Chapter 4

4 days later…

As Kel and Midori came closer to the castle, Midori stared in awe of the size of it.

Seeing Midori's surprised look, Kel chuckled. "You'll get used to the castle after a while"

Midori smiled timidly but slipped on her mask. Kel had taught her many of the Yamani traditions since she was small and the mask was no different then slipping on boots for a ride.

They halted at the main gates and stated their business and names to the watchmen and galloped inside.

"Kel!" shouted a voice.

Kel turned to see a familiar man walk toward her and Midori. "Dom" she smiled at him, she dismounted and was caught up in a fierce hug.

Dom then noticed Midori, who was dismounting her pony. "Midori you've surely grown"

Midori nodded warily, saying nothing.

"How is Sir Meathead?" Dom grinned, while he led them to the stables, Kel with Peachblossom and Midori with Yukiko.

"Fine" Midori whispered not facing the sergeant.

"Dom" Kel whispered, giving him a warning look.

The sergeant nodded and asked how their ride to Corus had been.

"We had good weather except for the second day," Midori piped up. "It rained hard, and turned to hail"

Dom laughed and took them inside, taking about the Own and some of the new pages he had seen.

Once they had settled their horses, Kel took Midori straight to the new training master's office.

The master, Ceylon Willowware, was a lean man with bright brown eyes, a long nose, and pale skin, his robe was of fine white silk and his voice was calm. "Midori of Queenscove" Ceylon studied the girl with skeptical eyes. Midori kept a straight face as he examined her.

Finally the training master stood from his seat and ordered Midori to turn slowly. As she turned, Ceylon nodded. "She's been bred and taught well, I see" "Who are her parents, certainly not Sir Nealan of Queenscove?"

Midori nodded, keeping her eyes on the wood floor.

"You may stop turning." Ceylon turned to Kel. "Are you her mother?"

"No sir, a friend of the family" the lady knight answered.

"Who was her mother?"

Midori's ears pricked up as Kel spoke. "Yukimi of Queenscove, my lord"

"Lady Yukimi? Well, the daughter of a Yamani how is it that she knows so much of the traditions when her mother is dead?" Ceylon asked, his straight eyebrows rose.

"I have taught her what her mother would have" Kel nodded, stepping up and taking Midori's shoulders in both her hands. Midori felt the lady knight give her reassurance as Ceylon faced her with a serious expression.

"Midori, you do realize you will be prompted to be taught the use of your Gift--"

"I have no Gift, sir" Midori said.

"Pardon?" the training master asked, sounding surprised.

"I have no Gift" Midori repeated. "My mother did not have the Gift, only father and grandda have it"

"Well, another surprise" chuckled Ceylon. The man then held out his hand, "Welcome Page Midori"

Midori shook it warmly and was asked to follow a maid to her rooms.

Opening the door, Midori saw that it was a plain room with a bed, night table a small desk and chair, and another door leading to the privy.

A page uniform was placed on the bed. Kel just chuckled when Midori had asked her how they knew her sizes.

The maid handed her the key and told her to be ready for dinner in fifteen minutes, so they could pick the sponsors for them.

Midori nodded and smiled as the maid hurried down the hall. Midori turned to Kel and hugged her tight around the waist. "Thanks" she murmured.

Kel kneeled so that she could speak to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Your mother would be so proud to see you now. Good luck"

The lady knight stood and left. Midori hurried and unpacked her things, putting clothes in a wardrobe and dragging the trunk to the foot of the bed, she decided to unpack it later.

Putting on her page uniform of a crisp white shirt, green tunic and dark brown leggings as she brushed out her long black hair, she thought if there were any other girl pages.

Suddenly there was a brisk knock at her door and a voice barked. "Pages assemble for sponsoring!"

Taking one last look in a mirror she drew in a deep breath and stepped out into the hall. There were in fact two other girls. One with light brown hair and honey-colored eyes, the other had blonde hair and pale silver eyes. Midori also noticed Amyl further down the hallway looking as scared as she was.

Some of the boys snickered and pointed, one in particular stood silent and self-assured in a dark corner. He was a light-skinned black, when he glanced her way she felt her stomach flip, as he looked at her with dark brown eyes, she smiled at him and he grinned shyly.

She saw Ceylon step up and call up the pages, asking for their name and fief. The blonde, silver-eyed girl was Oriana of Galla and the brown haired honey-eyed girl was Sheba of Blue Harbor. They received their sponsors and joined the others in a group.

The silent boy was Kalen of the Bloody Hawk, a Bazhir tribe of the Southern Desert. His sponsor was chosen and Midori was called up.

She stood beside the training master as he called out. "Who will sponsor Midori of Queenscove?"

No hands.

Her hopes sank.

"No one will sponsor Queenscove?"

No hands.

Midori's hopes plummeted further.

Finally one hand was raised, a lanky third year page stepped forward.

"So Emrys of Northwatch, you will sponsor Midori?" Ceylon asked.

"I will," said Emrys.

"Good," commented Ceylon. "Sponsors and pages are required to sit together, and afterwards give a tour of the castle"

The sponsors and pages headed to the mess hall, piled food onto their trays and sat down.

Midori was silent for the start of the meal before Oriana began talking to her. "It's Midori right?"

Midori nodded.

"I heard that name means 'green' in Yamani." Sheba piped up.

Midori nodded again.

"It's nice" Emrys remarked. Noticing how shy Midori had been he tried to reassure her. "Don't be so shy, everyone's as nervous as you"

Midori looked up and met their eyes squarely. "All I want is to make my da proud"

Confused at this statement, Sheba looked at the other three for clarification but they looked as puzzled as she did.

Midori then stood from the table and left. Emrys, Sheba and Oriana followed silently.

The girl walked aimlessly though the halls and followed the sound of horses. Outside she walked to the stables, she smelt the sweet smell of fresh hay and heard the familiar neigh of her pony.

She grinned and ran toward the pony's stall, the pony butted her in the chest as she rubbed its nose. "You're a good girl," Midori crooned.

Yukiko then stomped her hooves in worry and snorted. Midori turned around and cried out in pain as a fist contacted with her nose, breaking it with a dull crunch and she stumbled as someone kicked her in the stomach. She looked up to see a blonde-headed second-year boy with piercing blue eyes staring down at her, two others stood beside him, she stared back at the dirt, clutching her stomach, tears pricking at her eyes.

Grabbing a fistful of her hair he forced her head up and punched her in the eye. Laughing as she begged for them to stop, the blonde boy kneeled to whisper in her ear.

"That's for beating up my uncle and for making him die in the Chamber… remember this daughter of Queenscove, I'm not pathetic like you and your little friends, us people of Stone Mountain are proud and deserve respect!" With that he slapped her on the cheek and spat at her feet. "Weakling spawn"

Emrys' voice sounded nearby. "Leave her alone, Jarvis!"

"And what will you do if I don't Northern-boy?" Jarvis, the fair-haired boy taunted.

"What has she ever done to you?" Oriana demanded, her silver eyes burning with loathing, hands at her hips.

Amyl followed Sheba who stood beside Emrys, when Amyl saw Midori's condition she ran to her friend's side.

"Get her to Baird," Sheba told Amyl as Oriana helped Midori up.

"So much for a good day" Midori murmured, being supported between Amyl and Oriana.

Amyl passed her a handkerchief. "Stop the blood first, then explain," she told her friend.

Pinching her broken nose hurt, so she dabbed at the blood on her face, while trying to explain what had happened.

"Selfish brute!" hissed Oriana. "If he hurts you like this again, you can stick with us"

"Thanks" Midori smiled.

Amyl nodded, "I guess we're friends then?"

Oriana laughed. "Amyl, when I said you two could stick with me, Sheba and Emrys, I meant we are friends for life. It's a common pact"

Amyl blushed.

Oriana smiled, "It's alright. Someone has to stick up for you two, seeing as you are the daughters of two of Jarvis' uncle, Joren's enemies. Merric and Neal"

"Midori, you look pale. Are you alright?" Amyl asked.

"I think it's just shock" Oriana replied, noticing the color had drained from her green-eyed friend's face. "We should hurry before she passes out"

Midori's knees then buckled and she collapsed, dragging the two girl's down with her. "Oh gods" grunted Amyl as she tried to stand.

"Here, Emrys and Sheba are coming, they'll help" Oriana told Amyl.

"Oh no" Emrys murmured as he saw Midori's unconscious form in the grass. Sheba gasped.

Emrys then ordered Amyl to find her father or a healer and to meet them in the infirmary.

A/N: I'm stuck on what should happen next, any ideas? And what should be the pairing for when Midori is older?

- AW1