Ranni and Godwyn lay side by side, as they stared up at the dew-soaked canopy.

"I don't think we ought to tell your brothers," said Godwyn. He rolled to his side. Godwyn spent a moment look at her body, which she immediately covered after he had finished. He brushed a strand of hair from Ranni's face. "Ranni? Are you okay? We hadn't talked about this."

"I'm fine," said Ranni with a slight smile. Her eyes showed an uncertainty about what this all meant. She put her hand on Godwyn's cheek, "I have you."

Godwyn kissed her hand and then scooted to sit on the edge of the bed.

"Probably best we don't mention this to my mother either," he said as he picked up his clothes from off the floor.

When Godwyn handed Ranni her dress, she seemed too disconnected to notice.

"Ranni? Are you sure you're alright? You're not acting yourself right now. If I did something wrong... hurt you in any way," said Godwyn.

"As I said, it's fine, Godwyn. Truly it is."

As they dressed, Ranni wasn't sure what she should say. There was a time when she thought she could talk to Godwyn about anything, but this was different. It wasn't a book or a poem. Or even complaining about her brothers or the tears she shed over her mother.

Godwyn kissed her cheek and said something about how they best not be caught together. And then he left.

When he was gone, Ranni put her head in her hand and cried.

That was three months ago...

The first hard truth that Ranni came to realize was that life didn't stop after she and Godwyn consummated their love. It was only days later that the warden of Morne Castle called for Godwyn to return to deal with a matter involving the servants. Such things were not uncommon from the misbegotten but the warden insisted this was different. Whatever it was that came into Morne Tunnel, brought with it the hatred and anger that it had to be the ghost of the revenger risen from the dead.

Godwyn's assurances that Marika's control over death and life remained firm and that his coming there would resolve nothing seemed to do little.

Godwyn resisted for a whole month, citing that matters at Leyndell needed immediate attention. The truth was, he wanted to stay and take responsibility for the fallout of his actions. Soon, the calls for his return came too great for him to continue to put off. While Ranni understood that the duty of the demigods was to help maintain the faith of mortals, it couldn't have come at the worst possible time. She was grateful for the space to think things over, but overly concerned that he might just choose to stay there.

"These sorts of things have a way of resolving themselves over time," Radagon assured her. They walked through the garden, with Ranni holding her father's arm.

When the silence became unbearable, Ranni broke down and told her father everything. Despite their differences, she had no one else. Rather than becoming angry, Radagon listened. He scolded her a bit for being "foolish" but acknowledged that it was "bound to happen" with her brothers pushing for the wedding to be delayed for their own ambition. Whatever consequences came of it, Ranni had the full support, not of Radagon, the Elden Lord, but of her father.

"Perhaps it would be better we not allow such foolish superstitions to take root in the first place," replied Ranni.

"You're still angry at me and my decision?" Radagon asked.

"Of course I am! Place thy faith in the Golden Order if it pleases thee, but why do so at the expense of others? If the Golden Order is as thou sayest, then the pursuit of my destiny ought not to be a threat to it," said Ranni.

"How long has it been since you were last in Liurinia?" Radagon asked.

"I don't know. It doesn't matter," said Ranni.

"If you cannot remember, then it's been far too long. You should go back. Visit your mother. Consult with your friends."

"Thou has never trusted my friends."

"But you do," said Radagon. He took Ranni by the shoulders and kissed her head. "And I trust you."

"Very well," said Ranni. "But do not expect a big conversion or sudden agreement."

Radagon chuckled, "I would be greatly worried if you suddenly shouted praises to the Golden Order and the Greater Will."

So Ranni returned to Liurinia, but not after she and Blaidd decided to make a detour to the Church of Vows. Miquella was upset when he realized he misplaced his notes, many of which he derived from rare sources of information. He begged Ranni to find him whatever sources she could, so he might at least reclaim his previous research to some degree.

Looking out over the lake only affirmed what her father had told her; that it was far too long since she was last there.

Everything seemed to be sinking. The two rivers were both diverted to flow into the lake, but never out. The cliff faces where the city of Raya Lucaria began to erode, causing many of the buildings to hang precariously on the edge.

Ranni had no idea what any of this might mean in the following decades or even centuries. Worse yet, what to do to stop it. These erosions were caused by the very roots of the Erdtree itself breaking up the land and lapping up the freshwater in the lake while trapping the stagnant water below. And yet, Queen Marika would or could do nothing to prune it back before it sucked away all the nutrients from the soil.

Miriel came from the church. He was slow even for a large tortoise and each step was accompanied by a huff of breath as he dragged his shell along the ground.

"What happened here?" Ranni asked.

"Aggression puts a terrible strain on the balance of the world and Marika's reign had been rife with it," said Miriel. "Even with the fall of her last enemies, I fear she still retains much of her innate nature."

"She was surrounded by champions who enabled her," said Ranni. "Godfrey. My father. Now my brother."

"Of course. Fault can't all be placed on her. Your mother, Rennala, is still the queen of these lands and she too has her own duty to ensure its stability," said Miriel. "I am curious why you're here. Your letter stated you wished me to search the church's archives to assist your brother in his research, but I could have easily had those materials sent directly to either the academy or manor. Is there another reason that you chose to take such a drastic detour?"

"I go to speak with my war counsel and I fear of what may be recommended. I do love Radahn. He taught me to ride a horse in secret when I could barely walk because my mother wouldn't allow it. And Marika had always been good to us in treating myself and my brothers as her own. And that is even a shadow to the love that I bear my dear siblings Miquella and Malenia," said Ranni. "But I cannot ignore that this is a result of her negligence and arrogance.

"And you cannot ignore what she's proven capable of doing even to friends. Or how Radahn's scourge of the stars enables her just as her champions in the past always have. That is always the difficulty with family. We are often looking to find ways to separate how we know them on a personal level and how we interact with them when other stakes are in play," said Miriel.

"Sometimes I wish I could bring them all here, bathe them in that celestial dew ye always go on about and mend this matter."

"That could work if they were willing, but seeing as they haven't, I'm going to have to advise something else," said Miriel. "We can never fully understand anything in this world, only understand it more. Go, speak with Iji. Hear what he has to say. Use powers of discernment to understand between what we wish to be true and what is true."

With those cryptic words, Ranni was to continue on her way. There were portals in the Church of Vows that led both to Raya Lucaria's Academy and the Carian Manor, but Ranni needed to see everything she could. Blaidd was more than capable of protecting her from any casual dangers that slipped under Marika's watch.

Across two bridges that took them by the academy of Raya Lucaria and then on the road that took her home, she went.

All she saw from her journey was what she had already known. It was like wandering an endless road in search of some answers. But Marika had locked those answers away somewhere in her past.

There was a sense of relief when Ranni saw the dark blue tunics of the Carian knights patrolling the roads. They would stop and bow as Ranni and Blaidd rode by. But there was a troubled feeling that surrounded them. There was no pride in their step or laughter in their speech. They showed their respects but stared at Ranni as though in a cautious optimism that perhaps Rennala's daughter had returned to rebuild their house.

And at last Ranni and Blaidd arrived at the Carian Manor, where the royal family resided. Ranni and her two brothers were born here. She stopped counting how many times Radagon told her the story of when he first held her. She imagined he told Radahn and Rykard all about their births as well.

She found Iji, strangely enough on the road outside of the manor, sitting by his anvil with a book in hand. He still wore the mirrored mask to prevent the meddling of the old Fell Gods who his race had once bowed down to. It allowed him to focus enough to grow past his nature and understand the various workings of the universe. The old troll grew a fondness for smithing and reading, but he had a workshop out on the grounds within the manor walls.

He at first didn't seem to see her and Blaidd, as he was often engrossed in his own thoughts. Soon, he closed his book and took a deep breath.

"Ah, I know that face," said Iji.

Ranni smiled, "Hello Iji."

"It is so good to see you here again," said Iji.

"Yes. And I fear I hadn't time much for pleasantries. A matter being rather urgent at this moment," said Ranni.

"Does the princess wish for her knight to escort her through the deep, dark woods," said Iji.

He referred to a game they played when Ranni was a tiny child.

"No, I'm afraid not," said Ranni.

"How about I do anyway? For old time's sake," said Iji. He held out his hand.

"Don't tell me you're going to have me play the big, bad wolf again," sighed Blaidd.

"Is that thy wish?" Ranni asked with a grin.

Iji was anxious to point out how well he maintained the grounds exactly how Lady Rennala would like it. Even with that attention to detail, the manor was already stripped of everything that made it home. And it concerned Ranni that he seemed to refer to her mother in the past tense.

In places like this, good and bad memories all ran together to where it was impossible to separate them. The amusing childhood games played with Iji and Blaidd were undercut with sitting in the library with her brothers and pretending they didn't hear their parent's screaming at each other.

"But I imagine you are not here to discuss the blue flowers," said Iji.

"It's my brother. He has halted the stars."

"I am well aware. And I understand that without a path into Nokron, you cannot progress on your path," said Iji.

"I'm not sure what awaits me in Nokron. That makes it difficult for others to understand," said Ranni. "There are no records of what is there."

"Marika made sure that all knowledge of her rivals civilizations were destroyed along with them. For one who proclaims herself both the first and the last goddess of the Lands-Between, it wouldn't serve her well if that claim could be challenged," said Iji. "It's possible your stepmother is aware what was in Nokron, but it's also equally as possible that it was merely cut off within the madness of her expanding campaigns."

"My good relation with my stepmother had always leaned on me not asking too many questions about her past. In many ways, I would rather forget the entire thing and merely live my life in service of the Golden Order," said Ranni.

"If that is what you want, then you can be assured that Blaidd and I are at your disposal," said Iji.

"I'm not sure. Could I war with my father and brother?"

"You trust me to be honest, do you not? If I were to look at the matter from all angles, it would mean a difficult road for the Lands-Between. There have always been divisions among the various schools of thought, but the recent turn of events, I fear have forced those rifts wide open. Had I been sitting in your father's throne, I might have been forced to make to make the same decision," said Iji.

"I think it's time my mother stop mourning my father's leaving and begin to take up her crown again," said Ranni.

Despite his mirrored mask, Ranni could sense there was something amiss.

"I am not sure your mother would be capable of such a task," said Iji.

"What happened to my mother?

The way Ranni had known her Rennala was as a woman who had maintained her composure even in the worst of times.

There were still challenges from others, of course, particularly her decision to place her family as royalty. Those who doubted her theories and place as head of the academy were often put in place by her fierce wit and force of personality. She made even the highest respected scholars look like fools.

Yet, Rennala managed to maintain respect through the arrangement of free and open dialogue. The entire garden of the manor was converted into a forum where those who wished to talk openly away from the listening walls of Raya Lucaria.

When Ranni walked out to the garden, she was met with a woman who barely resembled herself. Her hair was wild like it hadn't been combed in weeks.

She waded in the freezing water while looking up at the stars. She pleaded to them to release the fates to flow again.

Loretta, the manor guard had grown accustomed to these wanderings, but for Ranni, it was a terrifying sight. The woman who taught her since the day she could walk always look further than what she could see with her own eyes.

"How long has she been like this?" Ranni asked.

"A while, I'm afraid," replied Loretta. "I don't know what happened to start it."

"What words must I speak to the stars for them to listen? Why hideth in thy shroud the path of the moon? It is the moon that holdeth thee!"

"Mother?" said Ranni.

"Resume thy movements!"

"Mother, stop!" said Ranni, grabbing Rennala's shoulders. "Stop! It's Radahn who holds the stars. Radahn, thy son."

Rennala put her hand on Ranni's cheek.

"But Radahn is but a little boy. He rides his little horse through the grounds," said Rennala. She smiled. "What a fair little boy he is with his little horse. He's so tender with that horse."

"Radahn is a grown. As are we all."

"No, my little sweetings are all tucked away in their beds. Their little heads are tenderly resting on their pillows."

Ranni lowered her head.

"Mother, please. Come. Let's go lay down a moment," said Ranni.

"No!" cried Rennala. "My little babies cry. I must go. I must go see them all."

"I'm right here, mother," said Ranni. She took hold of her mother's cheeks and placed her forehead against Rennala's. "I'm right here."

"The moon, like a flower

In heaven's high bower,

With Silent delight,

Sits and smiles on the night." - William Blake Poem