Shivering suddenly, Talin stopped his Rover on the road between Bristol and Glastonbury. He had just felt a flash of foreboding and knew something very wrong was happening and it involved his family. He got out of his car and looked west to where he had just come from: Avalon. He had met with the last of the Priestesses and it had been revealed that the Shadow were on the move. He had left immediately, her dire words ringing in his ears.

"The Shadow has found the Silver Tree of Ages. If they have Arthur and the Chalice who bore him, then all will be lost. You must protect them and call forth the Ancient Riders! Call upon the olden allies of light and battle the ravenous wolves of the Shadow!"

'How can I call upon the Ancient Riders? They have slept for thousands of years, beholden to the Light in the oath to protect the Pendragon. But they were buried long ago in a prehistoric vale to protect the Silver Tree as well. If it has been found…then they have been lost…' he wondered once more in growing doubt as he looked towards the north instinctively. He blinked and shook himself from his musings as his cell phone went off, calling his attention to it with its distinctive ring tone. Climbing back into his Rover, he flipped open his cell phone. "Hello?"

"Talin? Is that you?" Ryan's raspy voice floated over the speaker and instantly put the older man on alert.

"Ryan my brother…what has happened?" Talin replied commandingly as he stilled his trembling hand. His worst fears were coming true.

"Lia and…Arthur were kidnapped. I…tried to protect them…but…the Shadow was…too powerful…" Ryan managed hoarsely and his words caused Talin to cringe inwardly.

"Annalia told you everything?" Talin murmured as he gazed over towards the west and longing for something to make everything better.

"Yea and…I'm sorry, Talin…I tried…" Ryan's voice cracked as he trailed off, which broke his brother in law's heart at the sense of failure that was emanating through the phone.

"My brother, you did as you could. The rest is up to me. Go home and start praying to both the God and Goddess. We will need their protection and guidance now more than ever," Talin ordered gently and smiled as Ryan calmed down and gave an affirmative before hanging up. He hung up as well, and then stared at his phone blankly. His son and beloved wife were captured by the Enemy and in grave peril. His eyes suddenly widened in realization of what the Priestess had been trying to explain. 'If they spill Annalia and Arthur's blood in a dark ritual to the Silver Tree, then it shall be under their control and all power will shift! Since the Shadow could not destroy them before the birth, they will use my family as the gateway to controlling all life!' he thought in horrified realization as he stared ahead.

Thoughts of his son and wife together with him filled his mind and made him tremble with love and fear as the images changed to their bodies broken and bloody at the feet of the Shadow Lords. He suddenly let out a roar of defiance and anguish as he pounded his fists on the steering wheel. He got out of his truck and held his arms up as the wind began to blow in rising gusts around him. "Hear me all who serve the Light! The time is now to fight the Night! Come forth from your sleep and prepare your way! I, Taliesin, call you this day! Come forth Unicorn, Pegasus, and Golden Dragon of the Nile! Come forth Blessed Fairies, Wise Elves, and Courageous Tiger of the mountains! Ride forth Riders of Avalon and aid me in defeating the Darkness! Let loose your rage, Nature, and cleanse thyself of the Shadow’ hold! Give me strength to defeat those who dare defy the Pendragon!" His voice boomed out and thundered as the clouds roiled with his powerful call. The wind whipped through the air, whining as it grew colder, then warm as light flared to life around Taliesin.

Standing amidst the blazing light, Taliesin let his head fall back before lifting it to face forward. Slowly, he walked down the golden path that shone before him until he arrived before a golden lake. He raised his hand, fingers widespread as the waters began to churn and a woman appeared amidst the frothing liquid. "My Lady of the Lake! I call upon you now! Give me Excalibur as my right as the father of the Pendragon!" he commanded as his black hair thrashed around him in the blustering winds.

Gazing at him with eyes the color of the deepest seas, the Lady of the Lake inclined her head. "Taliesin, Last of the Merlin! I give to you Excalibur to use in times of darkness to battle for the Light! Use it well, Last of the Ancient Ones!" With her last words ringing in the air, she raised her arms and became a swirling fountain of water. From the center rose a gleaming sword encrusted with precious gems and gold that sparkled in the sunlight. Its blade was of the finest steel and rang with power as it was flung towards Taliesin.

With a single hand, Taliesin caught the hilt of the blade then twirled it around him in a show of prowess. He held the blade before him and examined it grimly before nodding in satisfaction. Turning, he walked away from the sacred lake and into the blazing light that surrounded it. He reappeared in a wooded glade and rotated slowly while smiling as several figures emerged from the trees. "Dryads of the forests, do your sisters the Naiads of the waters also ride with us?" he asked warmly and grinned as they giggled and nodded eagerly as they circled him He looked around and nodded as several Centaurs appeared amidst Unicorns, Elves, and Fair Folk. "I greet you my friends. Thank you for coming," he murmured as he bowed deeply to them, which they returned just as deeply.

He looked up as the sounds of wings flapping filled the air and stirred the leaves, then beamed as a group of Pegasus, winged lions, and a large golden dragon circled above them. He raised his hands in silent greeting and thanks before focusing forward towards the north east. "We go now friends. The Shadow is rising and has the Pendragon and the Chalice. The Silver Tree will bloom nigh unto twilight and we must be the ones to make sure that it will not be of evil," he stated firmly and grinned as affirmations rose up among his allies.

Looking forward as a hush fell over the gathered, he watched as a Lady dressed in pure white robes glided forth from the forest. They all bowed deeply as she went among them before stopping in front of Taliesin. He bowed his head while placing his fist over his heart in salute. "My Lady."

"You have done well, Taliesin of Avalon. I bring you words of wisdom if you wish to win this battle so that peace will come to this world. Blood will be spilt, but love is always healing. Have faith in your heart and love and this day shall be won no matter the cost." Her voice was soothing and gentle as the mists that she emerged from as she placed her hand over Taliesin's heart.

Placing his own hand over hers, Taliesin smiled warmly. "I thank you, my Lady. Your words give me strength as do our allies. This battle shall be difficult and the toll may be high, but I know we shall succeed," he murmured firmly before squeezing her hand gently.

"You have truly fulfilled your destiny, First One. Ye who are the returned First King that ruled in peace so many centuries ago for a Golden Age. Your followers await you, my Lord and King. Save your son and Queen and let there be another Golden Age," the White Lady declared strongly, which surprised Taliesin as she stepped back and spread her arms wide. "Come forth, chosen Riders of Light! Your Lord calls you to serve him once more! Return to the wakened world and prepare to battle those that would suppress all in darkness!" Her voice rang out clearly and sounded like the call of a horn as lightening flashed above them.

Looking around in shock, Taliesin was stunned to see grey clouds covering the sky and a tunnel forming within the center of them. He watched in rising astonishment as nine riders cantered through the misty tunnel and across the forest to ride amidst the crowd of allies that parted for them. They stopped in front of Taliesin and bowed deeply before him, which he returned with a formal nod. The lead rider, who was dressed richly as a king with a bejeweled silver crown on his golden head, gazed steadily at Taliesin with stormy grey eyes that smiled as he did. "My Lord. Long has it been since we saw each other. As we made our oath centuries before to you, so we reaffirm it now. Our swords and hearts are yours to command, My Liege," he declared quietly as he saluted Taliesin with a fist of his heart.

Shaken, Taliesin looked over at the White Lady. "I do not understand, My Lady. I am not the Pendragon," he murmured quietly and she beamed at him.

"Your son is. The Pendragon was the one to bind both worlds in unity. But you and your Queen were the Firsts. You are of the Ancient blood, just as she is, and through your vows, you became what you were reborn from: Taliesin and Annalia, the first Druid and Priestess as well as King and Queen of all Celts. You were the first to bind with the God of the Hunt and he resided within you to help guide the people. Your wisdom and strength led all lands in a time of peace before the Great Sundering. Annalia was the first to ever hold the Goddess within her and, through hers and your seed, many great lines were created. You were destined to be reborn and reunited to save this world, your child being the link to either peace…or destruction," the White Lady informed Taliesin while watching as he remembered all of his past life and came into his complete powers.

Straightening, Taliesin fairly radiated authority and immense power as he smiled down at her. "I thank you, My Lady. You have returned me to my true self," he said quietly and nodded as she nodded. He turned to his followers, and then closed his eyes as his fingers spread wide. He rotated north and waved his hand, revealing a pathway that led to a vale deep within the mountains in Wales. "We must go, my friends and allies. Today is the day for the Final Battle! Let us go forth and declare victory!!" His voice resounded throughout the forest and beyond, bringing hope and determination to all who had gathered to battle. He smiled as cheers and battle cries resonated out while a pure white stallion galloped forth from the forest. He mounted the glowing steed and raised his arm, waving Excalibur in encouragement. "Onward! To victory and peace!"

"To victory!!" was shouted back before they moved forward at a swift pace and traveled hundreds of miles in minutes.

Taliesin held tightly to his horse's mane as they rode on and vowed silently to find his beloved and his son and saving them from the wretched Shadow. He would free them and save the world so that peace would once again befall their world. In determination, he rode forward knowing that he would either win or die. But he would not go down without a fight.