FSE

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*This is being told from Ecthelon's view point again as it is necessary for the story line*

"Gilorndir why are you rushing me out of the room so quickly? I need to talk to that woman and fix what I messed up." My healer friend walks me into a shop and pushes me against a wall, "because my friend after dealing with everything she has dealt with today I will not have you making things worse. You have a habit of telling people what you believe and then expecting them to follow it. I can tell you right now, that will not work with Hunter Gwen."

I open my mouth to speak and he hushes me, "have you found out anything about her since coming to town?" I give him an incredulous look, "of course not she's meant by the Gods to be my life partner. What more do I need to know?"

Gilorndir slams his fist into the wall next to my head and Rassaes walks in, "you made him a mite bit mad there as he be punchin walls lad." I turn my head to the dwarf, "he's angry I haven't learned anything about the Hunter;" I roll my eyes at the thought. The dwarf's eyes get cold looking, and I respond; "what you too? What is with everyone here? She is just a Hunter, there have been hunter's before her and there will be hunter's after her."

That's when the shopkeeper a half elf, speaks up; "for an old man you don't know much legend do you?" I give the half breed a withering look and Rassaes punches me in the gut, "you shouldn be looking down on what could be the make up of your future children elf. As to what the young man meant is, back when the scaly's went to sleep someone said they'd be a wakin up when the one destin to kill their leader came to power."

I shake my head, "legends are never what they're cracked up to be. We never hear of the best Dragon Hunter's achievements because he was Arthur's bastard son. The truest hero of that age isn't more than a villain to those in the modern age, so no; I don't care about legend." The half elf shakes his head and Gilorndir speaks, "you may not. However, if she is that Hunter it will come with a cost that could fracture her."

The nosy feline then sticks his head into a nearby window, "there you are. I see you are having a nice -friendly chat-, however Gilorndir I think Zander is planning on asking Gwen a few questions he should hear the answer to. If you can keep him still," the cat then vanishes as cats do. Gilorndir looks thoughtful for a few minutes then nods his head, "very well. We should go and try to eavesdrop near where he took her to eat then." My ears perk up at that, "wait. 'he took her to eat'? Did some other man take out my life partner to a meal?" A Dragon's head comes down to window level, "yes -elf- a friend of hers that happens to be a centaur. Who is exceedingly worried about her happiness, and chose to give her a relaxing night of no worries. Having asked us her guardians make sure that she isn't bothered by anyone tonight." The Dragon squints at me, "including one elf who cannot manage to not act stupid around her."

The Dragon waves a claw, "however I do agree with Cheshire. You should hear at least part of the conversation, know this if you attempt to cause a problem I will forcibly remove you from the area." The Dragon's head disappears, and Gilorndir slowly shakes his head. "Well you heard the two of them, we'll go near where they are; just close enough for you to hear them speaking. I am hoping for you to be able to converse with Hunter Gwen tomorrow morning, provided you can use a civil tongue."

I snort in derision, of course I can be civil; I do not understand how so many people think I cannot be. Especially someone who has known me his whole life. Gilorndir gets a brief "far away" look, probably talking to the cat. "Ah, they are heading to 'A Pleasant Plate'; Hunter Gwen will be amused when she discovers my wife has paid for a few meals for her there."

I look surprised, "why would anyone need to pay for her to eat anywhere? Doesn't she have earnings being a Hunter?" Rassaes answers the question, "because ye foolish lad. She won't generally eat there, because she likes to help out smaller businesses with less customers stay afloat. When she decides she wants a ready made meal she eats at one of the smaller shops, 'A Pleasant Plate' is a high end food shop, yet the elf woman who runs it also gives out free meals once a month and feeds the children of the city twice a month in the school and twice a month in the orphanage. So summa them thar younglings get one 'o her meals four times instead 'o twice."

Well that surprised me that a business owner would do such a thing even for children. We head out of the door and towards this restaurant when Rassaes stops us a moment for some minotaur child and a boy with a limp. "Timothy, how's that sword a handlin for ye?" The boy carefully pulls the sword out and stands straighter while holding it in his hands, "not badly Blacksmith. Have you thought of a way to off set my bad leg yet?"

Rassaes shakes his head and looks to the minotaur, "Flower; next time you need to let some steam go come by the shop and work my bellows. That should help ye a bit and it'll strengthin yer arms, I await the day Hekkogar sees you lift a filled barrel with one hand." The dwarf chuckles and the minotaur nods her head and the children walk away.

As we continue I ask, "why is a boy with a limp carrying a sword? Also what is wrong with the minotaur?" Without turning back to look at me Gilorndir says in a quiet voice, "last year those two were found in a slaver's cart. The boy had his leg broken for quiet some time, and even though we attempted to reset it; he has a permanent limp. However the lad also happens to be a natural with weapons, he wishes to join the guard. After her experiences the minotaur, her name is Flower; wishes to stay in the city. Not rejoin the traveling group, she wants to become an ale maker; she is still struggling with her puberty issues. Hunter Gwen had hoped before meeting you this morning that you could help her find a way past her tumultuous emotions. Right now Hunter Gwen is afraid of letting you near the child."

I stopped shocked, I would never harm a child, that is against everything I believe in. Gilorndir senses I stopped and turns to look at me. "You can be shocked if you want, but know this; Hunter Gwen knows nothing about you. Then you had to show her your dislike for at least one species. So, for her keeping Flower away from you is protecting the child."

We enter the center market area and Gilorndir takes us into an empty stall near enough for elvan hearing to pick up the conversation between the two. The elf woman leading them to their seat glances at us, which impresses me that she could do so without them noticing. After Gwen sits in the very tall seat the centaur pushes in her chair and Gwen laughs happily and I get angry. That was my future he was spending time with, Gilorndir sees my face and gets the dwarf to try to move me away when I hear a slightly angry female voice.

{If you two do not get him away as he cannot behave himself I will have your hides by morning}. Gilorndir and Rassaes manages to get me out of sight of Gwen and the centaur, and I feel claws on my ankle. "You elf are starting to annoy me," I see Gwen's feline guardian sitting next to me. "Reign the behavior in elf, Gwen is a Hunter; not some pampered house wife. You need to recall that, she will have to interact with many people. Some of which will rub you the wrong way, she has a job and she won't let you or anyone stop her from doing it."

The cat stalks off again, and I was annoyed with myself. I knew she had a job to do, but that didn't mean she should be eating a meal with some guy that wasn't work related. Gilorndir gives me a look, "you better calm down if you plan on hearing what ever Zander plans on asking her. I am certain he is aware of you, even if she isn't because of us being in the city." I thought he worded that oddly, did he mean that Gwen didn't focus on her surroundings while within the city? If so I would have to teach her that is not a good idea.

We return to the stall so we can listen in to hear the centaur ask. "Ever think you'll find a partner and get married Gwen? I don't mean me; if we were compatible species wise. Then I would in a heart beat you know." I watch as Gwen slightly frowns then sighing she says, "I doubt that will ever happen Zander. I am responsible for too many things to even consider a relationship" The centaur quickly glances in my direction without Gwen seeing him do so, "isn't that why you made the council Gwen? To make sure you aren't solely responsible for everyone?" I have to agree with the centaurs statement, and by right the only thing Gwen should be concerned about is getting rid of bad creatures. Gwen responds to the centaur's comments, "well yes I did; yet I am still the person everyone goes to. Maybe when the children are older I could consider a relationship, but that is provided there was someone out there who likes me as a person and not because I am a Hunter. I doubt I will find someone like that,"I almost speak loudly when the centaur quickly answers her. "I'm not so sure on that, but time will tell of course Gwen;" he reaches out and touches Gwen's chin. "Don't sell yourself short alright?"

When I see the centaur touch Gwen I get angry and Rassaes and Gilorndir tackle me and I feel myself get pulled. Discovering when I am above the roof line that the Dragon had grabbed me, he gives me a withering look and takes flight over to the inn that Hekkogar keeps and sets me in the court yard while he lands on the roof. His head at my eye level, "I believe I warned you to behave elf." I wave my hands, "but he touched her!" The Dragon blows some steam into my face, "and if I touched Gwen. Would that upset you as well?" I shook my head, "of course not you are her guardian; not some random male who just effectively professed his love for her."

I spy the large unicorn from this morning enter the courtyard and stand next to the Dragon's head. "Do you not think that each one of us loves her? Yes I want to court that rather lovely unicorn filly in our farm herd, but. Every one of us guardian's if we could be partnered to her, would do so in a heart beat." The cat lands on the unicorn, "I guess your education of guardians and their bonds must be lacking." the cat starts inspecting his feathers, "a guardian bond is equal to that of a life partner bond. Also, it is rare to be bonded to more than one guard and your life partner." I pause in my response to the cat when he says that it was rare to have so many guardians.

I look the Dragon in the eyes, "so how is it she is bonded to so many of you then?" I see the unicorn shrug in the corner of my eye and the Dragon answers, "we don't know yet. We would all certainly love to know though, however. Gwen does not know how rare she is, and we are not telling her till we know why."

I nod my head agreeing with the idea and I hear a voice behind me, "though I doubt she will thank any of us for doing things behind her back." I turn to see the centaur approaching and I go to draw my sword to challenge him, when he gets a dark look on his face and rushes me. He pushes me against the wall his fore hoofs on either side of me. He had my arms pinned to my sides so I could not move them, he shakes his head.

"For an Arms Master I expected more out of you," he turns his head slightly towards Gwen's guardians. "As I am sure the ball of feathers and fur told you, I am going to accept my place. When I return from bringing my herd here I will have them elect a new leader, and I will ask Gwen to accept me as a guardian." My eyes go wide and the centaur watches my reaction a moment, then leans his head in close to my face.

"Did you really think that unless I was her life partner or her guardian I would get so close to her? I could feel the bond as soon as we met, but I wanted to get to know the person." He waves an arm toward the others, "I did not have the luxury of having researched her. So I have spent the last year becoming her friend," he pauses and lowers himself back onto the ground freeing me.

He crosses his arms regarding me, "I am sure the others have already given you plenty of warnings about harming Gwen. Now I shall add to it, do not harm her or I will stomp you into powder elf." When the centaur finishes his statement a dark skinned man walks into the courtyard and leans against the unicorn his arms crossed and he levers me with a very intense look. Right then Rassaes walks into the yard with Gilorndir, "and there ye have it. Shadow staring intently at you now ye have had all of the Lady's guards warn ye lad."

I shake my head at the gathering of males glaring at me, the cat chuckles. "Of course we have to do this, we do not want her harmed in any way." The unicorn looks me in the eyes, "yes as she has been already harmed due to another's actions; and I am not referring to you. If Merlin had not cursed her kind she would not have been severely beaten on our way here."

I blink, "is this why she has more scars than my memory tells me she should have?" The guards all nod and Gilorndir speaks angrily, "yes a group of some very twisted individuals caught her while trying to catch the mother of my grandson. They were planning on adding her to their 'breeding farm'." I was angry, it took a lot to make my healer friend upset. Which means Gwen had been hurt badly, he continues. "I couldn't fix the scars the encounter left, but at least I stopped her from dieing due to blood loss."

I then get very angry, I spend ten years searching and find out I almost lost her before I had found her because of some stupid people harming her? The Dragon huffs, "I forgot to mention Alberich. I burned their encampment to the ground," the unicorn taps his snout. "I figured as much after you showed up Starburst, a fire Dragon setting something on fire very precisely. Sounds accurate," I sit down suddenly and look up to the gathered guardians.

"So how do I fix things?" I ask them all, and Alberich the unicorn speaks first. "Well I probably would not bring up you being her life partner just yet." Starburst adds in, "she doesn't like you right now. So work on changing her mind about you." Rassaes gives a suggestion, "how about ye take that youngling minotaur under yer wing. Starting first thing in the mornin? Like the lad Timothy she's stayin at the Hunter's encampment." I see the dark skinned man nod in agreement and then wave his hand in a manner that made me think he could use a break.

I stand up then, "alright. Tomorrow I'll hopefully change her views on me, starting with how she thinks I would handle that child." Cheshire nods his small head at me, "her name is Flower; remember that." The guardians all leave then, and my friends drag me back inside the inn.