Corriane walked through the various tunnels of the mountain. The caves were beautiful. Magnificent. They were located atop of mountains, winding their way through the mountains, using them to form and structure themselves. She had never seen something so enchanting. The caves fell perfectly with her plans. For the first time in a long time, she had felt peace, all because of the caves.

They intertwined with each other, some concealed in such a way, it would need a fine eye to be able to find the hidden passages. It was spectacular.

Corriane was deep inside the mountain, most of the people here didn't know how many caves the mountains contained, nor would they unless she wanted it.They would serve her purpose well. The caves were cold, damp and dark. She could barely see where she was walking. A malicious smile, one full of loathing and evil intent, marred her hauntingly beautiful face. The caves would do just fine for what she had in mind. She wouldn't have found a better area even if she had tried. Fredrick had unknowingly given her exactly what she had wanted, what she had needed.

She slowly sat on the cold, hard floor, the place had an unusual stench to it. She glanced down at her arm and pulled up the sleeve to her dress.

Corriane stared at her bandaged clad arm before slowly removing the bandage and staring at the burns which ran across her forearm. Despite it being dark, the image of her scarred arm was burned into her mind's eye. She ran her finger along her skin, the burned and charred skin was slightly raised. She hated it. Loathed it. Despised it.

The coldness, loneliness, and the darkness of the cave reflected what she felt, what lay beneath the skin of her chest. Different images of the past filled her mind, each image morphing into the next before she could grasp the first, not relenting the hold it had on her..............

"Mother, I would like to go to the village."

"My, sweet, beautiful boy. I can not permit you to go to the village, it's too dangerous. You can, however, play in the bailey." Corriane said as she ran a loving hand along the young lads face, her eyes filled with love and warmth.

"But mother, Tin loves the village. May we go please. I give you my word, we will be careful."

The warmth diminished from her gaze as fire diminishes on a frigid eve, her lips thinning.

"If Tin," she sneered the name as if it left a foul taste in her mouth,"wishes to go to the village, he may do so. You, my child, will remain within the castle walls."

"But mother-"

"No, my child."

"Oh my beautiful boy, would you like some sweets from the cook?"

"May I have some macadamia cookies please?"

"Of course, my love."

Her mind played the images of her running after her child, of running her hands through his bronze tresses. The smile on his handsome face, the twinkle of life and laughter which always glittered in his eyes. She recalled when he first began to walk, when he uttered his first words. He would have made a fine lord and lead his people well.

The image of his laughing face turned to his bloodied and battered body laying on the dirt floor, his eyes staring vacantly towards her.

"You killed him! I know you did! It should have been you!! YOU!! Why could you not have died? You useless ....."

"Moth-"

"Don't call me that!" She screeched, her lips turning upward, while her eyes regarded him coldly.

"You are no child of mine! You are nothing but filth. Pray, I never see you again." She spat before grabbing his thin arms and throwing him out of her chambers, not seeing, nor caring, his head bouncing against the wall, leaving a trail of blood in its wake.

"Mother, but Tin-"

"It's for him."

"But I love him."

The voices echoed in her ears until that was all she heard. Taunting her. Mocking her. Getting louder and louder as they began to suffocate her, reminding her of a past she could not change.

"Stop! Stop! I said stop!"

Sapphire sluggishly came awake, the dim sunlight shining in her eyes.

"Bloody sun, I suppose I should be thankful." Sapphire mumbled as she opened her eyes, her gaze immediately going to where Tristan was supposed to be.

"Oh my sweet, sweet husband." Sapphire whispered, her eyes slightly teary. She sat up and took the rose in her hand, which lay on Tristan's pillow, running her fingers along the petals. A tear successfully trailed down her cheek as she noticed Tristan had removed all the thorns.

She had been blessed with a wonderful husband, Tristan was.....he was beyond words. She loved him so much, at times it hurt.

Unbeknown to him, she would wake in the middle of the night and catch him holding her, a frown marring his beautiful features, a forlorn expression on his face, his eyes haunted. He would play with her hair or fingers before giving her a gentle kiss and try to find sleep. Her heart ached for the man she loved. She couldn't fight his demons for him, but she prayed he would emerge unscarred.

A gentle knock had Sapphire quickly wiping away her tears while a smile fixed itself upon her lips.

"Enter." Sapphire croaked before clearing her throat and repeating herself.

"I see you are finally awake. Your obnoxious husband had appointed his guards. Putting them under strict orders to not let me, me enter until you awoke." Isabella huffed as she carefully sat across Sapphire on the bed. She could still see the blond brute smirking at her. First she had to deal with the Scot and then the blond berk, the latter being worst than the former. The sound of Sapphire's chuckling had Isabella frowning, not realizing she had spoken out loud.

"Why are you laughing, I find nothing amusing." Isabella frowned.

"I find your choice of words very amusing."

"How so?"

"I'm assuming the blond was Alexander, and the Scot was Duncan, am I correct?" Sapphire asked, rose still in hand.

"I didn't concern myself with their names, all I know is they are very rude."

Sapphire chuckled in response.

"Should we go have something to eat, and then mayhap a walk around the village?" Sapphire proposed as she walked towards her bathing chambers.

"Heavens no! It's snowing outside." Isabella said, scrunching her nose in the process.

"Snow! Are you certain?" The excitement was clear in her voice, as well as her actions as Sapphire ran towards the window.

"Oh! It looks so beautiful!" Sapphire whispered softly as she stared at the soft puffy flakes fall to the ground and sparkle.

"It's cold and wet, I do not see the beauty."

Sapphire rolled her eyes and headed towards the bathroom.

"I will be out shortly." Sapphire called as she tested the water to see it was deliciously warm. Tristan, his thoughtfulness continued to amaze her.

"Tristan, the snow is coming down hard. How are we to practice." Alexander said as he blocked a blow from Tristan as well as wiped the snow from his lashes. The snow was up to his ankles, and still falling hard.

"The elements provide an excellent training ground. Whether it's frigid conditions or scorching, we should be able to hold our own." Tristan said as he struck Alexander on his right and left side. Lord Rivers was applying the same mechanisms to Duncan and Gerald.

Tristan trained his men exceptionally well. They needed to be able to fend themselves in any, and all circumstances. They may not be able to predict the future, but they could prepare for it.

"You need to be quicker."

Alexander was a magnificent knight, but Tristan needed him to be capable of everything. One never knows what life will throw their way.

"Quicker!!! Bloody hell, mate. You're the one with two sword arms."

"Your enemy will nay attack you from one side, they will strike together. I'm not asking you to wield a sword with two arms, I'm asking you to learn to protect yourself."

Alexander grunted, knowing Tristan was right.

"Alright."

"Again."

Before Tristan could lift his swords to strike again, the twinkle of sweet laughter filled his ears. Tristan turned to see Sapphire spinning as the snow came down, her face tilted up in joy, her eyes closed. A pair of glofs covered her delicate fingers. Tristan scowled, her glofs were not thick enough, she would catch her death.

Sapphire opened her eyes and caught Tristan's. She gave him a wide smile before gathering snow in her hand and running towards him.

Tristan barely moved, his face as impassive as ever, as snow was thrown in his face.

"You're supposed to at least wince, or throw snow at me in return." Sapphire frowned.

Tristan graced her with a small smile.

"The snow doesna bother me. We have been training since dawn, stopping only to break our fast and then we began again."

"Good lord. Tristan! You must eat." Sapphire admonished.

Tristan grabbed his wife and pressed her flush against him, a wicked grin covering his beautiful features.

"Not all of us have endless pits as stomachs, my love." He whispered in her ear before teasingly biting down on her lobe. His grin turned to a frown when he noticed how cold she was.

"I like to eat." Sapphire said with a shrug as she fought of her blush which threatened to come.

"One of the traits I love about you." Tristan said with a teasing smile. Sapphire could only stare, not believing what she had heard.

"You need to go inside, it's too cold out."

Sapphire blinked, her mind still replaying his earlier words.

"Tristan, can we play in the snow for a bit, please. You have a round with me and I promise I will go back inside." Sapphire reasoned.

Tristan stared at her glof clad hands, taking her hands in his, he ran his fingers along hers.

"Your glofs are not thick enough." Tristan murmured as he made mindless circles in the palm of her hand.

"They will survive an hour or so, please Tristan?" Sapphire asked as she glanced up at him with pleading eyes. He was tall, her neck began to hurt from the effort.

"Alright." Tristan consented with a shake of his head. The woman had him wrapped around her fingers and she didn't even know it.

Sapphire squealed in excitement before she bent down and threw another ball of snow at Tristan's chest. This time he let out a small chuckle before he lifted his devious little wife over his head before throwing her in a pile of snow Alexander had gathered.

Within seconds the entire bailey was filled with the grunt and shouts of men as they too joined in the fun. The women from the village along with the children, partaking in the fun as well.

Xavier stood to the side, hovering over Isabella as she peacefully sipped her chocolate as she watched her father being thrown to the ground, the men burying him in the snow.

"I will have my revenge." Lord Rivers hollered before a handful of snow was thrown on his face, going in his mouth.

"We know you will, uncle John." Sapphire laughed as she joined the others.

Lord Rivers managed to push them all aside and began to throw snow their way. Sapphire squealed as a ball of snow hit her face, going in her mouth.

"I thought we were in this together, Tristan." Lord Rivers grumbled as he spit snow from his mouth.

Tristan shrugged a snow covered shoulder. "You should not have thrown snow at my wife."

"Ahh, but what you are forgetting my boy, she is my daughter before she is your wife." Lord Rivers said, his eyes twinkling in laughter.

Tristan howled in laughter at lord Rivers response. Everyone pausing to stare at their lord laughing and looking carefree. His head was covered in snow, much like the rest of his body, a genuine smile covering his handsome face. The sound of his laughter brought a blanket of tranquility with it. This being the first time many of them had heard him laugh so freely.

"I see your point, my lord." Tristan said as his laughter subsided, his chest feeling lighter.

He barely moved a muscle as Sapphire jumped on his back, clinging to him.

"I believe it's time we go inside." Tristan said as her cold cheek touched his own.

"Alright." Sapphire said as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Cook made warm chocolate for everyone, come inside before it goes cold." Isabella called as she headed inside to rest, seeing everyone having a good time had been enough for her, not to mention Xavier's arms which were wrapped around her.

"Is it necessary for him to accompany us." Isabella complained as she sat in front of the warm hearth knitting.

"Lass, I should be the one with a complaint, I have to watch you lasses knit."

"All you're doing is stuffing your face with Sapphires chocolate and strawberry cookies. Strawberries which are a tad bit hard to find in this season."

"If you want a cookie, my lady, then you are free to take one. Doona stop on my account." Alexander snorted as he stuffed another cookie in his mouth.

Isabella signed in annoyance.

"Izzy, let Alexander be. And Alexander, I do believe you would rather sit in front of a warm hearth and eat rather than train outside in the snow."

Alexander sent a charming smile Sapphires way in response. Sapphire rolled her eyes.

She held up the sky blue shirt she had made, along with matching mittens, for Isabella's babe.

"This is the only thing I will knit for you." Sapphire said as she handed the clothes to Isabella.

"I never understood why you despise knitting. It's calming."

"It requires time and patience." Sapphire retorted.

"Both which you have in abundance." Isabella countered.

"Are there more cookies?" Alexander asked as he stood up.

"They're in the kitchen." Sapphire said as she swiped the last cookie from Alex's plate, earning herself a glare.

Sapphire smiled sweetly.

Alexander ruffled Sapphires head before walking towards the kitchens. He needed to get himself more cookies, and maybe a jug of milk. The pros of having to stay with his ladyship. If it involved food, he would happily oblige.

"Why does he have to be where we have to go." Isabella whispered once she was sure Alexander was out of hearing, whispering as a precaution.

"Because Tristan wants someone with me at all times." Sapphire said as she finished her cookie. She wanted another one.

"Does it have to be him." Isabella hissed.

Sapphire hid her smirk as she recalled how Tristan had specifically appointed Alexander to spite Isabella.

"I'm the very best, of course it has to be me." Alexander said, arrogance oozing from his very being.

"It's rude to speak to a lady in such a manner." Isabella said snippily.

"It's alright then, you are no lady, hence I am not being rude." Alexander said with a smirk.

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