~~:Review Thank you's:~~

JadeGreenGoddess: So you still like it?? Lol, probly will like this chappie too.

superalicea: So glad you like it, I aim to please!

Shadow Kitty: Glad you like it! Not everything…is not my usual style, but you probly figured that out…

Summer: Lol, glad you like it! What Lia/ Erikk thing???? *wink wink*

Alixy: Lol, thank you for all the reviews! You are absolutely wonderful, did you finish it? Or just stop reviewing? Lia and Erikk? Together? Whatever gave you that idea? ;) AS for the other pairings, If you have reached this chappie you know that your predictions were correct. Suspense is a wonderful tool and used by all good authors. (No I am not calling myself good). And classic humor is the bomb. Today's humor is, well I won't go there. But I don't like it! lol. Anyway if you ever get to this chappie Review!!

Mae15: I hate diets. there is no sugar in my house and I just drank my last can of mt. dew!!!!!!!!!!

White lily: What gave you the idea Lia and Erikk are going to get together? ::wink wink::

Shayley Rain: Am I still flawless???? lol, intresting thoughts are a sign of either genius or insanity...

Peachblossom: I read Lady Knight, I just didn't like it....And If you have AIM or sumthing e-mail it to me or leave it in your review. I think I know what your problem is but it's a little complicated. If you don't have Aim or ICQ just e-mail me I'll write a very detailed thing about it!

Xirleb70: Boys always deserve to be sat on! I don't know who told you they didn't!

Ladyknight: Finals are evil. They are part of the gov. program to brainwash us all. Hope you did well!!!!

ravenmist: Okay, the sword thing, using two swords is completely different from using one. She was trained with one sword, that's what she uses most of the time anyway. Part of the purpose of trials is to see what strengths, which pages have and which don't. The point of her using two was to show a different strength she wouldn't have shown had the swords master not done what he did. lol, I've seen flames (well only two but...) yours was not a flame.

FantasyIsMyLife: hmph, I updated, be happy and quit whining; now you can go on vacation and not be pissed at me. :)

Shinigami Clara: Fluff? Perish the thought! Crazy is goooooooooooooood.

Jenn Jenn: oooooooh, I didn't catch the K/K thing.. Shh don't tell anyone.... I know that the second cousin thing is fine and was acceptable but me other readers don't understand. But don't tell them I said that...

Hmm, I understand now why ppl aren't updating, it doesn't work! Well, if you're reading this I got it to work!

Wow, I whine about reviews and you guy's come in at full force! Wonderful, maybe I'll do it more often... Anyways, VERY IMPORTANT!!!! In this chapter Lia's thoughts are in Bold Italics, the chamber's are italics and ~ things.

Also very important: I am leaving for England in 8 days. I will not be updating. I will be gone for three weeks. My beta, who is awesome, will be updating for me. Do not expect Authors notes or Review thank you's I will get to them when I get back. This is not a reason you should not review however. Hint hint. Now, I think that is everything, Read, enjoy and REVIEW. I think there may be a slight hint of fluff but I'm not sure if it counts, toodles!

jellojellojellohellohello-That was me brother, I found it amusing so I leave it there...

~~: Chapter 21: Interrupted Thoughts :~~

They spent the morning searching for John. Alex ad been easy to find, he had been pacing the hallways. John they found standing in front of the chamber. Erikk had grabbed him and dragged him outside. He had protested for about a minute, but eventually relented, he knew what was good for him.

        The group spent the day running around and they took an early dinner. Lia, Alex and Erikk were arguing about the harnesses most pages wore. Lia had never been forced to wear one and was still near the top of her class. An hour later Lia looked at John.

        "Erikk!" She squeaked.

        "What?"

        "He's drunk." She said.

        "Bull." He said looking at John. John was slumped over and three large jugs of ale sat empty in front of him. "C'mon, we gotta sober him up and get him back to the palace." Erikk said paying the bill and standing him up.

        They took him out behind the inn and dunked him repeatedly in a barrel of cold water. Then they made him run all the way back to the castle. Knocking on the door to his knight-master's room, it opened to reveal Lord Raoul.

        "Umm, he's kinda, well, ahhh," Erikk stumbled on his words. Lia finished for him.

        "Drunk," She said smiling brightly. "Have fun!" She said walking down the hall. She could hear the Lords laughter all down the hallway. She collapsed with laughter as she reached her room, Alex and Erikk close behind her.

        Waking early the next morning Lia found that the three of them had fallen asleep around her fireplace. Shaking them awake, they walked to the chamber. John was just entering the chamber when they arrived. The room grew steadily more crowded as people arrived. Fifteen minutes later the doors opened and John stepped out. He was pale and had a gloss of sweat over him, but he was alive. He had passed; he was a knight. A shout went out for Tortall's prince. Lia was yawning and clapping at the same time. She was tired. Raoul took John away and the trio left and collapsed in Lia's room. Erikk looked at Alex.

        "Do we have to get you drunk too?" Erikk asked. Alex grinned.

        "No, I'll take my ordeal sober, thanks." He said.

        "Are ya sure? It might help." Lia asked sarcastically.

        "Positive." He said grinning. They ate lunch in her room and they fell asleep there.

        Alex's knight master came to get Alex and to shoo the two squires to the banquet in the prince's honor. Lia insisted upon changing before hand. She left the red shirt and gray pants. Lia pulled on a long black tunic that fell to her ankles and had slits up to mid thigh revealing gray pants. It was an idea she had gotten from the gypsies and their revealing skirts. Erikk blushed when he saw her, Lia didn't notice.

        They got to the feast as Prince Roald was making a speech. Erica and Nia waved at the two as they entered. Dinner was wonderful in Lia's opinion. Then the dancing began, Lia loved to dance, and she liked to dance with Erikk. He wasn't perfect at it like Jasson, and it was the imperfection she liked. Mind that you can never get her to consciously admit that, these thoughts are in the unconscious.

        It was midnight before Lia and Erikk returned to their rooms. Both fell asleep feeling that something was, missing. Lia fell into a place of restless dreams about Melodius and the emerald forest and dark sea.

        Unconsciously her hand went up to her necklace. Images flew through her eyes. She was in the emerald forest, the beautifully scary one. This she had seen before, but this time someone was with her. Behind her, bow drawn at their side, ready for the forest. Lia's eyes flew open and she bolted upright. She scrambled to the other side of the room and splashed cold water on her face. Leaning on the table for support, she slowed her breathing. Turning to climb back into bed Lia saw an orange bundle of fur looking at her.

        "Hey you," She said fondly climbing into the bed. "Where have ya been lately? I haven't seen much of you." She told the cat. Chemise gave her a look that plainly said it wasn't Lia's business. "Alright then, night." Lia said cocooning herself in blankets. It took awhile to fall asleep. She wanted to know who was in the forest with her but their face was always turned away. Lia spent the night in a daze staring at the ceiling, reliving the scene in the forest. All she knew was that the person had brown hair.

        Her door opened and her hand flew to her dagger.

        "Whoa, Li. What's wrong? Ya look like ya didn't sleep all night." Erikk observed

"I didn't" She moaned and fell backwards onto her bed. He leaned circles over her. He had black under his eyes and his eyes were slightly bloodshot. "Ya don't look so good yourself."

        "I know; I never sleep well at the palace. I can help you sleep tonight, but today I suggest you go jump in the lake."

        "No!" Lia said burrowing farther into her bed. He grinned reached for the water pitcher. Lia squealed and ran to the dressing room. "You're mean." She yelled through the door.

        "Yup, you have a comfy bed." He said. She could hear him bouncing on her bed.

        "Watch out for-" She began to tell him when she heard Chemise squeal.

        "A cat! Here kitty, kitty, kitty." Lia laughed, he was so weird. She stepped out of her dressing room.

        "I have to meet my parents today; I'll see you later though."

"Okay." He said smiling. "I'll tease John about being drunk during his ordeal." He said with an evil gleam in his eye.

        "Hmm, you know," Lia, said evilly, "I never bothered you all about the woman thing. You make a good girl."

        "Hey! We did that for you!" He protested.

        "You'd like me to think that, because you enjoyed it." Lia said while pulling Chemise off him.

        "Are you implying that I am gay?!" He managed to gasp out.

        "You said it, not me." Lia said evilly.

        "But, you, I, evil."

        "Yes, I am evil, come talk to me again when you can form complete sentences, okay?" She said smiling brightly.

        This began a series of pranks. The boys wanting to get back at Lia, and Lia wanted to get back at them for pulling pranks. That night Lia climbed into bed to discover a frog already in it. Very early that morning Lia ran around putting mud in their shoes. That afternoon Lia was doused in a bucket of lake water. That night the boys found bugs and dirt in their beds. The next morning quite a few rats had found there way into her room. Lia ignored them, Chemise didn't like rats, and she'd kill them.

        That afternoon the boys were on third guard, expecting retaliation from Lia. Lia was in a conference with Erica and Nia. She had heard rumors that the two where known pranksters in Carthaki court.

        "Hmm," Nia mussed. "Have you stolen their underwear yet?" She finally asked.

        "Ewww!" Lia shrieked.

        "She's right, it has to be done." Erica said. "But, after you do that, and they prank you back admit defeat. Then, the next day at the ball we get them." She said evilly.

        "What are we going to do?" Lia asked. Nia smiled.

        "Well, we've always wanted to pants some one." Erica said.

        "That's your biggest prank? Pants-ing someone?" Lia asked dumbly.

        "And then gluing them to the ceiling, of course."

        "How do you glue them to the ceiling?"

"We'll take care of it, you just steal their underwear." Then it clicked; she was stealing their underwear. And de pants-ing them, and gluing them to the ceiling.

        "Oh, oh, oh, ewww!" She shrieked. Nia and Erica laughed. "Ewww, I'm blaming this on you."

        "Will do." Nia said smiling. Lia shook her head and went to do as bidden.

~~:~~

        That night was intresting to say the least. Erica and Nia had made friends with quite a few magic students from university. They set all the spells in place.

Lia had successfully taken their loincloths while the trio was in the palace baths. They hadn't noticed until they had gone to change for the night's festival. They had all had to go without. Lia had been subjected to a silencing and clumsiness spell. Lia had taken in as gracefully as possible and surrendered.

        Then, when the clock struck eleven three half-naked boys, men, whichever had flown to the ceiling in unison? Mages were grinning, ladies were gasping and fainting. Erica, Nia and Lia were on the floor in hysterics. The king, queen, prince and princess were trying, unsuccessfully mind you, not to laugh.

        And the boys, who were now attached to the ceiling, were laughing. They found their predicament amusing. Lia looked at her accomplishes who shrugged and looked up, only to quickly look away. Erica motioned for the mages to return them to their original state. The girls went out to a balcony, knowing the boys would follow. They looked at each other blankly, what had just happened.

        The three boys burst onto the balcony.

        "Lia, that was brilliant!" They said in unison. "Did they help you?" Erikk asked with a big grin on his face.

        "How did you do that?" John asked. Movement to Lia's left caught her eye, Alex and Nia were, well, snogging. Lia's mouth dropped.

        "They do that." Erica said dully, "Rather annoying it is."

~~:~~

        A day later Lia was searching for Erikk. She was headed for the chamber. Alex was searching libraries, John the kitchens.

Lia pulled the door open to see Erikk sitting, staring at the great metal doors. Lia walked up next to him.

        "C'mon, it doesn't bode well to brood." She said quietly. He nodded and stood up. He looked at her.

        "I'm scared, Li." He said, using his pet name for her.

        "I know. It's okay." He smiled, Lia smiled. "Let's go. This place creeps me out." Erikk laughed. They found John and Alex pacing in Lia's room.

        "You found him!" Alex yelled. Chemise looked at him. "I don't think your cat likes me." He said as an after thought. Lia just laughed at him.

        Instead of taking Erikk out into the city, or sleeping even, they just talked to him.  They talked about all of the things that they had done in the past. Pranks they had pulled, people who were still mad about the things they'd had been a part of. Soon it was dinnertime and Erikk had to go.

        "Here, I'll walk you." Lia said. They walked in silence to the bathing chamber. The king had had chambers built around the Chamber: a bathing chamber, an instruction room, and then right in front of the door to meditate on knighthood. Lia looked at Erikk, he was pale and his eyes were bright. Lia smiled at him.

"You'll be okay I know you will. The Chamber can be beaten, you can beat it. You can take it, you'll be okay." Lia looked at him.

        "I know it's just, I don't know what I'm afraid of; I don't have a clue what I'm up against. I don't know what to expect." He said. Lia wrapped her arms around his neck. His arms wrapped around her waist as he held onto her.

        "You'll be alright. I know ya will." She whispered into his hair. He pulled back and looked into her eyes.

        "Li, when I get through this, I want you to be my squire."

        "Serious?" She asked, terribly afraid he would laugh and say no.

        "Yeah," He said smiling. Lia smiled and hugged him.

        "Thank you." She whispered. He hugged her tightly. They stayed like that for a minute and then Erikk spoke.

        "I should go." He said.

        "Yeah," Lia paused. "I'll stay here." Lia said.

        "You don't have to." He said quickly.

        "I want to." She said.

        "Alright, I'll see you in the morning." He said before entering the bathing chamber. Lia sighed and entered the entrance chamber.

        Lia sat on a hard wooden bench. She could see the metal doors of the chamber of the ordeal. Lia thought about what she was afraid of. She didn't know there were things she didn't like, but she could stand them, deal with them. Nothing struck cold inside her and kept them from moving.

        The chamber itself didn't scare her. She knew it would come up with something to scare her. Something to try and break her, and actually, Lia was looking forwards to it, in a sick and twisted way,

~Not afraid eh? Looking forwards to it? You are one of the first. ~ A cold metallic voice rang through her head.

Who are you? And why are you in my head? Lia asked bluntly.

~I'm right in front of you.~ It said. Lia's mind raced as she remembered something about Keladry talking to the chamber, and she'd actually gone back into it.

I'm talking to the chamber of the ordeal?

~Yes~

Are you allowed to go messing around in people's heads?

~That's not the point. ~

What is the point?

~You are a champion; you need to find your helper: that is imperative! You will not survive without him! ~

So it's a he?

~Yes, and they are already close to you. Very close. Just figure out who they are. They know they are the helper so they know what you know. ~ The voice said before its presence began fading. Lia looked up; Erikk had entered the room and was kneeling in front of the chamber.

        Lia blinked hours later as sunlight entered the room. Two priests shook Erikk and led him into the chamber; her father entered the room with Kel and Dom close behind. Friends and family entered the room as the minutes became longer.

        Almost twenty minuets later, the doors opened and Erikk stumbled out. He had a cut on his forehead and a bruise on his arm. A gasp escaped the crowd. Neal walked forwards with a blanket and they exited the room. Lia followed close behind. She heard Erikk murmur to Neal that it hit him.

~~:~~

        Later that night, all of the new knights were at a banquet: The last midwinter banquet. Lia was enduring a rather boring one-sided conversation. Unfortunately, Lia was attending as a lady, which meant she also behave like one. Ten minutes later, Lia excused herself, rude or not.

        "Lia! You just blew off Milord Kalfinston." Erica said between giggles.

        "I don't care, he was boring." Lia said. A person tapped her shoulder; Lia whirled around, fully prepared to tell Lord Kangaroo to go away. It was Jasson.

        "You're cranky." He observed.

        "I'm not cranky!" Lia yelled.

        "Uh hu, Erikk says he needs your help." Jasson said grinning evilly. Lia looked over his shoulder at where Erikk was standing, besieged by girls. Lia laughed and seriously considered leaving him. She could say he needed to practice self-reliance.

        "Alright, I'll go save the big lug." Lia said and walked over to Erikk.

        "I'm sorry ladies. Sir Erikk here promised me a dance." She said grabbing his arm and whirling into the dance floor.

        "When are you going to go where husband-hungry woman aren't?" She said blandly. He smirked.

        "Actually, I think we're going south, soon. It's cold here. And I hear Bazihr women don't like to marry northern men." He said, Lia's eyes lit up, she'd allways wanted to visit the Bazihr.

        "Okay, when?"

        "Hmm, passes will snow in quick, tomorrow afternoon?" He said smiling.

        "Okay! Hmmm, I have to go pack; I'll meet you at noon, k?"

        "Yup, squire." He said strictly.

        "Okay Sir." She said bowing before running off.

        "Hey!" Alex said. "You took her!"

        "What?" Erikk said confused.

        "I wanted her to be my squire!" Alex yelled.

        "Too late," Erikk said grinning.

~~:~~

Well, there you go Chapter 21. What did you think? Thoughts? Problems? Flames? Flames will be used to fuel the local bonfire pit…