Disclaimer: As freakin' cool as it would be to own the Heralds of Valdemar series, I don't and Mercedes Lackey does. I own the original characters and this attempt at a plot, but that's it.

A/N: Hello everyone! Because the paper I had due today is thankfully now in the hands of my professor, I decided I could poke my head out of my black hole for a little bit and post the next chapter.This one is the long awaited return to Valdemar for Jennifer and so it's a really happy chapter. Word of warning, this gets a little sappy at the end but I don't think anyone will mind. You'll see why. Lastly, if you're reading this then I want to thank you for not puking during chapter three. As I've told people in response to their reviews, I don't really like that I've used the whole dimensional travel gig. But if I'm gonna be making fun of things throughout the story, then that was a good place to start.

So I'm going to stop rambling now and let you get on to reading. Enjoy!

Ch. 4: Re-Introductions

Trine and I left Chicago three days later and were flown to where ever it was we were sitting and waiting. It was a military facility somewhere in the continental states but nobody was telling us where for security reasons. I do, however, know it wasn't Area 51 in Nevada because the base wasn't smack in the middle of the desert.

So we were waiting in a conference or debriefing room for someone to tell us it was time to head out. It was a comfortable enough room, with plush black leather chairs surrounding a rectangular table and the walls painted a calming shade of gray. I barely noticed any of it since I was too busy pacing. I had tried to sit down when we first entered but found I couldn't. It was more comforting to be pacing the length of the room. Trine was on the opposite side of the room playing with the whiteboard and different colored markers.

"What color were you thinking?" he eventually asked in a slightly irritated tone. He didn't bother to turn around.

"Huh? Whadda ya mean?" I responded, coming out of my wandering haze.

"What color do you think their new carpet should be? Apparently you don't like this one because you're doing a fine job of wearing a hole in it." Trine picked up a green marker and tried to blend it with the blue square he'd drawn on the board. He frowned when the colors wouldn't combine.

I rung my hands and continued to pace. "I'm sorry but I'm anxious."

Trine looked over his shoulder and laughed at me. "Jennifer, I know you're anxious. But you have to admit there must be a better way than that to show your government you're not the most patient person."

"Well, it is an ugly color," I said, looking down at the thin, baby-shit brown carpet. I then took a seat on the glossy surface of the table and looked at my watch. 1:39 pm. We'd been waiting for roughly a quarter of an hour but the minutes were crawling by and making me even more irritated. I scowled and turned my attention back to Trine as he continued to draw with the markers. "You're really having fun with those, aren't ya?"

"You know, even though I still much prefer life in Valdemar, this board and pens are a few of the things I believe would be useful to have back at the Collegium." Trine capped the marker he's been using and placed it back on the tray, choosing to take a seat next to me. His eyes were thoughtful as he sat and for a few moments didn't say anything.

"You know something else? The few weeks I've spent here learning about America and waiting to see you, I've come to have a greater appreciation for how well you've kept it together," he said with a small smile. "Until now, I don't think I ever truly believed the stories you used to tell on the rare occasion you would talk about your life here. The way you described everyday things, like lighting and how you entertain yourselves, to be honest I thought sounded completely mad. I thought you'd made some of it up," Trine said as he looked at me and shrugged.

"But now you know I didn't," I replied softly.

Trine nodded. "It's going to be a bit of a shock for me when we get back and I've only been here two weeks. But this is where you grew up; for you it's normal." He sighed and ran a hand through his red hair. "And to have suddenly found yourself in Valdemar as you did, it's no wonder you act the way you do."

I gave him a small smile of gratitude. "I can't make any promises, but I think this time 'round will be a little easier. Hopefully I won't be as spaz-happy."

At that moment there was a knock on the door and a man wearing fatigues entered. "Herald Trine, Miss Keller, we're ready."

Trine and I slid off the table as I gave our appearances one last look over. He was dressed in his Whites, looking every bit as I had remembered. I had been tempted to wear my Golds, but Trine advised it may not send the right message to the U.S. government for me to leave dressed as a Herald. He thought it would be best to wait until we returned to Valdemar and I had a chance to speak with the Circle. So instead I wore jeans and a dark brown t-shirt with a bit of lace trim at the bodice. It was causal yet still looked nice.

We were led down a few indistinguishable corridors to a pair of large metal doors with "CAUTION" painted on them. A buzzer sounded and the doors parted, revealing a small warehouse-like space with loads of techno gadgets and more military personnel. The main attraction, however, I'm not sure how to describe. The only way I can is a square-ish frame thing with a bunch of wires and cords coming out of it. It was kinda anti-climatic really. I was expecting something a little more complex, like in the TV show Stargate SG-1.

A couple of the military men who came with Trine were going back with us, and they were already waiting in front of the Gate. Exactly who they were and what their function was, I don't know. My and Trine's bags were sitting on the ground next to them, waiting patiently like everyone else. I stood in front of the terminus and took a steadying breath. This was it; there was no turning back. In a few minutes time I'd be taking part in a government science fair project and be back among people who didn't think I was nuts. The thought of inter-dimensional travel sent a shiver down my spine.

A voice suddenly came over the loudspeaker saying, "Activating Gate," and I could hear the gadgets around us come buzzing to life. Again, I guess I was expecting something a little more impressive, such as flickering lights, flying sparks, or a gust of wind from when the Gate turned on, but none of that happened. Instead there was the loud buzzing, and then silence. No flashes, no wind, nothing to give any hint anything had happened.

"What went wrong?" I asked puzzled. "Shouldn't something have happened?"

One of the men going over just looked at me and smiled. "All you have to do is walk forward and brace yourself. It's really simple." To prove it, the man picked up Trine and my luggage and walked towards the metal structure. The other man motioned for us to follow so we did, hesitantly. We walked under the frame and stopped at the apex. I looked up to see if I could tell if anything was happening. Then, I saw a red light blink once, twice, three times, and poof.

I felt like I had just jumped off the zenith of Mt. Everest and was falling, falling, with no hope of ever finding solid ground. My stomach started to churn and my limbs felt like lead. All I knew was emptiness and wasn't aware of my traveling companions at all. And as soon as it began, it stopped. My feet felt something solid and my body went crashing to the ground, landing flat on my face.

The experience of traveling through a Mage Gate was nothing compared to inter-dimensional travel. I felt sick and all my senses, normal and extra, were insanely disoriented. I groaned and brought myself to all shaky fours, keeping my head down as a wave of dizziness washed over me.

"Miss Keller, are you alright?" I heard someone ask. It had to have been one of the military goons since they were the only ones who'd call me by my last name.

"Holy fucking shit! What the hell just happened?!" I exclaimed weakly. Another wave of dizziness hit me, causing me to close my eyes and lower my head to rest on the cool grass. After a minute my mind instantly cleared as my senses caught up to me. Grass? I'm touching grass?! My eyes flew open and head shot up, allowing me to take in the sight I never thought I'd see again, much less have people tell me was real.

We had landed in one of the grassy areas in one of the Palace gardens. Flowers of all kinds and colors were blooming around us and the air was thick with their various perfumes. One of the many sparkling fountains was raining water into the lower reflecting pool to my right. A small distance to my left was the stone outer exterior of what I (shockingly) recognized as the Heraldic Wing. I took it all in with complete amazement. It was all there, just as I "remembered".

Trine helped me up off the ground as I continued to look around. Blue garbed palace servants had come out to take Trine and my bags inside. Where mine were going I didn't know and didn't particularly care at the moment. A couple men dressed in American style suits were standing off to the side and conversing with our escorts. I looked behind me and saw a square structure similar to the one that had brought us there had been erected. I couldn't see anyway for it to be powered, but it didn't matter as far as I was concerned. Tears of joy filled my eyes as I looked to the clear blue summer sky and I clung to Trine to keep myself from falling over again. I was back.

"Welcome home, Herald-Mage Jennifer," Trine said softly.

I grinned widely and felt like I could take on the world. The beginnings of solid realization that I really was back were slowly trickling into my mind, telling the part of me still in doubt to drown in the river. "Damn straight I'm home," I responded. I looked around again and my smile faded a little. "Where is everyone? Did only the Americans know we were coming?"

"No, Aryon just told me Selenay and Daren have been informed and they pass along their greetings, saying they'll call for you later. As for others, people were probably told to stay away because of the equipment," Trine said. "Anyway, the first thing you should do is see to Shayna." Trine's eyes unfocused for a few seconds as he talked to Aryon. "She's down by the stream. Aryon's told her we're here but she's refusing to believe him."

"Well she'll believe me," I said, thinking briefly it was sorta funny that I'd barely been back two minutes and I was already acting like I'd never left. I turned on my heel and headed off in the direction of the stables to get a small bucket of grain and some fresh hay to carry out to her. The first thing Shayna was going to do was eat. Then I'd chew her ass for refusing food and nearly starving herself.

Trine helped me gather the food and carry it out to the pine tree line. With a silent nod and a smile, he handed me the bucket and left me to see to Shayna on my own. I entered the cool shade of the trees and reveled at the familiar sights, smells, and sounds that had brought me comfort during the countless hours I'd spent out there. My feet still knew the way even though I'd been away for three years.

I slipped through the pines as silently as I could as to not disturb Shay. The last thing I wanted was for her to get defensive right off the bat. A small break in the trees and the familiar sound of water laughing over rocks could be heard. More importantly, though, there on the stream bank lay a snow white horse-shape with its back to me. She was thin, but exactly how thin was hard to determine due to the shade. Before I could make a move, I Heard her beautiful voice.

:Go away and leave me be! I wish to be alone for the sake of the Gods!:

"I'm sorry, Dave, but I'm afraid I can't do that," I said in my best HAL voice from 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Shayna's head whipped around. At first her big blue eyes glared maliciously at me, but widened and softened as she saw it who it was. She stood slowly and turned around to face me. I dropped the hay and bucket on the ground and bit my lip as I felt a tear roll down my cheek.

"Hey, Shay." My voice was trying to catch in my throat and sounded thick.

:Jennifer? Chosen?:

I nodded eagerly and closed the remaining distance between us, throwing my arms around her neck and burying my face in her silky mane. Hoping the bond connecting us was still intact, I wordlessly sent her all my love as I started to cry. From Shay I first felt shock, but then the familiar rush of overwhelming love and comfort followed. The wave of emotions nearly brought me to my knees.

:I didn't believe Aryon when he said Trine had brought you back!: Shayna wailed sadly in my mind. :I thought it was just a way to get me away from here.:

:Yeah, well even though his Chosen is a bit of an idiot sometimes, you need to give those guys more credit, Shay.: I Mindspoke with a mental laugh.

She didn't say anything for a few moments as I rubbed her neck fondly. Shay was thinner than I thought, but not to the point where she'd done herself serious damage. It would take a few weeks to get her back to full weight, but I'd nurse her back to health for as long as it took.

:Are you really here? Did you really come back?: Shay asked.

:I'm back, sweetheart. I'm back and I'm not going anywhere without you. I left you here once by yourself and I don't intend on doing that again. I've missed you too much.: I laughed aloud at my next thought. :But then should you really be asking me that question?:

:I suppose not.: Shayna replied and echoed my laugh. :I never gave up on you. I always knew you were still alive and would come back somehow. You're still my Chosen and I love you.:

"I love you too," I answered. I pulled away and was lost in the drowning depths of her crystal blue eyes. Our Herald-Companion Bond was weak but still there and would continue to grow the longer I stayed with her. I retrieved the grain and hay and plunked it down in front of her. "Okay, you. You need to eat."

:You're not going to make me eat all of it, are you?: She eyed the bucket and hay with a small amount of distain, then back at me.

"You're gonna eat a little of both so ya don't make yourself sick. Then we'll let it sit for a couple hours and see how ya do," I told her sternly, crossing my arms. "If you're gonna be stupid enough to starve yourself for weeks on end, then I'm gonna make sure you eat. And I don't care what hole I have to shove it down as long as some of it ends up in your stomach."

I spent the next half hour making sure she ate slowly before she fell asleep. Shay said she'd been sleeping less and less over the last couple months, but as soon as I curled up beside her she was out cold. Nothing short of a bomb going off right next to us was going to wake her.

I sat and watched the birds flitter through the trees like I had so many times before and felt more content then I had for so long. I felt like a person and not just an empty shell going through the motions of daily life. I had a purpose again, even if for now it was only to get Shay healthy. The rest of my duties would come later.

After a while I heard the time bell toll 5:00, and as if on cue my stomach responded with a rumble. As if response to me, I heard the sounds of two pairs of footsteps coming through the trees towards Shay and I and I smiled. There were three people who would be coming that way, but I had a sneaking suspicion I knew who the two were.

"Care for some company and food?" said the masculine voice, rich with excitement.

"Too bad for her, she's getting it whether she wants it or not," a higher female voice chimed in, her tone just as enthusiastic.

Thought so, I thought with a smile. "I don't know," I replied. "I'm not exactly batting .500 when food and this place are combined. I have a tendency to disappear into thin air." I turned around grinning, my eyes falling on Kris and Nia. Kris was holding a basket in one hand and had a blanket draped over his other arm. He hadn't changed. He had the same wavy brown hair, kind puppy-dog eyes, and seemed to tower over the smaller Nia. Her blond hair was pulled back from her face which looked heavier than I remembered and her brown eyes shone with delight.

Before I could do more than stand Nia rushed over to me and enveloped me in a fierce hug and a cry of "It is so good to see you!!" The hug was more of a clamp around my shoulders as something was keeping her from hugging me fully.

"Nia, holy crap, Batman!" I exclaimed when she pulled away. I looked down at her belly and back at her, mouth open in surprise. "You're pregnant!"

She nodded and smiled gleefully. "And only two more months to go." Nia's eyebrows knit together as she eyed me. "Trine didn't tell you?"

I was about to call him a string of unflattering names when I remembered why he said Nia didn't come. "Not in so many words," I laughed. "He said I'd see for myself the main reason you didn't come, but never hinted that you were knocked up."

Her face soured. "I'm going to have a few words with my husband."

"Husband?!"

"He didn't tell you that either?"

"No!"

"So do I just get to stand here holding the basket or do I get a proper greeting too," Kris asked with mock indignation. He put down the burdens and I stuck my tongue out at him. I walked the few separating steps and caught him in a fierce hug.

"Welcome home, Jenn," he whispered into my hair and squeezed me harder.

I had to gasp a little for breath. "Kris, if you don't let go I'm gonna pop."

He let me go and held me at arms length, looking me over. "You look stressed," he said worriedly.

"How bad has it been?" Nia said and placed a gentle hand on my arm.

"Well, if I'm gonna do this story justice we might as well sit down," I told them. Kris laid out the blanket and the three of us dug into our dinner. By then Shayna had woken up and I gave them the same story as Trine, only I didn't start to loose my cool. It may have been the surroundings and the certainty that I was back or having Shayna there, but as I explained things to Nia and Kris I felt calmer and more in control. It was a hell of a nice feeling to have.

We spent the rest of the early evening catching up and filling me in on the details of the last couple weeks. According to Kris, talks with the Americans had been put on temporary hold until I came back and could be assessed. He didn't elaborate on why the treaty talks had been halted and I didn't want to know. Sooner or later I was going to find out the gritty details.

Off in the distance the four of us heard the clashing of thunder, which was accompanied with a gust of icy wind that ripped through the pines. The storm was an expected one, and I was silently relieved that the new gates, as far as people knew, didn't muck with the weather patterns.

We gathered our things quickly and rushed back to the Palace, trying to beat the first drops of rain. I started to head to the stables with Shayna get her settled, but she nudged me towards Kris.

:Go get yourself settled in, love. There's nothing you need to do for me right now and you need to get some rest as much as I do.:

"Are you sure?" I had actually been thinking about spending the night with her, but she gave me another shove.

:Do you think I want to wake up to you bellyaching about how cold and wet you got from the rain? I have missed you terribly but I haven't missed your complaining about certain things,: Shayna laughed at me.

I gave her a goodnight hug and kiss. "I'm gonna have to get used to you bein' in my head again. Freakin' talkin' horses." That earned me a shove onto the ground, but as Shay walked away she sent me another wave of love. I was forgiven.

Kris and I said goodnight to Nia at one of the outer doors just as the rain began to fall. Trine and her suite was at the opposite end of the Heralds' Wing from me, as Kris had informed me as we were walking back that my tower rooms were ready and waiting.

"Shayna refused to let the Circle give them to another Herald," he said. "Anytime the possibility was brought up, she got wind of it and told us rather pointedly that she'd run us all down if we gave up your rooms." I was grateful for that because I did not want to be put up somewhere else. If I had been, I definitely would have been back in the stable with Shay.

Kris walked me to my rooms and left me to get settled. I stood and stared at the closed door for a moment, almost scared to enter. But I sucked it up, and with a shaking hand turned the handle and pushed it open, revealing the living room area. I didn't stop to look around just yet as the windows had been left open and the wind had really begun to pick up. I rushed over and latched the glass shut, thankful the rain was coming straight down. That was when I turned to survey my familiar but alien quarters.

It looked just as I remembered, only cleaner. That's because you haven't lived here for a few years and you always leave things lying around. Of course it's cleaner. A large fireplace built into the main wall with a plush couch and chair flanking it on either side. A small table stood between them, holding a bowl of fresh fruit and a bottle of what I thought was wine, but upon examination found to be cider. Good, someone remembered to tell the servants I don't drink. Then why the hell do I work in a bar? The opposite wall housed my desk and a pad of stationary lay there waiting to be used.

In between the windows was a large wooden bookcase that had been built into the stone and housed my large collection of books. I ran my fingers over the leather spines lovingly and itched to take one down and start reading. But my window seat, still lined with green and blue pillows, was a little damp from the moist air and I still had to unpack my things. So I headed to the other door and opened it, revealing my former bedroom.

It too was familiar, but definitely way too clean. The only things on the ground were a couple of rugs and a large trunk at the foot of the four poster bed, when during my previous occupancy things would be strewn all over. A small table on each side of the bed held a lamp for reading and the wardrobe door on the left side of the room stood slightly ajar, showing a collection of gold colored clothing. My suitcase and bag were sitting on the floor in front of it.

I figured the best place for my clothes would be the trunk, so I pulled the suitcase over and lifted the lid. It contained my other clothes, the ones I'd had with me when I first came to Valdemar almost ten years previous. As I looked through the items it hit me that my rooms in essence belonged to three people, all living within the same body and mind. One was a young, scared college freshman who had very little idea what was going on. Another was a confidant Herald-Mage who could take on the world. And now there was the confused and jaded woman who didn't know where she belonged.

The trunk wasn't even half full, so I piled things on top of each other, placing the items of my old clothing that I thought I could still wear on top of the old. Then I put the things I'd brought with me next to those. I closed the lid and got to work setting around some of the nick-knacks I'd brought as well. A picture of Shannon and I found a spot on the table in the front room, and my iPod and speakers went on the mantle of the fireplace. I went back to the bedroom and was putting a few more things away when a knock on the main door to the suite came.

"Come on in!" I called out, trusting the person could show themselves in. I finished up in the bedroom by putting my bear on the bed and went to see who the guest was. My guess was confirmed when I silently leaned against the door frame and looked him over.

Just like with Kris, he didn't look to have changed at all. Dark brown hair still fell just so into his beautiful brown eyes and framed his Johnny Depp-like features. His tall, lean body was still dressed in scarlet as he gave the picture of Shannon and me a wistful smile. That was when I noticed the small difference in his uniform.

"You're wearing sliver," I said with a smile, breaking the silence. His tunic bore small amounts of silver cording as an indication of rank.

Tashir looked up from the picture and his smile widened and brightened. "What was that?" he asked.

I smiled shyly and crossed my arms. That smile still makes me feel like a high schooler. Damn, he's still got it. "You're wearing silver. You got the job."

He smirked and gave a sweeping bow. "Court Bard Tashir Lafaldon, at your service." He placed the picture back on the table and walked towards me. I met him half way as he caught me in his strong arms and swung me around. I buried my face in his shoulder and reveled in the sensation of feeling him next to me. "Gods, I missed you so much," he breathed into my ear. I tightened my arms around his neck.

"I've missed you too." My voice broke slightly from trying to fight back the tears. He's really here, right? The man I still love is right here and I'm not dreaming this? Please let this be real. Please, please let this be real.

He held me close for some time, reluctant to let me go, and I didn't want him to either. Eventually we pulled away and he caught my face in his hands, his thumbs lightly brushing away the stray tears that had fallen on my cheeks. Tashir looked me up and down, wearing the happiest smile I'd ever seen, not saying anything. Finally he spoke as I was at a loss for words.

"I knew there was something missing, and I just figured out what it is. For all the years I've known you, I don't believe I've ever seen you without your dragon necklace," he said as his fingers moved from my face to lightly trace the line of my throat.

My hand reached up involuntarily to touch the empty space and he caught my hand in his. The necklace had a pendant of a dragon breathing fire, reared up on its hind legs with its wings spread. I'd worn it everyday but had been lost when I returned to the States. It had been a source of courage and strength for me during my first six years in Valdemar, and was the inspiration for one of my many nicknames: Dragon Mage. I'd sorely missed since.

"I lost it when I went home," I explained. "It wasn't with the things I'd been wearing and I tried to go back and look for it, but it's gone. I guess I'll have to find something to replace it."

Tashir shook his head, still smiling. "Close your eyes." I gave him a questioning look but did as he said. I heard the rustle of fabric and then something with a cool, light metal weight being fastened around my neck. He let his fingers trail slowly down my skin, leaving goosebumps in their wake and sending shivers down my spine. Tashir then took my hand and clasped my fingers around the familiar contours of the pendant. I opened my eyes in a hurry and looked down.

"I found it the next day, when I went back to the spot where Shayna said you disappeared. So you did in fact loose it, just not where you thought," Tashir choked, allowing a tear to fall.

I couldn't believe it. I had been so certain my dragon necklace had been lost, but Tashir had had it all that time. "You had it? You had it and kept it?" I gasped.

He nodded and wiped away another of my tears. "It was one of the only pieces of you I had left. And it was something you cherished."

"You didn't have to. I never expected you to."

"But I could never forget the most perfect woman I'd ever met, and the only one I've ever loved." One hand went back to my face and the other circled around my waist as he pulled me in for what was quite possibly the most passionate and searing kiss he'd ever given me.

The moment our lips met, I felt as if I'd been hit by lighting. Pure electricity seemed to course through me and suck the air out of my lungs. I lost myself in the sensation of being in his arms and barely noticed when he lifted me up, wrapping my legs around his waist and pressed me against the wall. His hands were helping to support my weight as my fingers became tangled in his hair. He wasn't just kissing me, but making love to my mouth and making my tonsil orgasm. Someone could have come in screaming the Palace was on fire and we were all going to die, but I don't think we would've noticed. Tashir and I were busy.

We soon moved to the bedroom and spent the rest of the night alternately talking and making love. All that mattered was that we showed the other how much we still cared.

Around dawn as I was just about to drift off to sleep, I heard Tashir whisper the most wonderful words I could have imagined at the time. He lay facing me, arms holding me close when he whispered, "Gods, whoever is responsible, thank you. Thank you for bringing the love of my life back to me."

It was then I knew, that even though I may not have really believed in marriage, I'd say yes if he ever asked me.