A/N - Here's the second to the last chapter. Or something like that. There are only a few left! I'm going to seriously start crying. Anyway....
Chapter 26
Rovin had woken extra early, the next day to pack the few things she had. Having left all of her regular clothes at the inn, she had taken nothing with her when she had left a week ago. She and Daniel had been presented with things for their wedding, but now that it was off, Daniel let her have her pick of what she wanted. She took out a worn travel sack, and placed in it three dresses she especially liked, a necklace Daniel had given her, two gold candlesticks. She stripped herself of all her jewelry, and placed them on the table. She was left wearing the same blue dress she had worn that night she met her brother, sewed again and washed until the dirt had come out before being hung back in her armoire. Taking one last long glance around the room, she picked up the pack and silently walked out of her room. Waiting for her in the larger room was Daniel. He stood by the dying fire with his hands clasped behind his back, dressed fully in breeches and tunic of his fief. He turned when he heard her close the door softly. Rovin gave a small half smile, which was soon returned to her.
"I guess this is goodbye," Rovin finally said dropping her pack and moving closer to him.
"It's never goodbye," Daniel replied turning towards her and waiting as she got closer. "I'm sure I'll be seeing you around."
"I'll make sure of it," Rovin said with a small laugh
"Just don't do anything to drastic." Daniel answered "I wouldn't want to have to save you from death or anything."
"Of course not." Rovin said stopping an inch from his body "If I want to see you, I'll just climb the balcony."
"Hopefully not in another dress." he gave a big smile, but Rovin could still see the hurt in his eyes.
"I should go." she said turning from him. Daniel reached out and grabbed her left hand before she could leave completely.
"This isn't goodbye," he whispered "I'm always here if you need me."
""I know, and for that I'm grateful." Rovin leaned toward him and gave him a soft kiss on his cheek. "I'll never forget you, and you'll always be my friend."
"But just a friend," Daniel replied a little dully.
"It's funny," Rovin replied with a small smile "I know someone who I thought would always be 'just a friend'. But I was proved wrong."
"So there may be a chance for us in the future."
"You and I both know there isn't. You'll be returning to Wolf Creek, and I live here in Corus. You're going to eventually get married and have a family, where I have the choice to stay single for the rest of my life. It just…"
"I know, but I had hoped." Daniel said sadly "At least my children will know my first love was a thief."
"I'm sure they'll think that's fascinating."
"I'll try and not exaggerate the details when I have to tell them the stories about you."
"Goodb--I'll see you later," Rovin finally said. She squeezed his hand that she still held, and let it go as she walked towards the door, picking her pack up on the way. She opened the door and left.
"See you later." Daniel whispered crossing his arms over his chest. "I love you,"
Rovin leaned against the door, having heard the last words of Daniel. She took a few deep breaths, before picking up her pack again and walking towards the gates to the city. She was halfway to the front gates, when she changed her mind. She started heading towards the south gates. She reached them in no time and slowly walked forward, grasping her pack in front of her with both hands, acting like an innocent young girl. The two guards saw her coming, and immediately stiffened.
"Hello m'lady" Dreave said giving a small bow of his head
"Hello Dreave." she pointed to his head where she had knocked him out a week ago. "Sorry about that."
"It's alright. Heals quickly. Will you be leaving?" he asked pointing to her pack
"Yeah, things didn't work out." Rovin replied with a small smile
Dreave turned to the other guard and held out his hand. "Pay up Francis. I told you it wouldn't work out." The other guard mumbled as he fished some coins from his purse and plunked them into Dreave's hand. Dreave winked at Rovin as she crossed her arms and pretended to act annoyed.
"So now you're betting on my love life." she said
"Of course m'lady." Dreave said smiling as he jingled the coins in his hand. "What do you take us for, noble men?"
Rovin laughed as she passed Dreave and Francis, giving a small wave as she left the palace grounds.
"M'lady!" Dreave called after her
"Yes?" she replied turning and staring at him
"I'm going to be in the city tomorrow with my two other friends. You met them previously I believe, but this time, no lady is going to be tricking us!" Dreave answered smiling
Rovin smiled as well remembering, "Well, it would be easier for a lady to not steal from you, if you weren't drunk!"
"We had a hard night!" Dreave called as she started walking away with a laugh. Rovin decided that life would go on, and it wouldn't be that bad after all.
*~*~*~*~*
Noah sat around the table with his brother and friends. All of them held mugs of ale, but they hardly touched them. The atmosphere was a gloomy one. If a very happy thief were to walk in after a day of successful thieving, he would automatically become depressed. That was the affect the inn had on everyone. When the king and his sons were upset, everyone was. Noah had his head lying on his arm, which was stretched out in front of him on the table. John was passed out, his head lying on the back on his chair, his mouth hanging open as drool ran down his chin. Ryan, Candle and Brick were playing a round of cards, but they were all bored out of their minds. Tyger and Reed stood around with some of the younger thieves throwing darts, but none of their throws made it to the wall, and instead fell feet from it.
It was like this all around the inn. The thieves lay all over their seats, passed out or just bored to death. Some were even trying to woe the servant girls, who had caught on to the attitude, and instead of turning bored, they all turned very grouchy. When you asked for an ale, the girls would bring a pitcher out, and either slam it on the table so it all spilled or they would fill your mug up so full that it overflowed. They rarely smiled anymore and most of them started ignoring the thieves.
"This is pathetic," Tyger said looking at his darts which he had thrown, and which had dropped in front of his feet.
"You're pathetic," Noah said rubbing his eye
"There's nothing more pathetic than sitting around doing nothing." Reed commented giving the rest of his darts to one of the younger thieves and walking over to collapse in a chair.
"I can think of a few things" Ryan muttered
"Like what?" Reed asked
"Like sitting around doing nothing, all because some girl left" Ryan answered
"She wasn't just some girl." Candle said speaking for everyone
"Yeah, than what was so special about her?" Ryan asked taking one of his cards out of his hand and lazily plopping it down on the table
Candle exchanged glances with Reed as they tried to respond.
"I'll tell you what was so special about her." Brick said speaking for the first time in front of the boys, who he didn't speak often to. "She wasn't just another one of those frilly girls, who would play tricks with boys minds, rather she was someone who loves everyone she meets and treats them all equally no matter was status they are. When she walks into the room, everyone brightens up, just seeing her would put a smile of you're face. She wasn't just a daughter to Dodson, but a daughter to everyone here in the rogue as well as a sister to all the boys. And even though she didn't show it, you could tell. When she was mad at someone, usually the same person, everyone knew she was, and even though she was mad, she wouldn't speak to you like a bitch. Rovin was always coming up with stupid tricks when she was younger, that would often end with someone else hurt, but it was funny either way. She's just a wonderful girl." He finished his speech and dropped his eyes, staring at his hand of cards instead.
"Well if you ask me---" Ryan started
"No one was," Noah interrupted wanting to change the subject.
"She's such a bitch sometimes," Candle muttered taking a small sip of his ale.
"I'm sorry you feel that way," came a voice from the doorway.
Every person in the inn turned and looked at who was standing there. The light from the streets outside illuminated a person's body, but it was too dark in the inn to tell who had said it, but most of the people could tell by the voice.
"Step inside and close the door child," one of the men said.
The person stepped inside, turned around and smiled at everyone. Rovin stood there waiting for someone to say something.
"Rovin!" Candle shouted jumping up from his seat and running towards her to pull her into a hug. The inn became a noisy place all of a sudden, as the men began cheering, laughing, talking and welcoming Rovin home. Noah, who hadn't looked when the voice had spoken, lifted his head to make sure it was really her. Sure enough Rovin was standing there in the middle of a group of thieves, being patted on the back and shaking everyone's hand, as if she were a hero. A minute later Dodson and Heith were seen running down the stairs, pushing through the crowd and smothering Rovin in hugs and tears.
Rovin was led to the table that Noah and the other's sat at. She sat in her usual spot beside her father, and handed a mug full of ale. As she talked to everyone in the room, she sneaked a glance at Noah, who sat beside his father. He caught her glance and sat up straighter, acting as if he were a noble. Rovin cocked her eyebrow before returning to the conversation she was having with Candle and Brick.
The day went on like this. Celebrating as more and more thieves appeared throughout the day, having heard the wonderful news. Rovin spent the entire time sitting by her father, and sipping her one ale. She never had asked for a refill. The servant girls moods had lifted, but most of the men still stayed away from them. Finally around midnight, everything died down, drunken thieves were on their way home, as a light drizzle began to fall. Rovin emerged out of the alley and into the kitchen, taking a chance to breath from being surrounded for so long. She loosened the rope in the back of her dress, which had been pulled too tight this morning, and was cutting off her oxygen. She hadn't noticed Noah leaning against the wall until he spoke.
"So, are you back for good, or is this just a visit?" he asked crossing his arms and bending his right knee, so it was pushing on the wall.
"I think you already know the answer to that." Rovin replied retying the back of her dress quickly.
"Need some help?" Noah asked noticing that she was having trouble getting it tied properly.
Rovin glanced at Noah, thinking of the two choices she had. To either let him help her, and Mithros knows what he'll do, or do it herself and do a terrible job of it. "Alright," she replied, turning around for him, and moving her hair out of the way. Noah pushed off from the wall and walked over to Rovin. He took the two ends of the rope and started loosening them through the dress, before he retied it into a perfect knot. Rovin turned back around when he was done and stood there.
"Why did you come back?" Noah whispered taking a step back from her
"Because I'm not in love with him." Rovin replied crossing her arms over her chest and taking a deep breath, as she slowly began to get soaked.
"Oh," Noah said rubbing the back of his neck. "Well then who are you in love with?"
Rovin looked at her shoes and smiled, before glancing back at Noah. "As crazy as this sounds, I'm in love with this guy that I've grown up with. And even though we fight constantly, and usually I can't stand the sight of him. There's just something about him that I've fallen in love with."
"Candle's a lucky guy," Noah muttered
"You're joking right?" Rovin replied staring at him shocked.
"No, I'm sure you and Candle will be very happy together."
"Grow up Noah!"
"Make me!"
"No way!"
"Why not?"
"Because you should already know who I'm talking about!"
"I know who you're talking about!"
"Who?"
"I was lying!"
"Of course you were, you're a male!"
"What's that got to do anything!"
"Stop being so stubborn!"
"I'm not stubborn!"
"Yes you are!"
"No I'm not!"
"Shut up Noah!"
"Make me!"
So she did. Rovin grabbed Noah's face and kissed him, before pushing him away.
"What'd you do that for?" he asked teasing her
"Grow up." Rovin replied turning to walk inside
"I don't think so," Noah replied grabbing her around the waist from behind, spinning her around, and kissing her passionately,
"Do you want me to grow up now?" he asked when they had parted
"Not fully. But a little maturity would---" she never finished before he kissed her yet again, making her forget that she was standing outside, in the middle of the night, wet and freezing to death.
Chapter 26
Rovin had woken extra early, the next day to pack the few things she had. Having left all of her regular clothes at the inn, she had taken nothing with her when she had left a week ago. She and Daniel had been presented with things for their wedding, but now that it was off, Daniel let her have her pick of what she wanted. She took out a worn travel sack, and placed in it three dresses she especially liked, a necklace Daniel had given her, two gold candlesticks. She stripped herself of all her jewelry, and placed them on the table. She was left wearing the same blue dress she had worn that night she met her brother, sewed again and washed until the dirt had come out before being hung back in her armoire. Taking one last long glance around the room, she picked up the pack and silently walked out of her room. Waiting for her in the larger room was Daniel. He stood by the dying fire with his hands clasped behind his back, dressed fully in breeches and tunic of his fief. He turned when he heard her close the door softly. Rovin gave a small half smile, which was soon returned to her.
"I guess this is goodbye," Rovin finally said dropping her pack and moving closer to him.
"It's never goodbye," Daniel replied turning towards her and waiting as she got closer. "I'm sure I'll be seeing you around."
"I'll make sure of it," Rovin said with a small laugh
"Just don't do anything to drastic." Daniel answered "I wouldn't want to have to save you from death or anything."
"Of course not." Rovin said stopping an inch from his body "If I want to see you, I'll just climb the balcony."
"Hopefully not in another dress." he gave a big smile, but Rovin could still see the hurt in his eyes.
"I should go." she said turning from him. Daniel reached out and grabbed her left hand before she could leave completely.
"This isn't goodbye," he whispered "I'm always here if you need me."
""I know, and for that I'm grateful." Rovin leaned toward him and gave him a soft kiss on his cheek. "I'll never forget you, and you'll always be my friend."
"But just a friend," Daniel replied a little dully.
"It's funny," Rovin replied with a small smile "I know someone who I thought would always be 'just a friend'. But I was proved wrong."
"So there may be a chance for us in the future."
"You and I both know there isn't. You'll be returning to Wolf Creek, and I live here in Corus. You're going to eventually get married and have a family, where I have the choice to stay single for the rest of my life. It just…"
"I know, but I had hoped." Daniel said sadly "At least my children will know my first love was a thief."
"I'm sure they'll think that's fascinating."
"I'll try and not exaggerate the details when I have to tell them the stories about you."
"Goodb--I'll see you later," Rovin finally said. She squeezed his hand that she still held, and let it go as she walked towards the door, picking her pack up on the way. She opened the door and left.
"See you later." Daniel whispered crossing his arms over his chest. "I love you,"
Rovin leaned against the door, having heard the last words of Daniel. She took a few deep breaths, before picking up her pack again and walking towards the gates to the city. She was halfway to the front gates, when she changed her mind. She started heading towards the south gates. She reached them in no time and slowly walked forward, grasping her pack in front of her with both hands, acting like an innocent young girl. The two guards saw her coming, and immediately stiffened.
"Hello m'lady" Dreave said giving a small bow of his head
"Hello Dreave." she pointed to his head where she had knocked him out a week ago. "Sorry about that."
"It's alright. Heals quickly. Will you be leaving?" he asked pointing to her pack
"Yeah, things didn't work out." Rovin replied with a small smile
Dreave turned to the other guard and held out his hand. "Pay up Francis. I told you it wouldn't work out." The other guard mumbled as he fished some coins from his purse and plunked them into Dreave's hand. Dreave winked at Rovin as she crossed her arms and pretended to act annoyed.
"So now you're betting on my love life." she said
"Of course m'lady." Dreave said smiling as he jingled the coins in his hand. "What do you take us for, noble men?"
Rovin laughed as she passed Dreave and Francis, giving a small wave as she left the palace grounds.
"M'lady!" Dreave called after her
"Yes?" she replied turning and staring at him
"I'm going to be in the city tomorrow with my two other friends. You met them previously I believe, but this time, no lady is going to be tricking us!" Dreave answered smiling
Rovin smiled as well remembering, "Well, it would be easier for a lady to not steal from you, if you weren't drunk!"
"We had a hard night!" Dreave called as she started walking away with a laugh. Rovin decided that life would go on, and it wouldn't be that bad after all.
*~*~*~*~*
Noah sat around the table with his brother and friends. All of them held mugs of ale, but they hardly touched them. The atmosphere was a gloomy one. If a very happy thief were to walk in after a day of successful thieving, he would automatically become depressed. That was the affect the inn had on everyone. When the king and his sons were upset, everyone was. Noah had his head lying on his arm, which was stretched out in front of him on the table. John was passed out, his head lying on the back on his chair, his mouth hanging open as drool ran down his chin. Ryan, Candle and Brick were playing a round of cards, but they were all bored out of their minds. Tyger and Reed stood around with some of the younger thieves throwing darts, but none of their throws made it to the wall, and instead fell feet from it.
It was like this all around the inn. The thieves lay all over their seats, passed out or just bored to death. Some were even trying to woe the servant girls, who had caught on to the attitude, and instead of turning bored, they all turned very grouchy. When you asked for an ale, the girls would bring a pitcher out, and either slam it on the table so it all spilled or they would fill your mug up so full that it overflowed. They rarely smiled anymore and most of them started ignoring the thieves.
"This is pathetic," Tyger said looking at his darts which he had thrown, and which had dropped in front of his feet.
"You're pathetic," Noah said rubbing his eye
"There's nothing more pathetic than sitting around doing nothing." Reed commented giving the rest of his darts to one of the younger thieves and walking over to collapse in a chair.
"I can think of a few things" Ryan muttered
"Like what?" Reed asked
"Like sitting around doing nothing, all because some girl left" Ryan answered
"She wasn't just some girl." Candle said speaking for everyone
"Yeah, than what was so special about her?" Ryan asked taking one of his cards out of his hand and lazily plopping it down on the table
Candle exchanged glances with Reed as they tried to respond.
"I'll tell you what was so special about her." Brick said speaking for the first time in front of the boys, who he didn't speak often to. "She wasn't just another one of those frilly girls, who would play tricks with boys minds, rather she was someone who loves everyone she meets and treats them all equally no matter was status they are. When she walks into the room, everyone brightens up, just seeing her would put a smile of you're face. She wasn't just a daughter to Dodson, but a daughter to everyone here in the rogue as well as a sister to all the boys. And even though she didn't show it, you could tell. When she was mad at someone, usually the same person, everyone knew she was, and even though she was mad, she wouldn't speak to you like a bitch. Rovin was always coming up with stupid tricks when she was younger, that would often end with someone else hurt, but it was funny either way. She's just a wonderful girl." He finished his speech and dropped his eyes, staring at his hand of cards instead.
"Well if you ask me---" Ryan started
"No one was," Noah interrupted wanting to change the subject.
"She's such a bitch sometimes," Candle muttered taking a small sip of his ale.
"I'm sorry you feel that way," came a voice from the doorway.
Every person in the inn turned and looked at who was standing there. The light from the streets outside illuminated a person's body, but it was too dark in the inn to tell who had said it, but most of the people could tell by the voice.
"Step inside and close the door child," one of the men said.
The person stepped inside, turned around and smiled at everyone. Rovin stood there waiting for someone to say something.
"Rovin!" Candle shouted jumping up from his seat and running towards her to pull her into a hug. The inn became a noisy place all of a sudden, as the men began cheering, laughing, talking and welcoming Rovin home. Noah, who hadn't looked when the voice had spoken, lifted his head to make sure it was really her. Sure enough Rovin was standing there in the middle of a group of thieves, being patted on the back and shaking everyone's hand, as if she were a hero. A minute later Dodson and Heith were seen running down the stairs, pushing through the crowd and smothering Rovin in hugs and tears.
Rovin was led to the table that Noah and the other's sat at. She sat in her usual spot beside her father, and handed a mug full of ale. As she talked to everyone in the room, she sneaked a glance at Noah, who sat beside his father. He caught her glance and sat up straighter, acting as if he were a noble. Rovin cocked her eyebrow before returning to the conversation she was having with Candle and Brick.
The day went on like this. Celebrating as more and more thieves appeared throughout the day, having heard the wonderful news. Rovin spent the entire time sitting by her father, and sipping her one ale. She never had asked for a refill. The servant girls moods had lifted, but most of the men still stayed away from them. Finally around midnight, everything died down, drunken thieves were on their way home, as a light drizzle began to fall. Rovin emerged out of the alley and into the kitchen, taking a chance to breath from being surrounded for so long. She loosened the rope in the back of her dress, which had been pulled too tight this morning, and was cutting off her oxygen. She hadn't noticed Noah leaning against the wall until he spoke.
"So, are you back for good, or is this just a visit?" he asked crossing his arms and bending his right knee, so it was pushing on the wall.
"I think you already know the answer to that." Rovin replied retying the back of her dress quickly.
"Need some help?" Noah asked noticing that she was having trouble getting it tied properly.
Rovin glanced at Noah, thinking of the two choices she had. To either let him help her, and Mithros knows what he'll do, or do it herself and do a terrible job of it. "Alright," she replied, turning around for him, and moving her hair out of the way. Noah pushed off from the wall and walked over to Rovin. He took the two ends of the rope and started loosening them through the dress, before he retied it into a perfect knot. Rovin turned back around when he was done and stood there.
"Why did you come back?" Noah whispered taking a step back from her
"Because I'm not in love with him." Rovin replied crossing her arms over her chest and taking a deep breath, as she slowly began to get soaked.
"Oh," Noah said rubbing the back of his neck. "Well then who are you in love with?"
Rovin looked at her shoes and smiled, before glancing back at Noah. "As crazy as this sounds, I'm in love with this guy that I've grown up with. And even though we fight constantly, and usually I can't stand the sight of him. There's just something about him that I've fallen in love with."
"Candle's a lucky guy," Noah muttered
"You're joking right?" Rovin replied staring at him shocked.
"No, I'm sure you and Candle will be very happy together."
"Grow up Noah!"
"Make me!"
"No way!"
"Why not?"
"Because you should already know who I'm talking about!"
"I know who you're talking about!"
"Who?"
"I was lying!"
"Of course you were, you're a male!"
"What's that got to do anything!"
"Stop being so stubborn!"
"I'm not stubborn!"
"Yes you are!"
"No I'm not!"
"Shut up Noah!"
"Make me!"
So she did. Rovin grabbed Noah's face and kissed him, before pushing him away.
"What'd you do that for?" he asked teasing her
"Grow up." Rovin replied turning to walk inside
"I don't think so," Noah replied grabbing her around the waist from behind, spinning her around, and kissing her passionately,
"Do you want me to grow up now?" he asked when they had parted
"Not fully. But a little maturity would---" she never finished before he kissed her yet again, making her forget that she was standing outside, in the middle of the night, wet and freezing to death.