The storm came. Flashing quickly across the sky as on the backs of pegasi. Illuminated by the jagged trident strikes of lightning at piercing intervals. It brought the dark, stormy clouds and wind. It brought the tempest fury of lashing rain like a taskmaster's whip.

The alarm bells rang, and people in the town surrounding Camelot made for their homes and started shuttering their windows. Herdsman moved their flocks into any shelter they could find, many into their own homes. This one was going to be bad. The older people in the village could feel it throbbing menacingly in their bones. It was an ache that fortold the coming of pain.

The castle was in a similar state as pages, squires and knights moved with a purpose. Regimented duties laid out and responded to with precision and alacrity. The guard assisted the townspeople to maintain safety and security in emergencies, and this was just such an emergency. The knights moved about their own duties, preparing for the worst... but hoping for the best.

The alarm surpised me. Yes perhaps in my old age I wasn't as prepared for action as I used to be, but soon old actions became new again as my body automatically took charge.

Rising from my desk, and picking up the shattered tea cup I'd been drinking, I pulled the bellrope summoning my squires Fios and Arigon. Soon they both arrived, and reported on the severity of the situation. I paced slowly as I listened, taking each squires report of what had been done so far, and what they were doing next. Thanking each in turn, I sent them off to complete their tasks and assist in any way they could, safe in the knowledge that both my stallion Legend and my Murt's Red Ale were well secured.

Pulling on another bellrope, I moved to my armoire and retrieved my well oiled leather cloak to repel the rain, and some sturdy and warm boots. The knock came at my door halfway through the undignified position of bending over and pulling on my left boot, and grumbling a somewhat terse 'come in already!', I hopped to the nearest chair to assist with fighting my foot into the impenetrable fortress of bootdom.

Falia, one of my more recently knighted squires, barely stifled a chuckle at my predicament and said, "Yes Lord Chancellor, you needed my assistance?"

"Cut that chuckling out or I'll send you up on the tower to watch the storm!", I grumbled with a quick grin. "Falia, can you please check the supplies in Camelot, and get a report from the town guard as well as to their status on supplies? This storm may cause flooding, and I want to make sure that no one goes hungry due to spoiled food." This last bit accentuated by the loud *thump* of my heel jarring into place in the first boot.

"Of course Murt.", Falia replied, "I can tell you already that we've enough food and fresh water to last 3 months, and the the wards preserving the foodstuffs are stable. As for the town I'll have to check, but I will also send word to several provisioner friends I know to be prepared should we require some aid for the townspeople."

"Excellent Milady Falia.", I replied, "I knew you'd be on top of things. Oh, and take Slickster with you as well in case there's any danger. I don't like to think about it, but in perilous times, people tend to do irrational things."

"Of course Lord Chancellor.", she said while rolling her eyes and giving me that 'God not Slickster again...' look.

Grinning at her, I (having remembered the trick to putting the boots on) slid my foot easily into the second boot. Standing up I followed Falia out of my chambers, and spying a sprinting page, called out. The page practically ran headlong into the wall as her neck whipped about to see who called, and her eyes nearly bugged out seeing two knights bearing down on her.

"Summon the knights good page, other than Lady Falia here and Sir Slickster. They're on a personal assignment from me. I shall be waiting at the Round Table."

Nodding diligently, the page curtsied to both of us and dashed off in a new direction.

Parting from Falia, I made my way to the chamber of the Round Table, and drew a mug of Murt's Red whilst I waited. I stood contemplating what needed to be done, what had been done, and what we needed to be ready for when I heard the door to the chamber open again as the knights began to arrive.

It was refreshing to be back inside Camelot's walls after so many seasons away. I had almost forgotten how secure it could feel. I fondly remembered how my mother and father would talk of its beauty and of its people. This was my second return home, the first being after my study away at the Temple of Rodcet Nife.

My second and most lengthy departure was with Lord Melazar and his wife Lady Lareen who would oversee the continuation of my healing studies. Lady Lareen was a druid priestess; she was very attuned with nature often calling on it to aid her in the magics of the healing arts. It was important that we traveled to different regions so that I could learn properties of herbs and how to make salves from various plants.

Upon my return to Camelot, Lord Chancellor Murtano asked that I take over some of the healing duties in the infirmary, a task, which I quickly jumped at because healing was the passion in my life and had many satisfying rewards.

I had just finished morning rounds of the patients in the infirmary, when the first alarm sounded. My years of study under Lareen's tutelage had taught me that patience was the best virtue in situations like this. Although my heart was racing, my hands were steady as I assessed the supplies and made sure of ample room for the elderly that lived inside Camelot's walls should they seek refuge here. I also needed to summon lady Lareen her calming presence would help greatly in this situation.

Before I could finish jotting down the summons note a young page seemingly appeared out of thin air. Blinking in disbelieve I handed him the note and instructed him to find and bring Lady Lareen to the infirmary. The young page nodded affirmatively then instructed me that Lord Chancellor Murtano was awaiting my summons in the round table chamber. Pulling the bell rope summoned yet another page that was instructed to assist any and all that came to the infirmary seeking shelter.

I set off quickly to the Round Table chamber where Lord Chancellor was awaiting the Knights. Giving Lord Murtano a quick curtsy and then a big hug I spied his mug of ale. Instantly my mouth began to water anticipating the only ale in existence that I could easily drink. With a hearty gesture from Lord Murtano I poured myself a mug and took a seat at the table sipping quietly and savoring the taste until the other Knights arrived.

I was riding my horse back to Camelot after a hard day of fighting some of the evil in the world as my mind trailed to the days events...

I spent the entire day slaying dragons in the far East. I was told to bring help as it would be challenging but my expertise lead me thru it alone. When I was on the last dragon he didn't know who to come after as he saw three of me. I stiffled, stunned, and kept attacking until he gave his last breath.

Suddenly I looked at myself as I was riding and I must admit it was a rough fight. I was sweaty, dirty, and my robe was less than perfect. When I get back to Camelot I needed to find a tailor to make me a new one or a mender to fix the one I had on.

As I was approaching Camelot I heard the first bell sound and wondered what it could be about. As I heard the second bell sound I gave the horse a nudge to move quicker. Coming up to Camelot I called out to Squire Arigon who was outside running. He quickly came to my side and asked me what he could do. I asked him to secure my horse so that I could head to the chamber to meet with the other knights and he quickly took my horse.

As I was heading to the chamber I wasn't paying attention and wound up running into a table. I had a little cut but nothing major. I reminded myself that I had to be more careful and to stop being a clutz.

I rounded the corner into the Round Table chamber when I saw Hailey and my husband Lord Murtano already waiting for the rest of the knights to come. When they saw me they couldn't believe how I looked and was worried. I told them I was fine but could use a mug of ale. I gave my husband a gentle hug and kiss then turned to sister Hailey to give her a hug before grabbing an ale.

I kept telling Hailey I was fine but she was persistant at allowing her to look me over. I finally gave in and allowed her to look at my wounds as I grimaced in pain.

Once she was done the three of us drank our ale as we waited for the others to arrive....

Since early morning Areleth had several pages scurrying about the library building preparing it for the day to come. After checking with a druid at sunrise he knew a storm was brewing, and if it lasted a while that meant the Knights in the Keep would tend to congregate in the library when off duty. Many of the older Knights liked to grab a book off the many shelves and reminisce about the past in chairs around the fire places, while the younger would take a chair in one of the conversation areas to share news or play a game of cards or chess.

The shutters were bolted shut in the high slit windows, extra chairs brought in, firewood stocked by the fireplaces at either end of the main room, towels stacked by the door to dry off those unlucky enough to be caught outside in the coming storm. A large iron pot is filled with water and hung on a hook in one of the fireplaces to begin its heating process so that later hot water would be available for tea or coffee.

Seeing that things were well underway the Knight retreated into his own office, lit by a lamp and small fireplace, the corners dark in the gathering gloom. Going to the tall bookshelf along one wall Areleth pulls out a book whose title is rather meaningless since the book only comes out halfway until the inner third of the shelf swings into the room revealing a semisecret alcove wherein was kept a small keg of Lord Murtano's finest and several mugs. Semisecret since most of the Knights knew it was there, for medicinal purposes of course. Drawing a mug and shutting the shelf, Arel takes to his large chair and props his feet on the desk, staring off into the fire, sipping from time to time watching the flames dance. Soon he decides his eyelids are in desperate need of short rest, being as heavy as they are............

....."Duck!!!" Shouted Vinman as the paladin turned and threw his arm over his fellow paladins shoulder sending a shower of holy energy burning into the eye less head of a charging skeleton while Areleth ducked and spun left cutting the legs out from a under a groaning zombie. "Front!" shouts Areleth noting between Vinman's legs the two skeletons approaching Vinny at the same time returning to his feet to kick the now headless skeleton out of the way to clear his swing at the next undead.

Round and round the two paladins dance back to back, their holy swords now and then releasing terrible light into the seemingly endless sea of attacking undead. Both grinned with an almost manic delight as they cut down one after another of the abominations.

Undead are particularly hated by paladins, and paladins are particularly well suited to fighting them. What to others would seem a waking nightmare was to them a mission from God. Armed with special weapons geared for undead, heavily armored, and protected with many spells and wards to protect them from poison and disease, paladins just plain enjoyed hunting undead, and this was an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Turning at a shout from Vinman, Areleth is shocked to see what had to be the bloody biggest Skeleton they'd ever encountered. A full 7 feet tall, wielding a shield and sword the thing crushed his own allies in an effort to get to the paladins. While Vinny attacks with his sword, Arel blasts it in the head again and again with a quick prayer to Marr to smote the creature till finally it crumbles to dust at their feet. With its passing the hordes of other undead recede quickly into the darkness. Leaving the two standing knee deep in gore.

"Must of been that general skeleton we heard about down here." says Vinman looking around. "Aye, gone now though." replies Areleth touching Vinman's shoulder where he had taken a really nasty bite from a zombie, but now healed fully. Not only could the paladins fight the undead, they could clean up after really well too.

"I told you Befallen was the place for us, undead all over". "You sure did Vin. This was quite the entrance area, cant wait to see what the rest is like". The two then rest until Vinman shakes Areleth by the shoulder........

......."Sir, you must wake up, you have been summoned by Lord Murtano to the Round Table M'Lord". Waking and looking into the eyes of a young page Areleth realizes his eye rest had lasted longer then intended.

Getting up, belting on his sword and donning his cloak, Areleth quickly moves through the library, noting with satisfaction that the pages had completed all the preparations. Opening the outer door of the library the full fury of the nights storm batters at the Knight as he heads out into the courtyard and across to the Keep. Passing the guards with but a cursory stop to verify who he was, he enters the chamber of the Round Table, and takes his seat nodding to the others in attendance.

The storm wind blew fiercely against the stone walls and iron gates of Camelot. You could feel the moisture in the air and the heaviness preceding a really big storm. Lightning cracked a jagged path across the sky followed almost immediately by the bone-shaking *BOOM* of the thunder.

Murtano watched as the knights filed in and gave out his crushing bear-hugs as they passed. After the rest that were in residence in the castle arrived, he began..

"Greetings Milord and Miladies.", he said in all seriousness, "Tonight we shall be tested."

And in good theatrical mode, the lightning flashed and thunder crashed in time with the ominous statement.

Arching an eyebrow at the exclamation point the weather put on his statement, Murtano continued with his speech. "The outlying lands are ill prepared for this storm, and it is our duty to protect, patrol, and help as much as we can.", looking about the table he saw several nods of agreement. "Camelot is well stocked, and Milady Hailey has assured me that all is ready in the infirmary in case of emergency. Areleth has also informed me that the Library is secure, and that he's already tapped the keg... just to test it for freshness."

Letting the knowing chuckles die down he continues, "However, the town will not weather the storm as well as Camelot, and we've several outlying villages and hamlets in our charge that we've yet to hear from. So our first order of business is to ride forth and gather this missing information, assure those townspeople that all is well, and offer shelter to those that cannot weather the storm alone. We'll leave as soon as we can, and return before the brunt of the storm hits."

With this statement he looked around the table and smiled. The looks of adamant determination on each knights face told the Lord Chancellor that there'd be no problem with this task.

"Now, ride forth and bring light and hope to the people, shelter to the weak, and purpose to those in need of it. Everyone prepare, we ride within the hour!"

At this, the knights as one rose and saluted, then turned to prepare...