Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, places or anything else in this story

Chapter 2

(Roo)(A/NNow dear reader, you should be fairly confused, I know I am. However, I shall continue the story………)

And so, the snail spouted horrible, green, gooey stuff out of its head and 3……………….2…………………..1! It had completely disappeared. Or so they thought…….

Meanwhile, it had actually shrunk into a miniature giant snail and was slowly crawling up Sparhawk's leg. "Alas!" he cried, "The miniature giant snail is crawling up my leg! And alas, I shall slice him off my leg and he shall be killed ……………………….FOREVER!!!!!!!!" So he sliced the snail in two and the snail was dead………

But not for long…………

Meanwhile Elizabeth and Brainy were getting quite cosy (They had reappeared when the snail shrank). "Aha! I have caught you!" yelled Sparhawk at the two of them,

"Liz, I thought you loved me?"

"I do. I was just hallucinating."

"Oh, OK."

So Brainy, Lizzy and Sparhawk flew away on the magic shoe, back to Cynthia Sylvie, Queen of Sylvieland, who had knighted Sparhawk, to give Sparhawk his bravery award. The whole country attended the ceremony.

Meanwhile, the snail was crawling to its body parts and soon it was a full snail again. It ate a growth hormone and became a giant again. Then, it started make its way to Sylvieland…….

Dum……………..Dum………….Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaam

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FricklesBack at Sylivieland. It was the ball after Sparhawk's ceremony and Sparhawk was sulking because Elizabeth was in a group of men and flirting with every one of them. Sparhawk walked to the food table to satisfy a nonexistent hunger and bumped into someone. As he turned to say he was sorry, he recognised her as Sephrena's God daughter, Arya.

He asked her what she was doing here and she answered that Sephrena had invited her but was urgently called away to help some knights fight a troll.

"So you're feeling a little left out?" he asked

"Ya, kind of. I don't know anybody here except you and Elizabeth. I couldn't see you and Elizabeth is kind of un-approachable." she said in a matter of fact voice.

Sparhawk's face went dark and he scowled. Arya said, "You have to get over her sometime. She won't be satisfied with only one mans attentions!"

"I know. But it is hard because she makes me feel like the most handsome man on the planet. Anyway I want to know more about you. Where do you live?"

Rusty girl"Oh, with friends, you know….." Arya answered, "And you?"

He laughed, "I have a mansion in Zimbabwe. Would you like to come visit?"

"Hmmmmmm…… I have to think about that." she said, looking in to his sea blue eyes. Secretly she wanted to go to his mansion as soon as possible.

"Shall we dance?" He asked looking at her.

"That would be nice." she said softly.

So they danced the tango, the waltz and of course the chicken dance. Arya then said she had to go powder her nose. Sparhawk went to find Elizabeth to say he was sorry for going off with Arya. Although his love for Elizabeth had diminished and his love for Arya had gotten past the "just friends" stage. When he found Lizzy she was making out with Mr van Tonda. He ran right back to Where he had left Arya with the truth that Elizabeth was a great s (that is for Frickle's innocence).

Red squirrel)(A/N: Well, just a commentary, Frickle is a little sensitive baby if she says that.)

Sparhawk returned to the dance floor. There was Arya. The beautiful Ms Arya. She was standing by a table, her beautiful white dress billowing gently.

He grinned with pleasure and picked out a red rose from the bouquet next to him. He walked up behind her and put his masculine arm on her ghostly white shoulder. She jumped and turned to face him. For a few moments their eyes locked, spellbound. Arya broke off blushing. Sparhawk offered her the rose with a bow. She took it gently from his fingers.

"Arya." He whispered in his deep masculine voice.

Out of the corner of his eye he spied a dark man with a rifle aimed at Queen Cynthia. "No!" he screamed and ran towards her dragging Arya along as he forgot to unclasp his arm from hers.

Rac-Rac BANG. Arya's beautiful white dress was stained red at the waist line and the red was spreading all over the white Chinese silk.

"Arya!" screamed Sparhawk in horror as he caught her when she toppled. Instead of a few sweet last words Arya's face became benevolent and she cackled wickedly

"Ah, Sparhawk. To believe that you fell for my oldest trick while poor, beautiful Arya suffers locked up in some lonely tower!" giving one final cackle Arya's form dissolved and the shape of Smégol took her place (yes, Smégol!). Smégol sniggered horribly, snatched Sparhawk's sword from its scabbard and bit into the sword's hilt. A small ring fell onto the floor. Smégol snatched it up and said, "At last my precious I have you." Smégol slunk from the ballroom leaving behind a dazed and very confused Sparhawk who gave a look of disgust when he realised he had mistaken Smégol for Arya.