"It would have been a noble death. I try to save too many people..." Dawn looked at her hands. A memory hit her: these same hands, wrists sliced. She shook her head and looked at the wall.

Adrian sensed he should back away from their minds. He refused to pry into what Dawn was thinking about now. Instead, he said softly to her,

"What's wrong with me Dawn...why do I hate...so many people..."

"Here's a hint I learned trying to survive. The fair fight is the one you win, and the only noble death is the one you didn't die in."

The Earth told him Adrian was outside. He smiled to himself, and decided it was worth a shot.

"Adrian. If you'd like, you can come in."

He could always try to make a move on Dawn later.

He didn't move. He waited for an answer from Dawn...for her to tell him he should come in. He didn't know what had happened since he withdrew his mind from theirs.

'Your heart will mend. Mine did.' Dawn thought. She looked at the door, expectantly.

He released her mind, and pushed open the door ever so slightly. He inched in, his hands behind his back as they used to always be. He moved over to Dawn, but said nothing to Donald.

It was then he noticed that Donald seemed to realize why Adrian clung to Dawn so much, she was saftey for his tortured mind.

"You two are all elementals. Lucky. My strongest feat doesn't even come from me, but relies on what the Earth wants to tell me."

He heard the Earth whispering she knew how to help Adrian. It was worth a shot, I guess.

"Adrian. How would you like a mentor? Someone who will work every day with you until you master your magic, and someone who won't torture you? If you don't trust me, I understand. It is my fault my brother came to you today. I deeply apologize for that. But you have more power than anyone I've met. The Earth says she knows how to help you, but it will take a very long time of training. I can only help you but a touch."

"The Earth...it speaks?"

He began to wonder if it was the Earth that was the powerful voice that trapped Adrian in the tower.

Dawn pulled Adrian closer to her. 'Never speak of that memory. Please.'

"He would be good for you Adrian."

He mentally assured Dawn he wouldn't. He refused to compromise her image for the others, but he saw Donald shake when she pulled Adrian closer...perhaps he thought...

"yes. The earth speaks to me. She aided me in reaching you, and calling my brother. She told me you were here. She told me you weren't cruel, just confused. She loves you, and she wants to help you. DO you want to hear her? If so, shut out all minds around you. Don't think anything. You must keep your mind clear. She is bashful, but she will come."

He tried to close his mind, shut away the things that terrified him, confused him...alieanated him, but he could not. His mind shook with the torrent of wretched thoughts that ran through his head. He prayed the others could not see them.

Dawn smiled lightly. This was why she was a good witch... Dawn put up a block around his subconcisness.

Donald aided Adrian. He told the Earth to help him, and she did so amazingly.

She sang out loud. He knew everyone in this room could hear it. She sang peaceful lullabies, causing relaxation. Then Donald could do no more.

The sound was replaced in his head by Alexander. The Earth was still singing, causing Dawn and Adrian to relax completely. He felt his throat tighten, and he coughed blood. He couldn't breathe for a full minute before Earth stopped her song, and they recovered. He motioned to Dawn to let it pass, and soon it did. Blood ran down his cheeks, and from his nose and ears. His eyes were blood red, with busted vessels. He didn't realize it at first, but more damage had been done than he thought.

He was blind.

For a brief moment, he actually showed emotion. He had heard the Eath...but now Donald was bleeding, and he sensed fear...great fear.