Short chapter, I'm afraid.


Maerad quickly changed into some nightclothes, then stood watching Lara for a few minutes. Were they really doing the right thing? Maybe she and Cadvan could adopt Lara when they came back. If we do both come back… But that would be a lot of disruption for her, wouldn't it?

What if Cadvan doesn't want to stay with me?

Maerad tried to push the voice away, but now she had thought it she couldn't get away from it. The notion scared her more than she liked to admit. Without conscious thought, she found herself padding silently out of her room and opening Cadvan's door slowly. She entered the room, and her distraction was such that she didn't realise he was asleep until she was very close to his bed. The light had been on, so she hadn't realised. As her eyes started working again, she saw that Cadvan lay with his shirt in one hand, and slept shirtless on top of the covers. As her eyes informed her brain of this fact, Maerad blushed deeply, but couldn't seem to stop looking at him. Her hand rose of its own accord to touch his face, but she snapped it down again and left the room. Entering her own, she leant against the closed door and closed her eyes.

What was that about?

Just before dawn the next morning, Maerad was awoken to the sound of Lara crying. She sat up, bleary-eyed, and realised that the girl was hungry. It was a few hours until breakfast, so Maerad lay back down. As Lara's cries increased in volume, Maerad heard her door open slightly.

"Maerad?" came Cadvan's voice. She sat up again.

"Yes?"

"Is Lara alright?" he asked, entering the room properly. Maerad saw that, in his haste, he had not put on a shirt, and swallowed. She noticed he was shivering a little.

"Yes, I think she's just hungry."

"Well, are you going to get her something to eat?"

"Oh…Should I?" This had not really occurred to Maerad. She had thought that Lara would just have to wait.

"Yes. Come along, I will come with you."

" 'Come along'," Maerad muttered. "I sound like a six-year-old."

Cadvan just raised one eyebrow and waited as she picked up Lara, who quieted down when she did so. She followed Cadvan downstairs, watching him yawn again. Silvia was right, Cadvan never yawned. She didn't recall ever seeing him do so.

"Cadvan, are you alright?" she asked, concerned.

Cadvan turned to her with a small, reassuring smile. "I'm fine. Why do you ask?"

Maerad felt foolish now and just said, "Just…asking."

He smiled again, but this one was happier. "Well, thank you for your concern. Are you alright?"

Maerad nodded as they entered the kitchen, wishing she had questioned him further, but the moment had passed and now Cadvan was rummaging through some cupboards. He surfaced a few minutes later with a slice of soft bread and a small bowl of yogurt, which he placed on the small kitchen table.


Cadvan wanted to yawn again as he went up the stairs ahead of Maerad, but managed to stifle it. He hadn't yawned since he was a child. And last night he had fallen asleep halfway through changing! How had he done that? He held the door for Maerad then went back into his own room.


Cadvan awoke slowly to see Maerad staring down at him, her eyes wide and filled with worry. He realised she had been shaking him and sat up.

"Maerad?" he said, rubbing his eyes. "What's the matter?"

He just had time to register Maerad's relieved sigh before he felt her arms encircle his shoulders. His put his own arms around her then asked again, "What's the matter?"

"I couldn't get you to wake up," Maerad replied, obviously trying to sound calm - but she didn't fool him: he heard the shake in her voice. "I've been trying for nearly five minutes."

Cadvan yawned again before replying. "I'm just tired," he explained, smiling more to reassure himself than Maerad. "What did you want, anyway?"

"Silvia told me to wake you up for lunch."

"Lunch?"

"Yes, it's after midday."

Cadvan stood up and discovered that he was fully clothed. He didn't remember getting dressed. He didn't remember much about last night, actually. Wait, hadn't he got up already? He had a vague notion of going into Maerad's room. He bit his lip as the two of them approached the dining room, where Silvia and Malgorn were sat waiting. The child he and Maerad had found…Lara, she was there too.

Now he remembered; he and Maerad had gone downstairs earlier that morning to get Lara something to eat! Lara was sat scowling as they entered, but as soon as she caught sight of them her expression brightened.

"Cad-a!" she cried. Cadvan felt flattered - but then Lara turned quickly to Silvia and asked; "Me eat!" and he realised Silvia had told her to wait until he arrived before she ate. This made him feel slightly less smug. He sighed deeply, his heart sinking.


Heehee what do you think? Please review! Tell me what you think I could improve and what you like!