The lady's voice is humorous.  "I thought you would say that."

You look up at the abrupt silence of the waves to find yourself staring at the bark of an oak.  "How....?" you stammer.  "What happened to the path?"

"There was never any need for it," the lady answers.  "But in your mind, it was what you expected.

You turn to her.  "I thought you said you could take me to the unicorn?" you demand hotly.  "And yet here I stand without her."

Her brows raise.  "I told you enough about the mare so that perhaps your choices would help you to discover her hiding place."

"But we went everywhere!" you cry in exasperation.

"Think very carefully on all that I said about her," she cajoles.  "And you will see clearly where she is."

With a sigh of, "It's hopeless," you close your eyes and try to recall all taht was said of this unicorn.  That is is a mare, you recount.  That she takes many forms.  That she is the last of her kind, and took solace in the forest.  That she responded to need, but was elusive and tricky.  That she did not care for dragons.  Much like the Elven lady, you muse.

It's then that the niggling idea you had at the falls hits you, ready to finally be thought.  Eyes flying open, you wheel to face the lady.  "YOU!"

She nods in excitement and you watch in fascination as her form melts into that of a unicorn.

"I knew you would figure out the riddle," her voice echoes in your mind.  "I am Dasarane."  She dips her head in a bow.

You thank your lucky stars that you guessed correctly and say breathlessly, "Hurry!  Please, you must help my brother!"  The beauty of the mare keeps you from yelling it, as her latent deadliness keeps you from rushing to tug at her.

She snorts, tossing her mane.  "Your brother was healed the moment you told me of your plight.  I made sure of it."

Your mouth drops open in shock.  "Then why all this running around?"

She chuckles.  "I have not had a visitor to show around and play tricks on in at least twenty summers."  Sobering, she looks at you with large, intelligent, strange eyes.  "Will you be my guest as I take you around my home?  Or would you rather leave now?"