Chapter 1

Hank sat high on the hill watching Natalie and her stallion Pax race across the valley, it was hard to tell where the woman ended and the stallion began. It had been three years since she had left her husband the human dragon Ravlyr, in that time he had watched her heal and grow slowly into the woman she was meant to be. She walked with pride now, a confidence in herself that had not been there before, she had learned to laugh at and with herself, she had also learned to not to fear the magic that flowed through and around her as the book of Cairin taught her to be the first born.

Not taking his eyes off Nat, Hank smiled "hello Falk, I thought you would be on your way to the gathering by now." The large red gryphon grinned "well now I was passing by on my way to the gathering and thought to drop in and give a greeting." Hank laughed and turned to look at his friend Falk "you never just drop by anywhere Falk." With a roar of laughter Falk casually commented "thought you and Talie there would join us at the gathering this year, it's time for you and the lassie to come back to the world." Hank nodded looking once again at his sister and her horse as they rode for home "I know it is, all I have to do is convince Nat of that, I think she's ready." Falk slapped his big paw on Hanks shoulder "that she is lad, I will see the two of you at the gathering." then he was gone.

Natalie left the stable a skip to her step and a smile in her violet eye's as she entered the house, grinning at a glowering Bram "is Hank home yet or is he still off adventuring?" Looking under his shaggy brows at Natalie, Bram replied "he is upstairs washing for dinner as you should be, you smell more of horse then the stables do." Laughing Natalie headed up the stairs "soon you will be muttering to yourself like Trink, Bram" all she heard was a loud "Hmmmpff"

Pulling off her boots and clothes Natalie walked into the bathing room a large tub of hot water waiting for her as she knew it would be, sinking into the water she let out a deep sigh of pleasure. Sitting up Natalie dipped a finger into the water and started to swirl it around, looking into the swirl she saw the house that Rav had built for them, she could see the dirt and dust, the cobwebs and the loneliness filled with the echoes of a dragons haunting footsteps. It was time she told herself to fill the house with love and the echoing sounds of children's laughter or finish it and let the house fall to dust for all times. As she swirled the water Natalie smiled she had every intention of hearing children's happy laughter and the presence of a certain dragon filling the house.

A day had not gone by when she hadn't thought of Rav and how much she loved him, she missed his laughter, the smile that seemed to always light his eyes, his kindness and gentleness to a young boy who had been hurt and hiding his pain and anger, Rav had never laughed at Hanks dreams of finding his unicorn and the unicorns magic circle. None of Rav's family had laughed at Hank, they had taken him in and loved him dearly.

They had hurt each other terribly, she had been so afraid of not fitting in, not loving him right or well enough, she had been frightened by his magic but never by the dragon himself, all those things had driven him away, she had lost so much now she hoped she was strong enough to get her husband and his love back. It had taken her a long time to set the ghost aside, to learn from the past but not be controlled by it

Collin and Katrina had just sat down to dinner when Brand and Bitsy waltzed in, seeing the looks on their faces Collin asked "is it something that will send us hiding under our bed shaking in terror?" Bitsy giggled as Brand casually asked "haven't seen Rav around, has he been home lately?" as they sat down at the table. Kat almost choked on her wine "Rav is off in France with Chad and Kim, don't tell me you've forgotten where your own children are." "Ah that's right, it's difficult you know when you get aged and just want to sit in your rocking chair watching the sunset, buttttt you might find the condition of Rav's house interesting." Brand jumped up off his chair "You bit me!" "I'll show you aged!" Bitsy winked Brand grinned at Bitsy "I'm counting on it." The two grinned as Kat and Collin vanished from the room.

Collin and Kat walked through Rav's house, it sparkled it was so clean, there were fresh flowers in vases sitting on tables, there were clean sheets on the beds, a cradle slowly rocked in the nursery from a breeze coming through the open window. Collin motioned Kat in to the library, there above the large mantel was a tapestry across the top the names St.Clair and Cairin intertwined, in the center a unicorn and a dragon stood rampant, below them a dagger and a sword crossed. Kat turned and looked at Collin, hugging her tightly against his chest he smiled looking once again at the tapestry.

Natalie strolled into the dining room and sat down, the dinner dishes appeared instantly. Helping himself Hank commented "Falk dropped by to say hello earlier, he was on his way to the gathering." Natalie smiled as she ate, listening to Hank talk about Falk and the gathering, that Trink was all ready on his way, casually she replied "when do we join him?" Hank his fork half way to his mouth laughed "as soon as you can be ready."

Rav and Jacquilt sat down laughing as they watched Trink and Falk trying to out drink each other, seeing Rav, Trink started to giggle and dance around "you finally made it, had me worried you weren't gunna show..." Rav and Jacquilt looked at each other and back at Trink as Falk slapped his big paw over Trink's mouth "can't trust elfies yea know, can't keep their mutter mouths shut, why he almost told yea that our Talie and Hank was gunna join us this year." Hopping around Trink yelled at Falk "me! me! tell why yea big overstuffed gryphon, now yea spoiled our big seeeeprise, I need me another drink!" Roaring with laughter at Trink as he tripped over a log Falk winked at Rav and shoved a tankard in his paw "drink up lad, you look like you need it."