Days after Aurora's departure to Armindia, Lily had been relocated to the Healers' Quarter to be readily available to Prince Landros' healings, regardless of his erratic schedule. The move did not sit well with Valdor, much to his ignored and loud protests.

"You cannot do this! She is my guest!" Valdor shouted at his cousin Prince Landros' retreating back; but being that Landros refused to acknowledge Lily as a ward of House Verakis there was not much to be done.

Landros stopped before exiting the corridor, his lapis robes rustling against the silence of the hall. His deeper voice traveled smoothly through the hall without it rising in tone. Every syllable precisely enunciated, as an adult to a wayward child. "At the moment she is a patient in need of a healer." His coal eyes bore into Valdor's stare. Streams of raven hair flanked his angular face past his shoulders. "She will remain here."

"My time is splintered enough as it is, and I will not hunt throughout the palace to heal her when the opportunity arises. It is for the best." Having had the last word, Landros turned from his cousin and departed.

Valdor fumed and stalked to Lily's new chamber at the end of the long corridor. "He's being an ass. I'm beginning to suspect that my dear cousin not only enjoys taking a contrary position to anything I say, but actively seeks out ways to be an ass in my regards."

He collapsed with arms outstretched and in a flourish on Lily's bed as she sat by a small desk meant to be sufficient for mixing herbs or writing letters. "Look at how tiny this bed is! My feet do not even fit." Even though, a significant portion was empty above his head he dangled his feet for emphasis. "And the view from here," he huffed directing a stray hand in the direction of closed stain glass windows, "you might as well be staring at a rock."

Lily sighed and gathered her patience. "Valdor, I'm blind remember? The view would be wasted on me. And as for the bed, I'm much smaller than you. It's fine. Prince Landros is trying to help me. Why can't you see that?"

"That's not the point. It's the principle of the thing." His arms thrusted into the air before shifting onto his side, angling for a more comfortable position. "Here; take my hand."

Sight sprung to Lily's eyes, capturing Valdor's lazy posture on her bed and auburn furrowed brows over moss colored eyes. Today he wore crimson dyed leathers, with a crisp white shirt covered by an open flowing tan tunic with golden embroidery. Even with his playful scowl, he was undeniably attractive and a stark contrast to her plain monochromatic cerulean dress and loose flaxen hair.

The room she was to reside in was located not within the infirmary ward, but amongst the corridors that housed the healers; although several empty chambers separated her from them. The furniture was functional, yet still made with the simple flourish of the elvin design made of ash wood. The small bed commanded the center of the room and beside it the matching desk and chair Lily occupied. Nothing adorned the silvery walls other than the green lined archways of the interior door, the door to a privy, and windows.

She smiled at Valdor as he finally righted himself. "You are a friend and this is no way to treat a friend."

"This is not your doing. Your cousin does not trust me and that is to be expected considering that we-"

Like a shot, Valdor sprung to the open doorway and glanced down the hall. "Aye, ei, why do we not discuss something else?" He shut the door behind him and hissed. "Your eyes might not work, but there are plenty of ears here that do." That gave him pause. "That could be the true reason for your relocation."

Without his touch, she could not see. Lily shook her head in the direction she perceived his voice. "He is your family. You at least should trust him."

"It is precisely because he is my family that I do not trust him."

"Then let's change the subject as you suggested. Any word from Aurora?" The last she'd seen of her friend, she'd gone off to a foreign kingdom with a mage, a sell-sword woman, and a rogue knight named Tezaro whom she did not entirely trust. When she'd touched him, something took over her mind; unwanted images came to her and fear about Aurora's safety struck her.

"It is too soon for that. It'll be at least another week before they arrive and gods only know how long after that will she be able to write. Perhaps by then you'll be healed, hmm?" Gently, he took both her hands in his and lifted her off the chair. "But I will not let her departure or my cousin's exhausting schedule ruin today. Come," knowing that Lily used her Sight at his touch, he led them down the corridor and out of the Healers' Quarter.

To refuse him was pointless. Based on her observations, and her own waning will against him, she'd come to the conclusion that whatever Valdor wanted he usually got or did. It was best to simply nod along and conserve misplace energy.

"Where are we going? This isn't the way to the gardens." Warm summer wind brushed against her exposed arms and caressed her hair into ribbons. Daily he'd taken her for a stroll along a different path of the gardens where they'd inevitably meet Lady Thia, his sister. That did not seem to be the case today.

"I am fulfilling a promise I made to you. Nim's eldest, Citheena, has returned from the merchant caravan. I thought we could ride together as you had asked and tell her..." he coughed and turned away as if blinded by the sun. 

"She arrived yesterday and was greeted by a royal messenger expressing the deepest condolences on the passing of her father. That was Landros' doing. Tactless to the feelings of others, but prompt to the demanding protocols of court. He's an unfeeling bastard." He bit the words out of his mouth through gritted teeth.

"That poor woman." They stopped when they reached a spacious flagstone courtyard that Lily had not seen before. Lily climbed into the waiting carriage that floated and dipped with her weight as the blue and green stripped barian that pulled the carriage turned to smell her.  She sat and accepted the loss of her Sight while Valdor instructed the driver. Mildly, she shook her head at the wonders of this world that never stopped to amaze her.  

Valdor entered the carriage, shut the door and took his seat beside Lily. His long slender fingers interlocked with hers absentmindedly and remained there while they rode through the city's streets. They rode in silence, each struggling with their thoughts until they arrived at the outskirts and stopped before a modest cottage. Other buildings similar in design and color were nearby, making it seemly impossible to distinguish one from another.

The driver halted, opened the door, and allowed them to descend. Lily rested her hand on Valdor's arm as they walked the path to the front door. "There is one small detail I have not mentioned about Citheena." Valdor's voice ended with a cringe.

"What?" Trepidation with a hint of exasperation raised in Lily's tone. If Landros was tactless then Valdor was thoughtless.

"Citheena would rather stand on an ant hill naked and covered in honey than see me; therefore, I did not announce our visit. So, do not expect a warm reception." He shot her a weak smile, then turned and knocked on the door.

Lily was not a violent person by nature, but she certainly felt a strong urge to pinch him mercilessly. Yet there was nothing to be done now but wait for the door to open.

It didn't.

He knocked again and still no answer. Surely, she wasn't deliberately ignoring them. Although...

From a distance glass shattered in short intervals and broke the silence that met them at the door. Realization dawned on Valdor. "Follow me." They walked around the cottage and the shattering grew louder with each step.

A small shed sprouted from the earth and heat emanated from the open double doors in wafts that watered the atmosphere. An orange glow radiated through every crack like lava fissures.

"What is this place?" For some reason she felt the need to whisper.

"Citheena is an artisan gaffer, a glassblower. Other gaffers and apprentices share the space, though this is her workshop."

Grunting now preceded every shatter of broken glass. Inside a large kiln crowded the room along with several smaller ones. Shards of broken glass littered the floor like stars sprinkled the sky. Long blow pipes, rods, large bags of different colored sands, and other tools were scattered across the wall and working tables. They walked through the doors and found a slender female elf with her back turned.

She was dressed in cropped light stained workman leathers and a thick leather apron equally stained or perhaps singed. Her hand reached for another sculpture and lifted it high on the verge of flinging it against the wall just before she heard them approach. Strands of the Citheena's inky hair clung to her neck and the rest crowned her head in a knot. As she turned, frigid blue eyes locked on Valdor.

"You." The word could have been a growl or a curse. Red blotches bloomed around her eyes and moisture rolled down her face. With her free hand, she wiped the streaming droplets. Whether they were tears or sweat Lily was unsure.

Then with the tip of a white-hot rod in one hand, she stepped toward them and Lily inhaled sharply and clutched Valdor's arm. She stopped, then stiffly bowed her head, "Prince Valdor."

Effortlessly, the heated rod was flung into the blazing kiln. She placed her palms together before her face and parted them in formal greeting.

To his credit, the prince stood his ground and placed Lily behind him. He gave her a slight nod, "Citheena, we did not mean to disturb your work."

"It is no bother, prince, your presence is an honor to me and my family. We are at your service. You'll excuse my appearance, as I was not expecting visitors in my shop." An obvious jab to their unannounced and unwelcomed presence, although veiled in false flattery.

"We came to express our deepest sympathies on the passing of your father." Valdor bowed his head.

At this Lily added, "I knew your father as well. It was for a brief time but he showed me great kindness when I needed the most. He was a brave man." Citheena spared a momentary glance at the blind human who openly wrapped a hand around the prince.

Her lids grew slightly at the revelation before curtly responding, "Thank you."

Valdor cleared his throat, "It goes without saying he was like a father to me."

"I know." A cold acknowledgment on her behalf.

"If there is anything that we can do-"

"Tell me how he died."

"He died in the service of House of Verakis."

Citheena took several steps closer. "Tell me the truth," it was a bitter command until she remembered who stood before her, "...Prince. There were many weeks I spent without him; uncertain of his return. Always in service to House Verakis; to you. If you truly cared for my father, do not deny me this."

Valdor remained silent.

"He died to save me." Lily captured both their attention. She ignored his tightened grip on her hand and the fast pounding of her heart. "It isn't Valdor's fault your father is dead. It's mine."

Citheena's icicle eyes narrowed and bore into her, perceptibly judging her. "Who are you?"

"My name is Lily and I met your father when I lost my sight. He made the days easier and the nights less frightening. We were... ," a sob escaped her, "I am so sorry. He saved my life." Lily's voice cracked and tears moistened her lashes as she remembered.

Nim stood before her and took the full blast. A sizzling explosion of heat and light stunted the fighting around them.

Silence.

Shock.

A dark silhouette of ashes blowing in the wind.

"NIIIMMM!" Valdor's ear-splitting cry that gutted her heart.

"There was a fiery blast, I was unaware of what was happening around me, but Nim protected me. He sacrificed himself for me, someone he barely knew. Your anger over your father's death lies with me, not him."

Unaware of her affliction, Citheena brushed her hand against Lily's as she reached for pliers on the nearby table. Images like shattered obsidian reflecting light stabbed Lily's mind. A pair of adult male elvin twins with an uncanny resemblance to Citheena, an angry Valdor, a moonless night, Citheena smiling as she sealed a crate with her inside, and a torn letter.

It was but a moment, a hiccupped sob that was misinterpreted by both elves, and silenced Lily. She blinked her confused state away and used Valdor's sight to focus on Nim's daughter. Now was not the time to probe deeper into the meaning of what she had seen or why.  That would come later. 

Citheena looked at her, "Thank you for your honesty," then gave a pointed look at Valdor, "but it was not you who took him from me." Her comment as transparent as the crystal glass she spun. There was a long history between them, and very little of it pleasant. 

White knuckled stretched across Valdor's fisted hand. "Before we leave let me assure you that your brothers have been notified. It was the least I could do."

"Yes, it was." Anyone else would have stayed their tongue before speaking to a prince that way, but not Citheena.  Her eyes narrowed. "Thank you. A pity I cannot do it myself."  Another hardly veiled insult.

His lips pursed but he said no more and turned Lily to leave the shop. 

Yet Citheena had one final say, "We remain your loyal servants, your grace." Every word echoed empty and false. She gave an elegant bow, much like a swan, then reached for the blow pipe ready to continue her beloved work.

A/N: All chapters will now be first drafts. Expect mistakes, and help by pointing them out politely.

Thanks for waiting!