THE CAMPFIRES OF THE MASSIVE Goblyn army spread out from the forbidding tower of Ravens Bane, down towards the rushing rain-swollen waters of River Coblyn. Across the stream Elven sentries crouched in watchful readiness, awaiting any signs of another assault.

Night had fallen, and after the attacks earlier in the day neither side had ventured forth. Instead, they had consolidated their positions, gathered their forces and waited for each other to make the next move.

Pockets of fire still burned at the edge of the battlefield, remnants of the earlier bombardments. In among the smouldering wreckage of their war machinery Trolls toiled in the mud and rain, desperately trying to salvage what they could. Grunts and guttural shouts rose from those gathered around the fires and from somewhere in the vast camp, a Goblyn shaman called upon whatever gods they worshipped to grant them victory in the impending battle.

Earlier, from her position on the hill above Whytewytch Wood, Danielle looked out across the whole of the valley. Slowly the fields and roadways she knew faded away as Ravengaard's magic somehow wound back time to a corrupted version of how it looked long ago. A land of vast forests and rolling hills. Now, in the darkness and relentless rain, she shivered and gathered the Elven cloak tightly around herself. According to the Elves, if not stopped soon, then the magic would spread until the whole land was returned to its ancient past.

She glanced towards the small hidden campfire where Jessica curled up fast asleep. George was also trying to get some rest but without much success. She guessed the situation also troubled him.

'You really should get some sleep whilst you can,' said Meriol who sat beside her. 'We cannot accomplish anything until first light.'

'I doubt I will be able to sleep,' Danielle said softly. 'I'm worried about our Mum and Dad. Do you think we'll ever see them again?'

'Of course, you will,' answered the Elven Princess. 'If all goes well, once the others are in position we will reverse the spells and all will revert to normal.'

'But what if things don't go right, what will happen then?' Danielle asked anxiously.

'Do not despair...nothing will go amiss,' Meriol assured her, although Danielle could tell from the hesitation in her voice that the Princess was worried. She told the children what they needed to hear. But with nothing heard from General Rythorn since he returned to the Dwarf city. He had not returned with his army as promised. It was possible they decided to remain in Annwn Deep, hoping that Ravengaard would not seek them out.

They will not let us down, Danielle told herself.

She looked out across the Goblyn encampment to the forest beyond. She thought of the Elves hidden in the trees. Waiting.

She had seen the attacks of that afternoon and evening, seen the damage done to Ravengaard's mighty army.

Perhaps there was a chance after all.

She hoped nothing had happened to Malin; she knew he would be heavily involved in the action. She had seen the way Meriol looked at him and knew she was fond of him.

'Come, try and get some rest,' the Princess whispered from beside her.

Together they made their way back to the campfire. Danielle would try and get some much-needed sleep. But somehow she doubted that it would come easily.

The new day dawned grey and misty over the Warlocks Chair. Light rain continued to fall. Out over the far horizon lightning flashed, followed moments later by the distant rumbles of thunder.

Danielle sat huddled against the rain, still wrapped in her Elven cloak.

She was thoroughly miserable now, tired, wet and hungry. It seemed like days since they had set out to find the Dwarves.

The trees stood grey and damp in the swirling wraiths of mist that ribboned the valley floor. In the midst of it all, the great bulk of Ravens Bane thrust skywards. Flickers of light still pulsed within its walls and directly above the clouds roiled thick and black as the dark matter spewed into the atmosphere feeding the malevolence which hung there. Spreading its foulness out into the world around it.

Beneath its ramparts, the Goblyn army begun to stir. Above the clamour of armour and weapons being readied, she heard the shouts of Goblyn commanders giving out their orders.

She stood and looked out over the valley, hoping to detect some sign of civilization, but there was none. The world they knew was being reborn. The forest seemed to have spread even further during the night. Coblynbridge, which should have been visible from their position, had disappeared as if it had never existed.

What had become of the people that lived and worked there?

Even Ceridwen's cottage, its smoking chimney usually visible had vanished from among the trees.

She wondered what would happen if the magic continued to spread and reached Ludlow and the other towns and villages. What about her Nan and aunts and uncles and all the other people that lived in the area?

No! Danielle chided herself, she needed to believe they could stop it, reverse the magic and set everything back the way that it was.

Beside her, George and Jessica began stirring. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, George sat up.

'Any change?' he asked hopefully.

Danielle shook her head, 'Nothing. No word from Eldon, Holt or the Dwarves.'

George stood and stretched; pulling his cloak tighter around himself he joined his sister.

Danielle gazed down into mist and half-light of the valley and could just make out ragged lines of Goblyns forming up around Ravens Bane. Thousand upon thousands of them, ready to push out into the surrounding countryside.

In the dark recesses at the base of the keep's walls, she could see movement. Heavily muscled Trolls, their bodies gleaming with sweat, tugged on thick chains, trying to drag something out of the shadows. Reluctantly the thing moved out into the murky daylight. A demon from The Dark Domain. It walked on four muscular legs, its huge feet armed with razor claws raking the ground as it moved. An elongated reptilian body, covered in red scales, twisted against the chains threatening to pull the Trolls off their feet. It shook its wide spiky head, yellow eyes flashing with anger. A black forked tongue flicked out between rows of needle-like fangs, sampling the air. With its long, spiked tail whipping through the air behind it, the creature roared its fury out across the valley floor.

Other Trolls raced forward carrying long prods which crackled with energy. They jammed them against the beast's flanks, bright blue sparks arced across its hide, forcing it to move forward.

Another of the draconic creatures followed. Trolls dragged and prodded at it. One Troll lost its footing in the mud and fell, releasing the chain it held. Before the others could react, the lizard demon was on him, there was a crunch of flesh and bone and the Troll disappeared into the creature's gaping maw. Another Troll raced forward to grab the chain, wrestling to bring the creature under control.

Even as they watched, a Goblyn, larger and more muscular than the others, strode to the demon's side. It snatched one of the energy prods from a Troll and reaching for the straps of a harness mounted on the creatures back, hauling itself up into the saddle. Grasping the chains attached to its massive jaws, the rider touched the prod to the beast's flanks spurring the creature forward.

The Goblyn lines parted in fear as the demon pushed through and moved out onto the battlefield and the forest beyond.

Meriol came running up and stood with them.

'Wyverns!' she said with a gasp. 'They are the most savage of creatures. If they manage to reach our lines, we will be hard-pressed to overcome them. The Goblyn mounted on its back must be one of the commanders.'

Danielle glanced sideways at her. The Princess looked tired, her short blond hair plastered to her head by the rain. He saw the sadness in her eyes. Things did not look good, he thought. If the Elves fell before help arrived that would probably be the end of it. There would be nothing to prevent the spread of the corruption she saw before her.

Ravengaard would have won.

'I need to get down there,' George suddenly blurted out. 'I can help fight those things.'

Danielle gasped and shook her head. 'No George. You're not going. We have already helped enough. We need to stay safe.'

'Nowhere will be safe if Ravengaard wins this battle,' George argued.

'I know,' Meriol said sadly. 'But if you really want to help, you and your sisters can go to Ceridwen's cottage, see if she is safe. Ravengaard thinks you are dead, buried in Annwn Deep. He has no reason to think otherwise. When the time is right, we will give him the surprise of his life.'

George nodded his agreement. 'I suppose it makes sense. You could come with us.'

Princess Meriol shook her head. 'Not yet. Someone needs to remain here to await the Dwarves return. You go to Ceridwen. With her home warded by magic, it should not have been affected by Ravengaard's dark stain just yet. Take the Daybringer to her. She will then have three of the artifacts, we just await the one Holt has. Keep them safe, tell her all that has befallen us. She will know what to do.'

'Okay,' George said reluctantly. 'We'll do that for you. But you must promise me you will not get involved in the fighting while we're gone.'

Meriol smiled at him, seemingly touched by his concern for her. 'Do not worry, I will keep clear of the battlefield,' she answered.

Deep rhythmic drumming started from somewhere in the valley, they could almost feel the vibrations through the soles of their boots.

'War drums!' Meriol called out. 'They are starting their attack.'

Down in the encampment, a great cry went up from the Goblyn ranks, weapons rattled against shields and as one, the army moved forward.

The Princess called Danielle, George, and Jessica together.

'Go now,' she pointed to the pathway that led around the side of the hill. 'This will take you down to the edge of the forest, from there you can follow the stream. If the magic has not transformed the landscape too much, then it should lead you to the clearing and Ceridwen's cottage. Use the ring of the Unseen it will show you the way.'

Danielle hugged Meriol, telling her that she would see her again soon. Then they each collected up the few possessions that had survived the journey. George strapped the leather pouch containing the Daybringer to his back, and they started for the pathway that led down from the hill.

Just before the path dipped out of sight, they stopped and looked back. Meriol still stood there watching them go, she raised a hand and waved, then turned and walked back to the encampment where the remaining Dwarves waited.

'Are you okay Jess,' Danielle asked her sister as she led them down the pathway. It was steep here, where it followed the stream that tumbled down through the rocks towards the valley. The rain and mist made the path slippery, and they had to watch their footing.

'Yes. If you don't count being tired, wet and hungry,' came the reply from just behind her.

Despite herself, Danielle smiled, she might be the youngest but sometimes Danielle felt her youngest sibling was the toughest of the three of them.

'We will find Ceridwen's Cottage soon, then we can rest, dry out and hopefully get something to eat,' Danielle told her.

'Then we really need to sort out all those evil Wizards and Goblyns,' Jessica said. 'They are really getting on my nerves now. I just want to go home.'

George laughed. 'I think that makes...' he stopped, pointing towards something caught his eye.

'Down,' he called quietly.

They pressed themselves against the bleak hillside, crouching among the rocks. Hoping the mist and rain would hide them.

'Up there,' George whispered.

They followed his gaze.

Up above in the low-lying cloud and swirling rain, something moved. The beast's body appeared to have a covering of silver-grey feathers that glistened in the rainwater. Dark bat-like wings flapped as it swooped lower, its long tail acting as a rudder. The creature glided across the hillside, its large hooded eyes, set in a hawk-like head, swivelled about searching the ground below.

They caught a glance of a Goblyn sat on its back, strapped into some kind of harness. Hunched against the rain, it too was surveying the terrain.

'It's looking for someone or something,' Danielle said softly.

'Well it can't be us, we're supposed to be dead,' Jessica replied.

George was looking around. 'We need to get into cover or it will soon spot us.'

They watched the bat-thing fly above them, banking away into the low clouds once more.

'Now,' George signalled. He pointed down the hill. 'Head for the trees, it's our only chance.'

They started down the hill, slipping and sliding in the mud and wet grass. Once Jessica tripped and went rolling downwards, but she managed to slow herself and climb back to her feet.

'Be careful,' Danielle warned.

The small conifers that marked the edge of the tree line were only about fifty meters away when the creature came screaming back out of the clouds. It had sighted them. Swooping low, it turned and glided between them and the forest's edge. The Goblyn rider took a good look at them and spurred his mount skywards.

'We can't let it report back,' shouted Danielle grabbing for her bow.

She reached for one of the wind arrows and notched it into the string. In one fluid movement, she brought the bow up, aimed and fired.

The rider crouched low in the saddle trying to get more speed out of the creature when the invisible shaft struck him between the shoulders. Knocked sideways by the blow, he tried to right himself, but the rain-slick saddle slipped, pitching him off and sent him tumbling to the ground.

A guttural scream followed by the sound of snapping branches reached them. Then all was silent. The bat-creature took a moment to realize it was free of its rider. Then with a flap of its leathery wings, it rose into the sky and disappeared into the clouds.

'Good shot,' cheered George. 'Now let's get under cover in case there's any more around.'

Eyes on the heavens they raced for the forest.

They stopped when they reached the tree line, scanning the grey skies. But no more of the creatures appeared.

'Hopefully, that was just a lone scout, and he won't be missed' said Danielle catching her breath.

'I hope so. But we had better keep an eye open from now on. Goblyns could be all over these woods.' said George grimly.

A feeble light filtered through the treetops barely illuminating the way ahead. In the gloom they located the stream; a thin mist hugged its banks, and they quickly followed its course through the dripping trees. They hoped that it still flowed passed the glade where Ceridwen's little cottage sat. With all the changes that had befallen the countryside around the Warlocks Chair since Ravengaard's return, they could no longer be certain it still remained there.

A deep silence had fallen over the woods. No birds sang or insects chirruped. Just a foreboding quietness, broken only by the rustle of leaves and twigs crackling underfoot as they walked.

They came upon the clearing so suddenly that they nearly stepped into it without realizing.

Jessica was in the lead when she pulled up, forcing them back into the cover of the trees.

'What is it, Jess?' Danielle whispered.

She pointed.

There was no sign of Ceridwen's cottage.