A/n: once again sorry for not updating sooner very busy with the very possible A.F.S sequel. And I can't be bothered to say what I usually say.

Chapter 6: Problems

Tia didn't know what to do she was just sitting staring into space as Jon continued stare at her waiting for a reply, most of the nobles had left but many stayed just to gossip about Tia's unusual silence.

When they too had grown bored and left, Tia found that she could not speak still, continually trying to speak and staring off into space Tia didn't notice King Jonathan sit next her and ask what was wrong, finally able to speak Tia blurted "Why did you put me on the spot like that?"

"I put you on the spot because you were born in Tyra yet you have sworn loyalty to me since you have divided loyalties I wanted you in front of the entire war room to tell me that you gave me your loyalty for a reason and you will not let me down but did you do so no, but you tried and that's the main thing the other thing is you should speak to your mother." Without another word the king of Tortall left.

Tia thought about it but didn't want to even though she had so many unanswered questions: Who was her father? Why the Shangs? Why did it happen? Why hadn't she told her sooner and above all why?

Eventually Tia left the war chamber and looked for her mother she found her in the palace gardens looking sad as she sat in front of a fountain, Tia approached as silently as she could as she moved closer Tia accidentally stepped on a twig making Alanna stand up and draw her sword, when she saw who it was she put up her sword and walked towards Tia who had stopped and asked a bit too sharply "What do you want?" Tia cringed at her mothers' sharp words.

"I just wanted to talk." Tia said once she had recovered from her cringe.

"Fine, about what?" Alanna asked suspiciously.

Tia took a deep breath before saying anything "About why? Why dumping on the Shangs doorstep? Who was my father? Why everything!" Tia nearly yelled, letting out all her frustration show.

Alanna sighed. "I suppose I better tell you everything." Alanna sighed a long and deep sigh before continuing. "You know the statue in behind the palace gates?"

"The one of Liam Ironarm?" Tia asked interested in what her mother had to say.

"Yes." Alanna sighed again. "He's you father." After saying that Tia looked absolutely shocked.

"That's were I got the idea of 'dumping you on the Shangs doorstep' because your father was the Shang Dragon-" "I know what he was!" Tia snapped at her mother.

Alanna glared at Tia. "Do you or don't you want to know?" she asked still glaring at Tia for the interruption.

"I want to know it just- it just that I want to know everything now not tomorrow." Tia said impatiently.

Alanna glared at her child and said at the same time. "If you were raised by me I would never-" "-I wasn't so you can stop saying 'if' and 'could' so the big question for me is why would you 'dump' me on the Shangs? And not raise me myself?" Tia asked shrewdly.

"Because- because I did not want to upset George I was afraid he would-"

"Who's George? I'm sorry for interrupting again but who or what is George?" Tia interrupted cautiously.

"George is my husband." Tia nodded in understanding.

"As I was saying I didn't not want to raise you in front of George for fear that he would disown you or even worse divorce me." Alanna sighed a hopeless sigh.

"That's why, do you understand what I just said." Alanna asked.

"Yes I understand but it just doesn't add up, why?" Tia asked again.

"Look I made many bad mistakes that was one of them: not thinking my whole plan of evading George on the matter but in the end he found out." Alanna remembered the fateful night when Jonathan was about to tell George.

Meanwhile Tia was remembering the vaguely familiar voice through the oak door.

"Alanna was that the other gentleman talking about me in King Jonathan's office?"

"Yes that was my husband." Alanna began to turn away.

"Alanna one more thing-" Alanna turned around and face Tia again. "-Why didn't you tell Thom and I sooner?" Alanna cringed at the name 'Thom'.

"Because I was too afraid to tell anyone but Jonathan found out anyway through your locket." Alanna turned away and walked off this time Tia didn't try to stop her.

Thom didn't understand why Tia didn't meet his eyes or return his smile after the meeting in the war chamber, it didn't make sense: lovers one minute enemies the next. What had he done wrong? Thom could think of nothing, there was that time in the garden when Thom saw and talked to Daine and Numair but that fear had been dismissed as Tia kissed him, what could of happened between then and the war chamber?

Thom was walking through the less used hallways of the palace so he had a less chance of being picked on for being caught in bed with his teacher.

He decided he had to get her alone, get Tia cornered so she couldn't escape him, all so they could talk and give Thom the chance to ask what he had done wrong but he didn't stand a chance of doing that down that war was declared. Tia and himself would be separated miles apart.

The next morning Tia and Thom left for camps being set up on the border of Tortall and Tyra, it would be a long day neither of them getting actual rest or relief as they reviewed their assigned places: Tia was a commander of a group of a little over 50 men and their gear including horses, Tia would teach them all she knew about survival in rough terrains like how to forage food and getting bearings off the sun and stars before she could do that she had to set up a little fortress made out of trees cut from near by forests.

Thom would be part of a lumber camp doing little besides cutting down trees and building siege engines, everyone knew at the time that Tyra was doing likewise preparing for battle, the stormwings also knew a battle was approaching and throughout Tia's and Thom's journey the sky was covered with stormwings.

A/n: I'm not going to update until I get a satisfactory amount of reviews, which could mean anything.