Kalina winced slightly as Zachary pulled out the spike from her shoulder. "How bad is it?" she asked. Zachary assured her that it wasn't all that bad. "Just a flesh wound," he said, causing Kalina to smile. Inside it felt like her heart was breaking in two. She loved Behome so much, but she couldn't be with him. His father had come on their wedding day, dragging a woman he said that Behome had been promised to. The wedding had been called off and plans were put in motion for the wedding between Behome and Natasha. Kalina pinched the bridge of her nose. She had learned to live with the fact that she could never be with Behome and that she would forever see another woman in his arms. She acted cool towards them when they were in the same room, giving the impression to others that she was over it. But she knew that she would always die a little more inside when she saw him knowing that she could never be with him.

Jareth walked in and stood at the doorway, slightly leaning on the wall. "Welcome back," he said, " I assume you will live?"

"You know as well as I do that since I have been here for so long, my body has changed. I'm more Fae than human now. Wounds like this won't affect me…it's not like when I first arrived."

She immediately wished she hadn't said anything. The intense silence that followed her comment wasn't what she intended to happen. "I'll be fine. Where is Sarah? I would like to see her and the kids. It's been too long."

Before Jareth could answer, the door opened and Sarah ran in. "Kalina! Oh, it is so good to see you again!" The two women hugged and Kalina couldn't help but grin.

"How have you been? And the kids?"

" The twins, Tobias and Ari are doing well. Everyone still thinks it is strange that there is a boy and a girl in a set of twins. Apparently it is very rare in the Underground. Kaleb is the typical ten year old, always getting into mischief. He'll be glad you are back."

Kalina smiled and Sarah couldn't help but notice that her smile didn't reach her eyes. "What's wrong?" she asked, "Did something happen?"

Shaking her head Kalina looked at Zachary. "Am I all set to go?"

"Not yet. I need to get you a sling."

"A what?!" exclaimed Kalina, "You said it was a flesh wound! I can't wear a sling!"

Zachary threw up his hands, "I don't want you to use your arm for a few days. It will speed up the healing process."

"I won't wear a sling. I won't appear to be weak."

"People wear slings all the time Kalina," replied Zachary, "it does not mean that they are weak."

Gold eyes glared at him but he would not budge. He handed her a triangular piece of cloth which she stared at as if it was alive. Finally she snatched it from his hand, put it on and stalked out of the room.

"At least she hasn't changed," said Sarah grinning, "she still thinks she's Superwoman."

"Yes," answered Zachary, "it's rather annoying sometimes. She doesn't have to prove herself over and over again."

Jareth didn't say anything. He knew that Kalina was hiding a lot of pain and that all the theatrics was to throw people off.

As soon as Kalina walked out of the infirmary, she found a large vase and threw the sling in. She had a lot on her mind and she wandered the halls thinking. Natasha had said that the wedding colors were lavender and cream…the same as hers. She wondered if Natasha was doing it on purpose or if she was just lazy. It wouldn't surprise her if it was the former. A lot had happened in the past ten years. The High King had accepted her finally and though they held each other at arms length they held many debates over what was right for the Underground. Evan and Venith had helped her whip the goblin soldiers into shape while keeping each other on their toes when they sparred. Though that had kept her busy, five years ago, three days after what was supposed to be her wedding day, the Underground had approached her with a few tasks that he wanted done. She was also to train so that her emotions for Behome would never show on her face. Control was what she had now, not one flicker of the eye or set of her shoulder would ever indicate that she still loved Behome. Her thoughts strayed to another, darker, memory. Eyes narrowed she turned on her heel and headed in a new direction with determination. There was something that she had been neglecting for the past five years. Walking out of the castle, she headed towards a building that stood on a nearby hill. The guard didn't stop her as she walked in and made her way down a flight of stairs. She got to the cell block and sat in a chair in front one of the cells. Before she looked up, she adjusted her pant legs, slapping off imaginary dust then straightened her back and looked at the prisoner.

"Well," said Cavan, looking up from a book he was reading, "it has been quite a while since I've been blessed with one of your visits."