Author's Notes: If you've been following this story, you'll realise that I normally upload about every week or so, but I've decided to upload a new chapter 2day, because it's National Day's eve (There's a half-day off school today)!

Happy 41st Birthday Singapore!

So, replies to the review:

dustigrey143 - Thanks for the review, it's nice to know I have a faithful reader. Well, here is the new chapter! Hmm, sounds like u want both action AND characterization! This chapter contains both... Hope it meets with ur expectations:)

HeraldKahlan - This website always plays havoc with punctuation, so I hope ur pen name turns out okay. Thank you for the review! If u just came across the story, does that mean you read all previous 9 chapters in one sitting? Wow:)

And now, lets put our hands together to welcome... the story.

Chapter 10 Dawn Awakenings

The grove looked like something out of a child's nightmare. The three stone benches which heretofore had been resting solidly on the ground were currently swirling in the air around two figures lying prone in the center of the grove. Every so often, one of the stone benches would fly lower and bump against the unconscious person on the ground.

The stone benches were not the only thing in the air however. White, thick candles previously mounted on nearby candle-holders were also dancing around, bright flame flickering through the air around it, like the forked tongues of a demon. Despite the strange scene, Zarien's attention focused almost immediately on a small figure clad in blue lying a few metres away from the unconscious person on the ground and the white horse beside it.

The small figure in blue was Kerrayrlia. Immediately, Zarien sprinted over to her side. Kerrayrlia's gown had been torn in various places; it was now a ruin. Zarien however, was more concerned with her person. Kerrayrlia's eyes were open, but they were not fixed in her usual emotionless gaze. Rather, her winter-sky blue eyes now reflected a haze of emotions that were painful to behold. Great gods! What happened to her? Oh, Kerri… He started to bend over her anxiously, but was gently shoved aside by the white horse beside her.

White horse my foot. That's a Companion, or my name is not Zarien. Over his anxiety, he watched with no little surprise as the Companion bent his/her head towards Kerrayrlia and caught her eye. I guess, Zarien's thoughts faltered a bit, but he plunged on ahead and completed it anyway. The Companion is Choosing her…

Dorilynn snapped, a bit irritably. Of course. That's what I've been trying to tell you just now. You can be so dense, 'Rien. The Companion is Rannael, and he is Choosing Kerrayrlia. Now, snap out of your daze and do something about her.

Zarien blinked. The rebuke was well deserved; he should get Kerrayrlia to somewhere safe at least. By now, the Choosing was over, and the Companion had stepped aside, albeit still within Kerrayrlia's reach. Softly, he called, "Kerri, Kerri, do you hear me?" He watched worriedly as Kerrayrlia did not respond, her eyes closing.

As soon as Kerrayrlia's eyelids dropped, the objects floating in the air begun to drop. Zarien reacted quickly, his panic overriding his worry, and sprang into action. He dragged Kerrayrlia out of harm's way as her Companion, Rannael, kicked the man lying unconscious on the ground towards the small path. Luckily, the candles had been snuffed out after the fall through air, or the grove would have been in danger from burning.

By then, Tanvis Ashkevron had made his way into the grove. "What in the name of Havens happened?" When he saw Kerrayrlia however, he wasted no more time on questions. Lifting Kerrayrlia into his arms, Zarien ordered, "Tanvis, get the man out of here and put him in a secure place. It looks like Kerri has been attacked." Given the state of her clothing, that was the only conclusion that came to Zarien's mind.

Tanvis moved to follow Zarien's orders. Although he was older by nine years, Tanvis felt that Zarien's orders were logical, and thus chose to follow them. After lifting the unconscious man onto his back, he watched Zarien cradle Kerrayrlia tenderly in his arms with no little amusement. Albeit the serious situation, Tanvis still managed to see the light-hearted side of it, simply because it was not his way to brood over problems which he could not solve.

Zarien was the opposite of Tanvis. He tended to worry away at a particular situation from all angles with an intense single-mindedness until he found the best possible solution. The more important the problem was, the more thoroughly Zarien would analyze and rationalize the problem before deciding on a suitable course of action. And Kerrayrlia was very important to him, so he would find the perfect solution…

Wait a minute. Zarien backtracked to his previous thoughts. Kerri is very important to me, so I will find the perfect solution. Now, from where did that thought pop out? In his mind, Dorilynn sent a mental snicker. It's natural to have that thought about a person you like, Chosen.

Zarien almost choked. What? After a brief moment of silent disbelief, Zarien Sent back his thoughts. 'Lynn, you take that remark back now. Kerri is injured; please don't joke about such things now. Dorilynn sobered. The feel of her thoughts had taken on a contemplative tinge as she Mindspoke, All right, 'Rien. I won't say anything more about it. But if you look within your feelings, you'll find that I'm right.

A whisper in Zarien's mind told him that Dorilynn's words were quite right. However, Zarien ignored that whisper uncomfortably; he had no wish to delve into another problem now, especially not one that was related to matters of the heart. Brushing all thoughts away, he concentrated on getting Kerrayrlia to a safe place.

Kerrayrlia stirred from the warm and comforting place she had been. She was one of those people who could make the switch from sleep into wakefulness immediately, so she was deeply shocked by the large, soft bed in which she found herself.

Bolting upright, she stared confusedly at her surroundings. She had been sleeping in a large, comfortable bed with luxurious sky blue silk sheets. The thick, warm blanket which covered her felt smooth and soft against her skin, and Kerrayrlia realized that it too, was made of silk, at least on the outside. The room she was in was two times larger than her room at the Bardic Collegium. Most of its furnishings were luxurious and elegant, from the black marble fireplace to the thick, black carpet on the floor.

"So, you're awake at last, Kerri." Kerrayrlia looked to her right, where the voice had come from. Zarien was sitting with one leg crossed over another in a plush armchair next to the bed. His current expression was torn between worry and joy but the tone of his voice was light-hearted. Kerrayrlia relaxed the tiniest bit. She still did not entirely trust Zarien. Nor, she supposed, did she trust her own feelings about him, since her initial impulse was to throw herself at him and hug him.

"Where am I? What time is it now?" She looked at the large window opposite the fireplace, and saw a faint yellow light appearing in the sky. Her jaws dropped. Is it dawn already? Zarien's all too handsome face creased into a frown. He said carefully, "It is dawn now. You are in a guest room in my father's townhouse. Don't you remember what happened to you last night, Kerri?"

Something in the tone of his voice cause Kerrayrlia to frown. Turning her mind inwards, she gasped as the events of the past night returned in full. Tears filled her eyes as she recalled how the man had pawed at her and… She clamped down on the memories, but could not control her emotions. The tattered remnants of the mask which she had used to hide her emotions away could not be repaired. Shaking strongly, she fell back, buried her face in the pillow and wept.

Strong hands were immediately at her shoulders, comforting and reassuring. She felt Zarien shift himself on to the bed. He murmured softly to her, "It's over, Kerri. Everything is alright." On hearing the last sentence, Kerrayrlia wrenched herself from the pillow and turned to face him. "It's not alright! Do you know what that guy did to me?"

Kerrayrlia started to tell Zarien about all that had befallen her last night. By the time she finished, she had broken into heart-wrenching sobs again. Through her tears-filled eyes, she saw Zarien's face contort first with anger, then softened into grief and compassion when he looked at her. After a moment of hesitation, he put his strong, muscled arms around her and hugged her tightly.

At first, Kerrayrlia stiffened. Last night horrors had left her even more distrustful and afraid of males. She did not think that she could ever be near them without recalling what happened last night. And Zarien was undoubtedly a male, one of those creatures who could not be trusted even with their own daughter. Liritia's stepfather had raped her, her own father was lecherous, and the man last night was around her father's age. I'll never ever trust any male ever again.

But somehow, Zarien was different. Kerrayrlia knew that as soon as she felt his hesitant hands stroking her soft, raven-coloured hair. Zarien feels different… She gradually softened and melted into his embrace, all the while still crying her heart out.