A/N: I know this chapter is rather short but I promise the next one will be twice as long. Since I'm a bit short of time, I'll leave out the review comments this time but, you know, your reviews are always appreciated.

Petalwing

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Chapter 33 - Reflection and Distraction

For the next few days, Raistlin didn't have much time to consider what had happened in the fortuneteller's wagon or what powers Naranja's mother might have. The days went by quickly, the tasks of the trek demanding everyone's full attention. In the evenings, Raistlin fell into bed exhausted from the day's work. He was not the only one. Even the Teketolls and Tasselhoff appeared quieter and more serene then usual. While on the road, the gypsies even did without the obligatory camp-fire gatherings in the evening. They needed their sleep at night and the mornings started early. The days passed without a chance for Raistlin to rest or to proceed further with his studies. Meanwhile he had gotten accustomed to the idea that he would get his next useful chance in Solace not earlier. However, it was still frustrating to carry a powerful artifact around without being allowed to investigate it.

The kender girl had compared his situation with hanging around in a sugar-baker's shop on a fasting day. Raistlin had soon found that his involuntary dream acquaintance was a sputtering well of proverbs of all sorts. Unbelievingly silly proverbs most of the time, but they occasionally met the point. Though he refused to admit it, he had somehow begun to look forward each day to the evening and to their meetings. Of course he didn't actually enjoy these encounters with the Queen of Nonsense, but at least he didn't need to keep up the absurd charade while being with her. Each conversation between them turned out to be an argument, of course. A logical occurrence, since she was obviously unable to lead a serious discussion, while he saw no point in meaningless small-talk. Their mutual rants, however, had at least a relieving quality. After having to abstain from magical studies, he was forced to use this as another way of releasing his general frustration. It wasn't as effective as thrusting himself into secluded study, but useful nonetheless.

After a week the jugglers decided to take a one day break to replenish stocks and provisions. They camped in a valley not far away from the road, near woods providing them with wood for fires and repair work. To Raistlin's dismay, the prospect of sleeping late the next day led unavoidably to the typical party in the evening. The jugglers seemingly needed their feasting as others needed breathing.

Raistlin attended the revelry as long as necessary to be inconspicuous before he had allowed himself to flee from a certain kender's star-crossed looks. Not feeling like going back to the wagon either, he found himself at the edge of the forest after a while, enjoying the tranquil silence of the trees. He sat down on a huge stone and relaxed, a soft summer breeze caressing the skin of his face. He took a deep breath and realized for the first time how relieving it felt to be free from the constant sickness. He had left it behind in his body and the kender had to cope with it now. Of course she had complained innumerable times about his state of health but as long as this mad exchange lasted, it was her task to deal with it. He snickered soundlessly at the thought of an astonished and frightened Nima suffering from a coughing attack. Let the fierce girl know how it felt to be in his shoes. Sometimes during the last few days he had felt a slight discomfort in the area of his lungs but that was surely a result of the mental stress this whole affair caused him.

Now that he had time, he pondered the crystals again and thought back to the argument with the fortuneteller. Who was Naranja's mother? Did she bear any powers he couldn't assess or had she just tried to bluff him?

He hadn't come further in his reflections when soft steps hurried near and a graceful female silhouette appeared out of the night, quickly turning into Naranja's slender form. He kept quite and motionless, but apparently she was looking for him and had spotted him by know.

"Ha, Nima. Here you are. I wouldn't have found you but Tiomar said he saw you walking down this way."

Raistlin rolled his eyes. Oh, how unspeakably grateful he was to the ranger for this.

"What are you doing here in the middle of the night, alone? Are you troubled for some reason?"

Now the obligatory tell-your-best-friend questioning had begun. Such rituals of mutual torture were the reason he didn't have friends. His enemies were sufficient, thank you.

"No I just needed some time to think." Raistlin played the situation down.

"Think? What about?" Naranja sat down next to him. "Maybe I can help you think."

Oh that girl was annoyingly persistent.

"No, no. I was just relaxing."

"Relaxing..." she pondered. "Relaxing is fine. The last days were somewhat straining and not very enjoyable. I hate routines. I love life to be adventurous and interesting with new things and excitement luring beneath each corner."

In the darkness she couldn't see him frowning. What did she know of the hardships of adventure? Maybe she would learn her lessons soon, and they would be hard, he could have promised her that. They always were. However, he preferred to keep the peace and stay silent. The slight wind turned and carried the sound of music from the camp with it. Suddenly Naranja clapped him on the shoulder.

"Hey, you know what? Sitting is not as half as relaxing as dancing."

She slid from the stone and tried out a few dancing steps.

"I haven't seen you dance in a long time, Nima. Why don't you dance anymore? You used to be so keen on dancing."

Oh blast! The little kender was likewise a dancer? Couldn't this cursed girl have any decent interests like reading or learning? Of course this was wishful thinking; since when did kender read anything besides outdated maps of dubious provenance?

"I still do dance." Raistlin tried. "I just didn't feel like doing it constantly. You know, routines..."

Naranja laughed.

"Oh c'mon Nima. I never though I'd say this but don't be such a spoilsport. Isn't it great? Only we two and the night? Nobody else is here besides us and the trees. It's summer, we're young, we have a good time, why don't you want to dance? C'mon! I show you some new steps. That'll be fun!"

He sighed inwardly. She was so persistant. Of course she wouldn't go until he gave in and did as she demanded. And if he insisted on his refusal to dance, more questions would follow and she would likely become suspicious. He consoled himself with the fact that it was only themselves and the night. That was better than being forced to dance another time, probably with Tasselhoff and the rest being around. No, the remoteness of this place was definitely preferable. Slowly he let himself slide from the stone and joined her.

"Fine, show me the steps, but afterwards I'll go to bed, I'm awfully tired."

She clasped her hands in approval and then grabbed his, dragging him to an even spot.

"Now that's the Nima I know. And that's what I always do when I'm about to get depressed. I dance with my friends."

The music was not loud but could still be heard clearly. She began to move to the rhythm, showing him an unfamiliar step pattern.

"Yeah, can you feel it? You just start moving your legs to the front and the back, its not that difficult."

He didn't pay much attention to her words, he heard her speaking but the meaning behind her sentences didn't matter. He tried to move a little and copy her steps. The lively rhythm of the dance, the sounds of drums and a joyful viola rustled through the soft sounds of the summer woods as if even the wind and the trees shared the dance, subtly swaying back and forth in harmony.

'Let's get over with his nonsense.' Raistlin thought resignedly.

TBC

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A/N: To Childlike Empress: I know regardless of what I say, you'll probably point out that this chapter hints at Raistlin/Naranja again... but... but... the bunnies made me do it!!!