Once Upon A Midwinter:

Chapter 2

Hola! I know that I only got one review, but it made me feel good so I'm updating anyways! Thanks Alianne Cooper! And you find out what happened with Faleron in this chappie. I also get to introduce one of my fav fic characters. YAY!

Okay, so on to the story.

Shocked thoughts ran through Lianne's mind, only one of which she could fully comprehend. Faleron! Faleron, kissing Lady Cecily! Recovering enough for the tears to start flowing, she raced back to the palace, her home, where she had always been safe from harm. But right now it wasn't going to protect her. Why did this have to happen? What had she done? She couldn't make herself think of anything else as she tripped and stumbled her way back.

Lianne raced through the open doors. Everyone gasped as they saw my pale tear-streaked face. She knew what they were thinking. 'What was wrong with her? Who did she break up with? She's the Princess, she wouldn't be crying if she did break up!"

The rumors would start in 5 minutes.

She was timing it.

In all honesty, she would not have been as heartbroken as she was if Faleron and she had just broken up. But no, he was cheating on her! She had never been so angry and upset in her entire life. She was interrupted from her murderous thoughts (a/n: I could kill someone with this…lol, inside joke, sorry) by a thunderous knock on her door. Dreading the worst (her father) she opened the door. She was slightly surprised to see her older brother, Liam, standing there.

He took in Lianne's appearance. "You look terrible." he said finally. His lips twitched in amusement. Lianne glared.

"You're not very nice." she said angrily, and tried to shut the door on him. Liam stopped her, and she sighed. She couldn't be mad at Liam. He had done nothing wrong.

"Do you want to tell me what happened?" he asked, gentler now. Lianne sniffed, not wanting to cry. She'd already cried more in the past 10 minutes than she had in her entire life. Eventually, she gave in.

Liam put an arm around her and led her inside, shutting the door behind them. He led Lianne over to a couch and sat her down, holding her supportively, just like an older brother should. She turned her head so that she could cry into his shoulder. A few minutes later, she had calmed down slightly, and was able to chokingly tell Liam what happened.

"I know that everyone said that my first heartbreak was coming soon, but I didn't want to believe them. I knew that Faleron and I probably woudn't be 'together for ever', but I didn't want our relationship to end like this." she sighed. "Maybe I should have gone further, like he wanted me to…"

"No, Lianne, listen to me." Liam said gruffly, grabbing her shoulders and turning her so that she was looking in the eye. "You never have to do anything that you don't want with yourself. I know you think that that would have kept you together, but it wouldn't. It would have ended eventually. Believe me, I know."

"And how would you know?" she asked scornfully, knowing what her brother had said was true, and yet not wanting to believe him.

"Lianne, I have done many things over my squire years that I am not proud of." he said quietly. "Mind you, it was all very legal, but I wish that the heartbreaks could have been prevented."

Lianne sighed. Then a thought struck her. "How come you don't call me 'Lia' anymore?" she asked.

Liam's eyes twinkled. "You're changing the subject." he accused.

"Well, what are you going to do about it?" she asked playfully. Liam grinned, and began to tickle her. She shrieked and laughed, begging him to stop. He knew her too well. Eventually he ceased.

"It's a good thing I stopped now." Liam said. He grinned wickedly, and Lianne made a face. "Otherwise, you may have wet yourself."

She stuck out her tongue at him, and laughed again. "You still didn't answer my question." she pointed out.

He shrugged. "I didn't think that you wanted to be called Lia anymore." he explained. "I was sure that you thought it was childish."

"I don't." she said. "I miss it." She sighed again. "I miss everything from when we were younger. I wish I always had someone around here to cheer me up."

"Well, aren't you glad that I came then?" said a low, quiet voice from behind her.

Turning around, Lianne gasped. "You're back!"

When Lianne had been younger, she had been part of a threesome that never did anything without one another. The other two had been her brother, Liam, and her brother's best friend, Alan of Pirate's Swoop. The three had been inseparable since Lianne had been 3 years old and Liam and Alan had been 5. They became the troublemakers of the palace. Playing pranks on the nobles, and annoying their famous parents and their famous tempers.

Then, Liam and Alan had turned 10, and begun Page training in the Palace. Lianne was suddenly left alone, because the boys were to busy to be able to see her much. She didn't really want to become a page. She wanted to fight and protect her kingdom, of course, but she would much rather be something more of a rider. So her mother, Thayet, taught her everything she remembered from her K'mir days. Lianne especially loved the riding tricks.

This lasted for two years, until Lianne turned 10. Then she was sent to the Convent. She hated it there, and was appalled to learn that she had a knack for ladylike behaviors.

She was out of the convent in 3 years.

Then she was introduced to court at the grand age of 13. Even then, she'd had people's eyes following her. Then the war with Scanra started. Roald, being the crown Prince and a new Knight of the Realm, was sent to Fort Mastiff. Liam and Alan had both left with their own Knight-masters to protect the border. Luckily, she was able to see them at Midwinter time.

Recap: 'Turning, Lianne gasped. "You're back!"

Alan of Pirate's Swoop grinned, hazel eyes twinkling mischievously, looking very much like Liam right then. "Of course I came back, where would I go, home to my lovely mother and missing twin? Thom is no fun at all. And you're much easier on the eyes."

Lianne blushed, and Liam grinned. Liam knew that when Lia had been 15, she had had a huge crush on Alan, which she thought unreturned. She did not realize, however, that Alan had felt the same way about her. Liam wondered then if they still had those feelings for each other. Alan would never hurt Lia like Faleron had.

"You're just playing with my maiden's heart." Lia scoffed. "I can't take the pain."

"Dearest Lia, I would never hurt you! I care for you too much." Alan replied. Liam rolled his eyes. Alan always appeared to be joking, but in reality, normally he wasn't. It was the same thing now. Lia, in turn, sighed to herself. She never knew when Alan was joking or not.

"I believe you Alan." Lia sighed, acting now. "I only wish that your feelings are true." She fluttered her eyelashes.

Alan grinned and pulled her into a hug, which she returned. "I'm glad you guys are back." Lianne whispered.