Gwaine seemed to be doing much better the next morning. His coughing wasn't as frequent and his fever had subsided completely. After breakfast Raieya got some warm water and helped Gwaine wash up a bit. Once he was settled after lunch, Raieya decided to go in to town. They needed some supplies and she could do with a few more herbs for her stock. She made sure Gwaine would be alright and then headed out.

Shortly after Raieya left a knock on the door startled Gwaine from his nap. He slowly got out of bed and grabbed a shirt from on top of his bag, pulling it on before opening the door. He was greeted by a man he recognized as Raieya's brother.

"Raieya's not here," said Gwaine, unsure of what he wanted.

"I know," Roldan answered. "I was hoping to talk to you. My name's Roldan, by the way. Raieya never properly introduced us."

"Gwaine," he replied, shaking the hand Roldan offered. "Come in, I guess."

Roldan followed Gwaine into the small room. Gwaine moved their bags out of the chair and offered it to Roldan, then he took a seat on the bed.

"You're probably wondering why I'm here," began Roldan. "I wanted to meet the man Raieya's chosen to travel with. I'm not sure she was planning on introducing us."

"Probably not," agreed Gwaine, turning away briefly to cough.

"So you are sick," observed Roldan. "I wasn't sure if she was being truthful or just trying to keep me away. Forgive me then. I won't be long."

Gwaine nodded, waiting for him to continue.

"How long have you been traveling with Raieya?" asked Roldan.

"Um, about four months I believe," Gwaine answered.

"How did you meet her?"

"On the road," said Gwaine. "She helped me out with some bandits. We decided to stay together after that."

"She fought bandits?" asked Roldan.

"Well, yeah," said Gwaine. "Technically she shot them. But we've fought bandits together since then. She's quite good with a sword. She can almost best me."

"Hmm," Roldan replied. "She did train with me and my brothers. Raieya's tough."

"She is," agreed Gwaine. "She's a good partner."

"So she does well for herself?" asked Roldan.

"Yeah," answered Gwaine. "Rai's good at picking taverns and of course she's an excellent musician. People enjoy hearing her. She almost always makes decent money."

"Rai?" repeated Roldan.

"Raieya," shrugged Gwaine. "Just what I call her sometimes."

"She allows that?"

Gwaine nodded, wondering why it seemed to be an important detail to Roldan.

"So you are also lovers?"

Gwaine couldn't help but laugh. "Lovers? No. Raieya doesn't want that. We're partners. Everything equal."

"And what do you do to contribute?" asked Roldan.

"I find ways to make money," said Gwaine. "Make bets, play games."

Roldan nodded. "And has Raieya told you about her past?"

"She has," he replied. "About the nobleman and what happened."

"Then you are aware of what would happen to you should you prove to be anything but good to her."

"She's my partner," said Gwaine firmly. "I'd never do anything to risk that."

"Good," Roldan replied, rising from his chair. "I'll leave you to rest now. Nice meeting you, Gwaine. I trust you'll continue to take care of her."

"I will," promised Gwaine, standing as well to let Roldan out.

Once he was gone, Gwaine immediately took his shirt back off and put the bags back in the chair exactly how they'd been. He didn't figure Roldan wanted Raieya to know about their meeting. At least now Gwaine was confident Roldan had not and would not turn her in. He just wanted to make sure his sister was being taken care of. Gwaine stretched back out on the bed then, resolving to finish his nap until Raieya got back.

Raieya returned a bit later, rousing Gwaine from his nap. She told him about the market as she put away her purchases. Then she prepared for her dinner with Roldan.

"I keep leaving you today," said Raieya apologetically. "You'll be alright?"

"I'm fine," Gwaine replied. "Just bring me back something good. Preferably some ale."

"Hmmm," she replied. "You're doing better so perhaps I can do that."

"Yes," agreed Gwaine. "Do."

Raieya laughed. "We'll see. I'll be back as soon as I'm done with Roldan. Hopefully things go well."

"Good luck," said Gwaine.

"Thanks," she replied, heading out the door.

Raieya met Roldan at a table in the main room.

"Raieyana," Roldan greeted her.

"Roldan," she replied, taking a seat across from him.

"What would you like?" he asked.

"Anything is fine," she answered. "Mead to drink."

Roldan nodded and went to get their meal. He returned a few minutes later with two plates of chicken and a mug of mead for Raieya.

"Well," began Roldan, once they were settled. "How have you been?"

"Fine," Raieya answered, not offering him any more detail.

"You do alright for yourself then?"

"Yeah," she replied. "I make my living playing, as you've seen."

"How long have you had your partner?" asked Roldan.

"Why?" asked Raieya defensively. "Are you going to lecture me about Raiyner now?"

"No," said Roldan. "I told you I wanted to have a nice conversation. Don't make this difficult, Raieya. I'm just trying to figure out what your life is like now."

Raieya gave him a measuring look before answering. Roldan was her brother, maybe she did just need to relax and speak normally to him.

"Four months," she said, at last.

"How did you meet him?" asked Roldan. "I don't believe you've told me his name."

"His name is Gwaine," she answered. "We met on the road. I saved him from some bandits. We agreed to travel together to the tavern in Southwell after that. We got on so well though, we decided to become partners."

"Does he treat you well?" asked Roldan.

"Yes," Raieya answered, rolling her eyes at him. "He's a good man."

"I'm your brother," said Roldan, with a grin. "I have to ask."

"What about you?" asked Raieya, changing the subject. "How are things back home? How is everyone?"

"I'm still helping father run the tavern," Roldan replied. "Things were chaotic after the ordeal with you and Lucan. Raiyner leaving along with you didn't help. At first business wasn't as good. But as time passed people returned to us. We are doing well once again."

"How is Raiyner? What happened to him after I left? Did he get in any trouble?"

Raieya still felt a bit guilty about slipping off on her favorite brother but she felt she had been holding him back.

"He made it back home fine. Of course he was upset he'd lost you. Mother wasn't too happy at first either. Once the old lord found out Raiyner was back he was questioned about your whereabouts. He convinced them he had been searching for you the whole time but never found you."

"Good," said Raieya. "I'm glad Raiyner's home safe and everything is going well again. How's Rylan?"

"Still helping mother with the cooking," answered Roldan. "He's quite the chef."

"He always was," agreed Raieya. "I wish I could have meal made by him and mother again."

Roldan started to make a comment but stopped himself.

"I know," said Raieya. "I can't."

Roldan sighed, setting his empty bowl on top of Raieya's.

"I suppose you should be getting back to Gwaine soon," he said, changing the subject.

"Yes," she agreed. "He's probably getting hungry. Typical man. He likes his food. At least he's starting to feel better."

"That is good," said Roldan. "Will you be playing again tonight?"

"Yeah," she replied. "The crowds been so good here I think I can maybe even get two more nights out of them. Hopefully Gwaine will be recovered enough to travel shortly after that."

Roldan nodded. "So you'll be here at least a few more days."

"At least," she answered.

"I'll see you again then, I'm sure," said Roldan, standing.

"Yes," said Raieya, somewhat awkwardly. "Thanks for dinner Roldan."

"No problem," Roldan shrugged. "You're still my little sister."

Raieya smiled slightly and patted his arm before telling him goodbye. She stopped by the bar and got some ale and stew for Gwaine and then headed back to her room, in better spirits than she had been in days.

"How was your dinner?" asked Gwaine when Raieya returned.

"It went pretty well," she replied. "We mostly avoided the subject of Lucan, though I do think he's still a bit upset about it."

"That's good, though," said Gwaine. "At least he was speaking to you and giving you a chance."

"Yeah," agreed Raieya. "I think if he was going to do something he would've done so by now."

"That's a relief," he replied. "Are you playing tonight?"

Raieya nodded. "Tonight and possibly tomorrow. We'll see how it goes tonight. They're gonna get tired of me soon."

"No one would get tired of you," commented Gwaine.

"You might not," laughed Raieya. "But they will."

"I never said I didn't get tired of you," Gwaine teased.

"Mmhmm," she replied. "Yet you're still my partner."

"Yes," he replied. "You're fortunate to still have me."

"Right," she said sarcastically.

"Damn right," said Gwaine.

Raieya laughed and went about getting ready to perform. As she left she took Gwaine's dishes with her to return to the bar.

Although Raieya had doubted whether or not the crowd would be as kind to her that night, they had proven her entertainment was still welcome. She returned to her room that night with decent earnings yet again. Satisfied with how the day had turned out she had no trouble falling asleep that night.