8 sisters, Greevil! Holy cow I feel sorry for your brothers...and you. I think I prefer brothers, I mean... well, girls... they're...they're complicated! But seriously, my sisters are cool even with their complicatedness. You must be very strong, having so many sisters and still alive and breathing. But if they are as cool and nice as you, it's no wonder. ;)

Thanks Nixiesocean and svelt, I was surprised and very happy to see all those reviews in my email box. You guys make my day...s!

Oh, and Scoutcraft Piratess, I consider it an honor whenever you review, you are my all time favorite author here and elsewhere. ;)

On to the story!

Long chapter...

Chapter 33: The Ride Home

The dream was coming again. But this time, Minerva let it come, because she was too tired to resist it...

She stood in the midst of her siblings in the crowd of eager spectators. She craned her neck, trying desperately to see Wilhem and Selene. Horse and rider flew out of the stables and were announced, but not as the winners. Minerva hardly glanced at them. The horses were beautiful, but nearly as marvelous as her Selene. Selene would win the prize, there was no doubt it the girl's mind.

But there was some unwillingness. Part of her, the rebellious and selfish part of her didn't want Selene to win. If her beloved horse won, it meant that she would leave. Selene would leave Gaul and go to the conquero

r's stables. King Augustine would own her and she would never see her horse again.

She didn't want that to happen. She didn't want Selene to go to some king's stables. A foreign king who had conquered her people. She didn't know him, and she didn't trust him. Oh, she knew he lived a huge marble palace and had servants and a crown. She knew he had son, Prince Lance was a few years older than she, and the future king of her subdued land, but none of this counted. They were just a whole bunch of sophisticated hogs who owned her country and wanted their horses. And she did not want Selene to go to them.

"And in first place, the most honored position of all, is the glorious mare, Selene, come from the Justice family ridden by Wilhelm son of Amram and Hazel!"

Finally they came. Her brother, Wilhem, came charging and prancing up on Selene. They were a perfect match, Minerva had admit. Selene was gold palomino with a white silky mane and tale. Young Wilhem's long blonde hair bounced as he smiled and waved at the crowd while Selene pranced around, as if waving herself. Minerva frowned and almost stamped her foot.

"Wil!" Minerva shouted and tried to push through. Selene was her horse and she was the owner, not Wil.

Her brother spotted her immediately and said loudly to crowd, "Behold, the true mistress of the winner, my sister, Minerva!"

Minerva stopped in surprise as everyone's eyes immediately turned to her. Wil leapt off Selene and bowed to her, his eyes dancing with excitement. That was the cue. Everyone bowed to her in awe and reverence. She felt her heart tighten. Oh, why did Wil do that? She hated large crowds and attention. But Wil didn't notice her strained face as he lifted her up onto Selene. As soon as Minerva clutched her horse's mane she felt better. Her cheeks flushed instead of paled and she was able to smile timidly at the large cheering crowd around her.

Wil looked up at her and said, "Remember this day, little sister, you are a respected girl, always remember that and make sure it stays that way."

Minerva hadn't obeyed, and she remembered this fact every time she had the dream.

(There's supposed to be a darn line here)

She was suddenly aware of something, or someone nudging her. She couldn't see what it was though. Her mind slowly came into focus, but she didn't open her eyes. She couldn't. She felt herself bouncing along, as if on a horse. She realized that she wasn't being nudged, but the person who had their arms around her was simply guiding the horse. She felt the sense of being bounced, but she didn't... well she didn't feel it.

"Hold up, you two, I can't go as fast as you!"

The man who had spoken was sitting right behind her. She felt him lean forward and his legs kicked the horse's sides. She heard him muttering, and nickering to encourage the horse. She had recognized the voice, it was Conrad.

Conrad. If he was there, so was Lance.

"Come on, Con, can't Shika take the extra load?"

That was Lance's voice. She wanted to say something, but her lips didn't even move, and she realized even if she could talk, she wouldn't know what to say.

"Yes, but you and Ares are setting a fast pace, too fast even if we were under normal circumstances."

"It's already Friday morning," huffed another voice. Rose's. "We have to get Minerva to her parents fast."

"I wish she were awake," grumbled Lance. "Then she could tell us where we were going."

But I am awake, thought Minerva, at least, my mind is.

Lance's voice was closer now. "How is she?"

"Still the pale sleeping Beauty," replied Conrad, moving Minerva's limping head to his other shoulder. "Her breathing is better; I think the onion soup worked."

Onion soup? Ugh. Minerva hated that stuff.

Suddenly she sensed a horse's muzzle nudge her hand softly. She felt a warm breath blow on her face and for the first time in what seemed like days she felt her nerves work. The breath moved away and Minerva felt her strength beginning to drain.

"Hey, Ares, back down."

"No, Lance, let him. Minerva. She...she moved."

The breath came slowly again. She felt the lips play with her hair. Then Ares snorted.

It was like he had lit a match.

Minerva felt energy washing over her and she was suddenly very sore. She winced and realized she was feeling very uncomfortable. The horse was very sharp, and hard, and Conrad was not a very good cushion.

She opened her mouth and mumbled something.

"What?" asked Lance. "What did you say?"

She tried again. "Conrad's arm is bony."

Lance laughed. "Ha! You are a stick, Con, you're making the girl uncomfortable."

"Maybe she should ride with you, Lance," said Rose slyly.

Lance ignored that and said directly to Minerva, "Minnie can you understand us?"

"Yeah."

"Good. We are taking you back to your parents now, but we don't know where to go. Can you tell us where to go?"

Minerva wanted to open and roll her eyes, look around at her circle of friends, see her surroundings and help, but she couldn't. Her face scrunched up in pain and consternation, she tried to sit up, but her arms felt like noodles and her heart was beating too fast.

All of a sudden she felt strong arms lift her out of the saddle and set her on the ground. Her eyes popped open and the first thing she saw was Conrad, looking behind her in surprise. Rose was on her horse's saddle and she looked mad.

"Lance!" she cried. "What did you do that for? The girl can't stand!"

"Oh can't she?" retorted Lance. He turned her around and looked her in the eye. She felt weak, and felt like collapsing, but she didn't know if it was the intensity of Lance's dark blue eyes, or because of the curse.He shook her, not hard, just gently and made her stand up straighter.

"Listen, Minerva," he said, "You are going to stay awake for only a few more minutes, then you are going to sleep for another week. We need to find your home. So you must tell us where it is. Do you recognize this place?"

She turned her head slowly, uncertainly. Everything seemed to be a blurry swirl of colors.

"Lance, you're crazy!" cried Rose. "She's as weak as a baby bird."

"Aye, but a baby bird has a strong determination to fly," said Lance. He suddenly took Minerva's hand placed it on Ares' side. The warmth of the horse shocked her and she felt so much stronger. She looked at Lance's clear face in amazement and then turned to look around her.

"Have you passed the lake with tree growing out of it?" she asked softly.

"Yes," said Conrad, "That was ten miles past."

Happiness swept through her. "Then you are near. Very near. About five more miles to go, and then you shall reach it."

"We shall reach it," corrected Lance. "You have to stay awake for at least another ten minutes. Do you understand?"

"Why?" she asked, almost indignantly, already she could feel her knees weaken. "I want to...to sleep. Why must I stay awake?"

"Because you and I are going to ride full speed to your home and you will be able to see you mom before next Friday. Now get up on that horse, lassie."

"Lance!" shrieked Rose. "You're going to kill her! You're pushing her too much."

"No," said Minerva in a new determined voice. "I can do it." So saying she feebly grabbed Ares' mane and pulled herself slowly up. It hurt so bad she felt like she had just been pulled in half, but she was up and no one had helped her. She felt a wave of nausea come over her and she faltered. But then Lance swung up behind her and his arms came around her to take hold of the reins. This simple action made Minerva feel stronger, and more aware. She clung to Ares' soothing mane as he reared up with a neigh.

"Lance!" screamed Rose. "She'll faint with such hard riding!"

"Let's just hope it's after she's seen her mother," said Lance through gritted teeth.

"I'll be fine," Minerva tried to whisper, but Ares bolted off excitedly and Rose never heard that part as she bounced around in a frenzy of worried rage.

Ares was glad that he could get away from the two slow pack horses; and the loud amphibian. His master didn't even tighten the reins and let him run freely through the woods. He didn't need those slim pieces of string to guide him. He was free. He dodged trees easily and leaped over fallen logs. Every now and then he would hear the girl's faint voice murmuring instructions. But he didn't need them, not really. He could sense their destination was close. Close and closer still, with...each...pounding...step...

The little boy playing in the woods stopped to listen. Like he had been taught he felt the ground with his ear. A patterned steady beating, coming closer and louder, it was all there. A horseman was coming. He jumped up and looked around.

"Apollus!"

He turned at his mother's call and saw her coming flying towards him, skirts billowing. Her face had a mixture of joy and fear.

"Apollus, come quickly!"

"But someone is coming!" he said, reluctantly letting himself be dragged back to his hut.

"I know. The look out said it is Rashling."

"Rashling!" cried the boy. "The valiant protector of Kadok is coming here!"

"Apparently so. But we do not know if he is safe, so come quickly."

"Mother!" shouted Apollus, stopping shortly. "Look, all of the children are getting ready to meet him! Look there is cousin Otto, and look, Auntie Frieda! And oh, even little Nana! See! Grandmother Hazel is watching them. Surely this Rashling is safe?"

The young mother reluctantly her son go and he ran to join the rest of his comrades.

Minerva was drifting fast.

As soon as she informed me that the people I would meet was her family, she became more limp. I shook her and commanded her stay awake, but she didn't obey.

Darn girl!

Where was that onion soup? Wasn't it supposed to help at all?

I saw figures in the forest and I stopped Ares. He stopped, reluctantly. He had enjoyed the running a lot. I would have too if I didn't have a girl slumped on me, making it hard for me to hold on. It was awkward and I was very relieved to get off. Minerva's eyes were closed and she faltered as soon as I let go of her, but her hands were clutching tightly to Ares' mane.

I gently lifted her from the horse and turned to meet the coming crowd. It was full of children!

They all came, from toddlers to pre-teens. They came streaking towards me in a flury in excitement and surrounded Ares and me. I stopped in surprise, baffled at what to do next. Ares snorted and pawed the ground warningly, but they didn't care. They stroked him and offered him apples. He looked as startled as me, but also with an annoyed pleased look.

"Rashling! Rashling!" they yelled. "We welcome Rashling!"

How did they know that name?

Minerva stirred and muttered something.

This caused a great tumult. The children quieted into whispers as they stared at Minerva in reverenced shock then at me in absolute admiration. What had I done? It almost seemed like I had raised her from the dead. How little did they know. I was the one causing her death.

"It is Miniarva Purias!" whispered one girl.

This brought ooh's, aahs, and gasps from the circle of fascinated children.

"Yes," I said, confused at what they meant, "This is Minerva, can you take me to her family?"

"We are all her family," piped up one boy, who was gazing admiringly at my sword. "But Grandmother Hazel is her mother."

At this point the grown- ups which included the teenagers, strode up to the group. They hesitated once they saw the reverent silence. One woman, who was tall and stately with silver hair came breathlessly up to me, her eyes fixed on the girl in my arms. She glanced at me with the question in her eyes.

I gulped. "This is Minerva, I believe her to be your daughter."

"Miniarva Purias, dear," whispered the woman.

At these words Minerva stirred again and tried to open her eyes. "Tagiet," she whispered. "Mater..."

I felt her go completely limp. She had gone off into dream land for one more week. But, she had recognized her mother, and that was enough.

Grandmother Hazel cried in sorrow.

Or was it joy?

More likely the latter.