Gwydion, long conditioned to an early wake up time, rose with the sun. It took a moment before yesterdays events caught up with him, doing magic, turning Manannan into a cat, only to find out that he may have been too late. Deciding to put it off a little longer, he went through his normal morning routine of washing in the wash room, feeding the chickens, making breakfast. The first snag he hit was there was no drying clothes from yesterday, he had been in such a rush to make the potions he had just dumped his clothes in a pile and not got around to washing them. Gwydion ended up creeping back upstairs naked, feeling extremely embarrassed, even knowing the only other people (or once were people) were locked in Manannan's bedroom. Once back in his room, he put on an outfit which was slightly too large, but fit fine once he tied the belt a little tighter. It was then back downstairs, and feeding the chickens, cooking breakfast. Out of habit he put aside a plate for Manannan before he caught himself, and then stood there forlornly looking at the plate.

What had he done? He had betrayed his master, the one person (except Medusa) who had even been nice to him. Actually Letholdus was kinda nice in its own way too. And most people in town like the shop keeper seemed pleasant. OK, so Manannan was the first person to be nice to him, and that had to count for something. And now he had gone a ruined it. He would be kicked out, and even the clothes he was wearing would be gone.

Having worked himself into a state, Gwydion angrily wiped the tears from his face. He grabbed the dirty clothes and started to scrub them clean. He had to do it! Manannan would have hurt an innocent baby. And besides if he hadn't and Manannan had brought the baby here, what use would he have had for Gwydion? But he hadn't done it for that! He had done it because it was the right thing to do. He couldn't let Manannan hurt anyone else.

Once he had washed everything clean, including mopping the floor Gwydion straighten his shoulders. He couldn't put it off any longer. He walked up stairs and knocked on Manannan's bedroom door. He felt a little silly straight afterwards, it wasn't like a cat could open the door. But then he heard through the thick door, "Come in Gwydion! Manannan and I have sorted out his little attitude problem!"

Gwydion pushed the door open, "Oh? Really?"

"Yes, yes. He is ready to tell you everything about the little Prince." Letholdus was sitting in the middle of the large bed, and seeing Gwydion walk in, went back to grooming its front paw. The white cat, which he knew was Manannan, was on the floor at the foot of the bed, hunched down as if to be as small as possible, eyes trained on the black cat, Letholdus.

There was a long pause, and Letholdus looked up and at Manannan, and hissed harshly, "Well?"

Manannan seemed to uncurl slightly, and without looking away from Letholdus said, "The Prince is to be taken before the new moon. I have already paid off the maid and seen to the guards. Some of the guards have been paid to absence themselves, and those that haven't been will be given a potent sleeping draught. Once the boy is out of the castle he will be smuggled to the coast, to Port Karlavaegen, where a pirate vessel will take him here. The pirates haven't been paid yet, so I can't say what will happen if the boy gets there before payment arrives. The pirates may ransom the boy back to Daventry, but I doubt it. Anyone involved will have a death sentence over their heads."

"So we need to get the boy before the new moon."

Letholdus huffed, "Thats is in only 4 days time. The trip to Daventry takes around 40 days by even the fastest ship."

Gwydion slumped down on the bed next to Letholdus. Absently, he petted down the thick black fur. He didn't notice the almost longing look in Manannan's eye. "Could we send a letter?"

"Would take even longer." Letholdus' purr was loud in the room.

"So what do we do?"

"There is very little we can do. By the time we get there it will be too late."

Gwydion let himself fall back on the bed. "Maybe Medusa will know something."

"Medusa! You've been talking to that bitch have you?" Manannan hissed.

Letholdus was up and over the edge of the bed in a flash, and Gwydion startled at the hissing and yeowing that followed. Clearly Manannan still had some attitude problems to work out.

Gwydion got up once the sounds had stopped and looked over the bed. Manannan was sitting pressed into one corner, Letholdus in the middle of the room. Gwydion couldn't see any cuts on either one. "I'm going to go see Medusa. You both need to behave."

"Go, we will be fine, won't we Manannan?"

Not waiting for an answer, Gwydion crept out of the room. He decided, just in case, to take the belt of potion bottles with him on his trip to Medusa. He wanted to show her them anyway. He slipped the again empty 'stasis jar' back into the belt. Once equipped he started down the mountain to Medusa's cave. He realised half way that he could come a go when he pleased, he could visit Medusa every day if he wanted. The walk seemed much shorter, the air seemed brighter then ever before.

Medusa's door open for him by magic like always.

"Medusa! I have news!" Gwydion called out.

"Gwydion, it seems like weeks since I last saw you, tell me everything that has happened."

And so Gwydion did, right from finding the letter, getting robbed (and a small break which allowed Medusa to calm down and stop threatening to find the bandits and gut them), making the potions (at which point he showed Medusa the ones in the belt, which she exclaimed over and smiled at him proudly), realising he had to act that night and finally turning Manannan into a cat. Medusa was beaming by that stage and wrapped Gwydion in a massive hug.

"Oh you clever clever boy! You did it!"

"But I was too late! The little Prince is still going to be kidnapped!"

Medusa frowned, "Do you know when?"

"Manannan said by the new moon. Letholdus has been keeping an eye on him."

"That is troubling. Daventry is a powerful kingdom. If they decide to go to war, we will be in trouble."

"War?"

"Why yes, the previous ruler is responsible for kidnapping a Prince. They are well within they rights to declare war on us all, especially you."

"What! Why me? I tried to help!"

"But you are the new ruler of Llewdor."

"No I'm not!"

"Yes, you are child. You defeated the old ruler, which by right of conquest makes you the new one."

"But I'm seven! I can't rule a kingdom!"

"Well you can appoint a regent. Someone who rules in your place until you are old enough."

"Really?"

"Yes, but it must be someone you trust. It's a big responsibility."

"You! I want you to be my regent. That is if you want to. I mean, I trust you, and your my friend. And you know tons of stuff. You would be a great ruler."

Medusa laughed, "I'm not sure how the townsfolk would feel about a monster being their ruler, even if it is only as regent."

"Well if they don't like it they can go elsewhere. You're not a monster. You're my friend. Please Medusa, I don't know how to rule a kingdom! I'll mess it all up." Gwydion clutched at Medusa, staring earnestly up at her.

"Alright, alright. Let me pack a few things and meet up back at the Keep. There is a lot to do."

"What about the little prince?"

"You said before that Manannan could disappear and re-appear didn't you? He must have had some means to go to Daventry quickly in order to arrange all this. You have great magics in you, you managed all the potions on the first try. If you can learn Manannan's transport magic, you could get there before the Prince is kidnapped."

"Medusa! That's a perfect idea. But what if I can't learn it? What if the potions were just a fluke?"

"Then we will think of something else. For now, go and have a walk around your new kingdom while I pack up. We still have a few days."

"OK." Gwydion stood up from Medusa's arms and made his way out of the cave. He waved at Medusa, who was already starting to pack things in large canvases bags.

Gwydion wandered around the dessert for a bit, but the hot midday sun was burning down, and so he made his way back towards the forests. Turning north instead of south to the track up to the Keep, he rested the waterfall and its dancing pools. As he watched the sun shine on the water he suddenly realised that Medusa was coming to visit his home! He laughed happily, a friend was coming over to visit him! Maybe he should cook dinner? Thats what people did wasn't it, when friends visited?

Gwydion stood, stretching out his back and continued around the mountain, thinking about what he could cook for Medusa. Rounding the bed in the river his eye caught the large spider web again. Gwydion paused watching the massive spider, sitting in its web absolutely still. If this was his kingdom he should do something about that spider. But he didn't want to kill it. The spiders from Before has been his only company on the long dark nights in the cupboard. Gwydion frowned, maybe he had something? He thought about the stasis jar, which would be perfect, he could take the spider somewhere away from people. But the spider was way too big to fit. Gwydion hit himself in the head when he remember he had made a shrinking potion. Now all he had to do was get some on the spider, then catch it in the jar before the potion wore off.

Watching the spider carefully, a crept closer, now with the lime green potion in hand, stopper in his pocket and stasis jar in his other hand. In a weird jerking motion, he flicked the potion at the spider. Most hit the web, but one or two drops hit the spider. It jerked, and cittered at him, "What's this? What's this?" as half the web rapidly shrunk down from the size of his finger to the size of normal web. The spider was also shrinking, but not as fast, causing it to skittle to one side, trying to hold on to the undamaged web. Gwydion darted forward and before the spider could run out of sight, scooped the now fist sized spider into the jar. No doubt if it hadn't been confused from the sudden change in size he wouldn't have had a chance, but the spider was now in the jar. He juggled the lid and the still open potion bottle, loosing more potion on the ground as he flipped the lid closed. It sealed with a hiss of air, but to Gwydion's surprise the spider didn't freeze like he expected. It was waving its front legs at Gwydion and he could hear it's now tiny voice shouting, "What have you done?! Why am I now small? Let me out!"

Gwydion shook his head, and placing the jar on the ground said, "Sorry, but its not safe to have you here." He capped the jar of shrinking solution again. "I'll find you somewhere nice, away from people."

"The oracle made you do this, didn't he? That old coot!"

"What oracle?"

"The one inside my cave! I've been waiting for him to come out and fall into my web so I can eat him, but the old coot just sits there all the time staring at his glass ball. It's not good enough! I'm hungry!" The spider sound so pitiful at the end, that if it hadn't been talking about eating someone Gwydion may have felt sorry for it. He picked up the jar and shoving it back in the belt said, "I'll find you some food later."

Finding a stick that had somehow managed to not be miniaturised by his uncoordinated attack, Gwydion cleaned the rest of the web away. Looking at the silky thread he considered, then scrapped them off into one of his empty vials. Spider thread may coming in handy for something. Gwydion made his way into the dark cave.

From the darkness a voice echoes, "I've been waiting for you a long time, Gwydion. I have sorrowful news for you."

As Gwydion ventured deeper into the cave a opening came into view. A clear, polished ball of crystal rests upon a stone dais. Within it, Gwydion could see a kaleidoscope of bright colours and flashing lights, occasionally blurred by dark, ominous shadows. Clearly, Gwydion had entered the cave of the Oracle. The Oracle himself (herself?) was an image shimmered indistinctly above a crystal ball, vague and indistinct. Gwydion was almost afraid to speak. "How did you know my name?"

The Oracle remained silent for a long time. Finally, Gwydion heard a hollow voice that seems to come from far away, "Behold the crystal ball! Through it the universe is revealed to me."

To Gwydion that was a little creepy, but he decided he couldn't really do anything about it any way. Within the ball, the medley of colours swirled together to form a vision of a dragon with three hideous heads. Then, the image changed to reveal a young beautiful blond girl, crying. Gwydion's heart went out to her. "Years ago, a terrible three-headed dragon invaded Daventry, and keeps the people in a state of terror. This monster requires, once a year, a sacrifice. A young maid is the chosen one this year. This truly terrible, as the maiden is in fact the young Prince's nurse. Time is running out for her, and she knows it. Unless she receives passage away, she will be sacrificed. But your heroic actions will lead her to a terrible choice. She will plan to sacrifice the Prince in her place, unless someone stops them. You, Gwydion," the hollow voice continued, "are the only one who can save them. But, you must hurry! I have something to give you...a small stone of amber. Use it to travel there, my friend."

The Oracle fall silent again, and seems to fall into a deep sleep. The light from the crystal flicked, and then disappeared. Only the distant sunlight from the caves mouth now filled the cave. On the pedestal where the crystal ball once stood was a beautiful reddish-yellow smooth stone of amber, the size of Gwydion fist. Gwydion quickly picked it and backed out of the cave, before running all the way back to the Keep.

He got back and put the belt on his bed. Medusa wasn't there yet, and both cats had disappeared somewhere. As the old women had deliver a huge box of apples 4 days ago, Gwydion decided to cook an apple pie for dessert, and because he could make some apple sauce, a pork roast.

He spent the rest of the afternoon cooking, waiting for Medusa.

"Hello the Keep!" Medusa's voice echoed from the front of the Keep, and Gwydion, having set finished cooking some time ago, run excited to the door.

"Medusa! Is that everything?" Gwydion looked in shock at the two large bags in each of Medusa's hands.

"Of course. You should know by now that a bag can hold much more the you think."

"Oh, of course."

"I left behind most of my delicate plants, they can't be moved easily, and I will need to visit them regularly. But as for the rest, well, if I'm to be your regent I thought I should bring it all. The mountain has always been were the rulers of Llewdor have lived."

"Here, let me take one."

"Oh no, I'm alright. Now lead the way."

After being distracted by watching Medusa make her way up the stairs with a gliding side to side motion, Gwydion hesitated. Should he put Medusa in Manannan's old room? He wasn't sure if she would like that, so at the top of the stairs Gwydion said, "There are two bedrooms, the smaller is mine, and I was going to give you Manannnan's old room if that's alright?"

Medusa put the two trunks down and looked Gwydion in the eye, "No Gwydion I don't think that will do at all."

"There's the tower too… if you want that? Or the study? I mean I can move the books somewhere?"

"No Gwydion, that's not what I meant. You need to take Manannan's old room. It's the largest, and is meant for the King. I will take your old room."

"But my room is the smallest! I can't make you stay there!"

"Come now silly, you have seen my caves. What would I do with all the open space? I'd much prefer a smaller cosy room I think. Now," Medusa headed down the hall and opened Gwydion door, "Yes, this will do nicely."

Gwydion tried to protest again, but Medusa simply started to go through his draws, piling his clothes on the bed and clucking at their worn state, before picking them up and carrying down the hall to the master bedroom. There she signed loudly when she saw the decor, muttering about tasteless old wizards, before putting the clothes on the bed, and then forcing Gwydion to put all the too small and too large clothes in a pile, which she would take to town to sell. Medusa informed Gwydion he would need a new wardrobe, one fit for his new status. Gwydion kept his objections to himself, sensing he wouldn't win. By the time Medusa was done, Gwydion had been moved into the master, and his old room was a den of pillows and throws, the old bed and cupboards having been moved into the tower, for storage and 'for the cats to sleep on', which Medusa said with a definite sniff.

Gwydion escaped at some point and warmed up everything for dinner, before setting the table for two, the first time he had done so since coming to Sierra. They had a wonderful meal together, Medusa praising Gwydion's cooking enough to make him blush. While they ate at the table, Gwydion had also put some of the pork on two plates and put them on the other bench seat to feed the cats. Manannan seemed to have no problems scarfing the food down like always, despite his new form.

"Alright, I think it is time to discuss everything. Manannnan and Letholdus please sit where I can see you."

Letholdus and Manannnan jumped onto the table top, while Gwydion sat down again next to Medusa after putting the plates to one side.

"Very well," Medusa looked seriously between the two cat and Gwydion, "Gwydion will need to translate, as I can not understand cat. You can understand me of course?"

"Yes."

Gwydion nodded for the cats.

"We must decide what to do about the Prince."

"Why exactly do we need to do anything?" Letholdus asked.

"We have to!" Gwydion shouted.

Medusa cut across before Letholdus could responded, "We need to do something to stop any reprisals. Gwydion is now the King by conquest and he must…"

Manannan hissed, "What! A slave can't rule!"

Gwydion repeated his comment while Manannan continued to rant. "You betrayed me for power!"

Medusa was beaten this time by Letholdus, "You have no say! Now be quiet."

Manannan's mouth snapped shut immediately.

"As I was saying, he must act if only to prevent war. If he doesn't and it becomes known he let the Prince be kidnapped then Deventry is well within their rights to destroy us. With the poor state of the land due to Manannan's actions, we could not defend against that."

Manannan was rigid, clearly wanting to argue but unable to due to Letholdus's command.

"We know it will be in 4 days time, when the ship which is meant to carry the Prince away will sail. We will need to travel there before then. Manannan, you were able to set it up, so you must have a way of traveling easily."

Letholdus said, "Go ahead."

Manannan sneered, "The spell is complex and requires a strong will and even greater magic. One must have traveled there before, marked a location in mind and then will themselves there at the exact moment of sunrise. You have blocked my magic from me, I can not do so."

Gwydion repeated and then added, "and neither Medusa or I have been there."

Medusa sighed, "There must be another way."

Gwydion frowned, and the memory of what had happened early rushed in, as if it had been hidden before. "Oh, I forgot to tell you. I found an oracle. He was a little strange, hiding a in a cave in the forest. He said the prince's handmaid has been picked to be given to a dragon, and that I had to stop it. He gave me this stone. He said I could get there with it."

"Really? Oracles are very powerful. Tell me exactly what they said."

So Gwydion recounted the encounter, including with the spider.

After the tale Medusa said, "He if gave you something it would defiantly work. Do you have it on you?"

Gwydion shook his head, and went and got it from his new room, the belt now hanging up on a hook just for it. Placing the stone on the table, Manannan's sharp inhale was not missed by Medusa, "You know what this is, don't you Manannnan?"

After a look from Letholdus, Manannan nodded and said, "Yes, it is an Amber stone. There is a spell which will transport the holder of an amber stone to the location of tree the stone was made from. It still requires a user to be magically powerful, but the spell is relatively simple, and in one of my books in the cellar."

Gwydion excitedly repeated to Medusa the information.

Medusa smiled at the boy, "I guess all hope is not lost after all. Tomorrow we must do many things to confirm both your rulership and my regency. We will also find the book and Gwydion, you will need to practice the spell."

"Wait, why should I go? Wouldn't they listen to you better?"

Letholdus's laugh made Gwydion blush in embarrassment, even if he didn't know what he had said. "No. They will not listen to Medusa. In fact they would no doubt blame her, if they didn't kill her on sight."

"Oh."

Medusa shook her head. "They would not listen to me Gwydion. I think perhaps well should all get some rest. Good night Gwydion, Letholdus." Medusa eyes flicked over Manannan as she rose and glided from the room. Gwydion bid both cats good night and followed. Before he got into bed he saw the jar with the spider. He back tracked to the kitchen and got a strip of cooked roast. Both cats where gone, Gwydion assume to bed in the tower. The spider was sitting still in the jar. Gwydion considered whether he should just drop the food in, or try and talk to the spider. He muttered, "I'm going to give you this meat, don't try and escape."

The spiders legs twitched, "Finally remember me did you? Fine."

Carefully he unscrewed the lid and flicked the strip of meat in before slamming the lid shut again, not giving the spider a chance to change its mind. The meat stopped halfway in the jar, and Gwydion realised that the spider had spun its webs across the jar.

That night it took some time to sleep, the bed too soft, the room to large. Despite everything, Gwydion still felt comforted by the thought of Medusa close by, and hopefully, a solution to the problem of the Prince.