I don't own the Avalon: Web of Magic/Quest for Magic series or the song Quietus. They belong to Rachel Roberts and Epica respectively.

You can find this song by typing "Epica Quietus" into the searchbox.

The culprit, you act before thinking

Caught in your ignorant sin

And lying to your own reflection

You thought you could hide

Marlin paced anxiously around his bedroom. His sea-green, jewel-encrusted robes swayed as he walked. His father had ordered him to change into something "More royal, more princely, something that would catch someone's eye," as he put it. The young Aquatanian prince didn't know why he had to dress up, but he would not question his father.

There was a knock on his door. When Marlin opened it, a calm, gentle maid, probably in her fifties or sixties, stood there and told him that the King wanted him in the front room in ten minutes.

Marlin hurried down the long marble corridors, but slowed down when he neared the front room. He could hear his father and another man talking, and, regaining his composure, entered the room in a very dignified manner.

His eyes widened as large as saucers when he saw a pretty teenage girl standing beside the man his father had been speaking to.

She had medium-length blonde hair and green eyes. She reminded him of Kara, but this girl's hair was a paler shade of blonde and her skin was icy pale.

"Marlin, I'd like you to meet Talina. Her father is the King of the Ice Islands."

That explains why she looks so pale, the prince thought to himself. "Hello, Talina." He bowed respectfully and walked over to stand next to his father. He could tell the king was proud of him.

"You and Talina are going to get to know each other," King Spartos said with a smile.

Marlin was fearful of that. He had known something was off when he'd entered the room. Before he knew it, he and Talina were being shooed into a the sea-green and white royal carriage. The snow elemental horses trotted off into town, and Marlin tried to make conversation.

"So... Talina...Do you have any interests?"

Talina smiled. "I like to draw, and I like fashion, too." Now she really sounded like Kara. Marlin couldn't help but wish that Emily was here with him. When the carriage brought them to the Aquatanian center of activity, the marketplace, Marlin got out first and helped Talina out like a gentleman. Her snow-white and silver dress and Marlin's robes definitely directed a lot of attention to them, and the people in the marketplace instantly recognized them. Well, they recognized Marlin, anyway. A crowd began to gather around them, and Marlin was glad when the owner of the palace-restaurant came out to greet them and take them to the backyard of the place.

Deprived of my own innocence, denied

The infinity of recurring torment, your comeuppance

Another daughter. Adriane couldn't get that thought out of her head. She imagined that Janelle would be the sweetest little girl ever, would have this great relationship with her parents through out her teenage years, certainly wouldn't cut herself, would get accepted to Harvard, or Yale, or Princeton, and Adriane would fade away to nothing in her parents' lives.

She knew she was being dramatic and wallowing in self-pity. But at the moment, she just didn't care. What right did Janelle have to take her place?!

See, hear, the torture inside

Devouring what was left of my pride

You thought it's not going to happen to you

Thought you could hide

Emily sat in a booth at the local diner with Kara, waiting for Adriane to show up so they could discuss what was going to happen over the winter, and the annual kick-off event for the Spring tours.

"Where is she?" Kara asked impatiently.

"I have no idea," Emily replied. "Maybe she forgot?"

"Ugh." Her eyes flashed in anger and annoyance. "I say we just go over to Ravenswood tomorrow. I have to meet Heather, Molly, and Tiff at the mall in half an hour. See you later," With that, the blazing star handed Emily some money for the food and left the diner just as her father pulled up in his Lexus.

Emily paid the bill and then she, too, left. She walked down the sidewalk, her heavy, powder-blue jacket blocking out most of the cold wind. Why hadn't Adriane come to the meeting? She didn't think the warrior'd forget, but she'd have to ask her tomorrow. Soon, the healer's thoughts drifted to Marlin, and she smiled.

Deprived of my own innocence, denied

The infinity of recurring torment, your comeuppance

Dwelling in a mind, mixed up and your regret has spread over the sea

Adriane could hear Pierre breaking things and cursing loudly, calling her name in drunken confusion downstairs. She was supposed to meet Emily and Kara in town, but she didn't want to try and get past Pierre. Lily was out, as usual, probably shopping with Mrs. Windor another one of her friends. Sometimes she wondered why Lily put up with him.

Something tumbled to the ground downstairs with a crash! Adriane's whole body tightened as she heard Pierre stumble up the steps, cursing and tripping.

Then, with another crash, she heard grunts as the man fell down the steps. She heard the door downstairs open, and Lily gasped.

Deprived of my own innocence, denied

The infinity of recurring torment

Dwelling in a mind, mixed up and your regret has spread over the sea

I'm am so, so sorry this wasn't up yesterday! It's been written for over a week, but I didn't have the time to put it up yesterday!

--Krista