{W/R} I'm surprising myself, by actually updating so quickly. I'm so happy for the inspiration. Now comes the BIG thank-yous again.

Ali~ Thanks so much for telling me the last name!!! It was so obvious, but I just couldn't remember what it was for the whole Renselaeus family. I guess it'll teach me not to skim when I'm looking for something. Thanks for the nice review, also and I'll try to bring Mel into the story soon.

Pingpong867~ Thanks for your honesty. I only made her hostile because well he nearly got her killed, scaring her and Chocolate like that. I'm not really sure how I want Elestra's personality as, so I'm trying different things to see what fits. I liked my prologue better than the ending of the first chapter, but I just couldn't think of anything good so I put it up. I hope you like this chapter.

FelSong~ Thanks for telling me the last name! I changed my email to penning_on_impulse@hotmail.com, so if you want to send me anything send it there.

Please keep reviewing my story!!! Now on with the story.

*~*~*~*~* Elestra RENSELAEUS's (I'm so happy I got her last name) Journal Entry *~*~*~*~*



I had stopped writing, earlier, to ride with Rhianna and the others. I am surprised that Rhianna wasn't exhausted from her trip to Athanarel and her worry about her father. She actually seems to handle all the stress very well, so well that no one had even noticed that she even had any personal troubles going on.

We rode for awhile and it wasn't long before I drifted off into my thoughts. That landed me quite lost for the group had picked a trail I have never explored. It was there that I ran into the subject of my deep thinking, Flauvic. He was infuriating, even more so since I saw him last. I can't believe I even cared to think of him again. So there we were, face to face again. He nearly got me killed, by spooking Chocolate so I wasn't in the best of moods for a reunion, especially this one. I was so surprised, although I hid it behind my imitation of father's occasional court mask. I was lucky to actually do so with the time I had trying to calm Chocolate down. A part of me felt very happy and relieved that he wasn't caught (just yet) or lying on the ground, bleeding to death, but it sure didn't last long by the way he was acting. He got me so livid that I got back on Chocolate to leave, but he was in the way. {W/R: Sry, if this is boring, but I'm only trying to recap what happened in the last chapter.}

I was about to repeat my request when I heard the faint rumbling of galloping horses and voices shouting my name. I turned toward them and as relieved as I felt that the others had come back to find me, I was worried about Flauvic. I turned back to him to utter a warning, when he jumped behind me onto Chocolate, taking the reins out my hands. He urged Chocolate expertly into a quick gallop into the other direction.

"What do you think your doing?" I asked, seeing as that I couldn't do anything about him on my horse, since I was stuck and he was much stronger than I was.

"Renewing our escape trips for old times' sake."

I couldn't see his fair face, but from his pure tenor voice, I knew he was smiling. I inelegantly snorted at his words.

"It was one trip," I said, correcting him. "One that nearly got me killed me too."

"Awww, the inn's food was not that bad," was his reply.



I couldn't help, but laugh and shake me head ruefully.

"I didn't mean the food. Do you even know where you are going?"

We were galloping fast still and I couldn't hear anyone following us, although the wind whistling past my ears made it hard to hear anything else.

"I was thinking about a visit back to Athanarel."

"Well, my friends were looking for me and probably going back too, why did you make us flee from them?"

"What and spoil the surprise for your dear mother?"

"I don't think she'll like this surprise. She would probably like to be informed so she can get out her lists of insults for you, saved up from our last encounter." I stated, matter-of-factly.

He laughed softly. It was then that I didn't feel like clubbing him over the head. He could be pleasant company, if he wanted to be. I rather felt drawn to hear him laugh again, but I shook the thoughts away, trying to remember that this was a practically insane man.

"I bet she wanted to think up the choicest of insults to benefit my pretty ears."

I started laughing. He, sure, made it hard to not be drawn to his charm.

"Those were her exact words, I think. Now, can you slow down Chocolate before she goes lame. I think you need to explain yourself."

"About what?"

"About where you went? Why you came back? Why you made us gallop away when my friends came looking for me?"

"You're too young."

I frowned and grabbed my reins back out of his hands, stopping Chocolate from continuing. I got off the horse without a word from him.

"I am too young to here your explanations, but not too young to know how to fight, get kidnapped (twice might I add), and to let a fugitive go."

I stood, watching him, patiently waiting. He sat on Chocolate, quite and still. He was thinking, I knew, and I wondered if what I said got through to him for I was very curious. He silently got off my mare and faced me.

"Come on, there's a clearing near here to rest."

With nothing better to do, since I was still lost and even more so, now that Flauvic had galloped away from my rescuers, I followed him with Chocolate behind me. I was surprised to find that there was a clearing. I tied Chocolate to a tree with plenty of grass for her to nibble on, as Flauvic and I talked.



"Now what," I asked, making myself comfortable on a stone.

"I guess it's time for explanations."

I nodded and he continued,

"I went over the border when we had that fun encounter with the raiders, which I thank you for helping me with."

I shrugged casually, wanting him to continue quickly before father or anyone came with search parties for me.

"Anyway, I found a couple of friends that owed me favors and I stayed with them. As for why I'm back here, I want Merindar back."

I was curious as to how his friends were indebted to him, but didn't ask.

"You think father would just hand them over to you, just like that?" I said, snapping my fingers.

"Vidanric will do what is good for him."

"Is that a threat?"

"It's a promise." {W/R: Cliché, I know, but I could resist putting it in there.}

"Not if I have anything to do about it!"

He didn't laugh, as I thought he would at my foolishness, but just looked at me in thought with a blank stare. His light brown eyes bore into my eyes. There was a great depth in them that I could see and I saw that Flauvic is a man of many layers and conflicts. He turned away, suddenly looking to the ground. I blushed a little, realizing that I had been staring at him.

"You should probably get back home and warn your father, then. Athanarel is that way," he said, softly, pointing northeast.

I was much surprised at his idea and wondered what was the cause, as well as the strange tone I heard in his voice. I looked in the direction he pointed at and I could see parts of the palace.

"What are you going to do? Where are you going to go?"

He looked up and grinned.

"I'm a survivor and a mage. I think I can handle whatever comes my way."

I bit my lip, in hesitancy. I finally turned back to Chocolate and got onto her.

"Good day, then, Flauvic."



The next time I would see him would most probably as confirmed enemies.

"Don't worry, it won't be long until I see you again."

I made a face at his arrogant remark and urged Chocolate northeast. It was only a couple of miles before I left the forest and saw familiar grounds. I found Rhianna and the others just returning from their search for me. Rhianna was certainly glad to see me, as were the others. After assuring them that I was fine and only tired, as was to be expected from my small ordeal, I retreated to my room, which is where I am now. Only seconds after I saw Rhianna did I realize that I had forgotten to ask if he was behind Lord Devin's illness. I doubted that he would be, now that I saw him but I knew better than to put it past him and his ways. I also realized he didn't answer my questions about why he separated me from my friends, when they came looking.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Elestra pauses in her writing *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I looked out the window with a soft sigh. I wondered what he is planning to do and what'll happen to my family. Father won't let anything happen to us, I told myself and bent back down to my journal to end my entry.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Back to her journal *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I guess it won't be long until adventure comes a-knocking.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Elestra closes the journal shut *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*



I slide the journal, back into its hiding place, which was under a loose floorboard in my room.

"It's probably good to talk to father now." I said to myself. "And find out what Mother will do about the Demalmis (Rhianna's family)."

I walked to father's study or more really the alcove in the library. I tapped on the tapestry and heard my father allow me entry.

"Hello, sweetheart," my mother greeted me. "You don't look so well. Are you okay?" {W/R: Too syrupy for Mel? Remember she is a mother to Elestra and older than she was in CCD.}

My mother sat wrapped in the arms of my father on a couple of soft cushions. It seemed I had interrupted their private time and I felt a bit embarrassed, but, hey, it's good to know that they're in love still.

"I'm fine. What did you decide about Lord Devin?"



"Of course, I would help them, if that is what you're worried about. Is that all you wanted to know?"

She looked at me, curiously and got out of father's arms. Father was silent, giving me an assessing look.

"Well, I was riding today with Rhianna and the others and I bumped into Flauvic."

I felt strange standing at the doorway or more really, leaning on the doorpost. The mention of his name, sure, didn't make my mother very happy. She pelted me with questions and only stopped when father laughed, interrupting her. I was very confused and unsure how I would answer everything.

"Mel, dear, you're confusing her."

My mother blushed slightly at her anxiousness with the questions.

"Come on, Elestra. Sit down, next to your father and me."

I went to them and mother laid an arm comfortably over my shoulders.

"Now, care to explain?" Father asked, calmly.

{W/R} I was going to continue from here, but I just wanted to put it up. The next update won't be for awhile, because I really don't know what else to write that'll tie me over to the event I wanted. I hoped you like this chapter, although I really don't at the end. *Sighs* Oh well, maybe I'll be hit with inspiration again the next time I sit on my computer and write another chapter. (Isn't it ironic that I was so jolly at the beginning and depressing at the end? I'm so weird…) Please review, you can be harsh because this is a crappy chapter.