Ena, out of habit, awoke at the crack of dawn. She quickly got dressed in her usual entire (a red poncho and black pants). Ena quickly and quietly packed up her stuff. She then picked up her bag and made her way out of the house, where she saw several Nymphs stagger drunkenly home as it was fast approaching dawn. She couldn’t help but notice there were several bushes filled with berries, as the village was situated in the Everglade Forrest. She thought she might as well be useful and went to pick some. After that, she hurried back to Cara’s house put them in an unused basket and then hurried in the direction of the Village Green. Ena saw an older female Nymph, she looked like the motherly type. She was trying to clean up the area and awaken some of the Nymphs that had passed out. She had dark brown curly hair that went to her shoulders and warm brown eyes. Ena could see she was struggling to clean up all the mess, so she walked over and started helping. The Nymph female smiled.

"Thanks a lot," she said happily. Ena shrugged, as she collected plates. She noticed there was barely any scapes of food leftover.

"Your Cara’s mum right?" asked Ena. The female Nymph nodded.

"My name’s Jonas," said Jonas with a smile. "You must be Ena, that girl that’s staying in Cara’s room right?" she asked. Ena nodded. There were already serval Nymphs washing dishes and as soon as Ena had a decent stack she brought them over for to be washed. It wasn’t long before she had made three large piles infront of the dish-washing crew.

"Whoa there youngin’, your making us look bad," said one of the older female Nymphs with a smile as Ena made one more pile.

"Thanks for your help Ena," said Jonas. Ena looked around, the place was spotlessly clean. "We couldn’t have done it without you,"

"You proberly could have, it would have just taken you longer," said Ena with a shrug and a small grin.

Conan awoke with a smile on his face, very uncharacteristic of him. For he’d been dreaming of Ena the entire night (when he had finally managed to fall asleep). He walked out to the kitchen to fix himself some breakfast. There was a basket of freshly picked berries in the middle of the table and everyone was helping themselves to them. He was also humming lightly under his breath, this caused Cara and Pan to smirk slightly in his direction while Malvin looked sourly over at his cousin. Music and magic were the only things that Conan could beat him at, so he spread the rumour that Conan was so good at Magic so he could take over the village, and with Malvin living with him and all, the majority of the young nymphs believed him.

"Where did all these berries come from?" Malvin asked to take his mind off his cousin.

"Funny you should ask, our guest picked them before she left," replied Cara with a slight smirk at Conan. Conan looked at the only female in the room with surprise.

"We had a guest?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. Cara and Pan nodded and looked at each other evilly, which Conan suspected didn’t translate to anything good.

"Conan, we’ve got to go and see my father about that thing we talked about last night, remember?" said Pan, with a small glare in Cara’s direction. What was she trying to do? Give the game away? Conan nodded

"We best be off," he said and with a nod to his cousins (still smiling) he walked to the front door, waiting for Pan. Pan jumped up, gave Cara a hug, and followed after the older Nymph. Pan saw Ena waiting on the outside of the Village Green and knew if they came face-to-face now there would be serious problems.

"Conan, could you go get some mint from the herbalist, you know that will appease my Aunt, and you know whatever appeases my Aunt will appease my father…" said Pan with sly grin. Anybody who had actually spent an hour’s time with the King and his sister-in-law could easily tell they were in love with each other. The problem was that they kept using Pan and his mother as an excuse to not be together, despite the many reassurances from Pan that it would be fine. Not to mention the encouragement. Conan nodded, he knew it was a good idea and headed to shop just around the corner, but stoped in mid-pace and turned around.

"Should I met you at your father’s caravan?" he asked, Conan could tell Pan was up to something and didn’t want him to see it just yet, which wasn’t always a bad thing…

"You read my mind!" the prince exclaimed as he headed off to the Village Square. Conan was overwhelmed by curiosity but he knew better than to get involved in Pan’s schemes, just yet anyway.

Ena sighed, she was just about to turn and leave when the pint-sized prince turned up. She gave him a heated glare.

"I’ve been waiting for you," she said acidicly, Pan made a mental-note not to be late with Ena ever again.

"Well technically you never told a meeting time, so really your just early," he replied with a shrug.

"I told Cara to tell you we’d be leaving shortly after dawn," said Ena, she and Pan then made their way to what Ena suspected was where Pan’s father was to ask permission to leave. She cursed herself, yet again, for getting in this position in the first place… Pan shudded at the thought of having to get up that early.

"Well Cara never told me that," said Pan with a small smirk.

"She has that tendency I’ve noticed," replied Ena with small smile.

It wasn’t long before they found the purple caravan with a black horse and a white horse tethered at the front. Ena smiled at the sight of them, headed straight for them, and started patting them. "They’re beautiful," she said in awe. Pan nodded, they were the best horses in the kingdom, and not to mention the fact they were of Elvan breed. Pan steeped forward and pulled the cloth back.

"After you," he said bowing. Ena rolled her eyes but entered the room all the same, and the moment she entered the room she had a blade to her neck.

"Who are you and what is your business with King Lloyd?" asked a guard, he had dark ebony hair and eyes that matched.

"It’s okay, she’s with me," said Pan as he entered after Ena with much difficulty as she was standing in the main entry way. The guard lowered his weapon and nodded, but his gaze didn’t shift from Ena, who was quiet ready and willing to stare back just as long. The guard however was the first to look away as he shortly resumed his post. Ena faced forward to see King Lloyd and Pan’s Aunt sitting at a small table. Ena realised that Pan looked nothing like his father. He had inherited his black hair and brilliant green eyes obviously from his mother because his aunt and him looked very much like. King Lloyd had hair of a rich chestnut-brown (which was currently held in a plait that nearly reached his waist) and a beard, his eyes were a silver-grey, that seemed to see right through you. The king’s shoulders were rather broad but he was thin and tall. He wore a purple robe so that his undergarments were obscured.

"You seem to be missing someone Pan," asked his Aunt, her gaze boring into Ena’s. Ena figured she was where Pan got his Elfin side from as her ears pointed along side her head. "But I am not sure of his replacement yet," This made Ena worried slightly as Elf’s were usually a very good judge of character. She was wearing a dress made of silken-green to match her eyes. It was long sleeved and it had gold thread cris-crossing across her chest. There was also a bow on her right hip. Her white locks were in a braid so long it almost touched the floor, as it was tradition for Elf’s to never cut their hair. There were some cases were Elvan maiden’s had to have people help carry it as its length was so long.

"Don’t worry he’ll be here soon," said Pan with a smile. "But in the mean time, Father, Aunt Donella, this is Ena. She’s going on a-,"

"Quest?" asked his father with a grimace.

"Correct Father, see she was in a quick-sand pit when I met her and I rescued her, from the quick-sand and the guys that had put her in there in the first place," said Pan stepping forward.

"And you wish to join her? Where-ever that may be…" said King Lloyd.

"The Lake of Tears," supplied Pan with a flourish.

"I can’t say I am at all surprised," said Donella smiling softly. Pan breathed a non-visible sigh of relief. He was glad they weren’t yelling at him, as of yet anyway. King Lloyd was looking sceptically at Ena, would someone who looked so fragile be able to protect his only son and heir to the human throne. Ena could tell he was trying to evaluate her skills, she recognised the look from Galvin. He had taught her this was an important thing to notice because that usually meant they were very close to or about to start a fight. But she couldn’t withhold the slight smirk that crawled across her face. Then the king stood up and started walking slowly around the room, as if pondering his decision where he would allow his son to accompany this girl he had just met. King Lloyd then as quick as lightning threw a punch in Ena’s direction, which Ena effectively blocked, then hooked her foot around the older man’s knee and effectively tripped him up.

"Have I passed?" asked Ena with a raised eyebrow, and a broad smirk. The King nodded and chuckled as Ena helped him to his feet. "I know that you probably don’t want Pan come with me," she stated once the king had reassumed his seat. King Lloyd nodded. "And under usual circumstances I would agree with you. But I owe him my life, and my… Guardians had always taught me to never have a debt remained unpaid," said Ena, her eyes going dark at the mention of Kevin and Galvin.

"Well Donella can do a simple test and then you can be on your way," said King Lloyd with a grin, rather impressed with Ena’s skill. Then curtain of the caravan bellowed open and there stood, panting with hands on his knees trying to catch his stolen breath, was Conan. Ena gasped with surprise.

"I’m. Sorry. I’m late." Panted Conan. "But there. Was. A Large line. For Headache. Relief. Herbs." Pan chuckled. Then Conan looked up and saw Ena, his face lit up with a brilliant smile, then instantaneously suspicion in Pan’s direction.

"What are you doing here?" they asked in unison. "Going to the Lake of Tears," they replied in unison again. "What!?" exclaimed Ena, she looked furious. She turned and looked at Pan, who shrunk away slightly at the sight of the red head’s fury.

"You told me nothing of this," she seethed. "This was not part of the deal!" her voice was now deadly. Now it was Conan’s turn to look confused.

"Deal?" he asked unsure. "Pan said he was going to the Lake of Tears and asked me to come along," said Conan in a small voice, not wanting to get yelled at.

"Did he now…" said Ena in a voice so deadly quiet and filled with venom the four other people in the room kinda feared for the prince’s life. "It wasn’t his place to make those kind of decisions on his own,"

"Well I knew you wouldn’t mind after being aquatinted last night," said Pan with a nervous chuckle. Ena’s cheeks blushed furiously.

"That is not the point Pan," said Donella quietly and everyone turned to look at her. Pan’s shoulders slumped, he hated it when she used that voice, it meant she was disappointed in him. "You should have asked Ena first before assuming it would be okay," Pan sighed.

"I know, I’m sorry," said Pan, his eyes wide. Ena glared at him for a few minutes then looked away, examining her nails.

"I guess I will forgive you, but Conan is not coming," she said firmly. Conan’s ears drooped in hurt and disappointment and his gaze fell to the floor. He then quickly looked back up again, his arms across his chest, his expression stormy which wasn’t always a good thing with a part-water Nymph.

"Why not?" he asked angrily. Ena turned to face him and matched his stance.

"Because," she replied.

"Because why?" asked Conan adamantly, his hands now at his side and his fists curled.

"Because… I said so that’s why," said Ena with a slight stammer and raised her chin defiantly. Conan’s gaze narrowed at the red head infront of him.

"My company was fine last night," he bit out. "What has changed since then?"

"You…" started Ena, not sure how to say it. "You wouldn’t understand," she said softly.

"Then make me understand," demanded Conan , taking a step forward towards Ena, who noticed this and was instantly on the defence.

"I don’t have to explain myself to you, not to anyone," she exclaimed, and turned her back on Conan,who now looked really hurt. She then looked at Donella.

"Can you please do this test of sorts so that Pan and I can be on our way already?" she asked. Donella gave Ena a look hard look, which the other girl did not wilt from but matched it’s intensity. When Donella realised it was impossible for this girl to feel guilt by looking at her, which was an unusual thing in it’s self, she sighed and beckoned Ena forward.

"Now, please kneel before me," she said softly. Ena looked warily at her but quickly obeyed. "Relax, you’re far too tense," said Donella with a smile as she reached out and held the sides of Ena’s head. Once she had touched the ears, Donella yelped and flinched back. King Lloyd was instantly by her side, gently holding her forearm. Ena looked worried and confused.

"Are you okay?" he asked quietly. Donella nodded and turned to Conan.

"Can you please go get you Aunt, I need her expertise," she said. Conan looked at Ena curiously, nodded and then ran from the caravan. He was back in a few seconds with his Aunt.

"How did you manage that?" asked Pan looking at Conan amazed.

"I had been over at the herbalist which as you know is a few stores over," answered Jonas. "What seems to be the problem?" Donella then began to speak in rapid Elvish.

"See what they’ve done to her ears? They’ve deformed her!" cried Donella, sorrow and outrage mingled in her voice. Ena’s expression grew even more confused than before.

"Ahhh! I see… They’ve had them cut to look like a human’s," replied Jonas sneering with disgust. Jonas was part-Earth-Elf, part-Earth-Nymph so that was why she could understand Donella’s native dialog.

"What are they talking about?" whispered Conan to Pan.

"They’re going on about her ears, I think there’s something wrong with them," Pan whispered back. Conan frowned, he hadn’t seen anything wrong with them. Well for a human’s ears anyway.

"I think they’re talking about her earings," whispered Conan after some thinking. Pan shook his head.

"My aunt’s got five in each ear and she has a nose piercing. Piercings are traditional for when you’ve mastered a skill in the Elvish community," replied Pan. "And they seem REALLY mad about this,"

"Can you heal them?" asked Donella. Jonas shook her head.

"This happened when she was born, I can’t fix that. I wish I could…" she said with a sigh. "Do think we should make her sleep?" asked Jonas, thinking of Donella’s safety. Donella shook her head.

"I can handle it," she said with a smile.

"Are you going to continue?" asked Ena unsure. Donella nodded.

"Now, just open up your mind and lower all of your defences and it’ll very quick," she said calmly. Ena frowned at her but closed her eyes all the same. Donella took in and released a deep breath. She then put her hands back on the sides of Ena’s head and closed her own eyes. Conan and Pan couldn’t help but watch on with morbid curiosity, nor couldn’t they help but notice that Donella was flinching every few minutes.

"Pan, why does your Aunt keep flinching?" whispered Conan confused. He could understand why you would flinch on first contact with someone’s mind but to continuously do so?

"Elves have the power of Empathy, as some Nymphs do, so she’s feeling what Ena’s feeling as she goes threw her memories, and by the looks like it Ena’s got a lot of painful memories or thoughts," replied Pan in a whisper. Conan was then rather pensive. Why did Ena want to go to the Lake of Tears anyway? The lake’s water was said to have complete healing powers, was that it? Conan made a mental-note to ask the red-head later. Then Donella slowly opened her eyes and lifted her hands from her head.

"There were quiet a few walls I still had to break threw even after telling you to open your mind," said Donella giving Ena a pointed look, which Ena gladly returned. "But she passes, the three of them may go,"

"Three? Oh no, I already have one tag-a-long I refuse to have another," stated Ena, rising to her feet and then falling down again. But luckily Conan caught her before she hit the floor. A small smile graced Donella’s lips and a smirk stole across her nephew’s.

"Well you put up quiet a fight Ena, it would have been much more beneficial if you had let me see what you so desperately try to hide," said Donella with a sigh.

"What’s in my brain is my business and you have no right to it," replied Ena weakly. "Let me go Conan, I can hold myself up," Ena then pushed Conan away and she then stood on her own two feet, despite the fact she was swaying dangerously from side-to-side.

"Conan is going with you?" asked Jonas confused. Conan knew what was about to happen next, the whole ‘Why didn’t you tell me? Oh please don’t go!’ But to his great surprise a smile then broke out onto Jonas’ face. "Why didn’t you tell me? I’ll go pack a bag for you right away!" she said and hurried out of the caravan for home.

"Well, at least I was partially right," thought Conan with a small smile.

"You should tell her she’s wasting her time," said Ena.

"I believe that is you Ena," said King Lloyd after a long time of silence, Pan and Conan jumped at the sound. "Conan will be accompanying you, I decree it," Ena snorted.

"You decree a lot of thing your highness, that doesn’t mean that they obeyed," she said, her eyes going dark again. The King had decreed that if abuse, no matter which kind, of a child were to happen, it was to be reported to the local law enforcer. Donella then became very angry.

"How dare you speak to your king in such a matter!? King Lloyd’s laws mightn’t always be followed, and that is not his fault if they aren’t, but he deserves your respect, he has earned it with all the trials he has had to suffer through and still is!" she said glaring at Ena, who wouldn’t stand down. While all the males in the room busied themselves by finding the multi-coloured rug on the wooden floor of EXTREME fascination. They knew this wasn’t about the quest anymore…

"Who are you to tell me what to do?! We are not even of the same race!" exclaimed Ena, curling her fists by her sides. "You a perfect stranger, who thinks just because you have seen glimpses of what I been through you have the right to tell me what to do!" The two women were just about to reach for they concealed weapons when…

"Okay I’m back!" cried Jonas as she entered the caravan with Conan’s backpack. "Oh Conan, your uncle has just sent word of you, as it’s you turned 16 two days ago you have to go and do the coming of age ritual," her bright happy grin slid off her face as she noticed the tense atmosphere. "Bad timing? I’ll leave and come back in a few minutes!" said Jonas, and left the caravan again before anyone could say anything to stop her.

"Ena," said King Lloyd warning voice. "You have been rude to a person I hold in very high regard, this is not acceptable. You are to apologise at once," Ena clenched and unclenched her jaw.

"I am sorry, I shouldn’t have brought our races into this argument, nor should I have yelled. But I would lying if I were to say I was sorry for the things I said, because I know I am correct," said Ena. King Lloyd gave the red-head a stern glare, who in turn raised an eyebrow at the ruler of the human race.

"I am sorry too," said Donella, which made all the mouths in the room gape open, with the exception of Ena who just nodded and waited for the Elvan maiden to continue. "It wasn’t my place to tell you what to do, nor have I lived your life, but if you stopped being so defensive you would have realised that we just want what is best for you," she said with a heavy sigh. To this Ena had no response but she needn’t have had one for then Jonas decided she should make a reappearance.

"Okay! So when do you youngsters intend to head off?" she asked.

"I wanted to leave by today," said Ena. "Before midday,"

"Well it’s nearly midday now," said Pan.

"You should go pack your gear and get ready to leave," said King Lloyd with a smile. Pan’s eyes went wide.

"Are you serious?" he asked, a hopeful grin plastered to his face. The king nodded. Pan then ran over to his father and gave him a hug, then did the same to his Aunt. The group then headed out of the caravan to prepare for what was to come, Conan was last to leave but hewas stopped by a light cough from Donella.

"If you would be so kind as to leave the mint on the side-table, that would be most appreciated Conan," she said with a smile. Conan grinned and did as he was asked.

"I want to get going by today at least Conan," said Ena as Conan exited the Caravan. Conan raised an eyebrow.

"I thought you didn’t want me to come with you?" he asked. Ena sighed dramatically.

"Well you’re going to follow anyway," she said with a shrug. "So you need to learn to keep up," said Ena with a smirk.

"I’ll keep that in mind," said Conan with a smirk.