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Elena had never felt so good. Here this day she had found love and never wanted to let it go. The elf that lay beside her was all she wanted yet she knew that in less than 2 days she would be gone. Slowly unwrapping the elf's arm from her waist and her own from the other woman's shoulders, Elena got out of bed and walked over to her windowsill. No one had bothered her all day and Lady Lorren had not summoned for Iona. Tervis made sure that both women would be left alone, of course with the tourney going on everyone was too preoccupied to be worried about where Iona or Elena would be. Draiko padded silently over to his mistress and nudged her hand. She scratched the hound behind the ears, never taking her eyes off of the stars. When Draiko whined again she finally looked down. He walked slowly to the door and sat down.

"Ah, the servants are cleaning up from the feast and you want to go 'help' am I right?"

The hound huffed in approval and Elena opened the door for him. The hound trotted into the darkness and Elena knew she wouldn't see him for some time. She walked back over to the window sill, propped her elbows up and laid her chin in her hands. Never before had she looked at the night sky and not felt like taking a nightly run. She felt small arms wrap around her waist and Iona leaned into her back, kissing softly between Elena's shoulders that made her shudder. She turned around only to be greeted with Iona's blue eyes.

"Tomorrow is the last day of the tourney…"

"I know."

Elena wrapped her arms around Iona as she saw the tears forming in the elf's eyes. They stood there completely embraced within one another under the light from the stars. Neither one of them wanted to let go but both knew that tomorrow they would have to be in attendance for the winner's circle. Elena only wished that Iona was one of HER ladies and not Lady Lorren's. If only…

"Elena? Will you come for me?"

Elena stared at Iona in confusement. She understood that Iona did not want to leave but she also knew that in that statement was something more, a promise that she did not know if she could keep.

"I'll do my best."

"Promise me you will?"

"I… I promise."

Iona simply nodded and buried her face and cried into Elena's chest. Before she realized it, she was being picked up and carried back to the bed.

"Elena?"

Iona had a sound to her voice that made Elena shudder.

"I... I have a daughter. Her name is Amethyne."

Elena's eyes widened but softened at the thought.

"I bet she has your eyes."

For a moment longer they spoke of Iona's daughter, her deceased husband and after, for the second time that day, they entangled in each other's arms.

The next morning was filled with the sounds of song, steel clashing, cheers and the smells of food. Elena had awoken to an empty bed with only a single rose on the pillow beside her. She knew Iona had to go back to Lady Lorren to keep suspicions down but she really did not care. Draiko lay beside her bed and lifted his head when she began to stir.

"Well boy, looks like today is going to be…"

There was a knock at the door. Elena quickly got up, not bothering to put a robe on over her gown, and opened the door. She had hoped it would be Iona but she quickly turned red when it was none other than her father standing there.

"Well Pup, I see you're up early."

"Good morning father. How goes the tourney?"

"Ah, the same as always. Aedan is doing quite well for his first year. Can we talk?"

Elena nodded and let her father in. The Teyrn sat down on the bed and patted beside him for Elena to sit. She loved her father and told him everything but now she wasn't so sure how she would tell him what she had done.

"Pup, I know the story you told your mother but you know that I know better, right? What happened?"

Elena took in a deep breath and told her father everything. She of course left out the part about Iona but everything else came out.

"And that's when I woke up in my room. Father, I'm so sorry I did not tell you sooner about my ability. I just didn't want to go to the Circle."

Bryce lifted his hand to his daughter's chin and gave her a loving smile. He wiped away a stray tear rolling down her cheek and pulled his daughter close.

"Elena, I was the one who asked Tervis to watch you and if you had magic abilities to teach you."

She pushed back from her father and stared at him blankly.

"You knew? But if you know of my magic then does mother?"

"No Pup. This has been one of many secrets your mother does not know."

"What other secrets do you know father?"

Bryce raised an eyebrow and looked directly into her eyes. She suddenly felt a wave of dizziness as she came to the understanding that he knew she could shift.

"I think it's time you knew of your real heritage."

"You knew my parents?"

"Elena, your mother was one of our servants."

"And my father?

"Your mother came to us from Lothering. I was passing through and the Chantry asked for my help. She was young and the Revered Mother asked me to help her so I agreed to take her in. She was very well taken care of and quickly became like family. Little did we know that she was pregnant when she came to us. During her pregnancy she became ill and she knew she would not live during your birth. It was only then that she told us what she was and what you could be."

Now the tears were not coming from Elena but from her father sitting right next to her. Instinctively she grabbed her father's hand and held it as he continued.

"She asked us to look after you and watch for any magical abilities you may develop. Your father was a… Shifter."

"What were their names?"

"Her name was Falen Surana."

"Falen… so my middle name is after her?"

"Yes. But your father's name was never spoken, only of what he was."

Elena repeated her mother's name several times. She may not have ever known her parents but she would never, ever forget their story.

"Before she went to the Maker she asked me to name you Elena. She said it was the name your father wanted for you before he disappeared. I never told your mother but I didn't need to... she fell in love with you as soon as the midwife brought you in."

Elena was about to ask, but her father answered before she could speak.

"No one else knows that your mother was a mage."

She nodded her head. How could he have told her that the child they took in was actually the result of an elf mage and a Shifter. Eleanor would have taken Fergus and Aedan and left Bryce with nothing more than the clothes on his back. Elena understood it all so completely now but nothing changed. She still loved them both as if Eleanor had birthed her herself.

"Father, this does not change anything. I love you more now than before and I still love mother as well. You both may not be of my blood but I will always be grateful for what you have done."

Bryce hugged his daughter fiercely and pulled back only when she squeaked a giggle. When he looked down at his daughter he noticed the change. She was no longer a little girl… she was a woman. Whether it was the truth finally coming out or something else, he knew that she was no longer a 'Pup'.

"Father? Do I HAVE to be present when the winner picks his lady?"

Bryce let out a hefty laugh and thumped her nose. Elena rubbed it and gave him a playful slap on the shoulder as he rose to leave.

"Unless you want the wrath of your mother I suggest you put on a dress and go."

With one last knowing smile he walked out of the room and Elena was alone with her thoughts.

"Falen Surana…"

With a dress colored in light and dark purples accented with silver thread and beads with flower designs, Elena never looked or felt more unnatural than now. Although she loved this dress out of all the other ones she still felt out of place. Looking in the mirror she sighed. The dress was low cut and showed off the 'girls' as some of the servant girls called them. The tight material did nothing for the imagination as it hugged her hips then fell down her thighs. Her hair flowed naturally, nothing holding it back, as it fell down to the middle of her shoulders. 'Almost time to cut it again' Before she could change her mind to take it off and reach for her riding pants Iona stepped through the door. Elena turned around to meet the elf's gaze. Iona very slowly walked up to her and stopped. She pulled her hand to her lips and Elena barely heard her…

"By the Maker Elena….. You're… You're beautiful!"

Elena smiled half heartedly and said a simple 'Thank You' but the elf would not drop it.

"Elena I mean it. You are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."

"No I'm not. The most beautiful woman you've ever seen is when you look into the mirror at your own reflection."

Elena pulled Iona in front of her to gaze into the mirror and leaned down to plant a series of kisses on the elf's neck. Iona turned around and leaned into her lover's embrace. The kiss sent a series of bumps all over both women's bodies as the desire aroused in both of them.

"Come now, we must get a move on to the tourney before we are missed." Elena said.

"Oh surely it won't take but a FEW moments longer to…"

Iona didn't have time to finish before hands were fumbling with strings and buttons as both women furiously tried to undress the other without damaging the clothing.