Chapter 17 ~ Falling Never Meant Hitting Bottom

Chapter 17 ~ Falling Never Meant Hitting Bottom

The day was grim as the two travellers guided the horses on the muddy path. The clouds emptied their watery contents upon the landscape, causing the surrounding plant life to cower under the added weight. The two teens were silently riding in the rain, using the last remaining bits of a fading sunset to guide them along the path. It had been almost a week of riding back from the Temple of the Green Pendant. A week in which Ghanima had grown closer to the sandy haired boy. Together, they shared countless nights of telling stories, or just sitting there beside one another gazing at the stars. As she looked up to search for his cloaked figure, she met his piercing jade look. Immediately, Ghanima smiled, and a warm blush crept up to her face, thinking that he had caught her thinking about him. It was odd how her thoughts kept on circling around him so much. Ever since she had first met him, Ghanima couldn't stop admiring his way of doing things. She could see that Folken was a kind and gentle soul, although horribly shy. She was attracted to the way he irradiated a warm and gentle aura. Ghanima felt safe when she was with him. A safety which she had never felt ever since she discovered she possessed magic. There was something about him that Ghanima trusted past her own powers. Aside from his cute side, she admired his gentleness and wit. Ghanima Fanel… that had a certain ring to it. "Wait a minute! What am I thinking here? When did it get to that? What was that? Is my mind running away with me like so many other times? Or do I like this boy… no, it's just a sense of camaraderie that's settling in. You've not had a good friend like him in a long time. Get a grip on yourself Ghani." She ordered.

"Mind telling me what's got you so wrapped up in your thoughts?" Folken asked.

He had been watching in amusement how the expression on Ghanima's face had been changing for quite a while.

"Umm… nothing interesting." She stumbled, as she blushed harder.

"Do I see blush on your face? Or is that just the sun?" Folken asked with a smug grin on his face.

"Just the sun." Ghanima answered quickly.

"I see, well in any case. We should be near a village in about half an hour more. I think we should stop at the inn there, and continue tomorrow. We'll be in Palas Asturia by tomorrow night." He told her.

"Sure, no problem. But aren't we late?" she asked him.

"Well, we're a little late, but still within the time frame. Don't worry. Now come on, we should go, before we get even more soaked than we are." He said and pushed his horse into a gallop.

In silence, they both galloped until the yellow glow of a village appeared in their sight. By now, to the rain there had been added wind, and both Ghanima and Folken were soaked. They stepped into the first motel sign they saw.

When they stepped in, Folken's senses were assaulted from all directions by the inviting smell of food. He inhaled deeply, and went to the registration desk.

"Two single rooms please." He asked the innkeeper.

"I'm sorry sir, the hotel is full, because of the Summer Festival. However, we do have the Penthouse available." The man told him.

"Penthouse?" Folken asked confused. He'd been in a lot of travels with his father, however, none brought him about a penthouse.

"Yes, it's a huge hotel room, with two apartments, and a common room. It's the best place in the house. Would you like to have it?" the innkeeper asked.

Folken looked at Ghanima. She nodded at him. "Yes please, how much?" he asked the man.

"Thirty golds sir." The man said.

"Thirty golds? For a blasted room? You must be joking. Before I pay that, I would like to know if any of the meals are included." Folken said quietly.

The innkeeper's face went dark. "But of course sir. You'll have all meals included." He said quickly.

"And breakfast brought up to the room?" Folken asked.

The man's face went even more cloudier than before. "Very well sir." He agreed.

"Good, here, you go, thirty golds. Now we want a table at your inn. And our luggage brought up, as well as our horses fed. Is that clear?" Folken asked.

"Quite so sir. Follow me this way." The innkeeper led them into the restaurant, Ghanima took a seat at the table. Folken followed her example.

"You made a fool of that guy." She giggled as he left.

"He wanted thirty golds only for the room and no services. I could read that on his face. Well, let him see if he plays me for a fool again." Folken said throwing a sour look in the direction of the innkeeper.

"I'm sure he won't. So, we got the penthouse, how kind of you! Although you do know it's the highest room in the house." Ghanima informed him.

"Heights don't bother me. I actually like them." Folken confessed. It was true. Ever since he could remember, he had been attracted to high places. Folken remembered the day when he had found out about his heritage. The same day when he and his sister had learned to fly. It had been an experience he would never forget. Too bad people were afraid of Draconians.

"Hmm… what do you want to order?" she asked him.

Folken looked across the table, at the red headed beauty that was staring right into his eyes. He smiled, thinking that he'd never seen her more pretty than now. Her oval face, and elevated cheek bones, as well as her rosy lips, all surrounded by her flaming hair, gave her the air of a goddess. Folken smiled, and wondered all of a sudden if her lips tasted as sweet and as warm as they looked.

"Hello, anybody home?" a hand waved in front of his face.

"Um… what?" Folken asked startled as he came out of his reverie.

"So, are you going to go get anything to eat or not?" she asked him.

"Why don't you go first. I still have to decide." He said, blushing furiously.

~~~~

After dinner, Folken and Ghanima wanted to retire to their room. However, just when they were about to proceed on that course, there was a big announcement.

"Dinner is now over, and we may proceed with the first dances of the Summer Festival." a short man in a dark cloak announced.

Immediately, out of nowhere a herd of musicians installed themselves onto the small stage prepared for them during dinner. The melancholic sounds of a violin began to fill the air, as the people gathered around and began to dance. More waiters appeared out of nowhere and filled the cups of those present.

"I think I'm going to go get another drink." Ghanima said as she raised from the table.

Folken continued to sit there, his face half surrounded in darkness, half surrounded in light. "Come on, don't be shy, ask her to dance." his conscience dictated. "No, she'll probably say no. Ghani probably wants nothing to do with me. So keep quiet!" Folken's intellect ordered. He continued to watch the crowd as they were laughing and dancing.

"Would you like to dance?" a young man came behind Ghanima and quietly whispered in her ear.

She turned around, her silvery gaze setting upon him. "Well, you might as well. There's nothing wrong with him, and it doesn't look like Folken's going to ask you to dance. Maybe after this..." her conscience began.

"Sure, I would be most delighted." she presented the young man with a most ravishing smile. Together, they began to dance across the dance floor.

Folken's face smashed into a frown. "Just look at them dancing. I wish I was that guy." Folken thought, jealousy sweeping over his features. "So why are you such a fool? Just go ask her to dance!" his conscience screamed out. "There's no point now." Folken bit back. "Hey, wait a minute, why do I care so much? She's only a friend, isn't she?" he wondered out loud. In any case, Folken knew something for sure. He didn't like the way that guy was holding his Ghanima. He was like some piece of blubber, trying to envelop most of her figure. Ghanima wasn't that sort of person. She was delicate, and caring, and not to be held like that. A scowl ran past Folken's face, as he saw the teen hug his companion closer.

"My, how do you say that we slip away from all this?" the boy whispered into Ghanima's ear seductively.

It was the middle of the dance, and Ghanima now regretted ever agreeing to dance with him. The way the slob was trying to feel her up was appalling. She was more than disgusted, and planned to get rid of him as soon as possible.

"No thank you." she said and tried to pull away. However, he held her tight, disabling her from any movement.

"Oh, so you're playing hard to get now wench, well, what do you think about this!" he said and he leaned over to try and place a kiss on her lips.

Ghanima grimaced in fear, but his grip was too strong. "Great, how am I going to get out of this?" she began to fidget, but the boy held her even closer.

"Let me go you animal!" she breathed.

"I don't think so love. I allowed you the pleasure of dancing with me, now you must give me something in return!" he said.

By now, Ghanima could smell the booze on his breath. "Oh no, not this again!" she mumbled. However, she did seem to be in a predicament.

"Hey, buddy, the lady said she didn't want to dance with you. How about you get out of here?" she heard Folken's voice behind the man.

"And who are you?" he asked turning to her green-eyed companion.

"I'm her companion, and you best skedadle out of here before something dangerous happens." Folken told the teen coolly.

"And what if I don't?" the boy asked. He was almost a head taller than Folken, with a bulky built and a black mane covering his already darkened face.

"Well, I wouldn't want to embarrass you in front of your people. Now let the lady go."

"I don't think so!" the boy said stubbornly.

A quick thundering flash flashed in Folken's eyes. In a minute, he was twisting the brute's hand behind his back.

"I don't want to hurt you. Now you either let the lady go, and never EVER show up in her presence again, or I rip out your arm and beat you with it to a bloody pulp." Folken said menacingly. He twisted the teen's hand even more behind his back, causing the boy's face to redden dangerously.

"Very well, take your wench and go." the boy said as the pain in his arm increased.

Folken said nothing more, but swiftly took Ghanima's hand, and left the scene. He dragged her outside. It was a stingy night, though peaceful and calm. Fresh air attacked from everywhere, as the torrential rain had stopped a while before.

"Ghanima, how do you always pick them!" Folken asked once they were outside.

"Thank you for your help back there." she told him. In the moonlight, Folken's face held a look of pure worry. "Is that worry I see on his face?" Ghanima wondered silently.

"Ghanima, that guy could have seriously hurt you! If I wasn't there, god knows what would have happened. You scared me, don't do that!" Folken said as he came up to her and shook her a bit.

"I didn't need that much help. Even if you weren't there, I would have gotten rid of him by other means. I'll be more careful next time." she flared up. "Why is he making such a big deal out of this?" Ghanima wondered.

"You should be. I don't want anything happening to you ok? You're much too delicate to be hurt." Folken said.

At the sound of his words, Ghanima's temper went up the wall. "Oh, so that's what you think I am. A gentle delicate princess that doesn't know how to take care of herself, and needs the help of a knight in shining armour eh? Well for your information Folken Fanel, I managed to take care of myself quite all right before you came into my life!" she burst out at him.

"Ghanima! What I meant to say, is that he could have overpowered you easily. I don't want you getting hurt. You're a princess and deserve the treatment." Folken said.

"I'm not helpless, and I certainly didn't need THAT much help back there. As for a princess, I am not. I am an exiled princess, thus hold no rank better than a commoner. You needn't worry so much about me. I'm not so frail! Gosh, you are so hard headed! I am fine by myself! I don't need you to protect me from everything! Who do you think you are? I've known you for what? Two weeks, and you suddenly try to run my life. I don't think so!" Ghanima yelled.

"I'm not trying to run your life. I'm just telling you to be more careful. Why can't you understand?" Folken asked.

"I don't need you to tell me what to do. I don't need you at all! Don't tell me how to run my life!" Ghanima said and madly stalked away.

"Ghanima! Wait! I didn't mean it to come out that way!" Folken called after her.

However, the steaming beauty did not even turn to look at him. Folken ran after her, but by the time he caught up, she was at their room, and furiously slammed the door to one of the bedrooms in the penthouse. With a sigh, Folken went to his own room, silently cursing his all too bold tongue. "Why is it that when it comes to her I have to always tell the truth?" Folken wondered.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

It was cold. It was terribly cold. Ghanima could feel the darkness wrap around her like a blanket of steel. Swallowing her every thought. Her every bit of warmth. And she was alone. So alone. It was cold, so very cold. Ghanima ran through the endless maze, trying to find her exit, trying to save herself but she couldn't. They were getting closer. She could hear their footsteps click and clack on the cold tiles of the room. It was like nothing she ever imagined. Suddenly, the shadows were about her. Their featureless faces contouring from the dark cloak of the night/darkness, whatever it was. Suddenly, there were thousands of them, millions. All opening their void mouths, and chanting the same horrid song. "Monster! Monster! Monster! Monster!" Suddenly, Ghanima saw a spec of light. She began running towards it. She could feel the darkness fade away. She was in a place of light, a place of joy. There, only one being stood, with his wings open, millions of feathers raining from the sky. The light, it was coming from him. It was irradiating from inside him. It felt so warm, and cosy, Ghanima felt like she belonged. Bathed in light, the angel slowly turned around, and smiled at her. with his warm gaze, he extended his hand for her to take it. Ghanima took a step back, realising whom she was facing. "You're..." she began. Then, the angel faded, and darkness surrounded her once again. "No, don't leave me! I'm sorry, whatever I did. I'm sorry, please come back!" she sobbed as the dark vapours of cold wrapped around her. "Please come back, please." she cried as she fell to the floor. "Believe in yourself." A soft voice whispered from up-above. Then, the darkness came in full blast, ripping her body to pieces. Ghanima screamed in terror, as she felt the life of her leave her body.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Ghanima! Ghanima! Wake up!" Folken shook the red-headed girl as she slept. Her terrified screams had awakened him, and he burst into her room, seeing if she was alright. He had found her crying in her sleep, and for a while now had been trying to wake her up. "Come on Ghani, wake up, it was all a dream. Come on!" He said as he hugged her tightly and brought the sheets up around her. Suddenly, her body had gone ice cold. "Please be all right. Please be alright" Folken thought as he struggled to revive her.

"Oh my god! Help me!" Ghanima cried as she finally awakened from her dream, and found someone hugging her fiercely.

"It's all right. Ssh, love, it's all right, it was all a dream. Nothing to worry about." A soothing voice came to her from a sea of twilight.

"What happened to me?" Ghanima asked as she awaked fully, only to find Folken hugging her tightly. I got to admit, I wouldn't mind waking like this every day. He's shaking, I wonder what I was doing that scared him so badly. Ghani wondered.

"You were screaming that's what. Are you all right now?" Folken asked, concern still lingering in his voice.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a bad dream." Ghanima whispered shuddering. He's always there. God, I wish I wasn't so mean to him just a while ago.

"You scared me. You were screaming louder than my sister. What did you dream of?" he questioned as he held her closer.

Ghanima snuggled closer to him for warmth. He was indeed very warm. She shivered as she recalled her dream. "I dreamt of my own death." she said shortly.

"It's all right, you're still alive. It was just a bad dream. Nothing to worry about." Folken told her gently.

"Yeah, thank you, once again, and I'm sorry I was so mean before. It's just that, I don't like people telling me what to do. I've always rebelled against that." Ghanima told him.

Folken was silent. When Ghanima looked at him, she saw a broad smile on his lips, and a twinkle in his green eyes. She could also feel the suppressed laughter behind his breathing.

"What? Did I say something funny?" she asked as she looked at his amused expression.

"No, it's just that I should have guessed it sooner. I mean after all, you are a steaming red dragon." Folken chuckled as he brushed a strand of red hair from her face.

"Oh, a red dragon am I now?" Ghanima asked amused. "Well, would a red dragon do this?" she asked as she grabbed the sheets covering her and smacked Folken in the face.

"It would do exactly that." He laughed as he attempted to grab her.

However, Ghanima was faster and together they rolled on the bed, laughing. Ghanima made another attempt to smack Folken, but he grabbed the fluffy pillow and turned it on her.

"Oh, I wonder, do you tickle?" Ghanima asked with a ferocious grin on her face.

"Why don't you try it?" Folken asked.

So Ghanima tried to tickle Folken, but in the end ended up to being tickled herself. She reached for his side, and dug her fingers in it, trying to find a ticklish spot. When she finally did, Ghanima began to tickle Folken hard. They rolled on the bed some more, and when they were finally all laughed out, Ghanima noticed that she was on top of Folken.

"Had enough?" she asked him victoriously.

"I think I won that round!" He said as he attempted to tickle her further.

"Ok, ok, I admit, you won!" Ghanima said. "Just stop, I can't take it anymore! Please!"

"What are you willing to give me for it?" Folken asked.

Ghanima could feel the air of amusement settling in. "A smack in the face." She told him laughing.

"Nope, that won't do. I need something else. Hmm, how about a full style apology?" he asked.

"Full style? Hmm… ok. I apologise for being an overreacting ass back there, but next time don't try to run my life ok?" she said and tried to get herself loose.

"Not so fast. You forgot the toll." He said.

"Toll? Grr, what now?" she asked pretending to be upset.

"Well, some sort of hug, or kiss, or you know, gesture through which we seal the apology." He told her, a flicker of amusement in his eyes.

"Ok, deal! But you have to close your eyes!" Ghanima instructed.

Folken closed his eyes, not knowing what to think. He didn't expect she would be that co-operative. Just then, something hard bonked him on the head. He opened his eyes, and saw Ghanima in full laughter at his sour face.

"Well, I am the red dragon am I not?" she asked as she laughed further. However, the same pillow with which she attacked Folken, came back at her, hitting her straight in the face. That's when the true war began. The whole room turned into a vicious battle field. The adversaries, well matched, began the war, only in the end to discover that he or she could not beat the other.

"Well, I guess that proves something." Folken chuckled as he lay on the floor breathing heavily. It had been quite a battle.

"Yeah, it only goes to prove that pillow fights can break out at any time, any place." Ghanima answered from beside him.

"Yeah, but we should go to bed. We have a long day tomorrow." Folken pointed out.

Immediately, a look of fear crossed Ghanima's face. Folken regretted ever bringing up sleep. It was obvious that she was still very afraid.

"Are you ok?" he asked as he stood up to go back to his room.

"No, please don't go. I…I don't think I'll be able to sleep alone. Please stay. That dream, it was so scary, I don't want to be alone." She said and shivered from the terrifying memory.

"Ok, fine, I'll stay. No more nightmares ok?" Folken said as he hugged her.

"Ok." Ghanima managed to smile.

Together, they both went to sleep, dreaming of beautiful things.

~~~~

As soon as the first rays of sunshine passed through the window, Ghanima woke up. It was odd how ever since she discovered she had magic she woke up once with the sun. However, today was not like any regular day. A pair of strong arms were embracing her from behind. For a moment, before regaining full consciousness, Ghanima pondered on how she felt so safe and warm with those arms around her. It was like nothing else she ever experienced. Slowly, she began to awaken, and remembered the events of the past night. Her argument with Folken, then the horrible dream, the pillow fight, and then his agreement to watch over her as she slept. Ghanima gently broke his embrace, and turned over to face her protector. Folken was sleeping peacefully, his unruly sandy hair falling over his face. "He's so handsome when he sleeps." Ghanima thought, and a smile crept to her lips. "What's about him that makes me want to find out more?" she wondered, and silently brought her hand and brushed a strand of hair from his face.

Just then, Folken's eyes popped open. His emerald gaze turned to the red headed girl who was blushing furiously. "Good morning." He mumbled.

"Good morning. Shall we get going?" she asked in lack of conversation.

"Mhm." Folken said sleepily.

~~~~

It was almost midday, the two horses were following the narrow path. According to their last conversation, they should be in Palas Asturia by nightfall. Ghanima looked at the moist ground. It looked like the abundant rain had reached those vicinities too, softening the earth. She carefully guided her horse on the path, making sure that the animal would not fall. They were following a path cut in the side of a small mountain, with a dangerously looking ditch to their side. Ghanima didn't like the look of the path, but it was the shortest was to Palas, thus they decided to follow it, being already two days too late.

"Careful over here." Folken called out to her from a more advanced point on the path. However, his warning came too late. Ghanima's horse slipped, and both she and the animal plunged to their deaths. Ghani let out a piercing scream, as she slid down the side of the mountain, with the horse dangerously behind her. "Ghanima! Ghaniiii!" Folken screamed as he saw her slide down the slippery mountain side. "Oh no, what am I going to do?" he asked himself.

However, fate didn't give him any choice. Suddenly, the mountain ledge finished, throwing Ghanima into a dark abyss. "Ghani! Hold on!" Folken cried. With a swift movement, he took off his green shirt, and two soft furry things began to grow out of his back. With a frightening speed, Folken plunged after Ghanima, his powerful wings stroking the wind peacefully.

"Is that an angel I see coming towards me? That looks like the angel in my dream, so beautiful, so pure. I can't believe this. Too bad he's just going to fly away. I guess there's nothing I can do now, except wait to hit bottom. He's so beautiful." Ghanima thought, as dozens of pure white feathers slid down to her. She slowly extended her hand, to touch the pure things. Just when she was about to grab one, a cry from above startled her.

"Ghanima! Hold on! I'm coming." She heard her angel say.

"Folken?" Ghanima called out as she saw the figure fly closer to her. She extended her hand to him. "My angel, Folken's a Draconian? Is he the angel I dreamt in my dream?" Ghanima wondered. She felt her dooming descent decease, as Folken's strong hand gripped hers. He pulled her up beside him, hugging her tightly.

"Oh god Ghanima! I thought I lost you for good! What happened?" he whispered as he began to fly upwards with an updraft. "

The horse lost his footing." She explained briefly.

Ghanima hugged Folken's body closely, as she felt his heart beat powerfully under his rib cage. "He was scared about me. I can feel it!" she thought. Ghanima looked up at Folken, and met his worried gaze. She smiled, unable to break her gaze. He looked so angelic, so pure, so unearthly. It was like nothing else she had ever seen. His long majestic wings spreading into the horizon, engulfing her into a sea of white. Ghanima let go of him for a second, as she raised her hand, to touch the ivory wing. She felt Folken's grip tighten about her waist, yet she couldn't resist the temptation of touching the snowy beauty. The wing felt so light, so pure, so full of love. Ghanima felt her body warm up at the touch. She looked straight at his face, and there, Ghanima met a look she couldn't recognise. It was so different than everything she had ever seen. Quickly, she blushed, and buried her head in his chest.

Folken looked at Ghanima. She didn't seem frightened, or scared of who he was. She looked rather transfigured by his wings. He looked into her eyes, and there, he saw an unwavering look of trust. Something he had rarely seen in her look. He smiled, and searched her features. He face was smeared with the mud from her fall, as well as her clothes. Folken couldn't see that though. In his eyes, she was so beautiful, more beautiful than he could imagine.

"Are you ok?" he asked her as he set her down on the path.

"Yeah, thanks once again." she told him.

"You can let go of me now." Folken chuckled. Ghanima was still clinging onto him tightly. He could feel the trembling in her athletic body.

"Right, what are we going to do about a horse?" she asked him.

"We'll ride on mine. It's not far now. Maybe a few hours of riding. Not long. Come on, once we get you to Palas we can see on getting you cleaned up." He said gently.

Ghanima only nodded, still in shock from her fall. Together, they carefully began to ride the path again.

~~~~

It was almost sunset, as Yukari Fanel sat on the castle walls. She had not seen Duncan all two days. She guessed he wanted nothing to do with her after the incident in the garden. Unconsciously, she brought her hand to her lips, where the memory of that intense moment still lingered. "Why do I keep thinking back to that moment? It's clear that it meant nothing. Just the influence of the moon." She thought. However, with the passing moment, she became more and more unsure.

"Don't worry, they'll be here." She heard a voice behind her. Kari immediately turned around, and spied the dark haired boy leaning against the stone wall of the castle.

"Duncan! How long have you been standing there?" she asked.

"Not long. Don't worry Kari. They'll be here. Tomorrow we'll go and bring your mother back." He said as he came closer to her.

Kari looked up into his cerulean eyes thoughtfully. "Is he thinking of that kiss as much as I'm thinking of it?" she wondered.

"I wonder what she thinks of that kiss. Well, it's an improvement that she didn't slap me yet." Duncan thought.

Just then, Kari felt the familiar tingling of her brother's aura. "He's here!" she exclaimed, and turned back to look over the castle wall.

Indeed, from the south, she could see a lone rider on a horse approaching the castle.

"Folken!" Kari breathed excitedly. She had missed her brother dearly in the past almost four weeks. It was then that he noticed he was not alone. She could see two heads on the same hose. "Oh, I wonder who Folken brought back with him." She thought.

A few minutes later, Folken and his companion were past the palace gates. Kari ran past Duncan in a hurry to get to her brother. "Folken!" she exclaimed happily as she saw her jade-eyed twin. It was then that Kari noticed Folken was helping a red-haired girl get down from the horse.

"There you go. Are you sure you're ok Ghani? We'll get you to a healer as soon as I find my sister." She heard him say.

"Ooh, Folken's got a girlfriend! Now this is something I must hear about!" Kari thought wickedly.

"Kari!" Folken exclaimed as he saw his sister stand there.

She ran to him, and hugged him tightly. "I was beginning to think you were never showing up!" she said as they broke their hug.

"Sorry, we ran into some trouble. Did that woman contact you?" Folken asked.

"Yeah, we have to leave tomorrow. Did you get it?" She asked.

"Yeah, did you?" Folken himself asked.

"Yeah, great. We're all set. We just need a battle plan. But first, I'd like to introduce you to someone. Kari, this is Ghanima!" Folken said as he introduced his sister to the red-head.

"Nice to meet you Ghani. Can I call you that?" Kari asked.

"Yeah, everyone calls me that." Ghanima said as she examined Folken's sister carefully. She looked like a friendly person, with chocolate eyes, and long black hair. For the moment, Ghanima decided she liked Folken's twin. She wasn't like the snotty princesses she met. The fact that she was wearing tan pants and a blue shirt similar to Folken's, were proofs of that fact. Ghanima also noticed the sword hanging by Kari's side.

"What happened to you?" Kari asked. She looked at the smeared face of the red head, and guessed Folken and she must have had some accident along the path. Kari looked at the silver eyes of the girl, and examined her straight red locks. She noticed her black pants and red shirt – although covered in mud- along with the sword and bow hanging on her waist and back.

"Umm… we had a little accident. I lost my horse in a treacherous fall. Lucky for me Folken was there to help me." Ghanima said simply.

"Well, come on, we must get you cleaned up, then we talk." Kari smiled at the girl. She grabbed her hand, and dragged her after herself to the baths. As soon as Kari grabbed Ghanima's hand though, she had a flashback of Ghani's past. The whole secret with the rings revealed to her. KAri took a step back, breathing heavily from the vision. "Well, this was unexpected." she thought. "Oh, I'm sorry princess, come on, we must get you a dress and everything." Kari said after the flashback.

"Let me guess. You saw everything in a flash didn't you?" Ghanima asked amused. Apparently the twins shared the same disturbing gift. However, Ghanima could see that the gift had been more favourable on Kari. Maybe it was only the women who got it, but because they were twins Folken shared in too.

"Yes." Kari confessed. She liked the bluntness of this girl.

"Well, then you must know that I am an exiled princess. As for dresses? I never could stand them, so just please have my clothes all dry and ready to go." Ghani said warmly.

"Ok, sure. Come on, we must get you cleaned up. I imagine you had quite a fall."

"Yeah, if it wasn't for your twin, I'd be dead right now." Ghanima confessed.

"Well, you're still alive, so he must be good at something." Kari laughed. The girls entered the bathhouse, their conversation becoming inaudible to foreign ears.

~~~~

Later that night, after Kari took Ghanima to a healer, she came back to see her brother, who was impatiently pacing the hallway.

"How is she?" Folken asked his sister with worried eyes.

"She'll be fine. Just a few bruises and cuts. She was lucky you were there though." Kari informed him.

"Yeah, so, you're sure she's all right?" Folken asked.

"Positive. Relax ok?" Kari smiled, thinking how obvious it was that his brother liked Ghani. In the hours they had spent together, Ghanima and Yukari had become good friends, sharing lots of jokes and opinions.

"Thank god." Folken breathed a sigh of relief. He had never been happier to hear anything in his life.

"So tell me, how did you meet?" Kari asked curiously.

"Well, we met when she mistook me for someone else and knocked me out. Then we travelled a bit together, in order to meet again, and for me to give her back her rings. She helped me get the pendant, and I'm grateful for that. We've become good friends during the course of this journey. She can't ever go home, so I invited her to spend some time in Fanelia." Folken told her smiling.

"Do I sense something more between you two?" Kari asked with a twinkle in her eye.

Folken gave her an odd look.

"Come on, spill the beans, I'm your twin, I won't tell anyone. Do you like Ghanima or not?" Yukari asked

"I don't think this is any of your business. Oh, and by the way, how are you and Duncan doing? I see you're getting along might well." Folken shot back.

At his words, Kari suddenly turned red, the memory of their midnight kiss washing over her again. She could feel her face burn with blush, and looked at Folken disapprovingly. "Well, I gotta give him credit for that. He knows exaclty where to aim to get me off his back." She thought. "Not to worry, I'll see it out of him one way or the other. He is my twin after all." Kari thought. "Who knew matchmaking was so much fun?" She wondered.

"Ooh, did I ever touch a sensitive area!" Folken teased as he looked at his sister's red face. Apparently a lot has changed since I left." he thought.

"You did not!" Kari denied.

"Right, so anyhow, what's our battle plan?" Folken asked.

"Well, I don't know. Maybe, umm.. talk with that woman?" Kari suggested. She had no clue how to proceed on that matter, and for the first time in her life, she couldn't know what her brother was thinking, and it pained her. "Change has settled in…" she thought sadly.

"I think we should just go and fight her.We can't let her have the other two pendants, and we need to get mom back. So we just fight her with everything we've got. There's two of us, and one of her." He said.

"Correction. Four of us. Duncan refuses to leave me go alone, and I suspect Ghanima will do the same. Plus aunt Merle and Uncle Gaddes. They want to go too." Kari informed him.

"Very well, I guess we've got nothing else to do but fight." Folken said.

"Yeah, fight. It looks like we've done a lot of that in the past month." Kari sighed.

"Don't worry. Everything will be fine." Folken assured her.

"Yeah, just as long as we stick together." Kari said sadly.

"Kari, look at me. We'll always be together you hear? I'll always stand by you no matter what." He said squeezing his sister's hand tightly. Even though his conscience was beginning to doubt that, Folken still said it. Moral health was the most needed in times like these. "Let's go get some sleep now." He told his sister.

"Yeah, we've a big day tomorrow. Good night brother." She said and silently left for her room.

Folken himself turned around and went the other way, on his separate path to his room.


*Author's Note* Yes, sorry this is sooo long. We'll get to the battle as soon as my inspiration hits again. I truly hope you like this chapter. And Folken and Ghanima didn't kiss because I have something special planned for their kiss ok? So don't be killing me for that! Please!!!! Lol, ne how, thanks a lot for your encouraging reviews so far, I'll be sure to keep all your comments in mind. Meanwhile R&R please!!!!! Oh yeah, so sorry if the ending sucked. I could have went on forever, but this was already too long. Chapter 18 will be better. We get to do some @$$ kicking!!!!!!! comments appreciated!!!