Dwight Enys stared glumly into his teacup as he sat beside Lord Falmouth to discuss a particularly hard subject, but it was one that was very close to his heart. His dear friend Hugh Armitage had recently lost all of his vision and was now very depressed. However, Dwight knew that the loss of his vision was only one of two reasons why his friend was so troubled.

"I just wish I knew how to help him." Lord Falmouth sighs and places his cup and saucer on the small table in between he and Dwight's chairs. "It really is a tragedy. He was such a promising navigator."

"I agree." Dwight says. "The navy has lost one of their best I'm afraid."

"And even worse is he can no longer read or write or sketch." Lord Falmouth says. "Without his sight, he cannot enjoy the things he used to do. That takes an even worse toll on him. Is there anything you can do to help him out of this depression Dr. Enys?"

"I'm afraid not." Dwight says. "It will take time for him to get used to being without his sight. It's going to be very difficult for him to change a lot about his life in order to cope with this new condition."

Though he won't have to deal with it for long... Dwight thinks to himself sadly.

"Is there any way to make his life a bit easier?" Falmouth asks.

"Well I would highly suggest hiring a servant for him to be his guide. Lead him around places and such so he does not get injured or lost in his own home or elsewhere." Dwight explains.

"Very well. I see the necessity in that." Falmouth agrees. "Is there one you know of that you would recommend for Hugh."

"Hm..." Dwight hums. "I'll have to think. There are not many people who do this sort of work. Most that I know of are already assigned a charge. And it's not like Hugh is an elderly gent who would only need assistance for a few years. Whoever you hire to guide him may have to do it for his whole life so it has to be someone he could develop some sort of companionship with..." Dwight trailed off as the image of someone formed in his mind and he stood and smiled.

Of course! Her! Dwight exclaims in his head. She not only has experience working as a guide but she and Hugh share many of the same interests. They're incredibly well suited for each other. In fact, this girl may help him deal with his blindness and get his mind off of Demelza.

"Lord Falmouth, I believe I know the perfect person to be Hugh's guide!" Dwight exclaims proudly.

Later that day in Cornwall an older gentleman sat in a bookshop at his desk, writing when he heard a jingle and smiled as he saw his favorite customer walk in. She wore a plain brown dress with a dirty apron. Her long blonde hair curled below her shoulders and her bright blue eyes shone with excitement.

"Good day Miss Addington. Finished another one I see." He says, noting the book in the girl's hands.

"Yes. It was a fantastic adventure to Northern Italy. Such a romantic setting. I wish I could go back." The girl says and looks down at it longingly. "But unfortunately I can never afford to keep these books."

"Oh that's no problem Emala." The older man says to the girl. "You're one of the only people who comes down here anyway. Why don't you take one, for free. Read it to those little siblings of yours before bed." He suggests.

"Really?" Emala asks. The man nodded. "Oh thank you so much!" She says and gives him a gentle hug before taking her favorite book off of a shelf and leaving the store.

She had a bright smile on her face as she walked home. She couldn't wait to put this book on the shelf and treasure it forever. Then she ran into someone she'd rather not see.

"Oh look it's the little bookworm, back from the shop." One man says, putting down his beer glass. "Why do you keep going there? Shouldn't ye be at home with your family. T'is a woman's place after all."

"I'll have you know Bernard I went to pick up something for my sisters." Emala tells him plainly. "Now let me pass-hey!" She exclaims as the man grabs the book from her. "Give that back to me!"

"Why? Women have no use for these things anyway." Bernard says and spits at her feet.

"And this world has no use for a drunken oaf like you and yet you're here." Emala retorts.

"You're going to regret saying that missy." Bernard says and starts to approach her.

Emala paled. How could she have been so rash. Her words held much more weight than a punch from her weak fists ever could. Thankfully she was saved by a gentleman she thought she would never cross paths with again.

"Excuse me but that is no way to speak to a lady." Dwight says sternly to the man.

"Dr. Enys?" Bernard asks. "What're ye doin' round here?"

"I came to speak with Miss Addington on a very important matter. And it seems I have come to her aide in just the knick of time." Dwight notes and then holds out his hand. "Return her possession, or I may have to report you for theft." He glares at Bernard and he quickly hands Dwight the book and runs off.

"My hero." Emala fondly says and Dwight smiles at her and hands her back her book. "Oh Dwight I never thought I'd see you again!" She says and throws her arms around him and he's surprised and stumbles a bit before hugging her back tightly. "I heard that you had joined the navy and imprisoned by the French! Everyone was certain you were dead I'm so glad you're alive!"

"Oh believe me Emala, being back here is a dream come true." He says and releases the girl from his arms. "How is your mother and younger sisters? I hope some light has returned to your life after the passing of your father."

"It hasn't really." Emala admits sadly. "But my sisters seem to have also inherited my love of books." She shows him the novel. "So bedtime stories are always enjoyable."

"As they should be." Dwight says.

"Shall I recommend some titles to you?" Emala offers. "In case you and Caroline will be reading stories anytime soon..." Dwight laughed.

"I appreciate the offer but we are not trying for children at the moment. I will call upon you though when we are. You tell stories better than anyone else I know." Dwight says. "In fact that is part of the reason I have come to see you. I would like to offer you a job as a guide for a friend of mine that was imprisoned with me, who has recently lost his vision due to an illness that is killing him."

"Oh that's awful. Dwight I am so sorry. How long does he have?" Emala asks.

"Not long I'm afraid, at the rate he's going. Probably only a month." Dwight says.

"That's just awful." Emala says and sits on a stool outside the porch of the house they were by. "Does his family know?"

"No." Dwight says. "He requested I keep them in the dark about the gravity of his condition. He doesn't want them to spend what little time he has left in sadness. It would only burden them more."

"He sounds like he is a good man." Emala says with a small smile.

"He is." Dwight says. "In some areas." He adds, remembering Hugh's affair with Demelza. "But you two share many similar interests." He says, looking down at the book in Emala's hands. "And you have experience as a guide now since you learned how to be one for your father before he passed."

"So essentially I'll be doing that again." Emala says sadly then looks at Dwight. "I owe you much for all you've done for my family. I suppose I can do this small service for you." She tells him with a smile.

Emala had invited Dwight to stay for dinner. He smiled at Emala's two younger sisters at the table across from him and her mother at the head.

"Why are you leaving with Dr. Enys?" Ten year old Sophie asks as Emala places a bowl of soup in front of her.

"To help someone in need Sophie." Emala explains.

"But Emmy, who will read us bedtime stories when you're gone?" Six year old Gracie asks her and Emala smiles and goes to kneel between her sisters.

"Don't worry about that Gracie. You'll have mother to tell you stories and Sophie has been very creative as of late." Emala notes and Sophie smiles proudly at her big sister. "I'm sure she'll be able to come up with a fantastic tale."

"So the rumors are true then." Dr. Enys says and smiles at the young girls. "You two are turning out just as bright as your sister." He comments and the two girls blush and giggle from his compliment and hide in Emala's shoulders. "Don't fear little ones. Your sister will only be gone for a short while." Dwight looks to the mother and smiles at her. "And she will be paid handsomely I assure you." The mother nodded.

"That's right girls, I won't be away for long." Emala tells her sisters. "I'm going on an adventure to a faraway land for a little while. A land full of riches and danger at every turn." She dramatically tells the girls for their enjoyment. "For within the castle that I'll be working in there's a beast that could reach out and grab me at any minute!" She says and Gracie squeals in delight as Emala grabs her and hoists her up on her hip.

"We're going to miss you Emmy." Sophie says and Emala kneels down and kisses her sister's forehead.

"I know Sophie. I'll miss you, mother and Gracie as well." Emala tells her.

The next morning Emala arrived with Dwight at Lord Falmouth's residence. Dwight had told her of Hugh's interests and how he may not be appreciative of her aid but will grow to get used to it in time. What little of it he had left.

However Emala was not expecting to walk into the room and see a handsome young man, around her age sitting on a chair looking sad but in a pretty sort of way. Surely this could not be her charge. A young healthy looking man like that couldn't have gone blind at such a young age. She just blinked and stared, unsure of what she should say or do.

"Who has just come in?" He asks and Emala felt her heart jump.

Even his voice was attractive to her. In that moment she was thankful the man was blind and could not see how flustered she was. Wait a minute...he could not see her or Dwight. He was blind! That meant that this man was in fact...

"Greetings Hugh." Dwight says. "May I present to you your new pair of eyes, Miss Emala Addington." Hugh stood from his chair and Emala respectively bowed.

"Hello Emala." Hugh says and smiles politely.

Emala noticed that he wasn't making eye contact with her. She expected that much of a man who had recently gone blind.

"I have heard many a great thing about you from Dwight. You were a guide to your father when he lost his sight due to old age correct?" Hugh asks.

"Yes." Emala answers. "I did indeed act as his eyes when he lost his. And I developed some methods of guiding that helped make the process much easier."

"Really?" Hugh asks, seeming generally interested.

"Yes it's true. I swear her father lived a few months longer than he was supposed to just by having her care for him." Dwight explains. "I hope the same happens for you dear friend."

"Thank you Dwight." Hugh says. "You truly are one of the greatest men I have ever had the fortune of meeting."

"Thank you." Dwight says and notices Emala seemed uneasy. "May I speak to Emala in private for a moment? There's a private matter that I wish to discuss briefly with her."

"Of course." Hugh says although he sounded a bit confused.

Emala and Dwight took their leave and as soon as the doors to the room shut Emala said "You did not tell me he was so young."

"Well you never asked his age." Dwight reminds her. "Does it bother you that you are around the same age?"

"Well...yes and no." Emala says. "My heart aches for him even more now. He has his whole life ahead of him and now it's about to end before it's just beginning. It's tragic."

"All the more reason he needs a caring friend to guide him through his final weeks and make them the best he's ever had in his whole life." Dwight reminds her.

"The best he's ever had in his whole life?" Emala asks with a tone of disbelief. "Dwight Enys that is quite a lot to ask of me. I'm only a girl."

"Yes but you are a very unique, smart and special girl." Dwight reminds her. "And Hugh seems to like you. And I could tell that you like him..." He adds and Emala blushed.

"Judas Dwight the man only has a few weeks to live!" Emala reminds him. "Do I find him attractive...yes. He is rather easy on the eyes but I don't foresee myself getting too attached. One because he's going to die, and two we come from completely different worlds. He comes from a land of riches and prospects, I come from the slums of miners and other workmen who have to use their hands to earn their wages. Even if he were healthy it wouldn't work out."

"You are a wise girl Emala Addington." Dwight comments and she blushes. "I only ask that you provide him comfort and aid in his final moments. Nothing more or less."

"I think that is a job I can do." Emala says and holds out her hand.

Dwight takes it and kisses it before the two of them head back inside to Hugh.

A/N: Hey guys! I hope you enjoyed! I worked super hard on this! I will be following the Poldark novel canon for the most part although I might make some changes... Please comment if you would like me to continue the story.