The Queen's Champion

A/N Thanks to all of you who reviewed the first chapter. And to answer your questions and to clear up any confusion, Kalasin was betrothed to Kaddar, but I decided to change things around a little. Besides, the books never tell us if she does marry him. And if you are wondering why Roald is in the Chamber, it is because a king of Tortall always goes through the Ordeal before the coronation, even though he might have gone through it before to become a knight. If you have read Lioness Rampant, you know that Jonathan went through the Ordeal before he became King. I hope this clears up any questions you might have had about this story.

Chapter Two: The Chamber of the Ordeal

Kalasin

"Kalasin?"

The gentle voice whispered from the doorway of my room. I sat at my vanity brushing my long mane of raven hair in preparation to sleep. In the past month, I had barley enough time to sit down and relax, and I was taking advantage of that now. Brushing my hip length hair relaxed me, and I desperately needed to relax right now, with me entering the Chamber the day after tomorrow.

I turned to find Shinko in my doorway. Dressed in the traditional style of a Yamani, she was beautiful. She bore the Yamani mask, not allowing any of her emotions to show through. At times this past year I had been jealous of her ability to hide her feelings from the world and carry on as if nothing had happened.

"I was hoping to catch you in private," she said, stepping cautiously into my room. "I was wondering what would become of my since I am now a widow."

"Shinko, come here," I said, motioning for her to sit on my bed. I joined her and grasped her hands in mine.

"You know I can't go back," Shinko said. "I have been here in Tortall for so long that I don't even remember the faces of my own family."

"Shinko, you will always have a place here in Tortall," I told her. "You are my sister, and I don't intend on sending you away."

"Really?" Shinko asked, her mask slipping a bit.

"Yes," I assured her. "I was intending to ask you to be one of my ladies. I know I would feel safe with you around to keep away unwanted suitors."

Shinko smiled.

I took a shuddering breath as I slowly rose from my knees to stand before the doors of the Chamber. I had spent the entire night on my knees clearing my mind of all my worries and cares, preparing myself to meet the monster that had killed my brother. Of those that had gone in before me, both kings and knights alike, I was the only ruler to ever go in without being a knight.

I had taken the ritual bath last eve and was now dressed in a white shirt and breeches, like all the rulers that had gone before me had. I carried no weapon, so I would have to face my Ordeal unarmed.

I had no idea what lay in wait on the other side of those doors. No one had ever spoken of their Ordeal, so I had no idea what I would be facing. I knew that death would come to me if I failed to meet the standards of the Chamber. And I sorely prayed that I would not fall to the same fate as my brother had.

The light touched the wall of the Chapel of the Ordeal and the doors slowly swung open. A priest met my eyes and nodded for me to enter. Slowly, I walked forward into the room that would decide my fate.

The room to which I entered was small and made of dull gray stone. There were no windows.

I bit my lip as the door slowly closed, leaving me in total darkness. I stood still in the center of the room, waiting for whatever would come next. Terror seemed to pulse through the darkness, but I clamped a lid on my emotions, not wanting to think as I waited. I had to remain silent throughout the entire Ordeal, otherwise I would die.

Then, a voice said, "Now we shall see."

And my world went dark.

I was in the gray space between life and death. Death loomed like a black abyss of peace. And standing before me was my brother and mother, their backs toward me, facing death and the Black God, who waited for them. Both were dressed in plain white garments. The Black God held out his hands to them, and they slowly walked forward, reaching out to him.

I opened my mouth to cry out, but I quickly jammed my fist in my mouth. I could not make a sound while here, otherwise I would die. So instead, I tried to run to them, to stop them from walking to the Black God and leaving me. But something held me back, I could not move my feet to get to them. I struggled with all my might, but could not get to them. I struggled harder, thinking my will would break the Chamber's hold on me.

They walked to the Black God and took his hands. I fought with all my might to get to them. They touched the Black God's hands, and they vanished.

You cannot have them; I thought at the Chamber and the Black God, I will not let you.

A disembodied laugh rang throughout my head, and I steeled myself against it.

"You are a strong-willed mite," a voice said. "But we shall see what you would do about someone else."

My vision went black for a second and I found myself on a battle field filled with bodies wearing the royal red and gold of Tortall. Stormwings circled overhead, laughing hideously at the folly of the humans.

I made my way across the battlefield, glancing at the bodies. Some I knew, others I did not. I saw the stable hands, various knights, even foreign dignitaries that I had danced with. But I quickly glanced away, pain engulfing me all the while.

Then, I saw a flash of red hair. My heart stopped cold in my chest, and I ran towards it. I had never run faster in my life, as I desperately wanted to find out who else lay dead here.

I ran and I ran, but with each step, I felt as if what I was running to kept moving away from me. Anxiety tightened in my chest, until it was unbearable. Yet as I ran, I saw more and more bodies that I recognized.

Finally, I reached the body with red hair. I faltered as I looked down into the lifeless eyes of Alanna. A single tear slipped down my cheek as I looked around me. Around her were the bodies of Kel, Dom, Numair, Daine, Raoul, Buri, George, Gary, and Shinko.

I walked slowly by them, tears falling for each one.

Then, I saw the body of my father, and beside him, Thom's. I fell to my knees at the sight. My tears fell more freely, and I shoved my fist into my mouth to quiet the sobs that thought to break through.

Stormwings swooped down and began tearing the bodies of those close to me apart. I waved my arms to scare them off, but they laughed at me and continued to tear them apart.

"Stupid human," they said, "To think that you could make Stromwings afraid."

Once thy had finished they once again flew up into the sky to circle.

I closed my eyes for a moment, but I opened them when I felt the first slice of a Stormwing's talon. I tried to get up, to move in any possible way, but I could not. I was paralyzed once again. I gritted my teeth as they cut me and hurled insults at me. I would not scream! I would not let my greatest fear get the best of me!

And once again my world went black.