Laur1532 ~ LoL, maybe some questions will be answered in this chapter. Well, personally, I don't care much for cliffhangers myself, unless, of course, I'm the one writing them ;) Then, I don't mind… Hehe, evil me.

Angel-kiss7 ~ Umm, I don't really know what to say in reply to your review. It seemed more to be directed at Cordelia than me ;) but then again, I'm just home from school and I'm not thinking clearly anyway (that's what school does to you!)

Kassi of Pirate's Swoop ~ I don't get how you can be in school and read/review my story. I mean, in my school, the computers are tracked and they block the site *coughKaricough* except they didn't exactly know about fanfiction, so I suppose they couldn't block it *evil grin*. Well, my friend and I were able to get on the computers during Latin (Latin is the language of demons!) and instead of playing, erm, Roman calendar games, we went on fanfiction and fictionpress. Hehe, bad us. Oh well.

Jelie36 ~ Ooh! New reviewer! Cool! Thnx for adding my story to favorites! *beams* I feel special now. And that's good, since all that's happened here so far is that it snowed. Snowed! I mean, spring is in 2 more days! And it just has to snow! Well, I'm rambling, so I'll stop now. Yeah, stop . . .

Babyjayy ~ I'm a meaniee? A Meaniee? I feel so sad! *pout* or not... But that's okay. I just had to leave a big cliffhanger. Yeah, I am a meanie.

--- ~ I know it's a big cliffy. Hehe, I'm evil. Thnx for reviewing!

Sakura Blossoms ~ Oh, hi! I'm updating. BTW, cool name. LoL.

Dragonfirechick ~ Okay! I'm updating! Don't hide in the corner and sulk! Ooh, I feel special again. Hehe. Thnx for reviewing!

Stormcloud ~ yep, it was my biggest cliffhanger, as more than half of my reviewers found it necessary to point out. And yes, I know I have to update, cuz otherwise, my readers will all start to hate me, so yeah.

Dorkeegirl168 ~ that's okay. You'll find out the answers and everything in this chapter… I think. (I can't remember what I write in the chapters – I write the chapters before I respond to my reviewers.) Short-term memory, hehe.

CrimsonEnchantress ~ Wow! All 22 chapters nonstop? That is amazing! I could never be that patient. Thank you so much! Your review was so sweet! I hope this chapter is long enough and good enough for you!

Queen of Sheba ~ Okay! I'm updating! Now you don't have to say that until next time! And this chapter is cool, so there you go.

Luv*a*lot ~ Whoohoo! I haven't been abandoned! Ooh, I feel bad for u… Did they actually discover the chocolate whereabouts? Hmm, well, at least you didn't die. I was afraid something had happened to u, and I'd lost a reviewer *cry* and then ur stories wouldn't be updated . . . and I'm blabbering. Blah. I forget what I was going to say anyways. So, just thnx 4 reviewing! Ooh, wait, now I remember. Wait, I just forgot again. Geez, I've got, like, a 2-second memory span. Oh well. I know I'll remember at 2:00 in the morning. But at least I'll remember it. *breathes sigh of relief*. So . . . yeah, just go read.

Fineflyer ~ Wow! I loved ur long enthusiastic review! Thank you! *Beams until face hurts*

Turwen ~ new reader!! Ahh! I feel so special! *goes and dances and trips and tumbles down the stairs* Ooh! Ahh! (Okay now I'm starting to sound stupid) Ah, well. Thnx for reviewing! Glad u like my story!

*****

A/N: This chapter is extra-long to make up for the really short chapter last time! Thnx for keeping with me! I luv u all!

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We all stared at Cordelia, shocked. I wasn't sure I had heard her correctly.

Father?

Thoughts spun through my head, mostly denial. Cordelia wouldn't betray us. She hadn't led us here to turn us in.

Or had she?

Lord Donovan smirked. "Good job, dear."

Cordelia lifted her chin proudly. "They actually trusted me!" she said scornfully. "They couldn't even see past my little act."

This couldn't be happening.

This had to be some type of dream or nightmare or something. Cordelia was betraying us, to Lord Donovan? And she was his daughter?

Ted had recovered from the shock first. He was now glaring daggers at Cordelia. "How could you!" he yelled. "We actually trusted you!"

"Why did you, then?" she shot back calmly.

Ted gaped at her, and then shook his head. "I can't believe you would do something like this!"

I spoke, and my voice was quivery. "Cordelia – please tell me that this isn't true."

She shrugged nonchalantly. "What can I say? It is true."

James looked, to say the least, stunned. I instantly felt pity for him. He had to be taking this worse than me or Ted.

Cordelia answered our unasked questions. "I'm not the person you thought I was."

"Who are you really?" Ted demanded.

"Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Lady Cordelia of Frell, daughter of Lord Donovan, follower of Queen Maydria."

That was another shock. She actually was a follower of Maydria?

"No," James said. "You're not. You're lying."

Cordelia shook her head sympathetically at him. "Oh, I wish I was. Too bad it's true, then, isn't it?"

Lord Donovan was watching the entire exchange, an amused smile on his lips. I wanted more than anything to smack him – hard.

"This is getting tiring," Cordelia said, giving an exaggerated yawn. "Guards!"

Guards stepped out of the bushes, where they had obviously lain in wait.

Two of them grabbed me before I could act. I kicked at them, but they were much bigger and stronger than I was.

Ted growled, and his sword appeared in his hand. He knocked out two of the guards before they even realized he had a weapon. Cordelia snuck a glance at her father. Donovan was just watching the action, his face stoic.

Cordelia produced a handful of sparkly white powder from somewhere, and threw it at him.

Ted brushed the powder off impatiently. "What was that?" he asked, bewildered.

Cordelia gave him a sweet smile. "A knockout powder."

"It's not working," Ted said triumphantly.

"Not yet, it hasn't." Cordelia corrected. "According to my calculations, it should be working about -"

Ted gave a soft groan, and slowly collapsed as the powder took effect.

"- now." Cordelia finished.

"What did you do?!" I screamed.

"Nothing, Lela. It's only for a few minutes."

James was the only one who hadn't fought back when the guards seized him. He was staring at Cordelia wordlessly, betrayal in his eyes.

"How could you do this?" he asked her quietly. "I actually loved you!"

Cordelia flinched and looked away.

"I thought you loved me," James accused.

She looked at him, her eyes cold and distant, and her pretty face expressionless. "I never loved you. I was only using you." Her voice was icy and cutting.

I felt anger sear through me. With a suppressed cry of rage, I flew at Cordelia. No one hurt my best friend like that. Ever.

The guards quickly pulled me away from the other girl, before I could inflict any harm upon her. She studied me for a second.

I stared back fearlessly. Then, something in her eyes changed to something I couldn't read.

I was confused. She didn't look mad or cold or superior anymore. Now, she looked almost normal, like she usually did when she was around us.

I had to remind myself that I didn't know Cordelia all that well. That the face she had on around us was only a façade. That I didn't know the real her.

"Take them to the last room in the east wing and lock them in," Cordelia said suddenly. She was back to being the traitor/daughter-of-Donovan Cordelia again.

I shot her a glare as the guards pulled me away. I wouldn't let her get away with that. I would get her back, and she knew it.

I made the guards' job as difficult as possible. And since I was overly stubborn, that was good. I dug in my heels, refusing to move. They had to pull and coax and drag and carry me all the way to the room.

Ted was unconscious still, and that worried me. I didn't know if he was alright or not. I didn't trust Cordelia anymore.

James was quiet and unresisting. He seemed to have sunk deep into painful thoughts, and didn't even notice what was going on around him.

I swore under my breath. Cordelia would pay.

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~Cordelia's POV~

I couldn't believe I had just done that. That was the single most horrible thing I had ever done in my entire life. Besides for the fact that I had ever gotten born, that is.

It wasn't my fault that I was the daughter of Lord Donovan. I hated that identity, and I wanted no one to know about it.

Lela and the others came close to finding out my true identity when I went into the room where they were being threatened by my father. Luckily, though, the sleeping powder that I had put into his drink made him so confused that he didn't even acknowledge me that much.

So I was able to keep my true heritage from my friends for the entire time.

I hadn't wanted to lie or betray them. I had wanted to help them to destroy Maydria. And to discredit my father.

I hated my father. Well, I didn't exactly hate him, but I hated how he was so much under Maydria's control that he didn't realize that he was just another pawn in her ruthless conquest for the throne.

I hadn't meant to betray Lela, Ted, and James.

I hadn't even intended to do that until I realized what a dangerous situation we had gotten into.

I had sensed the guards' presence as soon as the doors swung open. I had heard the small cough from inside the bushes. The others hadn't noticed; they were too busy gaping at my father's sudden appearance. But I had noticed, and did the only thing I could think of to do.

I betrayed them.

I didn't really mean to hurt them that much though. I had only wanted to fool my father, so that I could get us all out of this mess. I had fooled my father, but in the process, lost all the trust that my friends had put in me.

I felt horrible. I still couldn't get James's words out of my head. I loved you. The words echoed in my head. That meant so much to me, but I couldn't show that. I had almost lost it then and there in front of all the guards and my father. But if I had, the entire mission – and the whole kingdom – would be in big trouble.

I had to hurt him.

I wanted to just forget this whole mission, and just tell James that I loved him back.

But I couldn't.

"Cordelia, dear," my father said sweetly. "How clever of you to lead them here!"

I smiled, but it was completely faked. I felt more like crying than smiling.

"And that powder! What genius!" he continued.

I felt like throwing all the knockout powder in his face. Genius? If I had been a genius, I would never have led my friends into this trap. I should have stopped them. I should have done anything – except let them come here, and get caught.

"At least "Her Majesty" will be pleased," I said, forcing myself to say it without wincing.

"Of course she will!" father said happily. "I'm so proud of you!"

I turned away so that he couldn't see the tears in my eyes. He had never ever told me that he was proud of me. Usually, he was disappointed in me; disappointed that I didn't join Maydria's side.

I had always wanted him to say those words to me. But, now when he finally did, it meant nothing. Nothing.

Nothing meant anything anymore. I had lied – to my only friends – and to James.

I would never live this down.

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~Lela's POV~

Unceremoniously, we were tossed into the room and locked in. I slumped against the wall, depressed. How were we ever supposed to get out of this mess?

I looked around the room quickly. The walls, ceiling, and floor were stone, and the door was iron and had multiple locks on the outside. How, exactly, were we supposed to get out of here? Nothing else was in the room.

Ted was still unconscious, but he would probably soon wake up. For now, I was mostly worried about James.

James was leaning against the other wall, his expression distant and detached.

Feeling sympathy for him, I went over to him. "James -"

"I can't believe she would do something like that," James said despairingly, cutting me off.

My heart went out to him. At the same time, though, I felt white-hot rage at Cordelia. I couldn't believe it either. How could she do this? I hugged James, trying to make him feel better.

He hesitated, and then his arms went around me. "Why?" he muttered.

"Forget her," I said.

"I can't!" he said, shaking his head. "I – just can't."

"Maybe she had a reason for doing this," I said, trying to be reasonable, but at the same time, doubting myself.

James knew what I was thinking. "There's no logical reason. Otherwise, she wouldn't have told us to go during the day. She would have been surprised to see Lord Donovan. She wouldn't have known about the guards hiding, or this room."

"But – maybe – maybe she is innocent," I said, but knew it was useless. I was just giving him false hope.

"You know it and I know it. She betrayed us," James said. He pushed me away roughly. "And I was stupid enough to love her and trust her."

"We all trusted her," I said.

"Then she tricked all of us. Lied to us. Betrayed all of us," James said with a bitter laugh.

I couldn't think of anything to say that would improve our situation, but a noise behind me distracted me.

Ted was stirring. Obviously, the effects of the knockout powder had worn off.

He sat up, rubbing his head. "Ow. I feel all -" He stopped, noting our surroundings for the first time. I watched his face as the memories rushed back to him.

He cursed. "I can't believe her! That little - lying, cheating traitor -"

"Shut up," James snapped, his eyes blazing green.

Ted looked taken aback. "What?!"

He hadn't been awake for James's confession – that might be the reason why he looked so confused.

"Just shut up about her, alright?" yelled James. Still, after everything Cordelia had done to him, he still defended her.

That was pretty sad, but honorable nonetheless.

"Why are you defending her? She just betrayed us!" Ted said.

"So? Maybe she had a reason," James argued.

I wish.

Ted looked at him for a minute, and the realization dawned in his face. Please, Ted, don't say anything about it . . . I pleaded mentally.

He didn't. Instead, he just muttered an apology. I could have kissed him right then and there. I didn't want both of them blowing up at each other. We had enough to handle as it was.

"Let's search for a way out. A hidden passageway, a secret door, whatever," I suggested, trying to distract them.

"Good idea," Ted said. He got up and went to search along one wall. We searched methodically, but I didn't spot anything out of the ordinary on my wall.

"Hey!" James cried a while later. "I think I've found something!"

"What?" I ran over. He pointed to a section of rock. It looked . . . different from the others. It was the same color and everything, but for some reason, the rock itself looked weird.

"It's got words carved in it," James said abruptly.

I looked closer, but I saw no words. Ted looked too, and shook his head. "What words?"

"The words – can't you read it?" James twisted around to look at us.

I shook my head. "I can't see anything except a bunch of squiggles and weird drawings. Or whatever. They make no sense whatsoever to me."

"Same here," Ted added.

"What's it say?" I asked, curious. I didn't get how James could read something and Ted and I couldn't. After all, I wasn't illiterate. Neither was Ted.

James read whatever it was, and suddenly paled.

"What?" I asked, alarmed at his strange behavior. "What does it say?"

When he answered, he spoke in a low voice that didn't sound like his own. "Only those with magic and those with the power of witchcraft may read this ancient language, which will be your only means of escape. Aperire lapideus."

As soon as he had finished speaking, the wall began to move.

I jumped backwards as the stones moved together, creating an opening. Dust rose from the stones moving, and several chunks of rock crashed into the ground in front of us. I moved backwards and bumped into Ted, sending both of us tumbling to the ground. James looked scared at what he had just done. It obviously wasn't an everyday occurrence.

When finally, the dust had cleared, we blinked, dazzled, into the sunlight.

The opening had led directly to outside the castle.

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"Well, that was different," I said, when I had finally gotten my voice back.

"I was right!" Ted said cheerfully.

Both James and I turned to stare at him incredulously.

"What?" he said defensively. "I did say that one of us was a mage, and I was right! James is the one!"

"And I was right, too. Lela was paranoid," James said, grinning for the first time.

"But I was the closest in my guess," I declared. "Cordelia was following us."

As soon as I said it, I regretted it. James once again had that guarded look on his face, and Ted looked angry all over again.

"Well," I said, clearing my throat. "Anyway . . . James, did you ever know you were a mage?"

"No!" James said, looking horrified at the idea. "I'm not a mage!"

I snorted. "Try saying that again." I gestured to the rock opening.

James stepped through the opening, to outside of the castle. "Okay, so maybe I am. But I didn't know it."

Grinning, I followed him. "That was easy. We got out."

"And didn't even finish what we came here to do," Ted reminded me.

Suddenly, James swore, something I had never ever heard him do.

"What?" I looked around.

Immediately, my anger returned, closer to the surface and much more lethal.

"Cordelia," Ted said flatly, coldly. "What do you want?"

She had run up to us, looking excited and flushed. At Ted's cold glare and even colder tone of voice, she backed up. "To talk to you guys."

"We don't need to talk. We already know you betrayed us," I said sharply.

Cordelia looked hurt. "Fine, then," she blazed at us. "Fine. I just thought you might want to know that Maydria is now dead; and that the safest way to escape is back the way you came from. The guards won't expect you to go that way, and with their queen dead, there'll be too much confusion anyway. But since you obviously don't want my advice, never mind then." She turned away from us and ran.

To tell the truth, I was stunned. I didn't know how to process this new information.

Ted looked just as shocked as me. "Maydria is dead," he repeated. "God, whose side is she on, anyway? Why'd she tell us all that? How'd she know we'd escape?"

James realized it first. He covered his face with his hands and groaned. "God, she knew. She was doing it for us all along! She killed Maydria. She knew about the secret opening. She knew!"

"Oh no," I whispered as I realized my mistake.

Cordelia was innocent.

She had done it to save us.

I turned to James, but he had followed Cordelia. Instead, I looked at Ted, who was looking like I felt. Guilty. And really, really stupid.

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~Cordelia's POV~

I knew. Of course I knew that they would shun me. After all that I had done to them, it was inevitable.

But still, it hurt.

I ran from them, feeling the tears flow freely.

It wasn't my fault that I had had to pretend to betray them.

But they thought it was for real.

I ran, not knowing where I was going, and not caring, either. I had just been turned away from the only friends I had ever had. And the only one I had ever loved.

I stopped when I couldn't run anymore, and collapsed on a large rock. It was just then that I noticed where I was.

I was by a swiftly running stream. This stream was long, and ran through the entire woods. This was the same stream that Lela had fallen into; the same one that James almost drowned in. Except for the fact that this was a different part of the stream, it was very much like Lela's "Secret Valley", the one she had told me about. She had said it was very beautiful.

The place where I was now was also very pretty. Flowers bloomed in abundance, red and pink, lilac and white. Green leaves were all over the ground in a soft carpet, and flowers dotted everything.

I hardly noticed the beauty though, as I stared at the waters, feeling miserable.

I heard footsteps behind me, but I didn't turn around. I didn't care who it was. If it was a guard, I didn't care. If it was my father, I would probably just push him right into the stream.

I turned around, defiant, and saw the one person I wasn't expecting to see.

James.

"Cordelia," he began, but I cut him off. "Forget it. I know you guys don't trust me anymore."

"We didn't know which side you were on," James said.

I swallowed. "I was on your side. You guys were the best friends I ever had. I wouldn't betray you like that."

James looked away. "We tried to deny it, but it didn't make sense. The more we thought about it, the more convinced we were that you weren't kidding."

"I knew you were a mage. I knew it when I first saw you. That's what I didn't tell you – that you had magic powers. The healer I trained with had taught me some basic potions magic, and she also taught me to see if other people had magic. I saw your aura when I first met you. I didn't tell any of you, though. That was a mistake. But I saw the room marked on one of the maps that I had stolen from my father – and I saw how it had a secret exit that would only be triggered by magic. So I ordered the guards to lock you guys in that room. I didn't want to betray you, honestly, I didn't. I hated myself for doing that, but I knew I had to if you guys were to be safe, and so we could destroy Maydria." I knew I was going fast, but still, I didn't stop.

"I knew the guards were there – I heard one of them cough. But you and Lela and Ted were too busy trying to figure out where my father had come from that you didn't notice it. And when you told me that you loved me, I wanted to tell you that I loved you too, but my father was watching, and I couldn't say it. It would endanger everything. I had to say what I did. I'm so sorry."

James had been listening while I explained myself. Now, he looked embarrassed. "No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have doubted you. I'm sorry."

I looked at him in surprise. "So – so you're not mad at me?" I asked, my voice quavering.

He hugged me. "Never."

"I won't ever betray you. Never," I murmured.

"I know."

"Oh, and James? I was lying before. I do love you." I looked down, not meeting his eyes.

He tilted my chin up. "I know," he said, and then he kissed me.

Without another thought, I kissed back.

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A/N: Ahh! That is the sappiest and longest chapter I have ever written. But it's so sweet! JAMES AND CORDELIA FOREVER!!! Aww . . . did anyone else think that chapter was cute? I love this chapter . . . even though it is *cough* very, very um, lovey-dovey. But oh well. For all the romance fans out there, this chapter is dedicated to you!!! Much luv ~ AryaWinds

PS. The thingy that James reads – the weird words are actually Latin, and mean "open the stone". Just wanted to say that. 3