AN: YAY!! I Finally wrote a story!! And I know that, withstanding my constant demands for Fluff, the great wonder of fanfiction, this story has relatively little fluff. However, it does have a lot of sappy Vidanric mental dialogue, YAY Danric!! Anyway, I hope you like it! Constructive criticism is always appreciated, and Flames will be used to heat bathwater. (Read "The Perils of Bathtime," Its on my favorite stories list. Wink wink, nudge nudge)

Disclaimer: Smith is God. The characters are hers. I'm just having a bit of fun with them. Now, On to the fic! Bon Appetite!

I pulled my horse, Tevan, to a stop in front of the coach where the Countess was riding. As I looked around at the familiar area around Athanarel, I dismounted and replaced the awkward Commander's Helm on my head. I had never liked the things, but now that I was to face Galdaran once again, I had to make a show of how in-control of things I was, while still seeming like a Court-Bred gambler who cared about nothing more than horse racing and fashion. A sharp rap on my shoulder by my riding leader, Nessaren, brought me back from my thoughts.
"My Lord, Galdaran orders that you immediately bring the Countess of Tlanth to the Courtroom, If you managed to bring her back as you promised." I had to suppress a grin at her obvious sarcasm there, for their master's double agent role in the court was apparently a cause of much joking for my troops. They were aware of what I was capable of, even if the rest of the court was not. My humor, however, was short-lived. As the Countess stepped out of the carriage, her long braid filthy, clothing unwashed, the bandage on her ankle crusted with mud, and her face streaked with what looked like the last remains of a valiant effort on her part to clean it, I realized what a fool I would make of myself bringing this small drudge in to present to the court in her present condition. The very idea of attempting to present Meliara as a Countess would have been laughable, were the situation not so grave. I barely managed to suppress a small sigh, for there was nothing to be done about it. I stared resignedley at the Palace Gaurd Galdaran had no doubt sent out to assure that Meliara did not run off. Like she would get far even if she did manage to excape, in her present condition, I thought. I watched half-heartedley as a crutch was handed to the Countess to allow her to support herself, and began to march beside her in to Athanarel. As the Palace doors shut ominiously behind us, I was unable to keep a small wince from escaping my emotionless court mask. An unmistakable sense of forboding filled my heart as we walked to the courtroom, and I wondered what Galdaran could possibly have in store for the little Countess limping beside me.

AN: Hey, What did you think of that? I had my sister read it, but as she had never read Crown or Court Duel, and so the only knowledge she has of the story is what I've told her concerning my favorite parts, the only comment I got out of her was: "Okay, is this written by the Love-struck Marking dude who's gonna be king, the Evil king dude who gets killed by the Love-struck Marking dude who's gonna be king, or the Suave duke dude who is the Love-struck Marking dude's cousin and eventually helps to get the Marking dude and the broke Heroine together???" As you can see, not much help. So revew for me, and I will have another chapter up as soon as I can! -Black Rose