AshBreanne: Worry not, my preciouses, I shall not keep them separated long! Not best my writing, I think this is. Yes, Yoda was in fact my fourth cousin twice removed. Anyways... I'm only just a little bit hyper, teehee. So here it is!

The glacier landing was in view, and she drove the Paperwing smoothly onto it. Sanar, Ryelle, and several of the older Clayr stood waiting. She eased the vehicle to a stop and climbed out, grabbing her sword and bells and greeting the women. The twins hugged her, smiling, and greet Mogget as well.

"We saw that you were coming," Ryelle said.

"Yes, Kirrith has been keeping your old room empty for whenever you return," Sanar added. "I must admit, had we not seen it ahead of time, we would not have expected you after your letter."

"I left as soon as I received your second message."

The twins studied her curiously.

"Well, let us go in out of the cold," Ryelle suggested. "You can rest in your old room and afterwards we will talk."

She and Mogget followed them into the Glacier. Nothing had changed since her departure. Young girls wearing the child tunic moved out of their way as they passed, all reminders to Lirael of what she had once been. Unlike she, however, they would soon earn the sight. She smiled at them as they studied her sword and bells with wide eyes, the younger ones reaching out to stroke Mogget, who didn't seem to mind at all.

"Kirrith!" Sanar called. "You have a guest!"

"Lirael!" The woman ran at her as she exited her room, sweeping her niece into a gripping hug.

"It's good to see you Aunt Kirrith."

Her aunt released her and sized her up.

"Well, aren't you the young woman now! Come, I've kept your room for you!""We will come for you later," The twins said while Aunt Kirrith led her into her old room. It was exactly as it had been before. Even her old tunics still hung in the wardrobe.

"Thank you, Aunt Kirrith," she said.

The woman smiled.

"I'll let you rest."

"Hmm," Mogget purred. "I suppose it's cozy enough."

He hopped up onto the bed and curled up until he was comfortable.

"I suppose I should send a message to Sam, telling him where I am in case he or Nick need to reach me."

"Tomorrow," Mogget replied. "He should be back by tomorrow. And that is a good idea."

She flipped through her old books on Charter magic, surprised that they had not been returned to the library.

Aunt Kirrith must not have let anyone in here, she thought. She placed the books back on the desk and turned to Mogget. He was, of course, sleeping.

She took her sword and bells and lay them on the desk as well. Then she lay in the bed and was soon asleep.

OOOO

Nick's parent's were not waiting for him as he'd assumed them to be, nor had they send a vehicle to pick him up. He stood alone in a bus stop, Sam having left him at the wall, and considered riding the bus or calling his parents. He decided that calling his parents and letting them know he was home was better than surprising them.

The call took less than five minutes, his father assuring him that a car would be arriving immediately. As it was, it arrived in fifteen minutes.

He did not recognize the driver as he entered, which was not entirely uncommon, since his father hired a new one often, always complaining that none of them knew how to man a machine. Nicholas, who always wondered why his father did not simply drive himself, only agreed as his father was not one to argue with.

The car trip was long and quiet, the driver never speaking and Nicholas wrapped up in his thoughts.

He was thinking about Lirael and how he hated leaving her with only Mogget as a companion when his home came into view.

"Nicholas!" His mother hugged him as he entered the house. "Oh, dear, we have missed you!"

"Hello son," his father said once his mother had let him go.

"Mother, Father, I know you both have missed me, but I cannot stay for very long."

"Well that's alright, dear. Stay as long as you need!"

He studied them both.

"But in your letter you asked me to stay a few months."

Now they were studying him rather curiously.

"We didn't a send a letter," Mr. Sayre said.

"But of course you did! I just read it yesterday! You both wished me to come home, so here I am! Other wise- no offense- I would have stayed with Lirael!"

"Lirael! You've been staying with a girl?" His mother's smile could not have been brighter. "Oh Nicholas, how wonderful! Did you hear that, sweetheart? Our Nicholas has a girlfriend!"

"Yes yes, well done son."

Nicholas could only stare at them as his mother went on about having her over for dinner and tea and perhaps she would enjoy tennis, while his father nodded and agreed with everything his wife said.

"I'm going to go get settled in my room," he said leaving them in the parlor and walking up the stairs. Once inside, he immediately fetched the quill, ink, and Old Kingdom parchment Sam had given him so he could write to both he and Lirael.

Sam, he wrote

I'm writing to you instead of Lirael just incase she is gone fighting Dead. I have arrived safely only to find that my parents Did NOT send me a letter at all. I suppose I should have mentioned this to you sooner, but the letter I received was written on Old Kingdom parchment and I had assumed that my parents letter had been sent to you, which you in turn sent to me in a legible form. I suppose I should have realized at the time that something was odd about it but I must have been too concerned with other matters to take notice. Please try and reach Lirael and tell her what I have said. Obviously, if my parents didn't write to me, someone in the Old Kingdom must have written the letter instead. It would have to be someone who knew the Sayre emblem considering the envelope was sealed with it. This confuses me because I cannot think of anyone save for you who would know it and I know for a fact you would not do such a thing. It seems to me, as I sit here and consider this, that someone wanted me away from Lirael and the Old Kingdom. Perhaps I am being ridiculous but wouldn't you think so too? Why else would they forge a letter forcing me to leave? It is quite vexing and until I receive a reply from either you or Lirael, I will wait here. Again, please reach Lirael and URGE her to be careful!

Your dear friend,

Nicholas Sayre.

OOOO

She was awoken by a knocking at her door. She jumped up quickly and opened it. Sanar and Ryelle stood there, as beautiful as ever.

"Grab you sword and bells. Mogget, you should come too."

They followed the twins into a secluded and empty room. A table with chairs sat in the center but other than that, it was empty.

It was a room used for meeting, Lirael soon realized as the twins gestured for her to sit. Mogget jumped into the chair next to her, tail swishing.

The twins sat opposite them.

"You say you received our second letter?" Sanar asked.

"Yes. About the creature lurking outside…" she let her words trail off as the twins stared at her with confused expressions.

"Lirael," Ryelle began. "We sent only one letter."

"Wishing your well being."

"And there is no creature that we know of."

Lirael just stared at them, shocked. No letter? Then who? But she could not answer the question.

"That might explain the arrows," Mogget said.

"Arrows?" Sanar inquired.

"We were attacked on the way here, by arrow." She was still a bit flabbergasted.

"Apparently," Mogget said, "Someone doesn't like you."

"Yes," Ryelle agreed. "Someone or something does not wish you well, I fear."

"One of Hedge's minions, I'm sure." But Lirael was still confused. Why would they send her to the Glacier? Unless they were purposefully trying to get her out in the open.

"You should stay here for tonight at least," Sanar was saying. "So by tomorrow you will be ready. In case something attacks you again."

"You are welcome to stay longer."

Lirael shook her head.

"I will leave tomorrow morning."

She and Mogget returned to her room and she immediately began writing a letter to Sam.

"I think," Mogget was saying as she gathered her parchment. "That whoever wants you dead, was in league with Derane as well, considering how close the events have occurred."

"Yes," she agreed. "I just hope nothing happens to Sabriel. If Someone keeps trying to kill me I can only guess what they would do to her."

She dipped her quill into the ink and began writing.

Dear Sam,

I hope all is well at Belisairre. I'm afraid I have some bad news. After you departed with Nick, I received a letter from the Clayr requesting my assistance with a creature. However, upon arrival, I was told that no such letter had been sent and no such creature plagued the Clayr. Also, on the way here, my Paperwing was attacked by arrows. It seems that someone, or something, does not wish me around. Please let Sabriel know of this and bid her be careful! I will hopefully be safely home by the time this reaches you. If you hear from Nick, do not hesitate to inform him!

Sincerely,

Lirael

AshBreanne: Let's see, what's coming next...

Lot's of stuff, hopefully, If I can ever get my brain off this sugar high!!