A/N: A double Update! Whoopee!I know I told everyone it would be a triple update, but I'm having severe writer's block on the third chapter. It probably won't be up for a while. Review responses will be at the end of the next chapter--actually, it's an interlude, since it's not from Elestra's POV.

Disclaimer: I do not own the wonderful world of Sherwood Smith. I do own Marscopa Likshen Merindar, Ermiliana Argaliar (although I don't own her last name), Lestran Argaliar,Liselia Khialem,Jhussav of Savona, Norilse the maid, Derec Toarnevdar the third, baron of Orbanith, Dered Toarnevdar the fourth, Mashi Chamadis, King Lourden Merindar, Shandra Argaliar, Inclenius Debegri, Yolandis Astiar, Countess of Tlanth, I own Timerius Astiar's first name, but not the character, SS never states his name, Lorni Chamadis, Inina tha maid, and Nori the maid. And the list grows next chappie...but this was fun! I have oh so many OCs here. I don't own Alaerec, Elestra, Gladran, Arthal, and the character that I gave the name Timerius.

Letters, embraces, and an evil mage

The messenger handed me a letter. "It's from Lady Ermliana, Your Grace," he said.

I frowned. "Why—"

He shrugged. "I don't know, Your Grace." Then he bowed and walked to the door.

I opened the letter, pondering. Ermliana lived just across Residence; why couldn't she have come and talked to me herself?

Elestra—

My mother hired me a new maid, Inina. I snuck through her files. Inina was a former maid of Marscopa's. I think she was sent to spy on me since Nori died.

I fear I may have been a little open in my contempt of the Queen, and since, being a friend of you, I have become something of treasonous person.

I am sincerely sorry. Should you wish to cut ties with me for safety, I will not resent you.

Ermliana

I stared at the letter, and then ripped it up, throwing it in the fire. The messenger touched my arm. "Does Her Grace have a message?"

"Tell Lady Ermliana," I hissed, "That she could walk out and join the Queen for all I care, but I would never stop being her friend. Tell her that she is a bloody stupid idiot for thinking anything else."

The messenger cracked a smile and left, bowing as he did so.

Alaerec walked in as soon as the messenger left, to see me standing in the middle of the room, shaking with fury. "What's the matter?" he asked slowly.

"Ermliana," I whispered, "asked, for my safety, not to be my friend." Tears were beginning to, unbidden, leak from my eyes.

Alaerec very slowly wrapped his arms around me. I cried into his shoulder. "I--I'm just—just so tired of it all! Why couldn't I be normal? I keep feeling I'm going to be something—something in the future, and I don't want to do it!"

Alaerec patted my hair gently. I cried, seemingly, for no reason.

I cried for I don't know how long, but eventually the flow of tears stopped. Alaerec's hand was still in my hair, and his other arm was still firmly around my waist. I went a flaming, brilliant red and extracted myself from the embrace.

Alaerec flushed (he didn't blush, but his cheeks colored just slightly) as well.

"Sorry," I mumbled, looking at the damp patch on his shoulder.

He patted my arm softly. "It's all right," he said. His eyes narrowed in amusement as he said, "I'll just go change."

I shot a glare at his retreating form as he left. He was laughing at me!

Of course, it wasn't like it never happened.

I sat on a cushion near the fireplace and buried my face in my hands. What was happening to me?

--------

The next time I saw Ermliana, at a party, she hugged me long and hard. "I'm sorry," she whispered, "I was a little distraught at the time."

I snorted with laughter. "A little."

Ermliana grinned at me, and sat down. "On a happier note—"she called Alaerec over—"I have an idea to get rid of Marscopa."

Alaerec raised an eyebrow; I settled for an incredulous "Oh?"

"Oh," Ermliana said, grinning. "Here's what I think. I approach Marscopa innocently, and ask her to make an Impervious Cloak I can buy for you as a Midwinter present. Not only is that light magic, she'll want to curse it as well. So the Council of Mages will notice, and they're watching her every move, and they'll check the cloak, and it'll be cursed, and ta-da! She's stripped of her magic and you're free to kis—"

I slammed a hand over her mouth, blushing. I didn't want to know what she was going to say. Her eyes smirked at me.

Ermliana had done a lot of reading on soul-stealing. She had discovered that one under a binding spell couldn't kiss anyone because it was a sharing of souls. She was convinced that I was—well, it was not true.

"It's a good idea," I told her as I removed her hand.

She smiled. "I knew you would see it my way, Lessie dearest," she told me, smirking.

Alaerec raised an eyebrow at both of us, and promptly asked me to dance.