Disclaimer: My status on owning this story has... unfortunately... not changed since last chapter. I am still not Mercedes Lackey, and I don't own Jaseen, or the setting, or the language... or really anything. Other than Larle, who I am not proud of owning. At least I own something.

A/N: Sorry about the length of the last chapter! I didn't realize how short it would be on fanfiction until I uploaded it. This one will hopefully be longer, but will mostly be a flashback and reveal Jaseen's history, fun! Thanks to all my awesome first four reviewers... ever!... on fanfiction. Hey, four is something, don't laugh!

Herald Kelsin: First person ever to review me!!!! ::grins happily:: I automatically use guy and boyfriend in writing, but I corrected it later. Thanx for noticing!

Fireblade: I know, it was way too short... thanks for the advice on how long it should be! This one should be longer.

PrettyKittyOreo: Thank you! I love Kaya in your Storm Stories, which you published in March, but I read just now. You should update it, and describe in detail your hot male bardic trainee who will hook up with...sadly... Kaya and not me. ::stares with longing at computer::

Joeystar: If it goes as I plan, you probably will need that box of tissues...Jaseen does have a really bad life, and it gets worse! (foreshadowing, hint hint hint) I keep going to your story After the Storm, and getting to it, and reading the first chapter, but I am way too lazy to keep reading 13 chapters! But I will, some day, really!

Onto the chapter!

Chapter 2- Memories

Jaseen woke up, still expecting to see the creamy tan walls of the Palace, with the gentle red rug and soft, comforting sheets near her bed. She wasn't imagining herself in Larle's rooms, where she spent only a moon, but in her father's.

I can still see my father, dying in his rooms. It has only been a moon, but it feels like eternity.

--Flashback--

Jaseen stood by the side of her father's bed with the Healer, as the Healer said, "I'm so sorry, but you have been poisoned. This is impossible to cure. I will try to reduce your pain." The Healer extended a hand to his forehead, touched him, and gently used his Healing powers to soothe away most of the pain, but not the bacteria multiplying by the dozen every second, taking control of his body.

Jaseen broke into hysterical sobs, wailing by her father's side with her brother. "Dad, father, what will I do without you? You can't die, you can't leave..." Jaseen began to cry again, tears flowing down her flushed cheeks, her eyes smeared and red with grief.

"Don't worry, honey, I'll always be there for you in your heart," he said, breaking into a coughing fit, as blood started to flow from his mouth. "I'm not in pain, and I love you so much." His eyes began to droop, as his body turned pale, and his pulse grew weaker.

Jaseen's brother was crying as well, but both father and daughter could see the anger mixed with the grief, burning in his eyes. "I will find out who poisoned you, Father. I will find him, and bring him to justice!" he said, the furious words contradicting and mixing with his grieving and sobbing. Jaseen could feel his rage and need for vengeance, could feel the anger pulsing inside her mind.

"Oh, don't waste your life trying to find revenge for me, son. Spend your life well, take care of your sister for me," Jaseen's father said, as his muscles and body grew weaker. "I love you both forever..." he said, dwindling out, as his eyes gently shut. A last drop of blood slowly rolled from the corner of his mouth, matching the sad tears of Jaseen trickling down her cheekbones and falling gently off her face.

-- --

Jaseen snapped out of her sad, lonesome memories, and remembered her father's last conversation with her.

"Spend your life well," he said. Your father wouldn't approve of you wallowing in your misery, would he?

Jaseen roused herself, going to her brother who had helped her with everything all her life. When her father died, Jaseen and her brother had gotten evicted from the palace.

When those vindictive, scheming courtiers at the Palace evicted my brother and me both, only my brother remained true to me.

Their family had not had much wealth, but they were given free lodging in the palace. Her father had been the Chief Advisor to the King, the spot which Ma'ar currently had and coveted. However, as soon as her father had died, the royals needed room in which to house the new Chief Advisor.

And that scum, Ma'ar, wouldn't accept anything less than the former Chief Advisor's room, the best suite in the Palace!

Ma'ar had convinced the King that there was no reason to continue supporting the two former children of the Chief Advisor. The scheming, conniving courtiers, eager to stop paying taxes to support them, agreed, so the two were warned that they would have to leave, or begin to pay.

And we certainly didn't have enough to continue living in that style!

Jaseen and her brother, with their small bank account, quickly purchased a small room in the Lower City. Their small, one-roomed hut was in a ragged state, but it gave Jaseen somewhere to sleep off the streets. Her brother returned to the Palace, trying to get a spot. He was now one of the many clerks in the Palace, and had a tiny room in the clerk's wing. He still visited Jaseen almost every day.

Now I should go visit him. He'll have a solution to how I can avoid Larle from now on.

Jaseen still had her best court robes, which she used for the nights of celebrations and galas at court, to which she was still invited. She took one out, a delicately beaded, crimson and amber silk robe, worthy of the King's court. Normally, she wore baggy, dirty shirts and pants, so she would not attract attention in the Lower City, but for visiting the Palace, quality robes were necessary. Jaseen brushed her hair quickly, hoping it looked alright, and left, hoping to catch her brother before he began work.

She walked through the winding streets of the Lower City timidly, trying not to draw attention to herself in her vivid crimson robe, so she could avoid the pickpockets who would love selling the beads and silk of her best court robe. Almost running, Jaseen finally reached the proper neighborhood close to the palace, without a single pickpocket or thief harassing her.

I managed to exit the Lower City in silk, still retaining all my belongings. I am lucky today!

Unfortunately, Jaseen's luck did not hold out. She was walking along the well paved, flowered sidewalk when she saw a man coming at her from the other direction.

Larle!

She quickly began to turn around and attempt to run, but she was never a rapid runner, and Larle caught her immediately. "If I can't have you, no one will!" Larle said, an insane rage in his eyes, as he raised a dagger.

Jaseen, however, still had a few tricks up her sleeves. She ripped a strand of beads off her robe, throwing them in Larle's eyes to confuse him. While Larle flinched, rubbing his eyes vigorously, Jaseen pried his arm off her and sprinted in the other direction. Fear fueled her running, and she ran faster than ever before. She could hear the angry patter of footsteps behind her, but she was gaining.

Run, Jaseen! Fly as fast as you can!

With the fear of death behind her, Jaseen outpaced Larle and escaped him once more. The running was killing her brand new shoes, but that couldn't be helped. Her best robe was ruined, but Jaseen was still alive.

Oh Star Eyed, I can't believe I just almost got killed! That was so frightening! My brother has to help me, he has to!

Swearing to the Star Eyed, the only deity she knew of, Jaseen continued to run towards the palace. Jaseen had an unearthly trust in her brother, expecting her brother to fix her problem with Larle instantaneously. She finally reached the Palace. The gate was opened for her, and she slipped inside, climbing up five flights of stairs to reach her brother.

-- --

Jaseen's brother, Takril, was getting his pens and parchment, ready to go begin work for the Palace, when his sister flung open the door.

Jaseen looked as though she had been in a bar brawl. Her formerly stunning robe had a tear all the way up her right side, and a chunk of beaded fabric was missing on the left. Her scarlet heeled shoes were muddy with one broken heal, and her eyes were teary and red. Her hair was disheveled, a blonde mess with leaves from trees mixed in among the knotted fray.

Takril suppressed an angry curse. "Jaseen, what happened to you? Dearheart, it's all right, just tell me what happened, kechara." In the arms of her loving brother, Jaseen calmed down and took a few deep breaths, getting ready to explain the situation. Once she did, her brother was in a rage, which Jaseen didn't notice.

Star Eyed! That Larle, for doing this to her, he's going to get it! He's a threat, he has to be eliminated for my sister's sake. Poor Jaseen, getting mixed up with that Larle scum!

"Don't worry, kechara, I can keep Larle away from you," Takril uttered, pretending to be calm for his sister's sake. Jaseen noticed, but she just relaxed under her brother's protective care. "Stay here, where you will be safe. I'll find a solution, just stay here until I get back from work." Takril tried to remain calm and exert a soothing presence, and Jaseen felt it, becoming cool and calm. Takril left his sister on the bed, and left the room, fuming.

-- --

None of this would have happened if Father hadn't died! Father, oh Father, I'll find who killed you! I'll find him, and then he'll be sorry!

Takril had been plotting his father's revenge ever since his death. His feelings for a moon had been grief, guilt, and vengeance.

Oh, I'm such a bad son. He told me not to spend my life revenging him!

Takril felt guilty whenever he thought of vengeance, and tried to distract himself. However, he always remembered that his dad had been poisoned. He hadn't died of natural causes, in his old age, with a multitude of grandchildren. He had been poisoned.

And someone is to blame!

Takril had been dwelling on attempting to catch his father's killer ever since the death. However, when he remembered what his father told him, he felt guilty, as he was not supposed to search for vengeance. Takril was not used to grieving, and he reacted to it with rage which he had not felt before in his life.

But my sister needs me. And I won't let her end like our father did! NEVER!

Takril took his mind fully off his father's death, for one of the first times since the accident, and thought of Jaseen's plight. What could he do about that? Larle would always be in or near the palace, with Ma'ar, until he or Ma'ar died.

Having Jaseen completely avoid the Palace would work. But that's a horrible solution! Curtail my sweet sister's life because of a vindictive past lover! No, there is another way to get rid of Larle.

Takril continued walking towards the Clerk's wing, pondering, knowing that eventually he would find a solution, whether it was peaceful or violent, to protect his dear sister, as he had been doing all his life. He would find one. Takril once again lapsed into his familiar memories of home.

A/N: Done now! Who do you think poisoned their father? I know already, , but you don't. Or maybe you do... don't tell until I tell! Which won't be soon, I don't think. Please read and review, to add to my proud review count of.... Wait for it... 4! R&R, no flames please. Constructive criticism welcome, flames not unless you give me good reason and criticism. Compliments, however, are always welcome! ::grin::

Wind to thy wings, Breezefire