A/N: Woooh, I love this… here you meet Lythi and Haalen * dances * I love the first section of this, I wrote it during one of my best creative spurts. I love the language, I love the way it works… Anyway, a lot of stuff happens here…

Review Response:

I love Lily too… I must say, she is one of my favorite characters… Anyway, we'll be getting into her some more, now, so be happy!

"No, dammit! It's not supposed to happen like this! She's not supposed to be discovered… That damned, arrogant noble puppy! He was supposed to come in later, do more damage after the girl had succumbed! Instead, he went mad on me and decided that he just had to have his part fulfilled right then and there! Now, that socialite bitch is safe, and the crazy one will be cured! Damn him! And the Carthaki will mend the heart of the broken one! This is what we were trying to avoid!"

"Now, now, sister dear, relax… You're taking this much too harsh… Just because your 'perfect' plans aren't working, you don't need to pace yourself into an early grave, do you? Of course, I won't say that I told you so…"

The woman turned and glared at her brother. She was tall, and thin, too thin, with harsh features, ones that seemed as if they would cut you should you come too close. But there was no doubt that she was beautiful. Her hair was spun gold, then silver, then copper, whichever way she turned, and her eyes were a bright, unnatural blue. Her figure was a perfect set of curves covered in a thin, clingy, dark-hued fabric. She was digging her long nails into her palms as she spoke, drawing drops of blood. Each crimson drop dripped onto the crystal globe below them. She had thought it was a bit cliché to have a crystal ball, but it was what she used best. Her brother, however, the annoying, arrogant thing, used amber. He wore clothes of the same hue, which set off his golden-brown hair. He wore his long, almost as long as hers, and when he didn't tie it back, it often slipped up to cover eyes as icy blue as her own. He sat, reclining on the rock as easily as if it were velvet. Damn him. She had created that seat purposely to make people uncomfortable, but he was the one person who could thwart her. He smirked, and threw her a look that negated his last line. That look said it all. She unclenched her hands and began to move towards him. As she did, however, he anticipated the move, and managed to slip right around her. He leaned against the doorway confidently, his eyes laughing at her. She would not take this.

"Haalen… Get back over here!" she growled. He simply smirked at her.

"Oh, Lythiiraen… I'm not so stupid as you think…" She could feel her blood heating and coming to a boil. No one, no one, was allowed to call her by her given name. So their parents were crazy, so they loved strange, double-lettered names… So what! No one was allowed to call her that, and her brother had just realized this. He was only just realizing what he had done, and, for once, he became clumsy, and the blood drained from his face.

"I'm sorry Lythi, really, I am, I didn't mean it, really…"

"Get out! Out! You have insulted me one last time. I will remind you that I am the older child, and that I, I alone, have control over this manner. You will quit this insubordination or leave! Now!"

"I'm sorry, sister dear… I did not wish to make you angry."

"Good."

The words had the ring of truth in them, but the coldness in his voice scared her. She risked a glance at his eyes, and they made her heart freeze for a second. The pure loathing and frigidity in them terrified her. Within a second, however, they had changed back to the happy eyes of the brother she knew and loved. But she knew things would never be the same. But a moment later, she was wondering what had so scared her, as the golden whisps of her memories drifted out on the wind.

* * *

Lily entered the large room a bit hesitantly. She supposed this would have been the ballroom in most other manors, but it was built in the same simple, functional style of the rest of the manor. She was dressed in her simplest ball gown, but the one she though was the most flattering. She had braided golden threads and flowers into her hair, and they, along with a simple golden chain around her neck, were her only decorations. She soon joined in the dances, weaving the patterns and picking up on the steps. Suddenly, she found that her partner had stepped away, and another was taking his place. It was the kind young man from the fields, and she scanned his kind face. After the dance, he led her out onto the balcony, and they chatted for a while. She looked over his face, and felt a familiarity that she couldn't place.

"Who are you?
"I'm H… I mean, Alen. Alen… Right…"

"And I'm Lily... Well, Liliath, if you want to be correct."

"Where'd you come from? You just sort of appeared here one day. I think I know you, but I'm not sure how."

"I… I'm not supposed to say… I can't… I'm sorry…"

There was a strange fear in her eyes as she made a hasty retreat. Warm brown eyes shifted slightly, and a falcon took wing, only to land on a window-sill. Later, Lily would awake and see only a cat. Had she tried to Speak to it, she might have known the truth, but she was tired, and decided not to try.

* * *

"The little bastard still hasn't figured it out! I leave him tons of clues, and he still can't find where she is. Not that I know myself, not completely. Maybe I should go wreak havoc on her family to lure her back."

"No, Lythi, that would only make her retreat further, eh? She's not stupid, I assure you. Leave her family alone."

* * *

Kendi lay, delirious, for a long time. She could hear the people around her, her mother hysterical, her father trying to hold back his fears, but failing miserably. Her two remaining sisters and Sinta would visit when they could, but she remembered little of them. She remembered only two people clearly. One was Jasson. Whenever he came, the fog lifted a bit. The other was a strange young man with golden-brown hair and blue eyes. Every time he arrived, she felt the pain ease a bit, and felt the familiar tingle of healing powers. She could only wonder why this stranger would do this for her.

* * *

"I think I've finally figured out what's wrong with my daughter. After a long search, I found a little-known property of unicorn blood… As a temporary healing agent. The problem is, it seeps the strength from your blood to give you a kind of high after the healing. Unfortunately, that energy cannot be returned unless you stop taking the blood for more than four weeks. She was consistently taking it, and I think I know why, but I'll get to that in a minute. Anyway, it was seeping her strength away, but no one noticed it, or at least those who did didn't say or do anything. She's hovering on the brink right now. The next week or so could be life or death." Numair looked pale and drawn, though he tried to seem composed. "As for why she did it, I can't say exactly, but I think that it's this. I was trying to feel around for the problem, and I got a sharp recoil from the center of her magic. I put up as heavy of shields as I could and snooped a bit. From what I can tell, there is a huge mess of silver and copper magic mixed with a sickly green that I think I recognize." Daine paled. "Once, someone put a curse on us. We though it was nothing, but the dying words of a powerful mage should always be heeded. Kendi's Gift was horribly tangled anyway, but every time is tries to straighten itself out, the green strands simply tangle it again. This brings on the attacks, and causes her magic to get out of control, which, in turn, attracts demons and spirits, which is what she heard in her ears, from what Sinta tells me. However, I did notice something else. A sky blue Gift was also mixed in, holding down the green." Jasson looked visibly shaken. "Jasson's, I believe, and I can see he wasn't aware. Well, lad only someone who loves another person truly can help Heal them without either realizing it. Without you, she'd be long dead. Love creates a kind of bond. Anyway, I'll need you in her room as much as possible. Just don't drain yourself. We don't want to lose two." The young prince nodded. Everyone else looked grim and exited to do other things before the true gravity and sadness of the situation could grip them.

* * *

Zara and Nera cackled evilly as they planted another letter. Timos had been finidng many of his carefully-laid plots unraveling. They had found a list of "outings" with various wives of state officials, and had been using those to their advantages. They had been writing invitations for meetings in Timos' chambers for whenever that man's wife happened to be "engaged" with him, and the results had been delightful. Everything would blow up soon…

* * *

Tia looked around the Healer's nervously. She had asked for a private appointment with complete discretion, but she was worried. Anyone, a servant, the spouse of the Healer, anyone could and would spread rumors about her. She wasn't even sure. A young servant called for her and led her to a small, private room. She was just sitting down when a small, delicate figure entered. The figure turned, and Tia gasped in horror, not believing her bad luck. Alanna. One of her father's best friends. What rotten luck.

"Don't look so surprised. When I heard you wanted a private meeting, I volunteered right away. And I know what for. I can see a faint glow now. Yes, you're pregnant. With twins. But one isn't normal. Like your sister, Kendi. But now we know how to fix that, don't we?"

"I don't want to be, Alanna. What will everyone say? What will they think? And what if Biltor leaves me?"

"Take everything one step at a time. You were wearing a charm, right? Yes? Good. And it was cracked? Right, that happens often. I won't abort for you, but I will help you get through this. First of all, you need to tell your parents, then you need to speak with your young man to plan for the future, eh?"

"Alanna, I don't want to tell my parents, they'll be so disappointed!"

Alanna chuckled. "Not so disappointed as you may think… Nera was one of those mysterious 7th month babies… They've been through it, and they'll help you… Now go tell them…"

* * *

Tia knocked hesitantly on the door to her mother's study.

"Mama?"

"Yes, dear, I'm in here…"

Tia opened the door and slipped in.

"Mama, I need to tell you something." She took a deep breath. "Mama, I… I slept with Biltor… Once… But the charm was cracked, and I didn't notice… And I'm pregnant, Mama. I'm so sorry." Daine began to laugh.

"Is that it? Is that why you're so jittery? I suppose you have heard that it happened to me too. First-time fertility runs rampant in our family I suppose. What about Biltor? Does he know? Yes? Well, what does he want to do?"

"I don't know Mama."

"Well, Tia, I suggest you go find him and discuss. Just remember, not matter what, your papa and I will be here for you."

"Thank you Mama!"

* * *

A/N: Wow, that was long… What's up with Alen, eh? Fun stuff, huh? Anyway, you'll me Yvete in the next chapter, as well as Amery… I love the two of them… I kind of stuck them in randomly when I was coming up with lots of ideas though... lol...