Ah, good, you're still here. Didn't run off while I was making my coffee, I see. I'm glad. Now, I promised you the story of Briar's Stone, didn't I? ---- It all began with a woman from the Clan of the Wolf who gave birth to twins. One daughter and one son. She named the daughter "Rose" and the son "Briar" and the two of them were as different and as alike as two people could be. Rose was gentle, timid, and graceful. Briar was active, bold, and extravagant. But then, both of them were kind, generous, and true. From before they could even walk, the two of them were inseparable. As babies, they would howl whenever they were apart, not stopping until they were reunited. As they grew older, the bond between them only strengthened, and they came to view their differences not as a weakness but as a strength. As a unit, their differences provided them with more skills, extra insight and additional perspective. They could accomplish more together than the sum of what they could do separately. And so things were for them throughout their childhoods, but as they grew into adults they inevitably had to deal with changes. One thing that was obvious to all was that Rose was turning into a very attractive woman. She was a classic beauty, with green eyes and red hair, and a face as fair as a glen on a spring morning. Rose had many suitors and pursuers, which left Briar worried. He hoped that his sister would find happiness, of course, but he had spent time with many of the local men, and he knew that most of them did not treat women, especially beautiful women, with respect. Briar shared his concerns with Rose, and together, the two of them devised a plan. They announced that every night at the setting of the sun, the two of them would be at the local standing stone and only then would she entertain suitors. They also announced that she would only be willing to date a man who could first best her brother in a fair fight. At first people laughed at them, for Briar had no great reputation as a fighter. Many men challenged Briar in front of that stone, for Rose's beauty was such that she was seen as a great prize. Many men challenged Briar, and many men lost. For although Briar was not a skilled fighter, he was motivated by the love of his sister and the motivation made him invincible. Months passed, and fewer and fewer men came to challenge Briar or to pursue Rose. And as the months turned into years they stopped entirely. And yet, every sunset, Briar and Rose could still be found together under their standing stone. Nobody knows whether they carried on only out of habit and ritual or if they actually expected any more suitors, but one day ten years later, another suitor did come. She was a close friend to the twins, and her name was Aroma. She approached timidly and apologised to them. "I'm sorry, Briar," she said. "I know that you will beat me, but your sister means so much to me that I could never forgive myself if I didn't at least try." For the first time, Briar saw in someone else's eyes the same love that he felt for Rose. He instantly lay down and conceded. "You win," he said, simply. "You have my blessing." The courtship was slow, for such affairs should never be rushed, but Rose and Aroma did fall in love and eventually they married. And for the rest of their lives, every evening at sunset, Rose, Aroma and Briar would spend time together at that standing stone, that we now know as Briar's Stone, and enjoy each other's company. Eventually, they all died, as we all must die, and each one in turn was buried in the shadow of the stone. Years later a type of flower that nobody had seen before appeared around the graves. It was a rose, a beautiful flower with green leaves and red petals, always accompanied by a wonderful aroma, and forever protected by the briar. ---- And that's the story of Briar's Stone, and why people say that it's impossible to lose a fight with a just cause if it takes place in sight of the stone. Now if you'll excuse me, I see that the sun has just risen, so it's time for a night owl like me to get to bed. Do feel free to come back some time if you want to learn more, though.