A/N: Well I finally recovered from my illness, that's two weeks of my life that I would like to forget every happened. To celebrate, here is the next chapter! Thank you for the reviews everyone, you're all keeping me motivated!!

Finding the Bridge

Candy gave her mother a small smile as she and Carrion walked by, leading the way into the dining hall. Everything was so final now. There would be no more guessing, no more misunderstandings. Candy would be married to Carrion, and that would be the end of it. Of course the next logical question would be, how quickly would Carrion want to be wed? One half of Candy wanted it over with quickly, to put an end to all the speculation. Then again, once married it would be forever, and therefore there was little point in hurrying.

The dining room almost took Candy's breath away. The table was covered in glittering silver and white. Huge bouquets of white flowers surrounded the room, and miniature versions decorated the table. Candy felt a swell of pride for the people that had put this arrangement together, they deserved a big thank you when this was over. They'd given her something beautiful and elegant to be a part of, and it was hard to be frightened when so much effort had been made to make you happy.

Carrion showed Candy to her seat at the end of the table, and Candy was happy to see that Lola had taken a seat just one away from her on the left, with Captain Rossal and his wife directly on Candy's right. Candy gave them a warm smile, and arranged her skirt so that the petticoats all pointed in the right directions. To her relief the DeWinters were seated towards the middle of the long table, neither near her nor Carrion. She wondered who had decided the seating plan, as it seemed to be working out very well for her. Looking over at the door, Candy saw that Letheo was directing people to different parts of the long table. The Criss-cross man's presence behind him was preventing anyone from complaining.

Candy wondered whether she had made a friend of Letheo, even though she didn't know how she'd managed it. Maybe it had something to with Lola, after all, they had been speaking to each other a lot over the past few days. Or perhaps Letheo was merely following Carrion's orders, although Candy couldn't imagine him being so considerate.

A tiny old woman who wore huge glasses that magnified her eyes, took a seat between Lola and Candy. She didn't seem to know where she was, and sat quietly waiting for her dinner. Candy shared a puzzled look with Lola, and shrugged. But Candy wasn't going to underestimate her, the old woman might be a spy for all she knew and she'd been deceived before on appearance. Intending not to say anything that could get her into trouble, Candy smiled at anyone who looked her way and wished the dinner might end soon. As lovely at it was to be admired, being stared at was hard work.

It was after pudding, when everyone had had their fill of food and wine that the conversations started to get louder and less coherent. The old woman next to Candy had fallen asleep in her chair, having only spoken a few words all evening, by asking for gravy and for the salt. Carrion looked as bored as Candy felt and although moving from the dinner table might mean she'd have to speak to him again, Candy thought it might be preferable to listening to other people laughing about things she couldn't hear.

Bill Quackenbush was having a wonderful time. He was centre of attention at his part of the table, regaling everyone with the details of his daughter's engagement. Telling anyone that would listen that he had signed the contract tonight, and that the wedding would definitely be going ahead. He also told everyone of the settlement he was to receive, which would allow him to retire to the life he deserved. Candy couldn't hear everything that was said, but could guess that her father would be speaking with as little tact as possible. Melissa looked as if she was wishing the ground would swallow her up where she sat, rather than listen to another moment of Bill's gloating.

"Candy, look at Miranda," Lola whispered.

Candy reached for her wine, and stared down the table. The blonde woman looked as if she'd eaten something very bitter. Bill's merry laughter seemed to be causing the affliction, and Miranda was looking at him as if she'd very much like to strike him.

"There was something going on earlier," Lola added, leaning back in her chair as servants began clearing the dishes.

"What do you mean?" Candy asked, unable to keep her eyes from her father, lest he decide to do something embarrassing. "When?"

"When you disappeared with Carrion. You should of told me where you were going, I was worried," Lola chastised, making sure that no one was listening to them. But the clearing of the dishes was making a big enough diversion and some of guests were already leaving the table, so no one was listening.

"I didn't know where I was going," Candy replied. "I couldn't very well demand Carrion tell me, so I could let you know!"

Lola realised she was making Candy angry and changed her tone. She'd only meant that she'd wanted to make sure she was OK. But Candy had enough pressures on her right now, the last thing she needed was someone else nagging her.

"I went looking for you, but found Peta and Mr DeWinters instead…"

The Rossals took this opportunity to stand up, causing a pause in Candy and Lola's conversation, where Candy politely refused Captain Rossal's offer to escort her into the next room. Promising to join them soon, Candy watched them leave. The DeWinters were already gone, along with Candy's father and Lord Carrion. Melissa had been surrounded by a group of woman all speaking very loudly about Candy's dress and jewels.

"What, together?" Candy asked confused, as far as she was aware Peta didn't know the DeWinters in a personal sense.

Lola shrugged.

"I don't know what had been happening, but Peta told me to tell you she was going home, and to watch your back."

Candy wasn't sure what to make of this; she supposed she would have to wait until Peta returned to work to find out. But in the meantime, if it was a warning against the DeWinters, then Candy figured she had the upper hand at the moment. In a sense she'd already won, there was nothing Miranda could do to break her engagement. Candy was sure that if she was bound by the contract, then so was Carrion, and it wouldn't be worth his while to break it.

"I feel like going for a walk," Candy declared, pushing her chair back and standing. "Clear my head a little. Will you come with me?"

Lola nodded, but wasn't keen on just walking out of the room without informing someone. Carrion might have more surprises planned, and Candy wouldn't be too popular if she disappeared without warning. As Candy became caught up in more of her guests' well wishes, and making polite replies, Lola located Letheo.

"Candy wants a moment to herself, I think," Lola said knowing he'd pass the message along to Carrion. "Too much attention makes her nervous."

Letheo looked past Lola to where Candy was still smiling and nodding at people. He could see that the people around her, although respectful were full of exuberance, standing a little too close, touching her whenever they could. Letheo had the impression that Candy was simply a curiosity to them, which they couldn't help but prod and poke, examining from every angle.

"Yes, I understand," Letheo replied. "The wine has made them over familiar, Lord Carrion will not like this."

Lola smiled nervously. It would not serve Candy for Carrion to become angry, although she didn't desire to be of interest to everyone, he might believe she'd encouraged it.

"I am sure that we will return shortly," Lola said uncertain.

Candy was feeling slightly annoyed now, she'd tried politely to make her excuses to leave, or to usher the guests into the next room, but no one was taking much notice. Eventually she saw that Lola had returned, and Candy stepped towards her as if she wished to speak to her alone.

"If you will excuse me," Candy said with a slightly haughty voice, since no one was listening to her kind one. A sudden hush fell over her company and they finally let her go, looking rather abashed and back in their place.

Candy glided out of the room with Lola following, and slumped against the wall in the hallway. She took a deep breath, and closed her eyes. She didn't feel well enough for this, she felt shaky and weak, and no amount of make-up and jewels could disguise that. Eventually when the world stopped spinning, and Candy became aware of herself once more, she opened her eyes and gazed down the dark corridor. Laughter and the buzz of conversation drifted towards her through the silence, which seemed to make Candy more determined to get away.

"Come on, let's find out what is down here," Candy said leading the way.

Lola didn't know this part of the tower, she had never been allowed to go exploring before, and working for Candy had not provided much time for aimless wandering. Perhaps Suzette would have a better idea, since she seemed to do nothing but avoid doing any work, but once again the other girl was off doing whatever it was she did with her time. Candy didn't seem to care however that every corridor they came across looked exactly the same as the last. That was until Candy noticed from the window, that a right turn ahead would lead them over an abnormally long bridge. Pushing the window open, Candy leant out into the night and looked down. They were very high up, and the bridge that connected their part of the tower to the opposite one seemed to float over the abyss.

"Did you know this was here?" Candy asked, enjoying the cold breeze blowing over her.

"No," Lola replied with apprehension.

"So you don't know what is over there?" Candy asked pointing.

Lola followed Candy's gaze. She couldn't be sure, but she could guess. It probably was the rumoured tower that housed Carrion's grandmother. She wondered whether she should tell Candy what she suspected, or if that would only make Candy more interested. She waited for Candy to grow bored and turn back, but Candy was still staring out into the night and at the lights in the tall building opposite.

"I'm going over there," Candy declared, shutting the window forcibly and heading for the bridge.