Welcome to Gaia! ::

Well, I've climbed a mountain so high, that it pierced the sky, and on a clear day you could see the whole world spread out below you in every direction. So cold that when you breath it turns to ice. I have seen a place where men construct giant stone monuments out of stones larger than ten men...... There are a great many things....

*The man bows his head and turns, then turns back*

Thank you most kindly, Ma'am. I have traveled a long way, and acts of kindness are always remembered, no matter how small. Perhaps one day, I shall return the favor to you.

*The man turns and makes his way to the Inn*

**A few days later**

*Maggie walks along the edge of the woods with Will, smiling as she listens to him chatter excitedly about the bird's nest they found earlier. She prompts him with questions every now and again, but mostly listens as they stroll along together. It's early in the day yet, and the weather's been bright and sunny - she's grateful for the time to spend with her son before they need to head back to the inn so she can return to work*

*Maggie halts, a worried sensation creeping up on her, and looks around. Will pauses at her side and looks up at her, puzzled*

"What is it, Mama?"

*She scans the woods around them for a moment more, but sees nothing. She looks down at Will and puts a smile on for his sake, fairly certain she's just being paranoid*

'Tis nothing Will, I only thought I heard something. *still . . . she can't shake this nervous feeling, so she suggests* Perhaps we should head back to the village, though. We could visit Matthew at the stables, if ye like?

*At first Will looks disappointed at the idea of ending their walk together, but he brightens at the suggestion of the stables*

"De ye think he might let me help him feed the horses?"

*Maggie grins* Mayhap. There's but one way te find out. *Will laughs and grabs hold of her hand, and the pair of them turn to head back towards Ainsford again*

*Maggie freezes, her grip on Will's hand tightening, her heart suddenly hammering within her chest.* No . .. *she whispers* Please, God, no . . . *She turns slowly towards the voice, her eyes wide. Will looks up at her, frightened by this stranger and her reaction to him, and presses himself close against her side*

*Maggie shifts to stand between Will and the Seraphim, trying to make herself breathe, not panic, keep her head about her* Leave us alone . . . please just go . . . He has no part in any o'this!

*Will's eyes quickly glaze over, and Maggie's start to as well, but she struggles against it*

No . . . no . . . no . . *she chants, feeling herself grow dizzy, trying to focus on the word. She feels Will's body crumple against hers and the feeling serves to drag her attention at least partially back to reality* NO! *she crouches down to try and catch her son before he falls to the ground, sliding her arms around him, but her movements are sluggish, and she's still getting sucked into the hypnosis*

*She clutches Will to her tightly, and stumbles backwards and away from the Seraphim, inwardly screaming at her body to cooperate* Ye . . ye're lying . . . ! Ye're not . . . a real . . . angel . . . anymore!