"How are you feeling today?" Alex asked Christine. It was a Saturday in late October, and winds blew carelessly through the yard.

"Pretty good, considering," she answered, but Alex noticed her eyes were red and puffy. "I know Jenna's happy. She was holding on just so we could get matters with her kids cleared up." A young girl of six came over to them and hugged Christine. "I suppose they're my kids, now." She patted the crop of blonde curls on the girl's- Lynnett's- head. "I'd always said I wanted to adopt children, but I never dreamed of three at once!"

"Mama wanted it that way," Lynnette said. "She told us that we were going to live with you, cause you raised us as much as she did." Then, she ran off to play with her brothers.

"How old are the others?" Alex asked.

"Lionel's seven, and Jimmy's three," Christine answered. "Which isn't too bad. I used to have to babysit six children, ranging from one and a half to eleven, all at once and by myself. But that wasn't full time." She sighed. "I've talked to Queen Adela, and she says she'd be delighted if we moved into the palace. Not many nobles with children live there, but they do have a nursery and school. I hear Adam's also living at the palace."

"Yes, he is. My aunt thought it was the least she could do as thanks for him taking over the magic class," Alex told her. "I think you're to have the suite next to his. When are you moving in?"

"Next week," was her answer. "I want things to settle here first. Adam and I are going to be formally introduced at tomorrow night's ball."

Alex nodded. "I'll see you there, then. Pages are to serve at the ball. It's time for me to be getting back now, though," she said as she silently called Lunar, who had been pleasantly munching on hay, over. She mounted with ease and said goodbye before walking off.

~Goodbye, Alex~ Christine's voice spoke through her mind. ~Wait until you see my dress for tomorrow. Iris made me wear a fancy gown.~

Alex grinned, knowing Christine hated dressing up almost as much as herself. She tolerated plain dresses at George's house, but that was all, and no fancy dresses, although she managed to make any dress look fancy. ~Is it pink?~ Alex asked her.

~Heavens, no! If I had to wear I pink dress, I would simply not go!~

"The wizard Adán Telémakhos, formerly of Massachusetts of the United States of America, now of the royal palace of London, England," he announced in a loud voice that echoed throughout the room, bouncing off glittering diamonds and sparkling opals. "Mage Christine Haskell-Harrison, stepdaughter of Sir George Harrison, of Massachusetts of the United States of America, Belgravia, and the royal palace of London, England." The two stepped out and carefully descended the stairs.

Alex listened to the people around her for their reactions, but her eyes were on her teachers and friends walking down the stairs. The magic some people contained had only been announced recently, and many thought those who believed it were insane or playing a joke. Now, with the formal introduction of a wizard and a mage caused them to wonder. Hearing nothing of importance, Alex turned her full attention to the couple.

Adán was, Alex admitted, a sight to behold. She could already imagine the number of women falling in love with him on the spot. He was wearing soft, black pants, a dark purple dress shirt, and shiny black shoes. All of this was topped off by a black robe with silver lining that streamed out behind him and a black top hat. His fingers sparkled in the light, and Alex saw various stones- rubies, opals, and diamonds- on rings that covered his fingers. In one hand, he carried a long, jeweled wizard's rod that sparkled more than his fingers. Beside him, tightly gripping his other arm, was Christine.

Alex was breathless as soon as she turned her eyes to Christine. Dressed in a white silk gown, she looked like a true angel. The gown fit her upper body perfectly, hanging by a slim strap on each shoulder. At her waist, it was kept even by a row of clear gems, and then it fell loosely down to the floor. The bottom flowed out behind her, making her white slippers just barely visible. A white, see-through shawl was draped over her shoulders, and it caught in a breeze from an open window and lifted slightly. Her hair was unbound and fell to her waist, but not a strand seemed out of place until the wind touched it. When it did, her brown hair lifted with her gown and shawl, and then fell back into place. Something shined on her neck, and Alex knew it was the silver necklace she always wore. It was of a unicorn in a circle, with the horn, mane, and tail made of crystal. The only other jewelry visible were on her fingers- rings Alex knew were of another unicorn, a spider, and one of five stones ("It was my mothers'," she had told Alex. "My siblings, father, and I bought it for my parents' twentieth wedding anniversary. My father died at the end of that month. It has the five of our birthstones, to symbolize we'll always be together. It's also very powerful magic-wise, but nobody knew that.")

Adán and Christine finally reached the bottom, but instead of walking up to the Queen's throne as was custom, they turned around and looked up at the stairs. The herald, who had been as dazzled as everyone else by the sight of her, stood straight and cleared his throat again. "Masters Lionel and James St Laurent-Harrison, and Lynnet St Laurent-Harrison," he continued, and the three children- accompyanied by their nanny, Rachel- descended the stairs rapidly, with Rachel trying to control them. They obviously did not care about impressing the world, but more about enclosing Christine in a big hug, as they did now. Laughing, she picked Jimmy up as the other two clung to each of her legs. She advanced Queen Adela this way, only forcing them to let go for her to curtsy. Adán bowed beside her, and the Queen nodded. The Great Ballroom doors opened, and as everyone pushed forward, Alex found herself relieved to have room to move once again.

"So, how did you enjoy my entrance?" Alex turned and saw Christine standing next to her. Lionel and Lynnett had been transferred from her gown to hang onto Rachel's hands, but she still held Jimmy.

"It was wonderful," Alex told her, "although I had to admit, something was missing until the these three came down to you." She affectionately ruffled Lynnett's hair. "You may not enjoy wearing fancy dresses, but they are quite becoming on you."

"It's a lot better than it looked just hanging in Iris' seamstress' room, I'll admit," Christine said. "Now comes the worst part- socializing. Mother Goddess, help me. Huzzah." She entered the ball room, leaving Alex staring at her, bewildered.

"She's not joking, you know," Adán said, standing beside Alex. "She hates socializing. She's glad she has the children as an excuse, so she can leave after only an hour. She doesn't like people."

Alex shook her head. "She just sounds more peculiar every day," she commented. "But she likes you, and the children..."

"And you," Adán added. "Yes, she has friends, but that's not to say she likes all people. She'd even much rather talk to her animals than to me. And she gets along great with children. She says it's because they're pure and innocent, but I know better. She's always longed for her own children. She has three now, but they're not truthfully hers, although she still enjoys them. But she won't enjoy a room full of stuffy nobles. And yes, she is very peculiar." He smiled. "It's her best charm."

Alex stared at him. "You love her, don't you?" she finally asked.

"Like a sibling, yes. Maybe even more so than that, but not the way you speak of," the wizard said quietly. "We've been through a lot together. People don't seem to understand her, but I do. I understand her better than she does herself, at times. All the hurt she's felt in her life, I've felt. I've been in her mind, as I did with you the first day of our lessons. Let me tell you, she has the most complex mind I've ever seen. Every thought and emotion is magnified a thousand times greater than our normal reaction." He sighed. "She's had a tough life, and that may be a part of it. She seldom lets anyone gain her trust, because she's been hurt a lot. Now, when she's hurt by someone, she just pushes it to the back of her mind, and it builds up until she finally has to get rid of it. People like her usually go insane. I've kept her from that, in a number of ways: with my magic, my friendship, and my trust. Her parents are gone, as are most of her family and a lot of her friends. She's running out of people to turn to. It's a good thing she's become trustful in you. It takes a great person for her to trust them, so you must be special."

"You do love her," Alex accused.

He grinned. "Okay, yes. But don't tell her that. She hasn't let herself get close to any man except me in the last ten years, and only me because I was the one person she could turn to at the time. I wouldn't want to ruin that. Now, aren't you going to go serve those nobles, as you're supposed to?"

Alex grinned sheepishly. "You caught me slacking off," she said as she picked up a pitcher. "Very well, I'll go serve." With a bow, she moved into the ballroom.

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