<div class="floatright">(http://img802.imageshack.us/img802/971/swordsmaninthecloudsbyq.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/802/swordsmaninthecloudsbyq.jpg/)<br/><br/>Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)</div>Daniel al'Forel sat on a chair outside the porch, it would be easier to work inside but it was nice to see the Two Rivers Folk walking around with their spirits uplifted again. He hadn't been home much more than a month, Emonds Field seemed that much smaller now, he was still excited about the fireworks and the Gleeman... well they had a Gleeman at least he grinned with the thought. If they had fireworks then that would definitely make his the decade for everyone.<br/><br/>Bel Tin was going to go well this year but aside from the Gleeman and the possibility of fireworks he hadn't been all that excited about it this year, it was no longer such a grand affair to him, he'd seen cities! He continued to mend the saddle, one of the straps with the buckle had to be replaced, too worn, if left like this it would work fine until it snapped and that could cost a man's life, a terrible cost for a small strip of leather and some time. This year had been amazing, he had seen so much and traveled further than most Two Rivers folk ever had with a few exceptions. But he had received a message from Nyneave al'Meara, the new Village Wisdom though she wasn't much older than he himself, his father had become unwell. He had returned home because of this- well he had returned home mostly because of this he thought- there was work to be done and with his mother gone it was all the more reason that he needed to be here. His father was fading a little every day, he wondered if this would be his father's last Bel Tine, would the Ox of a man see another summer even? Wisdom al'Meara was doing her best he knew but his father was not doing well at all.<br/><br/>So he sat on the porch and smiled at his neighbours passed by and one or two of the younger children came to ask him to tell them stories about the places outside Two Rivers, he told them stories most of the time. He was glad to be home though, Whitebridge and the city of Baerlon were all well and good but he had missed home.<br/><br/>Some young men and women asked him for stories too, some of the girls who were close to being let wear their hair in a braid seemed to smile at him a lot more now, he hoped he'd be able to dance with one or two at Bel Tine. He smiled at Egwene al'Vere as she passed and she smiled back but it wasn't the kind of smile he had hoped for when he was younger. He had always tried to get her to notice him but she was set on Rand al'Thor it seemed, he lived with his father on a farm, rough country but they were solid farmers. She'd do well with him, after much pining he had accepted that she had eyes for Rand and that was that before he had left. Still maybe she'd ask him for a dance. It was good to be home for Bel Tin he thought.