Warnings: A change of style in the middle, methinks.

I must apologize right now for the lateness of this, so, sorry, sorry, sorry! This chapter came about in part because of Rachel, who emailed me and reminded me that it existed. I hope you enjoy it!

15.

"Dearsky," Thayer groaned as he woke. "Why do I hurt?"

Lohen smirked. "Why, Mr. Hero, don't you remember? You fought off those dogs to save the damsel in distress."

"That happened?" Thayer rubbed his head cautiously, wondering how many new cuts he would find. "I can't believe it."

"Believe it, my friend," Lohen said, his grin fading. "You've been out for three days now. That girl of yours has been in here taking care of you, not that we couldn't, of course, but she felt that it was her duty. You did save her after all."

"So I did," he mused pensively. "So I did."

Garrod spoke up, "It's not often we do that, hey?"

Lohen gave a hollow chuckle. "Indeed. It seems so often that we are the ones who create the reasons for someone needing rescue." His mouth quirked into a wry smile. "We are the Kalid-Na'in, after all."

Thayer glanced up at his friend. "It sounds like you're getting soft, Lohengrin!"

Garrod snorted derisively before saying, "If anyone's getting soft, it's you, Mr. Hero. You're the one who's running off and saving ladies, after all."

Thayer tried to lunge across the room and tackle his comrade, but his muscles screamed in agony. He yelped in a pained echo of them. "So how badly was I hurt, before you stitched me up?"

"Oh, there was blood everywhere, you know the deal," Lohen waved a hand in exaggerated indifference. "I think the only problem was that most of it was yours and not someone else's."

Garrod suddenly joined the tale, "Half dead you were, and the girl with you. She was barely on her feet when you both came into the courtyard. It was amazing that she was on her feet at all, really."

Thayer groaned again. "I feel so incompetent now…if a mere girl- a cosseted princess, at that- managed to be on her feet longer than I was, what does that make me?"

"Old, for one," Lohen pointed out flippantly.

"Thank you for your unending support of me and my ego, Lohen." Thayer grinned suddenly, "What's for breakfast?"

"Lunch, you mean?" Garrod pointed out quickly. "I've got some right here," he said, reaching around to a wrapped loaf of bread. "Have some bread. It's good for you."

"Great. Food." Thayer attacked it hungrily, eschewing good manners entirely. Bread crumbs soon littered the rumpled sheets around him, hiding in the dark folds and collecting in random depressions.

"Slow down," Lohen cautioned, an indescribable expression lighting his face. It was an odd hybrid between worry and amusement, and Thayer snorted, spewing parts of his lunch messily across the room.

"You know, I just cleaned that."

All three mercenaries practically choked when Mirian spoke.

"Your highness!" Lohen exclaimed as soon as he recovered, sweeping into a deep bow. "We did not hear you arrive."

Mirian chuckled dryly. "Obviously." She rolled her eyes with the perfect amount of princessly disdain. "Lohengrin's right, though, you shouldn't eat too fast. It could make you sick."

Thayer finally managed to swallow the lump that had lodged in his throat. "Yes mother," he replied meekly. "Whatever you say."

A smile of satisfaction danced momentarily across Mirian's lips. "Small bites. Manners. You have them, use them."

"No, he doesn't…" Garrod muttered laughingly.

"Hush." She scolded mildly.

Over the past three harrowing days, Mirian had found herself growing more comfortable within the fraternity of mercenaries. She could talk to them without feeling as if they pitied her, and they could talk to her and not feel utterly despised. The relationship that had developed as they struggled side by side to keep Thayer alive and healthy was a strong one and a familiar one, and Mirian enjoyed it greatly.

A wry smile arced over her lips. "Do you think you'll be well enough to go to the wedding? Or shall you stay in bed a little while more?"

Thayer frowned. "Wedding?"

"My sister's." The warm air of camaraderie quickly dissipated. "I'm not going to miss it."

Lohen tentatively touched Mirian's sleeve. "Must you talk about this now?"

"Or what?" She glared at him. "Or miss the entire thing? This is the most important day in Selena's life, and I will be there." She stamped a delicate foot. "I will go on my own if I have to."

"Because that worked out so well the last time," Thayer drawled, watching her through half closed eyes. "I think it went particularly well. My favorite part was the pack of dogs trying to rend you piece from piece." He smirked. "What was yours?"

"Then take me," Mirian retorted. "Be my gallant protectors, my knights in shining armor."

Garrod glanced from princess to warrior and back again. "Mirian, Princess, Thayer won't be well enough to go anywhere in time for the wedding. He can't ride with you, d'you see?"

"Then someone else can take me."

Lohen and Garrod looked at each other. Lohen sighed. "I'll take Princess Mirian. We'll not be gone too long." He paused to think, and the ensuing silence dragged on without end. "It shouldn't take us more than two weeks."

"Two weeks!"

Lohen nodded. "A week for the wedding itself, and another week for traveling."

"But I'll hardly see anyone at all!"

"Two weeks." Thayer fixed his intense eyes on Mirian. "No more, no less."

"Fine." Mirian pursed her lips. "Two weeks then. Two weeks away from you."

Author's Note: After an indecently long hiatus, I return. This chapter was one of the most painful things I have ever written, I think. I had to reacquaint myself with all these characters and plotlines! I'm still not sure what I had planned for this, but I'm sure it will all work out in the end…right? Yep! I really do apologize for just dropping off in the middle of the story, but I think we're up and running again. It's going to be a little funny for a few chapters; my writing style has changed since I last worked on this, and I'm still not sure of my characters.

The next chapter, I promise, is longer, and there will hopefully be no years-long wait before it is written!

Please, as always, review and tell me what you think- what can I improve, what would you like to see, what failed miserably, what did you like? Thanks so much…your input will help me get going again.

Love, as always, EvenSong