Annod Yawnoc had gone to aid Darnoc in her castle, so Aiden had decided to set up headquarters at his old manor. Kimmy F had decided at the last moment to join with Aiden, so they now had ten band members on their side. Okay, still not very comforting, but maybe Kimmy's distinct odour would keep the enemy away. Not comforting at all.

"The time is near," Kyler said in his all knowing voice, while looking at a cloud. "See that?" he said, indicating the puffy, white object. "It's in the shape of a leopard. It means there are enemies and rivals gathering around us. I fear what this says for our future." He looked rather pointedly at Ashley, who looked away after a moment's eye contact. She had dreamed about Jaz the previous night. He had called her his 'lil Dor' whatever that meant. Her head spun in confusion. Who knew if they would live through this? Who knew if she would see Jaz again? Even if she did, the chances were that Jaz didn't return her feelings. Kyler, on the other hand showed blatant interest in her. She sighed, almost angrily. Dammit, but what she wouldn't give for a piece of Winterfresh so she could mull these disturbing new things over properly.

Cassie watched her friend with a growing concern. Lately, she was becoming withdrawn and depressed acting. Of course, Cassie was used to this. It was Ashley's nature and part of what made Guinievere Guinievere. She most often got like this when she despaired over her and Jaz, or rather the lack of her and Jaz thereof. Idly she wondered whether that was even his real name. Ashley's strange moods always had a strong effect on Cassie. Even as she stood listening to Kyler's dire predictions, she longed desperately for her CD player so she could listen to her special, romantic, sappy CD and cry her heart out with her Teddy bear Cubby. Both were in her carry on bag, seven hundred years from the here and now. But this time, Ashley's depression phase struck her like a punch in the stomach. An odd, aching feeling lodged itself permanently in her chest, and she was almost always close to tears. The only way to relieve this was to take a deep breath once every ten seconds or so. She did this for the umpteenth time that day, and then made the mistake of looking straight at Saber with whom she was practicing sword play. The horrible feeling came back full measure, and she failed to block what would have been an easy parry. Saber's blade sliced straight across the flesh at the top of her hand, leaving a long gash from her thumb to her pinkie. Saber dropped his sword before Cassie even had a clear idea what had happened. Almost before the pain had registered, her hand was in his, and he was apologising profusely. Her eyes widened as her blood began to stain his hands. And, of course, since she had looked, the pain came. A searing agony that made her arm from the elbow down feel as though it was on fire.

She was quickly taken aside, and Saber ripped a piece from the bottom of his own dark red shirt to make a bandage. After he had finished wrapping it tightly about her hand, Cassie held it up to examine.

"Well, everything blends quite well," she admitted, attempting pathetically to make light of the situation. Saber smiled weakly.

"We should stop lessons for today, so I can get you back in the castle to put some healing salve on the cut." he said.

"Don't be stupid!" Cassie replied. "It was my fault anyway. I let my attention wander." Her face reddened slightly as she remembered where it had wandered to. "Anyway, I still need practice. A lot of it."

"Yes you do," he said without thinking, and then smiled at her fierce glare. He cleared his throat. "Anyway, since you insist, we'll practice for another hour. But if your hand starts really bothering you, you'll tell me." It wasn't a request. Cassie nodded and took up her sword again.

"So, when you say the time is near, how near is it exactly?" Ashley asked of Kyler. She had been the only one actually listening to him. Kyler looked down at her, and she was struck b how much taller he was.

"I do not have hope that peace will last another two days." Ashley gulped.

"So, it'll just be the four of us? Fighting with primitive tools against Darnoc?" Kyler frowned at her like she was insane.

"Of course not. This castle is well fortified, and you can be sure that Darnoc will have all of her soldiers and knights with her too. We won't be alone." Ashley didn't know whether to be comforted or not. She was pondering with great sincerity, her practice on the bow completely forgotten. And then…something changed. She didn't know what. There was no wind or anything. Nothing moved. Nothing happened. But she felt in her heart that something was drastically different. Cassie had noticed it too. She had to fling herself to the ground to stop from being sliced again by Saber as her concentration waned. Again.

"Cassie, what is the matter with you?" Saber demanded helping her to her feet. "I can understand one life threatening mistake, but two? Two in less than three minutes?"

"Shhh," Cassie hissed. For there was now a noise. Ashley heard it as well. A voice. A strange voice spanning over ages of time to reach her. A voice so strange, yet so achingly familiar. A voice which was on the verge of being deep and gritty, but not quite over that fine line. It was…..but it couldn't be.

"Ashley!"

"Jaz?"

"ASHLEY!!!!!!!" Ashley squinted around, trying to see if he was real. "By the dead tree!" Odd, there were no dead trees. Just a rather young oak that was only half her height. But then, she caught a flash of silver, and there he was. She could see right through him, but he was there. All thoughts left her mind. Everything instinctively focused on his face. Throwing all feelings of caution or embarrassment to the wind, she catapulted towards the object of all her recent dreams, intent on hugging him with fierce intensity, and never letting go.

When Jaz saw her, he couldn't believe his eyes. She was there, just as lovely as he remembered. He called to her, wanting to see her face fully. When she caught sight of him and started running like the bats of hell were at her heels, he grinned, rather eager to have her in his arms again. He was preparing himself for a jarring impact that never came. A thud told him that any chance of physical contact was out of the question. He couldn't even help her up, so he joined her on the grass.

"What are you wearing?" Ashley asked, with a laugh clearly evident in her voice. Jaz looked down at himself, and his face flamed. He had gotten used to the comfortable clothes, but now he realized how odd he must look. But then again…

"I was going to ask the same of you," he grinned, and Ashley looked down in shame at her tights and heavily embroidered tunic.

"You should see the dress I have to wear to dinner," she said, pulling a piece of thread from a little blue bird on her sleeve. "And what is that?" She looked in interest at the tiny gun on his hip.

"Futuristic weapon." He took it off the little Velcro patch and casually fired a ball of bright gold into the distance.

"Hey asshole! That almost hit me!" Came another distant voice.

"Sorry Abbe!" Jaz called.

"Yah, you should be JASPER!" Jaz glanced quickly at Ashley, praying she hadn't heard. She had.

"Jasper?" she gasped through almost insane laughs. "Jasper!" It was awhile before her laughs subsided, and Jaz decided that Jasper was the best name to ever be thought up.

Unseen by anybody, Kyler glared from a dark shadow.