Bet you thought I had fallen off the face of the planet, huh? I hurt two of my fingers in a rousing rugby practise, and although nothing was broken, I did have to have them wrapped for a while. And it is really tough to type with only three fingers on one hand. Sloooow goin'.

Tiger Lily21: Wee for kissing! It always puts me into a bubbly mood when I read a really good kissing scene. I actually haven't had to dissect anything yet in Bio (this year), but I know we have to do a fetal pig sometime this year.

Phillipa of the Phoenix: Yeah. I kind of think that Fiona and Jarrod are going to be more of a quieter couple than Danni and Aiden (assuming they make it, of course) You'd like to think this is the end, wouldn't you? Unfortunately, no. ((cheeky grin))

Areida Rivers: Jarrod pushes so much stuff down, that when some of it actually comes out, it's a bit... extreme. I love him anyway! I'm glad you like my writing! I have so many influences that I'm afraid that sometimes they don't quite mesh together as nicely, but I seem to have found a happy medium, for me anyway.

rainkisser: YAYAYAY! LURVE is so WONDERFUL! Get untangled and update soon! ((coughsorryaboutthehypocrisycough))

Princess of Rain: :cD

fell4adeadguy: The temptation is just too much! Ah!

panemonium: Thank you so much! There isn't really much Jarrod could do anyway, is there? He's probably not about to arrest Fiona. She did just get shot at and had to stitch up Jarrod's arm. I'd be a little shaky, wouldn't you?

naughty little munchkin: I'm very proud:cD I just wish I could be as good and update as fast. I'm glad I added some depth to Fiona. Sometimes I think of a character really in depth in my head, but it doesn't translate into (paper?) as well as I would like. Can I tell you a secret, if you promise not to tell anyone? Jarrod wasn't actually drunk. I know it's not obvious in the story, but for 'to-be-disclosed-in-the-future' reasons, he doesn't get drunk easily. He was pretending, to get close to Fiona. The faker. I think there are going to be more bonding chapters in this story than any other I've written. They're just bonding sort of characters, I guess. I hope you find them all as well written. Heehee, thanks.

Dragonblade Goddess: Hah! I just imagined a whole bunch of cliffs (like off a mountain)all instantaniously bursting into flame. Thanks for the compliment.

Quarter to Eleven: Sweet! Thanks. I love strong female characters too. I guess because I'm a really strong personality myself, so I can see a little bit of myself in those characters.

Dreamer at Heart: I love/hate that crazy laughing feeling! Especially when absolutely nothing is funny! My friend and I had a moment like that in band class for whatever reason, and everytime we looked at each other we started to laugh. It was really hard to play our instruments.

little miss tiny shoes: Yay! Fiona has three main talents: stitching, shooting, and eating. I love her so much. Hooray for kissage!

Linnath: Yeah, a lot of people hinted at it, but I couldn't just come out and say, 'Hey, you're right! They're bandits!' Although I really wanted to. You'll have to find out. But Jarrod's wondering that as well.

Ah! I feel better. I've got another chapter up. w00t!

Lulai

Chapter Fifteen: Problems

Jarrod took a deep breath.

He had gone to bed feeling better than he ever remembered, but that feeling only lasted until he had climbed under the covers. He lay there, his one hand behind his head, his injured arm on his chest, thinking.

If Fiona and her sisters were the bandits, then that means there was someone else out there who wanted him dead. And while the thought in itself was frightening, it was the image of Fiona lying on the floor, shaking with poison that clenched at his heart.

The arrow today could have just as easily pierced her breast as his. The closer to him she was, the more danger she was in. He wouldn't even imagine what would happen to him if she died. He had enough deaths on his conscious already.

This was it, then. He would solve their problem, and then he would be out of her life, probably forever.

Jarrod raised his fist to knock on the door and walked in.

"I'm glad you both agreed to meet me," he said, motioning for Havara and Annabelle to sit. "I think I might have a solution to our problem."

He stood in his soldier stance, his feet shoulder width apart, his hands clasped behind his back.

"I have corresponded with the bandits," he said, his eyes catching Annabelle's. She looked at him, her chin raised proudly, as if to dare him to tell Havara. "They said that they will stop robbing the castle if you turn the title over to Annabelle."

"Absolutely not!" Havara exclaimed, slamming his fist on the table.

"Not even if I make your retirement worth your while?"

Havara settled back down, a calculating look in his eye. "Perhaps we might come to some agreement. To stop the bandits, of course."

"Of course," Jarrod replied with a straight face. He turned to Annabelle. "Are willing to take control of Castle Fer Havara?"

"I am," Annabelle said, only her eyes belying her hope.

"Very well. How much would it convince you to pass on the title, Havara?"

The Earl thought for several minutes, then named a number that caused Annabelle to blanche. Jarrod gave no sign of what he thought.

"Very well," Jarrod said. "I will write up a letter to my steward and you can pick your money up at Castle Fer Drewery when we return tomorrow. You, however, will sign over the title to Annabelle today."

"Deal." The Earl went to the trunk beside the table. He unlocked it with a key from a ring around his waist. From the trunk, he pulled out a smaller box, also locked. He unlocked that box and pulled out a long sheet of parchment. There were three sets of lines to it.

A servant brought a quill and an inkpot. The Earl signed his name in the first column. Annabelle signed hers in the second. Jarrod signed his full name and title in the third. Havara handed Annabelle the keys.

"I wish you luck, Countess," Jarrod said to Annabelle as they straightened.

"Thank you, Majesty, for everything," she said, grasping his hand.

Fiona nearly bowled down three servants in her haste to get to Jarrod's room. Annabelle had told her what Jarrod had convinced the Earl to do, and she wanted to thank him… personally. She was nearly exploding with joy.

She burst into his room without knocking and flung her arms around a surprised Jarrod. She smothered his face with kisses, but paused when he didn't return her affections. It was then that she noticed his valet putting his shirts in an open trunk.

"You're leaving?" she said, falling back from her tiptoed stance.

"Yes, tomorrow morning," he replied. Fiona's arms dropped to her sides. He shrugged. "I have convinced the Earl to pass on the title. That should be enough to convince the bandits that they no are no longer needed, and hence, I am no longer needed."

"Oh," Fiona said, ignoring the catch in her throat.

"I would like us to part as friends, though," Jarrod said, his face filled with friendly concern.

"As would I, my lord," Fiona said, forcing her lips into a smile. Inside, her thoughts were tumbling about. This was even worse than when he had apologised for kissing her. She didn't know whether to cry, or punch him, or drag him off and lock him in her bedroom.

Instead, she curtsied politely, and said, "I hope you have a pleasant journey home."

"Thank you. I am deeply indebted to your hospitality," he responded, equally politely.

"It is of no concern," she said nonchalantly. "It was our pleasure to have you."

"I will hope to see you again soon, Lady Fiona."

"As would I, my lord."

Fiona left his room and walked numbly to her own. And to think that she had been so happy when she had woken up. Why, she was very nearly dancing at breakfast. Now it felt as if she would never again smile.

She sighed and picked up her cat. She was being quite over-dramatic. She would smile again. Annabelle will need help, and she'll be surrounded by her friends and her sisters, and she'll slowly forget about the man who made her heart sing.

"I'm not feeling sorry for myself at all," Fiona told Mittens irritably. "On the contrary, I'm trying to make myself feel better."

Mittens purred and pushed her head into Fiona's chest.

"Fiona?" Genevieve and Nia poked their heads through the door. "Can we come in?"

"Of course," she said with a false cheeriness. No one was going to know the blackness she felt inside.

…

Fiona sat quietly in the solarium, sewing the neckline on Harmony's dress. It had been nearly a week since the Earl and the King had left for Castle Fer Drewery. Things had settled down again into a semi-smooth routine, until today. Annabelle, now the Countess of Havara, had called a meeting. The sisters entered in small groups, Annabelle being the last to arrive.

"Is everyone here?" she asked.

"Everyone except Bernadette and Cassie," Nia responded, after looking around quickly. Cassandra had married Geoffrey and had headed for the coast for their honeymoon. And after attending her sister's wedding (and being very put out about no one mentioning to her that the King was in town), a very pregnant Bernadette went home to her husband and children.

"Good. I'm afraid we have a problem," Annabelle announced as she sat down in a wooden chair. "Our dearly departed Uncle Edward's greed apparently had no limits. Not only was he content with taxing the population to the edge of bankruptcy, he had also taken out several loans."

"Loans?" Daphne asked. "For what?"

"I have no idea," Annabelle said, shaking her head. "All I know is that I cannot find him, or the money, anywhere."

"He took the money?" Nia demanded angrily.

Annabelle nodded. "Now the people that he has taken these loans from are banging on my door day and night, wanting to be repaid. They have threatened to go to the higher authorities if we do not have the money within a fortnight."

"A fortnight?" the sisters cried.

"Do we have that kind of money?" Elizabeth demanded.

Annabelle sighed and seemed to collapse in on herself. "No. Not even if we sell all the villagers' crops at the highest price will we have that type of money."

"What are we going to do then?" Josephine asked, kneeling to put her arms around her sister's waist to comfort her.

Genevieve stood up. "I say we go to Castle Fer Drewery and talk to the king. Perhaps we can get a loan from him to pay back these other ones, and then pay him back slowly."

Annabelle straightened. "That might actually work."

Genevieve shrugged. "It couldn't hurt to try. I will write Thomas immediately. We can stay with him."

"I think Fiona should go as well," Nia stated.

Fiona started at the mention of her name and managed to prick her finger. She put the injured tip in her mouth.

"Me?" she asked.

Nia nodded. "You were the closest to the king. He might listen more to you than to anyone."

Closer than you think, Fiona thought wryly, but nodded anyway. She really didn't wish to be reminded of her heartache, but this wasn't about her. It was about her family and friends. She could handle it. For a few days, at least.

"Can I go?" Josephine asked, her eyes wide. "I have never seen the big city before. Please?"

"Of course," Annabelle said with a soft smile. "Anyone else?"

Daphne and Elizabeth shared a look.

"We will stay and help you," Daphne said. Elizabeth nodded.

"I will stay too," Harmony said softly.

"Are you sure?" Genevieve asked, a small worried frown crossing her brow.

Harmony smiled at her twin. "Yes, quite sure. You are the more adventurous of us. Go have fun for me."

Genevieve returned Harmony's smile.

"I'll go," Nia piped up. "It should be fun."

"Fiona, Genevieve, Nia, and Josephine?" Annabelle listed. The girls nodded. "Alright then. Genevieve, write that letter. The rest of you can go pack, and I will see you all at dinner."