Darin wanted to scowl as Ridahne mentioned always working because if though she didn’t like it, she knew it was true. Ridahne was a warrior and a guardian. That didn’t stop. It wouldn’t stop for a long, long time. At best there might be times that were less stressful, but Ridahne was Ridahne. She wasn’t going to let herself be distracted by something as childish as play. So, Darin didn’t scowl, and she resisted the urge to pout as listened to the rest of what the warrior had to say. Though the rest of it wasn’t any more comforting than the first part had been.

There wasn’t anything to say about Harai that hadn’t already been said. Darin really was just going to have to do her best. The Seed-Bearer didn’t want to ask The Tree, because she had a feeling that it was getting harder for The Tree to come and visit her dreams. She didn’t want to be the reason why The Tree died even a second before It had to. She had already consulted with the Sota-Sol, who had experience in this type of thing before, so realistically there was very little left to do except make a decision. It had to be the one that Darin thought was best, but to be honest none of them seemed anything close to the best. They were all bad.

Then the last thing Ridahne said finally penetrated Darin’s mind and she panicked, “No! Don’t leave! Stay with me! You can’t leave! Please don’t leave!”

Darin didn’t know what to do about Harai or Martin Aliceson or being The Seed-Bearer so publicly, but she did know that she didn’t want Ridahne leaving to go look for Martin Aliceson. She wanted her sister here with her. Nothing was worth separating the two of them. Well, that wasn’t completely true, but things like Ajoran and Ridahne starting a family would have to wait until just before the final stretch that would hopefully not come for a long, long time. For now, Darin had no desire to send Ridahne off to search for ghosts that Darin thought she had laid to rest. Clearly that wasn’t completely true, but that wasn’t important now.

She begged in almost pure desperation, “Your wedding! You can’t leave before your wedding. And he’s not that important! Besides if he really is Red Hand, we’ll run into this Aliceson soon enough! There’s no rush. Probably. Mostly likely. Stay with me Ridahne! Please don’t leave me. Please!”

How truly pathetic was this, The Seed-Bearer begging for just one person to stay. Darin was willing to give Ridahne to Ajoran, but that was different! She couldn’t explain it but it was different! It felt different! It felt like knowing that even though Milla and Thomas were her friends eventually it would be ThomasandMilla, MillaandThomas. One entity and then Darin on the side. Eventually it would be RidahneandAjoran, AroranandRidahne. One entity and then Darin on the side, but that didn’t mean she wanted Ridahne leaving now! She couldn’t leave now. Please! Don’t leave now! Especially not for someone who shouldn’t matter at all.

Darin found herself confessing, “The Gardener was old. Older than The Tree since He planted it. That means He got to watch everyone ever loved leave. That means.” She paused and sputtered as she finally realized the full implications of what truth she was saying crashed into her, “That means eventually I will have to watch everyone I love leave.” She hurried one to reassure her family, “Which is fine! I mean I have practice with it, and most of them will just leave when their age catches up to them.” She sighed as she ran a hand through her hair, “That doesn’t mean I want you to leave now.”