Jeta felt like slamming her head against a wall.

They were in Bloomingdales and having used her family connections to close it for the day, Jeta had spent the last four hours arguing first with the knights and now with Ehlana and Alean as she tried desperately to convince them the clothes she had selected were indeed appropriate for their sojourn in the 21st centaury.

She had finally (after 3 hours!) convinced the knights to both put on and wear what she had selected for them as well as accept the selection of clothes she had deemed appropriate for their visit.

You would have thought she was trying to dress them in tutus and tights, not the perfectly respectable tailored trousers, jeans and assortment of t-shirts and shirts she had selected for each of them.

And now Ehlana and Alean were proving to be even more... difficult to clothe than the knights could ever hope to be.

"This is not a dress" Ehlana told her flatly holding out a perfectly respectable knee length shift dress "It is barely an suitable undergarment"

Pinching her nose between two fingers Jeta screwed her eyes shut "Ehlana, that is a perfectly suitable dress that any matron of suitable society would be willing to wear."

Jeta should of quitted while she was ahead because at her comment, Ehlana looked at her "Am I now an matron? I am only a few months older than you .

Gritting her teeth together Jeta forced herself too smile at the pouting queen, "Yes, Ehlana, I know but I did not think you would be willing to wear the jeans and shirt I am wearing."

Eying off Jeta's skin tight hipster jean and pretty summer top, Ehlana frowned "That is really what is suitable for a... lady of your age."

Closing her eyes and reaching for a fashion magazine (a move she just knew she was going to regret) Jeta handed it to Ehlana saying "Look through this and find out for yourself what is... fashionable in America."

6 hours later Jeta was exhausted as she sunk into her seat of the hired stretched limo as they cruised their way to her Grandparents estate, Rosebriar.

It had taken two more hours of fierce arguing with Ehlana about what constituted appropriate attire for a time travelled queen before Jeta had finally won - and she was finally able to shove Ehlana and Alean into American fashion ... or a compromised variety of which consisted of some long skirts, pretty tops and cardigans (Ehlana had steadfastly refused the proffered Jeans to the death).

Following that prolonged battle, Jeta had then found herself engaged in a new one in!

Having taken then knights and ladies to a beauty salon to finalize their Americanized makeovers with haircuts; the sweeping moustaches and long, unfashionable haircuts of the knights had to go... Jeta had met her next road block and it had taken her four hours of coaxing, pleading and finally military style ordering before the knights had finally accepted her demands and had sat down, shut up (without offering the poor stylist violence!) and submitted to be made over by the now trembling (but very well paid) stylist Jeta had hired.

Scrutinizing the now modernized knights, queen and maid discreetly, Jeta nodded to herself – as long as they kept their mouth shuts they looked about as modern as she could get them.

Ulath in particular had been transformed from an Viking wannabe to a well groomed (if sulking), modern looking man... and he seemed to be taking it personally as he had been the loudest to complain against the shorning of his sweeping moustaches and cutting of his long blonde hair.

Moving on, battle won, Jeta looked in amusement at the bemused and transfixed looks on her guest faces as they watched the countryside whizz by as the limousine speeded down the highway towards their destination.

"Amazing" breathed Khalad "How fast are we going?"

"Probably about 70 miles per hour" shrugged Jeta "As long as the driver is doing the speed limit"

"Which is how many leagues per hour" Sparhawk queried.

Doing the maths fast in her head, Jeta shrugged "About 23.33 leagues an hour; using uk leagues that is".

"How long will it take us to get to your grandparent estates at that speed" Ehlana asked wide eyed.

"About two hours" Jeta shrugged "Its a big estate so there will be enough room for us all; it is also pretty isolated and secure so we won't have to worry about nosey neighbours."

Two hours later the car pulled into the circular driveway of the imposing country estate of Jeta's grandparents and the knights and ladies piled out of the car and looked at their new home.

Jeta's grandmother had been a big fan of French chateaus and she had compelled her brand new husband to build her one fifty years before; the results being a graceful, fairytale like building that had been the pride of her beloved Grandmamma and a house that had felt more like a home to Jeta then the imposing, impersonal Walker Crest had ever been able to.

Leading her guests into the building, Jeta turned to tell them "I have dismissed most of the servants except for the oldest and most trusting; I really don't want gossiping about your appearances in the town below."

Escorting her guests to the guest wing which comprised of 12 double guests suites (her grandmother had had a large family whom had had a whimsy of descended on her at a moment's notices and had lead her to build enough guest rooms to house them comfortably)

Jeta issued each of her guests a room; showing them how to ring the servant quarters for assistance if necessary – although they had reassured her that they were used to going without personal assistance; except of course Ehlana but she was happy to have Alean assist her if necessary.

"Well I guess I should let you rest" Jeta smiled at her last guest,Bevier, having settled the rest of his friends into their suites for the night, it was after all after midnight and they had had a full day "I will be in the master suite; if you need me just called 113 on the phone like I showed you; tomorrow I will give you a guided tour around the estate so you can get a feel of it."

Looking at her and then around the unfamiliar modern room Bevier fought down the urge to ask her to stay "Goodnight, my lady." He smiled at her.

"Goodnight" Jeta smiled as she headed back to her room.

Authors Note; Just setting the stage for the next act :P