Spirits of the Earth

Primrose dismissed class and began to walk the youngest children back to their homes. The sun had begun to set, creating long dark shadows. The children laughed and skipped ahead wishing her a goodnight as they each reached home.

The youngest Bryant walked sullenly beside her. "Did you have fun today Bryant?" she asked hugging him close. Bryant just shrugged his little shoulders, refusing to look at her. "Bryant sweetie, what's wrong?" she asked worriedly, kneeling down to his level.

"Stay away from my son, whore! Come 'ere boy. I'll teachya to filch your chores!"

Primrose froze at the accusation, pulling the little boy closer to her. "Davis you are drunk!" she cried slowly backing away from the furious father as he advanced on them, removing his belt. "Leave him alone Davis! Today was a class say, if you weren't so drunk you would remember this."

"Quiet you! Boy in the house, now!" Bryant took one look at his father and bolted from Primrose's arms and into the house. "You stay 'way from me boy ya 'ere! Don' need ya putting thoughts 'side his 'ead. He hardly does his keep 'round 'ere as it were."

"Davis, I know you are upset but, Amleah would have wanted Bryant to continue his studies. If this is about the mon-"

"I said be silent!" he roared striking her across the face so hard she fell down. "How dare you talk 'bout her like that. You's was the one who got her kilt."

"Stop this Davis. You are drunk. Don't make me call for my guards. All I have to do is scream and they will hear me. I don't want to have to Davis, please don't force me too. Think of Bryant."

The mention of his son sent Davis into a fury. Roaring he lashed out again at Primrose, this time kicking her in the side. She cried out in pain. "Where are your guards now, filth!"

He didn't like being out and about at night time. He would have much rather have been tucked up in a room, but it was apparent that all the rooms were taken, and he was going to have to make do with setting up a camp out on the road. Scuffing his feet a bit, Harkness grumbled to himself about not being prepared, when voices cut through the air.

He paused his walking, and looked around for the source, and quickly his eyes lighted on a tiny woman having an altercation with a man, who by the sounds of his raised voice, was both very angry, and very drunk. A frown tightened his brow and he inched closer, only to see the woman fall to the ground, making some claims about guards. The man kicked her, and Harkness felt a tight knot of fury rise in his stomach. He hated seeing women in trouble.

Without really thinking, he picked up speed, and jogged to the pair. "Hey!" He shouted, staring furiously at the man. "What do you think you're doing!" He reached out, and hauled him away, thanking his height advantage in this situation. "Don't you touch her." His voice was fairly snarling as he shoved the man back, standing between the woman and her attacker.

The man looked somewhat surprised at the sudden turn of events, but being fuelled by drink, lunged for Harkness with clenched fists. Harkness only rolled his eyes, and pulled his arm back. The fist that connected with the drunk's jaw was as solid as stone, followed by another quick jab to his gut. The man doubled over, wheezing for breath. Harkness put his hands on his hips, and stared down at him. "Don't hit a lady. Especially when she has someone watching her. All the time."

With this, he turned his head to see two young eyes peering at him from the door. In a brusque manner, the elf picked the man up by the collar, and deposited him on the doorstep. "No, go inside and get sober," he grunted, leaving the man to scramble in the door and slam it closed with a resounding thud. Harkness immediately turned and crouched down beside the fallen woman.

A hand reached out to her shoulder, eyes veiled in concern. "Miss? Are you alright?"

Primrose was extremely surprised when her bluff turned out to not be a bluff. The tall man defended her, frightening even the burly, Davis. She watched silently the events unfolding. Cowed, Davis ran inside leaving the vigilante figure free to turn his attention to her.

Rubbing her jaw, she nodded her head. "I've had worse, I think I was just more surprised than anything else." Standing up she began to brush herself off. "Thank you kind sir. I seemed to have found myself in a bit of a dilemma. You were of great assistance. Is there some way I can pay you for your efforts? I'm sure saving foolish young women was not on your agenda for this evening," she teased playfully.

"I'm Primrose, by the way," she added warmly.

Harkness moved back as she stood. She really was quite tiny, and he was surprised that the drunk hadn't done more damage. His expression was blank as he looked down at her, eyes guarded. His arms crossed against his chest, his thoughts unreadable. What on earth is a little thing like this doing, out here, alone. She doesn't look to be the kind who hangs out on the streets. Her face is too sweet.

"Harkness," he said by way of introduction, still eyeing her curiously. "And no trouble at all. I do it for a living. saving people. Do you get into trouble, often, Primrose?"

'Goddess help me, he's tall,' she thought marveling at the fact that this Harkness stood a good foot and a half taller than her. "Trouble? Me? Hardly. I'm teacher. Nothing very violent ever comes out of teaching. I think the greatest danger I ever face on a daily basis is the forest," she laughed pointing back to where she had come from. "But that isn't really horrible unless you go there at night."

'I'm rambling again. Why do I always ramble? Be nice Prim! Don't freak him out.'

Looking up at him hesitantly she began to twist her skirts in her hands. "I don't think I have seen you before, are you new around here? I ask because if you don't have a place to stay I have a guest room you can spend the night in, for saving me. You don't have to stay if you don't want to, uh not that I am just making a false offer because I'm not. You are more than welcome in my home. Especially since you saved me. Not that you wouldn't be welcome if you hadn't saved me."

Primrose groaned aloud pinching the bridge of her nose and squeezing her eyes shut. "I think I'll just be quiet now," she muttered. 'You always do that! People are going to start to think you aren't the daughter of a noble after all. Don't start rambling if he says yes. Don't start rambling if he says no. In fact, don't say anything.'

A teacher, huh? With kids? Cute. I remember my teacher. I thought I was in love with her until I was One Hundred and Twenty.

Harkness stood silent through her rambling, just simply arching an eyebrow down at her. What a strange little creature. Listen to her, getting her words all tripped over themselves. At her self-deprecating gesture, he snorted. "Don't worry, Miss Primrose, your talking doesn't bother me. What does bother me though, is the fact that that there drunk is peering at you through the window." Always aware and alert, he'd picked up on the fact as she'd introduced herself.

"Don't be alarmed, but I'm going to take you by the elbow now. You need to act as if I am your guard, and let me lead you." This was said seriously, his expression once again going stony and unreadable, and he took the tiny woman as he had said and started walking with her, his free hand sitting comfortably on his sword hilt.

"Now," he said, neither his voice or expression changing, "I would greatly appreciate a place to stay the night. Thank you. Tell me, why is the forest dangerous? If you're a teacher, shouldn't you be in a schoolhouse somewhere?"

She rolled her eyes at his comment about Davis. "Really Mr. Harkness, Davis is harmless. He's just going through a difficult time right now," she said as he led her by her elbow. As soon as they were out of his sight line she yanked her elbow out of the elf's hand.

"Listen, I don't mind housing you but you can't just go around manhandling me like that. Despite my stature and appearance I am quite capable of taking care of myself, thank you very much!" Primrose was angry. She hated it when men got it in their heads that she was just a simple little thing. She stormed ahead ignoring him for awhile, trying to blow off some steam.

"The forest is not that dangerous and as a rule I do not make a habit of entering it at night. As for a schoolhouse, well the children I teach come from poor families. I teach them because they cannot afford proper lessons. I do not have a schoolhouse because I have no desire or real need for one as yet. The forest provides plenty opportunities for lessons with its large variety of flora and fauna."

On the edge of town, closer to the forest was Primrose's home. As far as noble houses go, it was on the small side. It still had all the things expected of a noble family, there were the stables, the gardens, the grand dining room, the observatory, and the multiple guestrooms. Opening the metalwrought gates, she turned to her companion. "Welcome to Dragoslav Manor," she said smiling to him warmly. What little anger she had felt towards him was now dispersed and in the past.

Harkness' eyebrows rose as she waffled on at him about being able to look after herself. "Hey, I never said-" he started, but she was still going on and defending herself. He just looked down at her, highly amused by her tirade. For such a small woman, she sure does have a lot of words. he thought.

He followed behind, watching the little firecracker. She was mad, and he could almost see sparks flying. He didn't have the faintest idea why though. For all she'd said she was tough, she'd been lying on the ground and kicked, and if it wasn't for good timing, he was guessing probably worse. With the way she talked about the children, he figured she wouldn't be the kind to hit a parent back.

And then she was smiling at him, and welcoming him to her home. Harkness scratched the back of his head, bemused. "Well, thanks." He said slowly, not quite sure whether staying with her this one night was going to be a blessing, or a curse. "This is an awfully nice home for a teacher. Why don't you do lessons here?"

"Thank you," she replied to his comment leading him inside. "I do not give lessons here because it is seen as improper."

"My Lady, I was getting worried. Is everything alright? Ah, forgive me. I did not realize you had company," an elderly man said bowing deeply.
"Jain," she replied warmly. "Shouldn't you be on your way home?"
"I had to make sure little miss made it home. Good thing too, should I prepare the study for you and your guest?"
"No Jain. Mr. Harkness will be staying the night in one of the guest rooms." Placing a hand on the servant's arm she added, "go home Jain, I can take care of it."
"But, Miss Primrose! The impropriety, what would your mother say?" Jain sputtered.
"Mother would roll her eyes and laughed. Now go home!" she laughed giving him a peck on the cheek and sending him out the door.

"My apologies Harkness. Would you care to share a meal with me or would you prefer to retire?"

Harkness watched the exchange silently. She lives alone? She has no one here to make sure she's safe? This is not good. Not good at all. Doesn't she know how many nobles are hiring guards at the moment? And for good reason too. I better not say anything to her though, she'll bite my head off again. Yeesh.

His expression never wavered, but at her offer of a meal, he nodded. "Thank you, that's very kind of you to offer." He pursed his lips for a moment, and against better judgement mentioned his thoughts.

"You know, Miss Primrose, I should do a perimeter check. Make sure everything is all secure outside. Is there anyone that stays with you here during the nights?"

"I thank you, Mr. Harkness. But, that will not be necessary. If the rumors do not keep people away then the enchantments most certainly will. My home is well fortified enough. Besides," she said leading him past the dining hall and to the kitchens, "you are a guest in my home. I do not expect you to work while here."

She opened the kitchen door and squealed as a bucket of cold water fell on her, dousing her in the process. "Janus!" she yelled just as a wry figure came running up and threw flour in her face. "You wretch! Get back here!"

She chased after the boy as he laughed. In the end he climbed on top of the pantry cupboard leaving her unable to reach him. Slowly he began to raise the flour bag over his head as she lectured him on pranking her with a guest in the house.

"Heard ya got your butt whooped by old man Davis. Sure you're still the best swordsmen in the area?" he taunted at her.
"Janus you get down here before I tell your mother what you're doing in her kitchen. Janus!" Looking up she was finally able to see the rising bag of flour. Eyes widening she tried to start backing away but was blocked by the table. "Janus! No Janus. Janus, I'll let you win at swordplay tomorrow!" she begged covering her head with her arms, not wanting to see him dump the bag on her.

Harkness grimaced at the dismissal of his proposal. He didn't care if there were enchantments around the place, he would have preferred to have done a check in any case. Maybe I'll sneak out later, just to be sure.

He also didn't like the fact that she wasn't checking things were safe. He tried to move past her to get the door, but she was took quick, and the next moment she was covered in water and flour. Harkness tried to hide a smirk, finding the unfolding events relatively humorous. That is, until the boy held the bag of flour over the girl.

She was backing away, hands over head in true alarmed fashion, and Harkness' instincts set in. That'll hurt her, if he drops it... He crossed the room in 3 short strides, placing himself between the little imp and the girl.

"Cut it out," he said in a low, warning voice, and was about to reach for the kid when Janus upended the bag of flour over him. Harkness stumbled back, coughing, his hands, flailing behind him, searching for Primrose.

He could hear the cackle of gleeful laughter coming from the boy above, and he growled. Then choked on the mouthful of flour, turned, and glared down at Primrose, thoroughly caked in the white stuff.

"You treat all your guests like this?"

She heard the flump of the flour falling followed by Janus' childish laugh. Opening her eyes, she was surprised to find herself no worse looking. Turning to the side, she caught sight of Harkness and burst out into hysterical giggles. She only stopped at the look on his face.

Sobering she began to apologize profusely. "I really am quite sorry, Mr. Harkness. I do not as a rule have guests. It is my fault that Janus thought I would be alone. He really meant no har-" She was cut short as she was forcefully shoved into Harkness.

Turning around, Primrose was a little incredulous to find Janus wielding of all things, a wooden spoon at her. "Janus, you need to apologize to-" again she was cut off as the boy lunged towards her. Moving quickly she grabbed a second wooden spoon and performed a somewhat sloppy but still effective block.

It continued in this manner; Primrose tried to get a word in edgewise and Janus continued to attack. Finally getting frustrated, Primrose growled and turned it from a defensive to an offensive attack. Whirling, spinning, and twisting she executed perfect maneuvers. Her blade --er spoon-- moved faster and faster until poor Janus could no longer defend himself.

Relieving the boy of his weapon, she knocked his feet out from underneath him and tapped the bowl of the spoon over his heart. "Dead. You always forget your footing Janus!" She pulled the boy onto his feet again and smacked him on the rump with the spoon. "Now apologize to Mr. Harkness and then clean up this mess," she commanded jabbing the spoon into his chest.

Harkness' arms went out automatically to catch her as she stumbled forward, but it was clear his assistance wasn't needed. She was flitting around the kitchen, sword fighting with spoons. He eyed the mock battle warily, but with a small inkling of humour eeking into his eyes.

This woman is weird he thought with an exasperated sigh as he tried wiping the flour from his face, digging his fingers into the corners of his eyes to scoop out the flourly muck there. She does look like she can take care of herself though. Look at that footwork. The boy might be quick, but he's got nothing on- and just as he thought it, she had Janus on the ground. Harkness rose an interested eyebrow, at her commanding voice. She's a teacher alright. Just listen to that voice. Even I couldn't say no to that.

"Sorry, Sir." The boy apologised with a sheepish grin, not really looking all that sorry. Harkness just nodded his head once, eyeing the boy with as much solemnity as he could manage.

"It's fine," He said quietly, staring down his nose at the boy, and then moving his gaze to Primrose. "I think though, that you should stick around for a moment. I'd like to have a go at fighting you, Miss Primrose. I'm impressed with your skill."

Primrose blushed trying to scoop wet clumpfuls of flour out of her hair. "You wish to duel me, Mr. Harkness? And what will your choice of weapon be, the spoon," she raised the spoon waving it about a little, "or the sword?" she asked looking pointedly at the blade hanging from his belt.

"If you are willing for a change of scenery, my home happens to have a proper dueling chamber, and I a sword. I would be willing to fight in the proper setting. That is of course as long as you are not afraid of losing to girl." She winked playfully at him and threw some flour over to Janus.

"Don't think you are out of trouble yet Janus. Your mother is going to have a fit when she sees her kitchen," she reprimanded. At the mention of the boy's mother, his face paled and eyes widened. "There's a toad in your washbasin," he blurted out. "Please don't tell ma what I did Rosey!"

Harkness couldn't get a word in edgewise, and he watched with an amused expression as the tiny lady flitted from one idea to the next, like a little hummingbird. She just didn't seem to be able to sit still. His eyes flickered to the sword at his side as she did, and he shook his head. No, he wasn't going to fight her with the sword. He'd never risk hurting an innocent.

"Wait... A toad?" Harkness' eyebrows shot up into his hair line as he looked between the pair. "What is it with you people? Flour, wood-spoon dueling, and toads in the washbasin? I mean... I'm just as fun as the next guy, but do you seriously live in this...this... state of constant pranking?" He was completely bewildered, and his expression showed it.

"You know what, I don't know if I do want to duel with you, Miss Primrose. I think you'd be the kind of person to engage this one," he nodded at Janus, "in getting under my feet, so that you couldn't lose." He pursed his lips, and then beckoned the boy over.

Janus took a step to him hesitantly, but as Harkness bent down and began to whisper in his ear (next time, put an eel at the bottom of her bed.), the boy grinned, and Harkness knew he'd won a new friend in the boy.

Straightening, and tapped his fingers against his sword hilt. "On second thought, yes. Okay. But we fight with wooden spoons. I'm not about to deal with blood."

Janus and Primrose shared a look at Harkness' mention of pranks. Primrose opened her mouth to comment when he implied that she would cheat. "How dare sir! You offend me and stain my honor with your accusations," she cried playing along. "Boy give this cretin a sword so that I can reclaim my honor."

Solemnly, Janus handed over the wooden spoon. Primrose took her spoon-sword and began the opening gestures of a duel before assuming the correct stance. Her front leg was bent forward slightly, her back one was straight. Her sword arm was ready and her grip soft, waiting for Janus' signal to start.

Harkness took the makeshift weapon, and mirrored her stance, though he held none of the elegance with which Primrose stood. Harkness would be the first to admit that he wasn't the best sword handler. He could use it, yes, but with finesse? He was more like a woodsman hacking away at a tree, than an artist. And he could already tell Primrose would be an artist.

Let her think she can win this one. She might be better at sword play... but I got size on her.

Still, as Janus gave the signal, the tall man gave a yell, and charged for Primrose, wielding his spoon like a mad-man.

Primrose was a bit surprised by the fervor with which this man came at her. Moving instinctively she side stepped his first attack and then kicked his hand, disarming him on the first go. Pointing her spoon at his throat she taunted, "you are spoonless, do you surrender?"

In the background Janus' snorted and picked the spoon back up inching his way over behind Primrose.

Harkness flicked his wrist back as the spoon flew out of it, and stared down at the spoon pointed at his throat. At her words, he looked to Primrose, a wry smile on his lips. "Never." He replied, and swooped down, grasping her around the waist. "You know, I may be spoonless, but you have got nothing on this." With that, he hoisted her into the air, and slung her over his shoulder.

"Janus," He said, turning to the boy, whose eyes were wide with astonishment, "Show me the way to the nearest washbasin. Miss Primrose needs to wash her hair."

Primrose squealed in surprise as her feet left the ground. Janus gave directions to Primrose's chambers before excusing himself to cleaning up the kitchen abandoning Primrose to Harkness' devices.

"Put me down!" she cried beating her open-palmed hands against his back. 'Whoa, this is pretty high up,' she thought as he carried her up a flight of steps. Her body swayed with in time with his steps. 'Now this is an interesting view.'

Smirking she got an idea. She slowed her efforts to escape before holding still and groaning. She raised her hand to her head and groggily informed Harkness that she was not feeling well. On cue, she let her body go completely limp against him. 'This'll teach him to prank against a Dragoslav!'

Harkness grinned at her reaction, stoically allowing her fists to pound his back. It was quite nice though, a bit like a massage. As her struggling started to slow though, he looked a little confused. As her body went limp, he gave a little 'oof' with the change in weight, but rolled his eyes. Oh, so that's how you're going to play. Fine... I can work with that.

"Primrose?" He called, causing his voice to flood with concern. "Oh no, she's fainted!" Carefully he turned at the top step, and slid her back over his shoulder, marvelling just a little at her lightness. Cradling her against his chest, he sat down on the step, and laid her limp form across his knee, watching as her head lolled back. Oh, you are good...

"Primrose, hang on. Stay with me. Can you hear me?" He asked, using his arm around her shoulders to lift her up a little. With a cheeky glint in his eye, he slowly lowered his head to hers, till he was within a fraction of an inch from her lips. "Got to shock you out of it," his whispered, and then kissed her.

'Shock it ou- He's kissing me! What does he think he's doing! You don't just go around kissing people you just met!'

Her eyes flew open in rage. The time for pranks and games was over, he had made sure of that. Her right fist came up give a weakly executed upper cut. As she did this she rolled in his lap reaching for his sword. 'Now my honor is offended.'

Her reaction didn't come as a surprise, in fact, he had been anticipating something of the sort. He dodged away from the uppercut, grinning away at her. It was just like playing with his cousins, though the time for that had passed many decades ago.

"Hey now," he said, making a quick snatch for her wrist as she reached for his sword. His hand easily enveloped it, and he peeled her arm away from the sword, holding it out. "So what, you can dish it out, but you can't take it?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.

Primrose was angered. Her face was a mask of stone, impassive and cold. "You go too far," she said to him. 'He's lucky I don't kick him down the stairs and break his neck for that.'

"Janus!" she called. Quickly the boy ran in looking to his mistress curiously. "Please escort Mr. Harkness to the guest quarters and see to it that he has anything he may need." She marched down the stairs, head held high. "No pranks Janus," she reminded him as he headed up.

Brooding she headed to the gardens. 'Time to have a talk with father, I think.'

Harkness watched as Primrose reprimanded him with a guarded look. He'd only been playing along, and the kiss had meant absolutely nothing. It was all just a part of the game, wasn't it? Yes, the kiss had been just a little risqué, but he'd got the impression from her that she was up for anything. Not in a bad way, just... she was fun.

As Primrose gave instructions to Janus, Harkness tried to clear his head and work out exactly what he had done wrong. Of course, he wasn't dense, but as he followed Janus to the guest room, he couldn't help but wonder if things should have been done a little differently.

It was then that he scolded himself. Hark, you got too friendly, too quick. What's the rule? Keep it professional. What did you do? Made it personal. Get a grip. This is not a paid job, I can do what I want! What, so... whenever you're not working you're just going to kiss ladies for the hell of it? No, no, no... that wont do, will it, boyo. You'd better go and apologise. He put a hand out to Janus' shoulder, and asked him quietly where he thought Primrose might be going.

The boy suggested the gardens, and with a squeeze to say thank you he turned and went searching, though he couldn't say whether Janus looked pleased to have helped him, or stricken that he'd betrayed his mistress.

With steps falling as silently as a cats, Harkness tailed Primrose into the gardens, making sure to keep a good distance between them.

Slowly Primrose wove her way through the gardens. In the back of the garden, hidden by vines was a stone wall with a thick oak door. Pulling out a key from around her neck, Primrose opened it and went inside, locking the door behind her.

Inside was a small family cemetery. There were only two graves each marked by a stone statue of the buried individual. The larger of the two was that of a she-dragon. As Primrose walked by it she reached up and trailed her fingers along the stone snout and neck. "Hello Ustskel, I'm here to see father if you don't mind," she said to the dragon.

Moving on she came to the second statue. This was of a man sitting on a rock holding his sword and staring out in front of him. "Hello father. Sorry I've been awhile," she softly whispered. She became to pull moss and vines off the statue as she talked to him about her day, the children she taught, Janus' antics and Jain's care of her. She told the statue about Davis hitting her and Harkness saving her. "I could have done it myself, thank you very much." She continued telling him of Janus' flour prank followed by the wooden spoon duel and the fainting prank.

"He kissed me father. Mother always said my pranks would go too far but," she sighed. "It was just a kiss. Yet, it was more than that. The braggart stole my first kiss!" She sat before the statue pouting slightly. "I miss you father. Things were so simple when you were home. I miss mother as well but..." she let it fade not desiring to talk about things she had already lamented on a thousand times over.

"Tell mother I say hello," she finally said standing up again. "I should probably apologize to my guest. Goodnight father," she whispered leaning up to kiss the stone cheek.

Harkness watched all this silently from the shadows, raising eyebrows and smiling wryly at all the right places of conversations. The inflection in her voice as she spoke about her rescue didn't get past him though, and he shook his head for her bravery and inability to accept that he had helped her. But as the conversation changed, and she recounted the incident just past, Harkness couldn't help but physically flinch. He felt well and truly guilty now, as he listened to Primrose commune with her father's memory, and for more than just the kiss. It was such a private moment, and with a sneer to himself, he realised he was intruding on something nearly sacred.

He had never know the death of a loved one. Both his parents still lived, and would continue to do so for hundreds more years, but for a human girl like Primrose... the loneliness. He felt his heart constrict at the thought. You've intruded enough, Hark. Back to the house.

But his feet were glued to the ground. What are you doing? Go... run away from her... she's going to hurt you!

"Uh, Primrose?" He said softly as he cleared his throat, "I... I'm sorry. For before."

Primrose inhaled sharply, startled by Harkness' presence. She stared at him wide-eyed as it slowly sunk in that he was apologizing to her.

"I am sorry too. I let things go too far and then got worked up over nothing." She looked down staring at her feet, feeling vulnerable. 'Why do I feel like such a child? This is my own home and I am a grown woman. He apologized. I apologized. Let that be the end of it.'

Moving over to Harkness she linked arms with him. "I see you found the gardens. I hope they are to your liking," she said giving him a soft, sad smile. "My father and his dragon are buried here. They died when I was very little," she told him falling silent for a moment. 'Way to make him feel bad, Prim. He probably thinks you're messed up in the head, especially if he heard you talking.'

"I'm sorry. I don't know why I'm telling you this." She made to move away from him. "I think I have disturbed you enough tonight. I will take my leave of you. If you want for food or anything, just let Janus know and he will make sure you are taken care of." Tears welled in her eyes as she tried to wish him a goodnight. 'Oh Kia, don't cry Primrose. Don't cry!'

Yep. He felt like a tool, alright. As she linked arms with him, he blinked a few times, not quite sure of what to make of the diminutive woman. She reminds me of Elody... just... shorter. He smiled at the thought of his sister, and concluded that this unconscious connection to his sister was the reason he'd fallen so easily into the playful mischeif.

"I'm sorry for your loss," he said genuinely, patting her hand, "I can't imagine what it must be like to lose a parent. Hey..." he frowned as he saw tears threatening, and looked a little panicked for a moment. It's okay. It's just tears. You can handle tears... make her laugh. Tell a joke!

"Don't cry. You haven't disturbed me, I've had fun! More fun than I've had in years, in fact. I'm a fool." He stopped and unlinked them before looking down at her, cross eyed.

"I'm just a fool. My father always said I took jokes to far, like the time I told my sister there was a weed monster in the lake. Then I went swimming in it, and pretended the monster got me." He grinned with the memory. "Elody jumped in to save me, even though she couldn't swim, and almost drowned in the process. Man, did I get a thrashing for that." He tilted his head as he looked down, trying to gauge whether or not his anecdote had been successful.

Primrose became instantly distracted by Harkness' crossed eyes. Try as she might she could not really pay attention to his tale. She distractedly chuckled at its end. "It does seem like we both go too far. Now tell me, how do you do that, the thing with your eyes? Is that because of your species or some unfortunate accident?"

'I wonder if I could do that?' She tried doing it herself but only managed to scrunch up her nose and furrow her brow. 'Oh Prim! Must everything turn into a teaching moment?'

"Oh, I'm sorry. It seems I am being rude again. I don't mean to make fun of you. In face I'm not at all. I just find it so fascinating. Not of course that you are something to be watched and poked fun at but, do you think you could teach me to do that?" Primrose looked at him with all the eagerness and curiosity of a child scholar rolled into one. 'As if you need another thing to chase boys away Prim. People already think you're odd, what's one more thing.'

Species? Accident? What is she on about... ooooh... look at her trying to go cross eyed. Don't laugh... don't laugh... He only just managed to keep from breaking out into riotous laughter as he watched her trying to mimic his crossed eyes. As it was, a few snorts left him, and he shook his head.

"No, it's not because I'm an Elf, and no, it's not from some unfortunate accident as you so politely put it..." he grinned down at her with a raised eyebrow. "You mean you never learned how to go cross eyed? You poor deprived child."

He went cross eyed one more time, saying "It's easy... see? All you need to do, it focus on the tip of your nose... don't force it..." He regained his usual look, and tapped a finger on his nose, thoughtfully.

"I'll tell you what, I'll teach you this way... I'm going to hold my finger out, and you just have to watch it..." He held his finger out a little ways from her face, and slowly inched it closer.

"Remember, focus, but don't force it... make your eyes go... kind of lazy..."

"Focus on my nose, got it," Primrose said. Her eyes lowered until she could see her nose. Distracted she began to tilt her head back as if by raising her nose she would be able to see it better. "Just watch your finger? How is that going to help? What am I watching for? Oh right, relax." Primrose took a deep breath and then allowed her eyes to relax at half-mast. "Okay I think I'm ready now,"

'He probably thinks I'm just a silly little girl who doesn't know anything. Prim why do you always do this? Why is learning EVERYTHING so important?' Her mind continued chiding itself as she waited for Harkness to start.

Harkness laughed to himself at her eagerness, and obligingly began to zoom his finger in slowly, until it was touching her nose, and she was still looking straight ahead. Quirking an eyebrow, he tried again. "Just... look at my finger.... follow it with your eyes," he said again, and repeated the process.

"When you watch my finger your eyes should- no... don't pull your head away!" He laughed, shaking his head at her inability to get something so trivial. He dropped his hand to his side, and tilted his head. "Maybe your eyes are tired. We can try again tomorrow?"

Primrose made a disappointed face. "Yes, tomorrow."

'Idiot girl. Even something so simple as that you can't get right.'

Her stomach rumbled loudly, reminding her of her original mission to the kitchen. "Oh my! Are you still hungry? I am sure I could make up for earlier's mess. That is, if you will allow me to make it up to you." The offer had been made, it was up to Harkness to let it be forgotten and put behind them.

Harkness laughed again at her face. "Don't pout," he soothed, "it took me almost a hundred years to work it out." As she had done with him before, he linked arms with her, and started walking back towards the house. "Yes. Food sounds good."

They walked along in companionable silence for a moment, before he looked down, a small frown on his brow. "If your father is there," he jerked his head back towards the gardens, "then where is your mother? If you don't mind me asking."

She smiled at Harkness' kindness. "You are sweet but you do not need to make me feel better. I am not fragile; I will not break," Primrose informed him good-naturally. "Mother is buried at home in Serendipity. My Uncle Engilram didn't want her buried with such "riff-raff" so she is with the rest of her family. He never did take too kindly to them marrying," she said smiling sadly.

When they finally made it back to the kitchen, Primrose checked the door for a prank before opening it. "Janus is well-known for catching the unwary twice. Sit," she offered pointing to a chair. "I wouldn't mind the company while I cook." Primrose grabbed an apron and began to bustle around the kitchen. Despite being a noble's daughter she was well-versed in the art of cooking. "Tell me something about yourself. It will help the cooking go faster," she jested, winking.

"Myself?" Harkness questioned as he took the seat she gestured to, "What does talking have to do with cooking?" He looked confused for a moment, before shrugging and launching into dialogue.

"There's not much to know about me, I guess. Name's Harkness Hoverstone, but you knew that already. I work as a body guard, but again, you knew that too. I don't know what else there is to know about me. I just... wander around, looking for jobs. Had just finished one, actually, when I saw you.

Hey, that reminds me," his brown furrowed, remembering the drunk Davis, and the way he'd treated her, "that man back in town. You said he was one of the parents from the children you teach? How often is he like that? Drunk, and abusive, I mean? Because if you wanted to, I could stick around for a while... he does think you have a guard now, right?"

"Davis?" she said slowly, placing a set of bowls on the table. "He was not always like that. His wife recently passed away. They were very much in love, Davis and Brageeta. He blames me for her death, which in truth is not far from the truth. I made a mistake and Brageeta died."

Primrose poured some stew into both their bowls before starting to cut some bread. "I do not expect him to be a problem but, yes I do think he will view you as my bodyguard now. Davis, seems to drink a lot more each time I see him. Now for a week or so he will be sober and remorseful. That will not last though. Honestly though, I worry about Little Bryant. He should not have to live like that, watching his father struggle like that. It breaks my heart."

She finished making the meal and placed some in front of Harkness and herself. "Is it good?" she asked him breaking some of her bread and dipping it in the soup. "I know it is simple fare but, cook is off tonight," she laughed.

Made a mistake? He pondered curiously, watching as she finished preparing the meal. What kind of a mistake leads to someone's death? He didn't have much time to think about it though, as she carried on talking, and her voice changed as she spoke about Bryant. It wasn't rare to hear a woman speak kindly of a child that wasn't their own, but she spoke with such sorrow, he felt himself getting angry - not for her, and not at the child's father, but for the child.

He swallowed back a hot reply, knowing that nothing he said could really change anything, and instead started slurping away noisily at his dinner. He was so engaged in eating he didn't even acknowledge her until the bowl was almost empty, and he looked up like a little boy, pleading. "Is there more? That was... that was amazing."

He stood, not waiting for her reply and peered into the pot housing the delicious stuff, and then looked back over his shoulder sheepishly. "Sorry. Look at you... you've hardly even started. Some gentleman I am. My mother would tan my hide." He slunk back over and sat at the table, plopping his head into his hands, and staring forlornly at the beckoning food.

"I'll wait till you're done," he sighed, and then managed to tear his gaze away to look at her instead. "So, Primrose... I told you something about me - what's something I don't know about you yet?"

Primrose watched in pleased amusement as Harkness wolfed down his food and got up for more. "Oh men!" she cried ripping the bowl away from the pouting elf. "You know," she began, standing to fill his bowl,"my father used to say that there is no point in waiting on ceremony for food when there are hungry bellies waiting to be filled. Eat as much as you like. The food will go to waste otherwise," she invited him, handing him back his bowl and sitting down. "Just don't expect me to get it for you next time," she teased him.

"You cheat!" Primrose laughed, leaning over and punching Harkness in the arm. "You yourself said I knew everything you told me. Why should I tell you anything you do not know? Although I admit you never told me your last name until now. So I suppose fair is fair. Hmm, something about me?"

'What do I tell him? Nothing depressing, Kia knows we've had enough of that tonight. Nothing too personal either, he is a stranger after all. Food. Food is always a safe topic.'

"My mother never approved of me learning to cook. I think she was jealous of me. When we lived in Serendipity I used to help the servants with the meals. It was my escape from my responsibilities, that is when I wasn't busy pranking. Mother would always sneak into the kitchen at night and try making things of her own." Primrose smiled fondly at the memory before laughing. "The only reason I know is because I caught her when I was sneaking back in after a night out playing pranks with my friend. It was the one time I was actually caught and got away with it. From that time on, I found my mother protesting my time in the kitchen a lot less vocally."

Hark grinned sheepishly as she got up and refilled his bowl, some what amused by her motherly ways. "Sounds like something my father would say," he returned as she handed him his seconds, "and my mother. She always cooked for an army."

He slowed down his eating this time, actually taking time to enjoy it as he listened to her story. By the time she'd finished though, he was already ready for a third helping, and he got himself up and wandered back to the pot.

"I remember the time my mother taught Elody to cook. It was a disaster." He chortled to himself, and sat back down, leaning back in the chair and sitting with his ankles crossed lightly. "Elody's a funny thing. Likes to try and be independent, so when Mother was giving her instructions, Elody would just scowl, and pretend she knew what she was doing already... mm... this is so good! Any how, she nearly burned down the house because she was too stubborn to check on the food when Mother told her to." He grinned and shook his head at the memory. "I don't think she's been allowed in the kitchen since.

"So your father was a dragon rider?" he guessed, raising a quizzical eyebrow, remembering the dragon statue in the garden. "Did you ever get to see it? I'd love to, you know, see a dragon. For a long time I didn't even believe they were real. They're rare now though, right?"

"Yes he was, a very respected one too, from what I can remember. Although, Ustskel had so much of a personality of your own you would think she did all the work. Ustskel was my father's dragon. He let me ride with him once, always promised that when I grew up she would be mine. He died defending her from poachers. I think I still have some of her scales around the house. People believe they make good luck charms," she told him shrugging.

"They are rare and so beautiful. They are fierce and proud creatures. Knowing one is truly a gift, being allowed to ride one is an even greater one. I consider myself very fortunate for being given such an honor."

Primrose smiled tearing some more bread for herself. "Your sister sounds like a fun person. What else did you two do when you were younger?"

"Elody? Yeah..." A brief shadow passed over his face, but he carried on speaking in a friendly tone. "Yeah, Elody is a hoot. She's the closest sister I have in age, I guess that's why we got along so well as children. I have lots of other brothers and sisters, though. Don't know half their names... that's the problem with living a long time. I bet half the elves you meet are probably related in some way shape or form."

He shrugged and put the bowl down on the table, letting his hands come to rest on his satiated stomach. "Elody though, she was - is - one of a kind. I told you about the weed monster, right? Well, I remember this other time, when she was really small, I still towered over her, and one night just before she went to bed, I told her that there was Tree Man who came into her room at night. It was mean, really, but I was a pain. Anyway, she wouldn't go to sleep that night, because of what I'd told her, and so I snuck into her room, and stood in the shadows, and started hissing at her.

"Boy, did she scream. She ran to Mother, and yessir... I got another hiding for that, too." He grinned wryly, shaking his head. "But still, I loved her within an inch of her life. She was - is - cute, and steadfast, and fiercely loyal. She's actually the reason I became a bodyguard." The memory hit him like a hurricane, and he took in a sharp breath, before shaking it off and asking another question of Primrose.

"You said your mother is buried in Serendipity? Do you go there often?"

Primrose saw the shadow move across his face as well as the way he switched tenses when talking of his sister. 'Poor choice of subject, Prim. Something is not right between him and his sister. Let it go.'

"Serendipity? I have not returned there since I was fourteen. When my father died my mother and I went to live her brother. When she died I returned here. I did not like being under my uncle's influence. That dislike was only strengthened upon my last return. As long as he still lives, I will not be returning to Serendipity. I like my life away from him where I can do as I please. He'd rather see me married and being the perfect little nobleman's wife than be a teacher and a fighter." As she spoke, she had been tearing into the loaf of bread a lot more anger than was completely necessary. Crumbs covered the table-top surface and she scowled when she saw the mess she had made.

"Now I believe it is your turn. Where are you from and do you ever go back?" she asked him beginning to clean up her mess.

"I'm Adelan," Harkness returned, keeping his voice neutral as he watched Primrose. She really did have a great dislike for her uncle, and he was interested by the fact that she seemed to abhor the idea of being a nobleman's wife. Couldn't she be both? He wondered, but deciding that it wasn't his place to make the suggestion. Not yet, anway, when they were just getting to know each other.

He stood and reached for her bowl, and took both the vessels to wash them up. He spoke as he did this, glancing over his shoulder once or twice to keep the small lady engaged in the conversation. "My family lives deep Draconi Forest, but I don't go there as often as I should, or when I do, it's never for very long. They take a lot of getting used to, especially after so many years away. My mother and father are elders of the small community out there, purely Elvish. Gets on my nerves sometimes - they're quite opposed to the influences of other races, and tend to keep very much to themselves. Traditionalists, I'd call them. I've probably seen more of our world in my three hundred years, than they have in their combined lifetimes.

"I suppose it's something I take for granted though," he said as he turned back to her, wiping his wet hands on his trousers and going back to sit down. "Long life, I mean. It's not like we're in any rush to tell each other the important things, and so not much gets said." He gave a shrug, and then fired off another question.

"Do you remember your childhood friends? Do you still keep in contact with any?"

"You should see them while you are here," she told him. "No matter how bold it is of me to say so, I am right, and you know it. At the end of the day they are still your family. You have been gifted with long life and your family's good health. But, that will not last forever. It is best to live our lives with no regrets for today is certain, but tomorrow not so. I am sure your family misses you. Them getting on your nerves is their way of telling you they love you. That is what family is for," she chuckled.

"Tea?" Primrose bustled about stoking the fire and putting a kettle of water on it. She refused to look at Harkness after her small chiding. "Friends? I only ever had one and we don't really talk to each other anymore," she told him as she climbed up to stand on the table. Standing on her tip-toes she allowed herself to fall forward until she was bracing her hands against the very cupboard Janus had dumped flour from on top of. "Ryuu and I grew distant when I moved back here. In the end our letters just seemed to taper off. There really wasn't much left to say anymore, we had grown up differently and no longer seemed to know each other."

Primrose strained forward trying to reach the box of tea leaves on top of the cupboard. No matter how much she tried though she could not seem to reach it. She moved to the very edge of the table, precariously balancing as she one more lunged for the tea box.

Harkness nodded once to the tea, his face blank after her telling him off. Should have known better than to say they annoy you. Poor girl has no family. And there I spouting off about how I don't need mine. Idiot. He also considered what she'd said about her friend, and found it to be true for himself also. He lived in relative solidarity, had never really sought out companionship until this encounter, and even then he hadn't sought after it - it had found him.

He watched with a raised eyebrow though as she perched herself precariously on the edge of the table, reaching for the box of tea she was looking for. "Would you like me to get-" he didn't finished his sentance though, seeing her lunge and seeing the most unfortunate of events play out in his minds eye. With split second reflexes he'd jumped up, putting his arm around her wait to steady her before she fell. "Be careful!" he scowled at her, using his other hand to reach for the box, and grasping it easily.

Deftly, he lifted her from the table, and set her back on the ground, shaking his head. "You want to knock yourself out?" he chuckled lightly, handing her the tea.

Primrose squeaked as her feet left the table. Harkness' scolding just sent her into a fit of giggles, forcing her to lean into him as she fought to catch her breath. 'He's warm.' her mind supplied. 'And he's tall.'

"You could come in handy after all. My human ladder," she teased, taking the tea box. "Thank you." Primrose added the dried leaves to two cups and poured the hot water into them. "Come sit. The night is young and I am sure we can find something to talk about. What about you? Did you have many friends? A sweetheart perhaps?" She giggled some more, blowing gently on her tea.

He shook his slightly in bewilderment at her teasing, and how she flitted from one thing to another. Definitely like a little bird. Can't sit still. Taking his cup, he sat as he was instructed, stretching his legs out under the table, and running a hand through his hair before answering.

"Friends? Sure, I had a few. Never really anything close though, it was more the other boys my age. We used to just mess around, tease the girls and pull their hair. That kind of thing." He grinned, before carrying on, quite obviously avoiding the subject of having a sweetheart.

"There was one though, Onrad... we used to spend a lot of time together. He was an aspiring wood carver, and he used to make us little swords to beat each other with. Except most of the time, one of us ended up with splinters, which would turn into a blaming match, which would start a wrestling match. That I always lost." He shook his head and sighed ruefully, taking a sip of the tea, and letting his eyes rest on Primrose's face.

"How'd you become a teacher?" He asked lightly, hoping that she in turn wouldn't ask for the details concerning his own profession, "and how do you know what needs to be taught?"

"A teacher? Well, I didn't want to become a politician or a trophy wife, both were things I was being set up for. So, after my mother died, I came home to Adela and hid in my library with nothing to do. I felt useless. I told you before, it is believed this place is haunted. No one comes here. I would watch the children play in the forest. One day I saw a little boy confuse a harmless mushroom with a deadly one. He poisoned himself, unknowingly. I was able to save him. But, I knew without an understanding it would happen again. That is when I became the town's teacher. I work without price and teach the children how to survive, how to read and write, some arithmetic. I teach the basic things. If certain children show desires for more, then I am more than willing to provide. Most however, go into the trades. But, at least this way they will not be cheated or naive in their dealings," Primrose told him shrugging.

"If you weren't good at wrestling as a child then why did you become a bodyguard? Did you eventually get better?" She had noticed his evasion of the sweetheart question and had moved on in stride. 'We all have our secrets. As long as he respects my boundaries, so shall I with his.'

It was hard for him not to be in awe of her as she spoke. They was she articulated herself, and her motivations for being a teacher, her passion for making sure that children could look after themselves, and know the basics of reading and writing - he wished he had had a teacher with that much fire. And the selflessness in which she delivered it too, not charging anything, that bewildered him.

Still, he carried on answering her, again avoiding the subject of how he became a bodyguard. "Of course I got better," he snorted, raising a comical eyebrow to her, "I also got taller, and stronger, until one day, Onrad tried to tackle me, and I thumped him. had a black eye for a week. it was amazing." He grinned, relishing the memory.

"Where'd you learn to fight though? I mean, my skills are rudimentary. I can hit someone, and inflict damage, but your footwork is a whole lot better than mine. Maybe you can give me some hints, in exchange for you taking advantage of my height?"

Primrose mock-glared at him. "Taking advantage of your height indeed! The day I took my first step, I received my first sword. It was a little wooden one, but I learned with that first. My father taught me. He believed that if I was taught to fight then I would be strong, and would then not be required to fight." She smiled at the memory. "He was an idealist, my father. You could never tell with him whether he was spouting wisdom or silliness. He was a large influence on my life, still is really. By the time he died I had an excellent foundation in sword-fighting. I just taught myself from there. I never stopped practicing either. I guess it was my way of trying to do him proud."

Primrose looked at him for a moment, trying to decide what to ask him. "What is your favorite childhood memory?" She finally asked watching him intently.

"My favourite?" He repeated, scratching his leg in an almost nervous fashion. He hadn't thought about his childhood for a long time, but now that they had been talking, he'd been forced to come up with stories, some easier than others, to appease her questioning. He was doing the same of her, he knew, but it still didn't make it any easier.

It wasn't that he'd had an unpleasant childhood, not at all. It was that it was so long ago now, and when you were gifted long life, the years passed relatively slowly, and bled into each other, like sunset turning to evening.

Finally and with a shrug he answered. "I don't really have a favourite memory. I guess all the times with Elody are good memories, and Onrad." He pulled a face, trying to think and give her an answer that might satisfy her curiosity. "Okay, I got it. One summer, almost one hundred fifty years ago, Elody and I decided we wanted to camp out under the stars. Mother wouldn't allow us to, and so we snuck out. Packed a bag full of bread that was supposed to be for the next morning's breakfast, and made ourselves a camp site about half an hours walk from home.

"We stayed up until dawn, munching on the bread, talking about anything and everything and memorising the place we'd found. It was magical, so silent, except for the crickets and the occasional frog croaking, and then there were the times the owls would catch us off guard, and swoop down for the bread. We watched as the stars changed and shifted, and as the moon and sun danced around each other. It was the one time where Elody and I really took the time to get to know each other. Before, she had just been my sister. After that, she was my sister whom I dearly love, and a living being worth every ounce of respect I could give her. I never pranked her after that."

With a little sigh, he shook his head. "Okay, what about you? Favourite memory?"

"I envy you. I wish I had had siblings. Someone to blame when things go wrong; someone to confide in, you know? I lost my parents when I was young and I wasn't very good at making friends. I never had that closeness. Or, actually I did but I let it slip away."

Primrose looked at her teacup sadly. Memories of Ryuu seemed to swim in front of her eyes before she could lock them away again. "My favorite memory? It is a tie between the pranks my best friend and I played and the time I rode my father's dragon." She giggled quietly rocking a little in her seat. "My name, Dragoslav, it means Slave of the Dragon. My father always said that she was not his dragon but, that he was her rider. The dragon is the possessor not the human. I never understood that until I flew with her. I did something stupid and she got furious."

She put down her teacup and rolled up her right sleeve. Moving her arm closer to the candlelight, Primrose showed Harkness the inside of her arm. Slightly above where the elbow bends in and below where the shoulder creates the armpit was a huge smooth pink scar in a jagged semi-circular pattern. "She forever marked me as hers. She saved my life but, I have the scar to always remember not to jump into things without thinking first." Primrose laughed, "not that that has been much of a deterrent since though. I still am a bit rash. What about you Harkness? Do you do rash things? Was becoming a bodyguard one of them?"

Harkness hissed at the sight of the scar, though it was faded, and a deep frown settled on his brow. He didn't like the idea of anyone hurting her, let alone a huge and powerful animal like a dragon. There was nothing he could do about it though, and it wasn't worth getting upset over.

Not like her next question was.

His expression darkened considerably, and he looked away from her, turning his hooded eyes to the floor. "No." He replied shortly, refusing to look at her. "No, I don't do anything rash. Not any more. Becoming a bodyguard was far from the most rash decision I've made in my life. It was one of the soundest ones. The rashest thing I ever did, was continue our little treks out into the forest.

"One evening, I realised that we'd forgotten our blankets in our haste to get out without Mother noticing. While I was gone Elody was... attacked." He swallowed heavily, eyes growing distant, and his voice became a hollow shell. "She was brutally abused, and left for dead. When I found her, she was hardly breathing. I... I picked her up and carried her home, but she was bleeding everywhere. Mother called the doctor, Father just cried.  The doctor came, and did all he could for her. And she pulled through.

"But she isn't the same Elody. She can't speak, she can't walk, she just... sits there, and looks at nothing. It's like she had been possessed, and now the sweet, kind, stubborn girl I loved is locked away. Because of me.

"Because... because I wasn't there to protect her. That's why I became a bodyguard. So I could be in control. So that I could stop that kind of thing happening to anyone."

His jaw was clenched, skin pulled tight across his face as he recounted the story.He didn't realise that his hand had clenched around the handle of the tea cup, until it broke, and lukewarm tea spilled all over his lap. Harkness' face went blank then, completely unreadable, and he stood sharply, the legs of the chair almost breaking with the force of his movement.

"Thank you for dinner," he muttered, and headed towards the door, only just remembering to duck as he went through it. He let out an explosive sigh, and kept walking back towards the garden. He needed some time to think.

Primrose watched stoically as Harkness angrily recounted the tale. 'There you are dark stranger. I was wondering when you would show yourself. How all the puzzle pieces fall into place now.'

She let Harkness go, waiting until he was out of her hearing range, before standing and cleaning up the mess. "I deserved that I suppose. I knew better than to pry." She finished cleaning up and made another pot of tea. For a long time she just sat there staring at the candle's flame, revising old ghosts.

Quietly, Primrose poured an extra cup of tea and headed up to the guest room. The door was still open and the room was dark. Harkness had not returned yet. She lit the bedside candle and left the cup of tea beside it. Pulling some stationary from the desk she wished him pleasant dreams and left it under the cup before exiting. Stopping at the door, she whispered to the empty room her apologies.

As she prepared herself for bed she promised herself to apologize to Harkness first thing in the morning. This time it had been she who had gone too far. She needed to right the wrong before she destroyed their blooming friendship. "Forgive me," she whispered once more before falling asleep.

In the morning, if she cared to check, Primrose would see the tea untouched, and the candle burned down to the wick. Harkness had not come back to the room. He spent quite some time out the garden, wandering around with a lost expression, considering all the nights events. Why he'd allowed himself to be so open with a stranger, he didn't know, and silently cursed himself for his foolishness.

But he couldn't deny that it had been nice. That for a while he had been carefree, and had enjoyed the time talking with Primrose, and forging their friendship. What had been done, was done though, and he couldn't take his words back. She'd just have to accept that it wasn't something he was going to talk about anymore.

Dawn was breaking over the horizon when he finally slipped back into the house, the grey haze of early morning enveloping everything in a fog. With a weary sigh he headed to the kitchen, and set about to stoke the fire. The least he could do was apologize for his behaviour when Primrose awoke, and he was set to do that with a cup of tea - seeing how that had been when their camaraderie had truly started. He looked tired, for sure, and he quirked his eyebrow at the reflection he caught in the window.

"Yeah, well, that's what you get for being a moron," He said to himself wryly, before turning back to his task.

She rose early that morning. The night had been long and restless for her, plagued with nightmares and guilt. The sun's rays were just creeping onto the land when she exited her rooms, dark circles under her eyes and a pounding, pulsing headache.

Gathering her courage she went to Harkness' rooms only to find them empty and unused. Sadly she looked at the cup of now cold tea. 'I guess he left. Can't blame him though, you really were very rude Prim. It was none of your business, you knew both were subjects he was avoiding.' She threw the tea and the note into the fireplace, taking the cup with her to the kitchen.

Primrose's steps became more hurried as she heard Cook screaming and shouting in the kitchen. She paused outside the door listening to the commotion inside. "Who do you think you are? What are you doing in my kitchen, you vagabond? Get out of here! I won't have you stealing Missy Prim's good dishes!"

Feeling that she needed to step in, Primrose opened the door in time to witness her robust cook crack her wooden spoon across Harkness' backside. Primrose's eyes widened as she froze in the doorway, her hand clamped over her mouth. The teacup fell from her grasp shattering loudly against the stone floor. 'Oh Kia, can I be anymore embarrassed?'

He hadn't even heard her come in. The cook, that was, and it wasn't a good sign. He'd spun around at the sound of her voice though, as she began accusing him. If it wasn't for the fact that he viewed her as an elder (although yes, he was at least two hundred years older than her, he tended to view age like this - if he was human, she'd be older than him, and therefore, deserved his respect.), he would have roared at her in disapproval.

"But I'm - I'm not - I didn't!" Was all he could get out as she cornered him. Then he saw the big wooden spoon, and with wide panicked eyes he tried to dart away, his usually good sense of direction and nimble feet failed him in a moment of boyish fear, and he sprawled into the table, backside there for the spanking.

"Yeouch!" Harkness yelped, looking more and more flustered as the woman went for him a second time. "Stop stop! I'm not stealing anything I'm- Oww! Stop it! Ma'am!" He scooted as far away from possible, getting his behind up against the cupboard so she couldn't him a third time. "Primrose!" He turned his head to her, his eyes pathetically imploring.

"Can you please tell her I'm not trying to steal anything?! Please!"

"Jolie!" Primrose hissed. "Stop it! This man is my guest here. You embarrass me and yourself with your actions. Cease this foolishness at once!" Her gaze was fierce. Tiny thing that she was, she looked like a warrior goddess with her anger seemingly creating its own aura around her.

Formally she bent at the waist facing Harkness. "My sincerest apologies Mr. Hoverstone, both for my insensitivity last evening and that of my servant this morning. I have not been the accommodating hostess I made myself out to be. Please forgive me." She straightened slowly refusing to look him in the eye. "If you need anything else please do not hesitate to ask. I and my own are at your service. I hope your stay here proves better. Have a good day, Mr. Hoverstone," she wished him before elegantly fleeing the room.

'Idiot! Fool! And you wonder why you have no friend! How Ryuu ever liked you is a mystery. You are a creep and a witch. You poison every good thing. You're lucky he is too much of a gentleman to lash out at you.' Her mind continued to berate and accuse as her headache just steadily increased.

Jolie backed off immediately, leaving Harkness to stare at Primrose has her anger rose. His stinging buttocks were forgotten momentarily as he watched the air seem to crackle around her. His eyebrows rose at the formality in which she spoke, calling him Mr. Hoverstone, unwilling to meet his pleading gaze and with the exquisite way in which she took her leave

He stared a little open mouthed at the elder woman, and then shrugged nonchalantly. "No harm done," he said simply, before launching himself off the cupboard, and running after Primrose, rubbing his backside absently.

"Hey," he called out to her, catching up and placing a a hand to her elbow gently to turn her, "hey, Primrose, stop. What's wrong? It's okay, I'm not mad... what's with the Mr. Hoverstone thing? Harkness, remember?"

She walked quickly through the halls with closed eyes. Her right hand ran along the stone walls, guiding her as the heel of her left dug into her forehead. She was not even aware of Harkness' presence until he had her by the elbow. Blindly, Primrose flinched away from him and swung her arm out at him. As her eyes flew open she stopped herself mid-swing, realizing who it was.

For a moment she stared at him with unfocused eyes. Her cerulean orbs gazed at him blindly almost seeming to glow with repressed emotion. Primrose sighed closing her eyes and pinching the bridge of her nose. "What can I do for you Mr. Hoverstone? Is there something not to your liking?" she questioned politely. She had to fight the urge to throw a temper tantrum.

'Kia help me! I have apologized can he not leave me alone. Is this my punishment, to have this blinding headache return after so long an absence? Perhaps if I can assist him quickly he will leave me for the day and I can curl back up in bed. Oh, the children. I need to teach today.' Primrose's mind moved from her current situation onto what lesson plans she needed to do. As it was, she struggled to focus on Harkness. It was almost as if he was not really there anymore.

Harkness stepped back from the swinging arm and folded his arms over his chest, looking down at Primrose coldly as she continued to speak to him in those formal tones. "Primrose, come on. I know I behaved badly last night, leaving like I did, but I think the spanking I just got is punishment enough, don't you?" His expression softened with his last few words as his voice took on a teasing tone and his arms dropped to his sides.

He tilted his head to the side, taking in the odd glaze to her eyes, and the way they flickered over his face without really settling and he frowned. Something wasn't quite right. He wasn't sure if she was going to hit him again, but he took a step towards her, and reached his hand to her. "Are you okay? You don't look so good. Come on, I think you should go lie down."

"I'm fine!" she cried out startled. Primrose took a wary step back and tripped over the side table behind her. Wobbling to regain her balance she fell back into the wall, knocking over the vase on the table. This continued to set off a rapid chain of events.

With blurred vision, Primrose tried to catch the vase and knocked into the table again. Her flimsy shoes now wet from the flower-water did not allow her to keep her balance. She came tumbling down; the back of her head bouncing off the corner of the table. A flare of searing pain shot through her head and behind her eyes, then everything went black.

He jerked his hand away the instant she shrieked, taking his own step back. Realising what was happening though, all that went through his mind was No... oh no... and he fumbled forward after her, reaching out, but his usual quick reflexes failed him, and he watched in horror as she smacked her head.

As she fell to the ground, finally he kicked into gear, getting his body down to her before she could do more damage by thumping onto the hard floor. "Primrose," he said urgently, tucking his arms around her, one under her knees and the other around her shoulders, looking overwrought with the turn of events. Adrenaline coursed through him as he lifted her and raced as gently as he could back up the stairs to find her room.

As he laid her down on the bed, slipping her head onto the pillow, his face paled to see streaks of blood on his shirt sleeve. He sat down on the edge of the bed beside her, and gently rolled her towards him. The back of her head was matted together, and in that instant all of Harkness' training kicked into gear. Leaving her he tore downstairs and into the kitchen.

"Bowl, water, rag." He barked to Jolie, and the startled woman stared at him a moment. "Miss Primrose hit her head," he explained with an exasperated sigh, "I don't have time to explain. Just find the things."

"Oh course, Sir," the cook exclaimed, as she rushed about to find the things he'd asked for. As he made his way back to Primrose, his jaw was clenched tightly, stress evident on his features. Setting the bowl of water on the bedside table, he situated himself again on the side of the bed, his body turned sideways. Rolling Primrose back onto her side, he gently parted her hair, wincing at the nasty cut there. "Ah, Prim," he said softly, shaking his head once, before setting to cleaning the wound. "What'd you have to freak out for?"

Primrose woke some time later to everything from the neck up hurting. As the first wave of pain hit her she instinctively curled in on herself, bringing her hands up to her head. She hissed as one of them came in contact with the back of her head.

Her hand recoiled quickly as a grumbling growl escaped her throat. Primrose tried to sit up only to have a severe wave of nausea overtake her. Groaning she flopped back down, wincing as the back of her head came in contact roughly with the pillow. 'I remember having a headache but I don't remember my head hurting there. What did I do?' She flung her arm over her eyes, blocking out the light.

'What was the last thing I was doing? I don't remember being in bed. I did come downstairs, didn't I?' Outside, Janus' childlike laughter and Jolie's scolding could be heard. Gasping, Primrose threw her arm off herself and struggled to sit up and get out of bed. "The children! I have to teach!"

Harkness had been dozing in a chair beside her bedside, not wanting to leave just in case she woke up and was sick, or was even sick while she was sleeping. He'd seen people dealing with concussion from this kind of injury before, and it wasn't always pretty. As he heard her woke though, the rustling as she curled her self up, and then the little growl, he opened one bleary eye, staying otherwise completely still. The last thing he wanted to do was frighten her.

That was, until she started trying to get out of bed. He was at her side in an instant, a firm hand pressing her shoulder. "Lay back down," he instructed, "you are not going anywhere. Don't worry about the children - I sent Janus to tell them there wouldn't be class today. And he picked you these..." he waved over to a little vase holding six little daisies, obviously worse for wear having been picked by an over exuberant youth wanting to please.

He looked back down at her sternly, daring her to challenge him. "You hit your head fairly hard back there. You've been out for close to two hours. How are you feeling?"

Primrose glared up at Harkness. "Whadya doin' in my room? You don' belong 'ere," she slurred. "Daisies?" She smiled closing her eyes. "I like daisies!" Her hand flung out pointing towards the flowers.

Groaning she clasped her hand to her head and burrowed back further into the pillows. "My 'ead hurts." For a few minutes she just laid there in silence. Cracking one eye open, Primrose looked up at Harkness. "Why are ya here?" The other popped eye open as she remembered what day it was. "I need teach today!" She tried getting up again only to feel dizzy. "Why is the world all," she moved her hand about demonstrating a swinging, spinning motion. "I don' feel so good. Are those daisies? I like daisies," she told Harkness, grimacing more than smiling.

He smiled as she glared at him, a somewhat patronizing smile as he nodded. "Yes, Daisies. Janus brought them in." Still looking somewhat concerned, but at least relieved enough that she was finally awake. While she lay back and clutched her head he nodded. "Oh course it hurts, didn't you hear me say you hit your head? Don't you- hey what?" she was harping on about him, something about needing to teach and the world being woozy, and then she asked about the daisies again.

Harkness felt his throat tighten, and the worry in his eyes returned. He watched her for a careful moment. "Primrose, sweetheart?" The name was said in a tender, brotherly way, though his voice betrayed the concern he felt. "Do you not remember what happened?"

Primrose closed her eyes trying to concentrate. "I remember last night. I woke up this morning and went to apologize. But, you weren't in your room." She looked up at him accusingly. "I tried to apologize, made you tea and left you a note but you never saw it."

She sat pouted, trying to remember what she had been saying. "I went to the kitchen because my head hurt. Jolie spanked you!" Primrose snorted before wincing and clasping her head again. "Then, we squabbled, I tried to leave, and..." she trailed off. She stared off into the distance unseeing with furrowed brow. "Broken glass. I don't remember anymore than that."

Primrose sighed wearily, her headpain increasing with each breath and heartbeat. "Harkness," she called weakly, "can you ask Jolie to bring me dragon's fire? She will know what you mean and what it's for. Please?" she asked looking at him through half-mast eyes.

Hark looked a bit guilty, hearing that she'd come to apologize, when really, she had done nothing wrong. He felt even worse knowing that she'd tried to make it up with tea, and a note, and everything. But his major concern was that she couldn't remember what exactly had happened. She had enough recollection of the previous night for him to disregard memory loss, but the hazy explanation she gave of the mornings events troubled him.

He smiled at her kindly at her request, and gently stroked his hand across her forehead. "Sure, I'll go get it. Stay here. Don't move." The smile changed to another stern, serious glare, before it softened again. "I'll be right back."

Heading downstairs he sighed heavily, shoving a hand through his hair and rubbing his other hand across his face. He was lucky he didn't trip and fall down the stairs.

"Is Miss Primrose okay, Mr. Hoverstone?" Jolie asked as he entered the kitchen.

"She's awake, if that's what you mean." He replied flatly,  "And asking for Dragon's Fire." The cook nodded, and set about preparing the stuff, while Harkness just sat down, looking beat. "I cleaned up the broken vase for you too, Mr. Hoverstone. Made quite a mess, didn't she? What got her so upset, do you know?"

"Not really, no," Hark replied with a shrug, "she seemed riled the moment she stepped in the door though, and saw you have at me." Jolie winced, and laughed wryly.

"Yes, I am sorry about that."

"It's no problem... I haven't had a spanking for years. I think it was long over-due."

"Well, so long as you're staying, if you ever find yourself in need of another, you know where to find me." Her eyes twinkled playfully as she handed him a steaming teacup, filled to the brim with a pungent liquid. "I think that one was solid enough to last me another hundred years," Hark returned, "but thanks for the offer." He grinned, and stood, taking his leave and headed back to Primrose.

"Here," he said holding the cup out to her as set himself down on the mattress beside her. "Do you need help sitting up?"

She dozed in the few minutes that Harkness was gone, her mind a mess of broken thoughts and ideas. Upon his return she slowly pulled herself into a seated position and got comfortably rested against the headboard. The simple effort left her tired and out of breath.

When she once more felt stable she reached out for the tea Harkness was now holding. Blinking she stared at his hands for a while her gaze shifting about. "Just how many hands do you have?" she asked before reaching to the left of where he was actually holding the tea. "Can I please have the cup?" she asked a little frustratedly. Her hand was shaking and she quickly dropped it back into her lap to hide her weakness.

'I wish he would just leave. I could drink my tea and then go back to sleep. No one would have to know about this. Oh, please Kia send him away. My head hurts too much to keep civility up for much longer!'

"Actually Harkness, I think I'll drink that in a little bit. I'm a little tired." She smiled at him weakly, feigning a yawn. "Thank you for all your help, I can take it from here," she informed him as a polite dismal. 'For all that is holy Harkness, leave! I am embarrassed enough already. I do not need you here as a reminder that I am struggling.'

"Only the two," he laughed quietly, trying to disguise his concern. The wobble of her hand didn't get past him either. Still, he set the cup down on the beside table, and crossed his arms firmly across his chest.

"I'm not going anywhere." He said stubbornly, but got off the bed and plopped back into the chair he'd been in before, pulling it over to be right beside her, guessing he'd probably have to hand her the tea anyway. "You're hurt bad, and I don't care if you think you're pitiful and helpless and weak - you're not." He narrowed his eyes at her, guessing the reasons she wanted him to leave.

"I didn't stick around to help Elody. At least let me do this for you."

As he described her reasoning for trying to send him away, Primrose glared at Harkness. Her face was a portrait of betrayal. But, this quickly turned to guilt and sorrow as he mentioned his sister.

"Helping me is not going to fix her, Harkness," she whispered to him. Looking up she gazed as steadily as she could with her swimming vision. "Nor does it make you a better person. You are already a good man. I am sure you were the same then. Her injury is no more your fault than Brageeta's death is mine. We were not in the right place at the right time. But, our intentions were good. You beat yourself up too much over it. I am sure your sister would not want you to live with such resentment for yourself. Such blaming cannot be good for you."

Eyes swimming with unshed tears, Primrose turned her face away from him. "Forgive me, I overstep my bounds. You are only trying to help me and I am being cruel. I seem to do that to you a lot lately. I am truly sorry," she apologized hanging her head. Long gold-red hair fell across her shoulders and over her face, hiding fiery cheeks and crystal tears.

Harkness hid his reactions well, and leaned back in the chair with his arms crossed loosely. not going to... fix her!? You think that's what I meant? No! I know I can't fix her. All I was saying is that I'm not going to abandon you when you need help. Stupid woman. That's all I mean. And don't go lecturing me, lady. You're going to give yourself a bleeding braid. And I do deserve to be blamed, and you and no body else can tell me otherwise. So there.

His little internal rant ended quite childishly, and he resisted the urge to cross his eyes and poke out his tongue at her. Instead he shrugged, and held out a hand to her. "Primrose, it's okay. You're my... friend. And friends are allowed to overstep a few boundaries every now and again." He gave her a little smile to show her that what he said was genuine. "You're not being cruel either. I understand your intentions. Don't cry, please?"

"I can hardly understand how you can call me friend. But, I am honored. I do not deserve such friendship, not after all of your kindness and all of my pranks and poor behavior. I still have yet to show myself in a good light."

Hesitantly, Primrose moved her shaking hand out to his own extended one. Gently she placed it in his grasp and gave it a weak squeeze. She almost cried all over again, when she realized just how seriously she was struggling. "I have been independent for so long; I have forgotten how to ask for help," she stated aloud. "I have always seen such an admission as a weakness. When you are strong for so many..." her voice trailed off as she looked Harkness in the eye. Smiling through the tears, she tried squeezing his hand again.

He frowned at her self-depreciating talk, wishing she'd lighten up on herself. You've shown yourself in perfect light he thought as he listened , and watched as she took his hand. You are incredibly smart and wise for one so young. You are selfless in your approach to educating. You're fun and strong willed, glorious in anger, beautiful...

Tilting his head at her he grinned. "Let me teach you how to ask for help..." and then, enunciating each letter perfectly, beamed,  "hhh-eee-lll-ppp" He made himself go cross eyed for a second before reaching over for the cup and pressing it into her hands, keeping his on hers to keep them steady.

"And I'm happy to, any time. Now drink."

She giggled, sticking out her tongue at him with closed eyes in response to his teasing. "Hello nemesis mine," she said glaring down at the tea between their joined hands. "We meet again." Grumpily, Primrose exhaled before slowly leaning forward and gulping down as much as she could in one go.

She made it halfway before she pulled away coughing and gasping for breath. "It's worse than I remember it tasting," she groaned out. Grumbling, she took a few more slower sips before nodding that she was done.

"When I was little I fell and hit my head very badly. It took a year before I could walk again. I had to relearn everything. But, the headaches just lingered. They never went away. For two years I lived this way. Then Ustskel saved me. She brought back a root from the heart of the Draconi Forest and taught us how to use it. It has a healing property combined with a strong pain reliever. The only problem with it is that it can become addictive. Long before I was born people would mix it with honey and drink it. The more you drink, the more you thirst for it. That," she glared at the cup again, "is specifically made to be bitter to prevent me from desiring it. Although I do not understand the appeal for it. The stuff burns like a strong whiskey, hence the name, Dragon's Fire."

Pouting she leaned back against the headboard again. "I hate the drink so much, that I refuse to take it when I should. This morning for instance, my head hurt enough to warrant a mild cup of it. If I had not been stubborn, I might not have gotten hurt worse. Kia's way of telling me off I guess."

Tiredly, she slowly blinked her eyes, relaxing as the headache began to ebb away. "Why do you care so much? I mean, we just met. You saved me from Davis when you did not have to. You put up with my household's pranks and silliness as well as my temper tantrums and cook's spanking." She chuckled at the memory. "You looked like a little boy caught eating sweets before dinner."

Harkness took the cup and put it to the side, before getting up from her bedside, and sitting back in the chair. He didn't want to make her feel even more uncomfortable as it was, having had to rely on his help. He could see that she was feircly independent, and admired that quality, even though it had him a little frustrated with this particular situation.
 
"I wouldn't know," he said lightly, with her reference to whiskey, "I've never touched a drop of the stuff before. I can't say, from hearing your description, that I'd enjoy it."

To her next comment though, he shrugged, relaxing into the chair and stretching out his legs, crossing his feet at the ankles. "I care because it's easy to do," he started, with a hint of a smile at the idea of how he'd looked earlier in the morning. "I saved you from Davis, because it's my job, and I put up with you and all your mischief because I like you. I mean, you're an easy person to get along with, really, and I haven't had company that I can be this... relaxed with... in a very long time. You're good for me."

He grinned, hoping that what he said hadn't sounded... cheesy. He had meant it in the most innocent way possible, and he bumbled on with a slight flush in his cheeks, trying to remedy what he thought sounded like a cheap pick up line. "And what I mean by that is... just that... you... are, uhm, calm and, friendly, and it's easy to like you. I don't know why you don't have hundreds of men lining up at your door and-" Stop talking. Idiot.

With closed eyes he pinched the bridge of his nose lightly, and opened one eye warily. "You look tired. I'm tired. I didn't sleep at all last night, I might just... go... now that I know you'll be okay." He made a move to stand, and looked down at her with a mixture of concern and care. "Don't get out of bed though, okay? If you need me for anything, just call me. I'll hear you. I'm a light sleeper. So... just... stay."

"I am sorry," she apologized feeling guilty. "I did not mean to keep you from your rest. You as the guest should not be the one to care for the mistress of the house. Go, rest. I will not disturb you," she shooed him away.

Primrose refused to make the promise to stay. This was her house and she would do as she pleased. 'I know what I am doing. I know what is best for me, and I'm not about to let some well-meaning elf tell me otherwise!' She tried to justify her future actions even as she dozed off into peaceful sleep.

Several hours later, Primrose woke to see the sun hug the earth in its descent. Quietly, she rose from the bed. While her sleep had been uninterrupted by pain and dreams, she now needed more tea and a hot meal. Knowing that Harkness' room was a few doors down and closer to the main foyer, she slipped out to the other end of the hall and down through the servant's entrance.

Once more in the kitchen, she was forced to sit as Jolie flitted about, scolding and apologizing all in one breath. "Really Primmy, if I had known he was your guest I never would have spanked 'im. But, how many guests do we ever have 'ere? And you! Is that how we treat our guests, making them fend for themselves in the kitchen? 'ow's your 'ead dear? If you weren't so stubborn it wouldn't be hurtin' so fiercely. You are just like your father, stubborn to the death. One day it is going to get you killed." On and on Jolie went while Primrose sat in silence only half-listening. These were lectures she had heard all her life. She knew them by heart. Instead, she focused her thoughts on her generous guest resting upstairs.

Harkness was annoyed that she shooed him out without giving him a solid promise, but he shrugged his acceptance, and headed for the guest room. Not like she has to listen to you anyway. He scolded himself as he lay atop the blankets, and closed his eyes.

His sleep was deep, but, always being a light sleeper, he's eyes snapped open with the slight sounds of footsteps on the floor. He listened for a moment, following the track of them with his keen ears, but relaxed when the sound of voices came up from the kitchen. He closed his eyes again, his arms folded loosely over her stomach, training his hearing to the conversation. Not that there was much to listen to. Just the grandmotherly cook giving Primrose a telling off. He snorted lightly, raising eyebrows at the comment about her being stubborn. "Y'not telling any one anything new," he muttered to himself.

His mind was lost for another small moment, considering the woman downstairs, and the strange, confusing feelings he thought were beginning to take root. It's the longest time you've spent with anyone, Hark. No point making a bigger deal out of it than it is. She's a friend, and the first one you've had in a long time, so don't go and ruin it.

With a small sigh he sat up, and crept down the stairs, his feet silent on the floor. At the entrance to the kitchen he stopped, letting himself fill up the doorway, crossing his arms over his chest, he let his eyes fall sternly onto Primrose.

"I thought I told you to stay in bed."

"Can you seriously expect me to listen to a man who was cowed by a woman three or four times younger than him? What are you going to do Harkness, throw me over your knee and give me a spanking? You're not my father, you can't punish me," she told him raising her head in challenge.

The fact that Harkness also happened to be much older than herself seemed to escape her mind. 'Go ahead Mr. Hoverstone. Do your worst!' Her face was set in a blantant challenge of defiance.

In the back corner of the kitchen, Jolie watched the two waiting for the impending outburst. It would go one of two ways in her mind. Either they would snipe until one drove the other away or the young gentleman was going accept the challenge. Inwardly, the elderly cook hoped for the second. 'It'd be 'bout time Primmy remembered her place. She canna do everything herself.' She fought to hid the smile creeping across her face.

Harkness stood with an amused eyebrow raised at her. She must be feeling better, he thought, just barely catching his lips as the tried to curl into a smile. Instead, he set them into a line, and strode into the kitchen.

"You know full well how easily I can throw you over my shoulder," he started, standing in front of her, "I'd hate to think how good you'd look over my knee." He lifted his head at the amused snort that slipped from Jolie, and he just winked at her. Turning his attention back to Primrose, he started again, wondering if he might intimidate her with his size.

"You can look at me all you like, Primrose, if you don't go upstairs now I will take you up there myself."

Primrose watched his approach warily. "You wouldn't dare," she snorted. Looking away she began to read some correspondence Jain had left on the table for her. 'He wouldn't would he? I mean this is my house, my rules. I will not be carted around like a sack of potatoes. I am fine! What does he mean good anyway? Is he trying to say that being good gets you punished? But, how does that make sense? I am confused! Men are such strange creatures.'

She rested her forehead in her hand, shielding her eyes as she continued to distractedly read. In her current position she was oblivious to Harkness and Jolie. 'Uncle's usual mandate "come home and marry." When will he understand I refuse that life!' Primrose huffed under her breath, rolling her eyes. "Well good luck with that," she grumbled aloud.

He didn't like backing down from a challenge, but as Primrose stated that he wouldn't dare, he caught the warning tone, and took half a step back, looking down at her as she sifted through the letters.

You're only going to upset her, and as long as she sits still for a while, she's not doing any harm, he reasoned, though the stern expression didn't change. Sure she must know her limits... wait? Good luck with what? With making you go back to bed? Fine!

It was all the permission he needed although he didn't realise it wasn't directed at him. He swung to her side, and deftly lifted her, and took her place on the chair, which elicited a surprised laugh from Jolie. He held her only lightly though, knowing full well she'd probably whack him for this. He was only glad he'd left his sword upstairs. "How's this," he asked lifting a quizzical eyebrow.

"See if I can't make you do as you're told. Would you prefer to be spanked by wooded spoon, or hand?"

An unladylike squawk burst from her lips as her world began to change perspective. One moment she was sitting, reading and the next she was in the air and then resting over someone's lap. She struggled for a moment before what Harkness said processed in her mind. 'Spoon or hand? Why the nerve of him! I ought to...actually that's not a bad idea,' she thought smirking slightly.

Turning her head towards Harkness, she presented him with a solemn face. "If that is what you feel you have to do then by all means. But, I feel it is fair to warn you, in this household paybacks are returned tenfold."

Primrose struggled not to change her face from her innocent expression. Large, sad eyes and a chastised expression graced her features. Her eyebrow twitched slightly in its natural response to raise up in challenge, before she caught it. 'Your move Mr. Hoverstone! Remember, I give as good as I get.'

Harkness couldn't help but choke back a startled cough as she looked at him. Her eyes were so wide, they looked so sad and serious, and the slight pout on her lips all made her look like a forlorn puppy. What on earth are you doing? Are you mad!? You have a girl you barely know, over your knee, threatening to spank her for not staying in bed. In her own house! Do you want her to think this is what you go about doing? No! You're a gentleman! You don't go about SPANKING young ladies for no reason... even if you just want to feel her a- ...Idiot man... let her go.

At her warning, he nodded once, a short little gesture as his face abruptly changed from stern but playful, to just blank. Absolute dead-pan. "I... I'm sorry, Primrose." He said, still holding her lightly across the middle, but not wanting to move her now, in case she thought he was being uncouth. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that. You can... you can get off now."

She sat up, biting her lip to contain the giggles. Now righted, Primrose smiled and plopped herself back down into Harkness' lap. Her eyes twinkled at him as she looked at him over her shoulder. "Has anyone ever told you that you make a very comfy cushion?"

Primrose leaned back against his chest, her uncle's letter back in hand. "What am I going to do with you?" she muttered distractedly. 'How many excuses do I have to give? How many do I even have left to give? It won't be long before he decides to come here himself. I am running out of options.' In her frustration, Primrose shifted, snuggling deeper into the warmth and comfort of her self-dubbed Harkness cushion.

To say that her giggles surprised him was an understatement, but it was the only way to describe his feeling, especially after she planted herself in his lap voluntarily. He made his face go comically blank as she looked over at him, and only snorted to her statement about being a cushion.

He was struggling to go bright red, but since she seemed quite happy to sit there, he let his arms come around her, his fingers dangling upwards to grab at the letter that had got her attention, trying to take his own attention off the bottom in his lap. Except, that she shifted, which elicited a grunt, as he fought not to throw her off. Just. Sit. Still. Don't wriggle around. Please.

"If you're talking about me," he said in slightly strained tones, "you don't have to do anything. Mrs. Jolie, Ma'am?" He looked over his shoulder to see the old woman snickering into her hands, bright red at the sight before. "Oh, yes!" she gasped at his desperate expression, and hurriedly moved to his side, whacking Primrose lightly on the arm.

"Miss Primrose, this is no way for a lady to behave! Hop off poor Hark. What would your dear father say!?"

"Hmm? I wasn't talking about you. But, I can if you would like," she told him sticking her tongue out at him. "Jolie you know as well as I that father would laugh, pat Harkness on the back, and then praise him on his good fortune. He would hardly class this as impropriety."

Still holding the letter, Primrose leaned her head back so that she could look up at Harkness. "You know we could market you. Elvish chair cushions, I think they would be a big hit. Look Jolie, it is even self-heating and cuddles you voluntarily," she smiled, nodding to Harkness' arms around her waist.

'I could get used to this. I bet I make him uncomfortable. Foolish girl, you ruin everything! Here you were gaining a friendship and now you go too far, again. You are fated to live your life alone at this rate Primrose!'

She made no attempt to move, and Harkness simply set his jaw against her teasing. If she had been any other woman he would have dumped her off his lap, and gotten rather upset, but despite somewhat over-comfortableness of her actions, he couldn't say that he didn't like it.

He tried to look sternly down at her as she started on his marketability, but only found his composed facade slipping. He crossed his eyes down at her, knowing that she'd probably just poke her tongue out at him. "I don't think it would sell very well, actually, Primrose. There's only one of me, and I don't know if you'd take well to having to share me with every other young woman in Ketra and beyond."

He finally snatched the letter from her hands, and eyes skimmed over it briefly, frowning once at the stern and demanding tone. "Is this from your uncle? He sounds like a right tosser."

"I didn't think of that," she pouted. "My Harkness!" she giggled turning and giving him a quick hug before glaring mockingly towards Jolie.

"Hey!" she shouted trying to get the letter back. By the time she did the damage had been done. "Yes," she grumbled hopping off his lap. "He's something alright. Although, I think tosser is too generous a word for the kind of man he is. He is my mother's brother. Widowed with no children, he considers me his ultimate responsibility. He wants to marry off as some trophy wife and I refuse it. I am running out of excuses and threats. I fear his next letter will inform me that he is on his way to come get me. It would be just like him to do so."

Primrose sighed sadly, walking over to another chair and flopping down. "What am I to do, Jolie? You always have an answer for me. Tell me what I should do and I will do it," she said looking towards the elderly woman.

"Drink your tea Primmy. All answers come to those with full stomachs and warmed hearts. Isn't that right Mr. Harkness?"

Primrose could not help but roll her eyes. She never noticed the servant's blatant wink to the Dragoslav guest.

She's hugging me. First, she sits in your lap, and now she's hugging you. For the love of all that's holy, I am going to have to say something. Her Harkness? Hers? Well, I don't know about that...

And then she was gone, explaining something about her uncle. Harkness was just having a hard time not following the bottom that had been so nicely nestled in his lap. Clearing his throat, he managed to avert his eyes before she sat down and faced him. "What?" His head spun, only just catching Jolie's question, but he nodded emphatically, and returned a stern gaze to Primrose. "That's right. Drink."

He scratched his head for a moment, contemplating her predicament. It couldn't be easy for her, he knew this much. She was strong and fought to be independent, and to hear that her uncle had such a disrespect for her as an individual was troubling. More so was the idea that he, blood though he might be, could take her against her will, back to Serendipity.

"I don't know how, but anyway I may be of assistance, I'd like to help."

Primrose drank the tea thinking deeply on her current predicament. "Thank you, Harkness. But, I am afraid there is nothing you can do for me. My uncle is never happy. When my parents married he was furious. It didn't matter that my father was a noble and a knight, he still wasn't good enough. My mother should have married a king," she mocked, rolling her eyes.

"Or at least that is what my uncle would have everyone believe. The thing is, my mother was like me; she didn't want anything to do with such extreme politics. The life of nobility was fine but, all that pretending, it is not living. My father taught us both that." She shrugged looking at Harkness. "What's a girl to do?"

"Forgive me, Primmy. But, I 'ave some not so good news," Jolie piped up. The elderly woman placed a worn pouch on the table before nervously ringing her hands. "This is all that's left of Dragon's Fire," she told her employer worriedly. Opening the pouched revealed a single sliver, barely enough for one last cupful.

Primrose laughed. "Jolie you had me worried." She stood and kissed both of the cook's cheeks. "Tomorrow in the morning I will go and collect some." Turning to Harkness she continued, "you will have to forgive me friend. I am afraid I will no longer be able to be your hostess. You are more than welcome to enjoy your stay here as long as you like. I however, have other duties that I must attend to. I am sure you understand," she said bowing slightly.

Gathering up the mail and the pouch, she tossed her uncle's letter into the kitchen fire. "Would you care to join me in the dining room, Harkness? I believe dinner is almost ready," she invited, checking with Jolie as she made her way out of the room.

Harkness couldn't help but feel sympathy for the girl, hearing how her uncle was, even towards her father. He frowned a little as she recounted the strenuous family ties, but even hearing this little bit it was easy to see where she got her strength from. At the mention of gathering more of the root for her tea, Harkness gave a little nod. "I'll help," he offered, before she got all formal on him again and left him scratching his head in bewilderment. "Yes, sure. I'd love to have dinner," he said before she left the room.

He didn't get up from his seat straight away, just watched her departing figure, wondering what he'd done for her to start speaking so formally. With a little shrug, he turned in his seat to talk to Jolie as she pottered around the kitchen with the final preparations for dinner.

"Where do we have to go to find the Dragon's Fire?" he asked curiously.

"Deep into the forest, I'm afraid. I hate when Primmy goes alone. There's a settlement out there that I'm not too keen on." She didn't seem to realise as Hark did, that she was probably speaking of his family. His mouth drew into a line, instantly regretting his offer to help her, if only for the fact that it meant more than likely running into at least his parents. He hummed to himself in thought, sliding back around in his chair, before finally getting up to go and get ready for dinner.

___

The next morning, with the weather clear, they set on their way. Harkness had had another restless night, with dreams of his sister tormenting him. He put it down to the fact that he was nervous about running into his family, and tried to shrug it off, and get back to his comfortable self with Primrose. They talked small talk as they walked, but he was never to sure if he was saying the right things. She seemed to have let go all the incidents from the previous day, but Harkness was vividly aware of what he thought was a growing attraction to the tiny little woman.

"You know," he said quietly as they passed through a copse of trees that lead into a track deeper into the forest, one he knew rather well, "you could try seeing a healer about your headaches. It'd mean you wouldn't have to come here again." His eyes flitted worriedly about, his brows drawn over his eyes, and his hand clenched uneasily over the hilt of his sword. He was on the look out for scouts, which he knew stalked the forest, and that he also knew hated trespassers. How she'd managed to come this far on her own before without being caught, he'd never know.

"Just, walk quietly. It's too quiet out here. Stay close, will you?"

Primrose snorted in a very unladylike manner. "A healer? I have seen a great many healers by now. In the first year of my injury my mother and father paid for any and every healer that would come to heal me. I have had every true and false cure-all remedy from Sioand Tundra to the Moraki Desert and everywhere in between. This is the only thing that works for me," she told him shrugging.

While her movements seemed very carefree and unattentive, Primrose was anything but. On her back, beneath her cloak was her sword and at her side rested her mother's dagger. Should trouble come, she would be ready.

"You worry too much, Harkness. I have done this run a thousand times by now. There is nothing to fear for those that respect the forest and its inhabitants. I mean no harm, so no harm shall come to me," she told him simply.

With her back to him, Primrose rolled her eyes. 'Just how incapable does he find me? I have been living on my own since I was very young. I know how to care for myself, thank you very much. I do not need him!'

Harkness narrowed his eyes down at her, feeling an overwhelming desire to protect her. He couldn't help it. She was just so... small. And despite what he knew of her, and knew of her fighting skills, he would have much rather her stayed at home. "I don't worry too much," he replied shortly. "I worry just enough."

"Not enough, actually." A voice called out gruffly from behind them, and Harkness stiffened at the feel of an arrow at his back. His face paled considerably, before he forced his face to go blank. Taking a small step forward, he reached out his hand to push Primrose behind him as he turned to face his assailant.

As he pushed the hood back from over his head, the newcomer stared at Harkness with a cold glare. The man that stood before them could have been Harkness' twin, the same set face, and clenched jaw, the same green eyes and blonde hair. "Father," he said softly, inclining his head in respect, while the other man lowered his weapon.

"Why are you here? Have you come to see Elody?" The Elf-Elder's voice was cold, and the green eyes that stared were just as icy.

"No," Harkness replied truthfully. "We're searching for Dragon's Fire."

The other man grunted his reply, "Your mother has a stock in her cupboard. You should have known that."

"Of course." The conversation was so terse, and the tension so thick, it couldn't even be cut with the sharpest blade.

"Come then. Bring her with you." He looked to Primrose, and then turned, disappearing into the trees. Harkness swallowed back against a growing tightness in his throat, and clenched his jaw tighter, grinding his teeth against each other. "You care to meet my family?"

At the sound of the stranger's voice, Primrose's hand moved to her dagger hilt. She followed Harkness' lead and fell behind him. The less of a threat she was perceived as the more of one she became. She watched the pair calculatingly. Even when Harkness identified the man as his own father, she did not relax her stance. She did move closer to Harkness though and placed her hand on the small of his back in a calming, grounding motion of strength.

'No wonder he hates seeing his family. His father is as friendly as a porcupine!' Primrose bit her tongue to hold back all the biting comments she wished to hurl at the elder elf. 'Harkness should see his family though. I don't care what he says and thinks. Family is important, no matter how harsh they can be.'

"I would be delighted," she said, plastering on a charmed smile. Boldly, she reached out and took his larger hand in her own. She could not tell whether it was more for her sake or his. 'This is what friends do,' she told herself. 'We look out for each other. We stand by each other through the tough times. I am here, Harkness. I am your friend.'

Harkness had not even been aware of the hand at his back, but at her words, he finally cast a look down to her. The hand around his though, that made him smile, albeit tightly, and he squeezed it lightly. Yes, I'd be afraid too, he thought, misreading her intentions for the contact. He moved slightly to fold her hand into his, and marveled for a moment at how he could totally envelop hers.

"Alright then," he nodded once, and lead her into the trees, and down a deep winding path.  "Don't let Father intimidate you. Like I told you, they have chosen to segregated themselves from society, and prefer the company of our own kind. Mother, on the other hand, is a mother to anyone... so be prepared to have a bit of conflict between them." He sighed heavily, and shoved a hand through his hair. Why is this happening to me? This is the last thing I want her to see. My father, so far stuck up himself, he'll scoff and turn his nose at her. Elody. Oh gods, she's going to see Elody.

His jaw clenched again, and unknowingly, so did his hand around hers. Right at that particular moment, he was glad for the contact. It was keeping him from turning on his heel and running. We're doing this for her. To make sure she's got the root. To stop the headaches, he told himself, as a small village came into view. It was old fashioned, to say the least, with homes simply made of logs, or even huts. Every single person working outside their houses stopped to stare and whisper to each other. Not that whispering was going to stop him from hearing, with his keen ears. Words like 'human' and 'tiny' and 'stranger' filled his head, and he took a sharp intake of breath, hurriedly tugging Primrose along.

When they got a slightly bigger home, with snaking ivy and climbing roses adorning the outside, he looked down to her. "Just in and out. Get the root, and we can leave." He lifted his hand to knock on the door, but it swung open, and a tall willowy woman with hair the same colour as Hark's smiled at them.

"Your father said you were coming."

"Father told me to come." he replied, barely smiling. "I'm here for Dragon's Fire."

"So formal, Hark, dear. Where's my smiling boy?" her eyes were sad as she looked into his face.

"You know what happened to him, Mother." His voice was quiet, and his head bent for a moment. The woman eyed him for another second, before her eyes fell to Primrose. Those blue eyes drifted down the length of her, seeing their still joined hands, and then flickered back to Primrose's face, then to her son again.

"Come in then," she stepped aside from the door, and motioned with her hand. "But first, I'd like you to introduce your... friend." Harkness instantly dropped Primrose's hand at the inflection in his mother's voice, and blushed furiously despite himself. "Primrose," was all he said, before rushing past his mother, and disappearing into the house, leaving Primrose to his mother's mercy.

"So," the elegant lady started, smiling sweetly to the girl before her, "you're after Dragon's Fire? Come in, come in..."

Primrose smiled back up at him warmly and squeezed his hand back. "I am not afraid, Harkness," she boldly told him. Carefully and silently, she picked her way along the path, following beside him. When at last they came to the small village, she continued to hold her head high but not arrogantly. She saw the  way the elves stared at her and whispered about her.

'They are like children. Take a deep breath Prim. Nothing to worry about, they are just curious. Just remember, you are doing this for Harkness.' She allowed herself the freedom to smile softly as Harkness dragged her faster along. 'He must be nervous. I wonder if he realizes how much smaller my steps are than his. I am practically running to keep up. Perhaps I can tease him about this later.'

She opened her mouth to protest the speed of their departure when she was interrupted but the door opening. Primrose could practically taste the tension between her friend and his mother.

Suddenly, she felt very self-conscious as the other woman looked her over. 'Be strong Prim! This is not about you, it's about Harkness. Remember you are his friend!' Her eyes widened slightly as Harkness took off without her. 'He just, left me. I'm alone with his mother. Remember what your parents taught you, Prim. Be polite, all is well. First impressions may be all you get.'

Raising her hands so they were facing palm up and empty she gently bobbed her head once. "Thank you Lady for welcoming what little that I am into your grand home. May our meeting be favorable," she wished the woman formally. 'Please Kia, don't let me make a fool of myself,' she begged in silence.

The woman inclined her head to the greeting, and extended a thin hand out to her. "There is no need to be so formal, my dear. If you are a friend of my son's, then you are more than welcome, anytime. Just don't till Arrat I said that." Her eyes wandered for a moment, towards a room in the back of the house, where Harkness' voice could be heard talking in terse tones with his father in his mother tongue. "Il zhah rivvil. Il zhal'la naut tlu ghil." Came Arrat's voice, in which Harkness replied, "Usstan xuat kyon vel'bol dos talinth, Ilharn. Primrose zhah natha abbil. Vel'klar zhah Elody? Usstan daewl ulu kyorl ilta."

His mother gave a soft sigh, and returned her gaze to Primrose. "I'm Illiana, by the way, but you may call me Lana.  Come then, let's go and get you this Dragon's Fire. Would you like some tea, or some food? I have just set about preparing lunch." She didn't wait to see if Primrose would follow, but headed through the door that Harkness had, just as he slid past her again, his mouth set in a firm line. "I'm just going to say hello to Elody," he said quietly, to which she gave a slight nod.

"Sorry," he mouthed to his friend, before disappearing again into a room that shot off from the left. Inside the room, on a large bay window sat his sister. She was a beautiful creature, but it was easy to tell that she was a woman trapped inside her mind. Her eyes gazed into the distance, unseeing. Harkness knelt at her side, taking her hand in his, and began speaking to her in hushed tones, stroking hair from her face with his other hand.

"F'sarn ghil, ussta Elody. Usstan doerrus ulu telanth vendui. Dos lor al. Usstan lle'warin dos."

Primrose followed the woman feeling somewhat out of place. "I would be grateful for a drink. However, would I be welcome in your kitchen? I wish to help if you will let me," she told Illiana. Though the words were quietly spoken, she was able to catch a few of the words spoken between father and son.

'Rivvil. Human. Ghil. Here. Primrose. They are arguing over me. I am sorry Harkness, I just wanted you to see your family. I didn't mean to cause more problems for you.' Her elvish was very rudimentary. It had been years since she first studied it but she was glad to know that she still understood this particular dialect.

As they encountered Harkness, Primrose simply smiled and shrugged her shoulders. It did not bother her that her friend wanted to see his sister. In her mind that was why they had come here. Moving closer to Illiana she whispered quietly. "I am sorry to cause tension in your home. I know I am not welcome here by your husband. But, my intentions are not purely selfish. I can gather Dragon's Fire well enough on my own."

Nervously, she licked her lips, glancing over to where Harkness had left to. "I have only just met your son recently. He is a very kind soul. It saddens me to know that you do not get to see him often. I know your culture is different than mine and there are things I could never hope to understand. But, family is something that is important to everyone, especially me."

Her eyes lowered as she played with the tail end of her long braid. "I consider your son my friend. I don't want him to lose out on chances I never had." She looked up smiling now, and speaking in a normal volume. "He gets his kindness from you, I think. He has so much of you in him."

Primrose laughed as she remembered her short time with Harkness. "Was he always a mischievous boy? He shared with me a few stories after a series of pranks occurred in my house the first night he spent there. I think the best though is when my cook mistook him for a thief!" By now she was giggling almost uncontrollably. She glanced over towards where Harkness was before continuing. "She spanked him with a wooden spoon. I wish I could have captured the look on his face. It was so...I cannot even describe it."

Her uncomfortable feeling was lost. Her danced as she talked about Harkness and became friendly with his mother.

"Of course you are welcome," Lana replied, and a gentle smile, "this is my kitchen, not my husbands. And you haven't caused any tensions. There is always tension when Hark comes home. Arrat still has not forgiven him for what happened to Elody, and would rather he never sees his son again. You being human is only an excuse for him to get as many barbs in as possible."

Her eyes turned sad and shadowed as Primrose spoke of family and its importance. It was something Illiana knew well enough. "Vel'bol Usstan orn'la naut belbau ulu inbal ussta dalharuk loff'ta." Her voice was hardly more than a whisper, but she quickly blinked herself out of her deep-hearted sorrow, and hushed Primrose's nonsense.

"Here," she said handing a bowl and spoon to Primrose with what looked like the makings of batter inside, "mix this for me, will you?" She considered the girl beside her with a thoughtfulness while she spoke, talking about the fun they'd had together, and she couldn't help but smirk at the image of Harkness being spanked. "Oh, I can imagine what he looked like," she said, taking delight in Primrose's openness with her, and sharing her giggling, "he was spanked often enough as a child. Such an impish little thing, he was.

"He was always getting in trouble with one person or the other, whether it was because his fingers fell into a pie, or he bumped the chicken coop open." She shook her head, and pottered around setting the rustic table in the center of the kitchen. "How did he meet you though? If you've had so much fun, you're likely not a client. Especially since you call him friend." He does have that look about him though, that he would throw himself in front of an arrow for her. I wonder if he knows that?

In the other room, Harkness sighed quietly, his voice flowing over his own language in gentle undulating and hushed tones. "Dos orn'la saph Primrose. Il zhah fridj saph dos. Il dyunhk ulu inbal jivvin, lu' jiala. Lu' il zhah ssin'urn ichl. Ves sokoya. Usstan saph ilta natha yentil." He glanced over his shoulder, to where he could here her gorgeous laughter, and a small smile crept onto his sad face. "I should get back to her," he said quietly, falling back into common and leaning forward to kiss his sister on the forehead. "I'll be back soon. I'll bring her to meet you."

With that, he stood and walked back to the kitchen, leaning in the door frame. He didn't make a move to announce himself, just silently watched his friend and his mother in conversation.

"It is wrong to blame a child for something that is out of their control. If Harkness had been there they both could have been severely hurt. If any fault should be given, it must be placed on the shoulders of the demons who hurt Elody," Primrose spoke passionately, circling back to a previous statement. Her brow furrowed and her voice raised. She had forgotten that both Arrat and Harkness would probably hear her and could become offended. All she could think of was defending her new friend.

Despite her outward anger, inside she felt sad and mournful at Illiana's words. 'I too would do anything for him,' she thought absentmindedly. It never occurred to her just how true that was. Harkness was one of a very few friends that Primrose was blessed to have. She was grateful for every one of them she had.

She took the bowl, smiling and bobbing her head slightly in ascent. The shift of conversation to happier things brought her smile back full force. She giggled at the trouble Harkness got into as a child. "How we met?" she paused in her stirring as she thought about how to phrase it. It was difficult for her to admit her moment of weakness as well as private troubles. The fact that Harkness knew of them was upsetting enough.

"I am a schoolteacher," she began, refusing to look at the older woman. Primrose harshly began to whip the batter as she recounted the tale. Her mouth was set in a grim line as her eyes scorched unseen demons. "I was escorting one of my students home at the end of the day when I got into a scuffle with his father. He was drunk and I was wrong to argue with him in that state. It does not matter how true is words were, he could not be dealt with civilly intoxicated like that. Your son was kind enough to assist me and later escort me home. I felt it only appropriate to invite him into my home."

Primrose never noticed that the batter was now becoming thick and hard under her brutal rotations of it. She just continued to plow into it, throwing her shoulder into the movement.

Lana only considered the girl quietly as she made her emphatic statement about where blame, if any, should lie. She completely agreed with her, but chose not to say anything. And I think you might do the same for him, hmmm?

While Primrose explained their meeting, Illiana lifted her eyes to see her son in the doorway. She raised an eyebrow to him as if to question him about his intentions and Harkness only replied in kind, a quiet smile curling his lips, before letting his eyes fall back to Primrose, watching her every movement.

She speaks so beautifully. Listen to her. Her choice of words. She puts everything so eloquently. She seems so agitated though, she's going to churn that into uselessness. With that thought, he finally stepped into the room, and scooped over behind Primrose, putting a gentle hand on her shoulder. Bending down low he whispered in her ear, "give me the bowl, Primrose, or else you're going to end up with rubbery senz-tchal, flat-bread." He lightly stepped around her, and held out his hand for the bowl.

He certainly wasn't going to make a scene. "Mother," he said lightly, "You would love Primrose's gardens. They are beautiful. How long will lunch be? I'd like to take Primrose to meet Els."

"It wont be ready for another half hour," Lana replied, smiling at the pair, his gentleness with his friend hadn't got passed her. "Go and see her, and then when I call, why don't you bring her through to eat."

Harkness gave a little nod, and turned his gaze back to Primrose. "You want to meet her?"

"Eee!" she squeaked, startling badly. Primrose had not known Harkness was there let alone so close to her. "Harkness Hoverstone, are you trying to get yourself beaten up by a girl? You dueled me before and the only reason you won is because you cheated! Do not make me embarrass you in front of your mother."

Despite her words, Primrose was actually smiling through her mock-glare. She stopped her antics though to look at the batter. "I guess I did get carried away though. I apologize if it is a bit rubbery though," she said to Illiana, carrying the bowl over to the counter and placing the spoon with it.

She turned back to Harkness and began to reach to take his hand. At the last second she pulled it back and balled her skirts up in it. She feared embarrassing him in front of his mother. 'The last thing he needs is humiliation at having to hold my hand. It is bad enough he argued with his father because I am human. I would not want them to think we are in a relationship. He would never hear the end of it. Besides, I am not an infant. I do not need to hold his hand like a little girl. I am not a scared kitten hiding beneath her mother's belly!'

"I would be delighted to meet your sister," she told him at last. 'Kia please don't let me embarrass myself!'

"It would take a lot more than to admit that I lost to you to embarrass me," he replied stepping beside the door with a grin. Lana dismissed the girl's apology with the wave of a hand, and just smiled as she turned to finish the preparations.

The awkward moment of her hand starting its hesitant movement didn't get past Harkness though, and he only lifted an eyebrow to her, before smirking slightly. "Come on then," he said, heading through the door and leading her to the silent room that housed his sister.

He moved to Elody's side, and crouched down beside her again. "Elody, Usstan sila've Primrose xuil uns'aa. Usstan della dos Usstan orn'la. Wont dos lor a ilta? Telanth vendui?" With his gentle coaxing, Elody turned her head towards Primrose, giving a vacant, lopsided smile, before turning once again to stare into nothing.

"Sorry," Harkness said quietly, a sad look falling into his eyes. "You wont get much out of her."

Primrose followed and knelt beside Elody's chair, ignoring Harkness. "Vendui Elody. Ol zhah natha ssrigg'tul ulu thalra dos. Dosst dalninuk della uns'aa mzilt bauth dos," she spoke hesitantly. Her voice lilted in a calming manner, sounding much like the ocean waves rising and falling against the shore. 'Oh Kia, I hope that was right! What if I said something horrible? I never should have tried. Harkness isn't going to be my friend if I am cruel to his favorite sibling. I am so childish! Why must I always show off?'

"Usstan tlun taudl. Ussta ilythiirra zhah nau bwael. Ol uriu tlus ichl verve yol Usstan telanth ol ust," she began again. Primrose laughed nervously as she finished. "I'm sorry Elody. I'm afraid I don't remember much more. I guess I should have stuck my studies on that one," she giggled.

"You know Elody I have to tell you something." She leaned in closer to the elf, glancing quickly at Harkness before lowering her voice and cupping her hand over her mouth. "You are much prettier than your brother. But, don't tell him I said that. He might get all offended. You know how boys are. They say they have become men but, we know better."

Her voice lowered further and she raised her eyes to stare directly into Elody's. "Uk ssinssrigg dos mzilt. Uk lle'warin dos mzilt," Primrose whispered sadly, starting to reach out to touch the mute elf's hand.

Harkness's eyebrows rose as she started to speak. I didn't realise she knew elvish. I'll have to be careful what I say. She sounds rusty. But ... beautiful. Still so, so beautiful. Wiles saph natha niar rei wund natha lanke. Blinking, he straightened up, leaning up against the wall and watching. He knew things were serious when he started thinking in his mother tongue, let alone speaking it.

He had to cover a grin though, as she leaned in to whisper to Elody. It was a good thing she didn't know about his abnormal hearing abilities. It was sweet, the way she talked with her, as if Elody would be able to understand everything, and even talk back.

Elody didn't move a muscle as Primrose took her hand, and it hung limply. The shadow in Harkness' eyes returned, and he moved back to Primrose. He crouched beside her, a gentle hand falling to the small of her back. "Thank you for talking to her, Primrose." There wasn't much else he could say, with a lump tightening his throat. "Usstan kat zhaun dos telanth wun udossta xanalress. Dos ph' ves bwael a ol. Elody orn'la ualstin. Il dyunhk ulu nym'uer ol." He gave her a sad little smile, and moved his hand to make an Elody-hand-sandwhich.

"She doesn't understand you though. She just likes the sounds. It soothes her. Yours I think, is the most beautiful sound she's heard... I mean... it sounds pretty. The way you say things." A little blush rose up in his cheeks, and he ducked his head, before continuing to bumble his way through the compliment. "I mean... your vowels are a little off, but it's kind of pretty, and like music..."

The touch of his hand spreading its warmth across her back, caused her to sit up straighter. But, this time she did not startle. A fine blush dusted her cheeks and ears at his words. Her eyes remained focused on their joined hands. "How could you know? We have only known each other a few short days. I have not spoken it since I was a little girl. My father was fluent. I quit my studies when he died. I always found your language very soothing and beautiful. When I was sick my father used to sing and tell me stories solely in elvish." Her eyes began to fill with tears. "It was special." She looked over to Harkness, her eyes and smile sad. "You are too kind. I know it is not as good as you said. There is much I have forgotten, and much more I never learned."

She licked her lips nervously. "I do not wish to offend you but, I do not know how to say this exactly. Please do not," she took a shaky breath looking down and then back up again. "Do not be angry with me for this. Your sister may not communicate as we do but, that does not mean she cannot understand. I talk to her as I talk to any other. She is as much a person as you and I, she deserves that respect. One day she may surprise you and speak again. I am not saying that day is today or even my lifetime or a thousand lifetimes. Gaer zhah zuch kestal." Her words had all been spoken in the same soft manner as her elvish. Never once did she become Primrose the impassioned schoolteacher. Such an attitude would not have been appropriate. 'I should have kept quiet and said nothing. I am a fool'

She pulled her hand away, looking down embarrassed and saddened. "I shouldn't have said those things. How am I to talk of hope? I can hardly begin to understand what you and your family have all gone through, what she has gone through. For me to speak as if I have the faintest understanding is very conceited of me. I am very sorry. Evagna ussa?" she pleaded pathetically.

There was so much sadness in the room, Harkness found it almost suffocating. He hated for anyone to see him in such a sorry state, and the fact that Primrose was the one to see it only did more to make him feel rotten. Just because he blamed himself for everything that had happened to his sister, and now she was seeing first hand his biggest failure.

But as she spoke about his sisters condition, he only tilted his head towards her. He knew that she spoke from her heart, and he couldn't be angry as she looked at him with such honesty. One day. There is always hope. Prim, you have no idea how much I hope your words are true.

He looked down at the hand she pulled away, put kept his hand with Elody's "There is nothing to forgive, Primrose. You speak the truth," he said kindly, though not without a sigh. "You don't need to understand  what it's been like for us, either. You are one of the most observant people I know You speak with honesty, and I appreciate that. I have always hoped that some how she might awake from where she is. You saying she might just understand us makes me hope." He gave his sisters had a squeeze, before letting it drop, and rising.

"I know you mean well. Just... it may be better to not say anything to my father." He held his hand out to Primrose, "speaking of my father, you will have the chance to make his most charming acquaintance at lunch."

"Aster," she said smiling slightly. "That was the second word my father ever taught me. Thank you for understanding my meaning, friend." Slowly, she rose from her kneeling position. "Bel'la dos whol tuvok, Elody," she spoke to the girl before turning back to Harkness.

"I promise to behave in front of your father if you promise to keep my knowledge of your tongue to yourself. I don't think I will be well received once he knows I understand that he wishes to keep private." Primrose took his hand and squeezed it gently, her eyes once more crinkling as she smiled bravely up at him. "Come what may, I know I will be fine as long as I have you as my friend."

'You have always protected me Harkness. Whether it be from drunk parents or my own stupidity. I trust you on this. I just hope one day you can see that I fight just as hard for you. One day I will be the shield that saves you. One day.'

"Is it time for lunch? I would be truly honored to feast with you and your entire family." Standing on tip-toes to be closer to his ear she added very quietly "grumpy fathers included."

Harkness nodded once. "I wont tell him, but please do not be offended by the things he might say. I will try and get him to behave." She was just so beautiful right in that moment, as she tried to encourage him that she would be at his side, he couldn't help but return the squeeze of fingers.

He snorted at her statement about fathers, and his eyes were suddenly alive again. He felt like they were two little children conspiring against the adults. "It is, I think. Mother just called us." She had in fact spoken his name, and Harkness let go of her hand. "I have to bring Elody with us." He turned, and quickly picked up his sister so she was cradled across his chest, and gave Primrose an apologetic smile. "Sorry I can't hold your hand. You can hold onto my elbow, if you need to."

With that he led Primrose back out to the kitchen. The table was laid out with a simple fare. The stack flat bread was accompanied by jams and savory spreads, and there were also carefully dried meats, sliced into thin slithers. A pitcher of a clear liquid was placed in the center of the table. His father was already seated at the head of the table, and his eyes narrowed at the sight of Primrose. "Ele zhah il ghil. Inbal dos naut sila've udossa z'lonzic jiv'undus?" His voice was deathly cold, and Harkness only gritted his teeth.

"Primrose is my friend, Ilharn." He couldn't say much else, because his mother was stepping in the way, and motioning to put Elody down. He did just that, and then pulled chair out for Primrose. The whole time, he stared at Arrat, as if daring him to say another word. The elder elf only growled low in the back of his throat, and turned his eyes down to his food.

"Do not apologize. I am a big girl, I don't need you to hold my hand to protect me from big bad daddy," she teased playfully. True to her word she did not take his elbow. But, she did keep close to him.

Primrose tried to keep her smile through the exchanges but was finding it difficult. She thanked Harkness as he pulled out her chair but otherwise held her tongue. She sat demurely in her chair, hands folded, eyes downcast. She hoped by avoiding making herself noticeable the meal would go without mishap.

She could not help the joy that spread through her though when her new friend defended her to his father. 'Careful Harkness,' she inwardly cautioned. 'If you provoke him you will only get yourself more in trouble. Ignore it as I do. I know you are not him. I know your views are not all the same. It is, you not him I call friend. I do not have to agree with him, in order to share space with him. Keep calm Harkness, for the both of us.'

Primrose tried desperately not to fidget as her brain raced over the different cultures she knew and the proper eating etiquette. 'Oh Kia! Why do I feel like I'm about to start a war just by eating the wrong way? Help me get through this and I will do anything. Anything!'

Harkness took his own seat, positioning himself between Primrose and Arrat, while Illiana sat across from the young pair. She only smiled kindly, seeming to pick up on Prim's discomfort. Harkness on the other hand, just reached over to the plate in the table, and handed it to Primrose. "There is no etiquette at our table, Primrose," he said quietly, "there were often so many of us around that table that it was first in first served." His eyes flickered to his mother, and they shared a smile of memories.

"Il zhah naut fuma. Il zhal'la naut tlu ghil." Arrat growled, stabbing at his food with his fork.

"She is still a guest, Arrat," Lana finally opened her mouth, though her tone was gentle, it was clearly admonishing, "speak in common."

"Usstan orn naut telanth l' xanalress d' auflaqui," Arrat spat, glaring at Primrose with steely eyes. Harkness's grip on the plate tensed, and his lips were drawn into a thin white line. "Father. If it is good enough for mother and I to speak in common, it is good enough for you."

"Dos zhaun rivven ph' naut al'doer ghil!" Arrat shoved his chair back, and stood in an explosion of movement. "Dos ph' naubol. Natha hopeless dalharuk d' natha elg'caress vel'uss 'udtila naut talinth p'los ukt telanthen xor moran. Dos inbal nau k'lar wun ussta qu'ellar, ori'gato maglust ussta table. Dos ph' lucky Usstan xun naut luth dos doeb."

Harkness matched his father's motions, face pale and shaking with rage. "I do not need you to remind me! I see my downfall! I know how much I disappoint you. I will not be here for long!" A string of swear words were spewing through his mind, but he held his tongue more for the sake of his mother and Primrose than anything else.

Lana had tears in her eyes, as she turned them to Primrose. 'I'm so sorry' she mouthed, shaking her head.

Primrose smiled gratefully to both mother and son for their perceptiveness. Trying to ignore the glares and biting comments being hurled at her. 'Family I may not be but, in my house friendship was good enough. Maybe I am encroaching though. I feel bad for Illiana. She should not have her home disturbed like this. And Elody, this fighting cannot be good for her."

Her hand reached out for the water pitcher and she poured first Harkness and Elody and then herself a glass. If she placed the pitcher down a little harder than necessary it was only because she was biting her tongue from the next insult parried her way. 'Dog am I? At least dogs have better manners and stronger ties of loyalty than you!'

As his Arrat's chair hit the floor and his voice rose, she flinched horribly, a soft gasp escaping her lips. She watched the enraged elf out of the corner of her eye, trying to assess the danger of the situation. Her head whipped worriedly over to the side as Harkness joined in the rage. Her breathing was starting to come fast as memories of other arguments made themselves known.

Trying to focus, Primrose blocked the pair from her mind as best as she could given their volume and proximity. Looking over to Illiana, her heart broke at the tears she found in the other woman's eyes. 'How blind are you that you tear your family apart in such a way? Can you not see your hatred for my species is killing them all?'

She gave a slight inclination of her head and motioned with her hand that she understood and to let it go. 'It is not your fault Illiana. I am more angered by the insults directed towards your son than to myself. How he can blame his son is beyond my comprehension. Isn't he as much to blame? As a father where was he? Why could the children slip out in the middle of the night? Harkness is not the only one to bear blame here.'

Her eyes shifted back down to her plate as she tried to place food upon it. 'Please sit down Harkness. Fighting him will make it no better. You are only banging your head on the wall. In the end we all have headaches and no peace.' She wished desperately that her friend would not do something stupid on her behalf. The last thing she needed was the be the last thread the unraveled the entire familial tapestry.

Arrat could not be calmed. Lana knew it, Harkness knew it, and even Arrat himself knew it, as he launched into a new attack, still not switching to the common language. "Dos elggat ilta! Ussta ssin'urn dalharil! Il zhahus ssran mzild taga dos orn rin'ov tlu." Harkness flinched, and swallowed hard, taking the abuse. His head began to droop, the fight ebbing out of him as Arrat's barbed words struck a chord, tearing open that great seeping wound in his soul.

Lana's lips tightened, and she reached a hand across the table to Primrose. "Please don't think this is your fault," she whispered beneath their raised voices, "Harkness and Arrat have needed this moment for a long time." The sad knowing in her eyes said that this was where the healing would start, or where she hoped it might begin for this broken family.

It was as if he was bound to listen to his father, as the elder carried on. "Nindol draeval p'los hueszith drasven uriu tlus suust xuileb dos ghil. Lu' nin dos doer rath xuil nindel ligrr xuil dos, lu' dos sila elge ulu udossta gre'as'anto."

His head jerked up with the mention of Primrose, and he broke then, finally snapping away at his father. Il uriu naubol ulu xun xuil nindol, Ilharn! Dos ser ulu l' aster. Dos phlith uns'aa whol vel'bol doerrus ulu Elody, Usstan zhaun nindel. Dos daewl Usstan inbalus neitar tlus rosin, nindel dos xunus naut inbal ulu lor a l' ml'aen d' dosst dalharil wun l' golhyrr d' ilta shar. His shoulders began to shake, and his face looked torn and pained.

"Xun dos naut talinth nindel Usstan orn'la belbau jalbol ulu shar'tleg rath l' rahi d' draeval lu' astux rilbol!? Usstan phlith vel'bol Usstan xunus!" Primrose was all but forgotten now. "I spent years trying to work out how to die. Because I could not bear the burden. But you know what I did instead? I grew stronger! I swore that I would never let it happen to anyone else, and I am good at what I do!

What have you done!? Nothing but sit here becoming bitter and twisted against your son. Your son who wants nothing more than to be forgiven by you!"

Arrat let out a huge roar, and charged at Harkness.

Her hands balled into fists in her lap as she fought the urge to say something. 'How can he call himself a father? No parent judges and determines one child's worth as more or less than another's. Don't listen, Harkness! You are both precious in your own ways! If you didn't exist I would be dead or close enough to it. Please don't believe him!'

Primrose was distracted from Illiana's words by the mention of herself. Her eyes flicked back and forth between the pair. Every muscle in her body seemed to coil, ready to spring. She could not say for sure whether she was going to fight or flee but, she was going to be ready. She hoped she would be strong enough to stay though. Primrose could not stand the idea of abandoning her friend when he needed her support now.

'Kill himself?' Hearing such words, Primrose could not help but wanting to wrap Harkness in her arms and never let go. She watched in horror as Harkness begged for forgiveness and his father moved to attack him. 'They must heal. This must end. Elody will never get better in this animosity.'

She honestly did not know what she was doing when she launched to her feet. Primrose swung a leg out, catching Harkness behind the knees and then pushed him off balance with her own body momentum. Whether he stumbled forward or fell to his knees was up to him. She was just trying to protect her friend. She wished she could do more. She wished she could get them to heal.

Of all the times in the past she had prayed to the goddess, Primrose did not mean it nearly as much as she did now. 'Good goddess, please help them. This family is dying without love. Their guilt is destroying them. Please Kia! Help them!' Fervently she prayed on, desperately wishing for things to be alright.

Harkness stood stoically still as he watched his enraged father charge towards him. I deserve this, was all he thought, hands held limply at his sides. The decades of guilt and sorrow showed plainly on his face, while his heart was constricted with the knowledge that forgiveness would never be for him.

And then he was flying forward. His knees gave out, and he stumbled with uncharacteristic gracelessness. Instinctively his arms went out to the nearest thing. Arrat. Though his eyes widened with the sudden contact, he was aware that two strong, familiar hands were at the tops of his arms. Harkness stared into his father's face as the elder lifted him slightly, expecting to see deadly loathing there in his eyes.

What he saw there instead broke his heart into pieces. His father's youthful face looked worn, tired and so grief stricken Harkness couldn't begin to describe it. It was like all the world's burdens had been staked into Arrat's heart. They stood that way for only the briefest of moments, before Harkness made the first movement. He wrapped his arms around his father.

Arrat froze, eyes bulging wide at the door, not willing to look anywhere else. Slowly, his angry defense started to crumble, and his own arms took his son. The two men stood there, locked in embrace, and quiet sobbing filled the silence that had ensued in that moment. It was clear that it came from both men. Arrat's hand came up to cup the back of his son's head. "F'sarn taudl. Dalharuk, Usstan tlun ji taudl. Dos ph' nelgethaun." His words were shaky, and all the elicited from Harkness was a deep heart rendering wail.

The walls were coming down. The years of pain washing away with those simple words he had craved, and he buried his head into his father's shoulder.

Through her own tears and heaving chest Lana was smiling. She stood and moved herself to her family, but it was to Primrose that she turned. She couldn't help herself, but wrapped her own arms around the tiny girl. "Thank you," she whispered. Primrose's actions hadn't been lost on her, and she felt a huge debt towards the girl. And it was not a debt she could ever begrudge.

Apprehensively, Primrose watched as Harkness was caught by his father and the two just stared at each other. She held her breath waiting to see if her prayers would be answered in this matter.

"Praise Kia," softly fell from her lips as the two at last embraced. 'Thank you Goddess! Thank you! At last they may heal. Now my friend may have family again. Thank you!' But, it was Arrat's exclamation of forgiveness that caused the tears to leap from her eyes and sled down her face.

Smiling, she tried to take a step back and slip out of the room to give the family some privacy when she was caught up in her own embrace. Primrose froze in surprise not really knowing what to do. "You are welcome," she whispered back, finally returning the embrace. 'In truth Lady, it is I who should thank you. Thank you for birthing and raising such a wonderful man who would go on to save my life and become my friend. Thank you!'

Harkness and Arrat stayed locked for another few moments, letting the healing flowed between their souls. It was Arrat who finally took a step back, his face now more at peace, and mirroring Harkness'. "You are my son," he finally spoke in common, his eyes searching, "and I love you. I have forgiven you. I do not blame you for what happened. But can you forgive me? I have been terrible man."

"I forgive you, Father," Harkness replied through a thick lump in his throat, "I love you too." With that, Illiana broke from her hug with Primrose, and wrapped her arms around both of her men. "And I love you both," she said, putting a kiss to each cheek. "Come, lets eat. Properly, like a family." There was an awkward little giggle between the three, and they broke apart. Lana wiped her hand across her cheeks, but was smiling now as she moved to take her seat beside Elody.

Arrat though, stepped around Harkness, and looked down to Primrose. "I need to ask your forgiveness to, young lady. I have been very rude. I may try to keep as segregated a life as possible, but it is my choice, and you do not deserve such vitriol on my part. You are a friend of my sons, and you are welcome here." He inclined his head to her, and behind him Harkness' eyes bugged. He shared a shocked glance with his mother, and she lifted her shoulders in a shrug. Who knew what healing was happening inside Arrat's soul.

Once released from Illiana's hug, Primrose tried to fade into the background. She felt like an intruder in this moment of shared happiness. Her stance however, became straighter and more proper as Arrat moved towards her. Curious as to what he wanted, she kept her face neutral but her mind open to his words.

She smiled softly after his apology and began to say something before stopping short. Glancing nervously over to Harkness, she gave him a small smile before licking her dry lips and changing tactics. Haltingly at first and then gaining confidence as she went she began, "Nindol auflaque shlu'ta'naut evagna dos p'wal gaer zhah naubol nelgeth. L' draeval p'los zhah alus lu' xunor. Ori'gato naut udossa nou'hai phor ol. Fuma selg'tarnen. Fuma dos ph'."

The entirety of what she said was delivered without malice and cruelty and with an impish smile. Curtseying gracefully she introduced herself as if they had never met. "Vedui'! Ussta kaas zhah Primrose Rothe d'lil Maelthra. Ol zhah natha ssrigg'tul ulu thalra dos lu' ulu lassrinn qee xuil dosst fuma."

Anxiously, she began to wring her hands together slightly as her cheeks flushed. "I know my elvish leaves much to be desired but, it is the only way I know how to show you the honor you have just shown me. Thank you, sir."

Arrat's eyes grew round with surprise as she spoke, and he cast a disbelieving, slightly guilty look to Harkness, before quickly rearranging his features into the blank gaze Harkness had so perfected. He inclined his head, once, a brief smile gracing his lips. "Your elvish is fine, Miss Dragoslav. I... I'm sorry my words were not so guarded before." With that, he returned to his seat, leaving Harkness to grin boyishly at Primrose.

He took a few steps, and leaned in close to her ear. "It's not often my father is put in his place. Well done." He took his seat again, motioning that Primrose should too, and finally piled up his plate. In his frenzy to suddenly get food in his stomach, he missed the blinking eyes of Elody, and the little smile that played on her lips.

Nodding her head respectfully, Primrose could not help the mischievous smile that curled her lips and crinkled her eyes. Harkness' sudden proximity though caused the smile to falter for a moment as a fire rushed up her neck and face, inflaming even her ears.

Playfully, she shared a wink before joining Harkness at the table. As she sat down she looked over to Elody. 'Did she just smile?' Looking again, Primrose could not be sure whether or not that was how Elody looked when she first met her.

'Maybe I am just imagining things,' she thought, furrowing her brow. Her smile quickly returned as she watched Harkness fill his plate. "Would you prefer a shovel, Harkness? I am sure it would be more efficient," she teased him.

"Did I really feed you that poorly?" Her eyes widened as she watched him eat. 'He only four bowls of soup when I cooked. I grossly underestimated how much it takes to feed a man, uh elf. I really am a poor hostess.'

"No no.. ish jusht-" He mumbled through his mouthful, not looking up from the task of stuffing his face and the very clear sound of a mother's disapproval sounded across the table. Harkness lifted his eyes to see Lana giving him a disappointed glare, through her eyebrow was arched in a way that said if he didn't remember his manners, it would be her giving him a spanking, and not Primrose's cook.

He swallowed back his food, and ducked his head a bit in embarrassment. "No," he finally replied, "your food is amazing too, but you just can't beat your own mother's cooking." He flashed both women a smile, and Lana's expression softened. "Flatterer," she smirked, before turning to feed Elody.

Harkness forced himself to slow down, and turned the conversation away from himself. "Mother, you should give Primrose the recipe for these. Because I can't get enough of them. I could eat these everyday. You should make these, Prim."

His father almost choked, and Harkness only then realised how that sounded. "I mean - while I'm staying. If I'm staying. I don't mean to say I'm staying. I just-" Oh just shut up, moron. He went bright red, and buried himself again with the task of eating again.

From across the table, a high tinkling little laugh sounded, and all three elvish heads turned as one towards Elody. "Dos talinth xuil dosst mem, dalninuk." There was the collective sound of forks clattering to the table, and little gasps.

Elody sat up straighter in her chair, all at once completely lucid. "Nelgetha o'gothen." She said simply.

Primrose had to take a sip of water to hide her giggles at Harkness getting reprimanded. "Charmer," she said in unison with his mother, rolling her eyes and giggling more. 'I wish I had family memories like him. My mother never cooked any food for me; I have no family recipes.'

Her melancholy thoughts were broken by Harkness' next suggestion. She found his blush endearing. "You are always welcome in my home, friend. However, you might have to learn to make them yourself. Who says I will do all the work for you," she smirked, punctuating the "you" with a playful elbow to the side. "Some of us have children to look after you know."

The joyful laughter to her left had Primrose looking towards Elody again. 'I wasn't imagining things! She's healing!' Tears flooded her eyes as her hands came up to cover her mouth. 'Thank you Kia.' Primrose sat back in her chair, trying to observe the entire family. The looks of awe and wonder on their faces was beautiful to her. It was so moving for her that she did not know whether to leave or cry. 'Aye Elody, forgiveness heals.'

She was just sitting there, as if nothing had ever happened. Arrat, Harkness and Illiana swapped dumbfounded looks, each swallowing hard against the lumps in their throats. It was Lana who spoke first, putting a hesitant hand out to her daughter, "are you... are you... okay?"

Elody smiled, and wrapped her arms around her mother's shoulders. That was all it took. The two men were up out of their chairs, and had engulfed her into a ginormous embrace. "Alright, okay!" Elody laughed, trying to come up for air amongst the tears and laughing. Over their heads, she looked to Primrose.

"I've never seen anyone be able to make my brother blush before. I think Harkness was right. We'll get on just fine."

The tears spilled from her eyes at last. The heartwarming scene before her was too much. 'I should go. This is a private matter. I am not family. I do not belong here. I should go.' Yet the more she thought about it, the longer Primrose remained seated. She was overjoyed for her friend. When she had told him not too long ago the importance of family to her, she had meant it.

'I am glad you now have that which I cannot. You deserve this happiness, Harkness. May Kia bless you with it for many more centuries to come.' Looking over to the happy family, Primrose caught Elody's eye. She laughed, trying to hide her own blush. "I'm sure your brother has spent his days around much more refined young ladies. I may be Prim but I am far from proper," she joked. "As for getting on, if what your brother says is true then I think we will get along quite well." Her smirk had returned and her eyes lit up with hundreds of plans for pranks, many of which involved Harkness as the victim. "I am glad you are well, Elody."

The family finally untangled themselves and took their respective seats, though it was clear that they could have stayed in contact forever. There was such a different feel in the air now from the cold hostility when they'd first arrived. That had been replaced with a light, airy and luminescent joy.

As Harkness pulled himself back over to Primrose, he couldn't help but give her a goofy, lopsided grin for her tears. He wanted to wipe them away, but he just settled for giving her shoulder a light squeeze. "I'm glad you were here for this," he said softly. He remembered the words she spoke about family being important to her though, and wondered for a moment if all this sudden rush of emotion and healing was getting all a bit much for her. He was about to suggest they could leave soon, if she wanted, though he sorely wanted to spend time with his sister, but he also knew that now she was awake again, and the rift between him and his father, that he could be coming home much more often.

Elody beat him to the chase though, picking up on Primrose's comment about Harkness and other girls. "Oh no," she said, shaking her head, "Harkness has never been around refined young ladies. The only one he has been, ended up breaking his heart." Oh yes, she was definitely back, and in full force.

Harkness' hand tightened momentarily on Prim's shoulder, before he dropped it away, his face going blank. He instantly reverted back to his mother tongue, forgetting for a moment that Prim could understand just about everything. "Elody, tlu suust! Il 'udtila naut ssrig'luin ulu zhaun nindel!" Elody just batted her eyelashes at her brother playfully, while his mother and father just busied themselves in their food.

"Gre'as'anto, abbil. Il zhah er'griff xunin vel'bol dalninin xun alurl," she directed to Harkness. Automatically her hand reached out for his, giving it a gentle squeeze before dropping away again. "Well Elody, I cannot say that I blame your brother. He has been very wise to stay away from them. I find those who call themselves refined, or at least the human ladies to be extremely cruel and shallow. They fail to see things that are important and instead push them aside for whatever suits their fancy."

Primrose smiled over to Harkness as she continued. "I would rather have one Harkness as my friend than ten thousand of those sorry wretches." Blushing she looked down and busied herself with her food. "I fear I too have had a few too many poor experiences with high standing individuals. I apologize for any insult I may have caused. My tongue seems to have run ahead of my head again," she chuckled softly.

Harkness didn't stop with scowling at Elody, even as Primrose spoke to him. There was a battle going on between them, things had picked up into normalacy so quickly. Harkness gave a little huff, squinted his eyes, and leaned forward on the table. Elody just crossed her eyes, and poked out her tongue. He laughed then, and fell back into his chair, hands placed over his stomach.

Only then, did he cast a sly glance at Primrose out of the corner of his eye. Huh. I didn't know I was that good a friend. This works in my favour though, I guess. She is a good friend to have, even if she does drive me nuts with how stubborn she is.

"Do you do that a lot, Primrose?" enquired Arrat with a hint if teasing in his voice, to which Harkness hissed. He glared with a 'do not embarrass me' kind of look. "You don't have to answer that, Prim. Niw that my father has found his tongue, he will tease at every opportunity."

Primrose smirked at Arrat, her eyebrow rising in unspoken challenge. "No, I do not. Traditionally I get in trouble for my sharp wit cutting too cruelly. As I once warned your son in a different matter, I give as good as I get. I do not pull my punches, sir. But, I do enjoy a good challenge. Tease away! I look forward to it," she winked to him.

"Really Harkness," she said her face feining complete innocence, "there is nothing to get your hackles all raised over. If I should be upset with anyone it would be you." Letting her words hang there for a moment, she slowly went about eating her food. Each move was delicate and precise, the perfect example of a proper lady.

"Harkness is right, your cooking is delicious, Illiana. Thank you for allowing me to eat with you," she praised. She glanced at Harkness from the corner of her eye right before her lips wobbled with suppressed laughter. Sighing she placed her fork down and turned to look at Harkness sadly. "You cheated in our duel and have failed to allow me to reclaim my honor." Primrose placed her hand of her heart in mock pain. "It is but a small justice that Jolie tanned your hide with your weapon of choice.

"Then again," she paused winking to Elody, "if your mother has any wooden spoons I would be glad to fight you fairly. Of course I can give you handicap so that you do not have to resort to cheating in order to beat me," Primrose humbly suggested, donning a serious and pitying expression.

Arrat mirrored her wink, strangely sliding so easily into a fatherly tone with her. Perhaps it was the event of Elody's return that had loosened him up so much. Whatever it was, it amused Lana to no end, and she had to stop from smirking at her husband long enough to watch Prim's teasing of Harkness, and the way she had him looking absolutely stunned.

"Wh-what did I do?" He spluttered, looking quite confused, but she was carrying on, complimenting Lana's cooking. He stared at her in complete bewilderment, mouth opening and closing, and looking like a fish out of water. "Ch-cheated!? I didn't-" He blushed bright red, and he could hear Elody snickering behind her hand with the revelation that he, a grown elf of over three hundred years old had had his comeuppance in the form of a good spanking. Even his father was snorting through his food.

Elody was out of her seat in a flash, fishing about in draws, before giving a triumphant "Hah!" and spinning around with two of the weapons so called for. "Elody no!" Harkness groaned, dropping his face into his head. "No... I'm not going to fight Primrose."

"Ele? Stre dos xal noa ulu natha ligrr?" She taunted, to which Harkness twisted his lips in a grimace, and looked to Primrose. "Nau, Usstan zhaun nindel Usstan orn noa ulu natha ligrr," he said dryly, before sighing. Elody laughed outright then, and she thrust a spoon to each contender.

"Outside, though," Lana warned with a pointed yet somehow amused stare to Hark. He just groaned again, and let his head fall melodramatically to thunk on the table. "Okay then"

'Poor Harkness,' she thought as he thunked his head against the table. Leaning over to him she reached out and gently brushed his back from his face and behind his ear. "Hey. Are you alright?" she asked quietly in a concerned tone.

Realization came to her slowly. 'I embarrassed him. I embarrassed him in front of his family. Oh Kia he must hate me! What kinds of friends do that? Bad ones!' Straightening away from Harkness, she plastered a warm smile on her face. "Thank you Elody, but I am afraid that I must decline the offer today."

Primrose gracefully rose from her seat, now addressing the entire family. "Thank you for welcoming me into your home and at your table. Unfortunately, I must take my leave of you and be heading home. My-" she hesitated for a heartbeat as she fought for the right word. 'Servants,' her mind supplied. "Family," she said instead, "will be worried if I am not back before dark."

Outwardly, Primrose could not appear happier except the faint trace of regret that she could not stay longer. Inwardly, she was drowning in a vast sea of emotions. There was guilt for embarrassing Harkness, joy that his family was happy once more, and depression that she did not have her own family to return to. She felt like an intruder for being present for during such private family matters. 'I need to leave before I cause any more instances, good, bad, or otherwise.'

Harkness couldn't have gone any more red than he already was, which was a blessing because the gentle way in which Primrose brushed his hair back was making his stomach do interesting things, and most likely would have caused him to be so red his face would permanently stay that way. "I'm fine," he said in a tiny whisper. Because he was fine. He knew this is what family did. Well, his family, anyway.

They teased the life out of one another, and loved each other for it. This kind of fun had been missing for decades. Harkness was just embarrassed to have to admit that he probably would be beaten by Primrose, nothing more. So when she rose from her seat, and started to talk so formally again, Harkness was perplexed. Family? She doesn't have family here? Have I offended her? By bringing her here? But she said she likes family. She wanted to meet them... I don't get it!

He frowned lightly, the high colour draining and his usual complexion returned. Standing, he moved to Primrose's side, and lay a hand gently to the small of her back. "Excuse us a moment," he said to his family, before turning and ushering Primrose out into the living room.

"Prim? What's wrong? I thought you were enjoying this?"

"Wrong?" she questioned back with furrowed brow and crinkled nose. "Nothing's wrong and I do like it here. But, I do need to get home. Jolie will worry for me. She does not like it when I wander too far from home. As you have already witnessed firsthand, no one is too old for a paddling," she teased, looking up at him through lowered lashes and a warm smile.

Primrose stood up taller, placing her hands on Harkness' chest. "Thank you for taking me to see your family. I know how difficult that was for you and I am glad that I could share in your moment of happiness. But," she sighed looking at his down before back up at him. "I really must be going. Thank you Harkness."

Standing on tiptoe, she bestowed a quick kiss to his cheek. Blushing she took a step back away from him. "I hope to see you soon, friend. Don't be a stranger." Primrose's eyes smiled as warmly as her heart felt. "Next time you come, you must bring your mother's recipe. I'm sure I can teach you how to make it," she teased poking him in the side before beginning to head out. "See you soon Harkness!" Her heart skipped a beat. 'Very soon, I hope,' it beat back.

Harkness watched her leave, a little speechless. As chaste as that little kiss had been and as innocent as her hands on his chest were, he would be lying if he said it wasn't doing strange things to his psyche.  He couldn't keep her here, much as he wanted to. She was right, Jolie would be worrying if she didn't get home soon, but still he was torn between following after her, or staying with his family. With a promise to her that he would be back soon, he finally let her out the door. "Sooner than you think," was all he said to her departing figure in a hushed tone.

The next few days were spent rebuilding the fragile family bonds that had come undone with Elody's illness. But enjoy it as he did, Harkness couldn't deny that every idle moment, and every other one in between, was spent thinking of Primrose, how much he missed her company, and the meaning of that little kiss.

It didn't take much time before he was moping around, and Elody and Lana just passed knowing glances between each other. It was Lana who finally ushered Harkness out the door, a carefully wrapped package containing as much Dragon's Fire as they could collect in his arms.

With a skip in his step, and a beaming grin on his face, Harkness made his way back through the forest and to Primrose's home. He looked quite like the pleased little boy with the expectancy of adoration and praise for his thoughtful little gift, and he struggled to force his expression into submission as he pushed open the gate, and walked straight up to the door, calling out even as he knocked on the door, "Primrose! I'm back!"

When asked, Primrose could not say how she got home that day. She was in such a happy stupor that it was a mystery she made it home at all. Since coming home, Primrose had not been able to wipe the silly grin off her face. Even the stresses and rigors of teaching could not wear her down.

Unfortunately, her joy was not meant to last. Not long after return from her friend's home, an unwanted visitor arrived at her own. Primrose had lasted a day before her patience ran out with her uncle. Civility ended and the screaming match began. So violent and nerve-wracking was the arguing that Janus had taken to hiding in the stables, Jolie was cooking up a storm, and Jain shook like a reed. While the three servants did not understand the Serenian words being hurled like steely daggers, the meaning and their own imaginations were enough to fill in the gaps.

The long silences that followed were just as bad if not worse. The household had no way of knowing what occurred in those moments. It was during one of these silences that Harkness arrived. Jain was the one to greet him at the door jerkily. "Forgive me, sir. Lady Dragoslav cannot see you at the moment. She is entertaining another guest," he smiled politely, attempting to close the door.

Upstairs Primrose suddenly started screeching at the top of her lungs. "I will not go!" she screamed grabbing up the tea tray with its dainty little pot and hurled it at her uncle's head. It crashed against the wall just a little left of its intended target.

Nonchalantly, her uncle took a long sip of his tea before placing the cup back down on his knee. Flicking imaginary dust off his pant leg he looked up at Primrose patronizingly. An eery silence permeated the room adding to the already stifling tension.

Primrose glared, staring him down. Her hair was a mess, her cheeks were flushed, her chest was heaving; her entire frame was tensed as if to spring. Angrily she stood clenching and unclenching her fists as her breath whistled in and out of her flaring nostrils.

The bright happiness in his eyes faded with the curt reply from Jain. Another ... has she found... is it a ... no. She said she wanted to see me... He was about to walk away from the door, feeling utterly defeated when the feeling that something wasn't quite right oozed over him.

Harkness put his hand to the door, grabbing onto it so that Jain couldn't close it on him without jamming his fingers. With the sound of Primrose screeching his eyes lifted upwards, and a cold hard expression fell into them, turning the previously warm green into a stony jade. His lips drew into a firm line, jaw clenching. "No." Was all he said, before pushing past Jain.

The package of Dragon's Fire was dropped at the foot of the staircase. He was starting to bound up the stairs, taking them two or three at a time, when the crashing of the teapot thundered through his ears. "PRIMROSE!" His voice left him in a roar, and he flew up the remaining steps and burst into the study, muscles coiled and ready to spring.

For a moment his eyes darted around, looking for some sign of trouble, some imminent danger, but he saw nothing except for a flustered Primrose, and a stuck-up looking man. He glared at the man, with a cold and almost violent stare. Spinning around to put his back to the man, he put his hands on Primroses shoulders, and searched her face. "Ph' dos tenu? Ph' dos wun sreen?"

Primrose's gaze went unbroken all the way up until Harkness moved in front of her. She shook her slightly before finally looking up at him. "Dos zhal'la naut tlu ghil." She did not even try to smile and hide the truth. She was furious and she wanted it known.

Before she could protest further though, her uncle stood clearing his throat. "Primrose, who is this..." he trailed off, his eyes wandering up and down Harkness' body. "Creature?" he finished sneering.

Primrose moved to stand protectively in front of Harkness. "He is none of your concern," she replied coolly in the tongue of her mother's people.

Engilram took another menacing step towards Primrose, now standing toe-to-toe with her. "He is if he has defiled you," he spat in her face. "I will not have my niece as a disgraceful little trollop. I will not permit you to follow your mother's footsteps. Now you will come home with me and you will marry the man I tell you to, is that understood? I have had enough of your temper tantrums. Defy me again and I will be forced to punish you."

Perhaps she was being fool-hardy but, Primrose refused to back down. "Enough! Year after year I have lived with your demeaning attitude. I have suffered your hatred of my father and the verbal abuse you put my mother through. I am not a child anymore; I will tolerate this no more. You sir, are in the house of the Dragoslav. As head of this family I demand your respect as my guest. I will not stand by idly and allow you to further tarnish my family name in my father's house!"

Never before has Primrose stood up to her uncle as she did now. When she was younger she had been hit for attempting such a thing. She had learned quickly to keep quiet and rebel secretly. The time for such an attitude was over.

Speaking very formally now, Primrose straightened her posture, presenting a cool facade. "You are no longer welcome in my home Engilram. I am telling to leave now with the promise that no harm will come to you. Disobey my wishes and I will be forced into action." Her eyes flared dangerously, looking very much like those of an agitated feline preparing to strike.

Engilram was shocked to say the least. He hid it well though and instead went to attack Primrose's new weakness, the tall elf standing behind her. "Your mother would be disgusted with you for your association with that thing in your bed. Tell me, is he worth it? Is his warming your bed good enough to throw away my protection and security?" The man cruelly laughed taking a step away from Primrose.

She acted solely on instinct. One moment she was calm and the next her fist was smashing into her uncle's jaw. Engilram recoiled away from her in shock and pain, clutching his face. "He is worth that and so much more," she hissed back lowly, advancing on her uncle. "Get out. Get out! Get out!" she finally shouted, angrily pointing to the door. "Never darken my doorstep again, or you shall suffer much worse."

Frightened the nobleman scuttled off to the door with the screeching harpy close on his heels. Slamming the door, Primrose leaned back against it, collapsing into a numb heap on the floor.

Harkness's eyes narrowed down at her, not betraying the level of hurt suddenly slicing away across his heart. He could see she was angry though, and let that be a balm, trying to believe that it wasn't at him that she was furious. Well, I am here. So suck it up. He thought, though not unkindly. He just wanted to protect her. He couldn't explain the protective, almost possessive fire burning in his belly with the knowledge that this man was somehow upsetting his Primrose.

It seemed the protective connection went both ways. Hark's face took on his hard, unrelenting frozen glare, continuing to stare down the other man in the room over Prim's head. The language they spoke in Hark recognised as Serenian, but found himself cursing the fact that he could neither understand nor speak it. He gathered from the tone of the older man's voice though, that what he said was nothing complimentary.

He felt his muscles tighten watching him take a step closer, and his hands balled into fists, ready to lay the man flat on his back if he decided to lay a hand on Primrose. As it was, Harkness very nearly pushed him back, watching as the other got right in Prim's face. He didn't like it. At all.

So this was her uncle. He had thought the he was, but as Primrose switched back to the common tongue and blasted the man with her vitriol, his inkling was confirmed. And he only disliked the man more for it. The fire he saw in her though, that had his own raging in silent agreeance, and too, a burning pride at the way she could stand up for herself.

Harkness' eyes narrowed even further into fierce slits at the insinuations Engilram spewed. He couldn't be further from the truth. And then her fist was flying. If he hadn't been concerned for her own safety he would have laughed at the sight of this slight little thing landing a solid punch on her uncle's jaw. He simply crossed his arms, and glared at the man down the length of his nose as he stumbled out of the room. Harkness had not moved from his original spot, other than to turn on his heel to stare after Engilram and then at Primrose as she slumped to the door.

Only then did he move, and his motions took him to crouch in front of her, perched up on his tiptoes for balance. "Primrose?" He kept his tone very soft and quiet in start contrast to the raised voices of just moments ago. A hand reached out to lay on her shoulder. "I can make you some tea? I brought more Dragon's Fire with me. Prim? Are you okay?"

Lub-dub. Lub-dub. Lub-dub. Primrose's heart beat forcefully within her breast like a giant's thundering footsteps. 'What have I done? He's going to kill me. He's going to come back and kill me.' Her breathing began to pick up in short rattling breaths as Primrose began to hyperventilate.

Harkness' hand on her shoulder startled Primrose from her thoughts. Looking up, she turned large teary eyes towards him. Something inside her broke. From deep within a high-pitched keening sound was heard.

Primrose launched herself at Harkness knocking him off balance. Her thin arms went up to encircle his neck and shoulders, as her knees crashed into the ground from the fall. Her hands gripped the backs of his shoulders and she fought to not cry. But, her entire frame shook with the silent tears that raced down her cheeks as she laid curled up on Harkness' chest.

"He's going to come back. I don't want to get married to his choice. Don't let him...please don't let him...don't." Her breath hitched as she begged in Serenian. Once more she quieted, pressing her face into his shoulder. Primrose was beyond caring that he was seeing her in a moment in weakness. Fear reduced her to a blubbering mess as past memories blended and merged with the present. "He's going to kill me," she mumbled out, the sound muffled by Harkness' body.

Harkness wasn't prepared for the sudden rush of movement. Falling back with her momentum, he managed to keep himself upright, one hand shooting back to act as a lever to save completely tumbling backwards. His eyes were wide with surprise, but the rest of his face looked entirely pained for her crying. His heart broke with every little whimper. For a moment, his other hand hovered outstretched at his side, unsure of whether he should hug her or not.

It only took a second for him to make up his mind though, and wiggling to better accommodate her positioning, both arms went around her, holding her as securely as he could. He lowered his head over hears and murmured soft hushing sounds as she babbled away in the language he wish he understood. Stoking her hair and back, trying to soothe her, any joy he might have felt for their closeness was overridden by concern for her state. The shaking scared him.

"It's okay, Prim. I've got you. Nothing is going to happen. I have you." The desire for her safety shook him to his core. This precious, small woman could defend herself, he knew, but right at this moment he wanted to be her rock.

"Primrose, listen to me, carefully. Can you do that?" He pressed a light kiss to the top of her head, closing his eyes as if he was in a great deal of torment. "I'm not going to let anything happen to you. I'm going to stay right here, as long as you need me to. But I need to ask you one thing.

"Do you want me to stay, in case he comes back?"

Her sobs quieted as she listened to Harkness' voice. It was a soothing balm to her nerves. 'Stay?' She shook her head violently from side to side. Her eyes scrunched closed and she slid her hands to drop from his back to his front. They clenched in small fists in his tunic.

'What if Uncle does return?' A memory of crashing glass and pain caused Primrose to flinch and press herself closer to Harkness. Without looking at him, she slowly and minutely began to nod her head. "Just the one night?" she pleaded looking up at him. The voice and eyes she directed his way were not those of a woman but those of a child.

"He...I...please?" She hiccuped as the tears began to settle. "I don't need you to protect me," she whispered. "I just...I need." She looked up at him, blue meeting and holding green. In that moment, her fears were forgotten. In that moment, she felt safe. In that moment, she threw caution to the wind.

One moment she was looking at him and then next she was kissing him tenderly. Her hands gently cupped his face and her eyes closed. The kiss was bittersweet though as salty tears continued to stain her lips and cheeks. 'I care for you,' the kiss said. 'I need you.'

He fought back a shiver as her hands wound into his shirt, and as she pulled herself closer, his arms only tightened. Those pitiful eyes tore him in two. Just one night? She doesn't want my protection? She's going to get it any-nyah! What? Lips? She's kissing me!

Harkness' eyes snapped wide with the contact. It was something that he'd thought about often in their time apart, something that he'd wanted to try. He found himself returning the affection, more with started surprise than anything else. A part of him wanted to give in more wholly, to respond in a way worthy of her, but a more sensible part was reasoning that this was not the time.

She's vulnerable. She's had a scare. Worked up. Needs to be comforted. Not like this though. This would be wrong. This would be taking advantage of her.

Reluctantly he moved back from the kiss, though not far enough that her hands would drop on their own. The feel of them burned his skin, and he could feel the pulse at his neck throbbing away, feeling conflicted about every second of their embrace. "Primrose," he said gently, loosening an arm and bring up a hand to tuck a stand of hair behind her ear. The hand stayed there though, weaved into her hair. The eyes that searched her face were filled with emotion, both longing and concern. "I will stay as long as you need me too. A day... two... a week, even." I don't want to be away from you.

"You've had a fright," his voice was tinged with sadness that he was about to break this tender moment, "let's go get you some tea."

Primrose would later be very grateful for Harkness' discretion and gentlemanly behavior towards her own very forward one. But, in the moment she was just content to gain strength and safety in the comfort of his embrace. She looked up at him, fearing rejection as he said her name.

But, as his hand came to brush her ear and tangle in her hair she found herself leaning into it and pressing her own over top of it. The hand remaining on his cheek dropped away to rest naturally on his chest. 'He'll stay. For me he'll stay.' Her heart warmed at the though and she leaned forward again to rest against his chest. Primrose wrapped her arms around his middle, letting her eyes fall shut again.

"Thank you," she breathed. For a moment she just rested there, listening to the soothing sounds of heart and breath. "Harkness cushion," she added a second later. A faint, weary smile curled her lips. While it was nothing like a real one, it was a start. 'All will be well. One day Harkness. I promise one day I will repay you. One day.'

Harkness just sighed for all the contact, and settled into it, holding her close. It wasn't at all uncomfortable, and if this was what she needed at this moment, it was what she would give him. She seemed quite content to do without the tea, in any case. The hand cupped at the side of her head took to stroking her hair in slow downward movements, while his chin dropped to rest on the top of her head. It was such a still, quiet moment. Very unlike anything they had previously shared.

"Only if it's for you, ssin'urn uss." His voice held a tinge of humour, recalling the episode in the kitchen where she had first tried to suggest they market him as a pillow. He wondered if she would feel jealous if anyone else tried to claim him as such. Dropping a kiss to her head, he gave an uncomfortable little wiggle. "I don't mind us sitting here like this, but... do you think we could maybe... sit on a couch? I'm getting numb."

'Beautiful one? He thinks I'm beautiful?' For a short moment, Primrose's heart seemed to soar. Then, her mind was quick to crush her heart back into place. 'No, stupid! You look like a banshee coming down the mountain; he's just saying that to make you feel better.' Yet, she could not ignore the warm tingle that radiated out from his kiss and spread out through her.

Her eyes shifted quickly back and forth as she thought about what he said. 'I don't want to move! If I get up the moment is lost.' Primrose's arms unconsciously tightened around Harkness. Slumping slightly, she gave a defeated sigh and nodded her head. Despite her agreement, it still took her a moment to even start uncurling herself from around Harkness.

Letting her arms fall away, she slowly sat up straight. Her head hung low allowing her long hair to slide across her shoulders and cover her face. 'Is it wrong to want to never let go? Is it wrong to want to be held forever and a day and only by him? You're just friends. You have only known him a week. You're being stupid Prim. Get off his lap! You're making him uncomfortable!'

Primrose nodded her head again. Whether it was meant for Harkness or her own mind, she had no idea. "Sorry," she whispered, lethargically starting to stand. 'Stop!' her heart screamed. 'You lo-' The words written on her heart were silenced by her own cruel mind. 'You're only friends. He could never want a human. He is only doing his job. He would never have met you if you hadn't been in trouble. All he does is get you out of trouble. You are a loony. Who would ever want to be with you?'

The tightening took him by surprise, but at the same time it pleased him. Maybe there was more to this moment than he originally hoped. Then she was nodding, and starting to distangle herself. With a little tug in his gut, he realised that as uncomfortable as his posterior was, he did not want to let her go. Propriety said he should, but even as she apologised, and made to stand his mind was telling him otherwise.

He deftly picked himself up from the floor, moving with all the grace and ease of his kind, and then tugged her back close to him. "I'm not ready to let you go," he said quietly as he bent slightly and slipped an arm under her legs. Swinging her up with his other arm snug around her back her grinned down at her.

"No more walking for you. For now, anyway." Setting his mind to ignore any protesting that she might try, and took her over to the couch and settled himself down with her in his lap. "I brought you a present, you know. You left without the Dragon's Fire."

Primrose blushed as her chest collided with his. 'Then don't,' her heart shyly replied as Harkness lifted her up. "I'm not broken you know," she giggled swinging her legs in the air to prove it. She settled against him comfortable when they were finally sitting once more. "Hmm, so I did!" She smiled up at him before resting back and falling silent.

For a long while she just sat there in silence, enjoying being in his presence. "I'm sorry for my rudeness earlier. I didn't want you to see me like that."

'I didn't want you to think me weak. I didn't want you to know.'

"I didn't want you to have to endure his presence. It's bad enough one of us had to. I'm sorry. Can you forgive me?" she asked looking to him, realizing for the first time just how close her face was to his. 'His eyes. They're beautiful! How did I never notice? Well Prim,' her mind snarkily interjected, 'being over a foot shorter tends to do that.'

"You weren't being rude," he disagreed, and then waited for her to finish. With a little chuckle, he gave her a squeeze, and leaned his head back. What he wanted to say to her, he wasn't sure he could say exactly right. Not in the common tongue, anyway. And now that he knew she had learned enough of his language to understand his words, he opted for the language that was spoken in his heart.

"Dos kat ssinssrin uns'aa ulu kyorl dos lu'oh? Saph natha chath, retlah d' z'ress? Drizlah lu' gareth 'zil biu lorug, naut ul'mubar qua'laen l' maral? Ssinjin Primrose, gaer zhah naubol nelgeth. Usstan er'griff daewl nindel Usstan gumash inbal tlus l' uss ulu zotreth ukta.

"There is nothing to forgive," he repeated, gazing down at her. A hand came up to her face, hovered there a moment, as if unsure where to go, or what to do. It settled to tuck a strand behind her arm, and settle on her shoulder.

"Prim. I'm... your friend, right? And I want you to know that -" I want to be so much more than that. But will you think that this is much too fast? "- I will never judge you for your family. Just like you never judged me for mine, and the way my father treated you initially."

'Is that how you see me Harkness? Like fire and..a consort tree? What does that mean? Better not ask him. Probably just make a fool of myself. Guess I'm going to have to start studying again if he is going to talk like that all the time.'

"Ka dos inbalus plynnet nindel ultrinnan dal uns'aa ol orn'la inbal tlus uns'aa zotreth'mal dos xuil natha taurina spoon, xor mzild likely l' senz suul d' ussta killian." While a playful smile ghosted over her lips, the fire in Primrose's eyes spoke of how true her statement was. "I have waited nearly-" she paused as if counting. 'I must seem like such a child to him. Here he is, centuries old, I am but a little girl in comparison. He must find me so shallow. What is twenty-four years in comparison to his hundreds? Oh Hakrness, if you only knew how much you are starting to mean to me.'

"Nearly my entire life. Of course I am your friend!" she exclaimed, surprised that he would question that. "You are like an annoying elder brother, there whether I need you or not," she told him, hugging him close. 'Especially when I need you.'

"We are not our families. We are ourselves. But the situations are different; your father healed his hatred, my uncle never will. As long as he has no respect for himself, he will have no respect for others. He has always been that way; age only makes him more ornery and bitter. No one deserves to suffer that, not me and especially not you. Can you blame me for wanting to prote-prevent you from dealing with that?"

Harkness could only smile for the seriousness in which she spoke. She was such a determined little thing. So full of dignity, and so set on being independent. Of course she wouldn't want anyone to take away from her the revenge, the victory, of dealing to the man who had made her childhood so miserable, and who still affected her into her adult life. It was dawning on him with a slow, warm realisation that these things about her he was quickly falling in love with. Her tenacity, her strength. Not to mention those eyes. They called to him.

Still thinking along these lines, he stiffened marginally at the relationship she pinned to them. "No," he began slowly, "no, I can't blame you. But you can't prevent me from seeing the worst there is in the world. And your uncle is by far, least from the worst. But I understand."

He gave her a tight smile, and then fell quiet for quite some time. Elder brother. She sees me as a big brother? That is worse than just being a friend. At least with being a friend I could... maybe convince her otherwise. Now I'm a family member. I have no chance. Ugh. She doesn't need to know I don't think of her like a little sister.

Not if that was all she wanted from him. He'd do it though. He would be whatever, whoever, she needed him to be. As long as he could be with her. Lifting her chin a little with a gentle finger, he searched her face for a moment. He wanted to tell her. Wanted to say that for as long as she wanted him to be around, he would. But he'd said it already, and he didn't know if he could find the words to say, without it coming out wrong, or weird. Especially now that she had likened him to a brother.

With a little sigh, he ran his thumb up under one eye, and then cupped her face. "You look tired, Cryso. Do you need to have a rest before dinner?"

Primrose let the topic of her uncle go for the moment. Her heartbeat seemed to skip beats several times in that moment when touched her chin and held her gaze. 'Can you feel my heart beat like a drum within my chest? Can you hear it? It feels like it is trying to jump right out of me.'

"Cryso? Rose?" she guessed, tilting her head to the side. A soft smile graced her features. "I'm not sleepy," she informed him even as she settled back against him, closing her eyes. Primrose did not speak again until she felt the fog of sleep begin to creep over and claim her. "Take me to bed, Harkness?" she mumbled, clinging to him tighter.

"That's right. Cryso. You don't mind..." He didn't finish his sentence though, as he watched her get herself comfortable against him and closed her eyes. A sharp tugging on his heart pained him as he looked down. But it wasn't a bad pain. It was... full, and deep, like he was looking at the most beautiful creature on earth, and no words could do it justice. He didn't take his gaze away from her face, so serene now, but instead simply watched, in complete awe.

Until she spoke. The words she said caused him to hide a strangled, shocked little outcry. "Uhh-" That doesn't mean anything...She's just tired. Listen to her. Sleepy voice. Sleepy Primrose. Not sexy Primrose... No harm done. Not intending anything. Take... her... this is so inconvenient.

"S-sure," he stammered a little, and got himself up, still cradling Primrose close. The whole time, his heart was pounding like a drum, as if her words had sparked an otherwise unknown beat. Innocent... Innocent... Sleepy Prim.... Sleepy... Tired. Yes. Just tired. Bah! She was light enough to hold with one arm while he opened the door, checking that there was no one coming up the stairs to find them. Seeing the way was clear, he traipsed over to Primrose's bedroom.

Once there, he took great care to close the door softly. He could feel her breathing, that was how still she seemed to be. He quickly crossed over to the bed, and laid her gently down, untangling her arms from him. He bent over for a moment, and pressed a quick little kiss to her forehead. "I'll... I'll... I'll be in the study, if you need me."

The short walk from study to bedroom seemed like eternity for Primrose. The gentle sway of Harkness' footsteps quickly lulled her to sleep. She only woke as he rested her back onto her soft bed. She smiled lazily as he brushed a tender kiss to her head. Her hand slowly reached out, catching his own. "Thank you," she mumbled back.

Struggling against the urge to sleep, she opened her eyes to look up at him. "Can I ask one more thing?" Primrose blinked sleepily as if she could not remember what it was she wanted. 'Will you stay with me?' Letting go of his hand, she pointed under the bed. "There is a box under the bed. Do you mind getting it?" she asked. Primrose felt like a small child asking for another bedtime story. Her cheeks blushed at the thought. "Sorry," she mumbled apologetically.

He looked down at his hand snared in hers, and blinked. "Sure... anything..." Just don't ask me to to stay. I couldn't. That'd be cruel. Or do. Ask... ask...  I'd say yes. But it'd be - a box? He followed her gaze down to beneath the bed. "Oh... Sure." he frowned fro the disappointment he heard in his voice, and crouched down to inspect the contents under the bed.

Crouching wasn't helping though, and so he flattened himself, and inched his way under, till only his legs were ticking out. The dust under the bed tickled his nose, and three explosive sneezing ripped out from him, the violent action of them causing him to bang his head on the ground each time. With a little cough, sweeping his hands to and fro, he finally found the box, and wriggled his way back out from under the bed.

Dust clung to his shirt, his eyebrows, his hair, and smudged across the tip of his nose as he popped his head back up. "Here," he said with another sneeze, plonking the box down beside her. "Is this the one you wanted?"

Primrose rolled to her side to look over the edge of the bed. The solid thunk and shaking of the floor after Harkness sneeze caused her to wince in sympathy. When at last her elven friend emerged from his quest, she had to clamp a hand over her mouth to stop the hysterical giggles. She looked up at him with pity. "I am so sorry," she said biting her lip. 'I'm going to need to clean out from there. If only I hadn't banned Janus from my room. It would be good punishment for the eel prank.'

"Yes, thank you. This is the right one." Without thinking Primrose swept her hand across the top of the wood box, sending dust everywhere. Years of dust and grime came up to send her into a coughing fit which quickly turned into a giggling fit. "Well that wasn't very smart." She coughed one last time before lifting the lid off the box.

Beneath layers of cloth, lay a soft blonde teddy bear. A silly grin split Primrose's face and she picked up the bear as a mother picks up her young infant. Cuddling the bear close to her chest she breathed out one word, "Owain." She beamed up at Harkness. "Thank you." She snuggled back under the covers, kicking the dusty box back onto the floor. "Now I can go to sleep knowing I have the two best men in the world watching over me." Letting out a tired yawn, she closed her eyes and snuggled the bear close. "Love you," she whispered.

Harkness narrowed his eyes at the look of her. She wasn't hiding those giggles very well. "You are not," he retorted, with a grey eyebrow lifted, and a wry grin on his face. Leaning back from the cloud of dust, Harkness wrinkled his nose, and coughed again. Curiosity though, got the better of him and he leaned forward to see what treasure she might be bringing out. The silly grin of hers made one appear on his own lips, and he tilted his head to the side as he watched her clutch the bear to her.

"You're welcome," he said, narrowly avoiding getting the box in his lap as she kicked it away, but smiled for the sweetness of her actions as she cuddled the bear close. He loved the fact that she, a grown woman, could still find comfort in something so simple. Her words both melted and tore at the same time. Knowing that she considered her one of her 'best' men was one thing. Being lumped into that category with a stuffed toy however, was another. With a little sigh, he rocked back on his heels, and stood. Whispering a quick "sleep well," to Primrose, he took to the door.

"Lucky bear," he muttered darkly once in the doorway, before casting one last longing look to her, and disappearing into the study. Once there, he sighed a little, and looked to the corner of the room where the broken teapot lay. No servant seemed to have dared to come upstairs yet, and so without a single begrudging thought, he simply set about cleaning up the mess, and straightening the study the best he could. Lumped in with an inanimate object. Great. First I'm her brother, and now I'm just like her bear. And 'love you'? ... who was that for?

Finishing up, he couldn't help but stare at the door, hands resting on his hips and eyes wishing they could see through to her bedroom. Still, the house was quiet, and as he stilled his own breathing, he could hear the soft sounds of her breaths like the beating of a butterfly's wings. It was sweet, and so steady, and he could listen to it all day. Keeping his ear attuned to her room, Harkness settled himself down on the couch, legs swinging over one side, and closed his eyes. His hands rested over his stomach, lifting and falling in steady rhythm as he matched his breathing to hers. He lay like that a long time, just listening, and didn't even realise when he drifted off himself.

Primrose dozed in and out of sleep waking only briefly when Janus snuck in to leave her some daisies. The looked on the verge of tears when he relaized he had been caught and she could not help but reach out for him.

Pulling him close, he curled up on the bed, his back to her chest and her arms around him. They lay like, listening to each other's soft breaths. Primrose smiled as she ran her fingers through his hair, silently telling him she was not mad, that the cruel prescence in her home was gone and would not be returning. It was not long before they both fell asleep, arms jointly securing the teddy bear to Janus' chest.

Time passed quickly and it was not long before Jain was making his way slowly up the stairs. Knocking lightly on the study door, he entered. "Miss Primrose din-oh!" He startled at seeing Harkness there alone. "Forgive me, sir. Was looking for Lady Dragoslav," he hastily apologized in his quiet, gentle tones. Unsure what to do, Jain hovered in the doorway, wavering between entering and exiting.

Harkness opened an eye at the sound of footsteps approaching. His training, his experience served him well. He was still able to sleep with one ear open, and the one hand had slipped from his stomach to his sword hilt. With a wry chuckle to his defensive stance, the elf pushed himself up, and was waiting for Jain to enter.

"Hello, Jain. No... Primrose is sleeping --"

He realised then that there were two sets of breathing in her room. His eyes narrowed, while the rest of his face turned sombre and still. Not a single being would know what was going through his mind at that point. Pushing past Jain he took off towards her room, hand readied at the hilt of his sword, just in case. Inching the door open, Harkness barely breathed himself, searching the room for the second person. When his eyes lighted on the bed though, he couldn't help the surge of overwhelming relief that she was okay, nor the little pang of jealousy at the sight of the little boy curled up with her. And then this again was counter attacked, by tenderness. There she was, curled up and safely nestled with a child, as if he were her own.

Putting a hand out to Jain, whom he heard approaching, Harkness slipped himself into the room properly. He gently lowered himself to the floor, and reached across the child, to rest a hand lightly on Primrose's shoulder.

"Primrose? Dinner's ready. Are you going to wake up soon?"

Primrose moaned softly as she slowly came into consciousness.  "Hi," she sleepily greeted Harkness. She looked down lovingly at Janus, propping herself up on her elbow. "Hey beebo, time to get up." Her fingers gently ran through his hair as she tried to wake him up.

"Don wanna," he whined, snuggling back into Primrose.

She quirked a brow in amusement. "Oh well, more roast beast for me and Harkness, I guess." Janus was up and to the door faster than he could say "food."

"Oh and Janus," she called pointing down at the bed. "First thing tomorrow you are cleaning underneath this bed. And if I ever catch you putting an eel in my bed again, I'll put a snake in yours. Am I understood?"

The young boy nodded his head emphatically. "Come on Primmy!" he shouted, dashing down the hall. Primrose laughed as she got out of bed. "You know I always wondered if constant hunger was just a thing amongst youths or whether it applied to all males. But, since I met you, I'm starting to believe my second hypothesis is correct. Not only is it a male attribute it is a universal amongst other species as well." She winked at Harkness, reaching out her arm. "Shall we go eat?"

Harkness smiled down at the pair. "Hey," he returned, just as softly and then leaned back. It was kind of hard to be jealous of such a cute kid. It didn't get past him how... familial...this scene was though. She was so mothering, and kind with the boy. He gave a short little chuckle with the boys protest, and was about to reach out and drag him gently out of bed, when Primrose mentioned food, and Janus was off.

Harkness lifted an eyebrow at the boy though, at Primrose's statement about eels, and then gave the kid a little wink, and a surreptitious thumbs up, that Primrose wouldn't see. "Men are bottomless pits, my mother always said," Hark replied, lifting himself up off the floor. He looked at the arm she held out for a moment, and then coughed, a funny shade of red starting to creep into his cheeks, without his permission. It was all just so much like memories he had of his own mother and father's lazy mornings in bed, smaller children wrapped up with them, and then the companionable way they headed to find food.

The similarities were almost haunting. He wasn't sure what to do about the arm though. Brother. He told himself. Elder brother. Imagine Elody. NO .... man, that is just wrong. I can't do that. Gaah. The red went several shades brighter, but he made up his mind to take her arm. Patting it lightly, he tilted his head. "You look like you slept well."

"I did, thank you. Although," she paused looking up at his red face, "are you alright? Perhaps you should have rested as well. It must have been a long walk if you came straight from your home to mine. Will you be staying the night? I would be delighted if you did."

Primrose sent a beaming smile his way as they made their way down the stairs. "I mean you don't have to if you don't want to. I'm not forcing you to stay. I would like it if you did though." As they neared the dining room, she could not help but quicken her steps at the sound of arguing coming from within.

"What's going on?" she asked, noting how Jolie was waving the infamous wooden spoon at Janus who was clutching tightly to her bear. 'I don't remember him having that when he left. That thief!'

"But momma!" he cried. "Primmy said we could have dinner with her when that man wasn't around. He left. Why can't I eat here?"
"Janus Kennitt! You'll do as you're told! Miss Primmy has a guest. We can't be embarrassing her. Servants don't eat with nobility. Now get on," she told him, waving the spoon near his backside. "I won't tell you again."

Primrose looked on, torn on what to do. 'They are the only family I have. Would Harkness mind? He is a guest. But, he ate in my kitchen and had no problems with that. He wouldn't have problems with this. Would he? Maybe Jolie is right. I should let it go. I'll make it up to Janus later.' She sighed forlornly, watching Janus give one last hurt look before moving to exit the room.

Harkness ducked his head going through the door, and gave her a brief chuckle. "I did rest. I'm fine..." Her smile almost undid him. Could she really be that keen to have me here? Her roundabout way of talking made him smile again, and shake his head slightly. He'd be lucky if he could get a word in edgewise. He was about to answer her, when voices from the dining room rose. An eyebrow lifted for the conversations he could already hear, Janus protesting, and Jolie insisting.

At the sight of the spoon, Hark barely hid a grin. That woman was dangerous with that particular cooking utensil, and he was going to do the best her could while he was here to stay out of her way. But the boy's big pleading eyes were enough. "Jolie, Ma'am," he said with a generous smile, "stay. Please. I for one, know that you three are much more than just servants. And," he gave a wry glance down to Primrose, "according to Prim, I am not a guest. I'm a big brother. So... stay."

Primrose internally winced and felt the furnace controlling her cheeks rage once more. 'Big brother indeed. Listen to the way he says it, even it's family-like. Friends. Family. Never to be more. More? If given the chance, would I want more?' She glanced over at him from the corner of her eye. 'Would he?'

Her thoughts were broken by Jolie's uncertain fidgeting. Taking charge once more, she directed the older woman to sit and Janus to help her ready food. A short while later they were all seated at the table once more. Primrose sat to the left of the head of the table where Janus himself sat. Across from her was Harkness who had Jolie to the right of him. Jain sat on Primrose's other side, leaving the other end of the table free for Owain. "Sir Owain," Janus had corrected, reverently placing the bear in his seat. Primrose smiled, ruffling the boys hair before helping him with his plate.

There was no protocol for the meal. Primrose served food to herself and Janus before passing the dishes around, allowing everyone to take care of themselves. For the first time since her uncle's arrival, Primrose felt free. She laughed and joked, smiled and argued playfully. The happy moment was stilled, as a crashing noise from the table's head, stopped her in mid-sentence. Janus had knocked over the gravy bath and it shattered on the stone floor below.

He turned to Primrose, tears already forming in his eyes. "I'm sorry Primmy! I didn't mean to," he hiccuped. She said nothing, staring down at her plate. "These are the plates my uncle gave my mother on her wedding day?" she asked Jolie. The older cook silently nodded her head. Slowly Primrose picked up her plate and moved it over to the edge of the table. Then she let go. The plate landed with a spectacular crash.

Janus looked at her in shock. She leaned forward and kissed his head. "What do you say after dinner we break some plates?" she asked, her smile reaching even her eyes.

He had to admit that sitting there with Primrose, Jain, Jolie and Janus, things were comfortable. There was an easy feel to the way they fell into conversation, and it reminded him very much of his own family, now that the broken pieces of it were mended together. Harkness willingly engaged in the chatter while plates were served, and devoured his food in the same manner as he did any other time he was presented with meal. He couldn't help smiling for the light manner in which the meal was conducted.

He liked seeing this side of Primrose. The carefree, family-orientated Primrose, with the glowing smile, and the freedom to speak as she chose; the generous and open-hearted girl with the ability to make one feel so accepted, without even trying. She was a beauty, both inside and out.

More than once he caught himself staring and each time he hurriedly returned his gaze to his plate, and shovelled in another mouthful. As the eal came to a close however, he found himself fidgeting with his utensils, his hands unable to stay still. His eyes were going more and more often to Primrose's face, too. He missed all the little knwoing looks exchanged between Jain and Jolie.

He tore his eyes away from their fixed gaze on Primrose's lips when the resounding crash of crockery filled the room. The sight on Janus' face was so sad and worried, that Harkness pulled a sympathetic smile for him, which only changed into a look of absolute shock as Primrose excused the boy, and let her own plate drop to the ground. He cleared his throat to her suggestion. "We could... use the plates as target practice?"

Her soft smile broadened as she looked over to Harkness. "That sounds wonderful. And maybe some throwing disks?" she suggested, pulling the crying boy into a warm hug. "Hey, don't cry. It's okay. I'm not angry," she cooed rocking him back and forth as he clung to her. Between the stress of Engilram in the house and breaking the gravy boat, Janus was worn out and overtired.

Primrose rested her chin on his head, looking over him to Harkness. "Thank you," she mouthed. Jolie stood, rounding the table, and took her son from her employer. The poor boy hardly even protested, his head drooping to his mother's shoulder and his eyes already at half-mast. Primrose motioned to Jain and he handed her the lonely bear, still sitting as a silent observer. "Don't forget Owain, Janus. He can keep watch with you tonight. How's that sound?" She stood, curling the bear under the younger boy's arm.

"Sir Owain," he mumbled, clinging fiercely to the toy. She giggled and went about helping clean up her mess. "I always hated these dishes," she spoke aloud. Kneeling down she carefully began to pick up the broken pieces, trying not to cut herself.

Can this woman get any more perfect? Harkness wondered, watching as Primrose pulled Janus in, and soothed him with her words. He only inclined his head with a flash of a smile at her thanks. She will be an incredible mother one day. So gentle. So sweet. So wish I could call her mine. His eyes dragged away to say a soft goodnight to the boy, clutching the bear to him like a life-preserver.

Harkness gave a chuckle, and bent to help her with the pieces. He slowly though, because most of the time, he was getting distracted by her. This was happening more, and more often. Brother... brother... brother... echoed through his head, and annoying taunting voice intent on making itself heard.

Harkness' hand reached out to pick up one of the final shards, and as he did so, brushed against Primrose's. He froze. Not. Her. Brother. His eyes looked up to her face, and he swallowed tightly. Not. Her. Brother. At all.

Startled by his touch, Primrose reflexively clenched her right hand; the shard lying there painfully cutting into her tender skin and forcing her to drop it. Moving her hand away rapidly, she smiled up at Harkness and giggled. "How clumsy of me."

Reaching forward, she retrieved the broken pottery piece using her already full but uninjured left hand. 'Better get this taken care of before he notices, she thought having noticed a small dome of blood on the fragment. "I'll just throw these out then," Primrose said getting to her feet and quickly turning away from him.

Uncurling her hand, she winced at seeing the rendered flesh of her palm and fingers. 'Jolie is going to have my head for this! Oh wait,' she cast a glance at the exit, how am I going to open the door?' With her one hand full and the other hurt, Primrose did not have the capability to pull the door open herself. 'Fantastic!' she scowled.

Feeling her flex her hand, tiny as the movement was, and her hand's sudden disappearance from under his was enough for Harkness to suddenly withdraw his own and look at the ground sheepishly. He nodded to her, not realising that she'd actually been hurt, until he didn't hear her shifting through the door.

He looked up then, and rose. "Something wrong?" He pulled around to her side, and looked between her and the door, then at her hands. "Primrose? Did you cut yourself?" He didn't wait for a reply, and took the broken shards from her with one hand, and with the other, grabbed her gently around her right hand's wrist. Putting the broken pottery on the table, he eyed her seriously. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Without waiting for her reply, he dragged her into the kitchen. "Sit," he ordered, only then letting go of her, while nodding to the chair. Harkness found what he needed quickly, and the table was soon laid out with a bowl was filled with water, and a cloth. He didn't get a chair for himself, but knelt in front of her, head bent over her hand, which he took again, and turned palm up.

"Cryso," he said with a amused sigh, but said nothing else, as he gently went about seeing to her hand.

She tried protesting but, gave up when it became useless babbling. Grumpily, she sat back in the chair secretly finding amusement in her new friend's coddling. "Really Harkness, I'm fine!" Primrose stated one last time, even as she winced under his careful attention to her hand.

The gentle movement of the cloth, now red with her blood, stung as it rubbed against ragged edges. The bowl of water turned a rosy color, clouding from clear to pink. Primrose refused to acknowledge that it hurt and stubbornly kept quiet, not letting a single cry escape her lips.

Instead she began to blush as other thoughts teased her mind. 'He is so caring. I like the way my hand feels in his. Her eyes rose from their joined hands to his face. 'I want to run my fingers through his hair. I wonder what he would do if I did. Would he move away or move closer? He would move away or laugh at me. He can only ever see me as a little girl. I am not much different than Elody to him.'

She glanced back down at their hands to hide her blush. Her right hand twitched slightly as she fought the urge to touch him. Slowly, Primrose leaned forward until her forehead rested on the top of Harkness's head. Her gaze continued to lay upon their hands. "Thank you," she softly said. She fell silent again just watching.

"Harkness, why has no woman snatched you up yet? You are too special for any woman to let you go. One that does is a fool." 'If you were but mine...mine? I would...cherish you. I would love you and never let go.' "You'll make a good father one day," she sighed. 'And a good husband,' her heart whispered, feeling a little green.

Her hand. It's so soft. I like the way it feels in mine. Could I tell her? Tell her that I'd like to hold her hand again some time? She's so brave. I know this must hurt. Harkness kept his eyes trained on his task, barely breathing as he felt Primrose shift over him. With her question he gave a heavy sigh, and just lifted her hand a little, pressing a soft kiss to the side of the laceration.

The wound was fairly deep, and would need binding for a few days to help it heal, and he looked up to fetch another strip of cloth of the table. He found his nose in fact, very close to her sternum. He blinked. He blinked again. Brother. Brother. Brother. Brother. Brother. He gently leaned back, giving Primrose a pained smile, and swiped the cloth. He sat further back now as he began to slowly wind the strip around her hand. "You'd think so, wouldn't you," he said wryly, memories of the one woman who had caught his eye, some twenty years previously, passing through his mind.

"One woman tried, succeeded, and then cast me off." He didn't like talking about it. Didn't like reliving the humiliation, so he just shrugged. Finishing his task, he tilted his head up to search her eyes. "You really think that though, Prim? That I'd make a good father?"

Primrose felt sorry for Harkness. The urge to touch him, to hold him and never let go, reared its head again but, she refused to obey. "Then she was worse than a fool. I would never have let you go," she let slip. Scrambling to change topics she answered his second question. "No silly, I just said that because I like lying to you. Of course I think so!"

She smiled, tilting her head to the side as she thought about it. "You are kind, caring, protective, fun, and adventurous. You would make an excellent father, friend and protector. Any son would be proud enough of you to boast about you to no end. As for a daughter, I think she would have you wrapped around her little finger. You would go to the ends of the earth for her if she asked it of you. You would hurt anyone that would make her cry and hate any boy that would steal her away from you." Primrose rocked slightly in her seat, her smile widening at the warm feeling that engulfed her.

"Thank you," she repeated, leaning forward more. But, what was meant to be a sweet platonic peck to the forehead changed to something much more intimate as she misjudged the distance between them and fell from the chair into his lap. Her own lips crashed down upon his. Giggling she pulled away, face blushing. "Oops," she laughed harder, resting against his shoulder.

Primrose was finding the situation hysterical. A silly mishap was cause enough in her tired, overwhelmed state to send her into a fit of hilarity that quickly depleted her air supply. "Sorry....Hark," she wheezed out, rocking about in his lap, trying to regain her breath.

I would have - wait, what? What does that mean? Harkness' expression went comically blank as he tried to process, and then dispel anything he thought he might have heard. He continued staring at her in a bemused fashion as she explained her reasoning, trying to see all those things in himself. The stillness in his face slowly changed with a smile at her kindness. "You're welc-"

He oofed and leaned back slightly as she landed in his lap, and for the second time that day, her lips were on his. All the air left his body, and again, he stared at Primrose with an expression akin to consternation. Thanking all the gods above, she moved away quick enough, and hid her face in his shoulder, saving her from seeing the violet blush in his face, or the way his hands twitched. He wanted to tip her head back, and kiss her senseless. Her giggling covered the sudden rush of breath back into his body, but her wiggling was doing all sorts of painfully uncomfortable things to his insides.

His eyes grew dark for a moment, while he contemplated how he should go about things.  As much as he wanted her to stay in his lap, if she would just settle, and sit still, this was the second time they'd ended up on the floor like this. "We going to make a habit out of this?" He asked lightly, before wrapping one arm around her, and using the other to push up off the ground. He set her down lightly, but did not remove the arm. Instead, he said very, very softly, "Primrose, I'm flattered that you think all those things about me. In fact, I was thinking very similar things of you, not too long ago. You're very good with Janus, you know."

He pressed a light kiss to her forehead. "Come on, it's been a long day, and I don't think you've had your fill of sleep yet."

"Janus?" she laughed out. "Really? He is like a little brother to me. He was just a small boy when I came back home to Ketra. I didn't have any friends and felt alone. He used to always follow me around like a little duck." Primrose nuzzled closer to Harkness unconsciously. "I guess I couldn't help but feel motherly to him. I always grew up being the youngest, coddled by others. I felt it was time I returned the favor."

Primrose looked up at him, scrunching her nose as she tried to cross her eyes. Still not succeeding she closed one eye and looked towards her nose before doing it with the other eye. Her antics sent her into another giggle fit. "I'm not tired!" she childishly protested, snuggling closer. "Don wanna give up warm talking pillow."

Harkness did grin then, watching as she tried to cross her eyes at him. Just to egg her on, he did the same, succeeding, as always. Her giggling however, and the way that she pressed into him, only caused a strange conflict. Well, not caused... intensified. His arm tightened momentarily

"Warm talking..? Primrose," his tone was amused, if not slightly disapproving. "I'll make you a deal. I will take you up to bed, and I'll stay with you till you fall asleep, does that sound good?" He was already turning her though, and swinging her up into his arms. "You know," he said, as he ascended the stairs and up towards Prim's bedroom, "you better not get too used to this. Big brothers' kindness only lasts so long. If you're not careful, I'll be back to asking you for a spoon fight in no time."

Pushing the door open with his foot, Harkness moved swiftly over to the bed, and deposited Prim down. "Do you want me to - should I go - do you want to change?"

"You still-" she yawned, "have yet to beat me in a fair fight." Primrose squirmed in his grasp slightly, kicking her legs. "Put me down and I'll fight ya! I could-" she yawned again. "I could beat you eyes closed and hog-tied."

Primrose sank into the bed, pouting at the mention of getting changed. "No! Stay, I'll just uh, go behind the screen." Sleepily, she wobbled her way to over, undoing her laces as she went. Not really paying attention to what she was doing, Primrose struggled three times to get her nightgown on correctly before reemerging.

"Promise you'll stay?" she slurred, her eyes already starting to droop. Widening her eyes as much as she could, Primrose stood toe-to-boot with him and craned her neck to look up at him. "Too tall," she muttered, poking and pushing him until he was sitting on the edge of the bed. Blinking she stared at him for a moment before kneeling down.

"Boots off now." Determinedly she began to tug them off before standing and pushing him back onto the bed. "Scoot over." Primrose squeezed in close to him, pulling the covers up and getting comfortable in his embrace. "Good night Harkness," she whispered, shyly kissing his nose before snuggling back down.

He couldn't really protest, and so, as she disappeared behind the screen, Harkness turned and closed his eyes. He needed to say something against the rustling of fabric, but his brain was struggling to keep up with what was happening, let alone say something intelligent. His eyes opened as he sensed her near, and stared down at Primrose with an exasperated look to him. "Yes, Prim, I'll sit over in the- hey!"

He frowned at her prodding, and landed heavily on the edge of the bed, his hands going out onto either side to break his fall. His eyes only widened as she knelt before him. His heart almost stopped. "B-boots? Yes. Sure. Boots." He forced his eyes upwards, staring at the door while she tugged. His jaw was locked tight, and his muscles were aching from the nervous energy that caused him to clench and relax with every little move she made.

She will be the death of me, he thought, as she continued ordering him around. He let himself be pushed back, and settled back against the pillows. This was a side of Primrose that he hadn't seen before, and he had to admit that while there was a certain air of innocence about her actions, sooner or later something was going to happen. And it almost did as she snuggled in against him, the warmth of her so vivid on his skin. His heart thudded to a stop as she leaned in, and it took a while to restart when he realised it was only another chaste little kiss. With a little sigh, he adjusted his arms around her, and pulled her in tight. "Bwael isto, Cryso. Wussrun'wa ssinjin."

Harkness laid there, still as anything, watching as Primrose drifted off and away into slumber. His throat was tight, as was his chest, for a good long time. This beautiful woman in his arms had come to mean so much to him, and yet he was bound by her words, and his own sense of honour and respect, to treat her as kindly, as innocently as he could. Several times during the night, he dozed off. He never slept soundly. When he was wakeful, he was watching her, and when he was sleeping he was dreaming of her.

It made for one very tired Harkness when dawn inched its way into the sky. He stifled a yawn, and being in waking now, tenderly brushed hair back from Primroses' face. I will kill any other man she calls a brother, he thought darkly, insanely jealous of nameless faces.

Unlike Harkness' sleep, Primrose's was deep and peaceful. She came into consciousness slowly, smiling as she stretched and curled closer to the warmth sharing her bed. "Morning," she chirped, finally opening her eyes and addressing her friend. "Did'ya sleep well?"

She yawned, stretching again, giggling at the feeling of waking up. 'He stayed. He did as he promised. I didn't think he would. I thought for sure he would have left. He does care....like a brother. Pity.' Primrose opened her mouth to say something more when she was stopped by a small thump landing on the bed.

Looking down she was greeted with the sight of a very familiar and very unwanted presence making its way up the bed towards her. Her muscles tensed as the fat cat weaseled its way between her and Harkness. Her lips pursed thinly together as she glared the feline down. 'Mr. Grimalkin! That means Uncle has not left yet. He's close by still. Better not tell Harkness. Best not to worry him more. He'd probably tie me to the bed and lock me in the room so I couldn't get into trouble.'

Moving carefully, Primrose gripped the hated cat by the scruff his neck, stopping only when she felt something crumple under her hand. Placing him down in her lap, she moved his perfect blue ribbon bow aside to find a piece of parchment pinned to it. Snatching it up, she shoved the cat away and turned to the side, trying to read it before Harkness saw it even existed.

Stiff muscled, Harkness gave a tight smile to Primrose. "Yes," he lied lightly, fighting the urge to adjust his grip and press his face into her hair. Being this close was intoxicating enough, despite the fact that he was tired, and considering letting his guard down completely. Over and over again, his mind chanted the same two-syllabled word that had become the most loathsome in his vocabulary.

With the thump landing on the bed however, Harkness shot up, feet hitting the floor within a matter of seconds. His eyes searched around the room, narrowed and dark, while he tried to work out what had made the noise. When his eyes fell back to the bed though, and he saw the cat, he relaxed, but only marginally. "I didn't know you had a cat," he said, trying to sound calm despite the pounding in his chest. He flopped back down beside Primrose, and reached a hand out to pet the animal. He was disturbed however, at the fact that he hadn't realised its presence earlier. He should have. Must have been while I was sleeping. I need to pay more attention. Need to keep an eye out. I have a bad feeling about that man. I know Prim'd hate me for it, but I swear... if I ever see him again...

Distracted again, he didn't see the movement Prim made to get the note from the fat kitty's neck, and wasn't aware of it until he felt the girl shift. His eyebrows furrowed at her back, and immediately his interest was piqued. "Primrose?" His voice was guarded, as he leaned over her slightly. "What have you got there? Another letter? Let me see."

Primrose tensed as Harkness drew nearer. "Nothing!" she squealed, looking suspiciously over her shoulder. Her eyes darted about looking for some way to distract him from the piece of parchment resting in her palm.

"Uh, uh," Her mind seemed to have dumped a rubbage bin's worth of useless thoughts into her head, making it hard for her to come up with something quickly. 'What do I do? What do I do? Quick Prim, think of something! He's really cute when he's all protective-like. Primrose Dragoslav! Get a hold of yourself woman!'

"I should probably uh, get ready for the day you know. Lots to do!" Primrose smiled brightly, albeit nervously over her shoulder. Scurrying to get off the bed, she managed to tangle herself so thoroughly in the sheets that she almost went tumbling right off the end of the bed.

Disturbed from his resting place, the angry cat hissed and screeched at her before darting off the end of the bed. "Yeah, well the same to you too Mr. Grimalkin!" she shouted after the enormous puffball, forgetting about Harkness in her frustration. Still clutching the note she hurriedly went about trying to set her legs free.

Her exclamation of the negative kind only made Harkness narrow his eyes at her. He inched himself closer and closer, even as she moved away. Her sudden nervousness made him even more suspicious. "Primrose," his voice was low and warning. He could see she was about to tumble. He made a grab for her, but a moment to late.

He watched as the cat shot off the bed, and he rolled his eyes. With a heavy sigh, he rolled himself over to have his face hanging over the edge of the bed. His eyebrows were raised in a mixture of amusement and bemusement. It was an interesting combination, to be sure. Smirking, he shook his head. "Primrose Dragoslav, let me see it."

Expecting her to refuse, he slid off the bed, and came to land at her feet. "Here, let me help you..." He turned his attention, and one hand to unravelling the sheets around her legs, but with the other, he was sneakily reaching out to snatch up the paper. "Let me see. What are you hiding!?"

Harkness' fingers deftly untangling the sheets and occasionally brushing against her bare legs sent Primrose's stomach through a series of complicated acrobatic flips and twists. 'This is...new. No one has ever touched my legs before. Hold it Prim! Brotherly or not, no man should be touching you like this! You are not a harlot! What if Engilram suddenly burst in? Do you want to prove him right?'

Primrose's mind went into overload. Between the tickling sensations and the shock of her own thoughts she could do nothing but stare where Harkness' hand was. She almost completely missed the other hand making its way towards her own.

At the last moment she happened to blink and look down. "Harkness!" she cried, snatching her hand away. "Stop," she giggled, biting her lip. 'What do I do? What do I do? He can't get the note! Have to hide it.'

Like a weed in fertile soil an idea suddenly made itself known. Moving quickly, Primrose dropped the thoroughly crumpled note down the front of her nightgown. A smile that split her face from ear to ear lit up her features as she felt it fluttered down across her bosom and abdomen. "Ha!" she exclaimed proudly. Feeling rather bold and mischievous she scrunched her nose up and stuck her tongue out at him. "Now try and get it!"

Almost... almost got it... He leaned in to take the note from her hands. And then she was moving, snatching her hand away. He almost crashed into her, but firmly planted his hand down to the floor, and steadied himself just above her. His green eyes were unfathomable as he watched Primrose stuff the paper down her front. His eyes trailed downwards for a moment, coming to rest at her belly. Then he closed his eyes and sighed. It was a heavy, pained sigh. She has no idea how much I wouldn't mind going in after it.

Lifting his eyes back to her, his expression was wry. He was incredibly aware of just how close he was to her, and that was making this whole situation that much harder to let go of. What does it matter she has a note? Could just be from Janus. Probably is. I should move away. But I don't want to. Gods she is adorable. I could kiss her. Just one, quick kiss. Here on the floor. With her in her nightgown. Must ... move... away....

The hand that had been down by her legs came to rest on the other side of her, and he held himself there a moment, wanting to kiss her senseless. It seemed like an eternity that he stayed still, but it was only a few seconds, before he pushed himself back, and went to lean against the bed, knees bent lightly. "As much as I would like to," he started darkly, "I think I'll just wait for you to stand. You can't stay on the floor forever."

"Suit yourself," she smirked impishly. Looking behind her she began to judge the distance between the bed and her changing screen. Believing it doable she glanced back over to Harkness. 'He may be right, but who said I had to stand up?'

Raising her head defiantly, Primrose yanked the sheet out from the bed. Placing her hands behind her and being careful to keep her legs together and unable to let the note escape, Primrose began to slowly make her way back towards the screen, constantly keeping a wary eye on Harkness. She had no way of knowing what he would do.

She sheet flutter about with her movements, revealing and covering her legs with each "step." 'This is so unseemly. He must find me so uncouth. I never said I was proper. Primrose Dragoslav, you are the daughter of noble parents! Have some respect if not for yourself than at least for their memories. Your father WOULD be ashamed to see you exposing yourself like this. Father would approve of Harkness! Yes but Harkness doesn't approve of you. He treats you as family. That is all you will ever be to him.'

Once behind the screen, she took extra care to retrieve the note as fast as possible. She was terrified Harkness would come storming over to retrieve it. 'Harkness is a gentleman. Of course he wouldn't! And I am the daughter of a noble! Who we are is nothing in comparison to what we can and may do.'

Angrily, she threw her night gown off and over the screen. With a soft plot it fell to the wood floor. It was but a moment after that Primrose came to a rather unpleasant realization given her particular predicament. Clenching the note tightly, she poked her head out to the side of the screen. One arm was clamped over her bosom while the other moved to hid her stomach, as if the elf could see through the screen.

"Um, Harkness?" she called weakly, biting her lip. Her eyes widened in embarrassment as she looked towards in mortification. "I...I don't have any clothes back here. I mean! Can you come here. I mean, I mean could you bring me my clothes. Clean clothes?" Primrose groaned aloud on the verge of tears. 'Oh for the love of Kia! Just kill me now!''

"Prim, what are you - oh you can't be serious. Really? Really?" The look on his face had gone from pained, to exasperated to incredulous as he watched her scoot away. He crossed his arms over his chest, with his head tilted at an angle that said what the heck are you doing, you crazy woman-child? He didn't avert his eyes though he should have. The tempting, teasing little glimpses of her legs were almost enough to do him in completely. He huffed a little once she had disappeared, and dropped his head into his hands in a mixture of relief at the fact that he didn't have to see the most beautiful legs in the world any more, and despair that he couldn't see the most beautiful legs in the world any more.

He looked up just in time to see the nightgown float over the screen, and a tremor ran down the length of his neck. His hands clenched, and he took a sharp breath in through his nose. At his name he looked up. But only for a split second. He paled, and his eyes became glued to the fabric puddled on the ground. There was no amount of money in the world that could get him to lift his gaze again. Not that he didn't want to. It was because he couldn't vouch for his behaviour if he did. He didn't know how much more of this he could take. Her voice was like a dagger in the gut, and he knew what she was going to ask. Hardly hiding the groan that rumbled in his chest, he rolled over and stood. "Alright. Hold on a moment."

He turned his back to her as quickly as he could manage, and started hunting through drawers for something for the girl to wear. He grimaced, and flushed hot red as one drawer revealed undergarments, and these he held gingerly, until he found a simple blue skirt. He balled the little clothes into the skirt, hiding it from his sight, and then carried on looking for a blouse. That took him a few moments, and it was moments enough to catch back his composure. He strode over to Primrose, standing sidewise, and thrust out the clothes. "Here." His voice was gruff, almost hollow, his eyes locked on the wall.

"Thank you, Harkness," she whispered demurely. Feeling incredibly self conscious, Primrose rushed to clothe herself. However, once done she did not immediately leave the safety of the screen. Quietly as she could, her tiny fingers worked at unrolling the note.

Primrose,

Do not disobey me further. Your insolent behavior has gone unaddressed long enough. You will come home and you will get married to the man of my choosing. Your days of independence are at an end. If I see you with that rat again I will have him drawn and quartered for defiling you.

Your Loving Uncle Engliram

A sharp hiss of air escaped Primrose's windpipe before she could stop it. Unbeknownst to her, her face had taken on a deathly pallor, even her lips were white as her bedsheets. She shakily made her way out from behind the screen and over to her bedside candle.

It took four tries of the striker against the tinderbox to get a flame going. Her hands shook violently as she tried to get the note to light. 'Oh, Kia what am I going to do?'

He nodded once, and stood stoically still while listening to rustle of clothing. Again and again, his mind spoke the word he detested, drumming the message home that looking would be a sin. Then the sound changed to the tell tale crackling of paper unfurling, and he turned.  "Prim? A letter from a lover, is it?" He kept his tone light, but in his head the taunting line of brother had turned to a dark hollowness. Of course. It's a love letter. Why else would she not let me see. Stupid. Stupid Harkness.

His expression was sullen as she came out from behind the screen, but it only took one second of looking at the shade of pale that Prim had gone, for his look to change to one of concern. "Primrose?" He questioned, following after her. "Are you okay?" A sinking feeling landed in his gut. He had seen that look before. He had seen it often. Something was very, very wrong. The time it took for her to try and set the not alight was enough time for the quick-footed bodyguard to move around her.

An arm came around her waist, and the other hand reached out for the note. Snatching it out of her hands, he first blew lightly on the parchment to douse the little flames licking at the edges, and then to the striker. He held the letter out in front of him, and squinted his eyes at it. He didn't understand a word. Still holding Primrose, he set the scorched note down, and then turned the girl to face him. His face was the very picture of concern, albeit something professional sparking in his eye.

"Cryso, tell me what this says."

She did not fight him as he took the note from her or turned her to face him. Primrose was too upset to really be able to do much of anything. "It spells out your death," she whimpered out, slipping into her family tongue.

Shaking her head she tried again. "It's nothing. It's just..." Primrose did not dare look at him as she began to weave the beginnings of her intricate web of lies. "Someone I used to know," she gulped down the lump in her throat, "is dying. I wasn't expecting such news."

Primrose smiled at him weakly before collapsing forward into Harkness. Her arms came up to encircle his waist and she pressed her face into his torso, trying to stop more useless tears. 'I'm sorry Harkness. I'm sorry that my long-forgotten heart is dying in order to protect you from him. I'm sorry he has to destroy everything and that you may get hurt in the end anyway. My only regret is that you don't know how much I care. I really like you, Harkness. If you only knew.'

At first he frowned at her, when she slipped back into Serenian, and he couldn't quite bring himself to believe her words when she spoke again in common. It wasn't until she was crashing forward, that his expression softened, and he just held her. Maybe she's telling the truth. Something like that would be such a shock. But why hide it from me? Doesn't she know I'll be there for her? I want her to trust me with things like this. Why did she make such a big deal about hiding it? I don't get it. Oh, Primrose. You poor, sweet thing.

There wasn't anything he could say, besides "I'm sorry, Prim." His hands wrapped around her gently, and just like the night before, made soft hushing sounds for her tears. The sound of her crying wounded him. It was something he was utterly powerless to stop. Give him a stalker to dismiss, or a rampant mountain lion - no problem; a bully, a drunkard, thieves or sadist maniacs - he could deal to them easily. The woman he was beginning to love, weeping in his arms, however, and he was as weak as a cricket.

When he could feel the dampness seeping through his shirt however, he leaned back a little. "Oh, Prim. You are not having a good run of things, are you?" He moved them to the bed, and sat down on the edge. He let Primrose stand before him, with his hands resting lightly on her forearms. "Would you like to go and see them? I could... I could take you?"

She shook her head sadly, sinking gently to her knees. Resting her head on his leg and clinging to it she attempted to keep calm long enough to make up some excuse. 'Why do you have to be so sweet and caring? You are making this so hard for me Harkness. He is such a demon. I don't want to lose you to him too. Why is it whenever I start earning a friend's trust I drive them away? I either do it unintentionally or purposely but, I always do it when it seems so close to being the most important relationship I have. This isn't fair!'

"It's no use, Harkness," Primrose whispered. 'You can't take me to my heart.' She chocked back a sob, leaning closer into him. "It's too late. By the time I find her again, she'll be dead. It's better this way. Better to remember things as they were, happy and full of love, than to destroy that with...death."

Pain worse than a knife to the heart tore through her. 'All I want is to be wrapped in his arms and yet all I can think about is him dead. I wish I could tell you Harkness. But, you don't know uncle and if you did...I'm sorry Harkness. He's still family...I defend him even to the end. I will not my hatred become like his. I will not forsake family in the end. But, I am not going to let you be hurt because of that either. I just wish this didn't have to end.' A long sigh rattled her frame as she acknowledged how much she needed to sacrifice for the price of blood relations. 'This is the last time. No more after this.'

Could his heart get any tighter? Yes, it appeared it could, because it squeezed like it was in a vice as Primrose attached herself to his knee. He felt like he'd been kicked in the guts. A hand hovered over her head for a moment, before coming to rest in her hair. He closed his eyes, and counted to ten, while he listened to her crying. It was all too much. I don't care that she thinks of me as a brother. I'll be whatever she needs me to be. And right now... I don't ... I don't know what to do!

Helplessly, he sighed, and tucked his hands under her armpits, and pulled her up to him. He shifted to settle her on his lap, and wrapped one arm around her, while the other rubbed her back lightly. "I'm sorry you're losing a friend," he said quietly, lowering his head down to rest on hers. How could this feel so right? The nearness of her. It was almost selfish, knowing that she was in pain, and yet wanting to be as close to her as possible. "You know, Primrose... I know it's probably no good me saying it, but... I really do care. You know that, don't you? If there is anything I can do... anything at all... you just tell me, and I'll do it."

Her heart thrilled as she was moved into his lap. She wanted nothing more than to be there. Yet, it felt so bittersweet; no matter how much she wanted to be there, her mind was cruel to remind her that she did not belong there. 'You will only hurt him, and yourself. He does not view you in that light. Quit dogging his steps over things that will never come to pass. He doesn't love you like that!'

"What have I done in this lifetime to deserve this friendship? One day...one day I will repay you this kindness. This I promise, as a friend..." Primrose sat up in his lap and looked him in the eye. It was so hard for her to fight back the stronger waves of sobs that were pounding at her tear ducts to be let loose. 'I wish I could make that promise as something more.'

"I think I do Harkness. You mean a lot to me. Being reminded that you care is...it does a lot more than you would probably give it credit for. Thank you. It really means a lot to hear you say that." Looking at the elf she was beginning to love, Primrose felt her heart seize with want for him. Her lips desperately wanted to kiss him again. Her arms longed to hold him tighter. She desired to be held and loved and kissed like she was the only woman in the world. Yet, in her mind, that would never be a possibility with him.

She let her head clunk into his collarbone and cried with the pain of her heart. One tiny hand came up to rub at the spot where her aching heart was pounding against her chest. 'I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I wish I had the courage to tell you. The courage to face my fears, to right all the wrongs. But, I am weak. Human born with weak shallow human flaws. I will try though Harkness. I know if I ever told you, you would say you don't need protecting. But, you don't know what you would have to face. I will not let you go through that for me. This is my problem and I will fix it. One way or another I will make sure Engilram cannot destroy someone I care about, again.'

It was all he could do not to wrap his hands into her hair, and hold her there, so he could stare endlessly into her eyes, to hold her face still while he wiped away the tears. He settled for lifting a hand, and gently stroking the droplets from her cheeks with his thumb. While he kept his expression neutrally soft, inside, he was tormented.

Brother. Friend. Is that all I'll be? An elf-cushion? Someone to turn to when things get tough? That's okay. It's okay. No it's not! Damn it. I don't want to be your friend. I don't want to be your brother. Damn it Primrose, why do you have to be so lovely?

The feeling of her head hitting into him though, broke him out of it, and he looked down sharply. "Prim..." he sighed, defeated, and just sat there another few moments, letting her cry. His next words, he slipped into his own tongue. He tucked a hand in under her chin, and raised her head to look at him. "Usstan xun naut ssinssrin tlu dosst abbil. Usstan xun naut ssinssrin tlu dosst dalninuk." His words were whispered.

He took a long while to continue, choosing the words slowly. I care for you so much more than that... I want so much more than that... Primrose... Green eyes searched blue in a moment that seemed to him to last forever. He had no idea how she might react to what his heart was telling him to say. He wanted something to distract her, something ... something ...

Something was digging its claws into his leg. Harkness hissed, and moved his leg sharply, to see the fat old cat tumble through the air. Breathing heavily through his nose, he let his eyes fall relaxed, forcing a sort of humor into them. "Where the hell have you been hiding that cat, Prim? It has impeccable timing."

"Wha- I don't unders-" Primrose was cut off by the slight jostling and hissing coming from Harkness. Shifting her gaze downwards she too found herself hissing. "Errdegahr murrpau! Usstan phlith nindel aterruce. Uk zhah naut usst. Drill, vel'bol shlu'ta Usstan xun? Uk orn'la fridj doer rath ka Usstan ori'gato ukta doeb. Usstan inbal z'lonzic p'obonen dal ukta. Usstan xun naut xta'rl ukta areion ssinssrin. Usstan phlith ukta!"

Her command of her friend's elfish tongue failed her further and she was forced to revert back to common. "If I didn't love animals so much I would kick him. That cat has brought me nothing but grief. Unfortunately, his owner loves him to the point of maiming anyone who would harm him." A cruel smile slowly crept across her face. "When I first came back home I wanted to get a big dog so that he could eat the cat the next time he bothered me."

A depressed sigh, softened her features. Primrose settled back against Harkness without really thinking about it. "Unfortunately I felt a great deal of pity. Just think of the indigestion the poor dog would suffered from eating that thing. I just couldn't do it." She groaned mournfully. "Damn me and my foolish heart!"

'Damn my heart indeed. Damn my heart for loving when I shouldn't!'

Harkness couldn't help but chuckle at the vehemence with which she spoke in elvish. It was endearing, to be sure, that she could understand, and converse back with him. There was a grin spreading over his face as she continued, and as she stated that she wished she could kick him, he interjected with "It's okay, Prim. I did it for you." He beamed for his wit, and even cast his own disgusted look at the animal, before returning his attention to the woman in his lap.

His smile eventually faded though, as he began making links with what she was saying. "You mean, it's your uncle's cat? He brought it with him?" He frowned down at her, lips pursed to one side in thought. "We can send it back, you know. It's no problem. I'll send it on a caravan I know passing through here in a few days. They can deliver it back, how does that sound?"

He tightened his arms around her as she settled in against him. "Foolish heart? Why? For being compassionate? I don't think that makes your heart foolish, Prim. I think it makes it absolutely perfect. Hey, look at us. You picked me up as a stray, kept me here, witnessed the healing of my family..." He lifted a finger, and tapped her gently on the nose. "I don't think there is a single thing foolish about you."

Primrose wanted nothing more than to slap herself across the face. 'It would probably knock some sense into me. I can't believe I let that slip. If Harkness ever finds out...I can't let that happen. I won't let that happen. He mustn't know what the note said or that uncle is still here.'

"Sounds like he likes the idea about as much as I do," she noted after observing the low warning growls coming from the obese feline. "I don't be a good idea Harkness. As much as I do not like my uncle, he is the only living relation I have left. I would really rather not give him cause to hold that over my head if something were to happen to Mr. Grimalkin. The bloody cat is more important than I am at times. Better to leave it alone than to send it off and worry about whether or not it made it there alive or at all."

A warm bubble of joy popped within her chest, spreading tingling waves throughout her. "I would hardly call you a stray. You saved me, not the other way around. It wasn't like I took you off the streets; I invited you into my home after you did something nice for me. Besides that I put you through quite the spin, one thing right after the other." She chuckled at the memory.

"Witnessing your family healing, I'm sure any other person in my position would have done the same. I'm not that special, Hark and I'm content with that. My heart is foolish because it loves when it shouldn't." Blinking, she realized what she said continued to try and cover the mistake. "I try to see the good, even when I shouldn't. I get burned every time but, still I don't learn. Nothing but a foolish heart could cause that, unless perhaps you consider it stupidity. Not much difference there in my mind though."

She cast a small smile his way, her thoughts falling into a more melancholy path of existence. 'I'm right though. Every time I trust, I get hurt. Ryuu. Uncle. Saezer. I let them come back into my life. I foolishly believe things I shouldn't, that friendship never dies, that family matters most, that people can change. None of that matters. But, which will you be Harkness? You have walked into to my life, but how will I manage to drive you out? Will you stay even as I try to push you away, try to protect you? Could you ever understand in time why I must do so? I hope you can. I love you too much to lose you to him. He ruins everything. I won't let him hurt you, by hurting me. I just wish I knew a way to make our friendship stand the test of time. I wish I had the courage to tell you, to ask your help. I am such a fool Harkness, if you only knew.'

He wasn't completely convinced by her decision to keep the cat around. From the sounds of it, if the cat meant that much to her uncle, then surely he would return to fetch it? Harkness didn't like the idea of that any more than he liked the idea of being raked over hot coals. Still, it was her decision to make, and he simply gave a shrug of agreeance.

To her little speech about her qualities, and what she considered to be her down falls, he only snorted. "You are that special," Harkness argued, snuggling her in. "You are that special, and more. And I don't want to hear you say another thing on the contrary, understood?" Inwardly, he was mulling over the words she spoke about loving when she shouldn't. His heart raced with insurmountable hope, but he tried to dampen it. Instead, he gave a slow and contented little sigh, happy that things had seemed to settle down. She wasn't crying any more, and this was a good thing.

His lips burned to touch her skin, but over and over again he repeated the familial word in his head. He had to stay the course. It seemed that she couldn't, for the moment, be sure of what she wanted - especially when she had just finished berating herself over her trusting nature.

Giving her a little squeeze, he finally loosened his hold on her, lifting both arms high above his head in a stretch. His stomach let out a dangerous rumble, and he grinned. "Come on then. As long as you're okay, we can go get some food now. Or ... " that little flutter of hope went straight through him again, and he raised an eyebrow to her. "... Or we could stay in bed a while?"

She secretly thrilled to be snuggled in even closer. An involuntary squeal of joy had to be quickly silenced before it went anywhere. 'Damn you foolish heart!' Primrose was content to just sit there in his lap for as long as he would allow her to do so.

Her heart hit the floor when he let her go. 'He's just stretching, Prim! Quit being such a selfish baby. He can't reject you; he doesn't even know you like him. But, I want him to. Then, tell him. I can't. Then, he'll never know.' The thoughts hung heavy in her mind and on her heart. 'I really should tell him.'

Primrose opened her mouth to speak but, was interrupted by a rumbling coming from Harkness' stomach. The sound made her laugh. "Well that was predictable. Men, always thinking with their stomachs as soon as the coast is clear. Come on you," she teased, poking him in the belly. "Let's get the growing boy fed before he decides the cat looks tasty."

Taking him up on his offer to go back to bed would have been to good to be true, and he knew it. Worth a shot though, right? He told himself, and lowered his hands back down around her waist to lift her off his knee. They stayed there for a moment, and he couldn't quite bring himself to separate them. It was with a heavy sigh, and crossed eyes that he finally did. "Alright, okay... you know though, I think there would be far too much fat on that cat to make it tasty."

Standing, he held a hand out to her. He didn't actually wait for her to take his hand, but snatched hers up, and pulled her along gently. His shoes were left at the foot of the bed. Heading down the stairs and into the kitchen, he was somewhat pleased that there was no one in the room. He half expected for the way in which he was holding her hand to be the source of much gossip, but right now he was in an uneven balance of not caring, and caring too much.

"Right, since we're not eating cat for breakfast," he started with a lifted brow, "what would you like instead?"

Primrose took his hand, giggling and blushing like a little girl as she followed him downstairs. It made her chuckle more when she noticed that they were both barefoot. 'If Jolie catches us, we will never hear the end of it. Best not get caught then,' she internally grinned.

"Breakfast?" She hopped up on the table, letting her legs swing back and forth, rustling her soft skirts. Primrose tilted her head to the side, her long unbound hair sliding across her neck and shoulder revealing a long expanse of pale flesh. "Mm, I think maybe some eggs and some toast and...an elf on the side. Now that sounds like a good breakfast to me."

She curled down, letting the side of her head rest against her knee as she ran her hand lazily through her wavy locks. "Think you could do that, Harkness?" Primrose smiled impishly before sitting up and wincing. She let out a soft grunt, rubbing a tender knot in her neck. 'Must of have slept funny.'

Harkness leaned back against the bench, crossing both his legs and his arms as he spied on her getting herself seated on the table. His eyes soon fixed to the skin of her neck, and his eyes darkened. This day was already proving to be a huge test of his endurance. He spun himself away, following her instructions for what she wanted to eat and went about trying to find the utensils and ingredients.

"Right, eggs and toast and ... what!?" He whirled back around, a heavy pan hanging loosely in one hand. What does she mean by that? Elf on the side? Is she ... is she ... is she FLIRTING with me? His face was blank as he tried to work out exactly what was going on. His jaw clenched, seeing the way she leaned forward. I want to do that. Touch her hair. I want to... I want to... BROTHER! Brotherbrotherbrother.

"I uh... I can do eggs and toast but I think you'll have to take a miss on the Elf. I've heard they're rather ... tough." He grimaced at the hot blush he could feel rising in his cheeks, and turned back to his task, desperately trying to get the image of her neck, her hair, her skin, out of his mind.

With a tight, terse voice that reflected the self-control he was trying to employ he asked, "Do you have class today?"

'Tough? I don't know Harkness, you're not as tough as you make people think you are. I think I could handle a "tough" elf.' She giggled at where her thoughts were going, eyes sparkling mischievously.

"I'll get the food," she told him hopping off the table and bouncing over to the pantry. Inside she grabbed the day old bread and the basket of eggs. Primrose brought her finds back over to her temporary cook and put them down on the counter beside him.

Moving quickly she slipped her arms around his waist from behind, pressing her hands against her his chest and resting her cheek on his back. "Why? Trying to get rid of me already Harkness? You just got here and already you want me gone, and in my own house too!" Primrose gave him a gentle squeeze, letting her lips brush his back briefly before pulling away.

She returned to the counter and started cracking the eggs all the while smiling happily. "No the children have off today. As autumn comes so does the harvest season. The older students usually have to help their families with the trades and fields. So it's just you and I today." Handing him the bowl, she made sure to playfully bump his hip with hers on her way back to set the table.

Harkness laid the pan back on the bench and made to grab at the bread. his hands went still though, halfway through the air. He looked down at his chest. She's....Hands....There. Frick. Hands. "Uhhhh....." He inhaled sharply, and lifted his head to stare at the ceiling, while the extended hand came over traitorously to graze across the tops of her fingers. He didn't say anything, but stiffened as he felt the touch of her lips. Even through his shirt, it sent buzzing trilling through his muscles, and he tensed.

He stayed frozen as she moved away, and didn't look down at her. Again, his jaw was beginning to ache from being clenched to tightly. His hands balled into fists. Damn, that there was no school. It wasn't like he didn't want to be without her, but at the rate they were going, Harkness would be doing some things to her that he knew wouldn't be entirely proper. But she has kissed you. She kissed you yesterday. When she was emotional. She wasn't thinking. Because right after that, she called you-

If he didn't stop thinking about it soon, it would be the end of him. He was just trying to regain his composure and say something, when she bumped into him. He just nodded instead, and snatched up the bread and a knife, and started slicing thick slices. When he finally trusted himself to say something, he looked down at her with a guarded expression. "So if it's just us, what do you want to do? I know I still owe you a sword fight, right?"

'Primrose Dragoslav! What are you doing? You are supposed to be distancing yourself from him, not behaving like some hussy! The last thing you need is uncle coming and giving Harkness a hard time because of your poor actions. Quit flirting with him and pull it together! He doesn't like you like that,' she chastised herself, arranging the dishes just so on the table.

"Sword fight? When di-oh! Yes! I forgot about that. Well, that depends Harkness, are we going to use real swords or wooden spoons again? Contrary to what you may think, I can use a proper sword. In fact I much prefer it. Spoons are so dull, it takes more brute force than technique to actually kill someone with one. Granted the spoon is the more painful of the two weapons due to its dullness but, the sword tends to have a better fatality rating."

She laughed as she looked over to him. "Don't worry, I promise not to kill you," she teased giving him a wink and a large grin. "Did you bring your mother's recipe for me? I can try and make it this week if you would like." Primrose ruffled her hair, looking about in confusion. "Now where did Janus put the tea this time?"

Letting her hand fall from her head and slap against her side, she made her way back over to where Harkness was cooking. Bending at the waist with her back turned to him, she began to rummage around in the cupboards for the parcel Harkness had brought back for her. "Got it!" she exclaimed, standing and flipping her hair back up. "Bel'la dos, Harkness!" As she moved past him, Primrose stood on tip-toe and brushed a kiss to his cheek before moving on. "Orn'la dos saph fol maelthra's chath?"

For the idea of fighting with steel, Harkness grimaced. He should have known better than to suggest it. Despite the fact that he knew already she would best him if he didn't play things very carefully, he didn't relish the thought of getting a hit in, and possibly hurting her. He gave her a tight smile, and a curt nod. "Alright then. Steel it is. And yes, I did its-" her continued talking cut him off, and he turned around to see the most gorgeous, damning sight he'd seen in a long long time. A backside dancing about before him, as Primrose searched for the tea.

His eyes closed to hide the hungry, pained look there, and he swivelled his head back around. His fist was clenched tightly around the handle of the knife, and he had to take several steadying breaths before he could try and talk. But even then, he couldn't. Because she was teasing him again with the lightest brush of her lips. He flinched, barely keeping himself from grabbing her around the waist and kissing her properly. Properly, properly. Instead, he attacked the bread with great vigour, and then brushed past her, laying it out on a plate on the table.  

"Nau ... nau. Nau maelthra's chath. Usstan orn'la saph fridj ulu tsoss -" He stopped abruptly, hanging his head before he continued. "Usstan hass'l. Dorn fridj kku morfelith kre'tan cahallin.

He grabbed the bowl Primrose had cracked eggs into, and whisked up the stuff. Pouring it into the pan over the fire now, he managed to clear his head long enough to get something almost intelligent out of his lips. "Mother said that if you need any help learning the recipe, then we should head on over. She is looking forward to seeing you again. And Elody, too."

"Ulu tsoss?" she questioned with raise brow. 'Greedy little thing, isn't he? I just gave him a kiss. No Primrose! No, no no! Don't do it! Don't do it! Distance woman, distance! Remember the plan! The plan woman! Too late.' Primrose made her way back over to Harkness. Once at his side though she was unsure of her actions. Reaching past him she piced butter and cheese to add to the table.

She had just come to the conclusion to give him a real kiss when the sound of pottery breaking had her whipping around The sight before her made her groan and slump over slightly in despair. "I'm going to drown that cat." Forementioned cat was sitting on top of the pantry cupboard, flicking his tail and smirking if cats could do such a thing. On the floor was a thick amber globby mess, 'honey,' Primrose thought as she painfully stared at it.

Primrose felt like crying, but easily fought back the tears, turning them into anger. 'Stupid uncle! Stupid cat! Always ruining everything! Is it so wrong to love him! What difference does it make if he is elf or human, bodyguard or royalty? It doesn't! I'm not letting you rule my life anymore!' Her mind continued to rant and rave at her uncle.

The cat hissed, jumping down on the table. Fueled by rage, Primrose snatched the cat up by its scruff and began to carry it to the door. "I have had enough of you. Out you go!" She unceremoniously cast the cat out and slammed the door in place. Releasing a heavy sigh, she tried to calm down. Looking to Harkness, a slow smile began to form. "I always wanted to do that!"

Harkness flinched. He was not enjoying being so jumpy around her. Not one little bit. He sidestepped away so that she could grab the butter and cheese, and continued stirring the eggs over the low heat. With the crash of breaking things, he spun around. Why was it that that cat always managed to get past him unannounced? The little pitter-patter of paws should have been easy to hear. It was because he was distracted, that was why. With a raised eyebrow and a sigh, he left his station, and moved to kneel down beside the sticky mess, even as Primrose was tossing the cat out.

He gave a half-assed smile for her vehemence, but worked silentlyto pick up the shattered pottery the best he could. It was almost as if in that small task he could, or he wished he could, show Primrose just how much he felt for her. He knew it was a silly notion, and he doubted that she would see into it that deeply. Chivalry certainly wasn't dead - perhaps it was a way of telling her Primrose, showing her, that he wanted to be more than just a damned brother.

When he looked up, hands dripping with honey and holding several pieces of pottery, he just lifted an eyebrow to her. "Guess we're not having honey with breakfast, huh?" And with that, he was reminded that the eggs were still cooking. And from the smell of things... He cast a look to the pot, and went wide eyes. "Oh damn it! The eggs!"

"I guess not," she chuckled. "Already on it!" Moving quickly, Primrose made short work of dishing up the eggs. If her own happened to be a bit drier and darker than she would have liked, she was not going to complain. Harkness' on the other hand looked beautiful and light and fluffy.

"See," she smiled placing his plate on the table. "No harm done. I'm sorry we can't have honey though. I was just about to ask you if wanted some too." Primrose laughed, shaking her head. "Come eat. Food is getting cold."

Primrose did not even wait for Harkness. She plopped herself into a chair and began placing her eggs on top of pieces of bread. 'I wonder what he would have done if I had offered to lick the honey of his thumb. Or better yet, if I had just done it. He would kill me. Probably try and take me over his knee again. Arh, Primrose get these thoughts out of your head! He is like family to you. He will not take kindly to you acting like a deprived sow around him. Behave yourself and start thinking about how you are going to keep any more threats from Harkness finding out.'

"It's good," she praised taking a distracted bite. "Mm, the tea," she muttered hopping back up to her feet, a piece of toast still in hand. "You sure you don't want any," she offered once more.

While Primrose rescued the eggs, Harkness finished cleaning up the mess on the ground. His hands were covered in stickiness, and it took him a while to get his hands clean, but once that was done, Prim was beckoning him to the table. Wiping still slightly gluey hands on his pants, he tuned back, and settled himself at her side at the table.

Harkness eyed the two plates Primrose had set down, and narrowed his eyes once he realised that she had given him the nicer of the eggs. That's not to say that he didn't feel a little joy at the fact that she'd sacrificed the better morsels for him; he did, and it settled warmly in his stomach. But it just wouldn't do. She should have been the one with the nice things. He didn't care for himself. And when she got up to make tea, he had his perfect opportunity.

"Ah, okay. Yeah, sure. I'll have some then," he replied, not giving away his intentions as he watched her move over to the find the kettle. As quickly and quietly as he could, he turned to shield his actions from her. Taking her toast, he upended the eggs onto a corner on his plate, and then replaced them with his own, and pushed her plate back, toast now laden with the nicer morsels. Never mind the fact that there was less on his plate, Harkness just proceeded to shove as much into his mouth as possible, so there was no way Primrose could try and do the same. Looking more than a little chimpmunk-ish, he swivelled his head to follow her.

"You know how to fire a long bow, Cryso?"

When Primrose returned to set the filled teacups on the table she noticed that something about her plate of food did not seem right. 'There is more food there than what I started with. Last I checked cooked eggs didn't suddenly start multiplying when left unattended. Harkness?' Glancing at her friend's plate she quickly deducted what he had done. 'Cute, Harknes. Very cute but, no dice. That is not going to fly with me.'

Leaning forward to place the cup beside the elf made it very difficult for Primrose. She was already so close, all she wanted to do was kiss him. 'Best not do that, you're both eating.' Sitting down again, she winced at the tea's strong flavor.

"Harkness?" She rubbed a hand across her belly, looking sadly at her plate. "I think my eyes were bigger than my stomach. Do you," she lifted her toast up and shook the eggs off it, "want some more eggs? I can't eat it all." She pushed the plate towards him anyway and took a nibble of her bread. "I would hate for it to go to waste. I'm just not very hungry right now I guess."

She quickly polished off the piece of toast, thinking nothing of the impropriety she was displaying by licking her fingers clean. "Long bow? Nope! The sword is my weapon of choice. Besides, your idea and my idea of long bow are very different I'm sure. My version of a long bow would probably classify as a short bow for you." She giggled into her tea, the sound coming out muffled and deeper than normal. "Can you see me trying to fire such a thing. I would probably fly farther than the arrow!"

Primrose was forced to place the cup down as the idea became mentally stuck in her mind's eye. Over and over she saw herself flying all over the place trying pull the string taut. It sent her into hysterical giggles that left her wheezing for breath and tearing up. "Pew," she imitated, using her hands to demonstrate her suddenly flying across the room from the effort of using a long bow. The act only made her laugh harder.

Hark sucked in a breath, his eyes trying to look anywhere but Primrose as she leaned in to put the cup down. He found himself looking into the teacup itself, even as she sat back down. With his name being spoken, he glanced up momentarily, and curled his lips wryly, knowing he'd been caught out. He sighed while she shook the eggs off, and gave her a look that said 'I'm not really happy that you're not going to let me be nice to you'. Still, he took the plate, and shovelled a mouthful in. "I don't believe you," he said, "but okay. If you're hungry later I'll make you more." He gave a shrug, and left it at that.

He couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the mental image her description of her archery skills, though, and snickered at the thought of her flying along with the arrow. "I wouldn't let that happen," he said quietly, replacing the comical with one slightly more serious. It would be a torturous way to get closer to her, he knew, but it could be so glorious all at the same time. Helping her to lift the bow, and sight the arrow, his hand on hers pulling the string back, enough time to press a kiss to her ne- Stop it, man! You are going to kill yourself over this woman!

She was laughing away, and he was sombre. He offered her a small smile for her giggling, but it never reached his eyes. He gave a semi-amused huff, and turned his attention to the tea, taking it in quiet sips, while Primrose calmed herself down. "Would you like to learn?" Why are you doing this to yourself? "I could help you, if you'd like. I'd make sure you didn't go flying off anywhere."

Her laughter slowly settled as she caught on to Harkness' sombre mood and expression. 'Did I offend him? I meant no offense. I was just making fun of how tiny I am in comparison. I am such a fool! I should know better than to do stupid things like that!'

Hesitantly, she placed her hand overtop his much larger one and left it there. "I would like that, if you would be willing." Bright blue eyes watched him hopefully. "Of course," she continued, "I have not forgotten about our duel after breakfast. Archery lessons will have to wait until later."

She smiled, letting her head drop forward shyly. "I-"
"Primrose Dragoslav what have you done to my kitchen!" Jolie's voice sounded from behind her. The aforementioned noble sighed, a look of disappointment crossing her features. Her hand reluctantly recoiled back into her lap.

"My look at this, three pieces of toast and eggs! Primrose dearest what have you been doing that has made you so hungry?" The elderly cook winked and wiggled her brows at Harkness, as she leaned in to mock-whisper in her employer's ear. "It wouldn't have anything to do with the unused guestroom, the two head indents on your pillows, and the delicious display of male physique sitting across from you, would it?"

Primrose gasped and sputtered, her eyes widening like a bullfrog's as she tried to regain her composure. She did not know what to say. The more she thought about it all, the more flustered she became. Her fingers ran nervously through her hair and began to twist and play with the ends as her face completely flushed a dark shade of vermillion. Ignoring her, Jolie went about cleaning up, all the while looking like that cat that ate the canary.

That hand. That damned hand. Green eyes trailed down to fix at the delicate skin, relishing the feel of her warmth, and at the same time, dreading it. Harkness stifled a sigh, and lifted his face to meet her eyes. Why are you doing this? You have no idea what you are doing to me. Primrose, oh my word, Primrose. Words lost themselves, even in his head while he got lost in cerulean pools. The duel. Right, dueling.

As Jolie made her appearance, however, Harkness' reaction couldn't have been more different than Prim's. He lightened up considerably and his hand turned over resting palm up, fingers curled just slightly. Subconsciously, he wanted Primrose to take his hand again, so that this time he could encase hers within his, and keep it there, locked forever.

He snorted to Jolie's innuendo, and rose an eyebrow right back. "I'm surprised you didn't mention the shoes at the foot of Prim's bed, Ma'am," he said, nudging Primrose's foot under the table with his own. "And you know," he gave a sigh and stretched back in his chair a little, "I'm glad at least one female in this house has recognised how incredibly dashing I am."  Harkness snuck a look at Primrose's face, to see her blushing to high heaven, and he grinned for it. He shouldn't have, but he did, and gave a dark little chuckle.

"Why the blush, Prim?" He questioned teasingly, ignoring the fact that Jolie was still pottering. He just wanted to get out of the sad little rut he was in, thinking about things  he could never have.

Primrose's head dipped down as she blinked from the contact of Harkness' foot under the table. 'He is encouraging this? Does this mean he isn't offended? Oh Kia, I am so embarrassed!' As the elf continued to join in on the ribbing, she could not help but thunk her head down on the table and bury it in her arms to hide the redness.

'I give up. I give up! This proves my point. He will never see me as more than a sister. This is the exact behavior I would expect out of Janus. Why the blush? Why the blush! Harkness!'

She sat up quickly and glared. It was not long before she was flying out of her seat and at her newest friend. "Harkness Hoverstone, you idiot! You are supposed to be on my side for this!" she screeched trying to whack him for his teasing. It was all in good fun though; Primrose had no true intention of causing Harkness any serious or permanent pain.

In the corner of the room Jolie silently look on. The smile on her face was a knowing one that seemed to make her seem both younger and wiser. 'It is shameless the way they flirt. If only they could see it for themselves.'

He couldn't help the startled laugh at the sound of her head hitting the table, finding her apparent embarrassment completely adorable, and a little heartening at the same time. Does this mean that she feels something? She's embarrassed, so ... does she have something to be embarrassed about? Hark just continued to grin like a goof as she shot out of her chair and proceeded to whack him.

It was far to easy to simply catch her by the wrists, and tug her down into his lap. Then pinning her arms down at her sides as his own wrapped around her. He leaned her back, tipping her head towards the floor in a playful manner, and followed her body with his own, leaning over her, precariously close.  

Why are you doing this? What are you doing? This is taking it too far. Gods be damned, I don't care anymore. I just. want. her.

"I am on your side," he replied rakishly, still beaming at her, "I was at your side all night, remember?"

"No you're not. You're underneath me! You can't be at my side if I'm sitting on you," she reasoned playfully. "Besides, how do I know you were at my side all night? I was asleep remember. You could have sneaked in and out without me knowing. In fact, knowing you, you probably went and tried to patrol the house boundaries again. So ha!"

Primrose stuck out her tongue and shut her eyes in a sign that she thought she had won. 'Take that Harkness! Bet I'm right! It would just gall you not to try and do so. I've got you now! What're you going to do? I know you too well.'

Underneath her. Oh, yes he was, and he was enjoying it much too much. If he leaned her back any further,  bent over her just a little more, and lowered his head , how easy it would be to press kisses to that gorgeous ivory coloum of her neck. Harkness couldn't help the dark look in his eyes. Gods, it would just be too easy, and then she would know for certain that he did nit want to be considered a brother anymore.

To her rebuttal as to his whereabouts during the night, he only snorted. I couldn't have left your side even if I wanted to. I was at your mercy, and I still am. Primrose, if only you knew the things I wanted to do to you....

The sight of her with closed eyes was the last straw. He shifted his hold in her, jiggling his knee a little to lift her higher, and then lowered his head to her neck. He took a slow shaking breath, wanting to kiss her, so so badly."I told you I would stay with you," he whispered into her ear, voice only just within control. His lips tightened, and very gently pressed a kiss to her cheek, rather than her neck like he so dearly wanted to."One thing you should know about me by now, my sweet girl, is that I will always keep my word. I did not move from your side the entire night."

Blue eyes reopened as Primrose was brought upright again. She only had a moment to stare into his own green pair before she was pressed flush against him. Her arms instinctively went up to encircle his neck and back but, Primrose had to stop her self from kissing him. She resigned herself to breathing in his scent and being hold so close to him.

"You're right. You did tell me that," she whispered back. "And I can't be more grateful that you kept your word. You mean so much to me, as does your promise. I can't tell you how important to me you are. You are practically family."

She realized the heat of her cheek only when he pressed cool lips to it. 'Can he feel that? Can he tell the way my pulse pounds just beneath the surface? I wish you were family Harkness. I wish I could hold you like this and never let go because you are mine and I am yours. I wish our word for family meant the same thing, that it was not brother but husband, not sister but wife. I wish but, the fruits of my wishes are not reaped. I am a fool to wish. But, I will never stop doing so, because I care for you, because I think I love you.'

Primrose tightened her arms without choking him. Her head nuzzled into his shoulder as she hugged him close. She was trying so hard not to kiss him, so hard not to cry. His scent, his closeness, his warmth were almost all too much for her. Sitting back she smiled impishly, hiding the wetness that had almost begun to form. 'I guess this is my cue to try and beat the stuffing out of him in swordplay.' Her tiny hands still clutched his forearms which she gave a friendly squeeze. "Shall we duel?"

Even as she told him he was 'practically family' he couldn't hold back the rush of emotion he felt in just holding her. Her cheek was hot to his touch, and he couldn't determine whether it was because of the embarrassment, or if maybe, just maybe, she was feeling something akin to what he was feeling.

Did she not realise what she was doing to him? Every little shift, every little movement, or not so little movement, as the case may be as she clung to him, was unraveling his resolve. Harkness was trying to picture calm scenes in his head; waterfalls - she was bathing underneath, green meadows - she was lying among the wildflowers, a deep crystal cavern - her face was reflected in every shining facet. It was all no use. She was everywhere, and everything.

Duel? That was the only word he managed to comprehend. Oh, he wanted to duel alright - but not with swords. He wanted to lift her, take her chin in his hand, demand a kiss that would ensure she would never think of him as family again. Hard as it was, he just returned a smile for hers, and nodded his head. "Of course." But he wasn't letting go. Jolie was completely forgotten. To be honest, Harkness didn't even know if she was still in the room. The only thing he cared about was making the most of the moment. Even the seven-lettered 'B' word couldn't break through the roaring of blood in his head. His arms tightened, rather than loosened.

"Primrose, I... I... can I tell you something?"

The moment he asked the question, Primrose was seized by a wave of emotions. There was excitement and fear, hope and rejection, love and hate. 'Is he going to say what I think he is going to say? Don't get your hopes up Prim, it's not what you think it is. What if it is? It could your friendship. Isn't love better than friendship? Only if love is meant to last. Do you really want to chance ruining what you have with him? I love him, I think. It is that uncertainty that makes it not okay to hope. Only when you are ready should you tell him. Don't forget your uncle.'

Her eyes stared back into his own, hopeful but unsure. They begged him not to say the words her heart so desperately craved. 'Don't ruin this. Don't break that fragile facade. I need the distance to protect you. Harkness, you are already claiming my heart, don't give my yours as well. I cannot care for it the way it should be. Don't do that to me, don't do that to yourself. If only I did not care so much. I want to hear you say it, that you love you me. That is of course, if that is what you really are going to say. I hope so. Please don't. Please do.'

She did not trust herself to speak but, opened her mouth anyway to try. Words would not form, the minute her tongue began to move in the semblance of speech, she was interrupted by Jain intruding on the moment. "Primrose I need to speak with you." Rage washed over her features and she turned her head to look away. Unknowingly her hands clenched, digging her nails into Harkness' arms.

The tears she had fought before were very close to falling now, although for different reasons. "Now Primrose," he demanded. Her head snapped over in his direction and her breath shook as she fought to control her anger. Disentangling herself from the elf, the noble stalked her way over to the older man. "Outside." Quirking her brow, she did as told and exited the room. Primrose never saw the pointed look Jain gave Harkness before following after her.

"What can I do for you Jain?" Primrose asked coldly, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Your behavior is completely unacceptable."
"Excuse me? I am the lady of this house. What gives you the right to speak to me in such a manner?"
"Primrose I have raised you as my own since you were ten years old. You-"
"I am not a child!"
"Then stop acting like one! If you are indeed the lady of this house then you need to take on the responsibilities that come with that. Your impropriety cannot continue."
"I can do what I want. I will not let a manservant tell me otherwise."

Jain's face fell for a moment. But, he was not backing down. Her words cut him deeply yet, he saw past them to the frightened young woman that lay beneath them. "This manservant has never wronged you. Why do you turn against me now?"

"You forget your place. You are not my father, remember that. I owe you no allegiance other than an employer to an employee. Good day," she dismissed, storming away from him.
"Where are you going?" he called after her. "I'm only trying to protect you.

"I don't need protection," she screeched back, freezing in her paces. "I don't need anyone protecting me. I am not some small child to be locked away in a tower away from the wicked world. I know the cruelty of the world. I have buried both my parents, I have seen life and I have seen death. I have faced rejection and heartache. I don't need you! I don't need anyone!"

Turning on her heel, she returned to stalking away. I hate you." The hurt in her voice was evident. Jain waited until she was out of sight before replying. "And I love you." His eyes closed on the pain for but a moment as he tried to gather himself.

Determined, he reentered the kitchen and faced Harkness. "Sir," Jain addressed him, blocking the door, "we need to have a discussion. If you would?" The elderly servant, motioned back at the table, before moving to take a seat. "Lady Dragoslav will be occupied in the armory for a bit. It would be best if she is left alone until she calms down some. Have no worries, you can still sword-fight with her when we are done. She has enough anger bottled up inside her to last a lifetime," he sighed shaking his head. "Now you sir, what are your intentions towards my lady? No lying either, you may be older than me boy, but you are still as much a child in the way you approach some things. I will not have hurt more than she already is."

She was so quiet. For such a long time. Harkness was beginning to worry when she still hadn't said anything. Was she anticipating what he wanted to tell her? Did she realise that he wanted to whisper into her ear that she had come to mean so much to him in such a short time; that he didn't think he could manage being away from her, and how skittish he'd got those last few days at his parents home; how she was beautiful, and he just wanted to wrap her up, keep her safe, love her; that he did love her.

So caught up in watching her face, he missed Jain's entrance, until he spoke. Hark whipped his head to look at Jain with a little bewilderment on his features, before blanking his face. He took in a sharp breath for the nails digging into his arms, but said nothing. It wasn't his place. He already saw Jain and Jolie as people to respect in relation to Primrose - they were like the family she was missing. He didn't understand therefore, the petulance with which Primrose was acting.

As she finally left his lap and followed after Jain, Harkness couldn't help but miss her warmth, but he also couldn't resist the pull of the voices just outside the door. He didn't need to even strain to hear, and simply sat with arms crossed loosely over his chest as if to contain the feeling of her with him.

Behaviour? What - oh. He means me. Prim - why are you so angry at him? Don't be angry at him - it's my fault. Maybe he can see what I ... impropriety!? Come on, Jain. That's not fair - she deserves a little lightheartedness. His thought process followed the conversation, and his eyes widened with the harsh tone in Primrose's voice. The last time he'd heard her speak like this, it had been with her uncle, and even then she had been fuming. As Jain continued, Harkness could practically taste the hurt in the old man's voice.

Not your father? Primrose - he's just looking out for you. He's the closest thing you have to family right now. Did you tell me that family was important? Why are you failing to see this is what Jain is - wait. You don't need... anyone...? You don't need me then, either. That's what you're saying, isn't it. I am just a brother to you. His head dropped down with the thought, even as Primrose's feet began stepping away from the door, and she spoke harshly in her mother-tongue.

Harkness rearranged the features that had fallen into a sad expression, not just for himself, but for the heartbreak he heard in Jain's voice as he voiced his own affections for the young lady. To the other man's appearance, Hark looked up, in firm control of his emotions now. He said nothing as Jain sat, and simply looked to him with still eyes. The idea of an angry Primrose in the armory by herself didn't make him feel any better, but to the comment about his age, Harkness almost snorted. Why was it that humans assumed that just because he had lived longer, he was any more mature. It wasn't the way. Wait till he'd lived eight hundred years, and then he might be acting more like a forty year old man might.

With a quirked eyebrow, Harkness almost laughed. Is he really giving me this talk? What are my intentions? Well ... I suppose someone has to ask. "My intentions are nothing but good, Jain." He leaned forward, and shifted to sit more assertively. "She might not see it, and I certainly haven't had the courage to tell her yet, but I care very deeply for her. All I want for her is her safety and her happiness. And yet, I know for a fact that she does not care for me in exactly the same way I care for her.

"In fact, she thinks of me as a brother. Believe me, sir, I will be whatever she needs me to be, and if she was to tell me to leave, because I brought her unhappiness, I would. I love her, Jain. I really do." He sighed, and then looked Jain squarely in the eye. "Does that calm your fatherly concerns?"

Jain smiled and shook his, chuckling to himself. "You're both of you blind." He snorted again before continuing. "Tell me Harkness, were you there in the days right after she returned from meeting your family? No? Well I was. She sees you as a brother, you say? Well, have you really given her an obvious indication that it's not true? As adult as Primrose is in maturity she still has a lot of child in her. It gets her heart hurt an awful lot. By claiming you to be family, she stops her hurt from being destroyed; or at least that's what she thinks. She's had childhood crushes in the past and more recently a friendship that ended in extreme heartache."

The man sighed, leaning back in the seat. "The young man loved her, as many oft do, and Primrose only saw him as a friend. A lot of miscommunication later, he left and she spent a month locked up in her rooms. Aye, your attentions may be good. But, I don't want to see her like that again. That was over friendship, imagine the pain of true heartbreak. We are men, you and I. We know that pain. As much as she claims to not need us to protect her, she does.

"There is much to her that goes unknown and unsaid," Jain hinted shaking his head. "Not all her stories are mine to tell but, I will tell you this one and then a last piece of advice. Then, if you so desire you can go running to protect her from herself." The servant paused to chuckle a bit to himself and then settled again. "When she was sixteen summers Primrose applied to teach at the healer's college not far from here. They rejected her on the basis that she was too soft-hearted and would never be able to care for a dying patient. What she doesn't tell people is that she was there when her father and the dragon were murdered. She saw their torn bodies, she watched her mother die of grief, she saw a village boy die from eating a poisoned mushroom, and most recently she helplessly watched a dear friend bleed to death, unable to stop it.

A reflective silence took over before Jain had the ability to continue. "My lady is not weak or fragile, but her heart is worn on her sleeve. She needs a man, or elf, who can protect that heart. Don't give up on her son. She does love you. Give her time, then tell her the truth of your affections. Until then, be a bit more open with them. I will not stand in your way again. She needs to see that you are more than a brother. That you do not see her as a sister. When she returned from your home she was both ecstatic and disappointed. When we asked her, all she said was that you treated her like this Elody. Your sister? A black cloud covered her face. She loves you. As usual Primmy has managed to get in her own way of happiness. Fix that and I give you unofficial fatherly permission to claim her. She is yours if you can find her and save her from her own fear.

"Now," he boomed rising to his feet, "you best distract her from destroying all the dummies again. She always gets so disappointed later when she has to sew them back together again." Chuckling he pointed in the direction of the armory before walking away, leaving Harkness to his own devices. 'Don't give up boy. Never give up.'

Meanwhile in the armory, Primrose had settled down. She had curled herself up on the room's wedge table meant for laying at the armor of a knight suiting up. It was a huge thing, making her seem even more tiny as she sat nestled in the corner with her knees drawn up to her chest. The room itself was a disaster. Straw littered the entire floor with bits of burlap canvas hinting at possibly containing it all. Three dummies had been completely annihilated in her anger and pain. For now she was still and silent, waiting for the now absent rage to be replaced with the impending guilt. 'I yelled at Jain. I was cruel. Harkness probably heard all that. I embarrassed myself. Even if he was going to tell me he loved me, he wouldn't know when I proved to be such a horrid, spoiled little brat. I am a fool!'

Harkness struggled to comprehend exactly what it was Jain was trying to say, but the longer he sat silent throughout the man's explanation, the more he thought he understood. He couldn't help feel a twang of jealousy at the idea of another man loving Prim like this friend had, and he resolutely decided to never, ever hurt her like this other had done. After the jealousy came rage that she'd been hurt so badly, and he caught himself clenching his fists. If he ever crossed this so called friend, he would make sure he knew that Primrose deserved so much better than to be hurt in such a way. He'd be lucky if he came away without a broken nose - or worse.  

There were so many revelations about her character; things that he thought he had seen a little of, but that now made him realise he knew very little about her strength, and just to what magnitude it stretched. He was slightly in awe, and could feel his heart both swell in pride, and sink in dismay at all the things she had endured. I want to keep her from that. So that she never has to feel that way again. She deserves nothing but happiness. Oh, Cryso. You are so precious, and yet you have been so crushed. I wont let that happen to you again, I swear it.

When he was told that Primrose loved him, that her referrals to him as family was simply a defense mechanism for her, things suddenly clicked into place. His decision of just a little earlier to love her through his actions intensified. He would pursue her, woo her, make it known how he felt about her, and yet he would demand nothing. He would wait until she was ready to see it all for what it really was - his deep abiding affection for her, that he couldn't begin to describe.

After Jain left, Harkness sat for a moment, contemplating everything that had been said, and the unspoken agreement between Hark and the older man. He sat and thought about all the things Primrose deserved, all the things he could give to her, when he decided that right at that particular moment, the best thing she could have was him. With a bright smile, he got up from the table, and headed in the direction that Jain had pointed him in.

"Cryso?" He called, opening the door to the armoury. The sight of it took his breath away, and his eyes widened in amazement at the damage for a moment. In an instant he was panicking, stepping into the room and searching for Primrose, and fearing the worst, as he always did. Seeing her on the table, curled up miserably made his heart scream, and in four quick strides he was seated on the table himself, and gathering her up in his arms.

"I don't know if I want to fight you anymore," he said with a chuckle as he surveyed the room over her head, "if this is what you did to the room, I'd hate to see what you'd do to me."

His entrance went either unnoticed or completely ignored. Even when he came and picked her up, Primrose remained silent and impassive. It was only when he began to speak to her that she struggled out of his arms and curled up into a ball on the other side of the table. A piece of sackcloth lay just within her reach on the floor and she quickly picked it up and hid underneath it like a small child.

"Go 'way!" she grumbled, curling up in a smaller ball. 'What is he doing here? He is supposed to hate me now. He's supposed to see me as a silly child and move on. He's supposed to stop treating me like a little sister and just leave. Damn you Harkness! Why do you have to care so much? Just let me wallow in my own spoiled brat world! Then if you did that I could hate you instead of myself. Then I wouldn't have to feel like such a child.'

The sound of the room's door crashing open and banging against the wall had her cringing and groaning. She did not need to peek out from her itchy haven to know it was Janus. The shrill whistle of surprise was evidence enough for her. "Hot damn Prim! What did you do?" Her head popped out long enough to send a deadly glare before returning to hiding again.

'Did I just see Owain?' Her arm slipped out, palm up in anticipation. "Janus give me Owain back."
"It's Sir Owain and I'm afraid we must decline. He is on a very important mission. Top secret, no girls allowed to know."
"Jauns! I will not ask again. Quit playing games and give me my stupid stuffed animal! I'm not in the mood for these childish games."
"No can do Primmy. If you want 'im, you'll have to fight me for 'im!"

'I am not going to kill him. I am not going to kill him. I'm going to kill him! Damn Jain! Damn Harkness! Damn Janus! Damn everything just for good measure.' Primrose groaned, letting her head thunk heavily against the table. "Janus Pepperdean I swear on all that is holy if I have to get up from this table and get that my bear myself I will not be responsible for what happens to you in the process," she told him in a low, warning tone. Yet, still the boy refused to hand over the bear. The only thing in his favor was that he had opted for silence instead of further goading her.

Harkness wasn't about to try and force her to stay with him, and so when she decided that she didn't want to be there, he let her go, but not without a smirk for the way she hid herself. "Oh Prim, come on," he coaxed, rapping his fingers on the table near her head for a moment. He wasn't going to get angry, wasn't going to try and cajole her anymore, and he wasn't going to 'go 'way' either. He just sat there in silence, letting Primrose compose herself.

He raised his eyebrow to the appearance of Janus, and grinned at the expression on his face. He imagined it was much the same as the expression on his own when he'd arrived. And the little tyke wasn't about to make things easy, either. Harkness just about groaned as Janus rejected Prim's demands to hand the stuffed animal.

And Primrose's reply was enough to scare him into action, for Janus's life. He put a hand to Prim's back, and straightened his shoulders, all the while winking towards the boy with a grin. "Never fear, milady," he said dramatically, "I shall fight this cretin on your behalf, and return to you victorious."

There, he leaped to his feet, and grapped up a wooden sword from the floor, pointing towards Janus. "You - how dare you cause my lady's heart to long for the comfort of her furry companion? Unhand that bear!"

A shiver raced through her body, radiating out from where his light touch seared through her back. 'Harkness, you are going to be the death of me.' She was just getting ready to completely block out the pair that were disturbing her self-pity session when the elf's words began to register in her mind.

'What?' Her confused mind could not wrap around the rapid change of events. 'What is he saying? Oh!' Harkness' silliness had a faint giggle bubble past her lips before she could clap her hands over her mouth and stop it. While she was able to repress any further sounds Primrose could not wipe the smile off her face that had taken a firm residence there. 'He is too good to me. Too good for me too. Remember, Prim. Always remember.'

Harkness chanced a look back to the hiding Primrose with a wry little smile. Unfortunately for him, Janus had decided to take their little duel seriously, and stepped forward and stomped down on Hark's foot. "Hey!" Harkness yelped, head spinning back around to Janus who was grinning impishly. "I will never give up Sir Owain, you fiend!" The little boy hopped around Harkness, who growled, and swiped at him playfully.

Harkness reached and picked up a training sword from the floor, just as Janus did the same, the bear tucked up under one arm as he brandished his weapon. "Back! Back I say!" Janus declared, and Harkness rolled his eyes, stepping forward to and knocking his sword against the boy's with just a little gentleness. Remembering his footing this time around, Janus stepped around the tall man, and in a cruel mirroring of his mother, whacked Hark on the behind.

Scowling, Hark whirled around, one hand on his bottom, and the other brandishing his sword in a quick flurry of attacks advancing on the boy. "Unhand the bear before you find yourself unhanded, little thief," Harkness declared, pushing forward. Janus soon found himself up against the wall, shaking his head vigorously, arm clamped viciously down around the bear. Harkness towered over him, and pointed the tip of his blunt blade against Janus's shoulder. "Surrender."

"Never!"

"Surrender, and I shall let you leave in peace."

"Never! I will never surrender!"

"Surrender," Hark repeated, bending down to whisper in Janus' ear, "and I wont tell your mother about the eels I saw in her big cooking pot this morning." The little boy went white, and then gave Hark a grin, dropping his sword with a clatter, and lifting a hand dramatically to his forehead. "Alas, I know when I am bested." He thrust Owain forward and hung his head for a moment, before darting around Hark and running out the door.

Harkness grinned after the boy, and then turned to face Primrose. Continuing on with the charade, he dropped to one knee, and held the bear out in offering. "My Lady, I have rescued your beloved bear from the hands of that little monster. Will you accept it with my deepest affections?"

From beneath her sackcloth haven, Primrose watched the boys duel over her favorite bear. The levity of the situation made her smile warmly as she observed the pair's interactions. Between Janus' villainous claims and Harkness' chivalrous desires she was quickly on the road to feeling better.

In fact when the duel finally ended with Harkness as the winner she had to pop her head back under the safety of her cover so as to hide her heart which displayed its feelings all over her face. 'What do I do? I can't afford to let him get too close to me. If he sees I will never be able to let him go and I must let him go or he will be hurt.'

Her hand slid out from slowly towards the elf, reaching for the bear yet missing and brushing his face instead. Primrose's hand froze before hesitantly continuing and moving to cup his cheek in the palm of her hand. "And for such a honorable deed what would the fair and just knight ask of me in return?" she whispered softly.

Harkness went still as the hand reached out. It was like every fiber of his being came to a complete halt, waiting to be set into motion again by her touch. His breath held inside his throat, eyes fixated on the sack still covering her head. Come out. Let me see your beautiful face... It was if his heart had stopped in his chest.

Did he dare to ask to for what he really wanted? No. Plans were formulating in his mind that went beyond just asking for a simple kiss. He wanted to pursue her - make it known that he would go to the ends of the earth for her. He barely moved, as he breathed his reply. "Let this man see your face," he said, gently folding back the edge of the cloth.

His face was an open book of soft adoration. He gave her a smile, small but from the depths of his heart, and leaned forward. The kiss he placed on her forehead was well controlled, for all the whims he had in mind. With a small chuckle in the back of his throat, he smoothed back her hair, and placed the bear down beside her.

"And I have just one more request. Any time you are in need, let me be the one to fight for your sake."

As the cloth brushed away from her face, Primrose gazed up at Harkness with clear blue eyes, that showcased her loving heart. Her eyes closed slowly as he pressed a friendly kiss to her forehead. When he drew away he created a searing pain in her heart. 'Right Prim, let him go. Good girl, let him go. Let him go.'

Slowly, she sat up and slid off the table, her eyes never leaving his face. Blue orbs spoke of love and of fear, of hope and pain, of all the things her tongue would not release for his ears to hear. As if in a fog, she felt herself reach out for him and before she could stop herself she was in his embrace. Primrose wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder.

She put her all into that hug as if afraid to let go. I love you, it said. I don't want to give you up. I don't want to lose you. I want you to love me too. I don't want to be afraid anymore. I want you to always protect me. Everything her eyes had said, everything she did not have the courage to say when into that moment as she fought back tears.

His scent, his warmth, his very presence was comforting to her. At last she nodded her head. "When I am too weary to fight on my own it will always be you that I call for." Primrose clenched her fists tightly behind his back as she fought to not continue with a declaration of love. 'He does not need nor want that Primrose. You are being silly, weeping over a man who "rescued" a toy from a child for you. You are a spoiled brat!'

"Did I ever tell you why Owain is so important to me and why Janus insists on calling him sir?" she asked weakly, wishing to draw away but also not wishing to. 'Pull yourself together girl. Don't let him see some weepy woman!'

For a second his eyes widened in surprise at the way she suddenly fell into his lap, but then those eyes closed in bliss. He turned his face into her hair, his own arms coming to encase her securely, a silent vow. This is it. This is my reason for being. I've found the reason to be everything I can. Gods, she's so perfect.

Her acceptance of his offer to be there for her, to fight for her, made his heart soar, until he thought it might come bursting from his chest. As it was, her closeness had his heart pounding, and drum loud and steadily increasing in both noise and tempo. I love you. I love you. I love you. Instead of the words that swam about in his mind, he simply said "Thank you."

He couldn't help himself though, from pressing tiny light kisses to the top of her head as it laid on his shoulder. He'd held himself together this long - maybe a part of him felt like he deserved the feel of her so close. His grasp on her tightened, not willing to let her go, as if sensing the little battle within her. No, he was much too content to have her in his arms. "You didn't," he replied quietly, eyes still closed. "Tell me - was he a gift from your father?"

Primrose blushed and nodded her head in silence. "Aye, but it's more than that. Owain is the last present my father gave me before he died. I got sick with holy fire, a peasant's sickness they called it. I would have these horrible nightmares; I didn't know what was real and what wasn't. Father stayed with me the whole time, singing to me in Elvish."

She sighed at the memory. Sadness laced her voice but, she did not let it stop her. "He was called away to duty and I was so afraid. I was only four or five at the time, too young to understand. So he gave me Owain. 'This bear will protect you from all evil Rosey. He's a knight of purest heart,' he said. I was better before he returned but I never let go of Owain. I've had him ever since."

The young noble pulled back from Harkness slightly and looked him in the eye. "I know it's silly but, I feel like I have my father back for a moment when I hold him." Primrose smiled as she bit her lip and fought back tears. "I miss him," she finally admitted. "He would have loved you. You have everything he valued in a person, honor, valor, courage, and most of all humor." A soft chuckle resounded through the room.

"Thank you Harkness, for being my protector." Primrose leaned forward and kissed the corner of his mouth as if undecided as to whether kiss him on the mouth or the cheek. Taking his hand in her own she tugged him to rise to his feet with her. "Come, I should honor you with a treat for all your hard work, my valiant elf."

Harkness, listened attentively as ever, his expression soft, but relatively blank. It pained him to hear the sorrow in her voice, and see the way in which it clearly hurt her to remember. In silence he held her, hopefully offering her some comfort with his presence. It was all he could hope for.

When she pulled back, he barely restrained himself from crushing her back to him, not willing to be separated, and especially not so when he saw the tears in her eyes. Harkness fought back the desire to kiss those eyes, just at the corners, holding her head cupped between his hands ... but his hands stayed, just resting at the small of her back. His heart was warmed to hear what she thought her father would have thought of him, and finally he spoke. "Cryso, it would have been my honour to meet your father."

The sentiment he wanted to continue with was stopped short by the sudden closeness of her, and the fleeting touch of her lips at the corner of his. Everything stopped around him. All he was aware of was the feel of her breath against his skin, the feel of her his his arms, and the fire the surged through him as his head turned to meet her lips.

A second too late.

She was out of his lap, and tugging him up. He blinked. Once, twice, a stunned expression rendering the stoic blankness completely void. Every emotion showed clearly on his face. The wanting, the tenderness - it was all there. He gave a heavy sigh with the third blink, and rearranged his features into a pleasant smile.

"And what does my lady intend to reward me with?" He asked, tucking her hand into the crook of his elbow, and leading her towards the door. His treacherous stomach gave a little rumble, and he gave a sheepish grin. "I think I smelled cookies before. My mother always said that fresh biscuits baking was the perfect remedy for a hurting heart, a lazy day, and a famished man."

The way he was always so calm and gentle with her, so soothing never failed to bring a warmth to her heart. Their linked arms made her smile in secret joy. As they began to leave, Primrose scooped up Owain and firmly tucked him under her arm.

She had been about to respond when Harkness' stomach betrayed him. "You just ate," she cried astonished. Resting her head sweetly against his arm, she allowed her eyes to close and him to lead her safely to the kitchen. "Then we best get the famished man fed."

Just as Harkness had said a platter of freshly baked cookies was sitting in the middle of the table, begging to be gobbled up. Handing Owain to Harkness with a, "Janus is a brazen thief," by way of explanation and a command to sit, she bustled about to get plates and glasses of milk.

Once everything was ready, she at last sat down across from him with a giggle. "I feel like a little girl again. Any minute now and Jolie is going to barge in, scold me, and then give me two cookies. One for each hand, she always said." Primrose's eyes lit up with mirth as she picked up a cookie and broke it to dunk in her glass.

For her astonishment, Harkness only gave a sheepish smile, and led her on to the kitchen, relishing in the knowledge that she trusted him enough to close her eyes and be led. As it was, he trusted his stomach enough that he quite probably could have closed his own eyes and been led.

Once in the kitchen he immediately plonked himself into a chair, long legs all askew in his haste. He only spared a moment to watch Primrose flitting about gathering things, Owain tucked safely under his arm, before snaking a hand out and snatching up a biscuit. The little disk was shoved into a gaping mouth without hesitation - the expression on his face was very clearly reminiscent of his childhood, sneaking cookies freshly made by his mother.

As Primrose returned, he was swallowing down the last bits of a second cookie, and wiping crumbs off his mouth. He gave her a smile, which turned a little skew as the image of her face shimmered and wavered in his vision. With a little frown, Harkness reached for another biscuit. "My mother said one for each hand, so that I couldn't get my fingers into the jam."

Harkness stopped for a moment, cookie held in hand. His lips felt numb all of a sudden, and he knew for a fact that it wasn't the lasting effects of the almost kiss back in the armory. He frowned a little deeper, a cold, clammy feeling settling over his brow, prickling over the back of his neck. Unfocused eyes turned towards the door, his attention caught momentarily by the sound of soft steps, and a quiet rumbling purr. Damn cat, he thought as the animal came stalking into the kitchen.

"Really Prim," he said, concentrating on getting words out past his numb lips, and slurring  just slightly, "I swear you need to get rid of that cat. Can we use it for target practice?"

Primrose laughed his mother's saying, agreeing that it was also quite good. However, she quickly became distracted by Harkness' look of distracted attention. "The cat?" Turning around she was just in time to the animal get back into the house.

"How in the-ahh! Mr. Grimalkin, you annoying pest!" She scowled as he waddled his way over and jumped up onto the table. "Can we Harkness? I love the sound of that." Her eyes sparkled and she laughed as plans begin to form to bring about the cat's hell.

Memories of old surfaced and she began to laugh harder and harder until she could barely breathe. "Oh the hell I've put this cat through. I never told you about my coming-of-age party did I? Oh but I must!"

She wiped her hand across her mouth as the other shoved the cat back off the table. "I had just turned sixteen and had been called back home to my uncle's mansion in Jadenshine. Well I met my childhood friend there and begged him to come to the party. Now Ryuu had this really, really cute dog named Rusger. He was so small and silly and cute! Whenever I saw him I just wanted to hold him and love him and never let go."

Ash she described the pug her arms circled herself as if she was hugging the animal. "Anyway, Russy was supposed to be on his best behavior and was doing fantastically well. Then, Mr. Grimalkin showed up and that was the end of that. Rusger went after the cat and Ryuu and I went after the dog. The animals were on the table, the nobles were screaming, tables got knocked over. It was hilarious. But, the best part was actually when my uncle was screaming at me in his office for my poor behavio.

Primrose rolled her eyes and knocked the cat back down again as it got up and snuck its way over to her glass of milk. "Away you stupid idiot! So uncle was yelling at me and Ryuu. Russy got free again and finally got the cat. Then, this is the cutest part, because Russy had this really small mouth he could not really bite the cat. So there he "gnawing" on Mr. Grimalkin but overall doing nothing more than drooling all over him. Well I think he gets a star for effort."

She settled slightly and smiled. "I miss them. That trip was the last time I ever saw Rusger. Ryuu was never the same without him. We just kind of, drew apart after that." Primrose fell silent and stared down at her cup. The noble began to pull the throughly dunked cookie out of the milk when with a large plop it broke off and sank to the bottom of the mug. "Ah!" she squeaked in disappointment. "That always happens. Sighing she took up another and smiled at Harkness. "So what kind of target practice did you have in mind for him?"

Harkness was praying that the cat would be a big enough distraction that Primrose wouldn't notice the slick of sweat he could feel sliming up his forehead. His eyes were narrowed in concentration; the world seemed to be moving in a sickening swaying motion, and he couldn't make it stop. Even Prim's story seemed to swirl, the words not making any sense to him.

He heard something about a dog, and a friend, and gnawing. I'd gnaw on her. He blinked at the thought, so clear in the haze that was quickly filling his mind. Looking towards the plate on the table, Harkness tried to make sense of how he was feeling, and the suddenness with which it had come on. His attempts were undone by a rush of nausea with the plopping sound of soggy biscuit into liquid.

He felt his stomach lurch, and his hands went forward to clench onto the edge of the table as his head drooped forward onto the table. Feebly, he tried to lift his head to look across at Primrose, but everything seemed like just a huge effort, and his head went back down with a thunk. His tongue was thick in his mouth as he spoke through clenched teeth. "Just ... tie him ... up and... I don't feel so good."

Harkness' sudden collapse onto the table made Primrose's heart stop for a moment. That moment though seemed to last a lifetime as she stared in shock, listening to his slurred and slow speech. His face was pale and drenched in sweat. It was quite obvious that something was wrong.

Eyes still focused on the elf, Primrose jumped out of her seat, knocking over the chair and moved to stand beside him. "Harkness? Harkness are you alright? Can you hear me?" She did not wait to hear his response as she pressed a steady hand to his neck and forehead. 'No fever. I don't understand. It's all so sudden!'

What was that? There was a little buzzing sound in his ear now, and something hot and heavy drumming down on his head and neck. He groaned as he unfurled his hands from the table, and swatted at Primrose's hands. "G'way." His breathing shallowed, thin and reedy as he took in quick short gasps, without exhaling properly.

And then he was moving, as if in slow motion. Hark forced his eyes open for one short moment, reached across the table and swiped at the plate of cookies as he went tumbling out of the chair. For a man usually of such grace, his faint was anything but graceful. The plate went crashing off the table, cookies breaking all over the floor, and all over and into Hark's hair.

"Harkness!" she screamed, lunging for him as he went tumbling to the ground. Primrose immediately went into crisis mode. "Jolie! Jain! Janus!" Kneeling beside him, the woman took his head and placed it into her lap while trying to roll him onto his side. His weak, erratic breathing greatly concerned her as she tried to quickly diagnose his problem.

The three called-for figures dashed into the kitchen each with a different reaction. Jolie gasped and froze in place beside the silent Janus while Jain rushed to his mistress' side. "What happened Miss Primrose?" She waved them over and took command of the situation. "Jolie hold his head, make sure his airways, his mouth and nose are clear. If he vomits he'll choke and die. Janus I need you to talk to him for me. Alright? You need to help me keep him conscious."

Her hands moved to press on his chest repeatedly, harder and harder as she struggled with what was happening. "He's having a heart attack." Primrose was in a completely different mindset than her usual nervous and boisterous state. Her hands did not shake nor did her voice. There was a stern sureness about what her movements and words that exemplified exactly why she was gifted enough to teach at the healer's college even if they would not let her.

Jolie took one of Harkness' hands in her own as she held his head. The movement caught Primrose's attention and gave her pause. 'What did I just see?' Taking the elf's other hand in her own she examined his nails, shocked to find them turning a shade of purple-blue. "Kia! It's not a heart attack."

Primrose's eyes flashed up to meet Jain's. 'He's been poisoned!' Her breathing sped up even as her secret love's began to slow. "Janus switch places with your mother. Jolie garlic, I need garlic. Quickly!"

The older man placed a hand on her shoulder and leaned into her ear. "What is it Primmy?" She swallowed heavily, her eyes tearing up as she squeezed Harkness' hand in her own. "Poison." Her breath left her in a whoosh of air as she fought to maintain control. "Settle child. You can do this. You will save him. He needs you!"

She nodded her head and accepted the cooked garlic from Jolie. Even as it burned her fingers from coming just off the fire she took them up and mashed them up as best as she could before trying to feed them to the elf. "Come on Harkness!" she sobbed. Jain took the food from her and began to take over assisting feeding the male, palpating his throat to make him swallow.

He was so unaware of all the hustle and bustle going on around him. There was a solid heaviness over his body that he couldn't bring himself out of. Everything was cold. Everything was in black. He struggled and fought inside his mind to come up from the abyss. As Primrose fed him the garlic, his body acted of it's own accord, gagging and choking on the mashed stuff, but slowly and surely getting it down.

For a moment his eyes flickered open, looking unseeingly towards the ceiling. Then his mouth started moving. "Xun... naut cal... ol. S'ck." Everything was a struggle, his words slurred and garbled. His eyes fixed for a moment on Primrose's face, and he smiled lop-sidedly. "Sokoya... Dos ph' ji ... ssin'urn...

"F'sarn aluin ulu el." And he fell back into his stupor.

Primrose gently caressed his face, trying not to grimace as she felt how clammy his skin had become. "Shh ssinssrigg. Usstan zhaun, Usstan tlun lorith doeb whol dos. V'dre, dos ph' naut aluin ulu el, naut pholor ussta kyorl." She tried to smile but could only feel her lips wobble instead. Pulling herself together, the noblewoman instructed the two healthy males to help her carry the elf upstairs to her bed where she could better tend to him and keep him comfortable.

Much of the night passed this way, with Primrose tending to Harkess and the other three hovering close at hand. When the sun at last began to make its ascent in the sky, all had fallen asleep in various places about the room. Janus lay curled up against Harkness' side with the teddy bear squished in between them while Jain and Jolie had fallen asleep huddled together on the couch. Primrose on the other hand had fallen asleep kneeling on the floor by the bed with her head rested on where her small hands clutched one of the elf's larger ones.