alright, movin the story right along. pictures will come for this story too, i promise. eventually. lol i'm participating in National Novel Writing Month this year, and so chapters (and pictures) might be a little few and far between thanks to cranking out 2000 words a day on another story altogether...but anyways. back to our story.

2

Fingers drummed against the steering wheel, keeping in time with Rod Stewart's "Rhythm of my Heart." The fingers drummed impatiently.

"Come on!" Evelyn sighed, picking up her cell phone and looking at the time.

As she put the phone back down, her eyes came to rest on her bracelet, a delicate, yet intricate band made of leather strips artfully woven together. A man that had captivated her, entranced her to no end, had given the bracelet to her three years ago. Vorian.

Evelyn sighed as she thought of the Fae who had the capability to command water as though it were a pet. She remembered how he had reappeared to her two years after her adventure in the Labyrinth. How he had startled her!

She had been putting a horse back in its pasture at her new workplace, a proper English stable. She had taken off the Thoroughbred's halter and had turned to open the gate so she could leave. There he had been.

Evelyn's heart fluttered when she thought of how Vorian had reappeared to her. He had been dressed in normal clothes, a button down navy shirt and black breeches. His hair was how it had always been, coming down just about to his ears, his golden highlights glowing amongst his brown strands. His eyes were the same blue and green colors as before, and they had captivated Evelyn, stunning her into silence.

"Hello," his voice, calm and soft like waves on a peaceful sea, had spoken.

Evelyn hadn't been able to say a word.

Even in the privacy of her car, Evelyn's cheeks turned pink. Vorian had begun working with her, instructing riding students and helping Evelyn become a more confident rider. He had pushed her to new levels of courage, to the point where, were it her desire, she was capable of becoming a very accomplished show-jumping equestrian. He had also introduced himself to her large family, and her siblings and parents had immediately taken a liking to him. Her mother claimed that Vorian was a very decent young man, and he furthered her good opinion of him by attending church services with the family and becoming a Christian. He was sincere in his walk with God, and he studied the Word constantly, delving himself into it, which immensely pleased Evelyn's father.

He had also done everything in his power to show Evelyn that he cared for her. Truth be told, she was a bit frightened. She had never been treated in such a way as the manner in which he treated her, and she didn't know what to think. Going to the farm would be a very good thing for her. There were feelings for Vorian, deep within her heart, that she didn't understand, and she needed Lady desperately to help her see what all of those emotions meant.

Evelyn took in a deep breath, and then her eyes widened with delight when she turned her car onto a familiar gravel driveway. She put her windows down, turned off her music, and slowed the car so she could surround herself with the place she loved. The scent of horses infiltrated the car, and a smile formed on the woman's face.

Years had done her well, just as they had been good to Trinity. Evelyn didn't look too much older, but at twenty-four she was every inch a woman. Her facial features were only slightly older, but she had an air about her, an air that showed her as being every bit a lady.

Evelyn brought her car to a stop and then turned it off. She hurried out of the vehicle and then rushed into the farmhouse, long brown hair waving behind her.

"I'm back!" she shouted, flinging the house door open. "Trinity, I'm back! Oh, it's so good to be back!"

She listened as someone came rushing down a set of stairs, and then Trinity appeared, a huge smile on her face.

"You're here!" Trinity shouted, running to her friend and then flinging her arms around her. "Finally! What took you so long to get back?"

"I had my job," Evelyn smiled. "Look at you! All grown up!"

"Hey! I was always grown up," Trinity playfully pouted, and then laughed. "You look great!"

"I missed you so much!" Evelyn laughed. "We're going to have a great summer! Is Jareth planning on visiting?"

"I'm pretty sure he is," Trinity nodded. "Is Vorian going to come?"

"I don't know," Evelyn shrugged. "He has a job now, where I work, as you already know. Plus, I don't really know that he and I are as close as that."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm just confused," Evelyn sighed. "I have all these feelings that I can't explain, and they're so mixed up. I don't know that I want him around me all the time."

"Are you serious?"

"I know we had that whole bonding thing a long time ago, and I owe him my life. I really do, I just…I don't know. Something's is missing. But never mind about Vorian!" Evelyn said cheerfully. "We have a summer to plan!"

"First, someone wants to see you," Trinity smiled.

"Oh?" Evelyn asked, eyebrows furrowed.

"Yes. She hasn't seen you in awhile."

"I don't think she really missed me," Evelyn smiled slightly.

"Just go see her," Trinity encouraged, giving Evelyn a small push.

Evelyn laughed and then shook her head.

"If you say so."

Evelyn quickly left the house and then made her way to the back of the property. The weather was beautiful, and she felt as though her heart would burst with happiness. She became nervous, however, as she began to walk up the hill to the very back property. What if she had forgotten all about her? It had been three years after all.

"Oh Father," Evelyn prayed as she ascended the hill. "Please let her remember me."

She reached the top of the hill and then looked to the left pasture.

There she was, standing tall and strong, her ears pricked, and her eyes focused on Evelyn.

"Lady," Evelyn whispered, and then began to run the rest of the way up the hill.

As soon as she was at the top, she slid underneath the fence and took a couple of steps towards her beloved horse. She then stopped and gazed at the mare, her eyes welling up with tears.

"It's been too long," she whispered. "She's forgotten all about me."

Lady gazed at the girl for a long moment, and then she took one step towards the woman. Evelyn's heart jumped into her throat as the mare took one step after the next, and finally came to a stop directly in front of her.

"Hello girl," Evelyn whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I'm back."

Lady let out a slight snort, and then she pushed her nose against Evelyn's shoulder. Evelyn threw her arms around the horse's neck, crying with joy. Lady thrilled her even more by draping her head over Evelyn's shoulder and pulling the woman closer towards her. She then gave Evelyn another gentle nudge, and Evelyn hugged her even tighter.

After several minutes of just standing there, holding the horse, Evelyn moved to Lady's side and began running her hands lovingly against the mare's dark coat. Lady turned her head and nudged the woman, and without a second thought, Evelyn grabbed the horse's mane and swung herself up onto the mare's bareback. She then lay across Lady's neck, stroking her coat and whispering all sorts of things to her. She told her all about how her life had been in the past three years, and Lady, as she had always done before, remained quiet and listened.

XxXxX

Dinner came, and Miss Helen, the owner of the farm and Trinity's aunt, listened as Evelyn and Trinity spoke about anything and everything. The two were absolutely delighted to see each other, and they teased each other nonstop, mostly about Jareth and Vorian.

Trinity and Evelyn shared a room that night, as they had many summers before, and they stayed up late into the night, talking and telling each other all about what had happened since they had last seen each other three years ago. Both had been through trials and victories that they wanted each other to know about.

Evelyn, to Trinity's concern, didn't speak much about Vorian, but she listened eagerly when Trinity spoke of Jareth. She was pleased to hear how the Goblin King and Trinity were getting along, and she was very happy for Trinity. Trinity wished that her friend could have the same joy that she did. The older girl had so much to offer, if she but had a man who could get her to open her heart entirely to him. She had saved everything, her first kiss, her whole heart, for the man who would one day be her husband, and it saddened Trinity that Evelyn had such a difficult time finding her right match.

XxXxX

The following day brought with it the same farm chores that the girls had performed years ago. They fed the horses in the morning, and then they got out their favorite horses and prepared them for riding. Trinity had brought Trigger to the farm with her, unable to bear a full summer away from her favorite horse. Evelyn naturally got out Lady.

Once both horses were bridled (neither girl wanted to ride with a saddle) their riders swung up onto their backs and rode towards the back trails. They rode in silence, just enjoying the peace that the ride had to offer.

Once on the trails, they rode the horses at different paces and even jumped them over a few fallen trees.

When they arrived back at the barn an hour and a half later, they found a black truck parked next to the farm's round pen.

"Who is that?" Trinity asked, bringing Trigger to a stop at the barn.

"Vorian," Evelyn said easily.

"Where did he learn how to drive?" Trinity asked, amused.

"I'm not entirely sure. It is Saturday, so I guess he figured he'd come for the day."

The women dismounted their horses and then led them into the barn.

Vorian was sitting, waiting patiently, on a chair. He stood as soon as the women and horses neared him, and then, never forgetting his proper manners, bowed to both women.

"Miss Trinity," he smiled, standing up straight. "It is a pleasure to see you again."

"It's good to see you too," Trinity smiled in return, noting his warm smile as he turned from her and moved to Evelyn.

"Do you need help with anything, Evelyn?" he asked, and Evelyn shook her head.

"No thank you, Vorian. Did you have the day off?" Evelyn asked as he stepped over to her.

Trinity watched the two interact, and she was stunned that something deeper hadn't happened between the two yet. As far as she was concerned, they were perfect for each other. Both were fairly quiet-natured, unless provoked. They shared a love for horses, an understanding of the Bible, and physically, they just matched. He was tall and muscular; she medium-sized and slim. They both had dark hair, and both had somewhat mysterious looking eyes, his of blue and green, hers of green. What on earth was there problem, Trinity wondered?

Vorian spent the rest of the day with them, telling them how the Labyrinth fared and sharing with Evelyn some information about the stable where they both worked. He treated both women with the utmost decency, making them almost forget about his wicked brother, Raiv, who had been killed unintentionally while trying to usurp Jareth's throne. He was polite and every bit a gentleman. He didn't push himself on Evelyn at all, and he was more than willing to do his share of work.

Evelyn seemed indifferent to him. She cared about him and treated him like a friend, nothing more. Trinity didn't know much about him, and she observed him closely, noting the caring way in which he treated her friend. Every motion he made seemed to be crying out to Evelyn, begging her to give him a chance.

XxXxX

Night came, and with it, an unexpected appearance of Jareth. He appeared in the farmhouse shortly after Vorian left. Aunt Helen had gone into the city to run some errands, leaving Trinity and Evelyn to themselves.

The women had just finished eating dinner when a great puff of glitter announced the Goblin King.

Evelyn let out a surprised yelp, for she hadn't seen Jareth in years, and his appearance was quite dramatic. He was dressed in his poet shirt, tan breeches, black boots, and black, billowing cape. His hair was wild, and glitter swirled about him like a tornado.

"Good evening ladies," he bowed curtly.

"Jareth! You're here already!" Trinity laughed, giving him a hug.

"I couldn't stay away from you for that long," Jareth smiled down at her.

He looked over to Evelyn and, going into his acting mode, stepped back, shocked.

"This can't possibly be Miss Evelyn!"

"Oh, it is!" Evelyn smiled. "A few years older, but the same person."

"You seem to be in good health."

Evelyn smiled gently, resisting the urge to run her hand against her stomach, where Raiv had stabbed her years before and nearly killed her.

"I'm in very good health. I see that you've been taking good care of Trinity."

"The best I can," Jareth nodded, eyes twinkling. "I hear quite frequently that you are doing well."

"I am. I'll leave you now and give you a bit of time alone," Evelyn smiled and then stepped outside.

The stars were shining brightly above in the black sky when Evelyn sat down next to the large pool in the backyard. She glanced up at the sky, her mind a muddled mess. Jareth and Trinity seemed to have such a nice relationship, and Evelyn had no doubts that they would be married within the next couple of years. She was happy for them, but a pain lingered inside of her as she thought about how her friendship with Vorian had been.

He was a good friend, and an even better man. He came at her every bidding, and he had the look in his eyes that he always had. There was a pleading look behind his blue and green orbs, a look that begged her to trust him, not just with her life, but also with her heart.

She couldn't understand why she couldn't give him the passion and concern that he so deserved. She didn't understand why she wanted to keep a good distance away from him. Perhaps it was her own fears of being hurt, or of choosing the wrong person to spend the rest of her life with. Maybe she just wasn't ready.

Evelyn sighed and subconsciously put her hand over her heart. It was the hand with the bracelet that Vorian had given her a while ago, and immediately, the sound of ocean waves rolling against the shore came to her ears. She could feel ocean breezes rustling through her hair, and she felt something else, that mysterious warmth that Vorian had never explained to her. That warmth flowed through her blood, soothing her and causing her to close her eyes and just feel it. It was warmth that could not be explained, but it filled Evelyn with an overwhelming peace. She wanted to bask in it, whatever it was, and lose herself entirely.

"I don't know what's wrong with me," Evelyn whispered as she lay back against the pavement and closed her eyes, listening to the ocean and absorbing the mysterious warmth. "Why can't I just…just trust?"