Author's Note: SORRY! I've been so preoccupied w/summer school, which I have a lot of HW. But tonight, I have freedom! Besides, I've only taken seven days. Plus, I needed time to think.

Disclaimer: Everything that is from the book is Ms. Levine's. Everything else is mine. I'm going to copy and paste my disclaimers from now on. They're not worth the time I put in them.

Replies to Reviews:

WhiteCamellia-You give me to much praise.

ElvenSilver-You're to impatient.

Holly101( )-No, I'm going to be a publisher.

breathless74-I don't even know yet.

dancrchick-Yes, that's right.

ArtysThunder-Cute:)

Kat( )-I did want to spend more time on Leah/Chloe, but that isn't really what my story is about. But, it would make my story longer. After all, it's only my second fan-fic.

bookreader( )-I will.

korean-angel-I am continuing but I've been caught up w/summer school so much that I haven't had the time.

Chapter 10: A Swim and a Scare

The next morning, one of the knights said Brandon was out riding with some of his knights. I must have had fallen asleep again. I saw evidence of their sleeping on pads in the dirt. I told the remaining knights that I was going out for a stroll (or walk). He handed me a whistle. If danger were to arouse, then I would use it.

I walked for a small time through the forest, memorizing my surroundings for a safe return to the group. Then I heard water running to my left. I found a small stream and as I turned to go back, I spotted a lagoon. I soon remembered that I was feeling extremely hot. I looked around. Certainly one dip wouldn't hurt. I found a nice, concealed area where I could hide to change and slip in the greenish-blue water. It was more green than blue though and had nothing on top of the water. I changed in that small, concealed area and slipped in the cool water. I sighed. It felt good. I swam around for a long time and floated on my back until I was daydreaming.

I imagined the staircase dream. Who was that at the bottom of the stairs? Then, I was consumed in my thoughts.

We had just gotten back to the camp after scouting for the best trail. Arianna had been gone since this afternoon. According to one of my knights, she had been gone for over an hour after deciding to take a walk.

He decided to go and find her. Besides, he needed to tell her who she really was and he'd been putting it off ever since they left Maurice's mansion. He brought along his sword and some beeswax just in case she had run into some trouble.

He walked towards the direction his knight had indicated she'd gone. After a few minutes, he heard an Aythorian song being sung by someone with the most beautiful voice he'd ever heard. He walked towards the voice, understanding every word the vocalist was saying.

Verse 1: A girl was kidnapped.

She was taught to be a good wife.

For many intelligent buyers,

wished to buy her.

Chorus: But she had things going her way.

But she had things going her way.

Then one day a lad, big and strong,

decided to rescue this girl.

But she, still had her way.

Yes, she still had her way.

Then they, became very good friends.

The vocalist kept singing more verses and he drew steadily nearer. He came to a stream that trickled down further. Then, he heard something making small splashes in water and turned.

There, right in front of me was Arianna, butt-naked. She didn't notice me at the top of the hill. Was she a Siren? For to be so, perfect, how could she not be one? She had the voice, the spirited mind, the intelligence, the beauty, and even the perfect body.

Wait! Stop it! I can't lust after her. I'm riding in the same damn (I rarely use profanity.) carriage as she is! I managed to peal my eyes from her and look the other way. I decided calling her name would alert her of my presence and give her time to compose herself while I pretend to have not seen her at all. "Natalie," I called out in the other direction.

I snapped out of my thoughts and stopped singing immediately. Someone was calling my name. It sounded like Brandon! Oh no! I better get dressed. I don't want him to see me like this! I swam rapidly back to the enclosed area and began to put my dress on when I heard a soft voice in front of me.

"Hello my pet," began a female ogre, "Would you like to come to my nice, cozy cottage right now?" I was dazed. Wait, this isn't an ogre, it's a nice plump woman who wants to join me for luncheon. Or was it? I immediately realized what was happening right now.

Arianna swallowed hard. There as something in the back of her mind. Then, a small portion of her memories came back. She began to talk fluently in Ogrese to the ogre. "You don't want to eat me." At first it looked surprised. Then it said, "Of course I don't want to eat you. Whatever gave you that idea?" Then, I saw a difference between her and a normal ogre.

Author's Note: Guess why this ogre is different.