There was a chill in the air when they left on the following morning just as the blackness of night began to glow softly with the first gray of early dawn. Gwyn turned to look at Sofi, snug under her blankets all nestled on a bed of fresh hay. She felt neither bite of the night cold nor the bumps of the road. Turning forward, Gwyn caught a blast of wind full in the face.

An uncontrollable shiver shook her to the core. As she tugged her cloak tighter about her shoulders, Gil slipped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her to his side, rubbing her arm from shoulder to elbow.

"Cold morning."

"It will be... if morning ever gets here." She yawned. Berk woke them two hours before their agreed upon time.

"Sleep." Gil offered, "We have a long ride ahead. Berk wanted us to arrive at the village with enough light that anyone watching us will see us go in."

"And that is important because?"

Gil smiled. He and John had noted that while Gwyn was easy going and easy by nature, she was not at all fond of mornings.

"We will stay only the one night before we make an early start for Berk's farm."

"It is the same as we did when we travelled from there to Kingstown. Aside, we left our mule and cart at his farm when we rode with him to Kingstown."

"When we leave the village, Berk will be sleeping comfortably in the stables. As comfortably as Sofi is right now, I imagine."

"What?" Gwyn fought another yawn, as curiosity battled with fatigue. "I do not understand. I thought Berk..."

Gil did not answer her, as he saw the thoughts churning behind her tired eyes. He knew she had the answer...

"Someone is switching places with Berk." It was not a question. Gil smiled and tapped the end of her nose.

"Spot on, Love. He shall remain to coordinate the men of the former Royal Guard in order to give Cameron some little support in case Neron makes a move before ... before WE can figure out what needs to be done next."

"I think—" Gwyn covered her mouth as another gaping yawn took every ounce of her meager energies.

"I think you need to sleep." Gil smiled, using his free hand to gently press her head to his chest.

It was rather draining to appear calm and to be consumed with the lovelies displayed in the market when the three men who murdered your father and hunted you like a wild rabbit were so very close...And all the while with your heart thumping a wild beat in your ears...

"Hmm." She mumbled and surrendered to sleep.

---

Gwyn awoke sometime later to the delightful sound of Sofi's laughter. Stretching she startled when her hands hit wood. Her heart began thumping in alarm as her eyes shot open and she looked about...with a sigh she relaxed back in to the little hay bed. Sofi was on Gil's lap holding the reins. Gil's hands gently covered hers and helped her to guide the horses.

Sofi adored him. It was good for her to be with them in their hiding. She seemed to finally feel safe again and was slowly becoming more like a child should be. She would often talk for long stretches of time, she smiled more often and even laughed once in a while. She was such a shy sad little girl when she first came to live with Gwyn and Robin.

The thought of Robin made her smile grow. How could Sofi not begin to come out of her safe little turtle shell where she hid from...everything...when Robin was nearby. He was outspoken, and such an adventurous spirit that Sofi would naturally be swept right along in his search for fun and joy in almost everything. What child could not? Sooth, what PERSON could not?

Robin was her spot of joy, her sunshine, when life was too sorrowful to bear. She delighted in hearing him tell of his daily adventures as she grieved for their mother. She embraced his adventurous spirit as they hid like the animals and ran for their lives toward Brecken. She still loved to hear of his adventures after a long day of being in charge of everything.

Sofi laughed again as they went over a bump and Gil hug her to keep the child from bouncing off the cart entirely.

"Sofi, my girl, you are a delight. You like driving the cart?"

"Yes, papa." Sofi giggled as she tried to wiggle the reins and go faster. Gil held them fast. "Faster."

"We cannot." Gil gently declined. "Mama is asleep in the back and there are all of our supplies. If we go too fast on this old bumpy road, everything will bounce right out and we will lose it all."

"No!" Sofi frowned and tipped her head back to look up at Gil. "Do not lose Mama!"

"I agree. I do not wish to lose Mama either. So, let us take this road with a bit more caution, shall we?"

Sofi turned back to the road and nodded, sticking her tongue out as she concentrated on keeping them going just right. They went over another bump and Sofi bounced again, letting out another burst of delightful giggles. More awake now, Gwyn knew the bump was not so great as to cause Sofi to bounce so high, and realized Gil was assisting her flight with a bounce of his knee.

She smiled. Papa used to bounce her on his knee when she was small...

"Mama!"

"Sofi!" Gwyn greeted with a smile as she struggled to sit up in the shifting hay on the bouncing road.

"I am driving the cart!" Sofi announced.

"And she is doing a right fine job of it." Berk confirmed. "She has managed to hit every single bump thus far and that is a rather impressive record."

Gil chuckled but Sofi just beamed proudly and sat up a little straighter as her little tongue darted out again in her concentration.

Using the back of the cart seat to brace herself, Gwyn managed to get to her knees so she could look ahead. "Is there room for me on the seat?"

"Your seat there is probably softer, but aye." Berk smiled, reaching a hand to assist. "Come ahead."

Straightening her skirts, she settled betwixt the men and enjoyed the ride. She could not ask for better company and she enjoyed seeing all of the fields freshly plowed. This close to Kingstown there were enough men around to work the fields... The rich dark earth in contrast to the bright green of the grass and the clear blue of the sky.

A sigh of contentment escaped her lips and she relaxed her spine. It was a lovely day...

Until her stomach broke the companionable silence by growling rather mightily.

Sofi laughed. Berk chuckled. Gwyn blushed. Gil winked.

"I think we should stop for midday meal sooner, since we left before we could break our fast." Gil announced.

Gwyn wiggled about in her discomfort, blushing brighter as she focused her attention on some imaginary bit of something or other on her skirts.

"An excellent idea." Berk agreed as he tried to contain his laughter.

Gwyn was grateful for their consideration as her stomach once more rumbled loudly. She was absolutely mortified and quite resolved to never let her nerves keep her from a meal again...

---

"You must be watchful." Berk admonished "My brother has men posted to watch traffic along the road and they reported three unsavory looking men went through this way late last eve. It is not entirely unusual for men to travel late when the night is bright but—"

"But last night was dark as pitch." Gwyn finished, remembering her trip to the funny little necessary house out behind the inn. She tripped twice, and nearly landed on her face because the only light was from a single torch pole burning a few steps away from the back door. At least it was easier to find her way back...

"Just so." Berk nodded. "For them to travel..."

"I shall guard them well." Rin assured his brother with a pat on the back before he climbed into the driving seat.

"I have no doubts, Rin. God go with you."

"God keep you." Gwyn stood on tip toe to place a chaste kiss on Berk's cheek. "You have been good to us. My ...erm...friend...will be glad to hear that so many of you are doing well and he will rest easier knowing there is still someone here to watch over the people."

"Tell your friend..." Berk's voice caught and he cleared his throat. "May god keep your friend in good health."

"I shall tell him of your good wishes." Gwyn smiled. "I am anxious to return and to see my son again. I imagine he has grown since I saw him last."

"Boys will do that." Berk smiled, grateful for the change of subject. "If he is anything like his mother, he will be a good man."

"I thank you, my friend." Gwyn smiled and stepped back to see Gil lifting Sofi to the back of the cart. She waved at Gwyn as she settled into her place with her ragdoll. Gwyn smiled and stepped forward to take Gil's hand, thinking he would help her up. She squeaked when instead, she found her feet lifted from the ground and her bottom planted firmly on the seat.

"Thank you...husband." She smiled through her blush.

"I shall only be a minute. I must have a word with Berk..."

"I am right here." Rin winked. "Do you not mean that you wish to have a word with RIN?"

"Aye." Gil chuckled.

---

"This day is looking to be as pleasant as the last." Gwyn said on a sigh.

"It is a lovely sort of day. If we had not so far to travel, I would suggest that we stop for a picnic and let Sofi run about. If Robin were here..."

"I know. I think of him often these past days. He would very much like all of this...newness. He will pester you with questions for days after we return, you know."

"Aye. But I mind it not. I remember well being a lad. I only wish somedays that I had more to offer him than just stories of war or my father's little farm."

"You know that he cares not. He is only glad for the company. He was very close with my brothers and when the king's men ...well, when they were all taken away, Robin was heartbroken. He has missed them more than even I."

"Aye. John and I talked about it. Drew, John, and I have decided that while we are not Wil, Jordan and Garth, we will do what we can to be there for him."

"I thank you for that, from the bottom of my heart." Gwyn smiled and blinked away the excess moisture building in her eyes.

"I think." Gil said with a smile as he reached behind Gwyn and pushed Rin's shoulder, "I think we should take a longer rest at midday meal. I think we shall have a picnic after all."

"A picnic sounds grand." Rin smiled. "I shall be the beastly dragon. You shall be the knight and Gwyn can be the brave little princess from that story you tell."

"" Sofi popped up, her enthusiasm bursting in the volume of her excitement at playing out her new favorite story.

"So you are." Gwyn smiled. "I shall be the storyteller then. I shall tell the story and you three shall be the players and make the story come to life."

"Are you a good dragon?" Sofi looked doubtfully at Rin.

"I hope so. But you can ask Arthur and Pim. I used to play knights and dragon with them when they were little. Did Pim tell you she wanted to be a knight when she grew up?"

Sofi's eyes grew large as she shook her head no.

"Well, she changed her mind after we came to Kingstown and she saw some of the ladies going to the palace. Then she decided she wanted to be a lady. But then George the blacksmith's boy told her that she makes delicious mince meat pies, and she decided that she wants to be a baker."

"She changes her mind a lot." Sofi nodded for emphasis. "I am going to be a healer like my mama."

Gwyn had no inkling this was Sofi's wish and it touched her somewhere deep in her heart. The tears she felt earlier returned but she sniffled them back. This was a happy time...

---

Sofi was exhausted after her picnic. Gwyn restored the little hay bed to rights and Gil carried the brave little princess to place her gently upon it. The girl never moved.

"She is tuckered."

"Aye. It was my hope that she would get some of her nervous energy out, but I did not mean to wear her so completely out. Do you suppose her napping will keep her awake this night as well?"

"Nay. Sofi is never one to give up a bit of sleep. A wise child, would you not say? There are too many days that I wish that I could sneak away for a few hours of napping."

"Aye. I can understand that all too well. At least when we are riding in formation, we can take turns sleeping in our saddles. It does not do for all to sleep at once, as we must ever be on our guard."

"If that is the case, good sir, I shall take first watch and you may sleep if you wish." Gwyn chuckled. "You both may nap if you wish. I know how to drive the cart."

"I shall take you up on that offer." Rin said with a good-natured smile as he handed over the reins. "It has been many years since I have crawled about upon my hands and knees and played the dragon. A nap will help to restore my spirits so that I will be able to handle all of Elsbet's many questions this eve."

"In that case, good wife," Gil smiled. "I shall also get a bit of sleep. It is good of you to watch after us. But do not forget Ber...er...Rin's warning to us this morn. Be ever watchful and wake one of us should you see another person upon this road whether they look to be friend or foe."

"I shall." Gwyn agreed and before long, she was along with her thoughts and the sounds of the breeze rustling over the grass and through the leaves. There was an occasional bird and once there was a dog barking somewhere in the distance. It was quite restful as she left her worries behind and just enjoyed the day.

It was not to last, as she heard a dog and as her eyes turned naturally toward the sound, she noticed a darkness in the shadows under the small cluster of trees off to the left of their road. She made no move, save to nudge Gil's foot with her own.

"Gil." She whisperedharshly. "Be still. I think we are being watched. To the left, ahead near the trees."