The rain stopped two days later as did David's constant grumbling about the crummy weather, mother's horrible humming and also my monthly bleed. But what started was a series of things that would make for the longest week of my life. It started with Reverend Thomas' first visit.

With the talk of war spreading all over the country mother thought it would be best for Reverend Thomas to visit, give us a blessing in this time of need. What she really wanted was for me to give them my blessing so they could further their relationship without any problems.

He arrived just in time for dinner in his black robes and white collar. I smiled at him and he nervously offered his hand to me. He was a small fat man, with a baldhead and small blue eyes. He breathed heavily and his face went purple when he coughed.

"Welcome Reverend." Mother said fussing and making sure she never touched him. She offered her favourite seat and started pouring out glasses of sherry that she had gotten for Christmas. I sat across from him and watched him watch her. He studied her movements with more than lust. He watched her as if he were in awe.

"Have you been married before?" I asked jumping right to the point of the visit. Mother looked at me with a shocked expression but I just shrugged at her. I could tell she was curious as well. Reverend Thomas was a quiet one, who kept to himself. Being our parish priest for the past three years he wasn't known for making house calls and this didn't give us many opportunities for getting to know him. He smiled at me and folded his hands onto the table.

"No I have never married before." He said his voice deep and calm despite the sweat breaking out on his forehead.

"Why not?"

"Susanna!" Mother shrieked but he just smiled.

"I believe that marriage is sacred and when you are young marriage is solely just to bring children into the world. In my youth I believed that there was no room in my heart for children. God was the only one, so I never married. I was in love once but she wanted children and I did not." He said with a shrug.

"But children are believed to be sacred too." I said and he nodded. "Why wouldn't you want them?"

"It is hard to explain." He said studying the wooden table. "But when you are a man of God having children and marriage are small worries compared to others."

"So why do you wish to marry my mother now?" I asked and once again Mother shrieked.

"No one said anything about marriage Susanna." She said placing a large chicken on the table. I looked up at her and raised my eyebrows.

"No one needed to."

"Don't worry my dear." He said touching her hand gently. It was amazing to watch the woman I knew to be strong and tough like an ox melt like candle wax to a flame. "I wish to marry your mother-in-law because I love her."

"But do you love her because she is at an age where she can no longer bear you children?" I asked skeptically. Even though he was a man of God, he was a human first and I needed to make sure she would be taken care of for the right reasons. He studied my face and smiled.

"I cannot lie and say that isn't a big part of it. But I also love her for others things. For instance the way she can pluck fifty feathers from a chicken's body in one grasp or the way she walks into the room and the whole place changes. Or the way she talks about you. You, her daughter by marriage, she speaks of as if you were her own blood. She worries more about you than she could possibly worry about anyone else." He smiled at me and I felt tears prick my eyes. "The things she worries about are…lets just say that I love her for loving you, for seeing how much she can care for one person that has only recently come into her life." I sat silent, completely speechless. Mother hovered by the fire and was afraid to look at me. I took a deep shaky breath and wiped my eyes.

"Well then I guess you are very fortunate to have her affections." I said nodding at him, silently giving my blessing. He smiled at me and looked over at Mother who snorted. She squeezed my shoulder as she passed but never said a word.

"Nora tells me that you have an interest in dogs?" Thomas said as mother placed bowls of mashed potatoes and chopped carrots in front of us.

"It's recent hobby of mine." I said nodding and offering the bowl of carrots to Thomas.

"She just brought home another a few days ago." Mother said raising her eyebrow at me.

"I have acquired friends who raise dogs and while I was there my dog, Lucan, got along very well with another dog and it was agreed that no good would come with separating the two. So I was allowed to take her home as long as I took good care of her." I said smiling and looking at the two dogs lying by the fire. Eleanor rested her tiny head on Lucan's and the two were watching us with sleepy expressions.

"Yes I agree. But they probably gave her to you because she is gestating." Thomas said as he cut a wing off of the chicken.

"G-gestating?" I stared at him shocked. "Are you certain?"

"My dear," he said with a pitied smile. "My father raised dogs and sold them as one would raise cattle. I know when a bitch is carrying pups." He looked at my concerned face and put down his fork. "I'll show you." He got up off the chair and went and knelt down in front of Lucan. Lucan growled at him but Thomas lifted his hand and patted Lucan gently. Then he gently grabbed Eleanor by the scruff of her neck and led her into a standing position. "Come here." He said to me and I quickly got up and knelt beside him.

"Feel here." He said placing his hands just above Eleanor's hips and slightly towards her belly. I copied his hands and felt the dog's stomach. "Do you feel how hard it is?" I pressed slightly and nodded.

"I'd say that she is about 30 days." He said with a smile. Eleanor turned around and licked my hand before she went and lay down on Lucan again. I sat and stared at the two of them and shook my head.

"It's not possible." I said and Thomas chuckled.

"Sure it is."

"He's so big and she's so small." I stared at the pair with wonder. "Maybe she was expecting before we got there."

"After the 30th day her stomach will soften and she enters into the second period of birthing." Thomas said sitting back at the table. "Her body is no longer getting used to this new thing growing inside. It's accepted it and is giving up the battle." He said taking a bite of the chicken. I looked at mother and she shrugged.

"Puppies?" I said looking at them again.

"I wouldn't expect more that two." Thomas said looking at the dogs. "Given their size difference she will be in for one ruff night." He said and then chuckled at his own joke. As mother started another topic of conversation I sat beside the couple and patted Lucan's head as Eleanor climbed into my lap.

"Well you've done it now buddy." I said to him and gently felt Eleanor's stomach again. "Puppies." I said shaking my head.

Reverend Thomas left just before prayers and I cleaned the dishes while mother said good night. I smirked when she returned half an hour later and her lips were red and puffy.

"He's gone." She said closing the door and touching her hair. I noticed that she was no longer wearing her wedding band and I felt a pang in my chest as I realized I wasn't wearing mine either. When had I forgotten about Andrew? It had been a few short months since his death but it felt like years.

"Are you alright dear?" She asked touching my arm and startling me.

"Of course." I said with a smile, but it faded.

"What is it?"

"Nothing. I don't want to trouble you with my foolishness." I said and wiped my hands on a cloth before I picked up the dirty water and went to the door to dump it.

"Susanna." Her tone was stern but her eyes were soft. I sighed.

"I've forgotten about Andrew." I said and she blinked at me. She looked towards the table and her eyes glistened. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said it. Forgive me mother."

"No, it's alright." She said and grabbed my hand. "I've forgotten about him too. I'll never completely forget about him. But sometimes change happens and you start to forget things that were so dear to you before."

"I feel like I should still be wearing black, like I should be in mourning." Tears leaked down my face.

"Susanna. You shouldn't mourn for the husband you lost when your heart no longer belongs to him." She said giving me a wink. I stared at her and wondered how she knew. She smiled and patted my shoulder as she went to wipe the table. "So puppies? That's just the thing we need in this small house…more mouths to feed." And for the first time in my life she sat down and patted Lucan's head. I blinked at her and opened the door throwing the dirty water onto the grass. And then I noticed it.

It was small at first, a soft glow in the dark world around me. But within seconds it grew larger and the smell reached my nose creating a sense of panic in my body.

"Oh my god!" I whispered and raced to the barn. I flung open the doors and listened as the cattle shrieked. "HELP! MOTHER HELP!" I raced into the smoky barn and started opening every pen I could touch. As I opened the gates the cows bolted from their cells and out into the open air. As I reached the last pen I noticed I fumbled with the scalding hot lock and watched as the baby cow hid behind its mother's backside. She stood screaming at the flames as if that would be the trick to save her baby. When I opened the gate they were too distracted and I had to pull on the cow's ears to get her to leave the cell. The baby naturally followed after her.

I looked up at the burning hay lofts and watched in awe as embers started to fall towards me. "Susanna run!" A voice said and I looked up to see Andrew standing a few feet in front of me.

"What are you doing in here?" I shouted over the roaring fire.

"Get out now!" He said and the roof crackled above sending hot shard of wood around me. I covered my head and felt a piece burn my arm. "SUSANNA GET OUT!" He said again only this time he stood in front of me and grabbed onto my hands. My body went cold and I pulled away from him, just as a long piece of wood fell and landed in the spot where I had just been standing. This was enough for me to completely realize what was going on. I raced around the burning log and right past Andrew.

I met David and Johnny on the way out and they were carrying two big buckets of water.

"There's more outside." Johnny shouted.

"Ms. Fitzpatrick is filling them at the stream, just leave the empty ones out there." David ordered and started throwing water onto the fire. As I watched the two boys fight to put the large flames out I realized it was too late.

"David come." I said pulling on his arm but he pulled away from me. Johnny stood back and watched, he too knew it was hopeless, but he would fight at his friend's side till the bitter end. "David! There's no point." I shouted and he pulled away from me again.

"Susanna quick!" Mother appeared behind me and there were tears on her face.

"What is it?"

"It's the house." She shouted and David stopped throwing water onto the flames and raced out of the barn with us. As we entered into the cold clean air we stopped and watched as the straw roof burned. None of us could move as the marvelous orange and red flames lighted the night sky. I felt Lucan lick my dirty hand and that's when I realized what was happening. Our lives were being taken away from us.

"Quick we have to put it out!" I said grabbing a bucket. I was vaguely aware of mother bursting into tears and sinking to the ground and Johnny yelling to David and I that there was no way to put it out. But David and I raced back and forth to the stream filling bucket after bucket trying desperately to put the flames out. Then the roof caved in and the whole house was engulfed in flames. I sank to the ground; spilling the bucket I had been carrying and stared at the house. Everything that made my life was in that house. And all I could do was sit back and watch it burn.

The house was still crackling when the sun rose the next morning. Lucan and Eleanor stayed by my side as I sat under the tree and watched the house. Mother knelt on the dirt path and cried for the entire night asking God why he did this to us. The cows were scattered all over the land, some lying down, and some grazing. David and Johnny had raced down to father's house to tell him and I knew it would take them hours to get there and just as long to get back.

A rooster cawed somewhere off in the distance and I stood up. I winced under the pain of my sore muscles and walked towards the house. Mother was sitting on the ground praying and didn't even feel me gently touch her head before I walked into the burnt house. There were still small fires burning off to the sides of the house but nothing life threatening. Everything was black, ash and the air was almost entirely smoke. I coughed as I kicked aside what I had guessed was our kitchen table and frowned at the black fire place. The wall that separated the front room from the bedrooms had burned down and both rooms were completely visible. There was a pile of rubbish where my bed used to be. The bed where I had made love to Andrew. The bed where I had spent a week crying over his death. The bed where I had laid the quilt Jesse had given me for my birthday. None of those things remained now. All the dresses Gina had given me were turned to ash and the beautiful gown I had been given by the king…it was as if I had never been given it.

I turned around three times looking at what used to be my safe haven; my place to go if I needed time alone. Now it was black, dark and dead.

"Susanna?" his voice was soft but it was enough for the tears to start pouring down my face. "Come now dear." His hands were warm against my arms as he led me out of the house. I blinked at the bright sunlight and wiped the tears from my face. "It'll be alright." He said and I collapsed.

"Oh Papa!" I said and he held me in his arms as he had when I was small and had scraped my knee. "Why? Why did this happen?" I sobbed and he stroked my hair.

"Shh, shh…it'll be alright." He said and held onto me tighter.

"How did this happen David?" That was Jacob's voice. He was somewhere off to my right.

"I… I don't know. Johnny and I were…we were down by the water and then… we came heard screams and the barn was on fire." He stammered nervously. "Then while we were trying to put it out the house caught on fire."

"Maybe it was a storm." Jacob said.

"Don't be stupid brother. The sky was clear last night. "Bradley snapped and this shocked me enough that I opened my eyes.

"Well how do you suppose it happened?" Jacob snapped back and the two of them stood staring at the house scowling.

"You think it is a coincidence that both the house and the barn caught on fire?" Bradley said, his voice lower thinking that I couldn't hear him. I watched Jacob looked at our brother with a shocked expression.

"You…no…"He shook his head and looked back at the house. "You think someone did this on purpose?" he hissed. Bradley hesitated and then nodded. "But why? Who would want to hurt-" His eyes landed on me and they softened. I looked at Papa who was watching me carefully, completely aware of what had been said.

"Who would do this to me?" I asked standing up, with Papa's help.

"I…I don't know." Jacob said stepping towards me and brushing a stray piece of hair behind my ear. "Maybe you weren't the target."

"But who would want to hurt mother? Or David? We have no enemies here." I said looking at David's shocked face.

"I don't know if anyone was a target." Bradley said looking at the house.

"What?" Jacob said turning to him.

"What do you mean Bradley?" Papa said.

"It's just interesting how the series of events happened." He said with a shrug and walked towards what used to be the barn. "You said you saw the barn on fire and called for help, right?" Bradley asked me and I nodded. "So while everyone was focusing on the barn, no one was in the house, right?"

"Obviously." Jacob snapped and Bradley scowled.

"Let him finish son." Papa said grabbing Jacob's tense shoulder.

"So while you were putting out the fire the house caught on fire." He said turning to the house.

"It could've been an ember that floated from the fire and lit the roof in flames." Jacob said.

"Yes that's possible. But unlikely." He said and studied the house. The person would've been able to wait to make sure everyone was out before he set the fire." Bradley said and then he looked at me. "Are you sure that you don't know anyone who would do this to you?" I blinked at him as faces raced through my mind. I shook my head and felt my knees shake. Who would want to destroy my life, my home? Why?

"Oh my, look at you!" Debbie had screeched when she saw us slowly trudged up the hill to their house. The boys had rounded up the cows and left them in Papa's barn. David would stay in Papa's house and Mother and I would stay with Debbie and the kids at her house. In the past six years Jacob had worked his hardest to build the best home for him and Debbie.

It was a rock wall house, made with sturdy stones and plaster that took a year's wages to buy and had a wooden roof that was flat. The front door was solid oak with tree carvings on the front of it and when you went in you entered the kitchen/living space. He made the house two levels with beautiful wooden floors and a staircase, not a wooden ladder, a staircase that went up to the two bedrooms upstairs. There was a third bedroom downstairs that stood at the back of the house. This was where Debbie and Jacob slept and the children would sleep upstairs. Aggie being the only girl got her own room and was more than happy to share it with Mother and I.

That night had been a restless sleep. I could not fall asleep and knew that mother was having the same problem. Around midnight I drifted off to sleep and was awoken shortly after by two swift kicks in my lower back from Aggie's small feet. I groaned and wrapped a blanket around my shoulders and went down the stairs. In front of the fire, Debbie had placed a blanket and the two dogs slept peacefully on them. I sat down and started petting their heads. Next thing I knew the sun was pouring in the window and three sets of eyes were staring down at me.

"Why are you sleeping on the floor Auntie?" Aggie asked. I blinked at them and rubbed my face.

"Hmmm?" I asked.

"You're sleeping with the dogs." Samuel said and giggled.

"Yes well you sister has a mean kick." I said smiling at them. Nathaniel sat beside me watching me carefully. When I smiled at him he gave me a huge smile back that showed two tiny white teeth. I smirked and sat up, quickly picking him up and kissing him. He giggled and squirmed under my hands and I laughed. Jacob came into the kitchen and his long black hair was damp and crazy. We all smiled at each other ready to tease him, but when he looked at us there was sadness in his eyes.

"Daddy? What's wrong?" Aggie said, clearly picking up on Jacob's mood.

"Nothing dear." He said and picked up a wooden cup and dipped it into the barrel of water by the door. He took a long gulp and then placed both hands on the rim and bent over.

"Aggie can you take Nathaniel and Samuel to Grandpa's house and see if he has started breakfast yet?" I said, eyeing my brother carefully. I smiled at my sister and she blinked back at me with a stunned expression.

"Grandpa never cooks. Momma does all the cooking, right Daddy?"

"Momma's not feeling too well today." He said and took another drink of water.

"Hurry now Aggie. Go and see what he's got to eat. I'll be there soon." I said giving her my best smile. Her forehead creased but she picked up Nathaniel, who was almost the size of her torso, and the three of them hurried down the hill to Papa's house.

"What is it Jacob?" I asked, pulling the blanket tighter around my shoulders.

"It's Debbie." He whispered and his shoulders shuddered.

"What?" I asked rushing to his side.

"She's pale and weak." He said turning away so I wouldn't see his tears. I looked at the door and felt goose bumps break out over my arms.

"When did it start?"

"Shortly after you got up. She wanted to make sure you were alright, but…" he was overcome with sobs and I knew that nothing else needed to be said. I patted his arm and went to the door.

I knocked softly and then slowly opened the door. The smell was stale and salty from the built up heat and sweat. The room was dark and I could hear her panting softly.

"Deb?" I whispered edging slowly into the room. My knee collided with the bed frame and I sat down. "Are you alright Debbie?" I asked reaching for her hand. It was clammy and hot and the bed shook as she tossed her head from left to right.

"My baby." She panted. "My baby." I reached up and felt her hot face. Time to act, I thought. I rolled up the sleeves of my night gown and got up. I opened the window allowing a breeze to go through the room and ordered Jacob to get me a cold rag for Debbie's head and to put the kettle on. After two hours of tossing and turning she fell silent and went into a peaceful sleep.

"What am I going to tell the kids?" Jacob whispered as we stood outside Debbie's door. We had taken turns checking on her for the past hour. I sent mother to Papa's house to keep the children busy and quickly changed into one of Debbie's old working dresses that didn't fit her anymore.

"Tell them that they are having a overnight visit at Grandpa's house. Make it fun and exciting." I said and he blinked at me.

"I can't pretend everything is alright. We haven't even gotten the doctor yet." He snapped.

"Because right now I can handle this. You need to calm down and worry about the kids while she's still sle-" A loud groan cut me off and Jacob and I raced into the room.

"What's wrong Deb?" I asked feeling her head.

"It's ok honey." Jacob said sitting on the bed and holding her hand.

"Something's wrong." She panted and her eyes opened wide. "Help!" She said and started kicking at the blankets. Jacob stared in horror as I pushed the blankets back and started at the blood soaked sheets. "No! NO!" She screamed and held her legs tightly together.

"Debbie…" I said softly rubbing her leg. I bit back the tears and tried to coax her. "Come on Debbie you have too."

"Have to what?" Jacob snapped. "She's in pain Susanna! She shouldn't have to do anything."

"Not my baby!" She said and tears poured down her face.

"I'm sorry." I said to her letting my own emotions get the better of me. A tear rolled down my cheek and I brushed it away. "Come on Debbie you have to push."

"Push? PUSH? She's not ready yet. The baby is supposed to come for months." Jacob shouted and I frowned at him. He studied my face and shook his head.

"Not again." He said looking at the blood and a tear rolled down his cheek. I nodded and then turned back to Debbie.

"Come on you can do it." I said pulling her legs apart and watching for the signs of delivery. She sat up and pushed down hard enough that her face went red. It took three tries before the tiny baby slipped out into my hands. She was tiny and blue and fit in one of my hands. Her little chest never moved and her fingers were curled in tiny fists. I wiped off her face with the edge of my dress and studied the tiny creature. She had no hair on her body, not even an eyelash and her nails were barely noticeable. I looked up at Jacob who watched me closely and Debbie who sat back breathing heavily and staring at the sky.

"I'm sorry." I said again and she looked at me.

"What is it?" She asked, her voice calm and serious. I swallowed and took a deep breath.

"A girl." I said and looked away as her face crumbled and Jacob bent towards his wife to console her. I wrapped the tiny baby in the blanket at the foot of the bed and closed my eyes fighting the tears.

"Why is this happening to us?" Debbie screamed. "WHY!"

"I don't know honey."

"Two girls and both have been taken away from us." She sobbed. "Doesn't God see what a great job we are doing with a child who isn't even ours?" She covered her face with her hands and took three deep breaths. "All I want is a daughter of my own." She said and I realized that I was no longer needed. I kissed the baby's warm head and offered her out to Jacob. He looked at her and shook has he took her from me. I closed the door to the horrible sounds of both of their sobs.

"Auntie come quick!" Samuel said appearing in the doorway. I sighed deeply and wiped my bloody hands on the back of my dress. I smiled at him.

"What is it?"

"It's Elly!" He said and I groaned.

"What's wrong with her?" I asked taking his hand. He bounced beside me as he pulled me from the house.

"Come and see! Come and see!" He said racing down the hill towards the stream. When we reached the banks where I used to play mother and the two other children were huddled in a circle.

"Be gentle now dear." Mother was telling Nathaniel as he reached down.

"Ew." Aggie said and turned around gagging. I smirked and then my smile dropped at the horrible sight of my dog giving birth to a puppy that was too big for her.

"Oh for heaven's sake." I snapped and sank down to the ground.

"What should we do?" Mother asked one hand ready to pull the puppy out and another holding Nathaniel back. I looked at Elly who was panting and her eyes were shut.

"It's too early." I said watching as her stomach rippled and the back legs of the puppy emerged. Aggie gagged again raced off into the bushes.

"Take them to Papa's house, not to their house." I said to mother. She looked at me curiously and I just shook my head. She frowned as she realized that Debbie had not had good fortune this pregnancy. "I'll need towels but send David. He knows more about these things." I said grimacing as Elly tried to push the puppy out.

As I found myself alone I became aware of a whining somewhere behind me. I turned slightly to see Lucan laying on the ground a few feet away. I smirked and shook my head.

"Coward. Look at what you have done to this poor girl. She'll never be able to have a puppy again." I said watching the way her body was deformed. I sat back and watched, knowing there was nothing I could do. Knowing that this was in fact the worst two days of my entire life.

David threw himself onto the ground beside me and sighed. "I thought you said she would have another month?"

"I guess it's too big for her. Look…" I winced as she pushed again and half of the puppy was hanging out.

"It looks pretty developed." He said studying the back end of the puppy. It was black like Elly but had large circular paws like Lucan. We sat in silence as she struggled to bring this beast into the world. After what seemed like forever the puppy slid out and Elly started licking it.

"Gross here get the towels." I said.

"No." David said putting his hand on my arm. "She needs that to produce milk for the puppy."

"A puppy that is too early to survive!" I snapped back.

"Are you sure?" He said and we looked down at the dog. It was small, black with small floppy ears. Its eyes were shut and its skin was wet but it looked just like Lucan. It's tiny tail flopped and it let out small whines as Elly cleaned it.

"It's so cute." I said and the tears that I had been fighting poured down my face.

"And alive." David said happily. He started fixing Elly's battle wounds and smiled at me. "You're a grandma now. How do you feel?" I swatted at him and smiled. Lucan crawled over and licked Elly's face before sniffing the puppy that had now latched itself onto Elly's nipple. We sat back and watched the family in awe.

"Miracles do happen." David said helping me to my feet.

"Not for some." I said looking up at the house at the top of the hill.

By mid week things had started to get better. Debbie was eating again and Elly had allowed us to move the puppy into the house so I could keep an eye on them. The kids, especially Aggie were sad about their lost sister and we all stood around the tiny grave behind the barn where all the lost babies were buried. Reverend Thomas said a prayer for baby Colleen's soul and we all through a rose onto the pink blanket she was wrapped in. We left Jacob to fill in the grave, as he had asked and we walked back to the house for lunch.

"It appears you have a visitor Susanna." Mother whispered to me and nodded up ahead. I looked up and a smile instantly broke over my face. It took all the strength I had not to run into his arms and cry out all of my sorrows. He stood wearing a black tunic and had a white rose in his hand.

"I heard about the baby." He said looking at me and then offering the flower to Debbie. She smiled at him and then to our surprise reached up and kissed his cheek.

"Thank you." She said and walked into the house. Aggie looked at me with raised eyebrows and I smirked at her. Mother shooed her inside and left the two of us out front of the house.

"Will you take a walk with me?" He asked and I all of a sudden felt nervous. He wouldn't ask me today would he? Surely he hadn't spoken to father yet? When we reached a fallen log at the edge of the woods we sat down. "How are you?" He asked, twisting a pair of white riding gloves nervously in his hands.

"Jesse what is it that you have to tell me?" I said placing my hand gently on his. He looked at it as if it were the strangest thing in the world and then sighed.

"I love you." He said and I smiled.

"I love you also."

"I don't ever want to be away from you. Whenever you are with me its like I can think of nothing but you." He took a deep and nervous breath and I bit back the excitement bubbling in my chest. "When I'm away from you my heart aches and I count down the moments until I see you again." He looked at me and his forehead creased. "I'm telling you this so you know exactly how I feel towards you."

"But Jesse you've told me this before." I said with a smile. "I know how you feel. And I feel the same way for you."

"Would you marry me tomorrow if I asked you?" He said looking at me with sad eyes. I blinked at him and smiled.

"Of course."

"Would you wait and marry me in ten years?" He asked again and I frowned.

"What is the problem Jesse?"

"Would you?" He said, grabbing my hand.

"You know I will wait for you until I die." I smiled. "Even after I died I would wait for yo-" His lips landed on mine with a fierce hunger and desire. He pushed against me so hard that his teeth scraped my lips and I pulled away. "What's wrong with you?"

"I'm leaving." He said and I shook my head.

"Pardon?"

"I'm…I'm leaving, tomorrow to fight in the King's Royal army."