Morpheus, the Endless and most of the
other characters belong to Neil Gaiman, and to DC Comics, and to whomever they
may decide to lend them to. The authors
of this fic knew this all along, and are willing to swear they didn't mean to
make money out of them.
Dream of a Bunch of Fans: a Tribute
NOTE: I'm uploading this fiction because I think
it deserves to be read, but I'm by no means its only author! This story resulted from the joint efforts
of a group of fans who used to gather around the "SanmanRPG" mailing list at
eGroups.com.
It was really
great to play with them, and I wish I could remember their names in order to
give them credit... sadly, the list was
destroyed during the passage from eGroups to Yahoo (it seems that we weren't
active enough to satisfy our new host...), and I only remeber the Reverend
Nightwalker, who gave us a hell of a Lucifer!
So if you read
this and like it, please remeber that I'm only responsible for the little fairy
Nuala; alla the other characters were moved by different puppeteers. And if you happen to be one of the members
of our late group, PLEASE contact me...
I really, really want to thank all of you people!
Oh, and since we
are at it... if I rated this story as
PG instead of General, it's just because I know that some people might be
disturbed by characters such as Death or Lucifer, although I'm at a loss to
understand why such people should be reading a Sandman fic in the first
place.
Apart from that, there is really no reason why
you shouldn't be reading this... no
sex, no violence, nothing. I
was just being careful, that's it!
Sitting crosslegged in front of the gates of horn and ivory, grabbing
Dream's insect head thingamajiggy,
"DREAM!!!! I NeEd To sEe yOu... In mY rEALm. Please... NOW!! PLeaSe? I kNoW yOu CAn heAR mE 'CUz I GoT yoUR… Um...
ThINGie.. THat... YoU KnOw...
PrObLeM... UmmMM… What was I saying?
Oh yeah… UmMM… I
ForGoT again… OH YEAH!! COmE
PLEASE... lAtER tONIGht?"
* * * *
Dream
paced his chambers, something was wrong, he could feel it. He sent a message out to all of his trusted
servants and his two sisters, Del and Death, requesting to meet with them all.
* * * *
Death quietly walked through the dream realm. When she passed Matthew, she waved to him; the raven flew down
and perched on her arm.
"You going to see your brother?"
"Yes Matthew."
"On buisness?"
"Sort of. There's a human
that the king of the goblins cares about deeply and I have to visit her
tonight. I wanted to ask Morpheus if he
would give her a nice dream to leave on."
Death smiled sadly at the bird.
"She was a very nice woman."
"Oh."
"Yes, oh."
The
pair walked the rest of the way in silence.
Presently, they reached the gates of his palace. She was greeted at the door and shown to
the library to wait for her brother.
She
examined the books and choose a novel sized volume with "Dreamspinner's
Realm" embossed on the side. Setting the book down on the table, she
opened to the middle of the book and picked up where she had left off
previously.
"Hello, sister." Dream
said from the doorway of his library.
"What did you want to see me about?"
"A request." Death said,
simply; closing the book and pushing it away from her. "I need you to send a final dream to
someone. The king of the goblins begs
you to. She's really a nice person, she
deserves a great final dream. Will you
do that?"
"Of course, sister." Dream
answered and turned away from Death.
"I have a great respect for the king of the goblins, I will do as
he asks."
He
looked at the others who were begining to gather, wordlessly. Soon it would be time to tell them what they
were all here for.
* * * *
Del
walked slowly into her brother's realm, with a strange curiosity she has
everytime she is summoned.
"I wonder what this is about...."
Skipping down the sidewalk, del smiles and thinks… "I get to see everyone…"
"Ummm........ I'm
sorry..... I was just.... you know...... thinking about.... happiness and sadness…
and see.....
I was wondering…. what exactly is happy?
'Cause I see happy people all the time... and sad people. I want to know what it is.…
Death... umm...
Can
you, like... you know...... make someone who's dead, alive again? 'Cause, see... I kinda want... to meet someone.... you know… like, a dead
person, to see what it's like to be dead...
Dream....
How
do people dream while in the Dreaming...?
'Cause that's… not… I don't know… expected... I guess? I
think you're kinda scary.... I'm sorry…
but I like you a lot.
Despair...
Umm..... Why... do people…
get sad?
I know: 'cause they can't get what they
want. But why can't they, like.. you
know… be happy..... ?
I think you're kinda mean.... Why don't you like happy people?
Matthew...
If
I was a bunch of fishies... would you
eat me? Matthew is here, right?
Who
is here.....? I'm going to go play....
Love, Del. Or hate… or indifference… I'm not sure… but bye.
Has
anyone seen my doggy?"
* * * *
Aeowynn looked about the Dreaming palace, wondering why she had been
summoned.
She
was one of the stranger dreams, being
both a nightmare and a wonderful
fantasy, and didn't usually get called
upon for anything because of this.
Ahead of her, she saw one of the
lesser creatures that cleaned the palace.
"Excuse me?" she
said, "Where are we supposed to
meet the Lord Shaper?"
The
being pointed down a new hallway, and said nothing. Aeowynn shrugged and walked down toward a set of large doors.
* * * *
Death loved visiting Dream's realm the best.
It
had stars, like the world... but different, in a way. They seemed more alive here, and she liked that. Her realm didn't have stars. Pity really. She leaned back against the soft grass of someone's dream, and
watched the stars dancing, with a smile.
Lord Oberon strode up to the lounging young woman and bowed at the
waist, smiling. "M'lady, it is a pleasure to see you."
"Lord Oberon, it's wonderful to see you too." Death replied, smiling back plesantly. "Would you care to join me? The stars are really lovely tonight."
"Well, thank you, I think I will."
Taking a seat on the grass, Oberon leaned back on one elbow and looked
up at the sky. Death smiled kindly,
looking back at the stars.
"How are things in your land? That's another place I always love
visiting, but I never make it around as often as I'd like."
Oberon sighed slightly, a smile that was almost bittersweet flicking
over his face, making his eyes glitter like the distant stars.
"My lands? Things are well, as always. There are dances and parties
and galas and balls, there are secrets and scandals and gossip, there is love
and magic, as it should be."
Turning to Death, he said:
"If you were to visit my lands, my lady, I would be greatly
honored, but I am afraid of what would bring you. However, I do extend an open
invitation to you and all of your family."
With a delighted laugh, Death nodded.
"Thank you very much. I don't always have to be "on
business" when I visit somewhere. Like right now, I'm just here for the
stars. Even when I'm needed and I'm not
there... I'm there."
Oberon smiled at Death and tilted his head to one side, almost
inquisitively. He swept his gaze back up to the sky and said, "It is often the occupation that binds
one."
Death laughed, a small, genuine and open laugh.
"The same would be true in my case too, I suppose...but the nature
of my duties also...liberates me, almost."
"Liberation, eh?"
Oberon smiled, nodding his head.
"Indeed. I suppose work is liberating. I find liberation, however,
in the quiet places."
He
guestured around at the field they were sitting in. "This place, for instance. My realm is losing its interest;
it isn't brash and obnoxious anymore. The younger faeries have no sense of
style."
"Oh. That's really too bad." Death said, sympathetically. "What are you going to do if it loses
all interest?"
* * * *
The
Real World.
Now.
Her
feet keep moving. Breath comes in sharp, painful inhalations as the world
streams past her. People step out of her way. Perhaps they notice the blood, perhaps they don't.
Maybe it's the look in her eyes.
She lost them somewhere past
125th. She should stop, rest, appraise the situation, but she still runs. Sheer terror overrides any good sense to
stop.
Finally, she slows, stops, appraises the situation.
She's on 115th now. Ten blocks
in...how long? No clocks. No clocks
anywhere. Just as well, she's
learned to stop trusting clocks.
None of them are in sight. There
were three of them, she took one's head off, the others chased her. Surrounded on all sides by grey-brown
walls, she feels safe, but overwhelmed.
Elsewhere.
They failed.
Two
blocks ago they decided to go back for the other, questions would be asked if
the inhabitants of the stark brown city suddenly found a hollow manshape lying
in an alley.
She
still had the book, so they had accomplished nothing.
No
matter, in a little while, all will be solved.
They will find her, once their companion is repaired.
With patience and care they examine the remains of their companion. He is unable to be saved. The leader
takes the Namtar into his hands, cradling the scarab like it is a human
infant.
More valuable, more precious.
The
body will have to be set alight. In a
few moments, it will be only a manshaped pattern of ash, and none of them will
ever think twice about it.
That's their weakness, the weakness of
the denizens of the Real World.
Apathy.
Their prey cannot be far, but the Namtar must be returned, or it will
die.
One
voice diminshed diminishes all. All must
be preserved, at all costs. One day, more or less.
What's one day?
* * * *
He
who used to rule Hell was driving the convertible at an extreme speed. It was his new found freedom that made this
possible for him.
The
angels Ramiel and Duma now had to bear the responsibility of Hell, and Lucifer
got to sit back and drink those umbrella drinks and sit on the beach.
The beach wasn't what was on
Lucifer's mind now. He had the MDFMK cd
blasting, the top down, and the wind in his hair.
It
wasn't a very dignified sight for one of HIS first creations. But God had turned a blind eye to him
now. So he didn't care much for what
God thought.
Salt smells from the Pacific blew
to him. The Pacific Coast highway was
one of the longest stretches of asphalt one could find.
And
it was just the place to open up the carbureator and have a little howl.
There were no worries for
Hell. The angels would take care of
it. Even if the job they had undertaken
was a indeed a huge one, they were angels after all.
And
God had assigned them the task. It
wasn't like they were going to defy Him.
They were already
in the place they would be sent to if they did. There was no place for them to fall to, now.
It was Dream who Lucifer thought of
now.
Lucifer had handed the Lord of Dreams the key to an empty Hell. What he had wanted was for him to fall to
ruin.
At
that point he didn't really care what happened there. The idea of just walking away and letting the dead roam around
freely did give him a slight chuckle.
The image of him driving along this stretch of road with the dead
shambling about in front of him going BUMP! BUMP! on the front of his car was
hilarious.
But Dream had ruined that fun.
Instead of taking the job himself he searched to find someone else for
the job. Lucifer had sat back in the
shadows and watched the deities line up at the gate. Each petitioner had unique
reasons for wanting the job.
But
Dream had to run to heaven for his search.
And two angels had to step up to the plate.
Water under the bridge. Lucifer was
indeed having the time of his "Life", no amount of upset over the
failure of a plan to extract revenge on the Lord of Dreams was going to ruin
that.
Maybe he should go to Morpheus and tell him. The Dreaming was indeed a beautiful place. As good a place as any to howl.
The transition was smooth. Lucifer continued to drive along the beach
road. But small
changes began to appear. The sky
darkens, the landscape begins to change, and the salt smell begins to
disappear.
Ahead, Lucifer could see the Dream King's palace. It was in the
distance, and beginning to grow larger.
It was the two shapes sitting on
the lawn in front of the palace that gave Lucifer pause. Both of the people lounging there he knew.
One
was Death, whom he had a good working relationship with in the past, the other
was Oberon, King of the Faerie.
An
odd pair they were.
Death held no power in Faerie. The residents of that place did not know
Death. They just went on until they
passed beyond the veil and onto another place.
What a conversation those two must be having! Lucifer had to get in on
this.
* * * *
Nuala
left her hiding place behind the column and shot a quick glance at the
glass-stained window.
They were still out there... Death, the Lord Shaper's sister.
And him.
She wiped her forehead with the
back of her hand and made sure to remain out of their view. Why? She didn't
know for sure.
She didn't fear Death; none of her
people did. She actually liked
her, maybe because she seemed so young and fragile, yet ancient and wise... so
much like Dream.
What really disturbed her was the
proximity of the King of Faerie, Lord Oberon.
Nuala didn't know much about the light-blue-skinned elf, except for the
gossips, of course. And she knew better
than to trust the gossips.
The Lady Titania... well, she
was quite different, of course. You couldn't
be a fairy and manage to avoid getting to know her at balls, parties, galas,
hunting contests... it was just impossible.
But the King... what could he be
talking about? The young fairy would have given anything to know that, yet she
knew she would never find the courage to ask... not even to Death.
Could it be possible that Oberon
had come for her? To claim her
and bring her back to Faerie, and the court...
and Cluracan.
Nuala let out a deep sigh. She missed her brother very much, but she
did not wish to leave the Dreaming...
to leave her master.
She peeped again, very
carefully. Lord Oberon and Death were
appearently looking at the sky, and they didn't seem to have taken the least
notice of her.
While
she was thinking about the King... and
Cluracan... and the Faerie... and so many things...
...a big spray of mud suddenly
squashed against the same window that she had just finished cleaning, covering
the elegant pattern of the coloured glass under a slimy frosting.
*
* * *
The
spin Lucifer did just short of their position was wonderful.
The
spray of dirt and grass went in every direction. All the while he let out a great howl. When the dust cleared he reached down and turned off the music.
"What fun I'm having!"
exclaimed Lucifer as he jumped from the car walking to the place
were Death and Oberon had been lounging.
Calmly brushing soil and bits of grass of her pale skin and midnight
clothing, Death gave a small smile.
"I can see." She remarked, frowning slightly as she flicked a
blade of grass off her briliantly shining ankh that hung around her neck. "Hello, Lucifer".
The
smile just appeared on his lips.
Any
smile that appeared on Lucifer's lips just happened to look devilish, even if
he didn't hold the job anymore. He really couldn't help it, Death looked
hilarious picking blades of grass and clods of dirt from her hair.
"I'm truly sorry, dear Death." laughed Lucifer. "I didn't intend to do that, but it is a
very funny look on you."
* * * *
Nuala couldn't avoid letting out a
little yelp, and dropped the cloth she had been clutching in her hand until
that moment.
Fighting back her fears, she opened
the big window, and saw that the former Prince of Hell had joined the
conversation.
The young fairy shook her head,
sadly, picked up the cloth, and started her job all over again.
*
* * *
Oberon sat up, blinking, startled.
"Well, how fairs thee, then,
Light-Bringer?" He smiled, arching
an eyebrow. "Well, from the looks
of it."
As
he turned to address Oberon, the smile almost totally disappeared from his
lips.
"Lord Oberon, it has been quite some time since anyone has called
me that. I guess I'm just not used to
hearing it anymore. You can call me that if you wish, but I would prefer that
you didn't."
Oberon arched an eyebrow in suprise.
"Forgive my rudeness..."
Pausing, he searched for a name.
"... Lucifer."
Lucifer looked over at the
King of Fairy. "No appology
necessary. Just a tender subject. I don't like to think about that part of my
"Life"."
"Are
you here on business with my brother or do you have time to join us? We're
stargazing."
"No Death, I am not here on business, so I would enjoy star-gazing
with you.
But
I do need to have a little talk with your brother sometime soon. I feel it is as good a time as any to have a
clearing of the way between us."
said Lucifer. "Since I find
that I am no longer the King of Hell, I have no use for any conflict with
him."
Lucifer picked a soft spot on the ground, and sat, laying back and
resting his head in a small pile of leaves.
"Stargazing sounds about as fun as anything else I could do right
now. Plus we haven't spoken much in the
past few thousand years. But before we get misty eyed in reminicence, what has
drawn the both of you here?"
"Does a sister have to have a reason to visit her brother?"
Death asked pleasently, brushing the last of the dirt off her. "Ever so
often I feel the need to...relax, I suppose. I love looking at the stars and I
like visiting Morpheus so..."
She
ended with a smile and a shrug.
"No, you don't have to have a reason to visit your brother, Death.
I just was trying to drum up conversation. But it does appear that you have
been spending a lot of time here recently. Not that I'm being nosy... word gets
around."
Word had indeed gotten out that Death was
visiting the Dreaming much more often of late.
But
you never could tell about the Endless. They were very hard for Lucifer to
read. All accept Desire and Despair.
Those twins, Lucifer knew, and he knew them well. The Endless had been around before God
created the universe, at least some said so.
When Lucifer was ruler of Hell the idea of becoming one of them was most appetizing. Then he would be
outside of God's dominion.
But
he removed himself from the equation.
* * * *
Nuala stood in front of the opened window, and gazed intently.
Death didn't seem to be annoyed by the newcomer's presence, much less
scared. And Oberon, well... his azure face
was calm and unreadable, as usual.
As
for herself, she wasn't exactly worried.
She was a resident of the Dreaming for the time being, and Morpheus
would never allow anyone to hurt her.
But, what if he couldn't help that... if he couldn't help being hurt himself?
The fairy's body trembled at the mere thought. No, it was not
possible... not while the Master was dwelling inside his kingdom.
But
she didn't trust Lucifer. The Ancient
Foe had deposed his rule, but he was still the same, the malevolent, envious
angel. And he hated the Shaper, as he
hated everyone.
"Maybe I should warn him", Nuala thought. But no, she would never have dared. She could still keep her eyes opened, anyway...
and be careful.
The
fairy closed the stained window again, and started stroking the next one with
her cloth. Meanwhile, she kept wondering...
how could a tracherous wretch like the King of Hell sport such a
charming smile, and such honey-blond hair?
Then the Lady Titania jumped to her mind... and her speculations collapsed all of a sudden.
* * * *
"So how about them stars?" asked Lucifer, looking at both of
his fellow stargazers.
Oberon laughed softly, a melodic sound.
"The stars certainly are lovely. The Lord Shaper has an eye for
detail."
He
smiled to himself, idlly plucking at tufts of grass.
During the brief lull in the conversation, Oberon glanced upwards at the
stained-glass windows of the Lord Shaper's castle; his eyes narrowed as he
watched for whomever it had been watching him.
* * * *
Nuala saw Lord Oberon's gaze shifting in her direction. and her heart
missed a beat.
Could he possibly have seen her? She didn't think so; she had been so
carefully avoiding to meet his eyes...
Still, if the King of Faerie knew about her presence, it would be
terribly rude of her, not to meet him and assure him of her obedience.
Oh,
well... If her Master was going to allow the elf into his palace, she could
greet him later.
Otherwise...
she was just a servant into the Dreaming, all things considered. She couldn't abandon her duties and idle on
the grass with his guests.
She
kept repeating herself so much, trying to subdue her fairy heart's furious
beat.
Oberon hadn't seen her since a long time; no one of her kind had, except
for Cluracan. And even her brother had
found it difficult to recognize her, so different she had become.
Of
course, there was the possibility that Lord Oberon simply knew about
her, even without having seen her. He
was the King of the Enchanted Realm, after all... one was allowed to suppose
that he was able to read into his subjects' thoughts.
But
no, that was impossible... otherwise, he wouldn't have tolerated Titania to be
at his side for so long. He wasn't omniscient, after all.
Omniscience...
Nuala wished for a moment that Destiny were there, too. The most
secretive and mysterious of the Eternals always filled the young fairy with a
cold terror, but she felt she would have faced him just now. It would have been
better than this anguish.
But
it was no use for her to keep wishing the impossible.
Destiny was not there; he was probably walking into his realm's garden,
and reading from his Book.
Nuala would have had no chance to talk to an
omniscient being, for now.
But she could talk to a very wise one, at least.
Nuala didn't dare to look out again, but she knew that Death was still
lying there, conversing with Oberon. And with her brother's subtler enemy.
What was the Lord Shaper thinking? Why did he allow his adversaries into
the Dreaming? Lucifer... and Despair... ?
Nuala gave up the thought of speaking with Death later. Instead, she ran
out of the room, into a large corridor, heading for the library, calling:
"Matthew? Are you here? I need your advice. Please!"
* * * *
Death merely nodded in response to
Lucifer's comment.
"I like my family." She finally said in the same pleasant manner
she always spoke in. "And, yes,
the
stars are wonderful."
She tilted her head to watch Oberon for a
moment as he watched the castle. "Did you see something?"
Swinginging his piercing gaze over to
Death, Oberon smiled. "No, just a
trick of the light." His smile
became more inward and secretive, bemused.
Speaking to both Lucifer and Death,
he asked, "Have either of you seen the Lord Shaper recently?"
Lucifer took time from the stars to look over at Oberon. "Well, not since all that unfortunate
business. I thought it would be best to keep a little distance between us for a
while. Since I have no realm of my own, I just wandered a little. I may come to
Faerie for a while. See what I can stir up." smiled Lucifer.
Oberon smiled. "Well, I'd be delighted to have you. I doubt my lady queen
would prefer your appearance, though. She is holding one of her 'galas.'"
He rolled his eyes expressively. "That is why I left for the
evening."
Lucifer
smiled. "I truly doubt that, but it is good that you offered. Now does anyone know whether Morpheus is
accepting visitors, or did I come allt his way just to turn up a bit of his
grass?"
"I wouldn't know, really." Death replied in her calm, good natured
way. "I haven't been in to see him
yet. Why are you here to see him?"
She asked. "Or have you
already said that, and I've forgotten?"
*
* * *
The raven ruffled his wings softly from
his perch near a high window in the library before silently swooping down
toward the fairy.
Landing before her, he cocked his head to
one side, examining her silently for a moment.
"Well, what can I do for you?"
* * * *
Barnabas watched the thistledown floating through the air and snapped at
it, catching it in one easy snap.
It
was a beautiful sunny day and he was, once again, looking for Del.
He'd lost her somewhere, my if she wasn't a slippery one! You turn your
back for five seconds 'cause some little brat's dropped an icecream (and how,
possibly, could you ignore such a gift?) and find that she's vanished or turned
into butterflies or something.
He's sure he'll find her again, he usually does.
A
golden haired man with pointed ears passed him by and paused momentarily.
"Why, hello there dog, how are you this fine day?" He sounded cheerful. Barnabas knew who he was, the mischevious
elf, the Cluracan, teller of tales.
"I
am fine, thank you, sir," the dog replied.
Cluracan looked startled, as though he did not expect the dog to talk.
"Hey, I know you, you're that dog that follows Delirium around,
right?"
"That's me," Barnabas replied haughtily, "I keep her out
of mischief, and gods know, she needs it," he added under his breath.
"Ah yes, of course, well, well met I'm sure. But where, may I ask
my little pooch friend, is she whom you are supposed to be supervising?"
The
dog hung his head. "I kinda lost her. Again." Damn that icecream!
"Oh, this is a fine guardian," the elf jests. "But
perhaps you would care to follow me, for I am heading to visit with my sister
and I'm sure someone will know where to find your friend."
"I suppose I can tolerate your company," Barnabas replied,
"for a short while. I don't suppose you would have a bone about your
person?"
"I am afraid the answer there would be none, or not one that you
could be having any way, so are you with me, poochy?"
"I guess so," Barnabas replied. "But just don't try any
poetry, ok?"
* * * *
Stars glittered, bedecked the evening
sky, Alianora travelled beneath. She had roamed the ether realms for what
seemed a timeless span, only to arrive all too near the place she departed.
Why journey a vast void and return to
where she was no longer at home? She could not even begin to question the
question, she moved closer.
Her hair, night cloaked in vesper sighs,
her scar, marked a memory which she came to reclaim. Voices ascended before
her, two recognized: the firy Nuala, and the sister of Him.
All figures came into view as she entered
the dreamers' realm.
Lucien opens the Library's newest
acquisition, a poetry book by a young inspired poet who slept unaware of her
own work.
Lucien turns the ornate and botanically
illustrated cover to the frontpiece poem: an unlinear narrative which tells of
a convergence, strange alliances and a king who refuses to appear. Lucien shuts
the book as stars glitter cold beyond.
Why
are you never alone with me
Deep woman, deeper than the abyss
to which the sources of the past
are attached?
The more I approach you, the more
you sink
Into the ravine of pre-existences.
* * * *
Cluracan grinned at the dog; "Oh if
all the stars up in the sky...", he began.
"Oh, shut up," Barnabas remarked, good humouredly.
"I've had my share of bad poetry and I don't wish for any more of
it!"
Cluracan looked hurt. "I don't
think its bad," he replied,
"it would just appear that your taste in it is somewhat tarnished."
"Yeah, right."
"Anyway," he continued, "it would appear that
even now we approach the abode of Lord Morpheus."
"Woof," Barnabas replied.
"Pardon? Do I hear a tinge of
sarcasm?"
The dog shrugged.
Around them the trees rose upwards,
sillohuetting the sky. The sunrise
burned fire through them and higlighted the skeletal twigs.
Lord Morpheus' realm was always one of
the most beautiful, Barnabas reflected, much more organised than Delirium's,
although hers had its charms.
As they walked further dark came upon
them, as though it had been placed there. Such was the nature of the Dreaming.
"Why, it is the Morning Star! And the
lovely Death," Cluracan said with a sly smile. He moved forwards.
Barnabas stared at Lucifer
suspiciously. "To what purpose are you here, retired Lord of the
damned?"
* * * *
Nuala stopped abruptly, breathless, and
leaned against a weird sculpture to steady herself.
In her hurry, she had forgotten all about her own wings.
"Matthew! Here you are...", she exclaimed, gratefully. "I'm sorry to spoil your rest, but... I
really need your advice... please".
She
looked into the bird's jet-black little eyes, and felt she could trust him.
And, what was more, the Spinner himself would have trusted his
wisdom. It was sort of funny,
really... the fact that his tiny, feathered
body sheltered an ethereal soul, while her magical essence made up all what she
was.
"I'm... concerned", she explained in a concitated whisper,
lowering her gaze. "About... about our Master, you know. I'm sure he knows what he's doing, but I
keep wondering, why does he allow his enemies to wander into the
Dreaming freely?
The
Fiend is here... I've just seen him downstairs, engaged in some pleasant
conversation with the Lady Death and the Faerie's sire. But I know him
too well to believe that all he's looking for is a friendly talk on the
grass".
"I doubt that's all he's looking for
either." Matthew replied after a
moment's thought. "But here's one
thing I've learnt... you can't always
figure out what Morpheus is thinking. He does things all the time
that would have me scratching my head if I could do that.
But maybe it's not as bad as your
thinking it is? I know the first couple of times I saw his sister here it gave
me the willies. But you come to accept it."
"You mean, Death?", Nuala
asked, pensively. "I don't know... I rather like her, sort of. Well, of course I
know what she does all the time, and
that's really creepy, if one comes to
think about that... but she's so agreable and kind and all, and moreover,it's
not good for a fairy to stop thinking about death. My Lady the Queen would be
truly horrified, should she know that.
Well, anyway... maybe you're right, after
all, and I'm making too much of it. But I don't like it...
and as soon as I'm finished with my work, I'll go downstairs and keep an eye on
that... well, whatever it is that
Lucifer's now!"
(?????)
The
young fairy smiled gratefully: she was feeling much better already.
"Thank you very much, Matthew", she said. "You know...
the Lord's very lucky to have an advisor like you. And I am, too"
(?????)
Nuala nodded and rushed out of the door: the sooner she'd finished with
those windows, the sooner she'd have been able to join the three stargazers
downstairs.
But
then a sudden thought struck her, and she bolted in again, a mischievous grin
playing upon her lips.
"Uh, Matthew...? I just wanted to say... if you ever need to
scratch your head again, feel free to count upon me, OK?"
She
waved at the raven and went again, enjoying the perplexed glaze in the bird's
eyes.
Sometimes she just couldn't resist being her old self again, if only for
a brief moment... even if, she had to admit, this was definitly NOT the right
moment.
Unless...
She
run back to the hall again, and peeped out from the same window upon which some
little specks of mud were still to be seen.
She
immediately discovered that her magical sense had not deceived her...
…her brother, Cluracan, was there.
* * * *
Lucifer listened to Death's response, pondering the last time the Dream
Lord just up and disappeared. A couple of untrained mystics had caught him, and
kept him in a glass sphere in the basement for quite some time.
No
one was stupid enough to fall for that
twice.
"You don't suppose he has gone off and gotten himself imprisoned by
some hackney unschooled mystics again?
It's just not like him to sit
around and not welcome his guests, even if I
am one of them." said Lucifer.
It
wasn't really hope that lingered in the back of his mind, but here was a realm
with no lord to rule it. And here stood Lucifer, a lord with no realm to rule.
If Morpheus was indeed gone, captured, or dead, no, Death would surely know if that had happened, then he was here for
a good reason after all.
"I don't suppose that Morpheus would mind if we went in and had a
spot of tea. I think I do remember where the kitchen is. Anyone else as
parched?" asked Lucifer.
Barnabas looked at Lucifer, somewhat perturbed.
"I know I am just of the canine nature," he said, "but is
that any purpose to ignore my presence?"
The dog narrowed his eyes.
"But I find myself in favour of some tea ,and maybe a scone. If you would
be so kind," the end part reeked of sarcasm.
* * * *
Oberon rose to his feet in one fluid, suprisingly graceful movement.
He
arched an eyebrow at Cluracan and said, "Good noon to you. Come to visit
your sister?"
He
sounded bored, and arrogant, mischevious, and amused, everything a good Faerie
Lord should be.
Instead of waiting for an answer, he bowed to the dog Barnabas and said,
"And a good noon to you, Sir Dog. I hope the day finds you well."
His
politic plays were slightly obvious: showing more respect to a dog than to the
faerie.
Then it was time to turn his
attentions to the Devil, or ex-Devil, as the case may be. "I, myself,
would thoroughly enjoy a cup of tea. If the Lord Shaper minds not."
He
straightened his posture, arching his eyebrow once more. "I am assuming he
does not mind, since he is nowhere to be found."
* * * *
Cluracan smiled at Death.
"Why, it has been a while hasn't it,
my lady? I wonder if perhaps my beloved
sibling might be about here somewhere. I seem to recall I promised I would drop
by and visit her, oh, about this
time"
"There is something wrong
here," Barnabas stated, having given up on Lucifer. "The Gloomy
Fellow himself seems oddly absent. Why has he not come to greet such honoured
guests as myself and Cluracan here?"
* * * *
Death got to her feet quietly after the
others, raising an eyebrow at the former ruler of Hell.
"Now Lucifer, it would not be wise
of you to begin thinking that if my brother doesn't show that you can take over
his realm." She warned, an almost
imperceptible edge to her cheerful timbre. "Just because he's not here
right now, doesn't mean that he's left."
Lucifer attempted to answer Death's
comment. "Now my dear Death, do you really have such a low opinion of me?
I would not try to usurp Morpheus' place here. All I want is a spot of tea. And
to get poor Barnabas a scone."
His words did little to sway any in the
group, at least there did not seem an outward
sign
that they did.
"I'm sure that Morpheus is just out
somewhere", continued Lucifer. "Probably giving bad men nightmares,
and little innocent children dreams of sugar-plum fairies. But I am sure that
he would feel bad knowing his guests were not being tended to in his absence."
* * * *
Nuala saw the fallen angel getting up and heading straigh towards the
entrance, and decided that it was the right time for her to move and intercept
the intruder.
She
dabbed energically with her cloth at the last spot of dirt upon the
stained-glass window, then put it down and descended the main staircase, in a
hurry.
She
glanced around her, least her Master should be going to appear and receive the
unwelcome guest after all, but Morpheus was nowhere to be seen.
The
fairy tried hard to gave herself a composed, helpful attitude, and personally
opened the imposing door.
"Welcome, sir", she said, with a slight bow. " The Lord's
been very busy lately, otherwise he would have received his honoured guests
himself... Is there anything I can do for you, in the meantime?", she
asked politely, but feeling her stomach revolt at the sight of the Enemy's
fishy smile.
Lucifer
watched the elfin waif approach him.
Her bearing was that of someone who was being forced to be polite to
someone who she didn't really care to.
That in itself was worth the trip to the dreaming. Lord of Hell or not, he was still the same
person who took up arms against the Creator, and loved knowing that people
didn't forget that.
"No, little one", replied Lucifer. "I am just going off
to get a spot of tea for us, and I do recall that the mutt wanted a
scone."
Nuala moved her mouth as to make a response, but Lucifer really didn't
want to dither about who was going to make the tea, so he interrupted her.
"Since the Lord of the realm hasn't yet made an appearance, I will
take his place as host in this instance. I do not believe he will mind that I
have made some tea, and that dog really needs something to eat.
Deliruim must really have gone off the deep end to have forgotten to get
him some kibble or something. God... I
mean really, you can count his ribs." added Lucifer.
Again
Nuala opened her mouth, and was more than likely building up to some sort of
protest of Lucifer's actions when a voice joined them from behind.
Barnabas bounded over.
"Del does not starve me," he said haughtily, "but I do find myself wanting something
delectable. I also have a question. My charge appears to have gone missing, as
per usual, and I was wondering where
she might be found. I have searched her realm, but cannot find a single hair on
her pretty head," he smiled. "Now, you said scone, right?"
The
fairy turned her attention to the dog, and greeted him too.
She
felt quite grateful to him for the occasion he had provided of breaking her
uneasy silence... moreover, she could easily see that Barnabas didn't entirely
trust Lucifer, either.
"Scone? Uh, right... I'm sure we'll be able to find a treat for you
somewhere in the kitchens! By the way, the Lady Delium has been here, not a
long while ago... she was looking for you, too".
"I, myself, would thoroughly enjoy a
cup of tea,. if the Lord Shaper minds not." He straightened his posture, arching his eyebrow once more.
"I am assuming he does not mind, since he is nowhere to be found",
came Oberon's voice.
The fairy produced her most deep and
ornate bow, and greeted the new guest too: "Good night, your Majesty. I'm
honoured to welcome you, both as my guest and my sire"
She guided the three assorted creatures -
a dog, a demon and an elf - along a corridor opening into the dinig room.
A big, round table was ready for them,
and the fairy gestured towards the chairs, inviting them to sit down and relax.
"I would be a dreadful servant
indeed, if I'd allow my Master's friends to trouble themselves with tea-pot and
cups! Please wait for me here, or I could bring you you tea outside, if you'd
rather go on with what you were doing... and, by the way, do you think the Lady
Death would care to join us and have something to drink, too?"
As the others came up to join them, Death
smiled cheerfully, greeting each one of them in turn, scratching Barnabas'
head.
When the faerie Nuala came out to greet
them, she smiled, following the others
inside her brother's home. "I don't think I will be joining the cup of
tea. I'll see if I can't turn up my brother, he's probably off brooding
somewhere."
Nuala smiled lightly: she would never
have dared to utter such a thought, but since it had been the Lord's sister to
say that, she felt she could allow herself
to agree...
"I just hope he's not making up some
new horrible nightmare again", she sighed, half to herself.
She
knew that it was definitely not her place to criticize the Shaper's creations,
but she really couldn't help that... the mere thought of that dreadful monster
with sharp teeth into his eye-sockets was enough to make her shiver.
"Well, I suppose I should go and
look for some tea", she said, waving to the pale girl. "I'll make
some for you too, anyway... just in case you'll wish to join the others
later..."
Thanking Nuala, Death turned off a corridor and headed deeper into
her brother's castle. She walked quietly to his chamber door, knocked first
then slowly opened the door.
"Morpheus? Are you in here? You have
company, little brother, and not just me. Dream?"
* * * *
The fairy bowed again, and went back to
the kitchen. She was, indeed, sorry to give up the pleasure
of
Death's conversation, but maybe it was better that way: she knew the Comforter was not to be easily fooled... not
even by the Liar himself.
The young elf standing before Lucifer had not budged in any way since
his attempt to enter. It appeared that
she still held some doubts to Lucifer's motives.
"Now young Nuala, what can be the
harm in my serving the others some tea?", asked Lucifer. "I won't
make them sign away their souls to drink, I have no contracts, and they are
less than willing to sign anything in blood."
Nuala laughed graciously and made a
little dismissive gesture: "Of course not, my Lord... there's not so much
of it in fairies' bodies, you know. The Lady Death and her brother are quite
anaemic themselves, and as for Barnabas, well... I can see him signing with a
drop of saliva, maybe..."
Then she cut off her mundane chit-chat
and turned her actual humble self again.
"Now, seriously, my Lord... attending to Morpheus' guests is one of
my duties, and it would be awfully rude of me to let you toil away while I keep
idling with them. And you don't want me
to be scolded by the Shaper, right?", she asked, putting on her most
lovely pout. "Moreover, Death's not going to stay for the tea, and my
brother's too much of a free spirit to share in such a company. If you leave
too, King Oberon will be alone with Barnabas, and... well, I mean, he's a
fascinating conversator and Delirium's aide, but the ruler of Faerie's more
likely to keep with his peers, you know..."
* * * *
She opened a big wooden cupboard, and
looked at the many jars lined upon the shelves.
Some of them were simple and
unpretentious, carved out of some wood or molded with clay. Others were ornate, even precious; the fairy
hesitated a bit, then she chose a delicate porcelain jar, upon which someone
had painted the picture of a blue-skinned woman, dancing upon a dead man's
body.
It had been dreamt a long while ago, by
an Indian pariah dying for starvation.
The picture he had devised was scary
enough, but Nuala had discovered the jar's content to be the
most
fragrant variety of tea which had ever been shaped.
She took two spoonfuls of it, and let the
dried leaves slip into the water and fill the whole room with their spiced
aroma.
Then she remembered about her furry
guest, and she searched around for a suitable scone. She finally found it, and arranged Barnabas' appetizer on a
silver plate, along with the other guests' cups and spoons.
She
took the plate in her hands, and went back to the dining room.
* * * *
Lucifer sipped his tea, it was indeed
good... but not as good as the kind
brewed in the Silver City.
The doorway appeared from out of no
where.
Lucifer continued to sip from his
cup. Dream and Death emerged from the
doorway. Oberon was first to great the
Master of the Dreaming. Lucifer sat back and smiled.
It appeared that Morpheus wanted to stamp
out any ideas Lucifer was having, though.
Morpheus turned and gave Lucifer his full attention for a moment.
"Surely you would not think of leaving the company of my castle so
soon, Lucifer Morningstar?" Dream said, his voice like wind after
rainfall. "Especially since I have prepared rooms for you all? You are my guests, and in my castle, thus you
shall be given the best of services."
"You Endless are so
suspicious", said Lucifer. "I have indeed come with a purpose. A
purpose that I will speak with you in private."
Morpheus turned and created a cup of tea
for himself and his sister. Sitting in a chair that Lucifer knew had not been
there before.
"Oh,
and Lucifer?" continued Morpheus
The fallen angel turned.
"You are in my realm;
perhaps it would be wise for you to rethink any notions of wanting to annoy me,
especially because, as you know, I dislike being annoyed."
"Oh fear not, Morpheus",
answered Lucifer, "a Lord without a realm I am, but this realm is not for
me. And though annoying you would be a wonderful entertainment, it does not fit
with my plans for this trip
"So
it is a private matter, then", Dream recounted to the angel. "We will
speak in time, then, for I should think myself a host of bad form if just upon
my entry I should leave with one guest and abandon the others."
"Barnabas", he
called. "I am surprised you have come without your mistress, my sister
Delirium. When I knew you were here in the Dreaming, I searched for her
presence, but she is not here. She is well, I hope?"
* * * *
Night slowly came, and the sky
remained clear as ice-water in a crystal bowl. One by one the stars appeared,
shining brighter than they ever have been seen by a dreamer's eyes. Thousands
of scattered perfectly-cut diamonds glittered in formation; some distant,
perhaps unknown ones, fell. The moon remained small and silent, allowing the
stars to outdo it.
There was a flash in Dream's eyes
as he turned to Death. "You did say you came up here for some
stargazing?"
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
So, that's it. It's unfinished (although I distinctly
remember having written a lovely dialogue with Lord Oberon in the library after
this... but the archives have been lost when the group was canceled) and will
remain that way, since I'd never go on with it all by myself.
What can I say? I miss our old RPG list terribly. Wherever you are, my friends... thank you, I had so much fun playing with
you. And I still hope to see you again
in the Dreaming, OK?