A/N: Hello! This is the 5th story of my series. I highly recommend reading the other 4 first if you want any chance of being caught up. If you go back and read, please do not be afraid to review. I do read them, and usually respond to them :)

I am known for fast updates. I aim for one chapter a day, sometimes two if a review inclines me to do so. If there are no reviews, I do not update. All pairings are canon, but as the 5th in a series it has evolved to more next-gen.

I also write the 100 Theme Revival, in which you will find one shots related to the main story. Some are background, some are to answer questions not addressed in the main story, and some are just for fun.

Returning readers will notice a gap between the cliffhanger in Guide and this opening chapter. This chapter does address the cliffhanger, but if you would like to know more check out the Themes starting with 'Breathe Again".

Disclaimer: I'm not John Flanagan.

Scout walked with a straight spine and chin parallel to the stone floor as she followed a few paces behind Sean and Kineta. Kineta held the young Prince Gabe on her hip. He was able to take clumsy steps on his own, but wasn't ready to fall in line with her and Princess Elizabet behind his parents during these processions quite yet. They each sat in cushioned chairs designated to them specifically, except for Gabe who sat in his mother's lap. Elizabet, the adopted princess who was once a traumatized mute, took on old habits in the tournament crowd and refused to answer even direct questions. The little girl had come a long way from mutism but was still as shy as ever around strangers.

The tournament was far from entertaining where Scout was concerned. The battle school apprentices hashed it out every year as part of their graduation. Sean and Kineta studied them closely in order to determine which would be selected for the most trusted positions in the military such as foreign relation matters or guarding Elizabet. Scout, however, had no interest in them. She had a formal guard of her own and she let her captain control everyone else on it. Two years ago a grizzly man called Harvey had been promoted to her captain. She despised the man. Harvey had always been more interested in the privileges of protecting her than anything else, such as attending parties and being in close contact with Sean, but he was easily manipulated. All she had to do was threaten a demotion and he'd let her slip away whenever she wanted.

Scout's mother had been dead for two years and her father had yet to return from Persia. He could be dead too, for all she knew. She'd decided to go on with life as though that were the case. He wouldn't actively be involved in her life anymore anyway. After all, he was a Ranger of Araluen and she was the heir apparent of Hibernia.

Scout hadn't seen any of her Araluen 'family' since the funeral. A few had passed in and out of Roscrea, but Scout spent next to no time in her adopted, country's capitol these days. She'd taken up training at the Academy of Roscrea on the city's outskirts. She only ventured back into the castle for formal events like the tournament she had no choice but to attend. She'd much rather be back at the Academy running drills and honing her archery.

"Patience," Kineta gently reminded Scout. As usual, she couldn't hide her frustration from her cousin.

"I could count a dozen other things I could be doing right now that are actually useful," Scout muttered.

"This is useful," Sean reminded her. "These boys will be defending Hibernia. It does them good to have a face to put to their orders."

"I've heard this speech before."

"Maybe you need it a few more times."

"I'm twenty years old," Scout protested. To anyone outside of the raised platform of seats the family sat on they looked as though they were carrying on a cheerful conversation. This was a skill they'd come to master when butting heads. "Elizabet is the one they should rally for. She's the peoples' princess."

Peoples' Princess was Elizabet's nickname in the streets. It was now known throughout the entire kingdom that the adorable girl with coal-black eyes and golden waves of hair was an adopted daughter to Sean and Kineta. They embraced the child warmly. A rumor had spread that Elizabet was the daughter of a common soldier whose mother died in childbirth and that Sean and Kineta took her in as their own. It was a rumor they let escalate to avoid the poor overwhelming orphanages in hopes of their child being picked up by royalty.

"And you are the crown princess," Kineta reminded her. "You're the one they're going to battle under."

"I'm sure they'd declare anyone who makes Elizabet cry a national enemy."

Caitlyn tied her bootlaces tightly before going to the main room of the apartment that had been her home for two years now. "Good morning Daideo," she said to her grandfather.

"Good morning Caitlyn," Halt replied as he sipped his coffee. "You know, most seventeen year olds would have run off to an apprenticeship by now."

"Hush," Pauline, Caitlyn's grandmother, chided him. Halt and Pauline had obviously seen better days. When Caitlyn returned from being away for so long she realized they weren't the invincible power couple she'd once believed. Halt was getting forgetful despite retelling stories from his younger days to her and Russ almost nonstop, and Pauline had the slightest of stoops forming in her back. Sometimes she used a cane to walk, telling them an old mission injury gave her trouble when it rained. Caitlyn hated seeing them weak but she was no longer naïve to how life worked.

"Well they do," Halt grumbled. Caitlyn took an apple from the bowl on the table and munched into it. She knew Halt didn't really want her gone, though he was always after her to take an apprenticeship. She wondered when he'd realize that she'd in fact taken up learning everything she could from him and Pauline. Once she felt ready she planned to leave and join the Charmed Battalion. Lady Evie had stepped into Lina's place on the Council and things had since developed to near-perfection. Caitlyn had spoken to Lady Evie about joining and Evie was firmly against it. Appealing to Gilan and even Horace and Cassandra themselves had done her no good. They wouldn't let her become what her mother left behind. Caitlyn had decided she'd learn the skills herself and the only ones she knew to teach her were her grandparents. They would have to let her join once she became as good as the apprentices.

There was a soft knock on the door. The visitor opened it before Pauline could answer it. Gabby came in tapping her long cane in front of her feet while holding her toddler son Russ on her hip. Russ wasn't exactly her son. In fact, he was her brother-in-law. Kane's mother Talia gave him up in order to avenge Lina's death. It was noble in Caitlyn's eyes, but she wished Talia would have taken her along. Caitlyn privately vowed to watch over Russ until Talia returned. Maybe the child's birthmother would accept her as an apprentice if she knew the special attention Caitlyn gave him.

"Gran-mutter!" Russ cheered. The moment his tiny feet touched the ground he fled from Gabby and straight to Pauline. Pauline slid her fingers through the boy's hair as he embraced her knees. It was as though the small boy hadn't seen her in years when in fact he was brought over every morning to spend the day with them while both his parents worked.

"Kane had to leave in the middle of the night. He said he'd return in a couple of days," Gabby told them.

"I knew I heard him leave," Halt told Pauline in his matter-of-factly tone.

"Of course you did, dear," Pauline chastised him before looking back to Gabby. "Do you have time for some breakfast, Gabby?"

Gabby shook her head. "I wish I did. I have a patient that came in yesterday and I've been worrying about him all night. An apprentice came early this morning to let me know he'd been moved to his family's apartment for comfort. Hopefully one of the maids will be free to accompany me there."

Gabby had a map of the entire city in her head, but she had no way of reading the numbers on the catacombs of apartments in the servants' quarters. She'd be lost without someone going along with her. Caitlyn didn't have to think long to realize she'd have a few moments of unquestioned free time if she were to leave with Gabby. She could go find Gilan and beg him to talk to Lady Evie on her behalf…again. If she couldn't succeed in that perhaps Gilan had some news of her father's whereabouts. It was a hope she clung do desperately.

"I'll go," Caitlyn volunteered. "I'm in no rush today."

"We all know you want to hassle Gilan," Halt told her. Caitlyn felt her cheeks turn light pink. Nothing ever got past her grandfather.

"Be back soon," Pauline ordered. "Alyss is coming today and you promised you'd go with Quinlan to the market."

"I will," Caitlyn promised as she fastened her cloak around her shoulders. Quinlan Treaty was her sixteen year old cousin who had apprenticed himself to the Couriers. It was a noble enough position in which he not only handled sensitive information but was surrounded by elegant young ladies all day. He was often made to travel with his mother when making trips to Castle Araluen so that he could expedite his training. The Couriers had big plans for Quinlan Treaty.

Scout smiled and gave a slight nod to the graduated apprentice in front of her for winning the tournament. It was a rehearsed smile she'd practiced with her maid Kelly in front of a mirror. She had four of them: one of congratulations, one of impression, one of humor, and one of dignity. Once it was over Scout began walking with her family towards their private dining room. It was here Sean and Kineta insisted on daily family meals when she came as a teenager. That seemed like a lifetime ago. Sean and Kineta walked ahead with their two children. Scout sulked back as she'd become accustomed to doing. She loved her cousins, but they were different than her. They were the royal family people admired and cheered for. She was an elusive crown princess who slipped in and out of the picture.

Warden fell in step just a few paces behind her. "When do you leave?" he whispered. The others in her guard rotated regularly. Warden had been by her side longer than even Captain Harvey. He was lieutenant now, a rank unheard of for one so young, but Warden looked older than what he was. Sean said keeping up with a princess who didn't want to be kept aged him. Scout had offered him plenty of promotions out of her guard but he refused to leave the ranks unless she explicitly sent him away.

"As soon as I'm dismissed. Maybe sooner," Scout replied.

Scout had shut both Daniel and Warden and the half dozen other charmers who came to call every week out of her heart romantically. She couldn't handle that type of thing now, not when she had so much else to do that took priority. Warden had taken his place as her friend fairly easily. She could confide in him what she couldn't to Kelly, her ever faithful maid, or Julia, her established rival and roommate at the Academy of Roscrea. Kelly wasn't the type of person to take grim news well and Scout was strictly forbidden from discussing certain matters with those at Academy. Kineta was always a good ear to fall on when needed, but she was always full of advice and sometimes Scout just needed to vent.

Warden and Kelly didn't travel with her to the Academy. That was a journey she always made alone. The two would summon her from school, Warden carrying official orders to Jeddrick while Kelly delivered whatever clothes Scout would need upon arrival to the city. Often they'd put what she needed in her room and leave without so much as a hello. Scout liked it this way. She loved her family in Roscrea dearly, but she needed to keep her future in mind. She would be queen of Hibernia one day. Stories of how her mother inspired the rebellion that ultimately brought unity and peacetime were told everywhere she went and Scout knew all eyes were on her to become that kind of princess. Scout wanted to be that princess, the kind who rode out to battle with her knights rather than sit in comfort sipping wine while her people sacrificed themselves. To do that she needed training. Her parents had given her a good start in Araluen but now it was Scout's turn to buckle down on her own.

"Just don't break Elizabet and Gabe's hearts by not saying good bye. Again."

"One time," Scout muttered. A year ago she'd been called back to the Academy suddenly for testing. She had packed and left eagerly to gain a new level and had forgotten to tell her family good bye. Sean and Kineta shrugged her actions off as part of growing up. After all, Scout was an adult now and had done nothing wrong by answering a summons, but Elizabet and little Gabe didn't see it that way. As far as they were concerned Scout was like their older sister and disappearing was like she'd abandoned them. Scout vowed to never give them that feeling again.

Dinner conversation circled around Elizabet. The ten year old may be shy in crowds, but once the doors closed she was as chatty as anyone. Elizabet wanted to go to the Academy but Sean and Kineta firmly told her no. Scout had to agree with them. Elizabet had no real desire to learn what the Academy taught. She just wanted to go because Scout went and so far Scout's experience wasn't suitable for a still-traumatized little girl. Just this week Elizabet woke up in tears over events that happened when she wasn't even tall enough for her feet to touch the floor when sitting in a chair. She didn't need to have the rigor of Academy life added to that.

"I'll see all of you later," Scout promised her family after eating. She hugged Elizabet and kissed Gabe's cheek. "You two be good, alright?"

"Where Scout go?" little Gabe asked. He was at the age he needed to be reminded people still existed even when they weren't with him.

"Scout is going to school," Sean told his son. "Tell her good bye."

"Bye bye Scout," Gabe said obediently. Scout smiled and took the reins of her horse, Swift. She mounted and heeled Swift away towards the Academy of Roscrea. Swift went at a quick pace she could hold for a long time and tugged at her reins to go faster. Scout loved riding Swift, yet always felt a pang of sorrow when leaving the city of Roscrea. Sean and Kineta had taken her as her own and she really did feel like they were second parents to her. She cared for Elizabet and Gabe as fiercely as she cared for Caitlyn. For a moment, Scout wondered if this was how Lina had felt all those times she rode away from home for some mission or other. The feeling was a terrible one Scout wished would fade away. In the beginning she'd thought it would get easier to remember her mother as time went on. Two years and nothing had changed. No matter how pleasant the original memory, seeing her mother grappling with a stranger on the ground came next in her mind's eye.

Scout arrived at the Academy of Roscrea just a few hours before sunset. She tended Swift herself before turning her over to a stable hand who offered to put her in a paddock in the far back field to graze. Since her mother's death Scout had found sleep impossible. The Academy trained its students to be at their best on as little sleep as possible. They allotted just six hours per night. With training, Scout could perform at her best on just four or five. Scout went to her room and lay down in bed. The ride had tired her enough to fall asleep quickly.

Scout sat straight up and drew her knife when the door opened. It was training she'd long since become accustomed to. Scout and her roommate Julia both assumed defensive positions with blades at the ready. Jeddrick, the leader of the Academy, put up his hands. "Stand down ladies. Scout, you need to come with me. Someone is here to see you."

This wasn't the first time Jeddrick had come to their room saying those words. Julia moaned and flopped back to bed. Scout felt sure her friendly rival fell back asleep midair. She quickly slipped on her bodice, leggings, and boots with the ever-present tunic students wore both in the day and through the night. She met Jeddrick in the hallway and walked beside him towards the offices only teachers used.

"Did you have a good time with your family?" Jeddrick asked. Scout nodded.

"Good enough."

Scout liked Jeddrick. He didn't treat her differently simply because she was a princess. But then, she wasn't the first royal acquaintance of his. He had known both her parents and Kineta from the Old Days. He also wasn't shy to talk about her mother. Everyone knew Lina had died protecting her. This fact made people either hesitant to talk about Lina or ask Scout stupid questions. The popular story was that Lina died right there with Scout weeping in the dust over her body. The fact that she'd made it to the castle and received medical attention seemed to slip everyone's mind. Scout, at first, had been angry that they let that slip…that her mother had been strong enough to withstand the pain and pass in peace after saying goodbyes.

Now Scout just let it go. People would think what they wanted to think and there was honor in the story the people made up…and she didn't want to hinder Gabby's reputation. Gabby's work in Hibernia boosted her career in Araluen. Saving Kineta and Gabe finally made experienced healers see her as a worthy colleague rather than a blind charity case some Araluen physician took in. If it were common knowledge that she's lost a high-profile patient that could be taken away, and Lina's death wasn't Gabby's fault. Kane and Gabby had returned to Araluen despite Sean's offer to make them both respected in their professions in Hibernia. It was a choice they made in favor of Russ. It was better he be raised away from people who openly judged Talia. As far as he was knew, he was their son and Talia was just some woman that came up in conversation from time to time. Anybody who knew the truth could expose him to it before he was ready to hear it, and Kane and Gabby both wanted to protect him from that.

"It's good you've quickly adjusted to running on little sleep," Jeddrick told her as they walked. "Your parents were the same when they were here."

Scout half-listened to Jeddrick as they walked. He and other leaders had told her all about her parents' time in the Academy. She'd even stood on the ledge Lina jumped from when she famously faked her death and sparked Liam to lead a rebellion. Scout had stood on the ledge looking down at the water wondering how her mother had done it. She'd retraced to where the school's sewer drain emptied in her investigation. How Lina went from the top of the bridge to the drain was beyond her.

"Here we are," Jeddrick said as he opened the door to his office. A woman wearing a travel-worn dress with a ragged hem sat with the hood of her cloak up. She stood and put down her hood to reveal her face. Scout creased her forehead with worry.

Caitlyn walked through the halls with Gabby's hand on her forearm. She liked being around Gabby. Kane's wife had a calming nature and seemed to always know just what to say. "Russ is getting big," she whispered as they walked.

"He's like a small Kane," Gabby agreed. "He's even starting to eat like him."

Caitlyn smiled. "And make the same faces. He's got the same smirk."

Gabby laughed, but as usual wrapped back around to the true problem. "Caitlyn, we both know that you plan to sneak in a visit to Gilan before going back home."

Caitlyn's smile vanished. "So what if I am?"

Gabby stopped walking. She slid her hand up to Caitlyn's cheek and rested it there with her thumb close to her nose. Caitlyn frowned to show her objection. Now Gabby would know the expression of her face. "Your father will return when it is time for him to return," she promised. "He wouldn't leave you alone for so long if he knew about Lina."

It was an unspoken fear almost everyone had. Liam and his apprentice Mason had gone on a dangerous mission in Persia. Once they finished the Ranger would stop in Hibernia to see his eldest daughter before coming home to his youngest. If Scout told him what happened, it was possible that he'd immediately go to avenge her…find Talia and join whatever it was that woman was doing without even stepping foot on Araluen soil or sending word to his other daughter. Caitlyn had full faith in this theory. She also doubted if Scout would send word to her if such a thing happened. The only wild card in the scenario was Mason. Would he return to Araluen to report to Gilan? Or take the chance to flee life as a Ranger?

"What if he did though?" Caitlyn asked. She didn't like to consider that her father had abandoned her but…what if he had?

"He wouldn't," Gabby promised her. "You are very special to him. You're his daughter."

Caitlyn shrugged and assumed a more neutral expression. Gabby's hand dropped to her shoulder. She'd probably heard Prince William's heavy boots coming towards them.

"Good morning," William told them.

"Morning," the girls replied.

"What are you to up to so early?"

"Caitlyn's helping me find a patient's apartment," Gabby answered. "And you?"

"Looking for you, actually. Anamaria wants for you to come have a look at her."

Caitlyn felt Gabby's hand on her shoulder tense. It was no secret that William and his wife were trying to have a baby. Pressure from the kingdom doubled every year since their wedding. Gabby had avoided becoming a formal midwife, but still people called upon her for services. Word that she'd saved Hibernia's queen and little prince during childbirth was, after all, what shaped her advancing career. "She will be deeply embarrassed if I report it a false alarm again," Gabby warned him. "This would be the fourth time this year."

William nodded. "I know. That's why I convinced her to let me collect you instead of a maid, so that it could be done as privately as possible. She's been insisting every morning the past week I come get you."

Caitlyn felt too young for the conversation but had nowhere else to go. She was, after all, supposed to be reading numbers on doors for Gabby. The delay would raise concern for Halt and Pauline if she went to talk to Gilan now. She felt annoyed. Anamaria had turned out to be a fine wife for Araluen's heir apparent. She was dutiful as a princess and loved by the people. Her beauty rivaled that of even Princess Rosalina, William's twin sister. But it had been years and Anamaria had still yet to do the one act that would show she had truly converted to being Araluen: providing the kingdom with a prince or princess to take the place of her husband one day.

"I'll be there in an hour. I have to send some excuse to Master Jonathan," Gabby told him.

"Thank you, Gabby. Really…thank you."

William nodded to each of them and then went on his way. Caitlyn began walking again with Gabby's hand on her shoulder. "Why is it so important for her to have a baby?" Caitlyn asked. "She's wonderful. She set up a way to provide soldiers wounded in battle with comfort and welcomes the families of those traveling in the King's service to a banquet meal on Harvest Day."

"You will understand one day," Gabby sighed. "I know you want to talk to Gilan but when we finish with yesterday's patient I need you to go find Master Jonathan and tell him that Russ bumped his head this morning and I'm going to be late getting in."

"You know one day Russ will realize how often you use him as a scapegoat," Caitlyn chided.

"I bet his grandfather corrupts him enough by then he won't care," Gabby shrugged. As he had with the Leaf and Treaty children, Halt was bent on teaching Russ the ways of a Ranger. Caitlyn knew her grandfather cared about her and her 'cousins', but clearly Russ was special. Kane had actually been Halt's son since he was a small child whereas the Treatys and the Leafs were relatively grown by the time they entered his life. Kane meant more to him than Will, Alyss, and Lina. That, and he admired Gabby. Caitlyn admired her too. Like Lina, Gabby had overcome physical barriers to pursue a career in service to others. Caitlyn had grown closer to Gabby since returning to Araluen alone. She was like an older sister now that Scout had moved on.

"You don't think I should go ask Gilan about my father," Caitlyn sighed as they continued walking. It wasn't a question. She knew exactly what Gabby thought.

Surprisingly, Gabby shook her head. "I think you will be the first he comes for once he knows something, and as for getting him to plea your case to Lady Evie I think that's something you need to just let go."

Caitlyn felt slapped but hearing it come from Gabby gave the words more value. "Why? My mother started the Battalion. Why can't I join it?"

"Do you really want your mother's life, Caitlyn?" Gabby asked. Caitlyn didn't reply. She didn't know the answer to a question like that.