Thank you to all my reviewers! And um, today I have nothing to say except.. THERE'S A BAD STORM COMING OUR WAY! There may even be snow! Like, 6 feet-excited- My sister's scared, she think a tree will snap in half and fall on our house and kill us. ME? I say, who cares? That just means I don't have to worry about the homework I haven't done yet.

Possessed by a Memory: Chapter 4

So the ex-thieves (or not so ex) set out before dinner, so they could wander around their old town before eating. They walked around for a while, chatting, and soon realized it was getting to late.

"I guess we should have dinner now huh?" asked Thatz.

"I guess so," she said, and they walked in the nearest pub and ordered.

"I'll have some of this... and this... and two of those, and four of those, and how about that one... Oh! And that one too. So what do you want Kitchel?" he asked innocently after ordering about one or more of everything in the menu.

"I think I'll have some of the first one..." she said sweatdropping, "Ooh, and I'll have some of this new wine too."

"Wine?" Thatz leaned over to look at the menu, "Oh I heard that stuff was pretty strong from the Master. Sure you want some?"

"Of course I want some, I have a pretty high tolerance you know," she said, watching as the food came. Thatz began to tunnel it all down his throat with a short breath here and there. She ate a bit slower, but with the same pleasure.

"I like this wine better," she said later, walking out of the restaurant with the bottle in her hands. Thatz had already drunk his fill, and watched her take a swig every once in a while, "It's pretty hic good."

"Are you drunk, Kitchel?" asked Thatz as they sat down in the now empty square, the fountain behind them splashing in the moonlight.

"Whatever makes you hic think that?" she said defiantly, "You know that was a mean trick you hic played on me this morning. I mean, I was scared, hic, here we were gambling, and then you drop down dead looking, and all hic. And I was really scared that I'd lose you..." she said a bit more sensually, her face leaning closer to his, and he blushed uncertainly.

Then she straightened and kept on rambling, "So then I ran outside hic and found Tetheus and I call him, and then when he comes in, and you hic aren't moving still, and I start crying, cause I was so afraid, and I thought hic you were already dead, and then you wake up like an idiot and say 'oh it was all just a trick' hic... and imagine me, when I find that I'm all wrapped around Tetheus, and it was so embarrassing, hic he's a real looker, specially when he's wrestling demons. I was really mad at you, you know and I'm still mad, but maybe hic I'll forgive you sometime."

Thatz swallowed. Now was the perfect moment. So he took the opportunity to ask her about Tetheus, "So um, what do- "

"You know, I never had a father. He left when I was born, hic or so said my mother. I still remember her, even though I was about seven when she died, and now I'm what? 17? My mother was sweet, people say I look like her, they said she was real beautiful..."

"If she looked at all like you, she must have been an angel..." he whispered, wrapping her arms around her. She giggled, and kept on.

"Father left, and I never knew him... And all my childhood I grew up wondering what a father was like, and I could only guess, my dream of a father wasn't all the gang masters, or even your Master. So I guessed, and came up with my own version, and I'd talk to him in my dreams... and mother would wonder who I was talking to when I was all alone... hic And then when I was left all alone to grow up here, and I met you in the streets. You know life wasn't easy, so we made allies, kept a place for ourselves among people, so you wouldn't be left alone. You know that hic as well as I do...

"Then when I came to the dragon castle... and I met Tetheus... he was so strict and quiet and commanding. If he spoke, you listened, and he was always looking out for the well being of others, securing the castle, and applying the law, and making sure everything was right and in order. hic the leader of all the fighters. And I thought I'd met my father... Sometimes I wonder if he maybe was my father before running away, but of course that's just a fantasy... Tetheus is just too honorable to have done that. And have you any idea how hard it's been to not just walk up to him and call him 'father' and spill all my troubles like I was some little girl? And now, in my dreams, when I talk to my father... I see Tetheus instead. He's like my father... or at least what I've made up to be my father since I never knew him."

"So you don't love him...?" he dared to ask. She giggled again and shook her head in his arms. She snuggled against him in the cold of the night. He opened his mouth to say something, but his light blush became deeper, and he closed it again. All he needed to know was that... Hm, so she didn't actually love Tetheus. It was what he'd said, she looked at him like a father. Time passed, and they stayed content in that pose, until he noticed that her lips were pale in the cold, and that his own hands and legs were numb with the cold of the stone he was sitting on, or the cold breeze, "Let's go, if we don't reach by dawn they'll be worried.

"A little worry never hurt anyone..." she mumbled, but she got up nonetheless and then headed back towards the castle.

Lykouleon walked in his room the next day, finally taking a break from the papers he was reading. He saw Raseleane, and his breath caught in his throat as if it was the first time he'd seen her. Her eyes were clear, her body knelt over a vase of delicate flowers, her dress delicately outlining her slim body.

"Beautiful..." he said catching her by surprise and wrapping his arms around her.

"Aren't they?" she smiled.

"I meant you..." he whispered in her ear, and she smiled again, and turned to embrace him. A knock on the door interrupted their peaceful bliss.

"Lykouleon..." it was Ruwalk's voice.

"Come in Ruwalk," said Lykouleon, giving his black-haired queen a last kiss before straightening.

"Oh, sorry Lykouleon and my queen," said Ruwalk nervously bowing. He smiled.

"So what did you want to ask?" said Lykouleon sitting back in the wooden chair.

"Well, I was wondering about Kaistern... you know, when he'd come back..." said Ruwalk, not looking at the Lord, and gripping something in his hands, a piece of paper. Lykouleon frowned, something wasn't right, Ruwalk was unusually nervous.

"Well, true, he should have been back a couple days ago, but we heard from him a week ago saying he'd be beck shortly after. I think he's all-right Ruwalk. He'll be back in two or three days, if not sooner."

"Oh, well, I just wanted to check up on that, and now I'll go and finish some paperwork. I was just... afraid that something might have happened to him..."

"Was that all?" asked Lykouleon carefully.

"Yes, that was all," said Ruwalk pausing a moment at the door before leaving. Raseleane frowned.

"What do you think was making him so nervous?"

"I don't know," said Lykouleon truthfully.

Ruwalk walked back from the Lord's chambers. He wasn't feeling well for some reason. He was so nervous. Arg, who was he kidding, he knew why. He wished he hadn't gone into Kaistern's room, that had started it. Why hadn't he shown the Lord? He gripped the paper in his hands tighter. He walked by Alfeegi's room, and looked in through the open door.

"Oh, feeling better Alfeegi?" he smiled.

"Much, though I guess I still have a bit of the cold, but I have paperwork that can't be put off," said Alfeegi, smiling too. He still looked a bit tired, and was still sniffling a bit, but his fever appeared to be gone.

"Is that Rune...?" said Ruwalk, looking at the figure in Alfeegi's bed. "Yes, I think he wore himself out last night... my fever was really bad, so he says. So I told him he could sleep in my bed until he woke up."

"Aw, aren't you nice Alfeegi. I'm sure everyone will be thrilled to have you back, especially Thatz... you know I think he was teaching the Lord how to gamble?"

"WHAT?"

"Um, just kidding..." said Ruwalk before speeding down the hall, heading to one of the taller towers of the castle, one looking out towards the gates. He'd be able to see anyone coming for miles. His dark mood returned, and he sat with his head in his hands, looking out down the grounds. He heard footsteps and looked up quickly, knowing there'd be no hiding that there was something wrong.

"I'm sorry... Maybe I shouldn't have told you..." Delte said softly.

"No, I was the one who asked you, how could you refuse?... It's better than not knowing the whole truth..."

"He'll be alright, as long as someone knows, he'll be alright... We know he's coming at least, with his life."

"How mangled do you think they've made him?" he asked bitterly, throwing the piece of paper on the floor. In dark red ink, the words 'Your precious Kaistern will be coming to you shortly...' were written. It was the piece of paper he'd found in Kaistern's room, when he'd casually wandered in. He wondered with a sickening feeling if the letters were written in his blood. He wouldn't put it past them... The problem was, if demons had gotten a hold of Kaistern and were now sending him back, why wasn't he telling the Lord? Why wasn't he telling him that Kaistern was in trouble? Maybe they could reach him and get to him... No, that'd be useless. The demons had gotten to Kaistern, and were now letting him come back. He'd watch day and night for Kaistern, that way they'd be ready to treat him once he came near the castle.

"I'm sorry, but at least he's coming with his life..." said Delte, obviously feeling guilty. Ruwalk had run into her, and asked to do a reading with her cards. They'd found out he'd been captured by Nadil's demons, and was being held captive, and now, the note implied they'd let him go. But they knew nothing else, and so had no way to go looking for him to save him... he'd supposedly gone somewhere near Luwa, but he'd left Luwa a long time ago. So a rescue was impossible, and he didn't think anything any of them did would help Kaistern now. All they could do was wait until he managed to come back home. He was sure he'd make it... He felt so useless, but why worry the Lord with things he couldn't do anything about? And he couldn't do anything about it either, except to wait for Kaistern.

"You can go now... I'll stay here..." said Ruwalk solemnly setting his head on his crossed arms. She backed off and walked sadly down to the castle grounds. She'd have to tell the Lord... sometime...

Cesia walked out of the room all dressed up. The queen wanted to have a small party today, and Cesia'd been the guinea pig. Of course it hadn't been that bad, since she'd had Kitchel be experimented on too. The queen had been delighted that Kitchel had agreed after a furtive glance at Thatz. Now that their torturous session was over, Kitchel ran behind her, dressed for what Cesia guessed the first time in a dress.

"How do you run in these things?" she asked, lifting the hem unceremoniously and waddling her way up to a snickering Cesia.

"You learn."

"Why, if I'm not ever going to use these things?" she asked furiously. But secretly she was delighted with sheer feminine ecstasy at being able to look so... dressed up. Earrings dangled down from a combed and done up hair, but she'd insisted that it stay down. She twirled her skirt, glad that it didn't reach the floor at least.

"Hello Delte," said Cesia, looking at the elfin fortune-teller.

"Mm? Hello..." she said with a wave then disappeared around the corner.

"Well what was her problem, she just ignored us, how rude?" Kitchel played with her earrings, "Let's go outside."

"Hm... yeah let's go..." Cesia lifted her dress a bit and bounded after Kitchel.

"Oh man, I can't climb a tree in this thing!" Kitchel sat down in a huff on one of the many benches in the gardens.

"I learned that the hard way," Cesia giggled.

"You don't say? I can imagine that scene..." she laughed. Cesia laughed remembering too. Thatz waked in front of them, and suddenly looked at Kitchel.

"Wow, see that's what I was talking about, you should dress up more often in things like that, you don't look half bad!"

"Um, thanks I think..."

"Hey Kitchel, could I ask you a favor? C'mere," said Thatz motioning with his finger.

"Um, sure," she said curiously, getting up and following him.

"Now I'm all alone..." sighed Cesia.

"I can keep you company, but I think Rath was looking for you... or maybe not," said Zoma, suddenly taking his place next to her.

"Awright, I have a favor to ask," said Thatz getting straight down to business.

"Okay, shoot," she responded.

"There's this girl..."

"Uh-huh..." Kitchel's hopes fell, she thought this was going to be something else. A girl? She wasn't sure why, but that crushed her... she'd gotten a different impression that other night. Sure she'd been drunk, that wine had been pretty strong, but she did remember that night, and she'd thought it'd meant something.

"Well, I wanted to confess my love, and I was wondering if you'd show me what to do, I mean, how would you want someone to tell you their love?" he was dead serious.

"Okay... Well, okay, I'll teach you how to be the best lover!" She stodd up and thought for a second, then began, her eyes shining with imagination, "Well, I'd like for him to come with some flowers and tell me something really romantic, or just really cute. Say something like, I don't know, 'With these flowers, I confess my love. And I promise to never look at another's eyes like I look into your silver pools,' or something really cute like that," Thatz sweatdropped, there was no way he was going to say all that... She was getting a bit carried away...

"And you wanna be dressed nicely, not tuxedo nice, cause that'd give it all away before hand, and it'd look weird anyway," he pointed at his clothes, "Well, yeah that'd be fine. But the most important thing is the words, you wanna say something really meaningful and sweet, girls really like that. And the flowers have to be pretty, and it has to be in a meaningful place or somewhere nice, not while you're eating. Does she know?"

He grinned then shook his head innocently, "Nope. But I'm asking her to be at the garden this afternoon, next to the lake. Will you come with? Cause I'm kinda nervous. I was hoping you'd just hide in the tree above me, just in case I needed some help."

"Sure..." she said hesitantly, watching Thatz make his love confession to someone else wasn't something she was all keen to do.

"Thanks. So some flowers, sweet words, and make it real romantic?" he reviewed.

"Yep, that's pretty much it," she said.

"So you'll be there at three? I told her there a little later."

"Uh-huh."

"Kitchel?"

"What?"

"You look great!" she blushed slightly, watching him leap happily away.

Hm... I guess this is interesting... enough...