Blah Blah blah, not mine, mine, you get the picture, if not, too bad, Let's see, I'm really sorry in case someone has been waiting for this or something (I hope you have/haven't many reasons) I kinda forgot about how much homework takes out of you... so much contraint... And besides, once you're done with this... you'll see why it was a bit hard to write. So um enjoy and I PROMISE I'll update within the end of the week. BTW it's tuesday... :D

Knights of Ne: Hey! I'm sorry if I sounded offended, I really wasn't! (Not in a bad way) I knew I needed to stray away from that storyline, but back then, it was all I knew. I really thank you for your critisms and awesome rates :D, and I totally welcome any suggestions to anything. Well... except like major changes cuz those.. well you can just keep those one's to yourself (saying this to everyone, not in a mean way just in a, this-is-my-story- way, get ur own kinda thing.)

Lady Em-chan: Thanks, I'm a little afraid to update little bits... cuz you know people kinda bite your head off for not finishing it... :D Nope, sorry not yet, I think after the next chapter she will... only reason the next one won't is because I already wrote it, it's just in a notebook my friend kinda took so she could read it, so I haven't been able to type it up.

Blue Honey: That's really nice of you, I'm you like it.

As Andrew led her around the palace showing Wina all the rooms that out of towners like to see, Wina noticed a bit of movement out of the corner of her eye. Quietly she excused herself from Andrew and walked purposely towards the room they had just passed. As she walked in, all her senses were on alert, knowing someone, or something was following her.

"Great Merciful Mother, it is you!" A girl ran at Wina with a big grin on her face. When she reached Wina, she enveloped her in a hug.

"Er, hi. Do I know you?" Wina patted the girl on the back, wondering who she was, and how she knew Wina.

"Win, it's me. Clarie! Remember?" The girl grinned with such infectiousness that Wina's memories bucked at her.

This was Clarie of Holyrose, Wina's childhood friend from the fief next door. Clarie and Wina use to play all the time as children and it was a difficult goodbye when Wina was sent to the Islands. Wina had assumed that Clarie had forgotten her, moved on and made new friends. While Wina was at the Islands, it seemed that Clarie had gone to the convent, and learned to become a lady. Thankfully, Clarie had kept to her spirit, and continued to shine with that childlike glow, even under the learned grace and beauty that had been bestowed upon Clarie.

"Rie(A/N: Pronouced Ree, as in Claire-ee... like the person who discovered penicillin... If that makes sense)! How are you! I'd thought you'd forget me the second I hit the shore of Jamuitero. How was the," She looked at Rie deviously, "time with Sister Hannah? You told me that you'd heard that she used to have girls sit for hours in that wretched contraption that your mother had in the main hall." Wina was glad that she had a friend at court, even if she hadn't spoken to her in ages. A friendly face went a long way in Wina's book.

"Oh, she's as soft as ole' Coacoa, my old nursemaid, remember? All you have to do is pretend like all the words that come out of her mouth are gold and you're off the hook. Oh, hullo, who's this?" Clarie motioned towards the door that they had been standing in. There was Andrew, looking stressed.

"This is Andrew of Goldenlake and Malorie's Peak. Andrew, if you have time to cool down and be normal, this is Clarie of Hollyrose, my friend from way back when." Clarie gracefully curtsied as protocol demanded, as Andrew bowed back at Clarie.

"Has she always been this formal?" Andrew drawled once Wina figured that formalities were no longer needed.

"Worse. The Islands tamed her some. But I doubt that will last very long. At least, not if I can help it." She grinned ferouciously at him, knowing the shock in his face. Clarie was use to shocking people. Most people had heard of Sister Hannah's pride and joy and expected this dreadfully proper child who never had time for fun. Instead they got Clarie, the joyous, loud, and vivacious red head with a mind and mouth of her own. Inside though, she was jumping for joy to not have to be in this place on her own. When her mother told her that the family would be spending the next couple of years at Court, Clarie grumbled and moaned the whole way, thinking about how polite she would have to be all the time, and started making up excuses for missing parties. But now that she had found her best friend from long ago, Win as she always called her, no matter how many times Wina tried to get her to just finish her name, Clarie was looking forward to rebuilding their friendship back to what it was before they had seperated.

"Oh no, not you too. Whatever are we going to do, with all these dreadfully opinionated people romping around here like its a circus?" Andrew made a face, continuing his act, "At first I thought, ok I can deal with the Brain, maybe even with our friend Wina here. But another? I dread to think about what will happen this year." Andrew mock fainted into a chair across from Wina, who was looking at him crossed eyed.

"Why don't you go join Brain and unburden us from your flashy talking? You're almost as bad as him, I swear. Always thinking that everyone's full of mischief and mayhem. Calm yourself page, I'm only full of mischief." Wina mocked him, reminding him of his words to Brian earlier that night. Wina was waiting, hoping that Clarie remembered their saying from when they were children. They use to laugh about it for ages, knowing that they frusterated anyone who tried to talk sensibly around them.

"Well, that'd be all well and good if I wasn't full of mayhem. Pity for him, he should be afraid, we're in the same city. I just can't imagine what would happen if we stay in the same room for too long. Just as well, I've got to go, Mummy said that I could be away for only so long before she'll send someone after me. I just wanted to say hullo, Win, nice to meet you Andrew, I'm positive I'll be seeing you around here. Be nice, she's tough. Bye bye!" With that Clarie not only answered Wina's silent question, but she'd managed to confuse Andrew some more, which in Wina's opinion, was good for his health.

"You're not at all like I'd thought you'd be, coming from the Islands. I imagined you quieter... and much more... sneakier. Our unarmed training teacher is like that. Sneaky and quiet, except for when she's yelling at you. Sure she was trained in Shang, but she still takes up the Yamani way of life." Andrew was inspecting a book on the shelf, his face unreadable.

"I knew that was coming. You know from our wonderous fellow page Brain that I'm Tortallan born. I don't see why after being raised to be able to share my thoughts and feelings, I should change inside out just because its what other people do. Sure, I knew that I had to have the courtesy of observing their ways, but I never wanted to be like that. It's too quiet of a life for me. Like Clarie said, just wait until my uncle leaves. I have to be especially good right now until he's safely back in the Islands. Long enough for the letter of my "changes" to take double the time to reach him. This-" she threw her hands to her dress and jewels, "-isn't me. My uncle wants me to be a 'mirage of Yamani culture', his words, not mine." Wina looked out the window. From this window you could see the stables where the King's Owns' mounts were kept. Overhead you could see the sky, for what seemed like forever. This is what she had imagined, being in the palace filled with beauty of structure and life; this was Wina's dream for the past year. "I don't want to be treated differently, but I'm realistic enough to know I will. I understand that most of them will want me gone, out of their sight, and for the extreme ones, dead. But if I was what everyone thought I should be like, I'd be a duddering fragile nosy spoiled brat, about to married off to some royal pain in the arse. I know the alternative isn't all that great, but it's better than that. At least to me." Wina glanced thoughtfully at the roof, "and that's all that matters."

"Jeez. What made you grow up so fast?" Andrew looked over at her, the look of sympathy stinging Wina's eyes.

"Nothing! It's just how I feel ok? Look, I'm off to bed, I'll see you bright and early." Quickly she let herself out of the room and down the hall, tears glistening in her eyes.

(Flashback... DUh!)

I hope one day she'll be able to tell me what really happened to her parents. Everyone's heard the story the regents told court, but Mom and Dad said no one in their right mind would believe it.

BANG! A loud noise cracked through the silence that had surrounded 6-year-old Wina awakening the small child.Suddenly, her doors flew open, her mother on the other end. Behind her, the sounds of battle wafted into the little girl's bedroom. Shadows danced across the wall opposite to the open door. Rian was bleeding from the shoulder, anxiety and fear streaming through her eyes as she looked at her only child. Her long hair was pulled back in a horse tail, her glaive kept firmly at her side. A long blood stain striped her sweat soaked nightgown; in her left hand was a box.

"Wina, you need to get up. I need you to be grown up right now. I'll let you know when you can be little again, it's just very important that you do exactly as I say." Rian quickly strode the length of the room, hugging the frightened girl as a man screamed in pain, then went silent.

"Mumisa (A/N: It's just what she calls her mom, or she used to), what's going on? Why are people crying? Why are you red and sticky?" Wina wrapped her hands around her mother's neck, fearful of the change in her usually cheerful banter.

"Na-na (A/N: Na-na, like wiNA, I don't know it sounded like something you'd call a six year old) dear, you just need to promise me that you'll go. Get Peggy (A/N: Her pony, short for Pegasus) take this box and your fun pack and go to visit Aunt Tiadel's house. Don't stop; don't come back until we send for you. Don't worry either, we just want to make sure you're ok." Now Rian was crying stroking her daughter's hair, for what was going to be the last time.

"Rian, she needs to go NOW!" Wina realized that that was her father, with what sounded like swords clashing.

With one last kiss and huge hug, Rian gave little Wina the box, and her pack that held her emergency kit, and led her towards the secret door that Rian's mage friend had built for just this occasion. With a quick shove and a sob, Rian closed the door on her daughter for the last time.

Omg, I totally cried when I wrote that, I was all depressed at school afterwards too... my friend says I should put this as a "good" quote: I need you to be grown up right now. I'll let you know when you can be little again" that part I guess... I don't know.. I just got really sad... but DONT WORRY. Everythign will be fine, you'll see soon!

Read and review is greatly appreciated:D Have a good week!