Chapter 5



    The twin moons hung in the sky like giant, swollen pearls,
a constant reminder that his particular Alice had stepped firmly into
Wonderland. The wagon rolled unsteadily along the thin stretch of
road, the huge horses patiently moving ahead. Their hooves made
a rhythmic clicking sound on the solid earth, at odds with the
abrupt jerking of the seat beneath me. Each time we hit a bump I
felt it jolt up my spine like a red-hot needle piercing my skin.

    I was exhausted, I ached from head-to-toe, I was thirsty. And
I wanted to go home!

    Except for a few moments in Vietnam, this was the closest
I'd come to simply curling up in a ball and pulling the covers over
my head, just wishing it all away. Well, nothing about this was easy -
but I was not going to give whoever or whatever had dumped me into
this nightmare the satisfaction of seeing me bawl like a baby. All
that military and FBI training came in handy now - I simply gripped
on the handlebar before me and held on for dear life. I could feel my
jaw squeezing, clamping down hard, making the muscles strain around
my gritted teeth. An incongruous memory stuck, my dentist warning
me about the dangers of overstressing those muscles and tendons.
Who would have thought the jaw could suffer the same agonizing
inflammation as a knee or elbow. But it could - and mine now screamed
with the stress it was under.

    Somehow the image of that white-coated, pearly-toothed
man standing over me with a stainless steel instrument of torture
in his rubber-gloved hand was suddenly a breath of fresh air. Normality.
Familiarity. I closed my eyes and for the very first time in my life (and
hopefully the last) wished that I was right there right now.

    Yet, when I opened my eyes, all I could see was the broad
backs of the horses, the endless rolling fields sloping off into the
distance, and those two damned moons.

    I was so tired.

    I swayed...and a firm hand steadied me. Tilting my head
around, I found myself staring into the gleaming yellow eyes of my
erstwhile companion. He peered up at me, the look of concern
obvious, even on such a strange face. It comforted me, yet frightened
me at once. What was this creature? He was intelligent, friendly -
apparently. One of Mulder's 'little green men' perhaps? Though a flash
of memory reminded me that Mulder's LGMs were actually gray. Or
so he said. But still... had I somehow been transported onto another
planet? At this point, it was as good an explanation as any other.

    Combined with the kindness of my little friend, that thought
strangely calmed me down. He gestured towards the back of the
wagon a couple of times, pointing first at my chest, and then at the
curtain that separated us from the inside. Assuming that I had
interpreted his intentions correctly, I nodded dazedly, and turned
around to open the curtain.

    Oh God... blankets. Piles and piles of thick blankets. Nothing
could ever have appeared more welcome, except maybe the sight of
my own bed. Climbing into the back of the wagon took some maneuvering,
for it didn't take much thought to figure out that this wagon had been
made for people - uh, creatures - who were much smaller than I. But
I managed it somehow, perhaps through an act of pure desperation.
And the moment my head hit those scratchy, woolen bundles....

    "No! No! No!" I screamed, shoving away at the insects and
snakes that crawled over my body. I could hear the endless rustle
of the jungle around me, punctuated by the roar of machine gun fire.
The world spun around me, a cacophony of sound, a kaleidoscope
of images. A sneering foreign face hovered over me, machine gun
held in grimy hands. It shifted, cavorted, altered into the visage of
a monster. I fell. Clutching at strands of light and gusts of darkness,
I tumbled. Screams ripped from my throat until the gurgle of sound
strangled on my lips and silence tore at my lungs.

    I fell.

    Images, whirlwind of light and shadow. Snatches of conversation.

    Mulder, fierce and angry. "Where do you stand?"

    My own voice, fought against itself to make him understand.
"On the line that you keep crossing!"

    He couldn't understand. I wanted to reach out. My hand
trembled, curled into a fist. I couldn't do it. I couldn't say the
words. He needed so much that I couldn't give. But I wanted to....

    Winds buffeted me and I was torn away. Mulder faded into a
gray shape in the distance, only the anger and frustration remaining.
That whorled around me. Tore at my soul. I reached for something...
something solid to hold onto....

    Light. A room took shape around me and I gasped with the
relief of familiarity. Long and narrow, dominated by a couch and a
computer desk. Books everywhere...Mulder's apartment. Strange, so
strange that I would be so comfortable with the home of a subordinate.
No, not comfortable, but connected.

    Mulder! I opened my eyes, called out his name...but the
answering shape that flowed into solidity before my eyes was not
tall and dark. Flame and porcelain, small and slight.

    Scully!
    
    Joy flooded me. Scully - ever the practical one. Solid, certain
Scully. A zone of safety in a crazy world. I trusted her, even in a
way I don't trust Mulder. Oh, I do trust him - and yet.... Mulder is
too caught up in his cause, too blind sometimes to see the world as
it is. But rational, cool, professional Scully... oh, yes. This one I
could trust and rely upon.

    "Scully."

    My voice was hoarse, my throat raw with the very effort at
speech. But surely she could help me escape from here. But where was
here? I was so lost.

    "Scully?"

    But her face was taut with rage. So angry she wasn't even
shaking with the emotion. Cold and bitter, her gun held with steady
hands. The heavy muzzle pointed directly at my heart. And her
eyes... She could shoot me. She would shoot me.

    "No..." the whisper in my mind wasn't spoken aloud. Couldn't
she realize I'd never betray her? Not willingly. I've tried to protect
her. To protect her partner. As much as I could. As much as I dares.
Riding the fine line between caring for my own (oh, when had these
two become 'my own') and doing my duty to my country.

    Her fingers tightened on the gun and her blue eyes blazed
with icy fury. She would take my life in trade for Mulder's. In payment
for a crime I did not commit. And yet, all I could think was how
beautiful she was....

    A flash of bright light, blinding. Shattering. I screamed and
cover my eyes. I was thrown again on the winds of a nightmare.

    I slid to my feet, space tilting around me until it steadied
into place. Gravity took hold and I opened my eyes into a haze of
smoke. He hovered over me. As cold as Scully was, yet empty as
she was full. Her life force had burned me, this one chilled me. I
shivered despite myself. I couldn't hear his words, even though I
knew the sense of them. I know I answered, but I know not what
I said. It didn't matter...the whirlwind was loose again.

    A flood of images now. Vietnam and Washington. Agents and
enemies. Words in many tongues, some of which I understood,
some of which held their meaning as closely as a lethal secret. A
grotesque figure rearing its head before me, eyes bulging, mouth
twisted, body misshapen. I blinked and reared back, but there was
nothing to protect me.

    I stared into the eyes of horror and found myself staring
back at Me.

    I screamed...
    
    ...and woke to find a comical face staring anxiously down
at me. His skin was green, his eyes yellow. I opened my mouth to
scream again, sure I was still trapped in a nightmare, but his chatter
startled me and I gasped for breath as a cool, wet cloth rubbed
softly over my forehead.

    The creature chattered brightly, in a rolling, fluent tongue
that reminded me of water trickling through a fountain. Bubbly and
rhythmic, echoing light. It was soothing, though I could not
understand a word. He - it - smiled at me, and the gesture was
surprisingly comforting. Stronger than it looked, the being settled
me down amid a pile of thick wool, refusing to let me sit up. I
struggled for a moment, then gave in. More to the headache that
struck me like lightning at the sudden motion, rather than at any
impetus of his. Laying still eased the pain, and I finally accepted
gratefully. He urged a small flow of a sweet, rich liquid into my
mouth, and I swallowed reflexively. Warmth spread from contact
with the fluid, and I gulped down the next mouthful. It wasn't
alcohol; more like tea. But different from anything I had ever tasted
before.

    Then my eyelids drooped. My surroundings faded into a gentle
haze, and I slept.

                    ~ ~ ~

    I awoke again to the slow rock of the wagon along the road.
Groaning aloud, I turned over on my side, fighting manfully against
one of the worst headaches I'd ever suffered. I felt like I'd been run
over by a truck, aching in every bone, muscle and joint of my body
and the too-close memory of the giant cat reminded that it might
just have been worse.

    A part of me still fought to deny the situation I found
myself in, but my memories were too compelling and immediate
to deny. Besides, the interior of that wagon and the agony pulsing in
my shoulder were definite reminders that whatever was happening,
was *really* happening.

    I sat up slowly, putting out a hand to keep my balance as
dizziness threatened to topple me. I waited for a while - I have no
idea how long - until I could sit without having to hold on to the
sides of the wagon. Remembering my little friend, I carefully crawled
forward and peeked out through the curtains towards the front seat.
He must have heard me coming, because he instantly turned to smile
at me. Actually, he wasn't quite so bad-looking; in fact, he was kind
of attractive in an odd sort of way. Despite the heavy brow-ridge,
there was an aware intelligence in those yellow eyes, and his manner
was at the same time questioning, concerned and totally non-
threatening.

    Well, when in Rome...

    I returned his smile, as well as I could considering how lousy
I felt, and gingerly began to ease myself back up beside him. He
gestured quickly towards me, bobbing his head in an odd sideways,
upwards twist. I stopped and met his frustration with my own, but he
settled it soon with a gentle shove against my chest. He wanted me
to stay in the back of the wagon, and as the dizziness hit me again,
for once I was not about to argue.

    "Okay, little guy," I muttered. "Why not?"

    I wasn't ready to sleep again, especially since my shoulder
was beginning to burn as though it had been torched instead of
clawed. The skin was bright red and my stomach sank deeply into
my gut as I realized it was certainly infected. So far, my glimpses of
what passed for civilization in this place did not lead me to believe
that they might have something like a hospital or antibiotics
available. I cringed at the thought of what the local equivalent of a
doctor might be - some mad old coot with a jarful of leeches,
probably. Besides, if I was the only human - how would one of their
doctors be able to treat me? Who knew if our biology was anything
alike?

    But wait! Mulder and Scully. The creature at least knew of
them. And if Scully was here, she would be able to help. The sudden
bolt of excitement made my heart beat faster, and I poked my head
back through the heavy curtain.

    "Mulder and Scully?" I questioned, hoping that the names, at
least, would stir some kind of response.

    They did. The big, round head bobbed again, in the opposite
direction, then a surprisingly long-fingered hand pointed out over
the fields to the left. Following, my eyes found themselves drawn
to a huge shadow looming over the trees in the distance. The road
curved around a small rise, and the shape came clearer with every
lurch of the wagon.

    Towers formed of gray stone loomed upward into the falling
dusk. My mind made faint note of the fact that I'd lost a day - at
least - in transit, but the structure we approached soon grabbed
every bit of my attention. It was a castle. A real, live medieval
castle. Unfamiliar flags waved over the summits of the towers. A huge
stone wall surrounded the structure like a giant belt. The buckle was
a massive iron gate, embroidered with fancy golden gilt and edged
with sparkles of silver. Two men stood beside it - human! - both
dressed in dark green leather and holding long heavy swords out
before them.

    My little friend pulled the wagon up short in front of the gate
and spoke rapidly with them in that same flowing language. They
nodded, and one made a smart, slashing gesture with his right hand.
With a loud ratcheting sound, the enormous gate began to rise, being
borne upwards with an unseen mechanism, powered by unseen workers.
The castle loomed above us as we entered a long driveway, scattered
outbuildings giving way to terraced courtyards as we drew closer.

    I stared around me, even as the wagon came to a halt. The
exhausted, sweaty horses snorted and whinnied, calling for their
dinner. Men rushed forward to release them from the harness, and I
was grateful, yet again, to see recognizably human figures. I opened
my mouth to call out to one of them, but the sound of their voices
stilled my own. They spoke the same strange language as my little
green friend, and I had the sudden, sinking feeling that while they
might appear human on the outside, they could be very different on
the inside.

    Numb and aching, I let the little guy lead me down from the
seat. My feet protested loudly at being forced to support my weight,
and I stumbled. A strong pair of hands seized my arm and shoulder,
supporting me, and I squinted through tired, burning eyes at a
stranger.

    A truly lovely stranger. A waterfall of golden hair cascaded
down her back, weaving over her shoulders. Her eyes were darkest blue,
wide and large, surrounded by perfectly clear, peach-colored skin. The
bones of her face were heavy, but refined, each part welding into a
whole that was far, far more than the sum of its parts. She was
breathtakingly beautiful - and suddenly I was struck with the
knowledge of where I was.

    Heaven.

    Where else could such an beautiful angel, dressed in a long
white gown and soft brown robe, be found? Her touch was instantly
soothing, the murmur of her voice a blessing to my ears. This was
not how I'd pictured heaven to be, but right now I could hardly
complain. Wavering against her, I let her lead me across the dusty
courtyard towards a small wooden building.

    Once inside, she eased me onto a sweet-smelling bed. The
thin mattress was set on a wooden cot, a cot obviously not made
for someone of my size.  My feet hung over the end of it, but at that
point I couldn't have cared less. The world swam around me, vertigo
making my stomach roll, even as I dropped downward into the embrace
of those soft blankets and pillows. It felt so good tears came to my
eyes. Heaven indeed - especially when my personal angel leaned over
me, and gently sponged my throbbing forehead with a cool, damp cloth.

    My eyes flickered shut, even though I strained to keep her
in sight. The vision of her, bright against the darkness, stayed
before my retinas even when my lids fell closed. Lethargy stole any
remaining energy, and the clear, rhythmic chanting of her voice was
the last thing I heard as I slipped away....


End Chapter Five


Chapter Six


    "More wine, Scully?"

    "No, thank you, Reinald.  I'd better keep a clear head in
case tonight's the night for Shannon.  So where did you say
Tarnor is?"

    "Jourdain, pass that along to Aldara, please ....  

    The dinner party was in full swing as the friends once more
sat down to dine together after the long absence of the Mage and
his Companion.  "He's on his way back home from a visit to his
family," Reinald said.  "They were thrilled to hear that you're back.
There's an open invitation for you to see them."

    "Too bad we don't have time to visit this trip," sighed
Mulder.  "I think my digestive system has almost recovered from
my last experience with gargoyle cuisine.  Maybe next time."

    "Well, Tarnor should be here by morning, and if I know Afla,
she's sent some of her home cooking with him, so you may yet get
to have some of her fiery stew.  I received a message from him not
long ago by Oracle Cloud.  He is so anticipating seeing you that
he tried to convince me to Gate him here.  I wish I could have
accommodated him.  Of course, it causes too much disruption to the
magically sensitive in Fairwoods to risk constructing a Gate without
pressing reason,"  he explained to Mulder.

    "Oh, I understand, Reinald.  Gunther, you're very quiet."

    "Yes. Just pondering our little problem with the vortex."

    "Problem?" asked Scully.

    "You know, the flares Gunther mentioned before he brought
us through," explained her bondmate.  "Sorry, I didn't get a chance
to tell you.  Apparently there was a flare not long after we left.  
Gunther is concerned that someone could have been accidentally
brought into the Realm."

    "If the vortex flare appeared in our office, I shouldn't think
there's much chance of that.  Unless one of our mysterious friends
was in there planting a bug, there shouldn't have been anyone in our
office to bring through.  Even the custodial staff avoids it like the
plague.  They've reported us to OSHA, saying we leave potentially
lethal substances around in there."

    "That's what Mulder said.  Still... as you know, my dear,
a scientist distrusts unexplained anomalies."

    While Mulder described the finer points of 'planting a bug'
to a mystified Jourdain, Aldara and Reinald, Scully smiled
confidently.  "Well, there's no reason to worry.  I'm sure you and
Hannu will get to the bottom of it, Professor Neumann....  It's too
bad Hannu couldn't join us tonight."

    "He's trying to spend as much time as he can with Shannon,"
replied the Royal Mage.  "Once the child begins its journey, he
won't be allowed to see her until the Naming Day Ceremony."

    "I would not say this if Ballorca were in earshot, but I
wonder sometimes at the reason for some of our traditions, Reinald,"
commented Aldara.  "Some are simple to understand; indeed, even
make good sense.  But some seem so- "

    There was a pounding at the door.  Puzzled, Reinald rose to
answer the summons himself.  As he opened the door, a disheveled  
and breathless Pitir almost tumbled to the floor.

    "Quick! Kyla's cottage!"

    "What is it, Pitir?  How do you come to be in such a state?  
Is it Queen Shannon?  Has she sent for Kyla?"

    The little troll mage gulped and shook his head.  Panting,
he forced out, "Quick!  You must come!  A huge hairless human!"

    "A huge hairless human?" Mulder repeated, a smile on his
lips.  Then, suddenly, he and his bondmate looked at each other, horrified.

    "No - it couldn't - "

    "Jesus, Scully, you don't think- "

    The Mage and his Companion darted through the door, along
the passageways and down the staircases, only dimly aware of the
clatter of their friends' footsteps close behind them.  They finally
skidded to a stop in front of Kyla's cottage door, gave a cursory
knock and went in.

    The Healer knelt over the low cot which looked ridiculously
small for the unconscious form lying upon it.  She was deep in a
healing trance, a well-founded action from what they could see of
the injured man.  His clothing was in shreds and liberally
bloodstained.  Glancing at one another, Mulder and Scully took a
deep breath and moved hesitantly to the other side of the cot so
they could see his face.

    //Oh, *shit*!  Scully, what are we going to do?\\

    He felt her resolve as she joined Kyla, placing her hands
with precision on Skinner's abdomen and left shoulder.  In seconds,
she had joined the chant.

    Jourdain came to stand next to Mulder, and whispered, "Do
you know this human?"

    Mulder held up his hand, forestalling more questions and
thinking furiously as the Healers' chants ebbed to a close.  Scully
spent a few more moments at the bedside, then rose and nodded
at her bondmate.  He gathered the others as she had a word with
Aldara, then went to join the men outside in the herb garden.  The
sky was a crisp clear blue, rapidly darkening as the group gathered.

    "He is from your world, then?" Reinald questioned softly.

    "It's worse than you can imagine," replied Mulder grimly.  
"That's Skinner, our boss.  Assistant Goddamn Director of the
Goddamn FBI.  How is he, Scully?"

    "It looks as if he were attacked, probably by an animal.  
Maybe a woodscat, from the appearance of his wounds.  He's
suffering from exposure, some sort of fever, has some bruises and
a few really nasty infected lacerations, but Kyla has him well on
the way to recovery.  He's in no danger now."

    "Wish we could say the same for us.  What the hell are we
going to do?"

    The Professor looked more drawn and haggard than usual in
the deepening dusk.  "I blame myself for this.  I should never have
risked opening a vortex when we knew we had a problem with it."

    Mulder patted the old man's shoulder absently. "Don't blame
yourself, Gunther.  I can count on one hand the number of times
Skinner has been in our office in the last four years.  It should
have been perfectly safe.  It just... wasn't....  How long will he be
out, Scully?"

    "I made contact with Kyla after we finished the healing chant.  
She'll try to keep him down for a while until we decide what we're
going to do.  Maybe a candlemark - if we're lucky.  You know
Skinner."

    "Yeah. I know Skinner," he responded dryly.  "All right. I
suggest we sit down and get comfortable while we try to put
together a plan."  They found benches close by.

    "This Skinner - is he to be trusted?" asked Jourdain
suspiciously.

    Mulder shook his head hopelessly.  "That's the problem. I
really don't know, Jourdain.  In certain things, yes, I think so.  I
don't believe he would want any harm to come to me or Scully.  
He's helped us in the past - and we've helped him.  But I don't
know how far his loyalty to us goes.  The circumstances are hardly
ordinary.  Sometimes he can be such a damn hard-ass that- "

    "Haarrdd-asss?" Jourdain asked, pronouncing the unfamiliar
words awkwardly.

    "Sorry.... I'm not sure there's a New Realm equivalent.  Sort
of like Ballorca, I guess.  Everything by the book."

    "Ah, yes.  I see."

    "Mulder, if he is in authority, then he could lead the
Gestapo types right into the Realm," Neumann said anxiously.
"The same soldiers that came after you and Scully that evening you
disappeared from my lab with Tarnor.  Or worse - the men responsible
for Karen's abduction and death, who were experimenting with the
vortex themselves."

    Scully looked thoughtful. "I really don't think so, Professor
Neumann. I-I don't know why I feel that way, but I just don't think
Skinner is capable of that kind of cold-bloodedness."

    "But you may not know what kind of pressures he may be
under, my dear,"  Gunther said sadly.  "Obviously, there are factions
within the government that could make his cooperation with them
unarguable."

    //He has a point,\\  Mulder said, meeting his bondmate's
eyes.  "All right, I'm open to suggestions.  Anyone have any?"

    "Why not simply send him back through the vortex?" Jourdain
said, shrugging.  "Perhaps he'll think being here was a fever dream."

    They were quiet as they considered the Captain of the Guards'
suggestion.

    Slowly the Professor shook his head.  "This is my fault, and
no one is more aware of the potential damage to the Realm than I.  
If those experiments are resumed, if those fascists start coming into
the Realm, then life as we know it here is over.  But still...  I must
speak against such a plan, for two reasons.  First, we would be
sending an unconscious or semi-conscious man through the vortex,
unable to take any action to protect himself on the other side.  It
could be equal to murder, and I will not have any part in it.  And
secondly, time is still going through the backwash.  It would take
me days to do the calculations accurately in order to send him back
to his own time.  The slightest, most minute fraction off, and he
could be sent through to the middle of the ocean, or end up years
from his proper time.  No, I won't be a party to it."

    "And I must concur," added Reinald.  "As magic would
necessarily be involved, I cannot condone its use in a manner that
could bring harm to someone who has innocently become enmeshed
in this predicament.  No matter what danger to the Realm this man
might present."

    "Point taken. And you're both quite correct.  Besides, we
have no idea how long Skinner may have been here.  If he were caught
in the backwash, he may be arrived weeks ago. Nothing that could be
dismissed as a fever dream. Okay," said Mulder, sighing.  "That takes
care of Plan A.  Does anyone have Plan B?"

    They were silent for several long moments.

    "What if... what if we could keep him in a healing trance?"
he wondered aloud.  "Scully, would that be possible?  What if we
could keep Skinner in a healing trance until the Professor can make
the calculations?  Then we could go back with him, to make sure he
got back all right, and then try to make up some story to explain it
all. What do you think?"

    He could sense the light shield that came down as she
paused to dispassionately consider the idea, but took no offence.
Both he and Scully had learned that sometimes in order to hear their
own thoughts, they had to create some quiet space in which to do so.
They gave each other that, freely.

    "What about Shannon?"  she finally asked.

    "Naturally, I'd be disappointed not to be here when she had
her child" //though not at missing the Ritual of Royal Birth\\ he added
for her only, "but if I had to make that sacrifice to ensure the
safety of the Realm, I'm sure Shannon would both understand and
agree."

    "I'm sure she would too, Mulder.  But that's not what I was
getting at.  Even a good-sized place like Fairwoods is not exactly
jumping in Healers.  There's Kyla, me, Sirisa- "

    "Unfortunately not,"  Reinald interjected.  "Sirisa is in
Yellowforks.  The village Healer died there suddenly.  She'll be
serving the beings there until another can be found to take his
place."

    "So there's just Kyla and me?"

    Reinald nodded.  "We could send to Waterrush or
Cresscreek for another, but it would take time."

    "Mulder, Shannon could go into labor at any time.  I don't
think Kyla and I could manage to keep Skinner in a healing trance
for days, and also attend Shannon.  Besides, I'm not an authority,
but I believe there would be an ethical problem with that, as well.  
It just strikes me as wrong to keep Skinner sedated in that way."

    "Quite right, my dear,"  the Royal Mage said kindly.  "I
don't think Kyla would agree, especially if it meant it might increase
the risk to Shannon or her child."

    "Well, if you can't sedate him, could you use the healing
trance - or Reinald, could we use magic - to just... remove...
Skinner's memories of the Realm?  Just kind of erase them?"

    Scully looked at her bondmate in mixed exasperation and
amusement.  "Mulder, this isn't Star Trek.  Even if Spock could
remove Captain Kirk's tragic memories, I'm not sure a Healer could.  
And again, I think the ethical issue remains."

    Mulder looked to Reinald, who nodded.  "All right, so much
for Plan B," he said heavily.  "What's our alternative?"

    "Plan C - tell him the truth." replied his bondmate simply.

    "It's a risk, Scully."  He looked around at the stars which
were beginning to wink in the sky, at the twin moons, at the hearth-
lit windows of the cottages nestled in the shadows of the castle
walls.  "And just look at what we'd be risking."

    She sensed her bondmate's love for his adopted home, felt
it as he felt it.  In spite of some of the horrors they had seen here,
the Realm was also the place where they found each other - and true
happiness - for perhaps the first time in their lives.  "I know, Mulder.  
But I don't think Skinner would betray our trust, betray this place
or its beings," she said softly.

    "Healer Corvay used to speak highly of your psi ability, my
dear," observed the Royal Mage.  "Do you think that is what is
telling you that this man can be trusted?"

    Scully smiled. "I honestly don't know, Reinald. I think that
could be a part of it, yes.  Plus the fact that Skinner may be a
hard-ass, but I also think he's a decent, honorable man.  I really
can't believe he would do anything that could trigger a wholesale
invasion of the Realm."

    "I don't either, Scully.  But the Realm isn't ours to risk."

    She frowned.  "Actually, I'm more worried about how Skinner
will take all this psychologically.  He doesn't strike me as the most
imaginative sort of guy, and I know what a hard time I had coming
to terms with all this.  It isn't going to be any easier for him."

    "Oh, he may surprise you, Scully,"  Mulder said, thinking
back to Skinner's confession of his near-death experience in the
jungles of Vietnam.  "I'm not saying it will be easy, but presented
with the facts...."

    Distracted by her own thoughts, she caught few of his.  "If
you say so.  So, that's our plan?  Tell the truth?"  The bondmates
looked to their Realm friends.  They were most at risk - it had to be
their decision.

    "Short of locking him in one of the dungeons, it appears to
be the only choice we have," commented Jourdain sensibly.  "Are
we agreed then?"

    Light spilled out from the open door of the cottage into the
garden as Aldara joined them. "Kyla says to tell you he's beginning
to awaken.  I recognized him, of course.  It's Skinner, isn't it?"

    Mutely, Scully nodded, then brought her friend quickly up to
speed on their discussion.  Although she had expected an argument
from the fiery half-elf, surprisingly Aldara agreed immediately.

    "It seems that you may not have thought of the most
persuasive reason of all for Skinner's being here."  She saw their
puzzled faces and shrugged.  "Perhaps the Goddess has intervened.  
Perhaps your Skinner is meant to be here."  She led the thoughtful,
silent group back into the cottage.

    They stood in a semi-circle around the cot as Skinner stirred.  
The fire in the hearth popped and spat, and his eyes flew open.  He
tensed visibly, as his eyes swept from left to right, then suddenly
focused back on the two who, despite their bizarre garb, seemed
strangely familiar.

    "Mulder? *Scully*?"

    "How are you feeling ,sir?"

    "Feeling?  How am I *feeling*?  Where the hell am I,
Mulder? What the fucking hell is going on?"

    "Uh - if you're up for a little walk, sir, Scully and I can
explain on the way...."

    "On the way to where, exactly?" Then he took a longer look
around him, his expression becoming more and more confused as he
became aware of his surroundings.

    "How long have I been out?" he demanded.

    Scully cleared her throat. "That's a little difficult to tell
here, sir.  Maybe a candlem- ... maybe an hour or so."

    "An hour or so....  That's impossible, Agent Scully!  I
was bleeding when I got here. Bleeding, and there was infection,
too.  These cuts are almost healed now."

    Oh, God, thought Mulder. Here we go. He tried to smile
reassuringly, not at all sure of how well he pulled it off. "It's not
impossible here, sir.  But there's a lot to explain."

    "You bet your ass there is."  Skinner swung his legs off the cot,
clutching the sides as a wave of dizziness washed over him.  Kyla
was at his side in a heartbeat, a surprisingly strong arm supporting
him.  Mulder went to his other side, and together they got him to
his feet.

    Aldara had stayed in the background as much as possible,
but now Scully sought her out.  "Is Lita staying with Daanna?" she
asked quietly.

    The warrior nodded.

    "Look, I don't like to ask, but would you mind running over
and asking Lita if she would set up food and tea - nighttime tea - in
our chamber, and get a room ready for Skinner near to ours?"

    "Of course.... Dana, he's looking at me strangely.  Do you
think he remembers me?"

    Scully looked puzzled for a moment, then her expression
cleared. "Goddess, I doubt it.  Even I had forgotten you'd met him
before.  He saw you only for a minute or two, in bad light in the
basement of Headquarters.  And that was months and months ago.  
Besides, there's nothing to connect you to our world.  I don't think
he'd make the association."  Even as she said it, however, she felt
some misgivings.  Skinner hadn't gotten to where he was just on
his looks.  He had been a field agent at one point, and by all
accounts, an extremely sharp one.

    Aldara looked at her doubtfully, then streaked out into
the night.  The Professor, Reinald and Jourdain had also tactfully
withdrawn. Skinner stood weaving drunkenly between Kyla and
Mulder.

    "It will pass," the Healer said softly.  "Breathe deeply."

    Skinner stared at her blankly, then turned to Mulder. "Do
you speak her language? What did she say?"

    "She said that the dizziness will pass, and that you should
take some deep breaths."

    To Mulder's surprise, Skinner did as he was instructed, and
gradually seemed to get more steady.  "Who is she?"

    "This is Kyla.  She's a... a kind of doctor, sir.  She's the
reason why your wounds are already healing."

    "Uh... would you please give her my thanks?  And then let's
get the hell out of here.  You and Scully have a lot of explaining
to do."

    "Yes, sir." Mulder spoke briefly to Scully and Kyla, carefully
sticking to the New Realm language.  Then, one arm around Skinner's
waist for support, he led him from the cottage.

    The fresh cold air seemed to revive the AD somewhat and soon
he shook off their assistance.  "All right, where are we headed?"

    "Uh, just across here, sir. To the castle."

    There was only a slight hesitation in his step.  "Of course.
The castle, where else?" he said in a dust-dry tone.

    "Sir, I realize this is going to be a little difficult to
comprehend, but - "

    "A *little* difficult? Agent Scully, you can't begin to know
how difficult!"

    "Actually, I think I can, sir.  Left here and up the
staircase."

    The rest of the journey was completed in silence.  As they
approached their chamber, two troll servants came out, followed
by Lita.

    "All set for you, Mage Mulder.  I'm putting your friend in
Queen Shannon's old room, just across the passageway.  Tilfo, get
started on the bed - the finest linens, now!  Blafi, you lay the fire
- a good one, mind, it will be cold in there."  They bustled to do
her bidding.  "Give us a candlemark to get things settled and the
chamber will be ready."

    "Thanks, Lita.  Sorry for the inconvenience."

    "No trouble, Warrior Healer Scully.  My, he's a big one!  
Tall as a Rax, he is!  Leave the tea things where they sit when
you're finished.  I'll be in early to clear up.  I'll lay breakfast in
your chamber, if that's all right, and bring up his bath water when
I bring up yours, Mage Mulder."

    His eyes twinkled.  "That will be fine. Thank you, Lita."

    She nodded, her eyes never leaving Skinner until the door
to his room closed between them.

    "Uh... just in here, sir."

    Mulder pushed open the carved door to their chamber.  
Skinner's eyes swept the room, taking in every detail - the
whitewashed walls and ceiling, the mammoth dark wood beams,
the flickering torchlight and the welcoming hearth.  The bondmates
noticed an additional armchair by the fire.  As usual, Lita had
thought of everything.

    "Sir, why don't you go down by the fire with Mulder and
sit? I'll bring you some food - I'm sure you must be starving."

    Skinner appeared startled when she spoke, but absently nodded
and followed Mulder. Scully cut him several slices of bread and
scooped a generous portion of the savory stew into a bowl.  Then,
placing the items on a tray, she added mugs of tea for the three of
them and brought it to the hearth.  While Skinner ate, she and her
bondmate sipped their tea in silence, debating in mindspeak about
how much he could process at one time about the strange reality
he had entered.

    Finally Skinner leaned back against the cushions, pushing
his bowl away from him.  "All right.  Now does one of you want to
tell me what the fuck is going on?"

    "Yes, sir. What do you want to know?"

    Barely keeping his temper, Skinner gritted out, "For a start,
let's try where the hell we are."

     "We're in the Realm, sir."

    "And where the hell is the Realm?"

    Mulder frowned.  "To be honest, sir, I don't know.  As near
as we can figure it out, it's another dimension - I think.  Scully?  
You were the physics major...."

    "I guess I would call it more a parallel universe, perhaps."

    Skinner's eyes narrowed.  "You're telling me that this place
doesn't exist anywhere on earth?  Where, then?"

    Scully sighed. "We haven't really ever considered the
'wheres' of all this, sir.  It exists, and it's a reality we're
unfamiliar with in our world.  I can't tell you more than that because
I don't know."

    "Why is it you two seems so damn familiar with this place?  
You dress as they do, you speak the language.  How long has this
been going on?"

    "Roughly... almost two years. The equivalent of two years
in our world, at any rate."

    "Agent Mulder, that's ridiculous. In the last two years, I've
been completely aware of your whereabouts.  Even when you've
taken off without or against orders, I've been able to find where you
were eventually.  Shit, I can hardly get you to take a vacation
because you're always working.  You expect me to believe that
you can be in two places at once?  Or have you been cloned?"
he finished acidly.

    Mulder grimaced.  "Not to my knowledge.  I don't know,
perhaps theoretically I have been in two places at once, I'll have
to remember to ask Gunther.  No, it can be explained by the fact
that time moves differently here."  He opened his mouth to continue
and shut it again as he caught Skinner's frankly disbelieving stare.
He wriggled uncomfortably in his chair. "Scully, maybe you'd better
take over."

    "Professor Neumann thinks that time is not a universal
invariant as is commonly believed, but rather like a river of gel,
sometimes speeding up, sometimes slowing down, and sometimes
even flowing backwards.  The first time we were here- "

    "The first time....  How the hell many times have you been
here?"

    "This is our third trip, sir.  Anyway, the first time, it
appeared to us that we were here for seven or eight months, but
when we got back we discovered we had only been gone a couple
of days.  Our second trip was longer, over a season-cycle - a year,
sir - but in our world only a week or so had passed.  So time isn't
constant."

    "Do you honestly expect me to buy any of this, Agent
Scully?"  He shook his head.  "I'm used to off-the-wall crap from
your partner.  I could understand it if he believed all this.  What
stuns me is that *you* seem to."

    Scully leaned forward in her chair and looked at him
directly.  "Sir, you know me.  Believe me, I had a terrible time
adjusting to the concepts of this reality.  I thought I was going
crazy, or had been drugged....  Nothing would have convinced me
of the reality of the Realm other than pure, hard evidence.  But we
are here and this *is* real."

    Skinner looked from one agent to the other, obviously upset. He
sighed and rubbed his face with a slightly shaking hand.  "All right.
Say - for the moment - I accept that what you've told me is the gospel
truth.  How did we get here?"

    "The vortex," explained Mulder. "See if this sounds familiar.
Just before everything went crazy, you felt a wind which increased
and swirled around you.  There was a smell in the air - sharp, acrid.  
The wind picked up further until you felt like you were standing in
the center of a tornado.  There was a bright light and a sensation
like you were falling.  Am I close?"

    Warily, Skinner nodded. "Close enough. You're saying that
this... thing... transported me here?"

    "Yes, sir.  Somehow it seems to open a portal to this
reality.  Well, not just this reality, there's others.  One other that
we know about for sure, but potentially an infinite number more."

    "I suppose you've been to this other reality too," he
responded sourly.

    "No, sir.  That would have been most inadvisable.  We did,
however, encounter some of the beings from that reality. Not a nice
bunch."

    Skinner growled, "Okay - let's cut to the chase here. Scully,
can we get back?"

    "Of course, sir.  Just not at the moment."

    "And may I ask why not?" he asked with exaggerated patience.

    "Because of the time factor.  Professor Neumann says that
there's a temporary backwash in the gelflow of time.  It makes the
calculations necessary to create a vortex extremely difficult,
assuming you want to arrive back in the same time and place."

    His eyes widened.  "You mean to tell me this vortex was
created?  It's not some sort of natural anomaly?"

    "No, it was created. Well, theoretically I guess the original
one was a little of both, but we've learned how to create them. The
one that brought Mulder and me here was created."

    Mulder added, "The one that brought you here, on the other
hand, was accidental - a glitch. Believe me, it was never intended to
bring you here.  Your presence creates certain... complications."

    Skinner sat and considered what he had been told so far.  
"The... people here...." he began.

    Scully smiled.  "..are not all human, no.  Some are, but
the other major types of beings are elves, trolls and gargoyles.  
They're all intelligent, and have their own highly developed
languages and cultures. For the most part they co-exist pretty
peacefully.  I don't know if you've seen a gargoyle yet, but you
will tomorrow."

    "I'll be waiting with bated breath.... That little woman you
were talking to outside this room...."
    
    "That's Lita, our servant. She's an elf. Pitir, who brought
you here, is a troll."

    Skinner shook his head again.

    "One thing you absolutely must know, sir," Mulder said
seriously.  "Most of the beings in this place have no idea where we
come from.  They're very simple, and such knowledge would frighten
them. The people you saw tonight are fine - they're all aware of our
origins.  But very few others.  You're going to have to be extremely
careful not to let anything slip."

    "Seeing as at present I can't communicate with them at all,"
 Skinner replied dryly, "I don't think that will be a problem."

    Mulder nodded.  One of the first things he and Scully had
debated on their way to the room was whether he should cast a
language spell for Skinner immediately.  With some irony, they
arrived at the same conclusion Reinald had so long ago - that it
was safer for now to limit communication.  To withhold letting
Skinner communicate openly until he had a little more opportunity
to come to terms with the strange reality in which he had been
thrust.  He needed time to absorb what they had told him so far,
and what they were to tell him later, such as Mulder's Mage
ability.  "Well, we'll take care of the communication problem
soon, possibly even tomorrow.  There's a few more things you'll
need to know first, but I don't want to overwhelm you with too much
tonight."

    "Too late."  Skinner leaned his head back against the
softness of the cushions and closed his eyelids.

    "... sir?  Sir?"

    His head snapped up.

    "Sir, you fell asleep.  Look, everything else can wait for
morning.  Your room should be ready by now.  We'll bring you
over there so you can get to bed."

    Sighing, he forced himself up from the chair and accepted
Mulder's offer of an arm to guide him. Crossing the drafty hall, the
little group entered Skinner's chamber. Scully pulled the bedcurtains
and covers back on the bed while Mulder rooted around in the
armoire that was a twin to theirs for some shorts his boss could
wear to bed.  He pushed them into Skinner's hands.

    "Head?"

    Mulder smiled and pointed to an inconspicuous doorway in
the near wall.  "It's kind of exotic, but I think you'll get the idea."

    "Agent Scully, thank you. That will be all," he said
dismissively.

    "Yes, sir, sleep well.  See you in a few minutes, Mulder."

    Skinner looked quizzically at Scully's retreating form and then
at her partner.  But if he were on the verge of asking a question, he
didn't pursue it.  He went into the lavatory and closed the door.

    Minutes later, he emerged clad in shorts and smelling of his
own unique fragrance accentuated by the washwater.  Asleep on his
feet, he stumbled as his toes caught in the thick carpeting. Mulder
half-carried him the rest of the way to the high bed and assisted him
into it.

    "Sorry... tired all of a sudden....."

    "That's all right, sir.  When you wake up, come on over
across the hall - Lita will have breakfast set up in there. We'll talk
more in the morning, and - "  A soft snore cut him off.

    Mulder smiled.  "Welcome to the Realm," he murmured, and
left to join his bondmate.

End of Chapter Six


Chapter Seven



    I dreamed I was in a cocoon - snug, comfortable, enveloped
in silky whiteness.  I resisted surfacing into wakefulness, but
nonetheless found myself yawning and stretching.  When I finally
opened my eyes, I wondered if I were still dreaming.  White silken
curtains surrounded me, the light pouring through them like melted
butter. Then it hit me - where I was, Mulder and Scully's
extraordinary story of the night before....  Now that my mind was
clearer, I could start to process what they had said.  A few minutes
of that and I realized that my mind being clearer didn't help all that
much.

    I think the thing that disturbed me even more than their
fantastic claims was the fact that something in me wanted to
believe them.  As bizarre, as completely antithetical as all this was
to the person I always thought myself to be, I found myself wanting to
believe it.  Indeed, a part of me had on some level actually accepted
all of it - where I was, how I got here...  and accepted it with a
calmness that was so alien to me, so disconcerting....  The really
frightening thing was that I was sure it was just the tip of the
iceberg, that even more preposterous revelations were to come.

    My stomach rumbled, and I vaguely recalled Mulder saying
something about breakfast in his room.  Bracing myself for what the
day might bring, I slid out of bed, forgetting how high the damn
mattress was and promptly twisting my ankle as I hit the floor.
Muttering a curse, I limped over to the table. Something was lying on
it that looked like a piece of parchment with some strange figures
squiggled on it. Probably a note, left by a helpful servant. It would
have been infinitely more helpful if I had been able to decipher it.  
The fire had long since died out, so the room was chilly.  My nipples
tightened and gooseflesh stippled my skin. A robe, thick and soft as
cashmere, had been left over a chair near the note.  I wrapped it
around me, did what I had to do in what passed for a bathroom here,
and limped over to Mulder's room across the passageway.

    I knocked and was answered by a muffled 'Just a minute!'.  
Mulder and Scully, trying to make themselves presentable, no
doubt.  Shit, I had figured out that they were sleeping together, had
suspected it for a long time.  I appreciated their discretion, at least
when they were back in the Real World.  Here, I really didn't give a
crap.  I shifted my bare feet on the icy stones of the floor.  This
place obviously had yet to be introduced to the concept of slippers.
Killing time, I inspected the carvings on the door to their room,
evidently something from one of the legends here. Something about
a man and a woman and monsters.

    Mulder, clad as I was, finally answered the door. "Good
morning, sir.  Sleep well?"  He pulled the door back to admit me.

    "Extremely well, thanks."  Scully was already seated at the
big wooden table which was spread with food of all shapes, colors and
consistencies. Her cheeks were flushed and she was trying so painfully
hard to be nonchallant that I wondered what I had interrupted.

    "You're limping," Mulder commented.  "Forget how far it was
to the floor this morning?"

    "Something like that."

    "Come sit down, sir, and I'll explain what all this stuff is,"  
offered Scully.

    I joined them at the table and she and Mulder went over what
each of the dishes was and what it tasted like.  The elven porridge
was a happy surprise, the breads were wonderful - better than my
mother's, although I'd never have had the balls to tell her - and a
couple of the fruits I decided must be acquired tastes.  I took a sip
of tea and glanced up to see their eyes on me.  "What?  Have you
slipped me a mickey or something?" I asked, only half-kidding.

    'Just wait' was the only reply I got.  Suddenly I sensed a
warm rush and felt like I wanted to find that damned wildcat and
fight him all over again.  Or chop down a forestful of trees. "Jesus
Christ, what the hell is this stuff?"

    "Daytime tea," grinned Mulder.  "Great, isn't it?"

    "Should be a control drug.  So I should assume what I had
last night was nighttime tea, and that it has the opposite effect?  
Because it knocked me on my ass and I slept better than I have in
years."

    "That's right.  Tea is a way of life here.  Picks you up,
knocks you down, heals...," Scully said.  "And Realm Etiquette Rule
Number One - no discussions until tea is served."

    "I'll remember that.  Although presently my ability to hold
discussions is somewhat limited."  I stared at them pointedly.

    Mulder nodded. "We'll get to that, I promise you.  There's
more that you need to know first.  So what have you been up to since
you arrived?  Scully said it looked like you had been attacked."

    "I ran into some trouble a while after I landed."  I guessed
'landed' was as good a word as any.  "Some kind of wildcat that
looked like a saber-toothed tiger.  I managed to kill it, although
I'm still not sure how I did it.  I don't know exactly when it all
happened. I was pretty disoriented at the time.  The fact that my
watch seems to have gotten broken didn't help."

    "Don't throw it away yet.  Watches don't work here.  Time
is... relative, I guess,"  Mulder observed, shrugging.  "And watches
don't take kindly to trips through the vortex. The beings here aren't
bothered much about time the way we are.  Their way of measuring
it is, to us, perhaps primitive, but it doesn't appear to hamper
them.  Things still get done.  In fact, it makes things more
relaxing."

    "Once you get used to it, maybe," I countered.

    "Yeah, it takes some getting used to," agreed Scully. "But
is it any different than if you were at your cabin?"

    She had a point.  Things up there were done when they had
to be, or when I felt like doing them, not when some timepiece
dictated it.  "Good point. I guess not, Agent Scully."

    "Uh... okay. That's another thing. As far as beings in this
place are concerned, 'Agent' has no meaning. Since titles are
extremely important here, it might confuse or upset the beings to hear
that one used.  The etiquette is quite precise and rigidly adhered to.
So for now, just drop the 'Agent'."

    "You have other titles, then?"  I watched as their eyes
connected and they were silent for maybe thirty seconds.  If I didn't
know better, I would have sworn they were communicating through
the stares levelled at one another.

    "Yes, we do have titles, but we'll get into that a bit later,"
Scully said finally.  "But we can't keep calling you 'sir', either. It
would attract attention.  What do you want us to call you?"

    I shrugged.  "Skinner, Walter....  It doesn't matter."

    Mulder's eyes were lit with mischief.  "How about Sergei?"

    Sergei. My despised middle name. Shit, Walter was bad
enough, but with a middle name like Sergei, my parents had left me
with no alternative.  In the schoolyard I had heard "Sir Gay, Sir Gay"
until I had fought every kid unwise enough to use it.  That name
alone had prompted an especially thorough background check when
I applied to the Bureau.  How the fuck had Mulder found out my
middle name was Sergei?  I smiled at him coldly.  "I don't think so
- Fox."

    His grin was relaxed and good-humored.  "So I guess that
means Wally is out, too?"

    "You know, Mulder, we're going to be leaving here eventually
and going back to the Real World, and you'll still be under my
command.  Unless you want to spend the rest of your working life
on wiretap detail - "

    "Point taken - Walter."

    I nodded curtly as my mind set up all sorts of scenarios,
each one more terrifying than the last, of dealing with Mulder after
all this was over.  He was difficult before.  Once we got back....  
I really didn't want to think about it.  "All right, now how are we
going to handle this communication thing?  Because I'm not too happy
about being left in the dark."

    "There is a way... " Mulder admitted slowly.  "But you need
to understand how important it is that, outside of a few beings we'll
tell you about, you don't do or say anything that will blow your
cover."

    "Which is?"

    He shrugged.  "Very nearly the truth.  That you come from a
faraway land, with different language, dress, customs.  But nothing
about the vortex, or alternate realities or anything like that."

    "I think I can manage that,"  I said dryly.  "I have worked
undercover in my time, you know."

    "We knew that... Walter," Scully replied, using my first
name hesistantly.

    I wondered how much they knew about me.  The tables had
been turned.  I thought I had the advantage of knowing more about
the agents under my command than they did me.  The evidence was
mounting that I had been living in a fool's paradise. "Okay, so how
am I going to communicate with these people?"

    "Beings,"  Mulder corrected.  "Humans are people, but the
others are beings, and could take offence at being called people.  
Nobody seems to object to 'beings'."  He sighed, and looked me
straight in the eyes.  "The fastest and easiest way to compensate for
your not knowing the language is unique to this place.  A language
spell can be cast so that you can understand what is said or written
and others can understand you."

    I was silent for a couple of beats and then smiled, thinking I
had misunderstood.  "Sorry.  I thought you said that someone was
going to cast a spell on me."

    "Yes, that's right."

    In seconds, the acid in my stomach was being cranked out
double-time and my head was pounding like someone was using a
jackhammer on it.  "You know, Agent Mulder, I think so far I've taken
all this pretty fucking well, under the circumstances.  But there's a
limit, and I think you just stepped over it!"

    "Sir, we knew you'd feel this way," said Scully soothingly.  
"That's why we didn't tell you last night.  This is one of the things
I had the hardest time coming to terms with, and I knew you would
as well.  But the fact of the matter is, magic exists here.  Magic,
and other powers that are either unknown in our world, or
acknowledged by only a tiny minority."

    "The lunatic fringe, no doubt.  Mulder's buddies."

    "And you might as well hear this now, sir, because it only
gets worse.  You know those titles we were talking about?  They're
determined by occupation.  And your occupation is determined by
the color and quality of your aura."

    "What the hell is this?  Some sort of a New Age Club Med?"
I stood up.  "All right, I  think I've heard just about enough."

    "With all due respect, sir, not yet, you haven't," she said
firmly.  "Sit down, because your being here depends on your being
able to accept this."
    
    My brows shot up in shock. I had always realized Scully was
a formidable agent and an extremely strong person, but now she was
reading *me* the riot act as if she had been doing it all her life.  
I sat down in stunned silence.

    In a gentler tone she continued. "You're going to see things
here that your mind is going to tell you can't be happening.  The
only advice I can give you is to just accept it all.  Don't question
it, don't try to think of it in terms of our world, because the same
rules just don't apply.  If you can't accept it, not only is your
sanity at risk, but you present a very real danger to this place."

    She stopped, I guess to let me process what she had said.  
I tried to put my brain on hold and find that part of me that had
been so calm earlier. I don't know if I found it or it found me, but I
grabbed onto it like a drunk grips a whiskey bottle.  I felt my racing
pulse slow and the pounding in my head diminish as I concentrated
on that serenity, holding it, almost caressing it.  I can't say how
long I was in that state, but when I opened my eyes, Mulder and
Scully were looking from me and back to one another in that weird
way they sometimes do that makes me think something's going on
between them.

    "Sir, are you all right?"
    
    I look a breath and let it out shakily.  "For the moment.  I
think you were speaking about auras."

    Scully's glance at Mulder was puzzled, but she continued.  
"Yes, sir....  Now, our first trip to the Realm....  She hesitated and
looked to her partner for help.    

    "We were identified by our auras, sir. Through another being.  
Our auras are distinctive enough that apparently it was noticed that
they fit an old prophecy.  We were brought through to the Realm
because it was thought, on the basis of our auras, that we could
help them clear up a problem they were having at the time."

    It struck me that quite a lot of editing was being done on
what he said, but I didn't take issue for the moment.  "I'm at the
edge of my seat, Mulder,"  I said with gentle sarcasm.  "Bottom line?  
I'm assuming you're going to tell me something incredible about these
auras of yours...."

    He nodded slowly.  "Scully's aura - well, it's not that much
different than what you'd expect.  Her aura is bright green, which
in this world indicates a warrior, but it's edged with the Healer's
brown.  As I said, not really much different than her being an MD
in the FBI, although in this world, that particular combination is
unique."

    I looked at Scully and nodded.  "Okay," I said carefully.  
"That much makes sense, I guess."  I turned back to Mulder.  "But
why is it I get the feeling I'm not going to like what you say next?"

    "ESP?" he joked weakly.

    I just stared at him and he became deadly serious.  There
was something else too, something more difficult to put my finger
on. Something in his attitude, in the way he held himself - an air
of authority, of position, of wearing the mantle of the kind of
responsibility that comes with exalted status.

    "In this world, I am Mage," he said simply.

    I blinked at the unfamiliar word.  "Mage - like in magic?"

    He nodded.

    "Not only a Mage," added Scully with a hint of pride, "but
one of the most powerful Mages this world has ever known."

    I went diving back into myself to look for that serenity
again, clutching onto it like Linus and his security blanket.  Again,
I don't know how long I was in there, but at least I wasn't
hyperventilating any longer when my conscious self rejoined Mulder
and Scully.

    "I know this is hard, sir," Scully said kindly, patting my
arm.

    Absently, I nodded.  Oh yeah.  You could say that.

    "Perhaps a little demonstration?"  Mulder suggested.  He
rose from the table and began walking slowly to the end of the room.
I heard a crackling noise, like the sparks from one of those Van der
Graaf generators.  "Wanna shoot some hoops?" he asked
conversationally.

    He turned around suddenly.  In his hand was a basketball-
sized sphere of blue flame.  He closed his eyes for a second and the
sphere started spinning.

    Without being conscious of it, I slowly got to my feet, my
eyes fixed on the fireball, now balanced adroitly on the tip of
Mulder's extended index finger.  Serenity, don't fail me now, I
thought.

    "Sir, you're looking rather pale.  Here, you'd better sit
down."  Scully guided me into my chair.  "I ask permission to enter
your mind as a Healer, sir.  I'd like to help you with what you're
feeling right now."

    I guess I must have nodded, because all at once, she was
just - there.  In me.  It was the oddest sensation.  A feeling of
coolness, of calm. A scent, like autumn - crisp, clean, a touch of
flowers and ripe apples... wonderful.  My muscles relaxing gradually,
starting at my neck and working down, like I was having the best
massage of my life.  Even the throbbing in my ankle was fading,
going, going... gone....  Some indeterminate amount of time later,
I sensed her very gently disengaging herself, and I was on my own,
just... being.  I hadn't felt this good, this relaxed, this peaceful
since my near-death experience in Nam.  I wanted it to go on
forever.

    Slowly I opened my eyes, glad to find in doing so that the
feeling remained.  Their eyes were on me, looking concerned, anxious.  
The fireball was gone.  No one said anything for quite some time.

    "I- I'm...." Suddenly my throat tightened and tears came to
my eyes.  Shit, where was this coming from? I closed them again
quickly, but not quickly enough to prevent a solitary drop from
trickling down my face.  A hand - Mulder's, I think - gently wiped
it away.  "This is.. a little... overwhelming.  Just... give me a
minute."  I heard the sound of chairs scraping on the stone floor
and moments later the click of the door closing as they gave me
some space.

    It was almost funny.  Sharon used to bitch at me for being
too tightly wrapped.  Well, if she could only see me now - the
wrappings were coming off with a vengeance.  Alone now, I made
no effort to try to stop the tears that had been welling up since...
I don't know, childhood, maybe.  And the weirdest thing was, that
even as I sat, my head cradled in my arms and the sobs tearing
from my throat, I knew that they weren't tears of pain.  It was
deeper than that, more elemental.  It wasn't about pain at all.  It
was about letting go.  It was about gratitude, and yearning.  It was
about something bigger than the individual; it was about connection,
and oneness, and trust.

    Gradually the tears stopped.  I looked around for some
tissues, which of course didn't exist in the Realm, so I used a napkin
to make myself presentable.  I know I should have been embarrassed -  
shit, the old me would have been mortified.  But oddly enough, there
was something... something in me....  Christ, it's so hard to put it
into words.  It was like all the calm, all the serenity had come to
the forefront, having fought their way up through years of repression
and isolation to finally take pre-eminence.

    Either that, or I was certifiably nuts.

    Go with it, Walter.  If it feels good, do it.

    I was calm and back together when Mulder and Scully
returned to the room.  Before I could open my mouth to apologize -
I  thought they may have been embarrassed by my little display -
Scully murmured, "It's all right, Walter.  It can hit you like that.  I
know it did me - like a ton of bricks. If it hadn't been for Mulder, I
swear I would have gone crazy.  Are you all right now, sir?"

    Still avoiding looking at them, I smiled, a little self-
conscious. "Actually, I don't think I've ever felt better. Thanks."
I didn't say what for.  I didn't think that I could say it, not in
words, anyway.  Nor did I think I needed to.

    Mulder nodded. "It's a lot to deal with. I've always been
open-minded, ready to believe in extreme possibilities.  Sometimes
too much so.  It didn't hit me so hard.  But even I had my moments,
believe it or not.  All right. Ready to go on?"

    There was a wealth of meaning in those four simple words.  
What he was really asking was, was I ready to believe everything
else this world had in store?  Could I manage to accept all the
mysteries around me, and not lose my mind in the process?  Was I
willing to trust that much?  I nodded and finally met his eyes.  I
squinted, then blinked rapidly, wondering what the hell was wrong.

    "Walter? What's the matter?"

    "Sorry, it's my eyes.  My glasses got broken, but I can
see a lot better than I expected to be able to.  At least I thought so,
but....  You look a little... blue... all around you."

    His worried look cleared and he chuckled. "Evidently you're
sensitive to auras.  Think of what fun you'll be at parties now! Yes,
my aura is blue, and that's what you're seeing.  Not everyone can
see them, even here.  Go on, look at Scully - can you see hers?"

    I turned and squinted at her.  "Yeah - well, the green part
anyway.  The brown's not too clear."

    "This is great!" he said gleefully.  "That should help you
accept the whole idea little easier.  It's got to be easier to accept
the evidence of your own eyes.  We'll tell you what the colors
represent.  That'll help you to avoid social gaffes, although you
wouldn't be expected to be a true adept at it.  Humans rarely are."

    "And the adepts would be...?"

    "Elves, mostly," replied Scully.

    I shook my head wonderingly.  "Elves...."

    "Ready for your crash course in New Realm?" asked Mulder.  
Although his tone was light and bantering, I could see the care and
concern in his expression. His anxiety that all this wouldn't send me
to the local equivalent of the looney bin.  It was a side to Mulder that
I had always thought was reserved for a very select few....  Surely
Scully, maybe his mother.  Seeing it there for me touched me deeply.  
I had never given either of them that much reason to like me.  Hell, I
was their boss, not their buddy.  To keep them in line even to the
limited extent I was able to meant that I had to try to keep my
personal feelings to a minimum. And I had certainly, for one reason
or another, had to make decisions that were unpopular with them,
to say the least.  To find myself admitted to their inner circle left
me unaccountably shaken and grateful.

    Then it struck me suddenly the trust that they were both
showing in me, gifting me with the power of speech in this strange
place they so obviously loved.  I, whom they had no particular
reason to trust, who had the power to possibly destroy this world
and their positions in it.  My God, they were handing me the keys
to the Kingdom.  My eyes began to burn again, but this time I forced
the tears back and cleared my throat.  "I... I think so, yes.  What
do I have to do?"

    "Nothing.  Just sit there. I'll do the work."  He brought
over a thick old book and set it on the table.  He thumbed through
it, settling on a page filled with tiny squiggles and beautiful
illuminations. Stepping back from the table a bit, he closed his
eyes for a moment, then opened them and began chanting in some
strange language - different, I thought, from what I had heard thus
far.  His eyes on the book, his arms raised in supplication, he looked
for all the world like a priest saying Mass.  Except for the sparks
dancing over his head, that is.  At first glance it all appeared
effortless, but by the slight tremors of his hands and the fierce look
of concentration on his face, I knew it wasn't.  After several
minutes, the chant wound to a close and tiredly, he dropped his
arms.

    "I'm a bit out of practice," he admitted.

    I had already assumed as much.  "Mulder, I hate to break it
to you, but nothing happened."

    He just smiled.  

    There was a quick knock and Lita appeared in the room.  
"Finished with your spell now, Mage Mulder?  Ach, but it gives me a
headache!"

    "Sorry, Lita.  I guess it's about time for introductions.  Lita,
this is Walter.  Or you may call him Skinner, take your pick.  Walter
is from my world, so keep it quiet, okay?"

    She nodded.  "Can he- "

    "Yes, I just finished casting the language spell."

    It beat me how the elf had learned English, but I wasn't
going to ask.  At least Mulder's conversation with her had put me
at ease, knowing that I wouldn't have to bluff my way around my
origins with the first person - er, being - that I had officially met.  
"I'm pleased to meet you,  Lita.  Your English is excellent."

    She peered at me as if I were nuts and Scully chuckled.
"You're speaking New Realm, Walter.  So is she and so am I, at the
moment."

    "But - but it sounds like everyone's speaking English!"

    "Oh, some people do here," interjected her partner. "Gunther,
the king and queen. All of whom are on the approved list, by the way.  
But you're experiencing the language spell."

    Jesus, Berlitz would kill to have this. All he would need is
a magic Mulder.  God, what was I saying?  "Very effective," I said
shakily.

    "Well, you'll find that idiomatic expressions in either
language don't translate very well - if at all.  But we'll help you if
you get stuck."

    "Is that how you're able to speak it - a language spell?"

    "No, Scully and I eventually got pissed off at the things it
didn't translate, and as we've spent considerable time here, we
were able to learn the language the old-fashioned away."

    All business, Lita cut in.  "Mage Mulder, I've brought up
your water and Tilfo will see to preparing your bath.  My duties are
with Warrior Priest Skinner this morning."

    There was dead silence in the room.

    She looked up at Mulder, astonished.  "Surely you saw it,
Mage!  His aura - golden, with a wide border of green.  But I can
understand that you might not believe your eyes.  This is amazing,
absolutely unique! Reinald and the king will have to know of this."

    Mulder nodded, gazing at me with fascination. "It just
didn't register before, but now that you've pointed it out, it's
unmistakeable.  Well, Walter, it looks like you have your title now.  
Lita's an adept.  She's never wrong about auras."

    A smug smile on her gamine face, the little elf sniffed
appreciatively.

    Speaking personally, I was less impressed.  Warrior Priest?  
I mean, the Warrior part made sense - I had been a soldier and now
had a career in law enforcement.  But priest?  Shit, except for the
funerals of fallen agents, I hadn't been inside a church in, what - a
good ten years.  And the last time I checked in, Presbyterians
didn't have priests.  Maybe Lita was having an off day.

    "Warrior Priest Skinner, your bath water is ready.  If you
would please follow me...."

    Mulder glanced at his partner, and there was mischief in his
eyes again.  For some reason, he seemed to be having a hard time
keeping a straight face.  "You'd better go with her, Walter. Around
here, we all take our orders from her."

    I nodded warily. "I'll be back when I'm dressed. And thank
you, for...."  I trailed off.

    "No need for thanks, Walter," Scully said soberly.  One look
at Mulder, however, and she was having the same problem as he was.  
She did everything but clap her hand over her mouth like a
kindergartner to keep from laughing.

    I nodded again and followed Lita out the door. It hadn't quite
closed behind us when the two agents erupted into laughter.  Okay...
forewarned was forearmed.

    Once in my room, Lita indicated the large copper tub near
the now-roaring fire.  "One of my duties is to assist you to bathe,"
she said resolutely, her arms crossed in front of her. Evidently she
was expecting an argument.  Suddenly, Mulder's amusement made
sense.  He knew what was going to happen. From his reaction and
Lita's, he had evidently found the concept of assisted bathing
uncomfortable.  Across the hall, they were probably waiting for the
yelling to start at any time.  I chuckled to myself. Two could play
at that game.  While I was in Japan on R&R  from Nam, I had had
the same reaction myself.  Shit, what did I know, I was just a kid.  
But it hadn't taken me long to get to like the idea - like it a lot,
as a matter of fact.

    Lita was watching me, ready for the same reaction Mulder
was, I guess, though with considerably less amusement.  Smiling
brightly at her, I shrugged off my robe and slid my shorts down over
my hips, kicking them away.  "Well, let's get started then!"

    She looked relieved.


End of Chapter Seven


Chapter Eight

    Lita beamed approvingly from the doorway as I knocked once
again on the carved door to Mulder and Scully's chamber.  She might
have been happy, but I felt like a damned idiot, dressed up for some
bad Little Theater production of "The Three Musketeers".  Thank God
they didn't seem to sport large plumed hats here.  I wore a loose
white shirt, belted at the waist, with voluminous sleeves - the kind I
usually associated with some of the wimpier Romantic poets -  forest
green suede breeches tight enough to be embarrassing, and high
black leather boots.  As if all that weren't enough, Lita had insisted
on fastening a lightweight wool cloak in white at my throat, even
standing on the table to accomplish the task.  She kept apologizing
that she hadn't had time to edge it in green.  Like I cared.

    Scully swung back the door, her eyes widening as she saw me.
"Walter, you look magnificent!"

    "Damn fool get-up," I growled back sourly.

    Mulder grinned.  He was just fastening his own cloak, a
floor-length affair in deep blue.  I had been too out of it the night
before to take much notice of what they were wearing, other than
that it was strange, unexpected.  But somehow, the outfit really
suited him very well.  I turned back to Scully, surprised that she
too was wearing a shirt over tight leather pants.  I guess I just
always associated her with those little tailored suits she seemed to
favor at the Bureau.  In her Realm clothes, she managed to look both
extremely feminine and very dangerous, with a sharp little dirk
tucked into her belt and a lethal-looking sword slung down her back.

    "Are you ready?" inquired Mulder.

    "I guess I'd better play it safe and ask 'Ready for what?' "

    "Ready to meet the Realm.  You can't hide in here forever,"
he explained reasonably. "Besides, what Lita said was true.  You'll
have to meet with Reinald and King Andalor. Since it's still pretty
early, we'll go see Reinald first."  He held the door open for Scully
and me, and we started up the passageway.

    "And who is Reinald, may I ask?"

    "You may.  Reinald is the Royal Mage.  A rather intimidating
sort, until you get to know him.  He was my mentor when we first
arrived here.  Taught me how to control and use my gifts."  Mulder
must have noted my doubtful expression.  "He's an honorable man,
Walter.  A bit on the conservative and rigid side, but I think you'll
like him. You have a lot in common."

    I slid a glance over towards him, to see if he was being his
usual smart-ass self, but his expression was bland.

    "I think just about anyone we meet in Reinald's quarters
will probably be fully aware of our... peculiarities,"  he continued.  
"All except Lishla, his new apprentice.  But better keep an eye on
Scully and me.  We'll give you the high sign if you need to be
discreet."

    I nodded, turning when they did in the labyrinthine, tapestry-
hung hallways.  At length we came to an imposing door.  Mulder's
rap was answered in moments. The door swung open to reveal - Jesus! -
some sort of creature. Small and gray, with big ears, a flat nose
and the goddamnedest set of sharp pointed teeth I had ever seen
in anything walking upright.

    "Tarnor!" Scully exclaimed excitedly.

    As Mulder and Scully indulged in an orgy of embraces with
the thing, I had time to collect my wits.  This must be the gargoyle
they had spoken of.  They might have given me a little more warning
about his appearance....

    "Tarnor, this is a friend."  Mulder ducked his head inside
the chamber and must have found the coast clear.  "This is Walter
Skinner, our boss in our world.  He's here by accident. Walter,
Tarnor is a Mage - and a fairly decent attorney as well."

    The creature looked at me appraisingly.  I would have been
more nervous, but my mind had seized on something.  After Lita's
incessant babble during my bath, I was finding that I could discern
the difference between English and New Realm, mostly by its... I
don't know, maybe 'flavor' comes closest. Now when Mulder said
'boss', he said it in English, yet the creature seemed to understand.
But why should it have understood English?  What the hell was going
on? The answer was not long in coming....

    "Hoow doo yiooo doo?" it - he - said, still baring his teeth
in what I assumed was supposed to be a smile.  God, the thing *did*
speak English. But how the hell -

    Scully sidled up to me. "Walter, you're staring!" she whispered.

    I snapped out of it, not without a certain amount of difficulty.  
"Uh... I'm pleased to meet you, Mage Tarnor."

    He nodded happily and stood aside to let us enter. The
chamber was enormous, but heavy draperies at the tall windows in
the opposite wall blocked much of the light, making it difficult to
see details.  As I strolled around, the clutter was more apparent,
with all manner of scrolls and books and bottles and jars and animal-
skin bags of God-knew-what scattered around. From under the door
at the end of the room to my right an eerie blue light flickered.

    "Reinald is just finishing up a lesson with his apprentice,"
Tarnor explained.  For some reason it was comforting to hear him
speaking in New Realm.  He scurried to the hearth to start making
tea.  Mulder and Scully made small talk with him while I walked
around the room, examining the strange objects.  I noted that the
books were written in some language even now undecipherable....

    "That's Old Realm," said a voice in my ear.  I looked over to
see Mulder lurking protectively by my side.  Scully was still chatting
away with the gargoyle, looking more animated than I had ever seen
her in our world.  Jesus, what had I gotten myself into - a gargoyle,
for Christ's sake....  "You can't read it because Old Realm is very
different from New Realm. Fortunately it isn't used much - just for
rituals, ceremonies... and of course, magic spells."

    I nodded as if everything were quite mundane.  I found myself
drawn to a round table in the center of the chamber.  In the middle
of the table was something bulky, shrouded in a blue cloth.  My
fingers itched to removed it, to see what was underneath.  But I
hesitated, partly because I was afraid of breaking some wizard's
taboo, and partly because I thought there might be something under
there I would regret knowing about - the severed head of the last poor
bastard to find himself here accidentally perhaps....

    Mulder smiled, his long fingers reaching out to remove the
cloth.

    Frankly, I was disappointed.  "A crystal ball?  Isn't that a bit...
trite?"

    He chuckled.  "It's called the Oracle Cloud.  Believe me,
AT&T would pay a fortune to get ahold of it.  It's how we stay in
touch."

    "You - you mean people here can communicate with you
through that? In the Real World?"

    "How else would we make our travel plans?" he replied simply.  
He covered the object and led me, stunned, back to the hearth where
Tarnor was pouring tea.  We sat down in the chairs that ringed the
fire.

    "I am very glad to finally meet you, Walter... I may call you
Walter?" he asked earnestly.  I nodded and he chattered on.  I'll give
the little guy one thing - he wasn't much in the looks department, but
he was extremely charming and intelligent.  And even I could see his
blue aura without having to concentrate very much.  Christ, was
everyone a Mage in this damned place?

      "Yes, the Professor has taught me a little English," the
gargoyle was saying.  "You never know when it might be necessary."  
If I hadn't glanced up at that moment, I would have missed the wink he
gave Scully.  A wink, by their reaction, I wasn't meant to see.

    "I wouldn't have thought you would get all that many English-
speaking visitors here," I replied evenly.

    A dark gray flush stained his cheeks.  "No... no, of course.  But
still, you never know...."

    A knock interrupted him and, relieved to put my follow-up
questions at bay, he called out "Come!"

    Through the door entered a remarkably normal-looking elderly
man.  Already I was becoming so accustomed to everything being
weird that the normal stood out in sharp contrast.

    "Ah, Mulder, Scully!  I'm anxious to meet your friend."

    Mulder stood to make the introductions.  "Professor Gunther
Neumann, this is Walter Skinner."

    I shook hands with him, his grasp firm in spite of the gnarled
joints of age.  "Pleased to meet you, Professor Neumann."  My eyes
narrowed as something niggled in my memory.  "Sorry, your name seems
familiar for some reason, Professor.  Should I have heard it before?"

    He looked a little nervously at Mulder and Scully, before
assuming an air of nonchallance. "I really shouldn't think so."  
English again.

    "Tea, Professor?"

    "Please, Tarnor.  Well, Walter, how are you finding the
Realm?"

    "A little unnerving," I admitted, trying to avoid looking at
the gargoyle.  "Obviously you speak English.  How is that?"

    "Well, German is my nat- "  He stopped short, shrugged at
Mulder and Scully and sighed.  "I come from your world, Walter."

    Mulder and Scully were staring at each other again, their
expressions mobile, but no words were exchanged - none that I could
hear, anyway.  I felt like I had suddenly gone deaf, although with the
shocks I had had in the past few days, I don't know that a case of
hysterical deafness wasn't in order.  They seemed to come to some
sort of decision - Mulder gazing questioningly at her and a quick
nod by Scully - then she cleared her throat.

    "Gunther is from our world, Walter.  He came here after our
return from our first journey to the Realm.  I guess you could say we
inspired it.... "

    Lightly, Tarnor protested, "Well, if anyone was the
inspiration, I feel I would have to cla- " He trailed off and clamped
his lips tight.

    My head snapped so quickly in the gargoyle's direction I
could have gotten whiplash.

    He looked a little desperately to Mulder, who shrugged.  "Oh,
Goddess! ...Well, you'll have to know sometime, I suppose,"  Tarnor
sighed.  "Well, you see, I guess I started it all. I dived through the
Vortex to escape those horrible creatures and before I knew it, I
ended up in the Professor's lab, and then Mulder and Scully came,
and I saw their auras and just *knew* that Reinald needed to know
about them, and then -"

    "Wait a minute," I commanded, my head spinning.  "You're
saying you've been to the Real Wo-, I mean, my world?  You're the
being that brought Mulder and Scully here?  How the hell - ?"

    "It's a long story, Walter,"  Scully sighed.  "We were going
to get around to telling you, but - "

    "I know - you didn't want to overwhelm me," I replied dryly.

    Mulder looked as if he were about to launch into a long
explanation, but the door to the other room opened.  Their deep blue
auras preceded the two figures who came out - one a tall, regal-
looking older man with flowing white hair, the other a tiny female
elf.

    "That was excellent, Lishla.  You're making good progress."  
His head turned in our direction, then he focused his attention back
on his apprentice.  "You've earned a break.  Your head is undoubtedly
pounding after all that concentration.  Take a few candlemarks to
rest.  Be back after the midday meal and we'll try it again."

    Saucer-eyed, Lishla was scarcely listening to her mentor.  
"Goddess!  A Warrior Priest?" she blurted.  "But that's impossible!"

    "Evidently not," the Mage said mildly.  "Run along now,
Lishla."

    She bowed to her mentor and puzzled, left the room.

    I found myself standing at his approach.  The Royal Mage had
real presence, a man clearly accustomed to inspiring respect, even
awe.  Mulder came to his feet once more for the introductions.

    Reinald surveyed me coolly.  "I'm happy to meet you, Warrior
Priest Skinner.  Mulder and Scully have told us much about you.  
Please, have a seat.  There are matters of which we must speak."  
He sat in an ornately carved chair that had been conspicuously empty
and accepted a steaming mug from Tarnor, while I tried not to think
what my agents might have told him about me.

    His gaze was nothing if not direct. "You are coming to terms
with being in the Realm?"

    "I'm... getting there," I replied cautiously.

    "Gunther and I offer our sincerest apologies." The Professor
nodded vigorously in agreement.  "What brought you here was in no
way intended, I assure you."

    "I realize that, Royal Mage Reinald. No apology is
necessary."

    "Most gracious of you. Still, your being here presents a
problem for us - two, actually," he began bluntly.  "The first is our
feeling of responsibility for your reaction to all this.  I know that
your world is quite different, and I remember only too well the
difficulties that Mulder and Scully had coping with their discoveries
here.  I would imagine it is no less true for you.  But selfishly, my
primary concern must be for the Realm and its beings.  We must
have your word that your knowledge of the existence of this place
will go no further - no matter what pressures may be brought to
bear in your world."

    My eyes met his implacable stare unwaveringly.  "Other than
the existence of the vortex, I have seen nothing which would require
me to divulge anything of your world," I responded, choosing my
words carefully.  "But the vortex and the possibilities for its use do
present a problem." I leaned forward.  "Understand, Mage Reinald,
I have no wish for harm to come to this place or its pe- ...beings.  
But I have taken an oath, a vow I believe in, that I hold in trust
with my life.  If I think harm could come to my world, to my nation,
I have a duty to prevent it from happening."

    "Walter - "  Mulder began uncomfortably.

    "Stay," Reinald ordered his protege mildly with a wave of his
hand. He turned back to me, looking less at me than around me.  
After several moments of silence, he nodded sagely. "Your aura is
strong and pure, Walter."  He chuckled a little and explained, "If I
can see it, it must be.  We will speak of this again, when it comes
time for you to leave us. But for now I draw comfort from what I see.  
You are a man of honor, and great courage. But I see also a growing
empathy in you."  He nodded again.  "We will speak of this later,
when you have spent more time with us and know us better.  I am sure
that when the time comes, you will make the right decision."

    There was an awkward silence, curtailed by another knock
on the door and the entry of a tall, blue-cloaked man with an aura
as powerful as Mulder's. Shit, now I was becoming an aura expert....

    "Hannu!"  Scully and Mulder were on their feet to greet the
newcomer to our burgeoning group.  After an excited exchange,
they introduced me.

    He was a formidable figure, built a lot like me, though
apparently somewhat older.  There was... there was a lingering touch
of tragedy that clung to him like a cobweb.  I could feel it the moment
I grasped his hand.  But his greeting was pleasant enough and his eyes
sparkled with good humor.  

    "Puleezed too meet yioo," he said.

    Oh God.  Another one?  "You've been to my world too?"  I
choked out.

    He nodded, becoming grave.  "I spent quite a lot of time
there.  In spite of the strangeness, in many ways it was the best
time in my life."

    I swung around to Mulder. "I suppose this was something else
you were going - "

    "We *were* going to tell you, Walter, honest."

    "We'll talk later, Mulder," I said in my best ass-chewing
voice.  "Count on it."

    To my surprise, Hannu laughed  "I don't think I've ever seen
him looking that intimidated, Walter.  Not even in the lovely, evil
face of the Dar- "

    "Later," Mulder assured me, cutting him off.

    I could hardly wait.

    "Actually, I thought I'd find the three of you here," Mage
Hannu continued.  "I bring greetings from Queen Shannon, who is
quite anxious to meet Warrior Priest Skinner."

    "How's she doing this morning?" inquired Scully.

    He shrugged.  "She seems fine. Andalor becomes more worried
as the candlemarks pass, but my daughter is calm and says she feels
well.  I admit to being relieved you are here, however, Scully."

    She smiled reassuredly.  "She'll do well, Hannu, I promise.  
Well, Mulder, want to go see your halla?"

    The word didn't translate.  I waited until we had bid them
goodbye and were on our way to the Royal Suite to ask.  Mulder
practically galloped ahead of us, leaving Scully to define the term.

    As we walked in his wake, I listened to her explanation of
the taabsut-halla relationship. "So how does Mulder come to have
this relationship to the Queen, of all people?"
    
    There was a little hesitation before she answered.  "She
wasn't always the Queen.  Shannon was an orphan whom he took
under his wing. You'll see that she bears a striking resemblance to
his sister Samantha, so I suppose it was only natural.  We just
thought we'd take advantage of Mulder's status here to offer some
protection to her."

    Wait a minute. Mulder's status? Orphan? I frowned. "But Hannu
referred to her as his daughter."  

    "Well, we didn't know that at the time.  Neither did he. And
neither did she, for that matter."  Frustratingly, the conversation
ended as we caught up to Mulder and the door we stood before
swung open to admit us.

    The Royal Suite was about the same size and layout as
Reinald's quarters, but that's where the similarity ended.  This room
was bright, airy, and orderly, with gorgeous tapestries covering the
walls and thick carpets on the stone floor.  A blond kid of no more
than twenty or so and a very pregnant girl about the same age sat by
the fire.

    Scully did the honors this time.

    "I'm delighted to meet you, Your Majesties."  I stood
awkwardly, wondering if I were expected to bow or something.

    Andalor gave me a firm handshake.  In barely accented
English, he replied "Welcome to the Realm. And we're all just friends
here.  When we're not in public, call me Andalor, and you can cool it
with the 'Your Majesty' stuff."  He grinned.    

    Sharply I looked at Mulder.  Smiling, he nodded and I rolled
my eyes.  Clearly, the INS had a bigger problem with illegal
immigration than it could possibly imagine. Was there anyone in this
world who *hadn't* been to mine?  I turned my attention to the lovely
girl.  Scully was right.  I had seen photographs of the young
Samantha.  If the poor kid had ever had the opportunity to grow up,
she would have been a dead ringer for the girl before me.

    "Queen Shannon, this is a pleasure."

    She smiled prettily.  "It's just Shannon.  Have a seat,
Walter. Dorbo has tea ready."

    Tea again. Good as the stuff was, my body was beginning to
crave coffee.  "Great!" I said as enthusiastically as possible, and
took a chair.

    Mulder was crouched next to the girl, holding her hand, his
eyes anxious.  "Feeling okay?" he asked softly.

    "Let's put it this way, Mulder - I'm not making any travel
plans and I don't think you should either.  I think I'm close.  I
feel... different."

    I felt a burst of something very much like panic emanate
from him, gone - or rigidly controlled - a heartbeat later.  Then I
wondered what made me think that. How could I know what Mulder felt?

    "We'll be here, baby," he assured her.

    I was now seeing another side to Mulder - the worried big
brother.  The one he might have been in our world if Samantha hadn't
disappeared without a trace.  If his son-of-a-bitch father hadn't
been up to his ass in whatever filth he was involved in.  What would
have been the result, I wondered.  How would that Mulder have been
different from the haunted, driven man I knew?  I was shaken from my
reverie as a troll servant pushed a cup of tea into my hands.

    We had been chatting amiably for about fifteen minutes when
Healer Kyla came in.  Her plain, monk-like brown robes did nothing
to hide her tall, slim figure.  My heart beat a little faster and, ever
the gentleman, I stood as she approached us.

    "I'm terribly sorry to interrupt, but it's time for Queen
Shannon's healing treatment."  She gazed at me with those remarkable
dark blue eyes. I gulped, and my blood began to pool somewhere south
of my belt.  God, I couldn't remember the last time a woman had had
this much effect on me!  Get a grip, Walter, I told myself angrily.  
She's just a kid, barely older than the King and Queen.  You could be
her father, for Christ's sake!  If nothing else, my self-directed ire
at least prevented my already tight breeches from becoming even
tighter and embarrassing me completely.

    "I would like to see you for a treatment as well, Warrior
Priest Skinner," she continued in her low, musical voice.  "After the
midday meal perhaps?"

    Mutely I nodded, not trusting my voice to speak.

    "I'm going to stay here to work with Kyla," Scully said. "Why
don't you take Walter over to meet our other friends?"  Again they
exchanged stares for a few seconds.  It was starting to get on my
nerves. Something else to bring up to Mulder when we had our chat.

    "Come on, Walter, we know when we're not wanted.  Andalor,
take it easy.  Be good, Shannon."

    Kyla and Scully were helping her into the bedchamber.  "Oh,
yeah. Like I have a choice!" she tossed back over her shoulder.


End of Chapter Eight



Chapter Nine


    "Okay. Where are we headed?" I asked. We were outside on a
clear, crisp autumn-like day, and for once I was thankful for my cloak.

    "We're going to see Jourdain and Aldara. You'll like them,
especially Jourdain. You and he have a lot in common."

    Uh-huh. Mulder had said the same thing about Reinald, and
although I respected the man, I had failed to see many similarities.

    We crossed the cobbled courtyard, our presence drawing the
attention of throngs of street vendors and shoppers. Self-conscious, I
hoped that it was Mulder who was the focus of the stares and
fingerpointing. He seemed oblivious. Maybe he was used to it.

    We turned a corner around the castle to a quieter, more
secluded area. I could smell horses, and guessed that there was a
stable or barn nearby. The clamor of the marketplace gave way to an
irregular metallic clanging. I looked toward Mulder, but he just
smiled. Another turn, and the source of the noise became clear.

    A large bear of a man was swordfighting with a tiny wisp of a
woman. Ferociously, they wielded the enormous blades, sparks glinting
from the metal with every strike. So far the woman was holding her
own, but -

    "Mulder - shouldn't we be doing something to stop this? Shit,
he'll kill her!"

    "You should probably be more worried about him," he said,
amused. He called out, "Jourdain! Aldara!"

    They put their swords down as we approached. "Ah, Mulder!"
replied the big man. "Have you brought your friend for a visit?"

    They were breathing hard and despite the chill in the air, were
covered with a fine sheen of sweat. The guy probably had an inch or
two on me, and at least forty pounds. Thank God he was friendly.

    "Warrior Jourdain, Warrior Aldara, meet Warrior Priest Skinner.
Or just plain Walter," he grinned.

    Jourdain extended his hand and I grasped it briefly. Aldara
followed suit, a twinkle in her eye. "Play nice, Aldara," Mulder
murmured, a smile touching his lips. She grimaced playfully at him
and shook my hand. I wondered what had prompted Mulder's admonition,
but that train of thought was lost in my surprise. For a tiny woman,
she had a grip of iron.

    "Pleased to meet you Jourdain, Aldara." Alarms went off in my
head as I said her name, and my eyes narrowed. "An unusual name,
but I feel as if I've heard it before. Have we met...?"

    She laughed, her black curls bobbing and little lines appearing
at the corners of her bewitching emerald green eyes. "I shouldn't
think so, Walter. I'll get the midday meal started," she said to her
husband. "Mulder, will you join us?"

    "If it's no trouble," he called after her retreating form. "And
if it's safe," he whispered to Jourdain.

    The big man chuckled. "It's an old standby today, not one of
her experiments. In any case, Daanna has done most of the preparation.
I think it's safe." To me, he said, "Walter, since you are a Warrior,
how would you like a little workout before we eat?"

    In truth, I felt like I could use some exercise. Between
Scully's and Kyla's ministrations, most of the ill-effects of the
previous days had evaporated, and I was accustomed to working out
on a daily basis. Still, my experience with swords was limited in the
extreme. "If you'll show me what to do, Jourdain, yeah, I'll go a few
rounds with you."

    He smiled and attached what looked like leather guards to the
blades. "You may use Aldara's for now. Later, I'll select a more
appropriate weapon for you from the armory. Now hold it so...."

    I'm in pretty good shape, but it beat the hell out of me how
that tiny woman managed to lift the damn thing, much less wield it
like it was weightless. I managed to mirror Jourdain's position.
Mulder meanwhile had withdrawn to a seat next to a little girl near
the entrance to the cottage. He looked amused. Gritting my teeth
and determined not to do anything to further his amusement, I
turned back to Jourdain and nodded for him to continue.

    For the next hour or so, Jourdain put me through my paces.
Initially I had problems, mostly because my arms kept getting tangled
in my goddamn cloak. Once he showed me the correct way to fold it
back over my shoulders, I think I did pretty well. I even caught
Mulder with an expression of grudging admiration on his face. Or maybe
it wasn't so grudging, I don't know. But by the time Aldara called us
in to eat, my arms were trembling, my chest was heaving for air, and
rivulets of sweat coursed down my face and poured down my chest and
back. I hoped Lita had another shirt ready.

    It was a pleasant meal. I liked Jourdain immediately. Of everyone I
had met in the Realm thus far, I felt I had the most in common with him.
In fact, I envied him a little. Enemies and friends alike seemed
clearly identifiable in his world. None of the plots within plots and
all political bullshit I had to put up with. I liked Aldara, too.
Still, I sensed the conversation was guarded, each word carefully
considered before it was spoken. Aldara especially was humorously
evasive, and I couldn't shake the feeling I had seen her before. Their
daughter Daanna, a pretty little thing much like her mother, was
curiously quiet. Several times I caught her staring at me with a
pensive expression. The child had some Mage power, evident at the
edges of her aura. I reminded myself to ask Mulder what the larger
orange portion signified.

    As we rose to leave, I was dismayed to find I was already
sore and stiff. Christ, if my muscles hurt this badly so soon after a
workout, I was going to be in rough shape the next morning.

    "Well, what do you think?" asked Mulder as we headed towards
the courtyard.

    "I like Jourdain, quite a bit actually. Simple, strong,
honorable, down to earth. What you see is what you get. Beats the hell
out of Washington."

    Mulder chuckled sympathetically. "Perhaps you're beginning to
understand why Scully and I consider this place a home." His glance at
me was appraising.

    I nodded and slowed the pace, my mind distracted. "Much as I
would love to sit down and have that little chat with you about what's
been edited out of all the conversations I've heard so far, I'm afraid
it will have to be postponed for a while. I have an appointment with
Kyla." I swung my right arm, trying to work the kinks out. "And don't
think you're out of the woods yet, Mulder. We *will* have that talk...
and *soon*. But right now... can you point me in the direction of my
room, and how to get from there to Kyla's place? I'm afraid I really
didn't get my bearings last night."

    "You're going back to your room first?" he asked, surprised.

    In spite of myself, I felt a hot flush on my cheeks. "I...
uh... I just want to clean up a little before I see her."

    "Oh..." About forty seven different things could have been read
into his rendering of the single word. I tried - I don't know how
successfully - to keep my expression blank, my gaze direct. Evidently
he decided to pass on the subject for the moment, because he merely
said, "I'm not surprised you don't remember the way, from the
condition you were in last night." He quickly gave directions back to
my room. "...then retrace your steps, turn left out of the archway
into the courtyard, bear left around the castle, and it's the cottage
behind the herb garden."

    I thanked him and struck out on my own for my room. When I
chanced a single glance back at him, he hadn't moved, and his eyes
were still on me, his expression bemused.

                ~ ~ ~

    I stood in front of the Healer's door for a few moments to
compose myself. I guess unlikely as it seemed, I had more or less
accepted the way medicine in the Realm worked - Scully's little
demonstration that morning had been rather convincing. If Kyla was
about to be crawling around inside my mind and body, I didn't want her
to find anything that would end up embarrassing us both. I had already
almost bailed once on the walk over. I plunged deep into myself to
look for that serenity again. Some moments later, I exhaled and felt
that I was as ready as I'd ever be. I knocked on the door.

    "Come!" she called out. I dipped my head under the low lintel
to enter the simple cottage.

    "My predecessor was an elf," she smiled in explanation. "This
cottage was not really built with humans in mind."

    "Evidently not. Good for business, though. Someone forgets to
duck and you have more to heal."

    She laughed then, a low, throaty sound that set my blood
racing. "I suppose you are right. I never looked at it that way
before. Come sit and get comfortable, Warrior Priest Skinner."

    I sat, but there was no way I could have gotten comfortable.
"Please - call me Walter. All this Warrior stuff is rather new to m- "
I broke off suddenly, not sure if Kyla were on the 'approved list' or
not.

    Again she smiled. "It's all right Walter. I know of your
origins. The nature of my work being what it is, it would be quite
difficult to keep such a secret. Humans from your world are slightly
different - the... fizz-ee-oh-loh-gee, I think Scully calls it. As for
the rest... well, Healers don't go prying and searching out secrets,
but inevitably in the course of a healing, some things become known."
She turned to the hearth and began ladling something into a cup.

    "Oh, shit," I murmured under my breath. Secrets become known,
huh? Great work, Walter... just your luck to develop decidedly
forbidden thoughts about the one person who can read your mind....
"I.. uh... I think you can skip the mental part of the procedure. My
mind is just fine. I'm getting used to... all this." My hand waved in
the air indiscriminately.

    She turned back to me and handed me a cup. I inhaled the
steam rising from it and recoiled. "What is this stuff?" I asked
grimacing.

    "Just herbs. They support the healing I'm going to do - speed
it, nurture it. Drink it up." She waited patiently while I choked down
the vile stuff. "May I enter your body as a Healer, Walter?" she asked
formally.

    I hesitated, then nodded curtly. She placed her hands lightly on
my head and chest. Moments later I could sense her presence...
everywhere. Her essence was different from Scully's - more floral,
more soft and springlike compared to the bracing crispness of Scully.
More... subtle, I guess comes closest. I felt my muscles start to
uncramp. Even the old rotator cuff problem in my right shoulder,
aggravated by the swordplay earlier, ceased to ache. For sometime, I
just floated....

    When I opened my eyes, I was pain-free and refreshed. She sat
near me on a low hassock, patiently waiting for me to rejoin the world.
"What were you thinking of, Walter?" she chided.

    I started, and flushed guiltily. Oh, God, she knew.
"Th-thinking?"

    "Yes, what were you thinking of, doing something strenuous
today? You should be resting your body for at least three days. I can
help you to heal, but your body does most of the work. And it can't do
that work if you're going to abuse yourself like that. What did you
do?"
    
    I hoped I didn't look as relieved as I felt. "Jourdain was
showing me how to handle a sword. We practiced for a while."

    She shook her head, as if to say 'Men!' I knew that gesture -
Sharon used to give it to me all the time. "Perhaps I did not
communicate my instructions fully," she said, giving me more credit
than I deserved. "No strenuous activity for at least three days. You
have undone much of my healing, and Scully's."

    "How do you know Scully...?"

    She shrugged. "Healers leave... traces. She helped in your
healing last night, but I detected fresher signs."

    "She... uh... she gave me a treatment this morning. I was still
having a problem with... all this."

    Nodding, she murmured, "I can well imagine." She handed me
some parchment packets. I shook them experimentally and heard a dry
rustling sound. "I want you to take one of these tonight and another
in the morning. Brew them as you would tea, and drink the liquid.
Lita can assist you if you need help. I will need to see you again
tomorrow. And no more swordplay!"

    I nodded meekly.
    
    In a gentler tone, she said, "I'm glad you're feeling better,
Walter, but you must not push yourself. Your body and mind have been
through a great deal of trauma in the past few days. I want you to be
healthy so you can enjoy your visit here in the Realm."

    While she was chewing me out, I studied my boots, but I met
her eyes when she said that. It might have been my imagination, but
it looked like her cheeks flushed a bit. Imagining some of the
enjoyment I could have when once more fully functional, my thoughts
were once again straying into dangerous territory....

    I stood suddenly, nearly hitting my head on a low, smoke-
stained beam. "Thank you, Kyla. Very well, no swordplay. I don't want
to make any more trouble for you than is necessary. I'll see you
tomorrow, then."

    She rose with a shy smile. "You are no trouble, Walter. I very
much enjoy seeing you. I'll be looking forward to tomorrow's visit."

    I guess I must have nodded. Absently, I left the cottage, barely
remembering to duck as I went out the door. My mind was on things
other than locomotion at the time. Maybe it was just that Healers had
superior bedside manners, compared to their Real World counterparts.
Or perhaps it was wishful thinking on my part. But I could have sworn
that what I sensed from Kyla was not the usual feelings a doctor has
for a patient.

                ~ ~ ~


    If I hadn't just received strict orders not to exert myself, I
would have gone for a run. My brain was seething with questions,
possibilities, impossibilities - with Kyla at the center of all of
them. My calm had fled to wherever it hid when I wanted it most.
Before I sank to the level of a hormone-driven adolescent - did she
*l