A/N Ok finally got this chapter's punctuation problem fixed.

DISCLAIMER: This disclaimer is for the entire story. Much as I would like to I do not nor ever will own Garth Nix's work.

Chapter 1
A Journey Begun

Nick was still very weak, and it had taken nearly all his strength to stand. He firmly resolved in his mind that he would stay standing as long as he possibly could, or at least long enough for the others to reach him. But even as he watched, two of the six supporters of Lirael faltered, then stopped in their tracks. He could just barely make out which two it was. It was the dark-skinned, blonde ones, the ones who appeared to be twins. Soon the others stopped as well. Nick let out an audible groan. He had to reach the group, and soon. That much he knew for certain. The real question was how he would get there. The only idea that struck him was childish, and barely possible, but it might work. After hesitating for a couple seconds, he knew it had to be done, that this was the only way for him to reach Lirael and the others. Nick slowly laid himself down again and started to prop himself up on one elbow. It was hard work, but he soon managed to turn over to the point at which gravity took over his amazingly emaciated body and began to roll it down the hillside.

Ryelle felt it first, the slight odd feeling that always preceded one of the Clayr's Sights. Sanar was not far behind. Quietly they left the small group and stood off to the side, so as not to interrupt anyone while they were having their vision. The world around them blurred, then became invisible as they were caught up in the Sight. They saw Lirael, the young man they recalled as Nick, and Sam in a place that could only be the Abhorsen's house. There were many sendings standing around watching something, obviously with wonder and amazement. A bright light filled the room, nearly blinding the two. Then their normal vision returned, and the Sight was lost. The other five, including Lirael, were staring at them, expecting to hear what they had Seen. But just as the twins were about to explain, they noticed a small shape coming quickly towards them from the direction of the hill. Sam soon recognized this shape as Nick, and ran off to help him. Once they returned, Nick leaning heavily on Sam as they inched along, Sanar and Ryelle described their Sight. At the end they added, "You three must go to the Abhorsen's house immediately, so that was has been Seen will become what has happened." It was soon settled that all would go to the Abhorsen's house to catch up on some much needed food and rest, then each would return to their homes, leaving Sam, Lirael, and Nick at the house.

The sendings had apparently learned of these plans before they arrived, and the seven, or eight, including Mogget, who had allowed himself to be rebound, though it was yet to be sealed with a bell, walked into a house especially prepared for a celebration. There was a freshly filled hot bath in every bedroom, and the dining room table was laden with the best food the sendings could provide. All but Mogget immediately chose a room an d eased into their bath in hopes of relaxing strained muscles and joints. A short while later, they gathered in the dining room for dinner. It was delicious, although Lirael had some difficulty in her attempts to eat with her left hand. Nick noticed his, and suggested, "Sam, with that magic of yours, do you think you could make a new hand for Lirael?"

"Yes, but it would take a while to finish, not to mention that we would need a very sturdy substance, to make it out of," replied Sam. "But still, it would probably take me days, maybe even weeks."

"But you're a Wallmaker!" argued Lirael, throwing herself into the discussion. "You proved that when you made Nehima into the sword that broke Orannis."

"Well, I was planning to make you a new hand in the near future, but I was also hoping that I might be able to create a new suit of gethre, in case one is ever needed. I don't think I can work on both at the same time, but which one would you have me construct first?"

"Well I really would like to have the use of my hand back as soon as possible, after all, there are still many of the dead running around. I'm not much for ringing bells with my left hand, and Charter forbid i should have to ring two at once!"

After some intervention from the King and Abhorsen, it was agreed that Sam would construct the gethre first, or at least work on it until a suit able material was found for Lirael's new hand.

For the rest of the night, the group separated to do what each would please. The next day, after all had enjoyed a good night's sleep, everyone went their separate ways, wether it was to the palace, the Clayr's glacier, or to simply remain in the house. Sabriel, however, insisted on riding through the borderlands on horseback to quell any dead that may still be lingering from Hedge's plans.

Lirael, Nick, and Sam had each woken up with mixed feelings of anticipation and fear in their hearts. There was a fair chance that Sanar and Ryelle had seen something wonderful, but it could also have been something terrible.

"Well," said Lirael, "we might as well get down to it."

They decided to use the same room for two projects, both Sam's creation of a new suit of gethre, and Lirael teaching nick the fundamentals of Charter magic. Ever since finding out about his late baptism from the Dog, Nick had been especially curious and eager to learn about the Charter and its magic. Lirael and Nick would be separated from Sam by a curtain as thick as a carpet, so that Sam wouldn't be distracted in his work. As soon as the curtain was pulled across, Sam emptied his mind and began dredging up marks. He had known the first several he thought of for a long time, then came a few he knew from the making of what was once Nehima. But before a minute was over, every mark that came to his mind was unknown to him, by shape, name, and function. But even so, they just kept coming, revealing themselves to the world since the last suit of gethre had been created by the fourteenth abhorsen centuries ago.

On the other side of the curtain, Lirael had spent the last quarter hour teaching Nick the history of the Charter and what it was. Finally, Lirael had been able to teach Nick a simple spell; the calling of a Charter light. From across the curtain, there was a sudden flash, then a stream of golden light poured out, casting Sam's shadow on the curtain. Lirael knew the making of the gethre had begun at last. Then there was a brighter yet burst of light from behind her.

"I-I only said just what you did!" stumbled Nick. "what happened?" "What did I do wrong?"

Sam wasn't far behind with his questions. As soon as the light had become brighter than the charter spell that was coming from his fingers and mouth, he had lost concentration and rushed to pull back the curtain. As he did, Sam saw the largest, brightest Charter light he had ever seen. He could sense that the light had been called using the normal spell, meaning that the one who cast it must have possessed immense power in the Charter.

"Youcast it, Nick?"

"Yes, I did, but why is mine so much larger than Lirael's?" Nick pointed to an average sized light hovering about Lirael's shoulders.

"What happened was the vision," said Lirael, who had finally overcome her amazement, "As for why, perhaps the Clayr will be able to tell us."

"You don't mean to say that we're going for another ride in one of those unstable winged things, do you?" inquired Nick. "Even after learning about the Charter, I still don't like flying in a Paperwing."

"Well you'll just have to get over that because we're certainly not going to walk there," Lirael stated flatly.

As they climbed the steps from the library to the paperwing, they came to a horrible realization: only two of them would be able to leave in the sole remaining paperwing. It was concluded that Nick and Lirael would go to the Glacier, as it was Lirael's original home and Nick had been the one to cast the light. Sam would stay behind, and, once more, attempt to create the gethre.

However, as the paperwing took off with Lirael and nick, who was complaining and worrying until Sam couldn't hear him because of the distance, he ran down the stairs to one of the storerooms and proceeded to look for a lump of gold.