I stumbled out through the window, the Descuvi book in hand and marched up to Snow,"What is this!" I was angry; angry at my past and how I had to be associated with rage, slaughter, and pain.

I've always kept my past concealed. Yet for some odd reason knowing that a unicorn, of all things knew about it, pissed me off.

"Why did you take me here? I didn't want to see any of those things. My past is not who I am today, I'm not defined as a Descuvi. I don't have any rage or hate. So don't associate myself with it." I gritted out. Snow only stared back at me with glowing hazel eyes, easily taking the rude tone I was giving her.

"No answer?" I was even more angry than before,"Let's go back, it is starting to get dark," and I kicked a piece of wood at a tree.

On the ride back, I started to feel more and more guilty about yelling at Snow. As if I was a small child, throwing a tantrum.

Almost like I was what I claimed not to be, a Descuvi. Filled with rage and sadness of bringing up the past.

We reached our destination at the blackberry bush, the sun setting and the snow falling heavier than before.

"I'm sorry, Snow. For yelling at you before, that wasn't fair to you. I know I am a true born Descuvi, but I don't think I'll ever truly accept I am one. I am ashamed of the things my people had done, and though I took no part in it; my country has inflicted so much pain on many. I took my anger out on you, and I apologize. Thank you for trying to help me accept who I am, and find out the truth I needed." I bowed my head at her. She nodded her head with appreciation, then looked deep into my eyes.

There was something more. More she wasn't telling me, something much deeper she knew, so much darker than what I perceived.

"Anything else you want to show me before I leave?" I smiled at her, vying for more information. Yet she just shook her head, bowed it, and disappeared in the trees.

~*~*~*~*~*~

"Annalise Woods, never do that to us again!" Henry exclaimed with a pout, his arms crossed. We were sprawled across my bed; when I went back to waterfall, all the supplies were gone. I decided to head home, and found them in my room.

"I thought a bear had eaten you! We were so worried." Hazalen scorned me.

"I was more worried about Darius' eyes." Henry wiped his brow.

"I just got a little lost is all! In the end, I got the blackberries, Henry." I opened my large coat pocket with the berries and book, which tumbled out onto the bed. Henry went straight for the berries, but Hazalen took a moment to examine the book.

"The Mystical Tales of Descuvi? Where did you find this, Annalise?" She eyed it with disgust.

Well that's a big blow.

"I found it at the festival and just threw it in my pocket. I never got a chance to look at it though." I lied through my smile.

"Of corse Demotis would try to bring stupid, Descuvi merchandise like this book into Deltora. He really thinks he can bring his poisonous ideals here. His hate will never spread in Deltora, we are too unified for such things." Hazalen spoke ignorantly.

"Descuvi was once more united then Deltora, Hazalen. It only takes one small event that could change anything. Darius could have one tiny slip up, and everything could tumble down."

"Yet, we know Darius would never," Hazalen defended herself.

"You don't know that." I replied with a frown.

"Listen, I think everybody deserves a chance. People need to stop making such hasty generalizations, I'm sure many Descuvi's didn't even want the war to happen in the first place. Hazalen's just really butthurt because our cousin died at the hands of a Descuvi." Henry munched on a berry.

"He was only ten years old when he went on vacation to Tarzla. My uncle left him on the beach for only five minutes, and when he came back a man had drowned him in the ocean. Later he was identified as a Descuvi whom had managed to infiltrate Tarzla. He had been killing people ever since he arrived. He was Henry and I's childhood best friend, and ever since the Star family has had a burning hate for Descuvi." Hazalen glared at the book, focusing on the words Descuvi.

I waited a second to take it all in.

I couldn't imagine how awful that was for Hazalen's family.

Will she ever forgive me for my past?

"I am so sorry, Hazalen."

"It's alright; I've been through a lot, and it's made me learn valuable lessons. The first one is not to trust a Descuvi." She smiled through her sadness. Her words sounded sad, yet her face looked happy and encouraging.

I could see right through her.

"Just know not all of them are bad, Hazalen. Many Descuvi are still going through pain and sadness, never wanting the war to happen. They've lost so many loved ones and their homes."

"I'll wait until that can be proved wrong," she smiled at me. I smiled back, knowing I was that certain solution.

I would tell her one day, but not now.

"Annalise Willow Woods!" My mother entered the room, carrying a large ball gown," Your dress for the BlackBerry Ball is ready!" She excitedly placed it on the bed.

I traced the silver dress with my hands, feeling the intricate patterns. It was a masterpiece, a ball gown fit for a princess. The white beads traced in patterns down to the puffed out end of the dress, making me giddy inside.

"Can you make me a suit?" Henry asked with his eyes wide open, staring at the dress. We all laughed, still staring ball gown. It was hard to tear your eyes away from such a beautiful dress.

"I wish I could Henry, but suits aren't my specialty. Besides, I get paid more for a dress than I would a suit; which takes far longer. Any rich noble spoils their wives with these, and men usually handle making the suits." My mother blushed, her wrinkles in her forehead and smile making an appearance. Sometimes I forgot just how old she was, she had to be about forty when she had me.

"Do you think I could start making suits? I want to start a business just like yours!" He childishly exclaimed.

Sometimes I forget he's a year younger than us too.

"You can do anything you set your mind to, Henry. I'll go tell Maria to make some tea, and we can chat all about it!" My mother patted his back, and left the room. Henry smiled in appreciation, obviously thrilled by his new dream.

"This is beautiful, Annalise! I wonder what Darius will think when he sees you in this dress," Hazalen remarked.

I blushed a crimson red," Well it's not like we dating each other or anything!" I defended myself.

"Didn't you sleepover with him one time?" Henry asked nonchalantly, popping another blackberry in his mouth.

"What! Where did you hear that?" I suspiciously laughed.

"I heard the maids talking in the hallway about it. They didn't sound too happy! Everybody really wants a chunk of that meaty man."

"Please don't relate him to meat," Hazalen rubbed her head.

"It's not like the last ball worked out like I had hoped." I frowned in thought.

"Don't think about that, Annalise! Veronica won't be around to ruin your plans, and I don't have a clue why Isabelle would either. I don't think you need to worry about it going south this time. Besides, Henry and I have got your back the whole ball if anything were to happen." Hazalen encouraged me.

"I love you guys! Come here!" I grabbed Hazalen and Henry close, and hugged them until they couldn't breathe.

We all laughed and ate blackberries for the remainder of the night, drinking tea and chatting about the hot guys at Mettling High. My mother explained how she first started "Wood's Dresses", with alterations to the story of corse; and answered all of Henry's drawn out questions. We played cards and marbles like little children, and later in the night we dared Henry to steal some whiskey from my liquor cabinet.

"I know girls think they have it hard with guys, but I feel like I'm the only gay in Deltora. You guys are fish in the big sea, where I'm just a big fish in a little pond. I feel like I have no choices because nobody is ready to fully express themselves yet." Henry drunkly sighed.

"Love is not at all what you think, it's not like what those books tell you. They throw about the words 'I love you' like marbles without even thinking twice about it. It's so much easier to say it than actually feel it, loving somebody is not just poems and picnics. It's real and its crazy, it's quite terrifying. You learn things about yourself you never knew while pushing your limits to care for somebody in a whole other way. And it can hurt you so bad you feel like you can't come back. I don't believe in looking for love, but letting it find you."

Hazalen took a swig of the whiskey then passed the bottle to me," You guys probably already know this, but I think I like the Prince. A whole lot."

"What! I couldn't tell," Henry drunkly laughed.

I think he drank and little too much.

"And I'm just terrified because I know one day he will have to marry a Princess, somebody to unify Deltora with. Princes can't marry nobles or commoners, only other Princesses. I just feel like there's no use to our relationship even forming. But I can't help but feel this connection with him that I have with no other-this electric draw pulling me toward him. As if by fate we were meant to be together. You know?" I handed the bottle to Hazalen.

"Do what your heart desires, Annalise! We've only got one life to live, so live it with no regrets. Take all chances you can because in the end, you're going to regret you didn't take them. Tell him how you truly feel!"

"But then I will let him win! I can't let some silly boy have power over my feelings." I huffed out.

"Girl hasn't he been doing that for the past five months-"

"Shut it, Henry!" I mouthed him off, slurring. "And that pretty unicorn today made me realize I need to accept who I am, but I don't know if he will ever be able to." I frowned at the thought.

There's so much more they don't know.

"Why don't you just see what happens at the ball this Friday? Who knows what could happen!" Hazalen started dozing off, hand covering her eyes from the candle lights around my room. I looked over to see Henry hugging the whisky, not far behind her.

I blew out each candle one-by-one, almost falling over drunkly in the process and scooted them over in bed. Overall, the best sleepover I could ask for.

And gods damn, I really needed that drink after this crazy day.

____________

(also I know grant gustin is not gay but he's what I think of when I picture Henry hahah)

Thank you for all your support, comments, and likes. You guys make me want to give you the world for your support!!! I love you all!