The next day I woke and the first thing I thought of was Zac and the conversation and occurrences of the night before. The talk. The kiss. Everything else. I looked over to where Zac had slept and found him wide awake looking at me with a bundle in his arms.

"Sleeping Beauty has awakened!" he happily exclaimed, "Happy Birthday Mel." Then it dawned on me what day it was. It was March 29th. I was turning 18. I couldn't believe it.

I sat up and grinned at Zac. For some reason I was extremely happy. It wasn't just that I finally was an adult or even all the occurrences of the night before. I was just happy.

However, it is nice to be awakened and the first thing you see is the ecstatic face of the one you love.

"Here. They all gave me their gifts. They guessed you wouldn't be back for your birthday." He didn't need to say who "they" was. I knew who he was talking about immediately.

"Oh geez . . . wow. They really shouldn't have bothered . . ."

"Well, they already had the presents what else were they going to do with them? Give them to Tikki?"

"Point." I laughed.

Zac then proceeded to hand over the presents one by one and tell me the little story behind each. From Tarissa and Megean I received a beautifully embroidered blue dress with cream blouse like sleeves. It was obviously much finer material than what the townspeople wore for every day and was of a delicate make and beautiful color. Apparently Tarissa and Megean had worked together on the dress when I was out of the house. On the right shoulder of the dress was embroidered the mark of the Master Farmer house: three stalks of golden grain crossed. In back of that was an intricate design in dark blue from which tendrils extended out and around the dress. I loved it. I had Zac turn around and I put it on.

"No peeking." I teased. I finished putting it on. I wistfully wished for a full length mirror. The dress seemed to fit perfectly. It was formed to flatter and fit my body, then fell in an elegant full skirt. "Okay, you can turn around now. What do you think?" I did a little twirl in it for him.

He stared open-mouthed and said nothing.

"Shut your mouth you ruffian." I reprimanded, reaching over to shut it for him. I tried to hide that fact that I was blushing profusely. Finally he spoke.

"Wow." I laughed at him for that and sat down again on our "bed".

From Kedrik I got an obviously handmade and lovingly crafted walking stick. It was polished and oiled until the amber wood glowed with it's own light. I felt along it's length testing it with my fingers. It was strong and sturdy with a good balance.

"He was going to tutor you in it use-" I suddenly swung the shaft in a neat quick arch and brought it to rest lightly on Zac's collarbone. I smiled brightly.

"I think I can figure it out. I've had some experience. Not much but some. It would be nice to be trained in it better though. It's not like I had much need for it or the best training ever. Before it was all in fun."

"Uh, whoa. Please NEVER scare me like that again. I'd rather keep the grey hairs down to a minimum. Anyway, I still have two more presents for you."

The first was from Vanel. From him a received a soft leather pack belt, to be worn around my waist. It was well oiled and softened by obviously many hours of being hand worked. On the inside of the belt-strap was pressed a small V, presumably to show his own workmanship. inside the pouch itself was a small collection of various herbs and remedies that Tarissa had shown me how to use. They were only the most basic of healing herbs that even Vanel knew how to use and prepare, but in need they could be of the greatest use. These I just examined and laid aside with a large grin plastered on my face.

"So what's the second present?" I asked curiously. I had a strange feeling about this one.

"Well . . ." Zac blushed and dug around through the bag trying to hide his shyness. That was seriously the first time I had seen Zac that uncomfortable, or embarrassed, or modest, however you want to put it. It made me wonder.

Finally with a small grin of triumph, he pulled out a small soft leather bag. He handed it to me with a look on his face only comparable to a puppy dog desperately seeking for attention and approval. My heart started to melt before I even opened the bag. The look on his face was enough.

I untied the leather strings binding the bag shut. Inside was a delicate ring. I pulled it out. It was solid black and seemed to be braided tightly out of some course black hair along with some softer blond. It was very intricately made and obviously had taken hours bending over with his hand cramping trying to make the ring just right and in such a way that it would last.

"I made it out of SoulFire's tail hairs, also some of mine. I thought you'd like it. You know sort of like a bonding thing with your horse and . . . me I guess-" Zac commented, kind of embarrassed of his gift and trying to explain it.

"I love it Zac. It's . . . well . . . it's perfect." I smiled at him and he could see that I was being honest. Had I not appreciated it he could have seen right through me. Slowly a shy smile crept onto his face.

"Here, let me." He took the ring and, taking my left hand, slipped it onto my ring finger.

Suddenly before my eyes the ring started to glow. I heard what seemed like an unidentifiable melody playing. It played only during that flash, which came and was gone in a moment, and yet I felt like I heard a full song, none of which afterward I could duplicate or directly remember.

Before my eyes the glowing ring changed. It was no longer made of braided hair. It was now made of seamless metal. An extremely dark silvery metal had replaced SoulFire's hair while Zac's had transferred to a dark red-gold that streaked the silver being intertwined within and around the seamless dark metal. The glow faded slowly as Zac and I watched.

I was mesmerized by it's simple beauty and the love it radiated. For that's what it did. It somehow symbolized the intertwining love of Zac, myself and even Soulfire. I quickly looked up at Zac and saw that he too was staring at the ring on my finger. Our sight connected. I saw the Soulfire burning deep within, the love and the wonder. The Soulfire. SoulFire. I made my way outside wordlessly, Zac following. There was no reason for him to ask what I was doing. I think he knew.

I walked over to SoulFire who had stopped grazing and was looking directly at my approaching form, ears forward and alert.

"It was you." I said softly, matter of fact, "You did it. Somehow."

SoulFire nickered softly, almost confirming it.

"Magic." Zac whispered. "Oh my God. We are dealing with magic here. True, real, magic. Holy. Fucking. Crap."

I looked at the ring. "Well, Zac, SoulFire, I love the ring." I glanced up at Zac just in time to see a faint glow fade from the necklace I had given him for his birthday.