A Test for Hannah (27 Jun 2002) Hannah talks with Thomas about her reasons for returning.

Oberia's Home, Study
A comfortable little room, with barely room enough for two people to sit down between a desk and a fireplace on the other side of the room. A wall hanging shows Mirari's towers seem from over springtime forests.

The evening has passed quickly with light chatter among the group. Thomas eventually perked up some, having driven the thoughts of the future from his mind for a time. But, as the hours pass, one by one the others head to bed, leaving just Hannah and Tom alone in a room filled with flickering firelight. Thomas looks over at Hannah and walks across the floor slowly, his boots echoing as they contact the floorboards. "Well, it seems we have a chance to have a little chat, Hannah," Thomas replies quietly and looks at her, the flickering firelight causing shadows in waves over his face.

Hannah sets her mug of water aside and faces Tom directly. Small creases of worry line her forehead, but at the same time, she seems resigned. "I've thought about what you would say to me whenever we met again," she says, trying to keep her tone light. "None of it is good, unfortunately."

Thomas hmphs quietly and nods. "Did you now? Why would that be, I wonder? You told me, and your father I might add, that you were not going this way and that you were returning home -- and here you now sit. Care to explain that to me?" Thomas asks, turning and looking directly into Hannah's eyes.

Hannah smiles wryly. "Circumstances change, milord - and with them, so do our plans." Then she sighs. "Truly, I did not wish to follow you to the West. I only wanted to visit again with my father and be happy in my newly-acquired membership into the Golden Hawks. But then I went to the Lady Sorceress' Spire to deliver your letters to Agatha." Hannah returns Thomas' gaze, steadily. "She asked for my help in catching up to you, and she provided good enough reason for me to agree to give it. That is why I am here now."

"So, you feel you can just change plans and possibly endanger all that that I worked for in gaining Lord November's help? He will likely be angry with me for you coming out here. You have threatened much by your actions, Hannah," Thomas says calmly, unflinching. "Do you feel what you have done has outweighed what you have endangered?"

Rather than seeming taken aback by the Lord Explorer's accusation, Hannah merely shakes her head. "Ah, is that one of the things that bothers you? Come now, Lord Thomas - did you seriously think that after all my father has been through, I would simply take off after you and leave him a note saying, 'Gone chasing after the Lord Explorer again, back in time for supper! Love, Hannah?' Please give me a little more credit than that!" She raises an eyebrow. "By your leave, I will explain...?"

Thomas chuckles softly. "Speak your mind, Hannah," he says.

Hannah takes a deep breath and does so. "When Agatha and Lady Sorceress Nymuae were composing their messages to you before we left the Spire, I wrote two of my own to be sent to House November. One was a note to my father and the other was an open letter to the Lords and Ladies of the Houses. In the note, I told my father why it was necessary for us to try and catch up to you before you entered the Destroyer's Keep. I made sure to point out that by doing so, there would be a greater chance of keeping you alive so that you could return and address the Houses about the Destroyer's own return - which is what my father wanted in the first place." She takes a quick sip of water from her mug before she continues. "I also just happened to mention that the Lady Sorceress herself found favor with our plan to intercept you. I know you do not care for her, Thomas, but her name does carry some weight with the Lords - November, included."

"As for the open letter," Hannah says, smiling faintly, "it is my own account of our encounter with the Dark Witch and the subsequent return of the Golden Woods to their natural state. I know that I was expected to give a personal testimony of your actions and character before the Houses, but in the meantime, I hope that a written one will work just as well. Now - does this serve to calm your fears on the subject?"

Thomas stands there looking at Hannah. An amused smile creeps across his lips. "I was right, then," Thomas says.

Now Hannah appears to be flustered and confused. "About what, milord?" she asks.

"About admitting you into the Golden Hawks, Hannah. I see that it was the right decision, even though you had been stranded so long in those woods," Thomas replies, his demeanor relaxing. "I suppose I should be the one explaining myself now," he says and starts to pace. "You've been trapped for a long time and away from the world. Plus, you've had a situation with your father than many would find -- difficult. I was not sure you could take the strain being a Golden Hawk can sometime impose upon you. Often in this sort of life, you end up having to make choices that won't please people, but that you know in your heart is the right thing to do." He pauses and looks directly at Hannah, adding, "You've had to explain yourself to me and suffer under my accusations -- well knowing who I am. Not many would have the courage to do that in your position, Hannah. You're willing to stand your ground and hold to your choices, unwavering. That is something Mirari needs."

Hannah stares at Thomas for many long moments, looking as if she cannot believe her ears. At last, she gives him a broad smile and relaxes her posture, as well. "Thank you for the compliments, Lord Explorer," she says gratefully. "I am glad that I have not abused your friendship and trust. I had great fears that this discussion of ours would end in-" Here Hannah pauses and grimaces at the thought. "Well, I thought that you might remove me from the Golden Hawks. And as much as I would have disliked it, I would have accepted it. It was the other possibility - the one that I might lose you as a friend and mentor - that I would not have been able to bear."

"In all honestly, if you hadn't defended yourself I would have removed you because you weren't ready," Thomas admits and chuckles. "You didn't abuse anything. You saw something that was necessary and you did it. That's not easy. And I must admit, it's no different than what I would have done in the same situation. I certainly cannot fault you for that!" Thomas adds, then grins. "And yes, I know I can come across harsh at times. I like to present challenges to others."

Hannah laughs quietly to herself. "You're telling me!" she exclaims. "In retrospect, I think I prefer fighting trolls to your 'tests,' milord! That's certainly easier on the nerves than this is."

"Yes, but you have to be prepared for such tests, Hannah. The enemy we fight attacks our minds and spirits as much as our bodies. You have to be able to stand your ground," Thomas says. "It's one of the reasons I push Lady Redmane so hard, incidentally. It's not that I don't respect her -- it's far from that, actually. I just want her to survive this and be able to take whatever he throws at us unflinching. There are few I'd trust more to guard my back, or handle things in my absence, than Redmane. I'm honored to know her."

Hannah nods and looks satisfied. "I am very glad to hear you say it," she comments. "Agatha - or Redmane, or however we are to call her - has been of as much help to me as I have to her. Even more than that, I think. So we are both honored to know her."

"Quite. But don't tell her I said that, eh? I like keeping her guessing," Thomas replies, then settles down into a chair and taps his fingers on the book sitting next to it. "And I may have a task for you in the near future. I will have to run it by Redmane to she what she makes of it -- but I may need to send you back to guard someone. And I warn you now, it will place you in arms reach of the Destroyer."

Hannah frowns, but she does not take her eyes from Thomas' face. "I see," she says evenly. "Yet if the action warrants the risk, I'll do whatever I can to assist this person. Who would this be? Can you tell me?"

"I can. I speak of Angel, daughter to the king, and in all honestly, heir to the throne. She is, unfortunately at Court -- as is the Destroyer," Thomas says, looking forward, eyes intense. "The Destroyer replaced one of the Lords some time ago. Either he, or his Agent, now stands in Court. Angel is in tremendous danger. Beware Lord April, Hannah, he is not who he claims to be. I was a fool -- I should have realized it sooner. Yet, I cannot go back myself, for I have no real proof to use against him. Would the Court believe me? Not likely, not when their best wizards have not uncovered him."

Hannah's eyes widen. "The Destroyer - at the Palace? How could he have fooled so many to enter such a place?" She takes another sip from her mug of water to calm herself. Afterwards, she muses thoughtfully, "This King's daughter you speak of - I think I may know of her. Agatha told me of a girl who was sent to the Court to seek out the Queen, in private. She also said that this girl - Alice, was that her name? - was the King's daughter who had been presumed dead. Am I correct in this?"

Thomas nods and replies, "You are correct. I fear for her safety and would prefer to have one of the Golden Hawks close to her in case she needs to be removed from danger. It won't be an easy task, Hannah. You, of course, have the option to refuse. Redmane also has the option to suggest a different plan. I intend to approach her with this on the field tomorrow."

"I do not refuse," Hannah says quietly. "The moment I let Jack scare me into doing nothing when help is needed, then that is the moment Jack himself has gained power over me. I will not allow it. You can count on me, if the need arises."

"I figured you would accept, but I always offer the option to refuse," Thomas replies with a nod. "I think Redmane will agree to the plan, but we shall see. I didn't want to just send a letter back, warning her of the danger. Too much of a chance it would be intercepted and if I wrote it vague enough to be safe, Alice may not understand the warning."

Hannah thinks on this. "I understand your hesitation to do so. If the Destroyer has been able to slip past all the safeguards protecting the Queen, then it is probably safe to assume that he has several other spies within the Palace, as well. If I go to the Princess, I will deliver whatever messages you may have for her by word-of-mouth, so that a paper trail cannot be followed."

Thomas nods. "I wish there was more I could offer in preparation for this, Hannah. Jack, Vanya, Eoin, whatever he wishes to call himself now, doesn't always attack you physically. You can't train for everything he might throw at you. Sometimes he's brute force and throws monsters. Sometimes he works from within and corrupts those around you. Sometimes, he'll force you to face your inner fears and nightmares. And sometimes he'll make you fight -- and kill -- an old friend." Thomas pauses at that and looks towards the window. "His attacks can be soul crushing. Just hold true to yourself and your beliefs if he confronts you. And by all means, do not seek him out, okay?"

Hannah snorts. "If I were ever brazen enough to seek out the Destroyer, I would only do so with an army of the finest Knights at my back," she replies. "Which means, I will not do so. I will simply protect the Princess as best I can."

"I sought him out once, alone," Thomas says softly.

"And then you disappeared for fourteen Years," Hannah says in return, just as softly. "Considering the risks we face now, I would hate to see that happen again. Considering that you are also my friend, I would hate it even more."

Thomas looks up and smiles sadly, saying, "It's more that I wish I was as wise then, as you are now." He shakes his head and rises, taking the journal with him. "I shall retire to bed now and read over this. I'll offer it to you and Redmane in the morning, with my thoughts on what it contains."

Hannah nods once in reply, then takes up her water mug and rises to start for the door. "Thank you, Thomas. For trusting me. For- Well, for many things. I won't bother you with all that now, at this late hour. Goodnight." She smiles at him, then disappears into the hallway beyond.

Thomas stands and walks to the window. He stands there for a time, looking out. His hand clenches around the book he holds as he says, "Randall ... he used you to get to me, to hurt me. He's growing desperate, old friend. Fight him. You were always strong. Fight him." With that, Thomas turns and walks towards the door, pausing only briefly to extinguish the candle, letting the shadows reclaim the room.

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