A/N: This chapter took longer than I expected to write, but here it is. It focuses on Endon and Sharn's life during the quest for the gems.

Disclaimer: Deltora Quest belongs to Emily Rodda.

The Quest Begins

Before dawn, Endon made his way to the shelter where Barda sat engulfed in darkness, waiting for him to arrive. They had arranged this meeting privately, between the two of them. Not even Sharn knew of it—she had been asleep in their bed in the forge cottage, when Endon had left it, seeming as young and at peace as she had been when they had first married and laid eyes upon each other. As always, it made Endon's heart swell to think of her.

'So, Jarred,' Barda said sardonically, his smile not reaching his eyes. 'It is time, I see.'

Endon nodded, clearing his throat. 'Lief is sixteen years old on this day,' he said. 'It is time for the quest to begin. I trust you are ready?'

'I am.'

Barda said nothing further, but Endon could see the unhappiness in his eyes, the simmering resentment at the thought of having an unruly sixteen year old boy join him on the quest. Barda had never wanted Lief to accompany him on the quest; if he could, he would refuse to take him. But it had been a part of the bargain that he had agreed to that he would allow Lief to join him on the quest for the gems.

'You must have a companion; we agreed to it,' Endon reminded him. 'It is for the best, Barda.'

'I may have agreed to it, but it does not mean I must like the idea,' Barda said. 'I am still certain that you err in wanting Lief to join me on this quest. He will surely be more a burden than a help. But that is not for me to say now.'

'Of course,' Endon said, struggling to keep his voice even. He could understand Barda's discontent, and knew that he may have felt the exact same way if he was in Barda's position, but he could not countenance Barda's derision of his son. 'Are you ready for dusk?'

'I am,' Barda said coolly. 'I know what I am to do, in any case. Do not worry, Jarred,' he added, seeing the doubt in Endon's eyes. 'I will do what we agreed. I will not bow out now.' He flashed a humourless grin, a grin that did nothing to erase the doubts in Endon's mind.

'That is good,' Endon said. Trying, and failing, to smile, he limped away, towards the forge, where metal waited to be moulded into shape and furnaces waited to be heated. Blacksmithing was a gruelling trade—every night, he returned to the cottage exhausted to his very core, muscles aching, his bad leg dragging behind him like a heavy weight. How had Jarred managed it?

'Jarred.' He turned at the sound of his old friend's name, now his name. What could Barda want now? They had discussed all that needed to be discussed. Endon halted, and slowly turned towards him.

'Yes?' he asked cautiously.

'I think it may be a good idea to destroy The Belt of Deltora,' Barda said firmly. 'It is simply too dangerous to keep. It is plain proof of your guilt, if the Shadow Lord's spies should find it. You should destroy it now, before it is too late.' His eyes showed his conviction that he was right.

Endon thought of the old book, with its tattered, delicate pages. Jarred had left it behind in the forge cottage when he had fled Del in Endon's place. Endon had found it hidden in a corner of their bedroom, written in bold lettering on the front, The Belt of Deltora: Its Magic, History and Power. When Endon had opened it, he found it filled with priceless information of the Belt of Deltora and its history. It had been as if Fate had meant them to have it, Endon thought, remembering. It had provided them with vital information for their quest. During his childhood, Lief had studied from it to prepare him for what was to come. It was important, Endon knew. It was their only source of information about the Belt of Deltora. What would happen if they destroyed it?

'Jarred?' Barda prompted impatiently.

Endon shook his head. 'I cannot do it,' he said. 'That book is important, I know it. There is no other like it. If we destroy it, we will be doing what the Shadow Lord wants—destroying the history and magic of Deltora. And that I cannot do.'

Barda frowned. 'You should destroy it, I tell you. Soon a day might come when you will regret you did not do just that.'

Endon shook his head again. 'No,' he repeated. 'We might still need it.'

Ignoring Barda's frown, he walked away, to the forge, where a long, exhausting day of work awaited. And as he set to work heating the furnace, he wondered if Barda was right. Was it really folly to keep such a book as The Belt of Deltora? Was it better to destroy the information it held? But deep inside, he knew he had not the heart to destroy it.

oOo

'You once lived in the palace? You were the King's friend? You—I cannot believe this! I will not believe this!' Lief spluttered, staring at his father as if he had grown wings or horns. Endon did not blame him. For all of his life Lief had believed that his parents were ordinary and quiet, happy to stay inconspicuously living in Del under the Shadow Lord's rule. Now he was coming to realise just how wrong he was.

Endon inwardly winced at the barely concealed revulsion in Lief's voice when he spoke of the King. They had never spoken of the Shadow Lord's invasion to Lief—it was too painful, to close to heart, even after all these years. They also had not wanted to turn Lief against his own father. Almost everyone in Del hated the King, blaming him for Deltora's troubles, and rightly, in Endon's mind. They had not wanted Lief to feel the same way. But Lief had found out anyway, from his friends. Lief thought that his parents did not know that he knew, but they did. Barda had overheard Lief's friends telling him, and had told Endon.

It did hurt, having his own son believe that he had been weak, lazy and careless, although it was the truth. It hurt to have his own son hate him. But nothing could be done about it. Everyone in Del hated the old King. But it still hurt.

'You must believe it, my son,' he told Lief. 'Why else do you think we have lived so quietly all these years, tamely obeying every order given to us, never rebelling? Many, many times I have been tempted to do otherwise. But I knew we had to avoid drawing the enemy's attention to us.' He felt his hands clench as he thought about it.

'But—but why have you never told me before?' Lief stammered, eyes wide with shock.

Sharn spoke up before Endon could reply. 'We thought it best to keep silent until now, Lief,' she said gravely. 'It was important, you see, that no word reached the ears of the Shadow Lord. And until you were ten your father believed that he himself would be the one who would go to seek the gems of Deltora, when the time came. But then…' She glanced quickly at Endon's stiff leg, and Endon could see regret and remembered terror in her eyes. Endon suppressed a shudder at the memories they provoked.

Endon smiled grimly. He still harboured regret that he could not go on the quest with Barda. 'Then the tree fell, and I had to accept that this could not be,' he finished for Sharn. 'I can still work in the forge — enough to earn our bread — but I cannot travel. And so, Lief, the task is left to you. If you are willing.'

Neither Endon nor Sharn doubted that he would be willing. They knew him too well. He had inherited a sense of duty and rightness from his father, and they had done all that they could to foster that in him, as well as other equally important virtues that a King needed to have to rule. They waited, expectantly, for his answer.

'The king was not killed after all,' Lief muttered. 'He escaped, with the queen. But why did the Shadow Lord not find them?'

Endon told him the abridged truth of what had occurred sixteen years ago on the night of the Shadow Lord's invasion. He could feel his brow furrow at the bitter memory of his parting with Jarred and his failure to protect his people. He did not think he would ever forgive himself for it.

'We knew that we might never meet again,' he finished, his heart heavy. 'Endon had realised by then that by his foolishness and blindness the people's last trust in him had been destroyed. All our hopes rested with his unborn child.' The heir. Lief, he thought.

'But—how do you know the child was born safely and is still alive, Father?' Lief asked.

Endon took out the Belt of Deltora from within his own hollow belt, and placed it in Lief's eager hands. He watched Lief admire it and felt pride in the beauty of Adin's greatest work and gladness that he had been able to save it.

'I mended it, making it ready to receive the gems once more, before I hid it away,' Endon said. 'But so closely is it bound to the blood of Adin that it would have crumbled into pieces if the heir was no more. As you see, it is still whole. So we can be sure that the heir lives.'

'If you agree to go on the quest, my son, you must put the Belt on and never let it out of your sight until it is complete,' Sharn warned. Only Endon could detect the note of fear in her voice she tried to suppress. 'Are you willing? Think carefully before you answer.'

'I am willing,' Lief said. 'Where must I go to find the gems?'

Endon felt his face pale. He had never doubted that Lief would agree to go, but now that the time had come he could not help but think of the dangers, the risk Lief would be taking. Images swam in his mind, of his son lying in an unknown grave somewhere in Deltora. His son, fighting a monstrous guardian, and falling, a wound to the heart, Barda watching on in horror, unable to do a thing as the lifeblood bled from Lief's body.

He sat down again and stared at the fire to conceal his expression from Lief. Lief did not need his parents doubting and fearing for him now at the beginning of the quest. He could feel Sharn gaze on him, and knew she understood what he was feeling.

'Preparing for this moment we have listened to many travelers' tales,' he said at last. 'I will tell you what we know. Prandine said that the gems were scattered, hidden in places no one would dare to find them.'

'That means, I suppose, that they lie in places people would be afraid to go,' Lief said.

'So I fear.' Endon agreed. He picked up a parchment from the table beside his chair and began slowly to unfold it. 'Seven Ak-Baba were flying together around the palace tower on the day the gems were taken,' he went on. 'They separated and flew off in different directions. We believe that each was carrying one of the gems, and each was going to one particular place to hide it. See here. I have drawn a map.'

Lief paled as he saw and read the names of the places, but still he agreed to go. It filled Endon with pride and fear to see his son's courage.

At Lief's decision, Endon could sense his wife's courage fail her. 'He is so young!' Sharn cried out. She buried her face in her hands. 'Oh, I cannot bear it!'

Lief spun around to her and threw his arm around her neck. 'I want to go, Mother!' he exclaimed. 'Do not weep for me.'

'You do not know what you are promising!' she cried.

'Perhaps I do not,' Lief said. 'But I know that I would do anything — anything in my power — to rid our land of the Shadow Lord.'

He turned from her to look back at Endon. 'Where is the heir?' he demanded, an excited, fascinated expression on his face. 'That, at least, you know for certain, Father, for you suggested the hiding place.'

'Perhaps I did,' Endon told him quietly. 'But I must not endanger our cause by telling you of it. The heir is powerless without the Belt, and must remain in deepest hiding until it is complete. You are young and impatient, Lief, and the road ahead of you is hard. You might give way to temptation and seek out the heir before your quest is done. I cannot risk that.' It would not do to have Lief realise that he was the heir to Deltora before the Belt was whole again. Lief could not be put at risk. Endon almost shuddered at the thought of it.

Lief opened his mouth to argue, but Endon interrupted him. 'When the gems are all in place the Belt will lead you to the heir, my son,' he said firmly. 'You must wait until then.'

He half smiled as Lief sighed with frustration. Lief had always had little patience, even as a child. The coming quest would most surely cure him of that.

'Perhaps this will cheer you,' Endon said, to distract him. 'It is my birthday gift to you.' He brought out the sword from under his chair. He had spent hours secretly crafting it in the forge these past few mornings, before dawn. It was the finest work he had ever done, save his remaking of the Belt of Deltora.

He saw Lief's eyes widen at the slender, lethal blade, better than any of the swords Lief had practiced with during his mandatory sword-fighting lessons. He felt the pride swell his heart at having made this beautiful, lethal sword and that his son would be wielding it.

'I made it on our own forge,' Endon told him. He handed the sword to his son, who took it eagerly. 'It is the finest work I have ever done. Care for it well, and it will care for you.'

Lief nodded, and thanked him. And then Sharn came forward with a gift of her own—an intricately woven cloak, made to conceal the wearer, Sharn had told Endon earlier. Its colouring was unusual, variating between grey and brown. Sharn had refused to tell Endon what Toran magic she had used to make the cloak conceal the wearer.

'This, too, will care for you, wherever you may go,' Sharn whispered, pressing the cloak into his hands and kissing him. 'The fabric is — special. I used every art I knew in its making, and wove much love and many memories into it, as well as strength and warmth.'

Only Endon knew the pain she fought to hide, the fear that came to being when she thought of her only son going out into the world. He stood and put his arm around her, giving her what support he could give. Sharn leaned against him, and he could feel her draw courage from his presence beside her.

'You never doubted that I would agree to go on this quest,' Lief said quietly.

'We knew you too well to doubt it,' Sharn replied, trying—and failing—to smile. 'I was sure, as well, that you would want to start at once. Food and water for the first few days of your journey are already packed and waiting. You can leave within the hour, if you wish.'

'Tonight?' gasped Lief.

'There is one thing more,' Endon said quickly, thinking of Barda waiting outside for his cue to enter. He limped hastily to the door.

They had all agreed that it was better that way. What they knew of Lief's pride, he would have refused to go on the quest the moment he saw 'Barda the Beggar'. They had to be sure he would go on the quest before introducing him to Barda.

'You will not be alone on your quest. You will have a companion,' Endon continued.

He could see Lief gaping at him, and could imagine him wondering who else his parents would know who would accompany him on this strange quest. 'Who…' Lief began.

'A good friend. The one man we know we can trust,' Endon told him. Ignoring Lief's confusion, he swung the door open, and Barda sauntered in.

oOo

As expected, Lief's reaction to Barda was one of horror and disgust, until Barda thrust his disguise away. Then Barda, as they had planned, related to Lief his story of how he had fled the palace the night of the Shadow Lord's invasion, had met Lief's parents, and had sworn to help them seek the gems when the time came. He spoke of everything he had done; how he had watched over Lief since he was ten years old—and Lief seemed especially horrified by that, Endon thought ruefully. Betimes Endon thought he was too cocky, too proud. But then again, he was only a boy, and the coming quest would cure him of that quickly. It saddened Endon that his son would no longer be a boy when he returned, but a man fit for ruling—a King.

'My beggar's rags have been useful in other ways,' Barda was saying. 'Grey Guards talk freely to one another in front of me. Why should they care what a half-wit beggar hears?'

'It is because of news Barda has gathered in the past year, Lief, that we know it is time to make our move,' Endon added, eyeing Lief's troubled face anxiously. 'Hungry for further conquest, the Shadow Lord has at last turned his eyes away from us, to lands across the sea. Warships are being launched from our coast.'

Barda said something, but Endon did not listen as he glanced at Sharn, and saw that she was wearing the same apprehensive look in her eyes. What if they were wrong in sending Lief away? Was it really what he wanted? He looked so grim, so uncertain. But they could not back down now. To give up now would be pointless and cowardly. They had waited sixteen years for this moment; they would not back down now.

'Have you decided on our route?' Endon could hear Lief asking.

Endon opened his mouth to speak. They had planned their route very carefully- himself, Sharn and Barda. They had decided that Barda and Lief would aim first for the Valley of the Lost, which was close to Tora, the great city of the west. Sharn and Endon had discussed it privately, and had decided that since Tora was along the way, Lief and Barda would encounter it sooner or later, and would find plenty of help from the Torans in the city, as well as from Jarred and Anna, who had fled there after the invasion.

Barda spoke first, pointing to a spot on the map. 'I believe we should move east, directly to the Forests of Silence.'

Endon gasped, and heard Sharn and Lief echo him. This was not the plan. This was not the plan at all. He cleared his throat. 'We had decided that the Forests should be your final ordeal, not your first, Barda,' he protested quietly. Why had Barda decided to change it now?

Barda shrugged, and held Endon's gaze. He knew he would win this round. 'I heard something today that changed my mind. The Grey Guards have always feared the Forests, as we have. But now, it seems, no Guard will even approach them, because of the losses they have suffered. The roads around them are completely clear — of Guards, at least.'

'What say you, Lief?' Barda added in a deceptive voice. Endon could tell that he was just searching for a way to be rid of Lief. He had never fully agreed to Lief partaking in the quest—he had always wanted to go on alone.

'Your plan seems to me a good one, Barda,' Lief replied steadily. 'With no Guards to trouble us, we will make good time. And if we can find one gem quickly, it will give us good heart to go on.'

Endon could see Barda's eyes flicker slightly, saw the disappointment in them. He had dearly been hoping to go alone, Endon thought, and was grateful to his friend's sense of honour that kept him bound to his promise.

'So, Jarred?' Barda turned to him, expectant. In his eyes, Endon could see his dedication to their cause, his displeasure at Lief as a companion and sorrow at parting. Endon hoped his own eyes conveyed his own sorrow at the situation he had put Barda in, and his hopes that they would meet again after the restoration of the Belt.

Endon bowed his head, conflicting feelings broiling inside of him. 'It seems fate has taken a hand to alter my plans,' he murmured. 'I must bow to it. Do as you will. Our thoughts and hopes go with you.'

Sharn nodded her agreement, and then they were gone, travelling far, far away and into danger. Towards the Forests of Silence. Endon still felt apprehensive about Barda's choice, but he knew nothing could be done about it now. They would just have to wait, and hope for the best.

As soon as they heard their footsteps fade into the distance Endon felt Sharn crumble. She collapsed onto a chair and pressed her hands to her face, her chest convulsing with sobs. 'Oh, I cannot stand it!' she choked out.

Endon went to her, enfolded her in his arms, knowing she needed it. 'Be brave, my love,' he whispered to her. 'Be strong. Lief will return, and Deltora will be free again. We must lose courage now.' He felt his apprehension fading as he spoke, felt the confidence build up inside of himself. 'Everything will be all right,' he said, willing the words to be true.

Sharn looked up at him with tear-streaked eyes. 'I know,' she said softly. 'But it is still hard.'

'It is,' Endon agreed. 'But everything will be alright, I know it,' he added, and hoped that he would be proven true.

oOo

'Endon, we must talk.'

Endon paused his work as he heard Sharn's tentative approach, the tremble in her voice. His heart thudded at the anxiety those four words held. What was wrong? Surely it was not Lief?

He turned to face her, willing his face not to show his alarm. 'What is it, my love?' he asked gently.

Sharn simply gazed at him, mute, tears glinting in her eyes, her whole body shaking. It alarmed Endon even more. What had happened that had caused his perpetually courageous wife to break down like this?

'It—it is not Lief, is it?' he said, swallowing hard. 'Or Barda?' They had heard nothing of them since they had left three weeks ago, and despite talking with travellers from the countryside of what was happening there, they knew nothing of whether their quest was succeeding or if Lief and Barda were still alive or not. 'Tell me it is not them!' he begged Sharn, losing his nerve.

Sharn shuddered, and smiled weakly. 'Oh, I am sorry, Endon,' she said. 'No, it is not them. I have heard no news of them. It is… somewhat else. I may be overreacting…'

Endon tried not to show his enormous relief at her words. 'Then what is it?'

'Something happened in the market square,' Sharn said. 'Oh, Endon, I can hardly bear to think about it, let alone say it.'

'Tell me,' he urged her. 'Please. Whatever it is, we will be safe from it. We will stay out of trouble. Just tell me.'

'I am not sure of that, Endon,' Sharn said shakily. 'The baker's son Aldan was heard chatting about the night of the invasion. He said that the royal family—us—probably escaped from under the Shadow Lord's nose and the Shadow Lord was too stupid to realise it. He was killed on the spot, by a Grey Guard. Just like that.' She shuddered, and Endon could hear the fear in Sharn's voice. 'The Shadow Lord's spies will surely be listening even more closely now for any sign of discontent or rebellion.' She shuddered again. 'Endon, what if they find out about us? What if they are already suspecting? If people are beginning to talk, suggest things like this…what if the Shadow Lord pays heed, and listens?'

'Sharn, do not be afraid,' Endon said, trying to calm his trembling wife. 'We are in no more danger that we were sixteen years ago. Aldan was a fool; everyone knew that he had no idea where we are hiding, and neither does the Shadow Lord. We will not be discovered. We will just have to be more careful now.' He pulled Sharn into his arms, pressed his lips to her forehead. 'Have courage,' he urged. 'We will be safe, all of us. The quest will succeed and Deltora will be free again, and the Shadow Lord banished. His servants will never harm us. They would never suspect a humble blacksmith and his family of being the royal family of Deltora.'

'I hope so, Endon,' Sharn said sombrely. 'I do pray it is so. For if we are discovered we will be killed immediately, without cause.'

Endon tried not to show how much that terrified him.

oOo

The next days passed peacefully, and still with no news from the countryside. Each day, Endon would work in the forge until darkness settled over the land. Then he would return to the forge cottage to have dinner with Sharn in the kitchen, where she would tell him any news coming in from outside the city. Then, it was safe to discuss their son and their friend and whether their quest was succeeding, without worrying that they would be overheard by the Shadow Lord's spies.

On one night, he returned to the cottage to find Sharn smiling, her eyes bright. It lifted his heart to see it. Over the past days, his wife had been eaten with worry over possibility that they might be discovered by the Shadow Lord, and the realisation that no significant news was forthcoming from the countryside. Sharn's cheerful exterior told him that something had happened that bode well for them. But what?

He glanced at Sharn questioningly as he sat at the table in the forge kitchen, eating the meal Sharn had spent hours preparing for them both, but refrained from asking her until they had both finished their meals.

'What has happened?' he demanded, just barely keeping his voice from shaking in his excitement.

Sharn smiled triumphantly, but did not speak until he was almost mad with impatience. 'I heard a traveller in the inn speak of a great evil that has been undone in the north of Deltora, where apparently a sorceress had been ruling until recently. He said that three strangers managed to defeat the sorceress and kill her.'

Endon's eyes widened. 'You believe that Lief and Barda are responsible?'

'I know so,' Sharn said firmly. 'The Lake of Tears is in the north. Lief and Barda must have gone there after they retrieved the gem hidden in the Forests of Silence. Oh, Endon!' She clasped her hands together, her eyes shining. 'They are alive, and succeeding. They are really alive!'

Endon did not share his wife's jubilance. After all, was this really Lief and Barda they were speaking of? And who was this third person? He hesitated before speaking. 'But this man made mention of three people, not two, my love. How can that be?'

'Who else could it be? No one else would dare do this thing.' She glared at him. 'Please, Endon, do not doubt. It is them, I am sure of it!'

'I cannot help but doubt,' Endon said.

'Oh, I know,' Sharn said gently. She leaned across the table and touched his arm. 'But please believe me, my love. It is them. It must be them. Do not lose hope now. They are succeeding!'

'I pray that you are right, my love,' Endon said quietly. He did not voice the unwelcome thoughts that drifted into his mind: that Lief and Barda could be buried in an unknown grave somewhere in Deltora, and that he may have lead them to that fate. That they had no proof besides this traveller's gossip that the trio was Lief, Barda and an unknown third person. What if the quest was lost already? What if they had failed?

As always, Sharn seemed to know what he was thinking, and spoke. 'Endon, they are alive. We did not prepare Lief for this quest to just have him die. Lief is quick-witted, speedy and clever. He is a match for any monster. Barda is strong and trained as a palace guard. Do not belittle their skills by believing they have been killed already.'

Endon gazed at Sharn's fierce, determined expression, and saw the hope, courage and belief that blazed in her eyes. I do not deserve such a wife, he thought. He, who had failed his kingdom and fled into hiding like a coward, did not deserve her. Throughout their long years of waiting, she had not complained even once, or lost hope or courage. She had stayed by him and supported him for all this time. He wondered what good he had done in his life to deserve a wife like her.

'Endon?' Sharn said, smiling slightly. 'What is it?'

'I love you,' he blurted out. He could feel his cheeks redden at his outburst.

Sharn laughed, and caressed his cheek. 'And I love you, Endon.' She leaned forward and bestowed a kiss on Endon's lips. 'Believe me,' she whispered, her face inches from his. 'Lief and Barda are alive and succeeding. I know this to be true. Please believe me, and do not give up hope.'

Endon basked in her love, courage and support. He sealed the distance between them with a deep, satisfying kiss, feeling as if he were thirsting for her like never before. As they parted, he answered, 'I believe you, my love. But I cannot help but doubt, and worry. Worry about our son and the future of Deltora if he is killed. These doubts cloud my mind and terrify me. I…' His voice trailed away as Sharn kissed him again even more deeply.

'Then let me erase them,' she whispered close to his ear.

'Yes,' he gasped. 'Oh, yes.'

He awoke hours later in their bed, with Sharn enfolded in his arms, his mind lucid and clear of the doubts and fears that had plagued him for the past few weeks. As he opened his eyes he felt her gaze upon him, and he felt as if they were both young again and on their wedding night.

'Well?' she asked softly. 'Did I erase your doubts?'

A small smile graced his lips. 'You did.'

For a moment she looked abashed, and he savoured it. 'I did not mean for it to go this far, Endon,' she said.

'I know,' he said, 'but I am glad it did.'

He closed his eyes and let sleep take him again, more at peace with himself than he ever had been before.

oOo

As the next weeks passed, the Shadow Lord tightened his rule over the city of Del. The Grey Guards prowled the city as the sun set, and the townsfolk were told to be in their homes two hours before sunset or face the consequences. The Shadow Lord's spies drifted in every shadow, and it made Endon's skin crawl to think of them watching himself and Sharn speak to each other over the dinner table.

On that first night, they locked up the forge and cottage and sat in silence as the screams rang outside, not daring to peek through the curtains to see which of their friends had been taken away. Endon could imagine the fear, the denial, and the pain that person had to be experiencing. This is just one more person hurt by your actions, a voice inside him whispered. One more person that will die because of your foolishness. He clenched his fists to prevent his bitterness from showing.

It became too dangerous to speak their true names in their own home, or to speak of Lief, Barda and their quest. There was too much of a possibility that a Shadow Lord spy might overheard them and report them, causing them to be imprisoned or killed on the spot. That could not happen.

Their nights became filled with a heavy silence, filled with the words they could not speak aloud. Were Lief and Barda alright? Was their quest succeeding? Or were they buried in an unknown grave in a corner of the kingdom?

What if they were next? The thought hovered in Endon's mind each night. What if he and Sharn were the Grey Guards' next target? What if they were captured? What would happen to them then?

Endon did not think he wanted to know the answers to any of those questions.

oOo

'Where do you think they are now?' Sharn wondered as they lay in bed one night.

Endon glanced at her sharply, wondering if she had forgotten about the Shadow Lord's spies and the danger of speaking of their quest even in private. 'Anna…' he began.

'Oh, I know,' Sharn sighed, speaking the story they had fabricated to explain Lief's absence in the forge. 'Lief has left us, and will not be coming back. But I do wish I knew where he is and if he is alright. I miss him.'

'I know,' Endon said gently, his heart aching. 'I miss him as well. But we have to accept that Lief is gone and just pray that he is alive and well.'

'Yes,' Sharn agreed. She smiled drowsily, and closed her eyes, resting her head on Endon's chest. It made Endon's heart swell to watch her. 'Lief is gone now, but someday he will return. And when he does everything will be all right.'

Endon waited until Sharn's breathing slowed and deepened, and then replied. 'I hope so,' he whispered, feeling his heart ache and swell with terror and tenderness. 'I do hope so, my love.'

oOo

'Grey Guards! Run!'

Endon woke with the shout on his lips, his heart thudding painfully in his chest. He sat up in the bed, and found that his entire body was trembling. Beside him, Sharn stirred, but did not wake. Endon was grateful for it. He did not want to burden her with this. It was, after all, just a nightmare.

As his heart returned to its normal pace, and his trembling abated, he lay back on the bed, careful not to jostle Sharn. What a dream! Endon thought. It had felt so real, so vivid. In the dream, he had been working in the forge, early in the morning, so early that the first rays of dawn were still in the sky, staining the horizon a violet hue. He had heard screams, the screams of a woman going insane with grief. Alarmed at the sound, he had put down his work and limped out onto the street. He emerged from the forge to find a woman kneeling on the cobblestones, her fair head bowed, and her cheeks sodden with tears.

He had come up to her. 'Why do you grieve?' he asked gently.

She did not look up as she answered his query. 'My husband is dead. Killed by Grey Guards. See?' She pointed to a body, a man, his clothes torn and bloody, and his hair matted with gore. 'They tore at him with their hands and teeth,' the woman continued, her voice trembling—with grief or anger, Endon could not say. 'Because he stole a piece of bread from the marketplace.'

Endon looked closely at the man, and his heart grew cold. For the dead man wore the face of his childhood friend Jarred. Now afraid, he turned to the woman again. 'What is the meaning of this?' he demanded.

The woman lifted her head and gazed at him, and he found himself staring at a very pale, sweet-faced woman with emerald hued eyes. Endon felt his breath catch as he recognised her. Anna, Jarred's wife. They had only met once, on the night he and Jarred had parted and the Shadow Lord had invaded. He had never met a woman with such courage and loyalty, excluding Sharn, who was willing to give up her home and identity for a complete stranger, even if he was her king.

Endon frowned at the recollection. Why was he dreaming of her now? For many nights after the invasion of the Shadow Lord, Endon had dreamt of that fateful night, of what he could have done differently. And after the tree fell, he had had nightmares of that day as well. But he had never dreamt of Anna before. Why start now?

'Good sir,' the woman—Anna—had called, strangely calm now, considering the circumstances. 'They are coming for you.' She pointed. Endon followed her finger, and his blood ran cold as he saw them bearing towards him as quickly as the wind, their snarls filling the air. Endon wanted to cover his ears, wanted to sing and not hear his death approaching with every step those monsters took.

'You cannot stop them,' Anna said tranquilly, standing up on the cobblestones, seeming out of place in the street.

But I must! Endon thought wildly. He thought of Sharn in the forge cottage, and his heart twisted. He had to protect her from them. He had to.

'You cannot stop them,' Anna repeated.

No, you are wrong! Endon wanted to tell her, but then the Grey Guards were upon him, snarling and sniffing, as if they had come out of his worst nightmare. At that point, Endon had woken up, his heart beating like wildfire.

Endon knew it was just a dream, most likely wrought of his fears and worries. It was not real. But when he thought of that final moment of the dream, a chill of foreboding crept up his spine. It had seemed so real, he thought. Could it be that my dream is prophetic? The thought filled him with dread, as he recalled the Grey Guards' advance.

No, he told himself sternly. It was only a dream, nothing more. He would not frighten himself with such foolishness.

He lay down beside Sharn and closed his eyes, willing himself back to sleep. He would not worry about the Shadow Lord now. He and Sharn were safe, for the moment. The Shadow Lord would never find them. He would never think that the King and Queen of Deltora were disguised as a humble blacksmith and his wife. Lief and Barda would restore the Belt of Deltora, and everything would be alright again. He had to believe that.

oOo

Weeks passed, and autumn turned to spring. Though Sharn kept on listening for news from the countryside, none was forthcoming. Endon and Sharn's hope, which had been raised at the knowledge that Lief and Barda had found a gem in the Lake of Tears, began to flag. Sharn became drawn and pale, her eyes full of hidden anxiety. She continued to go to the tavern each day, though Endon knew there would be no news to be had there. Sharn clung to it like a lifeline.

Endon began again contemplating the possibility that he had driven his son and his oldest friend to their graves. As each day passed, images swam in his mind, of Lief and Barda pallid and dead in a shallow grave in the furthest corner of Deltora. Grey Guards charging into his home and killing himself and his beloved wife. The Shadow Lord ruling over Deltora forever, triumphant and gloating. He began to believe that their quest may be lost.

Just as their last hope dwindled, news finally came from the countryside. One day Sharn returned from the tavern, her face glowing with new hope. As she entered the forge, Endon put down the metal he was hammering into shape and turned to greet her. 'What is it?' he asked urgently.

Sharn smiled triumphantly. 'There is good news,' she said. 'Very good news. An Ak-Baba has been sighted circling the City of the Rats!'

Endon stared at her, his heart beginning to thud. There was only one reason that an Ak-Baba would be circling the City of the Rats. His realisation must have showed in his eyes, for Sharn nodded, and added, 'The City of the Rats was in flames. The Shadow Lord must be furious.'

'Indeed,' Endon murmured. 'Does he know who took the gem?'

'I do not think so,' Sharn said, her expression turning pensive. 'There has been no talk of anyone of Lief or Barda's description being seen leaving the City of the Rats. Talk of that has not reached the Shadow Lord's ears, I am sure.'

'But it might,' Endon said flatly. Sharn nodded.

'Endon, we must be very careful now,' she said calmly. 'The Shadow Lord is becoming aware of the quest for the gems. If he realises who Lief and Barda are, they will be in danger.'

'I know,' Endon said. 'But the Shadow Lord will never capture them. We must keep hope that they will return to us safely with the Belt complete and Lief claimed as the new King. We must not lose hope.'

Sharn nodded again, and embraced him, and Endon could see her will strengthened, and he was glad of it. He could not say the same of his own.

oOo

Despite all his voiced confidence, Endon did not believe they were safe, not for a moment. The Shadow Lord had become aware of their quest for the gems; it would not be long before he realised who Lief and Barda were. Then he would turn his attention to the forge, and Endon and Sharn, or 'Jarred' and 'Anna', as they were thought to be. He would capture them, or worse, kill them.

Endon couldn't flee; his bad leg prevented it. But Sharn could. She could flee the city, find a place to hide. She would be safe. To Endon, that was what mattered most.

He brought the subject up one evening, as they were having supper in the forge kitchen. 'Sharn…' he began cautiously.

'Anna,' she corrected, reminding him of the dangers of using their real names even in this place of refuge.

Endon sighed. 'Anna,' he began again, 'I have been thinking. If the Shadow Lord does come for us… I think it would be better if you leave the city for a time. Until…' his voice trailed away as he noticed Sharn's incredulous expression. 'What is it, my love?' he asked naively.

'Do you really believe that I would flee Del by myself and leave you here alone?' Sharn demanded.

Endon sighed again. He had suspected that she would react in this way; he knew in his heart that Sharn would never agree to leave Del by herself. But he had hoped anyway that she would. He needed her to be safe, whatever happened. 'You must be safe,' he said, only just managing to keep his voice calm. 'I need you to be safe. Please listen to me.'

Sharn shook her head, fury building in her eyes as she gazed at Endon. 'I am your wife, Endon,' she hissed. 'I will not flee Del and leave you behind to face the Shadow Lord and his creatures. How can you ask such a thing?'

'I have to,' Endon snapped. 'Do you not see?' He felt his anger build up inside of him as he looked at Sharn. Curse her! Why could she not listen to him for once? Why could she not understand? He needed her to be safe. He knew in his heart that he would die if she was killed. Sharn had to understand that.

'I see nothing except your foolishness,' Sharn said coolly.

Endon clenched his teeth. Why did she have to be so stubborn? 'It will be better this way,' he said shortly. 'Do you not understand? You will be safe! That is what matters to me.'

To his relief, he could see Sharn's face soften at his words. A contemplative look crossed her face, and he wondered if she was finally considering his proposal. He waited for her answer.

'It would not be right,' Sharn said quietly. 'I could not leave you here alone; it would break me. We must stay and face this together.'

Endon's heart sank. He had desperately hoped that Sharn would agree to his plan, but as she gazed at him he knew she would never agree to it. Determination shone in her eyes.

'My love…' he began hoarsely.

His voice trailed away as Sharn caressed his cheek. 'I understand why you asked this of me,' she said softly. 'But you must not be afraid for me. They will not harm me.'

'They will try,' he said.

Sharn smiled sadly. 'I am stronger than you think, Endon. Have you forgotten that I pushed Prandine from the tower window in the palace all those years ago?'

Endon shook his head. He did not think he would ever forget that, and the awe and love he had felt towards Sharn then. 'You are not a painted doll, I know,' Endon said. 'But I still worry.'

'You need not,' Sharn said, touching his arm. 'We will both be alright, I am certain of this. We must not give up hope now.'

'I know,' Endon sighed.

As if she could see the doubt in his mind, Sharn lightly planted a kiss on his cheek. 'Do not worry,' she repeated. 'All will be well and as it should be.'

Though he tried to take heart from her words, Endon had a feeling that nothing would ever be the same again.

oOo

Endon could barely recall what happened before dawn. Later, when he languished in the dungeons of the palace, he would force his mind to retrace those final, terrifying moments, but all he recalled was a blur of terror and uncertainty, and the unbearable feeling of failure. He had not been able to protect Sharn, as he had wanted to. Despite his efforts to keep her safe, he had failed her. That pained him most of all.

The first thing Endon heard was the screams. They rang through the street like an echo of doom, chilling Endon to the core. 'Grey Guards! Run!' They were exactly the same words he had hear in his dream, Endon realized numbly. And yet, when he glanced out the window, the street was deserted.

He saw the Grey Guards marching across the street, their smiles promising bloodshed and anguish. Endon's heart almost stopped beating. They have come for us, he thought. We have been discovered, they will surely kill us now. He suppressed a shudder at the thought, and felt Sharn touch his arm gently, and drew comfort from her touch.

There was no time to think, no time to voice his fears and worries, no time to hide any incriminating evidence that the Shadow Lord could use to condemn them. The Grey Guards were upon them in moments. The Guards said nothing, but grabbed them roughly, and Endon fought to hide a wince at the searing pain that shot through his bad leg.

Sharn was silent, but Endon could feel her alarm, fury and fear as if it were his own. I am sorry, he wanted to tell her. I am so sorry. He had brought this upon her. He had brought this upon them both. He felt the bitterness consume him as the Guards dragged them from the forge cottage and into the street which was still shrouded in darkness. He felt it consume him as he saw the Shadow Lord's brand marked clearly on the swinging forge gates, and as pain jolted his stiff leg with every step he took. It was his fault, all his. He had never felt it more than he did now.

They came to the palace. It was ironic, Endon thought, that the King of Deltora was returning to the Palace not as a King, but a prisoner. There was a bitter humour to that, and Endon suppressed the urge to laugh bitterly.

They separated Sharn and himself, and as they tore them apart Endon's heart broke to see the tears trickling down her cheeks, and hear the fear in her voice as she sobbed. Sharn had always been the strong one, the one who comforted him and kept both of them from the edges of despair. To see her break down now terrified him more than he would admit.

He wanted to say, I love you, and, It will be all right. But before he could speak, she was gone, and as she and her Guards disappeared into the distance Endon felt his heart break even more. Would he ever see her again? What would become of them both?

'Where…' he choked out to his Guards, hoping that at least one of them was humane enough to answer. 'Where are they taking her?'

A Guard struck him across the face, and Endon reeled at the force of the impact. 'Shut up, tick!' the Guard snarled. The other Guards laughed noisily, and one kicked at his stiff leg. Endon closed his eyes and supressed a cry of agony at the excruciating pain they caused.

Then he was pushed roughly into a cell of complete darkness, and as he fell, he wondered if he would ever see the light of day again.