A/N: The story continues. Thanks to Elder-master for being my most illustrious beta. This is sure to modify theories.

(Obsidian Palace: Parlor)

"All of these people serve you? I have never heard of a noble having so many servants." Fate said astonished at the fact. She looked over to Hayate, who set her cup back on its saucer. The two had been talking about trivial things for the past half hour. Fate had learned that Hayate was indeed a nice person. But there was something else that begged Fate for attention, for all her strength of kindness, Hayate seemed somewhat sickly. Hayate's face was quite pale and she appeared to be quite frail.

"It's an interesting story, but not one that I want to tell right now." Hayate said as she noticed Signum's brow twitch.

"You seem to have a very interesting life Fate. I always wanted to try living in a village." Hayate said with a smile as the sound of a lock clicking met Fate's ears. The door behind Hayate opened and the taller, more imposing male knight Fate noticed earlier reentered the room. Fate tried to remember if she had seen him leave as he walked over and leaned in, whispering something into Hayate's ear.

"Oh, thank you Zafira. I believe it is time for us to join everyone else. It seems as if we won't be joined by the Master tonight. Arrangements have already been made for your accommodations." Hayate said as something was pushed from behind the sofa.

"I must go back to the tavern. My brother will be upset." Fate said as she stood.

"That will not be necessary. You see, that is where I sent Zafira. You may still return there if you wish, but you are no longer obligated to serve your brother." Hayate said as the object that was behind her came into full view. It looked like a chair on wheels.

"It is my wheelchair. As you have no doubt noticed, I am frail. It is because of a certain condition that I have endured for many years now," Hayate said as Signum and Vita helped their Lady into her chair.

"Now then, Fate, if you would please. Shamal, would you please return Fate to the entrance to the main hall as I will join her shortly. The rest of you, wait outside the door. I need a few minutes to regain my wits." Hayate ordered. The aforementioned woman came forward and guided Fate out of the room, followed by the other three leaving Hayate to herself. Or so it would seem.

"How much longer do you intend to wait? The stress is too much on you. If we wait much longer, there will no longer be a need for any of this." The owner of the voice was a woman who appeared on the couch from behind Hayate. Long silver hair settled behind her elegant dress as she came to rest.

"I do not wish to do that. We will follow the scenario, now that all the actors have gathered it will not be long." Hayate stated flatly.

"I cannot say that I approve of this." The woman said as she faded into the nothingness she had once came.

(Obsidian Palace: Hallway Entrance)

Fate had been deep in thought ever since leaving the room. The things that Hayate told her from beforehand were odd enough. Now she was telling her that she did not have to go back home? Something was definitely amiss and Fate still did not know what it was.

"Has your master … always been like that?" Fate asked the blonde woman standing next to her. This person seemed more relaxed then the other three, as if she had a more extensive calm. Fate could tell a difference in her mood as she responded.

"I am sorry. If you have a question about Lady Hayate, please ask her directly. It would be improper for me to answer your question." Shamal's soft voice sailed into Fate's ear. So much could be communicated by a simple change of tone. Shamal didn't warn harshly, but allowed Fate to know that she couldn't or wouldn't answer.

"I am also sorry." Fate stated to Shamal who simply smiled in return.

"I have made you wait Lady Fate. I apologize." Fate turned around to see Hayate in her chair, with Vita pushing it. "Let us go." Hayate stated as the group moved along the outside to one of the tables on the perimeter. Fate sat across from Hayate, who then called for a drink.

"May I ask what drink that is? I have made many different ones, but have never seen that before." Fate asked as the glass was brought to Hayate.

"It is rather strange. I have an odd taste in liquors. To be honest, I could not tell you. One of the servants makes them." Hayate stated as she took a drink.

"Forgive my asking, but how did you get your condition?" Fate asked as eyes from behind Hayate bore daggers into her eyes, as if to say 'How dare you ask!'. Hayate however, sat her drink down in front of her and then proceeded to entwine her fingers.

"Fate, I know you mean no harm by your questions. But we did just meet and it is a bit rude. That is why you are probably being stared at no doubt." Hayate stated, ever wary of her knights.

"I am sorry, I did not…" Fate trailed a bit as she struggled to find the words.

"It is alright." Hayate said with a smile as she relaxed her arms. Hayate's face had taken on a somewhat cold expression that even Fate didn't want to be around. "Let us just say that I will get better eventfully. Other then that, you do not need to know."

After the last set of words had been spoken, Hayate's cheerful disposition returned. Fate, however, felt and extreme need to get away. Hayate had not been mean to her, but at the same time made it clear that she should not be asking such questions.

"Excuse me." Fate said as she got up from the table. Signum moved to pursue, but Hayate's hand went up, halting her.

"Let her go. I think I may have scared her a bit. It would seem as if there is no memory at all. She really doesn't remember. Ah well, nothing we can do but keep to the scenario." Hayate stated.

"Why are we even following that? There isn't much time left! We need to…" Vita was also silenced by a hand gesture.

"I will say this once more. Do not talk about such things in public or in front of Lady Fate. When the time comes, the time comes. End of subject." Hayate said effectively ending the discussion. Vita proceeded to take on a scowl deeper then Sigum's.

"What are we to do about our guest?" Sigum queried.

"Leave her be for now. The best medicine is figuring things out for ones self. We will not directly intervene. Things must be left to their own path. Make sure everyone that needs to know, does. I made a promise to dear friends; my only solace at the current time is to see that it is followed." Hayate said as she lifted her drink to her mouth once more. Though Hayate had noticed that Fate made her way up the stairs long before Sigum had, but perhaps things would get along sooner then expected.

(Obsidian palace: East Corridor)

Fate had sought to get away from Hayate as soon as possible. Not for what had happened, but out of personal embarrassment. It was true that she should have not asked the question, yet she wanted to know. The sense from Hayate seemed much more then simple crippling.

"I wanted to get away from that room and now I am lost." Fate stated as she continued down the corridor.

Groups of double candles from stands lit the hallway and Fate noticed many doors as she passed. The palace didn't seem that big from the village, but in truth it was rather large. Fate had already walked by fifteen sets of doors and it seemed as if she was only a quarter of the way though the hall. Fate continued to scan the doors thinking that they may have some identifying marks. She caught something in the corner of her vision, yet when she turned entirely, nothing was there.

"Who is it?" Fate asked aloud as she began to pay closer attention to the right side of the hall then left. Fate thought as if maybe someone had a pet or perhaps a servant had seen her and then got out of her vision, though she could not rationalize why.

Fate figured that they would have started looking for her, yet no one came as she came to the point where the shadow disappeared. Fate noticed the candles nearby fluttering as she finally reached the halfway point of the hall.

Looking to her left, Fate noticed a heavy wooden door that had been opened. She peered into the doorway and noticed another hall that seemed to end with a staircase. There were a few candles along the stone walls, but the ambiance was considerably less.

The long black hall called to Fate and she answered. She looked around for a candlestick she could use but did not find one. Light gusts of wind told her of the outside night. Becoming entranced, Fate took a step onto the stone floor and then her other foot made a blunt 'clack' sound as now she stood in the hall being able to feel the full cold breeze.

Swallowing as her body reacted to the cold air, Fate began to walk forward quickly, yet not briskly as she made her way down the shadow hall feeling slightly better as she crossed into candle light every ten steps. Fate stopped counting back in the furnished hall. It seemed as if Fate was walking and nothing was happening. Of course Fate knew that was silly. That would be magic, and magic was just in fairytales.

And yet, Fate was becoming more and more convinced that perhaps there was some sort of enchantment on this place. Then it seemed, almost suddenly, Fate was at the staircase at the end. Having put her conceptions aside, Fate attempted to look up the stairs only to find it was a spiral staircase.

Fate sighed deeply and quietly hoped there were no more strange things and began her assent. Surprisingly, the top of the staircase became more apparent, though it had been several stories. Or so Fate thought as she reached the end of it.

Fate walked out and on to what appeared to be the palace roof. Though from the front and from the village's view it could not be seen, even though Fate could see the lights of the town square from where she was.

Curious, Fate began to inspect the 'roof' as it were and soon she noticed something. Something that it would appear was neither object nor animal. She turned her full view to it and felt her heart sink and her body began to shake nervously.

"H-how can it be?" Fate whispered to herself as she gazed at the woman before her. Long red tresses reached down the woman's back as she looked up into the sky. A simple cotton bed shirt peeked out from under a heavier robe as it barley hung to the woman's shoulders.

I was sure she was the woman from the portrait in the main hall. She was even more stunning in person. At the time I could not understand everything that was going on. But that would all change soon. From that point on, my life changed, or I guess you could say, the life of Fate the sister and beloved town maiden had ended.

In any case, it was what she would say to me that would start both of us on a journey. A journey that would ultimately destroy and rebuild me, it was the trial that we both would face.

The woman turn towards Fate and smiled. Apparently she had noticed Fate since she had arrived. She completely turned around and smiled again, even more sweetly then time before.

"Excuse me, but if you don't mind my asking …" the woman paused as a gust of wind passed over them before dying down.

"I am Nanoha, but, who are you?"