Voices were slurred when he came to, his vision blurry. He felt someone grip his hand, groaning when the sun's light hit him. "What…happened?"

His niece moved closer, using a damp cloth to wipe the sweat from his forehead. "You passed out after visiting Nicodemus," she explained. "You've been in a coma for days."

"Days!" he shot up, ignoring the nauseas feeling the movement caused. He was suddenly panting, staring down at his bare chest. "So, all that, with Elizabeth and the children, was a dream?"

She looked confused, handing him fresh clothes. "What do you mean?"

He told her about his dream as he dressed, going down to the last detail. At first she looked shocked, then thoughtful. "I think Nic cast a spell on you," she said at last. "Elizabeth arrived this morning, and she told us what happened to her family, and to her. It was exactly as you said."

Justin shook his head. "I told that guy to keep his enchantments to himself," he muttered. "Elizabeth's in the valley?" he asked, the words suddenly registering. "Where is she?"

"Austin's giving her a tour, but he told me to get him if you woke up. Do you want to see her?"

He nodded before he realized what he was doing. In a few minutes she returned with the mouse in tow. She looked just like she had in his vision.

"Justin," she cried the moment she saw him. He sat up straight as she ran, taking her in his arms as she buried her face in his chest. In a few seconds he tilted her chin back with his hand.

"Elizabeth," she hadn't noticed how close they were, but moved away when she felt his breath on her lips.

"You've changed."

She blushed without smiling. "Worry does that," she whispered, wiping her eyes. He ran a hand through her hair, smiling.

"We'll find your children," he said, taking her hands. "I promise."

She didn't respond, letting her hands run freely down his chest. "You've changed too," she hissed, noting the shock of hair at his brow. His clothes had changed too, so that she hardly recognized him. His white shirt had two ties criss-crossing a small "V" at the neckline, the sleeves covering half his upper arm. Pulled over this was a sleeveless tan vest, closed with two small clasps down the front. Its collar was a much larger "V", a hood pulled down around his shoulders. Wrapped around his wrists were leather bands the shade of his eyes, ending halfway to his elbow. He looked much younger this way, and she liked the effect.

"Not the right choice for a leader, though," she mused, recalling his new position. He chuckled.

"I'm still captain of the guard," he said, again pulling her close. "You brought Nicodemus back to life with the Stone," he continued. "You sucked the old age right out of him."

She giggled, smoothing out a small wrinkle in her cape. It was the only thing about her that hadn't changed, but did nothing to subdue her beauty. She backed away as he shoved his blanket off, seeing him hesitate before putting his feet on the floor.

"I've been unconscious for days," he told her. Eventually he got up, briefly holding the bed frame to steady himself.

"You don't look injured," she said.

"I wasn't," he told her. "Nic put some sort of spell on me."

"Why?" she walked with him to the doors.

"He…gave me some sort of vision," he explained to her what he'd seen, leaving out the details that concerned them. By the time he was done, she was nearly in tears.

"That's exactly how it happened," she said quietly, voice breaking. His heart tore at seeing her suffer, but for some reason he felt he could no longer comfort her.

"Come with me," he said suddenly. He brought her to a stately door carved of dark wood, knocking on the polished surface.

"W-What is this?" she stared at it, gasping at the creature who answered his call. The rat appeared not much older than him, with light brown fur and dark, intelligent eyes. He looked worried, bringing them both inside.

"You cast a spell on me, Nic," Justin said plainly. He crossed his arms over his chest. "And after I told you to keep them to yourself."

They could all hear the laugh in his voice, but his leader barely smiled, instead going to a small globe mounted on a brass stand, giving it a spark of blue magic. "There were things I wished you to see," he explained, and ushered them closer. The orb began spinning, pictures forming to match his words.

"The scientists are still after us," he said, "They know we were there, and are searching for our trail."

"But how can that be?" Justin sounded worried. "We left no trail to be followed!"

Nicodemus shook his head slowly. "We must not have been thorough enough," he said gravely. "For they were still able to track us."

She gasped, suddenly remembering. She grasped her friend's collar. "Justin, I know how they found you!"

"What? How?" he gripped her shoulders. "Tell us."

"NIMH came the day after you left," she began. "I-I was out gathering food when I saw them, dragging a hose to the rosebush," she stopped. "I-I saw a figure stagger out, once they'd started the gas, but I never got a good look at him." She stared at them both. "I-I think it was Jenner."

"Jenner's dead," Justin spoke. His voice was suddenly harsh. Elizabeth stared at him.

"I'm not sure who it was," she said. "Something just told me it was him."

"Is there any way you can find out for sure?" he turned to his leader. Nic shrugged.

"I could try, but there's a chance it's unreliable."

"I don't care," Justin snapped. "Do it!"

Nic nodded, suddenly shaking. Justin left moments later, Elizabeth close behind.

"Are you sure you're not in charge?" she asked. He shrugged.

"I don't get like that very often," he said. "But I'm worried about your children."

"I am too," she whispered, and suddenly started crying. He put an arm around her, thankful the halls were empty. He brought her to a bench resting in an alcove, gently setting her on the polished wood. The young woman sobbed openly into her hands, grief tearing Justin's heart. He thought back to his own past, to the girl he'd abandoned, the children he'd never known. A tear came to his eye, but he made sure to swallow his sadness. He wasn't going to show that type of weakness again, not after what happened last time.

I can't believe I let her use me like that, he shook his head, not wanting to relive the memory. Instead his mind turned to the future, what would happen in the weeks to come. He was certain there was more than what Nicodemus had shown him, certain there were still surprises waiting in the shadows. But what could they be? He hadn't noticed until then that Elizabeth had fallen asleep, that her tear-stained face was resting on his shoulder. He smiled, stroking her cheek, barely resisting the urge to kiss her.

She's perfect. He took her in his arms, carrying her back to his quarters. He laid her on the bed in his spare room, covering her small body with the dark green blanket. He stared at her a while longer, grasping her hand firmly.

"I'll get you out of this," he whispered, and kissed her forehead. She moaned, but didn't wake up. He was still thinking about her later that night, sitting at his desk, staring blankly out the small window. What am I going to do? He shivered, recalling Jon's anger when he'd found out, the fight that had made Justin relinquish his peaceful ways. The mouse had beaten him more than once, shaming him into becoming a guard, into becoming the creature he was. But now he's dead…

"Not entirely," a small shadow watched from the gloom, able to read every emotion. They knew exactly what was to come, and what would result. In a few minutes they vaporized, once again called back to the glistening orb. "Not entirely."

Not what you expected, was it?