Chapter 3

A/N: thanx to rani singla for her review. and like i said in my earlier chappies, i'm updating atleast once a day because i'm already finished the story. so ttfn and review pleeze

Two other passengers accompanied us on our journey to Ayortha.

Ollie and Owen, Aunt Cilia's twins were to ride with us until we reached Bast, where they would visit their grandmother on their father's side. Though I loved Aunt Cilia, her spawn took after their father. Both had thin, black curls, however Ollie was skinny where as Owen was very...very...big. It took two seats for him to sit properly, and Ollie was squished up beside the carriage wall. I silently thanked the gods that char was thin.

I thought back to this morning...

I ran though the forest, deep into its heart. That's where Tom lived with his grandmother and aunts. As I drew nearer, I heard voices. Loud voices, someone yelling, others sobbing.

I sped up, worried. I had only known Tom for two weeks and in that time I got the impression he wasn't one who angered easily.

His cottage came into view, and I watched as Tom burst out of the front door, circled round the house and ran into the bushes behind. I followed quietly.

He was sitting on a fallen log, head in his hands. I came up behind him.

"Tom?" I whispered. He whipped around.

"El!" he said, standing up quickly. "Is something wrong?"

"I should be asking you that question."

He sighed and sat down again. I took a seat beside him, and got a handful of sticky sap. I leaped up in disgust and he laughed, but the laugh didn't reach his eyes. I instead sat on my knees on the ground opposite him.

"I-I just found out something I wasn't exactly expecting to hear." He ran his hands over his eyes tiredly.

I could tell he wasn't going to reveal anything else about the shouting match, so I got up from my spot on the ground.

"Well, I just came to say goodbye," I said. "I'm leaving for Ayortha in about...half an hour."

"You'll love it there, it's beautiful," he replied. For a moment, his eyes glazed over. Then he seemed to return to Earth.

"I've gotta get back, apologize..." he trailed off. I nodded. We hugged, somewhat awkwardly, and he walked back to his cabin, while I walked back to the carriage.

Chris and I were stepping into the carriage while Mother and Father waited outside to see us off.

"Take care," Mother said while hugging Chris and I.

"Mother,"

"What kind of mother would I be if I didn't worry?"

"Ollie's," I said without thinking. "I swear her betrothed is part ogre, atleast he looks it..."

Thankfully, the doors to the carriage where Ollie was sitting were shut.

"Shh!" mother hushed quickly. Though I could tell she was fighting laughter.

"Don't get into too much trouble," Father warned jokingly while hugging me. I breathed in his familiar scent. My eyes welled up with tears. I wouldn't hug him again for months. He heard me sniff and broke away.

"Now, El," he said gently while wiping my eyes. "Don't cry. Be strong." He stepped back towards Mother. Then Mandy, the cook, came forwards.

"I packed your vitamins, love," she sniffed. "Take them, you know I'll find out if you don't."

I half-cried, half-laughed at this. It was funny because it was true.