Shea left the woods, and Ms. Knightfall. But she did not return home. No this city. This place that had once cradled her. It welcomed her again. Now a much different woman than she had been all those years ago.

Then when she had first come to Rhydin Aiden was still a boy. Now he was a father and husband. Shea walked the streets. A slow wanderer in a sea of darkness and light. This city was the very essence to darkness and light. Here there was so much of both. Yet more often than not darkness reigned.
Long ago Shea would have never walked these streets unarmed. Now she had nothing to fear from the crooks and murderers of Rhydins under belly.

They had more to fear from her. She had long ago pledged her blade to these streets, to allies made,won and lost over time. Some of those allies still remained, she knew. Many still fought. And if it came to a battle, Shea would come here.

But this night. There was no battle to be had. No war to be fought and won. Tonight it was just the empty streets, and the cool breeze.

There was one place in the whole of this land, in the whole of this city. That she often wondered if she would ever step foot in again. The building held so many memories. Closing her eyes,t he wind picked up.

The sweet sound of wind chimes. That was the only thing that would announce the

mages arrival to the Inn. In a blink of darkness then light and a breeze of wind Shea stood near the bar. Blinking she looked around.

Her hand to the bare bar. The inn was quiet now. Closed. Yet soon enough patrons would come in. Soon it would hum with talk. But for now she was alone. Lowering that dark cloaks hood she shook free her two toned hair.

Those streaks of silver catching the light. There were more of them now,those streaks of silver going through her dark blue hair. The power of her death and return had given her even more powers. Ones she was still coming in to.

Here in this place she was what she was no longer. The wandering elven knight of a realm long past the mountains. A woman seeking a place outside of her own realm to belong. A woman with a broken heart. That much seemed still true. But her heart still beat, even after she had been pierced int he chest by the elemental blade.

Though the realms had been torn asunder. And her life put up in the bargain. She had returned, when so many never would. Some had died yes, in the battle, there were always death in war. Warriors to be remembered. Others were gone, lost to the magics. And most would forget. But not all. Many more recalled everything. Shea knew there was pain there. Pains he could not ebb. But then, they were strong willed. Those who now knew the truth, that know knew everything.

They would rally.

They always did.

There was always a reason for things, that much she knew. As long as she was there she would sit. Along in the dim. The hearth fire a low flickering light. She recalled every moment here, every friend she had known, those she had lost. Those she had loved. Many still likely were to come to this place. Shea wondered how many of them knew what had become of her. Hera had told a few. Shea herself had gone to a few to tell them of what was to come. But now she was back.

Those silver eyes were almost ghostly whens he caught her own reflection in the mirror. Though she was slight of height she looked imposing in her battle wear, with that ebb of power about her.

The inn had not changed. Ohs he was sure a few tables and chairs over the years had been replaced. But it had the same feel. A welcoming warmth outside of the darkness and doom that could stand right outside its door.

The bar was long,strong and worn. Yet it survived. The inn survived. The city. Which by all rights should have burned long ago. It thrived. And yes there was deep darkness here. She could feel it. It called to her now. A whisper. With its desires and wants. Like a lover unstated. But there was light here too, good. It shone int he darkness, sharp as any blade.

Rising from that stool she walked over the floor. To the hearth and back again. Along the bar side, up the stairs, then down again. She moved as if a ghost. Walking in a world not of her own, yet she belonged here still.

She heard voices. The lights flickered on and she smiled. The night had begun, and then when the door opened she was already gone.

It was easy to forget.

Easier than she would have liked.

She did not do as the sprits had willed her. Return home to her family, her friends those who searched for her. She lingered in Rhydin. In the woods, the high country, the low country. She walked the darkest streets, the most bloody corridors.

Memory's where there. Then gone. Those moments she no longer wished to have swept away, like leaves on a breeze. They were gone.The pain with them.

Why should she let them rule her now? Why should she do anything but what she would. Oh she would return home. For she wanted to, but not yet.
The streets were as she recalled them. Some cold and dark. Some light and air filled. The city spoke to her more now than it had when she had first come here. Just a young woman, a knight, questing to find a way out, a way away from the pain of loss. Shea GreenStone had found so much more here. And now she had done with little more than a care swept a few memories from her mind, from her life. Yet the inn was a place she wanted and needed to go.

The glow of the light beyond the porch. The low hum of patrons whom stood outside. It was unchanged. She looked at the inn, standing there now under that lamp light, from under that hood she gazed. Memories, a million or more washed over her. But a few she swept aside with ease, before heading for the porch.

Up the steps with a nod to those who passed their time outside. It was not as cold as it could have been. The night welcomed many. She looked nothing more than a woman, short with that green cloak that flowed over her, a peek of a strand of silver hair poking out from underneath. No descript, to any whom did not know her.

The door breezed open for her. If any with magic or the ability to sense it or see it, they would sense and see the power that ebbed from her now. Inside she went. Where more patrons lingered and the hum of conversation bloomed.

She pushed that hood back with gloved hands. Her hair was two toned. Dark blue with streaks of silver. More now than there ever had been before. Her face was fair, slightly tan. And those elven ears shown. Some there she knew, or recalled. they got a slow nod.

She walked slowly to the bar side. The place was the same, though the faces were different. So few did she know. Bu that was what happened with the passage of time.

It was a welcoming place. As it always had been. The hum of conversation. She lowered to a stool. Silver eyes wandering he room. They were slightly eerie at the moment, powerful and a touch bright.She gave soft nods to those whom her gaze met with.

While she was here, and not yet found. She would have a drink. She didn't even bother to rise. Only cast a glance to the bottles behind the bar. One rose and a glass joined it floating in a slight dance to her. Settling before her, an elven wine, finest blend, and a glass.

She noted Eless. Her hood was down now, showing that two toned hair, silver eyes and all that was Shea as she was now. A glass poured of fine elven wine. She would sip and enjoy it.

She sent the bottle back. Floating back to its spot on the shelf. She'd call it back if needed. For now she was settled with that one glass.

Magic was normal here. It ebbed around everyone, or nearly so. Angels and Devils could sit at the same table and have drinks. Dragons and mages could play chess or discuss the weather. All manner of magic here, old and new. Shea settled a bit. Sipping that wine.

Humans, elves ,Drows, mixes of this or that. Unusual creatures and things. But it was home. Warm and welcoming. Shea could allow some of her old memories to linger, where others she had swept away. The wine was as good as the warmth of the room.

She watched. As she had when she first come here long ago. It felt like ages ago.

When she had found this place and been so welcomed, by a dragon and her brood. Then by others over time. Friends and allies, family as well. Shea lifted that glass of wine and rose to her feet.

She bypassed tables. Rounded about patrons with a nod or smile. She was slight and short and easy on her feet. Even with that heavy cloak still around her. With the idea of it in her head, the cloak simply vanished, Shea wore the wears one might see on an errant knight. Simple clothes enhanced with a touch of color. Tonight tones of purple and black.

She held her wine and crossed towards the hearth and the chairs, sofa and other patrons there. Shea spoke with old friends, ones she had not seen in some time. And recalled how disconnected she was from Rhydin. Even as Eless told her that her family and friends were looking for her. Shea didn't care. Let them look, let them worry.

She had been through death and more and they no matter their pasts could not understand. She was not ready yet to return to her duty. To her life.


She stood behind the chairs by the fire. The ebb of power that came from her flared the fire. It drank in the ebb of wind, and drew it in. Shea would seem different to all who had known her, not just how her physical shelf had changed, her hair her eyes. But the power about her. And her manner, it seemed different.

Shea knew nothing of what they spoke of so she gazed to the fire, sipping her wine. Rhydin was the same, but ever changing. That was why she had not come back as often. It changed where Edhel Ndor was different.

She heard old names and thought of the deeds she had done. Yet said nothing. She was a shadow here as much as she was alive and breathing. Eless played the part of meet and greet. Though Shea knew the Empath worried. Shea honestly did not wish to cause her harm.

Shea traded a few words with old friends, and ones forgotten. But she knew sooner or later someone would happen by the inn.

So she made her leave of it.

It was better to be alone.

It was better to wander and not let the wounds touch her. But she felt them ,deep, seeping wounds, that bled and healed only to be cut open again with every memory, every thought. A dark alley way, the shadow on the moon, the call of the night.

Deep wounds. That would never heal.

It was easier and harder to be there. To help her daughter pack. To watch her son and Mila get their children ready for the journey. Though they knew not the real reason. Shea wished for a moment she could share it all with her son. But it was better for him this way.

As Radella gathered the children of the alliance down stairs Shea walked the empty hallways. GreenStone had not changed, the castle had not. Yet it was different still. So much had been struck from it, not just people, but things and memories.

There were no tears this time as the children were ushered away to safe haven. This time Shea stood alone rather than beside Hera and Jade. This time she watched from above on the old embattlements.

A gift. Hera had said. Shea looked down to them now, her family. She had fought and died for them, and would do so again if it came to that. But the power blooming in her now, told her that no battle would come that she could not face.

Yet there she stood wondering how she was to face today, and the day after and the day after.

Perhaps she should take on Hera's view of things, to let her heart heal. To let those gone be laid with those who had died in the battle. Maybe in the end death was the answer.

Shea sat on a high green hill. Over looking Edhel Ndor at its whole. She could see nearly everywhere from this high green hill. The Temple of Light and Dark was below her in the grass and flowers. That place was hers now. As Lady of Light and Dark.

Soon the people of Edhel Ndor would come to her for aid. For advice. As they had come to Cala. Destiny had played such a role in her life and there stood a solid reminder of just what yet was to come.

Her friends, her family, her allies had all been moving forward. Finding their way no matter how hard. Yet Shea had felt stuck. Stuck in a world that she did not feel she belonged in. But her fate was here, her duty. She needed more than that, more than her family or destiny to move her forward. She had found some peace, but not yet whole peace.

The Alliance was whole again, this new alliance. This new normal as it had become. No longer did empty rooms or changed places weigh on her mind. No more did the past linger and weigh on her. It was what it was. Her past had shaped her before and left her standing. She could not allow it to do anything more than that this time. She would be forever different. As they all would.

But she had a life to live. Not just for her family or friends but for herself. Sitting alone she let out a long breath. The wind was there at her side. She was comforted by it. By the sounds in the air. Summer had come, and she had barely noticed it. But now she did. The warm sun, the green grass. The sparkle of the sea to the west. This was home. This was what she had fought and died for.

She rose slowly to walk down the hill to the west towards that sparkling sea. Silver Waters Castle stood there, tall and strong as it had stood for many years. Perhaps shed go in, see her cousin his wife and their children. But first she would walk along the sand of the beach.

There on the edge of the beach she left her boots and socks. She rolled up her pants and left her tell tale cloak behind. She needed them not now. She embraced the sea breeze as it came in whipping through her hair.

She thought of Adaron. The man she had loved and lost so long ago. His spirit had come to her over the years. But she knew him to be free now. Yet if she wished it she could find him. Yet every time she looked to her son she would see him, for Aiden carried his fathers look.

If he could have been there now, she knew he would have been. She had loved and lost so many times over her years. Her heart still felt broken. She was not sure if she would trust anyone that way ever again. But she was lonely too. Love had been such a driving force in her life. It seemed a little empty with out it. Oh she had her families love, that love of her friends and allies. But it was not the same.

She walked a little more the sand under her feet, the wind coming in. She stood in front of the great castle of SilverWaters. Its banner caught high in the breeze. Looking out to the ocean.

"Look out!" A call came from her right. She looked and saw a horse come rushing towards her. Its rider chasing behind. Shea didn't move, she held up an outstretched palm forward and the horse who was at a full gallop came to a stop. It gave a snort and looked at her. " Easy..shh." The horse settled its brown eyes settling on Shea. "That's a good boy."

The horses rider cam running up. Sand clung to his bare feet his hair which was just above his shoulders was a tousled mess of light brown. "I am so sorry M'lady. He got away from me spooked by something." His voice was almost familiar. "Forgive my rudeness I am Sir Owen Iraeean." He bowed. Shea smiled, he had an honest face, he was handsome, his mused hair befitted his face and his eyes. Those eyes a tone of green, sage green almost. "Shea GreenStone."

"You have a way with animals about you Miss GreenStone. Gustav here he's not easy to spook, I have no clue what made him bolt, but thank you for stopping him."

"You are welcome." She looked to the horse then. And placed her hand upon his long nose. Her eyes closed and the wind rose up. "He was spooked by someone lurking in the shadows of the cliffs." Her eyes opened and looked to the cliffs.

Owen turned and looked back.

Shea let the magic guide her. "There.. hiding there." She did not point only nodded towards the cliffs. "Someone hides there, or tries to in the shadows." "I can not see them.."

"Allow me." The wind shifted, and the shadows shifted with it, the light came across the place where shadows would hide and a figure was seen. It was a girl, all of ten perhaps. She hid there now lit by the light.

She was frozen in the spot as the light played over her. Owen sighed lightly. "I know her. Would you watch Gustav for me for a moment?" Shea nodded. He turned and walked back up the beach. Shea was struck by a memory in that moment. She was younger and Adaron walked up the same beach after Aiden, as the boy ran to play in the shadows of the cliffs. The wind caught in his dark hair looking much like the man she loved fully.

Shea blinked. Shea wasn't sure why the memory had come. But she wasn't going to ignore it. She watched as Owen went up to the girl. She couldn't hear them from where she stood, but the girl seemed to settle. Owen then lifted her up and carried her down from the cliff side.

He returned and settled the girl in to the sand. her feet were bare, her clothes were close to rags. "Your her.." She looked up at Shea. "Your The Lady of Light and Dark."

"Aye child. Have we met before?" The girl shook her head. "I had a dream, on the ship as we came in to Edhel Ndor. It scared me, my parents thought me mad and left me in the home for girls in GoldenVine. But I ran away. The others made fun of me, called me crazy. But I saw you.."


Owen watched and listened. He had heard of the famous lady of light and dark as a boy. But he thought she was dead, the last accounts of her all said she had died.

Shea walked closer to the girl and knelt down. Shea held out her hand. "Do not fear, I will not harm you." The girl held out her own hand and Shea took it. Shea felt it, the deep magic there within this girl. "Your parents.. where are they now?"

"I do not know M'lady. " Shea rose. "What is your name?"


"Isleen. I was following you." She looked to Owen. "I saw you in the market, you were so kind to everyone. You gave me this coin." She held out the simple silver coin.

"Most people would have spent it."

"It spoke to me, the dragon. Told me to follow you." Shea saw it was a silver coin from GreenStone. The dragon was Dae.

"Well, Isleen. Do not worry. We shall get you some place safe, were you have no need to hide your gifts. Sir Owen I am sure would not mind helping us in to SilverWaters."

"It would be my pleasure." He bowed again. "Lets get you up on Gustav." He lifted Isleen up. She sat upon the horse and smiled. "Hold on here." He gave showed her with gentle hands where to hold on. Shea smiled, "I shall lead the way." Shea turned and walked down the beach, with man, horse and child following. It was an echo of a memory still.

It was a while later when Isleen had been taken by the kind staff that Shea stood with Morbin,Lilly and Owen alone in the throne room.

"So she is a seer?" Lilly asked.

"Yes. The girl has the gift of sight. I thought of taking her to Radella. But she already has enough to deal with, gifts to look after. I would look after her myself. But my place is not as teacher to her just yet. "

"You hope that Lady Harmine will take her."

Shea nodded knowingly. "Yes. The Lady Cleo Harmine, she has gifts of her own, and her shope is well known and beloved. She is young, and has no children of her own. Her husband is kind. They have taken in many with gifts before. Isleen will be no different."

Morbin nodded. "It is a sorrow that she was not treated well."

"I plan to deal with that myself."

Lilly grinned at Shea, then looked to Owen. "Sir Owen, what is your part in all this?"


"I saw Isleen in the marketplace of GoldenVine, she looked as if she needed food, but many did, so I offered her a coin. She followed me there after."

"Isleen had a vision of him, that led her to meet me. It was her destiny to meet Sir Owen."

"Take her to Lady Harmine, with my blessing, she seems like a lovely child. I will make sure she is well cared for here within these walls."

"I will hold you to that cousin."

Just then Isleen came running in. In a new dress, hair washed, looking very well indeed. She was followed by the children of SilverWaters. Marion Kiara Narie and Valanya Isilya SilverWaters laughed and smiled, making Isleen do much the same.

Shea knew they would be fast friends all of them. "Isleen."

Isleen walked over to Shea then. "It is time to go isn't it?"

"Yes, but not far. You shall see your new friends again. And Lord and Lady SilverWaters will look in on you. For now Sir Owen and I are going to take you to meet someone. I think you'll like her."

As the sun set and the moon rose the waved goodbye on their way out of the city back towards the beach.

Shea stopped when her boots met the sand. "Thank you for coming with us, it was very kind of you. Most wouldn't have bothered."

"Well who can deny two lovely ladies? Besides, when I gave her that coin, I felt something too, I brushed it off, but now it seems it was all meant to be. "

Shea nodded and in the dimming of the day she felt that memory creep up on her again. She had stood here in this spot years ago with Adaron and for some reason Owen so reminded her of him. Was it the way the wind teased his hair, with the sun setting that tussled brown hair could have been any tone.


"I know it sounds odd. But I feel as if we have met before." He gazed to Shea. "Though I know we have not."


"I had the same feeling." She turned to face him. "Perhaps it was part of your destiny to meet me as well. Perhaps we shall see each other again." She held out her hand to him.

"Yes, perhaps." He took up her hand. They both felt it then, that pulse, that sudden rush of air. There was a moment, a flash, something of the past, then it was gone. "Fair thee well." He said on a breath then took the reins of his horse and led him back down the beach.

She watched him go, his horse behind him. That image of the past in her mind. Adaron. Her heart sang. But that could not be Adaron was dead and his spirit had found peace. She looked to the sky. There was one way to be sure.

Shea was set to go and seek her answers when she felt the pendant at her neck heat up. She glanced down, the gem for Crendia was glowing bright. Willow was summoning her. It had been some time since Shea had spoken to her. So rather than seek her answers Shea took the winds to Crendia.

The great palace stood. A spire of silver in the late days light. The realm had flourished under Willows rule. Willow was one of the oldest in the alliance. She even had Radella beat by a few hundred years. She had ruled side by side with one lost to the magic of the breaking. Shea knew Willow had been very happy. She had gained so much back in to her life. Now much like Shea much of it was lost. Willows daughter Emily had come back in to the goddesses life, but now too was gone. She had chosen love.

Shea could not blame her. And she knew Willow could not.

Walking up to the palace Shea felt the warmth of the realm. The entry way greeted her, a long high hallway beaming though with light.

"Atara.." Aiden turned and went to his mother and hugged her.

"Aiden, Mila.." She smiled to them both. "Why are you here?"


"That's the question of the day." Salice answered. Shea then saw that most of their great family was there. Even Hera and Jade who must have come from Rhydin. Even Sira was there, who none of them had seen since Damien's death in the battle for the alliance.

"We all felt it, the call, it drew us all here." Hera answered, she looked a bit battle worn.

"I called you all here." Willow appeared on the great stairs, dressed in a dress of flowing cobalt blue. Her long brown hair flowed behind her, her eyes were hazel green but they shone brightly as any emerald. She looked tired. " I called you all here to make an announcement."

She walked down to join the mighty family there gathered before her. Willow smiled. She had lived many years, many more years than she should have. Magic and fate had kept her alive. Through everything she had seen. She had not begun in this place. She had been but a girl once. A girl swept away by destiny and fate. Sworn to hunt the evil of the world that she had been apart of. Fallen for a man who had and would always be the love of her life.

She had come by this place by magic and fate. It had been built and rebuilt. She had buried the past here and begun again. She thought of the time after war where that love of hers had returned, as he always had been, to rebuild what had been destroyed. To bathe a pure glow over her, for darkness had taken him, but she knew he was never gone from the light of her heart.

He had ruled here before her, when she could not be at his side, no matter how she had forgiven him. He had built the temple in her name. She took a breath, looking to the wandering faces of her family. She had been welcomed in to this alliance, had made friends and become family. But the breaking of the alliance and the knowledge of all she had lost it lingered too deeply in her heart. She knew others recalled their losses, Shea ,Radella, Hera, Jade, Anarya. Powerful women that recalled every moment of all they had and lost. Over one thousand years of love, loss, war and peace. She had not come to this easily. But it was time.

"I have called you all here to name the new regent and ruler of Crendia. "

A silence fell over them all.

"Willow.." Shea began.

"No, I am healthy and well. But it is past time that I do this." She stepped down in to the crowd. " I am old, and I have seen and felt so much in my life. Love and loss. I have ruled here for many years now, and with all that is, I need to return to where I began. I began my life in a world not like this one, one closer to what Rhydin is. The village where I was born is gone. The realm torn apart from this one. But I have found a way back to it. I began a girl who lost her parents, and all she knew. I found out my destiny then, to fight the darkness of the world. I met my first love then, when I was but a girl of sixteen. He wasn't human, and I lost him in the battles that came. But I loved again. I had never known a greater love than Darin's. He remained the one for me for a long time. I loved and lost again, a few times. Lived. Saw my son, lost him. Got my daughter back, yet lost her as well."


She ran her fingers through her hair. "It is time that I pass on my power to someone else. Someone who can run this realm. Someone you all trust." She walked up to Aiden. He was young still, but brave. He was dashing and a good man and father. He loved Mila with all his heart and had deep power in him much like his mother. "Aiden GreenStone, I have chosen you as regent of Crendia."


Aiden stood there shocked. "Willow."

Willow smiled to him. "You are strong and wise. Your a good man, your powers run deep like your mothers. You will be a fine leader, and I have no doubt you will wish Mila by your side. "She placed her hand upon his shoulder. " Will you expect the gift I am to give you?"

He looked around to his family, then in to the eyes of his mother. Shea smiled and nodded to him.

"I do." Willow smiled and a beam of light shot in from above and bathed them in it. Aiden closed his eyes, seeing parts of Willows past life, of all she had won and lost. Feeling the deep power she had held for so long. He also felt the power of the alliance. He saw a vision of things that had been lost, and felt the pain she had. Willow gave him some of her power. "Your now ruler here, and if you wish for it and she agrees Mila will rule beside you."

Aiden turned to Mila. "Will you?"

Mila smirked to him and nodded. "As if you had to ask me."

"Take his hand." Willow smiled. Mila took Aiden's hand and she felt all he had, as the light bathed over her. She gained some of that old power as well.

Willow stepped back from them. "You will rule well here, and fear not your family will aid you. " She left the two to ponder their new lives as she walked to each member and said goodbye. She left Shea for last. Shea linked her arm with Willow and they walked outside.

The others stayed inside with Aiden and Mila.

"They will rule here well." Willow looked back. "They will build this place up again."


"What about you?"


"I am returning home, to a place not truly connected to these realms. I have lived a long time Shea, and died many times. I should have died years ago, passed on when Darin did."

"Is it him you seek?"

"I wouldn't be surprised if I saw him again, he was the greatest love I had ever known. I had known many great loves in my years. I am ready, beyond ready to say my goodbyes."


"You will be missed and remembered. I cant say I don't understand."


"No out of everyone here, you likely understand the most. Love and loss, death and joy. You have faced them all and still come out alive and kicking. And I hope you do so for many more decades. " She placed her hands on Shea's shoulders. "I am giving you some of my power as well, the rest will leave me and part to the realm as I go." Shea closed her eyes to the feeling of Willow great power.

The others started filing out as Willow stepped back. "Rule well and wisely." She bowed to Aiden and Mila. She smiled to them, her family. Looked to the realm she had helped create and slowly walked away from the Palace. She walked past the temple that was made in her image, the fallen temple that was Darin's at one point, towards the trees. As she walked her form started to fade. The great alliance stood and watched as she became ghostly.

Then they saw it, another form, ghostly as well, walking to Willow. Those that had known him in life would recognize Darin's ghostly form. "Forgetting someone?" He held his hand out to Willow. She took it and both the forms disappeared.

Moments later a bright shooting star shot across the darkened sky. It glittered and rained down magic that spotted over the ground and all there. As the star disappeared Shea turned to see that all that had been ruins was now reborn, the old temples and places gone were new again, filled with light and hope. The woods that had died from darkness were no longer dead, nor filled with dread. She closed her eyes and felt the hum of the alliance. The power of Crendia shifted on to her son and on to Mila. Willow was gone, not even Shea with all her power could sense her. She had found peace.

This place was now hers. Built from stones old and new. The Temple of Light and Dark was now Shea's. It was one of the few place in the realms where any could contact the dead or dying. After letting Willow go. After seeing how the goddess passed with grace and love. Shea needed to seek out someone she wanted, someone she needed.

To seek a spirit out that was gone to a peaceful place was not easy. But Shea had passed through death herself three times, the veil was easily parted by her now.

Arcaena stood on the other side of the veil. Beside her Cala stood. It was odd to see them there.

"You seek answers for yourself." Cala spoke.

"But you already know them." Arcaena spoke.


" So it is him, Sir Owen Iraeean, he is Adaron reborn?" There was hope in her voice. A drop of hope in an ocean that had been filled with sadness.

"It is not that simple. " Cala turned to Arcaena. "Let us show her."

Arcaena nodded and around them mist grew and spread.

Shea saw the veil part and the world below. The battle. Long past.

"You knew what the cost was when you went in to battle. Adaron sat here beyond the veil at a place of peace and watched as the alliance fought. He watched as you prepared to take the final blow."

Cala wove her hand over the field. "Warriors did fall, one was Owen. Or at least his soul. He was a warrior of GoldenVine, his body had taken a blow, a mortal wound. His spirit was gone."

"Adaron felt everything that happened to you, he watched as you took the blow that ended your life. He wanted to reach out to you when you came here. But I gave him another choice." Arcaena spoke now. "We gave him a choice. We assured him you would return to your body. But he knew that you would not be the same. He knew that you would need more than duty and family to keep you going. So we offered him a choice."


"To take all that he was, his spirit still so vibrant even at peace and put it in to the body on the battle field."

"Sir Owen Iraeean." Shea spoke softly.

"Yes, Adaron's spirit lives in him."

"There was a catch of coarse. Adaron's spirit is alive in that body, yet has not fully come forth. He knows only who he was, or that is who Owen was."

"But he felt something, I felt something."

"Yes, and now it is up to him. "Cala spoke with a smile. " Adaron Istalindir lives in that body. And he will recall soon enough."

"He came back for me?"

"He came back because you will need him. He was your first love. He was always meant to be your only love. But Jinnalt changed that. You loved again, and again. But never quite the same. You returned from death changed, not only in power but in your heart. You felt pain for a while now, and have begun to let it all go. So now was the right time for him to come."

"And Isleen?"

"The child is a seer, you were always meant to meet her one way or another." Arcaena smiled. "Now go, back through the veil. In time, your heart will heal as much as the rest of you."

Shea bowed to them both and passed back through the veil. "Adaron..." She pressed her hand to her heart.