*yeah I don't own the Tuatha'an, Whitecloaks, etc….Alaina, Danni, Branthell, Alric and any other random characters are mine. Most terms and phrases "Darkfriend and The Light shine on you" etc.. belong to the Master, Jordan.

*****Alaina's Death*****

Branthell smiled as he listened to Alaina speak. She was so full of the passion of life. Her energy alone could cause a man to love her. They lead their horse to the stables and Branthell missed the dark shape that moved in the shadows.

Alaina was caught by surprise as white gloved hands grabbed her from behind. She could feel something pressed into her back and she tensed. "Branthell…" she whispered.

"Your precious Branthell cannot save you whore. You will die." A rough voice screamed into her ear. Alaina looked at Branthell as he held their lantern aloft.

"Alaina, don't move."

"Alaina," the man said, "Did you know Branthell killed my father. Twenty five years ago he murdered him in cold blood in a cold, dark alleyway. I witnesses him methodically pull the knife across my fathers smooth skin. And what for??? Nothing I tell you!" Alaina could hear the mad grief in the man's voice.

Branthell helplessly watched the scene. "I am a changed man. I have not killed a man since then. I promise. I have changed."

Alaina was crying and whispering " I forgive you for what you are about to do. I forgive you. I forgive you." She kept repeating the phrase.

"You should have reached your new found love twenty six years ago. My father was honest."

"Your father was a filthy Darkfriend. He committed obscene acts for the name of the Dark Lord!"

"Enough!" Danni screamed. He rammed the knife into Alaina's back and threw her down. Branthell pulled his sword out and advanced on the white garbed soldier.

"My father was honest. He never hurt anyone." Danni circled Branthell with only a knife. The fight was not fair but Branthell was mad with rage over Alaina. Branthell lunged but Danni sidestepped. The circled each other and eventually stumbled out into the alleyway nearby. Branthell lunged forward just as Danni leapt to spear the older man. Instead the younger man impaled himself on the sword. Branthell jerked his sword out of Danni's side and ran to Alaina. He did not care if the boy lived or died, he only needed his Alaina.

"Branthell," She began, " I love you. Life is precious." She sputtered some. Branthell spoke, "I love you Alaina, please don't leave me!" He could see the light dying in her eyes. "Forgive him, he is lost. I love you." Her breathing began to falter, her dying eyes found his and she smiled. He knew she was seeing her last earthly moment of beauty. "Alaina…" Branthell screamed for his loss, screamed until his throat was raw and bloody and blood vessels burst in his eyes. He staggered to his feet and stumbled blindly. He could not see where he was going, he blindly made his way out of the city blind with grief.

******The Tuatha'an*****

Five days after Branthell's blind flight, the Tuatha'an found him sleeping on a pile of mud in the forest. Blood from Alaina, Danni, and himself covered his clothing and his right hand still gripped his sword while the left clutched a bloodstained green cloth Branthell did not even know he had torn from Alaina's dress. The events that had transpired in the last five days were never to be recovered from Branthell's memory, he only knew Alaina was dead.

The leader of the caravan stooped over the curly haired man's body. By outward appearances, he was dead. He then saw the man's chest rise and fall. "Bring me water and ointment!" He yelled back to the caravan. He dropped to his knees and began untangling the sword from the man's hand. At this, Branthell stirred.

"Wha.." He could utter no more. Branthell's throat throbbed in pain and dryness. A boy of fifteen ran up with the water. The leader of the caravan, a dark haired man named Alric poured some water on a rag and began cleaning the blood and grime from the man's eyes and lips. Once he had done this, he gave him some water.

"Here friend, drink slowly." Alric helped to prop the man up and he reached for the flask of water and slowly sipped. " I am Alric. I lead this band of Tuatha'an."

"Branthell." Alric took this for the mans name and nodded understanding he could speak no more.

"Wil, bring me my horse." Alric addressed the young man. Wil obediently went to fetch the horse. In the mean time, Alric helped the weak Branthell up and helped set him on the horse once Wil lead the animal over.

Alric patted the horse on the nose and asked him to bear the burden for a few short moments and the animal snorted. With that, he lead them back to the wagons. Alric's wife came to help with Branthell. He was lead to a bright green wagon with purple steps and orange windows.

The Tuatha'an took care of Branthell for a week before he began to speak a bit. They gave him new clothes and disposed of the others, however, Branthell refused to give up the blood stained cloth from Alaina's dress. Alric offered a home for Branthell for as long as he needed one. Branthell accepted and lived by the Way except for keeping the sword at his belt. He never killed another living thing after that. Alaina always wanted him to come to the Way. He was surprised that she had stayed with him for their ten years together. Before she died, she had spoken of her old caravan and he had almost been swayed then, but now he did not think he could give up the sword just yet.