(( I know I sent you a pm but I thought I'd post this and if it;s inconvenient we can edit. ))

Fion finally knocked on the door to Khymarah's room at midday. She'd found it difficult to stray away from where Stu was until she was sure he was fine and tucked away. It brought back unpleasant memories for her, which turned to thoughts of other friends and other men. At least the bruise on her face seemed to be lightening.

She'd seen her own room before going to Khymarah's. It was far too large. Fion liked her cozy home and even if she wished there was actual space in her bedroom, she'd never wanted so much. At least she'd unbound her chest and taken off her mask. She'd also washed herself down, using the jug of water and the basin that she'd found. Her shirt was now a clean one.

"Khymarah, are you there?" She asked, glancing about to check that the other galdor wasn't about. She was sure that was Khymarah's field that she could feel.

(( oh babe, did you pm my khy account? i only log into the Aussiemum one. yay thread! ))

Khymarah had found herself her room and hadn't left since, afraid the blonde haired galdor would be lurking outside with his odd sense of humor. Alone and feeling more than out of place, she seated herself at the small tanished vanity in her eerie room and began to write a letter. One of the wicks that she'd harbored had been kind enough to show her how to make the special ink they used for Party letters, and sitting by candle light, she wrote. It was for Ivan, addressed to the doctor. Whether it would actually reach him or not was another matter, but she had to get it out of her system. Red hair pulled back into a loose, messy braid and cloak hung on the back of her chair, she let time slip away from her as she wrote and thought. Everything had been so hectic, and violent, and hard. Without warning, she suddenly burst into tears. Putting aside her quill, she pulled her legs up to her chest, huddled on the large wooden chair, crying quietly. Weary both in body and in spirit, she wondered if anything would ever be better.



Lifting her head abruptly, the woman wiped her eyes quickly with her skirt.

"Hang on a moment." She called out, straightening herself and pushing loose strands of hair out of her face. Standing, she walked to the door and opened it with an attempt at a smile.

"Fion, hello. Come in. Sorry, I was just writing a letter..." The galdor faded off, stepping back to let the woman in.

It wasn't difficult to tell when someone had been crying. Khymarah wasn't the sort to lie often. Fion entered, smiling back, knowing that Khymarah's day had been more tiring. Fion hadn't had to do more than worry and that was at least something she was used to.

"I'm sorry if this is a bad time. It's about Ivan." Fion said his name as gently as possible, knowing that it was unlikely to be one Khy wanted to hear. Not after what she had seen.

"I heard about what you saw, when that seventen woman was around." It was clear from Fion's tone that she didn't like her. "I think we should talk about it."

At the mention of Doctor Mottoni's name, the galdor took a deep breath, immediately realising Fion knew something of the indicident before the Rescue. The sting of fresh tears came to her eyes, and turning away from the human seamstress, she shut the door.



Keeping her back turned, dual colored eyes on the doorhandle, she swallowed back the tears in her voice.

"I don't really think there is anything to talk about. Whatever he did...they did...it...it doesn't matter." Closing her eyes, she forced the tears to roll down her cheeks, wiping them away bitterly.

"There are more important things." She said quietly, turning back to Fion. Smiling, even though her lip quivered, she cleared her throat.

"Did he tell you about it then?" Khymarah said in a quiet, trembling voice. As strong as she wanted to be, it was hard. She cared about him, trusted him. It was hard to let it go.

Fion tried to imagine how hurt she'd be, if it had been someone she'd been with. It was shaming, to think you weren't good enough.

"He told her something she didn't want to hear, she pushed him over and he went down with her. He hates her, I hate her. You can tell." Fion thought the woman was a waste of air and Ivan was probably beginning to feel the same way. "He would never... Never be with someone like her. He still thinks of you, he didn't know how to speak for himself. I wasn't there, he said it looked pretty bad. I wanted you to know. He's a good man."

Fion rubbed the back of her neck. She wanted to sleep soon. She wasn't sure she'd be able to. She kept wanting to go back to check on Stu, to make sure that he really was there and that she hadn't imagined it. She also kept glancing in on Casey, a fact she was sure he didn't appreciate in the least.

"He hasn't been well, lately. He's been relying on, oh shit, substances." She had no idea how to explain it. "I found him in my yard one morning, in a bad way."

She didn't want to say that he'd been naked. She wasn't sure if that was a deal breaker. She didn't want to ruin things for him even worse. Still, Khy deserved to know. Even if Fion didn't think a relationship was a good idea, it was her friends' happiness and she wanted to do right by them.

Khymarah tilted her head slightly, frowning. Substance user? Shaking her head, she laughed slightly, not quite able to understand what it meant, not ever having witnessed addictions for herself.

"Pardon? I don't quite understand...what...substance...is he using to end up on your lawn? What is it doing to him?" Her voice was quiet, concerned, but confused.

Fion didn't entirely know what it was that he was using, just that it was bad. She also didn't want to explain too much because she loved Ivan and she didn't want to make him look worse. She didn't want him to be judged and found wanting, at any time or place.

"I don't know." Fion said, truthfully. "It's not drink. I think you should talk to him about it. It makes him look tired but, you know, he's human. We're always tired."

Always overworked and overworried and out of time. Couldn't help that he'd been shot, not that Fion would ever reveal that. If he wanted to tell Khymarah, he could. Human's bodies were a private battle field. You couldn't protect your turf entirely. Your wounds were yours alone. As much as Fion cared for Khymarah, deeply, there were things that she couldn't tell her. It was an experience that they would never share, just as Fion would never truly understand magic and that feeling of communion that came with it.

"He's not in a good way." Was as close as she could come to qualifying Ivan's many ailments. It carried the weight of many sins.

Returning to the vanity, she looked down at her hands resting in her lap, still frowning. What was he doing to himself? How long before she could get back to him. The redhead suddenly felt a wave of guilt, was this her fault?

"What do you mean, not in a good way? Fion, is he...he's alright isn't he? I can't stay in the Rose if he's not. I have to go to him."

Fion perched herself on the edge of the desk, folding her hands in her lap. He looked functional, though clearly he'd been going on benders. He looked like a mess but it wasn't as though she hadn't seen worse.

"I promised him I'd stay with him for a while, once we got home, to help him back on his feet. He's getting by, it's the best anyone can do." Fion patted Khymarah's shoulder. "What would you do, if you went home? You can't stay with him, you have a cover to maintain. I suppose he could stay with you, if you hid it."

The question was a genuine one. She could leave but she'd just broken several resistance members from gaol, she needed a break. She needed a plan and rest. Fion had no idea if Ivan had listened to her plea that he not use anything while she was gone.

"Don't let anyone catch you." Fion said, advice and a tentative blessing. Fion couldn't think of them together, without thinking about what her own life had become, since Lochlan. What Lochlan had become, now that they were not children.

She was in no hurry to return to that, even if she did want to see that Ivan was well.

She missed her son already.

Khymarah looked up at her, eyes red rimmed and concerned. What would she do? She would...she could...she couldn't stay here, not now. They didn't know who she was, if she was involved. Why would anyone question her?

"I could hide him, I've done it before with a house full of wicks. I can hide one human doctor." Her voice was distracted, as though she was thinking. Slowly, she shook her head.

"Should I tell Ceres? I don't know if he still needs me...how are you all getting home again?" The question was genuine, but the galdor had made her choice. As soon as she could, she would leave the Rose. There had to be a moa or a horse or something here she could buy. Clocks, she would walk if she had to.

Fion nodded, "You have to tell Ceres, he's your superior. He might have plans for us while we're down here."

By "us" she realistically meant "you". Fion was a spy, she was sure Ceres already had a few in Old Rose. Fion was effectively as free as the bird Hawke was named for.

"I don't know how we're getting home but I'm going to stay to keep an eye on everyone. I don't want to leave without Stu." Though Fion wasn't sure he would be coming with her. "I hope we can get a boat or a carriage... I don't want to leg it the entire way. Especially with known faces."

No, she wasn't sure Stu would be coming with her at all. Her heart felt sore.

Frowning at her hands, the galdor shook her head.

"I wouldn't let you walk home from the Rose, Fion. I'm sure there would be someone here who would take you home in secret." Pausing, she glanced at herself in the mirror.

"Money can do wonderful things." The redhead said in a quiet voice. Taking a moment, she felt the weight of exhaustion and exhertion pushing at her, but there was too much to do. Sleep would have to wait. Closing her eyes, the young woman rubbed her temple gently.

"I have to talk to Ceres immediately, and see what I can do about getting back to Vienda. It will have to be at night time, in the cover of darkness."

"Might want to wait until tomorrow to talk to Ceres, he ran himself ragged today and he still has to talk to Hawke." Fion said, yawning. "Dunno if now is the best time. It'll keep until morning. There's no leaving tonight."

Fion patted Khymarah's shoulder. She knew that Khymarah must have been tired too. She'd done so much in such a short time.

"I'd want to run too. Try and sleep though, you need it." She said, standing and cracking her back. "Oh, that smarts. I'm sorry love, I think I need to go to bed."

She tried to smile encouragingly but they were both preoccupied and tired now. It came out wan but genuine. Fion was sure that things would look better in the morning.

Khymarah looked up at her, nodding with a weary sigh.

"No, your right Fion. Your always right. It would be better to wait. Please, go get some sleep, and be careful. I don't like it here, and that blonde gentleman is somewhere in this place." Shuddering, she wrapped her arms around herself with a tired smile.

"Thankyou for telling me, truely."