At first Erin tried to ignore the gentle nudging and mewling of the servant, with each attempt only causing the sleeping lady to groan and pull the covers that much tighter. But as the woman's prodding grew more urgent and the young Blackwood found herself so tightly wrapped she'd practically cocooned herself, she finally relented. With a heavy sigh Erin tossed back the silken white covers, almost along with the elderly maid, and proceeded to stretch as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes while promptly assuaging the other woman, "Fine, fine, I'm up... what's this about?"<br/><br/>"There is a soldier at our door, that says he's here to escort you to the tower of the council. He said it was urgent."<br/><br/>"Council," had barely left the old woman's lips before Erin was swiftly out of bed and hurriedly dashing from one side of the room to the other. "Why didn't you say so sooner!" The raven-haired Blackwood had barely finished slipping on her dress as she hopped madly about on one bare foot while simultaneously trying to brush down her frazzled hair. She didn't even notice the maid leave as she fussed with her appearance, only to follow soon after as she weaved her way down stairs and through corridors until she finally stood by the entrance of the Blackwood estate. With a deep breath, Erin brushed her fingers down her sides, straightening her dress and regaining her composure before reaching out and slowly opening the door.<br/><br/>The face that met the drenched soldier was one of confusion as the apprentice asked, "You're here... alone?" As if someone of her status deserved a squad of twenty... at the very least. Erin held her wizened master with the utmost respect but did he really expect her to wade through such a storm, in the middle of the night and in the streets of Lakeshire, with but a single soldier? Such thoughts, coupled with a rumbling storm and a chilling breeze, almost had the Blackwood slamming the door right there and then on the poor sod, but the dire look on the man's features stayed her hand. With a heavy sigh and a small roll of her eyes, the apprentice steeled herself before stepping out into the freezing spray. "Alright, let's go... before I change my mind," the instantly soaked Blackwood muttered miserably as she took hold of the soldier's mail-clad hand and she heard the house's door shutting closed behind her.