The freakish looking mare trotted over to greet her master. She nuzzled his shoulder and gently nipped at the muscle there. With a soft nicker, the mare turned to the side. Smiling, Arthur patted the horse's neck as he mounted her. The horse nickered again and trotted joyfully in a circle, as if telling Arthur she has missed him.<br/><br/>â€œSire,â€ whispered a soft, melodic voice.<br/><br/>The mare stopped and snorted, not too sure of the ghostly stranger.<br/><br/>â€œWhat is it madam?â€ the king asked, speaking to the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on, and new that she was no mortal woman.<br/><br/>â€œMy daughter is one of your chosen. I know she is. Please, let me go and comfort her. I wish to see her one last time.â€ the woman said, her hair the color of molten gold, and her skin as pale as clear crystal in her ghostly state.<br/><br/>â€œMadam, my knights are meant to be tested and find their way here on their own. I'm not sure what or who it is, but one of them is a seer, who is destined to guide them to me. I am deeply sorry, but I am not supposed to interfere unless there is absolutely no other way,â€ Arthur explained.<br/><br/>The mare pranced as if impatient, then began to paw the ground.<br/><br/>â€œYou will not be the one to interfere, and I do not wish to tell her about you or where to go. All I ask is to see her and help her to understand her gifts. I beg you, Sire,â€ the immortal woman bowed her head, her liquid gold hair hiding her face.<br/><br/>Arthur was silent for long moments, the war in his mind obvious in his eyes. â€œI feel like I am... bending the rules,â€ he said softly, still deep in thought. â€œI suppose I will grant you your wish, but in return, I want you to promise not to mention me at any cost.â€<br/><br/>The woman looked up with gratitude plain in her almond-shaped eyes. â€œAye sir, a promise you shall have, and it's a promise I shall keep.â€<br/><br/>The woman focused with Arthur, and finally one of the shadows revealed its true form. A half-elf young woman with golden hair and wearing battle-ready gear, although not competent in it. The king waved his arm, and the woman was gone.<br/><br/>~ ~ ~ ~ ~<br/><br/>Lysonna stared and was surprised to see the Hellhound stop attacking this other woman and instead turn its attention upon her. Anyone with a Hellhound for a companion could not be friendly right? Nervous to the core, Lysonna did something no battle-trained elf would do. Her eyes left her enemies as she turned at the waist to look back at her home. The thought of her human father without any defense made her instincts kick in, and one hand gripped the bow, the other an arrow shaft in the quiver on her back, as she turned to face her opponent.<br/><br/>The Hellhound, though still growling, and the woman had not made a move toward her. As she noticed this, Lysonna relaxed slightly. â€œUmm...â€ her hand dropped from her quiver of arrows to her side, â€œyou're not after my father or me are you?â€ Lysonna asked uncertainly, her eyes staring at the Hellhound's ear, as she wanted to watch him, but was told not to look in this mythical creature's eyes.<br/><br/>She jumped at the sudden sound of her cell phone going off. She dug it out of her pocket a bit awkwardly from the leather armor she wore over her clothes. It was her weather tracker, and it was telling her that there was a big storm headed there way that would take two weeks to get there. Usually a storm would blow itself out in that amount of time, but this one was steadily growing larger.<br/><br/>Lysonna played the voice option and it said: â€œThe storm headed our way is like nothing that we've ever seen before. This one's going to be a record breaker, so make sure you stock up on plenty of food. It might be early in the season, and it might sound crazy, but expect snow, and lots of it. As this storm moves across the sea it will be getting colder and larger.â€<br/><br/>~ ~ ~ ~ ~<br/><br/>The Shadow Mage pushed open the second-story window as quietly as possible. He moved silently into the room and sat cross-legged, slightly distracted by all the shiny trinkets that adorned the room.<br/><br/>The mage remembered the task at hand and summoned a shadow to himself to do his bidding. "Go to my Master, and tell him to bring back up. There's more of the 'gifted' here than first expected... I don't know who these people are, or what they can do." With that, the Shadow Mage sent the shadow on its way, and it seemingly vanished in the light of the evening sun.<br/><br/>The mage watched the shadow as best as he could. It slithered and leaped from shadow to shadow, under trees that had browning leaves. The first leaf of the season fell to the ground.