The Commander Returns

[Commander Marie and Will]

"llo M'rie. Glad your back. I'd interduce ya' to Brawn, my mate, but he is often busy.

Aw well, ah'll be glad tae meet'm when he's available, mate. Always like tae meet new creatures, 'ndeed.

*The Commander smiled gently, recognizing the expression on Songwind's face for what it was. She and Willem had agreed early on that they would always be faithful to eachother, but that they would still allow eachother to live their lives. It seemed that young Brawn would be having a good heart-to-heart with his gentle wife sometime soon -- at least, he would be if he wanted her to remain loyal to him.*

Well, I'll be heading mack to my bow now. can't leave it alone to long- it gets up to all sorts of mischeif while i'm away.

Harr harr, keep that bow in line then, lassie. Take care o' yerself.

*Waving kindly, Marie's gaze followed the young mouse as she wandered towards the archery range, appearing somewhat distracted. It seemed that, although the Tournament had been a pleasant break from the normalties of Fort life, she had missed being there for her friends as they went through some hard times. She would have to think twice before joining the next one.*

[Finnerator Rudderbow]

*Finnerator was walking along the parapet with longbow in paw, making some last rounds of the evening before she would turn in for the night. The sea otter enjoyed days like this one. Although there was a chill in the air, she liked the scent of winter on the air and the sun was still shining brightly, shedding some warmth on the fort. Although the otter was looking out for vermin in the area, like Raiden, she was on the other side of the fort and therefore, did not hear Marie enter the fort*

*It wasn't until she heard Song's clear voice carrying on the wintery air*

Marie! Mariiie!

*The shout caught Finnerator's attention immediately and she hurried to the nearest stair to head towards the Division barracks where the voice had come from. The last thing on the otter's mind was the tournament, however. She thought, rather, that Mary Narai may have been injured somehow in her practice. It was also a valid explanation for Song to be shouting. However, when Finnerator arrived at the barracks, she found, thankfully, that she had been mistaken*

*It appeared that Marie Blue-eyes had returned from the tournament. Seeing this, Finnerator slowed her pace down to a walk and, with longbow still in paw, approached the welcoming group that had formed around the mouse* Ahoy there! *The otter waved in a friendly manner. She didn't know the commander personally, but she didn't want to be impolite* So, how did ye fare in the tournament? *Finnerator asked when she reached them*

[Commander Marie and Will]

Ahoy there!

*Marie turned to see where the hailing had originated from, and grinned at the sight of the bow-bearing sea otter. Marie had worked with Finnerator some, as she was a fellow officer of the Fort, but she didn't know her as well as she would have liked. As the young otter queried as to her faring in the Tourney, the golden-furred Commander c-o-c-ked a grin, and winked.*

Finnerator, lass, nice tae see yer face again. Oh, th'Tournamen' went well 'nuff, ah reckon. Didn' win, o'course, but ah didn' lose neither. M'on'y loss was ter Carrack -- big brute, that'n. Beat a badger though, an' a wolf. Close spars, both of 'em, but ah won 'em in the end -- not that ah e'er doubted ah would.

*Boasting with pure confidence and complete seriousness -- one of the greatest joys of life, in Marie's view. She shifted her weight onto her other booted footpaw, and prepared to question Finnerator as to how she'd been doing in her absence -- however, she was interrupted. One of the few creatures who could get away with sneaking up behind Marie chose that moment to arrive, padding quietly up behind her and wrapping his muscled arms about her neck. The Highland warrior shoved away instinctively, whirling around to find her mate standing there, grinning, his arms wide.*

Welcome back, love.

Will!

*Breathlessly, Marie stepped forward and embraced the dear, beloved mouse. Pressing her cheek against his firm chest, and feeling his strong arms around her like a fortress, the Commander felt tears brimming her eyelids. Such a public display of non-violent emotion was unusual for her; but then, she hadn't seen her husband, the mouse she had given her life to, in what felt like an entire season.*

Ah missed yew so much!

Och, ah missed ye too, lassie. Ye seemed tae be gone fer ages.

Ah know, ah know... It did seem tae be a long time.

*Will rested his chin on Marie's head, closing his eyes and just enjoying the feel of her fur on his. He had missed her, if possible, worse than she had him. After all, at least she had the fights to look forward to. He'd been kept pretty busy with his duties in the Fort, but it hadn't been enough to keep his mind off of her. Marie pushed away gently, placing a tender paw on his golden forearm, meeting his soft brown gaze with her misty grey one. After a moment, she turned to the others, half-grinning, with Willem's paw on her shoulder. She was not embarassed, surprisingly, but still did not desire to be rude. She and Will could catch up on eachother's lives while she was unpacking and settling in.*

Ah, yes, so how're things wit' yew, Finnerator?

[Raiden and Zahi]

Well... That's unexpected...

**Raiden turned his glance to Zahi.**

How come we're not like that?

You're a darn fool if you can't see why Raiden... Though we love each other, you never stay to any commitments. You promised me you'd make some songs with me last night. Instead you decide to stay out all night on the walls, and you wonder why we're not like that?!?!?!?

Jeez... Kill the love and the moment why don't you... I only asked... 'sides, if there are rumours of vermin in the woods, why shouldn't I be on the walls guarding my home?

Maybe because this isn't your true home. Your true home is with me.

If that was true, I'd've died a while ago. My true home is still hidden from me, and I shall not leave a duty to compainions till I have found it.

Fine then. Tonight, you're sleeping on the floor.

**With those words, Zahi departed. She ran back to the barracks of Dominus Nox in tears.**

Ouch... I'm really in for it when I get to our room later.... Unless... Marie... Will... Can I ask a favour? I need help with my *cough* love life *cough*... My marriage isn't working out too well, and I need advice...

[Songwind and Brawn Oakbrush.]

**Song smiled MArie and then whirled around to leave. She saw Zahi crying and ran off after her. Raiden! My goodness, he's in for it someday. She decided Marie could handle herself and that she needed alone time with Will. Something that the pretty maid might need to have with Brawn.

Song's footpaws beat the ground savgeley as she tore after Raiden's wife. Inside, the healer was seething with impatience with Brawn and Raiden.** Zahi! Wait for me!

[Raiden and Zahi]

What?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

**Zahi suddenly seemed to have lost her voice... She had thought song was Raiden, and she was too embaressed to say sorry**

[Songwind and Brawn Oakbrush.]

**Song smiled forgivingly. She Knew Zahi was like this. The pretty healer reached for the mouse's paw.** Zahi, I just heard RAiden asking for advice, you ,might want some too. Wanna talk?

[Raiden and Zahi]

I... I've never asked for... For advice before, let alone help... So yes... I would like to talk... please...

**With her free paw, Zahi wiped the tears that had been falling from her reddening eyes.**

[Finnerator Rudderbow]

*Finnerator smiled when Will quietly sneaked up behind Marie. It wasn't often that one witnessed such a happy couple in a warrior setting such at the Guardians of Mossflower. Life at the fort could be stressful at times for two people trying to make their way together. But it seemed that Will and Marie had overcome all or most of these problems since it was obvious that they had really missed eachother*

*Unfortunately, it didn't seem to be that way with everyone. Just as Finnerator was about to answer Marie's inquiry about goings on at the fort, Raiden and Zahi burst into an argument. The sea otter didn't know what to do in the situation and it quickly ended with Zahi running off in tears. Finnerator wasn't about to help anyone, not only because she had no way to comfort Zahi, but the otter thought that both were in the wrong. Raiden for being insensitive and Zahi for nagging at him constantly*

*The ottermaid was about to say a word or two to Raiden about the situation, but thought better of it, remembering the old maxim of "the less said the better". She turned back to Marie, but was unsure of how the mouse would react to the outburst. As said, Finnerator didn't know Marie all that well*

[Songwind and Brawn Oakbrush.]

**SOng grasped Zahi's paw tighter. She smiled gently before grimly frowning as a thought entered her mind. I wish I would take my own advice. She quickly erased it and sat down on the grass. **Say we start at the beginning.

[Raiden and Zahi]

That seems like a good place as any to start... Always at the root of the problem, or the top of a riddle...

**With a sigh, Zahi waited paitently to hear what Song was going to say.**

[Mary Narai]

* Mary picked up her bow, and looked back. It seemed as if something was wrong. Well, that's obvious, Zahi was crying! Words floated over on the breeze(only way I could put it.) and the mosuemaid took an obvious guess-- Raiden and Zahi got in a fight. Well, it's not as if she could help. Or could she?*

[Songwind and Brawn Oakbrush.]

**Song squeezed Zahi's paw again and and smiled ruefelly. **Whats he done to you Zahi?

[Raiden and Zahi]

Well... The most recent was last night... He promised me that he'd compose songs with me, but instead, he stays out on the walls all night watching for vermin... But he doesn't seem to respect me, and he refuses to dance... Something I like very much...

**Zahi sighed dejectedly while she was talking... She didn't really like to talk about her feelings too much...**

[Songwind and Brawn Oakbrush.]

**Song closed her eyes and thought, rocking back and forth. She had had some of the same problems.**

Zahi, I have had some of the same problems. Our husbands are warriors. I know Raiden pretty well, and you aren't gonna get him to tell you that he did something wrong, he is too proud for that.