Frost and the others stood looking at Merry.  "Is he really going 
to go back to Andais?" Galen finally asked.



"Someone attacked her.  She apparently doesn't feel safe." Frost 
answered.


 
"And she is bored with the guards she has in her bed now," Merry 
retorted.  "Give me time to figure this out.  I'll find a way to 
keep Doyle here."  



"Who goes with you today, Merry?"  Rhys asked.  "Doyle didn't say."


 
"Who stood guard last night?" She began to move around her bedroom, 
pulling clothes from her dresser and closet.


 
"Galen, Nicca and I split up our watches three way.  That way, we 
each get some sleep.  We were outside.  Doyle had the inside 
watch." Rhys answered.



"Considering the queen's news, I'd say everyone except Doyle."  She 
headed towards the bathroom.  "Now out, so I can get ready."


 
Everyone exited except Frost.  He closed the door behind them.


 
"Merry?" he asked softly.  He had seen the tension in her movements.


 
She turned to him and wrapped her arms around him.  "I was so 
scared, Frost.  When she said your name.  I don't want Doyle to go, 
but if you had gone, and I'm not pregnant yet...  it would have taken 
you out of the running."



"I'm still here, Merry."  He held her to him for a moment.  "Doyle 
can't go back, Merry.  It will kill him.  He acted like it won't 
matter, but it will."  


 
He pulled her over to the bed, and sat down with her facing him.  
Then, he told her about the conversation he had had with Doyle in 
the living room.



"I agree, Frost.  I remember how he was in Andais court - something 
that scared the scary monsters there.  Now..."  her voice trailed 
off for a second.  "Who knew that he had a sence of humor?  Or that 
he liked to read?  I had never seen him smile before when I was at 
court.  Or socialize.  Or eat chocolate."  She added, remembering 
taking Doyle to the grocery store with her.  A large amount of 
items containing chocolate had gone home with them that day.  "He is 
not okay with this, is he?"


 
"No, Merry."


 
"Stay home with him, Frost.  I know you are the only one he ever 
considered a friend.  I am only going to the office.  If I have to 
go someplace else, I will call and come get you two first."


 
"Thank you," he smiled.  He hadn't had to ask.  He leaned over and 
kissed her, then left her to get ready for work.


 
Frost walked down the hall to the room he shared with Doyle.  He 
knocked softly on the door then went in.  Doyle was laying on his 
stomache on his bed.  Frost went and sat down on the bed next to 
him.  He noticed the single tear that ran down the side of Doyle's 
face.  Frost sat there, while he listened to the others shower and 
leave.


 
"I couldn't let you go."  Doyle finally said.


 
"You can't go, either.  For a thousand years, only I have seen the 
side of you that does not involve death.  Here, you can finally be 
something more without fear of it getting you killed,"  Frost stood 
and paced the room.  Doyle sat up on his bed, scooting back so that 
he was in a corner of the room.


 
"I haven't forgotten the night she tortured you for the fun of it.  
You had done nothing, Frost!  What do you think Andias meant when 
she said I had a higher tolerance to pain?  To put you back in her 
clutches, to know that you would also lose Merry because someone 
else would get her pregnant.  No!  I couldn't let it happen."



"How do we keep you from going?"  Frost asked.  


 
"We don't.  I will survive.  And I will not be chained to the court 
constantly.  I never was.  That is what kept me sane before.  And 
we can get two more Ravens out.  We have to think of that.  I can go 
back, if two can leave there.  Barinthus and I can do a lot for 
Meredith at Court."


 
"And what about when Cel gets out?" 


 
Doyle looked at him.


 
"You were there when the Queen changed his sentence to six months.  
You and Sholto are the two that spoke against him before the 
court.  He will not just be content to let you walk around the Court, 
Doyle.  Sholto lives with the Hunt rather than at the Court.  He is 
only at the Court when the Queen sends for him and for the feasts.  
You would be there constantly.  I know you can take care of yourself, 
but if he starts to have his followers challenge you eventually you 
will get hurt.  Then he would have you killed somehow."


 
"You do not give me enough credit, Frost."


 
"I don't want you killed, Doyle."


 
Frost returned to sit on the edge of Doyle's bed.  "I know you 
loved the Queen.  I know she values you too much to permantely damage 
you.  But if she has chosen you for her bed again, then it will be 
for twenty-seven years.  It will mean that she will insist on you 
staying a part of her guard even when Merry becomes Queen.  You will 
never be free of Andais, Doyle.  She will treat you as less than a 
person forever.  She would be free to hurt you and make you act out 
whatever twisted desire she had.  It has been a thousand years since 
you where in her bed.  I swore I'd never mention it, but we both know 
you still have nightmares from it."



"Frost, you are my friend.  You and perhaps Meredith.  I know you 
don't want this to happen.  We can't change it, Frost.  We can't."  
Doyle scooted back down onto his bed.  "I'm tired, Frost.  I was on 
watch all night.  I need to sleep."


 
Frost nodded.  He stood and walked towards the door.  He looked 
back at Doyle.  "Thank you, my friend.  I couldn't have left Merry 
here to go back."  He left the room, closing the door behind him.



Frost went into the kitchen and took the portable phone off the 
hook.  Carrying it into the living room he tried to read an article 
from a magazine.  After twenty minutes, he gave up.  Yawning, he 
headed back to his room.  Doyle had stripped and was asleep, on his 
stomache.  Frost sat the phone on the nightstand and put the 
blanket that was on the floor at the end of Doyle's bed over him.  He 
turned and climbed into his bed.  He layed there for a moment 
watching Doyle sleep, then fell a sleep himself.