A/N: Ack! I read through this, and must asked that you excuse my typos…I'm terrible at catching them when I go through…I apologize. I also apologize for my lack of updating-ness. I started school, and I'm taking Latin 2 AND German 1 this year and it's kicking my butt.

Kaye, Luis, and Corny had set out for the orchard a few minutes ago, but she was no longer sure exactly what she was doing. She had run out on Roiben without the slightest thought to his safety, her own safety.

Not to mention she was dragging the only human friends she had in the worlds into this.

But Kate. Kate needs to be saved.

Kaye kept her head down, and wrapped her coat tighter around her.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Corny said knowingly.

God dammit, Corny, why do you have to notice everything?

"Nothing. I'm just worried about Roiben." She said, dodging the question. "And Ellen, and Grandma, and Kate…Why does it seem that we spend half our time worrying about everyone else?"

"Because it's the right thing ot do?" Corny offered.

"No." she said darkly. "The right thing to do was to not try and drop my glamour by rolling around in a patch of clover years ago. Maybe I didn't ever need to know about this. Maybe we shouldn't have to protect everyone." Her thoughts were utter turmoil, and she just wanted to crawl under a rock and sleep.

"What are you saying?" Luis asked darkly. Protecting people was a sore point for him.

"No, Luis, I'm not personally jibing you for your complete failure at protecting your stupid, druggie little brother." Kaye snapped, feeling horrible the moment it was said.

If only there was a way to snatch words back. To pull them back in after they've been said.

She saw his face shift to anger, and then to sadness. She gave them both a level stare, and then said, "I need to do this alone. Not with either of you. I'm putting you in danger. Go home."

She turned on them and continued walking.

XXX

The orchard was terrifying. The people there were supposed to be beautiful, but they weren't, not at all. Kaye shivered when one of them smiled and welcomed her. She let her glamour drop and they all backed off, blatant hostility showing in their eyes.

So they knew who had brought them here, and they knew they didn't like it. That surprised her.

"Lady Kaye." A melodic voice called from behind her.

Kaye froze. No. That voice…that voice was dead. She turned, and shrieked in terror.

Hanging from on of the apple trees was the head of Silarial. There were other heads hanging from other branches, some familiar, most not.

"Wh…What is this?" she whispered.

Silarial smiled a knowing smile. "Pathetic, aren't I? Lady Ethine has bound the souls she hated the most here. Read the sign, there, Kaye."

Kaye looked at the sign to her left, not daring to disobey.

The Tree of Faces

Those Fey and Mortals Who Have Displeased the Lady Ethine

She saw Mabry's name on the rather long list, but it was the last few that chilled her to the bone.

Kaye.

Roiben

Cornelius.

Luis.

Valerie.

Ravus.

Kaye screamed again when she saw Ravus had already been caught, sentenced to this horrifying fate. She walked over to where his head hung, and felt tears roll down her face. "Ravus." She whispered.

"Kaye!" he said, his eyes flying open. "Please. Where is Val? Please tell me Val isn't here."

"I…I haven't talked to her in a while." Kaye said, trembling.

"Please! Kaye! Tell me where she is!" The head continued desperately.

"I don't know." Kaye whispered falling to her knees. "I don't know." She squeezed her eyes shut, willing this to go away.

Suddenly, someone seized her arms and lifted her up. "Well, if it isn't a little pixie." A deep voice said tauntingly.

Kaye turned, and looked at who it was, not certain she could handle meeting any other 'old friends'.

When she saw who it was, she threw herself into his arms, sobbing. "Grainne." She said tearfully into his shoulder.

"Kaye, what are you doing here?" the knight asked gently, which was odd, for him.

"Trying to get Kate back." Kaye mumbled almost incoherently.

"Lord Roiben has been looking for you all around this cursed orchard. Dulcamara is dead. You cannot meet with Ethine."

Kaye became very still. "I have to." She said. "It's my responsibility."

"You should at least come and see Lord Roiben first," Grainne suggested mildly, standing up, pulling her with him.

She nodded wordlessly. There was nothing she wanted more than to see Roiben right now.

Garinne led her over the edge of the orchard where she saw Roiben, standing stoically next to a completely lifeless looking Ellebere.

Why do we pay with our loved ones? Kaye thought morbidly.

"Kaye!" Roiben called, his silver-spoon eyes lighting up briefly. He pulled her into a strong hug, surprising her. He never let his guard down around his knights.

"I saw…the tree…and Ravus…." She hiccupped, and he held her tighter.

"Ethine's not getting away with this." He whispered in her ear. "If you want to meet with her, I would gladly send Shalini or Grainne with you."

She would have felt safer with Ellebere, but he didn't look like he was able to do anything right now. He was staring blankly at the ground, his hand trembling on the hilt of his sword. He looked like a man about to fall apart.

"Thank you." she whispered.

"Shalini." Roiben said. It wasn't a question in the least. Kaye turned back, to go into the orchard once more.

She entered the willow tent, and Ethine smiled as she saw her.

"Why, Kaye. I was hoping you'd come." She said, motioning for her to come closer with her index finger.