I edited the beginning of this chapter, the first paragraph was on CH 1, but I moved it. Much thanks to you all for your patience and continued reviews and well wishes!! Hope I don't disappoint! Dancing Weapons is with my beta as we speak and will be updated soon. As usual, thanks to Sirius for all her hard work!! Read and review! Thanks!

Karigan awoke in the morning light, squinting at the sunlight piercing her bedchamber curtains. She rolled over, knowing that Fastion was already awake and making sure that the newest members of Mirwell's militia, little more than raw recruits were well on schedule with their training. She sighed, settling onto her back and staring up at the silken canopy above her.

Her hands trailed over stomach, touching its flat tautness. If it hadn't been for the Mistress of the Golden Rudder advising her how to prevent pregnancy, she would have had little Weapons running around every season.

But now, Estora wanted her to bear Zachary an heir. Her mind was a maelstrom of doubt and fear. After so long she finally felt at peace in her life, and now this? Her Weapon was upset, but would keep his own counsel until she opened a dialogue with him. They had kept their relationship quiet, not for anyone's sake but her own as Lady of Mirwell. It would not be befitting for a Lady Governor of a Province to be known for having a lover, and though her Aunts constantly reminded her of her duty to provide her Clan with an heir, she had consistently ignored their requests. Somewhere in her heart, she had hoped Fastion might one day ask her to be his bride, but she was content in their relationship the way it was. One question nagged at the Green Rider. Was he?

Fastion watched over the courtyard, directing Karigan's steward in matters that would need attending to while they were away. The Lady of the house had not yet said they would be leaving, but Fastion knew that they could not ignore a summons from Sacor City. In some ways the Weapon felt like a challenge had been issued, and he was more than ready to meet it. He gripped the hilt of his sword tighter. He had been a fool if he thought that they could just continue on here in Mirwell and remain untouched by the rest of the world.

Though he had spent much of the morning training and sparring with the garrison of soldiers that were kept at the manor house, Fastion felt the need to burst into action yet again. He quelled his need and forced his attention to the steward, though his thoughts remained elsewhere.

He had been a fool in many ways. His heart had led him to embrace Karigan, and she him, but was he just a stand in for Zachary? Did Karigan turn to him because there was no alternative? Would she now turn away?

The object of his musing appeared at the arched entryway to the courtyard, causing many of the servants to bow out of respect. Karigan gave them a nod in return, her eyes focusing on Fastion. She pulled at her tunic idly, wondering why she felt so nervous.

"Thank you Jurne, that will be all," Fastion dismissed the steward, crossing his arms to admire the woman he loved. She spurned the dresses that she was expected to wear, instead clinging to simple tunics with leather breeches tucked into riding boots. Her saber was still her constant companion, and Fastion would be surprised if she didn't have other weaponry hidden on her body. He would never tell her though, that her clothing choice brought her more masculine attention than any corseted dress would.

"I just finished speaking with Jurne, telling him what we would be needing for our journey, as well as instructions for the house while we were away," Fastion said by way of explanation as she drew near.

Karigan paused and nodded. His tone was all business, and from the look on his face, she could tell that he was beginning to close his emotions off in an attempt to protect himself. "I hadn't decided that we would be leaving yet," she fought to keep the testiness out of her voice.

He tilted his head at her. "You would ignore a summons from the King?"

"Dammit, Fastion!" Karigan whispered tersely, all too aware of their public surroundings. "Just because we have to go doesn't mean I'm going to be bounding back into bed with Zachary!" She snapped.

"Oh? Then what is the reason for this venture, then? Why not just…"

"What? Write a little note, 'so sorry, I can't give birth to your kingdom approved bastard?' Somehow I can't think that would go over too well!" Karigan spat, striding out of the courtyard.

Fastion followed behind her until they were out of earshot of the servants and jerked her to a shadowed alcove of the gardens. "Because seeing him and telling him that face to face would be so much easier? Are you sure you can handle that, Kari? The last time you saw him, you were still in love with him, fresh from his bed!" While the Weapon knew the latter wasn't quite true, he knew he had struck a chord with the Rider when her sword hand balled into a fist. She took a step forward and looked at him with narrowed eyes. And in that instance, he knew he should apologize.

"What are you trying to do Fast? Make this 'easier' for me? Trying to let me go before you get ordered to do so?" Karigan hissed.

Fastion looked down at the ground. He had considered that. He wasn't that chivalrous though. Now that he had held her, loved her, he didn't think he could ever let her go. "No," he admitted.

"Then what in the five hells is it? Do you think I wanted this to happen? Do you think that I'm enjoying this possibility? Do you think I have a choice?"

The Weapon looked up as her voice cracked, and he reached forward pulling her into his arms.

"They aren't exactly giving me a choice," she whispered again his chest, and he knew that without a doubt was what Karigan hated most about the situation. She hated to feel powerless, and so much had happened in her life that she had no control over.

"I know, love," he whispered against her hair, sighing.

"I don't want to lose you Fast," Karigan murmured, tilting her face up. Zachary was the past, and Fastion was her present. She just never expected the two to twine together again.

"Do you love him, still?" The question burst from the Weapon's lips unbidden.

Karigan blinked in surprise. She hadn't considered that possibility in ages. "I, I…don't think so. I haven't thought of that in a long time."

"What does that mean, Kari?" Fastion released her.

Karigan chewed on her fingernail for a moment. "It's like opening a chest that you forgot you had, you didn't think of the contents when you didn't see them, but once they are in your view, you say, 'I used to love this'. I don't know Fastion. You can't ask me about that! I don't think of Zachary as being available! And even with this, he still wouldn't be mine! I'd be…second best and…" Karigan looked up at the man she had grown to love and noted the pain in his eyes. "Fastion, you are my present, you are my world here. I haven't thought of him in a long time…do I love him? I don't know."

"What about me?"

"Huh?"

"Do you love me?"

He had never asked her that before, they never spoke of love, though their eyes relayed the message often enough.

"Do you love me?" she returned. Even now, she was afraid. After all this time, still, she feared being rejected.

Fastion smiled. Ever the swordswoman who would not given an inch. He reached for her hand, pulling her back into his embrace. "I won't speak of such things now, not with this between us."

Karigan settled into his arms nodding her assent. He was right. They couldn't speak of love between them when she might very well be ordered to lay with the King. But one thing was for certain. Once broached, things would never be the same between them.

Estora folded the simply written note, turning to glance at the window. Had she made the right decision? Could she bear to let another woman lay with her husband? The Queen rose in a smooth motion moving to the casement, regarding the scene below her. She could pick out her King in any crowd, not only because of his usual accompaniment of Black Shields, but by his bearing alone.

Her heart clenched for a moment before she willed it away. She did not love Zachary the way she had loved F'ryan; that part of her heart was locked away when he died. Yet she did have a care for him and his Kingdom, and wanted what was best for both, even at her own expense. Zachary shouted, and it startled her briefly, before she realized it was in jest. She watched as he ruffled the hair of the stable boy assisting him, before resting his hands on the boy's shoulder and smiling. Estora knew without a doubt the warmth shining in her husband's eyes.

If not for the Kingdom, Estora wanted Zachary to have a child for himself. He yearned for children, and each year she remained barren, his sadness, though he thought it hidden, had grown. No suggestion could be made that it was Zachary's seed at fault, for she had shared a love with F'ryan often, and no issue had been made from the union.

The Queen's fingers curled slightly around the parchment still in her hand. Karigan had agreed to come with a curt, 'What you ask is much, even for me, my lady. Yet, I will come to speak with you out of respect for our long friendship and regard for each other.'

Estora wanted to weep with relief. Karigan had saved them once, and hopefully she could do it again.

A soft knock brought her from her reverie and she called an equally soft, "enter."

Zachary stepped into her sanctuary smelling fresh of the outside air. "Will you come riding?" he asked, sounding eager and young.

The Queen tilted her face up, smiling softly. He had just begun to be graced by the softest touches of grey at his temples, and it complimented his features perfectly. "There are no council meetings today?"

"No, since the season is starting to cool, many have returned to their estates, it is almost harvest-time," his own thoughts were far away, thinking of Hillander province and the fields of wheat that would be golden by now. He would have to write to his own steward to make sure that all was well.

"I cannot," Estora spoke, pulling him from his musing.

"Oh?" Zachary asked, his brow furrowed.

"Karigan is coming and I must ready the guest wing for her and her entourage."

Zachary was still. Estora's words had crept up his spine and chilled him. His heart began to race in his chest, and his face flush.

His wife regarded him for a moment before touching his hand gently. "It will be well."

"What if it isn't? She, I…gods Estora." Zachary sat on one of her many pillow filled chaises, holding his head in his hands.

"What frustrates you more, my lord? The fact that she is coming and might deny you, or that she is coming with Fastion?"

Zachary's head snapped up and caught the cool, penetrating gaze of his wife. "You knew?"

Estora knew he wasn't speaking of the only night he had spent with the Green Rider, he had told her of that long ago. "Yes."

The King's eyes widened. "And still you asked this of her? Knowing that she and Fastion…"the words lodged in his throat.

"Were lovers?" Estora glanced down at the paper still in her hand. "Yes, Zachary. I did. Karigan learned long ago of her duty, and where her path didn't lie. Sometimes, just because time has gone by doesn't make ones duty lessen. I haven't forgotten that, and neither will Karigan," Estora said softly, exiting her study with a gentle click of the door.

Zachary stared after his wife, for the first time realizing how the years of doing what was right and her duty had turned his Queen bitter. He stood up in shock when he realized that the missive he had sent days ago might not reach Mirwell.

Fastion balled up the message in a manner unusual for the controlled Weapon. If he had been a cat his tail would've been puffed and he would be spitting. How dare he?

The King's letter was direct and to the point.

Fastion,

If you choose to accompany Karigan to Sacor City, you will remember your oath of fealty to me and to her. Serve her as her Weapon within my walls and nothing more. We will speak of this further when you arrive.

By all rights Zachary could demand he stay away from the Green Rider. But the message meant so much more. It was a not so subtle, 'I know that you are together' and that he wasn't happy. Did the King honestly expect his former lover to remain chaste while he laid with his own wife at his leisure?

"Fastion, I can't seem to, " Karigan came around the corner, and Fastion turned to her, his expression still almost livid. She looked up, her eyes widening in concern.

"Are you," her question was cut off as her Weapon covered her mouth with his own, his kiss claiming and ferocious. Karigan gave a soft moan of assent, and found herself scooped into his muscular arms and carted off to her chamber.