Twas a dark stormy night, with evil alive in the night sky, the lightening was long and ragged like knives, the wind howled and the rain, oh the rain it was as if it were alive and sort access to my very soul.

When I look back, I realize what a fool I must have been to venture out. It was so warm in my tower with its raging fires and fur-lined floors. But they needed me oh how they needed me.

I had grown selfish you see, thinking of no one but myself, I had amassed gold, jewels, fine wines and clothes with no thought of others only of myself. There I was, a wizard, perhaps one of the most powerful in all of Europa the Wizard Prospero - Grandmaster Mage, Grandmaster Scholar, Grandmaster this that and the other and what did it mean what did it really mean? You see I had no friends for I considered myself too superior and all I loved was gold. But looking around that eve I realised I did not have it all, rather I had nothing.

That was to change that very night I vowed, for who was I to pre judge others, who was I to consider myself better than you? I threw off my fine clothes dressed in a simple wizards robe and saddled my faithful steed Nobility.

I vowed not to return until I had found myself and found true happiness............

I was lonely that night, lonely and scared, perhaps for the first time in my life.

As I rode into that bleak dark evil night I found myself glancing around, seeing shapes in shadows, things hiding in the grass. It felt as if the night were alive and sort retribution on me for my selfish ways. I vowed to forgo magery for selfish reasons and only use it to assist others. It was for this reason that I struggled on through the trees with nothing but a candle to light my way. Nobility my faithful steed could sense something amiss and was neighing and whining but I only thought she could sense my distress.

Suddenly in a vivid flash of lightening I saw them, so near, they were so near, I could do nothing, I could not run, I could not hide, I was too scared to think - they must have been following me, but why, why had they not struck?

Liche Lords - Undead ones, bringers of evil, takers of lives, masters of misery. But what did they want with me?

We have been watching you wizzzzard one croaked, yesss said another. They were five, no six, no seven of them scattered around me in a circle.

We could not come to you in your tower for tis well protected old man, but here now in this forest thou art in our domain. It was true as I looked around I could see ruins where I thought there were none, I could smell death and decay in the air, I could see old bones, decaying flesh and almost feel the pain those forests hid. Have I been this blind I thought to myself are my fellow travellers forced to endure this every day? Do they run from town to town and city to city?

Lisssten old man another croaked, thou art a powerful wizard but no match for us we will not kill you but keep you trapped here, tormented, in pain, suffering for eternity unless you help us.

What, what do you want of me I stuttered?

We know you like gold old man we will give you 5 chests of gold and your life if you help usss.

Is my greed that legendary I thought to myself? Am I knows throughout the land as Prospero the greedy?

Listen careful the first spoke again, the guards in Britannia are protected by age old magiks we can not fight them and they best us when ever we try to enter the town. We need you to perform a small duty for us in Britannia.

A small duty for 5 chests of gold I said aloud, I heard sniggers and whispers as I said this - See I said this one would do it for gold one whispered.

Tis not such a small duty I suspect, I said to the tall Lord who looked like their leader.

Oh tis nothing for a man of thy power he said to me. What is it you want from me then and how do I know thou will pay I said. Oh we will pay have no fear wizard and if you do not deliver then your soul will be held by us forever. As he uttered those words I swear the night itself changed to a deep dark blood and the lightening crashed around me, there alone, surrounded by vile undeads.

What was I to do I wondered? Was I to become a slave to these vile creatures?

We want you to bring someone to us he said. Someone very special indeed. He laughed then; the sound he made was like an animal in pain. In lord British 's castle there is a maid named Adrianna I want her he said. But why? What is she to you? Oh you need not worry wizard just do as you are told.

So I went to Britannia - they sent me through a blood red gate which seemed to strip away portions of my very being.

I appeared outside of town - wearing my simple robe - I rode to the castle and there fortune shone on me for who should I see but the maid. She was ravishing, like a ray of sunshine penetrating my gloom, her hair shone like sun reflecting off new wheat and her eyes, oh her eyes, they were like looking into the deepest darkest bluest oceans.

Fair Adrianna I said I must talk with thee. She looked up not surprised at all, but with a face of sunshine and laughter and joy. You have come for me she said.

Astonished I said yes I have come for thee and it is a heavy burden on my heart.

I knew she cried out, almost not hearing me, I knew he would send for me. Who, who I said?

Why Lord Blackthorn of course I knew he would not leave me long. Then it made sense to me, of course they would not want a maid but Lord Blackthorns lover - there was a prize for them indeed. A way to force his hand against Britain.

Come I said we must visit Blackthorn. Before I realised I found myself before him and told him all. Well Wizard he asked me what are we to do for I feared this was coming, I knew that when I found someone she would get taken from me which is why I tried to hide her away till all was well and Britain could marry us.

I know not what to do syre I replied; I fear my soul is damned through my greed and will be held forever by the Liches when they learn I have betrayed them, at least I know I have saved your love and fore warned thee.

Thou art a man of courage, honour and integrity he replied - together we will see them bested.

He summoned the Captain of the guards and his court mage and gave them detailed instructions, within an hour the courtyard was alive with movement there were ranks of knights in shining armour and an elite group of Britain' s best mages.

Together we marched into the woods with Lord Blackthorn and myself at the head. Riding onwards into a battle that would rage for many months.

Tell me of it Uncle. Laughing heartily I respond, now little one you asked me to tell you how I met your parents and this I have, now back to your magic lessons or you will never master the summon creature spell, and then how will you amaze at your fathers party this evening?