*before catastrophe*

Hadrian reached up and tightened the buckles. The four year old gelding Great nickered and stamped a foot. Behind him, Major Ghern raised an eyebrow as he offered the sleeping cloth, which Hadrian took and tied to the saddle.

"You really are leaving?" Major Ghern asked, watching as the High Commander made the last second adjustments.

"I have to." Hadrian replied. "He's not in Olencia, that's for sure." Another check at the buckles before Hadrian put a foot in the stirrup and swung over.

"You COULD send other men." Ghern replied. "What if something happens while you're gone?"

"I'll have you in charge." Hadrian spoke, gathering the reins. "And they don't know Penril as much as I do. No, I'll do this alone."

Ghern shook his head. Mph. Well, he COULD keep a hand over the garrison but... "return as soon as possible, sir."

"Of course." The High Commander clucked his tongue, and the Great set off on an easy canter.

Of course, he remembered he had to say goodbye to HER. It was nighttime, for the love of... well, she did say he could visit ANYTIME. He'd use that loophole then.

It was a while before he saw the house. The Great slowed down a couple of steps before the house, and Hadrian dismounted. A few strides and then he knocked on the door.

Ranna was there inside the shop, cleaning and dusting the small family owned shop she manages and her small house. Orion, was sleeping on his small bed.

Tonight was quiet... too quiet even for her.

She heard rumors that a riot will be starting soon, many of her colleagues told her to join- but she denied... she was one of those people who loves peace. She hated riots... even piety fights. The woman can't stand them, at all.

She'll go emotional also.

Which is BAD.

Leftovers from the day before were heating over a fire... crusty bread and beef stew again; it's scent just wafted over the room.

Alright. Checklist. Counter top. Done. Shelves. Done. Dinner. Almost done.

Then she heard a knock on the door. "Who could that be in this hour?" She thought aloud. Ranna took her walking stick and gestured over the doorknob. She opened the door and said, "I'm sorry. But we're closed."

"I'm sorry. But we're closed."

Ah. How was he supposed to tell her? He stiffened, and tried to find the words. A simple 'I'm leaving' could do.... Hadrian exhaled. Well, he'd better get this over with, shouldn't he? The horse nickered again, and Hadrian didn't let go of th reins, even when he wasn't mounted.

"I'm leaving." He spoke up hesitantly.

"I'm leaving." He spoke up hesitantly.

The voice was familiar... it was Hadrian's. Leaving?, she said to herself. Where? Duties...maybe. She was a very understandable person. But she had to ask and why. She looked away... dusting her hands with the apron tied to her waist.

"Where?" She asked flatly.

She looked away... dusting her hands with the apron tied to her waist.

"Where?" She asked flatly.

"The Barrier." He said. "To find someone... important." Well, he couldn't exactly TELL her Penril was ALIVE. That would just make HIM look crazy. In fact, he WAS CRAZY. Partially. DADDY'S GIFT.

"The Prince of Olencia, to be precise." He spoke up. "He's been gone for three days, I'd thought to get him back..."

"The Barrier." He said. "To find someone... important."

If it's another woman... I'll swear I'll choke you. She thought.

"The Prince of Olencia, to be precise." He spoke up. "He's been gone for three days, I'd thought to get him back..."

"I see." She said looking at him. "After all it's your duty to protect the kingdom."

She flung her hair to her back. "When are you coming back?" She asks with a hint of concern.

"I see." She said looking at him. "After all it's your duty to protect the kingdom." Somehow he can't help but hear that in a really sarcastic way.

She flung her hair to her back. "When are you coming back?" She asks with a hint of concern.

Three days? Five? He didn't know, but he didn't want to give any false hope. Thoroughly disturbed, Hadrian gave an answer.

"I don't know." Yes. That was the truth. I. Don't. Know.

"I don't know." He simply replied.

She stiffened. That frightened her a bit... nope, a lot. The woman cannot utter a word. "Just take care of yourself." Ranna muttered softly. "The Prince also." Time to ease the situation, she just flashed a weak smile.

She stiffened. That frightened her a bit... nope, a lot. The woman cannot utter a word. "Just take care of yourself." Ranna muttered softly. "The Prince also." Time to ease the situation, she just flashed a weak smile.

Hadrian blinked. "While I'm gone..." He began. "There may be... complications... like riots, for one." He sniffed. "When that happens I want you to stay indoors. No good will come from this if you do die."

"While I'm gone..." He began. "There may be... complications... like riots, for one." He sniffed. "When that happens I want you to stay indoors. No good will come from this if you do die."

"I will." Ranna replied sharply. "But--," She croaked. The woman decided not to continue the thought, What if questions suddenly fill her mind: What if my house was destroyed? What if you don't come back?

"Never mind." Ranna said plainly shaking her head.

She throbbed her head, although she wants to bang it to the door frame. She has to let go of the fact that she trust people a bit too much.

"I will." Ranna replied sharply. "But--," She croaked.

Hadrian raised an eyebrow again. But what? He was beginning to think he shouldn't have done this, but she WOULD notice, after all he'd been dropping by since that first time...

Ehk. What to do, what to do...

"Never mind." Ranna said plainly shaking her head. Never mind? Never MIND? He HAD TO KNOW. HAD TO. FOR THE GOOD OF MANKIND. Must... inquire...

"But what?" He asked softly. Oh wait, what if he DIED? No, he'll NEVER DIE. Well, from an attack or something.... OLD AGE CAN SKIVE OFF.

"But what?" Hadrian asked her softly.

The woman stiffened. What should you tell him? Her head was now a mere desert... no words come out of her mouth. "A lot of things." She said, rather teary-eyed. Ranna flustered, What to do?

She was in a state of confusion... emotional turmoil to be exact. Banging her head to the door frame... not good. Crying your heart out, yes!

Ehk!!! Don't cry... He'll even be more worried.

But she can't help it, tears just gushed out of her eyes like waterfalls.

The woman stiffened. "A lot of things." She said, rather teary-eyed. Ranna flustered and THEN she CRIED.

Oh no, god no. NOW HE MADE HER CRY! WHAT DO I DO NOW!? He twitched and tied the Great's reins to a nearby tree. THIS'LL TAKE TIME. Hadrian went forward. Okay. What to do?

...

I DON'T KNOW. What did MOM do? Hug him? Yeah, although she only did that ONCE. He wasn't a HUGGING kinda guy.

...

OKAY FINE. He moved forward and gave her a hug. Hee.

...

Please don't wet the riding leathers.

That's her problem... she's an emotional person. She just cupped her face with her hands to catch her tears.

...

She never cried this hard ever since her mother died when she was young. STOP CRYING. NOW. Do NOT... again... do NOT make him WORRY.

...

Think of happy things. Like pretty ponies, puppies... and Kardiel's incomparable humor. Not to mention the man who's hugging your right now.

...

She squinted her eyes, trying to prevent for more tears to fall. Hadrian's embrace made somewhat eased her; she wished that time would stop at that moment. But, she broke the embrace... she stepped a few paces back while drying her tears.

"I'm sorry for making you worry, Hadrian." Ranna said apologetically. "I'm such a worry-wort." She added, wiping her tears away from her eyes.

Time stopped.

You look stupid.

...

Yeah. High Commander in riding leathers. Well, didn't make him LOOK fat, but then it also made him kinda thin.... lean. Lean. Call it lean and sinewy or he'd kill you.

But, she broke the embrace and then time resumed. DAMMIT.

... stepped a few paces back while drying her tears. If dad was here he'd whack him with a frying pan. GODS.

"I'm sorry for making you worry, Hadrian." Ranna said apologetically. "I'm such a worry-wort." She added, wiping her tears away from her eyes.

"I should be sorry." He said. He shook his head. Okay, are we going to spend all day emoting out here? Hell no, I have a prince to save. Hadrian untied the reins and mounted the Great.

"I really have to go." He said, and then spurred the horse forward.

"I should be sorry." He said.

She just stood there lowering her head. If she speaks, it's going to be a LONG debate for who's-to-blame. That could delay his departure to seek the crowned Prince.

Silence.

"I really have to go." He said, and then spurred the horse forward.

Ranna nodded gingerly, ruffling the crease-marks on her apron to prevent her to cry again. "Do you need any supplies before you go?" She asks him, with a normal tone.

Ranna nodded gingerly, ruffling the crease-marks on her apron to prevent her to cry again. "Do you need any supplies before you go?" She asks him, with a normal tone.

Slight pull on the reins. "No." He said, looking back at her from atop the Great. "Just... stay safe. I'll come back, one of these days."

Okay, he REALLY, REALLY had to go now. "Goodbye." Flicking the reins and clucking his tongue, the High Commander set off at a fast gallop.