Lia loses appetite

[Lazey Winde]

"I'm not feeling very hungry." Liadan said, feeling a little sick.

[Muffin Puffin]

Aron looked at her in alarm. "Do we need Difyr? What's wrong?"

[Lazey Winde]

Liadan shook her head. "Just got unappetizing thoughts in my head."

[Muffin Puffin]

"Want to share?"

[Lazey Winde]

"Same stuff." Liadan said miserably. "I want to make sure Ais is all right and check on Yehudit.:"

[Muffin Puffin]

"All right," Aron agreed, walking her back to the inn.

[Lazey Winde]

Liadan walked with Aron through the lobby and up the stairs. She leaned against him.

[Muffin Puffin]

Aron slipped his arm around her and kissed the top of Lia's head.

[Lazey Winde]

Liadan slipped an arm around Aron's waist and tucked her head under Aron's chin.

[Muffin Puffin]

"I love you, Cupcake," he whispered.

[Lazey Winde]

Liadan's eyes got teary and she kissed Aron. "I love you too."

[Muffin Puffin]

Aron stopped and wrapped her in his arms.

[Lazey Winde]

Liadan pressed her face against Aron's chest and gave a hiccuping sob.

[Muffin Puffin]

"Some how, we'll set everything back to rights."

[Lazey Winde]

"Sometime." A few tears from Liadan's face dampened Aron's tunic. "Let's see Osbert after we check on Yehudit and Ais."

[Muffin Puffin]

Aron nodded, "I"m sure Ais and Nelek wouldn't mind keeping her a little longer."

[Lazey Winde]

Liadan nodded and stepped back from Aron. She scrubbed at her eyes with her sleeve.

"C'mon." Liadan continued up the stairs.

[Muffin Puffin]

Aron followed her up the stairs, keeping a close eye on her.

[Lazey Winde]

Not finding Aislyn in the kitchen (But having found a steak for his eye)  Nelek decided to check Aron's old apartment and met Aron and Liadan on the stairs. Holding the piece of meat over his left eye Nelek nodded a mute greeting and went into the hall.

[Lazey Winde]

Liadan tried the latch, but found the door to be locked. She kicked the door.

"Open up Ais!"

[Muffin Puffin]

There was silence for a minute or two then a rustling sound could be heard as Aislyn hurried to the door and unlatched it. Aislyn cuddled Yehudit close as she pushed the door open.

[Lazey Winde]

Liadan scooped Yehudit into her own arms as she slipped back into Aron's apartment.

Still holding the steak to his eye, Nelek kissed Aislyn's cheek.

[Muffin Puffin]

"Nelek!" Aislyn exclaimed, turning to fuss over him. "You should see Difyr! Are you all right?"

[Lazey Winde]

Nelek blushed. "I'll be fine. I had some help."

Liadan settled down on a nice corner of the floor and looked up at Aron.

[Muffin Puffin]

Aislyn peeled back the steak and gasped softly, She placed the meat back over Nelek's eye and leaned back slightly. "What sort of help?"

Aron sat down next to Lia and rubbed her back with his hand.

[Lazey Winde]

"Someone with a crossbow came along and made the creeps leave." Nelek said. "Didn't get the name."

Liadan leaned back against Aron and tried to relax.

[Muffin Puffin]

"Hmm...interesting." Aislyn sighed. "I think we should lock ourselves in the cottage and not come out until the evil is passed.

Aron lightly wrapped his arms around Lia and held her against his chest.

[Lazey Winde]

"It's  tempting." Nelek admitted, replacing the steak over his eye. "II guess my new fried will be visiting us at our cottage later."

Liadan closed her eyes and listened to Aron's heat beat against her ear. Her tense muscles slackened slightly.

[Muffin Puffin]

"Oh? Why is that? And how do they know where the cottage is?"

Aron rubbed her arm lightly and kissed the top of her Lia's head.

[Lazey Winde]

"I said that you're a baker." Nelek said, "I think I mentioned where we live."

Liadan slipped her hand over Aron's hand and traced his knuckles and calluses.

[Muffin Puffin]

"But how do you know we can trust them," Aislyn wailed. "I don't want a strange man in the cottage, he might be up to something! I don't want to be around anyone I don't know."

Aron smiled and cuddled her. "We'll get through this," he whispered, partly listening to Nelek and Aislyn.

[Lazey Winde]

Liadan was beginning to relax in Aron's arms, but  Aislyn's sudden wail startled her. With one arm cradling Yehudit, she shoved off of Aron and onto her feet. Having not followed the conversation, Liadan decided that Nelek must have upset her best friend somehow.

"What the hell have you done now, Nelek?" Liadan demanded.

Nelek cringed. He did not relish the thought of having both Aislyn and Liadan against him. "The guy seemed safe, he helped me out in a tight spot."

[Muffin Puffin]

Aron landed with a thud when Lia pushed him off, but then he quickly got to his feet.

"He...he...told the guy who helped him where we live and invited him over. I don't want any strange men there or knowing where I live. I...I only want friends and my family to know where I am!" Aislyn replied.

[Lazey Winde]

Before Nelek could get away or even dodge Liadan grabbed him by his left ear.

"How $#^&@ stupid are you Nelek?!" Liadan demanded furiously. "There's practically a serial $#&@( momzer out there and you go  telling every putz who gives you a hand where your little wife spends her day. Why don't you just paint her bakery red and put up a sign saying -" The rest of Liadan's statement is censored.

Nelek was in agaony, both from Liadan's twisted grip on his  ear and her loud accusations.

[Muffin Puffin]

Aislyn blushed blood red and bolted to Aron's bedroom. Aron came up behind Nelek and gently removed Lia's fingers. "I'm certain Nelek is very sorry and he won't tell anyone else where Aislyn lives any more. Right, Nelek? And you're going to let Aislyn stay here while you wait for this guy and not put her in danger, right?"

[Lazey Winde]

"I guess so." Nelek said in a very small voice.

Liadan stepped back and checked on Yehudit. The baby did not seem alarmed and was shaking her tiny fist in a good imitation of her mother.

[Muffin Puffin]

Aron nodded, seemingly satisfied. He headed into the bedroom to talk to Aislyn and calm her down.

[Lazey Winde]

Liadan gave Nelek a withering scowl, then followed Aron.

[Muffin Puffin]

Aislyn sat on the far side of the bed, her arms wrapped around the babe inside of her. She hiccuped as she continued to cry, ignoring Aron's assurances that Nelek simply hadn't been thinking.

[Lazey Winde]

Liadan looked at Aislyn crying. She was very unhappy.

"Want me to kick Nelek in the ^#&*@ Ais?"

[Muffin Puffin]

Aislyn shook her head. "He's male, he doesn't know any better." she glanced up at Aron with teary eyes. "No offense, Aron."

"None taken. We all make mistakes, though, Ais, you know that. Not one of us in this room can say we haven't. You're going to stay here while Nelek entertains his visitor and then you can go home."

[Lazey Winde]

Liadan frowned thoughtfully.

"Maybe one of us should off the guy while Nelek has him distracted." She suggested.

[Muffin Puffin]

Aron shook his head. "He could be someone who just wanted to help Nelek out when he was outnumbered. Although...perhaps one of us should be with Nelek when he meets him.

[Lazey Winde]

"You can never be too safe. . ." Liadan frowned, "Maybe just knock the guy out when he comes in and tie him up."

[Muffin Puffin]

Aron shook his head, "I'll stay with Nelek when they meet. If he's up to no good, I'll take care of it."

[Lazey Winde]

Liadan didn't like the sound of that.

"Then who'll protect you?" She protested.

[Muffin Puffin]

Aron reached into his pocket and withdrew the crystal he had gotten from Keagan. "I found this earlier, as soon as I touched it, I could feel the power flowing through me again. I'll be fine."

[Lazey Winde]

"Youll be fine." Liadan mimicked. "You certainly weren't fine when you had that crystal flying you all over creation and wound up having a fall."

[Muffin Puffin]

"Part of the power is concentration," Aron scoffed. "It was hard to concentrate the first time I was flying and evil doers were shooting fireballs at me. I'm not going to fly this time."

[Lazey Winde]

Liadan still wasn't liking this.

"I don't trust that rock. Besides, I can protect you better than any magic can."

[Muffin Puffin]

"Yehudit needs you to protect her," Aron reminded her gently. "I can take care of myself."

[Lazey Winde]

"I can take better care of you." Liadan fretted, but was torn. Aislyn could watch Yehudit, take good care of her, but what if someone attacked the baby? Aislyn would try to protect Yehudit, Liadan was sure, but doubted that Aislyn could do as good a job as Liadan herself.

[Muffin Puffin]

Aron watched Lia, seeing her indecision. He leaned over and kissed her nose. "I will be perfectly fine and you know something else? I'd feel better if you were watching over Aislyn as well."

[Ayshe]

"But I won't feel better about you going with no one but that idiot to
protect you." Liadan muttered.

[Muffin Puffin]

"So you would leave Aislyn and Yehudit here unprotected?"

[Ayshe]

Liadan scowled.

"No-" She started, but then her expression changed to one of complete
terror. The color drained from her face and she stared at something
only she could see. She whimpered, then gave a blood-curdling scream,
even though Liadan was not much of a screamer. She still held Yehudit,
and held the baby closer to herself. Liadan's body went stiff and she
shivered all over. Still shaking, Liadan retreated in a corner of the
room.

Nelek heard the scream and ran into Aron's bedroom. He was about to
ask what was wrong, but then he saw Liadan huddled in the corner with
Yehudit.

[Muffin Puffin]

"Lia!" Aron cried out, rushing over to her. He reached for her hand but stopped just short of touching her. "Lia? What is it, love? What's wrong?"

Aislyn sat on the bed and watched with wide eyes.

[Lazey Winde]

At first Yehudit was too surprised to do much of anything, then she started to cry.

Liadan seemed hardly aware of Yehudit, or the baby's cries but was transfixed by whatever invisible horror held her. She pressed back against the walls,  whispering.

"No, no, no, no more.. No."

Nelek looked a Aislyn, but could tell by her expression that she knew no more about the situation than he did. Nelek tried to keep out of the way and felt awkward and useless.

[Muffin Puffin]

"Lia? Cupcake?" Aron whispered, kneeling next to her. "Can I have Yehhudit for a minute? What do you see, love?"

[Lazey Winde]

Liadan cringed away from Aron. She still held Yehudit, and still was terrified. Whatever Liadan might try to say went unheard over the chatter of her teeth. Liadan's legs tensed as if she were preparing to run.

[Lazey Winde]

[Muffin Puffin]

Aislyn walked over to Lia and knelt next to her. "Lia? What is it? What do you see?" she asked softly. She motioned to Nelek to close the shutter.

[Lazey Winde]

Nelek closed the door, then the shutter.

Liadan winced away from Aislyn. Her breathing turned unsteady with fear.

[Muffin Puffin]

"Lia? Aislyn asked softly. She waved to Aron to back away. When he had
moved away, Aislyn sat down next to Lia. "Lia? What's wrong?"

[Lazey Winde]

"Stop." Liadan whispered, still tense and shaking.

[Muffin Puffin]

Aislyn dropped her hands into her lap and snuck a glance at Lia. "Stop what?"

[Lazey Winde]

"S-s-sh-stoppit!" Liadan's voice shook. She curled into a ball around Yehudit and continued to shake.

[Muffin Puffin]

Aislyn looked at her with worry before getting up and sliding into the
bedroom. "I need a sticky bun."

"Aislyn! This is no time to think of food!" Aron scolded.

"I am hungry, but not for me. For Lia. Someone go get me one."

[Lazey Winde]

"I'll go." Nelek volunteered, wanting to get back on his wife's good side.

[Muffin Puffin]

Aislyn nodded, "Thank you, Nelek." She hurried back into the main room and sat down beside Lia.

[Lazey Winde]

Nelek smiled, then hurried off to the bakery.

[Muffin Puffin]

Aislyn folded her hands in her lap again, careful to not touch Lia or make any fast moves.

[Lazey Winde]

Nelek jogged through the inn and through the door to the bakery. He grabbed a pan of cool sticky buns, then began to run back.

[Muffin Puffin]

Aislyn waited quietly for Nelek to return.

[Lazey Winde]

Nelek burst back into the apartment with the sticky buns.

Despite the noise Nelek made upon his return Liadan did not seem to notice. She was trapped in her own terror.

[Muffin Puffin]

Aron took the tray from Nelek and took it into his kitchen to heat them up. Within moments, the scent of warm icing and cinnamon filled the apartment.

Aislyn prayed this would work. "Lia, please come back to us. You're surrounded by everyone who loves you. Come on, Lia."

[Lazey Winde]

The only sign Liadan gave of noticing anything was her crooked nose twitching.

[Muffin Puffin]

Aislyn took that as a good sign. "We're warming up sticky buns, just for you. You're favorite kind...filled with  cinnamon and nuts."

[Lazey Winde]

A tear slipped from Liadan's eye.

[Muffin Puffin]

"Oh, Lia," Aislyn whispered, a tear slipping down her own cheek." We do all love you," she whispered, "Please come back to where you are loved."

[Lazey Winde]

Nelek was feeling awkward. He shifted his weight to one foot to the other.

[Muffin Puffin]

Aislyn sat back and studied Lia worriedly. Aron came out with a plate filled with warm, gooey sticky buns.

[Lazey Winde]

Liadan curled into an even tighter ball, but her nostrils did twitch at the scent of cinnamon.

[Muffin Puffin]

Aislyn took the plate and set them on the floor to the right of Lia. After waiting a second or two, her hand snuck out to grab one of the buns.

[Lazey Winde]

Liadan jerked up into a sitting position and slapped her right hand down on the sticky buns. Yehudit gave a surprised little whoop. Liadan dug her fingers into the glazed rolls.

"Make it stop." She whimpered.

[Muffin Puffin]

Aislyn pulled her hand back. "Make what stop, Lia? There's nothing happening except Aron, Nelek and I worrying about you."

[Lazey Winde]

"It won't stop." Liadan's fingers dripped goopy frosting. She rubbed her forehead and eyes with the back of her arm. "It won't stop."

[Muffin Puffin]

"What won't stop, Lia?" Aron asked, earning himself a glare from Aislyn.

"What is it, Lia? What are you seeing?" Aislyn asked softly.

[Lazey Winde]

"Momzers." Liadan said. She cradled Yehudit in one arm and tried to stand up.

[Muffin Puffin]

"Lia..." Aislyn closed her eyes, willing the right words to come to her. "You're safe, Lia. No one is going to hurt you. It's just the four of us. Here, turn around to face me, focus only on seeing me."

[Lazey Winde]

Liadan shook her head and sagged back against the wall.

[Muffin Puffin]

"Lia, please come back to us."

On Sat, Jun 14, 2008 at 9:25 PM, Lazey Winde <lazey...@gmail.com> wrote:

Liadan shook her head and sagged back against the wall.

--
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[Lazey Winde]

Liadan shivered. "Can't make it stop."