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In the darkness, Aragost was just coming around the corner of the hallway, his cowl up and hiding his already invisible features. The darkness of the hallway was deep, but his figure was still darker, as if he were taking in and hiding any vestiges of light that might have given away his presence.

Yet his eyes were as sharp as ever, and he could see Lin clearly, despite the blackness of the corridor. Or perhaps he was seeing her only with his mind, as he had come to do so often during his life.

But for the first time, he did not acknowledge her presence right away. Instead, he stopped in the darkness, staring at her, motionless, silent, waiting ...

Aragost continued to stare at Lin. He had known for a while that she would be coming, and what had happened, and what she was going to say ... but he had still not decided what he would tell her, or how he would respond.

He brushed past her and opened his door, heading into his room. It was just as dark in there as in the hallway, since his shutters were closed, but he left the door open for Lin to come in behind him and opened the shutters, letting in the late morning sunlight.

Aragost turned, his back to the window, his face entirely hidden by shadows, and stared at Lin. For several moments he said nothing, and when he did speak his voice was low and quiet, almost as it had been when he had first come to the ranch.

"The aetheling knows as well," he told her quietly. "And Valdemar will not be coming alone."

He sighed then, and moved to lean against the wall. "I am old, Lin," he said in a stretched sort of voice. "And of late I have been feeling it more than ever ..."

But she didn't need to concern herself with such matters as that. He shook his head mentally to get himself back on track.

"There is so much," he murmured softly, "so much left to do ... and so ... so little time ..."

Aragost looked down at Lin, and suddenly it struck him just how small she really was. He had always known it as a fact, but for some reason, the fact that she was barely half his height suddenly seemed important for some reason.

He closed his eyes and lowered his head. "It is that," he said quietly, "or the creature will come here, and then this place would cease to exist. I cannot let that happen ..."

Now that was a question to which there was no easy answer. Would he return? There was a possibility that he might survive, but would one really call that survival? The creature could only have grown more powerful in the millenia that it had been missing, and he had had enough difficulties the first time he had come up against such a being. And even if he did survive, would his mind or heart still be whole? There was every risk that he would be broken, and even dangerous to those whom he held so dear.

But what could he say? What reassurance could he give? Even if he managed to kill the creature, but died in the attempt ... he could return, but no one would know of it, no one would be able to see or hear or even sense him ... save those with the Gift.

In all honesty, he did not know if he would return. He could give Lin no definite answer.

"I do not know," he admitted. "Even ... even if I survive this encounter ... I do not know."

He knew he wanted to, but he knew that he would do whatever was best for those he loved, and if it meant disappearing from their lives and never seeing them again, or coming near them again, then that was what he would have to do.

Aragost accepted the cookie and the bag silently, then stood motionless for a moment, deciding what to do first: eat the cookie, or open the bag. The bag won out, for two reasons: first, because it was from Miyu, and he had a special bond with her; and second, because it was a personal gift, and thus had more meaning (though he was also thankful for the cookie).

Not to mention the cookie would last longer this way.

With trembling fingers, he opened the bag and carefully, ever so carefully, pulled out its contents.

The star was beautiful, and it took his breath away. What a gift ...

He cupped the star carefully in both hands and bowed his head to hide his tears, even though his cowl would have done the same thing.

"Tell Miyu," he said softly, "that I will treasure this gift ... and that I will be here for one last visit."

He raised his head slightly and looked at Lin again. "And that I shall do everything in my power to return."

Lin's visit was a welcome break to the monotony of spring to everyone, yet when she left things returned to normal - or as normal as they ever got. Rhea on the other hand had someone extra to do now - take care of the plant in her room, that was soon going to grow into a cat.

One particular morning, a little over a week after Lin's visit, she came tearing into Cindy's room long before the sun came up.

"CINDY! CINDY!" she exclaimed excitedly. "IT GREW IT GREW! COME AND SEE!!!"

And just as suddenly as she had appeared she zipped back into her own bedroom and pounced onto the desk, giggling at the fluffball that had grown eyes and ears overnight.