A/N: Hi! Before I start I just wanted to say how pleased I am by the reactions to the last chapter, I'm very grateful for the reviews, and especially for Laura Scofield's compliments about my writing! I think I have a new friend there . Anyway, please review this chapter, I would be very happy! Thank you for reading.

Dannyl had never felt more like a coward in his life.

He'd not said goodbye to Rothen – Rothen, who was his dearest friend! – or poor Sonea, who was already having such a difficult time, or little Lorkin, or even...her. Aurelia.

He had thought that not saying goodbye to her would make it easier to forget about her. The only person he had told of his departure was Administrator Osen, and that was only because he needed Osen's agreement. But he hadn't told Aurelia, and, if he was honest, it hadn't stopped him from thinking about her. Thinking about how beautiful she was, how...amazing she made him feel...how her face had crumpled in despair and her words had cut him to the core after he told her to get out. He was a coward, and he was a cheat.

So he was running back to Tayend.

"Tayend? I'm back" Dannyl called cautiously as he entered the splendid house he and his lover shared in Elyne. The Elynes were under the impression that the two had gone into a researching business together, collecting information about magical history for the guild's use. Dannyl was pretty certain that back home in Kyralia, however, the Higher Magicians were aware of his relationship with Tayend, and of course his friends were. And Aurelia. Damn, why couldn't he get her name out of his mind?

Tayend emerged from the study, a glass of wine in his hand and his fingertips stained with ink – such a familiar sight that Dannyl's heart warmed to see him. A smile spread across Tayend's face.

"I'm so glad to see you! I didn't think you were ever coming back!" he laughed delightedly, and kissed his lover. Dannyl threw himself into the embrace, not only because he felt guilty, but because he realised that he had really and truly missed Tayend and his company.

Dannyl rolled his eyes, "Well, you know what it's like at the guild. I only went there to see the new novice, and they ended up piling endless reports and questions on me...I thought I'd never get back to Ely – you" a lie, but a sweet one. He did love Tayend - he needed only these few minutes to remind of the fact that he really did love this man.

"Tell me all about it. Come and have some wine" Dannyl dumped his luggage and followed Tayend into the room where they worked, which had definitely been tidied in his absence.

"I see you took the opportunity to clear up some of my mess" he observed, amused. Tayend grinned.

"Well you know I can't stand all your rubbish hanging around, I thought you were less likely to complain if I did it while you were absent. Look, it's wonderfully well organised" he said with pride, pouring a glass of wine for his lover and flopping into an armchair. Dannyl did likewise.

"Well?" Tayend prompted impatiently, "Hurry up and tell me all about Rothen's new novice so that we can go to bed"

Dannyl laughed loudly, "Still as forthright as ever, I see"

Tayend made a mock bow, "Of course. Now, come on – what's he like?"

"She is..." Dannyl faltered – should he really be sitting here talking about Aurelia? But then, Tayend did want to know... "She's called Aurelia, she's twenty"

"I should have known that Rothen wouldn't go for another male novice after all the trouble you've been for him. So, I want details! What's she like?"

"Sonea was more trouble than me!" Dannyl protested good-naturedly, "And she's, um...sweet, I suppose. She's quite clever – one of the houses, but nice enough, no airs and graces or anything. We thought she was shy at first, but it turns out she's actually very confident"

"I like the sound of her" Tayend nodded, "And it's a lovely name. But I meant what does she look like? Pretty?"

Dannyl shrugged as if he didn't think that she was indeed the prettiest woman he'd ever seen, "You could say that. Blonde hair, brown eyes, dainty , you know the sort"

"She sounds like me!" Tayend laughed, "But female, obviously"

Dannyl's eyes widened – Tayend was right! In looks, she was like him, thought not in character...maybe that was his excuse for being so attracted to her. He grinned, instantly pleased by this idea. Tayend huffed loudly.

"Oh, you can tell me about the rest in the morning. We should go to bed"

"It's three in the afternoon"

"Yes, and I'm not planning on doing much talking"

Dannyl had been back for almost a fortnight when the letter arrived. He didn't recognise the writing, and for a moment, he had fears of it being from Aurelia. He hadn't thought about her too much, after the initial first conversation with Tayend, but this second week he had been thinking about her a lot more than was good for him. She'd even featured in his dreams a couple of times, which had certainly been rather awkward.

Dannyl took a deep breath, still looking at the letter. He might as well read it while Tayend was out – else there would be a lot of questioning.

Dannyl,

I know everything about what happened between you and Aurelia. She confided in me because she was so distressed that she had no-one else to turn to. I was..disappointed in her at first, and very surprised at you. Truth be told, I'm still surprised, but I'm no longer disappointed.

Aurelia told me something that I really think you should know. I don't think she would want me to tell you – she was worried about even telling me. But I think that you should be made aware of how fragile that poor woman really is – though I doubt that she seemed all that fragile when you were sleeping with her. Didn't you wonder how she knew what she was doing? I suppose men don't think about such things, even men like you, who I like and trust. Aurelia was abused by her father from when she was only seven years old. He raped her repeatedly for six years, telling her that it was normal, and a duty of hers. She believed him until she was eleven, when her only friend found out and told her it wasn't the norm at all, and then deserted her. When she was thirteen, she refused to put up with his attentions, and he, in turn, kept her from coming to the guild. That's why she didn't turn up when she was sixteen, as she was supposed to. But her father died last year and her mother, sick of the sight of her own child, finally sent her here, to us.

Aurelia is in a bad way – I doubt she has felt like this since she was thirteen years old, tortured with the dilemma of granting her father's demands or not going to the guild. I will not tell you how I am so sure of this, because I feel that that would be one piece of information too many; but she loves you, very much. It was cruel of you to tell her to get out after your night together, which you were to blame for as much as she, and even crueller of you to walk away without saying goodbye. Rothen is hurt, thinking that he has upset you, and Aurelia is devastated.

I am not asking you to return if you don't wish to. I am only telling you of Aurelia's plight, in the hope that you will feel some regret for hurting her.

Sonea.

Dannyl read and re-read the letter three more times, his hands shaking. Poor, beautiful Aurelia. What had he done to her?

He definitely couldn't go back now.