The message came quicker than he expected, which was a relief to him. He was glad she had at least read the message he sent.

The raven landed on his shoulder and he reached up, untying the scroll. When he saw the glittering golden words he felt a pang of longing awaken within him.

For the first time in a long time he realized that, deep down, he missed her, even if it was a small piece of his soul that longed to see her again. The raven cawed from his shoulder, taking flight as he tied the golden thread around the scroll.

He took the Silver Eagle feather from where it lay in the snow. It shimmered in the reflected light, reminding of how the light sparkled of the Tieling River when the moon was full.

He tucked the feather and the message safely into his cloak, calling for a Dioket. Islande had said she would meet him at the edge of the forest as soon as she could.

Viseron intended to be there when she arrived.

He mounted the Dioket and rode towards the edge of the forest, snow swirling around him. The wind caught the hood of his cloak, pulling it back with icy fingers, the frosty cold biting at his face.

Besides the beat of the Dioket's hooves the forest was quiet. Nothing moved but the twisting dreadwood branches above his head.

Even the voices of the Shadow Magic in his head were quiet, as if it knew what evil walked this forest.

As he neared the edge of the forest he felt her presence, felt her magic like the sun warming his face. She was close.

Viseron stopped the Dioket where the forest ended, the feeling of warmth strengthening as she drew nearer.

Then he saw her. She wore her golden armor, a white traveling cloak flowing from her shoulders.
Her long hair was pulled into a high ponytail, her golden eyes catching the sun as it filtered through the trees.

Her Knights followed behind her, six in total. All of them watched him with suspicious eyes, and he knew they would sooner kill him than trust him.

When Islande saw him he watched as she paused, seeing shock flicker briefly in her eyes, saw her look away from him. Something within his soul stirred to, the piece of him that missed her.

He silenced those emotions, reaching out with his mind. He brushed hers, feeling the warmth of his home, warmth that he had longed for. Warmth he knew he couldn't have.

Come alone. He told her, withdrawing from her mind.

Several long moments passed as she told her Knights silently to wait. Once they had agreed Islande rode forward and Viseron turned the Dioket, disappearing into the forest.

Islande followed, her stallion shying away from the undead horse. His raven followed above him, its shadow gracing the snow.

"You already know why you are here." He said, turning to her.

"I do," she answered, looking him in the eye for the first time in a very, very long time.

Her eyes were still the same deep gold he remembered, but they seemed foreign. Unknown.

"I felt him, here. The same feeling I felt the first time he chose to appear."

"Are you certain?" She asked, searching his gaze.

"I am," he said, secretly hating the formality with which they spoke to one another.

"It was him, I would know how his magic felt even after twenty years."

He saw her look away from him, guilt darkening her eyes.

"Do you have any other evidence, besides just a feeling?" She asked, her voice soft.

"No," he answered, "I don't, but I know what I felt. I know it was him."

Viseron watched her search his gaze, not saying anything. He knew what that gaze meant however.

"You don't trust me."

You are not the same man you once were. Whispered a voice inside his head. Why should she trust a monster?

"I don't know what to believe," she said, "I don't know if I can trust what you have become."

Those words hurt more than any wound ever had, felt like a dagger being driven into his heart. They took his breath away, left him without words.

What you have become.

"If you don't heed my warning there will be no Kingdom left to protect. Please listen to me."

She didn't answer him right away, and he watched as she shifted into the Queen she was. When she looked back at him none of the guilt shone in her eyes anymore.

"I don't know if I can trust the word of a man I no longer truly know. That is all I have, and it isn't enough. I don't want to spread panic if this rumor isn't true. I have a Kingdom to take care of now, and I have to think about them too, not just myself. I can't take words as truth. Show me your memory of this feeling."

Viseron knew he couldn't risk that. Contacting her mind for the brief moment he did had been a risk, a risk he didn't need to take but did. Showing her his memories, allowing her into his mind, would be exposing her directly to the Shadow Magic. That exposure could kill her, and he wasn't willing to risk that, even for this.

He would find another way because he couldn't live with knowing her blood was on his hands.

"I can't," he said, "I can't expose you to the Shadow Magic like that."

Islande was silent, looking at him with a now calculating gaze. He knew she thought that was a convenient excuse. Knew she didn't trust a word he said.

"I can't trust just words," she told him.

"Why would I lie to you?" He asked as she turned her horse away.

"I know you haven't forgotten what I did," she said without turning around, "I know you haven't forgiven me."

This time she looked over her shoulder, locking eyes with him.

"I don't know what motives you may have. All I know is that I can't trust the word of someone I don't know. Who may or may not want to hurt me. Hurt my Kingdom. A Kingdom that shunned and forgot him."

With those words she spurred her horse forward, disappearing into the trees. Viseron watched her go in silence, the warmth he longed for gone in instant, replaced by the familiar silence.

It was then that he was struck with a single thought:

I failed her.

He had failed to convince her of the danger she was in, failed to protect her. Failed her like he had all those years ago.

No matter how much time passed he still managed to fail the one person who might still see him as something more than a myth or monster.

I failed.

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This chapter will definitely be edited (again), it feels a little messy and unpolished to me, you guys can let me know what you think to! Also, Saturdays will be the update schedule I believe so be on the lookout!

-Nightfury107