Eira laid in her bed, comfortably tucked away, slowly drifting off to sleep to the sound of snowflakes tapping against the window near her bed. She was jerked back to consciousness before she could ever completely drift to sleep, by the sound of voices. She couldn't hear what was said, only that it was a man and a woman, the voice of the woman sounded like the voice of her mother, Neiva. She didn't move in her bed, but her blue eyes remained open, focused on the ceiling as she tried to hear what the voices said. She managed to catch something about Ciardah and Dandanos, both words seemed familiar but she couldn't tell you why.<br/><br/>The voices stopped and several minutes later her door opened and her mother entered, crossed the room, and sit on the edge of the bed next to her daughter, pulling the covers up and tucking her in nicely.<br/><br/>Eira lay in her bed, tucked beneath a warm blanket that was pulled taut and perfect, save the small indention left by the small form of a woman, her mother.  She felt afraid, perhaps for the first time in her short life, despite the comforting words of her mother. “You must remember, darling. You have nothing to fear. If you fear it, it will control you. I know it is frightening right now. I know you’re scared, but you mustn’t be. In time, you will learn to control it, just as I have.” She heard the words spoken with a voice softer than velvet, and sweeter than her favorite treats. “Promise me you won’t forget, darling. Promise me you won’t give in, even if you are afraid.” The words were firm but whispered to the small child, who nodded fervently, despite the obvious fear and uncertainly the peaked out from behind the bluest of eyes. “Yes, mother. I promise. I will do my best.” the child replied with a tiny voice painted with confusion and doubt. Why did her mother seem so insistent this time? Why did she almost seem afraid? “Good. Rest now, baby. Don’t ever forget that I love you.” The thin woman leaned over and gave her child a kiss on the top of her head before standing with grace and poise, smiling sadly at her daughter before turning and disappearing from the room.<br/><br/>The small girl waited a moment until the footsteps had receded before she quickly dressed herself in her heavy winter clothes, even if she didn't really need them, and padded her way down the stairs. She watched as her mother mounted her horse and rode off into the darkness that was peppered with snow. The winds were strong and the snow heavy, but it didn't faze the girl. She was determined to find out where her mother was going and why she had almost seemed like she didn't expect to see her again. She had already lost her father, she didn't want to lose her mother, too. So, she snuck out to the stables and gathered her horse, Eirlys, before riding off after her mother. She conjured a ball of cold fire to light her path through the blizzard, using what her mother had taught her to bend the storm around her so that she wasn't swept away. She followed far enough behind that she wouldn't be seen, and stopped just inside the ruined city, where she could see and hear her mother, but could hide her presence easily enough. She hid Eirlys behind the nearest rock face and made her way closer on foot. The horse wouldn't run away, she was trained not to run, and she wouldn't move so long as her reins touched the ground.<br/><br/>--<br/><br/>Neiva had no idea that her daughter had followed her, she could hardly see what was in front of her, let alone what was behind her. She pressed forward in the blizzard, keeping the blunt of the storm from affecting her, causing the heavy snow and wind to bend around her, rather than hit her head on. She pressed through until the blizzard became a light snow, and eventually the snow disappeared and was replaced by a thick darkness that surrounded the ruins which came into view. They were the ruins of the once great kingdom of Ciardah. Where homes and buildings had once stood there was only rubble and darkness. Where many had once lived their lives there was nothing but emptiness. From the midst of the ruins there rose a dark tower with no obvious entrance, piercing the darkness and jutting into the sky. Neiva approached the tower but stopped several hundred feet away and waited. She assumed that he would anticipate her arrival and she wouldn't be forced to wait long.