"Kilan."

His name disturbed Kilan out of his deep sleep and subconsciously he knew it was still too early to be awake.

"Kilan, wake up," the voice said again and someone gently shook his shoulder.

Kilan groaned and turned onto his back, ready to hiss at Jeremy, only when he opened his eyes, he wasn't looking at Jeremy. He was looking at a young man with wavy black hair that was tied at the base of his neck with black eyes, his face half lit by the candle he was holding.

Kilan stared at him for a moment, then sat bolt upright, almost ramming his head against the stranger's and scrambling back.

The man held a finger to his lips. "Let's not wake Jeremy," he whispered, then held out a hand. "Tobias."

Kilan just looked at him for a moment. Tobias? Who? Then his eyes widened and he shook the offered hand. His mystery roommate, of course, the man who was always awake before them and asleep after them.

"You need to get ready for travel," Tobias said, lighting Kilan's bedside candle.

"What? Why?"

"The Season begins in a few days," Tobias explained, straightening, revealing that he was already dressed and groomed. "You are joining Master Beldon's party."

"I am?"

"That is why you were hired after all; we hardly need more people to pick apples. It's now that you start earning those high wages of yours. Pack what you need for the journey; you'll be away for about a week."

Kilan stared at him as Tobias turned away then quickly slid out of bed and Tobias set a package on his dresser.

"This is your Upper Floor uniform, be sure it fits well," he said, "If it doesn't, you need to have it fixed before we leave — you may get that done when you visit the seamstresses and tailors to collect the gowns. I implore you be careful with that collection, they are the dresses Beldon's sisters shall be wearing this Season. After that, go to the stables to help load luggage. We'll be leaving at first light. Master Beldon has house calls to make this week so you may be requested to join him on those. I hope you know how to behave in the presence of those who are less informal then our masters."

"Of course," Kilan said, untying the strings of the package.

"We shall see," was Tobias's response before he left the room.

~~~~

Hours later, Kilan and other servants stood lined up before an incredible city manor that sat at the end of a mile long drive. This was Beldon's home — well one of them. Apparently there were others out in the country as well as others further into the city, in far more agreeable locations for The Season, but this was the main residence of Beldon's family.

Said family appeared at the doors at that moment as Beldon stepped out of the carriage. The first three to appear were his sisters, two of which Kilan recognised. The other two that followed were men, but their features were similar enough for Kilan to know that these were brothers.

"Hello Bel, how are you, darling? I assume you heard that Miss Elizabeth Rodgers and Mr John Blake's engagement has been broken off due that that man's shameful behaviour with that kitchen girl. Poor Miss Rodgers, I suggest you see her right away in time for The Season," Beldon's eldest sister, Miss Antoinette said as she swept down the stairs to embrace her brother.

"Hello, Anne, I'm very well, I'm not interested in poor Miss Rodgers and how are you?" Beldon replied, hugging her before hugging his other sisters — and Kilan had a vague sense of déjà vu.

"It's about time you arrived," said one of the men as he hugged Beldon.

"It's not as if I missed anything," Beldon said, smiling, "Other than whatever scandal you've got yourself into, Constantine."

"Me?" Constantine said, mock-appalled. "Do you hear this, Valentine, my dear innocent little brother called me a scandal."

"An apt judgement," replied Valentine as he hugged Beldon, "Welcome home, little brother."

Beldon rolled his eyes. "You say that like I've been away for months. You saw me two weeks ago. Where's Father?"

"Inside."

Valentine gestured for Beldon to lead the way as another young man appeared at the doors, stopping, almost hesitating at the top of the steps before coming down.

"Well, hello Robert, I didn't know you were here," Beldon said, walking to him and holding out a hand. "How is my brother-in-law, keeping my sister comfortable I suspect?"

The man looked down at Beldon's hand than over to the carriage. "Hello, Beldon... you're alone?"

Beldon just smiled. "Luka shall we joining us later. Why? Are you missing him?"

Robert wasn't quite able to hide the look of distaste and Beldon lifted his outstretched hand a little higher.

"Will you refuse the hand of your own brother?" he asked.

Robert took a long breath then took his hand, a feeble shake which he tried to release in a second only Beldon gripped his hand in an iron grasp and held him there, his smile remaining.

"We'll have a good Season?" Beldon said gently.

Robert looked at him for a moment, then his eyes narrowed and he straightened, looking Beldon dead in the eye. "We'll have a good Season," he replied.

Beldon's smile shifted then, into something far more relaxed and easy and kind and Kilan realised how very like a threat the first smile had been.

"Kilan! Catch."

Kilan turned away from the departing family and caught the box that was dropped from the top of the first carriage. Balancing a hat box on top, Kilan turned around, only to find Antoinette looking at him, a frown on her face.

"A new servant?" she said slowly.

Kilan shifted the hatbox aside slightly so he could see better.

"Have we met?" she asked, narrowing her eyes at him.

Kilan opened his mouth only to notice Rosalia a few steps behind her sister, shaking her head.

"No, M'am," Kilan replied, bowing as best he could.

Antoinette pursed her lips, then turned and swept away and Rosalia laughed slightly.

"Hello again, Mr Denny," she said as she followed her sister.

"Miss Rosalia," he said, bowing again before heading for the servant's entrance.

~~~

After everything was unloaded and unpacked, the evening itself was actually very relaxed. It was mostly for Beldon to catch up with his siblings and father — and present his sisters with their seemingly endless gowns for The Season — all made by the personal army Kilan had discovered residing within the Rose Castle. His sisters didn't even have to travel to the continent like other girls to have the best of the best dresses made.

With that being the main event of the day, Beldon's servants had time to recover from the early morning and travelling while the house staff attended to the family.

It gave Kilan time to think about Briar.

He hadn't been mad at her for her behaviour the night before. At the time he had felt somewhat insulted and hurt at how quickly she recoiled from him but he hadn't been mad.

However, he had left so quickly it had probably come across like a sulk.

And there were the words she had shouted before the dream had ended.

"Don't leave me alone!"

The words kept bouncing around in his mind like an unending echo. It wasn't like she was really alone, she had the servants, but she sounded so desperate.

Kilan looked out of the window of the room he would share with Tobias that week — when Tobias eventually arrived with Master Luka — one of his shirts held forgotten in his hands as he looked out across the beautiful lawns.

He would apologise tonight. He would perhaps try one last time to bring up the topic of the book and travel but if she really didn't want to discuss it he would drop it.

What was the point in winding her up and distressing her?

All they had to do was talk about meaningless stuff and drink tea and eat cake.

It wasn't a bad way to spend the night.

He looked at the shirt in the hands, only then remembering it and folding it up to put it into the dresser draw.

Dreams certainly had a way of clinging to a person. Did other people think about how they would fix things in their dreams the same way they thought about how they would fix things in their waking hours?

He would have to ask Jeremy when he returned the castle.

He knew so little about dreaming — he now wished he had asked his friends more about them when he had been younger but he just hadn't thought he was missing out on anything back then.

He wasn't supposed to dream after all.

A call from outside brought him out of his thoughts and he grabbed his jacket and headed down to help with the serving of dinner and the evening activities.

It was close to midnight when the servants got to sleep and Kilan was anxious to get back into his dreams.

Without Tobias being there, there was no idle chitchat to deal with, as there usually was with Jeremy before he slept, so he readied himself for bed, locked the door, blew out the candle — he had to remind himself to blow out the candle this time — and got into bed, closing his eyes to the moonlight that fell through the window.

His eyes opened.

Sunlight lit the room and he blinked.

He lay where he was for a long moment, then sat up and looked around. He was in his room at Beldon's home. Early morning sunlight was seeping into the room. Next door he could hear other servants starting to stir.

It was the morning... and he hadn't dreamt for Briar. 

~~~~

Next up: Monday

Art By: http://www.darrylcurcher.com/index.html

Whoa, didn't think i'd actually get this up on time - or that I;d even write it today. My schedule changed because I had to finish one of my children's books but that's done now and this is written and uploaded.

Not bad timing lol.

Today's question:

How about, what was/is your favourite children's book? And your least favourite (if you remember) - and i mean young picture books lol.

Mine - there are a good few, how to choose. The Beatrix Potter series of course. And Winnie The Witch (love that story and yet its so hard to find now lol)

Least favourite: Where the Wild Things Are. just no - that booked freaked me out as a child and still freaks me out now. There's something about those monsters that scaaare me. Even thinking about it gives me shivers, just nope!