Ailill had failed, or at least he felt as though he had. In his king’s absence another had stepped into the territory and claimed it for their own when he should have been able to step in and hold the land as stable. The golden stallion had faith in Bjorn’s return and dared not challenge the King’s reign, it had held him back from taking the throne for himself, for fear of being seen as a traitor, a usurper. Now such hesitancy had cost them all The Ridge.

The stallion was never too far from Aislinn, taking on the mantle of ‘father’ as if it was his own cloak. Some would say he was a good father. There were times he would let the foals wander away on their own, keeping close watch but careful to be unseen so they could gather their independence and step boldly into the world. Other times he was even the one to poke and pester them for an adventure, luring them away from Siobhan so the mare could get some rest from the two rambunctious fillies. Perhaps it was his preoccupation with his tiny family that consisted of his daughter when the claim came. No matter the reason, he knew it was now time for him to step in and act for the sake and safety of Bjorn’s family, and the herd he had been otherwise welcomed into. When Siobhan let out the call to the herd, the knight stepped quickly to answer.

Along the trails of the deeper forest, he came upon the two mares and slowed his pace. Blue eyes quickly glanced over the black mare, uncertainty tickling in his heart. He could never be considered unfriendly, still his smile was shaky with his greeting. Quickly, he exchanged breathes with Siobhan before turning to the new leader’s retreating back. Wait! he called, the presence of his family giving him the strength he knew he had and the responsibility he had adopted. I was Bjorn’s second. You are right this is our home, this is our family, and most of the mares have foals. Let us stay, under my protection, and me under your authority. My only wish is to keep them safe. He was in no position to make demands, or even requests. He could not promise not to support Bjorn in the stallion’s return, he could not vow to stand by Faolain without knowing her values. All he could do was look behind him at the mare and fillies he had grown close to and vow himself to making sure they had a place, or at least someone they could depend on. Even if he was driven out of the Ridge, he would yearn to take care of them. The stallion’s heart clenched as he looked back at the dark mare, questioning in his stance. He had just come back to his home, to the forests themselves and build a family he had not known he had been missing. She had the power to grant him his desire, and them his protection. She also had the power to take it all away.