This chapter is dedicated to Nolee, who is griping cuz i dedicated a whole story to kit. sorry!

And, a huge thankyou to rootless californian, who said i sounded like tammy!!!!!!!!!

now, to the thank yous-

Alianne Cooper- oh well, dont worry about it. i know what you mean, i have the same problem. i like it, too. i know. she wasnt really paying that close of attention. but i would notice if someone was watching me. yeah, its realistic enough. i wouldnt believe it if someone dead was standing in front of me! i have her decked up, i know. you will get an explenation for him helping in this chapter.glad you liked, anyway!
LillianaRose-glad you thought it was funny. much fun to write.

alianne of conte-of course. wouldnt have it any other way.

wake robin-its not like he really has a choice, anyway. death does change people- they rot and get eaten by worms.

Mage Light-ooh, im writing a scary story. awesome!!!
Gwen of Helmsgrove- yeah, this is pretty much all ive done this summer. even on vacation, i would write. i read a lot of fanfiction too, though. and when i wasnt reading that, i was reading normal books. busy summer.

rootless californian- thanks! but i wouldnt go around announcing that you dont like joren. i wont do anything, but nolee may hurt you. shivers i sound like tammy!!! awesome!!!! thats like the greatest compliment you could give me! ahh! i love you!

violet rush- glad you like! i know what you mean. if they have some dumb reason, it bugs me. i like it more when he doesnt die! i wont do a cliffie at the end of every chapter. not only would it be annoying, it would be hard on me!

mepb- glad you like!

Allimba-thanks!

wild black fire- i know, but stranger things have been known to occur...i think

Imperfectionist ;D- dont wanna know which ways. thanx, though, and glad you liked.

pinky- glad you liked. it is rather funny...

eat paper- i didnt really like him that much when i first read it, but now it makes me feel awful when i read that part.

PsychoLioness13-what was she gonna do, slap the ghost? so he wasnt exactly a ghost. i think anyone would have fainted upon learning that your worst enemy, who had died, came back as a messenger of the gods to help you with who knows what. well, neway, glad you liked.

alyios-hey, not joren-mad! i am dom mad, and maybe even neal mad, but not joren mad. so what if im obsessed! nolee is, however. you should have read her first review. i believe it was JOREN! Gah...Joren...update...gah...NOW...gah...

oceanspike-fine, be like that. dont review. but i am evil!

CrystalLili- i will.

Falcon- i know! im so excited!

crazylittlekiwifruit-is-too-lazy-to-log-in - interesting name youve got there. j/k. anyway, yeah, thats about how it goes. glad you liked. and i will write as fast as i get good ideas.

Nolee-no big deal. i hate it when that happens!!!!glad you liked. most people are giving me grief about her fainting. i personally thought it amusing.

Fanta-im glad you liked that. it was fun! i just loved the idea for that as a title. its just, so, well, so suiting!anyway, thanks!

bloodsoakedtiger-glad you liked. and i wont forget your review. its the funny ones and the really nice ones i remember.

DaughterofDeath-i did!

MysticMoonEmpress-glad you liked, and gladder still it made you laugh.very short, i know. well, hope this ones longer.

thats all! well, thank you guys so much! youre all awesome!

Chapter Two:

Of Quests and Second Chances

Kel awoke with an awful headache. She looked around the unfamiliar room. Where was she? It appeared like an inn. Old furniture, worn wall hangings, and a small bed, barely fit for one person.

The door opened. Instantly, she reached for a knife. Joren walked into the room, towel rapped around his waist, hair wet. She blushed and turned away from his bare torso.

A cocky grin crossed his face at her reaction. She was itching to slap it off his face, but resisted.

After several moments, he told her, "You can turn around." She did, careful to control her face.

"Now, would you mind telling me where I am, what you are doing here, and, more to the point, how you came to be here?"

He just smiled. She glared.

"What, didn't understand yesterday, Lump? I told" He stopped quickly, grimacing in pain.

Kel watched, curious as to what was happening. His face soon cleared, and he continued with what he had been saying, as if nothing had happened.

"I told you, I was sent back by the Gods to help you. As to your other question, you are in the room I rented at the Hog's Head. Can you tell I've been reading HP? In my bed, by the way."

"Oh, quit being a baby, Stone Mountain. It's not like I asked you to give up your bed. I would have been perfectly fine if yesterday hadn't happened."

He shot a glare at her. "Would you hurry up and eat so we can leave?" He shoved the food into her hands, and she slowly began to eat, careful to keep her eyes on him.

After the plate had been cleared, she stood up and stretched.

"Now, if you will excuse me, I have to get back to the palace. Thank you for the bed." She smiled slightly before heading for the door.

"Oh, no. We have things to do." He grabbed her arm. She twisted his up, and he grudgingly released her, but moved to stand in front of the door, blocking her exit.

"Very well." She glared. "What do you want to talk about?"

Joren let out a sigh before pulled his hood over his head. It shadowed his face, making it impossible to tell who it was.

"Not here." He told her shortly before pulling her down the hall and onto the busy street.

After they had walked for several minutes, she asked, annoyed, "Where are we going?"

"Your rooms. More privacy, and you have some things we'll need." She nodded her head, and they walked silently to the palace.

Kel looked around the corner, careful to make sure the hall was empty. She didn't want anyone to see him. That would take a lot of explaining she was not ready for. She didn't even know what was going on, for Mithros' sake!

Joren watched her, amusement plain in his eyes. She shot him a glare before quickly unlocking the door to her room and shoving him inside.

He sat down comfortably in a chair, and she followed suit. "You'd better start explaining." She ordered.

"You know already that the Gods sent me back. I am to aid you in your quest."

"What quest?" She practically screamed in frustration. He had already told her all this! She needed to know the rest!

He raised a finger, telling her to wait. With a snap of his fingers, gold walls magically appeared around her room, making it impossible for anyone that might be lurking outside to hear their conversation.

"The war with Scanra is getting worse. You know that already. What you don't know is that Maggur has done something, many somethings in fact, to earn the Gods' anger. They want you to venture to Scanra and get something for them. Something that will put an end to the war, that will bring Maggur off his throne."

"What is it I am to get?" She asked impatiently. Gods, was this man always that evasive?

"You need to get the Crown of Kings, the thing that gives him the power over all the clans."

"How much power, exactly, does this crown hold? What else can it do?" She leaned forward in her seat, hooked.

"That's the hard part. No one knows besides Maggur. We'll have to do quite a bit of scroll searching."

"Oh, wonderful." She mumbled before thinking to ask, "And why, exactly, are you here, besides to bring these happy tidings?"

He groaned and leaned back in his chair. "I told you already, I am to aid you! I have to go with you and help you in any way I can, as said by the Gods." He scowled, obviously unhappy at the idea. He wasn't the only one.

"What do you get for doing this, then?" She arched a brow.

"I get a second chance at life."