A Useless Vision.

Once they were in the tent and settled Evy finally got brave enough to ask Rick what was wrong.

" Rick, what are you worried about?" she asked.

Rick sighed and sat down beside her.

" Mariana. I mean, she gave up being a Medji. I don't think she would do that just because she doesn't like a commander." Rick answered.

" I don't think she would either." Evy replied.

" But, what she did back there…that's what has me worried." Rick said.

" I know, I was a bit scared, but Ardeth seemed to know about it. He would have told us about it if it was a problem, I don't think it's a problem now." Evy said. " We can ask about it tomorrow, but for now, lets just try to get some sleep." she finished.

" Yeah." Rick replied.

Evy rubbed him on the back.

" Don't worry, she'll be fine…I know you wont let anything happen to her and neither will Ardeth…same here." Evy said.

Rick gave a weak smile. But just sat and thought.

Ardeth shut Izzy in a different room from his, and then went back to the one he and Mariana were in.

" Why?!!!!" he screamed at her as he came in the room

She didn't flinch.

" They were holding me back, they had started a spell to bind my magic…I would not have been able to help you guys…that's why!" Mariana spat.

Ardeth, shocked, replayed the tent scene in his head. Yes, he had remembered the tall one slip something in her pocket as she passed by. So, she had given it to him so that he couldn't use it against her.

" I see." he replied, exhausted, finally in understatement.

She continued to look at her feet and finally she stood up and walked over to Ardeth. She bowed to him.

" Forgive me master, but as it stands, I am no longer you apprentice, and as such, you have the right to throw me ou…" she started but was silenced when Ardeth removed her cloaks hood, revealing a very beautiful, but tear stained face.

He caressed her cheek, wiping away the tears.

" It doesn't matter whether you are my apprentice or not…I still love you and as long as I love you, you are always welcome in m house." he replied.

Mariana's eyes danced with happiness and for the first time that day, she smiled.

Rick sat in the dark, watching Evy sleep.

* How beautiful you are.* he thought.

He continued watching her. She seamed as though she were sleeping peacefully.

* She has gotten so brave since we first met.* he continued thinking.

* Would our life together be worth it? Worth the risk of her dying?* he thought.

He closed his eyes and pictured her, when they had first met at the jail. He never would have thought at that exact moment he saw her, he was going to love her for all eternity. He then pictured their wedding. How beautiful she was. Then he saw the wonderful memory of Alex being born. The moment in his life, when he realized he had something to fight for…and would die for. He smiled.

* It has to be worth it. It is worth it* he thought. * But Mariana, I haven't known her long, but I feel like I've been with her my whole life." he thought. * She's my sister, my only way of knowing about my past.* he thought. * I will protect her, well, if she needs it…I mean, with all that fire shooting out of her hand…who knows, but so help anyone who lays a bad finger on her, or my wife because if it happens, there will be hell to pay!* he finished thinking.

He heard Evy move. He looked at her…she was looking at him…with a horrified look. Rick looked back at her. She was looking at him…but not at him…he realized what was going on. Rick quickly shook her.

" Ahh!" Evy screamed.

" Its alright, its me." Rick said.

" Rick…oh…thank god." she replied.

" What?" Rick asked worried.

" I…I just…had a vision." she answered quietly.

Rick looked at her…he was pretty sure what she saw.

" What was it?" Rick asked.

" You…" she answered as her voice began to choke.

" Me?…" Rick asked back. She didn't answer. " Evy!" he said loudly.

She didn't answer him…she just leaned in close to him.

" Alright…its alright..I'm here babe." Rick said holding her and he began to softly caress her forehead. " Its alright, I'm here…just try to get back to sleep, we have to go back to the commanders in the morning." Rick said holding her tight. He had a feeling…he knew.

" Right." Evy said very quietly as she leaned on him…and a small tear came down her cheek.

At the very same moment, in Ardeths room, he was thinking about Mariana. He was thinking about what had happened.

* What would have happened if the commanders had taken her power?* he thought.

* Would she be the same without them? Would she feel like she could still do good without them?* he thought. * I am just not sure. Her power is a part of her and if she lost it…she would lose a part of herself.* he continued thinking.

" I shall keep my eyes on the commander, so he will not do anything he will regret." Ardeth said quietly as he looked at Mariana, sleeping peacefully.

Evy silently crept out of the room as Rick slept soundly. She had learned over the years how to do it…of course then again, she wasn't usually coming in the room when he was asleep. She moved down to Ardeth and Mariana's room. She opened the door quietly, seeing that Ardeth was asleep, she crept over to Mariana's side of the bed. She shook Mariana awake.

" Mariana, its me Evelyn…wake up." she whispered.

Mariana's eyes shot open and immediately she looked over to Ardeth to make sure he was there…she gave a sigh of relief.

" What is it Evelyn?" she asked sitting up.

" I had a vision…" Evy replied.

Mariana stared in shock.

" Tell me, but not here." she said getting out of the bed.

Evy looked at her puzzled, but did as told. Mariana put on her cloak and they both stepped out of the room.

Rick woke up to find Evy's spot beside him empty. He sat up quickly, got dressed and ran to Ardeths room.

" Ardeth!" Rick shouted bursting into the room.

Ardeth jumped up.

" O'Connell…what?" he asked.

" Evy's gone…and by the looks of it, so is Mariana." Rick said, scared for his wife and sister's safety.

" Calm down brother, were fine." came an irritated voice behind them.

Rick turned around to see them both standing there, but as a natural habit, he grabbed Mariana by the collar.

" What the hell!" he screamed.

Mariana remained expressionless.

" Put me down." she stated coldness edging in her voice.

Evy put a hand on Mariana's shoulder. Mariana's expression changed. She bowed her head towards Evy, and removed Rick's hands from her collar.

" Excuse me Rick…Ardeths' been worried about me and I need to tend to him, goodnight." she said and walked over to Ardeth.

" What was that?" Rick asked Evy in a whisper.

Evy gave a bit of a smile.

" She taught me how to communicate through our mind…so now she can keep in touch with me and anyone I love from where ever she is." Evy replied.

Rick stared at her in disbelief. Then he returned his attention to his sister. What more could she do?

As Evy and Rick returned to their room, Rick started asking questions.

" What exactly did she teach you again?" Rick asked and Evy stopped.

" How to communicate mentally." Evy answered.

" Uh, we already know how to do that…remember Ahm-Shere? When you died…and I had a feeling…that helped me figure our what I had to do? Remember she told that it was you?" Rick asked looking Evy in the eyes.

Evy sighed.

" Its just too complicated for you darling…so don't worry." Evy answered.

" Yeah, right. Why would you need to learn that anyway…I mean…you have been…" Rick asked as Evy's expression quickly changed.

" Evy…what aren't you telling me?" Rick asked realizing her signs.

She still did not answer.

" Wait this has something to do with last night doesn't it?" Rick asked.

Evy looked up at him, but still didn't answer.

" Evy…what did you see?" Rick asked walking up to her.

* I cant.* she thought. * I cant tell him…he cant be distracted like this…not when we are here to do something else…* she thought.

" Evelyn." Rick said in his serious voice.

Evy came out of her thoughts. She looked at Rick..in to his beautiful blue eyes…she looked deeply into the eyes that looked back at her.

" Evelyn, what did you see?" Rick asked.

" Rick…" she said looking away. " You…" she choked " You died." she finished and turned away.

Rick stared in shock. Last night, he thought he had it figured out…but it hit him harder when he heard the words come straight from her mouth.

" Evy…" he started.

" You died Rick!" she said falling down into a chair. " I couldn't do…" she continued as she started to lose control of her feelings.

Rick came over to her quickly and kneeled down in front of her and grabbed her face.

" Evy, listen to me, you yourself said we can change the visions." Rick said seriously making sure the point was getting to her.

He was feeling a sharp pain…holding her and seeing her pain…it was killing him.

" But.." she started.

" One thing I do know, is that you would do something about it. I know you Evelyn, I've known you for 10 years…the best ones I have had all my life, and I know, you wont lose your family without a fight, and neither will Mariana. We are in good hands." he finished as he wiped the tears from her eyes.

" Your…right." Evy said…as she gave a weak smile.

" Did you see how…or where?" Rick asked.

" No, all I saw was you dying… I didn't see anything before that." Evy answered still crying a bit.

" Well, don't worry." Rick said as he smiled at her.