* * * * *

(You’re right, he must get his job and show some emotional constipation before meeting araliah so soon! So. He get’s uncles house. Doesn’t do anything about it for a while because he get’s notice that one of the ‘positions’ he asked for with a regiment of a thing like the army came through and he’s off to fight. He kills two men, two men he never knew and has to deal with it. He isn’t good at dealing. Laithlyn still has his eye on him. After a few months Mikael get’s to go home. Something happens and they don’t need him anymore but he now has some experience and contacts so he’s ok and thinks he can easily get another position. I'd like to add Mikael things into what you've written, his being watched by monky people, his looking for positions and being manouvered into takig certain ones where he can be 'tested' I think there's something prophecised that he has to show that he is... tests. Lots of tests.)

Mikael held his sword up for his inspection in front of him. After many hours of scouring, the dried bloodstains left on his sword from the day before were no longer visible. A warrior’s sword reflects his skill, he heard one of his old masters saying in his head, as he had so many times in the years before, a sloppy clean up job reflects a sloppy, careless fighting form and disregard for the wellbeing of his weapon. After the job he had just pulled on this sword that he had made his first kill upon, Mikael doubted that even his old master could have found fault here. (he names his sword somewhere around here, but I can’t grasp the name)

After placing his sword on one of the shelves in the armory, Mikael left the room in this house that he now owned. At mid morn, he had made his way down the main street, across the road to where his visitors from earlier that morning placed their trade. They had then shown him down to this estate, which he soon came to remember had belonged to an old friend of his mother’s, but one he had never known to be a relative of their family. Now all that had once belonged to him, was in Mikael’s name.

Upon reassuring the butler and housekeeper, a kindly elderly couple who had lived and worked within the house for many years, of their continuing jobs here, and taking his horse to the stables to be brushed down and groomed after such demanding travels, by the hostler there, Mikael took it upon himself to explore the surrounding lands in full. Although grossly overgrown, the sights of these lands had filled Mikael with nostalgia of his own youth. He had remembered places where he’d cantered bare back on his father’s horses, played with sticks against imaginary, invisible foes, and had just simply run free, away from the troubles and problems that lay within the house that had so contained him for so many years.

That hovel had been the place where he had found shelter and discipline, but it had been within these lands where he had found himself at home. This had been where he had really lived during those years, free to be whatever he willed without judgement or punishment.

Dragging himself back from his reverie with a slight shake of the head, he found himself standing on the old back porch, looking far over the grounds surrounding him. This was possibly the best place in whole property for an overview of most of the estate. His eyes narrowed as his eye caught something out of place within it. A girl, a small girl, was wondering hurriedly through his vineyards a little way off, pausing for a little while to put things in the basket she carried with her, before moving on once again and repeating the process. She was stealing from his lands!

“Hey!” he called out loudly, already moving forward, “Hey, what do you think you’re doing?”

The girl’s head spun around, his voice had carried along the wind to her ear. Her hand stopped mid-berry picking and her eyes widened, before she dropped the basket abruptly onto the ground, where picked berries spilled out everywhere. Heedless to that, she picked up her skirts and began to run.

“Hey!” Mikael called again uselessly, before changing his tactic and running towards the stables. “Saddle me up your swiftest horse,” Mikael commanded one of the stable boys, not trusting his own horse’s speed after his recent trials, and not wanting to risk losing the little thief. In minutes this was done, and once again, Mikael sped out of the stables, this time on horseback.

Scanning over the hedges, Mikael caught sight of a fleeing section of blue material, which had been the color of the dress the girl had been wearing as she had begun her runaway. He followed closely and ever gaining on his quarry. Hearing the hoof beats behind her, the girl’s head turned to look behind her, as she continued to run, before, with a violent expletive and no warning, she cut into one of the hedges to her right, still at high speed.

Having not anticipated this action, Mikael, still on top of his horse, continued on the path they had been formerly been travelling. Seeing this a futile, due to the girl’s latest detour, he reined the horse to a stop, before jumping off and following the girl by foot, thinking the horse disciplined enough to wait there until his return with the girl.

The bright color of her skirt continued to give her away throughout the ensuing chase, where she swerved back and forth through the hedges, making her best attempts to lose him from her trail. Along the way, Mikael was able to step back from the chase enough to know that she may have succeeded at this project many a time, had it not been for the bright flag of her clothing. He was also able to find a thrilling exhilaration in the chase, an excitement which he only then realised had been sorely lacking from his life in recent years.

Only scant meters between them now, Mikael heightened his speed just enough to be able to reach her around the waist and drag her to the ground with him, with an exhalant, “Got you!”

An unladylike ‘oomph!’ was emitted from her as she fell, although more unladylike words were to follow, on the subject of this ridiculous contraption that she was wearing, how impractical it was, that it was supposed to help her cause, not hinder her as it had! Stunned by the curses coming from her mouth, the foulness of some even he had not encountered before recent years, Mikael rolled her onto her back, holding her down by the shoulders, regarding her with stunned disbelief.

“What are you looking at, you foul smelling, repugnant oaf? Get your hands of me right now, loathsome bastard!” she said with her chin firmly in the air, carrying an air of pride that Mikael had to respect, given her position on the ground underneath him. Still, he was confused as to her station. An air such as this would indicate nobility, or the like, but these words coming forth from her mouth would have no difficulty in making a sailor blush, not the type of language that a noble lady would ever come across. This intrigued him, and a sly grin came over his features in fun.

“Well, that’s certainly an extensive grasp of the language that you have there,” he commented mildly, “But what exactly do you think gives you the right to order me around such? Especially since it’s a given that these are my lands that we are on. Lands that your were stealing from.”

“That wasn’t stealing, it was…” her head moved around slightly, as she searched for a word, keeping her eyes all the while, firmly locked on his. She would have to have been at least 4 or 5 years his junior, although, like himself, had appeared to see a lot of the world by this early age. “…Borrowing,” she settled on finally. “And what right do you have to judge me, anyway, repulsive slug! You know nothing of me, nor could you, living such a pampered life as you do. I bet you’ve never even done a full day’s work, have you, lazy ingrate! That’s what you have servants for, naturally.”

“For someone lecturing on judgements made, you’ve sure made a lot of those yourself,” Mikael said, taking the insults in stride, the words not bothering him in the slightest since he was in the position to know the untruth of them. “Why don’t you try to explain to me why it is that you are so worse off.”

“I have no need to explain myself to you, or to anyone else!” the girl stated, giving a good impression of being highly affronted. “Now let me up. You’ve had your fun, you chauvinistic male pig!”

“Well, you obviously don’t know much about men, if you think that their fun could be expended by this point!” Mikael said, making an effort to sound leering, wanting to scare her out of this attitude she had going.

“You dare touch me, foul, repulsive, nauseating, pig guts, and I will slit you from inside, out, and watch with glee as your life blood flows swiftly from that bloody wound, opened at my hands, laugh at your pain, then spit on your dirty, rotting corpse that reflects such a dishonorable heel of a lowly life scum!”

It had gone far enough, Mikael decided, there was no point in scaring her further. He would never get the answers that he wanted from her in this way. Sighing, he stood up and reached a hand down to the girl where she lay prone on the ground. She only looked up suspiciously at his outstretched hand as if it were a trap.

“If you continue to lie down there in the dirt, I will be forced to heave you up over my shoulder, so that your pretty dress isn’t further ruined than it already is,” Mikael said reasonably.

“It’s not my dress,” the girl said, with no less obstinacy, as she picked herself off of the ground, ignoring the hand offered to her.

Mikael merely put it back at his side with a shrug, before turning and saying over his shoulder, “Well, it’s a good thing that you were wearing that dress that is not yours, for I surely would have lost you if you had not been. Come along.”

“Hey, wait a minute! What do you mean you would have lost me if I had not been wearing this dress?” she asked plaintively, hurrying after him to get her answer.

“I mean merely that it was only the color of the fabric that kept standing out to me as I ran after you though these hedges. If you hadn’t been wearing it, then I surely would not have been able to keep up with you as I did,” Mikael said, with a smile that she didn’t see, as she launched into another load of expletives, just like he’d known she would.

She continued to trail behind him until they reached the edge of the hedges, to where the horse Mikael had ridden on to get this far waited, at which point she stopped dead still.

“It’s going to be a little difficult for you to get up on the horse from all the way over there,” Mikael commented, turning around again to face her. “Or could it be that you are in need of help to get up onto the horse and are too proud to ask for it?”

“Even the youngest of babes can get themselves onto a horse in this day,” the girl said scornfully, “But do not kid yourself that I will be going anywhere that you would take me on that animal.”

“Oh no? Then where, I prey you, do you think yourself to be going?” Mikael asked in a silky voice.

“That, sir, is none of your concern,” the girl said, using the title scathingly.

“Well, pardon me for disagreeing, but there is still the matter of your thievery to be discussed,” Mikael reminded her. “You did not think that I came all this way after you just to let you go on your own way without any answers, do you? You owe me this much.”

“I owe you nothing!” the girl spat.

“Then that is another matter that we will discuss when we are back to my house,” Mikael said in a compromising manner. “Now, I will ask you again, will you get up on this horse unassisted, or will you need my help at doing it?”

Muttering a series of dirty names under her breath, and offering a sniff of distaste, the girl maintained her proud stance as she pulled herself onto the horse’s back, Mikael doing the same after her. It wasn’t until he had turned the horse around to begin directing them all back to his home that he spoke again.

“You know, you have still not given me a name to call you by,” he said, with his eyes still on the path ahead.

“And what business is that of yours?” the girl asked stubbornly.

“Let’s just say that I like to know something about those who would thieve from my lands,” Mikael said, having learnt that referring that this event had a way of deflating his young companion slightly.

There was silence behind him for a while, stretching so far as for Mikael to turn around to face her, eyebrows raised.

“It’s Araliah, okay,” the girl said, pouting at this small concession.

“There now, that wasn’t so hard, was it?” Mikael said, turning back to the front again, “Unless of course, you have given me a false name. I can tell you now that I would not take lightly to such a deception being spoken to my face. But of course, you already understand that, don’t you?”

“I have not lied to you!” Araliah said, highly insulted that he would make a liar out of her.

“Then that is well,” Mikael said with finality, and that was the last word to be spoken on their ride back home.

After returning the horse to the stables, Mikael brought Araliah in with him to the house. It was the housekeeper, Marion, who greeted them at the backdoor.

“Oh my!” she said, surprised at Mikael’s sudden appearance, and at the arrival of the young lady he had brought home with him. It was only seconds later that she realised the state of their clothing. “My, what has happened to your clothes?”

Looking down at himself, and then at Araliah, Mikael realised, with a small smile, what had so flustered his new housekeeper. He was willing to bet that his great uncle before him had never come home in such a state, or with a strange woman who was in a similar state, at least, not until they had gotten to know each other and gotten used to each other.

“Marion, would you mind terribly much going up stairs and seeing what you can find in the way of clean dresses that would fit this young lady?” Mikael asked politely, trying his best to keep a straight face.

“Certainly sir,” the housekeeper replied, eager to please, through her thinly concealed bafflement, “Will there be anything else?”

“A dress?” Araliah asked, as though thoroughly offended, “It’s bad enough that I had to wear this one! Not to mention the trouble it caused. I’d much rather breeches and a shirt or nothing at all!”

Mikael tried to swallow a laugh at the look on his housekeeper’s face at Araliah’s mention of trouble that the dress caused. He couldn’t remember having so much fun in years. Still, he turned back to the housekeeper, with what he hoped was a straight face, and said, “You heard the young lady. A shirt and breeches it is.”

“Yes sir,” the housekeeper said, more subdued this time, as she walked through the door as she disappeared around the corner to go up the stairs.

“It’s sure going to be interesting living here after that little episode,” Mikael said to himself, ushering Araliah inside and closing the door behind them both.

“Why interesting?” Araliah asked suspiciously, “And why are you offering me new clothes like this? What’s wrong with them?”

“Most certainly nothing will be wrong with them. Marion wouldn’t even consider bringing them down here if there was. As to it being interesting around here now…” Mikael paused to look at his young companion. She showed no comprehension of what he was trying to say. “Well surely you must have noticed the way that she…how she was…” Mikael stopped trying to hedge, suddenly realising how ridiculous that he was trying to find a nice way of saying it after the words that he’d been hearing come out of her mouth. “She thinks that we had sex with each other out in the grounds.”

One very distinct blink accompanied with the dropping of her jaw was Araliah’s reaction to these words, so bluntly put to her. She tried to make sense of what he was trying to tell her, then tried again, before shaking her head and saying, “What? I mean, isn’t there something that you can do about it?”

“What would you have me do?” Mikael asked, amused, “To her, the disarray of both of our clothing would be much more evidence than anything I could say to dispute it. If I were to try, she would merely utter a small, ‘Yes sir’, and go on believing it anyway.”

“But…but it’s not true,” Araliah said, stammering in her heightening worry. “I mean, we didn’t, at all!”

“Hey, calm down,” Mikael said gently, “Whatever she believes, she will be discreet about it, I promise you.” Silently, however, he was quite at a loss as to why this situation would bother her so much. “Come, let us sit down while we wait for her to come back. We still have quite a lot of talking to do, if you forget why it is that you are here in the first place.”

Numbly, Araliah followed Mikael to the couches in the living room, and sat down across from him, with the small coffee table between them.

“Now, Aralyn,” Mikael said, mispronouncing her name deliberately so as to detect if a lie had been told to him whilst they had been riding together on the horse, “You have caused me much running and inconvenience after your thievery today, but also much fun and laughter, the like of which has been absent from my life for entirely too long. It is because of this that I have an interest in what has happened to you, that you would resort to taking from my property as you did.”

“I did not take from your property!” Araliah insisted, before saying, “At least, I did, but…” here, she sighed, “You just can’t understand. I told you this already when we were outside,” she said, catching him with her eye, “And likewise I have already told you that my name is Araliah.”

Good, Mikael thought to himself, at least that was one less thing he had to worry about. He went on to another thing she continued to mention. “Who are you to tell me what I will and won’t understand?” Mikael asked of her, “You cannot know what has happened throughout the course of my life any more than I can understand what has gone on through yours. Now will you tell me?”

Araliah continued to sit where she was with a mulish expression on her face, and maintained her silence.

“Very well,” Mikael said, “I’ll just call Antony to see that he informs the local law enforcers of the thief I am containing in my living room, least she thieve from anyone else.”

“I didn’t mean to steal from you,” Araliah said so softly that Mikael almost didn’t hear it. He narrowed his eyes as he realised that for the first time since he had first begun to speak with, or spar with this young girl, she was devoid of any biting insult or sarcasm. “Look, this is what happened…”

As Aralyrâh launched into her explanation, Mikael watched closely her facial expression, testing for any level of untruth she may still attempt to tell him. However, as her story continued, it became apparent to Mikael that Araliah had finally realised that this was as far as she could go with the bravado that she had kept close by throughout their encounter thus far.

Araliah story included that of her place in her poor father’s house, amongst her 4 brothers, both older and younger than herself. Being quite the worse for money, her father expected his sons to find work in the way of heavy labor, the funds earned from these duties to be collected by him to help pay the household along. It had always disgusted and disappointed him that his second eldest child had been a lowly female, unfit to complete any of the chores required to be done, and utterly useless until she came of age and was to be given away to a marriage which would hopefully secure a good investment for the family.

Through all of her childhood, Araliah had been kept in a constant state of awareness of the disappointment she represented. As she grew older, so too did her brothers, who all followed in her father’s views, bar her youngest brother. She suffered much violence at their hands, as they tried to ‘toughen her up’, without ever facing chastisement from their parents. Once she had gone to her youngest brother, thinking to find refuge or charity from the rest of her hateful family, but beginning to speak with him, she had found herself hit across the face, and told under no uncertain terms that although he did not find enjoyment in the routine actions against her, he hardly thought enough of her to stand up for her and risk the danger to his own standing within the family.

In a protective action, she quickly endeavored to change both look and appearance to better herself in her father’s eyes, and so that she may be able to better defend herself against her brothers. While this had somewhat lessened the abuse faced to her at the hands of her other two younger brothers, the one who was 2 years older than her was a true bully, taken specially under his father’s wing as the one who would carry on in his ways after him, and had often reduced his younger sister to hiding for days away from the house on their father’s lands to escape him.

The final straw that had lead to her running away on this day had arrived that morning in the form of her mother coming into her room carrying with her a dress of the like Aralyrâh had never seen in their family, the dress which had so stood out when Mikael had first noticed her.

“Call it an investment, if you will,” her mother’s soft voice had instructed her, “Today is the day when you will meet your future husband. You father has had it all arranged. The marriage will be in two days hence. You shall have the whole day to prepare, water will be brought up to your room presently with which you may bathe. Please do not leave your room. You will only find needless trouble for yourself if you do.”

It was in that sentence that Aralyrâh had realised beyond a doubt that her mother had known all these years of the torment faced to her only daughter had had never made a move against it. The fact that there could have been only very little her mother could have done did not matter to her in that moment, as the reality of an undesired marriage to an unknown chosen by her father crashed into her mind. Years and more endless years of this same torment would be what she undoubtedly faced if she did not make the move to escape now, and so, donning the dress, a plan started to form in Aralyrâh’s mind.

“I had intended to pass myself off as a respectable young woman looking for work,” she explained then to Mikael, “Only…it didn’t all work out as I had planned.” Her tone was quite rueful here.

Even with her state of dress, it was obvious through the five minute job that Aralyrâh had made to dress herself up that she was not a high born lady, and most had merely turned up their noses at her presumptuousness and evident lack of grace, while others had sent her own her way using far cruder methods.

“I was hungry,” Aralyrâh told him, beseeching him to understand her plight, “There seemed no other place to go, and then when I was told of your vineyard, and then saw the size of it…I thought that you would surely not notice if some of your stock were to go missing. I guess I was wrong in that as well.”

Mikael watched this girl in front of him, as she went through her explanations without any facade or pretence, and realised then that this might be the one and only time that he ever saw her thus unguarded. Knowing it for the leap of blind faith and trust in him that it was, Mikael’s heart went out to her.

“You know what? I might be crazy, but I actually believe your story,” Mikael said, as she finished, not wanting her to get too comfortable just yet, but backing off slightly from her quelling glare. “Okay, okay, what do you say about this? I’m going to offer you a place in my home, where you can live and eat, own some decent clothes to put on your back. Hell, I’ll even get Marion to fix you up good and well so as you’ll be fit to get the highest class job in the town, and all you have to do is say yes and try not to make life more difficult than you can help while you are living under this roof.”

“What’s the catch?” Araliah asked, her suspicions and defences well aroused once more, with little more than a second’s delay.

“Catch? There is no catch!” Mikael said, acting affronted at the very suggestion.

“Alright, then what’s in it for you?” Araliah asked, her gaze narrowed on his expectantly.

“Can’t a guy just want for a little bit of female companionship without being accused of all sorts of deceitful motives?” Mikael asked, then when this did not appear to soften her, he said, “Oh, alright. Look, I really don’t know why I’m doing this. You’re probably going to be much more trouble than you’re worth, but for some reason I find myself consumed by this masochistic urge to welcome you into my home anyway. Of course, I might change my mind at anytime, so if you want this chance, I suggest that you take it pretty quickly, otherwise…”

“Alright, alright, I accept!” Araliah said, with uncharacteristic haste, “But only while it suits me. And this doesn’t mean that I like you!”

“Then we understand each other,” Mikael said, pleased with the result of this day, “And it is settled. You will now be living here, until such a time that more idealistic arrangements can be made. Can I offer you anything to drink? To eat?” As Araliah’s eyes lighted up at the mention of food, Mikael allowed himself a small smile and called out to the Antony. “If you could arrange for some platters of food to be brought out for myself and the lady, we would both be much appreciative,” he said to him, then directing to Marion, who was found not too far behind, keeping a keen ear over the happenings of the household, he said, “Could you please ensure that a bedroom be made up and ready to be used tonight?” With identical nods of understanding and compliance, although Marion’s having a slightly more inquisitive edge to it, husband and wife soon left the room to carry out those chores which were expected of them.

“Come,” Mikael said, standing up and extending his hand out to Araliah, who still remained seated, “Let me give you the grand tour of my humble abode.”

Glancing suspiciously at the outstretched hand in front of her, Araliah slowly extended her own to fit into his, looking warily into his eyes as she did so. Once they were both standing, Mikael dropped her hand, and started walking around the corner of the parlour, clearly expecting her to follow in suit. He showed her the bookcases behind the stairs, revealing a vast library of books to be read at her leisure, if she so wished, (remember later to have the scene where she admits in frustration that she was never taught how to read) the dining area, which lead on into the kitchen, a place best not to intrude upon while cooking was being done in there. He led her up the stairs, opened the doors to the bathroom, study, more than one spare room, his own bedroom, and finally, the room that they saw Marion had made ready for Araliah’s stay with them.

“If you would like, I can leave you in here for a while so you may get yourself comfortable within your surroundings,” Mikael offered.

Araliah, still agape at the quality of this room she was to be given, one much surpassing any other that she had ever come across, merely turned wide eyes to him and regarded him speechlessly. Mikael cracked a small smile of pleasure and amusement at the awe she exhibited over his own lodgings, which had become so normal to him so quickly.

“I will come up here with dinner when it is ready,” he told her indulgently, walking back up to the door of the bedroom, and closing it quietly behind him, so as not to disturb her with his retreat.

It was not long after, when Mikael was sitting back in his couch reading and his butler came out to inform him that tea was now ready, and where would it please him to have it served. To Antony’s surprise, Mikael put down his book and requested that the meal be given to him to take up to Araliah’s room. With a mild, “As you wish, sir,” the platter was soon given to Mikael, and he returned to the door of Araliah’s bedroom.

When at first, Araliah didn’t answer his knocking, Mikael thought that she may have had it in mind to be coy or just plain difficult. When calling out her name a few times still got no response, Mikael balanced the plate of food on one hand and tried the door. He found it unlocked, and slowly attempted to open it.

Expecting to find her glaring or ignoring him, Mikael was quite surprised when, looking around the room for her, he found her asleep on the middle of the large bed, her blonde hair splayed all about her head, her hand close to her face, and her face devoid of all the defences that she seemed so very attached to. He watched her like that for a moment, before setting down the platter of food on the table beside the door, and excusing himself from the room once more, without her knowing he had ever been there.

* * * * *

Araliah closed her eyes again, after opening them a crack and deciding it was far too early in the morning to be rising. In the next instant, Araliah was sitting upright in a strange bed, her eyes wide and awake as they took in the surroundings of this new room she had awoken to find herself in. Sitting ramrod straight, and fearful of moving a muscle, least she set something off in this strange alternate universe she was in, only her eye balls moved, searching for something familiar, searching for…

All at once she collapsed back down onto the bed, suddenly feeling rather foolish as the events of the day before washed over her. Feeling grateful that the disorientation she had felt had only lasted a second, and not long enough by far to allow Mikael to walk into the room and find her sitting there like a complete dolt, Araliah changed her mind about the earliness of the morning and made the move to get out of bed.

Food. After having eaten hardly at all the day before, and what she had eaten having been scared out of her by the following chase which had lead her here, Araliah was drawn to the platter of food left on the table like a moth to the flame. It was exquisite, nothing at all like the leftovers she had been given back at home when her brothers had finished their fill and given whatever was left to her. No, this was an absolutely delightful array of treats, designed to explode on the tongue, and Araliah wolfed down more than her fair share.

Emitting a short burp, Araliah covered her mouth with a shaking hand, a giggle, and a smile on her lips as wide as the room. This was amazing. Simply amazing! How her whole life could have turned so significantly in the space of one day was still far beyond her, but surely even further beyond her to look the gift horse in the mouth!

Doing a little spin on the spot, Araliah paused for a moment to speculate. Mikael had said the day before that she was a welcome guest to his land. That would then entitle her to the usage of those possessions found within it, would it not? Araliah’s eyes widened once more as she remembered the stables that she had glimpsed the day before, as they had been coming back inside.

Softly opening her bedroom door a crack, Araliah edged around it, careful not to make a noise that would send anyone over to her, so used to creeping around as she was. Closing the door with a quiet click, Araliah tiptoed across the door and down the stairs, outside the backdoor they had entered into the day before, after coming in from the stables, which were now her primary destination.

Breathing in the soft, cool morning air, Araliah happily made her way towards the stables, some part of her mind registering it as sort of strange that she had not yet been forced to confront any of her brothers yet this morning, on coming outside to this point. It was still kind of hard for her to make the transition of how very far away she was here from all that she had known even yesterday.

Slowly opening the stable doors, Araliah poked a curious head around the door to try to make out if anyone was about. Two stable hands were already up and tending to the horses, but regardless, biting her bottom lip, Araliah made her way across to the individual sections of the stable, trying as hard as she might to pass as though she fit in there.

Passing by, one of the horses poked out it’s nose to nuzzle against her shoulder. Spinning around in surprise, Araliah’s widened eyes relaxed somewhat, and a genuine smile came over her features as she doubled back to where the horse stood solitarily. Reaching out a cautious hand, Araliah softly petted the horse’s long, brown nose, looking into her soft chocolate brown eyes as she did so.

“Well aren’t you a sweetie?” Araliah asked her, immediately comfortable in the company of so gentle a horse.

“That’s funny, I hadn’t expected you to be an early riser,” a deep voice commented from behind her.

Again, Araliah reacted with shock which she quickly struggled to control, trying also to hide her consternation at being found talking to a horse. “Really!” she said haughtily, “Do you try to make it a habit to sneak up on people like that?”

“Nope, can’t say that I do,” Mikael said, walking over, still closer to her. “I guess you’re just special there!”

He grinned at her annoyance, deliberately attempting to provoke her. Araliah stuck her jaw out, and obstinately avoided eye contact with him, preferring to study a mud spot on the ground.

“How are you then this morning, old girl?” Mikael asked fondly, causing Araliah’s eyes to spring back up to him once again. Amusement crinkling the sides of his eyes, Mikael’s hand was also stretched out next to Araliah’s to pet the brown mare on the nose. The amusement she saw there told Araliah better than words that his words were been aimed to be taken as they had been by her. Oh why did he so insist on baiting her in such a way? Was this why she had been invited to stay on here?

Something in Araliah’s face must have given away the direction in which her thoughts were taking. Mikael’s eyes softened as they landed on her. If what she had told him the day before stood to truth, then maybe it was that she had reason to be as highly strung and on guard as he had so far seen her to be, with only the exception of when he had found her asleep, which she did still not know about, and which he was loathe to tell her about. Mayhap it would behoove him to cut her some slack while she was here, give her time to gain her bearing here and around him. He certainly wasn’t pulling down any barriers with what behavior he had been showing towards her during her stay here so far!

“Do you like horses?” he asked her neutrally, so that she might not think there was anything behind the question.

“Very much,” she replied warily.

“Have you ever ridden one before?”

Araliah laughed at the very thought of this question.

“I wish,” she answered almost bitterly, “But of course, first preference must go towards the big strong boys who bring in the money and the food. Even when there would be no use of them, they would make some up if I wanted a ride!”

“How would you like to go for a ride today?” Mikael asked, stretching out the olive branch to her, and inviting her to take it. “I mean, you’re not at home anymore, and you’re more than welcome to ride while you’re here. Bessie here seems quite taken with you already.”

“Bessie. Is that her name?” Araliah asked, looking wistfully at the soft mare.

“Yep. What do you say? She’s quite placid for a first ride on your own. We could go right now before breakfast if you would like.”

Araliah looked back and forth between Mikael and Bessie, torn by indecision. On the one hand, everything inside of her was calling to just scream out yes! But there was still the small voice inside of her which continued to hold a certain amount of reserve on the matter. She had been denied it so long that the sudden ease of the offer seemed almost too good to be true. But then, thinking about it, what part of the last 24 hours didn’t?

“You’re on!” Araliah said, with sudden decided bravado.

Mikael nodded with pleased approval, and called out for one of the stable boys to saddle both Bessie and his horse up. Minutes later, the two of them were at the door of the stable, both sitting astride of their horses. Mikael turned to Araliah.

“We’ll start slow, so as to warm the beasts up before we really get started. Is that okay with you?”

Araliah grinned in response, in full awareness of what Mikael was up to, but still answering with a calm and in control, “Sure, why not,” they started off for the morning.

* * * * *

(Araliah’s soreness after the horse ride. The easier comrade between them as they came back, another reference to Marion’s sensibilities concerning them, remember that she still had a ‘vivid’ tongue on her, she just doesn’t use it so much on Mikael any more, so much as to describe things, much to Antony and Marion’s future astonishment. Their firm thoughts of ‘if Mikael’s happy, we’re happy’ going towards their own grudging liking for her strange personality that grows on them both. Follow this with Mikael’s attempts to find Araliah a job within the town, the failed attempts and why, their arguments after said failures due to her language and obviously ‘different’ mannerisms. ‘would you have me act like someone else?’ she asks him. ‘why not, it could hardly come by any worse a result!’ is his response. However, the comrade from the horse ride remains in place, although nobody said that this volatile clash of personality dominance was going to be a smooth ride!)

* * * * *

(It was while Ara was complaining about the horse ride that Mikael received word that he would be going into battle again in a month or so. Not ‘the’ battle but a battle, Ara doesn’t understand at first and thinks she’ll be kicked out or something. He spends a lot of time working out her life as well as his own before he leaves. There is like, half a year where he goes off to fight, comes home, has an amazing, intense time with Ara then leaves again, this first time it’s for quite a while, they are fighting those from the third house and have to go far, after he comes back he has a few injuries and feels the need to get better with his general skills as he hadn’t been practicing things because his experience made him focus on only a few skills, they had a lot of nothing time while he was away for the men to hold mock tournaments and he realizes how slack he had been and how much more he needs to know. When he returns, for the first while although when he is paying attention to Ara he’s really paying attention when he’s not it’s like she doesn’t exist. They argue about it before he leaves again. You know more about their together time than I. (yes, this is all just to get me to the battle scene.... I need some time here) )

(Mikael helping her get a job and an acceptable name among people, one of the battles he fought in, being all but dead before having his ass saved by Laithlyn)

(Ok, the battle. I can do this. No I can’t. I’ll try after I get home again but I really don’t think I can write the notes for this yet. I want to but... I haven’t hit on something in the background of ‘why’ Laithlyn saves him. It’s a lot of trouble he goes to save him as well so it’s no little thing.. I need to know why, in detail)

* * * * *

Araliah came down the manor’s staircase for her morning meal, after awakening. Staring at the large table in the middle of the dining room, she noted again how quite empty it still seemed without Mikael’s loud presence there, as it had been for many months now. Because of correct etiquette, she had found trouble in even getting Antony to talk to her during meals, which had resulted in many a lonely meal.

“’Morning, ma’am,” Antony said, by way of greeting. Sometimes Araliah suspected that he put on this show of stuffiness to get to her, else to provoke her into trying to get him to break out of it. Of late, it had become almost a contest between them, one of the few entertainments that still amused Araliah. She knew that even through her somewhat shady past, the butler had developed a soft spot for her.

She greeted him in return with a smile, then asked hopefully, “Has there been any news of Mikael?”

“No miss,” Antony said, sounding almost sorry that he couldn’t give her better news, “None to speak of. Maybe on the morrow.”

“Oh well,” Araliah returned, striving for nonchalance, “Just the usual for breakfast, if you guys are serving that this morning?”

“Yes, of course, miss,” Antony said, with an inclination of his head, before turning stiffly back towards the kitchen.

Araliah began her restless pacing at his exit. It sometimes got so that she started to believe that Mikael would never be back here. She sighed, as she stopped to look absently out one of the front windows.

And stopped.

A small carriage was stopping outside of the land. Araliah’s full attention now focused on it, no longer only half alert. Years of comfort inside of this house may have dulled the street smarts she had acquired through her younger years, but she was sure that she could easily pull on them at any time that she found they were needed, like now.

As the side door to the carriage opened, and a strange man climbed out of it, Araliah began making her way towards the front entrance of the house. Upon opening the door, she saw that the man had bent around and was reaching back inside for something in the carriage. Araliah started out of the house, calling out behind her, the butler’s name in case help was needed.

“Excuse me, can I help you…?” Araliah started in a harsh, uncompromising tone, intended to show the stranger how out of place he was in front of this house that she thought herself in charge of until circumstances changed. It was aimed at the back of his head, until he turned around slightly to the side, and Araliah got a glimpse of what exactly the man had been reaching back into his carriage for.

“Mikael…” she whispered, her tough facade melting at the glimpse at the close friend she had not seen in so long, reaching out a hand to touch him on the face, before it occurred to her that something must be amiss for him to be arriving home in such a manner. “What is going on?” she demanded, once again, her attention focused on the man who was carrying Mikael.

“Are you his wife?” the man asked without looking at her.

“Yes,” Araliah answered distractedly, “What’s happened to him?”

“Would you mind if I took him inside?” the man asked, hinting towards the open door of the house, where Antony stood warily, his wife behind him.

“Oh, yes, of course!” Araliah said, hurrying behind the large man who now carried Mikael in front of her, “Marion, please show this man to Mikael’s room. Antony, inform the doctor of what has happened and get him over here as quickly as you can!” she called out, an edge of panic coming into her voice.

As each jumped to her commands, with worried glances over the master’s prone body, and each of their murmured ‘Yes miss’, Araliah followed, feeling quite useless, behind the stranger she had just let into her house with Mikael in his capable arms.

When Martha opened Mikael’s bedroom door, and the man lay Mikael on the large bed inside, Araliah grabbed his arm and pulled him around to face her, worry causing her not to bother wasting precious time on pleasantries which had been so painstakingly attempted to be drilled into her.

“Now tell me, what’s going on?” she demanded of him once again, without preamble.

The stranger’s eyes flashed surprise at this woman’s outspokenness, but masked it quickly in the next blink of the eye, as training dictated. By raising his chin marginally, and answering her in clipped tones, using no more words than what was needed, he let her know how out of line and above her station he considered her to be. “Your husband has been badly injured in battle. I took it upon myself to return him to his home lands, which I believe, are here.”

He raised his eyebrows in unspoken question, and properly subdued from the subtle warning, she only nodded. He went on.

“It is well that you commanded medical assistance be brought here as soon as possible, otherwise, I see there being little chance that he will survive this.”

“No,” Araliah breathed, looking at him in horror, then down at Mikael.

“I am sorry to be the one bringing this news. Your husband is a fine warrior, and I hope he’s strong enough to pull out of this sickness that has captured him with both hands. If you will excuse me now, I think I will take my leave from here. I will stay close by during this time. Send word to me in the town if there is any change in his condition.”

Araliah only nodded, bent over Mikael’s figure, willing him to open his eyes. When she realised that the stranger was awaiting a verbal response, she said, over her shoulder, “This I will do. I thank you on behalf of both…my husband and myself for the service you have done him. If you please, Marion will see you out.”

Marion, who had been standing quietly in the corner of the room leapt forward at this, leading the stiff stranger down the stairs he had previously carried Mikael up, and out of the front door, closing it only when he had climbed back into his carriage and started away.

“Miss Araliah, the physician has arrived,” Antony announced.

“Send him up,” Araliah said, from her post at the side of Mikael’s bed.

“Very well, miss,” Antony said, before turning to walk back to the front door and escort the physician to his new patient’s room.

Upon entering the room, the physician surveyed his new surroundings. Standing next to Araliah, he stroked his chin as he evaluated the situation. Soon enough, he turned to Araliah and said, “I’m going to have to ask you to leave me with him alone for a time, if that would be alright.”

Araliah’s eye’s widened at this question, then she shook her head, and said to him, “Of course, it would be fine!” She stood then, and stepped quietly out of the room, closing the door quietly behind her.

Seemingly endless nerve wrecking moments later, the physician let himself back out of the room, and his eyes searched the hall in front of him until they met Araliah’s.

“I have done all I can for him,” he told her, “He appears to have a couple of broken ribs and slight internal bleeding which should stop on it’s own. However, if it doesn’t, I will give you this for him,” the physician handed Araliah a small vile. “As for the broken ribs, they should set and heal of their own accord. I shall also give you this healing oil to massage lightly into his chest to help the process along. If it still doesn’t heal, call on me again and I will see what I can do. I do think that the worst is now past, though it will be some weeks until he is well enough to get up and do everything on his own again, no matter what he says. I know what these warrior types are like.”

Araliah gave a small smile at this. The physician lifted her chin with his fore finger in an almost fatherly manner.

“Cheer up. When he’s sitting up restlessly in bed, complaining to be let out, you shall wish once again for these quiet moments of his unconsciousness. Mark my words. I have seen it all before. Try not to worry yourself unduly, hmm?”

Araliah remembered those words weeks later when Mikael finally woke up.

“Ugh, I feel like I’ve drunk two dozen pints of the most alcoholic low standard tonic available in any of the taverns I’ve heard spoken of and probably many I haven’t. My mouth feels like a ball of tanbark, I think there’s a miniature marching band playing on the inside of my skull, and that woman I picked up at the inn was that man I offended come to get his own back, wasn’t it?”

All of this was murmured in slow, slurred tones, with his eyes just starting to flicker open to the brightness of the room towards the end of it. Araliah jumped up from her post to lower all the curtains in the room, making it easier for his eyes to adjust.

“Thanks doll. Say, where did I pick you up? You’re not that hooker I found wandering the streets the other night, are you? Man, what did you do to me? We must have had some night! Pity I can’t remember it. I’m sure you were good though. Have I paid you yet?”

“Open your eyes, you filthy pond scum, and see what’s really in front of you!” Araliah said, but even through the insult, she was unable to keep the affection from her voice, or the grin from her lips.

“Oh no! There’s only one person I know who is able to swear at me in such a manner with the assured knowledge that she’ll get away with it, not to mention, sounding not in the least bit intimidating as she does it! Yours would be the first voice I heard when I woke up from hell, wouldn’t it?” Mikael said, in a slow effort to taunt her, looking at her through narrowly squinted eyes. Then, trying to pull himself slightly more awake, he demanded weakly, “What in hell are you doing out here? I thought that I ordered you to stay back to look after my lands in my absence, but obviously my orders don’t mean any more to you than my land does.” “What are you talking about, you dolt. You’re back here, on your own lands, you know, the ones that I have stayed with, alone, for all the months that you’ve been gallivanting across the countryside on your brave, heroic quests that almost saw you dead!” Araliah informed him.

“What! Home?” Mikael said, this waking him up further, as he struggled to get up in one strong movement, “But the battlefields…!”

Araliah pushed him back down on the bed again, ignoring the pain in his ‘oomph!’ at the impact. “The battle fields have no further use for you right now,” she told him, her relief at seeing him conscious giving way to an uncompromising anger at the worry he had caused her. “Your friend brought you home, injured and almost dead. You’ve been lying here unconscious for weeks now, and god only knows how much longer before that. And by the gods, you will be lying down here on this bed for weeks to come, regardless of what you think about it! Okay?”

Mikael looked somewhat bewildered and disorientated.

“My friend? Prey, tell me who it was who brought me back home,” Mikael asked of her, apparently not having taken in any of what had been said after that.

“Um, just some big tall, wide guy. He had this whole big presence about him, like he was superior to everyone else around him and everyone had better know that, sort of presence. Carrying you in from outside and up the stairs was no big chore for him. Boy, he was well built…”

“A name, Araliah. What was his name?” Mikael asked, testily. “Well, I don’t know,” Araliah said slowly, slightly confused, having just realised what she had neglected in her fear and worry. “I never thought to ask him his name. He came back here with you like you were, and I was too concerned with what had happened to him to think of asking his name…”

“His name was Laithlyn, sir,” Antony said, from the corner of the room, “I believe that my wife asked him what name we should call after as your condition changed.”

“Very good,” Mikael said with a small amount of satisfaction, fitting to the amount of energy he had left to expend, “Now if you would be so good as to call for him presently…”

“Don’t you think that you would be better to see him when you are slightly better?” Araliah enquired quickly, worried once again over his health.

“This man saved my life,” Mikael told Araliah, as if she did not already know, “He asked to be informed the minute that my condition changed, and I think that I owe him that much after what he has done for me, don’t you?”

“I guess,” Araliah conceded, “But I still don’t like it…” “I didn’t ask you to. This my decision,” Mikael informed her, leaving her under no misconceptions whatsoever. “So I shall call for him, sir?” Antony asked questioningly.

“Yes, man, on your way,” Mikael said, impatiently.

“Of course, sir,” Antony said quietly, bowing slightly as he left the room, turning too quickly to catch the annoyed glare that Araliah sent his way.

“Sir, Master Laithlyn,” Antony informed Mikael loyally some short time later.

“Well go on then, send him in!” Mikael said a tad impatient, his weakness confining him to his bed having made him rather short tempered of late.

Antony stepped aside, making the way for Laithlyn to walk into the room. He came to stand at the foot of the bed, back ramrod straight, chin tilted upwards, proud, his hands clasped together in front of him. He allowed him a nod of greeting, regarding him through lazy looking, half closed eyes, but eyes that Mikael knew to be more alert to the slightest movement than his very own.

“I am to understand that I have you to thank for my, uh,” Mikael looked down over himself, before again meeting Laithlyn’s unflinching gaze with a slightly self depreciating gaze of his own, before continuing, “…good health.”

“Ah Mikael, ‘tis good to see that you have retained that sharp sense of humor of yours,” Laithlyn replied, speaking for the first time since entering the room. Neither face nor tone reflected any answering humor towards Mikael’s remark.

“Yes, well…” Mikael said, adding pointedly, “And neither, I see, have you changed in the slightest.”

“It would seem not,” Laithlyn said, “Although I would see where your dear wife takes her mannerisms from. It would do you well to teach her the proper respect for her betters.”

“You try teaching that woman something!” Mikael said, before looking back into Laithlyn’s eyes and clearing his throat, “You have saved my life. In return, my honor dictates that it must now be yours.”

“And what, prey, Mikael, would I do with your life once I have it,” Laithlyn asked, slowly shaking his head, “Nay, what I ask of you would be one single favor that I may call you for at any time hence. Will you agree to it?”

“A petty favor for the service you have given me? Surely you are mad!” Mikael said, quite shocked, before retaining hold over himself, “Of course, that’s not to say that you are mad, sir.”

“One favor, which I may call upon at any time, and you may not refuse me. Are we agreed?” Laithlyn said, his tone commanding, not questioning, ignoring Mikael’s senseless babbling.

“If that is what you wish of me, sir,” Mikael said, uncertainly, yet holding tight to his sense of pride, “Will there be nothing more?”

“Oh, that will be more enough, when the time comes, Mikael, as you will well see. Rest assured there. Your debt will definitely not go unpaid. However, until that time, rest easy, and become well again with haste. That is all you need to for me at this point in time.”

“Let me assure you now, to put your mind at rest, that I will definitely doing my best towards that end!” Mikael said, thinking moreover that it should be he who would have the greatest interest in his coming health, and getting out of this damnable bed! For sure he would be ridding himself of this bed and buying himself a new one when this was all over to rid himself of the memories of this time.

“That is well,” Laithlyn said, “And now, I am afraid, I must take my leave. Do not worry hence, I will see myself out. Until next we meet.”

“Until next we meet,” Mikael answered, finding too much meaning in those few words that spoke heavily for the future.

* * * * *

“I have to, Ara. Surely you must understand this?” Mikael said, asking with his eyes for comprehension on her part. “I can’t chance that this will happen to me again without trying to do something about it. It’s an integral part of me that I’ve ignored for far too long. It’s my mother’s part of me.”

“But…but Mikael…” Araliah pleaded with him, not knowing now the words that could keep him here, for she knew only too well how closely he held his mother to his chest. “Mikael, your health…” she pointed out weakly.

“Is now fully returned,” Mikael told her, in a tone that indicated that this was not the first time that he had said this. “Come on, Ara, you have been nursing me to health for weeks now. A better nurse I could never have asked for, but even the best of nurses must know the time when she must let go of her patient. That time is now, Ara. That time is now. Please understand.”

Araliah sighed. This pained her greatly, as to her own mind, she did not see him fit to make the long travel to his old mage craft master that he insisted upon. However, it seemed that Mikael had a wholly separate believe, and there remained nothing more for Araliah to do than step back and let him act upon it.

“Fine, go. But when you come back, bloody and broken and nearly unconscious, don’t think that I’ll be willing to nurse you back to health again!” Araliah said threateningly, although it was an empty threat, for both of them knew equally that if, by some chance, he was to come back in such a state, she would be the first who insisted upon nursing him again.

Mikael though, to his grace, made no mention of this fact, and merely took her in both hands, kissed her lightly on the cheek, before saying, “Thank you, Araliah. You know it would leave me with a horrible feeling to go without your blessing.”

“That was no blessing!” Araliah spluttered to Mikael’s now grinning face as he picked up his last items, ready to be packed into the carriage already waiting outside. He turned to walk out of the door, still grinning, waving his spare fingers at her.

“Make sure to be back soon!” Araliah called out behind him, “And take care of you!”

“I always do!” Mikael called out behind him, not waiting to find what Araliah’s reaction to such a statement spoken on his behalf would be. He stepped into the carriage which would take him to his former master’s place, before returning again home to Araliah, and within minutes, was on his way.

* * * * *

Having trudged up the thin sandy trail and found at the end of it a small, unassuming cottage sitting solitarily amongst the forest starting thickly behind it, Mikael now hesitated to lift his fist against the large wooden door, that would draw his old master’s attention to his presence here. For weeks now, he had tracked these lodgings, and found that this was, expectably, where the master now resided.

As Mikael stood on the doorstep, halted by his indecision, the wooden door in front of him slowly started to slide open, opening into the cottage and allowing Mikael a view of the lodgings inside.

“Will you come in, Mikael, or do you plan to stand out the rest of the day where you stand right now?” asked a laughing voice from inside.

Startled by his old master’s observance, his voice Mikael recognised almost immediately, regardless of the years past between them, it was a moment before Mikael gathered up the daring to cross the threshold of Romald’s lodgings. Once over, he turned to close the door behind him, whereupon he stood by to watch it close on it’s own, much as it had opened only minutes before.

“Well don’t just stand there, come in, come in!” beckoned his master’s friendly tones from a room around the corner from the living quarters Mikael found himself in upon walking in through the front door.

Cautiously walking around the corner, Mikael came to face his master sitting behind his desk, glasses high on his nose, papers lying haphazardly all over a desk so filled with notes that some had fallen over onto the floor around it. It reminded Mikael of so many times when he had walked into his master’s office within the school for advice of some sort in the days before, well, before all that had changed.

“Mikael, how wonderful to see you here. It has been some time between visits, has it not? I trust that you have completed that nastiness which so drove you in those last years we saw you at the school, have you not?” Romald asked him, with a curiosity that had only ever been attributed to him.

“Yes, sir, that…nastiness…was indeed long ago completed now,” Mikael answered with a small amount of censure, which Romald promptly ignored.

“Now, now, none of this ‘sir’ business. We are no longer in school, you will see. I believe you know my name, just as I am quite familiar with yours. Can I get you anything? A hot beverage, something to eat?” Romald asked of him.

“No, nothing, I am fine,” Mikael assured him, “But there is something…”

“Of course, forgive me,” Romald said, “What business was it that brought you here?”

“Well, not business, exactly…” Mikael said hesitantly, not quite sure how to go on now that the time was upon him.

“I see. It has been many years since you decided that you wanted nothing more to do with any practice of magic, but now…” Romald held his hands out and inclined his head to the side slightly.

Mikael lowered his eyes in a show of respect towards his old master. “I need to learn how to control this,” he spoke quietly. “It’s gone out of my control. What good you did teach me, all those years ago, it’s no longer enough. I don’t know enough of my own power…It would be greatly appreciated if you would once again accept me as your pupil.”

Slowly, after this speech, Mikael dared to look up to Romald once again. He was smiling in appreciation of what he had just witnessed.

“It takes a great deal of courage to speak up when one knows that they are in need of help,” Romald said, explaining his pleasure, “Especially for one such as yourself who has seen many a battle and gained much in pride. For that alone, I will accept your plea. You were once a very promising student, Mikael. I have no doubt that you will prove to be so once again.”

“Thank you, sir,” Mikael said, humbly, hesitantly returning the smile, and feeling almost as though he had returned back to those days of his schooling.

“Now Mikael, if you would be so kind as to explain to me the types of events which have driven you to coming to me at this time…” Romald questioned. “Just so as I may be able to get an idea of how serious this is, of course!”

Mikael began to blush a slight shade of red at the thought of having to recount the details of the incidents which had occurred mostly on the battlefields. He bowed his head, preparing himself for the ordeal.

“Speak up, lad! I can hardly hear you at all if you mutter into your lap in such a way,” Romald admonished.

Mikael immediately lifted his head again, resolute this time to get it over with. He opened his mouth to begin his stories, daring to not even take a breath, knowing that even that slight pause may deter him from this task. Upon the end of it, Mikael stopped, taking in breaths that had been formerly denied and awaiting of Romald’s reaction.

“I see,” he said deeply, rubbing his chin slightly in a habit that he had when he was thinking hard about something.

“That’s it?” Mikael asked incredulously, used now to the screams and the accusations that usually accompanied any acknowledgement or seeing of these events, almost expecting it from this quarter, and quite caught off guard when it didn’t appear to be in the offing. “That’s all you have to say about it all?”

“Well, you do have a problem, to be sure,” Romald conceded, “Although it is most certainly nothing to be overly worried about. Larger amounts of self control and discipline ought to go a fair way in tampering it out. Now, are you sure that you wouldn’t like me to arrange something for you to drink? Tea? Coffee? No, I guess not then. Well, since it appears that we’re done here, I was wondering if you could do a little favor for me. I have this list, you see, of items that I require. I’ve been meaning to collect them myself, but of course, events have caused me to have little time and littler energy to get around to it. You surely wouldn’t mind running a couple of little errands for me, would you Mikael?”

“Errands?” Mikael asked, still largely confused. “But did you not say that you would teach me?”

“Of course!” Romald stated factually. “This is your first lesson.”

*

"Mikael? What has woken you? Was it that same dream again?"

Araliah had stirred upon Mikael's violent awakening only moments before. Sensing his ongoing unrest, she had slowly roused herself and now lay awake next to him. It was still quite dark outside.

Mikael was still trapped within his own world. Yes he had had that same dream again. Six times it was, he could remember it to the letter. And he was convinced that it was supposed to be a message of some sort that was trying to come through.

"But of what sort?" Araliah asked. Mikael hadn't realised that he had spoken aloud, and so looked at her in surprise.

"I fear I do not know," he said, unsettled. "I know only that I keep getting it, and it becomes stronger everytime. It does not like to be ignored."

Araliah looked over his tortured, ragged features, still so close to the dream that haunted him. She wished that she could offer something that would bring peace to his mind, but knew that she could not. She waited silent and patient for him to speak again.

"I only wish I understood..." he murmured, not really to Araliah who was lying beside him. "That there was some way..."

Araliah sat back as Mikael suddenly pushed the covers off of him and stood up decisively.

"What are you doing?" she asked, sitting upright herself.

"Something about this... madness. Anything!" he told her. "You can feel free to fall back to sleep again."

Araliah lay back down again, though not because she was sleepy. As he closed the bedroom door behind him, she lay awake, eyes open and focusing on the ceiling, knowing only that these were demons that she could not possibly help him with by being there.

*

"Are you feeling better this morning?" Araliah asked, watching him over the porriage that she spooned into her mouth for breakfast.

Mikael had dark rings around his eyes and looked anything but better. All the same, he focused his eyes on her and summoned a smile that Araliah knew to be anything but genuine.

"I have been called into a battle not far from here. Not a very large one either, just a dispute really. Should be put to rights in a matter of days," Mikael answered.

Araliah nodded, glad to find that he had found something to take his mind off matters for now.

"When do you leave?" was all she asked.

"This afternoon. I'm to be there by dawn tomorrow, which means travelling most of the night."

"Good," Araliah said, and as usual, they both knew what she meant by it.

Finishing his breakfast, Mikael pushed his chair back from the table.

"I thought to go for a ride this morn. Will you go with me?" he asked her congienially.

"Of course," Araliah said with a smirk. "Ready when you are."

*