Jen worried her lip as she watched Pacey swing a steel sword through the air, the sunlight glinting off the blade. For the first time, she felt a quiver of fear in the pit of her stomach as she watched him. For all that he was studying to become a wizard, he made a magnificent warrior.

Joey sighed and shook her head with a small smile as she approached Jen. "I should have known that if I wanted to find Pacey all I needed to do was look for you."

Jen smiled and patted the patch of grass beside her, but didn't glance at her friend, "Look at him. Can you honestly blame me?"

Joey looked out at Pacey herself as she sat down. "No, I suppose not."

The blond rested her chin on her knees, "Something is different this time, though. I fear he might hurt himself. 'Tis like he's in battle with an imaginary foe."

The brunette arched an eyebrow. "So you watch him often?"

Jen blinked, "What? Oh, no. What a silly question." She brushed back strands of her hair nervously.

"You did say it was different this time, which only leads me to believe there have been others," Joey said casually.

She sighed, "Fine, I have watched him a few times." She winced as Pacey's grunt could be heard from their distance.

Joey frowned and then smiled weakly. "Now you know he can slay that dragon for you."

Jen cast her friend a speculative look, "What are you doing out here, I thought you were angry with him?"

"I am not...at least not anymore."

She tilted her head, "Why were you to begin with?"

"It was nothing really," Joey responded quickly.

Jen glanced up at the sky and noted the position of the sun. "I should go. I must meet--" she corrected herself as she stood up. "My grandmother wanted me to...do something."

Joey eyed her friend strangely. "Okay..."

She waved goodbye to Joey and then turned in Pacey's direction, "Goodbye, Pace!" She called.

He paused in his exercises and waved farewell to her. His eyes landed on Joey and he glanced away. Joey's lips turned down into a frown and she climbed to her feet.

"What can I do for you, Princess?" He asked tiredly.

"We must talk."

"So talk."

She sighed. "I don't know why you're being so difficult."

"He's dying, Joey. And he wont do anything about it." He threw the sword down, "How should I feel?!"

"Pacey, you know Merlin. Do you really believe he'd just give up without a fight?"

"I didn't until now."

She watched him carefully. "So you don't believe he's doing everything he can?"

"I do not know what he's doing." He ran a hand through his hair, his face a mask of confusion.

"He is doing what he can. What he thinks is best," Joey said calmly.

"And leaving it to me is best? The man has lost his wits!"

"He has no choice in the matter. Can you not see that?"

"No. I can't."

"You once told me that you did not know why Merlin chose you in the first place." She reached for his hand. "Perhaps this is why. For whatever reason Pacey, you are meant to do this."

He sighed, "What if I cannot do it?"

"I know you can," she said softly. "And I will help you because if someone wishes to destroy Camelot that means my family and I are in danger as well."

"And put yourself in danger?"

"I am in danger."

He took her hand, "You know what I mean."

She nodded meeting his eyes evenly. "Yes."

He sighed, at a loss. "What am I supposed to do?"

"I do not know. Merlin said he'd teach us what he can. I'm not sure he quite knows what's going to happen either."

"I never really had a choice, did I?"

She shook her head with small smile. "No, I do not think so."

"That's what I feared."

She was silent for a moment. "Merlin does not wish for Dominic to know any of this."

"Why not?"

"He said this does not concern him and no one is to know about my magic or else I'll be in greater danger."

"Than no one shall know." He said seriously.

She nodded. "You should speak with Merlin. Do not leave things as they are."

"I will." He promised. "I just...can't imagine a life without him."

She smiled sadly. "I know."

He glanced around the glen, "I think we're alone."

She glanced around herself. "I should go."

"Probably."

She raised her gaze to the sky. "It is getting dark too. Will you walk with me?"

"I would love to," he smiled, picking up the discarded weapon.

Joey glanced at the sword, suddenly reminded of Jen. "Does Jen watch you often?" she asked curiously.

"Not so much lately, but yes." He arched an eyebrow, "Does that bother you?"

"No, of course not." She shook her head. "Why would it?"

He caught her hand again, and pulled her to a stop, "I hoped it would."

She smiled. "Why?"

"It would bother me if there was another man watching you all the time."

The corners of her mouth turned up in an amused grin. "Would it?"

"It would." He smiled, "Very much."

She looked at him innocently. "Then I should not tell you that my father wished me to marry Lord Leery."

He tilted his head, "Right, you should not have told me that."

"Of course, I politely declined."

A slow grin spread across his face, "Now why would you do such a thing? He is a lord."

She crinkled her nose. "I did not like him. Although, Jen happens to be quite fond of him."

"I think Jen is quite fond of all men." He replied wryly.

"One does have to question her taste."

He elbowed her in the side, "Her taste is not completely horrible."

She smirked. "No, I suppose not."

He pulled her into a shadow as they approached the bustle of the castle, "We are almost there."

She smiled. "Really? I hadn't noticed."

"'Tis good I brought it to your attention then, isn't it?" He teased.

"Very good," she said with a nod.

He nodded with a small smile, touching her cheek with the back of his hand. "We are in trouble, are we not?" he murmured, looking intently into her eyes.

"Trouble?" She breathed lightly unable to tear her eyes from his.

"This," he brushed her hair back over one shoulder, his fingers grazing her neck, "is not allowed, Joey."

She shivered. "I know," she whispered softly.

"But...?"

She blinked a few times and wet her lips nervously. "I do not want to stop. I know it is not allowed, but," she met his eyes uncertainly. "I like it when you kiss me," she finished quietly.

"I like to be kissing you," he answered her silent question, leaning forward to put an end to the conversation.

Joey felt her knees weaken and her heart begin to pound at just the prospect of what was about to happen, she licked her lower lip in anticipation. His lips found hers as though they'd been kissing each other all their lives instead of for merely the third time. A hand slid around her waist to the small of her back, gently he pulled her closer. She let out a soft moan and felt her body melt against his. Her hands wandered up to the nape of his neck and toyed with his hair.

He broke the kiss with a several short ones, his kisses punctuated by words. "We... should... be... getting... back." Her lips moved beneath his and he tightened his hold on her.

"I know..." She murmured and kissed him again.

He melted into her, allowing her mouth to distract him from thoughts of returning to the castle. His lips parted further to drink her in. Her sigh was lost in her throat and she regretfully broke the kiss. Then unable to resist she kissed the corner of his mouth as she waited for her blood to settle.

He smiled down at her, his eyes a bright turquoise in the fading light. He nuzzled her neck lightly, "It is time for us to go, isn't it?"

"Mmm...Yes." She rubbed her hands gently against the back of his neck.

He brushed his lips lightly against her cheek as he pulled away, "Then let us go."

She grinned wrapping her arms around his neck. "But I do not want to go."

He kissed her again, "I should thank you before I forget."

She gazed up at him inquiringly. "What for?"

"For coming after me to point out the err of my ways," he kissed the tip of her nose.

She smiled. "My pleasure."

"Are we going in?" He questioned, with a smile.

"Yes...I suppose we have to."

"Come along then, my Princess." He tugged on her hand. "I believe dinner will be served soon."

"It will." She sighed at the thought of having to face her father and Jen.

He brushed hair back from her face, "Do not worry so. No one will find out unless we let them."

She smiled weakly. "I suppose you are right."

"I am always right," he winked at her. "No one shall know."

"I wish it did not have to be this way," she said sadly.

"Nor do I."

She smiled faintly. "This is strange."

"What is?"

"This is."

"Us?"

"Yes, us," she said with a nod of her head and a small smile.

"It feels weird to you?" He wondered.

"It is strange. I always thought you and Jen..."

"That I and Jen what?"

She shrugged. "Oh, I don't know. I always thought you liked her better."

"No," he shook his head, "I just liked her differently."

She grinned. "How differently?"

"Much differently," he smiled charmingly at her.

She looked at him seriously. "Jen cannot know at all about us."

His brows quirked together, "Why not?"

Her eyes widened. "Don't tell me you do not know."

"Not know what?"

"About Jen and her fondness of you...Since we were little girls all I've heard is how wonderful you are." She paused thoughtfully. "Perhaps, she is insane to think such things."

"Perhaps," he agreed. "And she is no more fond of me than she is of you."

"You do not know her like I do."

"And you think she harbors affection for me?"

"I know she does."

He smiled, "You are imagining things."

"I am not imagining things," she said sternly. "You cannot be that dense."

"We are fond of one another, but there is nothing special between us."

"Believe what you want then."

He smirked, "I am fond of you as well."

She smiled sweetly. "Thank you then."

"Perhaps more than fond."

"I am flattered."

"As you should be." He nodded definitively. "'I am not fond of just any woman."

"I thought you were fond of Jen."

"Yes, well..."

"What?"

"I am more fond of you."

"So you say now."

He tilted his head to the side, "You were right, this is strange."

She smiled pleasurably. "I told you."

The entered the great hall, the room bustling with activity. "Are you sure we must hide this from Jen? She will not tell anyone."

"I do not think it will be a good idea."

"Whatever you wish, Princess," he gestured ahead of him to the main dais.

Her words were sincere. "Thank you."

He smiled, and glanced at the floor. "'Tis nothing, Princess."

"Now this," Joey mumbled under her breath as she approached her seat, "will be even stranger."

"You shall be fine," he assured her touching her shoulder lightly as he continued to his seat between Merlin and Dominic. She forced a faint smile as she took her seat. She did not feel fine at all.