A/N: Don't forget to check out the 100 Themes Revival!

AER: Scout? Adorkable? :P I like that

Saberin: :) I'm glad we're into the 2nd generation now :) Sooo much more oneshot material with them as teenagers :)

Aubrey: Everyone has to grow up :) This story will shift more towards the second generation, though the first generation is still featured.

Gold: Scout's a fun character :)

Disclaimer: I'm not John Flanagan. And still not Australian.

Scout knelt low to the ground. She and Halt had tracked a deer for about three miles outside of the castle. She pulled back her arrow and held it at its full length. It had only a twenty-five pound drawback weight. Halt promised he'd make her a new one with a heavier drawback for her fifteenth birthday. The thought of a better bow excited her. Then, after some practice, she could shoot from a farther distance and be able to keep up with her older cousins.

She let her arrow fly. It caught the deer in the shoulder. The animal was badly wounded but still in bounded. Halt and Scout ran after it. Halt kept his bow ready but let Scout have the kill. She let another arrow fly and the deer fell over.

"Well done," Halt commended her. Scout frowned.

"Mama can do it with just one arrow."

"Don't compare yourself to Lina. She's been using a bow since before you were born." Scout looked up at him.

"Was she at my level when she was my age?"

Halt shrugged. "I didn't know her when she was your age. Let's field dress this thing and get the meat to Jenny."

Scout took out her long hunting knife and set to gutting the carcass. "Mama never talks about when she was my age and neither does Papa. They say that they lived in Hibernia at a school and then moved to Araluen. People always squirm when they learn my parents' names but nobody will tell me why."

Halt put his hand on her shoulder. "Most girls are squeamish about dressing deer."

Scout shrugged his hand away. "I'm not like most girls."

"Yes. Neither is your mother."

Scout sat back on her feet and stared at him. "Will you tell me what they did, Daideo?"

Halt shook his head. "That's something you have to take up with your parents."

Scout sighed and went back to work. "I just think it odd that they did something so terribly great nobody talks about it but still commend them on it and that it seems everyone but Caitlyn and me know what it was."

"They'll tell you when you're ready."

"I'm ready now."

Scout knew she'd overstepped her boundaries when Halt gripped her shoulder and pulled her away from the carcass. "You're young," he told her firmly. "You're still a child, whether you own up to it or not. Yes, you will begin an apprenticeship soon and yes you'll enter your apprenticeship with more skills than the others your age, but you are still young. I hope you never know what they did, Scout. If you had even a wisp of a clue about their lives before Araluen you'd wish you'd been ignorant your whole life. Understood?"

Scout nodded. She really needed to learn when to shut up faster. "Yes, Daideo."

Halt released her. "Finish dressing the deer."

Scout and Halt walked back with the meat divided between them. They were both silent until they arrived at the backdoor of Jenny's kitchen. They handed the meat to the apprentices and were on their way out when Scout noticed the water clock. "No! I was supposed to be home an hour ago. Mama's going to kill me."

"Your mother's in the dining room with your father," Jenny told her as she gathered ingredients. "Caitlyn is with Lady Pauline. I believe they assumed you two would be out late." She handed everything she'd selected to one of her assistants and wiped her hands on her apron before turning to them. "Thanks for the meat."

"Anytime," Halt told her. "Come on Scout. Looks like you and your sister are with us tonight."

Late that night Scout lay next to her sister in the bed that had once been Kane's. She stared at the ceiling thinking about her parents. Nobody told her what they'd done…just congratulated her on lucking out and having them as her parents. It wasn't enough. Scout bit her tongue. She finally sighed and got out of bed, being careful to not wake Caitlyn. She laced up her boots and got her cloak. Soon she was out the window, scaling down to the street below.

Scout kept to the shadows as she darted around. She knew where she wanted to go. She went to her godparents' apartment and picked the lock the way her mother had taught her. She was met by Gilan almost immediately.

"Is everything alright?" Gilan asked softly as he put his knife away. Scout nodded. "What are you doing here? It's late."

"I wanted to see if you would tell me about my parents before they came to Araluen."

Gilan studied her. "You know I didn't know them back then, right?"

Scout nodded. "But you know what they did."

"Scout, I don't know what you want. They were students at the Sunrise Warrior Academy. You know that they've saved quite a few countries. You know your mother spent a portion of her childhood in Nihon-Ja. You know that your father's a Ranger and your mother's a Battalion Lady. What more do you want?"

"I want to know why people talk about them."

"They're both really good at their jobs."

Scout shook her head. "People are scared of Daideo and he was a good Ranger. People in Redmont like Uncle Will but everywhere else they just…it's different."

Gilan shook his head. "I'm sorry Scout. You really should talk to your parents about this."

Lina sat at the table of the apartment they used when at Castle Araluen. The letter in front of her was troubling and the conversation she'd had with Gilan when he reported for work that morning was even more so. Scout wanted to know more about her parents' past. It was perfectly reasonable. Liam and Lina had even expected the questions to come one day, but now that it was here they felt unprepared. Scout would be leaving home in the next several months to few years and she definitely needed to hear and come to terms with her parents' old lives before that time came.

Lina looked down at the fine Hibernian paper watermarked with the royal seal in front of her. Embossed along the top was her cousin's insignia. It hurt her in so many ways to read Sean's neat handwriting.

My cousin Lina,

I'm sorry we've been unable to visit Araluen since announcing our engagement. It's been many years but it seems both our families are busy. After all, we've got a country to run and you two have peace to keep…and children to raise. I don't think Scout or Caitlyn would even remember us.

I hate to tell you that, again, Kineta has miscarried. We're told it would be dangerous to try any more. It seems that events that occurred in Kineta's old life have affected her ability to bear children to term. This deeply saddens us and we have decided that it would be best to keep from conceiving again. This makes the eighth we've lost and we don't think we're strong enough to lose another. It's been physically hard on Kineta as well. Each time this happens she takes a little longer to recover.

This brings us to a hard decision. Hibernia's government is still in the rebuilding stage. The country has accepted me wholly as its king and Kineta has charmed them all into loving her as its queen. However, among the main reasons they love Kineta is because she has no loyalty to any one Old Kingdom. We have considered adopting an heir but, as I'm sure you realize, there is no safe way to do that without setting off events that could spark another civil war. The heir to the throne must be a family member, preferably one with no ties to any one kingdom including Clonmel.

This brings me to Scout and Caitlyn. You've every right to say no, but if you do I beg you to provide another solution. The country is restless. They do not like the idea that, should something happen, the leadership would be in turmoil. We need an heir in Hibernia to go to balls and take a role in the courts. I also must ask you to travel here as well and formally give up your title so there are no misunderstandings about the queen-to-be.

I understand this would be a great sacrifice for family would make. I swear that, if you choose to send one of your daughters, we would treat her as our own and make sure she becomes a strong, independent woman. If your daughters were younger we'd never ask this of you but since both are relatively close to leaving home we feel it is best to ask while we still have nerve.

Whether Scout or Caitlyn come we have no opinion. My wish is that you discuss this with each of them so they know what they're getting into. I do hope you are able help us, Lina. You've no idea how much I hate for it to be this way. After all you've been through you deserve to have your daughters always at reach but we are desperate.

Your friend and cousin,

Sean O'Carrick

Lina closed her eyes. She and Liam had discussed his letter in length since it arrived. Scout or Caitlyn would have to go. The only other solution she could think of was to hide Kineta for about nine months and send her back with an orphaned newborn. That, however, would be difficult to pull off and dishonest. She couldn't bring herself to encourage such deceit to a newly reunited kingdom. She mentally analyzed each of her girls. Caitlyn was young enough Lina would travel with her and see to it she was comfortable in Hibernia. She could visit often and make sure everything was alright. Caitlyn would be just like her namesake. When the time came for her to take the throne she'd be charming and elegant…and in need of a good strong husband to handle most of the running of the country. Caitlyn would be a good figure to unite under but to actually lead a country? Even Lina's aunt hadn't been that strong. Her youngest daughter wouldn't be able to either.

Scout, however, had a chance. Her tomboy huntress of a firstborn would have to verse herself in countless lessons to be beautiful, graceful, and poised but she wouldn't need a strong husband to keep Hibernia from shaking. Scout was the type that, once she was properly trained, would be able to ride into battle and inspire her troops as well as smile and spin around a ballroom floor. She took after both parents in that aspect. Lina sighed and took out a fresh sheet of paper. On it was the insignia of the Charmed Battalion. The mark could ensure the messenger would never read it and entitle the letter to be ferried by a Courier. A Courier apprentice would probably be given the task once Lina marked its level of risk low but urgency high. Usually personal use of such a privilege was unheard of but she felt they could spare one apprentice for the short trip. Besides, there was probably plenty of low-urgency paperwork en route to Hibernia getting stacked up.

Dearest Sean,

We're very sorry about your child and about Kineta's health. I wish I knew of a healer who could help you. Perhaps there is something we've yet to discover in all this.

Now, as to your request of an heir, Liam and I have talked it over and our final decision was not easily reached. We agree that one of our daughters must go to Hibernia to be an heir. I, however, will not give up my title as princess. As it was once stated, having me tucked away to be called upon in a moment's notice has too many advantages. I've come to a couple of solutions that both depend upon Scout.

Scout is soon to be of age and has yet to pick a trade. She hopes to be either a Royal Scout or a huntress, two careers she needs little higher training to succeed in. Independence allures her in a way I think the two of us understand all too well. I ask that you, Kineta, or a trusted advisor travel to Araluen to meet with Scout. I plan to offer my older daughter two choices; either she stays home and continues education as we, her parents, see fit until the age of twenty or she goes to Hibernia to enter training to become its queen with a minimum of five years' commitment. The Hibernian representative must be prepared to explain what her life will be like there. If she chooses to stay here, I will prepare Caitlyn to go to Hibernia but I will travel with her. She's too young to leave both parents and Liam and I have prepared ourselves to be separated until Caitlyn is fifteen if need be.

If Scout goes, I will travel with her but will not stay long. I hope you appreciate this next sacrifice that must be made in the interest of Hibernia. Whichever daughter goes, Liam and I will sign away custody of. You and Kineta will become our daughter's adoptive parents and she will become your direct heir and crown princess. I trust that you realize the two of you would only be her parents on paper. You two will be close mentors and like second parents but, especially if Caitlyn goes, we do not revoke our right to be her parents and make parental decisions. This agreement will be private, of course.

When your representative arrives Scout will be made aware of all this. Until then, Liam and I will prepare her to separate herself from us to the best of our ability. I am truly sorry this is how it has to be for the both of us.

May grace be with you Cousin,

Lina Leaf