A/N-

Hi folks. Sorry this is a kinda short chapter. I was going to put a big chapter in here, but decided to break it up into smaller ones. Hopefully, I'll get this finished sometime soon and you can grow your fingernails back! ;) Hope you enjoy this. Now on to the story:

Chapter Ten

Gabrielle froze as she heard the words. The room had fallen into a hushed silence. Dimly, she heard Aeson thank the messenger and close the door. Her eyes burned with tears. She took a rushed step towards the door. Aeson stopped her with a gentle hand on her shoulder. She turned and slapped his hand. He simply took hold of her hands and held her. The room suddenly seemed too small, airless and she needed to escape. To run from the fear that was eating her up inside. She's going to hate me. She's going to blame me. The words spun and danced in her mind like leaves falling in the autumn.

"What are you waiting for? We need to go, now!" she begged. Her eyes were wild and filled with pain.

Aeson let go of her hands, and she hugged herself like she was very cold. Alyssa give Aeson a pointed look, and he fetched a dark green woollen cloak from the small back room. Gabrielle let him wrap it around her and drew it close. The warmth of the wool didn't come close to touching the chill in her soul. He brushed a hand over her arm and she leaned into the comfort.

"Gabrielle..." Alyssa said gently. "Wait... let me gather my kit and we'll go to help your friend." She reached for her basket, which was hanging on a hook at the back of the room. Aeson frowned at her, and fetched it himself. He set the woven basket on the table and stepped back, out of his mother's way.

"Aeson, can you warm some water? There's two big water skins in the back room."

Aeson nodded once and did as his mother bade him. The water skins gurgled softly when he laid them near the heath to warm up.

Reluctantly, Gabrielle stepped away from the door and slumped onto a seat. She looked up with teary, bloodshot eyes. "Please, Alyssa, hurry."

The older woman squeezed Gabrielle's hand. "Don't worry, I won't be long." She picked the kettle up from the hearth and poured hot water onto a cup of herbs. "Here, drink this. You're like ice." She met tired, hurting mist green eyes and felt a flare of sorrow in her soul for the bard.

She held out a carved wooden cup with a handle. The carving was well done, and intricate. The maker had polished the wood to a soft sheen. Gabrielle took the wooden cup and wrapped her hands around it. The steam was fragrant and she took a sip of the tea. It tasted of lemon, ginger and honey. The warmth soothed her sore throat and started to clear her blocked nose. I'm scared. What if she blames me? What if she hates me? I can't...

A gentle hand on her shoulder jerked her out of her thoughts. She looked up to see Alyssa watching her with eyes that were full of pain. The cup was empty in her hands. The older woman took it and set it onto the scrubbed table.

"Are you ready?" Alyssa asked.

"No," Gabrielle said on an uneven breath. "I'm scared."

Alyssa's voice turned a little sharp. "Whatever for, child?"

Pure misery took over her and the tears came again. "I'm scared that she'll blame me."

The older woman took Gabrielle's hands. "Hush. Stop crying now." The gentle tone of her voice softened the stern command.

Gabrielle took a breath, then another as she forced the tears away. She met Alyssa's eyes and saw only compassion there.

"She won't hate you. She won't blame you." Alyssa said, "You're her best friend, and you didn't cause this." She let go of the bard's hands and picked up her basket. "Come on, now." She passed the woven basket to Aeson for a moment as she pulled on a dark blue cloak. Mutely, Gabrielle nodded and followed the older woman out of the door.