For those who haven't figured it out, I am a musician, so I'm going to keep bugging you people about what music I am writing to. I have playlists for characters that have complex personalities. Acacia doesn't have a playlist, interestingly enough, but Andreya does. So, here's hers, and if you own it, listen to it.

Beethoven "Egmont Overture", Coldplay "Yellow", Deftones "Minerva", Red Hot Chili Peppers "Otherside", BYU Singers "O Nata Lux", Cambridge Singers "Beati quorum via" and "O magnum mysterium", Massive Attack "Angel", "Future Proof", "Everywhen", "Prayer for England", "Smalltime Shot Away", "What Your Soul Sings", "Protection", Rob D "Clubbed2Death (Kurayamino Mix)", Sean Keane "May Morning Dew". Have fun!

Thanks for all of the reviews! Keep them up! OK, time to see how sharp you people are… In this chapter, if you read carefully, you can figure out major parts of the plot.

Hellphyre-Don't hurt yourself! Thanks for the research. The good news is that I am now in the same state as my books, so any mistakes I make are me being lazy. Kick me often about them!

M3mOrii- I love your reviews! They're always so nice. I hope you like this chapter just as much!

Disclaimer: This is fan fiction. I'm not making a profit.

Once again, ratings warning. I think I rated it T, and if I didn't, this chapter is rated T! No sex, but there is some kissing.

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Chapter 7

"I can't believe we're doing this." Acacia's voice was muffled by the layers of her scarf, which was wrapped around her face. Her knitted hat was pulled low over her eyes, leaving only the barest slit for her to see through. The rest of her body was muffled in layers of clothes, sweaters and a fur-lined cloak. Hellsbane was none too thrilled to be pulled out of a warm stable, and it appeared Miri was not the only Companion who refused to give up her horse blanket when rousted into the cold. They had been on the road for some marks now, and she was beginning to wonder where Derrick was taking her. "It's freezing!"

Derrick laughed. "And the river froze over last night. We're having an Ice Festival!"

"Really?" Acacia could hear the excitement in her voice.

"I watched Alberich throw a log on the ice this morning. The ice did not even chip. The proclamation went out this morning. You didn't hear all the Silver Arrow Companions getting ready to go out?"

Acacia shook her head. "After the whole two candlemarks of sleep I got the night before, I slept like the dead last night. Andreya might have heard. Everything wakes her up. I always wonder how she gets enough sleep, especially since she normally sleeps during the day."

Derrick shrugged. "She might not need that much sleep."

Acacia shuddered. "If you had ever seen her when she's sleep deprived, you wouldn't have said that."

"Scary?"

"Understatement."

Derrick laughed then pointed to a trail off the side of the road. "Here we are. Waystation."

She grinned. "I recognize this place. Auntie Kero and I came here once when I was a little girl. This is where the dastardly secret came out."

"Dastardly secret?"

"That I wasn't really related to Kero and that she didn't care."

"Ah-hah. That dastardly secret."

They both dismounted in the clearing before the station and Derrick went into the building to light a fire. Ilayna followed him in, so Acacia led Hellsbane into the hut only to discover it was large enough for the two of them and Ilayna and Hellsbane.

"I always wondered why this Waystation was so close to Haven."

Derrick did not look up from where he was building a fire. "It's more for the Heralds who are in Haven but don't like being near all the people; a place to hide."

Acacia began working to unpack the picnic lunch and set it on the table. Derrick finally got the tinder to catch and began building up the fire. When it finally started generating some warmth, Acacia gratefully started shedding her layers. The first thing Derrick did was pull out some oats and made a warm mash for the hoofed people in the Waystation, adding just a touch of sugar to make a treat out of it. Hellsbane, smelling the sugar, began prancing in place. Ilayna looked at her, then shook her head sadly. Derrick laughed.

"Ilayna says it's horses like Hellsbane that give other horses a bad name."

Acacia turned to Ilayna. "Hey! Just because Hellsbane is a greedy-guts doesn't mean she isn't a fine horse."

"Ilayna says she's sure Hellsbane is a fine horse…fine at eating, that is."

Acacia shook her head. "You're just jealous. You're excited, too, you just don't want to stoop down to showing it."

Ilayna raised her nose haughtily in the air, ignoring the jab when it struck true. Derrick chuckled. "She's not deigning to answer that one."

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The meal progressed with them simply enjoying each other's company. After they had enjoyed the food, they snuggled up together by the fire. The silence stretched between them, but Acacia realized it was not the type of silence that needed to be filled. Derrick had propped himself up on his saddle and Acacia was resting in his arms, her head tucked into the crook of his neck. He smelled good, she realized, the smell of outdoors and cold air mixing well with his spicy underlying scent. She slid her hand across his chest, nuzzling at his neck. The tightening of his hand at her waist was the only indication he gave that he even noticed.

Emboldened, Acacia rolled until she was sprawled flat on top of him, her head pressed to his chest. His heart was pounding under her ear and his hand tangled in her hair while the hand at her waist began to roam. She pulled herself up his body until she could see his heated eyes. Smiling slightly, she leaned in, lightly nipping his lips. He only withstood a moment of such teasing before he growled and rolled her over, landing on top her, his hand cushioning her head from the ground. It was his turn to tease her, lightly nipping along her jaw before he met her lips with his and finally sank in for their first true kiss.

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It was past sunset when Acacia once again stepped through the door of the cottage, letting in a cold wind that caused Andreya to curse and huddle into her thick sweater. Acacia was too happy to notice. She pushed the door closed and drifted over to the kitchen table in a cloud of giddiness before settling into a chair, sighing in contentment.

"He couldn't have been that good."

Acacia turned to Andreya, thinking the caustic comment had come from her friend, then realized it had come from Kero.

"For your information, he was fantastic."

Kero raised an eyebrow as she ladled out three bowels of stew from the pot Eldan had left simmering on the hearth. With so many people in and out of the cottage at all hours of the evening, dinner was a very informal affair with people grabbing food when they got hungry or had time. Only people below the age of fourteen had a set dinner hour.

"Now I know you two really didn't get too far." A loaf of bread emerged from the bread box and she wielded a wicked knife with competence. The loaf was quickly reduced to several thick slices on the cutting board and a bowl of butter joined it.

Acacia sat up from her slouch in the chair, a vaguely insulted look on her face.

"And how would you know that?"

Kero snorted as she gathered up spoons for the stew and a butter knife. "If he was really that good and you two really did make the beast with two backs, you certainly would not be sitting at my table getting ready to eat dinner. You'd probably still probably be demonstrating the depths of his talents, or you would be unable to walk."

Acacia contemplated going for broke, then shrugged and gave in gracefully as Kero expertly balanced the bowls and cutting board. "OK, so we just kissed, but still…"

She sighed and rolled her eyes to the Havens, patting her chest as if she were trying to catch her breath.

"You, little girl, are entirely moonstruck, and if I ever see you do that breathless thing again, I will take you out to the salle and beat it out of you."

Acacia grinned as Kero put a bowl in front of her and began distributing food. "Do not even pretend it was not like that for you and Uncle Eldan."

"It certainly was not. No weapons at the table during mealtimes," Kero reminded Andreya, who shrugged.

"I'm not hungry."

Kero put on her Captain mask. "Do I look like I care whether or not you are hungry? The Healer said you needed to put on some weight, so you're eating. That's an order."

Andreya did not look up from cleaning a minute spec of dirt out of the gutter of one her favored matched swords. "The Healer does not have to squeeze through windows in the middle of the night."

"And what are you squeezing through? Arrow slits? Weapons off the table and eat your dinner."

Andreya finally looked up with another objection, but closed her mouth when Kero froze her with The Look. Acacia winced and tucked into her stew before Kero could turn The Look on her. Andreya held out for longer than any of the girls had, longer even than any of the Bolts, but finally relented and sheathed her various swords, knives and daggers. Kero placed the bowl in front of her and turned back to Acacia while she sat down.

"I did not have time to get all moonstruck over Eldan. We were being chased by Karsite Sunpriestesses, if you remember. All I had time to do was jump him in between visits from that damn demon of theirs. Eat, damn you, or I will take you out to the salle and beat you instead of Acacia."

Andreya jumped guiltily in her chair and began to actually eat some stew instead of pushing it around like she had been.

"Just for that little attempt at subterfuge, you can eat some butter bread as well."

"Yes, ma'am," Andreya grumbled.

"No feeding the dog, either."

Andreya had the grace to look guilty, and Rex's sigh of disappointment from underneath the table was all the evidence Acacia needed to figure out that was exactly what Andreya had planned.

"Where's Uncle Eldan, Frick, Frack and Freckles?" Acacia asked in an effort to turn the subject.

"He took them to one of the ponds in Companion's Field to teach them some ice skating. We thought it might be something useful for them to know for when the Festival kicks off tomorrow."

"Festival?" Andreya looked up from the piece of meat she had been studying.

"Mm." Kero swallowed a mouthful of stew, then quickly grabbed the cup of water she had been nursing over the course of the evening as the stew scalded its way down to her stomach. "Whew. Ice Festival. The Queen usually declares one when the Terilee River freezes solid. It's an excuse to have a really big party in the dead of winter. There's going to be a Ball this year, too."

They all looked up at a brisk knock on the cottage door and Rex gave a single, obligatory woof from under the table. Kero caught Acacia's eye and nodded toward the door, indicating she should answer it. While Acacia went to the door, Kero turned back to Andreya and watched her studying the same chunk of meat.

"You know, you won't be as cold if you eat that."

Andreya quickly scooped up the meat and swallowed it after barely pausing to chew it.

"Well?"

Both Andreya and Kero looked up at the sound of Adelie's voice. Acacia dragged her in out of the cold and pushed her in the general direction of the table.

"Hello, Adie. It's wonderful to see you again. How is your brother? Oh, you noticed I have three new siblings. Yes, they're wonderful." Acacia's voice carried a level of censure.

"Hello, Herald Captain."

Kero nodded in greeting. "Lady Adelie, it is always a pleasure to see you. I trust things are going well with you."

Adie grinned as she sat down across from Andreya, who was now nursing her own scorched throat with a mug of warm cider. She quickly began divesting herself of her outer gear. "Everything is going very well, thank you. And yourself? I understand you have three new children." The last was said with a wink in Acacia's direction.

Kero smothered a laugh. "Ah, yes. Twin three-year-old boys, Merrick and Graham, and Sariah, their six-year-old sister."

"Congratulations! I don't believe I've met you," Adie said to Andreya, who had decided to pick around the meat and concentrate on the large amounts of vegetables that had been included in the stew. Acacia put down the slice of bread she had been eating.

"Adie, this is Andreya. She's a friend from the Hunters."

"Well, them I'm doubly pleased to meet you. It's not often I get to meet people from Cacie's other life."

"Likewise."

Satisfied she had observed all of the social necessities, Adelie turned back to Acacia. "Well?"

"Well, what?"

"Acacia shena Tale'sedrin, you and Herald Derrick went to a Waystation by yourselves and you have the audacity to look confused? Was he any good?"

"She didn't get any," Kero commented, scooping up more stew.

Adelie closed her eyes with a pained look. "Cacie. You were in a Waystation with Derrick by yourselves, and you didn't…you know. Get frisky?"

"He's a good kisser."

"Old information."

"I'm sorry I didn't live out your prurient fantasies--" Acacia broke off as the door to the cottage opened without a knock and Damini stepped in, supply bag slung over one shoulder.

"Auntie Kero, I have the front and back of that chain shirt ready for you to try on."

"Sit, eat. You can poke at me later."

Happiness suffused Dami's elfin features. "Uncle Eldan cooked?"

"Of course."

Before anyone could blink, Dami had shed her cloak and hat and was at the kitchen hearth, eagerly filling a bowl and grabbing a spoon. It was obvious she had not been at her anvil today, for she was wearing a set of mage robes that were not fire resistant, unlike her "working" robes, and her hair had been allowed to stay down. Acacia did not envy Dami her hair. Ianthe and Dami were the only true redheads Acacia had ever known, until she met Merrick, Graham and Sariah, that is, even if they showed signs of turning to a deep auburn. Dami and Ianthe's hair had none of the orange hints that most redheads had, but where Ianthe's hair was long and sleek, Dami's was wild with curls. To make matters worse, Dami rarely remembered to have her hair cut, so it exploded from her head in masses of curls and cascaded down her back.

In deference to the fire she was always near, the sleeves of Dami's deep burgundy robes clung down the length of her muscular arms and the robe itself stopped at her knees. It was made of good quality wool, thick enough to keep away the drafts that tended to blow through a smithy when the fires were not pumped up. The breeches she wore with her robes were also good quality, but showed some burns and scarring. Her working robes were actually made of leather to protect her skin from the fierce heat and flying burning particles. Acacia was actually rather taken with the style of the robes. While Dami had only thought of function, the robes had turned out to be an elegant sweep that went to the toes of her boots and remained close to her body. Dami had decided on the robes instead of breaches to set her apart from normal smiths. Those robes, however, did nothing to protect her when she did not wear them, such as in the summer. Like those other smiths, Dami wore the absolute minimum amount of clothing in the summer. As a result, her arms were pocked with burn scars and she always seemed to have a healing burn.

"Mmmmmm… much better than my own cooking."

Acacia frowned at Dami as she sopped up the last of the broth from her bowl with the last of her bread. "Why don't you eat with the Court, or the Collegium?"

"People at Court are boring. They spend the entire meal arguing politics or trying to get into favor with the Queen or Prince. Nothing interesting. The Trainees like interesting things, but they never stop asking questions. Can't eat properly there. Are you going to finish that?" The last was addressed to Andreya, who had eaten all of the vegetables and managed to force down her bread, but left the meat.

"Yes," Kero said, glaring at Andreya, who almost squirmed in her chair.

"I can't."

"That is the most I've ever seen her eat, Auntie Kero," Acacia commented.

"All right then."

"More for me!" Dami reached over and picked up Andreya's bowl, then dumped the meat into her own bowl. "So, what are we gossiping about?"

"Your sister failed to enjoy the talents of a certain Herald," Adie supplied.

"Which sister and which Herald? If we're talking about Ianthe, I'd be surprised she even missed one male Herald."

"I heard that." Ianthe stepped in through the door and began shedding her own outdoor gear. "Did Uncle Eldan cook anything? I think I could eat Merlyn's saddle." Kero gestured to the hearth and Ianthe crossed over to it, her hips swaying in a way that caused men's jaws to drop. "I'm not that bad, you know. Aiko gives me plenty of competition."