The day after the party, the household of Murelle GreyMantle was slow to rise. They slept in, around 11 am Murelle finally emerged from her bedroom' her hair a mess, yawning. No one else was up yet, so she made a pot of coffee....strong coffee. She poured herself a cup and sat at the table in a daze. She added some cream and sugar then sat sipping it quietly when Miles entered the kitchen. He looked about as bleary as Murelle felt.

"Good Morning." She said quietly. "Care for some coffee?" He yawned and nodded.

"Yes."

Getting up, Murelle fetched a mug from the cupboard and poured a cup then handed it to him. She pointed at the cream and sugar that was on the table, spoons in a cup waiting to be used. "Help yourself."

He drank it black, he didn't talk, and he just spaced out. They sat in silence until Gwyn stumbled into the kitchen. She yawned and said. "Good Morning."

?"Morning sweetie. I think you have sword lessons with Xenograg today right?"

"Yes, this afternoon." She answered.

"We'll clean up the cottage first, and then we'll go."

She nodded and opened the fridge and pulled out a bottle of orange juice. She poured herself a glass and sat with her mother and Miles. After a few minutes Murelle stood and asked, "Pancakes and sausage for breakfast?"

Miles nodded and sipped his coffee; Gwyn gave a happy "Yes. That sounds good."

So Murelle mixed the pancake batter and got the sausage out of the fridge. She opened the package of links and took out a couple of frying pans from the cupboard and set them on the wood stove. Murelle stoked the stove to get the fire burning but soon the smell of sausage filled the kitchen as it fried. The pancakes were cooked, piled on a plate. Gwyn got up and set the table, setting two more glasses and poured orange juice for her mother and Miles. The breakfast, butter and pure maple syrup were set on the table and they ate and exchanged small talk. Miles ate heartily. He must have been hungry. He didn't eat a whole lot during the party. When they were done they cleaned up the dishes and put away the butter and syrup into the fridge along with the left over pancakes (which were only a couple) and the two remaining sausage links.

Murelle went to her room and got dressed, combed her long hair and tied it in a loose ponytail, then set about cleaning the cottage. She enlisted the help of both Miles and Gwyn, picking up discarded paper plates, plastic utensils, cups, napkins, torn wrapping paper and other debris that was scattered about, stashing it in large black plastic garbage sacks.

The leftover food was carried into the kitchen to be stored. There wasn't much left. The hobbits helped clean out the provender and emptied two of the three barrels of ale. The third was half full. She collected the empty wine bottles and set the remaining ones on the kitchen counter. She didn't drink a lot of alcoholic beverages, but it would be nice to have some on hand.

The platters were washed and the sconces were cleaned of the wax from dripping candles and the heaters were placed out of the way. She would have to get the wagon to load them up and return them to the rental place. Borin had come, knowing Murelle would need some help. He didn't have to be asked. He just showed up.

So the items were loaded onto the wagon and they all piled in the wagon and went to RhyDin. But just before they left, Murelle put a roast in the oven on low to cook as they were away so they would have it ready for dinner. After returning the tables and other items they went to the room rental place to gather help to take down the room and return it. Steve and Roger accompanied them with their tool boxes and went to Eldicor via the portal. They were still amazed at this. It didn't take as long to disassemble the room as it was to put it up. In short order the parts were piled in the wagon and again they returned to RhyDin and returned to the store where it was unloaded. Murelle thanked them for their help and they parted ways. Borin returned to Eldicor, for Murelle, Gwyn and Miles weren't returning quite yet.

It was time for Gwyn's lesson with Xenograg so they went to the Dojo from the RhyDin side. Miles followed without any remarks he just went with the flow. They entered into the front hallway and were greeted by one of the guards. He took them to Xenograg who was in his own study working on some business. He looked up when Murelle and Gwyn knocked on the door. Xenograg set down his work and greeted them.

"Come for your lesson Gwyn?"

"Yes, sir." She answered. Xenograg got up and retrieved the practice sword and handed it hilt first to Gwyn. He led them to the practice room and they began. Gwyn was improving. She was able to fend off some moves and Xenograg encouraged her.

"You're doing well, let's try that again."

Two more joined them. Both Erwyn and Teleperien had appeared. They wanted to see Xeno on another business matter, and seeing Xenograg was busy, they simply watched with Murelle and Miles. Gwyn made a lunging move and Xenograg's sword accidently sliced her arm. Blood started to pour from the lance. Murelle cried out in surprise and concern. Xenograg covered it at once with a cloth to stop the flow of the blood. Gwyn was crying, for it was painful. Xenograg held the cloth to the cut; the blood was starting to saturate it. Teleperien stepped forward.

"Allow me to help."

Murelle nodded vigorously. "Please do Lady."

Xenograg lifted the cloth and Tele placed her long fingered hand on the cut. Blood flowed through her long slender fingers, but it started to slow then it stopped. The cut became a white line then totally disappeared. Her arm was as if there wasn't a cut at all. It was gone. Gwyn looked at the queen with amazement. Murelle cried out her thanks to Tele.

"Lady, I am grateful. I thank you."

Gwyn's tear stained face was all amazement. "Yes thank you Lady." Murelle looked at Miles. His face showed surprise and he himself looked just as amazed as Gwyn was. Xenograg nodded.

"Did you see what you did Gwyn?"

"I should have blocked instead of lunging."

"Exactly. This lesson should stay with you. Well done otherwise. You are learning fast."

Gwyn looked pleased and looked at the queen with a bright smile. Teleperien just smiled. "It was what needed to be done."

Erwyn was watching, but her eyes were not on Gwyn and Xenograg but Miles. Her face showed concern. She spoke up. "May I say something?"

"Yes." Xenograg answered as he resheathed his sword. "Do you have advice for Gwyn?"

"No. She learned what she needed to. I am speaking of Murelle's friend Miles."

Miles started and looked at Erwyn. He looked uncertain of what to say. "Oh?" Was all he said. Erwyn nodded.

"I can see you are scared, from the inside. You have suffered a great injury and you are struggling with it. Am I right?"

He looked taken aback. He slowly nodded, as if he was under some control. Murelle looked at Miles and said. "It's obvious our empath here agrees with me."

"My mother can help Miles. If you are willing."

Teleperien added. "Erwyn is right. I can help if you wish it."

Miles didn't reply, he obviously was stunned. Murelle piped up. "Let him think on it. We will return home and give him time to think about it." He looked at Murelle with surprise.

He nodded and said. "Let me think about it."

"I will be at your service Miles." Teleperien said in her musical voice. "You can come anytime and I will try to help."

"The queen helped me in healing memories." Xenograg added. "It helped tremendously."

Poor Miles looked totally uncertain. Murelle said. "Let us go back home and think on it. Miles, when you are ready, we will return."

He looked gratefully at Murelle and she started for the room with the mirror. Erwyn and Teleperien joined them. Erwyn laid the talisman on the mirror for them and before they stepped through, Tele said, "We are staying behind, we have business with Xenograg. We will return in a couple hours. I will be at your service if you so choose."

With that Murelle stepped through the mirror followed by Miles and Gwyn. They walked back to the cottage without speaking. Entering, the cottage was filled with the smell of the roast in the oven. Murelle went into the kitchen and checked it. It was done. She lifted the pan from the oven to let it set. She peeled potatoes cut them up and set them to boil, then made a salad, and warmed up green beans. Miles had helped himself to another cup of coffee while Gwyn set the table, placing butter and salad dressings on it. Ranch, raspberry vinaigrette and one made with soy sauce and sesame seeds. Miles watched without comment' he seemed to not see them, his mind elsewhere, absently sipping his coffee. After the potatoes were done boiling, Murelle mashed them and created gravy from the drippings of the roast. When all was finished they sat and took their supper. It was a quiet one; no one spoke except for someone to pass "the butter" or "the gravy." They were in deep thought and Murelle didn't want to break the silence. Afterward dishes were done and the leftovers went to the fridge.

The rest of the evening was spent in quiet conversation. Murelle didn't bring up the healing at once, she wanted Miles to allow the promise of healing of his past hurts sink in. She hoped he would take the queen up on the offer. He would feel so much better. She watched as he injected something in his wrist when his hands started to shake. Her heart ached to see this. But she still remained silent. He would have to make the choice. She couldn't force him. Murelle prayed he would allow the queen to help.

"I..." He gave a pause and looked to the women her loved like a sister. He glanced to Gwyn for a brief moment.

"Gwyn, in my room on top of my bed there is a book on modern day Starships, it has some really good pictures in there as well. Why don't you go and take a look at it. Your mother and I need to talk and I don't think you would like to hear some of it. I don't want to, but..."

He watched her glance at her Mure who gave a smile and a nod. She walked over and gave him a brief hug before walking out of the room to his.

"I..." Breath Miles he told himself. "Mure, after the battle to free Llew's soul, I think that creature started to try to get into my head cause after i left things were not the same..."

He looked out the window. "Memories from my past, came back to me as Nightmares, my time spent on Mars the year before, not with Mars Security, but after that, The virus on the ship we escaped in, The Lough Arrow mission, The dam spiders and the planet."

He had to take a calming breath. "I wake up in a panic, i see the faces of the dead, the living...Everyone, they taunt me, tell me i killed them or will get them killed. My last mission, I was captured and tortured for, I don't know how long. They implanted a wire, or something in my neck and used it to deliver a charged ION pulse into my nervous system."

He pulled his shirt up, up & down his arm, spinal column, and chest were thin white scars. "It felt like all my nerves were on fire at the same time."

He gave a small chuckle...."They never asked me anything, just kept saying begin....Then the pain, all i wanted to do was die. They wouldn't let me."

He turned to face her, he walked over to her and sat down. "Your Invite came at the right time, i was ready to eat my gun that night. It wasn't the first time I thought about it."

She gasped in surprise. "I'm fine now, well for the most part. I just don't know if i want anyone to rummage around up there right now. Would it be fair to the queen for her to have to live through all of what i have. To see the horrors that i have seen, and done."

He sat there, a small tears rolled down his face. "Is this my pence for doing my duty?

Murelle released Miles and sniffing she picked up the bowls and took them into the kitchen. She had a sinking feeling he was going to refuse. She prayed she was wrong. As she rinsed the bowls she prayed to her ancestors. The only sound was that of the water running. The silence was deafening. Turning from the sink she saw that Miles was watching her. She gave him a wavering smile.

"You know I'll always love you as a brother no matter what."