Love is in the air……or is it?

The next two days passed almost uneventfully except for Briar breaking several plates through his anger on the first evening. The rest of the time Briar was too occupied with weeding to think about it and was only reminded of it on the last evening when Rosethorn reminded all four children what was happening. None of the other three children, Sandry, Tris and Daja knew why Briar was so upset or angry about Fabian coming to stay. It was very out of character of him although he wasn't too friendly to Tris, Daja and Sandry when they came to Discipline either.

Sandry decided to approach Briar that evening.

"Why are you so angry about Fabian coming to stay with us?" She asked but Briar's only reply was a shrug. "I was only asking. You had better get over that anger by tomorrow morning. He is coming then." She turned to go out of the room.

"So what? He's only staying for a couple of weeks and then he's going. Why make friends?"

"Some people are nice in this world. Try thinking about that once in a while Briar." And Sandry left his room and went up to Tris' room where Daja was also waiting.

"Well?" said Daja.

"Well nothing. I couldn't get anything out of him." Said an exasperated Sandry.

"I knew you wouldn't!" It was Tris this time who spoke.

The next morning everyone was woken early by the arrival of a coach outside the front door. Sandry was the first up, dressed and downstairs waiting at the door in ten seconds flat. She was excited about this new arrival. As soon as she saw the boy who stepped out of the coach, she stood immediately still and just watched. A sleepy Tris, red hair everywhere, shortly arrived beside Sandry and was about to ask what she was staring at until she saw it as well and also stopped. Third to arrive was Daja who was saying, "What on earth are you two staring at? You look like a pair of sick lovebirds. What are you…….. doing?" And then she too saw what Tris and Sandry were looking at. The three of them stood at the door just staring at the boy who was currently unloading his suitcase. Finally Rosethorn and Lark came followed rather begrudgingly by Briar.

"What are you three girls staring at?" asked Briar. "It's only a boy!"

"Well Niko said he was different to other children." Commented Rosethorn. The boy was now approaching them. "Tris, Daja, Sandry, snap out of it!" And all three children rubbed their eyes as if they had just been in a daydream. The boy who approached had almost white skin and jet black hair. He wore black clothes all the way down to his socks. He had wide eyes that were the deepest blue and his other features were perfect.

"Right then, everyone introduce yourselves and then Briar, you can show Fabian to your room.

Sandry was, of course, the first to step forward. "Hello, I am Lady Sandrilene fa Toren, pleased to meet you." Fabian remained silent. Tris and Daja introduced themselves and so did Briar, rather reluctantly. Then Briar showed Fabian to his room. Fabian followed rather silently. Eerily silently. Briar quickly made sure Fabian was comfortable, which didn't take very long and went to find out what had gone on with the three girls. First he went to Tris.

"What went on down there?" he asked.

"I'm not in the mood." She replied bluntly.

"Well something must have happened!"

"Just go away Briar!" she aimed and threw a pillow at Briar's head. He ducked and the pillow missed. He decided to go and find Sandry and Daja who he knew would be together in Sandry's room. He knocked and went in.

"If you've come to find out what happened then, well……the answer is I don't know!" said Sandry immediately.

"Someone must know!" he replied, somewhat annoyed.

"Well we don't so when we do, we will tell you ok?" said Daja as Briar stormed out of the room. She turned to Sandry. "Do we know what happened?" she asked, bemused.

"It felt like I was…….in love!"