The Ties That Bind (Attn Edana)

[Sangreal]

Sandre had only been back at the Tower a few months before he hit the road again with a few Tower Guards anxious to start their year in the Borderlands. Sandre's success in the campaign he assisted in some time ago brought about a level of recognition he was not accustomed to nor did he like. He wasnt cheered in the streets but he was often recognized in the Borderlands which invaded his privacy. His father had sent men at arms to Tar Valon under the pretense to guard the warehouses on the docks there but when Sandre left the Yards to train he found himself surrounded with an honor guard, and the blasted standard. It was a political move by Eldest and his father no doubt, he just wished they would let him in on their little plan, and maybe let him know when these guys would leave him alone, being a Tower Guard it was embarrassing to have house guards about you.

 

The Tower Guards and the Honor Guards trained together daily. They drilled the Tower Guards and taught them to fight as they would need to in the Borderlands. The Tavern where Sandre planned to stay just a few miles from the Fort where Edana was stationed was a welcome sight. The Tower Guards departed and promised to let Edana know he was here waiting for her. He was early though he figured he could take care of some things that needed doing. He wasnt surprised at all that his Uncle, Tyr, was here as well. The Honor Guards left with Tyr's guards and as soon as Sandre was off his horse his Uncle came to meet him.

 

"Welcome back... you sure you wont consider staying? You seem to spend enough time here." Tyr said.

 

Sandre walked up with a smile and gave his Uncle a hug. "I missed you too. How is A'tal?"

 

"Bored... digging the cellars and installing the steel doors in the village homes. Not happy with you that he is stuck overseeing that while you and I have all the fun."

 

Sandre nodded. His Uncle's sarcasm came as no surprise. What they were about to do was not going to be fun. It would be about as fun as trying to talk a soldier into giving you his family sword as he was charged by Trollocs. Winter was coming again in the Borderlands so Sandre eagerly went in the Tavern for some spiced wine. The Tavern owner was a woman who was most anxious to make sure Sandre was comfortable. Apparently her village was one of those that Sandre had protected hin the campaign. He kindly reminded her he was only a third commander though from her lips she made him sound as though he had slain the Dark One. He hated this attention.

 

The Noble Heads of houses Gronn and Hastat were present and the first night was spent talking by the fire and drinking. Blight activity and trades were of course the topics. Hastat even brought a map of his campaign coming up next year for Sandre to look over. He looked to his uncle who just grinned and urged him on. Hastat had more land and Men at Arms than the Kalduns but the man was entirely to wasteful in his planning, relying more on Trolloc body counts no matter the cost to his own men. He sickened Sandre but he would leave with a sound plan.

 

*** 3 Days later ***

 

The arguments were getting old. The villages on Kaldun land needed food for this winter, Hastat and  Gronn had food but wanted its weight in gold. Though they were trading it for the same amount of stone for that gold. Three times Sandre had explained the math behind what they were asking and three times they came back with a response that they needed a surplus in case the Borderlands no longer stayed quiet and a siege happened. There had not been one of those in a long time but they were right in the path were it to happen.

 

"Your villagers were secured by the lives of Kaldun men at your request. We went out of our way for you, we are only asking a fair price." Sandre said

 

"We understand but if you want the food then we need the stone to be able to break a siege that the food is being saved for. Your asking us to leave ourselves vulnerable." Aamon Hastat said.

 

Sandre shook his head and ran his hands through his hair. A trait he always did when he was nervous or frustrated. Several men began whistling and woahing but Sandre didnt look. He found out already that when these Tavern Maidens had enough wine in them their clothes fell off. "We are talking about people who will starve. Some of them your people who moved to our lands when we had to evacuate them so they werent killed!" Sandre smashed his fist on the table to emphasize. The plates on the table shook. He touched the dagger at his belt and calmed. Edana had made that for him and it served to remind him to think before he acted. Aamon lit his pipe and leaned back with a smile. Tyr too for some reason was smiling. Sandre had no idea why. Were they laughing at his anger? Try wouldnt.

 

"This is not a matter to smile about Aamon. Your going to let people starve to death on a chance you may be attacked."

 

"Oh Im not smiling about that Master Kaldun. Before I came here I knew you would break your house of its fortune before you let the people on your land starve. Dont think I dont know about your stunt going alone in the Borderlands to rescue a woman. Every man in Shienar knows your heart, but I can see why..." Aamon answered.

[U4ea]

Edana had chewed her nails to the quick. Her tour was over in a few days and they’d given her a whole lot of fluffy assignments to do until then. Apparently, that nasty business in the Blight had been enough to earn her a day or two of light duty. She honestly wished there was something more active to do. She was going crazy. She’d sparred too much, so the others wouldn’t lift a lathe against her.

 

She sighed, staring out the window. Tomorrow.  She had to go another full day of being bored ahead of her and she knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that she was going to go crazy. After Jeme had returned from his patrol with word that he’d seen Sandre in town, she’d only been worse. She’d gone into town to a seamstress, just hoping to catch a glimpse of him. She’d stretched that trip into a trip to a jeweler, a hosier, a blacksmith and a store that catered to things that made her blush. Who knew there were so many alternatives to… underthings?

 

She didn’t see him one time. It was a long trip. She came back annoyed and sent Jeme to the infirmary for it. Not on purpose, of course, but sometimes being frustrated resulted in sparring getting a little out of control.

 

Now she was bored again. She threw a look over her shoulder at the boxes she’d gone to pick up this morning. The dress was completely wrong for this region. The shoes would be horrible on her feet. It would be impossible to stash a sword or a dagger anywhere on her. She was going to be completely uncomfortable. She smiled a bit at the thought. She hoped Sandre would be just as uncomfortable.

 

Someone knocked at her door and she looked up. Everyone had been avoiding her the last few days. She walked to the door and pulled it open. Her Captain stood at the door, an envelope thrust towards her. “Ummm…Captain?” She asked, taking the envelope.

 

“You’re off the hook,” he said simply. His voice was as gruff as ever. “You’ve been beating the Dark One out of my men and we’d like you to go home now.”

 

She laughed, knowing he didn’t mean it that way. “You’re going to miss me, Captain. Who else is going to challenge you to a duel at dawn the day after she catches you drinking all night?”

 

“Ah, yes, just in case there was any other reason to want you gone?” He laughed at that and shook his head at her. “Go, you’ve earned it. You’ve been mooning around here and Jeme told me why you two sparred the other day. I need all my men in one piece and if that boredom in your eye was any indication, there’d be more bloodshed very soon. I can’t take that chance.”

 

“I don’t leave until tomorrow, Captain,” she reminded him gently.

 

“No, love, you leave today. I am Captain here and I…” He smiled and his posture relaxed. “I know he’s here and I have a pretty good idea of what is in those boxes. Go on, enjoy yourself. You can even leave your stuff here and pick it up tomorrow.” He smiled and turned to walk away. “I heard he’s at the Drunken Fade, with his back to the door, if my information is correct.”

 

“If you weren’t married, I’d forget him in a minute!” She yelled down the hall, laughing. She closed the door after getting an eye on the sun and how low it was. She didn’t have much time…

 

**********

 

She paused outside the door, looking through the large window at the perfect curve of the back of his neck. She’d written every day, just as she’d promised. She’d devoured every letter in return, storing them in a leather case in her room. She looked down, her lips twitching. The deep blue silk was cut much lower than she was used to, but rather than covering it up, she’d accented it with a simple chain of gold. Her hair was pulled away from her face with a pair of sapphire studded combs, but rippled down her back like a waterfall. The ripples were the product of the braid she’d kept her hair in for most of her life. The dress covered her arms, but the sleeves were tight enough that they may as well have been bare. The skirt was the worst part, her in opinion. It flowed down her legs, but brushed the backs of her thighs with each step.  She had even let the seamstress talk her into a little purse, which she kept clutched in her hand.

 

She took a deep breath and walked through the door of the tavern. She moved towards him, a smile stretching across her lips. He looked lovely. She could only see the back of his head, but it was more than she’d seen in months and it was lovely. He wouldn’t appreciate that, but…

 

She paused in midstep as his hand smashed onto the table and finally took note of the others around him. The other faces were looking right at her, appreciatively, at least. She tilted her head to the side, returning their smile. She held her breath, hoping he wasn’t angry with her for barging in on what looked like a rather important meeting. She wouldn’t know until he turned his head, though. Perhaps that’s what she was holding her breath for…

 

~Edana

[Sangreal]

It became apparent that everyone was looking behind him. He turned to find a woman in a dress looking at him. Blinking his eyes a couple times he realized it was Edana... in a dress... without losing a bet. He stood so fast he knocked his chair on its back and hit his knees under the table rubbing it only a second before walking over to her. "You look... very beautiful." he hugged her and gave her a kiss before his eyes scanned her up and down delaying just a fraction of a second longer on the amount of cleavage she was showing. That was more of a surprise than anything. "Its a shame you wont be wearing that dress long. If those two stuffy old men at the table didnt have something I need it would be coming off of you right now." he whispered to her. The Tavern seemed to have gone back to what it was doing but a group in the corner was looking on him now with raw hate. One man in particular.

 

"Edana who is that man in the corner that looks at me with such malice when I touch you?" he said. He pretended not to notice though some of the men at arms who were staying in the Tavern did notice and began to finger their weapons slightly. He pulled out a chair for Edana. It was Aamon who spoke before Sandre could give proper introductions. "Words of your beauty precede you Edana. How did you get stuck with stuffy old Seven Stars here." the man said with a smile. Sandre shot him a dangerous look. He would not stand for anyone undercutting him to Edana any more. A light touch from her and he came back to his senses.. mostly. "Edana this is Aamon, head of house Hastat and Ezrell head of house Gronn. This is Tyr head of the Shienar side of house Kaldun, my uncle. Tyr stroked his short pointed beard slightly as he spoke to Edana. "Uncle Tyr to you too miss Keller. Glad to see you with him again. You cant live with the guy when the two of you are apart. Now that your hear to tame the lion perhaps a deal can be made."

 

It didnt go as smooth as that. Aamon and Ezrell still went back to the same arguments. Even ever patient Tyr seemed to wear out of this and he motioned to Sandre that he had had enough. Sandre turned to Edana as the three men got up for a break. "I am sorry... I thought to have this done today so nothing would interfere with seeing you tomorrow. I appreciate you being here. I think I would have lost it on Ezrell for his stubborn ways and Aamon for his greed." he leaned over to give her a kiss and squeezed her hand. "I am going to have to give them what they want... we need the food or people will starve... I dont see a way out of it." By now Edana knew the stakes. Sandre didnt want her to know what he was doing. She was starting to look into the why of everything and he knew she would wonder why Sandre would lose a fortune to feed some people he didnt know. He didnt want to explain that he knew what it was like to starve.

[U4ea]

Edana returned Sandre's kiss, forcing herself to remember where she was. It was harder than she thought possible. He held her chair and she almost happily retreated into the background as they started talking around her. She ordered food and ate quietly. She absorbed the conversation and held a glass of wine (Light, she hated this stuff!) as they took a break.

 

She smiled and cast her eyes over the gentlemen in question. "You're restraining yourself very well, I'm impressed." She shook her head and took a sip of wine. It was a stall tactic. She knew why he was willing to pay so much. She'd been hungry, herself, and knew that she'd spare anyone that feeling if it were at all possible. To be his people who needed it...

 

Before she could say anything, the other two gentlemen approached. "Excuse me," she said softly, standing as slowly as possible. She got the reaction she was looking for and felt a momentary rush from it. This must be what makes women wear clothes like this all time! she thought as she smiled and moved away. She disappeared around the corner where a mirror hung on the wall. She smiled and grabbed the first barmaid she could find, whispering in her ear and slipping a few coins her way. The woman laughed and nodded, then moved away, leaving Ed return to the table.

 

She settled back into her chair, lifting the glass again as she waited on the show to start. One woman stopped at the corner of their table, her cleavage showing enough to make Ed shake her head. She leaned over the table, reaching for Aamon's hand. "I overheard what you're doing and I think you are wonderful." She pulled his hand to her chest, like she was laying it over her heart. "Your people must be so proud to call you their own." If it was possible, her voice became a little breathy at the end, hinting that it was something she'd like to call him, too. Edana hid her smile behind her glass as Aamon stammered.

 

Ezrell was gaping a bit, but only until another woman practically fell in his lap. It appeared to be an accident, but Ed knew better. "You should be more careful," Edana said, her voice dripping with honey. "This man is promising to feed a good many people for the price of a few stones for a wall!"

 

"Then, I've fallen into the right lap!" the woman said, turning her eyes to Ezrell. "Is it true, you've agreed to help so many? And truly, the price of a few stones?"

 

Edana raised her glass again, tilting her head towards Sandre with an innocent smile on her lips. "Good deeds have many rewards, wouldn't you say, my love?"

 

~Edana

[Sangreal]

Sandres mouth almost gaped at the site of the two tavern maidens falling all over the two nobles. He was about to correct them. "Actually the prices they are asking.." "Are way too high. We will go with your original asking price Sandre if it will conclude the matter." Aamon said cutting him off. In Edanas hand Sandre spelled out the words (Thank you) and was surprised she would have made a move like that. He wondered if she was getting the hang of this or if she just really wanted his attention. "Well then if that concludes the dealings." Sandre said as him and Tyr rose. "I shall leave you be." The two bowed and he took Edana by the hand. "I need to speak with you my dear." he said as he led her by the hand to his room. As soon as the door was closed. He wrapped her up in his arms and kissed her, pressing her between him and the door. "I missed you." His head was swimming looking at her. It was still early but he would have been content to call it a night. He growled in frustration as he looked towards the bed knowing it would be rude to leave his uncle to eat alone. "Errrr I hate being a noble sometimes!" He said as he began to change and wash as fast as he could. Those men had upset him worse than he thought and he had sweat.

 

*** Half Hour Later ***

 

Feeling way more relaxed the two went back down stairs and sat at his Uncle's table. "Took you long enough. Pleasant reunion I hope?" Sandre only licked his lips and nodded his head. He had a tight grip on Edana's hand, his mind still thinking about having time alone with her later. "So whats good here? I havent enjoyed any of my meals here until today so I am not sure what to get." Tyr nodded. "Try the duck then. Edana how was your tour? I met your father a couple of times when I went to visit Sandre's father Gareth. I remember you in Swaddling cloth." he said with a smile.

[U4ea]

Edana fought the blush as they moved back downstairs. Her palm had tingled for a while from his carefully lettered "thank you" and she was positive her lips were swollen from his crushing kiss. She smiled at his Uncle as they rejoined him, reaching for her glass to hide the silly grin and blush at his reference to their tardiness. Sandre's hand was all that kept her from bolting back upstairs, as he merely licked his lips in answer.

 

Her cheeks burned and she let Sandre order for her, trying to force her thoughts onto the subject Tyr was steering the conversation to. "My tour was horrible to begin with," she said softly. She still wasn't overly comfortable talking about that. "It has been better these last few months, though." She smiled. Her father was a much safer topic. "Sandre and Dante both mentioned that their family had made many trips to Camelyn and interacted with my father. I'm pleased remember him, though you do have my permission to forget all about swaddling clothes."

 

Her smile deepened and she took a sip of her wine as a plate was delivered before her. She thanked the woman and got a wink back as the girl danced off. Apparently, their little charade had made her a new friend. There was quite a bit to smile about tonight. Perhaps she should wear a dress more often...

 

She almost choked on her wine at the thought.

 

~Edana

[Sangreal]

Sandre waited quietly and listened to the banter between Edana and his uncle. Only giving a word here or there. The duck was good. Spicy enough for sure but not enough garlic. Sandre's mind wandered at that thought. Spices did bring in a lot of money and while the Shienar lands were full the Andor lands were not. He mentally packed that away. He regretted not ordering potatoes but was content to steal them from Edana's plate as she was content to stab him with a fork.

 

When he leaned over to kiss her there was a shuffle of a chair as rather large, but not as large as Sandre, man got up and stared at him with malice in his eyes. A couple of friends of the man were holding him back and asking him to sit down and have a drink. Sandre was rather confused about what the mans intentions towards Edana were but obviously he stood in the way of them.

 

"Edana Im not sure who that man a few tables down is but he doesnt like me touching you and if he keeps looking at me like that... Im going to break his arms." Sandre said completely calm and matter of fact. Considering that Sandre was not one to start a fight when it could be avoided he wasnt surprised to see Edana look at him in surprise. His message was pretty clear though. Nothing would come between them again.

[U4ea]

Edana smiled as she stabbed at Sandre's hands. If he wanted potatoes, why hadn't he asked for some? It wasn't that she minded him taking hers. In fact, she really didn't care. His doing it simply gave her another means to flirt with him and she was learning that she enjoyed that rather immensely!

 

She smiled as he leaned forward and kissed her, though the shuffling noises from behind her made her pull away. She couldn't see well into the corner, but Sandre's explanation made her jaw drop. Not only because she hadn't even given anyone a chance to form an attachment, like she had in Tar Valon before he disappeared, but because Sandre was threatening violence over it.

 

He was serious, too, and that made her even more nervous. "I'm sure it won't come to that," she whispered, dropping her eyes to her fork. "He must have me confused with someone else, anyway. He'll figure out his mistake soon." She turned back to her meal, hoping putting the corner out of her sight would help get it out of her thoughts. She wasn't that lucky, though, and her appetite fled as her mind turned over a hundred scenarios, none of which she was properly armed for. Damn dresses to the Dark One's pit! she muttered under her breath.

 

Edana tried to draw the conversation out well past dessert, hoping that staying longer would give the man in the corner time to realize his mistake and remove himself before something worse than a scuffle happened. She ran out of reasons for Sandre's uncle to stay, though, and found herself standing and receiving a quick embrace from him as he made his departure.

 

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the man stand up again. This time, there was no one to block his way as he started making his way towards them. She turned to Sandre and looped her arm through his, turning him away from the man and trying to pull him towards the stairs that would take them back to his room. She smiled her brightest smile. "Didn't you tell me you had a surprise for me?" She said, fighting not to look over his shoulder. She didn't have much time to get them out of here before...

 

"Get your hands off her," his voice rasped. Her eyes immediately went to the man standing behind Sandre now. She closed her eyes and then opened them, again, trying to catch Sandre's gaze before he could turn around. Was it too late to pretend they didn't hear him?

 

 

~Edana

not as happy to have two men fighting over her as you might think...

[Sangreal]

Sandre's eyes turned to murder before the man had even made it to him. He looked her in the eyes a moment before he turned to the man. The pin point pupils would be all she needed to know that he was ready to draw blood if he had to. "Im not sure who you think she is or I am but you are sorely mistaken. The Blight couldnt keep my hands off this woman and I doubt that you will either. You can either sit back down and perhaps I will keep enough sake' coming to your table to keep you happy until you pass out or you can push this and try to take her from me... I warn you though. I dont think you could handle her."

 

He had lost all tact in this offering an extreme of a night of drunken revelry on someone elses tab or unspoken bodily harm. A small skinny man came up to the man and grabbed his arm trying to convince his friend to sit down. "Come on now Liam I told you I knew who he was. Lets just sit down and forget the girl." The man turned towards Sandre "He dont mean no harm hes just drunk. He has been building up the courage to talk to your lady there since she come here a year ago. He heard mention when she first got here that she wasnt taken." It was true. When she first got here she thought she wasnt taken. The room was quiet and the Tavern Maidens had retreated to the kitchen. So did Hastat and Gronn it looked like. The men at arms eyed Liam's friends and vice versa. Liam seemed to have got the courage to talk Sandre. "If you werent a noble..." Sandre took on a small smile. "Liam my being a noble has no part in battle. Nobles fall as easily as any other man. I wont hold any noble laws to you. Make your choice Liam." The Bouncer who was as large as Sandre looked at both groups nervously. Sandre didnt really care what choice Liam made as long as he hurried about it.

 

Liam's attack came slow. He pulled back so far Sandre could almost watch his punch come in slow motion. Sandre caught the man's arm before his fist even made it to his body and smashed the man's elbow with a hammer strike breaking his arm. Then all hell broke loose.

 

 

[U4ea]

Edana watched in horror, knowing she should stop this, but not sure how. She didn't even recognize Liam, didn't remember seeing him anywhere before tonight. He'd been watching her for a year? She shuddered inwardly, her hands curling around Sandre's arm, trying to tell him with the pressure of her fingers to walk away from this.

 

When Liam's hand went back, she cringed and started searching. She had no weapons on her. These men were all armed to the teeth. She found nothing but the bottle of wine they'd been drinking and sighed. She barely heard the crack of Liam's arm as her eyes pinned on one of his friends. Apparently, he'd given up trying to stop this when Liam started talking. Loyalty came first.

 

She turned towards him, blinking past the horrific flashes in her head of the tavern in Camelyn. This was not her brothers, though, and she fought the memories off. She caught the man she'd been watching not looking at her and landed a kick to his gut. He grunted, holding his belly and looking at her shoes. Light! she gasped inwardly. She'd forgotten about her heels! He backed away from her, though, and that was good enough for now.

 

She blinked at the fighting as it erupted in the tavern. She'd have been content to laugh in the corner before, especially since everyone she cared about (that being Sandre) seemed to be handling themselves ok. That would've been before the Blight, though. Some of these men swinging their fists had been with them in the Blight. They seemed to be on Sandre's side, but some were still taking a beating. For what?

 

She felt the cold shudder as the Spring swept her emotions away. After that disastrous trip to the Blight, this part of her training had finally become second nature. She adapted to her skirts as well as she could, altering the length of her steps to keep them from getting tangled under her. Without a blade, she had to rely on her hands and before long, the men pushing for a chance at Sandre were turning her way, instead.

 

"I'm the one who caused it, is that not right?" she asked, her voice smooth and low as she fanned a kick that caught one of her attackers on the side of his face.

 

He went down, but another guard who'd been standing to the side took advantage of her balance being on only one foot. He caught her foot easily and pulled her towards him, jerking her off balance. She braced her hands against his chest, pushing to keep him away. When that didn't work, she let him pull her close. Taking her sudden lack of force as submission, he released her leg and wrapped his arms around her. She smiled up at him, raising her knee and watching as he fell to the floor before her.

 

She didn't spare him another look as steel bands wrapped around her from behind, pinning her arms to the side. "Liam's taken a liking to you and I mean to see his has his chance," a rough voice said in her ear. She took a breath and stomped her foot on his instep, her elbow jerking back into his gut. He seemed to know what came next, though and dodged the blow to his nose, pushing her away from him as she turned to swing lower. His hands were still curled on her arms, though, and he took half the sleeve off her dress with him as he turned and disappeared into the crowd.

 

She gasped as a blow landed on her cheek and turned to find her attacker. The pain was bad enough that her eyes blurred for a second, but it was all he needed to move in and pin her to the wall. He was a very large man, as big as Sandre, if not bigger. The grip he got on her wrists was painful and no matter how she twisted them and pulled, she couldn't get them free. If she was a smaller woman, he'd most likely be breaking her wrists! He was too close to get a good shot at him with her legs and she felt the first trickle of frustration filtering through the Void as she fought to find a way free. It was obvious that he treated women like this a lot, since he knew just how to hold her that made getting her legs free of her skirts impossible. She stopped fighting, hoping to lure him into compliance like the other idiot, but he just laughed at her and shook his head. He didn't even say anything. She wasn't sure which part was the most annoying.

 

Yelling wouldn't do her any good, since it was unlikely that anyone would hear her over the noise already filling the tavern. The Guards should be here soon, she told herself, praying it would be enough.

 

When the shout came announcing their presence, the man holding her turned his attention there, unconsciously turning towards them to gauge how much time he had. The small distance he'd moved gave her enough room to free her leg and she used it with as much force as possible. She drew her knee up into his gut, the force pushing the air of out her lungs with a grunt. She was angry and she wanted him to know it.

 

He bent over the way she'd intended, but didn't release her hands. She hadn't expected that and he pulled her down with him. She cried out as she found herself on her knees next to him, her wrists still held in his vise-like grip. She'd never felt more helpless than she did when she saw the anger lighting his eyes as he looked down at her. It was a feeling she hated with every fiber of her being. She started fighting again, pulling, kicking... and nothing worked as he drug her towards the back of the tavern.

 

"SANDRE!" She screamed, the panic starting to break through the void. She doubted he'd hear her, but she wasn't about to go down quietly.

 

~Edana

[Sangreal]

As promised Liam collapsed with two useless and broken arms. Edana became lost to him and he moved around the Tavern fighting. Some men were being stomped on the ground and Sandre saw one of this house men at arms take a dagger to the side and collapse. In a rage he sent another of Liam's friends over the table with a punch just below the chest. The man with the dagger saw Sandre coming and began swing the weapon at him wildly. The man was useless in direct confrontation. Dodge, punch, dodge, move. He was taking shots where he could get them but when the guards arrived and saw Sandre he didnt want them to see him with a dagger in his hands. In one opportune move the man stabbed at him and Sandre able to redirect the mans hand through a small window. Sandre then pulled the mans arm down onto the sharp broken glass, impaling his arm onto it.

 

He heard Edana call for him and like a bull he charged through the crowd all elbows. One elbow met one of Liam's friends in the ribs and a sickening crack followed the man collapsing back wards against the wall. Sandre was aware he was running over men that had fallen. He found Edana on her knees, a large man had her arms pinned. There was no fight with this man. Sandre walked up and with both hands twisted the mans head so his neck cracked and he faced backwards. Sandre did not plan to kill here tonight. Touch Edana though and that would be what you get. He pushed the man's body away so it wouldnt fall on her and lifted her up. He was done with this. He picked her up in both arms so she wouldnt fall by someone stepping on her dress and carried her to the stairs up to his room. He went up and found the Tavern owner and her maidens already up there. "I will pay for you and your maidens and bouncer to be taken care of for a year while I have the stone for a new tavern carted here. Im sorry. I did not cause this fight but I will not let Edana come to harm." The Tavern owner despite everything seemed pleased.

 

Still carrying Edana in both arms he took her to the room, bent down to open the door and carried her inside.

[U4ea]

Edana blinked up at Sandre, but he was only there for a moment before he was pulling her into his arms. She closed her eyes tightly and clung to him, forcing herself to shut out all of the noises around her. She felt him moving up the steps, heard his voice as he spoke to someone, but she didn't lift her head to find out who. He bent to open the door and soon they were inside it, the door separating them from the guards yelling downstairs and the clattering halt the fight had come to.

 

He seemed to need to feel her as much as she needed him, so she was content enough that he didn't put her down right away. She felt the tears prickling her eyes and tried to fight them off. It was girlish and she... well, she just wasn't girlish. She lost that fight, though, and the tears flowed whether she wanted them to or not. "I didn't think you'd hear me," she whispered as they trickled down her cheeks. "I was so afraid of..."

 

She sighed and closed her eyes. "I couldn't get free. His punch stunned me like..." She shook her head again, unable to finish that sentence. This time, she wasn't able to finish it because her only reference was... him! The pain she'd felt as he'd carried her to the infirmary at the Tower after their little training session had been a distant memory until now. "I felt so helpless."

 

She pulled back and met his eyes. She could feel her cheek swelling and knew she'd look horrible in the morning. "Thank you," she whispered. It wasn't a tenth of how she felt, at the moment, but it was the only words she knew to express herself.

 

~Edana

[Sangreal]

Sandre held on to Edana for awhile. He was shaking mad that he had allowed her to get hurt. To get separated from him. His logical side said he couldnt have done anything about it. When she thanked him he simply kissed her quickly and set her gently down on the bed as though she may break. He walked over to the wash pan which had water at almost freezing temperatures and wet a rag for Edana's cheek. He returned to her where she sat up on the bed and kneeled before her and first wiped her tears away before setting the cold rag on her already swelling face. He noticed his knuckles were bleeding and had glass in them so he returned to wash pan and began to pull the glass out, then wet a second rag to wipe the blood off of his arm and knuckles. His shirt was damp so pulling that off he saw a light scratch across his chest which had already stopped bleeding. He dried off with the shirt and wrapped it around his hand.

 

Going to his saddle bags he pulled out a small pouch of medicines. A salve for Edana's face and a tonic for the pain. For himself a small amount of pine sap soap and a needle and thread for his arm. First he pulled the shoulder of the dress that covered the arm that Edana had had wrenched behind her to inspect it. Tenderly he touched parts of the already bruising areas of the arm. When he was done he kissed her again. "It not as bad as it looks. We will put heat on it tonight. It will stiffen tomorrow, but you should be back to punching drunks within a week." he said with a slight smile. "We were lucky... I will order some wine. It will take the edge off." He cleaned his arm with the soap and sat next to her and pulled out the needle and thread and began to work on his own wounds. They werent bad. Edana was worse off than he was. A few stitches and he would be fine.

 

He barely started when there was a light knock. "Master Kaldun there are some guards here to see you sir." Sandre was not sure when the men at arms had posted themselves at the door. "Send them in." The door opened admitting two men in plate and mail. Edana still had her shoulder exposed though no one seemed concerned about decency. One of the guards even eyed them as though something had just clicked. "We werent told they had attacked your wife Master Kaldun." The Guard said. "Is that why Bern Hagart is dead?"

 

Sandre didnt bother to correct them calling Edana his wife. "Had I waited and tried to disable him he would have left her arm lifeless if not worse should I have failed to get him off her."

 

The Guard nodded. "What about the man with his arm impaled on a broken window?"

 

Sandre tried his best not to lose his concentration on the sewing. "Check outside that window where he dropped the blade he used to kill one of my men from behind." One of the Guards left on the spot.

 

"You were cleared by the Bouncer and the Tavern workers Master Kaldun. We are just trying to piece together who killed who. Liam was a dangerous man Master Kaldun. Three times women had come to the Guard claiming to have been... well his and his men's lusts were well known. All three of those women are now missing. One right out of the fort nearby. He waits until they are alone or until everyone is distracted then Bern sneaks them out a back door by force. They meet up later and... well you know the rest. He was trampled to death in the fight and while I wont miss him you made enemies here."

 

Tyr chose this time to walk in. No doubt he knew what happened though. The Guard simply acknowledged him with a nod. "You and your wife may wish to head to your family estate until this blows over or back to Tar Valon if that is where you are headed. I will have Guards here tonight but you should leave in the morning." Sandre nodded. Tyr simply asked to let him know what they decided and went to see to the men.

 

When they finally had the room the themselves Sandre looked down at her with a smile. "Well my darling wife what do you want to do? This wasnt how I pictured tonight going." He got to his knees in front of her and laid his head on her lap. He wasnt going to burden her with the fact that he had never killed a man before. Closest to that was Trollocs. The man deserved it, but it still bothered him. He also wasnt going to burden her with the fact that he had liked the Guard calling her his wife. There would be another time for that. He didnt have a braid anyways. She had been here long enough to know what a braid on a Kaldun meant. He didnt want to scare her this soon.

[U4ea]

Edana felt useless as she watched him take care of both her and himself. She let him because the look in his eyes fairly screamed that he needed to. She fought the urge to push his hands away and stitch up his arm by curling her hands into fists and pressing the cold rag to her cheek a little harder. The pain distracted her.

 

The knock on the door drew her eyes up and she listened as the guard spoke of Liams... habits. She tucked the wife part away, too tired to correct him. She froze when she heard that Sandre had killed the man holding her. She blinked, racking her memory for that little detail and coming up empty handed for her efforts. She hadn't noticed much of anything once Sandre had arrived, so it wasn't surprising that she'd missed something like that. She looked down at her wrists and winced at the bruises already appearing on her skin. Yeah, she'd been rather distracted.

 

She listened as the conversation flowed, no one asking her questions. Apparently, the swelling and bruises were enough to answer most of them. A few moments later, they were alone. Sandre's uncle off to check on the others and the guards off to punish the wicked.

 

Sandre's voice broke through her thoughts and she felt a smile trying to stretch her lips. The swollen cheek wasn't letting it get very far, though. When he laid his head in her lap, she dropped her hands to his hair, idly stroking through the inky black strands. It was getting long. She smiled a little at that. He'd cut it soon, apparently traveling as much as he had didn't give him much time to attend to his hair.

 

Her eyes dropped to watch her hand and she sighed. He was hiding his face from her this way. Something was bothering him. She looked past his face to his hands in her lap and sighed inwardly. He'd killed a man, not thirty minutes ago. Killed him dead with his bare hands. He'd impaled another man's hand on a broken window, if the guard was telling the truth.

 

Her mind worked through that, trying to decide whether to talk about it or change the subject altogether. "I want to help you," she said softly. "I want to take care of you the way you took care of me." She didn't mention what happened downstairs, since it already hung in the air between them, anyway. "I feel helpless and..."

 

She shook her head, fighting the urge to cry again. It made her more angry than she could imagine. Helpless and crying about it? HER? "I don't like feeling helpless."

 

~Edana

[Sangreal]

His mind raced. Trying to think of anything other than that fight. Do they go home to Tar Valon or stop off at the family estate? They were in opposite directions. He sighed as her hands went through his hair. All his muscles relaxed and he laid there like a limp rag. She mentioned she wanted to help him the same way he helped her. She couldnt have been talking about the fight. "You already are... I just want to forget what happened downstairs starting from when my uncle left after dinner to when the Guards left up here. We have months of being together on the road. Just be as loving as you have been these last few months and no amount of Liam's and his gangs can ever do anything to me that you could not undo." It wasnt just that. There was more.

 

"I couldnt stop you from getting hurt. There was nothing I could have done. You were ripped form my side and I jumped into the thick of that fight looking for you. Even though I couldnt have done anything that still bothers me. I could go past Malkier in the Blight to make sure you arent hurt but I couldnt protect you in a bar fight. Your going to be stuck with me for awhile now you know?" The last he said as he looked up with a strained smile. He wasnt in the mood to smile. Not really.

 

"If you want to help me then do whatever you wish to make us feel better. I wont argue."

[U4ea]

She saw his pained smile and put her own thoughts aside. There would be time enough for that, later. She eased him back a little and slid off the bed and into his lap, curling herself into him, but leaning far enough back that his head was resting on her shoulder. The position was oddly comfortable and she hoped his legs weren't going to sleep under her.

 

She took a deep breath and shifted her thoughts to something more uplifting. "You're right, we're going to be on the road for months. Do you need to tend to your lands before we return to the Tower? I am scheduled to report back there soon, but I'm sure I could write for an extension. I doubt the Captain would let me get away with more than a few extra weeks, but he'll be glad I'm not there causing trouble. It'll be enough for him to say yes. I'll need to be in a stable place to write the letter and get the response, though."

 

She kept her fingers in his hair, enjoying the way the strands caressed her fingers. "You'll be wanting a haircut, anyway, I'm sure." She laughed softly. "Can't have a Kaldun getting shaggy, now can we?"

 

~Edana

[Sangreal]

Sandre shook his head. "We can write for the extension in the next village and I can get my hair cut there. I have things I can show you on the way back if you are willing to go out of the way a bit. I have done some traveling in my time. I know of a water fall and lake surrounded by green forests and mountains that you can only get to if you know the way. We can dance in the ball room of a castle so old that nothing is left but its foundations... and I brought a bed roll stuffed with feathers and big enough for two..." that really did make him smile. He was pretty sure the bed roll would seal the deal. "It would be just the two of us..."

 

The break sounded too nice to him. To not have to worry about people for awhile. To just be man and woman. Not a Tower Guard or a Noble or peasant. "I can take you to a place where Borderland Nobles go to relax. Flowing fountains and hot springs, each one secluded and private. You walk around in silk robes and loose silk breeches relaxing or meditating. Everyone there is equal, no ranks among nobles or kings or even the lowest peasant. They dont even wear shoes." he said with some amusement to that last. "It was a school once for training nobility to be warriors and scholars. Peaceful men."

 

He moved his head slightly to kiss her neck. "We are both in pain. We can decide in the morning. Lets go to bed. For right now I want to show you how much I missed you..."

 

OOC May want to pick it up from morning to not offend any kiddies :)... he meant cuddling of course >.>

[U4ea]

OOC: *Smirks* ok

 

IC: Edana stretched, her lips stretching into a smile at the sunlight streaming through the window. Sandre was asleep, so she grabbed a pair of his pants and a shirt and dressed quickly. She had to belt the pants pretty tightly and she was sure it looked horrible, but she had an errand and wearing the dress she'd had on last night was not an option. Just looking at it brought back memories she'd be happy to never think about again.

 

She pressed a light kiss to Sandre's brow and let herself out of the room. She stopped by the kitchen first, asking one of the maids for a tray. The maid grinned at her after giving her a once-over, but nodded and promised to send it up to the room as soon as it was done. She smiled in response and asked the innkeeper to borrow one of the stable boys to fetch her things from the fort. They were already packed and she'd left word that she'd either be by or send someone for them this morning.

 

When the stable boy, burning cheeks and all, was off for the fort with her note to the Captain in his hands, she turned back towards the stairs. She happened to follow the breakfast tray up and happily took it from the cook's assistant's hands before he could knock on the door.

 

She was humming as she slipped back into the room, tray in hand. She saw Sandre still laying on the cot, though she was pretty sure he was awake. She pretended not to notice and moved the tray to the little table in the corner, sliding it down to the surface with a practiced movement before turning back to him. "Are you going to sleep all day, Sandre, or come eat this before it gets cold?"

 

~Edana

[Sangreal]

Sandre awoke to Edana stirring. He was never the type that could get up easily like she was. Often he would lay there for awhile enjoying the cold feel of sheets and the morning air. He was starving and felt an urge to have some sweetened tea with is breakfast though. When Edana mentioned food he rolled over to see she had returned from wherever she went. His clothes were big on her which he smiled about. She could have probably just worn a pant leg. He didnt bother getting dressed and instead got up and walked over to her and the tray. "Breakfast served before I am even up? What did I do right?"

 

They shared the food which was steaming hot. The ham in particular he enjoyed and with minor coercion he managed to even feed Edana a piece. It was nice considering the events of the day before. She seemed more than amused at him feeding her. He had not done that before their break up. He never had the courage to really. The two finished and worked out together in the room. It was a tight fit for the both of them in the copper tub set in the room to bathe in but they managed. When both were dressed and packed he walked outside. He made a few quick notes to what was left of his men at arms to mostly get rid of them. Some on funeral details, others delivering work orders for the stone to come to the tavern and to the nobles. He was sure to mention Edana made that last deal possible. Then he turned towards her.

 

"Where to my love?" There were people around. He wasnt sure how she felt about public affection but didnt really care what others thought anymore himself.

[U4ea]

Edana blushed, but couldn't answer him. She went about her usual routine, smiling as the familiar habits she'd gotten used to at the Tower seemed to flow back through them. She watched him making his arrangements, glad when her things arrived so she could dress appropriately.

 

The sword she relished belting back on, taking a moment to breathe in the comfort of knowing she could defend herself again. When she returned to the Tower, she was finding the first master of hand combat she could find and cornering them until they taught her everything they knew. Then, she was going to corner one of the female Masters until they trained her how to do all of that in a dress! She took a quick moment to send an extension request to the Captain at the Tower, knowing he'd be happy to avoid her being home for a while.

 

She turned as he spoke, her lips stretching into an easy smile. "I'm following you, love," she laughed. "It's my turn to sit back and enjoy the scenery for a while. I am content to just... be. If you've errands to run before returning to the Tower, I'm alright with tagging along, if you're alright with having me there."

 

~Edana

[Sangreal]

Sandre smiled. "Nothing more to do than to just go. He took to the road for a few days before turning off of it. They never camped along the road. Sandre instead made sure they camped their nights in places where no one would likely find them. Sometimes he would lift her off her horse and place her on his saddle in front of him and wrap his massive arms around her as they rode. Often he would joke with her as only a lover would to make her blush or play with her so she would so she would play back. He loved taking her to places that would make her breath catch. They were places he found at a bad time in his life. As he brought her here one by one those memories that these had been bad places at some point began to fade. As every bad memory and the scars that came with them vanished he discovered just how much a part of his life she was. How much power she had to heal him, and how he never new how badly he needed to be healed.

 

She was on his horse in front of him when they reached the base of the mountain. A small town was there seemingly in the middle of nowhere. Guards in plate and mail. It was a bit our of the ordinary. He had shown her the massive falls that came from the mountain high enough that its top could not be seen in the morning fog. The Guards took their horses to the stables and the servants from the mountains took their saddle bags and started up the mountain road itself. Sandre reassured Edana not to worry.

 

"The town here provides whatever is needed for the school above. The horses are stabled down here because the road is too narrow for them. My father met my mother here. She had come to serve here after she left the Tower." He had realized he stumbled on something he had not told her before. Something he had dreaded telling her and had slipped his mind. "My mother was too weak in the one power to even be an accepted. As was Uncle Tyr's wife whom he met through my mother and father. Kaldun's avoid the Tower if we can, but we choose our mates for qualities they may possess rather than birth." he didnt say anything more than that. She would ask if it concerned her though if they did have children and had a daughter he was not sure of how she would feel if their daughter could learn to wield the one power. The tavern here looked tempting and they had a large meal before Sandre rushed them to the mountain road. "If we dont hurry we will have to walk the road in the dark. The road winds through for quite a ways. It used to be a test to run up the road back to the school starting as soon as the sun was visible and to be there before it vanished... its not easy. However I am willing to bet I can beat you up there." He said with a smile

 

They had stopped actually naming what they would win or lose in the bets they made with each other. Often losing was as fun as winning. He knew Edana had him beat in stamina, but it was all uphill and though her strength was often surprising to him when she wanted something bad enough he was the stronger and taller and it was all up hill. He gave her his usual smile that said he had something in mind if he won

[U4ea]

Edana smiled as he spoke, her eyes watching the people around them and focusing on the road that disappeared into the woods. Her eyes moved to the disappearing sun. She couldn't stop the smile on her lips. Her thoughts danced over the trip here and the smile only stretched wider. She'd never felt like such a... woman. It wasn't an altogether bad feeling. If she hadn't unstrapped her sword before they retired each night and had slung it back on as soon as the sun came up the next morning, she might have thought she'd completely given in to the temptation.

 

She met his eyes, seeing the devilish light dance in them. She shook her head slowly. "Will they close the doors at sundown?" She asked, nodding to the top of the mountain. "I guess I'm asking if there's any reason why we have to make the trip so quickly..."

 

Her eyes were focused on the road, the soft winding curves and places where it disappeared into the brush. Would a leisurely stroll be out of the question?

 

~Edana

[Sangreal]

Sandre scratched his head looking at the mountain road. It was rather unusual for Edana to turn down a challenge but he was more curious to see what would develop from that. "Yeah we can walk." he said with a warm smile and took her hand. As they started up, the river that ran on the bottom of the canyon below the road could be heard echoing off the mountains. There were multiple falls and Sandre was happy to lead her to one when they needed a break. The water was warm. There were springs all through these parts but it still did the trick.

 

"It gets cold up here at night and rains a lot. But the hot springs will make up for that." as though he was prophetic it was raining on them not an hour later. Neither seemed to mind. Sandre loved stopping her to kiss her. Her mouth was so warm in the cold rain.

 

"They are probably wondering if we fell off the road." He said jokingly

[U4ea]

Edana laughed as the rain started, turning towards him. "You must be a wizard, my lord, to conjure up storms at will!"

 

They continued on up the road, pausing here and there to see some oddity or a kiss. When he laughed about them thinking they'd fallen off the road, she only grinned wider. "I shall explain that you ordered rain to make me quite sick and force me to endure hours of torturous nursing. Perhaps that is your trick, sir! You are a scoundrel! Would you nurse me yourself, then?"

 

She moved closer to him as she joked, swiping her hair out of her face and behind her ear. The rain had pulled it loose from the braid she wore hanging down her back. As it was, she was already starting to shiver a bit.

 

~Edana

[Sangreal]

"Of course I would." He answered. "I will always take care of you. Even if I am away there is always the kids." he said as he continued walking. He didnt want her to see the large smile on his face. He was playing with her of course. They both enjoyed their life together as is. "All eight of them. I am sure one of them will want to take care of their mother."

 

She was catching up to him. The look on her face made him lose control and laugh. "I was kidding. We dont need things to be complicated again so soon. Besides I enjoy my nights with you as they." This time the look he gave her was to make her blush. In the cold rain though she already looked to be blushing.

 

"You know... we should hurry... I mean it would be a shame to miss an opportunity to spend some time together in the rain and jump into a warm clean spring. They tile it in stone you know? Stone seats too."