As the oak clock in the hallway chimed midnight all the house was quiet. If you had been there a few hours before you would have found it loud and filled with laughter. But now as the final chime sounded the only one awake was Katherine, sitting at a small desk in a back room, her light was the moon which shone cresant. It would be full in three days. At midnight in three days would be what Rhys called the "anaversiary" of the great maskarade that was held each year in Belefalas. She was up because when Rhys had told her this an image had formed in her mind's eye of a man in eleborate clothing with a gold mask. For some reason this image kept coming up in her mind. She wouldn't have time during the day to sort out what it all meant because of what would be going on. After the maskarade was over there would be five weddings. Apparently at the dinner her old friends finally got up the courage to ask the ones they truly loved to marry them. After the men had left for the night the ten girls had remained behind to help her claen up all the while thanking her.
While all these thoughts and images were running through her mind she did not notice the time slipping by. Before long it was six in the morning. As she lifted her head from where she had been dozing she jumped up in alarm. She had promised to make breakfesrt! As she jumped up she ran up the staris all too quietly into her bedroom to change. Splashing water over her face, hands, and hair she put on a clean skirt and shirt, then ran back downstairs and into the kitchen. As she was setting the pots on the stove there was a knock at the back door. Calming down she went over to answer it.
"Good morning Katherine."
"Eloynm, it's good to see you, good morning."
"Mind if I come in?"
"Of course not, please," She took a side step and Eloynm came into the kitchen.
There was an akward silence as Kat went about her previous task of making the morning's meal.
"I wanted to talk to you about yesterday."
'Oh no,' Kat thought. 'She's here to apologize about what she said.'
"I wanted to tell you..."
It was at that moment that Rhys decided to enter the room and Eloynm stopped abruptly surprise and shock clearly wriiten on her face, along with a sort of fear. Rhys did not notice her until he had said good morning to his little sister. He turned to head out the back door when he noticed Eloynm.
"Oh, Eloynm, Good morning."
"Good morning Rhys."
'She always seems uneasy around him.' Kat thought looking between the two. Then she understood. They were in love.
"Why don't you join us for breakfest."
"Thank you."
'They act like strangers around each other.' Kat thought. Smirking to her self she formed a little plan in her head.
As they ate their meal Katherine kept the conservation going. As they were finishing they all got up from the table and went into the main room. That was where Kat announced very clearly.
"I'm going for a little walk, I'll be back later."
Both of them looked at her in shock, but she didn't notice for Kat was already out the door.
They stood there for a few moments in silence until Rhys spoke up.
"I've been wanting a chance to speak with you, alone, but I've never gotten a chance to."
Eloynm looked up at him.
"I've also been wanting ot talk with you."
Without another word said they embraced into a long kiss.
The only one to see it was Kat from where she stood by the window.
'You would think they would go into a back room, but noo they have to do it in front of the entire street!'
She turned around and started walking, where she had no clue.
Her steps led her up to the houses of healing. There were others walking around, yet even if they weren't she would have been up here anyway. The gardens were lovely. The houses were unoccupied so there was no one there and she was free to walk around in silence.
When the bell tolled for the next watch she started for home. Upon going inside she noticed two people sitting at the table.
'Wait a minute...' She thought. 'That looks a lot like...'
"Rhinoa I'm glad that you are finally back!"
As her brother got up from the table the other man did also.
'He's probably just another...' Her mind started.
As she caught herself staring, and knowing it was rude she smiled.
"Hello."
"Hello."
Rhys looked between the two. He smiled inwardly at himself.
'What is he up to know?' she thought.
"Rhinoa I would like to introduce you to the High Warden, Captain Boromir."
"Hello Rhinoa, I've heard much about you."
"I..." her words were cut off by the tolling of the bell. It startled her. She looked quickly towards her brother then silently grinned to herself.
"Rhys you're late."
He looked shocked as did Boromir, but the shock was replaced by a grin from each.
"If your brother's late then so am I it seems."
She couldn't help but grin.
"So it would seem."
As the two men left Katherine could not help but wonder about the man in the mask again...and Boromir.
A few minutes before dusk Katherine went out and sat by the back door. No one used this door expect her so she usually came here for the quiet. Her thoughts often drifted back to the brief flashes of people she had known when she had met Rhys. It may be impossible to remember all of them, but one stood out. The man in the mask.
Out of all the faces the mask stood out the most. He seemed so famailiar...yet so remote. It seemed as if the man would come out of her dreams. And then there was the High Warden, he seemed familiar too, but where had she seen him? The sun was setting, the bell would be ringing soon to signel the change in guards. Katherine went back inside to start cooking. As she shut the door, the front door opened.
"Kat?"
She walked out into the front hall.
"What Rhys?"
He grinned masheviously.
"Rhys...what are you planning..."
"It's already been planned."
Kat took one step backward.
Rhys lost his grin.
"What? It's nothing bad I promise."
Kat was quiet. After a few more minutes she finally gave in.
"All right. Where are we going?"
"Don't you trust me?" He grinned. "I'll tell you when we get there. Come on."
As they left the house Katherine couldn't help but feel uneasy.
