Chapter 16- The other Side of Ano.

Note: This happens between 13 and 15 if you couldn't tell.

"Go shine the inside of your helmet, if you do not die of the fumes, the sight of your reflection surely will kill you. (It's not as if we need three healers.)"

Edwin's taunt from the morning was still echoed in his head. Anomen had decided, (against Lady Jaheira's wishes) to try to talk to Lady Anni, as it had been two risings since the incident. At the time he had not wondered at the Red Wizard's disappearance, and never once did the idea that the wizards's absence had anything to do with the lady's had never been entertained. Had Anomen thought carefully about it he may have questioned it and been able to prepare himself for what was to come.

Anomen had knocked on the door to her room, fully excepting Lady Anni to answer, not Edwin, who from the looks of it, had just pulled his robes on barely covering his body.

"What is it?" Edwin snapped. Anomen's brow furrowed, confused for a moment.

"My apologies, I mistook this for Lady Anni's room." Edwin smiled snidely as he pushed the door open allowing Anomen to see inside. At first Anomen couldn't understand why Edwin was showing him this as it was only a woman laying in the bed, her head turned away from him. His confusion was short lived however as she sifted in her sleep, allowing him a glimpse of her face.

There laying with only a thin blanket covering her, was Anni.

" 'Lady' Anni is mine. She always was. It just took her some time to realize it. (I, of course knew the whole time. Yes of course.)" Edwin's smirk grew at the shock on Anomen's face.

Before he could form a coherent word, Edwin delivered his parting shot and slammed the door closed. At first Anomen could only stand there unable to comprehend what he had just seen or heard, until a feminine moan reached his ears. He blushed to the tips of his ears and quickly ran away.

---

So that was why Anomen had spent the day in the slums, using the gifts Helm had given to him at administer to those in need. His normal arrogance had been stripped away and self-doubt now resided in him. He had tried to act as a future knight of Helm should, he had tried to court Lady Anni as he had seen other knights court ladies. He could not see were he had went wrong with his courting. He even tried to romance her as he had read in those books his sister had given him, claiming every guy could win a woman if they acted like the men in those books.

Maybe he was just trying to hard to find someone, after all he had only truly felt companionship for Lady Anni. He truly had never felt anything so far beyond friendship for any woman thus far. Maybe there was something wrong with him?

That thought plagued him as he walked towards the Crooked Crane, not intending to return to the same inn Edwin was at for the moment. He also knew his younger cousin and his friends had a habit of visiting. It would be good to talk to his cousin again, maybe even get some news of Moira, as Cor refused to allow Anomen to even look at his sister nowadays.

As he neared the Crooked Crane he noticed a man in red robes pressing a woman in black against a wall, there was only one man Anomen had ever seen with robes that red with what appeared to be gold thread. -That cad can't even wait a day before moving on to his next conquest?!- Anomen felt rage and sorrow at the same time. Rage for the fact that Edwin would so quickly leave Lady Anni's side for another (and what kind of woman wears clothes that tight?), and sorrow that Edwin couldn't appreciate what he had. He sadly shook his head and entered the inn. He would deal with the wizard in the morning.

Inside the inn there was the usual mix of revelers, gamblers and couples having a good time. One particular girl dancing with a young man of darker skin of one from Calishite. Her face was flushed as she laughed with joy, her long hair unbridled, flowing around her as she swayed her hips.

"Moira! What are you doing here!" Anomen yelled as he watched his little sister dance. She turned from her partner and rolled her eyes at him. She whispered in her partner's ear and walked over to her brother.

"Ano! I didn't think I'd see you here." She smiled innocently at him, gifting him with a small kiss on his cheek.

"How did you get out of the house? By Helm don't tell me the bastard kicked you out!"

"No, no! Calm down!" She shook her head vigorously. "I snuck out so Yusef and I could spent some time together."

"Yusef!? Saerk's son? Are you nuts, Moira? You know how Cor is at war with that man and his family. Can you trust this...this boy? How do you know that he's not just leading you on? You are still very young, I do not wish to see you hurt."

"Oh, Ano. I'm not a little kid anymore and Yuri made sure he was ok before he'd let him near me." She smiled sadly. "I know you always want to be there for me and I know you can't. I've learned to take care of myself." She gave him a hug.

"Moira... how can you be sure? Not every man's intention is pure. With our father's rivalry he could be using you to get back at Cor." Anomen opened his mouth to say more but was stopped by his sister boxing his ears.

"Anomen! I'm not a child anymore!" Unfortunately her foot stomping on his did little to convince him.

"Maybe I should speak for myself here. I can assure you, my intentions are pure as you put it. In fact I do believe Moira is late in telling you something." Yusef appeared behind her, wrapping his arms around her, pressing a kiss to her cheek. Before Anomen could speak on his actions Moira quickly spoke.

"Yusef and I are getting married! I've been wanting to tell you, but I didn't want to listen to these really bad ideas you have of Saerk's family. Trust me it's only the fathers that are that bad."

"Yes, I can agree on that. My father has raised me to hate those who bear the Delryn name. I was shocked to find the woman I first laid eyes on and stole my heart was one of them, but I would not change her for the world." He held his hand out to Anomen. "I offer my hand in friendship and ask your blessing for our union as I wouldn't dare with Cor."

Anomen stared at the two of them. Moira gazed at the man with love in her eyes and he the same. He would never deny his sister anything that would give her happiness. With a sigh he took Yusef's offered hand and couldn't help smiling at Moira's cheerfulness. She talked excitedly at things he could barely keep track of at the speed she rambled on, he caught parts of a wedding, moving away from Amn and something about Yuri.
"What was that about Yuri?"

"Oh, you didn't know. Poor Yuri he was sent away. Dad was laughing about it for hours, all I know is he was using his magic to get arrested and something about a pink haired girl. I think Yuri finally lost it. And no one knows where Ly disappeared to." Since Anomen had never met Ly he didn't give much thought to it as sometimes he wondered if Ly really did exist. He sat with his sister and future brother in law and they talked the night away.

By the end of the night Anomen was convinced things would work out for his little sister. Yuri was probably at the same place as Imoen and he would get his mischievous cousin out of his most current mess. Things were looking up.