A/N: This is a Briar/Tris fic. Hope you like, it's not just a oneshot by the way.
Okay, so- forget Melting Stones... If there was any mention of them in it, I'm not using that.
I'm sorry if you're upset with Tris's physical changes, but that was always how I imagined her.
OK- so, I wanted to include The Will Of The Empress (TWOTE) in here, that is, make my story set after that. But, for my own purposes, I am going to say that that book took place when all of them were younger, so maybe about 14 or something. I know- that isn't the case- but you're going to have to deal with it. So they're about 18 or 19 now.
The Storm Of The Vine: Chapter 1- Back
A redheaded woman shoved the last book in her bag and straightened up. "There. I'm ready."
Trisana Chandler surveyed the empty room fondly- it had been her refuge for five long years at Lightsbridge University.
"You're going now?" A young, black-haired man sat on her bed, eyebrows raised.
"Yes," Tris replied. She moved to hug the man. "Thanks, Seth."
Seth hugged her tightly, smiling sadly. "I'll miss you, Tris."
Seth, a healer, was the only person in the entire university who Tris had chosen to tell her real identity. To the rest, she was Tris, a merchant mage who was smart enough to get into Lightsbridge.
Tris rolled her eyes. For all her physical changes, her nature was still the same. "Sure, Seth. Until you find some pretty girl to distract you."
Seth stepped back to look at her, laughter in his eyes. "Maybe so, maybe so. But you know I'll always have a soft spot for my Firehair," he ruffled her copper braids, smirking.
Tris smacked his hand away. "Stop it. I could electrocute you. My hair is dangerous."
"But you wouldn't," Seth teased. He turned serious. "Besides, Lightsbridge has hopefully taught you some control."
She glanced out the window and saw her wagon waiting. "Seth, I really have to go."
"I'll write," Seth promised, embracing her again. "And I'll visit."
Tris was becoming uncomfortable with the shows of emotion. "And who said I invited you to visit?" she snapped, trying not to show her misery at leaving.
Seth merely grinned, knowing Tris's ways. "Me."
She shook her head at him, but couldn't help returning his smile. "Bye, Seth. Thanks for everything, especially..." she touched her long nose where her brass-rimmed glasses had once sat.
"My pleasure." Seth let go of her. "Goodbye, Tris."
"Bye," she mumbled, grabbing her bags and hefting them up.
"Let me carry that," Seth took the heavier of the bags and lifted it easily. "Let's go."
Tris jumped out of the wagon and stared up at the huge, three-storey house with neatly planted garden strips in front. Sturdy outbuildings stood on either side of it and Tris noticed a small tree in one of the windows.
She smiled despite herself. Briar's shakkan was still around.
Tris flicked a tip towards the wagon driver and began dragging her bags up the path and to the door. She knocked on it loudly and waited impatiently.
She couldn't help being nervous. She hadn't seen Sandry or Daja for four years, and Briar for five.
The door was flung open and a tall, green-eyed, dark-skinned man stood in the doorway, a glare on his face. "An' what do you think you're doing here?"
Tris stared at him incredulously. She knew she had changed- her childish plumpness had spread into womanly curves, her eyes had been healed. Even though she hadn't seen him for five long years, she could still recognise Briar easily. "In case you weren't told, Briar Moss, Daja told me I could live here," she replied tartly, putting one foot through the doorway.
Briar stared at her. "How do you know my name?" he demanded.
A pale-skinned, well-dressed girl came to the door behind Briar. "What's wrong, Briar?" she asked, not seeing Tris.
"Sandry!" Tris exclaimed. "Tell this... this... idiot to let me in!"
Seeing Tris, an uncertain smile appeared on Sandry's face. "Tris?" she asked doubtfully.
"Yes!" Tris said angrily. She couldn't believe that her best friends, who she had lived with for over five years, didn't recognise her.
"Coppercurls?" Briar snorted loudly. "That's not Coppercurls. She has glasses and wasn't all ski-"
Sandry nudged him in the ribs, hard. "Briar!"
Seeing them both together, so comfortable and at home, Tris felt left out. How much had they all changed since she had been here?
She decided that she was going to have to convince Briar. "Briar Moss," she began furiously. "Let me in, now!" A small lightning bolt appeared between her finger and her thumb.
Briar stared at it in shock.
Daja appeared behind Sandry. "What's taking so long? I heard you greeting Tris and-"
She stopped, taking in Tris's appearance, Briar's stare and Tris's glare.
"Hello, Daja," Tris greeted her. The lightning bolt disappeared and Briar blinked.
"Coppercurls, what happened?" he demanded, opening the door wider.
Tris turned crimson. She hated it when people made a fuss of how she had changed. "Nothing," she growled. "I went to university. Now can I come in?"
Briar moved aside, staring at Tris still.
Tris once again picked up her bags and stepped inside the light, open hallway. She was surprised at how well-off Daja and Briar seemed to be. Of course, since Sandry was a noble, it was expected that she would have spare wealth.
Selling small trees and making living metal must be good profits, Tris thought wryly, wondering where she would fit in here. After all, being a cranky weather witch wasn't really a very good income.
"I'll be your housekeeper," she announced quickly. "Not a charity case."
The three of them gave her thoroughly confused stares.
"What?" Daja said finally.
"I'm not going to be a charity case," Tris said slowly, in case something had addled their brains. "I'll do the housework. I'll earn my keep."
Sandry and Daja shared looks of exasperation. "Tr-is," they chorused.
Briar was oddly silent.
Sandry came forward to hug Tris. "You look wonderful," she chattered. "Where are your glasses? What was university like? Did you make any friends?"
Tris silenced her with a look, but decided to answer Sandry's questions- just this once. "Lightsbridge was... interesting. I made one friend. He's a healer mage, and my eyes were a project of his."
"He?" Sandry raised a mischevious eyebrow and Tris responded with a glare.
"Come sit down," Daja invited, shooting Sandry an amused look.
Daja led the way into the kitchen, Tris and Sandry following.
Briar stood in the hallway, his expression dazed.
"Briar?" Sandry came back out, noticing his absence. She waved a hand in front of his face. "Are you alright?"
Briar jerked quickly and nodded. "Yeah. I'm- I'm fine."
A/N: That, my pretties, was the into. It will get more.... Idk... romance-ish later.
So- I am open to crit.
But if the crit includes anything to do with Tris's physical changes, forget it
I made her into MY character, how I always saw her in my imagination
so sorry Tamora Pierce
but...
you know.
so, thankyou for reading.
Please review, I like reviews XD
