Epilogue

Tarsha watched as the new trainees went through their paces with Kero and Alberich watching them closely, her staff absently spinning in lazy loops by her side. Slowly, she stretched out her muscles, cooling off after a hard sparring session with Uncle Steph, who had needed to vent his frustration. Apparently his students weren't listening to the warnings he had been giving them about magic and he was getting more and more frustrated with them every day.

After the bout she'd suggested that he get Darkwind to talk to them, show them the dangers if they weren't just going to listen. A demo of what working with magic without safe guards can do to a person she thought would get their attention she was sure. It had gotten hers when Yual had shown her the dangers; it had given her nightmares for weeks.

She turned her attention to putting away her staff weapon and cleaning up anything they had disrupted while they had been sparring before heading out to Companion's Field stables, her mind turning back to the discussion she'd had with the Hawkbrothers before they had left last week.

After days of arguments they had decided it wasn't a choice that they could make without all the clans making a decision on what their options were. So instead they were going home to call and all out clan meeting, which given the distances that some of the clans had to cover should start in six moons. Add in three to four moons of discussions, arguments and disagreements she would most likely get an answer in another year or so.

Which left her at loose ends.

She had Leren had been discussing new options over the last week, trying to decide which would be better for them both. She could stay and help out the unpartnered Companions as she had been doing for the last few moons or she could head home for the first time since Travis had died.

With Leren on courier duty now it didn't really matter where she ended up, he would still be travelling and be coming home to her when he was done. She must admit that she missed home, she missed the inn and the everyday interactions of family and horses.

From the most recent letter from home, James had informed her that most of the Uncles had settled in to stay permanently until they found themselves a wife. Except for Feren - he'd taken over the fighting group and was off recruiting, possibly fighting now that spring was nearly over.

All her siblings were begging her to come home, at least for a visit. Wes, who had taken over when she had left, was also begging and pleading for her to come back and take over again, he really couldn't keep up with it all anymore.

With a small sigh she checked over the stables once more, making sure everything was clean tidy before making her way back to Leren's rooms. She had moved in a week ago, so Dirk and Talia could have their privacy back and could spend more time with their son. She shook her head, realising she hadn't spent as much time with him as she'd intended.

She shook her head as she entered their quarters as she realised that she'd already made her decision, she just hadn't realised it. There was nothing really holding her here in Haven, her siblings were recovering and were once again immersed in learning, Uncle Steph had his hands full with arrogant mage students and Leren said he'd follow her anywhere; if he was needed in Haven, Rolan could easily get in contact with Jerna.

She laughed when she entered their sleeping room to find Leren was just finishing packing their belongings.

"How'd you know?" She asked in amusement as she hugged him. "I only just figured it out for myself."

"You talk in your sleep some times." Leren kissed her cheek. "You decided around dawn that you were going home and were going to drag me with you, by the ankles if I protested." He chuckled.

"Fair enough." She shook her head. "I take it that you've informed Selenay and Jerna is ready to go?"

"Yes to everything, Sunset is definitely ready to go." He grinned. "Your siblings said that if you weren't out of here by tomorrow I'm allowed to kidnap you."

"Guess it's time to move on then." She agreed, picking up her saddlebags. "If you're right about that then Yual should be waiting with Jerna and Sunset." She followed him out of the Heralds Wing and to the stables where Jerna, Sunset and Yual were waiting.

:What took you so long?: Yual drawled, giving her a smug look.

"Watch it, or next time you get a bramble I'll let Leren pull it out." She mock glared at him as she tied the saddlebags into place and buckled her sword into place around her waist, while she wasn't the best sword user, she could now use one in an emergency. She climbed with ease into the saddle and glanced around once more before nudging Sunset into a walk, knowing that it wouldn't be long before Jerna was right beside her.

"Excited about going home?" Leren grinned.

"It's where I belong for now." She nodded and returned the grin. "I will more than likely get to chew out the stable hands out for being slack in my absence, and get fussed over by the rest of the family."

"What about this feeling that you will be chosen?" Leren asked as they left the city and the horses automatically went into a light trot.

"They know where to find me when the time comes." She shrugged. "for now, I'm not going to worry about it, if it happens it happens. For now I'm going to focus on my family, my horses and you." She let the warmth she was feeling reflect in her eyes. "That's more than enough for me."

Leren lent over towards her and kissed her cheek, the horses stepping a little close together without missing a beat.

"Good, home to Travellers Rest we go." He smiled impishly. "Always need a good rest after being on the road."

"Yes, home we go." Tarsha agreed laughing lightly before letting out a whoop of glee as Sunset lurched in to a full gallop leaving Jerna behind for a little while until they could catch up.

000000

James and Daniel both jerked, heads snapping towards the road that came down from the main road as a faint pulse of magic hit them.

"What is it boys?" Pa looked over from where he and Kern were stacking hay to be hauled to the stables.

"It couldn't be." Daniel whispered and then grinned as Jorna bolted out of the stables heading for the main road at a gallop.

"Boys?" Pa looked at them both in concern.

"Tarsha's coming." James's grin nearly split his face in two.

"What?" Ma stuck her head out of the inn, looking hopeful.

"Tarsha's Back." James yelled in glee and pointed as two horses, one companion, and one Kyree came into view.

With that yell the entire family came bolting from where ever they had been running to meet the three travellers.

Tarsha laughed as she was pulled out of the saddle and passed from person to person, every one talking at the same time. She swore that she heard her ribs creak a few times from the hard hugs and back slaps she got. She wiped the tears from her siblings faces, and they all got kisses and assurances that she was well, before being dragged with Leren into the inn for a good home cooked hot meal.

She shared a look with James over the meal that every one caught and reassured them all that everything was fine, more than words could ever say.

She was home, surrounded by the unbounded chaos that was her family. Surrounded by their love, chatter, she had her family, Leren and her stables. Nothing else mattered, tomorrow would see to itself. She was right where she needed to be.

Everything else she would deal with as it came. As she immersed herself in their warmth and felt contentment surround her she knew that it would be awhile before anything else changed her world.

As she chatted away with her family catching up with everything she had missed while she was away healing, she was content to wait and see what the future would bring.

Fini.

A/N: I apologise to all my readers for the long wait for this last chapter and know that it wasn't exactly what you were all waiting for but found that I really couldn't end it any other way. I'm happy with it, I hope that you will be satisfied with it.

Before any one asks, there will probably be no sequel. After all it took me two years to get this far and doubt my muse will give me anything else. It took me six months just to get this little piece out of it. But I am proud, I just finished my longest story in my files.

All I can hope is that you aren't too disappointed with the sudden ending and enjoyed the story as a whole. Thanks for sticking with me through this and thanks for reviewing, it really kept me going some days.

I'm hoping to start putting up some other stories soon, mainly Stargate stories so I hope that you will enjoy those too, I just pray that my muse will return to me, it has been close to a year since I've been able to add anything to any of my stories bar a few pages here and there and I really an starting to get annoyed with it.

So here is where I bow out and beg very nicely for review to tell me how you think I did after so long. I do hope that you like it. Seeya Next time.