A/N: Thanks to csiaddict2, crowned tiger and Mysil for reviewing the previous chapter and for being consistent.

The song that Sara and Akona dance to is The Islander (instrumentals) by Nightwish. I don't own it and have no claim to it whatsoever.

This chapter is for my effervescent co-author whose birthday was a couple days ago, but still hasn't recieved her present (thanks snail-mail!). So, Ray, to hold you over until then, This chapter belongs to you in every single way, shape or form it may ever take, as does the time it took me to find an adjective worthy of you.
****HSLV, TwiFlame.

From the valley they had just entered, the manor towered in front of them. The imposing structure, with its grey stones, dark roof and sky scraping turrets, was as intimidating as it was extraordinary. The wall surrounding it was only waist high on most of the warriors, but, Rhea explained, was usually lined with sentries. Today, the family's was throwing their annual ball that had been the talk of the realms for centuries. With the majority of the surrounding village and leagues of nobles from around the realms in attendance, this was the biggest gala thrown by a private family the land had ever seen. All but two of the family's private guard were inside enjoying a much anticipated day off.

"You're rather quiet." Rhea teased. "Usually you'd be barking out instructions right about now."

"Taking it all in." Sara said quietly. "This place is just as I remember it. Even though I don't...remember it."

"Wonders of the mind block."

"Ah, Rhea," One of the guards at the door smiled at her. "Back again, I see."

"There's nothing worth missing this event for. You know that as well as I do."

"You're not even dressed yet." The other guard chastised. "You look as normal as the rest of us."

"Well, I'll change, of course." She smiled wryly. "We all will. If you let us in."

"Would you really let us turn you away?"

"Never." She winked and kissed him on the cheek in passing. Sara simply nodded to them, but apart from her government position, they didn't know who she was in relation to the family.

"I didn't bring a change of clothes." Catherine said, smoothing the skirt of her dress self consciously.

"You didn't need to." Rhea snapped her fingers casually, and everyone found themselves dressed in completely new outfits, a mix between mortal and medieval style garments.

"What is this?"

"Skirt from 17th century England, tank top from Wal-Mart."

"I'm sorry...what?"

"Clothing here at the ball tells everyone about your political position on mortal-magical...things." Sara explained, remembering this as clearly as if she had learned it yesterday, not thousands of years earlier. "If you wear mortal clothes, you stray more towards the mortal way of life and vice versa. A mix of both means you're on the fence, and while I'm strongly against making up people's minds for them, while you're with us, you're going to have to at least act as if your political persuasion is the same as mine and Rhea's. We can't show up with a retinue who believe different than we do."

"We understand." Grissom said with a curt nod, looking down at his waistcoat with a grimace.

"Oh. My. God!" A scream came from down the corridor, followed by a few sets of running feet. Two girls and a boy skidded to a stop in front of the group. They looked to be barely into their teenage years, if they were there at all.

"She was right!" One of the girls yelled. "You're Sarayelle!"

"I go by Sara now." She said uncomfortably, recognizing the three people neither from her recent life, nor her past memories.

"It is you." The boy sounded breathless with excitement, even though he was trying to act nonchalant.

"Yes." She nodded quickly. "How did you..."

"Oh, our mother told us all about you." The girl interrupted. "I'm June, this is my brother Cedrig and my sister Skylar."

"We were waiting for you all night." Cedrig said, shaking his unruly, carrot red hair out of his face. "We have a Seer in the house, and she Saw you coming here and said you'd be right in time for the ball."

"They didn't want us to wait, but we just had to. I mean, nobody's seen you for like...hundreds of years. We had to be the first!"

"Thousands." Sara muttered under her breath.

"What?"

"Hmm? Nothing."

"Quiet." The third girl, Skylar, opened her eyes to glare at her siblings - it couldn't have been anything but a glare - and even Sara jumped in surprise when they saw that her eyes were a solid blue. No sclera, no pupil, but a complete, endless cerulean.

"Skylar." June hissed. "You're scaring them."

"You were overwhelming them with your incessant babble." She shot back. Skylar looked to be the oldest of the three, having maybe four years of seniority on the other two.

"They're not used to your eyes." Cedrig said.

"Always about the eyes." She sighed. "Can you two leave for this?"

"We know the story." June pouted. "There's no reason for us to go."

"It's just easier to tell with a small audience." Though they both grimaced and mumbled under their breath, both June and Cedrig left. Skylar turned to the group, but her eyes were focused on Sara. "Every time I try to explain, they end up trying to tell the story themselves, and it just makes less sense that way. Hope you don't mind."

"No. They're an...exuberant pair." Sara mouth twisted into a half smile.

"Try living with them." She winked. "What exactly do you want to know about..." Running her fingertips gently over her eyelids, the subject she was referring to was clear.

"Everything you're prepared to share." Rhea spoke up before anybody could say anything. Skylar turned towards her.

"Can you see us?" A warrior asked, sounding slightly nervous.

"No," Inexplicably, Skylar laughed. "I use something like radar. My mind - well, I guess it's more my magic, really - sends out energy waves. I get a read on the location, height, weight, rough physical features and magical signature of whatever the waves bounce off of. It's how I move, too. The waves go out once every tenth of a second, and the reads I get paint a picture of my surroundings in my mind, so it's almost as good as seeing, and I don't need anyone's help to move around either, which I'm fairly happy about."

"Were you born this way?" Catherine asked.

"No." She didn't laugh this time. Instead, her mouth formed a grim line. "When I was a kid, I liked to push boundaries as far as they would go. One day, I crossed the line with the wrong creature, and this is the result."

"Vindictive mage?" Sara asked sympathetically. Skylar shook her head.

"Forest nymph."

"Fierce."

"Oh yes, they are." She shook her head once, like she was trying to shake something off. "That's mostly it. You get the general idea, anyways. You guys want to go into the ballroom?"

"Sure." Sara twisted her hands nervously. The manor confused her. She didn't consciously recall her time there, but some things were so familiar. As they were led down the hallways, her eyes lingered on portraits dated thousands of years ago, each portraying the likenesses of people she recognized from her long-forgotten memories.

"Don't freak out." Skylar smiled. Sara jumped, realizing that the girl got reads on more than physical characteristics. "They won't bite."

"Didn't think they would."

"Yeah," She gave a short laugh and ran her fingers through her silky dark hair, so unlike her siblings' colour and texture. "Right." Then she pulled the heavy wood doors of the ballroom wide, entered, and was met with a deafening silence.

After no less than a minute, a few of the guests started tittering nervously. Little by little, everybody started talking again. Some moved in to the middle of the room to dance, but no matter their actions, each person in attendance was stealing glances at Sara, whether their reason was seeing their Ruler, or the infamous Sarayelle.

"Good evening," A man with cropped grey hair walked up to Sara and placed a large, friendly hand on her arm. "I trust you are enjoying the festivities?"

"Very much, thank you." Sara smiled back carefully. "I'm Sara."

"Oh, I know who you are. Though, I knew you as Sarayelle for a number of years."

"Sara, this is Whall. He helped me find you a place in this house, and watched over you from inside it until you went to the mortal realms." Rhea explained, clapping him on the back. "Been a while, Whall."

"Indeed it has." He smiled back at her, crinkling his laugh lines.

"I remember your face." Sara said quietly. "Nothing more. Sorry."

"Don't worry yourself. Rhea explained the situation when she created the mind block.

"Oh. That's...nice."

"You were not always so uncomfortable here." He barked out a loud, hearty chuckle. "Would you care to dance with me?"

You don't say no to someone of Whall's position. Rhea projected her firm voice into Sara's mind. Go. You'll have fun.

"I'd be happy to." Sara only paused a beat before answering. She took his hand and let him lead her onto the dance floor. The music was an energetic folk beat, and the rest of the dancers were whirling round in a traditional movement.

"You will remember the steps once you begin the dance." Whall assured her, seeing the half-tortured expression on her face. She wasn't used to being in any situation where she was less than knowledgeable on the subject confronting her.

"If you say so." She muttered, letting him twirl her around and lead her in a tight sliding square step.

"Oh, you are so deliciously sarcastic these days." He laughed. "It suits you in a way submission and a polite demeanour never did."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"As you should." Whall smiled at her. "You are still a wonderful dancer, by the way."

"Danced with me before?"

"I taught you myself, and am infinitely pleased that you've remembered most of the steps."

"Weird, huh." As he had said, it had only taken a few steps for Sara to remember every dance she had ever learned. She was pleased when she found that in addition to remembering the steps, she was in good enough shape to execute some of the harder steps that the traditional dances were peppered with.

After a few songs with Whall, Sara was passed off to another partner who claimed to have known her, and two others like him before she was deposited back with her own slightly depleted group. Most of those who had been raised in the magical realms were out on the floor enjoying their unexpected night of fun, Rhea included.

Following the mingling, there was a banquet held in the Great Hall. Tables had been set up in a 'T' with barely enough seats for everyone. As it was, they were sitting elbow to elbow with their neighbours, but the wine flowed so freely that few noticed. After countless toasts to the nobles at the table, the hosts, and to Sara herself, everyone was politely shooed back into the ballroom for small cakes, squares and more dancing. An hour or so into the final dances, Sara heard Rhea's voice in her head once more. Throughout the evening, Rhea had been almost coaching Sara in every aspect of noble behaviour that didn't come naturally to her as much of it had.

This next song is a traditional ballad, She projected. Everyone of high status is expected to dance when it is played, and your status in this house as well as the realm as a whole requires it.

Don't have a partner who knows the dance. Whall's off with his wife, and everyone else is taken. Sara sent back.

Find someone. It would be unimaginably rude if you refused to join us.

Sara looked at the eligible partners left, and was wholly disappointed. Many of those choosing to sit out were the members of her team, and the rest looked too drunk to stand, let alone dance.

"Looks like you need a dancer." A smooth, deep voice came from behind her. Sara whirled around and came face to face with Akona.

"Oh. You."

"Don't sound too excited." He rolled his orange-amber eyes at her and held out a hand. "You really have no other option."

"Apparently." She mumbled, stepping towards him.

"Wait," Stopping her at arm's length, he looked her over once. "You have to change."

"I don't have time for this. The song's bound to start soon, and I supposedly have to be out there."

"You also have to match your partner." He gestured to his almost regal white-teal medieval top and his black jeans. He didn't have to say why it was that she needed to change, because, looking down at herself, she had to admit that of the two of them, he looked better.

"I forgot that rule." She almost growled her words in frustration. Her usually sharp mind was having trouble keeping up with all the things that were locked away in her hidden memories. With a quick coat of her blue-green magic, she was attired similarly to him. His eyes raked over her new outfit, and he nodded his approval. Instead of her earlier jeans and short, 15th century dress, she was now dressed in a white tank underneath a period-style corset in soft teal. It was paired with a knee-length black skirt made of layered fabrics with ragged, diagonal-cut edges. His hand was still hanging in the air, and his mouth was open slightly.

"Take a picture, Akona." She smirked and took his hand, and together they twirled onto the crowded floor.

As much as Sara had initially disliked Akona, even she had to admit that he was light on his feet. His right hand was on her wais, hers on his shoulder, their left palms touching gently and suspended in the air at chest level. They glided over the floor like air, in time with the pulsing drumbeats and the magically-produced sounds of crashing waves. As a guitar-like instrument was added, the coupled on the floor started into the traditional dance. It involved a series of twists, turns, partner trade-offs and steps in a rigid, set order. As the music swelled into what was clearly the chorus, the original partners found each other and came closer, pulled into each other's arms like lovers, completing steps in that position.

That was when everything changed.

Earlier in the dance, Sara had been regarding Akona with a certain friendly amiability - just enough to get them through the dance in a companionable fashion. But the minute the chorus came crashing down on them, putting them in one another's arms, their eyes seemed to lock.

Finding themselves unable to look away, they both studied the other's face, the look in the other's eyes, until a nearly visible stream of passion was flowing between them. To their credit, they kept time with the music. followed the steps flawlessly, though now their every movement was charged with electricity. Where their palms could be touching, they were caressing. His hand cupped her waist, her hand stroked his shoulder. Their gazes were smouldering. And when they came together, they almost fell into each other's arms in relief. The dance was over too soon. She wasn't ready to be out of his arms, as he was unwilling to let her.

So they danced again.

And again.

And long into the night.

At the dawn of another day, the ball broke up. Families re-grouped and left, drunkards were towed away by their designated companions, and Sara's group moved on with the bulk of the crowd. They were lead out by Skylar, and Sara was given a smooth stone that could be used to call her at any given moment. She had explained, in passing, that the loss of her vision and gain of her radar capabilities gave her a special form of concentrated, powerful magic that she would willingly use to help Sara, Rhea and their entire group when the time came.

Sara barely noticed.

After their night long dance, Sara and Akona had been forced to separate once again. They both knew it was unseemly for her, the Ruler and a mage of considerable power and position, to associate on those terms with him, a prisoner. Their brief connection had not, however, gone un-noticed.

"You were having a pretty good time last night on the dance floor, weren't you?" Jordan teased Sara as they were on their way out.

"I was acting the part I needed to act."

"Yeah, right. I know you better than that. You like him."

"Keep it to yourself, at least." Sara glanced around them quickly, then lowered her voice. "It's strange, Jordan, how well he seems to know me. It was like this when we first met him that day in the forest. It's like he can see inside my head, but he's not a mind reader. He knows me instinctively, just like you do. I can't help but fall for that."

"I understand the pull," For all the teasing she liked to do, Jordan was now serious. "You just need to watch yourself with him. You do, of course, have an image to uphold. If anybody in this group sees you being to...intimate with him, they won't trust you, and when the time comes to pick sides, they might choose the wrong one."

"I know. I'm not planning on striking up a relationship with him because of the sheer impossibility of it, but still..." she sighed. "last night was strange."

"Strange how? Did you get a weird vibe from him or something?"

"Not at all. It was almost like being in a trance, dancing with him. When our eyes locked that first time, I couldn't look away because it was like nothing else mattered. I simply forgot everything that was going on except for the dancing. Except for him. All the frustration at my lost memories was gone, all the nervousness about the battle that has to happen soon, all my misgivings about people's loyalties...everything. All I could think about was me and him and the song we were dancing to. The steps came as naturally as breathing, and I was happy."

"You haven't been happy in a long time, have you?" Jordan whispered, already knowing the answer.

"No. Not since this started. Not even before this, I think. I can't really ever remember being happy like this more than a handful of times in my entire life. It was sheer bliss, Jord. That's why we danced so long."

"That good?"

"I can't explain it. It was just so amazing. I forgot everything. Honestly. With him, in that moment, I wasn't the Ruler. I wasn't being chased and hunted. I had no responsibilities. I had no evil to repress. It was like being blind and seeing for the first time. It was perfect."

"You need to be careful, Sara." Jordan warned, her voice low and serious. "I know you've fallen for him on some level, but your rational mind is still clear. Just make sure that you don't get any more involved."

"What are you afraid of?" Sara murmured. "Do you really not want me to be happy?"

"I do. You know that. But this whole thing reminds me of something I was taught once. It was about a Faerie charm that can be either cast by a Faerie or bought in amulet form to be cast by someone else. What you experienced may be true and natural, but I'm worried it could be a charm."

"But - "

"I'm also," Jordan interrupted. "Worried about how illogical you're acting about this. You have good instincts, hon, I know you do, but sometimes your heart leads, and in this situation, you can't let it. You have to use your head."

"I know, I know. It's just...that kind of thing...feeling...is hard to get over. Hard to think through."

"I know." Jordan put an arm around Sara's shoulders and pulled her into her side. "Just stick with Gil, okay? He's a lot...safer."

"Maybe you're right." Sara sighed and looked through the group. "Speaking of Gris, where is he?"

"Oh god, don't tell me we left him behind."

"No. He was literally right beside me when we left. He wouldn't have just wandered off..." she looked harder, even casting out some of her magic to sift through the magical signatures of her group members. "We're actually missing a couple warriors too. And Greg...oh. Fuck!"

"What?"

"Violet and Rain are missing." Sara growled. "And they've recruited our warriors to help assassinate me."

"You're joking." Jordan's tone was flat. "I thought the mistrust came from their Capretian backgrounds."

"No! I wouldn't judge them like that. I couldn't tell you because...well, I don't really have any proof, and if word got out that the Ruler judged based on nothing..."

"If this isn't proof, Sar, I don't know what is." Jordan spun around, scanning the trees for the two Capretian mages and their stolen recruits.

"Rhea?" Sara called to the front of the group. Rhea stopped in her tracks when she heads Sara's tense, shaky voice.

"What?" In an instant, she joined Sara and Jordan at the back of the group.

"Know how I'm in danger?"

"Yes. That's nothing new. Why is it such a big deal now?"

"Well, that danger just got a lot closer to home." As Rhea drew closer to her, in guard position, Sara launched into the entire tale, straight from the beginning.

A/N: And the plot doth thicken... Please review and tell me what you thought (and what you think should happen next, if you don't mind, because we're at a complete loss.) Thanks!