I find it impossible to open my eyes when someone gently shakes me. Last night, or should that be yesterday? It is all so confusing. Anyway, I slept terribly, and my fitful rest was plagued with nightmares of Corinth.

"My child," a female voice speaks, followed by a masculine voice adding, "Our cousins, the nymphs have returned for you."

Feeling like I have a heavy dose of jet-lag, it takes a tremendous effort to push myself upright. I rub my bleary eyes and the shadowy figures of the dryads slowly swim into focus. Yay, it's dark again.

I begin to wonder whether I will ever see sunlight again. After taking some sustenance, I trudge back towards the river. God, I would do almost anything for a cup of coffee right now.

The moon is valiantly trying to shine through thick cloud cover and gives just enough illumination to highlight the concern etched on the two nymphs' faces. Not really what I want to see.

"We have already scouted out the area and the riverbanks are thick with dark elves," states one of the nymphs.

"Particularly around the castle," the other chips in and causes my stomach to lurch around the leaden lump of dryad bread.

"We risk discovery if we continue as before."

I can't stay here indefinitely but if we move then I risk discovery by Nero's elves. I really don't want to consider what will happen if I'm captured. Despair grips me. "Whatever are we to do?"

"The river is quite deep along this stretch. If we swim along the bottom, then we should be able to pass unnoticed."

"There is a slight flaw in your plan." At her frown, I point out the obvious, "I cannot breathe underwater and there is no way I can hold my breath for that long."

The nymph smiles serenely at me. "We will create a magical ward around you."

Another head bobs up. "Are we ready sisters?"

The thought of being pulled under the dark water terrifies me. However, Nero scares me ever more and there seems no other option. Get a bloody grip, Elle. Do you want to enjoy the hospitality at chez Corinth again? No, well stop being a wimp.

Every cell within me screams as we sink down and the water closes over my head, plunging me into utter darkness. The pressure on my chest increases and my head gets dizzy with a lack of air.

A soothing voice whispers in my ear, "Breathe."

I have to force myself to breathe and inhale heavy, slightly damp air into my screaming lungs. It is disconcerting, a bit like breathing in a steam room. Submerged as we are in the pitch black, the nymph's hands in mine are the only thing anchoring me to reality.

Our bodies skimming close to the riverbed, we move forward at a slow but steady pace, with the third dryad scouting ahead. All the while I grow more and more anxious, deprived of my senses and fearing discovery at any moment.

A slight prickling sensation down my spine grows increasingly uncomfortable and I can't shake the feeling of being watched. Not sure if it's just my paranoia, I glance upwards; light from flaming torches filters down from above.

My blood turns to ice. Stood on the bank, surrounded by guards, is Nero. A mournful howl penetrates the silence.

The nymphs slow down to prevent even the slightest disturbance on the surface. At any moment I expect an arrow to come slicing through the water. Inch by inch, we move forward, and my heartbeat sounds so loud that it must surely attract their attention.

However, after what seems an eternity, we eventually pass back into pitch darkness and leave Castle Corinth behind us.

.......

My time with the nymphs has come to an end and I must make the rest of the way to the elven citadel of Alfheimr by foot. While it has been a tiring and emotionally draining journey, I am ever so grateful to them.

"Thank you so much. I could never have made it this far without your help."

One of the nymphs responds, "Elysium has lost her vitality. Only you can restore the balance."

Moi? I worry about the hope that they are placing in me and the self-doubt must show on my face, for the nymph smiles. "Have faith in yourself. You are the child of nature."

As one, the three nymphs bow their heads before vanishing beneath the water, only a slight ripple any sign of their presence. Without their protecting magic I start to shiver violently. Thanks a bunch, Cosmos, for making me undertake this damned journey in the depths of winter.

I fall into the routine of changing into my dry dress and rub my arms and legs, attempting to get the circulation flowing. Bundling up my sopping travelling clothes, I shoulder my bag and head due north.

The sky lightens from black through shades of grey. However, I'm not even given the reprieve of watching the sun rise, for my path takes me into a forest filled with skeletal looking trees and deep shadows.

I carefully pick my way through, avoiding gnarly roots and icy water dripping from branches. It is bleak and miserable here and I'm filled with an aching loneliness. With no company to distract me, questions buzz unhelpfully around my mind. Is Aren alright? Are the Animages safe? Am I doing the right thing? Will I find my father? Will he want me?

Confronted by a massive fallen tree, I clamber up and sit on the trunk. I'm so incredibly tired. I could just lie here and never move.

There is no sound, but I am suddenly filled with the certainty that there is someone out there. Adrenaline kick-starts my system and I sit bolt upright. Resisting the urge to run, I slip down as quietly as I can and crouch down, hiding under the canopy of the tree's roots.

Heart in my mouth, I peek out through hanging strands of ivy. Moving between the trees is a tall figure in a dark cloak. Have they found me?

The figure turns and I catch its profile. I'm so shocked that I almost forget to breathe. I rise and slide out between the roots. Then I'm running. He turns and catches me as I almost crash into him.

"Darish!" I exhale his name like a prayer before bursting into tears. I cling onto him and bury my head against his chest.

Darish wraps his arms around me and holds me tightly. "Elissa, what is wrong? Are you injured."

I shake my head and finally manage to get out muffled words around the material of his cloak, "I'm just so relieved to see you."

He kisses the top of my head. "And it warms my soul to see you. Though I thought you safe in Arcadia."

"You knew where I was? I wanted to contact you, but I didn't know how."

"I am so sorry, Elissa, I failed you. I should have been there to protect you. We were so worried about Roth that we did not even realise that you were missing until the morn. By the time we knew what had happened you were already under the protection of the Animages."

Memories of the night I was captured rise up and my chest constricts. I pull away from Darish, my eyes wide with alarm. "Roth! You found him? Is he...?" I can't finish the sentence.

Darish steps in quickly to reassure me, "Do not fret, he is well. By rights he should have died. Somehow you neutralised the worst of the poison. Still it took three healers working through the night to save him."

"I did nothing," I protest and then recall the foal I saved, so maybe I did help.

"Roth told Zane that he felt his life slipping away and that he was falling into darkness. He heard your voice calling him back, back into the light."

Darish looks at me with wonder in his eyes, then he hangs his head and I can practically see the guilt eating away at him.

Squeezing his hand, I insist, "It wasn't your fault."

"You fell into Nero's hands!" he laments.

I shudder and try to put it behind me. Instead I focus on happier things and expectantly look around. "So, are Zane and Roth with you?"

Darish shakes his head. "As soon as Roth was strong enough to fly again, they returned to Zane's home. I have not seen them since."

Disappointment lances through me. I would so love to be reunited with them again. Still at least I've found Darish.

"So Darish, what are you doing here?"

"I could not remain in the forest of my youth and I did not feel it my place to follow Zane. I sought guidance from the Great Mother and had a vision of the White Palace at Alfheimr. Thence I travelled and came under the employment of my master."

"Oh! I meant, what are you doing in these woods?" I gesture to our barren surroundings.

"Ah, yes of course. Well, my master directed me to this very spot. He dreamt of a girl and bade that I bring her to the White Palace."

"Really?" I shiver, although I'm no longer cold. "That's strange, for a dream sent me to this place too."

"Then you must be she. I believe that fate has deigned to weave our paths together once more." He offers me a warm smile and his arm. "Come, let us meet your destiny."

................