h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

*Lil looks shocked as her brothers words touch so very near the truth*



*picking at a thread on her dress.....*


Khamsin.. his name was Khamsin... </>

*Robel carries on not hearing Lil's embaressed mutterings*

I knew that guy was no good for you....
Always off galavanting when he should be taking care of you.

Probably got himself killed somewhere doing some foolish brave deed didn't he...

I don't know what you saw in him...

You remember what I taught you...
There is only one thing in life worth fighting for...

GOLD.... COLD HARD GOLD....

*closes her eyes as Robel berates her*


*opens them again and glares angrily at him*

YES!!

He left me..but it wasn't his fault.. h... he.. OOh.. He died!!


Now drink your water!



*walks onto the balcony in an attempt to calm herself*

*Robel gulps his water angrily and glares at Lil as she walks out onto the balcony*

Hmmmmm You always were a stubborn one...

*He attepmts to stand and his knees buckle*



Ow.......

*Robel lies on the floor, a small trickle of blood running down his face where his head hit the bed side table*

*Lil turns quickly at the noise and sees Robel sprawled on the floor*


*Minos opens the door and steps into the room*



*sigh*.. Help me put him on the bed please, Minos. Then can you go to the workshop and bring me bandages and medical creams?

.... and Cara's medical books.. I am a mercenary not a doctor! </>



*Minos places Robel onto the bed and leaves, immediately locking the door behind himself*


*Lill pours water into a bowl and finds a clean cloth. She begins to wash the wound*


*Robel grabs her wrist sharply and begins to twist her hand back, away from his face*


..... Robel!!... Stop it...You're hurting me!!

*Robel throws Lil's hand away from him*

I don't need your help....
I have done quite well enough on my own thank you..

Ever since you ran off with that layabout..

*robel turns onto his side unsteadily, his back facing lil*

I.. I.. We didn't runaway...


Robel... Kham and I were married...We had to leave, his work took him away...

*turns aside so she can let her own tears stream down her face without him seeing*


You will never know what that meant to me, how it hurts even now. I loved my family.... </>

*Robel grunts*

Yeah right..... Like I didn't mean anything to you...

Your only living family and you just pack up and run off with the first guy you meet....

Do you know how long I have spent alone...
Trying to find you....

I left word with Grandma ... she knew where we were heading....


Robel, we were attacked in the village we moved to... I lost Khamsin.. I was.... I was.... *closes her eyes at the memory*... lost. Taken to another town. It took a long time to escape....


I wondered for a long time


*She can hear Minos at the door*

*Robel turns to face Lil*

Lil.... erm..... Grandma..... She...

*He coughs nervously*

She died a last year.... She went peacefully...In her sleep...
But.....


I never got to see her before she.... passed on..

*Robel hangs his head*

Grandma?

She was the power of the village! Who took over from her?

Why did you say you were looking for me?




*Minos enters the room and Lil quickly begins to minister to Robels wound*


More food and water please Minos....

*she looks at her faithful servant, and for a moment remembers his likeness Cara*


*She swallows hard and continues bandaging Robels head wound*

*Robel lets Lil treat his wounds, wincing every time she applies the ointment*

Egwene took over... You know that strange old woman from down the street...
There was no one else..

*sigh*

And I had no say in the matter...

Egwene!!

The village let Egwene take over? Were you all drunk?



*presses a little firmer in the wound than she might have intended*


*As she continues to bandage him, Lil continues to mutter to herself*


That woman thought the sun was held up by string each day! That the moon pulled it around the skies! How can they have been so stupid to allow her to have control??


*Lil ties off the bandage and begins to collect everything together so Minos can return them to the workshop*

*robel sighs*

I don't know..... But what could I do..?

I had no backing, no family to help...
All I could do was leave...

Leave?

Why?


What about the farm?

What.... You expect me to run a farm all by myself while you are off galivanting with your husband...

I think not...

*Robel tries to stand but his knees buckle and he almost falls*

I AM A MERCENARY..
ONE OF THE BEST...

I am not going to be tied down to some farn=m in the middle of no where..

And it's not as if I had any thing to stay for...

*Robel glares at Lil*

*sighs with exasperation*


You could have leased it out to the young farmers!

It was meant to be your place to retire when you decided you had enough of travelling!

Yeah well....

With everything gone I kinda thought who gives a flying f...

*robel coughs nervously and hangs his head*

Anyway.. I needed the money...

What was gone??


Grandma? She left you everything!

What do you mean .. you needed the money?

You always told me, invest in the land for when we are too old to fight anymore!

YES I KNOW...

But with you gone, making a new life that left just me to deal with everything...

*Robel turns his back, his cheeks flushing with colour*

[quietly] Anyway there is no use preparing for the future if you don't plan to live that long...

*Robel drops back on to the bed and sighs*

Urrgh... I need a drink...