A/N: Hopefully I'm filling in a few blacks here. I always wondered what Rushton first thought when he saw her and in 'Ashling', it mentions that he fell in love with her when he first saw her. I also met Isobelle Carmody, and she said that Elspeth was still a pre-teen when she and Rushton met; and he was almost a man. I was a little worried about that actually, but hey, love conquers all right?
"Domick, what do you know of this new orphan recently to come to Obernewtyn?" Rushton inquired of his companion.
"Do you mean the girl with black hair and green eyes?" he replied softly.
"Exactly the one, what's her name?"
"Elspeth Gordie, I believe. She came from the orphanage in Kinraide. Elii said she is curious and different from the other orphans. She keeps her distance and spends a lot of her spare time with a half wild and mad, battered old cat she calls Maruman. Her brother Jes is quite a bit older but he was left in Kinraide. It seems as if there is almost no doubt she is a misfit, and a strong one at that," Domick said, rubbing sleep from his eyes, as he stoked the fire.
Rushton nodded, lost in thought. Perhaps he could persuade Selmar to talk to her; maybe then Elspeth would show her powers and agree to join the cause.
The thing that was playing over in Rushton's mind the most wasn't the fact the girl had what appeared to have strong mental capabilities, but what his heart had done when he saw her. It was almost as if it had a mind of its own, and was going to burst from his chest.
She's far too young. Merely a child, he told himself, shamed of the thoughts he'd been entertaining about the girl. She was beautiful, that's as much as he would allow himself to admit, nothing more.
Domick threw Rushton a sideways glance, recognising the look of deep concentration to come into his friend's face. It was one often worn by Rushton, but none to that extent. Domick decided that something must be festering away in his companion's mind.
"Are you alright friend?" he asked, rousing Rushton from his thoughts.
"Hmm? Oh, yes," he replied in a distracted voice, still mesmerised by the fire.
"Perhaps Selmar could speak with her?"
"I was thinking exactly the same thing."