Disclaimer: No I don't own anything, except the plot line…. Okay?! So don't sue me!
WTL: So here I am writing a story that actually isn't a Digimon story….
Li: :GASP:
WTL: Aw… leave off…
Biyo: :giggle:
WTL: See what I have to work with? Anyway this is a strict Briar/Sandry fic, so yeah…. Anyway I hope you like…and by the way, song lyrics will be bold, while mind speech will be in italics.
Midwinter Masquerade Winter, not to far from Winding Circle in Emelan, one candlemark after afternoon…
Briar winced in pain as his horse, Parsely, stumbled over some rocks. Cursing his luck at getting the meanest and most clumsy horse in the stable, he grimaced at Rosethorn who was riding up ahead. She was sitting gracefully, and most perfectly, on her strawberry gelding, Scarlet, looking as if she didn't have a care in the world. Beside him riding on a chestnut mare, Whisper, sat his protégé Evvy. He was chagrined at how his own student, who was four years younger, could ride better then him, looking as if she had ridden since the day she was born. Sighing Briar took his mind off of things by thinking over the events of the last several months, which showed that he was incredibly desperate because Briar rarely ever thought, about anything!
He had met his student, Evvy, had managed to survive a gang war, and was now, after one year away from home, returning. They had been traveling for about two weeks, and were currently about three days away, thank the gods, he didn't think he could stand having to sit any longer in the gods cursed saddle! Suddenly Briar was startled out of his reverie when Parsely stumbled over some rocks… again. Glaring at his horse, he glanced toward Rosethorn and called out, "Rosethorn? Do you think the girls will be there already?"
"I don't know, boy! You're the one with the mind-link to them! I think we're close enough so that you don't have to strain to talk to them though." (Rosethorn)
"Oh I'd forgotten about the mind-link. It's been a long time since I last used it, Parsely will you please behave?!" (Briar)
Hearing a girlish giggle behind him, Briar turned around and glared at Evvy, who just giggled louder. Mumbling something about never getting any respect, he settled in closer to his mind and called out using his mind voice, "Sandry, Daja, Tris? Anybody there?"
"BRIAR! You're back!" (Sandry)
"So, kaq, it took you long enough!" (Daja)
"I was just about to fall asleep!" (Tris)
Briar grinned at the characteristic remarks and settled down in his saddle, well at least as comfortable as he could that is.
"Yeah it's me. The one and only Briar Moss." (Briar)
"Thank the gods." (Daja)
"I'll probably reach Winding Circle in three days. What about you girls?" (Briar)
"Niko and I just arrived yesterday." (Tris)
"Frostpine, Kirel, and I have been here about a week." (Daja)
"Uncle is letting Paso and I stay at Discipline for awhile." (Sandry)
"This gods cursed horse that Rosethorn got for me is such a pain!" (Briar)
:giggle: It can't be that bad!" (Sandry)
"Have you forgotten how horrible he is at riding?" (Tris)
"He's even worse then I am!" (Daja)
"Aw… leave off! What are you gals doing?" (Briar)
"Well I was going to take a nice long nap, when SOMEONE woke me up." (Tris)
"Who is this someone that you keep talking about?" (Briar)
"I'm in the forge, working on some Midwinter presents." (Daja)
"Awww you really shouldn't have!" (Briar)
"And I am spinning." (Sandry)
"As always, by the way, what are our sleeping arrangements?" (Briar)
"Sandry can tell you about that, while I return to my nap!" (Tris)
"You're sharing a room with Pasco, while Tris is sharing with Katei, her student. Malachi, Daja's student preferred a little privacy, so he decided to stay by himself in the attic. So Daja and I have our own rooms so far." (Sandry)
"You okay with that?" (Daja)
"Yeah, but what about my student, Evvy?" (Briar)
"OH! We'd forgotten that you had a student!" (Sandry)
"Well I guess I wouldn't mind sharing my room." (Daja)
"And neither would I, why don't you ask her for her opinion in this matter?" (Sandry)
"Okay then, hold on." (Briar)
Briar quickly exited the discussion, and turned to talk to Evvy.
"Evvy, who would you rather share a room with? Daja or Sandry?" (Briar)
Up ahead Rosethorn called out, "I think you should choose Sandry, you'd get along easier with her."
Briar was about to reassure Evvy, when to his surprise she said quietly, "Is she the girl who has 'bright sky blue eyes, and light brown hair with sunstreaks'? The noble who is friendly to almost anyone?"
Surprised Briar stammered, "H-how did you know all that about Sandry?"
"I think she memorized it, after you told her about three times a day." (Rosethorn)
Bewildered, Briar said to the girls, "Evvy said that she'd rather stay with Sandry."
"Oh good. I don't think I was really quite up to sharing my room." (Daja)
"Well, Rosethorn wants to stop for awhile. I'll see you girls in three days?" (Briar)
"Three days then!" (Sandry)
"Don't be to slow, kaq!" (Daja)
Sandry, in the weaving room…
Sandry sat in resting, loom silent for the first time in hours, a rich soft length of green cloth sat finished on the loom. She could hear Little Bear and Pasco playing outside, along with Katei, Tris's protégé with a talent for singing, and Malachi, Daja's protégé whom had a talent for painting. She smiled at the familiar sound of laughing and shouting in the yard, though she had to admit it was a bit chilly. It brought back memories of times when she herself had played with Tris, Daja, and Briar. Thinking of Briar, Sandry didn't notice that her lips had started to curve upward in a small smile. It wasn't that she didn't like any of the other girls she just had missed Briar a lot, maybe even a little more. Maybe it was the way he was always teasing her, or maybe it was the way she felt happier when he was around, or maybe- Sandry! Startled Sandry jumped, and looked around before realizing that it was Tris who had mind called her.
"Tris?" (Sandry)
"Tell Pasco, Malachi, and Katei to come in. It's going to rain soon! And I personally don't want to have to worry about a soaking wet Little Bear." (Tris)
"Okay I'll tell them." (Sandry)
"Thanks, now maybe I can get some sleep!" (Tris)
"Oh you!" (Sandry)
Shaking her head at Tris's characteristic reply, she got up and walked briskly out of the workroom and into the yard, standing on the weather worn front step she called out to the breathless "kids" running around the yard, not that they were actually any younger then Sandry herself, "Malachi, Pasco, Katei! Bring Little Bear in, Tris says it's going to start raining soon!"
Then she just barely got out of the way before all four stampeded by. Giving the darkening sky one last look, she closed the door behind her hoping that Briar, and Rosethorn of course, wasn't going to be out in the rain.
Briar…
The steady cacophony of the rain beating on the roof filled Briar's ears, as he lay in bed. They had managed to find a small inn to stay in for the night, so that they wouldn't have to sleep on the damp muddy ground. Currently it was dark in Briar's room, with only the dim light that managed to make it through the clouds to illuminate the room. Briar had tried several different positions, and yet he still couldn't fall asleep, finally he gave up and let his thoughts drift- to Sandry. He remembered fondly the way her bright cornflower blue eyes were always gentle or laughing, the way her long light brown hair had sunstreaks and was always braided. Right before he had left with Rosethorn she had started wearing her braids wrapped around her head, which he though gave her a graceful, refined look. He remembered how fond of her he had become after always teasing her and playing pranks on her. Smiling he decided that he would call out a goodnight to the girls and hopefully, Sandry just might still be awake.
"Night girls." (Briar)
"Good night Briar. The others are all already asleep, or they'd wish you good night too." (Sandry)
"Then why are you still awake?" (Briar)
"I'm working on a Midwinter present." (Sandry)
"For who?" (Briar)
"As if I'm going to tell you plant mage! And shouldn't you already be asleep? You're usually out could two minutes after hitting your pillow!" (Sandry)
"I dunno, I just couldn't fall asleep." (Briar)
All was quiet and Briar was just starting to wonder if she wasn't mad at him, when she suddenly spoke up.
"Would you like me to sing you a song? I do it for Uncle when he can't sleep." (Sandry)
"Okay then, sing away." (Briar)
"Do you have any requests?" (Sandry)
"Not really." (Briar)
"Well my Uncle really likes the song The Prayer, and I like singing it." (Sandry)
"Sure." (Briar)
Briar had never really heard Sandry sing before, and was a little surprised at how clear and sweet sounding her voice sounded. The feeling of thread, weaving, and home wove through her voice, making Briar feel soothed, and he started to drift away on the wave of her lovely voice.
I pray you'll be my eyes,
And watch her where she goes,
And help her to be wise,
Help me to let go.
Briar drifted deep into his thoughts. Remembering how he came to Discipline he remembered his counter part, Roach, and how much he had changed from a lowborn common street rat, to a plant mage named Briar Moss, whom celebrated this transformation, every day on his birthday.
Every mother's prayer,
Every child knows,
Lead her to a place,
Guide her with your grace,
To a place where she'll be safe.
Sandry lulled by the slow song, and the work she was doing, thought back deep into her memories, to the time when her mother and father were dying. Tears came to Sandry's eyes as she remembered the last thing her mother has said, "Sandry, we'll meet again, and until that time, remember that your father and I love you."
I pray she finds your light,
And holds it in her heart,
As darkness falls each night,
Remind her where you are.
Briar went back to the time when he first met Sandry, Tris, and Daja. He had been wary around them, and even a little scornful, but soon grew to trust each of the four girls. After the quake, the first thing that had signified their friendship was their working together to make a crystal filled with light for Sandry, so that she never be afraid of the dark again.
Every mother's prayer,
Every child knows,
Need to find a place,
Guide her to a place,
Give her faith so she'll be safe.
Sandry had loved her parents, and Pirisi. When she had come to Discipline, she had made friends with the other three boarders, and had managed to stop grieving for her lost family. Yet although she had moved on, she was still scarred by the time she had been trapped in the dark, she was deathly terrified of the dark.
Lead her to a place,
Guide her with your grace,
To a place where she'll be safe.
Briar was half-asleep by the time Sandry finished her song, but he noticed the slight tremor in her voice as she sang the last note.
"Sandry?" (Briar)
"Yes?" (Sandry)
"Don't cry, your mother loved you, and you have a new family now, us." (Briar)
"I know Briar, it was just the moment I guess. Go to sleep now." (Sandry)
"Sandry? If it helps, I love you."
He felt her smile, as she replied, "I love you too, Briar." Then as he fell asleep he heard her faint murmur, "But in what way Briar? What way?"
WTL: So my first Briar/Sandry fic…. Don't be too harsh…… R&R