Chapter Seventeen; The Lady.

Jane sat in her little room in the top of John Rowland's cottage, alone. Although her brothers had offered to sit with her until she fell asleep, Jane had said she would prefer to be alone to think.

She had changed out of the gown the hospital had given her into her own jeans and a shirt. The gown was balled up like a rag and thrown into the far corner of the room.

She was sitting on the windowsill, so her feet rested on the cold clay tiles outside, on the roof. She craned her head backwards and stared up at the stars. Before she could delve too deeply into her melancholy thoughts, a hand fell onto the back of her neck. Her heart fluttered in panic, they were back to claim her again. And no one would come to save her this time.

But the hand was soft and gentle on her skin, so she turned to see who stood behind her. It was Will's Lady, an Old One like him.

Jane was filled with the same sort of awe that she had felt the last time the two of them had been alone together, by the Bearded Lake, all those years ago. But Jane was older now, and stronger in herself, and recently, more cynical as well.

She inclined her head to the Lady and clambered back into the room slowly, one hand resting on her stomach.

"Hello Jane."

"My Lady." She sank down onto the bed, as the Lady took a chair by the bed's side.

"I am sorry for what you had to go through." She spoke gently, as if Jane were some sort of a frightened animal. "We were not permitted to help find or rescue you, by the High Magic. The stakes are very high in this now Jane, You must understand that."

Jane's voice, when she replied, was tight with emotion, her words clipped and sharp.

"All I understand is that I was starved, tortured and stabbed. And I was only saved at the last minute, when your precious signs were in danger. And all you say is 'sorry?' " Her tone was incredulous and her gaze was piercing as she looked at the Lady.

"You do not see things the way we do." The Lady explained. "We only see the end. Sacrifices have to be made to achieve that end."

Jane stood, muffling a cry of pain as the movement tore at the newly healed edges of the stab wounds.

"That is all I am to you? A sacrifice?" Her voice and eyes showed her fury.

"No, you are much more than that. We all know that you especially are vital in this battle against the Dark. We did all we could to help you, all we were allowed to do. We could help heal you as soon as one of the Six touched you, but it was almost too late. Have you not wondered how you managed to survive such a horrible wound, and walk so soon after it?"

Jane laughed harshly,

"Well, I was more concerned with getting out of there alive, and I didn't want to look a gift horse in the mouth either."

Jane stared out the window, only now seeing a figure sitting on the low stone wall, facing the cottage. Restlessly, it pushed back a heavy fringe off its forehead and turned its head to stare at her window. For a horrible moment, she thought it was the someone from the Dark again but then, as the moon emerged from behind the clouds, she recognised him as Will.

"You judge him too harshly Little One."

"Excuse me?" Jane turned to face the Lady again.

"He was worried sick about you. None of them slept or ate well, if at all, over the time you were captured. The Old One down there is still just a boy, and he is as confused as you are. He feels it is his fault that you were taken and so he spent most of his energy finding you and then rescuing you.

"Don't tell me you haven't noticed how worn and tired he looks."

Jane nodded

"I had noticed."

"Now he watches over you, when he should be sleeping, to make sure you are safe. And he is not sure why he is so happy that you are safe and why he wants to protect you so much.

"He likes you very much Jane, more perhaps than either Merriman or your older brother Simon would like."

Before Jane could reply, the Lady stood from her chair and came across to face her.

"Be brave Jane. He needs you as well." She bent slightly at the waist and kissed the girl on the cheek.

Her outline began to fade as the large pink ring glowed. Slowly, the circle of light surrounding her lessened and vanished.

Jane turned back to the window and stared down at Will. He looked up, perhaps sensing her gaze.

"He likes me?" she whispered to herself. A shy smile crept across her mouth as she withdrew from the window.

"I like you too Will Stanton."

Finally I have explained how Jane survived that wound, and also there is the fluff people were asking me for.

I hope you enjoyed it,

HuntressDiana