(A-N~Greetings my few and anxious fans…I want to thank all those who sent in reviews and it is out of my own self-loathing for ending the story where I did that I continue the plot and complete the journeys of my beloved characters.  This story…unlike the one I previously submitted is uncompleted as of yet…so it will take a period of weeks to finish…so bare with me. )

Prologue

Lorenith Forest

11:46 PM 1st of July

‘Its better if I leave him…he’ll be sad and I will be too…but he’s so strong…he’ll be fine…it’s better this way…yes…he needs to be with his own people…yes…that’s better…once I leave he’ll change back…and everything will be better.’

Upon reaching this decision, Aleyn untangled herself carefully, quietly climbed to her feet and snatched her bag.

She looked over at him…his still, sleeping form glowed in the fading light coming from the fire.  A smile crept over her face as she watched him smile in his sleep…as she watched him dream…about her.  It stung in her chest.  Tears wafted down her cheeks as she walked over to him, knelt and kissed him on the forehead.

“Don’t go.” 

Aleyn fell back. 

Rowen’s eyes fluttered open and before she could react he had snatched her from the edge of the blanket into the safe circle of his embrace.

“Rowen” she struggled against his grasp, “Let me go.”

“I can’t.” 

Aleyn rolled so she could look at him squarely in the eyes.

“Yes you can.”  She tried to peel off his arms but couldn’t

“Aleyn…why?  I mean…well…why?”  His eyes pleaded and the pain contained within them made her want to sob.

“I have to go…let me go please.”  She refused to be the cause of more unhappiness.

“No.  Not until you tell me.”

“I want you to be happy…and I know you won’t be happy away from your family with ME!”

His arms loosened in surprise but not long enough for her to escape.

“Let me go…if you love me…let me go.”  Tears pricked the corners of her eyes but she fought them back.

“If that is what you really want.”  His voice was thick with his own tears, which he had not bothered to restrain.  They dripped down his face at an uncontrollable force.  He released her.

She stared for a moment…not really believing it.  Then she rose and turned to face him.

“Rowen…” she raised a hand and not knowing what to do with it…let it fall, “ I just can’t be the cause of more problems for you-“

“But you haven’t!”  Tears clogged his voice and he sniffed.

“I have.” she wiped away a tear that had escaped. “Rowen…I love you to much to do this to you.” She bent and retrieved her sack.  Hands fisted themselves into her hair, tugging her down.  Rowen kissed her then, fiercely, as though he was trying to prove something.  She pulled back an inch and looked into his eyes.

“I love you…and that’s why.”

She untangled herself and walked away…into the night.