Whatever the circumstances were that triggered it, Char couldn't complain about waking up with Iris in his arms. Her chestnut brown hair spread across the pillow, her soft curves pressed into his body, her arms around his waist and his around hers - it wasn't a bad way to start the day. He ran his fingers through her hair, and she stirred, her cheek shifting on his chest. He kept quiet, repeating the action, savoring the feel of her thick tresses flowing through his hand, until she opened her eyes and looked up at him.

"Good morning, Char," she said shyly.

"Good morning, Iris," he replied, grinning. He leaned in and kissed her softly. "This is my favorite way to wake up," he murmured.

"I can't say I mind it too much, either," she replied.

He kissed her again, his hand leaving her hair to settle on her hip. The horrors of last night were but a distant memory and hard to recall when she lay here next to him, warm and inviting. His kisses continued, and she didn't resist his gentle pressure on her waist to put her on her back. Her hand came up to his bicep, holding on and tightening her grip as his tongue slipped between her lips and a soft moan escaped her. He cradled her head with one hand and rubbed his other across her stomach to her waist, back and forth, eliciting another moan that he swallowed down with her breath. Her free hand came up to his cheek, sliding down his neck to his shoulder, curling her fingers into his shirt.

"Ah, Iris," he gasped, pulling back just enough for a breath. "I don't need breakfast when I've got you."

"I think that's enough," she panted, her brown eyes hooded with longing.

The fire in his veins said otherwise, but he rolled off of her reluctantly and climbed out of bed. She sat up, brushing her hair back, and he glimpsed a thin line on the back of her neck where the amulet's chain had dug into her skin. He turned away and headed into the bathroom. Last night did happen, and the images Micah showed him happened, too. The thought sickened him all over again. He wanted that amulet gone as much as she did. If Kelnor didn't come today, they were leaving. This couldn't wait any longer.

But Kelnor was already in the kitchen with Rath when Char left Iris to get ready. Judging by his furrowed brow and darkened red eyes, Rath had already filled him in on what had transpired the night before. Char pulled out a chair and sat down. There were no fairies to push a plate of food in front of him, as they were all in with Iris.

"Sounds like you had a rough night," Kelnor said.

Char nodded, glancing over at the clock. He'd overslept. "Rath didn't get to see all of it, either."

"Do me a favor and don't tell me about it," Rath said darkly.

"Wasn't about to."

"Is she coming?" Kelnor asked.

"Yeah. She seems fine this morning."

"Good. I can go over this once."

She wasn't long in arriving with her fairy entourage. Char was glad to see she was moving better today than yesterday. Still a little stiff, but much improved. He got up to pull out a seat for her, ignoring Rath's teasing smirk when he sat back down.

"Long story short, we'll attempt negotiations with the humans, but we can't wait to see where that goes," Kelnor started after the standard greetings were over. "We're overdue for our next attack, and we don't want that mage getting suspicious. So, we're flying out later this morning, and Iris is coming with us. We'll press in as close as we can to the capital, you three will disappear in the battle, and the rest is up to you."

Rath clapped his hands together. "Told you, Char. Camping! And Char and Iris already know how to do it human-style. This'll be a breeze."

"Hold on," Char said, frowning at Rath. There were a lot of words he could think of to describe this plan. 'Breeze' wasn't one of them. "Micah will notice a dragon carrying a human-sized bundle."

"Rork and Nost are coming, too. They'll stay up above the clouds and out of sight, and when you make your exit, they'll drop down and take your place. I'll make sure one of them is carrying a human-sized bundle to match. And Iris." Kelnor fixed her with a stern glare. "You absolutely cannot use any magic during the battle. No matter what happens. Understand?"

Char shook his head. "That won't work. She has to use the amulet to keep her from freezing through during flight, and Micah will target her specifically."

Kelnor frowned. "Got a better idea?"

"Rork and Nost should go in as us right away. Rath and I will stay up high, and we'll use the battle as cover to get in as close as we can to the capital before we touch down."

"Yeah, that should work," Kelnor said slowly, mulling it over. "You'll need supplies, too, for the few days you'll be roughing it in the wilderness. And the fairies..." he added, watching the little golden orbs flitting around Iris.

She sighed. "I'll take care of them."

"Good. Two hours," Kelnor said, standing up from the table.

"Yes, sir," Char and Rath said.

"Okay. Camping. So, what do we need if we're doing this human-style?" Rath asked, jumping to his feet as soon as Kelnor left.

"Pretty much the same as what you're used to, except we need to bring food. No hunting on the wing," Char said. "But the fairies can pack for us. You should go get Mother. She'll want to say goodbye to Iris."

Rath sighed. "How much alone time do you need?" he muttered, smacking Char's shoulder as he left.

"Are you sure you're up for this?" Char asked Iris.

She nodded. "I'll manage. Is it alright if the fairies stay here?"

They froze in midair.

"I'm sorry, but I can't let you come with us," she said patiently. "You might give us away."

They mobbed her, little golden orbs covering her arms and hands, unmistakably begging her to reconsider. Char suppressed a smile. Iris was struggling to do the same.

"But I don't want to risk you getting close to Micah. You'll be safer here, and you can keep the place ready for us when we get back."

They turned and surged at Char. He laughed and held his hands up in surrender. "Yes, I'll make sure she's safe."

"You can help us pack," Iris offered. "We'll need blankets, an extra change of clothes, and food."

A tornado of fairies was immediately raiding the cabinets, stripping them bare and piling their contents on the counter. Iris put her hand over her mouth to hide her laughter.

"We have to be able to carry it all," Char reminded them. "Two light packs. That's it."

"Two?" Iris asked, looking at him questioningly.

"Rath and I can carry everything," he told her. "What concerns me more is hiding your magic usage from Micah."

"I've been doing that for a while," she replied, picking the amulet up with her right hand and studying it thoughtfully.

"What happened to the bandage?" Char asked, frowning.

"Oh. That." She dropped the amulet and held her hand out to him, palm up. "I guess I healed it last night."

He took her hand in his, tracing the unblemished lines of her palm with the fingers of his other hand. "You're stronger than he is, Iris."

"Maybe. Maybe not," she said, pulling her hand free and averting her eyes. "It doesn't really matter this way."

"But it might," Char insisted. "Without the amulet, without the magic he's stolen, you're both still mages. I want him to be weak enough that I can deal with him after it's all stripped away, but what if he isn't?"

"I don't want to be a mage, Char," Iris said firmly. "And I certainly don't want to be a mage who hurts others. Let's just focus on getting to the crystal, okay?"

Char's words died in his throat when he looked into her pleading brown eyes. He sighed and nodded. "Alright." He found her hand under the table and gave it a squeeze. "A more pressing concern is getting these fairies to pack appropriately. I'm strong, but I can't haul that load around for days at a time," he said, nodding toward the growing mountain on the counter. The fairies were zipping in and out of the kitchen, adding clothes and blankets to the pile. It looked like they'd emptied Char's and Rath's bureaus completely.

"Oh, dear," Iris said, giggling. "I don't think they listened to you earlier."

"Iris!" Elera exclaimed, bursting into the kitchen and pulling Iris into a tight embrace. "Why do you have to leave so soon?"

"The sooner I go, the sooner I can get rid of this amulet and come back here to stay," Iris told her.

"Where's Rath?" Char asked.

"He saw Misa and told me to go ahead," Elera said, maintaining her tight grip on Iris. "Then Char proposed?" she asked Iris excitedly.

"Um...not in so many words," Iris said hesitantly, her cheeks flushing.

Elera released Iris and yanked Char to his feet for another bear hug. "You keep her safe and bring her back soon, okay?"

"Yes, Mother," he said sheepishly, his green eyes meeting Iris' over his mother's shoulder for just a second before Iris averted her gaze.

"And do an actual proposal. Every girl wants to have a proposal story to tell."

"I'll work on that."

Elera released him and smiled up at him as he rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "I'm really happy for you, Char." She looked past him to Iris, who was directing the fairies on how to pack appropriately for a camping trip. "What on earth?" Elera asked, surveying the mountain of supplies on the counter.

"They're a little upset about being left behind," Iris explained. "I guess they want to make sure we'll have everything we need. Oh." She turned back to Elera with a bright smile. "Could you maybe stop in to see them while we're gone?"

"Stop in to see them?" Elera repeated doubtfully.

"They're not used to being alone. I don't think they'll like it very much," Iris explained. "You wouldn't have to do much. Just talk to them for a little while so they don't feel so lonely."

Elera frowned. "What would I talk to them about?"

Iris shrugged. "Anything and everything. They're not picky. I used to talk to them all the time at the tower, and they would just line up on the furniture to listen."

"You would be doing us a favor, Mother," Char interjected. "I'm afraid they're going to sneak into our packs otherwise."

"Well. I guess I can manage talking to a few fairies," Elera said reluctantly.

"Thank you," Iris said, giving her a hug. "Let me introduce you to them. Hey, could you stop for a minute?"

One reasonable pack was done and set off to the side while the fairies flitted around preparing a second one. They froze in midair at Iris' interruption.

"This is Elera, Char's mother. She'll be stopping by every so often to keep you company while we're gone."

"Hello," Elera said tentatively.

Little golden orbs of light surrounded her, zipping around to examine her from every angle. She looked at Iris nervously. Char pressed his lips together to keep from laughing.

"Okay, that's enough," Iris said.

The fairies returned to their packing. Iris giggled, her brown eyes dancing as they met Elera's.

"You get used to them," she reassured Elera.

"I'm back!" Rath announced, grinning from ear to ear. "And we're all going to Misa's next party when we get back."

"Wow. You mean she didn't slap you for ignoring her for two weeks?" Char asked sarcastically.

"Why would she do that when I told her how I've been thinking about her every day, wishing I could get away long enough to see her?" Rath asked, smirking.

"You're just like your father," Elera said, shaking her head. "One of these days, you're going to meet a girl who sees through your sweet talk, and then you'll be in trouble." She stepped toward him and gave him a hug. "Take care of yourself, okay?"

"Yes, Mother."

Char and Rath each kissed their mother on the cheek, and then she left with one last uncertain glance at the fairies. They had finished the two packs and were well on their way to putting everything else back where it belonged. Char took Iris by the hand and led her into the living room.

"Nothing left for us to do but wait," he said, sitting on the sofa and pulling her down beside him.

She nodded. He draped his arm across her shoulders and felt the tension in her muscles.

"It's going to be okay, Iris," he reassured her, pulling her closer to his side. "A few days, and we'll be back here, rid of that amulet and that mage forever." He kissed her cheek. "Trust me."

She smiled at him and rested her head on his shoulder. "I trust you."