I stood on the peaks near Lido and sighed. It had been almost two years since any yoma had been in the area surrounding Lido, Parabo and Paburo both having no problems. It didn't add up and I wondered what was going on. I had felt Miria's yoki heightened in a near awakened state and pulled back by a warrior that felt like my student Teresa, but there was nothing else to go by. Kate stood near me as we regarded the land together. Chris was out in the valley chasing some deer towards us so that we could feed Lido for the coming winter. I wrapped the cloak around me and think of what I could sense. Many yoki were in Rabona and Miria had come even closer to becoming an awakened being. I wondered why she'd gone so close and I shuddered with thoughts that I didn't like. Kate yawned loudly and brought me back to the present, just in time as well as the frightened dear raced up towards us. I gripped my hunting knife and prepared to kill the last doe, she was injured and she wasn't carrying young. So far things had been peaceful, calm and quiet until the deer arrived. I flung my knife with years of practice and warrior's precision, the doe that I wanted was felled swiftly and painlessly. Kate's jaws snapped around the other doe, and old one that also had no young and the rest of the herd bounded away. I felt his yoki, but he was good at suppression so it was hard to tell exactly how close Chris was. I pulled my knife out of the doe and I felt his arms around me,

"You knew I was coming," Chris sighed in to my ear, "so I failed to surprise you Chloey,"

"Like always," I murmured, leaning back in to his embrace, my eyes closing contentedly, thinking of how we met when Chris sighed,

"We should get back," he sounded annoyed and I turned to face him,

"Why?" I asked, surprised,

"Well, Marchello wanted to see me about something," he looked at me apologetically, "I have a feeling it means a trip,"

"And no I'm not letting you go alone while there are Organization warriors wondering about!" I cried fear creeping in to my voice, oddly loud against the peaceful setting of the mountain air. He sighed and lifted up the now dead doe,

"We won't have much choice Chloey," he looked at me again and then sighed, "besides I won't take that long."

I shot him an annoyed glance and he sighed but said nothing. He knew that I didn't like it when we were apart for any length of time.

We entered Lido and I saw Meg being played with by a couple of brave girls. The two had been trying to put brightly coloured bows in Meg's chin length hair with little success.

"Girls!" their father scolded them, "How many times have I told you not to annoy Lady Megan,"

Meg snorted and said, "Well Lord Rufus, I don't mind it when your girls play with my hair, and by the way the name's Meg, not Megan, please do take care to remember it," she laughed loudly and the two girls squealed,

"Let's try the purple bow next!"

"Wow, you two are as lively as ever,"

"Lady Claire!" they cried in unison,

"Claire, Meg," Chris called, and they both looked towards us

"I can smell it, you've got some meat right," Meg stood up carefully and the girls ran over to me,

"Hello Lady Chloey!" they chorused, hugging me around the middle happily.

"Hello Lily, Octavia," I greeted them both and they squealed in delight. I had been in their lives from the moment their mother and father were both born, and a look at Rufus revealed that he was worried about something,

"Rufus," Chris picked up on it too, "what seems to be the problem?"

"It's Jillian," he said sadly, "she's not well,"

"I'll see to her," I said softly,

"Lady Chloey…" Rufus began and then he closed his mouth. I had been the one that had known that his daughters were coming because Jillian's scent was different. Though Rufus knew what I was like about those sorts of things. Chris allowed Meg and Claire to take the deer to prepare for the other deLupia family, for Marchello's father Lord Stephen and Marchello himself. Chris and I were rarely apart and it certainly wasn't something that we enjoyed a lot. I was worried though. Rufus looked ill himself, like he'd been losing weight, he was quite thin now, his moustache looking more hinted with grey now than a few weeks ago. His hair also thinner and greying, he was going to be bald before too long. I walked to the Deleon's house. I knocked and Rufus' younger sister, Teresa opened the door,

"Lady Chloey, Lord Chris," she was relieved to see us, "thank goodness I was beginning to worry,"

We followed her upstairs and a familiar scent hit my nose,

"It looks like you're going to have another one Jillian," I say calmly,

Jillian sits up in the bed and her chocolate brown eyes widen in surprise, "Lady Chloey, Lord Chris,"

Her face is flushed and she looks exhausted, her dark red hair was sticking to the sides of her face and down her neck. She looked like she wasn't well at all. I walk to her bedside and gently take her hand in mine. Her hands were slightly larger than mine and she was more like a lady than I was, but that didn't matter. I knew what I could smell and it was the same as when she had the twins. She looks at me for a while and then sighs. She leans back in to the pillows and says softly, "I should rest up then," and falls asleep.

After we leave, I hear Teresa telling Rufus that he might be a father again and I see an expression on Chris' face. I look away quickly not wanting to invite conversation. I knew what he would have said. I knew it and I didn't want to go there, I didn't want to talk about the years of fruitless trying and the hope that he had about it. I didn't want to go in to it.

We arrived just as Meg and Claire finished packing the meat. I checked to make sure that it was packed correctly for when Marchello arrived to collect his share. I found it odd that Lord Stephen didn't want to pick his meat up the same time as Marchello, but I didn't complain. Lord Stephen arrived and collected his meat and left without his usual happy carefree chatter and I looked at Chris curiously. He shrugged and I sighed. It looked like Lord Stephen and Marchello had yet another falling out. It was the only explanation that I had. I felt saddened but I showed nothing. Marchello arrived with his usual high and mighty personality; he entered the room like he owed the house, servants fluttering around him as if to obey some unspoken command. I instinctively hid behind Chris. I hated Marchello when he was like this, and it was best that I stayed out of his way. Marchello cleared his throat,

"I wanted to see you Lord Christopher," I shuddered at his presumptuous tone but Marchello ploughed on, "I have need of some gifts to be delivered to Rabona, and I think it wisest that you go to Rabona and deliver them for me the servants will come by later to leave them in your safe hands,"

"Of course, Sir Marchello," Chris replied, I grabbed his hand and poked my head from behind his shoulders to actually look at my oversized cousin. I felt sorry for the servants that he had with him…it looked like they were well cared for, but a quick look at their faces told a different story. I knew that none of them wanted to be here and I quickly deduced that he'd been carried over here again. Like the ruler he deemed himself to be.

Marchello was a large man, both in height and in his weight. He wore his hair short and looked like a pig with short hair on its head. He often spoke like he knew more than everyone in Lido, and was often arguing with the rest of the council about things that he knew that they didn't. I hated the fact that he ordered everyone around like they were below him. It didn't matter though, I thought to myself. He knew better than to try me in the council meetings. I was often the last vote needed to allow new laws in and I often joined those that opposed Marchello's new laws. So far not one of them had been passed thanks to a select few individuals that disliked what the laws would do to Lido in the long run. He knew better than to try the patience of me, the one who had been on the council since before he was even born, having lifted Lido up many times from the depth of near destruction. He knew better than to try me. It was rare that I lost my cool, but when I did, my nickname became rather ironic.

I watched as he left and heaved a sigh of relief. Chris sighed as the door closed and he looked at me, I knew what he was thinking and we went upstairs out of ear shot from Meg and Claire. I wasn't going to let him go alone. Not this time. I made sure that it was just us and not the two prying ears that sometimes decided that they needed to know what was going on.

The horses' hooves clopped as we guided them in to the nearest town. Both Chris and I had taken yoki suppressants and our eyes were coloured. To my surprise Chris' eyes were a beautiful dark brown colour, which was quite rare around Lido. My eyes had returned to their original blue and it was rather strange seeing them that way after so many years of them being silver. My sword was hidden from view and Chris' was on his back like normal, a gesture that wasn't unusual where we were travelling to. Chris was leading while Kate was following my black horse. Chris' horse, Chip was grey and was larger than mine was because he was taller than I was. My horse Gineve was a lady's horse, her long mane rested on the left of her neck, my cloak covering part of her back while my long purple dress covered her left side. Chris held a lead to make sure that she kept moving forward and I wanted nothing more than to sit on her properly. I found it hard to ride her like this, with my whole body resting on just one side of her. I would have rather sat like Chris, but as a lady I couldn't. I didn't want to draw attention to my claymore either; it was hidden within my cloak and if I sat like he did on the horse it would have shown up. I sigh and hold on to what reins I was allowed to hold, my right leg dangling uselessly on Gineve's left side. Parabo was three days behind us, and I could still clearly sense Meg and Claire. I could sense a good deal of yoki in Rabona as well, though it was another day of hard travelling ahead. I could still detect yoki despite the suppressant's main effect of supposedly suppressing that ability of the half yoma. Chris was travelling totally blind as I thought would happen; if he was alone he wouldn't have sensed what I could minutely sense. The horses were starting to get tired, but I was beginning to get worried. We hadn't seen a single yoma on the way to Rabona…not a single one…I felt uneasy. Something was going on and I didn't like it one bit. All the strange yoki was driving me insane and I was sure that I was going to have my head done in one day.

Chris stood in the doorway, with some clothes resting on the bed. I walked towards him, worried,

"Chris," I had to choose my words carefully, I knew that he didn't want me coming with him in to danger, but I was worried about the trip and I wanted to make sure that I was with him the whole way,

"Chloey," he turned to look at me and I realised that I was still in my leather hunting outfit,

"I don't like the idea of you going alone," I look down at the ground, cover blown entirely, as I said what really should have been hidden better within my own words but as always the truth flew out of my mouth and I couldn't find it in me to hide my intentions.

Chris sighed and he walked over to me,

"You really are worried about what's going on aren't you?" he sighed,

I looked in to his eyes and guiltily nodded,

"We haven't got much time," I say quietly, "you know as well as I do what bandits are like in this area,"

He looks at me and he sighs again,

"I just…"

"I know," he says pulling me in to his arms, "I know precious,"

I nestle deeply in to his gentle embrace and I hear him sigh again,

"We'll need to be ready at dawn," he said as he let me go, "it won't kill you to look like a lady Chloey,"

I grimace but he is grinning as if thoughts are in his mind that he finds amusing,

"Do I have to wear that dress?" I asked, hoping that I could at least wear something comfortable, but it wasn't to be for me at least

"Yes," said Chris, "Rabona is the holy city and you shouldn't be in anything less, I know you heard what Lord Stephen said about it,"

I sighed and went to look at what clothes I had. The dresses were long and most of them made me feel awkward. I look through the dresses intent on finding one that I was comfortable in when Chris' arms were around me again,

"I think you should wear the purple one," he says calmly, "The one that Lord Stephen's wife, Lady Maria gave to you three Christmases ago,"

I pull out the purple dress and I sigh,

"I guess I could, but I'll need to hide that thing,"

He sighs but says nothing, I knew that he understood as well as I did what I meant by the comment. Even though the others thought theirs were hard to hide I took the cake, with Meg and Claire being unable to compete with me in the slightest, though they were sure that my size must have made it worse when I was made in to a half yoma. I sighed inwardly and continued my thought, "and I'll need help getting it on," I add, and I hear a chuckle as I pull off my hunting outfit. It seemed that Chris was thinking of something that amused himself again. I knew he did like to tease me from time to time, but I hoped that he wasn't being too serious.

Once I have the amour like parts off my arms and legs I begin on the basic short leather skirt, unhooking it from the main shirt part of the outfit and unbutton the top from my waist to the middle of my back when Chris' hands do the rest of the top and I sigh inwardly. The shirt falls to the ground and it isn't long before I am shaking. Unlike my comrades my scar was healed but ugly. It was black and difficult to hide it ran from my neck to my stomach. I walked across the room and I calmly picked out the one thing that hid it. I was once again wearing my Organization emblem. I put on my night gown and Chris and I both went to bed to rest up for the trip ahead.

Our horses' hooves clopped as we continued our journey. Kate trotted alongside us and was more than happy to be running again. She had wanted to stretch her legs since we'd not travelled far from Lido in a long time. I smiled and kept my hood half up while Chris calmly led us. Kate howled a few times and Gineve wasn't the slightest bit worried. Some humans were wondering near the town and as we got closer I could hear what they were saying,

"…Apparently they've got a queen," some human said,

"Oh, you mean Reine Miria Victoire de Beauharnais Malaga, the Silver Eyed Witch?" another said, "Well, yeah, Rabona's ruled by one…who'd have thought that silver eyed witches were actually able to do more than fighting?"

"Watch your mouths!" an old man said, "I'll bet that those travellers are nobles,"

"Excuse me," Chris spoke to the humans and they all flinched noticeably, "I would like to know what the situation is in Rabona,"

"Uhm..ah…that's nothing that we should speak of," said the old man, " now you two youths get back to work now!"

I looked at Chris and he looked back at me confused, that the humans were behaving so odd; it made me even more uneasy, Chris for his part was equally worried and the look on his face said as much. It said, 'please don't tell that you are thinking what I'm thinking right now, please'. I lower my head and I hear him sigh.

"Strange humans," he muttered and guided Chip onwards.

A night's ride brought us to Rabona as the sun was rising. The horse's hooves were now making more clomping noises on the road as they walked, the road now turning from a plain dirt track to a smoothly stone paved path wide enough to fit four horse drawn carriages side by side with ease. I had my hood pulled up and simply allowed Gineve to be guided by Chris. The guards at the gate stop us long enough for Chris to state the nature of our trip and wave us on. I tense up as I feel many yoki within Rabona, none of which is yoma yoki, but the yoki of warriors. I shiver and work at getting my yoki even lower just to be sure about it, but there is no mistaking it. There were at least thirty or more yoki in Rabona. I have a strange feeling that something is going on and I think Chris himself wanted to end the trip as swiftly as possible.

"Shouldn't we go to the cathedral first?" I ask him, cautiously. I hear him sigh but he guides the horses towards that area. I know that he doesn't particularly enjoy it that much, so I wanted to at least see one service in Rabona, curiosity being the main reason that I wanted to go. We stop at the cathedral and he helps me off my horse. I grip his arm in uncertainty and we both enter the cathedral. It is clear to me when we enter that there is a warrior up the front, her hair is long and her face is marred by scars that run through her eyes. She preaches from memory from hearing the gospel herself and I find her to be rather calm, though I know that perhaps she was content to say as much. I feel Chris' uneasiness and I decide to see if she knew what was going on as well or if she was hiding from the Organization like we were. I wait patiently for the service to finish and I hold Chris' arm. He gets up as the humans file out of the room, they move to a chamber beyond and I can hear them talking, their voices calm and content. We walk up towards the warrior who stands up the front. She is as tall as Chris is and I can't help but know at once that she was the replacement for me. I half wonder what she is doing in Rabona like this, but I hold my thought as she speaks,

"How can I help you? Is there something you have to confess? I'm here to listen to your problems in behalf of the Lord". The nun uttered as we went near to her now that the service was over.

"You're a warrior", Chris asked her. She was bewildered by the question but she kept her face and yoki calm. I wondered why she was…it didn't make much sense and I came to a conclusion. Perhaps she was astonished that there were people who didn't know that she was a warrior. I had sensed her yoki around Rabona and now seeing this girl in person told me that she might have been known as a former warrior like the comrades that had left the Organization that the humans might have known what she was. I was a little surprised but I was waiting on her answer.
"How...how can you say something like that? I suppose you're just new here in Rabona. The townsfolk here must have told you about me" she said with a smile, I figured that she was assuming that she was talking to mere humans. Clearly she was still unaware that we were warriors as well.
"Because I was the 'eyes' of the Organization until I deserted with my two comrades and my claymore on my back," I told her softly, my voice no more than a whisper.

"Who...who are you?" she was again surprised, her expression in the face visible, she is shaken visibly. This time her astonishment is not the same as the latter.

"She is the former Number 2, The Silent Chloey," says Chris, "I am the former Number 5 of the Organization, Christopher the Strong," Her yoki jerks up and I sense a strange feeling, but it is gone as soon as I pick it up. She was controlling her emotions but not as well as she wanted to. I wondered what it was that made her do that. I look around the cathedral and I am amazed at the windows and art. I half listen to the conversation between Chris and the warrior, having seen something interesting in one of the windows, the images vastly different to what was in Lido's small church.

"So you're telling me that the Organization has been overthrown?" Chris' yoki is shocked enough that I can tell he is greatly surprised by the news. Even I was shocked and I only heard part of the conversation

"Two or more years ago now," said the warrior, "Miria and a band of warriors attacked together and ended the Organization. I had thought that all the warriors knew about it…but seeing as the two of you are here and have no idea about the changes it is strange,"

"No," I cut her off, "all that happened was strange yoki releases and that was all I got, and when that's all you get there is no definite conclusion."

The warrior's head turns towards my voice, and she speaks, "At any rate this has all happened, if you're looking for the residence of Miria, just follow the road further up, you'll arrive to the Isle de Poire, there you'll find the mansion where negotiations take place,"

"Thank you, Lady Galatea." Chris told her as I took his arm, I can't fathom just what has happened and I doubt that I would be able to fully work it out "perhaps it might do us some good to have a walk Chloey, let's leave the horses to have a rest,"

I look at him and I smile and nod. The horses would need more rest any way because we had to leave again very soon. The horses were taken to the stables near the cathedral and Chris said calmly that we would return before dark to collect them and leave. Kate trotted behind us happily and Chris headed up further where Galatea had suggested we go. I was glad to be walking; I looked around and wished that there was a way to see more of Rabona. I held on to Chris' arm and watched as the humans bustled about, not a worry in their hearts. I was surprised by how peaceful it was. Lido was always tense, and only the children could think of playing. I watched as several children ran happily playing, not much different from back at Lido, and I felt depressed.

Chris came to stop at a large beautiful house, so large in fact that I had never seen a house like it in all my life. It had to be the mansion that Galatea was talking about. It had to be where Miria was as I could sense her yoki, and three other yoki, three that I didn't know, but had sensed before. I felt my breath tighten and I realised that I was starting to feel nervous again. I stayed close to Chris and I prayed that the mission would be done as quickly as possible

Miria stood in the garden admiring its beauty with Natalie, Valencia and Renée. It had been a long time since she'd been out in the garden, she had much to worry about now and when she heard from the guards that a pair of messengers from Lido had arrived, she had decided to send Valencia and Cid, both of whom could deal with regular humans. She had heard many rumours about the mayor of Lido, Marchello. She had hoped that she could see Chloey again, but Miria knew that small warrior was usually happiest out hunting, helping Lido, exactly how she had met her all those years ago, when she was grieving the loss of Hilda. It had been Chloey who had told Miria about the soul-link, about Luciela and Rafaela's past. Miria had been stunned to hear such a tale, but she read the archives and found out that what Chloey had told her was nothing but the truth. Luciela had been made to turn in to a monster and Chloey had been forced to watch it. She had seen so much that Miria didn't know if it was possible to know so much suffering and pain. Yet Chloey still kept hope, she was an honest follower of the God of Rabona, truly trusting the word and as calm as she could be. Cid arrived dutifully and Miria tilted her head,

"They have arrived Your Highness," he said,

"Well then, both you and Valencia know what to do," said Miria as she turned back towards the garden,

"But Mum," Natalie began, her hands half tucked into her skirt

"We don't need to see them," said Miria, "there is no point in being serious just yet, besides it's just a couple of humans from Lido,"

I sigh as we are let in by servants; they are unaware that I can sense what is going on. Chris declines a drink and I politely refuse one as well. Neither of us needs to drink anyway. I hear the sound of footsteps and I hold on to Chris' arm again. I feel slightly nervous and I know that the warrior that is coming isn't Miria.

A door opens from one end of the room and I look at the warrior. Her hair is in a high bun, her eyes having a mischievous air about them even if she is acting controlled about it. Her dress is long and graceful, she has a man walking alongside her and he is strange. His hair is long and pulled back in to a sandy ponytail. His amour less than the usual Rabonian guard, it was as if he was one to stay at a distance and strike.

"Good afternoon. Sorry for letting you wait. I'm Valencia de Murat, wife of General Jean Paul de Murat, General of the kingdom of Toulouse. I'm a dedicated servant of the Queen, entrusted for this talk. With me is Sir Cid de Silene, of the house of Malaga, royal guard's officer. We're the ones being brought here to handle diplomatic matters that the mayor of Lido is requesting to discuss with. I apologize for you must have expected that the royalty itself will speak to you, but they have some matters to attend with. Even with that, the royalty sends their appreciation to the people of Lido, for recognizing the newly founded leadership under her most Highness,... Queen Miria," she sounded like she had simply memorized what she was saying and we waited patiently for her to finish, "So what other matters does the people of Lido wanted to be heard by the Royalty? Maybe we can arranged the help for it?"
"In behalf of the people living in Lido", Chris started the say, "we offer our greetings and support to the newly founded leadership of Toulouse." Chris removed the hood of his cloak to reveal himself, hesitant to do so as we now both knew there would be surprise that two warriors had been sent and not two humans, "As our appreciation and support, we got presents for the..." he hadn't even got to the point of why we had travelled all this way when the warrior's yoki shot up in shock,
"WHAT THE FUCK! WHO THE HOLY SHIT ARE YOU?!" Valencia yells, I am shaking by both the volume that she has managed and the warrior that she has simultaneously replicated. It's too much and I hide behind Chris, I can see that her human companion, Sir Cid, was also surprised but I only see his face. It's too much for me I am frightened because it was too much like that day. The very day that I could never forget that stayed in my nightmares for the rest of my existence…the day that Luciela awakened and many of my comrades had screamed that day. Chris spoke as calmly as he could,

"Please not so loud," he requested, his voice normal volume, "my wife has adverse reactions to loud noises especially since such noises are unnecessary in this room,"

Valencia's yoki became worried and she said, "Oh, well, you surprised me that's all," I peeked out from behind Chris and I could see a smile on her face, "I wasn't expecting such a handsome warrior at all. I thought that you'd be just some human, but another warrior, well,"

I carefully slipped out from behind Chris still shaken up by the loud noise. My own hood falls off my head because I was shaking still. She looked at me and was confused,

"Who…"

"Her name is Chloey," said Chris, he sounded a little proud, but he could very well have been teasing her a little as he continued "she was the former Number 2 of the Organization and is my lovely wife,"

Her eyes widen and she resists the urge to cry out again having heard Chris' warning no doubt. I grip Chris' arm again and stay as close to him as I possibly can. I am still shaken up and nervously stay as close to Chris as it was possible to be. Chris handed Valencia the gift from the Lido council, "As I was saying the mayor Marchello requested that we give these gifts as well as Lido's most kind regards to the new ruler,"

The two received the gifts and letter from the council and Valencia speaks again, her voice controlled, "Say, are you two staying in Rabona at all," she sounded a little cheeky, but I am not worried about her, I look at Chris prepared to follow my husband's example,

"No we're not," Chris replied, "we must return to Lido as soon as possible,"

She looks surprised and Chris continues, "We are expected to arrive before the next council meeting,"

"You know there would be many warriors that would like to meet you both?" she asked, her eyebrow rising up in a worrying way,

"We really must leave," said Chris, "we have tread upon your hospitality long enough and must return home. It has been an honour to meet you, Lady Valencia,"

She looked at us as we left; the expression in her face was one of curiosity and I could have swore that she looked crestfallen.

We returned to the cathedral's stables to collect our horses. I was shaking and I was tired. Gineve was glad to see me and she nuzzled my hand looking for a carrot. I gently petted her silky black muzzle,

"Don't worry Gineve," I told her, "we'll be home before you know it and you'll get many carrots,"

I heard Chris sigh and I turned to look at him,

"We'd best get started then," he said. He came over to me and lifted me up onto Gineve's back, "perhaps we should try the shorter route home,"

"The one with bandits?" I asked,

"Well, it'll get us home sooner and we can scare a few of them as well," he grinned, "it's been a while since we last had some fun,"

I sigh and shake my head. I was sure that he had another reason for going that way, but I didn't want to go there.

By the time we were travelling out of Rabona it was clear that there was going to be the possibility of a storm near the city. Chris nudged Chip to a canter and I held on to my saddle for dear life. Gineve's pace picked up to match Chip's. Kate howled loudly and ran even faster than before. She truly loved it when she go to run far and fast. We covered a lot of ground and by the time night fell, it was clear that we had travelled at least twice as far as what we'd done on the way to Rabona. Chris set up our camp while I rested on the ground. Gineve and Chip were both grazing calmly. Once the fire was going Chris came and sat by my side. Kate was asleep by the horses, her white fur glistening gold in the firelight.

"Well," Chris turned to face me, "how about we call it a night?"

I blink and sigh. I was looking forward to being home soon and I was sure that Meg and Claire were going to have many questions when we got back,

"Or not," Chris said suddenly pulling me in to his arms. I look in to his eyes and I notice that his yoki is up, just a bit,

"Are you sure that you want that now," I smile cheekily, "you know what I'm like Chris,"

"Well, we can't call you 'The Silent' can we," he grins and his eyes take on a more yoma like shape,

"Who said that?" I asked,

"Not me," Chris grinned and kissed me, and I closed my eyes and arced to him. It wasn't long until we were moaning with pleasure and my yoki was bubbling in and out of sight all while I was crying out with pleasure.