Entwining Loves

Chapter 2: Isolated Flowers

By: Lunarian Princess

This chap will focus on their relationship with each other, and I made Tris soften a little when alone with him, b/c I think that she holds a soft spot for him and after about seven years at discipline she has to have smoothed some of her rough edges at least with the other three.

Also I forgot my disclaimer last chapter, so here it is: I own none of this, the people, except those you don't recognize, or places, ditto. So other than the new things they all belong to Tamora Pierce, whom I admire greatly.

Last Chap

Tris was attacked and almost accosted. Briar and she fought them off and they returned to Discipline. They gave gifts to their mentors and prepared to leave, to study abroad.

Tris woke later that night, she was sweating and breathing heavily, she had been dreaming about her encounter from earlier. She stood and she felt stifled, she went cautiously out of her room and up to the roof. She emerged from Discipline and was instantly calmed. Her breezes flitted comfortingly around her.

"Couldn't sleep, Coppercurls?" a very familiar voice inquired. She spun quickly and lost her balance she started falling backwards and before she had gone a few feet she was firmly on the ground, held against a suddenly very familiar chest, though this time it was bare. She put her hands up to steady herself. They each shuddered at the contact but neither noticed the other, they were lost in their thoughts

"You must like scaring me," Briar muttered as he sat and placed her in front of him. She leaned back suddenly weary. His arms went around her and she welcomed his warmth.

"I want you to know how much I appreciate you coming for me," she remarked quietly, cautious of showing this remarkably vulnerable part of herself. He seemed to be surprised at her words.

"Why wouldn't I rescue you, you're part of us." He said. He wanted to know why she was so upset.

"Well last time it happened the only thing that stopped him was a gust of wind that blew something in his eye and he was struck by lightening, my family figured I wasn't worth fighting for," she remarked quietly, revealing why she was so thankful and worried about him. He clasped her in a warm embrace and whispered in her ear.

"Coppercurls, I, we, will always protect you, you have people who care about you, we're your family now!" he stated vehemently, unspeakably angry at the family that had not cared or protected her, how could they let something like that happen to this angel ' wait, angel, when did I start thinking of Coppercurls as an angel, or start caring so much about her ' he shook off this thought and focused on what she was saying.

"Please don't tell the others about what happened, you know them," she broke off blushing, "ripping my dress and..." she trailed off, shame suffusing her features.

"I won't tell but you need to know, it wasn't your fault they hurt you." They both stayed that way for a while. They dosed intermittently, each enjoying the singular sensation of being in the others arms. They woke later and silently snuck back inside, when Briar left Tris at her room Tris pecked his cheek.

"Thank you again for coming for me," she whispered she went into her room, missing the look of surprise and unrestrained joy on Briar's face. Their sleep was content and filled with happy loving dreams. Each would deny that they even cared about the other, but in their dreams they were free to think about the inconceivable.

The morning was somber, each person thinking about the time they would spend apart. They ate breakfast quietly lacking their usual banter and customary sparks. Soon it was time for them all to depart, Daja, Frostpine and Kirel were headed north to work on a cities gates and palace, while visiting Frostpine's old friends. Rosethorn and Briar were headed to a Far East city that was having a problem with drought and famine. Tris and Niko were headed south to an island place where they could observe weather and help a new group of people that had migrated there from the mainland. Sandry wasn't really leaving she was just moving in with her uncle, to help him manage his affairs.

The first to leave was Sandry, her uncle and his guards rode up before midday. They four mages said goodbye, and Sandry burst into tears, Daja's eyes were teary and red rimmed, Tris kept sniffling, and for all his nonchalance Briar's eyes were red.

A little while after this Frostpine and Kirel arrived. They came inside and had the midday meal. Soon they stood and said it was time to depart. The group walked outside and stood off to the side, giving the three some privacy.

"Well Trader-girl, stay safe, k?" Tris said around her tears. Daja nodded and she swallowed her own tears.

"Hey, thief-boy, take care of our weather-witch, while you're still around," she said and watched as Briar put an arm around Tris as she cried.

"Don't worry, she'll be fine with me," he said, as he looked at Tris whose eyes were red and tears coursed over her cheeks and his eyes landed on the bruise she had received yesterday. He tore his eyes from it and they watched her until she was out of sight neither noticing that Briar still had his arm around her shoulders. They turned when they heard Niko and Rosethorn called to them. They walked in and sat looking at their somber teachers.

"You two, we are going to travel together until we reach the end of Summersea." Niko announced, affecting an air of finality. Though neither said anything, they were both relieved that they could put off their farewells until the next day, they had experienced enough goodbyes for one day. They packed the two carts, one with the plant mages stuff, the other filled with things Niko and Tris would need on their ventures. They traveled for a while and then they stopped for the night saying that they would reach the crossroads, that they would part company, the next day.

"Boy, you and Tris will share their cart and Niko and I will share this one." She said in a tone that brooked no argument, he grabbed his blanket and climbed into their cart which had a very nice cover to block out the cold. Tris turned around, about to ask a question when she noticed Briar.

"Yes, what would you like?" she asked roughly trying to cover her blush. She didn't want him to know that she had been thinking of him. She saw Briar look at her then avert his eyes, she looked down and notice that she was in one of the night gowns Sandry had given her, which was thin and revealing. She pulled her blanket up and looked at him expectantly.

"Rosethorn says I'm to sleep in here tonight." He stated simply. He sat down next to her in the small space provided and was thankful that she hadn't noticed his prominent blush. He had warmed inconceivably when he had seen that much of Tris, sure she wasn't stick skinny, but she was beautiful ' where did that come from ', lately he had been having odd thoughts about Tris. He decided to ignore it.

"That's what I was going to ask, I knew there wasn't enough room for Niko in here," she stated as if that changed everything. She laid down facing away from Briar and soon he noticed she was asleep. He lay there looking at her soon he was asleep. In their sleep they scooted closer to each other and wrapped their arms around each other.

Meanwhile...

"I know they have feelings for each other. If they fall in love will it affect the others and their circle?" Rosethorn asked in an uncharacteristically nervous voice.

"I don't know, if the others find love it should stay balanced, but it is hard to say whether the others will accept it," Niko said in a somber voice.

"They'll accept it, they love those two too much not to, I hope they will make it through this, love is not an easy road to travel," Rosethorn said, hope and bitterness infused her voice as she thought about another plant mage.

Back...

The next morning the two were woken by Niko and Rosethorn calling for them to get ready to leave. They hastily removed their limbs from the tangle they had formed while asleep. Briar grabbed his blanket and swiftly fled the cart. Fifteen minutes later the quartet was ready to break their fast. After the blessing they ate rapidly, ready to pack up and get ready to leave.

They packed up and started traveling, two hours later, they reached the crossroad. They started to bid each other farewell. Niko clapped Briar on the back and told him how proud he was of him and to keep meditating. Rosethorn and Tris embraced and Rosethorn reminded Tris not to lose her edge. While the two teachers bid each other goodbye the two young mages approached each other, they were very saddened they wouldn't see each other for a long time.

They looked at each other for a few seconds before they caught each other in a tight embrace. Tris buried her face in the crook of his shoulder, awkward at the emotions she was displaying. But she knew that this was a singular case, he was the only person she really felt comfortable confessing to although there was one confession she would never give him.

"Well, thief-boy, don't forget to read, and open my gift last, okay" she said through quiet tears.

"Coppercurls, same for me, and don't forget how special you are, and don't forget to write." He said, uncharacteristically caring and open.

"Write, and don't forget, I, we'll always be here for you," Tris said. Briar noticed that his shirt was wet where Tris' face was. He felt like crying but he wouldn't let anyone see that.

They let go of each other and walked to their respective carts. They watched each other, until they couldn't see each other any more, then they reached out with their minds, I'll never forget you, they said as they left.

"Tris are your ready to learn more about strict magic and spells?" Niko asked politely, noticing how forlorn Tris was.

"Yes, it will help me, that way I won't have to worry about the safety of people, especially since my magic tends to be quite unpredictable, but I still want to learn more about what my magic is capable of." Tris said, glad for the distraction, as they left they continued to outline what Tris would need to learn to be on her own.

They traveled on the road for a few days, working on some of the things Tris needed for more control and power. They soon reached a harbor that was alive with crowds. Niko got them a room in an inn and they soon settled in. As soon as they arrived they ate then retired to their room. They left the next day getting on a large ship bound south for a small island called Erudit, where they would observe weather patterns and work on Tris' skills.

Voldie on Varsity Track- thank you so much, I hope you like this too.

Wishicouldreadmore- I don't think she got over it so much as she tries to block it from her mind, tris doesn't strike me as the kind of girl who would mope and worry about something she cant control. But thank you for your time and for reviewing, I really appreciate it.

I just wanted to clarify, Tris was mugged, maybe groped- she wasn't raped, not even in her flashback. Well I would just like to thank all those people who reviewed. I hope you enjoy my fics.