A/N:

Enjoy, finally!

Shedding

Three short months of parties and joy later, Celia and Gary strolled through the immense grounds surrounding the Palace. The sun shone brightly, hinting at the arrival of spring. Neither spoke, each simply enjoying the crisp air and the serene meadow. Their camaraderie was abruptly interrupted by a feral growl. Celia looked down at her stomach sheepishly.

"I apologize. It has been a while si-" Celia's stomach cut her off, grumbling angrily. The two looked at each other and smiled.

"I know just the thing," Gary proclaimed. "We'll have a picnic!" He called one of the servants over and gave him orders to get Jonathan, Raoul, George, Cythera, Ilane and Dorelai and enough food for them all to eat. The servant hurried off and soon returned with a large red blanked which he spread on across the grass. Just as Celia and Gary were sitting down, George arrived, Cythera on his arm. Shortly after, Jon, Ilane and Dorelai appeared, along with the basket of food, carried by a servant. They quickly settled down and the topic turned to the Tyran Court.

"Celia, is it true that the Dominion Jewel was taken from its protector?" Cythera asked.

"Well, the Jewel is really just a myth, but yes, Elio told me that it had gone missing a few months before I reached the Convent. King Rupert claimed it had been taken."

"Did you meet a Doi?"

"I think so."

"I didn't know they left the mountains." George stared at her.

"I don't know. I just remember meeting one…"

"What was your fortune?" Cythera was curious.

"I…It was…" Celia's face darkened as she desperately searched for the answer.

Gary rescued her. Pretending to read her fortune, he said, "I see…lunch with friend followed by a delightful dinner with…" He feigned amazement. "Me? How splendid. I'll pick you up at eight."

Everyone laughed as Celia swatted him playfully.

"Pick me up at seven."

Further discussion was forestalled by the arrival of Raoul and a young man with shockingly red hair.

"Thom! You've returned!" Dorelai enveloped the knight in a hug.

"How was it?" George asked.

"Honestly, I'm just glad he's dead."

Dorelai gasped. "But he was your father!"

"And he ruined my life." Thom's voice was even.

"Not only your life. The rest of us miss her too." Jon's eyes blazed.

"Oh!" Comprehension dawned on Ilane's face. "You all knew Alanna!"

"Yes," Raoul whispered.

"What happened?" Celia asked.

"My father cast her out, half trained. We searched for months. Everywhere we went, she had already left. I came here, to fulfill my duty." Thom was bitter. "I could've been the youngest Master in history. She would have been the first Lady Knight in over 100 years. Instead, I'm out a twin and I'm just one more in a sea of knights."

"It's my fault she was found out," Jon looked into space, seeing the past. "She was hurt and I was stupid enough to let Baird see her. He knew, of course. Somehow Roger found out and she was gone."

Celia's face went white. "Roger?"

"Jon's cousin," Ilane said. "He is the most charming man. Jon, when will he be coming back?"

"I think he'll be back soon. He never really tells us when he's coming or when he's leaving," Jon looked thoughtful. "Alanna never liked him. And ever since the Tusaine War, I can't shake the feeling that she might have been right about him."

Thom shot him a look and abruptly changed the subject. "Celia, how do you like Corus?"

"It's different. I'm not used to attending so many parties and balls."

"What did you do in Tyra?" Dorelai asked.

"Well, I was at the Convent, so I had lessons. In our free time, Elio and I would ride or shop or read if it was rainy." Celia didn't mention the secret lessons in knife and unarmed combat.

Cythera was calm and practical. "We can ride here too. And you don't have to accept every incitation. You'll faint or fall ill and we don't need an angry Princess demanding to know why we've killed her friend."

Everyone laughed as Celia blushed.

"Have you seen any of Tortall outside of Corus?" George asked.

"No, I haven't. I'd like to though. It sounds beautiful."

"Jon, aren't you due in Persepolis soon," asked Gary.

Celia leaned back and the sun struck her hair and her eyes. Looking at her, Thom started. In the bright light, Celia's hair burned as red as flame, her eyes violet embers. A cloud moved over the sun and he laughed to himself at the thought of Celia being any thing like Alanna.

"I am. Shall we make it a grand tour and invite the ladies?"

Gary, ever thoughtful, reminded him, "We'd need a chaperone."

"Duke Roger could escort us!" Ilane exclaimed.

The knights exchanged a look, unnoticed by Celia and the ladies.

"I'll work out the details with Father and see that the King approves it." Thom grinned as Gary launched into logistics mode.

"That's the last bit of sense we'll get from him until it's done."

"Well then. I do believe that I have an appointment with the Lord Provost," Jon laughed. "He thinks he has a lead on the Rouge." The knights snorted, attempting to suppress their laughter.

"Wish him good hunting for me," George said dryly, as the other knights gave up trying to hide their amusement.

Once Jonathan had regained his composure, he left, followed by the others in twos and threes. Soon, Celia was alone with Thom, brother to the missing Alanna. They stood and he offered her his arm. She took it and was startled when he grabbed her wrist and twisted her arm to see the inside of her wrist. A long, thick, white scar ran parallel to the veins in her forearm. Many fainter, thinner scars gave her arms and hands a lacy white sheen.

Thom exhaled with a whoosh. "Who are you?" He demanded.

"Why does everyone grab me and demand to know who I am?" She wrenched her hand from his grasp with surprising strength and strode away angrily. Thom watched her go, noting the subtly military stride and the tenseness of her body. Her body language said she was expecting an attack.

Celia stopped the first woman she saw, an elderly Baroness. Forcing politeness into her voice, she asked, "Is there a Temple of the Goddess here? One where men aren't allowed?"

The woman winked knowingly, incorrectly assuming that she was hiding from a lover, before directing Celia to Temple Way.

Thanking the woman for her kindness, Celia hurried to the Temple of her Goddess, a refuge from men. When she reached the cool dimness of the Temple, Celia unconsciously slowed her steps to a smooth glide. Inside was strangely empty. A young woman, younger even than Celia, walked toward her. Something in her face seemed familiar. Her words sent a shock through the angry young noble.

"Welcome home, My Daughter. I know why you have come." The novice knelt and a beautiful woman stepped from her kneeling body. "You've been gone far too long."

"Goddess!" Celia was astonished. "How may I serve you?"

For a moment, the Goddess' face showed her disappointment. "Tell me child, what do you remember?"

"Nothing before Tyra, milady. Everyone here keeps asking me who I am and where I came from. And all I can to is run and run and try not to admit that I don't know."

"Oh, my dear one. It saddens my heart to see you like this. I had hoped that being here would bring back your memory."

"Please, Mother! Is there any way you can tell me who I am?"

The Goddess hesitated. "It will hurt. And the memories are far from pleasant. You will remember who you were, but she had a calling. A terrible task had been given to her. Will you accept this burden?"

Part of Celia longed to know the truth, and part of her screamed no. "Do I belong here? Is this my home?"

"Yes." The Goddess smiled. "These people, the knights, they are your family."

"I want it. I want to know who I am. I will accept your task and fulfill it to the best of my abilities."

"Very well then." The Goddess placed her hands on either side of Celia's head. "Your memories will come back within the month and you will regain your old appearance." Agony flooded Celia, keeping her from fainting. Years, Hours, nanoseconds later, the pain was gone and she was able to slip into the comforting oblivion.

She awoke in her bed in the palace. Seeing her mistress sit up, Mariah called for the healer and turned to Celia.

"Was it the Goddess?" Looking at the girl, Celia realized that Mariah was the one who had found her collapsed in the courtyard, all those years ago. However, her reply was cut short by the arrival of the healer. A brisk examination, and the healer was done.

"I understand asking for a professional opinion, milady, but you can use your Gift to check your own body. You're at full strength. You've got reserves most mages would kill for. And what a lovely color! Same purple as Lord Thom's." With that last remark, she was gone and Mariah was staring at Celia.

"The Goddess enabled me to remember my life. I know I lived here for years. I've seen most of Tortall, and I have an excellent education."

"Do you have a name?"

Celia frowned. "Not yet."

"Oh. Okay then. While you were gone, a messenger came from Sir Gareth. You've been invited to tour Tortall with him, the knights, and Duke Roger."

"I will accept. When is the trip?"

"They want to leave in two days, when Roger arrives."

"You will be my chaperone and my companion, will you not?"

"Of course, milady."

"Good. See to it that my things are packed, my acceptance conveyed and that Elio is notified of my plans. I need to sleep."

Mariah nodded and left the room. Sighing, Celia fell once again into a slumber.

Author's Note:

This has taken a LONG time to update. I apologize for that. Right now, I'm typing up a whole lot of old material and editing, and rewriting, and trying to figure out how to end this.

-Klehmenteen.