[Carillon]

She sighs softly at his sad smile but acquiesces and speaks again.

Yes, I would have gone with her. For all her sins, she had never hurt me directly. I didn't think she would. She was lonely ... she wanted companionship, and someone to share the quiet moments with. She wanted a sister or a friend, or perhaps a daughter. A student, a colleague ... not a slave or a thrall.

I would have gone with her not just for the Council, but to prevent her seeking and finding the last urn. La'Forran, had he been raised, could have caused pain and suffering like you have never known. More than that, though, I would have gone with her because by that time I had come to love her a little.

She makes a quiet sound indicating enjoyment as he kisses her neck, then props her head up on a pillow to look at him.

Does that ending not satisfy you, my sweet? You would have wished for a happier end for the vampire?

She regards him for a moment, as if appraising him or evaluating her own trust in him, then sighs again.

It should have ended there, truth be told. I'm sure it would have, if I weren't so damnably stubborn. But like I said, I loved her a little by then, and damned if I was going to let her die like that.

She smirks slightly, remembering.

Oh yes ... I decided like hell was I going to let her die like that, after everything. And with good timing, my friend in Spellgard told me he thought he knew someone who might be able to help ... but they needed a vial of her blood to even figure out whether or not they could help her. Only problem being that she hadn't exactly told me where she was going, had she?

And yet I had the feathers, and a strong bond with her, and I had this ...

She shows him a beautiful amulet of delicate elven craftsmanship. The amulet is platinum and gold, set with a very large and exceptionally fine alexandrite. The amulet looks old ... very old, and worn, though it was clearly loved and treated with care. The platinum around the alexandrite is worked into a fine mesh lace cleverly done to resemble a web with small golden spiders worked around it as well. Below the alexandrite are two rubies set like eyes. It's an unusual piece, but very beautiful and of exceptional quality. When Jaelle turns it, the name etched on the back of the amulet, behind the largest of the gem mountings, is visible: Laa'ra.

Her amulet. Her final gift to me, to keep close to my heart. I had everything I needed to scry on her except the skill to do so, so while I made arrangements to book passage to Alindor and to her hometown to search, I learned everything about scrying I could. I practiced until I dropped from exhaustion and my head throbbed, and then I got back up and did it again. My teacher was relentless, and I hated it for him then but thanked him for it later.

She winces at the memories, one hand involuntarily going to her head, then laughs.

And I never needed it.