The Legend of Sol, Titan, and Morgan: Splinters

The paladin had fled. Of all the things that could have happened, somehow this felt like the worst to Morgan: her paladin had become frightened, and abandoned the battle.
Part of her was outraged. Part of her was ashamed of him, and of herself for having been so adamant that the stallion come with them. And part of her - perhaps the worst and best part of her, she reflected - wanted to forgive and reassure him.To tell him that everything was all right, to bring him back into the fold, to let him know that she did not blame him.
But that would be a lie, in many ways: she found herself seething and stewing, just Sol was disgusted and angry, and had already lectured Morgan on her 'choice of companions.' Titan, meanwhile, tried to be reassuring, and to point out that while they all felt young... they themselves were ponies who had many, many years of experience, while the paladin was a young stallion who had yet to grow strong, who was not yet ready to face the evils it was second nature for they three heroes to endure.
Morgan agreed with this wisdom, for she loved the paladin deeply. She believed he was truly a good pony, and he would be strong, given time and chance... even if part of her was troubled, and angry, and feared that this was only the first in what would prove a long string of disappointments.
She found the paladin back at their camp. He was ashamed and dishonored, doing the duties of an apprentice as one of the elders of his order berated him. For he had carried the weight and nobility of the Templars with him when he had strode into battle... then promptly dishonored them when he'd fled, crying, from the Tyrant Wyrm.
But Morgan came to his defense, asking for her paladin, and telling the elder that he had been brave and strong when they had first entered the battle. That his help had been invaluable and he had faced great evil. The paladin was  embarrassed, but grateful, and Morgan smiled to see him happy... even if part of her twisted in shame as she felt that she was deceiving both herself and someone else.
She helped her paladin finish his chore, then took him aside. She meant to chastise him and speak to him; instead, they kissed, and shared romance and intimacy in the privacy of the forest.
She loved him. He loved her.
But love can make the very best of us blind.