Note to All Readers: In the last chapter, you may have noticed that (somwhere) it said 12pm. Well, that was a mistake. It should have read 12am. However, that is incorrect as well. I thank you, Icelands, for pointing out that Edil-Amarandh does not have a time system like ours. That should have read "midnight" instead. For all of my readers, I just want you to know that now, they are meeting in the music room, and it is very late at night. In our time, it would be almost 11:45. Thank you for your cooperation.

Disclaimer: It isn't mine. Get on with life.

It was late, and the candle flickered, dancing and shifting, casting shadows along the walls. Maerad sat, head in hands, on a crimson couch in the music room. She was almost dreading their meeting, and yet her heart pounded in eager anticipation at the thought of Cadvan, back, with her.

They had sometimes had these secret meetings, late at night, but it had become increasingly harder with Adnaë growing older and staying up later. Luckily, she was at a friend's house tonight, and wouldn't be home until morning. They could talk in peace until late.

She started out of her reverie when a knock at the door resounded through the room, seemingly loud in the stillness. Her head jerked up, and her hair tumbled down across her shoulders, a dark, shiny waterfall. Cadvan stood at the door, smiling slightly.

"You are early," she said, looking at a clock and seeing that it was still a few minutes till midnight.

He smiled again and crossed the threshold, then sat down beside her on the couch and embraced her. Maerad welcomed the warmth, and buried her face in his chest. They sat like that for a moment before he pulled back, examining her with his eyebrows raised. At last he spoke.

"What is troubling you so? You look weary, my love."

She laughed slightly, but he could not miss the way her voice strained and her eyes widened in slight fear. He did not laugh, and when she finished they lapsed into an awkward silence. He held her close again, and she began to cry at his compassion and caring. How she wished they had been able to stay together, to lie down and wake up together, to laugh, to cry together, forever. But it was not to be. And maybe now…nothing was to be. Their secret was over. Adnaë had demanded the truth, and how could she not give it to her, after lying for so long?

Cadvan held her as she cried, murmuring sweet nothings and stroking her back, her hair, her face. Maerad at last turned her tear-stained face to him, and gave him a wobbly smile.

"Thank you, Cadvan," she whispered, coming again to rest her head on his shoulder. She drew a deep, shuddering breath. "Cadvan…It's Adnaë…she wants to know the truth."

Cadvan looked thoughtful for a moment, but his eyes were dark. "Then I think...I think we must tell her. Maerad, we have kept her in the dark for far too long. She, as our daughter, has a right to know. Besides, as soon as she comes of age, she will probably be a truthteller like me. Isn't her name-day tomorrow?"

"Yes, and she will most certainly be a truthteller. It is in her blood. But Cadvan, what if she were…to tell someone. It would be the end of…everything."

"That is a risk we will have to take, I think. Maerad, I know it might be disastrous, but I believe this is the right thing to do."

"You always did know what to do," said Maerad quietly, smiling slightly, pulling back to look him full in the face.

"Yes, I did," he said, amused, but there was no vanity in his statement, just love shining in his fiery blue eyes. He kissed her softly on the lips, and her heart felt light and alive. The kiss strengthened in intensity as Cadvan put his arms around her, stroked her, held her close. She grasped his neck and pulled him towards her, delighting in the feel of his body close to hers. His hands caressed her waist, went lower, then back up. She smiled as he kissed her; they hadn't been able to show their love like this since Adnaë was born. Her lips pressed against his, reaching for more. They were entranced in their own little world, where only one thing mattered: each other. They leaned back onto the couch, and her hair mixed with his in a beautiful, shining black wave. Her skin was afire with his touch, and his body was alive at hers. How she loved this, wanted to go on like this forever, to love him all her days and never stop…

"Mom?!?!?!?!?"

That word, that single word, shattered the peace like a glass. It took her a moment to realize what was going on, and when she did, her heart went cold, and her skin, so flaming hot before, was now clammy with sweat. Adnaë was home.

Maerad, still entangled with Cadvan, looked up, and he did the same. She saw Adnaë standing at the door, her fair skin paler than usual and her eyes wide in shock. Her pack lay by her feet, and Maerad guessed that she had dropped it. Well, I would have too, had my mother done this to me, she thought scornfully.

"Adnaë," she said, and she was surprised by how much her voice shook, "what are you doing home so early?"

"Zakora was sick, so I couldn't stay," she said in barely more than a whisper.

"Why did you come home?" said Maerad, untangling herself from Cadvan and standing up by the couch, her whole body shaking. Cadvan looked from one to the other, his face closed.

"I live here," said Adnaë. Then suddenly the girl was angry and her eyes were aglow with the raging passion she was feeling. "Why are you asking questions? What right have YOU to question ME, after I come in and find you…you…KISSING my Ancient Lore teacher? What kind of, of, trick is this?"

She stood before her mother, panting hard, with her hands curled in fists by her sides. There was an awful tense silence, and then it was broken as the clock struck midnight. It went on for ages, it seemed, and finally the ringing stopped, and Maerad was left facing Adnaë. Maerad looked weak and pale, and she fell back onto the couch and put her face in her hands. When she looked up, she was even more weary, it seemed to the other two.

"Adnaë," she said at last, "you are now of age, and I do not think I can lie to you anymore. Tonight I will tell you the truth. The whole truth, and nothing but the truth. It is time for you to know."

Adnaë looked shocked again, and Cadvan said, "Sit."

The girl obeyed, although her eyes shot knives at her teacher.

"Well," began Maerad, looking about her for inspiration. "Where to begin? I guess I will start with me, and your father.

"I was young, only 16, when a man came and rescued me from slavery. His name was Cadvan of Lirigon," she said, rather dreamily.

"Mother, I have heard all of this in Ancient Lore," the teenager interrupted.

"Then it is good to review," replied Cadvan. He nodded to Maerad. "Continue."

"Well, Cadvan and I traveled together, as you know. He told me about myself, and his vision for what I would become.

"Together with your Uncle Hem, my brother, we cast down The Nameless One in his darkest rising. And after that, legend fades. Or so say all the stories.

"But that was far, far from the end. The legends all say that we traveled our separate ways: I went and got married in Murask, and then my 'husband' died on a hunt, so I came back here, while Cadvan stayed and became a teacher. But that is not the truth, as you have discerned.

"Cadvan and I…we sort of…fell in love along our journey. We were already seeing each other, but then one day we attended a meet at which our frequent get-togethers were commented on, and the subject of children was brought up. We were told that we were never allowed to marry or have a child, otherwise it would become too powerful, and that would be disastrous if it were to ever go astray. We promised that we wouldn't. We promised."

Maerad went silent, and looked away. Suddenly Cadvan spoke up, his voice loud, his eyes harsh.

"We did promise. But we were stupid, Maerad, so stupid. We didn't take their advice, Adnaë, and didn't heed the warnings. We were two people too in love to notice the consequences."

Adnaë gasped, and stood up, trembling. "You….you're my father?" she choked out, her voice cracking as realization dawned.

Cadvan would not look at her. "Yes, Adnaë. I am your father." (((--No, don't think Star Wars, there, please…--)))

Adnaë let out all her breath in a whoosh of air and slumped back in her seat.

At last Maerad continued.

"When I found out I was pregnant with you, Cadvan and I decided that I must hide away, so that you would be spared. For, if the Circle had discovered you, they would have….would have…."

She threw herself against Cadvan, sobbing. "My only daughter, what was I to do? I had to lie, to protect you. They would have killed you, do you hear, killed you if I had not taken you away, and then come back with a bag full of lies. I regret it, but I loved you Adnaë, so I had to. Please understand, my darling, please."

She continued crying, and Cadvan held her close.

Adnaë looked between the two, and a new understanding blossomed in her heart. This man, her teacher, and now her father, was so strong and steady. Her mother, so broken, but strong as adamant as well. They were meant for each other. Why did they have to lie? And yet they did it, to protect her. She felt a strange emotion stir within her, and she knew what it was: longing. Adnaë wished she had someone to love her like that, to stay forever by her side and never forget her. But then she realized, she did. Her mother and father had done it for her, had lied for her, sacrificed for her, in order that she might live. How could she be angry at them now? They had needed to lie. It wasn't their fault. Instead, now she felt drained. She felt herself soak up the new information, and as it filled her, she felt tired and weak. Slowly, she lowered herself to the floor and hugged her knees to her chest.

Eventually, Maerad quieted and she drew away from Cadvan, wiping her eyes. "I had to do it, my daughter. I understand that I should have told you by now, but I couldn't find myself to do it. I was ashamed."

She turned away from Cadvan slightly, but he pulled her close. "Never be ashamed of your love."

Maerad was suddenly reminded of that night, they had found each other in Pellinor. What a wonderful night it was. And even now, Cadvan was right.

"No we must not be ashamed. We loved each other, and it was wrong of the council to try and stop our love." Maerad's face was hard with a resolve no other could have.

"It is wrong!" Adnaë suddenly, standing up. Her parents looked at her in surprise, and Adnaë swallowed before she continued. "It's not your fault you were powerful. And other people have fallen in love, but they didn't have to keep apart."

Cadvan's mouth quirked into a smile. "You are right, Adnaë. But when other people find out, I do not think they will see things that way. They will see you as a threat, and your mother and I as a disappointment."

He now looked grim, and Maerad grasped his shirt rather fearfully. "But they will find out, Cadvan. And then…"

"No," Adnaë said forcefully. "We will go to them, and tell them of what you have done. They will understand. They have to."

The room was silent. Then Maerad sighed and stood up, Cadvan at her side the whole way. "I think you are right, my lovely daughter. When they find out, we will go with dignity." She smiled weakly, but her hands were already trembling. Cadvan helped her out the door, and Adnaë watched the couple go, her parents, so in love, hand in hand again. She smiled, and then made her way back to her room. Tomorrow would come, and she was ready.

Well, hope you like it. I always hope. But I must know. So you should tell me. Was it good?