[Crystal Heart]

Gondor! He had been in Gondor! No wonder her father wouldn't tell her where he was. She knew that her father knew. If she had known she would have followed him. Perhaps that is the reason her father didn't allow her to know.

She smiled as he spoke of Chianna. Yes, that horse did love him something fierce. They always did have this unspoken bond with one another. She nodded and told him that she understood.

"Gondor? I wish I would have known. You would make a fine General of any army. You always were very bright and inventive," she told him softly as her heart slightly died. Did he want to become a soldier so bad that it would take him away from her once more? She swallowed back the emotions, thoughts, and questions that had bubbled up inside as he asked what she had been doing the last five years. What she had been doing was nothing compared to what he had done.

"Last five years? I've just been working at the homestead. Sandrina got married and had a little child. A boy. He is such a wonderful little nephew. I've been taking care of him. Father too really. I just. . .was around. Doing my chores and wondering about you," she started. She stopped as she remembered what she had needed to talk to Thomas about. A very large, pressing matter that would consume both their lives forever. She knew what was in her father's will. She knew that she had to tell him, but she was afraid of his reaction. She cleared her throat and took his hand for support as her world began to spin around her.

"Thomas. . . Father has given you a portion of the estate. Nothing much. Just a couple of acres. He has given you all his weapons. The estate. . . however. . . it. . ." she trailed off, her breathing quickened. How could she tell him what the condition was?! She decided not to tell him.