Everyone was busy making preparations for Angus' investiture, running this way and that - getting under one anothers' feet. She saw her father and uncle talking. Magnus didn't look like he liked all the hubbub much, and really Alduin seemed to have everything at least going in the right direction. Moira snuck up behind her father and tugged at his arm, like she used to when she was a little girl. "Papa, can we go ridin'? Just you and me?" "Somethin' wrong kitten?" His big arm came around her, pulling her to his side. "Nooo. I just don' ever get a chance ta talk ta ya no more...an' well...I got somethin' I need ta tell ya. Just you. If ya wanta tell anyone else, that's up ta you, Papa." They rode over the hill into the grove at top of the hill behind Bean-Hame and dismounted. There was a bench there and Moira led her father to it. They sat down and he put his arms around her. "So what's this big secret ya got ta tell me, lass? Are ya wi' child?" "Nooo, Papa. T'aint about me. Tis about you." She laid her head on his shoulder. "Bout me?" "Aye. I know ya don' like ta hear about when I were a vampire, but tis part o' the story." She told him about the shadow-walker who was her friend and about Ursala, the Queen of the Undead. "If t'weren't fer them two, I'd o' been like a wild beast. They helped me Papa. Now...meybe, if 'e can convince 'er, they'll help again...in our war wi' Mog. They don' like 'im either." "Why should vampires help us?" Magnus grunted, half laughing. "An' what's that got ta do wi' me?" "Because the shadow-walker is yer brother, Papa - Beren." "Yer jokin' me, lass! Beren?" "Aye, Papa. I ne'er knew 'til last night. Ursala sent 'im ta find me cos she were worried about me. She likes ta know where the members of 'er clan are an' if they's havin' troubles or bein' chased by hunters. Tis part o' the benefit o' bein in the UnDead. They look out fer each other - well thet's the idea of it. Think most of 'em di' nae like me cos I hated bein' a vampire. So anyway, we was talkin' - Beren an' me - an' that's when 'e told me 'e really was ma uncle. 'E's sposed ta ask Ursala if she'd be interested in takin' sides gainst Mog wi' us, an' then come back. I told him when 'e did, he had ta see you. Ya aren't mad at me, are ya? I love Beren, almost much as I love you, Papa...an' I miss 'im." "Noo, child. I aint mad at ya. Damn! Beren's still around, eh? Aye, I'd like ta see 'im! I miss 'im too. We was always close...ya know...til 'e were turned. Then he left, but he'd come back an' see me 'til Ma took me away from there. Then I ne'er saw 'im again." Magnus stroked her cheek and laid his head on hers. "So, 'e looked out after ya, eh? Ya musta told 'im ya was my daughter." "Course I did. It 'urt soo bad when I thought ya di' nae love me no more, Papa." Tears began to well in her eyes. "I'm soo sorry baby. Ye'll always be ma little kitten. I ne'er did quit lovin' ya, an' I hated that ya was told that. Weren't my idea, ya know. Others decided it for me, cos they were afraid ya'd go after Mog. An' let's face it - outta all of us, ya got the...well, not the least powers, but the most ineffective 'gainst Mog. Thank ya. Thank ya fer tellin' me 'bout Beren, an' fer bein' so forgivin'. Ya bring Beren to me, when 'e comes back - somewheres private. A'right?" "A'right, Papa," Moira sniffed. Magnus wiped the tears from her cheek with his thumb. "Thank you - fer likin' Angus an' bein' nice to 'im." "Oh, thet ain't no problem. What else am I gonna do? Them witches made it so ya 'ad no choice but at least 'e loves ya no matter what, an' e's a good man. So - meybe them ol' witches knows best, eh?" he laughed, winking at her. "Think we should get back?" "Aye," Moira smiled. ***** Thanks for lookin' and have a wonderful Wednesday my dears! Cheers ~ Rayvn