Chapter 4:

Later that morning, Carrea sat slumped in a chair reading. Beside her lay the boy, still sleeping, but occasionally stirring. The sedative was wearing off, and soon he would awaken. Yawning and stretching, Carrea looked out of the window. The sky was grey with overcast clouds, and a harsh breeze rattled the trees outside. As Dorrien entered the kitchen, a blast of cold air rushed through the house. Shivering, Carrea hastily created another heat globe and snuggled further into the blanket wrapped around her. Wandering into the guestroom, Dorrien stood near the heat globes, appreciating the warmth.

"Is there room under there for me too? I'm froze." He smiled mischievously.

Pulling the blanket round tighter, she shook her head teasingly. "Not if you're freezing cold. I've only just started getting warm."

"That's not fair." He pouted and walked over to her, "especially seeing as this is my blanket." Grabbing it with a grin, he dashed off to another chair, sat and made himself comfortable under the blanket.

Smothering a laugh, Carrea threw her pillow at him, "I'll be guessing you want the pillow too."

Tucking the pillow beside him he nodded, "yes, I did in fact. Lovely and warm."

"Perhaps you would like the chair cushions too?"

"No," he laughed, "but I wouldn't mind you over here."

"I bet you wouldn't." She said with a sly smile curling at her lips, "but I don't think I should seeing as you just stole the blanket from me."

"Well then I will just have to come sit on you instead."

"I'm not going to win either way am I?"

"Nope." He chuckled. Getting up, Carrea walked over shivering. Moving the blanket out of the way, Dorrien grabbed her and sat her down, then returned the blanket over them. "Much better." He smiled, winding his arms round her and resting his head against hers. After a while Carrea sighed gently, and Dorrien looked up questioning at her.

"Sorry," she said slightly embarrassed, "I was just thinking about something."

"Oh?" He asked with a wide eyed curiosity, "and what possibly could be making you sigh like that?"

"Well..." she started, looking uncomfortable. After a moment, she tried again, "how... do you really feel about me?"

Smiling, Dorrien took her chin and lifted it so she looked at him. "I think I am falling in love with you." Carrea stared at him in shock, trying to say something but not achieving anything.

"How can you know that?" She managed to blurt out.

"Because I can feel it." He grinned and held her tighter. "And what about you?"

"Hmm... Well..."

"Where am I?" Came a small tired voice from the boy.

"Stay still, you are safe." Dorrien said unwrapping the blanket from them, and standing. "How are you feeling?" He asked as he reached him. Bending down he checked his health.

"Tired." The boy replied trying to get up.

"Stay still." Carrea said gently, "you need to rest."

"You should be fine to travel home now." Dorrien smiled and stood. "We will take you back now." Walking over to Carrea he smiled, "time to get cold again. I'll go and prepare the horse."

Carrea watched as he left and returned to mulling over his question. What do I really feel? Every time he is near my heart races... And yet... What is it that I feel? Looking out the window, she could see him outside again - back in the cold and yet looking happy. An odd feeling of protectiveness washed over her, his infectious smile warmed her heart and intoxicated her – she wanted to nurture it, and have more of it. I want to make him smile. Realising this, she smiled. As Dorrien returned she found herself smiling more, and he looked at her oddly.

"Everything is ready now, could you bring him out please?" Nodding, she comforted the child as she picked him up and walked outside with him. Stepping through the door, they were battered with a strong wind, so Carrea hastily brought up a shield. The little boy looked up at her surprised an awed.

"You did that?"

"Yes." She chuckled, "I am a magician." Reaching the back of the cart she smiled. "It also means I can do this." Creating a disk of energy beneath her, she levitated them up onto the cart and she placed him down carefully on the makeshift bed. Wrapping him in a blanket, she made sure he was comfortable, and climbed down from the cart. Dorrien stood by the horse and looked at her inquisitively.

"He's safe, though I hope the road is not too bumpy."

"It's not. The place is not far either."

"Good." She nodded, and walked over to him. "About your question," she said softly, and took a step closer to him. Taking his hands within hers she linked their fingers, leant up against him and kissed him deeply. Breaking the contact, she returned to the back of the cart, casting a glance at him once. He blinked in shock, with his mouth open slightly, fumbling around to say something. Shaking his head, he climbed up onto the horse and looked back on both Carrea and the boy when she had stopped moving. With a jolt the cart started moving as the horse began its journey. The wind blew fiercely against Carrea's shield, and dark grey clouds above threatened rain. After a few minutes more houses came into view and Carrea could see many people busy at work, many turning to watch them approach. As they stopped outside of a farm, Carrea heard people rush over and start the onslaught of questions.

"Your son is fine." Dorrien assured them. "He just needs to rest for a while."

"Where is he? Where is my son?"

Carrea began to unwrap the child and took him off the cart. The mother snatched her son from her arms and began cradling him. The father looked at his son again in awe and choked back tears.

"Thank you so much." They both reiterated thankfully. "You saved my only son, how can I ever repay you?"

"I will not accept your thanks until you thank Carrea too. If it had happened any other time he would not have made it. She saved your son."

The woman gave Carrea a nervous glance, and fixed her stare on Dorrien. "What matters is that my son is alive. I am glad we have you as a Healer."

Dorrien glared at them icily, "that will not always be – especially if you carry on this foolishness."

"What foo-"

"You know what I speak of." He interrupted in a heavily controlled voice. "Your son needs complete bed rest for the rest of the week, then gentle exercise until he can move freely. Good day." Turning suddenly, his robes snapped angrily in the wind and he nimbly jumped back onto the horse. Scrambling back into the cart, Carrea avoided the hostile stares as they left them standing. The horse clopped along methodically and soon stopped again at a small stable, joined by a blacksmith. Clunking sounds of metal against metal echoed in the wind and smoke billowed from the nearby forge. Clambering down from his horse, Dorrien stood at the end of the cart with his hand out for Carrea. Taking it, she jumped down and looked about.

"My horse needs to be reshod." He explained, "and while that is happening, I thought I could show you about."

"That sounds good." She smiled at him.

"I just need to speak with the blacksmith." He nodded and strode off into the building. Spots of rain began to sizzle against her shield, and Carrea looked up. Little puffs of steam rose from the shield, faster and faster as the rain began to pour. In the distance, the deep boom of thunder was heard, soon followed by a bright flash of lightning. Suddenly Dorrien appeared beside her, and she realised she must have slipped into a daydream again.

"Having fun?"

"Yes, actually." She nodded. "But I wouldn't like to be hit by lightning."

Chuckling, he took her hand, "it's not going to be lively, but let me show you about." Together they walked around the village, shielding from the rain and enjoying the passing storm. As they started to walk back, the storm finally stopped and people began to return outdoors. Passing an old lady she heard her muttering to herself.

"... that young man finally got himself a lady friend." She nodded and fumbled in her basket. Quickly walking back to Carrea, she put a pachi in her hand. "They are good luck." She said, then wandered off again. Completely bewildered, Carrea ended up laughing.

"A pachi?"

"For good luck it seems, though I don't see why you would need good luck." He grinned at her, "I am hoping things are good enough already."

"Almost." She smiled back.

"Almost?"

"Yeah... There is still the fact that you live here, and I live at the Guild." She said sadly.

"Maybe... I won't let you go back. I''ll tell the Guild that I have kidnapped you indefinitely."

Laughing, she shoved the pachi into his mouth. "I'm sure they'd love that."

Taking a bite of of the pachi, Dorrien smiled. "Of course they would. But would you?"

"I don't know." She slowly admitted. "It's lovely here... But I love the Guild."

"It is a wonderful place." He agreed, and began eating the rest of the pachi.

"Yes," she said with a sad sigh, "even more now you have shown me the forest."

"That is only one of the best places." Dorrien managed to say between bites. "I bet you haven't ever been on top the University."

"On top of it? I didn't even know it was possible."

"It gives a lovely view of the city. Well unless you don't like heights." As they nearer the blacksmith, Dorrien turned them in a different direction, away from the village.

"Where are we going now?" Carrea asked confused.

"You'll see soon."

The land started to hill slightly, and Carrea was having trouble not slipping on the wet muddy grass. Biting back a comment, Carrea continued on until Dorrien pulled her to a stop. Standing behind her, he slipped his hands over her eyes, then pushed her onwards for a few steps. "I think you'll like this." He whispered in her ear, then moved his hands and wrapped them around her. Below them was an outstretched valley, glittering with moisture as the slither of sun burst threw the clouds. An icy blue river sprung forth from the landscape, dividing the surrounding hills and disappearing on the horizon. Resting his head upon Carrea's shoulder, Dorrien admired the landscape.

"This is one of my favourite places."

"I can see why."

"There's more too." He grinned and began to pull her along excited. They climbed further up and closer to the mountains and Carrea ached for a rest. Hidden among a sheer cliff of rock, lay ruins of a building surrounded by the hills, and smothered in the dark shadows. "You can only get there by levitating, I make sure the villagers stay away from here because it is dangerous to them. But I have never been able to show anyone this place." Levitating down to the floor, Dorrien grabbed Carrea's hand and led her inside. "Unfortunately there is nothing here." He said gesturing to the empty rooms. "But we can also see the valley from a window." Leading her into another room, he showed her the view again.

"It is lovely." Carrea smiled, and looked up at Dorrien who was grinning at her.

"I'm glad I can finally appreciate it with someone."

"Well I am sure there are oth-"

"No. This place is special. I go here when I need to think."

"Thank you for bringing me here." She smiled shyly. "I never thought someone could have so many hideaways."

"I don't have that many." He laughed. "But this one truly is a hideaway. It's so quiet and you can just forget the world. Nobody – except magicians – can disturb you here." Walking over to the window, Carrea looked out again at the scene below. "Just," he started, grabbed her and pulled her back slightly, "be careful." Turning her around to face him, he pulled her close. "It is dangerous that close to the window. The sill has crumbled and it is a straight drop from the edge. I don't want you to fall." In his arms, Carrea shuddered at the thought, and she could feel her heart racing.

"I wouldn't like to either."

"Well feel free to stay right where you are, because then I know you are safe."

Chuckling, Carrea stepped back and looked up at him, "and you should make sure you are always there to make it happen."

"I can do that." He smiled warmly, leant down to her and placed a soft kiss upon her lips. Reaching out, he caressed her face gently with both hands. Slowly his hands stroked down her face, rested on her chin for a moment, then slid down the side of her neck. Moving her hand up, Carrea rested it on Dorrien's and she held it tight. Ending the kiss, Dorrien looked down at her oddly, and let his hands fall away.

"I hope you have liked my surprises."

"Yes I have." Carrea smiled at him. "I would never have guessed that a place like this would be here."

"Neither did I actually, it was a wonderful thing to find." He nodded. After a few minutes, he continued, "we should probably go back now."

"Yes," Carrea muttered, "but I would love to come back here sometime."