A/N: Thank you so much for my reviews! They made me very happy, which is why I'm updating quite quickly rather than letting you linger on that cliffhanger. Please review! Thanks for reading. Not many chapters left now, I feel quite depressed.

Dorrien looked down at Aurelia's hand, entwined with his, and smiled hugely. She was still holding on, her sharp fingernails digging into his skin, despite the fact that they had been called back into the room. She was so close that he could feel her shaking with fear, and this sobered him. It was stupid of him to feel giddy and delighted just because she was holding his hand. It didn't mean that she loved him back – she was just scared, and she needed someone to hold on to...and he'd been next to her. It was as simple as that.

Administrator Osen smiled kindly at Aurelia, seeing how nervous she was. She was only a young girl, which had made him hate judging this particular case – it was like judging Sonea all over again. And he still regretted what had happened then. Sonea looked thin, nowadays, maybe too thin, and always pale and tired. Still, she did have a young child, she probably didn't have much time for herself, despite Rothen's care and her Aunt's frequent visits. He'd liked Sonea, once. He'd maybe even felt something for her. In a way, he still did. But there was no point in hoping; he could never measure up to Akkarin. He'd noticed the way that young Dorrien looked at Aurelia, and felt extreme empathy for him.

"We have made a decision" Osen said clearly, "Novice Aurelia, please take a seat" he motioned her towards the chair, and she reluctantly moved away from Dorrien's comforting presence. What had she done to deserve a friend like him?

As her hand slipped out of his, Dorrien felt as though a part of him had gone missing; his heart felt as heavy as a rock in his chest. Rothen squeezed his son's shoulder but had his eyes fixed on poor, anxious Aurelia, who was sitting up very straight in her chair.

"Are you ready to hear what we have to say? We have taken into consideration your youth, impressionability, your past and your exceptional personal qualities" Osen felt he had to add this, just to stop the poor thing from shaking! She nodded.

"I would very much like to hear what you have to say" she mumbled, her brown eyes woeful.

"We have decided that you shall be allowed to stay at the guild and bring up your child with the support of your mentor and friends. However, we insist that you discontinue your studies until your child is of an age to be left in the care of others during lesson time. Is that agreeable to you?"

Aurelia burst into tears. Osen was startled – he thought that they had been quite lenient, considering the scandal that had developed. Dorrien moved forward to comfort her, alarmed, but Rothen pulled him back, allowing Sonea to go to Aurelia's side instead. Dannyl looked confused. He was quite pleased with Aurelia's terms. He only hoped that his were as good.

"Why are you crying, Aurelia?" asked Sonea urgently, putting her arms around the young woman's skinny shoulders. Aurelia sniffled.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cry! I'm just so grateful, so pleased...I was so desperate not to go home, and you allowing me to stay, it's just...too much" she wiped her eyes quickly, "I'm sorry. I'm pleased, really I am! Thank you"

She suddenly flew towards Osen and kissed him on the cheek. Osen gave a little shocked laugh, and looked over at the Higher Magicians behind him. Balkan and Sarrin had not cracked their faces, but Vinara was smiling behind her hand. Osen looked at Sonea, and she smiled at him.

"Thank you" she mimed, still smiling, and Osen felt that he had never done a better day's work. He straightened slightly and looked over to Dannyl.

"Ambassador Dannyl, please take a seat"

Aurelia had been beaming, bright and glittering, up at Dorrien, while he forced a smile for her, knowing that he would never stop loving her, never be able to get away...but when Dannyl walked towards the chair she had just vacated, she stopped smiling. She had gone pale again, and her brow was furrowed with concentration. Dorrien resisted the urge to grab her hand. He'd been resisting a lot of urges regarding Aurelia lately.

"Ambassador, we have been a little sterner with you. It is our belief that you could have ended the situation at any point, had you chosen to, yet you did not. Would you like to hear what we have to say?"

Aurelia had opened her mouth to protest, but Sonea silenced her with a gentle but firm look. Dannyl readied himself.

"Yes, I would"

Osen looked squarely at Dannyl, who looked pretty nervous himself.

"We have decided that you will give up your rooms at the guild and retain a permanent position in Elyne. You will not be welcome here at the guild, and will no longer act as Ambassador, though you will be expected to continue to send us monthly reports. You will not be welcome at the Night room, or at any other functions. You will be permitted to see your child however frequently you and Aurelia decide is necessary, but we would prefer it if you did not visit other guild magicians during these visits. The care of your child is to be a matter for yourself and Novice Aurelia to discuss and agree upon, and will have nothing to do with us" Osen paused, "We thought that we might offer your rooms to Lord Dorrien, as he had spent such a long time visiting recently. We thought that it might be time for him to come home"

Dorrien's face lit up; to be near Aurelia, all the time! Without Dannyl! But...but with Dannyl's child. So many conflicting emotions, he felt as though he might be going mad!

Dannyl tried to hide his smile. Little did they know, this was the best thing that the Higher Magicians could have done for him! He would be able to be with Tayend, at last, if Tayend would take him, without fear of the guild discovering their relationship. He would never again have to attend the ridiculous Meets that he had always loathed, never again suffer gossip in the Night room...never again be tempted by Aurelia. All this, and he would still be able to see his child. It was all he could have hoped for and more. And he was pretty sure that Dorrien was happy with the verdict too. He hoped that Aurelia would come round to Dorrien, in time.

Aurelia was looking down at the floor, hiding behind her honey coloured hair. She could not let them see her tears.

"We do have one more suggestion" said Osen suddenly, "There is the option...a remote option...of Aurelia giving up her education altogether, and instead going to live with Dannyl in Elyne, and raise their child"

Aurelia's head snapped up. Dannyl froze. Dorrien was looking at Aurelia in horror and dread, for he knew that she loved Dannyl still. Sonea and Rothen were too stunned to speak. Neither of them had a clue what the outcome would be.

For one terrifying, horrible moment, Dannyl thought that Aurelia would be selfish, and say yes.

For that one moment, Aurelia thought that she might say yes too.

But then she looked at Dannyl – really, really looked at him. He saw her eyes fixed on him and panicked, she could sense it, but in reality she was carefully rationalising her thoughts.

He didn't love her. He loved Tayend. He wanted to be with Tayend. They wouldn't be happy together, their child would be unhappy. He would resent her. He would...hate her.

She loved him. But love meant making him happy.

She would move on. In time. Maybe. Probably not. But she still had to let him go.

"No" she said, looking only at Dannyl, "No. He doesn't love me"

It was this final acknowledgement of what Dannyl had been trying to tell her all along that made her feel just a little lighter, a little brighter. She'd said it out loud. He didn't love her. He was free. They were both free.

Dannyl hugged her.

"Thank you" he whispered in her ear, "Thank you so much"

A/N: Sorry, this chapter is quite short...I will update soon! Only three chapters and the epilogue left. I'm going to miss this. Don't forget to review!