I want to help. Is it odd that I want to shield you? Delia, for all my surety and drive, I am lost. We are both lost. I feel like a child unwrapping a present from an absent parent, anxiously excited, but nervous that the item contained within will spawn too many additional questions. Love, life, duty... nothing makes much sense at the moment.

Will I ever be good enough? Will I ever prove myself worthy, to Jon, to Tortall... to you?

Why does that matter?

Alanna blinked in confusion as Delia sat up, her hair falling in waves about her face. Following suit, she trailed a finger down Delia's spine and stared at the blue rose in consternation.

"Blue, Delia?" She frowned. "I do not remember the meaning of blue."