Hi everyone…so okey, I haven't updated in like 3 years…but I kind of forgot and then when I remembered I kept putting it off…I don't really go on this site anymore, you see…but that was no excuse to my poor, disappointed, faithful reviewers, and it is for them that I am posting this last snippet of my story…so thanks to everyone who ever read my stuff…and I hope you like this one:

Seen and Unforeseen

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And they weren't Ecam's eyes.

Numair Salmalín stood above Amanda. He looked as he had when she last had seen him three days ago. He was pale and gaunt, but his hair was tied up now, and his eyes now held despair within their fathomless depths. He was standing between her and Ecam, and somehow Amanda was no longer afraid.

"And it took me about half an hour after you left to realize that." He said softly to her, then he turned to Ecam, who, to Amanda's great surprise, was smiling.

"You won't be able to do any more then you wife, Salmalín." he said, "You know as well as I do that Kathedhios drains away any magic you may have left.

"You're right about that." Numair said quietly, the moonlight falling across his pale face. "It does drain magic." And he held up a hand shrouded in black fire. He smiled, and turned slowly to the horizon, where the faintest tinges of light had begun to creep across the sky. "But I guess not for me. Besides, Ecam, in case you haven't noticed…"

Ecam turned to face his greatest enemy, and for the first time, Amanda saw naked fear in his eyes. Numair nodded.

"It's midwinter." he said, and spoke his spell.

The world around Amanda was suddenly thrown into darkness, as black fire obscured her senses. Then, suddenly, as quickly as it had come, the magic was gone, blown away like tendrils of mist on a windy day. Numair stood above Ecam, who was lying on the ground, unmistakably dead.

Amanda got slowly to her feet.

"Numair?" he turned slowly around.

Their eyes met for a breathless moment, and then they were in each other's arms, not kissing, not speaking, desperate to know the other was all right. Then, finally, they let go, and Numair said, his voice slightly hoarse.

"I'm sorry I didn't come with you…I was…I shouldn't have…his voice trailed off.

"I know," Amanda said. "and I'm sorry I said…all those things to you earlier…I though you didn't love me..."

"I'll love you forever." He said fiercely, and he bent down to kiss her sweetly. Amanda clung to him, as much from exhaustion as from surprise. She could never forget what his kisses felt like, the tingling sensation that spread throughout her body, the tender yet protective way he held her, and how much she loved him. When he stopped kissing her, they stood there for a moment, gazing into each other's faces. Then Amanda cleared her throat, and said softly,

"Well, Ecam's gone now. The war will end; I doubt his men will fight without him. Neraso will become king; we can finally go home in peace. We can go back to living our lives, not someone else's. I can see Caroline and Maeve and Emily, again, and you can see Jon and Neraso and Alanna. We can live our lives together, and one day have children," she said uncertainly, and to her relief, Numair smiled. "and our children can have children, and we'll grow old together…forever…" she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.

"Yes," he said softly, brushing the stray tear from her cheek, "Even after we die. I'll never let you go again."

"I love you, Numair."

"I love you, Amanda."

There was a long silence, and then Amanda said hesitantly,

"We should probably get home, there's a lot of explaining to do." she said, grinning, and he nodded, and together they walked into the forest where the horses were tied, hand in hand, forgetting in their happiness that there were in fact two parts of the prophecy, and that one was still unfulfilled…

It is said that there are two parts of life, what is, and what should be, and that with ambition, hard work, and a little luck, perhaps once in a lifetime these two parts touch. And though for these two destined lovers, forever was so short, the time they had together was both what was and what should be.

And in the end, that is all that truly matters.