A/N: Whoa, I'm sooo sorry about how long it took me to update... I've just been so distracted. And it's a rather poorly put together chapter too :( It's just I've been sooooo busy lately, but I should have more time since the field hockey season's ending this weekend... (ZOMG THOSE ARE CALLED ELLIPSES!!) Anyway, here's the chapter. OOH MYSTERY.

Disclaimer: Don't own. Not mine. Deal.

The sun set casting shining rays all across the village of Jarnleiker.

An elven maiden with copper red hair shaded her eyes from the sun with her hand as a small ship bobbed up and down in the water.

"Kyalu," she muttered to herself, jumping lightly down from the rock and landing on the sandy beach.

She waited a couple of moments, and soon Kyalu's ship reached the shore. She ran towards him, beaming. "So, how does that foolish land fair?" she asked with a light laugh. "Do our people regret leaving this plentiful land yet?"

Kyalu shook his head. "Kyla," he murmured, "they're in deep trouble. I fear they won't be able to break away from the bonds of that horrendous king." Kyalu had been in Du Weldenvarden, silently watching over the elves that had left the land they had once loved.

Kyalu set Kyla down on the rock and began the long story of Alagaesia, beginning with the war and the formation of the riders, and ending with the three new riders that had been found.

Kyla rested her head in her hands. "It can't be," she mumbled to herself. "It just can't. And you say the queen has her people in hiding?"

Kyalu nodded. "Sister," he said, "we have to help them."

Kyla shook her head. "Brother, they betrayed us by leaving the land. And now it is their fault that the beautiful race of dragons is slowly fading away. You expect the king to be willing to help?"

The waves lapped against the sand. "Kyla, if we could help them..."

Kyla's eyes flashed. "Kyalu," she said angrily, "I'm afraid that the voice of two elves against that of a king will not be enough to help those foolish elves! And I don't understand why you'd want to help them anyway! They're traitors!"

The moon had risen now, and Kyla could here the sound of the villagers singing, the sweet sound filling her ears. She could hear the fire crackling, and she wanted nothing more than for her brother to stop these foolish thoughts and go and join the feast.

"Whatever you say, Kyla, cannot stop me," Kyalu whispered. "I'm going with or without your permission."

He stood up, leaving Kyla alone on the beach, no longer wishing to be with the rest of the elves, but to be alone.

Slowly, she stood up and made her way towards the town.

--

Kyla sat around the fading fire, a flask of faelnirv in her hand. Her eyes were glazed over. She grabbed the stick lying next to her and poked the dying flame. Sighing, she stood up and made her way towards her brother, who was having a deep discussion with a man she knew as Dareth. He was old, his skin wrinkled, but she had never seen his eyes twinkle the way they were now.

She took another sip of the faelnirv, and with that, her decision was made. She would accompany Kyalu to Alagaesia, no matter what the cost.

She meant to be subtle, but it didn't quite happen that way.

"I'm coming," Kyla blurted out.

Kyalu looked startled, but Dareth seemed knowing.

"You are?" Kyalu asked.

She nodded. "When do we depart?"

Tomorrow morning, before people begin to work, she was told. They'd meet out by the bay on Dareth's ship, which was longer and stronger than Kyalu's. They were to bring only the necessities. They quickly split after the discussion, as to not arouse suspicion, for an elder having an animated discussion with a minor was not common, and the less people that questioned their actions the better.

--

The sun had not risen yet when the three met on the beach. Dareth was already on the ship with a young elf whom Kyla did not recognize. She realized he had to be some form of help to them.

Dareth smiled warmly at them and beckoned them onto the ship. "This is Urnuck, and he's been helping me out on this ship for a long time now, and I figured I should bring him."

"Hello," Kyalu and Kyla said in unison.

Arnock nodded his head solemnly.

"Now, no regrets, no worries, ready to leave?" Dareth asked. When nobody objected, he nodded at Urnuck.

Soon, the ship was at least a league off the shore, and they were making their way towards Alagaesia.

A/N: Well... it took sooo long to update. I'm sorry, it's just I've been having a bit of trouble writing, so I tossed this out. I hope you forgive me for updating so... not quickly. I'll try to get the next one out, mkay? Don't give up on me!! falls over I'll try to update by next Monday. Oh, and thanks for all the suggestions for characters. To the creator of Kyla, thanks muchly!!