AN: SO SORRY this took so long to get up! Spring break ( death valley wooticuss), judo, choir, homework and social time with friends plus easter with family kinda held me back. Here is though, Chappie 7! BTW YOU GUYS ARE THE BESTEST! Reviewers= the most amazing fans a writer could ever have! LOVE YOU TO PIECES!

:: DUKE'S CITADEL::

Garian woke, as a particularly stubborn cobble jostled a wheel of the cart, and his head knocked soundly on the wooden side. Struggling to a sitting position, he rubbed the back of his head drowsily, feeling a small raise already forming under his hair.

"Trickster Gods, just what I need. More pain on top of pain." He realized the truth of his statement when he stretched out his legs and they jerked and twitched with painful cramps. One of the young-looking mages, the young man with the stubble darkening his burnished brown skin, laughed harshly.

" Its just as well. We'll be there any minute now." The handsome lad grinned widely. "And good for it too. I'm famished."

Sandry turned at Briar's remark and shook her glossy curls. " Ah Briar, its always food with you. And women. And plants. Hmmm. you're more complicated then I thought." Briar glared teasingly, and Daja laughed in their heads.

Be careful, he'll start remarking on how he is infatuated with pottery or some such foolishness next.

Hey! Its mosaics! If you're going to insult me do it properly.

At that, the three friends laughed aloud, making their tired and faintly cross guest even more confused.

His father on the other hand, had only the most thoughtful, intrigued look on his lined face.

'Oh dear.' thought Garian sadly 'This never turns out right.'

~: LATER THAT NIGHT:~

Alanna and Tris dropped, quite literally out of the carriage. The redheads leaned on each other for support and wobbled towards the front door.

"I do believe the driver hit every available bump there was on that bloody road." Alanna croaked tiredly. "Hear, Hear" Tris answered her eyes seemingly as heavy as the cobbles at her feet. It had been a long, hot day. And the humid night air had plastered the only free strands of hair she had to the nape of her neck and the apples of her cheeks. Alanna looked the same. Only greener, and older, and angrier.

Of course Tris became almost as angry as Alanna, certainly quite annoyed, when her rather spirited, much more fresh looking, lively adoptive sister Sandry simply pranced down the stairs to greet them, with a large smile plastered across her face.

"Tris! Sir Alanna! How wonderful you made it before dark. We were just going to send someone to look for you when your ride drove up." Alanna looked up groggily from her inspection of the round stones at her feet to glare at the happy-go-lucky young woman.

"Miss Sandrilene Fa Toren?"Alanna growled. Sandry nodded looking slightly calmer. "Your sister informs me that you dragged me here for the rather painstakingly boring process of exchanging diplomatic greetings that mean absolutely nothing to a man I haven't even met. And I will gladly inform you that this exchanging of nonsensical diplomacy can bloody well wait 'til morning when I have even half a mind to think with. Excuse me." Sandry blanched and turned to Tris. "Oh god. Another you."

Sandry pointed out the footman who was to show Alanna to her rooms before prancing up beside the exhausted Trisana as she trudged up to her own chambers, that she shared with Sandry when she stayed here.

" Tris? Tris? Are you alright?" All Sandry got in response was a dark glare and a 'humph' noise. " Well... I thought you might want to know about the feast in two days time." That stopped Tris dead. " You know, to welcome the foreigners?" Tris turned. " And ... Well you haven't got a thing to wear and..."

Tris blanched. " OH NO" Shaking her head the tired but firm redhead backed up and away from her foster sister. "No, no, no, NO! Sandry I am NOT, I repeat NOT, going to any social function, ball, welcoming whatever you call it! EVER. At all! NO way are you getting me at a ball! No way, no how, not ever." Shaking her tired, aching head the redhead stalked off, alone, to her room. Sandry stood behind shaking her head in mirth.

" Ah well. She'll change her mind. Once she sees the dress she'll understand." Narrowing her eyes, Sandry thought aloud, " She will or I will DRAG her there."

AN: PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW! !! I would love it if you do. ( PS: PLZ tell me if chime is still with tris, I think she is, but not quite sure as I don't own WOTE!)