Desperate Return

[Amariette Willowbane]

"Madam PLEASE!" A soldier called after a young woman who rushed through the main doors of the castle proper. She had been leading a small group of the castle gaurd since she arrived, and would not allow them to halt her progress.

She was desperate.

Amariette was desperate.

"Why do you mean he has already gone?! Where did he go?" She screamed as several of the soldiers tried to restrain her by her arms.

Truth be told, Amariette looked rather worse for wear, haggard and weary features, pale skin, and dark circles beneath her eyes.

How long had it been since she had slept? Days? Weeks?

All she could think about was getting back to him. Daniel. Her Daniel.

Struggling free, she surged forward and down the stone corridor on trembling legs, panic mirrored in her gaze and her heart racing.

Merope had sent him away. Sent away the only man she would ever love.

"I'm so sorry Daniel." She whispered, wiping fresh tears from her eyes with her sleeves.

"Ma'am, I insist you listen." Arose a calm and wise voice, drawing Amariette from her despairing trance. Lifting her faded emerald eyes, she came to a sudden stop before a towering soldier of the Q ueen's personal guard. Instead of yelling at him and beating her fists against his chest in fury, the young woman was somehow pacified by the genuine kindness in his eyes. Yes, he would help her. He would understand her distress completely.

"Dr. Carter has gone my lady, and we have no idea where he is. Please try to calm yourself. We will do our best to help you, but you -must- be calm." It was a voice that gave her little reassurance but an abundance of ease.

There was a massive weight on her shoulders, but perhaps it was just fatigue. Wavering, she nodded and felt her legs finally give out, his strong arms reaching out to catch her as she collapsed in surrender.

"I....I have to find Halar. He'll know where Daniel is. He always knows. I...must...."

The solider nodded his head and was about to answer when the girl suddenly fainted in his arms, rendered unconscious.

[Dr. Daniel Carter]

People in the streets cringed at the sound of Halar's yawn, bellowing and intrusive as it was. They were still not wholly used to having a dragon among them, but their beloved queen had nearly ordered the scaly lizard to sit watch over them. With so many dangers, it was more a source of comfort than anything else to walk by the castle gates and see the sight of the large silver dragon lazing in the sun, his toothy smile and large silver eye on all that happened around him. It just took some... getting used to. That was all.

The tip of his long silver tail flicked back and forth, sensitive hearing picking up only a few words of the goings on inside the castle. The shrieks of a female did not go unnoticed, especially when the name Daniel was buried amongst them. Amariette had finally returned to find her loving fiance had she?

What a look her face would have when she found out what had happened to him. He had done just as he said to himself he would have- He'd gone back to the Academy to rebuild his life. It had been months since the two ex lovers had contacted one another and Daniel had taken that poor little Raven haired girl to Invernis with him to find her artifact. The man was trying to move on. Though it seemed it was not the time for that just yet...

Halar waited patiently for the guards to approach him. They were always leary about him, but after all, with both Dr. Carter and the Queen gone Halar was the only authority figure they had left to report to. He was just... bigger than other authority figures.

"Sir... if I may have a word." the guard stammered. Halar pulled back his scaly lips into a fanged smile, keeping his snout resting leisurely on the ground.

"Of course." Rolled a forked tongue with a draconic accent.

"There's a woman inside, wants to see Dr. Carter... and you Sir. Not so tall, red hair, pale skin..." Halar closed a silvery eye as if going back to sleep.

"Then bring her out to see me."

[Amariette Willowbane]

'Dearie....are you awake?' Came the soft voice of a nurse that was rather familiar to the stirring young woman. 'Are you with us now to stay?'

Amariette came to slowly and sat up in the infirmary bed, rubbing her eyes and groaning with the soreness in her muscles, "How...how long was I unconscious?"

'Well dear, it was touch and go for awhile, within the last five or six hours you were drifting in and out. Luckily I took advantage when you were particularly aware for an extended period of time and gave you a thorough bath. There was so much dirt on those pretty cheeks, I simply could not stand the sight for a moment longer.'

The red headed woman laughed softly, a sound she hadn't heard from her own voice in quite some time. It was nice. It almost made her feel...what? Self-Worth? Pushing down the blankets, she was grateful to see that she had been dressed in a decent pair of servant's breeches and a freshly starched blouse that had been left with the first two buttons undone to allow her skin to breathe. Warm socks graced her feet and the chill of the weather without did not intrude upon her in the least.The faint pinkish hue had returned to her pale skin and she smelled of fresh lavender soap, her hair brushed through and the rogue strands of her ringlet bangs pinned against her head. It was then that she remembered this nurse, for it was the same rotund, middle-age woman that had cared for her many times before. A faint smile curled on Amariette's lips, but a sudden thought demanded her voice be used, "What of Lyra?"

'Your mare? Oh don't worry, she's being kept with the other horses of the court in the Royal Stables. I swear the two of you were in dire need of care and attention when you came storming within the castle walls. We were all amazed that you had the strength to make the steps and enter the doors yourself. You gave our soldiers quite a run for their money. To be honest, more than the lot of them have a healthy fear of you after what happened to that young guard Gregory. I don't know what you did to him, but he was in a coma for months. Just recently came to believe it or not. Still not speaking though.' The nurse shot Amariette a wary look herself, though she tried to hide it.

"Yes...I....I am very sorry for that. I'm afraid I...wasn't exactly myself. Please, please send young Gregory my deepest sympathies and warmest regards. I'd like visit him myself if I wasn't in such a hurry to......Halar! I have to find the Dragon, is he here?"

'Well, I believe the guards sent word to him.....in fact....' A sudden knock at the door cut the nurse's words short as she drew across the stone floor and drew it open. Stepping back, she eagerly allowed a stalwart young soldier inside the doorframe where he stood with his suspicious eyes on Amariette.

'I've been sent to fetch you Miss, the Dragon has summoned you as soon as you are able.' There was no emotion in those words, as though he meant to do his duty with no sense of pleasure or spirit considering the woman he had to escort. His displeasure with the task given him was more than apparent, and the soldier did not hide his anger toward her at all.

Slowly, timidly, Amariette nodded her head and drew her legs over the bed side where she slipped on the pair of boots awaiting her, their leather encasing her skin up to the kneecaps. Rising, she looked toward the nurse, offering a deep bow and reaching out for the elder woman's hands. Hesitantly, the normally pleasant woman appraised those hands and met Amariette's gaze squarely, but she saw no malicious intent in those sparkling emerald orbs. Smiling warmly, she took Amariette's hands and nodded.

"Thank you for everything Ma'am. I am truly in your debt." The soft feminine voice rose appreciatively, genuine gratitude practically melting her words and almost causing her to choke back further emotion.

'Think nothing of it dear, now off you go, best not to keep Ole Halar waiting any longer than he has to.' And then almost as an after thought, 'I hope you, find him.'

Giving the nurse's hands an almost painful squeeze, Amariette fought back welling tears and nodded, turning on her heels to sweep up a coat from the nearby hanger and follow the already striding soldier down the corridor toward the outside.

Quietly, she kept pace with him as they journeyed down stairwells and around corners until he motioned toward the heavy door before him with little more than a grunt. He would not be joining her. She knew that without having to ask. Gripping her coat tighter about her as she moved past him, she could feel his cold eyes settle on her and mark her passage. Panic almost rose when she thought she could not get the door open herself, the thing massive and solid. Still, she gritted her teeth and pushed, daylight spilling into her eyes as she walked out onto the castle grounds. Turning, she called out a trembling 'Thank you' to the guard but was only answered with the firm slamming of the door.

There, before her, rested Halar, a figure she had not laid eyes on for time out of mind. Swallowing hard, her first instinct was to run to him in tears and pour out all her sorrows, everything she had endured since last they met. Yet she remained where she was, frozen in place in fear. What did he think of her now? Likely he knew at least a little of what had gone on between his young charge and she? Sighing, she lifted her head in stoic determination and advanced a few steps, her desire only to find the man she loved. If she concentrated on that, maybe, just maybe, she could succeed. Stopping not a foot a way, she dropped to one knee and bowed her head in solemn respect, a gesture he would likely be used to now from the likes of her, "Halar, please permit me an audience with you. I apologize for letting so much time go between our conversations Great One, but once again, I need help that only you can provide. I need to find him. I need to find Daniel and I -know- you can tell me where he is. Please, I have to see him."

[Dr. Daniel Carter]

The tail swished evenly along the grass as one giant silver eye hung its gaze directly down on the girl. The massive body of the dragon heaved like a metronome with each inhale and exhale, and if not for his breathing he would have been a giant silver statue in the midst of the outer courtyard. As she made her plea the iris contracted and refracted, focusing in on her tiny form as a long black tongue unfurled from between fangs to taste the emotions on the air.

What a conundrum. Not that it was any of Halar's business what she did or what Daniel did at this point, however as a middle man he found the predicament quite interesting. The woman who had sent away her lover now sought to reclaim him even as he had gone, perhaps finally to settle down in bachelorhood at the Academy for a good long while. "This is indeed a surprise." the dragon mused.

His head was brought down to be level with Amariette's torso, looking her up and down for signs of sincerity. "There is no need for flattery, my dear. After a few too many milennia, it leaves a rather sour aftertaste. Halar will be fine." the great dragon rumbled.

If you are looking for Dr. Carter, you won't find him here. He stayed just long enough to fulfill the Queen's request and then took off with a young lady who's name I did not catch for the Academy. Something about her locket and an artifact and a catacomb- and you know how the boy does love his quests." the final s rolled off his tongue and lingered on the air for a few moments, the dragon pulling back massive lips into a half smile. "I would assume he has taken back his responsibilities at the Academy by now. He has a full semester ahead of him as well as a duchy to run and an artifact to find on the side. You might try checking his estate, though eh was so bad off when you left him I'm not entirely sure he's moved on yet."

[Amariette Willowbane]

"Yes...I....I have put alot on him haven't I?" It was more of a spoken thought than a question and as she rose to her feet, she drew a loosely balled fist to her chin in obvious, but mild distress. No. Regret and despair would not help her this time, rather she do her best to be strong and courageous. The life of the village girl was behind her now. She was a woman on her own, it was time she started acting like one. For now, she had gotten what information she could from the most reliable source to be found. It was time to continue on and hope that Dr. Carter, Daniel, would recieve her. At this point, she would understand if he would not.

"Thank you Halar, I'll trouble you no further. Enjoy the day as I'm sure you will. Goodbye." There was almost a lingering desire to call him 'friend' but she was fearful to assume such. Bowing curtly to him even then, she turned on her heels and exited the courtyard by another door, recognizing how close she was to the Royal Stables. It was Lyra she wished to see now, Lyra who would at least offer some type of comfort, in her own simplistic and animalistic way. Likely, that would prove enough to ease at least some of Amariette's inner torment. In fact, torment, was a poor term to describe the void that had swallowed up her heart since leaving Chartha. No. Torment was not good enough, would never be good enough. What she felt was a very splitting of the heart, a tearing of the soul that would never mend even unto eternity. He was the missing piece of her very being and she would never know happiness again until she could make things right for him. Even, if it meant admitting her mistakes. There were so many of them.

'I -have- put him through alot...' She whispered as she strolled along the worn path leading from the castle proper toward the large expanse of fence and countryside. The stables rose before her eyes and she almost gasped in awe at the sheer luxury of it all, the likes of which she had never seen before and would probably never see again. Polished wood, painted doors with the crest of the house of the Queen, hundreds of stable hands running about and some of the most beautiful horses she had ever gazed upon grazing peacefully on sloping hills. The sight made a small smile curl her lips as she advanced on the gates and spied Lyra contently chewing from a pile of apples that seemed to be laid out especially for her. 'The Royal Treatment no doubt...' Amariette whispered with a rather easy laugh that was a bit bittersweet to her ears.

Lyra raised her head as her mistress approached, an excited whinny accompanying the energetic swaying of the tail. Was it already time to go? The mare was in no hurry to leave, after all, there was plenty of yummy things to eat and friends to spend time with to pass away the day. Still, she could feel the sadness of her Lady just as sure as she could feel the breeze coming in off the seas a fair distance away. Bowing her head, she let her eyes close at the gentle rubbing she received from the red haired woman, those pain-filled green eyes carrying no sparkle within them.

"I hope you enjoyed your rest girl, we need to be off now. Can you fly for me?" Her voice passed gently from her lips as Amariette noted the stick figure of a man advancing on them with a surprisingly jovial grin on his lips.

His height and size were the most distinguishable features he possessed, but the man had happy blue eyes and blonde hair that had been slicked back against his scalp. In his hands, he carried a rag which he seemed to be using to clean all manner of dirt and grime rather absent-mindedly. Bold white teeth were displayed from within that easy-going smile and his voice was equally upbeat. "She yours then? A beauty this one, almost painful to see her go so soon. The name's Carson and I'll be taking care of anything you might be needing for the road."

"Just the regular things Carson." Amariette answered smoothly, tilting her head to apparaise him further without staring outright. She liked this man. His bright attitude seemed to lighten the mood she was in at least for the time being. "I mean to be getting along as soon as possible. Within the next few minutes if you please."

Carson nodded and after exchanging a few more pleasantries with the 'lovely young lass with the sad eyes', he had her lead Lyra inside where she was fitted and brushed down for the long journey to Invernis. Dropping a few pointers and advice here and there, Carson did his best to prepare Amariette for the hard ride ahead, likely she would push Lyra for all the mare was worth. Soon enough, she was settled into the saddle with a full pack, including a few days extra rations should she find herself in trouble or lost. Carson lead Lyra by the reins until the three of them were safely outside the stable gates and pointed in the right direction.

"You -sure- you're going to be alright on your own Miss?" He inquired again, handing the reins up to Amariette, now looking rather immaculate in her servant's clothes astride a big mountain horse. It was a wonder she was alone in his mind, considering that he could probably marry a girl like her. Still, best to keep those thoughts to one's self.

"I'll be fine Carson. Thank you so much for everything you have done for Lyra and I, likely we may run into one another again. Take care and keep smiling that handsome smile." Amariette answered, seizing the reins and calling Lyra into a fierce gallop that carried her down the dirt path and into the forests beyond in nothing but a cloud of dust.