I said my goodbyes to Tylar in the early morning. He promised to follow me the next morning. If he hurried, he'd be there before I faced Breia. I gave him the biggest hug that I could muster and then mounted the horse and was off.

Traveling alone was good for me. It gave me time to think and process. The fact that Tylar was my father was better than anything I could have hoped for. He'd become like a father to me during the caravan. He'd been more of a father to me then than the man who'd raised me. I wondered how Adelaide would react. I wondered if she'd believe me.

As evening drew near I found a spot where I could camp for the night. The area between Tylar's house and Bridgehaven was fairly barren and there were no inns. I gathered some firewood and then focused my magic into a small fireball that I used to light my fire. Then I painted myself dinner. I quickly found out that magical food, while filling, is not nearly as good as the real thing.

I started off early the next day and made good time across the planes. It wasn't until late afternoon that the wind picked up and I began to hear the voices again. "Beauty. Witch." They howled across the plane. I dismounted and began to walk, hoping to block the voices out. But it didn't work. They just grew louder. The wind began to tear at my hair and dress. I fought the urge to run. Instead I found some low brush and tied my horse. Then I walked out onto the plane and spread my arms wide.

"Here I am!" I cried to the wind. "Yes, I am beauty. I am a witch. I am a monster!"

"Monster!" The wind screamed.

"Yes! What do you want from me?" I called.

"It is time. It is time." The wind moaned over and over. "It's time. It's time. It's time."

"Time for what?" I was growing impatient.

"You! You witch, you monster! It is time for you!" The voices howled.

"Are you done?" I yelled. "I have somewhere to be."

The wind quieted for a moment. Then it howled again. "Go! It's time. Go now! I am with you!"

"Who are you?" I asked.

"I am! I am! I am! The wind, the rain, the earth. The trees, the rivers, oceans, mountains. I am! Life! I am with you!" The voices swelled until my ears hurt. "Go go go! It's time. Now!"

The voices faded although the wind did not. I untied my horse and continued on my way. Every once in a while a faint whisper would reach my ears. I ignored it, confused but happy that it was not trying to kill me.

I reached Bridgehaven in the late evening. It was too late to continue on to the castle so I knocked on Adelaide's door. A very pregnant Adelaide opened the door. "Nadia?" She cried.

I smiled. "Adelaide. I'm just passing through. I just needed a place to stay for the night."

She pulled me into the biggest hug that her belly would allow. "Where have you been? Father said he found you a husband, but there was no wedding, you never wrote. I wasn't sure what to think!" She cried.

"I've been fine. A bit busy." I hugged her back. "I went to see Tylar."

She pulled away. "Come inside. You can tell me all about it. Elan is gone right now. He had to go work a charm over Mrs. Leefield's cow. Her milk dried up and he thinks he can fix it."

She sat me down and gave me a good stew to eat while I told her of Dryden. I left out much of the magic and enchantments and the fact that he wasn't quite human. I didn't think she would believe me.

"He sounds wonderful Nadia. But this fairy, you say she has power over him? What can you do about that?"

"That's why I went to Tylar. I felt like if I could control whatever power I used to kill Cornelia then I could fight Breia. I never told you, but Tylar has magic as well."

She nodded slowly. "Did it work?"

I closed my eyes and quickly painted an apple. Adelaide gasped as I held it out to her. "Nadia that's amazing! But," She hesitated. "How come you have magic? That doesn't make any sense. We're all from Hinterland. It's the least magical place in the world."

I sighed. "Adelaide, I'm not actually from Hinterland. I'm not actually your sister. I'm Tylar's daughter."

"What?" She was clearly shocked.

"Tylar told me his story while I was with him. He'd been married to Breia. They had a baby girl. But when Breia turned out to be evil, he took the baby to Hinterland and changed her for the dead daughter of a merchant before anyone knew the baby was dead. I was that baby."

"Nadia, that's fantastical." She shook her head in disbelief. "It all sounds like some fairytale."

I sighed. "I know. But it's all true."

"I guess I don't have much choice but to believe you. You've never been a liar and I don't think you'd lie to me about something like this."

I shook my head. "It's all true Adelaide.

She nodded as she stood from the table. "Well it's late. We should both get some sleep. It sounds like you've still got quite the journey ahead of you."

I stood as well. She rounded the table and pulled me into another hug. "It's good to see you Nadia."

I awoke in the night to Del's soft moans. "Nadia?" She called.

"What's wrong?" I got out of bed and stumbled through the darkness. I quickly painted myself a small flame in my hand. In an instant the room was lit.

"Nadia go get the midwife! I think the twins are coming!" Her voice was frantic and scared.

I quickly pulled on a robe and ran out the door. The midwife didn't live far but I was still out of breath by the time I got there. I pounded on the door.

After what seemed like an eternity the door was opened by a sleepy old woman. "What's going on?" She demanded.

"It's Adelaide! She thinks the twins are coming now!" I panted as I leaned on the door frame.

The midwife suddenly became alert. "She's two months early! I'll get my things." She disappeared back inside only to reappear a moment later, bag in hand. "Let's go."

I waited in the kitchen as the midwife checked Del. Eventually she came out of the bedroom. "She's still in early labor. She probably won't give birth till tomorrow evening. But make sure she rests. She can go about her daily routine, but make sure she doesn't strain herself. I'll be back in the afternoon or evening."

"You're leaving?" I cried.

"I'm going home to get some more sleep. You should rest too. Tomorrow is going to be a long day and Del is going to need your support."

"But I'm leaving in the morning. I won't be here!" I thought of Dryden.

"Adelaide has to have someone here with her. If her labor picks up someone has to come get me." The midwife explained patiently.

"But why can't you stay?" I pleaded. It wasn't that I didn't want to stay, but I dreaded to think what would happen to Dryden if I did.

"There are three other pregnant women in the village who all need my attention. I'll be back tomorrow after I have tended to all of them." The midwife picked her bag up and headed for the door. I chewed my lip and prayed for a miracle.

Once the midwife was gone I went and sat with Del. "She says to rest as much as possible and to go about my chores in the morning."

I nodded. "She told me the same thing." I slid under the covers next to her. "We should both get some rest. I'll be right here if you need anything."

I tried to sleep but my own anxiety kept me awake and dawn seemed an eternity away.

In the morning, Adelaide went about making breakfast as usual. I offered to help but she refused to let me lift a finger. I think she could tell that I was worried. Not about her so much as about Dryden.

"Briar, let's go for a walk." She suggested after breakfast. "The midwife said it would be good for me to exercise a bit to help with labor."

I tried to put on a good face. "Ok."

We walked around the village for awhile stopping to talk with some of the villagers. Most of them were glad to see me and asked where I'd been. I made some excuse or other and by the time we left the village everyone had a different story.

Del and I wandered out onto the planes. I smiled a little as I looked out across the vast expanse. As far as I could see the grass was green and flowers were blooming. "It's a good season for birth."

Adeliade hummed her agreement. "Yes. I just wish Elan was here. Not that you're not good company, but I'm afraid I'm keeping you."

I shook my head. "It's ok Del. Dryden will be fine for a few more hours. I doubt Breia will show up today. I'm pretty sure I have until tomorrow."

Del grimaced as her large belly contracted. When the contraction had passed she took my hand. "Yes, but I can tell you're still worried." She smiled. "You're so different Nadia. You're not the same girl you were when we left Hinterland. You're stronger, braver."

I squeezed her hand in mine. "Thank you."

She smiled at me and we headed back to the house for lunch.

Back at the house Adelaide's contractions began to pick up. She had to stop whatever she was doing every five minutes or so due to the pain but it wasn't until about mid afternoon that she decided to lay down and rest.

I sat in the kitchen with my head in my hands. Outside I looked calm but inside I was frantic. My mind was screaming at me and I was torn. I was torn between staying with my sister and saving Dryden. I knew that Breia probably wouldn't come back until tomorrow. But Dryden needed me. I didn't want him to think I'd abandoned him. It would break his heart and knowing that was breaking mine.

It was late afternoon when Del began to moan. "Nadia it hurts so much!"

I sat at her side unsure of what to do. "Help me up." She moaned.

"Are you sure?" I asked nervously.

"Yes I'm sure!" She snapped. Then she sighed. "Sorry. Yes. Please."

I helped her out of bed and she began to pace the room like a caged animal, pausing every couple minutes to squat and breathe through contractions. Eventually she calmed down a little and leaned forward on her bed, rocking her hips back and forth. I tried to be as attentive as possible but I was at a loss for what to do and my mind was elsewhere. I wished the midwife would hurry and return.

The midwife did eventually arrive. It was early evening and both Del and I were pacing frantically. The old woman took Del into the bedroom to check her. Suddenly she called out. "Nadia! Get a towel, scissors, and a pot of hot water!"

I quickly did as told. When I brought the things to the midwife she told me to sit with Del and help her breathe through contractions. "We'll keep her breathing as long as possible. She shouldn't push until she can't hold back any longer." I nodded and did as told.

Del labored into the night. She was strong and was able to breathe through contractions until around 1 in the morning when her water broke. The midwife and I helped her get to the bed and she began to bear down. "Good." The midwife nodded. "I can see the baby's head."

Del smiled a pained but happy smile. "Remember to go slowly." The old woman cautioned. Del nodded and tried her best to keep breathing. I found myself wishing she would hurry up and push but I quickly chastised myself.

I was yanked from my thoughts by the door bursting open. Elan dashed into the room and to Adelaide's side. "Thank the stars I'm not too late!" He turned to me. "Thank you Nadia. Now I believe you have somewhere you need to be."

I was at once relieved and confused. "But how did you..." I trailed off.

"You're not the only one in Bridgehaven with magic Nadia. You really need to go now. It's important." Del nodded, giving me her permission to go.

"Thank you." I said softly before heading out the door.