Chapter IX

They were curled around one another in the center of the big bed with only the waning firelight illuminating the small cabin.  Gwen nuzzled the soft skin under her lips, smiling at the hitch in Randi’s breathing.  She turned her head slightly and kissed the spot, then shifted slightly to prop her head on her hand and look down at Randi’s profile half hidden in shadow.  Randi turned her head and caught Gwen’s eyes with her own, and Gwen felt her heartbeat trip over itself in double time at the fierce strength of the electric gaze.  No words passed between them and yet Gwen felt a lifetime of stories being told in that brief moment.  Without warning she leaned forward and captured her soulmate’s lips in a possessive, passionate kiss.  Randi groaned at the intensity of feeling the gesture conveyed and wrapped her hands in the blonde locks to hold Gwen in place.  Not that Gwen had any intention of moving anytime soon.  Long moments passed before they were forced to pull away for air.

“Thank you,” Gwen said softly.  Randi’s smile reached her eyes and made them glow with an inner light. 

“You are most welcome.  Wanna go again?” gently urging Gwen to meet her lips.  Gwen stopped her with a hand on her chest and a quiet chuckle.

“Not for that!” with a giggle, then laughing harder at the mock hurt expression on Randi’s face.  She raised a hand to trace Randi’s mouth.  “Ooo, look at that pout.”  She gasped when sharp white teeth caught the fingertips outlining full lips and a warm tongue began lightly teasing.  “Okay,” Gwen admitted, her voice cracking.  “Not just for that.”   She cleared her throat and eased her fingers from the wet warmth.  <Ahem>  :Hold that thought.  Whoo,” willing her heartbeat to slow and her pulse to stop pounding.  She smiled at her companion almost shyly.  “Thank you for believing in me.  Knowing you have that kind of faith in my abilities is... um, wow!”  She laughed.  “Especially when I remember my first try with a staff.”

Randi smiled again in sympathy with the wry humor.  She turned on her side, her posture mimicking Gwen’s and asked.  “Story time?”

“Uh huh.  Story time, Love.”  Randi’s grin broadened in anticipation.

At almost fourteen, Gwen Goldman tried to convey an air of nonchalance, but she was far too excited to carry it off properly.  So many of the older kids caught the sparkle in her eyes and couldn’t help but smile at her enthusiasm.  They were all anticipating a fun and interesting summer, but it had been a while since the thrill of newness had touched them like that.  The bard had taken a sabbatical of sorts.  She’d told her mother she wanted to try something new for the summer and confided that she loved the whole drum and bugle corps phenomenon.  Jill had pulled some strings and gotten her daughter a shot a participating in a corps for the interim.

Playing a musical instrument was out of the realm of possibilities.  Gwen had never shown an aptitude for music, and there was no way to teach her even the basics in the ten weeks they would be together.  That left her with color guard, and her only viable option was the position of flag.  So Gwen Goldman, renowned bard, started a crash course toward becoming Gwen Goldman, color guard flag.

Every morning she got up before dawn, showering and eating breakfast to make it out onto the practice field at sun-up.  There she stood, hour upon hour, doing her level best to learn the maneuvers required of her.  More that once the tears welled in her eyes when she hit herself in the head or shins, but she clamped her jaw and kept trying.  Night found her collapsing into bed exhausted and falling into a deep dreamless sleep, only to start the cycle all over again the following morning.

There were a few who resented her presence at first.  After all, they’d had to earn their way into the corps.  But slowly day-by-day, she earned their respect.  She kept working and even when she was on a break, she was learning.  After two weeks, she had the bare basics, and she moved up into the more advanced group.  Now it was even tougher because these kids had years of experience on her, and there was no way she could catch up in a single summer.  Still many of the older kids complimented her efforts and were always rewarded with a deep grin and sparkling green eyes. 

The summer passed quickly and before Gwen realized it, there were only three weeks left.  The corps master took her aside.  “Gwen, I know you’ve been practicing hard behind Ryan.  Do you think you can perform in his spot tonight?”  The blonde looked wordlessly at the instructor for so long that he waved his hand in front of her glazed eyes.  “Gwen?”

“Oh, wow!  You mean it?”

“Yes.  He’s not feeling well and needs to rest.  The big competitions start next week you know.”

“I know.”  It had been all the corps had talked about for weeks.  Everything they did culminated in a three-day competition with all the other corps at the end of the summer.  “You can count on me, Mr. Bryson.”

“Thanks, Gwen.  I’m sure I can.”

The truth was Ryan had asked the director to allow Gwen the chance to perform with the group once before the summer was over.  He had taken quite a liking to the younger girl and looked out for her like he would have a kid sister.  It concerned him that despite her apparent friendliness the bard didn’t seem to have any real friends so Ryan kept an eye on her.

That night, Gwen was so nervous she kept hitting herself in warm-up.  Finally Ryan couldn’t stand it any longer and gave up the pretense of being sick.  He moved with purpose and stopped when he stood in front of her, capturing her eyes with his own.  “Ryan?” she spoke, looking at him with confusion.  “Mr. Bryson said you were sick.”

“Gwen,” he said softly, putting his hands lightly on her shoulders.  “Can you do this?”  She continued to look at him uncomprehendingly.  “Look, Gwen, I thought you might like the chance to perform once before the season was over.  You’ve worked really hard, and it only seemed fair.”  He looked right at her then.  “You’re good; you can do this.”

Suddenly the green eyes began to glow, and the young teen threw her arms around Ryan’s neck.  Impulsively she kissed his cheek.  “Thanks, Ryan!  I owe you.”  Then the bard backed up and began her routines again, and this time they were almost perfect.  He smiled at her contagious enthusiasm. 

Her routine on the field wasn’t flawless.  There was a minor bobble and an almost missed step, but she caught herself and kept going.  When they came off the turf and settled in the stands, Ryan met her.  “You sure you never picked up a flag before, Gwen?  ‘Cause you have a natural aptitude for this.”  He didn’t mention her mistakes, and to this very day she still wondered whether he’d seen them.

“I’m sure.  But this is gonna make the coolest story!  Thank you, Ryan.  That was so amazing.”  The grin she gave him was huge and infectious and soon it had spread through the whole corps.

“The night before we were scheduled to go home, we had a big party.  They recognized me as most improved, but considering I was a complete novice when I arrived, it wasn’t that hard to get everyone to agree with that.”  She smiled in memory.  “You know, some of those guys had done this for years.  A lot of them were past their military service and in college or their apprenticeship training.  They came together every summer to do this.  It was fascinating, but I didn’t feel comfortable enough with the flag to do anymore with it.  I went back to storytelling and until I saw you exercising the Midas security unit, I never considered picking up a staff again.”

“Why?  Ryan was right.  You’re a natural.”

“Tell it to the parts of me that were black and blue for the better part of ten weeks.  I spent a lot of nights with ice packs.  And honestly, as exciting a time as that was for me, it never felt natural until you started teaching me.”  A blush slowly climbed up Randi’s features, and Gwen was instantly charmed by the sight.  “You are too cute.  I love you.”

The blue eyes darkened intently at the promise so apparent in the bard’s voice.  “I love you too,” her voice thick with desire.  Long fingers gently wove themselves through the blonde hair that fell across Gwen’s forehead and cheeks as Randi rolled onto her back and pulled her soulmate’s body on top of her own longer one.  With only the slightest pressure, she guided Gwen’s lips down to within a hairbreadth of her own, staring intently into verdant green eyes.  Her tongue reached to taste Gwen’s lips, smiling slightly at the whimper that Gwen emitted when she was pulled back just out of reach.

“No, Little One,” Randi whispered softly.  “Tonight I am going to love you.”  She scratched Gwen’s scalp lightly, smiling in pleasure at Gwen’s thrown back head and moan of appreciation.  Her hand continued its path down the strong back, fingernails delicately raking slowly along her spine until Randi reached the small of her back.  When she hit the sensitive area at the top of the shapely ass, Gwen took control and captured Randi’s lips with searing, passionate heat.  Randi let the invasion continue for long moments, savoring the taste and fire of her lover.  Then she moved her hands lower, slowly kneading the firm muscles of Gwen’s behind.  Gwen arched into her, and Randi neatly rolled them over so that Gwen was comfortably tucked beneath her.  Her hands slid along the backsides of Gwen’s thighs, her touch feather light and teasing.  “Tonight, I am going to love you slowly, surely... everywhere... all night.”  Randi slid her body down Gwen’s, sitting up on her legs, and running her hands down the well-defined calves.  She lifted a slim foot and kissed the sensitive insole before moving her tongue to gently trace the bard’s toes.  Gwen gasped at the erotic sensation that radiated from the core of her being at the sensual touch.  “Tonight, you are mine, and mine alone.”

Gwen struggled to bring her mind into focus as Randi’s attentions were rapidly sweeping away her conscious awareness and making her touch the only vital part of her present world.  With extreme effort Gwen sat up enough to pull herself out of Randi’s tantalizing reach.  Burning blue eyes pinned her in place, and Gwen felt the thrill of love and desire course like molten lava through her veins.  “Not just tonight, Love,” she whispered huskily.  Gwen cupped Randi’s face in her hands and tugged them closer together until they were breathing the same air.  “Always.  Always yours alone.”  Then their mouths met, and words became an unnecessary form of communication between them.

The sun had barely risen, and Randi knew she hadn’t been asleep for very long when she woke up with a blinding headache, her face burning along the length of the scar.  She moaned in pain, struggling to get up.  Simply rolling out of Gwen’s embrace had been agonizing.  Randi wasn’t sure what a change in latitudes would do.  She never got the chance to find out.

“Randi?  Love?” came the seemingly shouted voice of Gwen directly behind her.  “Are you all right?”  Gwen reached out a hand toward her, but Randi flinched violently at a mere brush of her skin.  Gwen pulled back, stung and confused by the reaction, then she noticed her soulmate’s tremors.  This time she reached forward firmly and grasped the trembling woman, pulling Randi into her arms.  A double gasp - one of intense pain from Randi who was struggling desperately not to yank herself away from Gwen and hide away privately in her agony as she’d always done before.  The other gasp fell from Gwen’s lips as she got her first look at the fire red streak that ran the length of Randi’s jaw.    Hesitantly, she lifted a hand to touch it, and Randi reflexively stilled her internal fight as Gwen’s soothing contact brought relief from the burning pain.  Her head still pounded in time with her heartbeat, but she curled herself into Gwen’s body and tried to will the pain away.  Gwen kept one hand on the scar, and the other began a firm kneading at the base of Randi’s neck.

The bard hit a particularly sensitive spot, and Randi leapt from the bed, eyes blazing fiercely.  “DON’T TOUCH ME!!!” she screamed, reaching for her head.  She fell to her knees, keening in agony.  Gwen stared at her, torn between hurt and concern.  Concern rapidly won out but just as she reached out a hand towards the warrior, Randi collapsed unconscious at her feet.

“RANDI!” Gwen screamed even as she fell to her knees beside her Marine.  She reached out a tentative hand, pulling back when Randi curled into a fetal position.  Now without hesitation Gwen wrapped herself around Randi, struggling to pull her into her arms. Finally she succeeded and stopped for a long moment to catch her breath.

Randi’s blue eyes opened for a long moment, then closed again without a flicker of recognition.   Gwen closed her eyes at the pain of it.  She noted in the back of her mind the fact that Randi no longer flinched at her touch, a fact for which she was devoutly thankful.  Instead she gave no reaction at all.  Gwen eased away from Randi, sadly comforted by the whimpers and searching Randi made when Gwen moved out of touch.  She spent several minutes arranging a semi-restful nest for them to relax in until Randi woke up.

Gwen arranged herself and gently drew Randi into her arms again.  From her deep, even breathing, it was clear to Gwen that Randi was in an intense state of sleep.  Yet she turned in Gwen’s arms and snuggled up so tightly to her that Gwen couldn’t move.  It was then that she noted the fierce inflamed look of the scar, and she lifted a hand to cover it.  The initial contact was so forcefully painful Gwen felt herself beginning to black out.  She wrenched her hand away, breathing deeply and trying to stabilize her equilibrium.  When the searing electric shock faded to a slight buzzing, she stared in fascination first at her hand and then at the now somewhat faded disfiguring wound.  Gwen looked at her hand again and steeled herself with a deep breath as she made contact with the blemish again.  Once more there was searing pain, but not so great that it caused near unconsciousness, and she gritted her teeth and held on for dear life until the agony faded into nothingness.  Her hand slipped down to cradle Randi’s neck protectively even as she joined her lover in a fathomless healing sleep.

When the blue eyes opened again, it was early afternoon.  She felt drained, and her eyes and limbs seemed exceptionally heavy.  Randi closed her eyes, her forehead scrunching up in confused thought as she tried to understand why she and Gwen were curled together on the floor in a makeshift nest of pillows and blankets.  And how did we end up down here any way?  The last thing I remember....  A smile chased itself across her face as lascivious images from the night before passed through her mind’s eye.  She cuddled closer into Gwen’s body, relishing the scent of her.  Randi lay there in a light doze until she felt Gwen’s fingers trailing lightly through her hair.  Randi looked up with a lazy smile.  “Hello, Love.”

Gwen gave a tentative smile in return, gently caressing the scar before cupping Randi’s face in her hand.  She saw recognition in the blue orbs, and her mind relaxed faintly.  She also felt Randi leaning into her touch and felt her nerves uncoil a bit.  “Hi,” Gwen replied softly.  “How do you feel?”

Randi gave the question due consideration.  “Tired... exhausted actually.  Disoriented.  How did we end up on the floor exactly?”

“What’s the last thing you remember?”  Gwen answered one question with another.

“Making love with you all night long and falling asleep wrapped around you just before dawn this morning.”  She watched as Gwen’s brow furrowed at some unpleasant memory and frowned in response.  “What did I miss?”

Gwen sighed heavily and looked at the woman cradled in her arms with compassion.  “The entire morning, it seems.”  She hesitated, then continued.   “You woke up in severe pain and passed out from it.”  She didn’t see the need to tell Randi about her cutting words and reaction.  “The scar....”  Her voice trailed off in thought.

Randi lifted a hand to cover Gwen’s.  “What about it?”

“Something is going on.  Something... I don’t know, Love.  I’ve never....  It was a fiery red color and when I touched it, the pain....”  Her voice seized up in memory.  Randi tenderly clasped her shoulders.

“What, Little One?  What happened?”

“It hurt... God, so badly.  But the longer I touched it, the more it faded.  And you seemed to rest better.”

Tears rushed into Randi’s eyes, and a single tear tracked down her face before she could stop it.  “Oh God, Love.  I’m so sorry.  I never meant to hurt you.”  The words were soothing especially in that Randi’s apology touched on hurts she was unaware of having caused.  “I would never....”

“I know, Stud.  I know.  It’s all right.  I would suffer anything for you.  I just wish I knew how to fix this.  There’s something here I’m not understanding.  It’s like looking for the keystone to a puzzle.”

Randi threaded her hands into the blonde hair and pulled Gwen down for a brief, passionate kiss.  “I love you.  We’ll figure this out.”

Gwen leaned down to capture Randi’s lips for a long time.  “I hope so, Love,” she whispered when they parted.  Intense blue eyes locked onto hers.

“We will.”

They were both subdued after a shower and a light meal.  Too tired to go for the walk they’d planned, they settled in on the couch and watched the dancing flames of the fire.  “Will you tell me another story?” Randi asked into the silence.  Gwen flashed her a grin.

“Isn’t it your turn?”

“Um, yeah but....  Please?”

“It’s a good thing I love you so much.”  Gwen peered at Randi, clearly seeing the fatigue and confusion etched deeply into the planes of her face.  She coaxed her into laying her head in the bard’s lap.  Gently she stroked the thick, dark mane, smiling at the contented murmurs that rose from Randi’s lips.  She slid on arm around Gwen’s back and wrapped the other around Gwen’s knees.  “What kind of story would you like?”

“A Soulmates story,” Randi responded immediately.  “A happy one.”

Gwen smiled.  “A happy one, huh?”  She tenderly scratched Randi’s scalp, her smile becoming a grin at the purring she felt rumbling from Randi’s chest.  “You sound a lot like a cat there, Love.”  An outraged blue eye opened and peered in her direction.  “A very big, very dangerous, very satisfied cat.”

Randi couldn’t contain the chuckled that sprung from her lips and turned into a full-fledged belly laugh.  “Nice save there, Little One.”

“Um hmm.  I thought so,” she said with the tiniest smirk, then gently eased the eyelid shut.  “Now hush and listen.”   She kissed the tanned forehead and sat up, surprised when blue appeared again.  It didn’t close until she resumed her tender ministrations on Randi’s head.  The Marine sighed in bliss.

“Let me tell you about a time long ago.”

The War Between the States was over, but bad feelings pervaded throughout South and North.  Beau packed his bag, glancing around the room that had been his sanctuary all the years of his life until the war came.  They had been lucky.  It really didn’t look much different, but everything on the Virginia plantation had changed.

“You don’t have to go, Brother.  There is plenty to be done around here.”  Michael smiled sadly at the melancholy look in his younger sibling’s bright blue eyes.  They’d shared some bitter words, fought on opposite sides of the war and eventually come home to realize that home wasn’t the same anymore.  Their youngest brother who’d chosen neither north nor south, but had stayed home to help his mother and sister tend the plantation, had been brutally murdered by a rogue band of outlaws six days before the ceasefire was signed.  Now nine weeks after coming home, Beau was packing to leave again... this time for good.

“No, Mikey,” using the nickname he’s always called his older brother until the war had separated them.  “I do have to go.  This is not home for me anymore.  You have a new bride, and Elizabeth is due to wed Andrew in the fall.  There is no place for me here now.”

Michael nodded, accepting the veracity of Beau’s words and the feelings behind them.  They had settled things between them, but Michael knew how the younger man felt.  There were days he would give anything to leave and start over.  Sometimes being responsible just sucked.  “Will you at least write occasionally?  Let us know where you are and how you are doing?”

“Yes.  I don’t want Mama coming after my behind.”  The brothers who looked so much alike they could have been twins if not for the two-year age difference chuckled.  Mama had aged and the war had done its worst, but she was still a formidable woman.

“Where will you go?”

“I’ve given it a bit of thought.  The government is offering land to settlers out west.  Think I may do some looking in that direction.”  He straightened and hefted his case.  He held out his hand as he approached his brother.  “Wish me luck, Mikey.  Ya’ll are gonna be fine.”

The older man took the younger in a stunningly strong hug, and the brothers embraced for a long moment.  “So are you, Little Brother.  Sure you don’t want a ride to the station?”

“Nah.  I’ll say my goodbyes here.  I’ll let you know where I end up.”

“See that you do.”

Fourteen months later, the young Southern soldier had staked a small claim in the west.  His small herd was comfortably pastured, and he had a sizeable garden plot on one side of his cabin.  Daily he worked hard to make things successful and as late spring approached he began making plans for his first roundup.

Things were snug and tight, and Beau decided he needed a trip into the not-so-nearby town to pick up some much needed supplies.  On his way into town, he found a family in distress.  Their wagon had broken a wheel, and Beau was quick to help the man repair it though it took the better part of the day to get it done.

MacDonnell had a wife and six daughters, ranging in age from eighteen down to three.  Beau offered to escort the family into town, and the older man accepted the help and the guidance readily.  He was dismayed to find that the soldier had fought for the Southern side, but Beau was so polite and courteous that he decided to try and overlook what he considered to be a glaring flaw.  MacDonnell watched the young man who was pleasant and respectful to his wife and himself, yet steadfastly kept away from his daughters.  His manners were impeccable, and it was clear that he had been well raised.  Beau’s conversation gave him insight into a keen intellect to the point that the older man understood and accepted his reasoning for fighting on the “wrong side” of the war.

When the town came into view late the next afternoon, MacDonnell felt a bit of a letdown.  He had enjoyed the young man’s company and was fairly certain his eldest daughter was smitten as well.  He’d noticed the furtive glances she’d cast Beau’s way when she thought no one was looking.  And he’d seen the blue eyes stray in Sarah’s direction more than once.  MacDonnell wondered, then thought... *Well, she could certainly do worse.  I’ve never seen her take to a young man like she’s obviously taken to this one.  No wonder she couldn’t find one back East.  Do you suppose....*

MacDonnell didn’t have time to speculate anymore, as Beau was dismounting his wagon and holding out his hand in farewell.  The soldier hated to leave her, *them* Beau corrected his thoughts silently, but he had no excuse to linger.  Funny that he was no longer anxious to carry out the plans for the evening that he’d been looking forward to for months.

“Thank you, son,” MacDonnell said, clasping the proffered hand.  “You were a godsend.”

“Glad I could help, sir.  But if you’ll excuse me, I have to get to the general store.”

The older man nodded, noting Sarah’s crestfallen expression out of the corner of his eyes.  “We have to pick up a few supplies ourselves.  Will you join us for dinner?  Please,” he added when he saw the young man’s hesitation.  “I have a proposition for you.”

Finally Beau cast his eyes briefly in Sarah’s direction, noting the hopeful look in her beautiful green eyes.  “All right, sir.  I’d be honored.”  His expression never changed, but Beau couldn’t stop the twinkle that glittered in his eyes.  He didn’t miss the swiftly hidden smile that crossed Sarah’s features, either.  The children were well behaved in the store, and it was a short time later that they were loading supplies into the two wagons.  “The hotel is right down this way,” Beau motioned in the twilight.  “That’s where the local restaurant is,” he added shyly.  “They serve a pretty good roast beef if I recall correctly.”

He had remembered perfectly.  MacDonnell seated his wife, and Beau provided the same service for Sarah.  Seated around a circular table, they were positioned to look at one another without overtly staring.  MacDonnell watched them watching each other, and it occurred to him that the Soulmates were soon going to be reunited.  He smiled sadly... glad for the fulfillment of prophecy and sad for the imminent loss of his daughter to this man who was still in many ways such a stranger to them.

The conversation flowed well among the adults, with the younger children only breaking in occasionally. Finally as the waitress appeared with their dessert, MacDonnell turned to engage Beau in a more private conversation.  “I need your help,” the older man stated quite bluntly.  Beau cocked an eyebrow in question and waited quietly for him to continue.  MacDonnell sighed.  “I need to get a decent shelter built for my family.”  The young Southerner nodded his head in agreement.  He had been lucky in that it only took him a few days to dig a sod hut for himself that first winter, and he had only had himself to think of.  Mac had an entire family of females to worry about and though Beau acknowledged the truth that his mama had instilled in him by example about a woman’s strength, he also felt they deserved whatever comfort he could provide.  And the tugging he felt in his very soul towards Sarah....

“I was planning to hire some men, but some of what I have seen out here so far....”  He paused.  “You’ve given me every reason to trust you,” with a glance toward Sarah, “and none not to.  I know Rebecca and the girls would help,” the older man was saying, “but I....”  MacDonnell broke off when Beau raised his hand.

“Sir, I would be glad to help you, but a lot depends on where you are planning to build.  I only have a few men right now, and I can’t leave the herd for an extended period of time.”  He stopped speaking when the older man took a map from his breast pocket.  Sarah and Rebecca were listening intently but neither broke the silence.

“This is the town here,” Mac said pointing.  “I own this area here.”  He motioned to an area that was back the way they had come and a little farther north.  Beau’s eyes widened when he realized MacDonnell’s land butted his own, but he didn’t say anything.  He simply nodded his agreement.

“Do you know where you’d like to build?”

Mac indicated a small valley.  “I thought here would be the best.  There is a spring nearby.”  He sat quietly, watching Beau’s gaze go inward for a time.  When he refocused, the Southerner looked at Mac.

“May I offer a suggestion?”

“Please,” with a nod.

“Leave the women here for two weeks.  We can get a sod shelter built that they can be comfortable enough in until you can get established and have the time and materials to build a more permanent home.”

Mac nodded his head, considering the younger man’s words.  Then he looked towards his wife.  “Mama?” was all he said, but the word conveyed layers of meaning.

“I like the idea mostly, but the girls and I prefer to accompany you.  We can certainly make due in a temporary shelter until things get settled.  There are things we can be doing while you men are building.”

Beau nodded his head in acceptance of her speech.  “I was only thinking of your comfort ma’am.  I had no wish to offend.”

She looked him directly in the eye, and he noticed for the first time the green so like that of Sarah’s.  “I appreciate your thoughtfulness, Beau.  You didn’t offend.  But I have no desire to be separated from my husband this close to our goal.  We came out west for a new beginning, and we are going to start it together.”     

“Yes ma’am.”  The young man drew a deep breath.  “May I make another suggestion?”  He waited for Rebecca to nod before he continued.  “Ya’ll come stay at my place until we get the temporary shelter built.  It will only take a few days.  Ya’ll can stay in the house, and I’ll bunk down in the barn.”  Beau held up his hand stopping her speech.  He pointed to a spot on the map.  “This is my property line.  And here is my place.  We can easily go back and forth in a couple hours everyday if need be.”

“I think we should take the lad up on the offer, Mama.  I would feel better knowing you had a roof, even a temporary one over your head again.”

Rebecca considered Mac’s words, knowing the long wagon trek had been draining on all of them.  “You’ll come home every night?” letting a little of her unease slip out unbidden.

“Yes, Dear.  We’ll come back every night before dark.”

“Very well, then.  If Beau will allow us to do something in return, I would appreciate the offer very much.”

“I don’t have.... I’m sure we can come up with a suitable arrangement,” seeing the proud look that was reflected in Mac and Sarah’s eyes as well.  “Maybe some help with the garden or something,” he mumbled.

“That we can do,” with an approving nod.  “Come now, children,” she said, rising to her feet.  “It is time for bed.  Your father has arranged a room for us tonight.”

Beau hesitated, torn between what he wanted and what he needed to do.  The want won out when he caught Sarah’s eyes on him, and he took Mac aside privately for a word.  At the older man’s gruff nod, he relaxed and approached the young woman with a shy smile.  “Your father has given permission for us to take a short stroll through the town, if you are willing.”  He could have kicked himself for his seeming lack of graceful words, but he completely lost his train of thought when the small warm hand curled around his muscular arm.  Father and mother exchanged knowing glances and smiled in sad knowledge.  Their little girl was all grown up.

Beau and Sarah walked down the short street without talking for a few minutes.  They were simply absorbing the feelings of soul contentment and familiarity and trying to find some way to bridge the awkward newness of actually getting to know one another.  “It is so different out here, isn’t it?” Sarah observed quietly.  They had crossed the street and walked by the noisy saloon on the far side of the road, and she’d clutched his arm a little tighter until they were well past.  “Boston was never like this.  At least,“ she amended as his twinkling blue eyes turned in her direction, “not that I was ever exposed to.  Papa....”

“What brought you out here?” Beau asked kindly, trying to ease her discomfiture. 

“Papa wanted a new life.  He was a professor before the war, but it wasn’t the same after Sean was killed.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“Thank you.”  She gave him a smile.  They walked on in silence to the end of the street before slowly turning around and heading back the way they came.

“But why did you come?” the young man asked, pushing for reasons he couldn’t understand himself.  Good manners dictated that he back off and let the subject alone, but there was something so about Sarah that called to him.  Not just her outward beauty though truth be told he’d been smitten the moment he’d looked into those green, green eyes.  There was something about her that answered the restless calling in his soul.  He wanted to know everything.  “I’m sorry,” he apologized again as he watched the slow flush color her face.  “It’s just... you are so beautiful, and,” he swallowed, feeling his own face darken in embarrassment.  He scrubbed his free hand over his cheeks trying to erase the blush.  “I’m sorry,” beginning to feel like an idiot.  “It really is none of my business.”  *Much as I would like it to be.*

Sarah stopped walking then, and turned to him.  “It’s all right, Beau.  You’re not the first person to wonder.  Just one of the few brave enough to ask.”  She saw the acceptance in his eyes and nodded almost imperceptibly before retaking his arm and resuming their leisurely stroll.  She swallowed then spoke in a near whisper.  “All my life, I’ve seen stories in my mind... vivid, colorful, real.  I was never able to capture the essence of those tales in my life, and I decided as a little girl that I wouldn’t settle for second best.  I want it all, Beau.  I want everything I ever dreamed of.  I swore I’d keep looking til I found it or die trying.”  She broke off, and he remained silent, allowing her to gather her thoughts to continue.  “I have experienced more on this trip, good and bad, than I ever had in all the rest of my life put together.  I think this may have been the best decision I ever made.” 

Sarah looked directly at Beau when she uttered the last words, and now it was his turn to swallow hard.  They had reached the hotel and Mac was waiting in the small lobby for his daughter’s return.  Beau stood at the door with Sarah, his mind scrambling.  He caught her hands in his own.  “Sarah, um, I uh....“  He cleared his throat.  “I know we’ve only just met, but I would appreciate the opportunity to get to know you.  Do you...?  Could we...?”

“I’d like that too, Beau.  There is something... um, I mean I would like the chance to....  um, yes,” she finally blurted, realizing he was as drawn as she was and felt as awkward and uncomfortable as she did.  He smiled in relief, and she mirrored it, glad the first hard step was taken.  A voice clearing behind them made them step away from one another slightly and drop their linked hands. 

“Goodnight, Sarah.”

“Goodnight, Beau.”

He waited until she had gone inside, and her father was escorting her up the stairs to her room.  Then with a barely contained grin, he turned and made his way to his wagon, intent on making a small camp just outside of town.

The next few days were interesting.  Beau and Mac got the women settled at Beau’s ranch house, and spent their time cutting and laying sod for the temporary shelter on Mac’s property.  They left at sun up and got home just before dark, but every morning Rebecca and Sarah saw them off, and every evening they were greeted with a hot meal.  It took them a little longer than Beau had originally assumed it would.  Mac wanted to make sure his family would be as comfortable as could be managed in the sod hut, and it was a somewhat larger than Beau’s own had been.

The young man didn’t mind though.  Well chaperoned by her parents, he and Sarah began to get to know one another as people.  Every night they had the chance to talk, and he was learning things about her that she had never shared with anyone else.  She told him of her dreams and of some of the stories that had been passed from generation to generation in her family.  He found himself drawn to the stories and captivated by her words.  He shared with her as well his hopes and dreams and when the time came for them to be parted, it was with heavy hearts.  MacDonnell came to their rescue, having seen the growing truth between them.

“We’ll see you for Sunday dinner, right?”

Beau was about to refuse.  He had been away from his ranch duties long enough, and though his foreman was trustworthy and able, he felt wrong about asking Caleb to continue to run the ranch.  A touch on his arm, and he was looking into pleading green eyes, and that was his undoing.  He couldn’t say no to her.  He turned his attention back to Mac.  “I’d be obliged, sir.  Thank you for the invitation.”  He turned his focus to Rebecca.  “And thank you for planting such a fine garden.  I expect you’ll be sharing this with me.”  It wasn’t a question, and she accepted his need to be somewhat assertive about it.

“It will be a welcome addition to our table.  Thank you.”

He acknowledged her words with a nod and moved his attention to Sarah.  Her parents quietly loaded up the other children, giving them a moment of privacy.  “I’m going to miss our conversation,” Sarah said just above a whisper.  Beau had to lean down to catch her words since she was looking at her shoes and not at his face.  Gently he lifted her chin to meet his own eyes and took her hands in his own.

“So am I,” he agreed.  Her eyes dropped.  “Sarah,” he said softly, noting that her folks were waiting to leave.  Beau waited until her eyes came up once more to meet his.  “Sarah, I know this is quick, but I would like permission to call on you.”  He heard her sharply indrawn breath.  “I spoke to your father last night.  He said it is up to you.”

Tears formed over the emerald eyes, and Beau felt his heart break until her whispered, “Yes,” fell on ears almost deafened by his heartbeat.  The relief that flowed through him almost made him giddy.  His smile was broad enough to light up all outdoors.  “Guess Caleb’s gonna be doing a lot more bossing around here for a while longer,” he joked.  Sarah laughed and squeezed his hands.

“Guess he will.”

He let her go slowly then, as badly as he wanted to just take her in his arms and kiss her senseless.  He stood watching as they drove away, never noticing Caleb behind him until the big man spoke.

“You got a good thing there, Boss.”

“I think you’re right, Caleb.”

Spring became summer, and summer turned to fall.  Every single Sunday and whatever evenings he could spare, Beau ventured over to visit with Sarah and her family.  Mac and Rebecca liked and respected the hard working young man and were sadly proud when he asked for Sarah’s hand.  And Sarah’s eyes shone like stars themselves when Beau dropped to one knee and proposed while they stood alone on the vast prairie, within sight but out of hearing of her parents.

“Yes, Love,” she answered tenderly.  He stood then and rested his hands on her small waist.   She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his head down even as he urged her closer to him and sealed their vow with a tender first kiss.

Beau went into town the next morning, wiring the good news to his family in Virginia.  He expected excitement.  He expected good news.  He did not expect his Mama to come make sure the girl was acceptable.  But that is precisely what happened.

Two days before Christmas, Mama arrived.  Actually the entire family did.  Michael couldn’t allow his Mama to travel alone, so he’d packed up the entire family and they’d traveled west on the train to the now burgeoning town.  He arranged transport, and just before sundown the family arrived on Beau’s doorstep, bag and baggage in hand.  The following morning, Beau took his Mother to meet his bride-to-be.  They spent quite some time alone while the rest of the family got acquainted and then Rebecca went and joined them.  When the three women came into the main room, they were comfortable together.  Sarah sat down next to Beau, and he took her hand in his larger one.

“Everything all right?” he asked.

She nodded, still reeling from the conversation she and Mama had shared.  She squeezed his hand reassuringly.  “I think we should move our wedding date up though.”  He looked at her, waiting for her to continue.  “My mama made a good point.  Your family can’t stay here indefinitely, and it would be nice to have them here for the ceremony.  What do you think about a New Year’s Day wedding?”

Beau grinned.  He hadn’t been thrilled about waiting until spring anyway.

                       
Chapter X

Randi’s eyes opened when Gwen stopped speaking.  “We share their anniversary?”

Gwen smiled back at her.  “Yep.  We sure do.  More by accident than design but true nonetheless.”  She took a deep draught of water and returned the glass to the short table.  “Would you like to hear the rest of their story?”

“Yes, please.”  The blue eyes closed once more as Gwen resumed both her stroking and her story.

The day of the wedding dawned bright and clear and cold.  Snow lay in patterns on the ground, broken by patches of bare earth.  Shaking hands straightened the collar of the morning suit Beau had never thought to wear again.  A light knock on the door turned him away from folding his cravat.  “Come in.”

Mama peeked around the door, smiling when she saw her son in the clothes befitting the gentleman he was once more.  She was proud of him and glad he’d been able to carve a niche for himself.  But the roughness of this country... she missed the gentility of home.  “You look nice, Beau.  Quite the gentleman.”

“Thank you, Mama.”  He stood nervously, knowing there was a purpose to her visit.  She didn’t make him wait long.

“Son, for many years our family has held in trust a ring that symbolizes the ancient joining and reuniting of two souls.”  She looked into the blue eyes so like his father’s.  “The time has come for them to be joined together once more.”

He’d heard of the Soulmates.  It was a favorite story.  Now Beau looked hard at his mama, trying to grasp the truth of her words.  “Mama, are you sure?”

Her gray eyes softened when they met his, and she smile at him.  “Aren’t you?”

Beau let his mind wander to the peace and completeness he felt with Sarah.  Beyond the friendship, beyond the love... them together made two halves a whole and his soul rejoiced in the knowledge.  “Yes, Mama.  I am,” he answered confidently.

“Take this then,” folding her hand over his and dropping the ring into it.  “Wear it in happiness.”

He leaned down and took his mother in his arm, hugging her tightly for a long moment.  When he pulled away, he kissed her cheek.  “Thank you, Mama.”

“They were married for sixty-two years.  They had five children, twenty-three grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren before they died.  It was a very happy marriage that grew stronger over the years.  The children said you could see the bond between them grow.  When Beau was killed by a runaway stallion at the age of eighty-three, Sarah simply closed her eyes and joined her beloved.”

“She decided to die?”

“It is said that she felt his soul slip away from hers and the rending of it killed her.”  Gwen paused and swallowed, then said in a low voice.  “I know what she felt.  I felt that with you.”  The pain that ripped through Randi was incredible, drawing a gasp from her and then from Gwen as she picked up on Randi’s distress.

“Randi?  Love?”  Gwen reached out a hand and tangled it in the dark hair, drawing Randi closer and holding on tight.  Randi closed her eyes and concentrated on breathing.  She realized she felt her own pain as well as the remembered pain that resonated from Gwen’s soul.  A tear ran unchecked down her face.  “Shh... shh....”  Gwen wiggled around until she was able to cradle Randi’s torso, then she gently rocked them together.  Randi greedily absorbed the comforting scent and feel of her bard surrounding her and felt her heartbeat slow.  Gwen edged back from Randi just enough to be able to look down into her face.  “You all right?”

Randi cleared her throat.  Gwen offered her a drink and she accepted with alacrity, downing the remainder of the glass in two swallows, then promptly choked as the second went down her windpipe.  Gwen held on, patting her back until Randi indicated she was fine.  “Yeah, I’m okay,” she finally responded to the earlier question.  She closed her eyes again and leaned her weight into Gwen’s body.  She smiled when Gwen adjusted her hold to accommodate the weight and keep them both comfortable.  Randi drew a deep breath and continued.  “I remember what it felt like as well.”  She paused.  “You see, I could feel your pain as well as my own, and it was almost unbearable.  Only when Aphrodite offered me the opportunity to come home did the anguish we were feeling together become tolerable for me.”

“You felt what I was feeling?”

“Yes, it was part of my restitution.  I vowed never to cause you that kind of pain again.”

Gwen didn’t say anything after that but was content to hold her warrior in her arms.  Randi for her part was emotionally exhausted, but she couldn’t help the feelings of pure bliss that resonated through her soul as the comfort Gwen offered patched holes she hadn’t realized still existed.  They sat together in peaceful silence then, not even realizing when they slipped into a light doze.

Afternoon shadows were making interesting patterns on the walls when Randi opened her eyes again. She looked up at the bard who still cradled her, wondering how she could possibly be comfortable with her neck at such an awkward angle.  She ran gentle hands up the slim sides, noting with some amusement that Gwen was even ticklish in her sleep.  “Gwen,” she whispered, not wanting to startle her out what was by the expression on her face a very pleasant dream.  “Gwen,” rubbing her hands over smooth rib muscles.  “Wake up, Love.”

Green eyes opened slowly and blinked in confusion until they caught the blue peering back at her.  “Hi,” she murmured sleepily, then looked around in surprise.  “OUCH!” came the exclamation upon moving her head.  “That was not the most brilliant thing I’ve ever done,” she moaned as she tried to rub the stiffness out of her neck.”  She looked down at the woman in her lap.  “How do you feel?”

“Well,” Randi replied, grinning slyly.  “I had the most comfortable pillow in the world,” moving her head between the bard’s thighs and breasts.  “So I feel great!”

“Wonderful!  You can fix dinner then,” Gwen added with a smirk.  “And it’s your turn to tell a story.”  She chuckled at the chagrined look on Randi’s face.  “Heh.”

A slow, sexy grin eased its way across Randi’s face.  “I’ll make a deal with you.”

“I’m listening.”

“You help me with dinner and....”

“And?”

“And I will get the kink out of your neck and shoulders.  A real nice rubdown.”

Gwen looked at the Sabre speculatively, tugging slightly on her ear in thought.  Finally she pursed her lips and nodded.  “As long as it stays a massage, it’s a deal.”  Gwen blushed at the raised eyebrow.  “Being with you is an incredible experience for me.  Since we made love for the first time, all I can think about is immersing myself in you.  I can almost feel our souls bonding, blending together to form the one whole that we are meant to be.”

“But?”

“But honestly, I’m a little sore.  And you still look tired from whatever it was that happened today.”

Randi rolled off the couch and stood, reaching a hand down to Gwen.  “I am actually.  It is driving me nuts trying to figure out what in the hell is going on.  Why I don’t remember it.”  She scratched the back of her neck, then wrapped the arm around Gwen’s shoulders, brushing a kiss on the top of the blonde head.  She leaned down to whisper in Gwen’s ear.  “Besides, I’m a little sore myself.  But you are a craving impossible for me to ignore.”  A slight blush covered Randi’s face.  “I love you; I want you; I desire you.  But over and above all that, I need you like I need air to breathe and water to drink.”

Gwen smiled through the tears that flooded her eyes.  “That has to be one of loveliest, most romantic things you have ever said to me.” She cupped a hand around Randi’s cheek.  “You are my reason,” and she urged the soft lips to meet hers in a soul-melding kiss.  Then Gwen pulled away with a light peck.  “I love you.”  A rumble interrupted any further words.  Randi chuckled.

“C’mon, Little One.  Let’s go fix dinner.  I’m starving.”

“You know, most people don’t have steak, eggs and marshmallows together,” Gwen commented with a smirk.  She was bringing the iced tea in while Randi walked behind her carrying the condiments.  Their plates were already sitting on the hearth in front of a roaring fire.  Propped up nearby were two carefully fashioned sticks, each already adorned with two marshmallows on their ends.

“We’re not having them together,” Randi replied in amused exasperation.  “Those are for dessert,” added with an almost virtuous air.

“Uh huh,” came Gwen’s skeptic answer.  “So you came into the kitchen with marshmallow on your lips because....”

“Well, I had to make sure the fire was the right temperature, didn’t I?”  But she couldn’t help the tiny grin that crossed her lips or the twinkle that sparkled from bright blue eyes.

“You are so busted, Gunny.  Besides,” Gwen pulled her head down to meet her mouth and darted out her tongue to lick Randi’s lips meticulously.  “You missed some,” she finally finished with a mischievous smile.  Randi just stood blinking for a long moment.

“Whoo boy,” she muttered, and seated herself on the fur, leaning back into the pillows.

They sat eating in comfortable silence after that for a bit, enjoying the food and one another’s companionship.  As the eating slowed to a more conversational level, Gwen turned to Randi.  “Can I have a story now?”

Randi swallowed and nodded.  “Anything in particular you’d like to hear about, Sweetheart?” she asked with a fond smile.

Gwen gazed at the fire thoughtfully for a minute, then turned and looked at Randi.  “Do you have any funny Sabre stories?  I mean so much of... what I’ve heard about that part of your life was....”

“Horrifying?  Disgusting?”

“Frightening,” Gwen interrupted, cutting into the pronounced bitterness in Randi’s tone.  She set her nearly finished plate on the hearth and took the warrior’s as well.  Then she clasped Randi’s hands in her own, gently chafing them.  “I understand all too well what was required of you as a Sabre.  What you endured... it scared the life out of me.  Still does,” she added quietly though Randi heard her well enough.  “I would just like to hear some of your good memories if you can share them.”

“Good memories, huh?”  Randi rubbed her chin thoughtfully, then broke into a delighted grin.  “I know just the thing,” almost chuckling in her eagerness.  “Lay down and get comfortable and I’ll tell you about the mission from hell.”

Gwen, already stretching out in front of the hearth, halted her movement and turned her torso in Randi’s direction.  “Waitaminute.  A mission from hell is funny?”

“Well,” Randi commented as she moved into position over her and gently coaxed Gwen down into the pillows.  “It wasn’t at the time of course but looking back, it had to be one of the funniest escapades I’d ever endured.”  Seeing the persistent frown on her lover’s face, Randi continued.  “Trust me.  You know how you can have days that absolutely nothing goes your way?”  Gwen nodded, sighing as strong hands began to work the stiff muscles in her neck.  “Well imagine that happening to nine people simultaneously.”

Green eyes popped open and she lifted her head slightly from the pallet.  “You have got to be kidding me.”

“Oh no, my bard.  Every word of this story is true.”

Five years into her Sabre service, Randi was tapped for what should have been a standard recon mission.  The team was made up of people she’d worked with many times in the past and felt comfortable with.  The Marine expected a routine in and out job.  What she got was anything but routine.  She should have suspected there was going to be trouble with this particular mission immediately.  Randi was abruptly awakened from the light doze she’d just fallen into by an angry muttering.  A blue eye popped open and peered at her comrade backlit by the midday glare.  “Problem, Chase?” she burred.

“YES, Goddamn it!!”  He ran a hand through sandy blonde hair.  “I’ve got the wrong fucking bag.  A raised eyebrow caused him to stumble into an explanation.  “Jess got sent out this morning too, and um... we were running late.”  He blushed slightly.  “The bags are identical, and we scooped them up literally running out the door.”  He held up some mostly practical, but still very feminine cotton underwear.  “What the hell am I supposed to do with this?”

A short, black woman sauntered into view.  She chuckled.  “Well, not what you usually do, I’ll bet.”  Brenda laughed louder as Chase flushed a deep scarlet, and she plopped down next to Randi.  “I don’t think it’s quite his color,” with another chuckle.  The male Sabre slammed the things back into his bag and stalked off muttering under his breath.  Brenda motioned at his back.  “He thinks *he’s* got it bad?  Wait til Jess finds out he has her chocolate.”  Now Randi chuckled too, knowing Jess was as fond of the treat as she herself was.  It would be ugly, and she almost felt sorry for the other team.

They ate a bite of lunch and were packed and ready to leave when Nick came running out of the woods he had disappeared into a short time before.  He didn’t even slow down as he raced by them, uttering a single word in a perfectly calm, rational tone. “Run,” he said.  Behind him lumbered the biggest black bear any of them had ever seen outside a holo chamber or a zoo.  They didn’t need any more encouragement.  The Sabre team scattered like leaves in the wind.  The bear hesitated, confused and then continued to chase Nick.  It took the unit the remainder of the day to regroup, and by then several other things had just plain gone wrong.

Tiny had managed to find the bee’s nest that the bear had been raiding before Nick had disturbed his lunch.  The bees were extremely unhappy with this second disruption to their day and set out after the big man with a vengeance.  Tiny hadn’t been a trackman his whole life for naught though, and he made it to the nearby water with only a couple stings and completely wet armor.  He faired better than Lacey had, however.  She had managed to find the water as well, but she has found the shallow end.  The shallow, muddy end that dropped right off into a mud pit.  A mud pit Lacey had to launch herself into when she heard the loud, buzzing approach of a hive of angry bees.  There wasn’t a single part of the medic left untouched by black, clinging mud.  Lacey stood when the insects gave up their hunt and glared at Tiny as he rose slowly while the water ran off him in rivulets.  He just shrugged his shoulders helplessly and began slogging his way back to shore.

Meanwhile the rest of the team was having difficulties of their own.  Brenda had shimmied up a tree, hoping the ursine mammal would not look up if he headed in her direction.  Not a bad plan really, until her handhold turned out to be a squirrel’s nest.  The squirrel was furious with the intrusion, and thinking the Sabre’s hand was a thief, preceded to take a hefty bite of the nearest finger.  Brenda bit her lip through to keep from crying out.  The back of her hand was raked by sharp, cutting claws, and it was by sheer grit alone that the Sabre managed to maintain her hold on the tree with the other hand.  Brenda adjusted her weight and sat down among the leafy foliage hidden from view, and tenderly cradled her injured hand.  She could only hope the squirrel’s scolding chatter wouldn’t draw the bear’s attention. 

Mark wasn’t so lucky with his tree experience.  In his haste to get away from the bear, he neglected to watch his step and hesitated an instant too long on a dead, rotting branch.  The wood gave way beneath him and with a smothered, inarticulate oath, he plunged earthward.  Not a long drop, but far enough that when he hit the ground he fell forward, right into Tabitha’s arms.  His momentum carried them both to the ground, and the impact drove the wind from their lungs and knocked his forehead against her cheekbone.  For long minutes all either of them could see were stars.

“Damn, Zamansky!” Tabitha pushed the larger man off of her and struggled to get up until a wave of dizziness forced her to lie back down again.  “I knew you always wanted me, but geez, you coulda at least *asked* first,” she teased him lightly.  The dark-skinned man blushed to the roots of his hair so badly Tabitha could feel the heat radiating.  “How’s your head?” she asked quietly.  She had the peculiar feeling she’d hit a sore spot, and she didn’t want to embarrass him further.

Mark lifted a hand to his throbbing head.  “It hurts.  But I don’t think it’s gonna bruise like your face will.”  He moved his hand from his head to her chin, lifting Tabitha’s face so he could get a good look at the injured area.  “Oh yeah,” he said softly.  “That is gonna be quite the shiner.”  He slowly pulled himself into a sitting position.  “I guess we’d better go find the others.”  He started to rise, but halted all movement when a pale hand covered his dark one.

“It can wait five minutes for us to be steady.  The world is still swirling for me.”

He lay back down and closed his eyes.  “A few minutes can’t hurt.”  He swallowed, absently running his fingers gingerly over the now swelling bump.  “Wonder how the rest of the team is doing?”

The rest of the team wasn’t faring too badly right at that point in time.  Of course, it took mere minutes for that fact to completely change.

Correctly figuring that the immediate danger was over, both Cam and Randi had started back to rendezvous with the unit.  Cam walked silently along, alert but chuckling to himself over the predicament Nick had inadvertently managed to place them all in.  He heard the rustling and stopped dead to listen, a move that cost him dearly.  Without any further warning, the bear’s female mate stepped from the woods, and the two foes stood within inches of each other.  She swiped a paw at him, only to find him gone.  She roared in frustration then fell to all fours and waddled back the way she had come.  Cam waited until he heard no more sound before he sat up slowly and peeked around.  It was then he noticed the foliage that had cushioned his face first landing.  “Oh shit!”

Gwen lifted up so she could turn her upper body towards Randi who still sat straddle across her hips.  “You are making this up.”

Randi shook her head and eased Gwen’s head back down to the pillows.  She spent a moment admiring the sculpted back muscles before resuming her massage and answering the accusation.   “Oh no, my bard.  Every single word of this is true.  We had to file reports on it and everything.  Even earned a unit commendation for it.”

Gwen thought about it a moment.  “That makes sense, I guess, given the handicaps you were working with by the time you actually got to the recon part of the mission.  So what happened to you?”

“Mumble, mumble, mutter, mutter.”

“I’m sorry, Gunny; I didn’t catch that.”

“You really don’t want to hear about that.  It wasn’t much of anything really.”

“Then you won’t mind sharing it.”

Broad shoulders slumped, and Randi sighed silently.  Maybe Gwen wouldn’t laugh too much.

Randi was making her way back to the spot where they’d split up, knowing it would be the first place everyone would return to for a rendezvous.   A thumping sound alerted her, but before she could move Nick strong-armed her out of his way as he sped by, the bear still on his heels.  The Marine had time to wonder what on earth the man had done to make the bear so angry before her attention turned to the bramble bushes she’d been knocked into.  Thank God for Kevlar and titanium, she thought, knowing she was well protected over most of her body.  Fortunately, he’d thrown her butt first, so her face hadn’t been affected by the briars at all.

A rustling to her left caused her to freeze and cut her eyes in the direction of the sound.  What she saw caused Randi’s eyes to widen and then close, just before the skunk sprayed a noxious fume in her direction before scampering off. 

For a long moment, the Sabre refused to breathe, knowing the scent was going to be intolerable.  When her ears began to ring from lack of oxygen, Randi drew as shallow a breath as she could manage only to find that even that tiny inhalation caused her eyes to water incessantly.  Disgusted, she untangled herself from the briar patch, snatched up her bag and headed for the rendezvous point once more.

When she stumbled into the makeshift camp, no one said a word.  But when Nick staggered in covered from head to foot in tar, the entire outfit fell to the ground in laughter.

“It took the entire next day to recover from it.  Bren got a tetanus shot for the squirrel bite; I had to sit through two hours worth of decon; Cam had time on the regen unit; and Nick ended up being shaved bald.  Mark had a real nice lump, and Tabitha’s shiner?  Well she was real glad for her turn at the regen unit.”

“I’ll bet,” Gwen muttered.  “God, why didn’t you just give up and go home?”

“Doesn’t work that way, Love.  We had a job to do.  Ya can’t just quit because a few things don’t go your way.”

“I know, but my word....”  Gwen lay there thoughtfully for a few minutes before speaking again, then her shoulders gently moved under Randi’s fingertips in laughter.  “You’re right, though.  It is pretty funny after the fact.”

“Um hmm, but now you see why I holo camp.  Sometimes predictability is a good thing.”

“Stud, if I’d ever had an adventure like that, I would never have gone camping again.”

“Well, not much choice there either, but fortunately most of the time it was simply routine.  Even those times when the unexpected happened, it usually didn’t happen to everyone all at once.”

“Thank goodness.”

“Um.”

There was silence for a time after that while Randi continued to tenderly massage Gwen’s body.  Gwen was in the twilight between sleeping and waking when a thought occurred to her.  “What happened to Chase?”

The Sabre chuckled.  “He was lucky.  I guess the gods felt his having Jess’ bag was torture enough.  He did a LOT of laundry while we were out.  But those chocolates of hers sure came in handy.  I think everyone felt better when he shared those around.”  The blue eyes shone in fond memory, and the hands slowly came to rest lightly on Gwen’s shoulders.

Gwen eased herself over; Randi lifted slightly to allow her to lie flat on her back.  Gwen smiled when Randi resettled herself lightly across her slim hips and let her hands rest on Gwen’s belly.  “What was the craziest thing you ever did as a kid?”

Twin dark brows shot into the equally dark hairline.  “What brought that on?”

“You are just so military... such a rule follower.”  She didn’t get to say anything else as the Marine burst into hysterical laughter and slipped to the ground in a boneless heap.  Gwen moved to perch on the rocking abdomen, making random patterns that were at the same time soothing, stimulating and ticklish.

“AUGH!  Stop that!  Gweeeennn!!!!”  Randi couldn’t help the squeal she emitted when Gwen’s hands hit a particularly sensitive spot.  She clamped her lips together and with a show of sheer determination sat up and grasped Gwen’s hands.  The shift in positions put Gwen firmly in Randi’s lap, and she had no trouble holding on to the small hands while she stole a sweet kiss from her lips.  Gwen managed to loosen her hands from Randi’s grip and then twine in the raven tresses.  Randi didn’t complain since her now free hands wrapped around the slim waist.  The long, leisurely exploration went on until Randi slowly pulled back and rested her forehead on Gwen’s.  “That was nice.”

“Um hmm,” Gwen agreed, “but what was so funny?”  She started shaking again as Randi convulsed in laughter once more.

“I’m sorry, Little One,” she said once she could draw a deep breath.  “The Sabres were NEVER rule followers.  We had our code, but for the most part we did whatever it took to get the job done.”  She thought for a moment.  “I don’t know that I could come up with a single crazy stunt from my childhood.  To hear my mother tell it, I was always into something.  I do remember one time though when I was about ten years old....”

“I will too,” the gangly dark haired child muttered to herself as she walked down the dirt path.  “If Tommy can do it, then so can I.”  She swung the stick she was carrying in a vicious arc.  “Papa can’t stop me.  I will ride those rapids.”

The Valiants and the Steeles had decided to observe the Celebration holiday with a long weekend at a rustic lodge quite some distance from home.  Most of the activities offered were outdoors and not things they could find in the flats where they lived.  Tommy had fallen in with a group of kids his own age and with him just entering puberty, Randi felt distinctly left out.  She’d tried to understand, but having Papa tell her that Tommy need to be with kids his own age and do things she just couldn’t do had made her very angry.  So she’d made up her mind to show them all.  She knew where the big kids had gone and now she made her way down the steep slope, careful not to do damage to the colorful flora along the banks of the river.  She stood transfixed for a long moment, staring at the rapidly swirling water, then thrust out a determined chin and went in search of a rig.

The group of kids Tommy was with had pulled to the banks to rest and eat a bit of lunch before preceding down the roughest, final part of the river.  They were talking, teasing back and forth good- naturedly when a shout went up from one of the girls in the group. Eyes wide, she simply stared and pointed.  “Shit!” Tommy cursed when he recognized the dark head paddling hard and holding on to the oar for dear life.  He jumped into his rig and noted gratefully that several of the others did the same.  Randi hadn’t uttered a sound.  Her concentration was entirely focused on the white water churning around her.  In the peripheral part of her mind, she realized she had company in the water, but it wasn’t a conscious concern.  Her entire world had narrowed to the vicious water she was swiftly approaching.

She hit the first eddy and was nearly tossed from the craft.  The next wave drenched her, and she went into a spin. The spin nearly cost her dearly as she almost lost control of the rig.  She gritted her teeth and brought the rig under control again just in time to hit the last and ugliest of the swirling eddies.  The tiny boat tilted and she threw herself to the opposite side to right it, then was forced to thrust her oar against a rock to redirect her motion.  The force of the shove snapped the oar and Randi was now forced to hang on and hope. 

Fortunately, she was through the worst of it, and Tommy and his friends were right behind her.  They guided her craft to the bank, and everyone stared at one another for a long, silent moment, then Tommy lifted Randi up in his arms while the rest of the group whooped and cheered.

“Papa didn’t know whether to be furious or proud when he found out what I’d done.  Mama was scared after the fact.  But for the rest of our vacation, I was hanging out with the big kids.”

Gwen had to smile fondly at the smugly pleased expression on Randi’s face.  “It was worth it then.”  A statement, not a question.

“It absolutely scared the piss out of me, and if I’d actually thought about it... if I had known how really dangerous that was, I might not have done it.”  Randi paused, and a rakish grin covered her face.  “But yeah, it was totally worth it.”  She slid her hands underneath the material and rubbed the soft skin of the bard’s back.  Gwen mewed softly and curled her body more inwardly towards Randi’s.  She was content to listen to the quiet sounds of happiness emerging from Gwen’s lips.  Peace reigned in the cabin.  Randi passed her lips over the blonde hair, and Gwen tilted her head up so she could look at her soulmate’s face.  Randi looked down at the sleepy green eyes filled with adoration and love for her alone and knew hers reflected the same by the slight but perceptible widening she saw of Gwen’s eyes.  It caused a smile to crease her face and got her an answering one.

“So what was the craziest thing you did as a kid?”

“I ran away from home,” came the prompt answer as though Gwen had been waiting for the question.

Dark eyes skyrocketed into an equally dark hairline, and the blue eyes widened into round saucers.  “Um, excuse me?”

“I ran away from home,” she repeated slowly.

“I heard what you said.  I even understood what you said as far as the words go at any rate.  You wanna tell me the story?”

“I tell ya what.  Let’s clean up the few dishes and crawl in bed.”

“But my marshmallows?”  It was almost a whine, and Gwen had to bite her lips to keep from laughing out loud.

“Well, you can have your marshmallows while I clean up.  It won’t take but a minute.”  She started to rise but was held in place by strong, sure hands.

“I’ll help you and then....” Randi whispered into the small pink ear right at lip level.  Gwen laughed out loud in delight.

“Oh you’re on, Stud.  And I’ll tell you tale of my life as a runaway... all six hours of it.”

Randi looked intrigued but wisely didn’t ask.  Instead she rose, lifting Gwen with her as she stood and carried them both to the kitchen area.  Laughing when she had to turn them back around to pick up their plates before returning to the kitchen.


Chapter XI

“Um, yum,” Gwen hummed in delight as she smacked her lips in appreciation.  “This was a good idea.”

Blue eyes inches from her own twinkled in delight before Randi withdrew and moved back to the fireplace, picking up her stick and adding a couple more marshmallows to the end.  “So we can do this again, huh?”

“Ummm hmmm,” came the instant, hearty agreement.  “We can do this anytime you want, Stud.”  Her figure was backlit by the firelight, and Gwen just watched the movement and flexing of muscles in sincere appreciation.  And even though her eyes followed Randi’s progress to the side of the couch, she was a bit startled by the soft, sweet touch on her lips.  Her mouth opened to accept the treat and Randi’s kiss, and she surprised Randi by wrapping her arms around her neck and deepening the embrace.  It continued for long moments before they mutually pulled away to breathe.

“Um, whoo,” Randi exhaled as she gazed into the bard’s dreamy eyes.  “What was that for?”

“Do I need a reason?”

“Uh, no, but....”

“Good.  I was just showing a little appreciation for what is mine.”

A feral glint entered the Sabre’s eyes.  “Yours, huh?”  The blonde head nodded emphatically.  “I think I like that,” Randi added, her eyes and voice softening as she dropped her lips to catch Gwen’s once more.  The stick fell to the floor with a clatter when Randi wrapped her arms more securely around the lithe body.  They moved apart again, and Randi slid partway down Gwen so she was nestled between her legs with her head resting on the firm belly.  Gwen’s hands came up to scratch the dark head gently, and Randi reciprocated by running a light stroke up the smooth arms.  After a full minute of this in silence, Randi tipped her head back awkwardly to catch Gwen’s eyes.  “So, you have a story to tell me, my little rebel?”

Gwen couldn’t help but laugh at that - both from the mischievous looking sparkling back at her and from her own, long forgotten memories.

I was seven, and you have to keep in mind the fact that for as long as I could remember, I’d been telling stories.  I could see the pictures and colors so clearly that sharing them was almost a necessity for me.  Now don’t misunderstand - Mother and Daddy never once forced me into something I didn’t want to do.  But it is hard sometimes to know you are completely different from everyone around you, especially as a kid.

A soft touch on her thigh brought her back to the present, and she glanced down to see deep blue eyes gazing back at her with compassionate understanding.  Gwen smiled and tenderly resumed the light caress on Randi scalp.  She closed her eyes in perfect contentment, and Gwen was able to continue her story.

At seven, all I wanted was to be like the other kids I saw around me. I was the youngest student in the Artists’ Guild, and most of my education was focused on developing my gift for storytelling.  Looking back, I couldn’t have asked for a better or more secure upbringing.  But living  it day after day was not always easy.  Daddy worked at home so he took me to the Guild for school every morning.  And we passed the local neighborhood school on our way where all my weekend playmates attended. 

Now for three weeks, all the kids had talked about was their upcoming field trip to the science center, and I had begged and pleaded to go with them.  So when Daddy dropped me off at the Guild that morning, I decided if I couldn’t go with them, I would go by myself.  I went to attendance and sat through class until the first break rolled around.  Then I calmly walked out the front door and headed for where I thought the science center was.  Of course, being seven and never having been on my own before, it didn’t take long before I was completely and totally lost. Not that I actually noticed it at first.  I was enthralled.  It didn’t occur to me to be scared.  I was too busy investigating the world around me in a light I had never expected to see it from.  Everything looked different, felt different, and I was having a grand old time.  Right up until I realized that not only did I not have the first clue where I was or how to get home, I also had no lunch and no money.  And I was getting hungry.

I didn’t know that Daddy had been notified the minute I left Guild property, nor did I know that the local law enforcement personnel were keeping an eye on me.  I started crying, looking around for somebody I knew, someone who could help me.  I was scared at first when the officers approached me. But Daddy had always insisted that if I ever got into trouble, the nice people in uniform would help me out. So I took each officer by a hand and walked between them down to the precinct office.  They fed me pizza and chocolate milk and then the officers who found me asked me why I was out wandering around during school hours.  So I told them.  I told them about everything I had seen and done.  Every officer in the room stopped what they were doing to listen.  I didn’t think it odd until the Captain cleared her throat and everyone went back to work when she and Daddy came in the room.  I thanked the officers nicely, and took Daddy’s hand.

Gwen stopped talking then, remembering.  Randi looked up and wondered about the peculiar smile on her face.

“Um, Gwen?  Love?” waiting until green eyes met her own.  “Whatcha thinking about?”

“Hmm, just remembering the talk Daddy and I had after my little impromptu field trip.  And the ice cream party we had with the neighborhood kids that weekend.”

Silence again for a little bit while Randi tried to find a tactful way to ask.  Finally she mentally shrugged and just asked.  “So none of those kids were your friends?” remembering a conversation they’d had several months prior.

“It’s kind of hard to explain.”  Gwen closed her eyes and offered up a short prayer for guidance.  “We were all friends in that we played together some on the weekends.  I was never excluded as far as that went.  But there was so much we couldn’t share because we didn’t go to the same school, and I had performances at least once every weekend.  A lot of times we were gone for the entire weekend.  My life was just so different from theirs that there wasn’t a whole lot we had in common, and as we got older it was more obvious.”

“I’m sorry.  That sounds....”

“I’m not,” Gwen cut in.  “What would have been the odds in us meeting if my life hadn’t happened exactly the way it did?  If I hadn’t been a bard, I wouldn’t have been at Midas the day you arrived.  Our lives crisscrossed because of who and what we are, and I wouldn’t change a thing if it meant giving that up.”  She paused and swallowed, shifting until she was resting on Randi’s chest.  “Can I be honest?”  The dark head nodded and large hands traced up the strong back, curious as to what revelation was coming.  “I knew my life was different from those around me, but most of the time I didn’t mind it.   I liked it, and I loved being able to tell stories.  It was something I needed to do even as a child.”  Randi nodded again, waiting.  “But I never realized how lonely I was, how isolated I’d become, until I met you.  You opened up the world for me.  And that was something no one had ever done before.  So you had to be my first real best friend.”

Randi focused her gazed on Gwen, and Gwen could see the faintest hint of tears in the blue eyes.  “Funny,” Randi whispered.  “You did the same for me.”                                  

Gwen slid off Randi’s body and reached a hand down to help her up.  “C’mon, Stud.  It’s been a long day, and I am tired.”  They made their way over to the big bed and crawled between the sheets with a sigh.  “God, that feels good.  What do you want to do tomorrow?”

“Well there is that social in town if you’re interested.”

“Oh yes, let’s.  I’d like to meet some of our neighbors.”

“It’s a date then.  Goodnight, Love,” and the room fell silent as the couple fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

“Oh, what a beautiful mornin’.  Oh what a beautiful day.”  The music continued as a hum as Randi kept working quietly.  The sounds floated softly around the cabin, and Gwen peeked out from the covers she found herself alone in.  Randi was moving quietly in the kitchen area, and the smells that were emanating from that direction were causing Gwen’s stomach to rumble.  She pushed the hair out of her eyes and sat up yawning.  “Good morning, Gorgeous,” Randi greeted with a big smile.  Her hair was still wet from its recent washing, and she was already dressed for the day.

“Good morning, Beautiful,” Gwen answered, giving her soulmate a peck on the lips before pushing the cover aside and standing up.  “Let me go get cleaned up.  Do I have time?”  A motion in the direction of the kitchen.  At Randi’s nod, she gathered her clothes together.  “Casual, I take it,” she added, motioning to the well-worn jeans and flannel shirt Randi wore. 

“Yep.  Everybody here likes to be comfortable first and fashionable second.”

“Thank God,” Gwen muttered as she shut the bathroom door even though it was still loud enough to be heard.  Randi just chuckled and returned to her station by the stove.

“Do we have time for a walk?  I feel the need for a bit of exercise.”

“Yep, we sure do.  We can even do some more sparring later if you want.  The social is a late morning/ early afternoon deal.  Most of the people around here hold to the old traditions and are in bed pretty early so they do their socials early as well.  Gives folks plenty of time to talk and catch up.”

“Very nice.  This is the first place I have ever been, besides the Amazon town we were in that one time that does something like this.  I think it’s intriguing.”  Gwen took the larger hand in her own.  “Now c’mon before I decide I need a nap instead.”

They walked in silence for a while; Randi guided them along a path through the thick forest of trees.  Not much snow had penetrated here, and the leaves made a carpet of sorts beneath their feet.  She turned to ask Gwen a question and was caught by the furrowed brow that cut a deep frown into Gwen’s features.  “Love?” she asked, stopping their progress and waiting for the green eyes to track to her and become focused.  “What’s wrong?”

Inexplicably a tear rolled down Gwen’s cheek, and she swiped it away hurriedly.  “This place....  Almost a memory, I think.  Another Soulmate’s story.  ”

“Not a pleasant one, huh?”

Gwen’s head shook negatively.  “No.  I... it....”

“Tell me about it.”

“But....”

“Please.  Let me help carry the burden as well as share in the joy.”

Gwen nodded, smiling her heartfelt thanks before she tugged on their joined hands.  “All right,” she agreed.  They resumed their walk and Gwen took a deep breath to start her story.

Being a spy was dangerous and exciting, and Jacques had always relished the edge he lived on.  It certainly didn’t hurt that he lived the high life as a perk of his job, and he considered himself to be lucky as well as happy.  That changed the day he met Nigel.

Their first encounter left the two men stunned by the feeling of almost intimate familiarity that washed over them as though they had known one another for years.  In point of fact, not only did they not know each other, but they had no idea they were playing at a deadly game... one that would one day cost them both very dearly. They were enemies, opposite numbers on the same playing field.  And by the time they exchanged this knowledge it was far too late.

At first they met openly at parties and soirees, establishing a connection which each hoped would help his side’s cause in the war they were engaged in.  Soon that wasn’t enough, and they began to meet a little more privately outside the social gatherings, and their causes took a back seat to the more personal bond they could feel growing between them.   

Nigel as it happened, was something of a successful playwright as part of his cover, and one evening they were set to attend the opening night to his newest production.  Jacques knocked on the door of the penthouse.  When Nigel didn’t answer it, he knocked again and called out.  When there was still no answer, Jacques turned the knob to find a nervous, half-clad playwright pacing back and forth, alternating between wringing his hands together and twisting his neckwear beyond recognition.  The dark haired man entered the room fully and hung his cloak and hat on the stand reserved for such.  Then he walked over and took the blonde’s hands in his own, chafing them lightly.  “Nervous?” Jacques asked smiling.

“Yes.  And it’s worse this time because of you.”  The blue eyes reflected profound hurt, and Jacques started to pull away.  “No, Love,” the endearment fell from Nigel’s lips unbidden.  When he realized his slip, he tried to pull back.  But Jacques held him with a gentle strength and a blinding smile.

“Love?”

Green eyes dropped to the parquet floor, and the blonde head gave a single nod.  “I’m sorry, Jacques.  You probably think me some sort of pervert but....”

Long fingers covered the soft lips and mustache.  Then they circled to lift the chin so they met eye to eye.  Jacques pulled Nigel more firmly into him, and the smaller man was able to feel just how incorrect he had been in his assumptions.   “No Beloved, not perverted at all.  Do you feel what you do to me, how hard and ready I am for you just knowing that you love me?”  Tapered fingers traced his soon-to-be lover’s lips.  “How I have longed for the courage to tell you.”  Slowly the dark head lowered until they were breathing the same air.  “I love you, Nigel.  And as soon as this play is over, I am going to spend the night showing you just how much.”

Nigel moaned at the words and drew the taller man down to meet his lips furiously, passionately.  Jacques brushed a hand over the blonde man’s nipple, and mutual groans echoed in the room at the sensations the single touch caused.  “Forget the play.  Make love to me now, Jacques.”

The temptation was almost overwhelming.  The playwright tasted so good, and he was so obviously hard and ready.  And the needful groaning so evident in his voice almost pushed Jacques right over the edge.  “No, Sweetheart.  You especially have to be there tonight.  But I promise to make it worth your wait,” and he seized Nigel’s mouth in another searing kiss. 

The play was an outstanding success, and Jacques made good on his promise.  As dawn crept over the horizon, the couple lay twined together, supremely sated and talking quietly.  “There is something you need to know, my love, before we go any farther,” Jacques spoke softly into the quiet stillness of the early morning.  Nigel was comfortably resting on his chest, running idle fingers on his torso.  The blonde man looked between them, remembering the night they had just spent together, and even now seeing Jacques’ manhood start to harden again at the light touches Nigel was lavishing on him.  “Oh, God, Nigel, please.  I can’t think when you do that.”

“Thinking is sometimes overrated, Lover,” as his hand moved strategically, and the stroking became firmer.

A large hand came up to cover the smaller one.  “Please, this is serious.”

“What is it, Handsome?” Nigel asked rolling the two of them over so that he rested half on Jacques’ body.  The blonde laid his head down and listened to the slowing rhythm of the other man’s heartbeat.  “I don’t think we can get more serious together than we have already been.”

Then Jacques started talking, and the green eyes got big and wide as understanding dawned on Nigel.  When the older man stopped talking, the blonde lay absorbing it all before taking a deep breath and answering.  “This is unbelievable,” and he began relating his tale.  When the two were finished, they lay there considering their options, realizing the trouble this could cause for them both, but not understanding the grave danger they were already in.

The next nine days were heavenly for the couple.  Even though they were apart during the daylight hours, nights found them blissfully wrapped up in one another, strengthening the love and the bond between them.  In the early morning hours of the tenth day, long before daylight crossed the sky, their world came crashing in around them.         

They were spooned around each other, having fallen to sleep a scant hour before when the door to the apartment bedroom burst open, and they found themselves separated and yanked unceremoniously from the bed.  Forced to their knees, their hands were bound, eyes covered and mouths gagged before they were drug, still naked, out the door and into the cold winter night.  The blindfolds were removed, and they could see the stage setting for their mock trial.  The clearing they were brought to was surrounded by trees, and from one of the stronger ones hung twin nooses.  *At least we will die together.*

The supercilious sneer made it easy to spot the instigator of the plot and Jacques shuddered.  It was one who had desired him and been turned down flat repeatedly, the last time only five days prior. Though they would be hanged for treason, the truth was that jealousy was the motivating factor involved in the entire scenario.

“For treason to the crown and consorting with the enemy, not to mention your obviously perverted ways, Jacques Xavier Trenchant, you are hereby condemned to death by hanging.  Do you have any last words?”  A disdainful silence met his question.  “May God have mercy on your soul.”

The horse Jacques sat on was led to one side of the tree, and the noose placed carefully around his neck.  He met the green eyes of his lover directly and honestly.  “I will wait for you, Beloved.”

“Now isn’t that just too special,” the other man mocked derisively.  “Just for that, you can watch him die first, Trenchant.”

“As an enemy of the people, Nigel Donovan Masters you are hereby sentenced to death by hanging from the neck until dead.  Do you have any last words?”

Green eyes met blue squarely and their world narrowed its focus to the two of them.  “I love you, Warrior.”

“I love you, Bard.  I’ll see you on the other side.”

“I’ll wait for you.”

Nigel was jerked unceremoniously back to reality when he was dragged to the second noose and felt the rough hemp slide over his head.                                        

“It was over in two minutes, and their bodies were left for the scavengers to find.  This grove, these trees, just reminded me of their story and the heartbreak I felt that they, WE had so little time together in that life.  How did they get caught so easily, do you suppose?”

Randi took a moment to consider, eyes suddenly lighting in a smile with remembrance.  Gwen’s forehead scrunched in confusion.  “What is that look for, Love?  It wasn’t a happy story.”

Randi took Gwen in her arms then and halted their progress.  “No, it wasn’t.  But I was actually thinking about your question and it reminded me of something.”

“Oh?”

“Um hmm.  You see, I was very good at my job and unless I wanted to be seen, I wasn’t.  But I was trapped and caught by a pair of green eyes one night and almost gave myself away.”  Gwen continued to look confused, and the Sabre chuckled.  “It was during your overseas tour.  You were at a pretty remote base, and the entire camp turned out to hear you.  I had been on a mission that turned particularly ugly, and all I could think of was that I wanted to go home.  Imagine my surprise when I found that not only could I not leave, but we were expected to attend some sort of function the commander had planned.”

A gasp.  “It WAS you.”  A shaking hand riffled the blonde hair as Gwen turned her eyes to meet Randi’s.  “We were outdoors; we had to move because they wasn’t room for everyone in the mess hall.  I had this sweater on as a matter of fact,” looking down at the article in question.  She bit her lip in thought.  “I was telling a Soulmates story....”

“Francesca and Evangeline were soulmates?” Randi asked quietly.

“You remember?”

“I remember every story you’ve ever told in my presence.”  Randi paused, seeing the stunned look on Gwen’s face.  She blushed slightly and cleared her throat.  “The first few times I heard you, I was amazed that you had so many different stories.  Most bards that I’ve heard have a limited repertoire.  You never seemed to have that problem.  The only times I heard a story more than once, it was by special request.”

The look in the blue eyes prompted Gwen to ask.  “Is there a story you want to hear again, Love?”  She moved her hand to touch the scar and was struck by how faded it now was.   It was only a brief passing thought that slipped away as her hand continued its path downward to link with Randi’s.

“I...  um, I, well, I always felt like that story was never finished.  Like it was incomplete.”

“It was... at least that night.  For one thing, parts of that tale are private for the soulmates only to share.  And honestly, when I looked up and thought I saw you looking back at me....” the blonde head shook and Gwen chuckled.  “Do you know the only times I have stumbled in a performance have been because of you?  Seeing... recognizing your eyes in the darkness caused me to lose all rational thought, and I wrapped up the story as well as I could quickly.  I tried to find you, but you disappeared.”

“I had to.  But I really liked that story.  Would you tell it to me again?  I’d like to hear it with all the parts and the real ending.” 

“We deserve a happy ever after story after Jacques and Nigel.  Let’s head back to the cabin, and I’ll tell you the story on the way.  Francesca and Evangeline was always one of my favorites.”

Randi grinned and pulled Gwen to her by their linked hands.  “Have I told you today how phenomenal I think you are?”

Gwen laughed.  “You’re so crazy, and I am crazy in love with you.”

“Oh, Sweetheart, that is very mutual.  Now c’mon.  You got a story to tell.”  Randi turned and tugged Gwen toward the small house.  Gwen froze, and the expression that crossed her face was inexplicable before her chin dropped to her chest.  Randi snapped around at the sudden stop, perplexed.  She looked at the bowed blonde head, wondering what she had missed in the scant seconds she had been turned away from the bard.  “Gwen?” she whispered, sensing the confusion flowing off her soulmate in waves.  “Love, what’s wrong?”  Tear filled green eyes met Randi’s though she could see the joy reflected in their depths.  Wondering what could have caused such a conundrum Randi spoke again hesitatingly.  “Little One?”

Gwen reached a hand up to cover Randi’s mouth, smiling when the soft lips brushed a kiss over her fingertips, then smiling broader as she felt the mouth form its own smile.  She swallowed hard twice before she was able to give voice to her emotions.  “You gave me back my stories.  You gave me back my muse.”

The warmth that flooded her being at Gwen’s joy was gratifying, but even as she enjoyed the sensation Randi answered with a slight shake of her head.  “No, Love.  This was all you.  I simply provided a willing audience.”

“No, Randi.  You don’t understand.  You’ve always given me back my muse.”  Gwen looked at their linked hands and brought them to her lips for a kiss before she resumed walking again.  Randi continued to walk beside her, content to wait as she sorted through her thoughts for the words she needed to say.  “Every time I have come to a crossroads in my life; every time I have had to struggle for the stories and fight for the words, you have always been there for me.  The first time you saved my life, and gave me a hero to focus on.  My stories took on a whole new quality, a new depth.”  A pause.  “The second time you saved my spirit.  I was so tired, so discouraged that day, but seeing you take up your burden and carrying on... it touched something in me.  Set off a spark that burned for years.”  Tears slid silently down Gwen’s cheeks even as a smile crossed her features.  “Today I realized that you have saved my soul.  Not only have you given me back my muse, but you have woven your soul into mine.  I was incomplete until we met and without meaning til we became a part of one another.  Not that I caught a clue until you were gone,” wryly.  “When you came home to me, I was whole again.  And my muse was free.  My muse is inherently wrapped up in you... in us.  You coaxed her back out to play again.  Thank you, Randi.”

“Nothing I did on purpose, Love.  And it works both ways.  You know that, right?”  She stopped a moment, lost in thought.  “We have given to each other because you certainly did the same for me and more.  Now,” said with a laugh and a tug on their linked hands. “Enough with the mushy stuff.  I wanna hear about Francesca and Evangeline.”

Gwen had to laugh just a little at the petulant voice and the tiny little pout.  Randi reminded her so much of a little child with that expression.  “C’mon, Stud.  We have a party to get ready for, and I have a story to tell you.”

************

“This is paramount, Usher.  The Master has assured me we will be successful, and this will solidify our efforts toward rebuilding.  I am trusting you with everything, my friend.”

The blonde headed man looked at the hologram of the man he considered to be a brother and nodded his head in agreement.  “Don’t worry, Bramble.  Once Valiant is taken care of, the way will be clear for us.  We will continue the work your mother started.”  He finished dressing, adding his weapons to his armor and checking things thoroughly.

“That we will, Ush,” the black haired man answered.  “We will finish her work, and the world will know chaos once more.”  Bramble sighed.  “I only wish I could be there to lead you, to take her out personally, but the Master has ordained that I remain here for now.”  His handsome features hardened and turned ugly.  “You make sure she suffers greatly, Usher.  She deserves to die painfully for all the grief she has produced... not just for me personally, but to our cause as well.”

A cold, evil smile creased the blonde’s face.  “It will be my pleasure, Bram.  She owes us, and I intend to see she pays.” He finished his final check and nodded in satisfaction.  “Wish me luck, my friend.  The time has come to extract payment from Miranda Valiant.”

“Do well, my friend.  Our time is near.”

The closing of a door was his only answer.

************

“This is so not good, ‘The.  What are we going to do?”

“Their bond is strong, Dite.  You’re gonna have to give them some credit.  You’re gonna have to give yourself some credit.  You didn’t miss with this one. They will be all right.”

“Yeah, but what will they have to endure in the meantime?”

“Keep the faith, Sister.  If we lose faith, how can we expect them to believe?  And we need them to believe in themselves and each other.  That is where their strength lies, and that is how they will overcome.”

“Ya think?”

“No. I know.  Trust me.”

************

“Excellent, my children,” the dark god chortled to the images his brown eyes beheld in the scrying bowl he was currently focused on.  “You will be the instruments to launch her final awakening, and with it will come the alliance I have waited millennia for.  Finally my time has come, and nothing, NOTHING is going to stop me.”

He continued to watch the preparations, a dark chuckle emanating from his chest.  Success was very nearly in his grasp.


Chapter XII

“It was a different time, and a different place.”

Francesca stood at the portal taking in the sight of the earth that surrounded her and sighed.  *Master of all I survey,* she thought derisively, *but what a hard fought battle to get here.*  Truth on many levels, but at least it was done now.  Peace had settled in the region for the moment, and she was free to concentrate on bringing prosperity to her clan.

A commotion caught her eye and she sighed again, wondering what sort of mischief her men were up to now.  Her army was strong and full of high-spirited men who forever needed a guiding hand to keep them in line.  Not that she herself was above temptation or having a little fun, but some behavior was simply unacceptable, and from the looks of the melee below this had the potential to turn ugly quickly.

She walked out the door and down the stairs, stepping out the door into the courtyard.  Her cloak swirled around her legs as she took a minute to absorb the late autumn sunshine before moving over to the ever-growing crowd of men.  She couldn’t make herself be heard over the catcalls and hooting, but a sharp tap on the shoulder in front of her garnered the attention she needed.  The man grumbled but stepped aside, pulling on the arm of the woman in front of him.  She jerked away until she met fierce ice blue eyes, and slowly the army moved aside to allow their leader an opportunity to view for herself the cause of the present commotion.  Francesca didn’t know whether to shout or laugh, so she schooled her features into a stoic mask, only the twinkling in the blue depths revealing her hidden mirth.  She crossed her arms over her chest, braced her long legs firmly, and regarded the latest subject of amusement.

It was a... boy? Girl? Woman?  Whatever it was, it was hard to tell underneath the tunic and trousers and the layers of dirt and grime.  It was also tiny and very defiant.  The being had golden hair with more than a hint of auburn shining in the light of the setting sun and held a staff of sorts in front of itself to keep the army from getting too close.  The voice was husky, leading Francesca to believe the individual was indeed a woman.  The warrior stepped forward, and her army by correlation stepped back a pace to give their leader room to work.  She stepped closer, careful to stay out of range of the stick and noting that the figure kept its back to the wall and its rather intense green eyes focused warily on her.  “What’s your name?”

“Why should I tell you?”

“Because calling you ‘Hey, You’ will get old real fast.”

“What’s yours?”

Francesca didn’t even try to hide her chuckle, and the army tittered behind her.  A fact that only served to increase the fire in the green eyes that faced them.  “My name is Francesca.  Now do you have a name?”

“You can call me E for now.”

Now the warrior was certain the person in question was a woman.  There was no other reason for her to hide her identity.  She decided to allow the young woman a bit of anonymity in the hopes that it would help her to relax.  “Well, it is a pleasure to meet you, E.  What brings you to my fortress?”

“It wasn’t of my own free will, I assure ya.”

“OH?”  A single syllable and an arched brow as she looked around the camp, and everyone felt the temperature drop.  Francesca turned her gaze back to the small person now watching her with a look of almost awe.  “Point out who brought you here.”

E took a breath and raised her hand, but before she could open her mouth to speak a young man stepped forward.  “It was me, Mistress.  We was only havin’ a bit o’ fun.  Honest.”  His eyes dropped to the ground as the warrior’s stare pierced him.  “This one,” with an offhanded motion toward the smaller woman, “stumbled into the guard post, then wouldn’t tell us nothin’ about herself.  We figured her for a spy so we brought her here.  Now she says she’s a bard.”

“Did they hurt you?”

E was caught off guard by the swift change in subject and had to stop and think about the question before she answered.  “No, not really.  I wasn’t particularly cooperative.”  There was almost a twinkle of mischief peeking out of her eyes, and Francesca couldn’t help the slight response in her own.

“Are you a storyteller, truly?”

“Yes, I truly am.  My name is Evangeline.”

“Well, Evangeline,” rolling the name off her tongue smoothly.  “Why don’t you come with me?”  She looked around the encampment once more and raised her voice.  “I believe the rest of you have chores that need finishin’.  Get to ‘em.  Maybe if we ask nicely, our guest will give us a story after the meal.”  A roar of approval greeted this statement, and the army quickly dispersed to wrap up its work for the night.  Francesca turned back to Evangeline who was regarding her with still wary eyes.  The warrior noted that the woman hadn’t dropped the staff or her defensive stance and raised an eyebrow in question.  “You coming with me?”

“Why?”  There was obvious hesitation, and Francesca had to wonder what lay behind it.

“I just thought you might like a bath, some clean clothes.”  The staff lowered slightly, but Evangeline didn’t move.  “Look, you’re free to leave.  But you’re free to stay as well.  It’s your choice.”

The staff came down completely.  “Why are you being so nice to me?”  The voice grew suspicious.  “What do you want?”

“Not a thing,” Francesca answered, extending her hand.  “The choice is yours, but it would be nice to have another friend.”  Then she stood patiently waiting for the golden haired woman to make her decision.

Evangeline stared into mesmerizing blue eyes for a very long moment gauging the sincerity plainly displayed for her to read.  She reached out a hand and lightly clasped that of her benefactor, a small smile creasing her face.

“Thank you,” she whispered.  “A bath sounds *really* good right about now.”

The warrior gave the storyteller the once over and chuckled.  “I’ll just bet.”

“Yeah, you wouldn’t believe the story if I told ya.”

“I dunno... try me.”

The bard hesitated, then shrugged lightly as they made their way across the camp.  “It started out fairly simply....”

The days became increasingly shorter as the cold established itself and the army settled down to endure the harshness of winter.  Evangeline had become a welcome addition to the camp, spending time every day teaching the fighters to read and write.  Her evenings, most of them, were spent in the telling of tales.  Two nights were devoted to music and dancing, and one night was a night of rest for everyone. 

She and Francesca started sharing quarters as a matter of course.  Her first night in the compound, she was given a room in the fortress close to the warrior’s, but they had gone into Francesca’s room to talk. They had fallen asleep together... one on the low couch and the other on the bed.  This pattern continued for several weeks until one night Evangeline fell asleep sitting on the bed.  Francesca didn’t have the heart to wake her so she moved to the couch.  Only to discover that it was much too short for her tall frame.  After a couple hours of fitful tossing and turning, a grumpy warrior returned to her bed and climbed in, sighing in utter relief at being able to stretch out comfortably.  She turned over, almost asleep when she felt the warmth of the storyteller curl up around her.  She smiled and drifted off into deeper sleep.

As the months passed, everyone watched and noticed the transformation that was taking place between the two.  No one said a word, but in the cold and dark of winter it was one of the few bright spots and seeing the two of them fall in love was simply a beautiful experience.  Their nightly conversations were about anything and everything that came to mind.  Their touches were subtle, tentative until they fell into sleep.  Then they curled around each other and became one in body, mind and soul.

Warmth during the day signaled the coming of spring though the fierce cold at night made it clear that winter was not yet ready to release its grasp on the land.  As yet, neither woman had made a move to officially acknowledge their feelings or intentions toward the other.  Then came an evening when the issue was pushed to the fore of their awareness.

It was technically the Spring Equinox, and the compound was celebrating with a day-long party even though there was still snow in many places on the ground.  As darkness drew nearer, the evening feast was laid out, and the musicians began tuning up for dancing.  The clan had taken the opportunity to change into its finery, and slowly people began to emerge from their homes dressed in their very best.  This was a night when intentions were declared and couples were promised.

Francesca stepped from her room, glancing over at Evangeline’s room briefly before descending the stairs and exiting into the torch lit compound.  The warrior gazed around in satisfaction.  There were signs of new life in their community.  Several couples stood together waiting to be officially recognized as such.  The food was plentiful and people were happy, looking forward to the coming growing season.  Francesca glanced down at herself and felt the flutter of butterflies in the stomach.  She had decided to declare herself to Evangeline and nervously twitched her sleeves.  Dark trousers were neatly tucked into polished, knee-high boots, whose color matched the belt tied around the bright blue tunic.  Many of the older members of the community looked at her with knowing eyes, and she couldn’t help the flush that slowly crawled up her face.  Instead she smoothed her braid and smiled self-consciously, then began to make her way around the complex.

She felt rather than saw Evangeline step from the shadows and into the light. It was as if the whole world held its breath, waiting for them to see one another.  When the warrior turned, she stood stunned for an endless moment.  The bard also wore dark trousers and knee high boots, but her shirt was a deep green that reflected her eyes and brought out the red highlights in her blonde hair.  Francesca moved to take a step forward when one of the biggest, meanest guys in her army stepped toward Evangeline and offered her his arm.  The bard hesitated and looked to the warrior imploringly.

The man lost his smile when Evangeline didn’t accept the proffered arm immediately, and he reached out his hand instead to grab her.  The army started exchanging money on bets as to how long exactly Francesca would let the imbecile live.  That sort of behavior had never been tolerated before, and the claim the two had on one another was unmistakable.

The warrior’s hand on the man’s wrist stopped all movement, and he turned an outraged look in her direction.  “What t’ ‘ell?” but he never got to finish his sentence as Francesca hit a pressure point in his wrist that sent him kneeling to the ground.

“She is mine, Milo, and you would do well to remember that.” She didn’t need to look to see the flush rising up the bard’s fair cheeks to match the one rising up her own.  “Heart to heart, body to body, soul to soul.  We are destined.  Do you understand?”

“T’aint right.  She deserves a man....”  His voice became a squeak as the warrior’s other hand reached up and wrapped around is throat.

“You will not speak of her so disrespectfully.  She has the right to choose.”

He reached for it but screamed as the bone in his wrist was snapped twice.  Francesca pulled the knife from his other hand and bared her teeth at him fiercely.  “You have ten minutes to be out of this fortress and out of my sight.  After that, I will kill you.”

“You wouldn’t.”

“Try me.”

She dropped his wrist hard, and he screamed in agony again.  The warrior stood and dusted off her hands before turning to Evangeline.  She didn’t need to see the widening of the green eyes to know that Milo was going to be stupid.  Almost lazily she turned and caught the blade and twisted it into his gut.  He looked at her in sheer surprise before dropping dead to the ground. Without waiting for a signal, two men from the army immediately moved forward and removed the body from the compound. Francesca started to move away from Evangeline as much to escape the disgust she feared to see in the bard’s eyes as to wash the red, sticky warmth from her hands.  A light touch on her arm halted her progress before she’d moved a foot.

“I’m sorry you had to do that, but thank you,” the blonde whispered.  “I’d tried to tell him before to let me be, but he just didn’t seem to be able to take a hint.”

“He’s bothered you before?”

“Um hmm.  Usually one of the other soldiers got him away from me, but he seemed to think he had some sort of rights.”  She grabbed a towel from the table as they walked by and drew a bucket of fresh water from the well. Francesca tried to take over that chore, but Evangeline shook her head and poured the cold water into the basin one of the matrons had brought over.  The older woman clapped Francesca on the shoulder in sympathy, then left the two of them in peace.  The rest of the community moved a respectable distance away though their attention remained focused on the pair.  The bard lifted one of Francesca’s hands and gently began to wash the blood away.  She felt the disquiet growing within the warrior’s soul and waited silently for the leader to speak.  She finished washing the first hand and picked up the second.

“I’m sorry you had to see that.  I wanted tonight to be so special for you.”  The strangled whisper was so soft Evangeline could barely make out the spoken words.  Deliberately she carefully dried the large hand and then her own.  Then she cupped Francesca’s face in her hands and forced the blue eyes to meet green unflinchingly.

Francesca leaned into the touch, greedily absorbing the warmth and love she felt flowing from the bard.  “I’m not,” came the strong response.  “That makes tonight even more special for me.”  Evangeline move one hand to cover the warrior’s lips with her fingers while the bard tried to explain.  “I didn’t want to see you have to do that, but to know that you value what we share so greatly, so fiercely....”  She shook her head.  “I have no words for how that made me feel.  Except....”  She fell to one knee and clasped Francesca’s hands in her own.  Evangeline focused on their hands, finding the strength and the delicateness fascinating.  She raised Francesca’s hands to her lips and brushed the fingertips lightly with her lips.  “Join with me, Cesca.  Marry me.”  

The warrior for her part sat stunned by the turn of events.  The night was not going anything like she’d planned so far. The silence extended for so long that Evangeline took it for her answer and dropped Francesca’s hands and moved to stand.  The rejection was making the bile rise in her throat, and her singular thought was to get away and be sick somewhere in private.  Only to find the world spinning when she was lifted up and spun in strong warrior arms before landing in a warm warrior lap.  Large hands tangled in blonde hair as they gazed at one another before two sets of lips met in love and passion.  Softly at first, barely touching, then deeper until not even a breath of air could slip between them.  The kiss went on interminably before the two separated to breathe, and even then they simply pulled apart a hairsbreadth, their lips still touching.

“Does this mean yes?”

“You are the air that I breathe and the nourishment that sustains my being.  Your soul is the completion of mine.  Yes, my love, this mean yes.”  Their lips met again, and this time a cheer rose from the entire community that stood by watching the tableau.  Their chuckling broke the kiss.  Francesca decided to take the lead this time.  “In my family there has been a legend which we have waited for several generations to see fulfilled.”  She dropped her gaze and pulled a heavy chain from beneath her tunic.  The warrior lifted the necklace over her head and cupped it in her closed fist before raising blue eyes back to meet intense green.  “I know that our tradition calls for the exchange of wedding bracelets.  But the legend says....”

“That when the soulmates are reunited, they have the rings to exchange one with another.”  The bard reached into her own shirt and withdrew the token she’d hidden there.  Evangeline laid it gently on her open palm, trusting Francesca to hold her steadily on her lap.  “I am so glad to have found you again, Beloved.  My soul has missed you.”

“And mine you,” Francesca answered softly.  She removed the ring from the chain and lifted the bard’s left hand, tenderly sliding the ring into place.  “As the sand is to the ocean and the trees are to the forest so our souls are two parts of the same whole.  For today... for tomorrow... forever.”

“Always, Cesca. I love you.”  The warrior didn’t answer audibly, merely resuming their kiss with a fervent passion.  Evangeline kept up the kiss until the ring now clenched in her hand began to imprint her palm.  Still she drew back slowly, gently teasing Francesca with a soft tracing of the warrior’s lips with her tongue.  The brunette whimpered and tightened her grip around the bard’s slim waist.  Evangeline kissed up the smooth jawline until she reached Francesca’s ear.  “I know we can’t make this formal in front of everyone until the harvest, but between us tonight, right here and right now, I pledge to you all that I am and all that I become.  We are forever.”

The warrior felt the ring slide onto her finger, but her attention was focused on the tingles running up and down her spine as a warm tongue and hot breath simultaneously caressed her sensitive ear.  She felt the moan resonating from her chest and knew if she didn’t put an immediate end to the sweet torture, she would take Evangeline to bed now and to hell itself with tradition.  Francesca firmly grasped the bard’s face and drew their lips together for a brief fiery moment.  “C’mon, Love,” she said huskily when they parted.  “Let’s get this party started.”

They moved to the center of the square, blushing under the knowing cheers and stares.  Francesca signaled the musicians, and the dancing and celebrating began in earnest.  No one was surprised when after the feasting was started that Francesca and Evangeline were nowhere to be found.  It was common for promised couples to disappear sometime during the festivities to consummate the private pledges they had exchanged.

The warrior led her bard slowly up the stairs to what had over time become their room.  No words were necessary between them as they communicated by looks and touches alone.  Francesca unlaced the smaller woman’s tunic, taking her sweet time and raining kisses on each bit of skin as it was exposed to her eyes.  When she pushed the shirt to the floor, the warrior gazed reverently upon her lover and breathed, “So beautiful.”  Her hands lightly traced up the exposed torso and cradled Evangeline’s face.

The bard drew in a shaky breath and raised her own hands to loosen the ties on Francesca’s overshirt.  She eased the fabric off strong shoulders, then traced with her fingertips the path her eyes took up the muscled torso.  Evangeline felt the warrior’s breathing go erratic when her touch lingered on Francesca’s breasts.  Hazy green eyes lifted to meet smoky blue and then the warrior lowered her head to claim Evangeline’s lips fervently. 

The kiss went on interminably, and Francesca guided them toward the big bed they had shared for months in loving companionship and were now ready to share in passionate love.  Without understanding exactly how it happened, the bard found herself naked lying beneath an equally naked, ardent warrior.  Then thought and reason left the room as they became one in body and in soul and in spirit.

Spring became summer and soon autumn was upon them.  As the harvest festival approached, Francesca and Evangeline made their final preparations to exchange their vows publicly.  The night before the celebration, they were cuddled up together in front of the fireplace basking in their union.

“It strikes me as funny,” Evangeline commented softly.

The dark head bent slightly to catch the bard’s words.  “What does, Beloved?”

Evangeline snuggled deeper into Francesca’s embrace, and the warrior obliged by holding her tighter.  “This,” gesturing between the two of them, “and tomorrow.  Tomorrow we stand before the community and make pledges and promises they already know.”

The warrior’s grip loosened slightly, and she pulled away just a bit.  “Do you not want to marry me now?”  Hurt was plainly evident in her tone.

The blonde head swiveled and startled green eyes met wounded blue.  Evangeline turned her entire body in Francesca’s arms until she was straddled across the warrior’s lap.  “Oh no, beloved.  You don’t get away from me that easily.  I was just laughing at the irony of repeating aloud some of our most private and intimate thoughts so our friends can be told something most of them recognized before we did.”  She cupped the planed face and brushed her lips lightly across Francesca’s.  “I would shout it from the mountaintops daily if I didn’t think it would get me locked up for madness.”

The warrior had to smile at the sentiment.  She had little doubt the bard would make good on her threat if given half an opportunity.  “Well, we’re not repeating the private and intimate stuff.  There are some things a leader and her consort do not have to share.  They know that we love and are committed to one another.  That is enough.  The rest is for us alone.”

“I can agree with that.” 

Harvest festival dawned as a clear, cool day, and the morning was taken with games and competitions.  Shortly before noon, the cantor who served as their holy man stepped forward to bless the meal and offer thanks for the abundance.  Then he did something surprising only to Francesca and Evangeline.

“Lady,” bowing his head to the bard.  “Mistress,” saluting the warrior and bowing his head to her in turn.  “We had a meeting last night, the community did, and we took a vote.  It has been talked about between us since the spring, but last night we made it official.”  He removed a square cloth wrapping, and opened it to reveal two simple gold bands.  The cleric turned to the nearest among them, and placed the package in his hands, lifting the larger of the two rings.  Reaching up, he placed it on Francesca’s dark head.  “By the power vested in me by this new nation, I hereby declare you sovereign ruler and protector of all we are and all that we possess.  From this day forth, you are the monarch, Queen Francesca.”

The warrior stood stock-still, unable to respond.  The warm clasp of Evangeline taking her hand brought her out of her sudden shock and caused her to focus on her beloved.  The love and pride she saw swelling in the gentle green eyes caused her to return the smile before turning her attention to her new subjects.  “Queen?  Are you sure about this, Rodrigo?”  She looked at the sea of happy expectant faces.  “I am just a hack fighter.”

“Not so, my Queen.  You are a formidable leader, and one we are proud to follow.  Allow us to honor you the most fitting way we can see how.”

The raven head bowed in a gesture of humility, then she raised it up, standing tall while she met the gaze of each and every individual in the compound.  The air was charged and the change that came over them all was palpable.  Finally the warrior nodded her agreement.  “I accept the tribute and will do my best for you all.”

A cheer rose then and it wasn’t until quiet reigned again that Rodrigo spoke.  “Now, my lady,” nodding to Evangeline, “before I can make you the Queen’s Queen, I need to marry you.”  He paused, thinking how odd that sounded.  “To each other, I mean,” he clarified.  A chuckle rippled through the crowd at his discomfiture.  <Ahem>  “So if you will join hands....”          

The first ten years were a struggle as nearby provinces wanted to challenge the Queen and her community.  But gradually, through much fighting, peace and prosperity settled in the tiny queendom, and people began to seek it out as a place to live in harmony with those around them.  The hamlet grew a reputation for fairness and acceptance, and it grew steadily as the years passed.

Evangeline was exceedingly happy to see peace come to the land.  She’d held her heart in her throat every time Francesca would leave, hardly daring to breathe until her warrior had returned safe and whole to her once more.  Several times the bard had accompanied Francesca, but each and every time the warrior was seriously injured.  Evangeline took it as a sign and stayed behind to wait.  She more than anyone was glad to see the fighting come to an end.    

“We have been very lucky,” the Queen said to her consort on the eve of their thirtieth anniversary.  “I think it is right that it ends this way.”

“Are you sure, Beloved?  You know the people would love to see you remain their Queen.”

“Us, you mean,” Francesca chuckled.  Her hair was an iron gray, but time had not dimmed her eyes nor stooped her back.  She gazed lovingly at the woman with whom she’d shared her life.  Evangeline was still a beautiful woman.  Though her hair was pure white, her eyes still twinkled merrily at the life that surrounded her.  “No, it is time for Petrinko to learn to be a king in his own right.  Our nephew is a wise man.  He will do well.  Besides, I grow weary of this.  I want our remaining time to be for us alone.”  The two had made the decision very early in their life together that they would not have children.  Neither wanted to share themselves or their lover with another.  So they watched their siblings’ children closely to choose an heir.  Everyone seemed pleased with their choice though none were anxious to see Francesca or Evangeline step down.

The celebration and coronation went beautifully, and the two Queen mums were happy to have more time for themselves and each other.  For the better part of a year they watched, growing more confident that they had done well in their choosing.  As harvest approached yet again, Evangeline took Francesca’s hand in her own, and they looked out into the star-filled night.

“I think it is time, Beloved.”

The warrior looked down into the bard’s eyes, seeing the pain and weariness they held.  She took Evangeline in her arms and gently kissed the top of her head.  “I think you’re right, Sweet One.  Come.”

Francesca led them to the big bed that they had shared for almost thirty-two years.  In an intimate ritual they had always shared, Francesca gently lifted the gold circlet Evangeline wore from her head and placed it on their bedside table.  The warrior bent slightly to allow Evangeline to do the same for her.  *We must have known,* the Queen pondered as they rarely wore the crowns anymore except on formal occasions.  They turned the covers on the bed down and Francesca climbed in first, situating herself before Evangeline crawled in next to her and snuggled up closely.  A gentle tugging pulled the bard up to her, and they indulged themselves in a final, lingering passionate kiss.

“I love you, Warrior,” the bard murmured when they parted.  “We have had a good life.”

“Yes, we have my bard, and I love you too.”  Francesca kissed Evangeline’s forehead and tucked the white head beneath her chin.  “Sleep now.  We have earned our rest.”

“It was customary for Petrinko to wake his aunts on special occasions, and he found them wrapped up in one another’s arms when he went in the following morning to wake them for the harvest festival.  Though sad for his own loss and that of his people, he couldn’t help but smile at the picture they made together still and for the last time.”

Randi was silent for a long time, and Gwen let her be, seeing the faraway look in her eyes.  She cradled the dark head beneath her chin and kissed the top.

“That is what I want,” came the words whispered so lightly Gwen only felt the barest of sound.

“Hmm?”  Gwen asked, tenderly stroking the silky hair.  She leaned her head down slightly to catch Randi’s words.

“When our time comes,” Randi said softly, “that is what I want for us. I want us to lie down and go to sleep together.”

Gwen lifted her soulmate’s chin and caught Randi’s lips in a fiery lip lock.  “When our times comes, we will go together.  But that is going to be a long, LONG time in coming, Love.  We have a lifetime to share first.”

Randi reached around and drew Gwen into an engulfing embrace, holding on tightly and finding it returned in equal measure.  “We sure do, Little One.  We sure do.  Now,” taking a deep breath and wiping her cheeks negligently with her sleeve, “I think we have a party to go to.  Let’s go meet the neighbors.”

Gwen extended her hand.  “Good idea, Stud.”

The ride into town was short and uneventful.  They were not the first to arrive, but they were by no means the last either.  They took off their coats and set them aside and began to walk around the room.  Randi was familiar with almost everyone, and she took great delight in introducing her bard to people that she considered good neighbors and acquaintances.  Slowly people filtered in and by early afternoon the building was filled with bodies chatting, laughing and having a good time together.  When Sky Connecah, the town’s chieftain stood, everyone drew quiet in deference to his position and waited for him to offer the ritual blessing.

“Great Spirit, giver of life and all that sustains us, we come together today with grateful hearts and joy in the company we find with one another.”  Piercing black eyes looked at the members of the community gathered around, and his face creased into a smile.  Gwen wondered at the hint of familiarity she saw in his gaze as he held hers.  “Thank you for new friends as well as old and the fellowship we share.”  He paused then chuckled.  “Let’s eat.”  Good-natured laughter broke out this pronouncement, and folks began to ease towards the food-laden tables even as conversation quietly resumed.  The chieftain made his way slowly to where the bard and warrior still sat, greeting people along the way.  Finally he stood before the couple and involuntarily drew a deep breath.  “It is no wonder she needs shields,” he muttered even as he reached a hand out to clasp Randi’s own.  She raised an eyebrow in question at the older man.

“Excuse me?”

Sky shook his dark head.  “Introduce me to your soul’s half, Ravenhawk.  Then I will try to remove the foot from my mouth.”

Both women blushed lightly at his phrasing.  The soul bond they shared was certainly not common knowledge, nor was it something they shared with people.  Randi’s mind ran on a double track even as she introduced the bard.  “Sky, this beautiful woman is my beloved Gwen.”  She wrapped an arm around the bard and pulled her close.  “Gwen, this is Screaming Sky Connecah, the tribal chieftain among other things.”  She turned a hard blue stare at the man.  “You wanna explain that remark now?”

“Um, no, not really,” he mumbled then swallowed when her features began to harden.  “But I will.  I owe you the courtesy.”  She nodded and motioned him to take a seat.  He joined them, helping himself to a cup of coffee from the carafe that sat on the table.

“Can I ask a question first?” Gwen queried softly.  Sky nodded his head.  “Um, Ravenhawk?” looking between the two warriors.

The chieftain smiled.  “It is what my people call your warrior.  Raven for the color of the night she is forced to hunt in, and hawk for the hunter she is.”

The bard looked at Randi confused.  “But....”

“No, Gwen, Ravenhawk has never told us that much about herself.  Her name comes from what we can see about her.”  He waited for the knowledge to sink in.

“You’re a seer?” from Randi.

“Yes, Warrior.  All my people are seers to some degree.  For most of us, it is a dormant skill... something we rarely use.  Occasionally, an aura will be so strong that it pushes its way into our awareness.  Yours does because together it is blindingly powerful.  Still for most of us, it is just a tangible sense of what is between you.”  He paused and took a swallow of coffee.  “The strongest of us though, can feel the strength of your bonding like....”

“... like raw energy running through your veins.”  Gwen paused and looked at Randi.  “Reed is a seer.”  She turned back to Sky.  “Reed is part of your tribe?”

“Yes, she is.  She is the most gifted among us; one of the most gifted my tribe has ever known.”

“But....” Randi put her head in her hands. Her thoughts were of her private paradise slipping away.  Sky stopped her by raising his hands.

“She has known about your place here since the first time you came.  We project a distinctive aura as well, and she recognized it when you went back.  You never brought it up, and she respected your privacy enough to let it lie.”  He hesitated.  “She did contact me and asked me to keep an eye on you.” He smiled at the raised eyebrow.  “It was honest concern, warrior.  She never explained more than that.  I respected her gift enough to do that.  Then I met you and did it for you.”

“I... I, um....”

The chieftain patted her hand.  “You do not have to explain, Ravenhawk.  Whatever darkness you were a part of was never your own doing.  It made us feel a part of the fight to watch out for you when you were here.”  He crinkled his brow as a shadow crossed his awareness.

“Sky?” the Sabre asked in concern.  He studied her then, noting for the first time the thin, almost invisible line of the faded scar.  He reached a hand out to her chin and turned her head slightly to get a better look at it.  She pulled away when he tried to touch it.  “No,” was all she said, but he respected the firmness of her tone and withdrew the contact. 

Sky folded his hands together in front of him and gazed unseeing at the tabletop.  The flash of images he had briefly seen had left him shaken.  Finally black eyes looked up and held ice blue.  “I am afraid for you, my friend.  There is a darkness coming that you can neither contain nor control.”  He looked at Gwen who was studying him seriously.  “You are the key.  Remember that.  You are the key.”  Without another word he rose and moved away from them, needing a bit of space to collect himself.

The two sat quietly for a long moment before Gwen took a deep breath.  “Well, that was interesting,” risking a glance at Randi, whose face had gone quite still.  “Love?”

Without looking at Gwen, the Sabre said softly.  “I think I need a minute... if you’ll excuse me.”  And she was up and out the door before Gwen had a good grip on the words she had spoken.  Then Gwen’s face hardened and she went in search of Chief Screaming Sky Connecah.

Randi shivered at the cold air that blew across her face when she stepped out the door.  Her jacket lay forgotten in the building, and she wasn’t prepared to go back inside to retrieve it.  She stuck her hands in her pockets and stomped her feet, then took off purposefully down the road toward the barn.

Meanwhile Gwen had cornered Sky and brought him back to the table to explain a few things.  She had a warrior to console, but she needed to understand the damage he had done.  He didn’t strike her as the malicious type, but she wanted to know where his words had come from.  “You want to start at the beginning?  Because I really don’t appreciate what you did to Randi.”

“I probably could have been more tactful in my wording, but you needed to both be aware of what is coming.”  He looked at her with his dark eyes.

“What is coming?” she asked in a whisper.  “And why can you see it if you aren’t a strong enough seer to feel the bond?” direct and to the point.  He smiled.  If Gwen was this forthright with everyone, Randi had no chance to fall to the darkness.


Chapter XIII 

Lancelot stood majestically still while Randi drew the currycomb through his mane.  She didn’t speak out loud, but she didn’t need to.  He understood her agitation.  Her slow, measured strokes were a complete antithesis to the chaos that presently reigned in her mind.  She replaced the comb with the brush and gently began to groom the stallion’s sides. She forced the words and the subsequent emotions they caused from her mind, and slowly concentrated solely on the task before her.  Gradually she reached a meditative center and felt herself calm and focus.  Randi put the brush down and took the long face in her hands.  “Thanks, Lance,” she whispered, dropping a light kiss on his nose.  She lifted an apple from the nearby treat barrel and held it still while he lipped it from her palm.  “You’re a good friend.”

The Marine stopped at the door.  The eerie silence caused a prickling to run up her spine and her hair to stand on end.  There was no sound... none.  Even the natural sounds were gone save the slight whistle of the wind.  Blue eyes darkened to black, and she was peripherally aware of the scar burning even as the red wash of rage coursed through her veins.  Gone was the loving, tender soulmate of Gwen Goldman.  In her place stood the deadly Sabre Miranda Valiant.  She slipped easily into the role she had played countless times before, and without a whisper of sound blended into her surroundings and disappeared from sight.

************

“So because you had ample time to get the shields in place....” Gwen let the thought drift off.  The older man nodded his head.

“Yes, that and the fact that my strength lies in a different direction.  You see, Reed is an exception in that her gifting is equally strong in all areas.  She feels the bonding; she can separate truth from lies; and she can see glimpses into the future.  Most of us only have a single gift, and even then it is not always strong.”  He paused and took a sip of coffee.  “When Ravenhawk came home to you, Reed alerted us to prepare.  It was a warning we heeded seriously.”

Gwen folded her hands though Sky could easily see her tension in the white knuckles, and she moved the clenched fist up to her lips.  She took a deep breath before resting her chin on her hands and speaking.  “What did you see, Sky?  What made you say such a thing to her?”

“Nothing tangible that I can put into words actually.  Fleeting impressions.”

“And for this you had to upset her??”  Green eyes blazed furiously.  Her tirade never got any further.  Compelling black eyes met and held Gwen’s.

“Let me show you what I saw.”  He held out his hands, palm side up and waited patiently for Gwen to decide to trust him... or not.  She gazed at him for long moments before sliding her hands into his.  His eyes locked onto hers, and without warning her mind was filled with images and emotions she could not readily identify nor understand.  In the space of seconds, hundreds of impressions left their mark, but it would be a while before she could sort through and begin to make sense of everything.  He smiled sympathetically at her shell-shocked expression.  “It took years of training before I could separate and understand what I saw.  Don’t try to analyze it too much.  It will become clear to you in time.”

The blonde head nodded numbly.  “Still there is clearly a feeling of coming darkness.  I see why you warned Randi about it and I....”

Whatever else she was going to say was lost in the cacophony of noise that erupted just outside the restaurant.  “SEAL IT!” was the shouted command before the sound of lasers and rapid-fire ricochets echoed along the small street.

Randi stood in the shadows as the sound of multiple transports reached her sensitive ears.  “SEAL IT,” she heard before all hell broke loose.  The few people who were wandering the street were immediately slaughtered before the small force began to spread out to lock up the town.

The first rebel walked by the Sabre unaware.  She let the woman slip past her, then Randi silently stepped up behind her and casually snapped her neck.  The woman slid from her grasp to the ground, and the warrior promptly relieved the body of the tools she needed.  Then Randi merged into the shadows, searching intently for her next victim.  She counted a dozen, less the one already dead.  She briefly wondered about their objective before slipping a knife between the ribs of the young man she had crept up on.  He fell with very little sound, and she moved him deeper into the building where he wouldn’t be found easily.  The next soldier actually gurgled at the end as the knife sliced neatly across his neck.  Two more met their demise almost simultaneously.  The twin shuriken sliced deep into the right eye of one, and the left eye of the other.

With almost half the rebel force now decimated, Randi’s attention turned as a commotion broke out at the restaurant.  The entire rest of the town was being herded into street.  A smug grin crossed her face briefly as the Sabre noted the lines of worry that crossed the apparent leader’s face.  He motioned two of his remaining team to circle around the perimeter and locate the missing team members.  Then her features went still and hard when she caught the feeling of Gwen’s fear.

“I want to know where Miranda Valiant is,” the blonde man stated quite matter-of-factly.  “Exactly where Miranda Valiant is.  No reason for anyone to die needlessly.  I know she is in this area somewhere.”  Randi kept an eye on him even as she raised the blowgun to her lips and shot the first dart at the woman fast approaching her position.  The rebel reached for the stinging spot on her neck, even as she dropped dead in her tracks.  Dark brows rose to her hairline as the Sabre pondered the poison the rebels were using.  They had come prepared for slaughter, which didn’t ring true with the leader’s recent words.  She blew a second dart at the other woman still some distance away.  Randi jumped silently from her hiding place before the second woman hit the ground.  “Either you can give her up, or I will kill you one by one until you do,” the man called Usher stated.

“We don’t know where she is,” a little old lady said bravely.  “We haven’t seen her.”

“Well, that is just a damn shame,” he answered nonchalantly while wrapping his hands around her slim throat.  A twist and the woman slumped bonelessly to the ground.  He looked around, a little surprised to note a lack of fear on the faces that surrounded him.  Interesting.  “Who’ll be next?”

Randi’s rage grew exponentially as she watched Nanny fall to the ground.  The older woman had been the first to welcome her into the community and had always had a pleasant word anytime Randi had come into town.  When Usher reached out towards Gwen and Chief Screaming Sky, the Sabre went on autopilot and became a bona fide killing machine.  The first two of the remaining five died when swift kicks to the neck crushed their windpipes.  The next never saw the blow that sent a bone from his nose up into his brain, and the pressure points she hit on the eleventh rebel caused him to fall over gasping for air.  She had to wonder at the poor planning involved in this little raid.  The blonde leader had no idea his little force now lay dead around the perimeter of townsfolk.

“Well now,” Usher drawled.  “What do we have here?”  He grabbed Sky by the scruff of the neck and yanked him forward.  The heirloom necklace around the chieftain’s throat came off in pieces, and Usher threw it to the ground.  “Tell me, old man... where can I find Miranda Valiant?”  He closed his hand around Sky’s neck and slowly began to squeeze the life from his lungs.  “It doesn’t matter to me if you all choose to die.  You see,” he continued conversationally as Sky’s face went a deep red.  “You people are unimportant in the grand scheme of things.  You are merely pawns in a larger game.”  Sky’s face began to turn purple.  “And ultimately, your deaths will rest on Valiant’s shoulders.”

Usher never noticed that during his speech a ripple in the crowd had caused the people to edge away from him, and he and Sky were left standing basically alone.  Randi had edged her way into the congregation, and the sight of her hard, set face and blood covered clothing caused them to pass her through their midst easily.  Simultaneously they eased back, understanding that their champion was far more dangerous than her foes.  No one realized the deadly damage she had already perpetrated until much, much later.

Gwen gasped when Randi stepped into the inner circle... an involuntary reaction to the transformation she could clearly see written on Randi’s visage.  She clasped her hands to her lips to contain the sound, but it was too late.  Usher’s attention focused on her.

He dropped Sky, and the old man lay on the ground gasping for air.  Randi didn’t even slow down but reached the rebel just as he touched Gwen.  He didn’t even have time to process the thought that he was going to die before the blade entered his stomach.  Usher looked into cold dead eyes, and understood in that moment that he had been set up and wondered why.  Then it didn’t matter as she jerked the knife upwards, and he scrambled to catch the innards that were suddenly spilling on the ground around him.  He fell to his knees, dead before he hit the ground.

Randi looked up then, black eyes meeting green even as a wash of confusion caused them to return to their normal brilliant blue.  Almost immediately Randi grabbed her head and screamed in agony before dropping down unconscious beside the dead rebel.

Gwen did not even hesitate but was cradling Randi before her head could touch the earth.  Sky eased up still wheezing and rubbing his throat and moved to call directions to his people.  Without complaint they moved to do his bidding immediately.  The first detachment reverently removed Nanny’s body and those of the other dead villagers to the ritual preparation area.  Two other groups quickly gathered the dead rebels and placed them in the incinerator.  The last group carefully moved the soulmates together indoors.  Within minutes Gwen and Randi were comfortably ensconced in his guest room above the restaurant.

Sky followed them slowly up the stairs, noting that the entourage waited respectfully just outside the door to do his bidding.  He poked his head just inside the room, seeing that Randi remained locked in Gwen’s embrace still covered in blood and gore.  The one woman who was still attending them met his eyes and shook her head just slightly negatively. 

The chieftain withdrew for a moment before opening the door wider and allowing himself and several of the young men who had been waiting to enter the room.  Gwen looked at them questioningly and could not contain the gasp when they were lifted bodily together and moved to the small bathroom.  Green eyes turned to Sky.  “I thought you might like a chance to clean up.”  She nodded at his words, and people began to withdraw from the suddenly overcrowded space.  “Redwing will stay and help you,” he added before pulling the door shut behind himself.

Gwen slowly unbuttoned the flannel shirt, numbly grateful for the help and the fact that the woman was courteous enough to keep her eyes averted as much as possible.  It was awkward as hell, but Gwen was loath to let Randi go.  Redwing worked around it as much as she could, and in short order Randi was stripped naked and her clothes headed out to be laundered.  Gwen glanced around, realizing there was no way for her to undress without help.  Silently Redwing leaned Randi forward enough so Gwen could wriggle out of her clothing, then rested Randi in her soulmate’s arms once again when Gwen resettled herself.

“I’ll be right outside when you’re ready,” the young woman commented softly even as she shut the shower enclosure and moved smoothly out the door.  Gwen spared a brief thought of thankfulness for the warmth of the room as she waited for the water to reach the desired temperature.  Even expecting it, she flinched when warm water cascaded down from the nozzle.  It disturbed her that not only did the Sabre in her arms not react to the initial shock, but she did not move even as the water continued to pelt them.

Gwen let the wetness rinse away as much of the blood and gore as it could while she lathered the sponge Redwing had place within her grasp.  Then she bathed Randi everywhere she could reach, thankful that Randi was turned in her arms.  Once the blood was gone and Randi was clean, Gwen cleaned the residual blood from herself and commanded the water to shut off.  On cue, Redwing opened the door and handed Gwen two long, thick towels.  When the two women were covered, the men moved back into the bathroom and lifted them out together, moving them to the bed that was now pulled down and covered in fresh linen.

Gwen wondered why they did not simply let her walk.  It would have been infinitely easier and made a lot more sense.  When they were settled, Sky stepped back into the room even as everyone else made their way out.  He answered the confused look in her eyes.  “She needs you.  You are her connection... her lifeline.  We had no desire to sever that for her or for you.  It is far too important.”

“How did...?”

A smile actually lit Sky’s features at the honestly puzzled question.  “It was easy.  You have a very expressive face, and you had the same confused look both times you were carried around together.”  He became serious.  “You need to sleep now.  Join her in the dreamscape so she knows she is not alone.”

She nodded, not completely understanding but knowing Randi needed her.  He tucked them in more comfortably together, a smile lighting his eyes when Randi burrowed even more deeply into Gwen’s embrace.  He placed a hand on either forehead and began a soft, rhythmic chanting.  Gwen struggled to figure out what was being said, but her eyes felt so heavy.  She closed them, hoping to understand better if she did and drifted off into slumber.  Sky finished the mantra sitting completely still for a long moment until he knew they had safely crossed into sleep.  Then with a sigh he rose and moved to wait with the others downstairs.

The darkness was tangible... thick and cloying.  Gwen wished for a light, rather surprised when a tiny spark appeared by her head.  It didn’t illuminate this... nothing... she was in much, but it did bring a measure of comfort.  Haltingly she took a few tiny steps, glad beyond belief when the speck of light moved with her.  Gwen took a deep breath and slowly moved forward, seeking out her soulmate in the inky darkness.  She couldn’t have said how long or how far she traveled before the sound of soft breathing reached her ears.  The shard of light grew until she was able to make out Randi’s features in the dim light.  Randi’s eyes were closed and she appeared to be hovering above the ground.  The question was answered when Gwen ran squarely into the solid object that blended perfectly into their surroundings upon which Randi was perched.  Gwen reached out to wake Randi when a hand snagged hers inches from Randi’s face.  Blue eyes looked confused, and Randi released her hold to scrub her face.

“Gw....”  She cleared her throat of its hoarseness, sitting up slowly and rubbing the back of her neck.  “Gwen?  What are you...? How did you...?”  She broke off, trying to formulate her thoughts a little more clearly.  Gwen understood what she was asking though, and endeavored to answer the question.

“Sky helped me to get here.  He said you needed me.”  She took Randi’s hands in her own.  “Um, where is here exactly?  I’ve never seen a place like this.”

“No, I certainly hope you haven’t.  This is not a nice place.  You really shouldn’t be here.”  Randi closed her eyes and made to turn away from Gwen.  The same eyes popped open in surprise when Gwen jerked her hands free and clasped the drawn face firmly between them.

“Miranda Valiant,” whispered fiercely, “don’t you DARE shut me out!!  I married you for good and bad, and you’re not going to hide things from me again.  I won’t let you.”  She drew a shaky breath.  “I meant what I said.  They can’t have you back, and I will fight for what is mine.”  She cupped Randi’s chin and poked her in the chest with her free hand.  “You. Belong. To. Me.  Understand??”

************

Ares smiled in satisfaction.  ”Finally… success!  The scar is gone.  The warrior is mine now.  She belongs to me like she should have from the beginning,” Ares commented to the scrying bowl even as he replayed his moment of triumph.  He had waited millennia for this.

************

Gwen let the truth sink into Randi’s mind.  Watching as it became clear in her eyes.  Then she captured the soft lips passionately, moaning softly when Randi’s arms wrapped securely around her and drew their bodies closer together.  She threaded her fingers into the dark hair, and the two lost themselves in timeless moments of reassurance.  Finally, breathing heavily, she pulled back.   “Mine, Warrior.  Forever.”

“Always, my bard.”

“Now tell me about this place.”

Randi looked around slowly.  “This is where I came whenever I had a particularly trying mission.  This darkness is my darkness.  Things I could not consciously bear to carry.”  She looked around bewildered.  “What I am not sure of is why we are here.  What happened?”

A frown crossed Gwen’s features.  “What is the last thing you remember, Love?”

Large hands covered her face before Randi ran her fingers through raven hair.  “Um, we were....”  She scrunched up her brows in thought.  “We were sitting down to coffee with Sky, and....”  She shook her head.  “I missed something pretty important, huh?

Gwen didn’t answer directly.  The frown grew deeper as she thought, then she turned to Randi abruptly.  “Did you ever have this happen before?”

“I’m not sure I understand.”

Gwen paused, trying to formulate her thoughts.  “When you visited this place before, you knew why you came here even though the memories were put away once you left, correct?”

“Yes.”

“But now you are here of your own volition, and yet have no knowledge of why you are here.  Has that ever happened before?”

Randi paused and considered, contemplating the question seriously.  “No,” she finally said after some internal debate.  “Even the memories I have put here can be extracted if I need them.”  She rubbed her forehead.  “What the hell is going on?  Why can’t I remember?”

“I don’t know, Love, but we will figure this out.”  A deep breath.  “Let me tell you what happened as far as what I saw.”  And knowing they needed one another’s support for what was coming, she took the strong hands in her own and began to relate the events of the day.

Randi pulled away sharply before Gwen could finish, moving out of the dim light and into the shadows.  “My God!  What kind of monster am I becoming?”  She paced back and forth in the darkness examining the story Gwen had shared thus far. Gwen came up behind her and hugged her, and she reflexively stiffened in the embrace for an instant before her body accepted the touch.  It was so odd to have someone else in this very private space.

Gwen stood quite still, but her hold remained firm while she waited for Randi to allow the embrace.   Gwen could feel the internal struggle Randi was having and chose her next words very carefully.  “I don’t think you’re a monster.”

Randi whirled on her.  “How can you...?”

Gwen placed her hands over Randi’s lips, knowing it was the only way to halt her speech.  “Let me finish, please.”  She felt the dark head nod and moved her fingers, smiling in the blackness at the light kiss she felt Randi place on them.  “What you did was become the Sabre you have always been, and you responded to the threat just like you always have.  The difference this time was the fact that it was more personal.  You knew the people being targeted.  You felt more.”  She drew a deep breath.  “Now I want you to think about something, Love, and be honest with yourself and me.”  Unconsciously Randi reached for Gwen, resting her hands on slim hips.  Gwen traced her hands up Randi’s torso, coming to rest firmly on the strong neck, and she felt Randi nod her agreement.  “Except for the leader, the rest of them died swiftly and mercifully, didn’t they?  You gave them the same courtesy all those who targeted you before had been given, didn’t you?”  She waited while Randi hesitated and culled through her memory to try and discover what she had done to the rebels.  The brief glimpses she found showed the way they had died had been decidedly merciful given the accoutrements they carried and obviously planned on using against her and the people of the small town.

“Yes, but....”

“And the reason the leader died so violently is because he made me a target.  Just like Ben.  It crossed the line from professional into personal for you.  The darkness you have to walk in sometimes scares me, Randi.  No you don’t....” holding fast to Randi’s body when she made to pull away.  “No, let me finish.”  She slid her hands forward so she cradled Randi’s face tenderly.  “It scares me for YOU, Beloved, not for me.  You go into a darkness I don’t understand and can’t follow you into, and you do it willingly... for me.  You walked into the darkness again because that man made me a target, but at what cost??”

“For you it was worth any cost, Little One.”

“Not if it costs me you again, it wasn’t,” Gwen hissed.  “Randi, you SCREAMED when it was all over.  You looked at me and screamed in pain.  Then you came here.  That would tend to make me the culprit in whatever happened, wouldn’t it?”

“No!  Yes... I dunno.  Maybe?  It would help if I understood how I got here, and why I screamed.  I really don’t remember anything clearly after we sat down to have coffee with Sky.  Just flashes.”

Gwen took Randi’s hands in her own and led her back toward the place she’d found her resting.  “C’mon Love.  Let’s see if we can find a more comfortable dreamscape to share together, and when we wake up we’ll talk to Sky.  Maybe he can help shed some light on what happened.”

Randi smiled, knowing her soulmate could hear it in her voice.  “You know of a good place to go?”

“Oh yeah, Stud.  I have just the place.”

Randi helped Gwen up onto the protrusion and settled in behind her, wrapping herself firmly around her and allowing the peace and tranquility she felt invade their souls and soothe troubled spirits.  She never even realized when she drifted off again.

The tickling was making her nose twitch, but Randi was loath to open her eyes.  She couldn’t help the grin that formed though, and when the feather-light touched moved to her neck, she squawked and opened her eyes.  Taking in the twinkling green eyes of her tormentor, Randi flipped them over so Gwen was lying beneath her.  “Well, well... what do we have here?” laughing diabolically and starting a teasing touch up Gwen’s sensitive sides.  Gwen squirmed to get away from the tickling fingers, but only succeeded giving Randi even more skin to conquer.  Gwen distracted her warrior in the only way she could think of and drew her into a fiery kiss.  The touches subtly changed, and soon Gwen’s shortness of breath wasn’t due to laughter but the sensations cascading through her body.  Randi pulled back slightly, looking into passion-darkened eyes.  “I love you,” she said softly.

“As I do you,” came the equally muted response.  “We will figure this out together you know.”  She broke eye contact to look again at the surroundings she’d already had the opportunity to investigate.  “Do you recognize this place?”

Randi rose up a little more and took a good look around.  They were in a clearing by a stream that had a waterfall.  The grass was soft, the flowers fragrant and the trees provided ample shade and just a tiny breeze.  There was a thick bearskin spread on the ground, and a neat, well-laid fire was built nearby.  She looked back at Gwen.  “This is....”

“This is our place, yes.  We have been here before.  Sometimes we camp out; sometimes there is a rustic little cabin; once in awhile there is an inn.  But we always come here together.”

“You mean our time here together is real?  It’s not just a dream... not wishful thinking or imagination?”

“Apparently so.  We share this place in our dreams.”

“That is so totally incredible.”

“Yes, it is.  And I want you to understand something.”  She held Randi’s face in her hands securely and captured her gaze effortlessly.  Gwen looked into blue depths for a timeless moment, willing Randi to recognize the truth of her words.  “This will always be our safe place, and I will always, ALWAYS be here for you.”

Randi closed her eyes as the words embedded themselves in her mind and heart, and when she opened them again Gwen saw the acceptance in Randi’s.  She didn’t have a chance to say anything else as Randi leaned down and took fervent possession of her lips.  “Do you suppose,” Randi asked huskily as she pulled back until their lips were just touching.  “If we were to make love here,” her tongue sneaking out to trace the soft, full lips beneath her own.  “Do you think we would be making love in real time as well?”

“I suggest we experiment and see what we can discover.” Twining her hands into the thick dark hair hanging down and curtaining them, Gwen tugged lightly until they were in full contact along their lengths.  Randi’s hands slowly traced up Gwen’s sides as she kissed her deeply once more.

“I think that is a very sound idea, Little One.  We can’t be too careful with experiments, ya know.”  The soft trill of blended laughter was heard before the sounds turned passionate.  And the lovers never noticed when the dreamscape faded into reality.

Down below, Sky heard the soft laughter and smiled.  They had found one another, and for now it was enough.  Later would have to take care of itself when it came.

************

“ARES!!!”  The blonde goddess thundered across the heavens as she stormed into his lair.  “You can’t do this!” she shouted.  “They belong to me!”

The smug smirk on his face made Dite itch to wipe it off with her nails.  “Not anymore they don’t.  I am taking back what you stole from me.  Your whole will become two parts once more as I reclaim what is rightfully mine!”  He screamed at her furiously, the fire in his eyes alarmingly clear. 

“You can’t do that!” she shouted again, her face going red in her fury.

“Oh, but I already have.  Months and years of planning have finally come to fruition.”  He strode away from her, only to turn back and point a finger in her direction for emphasis.  “Do you know how long I have been working on this?  Even for a god, it was an eternity.  The scar is gone, and her soul is mine for the claiming.”  He gave an evil chuckle.  “The best part is, she is unaware of the change and will remain so until it is too late.  She has no choice this time.”  He grinned evilly, then went on, anxious to cause the love goddess some of the hurt and frustration he himself had suffered for millennia because of her machinations.  “It was a thing of beauty really.  Ben was kind enough to ensure the infestation of the drug.”  He looked at her.  “Do you know how long it took me to perfect that... to ensure my success?”  He shrugged.  “Not that it matters.  The point is it did succeed... even better than I expected.  She has no memory of the darkness that overtakes her, and the change has been so gradual no one has even noticed.”  He laughed again.  “Nothing can stop me now.  I will be ruler of the world once Randi has done my bidding and conquered it, of course.  Then she will reign by my side as my Queen Consort.”

Aphrodite’s face had gone quite cold and still during his little speech, and now she turned to him with a look that would have burned him to ash given her choice.  “You little rat bastard,” she whispered in fury.  “You won’t get away with this.  I’m not going to let you win.”

He laughed heartily now.  “You can’t stop me, Dite.  I have already won.  And I didn’t break a single rule to do it.  There’s not a damn thing you can do.” 

“We’ll see about that,” she snarled at him, glaring for a long moment before disappearing in a shower of sparks.

“There is nothing to see, Sister,” he commented to the thin air where she had stood.  “I won fair and square.”  He chuckled.  “Well maybe not quite fair.”  He grinned in evil contentment, throwing himself on a comfortable chaise.  “It doesn’t matter, though.  I won.  The warrior’s soul is mine.  And nothing will stop me this time.  My victory is finally complete.”  The sound of his laughter echoed through the heavens.

************

When the couple awakened from their sleep a few hours later, they weren’t sure whether to be pleased or embarrassed by the blissful, sated satisfaction they felt.  Wrapped together in naked contentment, they concluded quite happily that their experiment had been a success and settled for pleased.  They lay together for a few moments before Randi rose up on her side and looked down at her soulmate.  She put her palm on Gwen’s belly gently rubbing in comforting circles.  Randi smiled when Gwen purred and arched into the light touch.  She leaned down and kissed Gwen’s nose.  “I love you.”

“Umm,” humming in delight, “I love you too.”  She ran her hands lightly up Randi’s torso before locking behind her neck, gazing at her with eyes full of love and affection.

“Thank you,” Randi said quietly.  “Having you come... knowing we....”   The dark head dropped to Gwen’s chest and she moaned in frustration.  “This is not coming out right at all.”

Gwen pulled gently on Randi’s hair until blue eyes met her own.  “I meant what I said, Love.  You will never be alone to face the darkness again.  What we do, we do together.”  She slipped her hand along the smooth cheek, halting in confusion as she replayed the sensation over in her mind.  Smooth??  She turned Randi’s head away from her, trailing her fingers along the smooth flesh.

“Gwen?”  Randi was bewildered by the abrupt action.  Gwen released her hold and allowed the blue gaze to meet her own astounded one.  “Love, what’s wrong?”

Gwen swallowed hard, trying to fathom the implications of the day’s events, knowing instinctively something drastic had changed.  She looked up into Randi’s eyes.  “The scar,” she whispered, her voice so low Randi has to strain to hear it.  Gwen cleared her throat and tried again.  “The scar... Randi, it’s gone.”

Randi’s eyes widened perceptibly.  “I think we need to have a talk with Sky.  Maybe he can shed some light on things.  At least he might be able to help me remember today.”

Gwen nodded her agreement.  “C’mon Love.  A quick shower, then we’ll see what we can see together.”

Randi smiled.  “You do not know just how incredible I find that word.  But I intend to show you everyday for the rest of our lives.”

“Good,” was Gwen’s one word reply before entering the bathroom and closing the door firmly behind them.


Chapter XIV

The sound continued for a seeming eternity, and when it ceased the silence was deafening.  Artemis and Athena peeked around the corner, their eyes going wide at the devastation the love goddess had wrought.  Shards of pottery lay strewn across the marble floor.  Silk material lay in shredded tatters around the room and feathers wafted at the slightest breeze.  Only in front of the bed was there a clear space, and there was a decided groove where a rut was forming.  The two goddesses looked at one another askance, and gingerly crossed the threshold in case there was another outbreak of rage.  When they saw Aphrodite was curled up in the middle of the now disheveled bed, they stepped forward with more confidence.

“Dite?” the goddess of wisdom softly called.  Athena traversed the room and eased down onto the bed.  She gently ran her fingers through the tangled curly locks, trying to straighten them into a more orderly fashion.  “He’s not going to win, you know.”

Aphrodite sprang into a sitting position instantly and pointed her finger at her sister goddess “He CHEATED, The!!  How can you be so sure he won’t?”  The brief flare of anger died as quickly as it had arisen, and the love goddess fell back onto the bed in a heap.

“Well, there are several reasons.”  Athena resumed her gentle stroking and felt Dite relax into her touch.  Artemis came up and sat lightly on the other side, taking Aphrodite’s hand in her own and caressing it lightly.

“Oh yeah?  Like what?”

“Like the fact that they have beaten him before even before their souls were pledged and blessed.  You really think he can break the bonding?  Gwen was able to defeat him before.  Besides, Rosie and several of my priestesses are looking for an antidote for the poison.  Some of Arty’s Amazon’s were able to obtain a sampling.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really,” the huntress responded.  “She is still my Queen even if she no longer remembers that role, and we all have a serious stake in the outcome of this.  They need each other, and the world needs them.”

Aphrodite raised her free hand and brushed the tears from her face.  She sat up determinedly.  “You’re right of course... both of you.”  She looked around her now decimated lair.  “Ew, grody!  Let me get this mess cleaned up.  Then we need to sit down and do some serious planning.”

Athena laughed.  “We’ll help.”  And in short order, the room was restored to its normal opulence.  Then the deities headed for the small conference room to strategize.  Dite stopped in the doorway, shocked by the roomful of gods already present.

“You knew?” she turned to Athena and Artemis.

“We suspected.  These two are highly favored,” Artemis replied softly.

“Besides, Arty was telling the truth.  We need them, and we know it.  Everyone here was rocked when they were separated by Randi’s death.”

The goddess of love thought about it for a moment before nodding her head and clasping her hands together in agreement.  “You’re right.  And we’re gonna use everything we have against him.”  She moved briskly into the room and assumed a no nonsense attitude.  “Let’s get to work.”

************

Sky walked away from them and stood unseeingly at the window.  “This is not good,” he muttered.  “This is very, very bad.”  Those of his tribe that had helped the bard and the warrior still remained clustered together on one side of the room.  Outside, the flames from the incinerator lit up the evening sky, and low moans and the beating of drums could be heard as they prepared to give Nanny a proper send off into the afterlife.  The chieftain nodded his head at the small group, and they silently went out to join the rest of the family in mourning.  Sky bowed his head.  “I need to go walk Nanny to her reward before we do anything.  Would you like to wait here, or...?”  He trailed off, not wanting to pressure them into something neither of them was ready for.

“If you think we would be welcome, we would like to attend.”  Randi cleared her throat and spoke again hesitantly.  “I would like to say a few words, actually.”

Sky nodded his head in agreement, glad that she had offered, and he didn’t have to ask.  “Come.  Let us go lay our friend to rest and speed her journey to the afterlife.”

Each member of the tribe was offered the opportunity to say a short piece about the woman they had known, and though not everyone availed themselves of the opportunity, each and every one did lay an object in the carefully crafted coffin.  Some of the items were personal, and others meant to bring comfort to Nanny on her journey in the afterlife.  But they all held significance for both the giver and Nanny.  Gwen walked beside Randi as they approached the coffin.  Gwen stood silently as Randi offered a short prayer for Nanny’s safe passage.  Then Randi placed a small prayer stone in the older woman’s cold hands and folded her warm ones carefully around them.

“Thank you for your friendship, Nanny, and for your acceptance.  I’m sorry I couldn’t stop the....  Well, I’m sorry.  You didn’t deserve what happened, and I feel like I let you down.”  A breath.  “I, uh... I was hoping you would, um, bless Gwen and me today, but since you can’t, um, keep an eye on us, huh?  Some thing screwy is going on, and I don’t like the way it feels.  Safe passage, my friend and happy journeys.”

She took Gwen’s hand, not expecting the resistance she got to her slight tug.  Instead she listened as Gwen spoke her last to a woman she’d barely known.  “I don’t have anything to offer but my words, Nanny.  But I remember so clearly your words to me the day we met.  And I will treasure them and her, for all the rest of my days.  Thank you for sharing a glimpse with me.”  The dark head turned toward the blonde at these cryptic words, but Gwen’s attention was focused on the body of the woman in front of her.  “Peace and happiness to you both, Nanny.  Be happy together again.”

Gwen turned and looked at Randi then, gently pulling her from the side of the casket so others could take their place.  A dark brow rose over a blue eye.  “I didn’t realize you knew her,” Randi offered quietly.

“She sought me out the first time we came into town.  And she was the one who showed me the story behind our wedding shirts when I bought them.”

“You want to share what she said to you?”

“I’d love to.  I’m just not sure I can.”  The second brow rose to meet its mate at this statement.  Randi watched as Gwen worried her lip, trying to find the words to say what she meant.  She started to speak when she was forestalled by the chieftain’s words.

“The time has come to sing our sister to her final rest in this life.  Since she has no living next of kin, Ravenhawk has asked permission to lead the chant, and I have granted it.”  He nodded in Randi’s direction and motioned for her to begin.  Gwen was surprised by Randi’s next action.  Instead of separating from her and moving to the front of the room, Randi simply dropped a long arm around her shoulders in a firm embrace and started singing right where she stood.

The first verse was a solo voice, and tears sprang to Gwen’s eyes at the mourning tone that was being produced.  She noticed many among the surreptitiously wiping their eyes and she wished she was able to understand the words that were being sung.  As Randi’s voice held the last note, Gwen watched as one by one, each member of the community united with her, and the whole feeling of the service changed.  The tempo increased, and the drums and other instruments joined in what was quickly becoming an uplifting song.  Hands began to clap and feet started tapping out the rhythm on the floor.  Smiles grew broad as the song went on, and it wasn’t long before the entire room was wreathed in happiness.  As the song neared completion instruments and voices began to drop out again, until only Randi was left.  She sang the last alone, but the change from the beginning was palpable.  As she reached the last line, everyone rose to their feet and merged their voices together one more as they released the body into the flames and sent Nanny’s spirit soaring.

The sun had set by the time the service was complete, and the community dispersed quietly to their homes.  Sky guided Gwen and Randi back toward his residence, knowing they needed to talk together before the couple headed back to their cabin.

He motioned them to a seat on the couch even as he moved to fetch the coffee.  He was back in minutes, and he set the tray down on the table before assuming a seat in the chair across from them.  He waited casually for them to finish fixing their coffee the way they liked it before he leaned forward with his elbows on his knees.  Eagle eyes focused on Randi, and she held his unwaveringly.  He reached for her hands, and she laid her own in his.  They sat motionless for a moment before he sighed and dropped both his grasp and his gaze.  “You really do not remember, do you?”  She shook her head, and he noticed for the first time that the scar was gone.  He raised his arm then hesitated when he recalled her earlier words.  “The scar is gone.”

She nodded her agreement.  “I know.  Gwen thinks it might be what caused me to scream before I passed out.”  She absently rubbed a hand along the smooth cheek.  She drew her face away in frustration and hit her balled fists on her knees.  “This is making me crazy, Sky.  I know something is wrong.  But I don’t know what or how to fix it.”

Sky sat back, contemplating her for a long moment.  He came to a decision, then reached for her hands again.  “Let me show you the darkness that made you run from me earlier today... what probably saved all our lives.”

She was cautious in taking his hands, for the first time very much afraid of what she might see.  Gwen slid closer and wrapped her arms around the narrow waist, laying her head on the broad shoulder.  “Together,” she whispered in the nearby ear.

Randi turned her head to see green eyes full of love and faith fastened on her.  Without unlocking her gaze from Gwen, she extended her hands to Sky.  And was bombarded by the images that assaulted her consciousness.  She drew in her breath sharply, but Gwen’s eyes never left blue, and Randi let the images wash over her.  She saw the darkness, felt it like before.  She even understood it to a point.  But its power over her was lost as the strength of Gwen’s love surrounded and shielded her.

“Gwen, I need you release your hold.  She needs to see this to understand it.”

“No, Sky,” she answered firmly without ever breaking eye contact.  “You send it through where we can both see, but she is not walking this path alone this time.  I won’t let you do that to her again.”

He sighed.  He was afraid it might come to this.  Their soul connection was strong enough to dilute the darkness.  The only thing he could try was....  “Gwen, give me one of your hands, and Randi the other.”

“No, Sky.  I....”

Gwen laid a finger across Randi’s vehemently protesting lips.  “It’s okay, Love.  I’ve already seen it.  I’m sorry, Sky.  I know you’re not the enemy.”

Randi looked steadily into Gwen’s eyes, seeing the truth clearly written there for her to see.  “You’re sure?  I don’t want....”

“I’m sure.”  She offered one hand to Sky and took Randi’s in her other.  Then she focused her attention solely on her soulmate, giving the Sabre her strength to withstand the coming onslaught.  The chieftain took their hands, and both gasped involuntarily at the overwhelming sensations.

Instead of diluting them, their bonding made the images much clearer, and besides the approaching darkness, they both felt a rending at their very cores.  Randi jerked to break the connection, but Sky had been anticipating such a move and held on for dear life.  The sensation ended as abruptly as it had begun, and the small group sat exhausted as though they had been running for hours.  Gwen chanced a look at the clock and saw that less than a minute had passed.  Her eyes closed again.

“Oh my God... what the hell does all that mean?” Randi asked Sky in a shaky voice.  Nothing she had seen made much sense.  It was more feelings that left their impression on her psyche.  She didn’t like the thoughts she’d been left with by the encounter.

“I wish I could tell you,” he answered slowly. ”That is what I got from the brief glimpse I was given today.  Even after three viewings, I can’t say it is any clearer than it was the first time.”  He scratched his jaw.  “I am missing something vital.”

Gwen had not said a word since Sky had released them, and she’d never lost her grip on Randi’s hand.  Now Randi turned her head towards her, becoming alarmed by the sudden pallor and shallow, rapid breathing.  “GWEN?!?”  Randi took the bard in her arms and gently cradled her.  “Gwen?  Gwen, c’mon Love.  Wake up... wake up!”  She gently patted her face and turned to the chieftain.  “Do something!”  Sky was already moving towards the kitchen before the plea was out of Randi’s mouth.  Gwen meanwhile was in another place she had never been before.

“Aphrodite?”

“We don’t have much time, Sweet Pea.  The battle for the warrior’s soul has begun, and for now we are fighting handicapped.”  She held up her hands when Gwen’s lips parted to speak.  “Just listen.  It is yours, yes, but you are going to have to fight for it and for her.  A time will come when you have to make a choice.  Fight for her and walk away, or give up and give in.  You will have to remember what I have just told you if you are going to make the right decision.  Choose wisely.  The fate of the world... the fate of your souls will depend on the choice you make.”

“But....”

“I can’t say anything more right now.  We are almost out of time.  We are doing our best to help you, but you are going to have to do a lot of this on your own.  I’ll come see you again like this from time to time when we can manage to do it without suspicion.”

“But....”

“Remember what I said.  You’re about to have a very rude awakening.”  Then the goddess was gone, and Gwen was opening her eyes to the most horrific smell.  Her only consolation was the fact that she was being tenderly cradled in Randi’s strong embrace.  She put Aphrodite’s warning to the back of her mind.  She would ponder it later, but for now she had a wife in need of solace and comfort.

“Are you all right?” Randi questioned even as she pulled her tighter in to her own strong body.  “God, you had me scared for a minute.”  She smiled and tried to make light, but Gwen could easily see the stark terror that lingered deep in those blue eyes.

“I’m fine,” she answered softly, “except for the burning smell in my nose.  What was that stuff anyway?”

“Ammonia.”

“God, that stuff stinks.”

“Yes, it does,” the chieftain said as he handed the blonde woman a tall glass of water.  “But it gets the job done.

“I’ll say.  Phew!”  Gwen drained the glass and gently eased up into more of a sitting position on Randi’s lap.  Randi was loath to let her move, however and kept a tight hold around Gwen’s middle.  She patted Randi’s hands lightly in a gesture of comfort.   “I’m all right, Stud.  Just a bit of an overload.  That was the second time I experienced that today, you know.”  She didn’t mention the differences between the first and second meldings.  She turned and looked at Sky.  “How did you get through without collapsing?”

Actually he looked pretty drained as well.  He sighed and chuckled tiredly.  “I actually feel like I was hit by a falling tree, but it was different for me.  For one thing, I was projecting instead of receiving.  For another, we have a natural barrier against any backlash, and remember what I told you this morning....  We were prepared for your coming so our shielding was stronger than normal.”  He collapsed on the seat and looked at them wearily.  “Not a day I wish to repeat again in this lifetime, though.”  He rubbed his hands across his face.  “It is late, and I think you should stay the night.  I’m exhausted, and I know you both are, and well... I just think it would be for the best.  That’s all.”

Blue and green met in wordless communication before Randi looked up at the chief.  “Thanks, Sky.  We appreciate the hospitality.”

“Take the room you had this afternoon.  It is already made up, and no offense but I am way too tired to have to make another bed up tonight.”

“We wouldn’t let you even if you weren’t, Sky.  Thank you for offering.”

“It is my pleasure, Little Dove.  You are both most welcome and honored guests in my home.”

“What did you call me?”  Gwen’s head had snapped around when her Gramma’s old pet name for her rolled off Screaming Sky’s tongue.  He looked at her slightly bewildered.

“Little Dove?” he asked uncertainly.  He hadn’t meant to offend, but it was the name the tribe had been given for her.

“How did you know...?”  She shook her head to clear her thoughts and gazed steadfastly into his deep brown eyes.  “What made you decide on that as my tribal name?”

“It was given to us by the Great Spirit.  Nanny mentioned it after she gifted you with your story.  Why?  Does it mean something to you?”

The blonde head nodded, but she didn’t speak.  Sky looked at Randi in confusion.  “It was the name her grandmother called her.  A private name between the two of them.”

“Oh.  My.”  The expression on his face was a little strained.  In all his years, he had never seen a situation quite like this one.  “Does it upset you for us to use it, Gwen?  We can easily call you by your given name.”

She held up her hand and his speech ground to a halt.  “No, it just took me by surprise is all.  I haven’t heard it for a long time, and I was somewhat unprepared for it.”  She drew a deep breath and met his steady regard.  “It’s like family; makes me feel like I have a place here.”

He smiled broadly, and the two women couldn’t help but return the gesture.  “You do, and perhaps on your next visit, they two of you would consider letting us adopt you into our tribe officially.”

Gwen’s eyes met Randi’s.  “Why are you asking now, Sky?  And why not adopt us this visit if that is the desire of the clan?”  Randi’s eyes widened at how well Gwen had read her mind.

“Hmm, well,” he answered slowly as he pondered the best way to phrase his answer, “we couldn’t ask Ravenhawk to be a part of the tribe until she was complete.  That did not happen until the two of you became one in mind and body and spirit.  You are still in the process of becoming one soul on this journey.  When you return to us, we will guide you on a spirit quest together because your soul will be one entity then.”  He rose and paced a moment, finally turning back to them.  “The spirit quest is not a journey to be taken lightly so we ask now to give you time to decide if it is right for you. But it is a necessary step that each tribe member takes upon reaching maturity.”

“What does a spirit quest do, Sky?”

“Your spirits, your soul is taken on a journey that will answer questions that you have and show you things you need to know.  The time is not yet right for you.  But you will know when you are ready.”

“What questions?  What things?”

“I cannot answer that for you.  They are different for everyone.”  He held up a hand when Randi opened her mouth, and she promptly shut it.  “Come, it is late and we are all in need of rest.”

The couple slowly stood, Gwen still cradled in Randi’s arms.  “I can walk, you know.”

“I know,” she responded softly as she moved to follow the chieftain up the stairs.  “But I like having you here.”

Gwen studied the look in the blue eyes gazing at her and surrendered to the need in them.  She rested her head on the broad shoulder, squeezing Randi’s neck in a light hug and feeling the pressure returned ever so gently around her body. Then Sky opened the door for them, and they were crossing the threshold into the guest room.

“I will bid you both a pleasant goodnight and happy dreams together,” he said as he pulled the door closed behind himself before moving on toward his own room.

Randi set Gwen on her feet slowly, keeping her hands at Gwen’s waist for balance just in case.  She took a deep breath and steadied herself with her hands on Randi’s arms for a long moment.  Then she looked up into eyes filled with loving concern.  “I’m all right, Love.  Just very tired.”

“Me too.”

In short order, they had stripped to their underwear and crawled beneath the thick covering.  They wrapped up in their favorite position together, and for a little while let the peace and warmth of the quiet pervade their senses.  “What do you think about Sky’s offer?” Gwen asked sleepily.

Randi had been in a half-doze when Gwen’s question was spoken into the darkness.  She forced herself to a higher awareness.  “Hmm, I think it’s interesting... something we should consider.  I never expected to be asked to be part of the tribe.  It’s not like I mix and mingle all that much.  I would like to know more about why we were invited.”  She paused and thought a moment.  Gwen felt the sigh more than heard it. 

“What, Love?”

“I’m a little concerned about the spirit quest.”

Gwen leaned up and propped her head on her elbow so she could lean up and look into Randi’s face.  She absently stroked her free hand up and down Randi’s torso, making goosebumps chase one another in the wake of her touch.  “How so?”

Randi grasped the hand and tangled their fingers together.  “I can’t think when you touch me like that,” she admitted shyly.  She kissed Gwen’s fingers.  “I have a sneaking suspicion that a spirit quest is a much more complicated and extended version of what we experienced together earlier.”

“But....”

“I think there were extenuating circumstances that made Sky do what he did.  But I am really not sure if any of us could survive anything longer or stronger than what we sat through today.”

It was quiet again for a while as they processed their thoughts on the matter.  Gwen rolled until she was mostly lying on top of Randi, and she put her free hand under her chin to cushion Randi’s chest.  “I’m sure... that is, I would imagine there is usually a lot of preparation made for all parties involved in a normal quest.  Tonight’s situation was not normal, and you know that as well as I do.  What is the age of maturity in this community?”

Randi thought a minute, wondering at the subject change.  “Um, thirteen, I think.”

“Now do you really think that any parent would let their child sit through a ceremony if it was going to be harmful or dangerous?”

“No, but....”

“Love, we don’t have to do it if you are not comfortable with it.  In fact I’d rather not do it until we are both ready, but I don’t think we should dismiss it as a possibility because of our introduction to it.”

Randi lay quietly, thinking on Gwen’s words.  “I wonder why Reed never mentioned having this sort of skill or her connection to this place,” Randi mused aloud.

“Well,” Gwen yawned, putting her head down and curling into the warm body beneath her.  “It could be she was trying to respect your privacy, Stud.  And would you really be telling people if you could sense and share visions like that?”  Another yawn.  “Even in a society as accepting as ours has become, that is still a difficult talent for the close-minded or ignorant to accept as a gift rather than an abomination.”

“Um, good points, Little One.”

“I love you, Randi.”

“Ditto, Beloved.  Goodnight.”

Had to have East windows, didn’t we? Randi grumbled as a slash of light cut across her eyes.  Then she noticed how late it was and that she was in bed alone.  What the....?  Oh yeah... Sky’s.  She pushed the covers back and stepped from the bed.  When she opened the door, Gwen was standing there juggling a tray trying to get the door open.  Green eyes flew up in surprise.

“Oh, you’re up.”

Randi grinned.  “It certainly looks that way.  What’s all this?”

“This,” setting the tray on the nearby dresser and pushing Randi back toward the bed, “is breakfast in bed for you.” She lifted her lover’s legs, running a tickling hand down one length before pulling the covers back up to her waist.  She turned to grab the tray and found herself falling into Randi’s lap instead.

“Good morning,” Randi whispered before leaning forward and kissing Gwen fiercely.  Gwen wove her hands into tangled dark locks and abandoned herself to the sensations Randi’s taste and touch evoked all over her body.   

She smiled up dreamily at Randi as they slowly pulled back from the embrace.  “Good morning,” Gwen replied.  She slipped from the bed and retrieved the tray.  When she stepped from the bed the second time, Randi’s hand on her arm stopped her in her tracks.

“Where ya goin’?”

Gwen had a fleeting thought to wonder where the sudden insecurity was coming from before she leaned down and kissed the warm cheek.  “I thought I’d join you in bed,” waving at the empty half.

“Oh yeah,” Randi smiled rakishly as she flipped the covers back so Gwen could climb in beside her.  “I like that idea.”  She motioned to the full tray.  “Share with me?”

Breakfast didn’t take very long really.  They were quite conscious of their status as guests in Sky’s home and somehow the circumstances surrounding their being there were not the same as if they had been invited as friends or family.  So in short order they were dressed; the room was straightened; and they were headed down the stairs.

“How did you sleep, my friend?  Your beautiful bride shared the delicious breakfast she cooked for you, and I have to say... you are a very lucky woman.”  He chuckled as twin blushes crawled up both faces.  He extended his hand, and Randi took the tiny holochip from his fingers.  “This will explain to you more fully about our life, history and culture and will give a better idea about what your rights and responsibilities would be as a member of our tribe.  It will also give you a complete guide to the spirit quest so you will know what to expect.”

“Thank you, Sky.  We talked a little about it last night.”  She swallowed and looked down before taking his hand.  “We appreciate the honor you are offering.  I know it is not a usual thing.”

“Well, this will probably answer some of the questions you have, and I think the Great Spirit will guide your decision.  Fortitude and strength for the journey that lays ahead for you both and much happiness in your marriage.”

“Thanks, Sky.  We’ll be in touch.”

They had reached the transport, and he held the door open while they slid inside.  “Will we see you again?”

“Not this trip.  We’ll be leaving for home in another few days.  But I promised Gwen we would be back for some swimming.  Perhaps we will make it for Celebration this year.”

“We’ll look forward to it, Ravenhawk.  Safe journey,” he called as he closed the door, and the transport headed back on its short trip to the cabin.  “Watch over them, Great Spirit.  Their union has being a long time coming, and the trial ahead is indeed going to be rough.”  He watched them out of sight, then returned to his house.  There were still things to do in the village to clean up the mess from the previous day, and he had a vid call to make.


Chapter XV

“That was interesting,” Gwen commented.  They lay curled up in the big bed together watching the flames dance in the fireplace.  Randi’s hand stroked lazily on Gwen’s belly in gentle circles, and Gwen shivered just a little at the sensations the touch elicited.

“Cold, Little One?” Randi asked with a smile in her voice.  “Maybe we shouldn’t have taken that sunset walk.”

Gwen grabbed the large hand and stilled its motion.  The long fingers wiggled against her skin just slightly, and she squawked in outrage.  “No, I am not cold!” she huffed trying to ignore the goose bumps and shivers Randi’s voice in her ear was causing.  She drew a deep breath when Randi’s hand slipped from hers and slid upwards.  She clasped the wandering hand again.  “I can’t think when you do that.”

Randi chuckled and placed a light kiss on Gwen’s neck.  “Well, I tend to believe that thinking is WAY over-rated sometimes.”  But she tucked her hand around Gwen and hugged her.  “But you’re right.  It was interesting.  Brings up a lot of questions, though.”

“Like?”  Gwen had her own ideas, but she was curious to see if they were in the same vein as Randi’s.

“Like... why us?  Why now?  And that doesn’t even begin to cover the whole spirit quest issue.”  Randi scratched her head with the hand upon which she was propped.  “That train of thought leads to all sorts of unpleasant speculation.”  Gwen was silent.  She could feel Randi struggling with something, and wanted to give her soulmate every opportunity to say what was on her mind.  “I’m scared, Gwen,” was what Randi finally said very quietly.  “There is something going on, and I don’t know what it is or how to stop it.  I don’t like that feeling.”

“Well, I think our awareness of it is half the battle, Love,” thinking over the words Aphrodite had spoken to her the night before.  “We’ll get through this.  I’ll be right beside you, and we’ll figure out what is going on.”  She paused, thinking.  “Maybe the spirit quest will help.  Give us some answers.”

“Maybe, but that brings us right back to my original questions.  Why us and why now?”

Gwen shifted in Randi’s arms until they were facing one anther.  “You’re thinking in circles, Stud, and that’s not going to get us anywhere.  I think,” Gwen continued, reaching behind her and taking the hands that was caressing her back.  She placed it on her hip even as her own hand teasingly traced up Randi’s rib cage, smiling when her breath caught.  “You were right earlier.  Thinking is way over-rated sometimes, and this is one of them.”  Gwen pushed Randi onto her back and slid sensuously on top of the longer body.  She lowered her head to Randi’s lips and nipped them softly.  “We can talk about this more when we’re not thinking in circles, but we only have a couple more days left of our honeymoon here, and I intend to make them count for everything they are worth.”

She had a reply for that, Randi knew she did, but it got lost in the taste and scent and feel of her soulmate in her arms and on her lips.  Then it became unimportant as passion took possession of them completely, and the night was spent in loving communion of body and soul.

************

“You okay, Sweetheart?”  Tiny put his hands on Reed’s shoulders and gently rubbed at the tension he could clearly see there.  Something about her recent vid call had been extremely disturbing because she had been very relaxed before she had taken the call.

The seer moaned and dropped her head forward, focusing on the intense relief Tiny’s touch was giving her.  She hadn’t realized how uptight Sky’s information had made her until Tiny’s hands began their gentle kneading.  “You have magic hands.”

Tiny snickered just a bit.  “You said that earlier as well as I recall.”  He couldn’t help the smirk.  She backhanded him in the stomach.

“That wasn’t all I said was magic as I recall, but in this case they are your most important assets.”  Reed smiled rakishly at him before groaning as he hit a particularly sore knot.  “Oh gods, that hurts,” she hissed.  The banter disappeared from his expression as his eyes grew concerned.

“Honey?”  She stood and took him by the hand then and led him back to their bedroom.  She dropped her robe and flopped gracelessly face down on the bed.  In wordless understanding, he tightened the knot of his own robe and straddled her, rubbing oil on his hands before beginning a firm massage on her bare back.  He waited until he felt the tension drain from her body before he asked.  “You ready to talk about it?’  Tiny felt her tense and then relax beneath his hands before she rolled over to face him.  He slid off Reed’s hips and lay down beside her.  He turned on one side and propped his head up on one hand while she pulled the sheet up and did the same to face him.   Her eyes dropped to the sheet and she absently drew designs on the bedding.  Tiny just kept his eyes on her face and waited.  His patience was rewarded.

“That was Chief Screaming Sky,” she began.  Tiny nodded his head.  He had met many of Reed’s tribe members, and the chieftain stood out in his mind.  “Apparently, there was some sort of incident in the community yesterday.”  She swallowed hard.  “Nanny was killed.”

“Oh, Honey, I’m so sorry.”  Tiny knew that Reed considered the older woman a friend and mentor, and the loss would be palpable in her life.  She nodded, accepting his sympathy as tears ran silently down her face.  This was when she resented her gifting... not when it let her see, but when it didn’t.  She found it especially disheartening when it happened to friends and family.  This time it was both.

She swiped an angry hand at her eyes.  She hadn’t told him the worst of it yet.  “That’s not all, Tiny.”  She drew a deep breath.  She hated to betray give up Randi’s privacy, but knew her sailor would hold the knowledge in confidence.  He was one of Randi’s closest friends.

He cupped her cheek and tenderly wiped at the wetness that remained.  Then he tipped her chin up, bringing her eyes to meet his own.  “Tell me the rest.”

She sighed.  “I need to go up there in a few days.” A pause.  “It might explain the nightmare.”

“Why wait?  Why not go now?  You know Mischa would watch the kennels, and Charis can always handle the office without me for a few days.”

She took his hands in her own and kissed his fingers.  “Tiny, something happened up there.”  Another deep breath.  “Randi has a cabin up there, a retreat.  It’s where she and Gwen are honeymooning.”

“Okay.”

“In the attack that killed Nanny, well, Randi managed to kill the raiding party.  There weren’t but about a dozen, all cleanly done.  Just like any number of Sabre missions in the past.”

“But....”

“But she had absolutely no memory of it.  Sky looked, and there was nothing there for him to see.”  Reed looked down at the bed again before resuming eye contact.  “He wasn’t very clear on the details.  I don’t know if it was because he doesn’t have them or because he wasn’t comfortable sharing them so publicly.  He saw darkness coming to her.  He... I... it....  I need to go up there.  I think I would understand better if he can show me what he saw.” 

“I’m sure you would.  It’s what you are best at.  But Sweetheart, why wait?”

“Tiny, it’s their honeymoon and her private retreat.  I am not going to betray a trust that has been in place for years to rush into their sanctuary.  They are only going to be there a few more days, and Sky said at this point, I can wait until they are gone.  Besides, given their bonding and the fact that they are on their honeymoon, it would take two to three days to put enough shielding in place for me to be in the same area they are in.  The wedding and reception drained my reserves dry.”

“Can’t the tribe do something to boost your shielding?”

“Well, we’ve been working on it, but I would prefer not to have them there while we are trying to put it in place.  Sky said their bonding was almost overwhelming for most of the clan even those not as gifted.”

“I see your problem.”  He shrugged, trying to sound more nonchalant than he felt.  Something in her story was making his skin crawl.  “Do you think...?”

“Let’s wait til we get up there, please?” she asked almost pleadingly.  “There are so many images, so many feelings....  I’d like the opportunity to see for myself before I have to make any judgments.”

“All right, Honey.  I didn’t mean to push.”

“I know, Tiny, and you’re not pushing... not really. I’ve just got the worst case of creepy crawlies going up mine spine about this one, and I don’t like it.”

Tiny was silent as he looked at his partner for a long moment.  “Me either,” he agreed at last.  “Thank you for telling me though.”

“Hmm, thank you for listening.  I love being able to share with you.”

“I’m glad you do,” Tiny said, cradling her to his chest.  “Now let’s get some rest.  We have a lot of work to do before we head to the mountains.”

“Thanks for looking out for me,” she mumbled even as she fell into sleep.

“Always, Sweetheart.  I love you.”  Then the only sound in the room was that of their breathing as it evened out into sleep.

************

Geoff sat upright in the bed, groaning in agony.  Jill was up almost immediately, easing him back into a more prone position and turning him onto his belly.  She gently climbed on top of him, careful not to hurt him further as she straddled his body.  “You overdid it again today, didn’t you?” she chided softly even as her hands began digging into muscles that were cramped and spasming.

“Um hmm,” he groaned, clenching his jaw together to keep from screaming in agony. 

“Why Geoff?  Why do you keep doing this to yourself?”

“Ungh... ow... oh God, that hurts!!”  He took a deep breath.  “I’m close, Jill.  Uh... oh!”  He realized that he sounded quite orgasmic and spared an ironic thought that he should be so lucky at this point in time.  He missed being able to hold Jill and share physical intimacy with her.  They still cuddled together, but he wanted it all back again. It was one though not the only driving force behind his furious push to regain the strength and mobility he had lost.

“Close to what, Sweetheart?  Becoming one big knot?  I’d say you’ve got that pretty much covered.”  She leaned down and kissed him tenderly on the forehead, noting the sweat from the pain he was in.  She was both proud of and frustrated with him and just a bit bewildered by what seemed to be driving him so hard.

“Uh... ow... ugh!”

“Well, it’s not doing anything for your coherence level, Hon.”  He would have laughed at her teasing if he had not been in quite so much pain.  As it was, the smile he tried to give her was nothing more than a grimace.  He howled when she hit the spot that had actually been broken.  She gentled her touch even further, knowing he had to relax soon.  The doctor had warned her about occurrences like this, and Geoff’s stubborn determination to push himself made them inevitable.  “I’m sorry, Geoff.  I’m not trying to hurt you any more.”

“I... know you’re, uh... not, Sweetheart.  You’re ugh, um, actually doing a... ouch very good job of urk... helping me to relax.  Ungh... It’s just... umm that I... yi yi yi, God... I can feel it, umm waiting for me there... ow, just beyond my reach.”

“It?”  She dug a little harder, feeling the muscles beneath her hands beginning to relax and unclench under her soothing touch.

“My, oh yeah, that feels good... my mobility.  My strength.”

“That’s wonderful, Sweetheart.  But Geoff, what’s the rush?  You are so far ahead of where the doctors ever thought you’d be.  You weren’t supposed to recover at all.”

“It’s hard to explain, Jill.  It’s almost like... anxiety?  All I know is there is a driving need... a force almost pushing me to get well.”

“Well, Geoff, I’m really glad you’ve got such focus and drive, but Honey, you’ve got to harness it.”  She took a deep breath.  “What is the point of working so hard that you hurt yourself, huh?  You gave your daughter away standing on your own two feet.  Re-injuring yourself because you pushed too hard is senseless.”

“You’re... right, Sweetheart.” He panted his way through more pain.  The relaxing of his muscles was almost as agonizing as the spasms had been.  He was going to be sore for days after this little debacle.  Slowly her contact became more of a caress and he lay there relishing the simple touch.  Geoff reminded himself to be thankful for the closeness and comfort they could share and for Jill’s infinite patience.  With rare exception, the only times she had lost her temper with him was when he hurt himself pushing too hard.  “I love you, ya know,” he said to her.

“I know you do.  I think it is one reason you are pushing yourself so hard.  But Geoff, I will love you no matter what.  For better or worse, come hell or high water.”  She blew out a breath and pulled the sheet up over his naked back.  “I think you need to stay in bed tomorrow and rest.”  She paused and waited for the outburst that didn’t come.  She looked down to see him regarding her seriously.

“I think you’re right,” he answered after a bit.  “All my extra pushing is doing is landing me back in bed in agony.  I’ve got pace myself a bit better....”  He sighed in frustration.  “I just need to get back on my feet.”

“You will, Love.  You will.  Rest now.  We can worry about it tomorrow.”  He would have answered, had not Carbon chosen precisely that moment to stand on his hind legs and lean on the bed to give Geoff a good face washing.  He laid there chuckling until the puppy was satisfied Geoff’s face was clean.  Carbon looked up at Jill with an almost grin, tongue lolling out one side of his mouth.  It was clear he was quite pleased with his efforts.  “Still working on that whole obedience thing, huh?”  She took a warm, wet rag and wiped her husband’s face.

“Well,” he replied still chuckling. “We haven’t had him two weeks yet, ya know.”

“And it’s REAL hard to try and tell him to sit when you’re laughing so hard,” Jill said with her own little giggle, giving the shepherd pup a good scratch behind the ears.  The dog whimpered in response and nuzzled her hand affectionately.  “Now, go lay down, Carbon.”  The puppy cocked his head in question, then with drooping ears, headed for the bed they’d made up for him in their room.  You could almost hear the sigh in his body language as Carbon resettled himself in his bed.  “You know, it’s a good thing the girls aren’t going to be gone any longer than they are.”

“Why is that, Sweetheart?”  Geoff turned his head to face his wife who was gently climbing back into bed.  She made her nest, laying on her side and placing a hand on his back to stroke it softly.

“Because he’s a very smart little guy, and I could get attached too easily.”

“Yeah, I noticed he stayed in his bed watching until he was sure you were through, and he seemed to know that you were helping and not hurting me.  I could get attached to him too.”  He thought a moment.  “Randi would kill us.”

“No, Dear.  Randi would be devastated.  Gwen would kill us.”

“Ooh... good point.  That would not be pretty, especially after having given up Ditto to Randall.”

“Um hmm.  Besides, we really don’t have a good place for a dog at home.”

“Good point,” Geoff agreed aloud though he knew it wasn’t entirely true.  “But it’s been fun having him visit.  And training him has been a hoot.”

“You just like watching him chase his tail,” Jill chuckled again before the room fell into the silence of sleep once more.

************

“When are we expecting them back?” Ella asked Tommy as she prepared breakfast.  He was pouring juice and Randall was happy to see his coming.  Tommy smiled at his enthusiasm.

“I dunno for sure.  Randi wasn’t real specific about it, but I’d suspect in the next day or two.  They’ve been gone almost two weeks.”

Randall banged his spoon on the table, trying to remind his parents of their need to feed him.

“Hmm, it’ll be nice to have them home again and settled down to married life finally,” Ella commented as she put the boy’s plate in front of him.  Randall dug right in.  Ditto sat in her spot beside him, waiting for the inevitable fallout.  “I have never seen two people more deserving of a little peace and happiness than those two.  They suffered so much just to be together.”

“Um hmm.  The latest pool running on them at work is what their first married argument will be about.”

Ella turned to look Tommy fully in the face then, eyes wide in astonishment.  “You are joking.  Please tell me you are making a very bad joke to get a rise out of me.”

“Nope.  Word got around to me yesterday afternoon.”

“For heaven’s....  Why I oughta just....”  Her tirade was stopped by his warm touch.  “Why can’t people just mind their own damn business?!?  Haven’t they been through enough without having to be so much gossip?”

“Honey, I agree with you.  But they are a fascinating couple.  What they have is so rare, and most of these people watched them fall in love.  Hell, these folks knew that Gwen and Randi were in love long before the two of them caught a clue.”

“Then why are their friends,” said with a bite of sarcasm, “waiting for them to fight?”

“No, Honey,” he answered, putting his arms around her and drawing her back into his body.  “That’s not it at all.  Randi and Gwen are usually so in tune with each other, the guys at work are curious to know what they will disagree on first.”  He chuckled.  “Though I guess some of them just want to see the sparks fly and the make-up afterwards.”

She pulled out of his embrace.  “I don’t think it’s funny, Tommy.  They really have been to hell and back for each other.  And now when they have a chance for happiness, their friends play games like this??”

“You’re right, Babe.  But you know the two of them have been a favorite topic of speculation and gossip since Randi first came to Midas.”

“And you are so lucky Randi has never gotten wind of those particular bits of gossip either.”  Ella raised a brow to emphasize her point, but she couldn’t help the smile that crossed her lips at the thought of some of the pools the company had held on their behalf.

“Oh, no kidding.  The sparks of THEM fighting and making up would be nothing in comparison to the fires she’d light kicking my butt to kingdom come.”  He paused.  “And I’d just be the first in a very long line.”

“Um hmm.”

“Maybe I should put a quick end to this pool.”

“Or be very sure she doesn’t find out.” 

“That I can do.  We have LOTS of practice in that particular skill.  Nobody wants Randi or Gwen to hear about this particular activity.”

Ella chuckled, and Tommy smiled that the tension was broken at last.  “I’ll just bet.  What’s the odds-on favorite?”

“Randi’s over-protectiveness.  Most everyone thinks it will cause Gwen to blow first.”

“Well, it will be good to have them home again regardless,” she said.  Randall beat his spoon on the table just then, and Tommy turned around and laughed.

“Not getting enough attention there, Buddy?  Well c’mon, Little Man.  Let me eat a bite, then we’ll go get cleaned up for work today.”

“O go?”

“We’ll see.  I imagine O can go for a little while.”

Ella just smiled as she watched them interact.

************

“This is such a beautiful place.  Thank you for sharing it with me.”  They had spent their final day re-walking the property, and Gwen was looking forward even more to returning when warmer weather would allow them to access the other activities available.  Randi stopped walking then and released Gwen’s hand only to wrap her strong arms around her and pull Gwen back into her body.  They stood entwined together like that for long moments, watching as the sun dropped below the horizon.  With its passing, the temperature started to plummet, and they walked hastily back to the warmth of the small cabin.

“I thought our honeymoon would be a good time to share this sanctuary with you.  A place just for us.”

“I really do like the sound of that.  It is nice to know there is a place we can come to where it is just you and me.”  They stepped into the cabin and were immediately surrounded by the heat the large fireplace was emitting.  Gwen sighed and went to stand in front of it, her hands extended before towards the flames.  Randi did the same, and within a few moments they were warm enough to move back to the kitchen area.  They took their prepared dinner back to the living area and curled up together in front of the fireplace to eat.  The meal passed in silence for the first few minutes, then Gwen looked up at Randi with a twinkle in her eyes.  “You know what I think I’ll miss most about this place?”

Randi smiled rakishly and wiggled her eyebrows.  “Can’t be the love making.  I don’t see anything changing on that front for decades except getting better.”

Gwen laughed, turning beet red even as she slapped at the firm belly beside her.  “Pretty sure of yourself aren’t ya there, Stud?”

In the blink of an eye, the mischief in Randi’s eyes turned to seriousness, and she captured Gwen’s hand in her own and brought it to her lips.  “No, Love.  I am that sure of us.”

Gwen was stunned into speechlessness, but it didn’t keep her from reacting.  She slipped her hand from Randi’s and slid it into the dark tresses, urging the warrior’s lips down to meet her own.  “Always,” she whispered as they pulled apart breathlessly.

“Forever,” Randi answered as she drew them together again.  Their dinner cooled as minutes passed in gentle exploration.

“Hmm,” Gwen murmured as they separated again and resumed eating.  “You sure are good at that.”

“Mm, so are you, but a little extra practice never hurt anybody.”  She paused and waggled her eyebrows once again.  “So can I interest you in practicing with me later?”

“Oh yeah.  Practice makes perfect, you know.”

The silence that fell over them as the finished their meal was comfortable.  Randi took her empty plate and Gwen’s to the sink.  Gwen refilled their wineglasses and they returned to their places in front of the fire.  This time though, she sat between long legs and Randi wrapped her arms around Gwen’s torso.  “So,” Randi asked her companion, ”what are you going to miss the most about this place?”

“The atmosphere.  My muse came back to me here.  There is just something about this place that made it easy to tell stories again... even the ones that hurt to tell.”  She leaned back a little more into the body behind her.  “I’d like to take some of that home with me again.”

Randi leaned forward and nuzzled the ear.  “I don’t think you have to worry about that, Love.  You promised me more Soulmate stories when we get home, and once you get started there will be no stopping the flow.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“You know I am.  You’re gonna keep telling them to me, and pretty soon the world will be hearing your stories again.”

“Thank you, Love.  You have no idea what your faith in me means to me,”

“Yes, I do, Gwen.  Because it works both ways.” 

“Can I tell you something?”

“Anything, you know that.  No more secrets.”

“I’m going to like being married to you, I think.”  Gwen could feel the silent laughter flowing through the body behind her.  “Something funny back there, Stud?’

“No, Beloved.  I’m glad you think so.  So do I.  This is a lifetime commitment for me.”

“Longer than that, Randi.  We are eternal.”  It was quiet again for a time after that as they both sat contemplating the flames and affirming again in their own hearts and minds the bond between them.  Gwen squeezed the hands encircling her waist and felt them tighten in response.  “Want to go practice some more?”

“Oh, I like that idea.”

They never noticed when the fire turned to ember and ash.  They were totally immersed in the fire they were creating between them.

************

“You ready to go home, Love?”  Everything was packed and put away, and they were loading the last few things on the bike for their return trip.

Gwen came up behind Randi and wrapped her arms around her.  “Yep.  I’ve had a wonderful time here, and I know we will be coming back again.  It’s time for us to go home and start our life there as a married couple.”

Randi turned, and drew the bard more fully into her embrace.  “I really like the sound of that.  I never thought all this would be possible, and now I hold the world in my hands.”  She brushed a tender kiss across the blonde head.

“So, do I, Love.  So do I.  Let’s go home.”

THE END
07/02 – 04/03

A Valiant Mind