Wow, more than 100 reviews! I'm so happy :D

Ok well, I would respond to your reviews, but supposedly it isn't a rumour…So until I know otherwise, there won't be any more responses, unless you want me to email you. That's why I've edited out the responses in this chapter, sorry if you didn't get to see yours, but it's better than losing the story.

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…)

Scooby Doo and the Gang don't belong to me, so I haven't a clue why you think they would.

The New character is all mine though…

Chapter Seventeen :Wimps, bodies and Arguments

Recap: She suddenly realised what happened, it all made sense.

"Dam"

The colour drained from her face; after all she'd gone through to get this far- to be cut down so close to the finishing line was worse than getting killed at the start. She'd worked hard for so long, she'd even gone as far as to make a deal with…All Kai could hope for now was that her master would show her mercy. She hadn't failed; as such…she'd just not completed the task. The fact that she was about to die a slow and tormenting death was the least of her worries…

She'd collapsed just after her last outburst, and was surprised to still be breathing; it was shallow and rasping, but breath none-the-less. How had the poison not yet taken effect? Maybe it was going to kick in now, it was due any second. Her dulled senses were beginning to come back to her, the smell of old and long forgotten books, the coldness of the smooth wooden floor, the sounds of faint whispers of people not wanted to be overheard. She replayed the day's events back through her mind; she should be dead right now. Why wasn't she?

"I think she's becoming conscious…maybe…I'm not completely sure…"

"What do you mean you think? She either is or isn't- it's not a hard thing to check for…"

"Fine then Alanna, she is regaining her consciousness. Is that better?"

"Yes Neal- a lot better. You could work on your attitude though."

"What do you mean attitude? I so don't have an attitude…"

Numair stifled a laugh, luckily Neal thought he just had some sort of chesty cough, and recommended going to the infirmary to get a bottle of cold syrup.

"I think I'll do fine without, thanks for the offer though Neal."

"Suit yourself Master Salamin- but if you croak tomorrow due to that cough don't come blaming me…"

"I don't think I'd be able too, being dead an all…"

"But Daine was able to bring the dead back to life though, wasn't she? She might do that again…or you might come back as the walking dead; that'd be jolly…"

"Daine brought back the dead yes, but only after being given a gift from the graveyard Hag, and I think you've been hanging around with that Owen a bit too much."

"Why do you jolly think that?"

"He's not jolly sure Neal." Alanna was quick to point out her old squire's mistakes- she never could stop embarrassing him for some reason. It was hard to break out of old habits.

"O Gods. Have I...I haven't been…well you know…"

"Saying jolly every time you open your mouth? 'Fraid so lad- but don't worry, I'm sure it's not become that much of a habit…yet…" Neal clasped his hand over his gaping mouth…he'd become Owen of all people…

"Is there no way to…stop…saying the 'J' word?" Every word seemed a struggle for him, so he made sure that the 'J' word never escaped his lips again.

"Well I can always cut off your tongue, then instead of saying jolly you'd be saying 'ollyh.' Would that be any better?"

"Alanna, Numair and Neal- there are more pressing matters at hand." King Jonathan's words cut through the air, the carefree atmosphere shattered like glass. "Does anyone have any suggestions as to what might be done with Kai of Mordoriam? The poison doesn't seem to have killed her…"

"What?" Numair rushed over to where Kai slumped in the chair. "Well it should have taken effect by-" His speech was interrupted by spluttering and coughing.

"-Ah, there she goes…"

"Neal, are you enjoying this?" His smile was hidden too late. Alanna mumbled something along the lines of 'sicko' under her breath, but tried to pass it off as a cough. Again, oblivious to the snickers around him, Neal suggested she go to the infirmary with Numair to get it checked out.

"I think I'll do without…thanks anyways though…I think…" Alanna rolled her eyes, he'd learnt nothing from being her squire, had he?

Movement in the armchair stopped; along with her grunting and gasping.

"I think she's dead…Numair why don't you go check?" He edged forward-

"On second thoughts, Neal, well done for volunteering- of course you can check." Much to his protests of 'I didn't volunteer' and 'Why should I?' he was pushed forwards towards the chair, and only just stopped short of tumbling into Kai.

He prodded. She didn't stir. He prodded again, this time with a little more force. Still no movement.

"Yup she's definitely dead, no movement here whatso-ow! What did she do that for? I didn't prod her that hard…" Neal nursed his head, whining about life being unfair.

"I think she's twitching erratically…"

"Really? You never would have guessed." Neal was still a bit sour from being pushed forward.

"Yes Neal, she really is." Numair had ignored the sarcasm. "But she's stopped now…I think it was just a last spasm of movement…"

"You think or you know? 'cause I'm not going another step closer towards her if there's a risk I'm going to get hit with a flailing limb and end up looking like Neal…" This made Neal scowl even harder.

"Alanna stop being such a wimp- you've faced worse things than this in fights." It was Dom first input into the conversation; and Alanna already hated him for it.

"Yes but I didn't have a choice then did I? And I do now…"

"No you don't. Alanna, as King of Tortall and an old friend- I order you to go take a closer look."

"That's not fair-"

"-Life's not fair. You should now that by now. We're waiting Alanna." Grumbling and scuffing her way to the chair, it was slow progress, but progress none the less.

She took one quick glance over the armchair, then came hurrying back.

"Alanna you didn't even look, did you?"

"Numair, you know what curiosity did to the cat, don't you?"

"No, why don't you tell me?"

"It had a fatal incident with the end of my sword. Get the picture?"

Numair nodded and shrunk back, and Neal whispered 'Should have stayed quiet mate,' in his ear. Well he knew that now.

"Numair, Alanna, Jonathan, or even Neal- can't you tell with your magic?"

"Can't you go look at her yourself?"

"I'm not going anywhere near her thank you very much."

"Pride of the King's Own you are…" Alanna promptly received a glare from Dom, and if looks could kill, Dom might have stopped himself from saying the next line. But he didn't.

"Well you can talk! You're the bloomin' King's Champion and you're too scared to even look!"

"I'm not scared! You are! You…you…chicken!" Followed up by what seemed to be clucking noises from Alanna, and quickly joined by Neal- any excuse to tease his cousin.

"She's definitely dead you guys." Numair returned from the armchair. "There was no pulse."

"Right, everyone I believe we have a new adventure awaiting us, don't you?"

"What's that then your highness?" Neal's memory could have been beaten by a goldfish- which is saying a lot.

" To save, find and or rescue Lady Knight Keladry. Please tell me you hadn't forgotten that already?"

"No sir, I was just testing you… You passed, just in case you wanted to know…" Neal quickly changed the subject. "So, what shall we do with the body?"

"Leave it here until it changes back from the Keladry form, otherwise it might scare some of her friends if they think we've poisoned her."

"But we didn't poison her did we? I mean she poisoned herself if I remember…"

"That's not all together true Neal, while she was occupied with the painting, and Dom with Kai; I'd switched them over."

"But you'd stayed with her all the time!"

"Neal you meathead; he has a gift- and he used it if I'm not mistaken?"

"Right you are, Numair. Well if that's all, I think we should all take our leave. We'll set out tomorrow morning for the search- I fear we've had enough adventure for today."

Everyone hurriedly left, except Alanna and Jonathan.

"How did you know?"

"Know what?"

"That the drink was poisoned…"

"I didn't." He left the room, and Alanna followed, shutting the doors behind her.

(Midnight; everyone's asleep)

Up in the King's study, where the body of Kai, now fully changed back into her old self, twitched.