CHAPTER 42

:Well, my love birds.:  Nick stepped through the underbrush, careful to crush nothing.  :You are looking particularly blissful.:

Sherri and Kevyn were both sprawled on the blanket, after devastating the meal they had brought.  The shifting leaves were creating ever changing patterns of light on both their bodies.

"We're sleeping."  Kevyn said dryly as he removed his arm from his eyes.  Sherri was sprawled on her stomach next to him, oblivious to the world.  "Is there anything wrong?  Should we wake her?"

:Nothing's wrong at the moment.:  Nick assured him.  :I just thought I should warn you, something tried to follow you from the keep.  At least we think something did.:

:What kind of something?  A child?  Her uncle?:

:We think it was a ghost, maybe her grandfather, trying to find a drink.  He has been known to stray outside his keep.  It may just be a coincidence.:

:She doesn't mind if her grandfather comes by for a visit.  He amuses her.:

:He amuses everyone.  I wonder if he left his glasses all over the keep during life.:

Sherri shifted so her head was on Kevyn's shoulder, her favourite sleeping position.  Kevyn's favourite as well, so long as her hair didn't tickle his nose.

:Are you going to propose soon?:

:No, with everything, she would just see it as a pity proposal spawned by circumstances.:

:I doubt she would.  But it is your choice.  Normally lifebonded pairs don't need to worry about the reception a proposal will receive.  The ceremony is more an affirmation than commitment.:

:You don't think it would put stress on her?:

:The ceremony would.:  Nick admitted after a moment.  :Females always seem to have the ideal wedding in their minds and if it doesn't live up to expectations…:

:I would hate to disappoint her.:

:I noticed.:  Nick said wryly.  :Ever since she collapsed at your feet in this very forest and you carried her back to the Keep you have been her love struck suitor.  If she wanted fresh picked tulips in the dead of winter, you would provide them.:

:I know.:  Kevyn brushed away a strand of hair that was starting to tease his nose.  :She has me wrapped quite firmly around her little finger.:

Nick snorted.  :That is an understatement.  I just came to warn you about the follower.  If it appears again we will try to discover what it is.:

:Thanks for the warning.  I don't think we should tell her.  I want as much time with her as possible before…:

:Don't dwell on it.:  Nick counselled.  :It will come soon enough without you two worrying it.  It may be a year away.:

:Or a couple of weeks.  I know she is hiding how bad it is from me.:

:Let her, if it makes her feel better.:  Nick turned his incredible blue gaze on the slumbering Sherri.  :She must be exhausted.:

:I am going to just enjoy the moment, especially since I don't know how many more we'll have.:

~ * ~

Sherri set the chair next to the ornately carved table they had brought from the keep.  It was obviously the product of a long, boring winter.  Thankfully the artisan hadn't gone overboard when carving the top and it was mostly flat.  There were new shelves up, a vase of handpicked flowers was on a table next to a window, tapestries hung from the wall, two comfortable chairs now occupied the far end of the cottage, curtains hung on the windows, and a thick feather bed in the bed box had completed their little home.

"Is that everything?"  Kevyn asked as he set a crate of cooking implements down.

"That's it."  Sherri smiled as she sank onto a chair and surveyed her new domain.  "I like it."

Kevyn rubbed his lower back as he stood.  Favram was already outside preparing for the return trip.  "I hope you know something about cooking.  I am hopeless in the kitchen."

:So is she.:  Stef warned.

"How would you know?  You were never able to eat the cookies I made."  Sherri challenged good naturedly.

:Black is not a good sign.:  Van pointed out.  :And not even the keep dogs would touch them.:

:Better than anything you could produce.:  Yfandes said wryly. :Who was it that preferred army rations to his own cooking?:

"We should get the last of this put away before dark."  Sherri grimaced slightly as she started removing carefully packed dishes from a crate.  "Sit down, there is no need for us to get in each other's way."

"Sounds good to me."  Kevyn sank onto the chair and rested his arms on the table.  The large ginger tom they had brought to take care of the mice hopped up onto the table and rubbed his against Kevyn's hands.  "Honestly, are you feeling better?"

"Yes, now stop worrying.  You are worse than Quin."  Sherri said with exasperation.  "He has asked the same thing at least a dozen times today."

"Maybe he knows you are lying."  Kevyn pointed out.

:You are obviously nervous.:  Stefan pointed out seriously.

"'Fandes, would you help me here?  We are seriously out numbered by the men."  Sherri called as she set another plate on the shelf.

:Sorry, men are born worriers.:  Yfandes commented wryly.  :Take Van for example; if Stef hadn't ambushed him he would still be agonizing over his feelings for him.:

:My concerns were justified.  Leareth was going after those I was close to.:   Van defended himself.

Sherri sighed as silently as possible as Yfandes deftly steered their attention away from her.  Despite the move she was developing a throbbing headache.  She desperately wanted to lie down and relax but that would only make everyone worry more.

Only Quin knew how close she was to losing control of her Gift again and he wouldn't tell anyone.

To make matters worse, she kept sensing someone watching her but before she could catch them the feeling vanished.

:Maybe the madness has already started.:

:Don't worry, you are as sane as any other Herald.:  Quin assured her.

Sherri set the last dish on the shelf and turned to face Kevyn, who was listening to the banter.  "Do you mind if I go out for a walk?  I'll be back in less than a candlemark."

"Alone?"

"With Quin."  She assured him as she headed for the door.  "Have a nap if you like, you did more lifting today than I."

"I might.  Call if you need anything."  Kevyn suggested vaguely.

"If an Adept and a Companion can't handle anything that enters this forest I doubt you would arrive in time to help."  She pointed out, deliberately misinterpreting his concern.

Quin was waiting outside the door and she swung easily up onto his broad snowy back.  In moments they where gone.

 "Are you going to watch her?"  Kevyn rose from the table and moved to the window, watching trail.

:No, she has Quin with her.:  Stef admitted.  :I think she just wants to be alone.:

"I think we should tell her that her mother has been trying to watch over her.  I don't want her to be surprised."

:She doesn't deal well with surprise, does she.:  Van observed.  :Not that she can't cope, she adapts well.:

"But she doesn't like change."  Kevyn agreed.

:If she knew her mother was here, following her, don't you think that would put more pressure on her?:  Nick pointed out.  :Besides, she only stays in the forest until Van, Stef, or Fandes chase her off.:

~ * ~

Sherri started to feel tired almost immediately after leaving the cottage.  "I guess we are having an early night tonight."  She managed around a yawn.

:Dawn will come early.:  Quin warned, remembering the circuit he did in this very forest.  :It is almost impossible to sleep through the birds.:

"Thanks for the warning."  Sherri stroked his neck absently.  "How are you settling in?"

:Well enough I think.  Yfandes and I have had several interesting discussions.:

Sherri managed a wide grin.  "You seem to enjoy her company a great deal."

:She is enjoying having another Companion to talk to.  She has been lonely.:  Quin said thoughtfully.  :The other day I could have sworn I nearly saw her, a sort of disturbance in the air.:

"Maybe I am rubbing off on you."

:Maybe it was just that I was looking for her.:  Quin paused.  :Do you need anything for your headache?:

"No."  She rubbed her temple, the sense of being watched was making it worse.  "Maybe this was a bad idea."

Quin stretched his neck so he could nuzzle her foot.  :Don't worry, I believe you did the right thing.:

"Thank you."  She slipped to the ground and settled under a tree.  "I am so tired."

:Sleep.  I will wake you before it gets to late.:

"Thanks."  She closed her eyes.

~ * ~

Quin grazed fitfully, watching Sherri out of the corner of his eye.  A crease had appeared between her brows and she was shifting uneasily in her sleep.

How long until she could no longer bear even the presence of any of them?

Sherri jolted upright gasping, reaching for a sword she hadn't brought.

:Love?:   Quin hurried to her side and brushed his soft nose against her cheek.

She flinched but reached up to stroke his neck.  "It wasn't real."

:What wasn't?:

"The nightmare.  I dreamed we were all trapped in a mountain of glass and somehow I knew if I didn't figure out how to break the glass we would be trapped forever."

:Like your gift is trapping you.:

"I guess."  She leaned back against the tree.  "I think I am going to be sick."

:What!:  Quin's head jerked upright at the revelation.

"It's part of my Gift."

:I understand.:  He forced himself to relax.

She kept her eyes closed as she buried her fingers in the rich earth.  She could already sense the far reaching peace of the Forest.  She allowed it to soothe her as she waited. 

At first it was like the slow seeping of water over an over strained damn.  Within she could feel pressure build against her skin.  It was almost a feeling of pain before the flood of sensation, knowledge, and awareness poured through her.

"Oh gods, that was the worst yet."  She slowly opened her eyes almost dreading what she would see.

First thing she saw was the edge of a white lawn nightgown and a pair of small feet poking out from underneath.  Slowly she looked up farther, almost eye to eye with her she met a pair of incredible blue eyes, very similar to her own.

"Sherria?  Are you alright?"  Her mother reached out to touch her. 

"What in all the hells are you doing here?"  Sherri demanded.  "Why can't you leave me alone!  It was you who has been watching me, hasn't it?"  She scrambled to her feet and pressed her back against the tree. 

"Sherria?"  Her mother reached out to take her hand.  Sherri jerked her hand away.  "Please tell me you are alright."

"Go away!"  Sherri yelled and stepped around the spirit and ran into the trees.  She didn't slow until her lungs burned with every breath and her legs felt like lead.

Finally she fell to her knees and buried her face in her hands.

~ * ~

Quin started to go after Sherri when he stopped and looked at the spot she had stared at with such horror.  He stared at the spot until he could see the slight distortion of a human body.

:How could you be so selfish?:  He directed the sharp thoughts at the form.

The distortion shimmered and stepped back a few feet.  :Who are you?:  The voice seemed to echo, as if in a large room.

:I am her father.:  Quin said sharply.

:But…:

:I came back for her at least, unlike you.  You couldn't even be bothered to tell me I had a beautiful little girl.  You couldn't think beyond yourself and your needs.:

:I never meant…:

Quin tossed his head.  :I could care less what you intended.  You are not worthy of Sherri.  She is a sweetheart with more heart and generosity that you ever exhibited.:

:She is my daughter!:  The ghost wailed.

:Get over it, you may be her mother by blood but Vanyel, Stefen, and Yfandes are the people she considered her family since she was little.:  Quin stepped closer and tossed his mane in anger.  :Go to the havens, or the hells, I don't care.  Just leave her alone, it is the least you can do.:

A sob rattled the leaves and Amelie's form solidified enough that he could make out her features.  Quin grew more alarmed as he felt the growing weakness in Sherri through their bond.  :You are going to kill her!  How dare you draw on her without her permission.:

He didn't wait for a response, he spun and charged through the trees, calling to Kevyn.