-Okay...I'm back...had a GREAT time...

-Thanx so much for the reviews I got...I did get five...so here's the chapter:

-To Mango Sam: here's the next chapter!

-To ZwngDragon: yes...tears...I can be a bitch sometimes...sry...

-To Trickstergal33: thanx so much for the lovely review!!

-To PyschoLioness33: I hope u like this next chapter!

-To Levaire: so glad u liked the chapter!!!!

-Ti-Ti: Actually...I know that Cameroon is right above Nigeria, but besides that not much more. And...yes, I might be a little bit of a tourist...but I've visited Kenya, Zimbabwe, Egypt, and S. Africa, ever since I was five...so I do know that lions don't just roam around villages...though I did live in Savo where there were the famous man-eating lions running around. And yes, we Americans can be dense, but the people in S. Africa can be equally dense...I've had plenty of people come up, thinking that if u live in America you meet celebrities just walking down the street. SO GLAD that u reviewed...and I'm not sure yet...but I think this story is focusing on Mitzi and Roald's romance...with a little bit of Neal/Kel.

-To burping mania: luv your pen-name!

-Chapter Seventeen:

All the pages were buzzing with chatter as they waited for Sir Myles to enter his room and begin class. Even though the attack had been two days ago...the boys were still talking about it; talking about how the immortals had retreated after only a half-hour's fighting. Luckily there had been almost no casualties on the Tortall side, and barely any pages had even been injured. All the pages recognized it as a victorious day.

Mitzi was slumped on her desk. Kel knew something was immediately wrong when she saw the princess had not fixed her hair nor done her make-up...something she did every day. The girl was watching a group of second-year pages talking excitedly.

"We sure showed those Norwestains!" one of them said.

"They can't defeat us with just a few immortals!" his friend added.

"Those Norwestians must be cowards if they send immortals to attack us instead of their soldiers," another one said.

Mitzi sighed and buried her face in her arms.

Kel walked over.

"Don't mind them," she said while sitting down.

"I just wish they'd realize that it's not Norwesita's fault...that it's the traitors who are the evil ones."

Kel also sighed...poor Mitzi had been obsessing about this for the past day.

"It's easy for you," Mitzi told her sponsor. "You know where your loyalty lies. I'm torn. Torn between being Norwesitian-born...and soon to be the wife of the prince of Tortall. I want to save my country...but I need to also protect the nation I will soon rule."

"You're focusing too much on this Mitzi. This war is not your responsibility. Leave the officials to take care of this. You're not helping by ruining your health and sleep."

Mitzi set her jaw stubbornly.

But before she could say anything Sir Myles walked in.

"Sit down class. Sit down," he said with making his way towards his desk. "Class will now begin. Stop talking please."

Obediently his class settled down. This was the one classroom where the pages were not separated by year. The pages all the learned the same thing and they mingled here freely.

"Now...I'm sure you all still are filled with the excitement we experienced two days ago...you all can be proud of the way you defending our palace."

His students beamed happily.

"But I wonder if any of you know why we are really fighting?"

One boy raised his hand.

"Yes Fred?"

"It's because those Norwestians are trying to take over our country."

Many other boys nodded their head in agreement. But Sir Myles only frowned and shook his head.

"Actually that's not the answer. I have been ordered by Lord Wyldon to teach you the real reason we are fighting. He feared that most of you, like Fred, had no actual knowledge of this."

He adjusted himself on his seat before he continued.

"In actuality...we are indeed fighting Norwestians, as Fred said, but we are allies with Norwestia, and we are coming to the aid of that country, where the royalty has been captured and the leadership usurped. But that is not the only reason. The traitors of Norwestia are attacking us because we have something they want..."

But before the knight could go on there was a knock on his door and a servant entered. The man bowed before he entered and turned to Sir Myles.

"My apologies for interrupting," he said. "But I have orders from Lord Wyldon to excuse Page Mitzi from class and bring her to the training master's office."

"Right now?"

"Yes," replied the servant.

Sir Myles nodded and Mitzi, stood up, gathering her books and throwing a quick, scared, glance at her friends. She was in the far corner and couldn't help but overhear what three boys, grinning evilly, were saying.

"Hah! I bet she got into trouble now and Lord Wyldon's gonna dish out some punishment," the first one said as she passed.

"I bet they're going to kick her out...send her packing."

"Glad they finally realized that girls –like that- aren't meant to be pages."

Mitzi ignored this grimly, and followed the servant out of the door and through the hallway. Her mind was blank as she dumbly followed him, not really realizing where she was going, too tired to really focus.

The servant finally led her to the door of the training master's office, and the servant bowed, leaving. Mitzi, automatically, opened the door and walked in, closing it behind her before turning to see Lord Wyldon and Duke Baird, looking at her over the large mahogany desk.

"Good afternoon," Mitzi said weakly, bowing slightly.

"Glad you could come Mitzi," Duke Baird said. His son had inherited his emerald eyes.

"We called you here because we have made a decision that concerns you," Lord Wyldon added.

Mitzi said nothing, just set her books and sank into a chair.

"As you know, Tortall is on the verge of declaring war on Norwestia, and we are going to do our best in returning you parents to the throne. Norwestia and Tortall have a long and good history together."

Know Duke Baird picked up the explaining.

"And it has become almost burdensome to keep your identity secret."

Mitzi, too tired to think, just watched the man listlessly.

Neal's father sighed and tried again.

"We have had many protests, from large city politicians, who are wondering why we are being attacked by Norwestia. It is common knowledge that we have something they want –you- but the public does not know that and is pushing to know. They also want a reason...they want to know why we are declaring war. It is not enough to them that we are good allies...but if they knew that we had their princess, soon to be wife of our own prince...they might accept the war more freely."

"Are you saying that we are going to reveal my identity? That we are going to tell everyone that I am the Princess?" Mitzi asked, her amber eyes coming wide.

"Yes," answered Lord Wyldon gruffly. "We feel it is for the best."

"When? When?"

"Well...Prince Roald's birthday is coming up; he will be his 16th. Because of this, and that in time of war people need morale boosting, the king and queen are going to host a grand ball, in which the whole palace is invited. His Majesty King Jonathon and his wife, Queen Thayet, hope that this will show people that Tortall is not held down by this up-coming war."

"Is this when?"

"Yes," Duke Baird said. "At this ball we will present you as Princess Mitziarianna."

A large smile broke across the princess's face.

'May I leave now?" she asked.

"You're excused," Lord Wyldon said.

Jumping up, Mitzi, quite unlike herself, raced towards her room, laughing with joy. With quick movements she took out her suitcase from under her bed and starting rummaging through it, finally pulling out a pair of shoes.

As Mitzi was busy laughing and singing in turns, Kel burst in.

She took one look at the suitcase on Mitzi's bed and gasped.

"Oh no! They've sent you away, haven't they?"

"No! No! Not at all!" Mitzi replied, laughingly. Her voice, which had been so lifeless the past days, was filled with its melody again.

"Then what did they summon you for?" Kel asked, relieved.

"They've going to hold a ball!"

Kel's reaction was not as excited as Mitzi's. "That's all?"

"And they're going to tell everyone that I am the Princess!"

Now Kel's jaw dropped. "What?"

"Isn't that great?" said Mitzi, shoving her wardrobe open. "Whatever should I wear? This green one?"

"But why?"

"Because they feel they can't keep it a secret anymore if there really is supposed to be a war. Or is this red one better on me?"

"But if they tell...your Uncle will know where you are!"

"So? They'll find a way to protect me. Maybe the yellow dress is better, it has some matching shoes."

"I take it you like this idea."

"Of course I do!" Mitzi said, finally turning away from her outfits and sitting down on he bed. "Now I won't have to keep my loyalty secret! I can find ways to help my parents...people will listen to me now! And...best of all...I don't have to do anymore staff work!"

Kel looked at the princess astounded.

At this point Neal came in.

"Mitzi!" he said, concerned. "What-

He stopped as he saw Kel next to the girl.

"I brought your books," he said. "You left them in Lord Wyldon's office."

"Thanks so much Neal," Mitzi said. And as the boy heard Mitzi's voice –melodious once again- he smiled. Trying to act casual he asked.

'What was the meeting about?"

"Oh Neal...there's going to be a ball!"

"A ball?"

"Yes...food, singing... and dancing!" Leaping up Mitzi grasped Neal's hands, and, singing sweetly, swung him around.

Neal laughed as he allowed himself to dance around the room.

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