Hey guys. I hope you all had a great spring break. I'm sorry this is so short, but I feel as though I haven't updated in forever and wanted to get something out there. So please enjoy this little chapter and I will have a longer one up on Saturday.

Tiger Lily21: Yay! It was my pleasure to recommend your story. I'm really enjoying it. Fiona and Jarrod are giving me such problems. They aren't really falling in love like I want them too (my stories sometimes take a life of their own). Sigh. I'm glad you liked the kissing scene.

fell4adeadguy: Perhaps you are focusing on the important part of the story? ((raises brow))

secludeddark: Thanks! I'm glad you like Fiona.

rainkisser: You know it, and I know it, but we're going to keep this rather 'T' rated. (They changed all the ratings around! Weird.) Yay!

Dreamer at Heart: I know how you feel. I had a rugby game today. My leg is really sore. (I have a fricken huge bruise from one of the rucks) I hope you did well on your Geography!

Princess of Rain: Thanks!

wishingIcouldthinkofsomething: Thanks. I'm glad you like it. (And I'm not telling)

littlelambug: Thanks!

Areida Rivers: First of all, thank you for all the reviews! That was really cool. I'm glad you like Fiona. It's great to hear other people say that she doesn't sound Mary-Sue-ish. I'm always worried about that. I try to find something unique about all my characters.

WildPixieChild16: Hokay!

UruvielTinuviel: I hate it when vacations go that way. I hope your next one is better. I'm glad you like my chapters, though. Speaking of updates, though ((looks expectantly))

panemonium: Fiona's so cool. She sure has some strong views, and really isn't afraid to show them. Now that I think about it, she kind of reminds me of my sister.

Dragonblade Goddess: Thank you. Yes, I know how finicky computers are. ((mumbles incoherently))

little miss tiny shoes: It was a good kiss. It makes me want a kiss like that. Fiona's awesome. w00t!

I'll see you all next Saturday!

Lulai

Chapter Nine: Custard

Fiona scraped the last bit of custard out of her bowl and licked her spoon with pleasure.

"Can I have another?" she asked.

"Fiona!" Elizabeth exclaimed, looking as though she wanted to laugh. "We only have enough for one each."

"She can have mine," Jarrod said, pushing his towards her.

Fiona eyed the custard hungrily, but didn't want to seem completely selfish. "Are you sure? I would hate for you to miss out on this lovely dessert. You haven't even taken a bite."

Jarrod gave her a smile. "Just knowing that you'll enjoy it will be enough for me."

Fiona returned his smile brilliantly and dug in. She was about three quarters of the way through when she steeled her resolve and pushed it away.

"You must eat the rest, my lord," she said to Jarrod. "I'll feel eternally guilty if you don't."

"Nonsense," he told her. "You can finish it if you wish."

"No thank you," she said, her smile faltering. "I am suddenly not feeling great."

"No wonder!" Daphne laughed. "After all that food, and now two desserts!"

Jarrod looked at Fiona closely. Her face seemed to have taken on a pasty quality.

"Lady Fiona? Are you all right?" he asked, rising.

As if to answer his question, Fiona doubled over in her seat, groaning.

All the sisters were up in an instant.

"Fiona! Fiona, what's wrong?" Nia asked, stroking her face.

"It hurts," she moaned, her eyes shut tightly against the pain. "Oh God, it hurts so bad. Please, make it stop."

"Where?" Jarrod asked, his breath catching in his throat. He crouched down beside Nia. Fiona started to shake uncontrollably. "Where does it hurt?"

"Everywhere," Fiona sobbed and promptly threw up. She sagged down and Jarrod caught her before she hit her head on the floor. He moved her to where she could lie down, away from the remnants of her dinner. Fiona immediately curled up intoa fetal position, whimpering and shuddering.

"Nia, try to wash her mouth out. You, my lady, get me some bread," he ordered one of the twins, perhaps Elizabeth,while he supported Fiona's head as she convulsed. Nia tried to get Fiona to drink a glass of punch. "You, Geoffrey, go and get a physician."

To his credit, he nodded and ran off to find some one.

"What is bread going to do for her?" Annabelle asked, looking white.

"It might sop up whatever is making her sick," he explained. Annabelle nodded, and Elizabeth (or Daphne) dashed off to find some bread.

"It hurts so much, Jarrod," she moaned, her tears soaking into his chest. Her hand was fisted in his shirt. "Fiery swords. In my stomach. Hurts."

"I know, Fiona," he said, brushing her hair back from her sweaty forehead. His heart nearly broke to see her in so much pain. "We're going to make you feel better."

"Here," Daphne/Elizabeth said, thrusting the bread into his hands. He broke off a small chunk and handed it to Nia.

"Feed this to her, slowly," he said. "And Josephine, if you would give her little sips of punch in between."

The wide eyed girl nodded and grabbed a glass. Slowly, Fiona's moans and shaking stopped.

"That's enough," he told Nia as she ripped off another piece of bread.

"He's right," Fiona said weakly. "I don't think I can eat another piece."

The physician rushed in at that point, Geoffrey right on his heels.

He took in her colouring and listened to Jarrod and Nia's catalogue of her symptoms.

"You did the right thing," the older man said to Jarrod. "I think the only thing left to do is put her in bed and let her sleep. Her body will fight off the rest."

Jarrod nodded and tucked his arm under her knees, lifting her in his arms.

"What are you doing, your majesty?" Annabelle asked.

"I'm putting her in bed," he responded tersely. "She needs rest."

"She can walk on her own," Fiona said in a slightly stronger voice, starting to feel a little embarrassed by all the attention. She did feel very queasy still, however, and completely exhausted.

"As she could barely sit on her own a few minutes ago," Jarrod replied, but his soft look belied the stern words. "I would not like her to overexert herself."

Fiona lay back in his arms, too sick and tired to argue.

"In here," Harmony said, indicating Fiona's room.

He set Fiona down on the lilac pillows. She almost immediately fell asleep.

Jarrod studied her closely. She did not look any worse, although the only way she could have looked worse was if she had started spouting blood. She was still deathly pale with a faint tinge of green, but her breathing was steady and even.

What could have done this to her? Could a simple case of off food be responsible for the tremors that had wracked her frame? Or was it something more sinister?

The physician pulled Jarrod over to talk to him quietly.

"I have seen someone with those symptoms only a few times before in my life," the man said. "I believe she has been poisoned."

"Poisoned?" Jarrod asked, but it confirmed his darker suspicions.

"Yes," the doctor replied, shaking his head sadly. "I'm positive she will live, but it was close. I suspect it might be Foxdoll because of the convulsions, but I'm not sure."

"Thank you, doctor," he said, laying his hand on the other man's shoulder. It was scary to think of. If Fiona had been any greedier or the poison any stronger, she would have been killed.

"I will be back tomorrow morning to inspect her again, just in case something flares up," the doctor told Annabelle.

"Thank you, doctor," Annabelle replied, tears in her eyes. "You saved her life."

The doctor shook his white haired head and gave her a warm smile. "Actually, it was the quick thinking of this young man that saved her life."

Annabelle looked at Jarrod. "Thank you, your majesty."

"No need to thank me, Lady Annabelle," he said. "I am only relieved that I could help."

However, he couldn't help but look at Fiona's door and wonder if he would be there next time.