A/N: Ok, I didn't mean to say without changing her clothes. Well, I did, but to show she was that exhausted or whatever. I'm hoping you like it so far, and for you silent readers out there, just review even saying 'good job' or something. Then I know people are reading it, and this story is not scum. makes hopeful face

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My dreams were frantic and rushed. It went through many different scene's, mostly of me running in a field. It was weird, I woke up in a cold sweat even though it was bright and sunny in the dream. I wonder what I was running from then. Again, I woke up, barely rested and cranky. I splashed water on my face and helped my mother get ready. I sent envious glances towards my sister, and even though she couldn't see it, I hoped she could feel it.

"Maman, will Viktor be there?"

"Why wouldn't he be? They are married."

"No, I mean there there. Like, in the house kind of there. And how long will you be gone?"

"I don't know if he will be there, and nor do I care all that much. I will be home by tomorrow night. And don't worry, your father will be home by nightfall today. Finally." I let out a sigh of relief. I didn't like him not at home, and it wasn't because I was scared or anything, I just liked knowing that he was here. But it didn't really matter because Sebastian, my older brother, was right next door. Sebastian was a fine person, and a quite successful farmer, even though we advised him against it. He however, had a secondary job, which was smart. He had gone to school, and he decided to become a doctor. He was not by any means that greatest, or smartest, or even the most talented, but he was one, and that mattered.

After she left, and it took a reasonable amount of time, I got dressed and ready for the day. I couldn't wait, and I left a note for Galatea, hoping that she would see it and not worry. I practically ran, feeling the wind blow through my hair; I didn't care if it was not tied back, I liked it down better. I could feel the early morning sun beating down on my back weakly; it was right in the middle of the Autumn season, and already the leaves were browning and falling.

I jumped over a puddle, and I had a stitch in my side. I clutched my side, wheezing and panting. It must have rained overnight, because there were quite a few of these puddles, and my feet were becoming sore from jumping and landing oddly, not to mention very, very wet. When I finally ran up to the part of the river that I had met Kaspar, I was disappointed to see that he wasn't there. Of course, my expectations shouldn't have been so high for a stranger.

I remembered that I could speak. Well, that was stupid, of course I could speak, but my voice was back, miraculously, even though it was still a bit shaky. Music started to play again, and I wonderful feeling went through my body.

"Ahem" I heard a voice behind me, and I spun around, not unlike last night. The music was still loud, but I shunted it aside so I could focus on the boy in front of me.

"I'm back." I said with a tiny voice.

"I see that. You are back for dance lessons?" He asked. He had a slight accent, and I laughed.

"No, no. Not for dancing, but to talk. I would like to talk to you." He said nothing, but smiled kindly, and a little sadly.

"Ok," he said. "What would you like to know?"

"How long have you lived here?"

"Far too long." I was puzzled at his answer, but I shrugged it off.

"How old are you?" I suddenly started to feel quite rude asking him all these questions. He paused before answering.

"I am 18 years old." He said, his voice catching, and he shook his head, as if ridding himself of a bad memory. I smiled to myself, trying to forget his grimace and melancholy look. 18 years old. He was two years older than me, and I was already planning my future, which was wrong, I know, because I barely knew anything about him other than his age and name.

"Tell me a little about you, Falya."

"I myself am 16 years old," I smiled at how his eyes widened, and I wondered why they did. "I have an older brother, and three sisters. One is married, one is getting married, and one does not want to get married. And then there is me, engaged to someone, and I do not even know who." He laughed, a little uneasily, but it was a laugh, and I rejoiced in the sound.

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We talked for a while, and I learned that he had no mother; she had died a while ago, apparently, he wasn't saying how long, and I didn't want to pester him. He got really quiet then, and I changed the subject, and we got onto what he did for a living. He was a doctor, and I of course informed him that my brother was one too, and that maybe they could meet each other some day. Up to that point, I had never seen him that sad or his eyes so expressionless. It was as if he had just lost all hope in life, and was ready to throw in the rag. I also asked him if he had ever been outside of the village, or if he had gone very far in travels. He smiled ruefully, and grinned a malicious grin, and I was wondering if I was safe or not. I looked around, and noticed that my proximity to my brother's house was not too close, and I began to fidget with my fingers.

"I have traveled far. So very far, and it was cold. I thought I would never get out, but instead I came here. And here to stay, it seems." He said, and he spat on the ground, as if it were to blame for his misfortune. He stared at the ground, and while I had a mental fight with myself, and decided to not ask him anymore questions, before I became to scared and would do something I would regret.

The fire left his eyes, and after a not totally comfortable silence, in which I had inched away from him ever so slightly, I could hear him breathing again, but with a less renewed vigor. I looked up to look in his amazingly blue eyes, yet, when I did, he did not meet my gaze, even though I knew he had been gazing at me not a moment before. I wished I hadn't asked him questions, any of them at all, for they seemed to grieve him terribly, and I was ashamed of doing so.

"I'm sorry," I blurted out. I hadn't even meant to.

"For what?" he replied, a little confusion shown on his face.

"For vexing you with the questions. I hadn't meant to, honest; I was just curious." I said, embarrassment creeping up with a flush onto my face.

"You? Vex me? No, you did not, not with those questions. I am more surprised that you did not ask me of whether-" and he shut his mouth promptly at that, and resumed a pleasant smile. I furrowed my eyebrows, wondering what he could have meant.

"And if I had asked, what you had meant of course, would you have answered it?" he merely smiled.

"You would never ask. You would never know the question."

"Never?"

"Never." He uttered quietly

"Are you ever getting married?" I asked, out of the blue, but directly after his statement of never.

"It is possible."

"Of course it is possible silly," I countered, "Why ever wouldn't it be?" I said with a playful grin, batting him on the arm.

"Oh, this and that," he evaded, keeping from me something I greatly wished to know.

"Well, I am. And I do not want to. It coincides that it is arranged as well, and I cannot meet him until then." I fanned angrily, feeling a hot rush flooding my cheeks.

"That's a pity then." He said quietly. "Would you love him, if ever, had you not liked him on the sight?"

"It is possible." I said, throwing his words back, "But most likely not, well, I suppose..." I shrugged, I didn't even know the answer to my own heart.

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As it got dark, I reluctantly looked back in the direction of home, and I guessed it was around dinner time. I saw Galatea walking with Sebastian and talking animatedly, using her long arms to accentuate her point. He was just nodding, and looking around; he, I'm pretty sure, was looking for me, and Galatea was talking about something in a book that she read. The music was starting to fade, and as I started to realize that I wanted to go home. I don't know why though, because I liked Kaspar very much, and in my heart I wished to stay. But I gave away to my whims, and I bid him goodbye 'til another day. Parting was awkwards though, we both stood there, not knowing what to say or do, until I blurted

"Well then, maybe tomorrow?"

"Er, yes. I think that would suffice." And we stood there again, until he reached out a shaking hand, and I shook it, but we both felt that it was a stiff act.

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A/N: Wowee this is one of my longer chappies. Actually though, I just section it off, and it doesn't really have chapters, which is ridicoulous. Review!