AN: This is an alternate universe fic set during Close Kin after Thorn threw Sable out. After that, almost everything else is different, with the exception of a few things. Also, Marak never let Emily out of the kingdom to find her human nature.

Disclaimer: The Hollow Kingdom Trilogy and all characters within that work belong to Clare B. Dunkle.

~Beautifully Scarred~

Chapter 1

Sable maneuvered as best she could through the blinding dawn, feeling her way by grasping at branches and bushes. She had to find the large yew tree before the sun rose completely over the horizon. Though she couldn't see, Sable knew the familiar path so well she found her destination quickly. Usually, the shades of the trees bows were the only protection the scarred woman had from the sun. Thanks to the new elf she had a cloak to curl up in.

Seylin. She thought of the new man warily. He knew so much magic and he had so many belongings and he seemed so kind. Sable naturally felt suspicious of him. He was so unlike any man she had ever known. He was dangerous. She knew it.

"Sable!"

The elf woman froze. Seylin had followed her. Sable listened silently as he continued calling for her, debating whether or not to call back.

She heard him draw closer to her spot. Such a racket he made. He stumbled around in the light, breaking branches and tripping over rocks. The determination in his worried voice made it clear he wasn't giving up until he found what he was looking for. As suspicious of him as she was, Sable couldn't bring herself to let him continue searching in vain.

"Seylin," she called out to him. "You should go back."

"Keep talking," he yelled. "I'll follow your voice."

"No! You shouldn't be out here."

"Neither should you," he said. Seylin stood just a few steps away. "I brought my tent. There aren't any hooks out here, but maybe we can use a spell to keep it up."

Sable sat up and peered at the man from beneath the hood of the cloak. A black silhouette in the shape of the handsome elf towered in front of the brightening day. He struggled blindly to pitch the ten by the tree. Once he erected the cloth shelter, he rolled out a pallet on one side and then laid some of his clothes on the ground as another pallet.

"We can stay in here until the sun goes down," he said, crawling onto the makeshift mat.

Sable gaped in an embarrassed silence for a moment.

"You mean together?" She clutched her cloak tightly around herself with shivering hands. Only married or engaged couples slept in the same tent.

"Well…yes." Seylin sounded flustered as well. "Just for today. I'll stay on my side and you'll stay on yours. You're safe with me, Sable. I promise."

"No." She shook her head fervently. "I'll stay out here."

"Sable, I won't hurt you." When she didn't respond, Seylin sighed. "Fine. You can sleep in the tent. I'll sleep out there."

Sable stared at his dark outline in shock. She didn't understand it. Her instincts told her this strange elf was dangerous or at least brought danger. But he was so kind. Sable wanted to trust him. Unfortunately, trusting men never benefited her in the past. At least she was sure her scarred face would protect her from any unwanted advances.

"We can share the tent," she said. "Just for today."

Sable crawled onto her pallet. They each pulled their cloaks over their faces and settled in.

"Thank you, Seylin," Sable whispered.

"Sleep well," he said.

Seylin peeked out at the sleeping Sable. His heart ached for her. The young man had never known anyone in a more unfortunate situation. If only he could help her. If only the scarred woman would let him. She always made it such a struggle, not that he blamed her for being distrustful. Living with a thug like Thorn was enough to destroy anyone's faith in kindness.

Sable shivered and whimpered in her sleep. Seylin reached over and tucked the edges of the brown cloak tighter around her.

Not long afterward, Seylin closed his eyes and found himself back in the goblin kingdom, talking to Marak. It felt so good to be home with his friend and mentor, even if it was just a dream. They discussed his travels and the band of primitive elves he discovered. Seylin couldn't tell if it was his own inclination or the guidance of Marak's questions, but they seemed to spend a lot of time talking about the scarred, black haired elf who slept beside him.

"Poor Sable." Seylin shook his head, thinking of all the cruelty and abuse she had to endure. To be the most intelligent and hardest working member of a band of idiotic brutes, and also the most mistreated. How could she stand it?

"Poor Sable?" Marak repeated, studying the young man with his unmatched eyes. "Have you taken a fancy to that one?"

Seylin was taken aback by the blunt question.

"She's really ugly," he said, shifting uncomfortably.

"She probably doesn't have to be," the king insisted.

Seylin continued to squirm uneasily in his seat, thinking of how intelligent and patient Sable was. He thought of the difficult life she led. The sadness in her blue eyes still twisted at his heart. But then he thought of Emily's warm brown eyes full of mischief and he couldn't imagine "taking a fancy" to anyone else.

"Alright, what about the other one?" Marak asked.

"Irina?" Seylin grimaced, thinking of the pretty, but empty headed blonde. He could never fancy her, Emily or no Emily.

"Never mind," the goblin King said, his eyes laughing as he studied the young man. "Things are bound to improve. You're just getting to know them, after all. Maybe they'll grow on you."

Seylin doubted it. Thoughts of Emily sunk him so deep into a depression, he wasn't sure he would ever be able to claw himself out. She and Thaydar must have been for married weeks now.

Just as Seylin was about to ask his mentor about how Emily was doing, he was jerked awake by the sound of screaming.

Instinctively, he put his arms around the shrieking Sable.

"It's alright," he whispered in her ear. "It's alright. You're safe. I won't let anything hurt you."

She quieted and relaxed into his arms. "Oh, Thorn, I was-" Sable's blue eyes widened and darted around taking in her surroundings. Her gaze settled in on Seylin and turned reproachful.

The young man quickly moved away from her, embarrassed at his own boldness.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have…" he trailed off, at a loss.

She didn't respond. Sable just watched him, stiff and wary.

The sun was almost completely set, so the pair unhitched the tent and made their way back to camp.