Summary:Linda and Lee before the events of The Warriors Heir, written in the form of a collection of drabbles that (kind of) merge in to one story

Authors Note: This was written way back in 2007 when I was 13. I've gone back and tried to edit some things (grammar mostly) but I've largely tried to leave everything as it is. I apologize if things seem jumpy, or sudden, but I didn't want to add or change anything major with the "plot". Thinking back on it, I'm pretty sure I never posted these up because I never felt like these stories were ever truly complete but 5 years is a long time and I think it's worth sharing them now considering the lack of fic for this series.

Linda curled herself into a ball and rubbed her face on Lee's muscular chest, taking in his sweet scent and feeling even more guilty about what she was about to do. His strong arms seemed to protect her as they held her to him, she didn't want to move. Without those arms she felt so… vulnerable. She raised her head to look at Lee's face. It was so calm and peaceful. She delicately touched it and heard a slight murmur as he dreamed.

She blinked away tears and wondered how she had come from spewing out insults to sharing a bed with Lee. She smiled a wry smile as she remembered.

0000

He spotted her as she huddled in a corner of the cell, glaring at him. That was the first time she laid eyes on Lee, and hate flared within her. A wizard, he was going to take her… she hated them. She saw him walk to a trader and point towards her. Her hatred grew. The door opened and the trader smiled at her dangerously. All the traders hated her, the enchanter who spat at them, kicked food at them and bewitched them to look like idiots.

"The traders tell me you're quite troublesome," Linda stared distrustfully at the wizard and was prepared to head-butt him in the face.

"What do you want… wizard!" Linda spat, her spit hit his probably new and expensive shoes. He stared at them for a second his face showed no emotion and than he looked up at her, power in his voice. Lots of power, she felt fear, but didn't want to show it.

"I see you will be lots of trouble, Linda Downey" the wizard replied with a grim look. "You're exactly like your great-grandmother," he muttered shaking his head. He whispered to the trader and the man unlocked her handcuffs and she stood shakily, aware of the grime and dust that layered her body. The mention of her great-grandmother brought questions into her mind, but she knew this man wouldn't answer her unless he wanted to, just like all wizards.

"What do you want?" she whispered back viciously, but he didn't answer and she followed him obediently, knowing full well that running would make no difference.

As they drove the man spoke little, all she learned was his name, "Leander Hastings," he had said. The mention of his name was familiar, who was he? She couldn't remember. It was the last name 'Hastings' that seemed so familiar.

"I understand you are fighting to free the servant guilds," these words brought Linda back to herself; the interest in his voice surprised her. Then she knew who he was. The 'Leander Hastings' the man who fought the wizard council day and night to free the guilds, she still didn't trust him.

"What do you want with me?" she asked vehemently, her hands clenched into fists. The man didn't smile as she would expect him to. He was a hard puzzle to crack, but she would break him.

"Help, you and I together could probably break the servant guilds free from the wizards," he said, his voice was quiet. Linda was silent, too shocked for words.

"A wizard wants the help of an enchanter?" she said and than sneered, "you wish!" and that was that. As she arrived at Hastings large home she was led to a very fine suite and Hastings even promised her some new clothing. The food was great and exquisite, probably highly expensive but she didn't give in. She would be a wall, to help a wizard, she didn't think so. Why would a wizard want to get rid of his power anyways? It was madness, or insanity. She had to find out about this… Leander Hastings, all about him.

0000

Linda smiled, that's what she thought back then. Whenever Lee had entered the room, she would leave. Whenever he spoke she would glare at him and insult him, often she did it to the point that he would threaten her with magic, but even then she never let up. He would ask for help, she would spit at him. Sometimes she seduced him when he was caught unawares. Once she managed to make him walk into a club and act like a drunken fool, of course when he snapped back he was quite angry at her. A small smile escaped her lips when she remembered what happened next.

0000

Lee glared at Linda; boiling rage erupted from his chest. She was the most annoying person he had ever encountered. She wasn't like Susannah at all. No, she was much, much worse. In fact, Susannah seemed like nothing compared to this girl, Linda Downey. She showed no fear, no matter how many times he threatened her she would laugh and walk away, no matter how many times he yelled at her and flung her around like a rag doll she always came back more fierce than ever. This was the LAST straw, she had a made a FOOL of Lee Hastings and no one would ever do that.

As he laid his eyes upon her, his glare strengthened, annoyance bubbled up, but another feeling appeared to. He tried to push this growing feeling away, but with each step he took closer to her the feeling grew. The way she laughed at him and grinned at him, she didn't even move. Her perfect features didn't show any fear even though his magical pressure must've been suffocating at the moment. He began to falter; doubt crept slowly into his mind. Sub-consciously he wondered if there was something on his face that made him look ridiculous. He shoved those thoughts away.

Linda smiled at Lee. Her smile was filled with triumph. Even as he advanced closer she felt no fear. The performance she just made was the most wonderful thing she had ever seen. His hands swiped at her, she dodged and smiled, too late! His hands lashed too quickly for her to dodge and soon she was trapped. He held her wrists from arms length, breathing angrily; he was literally steaming with anger.

Linda tried not to cower or flinch from his strength of his glare and stood stock still, grinning straight back at him. Even though her heart pounded madly and her mind was reeling with the thought that she was so close to him, she wasn't afraid. It was then that she realized she did not fear Leander Hastings, nor did she hate him… no… she had somehow fallen in love with him.

Suddenly, in one swift movement she was wrapped in his arms and his lips were on hers. Linda opened her eyes wide, but the lips were soft and she enjoyed it, when he broke away and looked at her all she could do was look back, her mouth open slightly. She felt somehow safe in his arms… and then she smiled and he smiled back kissing her again.

0000

Linda touched her lip, careful not to cry. All these memories of being wrapped in Lee's arms and feeling his soft embrace. She remembered running with him, stirring up more problems among other things. Then she placed her hand over her stomach where a new life was forming. She couldn't stay; she had to give this baby away. If people found out… Linda shook her head for fear of what would happen. In her mind she pictured a dead baby, a dead Lee, and a choked cry escaped her lip, she froze wondering if Lee heard, but thankfully he was fast asleep still.

The enchantress slowly got up, disentangling herself from Lee's arms and kissing him lightly on the cheeks, she held his hand for many moments before finally letting it drop. Then she grabbed her suitcase which was already filled with her belongings and slipped out of the temporary home they had shared, and would share no longer.

As Linda Downey sneaked out of the home, she also sneaked out of Leander Hastings life forever.

0000

Lee awoke, he felt a tingling on his cheek, the bed seemed light and he turned his head to greet Linda, and sat up when she wasn't there. His mind told him to calm down; maybe she was doing some other work. Or had someone kidnapped her, he angrily told himself not to think that.

He sat up and called her name, no answer, his voice echoed around the house. A slight fear crept into his heart. He checked the drawers, half her clothes were gone, more doubt. He dashed out of the room, his mind crazy with thoughts; he ran around their small flat, it was empty. It was almost as if Linda Downey had never existed. Lee stood by the entrance of their room, he held the door frame for support, and afraid his knees would give in. He clutched his heart and breathed deeply, why would she leave? He felt his cheek again; it was probably the last touch of her lips he would ever feel from her. What had happened?

With his face grim, Lee packed his things and searched the house for clues. ANY clue of Linda. First he would go to Ohio where her sister lived, then… if she wasn't there… but his thoughts didn't go that far.

0000

Linda sat on the plane trying hard to keep tears from spilling down her face. She was in business class and to cover her crying she pretended to sleep. She also drank loads of wine and champagne.

8 months had passed. Linda lay down on a hospital bed, tightly clenching Nicodemus Snowbeards hand as she went into labour. When she saw the young baby she cried tears of joys and looked up half expecting to see Lee's face smiling down at her, when it wasn't him… she broke down crying again and tried to cover it up by smiling, but she knew that Nick saw through her little façade.

"Courage Linda," was all Nick decided to say as he lightly touched her shoulder. He had always been like a father to her, but right now she didn't exactly want Nick here, no… she wanted Lee.

Linda nodded her head but felt little courage in her, when she looked at the baby she saw an image of Lee. Geneviève LeClerc stepped into the room and saw the baby and smiled.

"Are you still willing to let him go?" she asked Linda carefully.

Linda was silent as she cradled the baby boy and nodded, "Yes… thanks a lot," she whispered.

"I'll be waiting at my home, what would you like his name to be? And his parents background, I'm assuming you don't want any connections to you or to Mr. Hastings," LeClerc said with a warm smile, there was almost a pitying look in her face, but Linda didn't notice.

"Joseph, Joseph McCauley, his parents died in a car crash, that'll be all," Linda whispered. She had thought of the name and history for months. Genevieve nodded solemnly and glanced helplessly at Nick who shook his head as if telling her Linda wouldn't change her mind.