Sorry about the delay everyone, but it wasn't my fault this time haha we got a thunder storm here and it fried the internet modem and we've only just gotten a new one. So here's the long awaited 11th chapter =)

Hope you all like it and there is more Rosto/Beka fluff as promised, please review and let me know what you all think.

Voices. Strained, pained voices, they thumped in my ears and bounced around in my head like Achoo does when she's excited. Hammering on my brain and making me listen to them, no matter how desperately I tried not to.

They screamed at me, shouting things I couldn't quiet understand but somehow I knew what they were anyway. The pain erupted in my chest, it was so familiar now, I'd felt it so often I'd lost count. But it hurt more every time, and I knew I'd never be used to it.

Guilt.

At what I was doing, at what I'd done, at what I'll do. I'd had this argument a million times in my head only to have the same out come each time.

I can't stop it.

Not now, not ever.

I opened my eyes and slowly took in the scene around me. Trees-bright, tall, alive-were splattered in red, it was stained into the leaves, the trunks, the ground. And the voices returned, louder, more urgent.

Calling to me.

I put my hands over my ears and shut my eyes tightly. "Go away." I chanted it over and over.

It didn't work, it never did. I knew that but for some reason I still did it.

I was pulled out of my pity with a large thump. I jumped and leapt away from the body that had fallen at my feet. The eyes, lifeless but open and terrified as blood oozed from the deep stab wound to the heart.

I yelped and scrambled backwards until I was pressed against a tree trunk. I felt something wet soak threw my tunic and the sick feeling returned.

The shouting got closer and more panicked.

I looked around desperately for somewhere to go, to hide. But there was no where and the crashing noises from my left made me jump and scream again.

Men back flipped out of the bushes and into the small clearing followed closely by people that I recognised. I clamped my hands over my mouth as I watched myself hurl a dagger to her/my right and one of the men they had surrounded fell.

She drew her sword and sung it confidently, another cove met it and the clash of the metal rung in my ears though the other me paid no mind to it.

I watched as the fight raged on. The other me had disposed of her opponent and moved onto another one when a surprised yell made her freeze and the cove fighting her cut her upper arm.

She cursed and brought up her weapon one swift motion and plunged it into his chest and then left it there and she ran to reach the man kneeling on the ground, arms wrapped around his stomach and groaning.

The other me reached to her belt and pulled off the five pointed throwing stars strapped there. She hurled them at the cove standing over the man and they embedded themselves in his chest over his heart with deadly precision.

I stifled another scream as the other me hauled the man to his feet and shouted for help. He was gripping his stomach, pain written all over his pale face and the spiked ball stayed in his lower belly. I tried to run to them as more cove approached them, weapons out and a glint in their eyes that I didn't care for at all.

But I couldn't move, branches off the tree wrapped themselves around my arms and held me there.

"Beka?"

The faint voice only just reached my ears and it made me pull harder against my restraints.

The man the other me was supporting buckled and collapsed, bringing me down with him.

"Beka!"

I yelled out but no one paid any attention to me as the coves got closer, swords raised and glinting in the sunlight.

"BEKA!"

"NO!" I screamed my eyes flying open.

"BEKA! It's alright!" Only then did I notice the dark eyes above me, watching me warily. "It was just a nightmare, its ok."

"Rosto?" I whispered, my breathing was hard and my voice was strained.

"Shh, it's ok, it was just a nightmare." He soothed.

I whimpered and shook my head, it wasn't just a nightmare, it was a memory.

He rubbed his thumbs in calming circles on my upper arms, it was only then that I realised that he was holding them and I was holding his forearms tightly and his was leaning over the bed I was laying on.

Blushing slightly I let go of him realising I was probably cutting off the blood flow to his fingers. He reached up and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear then helped me sit up.

I didn't notice I was crying until he cupped my face in his hands and used his thumbs to brush away the tears.

"Its alright, I'm here." He whispered.

I grasp the front of his tunic with shaking hands as my bottom lip trembled. He pulled my close and I buried my head the crook of his neck. He wrapped one hand around my back and put the other one on the back of my head, keeping me firmly where I was, letting me cry into his shoulder.

Finally I flattened my hands against his chest and pushed myself away wiping the tears from my face as he silently played with a strand of my hair.

"Where am I?" I asked, looking at the plain walls and one door, there were no windows.

Rosto let my hair fall and smirked. "In a private room of your underground infirmary."

"Oh."

I looked down at myself and squeaked. All I had on were bandages from just under my arms all the way to my hips and my loincloth. I noticed a light blanket on the floor next to the bed and figured I'd probably kicked it off.

"Uh..." I stammered and it only made him keep smirking.

I glared at him. "And how did you get in here anyway, if someone finds you…"

"Don't worry Beka, I am aloud to be here, when you didn't show up for breakfast I came looking." He grinned. "You over slept."

"I did?" I replied dryly. "For how long?"

"About half a day, but your ok, so you're forgiven for missing breakfast….though I don't know if Goodwin will let you off that easy."

I cringed. "Oh, is she here? And how did you find here?"

He shrugged. "It's not hard for someone like me to find a powerful mage named Giles, and no, she's not here."

"Dom." I growled. "When I get my hands on him, I'll wring his loudmouth, skinny neck!"

Rosto chuckled, obviously amused.

A knock at the door temporarily distracted me from all the ways I was going to make my half-wit brother pay.

It opened and Anna stepped inside carrying folded blue cloth.

When she saw I was awake she smiled brightly. "Oh Goddess be thanked Beka, how are ye' feeling?"

I smiled. "Just fine Anna, thank you."

"We were so worried about ye' when Dom brought ye' back here bleeding and limp…we thought ye'..." She trailed off but covered it up by another bright smile. "Never mind, ye' are alright now and that's all that matters. Though Master Giles said t' tell ye' that ye' will be very weak for a while and anything t' active will quickly drain your energy for a day or so. So ye' are t' take it easy and get lots of rest."

I groaned. More rest. "If anyone locks me in a room again minthros help them."

She and Rosto chuckled. "Dom is t' busy avoiding Sargent Goodwin at the moment t' worry ye' mistress." Anna said, an almost smug smirk on the corners of her mouth.

I snorted. "Serves him right."

They laughed. "Now, lets get ye' dressed and get ye' some fresh air." Anna said, patting the blue cloth she was holding then gave Rosto a pointed look.

He just blinked from his position from leaning against the wall next to my bed and made no move to move.

"Rosto. Out." I pointed at the door and glared at him.

He pouted mischief clear in his eyes. "Very well then, I'll wait outside. Just call me if you need any help…"

Anna shut the door on him. "Cheeky boy." She muttered then held out the dress and laid it on the end of the bed. "Not to worry though, up ye' get Beka."

She helped me up and into the dress. It had a square front and sleeves that fell off my shoulders and went to my elbows. It was simple with no pattern and was the entire one colour, it was reasonably tight around my torso but not so it was putting any pressure on my wounds. The skirt was loose and made it easy to move around in, for which I was grateful if I was going to chase Dom later.

"There we are." Anna tucked the blue and black hair pin behind my ear and had my birthmark show. She stepped back and smiled at me. "Beautiful."

I smiled at her. "Thank you, may I go?" I asked hopefully, I needed fresh air.

She nodded and smiled. "Of course, your rogue is waiting for ye'."

"He's not my anything Anna." I replied walking to the door.

"And Beka?" She added just as soon as I put my hand on the handle and started to turn it.

I looked back at her and there was something different in her eyes. "Yes?"

"Thank ye'." She whispered and wrapped her arms around herself. "Fer' bringing Tryon home to me and Carissa. Thank ye'."

"That's alright, I owe him a thank you. I owe you all a thank you and so much more."

She shook her head. "No ye' don't Beka, we needed ye' and ye' came back,"

"Maybe." I replied, suddenly realising something. "But maybe I needed you to."

She smiled knowingly and gestured towards the door. "Off ye' go now."

I nodded and opened the door stepping out into the torch lit hallway. Rosto was leaning up against the opposite wall and looked up when I came out.

"You look beautiful Beka." He smiled, straightening up and holding out his arm. "Shall we?"

I blushed slightly. "Thank you and yes we shall." I took his arm and we set off down the hallway.

"I hope you know where you're going, because I have no idea." He admitted after a moment of silence.

I laughed. "This way." We turned down another passageway and I lead the way until we came to a set of stone steps and a wooden trap door. Rosto opened it and went out first before reaching back down and helping me out.

I wondered then if it was the best idea to be showing the king of thieves the entrances to our secret tunnels.

Maybe Giles could wipe that part of his memory.

"Very nice." He looked around the stables we'd come up under. His eyes wandering over the horses in their stalls. Nine stalls lined either wall length ways with three more down the far end and up the other was the tack room and a feed room. Above was a hay loft and there were large double doors at either end.

I let go of his hand and wandered over to the black stallion I had been given to ride whenever we did ride. He was a black as Pounce and gleamed in the sun, the only white mark on him was the diamond shape on his forehead. He was standing in the middle of his stall, head bowed, eyes closed. His only movement was the occasional flick of his tail as he dozed.

"Hello boy." I mumbled leaning my elbows on the chest high green wooden door. His ears flicked forward at my voice but apart from that he didn't move. Spirit was his name, or what we called him, his real name was Midnight Spirit.

"This ones your's then?" Rosto asked, coping my posture and lent beside me. His side touching my side. My breath caught in my throat.

I nodded, not being able to speak and not looking at him.

"He's a good looking horse." He stated. Looking him over thoughtfully. "Well breed."

I found my voice and looked at him raising an eyebrow. "And what do you know of horses Piper?"

He shrugged and smiled. "Enough to know he's a magnificent animal anyway. I thought you didn't like horses?"

"Spirit changed my mind. And I never disliked them….I just preferred to walk."

He laughed and Spirit looked up at the noise, he probably wasn't used to laughter.

"If you say so Beka."

He held out his hand and I took it with little hesitation which made him smirk as he led me out of the stables and into the empty gardens. Everything looked so alive and bright. Happy.

There were flowers of just about every colour imaginable in each of the gardens and the freshly cut grass was thick and soft under my feet.

Rosto squeezed my hand and with his thumb drew circles in my palm. I did my best to ignore him and tried to focus on the view and sweet scents and I breathed deeply. It seemed like forever since I had breathed in air like this.

I came to an abrupt halt when Rosto stopped and I had kept walking until I reached the length of our hands. I looked back at him surprised and tilted my head to the side.

He held a white rose in his other hand and he reeled me back to him. Shortening the space between us significantly.

"Um… I don't know how happy Mary will be if you keep picking her flowers." I knew that she wouldn't mind but it was all I could think of at that moment.

He smirked. "I'm sure I'll be forgiven eventually." We weren't touching but I could still feel his breath on my skin. He pushed the rose up behind my other ear and then trailed his fingers along my cheek and around my chin. Then he dropped that hand and let go of my hand and with that one reached up and brushed his fingers behind my left ear, over my birth mark I knew.

I reached up and took his hand in mine, lacing my fingers through his, getting them away from my brand.

"You shouldn't be ashamed of it Beka." He whispered and touched his forehead to mine and our noses brushed against each other. "It's a part of who you are, there's no need to hide it."

"There's every reason to hide it and I'm not ashamed of it. Not anymore. If its one thing I've learnt on my…trip, it's that I can't get rid of it. I have to accept it some time." I closed my eyes as the guilt and pain thundered in my chest and in my head. "Not ashamed. Scared."

Rosto was the last person I should be admitting all of this to, but as we stood here in my godmother's garden while I was recovering from my almost death I found that I couldn't help myself.

"You're not a bad person Beka." His hot breath on my face made me shiver. "There's no need to be afraid of who you are."

"But I don't want to be who I am! That's the problem." I pulled my head away from him as my eyes flew open as I bit back tears. What sarden wimp was I turning into?

"You can't change it." He reminded me bringing up both of his hands and putting them behind my head. "Besides I like who you are." He smirked the last part.

I was just about to tell him off when he pulled me to him and pressed his lips to mine. My eyes went wide and I tensed up immediately but after a moment and he showed no signs of letting go I closed my eyes and kissed him back.

He froze as I responded but got over it quickly and one hand moved from my head to my waist and he pulled me closer.

After I don't know how long it became annoyingly apparent that we needed air and reluctantly broke apart.

"That's one way to stop a scolding I guess." I breathed and he just grinned at me, leaning in and pressing a kiss to my forehead.

"It works does it not?" He chuckled, back to his cocky self.

"Don't you have a court to run?" I asked, trying to pull away only to have him tighten his grip.

When Giles said nothing physical I suppose that means not flipping the Rogue of Corus and wiping that smirk off his face. No matter how much I enjoyed kissing him.

I glared at him and he laughed. "You know you just ruined a perfectly good moment Beka."

I grunted, he was warm and his dark eyes were getting harder not to get lost in.

"Perhaps we should try again?"

"Piper." A slow, curious voice from behind us made him look up. I would have looked to but his hold made it difficult to move. "May I ask why you have my puppy in your hold?"

Rosto cringed and I'm pretty sure I paled.

Goodwin.

Sorry about the cliff hanger….ok so I'm not, but their just so much fun write. Lol. And that seemed like as good a place as any to stop so yeah.

As for the horses name it was all I can think of at the moment so it'll just have to do lol.

I'll try to have the next chapter up as soon as I can..just not sure when that'll be though hehe. More reviews the quicker the next chapter will be up. Hope you liked it =)

Till next time.

xXAngelStormXx