A/N: So, here it is. Again I'm sorry about the fluffy chapter. There's going to be a lot of names in this one, so pay attention or else you'll miss it! Be careful and enjoy!

End of chapter 6: Far away, another bell clanged, calling the pages to dinner. Sarralyn and Kira exchanged a horrified glance at each other before stepping out into the hall to join the boys.

New Page

Sarralyn looked at the very loud bunch of pages that were assembled in front of the mess hall. These were the new ones, the first-years whom she would spend the first four years of her Knighthood training with. The stormy-eyed girl counted up the first years silently. Five boys not including Jasson (who was, at the moment, next to her and Kira) stood around, talking and joking. Sarralyn would have whistled if she'd been alone. Eight first-year pages was a lot.

Besides the first-years, no one had yet to enter the room. A Palace serving man had collected the newcomers and brought them here, telling them to stay put for the other pages and their Training Master to arrive. But where were they? Sarralyn knew that Kira was asking herself the same question.

Kira stood beside Sarralyn in the corner of the great room, having retreated there after six pairs of male eyes had lit upon their odd uniforms. The young Gifted wildmage could still hear the snickers of the boys who had stared. Only Jasson had had the decency to stay with the girls without making jokes.

"Where in Mithros' name are they?" The words had barely come out of Jasson's mouth when the two great doors that separated this hall from the page's wing burst open.

The first-year pages fell silent as a group of about fifteen boys entered the room, led by a very, very, tall figure with short hair and a commanding presence.

The adult turned towards the new pages, dreamy hazel eyes flashing. "Well, don't just stand there; come here so I can see you." Sarralyn's jaw almost dropped at the sound of that voice, and she hurried to form a line in front of the grown-up. That sound was female.

When the first-years were settled, the woman nodded. "Right then" she mumbled, eyeing the children in front of her. "I am Lady Knight Keladry of Mindelan, one of your Training Masters. Your other Training Master is Sir Owen of Jesslaw, whom you will meet shortly.

"These next four years will be the most exhausting and rigorous of your life. You'll work in conditions you never hoped to be in, and you won't complain. You'll train until you think you can't train anymore, and then you'll go at it again. This will not be easy." Lady Knight Keladry's sharp dreamer's eyes fell on Sarralyn and the young girl realized she'd been holding her breath. "For any of you."

The Lady Knight turned towards the older pages and Sarralyn exhaled. "Listen closely, seniors; some of you will be assigned to show these new ones around the palace." She waved a scroll that Sarralyn hadn't seen her holding. "Be kind and thoughtful, and treat them with the respect they are due." Most of the older ones nodded in agreement, but Sarralyn saw three in the back roll their eyes.

Lady Knight Keladry began to assign pages to sponsors, and Sarralyn watched as Jasson was paired with a second-year named Gareth, who was undoubtedly one of the largest boys Sarralyn had ever seen. Next, Kira went to the second-year page Zanen of Auran. Sarralyn saw Kira's features turn to stone and her eyes burn as Zanen's name was called. The Salmalin child shook her head wondering what Kira had against the older page. Three more boys were paired and Sarralyn shifted impatiently.

Finally, it was just Sarralyn and one other first-year. "Sarra of Caramein" the fidgety girl's head shot up at the sound of her name. "You are with Nazir izn Hashim."

A boy with the dark skin of a Bazhir grinned beside Keladry and made his way to Sarralyn. He was taller than Sarralyn by about a head, and he had dark, laughing eyes. The two stayed quiet as the last boy's name was called. Aegil of Sheridan was assigned to Jaden of Steel Valley, whom Sarralyn recognized as one of the boys who had rolled their eyes at the Training Master. With that, Lady Knight Keladry rolled up her scroll and dismissed the pages for supper.

"So you're Sarra of Caramein, then?" Nazir said as he and Sarralyn progressed through the line of pages grabbing their food.

Sarralyn nodded nervously. Nazir's voice was deep and kind, and his smile reached his eyes, but the young girl was still wary. She didn't know why he was being so nice to her, when she'd been tossed upon him like a needless chore.

The Bazhir frowned, leading the girl away from the supper line with his loaded tray. "You know, Sarra, I'm not going to lie, this year is going to be hardest for you and the other lass."

The young girl blinked and looked up at Nazir. She hadn't expected him to be so matter-of-fact about it.

"Why are you being so nice to me?" she whispered, not caring that she was standing in the middle of the dining hall. It wasn't as if the others were all settled, either.

Nazir's eyes flashed for a moment before he answered. "Because I know what it's like to be a minority here" he said, his deep voice quiet "there's only two Bazhir pages, and I remember how it was my friends that helped me get through it. This is how I'm paying them back." Those deep black eyes looked past Sarralyn, and the older page grinned. "Speaking of friends, Gary's calling us over."

Sarralyn followed Nazir to a crowded table. She saw Jasson there with his sponsor, the big, burly son of Duke Gareth of Naxen. Next to Jasson sat Kira, with Zanen across from her. Sarralyn noticed that Kira and Zanen never looked at each other. She eyed the seat across from Jasson and Nazir placed his tray next to her.

"Good to see you again, Sarra" a familiar smooth voice said as the girl-child settled in at the table.

Sarralyn was startled at the enthusiasm in Jasson's voice, and she was happy to see that his broad smile met his eyes.

The Salmalin child smiled back tentatively and looked at Kira. Her mouth suddenly dropped open. Nazir looked over at his charge, worried. "What is it, lass?"

Sarralyn's eyes were darting back and forth between Kira and Jasson. They looked exactly the same! "You two are twins!" she exclaimed, slightly hysterical, pointing at the other first-years seated across from her.

There was silence for about half a second before the whole table burst out in laughter. Sarralyn felt her face turn crimson and she lowered her arm.

Kira and Jasson looked at each other when they'd finished cracking up, an identical mischievous glint in their matching sapphire eyes.

"I thought you already noticed that"

"Since we were standing out in the hall together"

"You're really quite unobservant, Sarra"

"Though, I must admit it's quite funny."

Sarralyn gave the twins incredulous looks as they finished each other's sentences. From somewhere down along the table, she heard a new voice mutter "I wish you two wouldn't do that"

Next to her, Nazir sighed "They're just having a bit of fun, Emmet." Sarralyn's sponsor turned back to her with a frown. "That's Emmet of Oakwilde down there." He pointed to a boy with dark brown hair and pale skin. "And that's Caidon of Queenscove" This time, Sarralyn met the gaze of a dark-brown haired, emerald-eyed boy. There was warm laughter in Caidon's eyes as he bowed to her from his seat. Sarralyn noticed a slight Yamani slant in his eyes as he straightened.

On the other side of the room, someone rapped loudly on a table. Sarralyn turned to see a lean man standing next to Keladry. The man was shorter than Keladry by an inch or so, with a mane of crisp brown hair, but his presence was even more commanding than the Lady Knight's.

"To those of you who don't know me" the man said, is deep voice powerful "I am Sir Owen of Jesslaw, your Training Master. I hope you enjoy these days lazing about, because we start fresh and early on the practice courts the day after tomorrow." There was a wave of groans in protest from the assembled pages, but Sir Owen silenced them with a glare from his grey eyes, nodding to Keladry who prayed aloud in her endearing voice.

"To the Great Mother Goddess and Bright Mithros, we give thanks! May they guide us through this life as we try to unravel our destinies. May they help us to understand what we truly are and lead us in the right path!" Sarralyn gulped as she looked at the Lady Knight Keladry. Did she know what her words had truly meant to the Salmalin child?

Of course not Sarralyn thought to herself as she and her fellows ended the prayer with "So mote it be!"

Sarralyn relaxed as the other pages dug into their food. No Sarralyn thought, fighting down the panic that made her pulse run. No one knows… yet. And it was that one little word that Sarralyn was most afraid of.

Supper wasn't a long affair; the pages that surrounded Sarralyn ate like they hadn't seen food in days. Typical boys she thought with a mental shrug as Gary stood up once more to fetch his fourth helping.

None of them expected it when there was a sudden rap at the head table. All the heads in the hall turned at once, and Gary plopped dejectedly back down in his seat.

Sir Owen of Jesslaw and Lady Knight Keladry were standing, looking expectantly over at the great gold-and-wood doors that were only opened for the highest-ranking nobles. Sarralyn gulped as her intuition gave her no clues as to who it was that the Training Masters were waiting for. She didn't have to wait long.

In a second, the noble doors were thrown wide and a hushed silence fell over the room as two men entered. The first to walk through the doors was an older man; white hairs were visible in the crisp mane of black hair and he walked carefully. Nevertheless, Sarralyn could feel the authority coming off the newcomer in waves. The second man was younger, his gait full of tentative adulthood and there was no white to interrupt the night-like hair that was nestled on his head. This one, Sarralyn could see, was the subordinate.

The men reached Sir Owen and Lady Knight Keladry and turned to face the pages. Sarralyn stifled a gasp.

"Please, stay seated. I don't want to keep you long; I just need to say a few words before you head to your rooms for the night" the older man- King Jonathan's- voice was more powerful than Sarralyn had expected.

"I seem to remember what it was like, page hood, we won't drag" Prince Roald, King Jonathan's heir was quiet, but his voice attracted the page's attention without any effort.

Sarralyn sat back in her seat, reeling in shock. How could she have not recognized the King and the Prince? She silently wracked her brain, trying to figure out just how old the King was. Jonathan began speaking again, and Nazir nudged Sarralyn in the ribs in attempt to make her pay attention.

"You young ones are the future of this country" the king was saying, scanning the room and somehow seeming to look at everyone at once. "I have seen generations come and go, and now it is time for yours. My generation is coming to a close" King Jonathan nodded at Prince Roald, who gave a small smile, "and it is time for the next to take over."

The king stopped, thoughtful, and Prince Roald picked up where his father had left off. "We are so proud of the progress that our country has made in the way of its knights and pages." The prince nodded to Lady Knight Keladry before turning his dark eyes on Kira, Sarralyn, and the other female- a third-year called Paige of Elesmeran.

"These next few years will call for trial and tribulation, and I will gladly be right there beside you all. It's not just my children that I feel such pride for, in undertaking this journey." There were a few murmurs at this and Sarralyn cocked an eyebrow in confusion.

She'd heard of the royal prince and princess, the only children of Prince Roald and Princess Shinkokami, but she never expected them to be here. The gifted wildmage felt the urge to crane her neck and scan the room, as so many other pages were now doing.

"Now!" The King's voice brought everyone's attention back to the royal father and son "We've delayed you long enough! If you will, Sir Owen?"

And with that, the royalties left. The pages didn't even have time to stand and bow.

Sir Owen dismissed them, a small, private smile on his face as he turned back to converse with the Lady Knight beside him.

Sarralyn was thoughtful on her way back to her room. She hadn't realized how old King Jonathan was. Why, he had to be in his early fifties at least! Of course, her godmother Alanna had just celebrated her 50th birthday a while back, but she hardly seemed that old.

It'll soon be time for the king to pass on the crown Sarralyn thought as she reached her room and began to undress. Long ago, there had been made a law that a King could not hold the throne after his 60th year. It was bad for the kingdom if there was a king who reigned for too long; times changed, and monarchs had to change with them. Sarralyn was shocked to realize that before she took the Ordeal of Knighthood, the realm would have a new King. She shook her head and her mind wandered further.

It was also custom that the identity of the heir to a Crown Prince was to be kept a mystery until that Prince was King. That custom was to keep the royal lineage safe, Sarralyn knew, but still, she couldn't help but wonder which page it was that would be her King someday. The gifted wildmage sighed. She'd probably never figure it out.

Of course, how was the young Sarralyn to know, as she extinguished her lamp that the heir was so very near, falling into a fitful sleep, worried sick that someone may find out his secret? Simply put, she couldn't. So as the disguised Salmalin girl wished her roommate goodnight and closed her eyes, she gave up her thoughts for the night and surrendered to a dreamless sleep, knowing full and well the surprises that tomorrow would have in store.

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Told you there were a lot of names. Oh, and for the sake of me not looking like an idiot, let's just say that the royal children have magic protecting their identities from being discovered, just like Sarralyn does. I'll go into more detail in this next chapter, but for now, just go with it please. No, Sarralyn is not stupid for not realizing who they are, okay? Alright… just review if you're still confused, and stay tuned for more info! Next up is Sarralyn's first day as a real page, and the answers to some secrets. See you soon!