It was the day after their victory over Kelshk that the people of Cathalorn held a celebration of their newly returned freedom. It was after most of the people had returned to their homes and the few who had housed them getting their own homes back the way they were. Arlen and his mother took most of the morning getting everything back in place, but it still wasn't the same as how it was before the Ra'zac. When afternoon came there began talk of celebration, which everyone agreed was right after what they had been through. So in late afternoon everyone gathered in the square outside the great hall and began to celebrate.

Arlen kept to the edges of the party, leaning against the side of a building and watching from a distance, but he could see what was going on clearly. They started by singing an old song that Arlen had only heard one other time—when his father and the others returned from the war—and its cheery tune cast a sort of spell over everyone who heard it. Soon there dancing and Ludger got out both his old lute and a few barrels of ale from a good year. Soon everyone was laughing and cheering and making toasts. Arlen couldn't help but smile at this sight, but felt a little like an outsider.

He'd won the battle, but after everything he'd been through outside the village could he ever return to be just Arlen of Cathalorn? He was Arlen Shadeslayer, Arlen the Rebel, and now was Arlen Ra'zac Bane as Alaric called him. Did he belong here at all or was he just pretending?

He didn't notice Alaric come beside him initially, but he tried not to react when he did notice the Rider's presence. He was looking at the party as well with an expression that betrayed how he didn't belong. He eventually said wisely, "I've only returned once to my village after I left to become a Rider. I'll never forget how they looked at me then. They saw me not as I was but with admiration and respect I didn't earn and fear that came with having a Dragon. It was as if I become someone else in their eyes, like an Elf." Arlen and Alaric eyes met and the Rider said, "You're lucky that you still have people to go back to. Go and be the person they want you to be, whether that's a brother, a son, a friend, a neighbor, or… a lover."

Arlen looked back to the party and found Leonie standing there. She had daisies in her golden hair and a white dress. She looked more beautiful now in the fading light of the evening than any woman he had ever seen in any light. He couldn't help but smile at her as she smiled at him. "Do you want to dance?" Arlen asked respectfully.

"Oh yeah," Leonie replied. "Let us dance until the sun can't hold its head up and be happy until the last flower wilts." Arlen and Leonie walked hand in hand back to the party where they were building a bonfire.

But before they enjoyed themselves, Arlen saw two women and remembered something. They were Gelsey and her daughter Edana, Lynde's adoptive family. He had avoided them for the fear that they held it against him that Lynde had not returned as he had. But he decided that he would fear them no more and went to them, excusing himself from Leonie for a moment.

He walked up to them and said, "Hello, Gelsey and Edana."

Gelsey looked him over passively and said, "What is it, Arlen? Have you finally figured your trousers need mending?" Arlen looked down at his pants, but found nothing that needed repair. Gelsey laughed and said, "I'm just kidding." Arlen began to smile and sighed. "Now what did you want to talk to me about?"

Arlen's smile faded and he said, "I want to talk to you about Lynde." Gelsey's smile disappeared and Edana frowned. Feeling the heat of their gaze he said, "I'm sorry that she did not come back to you. I'm sorry if you think I should have talked her out of going to the Riders, but I knew that I had no right to do so."

Gelsey shook her head. "I don't blame you or Lynde or her Dragon, Arlen," she said almost happily. "I don't blame anyone or anything. She was meant to go and be a Rider. I know this just as much as I know that she'll come back one day, if only to visit us or her father." She patted him on the shoulder, which was difficult since she was much shorter than him, and said, "She'll be back, and when she is, she'll be our hero."

Arlen nodded. He was glad that she didn't hate him for letting Lynde go, or hate Artsanna for convincing her to go. He too looked forward to their return, and hoped it wouldn't be too long before then. Edana was different though. "I blame you a little," Edana said. Arlen smiled and went back to Leonie.

Arlen and Leonie held each other's hands as they began to dance in a circle and drifted apart. As they jumped the fire was lit and the dry summer wood went up quick. They kept dancing for hours until someone cried, "Look to the sky!"

Arlen looked up, expecting to see trouble, but find none. Instead he saw stars out from behind the clouds and a full moon in the sky. He had not seen it in a long time, but with summer nearing its end and them beginning to see the days shorten slightly he could see the stars without staying awake for longer than he'd like. It was amazing to see those lights in the sky again and he would treasure this moment always.

He turned to Leonie still watching the sky in wonder. He knew that he loved her, but there still hesitation in him. There was much he still wanted to know about her before making any big decisions, but he knew that she was the woman that someday he would like to marry. Perhaps he'd let her know that one day, but for now they basked in the light of the bonfire, the stars, and the moon, and were happy.