REFORGING THE EDGE
Summary: Tiffany, Fiona, and Vriré go to Skrittsburgh and investigate the occurences there. Afterwards, the sisters learn that Forgal has been looking for them. Tiffany decides to inform the Warmaster that she joined the Order of Whispers, and his reaction is surprising.
Chapter eleven: The Plot Thickens
Author's Notes:
Hey guys, I am so sorry this took so long! I have... three excuses. They're all explained (briefly) at the end author's notes. Please don't get mad at me for not putting them up here, but I really don't feel like it.
And yes. The chapter name is very cliché. But it fits. You'll see.
Okay, here's the story now:
"What's done is done," Tiffany sighs. "Hopefully by the time we see Deborah again she'll be both out of her shock and also have thought about it a whole lot."
Fiona sighs. "Well, that topic has been exhausted. Want to read some Edge of Destiny? I want to know what the Faolain thing was about. It'll probably take forever for us to get to, but oh well. Not to mention, we might find more information about Destiny's Edge. I mean, Logan and Rytlock exchanging those tokens was big."
"Sure," Tiffany shrugs, and pulls out the book. "We left off with Klab receiving the 'honor' of being an Arcane Councilor."
"Yep, I remember," Fiona nods. "We kind of left off in an odd spot."
"We were about to finish the chapter, too," Tiffany agrees. She picks up the book, and, starting several paragraphs back from their spot, begins reading. Two sentences into the new material, they are surprised once again by Caithe, who faints, dramatically stating that Faolain had poisoned her.
"Well, I'm glad we didn't finish the chapter, or we would've been compelled to read the next one," Tiffany observes. "That's the ending."
"Well, read the next chapter," Fiona replies, rolling her eyes. "What's it called?"
"Drawing the Poison," Tiffany reads. "Well, here goes!"
When the chirurgeon arrives, Tiffany and Fiona are pleasantly surprised by Snaff's vehemence in ordering Madame Dort out, upon learning that she just wants to know what she can amputate. The rage in Snaff's voice, as described by the book, seems uncharacteristic of Snaff as Tiffany and Fiona know him, but it expresses his protective spirit.
Then, Caithe awakens and informs the group that Faolain is coming.
"Well, now we know what Destiny's Edge's interaction with Faolain was," Tiffany remarks, before continuing. When Faolain makes her appearance, Tiffany frowns. "Is she a thief or something? Only, it seems like it would fit with her backstory more than any other profession would."
Fiona sighs. "We'll know on Friday, I'll be able to sense if she's using the Aspect of Deception. Now, can we read the thing? I am dying of curiosity."
"Are not," Tiffany shoots back, but resumes reading. Faolain's insistence that the poison was not her fault is unnerving, but not unexpected, to the sisters. Eir speaking up sharply to remind Faolain that "she decides!" and that "she is one of us" brings a smirk to Tiffany's face. The smirk turns to a frown when Faolain asks Caithe what she wants, to the reply of "I don't know!"
Both Tassof sisters are startled when Faolain enters Caithe's memory, and Tiffany is worried when both sylvari agree that Jormag will not like the fact of the Dragonspawn's defeat. In her mind, two enemies agreeing with each other - mentally, no less! - is only the first step.
But when Caithe convinces Faolain to remove the poison so that she could fight Glint - and Faolain does so - Tiffany is relieved. Hopefully that is the end of that unfortunate occurence.
Then, Caithe tells her friends of the 'threat' of Glint.
"But… didn't Glint help them fight Kralkatorrik?" Tiffany asks the book. "I thought Glint helped them. Well, we'll see, I guess."
"What did Logan mean by the 'Keeper of the Flameseeker Prophecies?'" Fiona wonders. "Who was the Lich Lord and the titans?"
"Oh, the titans," Tiffany says, brightening. "Wait, Glint helped stop them? I never heard tha - oh." Tiffany recalls her Tyrian memories - her childhood and growing up in Tyria - of learning about Glint and the titans and the Lich Lord. "Glint has done a lot more than I thought."
Fiona, who had realized the same memories, nods in agreement. The two sit in silence for a moment, before Tiffany finds her spot and picks up the story again.
Rytlock's grumbling about it being a long walk to the Crystal Desert draws a giggle from Fiona, and Snaff's reply that he has a device to help intrigues Tiffany. When he explains the function of the tiny circle, she brightens. "It's like a mesmer… in your pocket," she finishes with a grin."
Fiona snorts. "Why not give it a name, though? It'd be hard to say 'hole-in-your-pocket' every time you want it."
"Well, the initials would be H-I-Y-P… or just H-Y-P because 'in' is a short word, and is normally left out of those abbreviations. So, it might be pronounced hype? Or hip?"
"Hip is more relevant," Fiona notes. At Tiffany's confused look, she elaborates, "pockets are generally around the hip area. And - "
"It would be hilarious," Tiffany says at the same time as Fiona, with a giggle. "Now, let's see them use it!"
Snaff deploys the portal, and Tiffany finds herself wondering what orientation the exit gate is at. If it is flat on the ground like the entry portal, then one would jump in, pop out the other end, and fall back into the gate, and repeat. Or is the portal nine feet over the ground (big enough for Eir to use), dropping asura really far? Or at a slanted angle over the ground, so one would fall out and roll to the side? Or like a normal asura gate, at right angles to the ground?
"Well?" Fiona sighs.
"Sorry," Tiffany says, snapping out of her daydreaming. Snaff's explanation to Logan and Rytlock that the portal comes out by Ebonhawke - and yes, out of range of the humans, and yes, out of range of the charr - makes Tiffany laugh.
The end of the chapter comes, heralded by a few more letters from Logan to Jennah and vice versa.
"These letters are providing valuable insight into Logan and Jennah's relationship," Tiffany observes. "I can understand Logan's devotion to her… more than I could before."
"I still think it was rather reckless of her, bonding Logan like that upon a declaration of his undying loyalty," Fiona notes.
"Maybe she could tell he didn't have a smidgen of Deception?" Tiffany suggests.
Fiona blinks, then sighs. "That was a horrible pun."
Tiffany rolls her eyes. "Sure. Anyway, that's the end of that section. The next one is Part III: Battling Dragons."
"Let's start that some other day," Fiona decides. "For now, we have to meet Vriré tomorrow, and we might as well get to bed early."
Tiffany agrees.
Tiffany and Fiona meet Vriré in the Grove, and head northward. Tiffany matches up their surroundings to the map - something she is good at doing - as they go. They pass near enough to the green star Caithe had marked - something that still brings silent giggles to Tiffany when she thinks about it - and Tiffany puts the map away. Vriré begins telling Tiffany and Fiona more about the Order of Whispers - its history, its purpose, and, in particular, its methods - and elaborating on the personality of the Order, which Tiffany pays particular attention to, wondering how to exploit it when the time comes to bring the Orders together into the Pact.
When they arrive at Skrittsburgh, the three explore, looking for Agent Akittock. Vriré seems to know the lay of the land - or tunnels, as the case may be - but the rest of the place seems to new to her, given the way her eyes dart around, noting the skritt and their positions relevant to the exits of a given cavern.
Despite Tiffany knowing that skritt are smarter together, the sheer intelligence of the skritt is monumental. One pair are fixing a golem - Tiffany finds the mix of complex asuran terms and pure skritt words amusing, such as 'power coupling' and 'globby gunk' in the same sentence.
"You seem surprised the skritt here are so intelligent," a nearby skritt notes. "Weren't expecting the unexpected, were you?"
Tiffany and Fiona take a moment to recognize the Order code, but Vriré responds promptly. "I was not," the asura nods, "and so you have surprised the unsurprisable."
The demeanour of the skritt changes slightly - he brightens, and seems more eager to speak to them. "Welcome to Skrittsburgh, Whisperer," he greets. Tiffany notes the alternate way of referring to fellow Order member. "I suppose you are the agent I requested to deal with our thief?"
"Lightbringer," Vriré corrects. "Can you debrief us?"
"Of course," Akittock nods. "The thief struck again just earlier - Outrunner Jankott'cha was the victim. He also should know more about this thief - he likes exploring."
"Why couldn't you deal with the thief? You are a member of the Order," Fiona wonders.
"No good, no," Akittock sighs. "Skritt are smarter together than apart. If I leave Skrittsburgh - even just for a little while - I may forget I am Whispers. I may even forget to return. I am just a monitor, you see. I observe, and report, and call for other Whisperers if something needs to be done."
"I bet it's really annoying," Tiffany sympathizes.
"No, no, skritt are built like this," Akittock corrects her. "It is part of us. I am content to remain here and observe. Now, go talk to Jankott'cha. He is south, past the waypoint. He may be preparing to steal from the Inquest again."
Vriré nods, and the three head in the direction Akittock had indicated.
They find the skritt speaking to another skritt.
"…and taking from bad person is like doing good. Help us! Yes, no?"
"Ooohhh, yes-yes," the other skritt nods. "Taking from bad grey-ears is good, yes-yes! Will help you."
"The intelligence level seems to have degraded in the suburbs, of the city," Vriré notes.
Tiffany approaches the skritt. "Hello?" she asks. "Are you Jankott'cha?"
"Yes, yes!" the skritt replies, pleased. "How can I help, hmm?"
"We understand the mysterious thief took stuff from you earlier?" Fiona asks.
"Yes, yes!" Jankott'cha replies sorrowfully. "I had some stuff, but it gone now. So need more stuff. Us skritt going to take the angry grey-ears stuff - awk!" Jankott'cha points at Vriré. "Angry gray-ears! Attack, you! Bash-bash until stops moving! Yes-yes, go now!"
"That's a good… er… grey-ears," Fiona says to the frightened skritt. "She's our friend - Vriré."
"Oohh! Skritt know Vriré grey-ears!" Jankott'cha informs them. "Got rid of all bad grey-ears in Skrittsburgh, before Skrittsburgh existed! Yes-yes! Lots of skritt know about you, and also big soft-ears long-tails Koraw Shadowspecter and Beucia Steamsinger and also plant-people Gavina and Drych, and other grey-ears Linn and Qhuaxx, and biggy-bigs Asgrimr the Terror and Asja the Windsinger!"
Vriré had stiffened when Jankott'cha mentioned Koraw Shadowspecter, and now her eyes narrow. "We heard you could tell us more about the thief," she says tightly.
"Oh, yes-yes!" Jankott'cha nods. "Saw her once, I did - planty-person, yes-yes! Follow me, yes!"
The three Whisperers follow the skritt, along with several other skritt, who still seem to want to raid the Inquest lab. They get their wish; the group passes just by the lab, and the other skritt take on the duty of the distracting the Inquest while the Whispers agents and Jankott'cha continue north.
However, just as Jankott'cha is turning west, he stops.
"Came here, yes-yes," he mutters to himself. "Don't know why, but can't get back now - angry gray-ears right over there. Could get shinies, but shinies don't make sense. Had stuff, but now it's gone. Not gone, just boring. Hmm."
"He's got too far away from his kin," Vriré notes. "He's lost his intellect."
"Jankott'cha," Fiona says.
"Yes, yes? Jankott'cha is me!" the skritt says proudly.
"Where did the thief go?" Fiona asks.
"The sylvari planty-person?" Tiffany offers.
"Yes! Thatta-way!" Jankott'cha points south, on the other side of the cliff from the Inquest lab. Fiona follows his finger, eyes narrowing. "Saw her, yes-yes ohh! And Jankott'cha needs shinies - whaaat? Bad gray-ears stuff too complicated! No! Other shinies! But where?"
"Jankott'cha, go that way," Tiffany offers, pointing back towards the Inquest lab. Where his fellows are, and closer to Skrittsburgh.
"Yes, might find shinies there," Jankott'cha agrees, and takes off at a run.
"I've picked up a trace of Deception," Fiona informs the others.
"It'll fade quickly," Tiffany tells her sister. "Let's go."
It is not far. Fiona suddenly stops. "There's…" she pauses, struggling for words. "Effectively a wall of illusion. I'll dissolve it - there. It's as if the thief isn't strong with Deception - but she used it to startling effect. It's confusing," she adds, at Tiffany's questioning glance.
The illusion falls away, revealing a little cleft in the cliff, a clearing butting up against the Inquest lab. It is overgrown, but in a neat, organized way. The vines and tendrils and creepers have covered the sides of the cliff, swirling in patterns and intertwined with shiny objects - strings of power cores, half-melted blobs of metal, colored power crystals, and golem parts. Several scenes are recognizable in the decor, and a single face - that of an asura - is repeated several times.
In the corner, a fern hound is sleeping on a bed made of soft moss, which is also twisted into various designs.
The back window of the Inquest lab is unobscured by the creeping tendrils, and the red lights shining through the transparent glass seem to land with purpose on various reflective surfaces cleverly placed throughout the clearing, casting a haze of red throughout the area.
"I see you have found my home!" a cheery voice says from behind them, a sliver of a second before Tiffany feels a tug on her sleeve.
Tiffany turns, to find a sylvari standing there. Vriré is holding one of Tiffany's daggers against the back of the sylvari's thigh - it goes without saying that one wrong move and she will be hamstrung.
"I hope you like it," the sylvari continues. "My name is Sheena. That's Gilbert," she says, gesturing to the fern hound, and then to the image of an asuran face in the decorative foliage, she adds, "that's Blance. He died protecting me from the Inquest. He left none of the attackers alive, and they haven't come back. I don't think they know he's dead. But he lives on in my memory and my home."
She then proceeds to explain all about her cozy home - how she acquired her decorations, the time it took her to shape the vines into their fancy shapes, how she'd spooked the nearby asura - a scout named Loofi - into leaving the area so she could be alone, and how she'd met Gilbert and Blance.
The three Order members realize they will have a hard time ahead of them, talking to this sylvari - Sheena - about not stealing things from the skritt.
Back at the Chantry of Secrets, Vriré lets Fiona update the mission log.
"Too bad we couldn't convince Sheena to return what she stole," Tiffany sighs morosely.
"That just means she's a good candidate," Vriré replies briskly. "Initiate, the focus today was never to get her to stop stealing. It was to evaluate her personality and strengths to see how far she would make it in the Order."
That gives Tiffany pause. She considers the experiences of the day, and she has to agree with Vriré - Sheena would make a good Whispers agent.
Tiffany and Fiona arrive home, but Petra exclaims that Forgal has been looking for them, and sends them off to the Vigil Keep.
"Wonder where he is?" Tiffany wonders, after the blue dust settles into nothing after the waypoint.
"If we can't find them, I'm going to - to…" comes Forgal's voice from around a corner.
Somebody else answers, "I'm sure it's nothing to worry about. I haven't seen you this worried since Blackwing's link broke."
"Warmaster," Forgal says, a warning note in his voice, just as he and his friend round the corner. Tiffany doesn't recognize the asura immediately, but when she speaks again, she just knows that she knows who this is. She just can't put a name on her.
"Oh, there they are," the asura says, catching Forgal's attention. "They must have heard you were looking for them."
Forgal's dark expression clears, and he sighs in relief. "There you are!"
"Hello, Forgal," Tiffany replies cheerily. "Who's this?" she asks, gesturing towards Efut with a slight frown as she tries to remember.
"Warmaster Efut, master tactician of the Vigil," Forgal introduces.
Tiffany just keeps herself from facepalming. 'Efut, of course it was Efut.'
"Warmaster Efut, Crusader Tiffany, and her sister, Priory Explorer Fiona Tassof," Forgal continues.
"Nice to meet you, Warmaster," Tiffany says, saluting.
Efut laughs, unnerving Tiffany slightly. "At ease, Crusader. I was just helping Forgal find you."
"I'm sure he can't see me on his own," Tiffany jokes.
"You little rascal," Forgal grumbles at her.
Fiona turns to Forgal. "So, why were you looking for us, anyway?"
Efut nods sharply. "Now that I am not needed, I think I'll go and - "
"Draw up a plan for when Zhaitan teleports over the Black Citadel?" Forgal asks dryly. Tiffany cracks a grin.
"No, that's silly," Efut admonishes. "I'll most likely be figuring out evacuation routes for if Jormag starts another four-year-long snowstorm over Hoelbrak."
"Why does it have to be a dragon that's awake?" Tiffany wonders curiously. "I know there's two others - being the sister of a Priory Explorer does have its benefits - and wouldn't planning for when they wake up help some, too?"
Forgal nods. Tiffany is more into this than some others he could name.
Efut nods. "You have a point, there," she nods sourly. "Of course, the liklihood of another dragon waking up anytime soon - "
"Kralkatorrik woke up just five years ago," Tiffany counters.
Efut sighs. "The variables on an Elder Dragon's awakening are too many to deal with. And I'd most likely have to spend a lot of time in the Durmand Priory's records for that, as well."
"Hey, Fiona, maybe you could ask Sieran if you could become a Scholar instead of an Explorer, and that could be your research topic - Elder Dragons rising. I'm sure you'd do it better than anyone else." 'Unless Trahearne put his mind to it, of course. He can do anything he puts his mind to - pun fully and completely intended.'
"Sure, why not?" Fiona shrugs, with a knowing look in her eye. Of course Tiffany is thinking about Trahearne. "Maybe later, though."
"So long as Tiffany can still fight so that all may be free, I won't comment on your blatant Prioryship." Forgal informs Fiona.
Tiffany can't tell if he was joking or not. He's good at seemingly joking when not, and being perfectly serious while roaring with laughter inside.
Meanwhile, Efut just nods cheerily. "Well, I do have planning to get back to, so I'll see you later, Forgal."
"So, what was it you wanted to see us about?" Tiffany asks after a moment.
"I have a mission for you, Tiffany. Fiona, you studied the skritt briefly, so you'll like this one, if you want to tag along like the other times."
Fiona blinks. "Yes, I did - and yes, I'll join you, if Sieran doesn't have anything else for me."
"Well, as it's so late today - I won't blame you, as I didn't give you prior notice - we'll have to do it tomorrow. We're going to Skrittsburgh to deal with a thief problem they've been having." Forgal informs them.
Tiffany glances at Fiona, uncertainty written on her features.
"Forgal," Tiffany says a moment later. "We have something to tell you. Not here, though."
"Let's go back to the tavern. Petra and Andrew already know," Fiona suggests, and Tiffany nods. They disappear in a puff of blue.
At the tavern, Tiffany leads the way up the stairs and into the sisters' room, where there is a small round table with three chairs. Tiffany takes the chair on the right, near the wall, leaving the two on the left for Fiona and Forgal.
"Report, Crusader," Forgal tells her after a moment of silence, Tiffany obviously being reluctant to speak.
"There is no need to go to Skrittsburgh."
Forgal frowns. "How do you know?"
Tiffany takes a deep breath. "I joined the Order of Whispers," she says quickly, not even trying to hide her nervousness.
"You did what?" Forgal roars, and Tiffany blinks, surprised and more than a little frightened.
Next moment, Forgal's blade is in his hand, and Tiffany's eyes widen as he lunges at her. She barely dodges the blade. Beorn, from the other side of the room, leaps at Forgal, but Tiffany pushes the word no so vehemently down the link that, even though they are not side-by-side, as is requisite for words, he hears her anyway. He couldn't have divined her telling Beorn no from her emotions and feelings, what with Forgal attempting to harm her. But he stops.
Forgal seems to be in a towering rage, and Tiffany is honestly scared out of her wits. 'What is going on?'
Forgal backs her into a corner and raises his blade again, and Tiffany shields her face, but then her hand drops with weight. Fiona had conjured her mesmeric blade for her - right in the nick of time. She barely blocks Forgal, and scrambles between the tall norn's legs to escape, dragging Fiona's sword after her.
She holds the sword in front of her in a defensive stance in the middle of the room, but at the same time, she knows she can't hurt Forgal. There is no way she can raise a hand to him, or anyone - not after that dreadful ending to Heart of Thorns. It hadn't been as real before she came to Tyria, or even after, until she met Trahearne. She had never been able to conceive of killing someone she knew and loved as a brother, and once she met him for real, she had been forced to put them together. And it was still unreal, even in her vivid imagination.
But now, she can easily see how she could kill Forgal here - even accidentally - and she will never forgive herself if she so much as scratches her friend now.
All this had flashed through Tiffany's mind in an instant, and Forgal charges her again, and Tiffany blocks his blade before running around him, buying herself time to think in.
She dodges and weaves around the room, dodging Forgal's blade. Fiona can't do much - she can't take the wounds as easily as Tiffany can; being a mesmer for so long had softened her up from her former tomboyish personality and strong physique she had had back on earth. Tiffany sends up a silent prayer to God - if he exists in this world - to protect her.
Forgal kicks aside a chair, following Tiffany doggedly. The door is closed, and she can't get it open before he is on her. This is the second floor of the house, she could be injured jumping out the window - make that seriously injured, there is a stone-paved road at the bottom of the window - and she had always been scared of jumping anywhere. None of the secret tunnels in the house have an entrance in this room, and she doesn't think Andrew or Petra would take kindly to a rampaging norn tearing up the insides of their walls.
"Why?" she asks him, blocking his blade again and running to the other side of the room. Fiona runs to the door and wrenches it open, but now Forgal is between Tiffany and the door.
"You've joined the Order of Whispers." Forgal snarls, charging towards Tiffany. "You've betrayed the Vigil - " Tiffany dodges to the right, but she's stuck in the corner again. "You've betrayed me! I can't believe you faked our friendship - our friendship! - for so long!"
Tiffany's mind blanks, and her mouth drops open in shock. Beorn roars and charges at the large norn. Forgal reaches her, and shouts something that Tiffany doesn't register. His sword comes down on her arm, breaking it, just as Beorn leaps on his back, claws out. Tiffany involuntarily cries out in pain, but she doesn't really feel that either. A combination of adrenaline and shock. Forgal stumbles from the weight of the large bear on his back, and his blade slices down her arm, peeling back the skin. He throws Beorn off, the bear's claws scratching uselessly against Forgal's heavy armor.
And then he turns, chasing an illusion of her. Fiona had rendered her invisible. But none of it registers in Tiffany's mind. And Fiona can't hold the illusion in her panicked state; it shatters, and Forgal roars in irritation. But he is on the other side of the room now.
"Tiffany!" Fiona calls in Shilgni. Tiffany doesn't repond, the alternate language not registering with her. "Tiffany!" she yells in english, trying to tell her sister something without Forgal knowing what they're saying. Another illusion of Tiffany, on the other side of the room, pops into being. The veil on Tiffany is flickering - Forgal heads her way. Tiffany still doesn't register Fiona's frantic words.
Forgal thinks she had faked their friendship? That she'd been spying? That she thought of him as a pawn to manipulate? How could he think such a thing! They are friends! But he doesn't know that. He thinks it was all a pretense. She can't wrap her mind around the thought of pretending to be somebody's friend. Even if she had been pretending at first, the pretense would have become real quite quickly. She can't pretend for long without becoming the pretense.
"Tiffany!" The Tyrian registers. Fiona is using the sound enchantment. The illusion of Tiffany on the other side of the room shatters. Fiona is too distracted to hold it for long. "Waypoint! Shaemoor waypoint!"
Tiffany blinks, shoving away the current predicament and focusing on the memorized location of the waypoint. She disappears in a puff of blue just as Forgal's blade comes down on her.
The waypointing makes her injury worse, however. Her arm is bleeding profusely, and the pain is almost unbearable. She collapses to the ground. Fiona hadn't seen her injury before, but now she panicks.
The pain, now that Tiffany can feel it, brings clarity to her mind. "Logan," she manages to say. "Get Logan."
"I can't leave you here, and you're in no condition to waypoint," Fiona frets.
"I'll be - I'll be fine," Tiffany grunts. She is feeling lightheaded. "Which waypoint is it?"
"You're not waypointing again," Fiona says sternly. "And I'm not leaving you here."
"One or the other, Fiona!" Tiffany snaps, biting her lip to keep from crying out. Her vision is going black around the edges.
"MOM!" comes a sharp, shrill, high-pitched shriek. It makes Tiffany's ears hurt. She inhales sharply with pain. Everything is fuzzy. She has a splitting headache in addition to feeling lightheaded. It is only made worse by Beorn's panic and reflection of her pain bouncing across the link.
Fiona glances in the direction of the voice, and sees Ayla running back to her house, still shouting for her mother. "Help is coming," she tells Tiffany gently. And then Falcon appears, sees Tiffany, and emits a crashing noise that is most likely due to the person at the PC's controls running to tell everyone else to log on.
Tiffany is breathing heavily. She focuses on Fiona's blurry face, hovering anxiously over her. It's better than focusing on the pain - unbearable pain - or Forgal - does he really think she'd betrayed him, that her friendship was faked? Never Forgal is her friend wouldn't she attack him if she thought he was only pretending no no she would never friends aren't enemies no no don't think about that focus on Fiona she isn't there she's looking somewhere else where's Forgal no no focus on Fiona.
Running footsteps. Hurried conversation. Concerned voices. Somebody - Ayla? - crying. Somebody picking her up - extreme dizziness at the motion…
Tiffany faints from loss of blood.
"You've joined the Order of Whispers. You've betrayed the Vigil. You've betrayed me! I can't believe you faked our friendship - our friendship! - for so long!"
Forgal's words echo in Tiffany's unconscious mind, over and over again.
"You've joined the Order of Whispers. You've betrayed the Vigil. You've betrayed me! I can't believe you faked our friendship - our friendship! - for so long!
You've joined the Order of Whispers. You've betrayed the Vigil. You've betrayed me! I can't believe you faked our friendship - our friendship! - for so long!"
And then, the unregistered words he had said just before breaking her arm. "I will not fall victim to the Order of Whispers again! Asvor won't ensnare me this way!"
"You've joined the Order of Whispers. You've betrayed the Vigil. You've betrayed me! I can't believe you faked our friendship - our friendship! - for so long! I will not fall victim to the Order of Whispers again! Asvor won't ensnare me this way! I will not fall victim to the Order of Whispers again! Asvor won't ensnare me this way!
Asvor won't ensnare me this way!"
Tiffany awakens several hours later. It is dark and silent. Her arm is in a sling. It doesn't hurt anymore - and it seems to be fully healed - but she is dead tired. She rolls over and returns to sleep - peaceful, dreamless sleep. She hadn't remembered about Forgal. She hadn't thought about why she was injured. Not yet.
She awakens to sunlight streaming in the window, and Fiona sitting by the bedside, talking to Logan. There are several other people in the room. Beorn is on the left side of the bed. Ayla and Mat, and their parents, Katherine and Richard. Andrew and Petra, of course. Caithe and Zojja. Braham, Malena, and Reistr are there. A sylvari that Tiffany doesn't know, but who is probably Sieran. Deorar, but no others of the Spar warband.
"You're awake!" Fiona realizes. "Are you alright?"
Tiffany doesn't respond for a moment. Vriré is there. Forgal is conspicious by his absence. Why isn't Forgal - oh. Tiffany swallows the sob that threatens to arise in her throat as she remembers. 'Don't think about that now,' she tells herself. And Joslyn, Phillipe, Tangwen, Falcon, Harrison, and Nate are there as well. Tiffany hasn't seen them in forever! Tiffany gives a small smile to everyone, before answering Fiona's question. "I'm alright, I suppose. My arm doesn't hurt."
"It's been healed," Logan informs her. "We're more worried about your blood loss and emotional state."
"Everyone knows you have a habit of bottling things up that you shouldn't keep bottled up," Katherine Sartini reminds Tiffany.
"Except blood," Zojja retorts. "She likes unstoppering that bottle."
Tiffany laughs. She can't help it. All her friends are this worried about her. They're all here. The only one not here besides Forgal is Trahearne, and she can hardly expect him to drop everything in Orr and come here when she'll likely be on her feet and right as rain by the time he gets here. And she's only technically met him twice. Even her earth family is here! She can't stop the smile that spreads on her face.
"Before I forget," Braham says suddenly. "Congratulations on Beorn not being dead."
"Fiona told us all about it," Malena smirks.
"Couldn't not," Reistr grins. "Was the second thing we asked."
"Right after your welfare, of course," Malena adds.
"Are you - " Tiffany starts, but then she begins laughing her head off. 'Are you sure you aren't triplets, I'm so hilarious. Braham, are you sure you aren't a triplet? Because I totally know that your mother only had one child before she left. So, again, are you sure you aren't triplets? Ha! I'm the funniest person ever. Okay, not quite, no. But still.'
Everyone settles into a comfortable silence for a minute. Tiffany is dying to ask why the earth people hadn't visited in so long - since before the Academy, in fact. She also desperately wants some alone time to think about what had happened with Forgal. But for now she can play nice sick person… although pleading a headache or tiredness would surely make them all scramble out like she had the plague, if Harry Potter is any indication.
"So, Fiona," she says, "I'm guessing this is Sieran? From what I've heard, I am floored she's managed to remain quiet this long."
"I have not been quiet!" Sieran says, almost indignantly. "Fiona has been magically preventing me from talking for fifteen hours!"
Tiffany's eyes widen. "I've been out for fifteen hours?"
"Longer," Fiona supplies. "The sun is above us on Wednesday." That is Tyrian talk for saying it is noon, but Tiffany is so used to it she doesn't even notice.
Tiffany is in awe. "The sun wasn't even down yet when - " she pauses. 'Let's not talk about that for now. I need to think about it first.' Then, she glances at Fiona. Had she told Sieran? 'No, no. Let's not think about serious things for now - we have a whole gathering of friends here, let's be happy for a while.' "You kept Sieran quiet with mesmerism?"
Fiona chuckles. "She would have waked you."
Tiffany is torn. On the one hand, it is kind of odd, suppressing Sieran with mesmerism, but on the other, she does need her sleep.
Andrew huffs. "Nope. Nothing wakes Tiffany."
"Not even medicine!" Tiffany pipes up.
"Medicine? How could medicine wake you up?" Mat asks.
"The threat of giving me terrible medicine that will keep me awake for ever," Tiffany clarifies. "Nobody dares wake me up to give me medicine."
"But medicine could save your life," Katherine frowns.
"Well, then they'd dare," Tiffany admits with a shrug. "And I can't say I could blame them, then. Not that I'd want to." Tiffany notices that Phillipe, Joslyn, Falcon, Harrison and Nate are just doing idle animations. They're listening - but they probably can't understand a word. And they can't say a word without a million questions from the people around her. She gives a sympathetic shrug in their direction.
"I'm telling them what's going on," Fiona informs Tiffany via her sound enchantment. "We can talk to them on our own later."
"So," Vriré comments dryly. "You're away from me one hour, and you're bleeding out? Explain to me how a member of the Vigil could have that happen."
"Ehh, well," Tiffany hedges. "It's kinda hard when a Warmaster of said Vigil attacks you. Wondering why Forgal isn't here?"
Sudden silence descends. 'Nobody knew about it yet,' Tiffany notes.
"Why would Forgal attack you?" Deorar frowns.
Vriré has a suspicious look in her eye as Tiffany opens her mouth to answer.
"Yeah, and that's kinda why I don't feel like talking about it… not right now," Tiffany says, barely keeping the bite out of her voice. "I need to process it myself first."
Caithe nods in understanding. "Let us speak of something else."
There is silence for a minute, and Tiffany's gaze lands on Ayla, who looks as if she has been crying. "Ayla, are you alright?"
"I'm sorry," Ayla cries. She runs over and hugs Tiffany, tears spilling down her cheeks. "I'm sorry I was so mean to you. I know you need to protect other people too."
A smile blossoms on Tiffany's face, and she pats Ayla on the head. "It's alright, Ayla. I know you were upset, and I really should have been visiting you more."
"Is this because of the time you took at the Academy?" Logan asks shrewdly.
"Mostly, yes," Tiffany nods. "And you were right about DeGlasse… but it was worth it."
"If you say so," Logan sighs.
Tiffany notices Mat watching Caithe interestedly. 'He' still curious about sylvari,' Tiffany realizes. 'That's funny.'
As if on cue, Mat speaks up, addressing Caithe. "Don't you grow? You said that you're born all grown-up already, but plants are supposed to grow more... right?"
Tiffany blinks. 'That's actually a very good point.'
"We only grow so much," Sieran pipes up. "I've never seen a flower more than a few inches tall, even after a week or so of being a few inches tall. We are much the same - we stop growing once we are born."
"Ohh," Mat says, nodding. "That makes sense."
"I think Tiffany needs some rest," Katherine observes. "Or at least some time alone to think in." She begins shooing everyone else out - predictably, the two asura don't budge until they feel like it, and Beorn doesn't move at all. He puts his head in her lap, and Tiffany rubs the top of his head absentmindedly. The PCs, who had faded into the background during the conversation, are the only ones besides Fiona left.
"Who is this Forgal?" Phillipe asks, his voice tight in anger.
"A friend. My mentor," Tiffany says simply, but the emotions coming from Beorn are anger and fury at the norn.
"Friends don't attack friends," Phillipe snaps back, and Tiffany fixes him with a glare.
"He thought she'd faked their whole friendship," Fiona explains. "She told him she had joined the Order of Whispers, and he thought she was a spy. He didn't let her explain."
"And, honestly?" Tiffany says dryly, "the whole rule that friends don't attack friends is outdated around me anyway."
"Should I be worried?" Tangwen asks lightly. Upon Tiffany's incredulous look, she adds, "none of us can understand you. Again."
Tiffany sighs. "I said that the whole rule that friends don't attack friends is outdated around me anyway."
"Should I be worried?" Tangwen jokes with a smirk.
Tiffany rolls her eyes. "Not unless you decide to attack me, because I'm fairly certain there aren't any dragons where you live. Lucky you," she adds.
Suddenly, Fiona gasps, before roaring in laughter.
Tiffany is unnerved. "Stop that!" she complains. "I'm the resident laugh-man around here."
"But - but I just thought," Fiona manages between laughs.
"Lucky you," Tiffany retorts.
"I thought of Efut!" Fiona doubles over in laughter again.
"Fiona, seriously, what is wrong with you?" Tiffany asks.
"Efut backwards is tufe!" Fiona whispers, her breath gone from laughing so hard.
Tiffany facepalms. Beorn sends her sympathetic feelings through the link.
"Seriously!" Fiona says after she gets her breath back. "It's the funniest thing in all of Tyria!"
Tiffany goes white. "Your sense of humor is severely lacking. 'Isn't Kudu a girl's name?' is much funnier than tufe. Besides - if Warmaster Efut ever hears about this, I'm kicked out of the Vigil for sure."
"Tufe!" Fiona hollers again. "It's hilarious!"
"Beorn, knock me on the head so I can sleep?" Tiffany asks politely.
Beorn accepts the challenge, and pats her on the head. Tiffany promptly slumps over and pretends to be unconscious while Fiona continues to be helpless with laughter.
Author's Notes:
Yes, Fiona going crazy at the end is completely true. She does think that the funniest thing in all of Tyria is Efut's name backwards. Unfortunately, Tiffany Tassof never played past the end of Heart of Thorns, and is therefore missing out on all of Taimi's delightful humor, and can't counter Fiona as easily as I could have. (Tiffany is not me anymore, she's changed too much.) Plus, I promised only spoilers up 'till the end of HoT.
Now, the elephant in the room: Forgal. Oh yes, dear me. Forgal's reaction to Tiffany's news was the biggest writer's block I have had in literally forever. I figured it out, though. And next chapter will most likely… oh dear, I'm spoiling you. Stop it, Tiff.
Anyway. I almost had Eir and Zojja in the same room. But then I realized, well, Tiffany's only met Eir once or twice. And you could argue that she's only met Braham and his friends once, but they were scheduled to meet Tiffany and Fiona in Hoelbrak that day anyway, and upon hearing she was hurt they would've come, since what else would they do?
Again, I am terribly sorry it's taken me this long to post. I am terribly truly sorry. I have no idea what happened to me. Except a laptop needing a hard-reset and this chapter not being saved to the cloud, and two terrible writer's blocks (the other one was the mission to Skrittsburgh with Vriré), and stuff like that.
However, I did also get the funniest idea that any of you have full permission to adopt - an even bigger plot twist.
It's set when Tiffany is waking up from her fifteen-hour-long faint period.
Tiffany awakens and steps out of her pod. Next to her, Fiona is doing the same. "Fiona?" she asks.
"A shared Dream!" comes a delighted voice from in front of them. "How rare!"
"Who… are you?" Tiffany asks, confused. "Where am I? What just happened?"
"I am Niamh," the sylvari in front of her says. "You have just awakened into Tyria. What are your names?"
"I am… Tiffany," Tiffany says slowly.
"Fiona," Fiona adds. "What is a 'shared Dream?'"
See? Wouldn't that just have been awesome? That's as far as I got before I recalled my duty to you guys and continued writing the actual story. Want to continue it? Feel free! (Just tell me about it so I can read it!)
And now. AGAIN, terribly sorry for the long overdue posting. I assure you, the next chapter will be on time, and very much likely sooner than you expect.