NINE ,

[SHINOA !]

I'M TOO YOUNG FOR THIS ,

ARTEMIS SMYTHESSON

Artemis happens to be one of the luckiest common-born child in tortall. She has a very rare gift that only one person has shown before her, and that is the gift of wild magic. it came noted to her as a young child, and she was sent to the only people that knew how to work with a girl of powers as unique as Artemis'. Her power was not quite as strong as the Wild Mage Daine's had been, but it was pretty close. She went to work with the Queen's Riders, as they were most used to working with wild mages, and was able to have help from Daine herself when she needed it. Tutelage was fast and easy for Artemis in the this manner, because Daine was better aware of what she would be going through, instead of having to figure out what it was by trail and error. Artemis soon became very powerful and self taught in her own powers.

As she got older, she met Olau, and fell in love with him very quickly, as he did her. They have a very loving relationship and trust each other explicitly, but after their first night together, Artemis starts to feel unwell, and her body is acting strangely. Even though they had thought to be careful about it, she suspects the worst: a baby. A baby which she knows she can't take care of right now, or even have. She worries and procrastinates over telling Olau for the next little while, but then realizes he is to go to war. Will she tell him of her fears before he leaves for war? Or will she wait until he comes back, and hope that it was all just a scare?

--- OF OLAU

Olau has always been the kind and gentle son as much as his father was. He is their only son, and he grew up in the wilderness of his home in Olau more then he did with other people. He loves animals of all sorts, and actually manages to be able to sort of communicate with the ones around his home. Or at least be able to be safe around them. When his father told Olau that it was time he went to the castle to become a page, Olau didn't disagree, but he didn't really like the idea either. He was very quickly known as the page who generally kept to himself and hung out in the stables with the horses in his spare time. It was in this way that he first saw and met Artemis, who would use the horses as a practice for learning her magic if they were willing. The love for him was instant.

Much later, as a Knight, he got together with Artemis, and at some point thought he would dedicate his life to her, after being a Knight of the Realm, of course. He intended to ask her to marry him soon after their first night together, but he then got the notice he was to go to war, and now he's uncertain of what he should do. Should he ask her before she leaves, as she's been seeming so on edge lately? Or should he wait until after war was over, when there was no more threat?