The days following Normas introduction passed slowly. Over the course of a few days I met her whole family. Jon and Norma were friends with my parents long ago, her oldest son Micah and I use to be good friends. I know they are withholding information from me to save me from being overwhelmed while I'm healing, I simply cannot wait to be done with this whole mess. I have no idea what to do after I'm done, I certainly can't stay here forever they're nice but I do not want to intrude on their lives. Micah and I were slowly becoming close, he would take time from his day to show me things from our past or have long conversations with me. I felt a closeness with him that I hadn't experienced before.

I'm able to move around more these days, although I can't carry anything heavy, the arrow went deep when it punctured my shoulder. I help Norma around the house as much as I can and I tend to Silvermane, although Anthony has that much pretty well taken care of. I don't know how long i was unconscious for but it is now winter, a fresh blanket of snow covers the ground. I shiver as i stand on the porch watching the snowflakes drift down, all of a sudden i feel a thick blanket being wrapped around me. Confused I look up to see Micah smiling at me.

"You'll catch your death if you're out here with no covering."

"Oh, sorry. I hadn't realized I had none." My brows knit together.

"What's wrong?" He strides in front of me and places his hands on my shoulders gently.

"I'm just eager to have this mission be done so I can decide what I want to do with my life..."

"I don't really know," I chuckle " I've spent my whole life just serving someone else so I'm not sure what to do or even where to go."

"Go? You could stay here you know..."

"Here?"

"Yeah ya know...with mom and dad...the boys...with me..."

I blush at the thought of what he could mean, Micah was a very attractive man. He stood very tall with a muscular frame, with black wavy hair and his emerald eyes I had trouble looking away most days.

"I..I...I cant do that..." I stammer at him

"Why not?" He brings me into a firm hug, "You're welcome and loved here."

"Loved?"

"Ellie I..." The door swings open and Jon steps out.

"Come on in young'ens suppers on the table!" He winks at Micah before turning to hold the door open, my blushing intensified as I walked inside. I sigh deeply before joining everyone at the table.

"This looks amazing Norma."

"This is nothing dear, you should see what I cook at big events like oh, I don't know, weddings!"

I cocked an eyebrow at her,

"That's a very specific event to mention."

"Think nothing of it dear, " She waves me on "Now let's dig in before it grows cold."

Micah had caught a pheasant and Norma cooked that up with potatoes and root vegetables, there was biscuits and jellies it almost looked like a miniature feast from the castle.

The boys talked aimlessly with their father, while I decided to chat with Norma about my plans for the egg.

"I need to get back to the dragon soon. I'm almost healed up. "

"Dearie it's the dead of winter, that's a fool's errand. Wait until spring comes and thaws the snow and ice."

"I don't want to overstay my welcome."

"Nonsense, the boys have been converting the loft in the barn into a nice room for you. I know it's not as nice as we'd like but its something."

"Or I could stay in the barn with the animals." Anthony offers.

"That's ok Anthony the barn will be perfect for me, thank you all."

After dinner I retired to my new room, Micah came in to build me a small fire in the stove they installed.

"There," He wiped the sweat from his brow "That should keep you warm, there's extra logs if you need it."

"Thank you, Micah."

He turned to go but stopped halfway,

"Think about what I said, ok? "

I nodded at him and he left me alone in the loft.

Sighing I laid down on my bed, alone with my thoughts I went over our conversation earlier. Was he going to confess something to me? Frustrated I flipped over and screamed into my pillow. This was going to be the longest winter ever.