Falik walked in to the courtyard where he'd been stabbed 3 weeks earlier. The palace gardeners had cleaned the place up well. After the events of that evening it must have looked like an abattoir with blood everywhere.

He felt strange being back there. If only he'd known that coming here three weeks ago would have had such an impact on his life. None of it for the better. He was still on light duties. His training limited to exercises that would rebuild his muscle slowly and limit damage. When everyone else was fencing and tilting, he had to spend time running errands and messages for Lord Genlith.

Lord Genlith had spent much time talking with Falik about what had happened and that had helped, but those who knew the page knew he was nothing like his old self. Although quiet and shy before, now he positively went out of his way to avoid everyone's company.

Falik didn't know who to trust. He was jumpy, angry and emotional. He found it easier to avoid his friends having to catch his temper, or putting them in danger just by being friends with him.

He sat down on the bench and put his head in his hands.

Katherine was walking to the courtyards when she saw Falik in one that brought back many horrible memories. She had also been put on light training due to her shoulder which sometimes still gave her problems.

She walked up to where Falik was and sat down next to him. "Falik..." She whispered not knowing if he wanted to talk to her or not.

Falik jumped visibly, startled out of his preoccupation. His face was confused for a second and then recognition of Katherine seeped in. He had been lost in his memories of the events of that fateful night.

"It's so clean in here now, as if nothing ever happened." He stated blankly. A strange thing to say. He'd meant to say hello or it's good to see you or something.

"Yes...it is.Though the memories of that night will never leave us."

She looked at Falik with a worried look. She placed a hand on his arm. "Are you alright Falik... I havn't seen you much for the last few weeks. I Know this is silly...but...I've been worried about you."

"Honestly? I don't know. I find it so hard to be here these days. Who I can trust, whether I'm going to be jumped again right here in the palace. Perhaps....perhaps I should just leave and go home. I could apply to the university in a few years."

He looked at Katherine.

"I'm sorry I've been so distant."

"Falik..."she whispered. "You can trust me. I'm not going anywhere, and if anyone goes and tries to jump you again I'll be there to help you through the battle." She moved alittle closer to him. "And to be honest with you Falik...If you leaved here I would miss you.." She blushed.

She looked back up at Falik.

"We both been busy with our light duties. Yours with Lord Genlith, and mine with a whole bunch of nobles I truely can't even remember." She chuckled.

Falik turned slightly so that he could look at Katherine properly. A ghost of a smile touched his face. "That means a lot to me, that you would miss me. I suppose if I left, then that little group would have one. I know I'm not the only Bazhir here but sometimes I just feel so achingly out of place. I guess I'm a desert boy at heart."

Katherine rested her hand on top of Falik's. "If you want to talk about anything...I hope you come to me. Because honestly I don't know what else to offer you..." she sighed.

"You're a good friend Katherine." He squeezed her hand. "Don't you just feel like dead weight at the moment. I know I do. I'm not even allowed to draw a bow because of the damage to my side. Not until the scar is healthy" he said, imitating the fussy chief healers way of talking.

He shuddered involunatarily as he looked around the courtyard. His eyes went blank again for a few seconds as the memories of that night came rushing back again.

"They still haven't caught him." Falik whispered, "the one who did this. They say he's hiding out in the city. He knows people there."

A coldness creeped in to his eyes. "I hope some thug does for him. Some cutthroat who'd kill him for a few coppers in his purse."

He was lost now in thoughts of vengance.

Katherine rested her head against Falik's arm. "Yes, I do feel like dead weight. Because the healers said I couldn't do anything that would strain my shoulder. I have to wait until I have the strength back."

She noticed his changed of moods as he metioned their attacker. " I know..."She looked up at him. "Lord Genlith said I wasn't to go to the city till they were caught, because they would remember who I was..."she whispered.

She watched his eyes turn cold. she couldn't believe the worrds that were coming out of his mouth. She let go of his hand and stood up. She walked in front of him. She took her hands and cupped Falik's face, making him look at her.

"I don't want you involved anymore." She whispered to him, a worried look on her face. "Your still healing. Whatever happens to them when there out in the city is none of our concern. We wait until he is caught then that is the time to step in."

She looked him strait in the eye. "To be honest Falik...I care about you alot...and I can't bear to see you hurt anymore. So please don't do anything your going to regret later...I beg you...don't.."

Falik was taken by surprise by Katherines sudden and empassioned response to his words. He looked in to her eyes and was shocked by the intensity he found there.

For a second the hard look remained in his eyes then he looked down. Unsure of what to say to Katherine in return and partly ashamed of himself. He covered her hands with his and gently prised them away from his face.

"I can't promise anything. " He replied, he looked up at Katherine once more. "But I'll try. These things, these events, they've changed me...not for the better I know that. There's a darkness in here now." He tapped his head. "It scares me." He said quietly.

The weight of his words hung in the air. Falik hurriedly tried to change the subject. "It's my birthday in a week you know. The grand old age of 14."

Katherine looked at him, embrassed at what she just did. "I'm sorry...You can't blame me for worrying about you..."

She looked him in the eyes once more and then turned away. "There will always be a darkness in you Falik...The only way you acutally know it's there is if you let it over come you..." She looked up at the blue sky, not knowing what else to say. But then she looked back at him.

"I'm not trying to rude Falik, but you have to try and pass this moment...It's in the past. Some of the events that come in the future might involve this attack, but most of them won't. The only think that will stay with you is the mark they left you and the hatred that you gained..."

She sat back down on the bench next to him, leaving him plenty of room. "I'm sorry, I guess I got carried away..." She looked away not knowing how he would react.

"Though I will keep in mind about you birthday though..." She whispered.

Falik kept his face impassive as he listened to Katherine speak. In many ways she was right, but he also knew that there was a part of him that she would not understand, not without Bazhir blood running through her veins.

He felt himself getting angry again and so he decided it was time to leave, it was almost time for him to join with the voice maybe he would find some comfort there. He stood up and, overly formal, bowed to Katherine. "Well. It was pleasant speaking with you. I have something I need to do."

He walked out of the courtyard, knowing that he could have handled everything better. He just thought it was better for eveyone if he kept his distance until he had this under control.

Katherine watched as Falik got up and bowed saying goodbye as he left.

"Yes, pleasant speaking with you to..."she whispered to herself.

She got up herself and started walking back to her rooms. She knew that what she said was true, but harsh at the same time. But now she regreted saying them.

Falik's changed...he'll never be the same again. Maybe I should keep my distance... She shook that thought out of her head and entered the palace.