A/N: Sorry for the crazy ride. Sometimes I don't even know where this story is going when I sit down to write a new chapter. Please continue to R/R!

It was farther from Roland's castle to Lachlan's house than it had been to get to the palace. Along the way, Wini and Wyn had purchased some new clothing for me, nothing as elegant as what I had worn previously, but also more comfortable than the servants garb Johnna had given me. Cleaner too.

The path to Lachlan's home was hardly discernable when we turned off the main road, but Wyn knew the way. "Will you be staying?" I had asked Wini during one of our many conversations. She said they would stay one night, but then they had to get home themselves.

My stomach twisted with nervousness as we drew up to the two story, stone house. It was bigger than a cottage, but minute compared to the castle. I spied a cow fenced in a pen, and chickens pecked the ground here and there. "Don't be nervous," Wini patted my hand.

"Once again, I find myself thrust upon the kindness of strangers. You and Wyn have been so good to me, and you don't even know me."

"Cedric knows you, and I trust his judgement. And Lachlan will take care of you until Cedric arrives."

Wyn helped us down from the carriage a moment after we stopped, and I looked up at the house. It was pretty, in a wooded area, and isolated. I looked about and realized how much safer I had felt in the castle, with guards nearby.

The front door opened and a man stepped out. I gasped but tried to cover it up. For a moment, I thought Cedric had arrived before us, but as the man came closer, I could tell he was slightly taller, had slightly lighter colored hair, and a less prominent nose. Out of habit, I began to curtsy, then caught myself and knew I looked foolish.

"Lachlan, this is Sofia," Wini beamed, putting her arm around my shoulders. "Sofia, our son Lachlan. He looks a bit like Cedric, does he not?"

"I can see some resemblance." Lachlan half-smiled but Wini pushed me toward the front door before we could speak.

"You will like it here." The front door immediately led to a small parlor with worn furniture and a large fireplace on the end wall. "Here is the kitchen," Wini beckoned me to a door to my left. Popping inside for just a moment, I saw a large fireplace, table and chairs, a counter and washtub and a door to the back of the house. "It's quite large for such a small place." I nodded politely and then she led me back to the parlor and a staircase to the top floor. "There are two rooms here." She pointed down the hall, "That is Lachlan's, and this," she led me to the room above the kitchen, "will be yours." The room contained everything I would need, a bed, a chair, and a small table that held a water pitcher and basin. Lachlan and Wyn brought in my bag with clothing. Wini and I removed the clothing and began to hang the dresses from the pegs on the wall.

"Do you require anything else?" Lachlan asked.

"No, thank you." I smiled at him, but then looked away again. He looked so much like Cedric and yet Cedric was so far away. I wanted him there with me, immediately.

Lachlan and Wyn left. There were two small windows in the room, one looking over the front, the other over the back of the house. "It's so quiet here."

"It is, isn't it? I'm sure that will be quite a change for you." I nodded. "Come, let's see about a meal." We descended the stairs again and found Wyn and Lachlan in the kitchen already.

"What shall we make?" Wini began to rummage through a cupboard.

"I've already got a stew going, Ma." Lachlan grumbled.

"How about bread? And do you have vegetables in your garden yet?" She peeked into her son's oven, finding fresh bread.

"The vegetables are in the stew."

"All right, all right."

"Sit down, Ma. This is my house."

Not sure if I should take that as not being welcome, I peaked at Lachlan. He was not looking at me, but he did have a strained look on his face as he watched his parents. I kept my eyes down.

"Come, Sofia," Wini waved at me, "we will sit in the parlor and wait for our gracious host to bring us drinks."

I heard Lachlan grumble and Wyn laugh before the door closed behind us. We sat on the small couch, and wincing as it creaked from our weight, though I did not think we were so heavy. "What does Lachlan do?"

"Odd jobs, I think. He's a wonderful carpenter." I frowned, looking at his furniture. "Though I think he works for others, not himself." Again, I wondered if she could read my thoughts. "And he has a small farm here to sustain himself."

"Where will you and Wyn sleep tonight?"

Cedric's mother smiled at me. "My dear, Wyn and I are skilled at taking one thing and making it another. This couch, will be a wonderfully, comfortable bed tonight."

I smiled. She did seem to do more than Cedric ever did with magic. Unconsciously, my hand wandered to feel the amulet still hidden under my clothing. But Roland did not trust magic, I reminded myself. I remembered his rage when he thought that Cedric had taught me magic and I had burned him.

"Sofia, what is it?"

Looking over to Wyn, I said, "Nothing. Why?"

"You went somewhere else for a moment. Does magic bother you?"

"No! No, I remembered something and lost track for a second. I apologize."

As Lachlan carried in a tray, Wini patted my hand. "Soon you will have many better memories and fewer bad ones." I nodded with a smile.

"It appears I'm out of tea," Lachlan stated, "but I've got cider."

Wini made a tsking sound, but I said, "That sounds lovely."

Lachlan cracked a half-smile and I had to look away from him again. We spent the evening together as Wyn and Wini did most of the talking. Lachlan answered their questions with short answers, and I tried to take in all the information I could about Cedric's family that I could.

The stew was hearty and after a few cups of cider, I was finally feeling very relaxed. "May I be excused?" I finally asked. "I think I need sleep."

"Of course," Wini said. "Go to bed girl."

"Wait," Lachlan rose as I did. "I will get you a lamp. There isn't one in that room." He hurried to the kitchen then came back with a lamp, already lit.

"Thank you," I briefly met his eyes, then walked to the stairs. "Good night, everyone." Only Wini replied with words. Wyn grumbled and Lachlan said nothing, but I could not look at him again. I wanted to see Cedric.

Cedric's parents left mid-morning. I waved to them, as they both sat upon the driver's seat, then I returned to the inside of the house nearly running into Lachlan as he was coming to the door. We both apologized to each other and laughed nervously.

"Thank you for letting me stay here for a while," I said, not looking at him directly in the face. "What can I help you with?"

"I don't need a housekeeper." He was blunt. "But if you want to help here and there, you can."

"I need to earn my room and board."

He barked a laugh. "I don't know the entire situation, but I know you don't have magic, and from the look of your hands, you are a lady, not a servant, and either I intimidate you or you hate me because you won't even look me in the eye."

I looked at him then. "No, that's not it at all."

"Really?"

"I mean, yes, I'm intimidated. I have little idea of where I am or what the future holds," Lachlan shook his head as if he did not believe me, "but when I look at you, I see Cedric and I miss him."

"So, it's true? Cedric really found someone who likes him? Have you even met him?" I flushed and he laughed. "Well."

"And I may have nice hands now, but I used to cook and sew and other things. I'm not saying I'm great at it, but I can help."

"I rise before dawn and take care of the animals. If you are up early and want to start breakfast, I won't stop you."

"All right then."

"Just, don't keep looking away. I'm not Cedric. You'll figure it out soon enough."

"I'm sure I will."

Over the next few weeks, Lachlan and I settled into a routine. I was accustomed to rising early, but not as early as him. By the time he came in from tending to the animals, I was just starting breakfast. Lachlan did not complain. Then he usually disappeared for a few hours to the barn where I assumed he was working. I dusted and cleaned, though the little house was hardly dirty. Once a week I cleaned the laundry, after he showed me where the equipment was outside.

That whole time, we rarely spoke, except at meals and I was beginning to see that he was not like Cedric.

One morning he told me he was going into town and asked me to make a list of items he needed to purchase. He gave me paper and a pen, and I jotted down what we needed then handed it back to him. Lachlan glanced at the paper, then at me and back at the paper.

"I thought you lived in a castle."

"For a little over five years. Not my whole life."

"Who taught you to write?"

I blushed furiously. "My brother, and other children who knew some things before that."

"You were the daughter of a duke and never had a formal education?"

My anger reared. "I was not his daughter and he never treated me as such! I apologize for such poor script. If you can't read my writing, then I will tell you what I wrote and you can write it."

"Would you like to learn to write better?" I had not expected the conversation to turn this way and my surprise must have been evident. "I can show you a few things that might make it easier, otherwise, practice is the key."

"I don't read very well either. I'm sure that has something to do with it."

Lachlan shrugged. "I could teach you some tricks there as well."

Not sure what to say, I shrugged. "If you think I'm teachable."

Lachlan gave his now famous half-smile. "You got this far without formal training. You can learn." He took the pen from me and mumbled, "Just need to add paper and ink to the list." Then he looked back at me. "Besides, as much as Cedric is a bookworm, he's likely to need your help."

I smiled at that. Cedric did like his books. And Johnna was a writer. I was surrounded by literate people. I had to let Lachlan try and teach me.

"I will be back later." I watched from the front door as Lachlan went to the small stable for his horse, then went back inside to think.