Remember: I own nothing!

Just in case you're wondering why Regina asked Emma why it had been so long since she saw her when Tim was already at the House, it is only custom for a mother to present their daughtersto their Lady. It is not traditional for men to become warriors, they are the home makers and craft and tradesmen, but some do however join the Lady's army.

Arizona had been placed on a table with a group of girls that were of similar age to her as her mother stayed at the top table, engaged in the Lady's conversation. "Happy Birthday" the girl to her right said to her which made her shoulders loosen and a smile break out, "I'm Theodora, daughter of Tannath, but call me Teddy" the darker blonde said to her whilst nudging her elbow into Arizona's. All of the girls wore similar styled clothes, plain earth colours, some wore vests, others longer sleeves, some wore skirts but most of them wore trousers. Their hairs were all in different styles, some hanging loose, most wear pleated and others were tied with rope back from their faces, Arizona spotted jewellery on most of the girls' wrists and necks, maybe they could teach her how to make some necklaces someday. "Arizona, daughter of Emmahlia, and thank you" she smiled whilst looking around the table, most of them were looking at her intently as if they were waiting for her to tell some sort of a joke. Say something! Anything!"Are all of you warriors?" she asked whilst jumping in surprise at a boy who came behind her to serve her a bowl of vegetable soup and bread. After thanking the boy she began picking at her bread, she hadn't realised how hungry she was until now. How long had it been since she ate? 12 hours?

"No, we are all companions. Our warriors are due to arrive in the early hours of dawn" Meredith, daughter of Ellis, replied. "Where are they?" the blonde asked whilst tipping the bowl so she could catch every last drop in the once full bowl. "They are defending our borders, two days walk from here" a shy copper-haired girl that she later found out was April, daughter of Althea. Arizona nodded and gave a quick glance around the hall; everyone was so happy and seemed so content in their huge home. I hope I learn to love thisplace she thought to herself as her eyes stopped at her mother throwing her head back in laughter at something the Lady had said to her. This could be the last time I see my Mother in months, maybe years.

xxxxxx

Emmahlia had left later that evening unable to visit her brother Timarion as he was now a warrior and at the front with the others, she wished her daughter the health, happiness and friendships she herself made there on the same ground as she stood and reminded her that she had her family here with Tim and the Lady. Teddy was keen to show Arizona around the land and make her feel as welcomed as she had felt coming here. "So this is the male warriors and companion's house" she said whilst looking up at the building in front of her. It wasn't an overly large building but Teddy had informed her that there were only around 30 male inhabitants in Lady Regina's House. "My brother is a warrior here; may I go and speak to him at any time?" Arizona asked whilst looking around trying to spot her brother who she hadn't seen in nearly two years. "We're not really allowed in the male's quarters, they are allowed to take their meals in the Great Hall and have their freedom of it but the rest of the house is forbidden to them" Teddy said with a smirk on her face. "But I mean, that doesn't stop some of the companions here, I've even seen a warrior or two sneaking in also!" she said with raised eyebrows and a little snort. Arizona laughed at the taller blonde who she decided was going to be a friend of hers. "Who's your brother anyway?" Teddy asked as she started to lead Arizona to their designated quarters behind the Great Hall. "Timarion, son of Emmahlia" Arizona sighed. She had been looking forward to being reunited with her brother, she needed a familiar face. She was already starting to feel anxious about leaving her village, her forest, her Mother. She even wished Kia was here just so she could feel relaxed. "Your brother is Tim!" Teddy said in a gasp as she brought her feet to a halt. Arizona's eye widened in surprise as Teddy turned to grab hold of her sleeves, "This is great, I've been trying to make him ask to court me for weeks" she said with a smile big enough to make Arizona burst out laughing.

After a tour of the grounds, the kitchen: where the old women lived who were once warriors and now council for the Lady, and what seemed to be every other nook and cranny of Regina's House, Teddy finally brought Arizona to the companions' loft. The loft was just a platform over the end of the Great Hall farthest from the hearth. It had no walls, only a railing to keep companions from toppling over the side. The warriors slept upstairs, above the kitchen, each in her own little room portioned off from the others. Teddy had told Arizona that as soon as dawn came they would go to the Great Hall for breakfast where she would meet the warrior that the Lady had placed her with. The loft didn't have much organisation; Teddy had explained that you really just sleep where there was space and where you could squeeze your bed into. "I asked Mer to make you up a bed before we did our tour, so you'll be bunking next to me" she finished with a smile before turning and leading both of them through the crowd of girls all sitting or lying around them. They reached the circle of girls, most of which Arizona had recognised from earlier in the day. "Girls, so Arizona has a brother here" Teddy said with a smile causing Arizona's cheeks so burn. Oh shit.

"Who? Is he courting yet, or betrothed?" Amelia, daughter of Carolyn, asked, her bright eyes widening as she shuffled closer to the blonde.

"Timarion son of-"

"Tim is your brother?" a dark haired girl asked with a genuine smile "What?!" she said as she saw all of the girls giving her judging glares.

"Lexie, you've been courting Markus for how long now, I don't think you should be getting all excited over Tim" Josephina, who apparently went by Jo, daughter of Louanna said with a judging eyebrow raise.

"Wha- what, no, I was just- Oh whatever. You guys are so mean" she said with a sigh prompting a rub on the back from Meredith and a hand on the knee from April.

"Don't worry little sister, they're only joking, aren't you girls?" Meredith said with a laugh and a wink.

"You're sisters?" Arizona said with a questioning smile, dying to make some friendships at the Lady's House before she was paired with her warrior tomorrow.

"Yes, there's ten months between us" Meredith said with a smile

"Yeah, Mer will be becoming a warrior in two months" Lexie said with a proud smile whilst playing with the linen of her night time trousers.

The girls were interrupted by an older woman who had climbed the stairs to tell them that it was now time for the companions to be settled into bed as they had a busy day tomorrow with the return of the warriors. Arizona was shown to her space which was in between Teddy and Amelia, she wrapped herself under the blanket and watched as the girls who were making so much noise silenced around her, candles were blown out and they were now surrounded my only the dim light of the moon poking through the windows.

"Don't worry Arizona, you'll find your spirit here" Teddy whispered before closing her eyes.

Goddess, I hope so.

xxxxxxx

The Great Hall was buzzing. There were screams of excitement coming from every direction. Companions were running up to their warriors to greet them after what had been a three week trip. Although the blonde knew that it was extremely common for companions to court their warriors, she was surprised at just how many were embraced in each other's arms. Some companions charged after the male warrior, but most were companions and female warriors. She looked around, wondering which one was going to be hers and whether or not she may find her first love at Regina's House.

"ZONA!" she could recognise that deep and homely voice anywhere. Looking around she frantically tried to find the source of the calls. It wasn't long until she saw the tall and broad blonde running through the ocean of people straight at her.

"Tim!" she screamed as her eyes filled up with tears of joy. Tim finally reached his younger sister; he immediately picked her up and swung Arizona in multiple circles. He eventually dropped her onto her feet and engulfed her into a huge hug, Arizona hadn't realised how much she needed this hug from her brother until she felt all of her worries wash away from her. Pulling away from the smaller blonde Tim looked her up and down. "Look at you! You're beautiful just like Mother!" he said with a proud smile. "I don't think you've grown much since I last saw you" he said with a cheeky grin receiving a punch in the shoulder from his sister. Arizona traced over her brothers face, although it had not been an overly long time since he left for Regina's House, his face had matured and his once pale skin had now been sun-kissed after many days keeping guard in the sunshine. He wore navy coloured woven trousers and a white tunic that had two string ties dangling to his stomach.

"Hey, it's only been two years, what do you expect" she said teased, her dimples matching the ones standing a foot taller than her.

Arizona had brought Tim to her table, much to Teddy's delight, and she found that she was able to come out of the shell a lot more now that she had Tim's company. They spoke about their mother and Tim caught up with the happenings of their small village home. "You're not betrothed to that Kia are you?" he asked with a look of disdain. "No I am not, I've told you, I do not wish to be betrothed to Kia, I know Mother is convinced but it's not happening" she said with a frown whilst stabbing her breakfast eggs.

Tim smiled at his sister's frustration; she had always been the hot-headed child and was forever losing her temper when things didn't go her way. The two had been extremely close growing up, almost like twins; it had killed him moving away from such a closed-knit family, he was just so glad that she was here in his new home.

"How was the front, Tim?" Teddy asked in the most feminine tone Arizona had heard her speak in yet, receiving a "really" look from Arizona she shook it off she glanced back at Tim whilst playing with the rope of the necklace around her neck.

"We have to go back in the morning" he sighed, playing with his porridge, "Erica thinks that the western tribes are restless and something is going to happen fast, so we need to be there when it does".

"Shit! Erica!" Teddy said whilst jumping up from the table, sweeping over the room she found ice cold eyes staring back at her from the Lady's table. She picked up her cup of water and ran to greet the warrior.

Arizona watched the whole situation confused and shocked at the startled exit. "What was that all about?" she asked the group, most who were sitting with their warriors.

"Erica is the warrior's commander, she's also Teddy's warrior. Let's just say, she isn't the most pleasant of warriors to have" April chimed in as she sat next to her warrior Reed.

Deciding she would approach Teddy on the subject later in the day Arizona turned back to her brother. "So if the warriors are leaving tomorrow, I should seek mine now. Do you know who she is?" she asked, only receiving a shake of the head before the older blonde engaged conversation with the males to his left.

"I think she might have the old one you know" Tim's friend Alexander, Alex, ruffed as he inhaled his breakfast in front of him.

"Surely she would not have been assigned a companion" Tim replied, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

"What do you mean the old one? Do I have an older warrior? Is she nice?" Arizona asked, but all she received was a table of concerned faces.

xxxxxxx

Regina's House was a sanctuary to all that seemed loyal and true by the Lady. The grounds were open to those who were not from a tribe, family or village. Those who had lost their families or were orphaned from a tribe and looked for sanctuary, if deemed true by the Lady they would be safe under the realms of Lady Regina. They were called wards of the House, they would remain wards until they were granted permission from Regina to become companions if they wished to become one. Others took up trades such as blacksmiths. It was one of the younger blacksmith wards that showed Arizona to her warrior's door, her hair was black and tangled and Arizona wondered how someone so small and covered in soot was still visible. The ward knocked on the door, gave Arizona a quick and concerning look and literally ran away from her down the corridor they had just walked up.

"Wait-" Arizona shouted after her. I don't know my warriors name or if she's even in her room! "Hello?" Arizona said as she knocked again on the door in front of her. "My name is Arizona and I am your companion". What in Earth's name am I supposed to do here? Do I check to see if she's in and just sleeping? Maybe she's tired and has went for a nap?The blonde pushed open the wooden door and found herself in a small and bare room. The window at the opposite end of the bedroom filled the room with light as her warrior had opened the wooden shutters, the only furniture was a chest and a bed. A bed which had her warrior sitting crossed-legged on top of it with her head down focusing on stitching a hole in what looked like a skirt that she had what Arizona had presumed, received from her days on the front.

"Hello I am Arizona, daughter of Emmahlia, I am your com-"

"I do not need, nor care for a companion. Leave" the girl who couldn't have been more than a year or two older than herself spoke with such anger that Arizona took the smallest of steps backwards. She still hadn't looked up and black hair covered the majority of her face. Arizona did see her beautifully tanned skinned that looked as though it came from birth, not the sun. She was wearing grey trousers that cut off just above her knee as well as a grey shirt of the same colour and material that had no sleeves and rested just above her stomach. Arizona could see that her warrior was strong, legs, arms and stomach muscles where all prominent. The sun that came through the window highlighted little scars across her body which made Arizona all the more curious about this warrior who bore skin like she had never seen and hair darker than any night sky she had witnessed.

"But I have been told by Lady Regina that I am to-"

It was then that the dark haired warrior lifted her head to face the blonde standing in front of her. "I do not need nor care for a warrior. Leave." she gritted through white teeth. Arizona took in her warriors features. She didn't think she'd ever seen a woman so beautiful, her eyes were as dark as her hair that ran down her back, her eyelashes were just as dark and long, her face again tanned and tinted with a flush of anger that matched the colour of her plump lips. She had stopped fiddling with the item of clothing she was attempting to sew and looked straight into Arizona now widened blue eyes.

"No. I have been sent here by the Lady. I am your companion and you are my warrior." Arizona said weakly, hearing the cracks in her own voice. This didn't seem to phase her warrior as she stood from her bed, threw down her article of clothing and headed for the door. She had noticed that the warrior was barefoot and asked herself where she thought she was going to go without protection on her feet. Do I follow her?!the blonde asked herself as she watched her warrior who stood a couple inches taller than her run down the stairs that the small and sooty blacksmith girl had ran down just moments ago. Looking at the grey skirt her warrior had thrown across the room Arizona thought about staying and waiting for her return for only a split second before running after the dark haired girl.

Running down the stairs she crossed through the kitchen, ducking and diving between the older women who were now shouting at her to slow down and watch what she was doing around boiling water. Her warrior was stood at the doors of the Great Hall, her eyes shut and her lungs taking deep breaths of the air around her. She heard Arizona running up to the door before the smaller woman burst out of the doors. The warrior turned and gave Arizona a glare which told the blonde not to follow her and within seconds black hair followed the long tanned legs that were running outside of the gates into Regina's land towards the forest. An out of breath Arizona watched as her warrior ran off into forest. What was she supposed to do? Her warrior didn't want her?

xxxxxx

She had been sitting in her warrior's room for several hours and the sun was ready to set which would mean it would be time for bed soon. Her raven haired warrior hadn't returned. She'd kept herself busy with her companion duties, she'd finished sewing the hole in the grey skirt after witnessing the terrible attempt that had been made previously, she had made the bed, washed her warrior's shoes and organised the bag that she had taken to the front with her. Now she was sitting, waiting for the warrior who didn't seem like she was returning in the slightest. Letting out a sigh and a shake of her head Arizona left the bare room and made her way to the companions' loft. Warriorless.

xxxxxx

Her warriors name was a name that she had never heard before. "I think it's pronounced Calliope, but she gets annoyed when people call her that because apparently we can't pronounce it, so people just know her has either Callie or 'the Old one". Teddy explained over breakfast the next day. The warriors had left, although she had managed to say goodbye to her brother, she hadn't even caught a glimpse of Callie."Why the "old" one? She doesn't look any older than twenty-two years?" Arizona asked confused,

"She's from the old tribe" Amelia pitched into the conversation, her mouth full of bread.

"What, as in the actual old ones?" Arizona asked her eyebrows raising in surprise. Of course she had heard of the old ones, they were thought to be originated from the first tribe in history. They knew the elements more than any other tribe and were rumoured to be able to speak to the spirits whenever they please as they were that in-touch with nature. She

"Uh-huh" Lexi agreed "Well, that's what is rumoured anyway, she arrived here about four months ago in the height of winter with hardly a stitch on her and starving. She asked for sanctuary under the Lady's protection in return for an excellent soldier. The Lady accepted and she's been here ever since, she's made no effort in speaking to anyone and people are wary of her, they think she'll put hexes on them so they make no effort with her" Lexie said with a shrug "Which is pretty sad if you ask me".

"Well why don't you go make friends with her then?" April laughed

"Hexes" Lexie said seriously.

The group burst out laughing, even Arizona couldn't help but join in. She'd finally settled with these group of companions and she believed that she had found her friends that would last her a lifetime. Her warrior Callie intrigued her though. Not only was she dark and beautiful, her background was fascinating. Where were her people? Why did she not want to make friends in her new home? These questions would be answered when the warriors returned, she was determined. Until that point she had a lot of learning to do around the role as a companion and Teddy and the rest of the companions were about to take her on a tour around the laundry room.

I hope you all enjoyed this Chapter. I know that it's slow but I promise it will pick up in the next couple chapters, I'm just trying to give you all a background in what's happening. Any questions so far? :)