Falik pushed the stable door and proped it open, he came in the stall and patted Sakina on the nose, talking to her in a low murmur.

He began hefting his packs in and fixing them on, doing up the buckles with long, nimble fingers.

Lord Genlith had finally given him leave to go home for a month to see his family. He was to be travelling with his older cousin, Ali, who was returningto Persopolis after some business in the city. The training master had refused to let him go until he could travel accompanied.

He had not said goodbyes to anyone as he hoped he could slip out without any fuss. Lord Genlith had agreed with him that perhaps some time away would give him time to deal with his problems.

Damien woke up when he heard a noise from a few stalls down, he's been hiding in the stalls from his knightmaster so he could take a nap lately, bringing LaLa with him so she could be his cover. He looked up at her hindlegs now as he shook his head clear.

"Anyone who an get me in massive amounts of trouble?" he wispered softly. the horse shook her head and stomped her hoof three times, a signal for friend. One was a royalty or Genlith, two was knights or teachers, three stomps was for friends, four stomps and a snarl for enemies or people with unlikeable personalities. Which for Lala was anyone who didn't have the time to call her pretty and give her a carrot or apple.

Standing up slowly to look over the dividers he saw Falik, popping up the rest of the way he asked, "Where are you going and why wasn't i informed?"

Falik flinched when he heard the voice and spun around to face the person who was addressing him.

"Ah!" He looked slightly shame faced. "I didn't mean to make a fuss. I just...I need to get away from this place." He gestured around him. "It's making me half mad being here. I know I'm not being myself and I know that how I feel being trapped here, it's not healthy. It's taking me to a dark place that I don't like to be in."

He swiped a hand across his forehead, wiping away a small piece of straw that had floated and settled in his hair. He was concerned that Damien might see him as running away from his problems, perhaps, in a way he was.

((OOC - Do you mind if I post here? Its okay if you don't want me to though ;) )

((OOC: of course you can!))

((Good, 'cause I'm taking advantage of that. Falik is NOT leaving without fuss!!!!))

Livia was hearing some commotion coming from the stables. She wasn't about to pass up a chance to talk! Entering the stables, she saw Damien and Falik. "Excuse me, is this private?" she asked. Seeing Falik's saddlebags, she immediately forgot about being polite. "Mithros, Falik, where in the name of...oh, I don't know, just where are you going??"

Falik put his hand to his forehead. So much for slipping out quietly!

He attempted a smile at Livia. She'd been a good friend and someone who'd truly seemed to understand what he was going through when he was in the infirmary.

"I'm just...getting some breathing space. I just can't be here at the moment. I'm not doing any good to myself or anyone else. I'll be back...hopefully."

"Oh my goodness.." Gwynn stepped inside the stables, and tossed back her copper locks. The page's hazel eyes flew to the saddle bags, and widened. "Falik? No.." Gwynn paused and stopped to listen. "Hopefully..?" She whispered weakly. "You've got to come back." What will Katherine think?! Sympathy welled inside of Gwynn for her friend, and she averted pooling eyes, staring down at the straw strewn floor.

Falik threw up his hands in a gesture of submission.

"I'm going to get waved off by half the palace at this rate!" He snapped.

He looked down. "Sorry Gwynn that was...sorry. I hope you understand. Could you tell Katherine that I..." He trailed off and tried to think of something. However he put it, it would look like he was running away as much from her as anything.

"Tell her goodbye."

Gwynn winced at Falik's comment. Did he even think of her as a friend? But the page brought her eyes back to him, and smiled grimly at Falik's request.
"I will tell her that." Gwynn answered, placing a small hand on her Bazhir friends shoulder, and squeezing it tightly. "And do have fun on your travels. Oh, and Falik," The page continued, worriedly, "Be..careful."

He gave Gwynn a grateful look. "Thank you. Believe me, if I don't arrive in one piece...my mother will kill me!" He gave a halfhearted smile at this joke.

Gwynn smiled weakly, and nodded. "You'd better, or I'll kill you too." The page sighed, and bit her lip.

Hesitantly, Falik reached out a hand and patted Gwynn on the arm. He gave her a smile and then turned and finished doing up the last buckles on Sakina's tack.

"You want to give me a hand?" He asked.

Gwynn nodded, and brushed back copper locks, hazel eyes pinning on the saddles bags. "Sure." She stepped forward and patted Falik's horse. "What would you like me to do?" The page asked, smiling weakly at Falik.

"If you can just help me fix these packs on, then I'll be on my way." He stared intently at the buckle he was doing up, feeling the weight of his departure.

Gwynn nodded and bit her lip, reaching for a saddle bag with her small hands. The page finised buckling the last straps and sighed. She felt tears welling in her eyes. Yes, she was way too emotional. But she was going to miss Falik so much.
"Bye Falik." Gwynn murmered. "We're all going to miss you." She hugged Falik swiftly and stepped away, patting his horse again.

((ooc: sorry...forgot to change logins...oops!))

Falik smiled and grabbed Sakina's reins, he smiled and gave Gwynn a little salute, again playing up being far more cheerful than he actually was. He led his horse towards the stable door and called back.

"Don't worry...I'm sure I'll be back."