After Maerad Had explained all that she could Hem and Zelika left the house to walk the vacant city. Both of them remembered the night that they had fled and how the earth shook when this great city had been engulfed in the large sink hole that was created by one of Saliman's dear friends. The two walked mournfully though the newly rebuilt streets finding their way to the stables Zelika couldn't hold her tongue any longer, looking at Hem she brought herself to speak, " Will Maerad take me with you when you leave for Dagra?"

Without any hesitation Hem spitefully said, " It dose not matter if my sister would like for you to go, because I will not let you go."

When Zelika first had asked If she may be going it was only so she would be able to prepare. However when Hem so rudely told her that he would not allow her to go she began to become irate. Allowing her feelings to over come her once again she lashed out at him, " what gives you the right to say if I go or not. Did you ever think maybe I want to go. Or do you think that only the all so powerfully Elidhu are able to help bring an end to Sharma?"

Now furious with Zelika Hem start yelling with out truly thinking about what he was saying, " Zelika do you think I wish to loose you again? Do you? I'm in love with you and that gives me the right to say if you go or not. Furthermore it is too dangerous for you to go." allowing his fear of loosing her to seep further into his mid he continued, " If I have to turn you into a small bird and lock you in a cage in order to keep you safe then I will !"

Zelika's eyes widened as she shouted, " You don't have the power to turn me into anything"

Hem shut his eyes and thought of Zelika in a form of a beautiful small bird. He thought of all the birds he had seen growing up and locked his thought on a dove that use to fly around the house that he was kept at. Hem could feel his body tingle as his thoughts became more clear till a soft cooing sound caused him to open his eyes. Seeing a small gray dove standing where Zelika was Hem started to regret what he had done. Quickly he tried to grab the little bird only to have her fly away into the morning sky.

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Mean while back at Saliman's house the three bards were still trying to get Maerad to explain some of the more smaller pieces of her plan such as when will troops from the seven kingdoms begin to arrive or how will they arrive quickly when at best it would tack several weeks to come to Turbansk?

Sitting in a chair Maerad could only say that The Elidhu's that lived near the major schools would bring those who would fight in this final battle to the Suderain. Furthermore the details that they were asking were not known to her at that moment for they were still a guarded secret that would only be told once the unseen troops are gathered. Knowing that Maerad was filled with more riddles than answerers Cadvan politely said, " we will just have to wait and hope that your plan comes together quickly then, and I do hope that nothing goes astray in the meantime."

As Cadvan finished speaking a strange little bird flew in from an open window. It darted right for the safety of Maerad's arms. At first though both Saliman and Soron minds turned to the first attack of death crows, but quickly dismissed it as this little bird began to coo. Maerad sat bewildered with the frightened bird in her lap till Irc flew in. unsure if Irc was stalking this poor creature or just merely chasing it, Maerad brought a bit of her dress round it hoping that Irc would not notice. Not a moment later Hem burst though the door.

Frantic and out of breath he spoke, " Has anyone seen a gray dove?"

Saliman's heart grew heavy as he thought for a brief moment that the dove in question was sent from far north as a massager. Holding back the fear of this thought he spoke, " Hem tell me why would a dove be here in Turbansk?"

Hem knew no matter how he tried to explain this, he was going to be in a lot of trouble. Swallowing hard he winced his eyes shut as he timidly spoke, " the dove is not a real bird…. Um you see it …. It's Zelika."

Maerad jumped to her feet and both Cadvan and she spoke in unison, " Hem out of all the irresponsible thinks to do….. You have to choose this.. "

Cadvan stood still as Maerad furiously started to speak the Elidhu language, " Do you realize what you have done? Or did you even think about what would have happen if Zelika that was captured by one of Sharma's forces? Did you? Or were you only thinking of trying your new found power out….."

Sternly Maerad gazed into her brother's eyes as her body started to laminate from her rage. Her voice seemed to deepen as she Demanded, " Turn her back this instant."

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Hem bowed his head and with out speaking a word allowed himself to think of Zelika standing before him with her dark hair falling around her shoulders. Feeling the same tingling sensation running through his body he knew when his eyes open Zelika would be back in her true form.

After Zelika had regained her composer she straightened her back making her self stand stall, and calmly glided over to Hem. Then without taking a breath she grabbed his arm and with a quick twist Hem was flung on the floor sliding just a bit from the force. After Hem was laid out on the floor now humiliated in front of his sister Zelika cocked her head back and casually strolled out of the room, going straight to her bed chamber.

After the shock of being manhandled Hem gathered his now aching body up and quickly darted from the room, only to hear the bards and his sister laughing as he left.

Cadvan shook his head as he jokingly said, " Maerad I do believe that we will have to add some small bird to the army of rabbits that should be given to Sharma."

Saliman looked at Cadvan and Maerad with a bit of confusion on his face as he asked, " what are you talking about?"

Cadvan tried to explain that Maerad had turned a hull in to a rabbit while they were in Busk but seeing that it was only making Saliman more confused he said, " I do believe that it has something to do with Elidhu powers that both Maerad and Hem share but then again I could be wrong."

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Now that Maerad had calmed back down she decided to go speak to both her bother and her messenger. Slowly walking towards Zelika's room she could hear what sounded like a heated argument."

" You had no right to turn me in to a bird !"

" Zelika I'm sorry. You were just being unreasonable about wanting to go to fight Sharma. I had to do something."

" so what every time I don't do something you like your just going to turn me into a bird and throw me in a cage."

" would you be happy If I turn myself into a bird and you could put me in a cage."

" you wouldn't dare."

Before Maerad could reach the door let alone open it Hem had transformed himself into a hawk. Zelika thinking that Hem had chosen his bird form was now more furious. Allowing her anger to dictate her actions, she pick the Hawk up and forcible threw it into the trunk that sat at the foot of her bed. Once the lid was slammed down Zelika sat herself on top till Maerad entered the room.

Hoping that her brother truly was not in the trunk, she hesitated as she asked, " where is Hem."

Zelika not wanting to anger Maerad simply removed herself from the trunk and open the lid. Once light glared into the dark truck Hem let out a weak caw sound. Taking a deep breath Maerad yelled, " Saliman"

Her voice carried down the hall till it reached the music room . Saliman startled jumped to his feet, but before he could dart out of the room Cadvan grabbed his arm and calmly said, " I'll calm Maerad you just take care of the two young ones."

Agreeing Saliman darted for Zelika's room. Finding Maerad was still standing in the door way, her fist was tightly clenched though she was not speaking a word. Gently Saliman placed his hand on her shoulder then whispered, " Cadvan is looking for you. I'll take care of this."

Unable to mentally comprehend how she is expected to defeat the nameless one when she can't even keep her brother and her messenger from wanting to throttle each other, Maerad sighed and slowly went back to the music room. Once there she looked around the room seeing only Soron sitting in the room. she began to ask where Cadvan was but was stopped when Soron looked towards the Garden door.

Making her way outside , Maerad found Cadvan sitting under a bare pear tree sitting on a stone bench. The air still smelled of the rain that had just ceased. Carefully making her way around the muddy puddles she came up behind him bringing her arms around him , seemingly to hug him from behind. As her hands ran down his shoulders he grabbed her arm and swung her into his lap. Maerad yelped out with surprise only to find her lover's lips pressed to hers.

Being here with him she started to forget about the trouble that she was having with her brother. After a long passionate kiss Cadvan whispered in her ear, " my dear one why do we not go find a place a little more scenic. "

Nodding her head Maerad agreed. The two of them walked hand in hand through the main streets of the school. Strolling along the empty streets Cadvan tried to tell Maerad about the city but was unable to because thought of the night before still lingered in his mind. Deciding that they needed to talk about all that has happen He led her to one of the gardens that belonged once to Jurikan the first bard of the city. Cadvan knew under normal circumstances they probably would never be given access to this garden but seeing that the city was deserted they took it upon them selves to look around.

Entering the garden Maerad could almost picture how it must look in the spring. She thought how the trees would be covered in blossoms getting ready to bare the fruit that would be harvested by the fall, the soft green grass filling the area in between the beds of flowers. Closing her eyes for a moment she almost smell the sent of blossoming roses in the air and hear the small birds plying in the bird bath.

Breaking the silence Cadvan softly spoke, " Dear one, come sit with me. I think I best to talk about last night."

Opening her eyes she saw Cadvan sitting on a stone bench leaning his back on an empty fruit tree. His cloak was pulled around him to keep the chill of the are off him. Gliding over the spongy wet ground she sat next to him. She shivered as she sat next to him. Leaning forward Cadvan took a deep breath in, " Maerad I am sorry, but I did not mean for last night to happen. It seams that while you remain in my thoughts I am unable to control my actions around you. I did not mean for anything to happen that would betray our friendship….."

Placing her soft finger on his warm lips to stop him from saying more, then calmly she spoke, " my love I do not regret last night. Nothing happed that either betrayed our friendship nor our trust for one another. Furthermore as for me being in your thoughts , last night I was not or at least not by my own doing."

A mild breeze came from the west sending a chill down Maerad's back. Noticing that she was shivering Cadvan pulled her close to him, then wrapped his cloak around them both. Maerad was now sitting on Cadvan's lap her back leaning on his chest and her head nestling on his shoulder. Sensing Cadvan's deep feelings for her, she tilted her head up as to whisper in his ear but before she could utter a word she felt Cadvan's warn lips pressed to hers.

Before she could truly enjoy his tender kiss Cadvan was standing with her in his arm's. He carried her inside to a dimly lit room, a few cushions were laid on the floor and a blanket was neatly folded in the corner. Carefully he placed her on the soft fabric of the cushion and quickly grabbed the blanket. Cadvan had planned only to have a short romantic lunch Maerad, but once he saw his love playfully laying on the cushion he forgot the reason he had brought her there. Instead he allowed himself to be caught up in the raw emotion love or lust.

Kneeling down beside her he place one of his hands behind her head then gently leaned in to kiss her. While their lips were locked Cadvan ran his other hand around her tiny waist. Searching her eyes for approval he carefully began to undress her. The soft light of the room sparkled off their bare skin as the two of them were caught up in each other's embrace.

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Several hours later Hem had managed to again be in Zelika's good graces. As night began to fall Hem sat patiently in a chair awaiting his sister's return. As the last bit of the sun light fell though the windows Cadvan held the door open for his love. Worried that Maerad would still be upset with him about earlier Hem started to speak in the Elidhu Language, " Maerad I'm sorry…. I shouldn't have…."

Maerad put up her hand to stop him. She was in a far to good of a mood to be taken back to the day's unpleasant events. Softy with a bit of drowsiness in her voice she said, " My dear brother just do not do this again, or at least till the war is over."

Confused Hem only agreed. Then almost excitedly asked, " Can we eat now?"

After they ate Maerad and Cadvan retired to his room. Laying in each other's arms they both fell asleep quickly. In the still of the night a blaze of light filled the room awaking Maerad slightly. She fluttered her eyes open as the light was dieing down, she could tell it was coming from outside. Moments later she could hear the night bell being rung then Saliman's voice, " Nelac? By the light how did you get here?… come in … come in."

Rolling back over she laid her head back on Cadvan's chest and fell quickly back to sleep.