Chapter 2
 
          As Sterlin walked along the muddy, black bank, he thought of his beloved Cody and wished that he was able to see her at that moment. It was only 4 months away from his 16^th birthday, and he was getting a little anxious. Sterlin thought about how beautiful Cody would look in a pure white wedding gown under the blooming trees in the courtyard of his family’s house. The more that Sterlin thought about this, the more that he became depressed; for he realized that he will not be able to be wed to Cody with his father’s Blessing. He would have to do it apart from his own family, behind their backs. And there was no way they could know he would be near them.
 
          Evening was fast approaching and as it did, Sterlin was drawn to the wall where the house that his fair maiden lived. As he approached, he wondered why he was being drawn there at that particular time. For you see, people in the city were looking for him because his father wanted to avenge the bloody death of his eldest son. Sterlin’s brother was killed the night that Sterlin proposed to Cody. Nobody found him ‘til morning when he did not come down for breakfast at the appointed time, and when they did, a dagger was shoved through his chest He lay in his own blood, his eyes closed
 
Because Sterlin’s father did not know where Sterlin was that night, he and all of the rest of the family thought that Sterlin had killed his brother out of jealousy so that he could have any and all inheritance that his brother would get when their father passed away. They never believed his story, not even when Cody herself confirmed it. Sterlin’s dearest friend that lived at the Rush’s’ house and tended to the horses overheard Sterlin’s father and learned of the plot to kill Sterlin. He therefore went up and told Sterlin and said that he must flee the city or he will be killed.
 
Sterlin knew that going into the city would be risky, especially with the guards at the Norris house. He lay low in the bush and bramble for a while. When Sterlin thought that everyone in the Norris house had gone to sleep, he clambered over the wall and leapt lightly to the ground. Without a sound, he crept swiftly across the lawn to where Cody’s window was. He looked around to see if any guards were around and seeing none, Sterlin climbed up the vines that grew and twisted along the grey stone wall by the balcony of Cody’s room.
 
Taking a breath, the fair haired young man tapped the window lightly. He could not see if she was awake, for velvet curtains shaded the room. He could make out faint silhouettes, but they all looked like grey, shapeless blobs. Sterlin could hear nothing, and his tapping was lost by the songs of crickets. He sighed and tapped again, a little harder. He heard the folding of fabric and the bustle of someone standing. He smiled as Cody's thin and small silhouette approached and sleepily pulled the curtains apart.
 
Cody's dark, warm brown eyes widened in shock, and her elegant eye brows arched, but she was smiling. She unlocked the door and walked out, quietly. The look on her face suggested that she wasn't moving fast enough to appease herself, and it sure wasn’t fast enough for Sterlin. She threw her arms around him. "What are you doing here, love" she whispered in his ear.
 
"I wanted to see you" Sterlin said, smiling and pulling her close. He was surprised when she wouldn't let him and pulled away. 
 
Cody looked ion his eyes, her expression stern, all signs of her happiness erased. "Get out of here. Now"
 
Sterlin blinked, a bit confused. "But I just…"
 
"Stop it! Sterlin, go. I do not want you caught. Now, GO!" she said, her face emotionless, but Sterlin could see in her eyes that this was a bit hard for her to say.
 
Sterlin sighed. "Fine. But, I have something for you" he said. He smirked and produced a single red rose. He thought it elegant and sweet, but wanted to scream when he saw the torn leaf and the petal hanging on for dear life. Cody smiled wide and took it, thanking him silently with a kiss on his cheek.  Sterlin kissed her lightly on the lips and started down the vines again.
 
Cody turned to go back to bed, when Sterlin heard the click of her door. "Cody? What are you doing awake?" Sterlin muttered something about “My love being treated like a ten year old!” under his breath. That was Cody's father.
 
"Oh, I was just...Opening the curtains. It is such a beautiful night, isn't it? I wanted to let some air in" Cody lied smoothly.
 
Sterlin heard her father sigh and start to walk over. Sterlin set his jaw and pressed against the cold wall, holding his breath. "Okay, Cody. But, please, don't act so surprised to see me check on you. I heard tapping"
 
"Oh, daddy! It’s fine. Good night" Cody said, and Sterlin heard her light footsteps.
 
"I said good night to you a while ago, but okay. Sleep well" Cody's door clicked again, and Sterlin heard faint footsteps, getting lighter each second.
 
Cody sighed in relief and rushed out the door, looking over her balcony. "Get out of here now, Sterlin!" she said, very unladylike. "I love you" she added, and Sterlin smiled.
 
"I love you, too! We shall see each other again soon!" he said, as he started climbing down the wall again.

That is Chapter 2 in this story. Many Thanks to Maya for editing and adding to it and for standing behind me in writing this story so far!