HOLA MIS AMIGAS..maybe -OS. I dunno if there are any guys who read this fic. Sorry if you are a guy!! Lol..so that's why I did the -OS in case.. LOL! Anyways..HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!! I hope you all had a merry Christmas and a fun time staying up 'til midnight!!

Well..i won't keep you. So I'll hurry up with the thank you's, oh the DISCLAIMER!!

Disclaimer: you know the drill..i don't own anything that you recognize as TP's. just thought I wanted to make that clear!! ;)

So kudos to…

Roherwen – thank you for your present. I loved it!! So much!!! And congrats on such an awesome fic!! More of Tristan this chapter!!

heather-marie - thanks a lot!!! Hope you enjoy this chapter!

Jennyvre Moss – I also liked the part about poor Buri. Lol. Think if you were in that position…hehe.

Wild Magelet – I'm sorry I didn't give you a cookie!! SO…like you said. You get TWO cookies and a brownie. Oh, I tossed an extra slice of cake in there because I know that you are gonna yell at Alex about this chapter, right? ;) Just rat on her that she has writer's block..anything…the chapter sucks!! ;) just wait for a sundae next time!!

((Mutters)) d/n d/n d/n …yes. That will be perfect for the next chapter!! ;)

Equestrian-babe101 – bringing back Tristan should not only make things more interesting, but more dangerous for Daine and Numair.

Insomniac-Reader – awww..thanks. and thanksies for reviewing!! I quite agree with you on Buri…lol.

megster – so hi. Lol. Just felt like saying that…and. Thanks for blahblahblah!! :D you know…well. In a nutshell for reviewing!! Ur a sweetie..hehe.

READ AND REVIEW!!

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Tristan was swimming through darkness. He was struggling to reach the light that seemed to be so far away. Finally, his eyes opened and were surprised to see someone leaning over him. Even after years of being stiff and unmoving, his reflexes were like lighting. His arm shot up and gripped the other's neck in an iron vice.

Immediately, he was beset upon on all sides by men. They began to beat him mercilessly and the mage saw the one he had attacked stumble back and caught by two who were dressed as...what was it...soldiers? Yes. Soldiers. He remembered now.

He was slipping back into the darkness again. But he fought. He refused to go under. Not again. He hung on. As he was beat he flailed weakly about, still too week to ward off the blows. He could use his power. He could blast them all off of him without a second thought but he didn't.

Didn't want to reveal his great power.

Besides. He relished the pain. So sharp and real. As a tree he couldn't feel anything. At the moment he enjoyed it so much.

Eventually he called out.

"Stop," but he was ignored.

Tristan Staghorn did not like to be ignored. That was it. But he still wasn't going to give away all of his power. Yellow ropes of magic mixed with flecks of green whipped out and tightened around the necks or the soldiers surrounding their joke of a king. Now Damien called out.

"Stop!"

"Call them off!"

The king did as he was told. The soldiers stood at attention as the mage slowly got to his feet. Gingerly, he wiped blood from his mouth and stared at it.

He grinned and began to laugh. The others looked sufficiently spooked but Tristan was too happy to care.

"What's so funny?" Damien asked him suspiciously.

"I'm bleeding," he answered simply. Everyone thought he was a madman. Tristan didn't care because he was bleeding. After so many years, he was bleeding.

His smile began to fade.

Was Ozorne really dead? Could it be? And who killed him? Ah yes. The wildmage.

Who was in love with Arram Draper.

Tristan almost snorted. That wench? If Draper was in love with her, then the sorry excuse for a king before him was attractive. Draper had no need for bastards.

The fact that he had sunk so low surprised him. Must not be a good selection of women in the court of Tortall. But that really didn't surprise him. (a/n: Grrr.The nerve of Tristan.) He began to pace about. Finally he sank into a chair.

"His majesty has not invited you to sit in his presence," someone told him.

He ignored him. So what? The mage put his head in his hands.

"I would like you to explain yourself," the king commanded.

Don't ask me that now. I hardly know what's happening my self.

"Not until we're alone," the king looked uncomfortable.

Fine.

"I promise I won't use any magic." That promise could always be broken later. Just as long as he was trusted.

The soldier's faces gained looks of relief when they were ordered out of the tent.

"Now explain yourself," Damien said again. Tristan had no idea where to start.

"Are you positive that Ozorne is indeed dead?" he whispered. It just couldn't be.

Damien chuckled a bit at the stupidity of his guest.

"Yes. Going on a year or two now."

A year or two! Hearing it again made Tristan sway a little before he mastered himself again.

"Two years? But..." he thought that this was a war camp. It was but for different reasons then he thought.

"Are there any immortals around?"

Damien shrugged, "Dunno,"

"Don't know?! But what happens if you're attacked?"

Damien laughed some more.

"Where have you been? The Immortals War is long over."

What was he supposed to do now? He felt like being sick.

"Again. Explain yourself!" the king commanded.

Tristan decided to tell him everything. Why not?

"Are you familiar with a man by the name of..." What was his name again? "Numair Salmalin?"

Damien nodded.

He glared.

"Well, I want to kill him."

Damien looked at him in surprise. "You do?"

"Horribly. You know why? Because he and his brat ruined my life."

Damien looked sufficiently interested now.

"My name is Tristan Staghorn," he waited for some sort of recognition at the name.

None came.

He told of the plot of Ozorne's and the BloodRain and Failing.

All because Draper and his bastard.

"He turned me into a tree. A Tree!"

The king was obviously trying to hide laughter. No one laughed at Tristan Staghorn. He stood up suddenly, "You find that funny do you? Do you know what it's like? Pain. You're human and then your limbs are contorted. You are changed to...wood. You can't talk. You can't taste. You can't smell, you can hear but you can feel anything hardly. Now I was stuck like that for four years and I come back to find my emperor dead and the two people responsible in love and happy. I want them dead."

Damien was still smiling.

"Oh, the irony."

Tristan was surprised the king knew a word that big.

"I too had a plot to conquer Tortall. Took place in Dunlath actually like yourself. Guess who ruined it. Salmalin and his student. The one carrying out the plot, Aeejah Merric-"

Tristan snorted. No wonder everything went wrong. If Aeejah Merric had anything to do with it then you should admit defeat before you start.

"-was too turned into a tree."

So that's how he had been freed. Draper's lack of creativity would be the death of him.

"We are both haters of Salmalin, both you and I,"

"Yes. You say you are a mage?"

"More powerful than a black robe," he answered simply.

Damien almost giggled at the opportunity that had stumbled into his hands. "Then I ask you to join me and accept me as your king."

Well, everything else he had was gone. This could be the perfect chance to get revenge. A plot was already brewing deep inside his mind.

"Why not?"

The two women ran to each other screaming.

"I can't believe you're finally engaged!" Alanna shrieked.

"I know! I know!' Daine screamed back they were both bouncing up and down.

"Who else knows?'

"Well, I didn't tell anyone so I expect the whole palace is aware."

"I bet Jon doesn't. He doesn't listen to anyone. Let's go break the news to him." she said grinning evilly. Daine suspected that she was going to do something to their poor king.

Alanna dragged her off to Jonathan's study. Without bothering to knock she burst through the door.

"What?' he asked.

"Jon, I'm getting married!" explained Daine going along with the game.

"You are?" he asked getting excited, "Daine I'm so happy for-" Alanna cut him off,

"Numair got her pregnant,'

"WHAT?!" He cried.

"Just kidding!" They both yelled.

Jon looked a little put out.

"Don't ever do that to me again," he told them as Thayet entered. Upon seeing Daine she shrieked too and ran forward.

"Oh, Daine! Congratulations! Can I please plan your wedding?"

"Of course," she replied without hesitation.

"I can't believe it's finally happening! It took you long enough!"

The guys had all taken Numair out to a bar.

"Well, my friend," began George, "welcome to the world of married men. We all feel bad to you."

Numair couldn't stop grinning.

"There really is nothing to feel bad about. I don't think I have ever been this happy."

The others roared with laughter and clapped him on the back.

"That's because you're not married yet," Raoul told him.

"And now we bequeath to you our limited knowledge and experience on women."

"We're not sure if this will help, but you might go a week without getting in trouble."

"What ever they say, do it without complaining."

"And always just reply, 'yes, dear'."

"Don't ever stay out later than midnight without them."

"Never again should you even glance at another woman."

"Don't ever put work before them."

"Yeah, no matter how important this particular experiment might be,"

"Don't steal anything. Trust me; they will never let you forget it."

"I thought you gave up stealing, George."

"Well, I did. This was more of an earlier issue." He imitated his wife's voice, "You didn't steal this horse did you, George? Otherwise I can't accept it because it's wrong, but I will anyways."

The others laughed.

"Better not let Alanna hear you,"

"That would be why she isn't present."

Raoul spoke up again, "It's also never a good idea to hold knives to their neck no matter how early in the morning it might be," he said sarcastically.

"How'd you find out about that?" asked George.

"I got it from Buri. Alanna told her."

"Did you seriously threaten her with weapons?' asked Numair in disbelief.

"How was I supposed to know it was her? She broke into my rooms!" replied the former thief huffily.

"You misunderstand. I'm not the least bit surprised that you did it. I'm just shocked that you got away with it without a trip to the healers."

"This was back when she was a page. When I was a lot taller and stronger than her."

"Well, at least you're still taller," Jon remarked dryly.

"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that. Besides we did end up going to the healers."

"You mean she did beat you up? Buri never mentioned that," said Raoul.

"It wasn't for me it was for her!"

"You mean you did hurt her? I'm surprised she agreed to marry you."

"No! It wasn't because of me! It was- just never mind!"

They laughed some more.

"Oh, by the way, Numair I hear that you got Daine pregnant," Jon said off- handedly.

Several of the party spit out there drinks of began to choke.

"WHAT?! I've done no such thing!" Numair retorted indignantly.

"I didn't think so. Alanna and Daine seemed to find that pretty funny. Now, back to the bequeathing. Don't ever, ever deny your daughter knighthood no matter how good it is for your country."

"Thanks. I'll be sure to remember that. Although I don't think I will have that problem."

"Well, you might seeing how Daine is pregnant and all," Garry muttered into his drink and received a glare from Numair.

"One last thing," Gary began.

Everyone else joined in.

"When your wife says that nothing is wrong do not assume that nothing is wrong because everything is wrong!"

"Well, it's a good thing that none of them know what we're talking about." The mage remarked.

George shrugged.

"It's the small price you pay for marrying a woman who can kick your ass up and down the street."

Lasku was walking through the orchard at Dunlath. He was surprised out of his deep thought when a boot fell from the sky and hit his head.

"What the hell was that?" He inspected the offending object and looked up through the leaves of the tree he was under.

"Sorry," said a voice.

"Maura?"

"Lasku?" It was indeed Maura. He could just make out her figure between the leaves.

"If it's not too much to ask, what are you doing up there?"

"Just climbing." she answered.

"Oh. I just thought you were playing some game in which you try to kill any one who walks beneath your tree."

The other boot plummeted down on his head with deadly accuracy.

"That one was on purpose." They stood looking at each other for a moment.

"Um. Could you give me my boots back?" the girl asked shyly. The spy sighed.

"The things I do for you," he said as he slung the boots over his shoulder and swung onto the lowest branch. After a few moments of steady climbing he reached the bough in which Maura sat. With an attempt of a bow, he tried to present them to her but he slipped. With his arms flailing he nearly fell to the ground but Maura grabbed his shirt to steady him.

"Well, I don't think I'll be doing that again," he said as he sat down beside her.

"The fact that you tried in the first place is somewhat troubling," she retorted.

She hadn't let go of him yet. They both looked down at her hand and she hastily withdrew it.

"So where are my boots?" Lasku looked around then down.

"Hehe. Sorry. They appear to have fallen down," he said sheepishly. Maura rolled her eyes.

"My poor boots. All alone on the ground." The spy kicked off his own shoes and they watched them plummet down to the ground.

"Now they have company,"

"Thank you,"

"You're welcome,"

"You want to go higher?" Maura asked.

"Why not?" Maura leapt to her feet as Lasku got gingerly to his. The girl skipped along the branch without a care.

"Um, Maura?"

She extended one leg out behind her like a dancer.

"Maura?" Lasku said again.

She spun around gracefully.

"Yes?" She noticed that Lasku hadn't moved yet.

"Could you not do that?" He looked worried. She put her leg down.

"Sorry." Then she took his hand and pulled him gently forward. As she hoisted herself up to a higher position she asked, "Are you afraid of heights?"

Lasku joined her.

"Not particularly. Just cautious about them." It was then that they met an obstacle. The next branch was to high for them to reach.

"Could you boost me?" Maura asked him with out taking her eyes off the branch. The spy lifted her up so she could sit on limb.

"How am I to get up?" he asked her. When she hooked her legs around the branch and flipped down so that they were face to face (maura hanging upside down.) it scared him stiff.

Why was he so jumpy? He wasn't afraid of heights. It never bothered him when other people pulled stunts like that. Why did it now?

"I'll help you of course," after helping them up they continued to climb without a word to each other.

Finally they reached the top. They stood together for awhile staring at the view. Neither of them had anything to say.

Eventually Lasku said, "Maybe we should go. The others are probably wondering where we've got to."

He looked at her and quickly looked away.

"Yeah."

Silence for a moment. Then, "Hey Lasku?"

"Yes?" Maura looked down at the dizzying height.

"How do you propose we get down?"

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Oh…poor Maura and Lasku. Who's gonna help them get down? NO ONE UNLESS YOU REVIEW!!! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

So basically..please review. Unless you want to leave poor Daine and Numair in inevitable danger and Maura and Lasku stuck up in a tree!!!

That would suck..by the way!!!

Thanks!!

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