Sorry, guys. Short chapter this time. But even with school over, my life is still hectic. :c/ Six days till Christmas!!

Tiger Lily21: Yup. Kind of. But while it's obvious to us, it may not be as obvious to the characters, so Robbie and Lia might have some thinking to do.

fell4adeadguy: Yes, yes it is! I'm so glad that you're writing again. :cD

TrudiRose: Poor guy! Afraid of those cute little critters. :c( Thanks for the compliment!

naughty little munchkin: Thank you so much for your awesome review! I didn't even notice that point about the books until you pointed it out. I reread it, and you're right, it is kind of abrupt. I think what happened was that I originally had Lia find one of Robbie's books and so that's what the conversation was about, but then I didn't like how it flowed, so I changed it and forgot to change that sentence.And sometimes littleconversations happen in my head and not on the paper, so I automatically assume that you are all telepathic and know exactly what I'm talking about. XcD I'll try and not do that so much. Also, the same thing with Lia. I thought that was going to be pretty much the end of the story, but then I was like, 'I can't just leave Clarissa in charge and Lia not going back to her castle, and stuff!' so I continued.

UruvielTruviel: w00t! Lark is pretty cool, although he's taken a bit of a back seat in these precedings lately. He's a little busy with other things. Things that will be revealed later.

All I have to say is that I'm EVIL! EVIL, I tell you!

(Cackles menacingly)

-Lulai

Chapter Fifteen: The Library

Lia murmured happily. She felt warm, but fuzzy, as if her head were stuffed with cloth. She blearily opened her eyes, wondering why the heck she was taking a nap in the middle of the day.

She looked around at where she was, momentarily confused. Suddenly, the events leading up to her nap came crashing down on her. That, and the realization that she was flung quite unceremoniously over Robbie's sleeping form, wearing only a chemise and leggings, no less.

Slowly, she pulled her leg back from where it lay across his lap, trying not to wake him. When she had successfully detached herself from him, she sat on the arm of the chair, watching Robbie sleep.

He looked so vulnerable asleep. His face was free of the worried creasing that had been occupying it so much of late. Lia sighed softly. No doubt she had made it worse by dumping all of her problems on him.

"My brave, strong Robbie," Lia whispered, running her fingers down the sides of his face. His hair was getting long. The dark locks hung in his eyes.

"Mmm," Robbie hummed, grabbing her arm and pulling. Lia tumbled into his lap. She looked up to see Robbie's emerald gaze shining down on her.

"How long have you been awake?" he asked, brushing her hair back from her face causing delicious shivers up and down her spine.

"Not long," she said, her voice going noticeably husky. Robbie's green eyes darkened and he leaned close to her face.

"What were you doing?" he asked.

"Nothing," she said, her breath quickening. The look in his eyes made desire pool deep in her belly.

"What do you think we should do now?" he whispered, his breath tickling her skin.

"Well, we can't really do anything until Lark comes back," she whispered back nervously.

A slow grin spread over Robbie's face. "I can think of something," he said, running the pad of his thumb over Lia's lower lip.

Lia's mouth was open, but no sound was emitting from it. Her heart was beating so hard, it was almost deafening.

"Show me your favourite book."

"What?" she asked incredulously.

Robbie made a gesture with his hand. "You said earlier that you loved this room. Obviously, you would have to have had at least one favourite book in here."

He slid Lia beside him and stood up. Grabbing her hand, he hoisted her to her feet as well.

"So?" he said.

"So what?" she muttered petulantly. Robbie's grin widened, making Lia decend deeper into her sulk.

"Where would your favourite book be?"

"Over here," she said reluctantly. She led him over to the left wall where she climbed the ladder. At the seventeenth shelf up, she finally pulled out a book with a purple cover.

She climbed back down, the book firmly tucked under her right arm. She leapt down the last little bit of the ladder gracefully, having obviously done it a hundred times before.

"Here," she said, handing the book over almost shyly.

Robbie looked over the well worn, and obviously well loved, book. He ran his fingers over the golden script of the title.

"Ronald and Isabelle?" he asked, a touch of humour in his voice.

"Yes," she responded, her chin lifted defensively.

"What's it about?" Robbie opened the book and fanned through the pages.

"It's about a prince and princess from different countries, but they end up falling in love anyways," she said.

Robbie was about to respond when the library doors opened. His hand automatically went to his sword but only encountered empty air.

"Crap," he said, his eyes landing on where the sword lay, propped up beside the chair, where he had placed it the previous night.

"No worries, Robbie!" Lark called. "It is just me, your favourite Fey."

Lia declined to point out that Lark was the only Fey they knew, but instead asked about the large object Lark carried.

"Look what I found in the attic," Lark said, whipping off the cheesecloth that covered the object.

"Father?" Lia gasped.

It was a life size portrait of her father, looking regal and commanding like always.

"Lia?" the portrait responded.

Lia groaned. "Not you too, Father."

King Cornelius sighed and ran his hand through his straw coloured hair. "Yes, I'm afraid. Claire caught me posing for my portrait and I ended up here."

He cast a critical glance at his daughter. "Just what exactly are you wearing?"

Lia looked down at her filthy ensemble. "It's a long story, Father."

"That type of clothing usually is."

Robbie finished buckling his belt with his sword on. Lia motioned him over.

"Robbie, this is my father, King Cornelius Fer Drewery."

"Your majesty," Robbie said, bowing.

"Father," Lia continued, "this is Robert, my fiancé."

"What?" her father asked angrily. "What do you mean, fiancé?"

Lia nibbled her lower lip. "He asked me to marry him and I accepted. That makes him my fiancé."

"I know what fiancé means, Annalia-" Lia cringed at the use of her full name, "-I mean, when did this happen? Who is this man? Will he treat you for your full worth? What are you doing running around the castle in your underclothes with him? Where have you been these last two years?"

Now I know where Lia gets it, thought Robbie. He cleared his throat.

Cornelius shot him a glance and he suddenly realized that he was talking to the king.

"Your majesty," he said, bowing low, "I realize that you are concerned about your daughter's welfare, but I feel that Lia is not the daughter we need to be concerning ourselves with right now."

The king sighed and rubbed his temples with one hand. His other hand was propped on his hip, a stance Robbie had seen Lia take more than once.

"You are right, of course," the king admitted. "We need to talk about what to do with Clarissa. I would prefer that she not be killed, as she is my daughter."

Robbie nodded. "If we get her pool away from her, she is helpless again."

"But how will you manage that?" the king asked.

"I have this," Robbie answered shortly, displaying his sword. He sheathed it and stood tall in front of the picture of Lia's father.

"I will take good care of her," he said softly. The king stared at him as if he could see down into Robbie's soul. He nodded once.

Robbie and Lia were preparing to leave when her father called out to them with a slightly pained expression on his face.

"Could you at least wear something other than those clothes," he asked Lia.

"Lark?" she called.

"At your service, your Highness," he said, bowing his head slightly. He snapped his fingers and Lia was dressed in a simple dress of blue cotton.

"Thanks."

"Be careful!" the king called out to their backs as the door closed behind them.