I don't own any of the Tamora Pierce characters

Shall we continue?

Ivy held Matthew as he bled in her arms. She didn't dare look at Raoul, knowing that if she did then she would throw up any dinner that she had managed to eat. She watched as her Aunt Alanna and her friend Nealan of Queenscove began to work healing magic. Tears ran down her cheeks and someone put a hand on her shoulder, trying to get her to come away. She shrugged it off and stared at Matthews face, fastly going from pink to white. Only when Alanna pulled Matthew from her arms did Ivy stand up and turn to see her mother. She instinctively buried her face into her mothers shoulder, hurting her neck considerably as she did so, but not caring. A large hand rested on her back. She looked round, then jerked away from her father.

"Ivy . . ." Raoul started, but Ivy shook her head.

"You might have killed him! If he's dead I'm never talking to you again . . . ever!" she turned and ran, trying to ignore the realization that she was fast becoming the kind of loved up maiden she had always hated. She ran back to Matthews room, slamming the door and throwing herself on his bed. Burying her face in the pillow, she took in a deep breath, inhaling Matthews distinct smell of honey mixed with spice, and, on this occasion, polish. She smiled slightly at the thought of their conversation the night before, then cried heavily, soaking the pillow case with tears. There was a knock, then the sound of a door opening. Ivy turned to see Alanna and Neal in the door, both white from using alot of Gift. She sat up and wiped her eyes. "Where is he?" she whispered.

"The infirmary." Alanna said shakily. "Ivy, I should warn you, he's lost alot of blood. He might not make it."

Ivy got up and hugged her aunt and friend weakly, "he will." she insisted, more to herself than anyone else. "He will." She began the walk to the infirmary.

"You should have told her." Neal said, as soon as she was out of earshot.

"Told her what?" Alanna snapped. "That her lovers nearly been killed by her father and that he's fighting the Black God for his life? I don't think so!"

Neal bit his lip then said. "You're the one that decided to do that stupid spell and see what was going on." he pointed out. "I'd have thought that was to be able to tell her, not just so that you knew. We both know that Gods can't get beaten by mortals, especially not weak ones. He can't win against the Black God. You should tell her." he rested a hand lightly on his former knight-mistresses shoulder, then turned and walked away.

"Matthew you better beat him," the Lioness whispered under her breath. "Just so I can shove it in his face."

Matthew was lying still on his side in a bed nearest the door in the infirmary. He was white, so much so that if it weren't for his brown and blonde hair, he might have been one of the bedsheets. Ivy sat and took his hand, gulping at the iciness of his flesh. She rubbed his hand, trying to put some heat into him, but he stayed cold. She stared at him for a second, then, stealing a look around to make sure nobody was there, she pulled back the sheets to look at his wound. She bit back the vomit that had gathered in her throat, seeing the bloody bandage, just able to make out where the cut was, as the bandage had a small dark line of blood on it, which then spread out into red. She pulled the covers back over him, then lay down beside him, facing inwards to look at his face and chest. She hesitated, then wrapped her arms lightly around him, reasoning that he needed the warmth, and that she needed to hold him. Placing her face on his shoulder, Ivy cried again, until she couldn't make any more tears. She fell asleep, wondering if she'd ever talk to him again.

Matthew didn't know where he was. Wherever he looked there was just ongoing darkness. The floor on which he lay was cold, and he wondered if it was made of metal. He forgot the injury in his back, until he pushed up and felt the muscle which had been stabbed roar in pain. He gasped and fell forwards onto his face. He put his hand out to find something to hold, and cut himself on a blade of some type, he gently pulled it towards him, grunting in pain as he stretched out. His hand found a metal hilt, enclosing it in his fist, he picked it up. It was Raoul's knife, he knew that, but there was something almost ghostly about it. It was glowing, ever so faintly, a light blue. Matthew stared for what seemed like seconds, then heard voices all around him. He looked up, seeing white and blue wisps of what could have been wind, except that he could see it. His head began to pound as he heard people screaming in his head, then over them all came a mans voice, or at least he thought it could have been a man, except that it sounded as though it were being spoken through a tube and then made crackly.

"Matthew of Tirragen!" it crackled, Matthew covered his ears with his hands, but it sounded in his head, ricocheting off the walls of his skull. "Not as soon as I had expected, you were at least meant to make it to your Squires ordeal day, but I suppose a few years can't make much difference. . ." As Matthew struggled to stand, ignoring the pain coursing through his entire body, a dark cloud flew at his chest, knocking him onto his back and causing even more pain.

"Where the hell am I?" Matthew gasped.

"Where do you think?" the voice said loudly, no longer crackling.

"If I knew I wouldn't be bloody asking!" Matthew snapped, somehow finding the boldness to speak out, even though he was aching all over and he was in no position to be answering back.

There was a loud laugh, then a hooded figure appeared in front of him. "You're in between life," he pointed upwards. Far above there was a circle of light, "and death," he pointed down. Suddenly Matthew was floating and there was no ground, there was a black pit, never ending. Matthews stomach went queasy, and he instantly looked up, trying not to ask how he could still feel his stomach when he wasn't even alive. You're not dead either. he thought.

The hooded figure roared with laughter. "You might as well be, unless you can beat me in a duel, you enter the depths of death. And no sword or spear will help you with this. Everything you have will be consumed by darkness. . ." the figure launched itself, - somehow, even though there was nothing to push off - upwards, drawing a blackened axe from inside his robes. Matthew rolled, it was the only thing he could do. He'd never planned on fighting the Black God, and now he was being forced to. Nothing any of the priests or teachers had ever taught him anything about Gods, except that they could control what happened, always reassuring to know! Matthew thought. The black axe seemed to lengthen and scratched his face. There was a flash of purple light somewhere above them and Matthew looked up.

"Go away Lioness! This is no business of yours!" the God roared, Matthew looked at him and frowned, seeing the God lift his arm, draped in a black cloth, and cover his face. Matthew almost smiled, but then something hit him in the gut and he was thrown backwards into an invisible wall. He groaned and choked, a mouthful of much needed blood erupting from his mouth. He looked up and found the purple light had disappeared and the Black God had lowered his arm and was now advancing again. Matthew stood and let his arms hang by his side. When the God was only metres away, Matthew gritted his teeth and focused hard on erupting into flame. Instantly, flames sprouted all over his body, shining out in the darkness. The God roared and dropped his axe, bringing up his arms to cover his face.

"Not much like a God are you? Scared of fire?" Matthew panted. He brought his right hand up and forced a globe of flame out, launching it at the God and letting fire enfold his robes. The God yelped, almost like a puppy. Matthew smiled. "You'd think a guy who takes people into death would be alright with a little fire really, wouldn't you? I guess not. . . " he stopped as a bright white light appeared above them and they were sucked in. Matthew landed on a wooden floor and groaned as his body protested again.

"Brother, what is going on that causes such a disturbance in our realms?" it was a womans voice, but Matthew thought it sounded empty. He lifted his head off the floor to see one woman and one man, standing in front of the Black God. The man was black, with cropped hair. The woman had pale skin and black hair. Matthew gulped. He was somewhere with the three most well known and feared Gods. Mithros, the Black God and the Goddess. He struggled to raise himself to his knees, but Mithros turned to him.

"Stay still, its amazing what a joust with the Lord of Goldenlake can do to you." Matthew thought of disobeying, then decided against it. Instead he lay back down.

"If I'd had a choice I wouldn't have done it . . ." he trailed off. He was not sure how best to address a God, he could hardly say Mithros, it would sound as though he were addressing an old friend.

"You did have a choice, now shush whilst we talk with our brother." The Goddess spoke and held a finger to her lips. Matthew sighed, then shivered with the cold. He managed to roll onto his side, then felt something rub his hand. He looked down, but there was nothing there. He frowned, then shivered again as he felt a cold draft on his back and side. Several minutes later, something seemed to wrap around him, as though someone was holding him, warmth wrapped around him. He felt a wet patch on his shoulder and looked to find the source. There was nothing. He decided he was hallucinating, and waited for the Gods to finish. After what felt like hours, the three Gods turned to look at him. Matthew avoided the eyes of Mithros and the Goddess and looked at the Black God, finding himself itching to find out how the God saw or spoke with no face. He looked up from the floor, not wanting to break the silence, but feeling stupid just lying there.

"So whatsgoing on?" Matthew askedcarefully, closing his eyes in case one ofthe Gods decided toglare at him or worse.

"Thats a very goodquestion mortal."the Black Godgrowled, for a second it remindedMatthew of Raoul in a strange andoddly comforting kind of way."Since when have you been a Pyro?"

Matthew stared. "You didn't know?" he blurted it out more sarcastically than had been intended. He shook his head. "About two months . . . I think. Something like that."

The Gods and Goddess stared at him. Then the Goddess spoke. "And are we right in suspecting that Raoul of Goldenlake's daughter is your soul mate?"

Matthew shrugged, trying not to think of Ivy and trying not to wonder if he would ever see her again. "That's what I've been told."

The Goddess nodded. "Was that the reason for your joust with the Lord of Goldenlake?"

Matthew nodded, then asked. "How can you not know these things? I thought you knew everything?"

Mithros smiled, though Matthew wondered if he had meant it to be a grimace, for the way his mouth twitched into the position looked somehow unnatural. "Sometimes lesser Gods shield things from us so that we cannot see things. I suspect that this was the work Pyroma, Goddess of Fire and Love. She has been unheard of or from for five hundred years. I'm sure she will be delighted to visit us."

Matthew frowned. Numair hadn't mentioned a Goddess of Fire and Love, and Numair knew of most unknown things. He grinned then stood up groaning in pain. "Do I get to go back?" he asked, leaning against a wall. Mithros nodded.

"Unless Pyroma has a particular objection, you will go back to your mortal life and your mortal lover."

Matthew sighed with relief, then looked at him. "Lover?"

"Of course. You don't expect to be able to keep yourself controlled for eternity now do you? I would hazard a guess at two weeks from the day you return." Mithros smiled and disappeared along with the Black God. The Goddess stayed, explaining. "Pyroma has been known to be rather possessive of rareitys such as yourself. As her sister, I may have some influence."

Matthew frowned and tried to smile. "Ok. . ." he said. There was a flare of light from the corner and a tall shapely blonde woman appeared. Matthew stared at her hands. Each finger played host to a ring set with a diamond heart, containing fire. Pyroma smiled at him.

"Pretty aren't they?" she said, then walked over and placed her hands on the sides of his face. She looked into his eyes. "Very handsome aren't you?" she said. Matthew gulped, slightly disturbed by being flirted with by a Goddess. "Most Pyros in the past have been very ugly, always slightly disappointing really, so I've had to fix them up with very beautiful women to make up for it." she smiled. "Now you, you get a beautiful woman, and she gets a lovely handsome man. Isn't it lovely?" Matthew nodded.

"Erm . . . yeah, its great." he said, "so when do I get to go home?"

Pyroma stepped back. "Soon, but there's no hurry is there? I trust you are coming to terms with your powers by now, yes?"

Matthew nodded, then looked at the ring, thinking. "How'd you make them . . ?"

Pyroma smiled. "Easily. All pyros are capable of encasing fire in an object. These were a present from the first Pyro, I was his soul mate, he wasn't mine but . . . " she smiled. "All you need is something to encase it in, then you just press your fiery finger to it, and get lovely trinket."

"Its that easy?" Matthew asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh yes, for someone who almost torched the Black God, it should be as easy as taking sugar from a baby." Pyroma smiled at him.

Matthew frowned. "No disrespect, but try taking candy from a baby and they scream, its not too helpful when you're trying to do it quietly."

Pyroma paused then nodded. "I suppose mortal babies are a bigger pain aren't they? Oh well, it seems as though someone wants you to go back . . ." she smiled. "Your beautiful young lady if I'm right."

Matthew smiled and bowed to Pyroma and then to the Goddess. "Thank you." he said.

Pyroma smiled once more, "do make sure you don't overdo it for at least a few days. You might not want to use your magic, it could make you very ill." Matthew nodded.

"Yes my lady." he bowed, then gasped as he fell backwards. Not exactly what I was expecting. Matthew thought as he hit something hard and groaned, "Fucking hell!"

Ivy woke up when she heard a door open. She gently pulled herself away from Matthews now much warmer body to look round. She instantly turned back. Raoul hesitated then walked over. "How is he?" he asked, pulling a chair up next to the bed.

"Why do you want to know? So you know if you should kill him now?" Ivy looked back at Matthew and instinctively brushed the hair away from his face.

"I just came to see how he was . . ." Raoul started. He looked at his daughter, then sighed. "I'm sorry. I know it doesn't mean much, but I am. I didn't mean to get so carried away, but you know how I am, I don't like to think of you growing up. To be honest, it scares me. I don't know what's going to happen to you, I don't even know who you are sometimes. In two months you've gone from being my little girl to being a woman, and I missed it." he took a deep breath. "I thought if I let any man have you, I'd lose you and you'd never speak to me again. I thought he'd hurt you and mess you up." he sighed. "Most fathers are like this you know? Maybe I'm worse than most of them, but they are like this." He stood and rested a hand on her shoulder. "I never meant for any of this to happen. When I thought about you growing up, I always left out the chapter where you got married. I thought you'd be single all your life." he managed a smile. "I don't know why I thought that, especially not when you're so beautiful." He took his hand away. "If he makes it through this, I won't interfere anymore . . . or I'll try not to." He turned and walked towards the door.

"Dad, wait!" Ivy said. Raoul turned, and Ivy ran over to him, throwing herself into his arms and crying. Raoul stared at his sobbing daughter for several seconds, then hugged her tight. Ivy continued to cry. She hadn't forgiven him. She wasn't sure she ever could, but she needed him, and he was there. Finally she let go and wiped her eyes on her shirt hem. "Can you stay? Please?" Raoul nodded, and draped an arm over her shoulder, kissing her forehead. Ivy sat on the bed, holding Matthews hand in hers, while Raoul sat on the chair, trying not to look at the young mans face, knowing that guilt would instantly take over.

"Fucking hell!" Raoul and Ivy both immediately stared at Matthew, who lay on the bed groaning in pain. "Damned Gods!" Matthew groaned. His eyes opened and he blinked. Ivy froze, then threw herself onto him, hugging him tight. Matthew gasped in pain, but wrapped his arms round her and hugged her back just as hard. She buried her face in his chest and sobbed again. Matthew tilted her head up to look at him, shifting slightly to stop himself lying on his cut, and smiled at her. Ivy immediately began kissing his face, wanting nothing more than to melt into him, and never take her mouth away. Matthew took a deep breath through his nose, then kissed her back, finding her mouth and sucking her lips tight. A slight cough re-alerted Ivy to Raoul's presence, Matthew heard nothing, and as soon as she pulled away he pulled her back, loving how she felt on top of him. Ivy gently eased her mouth away and sat up. Matthew went to say something, then saw Raoul and let go of her. Raoul shook his head.

"I give up Tirragen, I lost that fight. You can court my daughter, but if you mistreat her in any way, then Gods be my witness I'll pummel you."

Matthew stared at Raoul in confusion, amazed that he had let up so easily. He said nothing until Ivy nudged him gently with her finger. He shook his head. "Erm . . . thanks," he said. He sat up with difficulty, then added, "I won't mistreat her." He hesitantly offered a hand, wondering if a knife would suddenly appear in Raoul's hand and if he would try and stab it through Matthews chest. Raoul reached out and clasped Matthews' wrist firmly, shaking it before pulling back and standing.

"You two should probably be alone." he said. He kissed Ivy's cheek, then resting a hand on Matthews shoulder. "If it counts for anything, though I'm not sure that it does, I'm sorry. I was scared of losing my daughter to someone I didn't trust." he took a deep breath. "I can see now I'm only gaining from this." Matthew smiled at him and grasped his hand briefly.

"You're not the only one." he said. Raoul managed a small smile before leaving. As soon as the door closed, Ivy threw herself back down onto him and kissed his neck.

"Ouch!" Matthew groaned. "Easy, big stab wound!"

"Sorry!" Ivy said. She went to get up, but was pulled back down onto him. She smiled as Matthew looked into her eyes. She opened her mouth to speak, but Matthews' lips covered hers and his tongue slid in to meet her own. After several long minutes of kissing and touching, Matthew pulled his mouth away, exhausted. Ivy lay down on his chest and sighed. "I was so scared." she whispered.

"Of what?" Matthew asked quietly, breathing in deep gulps of air.

"Losing you." she looked up at him. "I would have died." she said. "If I'd lost you, I'd have died."

Matthew hugged her tight against him. "I'd have died too." he grinned. "I'd have died when I was already dead."

Ivy gave him a watery grin, then kissed his cheek. "I love you!" she whispered.

Matthew pulled her up towards his face and kissed her nose. "I love you more." he said. "You're the best thing that could ever happen to me." he stroked her hair and rested his chin on her head. Looking at the small wooden table beside the bed, he saw a block of diamond. It had to be worth thousands of gold nobles. He grinned slightly as a voice sounded in his head. "Make sure you don't use too much, or you'll smash it!" H e suppressed a chuckle and sent a silent prayer of thanks to Pyroma.

"Why are the Gods damned?" Ivy asked thoughtfully.

Idon't know how good this was, you might think its random and completely unnecessary, so I will need you to tell me so I can delete it if I need to redo it .Same rules apply as with the last chapter, I can't update without hmm . . . 7 reviews? Yeah we'll go with that, and I know there's no cliffies here, so you're not all hanging off your seats in fear, but if you want to read any more, then you need to review. Oh just so you know, Pyroma's made up, though I think most of you probs already knew that, but anyways. Please review, I got six last time, so we're aiming for seven. GET REVIEWING PEOPLE!