She'd been unable to sleep. It was quiet, the silence only broken by the crackling of the dying fire mingled with the noises one would expect to hear in a forest at night. Joey shivered slightly, the cool breeze that passed over her, lifting her hair from her face. She lifted her gaze from the flickering shadows, and raised it to the starlit sky, her brow furrowed thoughtfully.

Drue regarded her from the opening of the cave, his warrior's training awakening him the moment he heard her move. Curiosity, and an innate sense of mischievousness led him to follow her. It was that mischievousness that caused him to sneak up behind her and wrap an both arms around her. Joey's breath caught in her throat and she instinctively opened her mouth to scream.

Drue laughed, covering her mouth, "Unless you want to wake up your lover, I don't recommend that." Joey stiffened in his arms and nodded slowly. He released her and moved around to the other side of the fire. "Is there a reason you're sneaking away?"

She glared at him. "I was not sneaking away."

"Riiight. I forgot, a Princess does no wrong."

"I simply could not sleep."

"Let me guess, you miss the feather mattress?"

"Why are you not sleeping?"

"All your clamoring in there woke me."

She straightened her shoulders indignantly. "I was not clamoring."

"You were." He nodded firmly.

"Was not."

"Were so."

"I was not." She drew her lips together in a firm part and regarded him haughtily. "I can turn you into a frog."

He laughed, "And you think doing such a thing would be a wise idea?"

"I think it would be very wise. I think it would be the wisest thing I've ever done."

"If you could turn a man into a frog at your whim, why have you run away from home to hunt down this man, when Pacey could easily accomplish the same thing by turning him into an amphibian?"

"It is much more complicated than that," Joey said stiffly.

"If you say so. Seems to me, that a more likely story is that you wish to run away with him and marry against your father's wishes."

She shook her head. "I would never put Pacey in danger or cause my father such pain for something so purely selfish."

"Truly, Princess?" His tone was saccharine. "Seems that is exactly what you've done."

"It is not." She folded her arms across her chest. "You do not know what you speak of."

"Then explain."

Joey wrapped her arms around her knees, she bit her lip and rested her chin on them. "He is strong and I can feel him grow even stronger every day."

"You and Pacey are but children. Why hasn't Merlin taken care of this?"

"Merlin is weak." She stared at the fire in front of her sadly. "He is stealing strength from him."

"Hmm."

Joey's eyes flew to him in annoyance. "Oh, what do you know? You are of no use at all."

"I believe you." He replied, "I don't know why, but I do."

"Because it is true!"

"Fine, it is true." He shrugged a shoulder, "But then explain why you are using Pacey to warm your bed."

Her cheeks flushed. "I am not using Pacey to warm my bed."

"Fucking him then," Drue said crudely.

Her eyes widened and her lips parted in surprise, before she narrowed her eyes. "Remember who you are speaking to."

"I know to whom I speak. Perhaps you should rethink your position here. You are no longer within the kingdom of Camelot, if someone should come across the three of us, you are no more important to them than a serving wench. If you want my help, and believe me, you do, you will have to learn to treat me with respect. Perhaps then I shall return the favor."

Her face flamed with embarrassment and anger. "I do not need your help. If it were not for me, you would not even be here!"

"I think you should ask Pacey of that. He seems to think I will be of help to you."

"That still does not give you the right to speak me to as if I were some common..." she struggled to find the right word.

"Wench? Servant? Peasant?"

"I am not a wench!"

"No, if you were, than you could actually be with Pacey. You are royalty, and you do not act as though you are." She frowned and stared at the flames silently, her jaw clenched. "Pacey is my friend," Drue said tightly, "He is a good man. I don't wish to see him hurt by you."

"I would never hurt him," she protested.

"You are a Princess, he is nothing." Drue shook his head, "How do you think your relationship will turn out?"

Joey bit her lip. "So what am I supposed to do?"

"Don't give him hope."

She raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"I think you're selfish." Drue explained evenly, "He can never marry you. No matter how heroic the deed. You want to mess around with the a peasant, do so. Just not him."

"I love him," Joey said quietly.

"And that makes it all disappear?"

She shook her head sadly. "No."

"Someone must protect him."

She nodded. "Yes."

He sighed, "Then I suppose we can be friends now. As long as you do not treat me as someone so much lower than you."

"He loves me too, you know."

"And he will fight to the death for you. Do you want that?"

Joey shook her head. "No. I don't."

"Then, what are you thinking?"

Her eyes watered. "I do not know what I should do."

"Do not do anything." Pacey appeared at the mouth of the cave. "You haven't done anything wrong." Joey glanced up at him in surprise. "I know what I am doing, Drue. I do not need a protector. Least of all you." His eyes narrowed on the black-haired man. "I nearly killed you once, do not give me another reason."

"But what he says is true!" Joey cried out, her eyes glistening with tears.

"Drue, leave." Pacey commanded, approaching Joey's side. "Now."

"You need me." Drue reminded him with a smirk.

"Not this badly," His eyes were dark with suppressed anger.

"I shall just go back to bed, how's that?" Drue rose, matching Pacey's height. "But I am right," he said darkly, "And now you both know it." He brushed past Pacey and returned to the cave.

"I'm sorry, Pacey. This is all my fault."

"It is not." He shook his head at sat down at her side. "We are in this together."

"But Drue is right."

"I know."

Her hand reached out for his. "I do not want to hurt you Pacey."

"You shant." He squeezed her hand, "We shall be fine."

"Are you sure?" she whispered softly.

"Entirely." He assured her, "I know where I stand, love."

She smiled weakly, wanting to believe him. "Okay."

"Trust me," he said, intently watching her eyes in the firelight.

She nodded. "I do."

He traced the curve of her jaw, "I know you love me. That's enough."

She smiled softly, biting her lip shyly. "Good."

"Yes, it is." He leaned forward and brushed his lips over hers. Her lips parted with a soft sigh as she returned the kiss. He indulged himself for several moments, savoring the sweet taste of her.

Joey pulled with a quiet sigh, brushing her thumb against his cheek. "I love you."

"'Tis reciprocated," he gave her another quick kiss. "We should go back to bed. Tomorrow is a long day."

"Yes," she nodded. "Of course."

"I shall talk to Drue, he wont bother you with this again."

She shrugged it off. "It's fine."

He rose, taking her hand. "It is not. You do not need more problems to worry over. We have enough."

"He was merely being a good friend to you."

"Maybe. But he does not know what is best for me." He said quietly, leading her to the cave opening, "You are best for me."

She grinned. "You flatter me."

He gave her another kiss, "I love you."

She brought her lips back to his. "I love you too."