The Main Hall, kitchen, healing room, storage rooms, rooms taken over by families, etc.

"Healing room should be this way... Oh, I think I smell sticky buns!" Distractedly Liadan began heading towards the Hall instead of the healing room.

"Lia! Healing room first."

"OVER TWO WEEKS WITHOUT ANY!" Liadan cried, but turned back towards the healing room.

Aron shook his head as he headed for the healing room.

Lek wiped the tears from his eyes and spotted the bouquet he had gotten for Pinja. It had gone wrong from the beginning- when he brought her flowers. What a terrible person Jack had to be to have made Pinja be afraid of flowers.

Lek picked up the flowers, tore them, threw them back down and ground them under his feet. He wished he could so easily kill those who hurt Pinja. Because of Jack and his people Pinja had suffered, was still suffering and had a baby on the way. And because she had been hurt so badly she would not accept his proposal.

Lek wanted to kill all of those men who hurt women. He and Ertzel had killed a man once, but it was not on purpose, they had only been defending themselves. Lek wanted to know how to kill evil men. He wiped some more tears from his face and walked outside, hoping to find someone who could teach him that.

Shawn had found the perfect spot to build his farm, now it was just a matter of speaking with Wulfsen to claim it. He hummed softly as he headed for the main building and to his wife. He wanted nothing more than to hold her closely.

Lek slammed into his uncle.

"Ooof!" The air left Shawn in a rush and he barely managed to not topple over.

"Uncle Shawn! Quick! I need to learn how to kill people." Lek said urgently.

Shawn stared at his nephew for a moment. "Lek, it is not something you learn quickly, nor is it something you want to learn unless you are a knight or guard," Shawn advised.

"I want to kill Jack. I want to kill all those men who hurt Pinja. I want to kill all men who hurt women like that." Lek said furiously.

"Jack isn't going to last the night, not the condition he was brought back in. I believe the knights said the remaining raiders were already killed." Shawn sighed. "It's a noble desire Lek, but there's far too many men who act this way to kill them all. And if you're not a knight or a guard, and you kill them when they aren't actually harming anyone, you'd find yourself in the dungeon." Shawn thought for moment. "Perhaps you could speak with Wulfsen or Xavier in regards to becoming a knight. You would be trained."

Lek clenched his fists. "Fine, I'll become a knight or whatever so I can kill those kinds of people... What do I have to do to be executioner? I want to make sure Jack doesn't live much longer if I can help it."

"An executioner generally works his way up from being able to kill in battle and being cold and unfeeling about it," Shawn explained. "A person can't just decide to be an executioner. Just imagine if they could and when the time came for the first execution, they are unable to perform the job or their conscience drives them mad."

"After what Jack did to Pinja I wouldn't feel bad at all if I got to kill him." Lek said.

"I agree with you on that, but the executioner also doesn't get to kill just one person and then leave," Shawn said. "And despite your anger, you're not a killer at heart, Lek."

"I can be!" Lek exclaimed. "I killed a man before!"

"And you carried guilt for quite a long time after doing so. And that was to protect your cousin, Lek."

"This will be to protect Pinja and other women!" Lek said. "And to avenge her."

"Coming from a place of vengeance can destroy you."

"It's all I have left to do for her." Lek said. "I wanted to court her sooner... But she was already traumatized by what Jack did I thought in time she would see I could be trusted... But we weren't given enough time and now Jack and people like him hurt her even more." Lek kicked the wall. "Now it's too late. All I have left is to kill Jack and to kill every man like him until the world is safe."

"Oh, Lek, just a noble desire but you'll never rid the world of them completely. But..if you train to be a knight, you can help protect the ladies from the mermen."

"I think I need to learn to fight even more than I need a shield." Lek said.

"You would have to start as a page or squire, work hard and work your way up. You wouldn't be a knight immediately."

"That could take years!" Lek cried. "By then a lot of bad men could have hurt a lot of women."

"At times of battle, everyone fights," Shawn pointed out. "If you put your mind to it and do well, you could progress faster than you think."

"You know how to fight but you're not a knight." Lek pointed out.

"It's different. I already knew how to fight and I wanted to just protect the village. For what you want to do, you need to be a knight."

"But you protected people, you fought and even killed bad guys." Lek said.

"Yes, I did, but I was in the guard. I'm not in the guard any longer, or I won't be once they find a new captain."

"But you can still teach me how to fight." Lek said.

"All of my guard equipment was destroyed or taken in the raid. All the weapons and training equipment."

"That doesn't mean there isn't anything you cam teach me." Lek said.

"I just think you would learn more training with Wulfsen's men, that's all."

"But they will take years to teach me." Lek said. "I want to learn now."

"Learn well, work hard. I know you can apply yourself in such a manner that you will have it mastered in no time."

"You still can teach me faster." Lek stated.

"When I speak to Wulfsen about the land for my farm, I will ask if I can have some supplies to train you."

"Good." Lek said. "I want a sword and a dagger."

"I will see what I can do."

"Maybe something with a jagged blade." Lek added.

Shawn arched an eyebrow. "We'll see. You might have to settle for what Wulfsen can spare."

"A jagged blade would be scarier, wouldn't it?" Lek asked. "It's hard to be scary when you have violet eyes."

"Oh I don't know. Your mother has given me some looks over the years that made me shake in my boots," Shawn replied.

"I want to scare bad guys, not you." Lek said.

"What I meant was that you could look menacing if you perfect that look."

"You're saying I should look more like my mother?" Lek asked incredulously.

"No, I'm saying to master that look she gets when she is angry and feeling mean." Shawn was despairing that the lad could learn to fight from him or Wulfsen.

"Should I get Mama mad at me so I can study her look?" Lek asked doubtfully.

Shawn sighed. "Never mind, Lek."

"Maybe I need a scar." Lek said.

Shawn simply stared. "I think it's better if you learn with Wulfsen's men."

"They all have scars..." Lek said.

"That they didn't get intentionally and probably wish they didn't have them."

"I wasn't going to get a scar on purpose." Lek said sulkily.

Shawn wished he could give Lek at least one of his scars.

"I don't even know how to punch." Lek said.

"You never helped your mother make bread?"

"I'm not very good at it, and bread can't hit back." Lek said.

Shawn frowned. "Without confidence and harboring fear of being hit back, I don't see how you're going to learn to fight."

"I Need to learn how to fight, not make bread." Lek said.

"Stop being afraid of being hit back."

"I'm not afraid of getting hit back, but bread doesn't hit back!" Lek said.

"I'll need to speak with your parents first."

Lek sighed. "They're in the other healing room."

"All right, thank you."

"Then go talk to them." Lek said impatiently.

Shawn sighed. "I will but right now, I want to check on Brie."

Lek gave his uncle an anxious look.

"Patience, lad. Being impatient means you won't be concentrating fully. You'll get injured. You need to calm down some."

"I should have learned how to fight before now." Lek said.

"Well it's something we can fix, but I need you to calm down before you begin training. Do we have a deal?"

Lek nodded impatiently but he stuck out his hand.

Shawn shook his hand. "After I spend some time with Brie, I'll talk with your parents. If they give the  all right and I can tell you're calmer, I'll speak with Wulfsen."

Nelek had a hard time pulling his eyes away from Aislyn. She looked so beautiful. He kept bumping into people which was getting really annoying for everyone else.

Shawn entered the keep, Brie on his arm. Construction on their house was going well and it was nearly time to go to Portside for furniture selection.

Nelek managed to look away from Aislyn long enough to noticed Shaw and Brighid. He waved.

Shawn returned the wave and headed over toward Nelek and Aislyn.

"Hi Shawn. Would you be able to watch Kady tonight?" Nelek was not wasting any time.

Shawn blinked. "Well..I had plans to have a talk with Wulfsen and Brie has last minute things to do with Sileas," he said, not liking to disappoint Nelek. "I wish we could."

"Oh, okay." Nelek said, hoping Aron and Liadan could watch Kady for them tonight.

"I told you they probably had things to do tonight," Aislyn fussed. "I am so very happy for Sileas and I'm also very happy that I have been freed to share in this. Goodness. The first of our little ones to get married."

"I feel so old," Shawn said.

Nelek wondered if Millie or Lek would be their first children to marry, or if it would be Kady. Millie never had any interest and Lek was interested in a girl who seemed impossible.
Lek was in no rush for it, he had just gotten his family back.

Aislyn knew they would be waiting for Kady. Lek was focused on a girl who would never be ready for a relationship and Millie...well...sadly she had reached the age of spinsterhood with no prospects even on the horizon. She knew, deep down, Millie felt unworthy and unimportant , despite having her own successful business. Like herself, Aislyn knew Millie wanted it all.

Nelek kissed Aislyn. He had stopped worrying about their children's marriage prospects and was back to enjoying the moment.

"I hope Sileas is very happy." Nelek said.

"I'm sure she will be. They've been friends for years and she did have a crush on Wulfsen at one point. But don't tell her I mentioned it, no one was supposed to know of it," Brie grinned.

"Wulfsen's a good man." Nelek said. "I hope they're as happy as we are, but with less... troubles." Nelek squeezed Aislyn's hand.

"I wish those wishes for all of us," Shawn replied.

"I'll toast to that, when I have a drink in my hand." Nelek said.

"I will as well," Brie agreed.

"Where are Aron and Lia?" Nelek asked. "Did they go inside already?"

"We just got here right after you."

Nelek peered through one of the doors. "I see Ertzel and most of the Buckley kids... except for the oldest and youngest. I don't see Aron or Lia either."

"Then it's a safe bet that either they've not arrived yet or they had a Vikki emergency."

Nelek smiled. "She's a handful. I don't think they have seen so much trouble since Yehudit was a toddler."

"I'm so grateful Sileas was a good girl, as was Sara. Hopefully Elizabeth will be good as well."

"You and Shawn are both calmer people." Nelek said.

"Aron's calm. He should have had some effect on Vikki."

"Yeah." Nelek said. "He;s good with Kady too."

"Aron's a natural at being a father," Brie said. "Just like Shawn and you were."

"Hello- why is everyone out here?" Liadan asked, still holding her wet and squirming daughter.

"We just happened to encounter one another out here and stopped to chat," Brie replied.

"Have you seen Yehu- my kids?" Liadan asked.

"Ertzel and the little ones are inside at a table," Aislyn replied.

"But no Yehudit?" Liadan was worried.

"I haven't seen Yehudit either. She's been a bit scarce lately."

"I don't know what Sileas got her into, but YeHudit has not been the same for weeks." Liadan fretted.

Brie felt Shawn stiffen beside her. She squeezed his hand lightly. "She's probably jealous of the time Sileas is spending with either Bai or Wulfsen. She's used to having Sileas to herself."

Liadan was not convinced. "She has been avoiding everyone."

"Hmm. I don't know, I agree with Brie. Yehudit has only ever spent time with Sileas. She's upset because Sileas is moving in a different direction without her."

"She's not even clinging to Sileas like she usually does." Liadan said.

"I don't know that this Bai would welcome Yehudit's company. I'd still like to know what he's up to with Sileas," Shawn worried.

"He should have been shot on sight." Liadan said. "He doesn't even look like Kegan."

"I didn't know Kegan, but he could look like the other side of his family. I just want to know what he wants and what he and Sileas have been up to."

"Kegan would have said if his family was a bunch of dwarfs." Liadan said.

"Kegan never really mentioned his family. To be honest, I did have any idea he had any," Brie said.

"He probably didn't have any and this guy is a fake." Liadan said.

"Or he just wasn't close to them," Aron countered.

"Kegan was friendly with everyone." Liadan said.

"I had the impression he had been on his own for awhile. Therefore, he may not have been close with them or knew much about other parts of the family to talk about them."

"Yehudit started acting funny after he came." Liadan said.

"Sileas has been very secretive as well. He even made her change her rooms, and I know she liked that spot downstairs."

"Why aren't we killing him right now?" Liadan asked.

"Mainly because Sileas likes and trusts him, and I trust my daughter. I would, however, like the chance to spend some time alone with him and get to know him."

"He's probably messing with Sileas's head." Liadan said.

"The thought has crossed my mind, but then I remember she was able to fight off Galina, so I want to believe I can trust her judgment. It would just be nice if the rest of the family got to know him as well."

"If he's powerful enough she can't fight him off." Liadan said.

"The thought has crossed my mind, but then I remember she was able to fight off Galina, so I want to believe I can trust her judgment. It would just be nice if the rest of the family got to know him as well."

"But we can't just kill him because we know nothing about him. I've spent enough time in lock up, thank you very much."

"I'm sure there's a good reason to kill him." Liadan said. "He's done something to Yehudit."

"We don't really know that. She truly could be out of sorts because she sees Sileas drifting away from her."

"She wasn't like this about Sileas getting married until he showed up." Liadan pointed out.

Brie considered her response carefully. "I don't think she had realized yet how much different her time with Sileas would be."

"I think I know my daughter better than you do." Liadan said.

"Time will tell, I suppose," Brie said non-committally.

Liadan bristled. "If nothing is done she won't get better in time, she'll get worse."

"Short of killing him, what do you suggest? We don't know that he did anything to her, only that the timing is suspect. Have you tried talking to her?" Shawn inquired, growing irritated. Lia's answer to everything seemed to be killing someone. "And bear in mind that I hold no authority any longer."

"Interrogate the short momzer!" Liadan said. "And I can't talk to Yehudit because she has been avoiding me."

Shawn looked at Brie. "We could always invite him to dinner tomorrow night since Sileas will be with Wulfsen. I can't interrogate, but I can try asking questions."

"He can do all sorts of damage by then!" Liadan fretted.

Wulfsen headed towards the dining hall with the most beautiful woman in the world on his arm.

Sileas kept her arm hooked around his, leaning against him. Her heart was filled with joy, save the part that worried over Yehudit. So far, she and Bae had found no way to help her cousin.

Wulfsen could not stop grinning. He was in love and tomorrow she would be his wife. In less than a year they would have a baby. All was well.

If he ignored all the stuff unrelated to his upcoming marriage, that was.

Sileas's gaze swept over to where her parents were. She didn't see Oscar but she hoped he was behaving as he should. She glance up at Wulfsen and smiled widely. Her entire body warmed. Tomorrow she would be wed to a man she loved. She had a little boy and another babe on the way, much to her surprise.

Wulfsen wrapped his arms around Sileas and kissed her.

"Cop a room, yer said yer weren't gonna do this on a board." Questa jeered.

Sileas slipped her arms around him until Questa's words broke the spell. She let out a soft snort of laughter.

Kissing someone who is snorting is an odd experience. Wulfsen broke off the kiss, feeling confused.

Sileas blushed. "Sorry. Questa distracted me."

Wulfsen blushed too. He hoped when he kissed his bride tomorrow it would go more smoothly.

Sileas snuggled against him, resting her cheek against his chest.

Liadan was reminded when she and Aron had first been betrothed. She reached for his hand.

Aron wrapped his hand around hers and pulled her close.

Liadan pressed against Aron, feeling comforted by his closeness. But she was still worried about her daughter.

"Sileas, where is Yehudit?"

"She's in my room, she refused to attend. I implored her, I wanted her to come."

Liadan gave Aron a worried look. Yehudit refusing to go to her best friend's dinner was totally unlike her. Something was terribly wrong. She squeezed Aron's hand.

Aron slipped his arm around her.

"Aron, please, talk to her. She won't talk to me." Liadan pleaded.

"I can try. You'll be all right alone here?"

"Most of my family is here, I won't be alone." Liadan kissed Aron's cheek. Liadan wanted to go get Yehudit herself, but her daughter had been shutting her out.

"All right. I'll see what I can do, or find out."

"Thank you." Liadan said softly. She squeezed Aron's hand, then let him go.

Aron gave her a quick kiss and left the hall, heading for the dormitories.

Wulfsen wondered if he should try braving another kiss with Sileas.

Sileas snuggled against him.

"Lia? Why don't you ask Sileas about what's bothering Yehudit?" Shawn said quietly.

"Sileas, what did Bai do to my daughter?" Liadan asked instead.

"What? Bai did nothing to Yehudit," Sileas replied. "Honestly and truly."

"She hasn't acted normal ever since he showed up out of nowhere." Liadan said.

"That's not Bai's fault. He and I were discussing the raid and Pinja, and he mentioned something that I realized was the cause of Yehudit's rages. Wulfsen was getting ready to go after Aalyssa and I was trying to convince him to stay, because I needed support, while we tried to find a way to end the rages." Sileas's eyes teared up. "She overheard us talking, even though we had gone to an unused tower to talk, and she decided to exile herself to my room," Sileas admitted.

Liadan's eyes blazed. "What were you talking about?"

"Do you really want to discuss this in a public place?"

Liadan bristled. "Then let's go someplace else. Now."

Sileas glared at her father. "Fine. I'll be back shortly," she promised Wulfsen and left the hall, heading for the garden.

Liadan followed Sileas.

Sileas returned to hall, trying her best to hide how shaken she was. This was supposed to be one of the happiest times of her life, and somehow, it was going to be. She took a deep breath, her gaze darting around for a place to hide and gather herself.

Wulfsen smiled when he saw Sileas return, but it slipped when he saw her expression. He hurried over.

"Mrs Buckley did not take the news well?" Wulfsen asked.

"She said it's all lies. She doesn't want Bai near Yehudit, she doesn't believe she needs any help." Sileas pressed her face against his chest. "I would like to have a guard when I'm not with you. I intend on keeping my babe safe. I'm not adverse to Oscar spending time with the men training, at least he'd be safe with them." Sileas wrapped her arms around his waist and held him tightly.

Wulfsen had been planning on assigning a guard to Sileas, he had just been worried she would not like the idea and was trying to figure out how to persuade her. He rubbed her back.

"I'll make sure you have guards." He promised, kissing the top of her head.

"Thank you. I hate the thought of having to have a guard against my very best friend, but I have to think of the babe." It had never crossed her mind there might be other dangers, being married to the King's son and a lord anyway. "I wish Aunt Lia would have seen reason. I keep hearing her worry and fret over the rages, and now it's 'just a bad temper'."

"Hopefully she'l come to her senses." Wulfsen said, wrapping his arms around her.

"Preferably before anything bad happens," Sileas added. She closed her eyes tightly to fight back the threatening tears.

"Mr Buckley is a reasonable man." Wulfsen said.

Sileas nodded against him. "Yes, Uncle Aron is. But he rarely can get through to Aunt Lia either."

Wulfsen sighed and hugged Sileas.

Sileas hugged him tightly. "We should go take our places."

"Are you feeling up to it?" Wulfsen asked.

Sileas nodded. "I'm more angry and disgusted with Aunt Lia then anything else."

Wulfsen kissed Sileas behind the ear. "Last chance to hide in a tower until tomorrow."

"Are you kidding? I haven't eaten since breakfast in anticipation of this feast!"

Wulfsen grinned. "All right. let's go to dinner."

Sileas laughed and slipped her arm around him, tucking herself under his arm.

Wulfsen walked into the main hall.

Sileas followed until she spotted her family at one of the lower tables. She released Wulfsen and headed toward them, thinking she wouldn't be at the main table until she was Lady Thornblade.

Wulfsen blinked and followed Sileas. "We're sitting down here?"

"Aren't I supposed to?" Sileas was confused. "I didn't...I thought I wouldn't be at the main table until we were wed."

"You can sit wherever you want..." Wulfsen said. "But the planners had thought you would sit at the high table."

"Oh. Well, as long as know one thinks I'm overstepping..." Sileas' cheeks pinkened. So much for her to learn.

Wulfsen grinned and hugged her tightly. "If you want to sit somewhere else it's up to you."

"No, no, it's all right. I just have a lot to learn about what I'm to do and when."

"I should have let you know... are your parents expecting you to sit with them?" Wulfsen asked.

"I don't know, we didn't really discuss anything about it," Sileas admitted. "I just sort of assumed I was sitting there."

Wulfsen glanced towards her family's table. If they were looking forward to eating with her he did not want to deny that.

Brie and Shawn were quietly talking at the table, making last minute plans for tomorrow.

"It's up to you." Wulfsen said.

"I don't think they're expecting me to join them," she said after looking in that direction. "It doesn't even look like they saved me a spot," Sileas added with a laugh.

Wulfsen chuckled softly and led Sileas to the high table.

Sileas followed him, her fingers curled around his. It felt like a million butterflies were on the loose in her stomach.

A quiet knock could be heard in the main building as Sir Bran waited outside, holding Gareth's hand quietly. He smiled at his partner, turning his head back to the door.

Sir Thomas, an older knight, passing through to the hall,  heard a knock on the door. "I'll catch up, Aunt Brie." He hurried to the door and cautiously opened it. "Yes?"

"I am a new member of the village. Is your lord available to speak right now?"

"Truthfully, it is Lord Thornblade's wedding day. I imagine he will not be available for a few days as he will be leaving for his wedding trip in the morning."

"I understand and apologise, fellow sir. Do you know who I should speak to in that case?" Bran held Gareth's hand, smiling.

Sir Thomas thought. "Lord De Vale will be in charge while Lord Thornblade is gone, but he will be attending the wedding and celebration most of the day. Might I offer accommodations for the day and night?"

"That could work. Thank you."

"You are very welcome. If you will follow me, I will take you to the unclaimed rooms so you can choose one."

"Thank you. Any room where we can be together is fine." They quietly followed Sir Thomas into the main building.

When Thomas arrived at the dormitories, he headed upstairs. He pointed to one along one side of the hall. "This one faces the training grounds and this one," he said, pointing to the one across the wall, "Faces the gate."

"Thank you. We will take the one facing the training grounds. What time shall we expect your lord to return?"

"I expect the festivities to carry on late in to the night, even once the couple has left. You are welcome to join the festivities, if you like, once you're all settled in."

"Aye. We just have our bags to bring in, but other than that we should be ready to head to the festivities. Who exactly should we talk to about a more... private, situation between Sir Gareth and I?"

Thomas's eyebrow arched, but he didn't say anything for a moment or two. "Lord Xavier De Vale will be in charge of the keep while Lord Thornblade is gone."

Silently being judged. Of course it would happen. Anyone would, Bran thought. "Thank you, sir. Could we head to the festivities or to Lord de Vale now?" He quietly held Gareth's hand again, smiling.

"The festivities. Lord De Vale is part of the wedding party, so he won't be available until after the ceremony."

"Let us be off then!" They quietly followed Sir Thomas.

Sir Thomas set off for the main hall with the two newcomers in tow.

(We're now in the main hall thread, in the middle of the Wulfsen/Sileas scene)

(alright)