Footsteps were approaching. Moira tried to hold her breath and stop her 
crying, she didn't want to be found. Not only was she a bastard, but now
it was confirmed she was an orphan. She cringed as she felt someone come
up next to her. 

"Moira?" It was a deep male voice, vaguely familiar.

"Leave me alone." She tried to make it a calm request, but it sounded more
like a hurt petulant child. 

Strong hands caught her arm and gently coached her to her feet. "Come on
now, tell me what's the matter." She now recognized the speaker as Oldreth.
Taking a deep breath and staring down at the toes of his boots she began to
try and explain, only to her mortification burst into tears all over again.
She was startled at first as he put his arms around her and held her close,
letting her cry against him. The kindness shown simply made her grief pour
out even faster. 

More footsteps approached, and Moira heard the voice of the junior
queenrider asking "Is there anything I can do to help?  Moira?  Are you
hurt, do you need a healer?"
	
Alarmed, Moira stepped back slightly from Oldreth and scrubbed at her tear
stained face with her sleeves. Taking a deep shaking breath she answered.
"Oh no, NO! I'm not hurt. I just.." she paused to take a deep breath,
trying to stop the flood of tears from starting again. "I just found out
what happened to my father, that's all. He died a long time ago, and, and,
we'll, Mother and I never knew." she finished in a hoarse whisper, as she
began to shake. 

"I'm sorry to.."Merissa began as Moira pulled away from Oldreth and took a
few steps toward the stream bed. She was startled as the girl suddenly
grabbed a handful of stones and began hurling them into the stream
violently, as though she would kill the watercourse. "Moira?"

"Laying awake at night when I was little wondering when he'd back,the
daydreams of him coming and taking us away from the guild, then later
listening to Mother call for him in her deliriums and HATING him, and after
she died, being ejected from our quarters in the family area and being put
in the Apprentices quarters, even though I was Journeyman level. Being
called bastard and freak and NEVER KNOWING WHAT HAD HAPPENED!" Her voice
had grown steadily louder and the last ended in a piercing scream as Moira
ran out of stones and stood staring into the river, stunned and shaking.
She turned around  on shaking legs to present a pale face to the two people
staring back at her. "Oh Gods, what have I done." She whispered softly as
her legs collapsed under her and she suddenly sat down.

Oldreth and Merissa rushed to her to make sure she was okay. "I would say
you just let out years worth of pent up frustration, that's all." Merissa
told the frightened young woman quietly, gently brushing back strands of
curling hair that had escaped her braid. 

"Most impressively," Oldreth added. "I would have almost thought you were a
Bear Nomad woman." He added with a grin.

"Oh no, I've behaved horribly. No wonder everyone at the guild thought so
poorly of me." Moira said softly. She knew somewhere in the back of her
mind that she was in shock but it really didn't matter. Nothing really
mattered right now. Weariness washed over her as the rage and grief
subsided, leaving Moira able to think somewhat more clearly. Suddenly her
eyes widened. "Oh no."

"What?" Oldreth and Merissa asked simultaneously. 

Moira glanced back and forth between them, startled, then answered. "I was
supposed to return to Barry's shop after I spoke with Trinale's mother,
she's the one who told me what happened to my father. Oh dear."

"Barry will likely tell you to take the rest of the week off and grieve,
don't worry about him. Now, I think we should get you to the healer centre
and get you something to help you sleep, and then let you rest. You've had
a bad shock today." Merissa said firmly, urging the young woman to her
feet. Moira looked to protest but as she swayed slightly on her feet she
nodded in agreement. The three set off in the directions of the healer's
quarters.

*************************
sorry this took so long and thanks for being so patient everyone! 

Rhiannon
Moira