Author's Note: sweatdrop I know I haven't updated in centuries – but I trying to pull my act together, it's my last year in high school and believe me, it's mighty difficult to find time in between homework and study hours. . Sorry – I'm not writing responses to my reviewers this chapter because it's been such a long time and I'm sure that you guys forgot what you wrote anyways. ; My bad. P This chapter is kind of all over the place, I had to split between so many different scenarios, but my favorite part of this chapter is definitely Tala's flashback. It's so cute and sweet and I'm such a sucker for that. ; Well, hope you enjoy it and poke me with some reviews so I'll get updating soon!

Chapter 16: To Forget the Past

"He didn't do it, Father!" Carly was pleading, "I know he didn't do it! He wouldn't!"

The stern look on the man's face didn't change, "You saw how easily he was able to control those griffins. Like he owned them – you can't trust anyone out of the ordinary these days! You never know if they will end up stabbing you in the back!"

"Not Kane!" Carly burst out, "He would never! Father, please admit it – Ithildin would've collapsed if Kane hadn't taken control of those griffins and sent them back towards the enemy! He's not the enemy, he's helping us! So what if he didn't grow up in Ithildin? He still loves it here – it's his home as well as yours and mine! Just because he's gifted with creatures –"

"It's not a gift, it's a curse," her father corrected coldly, "Wild creatures are born to run wild – they should not be under anyone's control – something is definitely wrong if someone can so easily tame them."

"But it's a gift…" Carly protested helplessly, "He was born with the gift… Father! You cannot condemn him for what he was born with!"

"They could be all lies," her father said firmly, "As much as we know he could've traded his soul for that type of power. You must understand that we are in the midst of a great war – there is no one who can be trusted. I'm not going to take any chances! I want him exiled at the crack of dawn!"

"Yes, your Majesty," the advisor behind them said, bowing his head in respect.

"NO! Not Kane," Carly protested, "NO!"

Carly jolted up, hearing the last of her yelling fade from her mouth and her senses flew back into reality. Breathing heavily, she clutched her chest and looked around, "I'm in bed, how did I get here? Lord…my head really hurts…ow…" Realizing she was clutching something in her hand, she held it up and stared straight at the Dragon's Flute. "AAH!" She shrieked, dropping the instrument in surprise and staring faintly as it dropped on the ground with a clink.

"Princess?" Michael entered the room and shut the door firmly behind him, concern brimming his navy eyes, "Are you all right?"

"It's just…my flute…" Carly said in a shaky voice, bending down to retrieve the instrument, "I dropped it…"

"I heard you screaming in your sleep," Michael remarked worriedly, setting a steaming cup down on the nearby bed stand, "Here, drink something hot."

"Thanks," Carly said gratefully, taking a small sip of the liquid and shuddering as the warmth crept through her body, "What…happened? How did I get here?"

"Don't you remember?" Michael asked with a slight frown, "Because I was going to ask you that. We were underneath the castle…then you found that flute and all of a sudden you just passed out."

"I…passed out?" Carly asked in disbelief, feeling dizzy as the blood rushed to her head again, "Oh wait…I remember, the flute reminded me of Kane…" She squinted out the window faintly, "What time is it? How long have I been asleep?"

"Not long, perhaps half an hour to an hour," Michael replied, "Can I get you something else?"

Carly waved her hand in the air, "No no, it's okay Michael, I'm fine, just a bit woozy. Thank you, if I need anything, I can get it myself." She turned around to sit at the edge of the bed, "Why did I faint? I feel fine…it was because of this flute, when I saw it, I started to remember some things that I had never ever seen before…"

"Maybe you're just stressed," Michael suggested, "Maybe you've been working too hard lately with all these attacks and such –"

"Nonsense," Carly said indignantly, "I'm not stressed – annoyed, yes. Frustrated, yes. But I do not pass out from fatigue. In fact –" She was interrupted by a persistent knocking on the door which sounded more like a hammer banging on a nail than a knock, "What is it?"

"LET ME IN!" a voice snapped indignantly.

Upon hearing the familiar voice, Carly glanced at Michael with a grimace, "Don't – tell me…"

Michael nodded, "William's outside. When you passed out, I carried…umm…err…I mean, I brought you up here." He flushed dark red when he stumbled on his previous words, "Then William saw me and he insisted that I let him look after you –"

" Oh Lord!" Carly said, looking startled, "Tell me that you're kidding! Him? Look after me? I would much rather be buried alive…"

Michael nodded again, weakly, "I figured as much so I didn't obliged, he's pretty furious though. I mean…I probably should have since my status is obviously lower than his…"

"Oh, would you quit it with the status issues already?" Carly snapped, feeling very tired, "His brain status is about zero anyways – the only thing I give him credit for is walking on his feet without tripping."

"LET ME IN!!!!!"

Michael sighed irritably and walked over to open the door a bit, glaring at William's face defiantly, "The princess needs to rest without your endless whining."

"I," William declared proudly, puffing up his chest huffily, "am the son of a duke. You should refer to me as Lord William. Now I demand to see the princess – if she has taken ill, I shall find the best of medics -"

"She has not taken ill, she just needs rest," Michael said shortly, his voice taking on more authority than it had previously did, "Now, I'm afraid you'll just have to respect that."

William stared Michael in disbelief, as if shocked at the fact that someone of lower status was ordering him what to do, "Are you telling me to leave?"

Michael rolled his eyes, "In a word – yes. Get lost." He forcefully shut the door despite William's outraged protests from the other side of the wooden barrier.

"Thank goodness," Carly breathed in relief, a slight smirk spreading over her face, "I guess you can be assertive – now, all you have to do is take some of that confidence and use it against Tala."

"Please – don't start," Michael warned her, he still hadn't gotten Enrique's threat out of his mind. Ever so often he could still hear Enrique's harsh tone in his head, "I won't let you off so easily Michael, I'll figure out what schemes you and Tala are planning! Don't worry, once I have Tala figured out and caught, he will lead me right back to you!" Hanging his head so that his hair shadowed his eyes, Michael spoke in a quiet, but harsh voice, "I don't owe you – or Enrique – or anyone for that matter – an explanation."

Momentarily annoyed by the tone of his voice, Carly opened her mouth, but then closed it again, deciding against speaking her mind for once. "All right Michael – I'm not asking. Thank you for looking after me; I feel much better. There are still a lot of things I have to do before Enrique gets back, if you would excuse me – I'm going to speak with Father Nomin." She stood up and started for the door.

"Carly?"

She paused, her fingers just brushing the cool, metal door knob, "Hmmm?" She turned around curiously, her loose braid swishing over her shoulder.

Still with his back towards her, Michael quietly stood up, clenching his fists tightly on both sides, "Thank you for not persisting, princess." He turned around and walked by her; then, knocking her hand out of the way, he opened the door and disappeared down the hall, his eyes still shadowed.

"…Michael…?"

"Fiancé?" Enrique repeated in a tight voice, as if still not quite believing. He absent-mindedly brushed his fluttering cape back; the skies were now matching his mood for gloomy clouds were beginning to merge in.

"That is correct," Tristan Falmar III replied, reaching up with one hand to flip his jet black hair stylishly out of his eyes, "We have been engaged for several months now – not that this is of special importance at the moment. If you would pardon me, who might you be?"

Aquana was anxiously wringing her hands, her turquoise eyes shifting from Enrique to Tristan while muttering, "Oh no…what have I gotten myself into…"

"They call me Enrique Giancarlo," Enrique said with obvious coldness in his voice, "I serve as First Class Knight in the kingdom of Ithildin."

"Pleasure," Tristan said without a hint of hesitation, gracefully extending his hand to the blond boy.

Enrique didn't take it, staring back at him with steely eyes and replied rather reluctantly, "The pleasure's all mine."

Tristan seemed unruffled by Enrique's lack of friendliness, "Thank goodness you guys found me here, I would've starved a few days later, it's a complete mess here!"

The look on Enrique's face plainly showed that he wished they had come a few days later to allow for that event to happen.

"You're not badly hurt, are you?" Aquana asked, looking at him up and down in concern, "What happened to you after the…uh…disaster?"

Tristan gave her an odd look, "Actually…I'm a bit confused as to how you survived the whole charade? I remember you telling me that if you ever –"

"Uh…" Aquana interrupted hastily, "I almost didn't make it – but I dragged myself right outside the walls of Ithildin and luckily, Enrique found me and the people in the castle took good care of me."

"Aquana," Tristan started with an unreadable look on his face, "What if –"

"Can we stop talking about me?" Aquana interrupted yet again with a false bright smile, "I asked you if you were badly hurt or not?"

"I'm fine," Tristan said with an aurora of pride, "I'm a knight after all. Of course, I'm bruised and cut over from several heavy materials which came falling out of the sky, but I think I will live. How far is it to Ithildin?"

"Three days on horseback -" Aquana started.

"Why do you want to know?" Enrique scowled, folding his arms across his chest in a defiant manner.

Tristan looked at him in genuine bewilderment, "Surely you don't expect me to stay here? There's nothing left for me. Lanthir has been Ithildin's longtime, loyal ally and I am – or should I say was –a very important figure in this society. Surely the ruler of Ithildin will not turn me away?"

"That all depends on what kind of mood Carly's in," Enrique muttered, promptly wondering if there was anyway he could rouse Carly into one of her viciously foul moods so she could consequently turn this poor-excuse-for-a-warrior away.

Tristan's following inquiry managed to knock him back into reality, "Ithildin is still standing, is it not?"

"Of course it's still standing!" Enrique snapped nastily, his charcoal eyes blazing like fire in a hearth, "Why wouldn't it be?"

"Because of all this chaos going around – it's all to attack Ithildin, which is why they've picked off Ithildin's allies first. Lanthir was Ithildin's last standing ally, every other kingdom has either perished or turned against Ithildin for their own purposes," Tristan explained reasonably, taking no apparent heed of Enrique's temper, "Also, after the unfortunate death of the late king of Ithildin, we've heard that the kingdom fell into chaotic times because a girl came to rule. Not to be sexist or anything, but how can a girl possibly have the strength to rule? A ruler needs to understand the hearts of the people and be able to handle several difficult situations –"

"Are you done?" Enrique growled, partially grateful that Tristan was giving him a reason to attack him verbally, "Or have you forgotten that I'm First Class in Ithildin's Knight Order – and the female ruler you're insulting also happens to be my oldest friend. I will not stand here and listen to your insolent remarks about her."

"I wasn't insulting anyone," Tristan protested, "Do calm down. I was merely stating my doubts, that is allowed, isn't it?"

"Okay okay," Aquana said, squeezing between the two bickering boys nervously, "Stop it. Tristan, I have some extra food in my bag – why don't you grab a bite to eat? I want to talk with Enrique alone for a few minutes."

"Sure thing," Tristan said, eying the food with keen interest, "I haven't had anything decent or not waterlogged for a long time now."

Enrique scowled and made no motion to move until Aquana finally forcefully pulled him away by the arm, "Come on Enrique – please don't do this now…"

"I am all well now princess," the priest assured her, patting her hand comfortingly, "There's no need to worry about me."

"Thank goodness Father," Carly said with a smile, "I'd like you to remain here until the monastery is restored, all right?"

"Thank you very much," Father Nomin replied, "It's been rather quiet around here lately – what have you youngsters been up to?"

"Enrique," Carly said, wincing as she remembered the knight's bizarre behavior, "accompanied Aquana to Lanthir, I suppose they'd be doing some sleuthing right about now. And Flora disappeared somewhere with Tala. Not that I agreed to let her go; however, she is old enough to take care of herself and I'm really not in the best position to be nagging at her right now."

"Ah, I see," Father Nomin said gravely, the solemn expression on his face didn't change, "Remember princess, there are paths which we must walk to reach our destinies. Sometimes, it's necessary to take detours to get back on the right track again."

Carly stared at the priest in confusion, "Are you referring to me, Father?"

"Yes and no. I'm referring to everyone," Father Nomin answer wearily, "We all have our purposes in this world; we are all connected in one way or the other. The world hangs in a delicate balance. When you think all is lost, someone is gaining. When you think all lights have gone out, they've simply gone to shine elsewhere. Uuma quena en'mani lle ume, ri'mani lle umaya. Uma ta ar'lava ta quena ten'irste'."

Carly perked up, mystification glowing in her emerald eyes, "Father? What was that last sentence? I didn't quite understand…"

"You should princess," the priest said sadly, shaking his head desolately, "It was you who taught it to me."

"It was me?" Carly asked, frowning deeply, "How can that be? I cannot speak that strange tongue; I have not even heard it before. You must be mistaken Father; perhaps I am making you weary. I'll get you some food and leave you be."

Father Nomin shook his head again, gently laying his wrinkled hand on Carly's when the princess started to rise, "It is not I who is weary, but your memory. Weary of all the lies. Weary of the mysteries which cannot be solved. Weary of everything you cannot recall."

Carly's eyes met Father Nomin's quietly, almost as if she was afraid to do so, "Are…you saying that my memory is weary? Are you saying that there are things I can't remember?" She bit her lip when the priest didn't answer, running the words over again in her head, "Uuma quena en'mani lle ume, ri'mani lle umaya. Uma ta ar'lava ta quena ten'irste'…" It was so familiar…

"I know Elvish!" a young girl was claiming proudly as she finished her daily prayer. She got off of her knees and dusted off her tunic, "Father! Father! I know Elvish!"

The priest smiled at the energetic girl as he lit another candle inside the monastery, "So you do, Carly, so you do."

"I do!" the girl insisted with a hint of satisfaction, "See? I'll show you! Uuma quena en'mani lle ume, ri'mani lle umaya. Uma ta ar'lava ta quena ten'irste'! See Father? I spoke it – without anyone's help too! He said he'd teach me more if I wanted, I'm going to learn the whoooooooole language!"

Father Nomin chuckled, "And what does that mean?"

"It means 'Don't talk about what you have done or what you will do. Do it and let it speak for itself.'" Carly proclaimed, "See? I even know what the whole thing means."

"That is very good," Father Nomin said approvingly, "You would do well to abide by it…"

"Princess?" Father Nomin gently shook Carly, "Princess, are you all right?"

Words slowly slipped out of Carly's mouth as if she was in a trance, like a river flowing from a wall of rocks, "Don't…talk about…what you have done…or what…you will do… Do it…and let it…speak for itself…"

The priest looked startled, gazing at Carly before speaking softly, "So…you do remember."

"Don't talk about what you have done or what you will do! Do it and let it speak for itself!" Carly said, jumping up dizzily, "That's what it means, isn't it? Isn't it, Father? But how could I have known? I've never spoke it before – or have I? But when? And how? Who taught it to me? No one knows this language…it's Elvish… I said it was Elvish. That's impossible, how could I have known it was Elvish? I don't even know what Elvish sounds like…no one can speak Elvish…it's completely impossible!"

"Do not overexert yourself princess, answers will come to you when you are meant to find them," Father Nomin advised, gently pulling her wrist so that she would sit down again, "Anyways…you had a question for me, what is it?"

"A question…?" Carly blinked, "But…how did you know…?"

"You were quite restless when you came in," the priest said with an amused twinkle in his eyes, "So I assumed you had a question to ask; only you were too polite to demand it upon entrance."

Carly blushed, "You're right, of course. I went down to the dungeon today and I found this." She reached in her belt pouch and pulled out the turquoise flute, "It's a Dragon Flute, isn't it?"

Father Nomin took the instrument carefully in his hands and turned it around in inspection, "Yes…I do believe it is. These are quite rare in these parts, how did you come across one?"

"Well, my friend gave it to me and –" Carly stopped abruptly, realizing that she didn't know anything else other than the fact that it was a gift from a long lost friend. She didn't know why she had it; or why it was given to her at all. "…And that's about all I know. Do you know how to play it Father? And do you know the Dragon's Hymn?"

The priest shook his head regretfully, returning the instrument to the princess, "Alas, I know neither. Flutes are quite rare in these parts – finding someone who knows how to play it will be difficult. And I have never heard of this Dragon's Hymn, much less knowing its tune."

Carly looked crestfallen, but not surprised, "Oh…that's too bad…but thanks anyways…I'll ask Enrique when he comes back…"

"Give me something to DO!" Johnny ordered, frustration boiling in his voice, "I'm sick of sitting around and doing nothing!" He slammed his axe against the wall bitterly; now that his wounds were all healed, he was raging to cause bloodshed again as the power of dark fire flowed through his veins.

"Patience, knight," Daeloth said silkily, "For the events will turn to our favor very soon. The scout I sent out should be back with news very soon." Right after he said that, a snout goblin hobbled into the room with a low bow and a smirk on his ugly face.

Johnny sighed and leaned against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest, "Fine fine."

"Report," Daeloth ordered the goblin, "How is Ithildin?"

"Ithildin is still recovering from the last attack from the princess's use of the Imperium Gem," the goblin explained while Johnny clenched his fists tightly at the mention of the previous incident, "But the construction is proceeding very smoothly and efficiently."

"And…the princess?" Daeloth inquired, stroking the head of his cobra lovingly while the long snake hissed in pleasure, darting its forked tongue in and out.

"She seems to be fine – however, her friends have almost all left for a short time," the goblin said.

"Left?" Daeloth raised his eyebrows in interest, "That blond knight and healer girl?"

"The knight rode off to Ithildin with Aquana for a few days. And the healer girl left with a mysterious turquoise-eyed warrior at the same time as well."

"Turquoise-eyed warrior?" Johnny spoke up in confusion, "I don't remember seeing anyone like that when I was fighting in Ithildin. I just remember that annoying, church-preaching idiot who keeps hanging around the princess lately – he's still there, isn't he?"

"Yes."

Daeloth looked thoughtful, "Knight, I'll leave the princess and Ithildin to you. My minions will keep an eye on this mysterious new warrior and try to discover what his motives are. Meanwhile, leave Aquana to me – I will have plans for you to carry out on the night of the Dark Moon."

Johnny wrinkled his nose in distaste, "You just said that you were going to take care of her. She's a major bore to toy around with. Mention the fall of Lanthir of the slightest and she turns ballistic; I really have no interest in her –"

"Are you questioning my orders?" Daeloth hissed, his eyes glowing a fiery red.

Johnny sighed again, rebellion flashing in his eyes, "Very well, I'll do whatever you wish with her provided that you let me do whatever I wish with the princess and Ithildin."

"Permission granted," Daeloth said without much interest, "I couldn't really care as long as you bring me the Imperium Gem – you may go now."

"What?" Enrique demanded coldly, staring at Aquana with steely hazel eyes with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Enrique, don't be like this please," Aquana begged, clasping her hands together pleadingly and shivering when a strong gust of wind blew by. The iciness evident in Enrique's voice didn't help to warm the matter either. "I swear I didn't know –"

"It doesn't matter Aquana," Enrique said, shaking his head as if not knowing whether to be angry or hurt, "You still should've told me that you were engaged –"

"I thought he was dead!" Aquana cried, "Enrique – be reasonable! What was I supposed to say? 'Oh, by the way Enrique, I'm engaged, but I do believe my fiancé is dead'?"

"Well, he's alive and breathing now!" Enrique snapped angrily, "What are you going to do about it now???"

"You know I have to bring him to Ithildin," Aquana whispered, "But Enrique, I -"

"Do you still plan on marrying him?"

Aquana looked desperate, tears beginning to fill up in her cerulean eyes, "Let's not talk about that now…"

"Aquana, I asked you a question and I want the answer this instant. Do. You. Still. Plan. On. Marrying. Him."

Aquana bit her lip and looked away painfully from Enrique's piercing gaze, bitter tears stinging her eyes. Pain reflected in her crystal, turquoise eyes which were shiny with glistening tears.

"I see," Enrique said lightly, his eyes were empty of all emotion but his voice sounded oddly hoarse, "I think I have your answer. I'm going to look around for a few more hours, then we're going back." He swept off past Aquana, his cape fluttering in the wind.

"Enrique, wait – please –" Aquana pleaded as she helplessly watched his retreating back, "Enrique…" She sank down on her knees, not realizing that tears were spilling down her face like an overflowing riverbank. Taking a deep breath and wiping her face dry with her fingers, Aquana stared at her hand dizzily, "What am I supposed to do now? I think I…I… I think I've fallen in love with Enrique…"

Turning the Spirit Slayer quietly with his fingers, Tala made a face when he heard Flora stir weakly – she had been asleep for nearly 3 days. He had attempted to wake her up earlier, but received no response; in fact, she had been so motionless until now he was beginning to wonder if he had accidentally killed her with his Spirit Slayer.

"Stupid girl…" he muttered, slipping his crystal into his pocket and running his hand through his hair in annoyance, "I haven't used the Spirit Slayer in such a long time, but I didn't think it was that powerful to able to knock her out for days. Either she's a complete weakling or the Spirit Slayer is a lot stronger than I remember."

"I've got the world's biggest headache…" Flora moaned, her eyes fluttering open weakly. She slowly sat up, using her hand to support her head with a groan, "What happened? The last thing I remember is…wait…I can't remember anything…everything seems so fuzzy. My head is pounding like crazy…"

"Here, drink," Tala ordered, handing her a steaming cup grudgingly. She looked so innocent and so confused, he almost felt bad for using her in such a way.

"Thank you," Flora said, gratefully warming her hands by holding the warm cup, "W-what happened?"

"You fainted," Tala replied shortly, tossing more wood into the fireplace, "Drink up – I hope you feel well enough to ride because we're heading back to the castle tomorrow morning and I don't intend on carrying you back."

"Tomorrow? Already?" Flora's head spun with all the information, "How…long have I been out cold?"

"3 days."

"3 days?" Flora repeated in disbelief, "3 days? That's impossible! Were we under attack or something because I don't remember anything… But regardless…I shouldn't have been out cold for 3 days – if I was wounded I would've healed if it wasn't fatal…"

"What are you babbling about?" Tala demanded, staring at her blankly, "Yes, you were out for 3 days. No, we weren't attacked. And what do you mean you would've healed?"

"You mean I just collapsed for no apparent reason?" Flora asked incredulously, "I don't believe it –"

Tala sighed; he was beginning to regret the girl waking up after all for it was so much quieter when she was sleeping, "Are you done now Flora? It really doesn't matter why you fainted whatsoever as long as you're all right now; that's all that matters."

Flora collapsed back onto the bed, too tired to argue further, "Something doesn't feel right at all – I feel…so drained. Not as if I've been battered physically or something, but as if my morale took a serious drop. My conscience feels absolutely exhausted… I just don't understand it, I've never felt like this before – even worse…my healing powers don't seem to work against it."

Tala looked at her irritably, "Did you hear me – we're going back to the castle tomorrow."

"I heard you."

"Are you going to explain what you meant when you said you would've healed?"

Flora shot him a glance and shook her head, "Not if you're going to be so insensitive."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You figure it out!"

Tala stood up and shook his head in disgust, "Fine – have it your way." He rolled his eyes and disappeared outside. "Silly girl," he leaned against the house, staring up at the night sky with the three quarters moon illuminating his face. He smiled slightly, "It's a good thing we'll be back before the Dark Moon…strange and dangerous things happen on the night of the Dark Moon." He slipped his hand in his belt pouch, expertly whipping out four daggers and tossing them against the house wall.

He smirked again when he heard the sound of the four daggers hitting the wall with 4 simultaneous thuds. Walking slowly towards the wall to retrieve his daggers, Tala murmured quietly to himself, "Dark Moon…a night of mystery. A night of darkness. A night of complete evil domination. A night without a glimpse of moonlight." He tugged out his daggers without the slightest sound, staring intensely at the dangerous steel blades, "If anyone, I should know the night of the Dark Moon well, since it is the best suited with my occupation. Nothing like…a night of death." He quietly pocketed his daggers, along with the wide assortment of knives and daggers hidden along the back of his belt.

"What are you doing?" Flora demanded, poking her head outside with a slight scowl.

"I'm practicing," Tala said with a frown.

"You're practicing at night?"

"Yeah. What's it to you?"

"Aren't you going to get any sleep?" Flora pressed.

"I'm not tired – you should be the one getting some sleep," Tala shot back, "I need to practice."

"Practice what? Drilling holes into the wall with daggers?" Flora snapped, averting her eyes to the damage done to the outer house wall.

Tala looked momentarily taken back, surprise reflecting in his turquoise eyes, "She actually sounds mad…" He snapped out of his daze when Flora started to march towards her horse, untying her mare from the post. "Now what are you doing?"

"I'm going back to the castle!"

Tala groaned, "Would you give yourself a break? It's too dark for riding –"

"Well, if it's not too dark for you to be throwing daggers at walls, then it's not too dark for me to ride back!" Flora argued, tossing light brown hair over her shoulders defiantly. "Hey!" she complained as Tala tugged the reins from her grasp.

Turquoise eyes gazed at her in perplexity, "What is wrong with you Flora? This isn't like you."

"Nothing's wrong with me!" Flora retorted, "You're the one with the problem!"

"Me?"

"Oh – just never mind!" Flora said in exasperation, "Give me the reins, if I'm such a bother, I'm going home!"

"So that's it," Tala thought, resisting the urge to roll his eyes in frustration, "She's angry because I was irritated earlier when she woke up. Geez…what's with girls and being all clingy and needy all the time anyways? Then, when things don't work out beautifully for them, they get all sulky and throw a fit at you. I can't blow my cover yet – which means I'll have to be nice a bit longer…ugh… I keep forgetting that I'm supposed to have some sort of feelings for this girl, I had better figure out my next move quickly because I'm not sure how much more of this I can take…"

"Come on Flora," Tala said in a low voice, "I never said you were a bother – I just had a lot on my mind. I'm sorry I took it out on you, all right? You're not well enough to go riding now, let's wait until tomorrow morning." He grimaced and threw in the most considerate-sounding line he could think of at the moment, "Besides – it's not very safe nowadays; I would never be able to live with it if something happened to you out there."

Flora sighed, her resolve faltering, "Well…if you're sure that I'm not an inconvenience…"

"Sure I'm sure," Tala assured her, "Come on – let's go inside, it's getting awfully chilly out here." He smiled quietly in the darkness when Flora followed him inside, "Works a like a charm – I should be writing poetry or something…"

Flora sat down on the bed with a sigh, looking at Tala hopefully, "Would you really be worried if something happened to me?"

Tala cringed; he definitely didn't like the way the conversation was approaching, especially if it was some attempt to get him to confess some strange, out-of-this-world feelings that he didn't have. However, she had just asked and if he blew her off again, she would probably storm outside again and he would have to repeat the whole charade. "Flora – nothing's going to happen to you, not while I'm here anyways. You just take it easy. You know, I'm curious, you haven't asked me where you are."

Flora smiled, seemingly satisfied with his response, "Oh Tala, I don't need to ask, I'd recognize this place in my sleep! It hasn't changed much…since you were last here anyways…"

"I knew our village was small," Tala said thoughtfully, "And partially hidden in the mountains, but even I didn't think that my house would still be here after all these years."

"People are too caught up in their own huge cities to worry about tiny villages in the mountains," Flora explained, "A lot of villages are still standing, even though they've been abandoned for ages. It's great back at the castle – but I think I still prefer it out here in the mountains… Remember all the fun we had here when we were young? You, me, and Michael?"

Tala's eyes turned malevolent at the mention of Michael, "Michael…you traitor…you good-for-nothing conspirator…I have yet to make you pay…"

"Spring was the most beautiful," Flora continued, "You boys were so silly when you were young, and so mean too! Remember when I was seven, Michael stole my doll and wouldn't give it back?"

Tala stared at the burning fire intently; he didn't want to remember, but he couldn't help the images which were flashing persistently in his head.

"Michael! Michael! Give it back! It's mine!" Flora cried, running after the navy-eyed boy, "Give it BACK!"

"This silly thing?" Michael laughed, dangling the doll by one of its braids, "What do you see in it anyways? It can't talk or move, you just hug it all day long!"

"My daddy gave it to me!" Flora said frantically, "It's mine! Stop it Michael! You're going to ruin it – don't hold it by its hair like that!"

"Come and get it then!" Michael taunted, swinging onto the nearest tree branch and hoisting himself up. He then proceeded to climb up, limb by limb, to the very top and tie the doll to the highest point.

"Michael!" Flora shrieked.

Laughing, Michael jumped down from the tree and ran towards the lake, looking back and calling, "Go get it if you can! If you're not afraid of heights that is! You're such a wimp Flora, when are you going to grow up, huh? Well, later!"

Flora watched tearfully as Michael disappeared by the lake to play in the water, "It's…not fair…how do I get it down now…?"

"Flora?" a young red-haired boy approached her and tilted his head, looking at her in genuine concern, "What's wrong?"

"Tala!" Flora cried, tears springing up in her eyes, "Michael stole my doll again!"

Tala frowned, "His parents already told him to leave your doll alone. What did he do with it?"

"He tied it up there!" Flora sobbed, pointing to the top of the cherry blossom tree where the doll was bound to the highest branch, its twins braids blowing with the wind. "I'm too scared to climb up and get it though…it's so high! What do I do Tala? If I tell my mommy then Michael will get do something meaner next time!"

"Don't worry Flora," Tala assured her with a pat on her shoulder, "I'll go and get it for you. Don't cry. Wait here, it's should only take a few minutes." He hoisted himself onto the lowest branch and scrambled up the tree.

"Tala!" Flora squeaked, peeking through her fingers nervously, "Be careful!"

"No worries!" Tala called down as he reached the top and untangled the doll quickly, "Got it!" He grabbed a branch and swung down smoothly. "Here," he handed Flora her doll, "Next time Michael does something like that, we'll tie him to the tree!"

Flora giggled and squeezed her doll cozily, "Oh thank you so much Tala! You're the best!" She flung her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly…

"Screw it!" Tala muttered, "I don't want to remember! Don't make me remember!" He growled and glanced at Flora warily as if noticing the sudden quietness. Flora had fallen asleep and laid peacefully on the bed, her hair flowing down in soft waves around her face. Tala silently pulled the covers over her to keep her warm, staring at her innocent face painfully, "I will not fall for you Flora. I don't care if we shared history – you will help me achieve my goal…and then…I will kill you..."

"What a serious setback!" Carly scowled, nearly screaming in frustration. She angrily kicked the wall of the royal library, causing a dent in the well furnished room. "Well, the librarian sure isn't going to be in a pleasant mood when she sees that…oh well. Still, this cursed library, shelves and shelves of books and records and absolutely NOTHING on the Dragon Flute or the Dragon's Hymn!" She sighed and got up, "I really need to go outside for some air."

She exited the castle and slipped out its gates, walking along the paved path and kicking a few random stones at the same time, "Stupid…Enrique will be back tomorrow and he'll be on my case again. And I still haven't found anything. I only remember the Dragon Flute and the Dragon's Hymn, they're just names though. I could've imagined the whole thing up! They could have different names which I don't recall, arghhhhhhhh!"

She stared at the bright moon, only 3 quarters of the full orb showing, illuminating the black sky, "Why can't I remember anything? Why does my memory always fail me like this? I want to remember, I do! If I can't figure out how to play the Dragon Flute or learn the Dragon's Hymn, I may never see Kane again!" She leaned against the wall wearily, sadness glimmering in her emerald eyes, "That is – if Kane is still alive. If he is, then why hasn't he come to see me? Why hasn't he tried to reach me? It's been years – it's possible that he's completely forgotten who I am…ARGH! I'm SO DOOMED!"

Carly gasped when she felt two strong arms grab her – one arm locked around her waist and the other reached up to clamp his hand over her mouth, muffling her cries. She froze when she felt the cold steel of a curved blade edge against her neck.

"You're doomed all right," a wicked voice sneered, "Stop struggling or my axe will sink into your neck."

"The Nonda'Kanoste…oh, curse…" Carly thought bitterly despite the icy fear which washed over her. She was highly disgusted at herself – that was as far as she had gone; she was able to recognize his voice in the midst of the dark. She tried to clear her mind and figure out what she could possibly do in the situation. It wasn't exactly an ideal scene for her, there was no way she could move without feeling the blade sink somewhere into her skin. If it was an inexperienced warrior, she would've have gutted him in the stomach and tore away safely, but she had a feeling that if she attempted this now, the blade might miss her neck, but slice across her face instead.

"Fancy meeting in the darkness, Tariena?" Johnny whispered in her ear, his amethyst eyes glittering like gems, "You should know better than to stray outside when it's past your bedtime."

"Do not mock me," Carly warned, ignoring the uncomfortable feeling of his warm breath tickling her ear and trying to squirm away, "What do you want with me? To kill me?"

"I don't want to kill you, Tariena," Johnny said with a laugh, "I really don't. Just give me the Imperium Gem –"

"In your dreams!" Carly hissed, "I'm not 5 years old, knight! Don't get started on that ridiculous if-you-give-me-what-I-want-I'll-spare-your-life junk, because it's not going to work!"

Johnny smirked, "Feisty, aren't we? But you're really down to these two choices, either you give me the Imperium Gem now or I kill you and destroy Ithildin to find it."

"Then kill me and be off with it!" Carly challenged, "You'll never find the Imperium Gem without the right knowledge. You're a sick, power-hungry psycho, destroying the lives of thousands of people so you can just satisfy your own selfish wants!"

"Save your preaching Tariena," Johnny drawled, "Yes, I'm selfish. Isn't everyone? You're so idealistic it almost makes me sick – get used to this – the world is a selfish place, it's everyone for themselves. Destroy or be destroyed."

"You disgusting –" Carly snarled, "What are you anyways?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You're not human!" Carly snapped, "I killed you. I saw the Imperium Gem blast you away, no mortal can survive an impact like that. I killed you."

"Shut up!" Johnny warned, his eyes glowing threateningly now at the reminder of the incident, "You would do well not to speak of that. And, not that it's any concern of yours, I am human. Just a lot stronger than you weakling. Make your choice – your life or the Imperium Gem!"

"How many times do I have to repeat myself?" Carly snarled, "I will never hand over the Imperium Gem to worthless filth like you!"

"You're going to regret that," Johnny said softly and dangerously, slowly raising his axe until the edge of the hazardous blade shone in the forbidding moonlight. "What a waste of life Tariena – you should've handed over the gem. I'll see you in Hell –"

A sharp whizzing sound was suddenly heard and before either of them could react, a pike zipped past Johnny, the sharp end slamming into his hand. With a pained groan, Johnny dropped his axe as blood spilled out of his gloved hand.

Reacting quickly, Carly knocked Johnny down and tore a good distance away from him, her hand slipping to her back pouch which held a number of darts since she was missing her usual bow and arrows.

Johnny clutched his bleeding hand furiously, glaring at the spearman who threw the offending weapon, "You again!"

Though not dressed entirely for a battle, Michael held his double-headed spear tightly, his navy eyes returning the glare defiantly, "Cowardly act, sneaking up from behind on others in the midst of the night."

"How I choose to act is none of your business!" Johnny flared, grabbing his axe with his uninjured hand and leaping onto the top of the wall. "I am sick of your interference!" Black fire erupted from Johnny's hand and he hurled it angrily.

"Michael! Watch out!" Carly yelled, wincing as Michael dove to one side to avoid being hit. Instead, the fire slammed into a wall and crumbled it done in an instant. "Get lost!" Carly ordered, whipping out a dart between her fingers and throwing it with amazing accuracy at Johnny, "Leave my kingdom alone!"

Johnny narrowly avoided the dart; he could smell the poison embedded within the point of the dart. He wasn't in a mood to take chances with poison tonight, especially after the last incident; he wasn't particularly interested in being humiliated again. "I'll let you off easy tonight Tariena, but here – something to remember me by!" He leaped in the air and yelled, "Thangarim yassen templa (Mass Curse)!!!!" Fire pressure exploded from his hands and erupted on the houses nearby. As the impact hit the ground, the land tore up like in an earthquake and nearly overturned.

Screams were heard from the houses as the people desperately tried to escape the raging flames. The image of the attack was still vivid in Carly's mind from the last time she encountered it, but watching houses burn and people die right in front of her eyes was even more terrible than taking the impact herself. "Why…do my people have to suffer for it…? It's not fair…" She was frozen in horrification as she watched people being engulfed by black flames and being burnt alive; their screams echoed dreadfully through the quiet night.

"Carly," Michael said softly, coming up beside her, "Come on – we've got to go put out that fire as soon as possible. There's nothing else we can do about it now. Carly? Carly, are you in there?"

"It's not fair…it's not fair…" Carly said angrily, her voice echoing the empty night, "It's not FAIR! You'll pay for this Nonda'Kanoste! I WON'T LET YOU GET AWAY WITH THIS!!!!"

With his black cape fluttering in perfect camouflage in the darkness and his lilac eyes glittering in satisfaction, Johnny vanished in the night.