Title: Moon Light Nights

Chapter: 14

By: Moondreams

Notes: Yes, it is finally here. Someone told me it has been close to a year since I last updated. I know I am a slacker, I'm so sorry. Ok now that apologies are through, I have been battling this chapter for some time (and having writer's block and a broken hand did not help matters) so thank you everyone who reviewed or emailed me telling me to get off my lazy butt and update already, your requests have been heard and hopefully the next chapter will so follow. Alright enough of my chatter. Enjoy...

There was just as much pomp and circumstance as the knights and royal couple left the city as when they had entered it. People lined up in the streets and threw out greetings. Sharai's pet monkey had chattered happily as it rode on her shoulder, occasionally hopping to her horse's flank so it could make faces at Adrian. The knight in blue glared at the creature and commented about catching the heathen thing and frying it for dinner. Sharai had just thrown back her head and laughed enjoying her new pet as well as the knights' friendly banter that made the trip back to the desert so much more enjoyable. They soon joined up with their band and life fell back to normal life. Elidi still spent all of her time training or cooing over Gavin. Oriana still pestered Elidi like a little sister. Adrian and Nadia still nagged each other to death. Sharai enjoyed her life, feeling contented and loved, with her new husband. Even with her happiness, Sharai couldn't shake the feeling of impending doom prickled at the back of her mind.

Sharai watched as her husband paced the length of their tent. On the low table, scrolls were strewn about in a disorderly fashion. Each bearing some form of bad news.

"If it is possible, maybe we can bring the grain down from north lands and feed the people in the east," he murmured as he rubbed his chin ignoring the half-day's growth of beard that had formed.

"Adrian tells me that the roads are dangerous, love," Sharai pointed out with concern.

"Then we need an escort to bring the grain. Already too many have died. And with this block on trading with the Outlanders, I fear many more will die before this famine is complete," he said wearily. Dark circles had formed under his eyes from lack of sleep. Sharai sat in silence for a moment debating the traitorous thought in her head. She took a deep breath and said, "Let me go."

"What?" Endymion asked with a stunned look on his face.

"Let me go back to the Outlanders," Sharai repeated more firmly this time.

"No." her husband told her before standing up and walking out of the tent. Sharai let out a sigh of frustration before following him.

"Endy, it's the only way. Robin will lift the trade ban off of his boarders if I go and talk to him," Sharai protested.

"No, Sharai."

"Why? It's the only way."

"Sharai, if you leave my people are doomed. I have seen it," he said hoarsely and stalked towards the spot Adrian and Rankin were standing. Sharai stared after him in frustration. She cursed the visions he had gotten. Was fate such a real thing that one must bow down to it's every whim? Or did one choose their own destiny? And why did she play such an important role in the fate of his people. His people. My people. The two words hit her like a blow. Not our people, he had said my people. The truth hit her almost knocking the breath from her. She really wasn't a part of the Bedouin people. No matter how hard she tried. She might dress like one, speak like one, and marry a Bedouin man but her now silver hair marked her as an Outlander like a brand.

And when she awoke the next morning, he was gone...

The merciless sun beat down on the cavalry of soldiers as they rode through the endless dunes of sand. Many of them had taken off their uniform jackets hours days ago only putting them back on when the desert night became freezing cold as the day was hot. Ruben scowled at his men, weaklings and cowards the whole lot of them! He twisted his head and spat in disgust. All they had been doing was complain. He thrust the map into his guide's hands.

"How much farther?" he demanded. The half breed guide/interpreter looked once over the map before pointing a tan finger at a small spot on the map.

"That's an oasis there, we can rest troops there then send scouts out to find Endymion- Sol's tribe," Mercek said. Ruben growled grabbing the map out of the man's hands.

"I believe this is MY army not yours, you miserable desert rat," he yelled at the guide. Mercek nodded with humiliation as he heard sniggering from troops behind him. He was used to the jeers he got from his comrades. He had considered more then once leaving them to die out in the desert they hated yet coveted. It didn't matter if they found the sol. Endymion-Sol would find them.

"Cowardly offspring of a vulture," Sharai hissed as she kneaded the bread on the low table.

"Stop talking about your mother- in- law like that," Nadia teased as she grabbed a bit of dough and flattened it before dropping into the griddle. Oriana and Gavin hovered close by to get the first bites of the pastry treat. Elidi looked up from polishing her sword.

"Sharai's right. He had no business leaving on the on the journey without telling her," she pointed out. "He decided it last night. Rankin wasn't happy to have to wake up that early," Nadia said with a lovesick sigh.

"I don't want you to leave," Oriana said woefully looking up at the young sola with doe like eyes.

"Why do you think I'd leave?" the Sola asked with a sigh. Oriana looked down sheepishly. Sharai grimaced. "So you heard our argument last night, huh?" she asked.

"Everyone heard your argument," she assured her young friend.

"At least most of your half anyway," Elidi added. Sharai sighed. Endy was always

saying she should lower her voice. She shook her head, no there was no way she'd start thinking of him.

"He's being so stubborn! I know the ban would be lifted if I were given a chance to talk to Lord Robin. He married my best friend for goodness sake and I haven't been back home for two years! Two! My friends are probably worried sick. Not to mention my mother! And don't get me wrong. I love it here..." Sharai ranted. Elidi lifted an eyebrow.

"Stop whining, you sound like an Outlander," the warrior said with a grin that reminded Sharai of their days at Jeriah's. Sharai stuck out her tongue in response.

"Nice answer," her friend bantered back. Before Sharai could answer she saw Gavin riding at a break neck speed toward the camp. His mount halted suddenly in front of the girls almost throwing the light haired man off. He slid down panting.

"Got a Jinn after you or something?" his girlfriend asked with a smile. "Outlanders. A whole troop is heading this way. There's not enough time to pack camp. I think one of their scouts saw me," he said trying to catch his breath. Sharai nodded and bit her knuckle as thought the situation over.

"Army or Calvary?" she asked.

"Calvary," Gavin confirmed.

"So, they're be carrying mostly pistols and swords. Good that'll give us a chance if they are aggressive," she thought out loud before she started to pace back and forth like her husband did.

"If they're aggressive? Hello! Are you daft?" Elidi demanded poked Sharai on the forehead. Sharai frowned before slapping her friend's hand out of the way.

"She's right, you know. They haven't been too happy with us since we kidnapped you," Nadia pointed out.

"Alright. How many people can fight?" Sharai asked as her hand rested on her sword.

"20, we have about 13 men, not knights but still skilled and 7 women besides us," Nadia said after figuring out the numbers in her head. There was silence between the group as Sharai paced.

"Nadia, you and I will see what they want with 10 behind us. Oriana, raise the alarm for everyone who can fight. Everyone needs scarves over their lower faces and all hair must be put up and covered. Elidi and Gavin will lead the other ten. Follow the creek bed and try to get behind the army without giving away your presence. On my signal, attack from behind," she commanded. Each of her friends hurried off to get ready. Sharai took off her headdress and wrapped her silvery hair in a bun before securing her head covering back and placing a scarf over her lower face. If she guessed right, the Outlanders wouldn't be able to tell very easily who was a woman and who was a man. Her hand fell to the silver hilt of her sword and unwillingly she wished that Endymion was with her.

The room was silent except for the quiet sobs of Amy. The tea had remained untouched despite the weariness of the three friends who had journeyed immediately at Lady Mina's request. Each one stared down at the ring that had once belonged to Serenity.

"So it's over. All the searching and hoping..." Lita said quietly.

"Yes," Mina confirmed but didn't look up from her teacup, it's contents had grown cold ages ago.

"We should kill all those dirty savages," Rei growled her knuckles white from gripping the arm rest of her chair. Lita nodded in agreement.

"It's not a good time. Crops have been bad this year. Plus, it's hard enough trying to find the Bedouin king. He disappears into the dunes like magic," Mina explained even though she agreed with her friend. Rei snorted with disgust.

"There's no such thing as magic. You've been around these natives and their foolish magic nonsense,'" the raven haired lady said as she smoothed out invisible wrinkles from her red silk dress.

"Even so. There are far too many tales for my liking," Mina said with a sigh.

"What about this Beryl? How was she able to escape and not Sere?" Lita asked. Mina looked at the face of one friend to another. She finally shrugged.

"It wouldn't be a bad idea to invite her to tea so we can find out," Ami suggested. Mina nodded her consent.

"I don't like her," Rei told them. "You don't like anybody," Lita jabbed good naturedly to her friend. Rei cracked a small smile. "Even so. I feel something about her is not quite right," she explained with a small shrug. "Like magic?" Mina asked with a small smile. She moved just in time to avoid being hit with a cube of sugar.

Elidi's mount tossed it's head restlessly and sidestepped restlessly. Elidi squeezed her heels gently into it's belly but her mount couldn't be calmed. "She's nervous, she can smell the strangers coming," Gavin said as he finished tying the scarf over his mouth. He then reached out to Elidi's mount and stroke it's nose, then neck with long practiced strokes. The horse calmed down immediately. Elidi smiled gently behind her scarf and looked down at the man she had grown to love. Not grown really, she had always felt some connection since the first time she had seen him. He had been so quiet, so mysterious, that she had done everything she could think of to make him notice her. He mounted his own horse beside hers. With shaking hands, Gavin checked the knot at his side which held his scabbard. The blade at his side felt unnatural and awkward. Behind them other riders mounted their horses and quickly checked their swords and bows. Gavin took a deep breath and turned slightly in the saddle so he could see Elidi. Elidi stared back with her beautiful deep blue eyes that glittered with fierceness at the coming battle.

"I am no warrior," he said quietly. Even his sash marked him as a horse keeper. Elidi's eyes misted as she nodded.

"If I make it though this day..." Elidi grabbed his hand into hers but shook her head.

"If I do, I want you to marry me. I love you. I realize it is not custom to ask..." but he was cut off as Elidi leaned over and kissed him. After they pulled away, for you see it is quite uncomfortable to kiss while mounted beside each other, Elidi nodded her agreement.

"I'll hold you to your word then," she said, her eyes were warm and bright from unshed tears. With a wave of her hand, the company moved out and waited for their Sola's signal.