Fear of Fire...

[Arianna Chastlien]

I remember...

Even from the vast distance away that my town was, I remember how the flames raced across the meadow and towards the town at a frightful pace. They killed everything and anything in their path. Nothing could stop them. I remember the screams from the other townspeople...The cries and frantic wails for help. I was only four, yet I can remember the intense heat that threatened to burn my very skin from my body. I remember my mother soaking what blankets that she could find in the well water and wrapping them around me...I remember the fear I saw in her eyes as she struggled to keep her own breath in her lungs. The smell of jasmine in her hair as she kissed me and told me that everything would be alright as she held me close to her chest. She covered me solidly again with the dripping blankets, then I remember the scream...the tightening of my mother's arms around me...then there was nothing but blackness.

It had been nearly a week before someone found me among the rubble and ruin that the inferno had left behind. I was weak and near dead with dehydration when the man uncovered the blankets and found me inside, he held me close. His voice sounded like he was talking underwater, and to this day I remember those words as clear as day...

"This one's dying, take her or leave her?"

[Arianna Chastlien]

I was told...

That the fire had been started in a cabin about a hundred miles outside of town, and that the inhabitants had left a candle alight when they had fallen asleep and the fire had grown wild. It raced through the hundred miles before it had ever touched the outskirts of my hometown, then it destroyed the town in which I had grown up in, Eluna's Glade was nothing but ashes and ruin now.

When I woke up, what was left of my mother was still clinging to the nearly dried out blankets...They had been the only thing that had kept me alive. I was told that I had suffered nothing but minor burns and minor smoke inhalation, but the town had suffered much worse. Of a town populated with over a thousand people, only a dozen had survived the terrible inferno.

Of the twelve survivors of Eluna's Glade, three were children and the other nine were men and women.

The man that had found me and taken me in...had been around the age of thirty, single and had no family as they as well had found their death in the inferno's wake. He had raised me the best that he could on a miserly farmer's wages and in a farmer's house. He had no idea on how to raise an orphaned girl and so he would do the best that he could.

[Arianna Chastlien]

Growing Up...

I didn't speak or talk for nearly five years after the fire had taken away everything I had ever known and loved...before it had killed my family. I went at least two to three times a day to visit the memorial that Christian and the rest of the survivors had built in honor of those that had lost their lives in the fire. There were nights when I would fall asleep across my families' graves and find myself in my own bed the next morning. I grieved for my mother's touch just once more, to hear my brother's laugh just once more...No child should ever have to loose their entire family at such a young age...

My father and my older brother, Xavier had left home earlier that afternoon to go and help Mr. Guerra in the Vineyards...we assumed that they had had no fair warning to try and save themselves, because the Vineyards were the first that the fires had touched of Eluna's.

I remember the gifts that Christian would bring back from the more flourishing towns nearby...He'd spoken of several them as we'd sit and eat. Though one had always caught my ear...Rhydin he'd called it. The City of Dreams, he'd deemed it. He said that maybe one day we'd move there...He'd usually leave for a week out of every month to sell the crops that he grew. When he'd come home or be home in general, he had always tried to make me smile...to try and get me to talk. He and the other townsfolk were all scared that I may never speak again. I had remembered hearing them talk about it on more than one occasion...but what would I say. I felt like a little mouse that was trapped in a glass box, everyone looking and staring at me, waiting for me to do a trick...all I really wanted was to be left alone, left to grieve as I wished...but that was not the proper way for a child to grieve.

So in that I turned to better ways to let the pent up anger and hate be expunged from my self. There was a man that had survived the fires, he was an older man that was well taught in Swordsmanship and so I went to him day after day and watched him teach his students. Slowly I began to start to train myself and he as well trained me, teaching me what he knew. As the years went by, I grew older, wiser and stronger...more talented with the blade, more deadly...

[Arianna Chastlien]

Maturity and understanding...

It took over four years for Eluna's to finally be rebuilt, so that there were no remnants of the fires deadly touch. Within that time, along with the townsfolk, I had finally found some sort of normalcy and routine in my life.

I'd gone to school, Christan had insisted if I were to continue attending Evan's Sword's classes. That was my only escape, so I pushed myself through school and worked on the farm to help raise and tend to the crops, horses and livestock. I loved animals, and I'd spend hours with the cattle and horses especially. There were times that Christan would threaten to remove them from the farm if I didn't get inside and mind my books. Of course I scurried inside and minded the books, the horses, aside from the sword training I did were my escape...my freedom. I often dreamed of this place called Rhydin that Christan talked about all the time. I wanted us to be able to go there and live our lives...but Eluna's was our home...

Time went by so quickly that I didn't have much time to look back and dwell on the past. I'd learned and grew to understand that my family would still be with me, though they would never be whole again so that I could hold them. Christian was doing the best that he could for me, and I was greatful of that. I'd learned to ride and break horses, take care of sick animals, farm the fields, education, tragedy, life, swords. All that and I was doing quite well I thought. and I'd also learned about love...

[Arianna Chastlien]

All about love...

On the day I'd graduated from school, I remember coming home and finding a beautiful black stallion in the stables with a ribbon and my name on it...Christian had left a note for me ...

"My dearest Luna, I had to leave town unexpectedly and regrettably couldn't be home to see your lovely expression when you saw your present. You're hard work will always carry you further. I will be home in three days and we can talk then. Congratulations again, your family would be proud of you. With love, Christian."

I was elated with joy and overwhelmed with sadness that he'd had to go out of town. I would suffice to know that Drayden would be there shortly. I nuzzled my cheek against the stallion, having already picked a name for him..."Elusive."

He'd been my next door neighbor before the fires had spread through, and Evan had taken him in after. We'd remained close even after the fires, if not closer and we had gone to and through school together. We'd been eachothers motivation for life, to move on and grow stronger...together we'd conquer the world we'd said. Around the tenth grade, we'd both realized that we had feelings for eachother, in that we grew together and with those feelings. He'd started staying more and more at the farm with Christan and me. We were inseparable.

Christian had approved and welcomed the fact that Drayden was now staying with me on a regular basis when he was out town. Christian said we'd be together forever. I had always hoped so.

[Arianna Chastlien]

Tragedy strikes again...

It'd been two years after I'd graduated...Elusive was growing quickly and so was mine and Drayden's love. I was now twenty and life was going great. I honestly don't think I could have been happier.

I had taken to working the farm after I'd graduated, Drayden had taken to working with Christian as well as on the farm. There were nights again that I was left alone. I'd had a lot of time on my hands, so I'd taken up helping one of the elderly ladies down the way a bit.

Julia was an elderly woman that had lost her children and family in the fires that had claimed my family...we'd met in the market one day. Now with Christian and Drayden away from home for days at a time, I usually spent my days with Julia at her house, cleaning, chatting and such of the likes. I often either walked or rode Elusive the five miles to her quaint little house.

It was the first day of Summer of the year we'd turned 20. Breakfast had been served, the dishes done, and Christian and Drayden had laid down for a nap, having gotten in only hours before. I'd decided to go down to Julia's house to clean it and help her around the house. I'd been gone a good two to three hours and as I was closin the door to Julia's house, I heard the shouts...heard the screams...I smelled the smoke even before my eyes turned towards the farm.

The fire was spreading...faster than anyone could possibly put it out...I had no second thoughts, I jumped onto Elusive, bareback and raced towards the farm as fast as I could. The flames were nearly skyborn by the time I got close enough to see much of anything...it was a brush fire gone wrong so it seemed. "Oh god, Oh no, not again." I'd screamed this at the top of my lungs as Elusive reared to try and throw me off, the fires had made him extremely skittish.

The flames were to strong, the smell of burning skin and the chill of lives being lost. I had given myself no mind and jumped into the small pond that was twenty feet from what was left of the farm, ripped my shirt and put part of the damp cloth over my mouth and nose and headed straight into the dead of the fires...I was intent on saving Christian and Drayden...if there was any chance to save them...

I called out to them, and recieved no answer except the cracklin and the lick of the flames against me, the heat was intense, as intense as the first fire that had stolen what was mine...I froze when I saw two bodies...They were face down in what was once the living room of the small ranch house and though I cried, the tears never got far when above me a beam cracked and broke...then there was blackness once again...

[Drayden M]

Christian and I were both rattled from our slumber by the shattering screams of a farmhand. Another hurriedly darted to each of us, shaking violently and trying to speak through a hacking cough. It was obvious something dreadful had happened in the stables, he was pointing frantically, nothing he said made much sense.

We raced outside to find the stables engulfed in flames. It was then the farmhand managed to spout out a horse had kicked over a lantern. The dry hay acted as a near endless fuel supply for the flames before the wooden structure itself caught fire. Christian barked orders to the other hands to get wet blankets and pales of water from the house. They were all too frightened to approach the flames so it was left to us to save what we could.

Without consideration for our own safety we entered the blaze and escorted those few horses still living to safety. Taking a count of the remnants of the stock more screams rang out. The whipping winds keeping the fire alive had carried smoldering embers to the ranch house. Ushering the frightened horses to pasture we rushed back to our home. The fire seemed to have a life of its own, jumping from the rafters and crawling over the walls. Despite our best efforts and countless gallons of water we could not halt its progress.

Everyone was thrown into disarray, scrambling to all exits. Christian yelled over the roar to abandon the house when he spied the support beams collapse. Two young men instantly lost their life. I literally had to drag another body from the house, that's when I caught sight of Elusive without Arianna on his back. My heart dropped into my stomach.

I pushed through the crowd gathered outside, Christian's pleas fell on deaf ears as I dove back into harms way. The opening immediately covered with blazing beams. Masking my face with an arm I shuffled blindly through the house. There I saw her, knelt beside two corpses, she couldn't hear my cries. Hearing the cracking of wood I instinctively dove shoving her from the path of another falling beam. She wasn't responding as I cradled her in my arms. All that mattered was escaping this inferno.

Everywhere I turned was bright, white heat. The only avenue of escape was to brave the flames and a leap of faith. Charging at what was once the front door I closed by eyes and threw myself into the flames. Last I recall was Christian dragging me off the porch, Arianna clutched tightly against my chest.

[Arianna Chastlien]

The aftermath...

"Arianna! Arianna, can you hear me?"

My body felt like it was still on fire, had it caught fire inside the blazing flames? I remembered seeing the house on fire, racing towards it on Elusive. I remember going inside to try and save Drayden and Christian. I groaned, my body hurt, my lungs hurt...my heart hurt.

"She's still breathing, that's a good sign."

"Arianna, can you hear us?"

Voices, where were these voices coming from. I had remembered seeing the bodies, I thought I'd felt the broken beam throw me to the ground...I thought I was dead...but where were these voices coming from. Inside my own mind, I was crying, crying for the loss again I'd had to suffer. Tragedy was to much in life...fire was to much...fire killed everything it had ever touched...it hurts so much. Make it all go away, please. I don't want to hurt anymore...Don't think I can do this again.

Oh a light...pretty white light. I wonder where it goes?

"We're loosing her!"

My pulse had slowed incredibly, my breathing had turned near to nothing. My lungs were starting to stop their functioning. I was dying.

"Arianna Eluna Chastlien! Fight Arianna, fight. Don't you dare give up on me, not now. Not ever!"

Drayden? I swore I'd heard Drayden's voice, but...but he and Christian. I'd seen them on the ground before the blackness, how could he be talking to me now?

"Eluna, darling Eluna fight. You have to fight my dear. Drayden and I are here. Please Eluna, open your eyes."

Christian? That was Christian's voice, I am sure of it now. But...how? They'd died...Could it be?

[Arianna Chastlien]

Recovery...

My eyes opened slowly but they felt like they'd weighed a ton an a half. The light was dim, yet still to bright for me to tolerate. I could see the outline of three, possibly four people...I saw those beautiful blue eyes...I knew then that who I'd seen could not have possibly been Drayden and Christian. Drayden leaned down and brushed his lips against my forehead, Christian breathed a deep sigh of relief. I tried to smile but I was weak...How had I escaped the fires alive? I heard another voice...

"Stand back, let me make sure that she's stable. Come now, give her some room."

I tried to shake my head to say not just yet, please. But they were gone, though not that far away, because I could still see them. The doctor began his observation of me. It seemed to take hours. My throat burned. I could hear what the doctor had said to Christian and Drayden and it worried me. He'd said that my throat was scorched from the fires and smoke that I'd breathed in being in the fire so long, and that other than that I might have suffered a slight concussion, but hopefully both of these symptoms would go away on their own. I was put on bedrest for two weeks.

I didn't know where we were. We were in a small room, that had two beds. I was never awake for very long, but I had known that Christian and Drayden were never far from my side. Drayden stayed with me practically the entire two weeks that I had been put on bedrest. I had not yet even tried to speak yet, because it had hurt to much to even swallow the broth that I was forced to eat and the water I had been given to drink. There was pain that I had not remembered even from the first inferno. How...how had the fires started I wonder. I had thought it a simple brush fire, gone wrong on the windy day.

The two weeks passed and slowly I regained my voice to where it was not painful any longer. Drayden had told me what had caused the fires, and all I could do was cry. Everything that Christian had had in his life, everything we had worked for after the first fire had nearly ruined our lives was gone. All that had been left was very little of the crop from that year, three of the horses and Elusive, Christian, Drayden and I. The other three farmhands that had survived were never seen again.

I learned soon that Julia had taken us in and that was where we had taken up temporary residence. I'd remembered hearing Christian and Drayden talking one night of us moving. But of course this was before the fires destoryed everything that we'd had. Yet I knew that would not deter any of us if we'd put our minds to it...though it was a price that had been paid, perhaps I thought to myself, it was merely Lady Fate telling us it was time for a change...

[Arianna Chastlien]

Time for a change...

Three months had passed, and I had been given a full bill of recovery. The doctor said that I was a lucky woman to have two men that would risk their lives tryin to save me. I'd learned that the two on the ground in the living room, I had mistaken for Christian and Drayden, had been two of the newer farmhands we'd brought on...That in the midst of the fiery blaze, Drayden had seen Elusive without me and had gone inside after me, dragging me out of what would have been harms way... Tragedy... Pain, strength and love. Where would we ever be without any of these elements?

We'd spoke more of heading to Rhydin. Christian and Drayden had both frequented the town on business, but had never been for pleasure purposes. Christian had said that there were plenty of jobs and the economy seemed stable enough. That in time we could again build another farm, that again we'd have what we'd had once before and it would be even better.

Drayden and I were not opposed to the idea, we'd both thought it a great idea after what had happened. I for one, was not ready to try and re-build our lives here again...to me there seemed to be nothing left in Eluna's. Rhydin was only a days ride away, we could come back and visit...I did not want to be in Eluna's any longer...and so we'd listen to Christian's well thought out plan.

Christian's idea was to send me ahead, to get me out of any harm's way immediately. Elusive and I would travel to Rhydin, find a place to stay and bide the time until Drayden and then Christian would follow. He'd said he'd seen what seemed to be a Ranch House in Rhydin's countryside and that we could use that as a marker for us all to meet and find one another.

He'd said that Drayden would have to come three to four days after I'd left because there was still the matter of getting everything taken care of here in Eluna's. My heart dropped to my feet and my body trembled with fear. We'd both argued the point, but within the hour we'd understood and managed to see it his way...I was terrified...All I'd ever known had ever been in Eluna's...I'd never ever even left the town...How was I going to survive in a new city...better yet, how was I going to make it all alone?

[Drayden M]

It took days to clear away the charred rumble of our once proud home. At times it was just Christian and myself picking through the pile of our past life. The worst of it all was turning over beam and finding what remained of a unfortunate soul. Eight in all to my last estimates. It was good Arianna was still bedridden during the clean up. Seeing our home and livelihoods destroyed would've likely cast her into oblivion forever. Even so for the memorial services for those perished in the fire.

Weeks after the event my heart still burned. At least I could find comfort knowing she was getting better. She may never be the same, but we still have her with us. Yet, the question of why she entered the burning house still tumbles around in my head. What's even more upsetting is the fact that no one tried to stop her. Of all those people, not a single soul. I know I shouldn't let it eat me away like this, but it can't be helped.

More time had passed and Arianna's recovery was going smoothly. Every moment I could spare was spent at her bedside. It was then Christian told us of his plan. We weren't going to rebuild completely. Instead we would build several small houses for the remaining hands that wished to stay. We, on the other hand would be moving to RhyDin. I could sympathize with Arianna's objections, but it was for the best.

It hadn't taken us long, only months to build a small community in the Eluna. Everything we could imagine to prevent another wildfire as such before was done and reinforced. Now, now it was time to send Arianna ahead. We both wished her the best, I promised I would be only days behind her. Christian would be days behind me.

There was still the matter of procuring money for ourselves, but if she was sent without money for boarding I would go also. She'd never been forced to sleep out in the open air. I packed an extra days worth of bread and fruits into her pack for that needed cushion should I be held up. I did the same when I prepared to leave Eluna. Christian's word was that he'd arrive shortly after I did, and with enough money to buy a residence in this town.

Christian gave up the best stallion we had to our name for my journey. I still remember the farmhouse we passed by on our own endeavors. I just prayed I could find her there. Riding from dawn till dusk and as fast as the stallion could bare we galloped into the city limits.

The farmhouse was there, but Arianna was not. My mind immediately set into motion with all negative thoughts. I traversed the area several times over, but could find no sign of a camp or another horseback traveler. Reassuring myself that someone in town might have taken mercy on her and given her shelter I set my focus there.

[Arianna Chastlien]

Moving on...

Since a child recovering from the first of the fires, I had not felt the same fear that pulsed through my body as I did now. I mounted Elusive and headed towards the eastern horizon, with the sun just rising over the meadows. Emptiness, dread and fear coursed and pulsed through me as did the blood that kept my body living. Rhydin was a day and a half’s ride to the east, but to me it’d be centuries until I reached there. My emotions were a roller coaster, I was happy to be able to finally leave Eluna’s and explore the world around us, yet I was terrified of being sent out alone, terrified that Drayden and Christian might not come for me...

Instead, I tried to busy my thoughts with positives of the future...of the business I had yet to talk to Drayden and Christian about, about how happy we were going to be here...Time seemed to go by just that bit quicker when I thought of things like this, and our wedding...that brought a smile to my face, and then I remembered that there was no one but me and Elusive now...Christian and Drayden were back in Eluna's...Soon though...I just had to be strong...

I often stopped to water Elusive and check the map that Christian had packed. I stopped to eat only what I would need to keep my body going, a light laugh brought to my lips when I found the extras that Drayden had packed for me. Shaking my head, I blessed the man that I was lucky enough to have found that cared for me....I never ate more than that which I would need to keep myself going, incase my worse fears were to happen. I had slept little to none the entire trip.

It was early afternoon of the second day when I heard the murmur of city life outside the gates of Rhydin, when I saw the hustle and bustle of the busy town. My jaw dropped at the enormous expanse of land that was to be called my home town. Slowly, ever so slowly I would ride through the gates and town, taking note of everyone and anyone...anything I saw and everything. I was truly in awe with the city. Eluna’s was not a millionth of the size that this town was...it would take some getting used to.

Elusive reared and I was nearly thrown off as a shouting courier was handing out flyers to most that entered through the gates. Quickly I quieted Elusive and took the flyer from the boy, nodding politely and continuing to follow the map, through the city to the countryside. It would be the next day before I unrolled the flyer and actually would take a look for myself. It took about an hour for me to find the farmhouse that we’d agreed upon to be our marker of meeting and I quickly found a good sized tree that would house me for the next few days until Drayden would arrive. I looked around my new surroundings, there was a small pond a few feet from the tree, making sure that everything was on the outskirts of the farm property, I nodded, sure of myself that this would be quite alright and no trouble would come to me for staying here. The soft glow of the countryside...the hum of life around me, the soft chirrups of the birds in the tree above me, soon had me quite tired. The fatigue I'd been fighting was finally settling in. I breathed in for the first real time, and tried to relax my nerves and the calmness that filled me, scared me. Elusive lowered himself to the ground beside me, the journey had taken it’s toll on my friend, and he layed his head down to sleep, and I too was not far to follow as I leaned against him...

((Cross posted in Tales from the Golden Sun))

[Arianna Chastlien]

Exploration...

Time seemed to pass much to slowly, and so after a good night’s rest, I woke the next morning and began my exploration of the town. There were so many shops and Inn’s...so many areas to explore and not enough time in one day! I was in awe of it all...There were a couple of places that had caught my eye the night I had arrived, though as fatigued as I were, I’m surprised that I would remember later where they were...One sign had read, “Imp’s Little Shop of Horrors,” and the little picture of the creature outside, slightly had me disturbed, in this I would make a note to visit at a later date when Drayden would accompany me inside...the other that had caught my eye was an abandoned building that was slightly bigger than the other little shop I had spied beforehand...The “For Sale” sign really called to me and I sighed.

The plans that I had managed to compile in my mind as to a means of money and work for Drayden, Christian and I would take money to begin. I could only hope that the secret's Christan had held as to a way to provide for us here would be all that we had needed. Perhaps I could find work and be able to save enough money to purchase the building...So many dreams and aspirations...I sighed once more and turned and headed over towards the Arena for another night out. I paused for a few moments and glanced towards the sunset and wished that Drayden was here to hold me...I missed the feel of strength and sureness in his arms when he held me. I missed the subtle smell of cologne on him. I looked upwards and saw the faint twinkling of the first of the night’s stars and wished that he would know how much I loved and missed him.

@–<--

I had not slept the night before and it was now the fourth day and I was deathly worried that tragedy had yet again struck Eluna’s. I paced for what had seemed like hours in and by the tree, Elusive had grown restless and so after a light and late dinner, I mounted my companion and left a note tied to the tree in hopes that business had only held up Drayden and he would be along tonight...I headed towards the Arena once again, to listen to the stir of life and chatter...to keep my mind off of the worse. Tonight though, I’d made up my mind, tonight I would actually take part in the fights...yet how to do such without having the courage to speak yet...I was not yet sure.

Tying Elusive to the banister outside the Inn, I walked through the Inn, nodding to those that would acknowledge me and headed into the Arena to try and pass the time...

((Cross posted in Tales from the Golden Sun))

[Drayden M]

I spent the better portion of the day journeying through parts of the city still new to me. Any day now Christian would be arriving in town, but I still needed to seek out a job. Christian would bring with him money gained from settlement on his farm. How much? Neither of us knew nor how long we could stretch the funds in order to survive.

Keeping my sights keen I spotted multiple 'help wanted' signs. Most were not within my capabilities. I couldn't be much use as a bartender with little knowledge of all the drink concoctions. Server and waiter was not for me. I only get along with those fond to me. While I'm not downright unfriendly, perhaps just too shy. The search was beginning to look bleak until I wandering into Dockside.

A import distribution center was looking for able-bodied men to unload and load shipments. Now this was something I could do. On top of that the starting pay was more desirable than any I'd heard thus far. I put my name in the hat and before I could leave the grounds a burly man approached.

"Hey you, kid! Wait a minute." He jogged for all of four steps before becoming short winded.

"Yessir?"

"I hear you're looking for a job. Well consider yourself hired. Got any friends bring them with you too. We need as much as we can get. 'Round this time of year we get triple the amount of shipments. Think you can be here tomorrow morning at six AM sharp?"

"Absolutely, sir!" I nodded eagerly and tipped by head. "Thank you, sir."

Still tingling with excitement I headed back for the countryside and give Arianna the good news.

[Drayden M]

My first day on the job was hectic. The foreman wasn't joking when he said they recieved triple the shipments. I lost count after around two-hundred crates and barrels apiece. On the positive side I stayed busy the whole day and before I knew it, the final whistle blew signaling time to punch out. The sun was just starting to set past the horizon. Now I had to find Arianna. I missed the opportunity to speak to her yesterday and this morning and I'm sure she was dying to see me.

I set my course to the Arena but my the time I arrived the action had already settled. I found her at the bar distracted with another playing with a small rubber ball and bat. Sneaking up alongside her I whispered softly to her ear.

"Evening dearest."

Completely caught by surprise Arianna squeaked and nearly toppled to the floor, much to my amusment.

"Drayden, don't you do that! You trying to give me a heartattack?!" A hand on her chest as she tried to ease her trembles.

I couldn't contain my laughter at such a specticle. When she calmed she nestled against me, watching the lingering patrons. The sports had long ceased for the night and before long we were the last to file out. Today was the day Christian told us he'd arrive and we both agreed to return to our camp to greet him.

Dismounting from our horses we noticed a blanketed figure lying on the ground at the base of our tree. Through the still of the night we could hear snoring. Arianna appeared apprehensive at the sight.

"I'd know that snoring anywhere." A big grin on my face I hushed her by bringing a finger to my lips. I had a little something up my sleeve.

We crept from the dried, dead leaves to round the large trunk . I gave silent hand signals to Arianna to stay put while I went for a closer look. All was well as I drew near, until I stepped on a small twig in my path. Luckily the old man was in such a deep slumber he didn't awake. Another signal to Arianna as the coast was clear. I eased down onto the ground, legs crossed indian style. A pat to my thigh as I waited Arianna expectantly. When she settled atop my lap I whispered to her ear.

"Sleeping like a baby. I hate to do this, but.... " A wicked grin crossed my features. "On the count of three. One, two.... three."

Arianna masked a giggle against my neck.

"Christian!" We shouted in unison to rouse the one sawing logs.