Sa: -grins- I'm back again! I am starting this whole gaggle of new fics eh? This is my 5th one. I have 4 in progress now, and 1 finished. K, so this one is an Aiden's Cauldron fic…and I bet you it's gonna be the only one out there! I'm so special! Actually…no…wait…I'm not. Never mind. Yeh, so anyway, this is a fic that takes place after the books. There's gonna be some Klaigge/Maali stuff in here, because I was utterly displeased when he married Onno and I think Maali is very well suited for him. So forget that Klaigge married Onno, because I have decided that he didn't.

Helga: o god…-begins shivering- Valentines Day is exactly a week from today…

Sa: NOOOOOO! –shrivels and dies-

Blue Penguins: -run in and revive Sa-

Sa: -nods- thanks dudes...I needed that… DISCLAIMER: wow…usually it's Shawna who does these…o well…MY TURN! Hayden is mine. Nothing that belongs to Rick Young (who substitutes in my school, by the way) and Michael E. Bolyog is mine. I wish to hell and back that I DID own all this stuff, cos it's the SHIZ of all SHIZZES…but I don't. I just own Hayden.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_Prologue_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

He was in the castle. The dreadful place where Inkle-Tomb had lived. And there stood the Sorcerri, grinning triumphantly. "No! You're dead!" Klaigge yelled. All around him lay the bodies of the people he had once known and loved. There was Mateytwist, grim defeat frozen on her face, a sword thrust through her chest. She had fought to the death. Next to her was Gnawgh, his faithful companion...his best friend. Someone had slit his throat. Maali stood chained to the wall, straining against the manacles that bound her, yelling for Klaigge to run, run before it was too late. A black spot on the floor marked where Tarbuck had once stood, burned alive by one of his own magic marbles. Ted the Yellow was barely discernable, stuck with so many arrows. And last, closest to the stone wall, was Sendraak, fighting against his own death even as the last breath escaped his dying lungs…

Klaigge woke with a start, drenched in sweat and suppressing a yell. Taking a few gulps of air to calm himself, he stood. Carefully, he walked towards the tree where Sendraak was keeping watch. You never knew what could happen in these woods…. Klaigge approached his friend, glad to see that nothing had happened to him. In more ways than one, Sendraak was like a father to him. "Sendraak?" he whispered.

            "Klaigge, my watch isn't over yet. Go back to sleep," Sendraak replied. "I'll wake you when it's your turn." Klaigge shook his head.

            "I can't sleep. Why don't I finish up your watch?" Klaigge really didn't want to take Sendraak's shift, but it was better than trying to go back to sleep. Reluctantly, Sendraak nodded.

            "Mayetwist has the next shift. Wake her when you tire." Sendraak stood stiffly and returned to the sleeping Party. Klaigge settled himself under the tree and prepared for a long watch. After about half an hour, he decided to make sure that everyone in the Party was still where they were supposed to be. He made a quick head count. One…two…three…four…five… no, that can't be right, he thought. Let's see…there's Mayetwist, Sendraak, Ted, Gnawgh, Tarbuck …Klaigge gasped. Maali! Where was Maali? A twig snapped behind him. Klaigge instinctively drew his sword and turned sharply to find himself looking straight into a pair of soft brown eyes. Sheathing his sword, Klaigge let out a sigh of relief. "Maali," he said softly, "There you are." Klaigge sank back to the ground under the tree.

            "It isn't your watch," Maali commented.

            "I couldn't sleep. I told Sendraak I would finish his shift."

            "You'll be tired tomorrow. You need your strength." Maali paused, searching Klaigge's face carefully. "Something is upsetting you," she said. "What is it?"

            "Nothing. I'm alright,"

            "You dream about him, don't you?" She did not have to say who "he" was. Klaigge looked at her, surprised.

            "How did you know?"

            "I heard you during my watch." Maali said. He should have known. The Caresmha was an excellent listener. It came from her incredible negotiation skills. She could understand even the most slurred mumblings. Klaigge smiled sheepishly.

            "Caught in the act."

            "You needn't worry," she reasoned. "Inkle-Tomb is gone."

            "But still…what if that was just another illusion that I killed? What if it really is him that's sending all these strange creatures here and killing the people? I wouldn't be able to create another Firesword, you know. I'm not a Paladin anymore."

            "You could defeat him again, Klaigge," Maali said. She looked into his eyes. "I'm sure of it." For a long moment, Klaigge could not even blink. He was completely paralyzed. All he could do was return her stare. Finally, he wrenched himself from her gaze. Klaigge leaned against the tree, starring ahead. His expression was carefully neutral. I can't let my feelings for her get in the way, he thought. Vaguely, Klaigge realized he was falling asleep. Glad that Maali was still alert and watchful, in case he accidentally let himself slip, Klaigge sat straighter and shook his head slightly. Every second was suddenly a battle to keep his tired eyes open. He forgot Maali was there until she spoke. "Klaigge, you're exhausted. Sleep. I'll wake you when your shift is over and then we'll get Mayetwist up," she said, her voice gentle. Klaigge mumbled incoherently and smiled gratefully at her. He fell asleep in an instant.

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            Maali watched Klaigge's muscled chest rise and fall slowly. His face was the picture of contentment, a severe contrast to the worry that had been weighing on his handsome features over the past few days. His nightmares are really affecting him, she thought. She admired Klaigge for keeping a brave front for the Party. It seemed that only she noticed his fitful sleeps, the exhaustion etching his face, his constant paranoia. Settling beside her sleeping comrade, Maali carefully watched the area around them, missing nothing with eyes keen from the many times she had stood watch. Satisfied that all was as it should be, she relaxed. Movement beside her reminded Maali that Klaigge still slept less than half a foot away. His face was no longer calm, but a reflection of whatever frightful things he saw in his sleep. Tentatively, she reached out a hand and laid it over his, whispering softly to comfort him. Finally, Klaigge sighed and lay still. He shivered slightly, but all other signs of his nightmare were gone. After a while, Maali realized that Klaigge's watch was probably over. Gently, she grasped his shoulder and whispered, "Klaigge…Klaigge, wake up. Your watch is over." Klaigge stirred. His eyes opened slowly and he smiled at her.

            "Thanks for taking the extra shift, Maali," he said. Then he stood and offered Maali a hand. Accepting it, she stood. Klaigge brought her delicate hand to his lips. "Goodnight milady," he said softly, eyes dancing. Then he padded over to Mayetwist and woke her for her watch. Maali headed back over to the spot she had claimed as hers and began to drift back to sleep. Her hand still tingled where Klaigge had kissed it. Was he…flirting with me? She thought. No…Klaigge was just joking around. But still, Maali was unsure. Klaigge rarely joked in that fashion, if ever, when dealing with Mayetwist, or any other lady he met. Finally, she drifted to sleep, images of Klaigge swimming in her head.

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Ok, so that is my fic so far. I am sending an email to Fan Fiction to ask them to make Aiden's Cauldron a fiction category under books (because it is, after all, a book series). I hope they do it, that would be great! Lol.