A/N- sorry this took me so long to update. It's just I was on holiday… bla bla bla! Well I went skiing! It was loads of fun and my huge green dinosaur and me really enjoyed our time there. Well onto the story…

Chapter five

The Goddess Intervenes

As Celeste and Alanna slept that night both of them had the same dream. Alanna carried Celeste in her arms. Before them was a huge metal gate, wrought of a silvery blue metal. At the gate stood Gainel, King of Dreams. His fog-coloured hair flew around his face in a small breeze. His eyes were unreadable. He smiled as they approached the gate and threw up a hand gesturing to the left gate. It slowly creaked open and Alanna walked through.

She clutched Celeste close to her. Celeste's eyes were wide with amazement as they entered a spectacular garden. Lush green grass grew all around them. There were huge oak trees, bent willow trees, and blossoming cherry trees. The grass was rich with the colours of flowers, which grew all around.

In front of them stood an extremely tall woman. She was too beautiful to be human. Alanna smiled as she saw the Goddess whilst Celeste squealed with joy. Celeste stretched out her arms and the jewel on her forehead let out a shocking silver light. When it had disappeared Celeste was within the hold of the Goddess.

Alanna frowned before quickly regaining her composure. She bowed to the Goddess. "Great Mother, why have you brought us here?" she asked.

The Goddess looked down into the face of her daughter. "Alanna," her great but terrible voice rumbled, "My daughter has been chosen much like you were. The Gods have decreed that she shall fight the Great Evil."

"Who is this Great Evil you speak of? I still do not understand why you brought us here."

The Goddess looked directly into Alanna's eyes and she found herself unable to look away. "Daughter, I must transform Celeste. When I am finished she will be a nine-year-old girl. Soon she will turn ten. After the next summer you must send her on her way."

Alanna faltered. "But Mother! Won't everyone realise about… I mean one moment she'll be a baby and the next… she won't! Anyway where am I supposed to send her?"

The Goddess sighed. "My daughter I you must decide where she will go yourself. I am also surprise you seem to think so little of me. I will place a veiling spell so only yourself and Baron George Cooper realise Celeste is any older then she should be."

Alanna frowned and creased her eyebrows together in thought. "That does make sense." Then she looked up into the Goddess' eyes. "I am also sorry for thinking so little of you," she said meekly.

The Goddess grinned. "That's all right. Now once the transformation is complete you will awake back in your beds." Alanna nodded showing she understood. With that the Goddess blazed with silver fire. Celeste moved out of her arms and hung in mid-air in between them. She did not giggle, or even smile. Her face was blank and her eyes were wide with awe.

The Goddess began a chant faintly, then louder. It was the most beautiful sound Alanna had ever heard. Suddenly Celeste disappeared. A great silver light bloomed around her and the shadowy form within slowly grew to taller and taller.

Once the light disappeared Alanna only managed to glimpse her daughter before the world around her dissolved into nothing.

~*~

Alanna awoke early the next morning. A protective hand lay around her waist. She smiled at her husband. She lifted it ever so gently and placed it next to his body. She then stood and walked over to the cot in which Celeste usually slept. Now instead of a baby's cot there was a large adult-sized cot. On it slept a young girl.

Alanna took a good look at her daughter. She really is nine! thought Alanna. The girl on the bed stirred slightly. Her long eyelashes fluttered slightly. She opened her eyes revealing two emerald green eyes. She sat up in her bed; her fair blonde curls bouncing slightly. She looked up at Alanna and gave a weak smile.

"I suppose my Mother really did change my age then!"

Alanna wrapped her daughter in a hug. "I'm so glad you're all right! I was so worried about what might happen to you!" Alanna pulled away and Celeste stood.

"Wha' the…?" a muffled voice asked from the bed. There sat George. His eyes looked back from Alanna to Celeste and back again. "What 'appened?"

Alanna sighed and rubbed her forehead. "This could take a while."

~*~

George stood and looked at Celeste. "Well stand up then. I wanna see me daughter." Celeste slowly stood up and brushed down her curls. George beamed. "Well aren't ye beautiful an' all."

Celeste blushed. Alanna laughed. "Stop embarrassing her! All right Celeste, George and I are going to get changed and go for a walk. You should get changed into… actually what will you wear?"

Alanna walked over to the drawers and pulled open the first draw. Then the next. And the next. Her jaw dropped. "All the baby clothes are gone! There's gowns, breeches, hose, boots, loincloths, breastbands, shirts. Everything!"

Celeste giggled. "My Mother is thorough I must admit."

Alanna stood up. "You can say that again." With that she pushed George into the bathroom. "You change in there and I'll change in here."

"Can't I change in there? It's not like I 'aven't seen it before," whined George.

Celeste stifled a laugh whilst Alanna glared. George sighed and muttered before shutting the door.

Alanna smiled at Celeste. "And that is how you deal with men!"

~*~

Once George and Alanna were changed and gone Celeste changed. She decided upon wearing a plain white blouse, forest green breeches and black hose. She then slipped into a pair of black leather boots.

She then attempted to tame her curls. She settled them enough to be presentable and left the room. She didn't know where she was going, her feet seemed to know the way though.

When she stopped she was inside the doorway of a small, dusty room. Inside laid racks of weapons. There were all types of swords, short, broad; there were daggers; glaives; staffs; lances; shields and all types of armour.

Celeste inspected each piece before she found a beautiful creation. The top half was a curved blade whilst the bottom half was a straight blade. In the middle was a handle to grip it. This piece was extremely finely made. Both blades were sharp, smooth and shiny. A thin layer of leather good for gripping covered the part in the middle.

"A lovely piece isn't it?" Celeste was totally startled and spun round to face whoever was there. Her emerald eyes met bright sapphires. The boy in front of her looked to be about nine, her age. His black hair was cut short. His skin was an ivory colour. He smiled at her his pearl like teeth flashing.

"Hello? Anybody there?" he waved a hand in front of her face. She then realised he had asked her a question.

"Oh I am sorry! Yes it is a fine piece. I just wished I knew what it was called."

The boy chuckled. "It is a Yamani weapon called a shoitet. My father had it added here to make my mother feel more at home."

"That was nice of him." She placed the shoitet back on the rack and held out her hand. "My name is Celeste. Lady Celeste of Pirate's Swoop, daughter of the Lioness."

The boy took her hand and shook it. "I am Hiroshi, Hiroshi of Conté."

A/N- ok this must actually take place nine and a half years after Lady Knight. I love sort of cliffhanger things! Sorry this chapter was kind of crap! Oh well! Hope you liked it. Here are my thanks for all the lovely reviews I got:

Emily of Duranan: thanks for the idea. I knew I was going to do this from the beginning and I am glad you brought it up in your review. I hope you liked this chapter.

Anastazia Silverwind: thanks. I am glad you like the story. I never thought it would be at all popular.

Clarylissa: thanks. I would love to meet Maddy! She sounds cute! I really hope you meant the baby was called Maddy not your friend!

Lady Knight Nick: *Blushes beetroot* Thank you! I never think my stories are good but I am glad you liked it.

Forget-me-not: Sorry but this chapter went really fast! It will stay over a slower pace now. Hope you enjoyed this chapter.

StarFire: Glad you like it Stella! I have finally updated so thanks for reviewing!

Darcel: I think she would but it isn't like our Lady Knight to show it. Glad you think it's good though. Thanks for the suggestion and I will keep that in mind for later.

Ziata: I am happy you liked it and glad you find it original. Thanks!