She felt like she was running for days. The muscles in her long slender legs burned, and her feet throbbed with each step. She had stepped off the forest trail a little while ago and was now jogging through the woods. Sticks and leaves crunched under her feet with each step forward. But each step caused a little pain because the foot-covers she wore, were worn out and double her age; like most of the clothes passed down in the orphanage. They were clothes from children who grew up in the orphanage generations ago but were long since gone.

I should've returned to the orphanage!

She didn't really feel that way, but it felt good to think. She willed herself forward, taking each step slowly. The sky was darker than it was the last time she had looked. And suddenly, there was a chill in the air. It was no secret the closer the Dark-Hour approached, the colder it became. It even wasn't unheard of for it to snow in some parts of the Five-Lands during the Dark-Hour; even though the Dark-Hour occurred during the transition of the season of Wind, to the season of Sun.

No turning back now.

She folded her arms across her chest and rubbed them to warm them. She passed the last set of trees leading to a clearing where a lake was. With a smile she closed her eyes and fell backwards allowing her back to crash into the ground and grass below. She giggled as she felt the cool grass on her back, and the slightly chilly but still mildly warm air, blow above.

Segfried, fell to the grass beside her with big sigh.

"Where's my apple?" Niyeighty asked, trying to sound more annoyed than she was.

"I ate it," Segfried laughed.

"It was mine," she wined, smacking him lightly on the arm.

"OWww," he said, rubbing his arm with a smile.

"It's not my fault, I was going to share it with you, but you took too long!" He said with a guilty smile.

"Oh, you were going to share MY apple, with me? How gentleman like."

She couldn't stop herself from smiling. "You owe me an apple." She said in a serious tone.

"Yeah, yeah," he said dismissing her with a smirk.

Silence filled the air as she listened to the stillness of the lake. Above, hundreds of tiny bugs flew around chaotically. She snuck a quick glance at Segfried. He was staring up at the sky, as if he could see past the bugs.

Their bodies were inches apart, and she swore she could feel his body heat and hear him breathe. She cursed herself for not having the courage to say how she felt. She loved him; and she wanted him to know it. She was tired of thinking it. She had thought it a thousand times since he arrived at the orphanage 3 Dark-Suns ago.

She had fell in love with him at first sight. He was handsome, with short blonde hair and beautiful blue eyes; like the ocean she had heard and dreamed of, but never laid eyes on. But her attraction wasn't solely his looks. He had a certain confidence about him. A confidence no other child in the orphanage had. It was almost as if he believed he was better than them. As if he didn't belong there. He would often rant about his family and tell anyone with a set of ears, that he would one day find them. He had even told Mother Nora one day after a lashing, that he would someday find his parents and live happily ever after with them. Unlike him, she had lived in the orphanage all her life. She had even fed from Mother Nora's breasts. For her, there was no hope of an outside world or parents who loved her. She had never known anywhere but their tiny village Luca, and Mother Nora's orphanage.

"I love Dark-Suns," she said, interrupting the silence. They're so beautiful."

Mother Nora and the other children would always watch the Dark-Sun from the comfort of the orphanage stoop.

Every village, town, and city in the Five-Lands celebrated Dark-Suns. They would have massive celebrations the evening before, the morning of, and the night of. Each celebration differed, but the tradition of music, dancing, and alcohol was common for all.

"Do you fancy them?" She asked curiously.

"Yeah, but not this Dark-Sun," he said.

"Why not?"

When she realized, he wasn't going to speak, she continued.

"In two suns and moon’s time, I will be given to Sir Lodrick Valmir. He will take me to the Northern Region of the Five-Lands and wed me in his birth city, Klantos." Niyeighty confessed.

Sir Lodrick’s father, was a Lord, and had been riding on horse-back through their small village around the time of the last Dark-Sun. He had noticed her beauty, and after speaking with Mother Nora, he demanded that Niyeighty and his son wed after her 14th Dark-Sun. Mother Nora, seeing a great opportunity for her, happily accepted without giving the matter any thought. When informed of the plan to have her wed Sir Lodrick, Niyeighty had cried. It was the worst day of her life. Soon after she was forced to meet Sir Lodrick and spend a day with him. Being honest with herself, it wasn't too horrible. He was handsome and pleasant, and she had even enjoyed the day; however, she did not want to wed him. Regardless, of his fair looks and his family having an abundance of coin.

"I know," Segfried said solemnly. "All the boys in the orphanage, won't shut their eat-holes about it, especially Gilroyd," he added.

Niyeighty blushed. She knew many of the boys in the orphanage and even men in the village, desired her; but it was weird hearing Segfried speak on it.

"I can't stomach Gilroyd," she said shaking her head with disgust.

Gilroyd was the village bully who had left Mother Nora's orphanage after the last Dark-Sun. It was his 16th Dark-Sun, and he had reached the age of a man. He fancied her; and constantly attempted to gain her affections. Day after day, he would walk the village announcing that he would one day wed her. He also used to bully Segfried. It wasn't until Segfried had become so fast that he could no longer catch him, that Gilroyd gave up and instead focused his attention onto bullying the other village kids.

She smiled. She was upset about having to wed Sir Lodrick, but took comfort knowing that Gilroyd would never have her.

"I do not desire to marry him, but Mother Nora says I must. This Dark-Sun marks my transition to womanhood, and Mother Nora says that all women should be wed before their wares go to waste. I suppose I should be happy she's not marrying me to Gilroyd." Before Sir Lodrick came along, that had been Mother Nora's plan. For some reason Niyeighty couldn't conjure up, Gilroyd, was Mother Nora's favorite.

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Segfried nodded his head and continued to stare at the dark sky.

Niyeighty was boiling with rage. She wanted him to say something. Anything! His silence was killing her. She half expected him to throw a fit and announce her being wed to another man was blinkin fly mud.

"I hate Mother Nora," she said slapping the ground and grabbing the warm earth in her hands. She launched a handful of grass into the air and sat still as it fell on them. They both laughed and turned to face each other. She didn't really hate Mother Nora, but sometimes Mother Nora made her incredibly angry. She wondered if that's what real mothers were like.

"Do not hate her. She only wants what's best for you." Segfried said, as if reading her mind. "This man's family has lots of coin, and can take good care of you, right?"

She squinted her eyes; "Just because he's abundant with coin, does not mean he will be a good husband."

Segfried looked confused, "You do not desire a husband abundant with coin?"

Niyeighty shook her head.

"I don't care about coin; I want to be happy. Should I not get to choose who I want to spend the rest of my life with? What about what I desire? Ugh, boys have it easy!”

Segfried shrugged his shoulders and gave her a look that said he didn't have all the answers. There was a long pause.

"What would you do if you had an abundance of coin?" Niyeighty asked.

He waited a moment before answering. "I only need enough to travel the Five-Lands to find my family." He answered, staring into her eyes.

"You want to find your parents?" Niyeighty asked surprised.

Segfried nodded. "Do you not?"

She shook her head, "I never burdened myself with such thoughts," she lied.

Many nights she laid awake in her bed wondering about her parents. Who they were? Were they dead? Did they give her away?

Segfried stared at her surprised. As if it were blasphemy for an orphan not to think of their parents.

"Was that man who brought you to the orphanage, your uncle or a distant relative?" She asked, intentionally changing the subject back to him. She didn't want to think or talk about her parents, it was too painful.

He looked surprised, "You mean Pierre? How do you know of him?" He asked.

"I've heard Mother Nora say a few things." In truth, whenever she heard any talk of Segfried, she stopped what she was doing and minded the conversation.

"Pierre was the man who delivered me to the orphanage. He said he found me, not even a Dark-Sun old, far west of the Five-Land's Western Region and close to the Dead-Lands. Have you ever heard of the Dead-Lands?" Segfried asked curiously.

"Only the same tales as everyone else," Niyeighty answered. "Creatures of the dead wandering aimlessly, preying on the poor innocent souls of the living," she said moaning and imitating the dead with a smile.

"You believe it false?" He asked, disappointedly.

"Of course! They're just horror stories told at a night's fire to frighten children," she laughed. "Only a fool would believe it! You don't believe it, do you?"

Segfried shrugged his shoulders and kept his eyes on the sky and an awkward silence filled the air.

"We should make our leave, it's almost the Dark-Hour," Segfried said, sitting up.

"No, pleaseeeee," Niyeighty begged putting both hands together as if in prayer. She wasn't ready to lose their time alone together. "Just awhile longer" she pleaded putting on her best beggar's face.

"Come now, you're not afraid of monsters, are you?" She teased.

He looked unsure. "I'm not afraid of monsters," he said looking around cautiously. He seemed overly anxious and suspicious.

"Then let's stay," she said pulling him back down onto the grass.

"What's that?" She asked, lightly fingering the tiny wooden carving of a dragon hanging from a black thread around his neck. She wanted to distract him so he wouldn't focus on the dark. The dragon pendant had a wooden crown attached to the top of its head, like a king or something. And its wings were outstretched. On the outside of the wings were tiny carvings in what appeared another language. Segfried tugged at the pendant while looking down at it.

"I got this from Pierre. He said it was in the basket he found me in, at the bottom of a waterfall. He took it off his neck and handed it to her.

She examined the pendant; "What are the carvings on the wings?"

"I do not know. But I have always wondered that myself." He said, shrugging his shoulders.

"It's beautiful," she said, jealous that her family left nothing for her. It truly was a beauty. The carpentry and details and features of the wooden dragon were so realistic and magnificent. Whoever carved it was a fine carpenter and craftsman. She put the necklace back around his neck and forced a smile.

“And what of this marking on your palm?” She asked, grabbing a hold of his right hand and flipping it over so that his palm was face up.

It was the mark of a dragon with its snout almost touching its tail, almost forming a completed circle. It was very detailed and appeared to be etched into his skin just like the “X” symbol was etched into the foreheads of marked-ones.

“I don't know, I asked Pierre, and he told me I had it upon my flesh when he found me. I suppose I was born with it." He said, shrugging his shoulders. He turned to face her and stared into her eyes. "One day when I am of age, I will travel the Five-Lands and find my family. I will find my parents, discover who I am and where I'm from. I'll find my home! Just 3 more Dark-Suns after todays, and I can leave this blinkin orphanage."

A wave of sadness rushed over her. He truly believed he would find his parents. The declaration seemed impossible and more like a hopeful dream than a reality. But strangely, there was something in his eyes that made her believe it.

"I believe you." In that very moment she did. Whenever she was with him, she felt anything was possible.

"Let's make a vow! Let's vow to travel the Five-Lands and find your family together!" She said excitedly.

Segfried looked surprised.

"You want to travel the Five-Lands with me and help me find my family?"

She nodded, "I would go anywhere with you...."

He smiled, and then there was a long silence. As if he was contemplating the offer.

"But we can't, you're getting married." He finally replied.

"What if, we could stop it?" She asked with a wicked grin.

"What? How?" Segfried asked looking confused.

Her heart began to beat faster, and she felt an enormous lump form in her throat. She took a moment's pause, feeling the butterflies whirling around in her stomach.

"You—you take my maidenhood tonight," she stuttered. She looked away. She was too embarrassed to look him in the eye. Even though she was frightened and embarrassed, she knew there was no time for pause. No time for shyness, hesitation, or proper lady etiquette. After these next couple suns, she would probably never see him again. He would just be a distant memory in her heart; and a life wasted pondering what if.

"Wait? You want me to do what!?"

The shock in his voice caused her to blush even more.

"I said, take my maidenhood tonight," she gathered enough courage to repeat.

Again, there was a long silence...

"But how would that fix things?" He asked, puzzled.

"If you were to take my maidenhood, they would be forced to call off the wedding. No man desires a sullied woman as their bride; especially, not a proud Knight."

She slowly worked up the courage to meet his eyes.

His mouth hung open and his eyes were blank. But after a moment, he blushed heavily. A few moments later the look of flattery faded.

"But you'll be labeled a whore... I could never disgrace you like that!"

She took a deep breath. She knew she would be shamed and ridiculed, but it was a small price to pay.

"I do not care about such things! They can label me a whore and shame me. None of that matter. I will be yours! I will be your whore! I want to be with you! I don't care what anyone says!" Her heart was thumping so loud, she could hear and feel it pumping blood all the way up to her ears. But it didn't matter. She had conquered her fears and confessed her feelings. The only thing that mattered was his reply.

"Will you have me?" She asked nervously, with a firm gaze.

Thump thump, thump thump, her heart pounded as she waited for his answer. Her stomach felt so tight she thought she'd might vomit.

After a few moments of silence, Segfried smiled, "Ye—yes," he answered softly.

She smiled as tears filled her eyes. She couldn't believe it. Finally, after all this time, her life had meaning. She was loved, and she wouldn't be alone anymore.

"It's settled then! We'll get married, travel the Five-Lands, find my parents, and then start a family," he announced happily.

She wanted to scream with joy but kept her composure. He leaned forward, and she followed his lead. Their lips softly touched one another's, and they held it for the briefest of moments.

"This is the happiest day of my life!"

Suddenly, there was the sound of twigs snapping nearby. Startled, they both turned in the direction of the snapping twigs and gazed into the surrounding darkness; waiting for whatever was lurking in it, to reveal itself.