A/N: I am going to do chapters once a week if I can, but I'll try. Thank you The ORIGINAL Meathead and Erkith for your wonderful reviews and I will take your advice to heart.

Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing but the things you don't recognize.

A Little Family Surprise

Crialaine of Queenscove and the Yamini Isles, or Ria, as she liked to be called, stood before the hearth, warming her hands after a long days ride. She was a very experienced rider, for she rode when she had to think about something. Today was one of those days. She had something big to tell her family, and she was not sure how she was to do it.

"Ria! There you are. I've been looking all over for you, yet your just standing here like nothings happening. Your not even dressed!"

Tamy, or more formally, Tamyna of Malorie's Peak, was the maid for Ria and the other, younger, daughter, named Alani, or really, Alaniora of Queenscove and the Yamini Isles. She was very tall, and dark skinned due to Bazhir heritage on her fathers side. She was stocky, a very kind person, though firm in her beliefs.

Ria looked at Tamy, puzzled. "Get dressed for what?"

Tamy looked at her, exasperated. "Keladry of Mindelan and your Uncle Domiton of Masbolle are coming for the day, remember? You need to get dressed."

Ria gasped. She had completely forgotten about the dinner that had been arranged for weeks by her parents and Kel and Dom. It was fitting, in a way. They should be one of the first people too hear her announcement. She would also get to see Liona again.

Liona was Kel and Dom's twelve-year-old adopted daughter, and Ria's best friend. Kel and Dom had gotten married a few weeks after Raoul's and Buri's wedding, and one of the first thing they had done was adopt a orphaned refugee who had been in New Hope for months.

'It would be good to see them all again' Ria mused as she walked to her dressing room. She looked over the gown that her mother had laid out for her. It was a mix of a Yamani and Tortallan styles, with a low cut Tortallan neckline, but instead of the flowing skirts of a Tortallan ladies gown, it was a tight, wrapping, Yamani formal dress. It was a deep green with red roses in certain places, accenting her green eyes and coal black hair.

"Ria, that gown won't dress itself." Tamy said crossly.

Ria started putting on the gown as Tamy did her hair in a knot on top of her head. Ria stared at her reflection in the mirror. She looked like a real court lady, from her matching dark green slippers to her emerald earrings, a gift from Uncle Raoul for her tenth birthday, which had been three weeks ago.

Ria sighed. What she was about to tell her family would rock them. She was supposed to be the normal one. Instead, her younger sister had taken up spying, and she was about to be equally abnormal.

Ria looked at the mirror once more, then walked out of her rooms with a small thank you to Tamy. Through the house and into the dining room she went. She stopped in front of the large oaken doors and took a deep breath, then walked in. Kel, Neal, Yuki, Dom, and Liona were all talking quietly by the hearth in the end of the room. They all looked up when Ria came in. Yuki raised her eyebrows at her daughter's unusual silence.

Ria let it all out in a blur. "I have decided that I am going to be a page."

Muhahaha…I love cliffies, don't you? What will the family's reactions be? Will they let her? What will happen? Wait till next week.