It wasn't until a week later that Holly saw Hikari again, the girl buying more thread from the vendor near the town hall. She paused on the docks behind the girl, wanting to speak but unsure of what to say. She wanted to appologize for her accusitions, but she was afraid that it would only hurt Hikari's feelings to bring it up again.

Hikari was glowing... she seemed so happy, more happy than she had in a very, very long time. Seeing this man again was obviously something very important to her, and Holly didn't feel like ruining the effect by dredging up old, bad feelings.

Hikari turned after paying the vendor, stopping briefly upon seeing Holly standing there. They stood in silence a moment, then Hikari flashed a bright smile, walking over to Holly.

"My dress is almost done. You should come over later and see it." She said, Holly feeling her heart skip in relief. "That is, if you're not too busy with the patrols."

"Not too busy to spare you a moment, little sister."

Hikari smiled brightly again, nodding and heading off to the Inn once more to finish with her tailoring. Holly stood on the docks with her eyes closed...

She didn't deserve the forgiveness.

Howe paused beside her, putting a hand on her arm.

"Holly... I spoke with the mail carrier." He murmured this low enough that only she could hear, and she simply offered a nod in return. "He's... on his way."

Turning her head sharply, Holly stared at him in confusion.

"On his way, why?"

"Because... there's another letter, Holly. And he did as I asked him to... I'm sorry, Holly, but it seems what Hikari said is-"

"Shut up!" Holly snapped, Howe blinking and stammering for a moment before Holly stormed towards the flight point. He watched her go, brow furrowed, then glanced towards the Inn.

The mail carrier yelped in surprise as, shortly after he landed, someone approached him, grabbing his arm rather roughly.

"Hikari's letter... where is it?" She snarled, and the letter carrier squeaked before hurrying to rummage through his pouch.

"I-I-I... just one m-moment... Right here, t-take it!" He handed a slightly crumpled looking letter to her, and she snatched it away, turning on her heel to storm off over the bridge again. "I guess... my work here is done then?" He said it mostly to himself, turning back to the flight master, who offered him a sympathetic smile.

When Holly burst into her room, Hikari had just finished putting on the dress she had spent all week making. She turned in surprise to the door, her face lighting up upon seeing who it was.

"Oh! You're just in time, I..." She slowly stopped upon seeing the look on Holly's face, frowning. "Is... is something wrong, Holly?"

The woman didn't speak, she simply closed the door behind her. Outside, the sun had begun to set.

"Hikari." Holly's voice was thick with emotion, and Hikari felt her heart begin to pound a little faster. "You lied to me."

"I... I what?"

Holly held one gauntletted hand out, holding in it a crumpled letter, her face dark. Hikari stared at the letter in horror, turning her eyes to Holly's face once more. Fury was flashing in her eyes... fire was burning in them, and she stalked across the room to snatch the letter away.

"You said you trusted me, Holly! Who is the liar now?" She spat, smoothing the letter.

"Why did you lie to me?" Holly spoke softly now. "Why did you lie to me about him?"

Hikari didn't answer, she simply opened the letter, turning her back to Holly to read it.

It was written in orcish... it was a warning, and it told her where to meet him. It told her where he would be, where she could find him.

"Who is Tol'ray, really, Hikari?" Holly spoke from behind her, and Hikari closed her eyes for a moment before answering the question.

"As I've said... many times before. He's the love of my life. He is mine..."

Holly watched her turn back to face her, saw that she was trembling, saw that the fire in her eyes had burned away and that she was no longer angry. Her voice had changed, she sounded determined now, as if she had come to some sort of a decision.

"So he may be, but who is he, Hikari?"

They both looked towards the window as warning bells began to go off, as shouts began to ring from the people of the town. Hikari's eyes widened and Holly growled deeply, turning to go.

"You're staying in your room, Hikari... I'm sorry, but I can't let you go out there, it's too dangerous."

"But... I'm supposed to be meeting him!" Hikari protested, Holly pausing to look over her shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Hikari, but it's not safe."

"I'm sorry too."

This made Holly pause, and she opened her mouth to speak, frowning and turning to face Hikari once more. The girl's staff flashed towards her, and she couldn't bring her arms up in defense before she was struck across the face with it, letting out a muffled grunt of pain as she fell to the ground.

Stunned, she could do nothing more than watch Hikari step over her, running from the room and leavnig her lying on the floor. She groaned, trying to pull herself up.

"Hikari!!"

As if on cue, rain began to pour down as the Horde came up over the hill leading down into the town. They didn't pause for long before rushing the line of guards and townsfolk weilding weapons. The two groups met as thunder crashed, and screams echoed out over the town.

In the midst of it all, unwittingly, Hikari wandered. She wore a cloak over her dress to keep the rain off of it, but mud still splashed her skirt. As she stared around the town in horror, she couldn't help remembering when she and Tol'ray had met.

It seemed... far too much like that day. Everything about this reminded her of that day.

She moved closer to the Inn again, remembering that Holly was still inside and ducking to the side of the entrance. She pressed herself close to the wall to escape the rain briefly, eyes wide as she took in what was going on. Huge, dark shapes moved about in the darkness, the smaller forms of the townsfolk darting in and out among them. Bellows and gutteral cries joined the screams of the humans, magic lit up the sky like lightning did.

She was unaware that someone was behind her until she felt a large hand close over her arm, the scream in her throat catching as she was pulled forcefully backwards against a hard, warm body. A hand pressed over her mouth, and as something brushed past her ear, she gasped hoarsly, struggling to try and escape.

"Qui' yo' squi'min', gi'lie... don'choo remembah me?" A voice spoke very softly to her, and suddenly the only thing holding her up was the arm around her waist. Her legs gave out from under her and she let out a sigh, opening her eyes to look up at the troll she had waited ten years to see again.

She returned to the battlefield too late... by the time she got outside, Hikari was out of sight. Still staggering from the blow she had taken, Holly quickly looked around, putting a hand to her head.

It was hard to see through the rain and the mass of bodies moving together in battle, and she almost missed the flash of pink disappearing around the side of the Inn. Jaw set in detemination, Holly moved towards the Inn once more, loosing her crossbow from her back.

"Hikari!!" She shouted, the sound drowned out by the battle. She quickly fit a bolt into the crossbow, waiting for her chance, watching the hills behind the Inn so she wouldn't miss them.

No, not them... so she wouldn't miss him.