A/N: This post is for the weekend. I'm not going to be here and better early than late. Thank you!

Disclaimer: Some stuff does in fact belong to me . . . just not all of it.

x..:..x

With the pages off of break and her classes with Lindhall back in progress, Arra thought her days would most certainly be full. And yet, somehow, they still felt empty. She split up her day between the pages, lessons with Thayet, training Thayet's horse, and delving deeper into more complex magic, it was enough to make her tired at the end of the day. So why did each day feel incomplete?

Somewhere in the far depths of her mind a very small voice said, 'maybe it's because Liam is no longer a part of your days'. Arra ignored that voice and pushed it deeper. No. Telling Liam we wouldn't be friends was the route I should have taken from the beginning.

She stood firmly by that statement. And if at any moment she wavered on that decision, Arra steeled herself and forced herself to keep her choice firm.

Arra sat on the ground took off her boot and emptied it. "Stupid rocks . . ." She mumbled.

"Are you Arra?" A female voice asked.

"Yes I am. Who might this be?" She fitted her boot back on and looked up into a face. Her young face was smooth and she owned hazel eyes much like Liam's. Her black hair was pulled away from her face in a braid.

"I'm Lianne."

Arra stood dusting herself off, then bowed. "And what can I do for you today, Highness?"

She wrinkled her nose. "Just Lianne, please." There was a pleading in her voice Arra couldn't have missed. "There is nothing in particular I wanted. . . just wanted to meet the person my mother, and brother speaks so highly of."

Had Arra been much of a blushing person her face would be red at the compliment, but instead she nodded her head in shy thanks. Arra picked up the dull practice sword she had put down earlier and noticed the way Lianne looked at it with longing. She held the sword to her in slight questioning.

Liann shook her head. "No, I deal more with the bow. Swords are a knight's weapon."

Arra grinned but then laughter bubbled in her system until it spilled over. Lianne somehow grinned too.

xXx

Zefra walked down the long hall, her skirts fluttering around her gently, the heavier over-vest staying fairly close to her body. She checked on her brother everyday. After his failure at getting their dear half-sister he'd locked himself up in his room with comlicated magic that only opened for her.

She opened the door to find Zedar currently engaged with one of the male servants. One of the handsome servants,she thought to herself. She noticed that he trembled unwillingly to her twin's touches. More than likely, this servant only stayed because of the power Zedar held and would not dare disobey him.

She turned away not able to see her brother kissing him. She gave a small cough.

"What do you want Zefra?" He growled. Zefra turned to find him in much the same position. Zedar was sitting on his bed, the servant before him. The young servant's eyes did not meet neither his nor hers. Zedar toyed with the curls atop his head making it impossible for him to leave with even that small touch.

She opened her mouth to speak when the servant's eyes rose to meet hers pleadingly. She sighed, Zedar would not be happy if she requested he release this one but she opened her mouth anyways. "Zedar, leave him be. You can see in his eyes he does not want it."

"How can you be sure your precious prince will want you?" He said cruelly. She tried to convince herself he was just in a foul mood but that stung her deep.

"And why can't you fine yourself a woman. You'll have to be married to one anyway."

Zedar gave her a sharp look. "You know my tastes, Zefra."

Yes, yes she knew his tastes. This was possibly the third or fourth time in this year, though, she had caught him with one of the male servants. But all of this had only started recently, before he didn't do anything but neither did he look at any of the women with any interest. Usually he chooses those who are willing though, she often saw their faces. Proud. But what had made him take this one?

"Zedar, let him go. Look at him, he's terrified."

He turned back to the person in front of him. Zedar grabbed his chin and forced him to look at him. "Is it true?" He whispered, though it sounded more like a hiss. "Are you terrified?"

But he dared not answer. Zefra knew what went through him. If he said yes, her brother would most likely be furious, and if he said no he would not be freed from Zedar's hands. The servant sent another pleading glance to her.

"Brother, if you had clear sight at this moment you would not need to ask him, you'd see it for yourself." She dared to venture.

Zedar released him. "Just tell me what you wanted Zefra."

"It is about our sister. What plans lie ahead of her? Do we have any plans?"

"All I can say is she is in Tortall. That is all I know. My Gift has been blocked from hers." He said irritably through clenched teeth. He flicked his eyes to the servant. "Leave my sight."

The servant, Zefra noted, did a good job of hiding his relief but she could tell he was all the same. He bowed to each of them in turn before leaving the room.

"Zefra, do not speak," He sighed seeming much older than his years allowed, Zefra noticed. "I underestimated her." He murmured. At one moment, Zefra thought he spoke of her but then she realized he meant his failed attempt on their half-siter.

xXx

How did I get myself into this? Arra thought for the umpteenth time, parrying another one of Alanna's shots. Alanna was fast and Arra could just barely keep up. She didn't dare spin to give her blows extra power knowing Alanna would only use that to her advantage.

A crowd gathered to watch the fight that promised to be interesting. In between blocking Arra managed her own shots. She sneaked a glance to Alanna's face to find a grin. Arra struck once again before realizing she'd played into a small plan. Her lip twitched into a half-smile.

Next thing she knew Alanna's blade was pressed ever so lightly on her neck. "You fought well, Arra."

But a voice sounded from the crowd. "Take another look Lioness!"

Alanna looked down and found Arra's blade right at her belly. A grin formed on Arra's face, one which Alanna matched with her own. "Very well fought."

The fight ended, Arra's distraction fell and she recognized the same odd feeling of emptiness as before. When she did she immediatley decided she needed another distraction. She sighed. "Any one of you out there want a bout?"

She wasn't surprised when no one rose seeing at how she had fared with the Lioness. But when someone did rise, she smiled. Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelan. Arra gave her a thankful smile, though she was sure the Lady Knight wouldn't know what she was thankful for.

Keladry chose a sword to her liking and Alanna joined the crowd to watch. Arra studied her. She was taller than her, definitely. Her brown hair swept down just barely below her earlobes. She owned powerful arms, especially for a woman. So? I've beaten men before.

They finished sizing each other up and Arra decided to let her make the first move. When enough time passed, and neither of them had of yet made a move, Arra went ahead and played the fool and attacked first. She stuck her blade in leaving a vulnerable spot visable. Kel took it but Arra was too fast and twisted out of the way easily. And so the fight ensued, neither gaining a hand. Some thought they knew how this would end and walked away. While others were transfixed on the blurs, waiting for the outcome.

Arra ducked and sidestepped bringing around her blade only to come in contact with Kel's again. Kel swung her blade up and over, Arra found an opening and took it but just as she reacted a high pitched scream reached her ears. It shocked her momentarily, was someone in trouble? Who? The voice had been fear filled and desperate.

In that moment the blade slapped her across the face. Kel froze as did everyone else. But Arra's mind wasn't on the blade, or the welt growing on the side of her face. It was on that scream.

She straightened. Metallic tasting liquid filled her mouth and she spit it to the side. "Did you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"That scream."

Alanna came running up. "Arra, are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine but that girl who screamed. No one heard it?"

"I did, but it could be anything. Here let me heal that." Alanna held out her hand to Arra but she backed away.

"Theres more important things to be doing! No one cares?" She said running off. Kel followed.

What she saw made her blood boil when she finally reached the area. By now her face was already bruising and she'd spit out most of the blood.

A young man, probably a squire, was standing above a young woman. She was on all fours in front of him sobbing, her brown hair created a veil shielding her face.

"What is going on here?" Arra asked beating Kel at the draw.

The squire turned around with an innocent smile. "Nothing at all. She just fell and I was trying to help her up but then she screamed. Can't understand why."

A look in Kel's eyes darkened but once again Arra acted first. She pushed past him and went straight for the girl. "Are you all right?" She nodded and Arra noticed a black eye forming and her cheek was red. She got up and dusted her hands. You didn't get an injury like that from falling down.

"Tell me, whats your name?"

"Don of Temisfield."

"What is your favorite weapon to fight with?" Arra asked further.

"Staffs." He asnwered instantly, unsure where she was going with this.

"Alright, go get two. We are going to have a spar." She said it matter of factly leaving him no choice. But he just stood there in shock. "Two. Staffs." Arra said slowly, pronouncing the words carefully. She smiled. "Come now, its just a friendly spar."

He left and Kel helped Arra with the girl. "He's very strong." She said quietly. "Are you sure you can beat him?"

Arra laughed. "You don't know who I am do you?" She was not in the least intimidated by this boy, she'd fought bigger stronger more honorable men and won. The girl shook her head. "I'm a Shang." Arra leaned closer and changed her voice to a more gentle one. "Just tell me one thing, was it him? He, that hurt you?" The young woman gave the smallest of nods and that was all Arra needed.

xXx

Kel looked at Arra, was she really going to spar this squire? "Arra, you can't do this." For a moment Kel thought maybe Arra didn't understand what exactly she was talking about. But Arra laughed.

"I can, and will. If he had picked on one of the pages I wouldn't do anything," Kel raised her brow and Arra explained further. "The pages need to understand what they are getting into when they choose to become a knight. I got picked on plenty of times by men, I rose above them and even now they don't dare test me despite my size. But look at her, she is no page, she's just a Lady there is no one to defend her," Kel tried to speak. "and I won't leave it to any court. I am not of here, if I have done anything to displease their ways I can just as well leave."

Kel understood, and a respect for the younger woman in front of her grew. Arra smiled, pleasantly accepting a staff from the squire, who, Kel noticed, looked a bit apprehensive. "Besides, its only a spar, right?" She winked and headed towards the center, demanding more than asking Don to follow her.

Kel offered to take the girl to the healer but she fervently refused wanting to see the outcome of this fight, and Kel admitted to herself she did too. She doesn't look akward, Kel mused, with a bruising welt on the side of her face. If anything it makes her look more dangerous.

xXx

Arra swung the staff out in front of her experimentally. She turned to face Don, decided the staff was adequate enough. "How would you like to do this, Don? Two out of three sound good?"

She saw something flash in his eyes. Did he think I'd let him get away with only one fight? He nodded in reluctant agreement. They took up their stances and Arra smiled. Or she tried to smile, but as one side of her face seemed stiff with pain, only one side of her mouth came up forming a smirk instead. She had hardly ever felt so confidant going into a fight.

Just as she lunged Don decided for an overhead. Arra lifted the wooden staff above her head very conscious that while she was in an almost crouching position and her hands were above her hand she left her chest exposed. She hadn't expected him to be fast enough to move from that strike to the next but in a flash of a movement he was already aiming for her again. She jumped back curving her body away from his staff.

He's fast. She smiled. But Alanna's faster.

Don struck again and again, left, right, then a sweeping up motion in quick succesion. She parried each and made her own retaliation to his abdomen which he too blocked. His next attack was aimed high she ducked low and before he could react, she swept the staff under him. She purposely aimed a little higher on his calf than was neccesary.

He fell gasping and clutching just below his knee where she'd hit him. She came to stand over him, sweat not even broken out on her face. "Come on get up. If your going to be a knight pain may just be a good part of your life."

"I think it's broken. I can't feel it!" He gasped again. Arra thought if that was possible and decided it most likely wasn't. Unless his bones are brittle. She knelt down and felt his leg.

"Its not broken, bruised, but not broken." She stood and tossed the staff into the air. She caught it on her hand and balanced it. "Now stand up, and fight. Knights can handle pain." He glared, not even trying to hide it but he stood up slowly all the same.

This time he barely gave her time to take up stance before he attacked in an angry frenzy. She blocked and dodged, purposefully ignoring blatant openings to drag it out longer. Rhythm. That's all it is. Don swung high, purposefully aiming for her head in frustration. Arra used this moment.

She ducked low and twisted around until she was behind him. She then took her staff in two hands and lifted it over his head and pressed it to his neck, bending his spine backwards. With the position, it made it difficult to move. If he misstepped he'd probably slip and fall, so he stood still and in place.

Arra took this time to whisper harshly. "I think we can say I won. Now lets get down to the business, I don't want to see you ever lay a hand on another woman to physicaly pain her in anyway. If I catch the slightest breeze of a hint that you have I'll see you out here again with my choice of weapon—or lack thereof—and I won't be half as nice as I was just now. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes." He rasped.

"Do you understand and agree to it?"

"Yes!" He said again wanting to be out of the uncomfortable position. She tightened her hold on him one last time before releasing him at which time he fell the the ground huffing.

Arra bent down, picked up the two staffs and carried them away. When she walked out of the storage room she found Kel waiting for her. There was an odd shine in her eyes. She held out her hand to Arra and Arra realized that it was an understanding between the two of them. An understanding of men and what they are capable of, common ground with being trained with men. Arra grasped her outstretched hand.

They took the girl, who they learned to be Nadia of Starbridge, to Duke Baird.

"Starbridge, I recognize that name." Kel said thoughtfully as the Duke worked on Nadia.

"Perhaps you know of my sister? Verity of Starbridge?" She said carefully, not wanting to disturb the Chief Healer's work.

Kel looked surprised for a moment. Nadia noticed this and smiled.

"Your all done." Duke Baird said. "Now let me see you, Arra."

"I'm fine." But the Duke had his way and he worked on her cheek.

Nadia spoke again. "I know I look nothing like my sister. We are really half-sisters. I being the younger. Her mother died years ago, and my father took a new wife long after."

Arra held still as the Duke's green Gift flowed into her jaw, working. She winced but held tightly where she was. The cooling stopped but it tingled a bit afterward.

"You should've come to me sooner. You had a large bruise and a loose tooth."

Arra smiled. Nadia decided she was famished, thanked them both, and left. Kel decided she too was hungry. She asked Arra if she would like to come have a meal with her but she declined knowing even with the smallest healing her stomach would not hold food. Arra left to her room and suddenly found it dull. Cobalt stood poised on the chair in front of her desk, his head cocked to one side.

She let him loose outside to capture his dinner and soon after she left also. Where was it Lindhall suggested I go? Oh yes, to the library. It seemed a good time as any other to go so she did. She pulled out a few books Lindhall had directed her to but she couldn't seem to stay on task.

Her mind continued to wander to the rumors floating around the castle. Why should I care if he's fallen for one of the court ladies? If anything I should be happy. She turned the page and fidled with crystal blue fire between her fingers but once again her mind was lost to thoughts.

As far as he's concerned I'm a Shang commoner. He probably thought that as a commoner I'd more sooner than not bed him just because he's a prince.

Her thoughts stayed irritable until she finally gave up completely on practicing with her Gift. She couldn't place her feelings, she just felt . . . odd. She decided. She sat for a while longer until finally she realized something.

It doesn't feel just odd it . . . it hurts.

Was I just someone else to him?

X..:..x

A/N: Don't freak out guys. But DO review!

Okay then, I just wanted to say I have NOTHING against gays. If you want to know the analyzed reason for making Zedar gay though, e-mail me. If you hear me out when I explain to you and still feel some disagreement, then and only then, can you give me another e-mail or review telling me . . . . blah blah blah. -----that is b/c I don't know what you will say. But more than likely, it will hurt me to see that my lovely reviewers dislike me.