Ancient Homecoming

I could feel it in my bones as we rode closer to the ancient castle. The stone colors in the mountain side changed from a deep brown to a black void. The grass grew darker until it was black in color as we approached the outer castlegrounds. "You're still sure you want to do this?" Gideon asked me, as we approached. I looked at him, and nodded. I was on the seemingly endless search for answers, and I was going to get them. As we got closer to the walls of the outer garden, I could see vines that looked like they were dripping with black ink. I reached out to touch one, only to get my hand slapped down by Gideon. "Don't touch those! You'll be asleep for a century, easily." He told me, realizing I was scowling at him. "What are they, anyways?" I asked him, still eying the sedative plant before me. "Nightshade's undertow. It is part of the deadliest gene of plants in the Fae kingdom. Don't touch it, unless you want to be either asleep or dead." He told me, almost glaring. "You know,