The Beginning Part I
The Beginning Part II
The Beginning Part III

Delya walked down the hall side by side with Drivet. She was happy to be able to walk again. Looking up at Drivet again she grinned. He had helped make her better. Now he was taking her to see her family again. They were all going to be together again. She started to skip for a moment and then stopped again when her leg started to ache slightly.

They turned the corner and Delya saw the open door. She hurried in despite her leg and saw what was left of her family. Papa was sitting in a chair facing the door and Momma had baby Valya cradled in her arms. Papa reached over and set his hand on Momma's arm as he jumped up. Momma looked up at Papa's movement and let out a little squeak.

Delya threw her arms across both her parents and began to cry again. She didn't know that someone could cry so much in such a short time. She squeezed her parents and promised herself that she would never let go. She tried to speak, but she could only get a single word out and that in a whisper, "Gill."

Everyone was silent for a few moments until Papa broke the silence, "So, you know then… Drivet."

"Yes, Papa."

To her surprise Papa pried her arms off of his waist. He gripped her shoulder for a moment and walked away from her. "You! You keep away from my daughter, do you understand me? You have no right!" She heard a smacking sound and turned just in time to see Papa hit Drivet in the face. The Trevvan fell flat on his back and two guards rushed in to grab Papa.

Drivet sat up and Delya meet his eyes. He touched his lip and his fingers came away with a bit of blood on them. "Let him go. His anger is understandable. Delya I'll leave you here with your family. You will need to go back to your room tonight though. There aren't enough beds in here for you." Without another word to he turned and left.

Delya looked up at her father. "Papa? Why did you hit my friend, Papa?

"The fighting… I thought you knew better than to talk to strangers Delya! Oh this is all my fault. The fighting… All my fault. How did it come to this." He was talking too soft for her to hear everything he said until his head snapped back up again. "You stay away from that man, understand? He is a bad, bad man."

Papa sighed and shook his head. "Enough of this though. Let us spend some time together. I've missed you so much my sweet one." Pasinia put his arms around his daughter once more and lifted her up in a warm embrace. She looked over his shoulder after her friend for just a moment before turning back to her Papa and smothering him with kisses.