Okey Dokey, well this chapter will be up earlier than anticipated because well I have 59 minutes to spare before CSI/Shakespeare in Love is on. So enjoy! O before I forget- Lookout for a new comedy once this is completed, I have a wonderous idea.

Disclaimer is as always, mainly consisting of me staring at Tamora with green eyes. (Very much like Neal's eyes!) Thanks to Animalwriter1 for past ideas and no doubt future ones too, and not to mention all my reviewers who answer my questions and so willingly correct my mistakes on information taken from the glorious TP books :P. (I am grateful for this, so don't read that as sarcasm please- more humour…)

Irish Violinist- Of course! Suspense? Moi? Never.

Nativewildmage- Ah, now you'll just have to wait and see- it's getting there don't worry, slowly but surely…

Kings Lioness- Sorry about that- I don't really plan what's going into the chapter much- just where its going to end up. I'll try to fit her in here though, if not there will be a special chapter devoted to her. (Especially for you of course)

Zerrin Of the Wind- Lucky for you have some time here- so you don't have to wait long for the next update.

x17SkmBdrchiczxx –I'm pleased someone around here enjoys cliffies! Yes I suppose so, but he didn't want to seem annoyed in front of someone so high up- it wouldn't be good for his career now would it?

Redbird-flying-away –Thanks! Well it was along those lines anyhow.

Now without further a due I give you the eagerly waited for chapter 14…(Me? A player along the lines of the Queenscove clan? It's very likely.)

Chapter Fourteen: Ticks and Races

Recap: He patted her on the head. "Now that's a good girl." And with that he lead her away from the dreary cell, and up towards the King…

Alanna was in a grand room with a blazing fireplace, three out of four walls lined with books, and two armchairs separated by a table in the centre of the room. A half empty glass of water was stood lonely on the table. Was it half empty, or half full? That was meant to show whether you were pessimistic or optimistic- in this case, Alanna was pessimistic. Something didn't feel right- a sense of unease in the air, but she couldn't place where it was going from. The armchair- someone was sat there. Walking over to the centre of the room, she found herself looking at her close friends King Jonathan. Well there was nothing wrong with this picture- he's always in his study…but still there was a nagging dread at the back of her mind.

"Jonathan?" He didn't move nor stir. Come to think of it, his chest wasn't moving either… "Jonathan?" This time it was more of a cry for help rather than a question. She placed her hands over his still chest, her magic running through him. There was nothing more she could do- he was dead.

A chill crept down Alanna's spine. Probably from the shock of seeing Jonathan, She spun round and came face to face with Kel smirking behind her, holding a now empty bottle.

"It's too late dear Alanna- there's nothing you can do to change his fate. What sort of King's champion are you? He's about to die and all you're doing is lying in a hospital bed asleep. Well wake up, not that it'll do any good. Time is ticking Alanna, you can try to save him if you're quick enough…tick tick tick. How quick are you Alanna? Fast enough? Tick tick tick We'll soon see. You've already wasted enough time here- wake up. Tick tick click

Alanna awoke drenched in sweat, her torso filled a fiery pain.

"That was one strange nightmare…unless it wasn't a nightmare…" Alanna's mumble words became more frantic. "It did feel more real than normal dreams, although I'm probably mistaken. It must have just been one awfully disturbing nightmare. That's it."

Tick tick tick Alanna, time is running out…

"Ok, now I know I wasn't imagining that. It must have been a vision, which means…oh bloody hell…" Cursing Gods of all shapes and sizes, she jumped out of bed throwing the covers behind her, or well tried to. In her case it was stagger out of bed tripping over the covers, but that wouldn't sound very heroic now, would it?

"I'm getting too old for this sort of thing," she mumbled picking her self up and stumbling towards the infirmary doors.

(DOM POV)

"Now if you try anything, and I mean anything I will not hesitate to kill you. By anything I mean any tricks you have up your sleeves…"

"I'm not wearing any sleeves." Kel pointed out as if it was obvious- it was really.

"I suppose that solves that problem then." Dom had been stood outside the door debriefing the prisoner of the do's, and well the long list of don't even tries for her chat with Jonathan.

"What do you mean by anything? What happens if I sneeze?"

"It will be seen as an attempt to contaminate he King with illness, which may lead to his death, so in theory you would be trying to assassinate the king. So don't try it."

"What happened to the Sergeant who liked to pull practical jokes, the one who would laugh in the face of danger?"

"He only makes appearances to people who deserve them. And you're bottom of the list."

"What list would that be?"

"About everyone one of them."

"O."

Fed up of where this conversation was taking them, Dom opened the oak doors, and led the captive into the room. The king was sat in an armchair next to the roasting fire, drinking a glass of water. Once they entered he placed down his drink and motioned for Kel to sit opposite him. Dom stood guard by the door in case she wanted to try and esaped -he would be there to cut her down before she was even able to come within three feet of the door handle.

"Take a seat please Keladry." As soon as she was seated, he offered her a drink. Sh politely refused.

"May I ask why you asked for a talk with me? Have very little to say that will interest you."

"On the contrary, everyone word you say holds interest for me. Actually I believe I will have that drink. Water please, no ice."

"Of course. Dom, would you mind bringing me the glass behind you on the cabinet?"

His back was turned, gathering the water. Dom's attention was focused on the glass. This would be the time to put her plan into action. She slipped her hand into her pocket, and brought out the bottle of clear liquid that they stupidly let her keep. She was careful to spill any, apart from in the King's drink of course.

(Alanna's POV)

After staggering through the double doors, she bumped into a healer on his way to check in on her.

"You're not meant to be out of bed Alanna, you need your rest."

"But this is an emergency-"

"It always is with your sort. Now off to bed with you. No arguing, you won't get better out here- only worse."

"You don't understand-"

"I know you're not one to rest, but it is for the best. I assure you. Now please go back to bed, I don't want to have to use force." How will she get out of this? Charm? That'd all been used up. Wit? Only George had that. Violence? It'd solved all her problems so far, this should be no different.

"Look a dragon!"

"Where?"

It was the oldest trick in the dustiest book, and it really shouldn't have worked. He fell for it though, obviously not being one of the bright ones of his year. When his back was turned she kicked him in the leg as best she could with her stomach bound in bandages, and limped down the hallway. She didn't get very far though before bashing into another unsuspecting wanderer, out for a late evening stroll.

"Alanna? What are you doing up? You're supposed to be in bed resting."

"Numair? I would love to stay and chat but I had this vision about the king and well it's not looking good…"

"I'll come with you. You see I finished testing the liquid that Dom gave me, and it's a poison- most likely fatal if drunk."

"Oh no. It all makes sense…the vision, the poison, the glass of water…We need to stop that 'chat' now."

Time is ticking Alanna…tick…tick…tick…

They scrambled up, Numair leaving all his scrolls behind- he'd collected them at some point later. If he heard Alanna's ramblings correctly, Keladry was out to poison the King. He just hoped they'd get there in time.