"Sure.." Cole waved her a goodbye as Leanna ran off. Well she was rather quik on her naked feet. Hopefully she wouldn't hurt her soles. He sighed after she was gone from his view. He wouldn't have minded to accompany her even if she would get scolded but he could also relate to the situation. Being scolded by your parent infront of others could be embarrassing. And so at a slow pace he made his way back.

Having arrived back home, his mother still sat at the table sipping probably her third cup of tea. As she pulled up her chin just opening her mouth Cole shot a stern, "No." at her. Baffled she tried to speak. "But-" "No." He passed by her. "I didn't even-" "No!" With that he dissappeared in his room shutting the door, sitting down on his bed. He definitly wasn't in the mood to answer the barrage of questions from Freya. Cole though of tomorrow, of how people would throw weird glances at him, how Bermond would probably give him the lecture of the century. He was also full of uncertainty if they would take him back. Afterall he broke a few important rules.

Cole hunched over taking his head between his hands. No, that wasn't the worst part by far. On his journey he discovered a few things. Not just about the foreigners, but about himself. Absentmindedly he brushed his hand over the scar above his eye sinking into trance for a few minutes. After snapping out of it he looked at his hands sadly, that were now rougher than before his journey, as he quitly mumbeled to himself. "I shouldn't touch her, not with these dirty hands." Cole presssed his hands into fists before letting the tension go from his body finally heading to sleep.

Old demons are conquered, new ones arise.

After Cole got up he had a relaxing breakfast with his mother. Suprised by her calm attitude as she didn't bore holes into him after last night. Freya was sipping her tea once again as she kept her eyes on the paper infront of her writing swiftly. So it was up to Cole to open a conversation for once. "What are you writing?" He chewed on the remainings of his jerky as he tried to peer over to her side, giving up pretty quikly as he was to lazy to read the letters upside down. "An overview what happened over the course of my journey. I need to hand in a protocol to the authorities and explain what happened." This time Cole went silent, looking out the window. Even he himself didn't knew he could miss a view that much.

Freya finally put down the quill beside the ink bottle looking up to her son that had drifted off into his mind once again. He began doing so frequently after he had rescued her. "Cole." She sighed, he turned to her his chin in his hand. "What?" She leaned in a little forward. "There are only two things you could probably keep thinking about. I hope it's the nicer one." Cole gave her a puzzled look, for a second she seemed worried but her mien changed to a mischievous one. "You know the one with the nice hair, nice face and nice boobs." His elbow slipped and he hit the table with his head. Frustrated he looked up. "Will you ever let it go?" Freya chukled. "I doubt it." Cole gave a long sigh. "Thought so..."

Before bidding his mother goodbye and heading off, she kept telling him to beg on his knees for mercy infront of the council to take him back would be the wisest choice. Well he definitly wouldn't do that. But he also wasn't going to run away if they would decide to punish him in the end. This is a risk he definitly knew about. With a heavy heart, and a heavy sigh he looked at the big doors of the academy before entering, earning instantly suprised looks. Almost just as he suspected Bermond came up and threw a punch after him which Cole dodged with ease this time. "Not today old man." He laughed mockingly but relieved that this men still hadn't changed.

Bermond was steamingly mad and began his lecture in the middle of the field. The people who tried to come closer to listen in got scared away as the old man randomly threw fierce glances at them. Cole half smiled throughout his rampage but slowly began to get tired. But when he tried to excuse himself and first go see his friend Dramor, Bermond put him into an armlock. "Where do you think you're going?!" Cole tried to get out but damn that old man possesed some strenght. Innerly he hoped that someone would come and save him from this torture.

Leanna's night was restless and broken up, each time she woke the moon was still in the sky and it almost seemed like day would never come. She tried to sleep once again and when she opened her eyes again the moon had dissapeared completely - so had the stars. She turned to look around her room only to see Targus stood by the end of her bed, his cold eyes glaring at her. Leanna's blood ran cold, but before she could speak her brother's mouth opened and blood poured from it, dripping onto her bed, onto her floor, everywhere. Then blood poured from his eyes and his nose, his body stayed stood as he began to speak in gargled sentences; "you... should... never... have... existed" and in a flash the bloody image of her brother was on her bed, reaching for her throat.

She screamed.

Marie was with her when jolted from her bed, breathing harshly and coming down from her panic induced state. Marie rubbed soothing circles on her back, "Are you alright, My Lady?" she asked gently and Leanna nodded shakily. "I think so... what a strange nightmare" Marie didn't press it, so Leanna decided to keep it to herself. The sun was rising steadily and she suddenly remembered that she had classes at the Academy today! Excited she got dressed and Marie put her hair in a cute bun, surrounded by a braid, before she left with Zak - a relatively slim man compared to many of the King's Guard.

Once they arrived at the Academy there seemed to be a commotion going on, Leanna scowled and eventually came to see Cole caught in a headlock with Bermond, a man who told her small snippets of Cole's life before they met. He was furious. More furious than she had ever seen anyone. The older man managed to capture Cole and despite his age he clearly held a mighty strength as Cole failed to escape again and again. She giggled to herself, ignoring the curious glace Zak shot her. "Bermond! Cole!" she shouted, striding up to them and placing her hands on her hips. "Just what is going on here?" Both men looked up at her and although Bermond let go he didn't stop he scowl towards Cole. She could hear the snickers of other students, to be told off was one thing, to be told off by a Princess was another thing altogether.

She smiled sweetly at both of them, "Cole I think you have some grovelling to do. I'll meet you at the Dragon Shacks when you're done" she said with a smile, placing her hand on his arm gently and giving a light squeeze of reassurance. "Oh and Bermond, can I please have him back in one piece?" she said with a a chuckle before walking off to her first class. Leanna knew that the council would be very strict with Cole, even as the Princess there wouldn't be much she could say to sway them here nor there. Upon her official enrolment her one condition was that Cole would be welcomed back, but that didn't mean they wouldn't make him re-take a year or get him to do extra-curricular work.

Her first lesson went incredibly quickly, and she quickly escaped the onslaught of other students who always harassed her before and after before she and Zak made their way to the shacks. Azutri had already made up with Dramor, although some of the other dragons seemed displeased with his smell, Azutri nipped at him as the two played a little roughly. As Leanna walked in Zak drew his sword as both dragons bounded towards her. Turns out Azutri wasn't a fan of Leanna giving attention to any other dragon but her. "What a selfish beast you are" she giggled. patting her gently and running her hands along her scales. "Don't worry Dramor, Cole will be here soon... so long as the council haven't eaten him alive."

Zak watched in horror as Leanna began to muck out the stables and clean the floors. He protested her work at least eight times before he finally went and stood outside the shacks, nervous around the large purple dragon who seemed to scoff at him each time he spoke.

Relieved Cole breathed in now that his neck wasn't getting crushed. "Morning." He greeted Leanna briefly with a thankfull smile which faltered at her comment, reminding him of his mother. "Not you too..." He moaned displeased, to which Bermond finally showed a smile crossing his arms. "Can't promise anything." He answered the princess and began shoving Cole towards the main building. "Wha hey-. You don't have to push me I can walk by myself." The old men perfectly knew that, but didn't intend to stop, not yet. "Uh.. See you later Lea." Cole called back to her before he finally turned forward.

It was almost a deafening silence in the council room as the air seemed so tense while they waited for Phril, the councils lead. He seemed to run late. How unusual. Meanwhile everyone else was sitting in a circle while Cole stood in the middle of the room, dark and distrusting eyes piercing through him. It felt incredibly uncomfortable but what can you do. He'd need to endure far more than that if he wants to be accepted back in the academy and finish his training.

About fifteen minutes later Phril finally showed up excussing himself about being late, taking his seat infront. Cole saw that he had brought some paper with him which he put infront of him inspecting them first before looking up to him. "First thing, I'm glad you and your mother are safe. Second, I hope you understand that you made a grave mistake by going without permission." Cole looked him in the eyes when he said the following. "I don't regret it." As if that was some kind of signal murmurs began to arise, beginning to discuss loudly how disrespectfull he was and making plans on how to punish him.

The discussion lasted a while before Phril cut in making room for Cole to tell his side of the story. What he saw and experienced while on his journey. He summed it up to the core, leaving out little details. Strangely though before he told the whole truth he got interupted. "That's enough, I heard most of it from your mother allready." Clearly Cole couldn't hide the suprise in his face. When did he? "I know that you did you all that for the sake of your mother, that's why I will take that into consideration. Still you killed men in the process, even if it was for self defense that is not to be taken lightly..."

Suprised murmurs went through the room. But the most shocked one of them must have been Cole himself. He was shaking inside, his fist gripped so tight that his knuckles went white. Right now he was fighting himself innerly. His own believe and the plea of his mother. "I didn't..." He tried to speak up. "Is there something you would like to add?" Phril asked as he leaned back folding the paper infront of him. "I.." And the words stuck in his dry throat like needles. "It's nothing.." Cole bit down harshly on his lip before looking down ashamed to the floor.

The grey haired men in his blue robe sighed and stood up, declaring the meeting to be over. "We will discuss a fitting punishment for you, for now you can attend the academy before we give you our final sentence." with that the people began to scatter while Coles feet seemed to be stuck in one spot. "Don't fret my friend. Everyone of us has his demons which we must manage one way or another." Phril gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder before leaving. Cole continued to stare down. Even so, in this moment he couldn't help but hate himself.

Cole made his way towards the dragon shacks. He still felt conflicted and therefore wasn't making an all to friendly face. No, he was pretty much the embodiment of gloom right now. Scaring a person that stood near the entrance as he passed by, he almost instantly spotted Leanna taking care of the dragons and seriously considered to run away. But it was to late, Dramor had allready spotted and ran up to him. "Hey there. Hope you had a good rest." He stroke over his friends snout before turning towards Leanna. "Guess I can stay for now..." The smile he tried to give her was crooked. It was almost instantly gone anyway, he looked at her with a serious expression as he though again to himself. There are a few things he felt very conflicted about, she was also one of them.

He sighed deeply before rustling through his hair. "Say would you like to go for a drink later? I know a good bar where we can relax." He caught himself saying something probably impossible and bold to a princess. " I mean nothing by it... Just... I need to calm myself, otherwise I think I'm really gonna go crazy." Cole earnestly looked her in the eyes. "And I though it would be nice to have your company..." That was the truth. She did have a calming effect on him and in a way her presence helped him restore his broken self. Afterall, she still though of him as a good person... for now.

The council meeting too a lot longer than she expected, she had almost finished all the chores even while going at a slower pace than normal. Zak seemed too anxious and decided to wait outside, the dragons didn't seem too fond of him, perhaps it was the shiny armour? All of a sudden, Dramor jumped up and bounded out to meet Cole, although his voice seemed calm his knitted brows and scowl told her otherwise. She hoped the meeting went well, that her persuasion and how valuable Cole was to the Kingdom would sway the tide just a little. But it was a gamble, some of the judge's were cruel and spiteful for little to no reason.

"How did it go?" she asked after Cole's face morphed once again into something she didn't like, it was too serious, too... conflicted. It was like he was always fighting a battle in his head, Leanna wished she could help someway. She had finished cleaning the shacks and stood up, rolling her sleeves back back down and brushing the straw off her trousers. A deep sigh caught her off guard as Cole asked her out. "Sure, okay!" she said before thinking, smiling happily. "I've never been to a bar before. I'll have to let my parents know..." she said thoughtfully. "But how about I meet you later, after I change?"

All the words left before she thought about the weight of them, it was only when she was putting the bucket and brush away did she realise what she would be doing. She was going out. To a bar. With Cole. Wasn't that like... a date? She blushed, trying to shake those thoughts out of her head. Nonsense, it was just friendly - Cole still looked a little shaken after coming back from his journey. He probably just needed some time to get back to life in the Kingdom. "I'll come to your house, okay?"

She waved Cole goodbye, face still hot, and all but ran home - no matter what her parent's answer she was most definitely going out. When she arrived, her mother was looking slightly panicked in the living room and her father was nowhere to be seen. "Mother?" she asked gently, concerned with the worried look on normally graceful features. "Leanna, darling. Your Father is in the War Room - a rather disturbing letter from one of the neighbouring countries arrived..." Leanna frowned too, that was not good. "Mother, I'm planning on meeting a friend tonight. I'll be out of the castle." The Queen gave Leanna a confused and, at first angry, pained look. Before she sighed deeply. "Go ahead. Please... please be safe."

Leanna hugged her mother and ran upstairs, almost knocking over one of the maids. For the next four hours Leanna struggled with what to wear. She bathed, got Marie to brush and style her hair in an elegant half-up, half-down with a small barrette, and finally she decided on a very simple white blouse, with a black waistcoat and black trousers. Marie brought small boots for her as well. "I'm not sure when I'll return Marie, please leave the gate open". Leanna then headed out, heart thumping in her chest, she was nervous and excited. She dashed across the beach, the sun still in the sky creating a pretty orange hue, and she arrived at the little house she had come to love visiting.

She knocked twice, waiting with baited breath.

It didn't slip by Cole that Leanna became a tad bit fidgety after he asked her out. Well it was her first time going out for a drink, maybe she just got excited over something that was new to her. At least that's what he told himself. As he was tending to Dramor, who seemed to have sensed Coles mood swings and became quiter himself, the info Leanna gave him almost passed him. He turned in a light panic. "Wait, don't..." And she was gone and out the door. Cole sighed with a chuckle. She could be so fast before he even had a chance to react, or maybe it was him who was to slow. Which lately was the case, duo to his increased absentmindedness. Anyway, he just hoped his mother wouldn't make a big deal out of it. Speaking of which. He had to pick a bone with her anyway, about the things she told Phril.

As soon Cole arrived back home he immediately called "Mother!" But no one answered him. A bit suprised he took a peek inside her room, which was also vacant. Weird. In the living room again, he finally spotted a small note on the dining table. -I'm out. Don't know when I'll come back.- He eyed the paper suspiciously, wondering where she could have gone before putting it back down. "That's my line..." Cole huffed a little irritated. Well seems like their discussion would need to wait till tomorrow, because he wasn't sure in what condition he would get home today.

After taking a bath he stood infront of his dresser over which a round mirror was hanging. He just stood in a pair of clean trousers, which for once weren't battle gear but more comfy and casual. While he tried to decide on a shirt he got distracted staring at himself in the mirror. The grim expression still hovering on his face. His eyes landed on the scar over his left eye and suddenly he was gone.

Cole stood in a badly lit corridor where it stank like blood and feces and vomit alltogether. It was sickening. Knowing that his mother had spent her time here made him just furious. Before him, on the ground, a young lad sat with his back pressed against the wall. Seemingly just some errand boy with no battle experience whatsoever. Someone around his age, if not a little younger. He was shivering. "Yo- You c-can take t-the keys." He stuttered with sheer fear in his eyes. He had all the reason to. Cole had the tip of his sword at the boys throat. "Pl-please, ha-have mercy!"
He barely registered the calls of his mother behind him in one of the cells as he swung his sword and decapitated the boy without a second thought.

Before Cole could remember more he was suddenly brought back to the present by two knocks, which made him jump since all his muscle had tensed while in thought. Accidently he hit his knee against the dressers edge, he began cursing quitly before calling out. "Give me a moment!" Which came out a little to energetic because of the lasting pain. "Shit, shit, shit." He quikly grabbed a beige and airy shirt with laces, put it on, and stormed out.

A little flustered he opened the door. "Hey." Cole greeted Leanna who seemed to watch him expectantly. Even though he still felt a little lost he was gratefull that he wouldn't have to be alone with his thoughts, now that she was here. "Let's go it's not to far-." As he made a single step outside he realised he didn't put on his shoes yet, and also forgot his purse. He smiled a little akwardly and excused himself, reatreating backwards. In a dash he put on boots and pocketed his money. Finally ready he stepped out and closed the door. "Okay. That's gotta be all." He laughed somewhat nervous, probably looking like a big scatterbrain.

It was a pleasant ten minute walk to the Hamster Dumpster. They made small talk and it helped lift his mood at least a bit. Cole finally turned and entered a building which seemed pretty plain from outside. Similiar to the many other buildings. Only the hanging shield with the name and drawing of a beer mug above the door indicated that this was in fact a bar.

There were allready a few customers inside, drinking and chatting, but it wasn't to full yet. Cole as usual went straight for the counter, at which he sat down. Strangely it was a woman that greeted them, she seemed a bit older, greeting them with a friendly "hello." Cole looked around, searching for the owner. "Where is Cleth?" He asked a bit suprised. It was unusual not to find him in his beloved bar for once. "Ah. Well he had to go pick up some stock. He should be back in an hour." The woman threw a glance at Leanna and almost immediately became flustered but also excited to have such a high guest in the house.

"I'd like some beer and a bottle of rum." He couldn't help but quitly laugh at how some people behaved around royalty. It could be quite a funny sight at times. After he recieved his drink, he took a sip from the beer glancing at Leanna sideways. "Do you even drink?" Cole wondered if the choice of the place wasn't to well fit for her afterall. But who knows. There are a lot of things that can happen and most of them all worth a good laugh. Besides he failed to understand the concept of romanticism which some royalties would have. This was a place he could forget his worries, and let loose. At least for one evening.

When Cole answered the door he seemed a little...off. Like something had been keeping him busy and he had forgotten about their plans for this evening. She smiled at him, enjoying the way he seemed out of sorts, rushing around and acting aloof. "I'm excited for toni-" she began, as they made a move to leave, but Cole suddenly jumped - he had forgotten his shoes. Leanna chuckled to herself as he finally seemed to be finished.

"Alright then - lead the way" The walk there was pleasant, they both talked about various things, mostly trivial little matters that there was no meaning to. Like hoe a young new servant had gotten lost, or when a small cat wondered into the Dragon Shacks. Leanna brightened upon seeing the building, it was small and dimly lit, but extremely welcoming and warm. As the entered the building Leanna's eyes darted around the entire place, taking everything she could.

She sat next to Cole, still looking around and enjoying how homely everything felt. The other customers were clearly locals, chatting and laughing. She had missed what Cole asked and when she finally looked at him she couldn't suppress the big smile on her face. "Sorry... what did you say?". She looked towards the woman behind the bar who seemed nervous, or maybe excited, she couldn't tell. "I'll have some red wine please." The young woman nodded several times and the clinking of glasses proved how her hands were shaking a little. The glass was placed on the bar in front of her and Leanna's smile went back and forth between the woman and Cole.

"Thank you!" she said happily and then took a sip. She giggled slightly, "Sorry if I'm a bit distracted, this is the first time I've ever been in a bar". She held the glass gently between her fingers, "It's a lovely place - do you come here often?" Leanna crossed her legs, pushed her hair behind her ear and lent forward, leaning on the bar, a blissful smile on her face. "I can see why you do - I wish I could bring Father here. I'm sure he'd love it" She took another sip from her glass and let her shoulders relax.

"You know..." she began, eyes full of happiness, "... I'd love to hear about your journey. How you met your mother, how you and Dramor survived." She gave him a quizzical look, "But I sense you're not all up for chatting about it." Tentitively she reached a hand out to touch his face, to touch the scar over his eye, but before her skin touched his she pulled back, blushing slightly.

Cole chuckled to himself as she seemed more immersed in her surroundings than he thought she would. "No problem, glad you like it here. Aside from home and the forest this is one of my favourite places." He took a longer sip of his beer this time, glancing to her as she looked intrigued by his journey asking something he wanted to leave out this evening as much as he could. Cole put down the mug sighning a little before looking up to her as her hand approached his face he froze. Luckily she drew back, otherwise he might have slapped her hand away out of reflex.

Cole leaned on the counter his hand over the scar as he sighed. "You are right, I'd rather not. If possible I'd want to forget..." The last sentence was more of a mumble and below a whisper. He sneered adding. "I wonder what kind of punishment they will bestow upon me..." For a few moments he kept his side covered before throwing his body backwards letting out a loud. "Argh! Fuck it!" Drawing unwanted attention but he had to vent out his frustration at least a bit. He uncorked the rum and poured himself a shot downing it in a blink of an eye. It burned his throat and warmed him inside. Cole ordered some snacks to go along with the drinks. He didn't plan to get drunk on an empty stomach afterall.

It took him a few more shots to calm down before he sighed satisfied. "You know why I love this place? It's simple. Cause my father loved it." Cole let the beer rotate in the mug as he looked at it. "The owner of the bar was his best friend afterall. I remember visiting so oftern that it began to feel like a second home at some point." Cole chuckled amused reminiscing in some of his favourite times here. He leaned his head on his arm finally looking at Leanna. "Do you have such a place? A place you can call a second home? A place you love?" He asked rather intrigued by her person. A princess that didn't behave like one was something extraordinary and interesting. He wondered if such a girl had a place that wasn't her castle, wasn't all high and mighty.

Some time passed before he realised his stare was maybe a little to intense. He averted his gaze clearing his throat before taking another sip. That's when he remembered something that had been on his mind for quite a while. Cole turned back to her. "Say, what's the deal with your hair? Why is it silver? Is it only in your family or can it be found in other royal families as well?" With eagerness he awaited her answer, changing from his drink to the snacks, back and forth. Slowly beginning to feel a welcoming light headedness.

The fact that this was one of Cole's favourite places made Leanna smile, it must be nice to have a place to go to for comfort and peace. She felt like Cole didn't particularly want to take about his journey, like he wanted to avoid the subject at all costs, he even seemed to freeze when she raised her hand. She brushed it aside, trying not to dwell on the fact he seemed to dislike her touching him - the thought made her chest tighten slightly.

Cole sighed deeply, covering the scar she had wanted to touch, and admitted to wanting to forget about it all. Leanna decided not to press any further. When they had first met, Cole had seemed chatty at least, now it was like he didn't want to talk at all. She took a longer sip of wine, finishing her glass and asking the barmaid for another. Cole seemed content with downing a few shots of rum which made Leanna grimace, but it at least made him a little more relaxed. She smiled gently at him, wanting to tell him that she would be his shoulder to cry on if needed but... but wouldn't that be weird? She had no experience in comforting others.

Cole began to explain his love for this bar, and then asked her if she had a favourite place. The question caught her off guard - did she? "I wasn't really allowed to leave the castle much unless accompanied. During my childhood I used to love going to this tiny little corner of the garden that was cornered off from what seemed like the world." She took another large gulp, "I wouldn't even fit under that bush anymore, haha!" her laughter seemed to echo slightly. "The castle is my my home, but for a long time was also like a prison to me. I made do with what I could, hiding in the library, the aviary or among the servants in their quarters." She swirled the wine around her glass, looking into it as it spun, "I guess I get to make a new favourite place now I'm actually free to leave." She laughed again, taking a large gulp and downing the rest of her drink beginning to feel the effects on her head.

She ordered another glass, already beginning to get a little dizzy, she had to uncross her legs to balance herself. While waiting for the drink she turned to Cole, his stare made her blush. When he asked about her hair she subconsciously reached up to touch it. "I'm not really sure if I'm honest. I think it just has something to do with the Royal Bloodline. It's pretty boring, isn't it? If I wear white I just looked like a washed out painting!" she chuckled.

She looked him over, enjoying the the feeling of dizziness as the world spun slightly around her, she was staring at him with a lazy smile on her face. She knew she was and yet she made no attempt of stopping - she'd briefly thought about it before, about how good looking Cole was. How he seemed to be on her mind constantly, how his hair was fluffy and soft, how his skin glistened in the sun and how his eyes always held such strong determination. The scar made him more attractive in her opinion, even though he disliked it strongly. He was strong and tall and everything that she had ever dreamed about.

Did she like him?

Leanna couldn't tell, especially not with her intoxicated brain, and instead opted for giggling stupidly and smiling at him like a big idiot. She had wanted to thank him for a long time, to show her appreciation for everything he had done for her and now felt like a good time - her head came up with a beautiful, elaborate speech, one that expressed her feelings. How he gave her freedom. But her mouth simply did not co-operate, and instead of a heartfelt message all she could manage was; "I really like you Cole, you make me feel happy."

Before she could say anything else there was a cough from behind the bar as a man stood there with a wide grin on his face. Leanna blushed and finished her final glass, she probably should have had something substantial to eat before coming here but she had been to busy getting ready to eat anything.

Cole had turned around in his seat leaning back on the counter as he listened to Leanna. It seemed she wasn't given much freedom in her childhood but she was able to make do with what she had. Surely she will find a place that'll make her happy now that she attained some freedom, is what Cole thought to himself. He took a sip from his beer before putting it down to muster the princess after her comment about looking like a washed out painting in white. He couldn't help but laugh a little before adding himself. "Well at least you will look like a pure maiden, whereas I wear black people think I'm some kind of villain." He remembered his first day in the academy where pretty much everyone avoided him and kept a certain distance, afraid to approach a person that had a grumpy expression all the time. Truthfully back then it was intentionally done by him. He simply had wanted his time all to himself when training.

It didn't escape him that Leanna began staring at him at some point. Cole turned his gaze away thinking nothing of it but when he looked again at her she began smiling and it made him a little nervous. "What?" He finally asked. A few moments passed before she said it. Coles eyes went wide, and he had to remember to hold on to his mug to not let it fall. In a short amount of time he went from a few different emotional stages. First, did she really say that? No... But.. What if she meant it in-... Can't be. Cole concluded as he put down his mug. "Leanna..." He called her to make her turn towards him. He reached out to her, gently flicking her forehead. "You're drunk." He grinned a little devilish before putting on the sweetest smile he was capable of. "But thank you. I like your company too."

Before anything else he suddenly got slapped on his shoulder a voice following. "That's not how you are suppoused to answer Idiot." Without even turning around he recognized the men with ease. Lazily he slid a little further in his seat leaning backwards, his head now on the counter, he looked at the chubby men who now was turned upside down. "Hey Cleth. You back allready?" He smiled stupidly, to which Cleth only sighed taking away the almost empty rum bottle from him. "Hey! I wanted to finish that!" Cole tried to grab after it but his opponent was faster. "I think you had enough." His eyes wandered to the princess. "Both of you." He put the bottles away and began cleaning the glasses. Cole turned around now lying on the counter with his upper body, whilst Cleth eyed the unusual duo with high interest.

"Care to explain why you came here, with such a high guest also?" Cleth considered Leanna with a smile before continuing to throw more questions at Cole. "Does it have to do something with you rushing out the bar the last time you were here before your journey, screaming -I need to see her!-" The bar men grinned satisfied with his elaborate recollection of the past. Cole huffed angrily. "You know that's not what happened." He sighed. "Sort of. She sneaked into the academy to train with dragons, I was assigned to her. And well at first I though she was a guy." Cole gave Leanna a suggestive smile before continuing. "But she isn't." A few moments passed before he set upright in his seat finishing with a simple "The end." leaving Cleth a little speechless. "You just might be dumber than your father in that aspect. Gotta hand it to you. To miss such a crucial feature..."

Cole's cheeks were allready a little red from the alcohol but they turned even darker at his comment. "Shut up." He leaned on his arm looking emberassed. It's true, he wasn't proud of it, but sometimes he really could be dense. Cleth turned his attention to the girl. "So how come a lady like you hangs out with a ruffian like him?" Cole tried to intervene. "Hey, who are you calling that?" But the men stayed on Leanna, just waving his comment away. "Tzz." Cole turned away tapping with his finger on the counter. Maybe it was time to leave. Before Cleth was going to suck all the information out of them.

The wine was really getting to her head, she found it hard to sit still and there was a constant spinning sensation, still she was enjoying herself for the first time in a long while. Being called a 'pure maiden' made her blush, but her chest bubbled with a foreign happiness that seemed to manifest itself on her face with another smile. "You were quite scary!" she admitted with a giggle, "All in black and a face like thunder". She remembered being scared of him, now she couldn't imagine him as anything other than a pussy cat... at least to her.

There was a moment where they looked at other, faces slightly flushed and both visibly feeling the effects of alcohol where Leanna could have sworn he leaned in ever so slightly. But a flick to the forehead made her wince playfully and she shot back a pout; "Well so are you mister!" she retorted when Cole smiled sweetly. She had never seen him smile like that before. Her heart beat rapidly in her chest. She giggled again and looked towards the man at the bar while blushing darkly. He had a deep voice that made Leanna think of an opera singer. Cole and Cleth had a tiny reunion before the man took away Cole's drink and Leanna's empty glass, refusing to give either of them any more to drink.

She pouted but thought perhaps that was for the best. Her head spun dizzily and she leaned heavily on the bar, resting on her elbows as Cole seemed to opt for practically laying on it. Cleth and Leanna exchanged looks but her dopey smile must have told him all he needed to know as he turned back to Cole with a mischievous grin. "You ran after me?" she said with surprise, she hadn't known about that. She punched Cole playfully in the shoulder, snickering at him as she tried her best to remain seated. Cole gave his side of the story and Leanna smirked, so her plan had worked after all. He really had though she was a boy.

Cleth turned to her next, dismissing Cole's protests with a wave of his hand. Leanna smiled broadly and tried to remember how to form sentences, "Cole asked me out" she said matter-of-factly, not really understanding her choice of words. Technically, he did. "He said this was his favourite place. I like this place too" she added with a smile and throwing her arms out as if to prove where 'this place' was. "I especially like the decor - the wooden beams and comfy seats." Her speech slurred a little as she reached the end of her words, "It's my first time in a bar, did I say that already?"

She blushed slightly but the big smile never left her face. She looked around at the bar again fondly when her eyes caught the clock on the far wall displaying half past midnight. "Is that the time?!" she all but yelled, standing up far too quickly and instantly stumbling into Cole, holding on to him for life. "I have to go home!" she said in a rush, still unable to stop giggling between each sentence. She made a whistling sound, "Oh boy, Mother is going to be so mad at me" She grabbed Cole's hand, holding it tightly and dragged him with her. "Bye Cleth!" she shouted from the door with a big wave, grabbing the attention of ever other patron in the building.

Her footsteps were clumsy and she definitely couldn't manage a straight line. Her hand remained closed on Cole's, and she took a deep breath of the cool night time air. The fresh air made her even more dizzy, but it was a nice kind of dizzy, "Tonight has been so much fun!" she exclaimed, laughing at nothing and almost falling over again. Through the haze that was her brain she remembered how to walk and eventually could walk without support, and yet her hand seemed to feel comfortable in Cole's, and so she didn't remove it. The more they walked, the more she sobered up... a little... and now she felt nervous.

I'm holding his hand?!