M O R G A N

A heavy blizzard set in shortly after we left the camp. The horses pull our carriage at a steady pace towards the main mountain road. Visibility is poor, and the horses become slower as the snow becomes heavier.

"It will be hours before we arrive at the castle, you might as well get some sleep," Erik suggested.

"I can't - my body is full of adrenaline. I'm finally going to meet Ebony," I replied.

Erik responded with a derisive snort.

"Let's hope her husband doesn't outright kill us," he said.

I paused, staring out of the window at the heavy falling snow.

"My memories of Ebony are so hazy. I've only had a couple of small glimpses of her, and on each occasion, she looked so sad and unhappy," I explained. "I just wish I could remember why she was so unhappy."

I rest my head on Erik's shoulder and feel my eyelids growing heavy with tiredness.

"You should rest," Erik said softly, pressing a kiss against my head.

"That sounds like an excellent idea," I replied.

The carriage continues forward, gently rocking from side to side. On the seats opposite, Rupert and Poppy sleep fitfully. Poppy looks like a Victorian ghost dressed in her black travelling cloak. Rupert, on the other hand, appears as if he has walked out of a bar fight. When the dragons tried to burn Poppy, he had fought valiantly for her.

I dozed on and off for the next few hours. The carriage is cold, but Erik is nice and toasty. I snuggle into his side and do my best to forget the uncomfortableness of the carriage seats.

I dream fragmented dreams. I see India and Charlie. They are waiting for me back at the pub. I wake up with tears in my eyes and a heart heavy from homesickness.

Erik doesn't seem to notice my pain - he's too busy staring out the window at the snowy landscape.

I lift my head from his chest and touch his arm.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

"We've passed ten raiding parties since you fell asleep. The mountains are overwhelmed by goblins. This land was once filled with animals - and now there is nothing," Erik replied. "The vampires have destroyed everything."

I took his hand and held it tightly. There was little we could do. The goblins had probably tracked down and eaten every creature on this mountain. There was nothing else left for them to eat - except their children.

"You have a new home now, back in Thorsbury," I said softly.

Erik smiled weakly and shrugged his shoulders.

"I've spent a lifetime wondering what it would be like to live in these mountains without the constant threat of war hanging over my head. I'm almost ashamed to give up my crown," he confided in me.

I look out over the desolate wintery landscape. This had been my home too - but I could no longer remember it. I found it hard to believe I loved it as much as I did Thorsbury, with its beautiful limestone cottages, rolling hills, and peaceful woods.

"I miss Charlie and India," I confessed.

It had only been a few days since I last saw them, but the distance between us seemed much longer.

"When we get back, we should use the gold we stole from Henry to buy a cottage and some land. We could then get an alpaca and some Indian runner ducks," I suggested.

Erik's eyebrows drew together in confusion.

"What's an alpaca?" He asked.

"Imagine a sheep with a long neck and legs," I said.

"That sounds very strange," Eric mused.

"It's very cute," I countered.

The carriage travelled continuously, even through the night. I thought we might stop to give the horses a break, but the driver pushed them on, eager to make the most of the break in the bad weather.

We fell back asleep, and when I woke up, the carriage had stopped. Outside, dawn had broken, and the entire sky was bright pink-orange.

The farmers at the pub used to say, 'Red sky at night; shepherds delight. Red sky in the morning; shepherds warning'. I guess more snow was on the way.

I climbed out of the carriage, intending to look for the driver, as I wanted to know how much longer it would take to reach the fort.

My bum ached from the uncomfortable seat. I rubbed my backside and did a couple of lunges to stretch my legs. Looking about the courtyard, I could see no sign of the driver.

I headed towards the old farmhouse, dragging my feet through the deep snow. The farmhouse was large and imposing. I imagined the family who once lived here was wealthy. But since the war, the house had fallen into disrepair. Half the roof was missing, and most windows had been boarded up. The front door to the house was wide open, allowing snow to drift into the stone hallway.

I entered the house and stamped my feet against the floor, shaking off the snow. A faint smoky scent of burning logs lingered in the air - someone had started a fire. After the journey I had, a warm log fire was an irresistible thought.

I rubbed my hands together for warmth and explored the old house. Most of the rooms were empty. It appeared they had been stripped bare over the years by goblin raiding parties.

I pushed deeper into the house and heard the crackling sound of logs burning. I entered a room that had once been the kitchen.

I half expected to see the driver sitting by the fire, draped in black, warming themselves - but instead, a woman was sitting by the fireplace.

She wasn't a vampire because she wasn't wearing a black cloak to protect her from the sun - but she wasn't a vampire either, evident from the two black raven wings that protruded from her back.

Her head turned slowly when she heard the soft clicking of my heels against the kitchen floor. Brilliant grey eyes stared back at me, triggering a strange feeling of familiarity. I had seen those eyes before - happy, sad, fearful, and full of tears.

I knew who this woman was - yet I couldn't remember her.

"Are you Ebony?" I asked.

The woman nods and stands up, straightening her beautiful crimson gown. She takes a step towards me, searching my face.

"It's true, isn't it? You've lost your memory?" She asked sadly.

Her voice was soft and gentle, almost melodic in nature.

"I recognise your eyes, but my memory hasn't been the same since my accident," I replied while touching the scar on the back of my head.

"What are you doing here?" She asked.

"I wanted to know if I'm the reason why the war started. I wanted to know if all the rumours are true and if I'm some kind of evil monster," I asked.

Ebony shook her head.

"You are the kindest person I know. You have saved me so many times. This war was not your fault. It was started by someone else who used you as a scapegoat," she explained. "You've never done anything wrong."

A hard lump had formed in my throat. I swallowed hard and tried not to cry with sheer relief.

"You have no idea how happy I am to hear that," I replied.

Ebony walked across to me and wrapped her arms around me, holding me tight.

"It was always me and you, Morgan. Us against the world. I love you more than anything in this world, and I'm so glad that you have found a home with the dragons. I'm sorry about Henry. I asked him to keep an eye on you. I just wanted to make sure you were safe," she sniffed tearfully.

"It's okay," I replied.

"Henry said that you have mated with Erik - is this also true," she asked.

I nodded my head.

"Yes, it's true," I said.

Her arms dropped to her side, and she wiped the tears from her face.

"I always dreamed that one day we would be reunited and spend the rest of our days together. But it seems you have found a new family. In some ways, I'm glad that you don't remember what happened in the past. There was so much sadness. I hope you can find happiness now," she said with a smile that suddenly faded, "However, I cannot allow Erik to return to the mountains. This land has started to heal, and I can't risk him starting another war."

"But the goblins have ruined the mountains. The dragons are hunted by the vampires," I argued.

Ebony shook her head.

"When you left this world with Erik, we brokered a peace deal with the remaining dragons. They moved out of the mountains years ago and now live in the middle lands as farmers. The dragons you met were rebels who cling to the hope that Erik will return and lead an army to slaughter the vampires," Ebony explained.

"I see why you don't want Erik back," I replied.

"I'm sorry, Morgan. I must ask you to return with Erik back to the village and never return here again. We can't allow another war. We need to heal and move on," she said.

"It's okay. This is actually what I want. I have a family waiting for me back in the village. I have friends and so many good memories. I will miss you, but I think this is for the best," I replied.

Fresh tears well up in Ebony's eyes, and she pulls me in for a fierce hug.

"I love you so much," She sobbed into my shoulder.

I patted her back, feeling a deep sorrow stirring within me.

"I will send you back through the portal - but I'm afraid the young vampire girl must stay here. She is a vampire now and must stay with her own kind," Ebony said.

My heart breaks for Rupert.

"Please, she's my family - I can't let her go," I said.

"Morgan, there are no vampires in your world. If Poppy lost control of her blood lust, she could accidentally start turning innocent people into monsters," Ebony replied.

"Poppy would never do that," a voice interjects.

I turn and see Rupert walking into the kitchen with Poppy trailing behind him in her black cloak.

Ebony looked at Rupert sadly and said, "It cannot be helped. She is a vampire and no longer belongs in your world."

Ebony's words fall on deaf ears. Rupert glared at Ebony defiantly and snapped, "Then I will stay in this world with Poppy."

Ebony rolled her eyes.

"Are you really willing to forsake your old life to stay with this woman? There is no TV, internet, or cars here," Ebony explained.

Rupert nods his head.

"Very well. I will send Morgan and Erik back to the village," Ebony replied.

I open my mouth to protest, but Ebony reaches out and taps me lightly on my forehead. Magic dances on the end of my fingertips, and I feel my whole body becoming lighter.

"Close your eyes, Morgan. When you wake up, you'll be back in your village, and everything will be right again," she said.

Stars danced in front of my eyes, and I passed out.