A/N: Ah...I'm so sorry, I intended to get this out a lot sooner but I have finals this week and my mother got into a wreck yesterday (she's fine but my dad bitched at her cuz he's a deuce), so now I'm just slightly more stressed out than usual and someone interviewed my grandfather about WWII on Saturday so I couldn't work on it then...fun times. I haven't even had time to continue playing Dark Dawn.

Azure: If you still haven't played, I recommend it. I mean, the whole Jasmine thing pisses me off to no end, but Terry/Tyrell is a lot sweeter than his father, and at times he seems very mature for his age. He's not a block-head (though he's got a slightly short fuse). Haha I can only assume that Ivan trusts Robin enough for him not to have to send a letter in advance, then again, it is Ivan we're talking about, I'm sure he knew what was going on even before they happened. Robin's power are crazy stronger, I'd love to get control of him (and shave that ridiculous beard off his face) and see just what he can do. The women seem too..."spirited" for my tastes. I mean, Mary was demure, that's why I liked her so much. Jasmine and even Sheba were just too...gossip-y, I guess. You would think Karis would be a lot like Ivan...she's got his smarts, but as Tret said, she's got more "spunk".

Anyway, I don't know when I'll be able to get the next chapter out, I have Christmas shopping to do and whatnot. But I'm going to try my hardest to get it out as quickly as possible, along with a Christmas story (a five-part one? perhaps) and continue Lovely Week.

Read, review and enjoy.

Chapter 12:

Galatea is big, crowded and noisy. Colorful banners and balloons decorate the wide streets, a little boy running up to the cart, standing on tiptoes and pushing a daisy into my hands. "Welcome!" I smile, leaning over and ruffling his hair as we pass.

On the other side a young girl gives Picard a budding rose. He smiles, pulling out his flute and playing a sweet melody, the rose blooming magnificently. He turns and weaves the flower into Garcia's hair. The girl claps, giggling and hurrying away.

Picard smiles, turning back to me, "What do you think of Galatea?"

"It's amazing!" I shout over the cheering and music.

It resembles Nox—the buildings tall and close together, a tall thin clock tower standing at the center of town. People even sport the same fashions, a man standing in front of a store taking his pocket watch out and checking the time.

Somehow…the feeling is more like Linaeve, honestly cheerful and happy.

"It looks like the annual ball is coming up soon. How thoughtful, almost like Lian knew we were coming." Garcia brushes his bangs from his eyes, "Think he left us an invitation?"

"Possibly…" Picard smiles, sliding off the bench as Garcia pulls up in front of a gated courtyard. Beyond lies an impressive house, bright colored morning glories creeping up the walls, threatening to cover the windows. Picard retrieves a bundle of letters from the mailbox and unlocks the gate, pushing them open before climbing back up. "A note from Robin…one from Mary and one from dear King Lian." He takes out a short dagger, running it under the wax seal of the King's letter, "It appears we're invited to the ball taking place in three days. Robin must have informed him we were going to be in the country. We'll have to do some shopping for the proper attire."

Garcia nods, "What's Mary say?"

He tucks the first letter away, unsealing Mary's next. "Mmm…she wants to make sure we're feeding Ivan properly and not getting into too much trouble…and for you to be on your best behavior." He chuckles, "She sends Lian her love."

"He'll be pleased."

Peering over Picard's shoulder, I blush. "What does Robin's note say…?" Picard opens it and I stare at the neat flowing script sprawled on the page, recognizing the characters for Robin's name at the bottom. It's the same lettering used on Father's map. "The old runes…"

"Did Toviel teach you?"

"A little…not enough though. Robin offered to teach me."

He smiles, "I'll teach you some as well while we're here. We all use the old runes, since so few people understand them. Even if ours letters were intercepted, no one would be able to read them. Now let's see…" He looks over the letter, "He says we should go to the ball and we'll speak with Lian there. He hopes you're doing well and says he's close to finding one of the instruments. That's about it. There isn't a date or anything, I'm not sure when he wrote this."

He folds up the letter, slipping it back into the envelope and pauses. He glances back at me, smiling, "Would you like to keep it?" I take the letter slowly, nodding, looking at the wax seal on the back. It looks like the crest engraved on his pocket watch.

Garcia stops the cart in front of the door, cocking his head back. "I'll take care of the horse and the bags."

Picard smiles, "Then I'll take care of lunch and Ivan can help me air out all the rooms. I don't think it'll be raining, so it'll be okay if we leave the windows open." He comes around, helping me off the cart and leads the way up to the house. Garcia waves as he bends to unhitch the cart. Picard chuckles softly, unlocking the door and stepping inside.

Thin curtains cover the windows, still letting the sunlight in. The windows facing the backyard are covered with dark vines, blocking out some of the light. He removes his jacket and boots, turning on the lights as he steps into the common room. There's a large fireplace in front of a couch, a portrait of an aging man in a lush garden sits above the mantle. He has kind blue eyes, almost like Robin's.

I notice a piano pressed against the far wall with sheet music resting against it, waiting to be played. The wood is dark with a tint of red, though it's coated in a thick layer of dust now, it must be beautiful when it's clean.

I lean forward, inspecting the little characters written in the margins around the sheet music. It looks like Robin's script, written using the same runes from his letter. Some are pressed together, trying to squeeze a whole song onto one sheet. I smile softly. Some of the lines are smudged and a lot are crossed through. There's a cute creature doodled in one of the corners, making a face at the notes.

"He must have been working on that the last time he was here." Picard muses from the doorway, wearing an apron over his clothes. He smiles softly, walking over, "You know how to read sheet music?"

I blush, nodding slightly, "Well…we rarely wrote music down, it would usually just happen. They would play whatever they felt like playing, it was never formal." I look at the sheet music, tilting my head and trying to imagine what the notes would sound like.

He smiles, "Well, we're stuck here while we wait for the Solstice Ball. We won't be able to get an audience with the king so close to the ball, he's going to be far too busy. You're clever, I'm sure you'll be able to get the hang of it." He ruffles my hair, "You don't mind getting the windows, do you?"

I shake my head quickly, smiling, "All the rooms, right?"

He nods, "I'll be in the kitchen if you need me and Garcia should be done with the horse soon, he'll help you with the windows." He lingers a moment longer, smiling softly. His eyes flicker like he wants to say something more but he shakes his head, turning away and disappearing into the kitchen.

I turn away, opening the windows in the common room. Some are harder to open than others, but I soon have them all open, heading up the stairs. The old wood creaks underfoot but holds strong as I head up to the second floor. A wide hall greets me, one side opening to look out onto the first floor, the fireplace just visible.

I finish opening the windows on one side of the hall as Garcia comes up the stairs. The rose Picard braided into his hair is still there, almost tucked behind his ear. It seems like such a drastic different from his personality that it somehow suits him. He ruffles my hair as I reach him, "I'll take care of the rest of the windows, why don't you go downstairs and rest. Picard said lunch is almost ready."

"I'm not tired…I could bring up the bags?"

He shakes his head, "I'll do that. After lunch, Picard's taking you out to get clothes for the ball. I'm not much for that sort of thing, so I'll be staying here."

"You're not going to the castle?"

He turns slightly, grinning, "Of course I'm going. Picard's too polite for his own good. If I don't go, he'll get tricked into dancing with some wench." He pats my back, "Hurry along."

The sun is going down by the time we finish getting the clothes and Picard decides to stop at an outdoor café. He sinks into a chair gratefully, stretching out his legs and arms, yawning a little. I sit across from him, thanking the waitress as she delivers our drinks.

"Can you tell me more about what Robin was like when you first met him?" I hold the teacup in my hands, glancing down at the milky liquid. A bird flies quickly overhead, chirping cheerfully before disappearing past a building.

He blinks, pausing and lowering his own cup, "What was he like…? He's pretty much the same person. He's not as harsh as he was back then, he's opened up a bit more, but I think that might be thanks of you."

"Why me…?"

"He grew up hearing about you from Toviel. To him…I guess, even without having met you, you were a dear friend, someone he held close to his heart. He's been hurt terribly by the Emperor. When we met…he was still trying to gather the pieces of what was left of his life. It's difficult for him, actually meeting you. He's used to us…but being with you is new for him." He smiles softly, tilting his head.

"I…wish I could have been there, to grow up around him and travel with him. To see the things he's seen…"

"Robin's…always traveled by himself. He won't even travel with Garcia…as soon as I joined, he paired us up and wouldn't listen to any argument we made against it." He smiles, stirring his tea, "We try to tell him it's not safe but Alex doesn't travel that often, he hates leaving Mary alone. Gerald's the only one left who could travel with him but we wouldn't want him to go off with Robin."

I blink, shifting, "I know both he and Alex are wary of Gerald but do you really think Gerald would do something to hurt Robin?"

"We…aren't worried about Gerald harming Robin." He smiles gingerly, "If it turns out that…Gerald is with us only to reveal Faolan to the Emperor…Robin would do everything in his power to stop him. He's normally very gentle but he's quick to anger when someone betrays his trust. He has little remorse for those who betray us."

"Robin…"

He smiles, "Come, we should get back to the safe house before it gets dark. We still need to have dinner. Would you like to help me?" I smile softly, nodding and finishing my tea, following him back through the streets.

The lamps flicker on as the sky shifts to gentle purple, touches of pink still clinging to the edges along the horizon. Shops start to close down, the last customers lingering in the doorways and speaking with the owners cheerfully before wishing them goodnight and heading home.

"Oh good, Garcia's started a fire for us." Picard muses pleasantly as we near the house. A trail of puffy smoke hangs over the roof, reaching up to join the clouds. He smiles at me, "If you're feeling up to it, I can try to teach you how to play the piano after dinner."

"You don't mind?"

"Of course not, you've shown an interest it in and I'd like to help. We all play an instrument, it's only natural you'd want to play one as well." He unlocks the small door next to the gate, letting me through first, "I'll teach you the basics while we're here and Alex or Robin could teach you more when things start to settle down again."

"If they ever do…since I left home, it's been like rolling down a hill without a break. You've all know about this for years, been trying to make things better…how can you be so sure you can stop him now?"

He turns around, leaning against the door and folding his arms across his chest, "If we don't have hope, then we couldn't possibly ask people to believe in us…to hold on while we try."

There's a click behind him and the door swings back. His eyes widen and he waves his arms as he starts to fall back. Before I can grab an arm, he stops, Garcia standing behind him in the doorframe and holding him up, grinning, "You're late."

Picard turns, taking Garcia's arm and shaking his head, "I took Ivan to a café. I've dragged him around town shopping for fancy clothes; I thought he could use a break." He smiles, pushing the parcels into Garcia's arms, "You need to try yours before tomorrow, so I can take it back to the tailors if I need to. It's getting late, we need to make dinner." He turns Garcia around, playfully pushing him into the house.

I hurry in after them, shutting the door. As I turn around, Garcia drops the packages onto the table, picking me up and throwing me over his shoulder. I squeak as the room shifts quickly, grabbing his shoulder. "You know, this is how pirates kidnap innocent boys."

"Why would they kidnap boys?"

He chuckles and Picard rolls his eyes, turning away and heading into the kitchen, "Because, women bring bad luck to a ship." He follows Picard into the kitchen, setting me down in front of the stove.

"And they used to mix gunpowder in rum to stave off such urges." Picard smiles softly, "Stop teasing him and make yourself useful. The clean linens are in the closet, can you get the sheets for the beds?" He salutes, slipping out of the room and whistling. Picard laughs, shaking his head, "Honestly, I don't know what to do with him half the time."

I pull on a spare apron and he hands me a bowl, "What did he mean about pirates kidnapping boys?"

He laughs again, "I wouldn't pay too much attention to that. His father was a sailor, whenever he came home, he would bring Garcia books about pirates…but he never wanted that sort of life for his son."

I blink, setting the bowl down on the counter and looking for the bag of flour. "Why not…? You said his father was a sailor, he had to love the sea."

He smiles, "He did love the sea, but he was always away from his family…I suppose, he was lonely without them and he didn't want Garcia to leave his family like he did." He sighs, lowering his voice, "His father's ship was sabotaged by the Emperor's men and he and his men were lost to the seas. After that, his mother took him and they moved to the coast. She wanted to be close to the sea, hoping that it would somehow bring him back."

He laughs softly, shaking his head, "Anyway, one of the books his father brought home was about an infamous pirate who sailed the seas, spiriting away little boys who longed for adventure. The book painted a more romantic picture than the real story. He was just a sleazy pirate who had a taste for little boys." I blush, looking away and he ruffles my hair. "Things were different back then. Something like that is frowned upon now and severely punished. One would have to be very desperate if they wanted to act upon such feelings."

"Like that creep on the train…?"

He chuckles, "Something like that."

After dinner, Picard hands me some of the sheets Garcia had gotten and lead me up to the second floor, opening a door on the left. He sets the sheets in a chair and walks over to the window, pulling it shut, "It might get a little chilly tonight and the market opens early, it'll be noisy as soon as the sun rises."

I pull the comforter back from the bed, starting to change the sheets, "Do you come to Galatea often? You seem to know a lot about it."

He smiles, helping with the other side. "It's not that I come here often. It's just…different from other place so I remember it well. It's a safe place to rest…but it's so far inland that it's a bit of a pain to come to just to rest. We don't come here as often as I'd like…it's a nice city, but it's very different from my hometown."

"You're from Xiu…right? What's it like?"

He pauses, hugging one of the pillows, "Mmm it's a snowy town on the southern coast of the continent. It's covered in snow most of the year…and because of the mountain range to the north; the Emperor can't send men there to enforce his foolish laws. It's the same with Lulani and Cais." He smiles, fluffing the pillow and setting it back down, "Xiu is especially beautiful during Christmas…they hang up paper lanterns all around town and in the square, there's a giant tree that the town decorates and they sing carols around it. Robin likes to go there around that time, maybe he'll take you this year."

I smooth the comforter, "You…think he would?"

He smiles softly, tucking his bangs behind his ear, "Of course, it'll be a good chance to get to know each other. As fond as Robin is of you…as fond as we all are of you, we only really know you as Toviel's son. We'd like to get to know you as just Ivan."

"Picard…"

He walks around, ruffling my hair, "After we have breakfast, I can teach you how to play the piano." He smiles, "You can surprise Robin when we get back to Faolan."

I blush, waving my hand, "I'll probably be horrible at it."

He laughs softly, "We're all horrible at it the first time. We practice all the time so we don't get rusty…it may seem like a chore sometimes but making music is an amazing thing, to hear a completed song for the first time…" He smiles, his eyes glowing in the light from the bedside lamp. He's beautiful when he talks about music.

"When did you learn how to play?"

"My uncle taught me when I was very young…" He chuckles, "My first memories are of him teaching me. He was a sailor, like Garcia's father. He was a large man, his hands were so big but he could play the piano as gracefully as a concert pianist. I was so happy whenever he returned to the village, he would always smell of the sea and seeing him again would just make me miss him more because I knew he wouldn't stay for long."

I pause, glancing at him, "Is he…?"

He blinks, laughing softly, "He's still alive and kicking somewhere. He sends letters to our safe house in Xiu every year; they always arrive from a different port. I haven't seen him since I left home, though. He'll probably end up outliving me at the rate he's going. I doubt he'll ever stop." He turns away, "I should let you get to sleep, don't worry about waking up early. Sleep well."

"Good night, Picard."

After a late breakfast, Picard sits next to me in front of the piano, opening the lid and smiling softly. Garcia hands him a thin book before stretching out on the couch, propping his feet on the table and spreading another book open on his lap. Picard smiles softly, leaning the book against the back of the piano and turning it to the first page. He chuckles, "I haven't played this song in ages. It's a good one to start out with."

He runs through the song once—it's a quick country song that I've heard back home many times during the summer months. He smiles when he finishes, pointing to the notes on the page, explaining each other and letting me hear it on the piano. He plays the song again, a little slower this time and leans back, smiling, "Do you want to give it a go?"

I nod slowly, lifting my hands to the ivory keys and testing the first note. There's some resistance as but it feels comfortable as the key slides down, a soft note hanging in the air for a long moment. I move through the song slowly, missing a couple of notes here and there, Picard correcting me gently, always smiling.

Garcia starts tinkering with a broken clock by the time we finish, bronze gears laid out on the table. Picard clears his throat, folding his arms across his chest, "I expect you'll be putting that back together properly, right?"

He grins, "Do you doubt my repairing abilities?"

"If I had, I wouldn't have asked." Picard smiles playfully, "Ivan did so well during his first piano lesson I we should go out for lunch. Maybe we can take a look around the new shops that have opened up since we were here last."

Garcia groans, trying to put the clock back together quickly, "Must we? There's bound to be a crowd, people from all over the place are heading here for the ball."

"Is it really going to be that bad out?"

Picard laughs softly, "He's just being cranky. If we stick to the smaller shops and cafés we'll be able to avoid the crowds, besides we're just visiting too. I'm sure the locals are just annoyed at our arrival, we don't even provide their Inns with business." He leans over the back of the couch, helping Garcia piece the clock back together.

We have lunch in the town square, near the large fountain of a man in full dress uniform astride a warhorse. I turn around in my hair, studying it from across the plaza. Small birds sit on the statue's head, chirping at each other cheerfully and flying down to eat the seed people drop around the fountain. "Do you like it?"

I turn to Picard, nodding, "Is it someone famous?"

"It's Lian's grandfather. He fought in the war ages ago, before any of us were born." He smiles softly, glancing over at the statue, "Galatea was almost in ruins because of the war, but the king continued to fight bravely alongside his soldiers. Thanks to him, the war ended before any more innocent people were affected by the war."

I shake my head slowly, "So that's what a king is like…it sounds like something the Emperor would never do…"

Garcia sighs, tipping his chair back and glancing up at the sky, "He had good ideas when he first appeared. The late king was easily won over by him…I suppose many people were, but there was something dark about him, no one else could see that." He shrugs, "He would never go to war for his people. He'd sooner use them as shields to protect his own life, without thinking of them for even a second."

"Garcia…you don't have to be so vulgar." Picard smiles gently, shaking his head, "Let's take a look at some of the stores. Since we're planning on visiting Faolan at the end of our little journey, we should get the others some souvenirs."

"Souvenirs? What kind?" He smiles more, making Garcia stand and coming around, looping his arm through mine and leading the way through the square to the other side of the plaza.

"Mmm…something that will last until we get back home." I glance up at the statue as we pass. It's massive, almost more than twice the size of a normal horse and man. The statue gleams in the sun, barely a spot of dirt anywhere. The people must take great care of it.

"Hey, Picard, let's take him in here." I glance back to see Garcia paused in front of a small store, cocking his head slightly. I peer in the window; it's crowded inside—mostly women, mothers with their daughters, some girls around my age. They all seem really happy.

Picard smiles, glancing in, "Are you sure? There are a lot of people in there."

He sighs, rubbing the back of his neck, "You like the stuff they sell. He probably will too." Picard smiles more, hurrying over as Garcia opens the door, thanking him as he passes. He lifts an eyebrow and I hurry after Picard.

Cheerful voices flit around the room and a sweet aroma fills the air. Chocolate…rows and rows of chocolate, wrapped pieces sitting in plastic bins, fresh chocolates behind a lighted case where a young man in uniform waits on the women standing around.

Garcia chuckles as Picard sneaks off, poking through the shelves. "You wouldn't know it to look at him, but he has a sweet tooth. It's not often we stop in town with this kind of store, so it's rare for him to actually have chocolate." He winks, "He'll deny liking it as much as he does, of course. Try not to hassle him about it, he embarrasses easy."

I blink, watching Picard pleasantly chat with the man behind the counter. He seems at ease in the store, the same as he does when he's playing an instrument. He pauses, glancing over at me and smiling, waving to us. I feel Garcia's hand on the middle of my back, giving me a gentle push and I stumble forward, stepping to the side to avoid running into a little girl clutching a stuffed rabbit. Picard smiles and places his hand on my shoulder. "This is his first time to Galatea. I thought he would like to come see your family's store."

The man smiles handsomely, laying his hand across his chest and bowing his head slightly, "I'm honored you think so highly of our store, Picard. You've been a good customer over the years. I'm sure our sales would increase if you were to move here."

Picard's cheeks color slightly and he laughs, "O-oh, I don't know about that. I mostly buy things to bring back to the girls. Robin and Garcia would forget about them completely if they didn't speak up once in a while." I smile as he clears his throat, shuffling his feet. He really is embarrassed by such a little thing. "Anyway, what would you suggest? I don't think we'll be taking anything back with us since we've got a long journey planned out, but we can still have something while we're here."

The man smiles, sliding open the case and starting to pull out small dishes of cakes and other chocolates, giving them strange names I've never heard of and could hardly be asked to repeat. I glance over at Garcia leaning in the corner, hat pulled down over his eyes and arms folded across his chest. Some of the girls are hiding behind a row of chocolates, peering around the side to look at him before ducking back and giggling to each other. They must fancy him. I suppose he's handsome and there is an air of mystery about him, but he's not Robin.

I blink. He's not Robin. So what if he isn't Robin, why would that matter…? That's almost painfully obvious…so why did I think that? He's quiet like Robin, and they must be good friends.

He lifts his head, raising an eyebrow, "If you keep making faces, your face might freeze like that." I press my hands to my cheeks and he smiles, lowering his head again, shoulders shaking as he laughs. He's nicer than when I first met him…maybe he just needed to get use to me. Or the other way around.

We leave the store, Picard pushing a decorative bag into Garcia's arms and smiling, "Tomorrow night is the ball. Everyone's already excited for it."

"It's going to be crowded." Garcia mumbles softly, peeking into the back and taking out a wrapped candy. Picard unwraps it for him, handing it back and playing with the wrapper, folding it into a small bird. Garcia pauses and the world goes dark for a moment as he lowers his hat onto my head. I push up the brim, looking at him. "What's on your mind? You've been quiet. You been spending too much time with Robin? You're already brooding like him."

"Brooding? No…I've just been thinking." I rub the back of my neck, "I feel like something is going to happen, something big."

Picard blinks, sharing a look with Garcia, "Something big…? You mean something bad?"

I shake my head slowly, "No…just something…big, I can't tell if it's good or bad, just that it's important." I sigh, "Does that seem weird? I can't really explain it beyond that…"

Picard smiles gently, "No…" He sighs softly, "I suppose we've all been feeling like that since we started looking for the instruments. We've known about Robin's Golden Violin but it's never come down to looking for the other instruments, we've researched rumors about them…but I never thought we would have to actually take them from the people who guard them."

"But the Emperor wants them now…maybe he's always wanted them. They're no longer safe where they are, I can't say they'll be entirely safe with us if the Emperor stops us…but at least we can say we tried." Garcia shrugs his shoulders, pushing his hair back from his face. "Everything we've been doing these past few years has been leading up to this moment. It seems like it's been a long time since we started."

"Too long for everyone that's been hurt by that man. They've been waiting for us to put an end to him…so we can't stop until we do." Picard shakes his head, smiling again, "But we should try to have fun along the way so we have some happy memories when we look back of this, Robin would want it that way."

"He can be a bit sappy." Garcia pulls open the door, stepping inside and kicking off his boots, heading into the kitchen with the bag.

I start to follow him when I feel a tug on my arm and glance back to see Picard holding my elbow, "Picard?"

"Is that everything, Ivan? Just that you feel something big is about to happen?"

I shift, leaning against the wall and sighing, "When I saw the Emperor…there was something familiar about him. I haven't really thought about it because I was so shocked to see Sheba there…like that. For a moment, it was like something came over him and he didn't seem so evil…but then it passed and…we just barely got away. I don't know what it was…but his eyes, they seem familiar."

"Few people have seen the Emperor…only the members that lived in Nox have been close enough to see him for themselves." He shakes his head, "But they say he doesn't come from Mui, that he mysteriously appeared one day."

I search his eyes for a long moment, "You mean, he must come from another continent." My heart pounds painfully against my chest and I can hear it in my ears, almost too loud to hear my own words. Why?

"Maybe…or he came from an unknown village around Mui." He shakes his head, "There's very little about the Emperor's past we know. It's like he just appeared out of thin air. We have tried to find out as much as possible about the man, to see if he has a weakness, but there's nothing."

"So he could be anybody…"

He smiles gently, "I don't think it will matter in the end, we'll stop him, we have to." He lifts Garcia's hat from my head, hanging it on the rack near the door before ruffling my hair with both hands, leaning down and pressing his forehead to mind, "We'll take care of you."

"Picard…"

He laughs softly, "I'm sure you'll think it's weird…but it kind of is like your mine and Garcia's son." I blush and he laughs some more, shaking his head, "Let's start dinner before Garcia gets into our chocolates."

The next day seems to go by in a blur. I wake up and help Picard with the breakfast and then we go into the common room and practice the piano some more. He says I play it well enough for a beginner but it still feels a bit strange, it's nice but I enjoy singing more.

We go into town, this time to a blacksmith and Garcia picks up some daggers he orders. He hides one in his boot, strapping the other to his arm and presenting the third to me. "This is just for self-defense and only as a last resort. If we're not around and someone tries to hurt you, you run first. If you're cornered, use this." He loops it through my belt and I feel its weight at my side.

Picard smiles gently, "You might even want to sing before you pull the dagger." I notice one at his side and the hilt of another peeking out from inside his boot. "We'll teach you how to use it sometime."

We return to the house in the evening, Garcia heading upstairs to get changed. Picard smiles, following me into my room to help me change. He fixes my tie and I glance in the mirror, my cheeks red. I reach up, trying to make my hair lay flat but the little piece on top keeps springing back. He chuckles, "You look fine, don't worry."

"I can't help it…I've only been to a castle once and that we breaking in."

He laughs, shaking his head, "You get use to it. You don't have to worry about your manners; you're always so polite, Brier would be so proud of you."

Garcia appears in the door, his hair combed and held in a ponytail with a dark ribbon. He folds his arms across his chest, watching Picard intently. His tie is folded neatly, the buttons on his vest all done up and for once he doesn't look like a pirate. Picard glances over his shoulder, his face melting into a smile, "You look great."

He rolls his eyes playfully, smiling devilishly, "Did you doubt I would?"

Picard chuckles, "Of course not." He smiles, straightening my tie one last time and standing next to me, "How does Ivan look?"

Garcia grins, "Pity Robin's not here. He's going to be beating himself up for not getting to see you in a fancy outfit." I blush, glancing at my reflection. I look taller and skinner in the tight fitting dark clothing but it seems out of character for me. I turn slightly, blinking at the strange ploom of puffy fabric on the side. It's a dark blue mesh fabric, layered in three rows, the next longer than the last, coming to rest around my knees.

"Well, let's go or else we'll be fighting to get into the ballroom."

-Continued in the Thirteenth Chapter of the Book of Mui-

Ah can you believe this is over a hundred pages. Or than I've been working on it over a year. I'm so proud of myself, sticking to this haha. I bet Garcia's getting lucky tonight -cackles- Picard's gonna be all over him.

Alex: No one wants to hear that.

Everyone wants to hear that. Look forward to the next chapter!