Aislyn reached for Lia's hand. She let the part about Yehudit to the side for now. "Do the children ever go to him when they need help with some thing or have hurt themselves? Do they go to him with any of the home assignments Sileas gives out? I've got to tell you, some of them are difficult." Aislyn eyed Lia. "Do you give him the chance to take care of you and protect you?"

"The children hardly ever even come to me with their problems... EIther they're really independent or have already realized what a terrible mother I am... They don't come to me for help with school stuff- why should they? I can read but you know how uneducated I really am." Liadan spun a chipped stone with a finger. "I... sort of. It's usually quicker if I just take care of myself- he should concentrate on protecting the children instead of worrying about me."

"It's not that simple. Men like to feel like they are needed by their wives and children. Obviously they are not going to him for assistance with problems either which is...troubling...and makes me wonder where they are going." Aislyn shook her head. "The simple fact is that Aron feels like a failure as a husband and father and therefore he wants to run."

"We all need him." Liadan scowled. "He knew back when we were still courting how I'm used to protecting myself... Before we were courting. Why does he expect that to have changed?"

"It may have started with not feeling like the children need him and grew from there. I'm merely speculating on this of course. Something must have happened, or not happened, to make this build."

"Nothing not happened!" Liadan objected and blushed.

"You said the children weren't coming to you or Aron when they need help. Therefore there was a not happen. Or he saw who they go to."

"I thought you meant... Nevermind." Liadan sighed. "Maybe Sileas is such a good teacher they don't need help."

"It's possible. But there must be a reason that Aron feels this way now. Maybe they're having Sileas help them and Aron resents it."

"I don't know... We've been having trouble for a while." Liadan said.

"My apologies, I didn't know. I've been wrapped up in my own marital troubles."

"But that's not Nelek, it's been one of those mermen..." Liadan said. "I know this is Aron. And I'm losing him."

"I didn't know that then," Aislyn pointed out. "The two of you need to sit and talk it out. Being stubborn will solve nothing. And you know, I bet if he went the monastery, he'd be back in no time because he'd be missing his family."

"Well if he knocked off being so damned stubborn we'd have a shot of working things out." Liadan said.

"Everyone involved has to stop being stubborn."

"But I'm right." Liadan said.

Aislyn gave her a stern look. "You can't possibly know if you're right when you don't even know the problem. You are both going to have to go into it honestly and openly, and prepare to be gutted."

Liadan bristled. "I never criticized your relationships."

"I'm not criticizing, Lia. If you don't want my advice, that's fine. I assumed you wanted it since you seemed upset." Aislyn turned to go back to the twins.

"Wait." Liadan said. "What do I do?"

"Talk to him. Honestly and openly. Don't go in with the attitude that you're right and he's wrong. Remember that while he does things that upset or irritate you, the same goes for him. Listen to what he has to say, find a middle ground and find ways to fix things."

"I'm always honest with Aron." Liadan said.

"But do you let him be honest and acknowledge his feelings?"

"I let him talk all he wants." Liadan said.

Aislyn scowled at Lia. "Do you support him in any way?"