They ventured from the castle two lonely figures. Each was wearing a thick black cloak which silenced nearly all of their movements. The cat like stealth Graves had used all those years ago to sneak in and out of the castle came back to him quickly and no one noticed him or the short, curvy figure beside him.
Harry was the only one who saw them. Ever since his exchange with Gwen on the staircase he seemed to always know her location. He leapt from his camp bed just outside the castle, for now the fighting was at a standstill and most of the soldiers slept with only a few scouts on watch for either side. Yet none of the scouts noticed when all three figures moving through the gloom of the new morning were swallowed by the inky black shadows from the trees of the Forbidden Forest.
He followed them at a distance, careful not to alert them to his presence. He wasn�t certain why, but he didn�t want them to know that he was with them. He only wanted to follow and to know what this was all about, but not be known himself.
Gwen�s feet led her to the mound quickly and she stopped. Harry ducked behind a tree and tried very hard to slow his breathing so he could listen. �I have to go in alone.� She said clearly.
What Graves said was muffled. She replied, �I know, but if you come in you can�t get back out until Gwynn Ap Nudd. I need you in this world and while I would feel better to know you were safe with the fey� I need you here.�
Graves nodded. �I�ll be here.�
She smiled for him, leaned up to kiss him and when they sighed their breath formed tiny rivulets of mist that curled into romantic little shapes. The mist floated away on some queer, fey magic and carried with it a tiny bit of hope.
Gwen stepped out of sight.
She had been gone a long time when Harry�s leg cramped up from leaning against the tree so heavily. He moaned slightly and regretted it instantly.
�You can come out now Harry.� Graves said.
Harry drew a deep, cold breath. It woke him some, but it didn�t wash away the sleepy feeling in his brain. He stepped over to the taller man slowly.
�I know, there�s something about this place that�s not quite real. It makes you dreamy.�
Harry looked at him as if he didn�t understand what he was saying, even though he did. He shook his head after a tense moment of discomfort. He liked Graves, but he didn�t want to. Both men stood silent for a long time. They couldn�t think of anything to say about the silence that had fallen between them since Harry had assumed him dead and learned again of his resurrection. They had not seen each other in as many years and didn�t know how to begin speaking to one another.