A/N: This chapter took me all day to write, it just did not want to be written.

So a lot of information to process in this chapter oh and bold means talking inside heads, because awesome people have voices in their heads.

Disclaimer: I don't own nothing

Ari had been at Avalon for a few days now settling in and meeting many great creatures including Neitha an elf who had been gifted with the Sight when she was living and had been granted access into Avalon for the good she had done, Casulfel a unicorn who had died protecting his mate and child and her soul familiars Silmeranna and Anarya. Her familiars were dire wolves, the creatures chosen by the dragons to protect those who practice magick and sought refuge on Avalon when the witches and wizards turned against the dragons. Silmeranna was a pitch black wolf with hints of silver in his fur that glimmered when he ran whereas Anarya was a pure white wolf with hints of red in her fur that glimmered when she ran. The two wolves hadn't left Ari alone since meeting her and upon being told why Ari had accepted them with open arms. Ari was laid on her four poster bed in a room that reminded her strongly of the dorms in Hogwarts, sighing she rolled over and as she absently petted Silmeranna she thought back to when she first arrived.

Flashback

Ari got off the boat filled with many emotions that she felt like running away and hiding under a rock never to be seen again. In fact she was sure she would have bolted if Toga hadn't wrapped his arm securely round her shoulders and led her firmly through the shimmering gates giving one last wave goodbye to Nimue.

"I know you're scared but you need to do this." Toga said softly.

"Scared? Scared doesn't even come close to what I'm feeling, what am I supposed to think Toga? I have just been told my sword is Excalibur and now I have to go through rigorous training to actually do what I'm supposed to with it not that I know what to do with it anyway." Ari said exasperatingly.

"Let's just take each day as it comes and not worry about the future for now," Toga said gently. "You are worse than Sesshoumaru when he first started training, he was scared stiff."

"So you mean he wasn't always the 'I am almighty' person he thinks he is." Ari asked laughing at the image of Sesshoumaru running away from his trainer with a frightened high pitched scream.

"No and don't let fool you into thinking he was as cool as he is now. He begged me to stay with him when he first met his instructor and was so scared and worried he kept dropping the sword he was given to practise with." Toga said and when Ari started laughing uncontrollably he uttered a quiet. "Mission accomplished." Toga led her to the main courtyard which was suspiciously devoid of people except for a man who stood near the fountain.

"Welcome," The man stated spreading his arms to emphasise the welcome, he had light brown hair and brown eyes. He stood as tall as Toga which Ari thought was very unfair and she suddenly realised what it felt like to be a hobbit. His clothing was medieval and regal and upon his head was a golden crown. "I am Arthur and I will your sword trainer Arianna Potter, heir to the throne of Avalon."

"Wait, Arthur as in King Arthur?" Ari asked.

"Yes but I am no longer a King I gave up that title when I died." Arthur said with a small smile.

"Can I hug you?" Ari asked her face completely serious whilst Toga just laughed.

"Um well I guess you can...I have no idea why you'd want to." Arthur said eyeing the girl peculiarly.

"Why? Why would I not? You're freaking King Arthur." Ari said grinning as she skipped over to him and hugged him tightly. "Hermione is going to be so jealous when I tell her."

"Yes well now that that is out of the way I shall give you a tour and you will meet your other instructors." Arthur said looking extremely put out.

"Other instructors? Wait back up a minute after you said my name you said heir to the throne of Avalon what the hell is that supposed to mean?" Ari said frowning.

"Let us move to the meeting room inside the castle and I will explain." Arthur said gently and led the young witch and Daiyoukai inside the castle. It was a pretty standard castle with medieval style carpets and wall decorations. Ari was pleased to note that the armoured statues moved and bowed when they passed, it was just like being at Hogwarts except she noticed with some disappointment that the portraits didn't move.

Arthur gave them a small smile as he opened the door to the meeting and Ari couldn't help but grin as she spotted the round table in the centre of the room. There were four men sat at the table talking quietly when they arrived, they looked similar in features with the same blonde hair and green eyes but they were each wearing different coloured robes. They smiled welcomingly as Ari and Toga sat down, Arthur poured them a drink as he too sat down.

"Well then before we start with the rest of the introductions I wish to explain a few things. " Arthur started. "Once your training is completed and there is nothing more we can teach you then you shall be able to return to your body. Your sword training shall be done by me as I was the previous master of Excalibur but your magick training will be done but the four gentlemen you see before you."

"I already know how to use my magic." Ari stated confused.

"Yes but in order to claim the throne of Avalon and become Queen as is your destiny you need to let go of your magic and become intertwined with old magick." Arthur said.

"Let go of my magic what do you mean by that?"

"The magic you hold now is due to the evolution of witches and wizards, it's a baser form of the magic once performed by those gifted by the dragons. When the dragons perished the magic they used was forgotten, so those born with magic were taught a less advanced form of magic which is why you need a wand to perform the spells. If you let go of the constraints around your magic then you can achieve the necessary state to master old magick." Arthur told her and Ari nodded in understanding.

"Old magick is basically the control of the elements fire, water, earth and air but it is so much more than that. I cannot teach you this myself for I do not have magick which is why these gentlemen who are all brothers will be training you to master each of the elements. These brothers were the first to be trained by the dragons and as such they have a stronger connection to old magick. If you would each introduce yourselves."

"I am Linde," Said the one wearing the grey robes and Ari got the impression that he was very wise. "I am the master of the element of air, I will be teaching you first as the element of air is the fastest to learn for air is all around us and unlike earth it is not living and thus easier to control. I will also be teaching you to let go of the constraints on your current magic."

"I am Ambar," said the one wearing the green robes, Ari got the impression that this guy was very serene and peaceful. "I am the master of the element of earth, I will be teaching you second as earth is somewhat difficult to master because it involves living organisms but it is easier than say water or fire."

"I am Linque," Said the one wearing the blue robes and Ari knew she was going to love training with him especially with the mischievous look in his eyes. "I have the honour of teaching you the element of water when you're done with Ambar. Water is a hard thing to control because it is not a solid substance and flows where it may therefore it is harder to manipulate it to go where you want but you're lucky to have such a master like me at your disposal."

"I am Narwa," Said the one wearing red robes and Ari instantly held a feeling of dislike towards him. "Obviously I'm going to teach you how to master fire. Fire is the hardest element to master so don't expect me to go easy on you, fire is the most volatile substance and should not be taken for granted. I will expect your undivided attention in our lessons and nothing but the best."

Ari felt like crossing her arms and sticking her tongue out childishly, he was worse than McGonagall and her discipline. She saw Linque pull a face at him as he retreated from the room and she burst out laughing, Linde and Ambar however just shook their heads and retreated from the room too.

"Don't mind Narwa, he's just stuck up on the fact that his element is the hardest to master," Linque said smiling widely at Ari. "But between you and me, my element is the most fun. It's not often I get to teach a pretty little thing like you."

"That's enough Linque, she is already taken in the living realm and I can honestly say I wouldn't like to be you if he found out." Arthur said as Ari blushed heavily.

"Oh I know, I know," Linque said laughing. "But there's no harm in complementing a pretty girl especially when she blushed so fetchingly."

End flashback

Ari grinned from her position of petting Silmeranna, Linque was so funny, she had run into him every day since her introduction to him and found him to be a very good friend just as she had predicted. She had even helped him pull a prank on Narwa; the fire elemental had been practising with a fire blade and Ari had distracted Narwa whilst Linque had frozen the blade. They had both run from the scene laughing whilst Narwa threw fireballs at their retreating forms. Ari looked up as Anarya prowled into the room her tail swinging back and forth happily.

'You seem happy mistress' Anarya said.

"Oh I'm just reflecting on the past couple of days." Ari said laughing as Anarya jumped on the bed and licked her face.

Flashback

"This is the dire wolf sanctuary; I won't take you in there because they don't like those with magic to be near them. It's nothing personal they just haven't been the same since the dragons perished." Arthur told Ari as they stood outside the converted barn. Ari could the yips and growls coming from inside.

"Silmeranna and Anarya are the current leaders, Silmeranna being the alpha and Anarya his mate and beta. They are particularly vicious those two." Linque said as he joined the group. "Want to see?"

"Don't you dare go in there and provoke them Linque." Arthur said but Linque just grabbed Ari's wrist and pulled her inside dodging out of Toga's grasp laughing merrily.

"Are you sure we should be here Linque?" Ari asked well aware that it had gone quiet in the sanctuary.

"Um well I didn't really take into account the fact that you have yet to adapt to our way of magic yet so they probably hate you a lot more than they hate me." Linque said rubbing the back of his neck guiltily.

"Oh well thanks for telling me that after we enter the place, I think I'll leave now." Ari said turning back to the entrance only to find it blocked by a pitch black dire wolf who growled threateningly at her.

"Now Silmeranna there's no need to be hasty, Arianna was just leaving." Linque said carefully and Ari heard a growl from behind her, turning she saw a pure white wolf stalking towards her.

"I'm guessing your Anarya." Ari said weakly as Linque used his element to try and get Silmeranna away from the door, but the water didn't affect the dire wolf who merely growled in response.

"Listen Ari, I'm going to go get the others as only the four elements combined can stop them." Linque said and before Ari could protest he disappeared in a whirlpool of water leaving Ari with two very angry wolves.

"Please don't hurt me," Ari whimpered. "I'm sorry for what my ancestors did to you. I'm sorry for what happened to the dragons and for what happened to you."

The wolves growled and snapped at her before they crouched low and lunged at her. Ari shrieked and through herself to the ground covering her face behind her arms desperately hoping someone would come save her. It felt like she had been on the floor for hours before she realised that the wolves would have reached her by now, Ari frowned and wondered if Linque had returned with the other and stopped the wolves from eating her. Looking up she saw that she had not in fact been saved by the elementals but a shield the shimmered grey, green, blue and red had formed protectively around her. The wolves had lain on the floor ears pressed back whimpering in what Ari could only assume was submission, she heard the others enter the room and gasp at the scene before them.

"Ari, you need to stand up," Linde said slowly. "You need to acknowledge their submission."

Ari slowly rose from the ground and as she did the shield disappeared and she walked cautiously over to the wolves and gently placed her hand on each of their head and gaining confidence she slowly petted them.

"I do not need your submission," Ari spoke to them disregarding the others in the room as she bowed low to ground before to two wolves. "I want no one's submission least of all such beautiful creatures like you. What I want is to be friends, so I beg of you can we please be friends?"

'We are the ones that should be begging you mistress. We did not realise you were our mistress the commander of all four elements' It was Silmeranna that spoke and Ari jerked and looked towards the elementals but realised they couldn't hear the wolves for it was spoken in her head.

'Indeed mistress, we apologise for trying to attack you. We have been waiting a long time for you, we are your soul familiars.' Anarya spoke softly.

"Soul familiars what are they?" Ari asked curiously.

'Soul familiars are creatures that belong to certain types of powerful beings. Our souls are connected and because of that we can speak to each other like we are doing now and it allows us to become stronger because the pack has gotten bigger.' Anarya replied.

End flashback

Ari snuggled into Anarya as she thought about Sesshoumaru wondering how he was and if he had found her body yet. She missed him and her heart ached for him, it had been a lot harder on her now that she had come to terms with her feelings for the Daiyoukai.

'He is a handsome thing isn't he? I can see why you would allow him to mate you, he will give you strong healthy pups. Even if he is a dog' Anarya said giving a barking laugh when Ari blushed.

'Handsome? I'm the only one you should find handsome I'm your mate.' Silmeranna growled.

'Oh hush you can't blame me for looking at someone as fine as that.' Ari swore Anarya would have rolled her eyes is she could. Ari went to sleep that night with laughter in her eyes and love in her heart.

A/N: So a lot of weird names and they're all Elvish because the Elvish language is awesome, here is what they mean:

Silmeranna - Silver moon pronounced Sil-may-ra-nai

Anarya - Sunny day pronounced An-ai-ra-ya

Linde - Air pronounced Lin-dai

Ambar - Earth pronounced Aem-bai-rir

Linque - Water pronounced Lin-qu-ai

Narwa - Fiery/fire pronounced Na-rai-wa

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