He had that look on his face again, the one where he looked so serious. He only had that particular look when he was worried, and Honnya had a feeling that she was what was worrying him.

"Raash?" Those soulful brown eyes of his flicked over to look at her. Taking a deep breath, she continued. "Can I ask you a question?"

A laugh escaped his sudden smile. "Of course, Little Lady! You know you can always ask me anything!"

There it was: that gentle expression he only seemed to have when he looked at her. Never could she remember a time when he had been angry or annoyed with her. She smiled sheepishly. "I'm afraid it might be a bit difficult."

"Then I'll do my best to answer it, though I can't promise I'll be able to. I am just a street kid, ya know!" he replied, giving her a lopsided smile.

A faint blush tinged Honnya's cheeks. For a moment, she simply sat there on the stone wall, next to her Knight.

Her Knight. It still seemed odd, even after nearly five years, for her to think of him as her Knight, and not just her closest friend. No, he was much more than that; he was also her protector, her constant companion. She knew that that was a lot of responsibility for one person, and that was why he seemed so serious so much of the time. It was all for her...

"Um, wasn't there a question you wanted to ask, Little Lady?" Honnya jumped, startled out of her thoughts. Raash was staring at her in mild amusement.

"Oh, yes, of course!" she quickly stammered. Turning her clear blue eyes on him, she asked almost timidly, "Raash? Do you... do you believe there are things worth dying for?"

Raash blinked, slightly taken aback. "Man, you weren't kidding when you said this would be a hard one, were you?" he laughed.

Honnya didn't take her eyes off him. "Raash..."

"All right, all right!" he conceded, still laughing. Slightly more serious, he told her, "Yes, I believe there are things worth dying for."

"Really?" Honnya edged a little close. "You mean... you would die for something?"

His eyes became a little more distant. "Little Lady... I wouldn't be your Knight otherwise."

"What do you mean, Raash?" she asked, a little perplexed.

He inhaled deeply, looking out over the sloping meadow as he thought. "I mean, there are things in this world that I would give my life for, and you are one of them."

"Because I'm your lady?"

"Because I would do everything in my power to keep you happy and safe," he corrected without hesitation. His eyes remained on the meadow.

"Then..." Honnya began slowly. "You do not fear death?"

Raash looked back at her sharply, searching her face. There was a twinge of pain in his eyes. "Not my own, no. But yours is a different story. I would do anything to prevent that, Little Lady."

Little Lady. Only Raash had ever called her that, as she would only have allowed him to. He had always called her that, from the first time they met. Never had he called her 'milady,' as was customary of those around her. She had never asked him why, either. It was just the way things were.

"Are you afraid of death, Little Lady?" he asked after a moment.

She nodded with a shiver. "Yes. I don't know why, but the thought of it makes me cold inside."

Raash watched as she looked away, a troubled expression clouding her face, then smiled. Almost without warning, he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close. "Then please, let me warm you."

For a moment, Honnya was too surprised to do anything. Finally, though, she nestled in and closed her eyes, trying to push all those chilling thoughts away. They stayed just like that until her trembling stopped... the Lady and her Knight.