SORRY GUYS! I took something along the lines of a vacation from provy. I guys I just wore myself out, or something. And the fact I didn't get as many reviews as I'd hoped for made me sad…But I'm back hopefully. It'll definitely be a few days before an update but keep faith and hope. Here's a teaser. Nyx had this done ages ago but I neglected ot put it up.

Let's all say a great big thankies to my beta: Nyx Nox Night!

Oh, and I don't own this series. Or anything really.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed: I was too lazy to write my responces when I wrote this. I'll do a repost later. Promise!

Please remember to review! Reviews make the world (or mine at least) go round!

Providence Smiles

By LGR

Interlude 6

Rikash jerked awake, his breathing ragged from excitement, and fumbled out of his bed, nearly tripping over his own feet as he skidded across the floor to turn the corner to his parent's bedroom. Coming upon their door in seconds, he didn't bother to be polite, the light peaking through cracks between the door and frame proved Daine and Numair were still awake, even after Midnight; just as they had been all the last night and the night before that, every night since Lynn's abduction. Rikash's worry had been no less severe, somehow he'd managed to sleep the last two nights, albeit fitfully. He'd conjured the idea the morning before that that his Da was slipping sleep potion in his dinner. It had to have been a lot too, because he had barely eaten anything the last couple days.

Following Lynn's kid-napping, there had been a huge episode in which he had to spit out everything Lynn had told him and deal with his parent's reactions. Numair's reactions all came down to Lynn's lie and how it put her, and others, at unnecessary risk. Daine's was a sad sort of despair, although Rikash wasn't completely sure why. The strange thing was how neither of them really took the news as altogether miraculous, or unexpected. Too many things had happened to them in their lifetimes for the issue of a God and Mortal love-affair to be more than just uncommon; the fact that Daine's own Mother had experienced a similar situation was no doubt at the forefront of their minds as well.

"I'd a feeling something like this would happen since she'd come back the last time." Daine had said worriedly, "Once a god has you, he doesn't let go. I just hadn't thought it would be…something like this. I hoped it wouldn't be, anyways."

Fancy, the strange bird Gainel had given to Lynn, had been recovered alive, Daine had been able to heal its wounds and it had taken to resting on Rikash's shoulder looking about accusingly for the-Gods-only-knew-what. In Lynn's absence she'd sort of adopted him.

Yanking the door open abruptly, he wore a grin while saying, "Ma! Da!"

Daine and Numair's faces were haggard as they looked up despondently from their late-night vigil. Their faces became confused at the sight of Rikash's happy expression. "What is it Rikash? You should be in bed…" his mother warned, worried for the well-being of the child she had before her, as a substitute for the one she had no power to help.

"So should you, Ma," Rikash countered quickly before spouting, "Lynn's alright! She's okay!"

"What, is she back!" Numair asked.

"No, Gainel told me; in a dream." He stated.

"…"

"What?" Rikash prodded uncomfortably at his father's silence.

Numair looked saddened, "It was probably just a dream, Rikash. That sleep potion does cause vivid dreams—"

"I knew you drugged me!" Rikash said angrily, "How could you do that?"

"Duke Baird advised we all get some sleep…"Numair tried to reason but was cut off.

"Oh, so you can make decisions for me, and then ignore them for yourself—"

"Rikash. Your father was only looking out for your health. And your right: we should all get some sleep." Daine interrupted to calm the argument. "Are you sure it was Gainel? How did he appear? What did he say?"

Deciding there were plenty of other opportunities to row with his Da, he turn to his Ma. He knew it wasn't just a dream, and he had to convince his parents of that fact or none of them would have any rest. And if that didn't work he'd just slip some Sleeproot into his Da's tea. That would get back at him…

"Well, one second I was dreaming of...er, I was dreaming—" Rikash stuttered as his face turned pink upon remembering.

"What were you dreaming of?" Numair questioned suspiciously at his son's behavior.

"Er…I don't remember?"

Both Daine and Numair rolled their eyes, "Teenagers…" they simultaneously sighed, wearing knowing smiles as their eyes met.

"Don't label me! I take offence to that remark!"

"You've been hanging around Naori too much; I'll have to tell Neal his offspring is a bad influence. You may continue Rikash." Numair told him. Rikash decided not to respond to the tease. At least his parents were loosening up; they had been as taut as a rope-walker's string a few moments ago.

"As I was saying: I was dreaming and then suddenly everything stopped and I was in Shazdale meadow and Gainel was standing in from of me."

"What did he look like?" his father persisted.

"He was even taller than you, Da. And he had black—really black—hair and he was very pale and he had a black coat…that's about it. Oh, and his eyes were rainbow-swirled." Rikash nodded, hoping the fact that he had said 'swirled' and 'rainbow' in the same sentence didn't make him sound stupid.

"Gainel has starry, shadowed eyes." Daine told him, with her eyes closed, picturing her memory of when she and Numiar had met him in person.

"Maybe he wanted a change?"

Daine chuckled slightly, "Maybe."

"Was he sad-looking?" Numair inquired.

"No, why would he be sad? Whatever, just let me finish, okay? Anyways, so I was there. He said he was Gainel and he asked if I was Rikash: Lynn's brother. And I said 'yes, but wouldn't you know?' and he says he's just making sure, even Gods make mistakes some times. So I asked what I could do for him, and he hands me a letter and says it's from Lynn, he says she's alright but she won't be back for at least a couple more days and that he will get back to us later and then he left and it went back to the regular dream."

"He handed you a letter?" Daine clarified.

"Well, yes, but it was in the dream, like I—," Daine and Numair were already rushing out the door and down the hall to Rikash's room. Arriving just behind Numair, he was in time to see his mother pick up a crisp white envelope bearing a wax seal with an open eye as its insignia.

"Is this is the letter you spoke of son?" Daine asked him.

"Yes…it is."

Daine broke the black wax seal and pulled out a letter which Daine read allowed:


Dear Mother, Father, and Rikash,

By now I'm sure Rikash has told you what I told him before my abduction. I was taken by Chaos-constructs but Gainel brought me back and Uusoae is, well I don't want to say dead, but she's been permanently stopped from using Chaos to do her bidding. That doesn't alter the fact that chaos itself is still out there and perfectly capable of manifesting a new God to ruin everyone's lives. Just thought you'd like a little bit of an update. I'll tell you more when I get back.

I have to admit that I was injured during the recovery and I'm very tired. That's why they didn't take me home right away. Gainel says in a day or so he'll take me back if I want to go. That's what I wanted to ask you about: I want to know if you don't mind me staying a little longer; either way, the next time you three are asleep at the same time as I'm awake, Gainel is going to arrange for us all to meet and you can tell me then.

I love you all,

Sarralynn Salmalìn

PS: Fancy came to see me while you were asleep Rikash. I don't need her anymore and she seems to like you a lot. She's free now, but I think she's going to hang around.



"Well…" was all anyone would say.