A/N: Just to prove how crazy I am, I want you all to know that it is 1:30 in the morning and I have been trying to get to sleep for two and a half hours without success. I also want you to know that I have to get up to go to work at 6:45. That's only five hours and fifteen minutes away and I'm here writing bloody fanfiction. I'm also eating lifesavers. They're individually wrapped and it's really annoying to stop every three minutes to eat one. To top it all off, I'm giving all the red and yellow ones to the dogs. I'm so pathetic. Remind me not to eat Starbucks ice cream half an hour before I'm going to bed next time and this won't happen – I hope.

Shards of EvenSong- Yes, a plan I say. Here's more. Thanks!

Brilliant Crescent Star- Yay! More Rahlei! Yeah, I spose Ethan having the healing gift is a good thing. And I do admit, he comes across as a rather…weak character. Nothing like Styler, anyway. Agree?

Ko-shani- Yes well, Ethan isn't exactly who I planned him to be in the first place. I think he'll get better though. Thanks!

Black Jaguar12- Yeah, he's Ok. I liked Styler better though. Thanks!

Coolchick207- Thanks so much! We'll see how it goes.

CrystalLili- Here's the lightning. I was going to call it just "Running" but then I couldn't bear the thought of depriving you of your lightning, so consider this chapter's title to be dedicated to you.

Cherrychica- I'm sorry, I know this isn't quickly, but it's as fast as I could.

Much thanks to Estelwolfe. She very kindly betaed this and if you like Pirates of the Caribbean fics, she's got three that are absolutely brilliant!

Rahlei of her Own Destiny

Chapter Six

Lightning Strikes

Rahlei answered the knock at the door early that morning. It was almost two weeks into her marriage. She hadn't had any visitors during that time and had no idea who would be calling.

Miss Lena stood on the doorstep with a basket over one arm. Rahlei ushered her in, happy to have a bit of company for once besides Ethan, who had taken to brooding about the house when he wasn't occupied with his horses.

"Miss Lena, what brings you here?" Rahlei asked, preparing tea.

"Just checking up on you, is all," she replied, accepting a cup with a smile. "I thought perhaps you would enjoy a little chat. I'm sorry I wasn't able to get here sooner, though." She took a thoughtful sip of tea. "How are things?"

Rahlei's face clouded slightly.

"Fine," she said simply, sitting down at the table.

"How does he treat you?" Lena asked cautiously.

"Good as gold," the girl replied sounding unenthused.

"Are you happy?" the older woman persisted.

Rahlei stared at Lena as though she were quite mad.

"What do you think?" she said in a hoarse whisper.

Lena nodded sadly. "I thought as much. What are you going to do about it?"

"Do?" Rahlei asked, feigning confusion. "What makes you think I would do anything?" she asked, sipping her tea nonchalantly.

"I'm not a fool, girl. I've known you since the moment you took your first breath. You aren't going to stand here and let your life go by without a fuss."

"That's what I have been doing for the last fifteen years," Rahlei replied with a shrug.

"No, if that were the case you would be a replica of your mother, who never gave into the thought of better things. You've merely been biding your time. You've got a good head on your shoulders. You knew very well that you could do nothing short of running away and defying your father. Things are different now and I think you are in search of that destiny I mentioned a while back," Lena added with a twinkle in her eye.

Rahlei just stared back, her face void of all emotion.

"Matthew took a second wife," Lena said, changing the subject.

Rahlei's eyes darkened.

"She's just a little smite of a lass. Just a few years older than you. I don't know what her father was thinking letting her marry him, but things seem to be working out well enough."

Rahlei muttered a curse under her breath and was caught off guard by Lena's next comment.

"She's with child already."

Bastard, Rahlei though vehemently, clenching the hem of the tablecloth, resisting the urge to rip it to shreds.

"Everything appears to be going smoothly, though, so we can only hope for the best."

Rahlei nodded.

"Well, I best take my leave. I'm on my way to Mrs. Cunther's house to bring her boy these herbs for his cough." She motioned towards the basket she had been carrying.

Rahlei rose from the table and walked to the door with the woman.

"Ethan has a delivery of fifty horses to make in Port Caynn in a couple weeks," Lena said carefully. "I'd wager it will take him a few days to get there and back. Good day, Rahlei."

Miss Lena continued down the road, humming a tune to herself as she walked.

Rahlei stared after here, slightly confused. What puzzled her was not the meaning of Lena's parting words, but how Lena knew enough that Rahlei would be most interested in hearing them. Did this mean that Lena was in favor of her running away? Rahlei hoped so. She would like to have someone's favor for once in her life.

~

True to Miss Lena's word, Ethan came home that very night telling her he would be leaving for Port Caynn in two days.

On the morning of his departure, she bid him farewell and wished him luck and a safe journey.

Rahlei then waited a few hours - just to make sure he wasn't going to come back because he had forgotten something or one of the horses had taken lame and he wanted to replace it. She collected some clothes, food and other personal belongings as well as money. She was about to leave when she thought she should perhaps write a note to Ethan - just to tell him not to worry.

Searching the house, she found a quill and some paper and hastily scratched down a note.

Ethan,

Thank you very much for you kindness and hospitality. I have appreciated it more than you shall ever know. Despite all, I know I can never be happy here. Please accept my deepest apologies. I have one favor to ask, though I know I've done nothing to deserve it. Please don't tell my father if you can avoid it. I fear that would not go well. I will repay you for the horse when I am able.

Sincerely,

Rahlei

Rahlei read the letter over and as an afterthought added of her Own Destiny after her name. Satisfied, she set in on the table and placed the fruit bowl over one corner so it wouldn't be blown away. Taking one last look about the place, she hurried outside to get a horse.

She watched the herd for a few minutes before selecting the one she wanted. It appeared to be fairly gentle and saddled easily. It was the only thing she felt bad about. Horses, especially ones so fine as Ethan raised, were not cheap. She prayed he was not looking to sell the one she had taken as she estimated it would put him out at least thirty nobles. However, since all of Ethan's horses were of the highest quality, and her not really knowing much about horseflesh, she could hardly find a cheaper one to steal.

Steal. That's what you're doing, Rahlei, and you know it.

Rahlei shoved the voice of logic into the deepest corner of her mind and decidedly ignored it as she mounted the horse and set off up the road at a trot.

Rahlei took her time riding into Corus, trying to decide what to do when she got there. She had hoped to be able to find an inn or pub to work at, fervently hoping that her father had given up drinking with the acquisition of a new wife.

Rahlei stopped at the first pub she came to. She tied the horse to a post and went inside. The noise and commotion nearly drove her out again. Not even an entire day into her quest and she was already having second thoughts. Squaring her shoulders she walked timidly to the bar and cleared her throat.

The bar tender glanced at her with a frown. "May I help you, miss?" he asked.

"I'm looking for work," she said, her voice quivering.

"Oh, I'm sorry, miss. We're all filled up here," he said apologetically.

Rahlei thanked the man and went in search of another establishment.

By the end of the day, Rahlei had been turned down by every place of business she had been in. The last was an inn, and while the keeper wasn't interested in hiring her, he wasn't above saying no to her money to stay the night.

The room was warm and comfortable. Figuring it could be so much worse, Rahlei went to bed, determined to accomplish something the next morning.

A/N: There now, that is nice. And it's only two thirty. That leaves me with four hours and 15 minutes of sleep. Maybe I won't get up until seven. That will make it four and a half at least. *shrugs* G'night!

~*Kayden~Eidyak*~