Author's note: I'm sorry I haven't update this for a while. I've been really busy. Oh, and this chapter is actually taking place much later than the last one and it's not just because I didn't update before lol I had this in mind long time ago. It was supposed to be a sequel, but I decided to keep it here in one. And this story went way longer than I wanted it to be.


There was an earthquake actually, but two days after I had seen it. Nothing special happened though. I half expected there would be some dark force around it, but no such thing. Maybe I was really getting paranoid. Maybe.

Time was passing by so fast after that. I didn't even know where more than ten years had gone. Yes, more than 10 years passed since I last time had a vision. Maybe I lost my gift, or maybe there were no interesting things to see. I didn't mind.

Everything in our, umm, kingdom seemed to work just fine. Murtagh changed the usual way the kings ruled and it looked better in my point of view. He actually put other people in charge of most of his tasks so he could spend more time with me. It was pretty awesome considering a few promises in ancient language could keep people from turning against us.

Murtagh assured me there was no way someone could get around the oath made and I believed him. He was, after all, the best in avoiding oath things so I guess he knew how to use words to make it impossible for the others. Besides, people in charge were happy with their jobs because who didn't like power and money? And with those positions you had it all.

My kids were growing up too fast and I was getting more and more worried about their future. Max was just like his father. I almost started to wonder did he inherit anything from me. Murtagh, however, was especially proud of his son. He said our son would be a great king. I had no idea how he knew that, but I guess he knew.

Elisabeth was kind of a problem, for me anyway. Murtagh's and Elisabeth's relationship was getting better each day, but even more than 10 years after there was still some tension. I think Eli knew what Murtagh had done to her father and she couldn't forgive it. I didn't blame her for that. What I didn't like was that she was getting involved with politics and the army.

It was just something I thought wasn't for women. Our country was in peace at the moment, but that didn't mean a new enemy wouldn't show up sometime. Gerald, Murtagh's friend and my kids' teacher, was the main person I blamed for my daughter getting involved with men stuff.

I was also worried she wouldn't find a husband when the time came. It wasn't just her involvement with all I mentioned, but also the fact she wasn't good with girl stuff, like cooking and taking care of the house. She wasn't even talking to me much now, and I really missed the way she was as a child.


I spotted Elisabeth near the castle after she hadn't been around for three days. I had no idea where she was or what was she doing. I was worried, even though everyone told me I shouldn't be. She was 18 after all. She wasn't my little girl anymore.

"Eli!" I said as I approached her. She was just beautiful. She had long dark brown hair now and her eyes held that shine full of life. She wore men's shirt and pants and I frowned. There was even a sword attached to her belt.

"Mother." she said, not really happy to see me.

"Honey, where have you been? I was worried." I knew I sounded like a silly mother who worries too much, but I just didn't care.

"Umm, none of your business." Eli said.

"Eli, I know it isn't…but…" I said "…Murtagh is the king and our family needs to be safe all the time. If I don't know where you are, no one can help you if you're in danger!"

"I can take care of myself, thank you!" she gritted her teeth.

"Elisabeth, please." I said "I just want to know."

"I've been in one village. Someone was killed there and I thought I could see who did it." she said.

"But that's none of your business. Probably someone did it for revenge, or some other usual reason." I said "Besides, how could you see who did it?"

"Well, if that person plans to kill someone again…you know, if it's not normal thing, maybe I could have a vision before it happens." she said.

"But then everyone would know you can do it! They would think you are a freak!" I said, remembering how it was with me.

"I don't care, mom!" she said "I don't care as long as it saves someone's life! Couldn't you predict my father's death? Why haven't you tried? He could have been alive now!"

"Eli…" I said, trying to touch her but she moved away.

"No, don't touch me. You don't understand me! You don't understand anything I do!" she shook her head.

"Then help me understand." I said. I really did want to understand her, but she wasn't doing what she was supposed to. She was going to ruin her life and I didn't want that to happen.

"Then understand I don't want to be like other women." she said "I can do more useful things than just sit around, clean and cook!"

"But then everyone will look at you as not normal." I sighed.

"Mother, haven't you realized I wasn't normal from the day I was born?" she smiled bitterly "I see what other people can't! Isn't that enough? Of course, why are you attacking me when you're also a freak of some kind!"

"What?" I stared at her in surprise.

"Dare to tell you're normal." she said "You can see things just like I can, before they actually happen! You weren't loyal to your husband and you married a freaking king! What are you doing now? Nothing, just nothing. It's actually enough that people start considering you different than them."

"You're right." I said "But my life…I lived different when I was your age. I loved your father and I had a normal life. Destiny changed things for me and now maybe my life isn't normal, but yours can be. And that's all I want for you. I want you to be happy."

"Oh, that's so sweet." she laughed "But I am happy."

"No one will want to marry you." I said "You're scaring everyone off."

"Forget that, I have a boyfriend." she smiled mysterious and my eyes went wide. How come I hadn't known that?

"Is that true?" I thought she was playing with me.

"Yes." she said "Do you want to meet him? Because I can bring him over sometime."

"Who is he?" I asked.

"His name is Aaron." she said "That's all you have to know about him."

"Wait, you have to tell me something about his family." I said. I was so going to tell Murtagh to send someone to check this out.

"Why?" she said "So you can know are they rich or not?"

"I just care does he come from a good family. The last thing we need is that you end up with someone who wants to use you." I said.

"Don't worry. I won't end up like you." she smiled again.

"What?" I frowned. Yup, it was easier to deal with my daughter when she was younger.

"Murtagh used you." she said "He needed your gift, nothing else."

"I won't speak to you about my past!" I yelled, getting really annoyed "That's all settled now. But your future isn't."

"I'll take care of my future." she said and simply walked away. I just stood there, watching her leave. Maybe I was wrong and everyone else was right. Maybe I had to let her do what she wanted. After all, no one told me what to do all these years.


"Max!" I was so happy to see him in one of the halls in the castle. He was getting taller and taller, getting more handsome every day and looking so much like Murtagh that I had to be careful not to confuse them. Max's dragon also became a huge thing I tended to avoid for most of the time. I never got used to dragons and never would. I was sure of it.

Lately, I got another reason to dislike dragons. Years were already getting visible on my face, but Murtagh's remained perfect. I still wasn't in agreement with idea that I would probably die before Murtagh. That just wasn't fair! Ok, I probably wouldn't be able to live without him either, so maybe…just maybe it was a good thing.

"Hey, mom!" Max smiled at me, coming closer and kissing my cheek. I smiled at him.

"Did you talk with your sister today?" I asked.

"No, not really." he said. They weren't really close. Especially because Elisabeth was so jealous on Max for having a dragon. When I remember how she cried when the dragon hatched for Max! I would have done anything to make it easier for her. I would have even survived having another dragon in the family, as long as it stayed away from me, just to make her happy. But that wasn't in her blood. And Max was jealous because Eli was older than him.

"Do you happen to know Elisabeth's boyfriend?" I said.

"Yeah, I know him." he said. I was surprised. The only thing missing now was that everyone knew that boy except me. Just perfect.

"What do you know?" I said.

"Why?" he raised an eyebrow.

"Because I want to know what he's up to with your sister." I said.

"She's not my sister." he said.

"Max, don't you start too." I sighed "You're both my children. I wish you were closer."

He just shrugged, like he was trying to say it wasn't his fault.

"So, what do you know about that boy?" I said "How old is he?"

"He's 20." he said "Some girls think he's hot, but not like me, of course."

"Really?" I raised an eyebrow. Someone obviously didn't care my daughter was doing what she was doing. There had to be something that boy wanted from her. I just didn't know what.

"Does he have a job?" I asked.

"Umm, I'm not sure." Max shrugged "I don't think he has one."

Ha! There it was! He wanted my daughter's money!

"What about his family?" I said.

"Ah, they're some rich family." he said and I frowned. So, the boy didn't want my daughter's money? Maybe his family didn't want to give him money because he wasn't working. It wasn't unusual, but mostly rich families didn't have problem with it.

"Oh, ok." I wasn't really happy about it but I had to let it go. For now.

"Oh, come on. She'll be fine." he rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, she will." I said "Where are you going?"

"I'm going to see dad." he said, not really thrilled about it.

"Oh, he's going to bother you with politics thing again, right?" I said.

"Yeah. I'd prefer doing something else." he said. Politics were the only thing Max didn't like. But when I think better, Murtagh wasn't really fond of it either. That's why he made his politics.

"I know, but you're going to be a king someday. When's Astrid coming?" I asked. Astrid was sort of Max's girlfriend. Her parents weren't really happy about it because they weren't sure about Max's intentions with their daughter. Or maybe it was just because her father saw them together and asked them if there was something between them; she said yes, Max said no. Even I wasn't sure what Max thought of Astrid, but they were too young anyway for something serious.

"Oh, she'll come tomorrow." he said.

"Good." I smiled. I liked Astrid actually. She was blond, blue-eyed, nice and sweet. I knew she could be a good queen someday, better than I ever was. For me being a queen was not more than a title.


Murtagh and I had the whole evening just for ourselves. I was glad that Murtagh didn't start looking like an elf because it would have really pissed me off. He was supposed to change, but in his case, he didn't age a bit and his skin was just perfectly smooth. I touched his face gently and kissed him.

"I missed you." I sighed.

"Really?" he smiled at me, kissing my neck.

"Yeah. I got used to seeing you all the time." I said.

"Don't worry. I'm all yours tomorrow." he smiled.

"Oh, goodie." I actually giggled.

"What were you doing today?" he asked.

"Nothing special. Elisabeth worries me." I said, as he put his arms around my waist. He looked at me carefully.

"She was here today." he obviously saw her.

"Yeah. She said she was with that boy…Aaron or something…" I said.

"Why does that bother you? Just leave her alone. She can take care of herself." he said "Besides, isn't it funny that both of your kids date someone whose name starts with an A?"

I looked at him in surprise and then laughed. That was a funny coincidence.

"I know. But I just…" I didn't know what to say.

"Times are changing." he said "Elisabeth is a very brave girl. Besides, she's not the first girl who wants to fight rather than hide. Nasuada and that elf Arya were just like her."

"Don't…mention…that…woman in front of me!" I rolled my eyes.

"Ok, ok." he smiled "But you get the point, right?"

"Yeah, I guess I'll just have to let it go then." I sighed.

"Yes." he said.

"But you have to check on that boy, please!" I said "At least I want to know what he wants!"

"Maybe he loves your daughter." he said.

"Umm, yeah, right." I said.

"Ok, I'll send someone to find out everything about him." Murtagh rolled his eyes and kissed me again. I just smiled.