Nadine watched as her niece came across the village. Something wasn't right, the girl never came without being called. And she most certainly didn't bring her father with her.

"Nadine."

"Good evening Delwyn, what brings you to the family, and with your father as well." She asked standing up, growing until she was the size of a human.

"An unusual occurrence happened today, one I felt the family needed to know about."

"All right. Let's go." She replied leading the way to the forest.

~*~*~*~*~

Kat sighed after they had been walking for twenty minutes into the forest. They were finally at the clearing, the Shea. Now they only had to wait. She and Nadine each sat on a stone. Around them were thousands of stones forming a circle. But only nine others would be occupied that night. The last of their family.

"Nadine my dear, what has happened that you called us here?" a tall man with sandy blonde hair asked walking into the clearing.

"Hello to you too Leslie. Have a seat, all will be explained when the others have arrived."

"Fair enough Nadine." He replied, then turned to Kat. "Welcome back milady."

"Thank you Leslie." She replied softly.

He inclined his head softly in response then sat down.

~*~*~*~*~

Thirty minutes later Kat looked around the circle at the remainder of the family.

Nadine sat on her right; her amethyst eyes looking around them showing the hope she had for their future. They were the last of their kind, their clan. Her name meant Hopeful, the fairy name she was given at birth. All of the clan had a fairy name, as well as a given name. In this circle, they were known only by their fairy names, it was the way their clan had survived for thousands of years.

Next to Nadine was Terran, like his name his hair was the color of the earth. He was the tallest of the group, and had deep brown eyes to match his dark hair.

Next to Terran was Eolande, she was easily the most beautiful of their family. She had long blonde hair almost to the floor, and large violet eyes, looking like the violet flowers her name spoke of.

Next to Eolande was Rowan, the oldest of the family. He had deep mahogany colored hair that was interspersed with dusty gray. Kat often thought that it reminded her of a mountain covered with ash, which was unique in her mind as his name meant mountain ash. His watery gray eyes glanced at each of them, as if he could see right through them.

Noreen was the light of the group, reminding them of happier times. Next to her was Garvey, the peaceful one. They had been married for as long as any of them could remember. She had only seen them go against their nature once, when their son died, seven years earlier. Noreen had honey colored hair, and sapphire eyes, while Garvey had dark black hair, and ebony eyes, that seemed to have no end.

Next to Garvey was Rona, her hair was pure white, had been since she was born. Her mother had once said that her hair was like the foam on the sea, matching her deep sea-green eyes perfectly. She had been the second to last to arrive, as she had to come the farthest, from the coast and the sea she loved.

Next to Rona was Kaelin, his name meant waterfall, and his blue hair reminded everyone of one. His hair was a light blue color, which was kept in a ponytail that reached his knees. Next to him was his wife, Newlyn, she was like a spring, constantly flowing and giving joy.

Next to Newlyn was Leslie, who sat on Kat's left. He was one of her favorite uncles; he always treated her like an equal, more like a friend than family. His name meant meadowland, where he lived alone, at peace with their lives.

"Thank you for coming everyone. I'm sorry for calling you on such short notice, but Delwyn arrived an hour ago saying she had to tell us something." Nadine said drawing her from her thoughts.

"Thank you Nadine. It all began when Mediocris arrived at my room earlier this evening. She had a letter,"

"None of us sent you a letter." Nadine began. And everyone nodded in agreement.

"Aye milady, only a member of the fairy can use Mediocris to carry a letter to you."

"Aye Terran, I know." She began.

"Then who sent you a letter with Mediocris?" Eolande asked

"Donovan."

"What!" Rowan roared standing up, looking anything but the older man he was.

"How is that possible Delwyn, Donovan is dead." Newlyn said softly, glancing at Noreen to make sure she was all right.

"That's what we thought." She replied slowly, wondering if she should continue with the look that Rowan was giving her. He had spent too many years on his mountain volcano, his temper was quickly growing out of hand.

"Rowan sit down." Nadine said before turning back to her, "Child, how can you be sure?"

Taking a deep breath she explained what had happened after her father had come to her room, until she had stopped falling.

"How do you know it was him?" Noreen asked slowly.

"She's always had the sight of magic, if she says it was Donovan's magic, then it was his." Leslie said giving her a smile.

"That means your betrothal."

"Aye Garvey. Believe me I know." She replied looking at her future father- in-law.

"Papa had me come tonight to see if you knew anything about Donovan, because he doesn't want to believe it's true. But I know that he is alive, no one else has his magical signature, I know because mine is a part of his. Because we went through the ceremony joining our blood and magic."

"Then it must be true, what about the boy at Hogwarts." Rona asked softly. "We know of what happened when you were trapped in your mind milady, that he is your true love."

"I love him, I always will. But we both know that Donovan is the man that I will marry. I'll take care of Draco; somehow I'll make him hate me. I have to erase him from my mind, before Donovan can learn of him."

"Why?" Nadine asked, thinking she knew the answer.

"Donovan will kill him, it would be his right as my betrothed."

All of them closed their eyes, unsure of how to answer to that.

"You gave it to him willingly." Leslie asked

"Aye, I gave it willingly." She replied softly.

"What will you tell Donovan after you are married?"

"I'll tell him the truth Noreen, that I thought he was dead, but as soon as I learned he was alive, I gave myself completely to him once more." She replied, knowing that a part of Noreen was supportive of her, but a part was also thinking of her son.

"All right milady, it seems you have figured things out."

I have no choice Leslie, my betrothed is alive, my life belongs to him. Tis the way of our people.

"Aye child, that it is. And you are our last hope." Nadine replied softly.

"I know." She began but stopped when they heard a noise in the woods. Luckily there was a silencing spell around the circle, but still they didn't know who was there.

They all stared warily at the woods waiting to see whatever had made the noise.

"That's it, I'm going to see what's out there." Leslie said as he stood up.

"I can answer that for you."

They all looked in shock at the man who had walked out of the woods. He was taller, almost six-four, and his midnight black blue hair was longer, brushing across his shoulders. But his sapphire eyes were still the same.

"Donovan?"

"Aye Delwyn, tis me." He replied softly. "I knew you would be here after the events this afternoon."