Arwen watches with horror as first Eldrich, then Jacas attempt to ward off the monster who is called Agog. Their efforts only seem to antagonize the creature until it appears to burst with fury, collapsing down into itself as it burrows into the ground, throwing up huge flaming clods of earth in its wake.

For a moment there is a dead silence. Then the rocks and stones begin to hum with an oppressively loud noise. Arwen feels a rumbling pass beneath her feet as the full force of Agog encircles the perimeter of the group, racing underground. She screams and starts to run towards Eldrich, but the land splits open in front of her, and a wide chasm roars with fire. Arwen stumbles and falls forward, scraping her palms on the rocks. Out of the chasm emerges Agog, whirling like a cyclone to threaten each person in turn.

Saoirse is suddenly at her side, helping her to her feet. "Cast your herbs at the horror, midwife!" she hisses, "The druids cannot do a thing! Try a woman's spell on it!"

Her mother's words remind Arwen of the leather pouch which Siobhan gave her at the start of the journey. She never looked inside to see what herbs it held, and she had almost forgotten she still carried it. With trembling fingers, she tears open the pouch and pours out the fragrant dried herbs into one hand. Saiorse accompanies her to the brink of the pit where Agog dances. Arwen waits until one of his hideous faces turns in her direction, then she shouts:

"I draw over your being the cloak of earth's covering as I cast these nine sacred plants: the glory of gardens, the fruit of orchards, the fertility of fields, the healing of herbs, the plenty of pastures, the nurture of grasses, the sweetness of vines, the melody of meadows, the peace of the glen! The cloak of the Earth Mother be about us all, protecting the innocent and banishing evil!"

Arwen throws the entire pouch of herbs into the face of Agog with a wordless shriek, releasing whatever powers they held. She and Saoirse cling to each other, holding their breath.