"Hello there sleepy head" Yuvonne says as Selena sits up, rubbing her eyes.
"Hi, what's going on" Selena asks as she listens to the battle outside. she looks around and sees that she is in Haley's bed, and Haley is seated next to her.
"What is she doing?" Selena asks as she realizes that Haley's eyes are closed and she is sweating heavily.
"She's keeping the dampners lifted so the healers can work."
"How's the battle going? How did they even get over the wall"
"Apparently they didn't go over the wall, someone let them in, but he disappeared."
"Oh, and what's going on now."
"The soldiers are fighting outside the wall, and we're waiting for the fighting mages to arrive."
"How long have I been asleep?" Selena gets out of the bed, with Yuvonnes help.
"Since you collapsed until now" Yuvonne says
"Obviously," Selena says as they leave the room. "A day or half a day, How long?"
"Only half the morning, you were just exhausted."
"Good" They go down to the mess hall and Yuvonne gets them some food.
A couple of days later, the fighting has calmed down, for some more mages arrived to fight with Tortall. During the days when their was fighting Selena and Yuvonne help heal while the other pages help by shooting from the wall or by bringing new weapons to the soldiers when theirs break. The day everything calms down Selena thinks about telling Blaine what the mage said, for he had died in questioning from a secrecy spell. She decides that, for now, Haley should learn how to defend herself in close combat. She asks Buri and Buri agrees that Selena can teach her a little, in their spare time. Selena agrees and joins the other pages for an afternoon practice, where they begin to learn some extra skills.
When Selena hears that Haley is awake at lunch the next day she hurries over to join her. As she walks over Haley gets up and hurries away, seemingly angry.
"What happened Blaine?" Selena asks as she reaches Blaine
"I told her that she was leaving on a ship in a couple of days"
"Why? And why aren't you going with her?"
"The Mages at the academy want her to go back, though they didn't specify why. And I need to stay here and help bring order back to this place."
"But what about the other mages, can't they do that, and Why would they ask for her to go back."
"I don't know, I was told by one of the other mages at the academy that she had been called back." Selena looks at Blaine questioningly then asks
"When does she leaves?"
"Late Thurday"
"So she has 3 and a half days"
"Yes" Blaine replies and Selena turns and hurries off. Hurrying outside Selena stands in the courtyard for a moment, before deciding that Haley would probably go to the stables.
"I don't want to leave Charmer, I like it here. And I actually have something to do" Selena hears Haley say as she hurries through the stable.
"And I actually have friends" She says softly.
"Then spend your last couple of days with your friends." Selena says walking into the stall. She gives a Haley a quick hug and then takes her hand. " Come with me" She leads her out of the stall and towards the pages barracks.
"Why are we going in here?"
"I'm going to teach you how to sword fight"
"What?!"
"I was going to teach you gradually over the summer, but since your leaving I am going to teach you now." She takes out two practice swords and hands one to Haley.
"Go ahead, swing at me" Selena says taking a guard position.
"Okay" Haley says uncertainty as she swings awkwardly at Selenas side. Selena blocks it.
"First of all, we need to fix your grip."
For the next two days Selena continues teaching Haley. First she teaches her to lunge, then she teaches her some swings. But too soon Thursday arrives. Selena and Haley grab a quick lunch and they have a quick practice in the courtyard before Blaine comes out.
"Haley you need to pack up, your going to be riding to the boat, and you need to start out soon"
"But.." Blaine just walks away. "I don't want to leave."
"It's okay, just come to the castle once the summers over. I'll see you there" Selena says giving her a hug.
"Thank you" Haley says, and she goes inside. Selena goes to the pages barracks and searches for awhile before grabbing a sword and sheath. She hurries back out to the courtyard as Haley walks out with Charmer, saddled and all.
"Wait" Selena says and she hurries over.
"What?" Haley asks bewildered
"It's for you" Selena says holding it out to her.
"I couldn't, you bought it didn't you"
"Yep, it's a goodbye present"
"But I don't have anything for you"
"Your promise to visit me is enough." Selena says handing over the sword. Haley fingers it
"Thank you" She says softly
"Your welcome" Selena says then gives her a small push towards the other soldiers "Now go" Haley nods as a tear falls down her cheek and she walks away, pulling Charmer behind her. At the gate she mounts and rides away, the soldiers behind her.
Once the soldiers are gone Selena wanders off, not wanting to talk to anyone. Wandering up onto the outside wall Selena watches the Scancran for awhile, then wanders to the front wall, watching the road.
When the soldiers come back they are leading Charmer. Going down again Selena waits in front of the gates as they come in.
"Thank you.." Selena says quietly as she takes Charmer from them, for she had told Blaine that she would care for Charmer. After bringing him back into the stable, she realizes that she has some free time now. Going up to her room, she pulls out her embroidery and settles down on her bed.
"It's been a Long time since I did this" She says, laying it on her lap. She closes her eyes and the thread slips into and out of the cloth, of it's own accord.
"Well!" Someone exclaims and Selena opens her eyes.
"Hi mom, How are you?" Selena says watching her dark skinned mother walking over to her bed and sitting by her.
"Okay, a lot better now that I see you working on your Shaman Gift"
"It's been awhile so I'm not sure I can still do it."
"Why didn't you bring some thread with you, that's all you need. "
"I know, but…. Becoming a knight is a lot of work."
"When your having trouble sleeping you should practice." She looks down at the embroidery in Selena's lap. "Though apparently you don't need it." Selena looks down and smiles.
"I guess so" She says laughing.
"I'm so glad you can do this, since I can't teach it to the Bahzir anymore"
"I'm sorry we pulled you from your life as a Shaman"
"It was my choice, you know it, it has helped here."
"Have you been up on the wall?" Selena asks
"Certainly, there was no other way your father would let me help."
"Do you think we could go up their now?"
"Sure" The two smile at each other and leave the room, Selena's thread gathered in her hand.
