"Interesting." She said. She looked at his coat. "I do not need it." She said but did not remove it from her shoulders. She inhaled his scent and sighed. "Where will we be living?" She questioned quietly. She could feel the tiredness taking hold of her. Her eye lids felt heavy.

She covered her mouth as a yawn escaped. She moved her booted feet under her dress, trying to keep everything covered from the cold. A owl hooted near by. She glanced up into the tree tops, looking for a pair of eyes. She had never seen a owl but had heard them before.

"Do you always lie about what you are feeling to keep your pride?" he asked still gazing at the fire, Gareth knew she was cold, and the coat would help, or else he wouldn't have done so. This made him bitter that she couldn't accept his generosity as he seldom cared to act in that manner.

He loosened the collar around his neck and allowed his legs to stretch after they had become stiff from the journey. "The East Wing of the castle..." he answered half heartedly hearing the weariness in her voice, "Once my father passes the whole castle will be ours." This wasn't an exact truth his father still had to grant him the kingdom, but this was the first step to gaining the power.

"What is the East wing like?" She asked, ignoring the first question. She let her hair fall around her shoulders and face. She was so tired but hated people watching her sleep. It took a lot of her to stay awake but the thought of him watching her made her shudder nervously.

Her mind started to drift and she leaned over, her eyes closing. Her breathing became even and slow. She had fallen asleep not able to force herself awake any longer.

Gareth had to really think, he wasn't one for taking every single detail of his surroundings as he just simply moved through it all quickly and not really staying anywhere for very long. "Not quite as luxurious as the main part of the castle, but much more than what you are used to." He knew his answer was vague, but he couldn't really remember.

His eyes not being averted from the fire he didn't see Tatiana struggle to stay awake, it was only when there was no reply to his answer that he looked her way. There she was fast asleep with barely no effort at all, it was quite peaceful in its own way until he saw her body shake from being cold.

Gareth decided that he'd have to fashion her a bed or else she'd become ill. He swiftly gathered the necessary objects to make a simple shelter along with a nice cushioned place for her to lay. He then checked she was still asleep and picked her up in his arms slowly moving towards the shelter. He placed her softly on the makeshift bed and lay his coat over top of her as well as a blanket he had packed for emergencies. Tonight if he slept it would be in the cold, but his body could handle that in comparison to hers.

Tatiana woke to find herself somewhere she had not fallen asleep. The morning's sun was already warming her up. She shrugged off his jacket and sat up, looking around her surroundings. She noticed the makeshift bed and smiled. So he had been more caring than she had thought. She was surprised to say in the least but was glad he did so. She felt ready to go and refreshed.

Excitement was running through her, making her wide awake and ready to see the castle. She had not heard his reply last night but decided no matter what it looked like it would be far better than what she was used to. When she was young was enjoyed sleeping in the barn at times, sleeping on only hay.

Gareth hadn't slept one bit in the night, partially because he was scared of robbers, but mostly it was because he was afraid Tatiana would run away on him in the night. He was wrong as she slept soundly and what looked to be quite comfortably the whole night through. By the time she opened her eyes he had prepared the horses for travel and sat over the dimming fire making a simple breakfast of what little he had.

Sadly there was only enough for one, ideally he'd eat it all himself and had told her that he had no food to begin with. But now he always felt a pang of guilt when he thought that way, and she was a woman after all even though sometimes she pretended she wasn't. So instead of making a big overture as to why he was giving her food he simply placed it in front of her without a word and continued to tend to his steed. Luckily it was a beautiful morning and he was in good spirits for the most part.

She looked down at the food than back at him with questioning eyes. He was learning fast that was for sure, but her stomach was in knots. She much too excited and nervous to even think of eating, instead she munched on half of what was there and walked over to him, handing him the rest.

She gathered his jacket, which still lay where she had slept. She plopped it over his head and chuckled. She quickly got on top of her horse and waited. This had to be one of the most thrilling things she had ever done and the fears and sadness had washed away from her new feelings of excitement.

He saw out of the corner of his eye that she merely picked at the food, had he not cooked well? Surely he it wasn't his strongest skill but he truly felt like he wasn't all bad. This made him a bit on edge, it was as if she rejected everything he did for her. It was not long before she handed him the rest of the food which was half eaten, his stomach growled and he obeyed it grudgingly.

Once he quickly finished it off Tatiana thought it would be funny to throw his coat over top of his head making him unable to see, now in a grouchy mood he removed it and put about his shoulders. He had nearly froze through the night so she would be comfortable. She now waited for him atop her horse in a pleasant mood which struck him as odd, normally a woman would complain about sleeping outdoors.

Gareth didn't make her wait any longer as mounted his steed, he looked to her and it was hard to keep a straight face with her looking so happy. "We will arrive before nightfall." With those words he began his pace slowly so she would follow as they left their resting place.

"Good. Through I do not mind sleeping in nature I would like to sleep in a bed." She said. Her eyes sparkled in the light. She couldn't wait. She took a deep breath and tried to calm down. She couldn't show her emotions. She needed to stay calm and make sure no one took her a weak woman. She smiled, combing her fingers through her hair, trying to look nice. She doubted she would have to meet anyone when they got there but just in case, she wanted to look nice.

Gareth finally heard something that reminded him she was a women she was looking forward to her bed, but surely not to be in it with him. He was sure he would find some form of sleeping arrangement for the two of them until they were to be wed in which case it was inevitable that they would have to share one.

He shook his head making himself not worry of the silly details, they hadn't even arrived at the castle yet. He now allowed his horse to force on ahead into the now clear meadow. The wind blew through his mid length hair as they raced through the long grass, up ahead in the distance a stream he had passed on the way to find his wife. Unfortunately due to weather the night he had traveled the stream grew enormously and now difficult to pass. Gareth weighed his options they could take an extra day and travel around or risk danger and push on through.

Once he reached the bank he waited for Tatiana with a question, if it were just him he would have gone through without second thoughts, but he didn't know how brave she was.

Tatiana stopped her horse. "What is wrong?" She asked, looking at him. She glanced down at the water and chuckled. "This? Just go through it." She said, moving her horse forward. They splashed through the water, a grin on her face the whole time. It got rather deep in the middle but the thrill had taken over and kept her going.

She reached the other side and waved her hand. She waited for him, not knowing which way to go. She knew it was best to gain his trust before doing what she pleased. She snicked watching him. There was something so interesting about him, she couldn't keep it off her mind. In fact she had tried to figure him out but was at a dead end.

Each time she thought of him or tried to figure him out her heart would race until she felt dizzy and overheated. She was glad she had been the last choice.

Gareth stood on the opposite end of the bank dumbfounded as he watched her wade through the water without any effort. Here he thought he'd have to place her atop his horse and wade through the water with her, while he lead his steed as well. This surprise was welcomed when he bounded into the stream making his way across with ease. He shook his head to release the water from his hair.

"You are a strange one." he said slightly amused with her bravery, although in the kingdom she would be expected to act lady like, and something like what she just did would be acceptable. "We shouldn't have much trouble with the rest of the trek," he looked back to her, "You will not freeze in the wind?" Before she could answer he removed the blanket from his supplies and threw it her way so she could wrap herself.

She smiled and laughed. "I shall be fine. I enjoyed that." She said, laying the blanket on her lap. Tatiana waited until he was ready again and took off. The wind had helped to dry off her long hair. She glanced at him, letting him lead the way. Maybe playing helpless maiden could be fun too. She would have to give it a try once they were at the palace.

She gripped on the reins tightly, keep full control of her steed. " Do you ride often?" She asked, watching him closely. The first step was to get to know everything about him. She felt she needed to know the man who would become her husband. She frowned. The thought of other woman crept back into her mind.

They had rode in silence for sometime so it shocked him to hear her voice beside him as she caught up, he kept his gaze ahead while he thought of how to answer. He then gave her a side glance, "Since I was old enough to learn." Gareth loved riding it was the one thing in his training that he had always loved, and this steed in particular had been with him for many years now. Part of him wanted to tell her how much he loved it, and wished he could do it everyday, but he refrained.

"You have some skill yourself." He admitted thinking back to when they bounded through the water, he let a smirk fall on his face.

She nodded. "I too was taught at a early age." She said. She finally got tired of it and tied her hair up into a messy bun. She stared up at the sky, thinking of more questions. "Do you have any siblings?" It seemed weird to her that she had this need to know about him. She sighed, lowering her eyes.

It was like this new side of her was coming out and fighting against her other side. She hated to think it but...she was really falling for this guy. It was a feeling new to her. She had always been so focused on getting the house clean and finding new places to explore, she hadn't talked to men much.

Gareth's face turned grim when he was asked about his siblings, of course he had a brother, but at the moment their relationship was strained, they were both fighting for the same kingdom, and his brother had been harder on Gareth. "Yes, a brother..." he said clenching his jaw, he would surely see him when they arrived. "You will meet him when we arrive I am sure of that."

He wondered what is brother would think of Tatiana, surely he would laugh, the woman he picked was rumoured to be not only gorgeous but have the manners of a proper queen. He looked to Tatiana wondering if she'd ever be fit for queen, or if they would ever get along, or even if they'd ever be happy. At this day and age Gareth knew it was unlikely to marry someone you loved but he had always hoped that for himself, but this marriage he wasn't so sure about.

She nodded, decided that he had enough of her questions for now. She went quiet, watching as they rode by some rabbits. She started to daze off, wondering if she would be the right choice. If she was to be queen...would it matter what she did or what she looked like? She sighed, growing tired of her thinking such negative things. If she was truly going to put her heart into it she had to believe in herself first.

She looked down at her lap, her soft rose colored dress seemed so worn in the bright sunlight. She may have been raised from nothing but now she felt her only true asset was her...She frowned. She couldn't think of one. She grabbed onto the moon shaped locket.

Gareth rode on in silence allowing the sun to beat down on him without really a worry in his mind as he let it all go away so he could do what he loved best riding. After sometime he noticed that she was quieter than usual and he decided having not talking for sometime to start a conversation.

When he looked back to her he saw her holding a locket, "The trinket you hold... is it of some importance to you?" Gareth had nothing like that, except his mothers ring, but that was yet to be given to him by his father. The boys mother had died at the birth of the twins and his father held onto the ring so he may pass it down to one of them when the time was right.

She kept her eyes away from his. "It was my mother's." She whispered. She let go of it and let it fall against her chest. After her mother had passed away, most of her belongs were trashed or taken by her stepmother. She only had two gowns and her locket. She was fine with that. She looked up at him. "From the look on your face I am guessing your mother has died too?" She asked, tilting her head. It was a bold question but it seemed it was just another thing to bond over.

Gareth sighed, no wonder the girl had acted the way she did, having lost a figure like that in your life it would be hard, never mind to learn how to be a woman. He could hear in her voice that she knew he mother well, unlike Gareth who had no idea of what she was like, the only thing he had was a portrait of her and his father.

He avoided her eyes just the same and faced the castle that was growing larger in the distance, "Yes..." he said with another sigh, "I never had the pleasure to know her." It was rare for him to talk about her, as it was a sore subject in the household but perhaps that would make Tatiana be grateful for the time she did have with her mother even if it was so little.

"Then that is another thing we both share." She went quiet. She leaned back, trying to get the dull ache from her back. Everything she had known about her mother seemed like it was easily forgotten by his father. Once he got married to rich wife, everything changed. He no longer gave her time to do the little things she was so fond of.

She took a deep breath. "Are you close to your father?" She asked, not quiet thinking of about it.

"Then that is another thing we both share." She went quiet. She leaned back, trying to get the dull ache from her back. Everything she had known about her mother seemed like it was easily forgotten by his father. Once he got married to rich wife, everything changed. He no longer gave her time to do the little things she was so fond of.

She took a deep breath. "Are you close to your father?" She asked, not quiet thinking of about it.

"Close?" He asked looking back to her, "I suppose it depends on what you mean by close..." Gareth had been competing for his fathers attention since his brother and him were born. "Him and I have never got along... my brother on the other hand..." Gareth always wished his father would take as much pride in him as he did his brother, somedays it made Gareth so angry, and others sad, not that he'd tell anyone that.

"I'm sure your father is close with you, he seems very fond of you." This was the most Gareth had talked to a woman in his life, and he couldn't figure out whether he enjoyed it or not, most likely the latter as he was quiet most of the time.

"Fond of and glad to be rid of are to very different things." She said, frowning at the thought. A part of her had always hated him but that dang loyal side of her couldn't help but to forgive him for getting over his head. At times she had truly wished she had run away long ago.

She reached out, stroking the horse. She had to stop thinking such bad things. She needed to focus. 'Why was I last choice?" She blurted out without meaning to.

Gareth now felt like he was beginning to understand why Tatiana was this way, and he could sympathize with her, strangely they had a lot in common when it came to their families. He did however find it strange how her father was towards her, when he was at their home he seemed happy for his daughter, but then maybe that was in his own way freedom from his daughter and money in his pocket. "I apologize." he said now feeling guilty for even asking.

Gareth was now blindsided, she wasn't truly the 'last choice', he hadn't even any say in the matter. "Truth be told... you were my only choice, my father picked you himself-- I had no say." He hoped it wouldn't hurt her feelings but Gareth did his best to tell the truth at all times even if it was harsh.