A/N: See disclaimer at Chapter 1. Thanks for the reviews, everyone!!

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Chapter 3

Elspeth hadn't been kidding about the disorientation. I felt like the eleventh minute of a ten minute Tilt-a-Whirl ride. I wasn't sure at first if there was any solid ground beneath my feet. I thought I was going to be sick...just what I needed, too—to lose my breakfast by way of introducing myself to Valdemar. Thankfully, Elspeth had also been correct about its passing. Within a few moments, the dizziness and nausea subsided and my vision cleared. I heard someone softly gasp, and I realized a moment later that it was me. All around me were green, rolling hills, and beautiful trees. In the distance I could hear the soft whisper of moving water.

Companions Field. It had to be.

As if on cue, several Companions appeared from behind a hill as if by magic. For all I knew, they may have. After a brief glance at us, they passed by.

"We made it," Elspeth said with a grateful sigh, and then turned to me. "We can't thank you enough."

"It's beautiful here," I replied. "I can see why you were anxious to get back."

She smiled. "Not just for this, unfortunately." She turned to Sandor. "Will you please take the dispatches immediately to Mother?"

Sandor nodded and reached for one of the saddlebags strapped to his Companion's gear. "Jaelle, thank you again. If I don't see you before you go back to your world, please know that I will never forget your kindness, and accept my best wishes for your health and happiness."

"Thank you," I replied. He smiled and then quickly strode away, and I turned to Elspeth. "So when do I go back?"

A faraway look came over Elspeth's face, and I knew she was talking to Gwena. A minute or two later, she focused her attention back on me. "Gwena says she doesn't have the energy to try right now. She needs to eat and rest before she can make the attempt."

One glance at Gwena showed me that Elspeth wasn't exaggerating. The Groveborn Companion looked exhausted. I supposed that I could have asked the Companions to have Rolan Gate me back, but I just couldn't pass up an opportunity to see more of Haven, even if only for a few hours.

"I'd like to introduce you to my mother," Elspeth continued. "Would you mind staying the night and going back in the morning? That would give Gwena time to replenish herself."

"That would be fine," I replied, "though I'm afraid I didn't bring anything fit to meet a queen in."

"Don't worry about that," Elspeth replied with a laugh. "Mother doesn't care to stand on ceremony if she can avoid it, and she'll be so pleased to see us, she wouldn't care if you showed up nude!"

I had to laugh with her. I'd always enjoyed the character of Selenay, and I was looking forward to meeting her.

Dylan and Cardon took care of the the Companions, and Elspeth led me to the palace. I wish I could have commented on its size, or the sense of impression I got upon seeing it, but I'm afraid I was too taken up in watching the people to notice much of anything else.

I felt as though I had been assimilated by a box of crayons. All around me were students or teachers of the various Collegia dressed in white, red, green, grey, blue—to say nothing of the nobles and courtiers who were decked out like rainbows—all scurrying about in an organized form of madness. I was never one for crowds, and I was glad when Elspeth closed the door to the palace behind us, shutting us away from it all.

The first thing Elspeth did was find a servant to carry my bags to the suite I would be staying in. She then led me down corridors, twisting and turning so often that I had long since considered myself lost by the time we reached our destination.

"These are my mother's personal suites," Elspeth said as we approached a pair of guarded doors. "She should be well into her working day by now."

"We needn't disturb her if she's doing something important," I said.

"It's no disturbance," she replied. "Gwena told me she's been looking for an excuse to take a break all morning."

The two guards smiled and bowed to Elspeth. They stood aside for us, and she opened the doors, leading the way through.

There were two women in Whites, one sitting at a table, and one leaning over her shoulder, who looked up at our entrance. The older of the two, a woman with blue eyes and a circlet of gold in her hair immediately smiled at Elspeth and rose from behind her table to cross the room and embrace her.

"Caryo told me you got back," she said to Elspeth, confirming her identity as Selenay, "just as Sandor arrived with the dispatches. I've been so worried ever since your presences dropped out of the Circle."

"We're just fine, Mother," Elspeth replied and then turned to the other woman, who was approaching with open arms.

"Catling," she said with a smile, drawing Elspeth into a warm embrace. "I'm glad you're back safe."

The soft curls of her hair and heart-shaped face, together with the nickname she had used, led me to believe that the second woman was none other than Talia.

Once the welcomes had been exchanged, Elspeth turned to me. "Mother, Talia, this is Jaelle. She is responsible for getting us safely home."

I felt suddenly self-conscious. Should I bow? Kneel? Shake their hands? Belatedly, I inclied my head to them both in a pathetic form of compromise. "It's nice to meet you both," I said.

I could see the surprise in their eyes as they traded quick looks with each other. They must have thought I was the most uncivilized person in the world. Except that I wasn't from their world, and the thought of explaining all that had happened seemed suddenly overwhelming. I looked to Elspeth in silent supplication and she favored me with a sympathetic smile.

"Why don't we all sit down," she suggested, "and I'll tell you what happened."

We took up various spots in chairs or on couches, and Elspeth told the two women what had happened to her and her fellow Heralds.

Selenay turned to me once Elspeth finished speaking. "Jaelle, we can't thank you enough. You have our eternal gratitude. I mean that."

"I've kinda been where Elspeth has been before," I replied. "I was happy to help. Besides, as I told her," I continued with a smile to Elspeth, "you have a fascinating world compared to mine. How could I pass up the opportunity to visit?"

"Our world is fascinating?" Elspeth replied. "Mother, Talia, you should have seen this place..."

We spent the next little while talking about the differences in our worlds, and I had to laugh when Elspeth tried to describe a television set.

"You know," Selenay said thoughtfully, "tonight is the Great Feast."

"Cultural holiday," Elspeth said to me beneath her breath.

"Jaelle," Selenay continued, "I would be honored if you would join me at my table as my guest."

"The honor would be mine," I said, knowing what I did of medieval society from history classes and such. To be invited to eat at the royal table was something some people would kill for. "But I'm afraid I have nothing to wear." I hoped, more than believed, that such a flimsy excuse would entice Selenay to withdraw her request. What did I know of how to behave in such a setting? I strongly suspected that the knowledge that I had acquired from my participation in the SCA wasn't going to get me very far in this world. There were real nobles here who would take real offense at any slight, intended or otherwise.

"That's a problem easily solved," Talia said.

"We have so many gowns, we're bound to find one you can wear," Elspeth added. She looked at me critically. "Dark hair, blue eyes—nothing in pastel, for certain."

"My favorite color is deep purple, if that helps," I offered.

Selenay suddenly smiled. "I've got just the thing. You'll look perfect in it. I'll send some servants to your suite later on to help you prepare."

"I appreciate that, thank you," I replied, relaxing a little. "I'm afraid I'm rather inept when it comes to making myself look presentable for formal occasions."

"I know what you mean," Talia said with a groan and Selenay and Elspeth began to laugh. Remembering Talia's similar situation from the second Arrow's book, I smiled gratefully. Having someone understand made me feel better about going—not that I would have turned down Selenay's invitation. Even I, in my ignorance, knew better than that.

But perhaps it wouldn't be so bad after all.