Eventide is softly casting o'er the earth a magic spell,

And a love-song, everlasting, on the night wind seems to swell.

It was time. Finally! It had been like waiting for a wonderful but very secret gift, and much like every other child the world over, Erthë had wished many times that time would run just a little faster. To her it seemed like ages since Alune had promised she could be there when he communed with the Goddess, endless days and nights of waiting and hoping and dreaming. And now, when he walked through the Edge with that purposeful look about him, the filly found that her heart was beating twice its normal pace in her chest, and as she got up and limped after him her mouth felt oddly dry.

What would she see, if she gazed too deeply into the mist? Would she see anything at all - maybe the blessing of foresight was reserved for the Seer alone. Oh, but she hoped she would be able to pick up something at least, hear a whisper, a murmur, anything at all that proved the Lady had come to guide them.

Quiet yet trembling with excitement she settled down close to her teacher, nearly lost in the drifting mist that lay thick and pearly in the gloom. The wait that followed was torturous, even worse than before - because now the dove had nothing to occupy herself with but her own thoughts, and they skittered around like agitated ants. What would happen if she reached out and froze the mist? Turned it into a million glittering shards of ice that drifted down to cover the moss... Or what if she broke the silence with a song? She wondered if the Moon disapproved of songs, of if it would only annoy Alune. It struck her then that they likely wouldn't be the only ones to attend the ceremony, and grateful for this excuse to stretch her neck Erthë gazed about, expectant as she looked for Tembovu and Elsa.

It was all very unreal, to sit there in the misty forest and wait for the most important horses in the herd. Sure they were her friends, but right now they were also king and queen, sovereign monarchs with important duties and heavy responsibilities. It nearly stole her breath away to think that she, the vagabond child, daughter of such ordinary horses, could be allowed to mingle in the company of lords.

It brought a smile to her lips, and made her straighten up with newfound dignity.