Lirael opened her eyes and rolled over. She looked into the face of her "Prince Charming" for a few minutes and then woke him up with a whisper.

- Nicholas…rise and shine!

She kissed his cheek as he opened his eyes and smiled sleepily at her.

-Wha'timei'zi'?-he murmured.

Lirael sighed; her "knight in shining armour" wasn't much of a morning person.

-Around 6 o' clock- she answered, wishing that the sendings would let her sleep a bit longer.

- What 'cha gettin' up so early for?

- Ask the sendings

-Oi, sendings! Lil saved the world a couple of days ago, she deserves her sleep!

The sendings just looked at him and turned on the tap. Lirael wrinkled her nose; she'd never get used to the smell of the natural springs. Nick, on the other hand, wasn't affected by the smell.

- Oh well, come on then, Ni…

She was interrupted by a sending throwing a tubful of the stinking, but hot water over both of them.

-Oi!- shouted Nick, as another sending started trying to take his shirt off.

-Stop!- commanded Lirael as another sending tried to do the same to her.

Neither of them had the slightest effect on the sendings, who carried on undressing them under they stood in only their underwear. Lirael and Nick exchanged embarrassed looks. When she thought Nick wasn't looking, she snuck a glance at him. He had a very muscular chest. Nick at Lirael and caught her looking. She blushed and looked away. He stared at her. She had an extremely attractive figure. Lirael, still peeking out of the corners of her eyes, saw him looking and blushed even deeper. Lost in their thoughts and contemplation of each other's bodies, they both jumped when the sendings threw another tubful of water over them.

-That is it!- shouted Lirael –I'm the Abhorsen-in-Waiting, so GET OUT!

The sendings looked at her, shared a glance that clearly said "what else can we do?", bowed and went away.

- So…um…- began Nick- I'll just…um…

He started picking up his clothes from the floor but Lirael stopped him by putting a hand on his back. He stood up and faced her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and stepped closer to him. He kissed her and she kissed him back. He put his hands on her hips and deepened the kiss.

Nick picked Lirael up, without breaking the kiss, and she wrapped her legs around his waist. He carried her over to the bed and lay her down gently, still without breaking the kiss. He then kneeled over her, crushing her slightly. She moaned.

At that moment, the door opened and Mogget came into the room. The little white cat took in the scene in the small room and half-turned around to go.

-Mogget!-squealed Lirael, catching sight of him and blushing deeply. –What are you doing here?

Nick quickly got off the bed and started to collect his clothes off the floor. Mogget turned around and looked disdainfully at Nick.

-I came to tell you that a mordicant has been sighted near Cloven Crest, but as you seemed a little …- he paused- …busy, I thought I'd better leave you to it.

-No- said Lirael, still blushing –tell the sendings to prepare the paperwing for immediate departure.

- The two-seater paperwing or the one-seater?

Lirael glanced at Nick.

- Two-seater - she said firmly

- Very well, but I must warn you- he turned to face Nick- Nicholas, don't rock the paperwing and- he turned to face Lirael – you're the Abhorsen-In-Waiting, and as the Abhorsen will soon be unable to attend to her duties, you're responsible for everything…

- What's wrong with Sabriel? -asked Lirael, worried

- Haven't you heard? The Abhorsen is two months pregnant! So she'll soon be unable to travel for fear of endangering the baby. And if you end up pregnant- he cast a significant glance at Nick – then I don't know what we will do.

- Sam's mum is pregnant? -exclaimed Nick

- I'm going to have another niece or nephew! –exclaimed Lirael

- Yes, that's what I said – agreed Mogget –now, weren't we in a hurry?