When next I opened my eyes, I was alone.

The room I lay in was lit by a single torch which was spluttering as it neared its death. The room was small, more of a closet then a room, and I lay only on a blanket which in turn lay on the dirt floor. There was nothing else in the room except a pile of clothing next to a small rivulet of water that flowed down the cracked stone wall, and an empty hole that assumed itself a doorway. The room smelled of dirt, sweat, and urine.

I was naked beneath the sheet, I realized, and felt a second of panic which had me standing and searching for weapons, but then I remembered the moments before sleep.

They already knew who I was, and by the sound of the tone in which the man had spoken my name - or rather, how he had said my title - I assumed he had been expecting me already.

It's her! He's had said when he'd seen my mark. No surprise in his tone.

But how could that be?

I dressed quickly, finding only a loose wool shirt that fell off my shoulders it was so large, and trousers which dragged on the dirt they were so long, but both were clean and so it would do.

Yet I still hesitated in that doorway. Having the marks on my neck so exposed made me distinctly uncomfortable. I could not remember the last time I went more then a few minutes without my gloves on, and that was to peal my nails so they wouldn't rip through, or to wash myself. Even my feet were bare at this moment, and so my markings there showed - though not on my ankles due to the length of the pants.

I felt very naked.

"There you—"

I turned and struck out with my fist, only to have it caught in a palm which was familiar.

Arion raised an eyebrow, his lip twitching. "I see you're feeling better."

I let out a breath and lowered my hand. "Sorry." Shenz the quiet Shadows!

He chuckled and held up his other hand. "I was just coming to bring this in case you woke soon."

I looked at the rough stone cup and took it, tasting fresh water which felt so wonderful that I moaned. But even that bliss could not last long.

I held the now-empty cup at my side. "Who were those people? Where are we? And where are my clothes?" Then I frowned. "And who undressed me?" My eyes widened. "Jaz and Aitch! They know! Are the Dragon Knights-"

"Miera, calm down and I'll explain." He said with both amusement and mild annoyance. "These people are mostly old Knights who ran from Marqis during the battle against your parents. Orro will explain further. But everyone here has these." He held up his pendant of blood and Stone which was what kept him safe from the Stones ears. "They had extra and gave them to Jaz and Aitch. As for who undressed you, that was Lessa, Orro's granddaughter whom is also here. And the only female which is why I even allowed it. We're safe here under the maze, your weapons are cleaned and ready for you when you wish them, and your clothing is drying over a fire in the main hall." He paused. "As for the other questions you're going to ask, no I do not know much of how they know and expected you because I, too, have been sleeping, as have Jaz and Aitch and a couple others that fought for our lives outside, but I believe we can trust them. They are loyal to you. Everyone is awake now. You're the last up, so if you want to come and join everyone for sup, you're more then welcome. Orro's is eager to meet you. But first..."

He took my face in his hands and he kissed me.

It was a brief kiss, but deliberate, hard, and serious. I felt shock - it didn't help that I was still recovering from his giant speech - and was barely able to return it before he pulled away, but when he did pull away, I wouldn't let him stay away and instead dropped the cup, grabbed his face, and kissed him instead.

He quickly took over, taking my face in his hands again but now gently. Once more it was brief, but now it was sure and steady and passionate and seemed to last a lifetime. It felt comfortable and perfect, as if we had done this a thousand times before and knew exactly what to do.

When he ended it, he put his forehead against mine and we stayed that way a moment.

"Why did you do that?" I whispered finally.

"I couldn't-" he cleared the husk from his voice and tried again, "I couldn't kiss you while we were dying. Wanted to but was unable." He shrugged and I could hear the smirk in his tone. "Thought I should do it now."

I couldn't help but chuckle at his reasoning.

He sighed then pulled back, his face becoming firm again as if switching from one man to another. "Ready to meet your Knights?"

I let out a low breath and nodded.

The stone corridor we walked down was dark and so I said nothing, only held Arion's arm as he held mine, leading me. We turned once and I saw light flickering from a doorway on the right up ahead and heard voices, low as if in murmur. My bare feet were cold on the dirt, unused to being bare.

Then we turned into the room and stepped inside.

Five men were sitting or standing around the small room which was lit by a single fire - small and flickering in the corner. An old man, perhaps a thousand summers of age or more, sat in the only sturdy-looking chair and a girl about my age knelt at his side, talking to him animatedly. Aitch and Jaz were there too, both leaning against a far wall wearing wool similar to my outfit; Jazera's was much too large on her, while Aitch's clothing stretched comically over his massive form.

All turned their heads when I entered and I froze, my feet digging into the soil, my heart pounding as fear flooded me. I was not afraid of these people, but I was afraid just the same. My marks were exposed. I wanted my cloak. I felt naked and venerable and terrified.

Arion, probably hearing my heartbeat. Tugged me inside further forcibly and my feet complied without my permission. His hand squeezed my arm, reminding me that I was safe.

I let out a slow breath and let him lead me in.

Then froze yet again as the five men came over and each knelt before me in a synchronized movement.

"Your majesty." Said the one in front, the aged, blue-eyed one. He was the only one that did not bow his head but instead looked me in the eye and I saw reverence there. Reverence and joy and more than anything, I saw hope.

Still, I felt discomfort at the show of loyalty. I tried not to show it and smiled. "Please stand." I said. "All of you. I'm not crowned yet."

They did so, and the blue eyed man started to speak but Jaz's groan cut him off.

"Please tell me we don't have to start kneeling to her?"

I frowned. I hadn't been expecting her to start acting like my best friend or anything, but I'd expected a little respect at least.

I had also expected an apology.

The blue eyed man shot her a disapproving look. "You should not speak to—"

"It's alright." I said, waving it off. "I've hidden my identity from them for some time and she's found she doesn't like me much at all. I'd rather her honesty then false respect." Which was the whole truth, but that didn't mean it didn't hurt.

Aitch grinned over at me. "I like you, Mir." He called.

"You're only saying that to gain favour and a fat purse!" I said but his grin was infectious and I found myself mimicking it, especially when he laughed loudly at my response.

Arion shook his head with amusement them motioned. "This is Roriq and his son Cronin." He motioned to the ancient blue eyed man, then a younger blue eyed boy behind him - the youngest of them by far. "And then there is Varci, Toil, and Croe."

They each nodded at the introduction. All were aged enough to have prominent wrinkles but that was the only similarity between the three. Varci has a clean-shaven head and a beard that went to his chest. Toil was simply handsome, even if he were old enough to be my father - he had a full head of golden, wavy hair that any woman would envy, rich brown eyes and dimples added to his handsome face. Croe was shorter than the others and bigger boned with long, black hair, dark eyes, and an angular face. Something about him made me sure that he was a Shadow.

Arion continued the introductions and motioned to the young, blond girl by the old mans feet who now stood. "This is Lessa," she nodded at me, smiled, and blushed a bit, "and—"

"I'm Orro, young princess." Said the ancient man. "Forgive me for not bowing to you, but if I get down I may not get back up." He grinned a toothless grin at me and held out both his hands. "Come. Let me have a look at you, Miera."

I went without much thought. The old man looked ancient, but there was a strength in him that came from his eyes and the authority in his tone. Though he was thin and his body hunched, I had no doubt that he stood tall.

I put my hand in his and he turned it over, studying the marks a moment. He surprised me by kissing my knuckles before squeezing my fingers even harder. "Ah, sweet girl, you look just like your mother. And you're strong as well. That's good. Your father would be quite proud of you for making it here, he would."

Those words struck a cord in me which brought tears prickling at my eyes but I tried to hide them, blinking them away. "You knew my parents?"

"Oh yes. We were family. You would be my cousin... oh, so far down the line I can barely remember how, but family just the same." He patted my fingers then let me go. "Sit down and eat then we will share stories, yes? Lessa dear, fetch the chair from my room, would you?"

"Sure, grandpa." She ran off.

Lessa ran off.

My cousin, ran off.

It was getting harder to hold the tears back; I had family. I had real family. I dint care how distant. I didn't care, for the moment, how they were related to me and I did not even allow myself to wonder if it was true or not.

I bent and hugged the old man, perhaps a bit more tightly then I should have, but he only laughed and hugged me back. We squeezed each other as if it were a final goodbye, but we smiled because it was simply our first hello.

When I finally managed to pull away, I saw that I was not the only one with tears of love and joy and relief in my eyes.

A/N: I know this is short but another chapter coming in a minute! I split this chapter into two because it was originally over 6000 freakin' words long (didn't seem like that when I was writing it!!) and I hadn't realized until I pasted it on here LOL. So patience people! Give me five minutes!