Holiday Gift for CityCam by Sandrilene Fa Toren

For CityCam, who requested a Niko/Sandry fic

~*~*~*~

"Master Niklaren Goldeye to see His Grace," announced the servant as he threw open the door to the Duke's study.

"Thank you. Simeon," replied Vedris IV. "Please show him in."

His great-niece looked up eagerly from studying the finances of Emelan. Since Niko had returned from Tharios with Tris a few days ago, she had barely anytime to talk to him. She and her foster-siblings had been so happy to see each other again, that their days had been filled with excited chatter in enormous groups and talking over each other all the time. They accidentally intimidated the reticent Comas with the sudden bustle in the previously peaceful Discipline Cottage - and Tris positively scared him. They met new students and compared notes, fussed over Little Bear and Chime and spoiled Glaki thoroughly. There had been little chance to talk one on one with anybody.

The Circle had fallen into talking each other at night before falling asleep in order to stuff as much as they could into their waking hours. After two years of being in separate countries now, even though Sandry lived in the Citadel and Daja at the forges, it was a comfort to know the other three were but a thought away. It was not so easy to find time to talk to their teachers though.

As the mage entered, Sandry's smile grew. He looked like always: that neat, distinguished figure in well-cut clothes and with the calm expression of a man who had life tucked away and under control. He was like Lark in that way, there was nothing you felt he couldn't handle.

Sandry by comparison, surprised Niko each time he had seen her recently. He kept expecting to be greeted by a small girl with sun-kissed braids and plain cotton dresses. Now she was sixteen – a shapely young woman with her hair elegantly pinned around her head and wearing a heavy blue dress with rich silver brocade.

"Your Grace," he bowed. "Lady Sandrilene."

Sandry laughed as she stood up to take his hands and towed him to their table. "If you call me that, I shall have to address you as Master Goldeye."

He looked down on her brown curls and smiled widely, she was still small at least and still had scant regard for her title when amongst friends.

The Duke poured another glass of water as Niko took his seat, then relaxed back in his own chair. "You look well Niko," he proclaimed. "Did you enjoy your travels?"

"They were certainly… educational," he replied wryly.

Sandry sat back down, content to listen as the men caught up. She had heard most of this already and her eyes darted from one to the other, taking in their conversation. For a few moments, her gaze lingered on Niko's features. Now that she examined him properly, she noticed the tiredness in his eyes. That his hair had greyed a little more and there were a few more creases in his forehead. She wondered if he would be remaining in Summersea for much longer. Tris no longer really needed a teacher, none of the four foster-siblings did, and Sandry knew that before they had entered his life he had never stayed so long in one place at the same time. She hoped fervently that he would not leave again so soon after they had got him back.

As the time passed and the discussion showed no signs of abating, Sandry excused herself. She had a lesson with Pasco and needed to get changed before she rode to Yazmin Hebet's dance school.

~*~

On returning to the Citadel, Sandry was stabling her horse when a figure entered.

"Niko!" she exclaimed. "Are you going back to Winding Circle?"

"Yes, I should return for dinner," the mage replied. "His Grace offered me a place with you tonight, but I am to be helping Glaki with her magic before she goes to bed tonight. Will you be joining us again later?"

She nodded and came out to him, closing the stall door behind her.

"We haven't had much time to talk since I returned, have we?"

"I had been thinking that myself," Sandry smiled. She went to sit down on a straw bale and patted the spot next to her. "Come talk to me now."

Niko obeyed after a short hesitation as he inspected his seat for any dirt likely to come off on his robes, then there was a brief, awkward silence as they both tried to decide what they wanted to talk about. Then they both spoke at once.

"How was it travelling home with Glaki?"

"Your uncle says he has arranged a marriage for you."

They both laughed and Sandry tapped his knee. "You first."

"Ah Glaki." Niko shook his head ruefully. "She is a charming child but in such close living conditions as we had on the boat back, I was reminded why I have never become a father." Sandry grinned. She could imagine Niko driving himself to distraction as he ran around after the young child.

"And you, Sandry? How are you feeling about this?"

The space between her eyebrows wrinkled for a moment, then smoothed over again almost as quickly. "I always knew what I must do," she replied composedly.

"Oh?" he asked simply.

Sandry looked up into the man's face and crumbled. This was Niko. He had saved her life. He had found her where it was dark and hidden and shown her how to bring light into her life again. He was her teacher, and he was her friend. She could trust him. She should trust him.

"I know it will be fine," she started. "My parents loved each other so much. Uncle loved his wife. But…" Her voice dropped to a shamed whisper. "I'm scared. I've only met Count Rymen twice and last time I was seven! What if I don't like him, Niko? What if I can't love him?"

The tears started to flow silently and the man pressed a handkerchief into her hand. She smiled waterily as she noticed it was one of her own creations. Dabbing at her eyes, she continued.

"Sometimes I think I can't love anymore people," she explained haltingly. "There are so many already: Uncle obviously. Daja and Briar and Tris. Lark and Rosethorn and Frostpine. Even Pasco. And you of course," she concluded. There was a pause. "But I shall do my duty," she said firmly. The noble lifted her chin up and a characteristically stubborn look came to her face.

He had seen that look many times before. That firm set of the chin and her lips pressed together. It was usually at someone else's defence and contained the certainty that she was in the right and no one could stop her. Now though, under that resolution and strength, was a sense of forlornness that Sandry could not quite hide.

It was then that Niko kissed her. Leaning forward he pressed a soft, gentle kiss on her lips. For a moment she was too surprised to do more than lift a hand automatically in protest. However, as he started to withdraw, that same hand cupped the back of his neck and pulled him close again so she could kiss him back. This time the kiss was firmer, deeper, more passionate and for a long moment they were caught in their embrace. Eventually their lips parted and a dull blush spread through Niko's face. It was an unfamiliar sight.

"I'm sorry, Sandry. I shouldn't have…" Before he could continue, she pressed a finger to his lips.

"Let's not talk," she implored and shifted around so she could lay her head on his shoulder. Hesitantly, he wrapped his arm around her and kissed the top of her head.