Chapter Seventeen: The Big Bro I Know, Love and Hate

This morning was interesting…very interesting. The morning went as it should have, like every other day. I helped Elenni make breakfast, needless to say, I was very tired. When we were finished eating and cleaning the dishes, I announced that I was going to get a nap in before I had to go to work. She said she would put the chores off for a few hours because she, too, was tired. She said she thought she kept hearing a horse whinny outside. (Uhhh...)
I was having a relatively nice nap when I heard a scream followed by a loud whinny. (She found him.) I rubbed the sleep away from my eyes and walked lazily out of my door to see an empty basket and watering can along with a still shocked Elenni.
"Wh- what is this?" She asked breathy.
"A horse," my voice was like a child's who had taken a cookie before supper.
She turned around, almost hesitantly as if she didn't trust the horse to turn her back on it. "I know it's a horse! I meant what is it doing here?" She was angry.
I knew she was angry, but I also knew that if I told her the whole truth she would understand that it was for a good reason. "Well, I took it from Mr. Dugal's stable because..."
"You stole from that poor old man? How could you?" She cut me off.
"But he was going to..."
"Not another word!" I was going to say something anyway. She knew that and finished the conversation with, "Not one!" As she saw George walk down the hallway.
"What happened, mother? We could hear you from down the lane. I thought you were..." He looked past Elenni to see Ayden. "Where did that come from?"
"Ask her! She's the one who stole it from that poor old man, Mr. Dugal." She wasn't quite spitting the words at me, but it kinda hurt still. I thought she would let me explain, but I must have hit a nerve when I said Dugal.
George looked at me in bewilderment. "You stole that? That? And you got away with it? Wh- why? How?" Was he disappointed that I had done it? I think he was. Yes, he had the look of disappointment in his eyes. Why would he be disappointed? I did a good thing- well, kind of. In his eyes I did.
"Will you let me explain! It's not such a horrible thing that I did if someone would just let me explain!" I lost my cool for a moment, but regained it quickly.
I looked around at the two; no, it was three now. Anastasia had joined us. "I did it because Dugal was going to kill him because he thought Ayden was unlucky."
George interrupted, "Whose Ayden?"
"He is," I jerked my thumb at the horse that was calmer now and looking on at all the people like he knew what we were saying. "He's Ayden." I continued with what I was originally saying, "If I hadn't saved him, he would be dog chow right now."
"Why, of all horses would you get this sick scrawny one?" Elenni asked, calmer now, I think.
"Oh, he's not scrawny, I promise. When I rode him last night, he was... outstanding! He never let me fall and he was fast, very fast. He could jump a fence up to here," I held my hand up to my chest to show them how high the fence was. "And above all else, I need him." I looked deep into Elenni's eyes. "I need him like he needs me. We, just, I don't know. Call me a freak but something called us together." I started to elaborate. What I was going to say was based on truth but I had to bring up the guilt bar a notch or two. "Something supernatural happened between us yesterday. Not thing I could give a reason to, and nor could the gods. It just happened."
Silence fell on us all until an almost silent snicker arose. It was Anastasia. She was trying to hold back laughter, but failing miserably.
"What's so funny?" George asked.
"Nothing, nothing at all," She hid her face again, but when she looked at me she burst out into laughing even harder.
"What, do I have a sign on my forehead that say ' Hey let's all act weird around Gwen today to confuse the hell out of her'?"
"No, no I was just thinking that that was such a horrible lie. I'm sorry Gwen, but that sounded unreal. You were just making it up, weren't you?" She said it all through laughs.
George and Elenni were looking at me, obviously not believing me after what Anastasia had said.
"Fine, so what? Maybe it wasn't that intense but I still have this horse and if I hadn't taken it, he would have been dead and I really did feel that I couldn't let an offer like this be lost." I looked at George. " If you hadn't have been in such a bad mood yesterday, I would have asked you to help me, gods know I could have used it." I caught my breath that I didn't know I had lost.
George turned his back on all of us, obviously contemplating something. After a moment, he glanced at me and smiled, if that's what you could call it. It was more of a twitch of his mouth. Then he faced his mother.
"I know just what to do, mother. Let me get this beast out of your way and I'll take care of Gwen, too." He went to walk out of the door. I went outside and he came with Ayden and the saddle I had taken. He didn't ask about it, and neither did Elenni.
"Gwen, you took this beast, you can carry the reins. Savor it. You won't be carrying the reins much longer." He helped A up and I walked Ayden to where ever we were going.
After we had left sight of the house, he told me to get on Ayden. I told him my legs would show and he didn't much care so I let them show. (Did I say that I haven't shaved since I got here? Eww. I must find a razor. Maybe I'll ask George for his.) I decided that I didn't care how hot it was, my stockings were going up and that was it, end of story.
All the people in the town where staring at me for a long time. (Probably because my legs where exposed.) But finally we got to our first destination. It was a little inn in town and we dropped A off there. She was going to stay with one of George's friends while he ' taught me a lesson'.
Our next destination was only down the lane. It was the black smith. We went in and George greeted him with a friendly hug.
"Scholar, it's good to see you. Sorry I haven't been by in a while. I've been keeping an embasitor entertained."
"It's quiet alright, George."
"Have you met my sister?" George stepped out of the way to show this Scholar who I was.
"You don't have a sister. What are you trying to pull?" Scholar asked suspiciously.
"Well, my mother took her in and since, I've found that she could walk the wide steps of my foot prints, if you know what I mean."
"I know what you mean, but she looks to sweet to be able to be a double-crosser." The man looked me down.
"Yes," George sighed. "It's always the sweet looking ones that will rob ya blind if yer not careful." George gave a little chuckle. "Come see he newest prize. You'll be amazed by it, I'm sure. I certainly was." He looked at me. "I haven't even heard the whole story yet." He gave me that look that said, ' You will tell me how you did it later.'
We walked outside, and George showed off Ayden to Scholar. "She's a beauty." Ayden whinnied.
"It's a he actually, sir." I said.
"So he is," He looked at me. "And he can carry ya? He looks sick."
"He is, sir. He was being mistreated and that's why I took him. He hasn't had more then a hand full of hay, a head of lettuce, and a few carrots since last night."

To George, Scholar said, " she might not be as innocent as she looks, but she's got the heart of a woman. Better watch her, or fix that problem or it'll be getting' the both or you in trouble. Women's idea's don't belong out here, if you know what I mean."
To me, Scholar said, "That's not right. Here, bring him to the side. He can share some of Abigail's hay. She won't mind. She's already fat and happy." George took Ayden's reins and led him to the little stable and a horse, who, I guess, is Abigail.
When Ayden had started eating George said, "Well, it's been good chatting with you, but we came here on business actually. We need horseshoes for...Ayden? Is that what you call him?" I nodded. "Yea. I've decided that she could keep him, even though I don't know why. It's gunna get me in a hole with my mother." He looked at me. "You're gunna own me big, sis." He emphasized the last word.
I was so happy. I thought for sure that he was going to... not let me keep him. "Thank you, thank you, thank you." I was so excited.
He smiled, "You wont be thanking me later."
"Why? What do you have in mind?" I asked suspiciously.
"Don't really know yet. I'll find something though. Something horrible. Maybe I'll make you ride Peter again." He started to laugh, but stopped when he saw that I didn't think it was funny at all. "What? I was just- it's just...ohh, I was just kidding."
Scholar interrupted our little conversation. "Well, I can do this for ya right now, but it will take about an hour."
"We can handle that. Besides, we need to get a saddle." I was going to tell him I had one, but he looked at me and added, "A real one." I frowned.
He looked back to Scholar, "We'll be back in an hour or a little more. Before noon, I promise." Scholar just nodded and we walked out the door and on to the main road.
I broke the silence, "So what's wrong with the saddle I got?" I asked.
"It's too stiff. You need one that can actually be broken in. That one will be stiff all its life." He paused, then looked at me. I met his gaze and he gave a little chuckle. "Did you take that off of the wall or something. That is a better decoration then a saddle." ( sadly enough, I really did get it off the wall. Hey, it was the only saddle I could find.)
I blushed, but turned my head like I was looking at a shop or birds or something.
There was another pause. Once again, I had a question I wanted an answer to. "George," I started.
"Hmm."
"At the Dove, do you have the razor that you shave with?"
"Yep, why?" He looked at me puzzled.
"I was wondering if I could... borrow it."
"What do you mean? You don't have a beard to shave." He started to examine my chin.
I pushed him away lightly. "Stop that." I paused to separate the thoughts. "I was actually wanting it because, where I come from women shave there legs and under arms, and I haven't shaved in over a week. It's rather uncomfortable."
He still looked puzzled. "Sure… I guess. But when people start saying things about you, don't look to me."
"Hey, maybe I'll start a trend. I'll have all the womenfolk shaving." I looked at him. I thought I would be funny to tease him. I came real close to him and whispered, "It's actually very attractive."
He gave me a tsk sound and said, "Come on, we have a saddle to get and I don't have enough money on me."
"How do you propose we steal a saddle?" I asked with my hands crossed over my chest.
"Did I say we were going to steal a saddle? No." He looked around. " Here, watch this." He walked ahead of me a little and walked behind what looked like a noble couple. They didn't look like they were having a very good walk. They kept to them selves, never talking to each other or anyone else.
George loosened the man's purse that was hanging, unwisely, behind him and to the right a little bit. Standing by children witnessed what was happening and thought it was funny, but George held his finger to his lips and the children suppressed there laughter.
When George had the purse loose enough, he fell behind a little bit to make it look like he walked into a shop. When he emerged from the shop, he had money in his had, and it looked like he was counting it as he quickly walked down the street ' not looking where he was going'. He bumped into the couple, forcing them to come out of their daze and acknowledge the rest of the world.
I couldn't hear the words, but they were friendly as the man helped George pick up 'his' money, unaware that the noble was helping the rouge collect more money then he originally had. George thanked him I guess for his kindness (Double meaning) and walked back to me.
"I hope that teaches them to look at the world around them next time. But if it doesn't, I won't be unhappy." We both laughed as well as the street children.
"Hey," George was playing with the kids. "Didn't I tell you not to watch me while I did this? If you give me away, it'll be my neck. And remember what I told you. Never steal..." I was thinking he was a hypocrite for a moment. The he added, "In front of you mothers or fathers." The children laughed and went their way. Only on little girl remained.
"Uncle Georgie," ( Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...) "Look what I got." The girl produced a copper coin that wasn't worth much, to tell you the truth. But then again, this child was very small. She was maybe seven or nine. Not ten; ten would be too old.
"And where did you get that, Gabi?" George asked, looking proud of her.
"That man," She pointed to the man George had just robbed walking up the street.
"So that's why his purse was so easy to get into." He paused. "You did good, Gabi." He gave her a little hug.
She was about to walk away when she looked at me very thoughtfully with her rather ordinary brown eyes. After a moment, after I thought she was stuck in the position that she was in and she would stair at me forever, she finally looked on in amassment.
"Are you Gweniver?" I nodded. "I've heard of you. You were Christine's friend. She told me that before she..." The girl looked down, thinking the same thing I was...died. "I was her best friend. She always talked about you. It was all she said for three whole days." She held three fingers to emphasize her point.
"Really?" Tears filled my eyes, but I blinked them away. The girl nodded, and walked away, blinking away tears of her own.
George watched her walk away, "She's my favorite out of all those little brat's. She's got spunk. I plan on having her as part of my team one day."
I don't know what it was, but seeing that little girls' face so sad... I just couldn't handle it. My eyes burned with salty tears and I walked to an unoccupied little alley and sat on a hay bail just letting my tears flow, wiping them on my dress.
George caught up with me and I turned my body so that he wouldn't see me crying.
"Are you- crying, Gwen?" he asked trying to see my face.
"No," I sniffed. If I was trying to hide my tears, I was failing miserably.
"Tell me; what's wrong?"
"What's wrong? What's wrong! I'll tell you what's wrong." I was angry with myself again. "I have this gift that could have healed Colby. I was the one those men where after. It should have been me that got caught up with them, not them." I got up and started pacing, holding myself in my own arms.
George had to stop me. He held me right out in front of him, then pulled me in and held me firmly. Not in a bad way. I was grateful for it, really. I hadn't had any reassurance in a long time. Not just since I got here, but in a very long time. No one has really held me just to comfort me.
"I could have saved them. I could have given life to at least a son or a friend. But I just wasn't good enough." I sobbed into George's vest.
He rubbed my hair away from my face and then picked it up and made me look at him. "Look at me. Don't you ever say you're not good enough? I won't have it. Only drunks and gypsies say ' I'm not good enough." I felt a little better, now that he gave me a little jolt. (I don't know why I felt better. Just don't ask. I don't have the answer.)
"Come on. Dry those wet things off your face before you get all pruned. We have a saddle to buy. We have enough money for really good one." I dried my tears and we walked down the road in silence.
When we reached the shop to get the saddle, it only took a few minutes before I found the one I wanted. It was all black with a saddlebag and matching reins. We were in and out of there quickly and when we got back, Scholar was just finishing his work on Ayden.
After he was done, he offered me a brush and we brushed Ayden's coat. (Man, that horse has been neglected. So much fur came off of him.) Then I gave him a quick wash that wasn't so quick and I put his saddle on him. He didn't seem to mind that, but he hated the bit, so I decided to keep it out. I just had a rope tied around his mussel, and that served just as well.
By the time we were all finished, it was time for me to get myself to work. And yes, I did get to ride Ayden in (with my stockings all the way up).

not much to say about this chapie. Uhh if you didn't need to renew you TP fan license and you passed my quiz late time for knowing who Marek and Ericle and Anci where, then Scholar should be a sinch. He's the blacksmith that i think, dies at the end of the last book. puts her arms over her face, sheadling herself from a flame don't flame me if i'm wrong.

Anyway, i'm sick and i'm tied so i'm gunna go to sleep now. Later on.