A/N: Hey guys! Okay, so its been like, a month since I last updated? Yeah...sorry. I think I'll let you all know up here and now that the posting will not be consistent. I'm not the kind of person that will be able to post every week or anything like that. I'll post whenever I can but the longer the wait then the better the chapter will be! I think...I hope...

Thanks for the reviews and follows! It makes me feel not all that hopeless.

As for the chapter 2 itself, it's quite long... I was thinking of breaking it up but I want to do chapter 3 from the chickie's point of view (...I still have to name her). Any guesses on what her power/ability will be? Leave a comment or review!

Salamonty201 -Yup. Ethan is a truthseer now as well as a member of the Tribunal. I haven't decided who else will be part of the Tribunal but I can tell you so far it is Arkarian, Isabel, Ethan, Matt, Neirah and Dillon. (Basically most of the Named)


The Other

Chapter 2: Reunited

Ethan's P.O.V:

There was a time I believed the members of the Tribunal had it easy. When I lived on the earth plane, my visits to Citadel had been limited. Most of the time, its purpose had been a gateway of sorts, between time and space itself. But it has become somewhat a home to us all. From the start I knew Isabel was more than ecstatic to being able to spend more time with Arkarian. Not that they didn't spend enough time together. It felt these days that she did nothing but. Most times I ran into her without Arkarian by her side, she was either looking for him or busy, and vice versa. But I'd rather not share my thoughts on their relationship with her. Isabel had a temper that was easily set off in my opinion and I pity all those who faced her wrath.

I wondered now and then how Arkarian put up with it all, but I guess there was a reason that they were soul mates. Hadn't I put up with Rochelle's faults? Hadn't I managed to look past everything only to find that, try as I may, I could not hate her…?

I decided to skip breakfast, my hunger suddenly vanishing – not that I had much of a hunger to begin with, and not wanting that poor kid to get in trouble. The last thing I wanted was to be known by future generations as a bitter and merciless tyrant. Isabel told me thousands of times that the people of Citadel adored me but I believe her kind words can only have me fooled for so long. I know that should one of the other Lords or Ladies come to pass, let us not hope, but should they then there would be a great mourning throughout the village. But as for myself? I can not picture the same. Perhaps I will be missed by a few, but not to the point of tears being shed.

It was the anniversary of Rochelle's death that threw me off. The very first year…By the gods, had it been the hardest. That year, I remember, had not been a very eventful one and I'd be lying if I said I hadn't spent most my time locked away in my quarters. Not much has changed aside from the small talk and relationship I keep with the Named but there are even times when I do not want any of their presences.

As I walked through the enchanted halls and towards the main House of Living, my body naturally decreased my speed to a slow almost stop, and I found myself having to force my legs to move. I did not know what brought such dread but I'd rather not eat with the others, or in this case, watch them eat. I was about to keep on walking when I heard Isabel's voice within my mind. 'Ethan, do you plan on standing out there all day, or are you coming in?'

With a soft sigh I entered the room and I quickly took note of how the air changed. The once happy and cheerful atmosphere has now been replaced with a sudden tightness I still believed there was time to make a quick escape and some lame excuse about having business to attend to when Isabel's eyes met mine. She gave me a pointed look that a mother would often give their child before scolding him and not needing to be publicly embarrassed I took a seat to the right of Arkarian.

"Nice of you to join us." Arkarian joked in a light tone to which I gave a slight smile back. Its had been a while since Arkarian and I had a real. Talks like those of which we had back when he was my trainer. We rarely speak to one another now and the times we do speak hold a bit of awkwardness, but if there's anyone I can let my guard down the faintest bit around, its Arkarian. "Slept in?" He asked as he pushed a plate towards me. I gazed back at the man instead of the food and realized he was waiting for a verbal answer. Ironic, seeing as he could read my mind, and so there was no real point in having this conversation.

His smile fell ever so slightly at that and I couldn't help but beat myself up for thinking such thing so openly. No doubt the others heard it as well and I simply had added to the bitter old man image they already had of me. Attempting to pick of the pieces, I decided to quickly answer him.

"I suppose you could say that. Quite frankly, 12 is a little early for me." I commented lightly, to which his smile reappeared…to some extent. It would have seemed I broke the awkward air in the room by a fraction and to confirm this, I had nearly fallen from my chair due to the sudden attack. Using the table to steel myself, I turned to the man who had clasped my back and was currently having a good laugh. I had a slight feeling my spine may have been fractured and there was good reason in thinking so, as the culprit was Dillon.

Time seemed to slow as I couldn't help but stare. I hadn't see the man in years and he had changed quite a bit and yet enough the man for me to recognize. His blonde hair had become a slightly darker shade and almost long enough to be reaching his shoulders but not quite there. He had filled out more – I hadn't believed that was possible – and was taller than most, probably taller than me.

I hadn't really noticed till now that most of the Named were sitting at the table. I had disregarded the others to simply be friend of Isabel but upon closer noticed I recognized Matt and Neriah as well.

"Still the same man I see. It's good to see you again, Ethan!" Dillon finally spoke as he took a sip of his goblet. He swallowed carefully before speaking. "Ahh, and now how has this life been treating you?"

"Quite alright." I answered before clearing my throat. If I was going to get through this meal then I was going to have to be a bit more social. "And you? You've been living on the earth plane…I take it?" I was genuinely curious. I knew for a fact that Matt often lived with his father and Neriah…wherever they resided…

He grunted loudly in agreement, a smile on his face as he swallowed once more. "I don't think I can ever see enough of that world." He commented and set the half-empty goblet back down with a clang. I was certain by now that the attention of almost everyone at the table was upon the two of us. It made me a tad more self conscious about how I replied. "You should really stop by more often Ethan. Things have changed since you've last been there…"

I'll bet. Technology and society changed faster than you could keep up with. I remembered that much. After not having much contact with the earth plane for years, I fell a bit behind with what went on down there. Aside from my occasional family visits there was never much reason to go back. Everything down there was a reminder of them past, of what I was, and what I lost. Everything I had given up and every memory was plagued.

I nodded in response to his question but wasn't sure if I would follow through. I had no intention to return as there was no holidays or celebrations coming up with the family and there would no reason to visit Dillon. Not after seeing him today after some time anyways… Perhaps I should have reached out to him half way, seeing as he was more than willing to go all the way to restore old bonds, but I saw no point. It was hard to find things that held enough importance to me to leave Citadel, let alone my room. It was safe to say that life hardly felt worth living.

Matt distracted Dillon with some topic or another and I returned to my silence. I should have known that such a thing wouldn't last very long. 'Aren't you going to eat something?' Isabel's voice inquired from where she was seated on the other side of Arkarian. I resisted the urge to groan knowing she didn't invade my mind with the intention of bothering me but life had been far easier back when she wasn't a truthseer. 'No. I'm not very hungry.' I replied and attempted a vague smile. She didn't seem to buy into it for a second and merely shook her head.

"Really Ethan. Starving yourself is going to get you no where." She spoke out loud but I was just grateful her volume had decreased some. Arkarian on the other hand was seated right between us managed to hear her loud and clear. He chuckled lightly before turning towards me with a slight apologize in his eye. "It's best to do as she says than go arguing up against her." He advised to which I couldn't help but agree. I was about to speak when Isabel overheard his words and elbowed him sharply but the table easily hid the act.

It was probably better of me to hold my tongue even if I was somewhat out of her reach. Better safe than sorry anyways…

"I heard that!" She hissed but it was funny how it took one look from Arkarian to have her tone softening. I still found it a miracle that he managed to calm her down so but I suppose Isabel has matured a bit over the years. With having to live through the war and Lorian's death it was only naturally to be force to grow out of her childish habits…

"Heard what?" Arkarian asked innocently. Isabel mock-glared at him before sticking out her tongue, which even I couldn't help but laugh at. Then again, not much has changed. Matt suddenly cleared his throat, which had 3 of our gazes lifting and Neriah, blushing lightly. She murmured something in his ear and Matt turned on her but his features softened as well. There was a sudden pang of longing and want within my chest; a pain that managed to strike my very core and forced me to look away.

"Hmm! So… Ethan." Dillon began, seeing as Matt was arguing softly with Neriah. "I refused to believe you work all day. Tell me, no pretty princesses in the kingdom catching your eye?"

Arkarian did his best to discreetly shake his head and cut Dillon off ,but either he chose to ignore him or didn't notice the deafening silence which fell over the table. Either way, Dillon continued his…erm… lecture.

"What has it been…Oh… 8 years?"

"4."

There was no real need to project my voice and so it stayed somewhat quiet. I could feel my anger beginning to sprout as it did when someone brought forth the topic so carelessly. It was long since I've felt this anger for everyone knew better than to bring it up with me present but it seemed Dillon still lack that insight. Still, for whatever reason, I let him continue.

"Shame." He 'tsked softly but his frown was one of falsity. I didn't think that Dillon wasn't upset on behalf of Rochelle but without a doubt he didn't know her like I did. No one knew her like I did, which is why they'd never understand the fact I couldn't move on. It was because I really couldn't. It wasn't as if I hadn't tried, I had. I went along with a few of those dates and women that Isabel set me up with but every one had ended the same. Every single one had left me unsatisfied. It wasn't the women at all. That wasn't the problem. The problem was how I found myself comparing each one to her.

"But...what can we do?" He sighed and I found myself snapping sooner than I, myself had expected. Arkarian hissed out Dillon's name this time and made eye contact with the other but it was too late. "What we can do?" I spoke slowly and sat up straighter. "What we can do Dillon, is remember her. Maybe honour her and quit acting as if she was some minority?" My voice increased with each syllable and a sneer had taken over… My hands shook slightly as I flexed the tension out of them. I could hear the a gentle voice telling me to sit back down and it wasn't till then that I realized I had stood up.

But I couldn't sit down. By now, all eyes were on me and so, I did the only think I was best at doing. I took the coward's way out and left. I could hear Matt mumbled a 'nice going' but the sounds of whatever chatter took place after I left fell upon silent ears. I didn't run down the hall the second I was out but I near as hell flew down it.

I knew Dillon didn't mean what he said. I knew that I had over reacted once again. There was no doubt that Isabel would later use this as a sign it would be better if I moved on but what if I didn't want to move on? It seemed like each and every one of them believed there was someone else out there for me. Someone who wasn't Rochelle. Arkarian has more than once lightly mentioned that it wasn't healthy to be in this state and that I should have at least started healing. At the rate everything was going, I don't think I'd ever be healing.

Perhaps it is the curse for not having protected her, loved her while I could have. It may be because of my foolishness in the past that the Fates have decided to torture me so now. I do not know if there is any one higher than us watching over us with less than half the universe being discovered, but if there is, I wonder if my suffering will lessen in the 10 years to come.

"Ethan!" The sound Arkarian's footsteps increased and I hesitated in stopping. I didn't want to talk about what had just happened back there in that room. I couldn't really explain it myself but Arkarian projected his thoughts within my head. As usual, the guy wanted nothing more than to smooth things over… to help in any way that he could. I decided it was probably best to take advantage of his kindness before it disappeared all together. For there'd be a day when Arkarian would too become fed up with my behaviour as well and he'd come to realize that the Ethan he once knew, was not the Ethan before him.

"Is everything alright?" Arkarian asked once he was close enough for me to hear. He slowed to a halt, standing a few feet away from me, as if afraid any closer and I would have took off. "Yeah…Just, you know." I struggled to find the words. I knew what he wanted to hear. I knew what the all wanted to hear but even now I couldn't admit how much everything hurt. "Its hard forgetting…" I finished off lamely.

"Ethan, you know no one's asking you to forget…right?" Arkarian sighed and I blinked back a little lost. Well in a way I understood where he was coming from. They didn't want me to forget either but they without a doubt wished for me to move on. "Never mind that." He dismissed the topic with his hand. "Listen, I was wondering if you could do us a favour?"

"Depends on who is 'us' and what this favour is." I answered him smoothly and walked along side him when he turned. Arkarian smiled lightly and shook his head in response. I wondered what he was thinking but not so curious to invade his mind. I sure as hell didn't like the feeling of another lurking in the only place of privacy I had these days and so I respected his own. "For me and Isabel of course. You see Ethan… We were wondering if you be willing to take on an… well, an apprentice."

The suggestion had be freezing, quite literally. Arkarian frowned and stopped a bit ahead after realizing I was no longer following him. I hadn't heard him right, had I? An apprentice? At this age? For what? With Lathenia and the Order being erased from time, there was nothing to really fear, to prepare for. Sure, there were the few scavengers, leftover loyalties to the dark queen but they were nothing to fear. They didn't require Trainers… What bothered me the most, I suppose, was none of that but the reason Arkarian chose me.

I was hardly the first choice for a Trainer.

"Why me?"

"Why not?" He countered with a grin. He seemed too confident that I'd accept that I was tempted to reject simply for the sake of rejecting. The thought left my mind as soon as it entered and I did my best to keep things pure and positive. "And you can't do it… cause?" I asked, knowing from experience, what a great Trainer Arkarian was. If my pride had allowed it I would have said it was an honour to be taught by Arkarian but alas I couldn't.

His eyes suddenly light up as his cheeks in turn darken. He began wringing his hands and mumbled an answer which I was forced to ask him to repeat. I doubt the reason was because of some guy named Larry… "Ahem…I said, Isabel and I are getting married."

"In that case, consider it an early wedding gift." The smile that followed my words pretty much told me what I had already known. I was going to be training a future member of the guard and whether I wanted to or not.