"Because I can take care of myself!" She snapped.

This was EXACTLY why she hadn't told them.

"I have full belief that you can take care of yourself... sometimes. But somethings need help. A bleeding heart? Probably needs help."

"I have done everything possible."

"Well, everything except ask others for help." D'Artigo approached closer so that he was within arms length of Miv. "I'm not saying this to chastise you, I'm saying this because I want to help people. It's what I do."

"Please don't tell anyone..." Miv rushed foreward and hugged him. "I'm supposed to be strong..." She started crying.

D'Artigo slides his arms around Miv's waist as she embraces him. She simply had a desire to be strong, like he had. The women of today were much less open than they had been. His job was more difficult now because of it. But Miv was now his responsibility.

"Miv,darling, you should know me better than that. You are strong, but nobody's invincible. Help leads to a kind of love, and as I've said, love makes the world go around. I'm here to help you. Your secret is safe with me Pale Rose. No need to worry."

Miv nodded and stepped away. "Thank you." She put her guards back up, hiding what she truly felt.

D'Artigo sighed. She was strong, and would take some time to break to his whims. But it would happen.

"So, my queen, where do we go now?"

"I don't even know anymore." Miv sighed. Some part of her wanted to be defensless and let him take the lead. But she had to be strong: it was in her blood.

"Well, in that case, let me rephrase my question."

"My queen, what do you want to do now?"

"I want to form a new town for my people, but that would take a long time. What do you want to do?"

"What do I want to do? I want to serve the queen in any way I can. You're the one who rallied us together to do this quest. I would've thought you had a bit of a plan. But if you don't, then we'll have to find one, now won't we? It can't be too hard to find something that could benefit us."

Miv closed her eyes and sighed. "Well, inspire me. I have no ideas."

"You're a leader Miv. You have to decide what will be good for the people, now. And the people need someone to look forward. You have to think of one thing that can be good for both you and those around you. And you need to be decisive. Hunt down the enemy? Fine. Look for survivors? Also good. But your choice needs to be yours, and yours alone. I may seem like a nuisance, but I'm doing my job. It's time to do yours."

After a short pause, D'Artigo adds an extravagant bow and says, "Milady."

Miv sighed again and brushed back her bangs. "Why... don't we go find a town? Survivors are bound to be there."