Terra skipped down the cobblestone road, feeling light on her feet. She was smiling, practically giddy with joy. She felt as though she could just spread wings and take flight at any second.

"Clear a path!" she shouted shamelessly, diving through a crowd of people. "Beautiful day, isn't it?" she shouted back at them.

"Watch where you're going!" one shouted back.

"Don't worry, I won't!" she replied. She reached the outer gates and greeted the guards overenthusiastically, "Hello, my fine fellows, how are you doing? How's your family? Oh, never mind, I don't care! I'm so happy!"

She continued down the path, seeing as she did so that she wasn't the only one with the same idea in mind. A few courtiers ventured out onto the outer path, stopping every so often to squint into the distance. Terra smiled to herself. She knew exactly what they were looking at. She was looking at it too. The distant carriage making its way closer to the castle with each passing second. But she wasn't going to wait for it to come to her.

Breaking out of her leisurely pace into a sprint, she tore down the cobblestone road at surprising speed, her boots striking the path hard with each bounding stride. Her deep red cloak spread out behind her like a banner in the wind as she streaked toward her oncoming target. As she neared it, she felt a nervous burst of energy, spurring her the last short distance until she reached the carriage. Hardly slowing, she grabbed onto the seat of the unsuspecting driver and swung herself through the open doorframe of the carriage, landing with a muffled thump on the seat next to the passenger. The man jumped visibly.

"What are you doing?" he snapped, "Trying to give me a heart attack?"

His voice was much deeper, the lines of his face more accentuated than Terra remembered. But it was him alright.

Terra propped her feet up against the seat opposite her, grinning, "What kind of a greeting is that? No 'hello, nice to see you again'?"

The man sitting next to her smiled, "That's funny. I seem to remember you being the shy, quiet one." The smile spread, showing his pointed teeth. "Terra," he said.

Finally, after a century of waiting, he had returned.

"Jareth."