Thanks for clicking! This is my first ever story fanfic. Hope you enjoy!

Then rain tapped on the window at my back. I sighed, resting my head on my knees. It has rained almost nonstop since Bran, his fiancee, and his "guest" arrived, throwing an extra damper on my spirits. I was sitting on the window seat in the library. Having come here to find a book to ease my mind, I had found none of them as interesting as they were before Bran arrived. Another sigh. Not Bran, but since Shevreath arrived. Granted I wasn't as sour towards him as I once was, but I still wasn't warm either. I doubted I ever could be.
There was a sudden tapping at the door. I looked up quickly, causing my hair to fall in front of my eyes. I was in this condition when the knocker came in, and to my horror, Shevreath himself walked in. I quickly wiped the hair out of my eyes. It took all I had not to glare at him, and I hoped I was succeeding. The way he smiled and lifted up his hands to show he wasn't armed, told me I wasn't. I dropped my gaze.

"Good day," he said, with just a hint of his customary drawl.

I didn't answer. Shevreath tried again.

"You have quite a collection of books here," he said, walking about the room with his hands behind his back.

"Yes," I said. Shevreath glanced at me quickly, then looked away, examining a biography of a queen from three hundred years ago.

"I see I am going to have to be straight forward, and forgive me if I sound rude," he said, turning towards me again. He really did sound apologetic, every trace of the drawl gone, he even sounded regretful.

"Well, go on," I said rather sharply, then regretted it. He was being rather nice, and all he get's is a sharp reply from a prejudice countess.

"Why do hate me?"

The question was simple, but I found it exceedingly hard to answer.

"I don't hate-" I faltered, not meeting his eyes, "I just-" I stopped abruptly. I looked up suddenly, realizing something I felt I should have realized a long time ago. Shevreath looked at me questioningly, perfectly reading my face, but not guessing where my shock was based. I couldn't say anything, I just looked at him, then at my book, but not really seeing it. Shevreath must have realized I wasn't going to say anything more, because he slowly turned away and walked out of the room. It took me a full candle of just sitting in the library for me to fully comprehend the fact that I, the bare-foot countess of Tlanth, was in love with the Marquis of Shevreath.

I know this is really short, the next chapter will be longer. What did you think? Please comment!