Gwidion had pulled Angus and Alduin aside as they reached the bottom of the stairs. "They're waiting behind the stairs," Alduin told Brianna. She was still shocked that Alduin had yet another brother. He'd never mentioned him. And why was she to keep an open mind? The look of consternation and surprise on her face was a bit hard to conceal as she came around the back of the stairwell. "You...Beren? Is that you?" Her gaze flew to Ursala, whom she knew of only by name. "You're...you're Alduin and Magnus' brother?" "Aye Lady Brianna...and I know ye know my story, so I shan't insult yer intellect by tryin' ta say otherwise." He bowed his head to her then turned to Ursala. "May I introduce to you my Queen. Lady Brianna, Queen Ursala." Brianna was momentarily lost for words. Aye, she knew Beren's story. She also knew that Dermit refused to leave off being friends with him in spite of his turning. Dermit still loved Beren as his 'wolf brother' until the day he died. They'd been inseperable most of their lives. That meant this woman standing before her was also a vampire...in her house, not two feet away! Her heart began to pound as she stammered for words, but Ursala saved her. "I won't stand on ceremonies if you don't," Ursala smilled. "Our clan is not of the Concord and I AM of royal blood, but it makes little difference in my present state - except to my subjects of course. I am delighted to meet you at last, Lady Briana. And aye, I also knew Dermit. 'E was a lovely man and t'was a great loss to us all. I'll not mince words wi' ye...." Suddenly Ursala stopped as Angus and Alduin came around the stair. "Ochhh," she breathed. "Ye look just like...like...our little Moira described ya." Brianna wondered at the look on Ursala's face, her red eyes glowing in the candlelight as she looked Angus up and down. "Aye, this is my...mine an' Dermit's son, Angus. You were sayin', Ursala?" Beren took over then. It was hard for him to look at Angus and he knew what the look on Ursala's face was about. He still grieved over Dermit now and then, and the young man looked enough like him to be painful. He had to focus. "We've come ta offer the aid an' might of the Clan of the UnDead in this war wi' Mog. An' if ye've doubts about joinin' the fray, then there is somethin' ya need ta know, Lady Brianna. Is there a place where ye can sit down whilst we tell ya?" "Why can't ye tell me here an' now?" She laid her hand across her breast, as if to still her heart. Memories had come flooding back of Dermit and Beren in the marketplace, long before he'd come back to her in his last moons. "Because yer gonna be wantin' ta be sittin' down," Ursala answered. She crooked her finger at Angus and Alduin. "I think the two o' you should join us." "There are some chairs o'er there against the wall...," Brianna held her hand out. Alduin took Brianna by the arm, "Let's sit down, love. Come on." ***** Um, you'll have to excuse Beren's uber-sparkly shirt but he doesn't dress up often and tends to overdo it when he does. Lol. At least HE isn't sparkly. Until next time my friends.... Enjoy your holidays! Rayvn