"We are here today to celebrate the love of Darryl and Jade. May they stand before God Almighty pure of heart. We thank those who stand beside Darryl and Jade in their commitment to each other. If there is anyone who believes that Darryl and Jade should not be wed speak now."

The Priest waits for a moment before continuing.

"Darryl and Jade, you walked into the house of God on seperate paths. When you leave here you will walk but one path. May you with love conquer all troubles that lay before you. We pray."

"Dear heavenly father we pray for Darryl and Jade as they come before you pledging their hearts and lives to each other. Grant their love to be true and selfless so they may never bring shame or heartbreak into their marriage. Temper their hearts with kindness and understanding, rid them of all pretense or jealousy. Help them to remember to be each other's sweetheart, helpmate, best friend and guide, so that together they may meet the cares and problems of life more bravely. And with the passage of time, may they find great contentment in the rich joy of senior companionship. May the home they are creating today truly be a place of love and harmony, where Your Spirit is always present. Bless this marriage we pray and walk beside Darryl and Jade throughout all of their lives together. We ask these things in Jesus name; Amen"

"I have been informed that both Darryl and Jade have their own vows. Darryl you can go first."

"Jade, I love you. Today is a very special day. Long ago you were just a dream and a prayer. This day like a dream come true the Lord Himself has answered that prayer. For today, Jade, you as my joy become my crown. I thank Jesus for the honor of going through time with you. Thank you for being what you are to me. With our future as bright as the promises of God, I will care for you, honor and protect you. I lay down my life for you, Jade, my friend and my love. Today I give to you me."

Jade shed a tear as Darryl spoke. The Priest nodded for Jade to say her vows. She took a deep breath before speaking.

"I love you, Darryl, and I thank the Lord for the love that has bound our hearts and lives together in spiritual fellowship of marriage. I will love, honor, cherish and obey you always. As we enter upon the privileges and joys of life's most holy relationship and begin together the great adventure of building a Christian home, I will look to you as head of our home as I have looked to Christ as Head of the Church. I will love you in sickness as in health, in poverty as in wealth, in sorrow as in joy, and will be true to you by God's grace, trusting in Him, so long as we both shall live."

"Now you have declared your love for each other before God and these witnesses. With the power invested in me by the church I know pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."

"So mote it be" Marc, Erick and Kat said softly as Darryl kissed Jade deeply. They went back to the inn and feasted in their little room. It was not long before Jade and Darryl left for their room. Kat suggested that Marc and Erick join her for a walk. Erick shot a glance at the closed door and stood in agreement.

The next few days they remained mostly in the inn, going out only when needed. Jade had as per usual looked upon the shops for any herbs she may need. She continued to teach Darryl the fundemtals. Her actions where shy towards Darryl much to Marc's amusement. He meantioned so to Erick one evening. They smiled aware that some habits where hard to break.

They woke early the day of their sea voyage. Jade had made sure everyone was appropriatly dressed and then they all headed out to the warf with their packs. They set sail shortly after boarding. Kat was the only one to have a little trouble with her balance and after half the days travel she started to look a little green. Jade sent for water and mixed some herbs.

"Drink this." Jade commanded and Kat did so pulling a face.
"That is disgusting."
"But it will work. You should feel tired soon, rest will do you good."

Kat went to protest but Jade's look cut of any arguement. Jade went into the other cabin where the boys where.

"Kat is resting now, I gave her something to help alleviate her illness and help her sleep. The sea is certainly rough today."
"She will be okay?"
"Yes. I am going to keep an eye on her all the same. She should wake in the morning and hopefully then we will be past the worst of the weather."

The seas eased up overnight and Kat awoke feeling hungry. Jade sent for food and added some herbs into Kat's meal just to make sure her stomach stayed settled. For the rest of the journey Kat was fine if anything she was restless. When one of the cabin boys told them land was near Kat perked up. The docked shortly after noon. Despite the midday sun all but Kat shivered.

"Bit brisk." Marc commented.
"It's freezing." Jade said. "I see the sun but I am sure not feeling it."
Darryl moved and wrapped his arm and part of the cloak he was wearing around Jade.
"It isn't that bad." Erick commented.
"Speak for yourself." Darryl said pointedly.
"We sort of got used to the cold when we were serving our ten years. You will get used to it."
"Hmph." Jade said and cuddled up closer to Darryl.
"If Jade and Darryl are this cold now perhaps we should get some warmer clothes. You will definatly need them for when we reach the mountains. Not to meantion more suitable footwear for us all."

Jade looked agast at the notion of the mountains. She remembered Kat speaking of snow and that very thought seemed to make her bones cold. They headed inland towards the local inn. They got rooms for the night. Jade pinched one of the blankets of Erick saying that as he didn't feel the cold so much he wouldn't need it. They ate a warm dinner and then Jade and Darryl went to bed. They cuddled closely together with now three blankets, one under them and two on top.

"I'm scared Darryl."
"Why?" he whispered.
"It's so... cold, and... foreign, and... I just don't know. I've never been so far from home before."
"It is very far away from home that we are," he agreed, quietly. "But soon, once this quest is over, you and I can go back home, build ourselves a home, and live our lives the way that God intended."
"What if God intended for us to die, on a mountain, in the cold? I've never seen snow, but Marc and Erick described it to me, and Mam described what it can do to you. It terrifies me."
"I don't believe that God intends that for either of us. And as for the snow - the idea scares me too, but Kat knows what to do, and we will take all the proper precautions."
"I hate snow."
"Didn't I hear Kat telling you how beautiful it was?"
"Yes. She said how beautiful it can be, but like a... I forget the word she used, I guessed it's some sort of ferocious animal, like a lynx, but bigger. In any case, it's beautiful, but deadly."
"Have faith, my love. I will not let anything happen to you."
"Don't make promises you can't keep, my love."
He didn't reply, just tightened his arms around her, and in this manner they soon feel asleep.

In the next room, Kat was sandwiched between the two boys, as had become their want. She was content - their combined body warmth was more than enough to keep her warm, and neither of the boys seemed to be suffering either. Kat thought of all that had happened so far, and all that still needed to be accomplished.

There wouldn't be any need for heavy disguises, she thought, just furs and decent boots. They could pose as merchants, if anyone asked, not that anyone would. Horses would be handy; she figured the usurper would be at the main palace rather than the smaller summer palace by the sea. For a moment Kat contemplated visiting the summer palace to retrieve her spare weapons, clothing, horse... Kat sighed. Life had been good, with her princess. Kat knew she had learned more due to the princess than she ever would have learned if she had remained in the mountains, and despite wondering if any of it would ever be useful, she had found it to be so when she was washed up on a far distant shore and known the language they spoke. But on the other hand, if she'd never met the princess she wouldn't have been washed up on a far distant shore in the first place. Kat sighed. It was not for her to know what the weavers intended for her. Life was a tapestry; the importance of her thread not viewable until death, when one could stand far enough away to view the entire pattern.
Weave as you will, Kat thought, then sighed again and turned to sleep.

Marc lay in the darkness, feeling the tug on his hair where Kat had buried her face. She had taken to combing his hair each morning with a fine bone comb she had won gambling from one of the sailors on the ship. Marc wouldn't admit it to anyone but himself, but he enjoyed the early morning ritual it had become. Enjoyed feeling Kat's fingers running through his hair. It soothed him, and he had been feeling restless. He knew Erick felt the same - they both had frustration from not being at the village to protect it - not that the two of them would have been able to protect the village from a hoard of raiders, but they should have been there. But on the other hand, who was to say that the goddess didn't have some other master plan for them, which didn't involve them dying that day?

Marc felt Kat's breath whisper against his neck, and wriggled back against her comfortably. Her arm moved across his belly, and Marc closed his eyes, drifting into sleep.

Erick stood by the stall, arms folded, looking menacing. Kat was within the tent, purchasing clothing for them all, and he was on guard duty. Not that she necessarily needed protection, but she had dressed in the doeskin trousers, stating that the leather outfit would stand out too much, and she didn't know if people would be looking for her or not. It had been a while since she vanished, after all, and she didn't know what the political situation was, so best to not dress as the princess' bodyguard, when she didn't know what sort of reaction the outfit would draw. And so Erick had come along, insisting that if someone did recognise her despite her different clothes, and reacted unfavourably, two swords were better than one.

Marc had gone to the market to look at the horseflesh, and Darryl and Jade were at the inn, with several large bags, packing their supplies as they arrived at the inn. Kat emerged from the tent, and she and Erick walked towards the centre of the market, where they had arranged to meet Marc. A short time later, Kat was bartering with the owner of the horses Marc had selected. By the time the sun was slipping towards the horizon, they were at the inn, having purchased four horses, and a wagon. Darryl and Jade, having never ridden before, would drive the wagon with their supplies. Erick would pose as Jade's brother, who had a financial interest in the outcome of Darryl and Jade's latest venture and so had come along for the ride. Marc and Kat would pose as the bodyguards for the Wagoners on their trek to the Royal city, hired by Erick to protect his investment. Their clothing was packed into tightly bound packages, and their stores were neatly stacked against a wall in their rooms.

"So what else do we need?" Jade asked, surveying what seemed to her like mountains of food.
"I don't know," Kat replied. "The wagon is stocked with dry wood and feed for the horses. We have extra blankets, and enough food for 6 weeks. We have warm clothing. We have the tools we'll need for grooming the horses, fixing the wagon, catching game. You have enough herbs. We have enough weapons. I can't think of anything else we'll need."
"What about something for them to be selling?" Erick asked.
"I bought some extra herbs and spices," Kat replied. "Jade knows enough about herbs to make it believable, and they don't take up much space."
"When will we leave then?"
"Whenever we want," Kat replied. "The sooner the better, as far as I'm concerned. I'd rather be on our way before the weather turns bad."
"Is there anything stopping us leaving tomorrow then?" Marc queried.
"We will need to learn how to drive the wagon," Jade replied.
"I'll show you the basics tonight," Erick promised. "We'll be fine."
"God grant that it be so," whispered Jade, squeezing Darryl's hand.

Erick opened the door and undressed in the moonlight. He had spent an hour or so in the darkness teaching Darryl and Jade how to hitch and unhitch the horse and the wagon by feel, and he was exhausted. He was glad the horse was a steady well-broken carthorse - a livelier animal wouldn't have stood for it. Then they'd gone through it again by lamplight. At the end of three hours, they could just about do it without being reminded of the order of things. Jade had gone to bed then, and Darryl had stayed out to learn how to groom the horse, and check its hooves for stones. To the horse's great relief, they had finally left the stables for their beds. Erick would help them hitch the wagon tomorrow morning, and they'd move outside the city gates tomorrow afternoon, spend the night a short distance from the walls and start their journey in earnest the next morning. Erick scrubbed the smell of horse from his hands and climbed into bed with Marc and Kat. He was quickly asleep.

Jade woke to the sound of birds carolling, and smiled. They'd been on the road five days, and she had well and truly settled into the rhythm of days and nights. They would rise from their beds as the sun rose - she and Darryl from their bed in the wagon, the other three from wherever they had slept the night before. Sometimes they slept beneath the wagon, sometimes by the fire. If anyone else was nearby Kat and Marc slept by the fire and Erick slept under the wagon or upon the driver's seat rather than with the "mercenaries". Once roused, Kat, Erick and Marc would groom and saddle their horses while Jade cooked breakfast and Darryl hitched the wagon. Then the five would eat, put out the fire and start on their way.

At first, Jade had found the wagon uncomfortable, but she had soon grown to love it, and set about making it more "homey". Sometimes they stopped for lunch, sometimes ate as they travelled, and always stopped near water when the sun went down. Camp was set up, then the others groomed and fed the horses while Jade and Darryl cooked dinner. Then they'd sit around the fire talking for a while, sometimes drinking the sweet heady beverage Kat called "mead", and then, tired, they'd return to their beds to rest before repeating the activities the next morning.

They had only met a couple of other travellers - several near the city, only one since leaving the outskirts of the town. Each time Kat had ridden over, exchanged information about the road, then ridden back with instructions on how they would manoeuvre the wagons around each other, and they would continue on their way.

Darryl had become very proficient at driving the wagon, and Jade silently speculated on the idea of becoming Wagoners full-time, travelling from town to town, peddling herbs and spices, acting as a travelling healer between towns that didn't have their own healer, and providing exotic herbs to healers who resided in towns. For the moment, however, she kept the thought to herself - she was well aware that they'd only been travelling for five days, and everything had gone well so far. She was certain there was more to being a Wagoner than pleasant days travelling, and she was also certain that she'd experience the other side of the Wagoner's life before the quest was over. Her fear was still there, but muted under the contentment she felt at the present point in time.

Kat had been teaching them all her native tongue. Jade had been the one to pick it up the quickest due to the fact that she had been treating so many. She was telling Darryl how they had all thanked her and called her something but she still hadn't learnt what the word was and that whenever she had asked Kat she had gotten no answer.
"I have half translated the word and have gotten 'great spiritual healer'. But I can't be sure."
"I am sure you will work it out."
"Ki tara ku." Jade said
"I love you." Darryl translated.
"Yes, and I do." Jade beamed at Darryl and then she looked startled. Before she even managed to say anything Kat had already drawn her sword. Marc and Erick did the same quickly.

Three Trolls appeared on the horizen. Jade gasped in horror. They were huge, both in height and in width. They were a greyish white colour and as they came closer you could see their horns. They grinned sloppy kind of grins showing rows of teeth with bits of meat still caught between them. There was blood stained around their mouth and on the half tunic clothing they wore. They swung huge clubs with spikes, each spike also stained with blood. Their arms seemed gangly as did their legs but their stomachs where huge. Their skin appeared pockmarked and they didn't smell nice either. Kat put herself between the trolls and the wagon. Marc and Erick did the same. Darryl struggled to keep the horse contained and Jade moved off the wagon to the front of the horse and tried to block it's vision of the trolls. She cooed at it as she tried to bind cloth over it's eyes.

The Trolls let out bellows as they swung their clubs. Kat danced out of the way and swung at his arm slashing it open. The screams terrified Jade and she turned to see one of the Trolls fall. The second two bellowed in anger and swung more frequently. Kat, Marc and Erick kept the trolls at bay. Darryl called out and Jade turned quickly but she was to late, the horse had risen onto it's back legs and kicked forward connecting with Jade and sent her flying, right into the midst of the battle. Darryl's cry made the three fighters falter for a moment as they took in what happened. The Trolls moved forward and struck at Kat. She barely managed to get out of the way, the club scrapping her arm.

The sounds of trumpets filled the air that made the trolls pause. Five fighters, swords drawn came running down towards them and took up arms against the Trolls. The Trolls made a few attempts at trying to strike them down but eventually it dawned on them that they were clearly out numbered. The turned and fled. Darryl was at Jade's side in a moment.

"Thank you." Marc huffed to the fighters.
"Quick, Jade's hurt." Kat said.
"So are you." Erick said.
"It's nothing, but we need to help Canan."
Whilst the word was still foreign to Marc, Erick and Darryl the soldiers perked up at that word. "Our camp is not far, we will take you there."

They helped Jade into the back of the wagon and Erick steered as Darryl sat with Jade's head in his lap, stroking her hair. The trip seemed to take forever but they reached a rather large encampment within minutes. One of the soldiers had already run on ahead and he met them at the edge. A healer was with him and also a man, clearly by his clothes marked him as a Lord. Kat beamed as she saw the Lord but directed the healer towards Jade. Another healer went to look at her wound but she shook her head. After Jade had been seen to and Marc and Erick were being tended to did Kat finally allow herself to go up to the Lord.