Hi guys. I know its been nearly a month again... would you believe that I couldn't update because I was abducted by aliens? ... No?... Duh... at least it was a try...

Anyway, thanks for the supporting reviews. I'm glad that all of you like the way how everybody gets more emotional with each chapter. It took me quite a time to get to this point and once more it impresses me that you are still reading this long tapeworm of a neverending story. Have fun. ;)

Chapter 39 - Welcome Home

In the very same moment the noise stopped completely. The last thing Nima noticed consciously was the prickle Raistlin's breath caused on her temple.

Then, she opened her eyes. She was lying in an unfamiliar bed in an unfamiliar room. Dalamar sat on a chair next to her bed. He had slumped a little bit to the side and leaned to the wall. He looked like he had dozed off. Nima remembered what Raistlin had said, that she probably had been lying down with fever. Her throat was awfully dry. When she sat up to reach for a cup with water on the night stand, Dalamar's eyes snapped open, even though Nima hadn't made much noise. Elves must be light sleepers. For a moment, Dalamar stared at her in confusion. Then, his lips formed a slight, almost invisible smile.

"Welcome back, Shalafi."

Later she learned that she had been caught in the dream for about 48 hours. Like Raistlin had assumed, she had fallen into a strange kind of coma. Neither herbs nor magic or common medicine had helped in any way. For once, Nima kept her mouth shut about her adventures; it was enough for her to see the nice elf again and to still be alive. The whole situation was absolutely weird. Hopefully Raistlin had made it out of the Other Side, too.

Meanwhile...

The Teketoll's caravan was cramped with people. Nima lay on her bed, motionless most of the time. Occasionally she tossed and turned as if she had a bad dream. She had been like that for two days. Mrs. Teketoll had since then sat next to her unconscious daughter holding her hand and stroking her cheek. Even her husband's earnest pleading had not convinced her to leave her place to eat and get some sleep. Both kender parents looked gravely worried. They were accompanied by Lady Toronja and Hrongar. The fortuneteller and the elderly alchemist were the ones who knew most about illnesses. In the morning when Nima had simply not awakened, they had come and helped to nurse the unconscious girl likewise trying to console the anxious kender family. Of course the great mystery was what had happened to Nima in the woods. After Nima had fallen ill, Naranja and Tiomar had told their version of the story. The young gypsy heavily berated herself that she had let her friend alone. Like the kender, she was in a depressed mood.

Lady Toronja knelt next to Mother Teketoll and watched how Hrongar took Nima's wrist, checking on pulse and temperature. What ever happened to Nima, it went along with a fever that wouldn't weaken, despite cold leg compresses and herbal inhalations. The fortuneteller noticed that something must be wrong with Mother Teketoll because for five whole minutes she hadn't asked Hrongar if Nima had already gotten better. She had asked this question over and over since her daughter had fallen ill. Lady Toronja placed a reassuring hand on the kendermother's shoulder only to realize that the weary woman had finally dozed off. She turned and motioned silently at Mr. Teketoll. The kender came and carefully lifted his wife of her chair to bring her to another bed.

For the first time since Nima had fallen unconscious, Toronja and Hrongar had the chance to talk without being overheard.

"What do you think" The gypsy whispered at the alchemist.

He shoved a hand through his white hair, thinking.

"It is a very deep trance. Magical abilities, emotional distress and... What do they call it? Ah... yes... a latent gift for precognition caused this. But I hope that it'll be over soon." he scratched his head again. "I have seen this before, but I can't remember where. Hmm, my memory is not the best anymore... Did we already try the willowbark"

"Yes we did." Toronja answered. She shook her head. Hrongar's knowledge on herbal lore and illnesses was immense but his memory was rather unpredictable. Ah, the infirmities of old age. She guessed that Hrongar had been a mage earlier in his life, his white garments were cut like wizard robes. But the old man had never spoken about this and she had not asked him. Many people in the camp had their pasts. And most of them preferred to let it rest.

"How do you know that its precogni-"

They were interrupted by a soft moan from Nima. The kender turned her head in sleep, her face revealing pain.

"A bad dream." Hrongar said soothingly as he turned towards Nima ignoring Toronja's uncompleted question. "It's only a bad dream, my little friend."

But Nima did not react. The mind who occupied that body was too far away in its own world.

Hrongar stood up. His joints cracked in the process and he groped for his back.

"Ah, an old man shouldn't crouch like this anymore. I'm too old for this stuff." he lamented. But when Toronja made an effort to help him, he declined and instead patted her shoulder.

"It will soon be over, my dear." he murmured. "They will wake up and be safe, at least for the moment. Both of them."

"How do you know" the fortuneteller asked bewildered. She hadn't told anybody else of he mage's secret.

The alchemist shook his head meekly, but in his eyes she noticed a sudden sparkle of mischief while his lips turned to an amused smile. For a moment he didn't look as absent-minded as usual but like someone who knew exactly what was going on around him. And for the first time since she had met him about year ago, Toronja asked herself who that strange wizard was.

"I have to go." Hrongar said. "For the moment I can't help here."

Before Toronja could go on, Mr. Teketoll approached them.

Hrongar smiled.

"Your daughter will be better soon."

He spoke to the kender, but he seemed to look at the fortuneteller while he spoke, as if this was a joke only he and she could understand. His statement, however, helped to raise Mr. Teketoll's spirits. The kender had taken his wife's place. Toronja stayed at his side but she decided to face Hrongar at the next opportunity. She had to find out where his knowledge came from.

In the very moment when the caravan door closed behind the alchemist, Nima's eyes fluttered open.

Nima was weak and dizzy but she was conscious again. In a matter of seconds the kender were all wide awake. Concern changed to relief and the family rejoiced in having their eldest daughter back. One look into Nima's eyes revealed that the kender was still someone else. The mage. He nodded once at Toronja, a movement that was not noticed by the wagon's inhabitants. He had silently answered a silent question. Nima was fine.

Toronja realized that there was nothing left for her to do. Now it was up to the mage and the Teketolls to deal with everything. She sighed and left.

The next few hours passed for Raistlin in a confusing fashion. Mrs Teketoll was as motherly as always but most astoundingly, her behavior had lost some of its annoying quality. For the first time he experienced the situation through the kender woman's eyes. She looked exhausted and her cheeks were still red from crying. Involuntarily he asked himself how much sorrow and anguish a mother must feel seeing her child ill without a cure. He, at least, had been given the chance to fight for his life. But the kender must have been utterly helpless. Before he realized it, a short wave of pity overcame him. Of course he cut off the feeling instantly, but when Mr. Teketoll stroked his hair and pulled him into an embrace he let it happen. How would it have been to live in a real family? To be loved and to love? He couldn't remember Rosamun ever holding him like this or promising him too cook his favorite meal. To his own surprise, he leaned into the embrace and relaxed in the woman's consoling presence. In his own family he had often felt like a stranger. And here, in this wagon full of strangers he was closer to acceptance as he had ever been before. Of course this was just because they didn't know who he really was. They had not suffered on his behalf but on Nima's. That thought helped him to put the sentimental emotions aside. As usual, he pretended to be tired in order to keep his distance. Seeing him well and alive, the kender now allowed themselves to rest but they were discussing if somebody should keep watch over Nima in case she fell into a trance again. They were spared the problem by Naranja, who arrived with a basket of fruits. She offered to take the watch while the rest slept over at other places to give Nima the rest she needed. Naranja settled down next to him, looking concerned and saying nothing. A quick look in her face revealed that she also must have stayed awake for the last two days. He caught himself thinking that a beautiful face like her's shouldn't have dark rings under the eyes or pale lips. He held no romantic feelings for the gypsy but he had not been allowed to see beauty for a long time. Now, the sight of it seemed more precious then before. He admired it, just like one admired a skillfully painted picture or a lovely flower. And there was something else that confused him... Why did all these people cry over him and why, in Nuitari's name did it suddenly matter to him? Her voice startled him when she finally spoke.

"Is it my fault? I'm sorry for what happened in the woods."

The old game. He had played it with Caramon so often. He had hurt his brother and Caramon had apologized for it. Amazingly it worked also with Naranja. He had been mean to her. He had frightened her and even caused her to trip and fall. And she was the one apologizing... So much like Caramon. Having this power over his twin had given him the triumph of supremacy. The balm and bane of a bitter soul. To rule the emotions of another being and wield them like sand running through his fingers... No, suddenly he was tired of that game. Of all games.

He finally forced himself to speak. "It had nothing to do with you. I'm the one who should be sorry." It sounded a bit sullen but he had meant it.

She nodded, but her face showed no relief. Something else afflicted her. He waited patiently for her to speak. Where this patience came from along with a sudden flicker of sympathy, he couldn't tell. Maybe from the kender? Eventually Naranja spoke again fighting against tears.

"But tell me, what shall I do? Mother said nothing, she just advised me to be careful with you. But she didn't explain it. No one bothers to explain things to me. Is it because I'm just the stupid, inexperienced girl who knows only music well? I don't understand what happens around me, I just see that I'm loosing you. I'm loosing our friendship and whatever I do, it seems to be wrong. Why, Nima? Why? You are like a stranger to me. Whenever I think I got near to you, whenever I have the feeling to gain some understanding you cruelly push me away. What have I done? Is it me? Am I not good enough for you anymore, now that you seriously plan to become a wizard? I don't know. Tell me, please tell me what I did wrong."

He closed his eyes shortly. How could he answer to this?

"Friendships change." he said after a while. "People change. Its not your fault that I am what I am. I can not give you an explanation, nor can I tell you a simple way to return to innocence. It just the way it is. All you and I can do is accept it."

Cruel words, but they were true. And they were meant for another... And Caramon had never been able to understand this simple message. He still suffered for this inability. Could Naranja learn what his twin couldn't?

"I know it sounds harsh and you can't understand. I could pretend everything was fine but where would be the use of that"

She watched him silently, waiting to hear what he had to say. Finally she had lost typical her girlish fussing. Maybe she had also changed a lot during the last few weeks. In this second Raistlin made a decision. He wouldn't have thought it possible that something like this would ever come over his lips but maybe they both needed a second chance.

"While we can't repair what has been broken, we can still begin anew. Let's just pretend we were strangers and start this friendship again. Maybe we can find a way to cope with each other somehow."

He saw in her face that she still had thousand questions. Why he had had the breakdown in the woods or what kind of sickness he had, why her friend's character had changed so profoundly. Some days ago, she would have probably blurted out her questions like child. But now she just nodded and just kept them to herself, knowing that she wouldn't get answers anyway. For the first time she acted like an adult. Raistlin was impressed that she finally showed insight and self-restraint. Maybe the girl was not so annoying after all. Maybe he could even risk and tell her the truth some time. He smiled in the corner of his mouth. But not now...

Naranja relaxed a bit at seeing him smile. An all serious kender must have been a very disturbing experience. The next hours were passed in companionable silence. Finally, after Naranja had yawned three times in a quick succession he sent her home to sleep herself, assuring her that he was fine. She was already about to leave but halted.

"Oh, I had nearly forgot that." she said, slamming the back of her hand against her forehead. "Your mother gave this to my mother some days ago. Mother said you may want it back."

She pulled something out of the basket that had been placed under the fruits. Astonished, he took it. It was the spellbook. The Grimoire of Charlatanry. Why had the fortuneteller decided to give it back to him?

"She said I should tell you that it is the key and you would know what that means. I know, if time comes you will tell me, so I don't ask."

He was left alone with his questions since Naranja waved goodbye and left.

Something must be in that book. Something special. What did he miss? Maybe the next days would get more interesting than anybody could have expected.

-

So! By now you should know Hrongars identity! I couldn't get any more direct, could I? ;)

Mean spoiler for next chapter: Chapter includes Dalamar... Nima... and a very embarrassing confession... LOL

Oh, and if you like, look out for ESGAME. This will be updated soon.