Thank you all reviewers! hugs you

I'm adding in a small plot to complicate things and to fit everything together. On we got with this chapter then...

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Chapter 6: The next morning

Kris sped to the king's study room. She had been summoned urgently. There were dark circles under her eyes. She had spent the previous night tossing and turning, unable to sleep, pondering Skyleth's solution. All thought of it was temporarily driven from her mind as she skidded to a halt outside Jon's study room.

Inside, Numair, Alanna, Raoul and the king were pacing the room. Duke Gareth the Elder arrived a few moments after Kris. Numair flicked his hands. Protection spells surrounded the room, sealing it off completely. They could talk without the fear of being overheard.

"I'm sorry to call you all here, especially you, Kris, but Numair will need you for a spell. Numair, would you inform them on the situation?" Jon said distractedly.

Numair took a deep breath and plunged into speech.

"Two groups of patrols were found dead this morning in different spots. About two dozen men were killed. One group was discovered at the edge of the Royal Forest, the other on the palace walls itself. All were killed by magic. I examined the remaining traces of magic used at the two places, and examined the man who had the leeching spell cast through him several days ago during the attempted assassination. The origins of the magic were the same, meaning that the two scanra mages found dead after the attempted assassination were not the only ones. There were, in actual fact, three scanra mages, but one escaped and is most probably behind the death of the two patrols."

Jon nodded. "It seems that this enemy mage is out to stir things up in the palace. I sent out soldiers to search the forest immediately after we got the news, but I seriously doubt they'll find anything. I'll beef up patrols, and if necessary each group of patrols will include a mage. Everyone in the palace will be panicking if they hear this, so I need Uncle Gareth to go to the right people to get them to keep silent for a while. Alanna, I'll need you to work out a schedule with Raoul and me. Kris, Numair will work a tracking spell with your help. All of you, keep this information to yourselves for the time being."

Duke Gareth left the room at a brisk pace; Alanna, Raoul and the king moved to the king's table and bent their heads over a piece of parchment. Kris approached a weary-looking Numair.

"Right. Those three scanra mages used a leeching spell. Two of them are dead but the third isn't, so I'll use my magic and examine you. Aftereffects of combined spells, especially leeching spells, remains on the victim for some time. With the essence of his magic, I might be able to track the enemy mage down before he kills any more people." Numair said to her.

"Do I need to do anything?"

"No, just stand still." Numair muttered and placed his hand on her head.

Kris felt his magic wash through her. His magic centered on her Gift for several moments, poking, tugging and pulling it. Kris felt rather queasy, and was glad when he finally withdrew his hand.

"Right. I've found a thread of his magic. Hopefully I'll be able to track him. You can go now, Kris."

Kris sighed and left the room. Her head was aching so painfully that she could hardly see where she was walking. She stumbled down to the gardens, and chose a grassy spot to rest on, rubbing her temples, trying to ease the headache.

"Here." Skyleth's voice said kindly. A wave of coolness washed over her, and the headache faded.

"Thanks." Kris said gratefully, glancing beside her where he was seated. All at once, a storm of thoughts burst into her mind, and she recalled the previous night.

Correctly interpreting her sudden troubled expression, Skyleth wrapped an arm gently around her. "Take your time making your decision. I don't want you to regret it after you decide. Or you can talk about it, if it helps."

Kris didn't respond, but snuggled up to him. After a few moments of thoughtful silence, she mumbled, "What about Mithros? I doubt he would agree willingly to make me a goddess. "

"Usually he won't, but Mithros owns me. I would rather not tell why. He would throw a fit if I did. But let's just say he agreed to convert you to a goddess, if that's what you want. His debt to me will be paid off whether or not you choose to be a goddess. However, he specifically stated that once you make your decision, you'll not be able to change it."

"Oh."

They fell silent for several minutes, each thinking their own thoughts.

"Kris?" Skyleth said hesitantly.

"Mmm?" Kris muttered sleepily.

"I want to confess something, but don't get mad with me."

"Just say it."

"It concerns your falcon Windclaw."

Kris adjusted the position of her head on his chest to look up at him. "What about that odd falcon of mine? I haven't seen him since yesterday."

"Oh, but you have. In fact, you're looking at him right now." Skyleth grinned.

Kris stared up at him blankly for a few moments, then understanding dawned in her eyes. She sat up properly. "You're Windclaw!"

"Clever girl." Skyleth chuckled as Kris glared accusingly at him.

"You turned into a bird to spy on me?"

"Not spy, my dear. Just keeping a watch on you."

Kris scowled. "It's the same."

"Not really. But Windclaw has been a big help to you in some ways." Skyleth grinned and ruffled her hair.

Kris sighed. "I guess so. I can't really be mad at you when you being a bird can be useful."

"Exactly."

Skyleth glanced up sharply.

"What's wrong?" Kris asked.

"Your teacher's coming. I had better get going before he challenges me to a mage duel again. I don't want to kill him accidentally."

"Oh. You better go."

Skyleth placed a lingering kiss on her lips, and whispered "Love you."

Kris smiled tenderly at him. "Love you too."

Skyleth vanished just as Numair trotted into sight. He plopped down next to her with a yawn. "Can't track that enemy mage. He put a very strong and strange cloaking spell on himself. All we can do now is sit and wait for his next move, or at least wait for me to regain my strength and work out how to break that cloaking spell of his."

Kris glanced at his grass-stained robe. "You ruined another robe. That must be, what, the fifth this week?"

Numair cast a disdainful look down at his robe. "Sixth."

"But I didn't walk all the way down here just to spoil my robe. I wanted to talk to you about that Lord Nyleth."

Kris suppressed a groan. "Numair, why are you so prejudiced against Nyleth?"

"I'm not! I just sense something odd about him. When I tried to examine his Gift with mine, I found his magic strong but unnatural. There's this wall around his magic to prevent me getting a close look at it. Something's not right with him, you would do well to not get involved with him."

"Numair, I do what I want. Besides, there's nothing wrong with him." Only that he's a god, Kris thought silently.

This brought her mind back to her problem. As Numair began a lecture about choosing the right man for your life, she shut herself off from his voice and pondered.

The main obstacle between Skyleth and Kris was their status. But that could be changed if Kris allowed herself to become a goddess. They could be forever together. But could she bear to give up her friends here in Tortall? Her friends, or love? But, she reasoned with herself, she could still visit her friends during holidays, provided that she had Mithros' permission. Mithros' permission wouldn't be a problem. She could hold a stubborn argument easily. On the other hand, if she stayed in Tortall, Skyleth could still visit her. He would be able to visit her, but not stay with her permanantly. Kris recalled something the Wildmage had told her before. If she died, Skyleth would be able to fetch her from the Black God's realm. But waiting for old age to take her was far too long for her liking, and she certainly wasn't going to commit suicide. She somehow knew that Skyleth would be sad and disappointed if she decided against becoming a goddess.

So many questions and so little answers, Kris thought bitterly.

"Were you even listening to me?" Numair demanded irritatingly.

"Not really. I have to go, Numair. See you later." Kris said quickly as she stood. She left before he could protest.

Kris spent the rest of the day wandering around the palace, dwelling on her thoughts and absently greeting people she recognized. She was only vaguely aware of where she was walking.

When evening finally came, Kris found herself standing outside her room, her head buzzing. Kris smacked her head to clear it, and entered her room.

She thought that she would have been tired after a whole day of walking around, but as Kris lay on her bed she was wide awake, unable to fall asleep.

Images of Skyleth floated into her mind. Kris stared unseeingly at the ceiling. Kris, who was torn between her friends and her love, came to a sudden decision. She had decided. She realized that all along, from the first moment Skyleth had proposed the solution, a small part of her mind had already decided. Now the rest of her agreed with this small part.

Kris would become a goddess and stay with Skyleth.

Having made up her mind finally, Kris felt the tension of having to choose leave her, and she fell into a deep sleep.

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This didn't turn out like I expected, but I still like it. So, what do you think? Did she make the right choice? I apologize if this decision doesn't suit you. Review please!

Also, just to let you know, this fan fic will most probably be completed at either chapter 8 or 9.