Okay, we're almost done, here. I am gonna write an epilogue to follow this, but after that we're all finished. Please send long reviews telling me what you think! I hope you liked it. Thanks to all of you.

Miss Chosaku

Aithene rode into the Adrallan border camp in a hurry, glancing about for a familiar face. At last she spotted a young soldier who'd been kind enough to show her around the stables one earlier afternoon.

Leaning forwards in her saddle, she waved to him. "Taran! Taran of Adrall!"

He looked up, and a smile broke across his boyish face as he noticed her.

"My Queen! It is indeed a surprise to see you here!" he called out to her.

Wasting no time with formalities, Aithene asked "Where is Avar? Where is my husband?"

Taran sighed worriedly. "Ah. So you've heard, have you? Well, he's over here-in that tent." He pointed towards a good sized tent of grayish green.

Aithene thanked him hurriedly and rode towards the tent he'd mentioned. Dismounting, he handed the reins to another young soldier, and she ducked inside the tent.

The inside of the tent was dimly lit, and a doctor was bending over an unconscious form on the double bed. Aithene's breath caught in her throat. "Avar!"

She rushed to his side, reaching out a hand to brush his hair back from his forehead, as he had done when she lay ill. "How is he?" she asked the doctor.

The doctor shook his head sadly. "He looks bad, your Highness. Right now his survival is a matter of chance."

"Must you stay with him?" Aithene asked.

The doctor considered. "I believe it would be best if someone were to stay by him until something happens. I do not think he ought to be left alone."

Aithene smiled kindly at him. "Thank you for your concern, doctor. But-you look tired. Let me stay by him. You can go rest. I will send someone for you if his condition worsens. If no one comes, return for him in the morning."

The doctor bowed. "Yes, your Highness. As you wish." He turned and left the tent, leaving Aithene alone with her sleeping husband.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, she leaned over to kiss him lightly. As she pulled back, Avar's eyes opened slowly, and he blinked at her. "Aithene…?" he asked, sounding confused.

She smiled lovingly down at him. "Yes, it is I."

His face twisted with anguish. "Aithene…I…am so sorry…for what-"

Aithene placed a finger on his lips gently. "Hush. It does not matter. I love you."



Avar looked wonderingly up at her. "You…"

She repeated herself, bending down to kiss him again. "I love you."

This time he kissed her back, pulling her down onto the bed. His strong fingers untied the laces of her dress far faster than Celeste ever could, and in no time at all she was under the blankets with him, wrapped in his embrace.

"I thought you hated-" Avar began.

"And I thought you did, too," Aithene said softly.

Avar smiled sadly. "We appear to have misunderstood each other quite horribly. Let's start again, at the beginning, shall we? I love you."

Aithene moved closer to him, wrapping her arms around his body, reveling in the feel of his skin beneath her hands. "And I love you, too. Let's take it from there."

And they did.

The next morning Aithene was awakened by the doctor. "Avar…?" she asked blearily.

The doctor smiled at her. "He's gotten much better. I don't know what you did, Queen Aithene, but he will survive now. It is certain."

Aithene's entire body was filled with all-consuming joy. Smiling blissfully, she looked up at the doctor. "Thank you, doctor. You may leave us now."

And she returned to where she'd left off the night before, wrapped in Avar's strong embrace.

"I love you," she whispered.

"I know," he whispered back. "I love you too."