AN- I noticed when I was going through it again, that I left out the scene with Lalasa being kidnapped and the trial. I MIGHT put it in later, but for right now I decided to leave it out. It did happen, though. (I will refer to it later on in the story, not in this chapt.)

    Another thing, this wasn't mentioned in the protector of the small series, but in the other books it mentions that the heir takes the Ordeal on the midwinter when he is 17, abt. 6 months before everyone else (or is it a yr.) well I will check that again.

       This is a really long chapter. Enjoy.

"Drop it you guys." Roald said.

     "Aww boyfriend defending girlfriend."

      Jaina rolled her eyes. "Ok, enough is enough cut it out." She said, after letting them aww for a minute or so."

      The next day the friends did not get a chance to spend time together, because they were all focused on getting their stuff to their Knightmaster's quarters, getting their new routine, and generally setting themselves up for being squires.

       And the day after was also a quiet day for the Squires, but it wasn't a quiet day for all the Mages at the University, because Numair had come up with a new project for them…. "Listen, we have all wanted a new project for awhile."

  "Speak for yourself." One of the mages yelled.

   Numair smiled. "Ok, I speak for myself." He said. "And unfortunately you all are bound to help me."

     "That we are." The same mage said.

   "I was wondering, now that we know other galaxies exist, if we could figure out a way to open connections with them." Numair said. "Imagine the possibilities." He said, finding a lot of people skeptical. "We could have such an exchange of ideas." He said. "They might've figured out how to work stuff we haven't, and we might've figured out stuff they haven't. There would be new things to study…."

      "We'd need a focus from Jaina's galaxy." Another mage said, showing that he was getting interested.

     Numair grinned. "I have one." He brought out the blouse Jaina had been wearing when she had been brought here.

    "All those who want to work on this." He said. "Come over here.

    Most of the mages came over and the project began.

In another galaxy far far away… "All right, sentient beings, we have our orders. We need to find a way to get to another galaxy. And somehow find where Jaina Solo is." The head scientist of project Expansion.

    "But we have no idea where Jaina is." One scientist protested.

    "Science is the art of finding out. So that is what we will do." The head scientist said.

  "May the Force be with us." One scientist said as they began to work.

This year, and the next were ones of hard work; Jaina and her friends were working hard as Squires. Kally was working hard to learn the art of being a Princess. Luke, Leia, Han, Jacen, Anakin, Tenel Ka, and Lowbacca were all doing double duty, their normal jobs and trying to find Jaina. Numair and his mages were trying to establish communication, and the scientists of project Expansion were trying to establish a way to travel between the galaxies.

         The first people to get a break through were Numair and his mages; an explosion that rocked the University announced its arrival. "Got it." Numair called. 

      "I will send for Geoffrey, ask him to bring Jaina and get an audience with the King so we can test it out with a bang." Another senior mage said.

      Numair just nodded. "Finally," Daine said coming in. "Now I will actually see you around."

       "Milady, I don't complain when you go romping around Tortall talking with animals."

       "The King asks me to 'romp' as you said. The King did not ask you to do this."

    "Not in so many words, but he implied it."

     Daine shook her head. "At least it is over."

    "Who said that?" Numair said, giving Daine a big smile. "It still has to be tested and perfected."

       Daine shook her head again. "But you have time until you get notice from the King now?"

      "Yes." Numair said. "Starting in 10 minutes."

         Daine laughed. "Ok."

    Daine sat on a table and watched as Numair worked some more. "Ten minutes are up." She said in ten minutes.

       "Let me just write a note for Kayel to call me when he gets a message from the King."

      "Now come on!" Daine said when he finished scribing the note.

     Daine practically dragged him back to their room in the palace. On the way they ran into Kayel. "Geoffrey and Jaina actually are already at the palace. We have an audience for first thing tomorrow."

     "He is not wasting any time." Numair said.

  Kayel shrugged. "We will see why tomorrow morning."

      "That we shall." Numair said, walking quickly as Daine dragged him.

     The next morning  " Sir Geoffrey have you been filled in on the discovery that the mages have made." Jonathan said, doing as formality dictated and addressing the Knightmaster rather then the Squire.

         "Yes we have." Geoffrey said.

        "Are you willing to help with the experiment."

        Geoffrey knew he meant Jaina. "Squire?" He asked.

      "Yes sir." She said, and then she bowed to Jonathan again.

      Jonathan nodded to Numair. "So then let's begin."

     "Forgive me your majesty, have you warned the people of the city that this spell might cause some momentary upset?"

     "Yes we have."  

       Numair and his mages then began with the incantations. Jaina was standing with baited breath, how she wanted to see her family again. Please, she begged the force, please. I am here doing your work, but don't deny me at least the sight of my family.

         A few minutes later a cloud began to swirl in the middle of the room, multicolored for the different gifts. Everyone gasped. The mages in the room were sweating.

        A minute later they got a clear picture, it was like a 2-d vid projector, Jaina thought, of a room. "That's my room in Coruscant." Jaina said, puzzled she had expected her room on Yavin to come up because that's wear most of her clothes would 'sense' of. Then something hit her "That's right! That blouse was not one of my usual Jedi blouses, I had brought it with me because I needed a formal blouse." She said.

         "So the spell worked." Numair asked.

      "Yes." Jaina said. "Very well, so far at least."   

      "Will anyone else come in this room, so we can see if the communication part works?" Numair asked.

       "Maybe." Jaina said, doubtfully. "Jacen and I share a room, and Anakin has to pass through here to get to his, but I don't know if they are at the Jedi academy or not. Usually Jacen and I alternate with Anakin training schedules, but right before I had left they were getting more rigorous so…"

         "Keep it open for another minute or so." Jonathan said. "Let's see if anyone does."

     To Jaina's surprise her mother came in. "That's my mom." Jaina said, her eyes tearing up.

       "Mom!" She tried to call. "Mom."

     Leia flinched, and turned. Jaina gasped, her mom's face was tear stricken.

    "What happened." Jon asked.

     "My mom is crying." She said, feeling as if her heart was shattering. "She never cries. The only time I saw her cry was when she rescued us from Hethrir, and even that it was for a quick second. She is always in perfect control."

    Jaina wanted to go hug her. "Someone come in and comfort her." She begged.

    As if in answer, Luke came in. He hugged his sister. "That's my Uncle Luke." Jaina said.

           "Come on, Leia." He said a second later. "Jacen is waiting for you to put his life candle up."

        "I can't help it." Leia said. "This is the first Birthday Jaina and Jacen are celebrating apart. I keep thinking of her and then I keep thinking I have to be strong for Jacen."

        "Being strong doesn't mean never crying, Lei." Luke said.

      "But I never do."

   Leia wiped her tears anyway. "Let's go put the life candle up." Leia said.

     Luke's head shot up. "Just a moment."

    Luke walked his sister to the door."

     "No!" Numair called. "Wait."

     Leia flinched. "Is someone else here?" She said. "Luke, is it just me or did you just hear something."

    "Go on." Luke said.

     Leia walked away, looking back. "Hurry, we can't put up the life candle without you either."

    "Uncle Luke knows we are here." Jaina said. "So can you keep it open for one more minute."

     "Sure." Numair said.

     "Hello down there." Luke called. "Jaina, is that you."

    "Yes." Jaina called.

    Luke's eyes moistened a bit. "I wanted to make sure before you talked to your mother."

     "LEIA, HAN, CHEWIE, JACEN, ANAKIN, COME QUICKLY." Luke shouted.

    "How are you."

    "Just fine." Jaina said. "How are you?"

     "Same."

   Before Luke could say anything else the rest of the family came running in. "Jaina, who is doing this link?"

      "Some mages and friends here." Jaina said.

     "Can they hear me as well." Luke asked.

    "Yes,"  Numair said.

    "May I tap into your link so I can make it two-way from this side as well."

      "Sure." Numair said, fascinated. "You will have to explain to me you can do that. It would help out so much."

     "Sure." Luke said, and then he smiled. "I would love to exchange ideas but I think that would be better done face to face."

    "Of course." Numair said. "And you all are probably excited to talk to Jaina."

   "Jaina." Leia said. "Is that you?"

   "Yes mommy." Jaina said.

     Leia took a deep breath. "Luke, hurry and make it two way so I can lay eyes on my daughter." She said.

      Luke complied. "You look so tall." Leia said.

    "You always say that." Jaina said.

   "Because you always do." Leia said.

   "Jaya," Jacen cried. "You are ok!"

  "Yes, Jasa. Are you ok? How are things w/ your g/f. Told g/f yet?"

 Jasa blushed. "Hurry up!" Jaina said.

     "I am going to wait until you are here." Jacen said.

    "Anakin, are you keeping an eye on your dumb older brother?"

    "Of course." Anakin said. "He needs all the help he can get."

    Jaina began to laugh. "Why do you two always gang up on me?" Jacen asked, playing the sad victim.

     "Jaina, are you ok?" Han Solo asked breaking in.

       "Of course, daddy." Jaina said.

      "You remember what we taught you about keeping… undesirables at bay. If anybody pesters you tell them you are Han Solo's daughter and they will not know anyone worse if they mess with you."

     "Sure dad." Jaina said, smiling patiently.

    "Sorry to interrupt." Numair said. "But we are tapping ourselves dry, we will have to drop this."

      "Jacen, Leia, Anakin, and I will pick it up." Luke said.

       He got it. "Supplement me." He said to the others. "You can drop it now."

   There was a momentary wavering but otherwise it worked.

        "Can you figure out how to get me home?" Jaina asked, both parties alike. "Not that I am not having fun, but I would like to be with my family."

      Numair and his mages looked at each other and shook their heads. "We tried that, with the focuses we had. It will take a lot more power then we can expend."

       "We will do what we can from here." Luke said quietly. "Project expansion is already working on it. If you can't do it from that end we will have to put our hopes on it. Jaina, how did you get there in the first place?"

      "Vortex?"

   "Had you been doing something with the force at the time."

     "Yes, reaching out to check on Jasa."

    "Nothing else?" Luke asked.

    "No."

    "Are you sure?"

    "Yes."

  "Hmm… that in itself shouldn't cause a vortex to form." Luke said. "So we must assume it was the will of the force that you be transported there."

   "Wait a second, kid." Han said, turning to Luke. "You know how to form vortexes?"

    "Yes." Luke said.

     "Tell Jaina how and she can get back here."

  Luke shook his head. "Jaina, lets see if you remember your lessons on vortexes." Luke said, smiling slightly. "What is the problem in that?"

     Jaina thought hard. "Ummm…. Vortexes are hard to control… and strictly one way rides."

    "Jaina doesn't have the control necessary that I could even say the vortex would be able to transport her anywhere, it might even just swirl where she is and destroy all life in a big radius." Luke shook his head. "The death toll could be catastrophic."

     "You have the control, you do it."

     "Han, if I could pinpoint her location through the force, which is what I would need to do for a vortex then I would levitate their and bring her back, a much safer way. Vortexes aren't safe rides. The only reason I even studied them is that they are very good offensively and I was trying to find a way to resist them." Luke said. "Not trying to be egotistical, but I believe the force wants Jaina there for a while longer, because I have tried and tried to get Jaina's location through various means, and I will do it again yet…" He shook his head. "I am sorry Jaina."

     "It is ok, Uncle Luke."

    "Are you sure there isn't anything we can do?" Leia asked her brother.

  "Just trust the Force. And the magic of science." Luke said.

  "Project Expansion." Leia breathed.

 "Fill me in." Jaina said.

  "The Republic is working on trying to get travel between other galaxies, Portal-like transportations, it has commissioned a research group." Leia said.

  "We have to go now, the guests are getting restless." Luke said. "Love you, Jaina."

 "Love you, Uncle Luke."

 Every member of the family exchanged a 'love you' with Jaina.

 Then Luke gently closed the connection.

  "Thank you all so much." Jaina said.

   "It actually worked." Numair said. Daine nudged him. "It was our please, Squire Jaina." He said, after Kayel mouthed him what Jaina had said.

    Jaina went back to her quarters in a daze. Roald followed as soon as he could without rousing too much suspicion. "Just wanted to make sure you are ok."

   Jaina gave Roald a smile. "Thanks, I am fine." Jaina said.

      "Ok, fine a bit homesick." Jaina said, in answer to Roald's yeah-whatever look. "I guess it is my birthday in my home galaxy."

     "We should celebrate." Roald said.

     Jaina laughed. "Roald, don't strain yourself."

   "Hey, what kind of a boyfriend do you think I would be if I can't even give my love a birthday celebration."

    "I love you, Roald." Jaina said, after force checking that no one else was in earshot.

  "I love you too." Roald said, on his way out.

       Evening time Geoffrey knocked on Jaina's door. "Jaina?"

  "Yes sir."

   "Get into a fancy outfit, Roald has organized a party and you are the guest of honor."

 Jaina shook her head; trust Roald to get it together so quickly. Being Crown Prince of the realm did end up having perks, it made it a lot easier to plan a party for his girlfriend.

     Jaina was a bit scared though, at this point only Geoffrey (it was hard keeping this things from your knight-master) her friends, Alanna, and Roald's immediate family knew about their relationship. But this party might make others suspicious. Especially since all of her friends were Squires and so they would have to bring THEIR knight masters along. Nevertheless Jaina put on the dress Thayet had given had given her at midwinter. She brushed out her hair. Roald met them halfway between their quarters and the place of the party. "This is where I take my leave of the both of you." Geoffrey said, winking at them. "See you two soon… I think."

    As usual Roald saw through Jaina. "If you are worried about our relationship becoming public, well, the Knight-masters of our friends are nice people and most all of them are progressives so it won't influence how they deal with you, and the party was officially presented as being planned by all of us."

    That calmed Jaina's fears, albeit a bit. "By the way, you look extraordinarily gorgeous in that dress." Roald said, his face turning slightly crimison.

     "So do you." Jaina said, glad that he had complimented her outfit first so she hadn't had to do bring up the outfits.

      "You walk in first. I will come a couple minutes later." Jaina said as they reached the room.

     "Ok." Roald said and he walked in.

   Jaina hid around the corner for a couple of minutes. Then walked in. "Sorry I am late." She apologized.

    "The guest of honor can do no wrong at her party." Neal drawled.

    "Take your seat." Kally urged.

    Jaina sat down. Jonathan nodded and then servants carried out the food. Jaina enjoyed the huge feast, and the company of her friends. After dinner, though, came the part she was dreading, the dancing.

       Jonathan winked at Jaina. He and Thayet did the ceremonial first dance then he said. "Well, I am going to bed. You kids have fun." He offered his arm to Thayet who picked up Liam and Kalasin and they left.

       Alanna got the hit. "I am going to, have fun you all. Neal, I will see you in the afternoon."

     After that all the other knight-masters left as well. "Roald, remind me to thank your father thirty thousand times over."

    "He did that on purpose?" Kel asked, astonished.

   Jaina sighed a bit as Roald looked down. They seemed to be stuck in this loop forever. "Yeah, I saw him wink at me." Jaina said.

  "Anyways, start the dancing." Neal urged.

   Roald bowed to Jaina. Jaina curtsied to Roald. Jaina looked up in Roald's eyes as they went to the dance floor. She smiled. "That's a beautiful smile." Roald said.

           "You have beautiful eyes." Jaina said, acting coy. "They inspire the beautiful smile."

        Roald laughed. "Well thank you, good lady." He said primly.

         Jaina and Roald danced to a beautiful number called simply The Symphony.

       Everyone clapped afterwards.  Jaina curtsied. Roald looked at her as if she was crazy, but then when she jabbed him with her elbow he bowed. "You have a strong jab." Roald said, rubbing his side.

     "Thank my mother." Jaina said, grinning. "I get it from her. I used to watch her use it on my dad so many times."

     "Your mother sounds like a strong woman."

    "Oh, she is." Jaina said, half-laughing. "You never ever want to mess with her."

     "Jaina, I am sure we are close now." Roald said, addressing the homesickness in her eyes.

   "Roald, it took two years just to get communications between the two galaxies, I wonder how long it is going to take to get transportations." Jaina said.

   "Don't worry about it." Neal said, breaking into the conversation. "There is a party right now. Enjoy it! Worry about trivial stuff later." "Why don't we do the best part of the party next." He drawled. "Opening presents. Lets see how rich you get." 

    Jaina laughed.  Neal had that effect on people.

   Neal clapped his hands. "Ok folks. Lets open presents now. The adult folk left their presents here with instructions to open them whenever we feel like it."

     They sat Jaina on a chair and put the presents all around her. "Kel, will you do the honor?"

    "It will be my pleasure."

    Kel handed Jaina one present at a time. "Open mine first." Neal said.

 Jaina opened the package; it was a painting of a landscape. "That is so pretty. Thank you, Neal."

    Neal looked embarrassed. "Well, father suggested it…"

  "Mine next." Owen said.

    It was a book of battles. "I have a copy of this." He informed her. "It has a lot of jolly good battles in here."

    Jaina laughed gently. "Most of the battles aren't Tortallan, though." He said.

   "Thank you." She said.

   Kel gave her a glaive from the Yamini isles. "Thanks." Jaina said, weighing it. "Looks like a great weapon."

    "Look at the parchment." Kel said.

     The parchment said that Kel promised to teach Jaina how to use to glaive as part of the present.

    "You would've had to do that anyway." Neal said. "You are the only one of us who knows how to use it."

     "Anyways." Kel said, ignoring Neal. "Roald's turn."

    "No." Kally said, firmly. "Roald's  SISTER'S turn."

     Kally gave Jaina her present. She opened it and turned a bright pink. "Kally." Roald warned.

       Kally broke out laughing. "Look under that. Sure that is one of your presents, but another is under it."

       Jaina held up the gown and said. "Thank you Kally." Trying to push down the blush that she was sure had covered her face.

      "Now be a sport and show everyone the other gift I gave you." Kally said.

     "Kally." Roald said, warning her again.

      "Oh, stop being an overprotective boyfriend."

       "I am being a reasonable boyfriend." Roald said.

    "Stop it, Roald." Neal said. "This time I agree with Kally. We really need to see it."

    "Why don't you let me see it first." Kel said, breaking into the argument. "I will be the unbiased arbitrator."

     Before anyone could say anything Jaina gave her the offending present. Kel laughed.

 "Jaina, you are making much more out of this then it really is." Kel said. "Kally just wanted to rile you, and Roald."

      Kel handed it to Roald, who blushed a deep crimison. "And I guess it worked." Kel said, looking at Roald's blush.

     "Let's move on." Seaver decided for the group. "Roald, your present?"

     Roald gave Jaina a book trilogy (AN-lol, no not the SW trilogy.) that she had wanted for awhile. "Thank you." She said, giving Roald a big smile.

     "Give him a hug!" Everyone chorused.

    Jaina and Roald looked at each other then chorused. "Nope. We don't always bow to your wishes." They said grandly, trying to keep pompous looks on their faces.

      "Let's keep going." Owen complained. "So we can get to bed sometime this year."

   Jaina laughed. "I agree with Owen. This look is starting to hurt."

   "That's a relief, I was beginning to think you liked being pompous and arrogant."

    Kel handed Jaina a present, and ended the conversation. By the end of the evening Jaina had so many presents it took 4 of the pages to carry them all back to Jaina's quarters. Roald stayed back, Geoffrey had given them permission to meet just as long as the connecting door was open. (He had understood their concern about others devaluing Jaina's getting her shield if their relationship was common knowledge, so he had given them permission to leave the door to the hall closed.) "You really organized that in so little time." Jaina asked, amazed looking around at all of her presents.

   "People really like you, Jain." Roald said, seriously.

   Jaina gave Roald a teary smile. "I don't understand why."

  "Why wouldn't they? You are an amazing person. You are kind, gentle, and generous."

 "Annoying, perfectionist, ugly-"

  Roald stopped her. "You are none of those things."

  "Oh yes I am." She sobbed. She stopped crying a second later. I am being silly, she thought, she took a deep breath.

         A couple months later Geoffrey called Jaina into his room. "Jaina, I am thinking of entering you into a Jousting competition."

     "If you think I am ready." She said, bowing. "I wouldn't want to disgrace you."

   "You can't do that." Geoffrey said. "You are an awesome squire, and you learn well. No matter what happens in this competition, you are an awesome squire." He looked embarrassed. "There I go again. So you agree?"

     "Of course." Jaina said. "Well, since I am here anyways." She grinned at him; she was in Geoffrey's room at least twice every 3 hours.  "I have the paperwork you asked for done."

     "Already?" Geoffrey asked, looking at her askance. "This is what I mean about you being an awesome squire. I think Jon has been giving me most of the paperwork because he knows I have a squire that gets them done 20 times faster then all the rest. How do you do it?"

    Jaina shrugged. "Thanks." She said modestly.

    Jaina started training extra hard so she would be ready for the jousting tournament. On the day of the tournament all of her friends gathered. "You will do well, don't worry." Cleon said.

     "Easy for you to say, you are not the one jousting." Jaina snapped.

    "But I have been in tournaments before, and I have seen you practice." Cleon said. "You are jousting against Garvey, you have nothing to worry about."

      "I hope not." Jaina said, taking a deep breath. She refused to even use Jedi calming techniques, because she didn't want to give herself even a slight extra advantage.

       Geoffrey and Kel helped her into her armor. "This is it." Jaina thought as she mounted her horse.

      She accepted the lance from the Field Monitor in silence. Then she went. Cleon had been right and she dismounted Garvey easily.

          "Wench." Garvey sneered. "You probably used some magic or something."

        "I beat you fair and square. It isn't my fault that you aren't noble enough to admit it." Jaina said, coolly.

      Jaina turned around and walked away with Garvey still snarling at her. She saw that Roald had tears streaming down his face. "You were great." Roald said.

     "Thanks." She said, having to content herself with smiling back at him. They were in public, and she couldn't say she had been discreet if she ran and hugged him.

       "Well, Squire." Geoffrey said. "Now what do you have to say about your jousting skills."

     Jaina smiled innocently. "Practice makes someone better."

    "Is it just me or do you go round and round trying not to acknowledge your skills." Geoffrey said.

      "She goes round and round trying not to acknowledge her skills." Neal said.

     Roald and Kel nodded. "Why must all of you gang up on me so?" She asked, playing the injured party.

      "Because its true." Neal said.

     "That it is." Kel said.

    "Of course." Roald said.

  Geoffrey broke out laughing. "You kids are way too funny. Jaina, get ready to enter a lot more competitions."

     "Yes sir." She said saluting him smartly.

     Geoffrey turned around and gave her a withering look, that didn't faze her. She knew he meant in jokingly.

       Jaina did well in the tournaments, though, like Kel she did lose periodically. After one loss- "I hate loosing." Jaina said to Kel.

      "Yeah, same here." Kel said. "But think about it. If we won all the time then people would say that they must have been cheating. No one has ever won all the time."

     "Lord Raoul hasn't lost for 10 years." Jaina pointed out.

    "Lord Raoul is also more heavier, and has many years of knighthood to his credit." Kel said. "When we have that many years to our credit, maybe we will also be invincible."

     "Stop talking about invincible, I will be happy if I win 2 or 3 in a row." Neal said, coming in.

     "Hasn't anyone taught you that it is rude to just come into someone else's conversation." Jaina asked.

    "Hello to you too." Neal said.

     Jaina shook her head. "Neal, you are really something."

     "Why thank you." He drawled. "By the way, I come bearing gifts. I letter to yours truly from Roald."

        Jaina grabbed at it. She opened it. Dearest Jaina, words fail me to describe your beauty. Every minute without you is agony. I attempt to concentrate on my training, but it is so hard. I keep seeing your face all around me. All I want to do is run and go find you.        I hope you know that you are the best thing that ever happened to me. I love you so much.  , it began.

        Her face became wistful.  Roald really was sweet, she thought, that is the great thing about quiet guys they are sensitive and much more mushy. Like Anakin. While the loud ones…… well, it takes a lot longer to get to their sensitive side, like dad and Jasa. Jasa is… was changing, becoming a lot more like Uncle Luke.

     She read the letter and gave it a soft kiss. "Ok, that is enough." Neal said. "Enough mushiness."

  "In front of us." Kel added. "And we are leaving you alone so you can write a reply in privacy."

    Kel practically dragged Neal out of there. Jaina smiled, dipped her pen in the ink and began to write. Dear Roald, words fail me but you know what I mean. Every beat of my heart says, Roald, Roald, Roald. I am no good at love poetry, but you know what I mean. In everything I do well, you are there… I love you, forever and always, your Jaina.

       It took Jaina about three hours to finish the letter, not including the breaks she had to take to do her chores for Geoffrey and her lessons. But by the next evening she took the letter to Kel. "Can you deliver this to Roald for me?" She asked.

     "Of course." Kel said.

     "Thanks."

     "It is my pleasure."

     Jaina then went back to her chores. She knew it would take Roald a while to get back to her. He had been doing princely duties in addition to his duties as Squire because his father wanted him to be trained in diplomacy so he would have years of practice was the official reason. Jaina suspected it was also that Jon wanted to be able to participate in battles, which his ministers and council hadn't been allowing him to do because in case something were to happen Thayet would be resisted as queen, and couldn't command the dominion jewel and Roald was untrained. 

    Jaina was pleasantly surprised though when she received a letter two days later, it was short, the usual love poetry and a little news. Jaina and Roald hadn't seen each other face to face since the tournament, and even then they hadn't been able to talk.  Jaina replied quickly. "Jaina," Geoffrey called. "May I please see you for a moment?"

       Jaina put the letter away and went to Geoffrey's room. "Yes." She asked.

     "We have to go to the Scanran border tomorrow, I just wanted to tell you so you would have some time to pack your things before the evening lessons." Geoffrey said acting very preoccupied.

     "Thank you." Jaina said. "I will be ready."

      "I know you will." Geoffrey said, his expression softening. Then he sighed. "If you will excuse me, there is so much I need to do before we leave."

     Jaina bowed and went back into her room. She added on the letter that they were leaving for the Scanran border. Then she started to pack.  She knew the weather on the Scanran border was volatile. The evening bell rang too quickly for Jaina. "Oh shoot." She said. She put aside her packing and got ready for her evening lessons.

      The next morning when they are riding to The Border. "Jaina," Geoffrey said. "I need to be honest with you."

     Jaina immediately became wary; nothing good ever came after that sentence. "Yes sir."

    "I am more then a bit worried about this mission. Scanra is becoming VERY volatile. That and the fact that you are a high ranking member of a government." Geoffrey put his hand up to ward any protests. I know and believe what you tell me about your form of government, but still you have influence. If they kidnap you they have got a lot of leverage. I don't know what rumors have started about you and your role with the Tortallan government. As you know rumors get skewed, terribly skewed. Our chief of intelligence, Sir Myles, is hard pressed to get information from Scanra. The clans are very tight knit amongst themselves. One thing though, this new warlord Maggasur, or what ever his name is, is doing an incredible job getting the clans together, it is unheard of. I believe it may be because of you."

       "What?" Jaina asked astonished. "Because of me?"
   Geoffrey shrugged. "Maybe I am reaching too far out. Gary is the expert in these things, and Myles but if it IS true… Jaina, you are my squire and I have a responsibility to protect you."

    "And I know you will do an awesome job." Jaina said. "You are a great Knight and fighter. Besides, I told you have some… magical ability that if we get into a tight situation I will use." When Geoffrey didn't look any less worried she grinned and added. "I am dating the Crown Prince who gets to sit in on all of these meetings, I am sure he wouldn't have let us come if he thought there was any danger. And we both know Roald thinks of all the possibilities."
       That calmed Geoffrey down a bit. "I guess you are right."

     Then Jaina remembered something else. "And if there is any trouble, aren't Raoul and Kel and the King's Own in the area."

      That calmed him down completely. "And they are outfitted to beat Scanra."

  "Right." Jaina said. "So now we can ride into Scanra knowing we can take anything they throw at us.

     And they did take everything the Scanrans threw at them. Jaina and Geoffrey arrived back in Corus before the snows fell, because you can't get through afterwards, tired but happy. They had survived, and done their part against the Scanrans.

      Right as they got back Jaina got to work. She was so engrossed that she didn't notice when someone else came into the room. "Jaina, someone is here whom I think you want to see." Geoffrey called.

    Jaina could hear the smile in his voice. She turned around. "Roald." She cried.

    "Miss me?" He asked.

   Roald came and gave her a hug. "This is a nice hug." She said, her voice muffled against Roald's chest.