It irritated Jordan that the queen would make him wait until he had rested and fed before meeting with him. Not that he didn't' appreciate the courtesy; it had been weeks since he had a proper meal or warm bath. Being on the road didn't allow for such luxuries.

After eating his meal which he noticed would have been enough to feed ten of him, he let his stiff body soak in the hot water of the tub, it felt good to relax without concerns, to close his eyes without them darting back open. His eyes drooped, he tried to fight the sleep that was threatening to take over him, but his attempt where futile, with the warmth of the bath and the lack of forest distractions, and he drifted off into an uneasy sleep.

The nightmare came again, it seemed every time he closed his eyes these days even if just to blink, images from his dreams came back to haunt him.

He was in a place he didn't recognize, trees grew all around him and low growing shrubs and flowers. The wind blew fiercely trying to knock him from his stance. It carried with it the stench of burnt and rotting flesh and the smell of something unknown to him but familiar nonetheless. Behind stood people, they had no faces, but he could tell they grieved. There was no fire to account for the burning smell, and the night was black without even the light of the moon.

The only lights where emanating from the people behind him, one a bright amethyst the other a glowing black and silver. Even in a dream he wondered how blackness could light up blackness.

He was afraid, it made sense to be afraid, better to be scared than sad. Fear brought up anger, sadness could destroy a man. He turned his gaze to the front, a man stood there, surrounded by a sky blue cage, made from what looked like light. His face was set in a wild crazy smile, Jordan realized he was laughing, sending tremors down his spine, it was the laugh of a crazy person, and it brought his anger to the surface…

The man broke free of his cage and threw something at Jordan, water surrounded him, he was trapped, gasping for air when he felt a hand on his shoulder pulling on him.

He opened his eyes, escaping the nightmare, gasping for breath he noticed he was wet, "the dreams are coming true" he thought.

"ye should never fall asleep in a bath boy." The voice was behind him, a hand still held his shoulder. He was in a bath, where, what, how. Panic ran through his body before memory caught up and he sighed loudly, removing the panic that had frozen his body. He turned to look at the man who had grabbed him. Hazel eyes came into view, attached to a well scared face that held a charming smile. "me lass sent me to check you out." His accent was thick as he spoke, and his smile never left his face.

"Check me out? Your lass? I don't understand." Jordan said reaching for a drying cloth and stepping out of the tub, keeping his eyes on the man before him.

"Now don't get all frightened, ill not harm ya." Strangely, Jordan felt no fear of this man, not that he feared easily, but even the bravest can be afraid in times of confrontation. Jordan's fear was like a sixth sense, if he felt it, guaranteed the thing causing it meant harm.

"I'm not frightened. Just startled is all. Whom am I speaking to?" Jordan went behind the dressing screen to dry and dress, as the man showed no move to leave him to privacy.

"Ah, yes sorry bout that I'm George Cooper of pirates swoop, baron actually but I don't like ta flaunt it." For a largish man his tone was not threatening, rather friendly and relaxed, which only made Jordan more at ease. "And me lass is the lady Alanna, the kings champion, also known as the lioness. She said you came to speak with the queen, asked me to do an interrogation." Jordan was stunned at the mans frankness, usually when someone does a secret inspection they don't generally tell the person they are looking into.

"The lady Alanna is a suspicious one, although when it comes to me king and queen I tend to be somewhat over protective. So I came to check you out."

"So check me out then" Jordan couldn't decide if he was irritated or amused by this man. Tortall was a strange place, which he was sure of.

"ye seem alright to me lad, although I'm curious ta know what brought ya here." George was a good judge of people, he didn't think this boy was trouble, but he'd been wrong before. "I have searched for the lady known as Thayet for as long as I can remember, even when I wasn't aloud out I searched the convent. I came to Tortall and heard talk of your Queen, I have found her at last and I wish to see her, that is all I will say." He didn't want to tell the man he had no idea why he needed to see her, she had saved him as a baby for that he wanted to thank her, but it was more than that. A force driving him into some unknown destiny, all he knew is what he felt, and he felt the powerful need to see this woman face to face.

"Ill warn ya lad, I'm not the only one who'll visit ye before you get to see the lady." George smiled at the boys raised eyebrows and continued with an explanation,

"Ye see lad, no one knows you. We love our Thayet, not just as a monarch but as a friend, and I doubt even one of 'ems gonna allow you to see Thayet before they come to see ya for em selves." Now Jordan was irritated, it could take a day to meet these friends, to show them he was no danger to their queen, he didn't understand such friendship, he'd had friends but none that would interrogate a visitor for his protection. He tried to keep the irritation out of his voice when he spoke, "I'm eager to see Queen Thayet, let your friends inspect me as they must, but I ask them to do it quickly, I have waited long for this meeting and I'm bored with it." George left with a promise to speak to Thayet's other friends, to either persuade them he was all right or tell them to make there visit today.

Alanna sat in the chair, in the sitting room, then stood straight back up why am I so unsettled by this boy.

I changed his nappies, and now he unnerves me she thought 'and what is taking George so long she would have went to see this Jordan but George had insisted, saying her temper might scare the poor boy, which only made her more agitated. She wasn't that bad tempered, was she? She let George go anyway; he did like to feel needed.

The door to the room opened and George walked in, a smirk on his face.

"Well what's he up to? She asked walking over to her husband.

"I've no idea lass" he put his finger to Alanna's mouth to stop the interruption

"He's alright, I mean I've been wrong before but not often" he removed his hand to let her speak

"Did you even ask him? And what took you so long if he didn't talk?" She asked hand on her hips. She knew he was good at reading people, and he had a touch of the sight, but he'd been wrong before, he could be wrong now. George tugged on her hands gripping them in his own

"He's certainly worked you up hasn't he?"

Alanna stayed quiet waiting for him to answer her questions. Her mood was failing as he held her hands, sending warmth and tingles up her arms, even after all these years he still had that effect on her

"Yes I asked him, he didn't really give me a straight answer, but I didn't think he had an answer himself, he just needs to see her. He was asleep in the bath when I got there apparently struggling with a night terror."

He didn't tell her he'd gone to see Numair, Raoul and Jonathan before he came back. Not wishing to spark her temper again Her hands relaxed into his and he pulled her into an embrace, she sagged into his arms, releasing her anxiety, only here in his arms could she let the woman in her out, and right now that woman was very worried. She felt like she had when she was on her quest for the dominion jewel, the feeling that Tortall was in danger.

"So are ye gonna tell me why ya all stirred up? George mumbled in her hair. "Because I'm a suspicious, bad tempered knight," She said with a shrug. "I just have this tingle, like something bad is coming and I felt it just before he arrived." George squeezed her closer to him; he'd never known her to be wrong about such feelings.

"Whatever Comes we will handle, lioness, together." she lifted her amethyst eyes to meet hit hazel ones. He could always melt her moods away; he leaned in and kissed her softly at first then with encouragement from her, more forcefully.

"Maybe we can do something about that tingle," he said with a wink, smiling wickedly. She smiled back guiding him over to he chair. George sat down pulling Alanna on his lap.

"Maybe we can "she said in a whisper.

It was rare that they had time together without the interruptions of children and war, but this only served to strengthen their love. The more time Alanna and George where apart, the more they fell in love. Every time they kissed, it was filled with love and passion, because neither of them knew if it would be the last. Every time they made love, it was with intense desire, never fading with years of marriage. And tonight was no different.

Just as Jordan was about to sit and eat the meal that had been placed on the small dining table, a knock came at the door. Letting out a sigh, and telling his hunger it would have to hold out, he made his way over to the door.

It would be an understatement to say he was not slightly intimidated by who stood on the other side. Two very tall men, one around 6 foot two the other a few inches taller. The shorter one was a large man with broad shoulders and the body of a well-trained warrior. The other although not at muscular as the first had a power about him, Jordan could see a mass of black and silver magic around this man

"Hello, can I help you? He said pushing down the intimidation he felt.

The tall mage was the one to answer, the warrior standing beside him, arms crossed and brow furrowed.

"Might we come in and have a word I am Numair Salmalin and this here is Sir Raoul of Goldenlake" he spoke slowly as if he was sizing up the young man as he talked.

Letting out another sigh, Jordan stepped aside to allow the two men to enter. They all sat at the table that had been laden with food. An effort for the two tall men, whose legs where to long for the chairs.

"am I right to guess you are more friends of Queen Thayet here to check me out" Jordan's hunger had gotten the better of him as he started to eat from the tray, the two men hardly seemed to notice as they looked him up and down.

"Right you are, Jordan isn't it?" Numair asked.

The moment the door had opened, he had felt the power of the young man, and he was more than a little disturbed by the emerald green pool of magic with in him.

"Yes that's right, I am Jordan, and I have come to speak to queen Thayet, to thank her for rescuing me when I was a baby."

"It's a long way to go for a thank you, how did you know Thayet was here?" the knight Raoul spoke, his voice was deep, as Jordan had expected.

"I did not know she was here, I have searched for her and Tortall was in my path. I heard two people talk of the queen, naming her as Thayet. It was a relief to know my search was over, and then I came to the palace an have been in this room since, being interrogated by people I do not know or care to see, I only wish to see Thayet. I mean her no harm, she saved my life," As he spoke his voice became agitated nearing on aggressive, he was finding it hard to control his moods and was getting tired of being asked the same questions.

"We certainly don't mean to interrogate you. You will see the queen when she is ready. Do you think that she has sent us here to stall the meeting?" Numair said calmly, trying to appease Jordan's irritation.

"Has she not? Then why am I here waiting?"

"Thayet has insisted you be rested and fed then she will come to see you. We are am just a little curious, And well we like to be nosy and protective when it comes to each other." Numair said with a smile, his tone did nothing to help Jordan's mood, but he smiled in return.

"Now that we have had our little sticky beak, we will leave you to eat and rest,"

Raoul said, getting to his feet, nudging Numair who had made no indication of leaving.

"what - oh yes, I am sure we will See you again." both men left, Jordan shutting the door behind them, felt weariness overcome him and made his way to the bed-chamber.

Ok so I promised a bit of fluff with our fav couples, I personally think this is a poor example of fluff, it will get better. I promise. Thanks for the great reviews and support. Oh and yes I know my grammar is reaaalllly bad, its like a learning disorder of mine, I just can't seem to get it right.

Ok so I'm no good with accents, so please excuse Georges shoddy dialog, also I'm not sure I got the age right, if anyone would wanna calculate how old "Jordan" would be after ROTG, as this is when I'm setting it. Then let me know, thanks R & R. yes rest and relaxation…. Kidding, review please. Next chapters halfway written.