Author's Note: Whoever's still keeping track of this story (there's not that many of you, is there?), I'm sorry! Don't hurt me. I know I promised to update sooner, but…Yeah. No excuses, right? So here's the eleventh chapter. I have quite honestly forgotten how long I was supposed to make this story, really. Oops. This chapter's rather…short.

Disclaimer: I honestly do not like writing these disclaimers, but some lawyers will come in a mob with torches if I don't. Just kidding. Proper credit goes to Garth Nix.

Reviewers (sniff I love you guys)

Kjata: Hi Gaia! Thanks for reviewing. You really should read this series. They're rather short. Yay.

Ninjamonkey: Umm…if you've given up on this story, I really can't blame you. I have sporadic updates. I'm glad you like it.

Death's Angel: Thank you!

Orangetabby: Ha, your review was amusing- another wonderful internal battle of the consciences. Everyone liked that part a lot. I guess the 'first sign of insanity' thing comes to play. Thank you for reviewing!

master fireball: Thank you! ; Ack, you reviewed in August? Talk about bad updating --;

SignalAutoS13: Perhaps you should have screamed 'Update' to me repeatedly. But thanks!

key of silence: I think Milla's half of Tal's conscience. The other two quarters are the ones arguing with each other. It's hard to explain, so perhaps I should give up trying to before it sounds worse.

Baliveia: Thank you so much! It's wonderful to know when people like your stories. You honestly added me to your favorites list? checks THANK YOU.

Arodic: Thank you! I can't end the roll when I've gone this far. Some reviewers will throw tomatoes or in my friend's case, hit me with a pan.

Adam Kadamon The Nuetral Angel: Hah. The major romantic point in the entire story was rather clichéd, but hey, it's a bit of a romance fic. Cliché comes every now and then.

Annekachan: Thank you for the suggestions. Most reviews don't really have them, and it pays to know the faults of a story. I'll have to find a way to balance Crow and Malen now…

Akyl: OO; Okay, she's coming back!...Don't kill me, please.

Justin: Thanks! I love Ebbitt too. The characters that bring the comic relief are the best. I'll add more Ebbitt scenes for you.

Iamrecognized: Thank you!

Reviews can really make the author's head inflate. On with the story!

Chapter Eleven: Almost There

MILLA'S POV

This current place I was residing in, wherever it was, remained as dismal, silent, and eerily not as empty as I would have liked. I still could not understand why I was not dead. All Icecarls went to the Ice if they did not die in battle, and all who left were never heard from again. Not one imprint of theirs was left behind, so my situation struck me odd. I had never spoken to those already past, and due to this normality, I was quite lost in this location.

Even more strange, I was still able to contact those in the Dark World. Not that this place was not gloomy either. The only light in here radiates from other wandering spirits. Yes, I glowed too. Yes, I tried speaking with them. No, they were not very talkative.

But I digress.

In my last adventure with Tal, I had attempted my own life by pleading for the Ice after my mistakes. There, death was not as frightening. My people do not fear death. But now, I could honestly say that I did not want to die. There is something I have yet to fulfill before I depart. Perhaps this was why there was still some part of me clinging to the living world.

And for some reason, that part was attached to Tal. He was the only person I could communicate with now. At the beginning, when I first arrived in the bleak dimension, I could speak to nearly everyone I focused upon. Yet minutes later, all thoughts with them were disconnected, and my mind was directly linked with Tal's. I could hear every single thought, see every memory, and speak through him.

Oh, this shall be most amusing. Tal apparently went through an awkward stage in life.

He will be rather mortified once he knows that I know what he knows.

There were more confusing things though. And I can ponder over them once I finish stressing over abandoning my people during an attack. One thought was how my mind was only with Tal's, and why there was some part of his mind that could not be seen. Perhaps it is the romance department, and he houses his secret crushes in there. I wonder who this secret girl is…

I really should focus.

Back to battle tactics.

I needed to start instructing Tal on them, since he obviously cannot lead one himself. I do not believe Castlefolk were much warriors. Yes. Battle tactics and my people. Not Tal. Why did I keep thinking of Tal?

I could only hope that he was unable to hear my thoughts like I can his. Because then I believe both of us are in for some deep embarrassment. However, my past was something he would never understand. His mind was filled with memories of his family, while my own parents died before I met him. He fought for his family in the previous battle. What was his incentive this time?

NARRATOR'S POV (once more)

'Great,' thought Tal. Somehow, he could hear Milla laughing in his head. He did not know whether to be frightened, dreamy, or slightly confused. He could settle for all three. Milla never struck him as the easily amused type, so she probably had something dreadfully humorous to laugh about. Then again, Icecarls had some weird sense of humor that he never understood. 'She has a nice laugh though…'

'Ack. Emperor, FOCUS,' berated Tal silently. 'No daydreaming amid chaos. I don't think that's allowed or something.'

Is something the matter, Tal?

'None whatsoever,' he lied.

Stop lying. But I shall drop the subject…

'Should I be suspicious of that?'

"Tal."

No…

"Tal?"

'Now you're lying.'

"TAL."

The emperor nearly dropped Milla. Clovil was staring at him with a mixture of confusion, concern, and amusement and he raised an eyebrow in question. "Tal, if you would so kindly return to the Dark World for this lowly being and stop flirting with Milla, we need to confer on something," said the Freefolk.

"Like what?" he snapped.

"Do I detect some hostility?" Clovil looked flabbergasted and clapped a hand to his cheek. "But I think you should lower your voice. I apologize for interrupting whatever conversation you were having, but the exit is being guarded by some Spiritshadow. We can't leave these caverns without passing it."

"Do you have any shadow jars?"

"No. All the ones we had were used in the war with Sharrakor, remember?"

"Yes, I do remember, but I rather hoped you found some when you cleaned the Cavern of the Freefolk. Did you find any?"

"…Not particularly. I was supposed to clean that place?"

"Clovil!"

"Uh, Tal, why are you looking at me like you want to strangle me? Tal?"

Ebbitt watched in slight fascination as Tal's eyes flashed dangerously. As much as Tal wished to literally strangle Clovil, he could not. He was carrying Milla, and he was not letting go of her for anything.

As the boys bickered, Ebbitt fiddled with his Sunstone ring. It had been flickering ever since his multiple door creations, and now it seemed as if it wished to play Colors. He tapped it experimentally on a convenient rock nearby, and a blue light ricocheted out upon impact, bouncing against the cavern walls. He blinked when the light crashed into the Spiritshadow-sentinel-thing, and watched as the shadow began to flicker in multiple hues as his Sunstone had in delight. He had never seen a shadow turn rainbow before.

The shadow scampered in agony, and eventually toppled upon thin air, vanishing completely. Ebbitt clapped his hands, enchanted.

He then proceeded to try and change Clovil into different colors.

"Uncle, what are you doing?" Tal had, of course, noticed Ebbitt knocking his Sunstone against Clovil's head.

"The shadow didn't like being purple. I wanted to see if Clovil liked the color green."

"…What?"

Tal glanced at the exit and found it unguarded. "Uncle, where did the shadow go?"

Ebbitt shrugged. "No idea. It turned purple, screamed, and then disappeared."

"Maybe we should get going then," added Clovil, eager now that Tal's fury had subsided. "The Crones are waiting."

The emperor checked how much time had passed in his Sunstone, and found an hour had rippled by while he was in the caverns.

He yelped and emerged from their hiding spot, hurrying to make up for lost time. Ebbitt and Clovil were on his heels.

The Crones could help Milla, and that was all he needed to hear.

Inside the Assembly Hall

"Finally, we're near the entrance," mumbled Crow. "I don't think the other shadows saw us."

Crow fumbled to unlock the hatch, struggling with only the dim light of the Sunstone to guide him. He could not fully brighten his Sunstone- the shadows would see.

He had found his former shortcut blocked with more battles, and he and Malen had to use the only other free route- the air vents. They had crawled within the dusty, compressed path, checking their position every now and then to see where they were through the cracks in the vents. At last, they had reached it. They could hear the faint voices of the Crones below.

The hatch unlocked beneath his fingers, and he sighed in relief. However, he held his breath again as he jumped to the floor below.

The Freefolk boy stumbled as he landed, and his impact echoed around the chamber. Malen's worried face appeared above. "Are you alright?"

"Just…fine." His leg ached from the jolt, yet he could not tell her that. "This looks like the room next to the Assembly Hall, so we can go through the nearest door."

"How do I get down?"

"You have to jump."

"I can't jump from here!" She looked aghast.

"Yes, you can. I'll catch you."

She hesitated. She doesn't trust me, Crow realized with a sinking heart. But I guess that's my price to pay…

"Malen, we're running out of time."

This coaxed her. She did her Rovkir breathing, and took her leap; eyes open to danger as she was taught.

The Crone was caught into Crow's outstretched arms to her surprise. He gave a halfhearted smile at her shock, and gently set her to the ground before striding towards a door.

"I think this leads to the Hall," he said. "But if it isn't…" His Sunstone flared scarlet. "Ready?"

Malen gazed at him. I still do not trust him fully. Yes, he caught me, but where does that door really lead?

"Crone Malen?"

I've gone this far…I can't be having doubts now.

She nodded, and he opened the door.

No attack came. Yet someone was blocking their path. They spoke.

"Why are you here?"

A/N: oo Review! I'll update faster this time, I swear! …And if not, you have the right to throw the rotten fruit.