Jessi: I hate you writer's block. :( But I think it was worth the struggle :)

The day was surprisingly mild for the season of winter. For Vale and Chel it was pleasantly warm underneath the small mound of furs and blankets they had piled over themselves. Each one rested against the other, still half-asleep, even though it was almost noon.

Finally it was Chel who stirred first, stretching like a cat before slowly venturing outside their bed for a look.

A grey, mud-splattered gelding was peacefully cropping at the grass that grew at the entrance to the cave. Sighing the guardian crawled out his bed and walked towards the gelding, magic clothing him in a new black robe. He'd just finished tying the horse to an outcropping of rock when two thin arms wrapped themselves around his waist.

Vale, her only garment a heavy fur that hung to her feet, buried her face in his back, just between the white seraphic wings. Chel smiled happily as he shifted in her arms so he could look at her.

She had lost a lot of weight during her possession and she still hadn't fully recovered. But she was smiling again and she loved him. He picked her up swiftly, cradling her close.

"I don't want you getting ill," he moved away from the cave entrance, magic flowing easily from him. In a instant Vale was clothed again in her usual boyish apparel with the addition of a thick cloak of wolf fur, the pelt white, tipped with black.

"Can't you just use healing magic on me?" Vale's voice was muffled, her head buried against his shoulder.

"You've been exposed to enough magic these past few days. Too much magic will make things worse."

The young elf grinned widely,

"Says the dragon who's mother was a god of magic," she wriggled out of his arms and took his hand, kissing the delicate fingertips. She glanced up at his face and at the serene expression that was there, "Chel? Will you come home with me?"

His eyes widened, his free hand covering his mouth. Out of the blue his whole expression changed. His arm went back to his side. His mouth widened, and for an instant a true smile graced his face, unspoiled by any sorrow or pathos that lurked behind his eyes.

At last he replied,

"It would be an honour, Vale-uke."

He perched on the roof, his sharp eyes taking in every detail of this human city. Nearly all of his power had returned to him, all that was left was a few wayward scraps of power that hung in the air between the city and the mountain. Every drop would come back to him soon; it really just was a matter of waiting. Tiamet could have chosen to chase after the stray magic himself, but he had unfinished business with the mortal world.

"The mortals would do better without our involvement I think…" he smiled to himself, "If only they themselves knew it…"

A few ripples ran through the Weave and he turned in the direction of the city gates, feeling his son's presence clearly.

"You've returned my wayward cleric to me, my son. Now let us see if we can fix the damage I have caused here." With a mere though Tiamet vanished from the rooftop.

Vale stepped delicately over the threshold of the paladins' house. Chel was behind her, making no more noise than a shadow. She smiled at him, turning to look around the comfortable entrance hall.

She did not even manage to scream before the lazily thrown magic of the deity slammed the door closed and dragged the heavy bolt across. She backed away, Chel's arms coming around to hold her.

It'll be alright Vale-uke. Do not be afraid.

The young elf whimpered, burying her head in the soft, dark cloth of her lover's robes,

Please. I can't face him... not after what he did to me.

I will protect you. But... I cannot chose between you and my deity... He is my father and I love him. You are my lover and I love you too.

"Perhaps a different room?" The deity softly spoke a single phrase.

The noise of a fire suddenly reached the young sorceress' ears and Chel set her down on a soft carpet.

Do not be afraid.

With that he got up, his arms leaving her. She grabbed blindly, not daring to open her eyes, for the hem of his robe or the sweeping locks of his hair but these slipped easily out of her grasp and she was alone.

Many minutes passed before she dared to take a look.

Tiamet sat in a chair, shaped like an elf still but dressed like a king in dark, flowing robes, emeralds glittering in his midnight black hair. Dragon's wings grew out of his back and his eyes were those of a dragon. One was a bright green, the other was gold.

Chel sat at his feet, head resting on his father's knee. One pale hand stroked the white hair of the younger dragon, a soft smile on Tiamet's face as he did so.

Vale stretched out her hands,

"Chel...?"

"Vale-chan. I have not seen my son for four thousand years and from what he tells me," he tapped his temple, "I will not see him for a few centuries more."

Silence settled over the room, broken by Tiamet's voice,

"You love my son do you not? Many have fallen in love with him, his face, his melancholy moods, even his power. I myself have been hopelessly enamoured with him ever since he was a child. Of course my love is different to your love, but still..." Chel looked up at his father as he spoke. The deity stroked the blue-green eyes closed and the younger dragon settled back down, "We would do anything for him. Of course the opposite of love is hate and my son has attracted his fair share of that," for a brief second there was a flash of wolf-like teeth, "There are those that hurt him, would hurt him still," Chel whimpered softly and Tiamet leant close to him, "Poor hatchling," he kissed his son on the forehead,

"Chelevva has learnt that life is cruel and harsh, but nothing is so bitter as being hurt by one you love and trust," the dragon god knelt by his son, taking him in his arms, the godling's head resting on his shoulder, "Yesterday I realised I did hurt my beloved Chelevva and I have hurt you my cleric,

"I did this accidentally though you may not believe this. When I did possess you I did not realise that your spirit was still bound to it. My spirit dragged yours back to your body, causing you so much pain and if I had not locked your mind away the pain would have driven you mad. I had no choice but to continue for my sister would have stolen my power and used it to return to the Planes. Her retribution on this world would have been devastating.

"I truly thought you dead when I left your body on Mount Waterdeep. We gods are not perfect neither are we all-powerful," he rocked his son back and forth, his eyes closed, "I owe you such a debt Vale-chan. You saved not only my life, but," he turned to her, a smile on his face, "the life of my son too. He... no longer wishes to die! And in many ways... that is more important. Chelevva is the only family I have left. If he would to die, by his own hand or by another's..." he trailed off and shivered, "But all this would be meaningless if I do not have your forgiveness."

He stood, letting go of Chel and walked to the young cleric. The deity knelt before her, his head bowed,

"Vale, please accepted my apologises, such as it is."