The castle was being prepared for the coming of a new royal face to the castle, the Princess Shinkokami. Everyone in the castle was either busy cleaning or cooking, or primping themselves for her arrival in the next hour. Of course there were people in the castle who were not happy about her arrival, a certain Lysse and Roald. Lysse, at the moment, was sitting in her window seat watching the sun go down below the horizon of the mountaintops not knowing that Roald was watching the exact same sunset. At that moment, from different rooms across the castle, they saw a horse drawn carriage come around the corner and into the courtyard below. What? She's here already? Lysse thought in surprise. Lysse felt no want, whatsoever, to meet this certain princess who was taking her Roald away from her. What? My Roald? He's no more mine than he is hers. Lysse rationalized unsuccessfully. Still watching the procession, she saw the royal family come outside to greet them, but Lysse had eyes only for Roald. She watched as the door to the carriage opened and Roald's future wife stepped out. Lysse's eyes widened as she caught sight of this beauty before her. Princess Shinkokami was beautiful, with dark, black hair and tanned skin that contrasted well together. From what Lysse saw, Roald introduced himself with a low bow and a kiss on the hand. The princess blushing slightly, gave a low curtsy and looked like she was giggling. Lysse, not able to watch anymore, walked away from her window and flung herself onto her bed where she stared at the ceiling for a while. All she could feel was a great pain in her heart, as if something was being ripped from her soul. She eventually fell asleep with tear stains on her cheeks.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Pleasure to meet you, my lady." Roald bowed before the princess.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, my lord." Answered Princess Shinkokmi, curtsying. Roald, as he stood up from his bow, took a chance to study the princess. He had heard she was a beauty and she was, but why couldn't he see it? She was pretty, but Lysse...Lysse...No I can't think about Lysse. I promised. Besides she's right. It can never be. I just have to live with it. But how? Roald thought to himself.

"My lord?"

Roald was shocked out of his musings. Princess Shinkokami stared at him amused and laughing. "What were you thinking about?"

"Nothing." Roald blushed. "At least nothing for you to care about, Princess. I was just...thinking."

"Well, it must have been interesting. You seemed so far off. Oh, don't worry about it, my lord, I'm just like that. Always off into the sky. My mother says that if I don't stop, one day I might not come down." The princess laughed and Roald smiled slightly.

"My mother says the exact same thing." Roald said, trying to share the joke, but his heart was and mind were somewhere else. "My lady, will you and your family join my family for dinner tonight?"

"We would be greatly appreciative, my lord. Thank-you." Roald offered his arm to the princess who took it and they walked inside together. Before, he entered the castle, though, Roald took a glance toward a certain room, hoping he would catch just the smallest glimpse of his love. There was no luck.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Neal sat in his room thinking about what had happened a couple days before. They had almost kissed, he couldn't believe it. He hadn't meant for it to happen, it just...happened. He did like Kel a lot, and he hoped that she liked him too. At the moment, Neal was busy writing in the journal he had started slightly before the ball. It was a Midwinter present from Kel. Kel had told him at the time, that if he ever had the need to be or say something philosophical, tell the book. He smiled at the memory. He didn't think anyone would ever understand that side of him, but that didn't matter, he may have the book to confide in, but he was still going to annoy the hell out of his friends. It was his mission in life. As he continued to write, his thoughts slid back to Kel. He had to know what she thought of him. He knew that they were friends, but were they more? He wanted them to be, but did Kel?

Neal got up and walked to the door. As he reached for the door knob he had a sudden pain in his stomach and he broke out into a hard sweat. All of the sudden he wasn't feeling well. Maybe it was something he ate during dinner. Neal doubling over began to cough. He hadn't been feeling well for a couple of days, but he had thought that it would pass, now it had just gotten worse. Much worse. Where had it come from? What was happening to him. As he continued to cough on the floor, he began to cough up blood. Neal, extremely frightened, crawled towards the door. His vision was beginning getting black.

"-ave to see...-ealer." He muttered to himself, but before he could get to the door he collapsed into darkness. Right after he collapsed, a knock came at the door. After no answer and continuous knocking the door was opened and Kel stepped inside.

"Neal!"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Lysse woke up to a dark room. Still disoriented, she got up and realized that it wasn't the room that was dark, the room's fireplace had been lit; it was her vision. All of the sudden she was having trouble seeing. Lysse grabbed her head as a sudden headache came upon her. Lysse was sick. Her head was pounding so much, she didn't here her door open and close.

"He said that to you, Sera? Oh, by the gods, that must have been embarrassing for you. I wish a man had said that to me." Lysse could make out Anji's voice.

"I know." Sera started laughing. "I thought I could just die right there on the floor! Who knew?" Lysse heard agasp as her bedroom door was open.

"Lysse! Oh goddess, what's wrong?" She felt hands on her shoulders.

"Lysse? Are you okay? Oh my, Sera, she's burning up." Lysse felt herself slipping further and further away.

"Lysse. Can you hear me?" Lysse didn't hear, she had gone past the place of hearing and into the place of pure darkness.

(A/N)My goodness. I just LOVE cliffhangers. What happened to Neal and Lysse? Oh no! Their sick. What's wrong in the world! Why do I do these things?! *evil laughter* More obstacles for Roald and Lysse to overcome. It's good though, it makes the story longer. Isn't that what you want? A BIG surprise and turn in the story happens during the next part! Maybe I'll wait a little while before the next part goes out...