. She doesn't deserve that. She's so happy with Merig and he won't let anyone hurt her.

(B)Agreed, hearing her story broke my heart. That's not something any woman deserves to go through. Her baby is the victim too. She's a mother without a child.

(S)I know and seeing Kate's personality and how happy she is all the time, you'd never guess that she went through something like that. She seems to hide her negative emotions really well.

(B)You're right, but until you've seen that person go through something, you never really know. After the battle at Cormac’s old camp, when Merig died and Kate brought him back, Kate went through the aftermath and it was painful to watch her deal with the trauma. She was depressed and had nightmares about it and was worried about losing Merig again, and she was worried that he would leave her. Merig loves her so much that he was willing to help her with what she was going through. Kate got through it thanks to Merig and the rest of us and now they're married and living happily ever after.

(S)He's such a good husband to her, she has nothing negative to say about him.

(B)And he has nothing negative to say about her. They're perfect for each other.

(S)I just hope that horrible man goes away. If he’s as terrible as she says he is, he’ll hurt her if he gets the chance.

(B)Merig isn’t giving him that chance and neither are we. I remember the night of the battle with Cormac when Kate was holding Merig in her arms when he died. She screamed at Cormac and said she could never love a human man as much as she loves Merig. Now it all makes sense as to why. It wasn’t just the pain from Merig dying that she felt that night, it was also the pain that Sean inflicted on her that made her say that. She was angry and crying at the same time while she screamed at Cormac for what he did. I’m sure it wasn’t just the trauma of watching Merig die in her arms that made her go through a trial with her own mind, but the pain of losing someone who meant the world to her, which was her baby and then Merig. Yeah, she brought him back, but realizing she couldn’t do the same for the unborn child she lost, I’m sure that’s what brought back that horrible memory and made her spiral.

(S)Poor Kate, I wish I could’ve helped her in her time of need.

(B)It’s okay, she had Merig and the rest of us. You were there when Cormac first showed up at the pub and Kate had a panic attack.

(S)Yeah, I remember, I was so scared for her. When Ash and I took her outside, we tried really hard to calm her down. Once Merig came outside and took over, it didn’t take long until she was calm again.

(B)That’s the effect Merig has on her. He’s so good to her, and she loves and trusts him so much that she needs him to feel safe and secure. He doesn’t mind being there for her and will do anything to make her smile again.

(S)They’re so in love, it’s beautiful to see them interact and always talk so calmly and sweetly to each other.

(B)It’s beautiful to see and they submit to each other, which is what’s supposed to happen. It’s a partnership, not a dictatorship. Sean, on the other hand, wanted to be the dictator and went as far as becoming violent with Kate when she wouldn’t let him control her. That’s not love when you harm the person you claim to love. At that point, it’s just abuse.

(S)Merig loves Kate and I don’t think he would ever do something like that to her. He’s too good to her.

(B)He is and I don’t see him doing such a terrible thing, either, and I myself would never do that to someone I love. That’s just not who I am.

(S)We all know that Barth, you’re just as kind and gentle as Merig is. You are brothers after all and you’re the oldest, so Merig learned from you and you influenced him to be such a wonderful person.

(B)I guess you’re right. I am the one who essentially took care of him after we were separated from our parents. The humans that raised us were wonderful people, too, so that influenced Merig as well as myself a little. I spent enough time with my parents to be influenced by them and they were wonderful people, too.

(S)I’d expect that from you since you’re such a caring person and you’re just as protective as Merig. That day, Kate had a panic attack at the pub. I saw how aggressive you and Merig got with Cormac. You two were very similar in how you put yourself between him and Kate, which I’m sure he also learned from you.

(B)Most likely, since I protected Merig from harm and he saw that. It practically became his nature to protect the ones he cares about and loves, especially Kate.

(S)Merig has a big heart, and it belongs to her and her heart belongs to him. It’s honestly something that even a human couple strives for and envies. But even Fomors are capable of love and some humans don’t understand that, but Kate does, and she was okay with falling in love with Merig. From what Kate said, Merig had trouble with his self-esteem and didn’t think he deserved her because he’s not human and she married him and proved to him that he was deserving and worthy of her.

(B)Yeah, Merig realized how lucky he was and stopped questioning his life. He embraced how lucky he was. Some people let their self-worth determine their worth to others and the only person’s opinion that matters is the one who loves them. Merig is worth everything to Kate, even though he didn’t think he was, but her marrying him proved that he was worthy of being with her.

(S)They say beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. You can be attractive to someone even though you don’t see the beauty in yourself and you can see the beauty in others even though they don’t see it in themselves. I struggle to this day to see the beauty in myself because so many people told me they didn’t see that beauty in me. I started to believe that I was hideous, and I tried really hard to take care of myself and make myself look beautiful, even though I didn’t see a problem with how I looked. I don’t know why they thought that way and it hurt.

(B)It’s because they weren’t happy with themselves, so they felt the need to put you down to make them feel better about themselves. They were jealous of you because you’re beautiful and it threatened their sense of worth, so they wanted you to feel worthless and tarnish your self-worth. Misery loves company, just like we said about Rachel when she tried ruining relationships. She’s jealous of what Ash and Kate have, so she tried taking it for herself and she realized that Merig and Larry wanted nothing to do with her.

(S)Yeah, I understand what you’re saying…So, you think I’m beautiful?

(B)Absolutely, Sarah, I wouldn’t lie about that. I think your skin is flawless, but even if it wasn't, I'd still think you're beautiful. Your hair always looks silky and the curls make it so much more beautiful and thick. You have a perfect smile and your eyes are a beautiful hazel color. There’s not one thing that’s hideous about you and I’ll argue with anyone who says otherwise.

(S)[blush] You’re way too kind, Barth. The funny thing is, I don’t wear any makeup at all. This is just how I look.

(B)Well, I think you're gorgeous and you’re perfect the way you are. There’s nothing you need to do to change anything about yourself and screw anyone who thinks you do.

(S)[smiles] Thank you, Barth, that’s honestly the nicest thing anyone has said to me. Of course, Ash and Kate have told me that I’m beautiful, but not in the way you just described.

(B)And I mean every word, Sarah, no matter what you think about yourself. I’m sorry if I was overzealous with my opinion of you.

(S)Not at all. It was actually wonderful to hear, especially after years of vitriol from others.

(B)Rest assured that I’d never say anything bad about you because there isn’t anything bad about you to say.

(S)I don’t think there’s anything bad to say about you, either, Barth. You’ve been so kind to me and I’ve appreciated your kind words and gestures. I’m just not used to it, that’s all.

(B)Trust me, you’ll see and hear more of it if it makes you happy.

(S)Everything you’ve done so far has made me happy and I don’t mind you doing nice things for me.

(B)Good, I’m glad I can make you happy. I like seeing your beautiful smile.

(S)[blush] Thank you, Barth, I really appreciate it.

(B)Anything I can do to make you feel better about yourself because that’s my goal.

Sarah appears shy, her cheeks tinged with a soft blush as she exchanges a warm smile with Barth, still clutching his arm. As they stroll along, she gently leans her head against it, savoring the moment. When they finally reach her home, she releases his arm, and they pause just outside the door, facing one another. As the evening draws to a close, they start to bid each other goodnight, with Sarah breaking the silence first.

(S)I had a wonderful dinner with you, Barth. Thank you for everything.

(B)Of course, I look forward to next time. Hopefully, we won’t have to sit near loud people.

(S)[giggles] Yeah, hopefully, but it was still entertaining, nonetheless.

(B)It was, I got a good laugh out of it, too.

(S)Well, I’ll see you later, then.

(B)Yeah, I look forward to it

Sarah pauses in thoughtful silence, her mind racing, before finally glancing up at Barth with a warm smile. She opens her arms wide, inviting him in. With a gentle lift, she reaches for him, and he responds by embracing her in a heartfelt hug. After a moment, Sarah pulls away slightly and plants a delicate kiss on Barth’s cheek. As she steps back from their embrace, Barth’s cheeks flush with color, and his eyes grow wide as he gazes down at her.

(S)[smiles] Goodnight, Barth.

(B)...Goodnight, Sarah.

Sarah steps up to her front door, swinging it open and stepping inside her cozy home, gently shutting the door behind her. Outside, Barth stands frozen for a moment, his mind racing, before a smile breaks across his face. He touches his cheek where Sarah's kiss lingered, lost in thought as he turns to head home for the evening.