"My mother has told me of how you and she manipulated the memories of all when you retrieved me from the Dark Lands. But now, Kaliq, I need to have my memories restored. This Twilight Lord is reaching out for me and I cannot fight him without a complete knowledge of what happened. You cannot fully protect me now. My poor mind seeks to reconstruct those months. I need the truth, not whatever this Kol may implant in my brain in order to regain my person."

"Those memories can only make you unhappy, Lara. And you must keep them from your husband. That will not be an easy thing, my love," the prince told her.

"You treat me like a child, Kaliq," Lara told him angrily. "I am not a child. I understand you allowing Kol to take me and to mate me. Your plan to cause chaos in the Dark Lands was clever and no mere mortal could have accomplished it. But you had no right to steal my memories of the time I had to spend with this Twilight Lord."

"I have sealed him up in his castle," Kaliq said. "I have taken away his reflecting bowls. You are safe from him."

"Nay, I am not," Lara replied. "He draws me to the Dream Plain and calls my name. And you cannot make him cease for the Dream Plain heeds the laws of neither the mortal nor the magical world. I cannot fight the Twilight Lord if I do not know what happened while I was in his charge," Lara repeated. "Return my memories to me, Kaliq!"

"The pain may do you irreparable harm," he pleaded with her.

Lara looked at him with a stony-eyed gaze.

"Very well," he said, resigned. "I must call the Munin lord to do this for while I have kept your memories, I need his aid in restoring them to you. You will have to sleep, Lara. It will not hurt you if you are sleeping when it is done."

"But it will hurt when I awaken, won't it?" Lara replied.

He nodded, his deep blue eyes agonized.

"Do it!"she commanded him.

Reaching into his robes Kaliq drew forth a small vial and after uncorking it poured a stream of pale-gold liquid into Lara's half-empty goblet of frine. "Take it across the gardens to the chamber that is always yours," he told her. "When you drink it you will instantly sleep and you will sleep until I awaken you. I will not allow you to rest yourself for too long a time. Your mother and I will need time when you awaken to help you come to terms with what happened to you. I cannot allow you to return to Magnus Hauk until you are at peace with yourself, my love."

Lara nodded. "I understand, Kaliq, and I am grateful for your care of me in this matter." Then picking up the goblet she stood and walked across the gardens into her bedchamber.

Ilona looked at the prince. "I am sorry," she told him.

"Do not be," he answered her. "I have loved her from the moment I first laid eyes upon her but I am not fated to be with her." He arose. "Come, let us summon the Munin lord, and I will have him bring the jar into which I stored Lara's memories. I fashioned it myself, Ilona, of silver and gold, and stopped its opening with a crystal so the light would always keep her memories alive."

"Call the Munin," Ilona said a trifle impatiently. She was always surprised by this Shadow Prince's romantic attachment to her daughter.

"Lord of the Munin, hear my plea. Cease all else, and come to me,"Kaliq said.

Satordi, lord of the Munin, appeared almost immediately. "I did not expect to hear from you so soon, my lord prince," he hissed in his whispery voice. Then seeing Ilona he bowed quite low. "I greet you, oh queen of the Forest Faeries."

"I greet you, lord of the Munin," Ilona replied, nodding respectfully.

The Munin reached into his filmy robes and drew out the vessel in which Lara's memories were stored. "You will want this, of course. Does she sleep?"

"She sleeps," Kaliq said. "How did you know?"

"The daughter of Ilona and Swiftsword is strong-willed, oh Prince. You sought to protect her but she must protect herself. And to do so she needsall her memories returned intact," Satordi said. He held out the silver-and-gold jar. "Look through the crystal. Her memories are stirring restlessly. Unless they are restored to her they will be corrupted into something that they are not."

"I was not aware such a thing could happen," Kaliq replied.

"It is not usual for stored memories to behave in such a manner," the Munin Lord whispered, "but her memories are still true. There is time, my lord prince."

Kaliq said nothing more but in Ilona's company led Satordi across his garden and directly into the chamber where Lara now slept deeply. "Do it!" he said.

Ilona watched as the Munin lord carefully opened the beautiful jar and slowly poured the glittering threads of Lara's memories back into her head.

When he had finished he held out his hand to Kaliq who handed him the vial he had kept. Satordi added it saying, "It is done, my lord prince. The Domina's memories are complete again." He bowed to both of them. "If I may ever be of service again, you will call." Then the Munin lord quickly disappeared back to his shadowy home.

Kaliq led Ilona from the chamber. "We will let her sleep an hour and then awaken her," he said.

Together they waited, seated on either side of the bed where Lara slumbered. She grew restless, moaning softly, her body twisting. And then before they might awaken her Lara sat up with a start. Her green eyes were confused at first and then, as she focused, she saw her mother and Kaliq looking anxiously at her. Suddenly she burst into fulsome tears, sobbing as if her heart would break. Neither of her companions made any move to comfort her as she cried. Gradually her weeping died away and finally she looked up at them. Kaliq's heart contracted in his chest. Her look was one of utter sorrow.

Reaching out, Lara took his hand in hers. "Thankyou for trying to protect me, Kaliq," she said. "You are right. These memories are difficult to bear, but bear them I must, for everyone's sake. What a dark destiny I have been given, yet I sense that it will not all be cruel."

The prince squeezed her hand. "Nay, my love, it will not all be dark," he told her reassuringly. "Your sojourn in the Dark Lands was the worst of it, Lara."

She turned to her mother. "Did you know how carnal a creature Kol is?"

Ilona nodded. "I did."

"And yet you created me for the purpose of being his mate," Lara said slowly. "How cruel you are, Mother! I am your flesh! You planned this before my birth, didn't you? You made me almost entirely in your image so that Kol would want me. Did you also manipulate the Twilight Lord's Book of Rule for your purposes?"

"Do not blame your mother for this," Kaliq told Lara. "Those of us who were privy to Kol's direction a century in advance planned this. You were created from the love between your mother and your father, but when we saw how beautiful you were becoming and that you had magic in you, we realized you were the perfect vessel. The Book of Rule does not warn its Twilight Lord of danger or of enemies. It simply states what is to come. We could not change the book if we wanted to, for its creator built fail-safes into it to protect his descendants. Do you know from whom Kol descends?"

Lara shook her head.

"Usi the Sorcerer. The same foul creature that you defeated when you removed his curse from the men of Terah. Usi got children on two of his women and sent them away into safety to protect his line. One was taken to the Dark Lands for his brother was the Twilight Lord then. The other child was brought to Hetar."

"Do you know who that descendant is?" Lara asked.

"It was a daughter and her line was felt to be of no importance. We can learn that information should we need it. Usi's brother had no son to follow him, so his nephew did. Down through the centuries that line has been kept pure and while each Twilight Lord is the father of many daughters, he fathers only one son a generation."

"Until me," Lara said softly.

Kaliq nodded. "Until you," he said. "Your tactic to divide the child in your womb into two sons was brilliant."

"It seemed only logical when you restored my memories and explained to me why I was there," Lara agreed. She turned to her mother. "I am sorry I railed at you, Mother. It has been a shock to learn all that happened to me."

"I am not angry at you, my daughter. You have a right to be angry. No woman should have to bear children she does not want," Ilona said.

"I was but a vessel like any mortal woman," Lara responded with a small smile. "A means to an end. It is so odd. I feel nothing for those children."

"Thankthe Celestial Actuary that your faerie heart has protected you from your human nature in that regard," Ilona replied.

"Yet I love my own children," Lara noted, sounding a little confused.

"You love them because you love their fathers," Ilona said.

"But how could I give those children to Kol when I did not love him?" Lara wanted to know.

"Because he had you believing that you were his mate and you loved one another," Ilona said impatiently. "You must remember everything, Lara, if you are to carry the burden of your knowledge. Magnus can never know for he would never be able to forgive you."

Lara nodded. "I believe I can shoulder this secret," she said. "But I do not know if I should, even if it was a part of my destiny and it was meant to be." She pierced Kaliq with a sharp look. "However, you were very wicked to tempt me so."

The Shadow Prince actually flushed beneath his tanned cheeks. "I but sought to help you," he said, but he could not quite look at her.

Lara laughed. "You sought to help yourself, Kaliq. You are a devious prince."

"What is this?" Ilona looked at the two of them, her head turning this way and that. Then her green eyes narrowed. "Kaliq!" she scolded. "You made love to my daughter when you knew you should not?"

"Her memories of the Dark Lands existed then and were painful. I but made love to her to soothe her cruel memories," he excused himself.

"That is the real burden I will carry," Lara teased him wickedly.

Ilona laughed, then she said, "You really should not have a husband, Lara. Husbands are such a bother. You are more faerie than mortal-your blood runs hot."

"I am as much mortal as faerie," Lara said.

"Nay, you are not. It seems your father has faerie blood in him, too, although he never knew it. Your great-grandfather was half-faerie, although his mother believed him the son of her Midlands farmer husband. She had dallied one Midsummer's eve with Prince Rufin of the Forest Faeries, a member of my own family. So says the Faerie Record which lists all those born with faerie blood. Your faerie blood is weightier than your mortal blood, my daughter. And those with mortal blood who show signs of magic as you did grow stronger if their powers are developed as yours have been. Dillon will be a great sorcerer one day," Ilona said in pleased tones. "Perhaps I shall send your half brother Cirillo to study with him." She turned to the prince. "Do you think you and your brothers could manage two lively boys, Kaliq?"

"I should prefer to have Dillon alone with me his first year," the prince said.

Ilona thought a moment and then agreed. "Aye, that would be best. My grandson is a bit crude yet. A year with you will smooth those rough edges of his."

"Anoush is showing signs of being a healer," Lara said. "It would seem both of Vartan's children have magic in them." Then she grew pale. "Oh! What if Kol tries to steal my children from me?" she asked. "Magnus would want to know why and what could I tell him?"

"Kol is secured at Kolbyr," Kaliq reassured her.

"But he is reaching out to me on the Dream Plain. What if he reaches out to Magnus and tells him what happened?" Lara fretted. She had grown paler.

"We cannot prevent him from reaching out to the Dominus if he dares, but why would Magnus believe him? Magnus would think he was just having a bad dream," Kaliq said to her. "Your husband does not really understand the ways of magic."

Lara shuddered. "Kol wants me back. It is not enough that I have given him heirs. The Twilight Lord loves me. I can feel him reaching out for me, Kaliq! It frightens me. I know him well enough to know he will do what he must to get me back."

"He is imprisoned at Kolbyr," Kaliq repeated.

"I could not live in that awful place again," Lara said. "There was no color. Everything was gray or black. The mountains, where they were not slate or craggy, were covered in dark green pines and fir trees. No sunlight filtered into the valleys. In fact, I do not believe I saw sunlight at all in my year there except for some rare sunsets. I remember looking out through the mountains at the colors of the sunset and thinking how beautiful they were and wondering why there could be no color in the land about us." She trembled. "I should die if I had to go back there, Kaliq! What if Kol sends the Munin to take my memories again and steals me back? I could not bear it! I could not!"

"I will weave a spell about you, my daughter," Ilona said reassuringly, "that will not allow anyone to ever again steal your memories."

"The Munin will never again aid Kol," Kaliq told her. "They learned his generosity was but an enticement to trap them so they would always be forced to do his bidding. I rescued them and they are safe now, my love. You need have no fears."

"I suppose I am being foolish," Lara replied. "But as the memories of those months in the Dark Lands come to the surface of my consciousness I do become afraid. I suppose it was the helplessness I felt when you made me once more aware of who I was, and I had to face the lies Kol had woven about me while pretending to be his beloved."

"It will take time, my love," he told her, "but those memories will eventually slip into your past and no longer be so painful."

"Ah!" Suddenly her eyes lit up. "I believe I met Og's father in the Dark Lands. His name is Skrymir, and he was the giant lord of the Dark Lands giants. He was on a hunting expedition when the Forest Lords murdered the Forest giants. He and his companions fled to the Dark Lands. Kol gave them sanctuary, and they are loyal to him as are the dwarfs and the Wolfyn. What if Kol sends one of them after me?" Lara wondered aloud and her fears came racing back to overwhelm her as she began to tremble.

"We are going to have to enchant Kol and his castle into sleep," Ilona said. "We cannot allow Lara to fear him. She will alert Magnus that something is wrong and when he learns what it is he will never forgive her, foolish mortal!"

"I will have to discuss that with my brothers," Kaliq said. "I do not know if we can enchant the Twilight Lord into sleep. It would swing the difference between the light and the dark too far one way and unbalance it. Too much good is no better than too much evil, Ilona. Balance is always best."

"You can't enchant Kol into a lengthy sleep," Lara said. "He rules the Dark Lands. Without him chaos would reign and more than likely spill out into the New Outlands."

"Then you must learn to master your fears," Kaliq told her quietly. "Your magic is stronger than his because it is pure. That is one reason he wanted you for himself. Without your pure magic he cannot accomplish all he wishes to complete."

"I can do nothing until I have convinced Kol that I will not return to him," Lara replied. "He is a difficult creature at best. Almost like a child when he doesn't get his way, Kaliq. Have you ever tried reasoning with a child who would have his own way?"

"Surely you are not considering returning to the Dark Lands," Ilona said, horrified.

"Nay. I will have to summon him to the Dream Plain and reveal myself. I must control the situation. I cannot allow him to gain the upper hand," Lara said thoughtfully. "It must all be on my terms. What of Og? Will you tell him?"

"I must think," the prince said slowly. "It is possible that these giants may be convinced to ally themselves with us. I will speak with Og."

"Does Og know the truth of my destiny?" Lara wanted to know.

"He knows little of what has happened so far, my love, but as your mother and I have told you, you have not completely fulfilled your destiny," the prince answered. "Here at Shunnar there was no reason to wipe memories clean of that year. However if Og is to understand how you came by your information then we must tell him of those months. Do you trust him enough to burden him with the truth?"

"I have always trusted Og," Lara replied quietly. "Send for him."

The prince nodded and called for Og to be brought up from the valley where he spent most of his time working with the horses that belonged to the Shadow Princes. The giant had not been born when the Forest Lords had massacred his people, but his mother, Oona, had managed to escape to the deepest part of the forest where she had given birth to her son. They had lived in the forest until he was four and they were discovered. Oona saved her only child by telling the Forest Lords that he had not been born when they had killed her people. Her captors had slain her, taking the child giant back with them to their hall to be their servant. They did not know he possessed the collective memory of his people. While she had been in the custody of the Forest Lords, Lara had met Og, and together they had escaped the forest and come into the desert kingdom of the Shadow Princes. Lara had moved on eventually, but Og had remained with Prince Kaliq caring for the horses.

He strode into the garden where they now sat for, while he was a small giant, he was still over ten feet in height. His pale blue eyes lit up with pleasure seeing Lara. Going to her he knelt, taking her hands in his and kissing them reverently. "My faerie princess, I am overjoyed to see you once again!" he said with a wide smile. Then he sat, his legs crossed, before her.

Ilona raised an eyebrow. Was she invisible to this giant lout?

"Og, I am glad to see you, too," Lara said. "You remember my mother, Queen Ilona, I am sure."

The giant turned his head. "Greetings, oh Queen. You are as always the fairest."

Slightly mollified, Ilona nodded in return. "Greetings, Og."

"We have asked you here, Og, because we need your help," Prince Kaliq began.

"This is burdensome, Og," Lara told him. "I have learned something that may or may not please you, but before I can tell you, I need your word that you will keep my secrets, my old friend."

"I would die for you, Lara," the giant told her and they knew it was true.

Prince Kaliq then began to speak. He explained to Og how Lara's destiny had brought her to the Dark Lands, and for what purpose. Og listened silently, but his countenance grew more and more sorrowful as Kaliq's tale unfolded.

At last, Lara spoke. "As I have previously told you, Og, I met the lord of the giants, who is an ally of the Twilight Lord. His name is Skrymir."

"That indeed was my father's name," Og said.

"Then Skrymir must be your father," Lara told him. "He returned shortly after your people were massacred, and your mother had escaped into the deep forest. He and his party fled the carnage into the Dark Lands. The Twilight Lord gave them sanctuary and they pledged their loyalty to him. They have been there ever since."

Og looked devastated. "Why did he not look for us?" he asked aloud.

"That is a question you must ask him yourself," Lara said. "Og, I need your help."

"Anything!" he exclaimed.

"Nay, wait until you have heard what I want of you, old friend," Lara responded.