As the sun continued to rise and fall in its natural arc across the sky, Karigan wondered more and more about Argenthyne. Could she really believe that this place was truly once Laurelyn's kingdom? Did it truly exist anyway? It was stories told by nurses and mothers, not something to be believed by a green rider. Another thing she wondered at was this nonsense about being touched by Laurelyn's favor. If this life was how she showed favor Karigan shivered at the though of what she did to those she hated. Karigan couldn't help but turn the thought away in disgust, favor!

The Prince's Eletian looked over to her looking at her with those piercing blue green eyes of his, as if he could hear her thoughts and disapproved. She narrowed her eyes and looked away in annoyance, why should she care about what he thought? It was the Eletians fault that she was here and it was one of them who originally made a breach in the wall so why was she getting their attitude. If anything it was the humans who should have the right to be angry at them and not the other way around!

Karigan stopped her woolgathering as she noticed that her horse had stopped. She blinked and looked up to see all whole gathering looking at her. The Prince's Eletian moved his horse forward to take hold of her horse's reins. Without a word he led her towards a cliff while the eyes of every other Eletian did not move from her form. As the horse moved obediently forward she glanced at the others for some kind of conformation. Nothing came of course. She turned and looked back at the Prince's Eletian and he brought them towards the end of a cliff.

"Galadheon, you now look upon the ruins of Argenthyne."

Karigan let her eyes roam over the once beautiful castle belonging to Laurelyn. The ruins looked nothing like the magnificent city she had seen in the Mirror of the Moon and its loss suddenly hit her with such force that a tear fell down her cheek. She wondered idly why such a place should matter so much to her. She had never really believed in Laurelyn or her beautiful city and thought it nothing but a tale, it was for Eletians to believe in, not a merchants daughter. She suddenly realized that the pull that she had in the forest had come back now double, leading her towards the ruins. She looked up at the King's Eletian and met his strong gaze and shook her head.

"There is something down there…we can't go that way."

He was silent for a moment as if annoyed by her words. "You have no choice. We are passing through." His hands tightened on her horses reins and begin to lead the horse down the sheer rocks. Karigan knew with a sudden surety that whatever had been in the forest trees were following them and wanted her to go there…wanted her to follow the Eletians to these ruins that could possibly hold her death.

"You think Eletians took her?" Lauren could not believe that she was hearing this from her king. Zachary was usually a practical man who did not jump to conclusions but Lauren was seriously having debates about his sanity recently. Both Lauren and Zachary were talking in one of the many rooms in his private wing of the castle and trying to figure out the most recent mishap of Rider G'ladheon.

"Look at the fletching on this arrow Lauren! It is high quality and in a pattern we have never seen, who else could it be?"

Lauren ran a finger over her scar in thought and sighed. "I don't know who else it can be either, but what would they want with her? She expelled the wild magic and according to Karigan she didn't think that they would bother her as long as she stayed away from the wall. Her errand took her no where near the wall."

"Who can know…and there is no message to send to them demanding her return. I wouldn't know where to reach them. Karigan was our strongest link to them anyway."

Lauren watched as the Zachary rose and began to pace with his arms crossed against his chest in frustration.

"I can not just let them get away with this. What if she is hurt in this whole fiasco and we never find out!"

Before Lauren could answer him a knock at the door interrupted her. They both turned as a weapon opened the door to allow a little green foot inside. Lauren rose and smiled at the boy who held out a piece of paper for her, which she took, a spoke hesitantly.

"Sire, captain this message had just arrived by bird and I was sent to you immediately. It seems to be from the Eletians." At the last word the boy raised his widened brown eyes in curiosity.

The king walked over to the boy took the paper but in his haste did not forget to smile and thank him for opening the letter. While he read it Lauren almost fit to burst at wanting to know what it said she sent him back to his other duties and then turned to Zachary.

"Well! What does it say?"

"I don't believe this…"He looked up to Lauren from the letter "It is from Prince Ari-matiel Jametari. He apologizes for Karigan's abrupt departure and that this will be straightened out. He also says that he plans to return her, personally…It seems we will be welcoming a procession of Eletians within the next moon."

Karigan had had no choice, where they bade her go she followed. As they got closer and closer to the ruins she began to hear humming, a light tune, inside her head. She wondered if perhaps she really was going crazy this time. Even worse was that she had the feeling that she knew it, knew every single word to this unknown melody. And something or someone was watching her. She shook her head as if to clear it of both feeling and song and looked up to find the Prince's Eletian staring at her.

"You know something…"

"She calls you."

"Oh that explains everything…" Karigan glanced around the ruins and caught a glimpse of a woman. It was at that point that Karigan remembered Prince Jametari talking about her being touched by the favor of Laurelyn…and everything clicked.

"Oh holy gods…You can't be telling me that…"Karigan turned back to where she had seen the form and began to dismount without really noticing what she was doing. It was only as her left leg had crossed over her mount to her right side and she was about to slide off that the leader shoved his horse in her view and blocked here. His voice was harsh and angry.

"No Galadheon we are not stopping here, we will-"

She began to lose focus on what he was saying and all she heard was a song, the same song, but stronger and louder. There was power in its words in its very melody as it called to her. A part of her brain vaguely remembered the call and could compare it to this. Only this was much stronger and it was urging her forward. She could not forgo this call as she had the call for the riders. She wouldn't let her.

Karigan looked at the Eletian and was for a full moment or two taken in rage. How dare he make Karigan resist her call! When his eyes widened and he moved his horse away from her suddenly a part of her wondered why he suddenly looked so fearful of her. She glanced at the prince's Eletian and was surprised to see that he was the only Eletian smiling slightly. She turned her eyes back to the leader and snarled.

"Move out of my way."

As if by magic, he went flying off his horse and landed against a tree sliding down to the ground. Karigan didn't hesitate to think of it and quickly fell from her horses back and moved towards the ruins. Her whole body heard the song ignoring everything else around her but it. Before she fully reached the ruins she turned around once to find the leader sounded by his men and right behind her was the Prince's Eletian. They all stared at her with curiosity and she could only laugh as she turned forward once again. Karigan's eyes were on the ruins but she spoke to the Eletian.

"Why do you follow me?"

"It is my job to protect you, my Prince orders me to do so."

She gave off a little laugh and ignored him as she moved where she was being pulled towards. She had no clue how she had any idea where to go but within moments she found herself in the middle of what was once a large building. There were some statues that were all crushed and she was unable to tell who they were of. Standing in the middle of the large hall she allowed her eyes to wander and then turned to the Eletian who stood silently and waiting for her to speak.

"First off I want to know your name."

"You may call me Beram."

"Where are we? Eletians have long lives; you must remember when this was new and beautiful."

"You stand in the middle of Laurelyn's temple. It was indeed beautiful, one of our most treasured places to worship and enjoy peace. As the Prince has told you, we re crushed by this loss. Perhaps one day we will rebuild it and this land will again be a spot of beauty and enjoyment for us."

"It will be, good Beram." Both Karigan and Beram looked a head towards what had once been the altar to find a woman standing and running a finger over a destroyed stand. Karigan had always thought Estora beautiful but compared to this woman no one could dare beat her. Then again, it was impossible to beat the beauty of a goddess. Karigan felt her jaw lower as she stared upon Laurelyn and managed barely to raise it. She heard Beram lower to his knees in reverence for the goddess in front of them and she smiled brightly at him. When Laurelyn rose her bottomless eyes to meet that of Karigan's brown she felt herself fall to her knees in a single movement. The part of her that was not totally focused on the goddess found it strange that she felt no pain.

"Laurelyn"

"So you finally catch on young Karigan." She smiled softly and motioned for both Beram and Karigan to rise, which they did. "I know, mortals hate to be called young and in years you perhaps are not necessarily so anymore, but your soul still is. It is why I have called you here. You need to know certain things that can not be kept from you anymore."

"What things? Will it help us in the fight against Mornhaven? He is coming back soon isn't he?"

Her face became sober and she nodded, her endless eyes for the first time looking sad.

"Yes, and he wishes to posses you. He wishes to get revenge on your ancestor Hadriax and wants you for other reasons that we shall mention in a moment. First-" Her gaze swung over to Beram and her face became serene again "Are you ready to take up the task that Jametari has given you?"

"Yes" Karigan looked at him in confusion but Laurelyn seemed to accept it and smiled with pride. She laid a hand on Beram's bowed head. Without removing her hand she turned to Karigan "I give you Beram as your bodyguard and friend. He shall teach you the ways of the Eletians and you will teach him the ways of your Kingdom so he can bring it back when the time is right."

Karigan was downright shocked.

"Bu-but how can-Beram? What do you say to this?"

Beram raised his eyes to her and gave her a small half smile as he rose from his bow "It is as it is meant to be. This benefits both of us and I am glad to help in the next, and hopefully, final fight against Mornhaven. This will benefit both of us Galadheon; you do well to accept it."

"…I accept."

She turned from Beram back to Laurelyn who smiled brightly and the world around her seemed to sparkle. She nodded and Karigan had the feeling that the beginning of something huge was happening with this agreement.

"Now Karigan we must speak of other things before you must head to Prince Jametari. He waits for your return and has sent word to your captain and king that you are in safe hands."

"If you know about the King and Captain Mapstone do you also know if Condor is ok?" Karigan became fearful and hoped the answer would be the one she wanted.

Laurelyn laughed and nodded "Your faithful steed is fine. The arrow wound will heal. He misses you and worries even more than the Captain and King Zachary." At the mention of Zachary, Karigan bit her lip and looked away. "When you arrive you will find Eletia split into some fractions. Most either feel that you will help Eletians or hurt them."

"But what impact can I have on Eletians."

"Magic" she said softly

"How can my brooch do anything? All I have is the power to become invisible and it takes so much energy."

"Your brooch is only a small fraction of what can be done. It is time for magic to come back to Sacordia and you and your riders shall be the first to use it. Every rider has an inordinate gift with magic as you well know and it is time to bring it back. Magic will be Mornhaven's downfall. Once you know how to control your magic, you and Beram can return to your King and bring it to the other riders and plans can be made. Mornhaven will do all he can to get you under his control and you must fight him. You have the power to turn the tide of this war." Karigan turned white at the word war and Laurelyn smiled brightly once while moving to stand right in front of Karigan. "I know you are scared and that this is not the life you originally thought you wanted but it is your destiny. You will have many hardships and tribulations but in exchange your joy will outweigh it all in the end. Do not lose hope Karigan Galadheon, You may have many strong enemies but you have even more allies and friends. But now it is time for the both of you to continue on your way to Eletia."

"But will we ever see you again? How do I know if I am doing what I have to do?"

Laurelyn turned and began to walk towards her altar. As she moved closer and closer to it her body began to grow more and more translucent and lost its solid form. Before she was about to disappear she turned to look at them once more. "One day in the far future, you shall return to Argenthyne and it will not be the ruins you see before you now, but what it once was." She gave a brief smile and disappeared.

Karigan was speechless. She had gotten use to ghosts but she just had a conversation with Laurelyn. She turned to Beram who was still looking at the spot where she had disappeared. Karigan turned back to the alter and it was once again in perfect condition. Gasping she moved towards it to run a hand over the new perfectly shaped marble and the rock seemed to vibrate with song.

"Come Galadheon we have to get back to the rest, we have been gone long enough."

Karigan nodded and removed her hand before walking down and over to Beram. "Most times my friends call me Karigan." Beram nodded and started to walk out of the temple. Karigan turned back to the altar and smiled. "I will come back to see your place in all of its glory."

With that she turned and followed Beram out of the temple and into the falling light of evening.

Well what did ya guys think of the newest chapter? Last chapter was up for a few days and when I didn't hear any reviews I was like "Oh no, I lost all of my readers!" but I am happy to say I got reviews and you guys seem to like it. I will continue with this story and we are nearing spring fling (an excuse for college students to get wasted on the last weekend before finals, even though we get wasted without an excuse the rest of the year ;) ) and finals so it might get sporadic but I AM NOT GIVING UP. Anyway comment are always welcome and feel free to IM me on AIM and say hello, the SN is MystiqueVesper. Alright time to make notes about this chapter.

I know it seems weird to "give" Beram to Karigan but there is a reason for it. First off I see them as being a society dictated by strict rules and regulations that they follow and once they make a pact they will not risk their good name and break it. I also see the Eletians as being a very ethnocentric society with no regard for any other people and Beram will need to be very open minded to other people, especially humans, because of who he is…now who he is I hear you ask. Well you will have to read on to find that out smirks

Don't think I forgot about the little bit of magic Karigan did when she moved the Eletian leader dude and pushed him against the tree. In the next chapter they will meet up with them again and you can see how they interact now that they see Karigan is more then she appears. Oh yah, he is still leader dude because I haven't though of a name and I would think that when kidnapping you would want your hostage to know as little as possible about you even if Beram would tell Karigan if she asked. Well see. Anyway, keep reading and reviewing please!