A/N: Well, here it is. I'm still upset about the lack of reviews, but I suppose I can deal. Thanks to Kate of Carlay for being a fantastic beta for this story and KrisEleven for being willing to reassure me about my Tris :D. Thank you so much! Longer A/N at the bottom talks about sequels and where I'm going from here.

Disclaimer: For the last time this story, I'm not TP.

Epilogue

"Who were they?" Hunter asked Tris as they watched the men being hauled away.

"They were working in the name of Empress Berenene," Tris replied. "I don't think she knew about it, though."

"Why not?"

"Why would she send someone to kidnap a mage who's already bested her once?" Tris asked, but it was clearly a rhetorical question. "I don't think she knew."

xXx

Not too much later, Tris and Hunter went with Sandry and the others to Duke's Citadel. "Hunter has to be introduced!" had been Sandry's reasoning, and no one fought her. Tris insisted on going to Cheeseman Street to change and fix her appearance and her braids, but they ended up at the Citadel in little time.

Almost immediately after they arrived, the doors slammed open and Niko strode through, demanding to see Tris.

After everything had been explained to him and he was a bit calmer, they introduced him to Hunter. Niko looked at the other man with an expression of surprise, but quickly masked it with his usual superior face.

Duke Vedris, accompanied by Sandry, came through the door next, smiling widely. "Well, now, today seems a happy occasion."

Sandry grinned at her uncle's side. "Uncle I want you to meet Hunter. Hunter, this is my Uncle Vedris."

Hunter bowed. "Your Grace, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"And you, my boy," Vedris said, eyeing the young man. "It's very good to meet someone Tris has taken a liking to."

Hunter glanced at Tris; she had a frown on her face and was turning pink.

xXx

As they talked, Hunter noticed the Duke growing more and more pale and weak. All at once, his breathing grew heavy. Sandry reached over to him, grabbing his hand when he didn't respond. "Uncle?" she said, and then stood. "He needs to be taken to his room," she said authoritatively.

Instantly, a few guards were there, and they carried the Duke to his room. "Tell us when you know," Tris said; she was very close to Duke Vedris, and so were her brother and sisters.

Sandry nodded. "As soon as I know," she replied, and hurried off, a worried look crossing her features.

The others looked around at each other, not sure of what to do. Niko was the first to rise. "I should be going," he said. "I've got to tell Lark and Rosethorn that you're all right, Tris," he told her.

"If Talia's still there, will you send her home?" Briar asked, rubbing his face with a hand.

Niko nodded and left the room after saying goodbye to Daja, his student, and Hunter.

"What now?" Daja asked.

"We wait," Briar replied.

"You should go back home," Daja said. "Care for your plants, and be with Talia."

"Who'll stay?" Tris asked. "I will."

Daja shook her head. "No. I will. You and Hunter go back to Cheeseman Street. You need rest, Tris. I'll tell you the moment I hear something, all right?"

After a few minutes of fighting, Tris and Briar agreed that Daja would stay. The Trader girl started to walk to another room, but Briar called her back. "Once we rest, it'll be your turn," he told her. She nodded without turning, and then kept walking.

xXx

Hunter and Tris left Briar on the way home. "I need to get something from my forge," Hunter said.

"I'll go with you," Tris replied. "We'll see you at home, Briar," she told her brother, and he nodded and continued on his way.

"What did you forget?" Tris asked.

"You'll see," Hunter replied.

When they got to his forge, Hunter took something off the table. "I finished it this morning, but then Daja came to get me," he told her, and then passed it to her.

It was a small copper flower that looked like it was feathered or something of the sort. "What is this?" she asked.

"It's called a globe amaranth," Hunter replied, leaning against a table.

"What does it mean?" Tris asked, looking up from her inspection.

Hunter grinned lazily. "Unfading love."

Tris smiled softly. "Thank you."

xXx

They decided to walk through the market for a bit before going home; Tris wanted to buy Chime, her glass dragon, some glass coloring as a treat, and she also wanted to buy a small gift for Glaki before the girl had to go back to Lightsbridge.

Just before they left the market, Tris and Hunter heard someone calling Hunter's name. They turned, and Hunter smiled. Tris looked at the girl approaching them with a frown.

She was very petite and thin, with long caramel colored hair cascading down her back. As she drew closer, Tris saw a hint of freckles on the bridge of her nose, and noticed that her sparkling eyes were a light hazel color.

"Chloe," Hunter acknowledged. "I haven't seen you in a while. How have you been?"

The girl smiled and waved a hand around. "Very well, thank you. Father has been trying to get me to marry, of course, but what else is new?" She chuckled softly, and her eyes wandered and came to rest on Tris. Her eyes opened wide, and she stuck out a hand. "I'm Chloe."

"This is Tris," Hunter said before Tris could growl something at the other girl.

Chloe's eyes lit with understanding. "Oh," she murmured. Then she laughed. "Hunter and I have been friends practically forever. My father is a merchant, and buys much of his metal goods from Hunter. And I think I know your sister in law? Talia?"

Tris's face relaxed, but only a little. Chloe shifted her weight from one foot to the other and then smiled up at Hunter. "Well, congratulations, Hunter," she told him. Tris had to admit, she sounded sincere.

"Thank you," Hunter replied, smiling. He grinned even wider at Tris when Chloe was gone. "Tris, she was telling the truth."

"I'm sure she was," Tris grunted, twirling the flower stem in her fingers.

"Then why are you sparking?" Hunter asked with a smile.

Tris glowered when she noticed he was right; the braids by her face were sparking with her lightning. She didn't say anything though.

"There's no need to be jealous," Hunter said.

"And why not?" Tris asked angrily. "Not that I'm jealous!"

"Of course not. You have no reason to be. I love you." Then he waved a hand, slightly embarrassed. "And anyway, she's…not interested in men."

Tris looked up sharply. "She isn't?"

Hunter shook his head and rubbed the back of his neck. "No. She doesn't like people to know."

Tris nodded, and her lightning faded. "Of course not." She began thinking. "Tell me about her."

Hunter looked over in surprise as they started their walk back to Cheeseman Street. "What do you want to know?"

Tris shrugged. "Anything."

Obligingly, Hunter told her all he knew. It filled the time they spent walking home. When they got there, Talia came to see who was entering the house. "Oh, it's you two," she said, grinning.

"I met Chloe," Tris said.

Talia looked confused, but her face cleared. "Such a sweetheart, isn't she?" she asked. "I think Daja would like her," she said more quietly, folding her hands in front of her as if she expected to be chastised for the thought.

Tris was pleased that she and Talia were on the same page about that. "Perhaps," she replied thoughtfully.

A/N: Well, there you go! I hope you liked this story. Please review and make my day. I've really worked hard on this story and I'd like to know if you liked it or not.

Sequels: There are 2 more sequels in this series. Mending the Rift (Daja's story) will be next, followed by Sandry's story Growing From The Iron Will. But for now, I think I'll take some time away from the circle and go back to my Crow Legends series. The story continues with Naira's little brother Palen. Look for it soon.

Forum: Please, everyone, go visit the forum that I mod, and nominate your favorite TP fics. the address is www (dot) fanfiction (dot) net/forum/The_Ficship_Competitions/54838/. Please, go check it out. Who knows, you might find a new favorite story! :D Love to all! --Sarah