I GOT ONE REVIEW! I'm so excited, cept that I can't check it and all.. Too bad. I'm so bored again,.. I wrote another chapter *blushes furiously*. I don't know if people like this yet but like in my bio, I love to read and write so... yeah.. I'm gonna rite this even if it's not a good story. until people tell me it isn't that is.. *blushes even more*.. okay, ummmmm.. yeah.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything Tamora Piercely like so .... *sob* but I wish I did *runs out of the room*. Okay, I'm back cuz I've decided to continue riting after all. Lol. Okay, here goes nothing. No flames peleaze! (

Chapter 2: First day Pt 1

She allowed him to tip up her chin and looked him squarely in the eyes. They were honey brown, fringed with dark lashes. He had a shock of brown hair and his eyebrows were straight and bushy. She could feel a strange sensation creeping into her face. It was a warm and tingly feeling, making her giddy. [Am I blushing!] she thought incredulously. She quickly suppressed the feeling and concentrated on her new sponsor. 'OOOOOOO HOT!' whispered Dahlia from beneath her cloak. [Shush] Blake said fiercely and once more felt the gods cursed blush creep up her cheeks. "My name is Rolad, oh shy young one."

***
'Gods, she's beautiful' Rolad thought. He looked over her features, keeping his face impassive. Her eyes were the darkest color he had ever seen. He couldn't determine what color they were but they seemed to suck him in. Her eyebrows were finely arched and her complexion smooth and flawless. 'And her lips.' he stared at them mutely. They were luscious and red without any paint on them. 'They look incredibly soft' and with that thought he almost, amazingly, blushed. Her hair was tucked behind her ears, and though he couldn't see its length, he saw that it was a pure shade of white. He could hear gasps then sighs behind them. 'I bet they wish they would have spoken up' thought Rolad wryly. "Milady, welcome to Tortall" and he let go of her chin, rather regretfully for her skin was baby soft, and bowed with a flourish. He peeked up at her and saw, delightfully, that she was blushing. 'This is going to be interesting' then faintly he heard a bird chirp and fly past him. Then a soft plop landed on his shoulder. He looked at the white splatter in dismay then looked up at Blake in mock horror and saw her smile softly, her eyes showing nothing. He heard a few snickers behind him and turned around, instantly they quieted. When he looked back all Blake did was arch a brow. "Stop gawking children!" yelled Lord Joachim. Startling, almost, everyone. Blake just looked at the lord impassively as everyone started gathering their new sponsors. "There are a few rules you should know." Said Lord Joachim hesitantly. ' My was this youngster unusual.' He would never admit, even in his thoughts, that she was a little intimidating too. "Leave the doors open when you have a person from the opposite sex in with you. After weapons practice you may go up to your room and take a bath, I expect you to be at lunch on time." And with that said he walked off.

***
As they watched Lord Joachim walk off an awkward silence ensued. ' I wonder why he looked so unsettled' thought Rolad. "Well squirt, I'm going to show you where your rooms are!" Rolad said. And he turned torwards her. 'She's staring at the ground again!' he thought irritably. "Well squirt? Lets get to it." "Excuse me. Rolad." She said softly, still looking at her feet. 'Timid little creature.' He though as he said "Yes squirt?" And suddenly she looked up with the most detached eyes he had ever seen. As he looked on he saw a flash of anger in her eyes. 'Timid? Did I think timid? Never mind timid.' And heard Blake say, "Why do you keep calling me that idiotic name?!" a trace of anger in her soft voice. "What idiotic name?" Rolad said innocently, fluttering his eyelashes, enjoying her anger immensely. He saw the anger disappear to be replaced by faint amusement. 'So she finds me amusing' he mused. She cleared her throat as she said "Squirt." "Why I thought that would be obvious!" he said, mock indignation etched in his features. "What's obvious?" she snapped at him, anger clouding her eyes once more. "Well." he said, "You are small, therefore a squirt." Spacing the words out intentionally, as if she were a dimwitted child. Her eyes narrowed, then became emotionless. Then she gave him a brilliant smile and he was caught in the shine. He snapped out of his trance and thought stupidly 'Wow.' "Well, I'm glad you understand. squirt." He said and, with that stated, he walked past her. Suddenly the ground was rushing to meet him as he fell! 'She tripped me' he thought wildly and in pure reflex retaliated. He sciscored his legs to trip her and they both lay on the ground, surprised. Then Rolad started laughing hysterically and not long after Blake started chuckling too. Her laugh sounded rusty and unused. There and then he decided to make it his mission to fill her life with laughter for as long as he lived.

***
The bird with the bladder problem looked on at the two mortals laughing helplessly on the ground. Wonder filled its unusually intelligent beady eyes. It flew off its perch to a fog that flowed softly in the doorway. A dark silhouette appeared in the fog then, quite suddenly, the fog disappeared. Taking the dark figure in its depths with it.

***
"This is your room." Rolad said grandly. "I'll leave you to get settled. Don't take to long, weapons practice is in 15 minutes." And with a pat on her back he left. 'He was... interesting.' Said Dahlia as she got acquainted with the new surroundings. Blake looked around assessing her new home. A small bed filled one corner and a dresser, with a mirror, another. [I know this place will be fun. now] Blake thought dryly, thinking of her sponsor and potential friend. [I've never had a friend my own age before] not that she wanted one. She pulled her thoughts away from that and thought of Rolad's earlier statement. [Weapons practice! With a sword!] She could feel excitement flow through her veins. [That bumbling fool I was forced to call father put a stop to learning all that stuff. except the art of using my beloved kantana sword.]*sorry don't know what the before mentioned-art of the kantana sword-is called* as she thought this she reached beneath her cloak and fingered the kantana lovingly. 'I've found where I'll be sleeping! In the tree by your window' said Dahlia as she peeked through the window, then she was off once more. [At least she's having some fun. I wonder how I'll bring Golden and Fleetwood her.] a knock interrupted her thoughts. With a sigh she opened the door, "I'm coming." She said, exasperated, but stopped as she saw that it wasn't Rolad in front of her door. but someone else...

AN: DUH DUH DUH DUHHHHHHH!!!!! I think I'm getting better at the whole cliff- hangers thing. THANK YOU FOR THE KIND WORDS REVIEWER. You have inspired me to write more! I can't believe how much a good review can make your day. I was worried how my first story would be and I'm still worried but reading your review just put light in my heart! I know it sounds corny but... I mean every word!( love you lots!