"Settle down everyone! Settle down!" Yelled the king. "Now really,
that's enough!" Finally everyone calmed down. "Could somebody tell me
what the hell is going on? And why do I feel so funny?"
"Sire!" Said Reganas. "All of the magic in Tortall has been sucked up!"
"Is this true?" Asked King Jonathan, alarmed.
"I'm afraid so." Said Numair. "When I find out who did it...so help me...I'll...." He made a violent gesture in midair.
"Numair!" Scolded Alanna.
"We have to get everybody else up here." Said King Jon. "Are you up for another run, Neal?"
"Not really, sir." Said Neal.
"Too bad." Said Alanna. "Get Daine and her girls, the Rider trainees. Yes, all of them, except not the few that signed up today, and Buri. Grab Raoul if he's there, too. Then go down to the pages' hallway and grab Olivia, Kathryn and maybe a few boys. Then you have to go to the Queen's hallway and get Lady Light, Rosefyre and Krizsta. That's everyone I think...actually if you could grab Sir Kel, Sir Cleon and George it would help. I'm not sure where Kel or Cleon will be, but George is probably still in my rooms where I left him. Oh, and don't forget to get Lady Tamora. Her rooms are on the second floor. I think her room number is 209."
"Er...I think I got all of that." Said Neal. "Can I grab my sons, too? Samkin's a second year page and Peter's a fourth year."
"Sure, grab them." Said the king. "We can use them."
"Thank you sire." Said Neal, bowing.
"Bye Neal!" Said Kate, giving him a parting hug.
"Bye Kate." Said Neal, giving Kate a tiny squeeze with one of his arms. When Kate let go he rushed out of the room towards the practice courts.
Kate was in shock. "He likes me!" She yelled in hysteria. "He likes me!"
"Yey for you!" Said Caprice hopping up and down with Kate.
"Yey for all of us." Said Diana, in a would-be-happy tone. "I wonder who sucked up all of the magic."
"Will we ever know?" Asked Reganas.
~*~
Neal ran doggedly along the hallway. Finally he came to the pages mess hall. He poked his head in and then walked over to Sir Padrig.
"Sir, I need a few pages for a special mission." Said Neal, slightly out of breath.
Sir Padrig looked skeptical. "What sort of mission?" He asked.
"It's for the king." Said Neal. "I'm not sure if I can tell you."
Sir Padrig sighed. "OK. You may take as many as five pages. No more than that. All right?"
"That's fine sir." Said Neal.
Neal wove through the tables looking at the pages. He picked out Olivia, who hugged him around the middle immediately, and Kathryn easily because they were the only girls. Then he continued to look for his sons. He found Samkin, a tall, freckle-faced, black-haired, black eyed, smiling boy but he had some difficulty finding Peter. Finally Peter, a tall, green eyed, brownish-black haired boy, who wore a smile almost as big as his brother's, walked through the doors, to evil looks from some of the pages.
"Finally!" Said Sir Padrig. "As you know, a late knight can loose lives. Report to me when breakfast is over."
"Yes sir." Said Peter.
"With that said, tuck in everyone!" Said Sir Padrig.
Neal, Kathryn, Olivia and Samkin hurried over to Peter. "Come with me." Said Neal.
"Are you going to tell me off again, dad?" Asked Peter.
"No, I'm going to bring you on a mission to save all of the magic in Tortall." Said Neal.
Peter looked shocked for a moment then he laughed. "That was a good 'un dad. For a second, it looked like you were-"
"Serious." Said Neal. "I am. Let me just speak to Sir Padrig for a moment, I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere." He scurried off to excuse the four pages from training.
"I'm Kathryn." Said Kathryn. "And this is Olivia."
"I'm Samkin." Said Samkin. "Call me Sam. Everybody does. Except Da, but he's kinda weird."
Olivia cracked up. "Too right!"
"I'm Peter." Said Peter. "It's wonderful to make the acquaintances of two such lovely ladies."
Kathryn snorted. "You're just like your dad. You know that, don't you?"
Peter nodded. "And proud of it too."
"Okay. All done. Now we have to go to the stables." Said Neal, returning from his chat with Sir Padrig.
When they reached the stables Olivia ran ahead. "Liney, Maria and Daine! Are you here?" She called.
Daine poked her head out from inside a horse's stall. "Yes, we're here. What did you want? Oh, hello Neal, Peter, Sam."
"We need to grab you guys." Said Neal. "There's a big problem and some evil guy is sucking up all of the magic in Tortall! We will definitely need your, and the animals', help."
"Sure, we'll come." Said Liney.
"Yeah, you know, it could be fun or something." Said Maria, stepping into a pile of horse dung by mistake. "Ew, nasty."
Liney giggled and Olivia snorted. Samkin and Peter smiled politely. Kathryn, however, dissolved into fits of laughter and had to be slapped hardily on the back by Sam until she stopped.
"Sorry." Murmured Kathryn when she had finally stopped.
"No prob." Said Sam.
"Well, I suggest we go now." Said Daine. "Before the horses find out where we're going and persuade us to stay."
"Well then off we go!" Said Liney.
When Neal, Peter, Sam, Kathryn, Olivia, Daine, Liney and Maria arrived at the Rider's Mess Hall Buri greeted them.
"Hello everyone." She said happily. "What are you here for?"
"We have to grab you and all of your trainees, except the brand new ones." Said Neal. "And Raoul, if he's here, which he is." He then raised his voice. "I see you Raoul, come out of the hangings."
A large man stepped out from behind the curtains looking sheepish. "I didn't think anyone could see me." He said.
"Of course we could see you. There was a big old lump behind the hangings!" Said Liney. Raoul stuck out his tongue at her.
"We don't really have any trainees except for the brand new ones." Said Buri. "We have, I think, six. Maddy, Anne Marie, Kaitlin, Marc, Meron, and Gregory. The girls are still a bit green but I'm sure they'll be fine."
"Well I just go grab them, you think?" Said Neal. He strolled over to their table and almost dragged them back over to the rest of the people.
"What's the deal?" Said Gregory, he was tall, had dirty blond hair, and blue eyes. It was apparent that his fief was near Scanra.
"We need you all to come with us so that we can take back the magic that was stolen from Tortall!" Said Daine.
"Oh! That'll be fun!" Said Marc. Marc had black hair, black eyes and was only a few inches shorter than Meron and Gregory, who were about the same height.
"When do we leave?" Asked Meron, who had his elbow on Maddy's shoulder. Maddy was about a head shorter then Meron.
"Now." Said Neal. "Don't bother grabbing necessities. You'll be supplied."
"New clothes?" Asked Kaitlin. "Oh boy!"
"Yes, yes." Said Neal. "Great fun. Now let's go."
In a few minutes they bumped into Dom. "Where are you going?" He asked.
"We have to go to the Queen's Hallway to get a few of the ladies, then to the practice courts and grab Kel and Cleon. Then to Alanna's rooms and get George." Said Neal.
"Why do you need to do all of that?" Asked Dom. "And why are all of these people following you like ducklings?"
Neal sighed and told him the whole story.
Dom gasped. "Really?"
Neal nodded. "Would you help me?"
"Sure, what did you need?"
"Could you go down to the practice courts and grab Cleon and Kel?" Neal asked. "That would save us a whole lot of walking."
"Where do you want me to take them to?" Asked Dom.
"Up to the King's Suite." Said Neal.
"Okay." Said Dom. "I'll take them there. I'll see you there in a few minutes." Dom then turned and ran off toward the practice courts.
When they all arrived at the Queen's Dining Hall they stopped to catch their breath. When Liney was just about the open the doors she was bowled over by three young ladies going the opposite way.
"Hi guys!" Said Kaitlin.
"What are you all doing here?" Asked Rosefyre.
"We were coming to get you." Said Anne Marie.
"Why?" Asked Lady Light.
"Because we're about to go off to save our magic from some weird evil dude!" Said Maddy waving her hands around.
"Oh! We were just about to warn the king." Said Krizsta.
"It's good you guys came, though." Said Rosefyre. "Because we haven't a clue where the king's rooms are!"
"Let's go then!" Said Neal. "The 'evil dude' as you so gracefully put it Maddy, won't wait for us!" He then started off up the stairs.
When they arrived at Alanna's room they found it empty. "Dom probably already got George." Said Liney.
"Yeah, that's probably it." Said Maria.
"Well can we not stand here waiting for him to come back?" Said Peter.
"Yes, let's go." Said Gregory.
"And before I grow a beard too." Said Meron.
"Well then, let's go!" Said Neal.
~*~
Yey! I finally put it up! Aren't you ever so pleased with me?
Good.
Just one thing. I need to know who happens to want romance. Not all of you please. Thank you. Love ya'll!
"Sire!" Said Reganas. "All of the magic in Tortall has been sucked up!"
"Is this true?" Asked King Jonathan, alarmed.
"I'm afraid so." Said Numair. "When I find out who did it...so help me...I'll...." He made a violent gesture in midair.
"Numair!" Scolded Alanna.
"We have to get everybody else up here." Said King Jon. "Are you up for another run, Neal?"
"Not really, sir." Said Neal.
"Too bad." Said Alanna. "Get Daine and her girls, the Rider trainees. Yes, all of them, except not the few that signed up today, and Buri. Grab Raoul if he's there, too. Then go down to the pages' hallway and grab Olivia, Kathryn and maybe a few boys. Then you have to go to the Queen's hallway and get Lady Light, Rosefyre and Krizsta. That's everyone I think...actually if you could grab Sir Kel, Sir Cleon and George it would help. I'm not sure where Kel or Cleon will be, but George is probably still in my rooms where I left him. Oh, and don't forget to get Lady Tamora. Her rooms are on the second floor. I think her room number is 209."
"Er...I think I got all of that." Said Neal. "Can I grab my sons, too? Samkin's a second year page and Peter's a fourth year."
"Sure, grab them." Said the king. "We can use them."
"Thank you sire." Said Neal, bowing.
"Bye Neal!" Said Kate, giving him a parting hug.
"Bye Kate." Said Neal, giving Kate a tiny squeeze with one of his arms. When Kate let go he rushed out of the room towards the practice courts.
Kate was in shock. "He likes me!" She yelled in hysteria. "He likes me!"
"Yey for you!" Said Caprice hopping up and down with Kate.
"Yey for all of us." Said Diana, in a would-be-happy tone. "I wonder who sucked up all of the magic."
"Will we ever know?" Asked Reganas.
~*~
Neal ran doggedly along the hallway. Finally he came to the pages mess hall. He poked his head in and then walked over to Sir Padrig.
"Sir, I need a few pages for a special mission." Said Neal, slightly out of breath.
Sir Padrig looked skeptical. "What sort of mission?" He asked.
"It's for the king." Said Neal. "I'm not sure if I can tell you."
Sir Padrig sighed. "OK. You may take as many as five pages. No more than that. All right?"
"That's fine sir." Said Neal.
Neal wove through the tables looking at the pages. He picked out Olivia, who hugged him around the middle immediately, and Kathryn easily because they were the only girls. Then he continued to look for his sons. He found Samkin, a tall, freckle-faced, black-haired, black eyed, smiling boy but he had some difficulty finding Peter. Finally Peter, a tall, green eyed, brownish-black haired boy, who wore a smile almost as big as his brother's, walked through the doors, to evil looks from some of the pages.
"Finally!" Said Sir Padrig. "As you know, a late knight can loose lives. Report to me when breakfast is over."
"Yes sir." Said Peter.
"With that said, tuck in everyone!" Said Sir Padrig.
Neal, Kathryn, Olivia and Samkin hurried over to Peter. "Come with me." Said Neal.
"Are you going to tell me off again, dad?" Asked Peter.
"No, I'm going to bring you on a mission to save all of the magic in Tortall." Said Neal.
Peter looked shocked for a moment then he laughed. "That was a good 'un dad. For a second, it looked like you were-"
"Serious." Said Neal. "I am. Let me just speak to Sir Padrig for a moment, I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere." He scurried off to excuse the four pages from training.
"I'm Kathryn." Said Kathryn. "And this is Olivia."
"I'm Samkin." Said Samkin. "Call me Sam. Everybody does. Except Da, but he's kinda weird."
Olivia cracked up. "Too right!"
"I'm Peter." Said Peter. "It's wonderful to make the acquaintances of two such lovely ladies."
Kathryn snorted. "You're just like your dad. You know that, don't you?"
Peter nodded. "And proud of it too."
"Okay. All done. Now we have to go to the stables." Said Neal, returning from his chat with Sir Padrig.
When they reached the stables Olivia ran ahead. "Liney, Maria and Daine! Are you here?" She called.
Daine poked her head out from inside a horse's stall. "Yes, we're here. What did you want? Oh, hello Neal, Peter, Sam."
"We need to grab you guys." Said Neal. "There's a big problem and some evil guy is sucking up all of the magic in Tortall! We will definitely need your, and the animals', help."
"Sure, we'll come." Said Liney.
"Yeah, you know, it could be fun or something." Said Maria, stepping into a pile of horse dung by mistake. "Ew, nasty."
Liney giggled and Olivia snorted. Samkin and Peter smiled politely. Kathryn, however, dissolved into fits of laughter and had to be slapped hardily on the back by Sam until she stopped.
"Sorry." Murmured Kathryn when she had finally stopped.
"No prob." Said Sam.
"Well, I suggest we go now." Said Daine. "Before the horses find out where we're going and persuade us to stay."
"Well then off we go!" Said Liney.
When Neal, Peter, Sam, Kathryn, Olivia, Daine, Liney and Maria arrived at the Rider's Mess Hall Buri greeted them.
"Hello everyone." She said happily. "What are you here for?"
"We have to grab you and all of your trainees, except the brand new ones." Said Neal. "And Raoul, if he's here, which he is." He then raised his voice. "I see you Raoul, come out of the hangings."
A large man stepped out from behind the curtains looking sheepish. "I didn't think anyone could see me." He said.
"Of course we could see you. There was a big old lump behind the hangings!" Said Liney. Raoul stuck out his tongue at her.
"We don't really have any trainees except for the brand new ones." Said Buri. "We have, I think, six. Maddy, Anne Marie, Kaitlin, Marc, Meron, and Gregory. The girls are still a bit green but I'm sure they'll be fine."
"Well I just go grab them, you think?" Said Neal. He strolled over to their table and almost dragged them back over to the rest of the people.
"What's the deal?" Said Gregory, he was tall, had dirty blond hair, and blue eyes. It was apparent that his fief was near Scanra.
"We need you all to come with us so that we can take back the magic that was stolen from Tortall!" Said Daine.
"Oh! That'll be fun!" Said Marc. Marc had black hair, black eyes and was only a few inches shorter than Meron and Gregory, who were about the same height.
"When do we leave?" Asked Meron, who had his elbow on Maddy's shoulder. Maddy was about a head shorter then Meron.
"Now." Said Neal. "Don't bother grabbing necessities. You'll be supplied."
"New clothes?" Asked Kaitlin. "Oh boy!"
"Yes, yes." Said Neal. "Great fun. Now let's go."
In a few minutes they bumped into Dom. "Where are you going?" He asked.
"We have to go to the Queen's Hallway to get a few of the ladies, then to the practice courts and grab Kel and Cleon. Then to Alanna's rooms and get George." Said Neal.
"Why do you need to do all of that?" Asked Dom. "And why are all of these people following you like ducklings?"
Neal sighed and told him the whole story.
Dom gasped. "Really?"
Neal nodded. "Would you help me?"
"Sure, what did you need?"
"Could you go down to the practice courts and grab Cleon and Kel?" Neal asked. "That would save us a whole lot of walking."
"Where do you want me to take them to?" Asked Dom.
"Up to the King's Suite." Said Neal.
"Okay." Said Dom. "I'll take them there. I'll see you there in a few minutes." Dom then turned and ran off toward the practice courts.
When they all arrived at the Queen's Dining Hall they stopped to catch their breath. When Liney was just about the open the doors she was bowled over by three young ladies going the opposite way.
"Hi guys!" Said Kaitlin.
"What are you all doing here?" Asked Rosefyre.
"We were coming to get you." Said Anne Marie.
"Why?" Asked Lady Light.
"Because we're about to go off to save our magic from some weird evil dude!" Said Maddy waving her hands around.
"Oh! We were just about to warn the king." Said Krizsta.
"It's good you guys came, though." Said Rosefyre. "Because we haven't a clue where the king's rooms are!"
"Let's go then!" Said Neal. "The 'evil dude' as you so gracefully put it Maddy, won't wait for us!" He then started off up the stairs.
When they arrived at Alanna's room they found it empty. "Dom probably already got George." Said Liney.
"Yeah, that's probably it." Said Maria.
"Well can we not stand here waiting for him to come back?" Said Peter.
"Yes, let's go." Said Gregory.
"And before I grow a beard too." Said Meron.
"Well then, let's go!" Said Neal.
~*~
Yey! I finally put it up! Aren't you ever so pleased with me?
Good.
Just one thing. I need to know who happens to want romance. Not all of you please. Thank you. Love ya'll!