She was their benefactor, their protection, the One, fearless, who could keep the Enemy at bay.

When She disappeared, they held vigils, sacrificed a calf to the Goddess, prayed for Her return.

All their wishes were for Her to be back in their midst, honoured and more than a little feared; their planet completed a revolution around their Sun, and she did not come back.

The village wise-men considered what to do next. Had they displeased Her?

Then, one cold dawn, the following winter, She was back, with a mate, a young knight wearing the black armour of the Deathless: their prayers had been answered.