A/N: Sorry about the little writing lapse there; I kind of got distracted. My honest apologies, I'll try to do better. I promise.

~*Goldenlake*~

Alanna rapped smartly on the gate, and waited impatiently for the sentry to poke his head through the small, latched opening.
"State your name and business, missy," the grizzled man asked, although not unkindly.
"Alanna of Trebond, here to." she cast about for an idea.
"We're visiting relatives, who run an inn here," Sam supplied helpfully, and Alanna grinned gratefully at him.
The sentry looked curiously at them, but forbore comment as the door gate slowly creaked open. "Just checkin', young'ns, there's word of Scanran mischief 'round these parts." He smiled favorably as they trotted through, and quickly clamped the sluice shut.
Sam shivered as they made their way up a small hill, pierced by a wide dirt path. "It's cold here, I hadn't really noticed it before." The wind howled viciously again, and the small boy wrapped his arms about his body.
Alanna grimaced. I hate cold weather, she thought fervently, almost more than I hate arachnids. She smiled at her companion, however, and bent her head as they forged their way through the gale.

The stone fortress was large and imposing as they walked through the chilled halls, although Sam was fairly skipping as they followed the welcome scent of yellow curry and steamed whit rice. Goldenlake was obviously not a wintertime hostel, as the rooms were large and drafty. But the inhabitants were friendly and the accommodations were apparently comfortable (judging by the numerous hangings, cushions, and throws strewn about), so there was more than enough material to make up for the fact. Alanna pounded heavily on the solid mahogany doors that led into the dining hall, and covered a smile as she watched Sam jumping up and down slightly. A slight serving maid in a navy dress and smooth white cap let them in. She led them up to a barely raised table at the head of the banquet chamber, where a pallid, portly man with ebony hair and beard was sitting next to a tall, brunette in a yellow silk ball-gown. The man smiled kindly at the two children in front of him; one, a short girl with fiery red locks and a determined scowl. The other, a tiny, snub- nosed boy wearing a brown tunic and a cool gaze that occasionally strayed to the platters of food on the tables. He quietly watched them for a moment or two, as if they were several sparrows in a flock of geese, then spoke. "Welcome, my children." His voice was deep and calculating. "I am Lord Halles of Goldenlake, and this is my sister Lady Ylora."
The immaculate woman inclined her head gently, a soft smile hovering on her perfect, rose-colored lips. "You are always welcome in our home, my little Burning-One, and you, the Jack-daw."
"Is there anything that I can do for you?" Halles asked pleasantly, his voice dripping with syrupy refinement.
Sam nodded enthusiastically, his head bobbing like a miniature piston. "Uh-yes, sir, could you-er-possibly find us some--."
Alanna swiftly clapped a hand forcefully across his mouth, blushing. "Never mind Sam, milord, he's always ravenous. But there is something, we.Could we, perhaps, have a.private audience? Sir?"
Halles chuckled, a rumbling sort of affair. "Of course, my dears, of course." He benevolently herded them into a round antechamber off to the side.

***

The two were seated, quite cozily, in smooth, carved oak chairs set before a low desk that was covered in green felt. Halles sat down heavily, and watched Alann, as if expectant. "Well? You desired to speak with me, removed from prying minds?"
She swallowed. The man's tone was warm and friendly but for some reason, she felt, he was hiding something. "I-am training to be a healer at the Royal Infirmary. While I was on a field assignment close to the Scanran Border, I was captured and taken to a Scanran castle.perhaps forty miles from here, along with Sam here. We managed to escape and ended up here." Alanna paused for breath. "What I'd like to ask of you.we need to get back to Corus, and it's not likely that we could make it by ourselves. Would you.?"
Lord Halles looked almost pensive for a moment but then grinned broadly and stood. "Of course, of course, I was planning on riding there myself, to visit my son Raoul, who is a page there. We will leave tomorrow, as early as you like."
He walked briskly to the door, and held it open for them. "Well, now, my keen and honed instincts tell me that Sam is gnawing at the bit--" Sam flushed, and stared at his toes, "-so we might as well find you lot some edibles."

Sam sighed blissfully as he gazed at the heaped platter of curry, rice, and spicy lime pickle in front of him. He bowed his head, muttered a prayer at top speed, and then launched himself into the mound. Alanna chewed a mouthful of rice and chickpeas slowly, her eyelids drooping. "Mmm, this stuff is prime vittles, and that's a fact." Sam frowned teasingly. "Shudden talk wif your mouf fuww." Alanna raised her brows suspiciously, and drained her mug of mulled cider. "This is the life, pal, I can tell you that." Lord Halles strode importantly over to their table, and smiled surreptitiously at them. "Well now, my dears, it is time for you to get some sleep! We will leave rather early on the morrow and I should like for you to be alert! You will find a dormitory at the end of that door." He gestured to a small door across the room. "Until first light, children!" The paunchy lord chucked Sam's chin, leered again, and sauntered back to his seat.

Sam rubbed his chin slowly, a vivid expression of distaste on his face. "That man is." His voice trailed off, seemingly lost for words. "Let's just say I really don't like him at all."
"Queer?" Alanna volunteered dryly, the corners of her mouth twitching. "Well, I suppose that we had best be sleeping now, oughtn't we?"
The boy nodded, grudgingly slipped away from his place and followed her out of the banquet room.

The dormitory was almost empty except for two older women and a middle- aged man on the far side of the chamber. The beds were small but clean, with fresh cream-colored sheets, blue woolen blankets, and a nightstand and pitcher in between every pair of cots.
Alanna collapsed with a sigh onto the blankets of the bed nearest to her and, without even bothering to take off her boots, buried her face into her pillow. Sam quickly followed suit, although he at least removed his leather galoshes.
A shaft of moonlight streamed fluidly in through the many-paned windows, like a rivulet of perfect, silvery mercury, and fell upon the now slumbering occupants of the dormitory. Nighttime gently whirled it's velvet cloak of darkness, and the lustrous stars upon it shone with a celestial radiance like the glint of the sun on the wide, heaving waves.

***

The next day, as early light filtered through the hemlocks and rowans, Alanna and Sam were riding borrowed ponies along a wide dirt road. Lord Halles and one manservant accompanied them, and Halles made an attempt at conversation with Alanna. It was obviously a failure, as Alanna absolutely refused to chat with him. She merely sat sullenly in her saddle, bleary- eyed and scowling. Sam, however, bantered amiably with the older man, only a masterfully hidden mistrusting look betraying his true feelings.
They rode all day, eating but the little that they could manage on horseback. When evening fell they camped underneath the stars, the two children side by side in their borrowed bedrolls.
When they woke at dawning the welcome aroma of warm porridge wafted from the cooking pit. Sam then gave an almighty whoop, leapt from his blankets, and raced to the fire to find the manservant (called Wryn) stirring a large pot of hominy. He was closely followed by a less awake (but none-the-less voracious) Alanna, who immerged from her quilts with bedraggled red curls and, to her dismay, a numerous amount of mosquito bites up and down her body. (A/N: My personal experiences at camp! Lol) Lord Halles was evidently lying in a bit later.
Alanna hunkered down on a low boulder next to Sam and watched Wryn dole out bowls of porridge to them.
The small boy flashed a smile at her, and returned his attention to the oatmeal. "You wouldn't happen to know how much longer an excursion this should be?"
Alanna breathed deeply of the sharp morning air. "Oh, I dunno, perhaps two day or more. Even though my father taught Thom and I all that logistics stuff, I'm still not quite sure."
Wryn abruptly interrupted their discussion by handing each a tureen of porridge. "There you go! I've got some cream, if you like, we'll have t use it eventually or it'll go bad, and some raspberries I gathered on the trail."
Sam nodded breathlessly. "Give them here, go on, give them here-."
Alanna frowned disapprovingly, and smiled apologetically at their cook. "You'll have to excuse Sam, sir, he's a bit of a wart hog when it comes to meals!" The boy pouted, and jabbed her with his free hand. "S'not funny, 'Lanna, s'mean!" His mouth was so crammed with porridge, cream and berries that the girl winced and dug into her own dish. Lord Halles ambled complacently over to the three, and beamed affably at them. "Good morning, my ducks, I hope you slept well?" Alanna nearly choked on a raspberry. Ducks? She thought incredulously. What does he think we are, farm animals? She merely grinned back at him, although she remembered to chew and swallow first. Halles popped a ladle-full of oatmeal into his mouth and declared himself full. "If you would please, my ducklings, I should like for you to be ready to leave, say, in five minutes or so." It was an allegation, not a question, and they readily complied.

The tetrad rode for several more days, slowly traversing the southwestern causeways to the Capitol City of Corus. Remarkably enough the weather was, if a bit crisp, clear and bright, so they were able to make good time. And so, one blustery day in November, they pulled their mounts to a halt in the Royal Stables.

A/N: "Halles" is pronounced "Hallis," just so you know. Please review, I'm desperate for attention. Hehehe. Anyway, update will most likely be a bit less frequent now that school has started but I will honestly try to be consistent. Please read "Let Me Go," previously called "Surrender," (sucky name) it's actually better if you haven't read the book before. In fact, it's not as dull that way, ::sob::. Alrighty, well, I hope you have a nice day. Oh, and just so you know, the Nameless Ones will have something to do with my future plot.Find a Nameless Ones reference in this chapter and I will personally invite you to my lovely website for tea, cookies, and hot cocoa. I love cocoa. Hahaha. I hope that this was long enough for you.