Hey thanks for the reviews,

I know that was intense and unexplained but everything's gonna be dragged out for a period of time, so I hope you can understand!

Pink Squishy Llama- Like I said, read on! you'll find out REALLY soon!

Twilight Shades- Thanks, I try!

Queen Alanna of Conte- I'm sorry if its confusing, I know it really is, but I'm trying to develop a plot thing here, so be patient and all will reveal!

Jon sat on his horse, thinking, the Scanrans had gotten awfully quiet. It had been almost a week since the wedding, and they had been pulled back for fear of an impending raid. The light shone through the leaves of the trees and birds chirped quietly.

"I suppose they're waiting." He mentioned to Raoul.

Raoul shrugged, he was still grumpy about having to return.

"Am I the only person in a decent mood?" Jon looked at his friends.

Myles shrugged, "Jon you were the only one to voluntarily return, I know that I have some people I would like to return too."

Gary nodded, "I didn't part on the best terms with Cythera. She was pretty mad, saying that I was a desk knight 'I shouldn't have to fight'… like I'm a coward who never does anything" Gary huffed slightly.

Raoul added, "Buri told me that I better not come back, because I'm gone so often that she doesn't want to see me." He sighed.

Jon almost grinned, "That's why I didn't come back, I have no problems with Alanna."

"Yet…" Raoul muttered, to which he got a stone thrown at him

"You have no idea how Alanna is then?" Myles asked.

"I don't, she couldn't have gotten herself into that much trouble, could she of?" Jon asked.

Thayet sat by Alanna's bed. She still hadn't woken up, It had been a vicious attack, and Alanna was so unprepared. Thayet felt herself start to cry again.

Alanna was so pale, and Thayet was worried, it had been so long and even Faithful started to pace waiting for his mistress to wake.

"I just hope that she does…" Thayet thought.

Jon paced around his tent, the men were relaxing. It had been a week that they had been staying at the border. He couldn't stop thinking about Alanna, like something was wrong.

Sometimes he thought it was only the fact that she should be in the battle with him, it was almost odd that she wasn't. She still hadn't healed from the last attack and he of all people was glad she'd agreed to the injury.

"I just hope she doesn't go made from staying at the same place," he thought.

Still, that wasn't it, something else was bothering him. Something from the bottom of his gut and gnawing up into his head. He decided to talk about it, choosing Gary, Myles and Raoul. He figured that one of them may have an idea.

"...It's like I know there's something wrong."

Gary shrugged, saying it may be Jon, or it may be something else. Myles had listened to this.

"Like a gut feeling Jon?" Myles stroked his beard slightly.

"Yeah…I can feel something is wrong. I just can't stop it, I'm always thinking about it."

Myles shrugged, "You and Alanna had a very powerful bond, like Old Magic itself. I believe it started at the sweating sickness, but you have always been close. If you believe in that impulse and it feels wrong, then go home. There's not going to be any action here that we can't handle, and if you're wrong you can come back."

Jon though about it for a minute. Myles was right, there wouldn't be a majour attack in the near future or they would've heard about it. Plus after he found Alanna safe he could come straight back, it wouldn't hurt to strengthen their relationship a bit before return.

Jon nodded, "You're right, I'll go pack."

Gary and Raoul had decided to go with him for 'safety precautions'. However Jon saw through them.

"These 'safety precautions'…is that our new nickname for Buri and Cythera?" he had asked innocently, to which Raoul cuffed him.

Jon was too busy laughing; however he still felt that feeling. Something gnawing at the pit of his stomach that made him shudder

He didn't mention it to Gary or Raoul, but her thought Myles had a point. The sweating sickness was an odd time for him, things happened that he couldn't quite remember. What he remembered, was when they were against the Ysandir, how well they had fit together. It was like the man in him and woman in her had combined.

He couldn't stop thinking about her anymore, that was what worried him. Alanna was an independent woman, but she was still fragile and he was afraid that any day she could crack.

"…Jon…JON?"

"Hmm…sorry."

"Like I was saying, we're almost there." Gary sighed, rolling his eyes slightly.

"Thank you Gary, are you sure that my safety is secure?"

"I'm not sure at all, however you may be in danger from me throttling you…" Gary retorted.

They laughed until they approached the castle.

The first thing that struck Jon as odd was the Alanna was not there to greet him, they had sent out a messenger to say they were arriving shortly, but still she wasn't there.

Jon frowned, she may be angry at him for leaving for so long, he sighed knowing he should've written something. Their relationship was on shaky legs on its own, but with the added strain of the war, would they survive?

He went to wash up quickly. He was caked in dirt and dust, and she probably wouldn't touch him with a ten foot stick. After he finished, he decided to search for Alanna. She wasn't in her room. He sighed, she may have gone home to see Coram and Maude…

He found Cythera and asked her.

"Alanna?" Her eyes were red, slightly puffy, she looked in shock and decided to tell Jon to go to Duke Baird.

Jon had the sinking feeling that something was wrong as he ran to the infirmary.

The sight that sat there was not pleasant.

Thom stood there, as if he was expecting him. He silently beckoned him forward into the infirmary.

The infirmary was white, long halls fell in front of him twisting and turning. The air smelled of lilacs,a scent that was almost too powerful, as if it was hiding something. Jon looked at the countless oak doors that were shut in front of him, there were so many rooms, so many people inside of the rooms.

Finally they stopped, Thom waved his hand across the door spreading his gift to open a number of locks and charms until the door swung open.

The room was a dull beige colour, a single window on the opposite wall, with bleak curtains hanging beside it. There were simple chairs placed around the room, they too were beige. The floor was covered by a carpet that's edges were tattered and had no pattern at all, simply a solid colour. Stains and spots flecked the room in the oddest of places, but the smell of lilacs stll drifted through. There was a single bed made from light wood, beech maybe, no posts or curtains just a bed, with a quilt and an obviously hardened pillow.Thayet sat beside the bed, sewing quietly. Her eyes were slightly puffy and red, and it was obvious that tears had been shed recently.

However, Jon noticed none of this when he saw the person that lay on the bed.

"Great Mithros…" he sucked in a breath and braced himself on the wall.

Alanna lay perfectly still on the bed. Her hair had fanned out, her skin was pale, and she looked peaceful. She looked so still her could barely recognize her. Her hand rested above the covers and a bandage covered her head, presumably to stop the bleeding. Her arm was covered with bandages and symbols.

"What happened?" he rasped out after a while. He turned to look at the people in the room, searching for an answer.

Thayet lifted her head, "Alanna and I were out walking in the markets, we were talking normally when it started to rain…so we went home."

Flashback

Thayet watched as Alanna tried to rid herself of as much water as possible. She mimicked her, standing slightly farther away so that she would not catch a wayward drop from Alanna's vigorous shakes.

Suddenly, something dropped from the rafters. Everyone's eyes were riveted to it, and as if it happened in slowly motion the person released a number arrows. They hit their target as blood started to drip out of Alanna's calf and ribs, one embedded in her arm and another had grazed her forhead leaving a red line.

Thayet started to scream for help, as she gently moved Alanna onto a bale of hay and tried to keep her stable, praying to the gods that she would live.

End Flashback

Jon's teeth were gritted. He had sat down a long time ago, and now his knuckles were white as they gripped the chair.

"What was the damage?" He asked in a low and dangerous voice.

"She had an infection already Jon. The arrows aggravated it causing her body to react." Thom explained, "but…"

"What?"

"You may not like this part."

Jon breathed in, "Tell me…"

"The arrows, both of them were laced with magic."

"How?" His brows knitted tightly.

Thom paused to find the right words, "Each arrow had a…director of sorts, to find its target."

"But…"

"It's complicated magic, something only very advanced magicians would know…but…" Thom stopped again, grabbing for words.

"Yes?" Jon felt the breath catch in his throat and fought to keep control of himself.

"They had my sister's imprint on it, each of them had Alanna's hair on it, the arrows were without a doubt meant for her…"

Jon sucked in a breath, "Who would try and kill her?"

"That's the thing, the tips were painted silver...the paint used was lead..."

"Lead?"

"It's odd, because as an arrow that isn't useful, but in certain spells lead can be very receptive to magic."

"So?"

"Jon, those arrows, the lead…it was pointed directly to Alanna's arteries. To get the lead in her blood, to get an infection and…well you get my drift." Thom said, thinking each word as he let it out.

"So you're saying someone is trying to kill her."

"Jon, the paint held more than just lead, it had traces of some powerful herbs..."

"Like what?"

"Not vervain but a substitute, something VERY similar..."

Jon paused for a moment,"Who did it?"

Thayet interrupted, "That's the problem, the stablemen caught the assassin and he was obviously paid off by someone in court…"

"But who?"

"There are too many name to say Jon, I mean it could be any one from a conservative lord to…well Lady Josephine." Thayet said, as if unsure of his reaction.

Thom tapped his chin for a moment, "Lady Josephine is an interesting possibility, I mean she could seduce any man to get magic. She certainly had motive…"

Jon sighed, "What about Alanna, what are the chances that…you know…"

Thom looked at him in a moment of seriousness.

"The lead did get into her arteries, it did spread to her body and…there's something else."

"What?"

"Remember with the sweating sickness? Any healer who's used his gift has been rejected. Duke Baird can't even come near this room anymore! That's what the herbs in the paint did." Thom tapped his chin again.

"So the lead cut down on her immune system and the herbs then drained her gift?" Jon asked slowly.

"I think someone is playing dirty for sure…"

There was silence in the room.

"So for now, we wait?"

"We wait…"

Jon turned to look at Alanna, "I promise I'll get who did this, no matter what and no matter how. If you live or die I will get your revenge..." he swore silently.

That was probably the worst ending I couldn've given, but I'm tired! I'll think of something better. The thing is I don't want to end this at this chapter, it's a serious issue and it'll be stretched out! Anyway in other news... REVIEW!

-MK