A/N: See? Told ya I'd get the next one out soon! ^_^ Anyway, hope you guys enjoy!

Disclaimer: We do not own Tales of the Abyss or its characters, just Lissa, Armina, and Jason.

"How do I know this is genuine?" King Ingobert asked, seeming to consider the contents of the letter.

Jade stared up at the king seriously. "I can assure you, Your Majesty, this letter is completely genuine. Emperor Peony wants nothing more than peace."

Ingobert sighed closing his eyes. "All right. Give me one night to think this over. You are welcome to stay here in the castle if you'd like. Or we can get you a room at the inn."

Jade smiled, thankful things seemed to be going smoothly. "Thank you Your Highness, but we'll just stay on the Tartarus."

Lissa perked up, tuning into the conversation enough to hear this. She turned to the king grinning. "Hey how about you let us stay in that sweet manor out there? Huh? I really wanna see what it's like inside!"

Armina glared at her slightly, her protective instincts of the Fabre family kicking in immediately. However, Ingobert spoke up before she could. "The Duke Fabre's?" he asked, slightly suspicious. "That's an odd place to stay when offered a room at the castle."

"The major is just interested in the Kimlascan nobility, Your Highness." Jade sighed, slightly annoyed at his niece's bluntness. 'Particularly the young man...' "My apologies, she's rather unruly."

Surprisingly, Ingobert waved it off. "I suppose I could ask my sister if she wouldn't mind a guest or two..." He smiled slightly amused, noticing Armina's look. "Of course the captain would follow you. I can't have you in my relative's home without supervision."

This still didn't sit well with the young Captain. "Your Majesty, there's-"

"It's one night, Ari." Jason grinned, cutting her off. "And they probably won't run into any of the Fabre family. If the Duke and his wife agree, I don't see why not.

Lissa grinned, practically jumping up and down. "YES! You rock Your Majesty! I love Kimlasca!"

Jade sighed King Ingobert chuckled and looked at the man standing to his right. "Alpine, please go visit my sister and ask her and Duke Fabre if it's alright for the colonel and major to stay with them for tonight."

"Of course, Your Majesty." Alpine answered, before bowing and walking out.

"Don't worry! I promise I'll be good!" Lissa grinned and winked at Armina, giggling.

Armina stared at her a moment, obviously not sure how to deal with her, before turning back to her king. "No matter your decision, a letter will need to be sent back to the Emperor, Your Majesty."

"I am aware." Ingobert turned to Jade. "I trust Colonel Curtiss has room on his ship for an emissary of my choosing?"

Jade nodded. "But of course, we expected as much."

Ingobert nodded in return before turning back to his captain. "Then I will have you go, Captain Owell, along with an ambassador who will be under your care."

Armina bowed slightly. "Whatever you wish, Your Majesty."

Jason grinned and leaned down to whisper in Lissa's ear. "Good luck with that one, she'll drive you up the wall." He waved to Armina pleasantly as she glared at him over her shoulder.

Lissa smiled excitedly. "That's all right. It'll be great having another girl around! We can have sleepovers, and talk about boys, and do our nails and-"

"Somehow I don't think the captain is into that kind of thing." Jade said, watching his niece amused.

The young girl glanced at the other girl and grinned. "Well I'll get her into it then!" The young girl grinned as the colonel sighed.

Jason chuckled, glancing at Armina. "Good luck with that one."

The door then opened as Alpine returned. "Susanne and her husband the Duke Fabre have agreed to allow the Colonel and the Major into their home for one night, Your Majesty. However, the Duke would like to speak with them beforehand, and warns them the White Knights will be on constant alert."

Ingobert nods and Alpine returned to his spot nearby him. "That's settled then. Major, Colonel, I bid you ado. Jason, escort these two to the manor. Armina, I would like to speak with you before you go."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Armina and Jason answered in unison.

Jason turned to Lissa and Jade smiling. "Well then, lets get going. I'll show you two to the manor."

Lissa pumped her fist into the air happily. "YES! Lets go!" Quickly she grabbed his and Jade's arms and dragged them out, much to the older men's amusement and annoyance.

King Ingobert smiled slightly amused, watching where they had left. "She's an interesting one that girl."

The young captain nodded, thinking of the other girl's comments, about what she was planning on doing later. "I think I should be afraid."

"That's likely." The king chuckled. "Now, Armina, how long has it been since you've had a job?"

The girl glanced at Alpine, who sighed looking annoyed. "I'll see them out." He bowed to the king then left the room, leaving the two alone.

Armina waited until she was certain they were alone, before addressing the king's question. "Awhile, Your Majesty. I've been at the Fabre residence for quite some time now."

"And now you're off to Malkuth. The journey will be a long one, I'm sure."

"Even once we dock at port there will be many duties the ambassador has to perform before we can begin any negotiations over their treaty." Armina agreed, waiting for him to continue.

Ingobert watched her a moment. "I'll be brief then. I want you to kill the Necromancer."

Armina's eyes widened, not expecting that at all. "Colonel Curtiss? But sir, the treaty-"

"You're more than capable of making it look like an accident."

"Curtiss doesn't have accidents." The girl argued, shaking her head.

Ingobert gave her a pointed look. "Think of something. You may leave."

Armina, realizing she wasn't going to talk her way out of this, bowed, before turning and leaving the room, more than she wanted on her mind.

Lissa continued to pull the other two until they finally got to the manor, where the White Knight's were standing guard outside.

"Hey! Let us in!" Lissa glared at the guards, who stayed silent and unmoving.

Jade sighed at her unruly behavior. "You really need to learn more manners."

Jason chuckled amused and stepped up in front of them. "These two are emissaries of Malkuth, and have permission by Duke Fabre to stay the night here. Let us pass."

Much to the trio's disappointment, the knight's stood still, not acknowledging Jason's words, which just caused the young Major to get annoyed. She glanced over, smiling when she saw Armina coming towards them. "Hey! Ari!" the girl ran over to the captain, grabbing her arm. "These white guys won't let us through! Make them!"

Armina was still a bit dazed, and allowed herself to be drug over to the entrance. "Hm? Oh, of course." She said, after registering what Lissa had said to her. She shook her head to clear it and walked up to the guards, who held their positions, but glanced at each other nervously. "Duke Fabre gave permission for these two to stay here. You will let us through, or need I remind you who is in charge of each and any soldier assigned to this manor?"

The one knight saluted. "Ma'am, these two are from Malkuth-"

"Do you think I'm not aware of that?" Armina glared, causing the guards to flinch slightly. "Let us through. Now."

"Y-yes ma'am!" the knights salute again and stepped aside, as Jason glared at them.

"And you ignore me? Come on, I'm as much in charge of you as she is!"

"Oh save it." Armina said, turning to Lissa and Jade. "Shall we then?"

"Haven't changed a bit." Jade chuckled, recalling how the girl had been when they first met.

Armina smirked at him. "So you've said. Come, Lissa, the Duke will be waiting."

Jason grumpily followed behind the others as they all headed into the manor. "Hmph. Stupid White Knights." 'Hm...wonder what the king said in there. Can't be anything good if he wouldn't let me hear.'

As they entered the main room, they noticed Duke Fabre standing there with his wife Susanne. "Armina, Colonel Curtiss, Major Darrigan." The Duke greeted.

Jade smiled and bowed slightly. "Duke Fabre, its a pleasure to meet you."

"This place is so cool! Its so different than the castle!" Lissa exclaimed, paying no attention to the others.

Jade cleared his throat. "Vasilisa."

Lissa glanced at him before turning to the Duke and Susanne smiling. "Oh its nice to meet you! Thanks for letting us stay here! So where's your son?"

Susanne giggled as the girl started looking around eagerly. "Well she's rather different than the usual soldiers we see, isn't she?"

"Different is one word." Armina said, before turning to the girl. "This is a political matter, Luke won't be involved. There's a chance you will see him later, but only if his mother allows it."

"Armina, you're always so careful." Susanne smiled, turning to Lissa. "Luke is training today, but you will see both him and the Commandant tonight at dinner. All-" she paused for a moment, deciding something. "all four of you are welcome to join us."

Jade bowed very slightly again. "I am very grateful."

Armina stared at them both mildly surprised. She wasn't used to this. "Ma'am?

The Duke smiled slightly. "Yes, Armina, you and Jason as well. There are enough trained soldiers here that you can eat with the family, you don't need to stand off to the side like you always do."

"I-if you wish it, sir." The girl said, still slightly confused.

The Duke then turned to Lissa and Jade, not haven forgot about them. "Now, we have a few rules I'd like to set down. First, you are under no circumstances to be alone with anyone other than those two, not even each other." He gestured to Armina and Jason.

"That's fine!" Lissa said, too concerned about meeting Luke to care too much about anything else. "So how old is Luke anyway?"

Jade sighed. "I'm very sorry about her. She doesn't know when to keep her thoughts to herself."

Susanne smiled as Lissa glared at her uncle. "She's fine, I assure you. Its nice to have someone around who's not stuck up all the time."

"Luke is 17, but he's engaged to Princess Natalia." The Duke answered, Lissa, who just waved him off, her anger at Jade passing quickly.

"Yeah yeah, I heard that already." She crossed her arms, thinking. "17 huh..."

Jason watched Lissa amused as she smiled to herself. He grinned and leaned closer to Armina whispering, "Well, tonight should be quite entertaining, don't you think?"

"Not for long. Luke isn't exactly a social butterfly." The girl answered quietly.

Jade smirked, overhearing them. "Well then, even better. It will be quite fun to watch Vasilisa's struggled attempts at conversation."

Jason laughed awkwardly, noticing the Duke's mildly annoyed look. "Weeeellll then. I'll show you guys to your rooms now, where will they be staying?"

"Oh, I'll show them." Susanne said happily. "Armina, come along with us."

The Duke turned to Jason. "Jason, you head outside and supervise my son's training. He and Guy have been very curious, make up a lie if you can when they ask you what's happened."

"Okie-dokie." Jason grinned.

Armina glanced at the Duke and Lady. "Are we going to be telling them some story?"

"Oh no, we just don't want either of them barging in here to see the soldiers." Susanne smiled. "Luke's such a lively boy."

Lissa grinned. "I like lively ones. They're the funnest!"

Jade sighed, realizing the Duke probably wouldn't be able to handle the girl much longer. "I think we should probably get going before the Duke kicks us out."

Jason chuckled. "Well I'll be going then. See you guys at dinner!" He waved once, before walking out, as Lissa stared after him longingly.

"Aww can't I go with him?"

"I think you should probably wait. There's no telling what trouble you'd cause if you went out there." Jade said, earning an annoyed look from his niece.

Susanne giggled quietly. "Well then, why don't you two follow me and I'll show you to your rooms, all right? You come too Armina."

Jade and Armina followed Lady Fabre out, as Lissa followed, still pouting slightly about not being able to see Luke.

A/N: Well that's all for now! Hope you liked it! Please review and let us know what you think!