Disclaimer: I don't own Tortal or any of it's people, I do however own Oaken and their group of travellers.

Inspiration for my story - "As I recall, this word's use means somewhere there is a tree that is now a - a two legger." - Numair.

Oaken,

Chapter Two,

"So, how about we move our little conversation upstairs?"

"Um, well you see…" he started but she'd already dragged him off his seat and had begun to pull him towards the stairs, "Wait…I…"

"Come on, I won't even charge for you. Let's have some fun…" she was pulling him up the stairs when one of the men from his group grabbed him around the waist and hauled him backwards.

"Not tonight love," he growled at her, "His da would kill us if we let his innocence be spoiled early." She looked very unhappy until suddenly one of the other men scooped her off her feet.

"But I'm not gonna be killed if you…spoil my innocence," he said quietly to her.

"Well let's go then." And they were gone, just like that. Oaken stared after her in shock, only now realising what she was. Then he turned to his friends and smiled gracefully, his da would have probably killed him too.

"Thank you," he said sincerely to him, bringing forth an answering chuckle and an order of more ale.

"Just don't tell you da and we'll all live to see tomorrow."

"I won't."

"There's no need to tell me, I'm right here," with a cringe the group turned to find Oaken's foster-father standing in the doorway, a frown on his handsome face. "Oaken, outside. The rest of you are allowed to be in here, you're old enough. He is not and if I find out you have brought him into a place like this again there will be consequences."

"Father…"

"Outside Oaken." He didn't need to be told again.

"How dare they even think of taking you into a place filled with alcohol and loose women?" his mother roared, gripping him by the ear tightly, "And how dare you go into one of those places? Have we taught you nothing in the last two weeks? Must I make myself even clearer? If people find out what you are…were…Oaken, I don't want to loose you and I certainly don't want you to end up bedding some slut with hundreds of diseases." When she got going her lectures never stopped.

"I didn't…"

"You are going to stay in the wagon every night from now on with the other children, no way out of it," she told him pulling him towards the brightly coloured wagon. "I can keep an eye on you there."

"But…"

"No choice in the matter. You may have been 100 or more as a tree but you are 14 as a boy and I will not have you mixing around with drunkards and whores. Get in there and sit down," she ordered and Oaken, knowing better than to aggravate her further obeyed.

"Oaken's been a naughty boy," Lila giggled as he sat by her. "We heard EVERYTHING. Isn't mummy good at telling people off?"

"Oh yes, very good. It's just not a good idea to be on the receiving end is it?" Oaken asked, rubbing at his sore ear. "Wasn't even my fault…"

"Will you help us with our pictures? There for da's birthday," Lila asked. Oaken sighed and nodded, going on his knees beside the two children and picking up a piece of charcoal. "Colour in his hair, make sure you don't go over the lines."

2 Months Later

Oaken easily held Lila on his shoulders as the family walked through the streets of Corus by the wagon. They had officially adopted him; a ceremony performed by the head tribesman and could now call himself their son and brother.

"Isn't it a great place, oh there's our winter house. It's really a stable but we had the upper part converted into a house type place," Tari said, "The wagon and Kipper (their horse) stay in the downstairs bit."

"Impressive," Oaken nodded.

"Look it's some knights!" Lila cried excitedly, kicking her legs against Oaken's chest and pointing to a group of men with swords. Oaken looked at them and squinted, trying to see them better at this distance. One, a rather small one with fiery red hair didn't look quite right, not quite male. Ah well, his mother was calling for the children to hurry up and get inside.

"You'll be sharing a room with Tari, you don't mind do you?" she asked as they entered, Oaken ducking down so that Lila wouldn't hit herself on the doorframe.

"No that's fine," Oaken said, looking around the large room with hay all over the floor. Over on the far wall was some not quite safe looking stairs, which disappeared into the ceiling, stairs that Tari was rushing up easily with no fear at all.

"Put me down and I'll lead the way," Lila ordered as their parents began to sort of the wagon and Kipper. He obeyed and she took his hand, leading him up the stairs. There was a long corridor when they reached the top of the stairs, three doors on one side and two on the other. "That's my room," she said pointing to the first on the right, "It's the smallest and that's your room," she pointed to the second one. Tari poked his head out of said room and beckoned to him excitedly.

"We'll have to share a bed till we get another one for you but this is it!" he shouted, flinging his arms out to take in the whole room. There was a small bed, a wardrobe and a dirty window but the room had a certain hominess to it, it made Oaken feel welcome. "It's not much but it's…"

"Wonderful. You must remember Tari, I've never had a home before."

"Well you have one now…for the winter at least. Oh and guess what we can see from the window! The palace practise grounds where the nights train, I'd love to be a knight when I grow up but you've got to be noble."

"Boys! Come and help unpack the wagon or there'll be no dinner for any of us!"

"Coming!"

A/N There we go, he's going to meet the knights and stuff but I need a name and occupation of the girl he should fall for. Should I make her noble or a commoner?