~Chapter 6~


Filia was beside herself. For the life of her, she could not figure out why she agreed to let that girl stay here. All she remembered was melting at Val's face with his innocent puppy-dog look when he explained how Ailah felt responsible for the accident.
"Well of course she felt responsible because she was!" Filia thought to herself with a big frown on her face. Alas, she could never say no to Val especially when he looked at her like that. It made her feel warm inside when he was happy, so how could she deny him what he wanted?
But something tugged at the back of Filia's mind, the thought of Val and Ailah growing closer to one another. That thought made her feel sick to her stomach. She had to make sure that Ailah and Val don't become any closer than they already were.
"But how can I if I'm bedridden and unable to see their every move?" Filia thought with a depressed look on her face.

~Elsewhere~

Val was humming to himself as he brought out a freshly baked vase from the kiln. Setting it aside for it to cool he went to one of the cabinets to bring out the ceramic paints but abruptly stopped. He about near forgotten that it was Filia who always painted the vases as it was his job to bake them. But with Filia's condition how could she paint? She could barely raise her arms.
Val felt ashamed that he just forgot Filia's condition so easily. That wasn't like him at all. He felt even worse that here he was humming of all things acting as if nothing happened. That everything was perfectly fine. But it wasn't; Filia was hurt very badly and who knew when she was going to get better.
"Maybe I should do something for her to cheer her up," Val thought, "but what?" He searched his brain thinking of the things that made Filia happy.
"Let's see there's collecting antique vases and maces, drinking tea, making rock people, and that thing with the string, what was it called? Oh yeah cat's cradle." Val numbered off all of Filia's favorite things mentally but was lost as to what type of gift he could give her. "I could probably buy her some fine imported tea from Seyruune. Or buy her a new mace." Val sighed knowing that he didn't have any spare money to purchase her a gift. He racked his brain for a few moments trying to think of an idea for a gift.
It struck him that Filia would love to have something hand-made rather than have him go out and buy a gift. "Now all I have to figure out is what she would like that I could easily make." While Val pondered his new situation he didn't notice the silent footsteps coming from behind him. In an instant, dainty hands covered Val's eyes. Playing along, Val chuckled, "Gee Gravos I never knew you had such girly hands." Taking her hands off of him Ailah gave him a small punch in the arm. Val was happy to see that his hunch on just who his visitor was, was correct. "Hey maybe she could help me think of something to make for Filia!" Val thought to himself.
"Say Ailah, you're a girl, what exactly would a girl like as a present that I could make?" Val asked, hoping she could help him somehow.
Ailah looked as if she were thinking real hard about it and then suddenly her eyes lit up. Reaching behind her neck, she pulled out the necklace with her name on it and showed it to Val.
Catching on, Val quickly agreed, "Yea a necklace is a perfect present that I could make for her!" Val was ecstatic now that he knew what he was going to make for Filia's present. He remembered that there were some gemstones leftover from a special order they had on a vase and knew he could easily drill a tiny hole in them to fit a piece of string. Pumping with enthusiasm, Val started out his task by searching the shop for the gems. Val was giddy in a way, because he was acting like a lovesick schoolboy who was making a gift for his crush. "Well technically…" Val brushed that thought out of his mind although he had a bright red blush on his cheeks. Finally after what seemed forever Val found the gemstones secluded way back in a drawer. Sitting at the kitchen table he went right to work. Ailah stood off a little ways beside him watching intently as he fished out all the colored gems that he knew would look great on Filia. After he fished out all the jade and rose quartz stones, he attempted to drill a hole in one but there wasn't much light so he couldn't see very well. He fished out a candle and some matches so he could see better and after he lit one the room was instantly bright with light. Ailah wasn't curious with Val and the necklace anymore but with the tiny flame on the candle. She never saw anything so beautiful before. It gave off a golden glow and it seemed to dance against the slight breeze in the room from the open windows. She wanted so badly to touch it and Val didn't notice her hand going closer to it. As her hand neared the candle it felt suddenly warmer and warmer the closer she got to it. When she finally touched it she instantly brought her hand back, clutching it to her chest to stop the sharp searing pain that flowed through her hand. Val, frantic, was instantly by her side.
"Ailah are you ok? Let me see your hand. Why in the world did you touch it?" Val was dumbfounded. She acted as if she had never seen fire before in her life. Now that Val thought about it, Ailah was awed by any kind of light she saw. He remembered how she gazed at the streetlights on their way home, like she wanted to reach out and touch them. He wondered how she could never have seen fire before or any kind of light for that matter?
As he looked at her hand he noticed something peculiar. The area where she burned herself was a bright red but when he touched it, it turned into a shimmering blue and then faded away. For a moment Val thought he was seeing things.
Brushing it aside he asked Ailah if she was ok and left it at that when she shook her head. Glad that she was ok, Val finished making Filia's necklace and put it into a little box and tied a ribbon on it. He decided not to dwell on what just happened but couldn't help but think of when he first met Ailah and thought she was the glowing girl he saw in the woods.

To be continued…

A/N: Gomen for taking so long to get this chapter up. Not much action in this one but I gave a hint (sorta) to Ailah's secret. I just recently had to write a long essay for my English 102 class so that's why I took so long. I had to make sure that it was perfect because it is one of the essays that go with my proficiency exam and they determine whether I make it to my next class. I really take my schoolwork too seriously sometimes lol. I promise it won't be as long for the next chapter. Anyway I just made a new layout for Destined Dragons and updated it with new stuff for you to look at. I'm taking a survey right now on what is the best V/F scene in Try and I need some feedback on that. If you want you can put it in your review or e-mail me at . I can't wait to hear what you think and I will post your answers on DD's next update. Till then Ja minna!!!