A/N:  Well, so far I've got nineteen votes for Sandry/Briar, two for Sandry and Dallin, one for Briar and Meagan, ten for Meagan and Dallin, and five for me and Dallin.  Hmmm….I wonder what I will choose!!

Sorry that this took sooooooo long, you guys.  School is slowly….heck, what am I saying?  School is *rapidly* taking over my life.  I am drowning in homework. 

This next part is for the reviewers, so if you don't want to read it, just skip down to the story!!

Elena:  I must say, you are the only one who voted for Briar and Meagan!!  Sometimes I think that it would be fun for Briar to meet someone new.  Which means that Sandry gets Dallin!

Wow, look at all the people who voted for Sandry and Briar!  Though, I can't say that I'm surprised.  Hehe…..: Rainbow-Dreamer,  Muse,  Lady of the Shadows,  Exodus,  Lady Sandrilene,  Bblonde07,  PixiePrincess-wants-sugar,  Mystery,  Rose Angel,  Samantha,  White-wolf,  MeerKat, WildMagelet, Anonymous,  Swim Freak,  Haydens LiL Super Hobbit,  Lauren,  Lady Silwen,   Buri Commander.

Votes for…..Meagan and Dallin!:  Lady of the Shadows,  PixiePrincess-wants-sugar,  Samantha,  White-wolf,  MeerKa,  Anonymous,  Swim Freak,  Lauren,  Lady Silwen,   Buri Commander

Votes for…..Me and Dallin!  Yippee!!:  Muse, Lady Sandrilene, PixiePrincess-wants-sugar, White-wolf, Buri Commander

Votes for…..Sandry and Dallin!:  Elena, San

And finally, drumroll please…the vote for Briar and Meagan!: Elena

*sigh*  And please don't ask me why I made that list up.  After weeks of non-stop work, I have suddenly found myself with eight hours of free-time.  I'm not quite sure what to do!

* * * * * *

Dallin wandered dejectedly through the halls, thoughts of a pretty, blonde haired stitch-witch filling his head.  Sad as he was, there was an annoyed part of him that was screaming for him to race back there and put up a good fight.  After all, he wasn't a quitter. 

The sound of soft sniffling broke through his thoughts.  Listening curiously, he realized that it was coming from the gardens.  Stepping outside into the lush, green grounds, Dallin followed the slight sound to a tiny white gazebo covered in a trailing white rose bush.  Hesitant to break in on someone, but eager to lend a helping hand to one who might need it, he walked slowly up the three wooden steps.

There in front of him on a bench, back turned towards him, sat a girl.  Her hair was brown and fell in shining waves to her waist.  Her blue dress was simple but well made and her feet appeared to be bare.

"Are you alright?" he asked, standing behind her uncertainly. 

The girl turned, her tear-stained face registering surprise at the sight of him.  "Oh," she said, quickly wiping off her cheeks with slender fingers, "Yes, I'm fine, thank you." 

Dallin nodded.  "Okay."  A moment of rather uncomfortable silence passed between them, so Dallin took the time to examine the stranger before him.

She was pretty, and maybe a year younger than Dallin.  Her oval, clear-complexioned face was well tanned.  Large brown eyes sparkled brightly above a small, slightly freckled nose and a deep red, full mouth.  And, if her clothes were any indication, she was also a servant. 

There was no reason to stay any longer, Dallin told himself.  You asked if she was alright, she said that she was, so go!

"My name is Dallin."

The girl smiled.  "I'm Meagan."  She cocked her head.  "Wait, Lord Dallin?  The man who is courting the Lady Sandry?"

Dallin sighed and sat down on a bench opposite of Meagan.  "I'm afraid that any courtship that might have been happening between the Lady and I has ended.  Her affections appear to be focused on someone else now."

Meagan nodded.  "Briar Moss."

Dallin lifted an eyebrow.  "You sure seem to know a lot about us."

"Yeah, well," Meagan said with a laugh, "I was Briar's dance teacher."  Another moment of uncomfortable silence followed that rather startling statement, then Meagan looked intently at Dallin's face and said, "Apparently Briar told the Lady Sandry what he felt."

"Yes," Dallin said with a grim nod, "And apparently the Lady Sandry reciprocated the feelings."  He stared down at his hands, feeling a dull ache when he remembered the happy glow that Sandry seemed to have when she talked with Briar.   

"I'm sure that they will be very happy," Meagan said, but her voice lacked conviction and something in her tone made Dallin look at her sharply.

"Meagan, I don't mean to pry, but why were you crying?"

Blushing furiously, Meagan tried unsuccessfully to appear nonchalant.  "Just one of those days," she said, with a wave of her hand as though she were trying to signal that the conversation was over.

Dallin hesitated, trying to hold in his next comment, but to no avail.  "Anything to do with a particular plant mage?" he asked her softly.

Meagan looked up at him in horror.  "Is it that obvious?"

He shook his head.  "No.  It was just a hunch."

"Oh."

Another moment of silence passed between them.  Finally, Dallin sighed and stood up.  "Are you hungry?" he asked her, gazing out at the garden.

Meagan looked at him in surprise.  "A little."

Dallin nodded.  "Well, then, if you want to, I have a picnic lunch that I'd love to share with you."  He still didn't look at her, still not quite sure what he was doing.  But it was just a picnic, right?  And Meagan seemed like a nice girl, one who could be a good friend.

He could use a good friend right now.

"Alright," Meagan said, with a toss of her glossy curls.  "Why not?  It's my lunch break anyway."  She bounced to her feet and happily took the arm that Dallin offered her.

* * * * * * *

A/N:  Alright, you guys, no thinking that they're going out to lunch like a date or anything.  Dallin just happened to have a picnic lunch because he was going to ask Sandry, but then she left with Briar, so he had to share with someone, didn't he?