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Daeron couldn't help but laugh at that, and laugh he did, feeling better than he had felt in a long time.

"Well, I don't need to remind you that we are brothers," he grinned, "and that we have the same parents. And were raised together."

Or maybe it was their royal training kicking in, he didn't know. But still, he was glad that he wasn't as different from his family as he had thought.

Daeron chuckled softly. "Then perhaps I should look forward to getting to know my little brother once again," he mused. "It's been far too long since I've seen anyone from home."

He brought her to her room and stopped at the door, smiling down at her warmly. "And here you are. Best to get as much rest as you can, it's going to be a long day tomorrow. I hope you've found time to practice your riding."

"Good night, Lin," Daeron smiled warmly. "Sleep well."

And then he turned and headed to his own room for the night.


When morning came, the fighters who were going on the hunt gathered in the yard long before the sun even began to rise: Celeborn, making sure everything was organized and that everyone was there; Caranthir, bright and cheerful as ever, standing next to Aerin, whose cowl was pulled so low over her face it almost seemed as if she were Aragost - the old Aragost - instead of herself; Timaeus, his bright eyes darting around, already wary for danger; Ahren, who had also become a part of the hunts, despite his mother's worries; and Daeron, his dark eyes serious, his scar bright in the darkness.

Yet they were not the only ones there ... from the edge of the yard, a tall young woman watched them, staff in hand, her dark eyes taking in everything in sight. Yet even she was not alone: at her side sat an enormous blue cat with a shining halo, wings folded neatly at her back.

Rhea watched as the fighters organized themselves as they always did, and as usual they ignored her presence. They had grown used to her coming to see them off, and though the first few times they had tried to talk to her, now they just left her alone.

But there was one person who looked as lost as she herself felt ...

"Stay here," she murmured softly to Whisper; and though the big cat never took orders from the girl, this time she sat obediently, knowing that Rhea was for once not up to mischief.

Staff in hand, Rhea began to move forward, weaving through the group and heading as directly as she could towards Lin.

Rhea could feel it in the back of her mind the moment that Lin noticed her, but she didn't waver, she didn't hesitate, and she didn't alter her course: she simply continued on to her, stopping only when she was close enough to reach out and touch her.

For a moment she said nothing; then she clutched her staff more tightly and murmured softly, "You are fortunate, indeed."

Rhea looked around again at the group of people. "To be able to do something ... something useful. That your father will let you go with on a hunt. That you have the ability to help those who need help. You are fortunate."

She looked back at Lin and smiled faintly. "I wish that I could also go ... but I may not. Nor is there anything that I can do once the children are brought back here. As nothing else, I long to be able to help ... but I must sit back and do nothing. Nothing at all. For this, I say that you are fortunate."

Rhea smiled and lowered her gaze, a faint blush sprinkling across her cheeks. "Mother and Father won't let me," she admitted softly. "They say that on a hunt, I will be more of a hindrance than a help, and that I will only harm those I seek to aid ... and when the children come back here ... who is to say what might end up happening to me if I try to help heal them?"

For all anyone knew, she could end up taking on the injuries - mental and physical - that the children had endured. Sure, they would be healed ... but at what cost to herself?

Rhea nodded slowly, thoughtfully, and then shrugged one shoulder. "I just wish I could do more," she murmured, watching as everyone began to mount their horses. "But I should not keep you any longer ... you have a long trip ahead of you."

She twisted her staff lightly in her hand, then smiled faintly at Lin again. "The butterflies should not bother you until you get back," she whispered softly; and then she began to walk away.