Chapter 8: Eavesdropping, visitors and thankfully no vamps!
Ally's POV:

I guess it was a good thing that I set the table for three people… as I thought someone did stay for lunch. That person just happened to be Armand Christophe… Padfoot's… um… boss? Yeah, that sounds about right.

Lunch passed in almost silence again… I hate the quiet… it always makes you think about things and for me the thinking was about what my conscience said to me… I guess I was slowly admitting that it was probably right about me liking Padfoot –yes to me this was slowly, quickly was within 5 minutes! – Oh and don't forget about being stared at. Armand was staring at me with an unasked question – probably along the lines of WTF? – and Padfoot was staring at me in concern as I nibbled on my chocolate, still rocking back and forwards after the encounter with that arachnid.

"I'm going into town!" I said, breaking the rather awkward silence… I wonder if it's true that every time there's an awkward silence that a gay baby is born...

Padfoot's reaction was a nod, Armand's was a creepy sort-of look… did I mention that it was very creepy? As the door closed behind me I felt my curiosity peak, I wasn't really controlling my actions as I walked behind the house and pressed my ear to the wood. Seeing as the shacks quite worn out, it's almost like putting your ear to a door, a really old, worn out door!

"- why whatever her name is" I only heard the end of whatever Armand said.

"Ally" that was definitely Padfoot; he always answered with short replies and as far as I was aware, they were the only two in the house… er, the old, worn out shack!

"Well, why Ally of all people?"

"She's different"

"Yes, I've noticed"

"There's nothing wrong with her!" wait, wait, wait, just hold on a second, he was defending me?

"I never said there was anything wrong with that girl, just why of all the girls here in the imperial city her?" now I was really confused.

'Curiosity killed the cat' my conscience told me again, only this time it sounded more like my best friend.

'Satisfaction brought it back, now just go!'

'Fine' it grumbled but still left, leaving me to notice Padfoot still hadn't given a reply, it was all deathly silent.

"How did you meet this girl?" Armand asked him after a few more minutes… ok now I'm thoroughly lost!

"She caught me with my hand in her pocket, she didn't scream, she just gave me her money and walked away" hearing his reply I realized it was probably one of his longest sentences, it also almost made me laugh at the memory of that day.

"Then why is she living with you?"

"She said I had more money than her before walking" he said guiltily. "I followed her; she sensed me and called me to her. The guards chased us when I stole, I helped her here and started teaching her how to steal and fight" ok new record for long sentences in place again!

"You felt guilty?" once again there was a silence for a while. "Why is she still here?"

"She doesn't have anywhere to go, she has no family, no friends and not enough to buy a house" if only he'd speak this much to me – wait… what am I thinking?

'Told you, fact is you like him!' my conscience sounded smug.

'Go find someone else to bother!'

'Can't'

'Why?'

'I'm your conscience… technically a part of you!'

'Then go away and leave me be for a while!'

'Yes Ma'am'

"-think of her? The others think that there's a bit more than friendship on your mind, what with the way you act around her. Remember there were other people around during the sunset, they say you watched her before you went to her" he was watching me, and I thought I was observant… obviously not!

"I don't know Armand. I feel differently about her, I can't explain it, I want her to stay with me, and I want to be around her" he said. I almost cried out in joy, but I settled for a miniature victory dance instead!

"I hope you know what you're doing, and don't wait, I did and I lost the girl I wanted (A/N: just making that up to give him a reason to be upset!), I want to talk to her though. Do you know where she'd be?"

"She'll probably…" I didn't listen to the rest. Instead I just ran in the direction of the city. I didn't stop until I reached the market place and was desperately hoping that no one found me running around the place too suspicious, these people usually take their time and walk unless they've done something wrong or are fleeing something!

I only just caught my breath before I decided I'd do some shopping… I used to shop everyday but here, we just didn't have enough money to do that! I walked into random stores, really not caring about what the signs said. Just looking at the items would be good enough, then if I saw something expensive I could always come back later and give it to Padfoot, it'd give us more money for things that we really could use… like some new furnishings! But no, the money would probably go towards something more necessary like food… yes food I know lame!

Anyway, a couple of hours of browsing later it was already late, Padfoot would probably be waiting for me to come back for dinner. Yes, we wait for one another before we eat, even if it usually is spent in almost silence.

I ran all the way back, and let me tell you, if you're not worried about being caught out, the entire way run is very long… I'm not just saying this for the sake of it!

"Sorry I'm late" I… panted bursting through the door. Surprisingly enough there were other people sitting at the table… Armand and another elleth… another Bosmer…

"Hello, I'm Methredhel" she said softly, wow, in the game she's a lot meaner!

"Hi there, I'm Ally..." then I walked over to Padfoot, poking him in the chest with my finger, one hand on my hip. "Next time tell me when we're going to have guests! Then I can cook something nice, and don't you dare think you're actually going to eat that!"

I turned on our guests quickly snatching their plates off them. Honestly, if they want to eat bread for dinner, they can eat it at their own house, no need to come here! I quickly grabbed some of the items of food in the cupboard... it wasn't that much but thankfully I still had a few more things from home. I looked over my shoulder to see Methredhel, Armand and Padfoot all looking at one another weirdly.

After I had everything cooking like I wanted it I absentmindedly walked towards the mirror, undoing my hair and starting to brush it out of habit. My hair was still its normal ash-blonde colour, though because of lack of hair-crimpers it now fell down in soft waves, not the normal really crunched up curls. And, I don't know if it's my imagination, or if it's real but in my opinion my blue eyes are even brighter and my skin has finally gotten a bit of colour into it.

I sighed walking back to the food, stirring and adding ingredients every so often while the others talked – sometimes in hushed whispers, sometimes normally and every now and again calling over to attempt to pull me into the discussion.

"There!" I said in satisfaction, putting the food on different plates – though yes – I served it with garlic bread! "Eat up now peoples; I put a lot of effort into this!"

"What is it?"

"Its chicken, curry soup with garlic bread on the side!"

Hey guys, I actually wrote it quicker than I thought I'd be able to! So, you know the drill, R&R, tell me what you think, and if you think I should either update quicker, stop writing because it's really awful, or go focus attention elsewhere until I can actually write something good – I'm hoping it's not the latter! I also welcome suggestions and once again, almost at my goal of at least 10 chappies! Only a bit more left, but then I'll continue as long as possible!

FaelwenofLothlorien