"You're coming, aren't you?" Moritz questioned bluntly, offering Eloise his arm.

"Where?" She asked confused.

"To breakfast." He said cheerfully. "You have not joined us a single morning since you've been here. I think since it is your last day here, you should come. It would be a pleasure for us all."

She bit her lower lip and looked back at her tent. Moritz continued to eagerly stare at her until she finally agreed. She had saw the morning spread daily, but never dared to include herself in to the affairs of the men. She was not of them nor did she feel like one. She was content when she was alone in her tent reading the borrowed books of Moritz.

They quietly approached the set table in the distance. The long table was beside the large tent with the planes. The group of men watched Eloise carefully as Albert greeted her warmly and introduced her. He pulled out the chair between himself and Moritz, inviting Eloise to sit. She eased down and looked at the men across from her. The way they stared at her made her feel uncomfortable. She felt that she had overstepped her boundary and wanted to leave just as she had arrived.

"I think I will leave." She whispered to Moritz.

He shook his head. "I don't think you should do that now." He replied, leaning close to her. "now that you are seated, it would be very rude to leave."

Eloise nodded and remained where she was at. The men were becoming more comfortable around her and began conversing amongst themselves. They started laughing and talking, which made Eloise feel better.

Their conversations were soon interrupted by Albert, who addressed the group with concern. "Has anyone seen young Matthias? He should have returned by now."

"He was flying beside me and decided to turn back. He gave me a sign to go on, so I assumed he was well." One of the fliers announced. He glanced over at the empty chair with worry. "I was wondering if I should go back for him."

"Give him some time. You know how he is. He likes to stop off for souvenirs," Albert shook his head and sighed. "let us hope that is what happened."

The group became silenced as they awaited the return of their comrade. Before long a loud roar came from overhead, causing the group to perk up. They rushed to the center of the airfield and looked up, only to witness the sights they never wanted to see. Before their eyes was a British aircraft tailing the lone German. Fire spewing from the guns of the enemy craft. The men down below drew their pistols and began firing upon the British craft, knowing their attempt to save their comrade was for naught. In a matter of seconds, the German plane began to smoke violently. The thick cloud of thick smoke stained the once happy blue sky with death. Upon realizing his success, the British pilot offered a salute and flew away. They watched as the enemy slowly disappeared on the horizon, while their own man was burning.

"He is either going to jump," Albert said coldly, taking his eyes away from the horrid scene happening in the air. "or take his life with a bullet."

Eloise glanced over at Albert, who was visibly distraught. Tears were welling in his eyes. He let a sigh roll from his lips before he looked back up at the scene. In the air they could see the form of the man rising from his seat. He jumped before those on the ground could fathom it. They stood frozen with terror as they watched the plane's spiraling decent to the earth, crashing in a fiery blaze. In the following the seconds the man hit the ground.

An eerie silence succumbed the area around them. No words could explain the scene that had just played out before them. Their minds were stilled entirely, unable to react appropriately to the event that happened quickly. Eloise glanced around at the quiet, shocked men, then back at the fallen man. Instinctually, she rushed toward him. Albert immediately followed after her.

The pungent odor of charred flesh and burning oil struck her nose, making her coil back with repulsion. She fell to the ground beside him, overlooking the charred face of a young man. She could recall seeing his familiar face around, but had not ever spoke to him. Her heart ached as she placed her hand at his neck, hopefully searching for a pulse. She felt nothing, just as she assumed. Her hand rested lightly upon his motionless chest. She wondered what he had felt in his last minutes of life. She quickly pushed the thoughts away. She could feel her heart breaking as she folded his blackened hands over his chest. She pushed herself up from the ground and stared up at Albert.

"I am sorry about your friend." She spoke morosely, looking over at the mourning squadron who was approaching the scene. "I will be in my tent, if you need me."

She stared back down onto the man and slowly turned away. She had seen death too often, yet she still felt great remorse for the fallen. She kept her head down the entire walk back to her tent, the badly burnt face of the young pilot etched in her mind. Behind the security of the tent she let her tears flow freely. With every tear that fell she cursed the bloody war she was in. More than anything else, she wanted it to end.

She eased down onto a chair and buried her face into her hands. Her mind began to think about those she cared about and feared that they would be the next victims of the war. She knew she could not afford to think of such things, but in drastic times she could not help herself.

In the shadow of the night she slowly crept from her tent. Treading lightly along the path, she walked toward Albert's tent. She could see the faint glowing of light coming from his tent. She nervously ran her hands down the front of her dress and let out a sigh. Her heart rate began to increase as she approached him.

"Forgive me for interrupting you, Captain." She softly spoke from the entrance, gaining his attention.

He looked at her surprised and rose from his desk. She had never seen him so closely in his full military uniform. Impressed none the least, she studied him carefully from the scrunched hat that rested on his head, to the shiny black knee-high boots at his feet. The well-tailor gray uniform coat hugged his square frame, giving him a masculine shape. The gray fabric was adorned with shiny silver buttons down the front. Glistening medals and buttons decorated the plain coat with the look of authority. Just below the red collar of the uniform hung the blue star, which was the most admired medal of all—the pour le merit. The matching gray trousers were tucked classily in the tops of his boots and a black walking cane hung at his side, completing the dapper look of an officer.

"Forgive me, Eloise, for not coming to see you. I had to speak with the General about the death of young Matthias." He immediately removed the hat from his head and bowed to her respectfully. "I promised you a good evening, but this evening has been far from good."

She lightly shook her head. "Never mind that, Captain." She reiterated, raising her hand to him. "The last thing that I want in pleasure in times like this. I came to offer you my deepest sympathy. I am sorry that I couldn't help him any."

"It is not your fault, Eloise." He reassured her. "It is not anyone's fault, not even the British pilot. Both men had a mission and both knew what the outcome could be. We all take that risk when we climb into our planes. We know that we may fall, but we continue to fly on. We are all destined to die. Matthias fulfilled his destiny at the young age of nineteen." He rested his hands steady on Eloise's shoulders and stared deeply into her eyes. "You love and feel deeply. If everyone was like you, war would not exist and men would not have to kill."

They looked down, both wondering what to say next. Albert released her and went to the chest at the foot of his bed. He reached into it and retrieved a bottle along with two crystal glasses. Eloise could see the greenness of the glass bottle twinkling in the dim light. The words written on the sides were foreign, but she assumed that what he possessed was French wine. He placed them on his desk and motioned Eloise to approach him.

"Neither of us can see the future," he said as he poured the dark red liquid into the clear glass. "we shouldn't want to know the future, but I know you are leaving and that makes me worry. I know what it is like out there and it is no place for a tender woman like yourself."

"I have been saving this French wine for a special occasion," he looked down into the glass in his hand then at Eloise, smiling kindly at her. "and now is the best occasion I can think of."

"Here is to young Matthias for his honorable death. Here is to us. May we have a prosperous future wherever we may go." Albert cheered, clinking the silver cups together.

She stared down at her reflection in the red liquid. Hesitantly, she sipped the cool liquid, puckering her lips at the bittersweet taste that pricked her taste buds.

Albert chuckled at her actions. "You don't have to drink it if you don't like it."

Eloise sat the glass down beside his. "I suppose I never acquired the taste for such fineries in the forest." She sipped the wine again. The unique flavor coated her tongue, leaving her with a satisfactory feeling. "It gets better with every sip, I do believe."

They shared a smile and continued drinking in silence.

"You never spoke of your life in Germany." Eloise mentioned quietly, glancing over at him nervously.

Albert shrugged. "There isn't really much to say about it. I lived on an estate with my father, my mother, and my two younger brothers. One of them is joining my squadron soon, which I am not too pleased about." he began to converse freely. "My mother is much like you. She loves unconditionally and cares about everyone and everything. My father is different though. He is cold and stern. Since he was a highly decorated military commander, I was placed in a military school when I was thirteen."

"That is a young age to train a boy to kill."

"That is what my mother thought as well, but my father insisted." He spoke factually with a shrug. "I suppose that it didn't hurt me, I have met many great people and have gained much respect for my military abilities."

"When I was younger, I was fascinated by the stars and the night." His voice filled with passion as he recounted his childhood. "When everyone was asleep, I would sneak out onto the roof and look at the stars. I would stay there for hours. I suppose you could say I found peace in the sky long before I started to fly."

A smile came onto Eloise's face as she took him by the hand. "Let us see the stars."

They left the light of the tent and entered into the darkness. The quietness between them grew as they looked up at the dark sky painted with the white twinkles of stars.

"My mother always told me that the darkest of nights made the brightest stars." Albert said, instantly looking back at Eloise, who done the same.

"Come and let us dance." Albert insisted to Eloise who only stared at him confused. "Dance with me, Eloise." He spoke with a caring smile, offering her a glove-covered hand.

Hesitantly, she took his extended hand. She could feel her face growing warm as she looked into his gleaming eyes. "But there is no music." As the intensity between the two grew, Eloise's stare darted to the ground.

In an instant Albert tilted her chin up and met his eyes with hers. She could feel her heart pounding violently with the unexpected closeness. The warmth that radiated from his body left a nervous sensation inside her. It was a feeling she had never experienced, but she did not hate it; in fact, she found herself enjoying the presence of him.

"There is music if you listen." He whispered lovingly, brushing his hand against her reddened cheek. The smile on his lips that created the deep dimples in his cheeks, melted into her heart.

She listened carefully to the sounds around her. In the stillness of the night, the song of a single bird carried on the steady wind. The calming rustling of limbs created a melody. She closed her eyes and allowed her mind to become a ballroom accompanied by the music nature had to offer. She opened her eyes to find Albert beside her. In the moonlight she could see the playful glint shining in his youthful eyes.

"What if someone sees? High command does not allow dancing during this war."

He let out a slight chuckle, "let them see us. It is not often I get to see such a lovely woman at my side." He held her hand gently in his and bowed respectfully. "May I have this dance with you, Eloise Keller?"

Eloise stared at him reluctantly for a moment before nodding. His hands found their place rather quickly, placing his one hand in hers and the other on lightly upon waist. A nervous sigh instinctively slipped from her lips as he pulled her close.

"Don't be so nervous," he whispered in her ear, "one dances best without their nerves leading them."

Eloise loosened her shoulders as she followed each graceful step he made, swaying from left to right. He held her securely in his embrace, granting her the feeling of a security she had never felt. In that moment, there was no war going on. The world was still and she was lost in the calming world made between them.

"I want you to promise me something, Eloise." He whispered into her ear. "I want you to promise that you will write to me every chance you get. I want you to tell me what you do, what you feel, where you will be. I want you to tell me everything. It will be like we were never apart."

As she looked into his eyes, he was no longer the most feared ace; instead he was nothing but a man who desired the one enemy that couldn't be conquered—love.

"When I was a little girl, I dreamed of what my life would become. I dreamed that I would become a prominent woman who wore pearls and diamonds," she paused momentarily. "and when I would go by people would respect me. After I lost my mother, my dreams changed. I dreamed of becoming a woman like her. A woman who was strong and fearless," her eyes closed tightly as she let out a sigh. "but I have already broken my dreams. I am nothing like my mother. I will never be like her."

Albert watched her intently, listening carefully to the words she was saying. He studied the way her eyes lit up when she mentioned her mother. Beneath the peaceful recollection, he could sense the pain she had within her voice. He could only imagine what she had went through over the years, but he was certain that he could accept the past and attempt to build a new future.

"You can only be the best version of yourself, Eloise." Albert reassured her, taking her by the hand. He traced his thumb along her lily-white skin. "I believe that you are a very strong woman. You have already done and seen more than most women, and yet you persevere onward. You see such gruesome marks and remain positive," he paused, offering her a smile. "and to me that takes more strength than anything."

Eloise stared at him blankly for a moment before returning a pleased expression. "They say that you can tell the most about person on what their dreams are. Tell me, Captain, what do you dream for most?"

Caught off-guard by the question, he thought for a moment before speaking. "I dream of peace." He smiled. "I long to find the peace I found when I was in the forest with you."

"The forest has nothing to offer. You can gain nothing that a man of your stature needs." She spoke bluntly. "There is no money, no glory, no grandeur name"

"That is what I enjoyed most about it." He replied passionately. "When I was in the forest, I wasn't known. No one called upon me. I didn't have to kill. I was not used for propaganda. I was Albert von Brandt." He exclaimed freely. "When the war is over, I would love to return to the woods where I can live freely. I had never felt such peace before, and I have not felt any such peace since."

"People will miss you if you leave."

"You lived there for years. Did anyone miss you?"

"No, Captain, no one missed me." She wistfully answered. She began wringing her hands in her lap. "But you and I are different in many ways. I had no mother, no father, no brothers or sisters. I was alone. That is why no one missed me—there was no one left to miss me. You have all of those things. You have a squadron of men who admire you. You have a country of people who honor you because you are a hero to them. I was an orphan who became a nurse. I am nothing more than another woman who is just trying to make it through a war." She shrugged nonchalantly. "Anyway, that life is over. Neither of us can return no matter how badly we want to."

"When the war is over, we will return and we will build our home there."

Eloise rested her arms around her body and shook her head. "You never stop, do you?"

The cocky smile returned on his face as he nodded, "I will not stop until I have persuaded you."

They entered back into the tent silently. He stared at her without speaking, studying her carefully from the distance. Eloise walked around the large tent, observing the plane relics scattered around the open space. The limited amount of light cast ghastly shadows of plane parts on the white walls. Her fingers ran along the cold tips of a plane propeller, admiring its size and appearance. Her eyes lingered on the colorful banners strung upon ropes. Each number and symbol were from a different person—a person who was now dead. She stared at a large motor resting upon a pedestal.

"It is from a French plane." He said informatively, startling Eloise, who turned quickly to face him. "That is why it looks different from our planes. It is far more..." he paused searching for a word, "Interesting."

She averted her eyes when he smiled, hoping to ignore the feelings he made her have. The creak from his chair gained her attention once again, watching him gracefully maneuver around the room. Both were perfectly still, passing concentrated glances. The tension between them grew with every passing moment in silence. He held a gaze on her, staring at her intensely. She could feel her cheeks growing warmer while the familiar nervous feeling began churning in the pit of her stomach. She began to look around the simple tent once again, hoping to lift some pressure.

"What is that from?" Eloise called out, pointing to a framed piece of white fabric.

He glanced over, "That is from my sixteenth confirmed victory. It was a British plane flown by the indestructible Major Jonathan Burke that I shot down." He shrugged nonchalantly, rounding the corner of the desk to Eloise's side. "It was the air battle that earned me the Pour le Merit." His fingers reached up to the blue medal that hung around his neck.

Unwittingly, she reached out for the impressive pendant and ran her fingers lightly along the points of the blue star. When her eyes looked upward, Albert held his stare once again.

"I'm sorry Albert," she called out, dropping her hands to her side. "I had no right to do that."

Albert found her trembling hands with his, intertwining her fingers tightly. "Don't apologize." He whispered, bringing a hand to her cheek. The rough pad of his thumb began to caress her soft face, sending a shiver down her spin. "May I kiss you?"