They were silent as they waited for the stars to be fully out, without even a hint of sunlight. Kade stood by the curtains peeking outside every once in a while. Ledus sat on the pillows braiding and un-braiding strands of his hair. He watched Kade curiously. Even though Kade was an intimidating man, Ledus couldn’t help but think he was handsome. Even though he was easily able to take out Tyel, the strongest person Ledus knew, Ledus still felt a sense of safety around him. There was also the warmth. It was like nothing Ledus had ever felt before, it felt as though the warmth actually started to grow from within himself and not from an outside source. But what weighed heavier on his mind was: “If I see the stars tonight, will that be the same as accepting Kade as...what did he say, ‘destined partner’? I mean, I don’t even know him...even if I did want to be with him, Jarin would never allow it.” Kade noticed Ledus watching him and smiled gently. Ledus turned bright red and swiftly looked away.

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It was just about midnight when Kade called Ledus over to him. Ledus scurried excitedly over pulling his cloak tightly around himself. “Ready?” Kade asked in an inviting, reassuring voice. Ledus was too anxious to speak. He simply nodded his head and stepped close to Kade as he followed him behind the curtain and out the balcony door. The cold night air bit at his face but other than that he felt completely fine.

His eyes took a moment to adjust to the darkness but when he looked up into the sky he finally saw the stars. Their beauty was beyond what he could have ever imagined. Not a single painting did them justice. “Happy Birthday Ledus.” Kade whispered from behind him, wrapping his arms around the small boy. Ledus began to cry but for the first time in his life, his tears were due to happiness.

They stayed outside for a while just sitting and looking at the stars. Kade told Ledus stories about the stars and taught him some of their names. “Ledus, do you see that purple star just there in the north?” Ledus nodded, “It’s called Mershin. That’s the star my people follow to return home.” Ledus glanced back at him.

“You can use the stars to go home?” Kade simply chuckled and nodded his head. Even as Ledus sat there, watching the stars, he couldn’t believe he was actually seeing them, that it wasn’t a dream. He dreaded the thought that at any moment he would wake up in his bed stuck in the same locked up world he had always been in. He pressed against Kade, just listening to his deep, calming voice, staring at the gorgeous glittering stars, and feeling Kade’s warmth. “If this is indeed a dream, I hope I never wake up.”