The Spirit left the others yet kneeling.

Jandra rose, Thank you for coming. We are in much need of your abilities.

We are here to help your injured, at your request, and are glad we can serve you.

We will remain but a short moment only. We will do our healing in privacy so request that your healers leave your dwelling for the injured. Jandra, please be our guide.

How is Sam?

She heals well but remains unconscious. I have good hopes for her, though. She is Sam and has a stubborn will to live.

Jandra asked Meera to send someone ahead to the infirmary and have the healers wait outside. She guided the Spirit Mothers to the infirmary and then watched as they went from one injured to the next, helping to heal their wounds. As soon as they had finished with their mission, they returned to their horses, who had patiently waited without assistance.

Prior to leaving, Li'el'in'tiln went to Jandra and placed her hand upon Jandra's womb, Take care of yourself and all The Realm's unborn, Jandra, as we take care of Sam. Know that we think highly of what you do for The Realm and for us, as we have never prior answered such a request as this. You mean much to us, and we will watch over you, as you now watch over Woden. You will find your injured much recovered, for those we could.

As they spoke to each other, the horses of the Spirit Mothers came up to Jandra, nudging her gently. She scratched their ears without thinking much about it.

Jandra bowed her head slightly, Thank you. I know this was an overly large and inappropriate request on my part, but we had much need. It does Woden good to see its Spirits Mothers at such moments as these. Please give Sam my love.

Li'el'in'tiln smiled upon Jandra, placed a light kiss upon her head, then the Spirit Mothers left as the wind.

- 461 -.

Turn by turn, Jandra oversaw the rebuilding of Woden. With Tadan's new layout of Woden in-hand, and with everyone working to help rebuild, its new buildings and redesign quickly took shape. The old shops were turned into new companion dwellings. The former Highest's dwelling site was redesigned into a large meetinghouse, all on one-floor, half-enclosed and half-exposed but covered. As had been begun prior to the battle, the animal farms were also relocated just off the path between Woden and Hengist, and nearer to the shops.

What everyone wanted completed prior to Sam's arrival was the new Highest and Second's dwelling. Lillon, Karan and Tadan took over this project and wanted it as a surprise to Second and Highest upon its comple-tion. The Hengist shipmakers began work on a new ship to begin replacing the two ships lost in the battle. One ship had been badly damaged, but hadn't sunk, so they began rebuilding that one first. Janel oversaw the rebuilding of the docks and said that they had needed replacing anyway.

Jandra lived with Meera during these moments of reconstruction, not caring and not really noticing. May had survived the battle, but had sustained a few minor wounds. She insisted on cooking for Jandra, however, saying that Woden's unborn Highest needed her care and nutrition.

Hengist had lost 158 men, and Woden had sadly lost 263 women. As Jandra did Sam's rounds for her when she could, she noticed that many lives had been forever altered. As sad as it was, she tried to make the rounds daily, as it helped to present a normal face to Woden and it also helped cheer the women of Woden. They all remarked how Jandra was now beginning to show in her pregnancy. Jandra thought little of the unborn during these turns, but was glad that it helped to cheer the other women. Jandra sent daily messages to Sam and Caitha, and in return, Caitha sent messages back on Sam's recovery. It bothered Jandra to not be with Sam, but the progress reports bothered her even more.

Each turn brought another message the same as the prior turn's, Sam yet recovering and yet unconscious. The Spirit Mothers tend to her well. There has been no movement yet. No need for you to come.

So Jandra remained in Woden to direct the rebuilding. Turns turned into a moon, and yet the messages remained the same. Jandra and Sam's unborn grew more. May continued to feed and nurture Jandra as she had done with Sam. Meera gave up her and Caitha's bed to Jandra and took to sleeping on the long chair, instead of the reverse.

Oisin returned a moon after the battle. Her ships were badly damaged, she had lost more than half her crew, but she and her crew had won all their battles. She had also returned with 126 new arrivals to Woden and Hengist. Oisin had returned physically injured, as well. Her crew had to carry her off her ship and into Woden. She refused to go to the infirmary, - 462 -.

so Meera had her placed in a dwelling near hers. Oisin's injuries included a broken leg, a long sword gash on her left arm that had become infected, and a smaller gash on her forehead that had begun to heal well. The healers tended to Oisin every moment until the infection had left her.

For one long eve, Meera sat with Oisin and told her all that had occurred while she had been away. Meera didn't want Oisin to learn of Jandra and Sam informally. Since Sam wasn't able to tell Oisin of this, Meera felt it was her place to do so. Oisin wasn't surprised though, and took it well enough. She informed Meera that Sam had prepared her for this prior to her departure.

"Aye, Meera. She never would consider having me. But I do love that one."

"You be overly strong-minded and wavering for Sam. She needed someone to love her at all moments, such as had Brett."

"Ah, but I do. Love is one thing. Sex is yet another. And while there be all those wonderful stories of Brett, she sought to but control Sam overly."

"Oh, and you would not? And you know you would have bored of her, and it would have embarrassed all of Woden."

"Perhaps. I do like to find bluer seas on every journey, so perhaps it be true. Yet, I love her well enough and think of her all my moments.

When I lay with another, I think of her, only."

"Yet you need to lay with another."

"You speak truth, and it is for this I am happy for Sam and Jandra.

With child, you say. Who did Jandra lie with?"

"No man. It is from magic of the Spirit Mothers. Sam took a tear from Jandra when she once cried and made it of her own. I know not how, but the Spirit Mothers had it formed into their unborn. It be now legend that this unborn is to be the future ruler of all The Realm, and will rule it in peace."

Osisin looked skeptical. "The Spirit Mothers seem overly involved with our affairs for my liking."

With the new arrivals that Oisin had brought back with her, and the new arrivals just prior to the battle, Jandra kept all the advisors busy bringing in the new ones in the Woden and Hengist way. Jandra refused to make a decision regarding a third community, leaving that to Sam upon her return. Instead, she had the mixed companions temporarily separated into Hengist and Woden. Since the new arrivals wanted only peace and a better life, they didn't seem to mind the placements.

The trades and crafts continued their production and under Jandra's and all the advisors' direction and leadership, Woden Falls returned to normal, although the rebuilding and relocations would continue for over a - 463 -.

cycle. With Oisin's return, the shipbuilding went into high speed. She was glad that Janel had proceeded quickly with the docks, but Oisin wanted the ships rebuilt sooner than it was taking. She took the remaining of her crews and placed them on shifts so that the ship rebuilding could occur every moment of the turn.

Shortly after Oisin's return, Jandra decided to return to Sam to see if all was the same and asked Meera to accompany her on the return. Meera noticed that Jandra had become even quieter than she had been when she had first left Sam to return to Woden. She saw that the weight of ruling Woden had been a burden to Jandra, who had been acting as its Highest in Sam's absence. Unlike Sam, without Sam or Caitha, who had become a close friend of Jandra's, Jandra had no one in which to confide her problems. Jandra held them inside, waiting for her companion and friend to return.

Meera had taken an easier but longer route to the Spirit Mothers just to keep Jandra safe. When they arrived, the Spirit Mothers were waiting for them. Caitha was also waiting, holding out her arms to both Meera and Jandra.

Meera. Jandra. It be good to see the both of you.

Jandra gave Caitha a long hug and then asked, Sam?

She be the same. The Spirit Mothers tend to her continually and say that she be doing well, but she remains fully unconscious. How be Woden?

I will leave you and Meera to discuss this while I look in on Sam.

The Spirit Mothers greeted Jandra and the unborn with much love and over attention. Jandra just wanted to see and speak with Sam. She had become overly lonely since Sam's battle with Buron. She found her life empty without her, and often found herself resenting the unborn within her. She thanked the Spirit Mothers for their attention and healing of Sam and then excused herself, saying that it had been long she had been able to see her.

They led Jandra into Sam's room.

Remain as long as you desire, Jandra. She misses you as well.

Jandra entered the room and saw Sam yet laying in the bed, much the same as she had seen Sam prior. She looked upon Sam and studied her features. Softness began to return to Jandra, something she hadn't felt since her departure. She sat next to her on the bed, and held Sam's left hand. She moved her fingers through Sam's hair and spoke to her softly for a long while, telling her of Woden, Tadan, Meera and Oisin. But mostly of how much she missed her. She gently chastised her for not removing herself from her unconscious state. She wanted to cry, but now refused to do so.

After a while, Jandra lay down next to Sam. She was careful not to move the bed or to cause Sam any movement. She lay like that a long - 464 -.

while, just basking in the feeling and smell of that which she had come to love. She gently placed Sam's hand on her womb so that Sam could feel her unborn grow within her. She remained all eve in this fashion. When the Spirit Mothers came to check on Sam, they saw Jandra lying next to her, so performed their duties in silence, letting Jandra remain where she slept.

In the morn, Jandra bid Sam farewell once again and departed for Woden. Caitha again volunteered to remain with Sam, so would not be leaving with them. The Spirit Mothers told Jandra that Sam's healing process was proceeding well, but that they were concerned over the unconsciousness. On the return journey, Meera noticed that Jandra was in a slightly better attitude, so spoke to her of Oisin, Apien, New Harborage and Fornaith. Meera informed her that it was the feeling of the advisors that someone should go to remain in the communities to restore order and provide leadership until they could form their own.

"Are there many left in Apien and New Harborage?"

"No. There be none left in New Harborage. Oisin moved all who wanted to remain to Apien, to rebuild there. She says that there be fewer than 200 who remain."

"And Fornaith?"

"Fornaith has many. Only the guards died, here in Woden."

"What became of Manthar and all his followers?"

"Oisin had captured him and found him to be quite insane. But before she could rid The Realm of him, the people of Apien overtook Oisin's guards so that they could have Manthar for themselves. From what Oisin heard, the torture they put upon him was quite long lasting."

Her eyes narrowed at the thought. "I have had enough of war, death and torture. I have had enough of injury and battles. Why do these things be so necessary and common throughout our realm? Why do we not celebrate peace and weakness instead of fighting and strength?"

"Because we must. If we laid down our weapons, we and our ways would but perish. If the quality of our life be not important, then we need no weapons. Being slaves would then be most acceptable. I know not why others can't let us to ourselves. It seems that power is most alluring."

"Why did you let Sir Devin live? It be not like you to take prisoners."

"He amuses me. We can yet learn much from him, and he be such a sniveling weakling. I thought he might be an amusement to Woden and Hengist after all the loss they have faced. It is often good to have a common enemy in sight to gain a sense of purpose and to use as a reminder."

Jandra nodded, but said nothing. She had grown much harder in her interim as Highest. She moved her thoughts to Sam, and then to Woden.

There was yet much to oversee and accomplish. Meera missed Caitha as Jandra missed Sam, but was busy rebuilding and retraining the guards of - 465 -.

Woden. Most of the guards from Hengist had perished in the battle. She sat with the remaining guards almost daily to reassess what had occurred.

She often asked, "Why did we lose so many in this battle?"

They studied and restudied the battle, looking at it from many angles so that they could learn from it for the future. They captured all the weapons that Buron had brought with him. And Oisin's crew in harbor had captured one of his ships. Hengist was busy rebuilding that one, too. They had found small iron balls with spikes on them that had killed many of Hengist and Woden. They had found shields of metal that had prevented Woden's arrows from penetrating their lines.

Jandra kept her turns filled from early morn to late eve. May chastised her regularly, but Jandra simply smiled, listening and talking to no one unless it was about the rebuilding. She rose in the early morn, took her meal, and then spent the rest of her turn at the central tent where all reorganization commands were given. In the midturn, she performed her rounds. She would do one-half of Woden one turn, the other half the next turn, and Hengist on the third turn. She then repeated the process. She saw many new couples forming in the moon and a half Sam had been gone.

Since many companions had been broken through the deaths of battle, new unions were being formed. The new unions were the essence and re-beginning of Woden. In these unions, the strength and customs would continue. But even Jandra was beginning to wonder why they must have separate communities.

Jandra hadn't been to her and Sam's dwelling since the battle. She had been given a strong but polite request that the communities would like to surprise her and Sam. To that end, the rebuilding of the dwelling was a high priority for the communities as they wanted it done upon Sam's return.

Jandra had no idea of what this joint project was to look like. Karan reminded her daily to not visit the site, and daily, Jandra agreed to the request.

Karan had become an excellent assistant. She would usually attend Jandra on the rounds, informing her of all the updates. It was a moment in the turn that Jandra had come to look forward to. While not speaking to Karan of much, Jandra had come to like the pattern and took some relief in its familiarity and Karan's easiness with her. Karan never nagged at her.

She never interfered with Jandra's feelings about Sam. And she never pushed Jandra to speak.

For the past few turns, Jandra had come to need some rest in the late after midturn. May would provide her with some tea and light foods, and Jandra would rest for a short while. She guessed that it had something to do with the unborn within her that took so much of her energy. Meera had been so busy rebuilding Woden and Hengist's fortifications that she hadn't noticed Jandra's growing womb. It had grown much, and was now notice- - 466 -.

able. As Jandra did her daily rounds, the women would welcome her in their dwellings, such as they were until reconstruction occurred, and offer her tea and sweets or drink and a light meal. The community had embraced Jandra as they had Sam, and made an effort to ensure themselves of Jandra's well being.

And yet the daily messages continued, All is well with Sam, but there be no change. She yet sleeps in her unconsciousness. I give her your thoughts daily.

Turn in and turn out, Jandra waited and hoped for a report that would make all the effort worth it. Jandra went from turn to turn in a state of semi-awareness. She provided the leadership Woden needed to rebuild, but found nor sought any personal connection to anyone. She remained politely aloof, wondering what she would do if Sam didn't awaken. Turns turned into moons, and yet Sam hadn't regained consciousness. The unborn continued to grow within Jandra. As comforting as the unborn was at moments, at other moments, Jandra resented the unborn and became angered at her. She also became angered at Sam. Jandra knew these feelings of anger and resentment were out of self pity only, so worked to rid herself of them. She engaged herself in the rebuilding of Woden from early morn to late-eve so as to keep herself busy. Almost three moons had come and passed, and Jandra rose to face the turn. As she did every morn, she shut off all her emotions, refusing to allow herself the pleasure of missing and loving Sam.

On this after midturn, while she was resting, Jandra was woken by a large commotion.

May came running in, "Second, come quickly. You are needed."

Jandra rose, running to the outside of the dwelling, her mind racing in thoughts of battle, "What is it, May? Who but attacks us?"

But May was overly far ahead of her to respond. When Jandra got outside, she saw everyone kneeling and with heads bowed, but not in her direction. She looked in the direction of where they bowed, but couldn't make out the figure. She kept looking and then saw the smile on May's face.

Jandra screamed to herself, SAM!

Sam had entered Woden upon a horse from the Spirit Mothers. It was not a horse of Woden. It was of the rivers and waters, as Jandra had seen of the Spirit Mothers. Sam used no bridle to ride this horse, and it was if the horse knew where Sam wanted it to go without the need of reins.

When the horse came near, it knelt down onto its front legs so that Sam could get off of easily. Jandra saw that Sam's stance had changed. She no longer seemed as Sam, and Jandra became nervous.

What if she has no further need of me? Have her Spirit Mothers taken her from us? From me? Has this battle with Buron changed her so?

- 467 -.

Sam dismounted just in front of all those now kneeling. More of the community had heard of The Highest's return and continued to come over.

All knelt, and all bowed their heads. And they all waited for a word from their now-returned Highest. Sam saw a guard move to take the horse, but waved her off.

She turned to the horse, "I will call you when I need you."

As the horse turned and left, Sam walked toward those now awaiting her. Jandra was the only one standing, and the only one looking at Sam.

She saw that Sam walked with a limp, using a cane to do so. Sam said nothing to those who knelt, but made her way slowly toward Jandra, limping badly.

When she was close, she held out her arm, Jandra. I have missed you.

Jandra slowly, and slightly hesitantly, moved into her embrace. As Sam closed her arms around her, Jandra felt embraced into a sense of relief she hadn't felt for what seemed a lifespan. Sam continued to embrace Jandra, and all Jandra could see was Sam. There was no Woden, and there was no life. There was only Sam and Jandra in all The Realm.

It is because of you I lived. I return for you, Jandra.

Jandra noticed that Sam spoke through her thoughts, as she had done while with the Spirit Mothers. But having so overly much to say, Jandra said nothing at all. She allowed her emotions to say it for her.

Jandra held Sam, fearing that if she let her go, she would disappear.

Sam returned the embrace, patiently letting Jandra move away from her fears.

"Jandra, speak to me. Are you well? You do not speak."

Jandra simply nodded her head into Sam's shoulders, and cried.

Sam turned to look at all those who waited and saw that they did so patiently. Sam placed her hand gently on Jandra's head, holding it lightly, "All is well, now."

Jandra touched Sam. She felt her cheeks, her hair and her arms. She needed to touch Sam to ensure herself that Sam had really returned, and that she was whole.

Sam gently let go of Jandra and spoke softly, "I will return in but a moment. Wait here . "

Jandra finally found her voice, "Where be Caitha?"

"She and Anyst come. My horse, a gift from the Spirit Mothers, is much quicker."