Laney looked out over the wall at the trees. It had been a month since she had told Merlin she didn't need his counsel anymore. Nothing unusual had happened in that time. No more dreams, no more visions, and no impending sense of doom. Arthur still took the knights out to ride the countryside, but always returned without having met any trouble. Everyone seemed to have forgotten the words Merlin had spoke to them and was settling into a routine without the fear of war. Everyone except Laney. She had awakened from a deep, dreamless sleep that morning with the feeling that a change was about to happen. She couldn't decipher whether it was going to be bad or not, just a change.

The knights had ridden out at dawn on an escort mission. They were to bring a Bishop from Rome to the fort. It was rumored that he would be carrying the discharge papers they had all been waiting so anxiously for. As she remembered their goodbyes from earlier, she was scanning the trees for any sign of Woads. Usually you could find at least one in the tree line. They never ventured close to the walls, but they didn't hide like they used to. But today there was nothing. She felt that it was significant and worried that Merlin was planning an attack on the Bishop's caravan. She silently said a prayer that no one would be hurt. She scanned the trees one last time and sighing, headed back down from the wall.

When she passed the guards she acknowledged them with a nod. At first they had questioned her intentions when she went to the wall. Now they took it as a usual occurrence and never questioned her. When she had walked down the steps, she headed toward the tavern. There was always people there and she knew Vanora would probably be there getting ready for the crowd that would be in later when the knights returned. The woman always amazed Laney in her ability to remain calm when Bors was away. It somehow made her feel more secure to be around Vanora whenever she felt worried.

She stepped into the open area that everyone called the tavern. She saw Vanora sitting on a bench gently rocking the baby. As she walked toward her, Vanora looked up. It surprised Laney when she didn't get the usual smile in greeting. "Hello, Van, how's the baby?" she asked. It was her usual greeting since Vanora always held a baby or small child on her lap. "He's fine, are you well this day?" she asked. Laney. The last couple of weeks had been rough for her. She suffered terrible morning sickness, although it didn't always happen just in the morning. Today, though, she had not felt ill at all. Something Lancelot had commented on before he left. "I'm better today. No sickness at all so far."

She sat down on the bench and offered, "Want me to take number eleven for a while? I know you have things to do." Vanora looked at her, "No, for some reason all I want to do today is sit and hold him and keep my other children close by. I guess I just miss Bors." Her voice was wistful and sad. "I know, for some reason I miss Lance more today than usual." She glanced at Vanora's face before adding, "The woods are quiet. Too quiet and that worries me." She expected the other woman to chide her for being silly. Instead she looked around the open space and told Laney, "Usually, there are at least a few Romans here. Today, everyone is staying away form the tavern. Things just don't feel right. I can't explain it, but it worries me as well."

Instead of cheering Laney up, the conversation only made her worry more. She couldn't take it any more. She stood up and patted the baby gently on his head. "I think I'll go for a short walk. Maybe the exercise will keep me from getting so fat as I get bigger." She pretended a laugh, but knew it wasn't convincing. Vanora just pretended one herself. Things were strained and neither woman could explain why. It was just easier to ignore it and pretend things were the same as usual.

Laney stepped through the gate and headed south of the wall. She wasn't really headed anywhere in particular, but after a few minutes she realized she was headed to the woods where she had walked with Tristan her first days at the fort. She needed to be somewhere so she could listen to the world and figure out what was transpiring around her. She didn't know why, but she knew it would be important for her to do this. She stepped into the darker forest but didn't feel any trepidation at being alone. After a few minutes, she stepped up to the log Tristan had placed by the stream. Sitting down, she looked around the small clearing.

The only movement she saw was the stream as it bubbled down its path. She watched for signs of animal life up and down the banks as far as she could see. There was nothing there. Then looking up she realized that even the birds were still and not singing and flicking from branch to branch. "Please, help me. I need to know what is going on." She prayed. When she didn't receive any answer, she put her head in her hands and rested her elbows on her knees. She sighed, "Mother Earth, how can I bring love back to the darkness if I can't understand the signs I see around me?" She wasn't really expecting an answer, but she remembered that Merlin said she was part of this earth and thought maybe she should try to think like she hoped she was supposed to.

Suddenly a mist appeared around the clearing. She watched as it slowly snaked its way to completely engulf her. Instead of being afraid, she felt excitement. She didn't know what the mist represented, but she did know that it held the answers to her questions. She stood up and closed her eyes, her face turned up toward the sky. 'Delaney, my daughter, you know the answer to your question without seeking it. The time is close for you to do as you must. You finally found the faith you need to bring victory to the world of light. Darkness will not prevail if you use the gifts the gods gave you as my daughter. All you must do is call upon the Goddess to help you and your powers will surface in times of great need.' The words were not heard with her ears. She felt them in her heart.

"Oh, Mother, why did you not tell me the truth? You could have answered so many questions that would be of help to me right now." She spoke aloud to the mother she felt engulfing her in what felt like a hug. 'I could not for fear the words would bring the very evil that I had to protect you from. I would not let the death of your father be in vain. He would have been proud of who you have become. You have many of my traits and abilities, but you have your father's love and compassion for all things living. This bonding will serve you when the need arises.'

Laney nodded her head in understanding. Then she heard, 'The man you love is very much like your father. The difference being that your father was not forced to kill the things he loved and believed in for service to someone he did not wish to serve. Your Lancelot holds the compassion in his heart, hidden, just so that he would not have to face the reality of what he has done. You brought out the love he tried to deny existed and when the pain of his life breaks loose from its hiding place, he will need your compassion to survive the horrors he will face.'

Laney felt the tears stinging her eyes. "Oh, Mother, how can I protect him from such pain?" 'You cannot my darling. You can make the pain bearable. You and his son. Should he live through the battle that is coming soon, his son will make him forget all that he has done in the name of Rome.' Laney quickly picked up on the should he live part of the message. "Mother, how can I ensure he will live through this battle. I saw his death. I'm afraid it is something I cannot change. That somehow the only things I can change are the ones I can't see." She waited for an answer, when none came, she called out, "Mother, are you still there? Mother?" She saw the mist lift as though the sun had suddenly appeared under the canopy of trees to burn it from the air and knew her mother had gone.

She let her breath out slowly. She closed her eyes and listened to the sounds of the forest around her. The birds were chirping again and she could hear the rustle of the leaves that proved the smaller animals were again running around the forest floor. With the sounds came a serenity that had been missing from her mind. She knew without a doubt that she now had the ability to do the things she had to do. One of them being to save the man she loved and all her friends. If she could get where she needed to be at the right time, she could save everyone. No one would have to die.

She quickly stood up and headed back to the fort. She knew what she had to do. Where she had to be to do it and surprisingly enough, she now knew how to do it. She hurried along the path, running with renewed strength. If she hurried and left before the sun set today, she would be far enough away that Lancelot would not be able to follow. There was no need for him to be near the danger she was heading toward. She pretended that she wasn't breaking the vow she made to Lancelot. He wasn't here to talk to and if she waited she might be too late.