A/N: Wow...those reviews really surprised me. I am soooo sorry I did that to you. Don't hate me Keita. Remember, it was Temptress. :D (J/K!) This is the last official chapter. There will be an epilogue. I have it all plotted out. And yes, Keziah, there will be a sequel. (I'd like to give you credit for the idea, but that would be wrong, b/c I thought of it 2 hours before I read your review. Ah, math class. Why I am so inspired in that class, I will never know.) There will be more mush in the sequel I suppose. And speaking of mush...you've been patiently waiting for it...

DISCLAIMER: I own the characters but Tortall and it's surrounding areas are owned by Tamora Pierce.

Lady Ribyyn of Hadic

Chapter 14 - The Naked Truth

"Miss Glynice Alexzander?" asked the tall man standing in front of her. Glynice nodded, feeling detached from the rest of the world.

"We've been informed that you've been housing a young girl for about four years. A girl by the name of Ribyyn," said the guard. He held a piece of parchment in his hand and stood straight, an air of confidence surrounding him.

Glynice nodded again. "Yes, that is correct. Is something wrong? Is she hurt?"

"Oh, no. Not to worry, ma'am. She's being held up at the palace. I was sent down here by the king to fetch some papers."

"Being held?" Glynice panicked. Had Ribyyn and Hayden been found out? It was a good thing Slyde and Roank were no longer here; they would have thrown a fit hearing that news. "Whatever for?"

"It turns out she's some missing noble. She told the king that she had the birth papers and the papers to the fief at which she lived somewhere in this house. I've been sent to get them."

Glynice restrained herself from heaving a sigh of relief at that news. So nobody knew that the girl was a thief. And, it seemed, that Hayden was not in any trouble either. "I think I know where she keeps them," she said. "Stay right here, I'll bring them down."

It only took her a few moments to find the stack of grubby old papers. They were nearly unreadable they were so old and worn. She handed them over to the royal guard who folded them gently and stashed them away in his coat pocket.

"Thank you for your time, ma'am," the guard said politely. And with that, he turned around and took his leave. Glynice watched him go, wondering what exactly had happened up at the palace in the past three hours.

~*~

Ribyyn sat unhappily in a plush red chair, staring intently at her feet. She was alone in a room with the King of Tortall and one of the most respected lords in the realm. Alden of Goldenlake stood tall in a corner with his arms crossed. King Jonathan sat across from Ribyyn, a confused frown on his face.

A man dressed in servants clothing entered the room, "Your Majesty," he said. "The papers you requested."

"Ah, yes" Jonathan said. "Put them down over there, Gregory." He motioned to the corner of his desk. The servant put them down and then silently left the room.

The king reached forward and picked up the pack of ratty and torn papers. They were yellowed with age, and very filthy looking. Scanning them quickly, he saw that they were most definitely the ownership rights to Fief Hadic. Glancing at the second, he saw that it was the birth paper of Ribyyn of Hadic. The royal insignia was stamped onto both of them.

Sighing he handed them over to Alden, and watched the silent, sullen girl, as the lord of Goldenlake read through the documents.

Ribyyn's thoughts were elsewhere. After the scene she and Hayden had created, and her confession as to whom she really was, complete chaos had erupted. Somewhere in all the commotion, she had been dragged into this small room with the king and Lord Alden. The king had immediately demanded to know, "what the hell was going on." Ribyyn had no choice but to tell him. After all, orders were orders.

Alden handed the papers back to the king who looked over them a second time. "I must admit," he said after a while, "that I honestly thought I would never hear of a Hadic ever again. I was told by the troops that were there on border patrol that the entire family was dead." He paused, "Though they did say that the daughter wasn't found. We assumed that the raiders had taken you with them."

Ribyyn looked down. "They didn't," she said quietly. "I was hiding from my stepmother during the attack. I was able to escape through the passages." She swallowed hard, unsure of what to say next. She had never told anyone her story before; it was too painful.

"Well, I must say, I'm unsure of what to do in this situation. I can't let you continue to live with this family of yours, as wonderful as they are. You are the last surviving heir of a noble household from the Book of Gold, you need a husband. However, I'm positive that you will not enjoy court, seeing as how you do not know anyone."

"Sire," interrupted Lord Alden. He'd been quiet during the whole exchange. "I believe I may have a solution to the problem." The king nodded for him to continue. "My daughter, Jessalyn, is already acquainted with young Ribyyn here. It would be no trouble at all for us to take her in for a short time, I assure you. Plus, we will be returning to Corus for Midwinter in a week, and we will be staying there until after the wedding, in April. By that time Ribyyn should be quite comfortable in the palace."

The king turned to the young girl, the same age as his niece and heir, Mindalyn of Conte.* "Well, Ribyyn," the king asked. "How do you feel about this?"

Ribyyn continued to look at her feet. She didn't want to leave the Alexzanders. They were her new family. Did these nobles really expect her to just abandon them? Obviously they did, and since she was only seventeen, and a female on top of that, she really had no say in the matter at all. "I suppose that's fine with me, as long as I get to say goodbye first."

"Of course you can," the king said. He rose and clapped his hands together in finality, "Now, let us return to the festivities!"

~*~

The moment Ribyyn stepped out of the room, she was assaulted by Loralie of Stone Mountain. "I've decided," the lady said, "that you can't possibly be Ribyyn of Hadic, because Ribyyn is dead."

Ribyyn frowned and was about to argue this, but then smirked wryly, an idea forming in her mind. "But Loralie, I am dead."

The lady blinked in confusion. "But... You are?"

"Yes." Ribyyn's smirk turned into a grin. "Boo." Her grin widened when she saw the lady jump, and she let out a small chuckle. "You always were a bit dimwitted, Loralie. But I suppose it can't be helped." Glancing over Loralie's shoulder she spotted Jessa. "Excuse me," she said politely and walked past the lady and up to Jessa.

Jessa smiled widely at her. "My father just told me that you'll be staying with us in Corus for a while." Ribyyn nodded. "It should be fun," the girl continued, "We'll be like sisters for a time." She grinned happily, her eyes bright with excitement. Ribyyn only nodded again, unsure of what to say. If it was so exciting to be back in the world where she belonged, why did she feel so down?

The answer came to her when she spotted Darin standing silently by the kitchen door. Excusing herself, she walked over to him. "I'm going to Corus," she said quietly when she stood in front of him.

"You are?"

She sighed, "Yes. The king says that since I'm the only heir to Hadic that I need to find myself a suitable husband."

Darin's eyes lit up. "Who's the one deciding the suitability of this future husband of yours?"

"Probably the king or Lord Alden. Hadic's one of the first names in the Book of Gold. I think they've taken it upon themselves to look after me until they can find somebody else to do it." Ribyyn sighed. "I don't want to get married, Darin. I know I'm seventeen, and that it's the suitable age for it, but-" She stopped, a lump in her throat and her eyes about to overflow with tears.

"But you aren't ready for it," Darin finished for her. "Don't worry, I understand." He looked down at her, all hopes of ever being with her permanently had come crashing down when she'd mentioned the king picking the husband. And if he couldn't be married to her, well then he was in no hurry to see her married off.

"I think I'm going back to Corus soon too," he told her, trying to keep her mind off of an impending marriage. "I've been away too long, they've probably run rampant without me."

Ribyyn smiled up at him, "So that means I'll probably see you around?"

"I hope so," he said with a sly grin.

Glancing over her shoulder she saw that there was nobody watching the two of them. Grabbing his hand and pulling him through the kitchen doors, she scanned the room. It was empty.

Whirling around, she placed a hand on Darin's chest, shoving him against the wall. Standing on the tips of her toes, she placed her lips on his. Darin broke the kiss and stared down at Ribyyn, his eyes wide with shock. Suddenly, he chuckled.

"A bit desperate are we?" he asked with a smirk.

She scowled and punched his shoulder. Then she grabbed the collar of his shirt and brought his lips back down to hers.

~*~

Hayden stood on the balcony of the summer palace in the middle of winter. He was freezing, but he didn't really care; the cold numbed his wounded heart. (A/N: That was rather poetic). He told himself that he was sick of her. That he didn't care about her at all, so why should he be so angry? But if he didn't care, than why did all of this hurt so much? He heard footsteps behind him.

"Hayden," Min said quietly. "Hayden, are you mad at me?"

"Is there any reason for me not to be?" he snapped. "You lied to me, Min!" He turned towards her, his eyes full of hurt and held back tears. He wouldn't cry. He refused. It was unmanly, and if he cried he'd be acting like a child.

"I didn't mean to," she said softly. "I didn't expect for there to be anything between us. I didn't mean to bump into you on the street that day. It just happened." Hayden looked away and stared off into the distance. "I'm afraid there's more," she told him.

"What?" he asked, his voice bored.

"I'm the heir to the throne, as well."

Hayden snapped his head up and glared at her. "What?!?"

"I'm the heir-"

"I heard you the first time! What do you mean you're the heir?"

"I inherit the throne," she said dully, as if it were the most obvious thing she'd ever told anyone.

"I know that! But you're his niece, not his daughter."

"He doesn't have any children, and I'm the only surviving offspring of his siblings. I had a brother once, but he drowned when he was eight." Now it was her turn to take on a faraway look. "I was going to tell you who I was, honest. Every time I went into town to meet you, I promised myself that I was going to tell you. But every time I got there I just couldn't bring myself to do it." She turned to look at him again. "Please, don't be mad at me Hayden. I didn't mean to lie, and I never wanted to hurt you. Please, forgive me."

"Why does my friendship matter so much to you?" he asked. His eyes no longer glared at her. He was simply curious.

Min sighed and bit her lip. "I'm not sure," she said softly. "It just does. There's no real explanation for it." Other than the fact that every time I see you, my stomach does flip flops.

His face took on it's familiar thoughtful look. Min could tell by now that he was acting, and a small smile played across her lips. Finally he heaved a great sigh, "Alright! If it means that much to you."

Min let out a girly squeal and threw her arms around his neck. Hayden straightened and glared at her. She glanced up at him sheepishly.

"Don't ever squeal again. If you do, I'm going to rethink this friendship thing."

Mindalyn grinned. "I really am sorry."

"I know," he said. He looked down at her, his bright green eyes meeting her brown ones. Her face was so close to his, only about an inch or two away. Suddenly he was compelled to close that small gap and kiss her. So he did.

At first she was surprised, but that only lasted for a few seconds. She recovered quickly, pulling him closer to her and tightening the grip her arms had around him.

He broke off and croaked, "Min, I can't breath."

She laughed happily. "Sorry," she said, and released him.

"You should go inside."

"Yes, I probably should." She stepped back hesitantly, her eyes staring into his. Quite suddenly she swore and came towards him again, planting a kiss on his cheek.

"Meet me at the usual spot tomorrow?" she asked.

Hayden nodded. "Definitely."

A/N: ::sob:: Oh no! My baby's all grown up. ::wipes tear away:: Oh well! There's still an epilogue, and an impending sequel. HURRAH! R/R!

*King Jonathan I (According to Myles's Class) owned a harem of men, remember? Therefore, he's not married. It's surprising how accepting the country is of this. France was not nearly that accepting.