Disclaimer I don't own much. Of course this means Inuyasha and his crew.

Of Fates Unknown

Chapter Eleven

Later that day, she told Keade and Myoga about the invitation to play at the festival. Myoga nodded sagely.

"Aye, I knew they would ask ye. But I though ye'd refuse, being as it means going up to the keep."

"It does?" Kagome realized that she hadn't even thought about where it might be held.

"There're all sorts of games and feasts in the city as well, but they'll be wanting ye to play at the great banquet Lord Inuyasha gives each year," Keade told her. "Certain people are always invited, but others are drawn by lot each year. Myoga and I always go. It's a wonderful party. Lord Inuyasha spares no expense."

Kagome was of two minds about this news. On the one hand, she definitely did not want to come to the attention of Lord Inuyasha again. But on the other hand, this could well be her opportunity to try to gain access to the tower. There would be so many people about that she just might be able to slip up there. The fact that it was kept locked somehow didn't trouble her. She just knew that if she could get close to it, she would be able to get in.

As it happened, though, her first visit to the great keep came even before the festival.

Captain Manning had been absent from her last evening at the tavern, and when she'd inquired after him, one of the men told her that his wife had given birth to a daughter.

Then, two days after she'd accepted the invitation to play at the festival, the captain appeared at her door early in the evening. She congratulated him and he beamed like any proud father, then said that he'd come to ask a favor of her.

"Of course," she said, hoping that nothing was wrong with the baby. Would he actually come to ask her for help?

"Sango has heard all about your playing and she'd like very much to hear you. She doesn't think she'll be feeling well enough to attend the festival and it will be some time before she could come to the tavern. Would you consider coming up to the keep to play for her?"

"I'd be happy to," Kagome assured him. "Would you like me to come now? I'm not playing tonight at the tavern."

"We had hoped that you could," he smiled gratefully.

"Then just let me see if Keade can keep an eye on the boys."

"You're welcome to bring them along if you like."

"Thank you, but no. They already have too many excuses to avoid their schoolwork." And she did not want to take Souta to the keep for any reason. She couldn't believe that the captain had any ulterior motive to his invitation, but she was unwilling to risk Souta's life.

Keade promptly invited the boys over to her house and Kagome set off with the captain. He apologized for not having brought horses, telling her that after being kept in meetings all day, he'd felt like walking. It was in fact a beautiful evening. Several inches of snow had fallen earlier in the day, covering the dirty layer beneath with a glistening white beneath a bright moon.

They walked slowly up the hill, with the captain kindly shortening his stride to make it more comfortable for her. Above them, the keep loomed darkly, its tall tower framed by stars. Captain Manning, who insisted that she should call him Miroku, talked of the festival.

"Lord Inuyasha is very pleased that you'll be playing," he told her.

"I'm honored," she replied, then quickly asked about the other entertainment.

And all the while, she waited nervously for him to ask if she were truly Ceadda. She was sure he must know about the cart incident. Myoga said it was well-known that the captain had his spies throughout the city, and that he was the eyes and ears of Lord Inuyasha, as well as being his closest friend.

Even so, there was something about Miroku Manning that inspired trust on Kagome's part. She had no doubt that if it came down to it, his loyalties lay with his lord and friend, but she still believed that he would do what he could to protect her- and it he had Inuyasha's ear, that could be quite a lot.

They passed through the heavily guarded gates of the keep, and Kagome was astonished to see that it appeared even larger that she'd supposed. Miroku began pointing out various buildings to her, including the huge garrison. But they were walking in another direction: towards the keep itself.

"You don't live in the garrison?" she asked.

"No, Senior officers live in the keep itself. In fact, Sango and I live in the apartment she grew up in. She's cousin to Inuyasha, from his mothers side."

After the forbidding stone exterior, Kagome was totally unprepared for the rich warmth of the interior that was lit by many handsome brass oil lamps. Beautiful old tapestries covered the walls and the furnishings were of richly carved dark wood, many with cushions that echoed the deep, vibrant colors of the tapestries. She paused before one huge tapestry.

"They're Ceadda," the captain said. "Nearly everything here is. They were very skilled artisans. Some said that their magic extended even to their craft."

Kagome merely nodded, but she felt a surge of great pride, mixed with more than a little anger. This should be hers. She had far more right to it than Inuyasha did.

They went up stairs and down long corridors and up more stairs. She had been trying to keep her sense of direction so that she could determine just how close to the tower they were. But after the fourth or fifth turn, she had to give up.

Then they reached yet another intersecting hallway, and without conscious intent, Kagome turned left. Only when Miroku told her they were going in the other direction did she realize that something had simply felt right to her about taking the other hallway. She stopped momentarily confused, but if he noticed, he made no comment, and she followed him to his apartment.

They entered a richly appointed room where a fire blazed cheerfully. A very attractive woman sat before it, holding a well-wrapped infant. And standing next to the hearth was Lord Inuyasha.

Miroku introduced his wife, Sango, then took his tiny daughter from her and showed her proudly to Kagome. "We're still arguing about a name," he chuckled.

"So I am told," Lord Inuyasha put in dryly. "At this rate, Miroku, she'll be in school before she leans her own name. For what it's worth, I cast my vote with Sango."

Miroku grinned at Kagome, "That's because Sango's choice is to call her Epona, after their grandmother."

Kagome, who'd been admiring the beautiful child, looked up sharply at the mention of that name, drawing questioning looks from all present.

"Epona was my mother's name," she said softly. "It was a favorite name in her family and one she nearly gave to me."

"Well, that does it Miroku," Sango announced. "You're outvoted."

He affected a bow. "Very well. I give in graciously. After all, as you've pointed out endlessly, I was the one who named your son. And speaking of him, where is he?"

"Sent to bed early. He was caught sneaking out of his room again to avoid his studies."

Kagome laughed softly, "Now that's a familiar story. Shippou and Souta have done the same thing countless times."

A young maid appeared and relieved Miroku of his daughter, who had fallen asleep. Inuyasha addressed Kagome for the first time. "I cam to see my cousin and the child, but I would like to stay to hear you play."

"Of course," she said, seating herself and taking out her lythra. She wondered if he had in fact just happened to he here- and what he would have done if she'd refused his request to stay.

His presence unnerved her, but fortunately she was quickly able to lose herself in her music, again deliberately choosing the most difficult pieces.

Sango was warm with her praise. "You play even better then I would have guessed, Kagome." Then, after a glance at Inuyasha, she said, "Our grandmother played the lythra, but not so well, even though we thought at the time that she played beautifully."

"My grandmother played, too," Kagome told her. "But my mother had no talent for it. Still, she had her own talent. She was a healer."

"Do you have those talents as well?" Sango asked as Kagome thought she saw Lord Inuyasha become more attentive.

She nodded. "She taught me about herbs, although I'm not yet as skilled as she was. And I've been unable to find all the herbs I need. Perhaps I'll find them in the spring."

"The physician has given me a potion to help me regain my strength," Sango told her, then turned to her husband. "Will you fetch it, dear? I'd like Kagome to tell me if it's what she would prescribe."

The captain obligingly went to get it, and when he returned, Kagome unstopped the bottle and sniffed, then nodded. "I believe it's the same thing my mother used. I imagine it's much the same everywhere."

They talked a while longer, and Kagome was always conscious of Lord Inuyasha's gaze upon her. He had taken a seat that put him just out of her line of vision, but she didn't need to know that he was watching her. He joined easily in the casual conversation, however, and it was very obvious that this relationship with Miroku and Sango was a very close one.

Finally, Sango became visible tired and Kagome suggested that she should take her leave. After profuse thanks from her hostess and an expressed hope that she would return soon to visit, Kagome left with Miroku and Lord Inuyasha. When they reached the intersection where Kagome had taken a wrong turn, Inuyasha bade them good night and disappeared in the direction she had almost taken earlier.

This time, she made a very determined effort to pay attention to the twists and turns, and when they emerged at last into the great courtyard and she could see the tower again, she was virtually certain that the hallway she had mistakenly taken led in that direction.

The boys had been put to bed at the Sheppards' and she left them their, then returned to her cottage and her thoughts. She felt strangely out of sorts, almost enervated, and realized belatedly that she'd begun to feel that way almost from the moment they'd left the keep. The difference was so subtle, though- almost subtle enough for her to deny its existence altogether.

She thought about Sango's invitation to return and how it might afford her access to the tower even if she couldn't manage to get there during the festival. Not even the fact that Lord Inuyasha's own quarters apparently lay in that direction could deter her now. She must get there, just as she must breathe and eat and sleep.

Besides, she told herself, she liked Sango. Until meeting her this evening, she'd forgotten the simple pleasure of having a friend. Myoga and Keade were more like surrogate parents, and although she loved them dearly, it would still be wonderful to have Sango as a friend- even if she was the cousin of Lord Inuyasha.

Inuyasha. It all came down to him in the end, she thought angrily. But he'd seemed different this night- more at ease, despite his unrelenting attention to her. He'd displayed a dry humor and a gentle affection for his cousin and all of it had seemed very real.

But she dared not let herself believe he was harmless. However pleasant he could be when he chose, he still ruled this land that had once belonged to her people. She resented his power over her. She resented her own fear of him. And she was undeniably attracted to him as a male. It was not a comfortable situation.

)O(

Epona Celtic Mother-Goddess and the patroness of horses (This one is very near and dear to my heart. Both because my one grandmother is of Celtic background and also because I have spent my whole life around horses.)

Review responses:

Lady of Imladris- I am glad you are enjoying it, and I am trying to do just that. :)

xSilverShadowsx - Thank you. And you just got to keep reading. Heck the story has just started. :P Can't give anything way just yet. ;)

Amanda - Thanks. (giggles) Don't get into trouble by not doing homework. I am on my kids cases right now to make sure they do theirs. (sigh) This is the very first AU that I have ever done. But I do have at least three others that I have in mind once this is done. But I am also trying to redo my other two stories that I have already started some time ago. Also I have a crossover that is Inu/Highlander that I am in the works of doing. But that one is a sort of when I have time I get to it, sort of thing. To many things and not enought time. Besides after about two hours straight of typing, my hands start killing me. :S LOL!

Well, the chapters just keep coming and coming. LOL! Don't forget to let me know if you like what you have read so far.

Brightest of Blessings,

Lady Banshee 999