((A/N- Well, I hope no one minds Cirra's whining, because that's how the chapter starts. Oh well, we love her anyways, right? Although I'm rather partial to Cthala myself, as you'll see...oh, and in the last chapter, it was supposed to say I do NOT own Shine, not that I do. Oh God....::twitches as she thinks of the lawsuits:: Ok, I'm better now. Oh well, I really like this chapter, so enjoy!!))


"I hate Cthol Murgos, I hate Cthol Murgos, I hate Cthol Murgos..."

"Cirra, quiet."

"I hate Cthol Murgos, I hate--"

"CIRRA."

"Cthol Murgos," Cirra finished lamely.

Adrian chuckled at her two friends as Sara and Cirra began arguing playfully.Adrian watched as Sara began braiding her golden hair, her blue eyes communicating a silent challenge to her sister. Cirra rose to the challenge, her identical features also arguing her case. Adrian watched them bemusedly,a kind of epiphany overcoming her. Most people saw Cirra as the dominant twin, especially in public places. After all, Cirra was the vivacious heartbreaker while Sara was content to curl up in a corner with her book.In actuality, however, it was Sara who controlled the pair, often taking charge in times of emergency.

"A most unseemly place." Mandoral's voice broke into Adrian's thoughts.

"Very perceptive, for a Mimbrate." Adrian looked to the Arend warily, but found him to be grinning widely, his bow still firmly strapped to his back.

"Be nice, children," Cirra laughed.

"Ah, nothing but, dear lady," Larrendin declared, grinning still as he pulled his horse up beside hers. "After all, how canst my heart be troubling in the presence of such infinite grace?:

"It appears to me this wayward Asturian doth, in fact, contain the knowledge of how to speak decently," Mandoral noted, his face absolutely straight.

"He'll manage, I suppose," Sara said wryly.

"Geran, they're making fun of me," Larrendin complained.

"Somehow, I'm almost positive you'll survive, Larrendin." Geran chuckled wickedly. "After all, you're a big strong boy, and they're only little girls."

Unrak rolled his eyes. "Kids."

"Halt!" Everyone in the company stopped, looking ahead. Standing upon a sand dune was a figure, clothed in black up to her neck. Honey-colored hair flowed freely, a sword held in one hand. Silver glinted on the definetly feminine form's forehead, but even from this distance it was seen no scars disfigured a graceful face.

"Ah. You must be Cthala." Polgara rode forth, looking at the girl critically. "You don't much look Angarak, if you ask me."

"You know, Lady Polgara, I much noticed that myself. Do you think it must have something to do with my blood? I've noticed most Alorns have blonde hair."

"Yes, they do at that. Unrak, why don't you give her a lift home?"

"But, Lady Polgara, I don't know where she lives."

"At the palace, silly boy."

"The palace?"

The girl's face became proud. "I am the daughter of the King of all Cthol Murgos, Urgit, and sister to the next heir, Kralak, Cthala, flower of the house of Urgit."

Adrian looked to Geran. "House of Urgit?"

"A lot of things changed when Eriond became the God of Angarak," he explained. "One of the minor changes was Urgit's line became a new dynasty seperate from that of the Urgas."

"Oh."

"Well, are you getting up or not?" The two looked at the Alorn and Angarak, who were eyeing each other warily. "I don't bite, you know."

"That's what all Alorns say." Cthala swung herself up behind him, ignoring the hand Unrak stretched out to pull her up. "But then again, I'm part Alorn myself, so, if you do bite, I'll bite back."

"That sounds like an invitation."

"Don't get your hopes up. Did you know you look like an overgrown throw rug?"

"And you look like an underfed scarecrow."

Cthala grinned. "I can see we're going to get along just fine."

~*~

"Ah, I see you've brought our wayward sheep home." The King of Cthol Murgos was lounging on his chair as always, but now was dressed in a nice shade of blue instead of purple. "She tends to sneak off when no one's looking."

"Father, did you--- Oh, hello." A young man walked in and bowed to them. The aforementioned Kralak, Adrian surmised. He was good-looking, with short black hair opposed to his sister's long golden tresses. Both of thier eyes were a violet brown, however, and they were both built light and speedy.

"Did I offend your mother again? I don't think so. Kralak, this is Lady Polgara and her husband Goodman Durnik, thier daughters Polcirra and Polsara, Ancient Belgarath, your Uncle Prince Kheldar, Unrak of Cherek, Zakath, Emperor of Mallorea, his daughter Adrian-" Adrian was never going to get used to that, "- Larrendin and Mandoral of Asturia, and King Belgarion of Riva, as you certainly know."

"Yes, father," Kralak said patiently, "I know. Cthala told me all about them."

"But you haven't seen her until she got back five minutes ago."

"So?"

"Ah, children, if we're done here?" Belgarath cleared his throat. "Urgit, Cthala's coming with us."

Urgit began to protest, but Cthala stepped up, a disgusted expression on her face. "Oh, father, shut up," she told him. "I'm nearly seventeen, and you've been protecting me far too long. You have no idea what I've been doing. Did you know your dear sweet daughter has already killed a man? Ten, if you want to be exact. This month, at least."

Urgits eyes were wide. "What?"

"Grolims, Father. Ones who haven't accepted Eriond yet and decided the sacrifice of the Jewel of the House of Urgit would entice him back. I don't know about ou, father, but I didn't exactly relish the idea of my heart roasting on a bed of coals."

Urgit wordlessly stood and embraced her. Cthala grinned. "Why father, you're taking this much better than I expected. Now sit down old man, and get me someone to help me with my packing."

~*~

"Do you always order your father around like that?" The four girls all gathered in Cthala's room, helping her pack and chit-chatting in tradition of young girls. Cirra sat crosslegged on the floor, Sara on the windowsill, and Adrian sitting upside-down style on the bed. They watched Cthala pack, the Murgo girl much quicker than they.

Cthala laughed. "Not always. Just when he's being stubborn. It gets my point across and keeps him quiet. I like that Unrak with you."

"Oh, do you now?" Sara's head popped up, and she grinned. "After a while, he might become a bit un *bear* able."

"He's definetly beary different," Adrian chuckled.

"I think he's bearly got an unpleasant bone in him," Cirra quipped. The three girls collapsed in giggles. Cthala rolled her eyes.

"I know exactly what you're talking about, and I see it as a boon, myself. You three are just jealous that------"

Whatever they were jealous of, the girls never found out. Three men all in black kicked down the ground-level door, each with a sabre. Fluid as a cat, Cthala drew one from under her bed, ushering the other girls back. "Do any of you know how to use a weapon?"

Sara's answer sent one of them men sprawling, though she barely even touched them. Cthala apparently took that for an answer, and began fighting the first one sword to sword, matching blow for blow. Finally Cthala was proved the better swordsman as her light blade ran cleanly through the first one.

Adrians mind was whirling however, and she briefly remembered the throwing skills her deceased grandfather had once taught her. Grabbing a knife from the bed, she hurled it right over Cthala's head, the blade penetrating to the hilt in the third assassin's chest.

Cthala blinked, then her face split in a grin. "Well, Adrian, it was a bit sudden, but, I knew you were all right."

~*~

"You're sure you don't need anything?"

"Nothing, father."

"Cthala, you ready to go?"

The golden-haired Angarak smiled at her red-haired companion. "All set, Unrak," she assured him. "Now get up there, Larrendin and Mandoral are waiting." She turned and watched her father go back inside, her stomach falling a little. Cthala swallowed, not sure she liked this. She had been used to having to fight her whole life, but now that she did not have to....well, it was disconcerting.

"Problems?"

"Not really. Didn't I tell you to get up there already? Even Adrian and Cirra are ahead of us, and they go slower than anyone with all the talking they do."

"I thought they were your friends."

"They are. I'm just telling the truth."

"And would you tell me the truth if I asked you something personal?"

"Of course. Cthala doesn't lie."

Unrak took her hand and looked into her eyes. "Do you love me like I love you?"

Violet eyes met hardened blue. "Of course." They sealed the agreement with a kiss, unnoticed by the rest of the party.

((A/N- AWWWWW! Ok, well, anyways, I've got my mother reading Polgara the Sorceress now...I made her read the Belgariad...she read the Mallorean and Belgarath herself....She told me if I didn't get her Polgara soon, she's kill me, so I gave it to her. Who wouldn't? Oh, and Point of Fact- My mother is NOTHING like Adrian's. Thank God. Oh dear, I'm rambling...oh well, please R/R, as always!))