Sorry the last one was so short..lol..sorry to all you who liked other people aside from Carlyn. I might make her and Stu hook up later.possibly. But not for a long time, this fluff is getting too intense, and I don't really like fluff that much.maybe some more action and stuff before the Fluff..but trust me, the fluff will RETURN!!!

At the top of the hill, Lera could see the golden gates of Corus, beckoning her home. She glanced back at Carlyn, as he had for the past three days, he refused to meet her gaze. Biting back an inward sob, Lera quickened her, emphasised now that she could see home.

They hadn't spoken. For three days. Lera was a mess. They were both dirty, and full of feeling. Lera was afraid. Of what? Of returning? Surely not? Thought the thought frightened, her, with no reason. Maybe after two and a half week in the forest secluded, crowds were not her thing.

Stopping to wait for Carlyn, Lera glanced around. A quick flash in the forest sent her sprawling to the ground in an instant, staring at her surroundings. Carlyn dropped as well, crawling to her. They both saw the man creeping towards the caste slowly at the same time. Their eyes didn't meet, but Lera felt him see the man. Suddenly more cam into view. Lera could see three rows of men circling the hills, creeping towards the castle. As the advance stopped, Lera crawled away from the edge of her over look.

She needed to tell someone. Sprinting full speed towards the palace, Carlyn trailing, Lera's mind was a jumble of thoughts.

Was there an attack planned for tonight? She wondered to herself, crashing through the trees. As she entered the courtyard of the palace, people began to stare. She knew her and Carlyn must look an awful sight, but they had important news that needed to be delivered.

Scrambling up the steps and down the hallways, an easy task for Padraig was undoubtedly in his office and classes were in session.

Slamming into Padraig's office, Carlyn gasping for breathe behind her, Lera glanced around, startled by the change in the royal red office. It was now coated in black. Black clothing hung from hangers on the arch of the doorway and a paining of Carlyn, Drailin, Solo and Lera hung, surrounded by candles on his dresser.

Lera gasped. They had been assumed dead!

That instant, Padraig entered his office behind them. Seeing her and Carlyn there, alive and kicking, His eyes turned into saucepans and he glanced from Lera to Carlyn and back several times.

Finally he sat in a desk, still not speaking, closed the door with his foot and motioned for them to sit down. After a moment the shock had obviously died off somewhat.

"Your not dead." He informed them in a very business like manner. Lera nodded politely and stole a glance at Carlyn, he was gaping at Padraig as if he was insane. A grin slept onto her face despite the seriousness of the situation.

"There are probably a thousand score of men strong surrounding the palace, on the hills, North." Carlyn replied, gathering himself.

Padraig blinked at him and turned to Lera. "How are you alive? We found Solo and Drailin dead, and you went over the falls. How are you alive?"

So, they had tracked them to the falls. Abruptly it hit her what he had said. "Solo died?" She croaked, forgetting her message. Her confidence crumpled and she curled into a ball on the chair, weeping for the loss of her friend. Carlyn took over, edging his chair away from Lera's and towards Padraig's desk.

He quickly explained the situation. Padraig stood and left the room without answering, only nodding in acceptance of the situation. Carlyn, forgetting himself touched Lera. He drew his hand away as if it was poison. He intended to keep this promise to himself. No touching. If he could manage, they would be friends. But only friends. She didn't love him, and she had the country watching her, being the only page who was a female.

Lera stood of her own accord, and Carlyn followed her to her room, to assure her safe return. She turned on her heel, catching his eyes, again, he lost his control and didn't pull his gaze away.

"I meant what I said." Lera whispered.

Carlyn turned around and walked away, knowing what she meant. She was a liar now. As he walked away, he could hear Lera's attempt at stifling her sobs. His heart nearly broke in two.

He didn't look back.

Lera turned to close her door, then suddenly stepped into the hallway.

"Don't lie just to protect yourself. You coward." Lera screamed down the hallway at him. She felt like dying. She curled up in her bed with blanket draped across her quivering shoulders. He was lying to himself. Convincing himself that she didn't love him. To protect himself from his feelings. She hated him. She loved him.

Lera slept.

Carlyn nearly halted when she yelled at him, the truth almost stopping his heart. He kept walking, mechanically. A few pages, pretending to be sick stuck their heads out their doors at the shriek. He didn't waver. He locked himself in his room and didn't answer when it was pounded upon by Stu. Even his best friend couldn't comfort him. The thought of spending the next four years away from Lera was gut wrenching, but he had to face it. For her safety. and his. The exams were still a week away. He had plenty of time to get over it before he found a knight and left.

Lera opened her eyes and sat up, trudging to the door, opening it and trudging back to bed. Stu burst in, a grin on his face.

"You're ALIVE!" He yelled at her, pulling her into a big hug. Despite her misery, she couldn't help but grin with him.

She hugged him vigorously back, grinning from ear to ear. He helpfully dumped a few buttered rolls into her lap. Lera fell upon them, eating like a feral animal. Stu stared at her, eyeing her up and down as she stood, crumbs tumbling from her lap.

"Well?" Lera asked sarcastically, as if she awaited his verdict.

"You lost a lot of weight." He said, his eyes dwindling on her loose blouse. Her shirt were usually tight in the chest. Now her breasts were sore and nearly half as large. Her ribs and hip bones thrust from her body at odd angles, though still covered in flesh. Her elbow bones were knobbly as well.

She tried to smile at him, knowing how pinched her face looked.

He drew her into a hug, breathing down her back from his height.

"Feels like ages." He murmured to her, clapping her on the back. "I missed you."

Lera nodded. "I missed you too, Buddy."

He nearly lifted her up in his bear hug again, still un believing that she was alive. He told her about their funerals. Apparently Logan was bawling his eyes out. Lera grinned, the thought of Carlyn swept from her mind. The intenseness of her abandon forgotten momentarily as well.

David, Stu, Logan and David rushed to welcome her as she entered the mess hall. They all asked questions about her trip, and she spared no details, save when went on between her and Carlyn. They 'oooh' ed at her fall over the falls, and 'aaah' ed her search for feverfew. She all drew sharp breath as her news of the enemy, now announced to be Gallan warriors, finally revolting about their princess being stolen for a 'foul Tortallan king.'

They all asked about Carlyn. Where he was, why he was locked in his room. In fact, no one saw Carlyn for several days, as Lera had returned to her normal classes and the other were busy studying for the test to become a squire.

The week passed, and Carlyn returned to normal, though he never once spoke to her about the trip, and refused to meet her gaze.

The exams came and went and Lera found herself still pining for Carlyn's company, as much as they used to be. Best friends. She felt stripped of hope every time he turned away from her gaze and walked out on her apologies.

The attack on the castle,, in which Lera was forbidden to fight because she was weakened from her battle against the wilderness. Gradually she gained her weight back and her spirit as well. Carlyn was still known the be sulky and bad tempered if reminded of his adventure. Lera explained that it was his fever. It had nearly killed him.