Melanie started when the door to her lady's chamber was thrown open and Lindsay rushed through in a rage.

"Milady?" She approached the woman slowly. Lindsay had thrown herself across the large bed and seemed to be weeping.

Melanie cursed Lindsay and herself. Why had she agreed to let the lady go out alone? It was her sole duty to accompany and watch over the woman. Could she not do even that correctly? Lady Lindsay had made her promise not to follow, though. And she was supposed to obey her mistress no matter what.

It had been easy to obey that particular order. Lindsay was still being rather short with her and the less she had to deal with the woman's recent harsh behavior, the better off she would be. So when Lindsay had insisted on running her errand without Melanie's company, she had felt a certain amount of relief as well as a bit disappointed. Where there had once been a certain amount of friendship between the two women, only unexplained resentment remained.

She still had no clue as to why Lindsay was being so terse with her. But now that she saw the state her lady was in, guilt filled her. Perhaps she should have followed her.

"Milady, what has happened?" Hesitantly, she placed a hand on Lindsay's back. "Is it Justin?"

It had only just occurred to her. Perhaps this was because Lindsay had heard of her friend's condition. Though Melanie had been assured by several other servants that Justin was fine and had only sustained minor wounds during the training duel.

Lindsay's reaction startled her. The blonde head shot up and Lindsay eyed Melanie closely. "What do you mean?"

"Justin..." Melanie backed up a step, shrinking from the other woman's glare. "I thought...perhaps you had heard of his misfortune on the training grounds today."

"Misfortune? What has happened?"

"Twas Garrick, milady. He all but attacked Justin. I have only heard that neither man sustained any fatal wounds. But it is my understanding that Garrick is being held in the dungeon, until his lordship can decide what to do with him."

"So...Justin..." Lindsay laughed. "He was hurt?" She tried to look upset, but a small smile tugged at the edges of her grimace. "So that is why he didn't... That's wonderful!" Lindsay moved off of the bed and began readjusting the folds of her day dress. "I believe I shall visit him. See with my own eyes that he is indeed well."

Melanie nodded and began to adjust her own simple dress. She smoothed her hair back and pinched her cheeks a bit for color. When Lindsay moved to the door, Melanie was at her back. "Where do you think you're going?"

"Why...with you milady. To call upon Justin."

Lindsay frowned. "I think it best that you stay here, Melanie. You can help cook with the evening meal," she suggested with a falsely sweet smile.

Melanie hesitated but in the end she knew that she could not argue. "Yes ma'am." she replied, bowing slightly. When Lindsay had gone, Melanie balled her hands into fists and gritted her teeth. "As you wish, ma'am," she ground out to the empty room.

***

"He looks like hell."

Justin blinked and caught sight of two dark figures standing over him. Their faces were little more than shadows but the voice was unmistakable. "Nice to see your charm is still intact, my friend."

Ethan chuckled and nudged Edward in the ribs. "See. I told you he would be happy to see us."

"Ethan, I would be more than happy to see you. As it is, I can make out naught more than the end of my nose." Just then, a lantern was provided by his grandmother, who remained strangely quiet. She put the light down and withdrew to give them privacy. "So, have you come to torment me then?"

"Why else would we be here?" Ethan jested, as he stretched out comfortably upon the ground beside Justin.

Edward stayed planted in the doorway. "Patrick told us that McKinnon had mentioned you may be out for another day," he said with curious concern.

Justin moved to sit up, clutching his hand to his side, instinctively covering the deepest and most painful wound. "I'll be fine. Mere scratches," he spread his arms to show them the small angry red lines that spanned across his chest and arms. His friend's faces now held disbelief in what he said, but their true worries were laid to rest. They might be bloody painful, but the wounds were not quite fatal.

Ethan was the first to break the silence as he smiled at no one in particular. "I had heard that they put Garrick away."

"Yes - and they are torturing him as we speak."

"Torturing him?" Ethan asked, as though he worried for Edward's sanity. "Are you mad?"

"I'm simply relaying what was told to me."

"Well you must have been told wrongly. What has he done to deserve such punishment?"

"That is not for me to say. But there were screams coming from within the dungeon. It's my belief that they will kill the bastard. And rightfully so! He hurt me and they let the incident pass with little more than a harsh word. What he has done to Justin simply proves that the man is a threat and should be banished."

Justin shook his head, but remained silent. When his two friends were in such a war of words, it was best to ignore them until the topic had been exhausted.

"Banishment? That's what you wish for him? Torture and banishment?" Ethan asked in exasperation. "Why set him free? Why not just put him in the stocks so that everyone might spit upon him?"

"I would be the first to have the honor," Edward pronounced shamelessly.

Justin took this time to think about what he was going to do about Garrick. It was somewhat distressing to think that the man had something against him. He had known that there had to be something about him that the man didn't like. Otherwise, he would have left him alone. Yet more than once, Justin had found himself a target for the other man's ire.

What could the man possibly know? What could he possibly be holding against him?

"Justin? Did you hear me?"

"Sorry?" Justin looked up to see his grandmother in the doorway.

She sighed audibly. "Lady Lindsay. She wishes to speak with you."

Ethan and Edward looked to Justin for a moment before filing out. "Take care," Ethan called out, squeezing Justin's shoulder gently as he passed.

Justin watched his friends pause to bow to their lord's wife and Lindsay entered, brushing past the other two with a swish of her bright blue dress. "Lindsay," he said in way of greeting. Since he could not stand in her presence, he merely settled on bowing his head.

"Justin," she gushed, as soon as the others were gone. She kneeled beside him and gathered him into her arms. It took every ounce of strength within him not to cry out as she agitated the fresh abrasions. "I was so upset when I heard the news!"

"I am fine, Lindsay."

"I rushed here straight away! I had to see you with my own eyes. I had to know that you were truly alright."

He gently pushed her away and gave her a slight smile. "As you can see, I will live."

Her smile widened. "I am glad."

"As am I," he said, feeling a bit awkward under his friend's heavy stare.

"I had thought ill of you. Before I knew what had happened," she ran her fingers through the silky hair at the base of his neck and sighed. "I thought you had refused my letter."

Justin searched his memory, working to figure out what the woman was speaking of. "What do you mean?"

"My letter. I actually believe that you were not going to meet me."

"Meet you?"

"Yes. I know. It was silly of me. But I forgive you for not coming. You obviously had a very good reason."

"Lindsay, what the devil are you talking -"

Lindsay pressed on, ignoring him completely. "I'm glad I found you again, Justin."

"Found me? I - "

"And today...you came so close to dying. That sort of thing...makes one remember just how frail life can be. Don't you agree?"

"Yes, but - "

"Oh, Justin! If something had happened to you...I don't know that I could have gone on!"

The emotional outburst took him aback and Justin's eyes widened in shock as Lindsay threw herself into his arms and settled her lips over his desperately.

***

Brian rushed down the steps and quickly strode past the men, who were still diligently training. Though most seemed to be doing little more than talking about training, having yet to actually bother with the physicality of it all.

Several of the men called out to him, hoping to gain his attention for a question or to share some sort of problem with him. He had no time for such things today. He was looking for someone.

"Milord! Wait! BRIAN!" He heard Benjamin calling out to him. The man had to run to keep up and was nearly winded when he finally reached the spot where Brian now stood. "Who...are you searching for?" Ben gasped.

"I'm looking for Justin's young friend. The man that was injured."

"Edward?"

Brian rolled the name over upon in his mind and shook his head. It didn't sound right. "The one that was forced to return home before the last battle ended."

"Oh. Do you mean Ethan?"

"Yes. That's the one." He looked around the field once more, still not seeing the dark-haired boy he was searching for. "Do you know where I can find him?"

"He should be here."

"I do not see him."

Benjamin called out to the first man to pass them. "Do you know where Ethan has run off to?"

Patrick shrugged and shook his head, only to remember a moment later. "Ah, yes. He and the other one. Edward. They went to visit Winterberry." The younger man noticeably shuddered. "Brave lads. Willingly going into the witch's lair."

"Witch?!"

Brian smirked at his cousin and shook his head at his confused friend. "Justin's grandmother. It would seem that the lady made quite an impression upon my young cousin."

"Aye. I wouldn't wish her presence upon my worst enemy."

"That'll do, Patrick," Brian said sternly, hoping that his amusement was not overly obvious. Turning away from the other two men, he set off towards Justin's home.

Not surprisingly, Benjamin was soon at his side once again. "Are you going to speak with Ethan?"

"Eventually. It would seem that he and Justin are quite close. He might know something of importance. But perhaps I should simply go straight to the source."

"And you think Justin will actually tell you if he had done something?" Benjamin's tone suggested that he thought Brian was being foolish. But the man took no heed of him.

Justin would tell him. He knew the boy would give him the truth. He trusted the young man in a way that frightened even himself. Justin would do nothing to break that trust. He had faith in this.

To Be Continued...