Fira smiled, her eyes still closed, "You knew I was coming."

"Where are the others?"

"I asked them to wait while I made sure it was you."

"It is us. Bring them here. Friends of Nyx are friends of ours."

"Thank you Iseldir."

Fira ran back to where the others were with a big smile on her face. The others relaxed a little when she reappeared.

"Dismount and lead the horses behind you. Follow me!"

Fira grabbed Aland's lead rope and attached it to him. She led the group down to where a large cave opened up. Fira tied Aland to a tree branch and beckoned for the rest of her companions to follow her inside.

To their amazement what greeted them was not a small cave but rather I giant cavern. But somehow the cavern was reasonably well lit though the only visible light source was a large beam of sunlight that fell straight down the top and rested on some sort of rock structure far ahead of them. Even the non-magic users could tell this place reeked of magic. The towering pine trees were an easy give away.

Fira breathed in the air and sighed with content. She led them forward quickly, down a makeshift path, and soon they came to some rock archways that overhung the path. Still Fira urged them on and they came upon a large, open space which at the center had a table of rock. The god-rays hit the large stone tablet and glistened off of something that lay upon it.

But what struck the knights were the people surrounding the circle. Men and women, little girls and little boys, even a baby or two, were gazing upon them. The children had looks of wonder and awe on their faces. Some of the older children smiled slightly as they saw Fira. And in the center of them all stood one man.

"Fira. It is good to see you again," he said once more, bowing slightly to her.

"Likewise Iseldir. Allow me to introduce my companions: Sir Leon, Sir Galahad, Sir Gwaine, Sir Elyan, and Sir Percival of Camelot. Sir Tor and Sir Morholt of Somerset, and Gaheris and Gareth."

"Sir Leon and I have met, though he may not remember it," Iseldir nodded, "For it was me and my companions who saved you from certain death."

Leon gaped at them. The druids that had saved him using the Cup of Life were here, now!

"But as for the others," Iseldir smiled, "It is good to meet you in person. Glad and honored am I that the prophesied walk among my hall. But come, for it is time for you to receive the tokens destined for you."

He nodded to his companions who dispersed, leaving only six men and six women behind. These twelve went and surrounded the sun-touched table and Iseldir led the newcomers forward so they were closer to the light beam.

"For Sir Galahad, who shall be called Pure," Iseldir took a shining white sword in a white and sapphire jeweled scabbard from the table and handed it to him, "we give Icesting."

"On Sir Gwaine, called Strength," he handed out a shining white sword, this time in a white and emerald scabbard, "we bestow Serpentbane."

"Sir Leon, who shall be named Loyalty," Iseldir gave him a bright white sword in a white and ruby scabbard, "we give you Firebrand."

"Sir Elyan, who shall be called Patience," he took a white sword in a white and diamond scabbard, "we give you Whirlwind."

"Sir Percival, who shall be called Honest," Iseldir brought forth a white sword in a white and topaz scabbard, "we bestow upon you Lightcleaver."

The five knights bowed low and stepped back, marveling at their new blades.

"For Sir Tor, who shall be called Bravery," Iseldir now found a deep black sword with gold accents in the hilt and scabbard and held it forth, "we grant Dawnfang."

"Sir Morholt, who shall be called Valor," he found a similar black sword but this time it had silver accents and handed it to the knight, "we give unto you Duskfang."

They also bowed and stepped back to join the knights. Gaheris, Gareth and Fira were the only to remain.

"For Gaheris, who shall be called Intrepid," Iseldor brought out another black sword with a large, red jewel in the hilt, "We give you Flamefoe."

"And now for Gareth, who shall be called Courtesy," he once more handed him a black sword, this one with a large, blue jewel, "We give you Frostfoe."

The brothers bowed, stepped back, and joined the knights. Fira alone stood at the top. Iseldir smiled, beckoning her forward. Fira stepped closer.

"Finally, it is my honor to present Fira, called many names including the Fated and the Faithful, with two gifts. The first is a dagger."

Iseldir took a white dagger from the table. Its scabbard was decorated in gems of all colors. He handed it to Fira and she took it gratefully.

"But also," Iseldir added, "we have this."

He held up a small, simple necklace with a large, multicolored gemstone.

"This is Dawn's Aura. Wear it with pride."

Iseldir hooked it around her neck and let it fall below her neckline. Fira beamed, her pride in her druid brethren welling up inside. She rejoined her friends.

"Take these gifts and use them for good. They were enchanted by the waters of Avalon many thousands of years ago. Then they were entrusted to my clan and we have guarded them ever since until the day the Round Table would need them."

Fira said something in the Old Language to Iseldir. He chuckled at what was said and the knights immediately wanted to know what was up. She refused, insisting it was between her and her former mentor.

They spent another ten minutes or so chatting with Iseldir and his druid companions. Fira went to talk with some of the girls who were her age.

"Hello Freya, Rhoswyn," Fira smiled.

But the girls didn't smile back. Instead they scowled at her angrily.

"What were you thinking, bringing knights of Camelot, here, of all places," the golden haired girl accused.

"Yeah, they'll tell the King and he will come put a stop to our magic," the brown haired girl reinforced.

"I wasn't thinking about that!"

"Figures," the first girl snorted, "You never were much of a thinker."

"The clan spent two months trying to find you after you disappeared. You didn't even bother to tell us where you were."

"It's probably because you aren't really a druid. You don't care about our way of life being destroyed."

"I do care," Fira insisted helplessly.

"Go back to your knights, Fira. That's where you belong. If you'll ever truly belong anywhere."

And so Fira, not wanting to betray how killed she was inside, walked back over to the knights. She forced a smile on her face as she said goodbye to Iseldir and led her companions out of the great chamber.

Mounting up, Leon led them on once more towards Ealdor. It took only another few hours before they arrived at the little town. Hunith was out sweeping when they reached Ealdor and she smiled, beckoning them in.

"Fell free to stay here the night," she assured them, "but I'm afraid I only have the couch, an extra bed, and the barn."

"Thank you Hunith," Leon nodded, "Who is willing to take the barn?"

"I will," Fira volunteered.

"Me too," Gwaine agreed.

Sir Tor, Sir Morholt, Gareth, and Sir Percival also volunteered.

"Right. I will join you as well. Elyan, Galahad, and Gaheris you can fight over the remaining spaces," Leon responded to them.

Lunch and dinner were both left over food from the previous day's meal. They didn't want to give Merlin's mom more work. The next day would be a big day because they would enter the perilous lands so getting a good night sleep was important. As such, Fira decided to turn in once the sun went down, earlier than the others.

Once more her dreams were plagued by the taunting and jeering of her peers, especially her former best friends among the druids.