Disclaimer: Nothing belongs to me except Rathena, Vella, Jerek, Zethia, Tarren, Danel, Fey and Askin. (Boy my list keeps getting longer and longer.) Everything else belongs to Tamora Pierce. And I like to point out that if everything did belong to me I wouldn't be writing fan fiction now would I?

Wow! I got a lot of positive feedback from the last chapter and what can I say, it makes me happy! The story is winding down and I'm sure some of you will hate me for the ending but what can I do. Thank you all reviewers I really appreciate it.

This chapter is dedicated to. My best friend Tiff, who is actually Fey in disguise. This chapter is going to her basically because she wanted me to dedicate a chapter to her, lol. Hope she's happy!

And without further ado, the chapter.

The festival had been wonderful for Jerek and Vella, they had danced, talked, kissed and laughed. They had had a great time. It was the day after and they still had smiles on their faces. They went through the town hand in hand, laughing on their way to the inn. They were going to meet Numair and Rathena and go on a picnic before they had to leave for Corus. They reached the inn and Jerek went ahead and opened the door.

He made a bowing gesture to Vella as he said, " My Lady". Vella laughed and went through the door while Jerek followed behind her. Once they were inside Vella went to give him a kiss oh his cheek but Jerek turned his head so that she ended up kissing his mouth instead. Vella complied and afterward laughed and gave him a playful slap on his arm. Vella laughed again as Jerek feigned injury.

"Oww!" He complained as he held his arm and gave Vella puppy dog eyes. Vella shook her head and smiled. She bent down and kissed the spot that she had hit.

"Better" she asked looking at Jerek with laughter in her eyes. Jerek leaned in towards her and kissed her deeply.

"Much" Jerek replied in answer to her question. Vella gave a sigh of contentment and she wrapped her arms around Jerek and put her head on his chest as they waited for Numair and Rathena.

When Numair came down the stairs behind Rathena he was greeted with the sight of Jerek and Vella with their arms wrapped around each other. When he saw them in that position a pang of jealousy hit him, but he didn't quite understand why. He just shook the feeling off and greeted them.

"So are we ready of a day filled with fun before Numair and I must return to the dreadfully boring days at court?" Rathena asked very perkily as she swung a picnic basket around. Numair chuckled.

Vella laughed, "I'm sure we are, and we better get going!" She grabbed Jerek's hand and started to lead him out the door. As the four of them went through town to the spot where they would be picnicking they had pleasant conversation. As they were reaching the edge of the town Rathena finally asked where they were going.

Jerek looked at Vella and smiled, "It's a surprise." Jerek and Vella were leading the other two through the woods to the place where they would be picnicking for the day. The woods seemed to open up and they revealed a field covered in wild flower.

"It's beautiful." Rathena breathed as she looked around the field.

"Vella and I come here sometimes, we thought you two would like it." As he said this Jerek pulled Vella over into a hug. The four of them stood there for a bit, just looking at the scenery.

"Well we have to get this set up," Rathena said in her business tone. "Jerek you can help me and Numair why don't you and Vella go and look for a lake or something like that, maybe we can go jump in late, it's hot out here." Rathena fanned herself with her hand as if to express her point. Jerek chuckled.

"Sure I'll help you, I can't have you mess things up too badly can I?" Jerek smiled sweetly.

Vella grabbed Numair's hand and pulled him off towards the woods. "Come on, let's get going!" Numair laughed but obliged and followed Vella. As the two were searching the woods they began to talk.

"So," Vella started. "how you like Corus?"

Numair grinned, "I like it, it suits me well, plus I have family or the closest thing to it there."

"Is their anyone. I mean you seem like the type of man." Vella trailed off as Numair began to shake his head sadly. She paused their search to take a break and set her self down on a rock as she looked at Numair inquiringly.

"There was someone, a long time ago, but she's gone now, I don't know where to. I . I normally don't speak of her, but you remind me of her, and your eyes. they are just like hers." A single tear fell onto Numair's cheek. He didn't understand why he was acting like this, there was just something about that girl, something about Vella that made his senses scream Daine.

Vella went over to Numair and put her arm across his shoulders. "Oh I'm sorry, if I had known I wouldn't have brought it up." Numair raised his hand to stop her apologies.

"It's not your fault," He shook his head woefully. "like I said I usually don't react this way. Her.her name was Daine, she was a student of mine, and I fell in love." Numair was drawn into his memories. "See I was afraid to admit it to myself, she was so much younger than me and I feared that I would unknowingly take advantage of her." He chuckled. "She pushed those fears away."

They sat there for a while, with Vella trying her best to comfort Numair and with him reliving memories involving Daine. Then all of a sudden Numair shook himself out of his thoughts.

"Well if we want to find that lake we better get moving." Numair said standing up. Vella was surprised by Numair's sudden change of mode but she decided not to comment and she stood up.

"Lead the way!"

As they two navigated their way threw the woods Numair kept stealing glances at Vella. It was driving him crazy, there was something about her, something that made him think of Daine. His thoughts were interrupted by Vella.

"Oh look, right over there!" Numair looked in the direction that she pointed and sure enough there was a lake, he wasn't that surprised that they had found one, the part of Galla that they were in was littered with them. Vella walked a little faster as she went towards to lake, when she reached it she bent over and splashed water on her face. Then she sighed.

"We found the lake only to go back." Vella said woefully. "Well let's start back."

It was late in Lithia, everyone was in their beds. The four friends had come back from their picnic and they had all had a fun time. In the inn where Numair and Rathena were staying Numair sat on his bed wide-awake. He kept seeing pictures of Vella in his head. He needed to think and he couldn't do it in the stuffy room that he was in. He needed to be outside in the open air.

Numair opened his door and went to leave the inn. He walked across the village and went into the woods. When he went far enough that he felt he wouldn't be bothered he stopped and looked around noticing it was the spot where he had talked about Daine earlier that day.

Numair sighed. Daine. he lover her so much, and he wanted to find her so badly. During his stay in Lithia he hadn't thought about her much and whenever he thought of her he was with Vella. His thoughts were all jumbled now, he loved Daine but he for some reason felt drawn to Vella.

He could see her curly red hair, her happy smile, and he could see her eyes. Her eyes stood out the most. He saw the blue-gray eyes in his mind, the same eyes as. Daine. His mind started to race. Daine's eyes, why hadn't he figured it out before? Vella was Daine. It all made sense. It made sense why Vella couldn't remember her past. It made sense why her eyes were the same. It made sense why Numair was drawn to her.

Now that he knew that Vella was Daine he could work on getting Daine's memory back. He started to think of how he would go about Vella, how he would approach her but a silver light interrupted his thoughts. When the light died down a badger was left in his place.

"Badger, you have to help, I've figured out-" Numair started to tell Badger but he was interrupted.

"I know, I know that you've found Daine." Badger said. "But I have to ask you to try and not peruse this, do it for her."

Numair looked at the badger horror stricken, "How can you ask that, she's the only reason I've kept alive these past years, the thought of seeing here and now once I've found her again your asking me to give her up? And how can you say that leaving her here without a past, without a clue as to who she really is, is best for her?"

"Numair, I know this hurts, but you have to listen to me." Badger said in a voice that seemed much older. "Daine could have remembered her past at any time, there's nothing stopping her but her, but she didn't. She doesn't want to." Badgers voice was pained now. "She wants to forget her life, she wants to forget the pain of it, certainly not the happy parts but to her the pain overcomes the happiness so she wants to. she wants to give it all up."

Numair shook his head, not wanting to believe. "How can you say that, you don't know."

"But I do. Look into her eyes do you see Daine there, yes they are Daine's eyes, they look the same but when you look into them do you see Daine?" A tear fell down the Badgers face, and when it hit the ground a small lily sprung up from the earth. Numair sat there finally accepting defeat.

"I'm sure one day, she'll come back to you. Daine and Vella are two different people. Two people each with their own lives, each with their own destines and their own souls." With that the Badger disappeared in a flash.

Numair stood up, his face set in stone and he turned to leave but he stopped. He looked at the white lily that had sprung up from the ground. It reminded him of Daine, so pure, so ever lasting. He bent over and laid a kiss on its soft white petals and then he started his long, morbid walk towards Lithia.

When Rathena woke up Numair was downstairs looking like he had seen death.

"Are you alright?" Rathena asked, concerned.

Numair looked startled for a moment but then put on his mask again. "Yes I'm fine."

Rathena didn't look convinced but decided to not press the matter. "Well I'll pack and then we a go back to Corus, I must admit I've missed that place." She started to go upstairs but Numair stopped her.

"I've already packed, we're all set." He said in a rather monotone voice.

"Well alright then," Rathena stole a glance at Numair. "let's go home."

* ** * I know you are all probably furious at me but what can I say, my muse willed it his way. Don't hurt me please! Next chapter will be the last chapter much to everyone's dismay I'm sure. I have it all written out something that rarely happens so it should be out soon don't worry. I want to thank all the reviewers and I especially want to thank my beta reader, I appreciate you checking my work very much, thank you!! Well I hope you liked this chapter and I hope you'll review! Toodles!