A/N: See disclaimer at Chapter 1.

Thanks for all the reviews! I'm having fun with this, silly bit that it is! :-)

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Chapter 2

Never let it be said that Companions' well-wishes are worth anything, because I did not have a good night. In fact, I barely slept at all, tossing restlessly most of the night, repeatedly telling myself that this was not my problem. That I needed to tell myself this concerned me more than the problem itself. I had no obligation to these people. I bore no responsibility to get them home. In all truth, I had done more than my share by welcoming them into my home.

What I did have was a life of my own, and obligations to a group of toddlers back in Romania. I had poured my soul into them for more than two years, and I had my heart set on returning to adopt at least one of them.

So why did I feel so guilty? Why did the thought of sending the Heralds on their way tomorrow trouble me so?

I knew what it was like to be in a foreign place, to be an alien lost and scared, and I was still in my own world. I couldn't imagine how the Heralds must be feeling. But I also knew what it was like to receive kindness and welcome from a stranger. I knew how much that help had meant to me.

I knew I couldn't walk away from this. Also, I'd be lying if I said that the thought of visiting a place I'd daydreamed of as a young teenager held no allure for me. My work in Romania had worn me out, and to be able to go somewhere truly fantastical, even if only for a moment or two, would be a welcome respite—and something I would always cherish. It was dawn by the time I made my choice.

I would go to Valdemar.

Knowing it was useless to try to sleep, I quietly rose and went downstairs to the kitchen. I set a kettle on to boil and opened the kitchen door. There was no sense in delay, and I set off towards the sleeping Companions. The grass was cool beneath my bare feet and as I drew closer to them, they opened their eyes.

"All right, I'll do it," I said without preamble. "But you're going to have to inform your Chosen about your ability to manipulate this Gate, because I'm not going unless I can come back, and they need to know that. So unless you know of some other way to return me to this world, you're going to have to tell them."

:Logical,: Gwena said, and the others nodded their agreement.

"You can always make them forget about it later on," I replied. I made the remark in jest, but the Companions seemed to take me seriously, nodding once more.

:Thank you for doing this,: Gwena said.

I just shrugged. "I've been where you are before."

She merely inclined her head to me, and with a deep breath, I returned to the house to prepare breakfast.

Sleepy murmurs greeted me as I set a pot of water on the stove to boil for porridge. I turned to find all four Heralds making their way into the kitchen. Their Whites were rumpled, but their smiles were smooth and cheerful.

"Good morning," I said. "Breakfast will be ready soon. Would you like some tea in the interim?"

"I'll pass for now," Dylan said. "I should go check on the Com—horses."

I ignored his blunder and only nodded my understanding.

"I'll join you," Elspeth said, and as they left, I turned my attention to the remaining Heralds.

"How about you two?"

"Tea sounds perfect," Sandor said.

"I'll take some as well," Cardon replied, pulling up a chair at the table.

I brought over some cups and a selection of tea bags, and showed them how to use them. They seemed quite fascinated with the concept of tea bags, and impressed with the selection of flavors. For my part, I was impressed that they could read English. Was it the same as their own? And if so, did that mean that the languages of their neighboring kingdoms were the same as other languages on Earth? With a nervous shudder, I realized that I would soon find out.

Breakfast was complete by the time Elspeth and Dylan returned. A nut and dried fruit porridge, bacon, eggs, and toast, along with a selection of fresh fruit and small talk seemed to keep the Heralds and me occupied for a good while. As we were finishing, Elspeth turned to me.

"Gwena told me you agreed to help us get home." She eyed me carefully, and from the lack of surprise on the other Heralds' faces, I could only surmise that they'd been informed via Mindspeech. "Why?" she asked.

I met her eyes squarely. "I've been where you are, lost in a foreign place. I know how much it means to have help in such a situation." I paused to take a sip of my tea. "Besides, you have a talking horse, and a magical Gate that follows you around. Wouldn't you be interested in seeing the world where such things come from?"

She relaxed a bit, and smiled. "I suppose I would."

"Did she tell you that she can make another Gate to get me back here?" I asked. Given Gwena's penchant for "forgetting" to relay important information to her Herald, there was no way I was going to trust her to tell Elspeth about this.

Something of an annoyed look crossed Elspeth's face, and I could see her take a deep, calming breath before answering. "Yes, she did."

Pretending not to understand her frustration, I merely nodded.

"Thank you for doing this, Jaelle," Dylan said. "You can't imagine what it means to us."

"It's nothing," I remarked.

"Hardly that," Elspeth replied, but then hesitated for a moment, as if unsure to continue. "When will you be ready to leave?"

"It won't take me long," I said. "But first, there is something I need to know. What if I can't get back?"

"Gwena is confident she will be able to return you," Elspeth said.

"If there is one thing I have learned," I replied, "it is to prepare for the worst, especially when going to a place that may be difficult or impossible to return from." I looked at each of the Heralds. "I can't go until I know what will happen to me if I can't get back."

Cardon favored me with a sympathetic glance. "We won't just abandon you, Jaelle, if that is what you're worried about."

"And how am I to know that?" I countered. Of course I knew they would not do something so dishonorable, but I hardly had the skills to survive in a medieval society, and I wanted to know what I would be getting into.

"Because," Elspeth said, "I am the Heir to our kingdom's throne. I swear to you on my crown and on my honor as a Herald that you will be taken care of."

It was fortunate for me that surprise was the expected emotion, because I was somewhat stunned at Elspeth's announcement. From what I remembered of the books, she had renounced her position as Heir. Of course, it had been a while since I had read them...perhaps I was mistaken. In any case, having her pledge that she wouldn't toss me out on the streets of Haven made me feel much more confident about going.

"Thank you," I said. "I appreciate that. It won't take me long to pack—just in case," I added with a smile, "and then I'll be ready to go."

"We'll be outside waiting," Elspeth said.

I quickly cleaned up the kitchen and set about to packing. A few essential clothes and books, some toiletries and my walkman, and I was ready to go. I grabbed my backpack on the way out the door and met the Heralds and Companions near the Gate.

"All set?" Sandor asked.

I nodded. "All set." I think.

"The process may be a little disorienting, but the feeling will pass," Elspeth said.

I nodded my understanding and took a deep, prepatory breath.

"All right then," Elspeth declared. "Let's go."

We stepped through the gate.