hey guys!!!

sorry its been a while...i have tests now.

and sorry, the conversation between all teh people is confusing, but its supposed to be...its like a big confusing bundle of people talking...you know how reunions are, right?

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Sandry smoothed her apron, placing the basket on the table. "Am I Lady Sandrilene fa Toren?" she repeated, voice calm though her nerves were on end.

Emmie held out the paper, filled with printed words. "This, Sandry. Is it true?" she asked, grey eyes wide. "Sandry!"

She sighed, feeling extremely tired. "Yes, Em, thats me, and Briar is that Briar." Picking up the laundry again, she walked out the door.

"Sandry!"

"What?"

Emmie stood spluttering. "You're a noble? A high noble? Living in our tiny, obscure village with us ordinary folk?"

"Yes," Sandry replied. "That's us."

"But why?"

Sandry grinned. "Its a long story...do you have time?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sandry was six months pregnant, and increasingly swelling, when Larian and Emmie were finally wed. For days in advance, she embroidered the pale green dress with flowers and roses for the event, before presenting it to the happy bride.

"Sandry," Emmie gasped, staring at the gown. "It's more beautiful that I could ever had imagined!"

Her friend grinned, passing her the soft bundle. "It is a special occasion," she teased. "And you have to look nice for Larian!" The girls giggled before dressing her for the wedding.

It turned out, after the new couple had been spirited away to their new cottage, that a carriage pulled up to the back of their home.

"Briar?" Sandry mumbled, rolling over carefully to avoid her swelling belly, "Did you hear that?" Moving his arm, which was draped over her back, she twisted off the bed.

He muttered. "Donn knno..." stumbling to the door. "Whaa?"

And a disgruntled Tris stood in front of wagon, yanking a protesting Niko out of the driver's seat. "I made him find you," she snapped, looking frazzled. Daja jumped out the back blithely, grinning at her plump friend, whose red hair was sizzling with lightning.

"Redhead?" Briar said, rubbing his tired eyes. "Daja? Niko?"

Tris scowled, adjusting her thick glasses. "You missed your Mastery," she accused. "The council was shocked, and they wanted us to find you. For some reason, they're desperate to add you two sillies to their ranks. But Niko wouldn't tell us, so we made him."

Sandry peered out the door, and let out a glad cry. "Tris? Daja?" They ran to hug, and even Tris' cropped hair stopped sparking.

"Sandry!" Daja gasped, turning her friend around and examining her obviously pregnant form. "You didn't? Is it...you know...?" She gestured with her head to Briar. Sandry nodded, blushingly.

"This is so strange," Tris commented. She dragged Pasco by the back of the shirt, obviously irritated by the boy's silly prattle and pranks. "I mean, you guys are only seventeen..."

"Oh, gods!" Niko yelled, the knowledge permeating his brain. "What did I tell you?" he pointed his finger accusingly at Briar.

Tris grinned. "We went to visit Lark, like I said, but we were delayed. Pasco finally snapped, after some small conversation." She smiled slyly. "I prodded him with lightning."

"Tris!"

"Gosh, Teacher," Pasco grinned, "You sure got big."

"Briar, you lousy chuffle, I warned you!" Niko muttered, before clapping the boy on the shoulder and smiling despite his comments.

"This conversation is becoming to complicated," Briar complained.

Tris groaned, running her plump fingers through her short hair. "And you're going to be a father? What is this place coming to?!"

"C'mon inside," Sandry told them, opening the door wide. "We can tell you about it there. Isn't it chilly?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~

They stayed for a week, Niko slowly mellowing with time and accepting the inevitable: a baby on the way.

The villagers, especially Emmie, fell over their own feet to serve Master Niko Goldeye, and his students, innocently figuring that their friends Briar and Sandry were simply old friends.

Only Emmie knew that Sandry was a noble, and that they eloped at all.

The week flew by as quickly as a sigh; old friends and good times sped the clock. Before they knew it, the sevenday was over in a flash, and Daja, Tris, Pasco, and Niko packed back into the wagon.

"We promise to come when the baby is born," Daja said, waving to Briar as she clasped Sandry's hand.

"All of us," Pasco laughed, looking at the scowling Niko.

Waving merrily, they left in the whirlwind of excitement which they had brought to the tiny rural cottage.

"Gee, Sandry," Larian said, trotting up to where they were standing. "Didn't know you two knew the Goldeye. Interesting friends you've got." He grinned slightly.

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