"Ah hope you will make them beautiful once more," Callum said, nodding to Scheherezade's aspirations.? "If there is aught ah can do, please do not hesitate to ask." His mouth quirked wryly.? "Ah would offer to have Jaimie assist you, but he's a bit bound to the castle. He does'na like to leave it unless it's absolutely necessary."

"Did she, now?" the laird said, raising an eyebrow.? "We had wondered what had become of her after--" he paused in mid-sentence, then quickly continued "--after she left. It is good to know that fate treated her kindly."? He turned to face the young lady, giving her a studied look.? "Yes, there is indeed a strong resemblance.? But ah think it goes deeper than your mere appearance. In truth, there is a notable difference, particularly in your complexion.? It's the eyes, I think. And things in your general expression and way of moving."? He grew somber for a moment.? "It's like ah can feel Arowyn within you."

Callum hesitated, as if weighing the action in his mind, then reached out and gently, cautiously, took Scheherezade's hand, like it was a fragile soap bubble that might burst into nothing if handled too directly.? When it did not and he felt the solid warmth of it, a mix of relief and wonder crossed his face, and he bowed to kiss the back of her fingers.? "Ah bid you welcome home, soul of Arowyn."

?- Scheherezade -

Sam smiled. “Jaimie is not too happy with me now so I doubt he would want to help me with anything. I will give him some time to cool off. He did save my life the other night so maybe he and I share a bond that will allow him to forgive me...or at the very least understand that I am the rudeness is never the answer and gentle scolding of him was to help him understand that for someone who is all about propriety, being rude to the hostess guess is never a good thing.”

“Well I do not know if fate favored her. All I know is that she married into a wealth family. And somehow she is my grandmother on my mother’s side. I actually have no idea what her life was like. I hope it was indeed good. I can only imagine what it must be like to be in a new place all alone. Attempting to navigate a new world. I At least I have my friends. And you have all been so nice to me.”

When he turned to face her she stopped and turned to him. There was something about him that felt so familiar. So comforting. She smiled at his words, her own hand reaching up to touch his cheek. “Thank you. Callum. It is good to be home.”