A/N: So here is a prologue to a new story that has kind of jumped into my head. Haven't given up on the other one yet a small(ok large) case of writers block on that one. Tell me what you think...

"She won't come, Jon." Alanna the Lioness turned back to her king and handed him the letter she had just finished reading. "Not after everything that happened." She turned and walked to the window, her thoughts in the past, after a few moments of silences she continued, "And to tell you the truth, I don't exactly blame her." Raoul of Goldenlake and MaloriesPeak snorted his agreement and readjusted his stance against the wall next to Alanna's window.

"What am I supposed to do Alanna?" The king threw up his hands in frustration, "She is the only one who has ever been in direct contact with this type of magic and survived." Jonathan left out the part about the Chamber sending him a message, not really wanting to share that with anyone yet, or worse for them to think he had finally lost it. "We need her" He crumpled up the piece of parchment and threw it on the desk, putting his head in his hands, why couldn't he just fix the problem and be done with it? Things were only going to get worse and they all knew it.

"Who are you thinking of sending to find her Jon?" Queen Thayet of Tortall, was all but forgotten as she sat quietly next to the king's desk, worried for her husband. Where did those lines around his eyes come from, they weren't there a few months ago.

"Who will she listen to, instead of, knocking them unconscious and sending them back with no memory," He looked up at Raoul, still leaning against the wall, "Do we know how she managed that yet?" Raoul shook his head, grinning at the antics of his former squire. He wasn't exactly shocked when they told him the condition of the messenger sent to Kel's last known location, the fact that the messenger was Nealen of Queenscove just made it amusing.

"I'll go Jonathon," Alanna finally turned away from the window and looked at King Jonathon, noticing the look the three of them shot her. "Maybe I can get her to see reason." Raoul and Jonathan exchanged a look not sure how Alanna could convince Kel to come back when one of her best friends had failed, "I know Daine has been keeping an eye on her over the years, I'll see if she will tell me where to look" Alanna knew it was a long shot, she had tried to get Daine to reveal Kel's whereabouts for over a year with no luck.

"Raoul, what do you think?" Jonathan knew Raoul would be honest with him. "You knew her better than almost anyone."

"Honestly Jon, I think it's a long shot," He pushed off of the wall and took a seat leaning his elbows on his knees. "Kel was pretty clear when she left that she would not be back if things did not change and it's been nearly 6 years."

"I know that," He spoke quietly, he remembered vividly her sitting where Raoul now sat, berating him for the decision he had made and to this day regretted. Not that anyone but Thayet knew that. He exchanged glance's with his wife who just put her hand over his and gave him a reassuring squeeze, "but surely she will see reason once she hears whats happened." He looked back to Raoul hopefully.

The knight shrugged, "All you can do is try." He glanced at Alanna as she sat next to him.

Jonathan nodded "If you really think you can convince her, Alanna go." After the way Queenscove had been returned, he honestly didn't know who else to send anyway. "Just be careful, and for god's sake, take someone with you." He stood up, not being able to stand just sitting any longer.

"Now Jon, do you really think I would go alone?" she threw back over her shoulder as she exited the room. Raoul stood to follow only stopping at the king's voice.

"Alanna?" She paused at the concern she heard in his voice, "Please be careful, I can't afford to lose you now." She nodded and left the room without a word.

"She can take care of herself Jon," Raoul paused on his way to the door to reassure his friend. "You should know that by now."

Thayet studied her husbands face wondering if things would ever get back to normal. After the Scanran War had ended she thought everything would calm down and she could begin convincing her children to supply her with a steady stream of grandchildren and then everything fell apart. Again. She laid her hand on her husbands shoulder. "If anyone can convince her to help Jon, it's Alanna."

"I hope so, Thayet. I really do.

A/N Well that is the first little tidbit. What do you think? Continue? yes no? Thoughts anyone?!