Confrontations and Confusion

It was a long while later that Sheela awoke. She was shocked to see where she had dozed off, and more so to see who sat in a chair across from her, gazing at the heavenly sky. Even in the silvery moonlight, his eyes still seemed to have their own golden glow, and for once, she thought he looked at rest. Slowly, she crept off the couch, hoping to slip away quietly, and stole a last, furtive glance back at him.
“You’re the awful sly type, Ranger.” He hadn’t even glanced at her. She froze.
“How did you…”
He turned to look at her, grinning, as if her bewilderment amused him. “You’ve been asleep awhile.” She sighed. “It’s late, and it’s been a long day…a long week…I guess I was worn out.”
“Hah. You don’t cook for fourteen and some guests every night and day. And you’re the one who’s tired?”
She laughed, and he smiled back at her, the first display of truly heartened emotion that she had seen in him for a while. Or from anyone, for that matter, she thought.
He glanced back at the moon, hesitated. “It’s awful late, Sheela. You probably aught to get back to your rooms and get some sleep.”
For a moment, she was stunned. “Ah, yes, I- I guess I should go…” She glanced out at the dark halls, and felt a chill pass through her. “But I’m not really sure…” Their eyes met, and she could feel the odd tension between them. Then he blinked and looked away.
“I’ll take you to the right hall.” He passed by her without another word, and she tried to fight back the disappointment growing as she followed him.

Sheela gave a soft sigh as her door came into view.
“Well, here you are, Miss Windrow.”
She glanced back at Ardon, a sad look in her eyes.
“Ardon, you called me Sheela earlier…”
“I- I’m sorry, that was out of place, I didn’t mean…”
“It’s not that I didn’t…”
“Sheela, I- ”
“Yes?”
“I…”
She turned around to face him, and they were so close that she could see her amber reflection in his eyes. She felt her heart racing, her throat tighten…and something else she had never felt before, something she couldn’t name…and she liked it. He drew a little closer, but she stayed frozen to the spot. He was even closer now…closer…she could feel his warm breath on her mouth…His lips brushed hers, leaving a tingling sensation, and a shiver ran down her spine…
“Hello?”
Sheela jumped, and for a split second felt her lips press against his. Then they both leaped back, shock a shared expression, and spun in unison toward the voice.
Avalon paused as she recognized the faces of Sheela and Ardon in the dim lamplight.
“Ah….I’m not interuptin’ anythin’, am I lassie?” she asked slowly. She watched, with naught a little amusement,
as they both turned scarlett. Ardon, in particular, looked mortified as he glanced back at the Ranger, as if he had done
something unspeakable.
“You two all right?”
Sheela regained her wits first. “Ahm, yes, fine thank you, Avalon. It’s late, I’ll be heading to bed.” She nodded at Ardon, avoiding looking him in the eye, and rushed to her room, shutting the door with a firm click.
Ardon watched her go, his eyes distant-looking. Then he blinked, staring at Avalon as though he had just noticed her.
A fiery eyebrow rose. “And you, laddie?”
“Ah, right, I should get going…” He turned and started back down the hall, but the theif gave a low whistle of reproof. “Back out there, aye? I’m thinkin’ that shant be yer best idea yet, boyo. You’d better stay in one of these rooms fer the night, to be safe.” She paused, thinking. “In fact, we might as well all stay on the same hall from now on, fer safety reasons. We can move Red an’ Marles in the morn. Don’t want anyone caught by one o’ his vermin!” She paused dramatically, grinning wickedly. “Besides, I shant think that Miss Windrow would enjoy buryin’ ye six feet under if somethin’ did happen to ye, lad!” She watched, with an immeasurable surge of satisfaction, as his face flushed scarlett all over again. You still got it, lass! She thought triumphantly.
Ardon glared. “And Balinor?”
It was her turn to blush. “That…That’s all been taken care of, laddie.”
An equally wicked smirk formed upon his lips. “And he’s staying in…”
“That’d be none o’ yer business, aye!” And the door was slammed abruptly in his face.
* * *
Sheela was beside herself. “Bloody Fathron! What in the world was I thinking?! Shikes!” She paced the room, thankful subconciously that it was a large room, but the rest of her mind was in a tumult, and swearing profanities seemed the only way to vent all of her built up emotions, most of which she did not even understand.
It was several more minuites before she felt weary enough to sit down. She was tired, but her head was in an endless buzz; she felt as if she had been drinking too much rum, omitting the disorientation. I wish it were that simple, she thought desperately, just a night at the pub with Rellen and Morgan…She sighed. Even just to go home and see the ocean…idly she picked up a small mirror left on the nightstand, and gazed critically at her reflection.
The blue dye virtually gone, only her simple reddish brown locks remained, framing her face in a common, unexotic manner. Here and there, she could pick out a strand which still held stubbornly to a fading cerulean color, but other than that, her natural hair color had returned. I’ll have to dye it again soon, she thought, for the Festival of Tides. But maybe I’ll wait ‘till I can go home.
She was turning toward the nightstand, reflection in the glass mirror wistful, when the screaming began.
The mirror slipped from her fingers, shattered on the wood floor, and lay forgotten as the Ranger bolted for the door