[Ithaeliel]

Ender kept her eyes shut, pretending to sleep, her dark cloak wrapped about her. She listened as Calentoliel spoke of the apparition, the same that had spoken to her that night in the cave. She began to wonder... would all of them see it?

When Ender had said 'mortal danger' yesterday, she had immediately regretted it. The spirit that had come to her was trying to aid her, not make her suffer. But she somehow thought she would keep this to herself. It was a sign of things to come for her.

Finally, as she listened to Calentoliel speak, fatigue blanketed her like a heavy snowfall. She drifted back into the dreamworld. But just as quickly as the image of Lothlorien and her friends bloomed in her mind, it faded. All she saw was black. And then she made out a faint shape in the dark as a sliver of light made its way into the space. She was in a room with a high ceiling and stone walls. Looking around her, she saw her companions. In her right hand was a sword, in her left, nothing. Suddenly some force beyond her ability to fight against turned her head and eyes to face front. There, before her, was a nameless, formless shadow. It flickered and wavered, and she saw horrible images inside its 'skin.' As her eyes adjusted, she saw a small, black orb at the center of the shadow. Looking around, her eyes met with Rothallë's. Looking back at the beast, she was surprised to see it change form. It was now a catlike animal, black and sinewy, ready to pounce on any of them, although it remained so poised.

Curious, Ender made eye contact with Mattius and looked again back at the beast. It changed form. She looked at Calentoliel, Faye, Radagast. It changed form. Ender began to realize with horror what was happening. Then, finally looking backupon the beast, she heard the same thin voice. "Now to unmask your gift."

Ender saw a bright flash and saw the first shapeless, gaseous form of the Black Beast with a black core. Out of the core came a light, and it remained for a moment before it engulfed the company.

And she was back in the forest, standing awake.