The Story:
The End

There were no sounds when the realization came to her that she was awake. That was her first thought: I'm awake. Then she drifted back into the darkness.

There were some strange dreams about trees and daggers. The dagger cut through the trees, turning them black and killing them. Then the dagger cut her, cutting off her hand, but she couldn't scream. She could feel something pulling her, calling her name softly in a dark voice, telling her to let go of herself...

Some one was talking nearby the second time she awoke. She didn't open her eyes, merely listening to the sound of the voice. She felt thankfully numb, and although she couldn't understand the voice, it was comforting.

The voice was there the third time as well; so was the pain. Everywhere, her body ached, especially her hand. The voice noticed she was awake and touched her shoulder, speaking her name softly.

"Kauria? Can you hear me?"

With a sudden flash, Kauria jerked her hand away, opening her eyes. The lights blinded her and she tried to stand up, to move away. The voice grabbed her and held her still.

"Don't move," she chided. "We don't know how much strength you have."

Her eyes began adjusting to the light. Kauria fought the voice, struggling to get free. "Let me go! Get away!"

"Kauria," the familiar voice said. "It's me! Stop struggling for a moment and let me explain."

There wasn't enough strength left in her for a protracted fight, and the voice eventually won. Kauria lay still, her eyes finally focusing on who was sitting besied her.

"Lady Miraussa?" she asked weakly.

"Good, you remember who I am," Mira nodded. "Do you remember who you are?"

"I'm..." the thought took a moment to compete itself, "... Kauria Myriah. Right?"

"That's correct, and a relief." Miraussa sighed. "We were frightened you might not remember anything at all."

"How long have I been asleep?"

"Two weeks. We barely managed to break your fever. And, in answer to your next question, this a royal suit in Ajir Palace. You're safe here."

"Oh," Kauria said weakly before going back to sleep.

Kauria spent the next week in bed, difting in and out of sleep. The dream only returned once, and the long scar along her hand burned when she awoke. Her head felt sore and heavy, and she couldn't Sense anything beyond her bed. She was aware that she was in the Palace, but didn't try to think about why she was there. The only people who visited her were Rhillan and Mira, and a Healer with a Carullian accent.

She was feeling well enough to feed herself one morning when Miraussa came in quietly. Kauria heard the door and tried to smile.

"How are you feeling?" Mira asked. "Sore, still?"

Kauria nodded slowly. "I feel like I've been dropped off a cliff."

"How's your hand?"

"Numb," she answered, staring at the grey scar acrossed her right palm. She flexed her fingers, but there wasn't even a tingle. "I can't feel anything at all there."

"Healer Jerrin said he was surprised you still have use of your hand," Miraussa informed her. "If it hadn't been for your natural healing magic, you might have lost more than just the feeling."

"Lady Miraussa, what's happened? Why are were here?"

Mira sighed. "We were hoping you might clear up that mystery. Do you remember what happened that night?"

Slowly the memory came back to her of the strange night, and her brief struggle with Torrel. How could she explain what happened?

"It's... hard to explain," Kauria answered softly. "I'd rather not talk about it right now."

Miraussa nodded and didn't try to pry. "Let me tell you what Rhillan and I have put together, then. Your friend- Gedry - lead us into some sort of trap, although we're not sure what or why. Rhillan and I were knocked out by some powerful spell. When we woke up, we were in the room; Rhillan and I were on the floor, but someone put you on the bed and had bandaged your hand.

"We thought it be another trick, but we weren't locked in. We soon found out that all of Torrel's soldiers were gone, Cor included, but that strangest thing is that chaos hasn't erupted yet with Torrel's disappearance. Something's been holding his spells in place long enough for Rhillan and I to take over the running of the city and call for help. My father's staff are here, and the Rhenries brought representatives and Mages in from Carul. The spells are only now disappearing."

"Where is Rhillan now?" Kauria asked.

"He's dealing with what's left of Ajir's nobility. There's squabling over who is the rightful heir to the Ajir throne, since none of the royal family survived. Actually," Mirauassa smiled mischeivously, "there's some who think you should take the title, considering that you've fulfilled the legendary prophecy to overthrow Torrel."

"No!" Kauria immediately refused, then flushed. She looked away, kneading her palm. "I'm not the the ruling type," she tried to explain. "I.. I just want to go back home."

Mira shrugged. "It was just an idea. You shouldn't be forced to do anything. But you should know that now that you're awake and recovering, we can't shield you much longer from all the people who have demanded to see you. So be prepared."

Be preapared to tell us what happened Kauria uderstood what the Lady meant. "I'll think about it," she promised. "Just let me sort it out first."

"That sounds fair to me. I'll let you be now, or Jerran will scold for not letting you rest."

Kauria was ready to talk several days later when the first series of visitors came. She didn't tell them the whole truth of what had happened, and about the long discussion about the Pendant's history or the offer she had recieved. She told them the truth: the Pendant had protected her from the worst of Torrel's magical attack, and she wasn't knocked out as long. Torrel, who had taken over Gedry's body, tried to take the Star Pendant from her, and she fought back. Something triggered the Pendant's Magic and everything went dark. No one had seen Gedry since that night, and the Pendant was missing. She claimed her memory was hazy aobut the details, although it was actually very clear.

At last everyone was satisfied that was telling the truth, and they let her be. A rudimentry council took over the ruling of Ajir as the last of Torrel's spells faded. As Miraussa had hinted, Kauria was offered the throne out of deference to her role in Ajir's freedom, but she refused. Carul's Mages offered to train her in Magic, but she refused that, too. She wanted nothing to do with Crowns or Magic; she just wanted to return home.

Only two people in the ruling council were not surprised several days later when Kauria was reported missing. Mirauassa and Rhillan simply looked at each other and nodded.

"Don't worry about her," Rhillan detered a motion to locate the girl. "She'll be fine on her own this time."

It was a cool day, similar to the one that, in Kauria's opinion, began the whole adventure. She reflected on what had happened, listening to the wind ruffling the leaves of the Tree. She used the underground passages to slip away from Crowns one night, just as Aralia had been smuggled away. It was too uncomfortable in Crowns.

Why did she have to be some hero? The Pendant had done its job, containing the awesome power of Torrel, and she had done hers. She wanted to be left alone, and to forget everything.

No Magic, no Dreams, no Pendants, and no Emperors. And no spies.

She was Kauria, a simple village girl in a simple village no one cared about or visited. Her life extended only to Belin, and the Tree.

When she had arried in Belin, the first place she wanted to see was the Tree. She thought it would help comfort her, and it did, to some extent. Yet the Tree reminded her too much of Gedry, and Torrel. Gedry had been missing for over a month now, but she didn't think he was dead. She didn't feel that he was dead.

The Tree was now full of life, and she wondered if the Frozen Forest around Crowns was beginning to restore itself, slowly, without Torrel's interference. Mira's family had set up a temporary court, but anything that happened in Ajir Palace and Crowns wouldn't affect Belin. She preferred it that way. There was nothing to remind her of her ordeal.

"Excuse me, miss, but do you know the way to Havelin?"

Kauria glanced down from her perch in the Tree. Below her stood a traveler, a few years older than herself, squinting in the fading evening light to get a view of her. A strange black pendant around his neck reflected some light. He smiled at her as she looked back. "I seem to be lost," he said, embarressed.

Kauria stared at him, hesitating. "Why do you want to know?" she asked finally.

The man pointed to a badge on his shoulder and the bag at his feet. "I'm a messenger from Crowns bearing an important message to Havelin from the Lady Miraussa."

Kauria smiled faintly. "And you just happened to wander this far from the road?"

The messenger shrugged. "I was run off the road by bandits. I got lost in the woods, when I noticed a Magic Tree. Could you tell me what a Magic Tree is doing so far from Crowns?"

Kauria shook her head. "It was planted long ago by some one wishing secrecy."

The messenger nodded. "Sounds like an interesting story."

"A long one," she agreed.

"Perhaps..." the messenger said, "you could show me the way to Havelin and tell the story as we travel?"

"That depends. What's your name?"

"Gedry. And yours?"

"Kauria." She carefully came down from the tree.

"Pleased to meet you, Kauria." Gedry offered his hand to her, and they shook. Her hand didn't feel anything at the contact.

"What's with the pendant?" she asked. "Heirloom?"

"It's for good luck," Gedry explained. "So, are you going to tell me how to get to Havelin or not?"

"No," she replied seriously.

Gedry was confused. "Why not?"

"Because," Kauria explained, "if I show you the way, then you'll return here, and then we'll get to know each other, and last time that happened, it did not turn out very well for me."

"That's too bad," Gedry sympathized. "Would it helped if I promised not to come back?"

"How do I know you'll keep that promise?"

"Because," it was Gedry's turn to explain, "I'm not going to leave you this time, Kauria." He stepped close to her, reaching out to touch her face. "I promise."

"And what about your letter to Havelin?" Kauria smiled.

He grinned. "Don't tell me you believed that story, dear one!"

She laughed. "Of course not, silly. Not this time, or the first time. Now let's hurry up and get back to Belin."

Perhaps, Kauria reconsidered as they walked back to Belin, she could give things a second try.