[Traveler]

The first thing he saw when he entered the oak grove was the scent of food in the air. The second thing he noticed was that someone had un-harnessed the mules and tied them next to some fresh fodder. He walked towards the fire pit, where the smell of food was coming from and saw that someone had taken the privilege of cooking a stew and had bread warming. He lifted the ladle to see what was in it and picked up several chunks if meat, carrots, potatoes, onions and mushrooms. He lifted the ladle to his mouth and noticed someone had also left a flagon near the fire. It was warm to the touch. He walked to the wagon and retrieved a cup from his things. When he turned back towards the fire he noticed movement, but didn't see anything. He walked back to the fire and poured some of the Flagon's contents into his cup. The aroma of spiced wine filled his nose. It seemed to be a very ancient draught and had a tang he couldn't place.

He sat down next to the fire wishing he had a bowl for the stew when he noticed someone had left that, too. He sipped the wine before he ladled some of the stew. He raised the bowl to his mouth and sipped some broth when he noticed someone standing near him. He sat the bowl and cup down quickly and jumped up to face this person. What he saw seemed to be an old, weathered stump standing there beside him. He was sure nothing had been there.

"Fear not, man-thing. If I meant you harm you would not be standing," the stump thing said in a kind of grinding grating voice. Any else standing near would have seen nothing and heard naught but the wind rustling in the trees. "You are a marked one. Yet I don't know you. Where did you get the... Forgive me, I have forgotten myself. Eat first then there will be time for questions. You will understand better the more you eat."

Traveler was not comforted by the thing's words; surely it must know something of him. Intrigued and wary he sat down and said, "Come sit and eat, if you are the one who made this meal, you should dine with me."

"I did not make your meal; another of my realm did that. I am far too ancient to remember the tastes of man-things. I am more than interested in you, though, so I will join you."

With much creaking and groaning the stump thing sat down beside him. "If you would be so kind, I would like some of the fruit draught," it said, "It helps to make things clearer."

It produced a bowl into which Traveler poured some of the wine. He ate more of the stew and warmth grew within him and healing seemed to seep into his bones. The wine invigorated him. The rolls were yeasty and had familiar taste to them, something he couldn't place. Indeed, the more he ate and drank the clearer the things around him became. At first he didn't notice any difference, but at once he seemed he recognized the that not only were they ringed by great Oak trees, but they were also surrounded by several stump things. He glanced at the one sitting beside him and was shocked by the fact that there now sat a young and most beautiful woman sipping wine from a bowl.

She obviously saw his shock for she spoke to him and her voice was music to be interpreted by the heart. She said, "The wine you are drinking is spiced with the essence of life. It allows one to see the true nature of things. It allows you to see the things that pass by unseen and unheard. What you see now around you is the true essence of the grove. It will wear off after a while, but the memory of it will last."

He looked around and saw the old oaks around them seem to soar in magnificence above them. The stump creatures were men and women dancing and making merry. All around him things seemed to be celebrating life.

A sort of heady dizziness overcame him suddenly and he had to quickly look at the ground before his feet till it stopped.

"That happens to most at first contact with the essence, it will pass," she said.

Traveler finished eating and filled his cup and her bowl once more. "What do you want with me?"

"I'm Curious about you. You're marked, yet I do not know you," she said.

"What do you mean marked?" his mind raced through the past few days trying to remember something. He knew he should be more careful with this unknown person, but didn't feel the urgency to do so. He was bewildered. What would Mara and Carriac say?

At that the figure said, "You are associated with Light and Dark, Fire and Shadow, Good and Evil, Water and Smoke. You are torn... Let me see your hand," she more demanded than asked.

Traveler held out his hand that was covered with the glove Carriac had made. The woman shook her head, as if in disgust, and motioned for him to remove the glove. She grabbed his bare had and squeezed hard for a moment and Traveler realized that her hand had penetrated his flesh. He was briefly terrified that he had made a terrible mistake and his doom was near when she smiled and said, "Don't worry, this is an ancient joining that many evils try to mock. You will not be harmed. Relax. I am sharing your thoughts and you will share some of mine."

It was more than a command. He immediately felt himself relax and was at peace. She spoke to him in a slow, rhythmic, humming voice that spoke more than was heard by the ears. Before too long his whole being seemed to be vibrating with its sound. He felt some of her youthful experiences and it brought forth memories of a time long ago when he had been married. Many things passed before his minds eye. Experiences, feelings and thoughts passed between them. It seemed for a moment they shared the ecstasy and pureness of peace. He had closed his eyes and now realized the humming had stopped. He looked up and noticed a look of grief on the woman's face and a single tear running down her cheek.

"Why are you crying?" he asked.

"I weep for you," she said, "And the loss you have had. You have lost much of what you were. Yet, you are more than yourself. I have learned more than you could tell." And with that she was silent for a moment.

In that moment of silence Traveler felt his heart would burst if a tear were to fall down that face again.

Finally after what had seemed like an eternity of silence she said. "I have decided."

"What? What have you decided?" he said with an expectancy that he surprised himself with.

"I have decided that I cannot help you yet. At least in so far as to return all your memories to you. I can tell you some of what has happened. You are old. You are from another place; you do not belong to this world. You have love deeply, lived freely, and have suffered pain severely. You were embroiled in a battle between deities. You were a pawn of one of them. Another, the greatest of them, stepped in a saved you. The one controlling you was banished to this planet, and has contrived to have you sent here as well. Yet not fully. You were split into two people. Both of them fully _YOU_ in body, but not fully _YOU_ in mind. Now, both of you are more than you were. You will probably never be able to reconcile the difference and be put back together. You are traveling on the road with more than you realize, and more than they realize. If I had seen them before now, they would not have been safe. They are on a journey to be completed. The evil that called you here will interfere with you, but it cannot defeat you. This is a fact it does not know. That is all I will say, for know."

Much shocked by the knowledge she had given him about himself what she had said about the others didn't register. He replied, "Who _ARE_ you?"

"Just be satisfied the knowledge that the Lady of the Grove has supped with you." she replied.

"The Lady of the grove, that reminds me of something. A Stag. He had called himself the Man of the grove." He said.

"I know of no Man of the Grove. That was probably from where you were pulled from," she said. "Now it is time for you to rest. She removed her hand from his and simple said sleep."

A deep and restful sleep came over him, The lady of the grove left him in peace, but not before she once again touched him and left him with a piece of her deep within and took a small part of him with her. He slept there till The next morning when he roused by the sound of Mara and Carriac calling for him.

[Carriac]

The town WAS larger than it had looked from the hilltop. It followed the river for quite a ways, bridges crossing at frequent intervals.

What really caught Carriac's eye was a building not far from them. It was built on BOTH sides of the river, connected on second floors by a covered bridge that spanned the water. He could just make out the establishment's sign from where he stood. It said "Here and There: Inn and Tavern"

"Say, Mara. That looks like a good place to eat. Why don't we check it out?"

[Mara]

Mara watched as Carriac stopped and followed his eyes to the inn. It was a rather large building, matching the town, in her eyes, and she glanced down as she brushed the dirt from her knee's. "Do you think I look ok? I mean that looks like a very fine looking Inn. Do you think they will allow us in?" Brushing a strand of hair from her face and pulling it back behind her ears, Mara sighed. "I should have brought Travelers cloak..." as she started pulling on her clothes.

[Carriac]

The shaper sighed. It was forever the plight of men to watch as the women worried over their appearances. He reached a hand out and lightly touched the various pieces of Mara's clothing. As he did so, the wrinkles disappeared and the dirt and dust within them was expelled into the air. He did the same with his own.

Then he smiled innocently. "Your clothes look much better. I can't do much about your hair, though...."

And he stepped lightly across the bridge.

[Mara]

Mara watched as he clothes became cleaned and pressed, with a touch from Carriac's hand. Biting her lip, she looked up puzzled as he said something about her hair.

"What's wrong with my hair? Is there something your not telling me?" Worried that there was something crawling around on her head she started running her fingers around, making her hair wild. Pulling out the comb that Carriac gave her, she stopped in the middle of the bridge and looked over. "It's a mess," as she tried to straighten her hair, using the comb to straighten it out the best she could, before placing the comb back. Glaring at Carriac as he walked on, she mumbled, "Men!", before catching up, kicking the staff up as she came near. "That wasn't very nice you know. You could have told me my hair was a mess."

[Carriac]

Carriac dropped his smile before Mara reached him and turned to her with a startled look on his face.

"Is your hair disheveled?"

He stepped up close so that his nose was almost touching hers.

"I hadn't noticed. I was distracted by those beautiful green eyes."

His gaze still locked with hers, he raised a hand and ran it slowly through her ebony locks.

"Your hair feels just fine to me."

[Mara]

Mara blushed and giggled, before pulling Carriac's hand down and placing it to her cheek. "I'm hungry. Can we just run to the Inn?" Her stomach protested as she looked down and blushed even deeper. "See! Even my stomach is starting to growl at you." Giggling, she pulled on Carriac's arm. "Anyway you need the exercise..."

[Carriac]

"You can run. Walking is good enough exercise for me today."

[Mara]

Mara started to pout, puling her arms across her chest as her lower lip stuck out. "That's no fun. I wanted you to run with me. Your an elf, and elves run. Don't they," and she looked up again, before sighing. "I always thought they did anyway."

[Carriac]

He wanted to tell her that elves also walked and were good at standing still for long periods of time, but he refrained.

"Fine, Mara. We'll run - on one condition. I get to order the food when we get there."

[Mara]

Her eyes went wide and her smile grew as she bit her lip and nodded. Hunger was starting to eat at her and she would have walked on the sun to get Carriac to move a little faster. And her heart was set on those rolls with the white icing. "OK!" With that she started to run, slow at first, glancing back to see if Carriac was running behind her, then faster as the Inn came closer. She could feel the air spitting around her as she took flight, her feet barely touching the ground. Her heart raced in her chest and she hit the doors to the inn with a start. People from all around were surprised to see her standing there, and some commented that they felt a hot breeze blowing over them. "I beat you!" Then she looked around and spotted Carriac stumbling up, and she had to laugh. "Slow poke.."

[Carriac]

Though he would have liked a more leisurely pace, Carriac gave it his best effort. He wanted to be as out of breath as possible when he got to the inn.

He succeeded almost too well. As he reached the doors to the inn his chest was burning from the unaccustomed effort. His cheeks puffed in and out as he struggled to get enough oxygen to even stay conscious.

His vision went black for just a moment and he wobbled on his feet. With a monumental effort he succeeded in remaining upright.

He looked at the Maitre D' and flashed a gold coin.

"Table....two....quickly...." he managed to spit out between gasps.

[Mara]

Waiting for Carriac to catch his breath, Mara spent her time sniffing the air, catching the scent of fresh breads, meat, and pastries that came wheeling by on a small wooden cart. Licking her dry lips, she shot in front of Carriac, and followed the Maitre D' into the Inn, her head snapping back and forth as she glanced at everyone's table she passed by. "Food..."

[Carriac]

The Maitre D' sat them at a cozy little table by a window. Fresh flowers in a lead crystal vase adorned the table's center. Silver utensils and hand-painted china formed the place settings. The napkins and table cloths were of high quality white linen.

Carriac handed the Maitre D' the gold coin and sank into one of the plush chairs.

"Water...," he gasped.

[Mara]

Mara sank into the plush chair and glanced around as if everyone was staring at them, before looking up. "Do you have anything fruity? And cold," she whispered out, before blushing.

[Carriac]

The shaper raised a finger and wagged it in the air.

"Uh-uh....I'll order...that was...deal."

He looked at the Maitre D'.

"Just....water...for now."

[Mara]

The Maitre D' smiled and nodded, before turning away to gather their order while Mara picked up her menu. Slowly she unfolded it in front of her and looked over it, before dropping it over her nose like a mask. Her green eyes seemed to glow as she glanced around. "What can I order then," she asked at last, before pulling herself up. "Can I at least have one of those rolls? Please," and the word please was as sweet as honey, by the tone she used. "Just one..."

[Carriac]

His smile was almost devilish - at least it would have been if his puffing cheeks hadn't made him look like a bullfrog.

"Silly Lirimaer!...Elves don't...eat rolls.... Elves...eat plants!"

Carriac caught a waiter's eye and waved him over.

"Two salads...please."

As the waiter left, Carriac looked back at Mara. "Your eating...habits leave much...to be desired. Some fresh...greens will be...good for you."

Mara looked shocked. Carriac was pleased. It served her right for suggesting he ruin a perfectly good day by running.

[Mara]

Mara made a face, but stopped when the waiter came over and took Carriac's order. But once his back was turned, Mara made another face. "I don't want a salad, what ever that is. I want a roll, with white icing and those sprinkling things thy put on top of them. Like the ones at the market." Crossing her hand across her chest, she turned her chair towards the window and started pouting. "I should have stayed with Traveler. I bet he's not eating some stupid salad right now. I'll bet he's at the camp right now, fixing up a couple of rabbits right now and laughing at us," and she suddenly turned. "And he would be, if he knew what I am going through. Plants indeed. I'm not the one that's so winded that he has to order plants for dinner." Her eyes narrows as she placed on elbow up on the edge of the table and pouted. "Plants are for the birds, an I'm not a bird..."

[Carriac]

"Well you certainly eat like one," he muttered under his breath.

[Mara]

She watched as a tray full of food skirted by, and she quickly pulled a piece of meat from the tray and cupped her hand to her lap. Smiling, she started acting like she was chewing on her nails, when in fact she was nibbling on the meat. It was hot, juicy and it made her craving grow. Before long the meat was gone, and she was licking her lips. "I don't either," she finally said as the waiter came back with a bowl of salad, and a small cup of dressing. "Is this salad," as she started poking at the leaves of lettuce. "Looks like something a rabbit would eat," and she pushed it away.

"I'm not hungry anymore..."

[Carriac]

Carriac hid a smile as Mara filched the meat from a nearby tray. He was enjoying himself immensely, especially now that he had his wind back.

The salads that arrived were well prepared with a smattering of different greens and vegetables. The dressing smelled divine.

"As you wish, Lirimaer," Carriac said taking a large bite. "But dessert only comes to those who finish their meals."

He nodded towards a dessert cart parked a few tables down. It was heaped with tarts, cakes, muffins, pies and, yes, large cinnamon rolls dripping with white icing.

At Mara's forlorn look, Carriac decided to end his teasing.

"Besides, this is just the appetizer. We're having quail as the main course. But first things first. The salad fork is that one there. At least try it."

[Mara]

Mara sighed and pulled the bowl back with one finger, before staring down at the heavy laden bowl of leaves and cut vegetables. But her eyes light up when Carriac nodded towards the cart full of desserts. Picking up the fork that he had pointed at, she stared at it for a few seconds, before deciding the sharp end was the best choice, poring the dressing over the salad, after watching him do the same, she slow stabbed a leaf and pulled it to her mouth. The leaf was much to big to eat at once, but Mara opened her mouth wide and stuffed what she could into her mouth, before chewing the leaf up. Her cheeks were bulging as she chewed, and the leaf was slowly sucked past her lips.

"Guuld stuph" she mumbled over a mouth full and snagged another leaf, before getting a strange look from Carriac. "Wha..." as she watched him cutting the leaves and vegetables into smaller pieces. Her eye brows rose up and she tried to laugh, but her mouth was still full. Swallowing, she started to wipe her mouth with her hand, when she saw Carriac wiping his with a napkin. "You're spoiled," as she took her hand and wiped her mouth clean, before digging into the salad more.

[Carriac]

He watched in silence as Mara stuffed a whole leaf in her mouth. It was obvious she hadn't had much experience eating in fancy restaurants.

When she tried to laugh with her mouth full and almost spit its contents onto the table, Carriac couldn't help but laugh himself.

"Mara, I love you," he said, chuckling, his eyes all a-twinkle. "You make me smile. And yes, I suppose I am a bit spoiled. But it's nice to be spoiled every once in awhile, wouldn't you agree?"

[Mara]

Mara stopped chewing, as her eyes became wide. Ever so slowly she started chewing again, thinking about the words that Carriac just spoke to her. She wondered why her hands felt clammy, and why suddenly her mouth was dry, even though she had a mouth full of food. Her thought became jumbled and she swallowed hard before speaking. "What did you just say to me?"

"She blinked and looked quickly out the window, and saw her reflection in the pane. "Its al that running you did. Your not getting enough air, or maybe you need more water. Yeah, that's it. The heat must have done something to you. Here! Drink," and she handed her glass over. Her hand was shaking so hard that she almost spilled the water all over the table. Taking her other hand, she tried calming the glass, but it only shook more. "Drink!!"

[Carriac]

Carriac didn't understand Mara's question. What did he just say that was so confusing? He had admitted to being spoiled...but that shouldn't have caused the kind of reaction he was seeing.

Then it hit him.

*I told her I love her,* he thought. Her reaction became more understandable.

*But that's not what I was saying...that's not what I meant....*

Or was it?

Carriac paused to examine his feelings. They were easy to read. The signs were unmistakable. He WAS physically attracted to Mara. But it was much more than that. His depth of feeling toward her surprised him. Ignoring the warning voice in his head that shouted at him to be careful, to bury these dangerous emotions, Carriac threw caution to the wind and took the plunge.

He took the glass from Mara's hand and sat it untouched on the table. Then he looked her in the eye.

"I said I love you, Mara. Everything about you. I've only known you for two days, but I love you. I love your joy for life - your infectious smile - the way you pucker up your nose when something disagrees with you. I love your fiery temper, your playful nature and your unfailing honesty. When I'm with you, I'm happy. I feel as if I've found something that I've been missing for years."

He smiled. "It's as simple as that."

(to be continued...)