Disclaimer: ::Monotone voice:: I do NOT own ANY of the regonizable character's. Their all Tamora Pierce's.

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Chapter 4: Question's Galore

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Serena was released from the healer's wing the next day, making a full recovery. She was happy to be out of that place anyway; it was FAR too boring!

She had been forced to wear a plain white shirt to go out, though she absolutly REFUSED to give up her Carhart's and hiking shoes.

"You can't have them!" She cried furiously at the people. But, they conveinced her that they had to at least wash the Carhart's, which they did, then gave them back to her.

Mumbling at how demanding people can be, Serena took her leave, knowing she was being stared after.

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Having extra energy to burn, she took off outside, wanting to go into city. She passed the garden's, the gate's, snuck around the soldier's the best she could and walked a short distance until she saw it.

Grinning that she finally had the chance to come, she entered the city, ready for anything.

It was the greatest thing that had happen to her in her life after she had gotten her own bow and arrow's.

There were cart's with people selling knife's, dagger's, sword's, herb's, food, armor. She also made note to go by the Raven Armory, the shop that sold the finest armor ever. It was amazing.

After much goggling at everything possible, (Not to mention the people itself goggling at her) she finally stumbled upon an building with a sign hanging from it, baring the title "The Dancing Dove".

"Finally!" She corused to herself happily. She had been wondering if she would ever make it here. She strode into the building.

There were only a few people in the inn, since it was still the afternoon. Some looked up, only glancing, but then raised their head again to stare at the newcomer. They would whisper to their neighboring friend, if they had one, who then would too look up. Serena just ignored them and took a seat.

A man with brown hair and hazel eye's came over to her. "What would ye like, miss?"

Serena was about to voice that she would like a soda, but then remember that had no such thing back then. "Do you have any water?" She asked politly.

The man raised in eyebrow to her, but said nothing: he just nodded and walked away, returning shortly with a cup of water.

She was about to take a drink, until Serena remember something. "Oh no," She muttered to herself, then, said more loudly so the man could hear her. "I'm sorry, I don't have any money on me."

The man shook his head. "Water doesn't need a' payin' for." He told her. He walked away.

Sighing in gratituded, she took a swig from the cup.

b

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"Ye look familier."

"Of course, you dolt! You were the one that made those other soldier's pin me against the wall!" Serena shouted angerly.

She was stuck at the Palace Gate's again, talking to the same empty-headed soldier that had "welcomed" her to Corus when she first arrived.

"What are ye doing here again?" He asked suspicously.

Serena sighed impatiently. "I am currently staying here. I went into town to look around."

"Did anybody know ye were going 'here?" The soldier continued.

"I didn't think anybody would care." Serena told him truthfully. Nobody did before, why should they start now?

"I don't kn'w..." Came the reply.

"JUST LET ME IN, YOU STUPID BLOKE!" She screamed at him.

The man frowned, but sent over two soldier's to take her up to the palace.

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They left her at the door's, returning to their post's down at the gate's.

She, for one, was gratful for them to leave. She hated people telling her what to do.

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She tromped up the step's, not bothering with the strange glances she recieved from passerby's: She just wanted to go to her room so no one could bother her.

~~~

Serena peered around the inside of the castle, trying to figure out which way she was suppose to go. She dearly wished she remembered where everything was located on that tour Luke gave her.

"Too bloody big of a building," She muttered to herself, choosing to go right. "They could send hound's out to find something in here and it still take them millium's..." She turned into a hallway and looked around. It sure didn't look familier. "Hmmmm..." She turned, and saw a pair of bright sapphire eye's gazing at her itently.

She halted and saw the person was dressed very well. ::Just what I need,:: She cursed to herself lightly. ::The King.::

"'Ello." She said gruffly.

"Good evening, Lady Serena." He replied, still watching her with interest. "You seem like your looking for something."

"I am," She told him blankly. "My room."

"If you will allow me, I can show you just where it is."

"Lead the way." Serena said, glad that she would finally be able to get back.

The King held out his arm, just as Luke had. Serena groaned to herself. Wasen't anybody NOT into all this 'politness? "You don't have to do that, really," She assured him, hoping that it would work. "It's not like I'm from around 'ere anyway."

The King look taken aback, but smiled. Putting down his arm, he began to walk in long stride's, Serena walking by his side.

"How are you enjoying your stay, Lady Serena?" He asked.

"Serena, please. I'm enjoying it, actally."

"Good," He said cheerfully. "I like to have my guest's stay a comfortable one."

They walked in silence until they reached her room.

"Lady-excuse me, Serena?" The man asked when she was opening her door.

Serena looked back at him. "Yeah?"

"I was wondering, if you would be able to come to the throne room at the hour of 7? Myself and a few other's would like to hear more about how you got here."

Serena knew this would happen, and decided just to get it over with. "If I can find it, I'll be there."

The King smiled, amused. "Your really not from around here, are you?" He asked jokingly

Serena couldn't help but grin. "Fair guess."

"I'll send someone to come get you." He told her.

She nodded. "Alright, thanks." She departed to the inside of her room, closing the door behind her. ::Well, I might actally get to meet Myles and Numair.:: She thought happily. ::Maybe even Raoul! Or Diane!..." She trailed off into her own thought's, stationing herself on the bed.

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20 till, (Strangly enough, her watch was set to the time they had there. "Freaky," As Serena had said. "Just plain, bloody freaky.") She hauled herself up, and pulled on her shoes. Combing through her hair with the brush that was already there, she heard a knock. She went to the door and open it.

There stood someone, holding what looked like several tunic's, shirt's, breeche's and boot's in their hand's. The clothing moved as a face appeared, neck craning to look at her.

"Luke! What are you doing here?"

The boy smiled. "Can I come in?"

"Go a'ead." She told him, opening the door wider to emmit enough room. "'Ere, let me help you with that." She grabbed as much clothing as he would let her, and put them on the bed, Luke following suit. He himself callosped on the bed, looking at her. Serena took a seat in a nearby chair and swung her leg's over the arm of it, back resting against the other. "What in bloody blazes did you bring all THAT for?" She asked him, nodding toward's the mountain of clothes and boot's.

"Oh, those?" He replied innocently, still smiling. "The Queen had them made and asked me to bring them here, since she heard that we've already met. And, of course, I didn't refuse."

Serena shook her head. "They don't need to waste their time on me. I'm fine with the clothes I have!"

Luke just sighed. "You won't accept having thing's done for you, do you? Or help for that matter."

Serena glared at him. "I was doing just fine." She sighed lightly herself. "Then everything had to get screwed up and come here..." She said quietly, more to herself than Luke. She got lost in the mind for a second, thinking. Why did she come here anyway? Sure, she alway's dreamed of living in Tortall, becoming a knight herself, but those were just dream's and wish's. They couldn't come true...

Could they?

Then, a picture quickly formed in her mind. ::That thing!:: She thought rapidly to herself. ::That thing that I found in the hall! Where is that blasted...:: With that thought in mind, she started searching franticlly. She looked in her back pocket of her Carhart's. It wasen't there. She flew across the room to her hiking pack, where she left it, and opened. She looked in the main pocket: nothing. After searching in a few more pocket's, she stumbled across it, in the hidden pocket. But there was something different about it.

It was green again. It also had a blue string attached to it, in the of a shape necklace.

::Funny,:: She thought, picking it up. ::It changed back to it's same color...and what's this thread doing here?:: She stood back up, looking at confusingly. "Hey Luke," She began, turning around so he could look at what she was holding. "Have you-" But she never finished her question.

The toothed-shaped piece of 'glass' began to change color: into the same silver the sheild was in her dream.

Luke's eye's widened."How...how did...you...do...that?" He gasped unbelievingly. "I didn't know you were a mage!"

Serena was silent for a moment, just staring down at it. "I...didn't..." She finally whispered. She tried to grab hold to why it was doing this...why everything was doing this unbelievable feat of time and space just to bring her here...and for what? To make her life miserable?

Suddenly, she began to yell at it.

(For what reason, you might be asking yourself now. Well, consider yourself in her postion. Being sucked to a place where it only exsit's in a BOOK that you've read a million time's. It's character's, place's, everything being REAL. Having being attacked by somebody you don't know, having to fight litirally for your life. Everything being dumped on you at once. It can get preetttyyyy stressful, don't ya think? Anyway's, back to the story...)

"Why are you doing this to me!?" She screamed vioently at it, arm's waving dangerously into the air. "What have I done to deserve this!? Huh!? TELL ME!"

"Serena, calm down," Luke told her, frowning. "You didn't do anything."

"Obviously THIS thing think's otherwise!" She shouted. She threw the piece; it landed on her bed, bouncing slightly. She turned toward's Luke.

A jolt shot through Luke, one of pain, happiness, anger, confusion, excitment, mystery, wonder, intrigment and any other emotion a human was capable of having. He had never felt/experienced anything like it before.

::Those eye's...:: He thought, they were alight with something completely unknown. It burnt him to even look at them, but he found he couldn't look away.

The redness of her eye's burned as if a fire itself was roaring right behind them. But the silver fleck's; they glowed brightly with something that he couldn't compare against anything. It made him want to fear and trust her at the same time, but he couldn't decide which. "Serena..." He said, barely audible: He finally found his voice. "Your-your eye's..."

"What about them?" She snapped.

Luke winced slightly, her eye's had lit up again, he could see her fury. He momentarly guessed that's what they were doing right now; showing what she felt. And whoever was looking at the eye's could feel it too. Even as strange and stupid as it sounded, he knew it was true.

"Suddenly the world DEPEND'S on what my eye's LOOK LIKE!?" She roared, losing it.

"No," He said a bit louder now, yet still softly, recovering from what he witnessed. "But I know there is someone out there who does."

She walked over to the bed and picked up the silver piece, peering down at it. "No one need's me." She said firmly, her grip on the peice tightning. "I don't know why I was sent here, but I'm going to find out who did this to me. And when I do, heaven help them." With that, she strode out of the room, the mysterious piece already tied around her neck.

Luke sighed and went out after her, knowing she would need him soon enough.

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Luke soon caught up with the raging girl, who was storming down a hallway.

"Serena!" He halted, landing right in front of her. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to put you in a spot...or...anything." He said these last word's uncertainly, not sure of what to say.

The girl just shook her head. "You don't have to be sorry for anything." He looked confusingly at her. "I shouldn't have flipped out like I did back there." She admited. "I need to deal with my problem's; not bother people with them." She sat down in a nearby chair; placing head in the hold of weary hand's. "I'm just confused."

"If everything you say is true, then I can't blame you."

"If?" Serena reapeated, hoping that what she thought he meant by it wasen't true. "You don't believe me."

There was a moment's silence. "I must amit, it does sound awfully strange...but...I believe you."

Serena lifted her head to stare at him. "Your not kidding?" She accused.

Luke shook his head. "Not about something like this."

The redhead couldn't help but smile at him. "Thank you!" She cried happily, jumping up.

"Come on," He told her, returning the smile. "We need to get you to the Throne Room."

Serena quickly checked her watch: 3 minute's till. "Which way is it?" She prodded.

He pointed to the left. "Down the hall."

Not bothering to wait any longer, she grabbed his hand and began to run in the direction he pointed. "Move it, emerald eye's!" She told Luke, dragging him with her pass several room's, still running.

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Serena turned to face a large door.

She was about to enter when a hand held her back.

"What?" She asked impatiently. "We're late enough as it is."

"You can't just barge in like that," Luke told her, waving a hand at her. "You have to look proper in front of the king."

Serena scowled. "I don't care what I am and what I'm not suppose to do. He can just deal with it." She briskly turned around, dissapearing into the room before Luke could utter anything.

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The Throne Room was just like as she had seen it before. Heavy curtain's drapped on the side of the window's that surrounded the room, emmiting the sunray's to pass through the clear glass. The throne's that were at the other side of the room were empty. Frowning, she noticed there was no one even in the room.

Then, a door opened, one that was right behind the throne's, a person coming out.

The boy walked over to her and bowed. "Lady Serena, Page Luke." He bowed again, but to her side this time. "If you will follow me."

Luke nodded, glanced over to her and gave a wink.

Serena sighed to herself at Luke's openess. They began to walk back toward's where the servant came from, entering into the next room.

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A table and chair's were postion in the middle of the room; several body's occupied most of them.

King Jonathan, Lord Raoul and Numair sat, talking about something Serena couldn't hear. They looked up upon hearing them enter.

"Ah, Serena!" The King cried happily, standing up. Raoul and Numair followed suit. "This is Lord Raoul, Knight Commander of the King's Own, and this is Numair, one of the greatest mage's alive."

"I know." Serena muttered. She knew that this was instantly a mistake. "I've heard alot about them." She added, rather conveincingly, if she did say so herself.

Raoul strode over, took her hand in his own, which was the size of a tree trunk, and kissed it. He looked back up at her, smiling warmly. "Welcome to Tortall, Lady Serena."

"Oh God's, please, just call me Serena. Believe me, I am no lady."

Raoul's grin widened. "You remind me of Kel."

"Really?" She asked, barely being able to keep the excitment out of her tone. What a compliment! And coming from Raoul!

The man laughed and sat back down, letting Numair get to see her.

He seemed just as excited as she was when she recieved the compliment. "Do you really come from the 21st century, as you call it?" He asked eagerly.

Serena couldn't but smile. This was just how she thought Numair would act. "Yes, I really do."

Numair kept pelting her with question's, that is, until the King decided that she need a break from it all.

"Numair," Jonathan cut in. "Don't you think Serena should have a seat, then question her?"

The mage suddenly seemed slightly embarassed. "Oh, yes, of course, please, sit." He muttered, showing Serena to a chair. He sat in the one next to her's. Luke was across from her, sitting next to Raoul and the King; All who was watching her intently.

"How did you get here?" Numair began again, curiousity alight in his eye's.

"Don't know, really," Serena said honestly. "Like I told the King an' Queen earlier, I was hiking."

"Can you tell us the whole story? About where you come from and what it's like?" Raoul asked, arm's crossed on the table.

"Sure, but it's pretty dull if ya ask me."

"I doubt it will be." Luke said teasingly.

Serena gave him a mock glare, then turned back to the rest of the men. "I come from Alaska, a state in the United States of America."

"Is Alaska a fief?" Numair chimmed wonderingly.

The girl snorted. "Not exactly. It's a state, the largest one in the country."

"Hmmm..."

"Anyway, Alaska is mainly made of forest's and coastline's; the greatest place to live if ya ask me. There's plently of game and animal's that no other place has. It's pretty cold up t'ere too, since it's up near the North Pole."

"North Pole? What kind of animal's?"

"The North Pole is at the top of the world, really. A person would freeze if they stayed there without the proper gear. Alaska had bear's, moose, whale's, ram's-"

"Moose? Whale's?"

"One of the most gorgouse animal's to be 'round," Serena said wistfully, a picture of a moose and a killer whale in her mind. "Quite clever too."

"Interesting."

Serena didn 't really mind who was talking: she was too busy daydreaming of everything she could be doing back home. "Alaska get's LOAD'S of snow too, you could go do any snow sport you'd wish. We've got alot of mountain's, valley's, ocean's..." She trailed off.

"Sorry, but I couldn't help but notice the way you talk."

Serena shot a look at Numair. "What 'bout my talking?"

"You just don't talk the same."

"And that's a problem?"

"No, but, does everyone in your country talk the same way as you?"

Serena shrugged. "Not everyone, I guess." After a moment's thought, she added, "I talk with SS."

"SS?" They all choursed confusingly.

"Snowboarder Slang, or speech."

"Snowboarder?"

"A snowboarder is somebody that snowboard's, obviously."

"Snowboard's?"

::At least their talkin' 'bout something you love to do.:: She tried to reassure herself.

"Snowboarding is a snow sport alot of people do." She thought of an example. "Like your jousting, or fencing contest's, 'cept we can do it anytime; as long as there's enough snow."

"Ahhh..."

"Do you have a map of Alaska?" Raoul asked.

"No, not on me, but, I'm willing to throw my dignity away and draw you one, if you'd want."

The Knight grinned. Jonathan handed her a piece of parhcment, a quill and an ink bottle. Serena looked down at them, then back at the men. "Uh, don't ya have any pen's, pencil's or something of the sort?" She asked, forgetting they have no such thing back then.

They looked confused, glancing at one another questionally.

The girl sighed. "Never mind." And went to work on her drawing.

All of them watched her for a few minute's as she scribbled all over of the piece of parchment, waiting.

Finally, she slide the the drawn-on parchment over for the to look.

"I decided to just draw the whole country while I was at it. Alaska in up, away from the country, yet alot of our military bases are there, anyway. There's also another state, called Haawii, that's huge island which is torn away from the country, too."

They studied it for a few moment's. "And this peice of land," Jonathan inquired, pointing to the main country. "This is another state?"

Serena laughed. "Up in Alaska, we call them the lower 48's, because that's where the other 48 state's are. We have 50 in all, you see," She explained. "All which form one huge country."

Numair seemed fasinated in all of this. "Who's your King?" He asked, still staring wid-eyed at the drawing.

"King? We don't have one."

They all froze, and looked up at her. "What?" Luke breathed. "Who run's all this, then?" He waved a stunned hand at the drawing.

"The President. 'E's sorta like a King, but not really. The people who live in the U.S vote for who they want to be President, not by who's born royality." Serena glanced at the Jonathan, who looked shocked and insaulted at the same time, giving him a apologetic look. "Sorry, but that's how it goes there. We haven't 'ad any female President's yet, but they are allowed to be voted and become one if they like."

"How strong and well-trained are your country's soldier's?" Raoul asked quickly. Serena knew he was trying to change the subject.

"Planning to attack?" She asked sarcasticlly, knowing it wouldn't work even if they wanted too. For one, they weren't the type to go into war without a good reason. And two, good luck trying to get there anyway.

Raoul grinned. "Just curious."

"Well," Serena didn't want to make them feel weak or anything, but... "If we wanted to, we could bomb and overtake Tortall or any other country 'ere in a matter of minute's." She told them, acting as if it was nothing. "And that's only using one group."

She heard them gasped, all but Raoul. "Impressive!" He said heartily.

A grin spread out on her face. "It's not like we would do that anyway," She reassured Numair, Jonathan and Luke. "We're like you guy's, we don't like to go to war. Unless we have to, that is."

A slightly relieved air washed over. "It wouldn't be a fair fight, anyway. We have fighter jet's, gun's, technogoly and a bunch of other crap you don't have." She continued.

The response was more, and more, and more...and more question's.

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"Alright, see ya tomorrow!"

Serena walked out the door, Luke next to her side. "Another day of that? Great God's..." Serena's voice dissapeared as she gentely shook her head.

The King, Raoul and Numair had asked her to return tomorrow at the same place, same time for the same thing. She, of course, had agreed.

"It won't be that bad." Luke told her, smiling.

Serena made a face. "For you, it won't. All you gotta do is sit there and look astouned."

The boy laughed at this. "Guess you have a point there." He said mockingly.

~~~

Luke showed her the way back to her room and bid her goodnight, promising to return the next day.

Serena slipped into her bedroom, shutting the door behind her quietly. She walked over to the window, gazing out of it.

The moon casted it's silvery shadow out across the road that led to the city, following it to the glowing forest. She felt that she belong there; not in some palace guest room. "Hmmm..." She lurged herself away, falling into bed; considering...



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