Though he could not explain why , Cadvan could not stop himself from pressing his lips to the fair maiden that was embraced in his arms. As he did the fog in his mind lifted and he could fully remember why he had been brought to the Weywood. Cadvan pulled away quickly allowing Maerad to leave if she so wanted to.

Cadvan thought back to the day that he broke Maerad's. he thought , though the words flowed from his very mouth they were not his true feelings nor his disire. Being brought here by the winter king , he knew that it was the will of Arkan that he and Maerad separate. Cadvan's drew an uneasy breath, was he now to let Maerad go with out ever telling her the truth. Should he let her go to the open arms of the winter king to become his bride, his queen?

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Feeling Cadvan's lips leave hers, Maerad fought back the tears she knew that this was good bye. She knew that this was what he wanted though her heart was screaming to stay with him. Briefly she searched his eyes hoping that he would give her some sign that he wanted her to stay, some small sign that they could at least remain friends but in that moment there was so such sign. There was only the blank empty stare that Cadvan had when he did not wish for anyone to know what he was thinking.

Slowly and with saying a word Maerad turned hoping that Cadvan would not say the words that her heart dreaded to hear. She hoped that he would not say that they should no longer seek out each other. Her heart began to ach from this self inflicted torment. How could she have allowed herself to hope that Cadvan would love her, an Elidhu that he would almost always mistrust .

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No Maerad couldn't leave. She mustn't leave not like this. He had to think quickly or do something, he could not allow her to go to Arkan when her heart was there with him. As Maerad took one small step away to go back into the thick forest Cadvan grabbed her arm. He had not thought about what he was going to say to her nor what he would have to do to keep her there with him , he just reached his arm out and grabbed her thin arm and held on till she turned back to him.

As she looked over her shoulder Cadvan could see her blink back a tear, he knew even now that her heart was breaking and that he was the cause. This is the one thing that he never wanted, to see his beloved cry because of his actions . He couldn't allow himself to do her harm he could only release her and very apologetically say, " Maerad I'm truly sorry for causing you the pain that you now are in."

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Maerad couldn't take it any longer she knew her place and though only a few days ago she had been angry with Cadvan she never wanted to be separated from him, she still didn't. how could she make him understand that she loved him? How could she make him understand how it hurt to be away from him , how she longed for his touch his kiss? How could she explain how she would rather have been left in the rubble of the fallen iron tower than to brought back only to have her heart torn out .

She couldn't hold back her emotions any longer she had to ask, she needed to know, " what is it that you want? You grab my arm as if you want me to stay but you tell me to leave. So which is it ? What do you want from me?"

Cadvan was almost taken back by her words. He knew what he wanted, he wanted her. He wanted to spend every waking day with her beside her. He wanted to have a family with her but how could he? How could he have what he so desired after breaking her heart and causing her so much pain?

Darsor and Imi had been watching all that had transpired and found themselves the bringers of wisdom. They took it upon themselves to help their bard friends move past the hurt and embrace the happiness that they both should be enjoying. Darsor spoke to Cadvan as candid as possible, " My friend if you so love her then you must tell her or she will be lost to you forever. You must tell her."

" how my friend ? How do I tell her after I have hurt her so?" Cadvan knew he needed help and would take any that Darsor could provide.

Unknowing to Cadvan while in the stables of Pellinor a ring had been placed in Darsor's saddle bag. That had once been given to Ardina by her first love. The ring both Ardina and her farther had hoped Maerad would wear for her wedding day or to be given to her as a betrothal gift by the one she would marry. Darsor knew of this very ring for Ardina had told him that it would be there if Cadvan should every find that he was in need of it.

Darsor only wanting his friend to be happy told him, " in my saddle bag you may find something that may help you not only heal the wounds of her heart but also bring you back into her good graces."

"Maerad wait we must talk, please just give me a moment I must get something." his voice unsure if she would listen.

Quickly he dug through the saddle bag pulling out the bit of supplies that it still held. Not caring if Maerad thought if he looked like a mad lunatic or not he had to find whatever Darsor was talking about.

Pulling out nearly every article of clothing that was neatly placed in the bag Cadvan could now see a tiny sparkling object at the bottom. Even though there was no light shining into the saddle bag the object seemed to laminate by itself.

Taking it in his hand he could feel that it was a ring. The ring that would be suited for a queen. A sense of calm came over him as the words that have always eluded him formed in his mind.