"NO!...stop Thom, please...you don't know what you're talking about!" cried Lanen, distraught with anger and grief.

"I don't do I? You know what I think? I think he beat you because you probably deserved it!" yelled Thom. He knew that wasn't fair, but he didn't care. Tears slowly rolled down Lanen's face, but at Thom's last words she looked up, her eyes glittering with fury, and slapped him across the face.

"I hate you, and I don't ever want to see you again." Lanen said with a quiet, trembling voice as she walked out. She kept walking until she was out of the fortress and into the woods.

Lanen wasn't sure of how long she walked in the icy rain, thinking. She was just about to turn around and go back when she realized she wasn't alone. Slowly, Lanen bent down, pulled out the knife tucked in her boot, as something grabbed her from behind. Her heart squeezed with pain as she felt behind her the powerful body of the hated immortal that had killed her mother and sisters. Lanen was ready and stabbed her knife in it's leg, and twisted. The Taros roared in pain as he let go, but Lanen had nowhere to run, so she turned to face it.

"Goddess help me, and Mithros give me strength.So mote it be!" she prayed.

This immortal was seven feet tall with short strong horns. He had a bull's broad, powerful neck and slablike shoulders, but the large eyes pointed forward, like a predator's, her predator. The rest was partly human, except his legs sported hooves, and the body was built on a large scale to support his massive head. She knew that their sight was poor, but the Taros that she faced now knew he had to fight for his prey.

Roaring with fury, the Taros advanced at a run, ramming his large body into Lanen. The knife, her only weapon, was knocked from her hand in the impact that almost knocked her unconscious. She kicked and screamed and fought with all her might as the Taros ripped her clothes off. She refused to let give up and let him win. When, suddenly, she remembered what George had told her:

"When your enemy has taken all your weapons and you have n'thing left and no strength, use your head." So, Lanen leaned back and rammed her head up, into his face with all her strength. The creature let of one startled roar and fell on top of her dead.

Lanen had just managed to roll the 250 pound creature off her when she heard a twig snap nearby. Lanen lurked to her feet, grabbed her knife and turned around to find Thom standing there, staring at the dead Taros. The knife slowly fell from Lanen numb fingers. As she realized it had stopped raining, Thom swept her into a tight hug.

"Thank the Gods you're alright! I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Lanen." whispered Thom as her held her icy body against his. Lanen was content enough to hold on to him as she cried, while Thom whispered in her ear.

"Come on, we'll have to camp tonight. There's a cave nearby." said Thom.

The last thing Lanen remembered before she fainted with exhaustion, was Thom mounting the horse behind her.

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Lanen awoke to find herself in Thom's arms near the fire. She sighed, snuggled closer, and fell back to sleep realizing that she loved him. Later, Lanen opened her eyes to find George and Alanna standing there, but that isn't what she saw. Lanen saw her father, drunk and angry, coming toward her. Quickly she stood, clutching the blanket to her body.

"This isn't what it looks like. I...We didn't... Please..." Lanen babbled in horror as she backed up and fell over Thom. Only to continue backing up into the wall, where she curled into a ball crying and muttering.

Thom woke up to see his parents staring at Lanen, confused. George was walking toward her while she backed up into the wall.

"Dad, stop. She thinks you're Roger." Thom told his father. Thom walked over to Lanen and gently raised her tear-stained face.

"Please don't hit me, I'm sorry" Lanen whispered.

"Lanen it's Thom...Lanen, I'm not going to hit you." Still Lanen cried and repeated it over and over again. So, Thom not knowing what else to do, did the exact opposite of what she was expecting. He softly kissed her. Lanen was so shocked that she came out of her momentary lapse, quickly realizing what had happened.

"I'm sorry...I didn't mean to...I..." cried Lanen.

"I know. It's not your fault. Shhhhh" said Thom as he picked her up into his arms. " Lets go home."