I own NOTHING in this story...except maybe the inn, but that doesn't even have a name...It's all Allison Croggon's !

Please R&R!

More chapters coming soon!!

Maerad slowly struggled to open her heavy eyelids, and was stunned for a moment as she tried to piece together the recent events of the previous day. She jolted upright, as thoughts of finding Hem raced through her mind. I have to find him... she thought, and then she remembered everything. The Nameless One was defeated, Hem was safe, and Maerad was finally going to receive exactly what she had longed for over the past long months; proper studying of The Arts. She was in Lirigon, as she and Cadvan had just arrived late last night.

The sun was already shining high in the sky, signifying how late she had slept. Maerad let her head drop slowly back to her pillow, and she smiled, thinking of how enjoyable the day, and the many days that followed, were going to be.

After spending a short time more in Innail after the celebration, Maerad and Cadvan had set off for Lirigon, where Cadvan would continue tutoring Maerad in The Arts, which she had so subtly touched on earlier in the year with Dernhil and Indik. The ride had not been nearly as dreadful as her previous journeys, now that The Nameless One was no more. However, it had not been pleasant either. The rain had drenched both travelers tirelessly, never seeming to exhaust itself. By the time they had reached the first inn at Milhol, they had already traveled across the mountains north of Innail, only to reach the unfathomable depths of the Weywood, which they had also trudged through.

The inn they arrived at was not the most well kept inn Maerad had stayed the night at, but, she thought, even the rough straw beds were better than the rough ground she had been sleeping on the past 3 weeks.

She sat down on the small sofa that was crammed into the room, and waited patiently for Cadvan to return. He said he had some "business to take care of," and would be back shortly.

Maerad was so lost in her own thoughts that she jumped when the door squeaked open and Cadvan entered, a satisfied, almost smug look on his face. He walked over to the sofa and sat down next to Maerad. "I have surveyed the area through which we still must venture, and, to me at least, it seems rather...how do you say, blissful."

Maerad simply stared at him, causing Cadvan to smirk playfully. "I'm sorry, I have absolutely no hint of what you could mean," said Maerad, beginning to get curious.

"Well of course you don't," replied Cadvan, "because you are simply not looking. I walked about a mile northwest of the inn, then sent out my hearing. I could hear a very small amount of anything, meaning that when we leave here, there are no more beds until Lirigon."

Maerad groaned, and let her head fall on the back of the sofa. "I should have guessed that you would find such distressing news amusing," she teased, opening her eyes to smile at Cadvan. "I, however, find it as it is; distressing."

Cadvan laughed, then leaned over and kissed her gently on the forehead. "Maerad, you never fail to brighten even the bleakest of moments." Maerad grinned then wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him softly, then more passionately. She pulled away, studying his earnest face.

"I don't know how I hid my love for you from you for so long," said Cadvan softly, stroking her hair. "My life would not be complete without you Maerad," he whispered, then kissed her gently on the mouth. "And now, we should probably get some well-deserved rest in a bed, rather than on the hard, cold ground of the Weywood."

They stood up from the sofa, and Cadvan stretched his arms above his head, yawning. "Yes, some rest would be well appreciated right now," he said, winking at Maerad. "But first, I do believe a bath is in order."

Maerad nodded, "A bath! By the light, how will I survive without baths these next few weeks!" Cadvan laughed, then walked into the small bathroom the inn provided their room with. Maerad made her way over to one of the beds, then realized, with a start that made her blood run cold, that there was only one bed, and it was not very large. Maerad assumed that this was because of the story Cadvan had the innkeeper believe; Maerad was his wife, and they had traveled long and tiresome days, wanting only some good clean sleep.

Maerad gulped. It was true she loved Cadvan; she had since the day she realized that he was the cloaked figure sitting amidst the ruins of Pellinor. However, sharing a bed with him was not exactly what she had intended...

She was so deep into her own thoughts that she did not hear Cadvan emerge from the bathroom, nor did she hear him come up behind her. He placed a hand on her shoulder, noting her shocked expression as she stared at the bed. "Well," he said softly, "I don't bite, but if you would prefer for me to sleep on the couch, that could be arranged..."

Maerad flushed with embarrassment. She had not meant for Cadvan to know her thoughts, but she should have known; Cadvan always seemed to know exactly what she was thinking. She hadn't meant to seem so self-centered. She shook her head slowly, then turned to look him in the eye. "No," she said, "It's alright. I think I can manage." She smiled then turned to receive her most-needed bath.

When she emerged from the bathroom, feeling more refreshed than she had in weeks, her fear of sharing a bed with Cadvan had vanished. She laughed at herself for being so irrational; Cadvan was a good, honest man with a kind heart, and she loved him. He would never try to do anything to her that she did not want 100 percent.

Maerad saw Cadvan already in the bed, his legs stretched out in front of him, propped up on a few pillows, reading one of Dernhil's books of poems that he had brought along. He looked up when he heard her come in and smiled, patting the space beside him. She made her way over to the bed, then climbed up beside him, laying her head on his shoulder. He kissed her shining, wet hair then wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "Should I move to the couch? Or will this suffice?" he asked teasingly.

Maerad looked up at his calm, gentle, handsome face, and replied, "This will do perfectly. Besides, what is a couch next to an proper bed? Well, sort of..." Cadvan flashed her a brilliant grin, then returned to his book. Before she knew it, Maerad was out cold.

Ok everyone, this is my first fanfic, so let me know what you think! More chapters are coming soon, maybe even today!!!