As promised, cookies (or biscuits) for xDarklightx, HPLUVR71495, RooenEnnyte, and xMxRosex. An especially jumbo cookie for Tishica, who was just overflowing with questions! Thanks for the reviews and comments!

Winter arrived faster than anyone had expected it to. Snow hit the fields before the farmers up north were prepared. The cold took its sweet time reaching Corus, and Eleni was just fine with that.

By the end of November, snow still hadn't reached Corus and the pages were still conducting their training outdoors. Schuylar was finally capable enough on a horse that Lord Padraig wasn't inclined to criticize him too harshly. However, his outburst was anything but forgotten by the pages. An example had been made, and another one was not needed.

Slowly, but surely, they were all improving their skills. Lessons continued to be tedious, and the work boring, but the eight friends were as happy as could be. It was some time after the riding crop incident that the older pages took it upon themselves to offer the younger pages help. Perci was an excellent rider and student, so Schuylar became a protoge of sorts. "Myles" was left to Warren, who, despite constantly teasing him about being a lightweight, drilled him close to death. Eleni was simply not made for wrestling.

Luckily, all three of the young pages found themselves surprisingly skilled when it came to swords. Though Eleni was more at ease with knives, she didn't mind the sword. To her, it was another weapon that she could master. At times it seemed as if the sword would master Schuylar, but he too held his own. Devin was the true star, and Lord Padraig took note. He was frequently complimented by the training master, and teased by his peers.

When the snows finally covered the capital, it was already December. After the wonder of the soft, white flakes had passed, Eleni was left with nothing but a bone-chilled dislike for snow. Flying was quickly forbidden by Lokejo, who worried about how the cold would affect her. That only worsened Eleni's mood. How could Tortallans stand these temperatures? Her discomfort became the season of the week for the boys.

On a particularly cold Sunday, all eight of the pages were spending a leisurely afternoon in the Green Library. After their plot had backfired, the room continued to serve as a study room and den of mischief. It was the only place where all of them could gather comfortably. It was also offered a spectacular few of a shivering Myles of Pirate's Swoop.

"Too cold, Myles?" Schuylar never learned. He was always the first to tease, and the first to receive a rap on the head. Eleni would always be faster than him, and the swipe to his head proved it.

"Is it my fault that it's so blasted cold on this continent?" Eleni had been enjoying the past few months, even adored the cool breezes that autumn had brought. This bitter cold of winter was a different story all together.

"You do realize that we're inside," Herne defended. Someone had to act as intermediary or another brawl would break out. "And every fireplace in the palace is lit. How are still cold?"

"Spend the first ten years of your life on a steamy island, and then tell me that the temperature here is fine."

That gave them a laugh, which interrupted the only other person in the Green Library.

"Do you mind?" The tiny voice came from behind one of the overflowing bookshelves, but it was definitely female. When the girl appeared, the boys instantly quieted. She was a beauty, and the boys were stunned. Eleni was not impressed.

Upon closer inspection, Eleni noted that she wasn't young, just petite. The lady, as she had to be older than originally presumed, had ivory white skin that could have rivaled the snow outside. Her chocolate brown eyes were only further accentuated by her russet hair. Clad in a vermilion gown and adorned with gold and carnelian, she looked every bit the noble lady. This lady was not pleased by the ruckus, and made it known.

"I thought I could read in peace here, so if you would so kind as to leave," she indicated towards the door with a dainty hand.

Apparently, Perci was not impressed either. He even knew who this brusque young lady was. "Calm down, Cerid," he said without rising from his chair.

"You know her?" asked Herne. He was very interested, too interested for Perci's taste. After a stern look, he quickly apologized.

The others had finally broken free of the beauty's spell and were riveted on Perci's words. Devin looked especially fascinated by the lady and practically absorbed Perci's words, but his eyes never left the lady. Eleni saw the budding crush before Devin himself.

"She's a friend of Claire's from the convent," Perci explained. Turning back to the disregarded lady, he smirked. Perci had never smirked in front of them before. "Looking to sink those claws into some poor man's heart, Cerid, darling?" Perci had never teased anyone either.

If Cerid could bring out these unheard of qualities in Perci, Eleni wanted to know more about their relationship. Things were going to get interesting, that was certain.

"Barbarian," she hissed. "I thought living with civilized people would have corrected your poor manners." Poor manners? Perci? "Poor Claire, reduced to living with such an uncouth animal."

Perci took the insults in stride, never losing the smirk. "I could say the same, darling. The Sisters at the convent couldn't do a thing about that mouth of yours. Such a pity."

Oh, yes, Eleni thought. Very interesting, indeed.

"Primitive," she shot at him.

"Vain."

"Imbecile."

"Garish."

"Savage."

The smirk on Perci's lips blossomed. "Cow."

With a final harrumph, the scorned lady left the library. Her walk indicated that she was vexed beyond belief, but no one except Eleni noticed. Everyone else was too busy staring at Perci. He wasn't even trying to contain his glee, and that was what scared the pages. While Perci continued to laugh, his friends watched in silence, worried he had lost his mind.

Ever curious, Schuylar was the first to speak. "Who's Claire?"

Seeing that Perci was too busy enjoying his triumph, Herne answered for him. "Perci's older sister. She's supposed to be presented to the court this Midwinter. Perci?" When he received more chuckles as a reply, Herne sighed.

"And Cerid?" Schuylar would be killed by his curiosity, Eleni was sure of it. "Who's she? She's pretty." His final statement made Devin blush scarlet. Herne tried to avoid answering, but Schuylar was persistent. "Tell us!"

Not knowing whether to laugh at the situation or to strangle Perci for leaving explanations to him, Herne gave up the struggle. "Cerid of Golden Bluff." Schuylar gave him a very hard nudge to the ribs. "Perci and her have a bit of a rivalry. She brings out the worst in him, I'm afraid."

The sound of the fierce lady brought Perci back to the world of the lucid. "Anymore of that hair dye left? Green would look lovely on her. Yes, it would make her very pretty."

Appalled at the monster that had been unleashed, the pages hoped that Cerid of Golden Bluff would make herself scarce. It would take all of them to keep the two from killing each other.

It was another few days before Eleni saw Cerid again. Between the fatigue brought on by serving in the kitchens during the banquets and the biting cold, Eleni was almost too tired to recognize the lady. She had been clad in a bright blue cloak, which, in Eleni's opinion, would never have matched the saffron gown she wore. Hidden as Cerid was by the snow-covered shrubbery, Eleni almost missed her.

If she's hiding, then she doesn't want company.

Though she tried to avoid her, Cerid caught sight of her as she tried to sneak by.

"You," she called out. Eleni pretended she hadn't heard, but Cerid grabbed hold of her arm. "You were one of the boys with Perci the other day."

Not sure if it was a question or statement, Eleni nodded. "Yes, milady." Remembering her manners at the last minute, she bowed.

"That's not necessary," she said. Drawing Eleni up, she studied the page before her. "What's your name?" The question was a common one, but the look in her eyes was not. Something was wrong.

"Myles of Pirate's Swoop, milady."

Another unknown emotion appeared in her eyes. "The Lioness's grandson?"

"Yes, milady."

Cerid gave her a small pat on the shoulder. It was a gesture that Eleni would have expected from an older sister.

"Would you do me a favor?" Cerid reached under her cloak and took out an envelope. "Give this to Perci for me?"

Eleni didn't have a chance to agree or decline, before Cerid had walked away.

That was not normal.

I wanted to make this chapter funny, after the drama the last one brought up. When we originally met Perci, he had a happier side to him. Time to bring back the mischievous side of Percival of Legann! We all have that one person who can make us act like we're five years old, and Cerid is Perci's. I also wanted to develop him a little more.