I remember waking and find Raven gone. I wasn’t surprised really. I sat there for most of the day trying to take in all that had just happened. I was home, I could hardly believe it. I knew that I couldn’t stay. I had Cassidy’s life to deal with, the children. But right then I didn’t want to think about it. I just wanted to be home. I wanted to go run through the fields, sit and talk with Ash, I wanted Mother Willow to scold me for sword play in the keep, but most of all I wanted Raven. If only it could have been that simple, to return as if I never left, as if all the tragic years of our pasts never happened.

I eventually made my way back to the kitchen where Mother Willow and Father Oak sat in deep discussion. She was crying and he was patting her tiny hand. They loved each other so much, and they loved us. I watched them from the door, saddened by the pain all of this must have caused them. I went in and apologized. Mother just shook her head as usual and taking the hem of her apron wiped her face. She demanded we have a cup of mead and so we did. Father Oak and I set out for a walk after and he told me how things had been since I left. It was dark when we returned and I settled into bed. I could not sleep, too much I needed to know, too much I needed to do. I guess I slept sometime, I don’t recall.

The next few weeks went by in a blurred frenzy of activities. My powers had completely returned. My memories, as well as Emily’s were also fully restored to us. I spent most of my time with Ash,Em, and Odin. We had plans to finish, homes to be rebuilt, people to help, and most of all the Queen had to be restored to her throne. I would say that I was so busy I didn’t give Raven a second thought but I would be lying. In fact it was hard for me to do anything without thinking of him.

We had been there a month. It is amazing what you can accomplish in a month with the help of magic. We visited town after town, restoring and correcting the wrongs caused by Raven and I. We regained the love of the people. We repaired and opened Orlaith Castle. We began appointing members of my court, we retitled our Lords and Ladies. We formed my guard and began training an army. I was exhausted!

Soon, Father insisted, I would need to take the throne, too long had it sat empty. First I needed to return to Cassidy’s life…