text: After the vision with Chris, and doing what I could to ensure my people were alright, I finally fell asleep, and woke up on my own the next day. Someone had returned my clothing and armor, all laundered and even repaired. It finally occurred to me that I had no idea how Merada had gotten my laundry done in the middle of a previously corrupted forest. I'd add it to my list of things to find out about. For now, I had managed to get through a whole night without any nightmares or further awkwardness. I decided that was a huge victory. I took one more look over my gear and walked outside.
  
  I found everyone waiting for me just outside the tree. They were all dressed and ready to go. My Gaelguard lined either side of the door, and the elves and fairies formed rows directly in front of me. Val and the Testifiers stood on one side, while Breena, Merada, and even Stell stood on the other, looking formal, dignified and patient. Directly hovering behind the gathering were all four Icons of the Woadlands, shining gloriously. As soon as I exited the cave, the natives all bowed, calling out with one voice.
  
  "Hail to the Challenger, and Lord of Avalon!"
  
  I tried not to flinch too visibly as the surprise greeting.
  
  "Thank you," I said, nodding my head as regally as I could. "I hope I didn't keep everyone waiting for too long."
  
  <And ladies,> I projected to as many pieces of Stell as I could. <What exactly is happening?>
  
  <We all forgot to tell you last night,> Breena sent me apologetically. <It's customary for a Challenger to be formally recognized after liberating a world from a Trial.>
  
  <I get that,> I replied, <but I haven't exactly finished saving it yet. How long is this going to be?>
  
  <Not long,> she told me, <because of the very reasons you just mentioned. But remember that this isn't Earth. Here, neglecting to show gratitude to heroes isn't just an insult to them, but an insult to the people they rescued. Alright, the Icons are gonna talk to you now.>
  
  My fairy friend went silent as the four Icons drifted forward. They wore the same clothing from yesterday. Great Pan looked a tad fatigued, but somehow healthier. The Stag Lord had a number of cuts and bruises on his body that looked to have been already half-healed. Lady Titania and Mother Glade, however, glowed even brighter than they had before, as if they were flush with health and power.
  
  "Lord Challenger," the Stag Lord said, using that title for the first time with me and bowing his head. "We would like to formally thank you for your role in freeing our world from the grip of the Chaos Wound. We apologize for not having time for a more formal ceremony. But know that you have completely earned our trust. You will have the full support from us that a Challenger can be expected to receive during a Tumult. As you should have received earlier."
  
  "You're welcome," I answered honestly. "And thank you, everyone," I said, looking around. "I didn't do this on my own."
  
  <Psst,> I sent to Breena, since she was the only part of Stell willing to answer my questions right now. <Do I need to say anything else?>
  
  <No, that's all of the ceremony. You're good, we're done.>
  
  <Thanks,> I thought back to her, addressing the local deities again.
  
  "I suppose we should get back to work, then?" They nodded.
  
  "Would the Challenger mind if we discussed our strategy inside his current quarters?" Mother Glade inquired respectfully, nodding toward the new Monarch.
  
  "If the tree doesn't mind, I don't mind." I turned and looked to the three bodies of the Starsown. "Would you mind accompanying us?"
  
  "Yes, Challenger," Stell finally said, and all three of her bodies began moving.
  
  She followed in behind us, and then Val, the Testifiers, Alum and a few local leaders trickled in as well. The Icons all marveled as they looked around the wooden room.
  
  "An actual Monarch," Mother Glade breathed. "They had gone extinct. I never thought I would see one again. But where are our manners," she said suddenly, bowing in no particular direction. "I greet thee, sacred tree."
  
  "Welcome to my abode, protectors," a creaking voice said all around us. The four Icons all glowed brighter, Titania and Mother Glade especially.
  
  "This is a glorious occurrence," Titania said with a smile. "My people have done their best to look after the plants of this world ever since the Monarchs died out, and Mother Glade has done her best to manage forests as a whole. You have done something wondrous, Challenger. Mother Glade and I will both be able to do more for our world because of it."
  
  "Indeed," Mother Glade said, glancing at her glowing hand. "This Monarch will increase our personal power in addition to birthing new life for our world. We will be better able to defend ourselves from Dark Icon attacks, and have more personal power to perform magic and miracles for our people. And all of this on top of overcoming a Trial. If we can survive long enough," she breathed deeply. "But I am getting ahead of myself. Starsown, do you have anything to add?"
  
  Stell slowly shook her dark curls.
  
  "Not in regards to this. We were fortunate the Challenger didn't take the easier route and just destroy the tree."
  
  "Huh?" I asked, confused.
  
  "It was weak and dying," Stell explained. "The easiest solution would have been to finish off the dying Woadfather itself, depriving the Chaos Wound of its sustenance and putting the poor tree out of its misery. Instead, you carefully attacked with light energy, which both damaged the parasite and strengthened the host. Then, instead of trying to reverse or even just halt the process, you found a way to change the mutation to where it benefited the tree instead. You did all of that, instead of just having your people help you blast the tree to death, which would have robbed the parasite of its host and made it almost completely helpless. So thank you, Challenger, for your diligence and care," Stell finished, with just a touch of irony to her voice.
  
  "You're welcome," I replied, trying not to make it so obvious that the simplest, easiest solution had never even occurred to me. "Um, anything else, Lady Starsown?"
  
  "No, my Challenger," Stell said with an ironic smile. "That was it."
  
  "Then," I began firmly, "I would like our esteemed Icons to address the Starsown's earlier request for aid."
  
  Stell blinked at me. But all four of the planet's deity figures turned to face the Steward of Avalon, bowing low.
  
  "Lady Starsown," the Stag Lord said gravely. "Please let us take this moment to formally apologize for not answering Avalon's call for aid. We understand that we are very much in a crisis of our own making, and in spite of that fact Avalon has continued to offer us aid. We are humbled by your magnanimity and hereby pledge a new commitment to you and your representatives. Know that we will never take any request from you lightly ever again."
  
  "I accept your apologies," Stell said formally. "And I appreciate your making such a commitment in a company of witnesses."
  
  "Witnessed in script," Karim said from his corner, surprising me.
  
  "Witnessed in song," Weylin declared next.
  
  "Witnessed in stone," Eadric finished.
  
  "Thank you, honored Testifiers," Stell replied graciously, not missing a beat.
  
  <She wasn't expecting you to do that,> Breena whispered over the mindlink. <She says you didn't have to.>
  
  <Yes I did,> I sent back. This was a can of worms that needed to be opened, like it or not.
  
  "If there is nothing else…" Mother Glade asked respectfully. I shook my head.
  
  "No, and thank you for your patience," I said. "Let's plan how we'll deal with the final doom plaguing this world."
  
  It took a long time, despite the fact that we had settled on a simple strategy. Caill Fuar would have gotten news of her ally's defeat, and she would have been alarmed by just how quickly it had happened. She would have also been alarmed by learning that I was behind said defeat, and that I had brought it about after arriving on this world the day before. She was no doubt scrambling to prepare for a similar surprise attack. Which was a good thing. One, because none of us really expected the same trick to work more than once, even though it was now four Icons against one. A Dark Icon in the midst of their own Tumult was a powerful force, far stronger than one powered by a Trial, or Stell would have never needed to Call for Challengers in the first place. We all knew that. So we were going to reach for a strategy she wasn't expecting right now, namely, that of charging straight through the front door.
  
  Before this, Fuar had been planning a surprise attack of her own. She was striking the Three-Arm River in a handful of weeks, and she was planning on all of us massing at the decoy location she gave us during the parley. The tribes of the Woadlands no longer had to divide their attention between so many calamities. We could bring our full force down on her crystal palaces, destroying them one by one.
  
  So the plan was for the Icons to gather all of the Woadfolk, elven, and fairy tribes, unite them back under one banner, and bring them to counter-ambush the White Witch's own massing army. This they could do more easily, because Fuar was going to be much weaker at the edge of her Tumult and couldn't reinforce her army in the same way we could, with four Icons drawing power from a new Woadfather Monarch as well as a freshly conquered Trial.
  
  It would still be risky. There would still be losses. But it was the best plan we could find for wrecking the White Witch's army and paving the way to strike at her directly.
  
  With that settled, the Icons left to send messengers to gather the rest of their armies. Stell came over to me.
  
  "I have to leave now," she said awkwardly. "And not just because of what we talked about last night," she added quickly. "I have to deliver the food and other supplies you gave me to the people on the other worlds." She looked behind her to the exit. "I already dropped enough food for the people here to make it through the next season. In fact, after conquering the Trial and reintroducing a Woadfather Monarch to this world, they're probably going to enter a population boom. As well as an economic boom. As well as a technological boom," she added dryly. "Not that most other worlds will notice, because most of their learning centers around botany and agriculture. But still, new golden age already, Wes. Great job."
  
  "Thanks," I replied. "How are you feeling?" I asked directly. She blinked again, as if she wasn't expecting the question.
  
  "Um," she said to give herself an extra second. "Tired," she admitted. "And frustrated. And scared. And angry. Pretty much like crap, except for all the great things you've managed to pull off."
  
  "Okay," I nodded, taking in her honesty. "I want to apologize for not being more aware of that. I'm forgetting that you are going through a lot too, and I'm sorry I haven't been more aware of your frustrations."
  
  "Wes," Stell sighed. "Stop being so good. But thank you." She took another breath. "What about you? How are you feeling?"
  
  "Confident," I admitted. "I just conquered my first Trial. I just freed a planet a month ago from the Malus Members. And I saw Breena beat the hell out of Cavus like four nights ago. Did she talk to you about that yet?"
  
  "Yes, Wes, she did." Stell blew out another breath. "It sounds completely impossible, and it probably wasn't more than a scrap of Cavus' total power. I've seen him eat too many powerful people for me to believe this changes much."
  
  "It changed a lot for Breena," I answered quietly.
  
  "Good," Stell said. "And I mean that. But I've kept Breena from knowing and remembering the worst about Cavus. It's not going to be the same if he goes after another part of me, Wes. And it's not going to be the same for anyone who tries to protect me again either." She looked directly at my eyes, trying to burn her point into my brain."
  
  "It will be in one way," I answered. "I'll be right there."
  
  "Wes," she sighed again.
  
  "Stell," I sighed back, cutting her off. "I can't make you realize you can beat him. I can't make you believe me when I say I saw Guineve fight him to a draw, and that Breena and I beat him together, and that the real you, the full you, is a thousand times stronger than literally any woman I know, human, Earthborn, or Icon. But I can make up my own damn mind. I'm by your side. It's too late to tell me to run. And Stell," I said levelly, giving her a stare of my own. "I can't go back anymore, remember? Earth's gone for me. At least for the foreseeable future. You're stuck with me."
  
  "Right," Stell said. "You're the new lord of Avalon. We're going to have to figure out what that means. Which is another reason why the two of us need to be more careful. And professional," she said meaningfully.
  
  "Okay," I said calmly. "Can you commit to having your Satellites not come on to me in future?"
  
  "Yes," she said. "I'll talk to them all very firmly, and make sure they know it's not okay."
  
  "Pretty sure you already did that," I noted. "You said a long time ago that this would definitely never happen."
  
  "I did, and…" She shook her head, exasperated. "I'm sorry, okay? I'll talk to them more firmly. That's all I can give you."
  
  "In that case," I said, "I'll take your word. With the understanding," I added, "that in the event Merada or another piece of yourself does come onto me again, I'm accepting their proposition."
  
  Her beautiful dark eyes snapped wide open.
  
  "What?" she sputtered. "You can't do that!"
  
  "Correction," I replied. "I will do that. In fact, I refuse to do otherwise," I said firmly. "I refuse to spend the rest of my life on these worlds turning down different aspects of the most beautiful, smart, funny, fantastic woman I have ever laid eyes on. I refuse to let my own feelings for you go through such torture. I'm the Lord of Avalon. I don't have the time for it."
  
  "Wes," Stell tried. "You don't understand."
  
  "Definitely not," I agreed. "And it sounds like this is a very real possibility, because as best as I can tell you're bottling up your own feelings for me. And I don't blame you. I'm sorry. No one should have to go through what you're going through right now. But we need to find a way to respect both of our hearts."
  
  "And how do we do that?" Stell asked, waving her hands angrily. "I don't want to hurt you either, Wes. I'm just trying to be smart about this. I didn't ask for this any more than you did."
  
  "And that's on me," I answered. "Because Stell, even when you're stretched to your limits, I'd still give everything I could to spend time with you. So that's the answer."
  
  "Explain your answer," Stell replied. "Because you're being sweet without making a lot of sense."
  
  "I'm saying let me take you for a walk some time, Stell," I replied. "The next break we both get from all the monsters and nightmares and calamities, let's sit down and eat dinner together. Or, if we have time and we're near civilization, let's watch a play or something."
  
  "What?" Stell said, blinking. "You want…"
  
  "I want to handle my feelings for you the normal way," I said. "Let me take you on a date. Somehow. Between Tumults or whatever."
  
  Stell laughed.
  
  And then, to my delight, she actually smiled. It was a wide, glowing, teeth-showing smile. The kind she used to make all the time and I really missed.
  
  "Wes," she said, still beaming. "That's a ridiculous idea."
  
  "Doesn't mean it won't work," I insisted. "And there won't always be time. But when there is, you and me. Out for a stroll. Or a picnic by the lake. Or whatever. I don't care. Just as long as it's with you."
  
  "You weren't listening, were you?" she asked softly and sadly. "I told you last night. Bad things happen to men that care about me."
  
  "Yeah," I said, "They regain the use of their legs, and brain." I pointed to the places I had been disabled before. "They start to hope in themselves again. Throw off all the lies people back home poured over them. Learn magic," I added sarcastically. "I've got to tell you, Stell, becoming a planetary king and a wizard is definitely not something I'd ever sign up for. I'd much rather go back to the way I was on Earth, damaged, disgraced, and with literally no opportunities whatsoever." I changed my voice back to a softer tone. "I was listening, Stell. But it's too late to escape the consequences of being by your side. Your enemies are now my enemies, for better or for worse."
  
  For a moment, she looked down and didn't say anything. Then she looked back up at me and nodded.
  
  "Okay, Wes," Stell said. "You win. As an alternative to rampant, unchecked romantic tension, you can take me out sometime. If doing so won't end any planets or kill anyone, and if I'm not running for my life. And as long as you don't make a big deal out of it, or get too cheesy on the first date."
  
  "Cheesy?" I asked. "When am I cheesy?"
  
  She started grinning again.
  
  "You know what?" Her eyes sparkled. "Go ahead and be cheesy. Just as long as it still makes me laugh. That's the biggest rule, actually," she said. "We have to have a good time. Safely, I mean," she quickly specified. "With our clothes on and stuff."
  
  "I can handle those rules," I answered. "For the first date, at least."
  
  "Alright, let's stop talking about this before people start making fun of how adolescent we sound," the Starsown finished, but with a smile and a twinkle in her eye. "I have to get going. Vinclum won't be able to veil my presence for much longer."
  
  "Where is he?" I asked.
  
  "Guarding the other side of the portal," Stell answered. "We thought an Icon would discover him if he came here in corporeal form."
  
  "Fair enough," I answered. "Tell him I said hi."
  
  "It's only a piece of him," Stell pointed out. "You can talk to him just as easily as I can through your soul bond."
  
  "Yeah, but he nearly fried my brain when he bonded with me, so he deserves a bit of teasing. Ask him how the weather is. And if his scales are getting too cold, I can try and send him a scarf or something next time."
  
  "You're still ridiculous," Stell said. "I'm glad. But stay safe, okay?" she added worriedly.
  
  "Yes ma'am," I answered. "Only if you can do the same, though."
  
  "Deal," she said with another bright smile. Then she reached up to touch my cheek. "Be safe, Wes. I want to see you again."
  
  I let myself caress her hand, and then the moment was over. She walked away from me to the back of the Monarch. She held her hands out by her side, and the ends of her hair began to stand up, as if she was full of static electricity. Then power began crackling around her, and a silvery disc appeared in front of her. She shot me one last look before she stepped into it. Then it closed, and she was gone again. I turned away reluctantly, and saw Breena and Merada standing behind me.
  
  "Hey ladies," I said, then started correcting myself. "Or, lady, I guess. I'll let you pick. I give up," I shrugged.
  
  For a moment they both stared, and then we all began laughing.
  
  We couldn't figure out why, and every time one of us tried to ask it just made us all laugh harder. I decided to blame it on all the crazy, stressful events that had been happening to us for so long. Finally we all stopped laughing, and I rejoiced over the fact that I could still be near at least part of my Starsown.
  
  Beyond that, I realized that I had one more reason to save this world. The thought smoothed out my nerves as the three of us finally walked out the door.