A/N: This chapter is dedicated to TheRanger'sDaughter, who called out something in her review people tend to miss :-)

HammyMC: Yes...I was pretty generous last night :)

TheRanger'sDaughter: Rosalina's been running a lot in the background doing things people don't typically see. They will come to light more as this story goes on.

Raider: Bugs? Ugh. Yeah...the movie, in my opinion, looks more stupid than the book...however there is one line in the trailer I LOVE. Haha...eyebrow traits. Hm...does Rosalina have a honey...you'll find out soon ;-) Hehe...I love long reviews because I read the reviews 3 or 4 times before updating the story.

Aubrey: Yeah, she was the second little in this. In Lost, you meet William and Rosalina first. Kane's older, but you don't meet him until they all go back to the Academy to shut it down.

Disclaimer: I am not John Flanagan.

By the time Mason returned, Liam and Caitlyn had tackled a large portion of Lina's things. Caitlyn took two of her mother's dresses picked out two she thought Scout would want. The rest they'd ask Alyss to see to. Considering how many orphans from Wards across Araluen they recruited, spare clothes would be appreciated. Lina had sewn her specially to hide weapons. The Couriers would appreciate and utilize them. Liam put everything for Scout into a pack and secured it to the chest they'd be taking to Hibernia.

"Are you going to help sort out the attackers?" Mason asked.

"No," Liam said. "There are enough people here to do that. I'm just going to make sure all the action has settled. Have you given much thought to your decision?"

Mason shrugged. "It will be five or more years before I can be of use either way."

"Will's still willing to take you. In Hibernia you'd be under Daniel with me supervising unofficially. I can guarantee Kineta will help train you too."

"Kineta?" Mason asked. "As in…Queen Kineta?"

"As in Lieutenant Kineta, who helped me lead a rebellion against the people who came in mass forces to eliminate the Ranger Corps. She's more than just a queen. You can learn from her."

"Did she have the same training as Lina?"

"Sort of. We were all at the same place to train, but Kineta was an archer and strategist. Lina was an advanced scout."

Mason seemed to think that over for a few moments though the look in his eyes made Caitlyn second guess what he was thinking. "I'd like to go to Hibernia," he finally said. "For training."

"Just make sure it's exactly what you want. I don't need a final answer until after the funerals."

Mason nodded. "I'm sure it's what I want."

Caitlyn couldn't help smiling. Mason was familiar to her. If she was going to be in Hibernia long term she wanted people who were familiar with her. Her father would be there, but she knew she couldn't count on him to stay in one place long. Scout was there, but she'd be busy being a princess. Mason, despite his absence, still felt like a brother to her. He'd be training, but surely she'd still get to see him. Perhaps Daniel too.

"King Horace announced that twenty people died in the attack," Mason whispered. "Prince Ace said that the triage station is just now emptying out and that the medical wing is full. Gabby can't go back to work until her cane's replaced and Princess Rosalina wants all of us to have early dinner so she can go over whatever it is she and Carissa have planned and Prince William and Princess Anamaria are going to announce Reese at the…whatever it is the girls planned. Is Reese a prince?"

"Yes" Liam and Caitlyn said together.

"Prince Reese then."

"You found all this out by tending Ranger duties?" Liam asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I was told to aid the royal family."

"Fair enough," Liam sighed. "Let's go to dinner. I want both of you to eat something tonight. Understood?"

"Only if you do the same," Caitlyn countered quickly.

"Again, fair enough. Let's go."

It seemed everyone had made deals about eating. Servants bustled around with plates of food and the gathered family picked at the contents. Wine was put in front of everyone old enough to shoot a bow. Caitlyn took a few sips just to see if her father would stop her. He didn't.

Rosalina stood up a half hour into eating and cleared her throat. "Carissa and I planned a memorial for tomorrow night. We have a list of names of everyone who passed and they are being written onto slips of paper and those slips will be tied to flowers and the names will be read and after that they will be burned. All this will happen in the town center so that everyone can see. Most we lost were simple servants whose families live outside the castle."

"We're going to announce the possible crown heir at the town square?" William asked. "Really?"

"He is the crown heir," Horace assured him. "Or he will be when we step down and you step up."

"No," Rosalina went on. "You are going to announce your son from the castle's steps. At the memorial we're going to tell everyone that they are welcome to join us on a walk back here for a review of exactly what happened during the attack. I mean, the people who attacked us are the people who were at that slave camp aren't they? And you found Reese at the slave camp? I think William should give the review and your nanny can be on standby with him. Anamaria will bring him forward when the time comes. I also think Father and Mother should lead the memorial and I think Aunt Alyss should make a short speech of some sort…maybe read the names as well."

"You've done well Rosalina," Horace said approvingly.

"Just one change," Cassandra quickly put in. Everyone stared at her. "You're leading the memorial. Your father and I will stand by and say a few words if needed but you're the one in charge of this. No more staying on the sidelines, Rosalina. It's time your face be associated with more than shopping and charities."

Everyone agreed but the only one willing to say the words just had. Rosalina just nodded her acknowledgment.

The next morning everyone picked at their breakfasts yet again. The memorial wouldn't begin until nightfall, and just before that would be Halt's and Pauline's funerals. As a Ranger and Courier, there was no designated tomb for them. Burying the two didn't seem right either. Will, Alyss, and Kane agreed burning them together would be best. Horace and Cassandra offered use of facilities inside the castle. Their ashes would be scattered in the woods later. Kane wanted part of Halt's to go to Hibernia. He was, after all, part of their royal family. Liam agreed to ferry them.

Liam walked over to Gilan's office with Mason on his heels. Caitlyn had elected to stay behind with Kane and Gabby. With her days in Araluen numbered she wanted to spend as much time as possible with people who wouldn't cross the sea anytime soon. Caitlyn didn't intend to be in Hibernia forever but wasn't naïve enough to think this trip would be a short one.

"I assume you've made a decision?" Gilan asked. Mason nodded.

"I'm going to Hibernia."

"Alright. I'll get everything you need together."

"Caitlyn's coming as well," Liam told him. "You won't see either of us back in Araluen for some time."

"One year," Gilan said sternly. "That's all I can give you, Liam. The only reason I can manage that much is because Horace and I agree we don't want you to force our hands."

"A year's all I'll need."

Caitlyn stood with her family during the funeral for her grandparents. Nobody felt like eating dinner. They shoved bread at Gabby and Russ while Anamaria fed Reese, but that was all. Caitlyn remembered crying for days after her mother passed away. This time, she just felt hollow. Her grandparents had been together and they'd been older. Pauline's health had been in decline for a while and Halt had slowed though he never had admitted it.

Her eyes were red and a few tears slid out, but she didn't weep. They'd made it a private ceremony. Each member of the royal family wore a crown. Horace's and Cassandra's were the most ornate. William and Anamaria wore the next best and then Rosalina and Ace wore crowns that were little more than gold circlets around their heads. Rosalina, of course, had spent some time having Carissa shine and add fresh roses to hers. Roses were, afterall, her trademark.

"It feels like Scout should be here," Liam whispered to her as they watched the flames. "Her and Daniel."

"Same was said of you at Mama's," Caitlyn whispered back. She scanned the room quickly. Will and Alyss were crying. Neither of their sons were there. Daniel, of course, was in Hibernia and Quinlan hadn't felt able to face goodbyes. Carissa stood with her parents wearing a plainer version of Rosalina's black gown. The Rangers wore their uniforms as did the Couriers and soldiers. Caitlyn had found a dark navy dress to wear. It was the darkest color she had in her possession. Most everyone attending wore a uniform of some sort. They were all in service positions. It was slightly odd to be at a funeral with so much Courier white.

Kane and Gabby stood near them. They'd left Russ with Selena and Reese. He didn't need to see his grandparents like this. Gabby tried to keep her expression from being too disgusted. Her usually acute sense of smell intensified with her pregnancy, and the pyres made her feel dizzy. Kane stood with his arm around her.

"Please talk to me Kane," Gabby whispered after standing in silence for an hour. She could feel him shaking.

"They're my parents Gabby," Kane whispered back.

Gabby rested her head against his shoulder. "I understand," she told him. "Just, please…don't shut me out."

Kane wrapped both his arms around her. He took a deep breath and rested his chin on Gabby's hair. Holding her was always a comfort. "How are we going to raise Russ and this baby without them helping us?" he whispered.

"We can handle it," Gabby promised him. "We'll be alright because they taught us how."

Honestly, she nervous about raising two children without Halt and Pauline too, but she would wait awhile before she admitted such things to Kane.

"Gabby, I love you," Kane whispered. "I love you so much."

Gabby traced his arms with her hands until hers were flatly against his on her stomach. "I love you too."

As the embers died down the crowd slowly emptied out to go to Rosalina's memorial. Kane kept holding Gabby as everyone left. Will stopped in front of them.

"Are you going to be alright?" Will asked. Kane nodded. "I'll see you at the memorial then."

Kane took a deep breath as he and Gabby were the last ones left. "Gabby, I really love you."

"You said that."

Kane gave her a squeeze before unwrapping himself and letting her take his arm. He led her towards the main gates and into town. By the time they made it the memorial had already started. When they arrived Rosalina was already reading the names while Carissa tossed flowers into a fire. It appeared most the city had come. Criers stood on platforms throughout the crowd shouting out the names as Rosalina announced them. Kane reached up so he touched Gabby's hand on his arm.

"Did you hear her say their names?"

"Yes," Gabby answered. "They were the very first, Halt and then Pauline."

"Are you feeling alright? Maybe we should have stayed at the castle and rejoined all this during the review."

"I'm fine," Gabby assured him. "I promise."

"I just want you and the baby to be safe."

"We are safe. You're here."

"And Russ…"

"Russ is fine."

Kane rubbed her back. "I can't help worrying."

"I know."

Talia came over to them. Kane stared at her for several moments before speaking. "I thought you left," he muttered. He felt Gabby tense in his arms. "It's Talia," he told his wife.

"I've been in the city," Talia explained. "I didn't want to upset anyone."

"What have you been doing in the city?"

Talia shrugged. "I just ran into Liam. He's going to allow me to stay with him until he goes back to Hibernia. I'm going back too."

"Why?" Gabby asked with concern. She reached out blindly with her free hand. Talia took it, this time knowing exactly what her daughter-in-law searched for.

"Getting to be around Russ was great, but if I stay here I won't be able to stay away. It's worse with him than it was with Kane." Talia paused to mask a sob with a breath. "I can go back to Hibernia. It's my home and there's work for me there."

"We told Russ he was adopted," Kane said quickly. "We didn't tell him about you, but we did tell him he's adopted. I…I don't think he needs to know about you right now with everything else that's going on, but…maybe in a couple of years?"

Talia raised an eyebrow. "I agree, but you're considering it? You were so against it before."

"I think this isn't the time to make big decisions," Gabby cut in. "Talia, please…if you want to be around more often you're welcome. We'll let you know when we tell Russ who you are, but just so you know he took the news that he's adopted really well."

"Thanks Gabby," Talia said softly. "You too Kane. Really, thank you."

"I'll have this baby in about five or six months," Gabby added quickly. She traced Talia's hand up to her elbow, still holding her stomach with her other. "I'd really like you to meet it."

Kane squeezed Gabby again. "I'd like you to meet the baby, too," he told her. He still wasn't clear on his feelings towards Talia, but losing his parents made him desperate to hold on to those who were left.

"Thank you," Talia said again. "I may take you up on that."