A.N.: Woah….so sorry about the delay on this chapter! I wish that it hadn't taken this long (and here's hoping there won't be a year-long wait on the next chapter), and I hope this is worth it. I wanted it to be longer, but I was stuck on that last paragraph, and decided to stop it there. If there are mistakes, I apologize, because every time I got that burst of inspiration, I would rush what I was writing, so God knows what I got wrong.

And thanks to the wonderful reviewers, without whom I wouldn't be able to continue: Kat Small, Angel Street (well, um, it didn't come out in December…), Chronicles Bailey, warrior heir (don't worry, it won't last long), Timone, Mad Sammy, aLiDa wEbSter (.:is shunned:.), zella, bobthebest (hope this satisfies!), warrior goddess, buttercu, Kat Solo, Skyler K. Daemen (Germany? Cool), fantasyfan (I wouldn't say he was in love, just hurt by her sudden attitude reversal), Tanaqui, cennorethsdaughter (yeah, you really need to update too).

And here it is, chapter 3

Maewen and Moril stared for what felt like ages at the sight of the riders surging over the hill. It would have been majestic, if not for the fact that they might all be killed. Maewen dimly noticed how the horses' glossy coats shone in the sunlight.

It took too long for them to react, she knew that much. They must've stood there for at least two minutes staring at the riders in total fear. And then they ran. The two tore back to the camp, yelling at the top of their lungs.

As Maewen was yelling, she ran straight into Navis. He was about to reprimand her (he had that sarcastic look on his face) when he saw all of the soldiers moving into position.

"What's going on?" He asked.

"Someone's attacking." Maewen said, breathing heavily. "I couldn't tell who."

"Mitt!" Navis roared.

Mitt was quickly informed of what was going on. He turned to Maewen and said. "Go into the woods with the others. Hide until the battle is over. Just stay away."

"No." Maewen said simply. "No."

"But you hate fighting." Moril and Mitt pleaded at the same time.

"I don't care!" Maewen almost shouted. "Give me a sword and show me where to point it. I didn't come back just so I could stand in a corner and hide; I came back so I could do something. And you're not stopping me."

Mitt stared hard at her, and finally let out a sigh. "Fine," He relented. "Go get everything you need." When he turned back, Moril was glaring at him. "Don't give me that look," Mitt said to him. "She's very convincing. Now get into the woods with Ynen and hide. Don't come out until you know that the battle is over. If we need you to do…whatever it is you do with your cwidder, then we'll get you." Mitt turned to look at the others. The thundering footfalls of the horses were getting louder. It was now or never.

"Let's go."

Maewen had never truly been in a battle before. She had hated the one at Kernsburgh, and she hadn't actually been fighting then. But this was something real. It was scary and it was violent. She had no one to protect her. She had fought and stabbed until night fell and the other army retreated.

Mitt found her sitting on a rock, looking out at valley where the army had first come from. He stared at her for a minute before quietly sitting beside her. They sat in silence, both looking upward at the stars.

Finally, Maewen spoke. She took a deep breath and then said softly, "So you were right. I don't like battles."

"Maewen…" Mitt began to say before she interrupted.

"And I'll go to the Law School with Brid." She continued. "But I won't like it, especially knowing what you're going through everyday."

"All right." Mitt said.

"I'll miss you." She said quietly.

Maewen rested her head on his shoulder. Neither said a word.

The ride to Gardale was long. But at least Maewen learned a lot about Brid in the process. It turned out that Brid was upset about being forced to leave, too. But unlike Maewen, she enjoyed the battles.

"Well, not entirely," She confessed to Maewen. "But it's much more interesting than school."

"Is it really that bad?" Maewen asked.

"Oh no, I've made it out much worse than it is." Brid assured her. "You'll enjoy it. I absolutely love it. It's just that a battle is so much more exciting than discussing martial law."

It was just the two of them. They had a great send-off that morning. Everyone said goodbye and assured them that they'd be seeing them soon. Mitt pulled her aside and said "You'll hear from me somehow."

Maewen hadn't said anything; instead she hugged him tightly and then left without a word. Now, riding farther and farther away, she had all these poignant things that she thought would be perfect to have said.

By that night, they had reached the school. Brid led the nervous Maewen to the Headmaster's office. The school hadn't looked this imposing in the daylight. The squat stone buildings seemed to loom as they walked to the main building. Maewen's thoughts were filled with the last time she was here and jumped every time she saw a shadow.

Inside the main building, torches lit the halls, erasing the shadows, but not her fears. She had always hated going to the principal's office, and this was just like that. A long, never ending highway, with the looming authority figure waiting at the end.

"So, you are Maewen Singersdaughter." The Headmaster said. Maewen supposed that he was trying to be nice, but it was late, he was tired, and he was an imposing figure as it was. Maewen just nodded silently. "Do you know anything of Law?"

Maewen was going to say 'no', but Brid broke in.

"As I'm sure you've been told, her parents died when she was young. Maewen was learning how to be a baker with her uncle, but he succumbed to a great disease last year that took the whole town. She was lucky to get out alive. She had no choice but to come here with me. It was his idea." Brid put great emphasis on the last sentence. Maewen understood what was going on. The Headmaster knew about Mitt, but the servants in the room didn't.

"Well," The Headmaster said, his entire attitude changed. "We'll start you with some tutoring, and once you are ready, you'll be entered into your appropriate year. Brid, you know where your dorm is, I'm sure you don't need any help getting there." Brid nodded. "And Maewen, Robin will take you to your new quarters. Good night to you both."

The second part of Maewen's life had begun.

It took time to get used to the school. Even though she was hardly mixing with any of the students, it was a whole new world. It seemed that it wasn't just Hildy who talked oddly; there was a whole other language here. Brid had written down a list of words for her to use so she would blend in, but Maewen always forgot them in her nervousness.

Then again, it wasn't like all that many people talked to her. Since she was new and on scholarship (or winthrough, she remembered that word), the other students were wary of her.

"You should spend your off-hours with me." Brid had told her. "People will get to know you if you do that." Maewen took her advice, but she couldn't stand the people Brid was friends with. They were nice enough, but they all had that feel of having spent too much time at the Law School.

And then there was all this stuff she had to learn. Math (which was very different from the math she knew), geography (easy, but memorization was hard), and Law, which was the hardest thing she had ever encountered.

It was now that Maewen began to wonder if she had made the wrong decision in coming here. The reason she had bargained with the One to come back was to be with Mitt, and he was further away than ever. She'd left her family to be with the one she'd made here, and now she was alone.

What she wouldn't give to be with him, traveling, fighting battles, not learning Law.

"I don't see why I have to learn all this Law-related stuff." Mitt complained. Navis just glared at him, and set down another large set of books. "Isn't this what Brid and Maewen will be good for?"

"Kings have to know the inner workings of politics." Navis answered.

"Can't I just learn it as I go?" Mitt said. "There's some good in learning policy on form. Right?"

"Those who don't know history are condemned to repeat it." Navis intoned.

"Fine." Mitt answered sulkily. He read for a half an hour before stopping. "Why'd you choose me?"

"Hm?" Navis asked.

"Why'd you decide I was going to be king. All you've said is that you had personal reasons. The only one you gave to Keril was that I looked like the Adon, which is nice, but not a very stable reason to base my monarchy on." Said Mitt.

Navis didn't answer right away. "Well, when I first met you, I have to admit, you made an impression on me."

"That wouldn't have anything to do with the murder attempt on your father, would it?" Mitt joked.

"That helped." Navis said. "I spent a lot of time with you on that boat, and I got to know you, in a certain sense. You had a strong connection with the gods, you showed that you were a good leader, and you were likable. And if my spoiled children thought you were worth their time, then you must have had something going for you."

Mitt smiled. "That's good to know." They were both silent for minute before Mitt spoke up again. "I know that I'm going to make it, Maewen's told me, but do you ever think that we can beat all of them?"

"I have faith in you." Navis said. "Just don't get to cocky because you think you're assured we'll win. Maewen was never supposed to be here, and it may alter everything."

"Right," said Mitt. "Will do."

"Father, Mitt?" Ynen was at the door.

"What is it?" Navis asked.

"There's a messenger from Hannart here. He wants to talk to Mitt."

"Well, that's bound to be more interesting than this." Mitt said. "Anyone want to join in the fun?"

"You shouldn't be disrespectful to Keril."

"You are."

"I'm not the king." Navis pointed out.

The messenger was waiting outside the door. "Are you Mitt Alhammittson?" The man asked.

"Yes." Mitt answered levelly. "What's the message?"

"The Earl will be here in two days time to discuss the…situation."

"That's a nice way to put it." Navis said. "How about you tell him that we'll meet him halfway at Dropwater."

It wasn't a question. Navis was so imposing that the young messenger just nodded and walked quickly away. Once he was gone, Navis turned back to Mitt. "Amazing." Mitt said.

"Yes, and someday, hopefully, you'll be just as forceful as that." Navis smiled. Then he turned serious again. "I doubt the meeting with Keril will involve a cheerful alliance, so we must plan accordingly."

"You don't think he's planning an attack, do you?" Mitt asked.

Navis thought for a moment "It's always likely, but I don't think that he would do something as rash as that."

"Yes," countered Mitt, "But his power has been threatened, and he'll go to any means possible to save it."

Navis smiled. "See, you just used some of the information you've learned."

Let's hope it's not over a year till the next chapter. And....review!