It was as unbalanced a feeling as she had felt in years. If she could claim it mourning, she would. The disconnected drifting of her spirit was like a yawing wave that she could not overcome and kept her at odd angles to the world. If she had words to express it, she would have done so. The mode of her confusion unfixed her stars, and she worked by reaction to the feelings alone. Where they were, she would not be. At Yearling Brook she had been separate from Kieran. She felt his presence less, and it frightened her. She wanted to walk the halls and anticipate his footstep, and yet she knew it was madness to cling to it.

Or be driven to it for its safe shield against other possibilities.

Ewan?s turn of conversation carried her easily with him. ?Yes, Mount Yasuo. I anticipate you will be leaving by beginning of next week??

?Yes, but I want you to consider going as well. It would be of value to have you there and see for yourself. It would be no greater danger or threat to you or the children with both Storm and I there.?

?Ewan,? Sylvia sighed. ?I am done.? Fingers ran along the ends of the chair arms, feeling the smooth places where her many touches had worn the tapestry soft. In that between time where she could not be as she was ever again, not from long ago nor the recent past, but she had no idea what to be other than what titles she wore: mother and liege. She was done setting aside those titles in vain attempts to regain the woman she was before them.

?No, you are not. I will see that you are not. I swore an oath to see that you live to the fullness of time against the threat of others who would shorten it. I will see to that vow in its entirety, which includes your threat to yourself. If you will not listen to me, I will seek out others to whom you will listen.?

She had no idea whom he could mean, and felt it an idle threat indeed. ?I will not enter an argument with you at this hour,? she lifted a finger to stay his rebuttal before she continued, ?an argument for which you cannot win.?

?I do not take defeat?well, at all.? He smiled but rose from his seat and bowed. ?I bid you good night, my lady, and may you dream well.?

?Good night, Ewan, and rest well. We will discuss the details of Mount Yasuo tomorrow after your cousin and Lenika?s joining ceremony.?

When he left and closed the door, Sylvia let her eyes drift to the wingback chair again. Kieran would sit there at nights, and she could not see him as she had before. The shadow of his presence had faded even here. Was it time or had she frayed those threads to his memory in the thoughts of the future? She did not want to dream such confusing dreams again, but sleep was a necessity she could not give up, though its difficulty was as great as that as leaving behind her home.

Ewan went to check on his cousin who was at the hall in town where the ceremony was to be performed. There were many things on his mind at the time and all had to do with things he had never contemplated in depth before. Not things that went against a ploy or a game, but to the center of good people?s lives.

Just a year ago, Gaerwyn?s wife had been taken from him. Now, he was full in love with Lenika, and Ewan had no doubt of it ? not a single doubt. Sylvia had her husband taken from her, and her mourning was deep. His mother had also lost her husband, but in his memory there was no recollection of pain. Nor did he recall his mother having another love interest again. Each a similar pain, but so different and fate played with their hearts in cruel games. What would he do if he lost Storm? Would he be as Gaerwyn, Sylvia, or his mother? At this moment in time, he felt he would be like his mother, but the thought of losing Storm rattled the lock on his rage and he feared what would happen then.

When he entered the hall, he found Gaerwyn pacing along a side corridor. The man looked as nervous as he could, and Gaer was lying on a line of chairs, playing with a toy horse. ?Gaerwyn, you will be putting a trench in the floorboards if you keep it up.?

Relief was on Gaerwyn?s face as he turned to his cousin and greeted him with a hug. ?Can?t tell you how glad I am to see you, Ewan. I feel like I don?t know what to do with myself. What if she changes her mind? What if I lose her??

It was an odd echo of Ewan?s thoughts just moments before. ?Gaerwyn, the ocean sailors compare to a woman: unpredictable.? He laughed low and brief. ?But you love the ocean and you love Lenika. Have faith in that.?

Gaerwyn released a slow breath and nodded. It was obvious he wanted to move his thoughts away from nerves, and directed the conversation to something other than himself. ?Is the Baroness truly giving up Yearling Brook??

Taking the moment to look over the hall with its decorations, minimal and tasteful, Ewan questioned, ?Considering buying it??

?No, not at all, just concerned as I suspect you are.?

Ewan looked to his cousin and nodded. ?She needs to look forward beyond just her children, but for herself.?

?Aunt Maeve should have a sit with her. I lost my Lera, and I can understand her pain, but I had the stroke of fortune in Lenika coming here that I could see beyond myself and beyond my children to what could be. She gave me that gift.?

?Lenika is a good woman, and you had better treat her well or I will be visiting you.? It was not exactly an idle threat, though couched in good humor. ?Aye,? he returned to the point at hand, ?I think it would be good for mother to speak with her. She did, afterall, straighten me out about Storm.?

?What would we do without your mother?? Gaerwyn chuckled, but then sobered. He and Ewan both knew they would be finding out in a near future.

Lenika was leaning against the wall, her forehead touching the frame of the window as she looked outside. Her thoughts a jumbled mess as she had hoped to catch the slightest glimpse of Gaerwyn outside, but she had missed him as her mother had said he left early for the hall; no doubt to make sure all the preparations were complete, which brought a smile to her face at his efficiency. It was with a sigh, though, that she turned at the soft knocking on her door and gave verbal permission for the knocker to enter.

A smile was easy for Lenika when her mother entered the room. She had already resolved herself to not feel disappointed that none of her other relatives were able to come, several of which absolutely disliked sailing. In truth, there were few that Lenika really needed to witness this event other than her mother, Maeve, Ewan, Lina, Gaer, and Sylvia. These were the people that she had come to feel the closest too and she wanted them here. ?Lenika,? her mother interjected into Lenika?s thoughts with some concern, ?You have not changed yet. Is something the matter??

?Do you think he will come to regret his decision?? Lenika asked the question, though she did not feel it as she once did when they first were talking of marriage. Her arms dropped the crossed position on her chest. She had wanted to twist her hair, but it was been neatly and intricately braided back with several thinner braids and placed with flowers.

?My dear you know the answer to that. He will, however, think you have if you arrive late.? Her mother moved forward to pick up the simple, yet elegantly embroidered gown on the bed. ?Come, I shall help you.?

Lenika smiled at her mother and moved forward. ?I don?t need help, but?very well.? She had to trail off for a moment as she thought back to a conversation with Storm that occurred earlier in the day and chuckled as she thought Gaerwyn would owe Ewan?s wife a big ?thank you.? She did not have much time to enjoy the thought, though, as her mother urged her again to hurry and get ready. It was not long before they would be off to the hall and the ceremony, where a new future would emerge.

The hall was near empty as the couple had left an hour before to their place for the night. Maeve, Gaer, and Lina were preparing to go back to the house as evening was drifting into night. Ewan came back from the back room of the hall to make sure all was settled with the proprietor.

"Do you need help with anything, Maeve?" Storm tucked some curls behind her ears as she approached her. Avery was already trying to help Gaer, though it was questionable if they were more playing than being productive.

Maeve smiled and reached to pat Storm's hand. "Oh, no, I think we have it in hand, but would be glad if you all could come back to the house with us for a visit." She questioned to be sure, "You all did say you were leaving soon after."

Ewan came started herding the boys towards the exit. "We are not departing tonight, mother, but it is not so late that we cannot come and visit awhile with you. Storm?" He deferred to her for the final verdict on the matter as he reached down to pick Avery up by the waist of his pants to get him to still a bit and stop encouraging Gaer to doddle instead of going out the door.

She smiled warmly between the two, "Of course." Storm had taken a nap just before the ceremony so that she would not be so tired after. Feeling rather refreshed, her smile stayed form the easy company and the merriment of the ceremony. Raising a brow as Ewan picked up Avery, she nodded, "Lead the way."

"Mother," Ewan started as he let Avery back down to his feet, "let me get us a carriage. I know the hall is not far, but with Gaer and Avery running around, we may be spending most of our time chasing after them."

Maeve was not fooled. "I can walk just fine, Ewan, and will enjoy the company, though I am going to borrow my daughter's arm to help me." She smiled to Storm and looped her hand around Storm's arm. There was not much pressure there, but it gave Maeve a sense of comfort with cane in one hand and Storm on the other side.

"Very well," Ewan gave in and opened the door to usher the rest of the family out into the street. He smiled back to quiet Lina and gave a hug to her shoulders, while keeping an eye on the boys now let loose in the street.

"Oh, I have always wished to parade my husband's beautiful mother across town." She chuckled softly, and her free hand came up to pat Maeve's hand that rested on her arm. She kept her pace slow and easy. Offering that free hand to Lina, she also kept an eye of the running duo, "It was a beautiful ceremony."

"Ohh," Maeve breathed out, "it was. Different from yours and Ewan's, but just as beautiful."

Lina took Storm's hand and smiled up at her, but she did not say a word. She was in thought about the ceremony and her father and new mother. Her head rested against Storm's arm as they walked.
Maeve saw the little girl, but did not say a word to stir her from the thoughts. "It was good to see all of Gaerwyn's friends again, though I suppose those over in that Rhydin could not come for it because of business."

"Perhaps, but I am sure they were here in spirit, no? Besides, they will be supportive in the years to come, and that can matter more than just an afternoon." Storm also did not stir the young girl's thoughts, but instead her hand held a gentle hold on hers and she tried to not swing her arm in movement so that Lina's head remained steady.

Ewan listened to the ladies talk, but kept his own council on some of the matters. Maeve smiled at some people she knew passing by who called their congratulations. "Storm, tell me how things are with you."

"With me?" She glanced over to her silent husband for a moment, before her attention returned to Maeve, "I am doing just fine. The sickness has not yet past, but it is not nearly as bad, nor as unpredictable. My wardrobe continues to lessen, and I have already began to buy new clothes." a mild indication to what she was wearing now.

It's very pretty," Lina smiled up softly. And Maeve concurred, "It is, and I should hope Ewan is doing his part to help you adjust." Her voice pitched so her son could hear who had moved up to quiet down the boys some. He did hear and sent a smile to his mother. "I try, but I think only Storm could say if I succeed or not."

They arrived at the house, and Ewan saw to the opening of the gate of the front garden and beyond, calling back to Avery to make sure the gate is shut behind the party once they are all through. The boy saluted that he had heard the command. Lina stepped inside and lit the lamp setting on the inside table and took it to start lighting a few more.

?Thank you.? It was said to both of her walking companions, though she was more so looking down at Lina. Sending a mild warning look to Avery as Ewan had to quiet them down, she then grinned to Ewan, "He has been doing his part, yes. Suffering cold dinners when I am too tired to cook." She teased, and made up for it by giving his kiss a cheek in passing. As they entered through the front gate, she released Lina's hand and continued on inside.