A/N: Okay, I'm soooooo sorry about the late (that's such an understatement) update. Anyway, I actually have a stockpile of chapters, and I know exactly where I want this to go, it just might take a while to get there. I'm actually a medical student, and I get really busy with school and the hospital and all that, so I apologize for the delay, but I hope you all understand that this is my hobby and I need it to go at my own pace :D

Anyway, enjoy!

Charlie had been crying her eyes out every day for the past three days. Grief, hard and sharp, had entered her heart the night they had left Celieria City. Maybe it was the absence of Gaelen, or the silence of the wagon that carried her that prompted her to think about her situation, but before she knew it, tears were streaming down her face, and she had to muffle her sobs with a pillow.

Cyr had been the one to find her, wide eyed and tear stained cheeks. He had asked her what was wrong, but it seemed that when she tried to explain, the tears were coming back, so she had settled that she did not wish to speak about it and accepted the food that he had brought her.

She hadn't gotten out of the wagon, not once, because her face was blotchy and her eyes were red from rubbing. Not even when they had stopped for the night, or for any reason. Ellie had come to visit her, with Rain sometimes, but she could do nothing but say that she needed time—which she did. She didn't want Ellie to miss time with her own family.

Today, however, Charlie was determined. She was determined to make the most out of today. She had purged the grief from her body, and already, she felt lighter. But only one thing usually made her feel better.

So, when they had stopped to eat lunch, Charlie went a bit away from the caravan of wagon—with her cha'kor, of course—and decided to sing. The bruise on her face was nearly gone and, with the help of Cyr's Spirit, her cuts didn't hurt.

"Can you weave something so that when I'm inside of it, I can't hear what's outside and what's inside can't be heard?" Charlie said, making her request to Cyr. He was kind and caring—she didn't know much about him, though, because she hadn't come out of her stupid wagon to speak to anyone.

"Aiyah, kem'falla, there is such a weave, it's of Spirit and Air, and I can weave it for you if you wish," Cyr said. His long dirty blonde hair was tied into a braid down his back, and his brown eyes felt sad and heavy—he seemed a lot like Bel.

"Thank you, Cyr," Charlie replied.

"It pleases me to see you no longer sad, kem'falla. I would be honored if I could help sustain your smile."

With that, she saw the threads of blue and lavender come out of Cyr's hands as he backed away, creating a dome around her. When he had put his hands down and nodded at her, she smiled. Her smile widened as she the prospect of singing bubbled up inside her. It was kind of weird when other people listened. She looked around and sighed, seeing nature around her was something that amazed her—the smell, the sights and the sound were familiar, and yet new.

She started by vocalizing, basic exercises to warm up her voice so that she could reach those highs and lows. Once she was finished, she was able to sing songs that lifted her heart. The grief, the danger and the events seemed to melt away and all there was left was her and her voice.

When she had finished about four songs, she opened her eyes to find Lillis and Lorelle, looking at her, as well as Kiel and Kieran, who were carrying the twins, at the edge of the dome. She saw them say something, but she couldn't hear it.

«They ask what you are doing» Cyr's voice was in her head and she smiled, signaling that he could take down the dome.

"What were you doing?" One said. She couldn't tell which twin this one was, but she remembered that Lorelle was often with Kiel, and Kieran was often with Lillis. This one was being lifted by Kieran. This was Lillis.

"I was singing, Lillis," she said, smiling as they came closer. "It helps me to feel better."

"Will you sing to us? Like Mama did before?" Lorelle said as she got down from Kiel's arms.

Lillis got down from Kieran's arms. "Mama used to sing to us when we were sad, and so did Ellie."

Charlie's eyes softened and sat on her haunches to hug Lorelle and Lillis tight. A loss of a loved one, she knew the feeling. "Of course I will, little ones."

She asked Cyr to once again weave a dome of privacy, but this time including the twins, Kiel and Kieran.

"You have to sit still and be quiet, alright? Then maybe I'll also teach you the song," she touched each of their noses, like how she used to with her little cousins.

She stood and thought of a song, then she smiled. It was a song from one of her favorite movies. Sound of Music was the absolute bomb. With that, she began,

"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens, brown paper packages tied up with strings, these are a few of my favorite things…"

She poured her genuine wishes for them to feel better into the song, and she wanted to lighten their grief, even by a bit. And she wanted them to feel it, for the song to at least give them a momentary peace. That was what singing or listening to music was meant to do, it was supposed to melt away your worries, or purge the feelings from your soul and make you feel anew.

"…I simply remember my favorite things, and then I don't feel so bad."

Charlie prolonged the last note, letting the vibrato carry over and fade.

When she opened her eyes, they all stared at her and a niggling sliver of doubt crept into her. "Was it bad?"

Lillis answered first with a squeal and a hug. "It was so good!"

"It was great!" Lorelle exclaimed her arms thrown up for emphasis.

Kieran and Kiel stared at her and she couldn't figure out whether their faces were in shock or in astonishment. She didn't have time to contemplate, however, as Cyr told them it was time to move again.

"You have to sing for Ellie, too!"

"And to Papa! It will make them both feel better!"

"And to Rain, too, because he's our bond-brother!"

At that point, Lorelle and Lillis both grabbed her hands and she was once again unable to distinguish who was who.

"We'll tell everyone to listen so they'll feel better, too!"

Behind them, Charlie didn't notice Kiel and Kieran coming up to Cyr.

"She's special, Gaelen's shei'tani," Kieran said. "She brings peace to my soul."

"Aiyah," Kiel said. "She's like the Feyreisa."

When they had stopped for the night, the Fey had set up tents—this Charlie missed because she had just been sleeping in her wagon—and had also set up a mini platform for her to sing on. No matter how much she had tried to persuade Lillis and Lorelle, they had already made up their minds, and even their father had to ask her just for at least one song, and it was asked in such a manner that Charlie couldn't possibly refuse.

When she had gotten out of the wagon after a nap, they told her they had set it up already, and Ellie, Rain, Sol and the twins were already there. When she had turned the corner to see it, however, she paused. The Baristanis, Ellie and Rain were at the front and Marissya and Dax were next to the twins, and, behind them, were the rest of the Fey.

She stopped in her tracks and her eyes went wide as she turned, intending for a retreat but found that the route was blocked by Kieran and Kiel, with Cyr behind them.

"We have grief in our hearts from the battle at the Cathedral, kem'falla, and your singing is so beautiful," Kiel said. "You would bring joy to the Fey."

Well, he got her there—she had gotten into singing because it was a relief, for herself and for other people and she knew how much relief in times of darkness could be of so much help.

"Do you really think it'll help?" Charlie asked, unsure. She wasn't done with her studies yet, though she's heard praises about her voice, of course, she still felt inadequate performing in front of big audiences.

"Aiyah, kem'falla," Kieran answered. "The Feyreisa and the Feyreisen are already waiting."

He gestured behind her, and she looked to see Ellie waving, beside her were the twins, all smiles as they looked at her. She glared at Kieran. "I'm telling Gaelen on you."

"Well, he isn't here to do anything right now, kem'falla," Kieran replied with a laugh. "Or should I start calling you Aunt?" His smiled mellowed, his voice turning solemn. "Will you sing for us, Aunt Charlotte?"

She narrowed her eyes at him. She turned around and made her way to the platform. She stepped up, her eyes wide and her throat feeling dry. "Ugh… Can I have a glass of warm water?"

Kiel was by her in an instant, offering a glass. She hesitated to accept it, but when she did, it had dissipated into blue and green threads.

"I'm sorry," Charlie said, troubled, clenching her fist.

Cyr was beside him in an instant, offering her a glass of water, which didn't dissipate when she took it in her hands.

"It's alright, kem'falla¸ I forgot about your shield." Kiel backed away with a bow, making his way to Lorelle.

She looked around, turning on the platform as she drank from the goblet, letting the warm water relax her throat. She looked at the faces of the Fey around, and when she had turned fully, she made eye-contact with Ellie, she tried to smile, but it must've looked like a nervous expression because Ellie just gave her an encouraging smile.

"Okay," she sighed as she placed the goblet down on the ground. "I'm actually not prepared for this, uhm," she gestured to where she was standing, struggling to find words for it, "performance." She looked from Ellie to Marissya to Cyr. "But I'd like to, uh, start with a prayer."

She licked her lips and closed her eyes, clenching her sweaty fists, then unclenching them. She breathed in and out, closing her eyes—making eye contact during performance sometimes made her lose momentum. "Dear Being Up There in the Sky Greater than Us." Charlie believed in a higher being, no question about that, but she wasn't quite sure what these Fey believed in, so she just went with something general. "Bless today, for we are all gathered together. Bless those who are gathered here, for it is by your grace that we have made it this far. And may you see us safely into the Fading Lands. Amen."

Charlie opened her eyes and looked at Ellie, who was nodding her head and smiling. Silence had fallen over her audience, and she didn't risk glancing at anyone at that moment. There was a long moment of silence as she thought of her first song, which she occupied with drinking water from the goblet set beside her. "This first piece, I'd like to dedicate to Rain and Ellie, to congratulate you on your marriage," she gave them each a small smile, which they both—thankfully—returned, then she looked to Marissya and Dax, "to Marissya and Dax," and finally she fixed her eyes on Sol, "and to Mister Baristani, for love that goes beyond death, I've always believed that loved ones who have passed away watch over us and guide us." He took a handkerchief from his pocket and started dabbing at his eyes. Her voice got thick with emotion, and tears rimmed her eyes and she blinked them away, swallowing the lump at her throat. When she had calmed down, she took several deep breaths before beginning, her eyes closed in concentration.

"Where do I begin? To tell the story of how great a love can be… The sweet love story that is older than the sea… The simple truth about the love he brings to me… Where do I start?"

She had first heard the song being played on her parents' wedding anniversary. Apparently, it was their song, and her dad surprised her mom with it when she had gotten back from work. It was accompanied by flowers and cheering from their four children.

"He fills my heart with very special things, with angels' songs, with wild imaginings… He fills my soul with so much love… That anywhere I go I'm never lonely… With him around, who could be lonely? I reach for his hand, it's always there…"

Her mind suddenly flashed with an image of Gaelen, and the image was so vivid and evoked such emotion in her that it made her take a step back for a moment, but she quickly regained her senses and continued with the song. She poured out good intentions in her song, and she hoped everyone present could find the love that they sought, or, at least, appreciate the love they had now.

"How long does it last? Can love be measured by the hours in a day? I have no answers now but this much I can say… I know I'll need him 'till the stars all burn away… And he'll be there."

Her voice was thick with emotion by the last note and she had to wipe her eyes to calm down. With the amount of feelings she had put into the song, she could've sworn she could taste it in the air and actually touch it.

There were no claps, and no one made a sound, which alerted Charlie to something being wrong. Everyone had a look on their face, and she was so embarrassed. She stumbled off the platform, cheeks red and ran back to her stupid wagon, which was, thankfully, nearby, wrapping herself up in a blanket and trying to shut out the world.

Why was she stupid enough to even let them cow her into singing? Ugh, she was an idiot. She wasn't going to leave this wagon until Gaelen came back—even then, she'd be just considering the thought of considering leaving.

"Charlie?"

It was Ellie.

She responded with an unintelligible noise. She was at the back of her wagon, her back facing the entrance.

"What do you think you're doing?" Ellie asked. There was a shift and she must've gone inside.

"I'm thinking I'll just stay in this wagon until I die of starvation or embarrassment, whichever comes first."

There was a flurry of laughter outside. Multiple laughter. Oh, great.

"It's alright, though, I think the death from embarrassment might come in a second or two."

There was a laugh, from Marissya and Ellie.

"You're not going to die," Ellie said.

"And there's no cause to be embarrassed, Charlotte." Marissya soothed. "Now, come outside."

"I just embarrassed myself in front of about a hundred people, I'm not going out." She pulled the blanket closer around her.

"Charlie, the song was really fantastic, Papa cried so hard," Ellie was beside her, pulling her shoulder so that they looked at one another. "Your voice is so beautiful. But that's not why we were shocked."

Charlie slowly sat up, confused. She looked at Marissya, then to Dax and Rain.

It was Rain who spoke. "Kem'falla, you have just restored the souls of one hundred Fey warriors."

Charlie swallowed, very, very confused.

Gaelen walked into the caravan, looking for his shei'tani. The caravan had stopped—probably for the half day meal.

"Look what the tairen dragged in," Kieran said, approaching him. "You were gone for a while, I thought a lyrant made a meal out of you," he made a tsk-ing sound, shaking his head. "Ah, well, hope springs eternal."

Gaelen narrowed his eyes. "Still full of sass, puppy? Clearly, vel Jelani isn't working you hard enough if you still have breath to jabber."

"Ha. Where've you been?"

Deliberately patronizing, Gaelen reached out and ruffled his nephew's hair. "Not your business, youngling." He grinned. "Where is my shei'tani?"

"She's in a wagon, I think."

"The Feyreisa?"

"With Marissya, practicing magic."

"The Tairen Soul?"

"With General vel Jelani, securing the next few miles."

Gaelen nodded, then furrowed his eyebrows at Kieran. "What's this mess?" He reached out to straighten the leather Fey'cha belts across Kieran's chest. "You call yourself a warrior? Sloppy, vel Solande. Very sloppy."

Next thing Kieran knew, he was on his back, his own Fey'cha at his neck.

"Very sloppy indeed," Gaelen said. "Are you eager to die?" When Kieran said nothing, though he did become red at the cheeks, Gaelen spoke again. "Answer me, puppy. Are you eager to die?"

"Are you?" It was Kiel, who had two red Fey'chas on Gaelen's throat and belly.

"Gaelen!"

It was his shei'tani's voice that made them all disentangle themselves. But Gaelen didn't take his eyes off of his nephew. "The Mages are at work in the north. A warrior has disappeared for days on end, and you do not know where he's been. Yet you welcome him without suspicion? You stand there like a dull-witted fool while he strips you of your own blade and threatens you with it? I ask you again, are you so eager to die?"

Charlotte had reached them. "Gaelen."

But Gaelen wasn't finished. He looked at the rest of the Fey that had gathered around them, about a dozen, who were all glaring at him. "And that goes for all of you as well. Not one of you even cleared steel from scabbard before I had a blade at your brother's throat. Vel Tomar, at least, has tolerably swift reflexes… and good instincts." He looked at the red Fey'cha held by Kiel. "Red is the right choice when you suspect the threat may be real."

Finally, he dispersed his final shield, the one he had erected when he went for Kieran. Everyone put back their weapons.

"That's a good way to get yourself killed, vel Serranis," someone called out.

"By you lot?" Gaelen scoffed. "Not flaming likely. I'd have to be sel'dor pierced, bound and blinded before you had the advantage. Are you the best the Fading Lands can produce? Gods save us all!" Gaelen shook his head in disgust.

"Gaelen!" Charlotte all but shouted. "Stop it."

He turned to her, bearing the glare that she fixed on him. He was relieved that there was no longer a bruise on her lovely face.

"Get along with your nephew. And try to get along with the other warriors, too, please."

Kiel spoke up. "Since you find our warrior skills so lacking, perhaps you could help us improve them?"

Several Fey stiffened, outraged by the very idea.

"Are you asking me to be your chatok?" He lifted an eyebrow mockingly. Only warriors of the greatest skill, the most unbesmirched honor became chatok, respected trainer of warriors. And Gaelen, well, Gaelen was not qualified—he'd thrown away his honor and followed the Dark Path to avenge his sister Marikah's murder.

"We lost too many master in the Wars, and those who survived, the greatest and most experienced gave their lives to build the Mists. War will soon be upon us again, and we cannot afford to be ill-prepared. You have skills we all need." Kiel shrugged. "So, aiyah, Gaelen, I am asking you to be my chatok for whatever levels of the Cha Baruk you think I have not truly mastered. Will you grant me this honor?"

Gaelen was taken aback. "That was sarcasm, vel Tomar, not a serious offer. I have been dahl'reisen. I chose the Shadowed Path. I walked its bitter trails for a thousand years rather than ending my life in honor, as a worthy Fey would have done."

"That doesn't change the fact that you have skills we all need. Even the Feyreisa advised us to learn from you."

"So she did." Gaelen's lips pursed. "And as I promised her, I will teach you what I know, but only as a brother Fey. I will not dishonor the chatok who mentored me by pretending I have the right to stand among their honored company."

"Then I will accept your instruction, and I thank you for your willingness to share your knowledge and warrior's skills with me." Kiel said, bowing low. He looked behind Gaelen, "Now, I think you must attend to your shei'tani."

Gaelen turned quickly, only to find that his shei'tani had tears in her eyes, but still managed to look menacing.

"What is wrong, shei'tani?" Gaelen said as he stood closer to her.

Charlotte looked into his eyes and didn't answer for long moments. Then she swallowed, looking down. "It's nothing."

"You're crying."

"Because I'm angry. I cry when I get very angry."

"And why are you very angry, shei'tani?" Gaelen asked as he took her hands in his.

She closed her eyes, blinking back the tears, shaking her head. "I'll tell you when I'm not so angry anymore." She squeezed his hands and smiled, and he resisted the urge to just pry her mind open—that was not the honored way—and look all he wanted. "Welcome back, Gaelen."

As they walked the length of the caravan, he asked Cyr for a report.

«For the first three days she was crying near non-stop, but she was better yesterday.» Cyr said. «And for yesterday…»

The trailed ending made Gaelen look at Cyr. «What happened?»

«You should ask the Feyreisen, the Feyreisa and Marissya»

Gaelen narrowed his eyes. «What happened?»

«Your shei'tani has about five new lu'tan, and about thirty others who have expressed their wish to do lute'ashieva, and the rest are so grateful, they follow her nearly everywhere.»

Gaelen's eyes went wide. «These thirty others, why did they not do lute'ashieva right away?» He noticed the different daggers strapped to Charlotte, one on each of her shins and thighs. The gilded one was still by her waist.

«Because she begged them to think it over for a week. Your shei'tani does not like having bloodsworn warriors to protect her.» Cyr said.

«What did she do? What has she done, vel Quenis?»

"She restored about a hundred Fey souls." Marissya said. "Well, around ninety six to be exact."

They were standing in a dome of Air and Spirit for privacy, woven over a patch of the valley. Ellysetta stood by Rain's side, and Dax by Marissya's, vel Jelani also stood among them.

"I didn't mean to, I swear." Charlie said.

"It's not a bad thing, shei'tani." Gaelen said, pulling her closer. "Aside from the Feyreisa, no one has ever been able to restore souls, and not so many at one time."

"She wove with pure golden threads, Gaelen," Marissya stated.

"Yes, she's a Fey woman, of course she'd be able to weave shei'dalin's love," Gaelen said.

"No, Gaelen, it was pure," it was the Feyreisa that spoke. "It was not interlaced with any other branch, it was purely shei'dalin's love." She wove an image into Gaelen's mind, of his shei'tani, singing with eyes closed, and on her fingers was the golden threads that only Fey women could weave.

"And it's never been woven by itself like that, ever." Marissya said. "She's one of the most powerful shei'dalins we have, maybe even more powerful than the Feyreisa, but there seems to be drawbacks."

"Every great gift comes at a price," vel Jelani said.

"And what is the price for her gift?" Gaelen asked coolly, although he didn't like how they were going.

"We've been… testing out her abilities."

At Marissya's words, Charlotte tensed, and Gaelen refrained from snapping at Marissya.

"She has difficulty in weaving any other branch of magic, unlike the Feyreisa. She can weave all, although we can't really tell at what level her gifts are at." Marissya looked at Charlotte with pity. "Except for Spirit, which she can weave with mastery, her body punishes her for even attempting to weave any elements." She sent Gaelen images of his shei'tani, writhing in pain on the ground.

He clutched Charlotte closer. He looked at her, cupping her face. "How do you feel, shei'tani?"

Charlotte looked up at him. "I don't want to do that again."

"Charlotte, to become a full healer, you have to weave the other elements, it helps to heal physical wounds." Marissya said.

"Now all the more reason we need to make haste towards the Fading Lands," Gaelen said, gently pushing Charlotte back behind him as he gave a stern glance at Marissya. "Three of the most powerful shei'dalins the Fey have are beyond the protection of the Faering Mists."

The Feyreisa looked saddened, and Rain glared at Gaelen. But it was Charlotte who spoke up. "It's alright, Gaelen"

"It's not alright, Charlotte," Gaelen growled out. "We're out here in Celierian territory protected by a pack of untrained infants scarce weaned from the breast."

"Oh, God, here he goes," Charlotte threw her hands up. "I'm going." She nodded at Ellysetta and the Tairen Soul. "Feyreisen, Feyreisa." The words still sounded very, very foreign in her mouth.

As much as he wanted to get his point across to the Tairen Soul, he couldn't let his shei'tani storm off like that. Their courtship hadn't even started, and she was already mad—at him.

Charlotte passed through the Air and Spirit weave—because it was woven by vel Jelani—and headed for the caravan.

Gaelen sighed. "Unweave it, vel Jelani." In a second, he was by her side, and he grabbed her shoulder, which was a mistake, because next thing he knew, he was looking at the clear blue sky, flat on his back.

Charlotte stood over him, looking down, frowning. "Gaelen, you need to stop telling people what to do. Ellie needs time with her family, and the Feyreisen is giving her that. The enemy doesn't know about me, and I think we're going to be safe for the next couple of days, alright?"

With that, Charlotte walked away, and Gaelen watched her, leaning on his elbows.

"Looks like you've got work cut out for you, vel Serranis," vel Jelani said, a smirk on his face, and laughter in his eyes.

He didn't need to make eye contact with Dax to know that he was laughing—he heard. And the Feyreisen, emotionless as he usually was, he now looked so red in the face from keeping laughter in. Ellysetta and his own sister didn't spare him either.

Charlie sat in her wagon, just by the entrance, wishing she hadn't thrown Gaelen over her shoulder. She probably did something to his warrior pride and reputation.

Maybe this was why she was single, she just had to boss people around and show them who was better. But she was just so mad. Gaelen was treating her as if she was some breakable doll, and he was dismissing family as if it was nothing—to Charlie, it was very, very important.

She threw her head back and gave out a groan of frustration.

"What troubles my shei'tani so?"

Gaelen got on the wagon and sat across her. Charlie looked at him, searching for something. She reached out and held his hand—he wasn't angry.

"You're not angry with me?" She asked.

The wagon gave them a slight jolt as it began to move.

"Nei, shei'tani. I am not angry. A little upset that I was caught off guard in front of so many, but not angry." He pulled at her arm, urging her closer until she sat in front of him, between his legs.

"I'm really sorry," Charlie said, eyes downcast. "I didn't mean to do what I did, or tell you off in front of people. I'll try not to do it again."

"I've gotten a very surprising shei'tani," Gaelen laughed. "And I've thought the world held no more surprises for me."

Charlie smiled, giggling. "That's why they sent you someone from another world." She had missed Gaelen, she'd only known him for a day or so, but she had missed him when he was gone. She slowly wrapped her arms around his neck. "I'm happy you're back."

After a moment of hesitation, Gaelen hugged her closer. "Aiyah. As am I, shei'tani, as am I." He pulled back and cupped her cheek, caressing it with his thumb. "Now, tell your shei'tan, why have you been crying?"

Charlie's eyebrows rose in surprise. She hadn't told him that, but she had an idea of who the culprit was.

"Did Cyr…?"

"Yes and no. Vel Quenis was worried about you, so do not be angry with him. I also felt it through our bond, I could feel your grief from where I was." He kissed her forehead, and it reminded her of the promise she had made him before they had left. "Speak with me, shei'tani, what grieves you?"

"Well, I don't feel so bad about it now," Charlie said as she leaned into him, facing the inside of the wagon so the warriors outside couldn't see her face. "But those first couple of days hit me hard. I miss my world—my family, my friends, everything. I guess I didn't have time to just think about it after I got here, but when we had traveled, there was just so much time to wallow in my grief. And I did just that for a while." She grasped his hand, squeezing it. "But I'm alright now, I'll be sad every now and then, but I might be through the worst of it."

Gaelen was silent for a while, and Charlie thought that maybe she had just shared too much, but then he spoke. "If you ever grieve again, Charlotte, know that I am here. Though I cannot bring you back to your world, or bring back what was lost, I will be here, and I will try to give you comfort, though I have to say that I am not good at it."

"It's alright, just being there is good enough," Charlie smiled and shifted her position so her back was now to his chest.

"That reminds me, that I have your first courtship gift—I have been a neglectful shei'tan, as of late." Gaelen produced a pouch from his hip and took out a horn, handing it to Charlie.

It wasn't just a simple horn however. The white, foot long horn had been smoothed and carved out, the inside was hollow and the exterior had been etched into until holes had been made into intricate patterns of flowers and vines.

"It's beautiful, Gaelen," Charlie said. "Did you make this or did you weave it?"

"Nei, shei'tani. Weaving courtship gifts is not done, unless the meaning has something about magic." Gaelen said. "I made it for you."

Charlie smiled at that. Thinking of Gaelen and carving was odd to her. "You are very good, Gaelen. And this is beautiful." She ran her hands over the surface, he had such craftsmanship. "Looks like those two thousand five hundred years of waiting was good for you."

"Aiyah, shei'tani, I've become good at a lot of things," he said, placing his mouth where her shoulder and neck met, making her close her eyes at the sensation. She wasn't lost on his implication, and it made her blush—she set herself up for that one. He kissed his way up to her ear. "There are lots, and lots of things I've become master of that I would show my shei'tani." He paused for a moment. "Now, I do believe I was promised a kiss and a song."

She pulled away from him, glaring at his smirking face. She cupped her face, which she was sure was red. She faced him fully. "You don't play nice."

Gaelen grinned. "Nei, shei'tani. I plan to get you, and nice will not work. Now, where is my kiss?"

He didn't touch her, he didn't bring her closer—he simply sat there and waited, looking at her expectantly, icy blue eyes glowing. She'd kissed men before—she'd dated, though they never went any further than kissing. But kissing Gaelen would be different, he was different. He was arrogant, and yet self-loathing. He was fierce and rough with others, but he treated her as if she was going to break. And, well, as Marissya had explained, he was her soulmate, her truemate, her shei'tan, destined to be together forever.

Her eyes darted outside, where Fey warriors were running alongside the caravan. Then her eyes met Marissya's, who was next to Dax. They were sitting in their wagon seat. Marissya had the expectant look, and her eyes were twinkling—disturbing Charlie slightly.

As if he sensed the discomfort of the prying eyes around them, Gaelen wove a curtain over the wagon's entrance, securing it from top to bottom so the wind didn't make it rustle.

"I'm waiting, shei'tani," Gaelen whispered. "And neither of us are leaving this wagon until I get my kiss and my song."

Charlie bit her lip and looked down. Well, here it goes. She cupped his face and slowly drew herself to him, melding their lips together—his were rough. He brought his arms around her hips, but didn't do anything further. Then she pulled away, dropping her hands from his face as she looked down.

"That was good, shei'tani," Gaelen smirked. "But here, let me show you." He had placed his hand on her neck, and the other on her waist, and they pulled her closer to him until their lips met again.

She had gasped at the action, and he pushed his tongue into her mouth, massaging hers. Feelings that weren't hers flooded into her, but there were two that stood out the most.

Desire. For her—her body, her happiness, her soul, herself. Her. Everything she was and could be, a future together, a life filled with each other.

Loneliness. A thousand years of exile, two thousand five hundred years of waiting.

It was Gaelen's feelings, and the loneliness was the one that cut deep into her. It made her want to be with him and extinguish any loneliness, he would never have to stand alone again. She wrapped her arms around him, increasing the intensity of the kiss as she brought their bodies closer, pressing her chest against his.

And when they absolutely couldn't breathe anymore, they separated. Her face was red—from the lack of air and from what they had just done. And she took in deep breaths as he watched her, a smile on his lips.

She raised an eyebrow at him. "You seem utterly pleased with yourself."

"Of course I am, shei'tani." He pulled her close, turning her to place her back on his chest once again. "I must've done something so great in a life before to get someone like you even when I've walked the Dark Path."

And that reminded Charlie. "Gaelen?"

"Hm?" He started twirling a clump of her hair in his hand.

"What did you do that you became dahl'reisen?" She'd thought about asking Cyr, or even Marissya, or Kieran, but it seemed it was best if it came from Gaelen. She knew that something that life changing should be told personally, not through other people.

She felt him stiffen under her, and she feared she'd ask something beyond their relationship. She didn't even know what was beyond their relationship—was there even boundaries to being soulmates?

"I had a twin sister, Marikah." Gaelen began, and Charlie sat still, listening. "She married a mortal, and became queen of Celieria. It was about a thousand years ago, when my soul was already heavy with the souls I had slain." His voice filled the caravan, and she couldn't help but ignore all other sounds.

When the Fey killed, somehow, the slain souls stayed with them, becoming a weight in their souls. And when the souls, the weight of their regrets, dreams never lived, were too much, they sometimes sought death, or became a lost soul, a dahl'reisen.

"She was murdered by the Elden Mages." His arm around her waist tightened at the memory. "I killed the High Mage of Eld, and all those in his family, plunging us into the Mage Wars. When I sought my revenge, the weight of the souls tipped me over and I became dahl'reisen."

She knew he'd killed people—he was a fierce warrior. She'd seen it that day in the Cathedral, and he'd been around so long, she was sure his skill was beyond practice, it was hardened, shaped by battles. And she was okay with it, because she knew Gaelen wasn't a bad person at heart. He'd loved Marikah so much that he was willing to throw away his honor. But even after that, he had protected the Fey—despite their obvious resentment. They protected them despite the fact they knew that they were never going to see their homeland again, that they were never going to see another Fey again. Earlier, when he had been speaking with Kieran and Kiel, she heard it, the self-loathing covered with arrogance and sarcasm. He hated himself for choosing life when he should've chosen death.

"Do you know why I was angry earlier?" Charlie asked, and she didn't wait for an answer, mostly because it was meant to be rhetorical. "I was angry because I hated how those warriors treated you, how they spoke to you or looked at you, and how you spoke about yourself."

"But it is right for them to do so, shei'tani, I threw away my honor."

"No, past is past, Gaelen. You're not the same person as you were a thousand years ago, and you've been restored." Charlie countered fiercely. "You've protected the Fey, and I won't let them treat you like trash." She faced him, taking his face into her hands until his icy blue eyes met her hazel ones. "And I won't let you beat yourself up over this. Do you understand me, Gaelen?"

He raised an eyebrow at her, amused. "I understand, shei'tani. Now, how about that song?"