Wow, it's been a long time since I've updated. I think I kind of lost momentum for a while, but I think the steam is back and I am ready to go. Thanks for sticking with me, and please review!

Chapter 6- Avoiding the inevitable

Back in her room Liana sat on her bed and stared out the dirty window. She hated cleaning her room more than any other chore, and especially avoided the paned window which took some elbow-grease to get clean. It was lucky that her father only entered her room occasionally or else she would have gotten a stern lecture daily. Liana sighed as she stroked her beloved doll Lucy. This was the only thing she possessed that made her look like a "normal" girl. Her mother had given her Lucy when she had been about four years old. She had said that it would protect Liana always, and give her someone to talk to when no one else would listen.

Muffled voices wafted to Liana's ears and she sat up slightly to better see outside. There was the Captain with the eyes like two fire pits, chatting with Tempest as he worked. It seemed the blacksmith was showing him how to heat and shape the metal just so, as to make the perfect horseshoe. The Captain seemed captivated by the man's great skill with tools. Liana always was somewhat of an eavesdropper, and creped to the partially open window to get a better listen.

"Captain Elias, I do believe you were born to be a blacksmith. Have you ever done any metalwork?"

"No Master Tempest, but I have been around horses all my life, and have always been interested on what goes on their feet."

Tempest wiped his brow. " I could go for a swig of water just now. How about we go inside and I get you a freshly made biscuit? By freshly made I mean from breakfast, but it'll taste good just the same."

" I need to um, see to my men, but thank-you just the same." Elias glanced over at the house, then quickly looked away.

"Well then I'll have the missus bake enough for all the men and we'll have a regular feast. No royal soldiers go hungry on my watch, that's for sure!" Tempest shook his finger at the Captain and began to walk toward the kitchen door.

"That won't be necessary sir, I-" Elias protested

"Not another word, go tell your men that within the hour, they'll have fresh biscuits and possibly jam if Alethea is in a good mood."

Liana watched them part and went back to sit on her bed. "The Captain sure is a strange one, and those eyes." she shivered in spite of herself.

Aiden was bored out of his skull. He had sat listening to the men for the last hour and could have repeatedly hit himself over the head with a shovel and not have felt any more numb. All they did was boast about the men they'd killed and the women they'd wooed, both of which Aiden was not interested in.

He swung himself off the stump he'd been sitting on and went for a stroll to clear his mind. Perhaps he would find that girl, that Liana, and see what she did for fun. After the shouting incident he had tried to apologize to her, but she had just turned up her nose and trotted toward the house. She was a proud one, and that intrigued Aiden like no other girl he'd ever seen. The girls from court were all either terribly stuffy or overly giggly and fluttery like startled chicken. Dressed in lace and miles of fabric, Liana seemed plainer and much more homely next to them. Yet there was something more radiant about her that he couldn't quite place.

Aiden meandered around the corner of the small house and over to what looked like a small vegetable garden. It was wonderfully kept, with a waist high stick fence surrounding it. Ducking under the arbor, he walked along the neat cobblestone path that ran the length of the garden. As he looked around he would have bet there was not one weed to be found in that prim little paradise.

" Do you like my garden Prince?" a finger softly tapped his shoulder.

Aiden spun around hand grasping for his hilt. In front of him stood the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. She was perfect in every way. Delicate structure, milk white skin, deep brown eyes. On her curvaceous frame she wore a plain brown dress with a burlap apron. On her it looked like the finest ball gown ever made. A long deep red scarf covered the entire top of her head, so Aiden couldn't see her hair color.

"Are you so awed by my vegetables that you cannot speak?" The woman laughed warmly.

Aiden shook himself out of the trance and bowed deeply. " It is amazing ma'am I have never seen such a well tended piece of earth."

"I am pleased to hear it. I always love to fish for compliments about my garden, and cooking." she added with a wink.

"Please ma'am how did you know who I am?"

"Well for one thing I am a seer so I know quite a bit, but also I heard my husband boasting about how our little stable is holding a royal mare. You also look remarkably like your mother you know."

"You know the queen?" Aiden asked the beautiful woman.

"She is a dear friend of mine, though we haven't seen each other since Liana was born."

Aiden shook his head, feeling stupid that he hadn't thought of it before. This was Liana's mother. They had almost the same features, except for the eyes. Liana had deep green eyes like Tempest. Suddenly Alethea grasped the fence and fell to the ground. Aiden rushed to her and felt her skin. It nearly scalded his hand, and he leapt back with surprise. Not wanting to leave her, Aiden yelled at the top of his lungs for help. A few seconds later Elias appeared around the corner and ducked under the arbor. He knelt next to Alethea and tenderly moved her head to rest it on a nearby cabbage.

"Do not be too concerned young prince." Elias tenderly whispered. "She is seeing at the moment. Though usually it does not last this long."

Tempest appeared at the window. "How long has she been out your majesty?"

"At least ten minutes now sir." Aiden replied.

"The spells have become longer and longer as of late." he looked concernedly at his wife. Alethea began to convulse and sat up rigidly, coughing.

"Her hair!" she screamed "Don't let it go!"

Tempest hauled his muscular frame out through the window. "Alethea! Come back to us Alethea." He stroked her cheek and pulled his callused hand back from the burning skin. "Something is wrong. She is caught between the sight and our world."

"Tempest! Tempest help her!" the woman screeched and fell silent. Her body became limp once again The blacksmith lovingly picked her up in his strong arms and began walking back to the house.

Elias watched them go and put his hand on Aiden's shoulder. "Let us get back to the men young prince." The Captain steered him under the arbor and out of the placid garden. Aiden glanced back over his shoulder and saw Liana staring at the spot where her mother had fallen with wide eyes, full of concern and fear.