Authors note- this story is the sequel to my nwn2 fanfiction planetouched, there is no motb but instead follows a whole new story involving maria and some of her companions.
"It's time to wake up child."
She could hear the words but they seemed to be coming from far away.
"Maria, my daughter...you must wake."
Slowly she realised that her eyes had opened as they focused on a face before her. The woman seemed bathed in an ethereal light, her long dark hair fluttered around her face in a non existent breeze. But it was the eyes that the girl focused on, the sharp, golden orbs that looked back at her, so much like her own.
"Where am I?"
She asked confusedly, her brow wrinkled as she tried to remember what had happened...
The Shadows...Her friends...No time to run!
Suddenly it all came flooding back and she sat up with such force that her body spasmed in pain.
"Hush child, you have been through quite a trial. Know that you are not dead, but also that you are not alive. You are on a plane in between existence and death..."
The girl looked at the woman incredulously, there seemed to be nothing around them but a white blinding light and if she tried to look past her the pain became unbearable.
"Why am I here? That rock should have crushed me, I should be dead."
The woman smiled softly, her perfect rosebud lips turned slightly upwards as she brushed the girls hair back from her face.
"Because it is not yet your time, there are still things you must do before you can move on. I must explain things quickly as we cannot linger here my daughter."
Daughter? Maria wondered why this ghostly being kept calling her that, then it struck her and the impact forced the breath from her lungs. No wonder their eyes were so alike.
"Mother?"
she asked breathlessly, as the being nodded. Esmerelle, the woman who had sacrificed herself to save her child.
"But how? How is this possible?"
Esmerelle chuckled softly, the sound tinkled like bells as it echoed around them.
"I am a child of Tyr my daughter, as are you. We have the blood of the gods and therein lies your second chance."
Ah yes, the blood of the Aasamir flowed through her veins, she had always known it was there but it had never seemed to have much significance in her life.
"My second chance? I destroyed the King of Shadows, I killed the Reavers, what else is there?"
"The impact of your departure has shattered many lives, and there is still an evil in Luskan willing to take advantage of that. You are still needed Maria."
The girl was perplexed, confused and angry, hadn't she done enough? The woman could see the emotions raging inside her and held her close.
"I know you feel like it is a big task for one so young. But this is different, you are special. You are needed. All that has been done will be for nought if you give up now."
"What must I do?"
She asked resignedly, Esmerelle shook her head.
"Do not take this as a burden, this is a chance to fix things and to have a future, as I said many have been impacted by your supposed death.
Maria thought of her friends, how they had followed her into the gates of the hells themselves, how they were willing to sacrifice their own lives for her alone.
"There is a price however."
The girl snapped out of her thoughts at these words, looking at the woman curiously.
"A price?"
"In order to be returned to the land of the living something of equal value must be given."
Maria balked,
"Is this one of those a life for a life kind of deals?"
Esmerelle smiled,
"No, what is your life worth to you? what would you give to have your chance?"
Maria's first thought was anything, she would give anything to see her friends again, anything to be able to go back and tell them all that she was sorry for the pain she had caused. At this thought a strong male voice filled the air, resonating so loudly she thought her ears would burst.
Anything? So be it.
Her mother touched her chest where the shard lay and Maria felt the familiar tugging sensation she was used to when she used her magic. The light began to fade and Esmerelle smiled sadly, saying her last goodbyes to the daughter she never knew.
"One last thing, time has changed a little since you were there, not all things are the same and not everyone is how you left them. Be well my daughter, and good luck."
Before she could protest and ask what was meant by that darkness overwhelmed her and the familiar feelnig of unconciousness overwhelmed her.