Epilogue
Shel'b looked sadly at the black haired leader of the Titans. He was in his usual uniform and was looking out over the bay from the shore of Titans Island. The breeze toyed with his cape, and occasionally blew the chunks of bread he was throwing to the seagulls back at him.
Knowing he was doing what he was simply because it was one of Starfire's favorite things, she cursed fate for separating him from her Empress. She shook her head ruefully, still having trouble thinking of Koriand'r by that title. Looking at Robin again she sobered as she felt certain that her difficulties with adjusting to Koriand'r's title was nothing compared to his adjusting to her absence. One thing that bothered her was the fact that she knew her presence was not helping.
Outgoing and carefree were not exactly words that she would have used to describe Robin, rather, the person he had become in the past two months since the Tamaranean fleet -and Starfire- left for home. The Robin she knew now was a far cry from the one she had met the day he had been confirmed as Koriand'r's shalocfa. Withdrawn, and irritable, described him now, and she was relieved to see that she was not the only person in the Tower he acted that way to, but his sudden silences that happened whenever she entered a room weighed heavily on her.
"It's not that he doesn't like you Shel'b," Raven had told her one evening about a month after the fleet had left.
"It is that I remind him of her."
Raven nodded slightly, "And of how you were able to fool him into thinking you were Starfire. It's not that he blames you, or even holds it against you."
"Is it that he fears he might start replacing me for her himself? Friend Raven, they are bonded! What you are suggesting is not unheard of, but with the feelings they share for each other, I would more believe that he would think I would break my word to him and try to. . . . .kalsha him myself. I am sorry that I used a Tamaranean word , but I can not think of an English one. In any event there is no way that I would do that, or welcome any advances from him."
"Shel'b, I know that you do find him attractive. All during his time aboard the VELANCE'R, he did nothing but show off his fighting skills."
"It is not just his attachment to Empress Koriand'r that would keep me from trying to do the getting together with him. There is a Lieutenant Commander on board the ROHA'N, named Chr's. He is the keeper of my heart."
Shel'b was surprised to see Raven smile softly for a second. "I'm sure he will be glad to hear that."
Evidently he had been, because two days later Robin finally spoke to her outside of training. That had been three weeks ago, and now here she was wondering what she could do to cheer him up. Looking around she decided that today must be an especially hard one for Robin. She could see where he had been working on weeding one of the flower beds, but the wheelbarrow was laying on it's side and the small pile of weeds laying where they had been dumped. After she had stood there for a few moments, she noticed that Robin had run out of bread and was simply standing there on the shore watching the sea birds. She also became aware that Raven was standing slightly behind her and to her right. "I wish the Empress would allow us to tell him of her arrival tomorrow."
"So do I," Raven admitted. "I don't know what it was, but something really upset him a little while ago."
Shel'b glanced over at the dark Titan, "It must have been something very strong if you are only now calm enough to be able to see what it might have been."
Raven didn't reply, but extended her hand toward the garden. The wheelbarrow and pile of weeds were encased in dark energy, the wheelbarrow righted and the weeds placed back inside. "I'm going back to the Tower to meditate."
She watched Raven vanish, then looked back at where Robin stood, simply standing there no longer watching the birds. "It would be so easy," she said wistfully. She sighed softly as her communicator beeped. Thinking it was Beast Boy wanting a rematch at the racing video game, she snapped the device open, but her brow furrowed in puzzlement when she saw she had a message from a Tamaranean source waiting for her. 'Probably the Empress, updating her arrival time.' she thought to herself.
Less than ten minutes later she found out how wrong she was.
Shel'b sat at the computer in her room, staring in shock and disbelief at the now blank monitor. With a slightly trembling hand she picked up her communicator from the computer stand and opened it. "Ra. . . Raven."
"Shel'b, what's wrong?" Raven asked when her face came on the small screen. "You look terrible."
"I need you to come to my room on a matter most urgent," she replied, keeping her voice calm. A short moment later she opened her door at Raven's knock. She saw the questioning look she gave her as she looked up and down the hall before she closed her door.
"Shel'b, what's wrong? Why are you being so secretive?
This is why." Shel'b replied, not trusting her voice any further. She tapped a key on her terminal.
Raven's attention was drawn to the monitor as Galfore's face appeared on it, and a chill went through her as she saw the sadness on his face.
"Lieutenant, I have a duty for you to perform. One I would not delegate, but I will not reach Earth until tomorrow evening your time. This news can not wait as Robin already knows the core of it, and he deserves to know the how as soon as possible. Earlier this morning the cruiser VILTHUR'L suffered a complete core breach of their main engines. At present we have no indications of survivors. It is my sad duty to inform you that the Empress was a passenger on that ship on her way to Earth. Please relay my deepest regrets to Robin and the rest of the Titans. I will be making a stop at the VILTHUR'L's last known coordinates to assist in a life pod sweep, then will come directly to Earth. Pa dexano que shu."
Raven stared at the now blank screen in stunned silence, only now realizing that some time during the message she had numbly sat in Shel'b's computer chair. 'Azar's mercy! Starfire's gone!' she thought then blinked as she felt the hot stinging of her tears. 'She had such a kind gentle spirit, and now she's gone.'
Shel'b looked away knowing that Raven would most likely be embarrassed when she realized how much emotion she was showing. "Raven, I. . . ."
"Sweet Azar! Robin! Their bond! No wonder he was so upset before, he knows she's. . ."
"As Galfore said in his message, Friend Raven. It is up to us to tell him the how." She watched as Raven closed her eyes, struggling for control, and after a moment she opened them again, her breathing more relaxed and normal again. "The message was also sent to Cyborg and Beast Boy. They should be in the training wing waiting for us by now," Shel'b said softly, then lowered her eyes. "Pa dexano que shu, I grieve with you." She was silent for a moment then picked up an envelope from beside her keyboard. "She left this with me and instructed me to give it to you if something like this happened."
Raven took the purple envelope, wondering what Starfire would have to say to her in the event of her death. Taking a moment to calm and center herself some more, she opened it. The lavender colored papers inside were covered with Starfire's elegant handwriting. Bracing herself, she started reading.
Shalay'fa,
If you are reading this it means that some tragedy had occurred and I have died. Raven, next to Robin you are my closest, dearest friend, more like a sister to me than I have ever known. I know what I am about to ask of you will be difficult, but I believe that deep down that you can do this for me. I ask that you help Robin to grieve for me. I know that you understand him as I do, and I do not wish for him to return to his old ways of keeping all his feelings closed up inside himself. He will not wish to show his pain and loss in front of others. I have faith that Cyborg and Beast Boy will realize this and leave the two of you the time alone. Also, Shalay'fa, do not forget to grieve yourself. Saying that the others will grieve enough to make yours pointless is an empty argument, and would dishonor me. Lesh cromen te metera om lesh benar te Azar."
Koriand'r.
"The peace of death is the gift of Azar," Raven whispered, reciting the last line of the letter, wondering where she learned Azarathian.
"Come friend Raven. Distasteful as it is, we owe it to both of them to tell Robin the nature of her passing."
Raven sat there for a moment, then seemed to shake herself and she nodded. "Yes, you're right." she said, and followed Shel'b into the hall.
TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
"Rae, are you alright?"
Raven looked fondly at the green changeling, remembering one other time when he had asked her that same question before joining the others on the roof of the Tower to fight the dragon form of Malchior. "I will be, in time, Beast Boy. Much as we're hurting right now, Robin is going through worse."
"Because of their bond through the crystal, he already knows that she has gone, but I am not sure if he knows why. That is what we must do now." The others nodded and moved down the hall to where they could hear Robin still trying to beat the heavy bag to a pulp.
"Robin?" Raven called softly when he backed off from the bag for a moment, bouncing on the balls of his feet. He turned and looked at them and she felt her throat tighten as if someone was strangling her when she saw the pain and hurt on his face.
"How?" he rasped. "I know. . .she's. . . . ." he began struggling to get the words out, but couldn't bring himself to say Starfire was dead. He stood there breathing heavily from the emotional battle he was fighting, as he listened to Shel'b relate what Galfore's messaged had said.
"Cyborg, Beast Boy, Shel'b leave us," Raven said softly.
"We're here for ya, Rob."
"Yeah dude, you're not alone in this."
"I grieve with you, Shalocfa; she was the best of us," Shel'b said as she backed through the door.
Raven could feel Robin reaching his breaking point, and his shooting past it at Shel'b's parting comment. "Rrrrrrah! Yah yah ha!" he shouted as he spun and punched the bag over and over again.
"Good Robin, let it out. That's what she would want." She recoiled when Robin turned to face her, his face a mask of pure fury.
"Don't you dare think you would know what she would want! She would want to be here, with me not. . . ."
"Dead," she said when he wouldn't. "Face it, Robin, she's dead. I know what she would want because she left this with Shel'b for her to give to me if something like this happened."
Robin took the letter and quickly read it. "Rae, I felt it. Her last thoughts. She was trying to help people. Organize them. Then nothing, but her thinking of us, the two people she loved more than anything else." He looked up and saw that Raven had come over to him, and he didn't pull away as she put her hand on his shoulder. "Rae, I don't know if I can get through this. I loved her so much!"
Raven pulled him into a comforting embrace and she felt her own control finally slipping away as they stood there letting their tears wash away the pain of their loss, their sharing it somehow making it easier to do. "You can't, Robin, not by yourself, and you're definitely not alone in this. You have friends. We have friends. People who want only to help us."
She was surprised when Robin pulled away and went over to the intercom. "Cy, BB, come to the training room. A few moments later they came into the room. "Cy, I'm stepping aside as the leader for awhile. It's gonna take some time for me to get my heart back into things. I'm not taking a leave of absence, but I know I won't be at my best mentally for a while."
"Sure man, just let me know when you're ready to step back in."
Just then, the door opened again, and Shel'b came in. "I. . . . I do not mean to intrude, and I realize that I have not been among you all that long. . . . "
"It's okay, Shel'b. I was just about to call you anyway." Robin moved so he was between Beast Boy and Cyborg. He put his right arm around Beast Boy's shoulders, and his left on Cyborg's right shoulder. "X'Hal fen shovaka vana chalen, ri hifa sha ve merla. Treva sha a Grimhallen, cro sha relo serana verla. "X'Hal this warrior has fallen, in battle she was slain. Take her to Grimhallen, so she may know peace again."
Raven moved over and put her arm around Beast Boy's shoulders, and motioned Shel'b over. She put her other arm around the redhead's shoulders, and Shel'b completed the circle by placing her left hand on Cyborg's right shoulder. Once the circle was complete they repeated the chant a few times, then fell silent.
Taking a steadying breath, Robin spoke first. "I am Robin, shalocfa and bond mate of Koriand'r. Three years ago I faced her in combat, and thanks to someone who became our friend, I took the chance and freed her from her shackles, and the five of us joined together to defeat the Gordanians. Freed from that threat, I found that Starfire was one of the gentlest, most caring people I have known. She was the brightest, happiest light in my life. I will miss her deeply, but I will never forget her. May X'Hal guide your spirit, my beloved Kori."
"I am Raven, shalay'fa of Koriand'r. She truly was the sister of my heart. Her caring and trusting spirit touched me in many ways, though I seldom showed it. I know among her people, her asking me to become her shalay'fa was the greatest honor she could bestow, but her simply calling me friend, giving me that kind of trust and loyalty meant more to me that I ever told her. May Azar grant your spirit the peace it deserves, shalay'fa."
"I am Garfield Logan, known to Starfire as Beast Boy. She was the strongest, bravest and kindest person I have ever known. Her laughter at my jokes and her smiling face brightened the hearts of everyone she knew. May God hold you in the palm of His hand."
"I am Cyborg. Starfire showed us all that things we took for granted were, to use her word, wondrous. The antics of a squirrel, or the multitude of colors of the sun rise or set gave her so much joy. I have seen her put her own feelings aside as she would do whatever she could to help a friend. Wherever you are girl, you take care."
"I am Shel'b, a lieutenant in her personal guard. Vidak'an Koriand'r was a warrior of great honor and she cared deeply for her people. Her friendship was something I did not expect to earn as quickly as I did, and I was pleased to find that I was part of a small group of people that she thought that highly of. "Koriand'r, shovaka du Tamaran, shu vata che turino shovaka du ra toderi, Starfire, warrior of Tamaran, you are the greatest warrior of us all,"
They were silent for a moment then repeated the chant a few times, then fell silent. After a short time the five drew closer together so that they ended up in a group hug.
TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
The next evening, Shel'b was sitting in the common room, and she turned when she heard the door hiss open then closed. "Dress armor, Robin?"
"I would believe that Galfore took the throne, and it's also to honor Starfire. I would suggest you put yours on as well."
"I have honored the Empress in my remembrance yesterday, and continue to do so by remaining as a Titan."
"True, but I happen to know that the VELANCE'R has been rotated out of the Home Guard of the fleet. It's replacement was the ROHA'N." Robin smiled softly as his announcement had the effect on her that he hoped it would.
"The ROHA'N?" she asked, and Robin nodded as she started backing toward the door. "Oh X'Hal, you are most correct I should show respect for Galfore," she said as she turned toward the door and quickly headed to her room.
Robin found himself alone in the room and he went over to look at the bay and city through the window, letting his mind drift. He heard the door open and close again, and knew that whoever it was would leave him in peace.
"X'Hal, Robin, I can't believe that I had forgotten how handsome you are when you're dressed like that."
Robin spun at the familiar voice. "Blackfire!" he gasped in astonishment, then caught himself. "Shavota, Jemara."
"My English name will do, Robin and don't you dare kneel to me." Robin was surprised when she came over and gave him a quick hug. "I grieve with you, husband of my sister, and share your loss," she said formally.
"I take it you have been given confirmation that she didn't survive?"
"Unless something changed in the last hour," Blackfire replied, the tone of her voice indicating her doubt. She cocked her head to one side, studying his face. "How have you been holding up?"
"Well enough. Do you share a crystal with Kor'mel?" In reply Blackfire withdrew the crystal from beneath her armor, and he felt a twinge of jealousy at seeing the soft green glow of it. "I hope you never feel what I did, Blackfire. Star had some experience with the feeling of losing our bond, but. . . ."
"I know Robin," she said as she turned away. "Kora was away on her training when I took a shalocfa. We were almost as close as Kor'mel and I have become. He died when his fighter lost it's port thruster and he lost control at low altitude." she drew a shuddering breath. "Even now I can still clearly recall his last feelings and thoughts, and how Starfire simply left her training cadre and was there to help me through. "
Just then there was a tone over the intercom system of the Tower. "Galfore's shuttle should be arriving in a moment. We'd better get to the roof." The two headed for the exit, and Blackfire was surprised when Robin put a hand on her shoulder. She turned to him and found that he was smiling sadly at her. "Thank you for coming, and for telling me that," he looked away, not wanting her to see the pain on his face. "It helps to know I'm not alone in having gone through that."
A few minutes later the Titans, Shel'b, and Blackfire were on the roof of the Tower and watched the small shuttle land. The hatch opened and a ramp slid out and Galfore and Kim'r came out, followed by two warriors that Robin guessed were part of the Palace Guard due to their wearing helmets and cloaks.
"Greetings, Highness, Jemara," Galfore said, saluting first Robin then Blackfire. "I now have something to show you, all of you, as you are her friends."
Robin nodded, and led Galfore and his entourage down to the common room. Once there Galfore handed a small disk to Cyborg, who fed it into a computer. They all watched as the big monitor came to life, showing the main cargo bay of a ship. Several Tamaraneans were milling around, and there was an alarm sounding.
"This is a feed from the security videos of the VILTHUR'L," Kim'r told them. "The alarm you are hearing is due to a engine core containment breach in progress. We were not sure why the Communications Officer took the time and effort to transmit this to a relay station until . . . . . "
"Kori!" Robin gasped as Starfire entered the frame. They all watched silently as she tried unsuccessfully to get the attention of several of the warriors going past her. With her frustration clearly written on her face, she crossed over to a communications terminal and punched a button. She took the microphone that popped out and started speaking into it.
Robin blinked when the picture suddenly froze. "Care to translate for us, Rob?" Cyborg asked.
Robin nodded, and took a deep breath as Cyborg replayed the video. He fought to keep his voice calm as he heard her voice for the first time in just over a month. "Enough!" he translated. "This is the Empress! Is this not a ship full of warriors? You are not a training cadre on it's first training cruise." Starfire's amplified voice seemed to cut through the panic that seemed to grip the warriors in view. "Follow your training and evacuate the ship."
"Mik'l, Shar'n, get them to the escape pods, quickly." Starfire ordered and the three of them started organizing the evacuation of the ship, ensuring that no pod left unless it was full. "Now to check the engineering section to make sure everyone got out."
"Highness there is no time," Mik'l protested but it fell on deaf ears as Starfire quickly moved out of the cameras range.
The computers count down to core detonation was down to one minute when her voice came from off camera. "Get into your pod and eject, I have the Chief Engineer, and I will take him with me, although I do not believe he still lives. At the least he will receive a warriors funeral.."
Just then Starfire came into view carrying a limp figure. Right as Starfire was about to enter the pod there was a bright flash and the picture went to static.
The room was totally silent except for a soft sniffle from both Raven and Blackfire.
"From what we have learned, the Comms Officer wished to show that the Empress's actions were not in vain. Because of her, there was only one fatality of this disaster," Kim'r said softly.
"Only one," Robin thought sadly. "The one that matters the most."
"She wishes for you to have this, Robin."
Robin looked at what Galfore held out to him and he took a ragged breath as he reached out to take it. "Her crystal," he said softly. He gasped as the crystal glowed brightly green as he touched it, and his face took on a look of total confusion and astonishment. "Star! Galfore, why do I feel her presence? Did her life force somehow enter into the crystal?"
"There is a much easier explanation, my husband."
"I thought you destroyed that voder, Shel'b," Robin said as he turned, his voice trailing off as he saw Shel'b standing with one of the two warriors that had been wearing helmets and cloaks. They had both removed them, revealing one of them to be a male who now had his arm around Shel'b's waist, and the other who was revealed to be. . . . .
"Starfire!" Raven, Beast Boy and Cyborg cried out together.
"Sister!" Blackfire gasped at the same time.
"Kor. . . Kori!" Robin managed to stammer, then took two steps to wrap his arms around her and hold her. Barely a step away from her, he was suddenly engulfed in black energy, stopping him cold.
"Robin, wait. You'll hurt her."
Raven's warning had it's effect and Robin and the others noticed that Starfire's left arm was in a sling. Realizing that Robin was going to go slowly, Raven released him and he crossed over to her his hand raised to touch her cheek, but he held back, uncertain as to what other injuries she might have, and still in shock that she was standing there.
Starfire smiled softly as she felt his indecision. "The bright flash you saw was the core pulsing prior to the actual breach," she explained, reaching out with her right hand and cupping Robin's cheek. "The concussion from that threw me into the opening of the life pod I was to use. In addition to breaking my collar bone, and upper arm, the impact also shattered my crystal. Fortunately, Jen'r and I were thrown into the pod and it's automatic launch sequence launched us to safety only half a minute before the destruction of the VILTHUR'L."
Robin saw the tears in Starfire's eyes, as he felt her thumb gently ease the lower edge of his mask up, letting his tears of joy that had been dammed up beneath it out. He slid his hand from her cheek around her shoulders and gently pulled her close and rested his head on her good shoulder. "Star, I never thought I'd do this again," he whispered into her ear, and he reveled in the joyful rush of emotions he felt through their bond. Just as he was adjusting to her presence in his mind again, he jumped as he felt a hand on his back, along with Raven's familiar presence. To his surprise, Raven's mental touch was on Starfire's mind, not his, and he realized that she was re-establishing their bond..
"Boo-ya! Group hug time!" Cyborg yelled and he and Beast Boy joined in the small huddle, taking care to avoid jostling her arm.
"Friends! It is glorious to be among you again, although I believe your finding out that I am not deceased to be the more joyous." Starfire felt Robin's mood shift at her last words, and she knew he was justified to express the anger he was about to.
"Galfore, can you give me one good reason why you kept her being alive from us until just now, especially me?"
"I can give you several, warrior. The main one being that we didn't know she was among the survivors until about an hour before planet fall."
Seeing Robin's disbelieving look, Kim'r spoke up. "It is true, Highness, and a good thing as well. There were no Tamaranean ships nearby when the VILTHUR'L's engines went critical. The nearest ships were two Ramarian freighters who located and collected the life pods."
"Tamaran is at peace with the Ramarians, or should I say we don't shoot at each other," Blackfire piped up. "The only reason they would help one of our ships is because interstellar law requires all ships nearby to give aid to a ship in distress."
"On the good side, their healing knowledge surpasses even ours. My arm and shoulder are healed, it is just that the muscles need time to strengthen."
"Had they known she was aboard their ship, she would now be well on her way to the Citadel, either on Gordanian slaver, or one of their own ships," Galfore said.
"Hey, at least she's back and she's safe and sound , right?"
"Yeah, I guess you're right, Cy," Robin chuckled, slipping his arm around Starfire's waist.
"And, dude you shoulda seen your face when you saw her. Absolutely a Kodak moment."
"Welcome to Cyborgvision," Cyborg announced as he plugged a cable from his arm into the computer. A second later the large screen displayed a frozen image of Robin's face as he turned to see Starfire, and they all had a good laugh.
"This must be the Lieutenant Commander Chr's, I've heard about," Robin said as he and Starfire walked over to where he and Shel'b stood arm in arm.
"Greetings, Highness," Chr's said coming to attention and saluting.
"Relax, Chr's. Shel'b will tell you that we're very informal around here, so will Koriand'r." Robin almost chuckled as he felt Starfire's amusement at Chr's's scowl.
"Relax, loneva, they are bond mates after all."
"Co shu delina, mathad."
"Galfore, you said that there was a fatality from the disaster. Who was it?"
"Jen'r, the Chief Engineer, my love. As I said on the video he was not alive when I found him in the Engineering Section. He was the reason I was not injured any worse, as he was between me and the hatchway to my life pod. She turned and looked over at Shel'b. "In two weeks, the BOROMI'R will arrive in Earth orbit to bring my personal items from Tamaran and to also bring my supply of zorka berries. You will return to Tamaran aboard her."
"Star, who will take the throne?"
"Our son will take the throne, with Galfore and Kim'r acting as Regents until he comes of age."
"Our. . . . . .son? But how? We never. . . . "
Starfire giggled at his confusion. "Shortly after I arrived on Tamaran, I checked to see if Nie'l had any family that still lived. Finding none, I adopted him as our son, my husband. I hope you do not disapprove."
"No, Star, I think that's wonderful. Is he aboard the ROHA'N? If so, I'd like to see him."
"No, Highness, he remained on Tamaran, continuing his training, and was most relieved to hear that his adoptive mother still lives."
A few hours later, Robin and Starfire had left Galfore and Kim'r in the capable hands of the rest of the Titans as they watched a movie in the common room. Unlike the sunrise, Raven didn't usually join them to watch the sunset, so they were alone on the roof.
"Star, why did you leave Shel'b here to take your spot on the team instead of someone else?"
Starfire was silent for a moment before she answered. "The main reason was because she looks so much like me I thought she would be more easily accepted by the people in the city."
"And the other reason?"
"One I am not proud that I considered, and I regret that I did." Robin watched as she wrung her hands, and chewed on her bottom lip. "I could not get her being able to deceive you out of my mind. I know she has someone that she cares for as I care for you, but I had no way of knowing that you did not know it was she you took through the arboretum with such enjoyment. I foolishly thought I needed some test of your fidelity when I should have known better."
"Kori, I told you when I took her into my Guard that there is no other that interests me. I love you."
"I know, my love. After only two days I deeply regretted having that reason for leaving her here. I could feel how uncomfortable her presence made you."
"Well I just hope you're convinced now."
Starfire nodded her head, then looked over at him sadly, "Robin, I am most sorry for what you went through. Even though I did not have the feeling of your presence in my mind, I did not have the added pain of thinking you had died."
Robin stepped to his right so he was now behind her and he slid his hands around her waist, and rested his chin on her good shoulder. "It's alright, Star. It wasn't your fault. You were doing what was necessary, and your actions saved everyone that could be saved."
"I would ask if you would do me one favor, my husband."
"Anything, you know that."
Starfire turned her head some and glanced back at him over her shoulder. "Would you do the rubbing of my neck with your fingers? It is most relaxing."
Robin smiled as he slid his hands up and massaged the sides of her neck. As he felt them loosen up, he also felt her raise her hands. He thought she was going to take his from her neck, but smiled when she unfastened the front of her neckpiece and removed it. Without thinking or asking her if it was alright, he moved his massaging fingers down so his thumbs were working on the muscles between her shoulder blades. He smiled again as her head slowly fell forward as she sighed contentedly.
"Mmmm, Robin this is more relaxing than a Zelana bath."
"A what?"
"Zelana is a place of relaxation on Tamaran. During the later part of training, approaching Acceptance, between the physical strain and mental stress trainees are given one week at Zelana. They are not taken all at once, and there are hot springs that are rich in minerals, and with the addition of certain herbs a soak in them is most relaxing."
"So my giving you this neck rub is as relaxing as that?"
"Uh huh," Starfire agreed then groaned as Robin's fingers found and rubbed a new knot of muscles.
Robin chuckled softly, then leaned forward to whisper in her ear, "And I haven't even started doing a back rub." he straightened up, and continued to massage her neck and shoulders, but he froze at her next statement.
"Will we be going to your room or mine tonight?"
Fin
A/N For all of those who have read this fic I give you my heatfelt thanks. To all of those who have continued to post since the biginning that goes double. I hope you have all enjoyed reading this as much as I've enjoyed writing it.