We round the corner to Vikus' quarters only to see him already up and conversing with the messenger guard in angry tones. He stands in a lopsided way,with most of his weight on his left side, his right arm limp and the right side of his face barely moving as he speaks. The tolls of the stroke he suffered after Solovet's death. But he can stand, and he can walk too. That's a huge improvement from the bed-confined man I left a few months ago.
    As soon as we come into sight Vikus marches toward us as fast as he can in his crooked gait, taking extra large steps with his left leg and short, quick ones with his right.
    "What is the meaning of this Nerissa?" I'm so startled by his appearance that I don't even ask him why he's trying to make me leave. Until now I'd almost forgotten about his stroke, and when the guard said his orders were from Vikus I'd pictured the strong and healthy man I'd known before the war.
    I try to figure out to justify my visit but Nerissa wastes no time to explain. "A prophecy has arisen." Vikus' face turns a deathly pale color, almost yellow in the torchlight. He doesn't move for several seconds.
    "How? Did you have a vision?" When he finally speaks his voice is hoarse and dry. I know he's afraid. Prophecies in the Underland are hardly ever good.
    "Yes." The tremor in her voice is audible even in that one word. I wonder if she's strong enough to deliver the prophecy without passing out. "But this is not the place to discuss the matter. Gregor, help me into Luxa's quarters. Vikus, come."
    We move slowly into the sitting room, pushing back the heavy, red curtain that covers the entrance. The messenger that Vikus was speaking to remains outside the door. I hope he's loyal enough to not go blabbing about a new prophecy. That would cause panic.
    The room is beautiful. Gorgeously carved stone chairs and couches sit against the walls with colorfully woven cushions on the seats. Old wooden paintings hang on the walls. Each depicts scenes of the Overland: a tree growing from a pond, a king dressed in purple on a golden throne, a knight in shining armor battling a dragon. A deep blue tapestry peaks out of one of the hallways and I know immediately that it's of an ocean. The torchs sit in ornate, brass handles on the walls, each carved in the likeness of a different Underland creature. A dusty green and purple rug covers a section of floor.
    Whoever decorated this room took very special care to make the stone cavern feel as homey as possible. I know immediately that it wasn't Solovet's or Vikus' doing. It must have been Luxa's parents.
    Nerissa sinks down into one of the chairs. I sit across from her. "Vikus, fetch Luxa if you would." He grimaces a little and I know that for some reason he still doesn't want me to see her. But he trusts in Nerissa's visions just as much as Sandwich's prophecies. So without arguing he limps down the hall across from me to wake the Queen.
    I examine my hands as I wait, only to find that they're shaking like crazy. My entire body is uptight, my muscles rigid and tense. I try and relax but a ball of anxiety has formed in my stomach. What if Vikus tried to keep me away from Luxa because she doesn't want to see me?
    Then she rounds the corner and when her eyes meet mine I know this isn't true. She's missed me just as much as I've missed her. But at first neither of us moves. Her violet gaze holds mine and small smiles slowly spread across our faces.
    "Luxa." I whisper at the same time that she says "Gregor." Then we're both moving and the next thing I know we're wrapped in each others arms. Just like during her farewell, I don't think I'll be able to let go.
    "How are you here?" She breathes after a long moment of silence.
    "I had to come." I reply. "I couldn't--I tried to live up there but--" My voice breaks and my breathing becomes ragged as I try to control all the feelings of sadness, fear, love, and anger that have built up inside me over the last few months. I didn't even know the anger was there until now. I'm angry that my family made me leave. That Luxa didn't try to stop me. That I didn't try harder to stay.
    "I know." That's all she needs to say to calm me. Somehow Luxa knows how I feel without me explaining, and somehow just the fact that she knows makes everything okay.
    "I'm sorry, Luxa and Gregor, but you will have to wait until later to talk." Nerissa interrupts. I'd completely forgotten that her and Vikus were here. I examine Vikus' face and can see that his working left side appears almost ashamed, and touched. I guess during the months since I left, he forgot how much Luxa and I love each other.
    "Yes. I would like to know what this prophecy business is about." Vikus turns to face Nerissa, his voice hard. "And what it has to do with Gregor." I'm particularly curious about that as well but I still don't like the way he's talking about me. But now isn't the time to ask about it.
    "Wait, there's another prophecy?" Luxa pulls half way out of our embrace so each of us has a hand around the other's waist. I guide us over to the small couch that I was sitting on before. This will probably take a while. Vikus seats himself to our right so that the four of us form a square with one side missing. The empty space reminds me of something.
    "Nerissa, didn't you say Ripred should hear this as well?"
    "Yes, thank you, Gregor. I almost forgot. Guard!" Her frail voice quavers as she tells the man to find Ripred immediately and send him here.
    "He should be down in the code room, he's taken to sleeping down there." Luxa offers, and I remember that she's bonded to Ripred now. I wonder if they've been getting along alright and how the agreements with the rats and the other species went. I also wonder how Mareth and Howard, Lapblood, Aurora and Nike are doing. Now that I think about it, there's a lot that I've missed out on. I need to catch up.
    "Luxa, you must write this down." Nerissa shivers. "I do not believe I will be awake to repeat it and you must discuss this as soon as possible." Luxa reaches across me to a small corner table I hadn't noticed until now. It is ornately carved with fliers, gnawers, crawlers, nibblers, shiners, spinners, cutters, diggers, twisters, slimers, hissers, and stingers. There are even a few I didn't know lived down here: crabs, dragonflies, worms, and rhino beetles. Every single creature that the Underland holds. A human--a killer--with a sheathed sword is carved as the knob for the drawer. Luxa pulls it open to reveal a crinkled stack of parchment with a quill and ink. She holds the quill in her right hand and reaches her left across her lap to clasp my right. I keep my left arm around her. Even though I know she isn't going anywhere, I can't let go of her.
    We sit in silence, Luxa and I with our arms around each other. We save the talking for later and just take comfort in each other's presence. It seems like I was right about me being the one to drive Luxa's blood memories away.
    Five minutes later, Ripred saunters in. "Well then." He grins. "Look who's back. Did you bring little Lizzie? Or were you too preoccupied with the nightmares to think that she might like to visit as well?" As usual, Ripred can see right through me, instantly knowing why I came back and criticizing my choices on top of that.
    "Nice to see you too, Ripred." I grumble. Now I do feel bad. He's right, I didn't even think about Lizzie maybe wanting to come back too. Our parents probably would have said no but I still should have asked.
    "Join us, Ripred." I can tell Nerissa is at the edge of her strength. If we don't get started soon then we'll have to wait until she wakes up again.
    "Nerissa's had a vision." I say, cutting straight to the point and saving her from having to explain more than necessary. "She says there's another prophecy. And I guess I'm in it."
    Ripred fills the empty side of our square and I wonder if he'll actually go along with this. I know that he doesn't believe in Sandwich's prophecies...but does he believe in Nerissa's?
    "I cannot stay awake for much longer so I shall go straight to the prophecy." Nerissa straightens. Luxa sits rigid, with her quill poised over the parchment. Nerissa clasps her pale hands. Then she begins.

"The Overland creeps into the Under
The Warrior shall return from the grave
Hiding people cower under a web
From it, they must be saved

Greed comes with picks and axes
For stone and pale stone faces
Eleven shouters descend below
On breaking spider strings and laces

Besieged by the diamond will
Beset by a flimsy, green wish
Careful or stones will come raining
And gasping will come the fish

But in the face of sickening brutality
The Under must not lose morality
And forget their own mortality
Or it's own will be fatality

The Warrior must hold them together
In the face of the oncoming flood
The peace of the Under has forgotten
It's past memories of blood

Two can be saved from the dark
But nine are lost at heart
The killing greed must be undone
It will split the Under apart."

    Just as Nerissa had predicted, she faints as soon as the last word is uttered. Ripred keeps her from falling out of her chair. The furious scratching of Luxa's quill continues for several more seconds. No one speaks until Vikus stands.
    "We should lie her down. Her room is in these quarters so she won't be far if she wakes for the remainder of our discussion." Vikus' voice is hoarse. He starts to call for a guard but I interrupt.
    "I can get her Vikus." I stand and my hand lingers on Luxa's shoulder before I lift Nerissa. She's so thin that she barely weighs more than Lizzie, who's only seven. Vikus directs me to a side chamber and a big queen sized bed. I lie Nerissa down gently and pull the covers tight around her. She's already begun to shiver in her sleep.
    When I return to the room I find that Ripred has a paw on Luxa's shoulder. Her eyes are closed and she shivers uncontrollably. I hurry over next to her and put my arms around her. The prophecy had shocked me as well but not enough to give me some sort of attack.
    "It's alright, Luxa." I murmur into her ear. "At least this prophecy doesn't predict my death again. I don't think I could avoid it twice." That draws a small smile out of her.
    "Oh Gregor." Her shivering slows to small trembles. I'm surprised Vikus hasn't come over to join us but he's back in his own chair, head in hands. "We've only just returned from war. The lands have been divided up and we thought there was to be peace. The prophecy said Ripred would bring peace to the Underland! I don't care if he made the scar himself for it still fulfills the prophecy... And now it sounds like another war is coming. But with who?"
    "I think it's pretty clear who's on the other side." I drop my eyes to Luxa's looping cursive writing and my eyes find two words. "The Overland."