Chapter 5: Goodbye, For Now

Hunter led Trinity back to the inn so she could ready herself to leave. When they go there they saw Menedur and Arlot. Trinity noticed that Firre and Lira were not with them. She hoped they were upstairs getting a three-day jump on gathering their things.

"Hello, Hunter. Did you and Trinity have a good time?" Arlot asked.

"Yes, it was very insightful. If you would excuse me I'm going to escort Trinity back to her room." They pushed their way through the crowded bar and went up the steps. At her door they stopped.

"I know Firre and Lira are going to be disappointed that we have to leave so please tell Arlot and Menedur. I don't think they could accept this sudden good bye."

"How are you handling this sudden good bye?"

"As best as I can. But as long as I know I will see you again it is not good bye."

They smiled at each other and kissed again.

"Hurry back to me." He whispered in her ear.

"I will." She turned and walked into her room while Hunter returned to his friends. He was going to break the news to them.

"So what did you two love birds do?" Menedur asked when Hunter joined them.

"We talked most of the time. How was your day?"

"I've got Firre totally hooked. I bet she would do whatever I wanted." Bragged Arlot.

"Well, like I planned there was almost no talking between Lira and I." Menedur smiled broadly and the other two just shook their heads.

"I don't know how you do it. I thought having Firre hanging on my every word was an accomplishment. What about you Hunter? Any action with Trinity?"

"I'll never tell. But there is something I must tell you. It's about our girls. It seems they have to leave the city tonight and won't be coming back for a while. They will be back, I'm not certain when though."

"Interesting. Did she give a reason for their departure?" Menedur had a suspicious tone in his voice.

"Not really but they will miss us and come back as fast as they can." Lied Hunter.

"Strange. Very strange indeed. Why would three wanderers want to hurry out of the city?" Arlot said more to himself than his friends.

~ "I don't see why we had to leave as soon as you came home. I was looking forward to spending the rest of the week with Arlot." Complained Firre as they made their way home.

"Why did we leave so soon anyway?" asked the curious Lira.

"I came upon some information and it is imperative that I share it with the Council." Answered Trinity.

"What happened with you and Hunter? There is something your not telling us." Lira said.

Trinity stopped walking. She knew she could never keep secrets from her best friends so just told them the whole story. She went from the crime they came to solve, to the discovery of her identity and ending with the kiss without leaving out a single detail. The others were silent after her story. What could they possibly say to that?

"Wow. Are you sure you can trust him?" was all Firre could ask.

"I would trust him with my life."

"Then we trust him too. Do you think Arlot and Menedur are like that?" said Lira.

"I'm not sure. I wouldn't risk it though. When we get home don't tell anyone about what happened. The only thing they need to know is the information concerning the disappearance. Promise?"

Firre and Lira nodded their heads in agreement and then they continued going home. When they made it back everyone was surprised but glad to see them. They were hugged and fussed over by their family and told to go straight to bed. They had a busy day tomorrow because the Council wanted to meet with them first thing in the morning. The girls went to their rooms and supposedly went to sleep. But sleep did not come to Trinity.  She lay awake and thought of Hunter. He was the only thing she wanted to think about. Why do I miss him so much? Wasn't this ranger only a stranger to me and an enemy to my people last week? How did things change so quickly? All these questions flooded her mind but none had an answer. Finally she got out of bed and began straightening up her room, then wrote all her feelings in a diary, did odd jobs like organizing her bookshelf, and finally fell asleep from exhaustion.

Then next morning Calen burst through her bedroom much like Lira often did.

"Get up! The Council wants to speak with you. What are you still doing in your clothes and did you do something different in your room?" Calen began speaking but Trinity just put a pillow over her head. She did not wish to deal with her brother this morning.

"Go away." She muttered.

"Can't do that dear sister. Mother sent me to get you up so let's go!" Calen pushed his sister off her bed and she landed with a loud thump on the floor.

"What was that for?" Trinity was on her feet and filled with anger.

"A little testy this morning. The mild sister I knew would never talk back. What happened to you on that trip?"

"Then you did not know me very well. Besides, nothing happened in Tiras Giliath."

"You're lying. Before you never stayed up half the night rearranging your room. Something happened and I'm going to find out what."

            "You know, sometimes it surprises me how immature you can be! If you want to be on the Council then you better think logically then jumping to some sort of conclusion!"

            "Now I know something happened to you. You are too defensive to be the same Trinity. You're hiding something!"

            "I hide nothing. Now get out of my way." Trinity pushed Calen hard onto the floor and went to see the Council. Why was her brother suddenly so curious about her trip? Was she really that obvious in hiding something? He couldn't possibly know that I am falling for a ranger. She tried to force the thought from her mind until something made her stop dead in her tracks. Oh no, the diary!