(A/N) Just to reiterate. This is an AU (which stands for Another Universe) story, so yes, I know that the characters are not in Tortall. They are in my own made up kingdom of Lingheren. I wanted to work with TP's characters in a whole new enviorment and see how they would interact. I've even changed their social positions. No longer are they nobles, but now Kel and some of the gang are servants to the Earl and Duchess of Lingheren. Who are the Earl and Duchess? No one other than Jonathan and Alanna. No this is not a A/J story. In fact, it's quite the opposite. I wanted to write my own version of what their lives would have been like if they had gotten married and how it would have effected their children also. The main plot to this story is about an evil servant (Joren) who comes to find work inside the castle with a goal to bring down the family and everyone else inside. His motives will be found out towards the end of the story. My story will not have a happy ending. I never write stories with happy endings, I don't know why, so don't expect one :-)
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A group of lost riders made it over the steep hill to come upon an unknown castle surrounded by a massive, high wall almost covered completely by moss and thick leaves of ivy. It was first noticed the moldy look to the entire castle. One could tell it had been there for centuries, for the castle itself was covered just as its outer walls. Ivy could be seen crawling up along the stone and into some of the open windows. Unknown organisms that had been growing for ages had formed kingdoms of their own and were now living happily eating upon the stone. The color of the castle was now green from the color of the mildew that covered it. No one could possibly live in an environment like that, but the little bodies of people seen bustling around the inside of the walls contradicted the thought.
The riders sat in silence upon their horses surveying the area in front of them. Without speaking, the four turned their horses away from the sad image. The castle emanated the smell of despair and the feeling of evil things to come. They would rather brave the wilderness than set foot in the falling kingdom before them; the aging kingdom called Lingheren.