Another day another chapter...and yet no reviews. I'm crushed. This story has had a number of hits though and that is encouraging. On the other hand I really do want to know what people think, so after you read please please please find it in your heart to submit a review for me telling me what you like what you don't like what I can improve on, or even just tell me cheese is good. Anyway...read on.

"Dani," Estella said using Danielle's nickname, "where do you think you got your green eyes from?" Danielle shrugged.

"I don't know from my mother I guess. Papa has brown eyes so certainly not from him."

"Have you ever wondered what your mother looked like? She must have been very beautiful." Estella replied. Danielle shrugged again.

"I've never really thought about it. I guess I really don't look anything like my father but then again he's a man and I'm not so wouldn't that play some part in it?" Estella shook her head.

"Mama says that I have my father's nose…so I would think you'd have something from your papa too." Thomas nodded.

"She's right Dani, I look like my mum too, I've got her chin and hair." Danielle frowned in thought.

"Well maybe I don't look like papa, but I certainly have his talent for magic."

"But Dani," Thomas said, "Anyone can learn to use magic, but you on the other hand seem to have it running through your blood. Almost like it's a part of you." Danielle put up a hand to stop Thomas and Estella from talking.

"What is this all about? Why are you suddenly questioning my background now? You two have known me for years and this has never bothered you before." Thomas looked at Estella who looked at the ground uncomfortably.

"It's just that…" Estella started but stopped.

"You see Dani…last night Estella and I were sitting in the tavern in a corner…" Danielle rolled her eyes at this. "And we overheard some people talking about you…and…what they had to say makes a little bit of sense." Thomas said.

"Oh and what exactly did they have to say this time?" She asked crossing her arms.

"TheysaidthatParkerisn'tyourfather," Estella said in a rush. Danielle looked at her questioningly.

"Could someone translate that gibberish for me?" she asked. Thomas sighed.

"They said that Parker isn't really your father," He said. "They said that you were dropped at his door when you were around two years old." Danielle laughed at this.

"Oh is that what they're saying now? Honestly you two I had thought you were smarter than this. There have been all sorts of rumors about me in this town. Why would you start believing them now?" Thomas looked away from her. "If Papa isn't my father then how come my mother's grave is right outside our cottage?" Estella shrugged and looked at the ground. Danielle threw up her hands in exasperation. "All right, why is it this time the rumor is so convincing to you two?" She asked.

"Because…you see Dani…the two people we overheard talking were…" Thomas started clearly uncomfortable about finishing the sentence.

"The two people we heard talking were Gart and Parker!" Estella said quickly and then winced. Danielle just stared at them. Estella and Thomas squirmed uncomfortably under the intensity of her gaze. "I think we might have killed her," Estella whispered to Thomas.

"Nonsense, she's just in shock Estella," he said.

"But she's not even blinking," Estella replied.

"She's processing everything. Just give her a minute." Estella nodded and went back to shifting uncomfortably under the intensity of Danielle's gaze. A few minutes later Thomas saw Danielle's eyelid twitch and then she blinked.

"Sorry I seemed to have dazed off for a minute there," Danielle said. "Now what were we talking about?" Thomas sighed.

"Danielle we heard Parker say he's not really your father," he said. Immediately after this Danielle screamed louder than a banshee.

"IT'S NOT TRUE! It isn't! IT CAN'T BE!" she said close to tears. Thomas's heart broke at the look on her face and he moved forward to pull her into a hug. Danielle leaned into him for a moment and then stiffened.

"What is it?" Thomas asked pulling back. Danielle shook her head.

"I don't believe you're doing this to me. I can't believe I didn't see this coming much sooner," she said stepping back from him.

"Didn't see what…Dani what are you talking about?"

"You and her," Danielle said pointing viciously at Estella.

"What about it?" Thomas asked.

"You're trying to get rid of me so that I won't be in your way anymore. You're sick of me being a third wheel aren't you?"

"Danielle don't be ridiculous," Estella said.

"I'm not being ridiculous it's true! You want me gone so that you two can have more time to have a lovely romp in the woods!" Thomas looked at her.

"How'd you know about that?" He asked. Danielle glared at Thomas.

"I'm not stupid Thomas. I've seen the looks you give each other. I know that there are more than just friendly feelings between you two!"

"Look Danielle," Thomas said reaching for her arm. Danielle pulled away.

"Don't 'look Danielle' me and don't you touch me Thomas!" she said. "You thought you were doing a good thing by coming here and telling me my whole life is a lie didn't you? You thought you were being a good friend by destroying the one relationship I've been able to rely on without fail. The one person who has never betrayed me you had to tell me has been lying to me my whole life!"

"I've never betrayed you Da––"

"YES you have Estelle. By going behind my back with him," Danielle said thrusting a finger at Thomas. "You betrayed me by not even having the decency to tell me that you were stealing my best friend from me."

"Dani I––" Estelle started with tears in her eyes.

"No. That's enough. I don't want to hear another word from either of you," she said backing away.

"But––" Thomas started.

"NOT another word." And with that Danielle turned and ran towards her home.

Parker was working on brewing a particularly difficult potion when the front door of his cottage slammed open and knocked several vials over.

"Danielle!" He said turning to her. "How many times have I told you to––" Parker stopped when he saw the tears running down his daughter's face. "Child what is it?" he asked.

"Tell me the truth Papa," she said.

"All right, what exactly am I telling the truth about?" he asked.

"You're not really my father are you?" Parker's face turned white and he dropped the vial he was holding.

"Who have you been talking to?" he asked.

"That's not important Papa. I need to hear it from you. Are you or are you not my real father?" Parker flopped down into a chair behind him looking older than he ever had.

"No Danielle. I am not your real father," he said in barely more than a whisper.

"Then who is?"

"Come child," Parker said gesturing for her to sit next to him. "Sit. I will tell you all that I know." Parker then proceeded to tell her the events of that night nearly fifteen years ago when Danielle's mother collapsed on Parker's doorstep and left him a small child to care for.

"So, that grave outside is really my mother?" she asked.

"As far as I know yes. She didn't actually say for sure, but your eyes were both too similar. I didn't see her eyes for long but they were the same bright green. Never have I seen eyes like that on anyone else."

"And she told you to take me to my grandfather?"

"Yes, but since I didn't know who either of you were how could I possibly have taken you to an unknown grandfather?" Danielle sat in deep thought for quite awhile. Parker sighed and rubbed his eyes.

"You're going to go find him aren't you?" he asked looking at her closely. Danielle looked up and met his eyes.

"You know me far to well Papa," she said with a half smile. "I have to. All these years I've thought I was a freak. I've been shunned by the people of this town all because I look different and have a power they don't understand. And now I find out it is because I'm not human. I have to find my own people Papa." Parker nodded and stood.

"Well, I can't say I haven't seen this coming for years. I knew I wouldn't be able to hide this from you forever. You are after all a very intelligent girl. I have taught you all that I can anyway. Come, let's get together some supplies for you. You can leave in the morning."

"Thank you Papa," Danielle said standing. She and Parker gazed at each other for a moment and tears started forming in her eyes.

"What is this?" Parker asked. "Crying before you are to set off on the biggest adventure of your life? This is a time for bravery dear girl, not for crocodile tears." Danielle nodded and then threw her arms around Parker.

"No matter what I find out about who my parents were, you will always and forever be my Papa," she said. Parker squeezed Danielle back and they stood locked in the embrace for a few moments. Finally Parker backed off and quickly turned away from Danielle.

"Come child, enough sentiments. We need to get you ready to go." Danielle would have been hurt at Parkers coldness but she saw him discreetly wipe his eyes. The old man was never very good at sharing his emotions.

Before sunrise the next morning Danielle set out headed for the nearest colony of elves. Since Parker did not know if she was an elf or a fairy he thought it would be wise if she went to one of them to find out. From that point on she would be on her own. Estella and Thomas came over a few hours after Danielle had left. When Parker told them of Danielle's departure Thomas broke down in tears and apologized over and over again to Parker for telling. Parker gently forgave him and said that it was all for the best anyway. She had to find out eventually.

Meanwhile Danielle was over the initial shock of her discovery and as she walked she wondered how she didn't think of it sooner. It of course made perfect sense. She had never fit in with the people in that village because she wasn't even the same species as them. All those years she had suffered because they wouldn't accept someone different. Now she knew that she was better than just different. She was one of the beloved magic races, and once she found out exactly who she was she would return to that little village and make them all realize the folly of their mistake. Never mess with an elf…or a fairy…or whatever she was…"

And with that comforting thought Danielle pushed the village out of her head and moved her thoughts on to who exactly she might be. So caught up in her thoughts was she that the slight movement in the bush escaped her attention. She didn't see the creature squatting in the bush readying itself to jump out. Danielle didn't see it, much to her horror, until it was too late and the creature had already pounced on her.

Yay! Cliff hanger. So much fun. I'll try to have the next chapter up within a couple days but I don't make any promises. In the meantime you might try to coax me into updating sooner by submitting a review. Thanks for reading!