Kalina looked over the Plains of Sorrows in the moonlight. In the last two days of marching, she had succeeded in finding a reason to avoid both Cavan and Behome. She slept in trees making the excuse that she was keeping watch. The distant campfires of the enemy camp glinted in the darkness. The words of the Underground echoed through her head. Was he thinking of controlling her? Or was he going to make Cavan a victim of his own passion? This is not what she should be thinking about before the morning of battle. There were footsteps behind her and Kalina turned to see who was coming. Cavan stood staring at her.

"Why are you afraid of me?"

Kalina was surprised at the question. "What makes you think I'm afaid of you? I just have a lot on my mind."

"Your eyes betray you," he replied as he got closer, "why can't you be honest with me?" When Kalina didn't respond Cavan shook his head and asked, "Are you afraid I'll hurt you? That I'll make you do something against your will?"

She didn't mean to but Kalina tensed at the question. "I don't want to give you false hope. I know I removed the board but I don't know about…"

"Sex?"

"Starting a family," Kalina said, an odd look in her eyes. "I…" But Cavan had gotten closer and she wanted to back away but her feet were rooted to the ground. Was the Underground going to make his move already?

"I won't make you do something you don't want to do," he said as he placed his hands on her shoulders, "but I do want to talk to you about Behome." Hearing his name made Kalina wince. Cavan continued, "I don't think it was him that came to you that evening…"

"What makes you say that?" she asked, "Who do you think it was?"

"Behome seemed genuinely confused when we confronted him about it. The only other person I can think of is the one who attacked you that night."

"Xavier? Why would he…" then she hissed, "Your father!"

Cavan tightened his grip on her shoulders. "No…I don't think he did it because of my father. I think he did it to throw your concentration off and I think he succeeded."

"My concentration is fine," retorted Kalina, "I'm fully prepared for the battle tomorrow."

"Are you? Tell me…who is your enemy?"

"Anyone who threatens a peaceful way of life. Your father and whoever is fighting with him are my enemies. Are you okay with fighting against your own flesh and blood?"

Cavan released her and turned away, "Just as I thought. You always wiggle your way out of having the focus on you."

"The focus isn't supposed to be on me. I'm the one who works behind the scenes. All that I have accomplished is because I had to."

"Do you realize," Cavan said softly, "that in the book that documents the Warriors and their lives yours is by far the longest? I don't think that any future Warriors of the Labyrinth will even get close to what you have done."

"I've done nothing!" hissed Kalina, "Nothing that would be worthy of writing down. I've done the job that was given me and followed what orders I thought necessary."

Cavan turned and looked at her. "That alone shows that you are the best Warrior that Labyrinth has had aside from your father," he said. "Not even the Labyrinth knew he was alive though how he pulled that off I have no clue."

"Twins have similar energies," Kalina said, "I noticed that with the dragon twins."

"You not recognizing Xavier's energy shows-"

"Speak for yourself," Kalina interrupted, "don't accuse me when you yourself thought it was Behome." She paused for a moment eyes closed and taking deep breaths, then said, "I don't want to fight. Not tonight."

"Not ever," Cavan murmured as he closed the space between them. Kalina succeeded in taking a step back before he enclosed her in his arms. She could feel the strength and support in the embrace. Taking a breath she noticed that he smelled like campfire and leather very different from Behome who smelled of cinnamon and cloves. Slowly she returned his embrace.

The entire night Jareth could think of nothing else but Sarah and their children. How he wished that he was with her right now holding her close with the children playing nearby. The few moments he did sleep all he dreamt of was them. "Kalina," he called out. When she appeared in front of him she seemed odd. "You haven't been able to sleep either eh?"

"I haven't slept at all," she said, "the thought of fighting tomorrow has kept me awake. I am uncomfortable with Cavan being here. If anything were to happen to him…and I know Natasha would most likely have my head of anything were to happen to Behome. Sarah would kill me if you get hurt or killed…the three of you form a trifecta of ulcers."

Jareth couldn't help but smile at her. She had a strange way of putting things sometimes. "I assure you that after this battle Behome and I will be two less ulcers for you to worry about. After all of us get home, the only one you'll have to worry about is Cavan." There was a fleeting look of fear in her eyes but it was gone before he could call her out on it.

"You will always remain an ulcer along with your family," she said teasingly, "I've a feeling your son will be sure to get into some trouble."

"Let's not leave out any children you might have," Jareth countered, "I'm sure they'd be the ones leading him into said trouble." Kalina smiled tightly at him and bowed her head but didn't say anything.

"I must go," she said, "last minute preparations and all."

After she left Jareth produced a crystal. Gazing in it he saw Sarah sitting on the floor with the children playing a board game. "Sarah," he breathed and watched as she looked up and around as if she heard him. Making the crystal disappear he lay on the ground with a bundle under his head. If Jareth was going to be of any use he had to get some sleep.

Xavier couldn't stop watching her. There was something about Kalina that fascinated him. Maybe it was the bursts of emotion she'd let show through though she was trained to be stoic…or it might be that despite everything going on in her life she still looked to the coming battle with the determination to win. She walked through the camp pausing every now and then to speak with someone or to nod an acknowledgement to a greeting. When she got to her tent he put down the mirror and stared across the Plains at the distant twinkling fires. "What will you do Kalina," he whispered across the distance, "when tomorrow comes and it only brings more heartache? You are bound to fall yet you march forth anyway. I wonder what you will do when faced with the decision that will break you." Lifting the mirror again he saw that she was sitting cross legged in her tent with her face in her hands. Her shoulders were shaking and he realized that she was crying. "I see," he muttered to himself, "you let it out before anything has a chance to affect you." He disappeared and reappeared in Kalina's tent. Quick as lightening she turned to bring her sword against him but he was quicker. Knocking her sword aside he grabbed her wrist and brought her against him. Covering her mouth with his hand he didn't think about her telepathy…or her teeth.

Cavan! Her voice rang loudly in his head as she bit into his hand. He hissed but kept a hold on her.

"Kalina!" Cavan was outside the tent but Xavier had put up a barrier so that nothing could get in. "Kalina! Let me in!"

"Hold still little Warrior, I merely want to tell you something about your husband."

"Let me go you filthy-"

He cut her off by crushing his lips against hers. She struggled against him as he slipped a small tablet from his cheek into her mouth. Pulling away he quickly covered her mouth again and pinched her nose. For a while he thought it wouldn't work until she swallowed. There was a stab of pain in his side and he let her go to find that she had indeed stabbed him with a dagger. Cavan burst into the tent and Kalina dove into his arms.

"What are you doing here?" Cavan asked angrily as he held his wife tightly for a moment then lifted her face to examine her. "Are you okay Kalina? Did he hurt you?" he asked before crushing her against his chest again. Xavier looked at him and sneered.

"Tell me Cavan," he said, "how long will it take for you to revert back to your old ways? With your father so close I'm sure his influence will start taking effect. How long until you harm the woman you swore to protect?" He smirked as Kalina tensed in Cavan's arms and put her hands on his chest to push away enough to look in his face.

"What is he talking about Cavan?"

Xavier smiled and walked up to them. "I'm saying that after his father is victorious you will be the spoils. Cavan will return to his father and his old ways. No one truly changes for good." He knew his work was done when doubt clouded her eyes…along with fear.