Miacus

He felt Ann slam into the walls of the temple as if he were one with them. The distrust of Ann surrounded him and the undead of the halls effectively shutting her out of the goddess's temple.


Low growl rumbled in his chest, his physical form still unconsious, but his spirit restless. He sat up, looking down at the physical and Skatha "Ann? now she comes here as well" a glance at his hand showed the riders were nowhere nearby. "good it seems they have been discouraged or *shakes his head* they found Eowyna not here"


Stepping through the alter room door he was assaulted by the undead wraiths. "you will let me pass, I will go above and speak with the one you shut out". The wraiths let the acolyte pass, and on he continued, the undead parting as he neared them wondering the halls.

The wraith passed through the outerdoor of the temple to materialize before Ann. "Justicar, the riders have left these grounds, My physical self and Skatha will be fine till I am fully healed, find Eowyna quickly"

The wraith faded in and out as he slowly weakened his energies "be quick Justicar, perhaps find Marzan, enlist his aid to protect Eowyna" the last words just above whispering wind as the wraith vanished.

Thrown into his physical form, his body heaved up on the table in which he laid on. Jolting Skatha and falling on the floor in a crumpled mass. A low moan escapes blood crusted lips, a small pool of blood forms at his head.

Skatha

Skatha awakens the instant her body hits the floor. "Ouch," followed by "what the devil has he done now......... he knocked me to the floor."

*The insolent young pup, aged though be his face, apparently he has not the wisdom to match his years. Perhaps his goddess tempers him, that he may be hardened as steel. This quest for the Armagaddon would surely accomplish that."

Looking down at his crumpled and blood cacked body, she approaches the sacrificial basin at the head of the altar. Using strips torn from the hem of her robe, she dampens them with the liquid found there.

"tis strange, this color, the odor is pleasant though, surely it will not harm him; perhaps will help in the healing as well as the cleansing." Curiousity swept aside good judgement; she dipped a finger into the basin, and licking it the fluid from her finger, she tasted it.

As she turned toward Miacus, her vision changed; that which was easily visible before now faded, and in the mist she could see the stark figures of the undead. No wounds now showed on Miacus, but rather, she became aware of the muscles, the sinew, the fragile life within.

words formed sentences within her mind, and she knew that the goddess kiaransalee spoke. "Heal him, you have such powers within you, he is precious to me, my precious one he is. If this be done, I shall grant you a favour in return."

Skatha once again knelt beside him, fear, mixed with a desire to please the powerful goddess, drove her.

"How.......... what will it take.......... I have breathed life into him........ what else......... what else is needed............."

Miacus

He laid there feeling the soft touch of her as she tended to his physical wounds. Soft moans and mumbled incoherent words escaped blood crusted lips, head tossed and turned as if locked in the grips of a nightmare.


His eye lids open slightly, eyes glazed over "who's there? why do you blind Kiaransalee?" hands reach out to gently touch Skatha's cheek. "I know you, dont eye" turns sightless eyes towards her "are the riders still nearby? did Mistress Eowyna escape with the Bandit King?" deep breath fills his lungs.

He blinked the tears from his eyes as he began to pick out the blurrs "Skatha tell me what has happened" Body racked by coughing spasms, fresh blood stains his pale lips. He sees the soft glow of the symbol through the glove. "they are still near I see, I will need my health to combat them again" He seeks out the undead that roam the halls with his mind "allow those of my clan to enter these sacred walls but keeps those who wish us harm away" Eyes close slowly as he losses consiousness once more, his chest rising and falling in the soft breath of sleep.

Maddux

Skatha

"Maicus," she murmured, "awaken, hear me. Thy body has been wracked, you fought the renegade riders with great honour, and dispatch, i believe, all but one of them. If you hear me," she said taking his hand in hers, "gently squeeze my hand...... "

She waited what seemed an eternity, hoping against all odds that she could somehow reach through the darkness that filled his mind. The spirit raven sat upon his shoulder once again, standing guard.

Skatha closed her eyes, and through the veil of darkness a picture emerged of the eyes of the spirit raven, looking intensly at her, the flickering essence of the soul of Maicus gentle pierced the darkness. her slender hand laid softly against the palm of his hand......... nothing... no reponse.............

Unspoken words began to fill the image, coming through the spirit of the raven to Skatha. "send word... the Justicars.... they will come....
.............

"How long has it been," she wondered aloud, "we have been without food and water for days it seems............ I sleep fitfully since i tasted the nectar in the vessel, yet i am always aware of the souls of the undead holding the locks tightly."

A quiver.................. a moan, Miacus' eyelids fluttered briefly, and as she began to softly massage his hand with her fingertips, the other resting on his brow, she felt an ever-so-light pressure from his fingers.

"How can I send word, i hae no messenger, no means........ " Silently, tears form and fell from her eyes as she leaned over him, and as she brushed them from his arm where they had fallen, it all became clear.

Another strip torn from her gown now, and with the tallow from one of the few remaining candles, she managed to form letters upon it. She rolled it tightly, sealing it with more wax, and gave it to the spirit raven. It said simply, "the temple of his goddess...... Help"

"Seek Ann.......... she cannot be far, she was flung from the temple and does not know yet that Miacus has allowed her to enter this place."

"Fly...... spirit......"

His goddess had spoken to skatha through the raven........ he would know now to do as she asked.

A breeze, fresh air, filled the room as the raven flew and a small glimmer of daylight streamed in for but a second as the roof opened for the spirits flight.

Skatha began to sing...... she sang stories of the ancients, tales of heroes and valour, spells of dream weaving, and songs of things foretold which had not yet come to pass.

And as she sang in the soft voice of an elf, the healing once again began. The flickering of the life force of Miacus' slowed until it hardly existed, and the gentle glow of it increased....... the room became a wee bit brighter............... she continued to sing of gentleness, or love, of the taste of May wine and the winds through the trees...........

skatha raised his hand, carefully moving his fingertips over her eyes, then her cheekbones........ over her lips and back across her chin............. that he might know she was with him.

She sang prayers to his Goddess............... and came to a better understanding of the ways of the drow....... they were not her ways........ but understanding began..........

Miacus

His anger grew as he watched his life force slowly ebb, cursing his frailities and his goddess for allowing this. "why do you tempt me so?" He looked down and watched Skatha sing her songs. He could hear the laughter fill his mind "Curse you for this Kiaransalee"


He watched as his eyelids fluttered once more, his breath slowly strengthened, " thank you" words whispered through blood cacked lips. He soon heard the words of the song, though he did not understand the words. He felt the soft touch of her tears and the warmth on his skin " I feel whole once more, keep sining your songs dearest to this darkheart" He could feel the warmth of her touch on his pale skin. He could feel the darkness lift from his heart ever so slightly as his eyes opened to the blur of too bright lighting. "Skatha? what? did they survive?" He slowly sat up, his mind connected to the undead of the halls. He willed them to stand down thier guard, the echos of locks clicking open heard without the room. Hand to forehead, his mind still clouded.

He stood slowly, taking deep breaths as his vision went dark. "I think it will be safe to leave this place now" words spoken as he glanced to the dark symbol onhis hand. "they appear to have left, I think the undead who walk these halls has bought us some time". He walked to the broken alter and knelt before it offereing a silent prayer to her. One of thanks and forgivness for words spoken in anger towards her.

"let us leave here" he turned to the broken mirror and although it nearly killed him once before he turned to that of the lich once more. "we will walk the spirit raods to avoid them finding us, perhaps keep them to this temple" He spoke to the spirits "Hear me now, I am whole once more, watch for the others who bear my symbol and keep them detained" He turned that ancient face to Skatha and reached out an old hand "come lightbringer, walk this path with me none will harm you" slight smirk crossed those ancient features "she has given you passage"

Eowyna Rohanna

The clatter of noise from upstairs brought her immediately to her feet. The book fell from her lap to the floor, unnoticed, as she headed for the teleporter to the bedroom. It had been days, and she'd almost given up hope that he'd ever awaken.

Maddux, when she found him collaped on the far side of the bed, was fully armed but gasping in pain, and muttering incoherently. She was exasperated and alarmed all at the same time. She helped him rise and sit on the edge of the bed.

"What ever do you think you are doing!!?? The bones are barely mended, and you've reopened the shoulder wound! You're bleeding again! Did you think to run right off to Fel and take on the enemies of Gondolin immediately!!??!!" She removed the black bow from his loosened grip and began to strip off the armor.

He grasped her wrist with a grip that was surprisingly strong. "Listen to me!" he gasped. Eowyna sank to her knees beside him and looked into his eyes.

"I am sorry, Maddux. What is it? What are you saying, a'maelamin?"

And, with much effort, he repeated the series of disjoint phrases.

"This has to do with Armageddon?" she whispered, and he nodded, closing his eyes to help maintain coherence. With her free hand, she gently touched the fingers that gripped her wrist like a vice. "Maddux, mela en' coiamin, you are hurting me. I am listening." And with a slight smile, " I think you have been too much around me. You are being visited by Selahine."

He looked at her with a frown of frustration. "It was a true dream!" he growled.

"I know." She pushed him backward on the bed. "But rest. We will follow all these clues when you have recovered enough. Our enemies will still be here tomorrow, and the Black Bow will sing once more."

He took a deep breath, and nodded. She went to work restoring torn and stained bandages with fresh ones. And neither of them payed attention to the slight noises coming from outside.

Eowyna Rohanna

FOR ANNWFN GWYDDEN:

Ann had almost reached the shrine gate back to Zento, when the ethereal form of the raven landed on her shoulder. For a spirit bird, the talons were exceptionally strong and sharp, and she was glad for the chainmail armor. She knew whose bird this was, so was surprised to see that the message he carried was from Skatha. And a desperate message it seemed to be. Ann didn't know quite what to do, she'd been barred from entering that place, but the tone of the message couldn't be ignored, so she began to retrace her steps to the Temple of Kiaransalee. She wished her horse hadn't bolted; foot travel was so slow.

When she arrived, to her surprise, the stone doors that had been so tightly sealed against her, were burst asunder. She knocked an arrow and entered, prepared for any and all opposition, but none came. Once more she felt the spirits of the undead nearby, but it seemed they parted for her passage. She proceeded unopposed and eventually arrived at an altar room deep within.

Someone had been here recently, for although the candles had guttered, the smell of hot wax lingered. But there was no sign of anyone--unless they themselves walked the spirit paths. But that way was closed to Ann. The Temple was utterly deserted as far as living spirits were concerned -- no sign of Skatha, Miacus, or even Drow horsemen. She was too late, then.

----------------Ann

Skatha

Skatha hesitated..... "the spirit roads," she though. She did not immediately reach to take his hand, wondering if this be ........ "no, it cannot be that, for he would surely not take me there........ "

Yet she knew she had little choice. There was danger everywhere around her now, and for the first time since her childhood, she was frightened, terribly frightened. Her values of honour and truth had become a manifestation of who she was, and for what she stood. Fear, pure unadulterated fear caused her to take a step back. She wanted to escape, to escape the voices of the undead around her, the dank musty air in the tomb, this dark one who had laughed at her, tried to intimidate her at their earlier meetings who until she entered the this place had scorned her...

And deep within her very being, she probed and prodded, taunted and threated herself until she felt shame. A shame much more potent than the fear. Had she forgotten the purpose of this quest? Eowyna, the dark riders; where was maddux.......... and Ann?

Stepping forward............ she extended both hands, clasping the hand of the drow between them............. The fingertips of her left hand touched the back of his hand, pausing, as if they could see or hear something, a clue, any clue...... as to what lay ahead. then the fingers move again, sliding from his hand, cradled her left cheek as the fingers of her right hand entwined with his.........

"enkanu amin, nevae enna, amin shan faer llie ."
"Naa eller neh n'at maen? Gorg naa ary yassene amin. Karn asca."

She longed for the warmth of the sun, the feel of fertile earth and green fields; the dance of the wisps and pixies; and the joy of fresh rain upon her body. Would she find these on the roads of the spirit?

Her mind at ease now, she follows, her small hand in his....... memories of childhood flooded her mind....... for a brief second, she held the hand of her father once again......

She tried to sing the song of travel, find the joy of another new journey....... instead.... as they walked together from the temple, she found herself paralyzed with fear again....... he simply pulled her forward, stumbling and cold, cold to the very marrow of her bones.

The sounds were the sounds of lost souls, of evil spirits, haunting, terrorizing......... and yet she walked with him.......... knowing she must endure this living hell if she were to ever again return to the life she had so cherished......

She followed............

Eowyna Rohanna

Eowyna had been watching the riders circle the Yew estate for days. Their supplies of food were growing low. But even more importantly her supply of reagents was running out, and the powerful protection spell she had cast to surround them was growing weaker and she hadn't the reagents left to strengthen it. It would fail soon.

Fortunately, Maddux was stronger now, his wounds healing with time and the little magical healing she could provide. She hadn't shared with him just how critically low the reagent supply was--better for healing not to have him fretting over something they couldn't at present do anything about. But the time had now arrived when some sort of action had to be taken. And the only thing she could think of was to gate away the instant the protection spell dropped. She couldn't make the traveling spell work through the protection fields and she was sure that once it dropped they'd have only a few seconds to make an escape.

She opened the ornate chest in which she stored her magical supplies to remove the necessary ingredients for gate travel. She wouldn't have a chance to fail even once, but she seldom if ever failed that particular spell any more. Bloodmoss, black pearl, sulphurous ash........there wasn't enough mandrake root! Eowyna blinked and counted again, panic beginning deep within her. And her hands shook slightly as she counted for a third time. But the result didn't change no matter how many times she checked the supplies. Alright, she was a very skilled mage, she could make do with less, perhaps just add a little more sulphurous ash to compensate for being a little short of mandrake. It would work.

Trying not to show concern, she made her way downstairs to the library where Maddux was resting with a book on his lap. "Maddux, a'maelamin," trying to keep her voice level and pleasant, "you are much improved and I think it's time we left here. They have been just waiting out there for any chance at entry, and our food and supplies are growing a little short. We have to seek safety elsewhere." A frown creased his forehead and he began to speak, but she rushed ahead. "I know you can kill them, but please, there will only be more sent--put down your book and get the black bow. We need to travel quickly and lightly, and we don't have much time before the protection spell drops."

She waited, watching the magical aura around the house fade, and with a small crackling sound it dissipated. She was ready and instantly cast the traveling magic. "Vas Rel Por" and a gate appeared. It looked a bit off-color, still blue but with a hint of green, like the color of the sea. But there was no time to ponder this small anomoly. Eowyna reached out, took Maddux's hand, and together they stepped through the aqua gate.