Galahad followed his trail back to his camp and retrieved his accoutrements. He donned his armor and strapped on his sword. He then found a pole of fallen wood, unfurled his banner and affixed it to the staff. To this he pinned the cameo of Ionia, raised the banner and proceeded to the walls of the once bright city of Skye.

As he progressed the woods around him brightened as the spell of King Morpheus was banished. Indeed the birds and animals therein became lively and the forest was alive with long dormant commotion. Above the sky cleared and bright daylight streamed in warming Galahads face. And as the light streamed in it spread and widened encompassing the whole of the forest. Before long the major fauna were escorting Galahad through the forest becoming his raised army. Deer, bears, wildcats and birds of all sort were flocking to his banner.

From deep in the heart of the forest hunters strove to the center of the light. Seeing Galahad instantly renewed their hope and they too gathered around the sign of the knight. The hunter sent off runners and vowed to raise more men for the defense of the land and the freedom of the people. By nightfall Galahad and his army were camped outside the walls of Skye, and there they waited and made bonfires to light the night in a cheery glow.

Throughout the night more hunters and swift scouts arrived and added to the rally around Galahads banner. The spell of hope wrought by the brave knight was spreading and news from far and wide told of the lifting of the malaise of King Morpheus.

Upon the walls of Skye Galahad received reports that the kings dire servants were mounting. The owls spotted dread machines of all sort being mounted. They reported that men of dark countenance were readying blades and sharp arrows to fend off any attack that may be made. It was a sleepless, but glad night for Galahad, for the land was wakening, even in the darkness, from the misery that so long held it.

The morning dawned bright and clear for the first time in a very long while over Skye. The only mar was the dark Castle of Phantasm that stood firmly against the light and was of course King Morpheus’s ultimate stronghold. Sir Galahad assembled seven of the strongest warrior he could and approached the walls of Skye in the ancient form of parlay. They stopped three hundred yards from the gate and waited.

The massive gates of Skye opened out rode four horsemen and a funeral cart. Parlay commenced.

The Dread Dictator bid that Sir Galahad leave the area and rule the surrounding lands as he pleased, but to leave Skye to his own fearful ends. Galahad rejected this. To counter, the kings man offered the body of Ionia as part of the bargain. A black tarp was removed from the funeral cart to reveal the prone form of Ionia encased in glass. Blood from a slash on her throat had stained the cushion on which she laid. Her skin was ashen and she was completely still.

Galahad, shocked that he was indeed too late to save his ray of hope bowed his head and considered the offer for a moment. He then rejected the offer and returned to his original objective, to free the land even though his own hope was gone. He had promised to free the land for the people and was honor bound to do just that. The kings messenger laughed at the bravado of the lone knight and return to defend their stronghold.

Galahads entourage returned to their staging area and Galahad recited the old words of encouragement and battle for his army. With that said he bade the hunters to blow their horns and attack.