"There, that door," Gaia hissed. "The rope of souls disappears through the wall. And the bundle is thickest here."

"Don't trust anything you see, sweetheart. Draoi looked like he died when I rescued you. Now, I'm not so sure. Why would this rope still pulse unless he somehow survived?"

Gaia nodded, and considered Harry's question. "He'll want us both as captives as well, then. Not something I'm willing to exchange for the lives he holds. But can we fool him into thinking he has us convinced and use it to our advantage?"

Harry grinned at her. "You're devious. Lull him into thinking he's won, if we have the chance. I expect Oberon and Olen are already captured. They would have returned otherwise. Tatia was physically taken here by Pippin, rest his soul."

"Misguided fool. Aunt Aumia must be horrified. But the only way in, is through that door." Gaia tried the door handle, and it didn't budge. "Next step, knock. Perhaps it will be as simple as that. Do you want to do it, or shall I?"

Harry stepped in front of her and rapped on the door.

"Do you hear?" he asked.

She nodded and asked, "Is that Draoi's voice?" She cocked her ear toward the door and concentrated on the muffled shouting. "I think so, but how? I'm sure I saw him die just before things went black."

"I warned you, he isn't easy to kill." Harry used the heel of his clenched fist to pound on the door. His assault sounded like thunderclaps.

"Enter!"

The roar echoed between Gaia's ears. Nothing was what she expected. Testing the knob again, it gave, and she pushed slowly with the palm of her other hand. The splintered wood's rough texture prickled with a thousand stabs. Harry ducked under her arm kicking the door open before he strode through. All she could do was follow.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

"Harry, be careful!" Oberon shouted.

An eerie blue glow surround Olen, as he held an axe in his right hand, kneeling beside the writhing rope of tethers. Lightning sparked from the silvery honed edge as the Fairy King's arm descended. Olen's left held the rope still, until Harry's first volley of green light trapped him.

"Get him away from the tethers," Gaia yelled. "I'm going to free these poor people."

She held her hands together and began to chant.

Oberon beat his fists against the wooden poles imprisoning him. He vented his fury as he screamed. "My magic was gone as soon as the lock clicked. These cages are enchanted with evil as pure as a diamond's sunlit flash."

Harry's fingers disappeared in an emerald ball of power. He heaved it straight at Olen's stomach, throwing the Fairy King backward into the dungeon's granite block wall.

A shimmering veil surrounded Gaia. She began to chant. "Call water, air and earth. Bring fire as pure as death's deep derth. Dispel the charm holding all inside and cleanse the evil I cannot abide. As I will so mote it be, and it harm none to set them free." Gaia quieted the words of her spell, wondering where it had come from. She couldn't even light a candle with fire yet.

The opening locks sounded like the patter of rain on a market stall awning. The wave of sound increased in volume as if a storm drove it down. The cages closest to Gaia snapped as a lightning sparked, spearing through the dense mist above her.

Harry's emerald amulet shot green flames on his chest. Gaia watched in wonder as they grew merging with the pale violet shadows blurring his lop-sided face. His voice was thunder when he brought his hand together above his head.

"Bring the power of Cerannous forth. Hear our call for for justice once more. Bring the sun and moon together this day, to slay the powers gone astray. Let these souls go home to peace, matters not time has passed. Right the wrongs, the cost is mine. As I will so mote it be."

Every shade of green, matching the rope twisting and separating on the floor flickered and whirled, dragging wisps of Gaia's aura with them as the vortex grew.

Gaia shuddered as black oozed from Olen's head, obscuring his body as it slumped to the floor.

That's where Draoi was hiding.

"I am more than the Gods or Goddesses all. I am the power of night brought together—" The ebony slime started to draw itself together, forming feet first as legs emerged above them.

From above her came a chorus of voices led by Oberon's sturdy tenor.

"Feel our wrath, we join the fight. For every moment stolen from our life, steal his spirit, the evil elan, and drain his essence to dust once more. Let air blow through the cracks and chinks and scatter him near and far. As we will so mote it be, by Grace of Gaia who set us free."

The breeze came softly at first, building in intensity until Gaia grabbed the wooden bars of the nearest cage. Her knuckles turned white as her feet lifted. Her shoulders strained, and she gritted her teeth. She closed her eyes when she saw Harry fall backwards and start to slide headfirst toward the granite wall behind her.

"Please the Goddess, keep him safe. I would give my life in this strife. It's my fault he is trapped with me, at least give him life, if mine should end." Gaia felt her fingers burn as she lost her grip. A mere gasp for air later she slammed into the wall and her head snapped hard into the stones.

Not again.

Her world went black.

>>>>>>>>>>>

"Let me talk to her, Aumia. And quit apologizing for Pippin. He was a charmer. I fell for him too. And since we got Harry to leave for something to eat, it's just us girls for the next little while. I want to thank Gaia myself."

The woman's voice was like a silver bell. Gaia rolled over on her side a let her eyelids open a tiny slit on the world around her. Back in what she thought of as her room.

"She's waking up Tatia. We're so glad you're back. But we still have to clear the rubble in the main hall to the classrooms. We thought you had the scrolls with you," Aumia said.

"Harry has promised to help with that. Meanwhile, I'm going to gift Gaia with fire. She's got it in her, I'm just not sure what has kept her from exploring the magic side of herself. I heard the spell she crafted in Draoi's dungeon," Tatia declared.

"I'm right here," Gaia croaked. "Quit talking about me like I am a book you're dissecting."

Aumia appeared at her bedside, and Gaia groaned. "Water, or perhaps ambrosh juice?" she begged hopefully. "I don't think I can eat anything yet."

"I doubt you can yet either. Although we've managed to dribble broth down your throat a few times as you recovered. Need to teach you energy conservation as you cast spells. Do you have any crystals?" Tatia asked as she came into view carrying a pitcher of liquid covered in beads of water.

Gaia licked her cracked lips, as the Fairy King's twin sister poured a pale sparkling glass of juice. She pulled herself up against the pillows at the head of her bed, moaning as she discovered sore muscles. Pushing the gossamer blanket down, she glanced at herself. A silken gown draped against her curves. Her smile was sly as she thought of Harry seeing her like this. When did she change her opinion? And did she want to tell him yet?

"Here girl, sip slowly. You've been resting for over four days. Exhausted yourself. How's your head?" Aumia asked. "It's all you complained about between nightmares."

Gaia took the glass and raised to her mouth. "Ouch. My lips. My head is fine, though."

"I'll get the healer. Orline said she could get the rest of the injuries once Gaia awoke, Tatia. Make sure she drinks slowly," Aumia put the pitcher down on her bedside table. Gaia's eyes followed it searching for food, and spotted cheese and wedges of ambrosh fruit. When she reached for it, Tatia grabbed her wrist.

"You were badly spell burnt dear. Let the juice settle first. Keep drinking it a mouthful at a time," Tatia warned her.

Gaia nodded. Maybe she should heed the woman's words. "Umm, were you were mentioning crystals? Where's my amethyst?" She touched her chest between her breasts. "I haven't been without it since Harry tossed it at me across the tavern floor the day we met."

Tatia reached up the side of the post at the foot of the bed, and Gaia sighed in relief when she saw the heavy links of the silver chain. The dark haired fairy slipped it over her head, and Gaia felt herself relax. Things would be all right. She closed one fist around the crystal and raised the glass for another sip.

"Treasure Harry, dear. He's selfless when it comes to you. He's been here beside you since you came back. And thank you. I watched Draoi gather evil to him for years. He let me wander his castle, until I made the mistake of letting him catch me testing my escape plan. Then I was in one of those cages. Oberon knows. He's grown up so much since I was sold."

Gaia thought about her feelings for a moment before she responded. "I think I'm learning to love him. I feel safe when Harry is near. And there's this spark, a tingle now, whenever his skin touches mine. I've never had a kiss, not once. I don't think I'll ever know another man's kiss either. And I wonder how I know Harry is the one?"

"When you realize you don't want to breathe unless you know he'll always be there, you'll know. That used to be Pippin." Tatia said.

There was a knock at the door, and a silver haired woman entered, followed immediately by Harry. His smile was blinding when he saw Gaia was awake.

"Well go," Orline said. "Hold her while I work. When I'm done, she'll need to sleep again, and then you can plan your return to your world."

"Not before I waken her fire," Tatia winked at Gaia. "Not that it will take much. Your magic is there, dear. You just have to trust." Tatia shook her dark head and headed for the door. "Thank you again, Gaia. You will forever hold a place of honor with the fairies."

Gaia felt Harry climbing onto the bed, and he knelt beside her.

"Let me hold you, Harry." She patted a spot beside her hip, and he slid himself in tight next to her. The lovely heat of his leg made her smile as he leaned his head against the side of her breast. Tugs at her center surprised her, and she wished the healer would hurry. She found herself curious, and nervous as Orline ran her clever fingers over Gaia's face.

"We'll have our time, sweetheart. Patience." Harry whispered.

Gaia pulled a face at him and nodded. Let the healer do her work.