"Valen said, 'will you follow me into fire?' Will you?" Delenn asked Shakiri. He stood there, dumbfounded. Had he not really believed she would do what she said? He must not have. In his heart, he had denied to himself that she would take such a drastic action.

Shakiri did not act, but Lennier strode over to the column of fire, with his mentor inside. "Delenn, don't do this," he pleaded.

Lennier knew she could not leave. But he had asked her anyway. Gently, she told him, "What is done is done. I cannot leave the circle now. You have my instructions. Carry them out." She held her hand to her heart, and stretched out her other hand, in the traditional gesture of farewell. Lennier returned it. Now, he understood what she was going to do. He realized that he could not stop her, for the sake of their people. Delenn, having said goodbye to her friend, turned again to the coward Shakiri, who had still not moved an inch closer to the torment of the Starfire wheel. "Shakiri, you do not follow. Does the warrior caste concede leadership?" she asked him.

"This proves nothing!" he insisted.

"Our entire world is watching, Shakiri! If you believe so much in your caste, step into the circle and die for them. Or is it easier for you to kill my caste? Easier to send others out to die for you?" Delenn knew it was, but she had to make the others realize it. The Starfire wheel opened again, and the fire came on stronger and hotter than before.

"This is madness! I refuse..."

"You said that a warrior does not fear death, Shakiri." Neroon interrupted him.

"Neroon? What are you..."

"You said that death was only one of two consequences, neither valued nor feared above the other. Death is merely a release from our obligations. Why then are you afraid Shakiri? Have you put your own importance above our people?" Neroon was becoming indignant. Delenn could barely hear them now, over the roar of the fire in her ears. She could not manipulate the debate anymore from where she was. She would have to rely on Neroon to get him into the wheel.

The smell of her burning flesh filled her nostrils, and nearly made her sick. She held control though. She had to appear poised.

"Do you take their side?" Shakiri demanded of Neroon

"I speak for my people! Who do you speak for? And what are you willing to do?" Neroon indicated the silent mass of people in the upper level of the temple. "They are waiting for your answer."

Even Shakiri could not deny that challenge of his honor. Slowly, he approached, and entered the wheel. As soon as he was in, Shakiri began to reel with the pain of the onslaught of the fire. Delenn mentally scoffed at him. A great warrior indeed! The leader of the warriors, and he reeled at this simple pain. Delenn was reminded of the torture she had gone through at the hands of Sebastian. The pain from the wheel was becoming comparable to that now. She tried to keep control, but she found her breathing becoming labored. But she would not scream. She would stand proud for her caste until the end.

The pain kept increasing. At least, she thought solemnly, when she was being tortured by Sebastian it had been jolts of pain with short respites. It was then that Delenn realized that Shakiri was trying to say something.

"Delenn, we can walk out together; share the power. No one will speak against us!"

"No!" Did he think she was a fool? She would not agree to that. She became furious at him. He was trying to bargain his way out. Did he think that she really wanted to die? She, of all people had everything to live for right now, and the universe had forced her into a position where she had to choose between the death of countless Minbari; or her own sacrifice, of her life, her soulmate, and of the opportunity to know her son. As her thoughts drifted to her precious son, a small trickle of tears found it's way down her face. No one could see clearly enough through the fire to know that it was there, and before it had made it's way far, the surrounding heat had evaporated it.

Shakiri persisted. "There are other ways!"

"You should have explored them before you tore our people apart!" She screamed with all her fury at him. The Starfire wheel iresed open again, and a new bout of heat tore into her flesh. Shakiri could no longer stand the heat. He leapt from the flames. Delenn had not expected him to give up that soon. He was even more cowardly than she had imagined. Dimly, she was aware of his aides scurrying to cool his smoking body. She held her arms up in triumph. At that moment, she realized she had been a fool. She should have never done this. What she wouldn't give to be in John's arms right now...

Beyond her range of seeing and hearing now, Neroon approached Lennier. "I do not understand. When we were aboard your ship when she proposed this, Delenn told me she would leave the circle after he did. Why does she not come out?"

Lennier realized what she was doing. "She's making her point. For all our people. For the world." Lennier was right. Had she left the wheel, it would only have proved that she was more willing to take chances than Shakiri. It would not prove that she was willing to die for her people like she said. If she left the fire, her word would amount only to the words' of a hypocrite. The only thing that would, or could prove her faith in her caste and her people was her death.