CHAPTER TWO:

Winds of Change

By Tempest

(Formerly Dumb Brunette)

A/N:  This chapter is a little confusing, but things will be cleared up a little in later chapters.

King Jonathan followed Duke Baird inside a small room.  He immediately spotted the boy sitting on a bed in the corner of the room. 

"Hello Joren."  He greeted him.

Joren didn't answer and chose instead to stare at the wall.

Jon glanced at Duke Baird.

"I have a few questions to ask you."

No response.

"I have communicated with your parents.  We have decided it best for you to remain out of public contact until we have had a chance to figure out what's happened.  Your parents will be here as soon as they can."

Still nothing.

Jon took a step closer.  "We need your help so we can find out who's causing this.  We think you could still be in danger."

Joren finally turned to look at him.  His dull blue eyes showed no sign of any emotion other than apathy.

~~*~~*~~

A few minutes later Jonathan and Duke Baird headed back to Jon's office. 

"Have you figured out the other part of the seer's vision yet?"  Duke Baird asked his king.

"No, Numair and the other mages are working on it right now.  Actually, I'm expecting Keladry of Mindelan in a few minutes.  I'm going to ask her if she knows whom the woman is."

"What are you going to tell her about all this?"

Jon sighed.  "Nothing, not until we find out more.  Raoul knows about this, so I'm sure he will have someone watching out for her."

Duke Baird shook his head wearily.  "You're going to have to tell her soon.  Keladry's a smart lass.  My son has a lot of respect for her." 

"Yes, that is true, but powers that are against her and Joren might be more than any of us can handle.

~~*~~*~~

2 days later:

It was that feeling again.

Kel felt a shiver run through her body.  She couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching her.  The feeling was familiar to her now.  She felt it when she was in the practice courts, the dining hall, and especially whenever she was in the marketplace.  She didn't bother turning her head.  She knew she would see nothing.

Keeping her eyes straight in front of her, she continued to walk through the marketplace.  She was in search of a wedding present for Raoul and Buri.  So far, she had found nothing.  As she walked by a cart selling Yamani potter, she wondered about buying something for Neal and Yuki too.  She had a feeling that a wedding wasn't too far off for the couple.

Kel spotted a pair of rings that were promised to bring the wearers everlasting love.  She bent slightly to get a closer look at them.  She stood back up to ask for the price when she spotted someone familiar a few feet away.  When he saw her looking his way, he tried to duck behind a cart of fresh vegetables.

She put her hands on her hips and glared.

"You better have a good explanation for this."

~~*~~*~~

She was running out of time.  It had taken her many years, but she had finally found the girl.  Or actually, the girl had found her. Of course, she knew it hadn't been a coincidence.  She had experienced enough to know that everything happened for a reason.  Fate had meant for Keladry of Mindelan to cross her path.  Keladry was strong—very strong, but she unfortunately had no inclination of the power she held.  She wouldn't be able to stop the evil that was coming for her.  No--not alone.

She would have to use her power to hide both Keladry and the boy.  Yes, she must not forget the boy.  His part in all this was crucial. 

Bending down, she started taking candles out of a small black bag and setting them up.  Another figure walked up behind her.

"Does this mean you've figured out where you'll hide the girl and that obnoxious boy?"

  Adriel shook her head and continued to take out candles.  "Yes, dear Cassie, and I think even you will be impressed with this.

~~*~~*~~

"Now, why are you following me, Lerant?"   Kel demanded, putting her hands on her hips.

Lerant of Eldorne, standard-bearer for the King's Own stared back at her guiltily.

"Well, I uh…I d-don't know w-what you're talking about," he stammered awkwardly.  "I was just buying some vegetables for Lord Raoul. 

He held up a bag of carrots as proof.

Kel raised her eyebrows skeptically.

Lerant noticed her look and cleared his throat nervously.

"Uh…I better bring these carrots to Lord Raoul."  And before Kel could protest, he turned and almost ran back the other direction. 

As soon as he was out of sight, Lerant shook his head.  Last time I do a personal favor for Lord Raoul.

After he was gone Kel realized that the strange feeling hadn't gone away.

She shrugged it off and turned back to grab for the rings.  She stood dismayed as a pale, slender hand reached out and grabbed them first.

"Oh!  This will be a perfect wedding present for me and Cleon!"

Kel froze.  Oh Goddess no. 

Bracing herself she turned around to face Adora of Oranin.

~~*~~*~~

The last candle was lit.  Adriel brought it to her mouth and gently blew it out.  Closing her eyes, she started to chant.

~~*~~*~~

Kel opened her mouth to confront Adora, but was cut off by a sudden gust of wind.

"Oh no, my hair!"  Adora shrieked.

Normally Kel would have laughed at the sight of Adora's perfect blonde curls flying in her face, but the winds were growing unnaturally stronger. Kel grabbed onto the cart as a wave of dizziness suddenly washed over her. 

Kel was able to make out one figure before the dust and flying things blocked her vision completely.  She was able to gasp out one word before the dizziness became too much for her, and her knees crumpled as she finally lost her grip on the cart:

"Joren?"

~~*~~*~~

Her knees hit the ground first.  But the ground she landed on was soft and lush instead of the hard dirt ground of the marketplace.

Kel opened her eyes to find she was sitting in the middle of a rich purple rug.  But the rug was of little importance as she looked around the strange room she was in.

Behind her stood a tall canopy bed that she must have fallen out of—Kel realized as she looked down at herself and saw she was wearing a long white nightdress.  The nightdress was covered with lace and floor-length, with a collar that buttoned to her chin. 

The room was humongous.  It was at least twice the size of her room in the palace.  Tapestries were hung on the walls.  There were also two portraits hanging on the wall opposite of her bed.  Kel walked over to them to examine them more closely.

What she saw on them made her gasp.  At that moment the door opened and a servant walked in.  She was a petite middle-aged woman with brown hair in a tight bun.  "'Tis something wrong, Highness?"  She asked, noticing Kel's shocked look.

This only made Kel even more horrified.  She looked back at the two portraits.  One was of her in a fancy old-fashioned dress and hair that reached her waist.  The other was of her and two other girls.  One was tall and willowy with dark red hair plaited around her head and freckles.  The other was short with porcelain skin and blonde curls:

Adora.

And all three girls were wearing crowns.

Kel turned back to the maid.  Her voice came out shaky and barely above a whisper.  "Where am I?"

----------------------

A/N:  So what did you think?  Like it?  Hate it?  I know I took a little while to update (ok, over 3 months).  Freshman year has been unbelievably busy for me.  You guys understand…right?  *ducks as objects are thrown at her*  

A big thanx to all my reviewers (you guys rock):

-Arabella Silverbell                     -Shadowcat

-ThePenMage                              -Squire Kali

-TheBlindAssassin                      -Merritt

-Stich                                           -Shaz

-Crown                                        -Dragon Mage

-White-wolf                                 -Dark Goddess

-The Dark Lady Adrienne      -Nice Day

-Mackie                                       -Venus Smurf

-SilverRaven                               -Charlotte