As she walked inside her mind was in a whirl of images...the last being of a man in a mask.

'Who is he?' She thought.

After closing the door Katherine walked further into the house. Everything was the way it had been, or what she could remember, when she had last left it. Upon turning into one such room she found the kitchen. Turning into another was a large room with a huge table. As she left the dining room she met Rhys back in the main hall. He was smiling.

"Remember now?"

"Yes,"

"Come on I'll show you to your old room."

Going up the stairs he led her to the far room. Opening the door She saw and remembered the old room. Going over to the opposite door she saw the balacony. Leaning over she saw the vines that still hung there, as if waiting her return. Smiling to herself she pretended to be looking at the city.

"Well, I better get going."

Katherine turned to look at her brother.

"I'm on the next watch." He turned to leave and she followed him out the door and into the hallway. "I'll be back in a few hours so..."

"...try not to destroy the house while your gone." She finished.

He looked at his little sister. The way she wore the serious expression on her face was too comical and he started laughing.

"Do you..."

"...remember the guards, yes. And I will be sure to have my kitchen and dining hall ready for the countless guards you bring in."

He smiled.

"You haven't changed at all."

"What would you do if I had?"

"I would be..."

Before he could finish a loud bell rang somewhere in the city.

"Look now you're going to be late," Kat fake scoulded.

"On the contrary, I'M Captain of the Guard." He stated proudly.

"Yes you are, but your NOT the High Warden, now get moving."

Making sure he was within easy distance of the door he said back.

"Yes mother."

And he quickly left the house and hurriedly went to his post, laughing.

After Rhys had left Kat just stood there pondering how to get her older brother back for the comment. As she pondered she went into the kitchen and without really knowing what she was doing she started mixing tings together and cooking. An hour later she pulled a chicken and cake out of the oven and set them on the table to cool off while she fixed up the rest of the house.

All, or most, of the windows were dirty and the other spare rooms were a mess. So looking around and finding the things she was looking for she started to clean the house. As she was finishing the dining room she glanced at the clock and found out she only had around half an hour before her brother would be home.

Looking thorough all the cabinets she found what she was looking for and immedietly started fixing the table up, even though she knew it would be a diaster before the day was over. Wondering if she cooked enough she went to the back door and, upon opening it, found about five girls listening at the door.

"Who..."Kat trailed off.

"So the rumors that you're back are ture."

Kat looked over at the middle girl who had spoken. She vaguely recognized who she was.

"Is that a bad thing?"

"For us yes, it is.

Kat gave them a curious look. Then she realized who these girls were. Other than the fact that they were in love with her brother and his friends they deipised her for...well...knowing them. That's when she remembered what she had done in her spare time.

During the day when there was nothing else to do she would talk to her friends. Of course that meant talking to them on their watch, but since her father was Captain of the Guard then she always knew where he would be so they wouldn't get into any serious trouble. All the other girls her age had thought she had been flirting with them.

'They must still think that.' Kat sighed inwardly.

Glancing back inside at the clock on the wall she had only ten minutes before her brother and a few others would be back. That's when the idea hit her.

"Would you like to come over for dinner tonight?"

The question shocked the fives girls. Before they could answer Kat continued.

"Dinner is in fifteen minutes bring any dish you like and I'll make sure you see more than just two people tonight. I'll see you then bye."

Not leaving them any place to argue she went inside and shut the door.


Eloynm looked taken aback as did her four other friends.

"Well we can't refuse an offer like that."

She looked over at Lania. In turn the other three looked at her. She shrugged and each went of to their own house and made a different dish. Expect Eloynm who went to see five more of her close friends.


After shutting the door Kat glanced back at the clock for the third or fourth time that night. She now had five minutes to get more food and dishes ready.

It was all worth it, because if her plan worked, which it was bound to, she would be the cause for more than one persons happiness.

Just as she set the final plate the bell rang and the door opened. Going out into the main hall she saw at least ten guards excluding her brother in the hallway. She tried hard not to laugh at all the clanking they were making. Finally one of them spotted her. All he could do was stand there shock clearly written on his face. As another turned to ask what he was at he noticed Kat. And soon enough there were ten guards standing looking at the Captain of the Guards sister. At this Kat couldn't contain herself any longer, she burst out laughing.

"If you could only see the expressions on your faces!"

It was then Rhys walked up to his sister.

"By the way did I forget to mention Katherine's back."

The first one that had seen her came forward and caught her up in a great hug.

"Kat! It's good to see you again."

"It's good to see you too Anglers."

Then one by one as they came out of their states of shock they came up and followed Anglers act.

"Now that were all reaquitened we can eat!"

"Not yet," Kat said.

"You made dinner?"

"Yes."

"Finally the sweet taste of Kat's food has been restored to us!" Afton said. "Why can't we start yet?"

"I'm expecting some others for dinner to join us."

As she finished there was a soft knock on the door.

Upon answering it she found ten more people.

Eloynm was hoping to shock Kat when she invited five more people, but Kats expression was anything but shocked.

"Eloynm! Thank you for getting five more people! Now our numbers are even!" She ushered the ten startled girls into the kitchen where they helped set the table with all the food that had been prepared. As soon as it was laid out in came the eleven soldiers.

They stared down at the small feast in front of them, eventually Kat spoke up.

"The longer you stare it the colder it gets, besides," she grinned to herself, "it won't do any tricks if you do keep staring.

That got everyone in the room laughing. So not bothering with who they would sit next to all twenty-two people sat down and began to eat with heart filled conservation.