"I wish you would have told me you were coming to visit."

"And ruin the surprise?" Tara was sprawled out on the floor, lying on her stomach as she stroked an elated Elcmar. Her gloves had been tossed on the table and her bags set just at the door. It was obvious she had already made herself at home. "I don't remember much of this place. Have we always had that stable?"

Logan shook his head and sat on the couch, watching Tara as she continued to give Elcmar all the attention he wanted. "I had it built recently. There is a reason why this is called Hunter's Lodge. Father would stay here when he and his friends decided to leave on a hunting trip."

"You joined him on some of those, didn't you?"

"Only a few before he passed away. Mother never wanted to venture here and my taste for hunting left me for a short time." Logan motioned to Elcmar, "That's his purpose. Elcmar is going to be a hunting dog."

Tara grinned, scratching the dog behind his ears. "And you'll be the best hunting dog ever, won't you boy?"

"Why did you come to visit?" Logan asked resting his chin on his hand.

"I needed to get away." Tara sat up and pulled Elcmar into her lap. She continued to pet him, ignoring his struggles to get away before finally letting go. "It's so hard to please everyone. I don't think I'm becoming the queen everyone wanted me to be."

Logan sighed and motioned for Tara to join him on the couch. She didn't hesitate, a smile on her lips as she sat by his side and nuzzled against him. "You will never please everyone, Tara. Someone will be unhappy with what you decree or how you disperse money. You need to do what's right for the kingdom." He draped his arm around Tara's shoulders and let his head rest against hers as he stared at the empty fireplace. "You may have to break a few of your promises to do so but it will all be for the greater good."

"And after we defeat the Crawler," Tara sighed. "What shall I do then?"

"Rule and find the one you wish to be the King at your side."

Tara let out groan, voicing her displeasure at the idea.

"Unfortunately, Tara, that's how it will go," Logan chuckled. "Surely during your time in Albion you've met someone who has caught your eye?"

"No," Tara huffed. She leaned into her brother's embrace, glaring at nothing particular. After a moment Logan felt her shoulders slump and her head rest heavily on his shoulder. "No one I met seemed to be 'king' material."

Logan smiled slightly, "And what do you consider 'king' material?"

"I suppose someone who cares about the people of Albion and wants nothing more than to see the kingdom prosper." Tara's voice drifted off for a moment. Logan opened his mouth to inquire further but remained silent as he felt his sister's fingers stroke his leg as she continued to speak. "He needs to be strong, both in the physical and emotional sense. Protective, loving. Wanting nothing more than to see me happy! The type of person that would love to take me away and show me that I am the only one that matters in his world."

Logan couldn't respond to any of that. He felt his heart beating heavy in his chest and was frightened Tara could hear it. Her fingers stopped moving and she pushed herself to her feet, stretching lazily. Logan watched her movements, tried his best to study her expression to see if she gave any inkling that she was fully aware of what she was doing. Like always Tara managed to hide her emotions, save for her joy as she walked over to Elcmar.

"Would it be okay if I wander the property?"

Tara's voice brought Logan back to his senses. "Of course," he nodded. "Take Elcmar with you and be back by sundown."

"Sundown?"

"That's when I usually eat."

"Ah! You cook now?" Tara grinned.

"It's nothing compared to what you're used to at the palace," Logan smiled, "but it's enough to feed you."

Tara laughed, waving her hand as she and Elcmar headed for the door. "I bet it tastes wonderful, Logan." She left with a bright smile, her new canine friend barking happily after her.

Logan sat in the silence, cradling his head as he closed his eyes. He could still feel his sister's weight against him and her fingers on his leg. It felt like she was toying with him but Logan couldn't rightfully be upset with her. Not only did he lack proof but he had found himself enjoying the attention. Even the kiss Tara had given him weeks ago had burnt itself into his memory and he found himself, in moments of weakness, lingering on it.

The emotions were confusing, Logan knew that much. And if he knew his sister as well as himself, he knew that Tara was confused as well.

/ / / / / /

Dinner wasn't anything special but Logan found Tara showering him with praise on making it. He apologized about the lack of entertainment but suggested she read. She took him up on the offer, grabbing one of the many books in the house and once more sprawling on the floor before the fire place. The night was cool but not enough for a fire but Tara insisted and Logan found himself unable to deny her the request.

Logan tried to busy himself with his sketching. It was a hobby he had enjoyed as a child but little became of it. He had mastered sketching both Macha and Elcmar in various poses and was had tried his hand at landscapes with little success. That night he set out with the idea of sketching Elcmar once more but found himself drawing his sister instead.

"Is this what you do now," Tara asked with a yawn. "Read and doodle in that book of yours? Don't you visit Brightwall?"

"No. I doubt I'd be all that welcome," Logan murmured, more focused on his sketch. Tara looked up at him, breaking his concentration. He closed the book swiftly and went to retrieve something else from the bookshelf. "How long were you planning on staying?"

Tara shrugged and rested her chin on her hands. "Only a week. How about we visit the pub in Brightwall tomorrow?"

Logan ignored the suggestion, "I'm surprised Walter let you visit and for such a long time."

"He had no choice. I told him he either let me go and send for a carriage or I would walk." Tara paused and watched Logan settle back into his seat. "You never answered my question."

"I told you, I wouldn't be welcome."

"You shouldn't care." Tara stood, leaving her book on the floor as she drew closer to her brother. Logan looked at her over the edge of his book. He said nothing as Tara took the book from his hands, tossing it onto the seat beside him, and tugged him to his feet. She hugged Logan tightly. "With everything I have to do, all the preparations for the coming battle, I want to spend time with you when I can. Staying cooped up any where isn't the way to do it. Just one night out would be wonderful."

Timidly Logan wrapped his arms around Tara, returning the embrace. "Alright. If that's how you feel we can go out tomorrow." He stroked her hair, catching the scent of lavender and noticing that her hair was slowly returning to its natural color. "No one was ever able to tell you no."

Tara looked up and flashed a smug smile. "In that case I think we should get some rest. It feels like it's getting late."

"I suppose it is."

"Where am I sleeping?"

Logan cursed beneath his breath; that was something he hadn't thought about. There was only one bed in the house and before that moment there wasn't a use for any more. The house had been rarely used for more than a single night, and the was either by both their parents or only their father. "The bed, upstairs."

Tara's eye narrowed slightly, "And you?"

"I'll sleep down here during your visit."

"No you won't! I bet that bed is big enough for four people!"

Tara wriggled out of Logan's arms and stomped up the stairs. He waited for a moment, listening to her muffled voice as she surveyed everything. "I knew it!" Tara peered down at Logan from the sleeping loft, a slight frown on her face. "This bed is more than big enough for us both!"

"I'm not sharing a bed with you, Tara," Logan replied. "It's not proper."

"Then you're taking the bed. This is your place and you should have the bed."

"If it is my place and you are Queen, then you should be more comfortable."

Tara drummed her fingers on the railing, her frown deepening. They had been in such stalemates before and there was usually a third party to smooth things out. "Well then, as your Queen I am ordering you to share this damn bed with me."

"You're being childish."

"And you're being stubborn. We're sharing the bed and that's that!"

Tara disappeared from sight, signaling that any form of conversation on the subject was done. Logan grabbed his sister's luggage and joined her in the loft. She paused in her activity, which appeared to be nothing more than tossing the many pillows around the bed, to give him a frown. He sighed and let the luggage drop near the landing.

"Here are your things. I'll wait downstairs while you change."

"Take your night clothes with you so you can change as well. Things will only take longer if I have to go down there and wait for you to dress." Logan couldn't disagree and when everything was said and done both were feeling the call of sleep.

Tara was already beneath the blankets when Logan had extinguished the lights. The moon provided enough light to guide him to the bed and beneath the blankets without an issue. He had his back to Tara and his eyes trained on the wall as thousands of thoughts ran through his mind. It was easy to cope with them on his own but when the object of those thoughts lay beside him, Logan found it hard to push them away.

"Logan?"

"Yes, Tara?"

She shifted beneath the blanket, obviously turning to face him. "I just wanted to thank you for letting me stay here."

Logan smiled to himself, "Why wouldn't I?"

"I know I can be difficult and childish, but you tolerate it all." Logan's breath caught in his throat as he felt Tara slide closer to him. She lay so close beside him but didn't touch him or place herself in his arms. "Ever since our last meeting I...You're always the last thing on my mind when I sleep and the first thought to enter it when I wake."

Logan couldn't respond. He couldn't tell her that her face had been plaguing his thoughts as well. "You should rest, Tara. It's been a long day." Logan expected her to move away or voice her displeasure but she did nothing. He could feel Tara's warm breath against his neck and with breathy sigh he found it harder to ignore. Logan forced his eyes shut and focused his mind elsewhere until he finally drifted to sleep.