Title: A Deadly Conversation
Summary: Will and Merriman have a brief conversation concerning Old Ones and their potential for death.
A/N: Wrote this a while ago, actually, and never got around to posting it. Um. It's a brief oneshot, and it's just one of many theories concerning what happens to Old Ones when they die. I borrowed this one from Eildon Rhymer. Eheh… Um… yeah. But I thought it was worth posting just… because. So… um… hearing your thoughts on it would be lovely.
The Story:
"Have you ever been mortally wounded?" asked Will, suddenly, interrupting their otherwise companionable silence as the two Old Ones strode along the pathway through Hunterscombe.
"It is impossible to mortally wound an Old One, Will. We can't die," replied Merriman, calmly, detached.
Will frowned, suddenly an annoyed boy more than anything else. "You know what I mean," he complained in a less than appreciative tone.
Merriman smiled faintly. "Yes, I do."
"Then why avoid the question?"
"Why do you want to know?"
"I want… I want to know what happens if you… if one of us does get hurt badly."
"Much the same as what happens to any ordinary human. We bleed, or, if we ingest poison, then perhaps we may experience other effects."
"Yes, but we only have so much blood in our bodies. What happens when we bleed too much?" Will still wore a frown on his face, though now it shifted to a scowl as he waited for Merriman to quite beating around the bush and just answer.
"… we," began Merriman, but fell silent for a moment, and during that moment, Will saw an old pain flare briefly in the man's hooded eyes. "We, too, die, after a fashion," Merriman at last admitted, softly.
"But," began Will, though he immediately broke off as Merriman continued.
"It isn't death like you're thinking of, however. It's… it is very difficult to describe and can only be properly understood once you've undergone it yourself. It… is peculiar and particularly unsettling at first, but… it will bring you perspective and wisdom. And you come back… only a very little time is spent outside before you… wake up, as it were."
Will blinked and gazed speculatively at Merriman. For a long few minutes, he could think of nothing to say, except a soft, "Oh."
After allowing Will to wallow in contemplation for a time, Merriman suddenly clapped him on the shoulder, smiling kindly down. "Don't be troubled about it, Will. It takes a lot to kill an Old One – a lot more than would kill an ordinary human."
Will was not, however, entirely reassured. But, not wishing to worry Merriman with undue brooding, he smiled faintly and nodded, putting on the show of being at ease, regardless of his inner feelings. Merriman, in turn, though he did not show it, was not fooled. He saw the lingering thoughtfulness in Will's eyes, but he did not offer any further comments. It was up to Will, now, to discover or not the full extent of his own Old One-ness, as it were. After all, Merriman had, and he'd turned out all right… hadn't he?
END
