Gloria lay wide awake staring at the dark sky. The fire was low, Seth had taken up the watch, and Elias happily snored away.

Gloria groaned and rubbed her face. Her mind swirled with everything that had happened. There was so much to process – Seth’s past, the ordeal at the temple, Elias’s tale…. It’s overwhelming, she thought to herself.

“Gloria?” Seth called softly from the other side of the fire. “Are you awake?” Gloria rolled over to face Seth. He smiled at her from across the fire.

She nodded. “I can’t sleep.”

“Something on your mind?”

Gloria gazed into the embers and sighed. “Everything,” She answered quietly.

Seth rose and came around the fire. He settled down next to her a little way from the warmth of the embers. Gloria looked up from her bedroll and watched him grimace as he gazed into the flames.

“I understand,” he finally said, “My mind’s been utter chaos today.”

Gloria giggled. “I can’t imagine why,” she teased lightly. Seth smiled and chuckled faintly.

She smiled back. It’s so good to see you smile. She thought with some relief.

There was a moment of silence, and then Seth looked at her. “I wanted to ask you,” he hesitated and fiddled with his hands. “What do you think of Elias’s plan?”

Gloria tensed and gazed into the fire. She hated it. She wished there was another way. What if… Gloria’s mind spun. What if she takes you away? What if you become too far gone and I lose you forever? She looked back up at Seth who waited for her answer. Gloria shifted uncomfortably. “It’s…fine.”

Seth chuckled. “I hate it too,” he answered playing with some mud. He went quiet for another moment, then spoke again. “I noticed you were nervous earlier when we were talking about it.”

Gloria froze. He noticed? Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and she burrowed into her bedroll a bit.

“Would…would it help to talk about it?” Seth stared down at the mud, his cheeks tinted pink.

Gloria curled deeper into her bedroll. “I…I don’t know,” she answered. “It’s a bit personal.”

“Ah…” Seth went quiet again. “Even with our deal?” He pushed after a moment.

Gloria met Seth’s eyes. He added a little smile to lighten the request. She smiled and gave a half laugh, but the tension in her body didn’t release.

There was a small nagging in the back of her mind. You made a deal, it said. You need to share something. Gloria grimaced. That’s true, she agreed. But it’s not time…it’s not…

“It’s not ripe yet,” she answered quietly, mostly to herself.

Seth frowned in confusion, “I’m not sure I understand.”

Gloria watched a glowing piece of ash fly up from the embers into the dark sky. The light died out and the ash fell back to the earth. “I know…” she answered.

Gloria watched Seth from the corner of her eye. He looked conflicted and a little upset. Then he sighed and hung his head in disappointment.

“Okay,” he answered. “I guess I can respect that. I suppose I’ve kept you in the dark before too.” Gloria felt stung and bit her lip. She wasn’t trying to draw everything out from him and not give anything in return!

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Stupid Gloria! she scolded herself. Stupid selfish Gloria! He’s right! How can you possibly expect him to share when you refuse to?

Seth sighed; it shook Gloria out of her thoughts. He put his head in his hand. “I’m sorry,” he said, “that was…petty of me.”

Gloria was startled and looked back up at Seth. She tried to wave him off. “Oh, it’s okay.”

Seth shook his head. “No, no it’s not. It wasn’t kind of me.”

Gloria reached out and touched Seth’s arm. “Don’t worry about it, we all make mistakes.” Seth looked back and smiled.

Gloria withdrew her arm and the two grew quiet. They stared into the fire both lost in their own thoughts.

I still can’t believe you’re a prince, she thought, tugging on a strand of hair. Well, that would certainly explain why assassins are after him. Gloria curled back into her bedroll. If he went home, he could easily claim the throne. Gloria’s heart froze and she peeked up at Seth.

Home…His home was miles away from hers. When they defeated The Lady, would he go home or stay here with her? Maybe he’ll stay here! She thought. He’s not sure if he wants to be king anyway.

Gloria shook the thought from her mind. She was being selfish again. What right do I have to claim him? She scolded herself.

“Thank you,” Seth said breaking into Gloria’s thoughts again. Gloria started and peered up at him.

“For what?” she asked.

Seth didn’t look away from the fire. “For putting up with all my junk,” he answered. “For continually pulling me back from the edge, figuratively and…literally.”

He hung his head, “and I wanted to say, that I’m sorry for leaving everything to you. I was being a coward, and all wrapped up in myself. I’m just glad it was Elias who was following us and not another assassin,” he clenched his fists. “I should’ve been the one to protect you.”

Gloria sat up now and waved her hand. “It-it’s alright, I didn’t mind,” she lied. “It all worked out okay.”

Seth gritted his teeth and shook his head, “it’s not alright!” he burst. Gloria started and instinctively drew back but Seth was too angry with himself to notice. “I should’ve stepped up and I didn’t!” he glared into the fire. “I panicked and I shouldn’t have!”

He looked up and Gloria nervously met his eyes; They blazed with self-loathing. “I willingly put you in danger!” he cried. “I knew someone was coming and I did nothing but sit on my asal and feel sorry for myself!”

Gloria drew back and gripped her bedroll. Seth’s face fell for a moment, then softened. He sighed and looked away, disgusted with himself. “My father would’ve been ashamed of how I acted. How I’ve been acting…”

Gloria slowly let go of her bedroll and leaned forward. Seth noticed and gave her a sad smile, before gazing into the fire again.

“It’s not how a man should act,” he said. “It’s not…It’s not how a king should act.” Seth trailed off. He folded his hands then went quiet.

Gloria inched closer to Seth, folded her hands, and gazed into the fire with him. “Well,” she started, “instead of running away, you made the choice to stay here and go defeat The Lady. That’s what a king ought to do, right?”

“I suppose…” She could hear a glimmer of hope in Seth’s voice.

“And I think that’s very brave,” Gloria added with a smile and put a hand on his shoulder.

Seth looked at her, with fragile hope in his eyes. “You really think so?”

Gloria nodded. “I do.”

A long quiet moment passed between the two. The low crackles of the embers filled the space in between them. Then Seth shook his head and stared at her in awe.

“How do you do it?” he whispered.

Gloria blinked. “Do what?”

Seth stammered. “See the world the way you do…see people the way you do…” Gloria noticed Seth grip his hands tightly. “You see more than I could ever see in myself. How?”

At that moment, Elias snorted and turned over in his sleep. Both Gloria and Seth started. Then they looked up at each other and laughed quietly.

Seth grinned. “Things are going to be a bit different now with him around,” he said, jerking his chin at Elias.

Gloria giggled, “they will indeed. But I think it’ll be good. I think he’s adorable.”

“Adorable?” Seth’s voice was terse, and he shot a dark glance at Elias. It caught Gloria off guard for a moment, then she hid a smile.

Is he jealous? she wondered.

“Yes,” Gloria said with a giggle. “He’s so full of excitement. He wants to go and see everything,” she laughed again. “He makes me think of a little puppy.”

Seth made a face and crossed his arms. “I suppose he does make me think a little bit of a puppy,” he conceded with a conflicted look on his face.

Gloria stifled a giggle. He was jealous! A little bubble of excitement welled up inside her and she tried to stuff it back down. Gloria looked over at Seth who was looking into the fire again. She stared at his hands, then down at her own.

I wish…she stopped the thought before she could finish it. It’s not time. she tried to tell herself, but hope had already taken root.

Gloria shook her head and retreated back to her bedroll. She sighed as she lay down and began to feel fatigue pulling at her. Gloria pulled her blankets up to her shoulders and watched the fire until her eyes began to droop, and a yawn escaped her mouth.

“Gloria?” She heard Seth say.

“Hmm?” Gloria tried to respond but was getting groggy; her eyes closed.

“I’m…I’m glad you stayed.”

Gloria smiled. “Me too,” she mumbled, then she fell fast asleep.