Jessi: Lately it's been harder finding things to say in my introductions than it's actually been to write the actual fan fiction... I guess I just don't have much to say, quite unlike real life :p

Vale's slap was more like a blow, her fist slightly clenched as she hit the dragon god across his unseen face. Chel's eyes widened in shock and he was up on his feet almost instantly, seeking to divert his deity's wrath from his ward.

"Why doesn't anyone just say these things!" the young cleric's hands were clenched tightly into the material of her tunic, "Why does everyone have to keep secrets? It would have been so much easier if you had just said something!"

For a moment the entire room was still. Then Tiamet abruptly roared with laughter, his arms wrapped around his sides. With an audible sigh of relief Chel sat back down.

"Truer words have never been spoken!" having gotten his laughter under control, the deity sat back, his legs stretched out of the carpet, a mirthful smile still decorating his face. A serious expression quickly took its place, "Vale-chan, the questioning pupil of Chelevva Pendragon, with wisdom and strength beyond her years," he glanced across at his son, "Yes, I can see way she got under your guard Chelevva."

The female elf was suddenly struck by how alike the father and son looked, even in forms that were not there own. The deity before was still the one whose statutes she'd played under as a child, still the one she kept a child-like, innocent affection for throughout her fifty years. This deity had apologised to her and to his own son, to which he also held a great love for. He loved all his worshippers, whilst still on the knife-like edge of neutrality.

He stiffened as she hugged him, burying her head in the midnight-black strands of hair.

"My Lord Tiamet, I forgive you."

"Ah, such formality Vale-chan," he turned in her arms returning the embrace. He smelt of the sky, Vale realised, and of home. She felt something brush her neck and heard the snap of a clasp. When she felt the warmth flood through it, she realised the object was her holy symbol. Her deity kissed her forehead, "You have the protection of two immortals now, little elfling."

Tiamet drew the young cleric to her feet, stepping away deftly,

"I must leave the Prime Material Plane now. I have a kingdom to get back to," he embraced Chel warmly, "Go back to your adopted forest home Chelevva, and know that Mercuria is always open to you."

Chel replied in words too quiet for Vale to hear then stood on tip-toes to kiss his father on the forehead.

"And you, Vale-chan. Take care of my son," he bent to kiss her hand, a strangely mammal gesture for a dragon god, "I will hear your prayers."

With that he was gone in a soft shower of silver sparks that faded into the air as they watched.

"So he's gone," Vale wandered back over to Chel, absently wrapping an arm around his shoulders. He nodded,

"Yes. It has been a strange time."

"Hmm... It seems like a lifetime ago when we sitting by that fire... but it can't have been more than a tenday," she touched the symbol around her neck, "The Stars are warm again."

"That is not the only difference," Chel lifted Vale's Star of Tiamet in front of her eyes. The symbol, just this morning made of silver had changed,

"A... a platinum star?" the young elf's eyes widened, "He made me a high priestess? B-but I'm only fifty... I'm too young! I shouldn't even be a fully-fledged priestess yet!"

"Didn't the king, the high priests and myself decide that your talents more than make up for your sparse years?"

"Yes, b-but that's only because I was taught by you..."

"I taught you personally because of your potential," he kissed her cheek, his long lashes brushing her face as his eyes closed, "If you became a priestess at such a young age, why not a high priestess?"

Vale's answer was merely to smile and kiss him back,

"I've missed you."

"Are you ready to go back? Back home?"

She nodded.

The door opened and the twins cautiously stuck their heads through the doorway,

"Is he gone?"

Jessi: I think after that the paladins would be glad to see Tiamet go ;)