A/N: Sorry for taking so long in posting. Life has a way of sneaking up on you. :P

Within the first week of leaving the palace and settling in an old family home, affectionately called Hunter's Lodge, Logan began receiving letters from Tara. She missed him. That was the first thing she would write every letter that he received. Running the kingdom wasn't what she thought it would be and she was afraid of what was going to happen. There were so many promises she had made and she worried about fulfilling them.

Logan dutifully replied to each letter. He tried his best to raise her spirits and give some words of wisdom. He told Tara that Walter was there to help. The man was a fountain of knowledge when it came to the kingdom and its people. While all the others in her group of rebel leaders may have dispersed for the time being, Walter was still there.

Hunger's Lodge was too large for one person but Logan preferred his solitude. He had hired a woman to clean for him once every few days, but even then there was little interaction between them. Logan could tell the woman didn't like him but a job was a job. He paid her no mind and focused on reading and delving into hobbies that he had long forgotten.

Eventually Logan found himself wanting some form of companionship. While he was close to both the Dweller Camp and Brightwall, he could never force himself to travel to either. His tyranny was still fresh in the people's mind and there was no doubt he would be met with anger. In the end he bought himself a dog, one to be trained as a hunting hound, and a horse. With the money that had been left in his name, Logan had a stable built and began to wonder about his life away from the throne.

It worried Logan when the post didn't arrive. Tara seemed to be rather staunch on a letter arriving on the same day, every week. He shrugged it off, though. Logan could only assume that it was royal duties that had kept her from sending the letter. There had been many times when he had no time to do simple things, even the ones that had been placed in a routine.

Logan gave a sharp whistled as he stepped into the midday sun. He heard a high pitched bark sound as a reply. It was only a matter of seconds before his canine companion came bounding through the knee high grass. The dog's brown fur was damp, giving the indication that either he ran through a puddle to get to him or had been swimming in a nearby pond. Either way the dog was there and excited that he had been called.

"Come on," Logan said softly, "let's see how Macha is fairing."

The dog recognized the horse's name and quickly bounded for the stable. Logan followed, glancing up at the passing clouds. They were growing larger as the day went on and they were moving at a swift pace. He wasn't well versed in reading the weather but he knew what it was like before a storm.

"Elcmar!" Logan glanced down at his companion as he spoke the word. He smiled as the dog barked in response; he was learning his name. "Keep watch." With another bark he trotted out of the barn and took his spot in the sun-kissed grass. Logan took his time tending to the Macha and the horse enjoyed every moment. With Elcmar far from being the ideal hunting dog, she wasn't taken out as much as Logan wished.

An alarmed bark brought Logan out of his thoughts and caused Macha to pull away with a tense snort. It seemed none of them were used to the idea of visitors. Logan stroked Macha's neck, whispering to her before slipping out of the stable. Elcmar stood beside the large door, fur on his back bristling as he continued to bark.

Logan followed his dog's gaze, spotting a carriage coming to a stop at the property's gate. He didn't recognize it; the woman who cleaned his home lived close enough to walk. "Let's go," he whispered. Elcmar followed beside him, ears back and a growl still in his throat. Drawing closer it was still a mystery as to who sat in the carriage. The driver wore plain clothes and, as Logan expected, glared at him.

"I believe you may have the wrong property," Logan said. "I don't receive visitors."

The man frowned and dropped to the ground. "You do now," he said softly as he brushed past Logan. Straightening himself out and putting on a straight face the man opened the carriage door. "We've arrived, ma'am."

Logan felt his heart skip a beat as he watched Tara step out of the carriage, squinting in the sun. "T-Tara?" he stammered.

Tara turned to her brother and for a moment looked slightly confused. It made sense to Logan, though. He had changed over the weeks he was away from the castle; no longer dressed like royalty and, for the first time in ages, eating properly once more. Logan looked like how he had before leaving for Aurora: healthy and toned from work, though now it was due to working with animals and chopping wood rather than swordplay.

"Oh my!" Tara gasped, raising her gloved hands to her mouth. Her escort moved to open the gate but she didn't seem to notice. Ignoring the fact that she was wearing a dress Tara leapt over the fence and threw herself into her brother's arms. "Oh, Logan! I've missed you so much."

Logan could feel his heart pounding as he wrapped his sister in a tight embrace. "You look wonderful, Tara. I am surprised to see you dressed as a woman."

Tara pulled away, giving a playful scowl as she fixed her clothes. "I have to make a good impression at times. And you! I haven't seen you like this in years!" Logan felt himself flush as Tara ran her hands over his arms, her fingers seeming to caress the hidden muscles. "I hadn't realized that keeping that secret took such a toll on you, brother."

"Neither had I."

"You smell like a horse, though."

"That's what happens when you work with one." Logan glanced at Elcmar; he was no longer barking and seemed rather confused. "Why don't you head inside. I just need to finish up in the stable. Elcmar, go with her."

Tara smiled as she looked down at Logan's companion. "If I would have known you had a dog I would have brought mine!" She patted Elcmar on the head and motioned for the carriage driver to follow as she headed towards the house.

Running a hand through his hair Logan headed back to the stable. He didn't know why his sister had decided to visit and his memories of their last moments together were suddenly brought to the forefront of his mind. Running his tongue across his lower lip Logan pushed the thoughts away. He had to focus on other things.