Darin thought about that. At least in this moment Ridahne and her were in the same emotional states. They were both feeling a bunch of conflicting emotions that didn’t make sense to feel altogether. Yet, they both couldn’t help but feel them all. It didn’t seem like there was any logical solution. Then again, when were emotions ever logical. How could they be? Logic belonged to the brain. Emotions belonged to the heart. They very rarely agreed on anything. Sometimes logic needed to win. Sometimes emotions did. They could very rarely both win. Darin knew that, yet it was difficult to remember.

Darin held out both hands, both lightly closed, “I guess that makes sense. And I think it’s okay, to have two conflicting emotions.” She opened one hand, “On one hand to be grateful that the conversation happened, to be honored that she was candid.” She opened the other, “One the other, to hate that it had to be happened at all, to hate that she put you in the position that she put you in.” She closed her fists again, “It doesn’t have to make sense to feel both things.” She opened one hand again, “On one hand to not want to leave home.” The second hand was open again, “On the other to be glad that it led us to each other.” She sighed as she moved to rub a hand against her face, “And you’re right, there’s not much that I can do to help, except try to understand. So, feel free to feel whatever you want, even if it is conflicting and confusing. I’ll do my best to listen and try to understand.” She smiled as she placed her fiddle back under her chin, “But for now one more song for the pretty boy who’s never heard a fiddle before and then my bath and bed.” She eyed Ridahne with a hint of mischief in her eyes, “Perhaps a jig. Or maybe a ballad.”

In the end she wound up playing something high spirited and lively. It was a dancing tune. Darin was never good at dancing, but she had gotten a lot of practice since she had left home. Dancing was one thing that seemed to bring people together. Each culture had its own styles and Darin had grown to love each one just a little bit. She had learned to play most of the music that went with it, but it seldom translated to a fiddle well. As such she had taken very basic lessons in more of the Eluri and Orosi instruments. She wasn’t an expert by any means, but she enjoyed the little that she knew. Finally the song ended and she leaned over to place a kiss on Ridahne’s cheek.

She stood as she said, “I’m off to my bath and to bed. I’ll see you when I wake up.” She turned to Ajoran with a serious look on her face, “Watch out for her in the barracks. I doubt everyone is happy with her or with the Sota-Sol’s decision to allow her back. If there’s trouble I will back whatever it is, you decide to do to deal with it.” She moved to enter her room thought the window, “Good night lovebirds. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Once in the room the first thing Darin did was to detune the fiddle and place it back in the case. She probably wouldn’t get a chance to play her again, but one never knew for sure. After that it was easy enough to strip and scrub the travel grime off. She noted that there was a clean outfit. It wasn’t one of hers, but it was close enough. The water wasn’t cold, but it was on the tepid side. Still, Darin had taken plenty of cold baths before and would again. She delighted in the scrubbing off of the dirt and grime. Finally, when she was clean, she got out of the tub to change in the soft cotton breeches and cotton shirt. It was a little big, but just to sleep she left of the belt and the boots. Darin almost literally fell into bed and as soon as she closed her eyes she was asleep.