Miranda had dozed off inside the large claw-footed tub when Elise came into the room, humming a merry little tune. Cracking open her green eyes, she saw the maid approaching the tub with a few vials in her hands, which made her open her eyes all of the way and sit up.

"What do you have there, Elise?"

Elise smiled at Miranda, hoping that this warrior lady didn't put up too much of a fuss over the herbal ointments for her wounds and bruises.

"Ahhh, m'lady.....I 'ave ointments to soothe ye're wounds. Once ye are done wit' ye're bath I will rub them on ye."

Miranda looked quizzically at the vials, studying them. When she asked to look at them more closely, Elise brought them to her. Miranda took each of the three vials and opened them, sniffing each. One was a lavender lotion, one comfrey, and one was hemlock.

"Good choices, Elise...all of them. I would be pleased if you would rub these on my wounds."

For the next fifteen minutes, Elise washed Miranda's long, red hair then turned her back while Miranda washed herself. When she heard her maneuvering in the tub, she rushed over with an over large, plush towel, wrapping it around the red-head. Next, she ushered the woman over to the vanity and while wrapped in the towel, Elise brushed out her long hair, then she ushered her over to the bed and laying her down on her stomach, she began to apply the three ointments to her back. Once she was done, she gave the vials to Miranda to apply to her chest, then helped her re-wrap those wounds. Afterwards, she aided Miranda in dressing in an emerald colored gown, trimmed in white ermine. When Elise went to put her hair up, that was where Miranda stopped her.

"I do not care for my hair up, Elise, but thank you."

Elise then stifled a gasp when she watched Miranda lift the skirt to her gown and strap a thigh belt with a small dagger inside a jeweled sheath to her upper thigh. Then, she led Miranda down to the dining hall to dine with Lord Mhoram.

Shiloh lay cradled in Erik's arms as he made his way out to Mina. She was safe...no more knives, no more burns, no more pain. The nightmares she could deal with now that Erik had found her, but not knowing if she would ever see him again had been pure hell. She shivered, thinking back to what Roxy and Chang had done to her and that was when she remembered something....something she'd heard when Chang had run off with her, but she couldn't have heard right. Kryton had yelled something about his daughter after Chang had taunted Erik then taken off with her slung over his shoulder. Was he talking about her? He couldn't have been. Jason DragonStarr was her father. Wasn't he?



Miranda made her way into the dining hall, her emerald gown swishing around her feet. She'd never worn anything quite so exquisite and while she enjoyed the feel of the soft material around her legs, she missed the freedome of movement her trews afforded her. She entered the dining hall and saw the grand table, place settings at one end of the long dining table. Heading towards that end, she nodded to Commander Kryton as he too entered the dining hall. Both sat down, one on either side of the chair at the head of the table, waiting for their host to come and explain things to them.

SIr Kryton...

Lady Miranda...

You're already sitting at my dining table , I hope your more refreshed and relaxed a little. I also hope you have a big appetite. My servants will be serving a roasted bore that is extremely tasty. It's still on the spit and will be ready in a short time...

Come lets go to my library..It's actually nice to have visitors. My father once had many visitors and this castle use to be the center of attention for many years...but the plague destroyed many villages, the lands beared no fruit nor vegatables...and then the Great Swamps...

...a dark evil spirit rose from the Great Swamps and came over the land..and what once was a thriving community turned ugly. Many people died..land barons as well. Darkness fell across all the land...gray dark clouds...rodents and black locust rained down from the clouds...thunder and lightning...rivers rose over their banks and floods destroyed what the plague didn't even the great dragon rider...Lord Trell K'rul was diagnosed with the plague. He was my fathers First Mark as Sir Quaan is mine. Sir Quaan will be riding back with you as an escort through the badlands.

Lord Trell had the best of the best healers come and try to break the fever...but one night...something happen and bannor schiekd noise disturbed the entire peoples...his bond with Lord Trell was threatened...Lord Trell was dying. A flash of lightning and loud thunder....came from his room...many guards were killed trying to enter his room...bannor rescued him and they both flew east toward the great Swamps. Evil dark clouds filled the skiies the next day..while everyone scattered to try and figure out what happen to him. The plague must have taken his mind because he slipped off bannors back and fell into the great swamps that is ruled by the evil queen. She and bannor do not get along. Bannor left and never returned to the castle...we thought bannor died a true death of a dragon...bonded with his master. But...strangely, Bannor is still alive. We ...my father believed that Sir Trell has gone to the other side and is the Gray Slayer that we have been fighting with for years. He knows many secrets this kingdom has and instructs his orges, orcs what to attack.

You are probably wondering how bannor and I became one...

Come let us sit down and eat...and I will explain my fathers winery, the tunnels, the mountains' gems and bannor...I'm sure you have many questions for me..so please ask them..


to be continued

Erik wasn’t thinking clearly, that much was for certain. He was so focused on Shiloh that he wasn’t taking into account her condition. When he marched his way out to where Mina waited patiently, even though she was looking overhead and watching the circling bull, Erik finally knelt down and held Shiloh gently as he gave a concerned look to her.

”I don’t know what to do, Shi. I just…..”

Finally taking a deep breath, Erik looked down for a long moment as he collected his composure then looked back at Shiloh.

”I’ll do what ever you want me to do. Stay here. Go to the other encampment where the Varden are holed up. What ever you want to do…that’s what we’ll do. All you have to do is tell me. You’re all I have left now and I don’t want to risk losing you.”

It was clear Erik had been through quite a bit and where to start, he had no idea. All he knew was that he suddenly felt very drained and exhausted not to mention he was still quite filthy from the battles he’d survived.

Shiloh looked up at Erik, sensing that something was bothering him....something was weighing on him. She lifted her hand and cupped his cheek, her gray eyes seeming too big in her thin face.

"Erik, I wish to go to the compound where we can begin our plan for our survival. Serena, Roxy and the lizonians must be dealt with before they join forces with the dark wizards. Take me to our new home."

Resting her head back on his chest, all Shiloh could think about was being with Erik, going home and getting stronger. She wanted vengeance with a passion that made her gray eyes glow. She smiled over at Mina, sighing when the dragon's nose gently nuzzled her shoulder. She was where she belonged.

Looking up, she saw Kryton approaching them, having left the dining hall for a few moments.

"Erik..Shiloh, I am going to stay here for the night...get to know your rescuer a little better, then Dacia and I will come to the compound. Take care of her Erik...whatever you and she need will be provided."

For a brief second, Shiloh saw something in Kryton's eyes that had her puzzled and thinking about what she knew she'd heard when she'd been taken. She would question Erik about it....but later. Right now, all she wanted to do was go home...with Erik and Mina.

"Take me home, Erik. Take us both home. I want to regain my strength so that we can patrol together....by the Gods!!! Sampson....Rain!!! Are they okay?!"

Erik assured her, calming her that the dog was injured but alive and healing. Her horse was also fine and waiting for her back at the compound. Breathing a sigh of relief, she relaxed once more.

"I want to go home. Our home."

Erik pulled himself to stand as straight as he could when he saw Kryton approaching. When the commander gave his order for Erik to take Shiloh to the Varden compound, the exhausted Dragon Rider was too exhausted to find argument with the order and all too happy to comply. With a sigh of resignation, Erik merely nodded and bid his commander’s order.

With every ounce of strength he could muster, Erik picked Shiloh up and with Mina’s help, got the recovering aid settled on the back of his beloved dragon. With a silent, telepathic command that made both rider and dragon’s eyes glow a soft blue, Erik gave Mina the command to take them to the Varden compound.

Mina crouched then with a gentleness Erik had never known the dragon to possess, the giant, flying lizard lifted off the ground and began a wide spiral ascension to the clouds. Erik furrowed his brows wondering why Mina was being so careful and graceful when he caught sight of the big, red bull circling high overhead. With a knowing, tired smile, Erik reached down and patted Mina’s thick, scaled neck affectionately.

~I promise, girl. Get Shi and I safely to the Varden and you can come back to spend some time with that handsome fella circling overhead.~

Mina merely nodded but Erik could feel the joy that particular statement gave the large beast. As soon as Mina reached the altitude she needed to glide on the air currents, Erik sighed once more and pulled Shiloh close to him and rested his cheek on the top of her head as she leaned back against his chest. All he wanted now was to get to the compound, take a long overdue bath and settle in with Shiloh in a warm, comfortable bed.

Shiloh snuggled in close to Erik as Mina flew them back to the Varden stronghold. She bypassed the new compound and went straight to a hidden entrance in the side of the mountain. She landed gently inside a massive dragon landing bay where Lord Jardony and Chandra were waiting. Chandra looked much better, but still carried healing wounds upon her face and arms. Jardony smiled and patted Mina's nose as he instructed some of his warriors to give Erik help in getting off of his dragon.

"Rider Erik..please, accept their assistance. I sense how exhausted you are and Chandra has informed me on what those bastards did to your woman and aide. I have a private chamber already prepared for you and Shiloh along with anything you will need in her healing as well as your rest.....(smiles knowingly).......I know how I would be in your place and noone but me would be caring for my woman. At least yours will live. At least allow Doler to carry Shiloh. He will carry her as if she were his daughter with you right beside him. They will lead you to your chambers."

Shiloh spoke softly to Erik, telling him to let Doler carry her. She could see the dark circles underneath his eyes and a worried expression crossed her face. Doler carried her, with Erik behind him, down a long tunnel with various rooms carved out on either side. He made several turns until he came to a room that was secluded. Inside was a large ornate bed, two chairs, shelves with healing ointments, hair soap and body soap. There were also clean bandages and changes of clothing in the small wardrobe. A tub with hot water was already waiting in the middle of the room.

M'lord, Lord Jardony wishes you to use the tub as long as you like. If Lady Shiloh is up for a bath as well, simply use the rock on the table and knock four times on the south wall. Joanna and Dina will come, empty the tub and refill it. If you need anything else, take the rock and knock 5 times on the east wall and someone will assist you."

Doler gave a small bow and left Shiloh sitting on the bed and Erik standing in the room.

"Go ahead Erik, soak in the soothing water. I will lay here and rest.....and watch."

She gave him a weak, but mischevious grin.

Miranda sat at the fine dining table, studying her host. She didn't know what to make of him, but she was going to find out. She ate her small appetizer, waiting for Kryton to return so that Lord Morham would finish his tale. Until then, she would enjoy the food and maybe ask a few questions of her own. She shifted in the gown, liking it and yet uncomfortable in it. When Morham asked her if she was okay, she smiled at him.

"I am fine....it is the gown. While I enjoy the feel of it, I prefer the easy movement of my pants. I feel.....as if I am vunerable within this gown. But, I do appreciate your hospitality."

Just then Kryton returned, informing them that Erik was taking Shiloh back to the Varden stronghold to finish healing as well as him getting much needed rest.

"Now that Commander Kryton has returned m'lord, how about you finish your tale so that we know more about you."

Miranda's green eyes looked into Morham's, one eyebrow lifted up...listening intently to what he had to say.

Erik barely remembered Mina landing but when he was offered assistance, his pride gave him energy to refuse at first. But when Jardony insisted his aids help, Erik had enough sense of training in him that he knew better than to refuse help from the commanding officer. With reluctance he gave Shiloh over to the one who would carry her and walked on his own to the secluded chambers that awaited them.

It seemed like forever before he and Shi were finally left alone but the second they were, Erik worked at removing his battle scared armor, letting it fall haphazardly where ever it landed once it fell from his weary body. The steaming water of the tub was too inviting to pass up, even in his exhausted state of mind.

Barely aware of Shi’s comment, he did manage to make a half smile as he eased his naked, aching body into the water to wash away the dirt, grime, blood and memories of the battles he endured over the last 24 hours.

All but one. Over and over his mind kept playing out the scene where Braum was attacked and killed by the Lizonians then the revelation the man was his father. So many questions were still unanswered and Erik felt the bitterness of defeat knowing he’s never get the answers he so desperately wanted. And the only person who could give him those answers was dead.

Closing his eyes after he practically scrubbed the skin of his body and the hair off his head, Erik leaned back in the tub and let the soothing, warm water surround him as he drifted off to another place and time. A time when he was a young boy and his father was with him. He couldn’t see the face but he heard the voice, Braum’s voice, tell him he would be a fine dragon rider one day when the time came.

Shiloh watched as Erik readied for the tub, sighing at the sight of his hard, toned body. If only she were completely healed and he not so exhausted. She knew something was bothering him, but didn't pry...yet. She would give him a little time to tell her before asking him about it. Until then, she relaxed as well as she could, her body still somewhat painful.

When she saw his eyes close and knew that he was completely relaxed, she rose and headed for the small wardrobe closet that was on the wall on the other side of the tub. She enjoyed the feel of the dress, but it wasn't the most comfortable thing to wear to sleep in. Opening the doors, she cringed as the hinges creaked and looked over at Erik, not wanting to disturb him. Finding nothing, although the closet was filled with clothing for both of them, she closed the doors and headed over to the small chest of drawers. The top drawer held underthings for them and the second drawer held night shirts. Grabbing one, she attempted to get out of her gown.

After a few minutes of struggling and a few whimpers of stretching wounds, she was able to get her arms out, but by then she was swaying from the exertion of just that. She glanced at the tub and decided that she wasn't going to bother Erik. He needed that bath worse than she needed a nightshirt. She smiled lovingly at him, stroking his hair as she walked by the tub, her other hand holding up the dress.

Reaching the bed, she lay the nightshirt down, took a deep breath and gently pushed the dress down her torso. If Erik opened his eyes just then, he would see the raw, seeping wounds criss-crossing her back from the whip and knives as well as the ugly bruises adorning her ribcage. By the time she got the dress down to her ankles, she was sweating and breathing heavily. Her wounds burned and some of them seeped, but she donned the nightshirt anyway. Turning around, she saw Erik's eyes upon her.

Erik’s eyes were opened the moment he heard Shiloh get out of the bed but he wanted to see what she was up to so he pretended to have his eyes closed and not paying attention when she looked around. He wasn’t exactly sure what she was looking for when he saw her looking through the wardrobe and next the drawers but when she withdrew the night shirt, he understood completely.

He watched her struggle with the garments. While some would have thought it some sort of perverted sadism, Erik found it quite enjoyable. You never appreciate a woman’s form until you see it in motion when they don’t think you’re watching. But when he saw the marks upon her back he wanted to find every last Lizonian and murder them slowly and painfully. It was all he could do to hold his rage in check and prevent himself from getting up out of the tub and going after them right then and there.

Thankfully for him and Shiloh he was too damn tired. And when Shiloh turned around, she saw Erik wasn’t feigning sleep. And he didn’t’ have the chance to bury that raw rage he was feeling. So what Shiloh saw was nothing less than a murderous glare directed at her.

Of course it only took a couple of seconds before Erik blinked that look away and rose from the tub grabbing the towel at the same time. Wrapping the towel around his waist, he tucked the corner in to keep it in place as he walked over to Shiloh.

”It would be better to sleep without it, Shi. Give your wounds air and allow them to breath. They’ll heal faster if you do. Trust me. I know what I’m talking about.”

Cupping her face in his hands, Erik kissed her gently then took her hand and led her to the edge of the bed and sat down, coaxing her down with him.

”There’s no worry about anything, Shi. I’m too damn tired and you’re still too fragile for us to do anything tonite. I just want to lay here and hold you close to me and I sure as hell don’t want some scratchy piece of material in between us. Take it off and give your body a chance to heal. Please?”

Without waiting for Shiloh to make up her mind, Erik gently eased the night shirt up off her head and off her body before laying down on the bed and drawing her down with him, gently cradling her body next to his. His fingers stroked her hair as he laid there staring at the ceiling.

Shiloh woke the next morning in Erik's arms and smiled lazily. She'd had nightmares throughout the night, but Erik had been there to soothe them away. Her body still hurt but not as bad as before. She looked over at him, smiling again at how boyish he looked sleeping. She softly stroked his cheek before slowly climbing out of the bed. Throwing on the nightshirt she was going to wear the night before, she sucked in her breath as it slid over her wounds.

'knock-knock-knock'

Shiloh walked to the door, opening it to see Chandra, Lord Jardony's daughter, standing there with a breakfast tray.

"I thought the two of you would be hungry, Shiloh, so I brought you breakfast."

Chandra walked in, noticed Erik still sleeping and quietly laid the tray down on the small table in the room.

"I didn't think the two of you would be up to the communal dining room. Also, Father told me that he had told Mina how to get here. He knew that when Erik found you, he might want a little more privacy than the compound would allow as well as you feeling safer here than there. I hope he didn't overstep in doing this."

"No, Chandra...he didn't overstep by any means. I am grateful to be here."

Shiloh's mouth was watering at the smell of the food and she listened politely to Chandra as she explained that their healers would be there later in the morning to look over her wounds, then she gave Shiloh a gently hug and left.

Shiloh walked over to the bed and sat down next to Erik, stroking back a lock of hair that had fallen over his forehead, smiling at him, glad to be alive.

Erik was awake the instant Shiloh stirred next to him but he wasn’t quite ready to face her y et. Not that he didn’t want to but opening his eyes meant the harsh realities of things that had come to pass would hit him square in the face again. He heard the entire conversation between Chandra and Shiloh as they conversed quietly and his stomach even rumbled a little when he smelled the food Chandra brought in.

When Chandra left and Shiloh came back to sit down next to him on the bed and move the hair from his forehead he opened his eyes and looked up at her. There was a look of pain in his eyes for a fleeting moment before he gave her a small smile and reached up to draw her down next to him once more.

”The troubled dreams will fade in time, Shi. It’s not a lot of consolation I can give you but it’s the truth and sometimes the truth is better heard now than later.”

Kissing the top of her head he sighed heavily before loosening his hold around her to let her wiggle free once more knowing she must be as hungry as he was.

”Sounds like we’ve been pretty much taken care of. What smells so damn good?”

Shiloh giggled even though being held hurt a little. But when he said something about eating, she pushed him back down on the bed, leaned over him and kissed him before leaning back a little bit to let her gray eyes stare into his blue ones.

"Erik, if you need to talk...I'm here. You can tell me anything and even if I can't help I can at least listen."

She kissed him again before sliding off the bed to uncover the tray Chandra had brought them. Underneath the lid was fresh bread, cheese, fruit and thin slices of some kind of meat along with a jug of berry juice and two mugs. She fixed him a plate and took it over to him only to go back and fix her own. Sitting down next to him, they ate in silence.

Erik pulled himself up and leaned back against the headboard of the bed, reclining. When Shiloh mentioned about talking to her a shadow crossed his features and he furrowed his brow shaking his head slightly.

”Nothing to talk about, really, but thanks anyway.”

When she brought the plate over for him he sampled everything she got for him before he settled down to eat in silence. His focus was primarily on the plate and food before him. He was quite hungry but he also didn’t really feel like talking about anything right now either. And he wondered if he ever would.

Once he was done eating, he looked around the room they had been given and nodded his approval.

”I’ll be sure to thank Jardony for his hospitality. And forethought.”