The one knight fell against the other knight as he was shoved out of the way.

Aron was very grateful there was nothing to pack as he entered the room. He gathered all of the children except for Yehudit, and he went off in search of his eldest.

Liadan was not yet awake, and was not having a good dream. She reached out, softly calling for Aron.

Aron was laying on the floor on the far side of the room. His eyes were closed but he wasn't asleep. He hadn't slept all night. Anger still pounded through his veins.

"Aron!" Liadan cried out.

Aron continued to feign sleep, his back to the family.

Liadan woke up, shaking all over and tears running down her cheeks. She looked around and saw Aron laying on the other side of the room. Liadan hunched her shoulders miserably and closed her eyes.

Little Vikki went to her father and began pulling his hair.

Aron wrapped his arm around her and cuddled her close. "Come here, you little dumpling."

Vikki punched her father in the eye.

"Owww!" Aron exclaimed.

Liadan finally made herself get up and go over to her husband and Vikki.

"Vikki, you know better than to hit your Papa." Liadan said, trying not to look at Aron and let him know how hurt she felt. It was the first time since Ertzel was born that she had one of her nightmares and Aron was not there comforting her when she woke up.

Aron rubbed his eye. He felt off this morning. Just an uncomfortable feeling and some random pains. He pushed himself to his feet.

"Aron..?" Liadan did not know what to say.

"What?" he replied, shuffling over to the pitcher and basin to rinse off. A few grunts and groans escaped him.

"We can work things out..." Liadan said, frowning at the groans.

"I don't think we can, Lia. I don't see how we can."

"We've lasted this long. Remember how scared I was when we first started?" Liadan offered Aron a towel.

Aron accepted the towel and dried himself off.  "But it's not that I'm scared. I feel useless. And unable to protect all of you. And when I do make a decision, you scoff at it. I'm supposed to be in charge, dammit."

"You protect us, we're the only family that hasn't lost-" Liadan narrowed her eyes. "We work together, neither of us is supposed to be the only one in charge."

"Well it's not how it works. I might as well turn into my father and spend all time on the inn." He paused. "If we still had an inn."

"We can get it back, rebuild." Liadan said. "Before we met I had less than we have now."

Aron absently rubbed his left arm. Why did it hurt so? "All of my attention would be devoted to rebuilding and running it, not you and the kids."

"Then don't rebuild the inn... I don't care if we have an inn or not as long as I have my family and we're safe." Liadan frowned. "Is something wrong with your arm?"

"Running an inn is the only thing I'm good at." He sighed. "It's sore, I think I slept on it wrong last night."