#siaf

Now unsure, he considered leaving and giving her some privacy… but it was too late. She looked up, surprise flashing across her face.

"Lars."

"Rhen."

"What are you doing here?"

"Everyone's worried about you."

"Oh."

Rhen looked away briefly, her hair gently blowing in the mountain breeze. She then turned back and gave him a small, reassuring smile. A comfortable silence fell between them, and Lars took the opportunity to seat himself down right next to her. She passed him a small pebble and he dutifully threw it into the stream.

"I'm alright. Just needed some time."

"Oh. Should I…?"

He started to get up.

Rhen shook her head. "No, it's fine. You can stay. I needed to get away. From Pa. From everyone. Especially from all the stares… I can't bear it," she sighed, looking up at the blue sky.

Lars looked up as well.

"You're a Princess."

"Apparently."

"You're the sole heir to the throne of Thais."

"Stop."

"It's really unexpected news."

"You don't say."

They exchanged smiles. His smile widening into a grin, Lars looked around. "So anyways, Clearwater, huh? This is where you grew up in."

Rhen nodded. "The one and only. It hasn't changed much though. Everything pretty much looks the same." She then told him about Clearwater's cultures and traditions, about the highly anticipated annual harvest festival, and most importantly, the village's obsession with apples. She then pointed to a distant farm across the stream and laughed.

"That's Billy Harper's farm. He had so many sheep back then, everyone's lost count. I used to chase all of them. With my friend, of course, Peter…"

She trailed off, disturbed.

Lars saw a small frown forming on her face.

"That's where it all started," she said softly, pointing to a path that led away from the stream. He noticed a slight tremble in her hand.

"What started?"

"Everything."

"You're losing me."

She looked at him slowly, sadly. "That was where I was kidnapped. The exact spot. He asked to see the village. I thought he looked nice - he had that sort of face, you know? But he… anyways, after that I was taken, shipped away to the Eastern Isle. That's how I met you. That's how all of this started."

"Oh."

Another silence fell, this time uncomfortable. Lars couldn't meet her eye, so he stared off into the distance, feigning interest in the green mountains. For a while they listened to the birds chirp in the trees. Then he spoke.

"I'm sorry," he said softly, looking her in the eye.

"Why? It wasn't you."

"I know. But I really am sorry… for what came after, I mean. After everything you've been through, ripped away from everything you know…" He pinched the bridge of his nose, his voice cracking, "All you needed was a friend, and I treated you horribly."

"Lars," she started but he interrupted her.

"Thinking about it, what I did - and for no good reason at all - it's horrible. I felt so insecure with myself. I guess I thought I would feel better if I picked on somebody else. And you were there, and the easiest target, and I just -"

Rhen cut him off. "Lars, wait."

"I'm sorry."

"I know," she replied softly. "Look, we've been through quite a bit, haven't we?"

"Plenty, actually. Harpies. Oh, crazy bees?"

"Killer Hinds!"

"Vampires, for goodness' sake." Lars let out a small laugh.

Rhen joined him. "Exactly! You and I. I mean, we've fought demons. Together. You had my back, I had yours. What happened back then… There was no excuse, that's true. And it's no lie that I absolutely hated, no, loathed you back then."

Lars winced.

Seeing his reaction, she grinned. "I don't now, not anymore. I think."

"Greaaaaat."

Rhen punched his shoulder. "How are you always sounding sarcastic in everything you say? Anyways, it's hard for me to admit it too, but you've changed."

Lars rolled his eyes. "Not too much, I hope."

"Just enough."

"Sounds good to me." They exchanged smiles. She passed him another pebble, but he studied it instead. "They must be wondering where we are. Are you feeling better?"

Rhen sighed, rubbing her forehead. "I suppose so. I can't exactly change things, can I?"

Lars thought for a while.

"You know, if I practiced magic under a Time Master, I could learn to change the laws of time. One day, maybe I could travel backwards in time and help change your destiny. Implant an idea, move an important rock, step on a butterfly, that sort of thing."

Rhen's eyes opened wide and her jaw dropped. "You can do THAT?!"

Lars stayed silent, watching her face. Then he burst out laughing.

"No, I can't! Time Magic doesn't work that way!"

"You i-di-ot!"

"You should've seen the look on your face!"

"I take it back, whatever I said earlier. I hate you!"

She cupped some water from the stream and flung it at his face. He gasped and reeled back in shock. "It's COLD!" Immediately, he bent down and did the same, making sure to recite a little spell under his breath to make it a little colder before aiming it straight at her face.

Rhen glared at him, droplets flowing down her face. "That's cheating!"

She got up quickly. Before she could take a step forward, Lars held both his hands up in peace. "Truce?" he asked, laughing.

Rhen narrowed her eyes.

"Fine."

She held out her hand and helped him up, reaching for her scabbard and shield after. Lars bent over and shook out his hair, causing water droplets to fly around.

"Hey!" Rhen exclaimed, then laughed. "You're like a dog. A wet dog."