[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

Morwyn made her way back into the inn slowly, rubbing her hands on her skirt at the sides. Seeing Nahai still seated at the table she walked over, feeling a little hesitant after the rudeness of her sudden departure.

When she reached the table she laid the flute down, and said, "I must run to my room." She laughed ruefully, "I have been in the stable, and I'm afraid my hands are filthy and I smell like a horse." She held up palms rimmed with dirt as evidence. Nahai laughed, "Lady Morwyn! You are filthy!" she exclaimed. Nodding emphatically Morwyn climbed the stairs to her room.

When she got there she brushed the dark hair from her clothes as best as she could, and rinsed her hands and face in the basin. The dirt from Leofa's legs didn't come off with rinsing, so she took the brown soap from the table and scrubbed. When she was clean she went to her pack. She rummaged inside it. She had few things of beauty or value; no rings, no wooden flutes. She gently touched the silver locket on her neck. It contained hair from Alric and Freya. It was truly the only thing of value she had. Frustrated she flung the pack back on the bed. She knew Nahai didn't expect a gift in return, but Morwyn had been touched by the music of the flute, and desperately wanted to give something back.

As the pack hit the bed she heard the clank of metal inside it. Morwyn gazed at it, puzzled. What was in there that still clanged? She looked at the former contents of the pack strewed out around the room. Everything metal she owned was somewhere on the floor. She reached inside the pack, carefully. Pushing her fingers to the very deepest corner she found cold metal embedded in the lining. Digging with her fingers she pulled it out. Bells, a small garland of silver bells, came out of the lining of her pack. Morwyn stared at them as they lay in her hand. They must have slipped through a hole in the lining.

Morwyn closed her fist around the bells, and pressed them to her lips. They'd been Freya's, Morwyn had entertained her with the flashing silver and the jingling noises. She smiled, against the cool metal. A gift of music for Nahai...

She descended the stairs two at a time in her hurry to return to her friend. She arrived in the common room flushed and breathing heavily. Nahai gave her a startled glance as she approached the table. Morwyn smiled and inwardly chided herself on her juvenile behavior, smoothing and straightening her hair.

"All clean?" Nahai enquired, jokingly. Morwyn held up her palms for inspection. Nahai nodded, like a stern parent. "You may eat then."

Becoming serious, Morwyn glanced up at Nahai. The other woman caught the change in tone and looked at her enquiringly. "I have brought you a gift of music..." she smiled awkwardly, not knowing how to continue, "the silver sound of laughter..." Freya's pudgy pink cheeks and laughing mouth flashed through her memory. She pushed the bells across the table toward Nahai. The wooden surface muted their tinkling.

"To remind you, that frienship must not always bring loss."