Their Hearts' Desire {Closed}

korr.a · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **korr.a** on Sun Apr 22, 2012 6:28 pm

All she said only concerned him more. She knew not of her origins beyond this place but at the same time she assured him she was real. Was this just another part of the sequence? Merek was beginning to doubt. He knew precisely what she spoke of when she detailed her feelings of this place. He could not have put it into such words but he held the same feelings. So much peace. Was it really all too beautiful to be true? He sighed. The idea had been to be guiltless and carefree yet now he was filled with worrisome concerns.

Then again, perhaps she was deflecting him. Perhaps she was purposely allowing some confusion for the sake of her self-consciousness. He could sense it in her insistence that he would be opposed to her outside of these dreams. Nonsense. "And why wouldn't I?" he objected and made an effort to smile even if the expression was minimal. Was she hiding something? He didn't wish to believe it but...

Then, the troublesome thoughts went unsaid and he was content to look at her as she looked at him. It almost seemed like she was searching for something though what, he couldn't guess. The prince had little idea his worry was all over his face. Instead, he was trying to determine why she stared at him so. Then, he realized. Merek would swear he physically felt his heart sink. She was looking at his face of course, just like everyone else eventually did. She wasn't looking for anything at all aside from the strange beauty that lay there. Even as he felt her hand against his face, he held new doubts.

The kiss. It was such a shining thing in his mind that it was tragic. She must be quite controlled to not gawk but he was certain she saw him as all else, a perfect face. Even though it required effort, he smiled for her. The kiss held no parallels to any other. It had been without fault yet. Easily, he would have returned the gesture and kissed her himself He had indelibly fallen for her and she for the beauty he was positive she saw.

At the very least, he was positive there were no longer concerns about the knight and himself. He might only have been concerned if he was disgusted by the kiss. But no, it had felt quite good and natural. Despite the new revelations, he wished all of this took place in reality. Then again, if it could, he knew he would likely have another curse on his head, this one given by Amice. For, if he had found Kaitlynn outside these dreams, he would spend his time with her and altogether abandon the witch's quest.

"I could be content to stay here forever," he stated somewhat wistfully. Even if she'd fallen for his appearance, it could learn to accept it if it was controlled within such a solitary place. "In any case, I must thank you. You've shown me more kindness than any other."

Sirius Baren · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Sirius Baren** on Sun Apr 22, 2012 6:48 pm

Kaitlynn opened her eyes from the kiss and smiled gently at him. He had such a kind face and she could see that she had succeeded in proving to him that he was just fine. Though she did notice that there was something new lingering in his eyes and it worried her. She had no idea what this new part was and wished she had some context for it. She laughed lightly, sweet and bubbly, as he wished to stay forever and thanked her.

"Then stay with me for as long as we can." She said. She was afraid that if she pulled away from him that the meadow would disappear and they'd both be thrust into their harsh realities. "You deserve every kindness." She spoke honestly. She knew that their time was short and that at any moment it would be gone. She didn't want to be swept away from him yet.

Kaitlynn stared him right in the eye and found the truth burst into life inside of her. She wasn't sure if it was because of the magical meadow, but she had undoubtedly fallen in love with him. She didn't even know who he was. It pained her inside to think that they would be separated once more. The meadow was a temporary place that had brought them together. She was sure that they didn't have many more opportunities to come together in the place.

"Will you look for me?" she asked softly. Kaitlynn could feel a tightness grow in her chest. The thought of never seeing him again broke her heart and she was determined to at least see if he would try to find her against all the odds.

korr.a · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **korr.a** on Sun Apr 22, 2012 7:21 pm

Though she expressed that he was somehow deserving of kindness. Not just any, all. He knew he scarcely deserved hers let alone kindness from any other source. He'd made nothing but trouble all his life. If it were not for his appearance, the people might have slain him out of pure exhaustion from his antics. She was honest when she had said these things but he wondered if it was not pity in some part.

It was hard to put into words how he felt at the time and Merek could never have put it into words no matter how much he might try to. He felt fate had him on strings like a puppet but a willing one. If she loved him for the magic which influenced his appearance, he found himself conscious and accepting, reluctant but accepting. Even through the circumstances, he believed this truly might be love. But there was just one problem, the dust was the only way he could see her. Well, for now.

"Until I cease to be," he answered her swiftly though his voice was quiet as if she need be the only person to hear. Merek meant each word. The promise was present in his very being. He could not bear the thought of never seeing her again. His grip on her hand was a margin tighter but not so as to make her uncomfortable. "I'll spend my life searching if I have to."

Sirius Baren · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Sirius Baren** on Sun Apr 22, 2012 7:33 pm

The tight and panicked feeling that had been caught in her chest dispersed as he answered her quickly and spoke in an unwavering voice. There was no doubt left from what he said that he would truly do all he could to find her. Kaitlynn had never had anyone offer up such a large promise and she knew that he would keep it to the best of his ability. She felt peace finally settle in her soul that she was no longer alone. Even if she never saw him again after this she had confidence inside of her that at least one other person would remember her.

"Then I'll forever keep my eyes open," she responded with her own solemn vow. It conveyed that she would never accept anyone else. He would look for her, and she would always be waiting. Even if he never found her, at least he had tried. His effort would be enough for her.

Kaitlynn could feel the meadow start to slide and slip. The dream was ending and within moments they would be separated. She was afraid to be taken away from him. The strength that they held one another's hands seemed to turn ghostly. She felt a shock go through her as the haze in her mind was lifted with the weakening magic. She looked at him with wide and shocked eyes.

"I'm closer than you think," she managed to slip out before she was quickly tugged away from him and they were left alone from one another.

korr.a · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **korr.a** on Sun Apr 22, 2012 8:09 pm

When she answered in such a way, he couldn't help a smile from sliding onto his face despite the jumble of thoughts in his head. Some even seemed to ebb away at last. Her words were not explicit but he understood their meaning just the same. Verily, as he searched for her, she would wait for him. She promised to and he believed her wholeheartedly. From what he'd read, most men insisted that women be regarded without any seriousness. Such a way of treating people sounded ridiculus to him and he was certain that such opinions came from jaded old men with teary pasts. But Lady Kaitlynn, he couldn't help but believe her. She was worth searching for.

Suddenly, there was a sense of ending. It was nowhere to be seen but he could felt it. With cold tendrils, it pulled at his senses and reminded him of reality, of the fact that each dream must reach its inevitable end. As if more proof than this was needed, he beheld her widened eyes. So, she felt it too. It was familiar in the worst way.

Her final words seemed to resonate in his mind as Merek found himself alone once more. He turned, the wooden limbs of the bed groaning in protest as he moved. The air felt cold somehow. If she was so close, then he would find her soon. He swore it. The minute noise coming from across the room drew his eyes in the knight's direction. It was dark now and his eyes were not adjusted. That side of the room was no more than a dark mass of shapes. Merek kicked off his shoes and they fell off the bed with a clatter. Then, he shut his eyes and willed sleep to come. It was even more restless than the previous night.

When he sat up the next morning, he felt just a bit of rest but his shoulders and other ached. Gripping one, he rolled it back but, of course, this proved less helpful than he wished. With a sigh, Merek rose from bed. The glass vial clinked as it fell to the floor. He retrieved it and back into his pocket it went. He was barely awake and all this thought was on Kaitlynn. If only he could persuade the knight to abandon the quest for a few days... The prince sighed and pulled his shoes back on before he wandered downstairs.

He stood just outside the front door. The horses' steps could be heard from close by but he didn't flee to the stable right away. Instead, he eyed the sun as it lay behind the haze of clouds like a diluted mass. It reminded him of the dust-caused dream only there were the clear signs that the haze would clear as the sun continued to rise. There was little else to do than wait on the knight and see what the plan was, if any, before setting out.

Sirius Baren · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Sirius Baren** on Sun Apr 22, 2012 8:38 pm

The room was empty when Kai moved around and finally stirred into the conscious world. She felt a part inside of her longing deeply for something. She wasn't sure what it was that she could be missing so terribly. She searched her mind and found nothing. She had slept calmly through the night and felt rested as she rolled from the bed. She glanced to Merek's bed and found that it was empty. She didn't blame him for sleeping uncomfortably. This wasn't the living he was used to. She wondered how tired he was.

Once she had gathered her things together she left the room in search of Merek. She found him outside and saw that something was different about him. She wasn't sure what it was. He was not the same man she had met a few short days before. She couldn't imagine what would've caused him to change so much. Was it all the work of the gypsy or was it much deeper than such tricks?

"Merek?" she asked softly so as not to spook him. "We should get going now. We have a lot of distance to cover." She turned away and went to the stable to retrieve Goliath.

She checked Goliath over for any problems or mistreatment before pulling him away and into the cool morning air. She hardly waited for Merek to follow as she set Goliath on the road that would lead them towards the mountain. She knew that Merek would follow. Even though they had a rather terrible disagreement the day before, she knew that they had reached a somewhat mutual respect for one another.

The day was long and the ride was hot. Kai wiped her brow more than just once as they made their way down a rather dusty road. The dust the horses kicked up caused Kai to cough every so often. She could feel the dust scrape the inside of her throat and knew they should take a break soon. After another distance or so she finally heard the sound of water.

"We're going to stop and water the horses." She twisted around to tell Merek.

She led Goliath off the road before dismounting and pulling him through the thick grasses and weeds growing alongside of the road. After moving through the trees they finally came to the side of a river. She let Goliath take in a drought of water before she bent down to soothe her own throat.

korr.a · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **korr.a** on Sun Apr 22, 2012 9:16 pm

Even watching the knight venture past him into the stables and exit with a horse, Merek stood. The path to the mountains was a clear one. The knight could have left hours ago and he was aware he still wouldn't have difficultly catching up. Agnes was always eager to slip into a run anyhow. The prince lingered a moment longer, looking at the skies. As gray as it was, he felt some tiny amount of hope begin to bud within him. The path ahead was a clear one and the sooner it was over, the sooner he would set out on his own and find Kaitylnn. For now, he would keep an eye out considering her cryptic words.

Merek was atop Agnes and trailing just behind Kai soon enough. The cool air melted away along with the haze and the sun's light poured, unobstructed, over every possible surface. It was enough that, under the pressure of the heat, conversation was at a minimum. The prince lost count of how many times he'd pulled at his collar. It could have been so loose it barely touched his neck and it still would not have alleviated the pain. But he kept his jacket on, wondering why in the world he was being stupid enough to continue too. He huffed about the same time he heard Agnes huff as well. The poor girl must be even more hot than himself. He leaned forward, lying somewhat on the horses shoulders and neck. It was the type of heat so heavy it made him drowsy. Well, the restless sleep helped.

How sweet it was to hear the mention of water. He was off Agnes before the knight had barely ended the sentence. Though, he didn't bother to lead her. The horse simply followed, dipping her nose near the tempting grass. But the sound of water was even better. Merek chuckled to himself as Agnes trotted past him and shoved her muzzle into the water near Goliath. He sat at the river's edge, tossed a handful of water into his face and marveled at how good it felt. He only hoped the rest of the days to the mountain wouldn't be so hot.

Before, he would have been so lazy, he might barely have moved and rather dropped at the riverside. But he felt at least a margin relaxed and made to pull off his jacket. What he hadn't realized was that the vial's cap had twisted loose in his pocket. The moment he had his jacket off and tossed it aside, the dust took a little to the air and blew away, mingling with the dust. He reached for it but the vial itself and the remaining dust scattered into the river's surface. It shimmered brightly for a moment before it was lost amidst the other minerals in the water.

The horror was enough that Merek forgot about any other breathing being near him. He could only stare at the waters' surface, mouth a bit agape. As he knew it, Kaitlynn was gone. He'd realized he'd fallen for her and now he might never see her again.

Sirius Baren · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Sirius Baren** on Sun Apr 22, 2012 9:28 pm

Kai had dipped her hands into the water and splashed it upon her face and cleaned the dust and sweat away. The coolness gave her instant relief and she sat back on the bank as her throat no longer stung and her face was soothed. She didn't move until she saw something shimmering pass her by upon the surface of the water. She looked at it puzzled before looked up the stream only to see Merek staring white faced as though he had lost the only thing that mattered to him.

The silent agreement that the two had come to was shattered as she realized he had taken more than just the one crushed vial of the dust. She realized that their task was all the more difficult as they now were replacing two instead of just one. She didn't understand how he could have been so selfish. Why hadn't he returned it to Amice? She might have been more lenient if she had at least one back in her possession.

The anger was evident on her face as she was struggling to control her temper towards him. All this time he had it, and not once did he mention it. Now all of it had been blown away. Kai got to her feet before she stalked over to where he was on the ground numb and speechless.

Kai reached down and pulled him up to his feet. She had never been so livid before in her life. His lie cut her more deeply than she would've admitted. She clutched his shirt tightly in one hand and stared at him hard. Her eyes were clear and bright but her face expressed every loathsome emotion she was feeling right then.

"You are a selfish and ignorant fool," the anger she felt was so strong that her words came out as calm as the trickling river. It as far more frightening than if she had screamed at him. The murder was in her face and one wrong word for him could spell the end of his spoiled life. Kai was ticked.

korr.a · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **korr.a** on Sun Apr 22, 2012 10:16 pm

Only being dragged up snapped Merek from his stupor at last. A brief thought of the knight's surprising strength flitted in and back out of his mind for about a second. The next thought and all the rest of them had to do with the face staring at him, a face which held nothing less than hate of the purest depths. He could argue that the knight was far too close for his liking were he in any position to argue at the time.

He knew. Deep down he knew he ought to be compliant and apologetic but he couldn't do it. Instead, he got angry. Not once had he ever felt like coming to blows against another young man but if it came to such, so be it. The knight had no right to question him. He knew not the circumstances.

"Say what you will," he snapped, tone entirely opposite of the other. It was loud and brash in the same way the other's had been calm and hollow.

The camaraderie was gone. The civility gone. Even if it had been his own mistake to spill the dust, he found it easier to blame the other fellow even for no reason. It was as if this was the only way to let out his anger. It blinded him enough that he all but ignored the murderous gaze Kai beheld him with. There was not so much anger evident in his face but his eyes blazed in a way not unlike the knight's. With a sudden move, Merek pushed the knight from him. He seemed to forget the fact that if this struggle continued, either or both of them would end up soaked quickly in the river.

"I could labor the rest of my days to explain," he continued. Each word was hot and slipped past his lips so quickly it was as if they might burn otherwise. "But you will never understand. I kept it for the sake of a woman, something I am entirely sure you will never know of."

Sirius Baren · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Sirius Baren** on Sun Apr 22, 2012 10:36 pm

When Merek turned on Kai with his own anger and rage, it only fueled Kai's to the point where it took the last sliver of control she had to not cut him down where he stood. When Merek pushed her away from him, she gritted her teeth and her hands fisted tightly. She glowered at him as he pathetically excused his selfish want over a woman. Kai couldn't believe that he had allowed himself to create more problems for them both just for a silly woman.

"How could one woman be more important than your stupid mistake that led us here?" she growled and pushed him hard in return. "You do realize that whatever tasks lay before us are now doubled, don't you?" the anger was rising dangerously inside of her. "You have no idea what I have done in my life. You have sat a pampered life behind castle walls while being fed with a silver spoon. You know nothing of what life is truly about, so how could you possibly understand what sacrifice means?" her eyes burned with unshed tears.

At that point everything spilled over. All of the time she had spent searching for justice, sacrificing any relationship, living the life of a man, and now having to put up with Merek. She couldn't do it anymore and she lashed out at him. She hit him hard in the gut which had them both railing into one another.

Everything she had suffered, the pain, the fear, the emptiness, and the overwhelming sense of being alone spilled over. Kai didn't pay attention to what was going on outside of the fight until she found herself falling backwards and splashed heavily into the river. Instantly the armor she wore pulled heavily on her and the clothes underneath grew much heavier as they absorbed water.

Kai struggled out of the river and looked at where Merek was. She was pleased to see she had given him several good hits. Kai knew if she dared to open her mouth she would attack him again. She hoped, for his sake, that he wouldn't say a word unless he wanted her to come at him again.

The armor was much heavier now and the water had helped to calm her temper a little. She was still too ruffled to even think about Merek watching as she stripped down from the armor and tossed it aside. She ran a hand through her hair trying to get the water out. It had been a while since she had gotten it cut last and it had come out of it's tie. It brushed against her shoulders as she pulled the heavy chainmail over her body and tossed it with the pile of discarded armor.

The clothes she wore beneath were drenched with the water and clung to her body revealing every curve and contour. She looked at Merek and glared at him with all the hate she had collected through her life. She didn't know what she could say to him and opted to keep her mouth shut.

korr.a · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **korr.a** on Sun Apr 22, 2012 11:12 pm

There was no way he would know he was on the receiving end of every ounce of rage his former companion could possibly have mustered then. Undoubtedly, he wasn't nearly as angry as Kai but he was angry all the same. It had to do with Lady Kaitlynn. She'd been the only woman he'd ever allowed himself to begin to care for. There had been year upon year of young ladies attempting to coerce him into god knew what. Ultimately, he had never brought himself to fully give in for the simple reason that such relationships were meaningless. Every person unfortunate enough to see him fell under the power of the age old curse which had come to affect his appearance. Every woman had been attracted merely to a magically engineered appearance. But it was even more to think that if he were hideous, women still would have persisted because of his claim to the crown. The only young lady to treat him at least halfway live he was worth more than his face had been Kaitlynn. Now he might never again lay eyes upon her and the knight dared reduce all this as if it were a mere farce.

Merek fell back a step or two when he was shoved in turn. "You implore me care for your troubles when you care for no one else's?" he demanded, of course anticipating nary an answer. The present circumstance was spiraling quickly out of control. At this rate, he was well aware the both of them were irrevocably determined to do one another harm. He was aware and he did not hesitate to retaliate when the knight's resolve broke at last.

They struggled. Either rage, stupidity, or some combination of both bidding the fight continue. Merek had never experienced such a thin but he'd seen it. The best aid however was his pride. He could not accept the knight's dismissal of his reasoning and for that reason alone, he fought. There was little consciousness of what was actively going on. Even the hits landed on him felt numb. But he was out of breath and suddenly wet.

It took him a moment's time to discover the pair of them had ended up in the river. The cool water had worked something like a forced intermission. The prince stood, wringing out a sleeve without saying a word. His thoughts were settling one by one more quickly than he would have expected. It was not that he'd forgiven the knight. Not ever. Such words were unforgivable. But it was clear that the longer they went at each other, the higher the chance that one of them would end up gravely injured. Perhaps it was pride which kept the two from immediately resuming the fight.

Merek stepped out of the water as the other did and up onto the riverside, eyes on the knight as armor came off in slow method. He would not risk being caught off guard. He opened his mouth and moved his jaw, then certain it wasn't broken but would be bruised unimaginably. For no reason at all, it occurred to him that the knight's hair was very long for a young man. More of that sick feminism in the young fellow, Merek scoffed audibly. Then something very strange happened. The prince stood there in silence, almost gawking at the sight of this supposed knight. Now that all the armor was off, the clothing on this body was quite simple and clung, making one fact most painfully evident: the knight was a young woman.

He might have been swept with guilt over engaging in a fight with a woman if he was not struck with unquestionable familiarity. He hadn't stared so intently at a young woman before. It was a bit of a guilty thought to realize it, but he had nearly memorized Lady Kaitlynn's every curve. It was enough that he knew the shape he presently saw to be one and the same as the lady's.

Unconsciously, Merek swallowed. He could not comprehend the present circumstance, not a single bit. If he had any hope to, he needed to be certain of something. Then she looked at him. The eyes, the lips. Every detail he recalled now stood before him, glaring up at him. The singular word he spoke was quiet in tone, "Kaitlynn?"

Sirius Baren · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Sirius Baren** on Sun Apr 22, 2012 11:25 pm

For one small brief moment when Merek uttered her name, Kai felt something change inside of her. It was as fleeting as a shooting star and disappeared just as quickly. Kaitlynn had one moment to glimpse through before the anger of the fight returned to blind her once more. Everything that had happened between her and Merek in the magically conjured meadow was locked deep inside of her subconscious. Her bitter hate towards Merek kept the door tightly locked as she shot him a dark glare.

"What?!" she snapped at him not realizing just what he had called her. No one knew that was her name. The only people who had ever called her Kaitlynn had long since passed away. She had never dared to divulge that information with anyone. She had abandoned that side of her so long ago that she didn't even know who that was any longer.

Kai turned back to her armor as she had unstrapped her sword from her side. It was a bad idea to allow your sword to gete wet. Metal and water were not a good combination. Kai stalked over to Goliath and pulled out a thin and worn wool blanket from the saddle bag before she came back over and procceeded to dry off the sword and turned to her armor.

She could feel Merek's eyes still stuck fast on her and watching her every movement. She was unnerved beyond belief and stood to her feet. She set her hands on her hips and glowered his way.

"What are you gawking at?" she demanded and followed the line of his eye sight. She looked down and saw that her form was no longer hidden beneath the light clothing or armor. She felt her anger bubble away and her frustration turn icy in her heart as she brought a panicked look back up to Merek. In that moment she realized the truth was out and he had every authority to toss her in prison for impersonating a knight or even sentence her to death.

The man she had only hated now held her life in his hands. In that moment she wished desperately that she had acted a bit more understanding than she had. She knew he was angry with her and he hated her just as she hated him. He would have every reason to cause her harm or blackmail her with this knowledge. It sickened her stomach and she suddenly felt weak in her legs.

"What are you going to do?" her voice wavered and nearly shook with the fear that was so present upon her face.

korr.a · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **korr.a** on Mon Apr 23, 2012 12:04 am

The snap response response took him by surprise but then, almost anything would have at the present time. Then it clicked. Evidently, she had no memory of what had happened the between the both of them. It was disheartening to say the very least. But Merek found determination. Perhaps he was stupid even but he refused to believed she would never remember. There must be a way to get her to recall. As much as he wished to puzzle over this, he could not then. There was the matter of her wanting to attack him. It wouldn't have surprised him if she abandoned her busywork with her sword simply to resume taking swings at him. On that note, he was reminded to later inquire whether or not she was seriously hurt.

Finally she stopped and he had to resist a chuckle to see her put her hands on her hips. She was so very angry but this coupled with a markedly feminine pose, it was almost cute. But he was not stupid enough to make such a comment. It was ridiculous how happy he felt. It took everything to keep a silly grin from sliding onto his face. Was all right in the world? Perhaps. So she really had been closer than he thought. And to think he'd been traveling with the very woman he'd been falling for. It sounded like a mad story but it was all true.

The only change occurred to alter his euphoric state was the sudden look of panic on her face. Until then he hadn't thought of her being a knight. A woman in such a profession was illegal. People had been beheaded for such things. He wouldn't dream of subjecting her to any such thing.

"Nothing," he answered her quite calmly. Indeed he had the power to subject her to anything but why wouldn't do such a thing to the woman he was in love with. "And before you question, I believe I owe you that much, wouldn't you say?"

From now on, he would have to be careful. He didn't need to be spouting information only he knew for now. She'd think him insane and that would be problematic. But it would not be easy. It was hard enough to remain where he stood and not embrace her. Merek idly tugged at his clothing to peel it away from his skin. He whistled for Agnes who in turn started to walk toward him.

"I was sure you broke my jaw. You have quite a left hook you know." He paused to look at Kaitlynn. He regarded her quietly, nearly forgetting what else he'd intended to say. When he realized this, he cleared his throat. "I didn't hurt you did I?" His question was careful. He didn't wish to offend her but at the same time, he wanted to know.

Sirius Baren · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Sirius Baren** on Mon Apr 23, 2012 12:23 am

The stark change in Merek sent her mind reeling as his entire persona had turned quite soft towards her. She saw him try to fight and stave off the amusement from clouding his expression. She didn't understand why he was full of such mirth. Was it because he could have revenge on her now for how she had treated him? The thought caused her to turn a little green. She wasn't ready to abandon her life's mission. She had to kill the man who killed her family. It was all she had wanted for so long. To have the opportunity stolen from her was a fate worse then just death.

The response he gave her was the opposite of what she had expected. He was perfectly calm and told her he would take no action towards her illegal life style. She was dumbfounded even further as he said he owed her at least that much.

"I suppose," she stumbled with the two words as she was trying to figure him out and why he was suddenly relaxed. Did he believe her to have less worth now, now that she wasn't a man? Had the revealed truth taken away the sting of her blows? That hurt her pride greatly but she found it difficult to be angry with him now.

Her wounded pride was repaired quickly once he declared he was sure to have a broken jaw. She watched him carefully and tried to study out what exactly had caused him to change. He looked upon her with something acquitted to fondness and clear concern when he asked if he had harmed her.

"Of course not!" she said too swiftly. As if to disapprove her words, her body suddenly allowed her to feel the pain he had indeed caused her. She grimaced and touched her side gently onto to hiss at the pain she felt. His own anger had given him enough strength to bruise, if not cracked, her lower ribs. "I'll be fine." She snipped. Kai didn't know what to do in the situation. It was completely alien to her. She wasn't about to respond and ask how he was doing. She didn't regret any of the blows she had dealt to him even if now she was beginning to doubt everything around her.

korr.a · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **korr.a** on Mon Apr 23, 2012 10:05 pm

To him, she was the picture of pride at the moment and it was an interesting side to add to the kind one he was well familiar with of her. Though, she objected so strongly, her hand found her side. Merek sighed. He hoped he hadn't injured her to the extent of broken bones. This had never been the intention. Then again, they'd simply fought, neither of them having perused a real objective outside of attacking one another. There were bound to be breaks, sprains, and bruises.

Only when he took a couple steps toward Agnes did he feel it all. Spots all over him made themselves evident with twinges and aches. There was his jaw, of course, his shoulder and the arm linked to it, and finally his back though how that last resulted, he couldn't remember. He felt sore in other places, but none of those felt quite as bad. She didn't inquire about him, however, he noticed and hardly shocked by this. No doubt, she might still be angry at him. He watched her for a moment as if to determine how she regarded him now. She was relatively quiet considering they'd been throwing words only moments before. He wasn't certain if she was angry or if she was confused.

As far as the latter, he was experiencing something similar. All of the memories of the lady he knew from the dust dreams now had to connect to the knight he'd been at odds with from the very first time they'd met. And to think he'd needed reassurance from her to know he hadn't begun to fall for the somewhat masculine guise that had been her all along. It was not a simple matter to process all the new realizations. It would be easier if she remembered the dreams like he did, but things were never quite so easy were they? The order of business now, at least Merek thought, was to get her to remember. He could only hope something might aid him on the journey which lay ahead. For now, there was the present.

"Seeing someone who knows medicine might be a fair idea," he voiced without the expectation of an answer. "But such a thing is a set back." As he stood, Agnes pushed at him with her nose. She would have gotten his clothing wet due to her moist nose but now it was like adding a cupful to a filled barrel. Perhaps making camp early was the idea now.

He might have taken over and begun to make the decisions but he wasn't quite so stupid. Much of the decision-making had been left up to her. The prince pulled off jacket and shirt alike and lay them across his horse's haunches. Whatever they were going to do, he wasn't about to do it with a lot of clothing sticking to him; it would have to dry out one way or another. For time he'd remain without a shirt, not that he expected to present any real sight to behold. Kaitlynn however was another story. He found himself staring at her again.It would be a shame for all the armor to be lashed around her again so quickly, he thought. Fortunately, they both needed sufficient time to dry out. His gaze wasn't anything like a leer instead he was genuinely admiring her. The novelty of it simply hadn't worn off and he did not expect it to anytime soon.

"Shall we consider making camp early or simply continue on our way?" he asked absently.

Sirius Baren · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Sirius Baren** on Thu Apr 26, 2012 6:13 pm

Kai looked over at him as he mentioned seeing a physician of some sort. She scoffed at the idea. She had never allowed herself to be dependent upon others. She had forced herself to be strictly independent. She had seen what happened to those who relied upon others. It made one weak and vulnerable. Kai wasn't about to allow herself to be so exposed by allowing another person into her life even for such a brief time.

"I need no such assistance." She said while pursing her lips. She said nothing more than that as he had started to take his jacket and shirt off. Kai turned away from him to tend to her armor. She began to go over it to insure that there were no lingering pools of water. It wouldn't be well to let water sit with it. Water had the nasty quality of weakening even the strongest of armor. Kai's armor had saved her life on more than one occasion. She knew it was extremely important to keep it in the best condition possible.

Kai could feel his eyes upon her. She tried to not snap at him as she wasn't in the mood to get in another tussle with him. She felt a little bitter. What is really that much of a difference now that she was a woman? What thoughts were running through his mind?

"It would be better for us to stay here for the night." It was all she said as she moved her armor and exterior clothing into patches of sunlight. Kai kept on the bare minimum she needed as she didn't want to expose herself completely to him.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you've never seen a woman's body before." The irritation was evident in her tone. She didn't like the way he stared at her. Even though her feelings hadn't changed towards him, she had sensed the shift in his when her identity was revealed. She didn't understand it. His hatred and high attitude had been wiped completely clean away the moment he understood she was a woman rather then a man. Was he so easily influenced by the wiles of women? "Unless you want me to best you again, you better stop staring." She growled.

korr.a · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **korr.a** on Fri Apr 27, 2012 1:34 pm

"Well no," he answered her. Then, he realized he'd misunderstood her. He'd taken the question more onto an avenue of thought that did not coincide with the present. He unintentionally admitted the state of his own virtue. Evidently, the effects of truthfulness the gypsy inspired still resided. Such an embarrassment. Merek sighed and permitted his gaze to rove elsewhere even if he felt the need to comment further as if to keep her from pondering his initial answer. "Until a moment ago, I was entirely convinced you were a man, but now you are revealed as a fair young lady. You cannot suppose I will ignore this."

The prince took the time now to kick off his boots, letting them land wherever they might. There wasn't too much worse of a feeling than wet shoes. But he was considerate of his horse too. The light clink of metal and near-silent slide of leather were heard as he removed the different pieces of tack from Agnes. Bridle, saddle, bags, and pieces of his clothing lay scattered over the grass. From under the horse's tack lay patches of butterscotch which were darkened with sweat. Free of everything, the animal seemed to have slower, more relaxed steps as she wandered the area, her nose buried in the grass. Merek had been listening to Kaitlynn while tending to his horse. Perhaps it would have been the mature choice to ignore her threat. But he could not.

"You didn't best me to begin with," he needled. "The both of us came away with scrapes."

She was, apparently, quite the piece of work. This was more along the lines of how he had spoken to her before, when he still believed she was man. The prince was still certain he loved her but his pride, just as much as hers, kept getting in the way of being more civil. The knight he thought he knew was very different from Lady Katilynn. It was quite the adjustment to try to regard these people as one and the same now. Merek knew he should treat her with courtesy at least. But he was used to treating people rudely, particularly the knight. He hated how people stared so fixedly as if they would grant his every whim, and it was true that they would if he only asked. The only one to have been unaffected had been the knight.

As Merek thought about all this, mental puzzles were rightly arriving at conclusions. The knight wasn't affected at all by the curse and since the knight and Kaitlynn were truly the same, he had been wrong about her feelings towards him. Though he had been willing to accept her affections having to do with his curse, he was pleased to know the curse hadn't been a factor. The prince felt like shouting for joy but kept from it; still he could not stifle a little smile which crept across his lips.

"How about training in the meantime?" he inquired after having the sudden idea for it.

It was still daytime, there might not be much else to do besides lie about under the hot sun. This idea might solve many little issues at the moment, he thought. If she was still irritated with him, such would be an easy outlet for it. Additionally, he hoped to stabilize the awkward up and down range of their reactions to one another, at least it varied much for him. And at the very last, if she was required to focus on him for a time, perhaps this focus would help her remember elements of the dust-invoked dreams, something he wished for acutely. The last of these was slim in chance but Merek believed it was worth a try.

Sirius Baren · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Sirius Baren** on Sat Apr 28, 2012 8:02 pm

Kai wasn't at all surprised when he responded that it wasn't the first time he was confronted with such a scantally clad woman. Men often had a much more difficult time in resisting carnal desires. Kai knew that a prince with a cursed beauty wouldn't have kept himself pure or naive. For some reason it bothered her to hear him admit it aloud. She wasn't sure why it should be so bothersome to her. It wasn't as if she liked him or anything. Though deep inside of her something was saying that there was more to him than the snob she had come to know. It was true that he had only just discovered her true feminine side and that it was to be expected that he might stare. Kai sensed there was more than just shock or even perhaps lust.

She continued her work with her armor as she listened to him relieve Agnes of her tack. It was probably the best idea and so she turned to Goliath and freed him as well. She set her things neatly aside before laughing. She heard his wounded pride in the words he spoke as he defended himself and declared that she hadn't bested him. She looked him over before shaking her head as if he were a little boy trying to validate himself.

"The fact that you suffered far more injury than I definitely suggests that I was the victor of our tussle." She continued to laugh at him. "You did hurt me a bit, I'll give you that much, but you got the worse end of it. Besides, I'm a woman," she practically sneered at him. "Truly your ego must be rather small and withering as to that fact. You got beat up by a girl." Kai wasn't sure why she was goading him on.

Inside the emotions and feelings that were stirring and melting together in the heat of her soul were frightening her. The only way she was finding some solace and relief from the fright of the new sensations was to attack him verbally now. She wasn't sure that they'd ever end up in a fist fight again. Something told her that he wasn't about to strike her down again. It wasn't purely for the reason that she was a woman, but she could still sense there had been a revelation brought to light. Merek knew something she did not and that irked her terribly.

The suggestion of training gave her a bit of relief. It would be a good distraction and he would profit from the opportunity. She walked a short distance away and picked up two rather slim, and of a rather equal length, sticks. Since neither of them truly needed anymore wounds, Kai decided it would be best to start with sticks.

"Stand here," she pointed to the ground in front of her before tossing him the stick. She shifted her position until she stood in a firm stance. She gestured for him to do likewise. "Do you have any formal training at all?" she asked hoping that he did. It would be a much longer road if he had none.

korr.a · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **korr.a** on Sat Apr 28, 2012 9:31 pm

On and on she bullied him verbally, or at least gave it her best attempt. Hearing the remarks did not affect his pride so much however, which wasn't a good thing of course. He knew he could not expect her to readily abandon her behavior toward him. Whether or not she had been revealed as a woman, whether or not he regarded her differently, it mattered not to her and he was aware of this. Merek knew she must still think of him as the spoiled young prince he was. If she never remembered the dreams, he would still have to improve and training was a step onto the correct route.

Without protest, he moved to stand in the area she deigned. Easily, he caught the branch Kai had tossed, a feat which surprised even him. He suspected the feats would end here for he had no training at all, only what he had observed from others and practiced on his own when the mood struck him, which was almost never. "Only a little," he answered honestly, tone as even as possible in efforts to spare his pride. "I know what I have seen from others, that is all."

He shifted, making an attempt to mimic her stance. Such a stance showed only a single side to the opponent; the idea was to take away as many targets as possible. This was one of the scant details he recalled. Another should have been: do not strike first. But Merek did not remember this and so fell into ignorance. A bit too eager, he decided to test the waters and took a swing at her.

Sirius Baren · **Tips:** 0.00 INK by **Sirius Baren** on Sat Apr 28, 2012 9:50 pm

Kai watched him carefully as he mirrored her stance. She saw his brain ticking away as he began to gauge the situation. She could see his entire form wind up like a spring before he launched his strike. It was easily predicted and even more easily avoided. She merely stepped to the side and watched as he pulled back and steadied himself. She shook her head though a miniscule smile had come to her face from his efforts.

"If you hope to have any success at all in a duel, then you need to not be so obvious in your movements." She said. "Your entire body tenses up and it isn't difficult to know where you'll strike. The best tool you have is the element of surprise. If you can unbalance them with your attacks and keep them guessing, you'll have an upper hand. Even those with little experience can win if they know how to hide their strategy." She explained.

Kai had barely finished her sentence when she lashed out at break neck speed and tapped his thigh. "Speed is also another key you need to develop. You have to improve your reflexes and always keep your mind and eye sharp for where they'll strike next." To prove her words she swung out and tapped his other leg.

The stress and tension was easily melting away as Kai was absorbed in the moment explaining the art of dueling with swords. Her entire face had relaxed and the corners of her mouth turned upward quite frequently.

"Now, attack me," she said and held her stick up defensively as she took her heavily defended stance. Her eyes which had been so thickly clouded with worries and emotions had cleared up as she was now allowing herself to have a bit of fun.

Their Hearts' Desire {Closed}

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