A/N: Hey yall. remember the contest. I'll announce the winnder just as soon as someone figures it out. see previous chap 4 rules...

Chapter Eighteen

"The letter is here!" said Ron excitedly. It was Sunday evening, and they had just finished their homework when a tawny owl had tapped at the window with a piece of parchment tied to her leg. He unrolled it and Harry, Lina and Hermione read over his shoulder.

Dear Ron,

How are you? Thanks for the letter—I'd be glad to take the Norwegian Ridgeback, but it won't be easy getting him over here. I think the best thing will be to send him over with some friends of mine who are coming to visit me next week. Trouble is, they mustn't be seen carrying an illegal dragon.

Could you get the Ridgeback up to the tallest tower at midnight on Saturday? They can meet you there and take him while it's still dark.

Send me an answer as soon as possible.

Love,

Charlie

Ron hurriedly wrote an answer, agreeing to meet. "Well," sighed Lina, "at least that's out of the way." The bruises on her face had gone down surprisingly quickly, considering that she hadn't gone to the infirmary. Lina laughed, remembering the look on Malfoy's face when she punched him. "The best part is that he can't say anything like, 'poor me' because he got beaten up by a girl," she had said. All that week the boys had been calling her things like, 'Hard Hitter,' and although it was rather flattering at first, Lina got tired of after the first week.

Life had settled into a routine, broken only by Lina's detentions. Every day she went to class, and every night she went to visit Lena in the forest.

Little princess, I must leave you for a short time, thought Lena one night. Why? Lina thought back. Because there is a meeting of the Belen tomorrow night. It will last two weeks. The Belen was the meetings between all the many unicorn tribes. Can't I come? asked Lina. No, you must be bonded with me first, and you aren't ready. Bonding was when a Faerie or an Elf became connected with a unicorn when he or she reached their full powers. Lina sighed. She would miss the security that having Lena close by gave, but she supposed she could manage by herself. After all, she thought later in bed, I am Fey.

But she was wrong. Several days after Lena had left, Lina got a bad feeling of foreboding she couldn't explain. She shook it off, thinking she was just missing her unicorn friend, when she got a call from her brother, Adrien.

"Hey, Princess. I have some bad news." "What's the matter?" asked Lina. "I'm afraid Phineas Morgan has been appointed Prime Minister." "What! But he has a criminal record! He's- I- well!" The Com showed her brother's face through the screen, and every line in his young face was etched with worry.

"I know, you're upset, princess, but there's nothing I can do."

"What about Robin? Can't he do something?"

"He tried, but Mother got really mad and started to throw things. She kicked him out again, too."

"What do you mean, again?" Lina demanded. She hadn't known anything about her father getting thrown out of the palace. "I wasn't exactly supposed to tell you, but… Well, Mother and Robin have been arguing pretty much since you left. But that doesn't matter. I called you because you know about his record. What do you know? We're trying to convince Mother that this is a bad idea."

"Well, let's see. He was brought in for killing several soldiers who had come to check out a hint that said he was selling illegal poisons. Which he was. Then he was tricking people out of their money by pretending to be a seer. Which he isn't. And most recently he was put in jail for stealing people's stones after they had died of Greypox."

"Thanks, Kit. Hopefully it'll help." "Hold up, bro. Next time Mother and Robin fight or something, let me know, k?" Adrien grinned. "Ok, princess." "Don't call me that!" said Lina, as her brother hung up.

"Princess?" asked Ron incredulously. "Kit?" said Harry. "Guys! Back off!" smiled Lina. She gave a little wink and pillows rose up from the couches and fell on Ron's and Harry's heads. "You know, for a princess, you really aren't that ladylike," said Hermione thoughtfully. Lina picked up a pillow. "Thanky, m'dear!" she said, smacking Hermione over the head with the pillow. Hermione picked up a pillow as well, and a moment later all three friends were laughing and yelling, hitting each other with pillows.