Wings: ...

Heart: O.o

Wings: ...

Heart: Say something! The silence is so... GRRR!

BWSH: (Rolls Eyes)

Great Reading:

If you like this story, the bird tribes, or just a really great fic, check out Cross Feathers by Sakura Irving. ( I hope S.I. Doesn't mind me writing that. I just love the fic! ) Also check out Threat by Gary's my better half The story seems to have a good plot. If I ever put your name in this new section of my intro, and you don't want it here, review or message me and I'll remove it.

Reviews:

Tootsiepopgurl: Thanks for all of your reviews. You're too hard on yourself.

Sakura Irving: Really? Hmmm... Interesting. Thanks Forreading!

DISCLAIMER: Not mine.

Chapter 7

Reyson, Ruins, and Remembering

The morning light spilled into her bedroom window, the bright light slowly waking Narya. It's warmth did nothing to cheer her cold interior. Her head hurt, her heart hurt. She lied on her bed for hours after sunrise. Hetria came by her room several times that morning, trying to force feed her breakfast. She didn't want the food, nor did she want the company. She wanted to be alone.

Narya clutched the Rose, though it was now crushed in her hand. She looked at the drooping pedals with weary eyes. Climbing out of bed she crossed the room to an oak bookshelf on the far wall. Reaching above her head she pulled down a book.

The novel was thick and bound in crimson, the gold lettering on the front was faded, like the story within. It was a worn book that had obviously been read and reread many times throughout the years. The book was the only thing she owned that had originally belonged to her birth mother. She had managed to keep it from falling out of her apron pocket as she ran through the forest that night. It held a story she kept close to her heart. She would not have been able to bear the thought of losing the last thing her mother had given her before her death.

With book and rose in hand, she made her way back to her bed and sat there looking at each precious item. She slowly opened the cover of the novel revealing tiny print. Taking a final look at the blue flower she slid it between the pages. There it would remain, far from sight but never from thought... Unless she were able to take Zihark's advice and forget about the blue haired swords master. Was such a thing possible? Would she be able to go on with her life as though she had no wounds to hide and no pain to conceal. At the moment such a thought seemed crazy, but inside she knew she would forget him, she would heal the best she knew how.

After placing her book carefully on her bedside table, she laid down. She had no time for thought that afternoon. Her eyes shut as soon as her head met the soft cotton-stuffed pillow, and Narya drifted off into a peaceful slumber.

O0o.'.o0O0o.'.O0o.'.o0O0o.'.O0o.'.o0O0o.'.O0o.'.o0O0o.'.O0o.'.o0O0o.'.O0o.'.o0O

The suds scrambled up the sides of the wash basin as though trying to escape. Narya was preparing to wash the dishes. She was quick to volunteer for anything that might distract her these days. Picking up a dish with careful hands she dunked it into the soapy water then began to clean.

It had been 17 days since she hid her flower in between the pages of her mother's novel. She had been doing her best to move along as though nothing had happened. She was doing well, all things considered.

She stood in front of the basin for what seemed to be an hour.

"Are you almost done, dear?" Aunt Hetria called from the back porch.

"Yes." Narya responded as she finished the last dish. Narya cleaned her hands and made her way to the Woman. She found Aunt Hetria sitting on a bench to the left of the door.

"Come here, Narya." Her Aunt smiled warmly at the girl. Narya did as told and sat herself next to the old Heron, lying her head on the woman's shoulder. They looked out peacefully at the landscape for some time.

"You've changed, child." Hetria said at last.

"...How so?"

"You've yet to tease me." The Heron said, "It's rare you ever pass up the opportunity to crack a joke. You've come back to me with wounded wings, I'm only sorry I wasn't there to shield you."

There was a moment of silence where noone spoke.

"I won't bother asking what's happened to you, you're as stubborn as your father. Just tell me one thing." Hetria said.

Narya nodded.

"Are you alright?" She asked.

Narya thought about the question. Was she? She still hurt. But her bitterness was ebbing away, slowly. She was able to go on doing her daily tasks and her tears had gone. She was alright, still alive, still there.

"Yes, I'm fine" Narya said quietly. "I'll be good as new in no time." She kissed her aunt on the cheek and they sat silently.

The only thing that broke the calm was a knock at the front door.

"I'll get it." Narya said, standing. She went to the door and opened it. She was rewarded with a familiar sight.

Reyson stood tall in front of the house, his arms held behind his back. He smiled when he saw the blue haired maiden appear before him. "Good morning." He said cheerfully.

"Hello, Reyson." She said with a smile.

Hetria appeared behind Narya. "Hello, lad." She said with a half smile. She had never been fond of the blond prince. He had been "responsible" for all of the trouble that Narya and him had caused in Hetria's eyes. She wasn't fond of the boy.

Suddenly feeling uncomfortable under the eyes of the old woman he began to fidget. "Uh.. I'm going to the old Serenes Ruins, I thought maybe Narya would enjoy going."

Without a word Hetria turned from the two and made her way back to her bench. After a few moments she called back "Be back before nine o'clock."

Narya looked back in confusion then up at Reyson. "Uh... Let's go then."

O0o.'.o0O0o.'.O0o.'.o0O0o.'.O0o.'.o0O0o.'.O0o.'.o0O0o.'.O0o.'.o0O0o.'.O0o.'.o0O

The Ruins were beautiful. What was left of the ancient stone structures where covered in thick ivy leaves, flowers sprinkled the ground as though they wished to reflect the stars that were spread across the sky above.

Narya sat under a weeping willow with Reyson and Leanne, royalty of Serenes. They had shared many interesting conversations that evening, all in the ancient language for Leanne's sake. They had discussed the history of Serenes, the Plants, and animals of Serenes. Unfortunately these were all very dull subjects. Soon the topic turned to what had happened while Narya was away.

"Father has me attending council meetings once a week." Reyson sighed in the old language. "He intends for me to be a grand leader, I just want to make it to my next birthday."

"I've had worse luck, brother." Leanne said. "I've been forced to attend lessons with Madame Schoclair."

"How in the world could that be worse?" He asked with a strangled laugh.

"I have to sew and walk around rooms with books piled upon my head. Madame claims it's what all of the royalty are doing to turn their clumsy offspring into decent members of society."

This pulled a laugh out of both Reyson and Narya. Life was getting back on track.

"What have you done?" Leanne asked Narya.

Reyson's smile fell. He didn't want the night to go down an awkward path, especially if Narya was going through something difficult to handle.

"Just the same old things. Lessons with Takanshi in history and literature." She said.

"I heard that you're studying sword play." Leanne said excitedly.

Narya's stomach dropped. She tried not to look nervous or unhappy but Reyson must have saw it on her face.

"I think it's about time we all went home. Hetria wants Narya back by nine."

O0o.'.o0O0o.'.O0o.'.o0O0o.'.O0o.'.o0O0o.'.O0o.'.o0O0o.'.O0o.'.o0O0o.'.O0o.'.o0O

Narya entered the dark house and climbed the stairs that lead to the bed rooms above. She stopped by Hetria's room to kiss the old woman's brow. Then strait to her own.

She lied down on her bed without bothering to change. She felt exhausted. She had managed to keep her thoughts from Zihark until a few hours ago. The pain of remembering wasn't as bad as she would have expected. The main emotion she felt was regret. She let her mind wonder for a few moments, letting in follow it's old path a few times over.

In the last few moments of her conciseness she looked at the novel. The green leaf of a rose peeked out from between the pages.

Wings: Is it EVER going to get happy?

BWSH: Yes.

Heart: Unfortunately.

Wings: You're mean.

Heart: No, I just like Drama.

Authors Note: I've decided to save the Authors Note for the end of the fic. It looked silly at the top of the page.

I would like to tell you all about my new fic, It's called Arrows Pierce The Night. I wasn't going to post it until next week , but I decided to post it sooner. Why? ... well, because I was curious to see how it would do out there in the Fan Fiction world. It should be up by Monday or Tuesday. So If you have the time, look it over. If you don't like it then I won't be hurt, I wrote it because I thought I would enjoy writing it and someone might enjoy reading. Just no Flames please.

-BWSH