The Dowager is Still Not ...

"Really?? Awena, I know you think I am the one in the prophecy but couldn't you be wrong?" the Dowager asked as she shook her head side to side.  "With all that you have told me about it, most of it still seems vague.  I can understand that a Dragon is involved and since Hungry is the only Dragon here, that is probably him. But do you know any Nyte Shades as I don't?  I can't even guess who that will be.  So don't make me be the Fae who will decide the Wish Dragon's fate,"  the Dowager said as she sipped from her tea cup before setting it down.

"For all we know from what you have said, deciding his fate may be something as simple of helping with his education," the Dowager continued telling her old friend.  Before Awena could speak, Griselda went on with her thoughts, "I still think that we should visit Hunter to see what he knows as he is the King of the Shadows' fae."

"I can't go to his castle yet, "interrupted Awena, "because if I do, then I won't be able to leave again.  I am duty bound as a Sleeping Sister to teach Ffion about her connection to our Order if the King ever decides she is ready. After sending the books to her to start her education, if I showed up now, then I would have to stay," continued Awena. 
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​"And more important, Griselda, I really need to focus on discovering more about this Borrower and the Dragon tablet as there is still so much we don't know," continued Awena as she pulled out her crystal ball.​

Knowing that her friend was right, a thought came to the Dowager.  "Maybe you can't go right now, Awena, but I can.  If I show up to talk to the King it would not be out of place.  Especially since I recently sent Ffion a flutterby with a message and I forgot to tell it to return to me when it delivered it.  That way if the Shadows' King is not available, I can always resort to Plan B and talk to Ffion to find out what is going on."  Realizing that the Dowager did have a good idea and that she did not have a better solution (again the prophecy was definitely not clear - as most are not), Awena agreed with Griselda and bade her to have a safe journey.

The trail to the King's castle was easy to follow as Griselda started on her way. She even found one of the books that was given to Meen by Awena for Ffion's education (it must have mysteriously leaped out of her bag along the way).  "I must remember to have a little talk with Meen before I leave the castle," Griselda told herself as she picked up the book.  "Especially about the taking care of books."​

​It was well before sunset when the Dowager arrived at the castle and requested her audience with the Shadows' King.  "He is currently unavailable," was all that she was told and no one seemed able to tell her when he would be available.  Since she had already planned if that would be the case, she changed to Plan B.  "Is the Princess Ffion available?" she asked the chamberlain.  "I sent her a message by one of my flutterbys and it has not returned.  I wanted to confirm that she received the message."

Soon she was escorted to one of the audience chambers where the Princess was pacing back and forth.  "Good afternoon Princess.  How are you this evening?" Griselda asked.  It took a minute for Ffion to answer as her mind had been on her father and the Dragon tablet.  "Greetings Dowager Griselda, how may I help you?" 

"Well, I see that you are busy with something so I won't take up much of your time.  I sent a message the other day to you by flutterby and the little thing has still not returned.  I hope that nothing has happened to it but also wanted to make sure you received the message," answered Griselda.

"Oh, I am sorry.  Yes, it did give me the message and for some reason it has stayed here with me.  I guess I should have sent it back to you but I have been enjoying the little conversations we have been having and things have been crazy for the past couple of days," answered the Princess blushing slightly.

"You mean the Borrower and Dragon tablet issue," replied Griselda nodding her head.  "It has been a little hectic." 

"You don't know the half of it.  First I see someone in my garden coming out of a waterfall, then to find out it is a Borrower who took something from my father that he had been guarding as the King.  Next I find out that I am a Nyte Shade AND as everyone disappeared to track down the Dragon tablet, I am now having to wait for a Sleeping Sister to show up to begin my education-- which will probably destroy any free-time that I had...  It's just not fair!" wailed Ffion.

It took a few minutes before Griselda could even think of a response to the Princess.  "You are a Nyte Shade?" was going through her mind!  If so, then so is her father, the Shadows' King.  With this one little revelation, things were starting to make sense now about the prophecy.  The Princess Ffion and/or her father must be the prophecy's Nyte Shade, but who is the Fae?  "Could it actually really be me?" wondered the Dowager.