A/N: Please please please forgive me for getting this one out late. It wasn't my fault I promise! Someone sent me a virus and my computer's already kind of screwed up so . . . it just kind of restarted and now I have to re-install everything back on it. So I didn't get to finish writing the chapter. So with some thinking I decided to just download what I did have and write the rest on fanfiction. Sorry to say the next chapter won't be out until I get some sort of writing thing on my computer. SORRY!

Disclaimer: This is getting really tiring. I don't own these characters except for the ones you don't notice. Those I do.

x..:..x

Arra hoisted a large box out from under her bed and dumped it out. There is way too much stuff in here. She opened a few of her drawers. And just to make sure there was absolutely nothing under her bed she crawled down and searched when there was a knock at her door. She crawled out backwards and opened the door hitting the dust out of her hair.

"What's going on in here?" Liam asked after Arra motioned him in. "Are you leaving?"

Arra took a glance around the room before turning back to him and answering. "No, but if I ever do I can't very well take all of this with me. I'm cleaning it out, I asked Hakuin for today off."

"So you do plan to still leave?" He asked something in his voice she couldn't quite name.

She sighed. "I can't stay forever. I want to travel. You don't see everything with only a couple years worth of travel," She was becoming earnest trying to make him understand but seeing he probably wouldn't, that this might just be a Shang thing, she gave up. "Is there anything you wanted?"

"Ah, yes," He handed over a pile. "It's your cloak."

"So you've had it all this time. I had been wondeing where it was."

He grinned. "Yes. I meant to give it back but never got around to it. I would've probably kept if it hadn't been to small for me."

Arra mock glared. "For a while it was too big for me. Damien thought I'd grow more but I never did. So after a while he finally got it hemmed in." She hugged it, there were so many memories in its fine stitches. She set it down on her desk and startd to sort through all of the books she'd taken from the library to look at and extra papers she'd taken note on. She didn't notice Liam pull a seat to her bed and look at the contents upon it.

"Arra, is this you?"

"Hm?" She inquired looking at what he was looking at. She gasped. "That's not for looking at!" She jumped at him trying to grasp the small sketchbook with the edges singed by what looked like fire.

"Why not?" He asked grinning, holding it just out of her reach, his height making it easy. He stood up after she came very close to getting it.

"Well isn't it obvious why not? Because I'm embarrassed about them!" She said matter of factly still reaching for them. Liam laughed at her willingness to say it outright. He turned his back to her flipping the pages.

"There's nothing to --" But he was cut off as Arra jumped on his back.

"Give—it back!"

"Just let me look at it!" He said. But it was useless anyways, his arms were too long and she couldn't reach it. Her head lulled against the back of his neck.

"Fine you can look at it." She jumped back off his back and continued to clean up. "Damien and Joel both thought I was odd for having any interest in drawing. Joel said I should worry more about fighting than drawing. I think he was just jealous that even though I was younger than him I could beat him."

"Joel? Who's that?" Liam asked, his eyes intent on one of the sketches. Oh, that's right, he didn't hear me talk about him.

"He was also apprentice to The Pheonix with me."

"Oh. So is this of you?" He said motioning to one of the pictures. Arra went and squatted beside him.

She sighed at the picture me meant. It couldn't hurt to tell him who that is. He was too young to have even known her face. "That, is my mother. Or at least how I remember her looking."

"You never went back to see her after you became a Shang?" He asked.

"It's all very confusing. You—you see, I never really did become a Shang. Yes I know how to fight, but I'm incomplete without a Name," Liam opened his mouth to say something to talk but she continued. "But that isn't the reason I never visited her. She died long ago."

"And your father?"

For some reason that struck a cord deep within her. "Do you like to dig up my past?" She asked sharply.

He looked a bit taken back but turned the page all the same. There on the page was a miniature version of Ghost. Her tale flicking and her head turned directly towards the watcher, a bit of hay sticking out the side of her mouth and one ear faced behind them.

"I think I drew that one when I was in southern Tortall, near Tyra." They went through most of them in that fashion. Liam would make comments and Arra would say where she remembered drawing it. Once or twice Liam would say something about wishing he could've traveled so far. Until that is they reached one certain picture.

Now I remember why I haven't picked up this particular sketchbook in a while. On the page before them there was a small girl with a wide smile and lank hair, though for some reason she seemed to be the happiest person in the world. In her hands she clutched a doll, a small pitiful rag doll and she owned bright eyes, large bright eyes that Arra would never forget. She reached out her fingers gently touching the singed page. This was the last thing she'd ever drawn in this certain sketchbook.

She sighed. "I was in Scanra--"

Liam interrupted. "During the war?"

"It was in a different area. Surprisingly devoid of the savagery." Arra looked at the page again and felt that her own drawing had come to life only to stare at her with those big innocent eyes.

I don't want to remember that day. No . . .

(flashback)

It hadn't been too hot in Scanra. Not too hot at all. Actually it was a rather fine day. Arra leaned herself against a tree, sketchbook in hand and a an old piece of coal, and drew the small scene before her. The girl before her had hair that looked as if it should have been a pale red though it had been darkened by dirt and grease. She owned bright blue eyes that could stare with the insensity of the very sun overhead. The small rag doll seemed about as strong as her hair and probably as dirty. But Arra only noticed the simple pefection in it all.

In the middle of a stroke something surged in her chest. Like a burst of energy it filled her system until she felt she'd burst. She screamed loudly. That small girl came up to her.

"You a'right?" She in a soft whispering lisp. Arra opened her eyes and fire filled her eyes until they seared with the pain. She closed them again until another energy spasm ran through and she shook. The next time she dared open her eyes the buildings were aflame, lined lightly in crystal blue fire. All she noticed was the small girl shaking, trembling. People ran around the city screaming and panicking. The fire leaked from her, pouring out in streams and destroying whatever it touched but all she could think about was that small girl.

I've got to help her. She wrapped her arms around her trying to protect her from the fire and heat, Arra glanced away for a second but then the quiet red-head screamed. She turned quickly to find she was dying. Her body being burned alive right there in her hold. Those eyes, the bright eyes, lost their shine and glazed over. He body blistered turned black and fell into a clump of ashes in her arms. At that exact moment she had no time to mourn for her Gift had spent and exhaustion overtook her.

(end flashback)

Stopping the tears now seemed futile. Instead she grabbed the sketchbook and threw it harshly across the room. Arra stood quickly and tried to busy herself with organizing a certain area but it was no good her sight was blurry and she couldn't see where she put things.

Something warm wrapped around her and she was pulled into something, or rather someone, firm. Liam didn't say anything only held her against him.

"She would've lived Liam," She whispered. "She could've run away but no I had to try and save her. She could've lived. And now she's gone. Her too young soul gone to the Dark realm." She stared at her calloused hands wishing they weren't her own. She broke away from his hold and tried to punch a wall but he was right there and he caught her fist and took the other and put them both in his hands.

"Who?" He asked gently.

She nodded to the sketchbook. "Her." Though there had been many female people in the sketchbook he understood who she spoke of, Liam picked it up from where it sat and started to walk away with it. "What do you think your doing?"

"Something that can cause this kind of reaction from you can't be that great."

She sighed until he held it over a candle. Arra jumped up and said the first words that came to her mouth; a quick spell that reduced the candle to usless wax in a bowl. Liam dropped the book instantly in surprise. Arra stooped down and picked it up.

"Why did you do that?" He asked.

She rubbed her forehead, then went down and brushed a few cold left over tears from her eyes. "Some things should't be forgotten, Liam. No matter what feelings it brings up. It—it . . ." She lost the words. She only knew it as a feeling. She tried again. "I keep it as a reminder."

Silence ensued. He doesn't understand. Arra rested it atop a small pile of clothes. Another pile of jumbled knick-knacks lay on the ground, she stooped to pick it up as she lifted something hit the ground with a soft 'clink'. Arra threw away some of the stuff, it being useless, and turned around to find Liam already holding what had fallen. Please let him just give it back . . . don't let him notice anything about it.

"Arra . . . where did you get this?" He asked. His tone surprised her, it sounded suspicous. Does he think I stole it?

Arra tried asking in a nice tone, hoping he might listen. "May I have that back, Liam?"

xXx

Liam looked at her suspiciously but soon returned his attention to the bracelet before him. "In a moment."

"No, Liam. Now," She paused. "Please."

Had she really stolen it? It made sense, and yet it didn't. It was a silver bracelet in the design of almost perfect vines with delicate leaves and floweres made of rubies. On the inside there was a plate of silver with an insignia on it. A silver horse on a black and red background. If she truly was a commoner, as she claimed, how would she come across something so fine and expensive? But he couldn't bring himself to fully believe she stole it from anyone.

Arra snatched it from him, her crystal blue eyes defiantly angry with him in a way he admired.

xXx

Normally, had he asked where she had gotten it she would've answered if only because she felt bad having to tell so many lies. I would sooner say I stole this than tell him where it came from.

In truth, it had come from her mother. It had been part of the Queen's own small treasury. I wonder if Liam realizes how many secrets he has stumbled upon in just this visitation. Perhaps doing this at this moment in time hadn't been such a good idea.

But once something was started it needed to be finished so she packed up everything without anymore mishaps. In the middle of straightening something she was hit with a sudden thought. "Liam get out."

"Why?" He questioned.

"Two perfectly good reasons. One: you have been in a female's room for a good enough portion of the day, yes believe it or not I am female--"

"I believe it." Liam murmured.

A touch of smile found its way to her lips as she continued. "And I must be getting ready."

"Getting ready? For what? I thought you said you had the day free."

"No, I said I had been relieved of my duties. Free is never an option for me. And if you must be informed of everything, Lianne has invited me on a stroll. I didn't think I could refuse even if I had wanted to." She was sure he would've said something about that but he only picked up on one thing.

Liam srunched his nose, making Arra stifle a laugh, and said. "No titles for her?"

At that Arra did in fact laugh and when she was done their was still a smile sticking to her face. "No. No title for her. Only you. So begone with you!" As she spoke Arra was slowly pushing him to the door.

Liam spun around gave her a chaste kiss and left with a grin on his face. Arra stood there for a while smiling until she realized what she was doing and jumped back into movement.

Arra scrubbed her face and headed to find Lianne. When she did Lianne no sooner lead her out to the courtyard with a few greetings. Perhaps it was in this alone Arra should have noticed something but she let it pass.

They walked for a while in what Arra thought was a content silence, that is until she looked over. Had Lianne been any other person, Arra was sure she'd be chewing her nails and looking around nervously. But as it was Lianne only wiped her hands on her skirts every now and then, with a downcast, almost guilty look. What is it? Arra wondered.

"Lianne, my presence cannot be so wonderful you asked for it only to walk with me at your side." Arra said.

The princess looked at Arra and smiled. "And what makes you think it is not I who would like to walk beside you?"

Arra laughed and when that died down she asked. "Are you really telling me there was no reason for this walk?"

Lianne shook her head, perhaps a bit too enthusiastically. It looked more like she was trying to convince someone, herself maybe, more than actually saying 'no'.

Silence ensued once again from there that felt to Arra comfortable, so much so she started to hum.

"Arra?" Lianne began. Arra caught a tone in her voice though she could not decipher it.

"Yes?"

Lianne flicked her eyes away from Arra to a copse of trees to the cobblestones they walked on as if not daring to look her in the eye.

"Lianne what is it?" Has someone hurt her? Was she in some sort of trouble?

"I-I don't know where or how to begin."

Arra smiled, at least she was getting somewhere. "You start where anything must: the beginning."

Lianne took a seat on one of the many benches. In her silence, Arra looked upon all of the couples walking through. Well, this is a courtyard.

"Well . . . you see . . ." Lianne tried to start but just as soon her voice died away, but she then came back with greater fervor and spoke almost too fast for Arra to hear. "Arra, I-I want to leave. And your probably wondering why I would tell you that but . . . I jut thought you'd understand."

For a moment Arra couldn't really speak. She only stared into Lianne's pleading eyes, asking her to understand. Does she think I'll understand because . . . because . . . Does she know? How could she? Arra swallowed and tried to work her suddenly dry throat. "And why exactly would I understand?"

"Well . . . because your Shang," Relief swept through Arra's system. "I don't really want to . . . to escape being a princess or anything like that. I just," She paused. "I just want to get a better look at what's out there and not the way a princess can, with guards following everywhere and such. I want to see the people know the customs. You being a Shang I thought perhaps you'd understand that . . . desire. I want you to come with me."

Arra nodded slowly. Yes, she understood, but Lianne was a princess and what she was suggesting would be looked upon as running away and nothing less. And if I were to go with her it wouldn't be any better of a situation. I'll just be thought of as the kidnapper in the scheme. She opened her mouth to say as much and add that she probably shouldn't but quickly closed it. Who was she to say that she shouldn't leave? Sure, Arra herself hadn't left of her own free will but she'd stayed away and that was just as bad.

"So you'd let her make something of the same mistake you did?" Said the part of her mind that was aware of most factors involved and took them into account.

Arra sighed. "Lianne I cannot and will not go with you on this expedition."

"Why?"

"Think about it. To your parents it would look more like I took you away." She rubbed her eyes with a thumb and forefinger. "Don't do this. Just because you claim it isn't because you want to 'escape being a princess' doesn't mean there isn't a small part of you thinking or feeling that."

Lianne nodded slowly and whispered. "Alright."

She thought I out of everyone else would understand and agree with her. I do understand, more than she knows, but she needs to understand what the larger picture would be.

xXx

"You! Your punch is too low!" The page tried again, but Arra shook her head. "Now its too high." She positioned his fist in just the right spot and let him practice. It was only minutes later however the bell rang.

"Alright, the lot of you," Hakuin motioned for them to leave and they complied. Hakuin turned to Arra after the last page left. "So you seem to be in a better mood." He remarked.

"Do I? I don't feel any different than anytime before now." Arra said plaintively. The Horse laughed and Arra smiled in return.

After his comment Arra realized she was happy and that she may possibly have been in the best mood she could remember. She forgot about Fate and whatever plan that was written for her. Instead Arra lived her life as best she could on a day-to-day basis.

One evening, as she lay in bed languidly tossing strips of raw meat she'd begged off one of the cooks to Cobalt, Arra stumbled across a thought. Liam. It's Liam that's made me so happy.

What surprised her more than anything was that the thought hadn't surprised her in the least. No, it had always seemed to fit. As if another part of her had already known.

x...:...x

A/N: Aright even though I can't update for a while I'll still be writing in my notebook, so thats good I guess. The next chapter is promising to be more interesting. So please please REVIEW and I'll be happy and I'll bug my sister to put Wordpad of if I'm lucky Word back on my computer and I'll get the next chapter out as soon as possible!

Wow, I think I put quite a bit of foreshadowing in here. Lets see if anyone can pick up on what might be foreshadowing in this chapter . . .

And once more just to be thorough . . . REVIEW!