Leaving Invernis

[Dr. Daniel Carter]

-Commandant- Daos Nur had recieved word of Queen Kahlan's condition and rushed to her side like the wind. He stayed there at Invernis the previous knight, having remained kneeled by her bedside where she lay. He knew she would have to be returned to the castle as soon as possible. A messenger brought word of the Lomitorium having been prepared. Nur knew of that room. Such a room where no one could hide from the light of the sun. Nur gently slipped a hand under Kahlan's shoulders and under her legs. The 7 foot behemoth of an egyptian slowly lifted her from her resting place and held her against his body. He knew her strength was fleeting..he could feel it. As he exited, he closed the mouth like visor on his jackal helmet. The Jackal Knight was now on the move. As he carried her, soldiers from the Ulsterian Kingdom would knee on either side of the road. They were waiting for her to be brought out. As the Commandant and Queen passed, they fell to a single knee. Such a regal display of respect for the Queen of Ulster. Daos knew the trip from Invernis to the castle wasn't long, he could see it in the distance. Each step taken drew him closer and closer still. Hundres upon hundres of soldiers were there, carrying a look of concern and dismay..they were worried that the queen was...dead...But Daos En Sabah Nur knew better...she was too strong to die so easily...their journey continued...

Daniel Carter: -When morning finally came and the first warm orange rays of the sun came down through the canvas flaps of the tent he had assembled for himself, Daniel was already away, lying with his eyes open staring at what was to him a blur of brown and tan above him, now mottled by the sun's invigorating presence. It had finally sank in that he had almost lost his life, dharmically in the way his father had met such an early and unfortunate end. The previous evening while holding his crushed leg, blinded by dirt and tears of pain, he had not realized from the shock of it all what was happening. Yet here he was, alive, and thankful for it. Halar had been more distraught than a dragon had ever ought to be and sent Daniel away to his tent (C)-
Daniel Carter: -for the entire rest of the night, almost as if he had been unable to bear looking at him for some kind of scared anger had taken a hold of him. He had watched over Kahlan's tent from high atop the rocky cliffside, chosing not to intervene directly in the affairs of the humans, leaving Daniel to sleep and recover what little strength his mortal body could regain. It appeared to him now that recovery would be slow, though he positively marveled at how he had healed since last seeing his leg. He had not been told much, only that the queen had saved them, but he had been unconscious until long after she had left the medical tent. Sitting up now caused pain in his ribs, a few minor bruises still left over from the cave in, and when he tried to move his legs from the bedroll (C)-
Daniel Carter: -pain shot through his shin. It was still tender and he sighed, groping for his glasses that he normally set next to his headrest. Putting them on made seeing things a lot easier, and he reached to a chair, pulling a fresh shirt from the folded pile. He buttoned it sitting, having slept in the new pants he had been given after the accident, and reached for, with much chagrin, his cane. He did not want to have to use such an aid, finding it insulting, but even he was not so stubborn as to think that his leg could bear his full weight even with Kahlan's precious gift of life. It was a struggle getting to his feet, with more pain than he had expected, but then he was lucky to even be alive at this point, wasn't he? A severed artery, a crushed knee and leg, and unconsciousness(C)-
Daniel Carter: -was normally not so good for the human body. Hobbling barefoot from the tent he was just in time to see one of the Royal Guard carrying the limp body of the queen from her tent and back towards the city. His brow furrowed in a mix of consternation and worry as he drew closer, stopping behind the throng of bowing people, among which he was not, as there was no way he would be able to get up again if he even could kneel. He said nothing as they passed by, only watched. Surely if her condition was that bad Halar would have done something, taken her somewhere by now... he thought, though at this point there was not much that he could be so sure of.(F)-

Amariette: ~Surprisingly, very contrary to her nature, Amariette was still lost within the throes of a deep and dreamless sleep, her hair freshly washed and brushed free of the ugly knots and snags that adorned her head the previous night. Having left Daniel to his rest, she had bathed as quietly and efficiently as she could in the tender wee hours of the early morning, the darkness still palpable and the snores of the slumbering workers filling the air in a droning symphony. Fresh rays of dawn peeked through her tent flaps and fell across her peaceful face, all lines and traces of weariness gone with the healing that only youth could sustain.~<c>
Amariette: ~Stirring some, she turned onto her right side and clasped her hands beneath her head in gentle support, her long crimson locks falling along her face, shielding her gaze from the sun. Yester eve had been such a trying time for the girl and even after Daniel had retired to his bed, she had kept a silent vigil at the edge of his tent, her figure a shadowed silhouette against the night. If Halar was cautious, she was his human equal in the same aspect, her concern for the man as evident as the green of her haunting eyes. Finally choosing to retire when she could no longer keep herself awake, she had trudged her way back to her own place to draw a quick bath in secret, the water now free from anyone's use during such early hours.~<c>
Amariette: ~Carefully and meticulously, she had scrubbed Daniel's blood from her skin and relished in the soft pink color that washed over her own clean flesh, her body now smelling of fresh soap. Throwing on a modest cotton gown and brushing through her hair as best she could in her drowsed state, she had thrown herself willing into the comforts of her cot. Now the girl was curled up tightly, blanket drawn up against her with her slender fingers, taking advantage of the silence that surrounded her due to the Queen's surprising and sudden departure in the arms of one of her servants. It was going to be a long day, but for now, Amariette had surrendered to the fatigue of her body and spirit, both entities needing much restoration of their energies in order to function willingly again on their own.~<c>
Amariette: ~A soft moan rose from her throat to be lost on the air before the girl succumbed to exhaustion and did not stir again, her body curling tighter and the blanket falling limp about her shoulders.~

[Dr. Daniel Carter]

-High Queen- Kahlan Lothair Contrary to the look of Amariette, Kahlan is just as she had been the day before. This time however the blood on her is dried and her shirt is stiff with it, rubbing against her tender abdomen but still she does not flinch. Her hand falls to the side as Nur walks with her, the ashen alabaster look to it is enough to concern even the strongest of men, and it was obvious that Nur was concerned. High above the mortal plane of conciousness Kahlan watches the goingson. The day before she had been left face down in the dirt and out of respect they had picked her up and brought her inside the tent and left her there to herself. Changes had come and gone and in fact a patch of green earth with a succulent flower in its middle, would be found under where she had been left for the night. <C>
-High Queen- Kahlan Lothair Her hair is free and waves like a banner in the wind. Even in such deep sleep that her body is all but shut down, Kahlan has some otherworldly appeal. Her essence plummets toward the earth and lingers right before the eyes of Daniel, but he wouldnt be able to see it, he just didnt have the visual capacity to see it. Flitting away she looks for Halar while keeping a concious hold on her weak body. When she finds Halar, the essence of Kahlan pulses with a warm light, unable to speak. She hopes he might be able to understand the meaning of the warmth of light, for this was the only form she could muster in such a state of disrepair. Long snaking tendrils of the essence dance forward to stroke the nose of the Dragon. He knew the importance of what was happening, he also knew that <C>
-High Queen- Kahlan Lothair She could have easily spent herself had she gone on much longer and in any more depth. They would still have pains, though the bones were mended, they werent completely healed. A slight by product of the healing for it gave the body time to catch up instead of putting it in a state of reversed shock. She wanted Halar to know that she was alright and starts to flutter like a rampant gust of wind over everything before brushing over Amariette, thankful for the womans insight, before she bolts for Daniel and smacks him with the essence. The wind that would hit him characteristically smells like the Queen as the essence bounces past him and hits Kahlan hard in the chest. A force that would serve to stop Nur and force him back a step. Whether he could see the source or not was only <C>
-High Queen- Kahlan Lothair For him to know. Waves of reddish gold hair ripple slightly with the impact but other than that she is simply in a deep sleep though her breathing has improved a bit, it is no longer shallow. Kahlan wouldnt die from something like this. Over exposure was something she was intimately knowledgeable about, and in fact the Loritorium was built just for that use. It aided in pulling her power and essence together into a centralized power, allowing her body to function properly. Indeed it was one of the most ingenious designs of its time...for Angels and Dragons that is. Halar would know where she was headed, in another lifetime as a friend he had been told of the idea. <E>

Daniel Carter: -In the back of his mind he thought that he had forgotten something... something important. He squinted into the sun, looking up onto the mountainside at Halar who was pointedly looking away. He knew Halar had been friends with his father as well as with Daniel himself. He was probably feeling angry at Daniel for ignoring the past and ignoring the forman. The stern look on the dragon's profile figure said it all. 'You could have been killed, Daniel.' He let his gaze drop again to the ground. He knew. He had been reckless, wrapped up in his work. That much of an obsession had proven to be a problem before. For a brief instant the sight of her flitted in his mind again, not of the laughing happy blonde curly haired girl he had loved(C)-
Daniel Carter: -but of the angry woman he had neglected slamming the door in his face as she left his life forever. But he couldn't change the past. James Carter was dead, that was out of his control. Evelyn had left almost a decade ago, he couldn't change that either. He looked up towards Amariette's tent. Not everything was out of his control now. As a gust of wind flies past him, he looks up, the haunting chant of the same Enochian speech he heard in the cave and that smell... they were both very faint, and he shook his head to regain his senses. His head was still spinning and playing tricks on him. Upon the mountainside Halar watched Kahlan's essence rise to him. "Hello, my dear." He said, knowing she was not the sort to die so quickly(C)-
Daniel Carter: -As she reached out with comfort he smiled just ever so slightly to her. "I will be fine. I will bring them to Ulster when you are ready." He spoke softly to her, knowing where she was headed. She would be cared for well. He shifted then, rearranging his grip on the rocks, muscles rippling beneath his scaled silver skin. Below, Daniel watched the Queen hesitantly for a moment, almost as if he had seen something unnatural, but then shook his head. His mind was playing tricks again. Limping more as the blood started rushing to the pain centers in his leg, he turned away, headed for Amariette's tent. He parted the flap to find her on her cot resting peacefully. He stood at the entrance for a few moments just watching. Halar was right. Some things were more(C)-
Daniel Carter: -important than work. Using the cane to its fullest extent he moved a chair next to her bed and sat down, perfectly happy to wait and watch. Reaching out a hand slowly he pulled back some hair from her sweet face, a small contented smile crossing his own. So she had felt that way all along... he closed his eyes for a moment, leaning his head on the curl in his cane. It wasa good feeling. And this time he was going to learn from what went wrong the last time. This time he wasn't about to mess things up.(F)-

Amariette: ~The soft tickling of his fingers against her skin awakened her, her body shifting slowly and a small moan parting her lips, sleep being pushed to the background once again. Her thick lashes fluttered apart and the startling green hues came alive, their depths drawing up to the figure that loomed so near to her. A soft smile spread instantly across her lips, it could only have been one man, Daniel. Her voice rose softly, barely discernible save for his ears alone, the tone drowsy but coherent, "I thought for sure you'd be bed-ridden at the command of your winged caregiver. Likely you snuck from your tent when his watchful eye was distracted yes?" White teeth were displayed as her smile only grew, her heart filling with joy at the sight of him.~<c>
Amariette: ~Somehow, she had feared that their private discussion had proved fantasy, a mere dream that she was doomed to wake up from. Her greatest nightmare would have been to wake up surrounded by the familiar sight of her own room in the quaint little cottage of Chartha, the sounds of her father working having drawn her from slumber. Yet, she was relieved to find him waiting for her, just as she somehow knew he would. Rising up, the blanket fell and curled about her waist, a thin strap of her gown falling down her left shoulder and several pieces of red hair falling into the crease of her lips. The plain white lace embroidery looked nonetheless exquisite on her skin, no doubt a rather expensive purchase at the expense of the innkeeper?~<c>
Amariette: ~ Tilting her head, she let her eyes linger on him and the cane he now carried rather religiously, "I hope you don't expect me to sure you as much mercy as Halar did. You belong in bed, resting, and I'll attend to the Lord of Darkness himself before I let you 'study' your way out of healing." Pushing the covers from her body fully, she turned and let her bare feet rest against the ground, the toes wiggling some to get the blood flowing back into them. Leaning forward, she moved very slowly and tilted her head, pressing her lips to his in an affectionate but chaste kiss, her flaxen hair brushing along her cheeks and grazing his. Pulling away, she rose from her place and moved fluidly, looking like some haunting ghost as her toes all but disappeared beneath the long hem of her clothing.~<c>
Amariette: ~ Happy that she had prepared some before going to bed, another amazing feat, Amariette poured him some coffee, still warm and flavorful, a secret she had learned form her father but would never reveal to another living soul.~

[Dr. Daniel Carter]

Daniel Carter: -A smile, he returned the kiss more than willingly, perhaps for the express reason of telling himself that last night had not been a dream. Eyes drifted over her, and the shock of the sight of her... well.. in such a manner, caused him to adjust his glasses to make sure he was seeing correctly. She certainly was a morning person, now wasn't she? She might even start convincing him to become one. He took the cup of coffee gratefully and took a sip, marveling at her actually making it for him. "The old dragon is too mad at me to even talk to me right now, so you are showing more mercy just by acknowledging that I'm alive." He said, taking a moment to appreciate the irony in his own words. He laughed a little at her warning him he was to rest(C)-
Daniel Carter: -and not at all to study. Oh, if only she knew... "Don't worry, studying is for once not on my mind." He said, a small note of meloncholy seeping its way into his voice. "I learned my lesson about doing that a long time ago." He closed his eyes and swallowed a bit too hard as the image of the door of his little house in Invernis slamming in his face, of golden curls flying behind her as he watched from the window, knowing he would never see or hear from her again. It was a little much, and a few drops went down his windpipe. Coughing it back up to him it seemed an ill timed thing to say, but maybe she -should- know about Evelyn... maybe it would do him some good to talk about it. "I'm sure your father is quite worried about you..."(C)-
Daniel Carter: -he said into his coffee, wondering if perhaps they should take a small visit to Chartha. All of a sudden he remembered what it was that had been nagging him all this time. "Oh no..." He groaned. "Maggie..." He rubbed his eyes, feeling stupid. "I have to leave the encampment today.. .Halar told my mother I would visit her, she's probably worried sick over me right now. If I don't go soon she might start sending search parties..." he shook his head with a small laugh, though he wasn't sure that any of the people in the camp were all too keen on him going anywhere but back to bed. (F)-

Amariette: ~"Don't worry about Halar, I'm sure he'll come around soon enough. In his defense though, you gave all of us a pretty nasty scare out there Daniel, maybe you should think about taking a vacation from your precious archeological career. Well, at least for awhile." Shrugging gently, she continued to travel across the floor rather efficiently, retrieving a small cloth and dipping it into a bowl of fresh water. Squeezing out the excess, she peered into a small mirror hanging near her cot and began to wipe the evidence of sleep from her cheerful face. Her attitude that of suprising normalcy, as though she was just enjoying another day of chores and duties that would not be so different from her own in Chartha, even her demeanor towards him had changed, though she was still modest and demure.<c
Amariette: ~Hearing his mention of her father, she clenched the wash cloth in her hand and looked over her shoulder slowly, her voice wavering but reaching out toward his eager ears, "My father....Yes well, I meant to tell you yesterday, but I was never given the chance. Bigham wrote to me and told me that he would be more than willing to make your tooks for you. He even refused to charge you a copper, save that you bring me home safe and sound. I thought it all rather silly, but what can you expect from..." At that, she heard him coughing and sputtering, the washcloth falling back into the bowl as she flew to him in sudden concern. Patting and rubbing his back until he was able to speak again, she drew up at his words and tried to hide her amused smile behind a slender hand.~<c>
Amariette: ~"Although I am adverse to you taking any trips out of this camp, I suppose this one can't be helped. I know how important a promise is to a mother and therefore, I'll allow you to go this once, but on one condition...I go with you. You'll need someone to carry your things and tend to your leg if it begins to act up. Don't try to dissuade me Daniel, or I'll have Halar breathing down your neck so fast that your hairs will scorch. Trust me, I have gotten closer to that dragon with every passing day, and he'll see my point of view before even considering yours."~

Daniel Carter: -He smiled a little, nodding to tell her that he was more than alright and that he was just experimenting with the novel concept of breathing coffee instead of air. "A vaction? Please tell me you're kidding." He said, brushing a few spilt drops off of his pantleg. It was... unthinkable. "A few days at the most. Until the leg heals, but that's all." He said, trying his best to sound firm. Besides, even if he couldn't be in the field he could still read and decipher... though again the thought of a door slamming in his face roused him from that deep thought. He was about to open his mouth to say something about it when she started to tell him about Bigham. "I... I won't let your father down." He said, the only reply he could think of though after he said it(C)-
Daniel Carter: -it sounded to him like a very strange thing to say. As she whirled and demanded to go with him to see Maggie he couldn't help but smile. Reaching out from his seat he took her hand gently, running his thumb along the soft skin. "I was going to invite you, you'll get no protests from me." He looked up and studied her for a moment. "I think she'd be offended if I didn't bring you along. At least it'll prove to her I get out of the dig sites every once in a while." His smile fell a little bit. Golden curls. He resisted the urge to sigh at that point. "Speaking of getting away from work... there's something I should probably tell you..." Why, he could not figure out. Maybe to let her know what she was getting into? "I was engaged once... years ago, before I(C)-
Daniel Carter: -started working internationally and was still at the academy. Her name was Evelyn. I loved her very much, but I was also an idiot." He paused and looked down at his leg for a moment, thinking of how to phrase it. "I was obsessed with my work. I neglected her. When I worked straight through our anniversary without noticing she came and found me in my study... and left me. I don't blame her. I suppose I would have done the same in her position." He looked up at her, blue eyes partly squinting through his glasses as if to try to gauge her response to his little indulgence into the past. "But I did learn from it." He didn't feel very convincing, though, seeing as his passion for his work seemed to have just almost gotten him killed. He looked down(C)-
Daniel Carter: -at his leg again and took his hand from hers. "At least..." he said taking his cane in hand with a small nod, "I thought I did. Apparently I'm quite a slow learner."(F)-

[Dr. Daniel Carter]

Daniel Carter: -He smiled a little, nodding to tell her that he was more than alright and that he was just experimenting with the novel concept of breathing coffee instead of air. "A vaction? Please tell me you're kidding." He said, brushing a few spilt drops off of his pantleg. It was... unthinkable. "A few days at the most. Until the leg heals, but that's all." He said, trying his best to sound firm. Besides, even if he couldn't be in the field he could still read and decipher... though again the thought of a door slamming in his face roused him from that deep thought. He was about to open his mouth to say something about it when she started to tell him about Bigham. "I... I won't let your father down." He said, the only reply he could think of though after he said it(C)-
Daniel Carter: -it sounded to him like a very strange thing to say. As she whirled and demanded to go with him to see Maggie he couldn't help but smile. Reaching out from his seat he took her hand gently, running his thumb along the soft skin. "I was going to invite you, you'll get no protests from me." He looked up and studied her for a moment. "I think she'd be offended if I didn't bring you along. At least it'll prove to her I get out of the dig sites every once in a while." His smile fell a little bit. Golden curls. He resisted the urge to sigh at that point. "Speaking of getting away from work... there's something I should probably tell you..." Why, he could not figure out. Maybe to let her know what she was getting into? "I was engaged once... years ago, before I(C)-
Daniel Carter: -started working internationally and was still at the academy. Her name was Evelyn. I loved her very much, but I was also an idiot." He paused and looked down at his leg for a moment, thinking of how to phrase it. "I was obsessed with my work. I neglected her. When I worked straight through our anniversary without noticing she came and found me in my study... and left me. I don't blame her. I suppose I would have done the same in her position." He looked up at her, blue eyes partly squinting through his glasses as if to try to gauge her response to his little indulgence into the past. "But I did learn from it." He didn't feel very convincing, though, seeing as his passion for his work seemed to have just almost gotten him killed. He looked down(C)-
Daniel Carter: -at his leg again and took his hand from hers. "At least..." he said taking his cane in hand with a small nod, "I thought I did. Apparently I'm quite a slow learner."(F)-

Amariette: ~"Well Daniel, I really have never found myself in this position with a man such as you before, so I can easily tell you that I probably won't be getting in the way of your work. It fascinates me yes, but father always said, 'Amariette, you have to learn that a man is most happy when he's doing that which he loves the most. He'll save a little bit of something for you, but you have to keep out of his way, and bring him a cold glass of ale every once in awhile, if he's working a particularly long night.' As far as I know, the same applies here, though I think I may be bringing you coffee instead of ale. Gods! Have you tasted that disgusting concoction?" ~<c>
Amariette: ~Her face contorted visibly, though it was more comical than serious and she curled her nose some before shaking the memory away and combing her fingers through her shining strands of hair. Tugging on his hand to bring him to his feet, she wrapped her arms loosely about his neck and pressed her body against his, her breasts pushing against him through the cotton material. Tilting her head, she peered deep into his eyes, unable to hide the smile at the glasses that made him look so very astute and wise, "We'll manage just the same, and I think it best to assure you that I won't be judging you on your past. Such things are best left there at any rate. I am not Evelyn, and though I am sure she was a wonderful woman, I doubt whether she had the strength of will and patience that I do. "~<c>
Amariette: ~"Especially when it comes to dealing with you my dear Doctor." Smiling brightly, she pressed her lips to his again, this time her mouth lingering a bit longer than before and the majority of her weight still being held on her own tiptoes, she didn't want to overwhelm him with affection in his current state. Releasing him, she gave a modest kiss to his lower lip fully and reached for his cane, slipping it into his hand and turning him around gently. Pushing him into a easy walk, she pressed her hands into his back and lead him toward the folds of her tent, a soft grunt in her gentle voice, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get dressed so that you don't use my lack of punctuality as an excuse to leave me behind. I won't be long, I promise."~<c>
Amariette: ~"Go and see if Halar will speak to you now, at least to tell him where you are going."~

Daniel Carter: -His brow furrowed at her in worry when she spoke. "No... Amariette, that's not right. I shouldn't be allowed to ignore you for a few tablets or pieces of pottery. Evelyn was right not to stand for that kind of thing out of me. She deserved to be a higher priority than my work ever should have been..." But he was cut off and submitted willingly to the kiss she laid upon him. He hoped she would be patient, for though their age difference, romance was as new a thing to him as it was to her. He could only imagine what his mother would say, not only about the cave in but about him bringing a young lady home. He was sure that Maggie and Amariette would get along famously, which more than unnerved him to think about, but he could not(C)-
Daniel Carter: -think of leaving her behind, either. "And no, I don't drink any alcohol. It clouds my thinking. Just coffee... " He mumbled as she released him, much to his dismay. He was getting the hang of this notion of human contact and he had to admit he rather liked it. He was still frowning, however, when she pushed the cane into his hands and pushed him towards the door. He stopped at the entrance and looked back over his shoulder, "My work is important to me, Amariette. It's my life's foundation. But you're important too. Don't forget that. Don't let me forget that either." He warned, more than a hint of self doubt creeping into his voice. He cracked a small smile then looking at her in nothing but her nightgown, pretty, simple, kind. Perfect, really(C)-
Daniel Carter: -"Though you know... I could use a good research assistant." He said with a wider smile, the lines on a soon to be aging face creasing from years of laughing and good times. "I promise to wait for you outside once I get on some shoes." And with that he let her change, the tent flap closing behind him. Despite the limp, he could almost feel a spring in his step as he walked back to his own makeshift abode.(F)-

[Dr. Daniel Carter]

Charlie Dudox: The day after the cave in, Charlie was up almost before sunrise. Despite her exhaustion, despite the fact that almost every part of her body seemed to ache, especially her collar bone, she could not abide to stay in the make shift medical tent any longer. Instead she went right back to work in the pit, finding herself a secluded little corner to work in and setting about at what appeared to be rather tedious and mundane work. The other men mostly kept their distance. She had cleaned up, of course, before coming back to work and now dressed casually in a white “wife beater” undershirt and loose khakis that slung low around her hips. It was a good look for her, accentuating the extremity of her curves, giving peeks of her olive tanned skin. This was not to say that she was dressing to impress, it was simply what she owned and was put together more mechanically than with actual thought. This was not enough to keep many of the men from remembering how they had seen her just the other day, smeared with blood and dirt, her face both set and distraught, her breasts cradled only in a lacy formerly-pink bra. No matter what the disaster, that was the sort of thing young men had trouble forgetting. Thus in hopes of not appearing disrespectful, they chose to avoid eye contact rather than staring.

For the time being, Charlie was content with her solitude. There was much to think about and the tedium of detail work with a small pick and brush was just what she needed to keep her hands busy while her brain went crazy. Without even being there she had known what had occurred between Daniel and Amariette the night before. She had lost and it wasn’t right. Sure, she had made mistakes when they had first met. She had been infatuated and had kissed him like a fool. Only yesterday had she realized how much deeper her bond had grown towards him, far past the realm of simple infatuation. It had been too late though. He had slipped away from her too quickly. It didn’t seem fair. She had barely had a chance.

A part of her wanted to simply pack up and leave. It would be far easier to nurse her wounded heart if she did not need to come face to face with him everyday. But to leave would be defeat and a miserable career move. She wanted to learn what this temple had to offer. She needed his help with her own Aon scroll. He was right. She had ruined their professional relationship and it was all for naught. Still, she would stay here because she was a fighter, unused and unable to simply give up even when life became unbearable. And while there were deep wounds to nurse, it would be done beneath false smiles and little witty remarks.

Despite all the trauma and heartbreak, her nature was social and where she could not bare the sight of Daniel she looked to the other men, attempting to break through the sudden awkwardness.

“You know, if I were a business woman and not a scholar I would force you all to pay me for that peep show yesterday.” She announced loudly as she continued to work, causing the men to snicker and one pure little soul to almost drop his bucket of dirt. It was enough to break the ice though and soon she was being showered with questions. Yes, she was sure she wanted to be back to work already. Yes, she felt fine, though pretty achy. No, she didn't recall exactly what the Queen had done to heal her that was all a bit hazy. No, she did not remember how she felt when the cave in occured.

The last answer was a bit of a lie. From what she recalled she had thought or felt little about the cave in. All of her thoughts had been on Daniel and how she needed to save him. The fact that they were most likely going to suffocate or be crushed seemed secondary to his pain and bleeding. But that was the sort of thing that she was attempting to forget. It simply did not make sense to dwell on what obviously would simply tear her up in side. Unfortunately, Charlie simply did not have enough experience with love to know that no matter what, it could not simply be turned on or off.

When she found herself too sore and fatigued to continue working she politely excused herself from her new little band of comrades. She had missed the queen’s exit and was certain that she would need to pay the woman her greatest respects when she recovered, but for now she just wanted some time to rest and think. She found herself a comfortable patch of grass and sat down, her head craning back to the blue sky above. The men were nice but like so often in her life she yearned for someone she could simply talk to without being judged or worrying about gossip. Never more had she keened more strongly for the return of her parents. But they were no where to be found, and looking would be worse than finding a needle in a haystack. It would be two needles in the whole forest.

[Dr. Daniel Carter]

renae_willowbane : ~Amariette was panicked. What was she going to wear!? Here she was, on her way to meet this man's mother and she had left all her good clothes at the inn. Sighing as she watched Daniel go, she turned and stared toward her small pack, rushing toward it and diving into the contents. Rummaging through every piece of clothing she had, she was surprised to find a freshly washed skirt and blouse that she had not recalled packing. Of course, in her agitated state, Amariette had forgotten of the two little girls that had helped her prepare for her trip, their bright little eyes emerging in her mind, full of life, beauty, and apparently, wisdom. Lifting the pieces out as though they were worth more than gold, she kissed the fabric and silently thanked the innkeeper's intuitive daughters.~<c>
renae_willowbane : ~Quickly dressing, for the first time in her life, she actually surveyed herself in a mirror and appraised the image that met her eyes. The deep scarlet long skirt was ruffled about the entire hem, the material reaching just past her ankles and the detailed embroidery circling up to her hips in the designs of pearl colored flowers and leaves. Her white blouse rested off her shoulders, the arms lengthy and ending in decorative ruffles about her hands, a delicate lace embroidery pattern running the length and width of her bust and stomach like a makeshift bodice. Barely able to discern more, she flew across the floor and quickly slipped into her sandals, clasping them properly and reaching for her brush, the bristles pulled easily though her yielding hair.~<c>
renae_willowbane : ~Practically tossing the accoutrement to the table, she turned and in a billowing rush of elegant fabric, she strolled out of the tent in search of Daniel and Halar, hoping that her appearance was fitting for her newest adventure today.~