A/N: To John-Paul – I love you. Really, the way you exalt my stories, everything you say about them and the way I write…I always look forward to getting your reviews when I update a new chapter. Would you like me to make a character in this story for you? I'd be happy to. (hugs) Thank you so much!

Chapter XX

I breathed in deeply, taking in Raziel's musky, masculine scent, and sighed with a smile. I loved this, lying on his chest, feeling his heart beating steadily, his arm around me. This was bliss, this was peace, this was everything. I sighed again, and Raziel held me closer. I gazed up at the sky above us, at the nightful of stars dancing and twinkling above us, at the great pearlescent moon glowing gently with the benign warmth of a mother. I snuggled closer to Raziel.

"This is beautiful," I said softly.

"You are beautiful," replied Raziel. I sat up and looked at him. He smiled lovingly at me, reaching out to play with my long hair. "I asked you to come with me tonight because I…I have something I want to tell you." He sat up and faced me.

"I'm listening," I said gently, curious. Raziel hesitated before speaking:

"When I first saw you…when Kain presented you to us as a princess…I was overwhelmed. You were more radiant than the full moon in winter, more dazzling than diamonds in the starlight, more graceful than a willow tree swaying in the breeze. All I could think about was you, and seeing you, and being alone with you. But it wasn't Aranel Galadriël who first touched my heart. It was adventurous Soul, trekking through the mountains and exploring the ancient ruins alone, with her hair in a braid and clad in boots, tunic, and leggings. It was the explorer who caught my attention, the mischievous sprite who loved to laugh and jest, whose eyes sparkled always with hidden mischief. What I wish to say, Soul, is that…I love you. I feel I always have." I just stared, enchanted. For so long I had wondered which side of me Raziel truly wanted to be with, and now I knew. He loved both sides. I smiled slowly.

"Raziel," I whispered. "When I first met you and your brothers-in-arms, I knew you were different from them. You were – are – special. You were the strong silent type that makes the silly village girls swoon. But I knew that you were not nearly as…flighty, shall we say, as your brethren. As I got to know all of you, I came to learn that there was something wrong with each one. Turel likes to think that his most powerful weapon is in his pants, Dumah has a massive sword stuck up his ass, Rahab is just plain cynical, Zephon is an unfunny prankster who treads on too many toes, and Melchiah is too moody and bitter for his own good. But you? You were perfect. And don't think I didn't notice your eyes on me while I went down the line of your brothers. I knew then, when I first looked into your beautiful tawny eyes that your soul was pure and good and uncorrupted. Your brothers already reeked of corruption, though it has not yet taken hold. You were so handsome and bold, though your knees seemed to turn to water when facing a pretty girl – something I find very endearing. You wear the sun in your eyes and the night sky in your hair. Your skin absorbs he moon's loving light. But most of all, you didn't come seeking my favour. I stood at a distance and watched. You were so shy and sweet. You still are. And I love you, Raziel. I love you."

For some time we sat facing each other, holding both hands. Slowly, we both leaned in toward each other. I wasn't sure what I was doing, but it felt so right. I had never been kissed before, save for by my parents. Never like this. My heart was racing, pounding hard and fast. I could hear Raziel's beating the same. We were nearly touching.

"Soul," he breathed into my mouth gently, sending shivers through me. "My princess…" Our lips met, and we both realized that all the words in the world were meaningless gibberish, and the only true language was being spoken right then and there.

"I think she's coming around."

"No," I whispered. "Don't take it away…"

"Soul, dearest, it's me. Raziel. Wake up."

I groaned and sat up slowly. My head spun, but I no longer felt like ripping my own body apart in a demented frenzy to stop the unbearable pain. I blinked a few times and looked up. Raziel stood over me in concern. He relaxed a bit when he saw I was awake and sat on the bed next to me. Bed…?

"Where are we?" I asked. I looked all around. The room was familiar to me, but I couldn't quite place it, even with all the memories of this world returned to me. "I know this place."

"As well you should," said Kain, signaling his presence for the first time. "This is your room, Soul. You gave us quite a scare." I looked around again. Yes, it was my room. I remembered it now; Kain had given me a room in his keep for when I visited him, which was often. I realized then that I never really had a permanent home before, except in the Hylden dimension. I had always either stayed with Janos Audron or Kain, and traveled with my parents all around Nosgoth. Something in me told me this wasn't entirely true. There was somewhere…

"Soul, what did you do? And why?"

"Huh?" I asked stupidly. "Oh! In the Forge. Yes, I should have known you'd want an explanation. All right." I took a deep breath to prepare myself for what I was about to say. "All three of our destinies are closely intertwined, as you surely have realized. I needed you, Raziel, to forge the Soul Reaver into the soul-devouring weapon it is, and you, Kain, to destroy the Elder. I'm afraid I really am a part of that creature, and that is why I had to kill it. I drank his…I hesitate to call it 'blood', because it was nothing like it, but that's what it was. With that in my veins, I am now the Elder God. Or Goddess, as it is. I now control the Wheel of Fate. And more than that, I am linked directly to the heart of the Pillars. Since they needed guardians chosen at birth, the Elder was there to make that choice. But now, it is in my jurisdiction. I am the Elder. I am the origin of Life...the devourer of Death. I am the hub of the Wheel, the purifying cycle to which all souls must be drawn." I couldn't bear to meet Raziel's eyes – those eyes that now looked at me in horror and disbelief. Kain, too, was shocked. In all honesty, so was I. For the first time I truly realized what I had done. I now knew why it was so easy for me to bypass Fate and change two destines completely without a thought. "I didn't ask for this. I just knew that this is what I had to do."

"But this means…" said Raziel softly. "Does this mean I…I'll never see you again?"

"Oh glory, no!" I said, startled. "Why would you think that? Oh, because of Squid-Face? No, I am not going to become like that, not now not ever. I promised that I would be with you forever, and I'll be damned if I'm not." Raziel looked more at ease now. "Someone had to take the monster's place. Someone had to restore the balance." Here I looked meaningfully at Kain. He understood. "There have to be new Guardians for the Pillars now. We have the Scion of Balance – that's a good start. But we need the other eight. And I think I know just who they might be. It will be a long and difficult process to bring them here, but it will be well worth it."

"Who are you talking about?" asked Kain.

"Raziel told me that my friends have a destiny here in Nosgoth, in this world, and that they would be joining me here soon. I think he was right. I think my friends are the new Pillar Guardians." There was silence, as I had expected. I waited patiently before adding, "And there is another, much closer. The Death Guardian to replace Mortanius."

"But Mortanius is alive," said Raziel, puzzled. I smiled grimly.

"He was," I replied. "When the Hylden Lord was forced to withdraw from his body, Mortanius died. He was severely weakened and broken in both body and spirit. He didn't even live long enough to rejoice in his freedom. He will need a replacement." Kain folded his arms, contemplating.

"So who is his replacement?" he inquired.

"Raziel," I replied easily. Raziel was stunned. "Think about it. You know more about death than any of us, having been through it and back. You are undying! Doesn't it make sense? You, as the Death Guardian."

"Yes," said Raziel softly. "Yes, it makes sense. But…are you certain?"

"Of course I'm certain!" I said. "I'm the Elder Goddess. I control the Wheel. I create life and death. I'm certain!" Raziel laughed.

"Well, at least we know for sure that she's feeling better," he said. I pushed him, but smiled.

"I need to bring my friends here through the portal that my father sent me through," I said. "Where is he, anyway? I thought that maybe you might know, Kain."

"I'm afraid I don't," answered Kain. "He vanished along with you. No one had any idea where either of you were." I sighed.

"Then maybe he was in the Hylden dimension with me," I said sadly. "I need his help. A spell this massive cannot be cast by one alone. Sending someone somewhere is easy; bringing someone back is much harder. I can't do it without him." The room began to spin again, and I put my hands to my temples. "In fact, I can't do much of anything right now except rest. I'm not feeling myself quite yet."

"I understand," said Raziel. "I just would like to know, what were you dreaming before? You looked so happy."

I smiled. "I was dreaming of the night we fell in love. We were lying out under the stars and talking about how we first met."

"Oh, I remember," said Raziel. He smiled too. "That was the night of our first kiss, was it not?"

"It was," I replied. We leaned toward each other and our lips met in our first kiss in centuries. I put my arms around Raziel's neck, and he put his around my waist, and the kiss went on, sweeter than blood, sweeter than life itself. I fell asleep in his arms.

When I woke, the last light of day was spilling through the window. Raziel lay curled up next to me. I smiled; he looked so sweet and innocent. I was the only one who ever thought that about him. I felt much better, more like myself again, as I sat up and stretched. As usual, nearly every joint cracked, snapped, and/or creaked. I ignored it. Something felt different, but I couldn't quite place what it was. I found out soon enough. The only warning of the attack that I got was a single bark. Then he was on me, and I couldn't fight him off. He had me right where he wanted me, and I was completely helpless against his attacks. It was-

"Fenrir!" I laughed delightedly as my sweet puppy-like wolf stood on my lap and licked my face ecstatically. I hugged him tightly, burying my face in his fur and taking in his familiar wolfy scent. He licked my ear, his tail wagging so hard it was a blur of black. "Oh Fenrir, buddy, how did you get here?" Fenrir barked once and looked over to the left. I followed his gaze and gasped. A man stood near my bed, smiling at me. A man I had seen once before in a dream. A man who had haunted my original ghost stories and horror fictions. If a man is what you would call him…