A/N: Thank you Mandas for reviewing, if there was an award I would give it to you, along with some other semi-faithful reviewers, but sadly, there is no such award and it would be beyond my power to do so...

***

Phi woke up the next morning to the sound of a very loud bird chirping right outside her window. She groaned and rolled over in her bed, then suddenly sprang awake, remembering that she had something very important to do. As her mind got back into gear, she scrambled out of bed, dashed over to her dresser, yanked some breeches and a long-sleeved shirt on and barged out of the room and into the hallway. She knocked loudly on Tom and Alex's door, it seemed to be past nine so she wasn't too worried about waking people up, "Hey, you guys! Get up! We have stuff to do, remember?"

There was a loud thump from inside and the squeaking of floorboards. A very disgruntled looking Tom poked his head out of the door and from inside the room Phi could just make out Alex tangled up in his bed sheets on the ground, "Thanks for the rude awakening...We'll be out in a few minutes..." He glanced back at Alex who was still struggling to free himself from the sheets, "...Actually, make that ten minutes..." He closed the door again and Phi waited impatiently for them to come out.

Finally the door reopened and Tom and Alex stepped out looking slightly dishelved, but nonetheless awake, "Okay, let's go..."

Tom led the way down the stairs and to the infirmary. He figured that they had better tell Duke Baird about what they had learned last night before they told Numair, just to save the man from doing any extra, unnecessary work. Tom knocked on the door and went inside and was met by a very sleep-deprived Duke Baird. Tom took a deep breath and hoped that he wouldn't slip up. They needed to tell the duke about the cure without telling him how they got it. He exhaled slowly and began to choose his words carefully so that he wouldn't have to contradict himself later, "Last night...we were sitting up trying to think of a cure for Numair when we got an idea. Maybe...the sickness that Numair has...isn't real and maybe it is just another one of Trycos's mind tricks..."

The Duke blinked at him several times. Tom hesitated, not sure what was going through the older mans mind and didn't want to sound suspicious. Duke Baird stared for a moment longer than said quietly, almost to himself, "Of course..." He looked at Tom, "Perhaps that is why it never responded to any of the tests that I ran on it, and why it didn't show any other symptoms! Ingenious really...the whole time it was a sickness only in Numair's mind because Trycos put it their and his Gift made it reality!"

Tom nodded, "So technically, all we have to do to cure Numair is convince him that there is no sickness and then he would be better again."

"Yes, but I am afraid that is easier said than done my boy...to change another's mind about something that seems so real to them will indeed be a difficult task..." The Duke fell silent for a moment, then headed slowly to the door, "We will need Daine's help for this one...Numair can be quite stubborn at times..."

Alex grinned and followed Duke Baird to Numair's study. His and Daine's bedrooms were also attached to the room, but before the entered Numair's room, the Duke knocked on Daine's door. She answered looking as if she had already been up several hours, with Kitten at her heels. She looked somewhat surprised to see them, "Um...is there something I can do for you?"

Duke Baird nodded, "As a matter of fact, there is. Tom, Phi, and Alex have come up with a probable theory for a cure to Numair's illness."

Daine looked excited and relieved, "Thank the gods...He hasn't had a decent night of sleep ever since he got back. What is the cure?"

"Well, Tom, Alex, and Phi's idea was this, that Trycos used one of his mind tricks on Numair and all the pain that he is feeling is just some sort of complexed illusion. I have to say that I agree with their idea because there is really no other explanation for the strange qualities that this 'disease' contains..."

Daine stared at them for a moment, "Are you saying that Numair is just imagining all of this?"

"No, not imagining really. Trycos, as I understand it, was able to get inside his head and project the thought of the pain into his head and Trycos's Gift made it real for Numair."

"So how do we cure it?"

"That's where we need your help Daine. We need to convince him that there is not really a disease...but it will be difficult."

"We'll see about that..."

***

Daine crept softly into Numair's room, not wanting to wake him if he was finally asleep, but as always, it seemed that his 'pains' were keeping him from sleeping. He was wide-awake in his bed, and jumped slightly as his door creaked open and she stepped inside, "Good morning! I did not expect to see you up this early!"

"Yes well, some things needed to be taken care of...but I have some good news!"

"And what would that be?" Numair winced and propped himself up on his elbows.

"Duke Baird, Tom, Alex, and Phi have found a cure for you."

"Really? This is extraordinary! Come Daine, what is it?"

A small grin played upon Daine's face and she sat down on the edge of his bed. He was not going to enjoy her answer. Numair always prided himself on being hard to fool, "Well, it seems that...you were never really ill at all..."

Numair's jaw dropped, "Never really ill?! Then what about these pains that I am feeling right now as we speak?"

Daine sighed, "I think that Duke Baird better explain this to you..."

The Duke walked inside, followed by Tom, Alex, and Phi, "Numair, it is quite a simple explanation really. This whole thing is just another one of Trycos's tricks, you have and are currently sort of imagining the pains and Trycos's Gift has made them real for you."

The mage looked blankly at the healer, "But...how?...I am confused..."

Tom stepped forward, "Numair, remember that wall that Trycos made appear at the entrance of his alleyway when he didn't want anyone to enter it?"

"Yes..."

"And do you remember how real it felt, and how sure you were that it was real until you saw it dissolve right in front of your eyes?"

"...yes..."

"Well, that's kinda what's going on here..."

A red flush filled Numair's face, "Why that lying boy has played me for a fool! I can not believe that I let myself be tricked so easily!" He sat up straight in his bed, throwing his covers aside, embarrassment and rage taking the place of his sickness, "Why, when I get my hands on that little worm, he'll wish that he had never been born!"

Daine laughed, "There you go! You look just fine now, except your pride that is...That sounded exactly like something Lady Alanna would have said!"

Alex grinned, "Actually, she did say it..."

Numair stood up cautiously, "Well than we shall kill Trycos together, along with any others who want a swing at him...but first, we need to get you three back to your own home..."

Phi smiled, "What, you think that we don't want to hurt Trycos too?"

A murderous look appeared in Alex's eyes, "Ya Numair, I wouldn't mind joining you guys..."

"I wouldn't hear of it!" Alanna and George stepped into the room, smiling,. Alanna shook her head, closed the door, and continued, "You three have spent more time than you probably should have already staying here, and your families are probably worried sick about you!"

Alex sighed, "Ya, guess you're right about that...What are you two doing down here anyway?"

George took his hands out his pockets, "Well, we heard that someone had found a cure for Numair so we hurried on down to see if it was true, and by the looks of it, it was...Besides, with the endless negotiations still goin' on, there was not much else ta do!"

Numair grimaced and sat down on the bed again, trying to let his muscles adjust back to their normal strength, "Well, I am glad to find I am such a large priority for you George, but I must be getting back to work...and then we can begin to plan our hunting party...

"Oh?" George's eyebrow lifted, "And just what are you after in this season?"

"Not much...just Trycos..."

A grin lit Alanna's face and she fingered her dagger absentmindedly, "I shall be glad to join you Numair...sounds like fun..."

Numair nodded, stood back up again, and walked shakily over to the door, "Yes, I am sure it will be, but first we must get these three back home..."

He opened the door and Devic and Will spilled into the room. Numair raised his eyebrows, "Well, it seems that we have two uninvited guests in our midst...Besides Alanna and George anyway..."

Will leapt up and stood behind Devic as the young teen stood up bashfully, "Well...we, uh...heard Lady Alanna talking to George and we...um...decided to check things out for ourselves..."

George laughed, "What a confession! Here boy, you ought to learn to lie better, it makes for better entertainment!"

Devic blush deepened, "I think we'll be going now..." He nodded to Will and they scurried out of the room.

A small grin played upon Duke Baird's mouth as he watched the two leave, "They remind me of Dom and Neal when they were little..."

Alanna smiled and shook her head, "It is amazing how people can influence each other..."

Phi grinned, "What do you mean?"

"I remember when Devic first came to the Palace to be trained as a knight, actually, you three where there for part of it and probably the reason for why he turned out the way he did. When he got here, he was quiet and shy with few friends and fewer enemies. But then you had your adventure and he got entangled in it. He grew to be a leader, lost his friends but gained most of the others, save a few, as his allies. And now he is helping William come out of his shell and take on the world...I almost wish that something would happen every year to the first year pages...it brings out their true character..."

George rolled his eyes, "Yes, but I'd rather have some of them not show their character at all...like that rascal Mycrus ...I don't know what's wrong with him, but he defiantly has some issues...I guess I was out of place saying that but hey, I don't really care..." He took a step towards the open door.

Alanna sighed and grabbed her husband by the sleeve before he could escape, "Well, if everything's done around here, we best be getting back to the negotiations..."

George scowled, "Must we? Oh all right, but I won't stay the entire day...I think I would bore myself to death, although the arguments can get rather interesting...especially when I start to contribute to the name calling...I have some pretty interesting one's stored up still!"

"I know dear, and sometimes I think that is the only reason that Jon lets you stay is because you can always get the upper hand during the insults...come on!"

George sighed and mockingly bid the others farewell as Alanna rolled her eyes and dragged him out of the room.

Numair waited until they disappeared before walking over out the room into his study to begin to prepare for the spell. He nodded to Duke Baird as he took his leave and waved at Tom and the other to come over to him. When they had gathered around his desk he turned to them and said, "It will take me only about a day to prepare the spell again for you to use..."

Alex looked confused, "Then how come you were able to get the spell up and running so quickly when we came here?"

"Well, it was actually a very badly made and dangerous spell...and as you probably remember, the landing wasn't to smooth...besides, I knew where you were and were I was bringing you to. Sending you back is a little trickier because I have to align the spell perfectly so I don't accidentally drop you off inside a tree back in your own world..." Phi and Tom winced and Numair nodded in agreement, "I wouldn't be a very pretty sight, I can tell you that much...Oh! I must also thank you for coming up with the idea for my cure! How did you ever come up with the idea?"

Tom was momentarily caught off guard by the question and hesitated and stuttered for a few moments, "Well...we, um...we, just...were, staying up late and I suppose it just sort of came to us..."

Daine raised her eyebrows and cast Numair a glance before wandering back into her own room, "You sound just about as sure of your answer as Devic was with his..."

Numair shrugged as Daine disappeared into her room and gently shut the door, "I have to agree with her but if you don't want to tell me how you really came up with it, I won't pry any further..." He cast Tom a glance before saying, "You three should probably start packing your stuff up and get ready to leave anyway so when the time comes you won't be too stressed."

Tom nodded and ushered Alex and Phi out of the room, "Thank you, we'll do that!"

When they were out in the hallway, Alex stopped being pushed and turned around to face Tom, "Do you think he knows?"

"I dunno...But then again, it doesn't really matter now since we're going home and all..."

"Ya, I suppose...but something in the way he looked at you made me wonder..."

Phi shrugged her shoulders, "I don't think he does. I do think he knows something happened, but I doubt that he would be able to guess what..."

"Would it really be such a big deal to tell him?"

Phi, Tom, and Alex whipped around and found themselves face to face with Devic and Will. Phi exhaled, "Devic! What are you trying to do, give us heart attacks? I see that you two have made a habit out of eavesdropping..."

"Ya well, You get could information that way..."

"Who told you that? I'm almost positive that it wasn't me...although it could have been..."

Devic glanced from Phi to Alex to Tom, "So what are you going to do now?"

Alex shrugged, "Start packing, I guess, not much else to do..."

Devic nodded and fell silent for a moment before shaking himself awake again, "All right...See you soon then!"

He grabbed his little cousin's arm and walked off towards the dinning hall.

Phi sighed as they headed up to their rooms, "I'm going to miss him..."

A/N: Sorry this chapter took so long...I had a serious case of writer's block trying to figure out where I should end the story and what should happen next in the plot...any suggestions would be welcome (As long as they are sane ones!)!