A/N: Hello again! Thank you to everyone who reviewed! And to everyone who didn't...YOU SHOULD! I realllllllly want to get 200 reviews! That would be such a HUGE achievement for me...so please review!

ENJOY this new chapter!

SIDENOTE! I just finished Meg Cabot's The Mediator series...OMG SO GOOD! Jesse is definitely up there on my list with Harry, James, Dom, Neal, George, etc. etc. FYI is all...you all should go read those books if you haven't (and thanks to Azeemah for showing them to me!)!

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"May I ask you a question?"

"Hm?" Aly's eyes fluttered open again. She was laying against Braden's chest in his bed. He stroked her hair and one arm. She adjusted herself so she could see his face. I really wish his shirt was off...

"Aly?"

"Yes, I'm awake, I swear."

He smiled to himself and kissed the top of her head. "How do you know you have the best eyesight in the kingdom?"

Aly's eyes widened. "What?"

Braden sighed, which caused his hair to flutter up above his eyes. "Remember how you told me you hated carrots because your mom made you eat them all the time even though your father, grandfather, and Their Majesties themselves all believe you have the best eyesight?"

Aly adjusted her Sight so she could see Braden's Gift. He was trying to read her with his Gift...which would be impossible, but he was trying anyway.

"I just do."

"But how do you know?"

She bit her lip. "Do you trust me?"

Braden was slightly taken aback. "What?"

"Do you trust me?"

"Well yes, of course."

"It's a secret that could possibly be used against me or the kingdom, so only my family and Their Highnesses can know. Maybe on our mission you'll find out."

Braden continued to stroke her hair, "Maybe..."

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"Gentleman, I've gathered you in here to discuss a very important matter."

"Myles, please get on with it. I have a luncheon with my wife at the next bell..."

"Yes, well, since His Highness needs to leave, shall we just discuss this important matter and get on with it? I have spies to train..."

"And a pregnant wife to handle."

All 4 men grimaced at Raoul's remark. "Dreadful Raoul, really." Jon patted his shoulder and waited for Myles to continue.

"It seems that the Maren Royals might be more aggressive and violent than we originally thought. I think it might be wise if we sent ambassadors to go to Maren to prove that we don't plan on attacking. The spies can still spy and report back to us, and the Players can still perform, but it might be wise to send some ambassadors."

"But Myles, all of our ambassadors are either out on missions, retired, or on leave. And we have no real ambassadors for Maren."

A servant popped his head in the room and asked, "Prince Roald to see you, Sir Myles."

"Send him in, Zarek."

Roald came in the room and Myles motioned for him to sit at the table where the 4 men were discussing this ever-important matter.

"Roald? What brings you here?"

"Well, Father, Myles asked me to sit in on your little meeting here so I could learn."

"And..." Jon knew his soon well enough to know that the twinkle in his eyes meant there was something else. Jon had that same twinkle.

"And I have a splendid idea, brought to my attention by a very persuasive young woman."

"Aly..." George muttered.

"Yes, Father?" Aly walked into the room as well and sat next to her Father. "You called?"

Jon bent his head to hide his amusement. Aly never did fail to amuse him.

"What are you doing in our meeting?"

"I'm glad you asked, Father. Because I agreed with Grandpa here. We need more protection for the Players when we ride as well as possible ambassadors."

Raoul stroked his chin. 'I suppose I could allow a squad to go to Maren with you."

Aly smiled, her green-hazel eyes twinkling. "Wonderful."

"And who do you suggest go on this mission as ambassadors?"

"Well, Sir Nealan and Lady Knight Keladry have proven to be very good negotiators, and they work well together. Kel is very kind, and isn't one to anger anyone else; which would be good when she's dealing with the King and his advisors. While Neal may be more, well, reckless with his anger and sarcasm, he could keep the advisors on their toes. And he would never do anything to put the Kingdom in trouble. Especially when Kel is there."

Jon thought. "Well...I guess Kel and Neal would be good ambassadors."

Aly smiled. "But, they aren't really going to be ambassadors. Kel is going to also demonstrate her glaive skills. We can't let the Marens realize we've been spying on them. Which is why we can send knights...we can say they were sent to accompany the squad as well as the Players on the dangerous road to Maren."

Roald smiled. "See, Father? I told you she'd make a terrific advisor."

Jon smiled and stroked his black beard. "Sounds like a wonderful idea to me. Myles?"

Myles smiled, his pride for his granddaughter was beyond words. "One of the best ideas ever."

Aly put a hand in front of her face. "Oh, stop it! You're embarrassing me!"

George put an arm around his daughter's shoulder and pulled her close. "If only my sons were as wise..."

Aly hit his arm playfully and looked at Raoul. "One more thing..."

Raoul nodded. "I know, you're going to want Dom's squad to go."

Jon frowned. "Aly, you know we can't allow Kel and Dom to go on this mission together."

Aly slipped out from underneath her her father's arm and looked to Roald who nodded. He had heard her argument for this and he agreed totally. "All right, Uncle Jon. Let's pretend Dom isn't in the Own. He would be able to marry Kel and they would always be together, just as Grandpa and Grandma are, you and Aunt Thayet, Raoul and Buri, Father and Mother. Aren't you all blissfully happy? Don't you want all of your most loyal and not to mention knights to be happy like that too? We can't allow Dom to drop out of the Own. He's too good a sergeant and fighter, and he needs the money and job security. But don't you want them to be happy? They've always put their lives on the line for Tortall. They defeated Blayce. Kel ran a refugee camp even though she would have rather been fighting. All of her friends are happily courting or married. Can you really allow yourself to get rid of Kel's happiness? She and Dom only just recently started to court. We can't separate them now..."

Jon waved a hand. "Fine Aly, fine. We can send Dom's squad to Maren. But I'm not yet changing the law to allow men in the Own to marry."

Aly looked at Raoul and he winked. 'Not yet, not yet.'

George looked at Myles, "So I'll inform Lady Knight Kel and Sir Neal that they're going to Maren-"

"-And I'll tell my squad."

"Good," Jon said and got up from his chair, "now if you'll excuse me, I have a luncheon."

Aly smiled at Roald and mouthed the words, 'Mission accomplished.'

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She patted Azure's mane. "Don't worry, Blue, in a few days we'll be riding for weeks and then you'll never be bored." Azure neighed and Aly left the stall waving goodbye to Stefan and Tobe.

She walked over to the arrow targets where she saw a man shooting a crossbow. She saw the mop of brown hair and blinked. Owen? She hadn't seen him in weeks...since Braden came into the picture. Her mind raced. Had she even heard anything about the squire or was she too engrossed in her own life? When was he going to become a knight?

"Squire Owen!" She put a hand over her mouth - why did it seem sometimes she couldn't control it?

Owen's neck snapped to where Aly was and he did double take. "Aly?"

Aly waved and he walked over to where she was leaning against the fence. "I haven't seen you in a while, Lady Aly."

"Yes, sorry about that Owen."

"What? Why? We had fun at the dance, that was all."

Aly blinked. What? Had he said it was no big deal? She adjusted her Sight. He didn't seem to be lying...

"Sorry if I seemed to have led you on..."

"Aly," he said smiling, as if he was about to start laughing, "it's okay! It's not like you're the only girl I've ever talked to, danced with or kissed."

Aly let a small sigh. She had forgotten Owen existed and felt awful about it, and was now being reassured that it was okay. "So when is your Ordeal?"

Owen's smile faltered slightly. "Two days."

Aly tried to be encouraging. "Oh, Owen, don't worry. I'm sure you'll do fine..."

Owen looked down at his shoes. "Thanks."

"Would you like me to come?"

Owen looked up, his brown eyes big. It made him look so innocent and vulnerable. "Would you? Only for even a few minutes? The more people there when I'm done, or before, the better I'll feel."

Aly smiled, "Anything for a friend."

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Aly climbed the stairs to her grandfather and father's offices for her lessons with her fellow spies. Because they were to leave soon, they had longer and more intense lessons as well as Player practices. Rhys had taken a liking to her somewhat sarcastic and dry humor as well as her and Chris's "friendly banter" and made a short piece for her and Chris to almost improv witty remarks back and forth. Aly was glad that the "King Player" liked her style, and gave her many characters to portray.

"Not many newbies get so many pieces to be in you know, Aly." He had told her once. She smiled, thinking back on that moment. She had smiled broadly and said, "Told you the King liked me."

She opened the door to her father's office and saw Kel, Dom and Neal sitting there. "We're getting briefed about the journey and what exactly your job is too."

"Thanks for telling me, my dearest Aly, that you were a spy as well."

Aly rolled her eyes dramatically. "Well, dearest Nealan, I know how big your mouth is..." she saw out of the corner of her eye that Dom was stifling a laugh, "and I was only allowed to tell family anyway."

Neal huffed and crossed his arms. "Fine. I didn't care anyway."

Kel got up from her seat and said to Aly, "Can I talk to you for a moment before the meeting begins?"

"Sure." The two women walked over to a corner far away enough that neither Dom nor Neal could hear.

"Did you persuade Raoul and the King that Dom and I go on this mission together?"

Aly was expecting such a confrontation and put her hand on her chest. "What?"

Kel's hazel eyes twinkled only slightly; probably something she subconsciously picked up from Dom - or maybe loosing her mask helped as well. "I thought so. There's no other way that Dom and I, and Neal could be together."

Aly adjusted her Sight, and saw that Kel was not upset at all. "Are you mad?"

Her question was answered when she was caught in a huge, iron-grip, hug. "Not at all! Thank you so much, Aly! How did you do it? How did you convince them?"

Aly smiled and hugged her friend back. "Trust me, it was easy. They want you to be happy. And they know that Neal and you work well together. And Dom and you are terrific fighters, and know how to deal with possibly incompetent and aggravating people."

Kel laughed and the two women walked back to where now all the spies were sitting around the large round table. Aly slipped into a chair between Braden and Aliya. Braden's hand caught her own and their fingers intertwined. She looked over and saw Aliya's smile-less face. "Aliya? Are you all right?"

Aliya shook her head and looked up. She had been in a daze. She tried to smile, but Aly could see through her facade. "I'm fine."

Aly took her free hand and patted her friend's knee. "Don't lie. I know you are."

Aliya sighed and said, "Alan and I had a fight. I don't think it's fair that he has to stay faithful to me while I'm in Maren, but he won't hear anything of it. But I know he wants to simply forget about me while I'm gone..."

"Aliya! Why would he lie to you about this sort of thing? If he wants to stay with you and remain faithful, even though you're not here, and then let him! Don't fight over something if he already told you what he wants...unless you don't want to remain-"

"No! Of course I want to! I was just looking out for him...but I guess you're right..."

Aliya and Aly's conversation was cut off when George and Myles came in and started to tell the spies about how Neal, Kel, Dom and his squad were going on the journey as well. The meeting and lesson lasted for 2 hours, and finally Aly walked out of the room with Braden by her side.

"Want to go for a walk in the courtyard?"

"I just need a cloak."

"I have one you can borrow. My room is closer." He took her hand and they walked over to his room where they sat on the bed and kissed quickly before he got his cloak and one for her as well.

"Thanks." She smiled and they left his room, his arm around her shoulder protectively.

"You know," he said when they had finally reached the courtyard, "I haven't met your mother or other brother yet."

Aly coughed, trying to hide her surprise. She could see that he was very smug. "The Baron actually suggested that I meet them before we left for Maren." It bothered her only slightly that Braden referred to her father as The Baron still, but now it just seemed awkward.

"He did?"

"Yes," he kissed the top of her head. He was tall enough that he didn't have to bend his neck to much in order to do so. "If you don't introduce me, I might have to find her myself and-"

"No, no you can meet her soon. But the ball is tomorrow night, so maybe the day after we can all have lunch. I'll ask, The Baron."

Braden's cheeks turned slightly pink. "What else would you like me to call him, then Anne?"

She punched him playfully on the arm. "You should be thankful I don't mind too much when you call me that. Or you'd have shreds for limbs."

He cocked his eyebrow amused. "I see. Are you challenging me to a dagger-duel?"

Aly threw her head back and laughed dramatically as it rang through the cold air. "You should be thankful I'm not. Besides The Baron, I'm one of the best."

"At daggers."

"At daggers."

"What about wrestling?"

She stopped walking and looked up at him, but before she could stop him he tackled her and they fell onto a snow bank. "I see your wrestling skills need some sharpening them, eh?"

She laid back against the snow and closed her eyes as snow began to fall. She felt one of his strong fingers stroke her cheek and she slowly opened her emerald green eyes. He sucked in a shallow breath. "I've never seen them this green, Anne." She smiled at his pet name for her. It annoyed her when her old friend Coram used to playfully call her that, but she liked the way it rolled off Braden's tongue. Speaking of tongues...

She lifted up her head and pressed her lips to his. He was still admiring her green eyes and he pulled away for a few seconds. She looked at him pleadingly, but he continued to stare at her emerald eyes. She returned his intense gaze and almost fell into his own eyes. They were darker than usual; almost a steel grey. But like always, it looked like the grey was swirling. His black hair fluttered in the winter wind and she shivered. He pulled her closer with his arm that was underneath her back and he kissed her again. She closed her own eyes and savored the taste of him; her Braden.

When they finally broke apart, Braden's eyes were back to their normal stormy, piercing, and yet friendly grey, but she kept hers emerald. He helped her up and they continued to walk around the courtyard. "You like the green?"

Braden smiled looking straight ahead, the snow in contrast with his dark, unkempt hair. "I do. They seemed deeper, and I don't know, more, interesting..."

Aly smirked. "So then I should always have them green?"

He kissed her quickly. "Course not. I like the usual hazel-green mixture you have going on. And I can live without the amethyst..."

Aly laughed. "I know, I know."

The two walked back into the castle and went to Aly's room. He collapsed on her bed and she laid down next to him as he put an arm around her, and she put an arm on his stomach. They both closed their eyes and listened to each other's breathing. Braden was about to fall asleep when he heard Aly mutter, "Take off your shirt," and felt her roll over and curl up next to his chest. He opened his eyes, and although slightly taken aback, obliged.

Aly's eyes fluttered open when she felt Braden moving around. "What are you doing?" she asked sleepily.

"Taking off my shirt like you asked," he said his voice muffled through his shirt. Aly blinked. What? But soon all thought ceased when she once again saw Braden's tanned, and muscular chest. He laid back down and pulled her back as well. He lazily threw an arm over her waist, and she put an arm on his chest. But now she couldn't go to sleep because there was this wonderful chest right in front of her eyes. She lazily took her finger and drew shapes and pictures lightly on his chest. But she could see that with almost every touch he shivered slightly. Out of cold? Pleasure? Being uncomfortable?

She got her answer when he took his free hand and twirled her blonde-red hair into ringlets around his finger.

This is what she liked. Just laying there with Braden - her Braden - and simply enjoying each other's company. And warmth. She thoroughly enjoyed the heat that he radiated, and the heat that her skin got when they touched. And his chest. She liked his chest too. And his eyes. And his lips...

And his humor and beliefs and thoughts. He was very interesting...

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Wow, this was def the longest chapter I've ever written. I def enjoyed writing most of it though, and I hope you all enjoyed reading it! I'm thinking there might be one more chapter and then probably a sequel...

REVIEW!

AE!