The small house was filled with the laughs of children, Ruth listened to her children play in their rooms as she cooked a stew over the fire. She watched carefully as the stew boiled and she added some vegitables to it. Content with the way the meal was going she began to set the table preparing for the guests that would be arriving shortly to talk to her about something. She put plates on the table and set cups beside the plates. Sighing again she listened as her children laughed at something or other. She looked at the picture in the livingroom, it was a painting of a pair of soldiers in front of the Grand Cathedral, a black haired man stood a foot above the female at his side.

She reached up and touched the portrat, the couple was Ruth and her husband James. She brushed a tear that was flowing down her cheek. The painting was done on their wedding day, a gift from James' best friend.

''Mommy, Why aw you crwing?'' a small voice broke her thoughts and she turned to find Nichelle looking up at her. Ruth bent down and picked up the small child, ''This is a picture of mama and papa when we were married. Mr. Jayden painted it for us. she said as the small girl touched her fathers image. ''Papa. I miss papa.'' she said, Ruth knew that Nichelle had never met her father but it was how Nichelle dealt with having no father. Ruth put Nichelle down. "Supper is ready, go get your brother and wash up. she said. The girl went to the back and returned with her brother. The small duo sat down and the mother of two put the food on the table. The children quickly began to eat their meal as Ruth waited for the people who would come for help.

The time for crying was over. Camille kept having to tell herself that again and again, but it never seemed to sink in. A month gone, and still she grieved in anger and despair for the loss of her husband. It was no way to live, she knew, but how could she go on? She had loved him so much...but now it was time to prove it, if only to herself. Now was the time to begin hunting down the man that had been responsible: Talek Finton.

The path seemed so lonely as it stretched before her, but she knew it had nothing to do with the path itself. As she treaded lightly toward the house from which laughter was now echoing - the playful laughter of children, which brought a small smile to her face even in her misery - she gathered herself up, trying to make herself strong enough to focus on the task at hand. This Ruth supposedly had information that could be used to further Camille's agenda. If that was true, then it would not be long at all before the confrontation came.

She took the three steps up to the door and knocked lightly, rapping three times. She'd hesitated only a moment before doing so, drawing a deep breath in and letting it out slowly. There were children present. She would not bring them down with her emotions. She hoped, however, that she would be able to talk to the woman in private so that she did not disturb the children. She did not want to upset them, after all. Besides making her feel extremely guilty, it was incredibly bad manners for a houseguest to upset the hostess' children. She took a small step back and awaited the opening of the door.

Ruth had not even begun to eat her dinner when she heard rapping at the door. Curtis jumped from his seat after gulping down the rest of his dinner and ran to the door, ''I got it! he announced and grabbed the knob. Opening the door he looked at the woman standing there and turned "Moma! A lady's at the door!" he cried as Ruth walked to the entrance. She smiled at the woman "Ah, right on time. Would you please come in?'' she said moving aside so the woman could enter.

Turning to her son she smiled, "Go help your sister with her coat and the two of you may return to the park, but be mindfull of her andbe home before dark.'' she commanded. The boy smiled and not long after Nichelle was cheering as she rodeher brothers back to the park. ''Like I said, please come in." she said beckoning the woman to enter.

(sorry for the shortness, I cant do much until you come in.)

((That's okay.))

Camille blinked, slightly surprised at the sudden appearance of the little boy, but then she giggled. Children...they were so humorous sometimes. So entertaining, they were. She loved them. She'd always wanted to have a child, but one had never come her way. Now one never would. This saddened her a bit, but she refused to become depressed at this moment. There were other things to discuss, more important things. Such as what this woman knew of whatever was going on with the guards. If it was somehow tied to Talek Finton, she had to know and she had to know how. She wanted that man dead. Only once he was dead could she truly allow herself to grieve in peace.

She smiled, almost laughing herself, as the children headed out. Finally, she turned back after watching them go, a smile still on her face as she was invited in. She nodded her head and thanked Ruth.

"You have adorable little children," she said. After a few moments, though, her smile faded once more. It was time to get down to business. She would pleasant about it, of course, but business was business regardless of the circumstances and manner in which it was conducted. She waited until the door had been closed to speak again. "I'm sorry if I've interrupted a meal or anything of that sort. You seem to have a different idea about what's going on than the rest of the local population."

She wondered just what the woman knew. She had a feeling that it was truth, and of great importance, but she had to find out for herself.

((Don't forget to ask why Terebenior isn't there.))

The woman seemed a little sad when she saw Curtis and Nichelle leave the house, "You have adorable little children," she said. Ruth smiled, happy to hear a compliment for her children. The woman walked in and Ruth closed the door behind her then closed and locked the windows, "I'm sorry if I've interrupted a meal or anything of that sort. You seem to have a different idea about what's going on than the rest of the local population." the woman said as Ruth led them to the dining room. She shook her head as she spooned a bowl of stew for the woman. "No not at all...We were just finishing actually, the little ones wanted to play some more." she said as she set the bowl down with some flatware. "Help yourself my dear." she said with a smile.

Suddenly something came over Ruth, something was missing, the womans friend. "Hmmm...Where did your Hippogryph friend go? Is he not comming?" she asked sitting down. But then realized she had not answered the womans question. "Yes, I do somewhat." she said then gestured behind her to the picture of her wedding day. "It may seem strange but I was once a member of the Santuary Guard, as one I had a close knit relationship with many of the members of the Guard in other cities, Lomedor, Estolad and Ondolond. We are still working on the relationship with Yomneimpa, the elven city. The man next to me was my husband. We both left the guard when I had Curtis, the boy you saw. I left for good while my husband, James, went to become a trainer instead of fighting on the front lines." she said. "We both chose our family over the Guard, I remember the day I left. Marun, an archangel, said that we were supposed to protect the city, but I had told him that he had taught us as cadets that Duty came before everything. It was not that our morals had changed, but our duty. My duty was no longer to the Guard but to my family. So I left, but I still keep in touch with the various cities." she said then paused for a moment remembering different times in the guard, "By the way, I know your friend Terebenior by name but I have yet to learn yours. I am Ruth by the way." she said finally

The woman was clearly pleased and proud of her children from the way she smiled, a twinkle in her eye both of gratitude and love. Yes, she loved her children dearly. Camille could tell this in an instant. Love...it was something special, no matter what form it took. She'd so wanted to have a child herself before...but no. She would not think about that. Not here, not now. There were more important matters to discuss. She took a deep breath as she sat at the table, releasing it slowly and picking up the spoon. Ruth asked about Terebenior as she did so.

"Oh, I've sent Terebenior on an errand. I want to know as much about the local situation - and the not-so-local situation - as I can. I'd rather not reveal my reasons at this point - I'm afraid they're rather personal, I'm sorry - but Terebenior agreed to help me, and so I have obliged him. It makes my work faster anyway, and it makes him happy to be able to help me."

She took a bite. The hot, steamy broth flavored the stew well, making it delicious. She said as much to Ruth, savoring the flavor of the food. She hadn't eaten anything at all today, and she hadn't eaten or slept very well in days due to the loss of her husband. This would do her some good. Then the woman inquired about her name.

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry. Please, forgive me. I'm Camille."

She smiled apologetically and then thanked Ruth for the dinner as she took another delicious bite of the wonderful stew. The woman was an excellent cook. She listened carefully to what she had to say. The woman was obviously very knowledgeable about the lands surrounding her and the people within them, not to mention the goings-on of various cities, due to her time in the guard. Camille briefly wondered where her husband was, but she didn't dare ask. Besides being a very personal question and kind of rude as well, Camille did not want to discuss loved ones. That conversation would bring too much pain - far too much...

"So, what is it that you were discussing at the Temple? You seemed to have some inside information about something rather important? I don't mean to pry, but whatever information you might have could be very useful to me."

She continued eating as she awaited the woman's answer.