The guardian stared with her sightless eyes into the reflecting pool and what she saw there caused her great joy and great pain. She rang a little bell to summon a child who in turn would bring back the Lady. When the matriarch arrived, the guardian pulled her into a private alcove and began to tell her of the vision. Finally the Lady spoke,<br/><br/>“and Nimue knows nothing of his plans?” she asked for clarification. The guardian laid her finger across her lips and smiled. “Ah, it is a secret that her knight is preparing for her.<br/><br/>We must be prepared to do our share to celebrate their joy. I will set watchers along the road to the high country and when Sir Maric’s family approaches, we will join them soon after across the lake.”  The Lady studied the guardian before turning to the window.<br/><br/>“What else did you see? I can tell by your countenance that there is more to your vision that what you have shared about our little Nimue.”<br/><br/>With a heavy heart the guardian warned her of blood, fire and destruction. The Lady frowned and answered,<br/><br/>“I had wondered when they would return. My heart is heavy with the grief they spread last time. We must be prepared lest our magic not deter them this time from coming up so far as the Tor. I will set the women in preparing the land to offer more protection with pit traps and snares to catch men. We must warn Sir Maric and have him move Nimue and the livestock to the Tor. They will be sitting ducks there in the visitor’s cottage, no matter what kind of a strong right arm he might possess.”<br/><br/>Down in the cottage, Nimue had had her fill of love. She had bid Maric wait in the bed chamber while she cleansed herself and then went to fix a small snack.<br/><br/>“Making love stirs the appetite,” she said as she dangled a grape into his mouth. His broad chest was a delightful platform to lean on while she fed him grapes, apples and cheese. With a little giggle, she poured a sip of wine into his concave belly button only to lap it up again. He groaned a little at the warm wet touch of her tongue and Nimue traced a line from this belly button to his chin. She held an apple slice between her teeth and offered him a bite.<br/><br/>“Where did you send Faren?” she asked, casually. Without waiting for an answer, she perched a bit of cheese on top of his nipple. With a practiced nip, she took the cheese and munched it carefully. “How long will he be gone?”  The only answers she received where deep growls and a sharp intake of breath.