Alan finally left Celena alone in her room. The argument had been shorter than she had expected. Her brother couldn't change her mind and at last he was starting to realize that. She wasn't the fragile flower that he wanted her to be. Dilandau wouldn't allow that. Alan, the doctors, everyone insisted that Dilandau was gone. Celena knew better.

She reached under her bed and grasped the long, velvet-covered object that lie in the shadows. The moon was bright tonight. Plenty of light to practice by. She slid out of her door and ran silently up the stairs to the upper balcony. Once there, she slid the velvet bag off of the sword. No one liked it that she kept Dilandau's sword, but she couldn't part with it. It was as much a part of her as her arms and legs were. It was as much a part of Dilandau as her arms and legs were as well. They all forgot that part.

*Because it's easier to forget.* She unsheathed the sword. Her sword. *It's easier to think that I'm just a little girl.* The sword sung as it cut through the air. *It's easier to think that I WANT to be just a little girl.* She swung the sword vehemently, first right, then left, then right again.

"I'm. Not. Helpless!" She growled between swings.

"Obviously," Dryden said, as he stepped away from the shadow of one of the pillars.

Her head snapped towards the voice. She forced herself to put her sword down. It was a friend. Not an enemy.

"What are you doing here?" Celena demanded.

He shrugged. "You seem interesting. But every time I've met you, you're being hidden behind your brother." He grinned. "You know, he doesn't like me very much."

"I also know the feeling's mutual," she said as she re-sheathed the sword.

He smiled a noncommittal smile. "Do you often fight so viciously with the night air?"

"When I can."

"Alan doesn't like it much, does he?"

She chuckled and mimicked her brother's voice, "Young ladies should not have interest in such things. Young ladies sit around and look pretty." She spoke in her own voice, "Really, I don't want to have the same job description as a lawn ornament."

He laughed unnecessarily loudly as he closed the gap between them a bit further. "I have to agree. Though, fighting's never much interested me. I can see how going from a leader to a fifteen year old girl can have some down sides. Especially with Alan as a brother."

"It's funny," she said quietly, "You're the only person that's mentioned my past as though it belonged to me. It's nice to hear."

She studied him intently with her bright blue eyes. Dryden felt as though he was being silently interrogated. He met her gaze and kept it for several minutes.

"Dryden, what are you..." They broke eye contact at Alan's voice. "Celena! What are the two of you doing up here?" Alan cast a harsh look toward the merchant.

"I came up here to think," said Celena calmly, "Dryden happened to find me."

Alan ignored her and went straight for Dryden. "You should stay away from my sister."

Celena grabbed Alan by his shoulder and spun him around to look at her. The sword at her hip made her bolder.

"Who I befriend is *my* business, honored brother. I would appreciate it if you would speak directly to me if you have a problem with it. Dryden is, after all, a guest. Have you forgotten your manners?"

Dryden smiled and bowed slightly. "I'll take my leave of both of you now. I will see you in the morning."

Alan tried to speak, but Celena's glare kept him silent.

"I'm going to bed as well," she said, "Unless you have further business with me."

Alan shook his head.

***

"We're all together again," Merle purred. "I missed this place. It's so pretty, isn't it, Lord Van?"

Van only nodded.

*He wishes SHE was here,* she thought with a small frown.

"Van..."

"Merle, please," he said, "I have a lot to think about."

"You only think about one thing," she growled under her breath. If he heard her, he was ignoring her. His eyes were focused on the sword that he was sharpening.

Merle got up from the floor and sat behind him on his bed. She kneaded his shoulders, trying to release some of the tension he held in them. He stopped working at his sword when she hit a particularly tender spot and began to work at it.

"As tense as your muscles are, you'd think you were carrying Gaea on your back."

Van hissed out a slow breath as he began to relax at her touch. The little cat girl was right. She knew him too well to be wrong about him. She was the only one he could relax this much around. He knew she would never leave him. Not like everyone else did. His father, his mother, his brother... Hitomi. Being able to touch her mind from afar wasn't enough, though he was loathe to admit it. He felt alone, even when their thoughts were one.

"Merle?"

"Yes, Lord Van?"

"Thank you for being here."

She chortled happily and nuzzled her face into his shoulder.

"Where else would I be?"