*** IMPORTANT! In this story, Mrs. Turbely is kind and caring, and there are similar changes in Sage/Jaron. I hope you enjoy this story, and please review. ***

Lord Kerwyn rode on the dirt road, on the back of a brown stallion. It had been nearly a full day since he had left Drylliad, by the King's order.

He was still shocked about what Eckbert had revealed, laying on his bed, fatally sick.

* Lord Kerwyn hurried down the hall, new wrinkles appearing all over his face, eyes filled with worry. He turned from numerous corners, descended stairs, but not once did he doubt that it was the right way.

He had walked down these halls, many times, memorizing every inch.

When he finally made it to the royal quarters, nurses milled the hallways.

Pushing through them, he rushed to the dark oak wood door, leading into the personal rooms of the King and Queen. There they were, both of them laying on the bed, faces pale.

Queen Erin's eyes were closed, but Kerwyn was relieved to see that she was breathing.

King Eckbert was in an upward sitting position, eyes immediately finding Kerwyn's.

" Kerwyn." Eckbert said, nodding, and the old man walked to the side of the bed.

" Your Majesty? You sent for me?"

The King lifted a hand to his mouth and coughed into the handkerchief in it. When he pulled it away, there was a small red spot on the white silk.

" I have a task for you."*

Kerwyn had been shocked.

The secret Eckbert had told him, had not been what he had expected.

Jaron was alive? He'd been hiding for all these years, only a days ride away? He still couldn't believe it. But he had to follow the King's, even a dying ones, orders.

He was here to bring Jaron home.

When Kerwyn talked to Mrs. Turbeldy about Jaron - Sage, Kerwyn corrected himself - he doubted they were even talking about the same person.

The boy he remembered was ignorant, selfish and destructive. The boy Mrs. Turbeldy was talking about was a caring, gentle and brave.

" He's such a nice boy, Lord Kerwyn. He was a very different person when he came here, but when he became the oldest one, he changed. Even when he was young, I doubt he could've done anything, what would've caught your attention.

" You see... he's like a big brother to the younger children. He's nearly eight years older than the second oldest. He sings them to sleep every night, tells them stories, and plays with them. If the children are too tired to wake up, he takes their shifts in washing the dishes and helping the cooks make breakfast."

Kerwyn nodded thoughtfully and came to a decision.

" I would want to meet him."

When they neared the room where the children slept, the sun had set behind the horizon. There were noise and laughter coming from the room. Mrs. Turbeldy sighed, but couldn't help but let a smile escape her lips. She motioned for Kerwyn to stop a few feet from the door and opened it slightly herself.

" - you ain't getting my treasure, you little brat! " came a deep, acted voice from inside. Kerwyn peered from over Mrs. Turbeldy's shoulder, and inside he saw about a dozen children in their beds, sitting, staring at an older and a younger boy, standing in the middle of the floor, brooms held in their hands like swords.

The older boy, about 15 years old, was wearing what looked like a pillowcase around his head, covering his left eye.

He had a red scarf tied around his waist, an off-white lace shirt, with brown pants and leather boots. The younger boy was wearing white pajamas.

Mrs. Turbeldy coughed gently, and the older boy turned around, while everyone else quieted down.

" Oh, Mrs. Turbeldy! Is there something you-" At that moment the younger boy lifted his 'sword' and hit the older boy in the head with it.

" Ow!" The older boy lifted a hand over the back of his head, where a bump would be sure to rise.

He gave an apologizing look to Mrs- Turbeldy before turning to the boy again, changing his voice back into a deep one.

" Alright, alright, you win. I surrender. But now, I must go." He bowed and set down his sword before walking out of the door, the children laughing behind him.

When he was out of the room, he closed the door and ripped the costume off. Kerwyn retreated into the shadows, as his eyes landed on the boy's face.

Brown hair fell over his green eyes, making them barely visible. A strong and sharp jawline and thick eyebrows brought up the manly features. Kerwyn could've recognized the prince anywhere.

" Sage, they're supposed to be sleeping." Mrs. Turbeldy said gently.

" I know, I know. " Jaron answered, bowing his head acting sad. "But you don't know the puppy eyes they were giving me."

Mrs. Turbeldy shook her head slightly, not disappointed, but more like amused.

" Sage, if they stay up this late, they won't wake up in the morning. And when they don't wake up in the morning, you do. Then you can't get to sleep because you're telling them stories and playing. You get tired. And when you're tired, you're grumpy. And no one likes it when you're grumpy."

" If you're talking about the time I threw that stray cat into a pile of horse dung, I just have to say; that cat was irritating. " Jaron answered, grinning from ear to ear.

At that moment, Mrs. Turbeldy seemed to remember the real reason she had called the boy there.

" Umm... Sage? There's someone here, who wants to meet you."

She turned around so that Jaron had a clear view of the man behind her. As soon as their eyes met, Jaron's mouth was hanging open, and Kerwyn wasn't much better. He had tears welling in his eyes, as he tried comparing the boy in front of him to the one that had been sent away from the castle four years prior.

" Wha... what are you..." It seemed as though Jaron gave up hope on trying to speak, for the sprang forward, and threw his arms around the older man.

Kerwyn held the teen close, with a death grip. Mrs. Turbeldy was giving them a confused look, as if not believing the two knew each other.

When they pulled away, Jaron was grinning, salty drops spilling from his eyes.

" How? When? What?" he asked, hands resting on the older man's shoulders.

" Do you have any idea, how much I've missed you?" Kerwyn asked, cupping the teenager's face in his wrinkled hands. The boy smiled at the question.

" Probably a lot, but not as much as I've missed you." Another embrace was shared, while Mrs. Turbeldy stood a few feet away, staring at them in utter confusion.

" I'm sorry to interrupt... but do you know each other?" the woman asked, making the two turn around to face her.

After a moments hesitation, Kerwyn suggested they go to another room, where they could talk with no fear of anyone else hearing.

He actually felt sad thinking about how unprepared Mrs. Turbeldy was for the truth.