Chapter Three.

  One smile can start a friendship. One word can end a fight. One look can save a relationship. One individual can change your life. For good or bad of course! I wished I knew this sooner. Maybe I could have restrained myself, put my pride aside, and it would have done us good. On the contrary, I was not weak. Otherwise my name meaning 'the strong one' would have had no meaning. I had the right to do whatever I pleased. Everyone always does, didn't they?

But still...

  It'd been four days now since we received the ominous invitation from the keepers. Four bloody days. They were onto us, like we were criminals that needed to be punish. The next day we set out to work, old man Ayer had warned us to be weary of our footsteps. Mine especially, since I had gotten us into that mess anyway. They had sent a message to everyone in Beladonia not to trust us, and threatened to severely punish anyone who dared associated with us. More companies arrived each time we left the house. The last time, they had sent another note. Of warning this time, to continue staying at the 'tiny nest' we called home at our own risk. This tiny nest was the only thing left from our grandmother. The only family we had. How could they try to take that from us?

"That's the only way and you know it!" I remember Tara cried out last night. She had begged, advised, and even warned me a million times that we I what was right. She was right of course, but I just couldn't.

"Tara?" We were close to old man Ayer's place now, when the haunting thought formed up like a dark cloud in my mind. "I'm sorry about everything. Really."

"Don't be Ker-"

"No. Let me finish." I turned to face her. Eye contacts were needed here." I let my pride get in the way,talking to that bastard the other day. Even though I still think it wasn't entirely my fault. But we can't risk our lives staying in the house,at least for now. And I can never go and apologize to them for something I didn't do."

"So..what are you proposing?" I could feel the suspense filling her eyes brightly.

Blurting out awkwardly like I was being forced to. 

"How about we stay over at the Ayer's for a few days."  

She got lost in a deep thought for a few seconds, pausing like a frozen piece of ice. Then finally speaking with a big smile on her face"You mean the Tybalts,don't you?"

I've known Tara my whole twenty years,three months, and eleven days I've lived on earth. The cute I-get-what-you're-trying-to-say-and-I-love-it smile,the sarcastic response,and that spark in her eyes that glowed from time to time. It was a yes!

"Great then. You just break the news and then,we pack a few things and move in."

"Would have loved that, but you thought of it. So you tell him."

"Not really,you can tell him."

"No thank you,you should do it."

"You're the first child,aren't you?"

"So?"

"So you do it. I really insist. Besides there's no way I'm going to talk to that old man on a subject like this. You've always been so good with words so I pronounce that you should do it big sister!"

****

".. So I thought you could let us stay here for a couple of days."

After a brief silence that felt like a whole day,he finally let out a sigh before responding." Kerik dear,I would love to have you children around."

As you might have guessed,Tara made me do all the work.

" It would be my pleasure to comfort you in every way that I can,so yes you can stay here for as long as you want to." Putting on a weak smile as he stared uncomfortably to thin air.

"Sir Ayer? You're scared aren't you? ."

"What if they harmed us? I don't want to lose my only daughter though I really want to help so much." He tried sympathizing with us. He was right. We had to find another option.

Like she already read through my head,Tara replied with the exact words I would have said." We're so sorry Mr Ayer,we should have thought of your safety too. Its risky enough that we have to come here everyday for our daily bread,we're okay with just that Sir. "

"Oh thank you my children. I'm really glad you could understand."

****

I loved the sound of heavy rain and thunder on a dark night. I've found it so peaceful...

We were back home to our 'tiny nest' after a long heartbroken day. The whole room had gotten a little change after the destruction had taken place. We got a not-so-new bed from the old couple next door. We sometimes helped them do petty jobs around the house. After hearing what happened to us they decided to help us in little ways that they could. We got rid of the broken table,got some plates from Mr Ayer and other petty things that got ruined. The chair was gone forever so we sat on the floor now. 

After a small meal of some left overs we had,we laid on the bed depleted of every energy we had left,tardily waiting for the spirit of sleep to take us away.

Then suddenly a deafening bang boomed round the whole room. At this time of the night, who could that have been.

"They're here again" Tara slowly whispered with her eyes wide opened. Crying slowly as she dashed towards the door.

"Tara!" We couldn't just go running towards the call of death,we had to at least defend ourselves." Where's your dagger?" Quickly reaching for mine under the bed as my eyes flashed a heavy looking piece of wood lying helplessly under the bed. What was it even doing there anyway? Well looked like a pretty good weapon too. Picking up the heavy stick I scanned the room to find a trace of Tara. She had already gotten her dagger waiting so we open the door together.

Heading forward to the door we raised up our alarm,even though it felt like jumping down a cliff.

I signaled to her as she tried to opened up the door. Three.. Two..open!

"Tara! Kerik! They killed my father!" Cried terribly the voice at the door. 

I couldn't believe my eyes. What the hell was she talking about. Killed who?

No...No!!!