Chapter 13
Chapter 13
The Crystals
Cullinan apprehensively walked a few paces ahead of the small group that followed him into the cavern which led to the deepest part of the mine. His section, this is where he had spent the majority of his life and Griffin's. Together, side by side, digging out the diamonds that made and gave the dwarf nation their wealth and power until the Shadowen's War began.
There after, they were forced to dig the diamonds for the federation. Here they were enslaved to the greed of men. Deeper and deeper the dwarves had dug until they had reached this section. The lowest section of the mine, Cullinan's section they had called it. Named after the master diamond cutter whose talent had out succeeded any other alive. He had found the largest and greatest diamond ever found, but it was wrought in evil so vile that its very existence could not be stopped by any power or powers that any
Druid could weld. It now threatened the four lands. Evil would rule everything and everyone. Free men would never walk this world ever again. Cullinan knew this now and he was solely to blame. He had brought the world's destruction by his skill and his two hands and the weight of it pressed ever down upon him.
"There," Cullinan pointed to the entrance. "Follow the path downward to the lowest level and there you will find it."
"Lead on," firmly ordered the Druid Walker Boh.
Cullinan shoulders hunched and he arduously move his feet forward. He knew what was on the other side and he quivered just thinking about it.
Coll came over to him and placed his kerchief in Cullinan's hands. "Here, put this on and I will guide you through this."
Cullinan slowly raised his grateful eyes to Coll and saw such compassion enshrouded his kind and understanding face. He only nodded and held the kerchief over his eyes, while Coll tied the two ends. Taking Cullinan's arm, he guided him through the entrance and stopped when he saw the carnage with his naked eyes. It was hard enough to see it played out in his mind from when the Sword of Shannara revealed it to him. But here it was the death, bodies and blood of many men.
Par and Morgan covered their mouths and noses with their kerchiefs, while Walker Boh followed them from behind. Par was proud of Coll helping the elderly dwarf as he did.
Cullinan took a few steps with Coll, but then he suddenly stopped in his tracks. It was as if Cullinan knew the exact spot where Griffin had fallen. He stood there but a minute and then allowed Coll to lead him further into the cavern.
When they went through an adjacent doorway, Coll stopped and removed the blindfold from the dwarf.
"You'll be able to make it from here out," spoke Coll and placed his kerchief into his pocket. The old dwarf gently grasped Coll's arm and smiled his thanks to him.
"Promise me, Coll, incase anything happens to me that you will bury Griffin for me," Cullinan set pleading eyes upon him. Coll only nodded, but knew in his heart that he would keep that promise.
Cullinan turned to the Druid and the others and pointed down the path. "Just down this way and over a few paces. That's where you'll find it."
Walker Boh closed his eyes and pushed his senses out in the direction where Cullinan pointed. His senses told him evil was there, but not free to use its will. It sat dormant and waiting, yes, but something else that he was not too sure of, a prickling of danger yet to be. The Druid took the lead and followed the path to the cavern.
"Wait here!" ordered Walker Boh.
Par could feel a tingling of his skin and knew Walker had readied his magic.
Par sent his Wishsong onto the wall of stone and made a window for him to look through as if rock turned to clear glass. All four looked horrified at the deep fissure on the floor and walls within the cavern. There among them were many large diamonds glistening halfway in and between the kimberlite, not yet released from their prison. Par called out to Walker, but the dark uncle ignored him. Par watched him while he inspected the walls, touching them with his hand. At one time, Walker released a trickle of power against the corner ceiling and saw small amount of dust and rock fall. They saw him pick up a small handful of kimberlite and then dusted his hand off against the side of his pant leg.
Morgan drew his sword and readied himself incase the Druid would need him. Par too stood ready with his magic all about them.
Within a moment, Walker was out of the cavern and heading towards them. Par noticed a different look upon his uncle's face. A look of a man lost within his fear. Par waited for him to join them.
Walker stood and stared at them and his eyes soften when they met those of Par and they waited for him to speak to them.
"You have seen for yourselves what is in that cavern. Instead of one force of malevolence of power, we are about to have hundreds. The power those diamonds possess if far more than what we will ever understand or comprehend. We in ourselves can not defeat nor stop this." Again, Walker looked at Par staring deeply into his eyes. Par sensed a touch of feelings that torn through his uncle's heart. Par had a feeling in what Walker was going to say next.
"I want you to gather yourselves together and leave this mine as fast as your legs can carry you. There is very little precious time remaining. You must get yourselves out."
"No, Walker!" insisted Par. "I am not going to leave you here alone!"
"You must, Par," said Walker and stretched out his hand to grasp Par's arm. He knew instinctively that Par would not agree to this.
"There is only one way that I can think of that could possibly stop these things."
"You mean to bring down the mountain and seal them back into the kimberlite!" Par stated.
Walker only nodded his assent, but did not answer them directly.
"You can not do this, Walker. If that mountain comes down you will not stand a chance to get out alive!" cried Par.
"It is the only chance we have in stopping these things."
"No, Walker! I will not allow you to throw your life away," cried Par. "Please, Walker, No!"
Walker steeled his eyes, "There is no other choice, Par. If these things escape the mine, there is no hope for the four lands, the people or the world as we know it."
"Let us try to stand together and use our powers against them. We can defeat them if we try!" shouted Par trying desperately to come up with another plan outside of the sure death of his Uncle.
"If there was another way, Par, I would take it," stated Walker Boh. "I do not throw my life away so easily. I have sworn an oath to protect the four lands and its people against evil that bores into the fabric of our world. I will not allow it to overcome us and defeat us. To my very life, I have sworn this."
"Then, Walker, let us do this together. Let me do this with you!" begged Par.
Walker gentled his voice and his eyes and placed his hand upon Par's shoulder. "Par, you have a wife, brother, mother and father. I have neither."
"You have me and Coll, Walker. You are my family as much as my mother and father! I can not allow you to die! Don't' ask this of me!" cried Par with his own tears beginning to drop from his eyes and spilling downward upon his cheeks. Par knew without question his love and respect that he had for his uncle, even though he was never sure that his uncle truly cared for him. His heart was breaking at the prospect of Walker Boh's death.
Coll placed his hand upon Par's shoulder and looked over to Morgan and Cullinan. Their faces were white in fear and confusion. Neither knew what they could do to help them.
Walker turned his attention to Coll and Morgan. "Get Par and any others that you may find left in the mine and get yourselves out of here. You have only one hour!" instructed the Druid.
Coll grasped Par as did Morgan and tried to pull him from where he stood. Par began to fight them twisting and trying to pull his arms free. "No, Walker, No!" he cried while Coll and Morgan pulled him a few paces from the Druid. Anger built within his chest and his heart pounded pushing and pulsing blood quickly through his entire body. He could feel his power building and wanting to cast it out onto…'Where?' He quickly thought! He saw Coll struggling to keep his hold onto his arm, while Morgan was doing the same thing. 'I can not hurt Coll and Morgan,' he thought, but the anger and hurt consumed him. 'Walker'…
Instead, Par let his magic go. He let it fall from him like the tears pouring down his cheeks. 'I can not fight you, Walker. You are my family too, and I love you!' Par could not bring the words to his lips as much as he wanted to yell them out to his uncle. Par gave up and stopped struggling. There was nothing that he could do.
Walker Boh stared at Par and he knew this was his last chance to tell the boy how he felt. Words that he knew Par needed to hear from him. Words that he had never spoken out loud to anyone and he also knew the turmoil in his nephew and his need to know how he really felt for him. Par was more than just another extended family member, perhaps his only living family that Walker had left and he respected Par far more than what Par ever realized. Walker saw in him almost the reflection of himself and he understood Par and how he felt.
"Par," Walker shouted to him and he paused. He saw Par stop fighting his brother and closest friend. There eyes connected from across the stone cavern. Walker's tongue felt thick and in knots as he struggled to get the words out. "I….Par, I need to tell you…I"
But the words were lost and he couldn't say them.
"Par, if I fail… You, Wren, Coll and Morgan are all that is left to stop these things. Allanon will come to you and know that my spirit will always be with you!" shouted Walker and he turned his back from them and paused there for only a moment. Walker closed his eyes that had begun to fill with his own tears. He had never spoken his love to anyone and he loved Par. He sent his feelings to Par's thoughts and knew that Par felt them. Walker Boh returned into the cavern without looking back.
Par crumbled to his knees as did his heart feeling the love Walker Boh had for him. Coll and Morgan supported Par between them and physically pulled him out of Cullinan's cavern. The four stopped momentarily to gather their bearings before they continued on through the mine. Cullinan wailed in sorrow seeing all the death that he had caused.
"Let me die here!" he sobbed. "I can not go any further!"
XXX
Walker sunk to his knees and lowered his head to his chest. He could not stop the tears from falling down his cheeks no matter how he fought it. He felt weak, vulnerable and sliced wide open. Feelings that he had never experienced before and did not know how to deal with. He wiped the wetness from off his cheeks and looked at the hundreds of malevolent diamonds not yet born into this world, but on the very edge of their birth. Walker saw the destruction of the world, of every being that walked upon the lands and he saw his own death.
A flicker of light crossed his vision and a large black moor cat appeared in front of him.
"Has the Druid lost his senses?" stated Rumor sending his thoughts within the Druid's mind. "Or has the girl dulled what is left of your senses that you could not feel me by your side?"
"Rumor," Walker softly spoke. "Everything seems clouded within my thoughts."
Walker again lowered his eyes to the stone floor, not having the courage to face his closest companion.
The moor cat nestled closely to Walker and rubbed his face into the Druid's beard. When Walker Boh looked up, Cogline stood before him.
"Boy, boy, boy!" Cogline shook his head in disappointment looking at Walker so weakened and sullen.
"Have you lost you're way, Druid?" Cogline chided him.
Walker Boh stood and faced the ageless Druid and his friend.
"I am against an undefeatable foe to where my magic is powerless to stop it."
"You are against an undefeatable foe, Walker…Yourself!" Cogline stated. "Your mind is so clouded with the thoughts of men and not the thoughts of a Druid."
Walker steeled his eyes and glared at Cogline. "If you are talking about Llewellyn, I will not hear it!" he shouted at him.
"You have to hear it, Druid!" snapped Cogline pulling himself to his full height, which was not much standing next to Walker Boh who stood a good head and shoulder taller than himself. "What you have forgotten is a Druid does not have the heart of a man. You have allowed love to touch your heart and left reason behind you."
"Oh, I have reason, Cogline. Reason enough to know that what I love I destroy."
"What you destroy is yourself by denying who and what you are!" snarled the ageless Druid.
"I know what I am," shouted Walker. "Something that I have never sot to be. I have not the power to save what oath I have sworn to.
Cogline took a large chunk of crystal from among the half a dozen that was scattered upon the stone floor. Trickling a little of his magic into the stone, he handed this to Walker Boh.
When Walker took the crystal from the ageless Druid, Walker was lifted off the ground. The Dark Uncle opened his power to the crystal and lowered himself to stand in front of Cogline.
The old Druid, sensing Walker's magic weaved his magic inside of Walker Boh and linked his magic to his.
"What are doing?" asked Walker feeling the joined power of the two Druids.
"A lesson a Druid should have known how to use. Strip yourself of thoughts of men, Walker, and cloak yourself in the robes of the Druids. A Druid can not walk on both sides of the fence at the same time. You are more than what you realize."
Cogline disappeared before Walker's eyes and so did the moor cat.
XXX
Coll took Cullinan's arm and pulled him to his feet. He locked fierce eyes with the dwarf and shouted. "You have to go on. Without you, we will not know our way out. You heard the Druid. We have an hour to get out. You must show us the shortest way!"
Cullinan pulled his wits together and knew he could not allow his sorrow to over take him. They needed him and he could save their lives. It was the least that he could do for them. He took the lead and watched while Coll took one arm of Par's, while Morgan took the other. Par still fought them trying to free himself to go back to Walker.
Par didn't stop fighting until they came upon the opening to a central cavern. There was a deep verge that Cullinan pointed out and there crumpled at its base was Damson curled up and cuddling a small woolen coat to her chest and crying. Par races to her and gathered her up into his arms and held her. His own tears fell from his eyes and mixing in with her tears.
"Mole," she sobbed through her tears. "I tried to save him, Par, but he is dead!"
Par held her tightly in his arms and knew and understood her fondness for the Mole. Stroking the soft texture of her hair, he tried to calm and comfort her.
Coll bent down upon his knee and spoke to Damson, "Is there anyone else with you, Damson?"
She pointed over Par's shoulder to the entrance a few paces from them. "We have to keep moving, Par. I'll see to the others and bring them out here."
XXX
The light of the torches burst to brilliance and light beams danced all around the long corridor from the millions of small cut diamonds spilled out upon the stone floor. They lay in piles that had poured out of the air shafts where the dwarves had stowed them away from the federation soldiers. The chase the Mole had given Cullinan when he was so possessed with the evil of the diamond had knocked the large sacks over and the cut diamonds spilled onto the floor.
It was Matty Roh's men that had tossed their torches to the floor and began scooping the diamonds in their hands and then into their pockets. They were mad with greed. Matty pulled her sword and shouted to her men to stop, but they all ignored her commands. That was until the Tuonin and his dwarves pulled their long bows and crossbows. The men dropped the diamonds they held in their hands and pulled their swords.
"Drop your swords, you fools!" shouted Matty trying desperately to contain them.
Wren shouted her commands, "Stop this madness and lower your weapons!"
The elfstones pulsed within the pouch around Wren's neck and she grasped the pouch with her hand. Wren knew instinctively if the power surged through these stones than dark magic was close by. The power that she felt within her elfstones was the strongest that she had ever felt. Wren looked at the two forces of men and dwarves ready to come to blows with each other, but they were only men and this could not possibly be the reason.
Within the cluster of crystals the diamond came awake with the hatred that surged within the cavern and it pulsed with power.
Llewellyn immediately felt the diamond calling to her and it made her believe that the being within the diamond needed her. Llewellyn came closer and looked down upon the cluster of crystal and reached her hands in to grasp the diamond.
Wren's eyes frantically searched the cavern for any sign of dark magic. When her eyes rested upon Llewellyn, Wren shouted for her to stop. "Llewellyn, No!"
The men ran towards the dwarves and the dwarves let the arrows fly and in that moment the diamond's magic seized Llewellyn with a blinding light that filled the entire cavern and the crystal exploded sending shards scattering.
Wren's elfstones burst with power and ripped through the pouch that she held within her hand. The power of the two forces collided with each other pressing for dominance over the other. The cavern walls and floors shook with the power that was released by the two possessing supremacies and a humming built to ear piercing loudness. The walls of the cavern cracked and rock and stone fell and the kimberlite dust that filled the air making the room dense and hard to breath.
Wren's eyes widened when Llewellyn was caught within the dark magic's power and raised skyward towards the ceiling. She could hear Llewellyn's scream and watched as her head fell backward and her long blonde hair dangling while her healer hung in mid-air. All around Llewellyn the brilliant and radiant power surged through her and within her. Light seemed to come out from every body part of Llewellyn and Wren sensed the malevolence of this dark power and it was more powerful than anything that she had experienced before. Seeing Llewellyn within the power of the dark force, Wren doubted for only a moment when fear that Llewellyn would die from the power of her elfstones. It was all the dark magic needed as its power began to over take Wren.
Where the men had died from the arrows of the dwarves, and the others that had lived even the dwarves ran from the cavern to save their own lives. Matty fell at the feet of Wren and huddled closely to the stone wall by the entrance that they were to find the Druid. Her eyes could not move taking in all that she saw. If there was ever any doubting that Wren was the Queen of the Elves, it was squelched in that moment. Wren stood powerful before her with the elfstones within her hand and its power radiant from her. It was the only thing that had saved Matty's life up to this point.
Wren felt the dominance of the dark magic gaining upon her and she gnashed her teeth together and snarled, "You will release Llewellyn or I'll burn you out of existence!"
XXX
Coll fell backward from off his feet with the violent explosion that seemed to come out of the cavern that he had just entered through the doorway. He skidded to a halt as the dust rose all around him. Dwarves and men came running out of the cavern, screaming and did not stop when they came upon Coll stretched out upon the stone floor. Fear had seized them and they ran from it.
Before Coll could catch his breath and orientate himself with what had just happened. Par, Damson and Morgan was at his side pulling him to his feet.
"Coll, thank the light that you are not hurt!" cried Par, while his eyes roam from the top of Coll's dirty and dusty head to the soles of his stout boots.
Damson's eyes snapped over to the entrance of the cavern where the cloud of dust began to settle. "Par, Wren and Matty are in there!" she shouted in horror worrying what could have happened to them.
Before Par could move, Morgan was dashing through the entrance with his sword drawn high above him and he was shouting, "Leah, Leah!"
XXX
Wren fought the elfstones trying to pull back on the ultimate power the stones processed in fear of killing Llewellyn. It was like pulling back on a thin, weaken reins of a run-away stallion with wolves snapping at its very hooves. The power Wren welded was enough to turn Llewellyn to dust if it just barely touched her. She fought it with everything she had to keep the evil from touching her and a safety barrier for her healer.
Walker Boh did not have to look at Llewellyn to know what had happened. He had seen this played-out in his visions at least a dozen times. Each time he had this vision did not lessen the pain he felt knowing that Llewellyn had died. His only hope was to find the diamond before Llewellyn did.
He knew the diamond had taken her the moment she touched it. He felt her pain that ripped through her and felt her fade away into the endless darkness of which she would never escape, taking with her the love that had once filled his heart and a joy of living a life within that love that they would have shared together. Walker felt the emptiness as deep as death itself. Tears rolled down the Druid's eyes as he rounded the corner to where he knew the vileness of the diamond dwelled.
A bright bolt of lighting shot out from behind Wren and hit Llewellyn full force. To her horror, Llewellyn was unharmed and she seemed to absorb the power that hit her. She immediately felt the power of the Druid as he tried to link with her in the power that she possessed from the elfstones that she held in her hands. "Wren, link your power with me!"
"No, Walker!" She shouted. "That will kill, Llewellyn!"
"That is no longer, Llewellyn!" shouted Walker Boh. "Link the power of the elfstones with me!"
"No, Walker!" Wren shouted.
"Wren you must trust me!" said Walker Boh holding his magic against the dark magic. Wren should have seen for herself that even with his magic combined with hers was not stopping this creature. 'Why wouldn't Wren trust me?' Walker thought.
Wren stared up at Llewellyn caught in the malevolent light that seemed to be driven right through her. Slowly Llewellyn's head rose and the large diamond that she had held in her hands fell to the ground with a loud hollow thud and snapped in half. The luster and radiance of the diamond was gone and it was nothing more than dull and empty white stone.
Wren's eyes followed the stone that fell from her hands and then back up to Llewellyn's eyes. Gone was the soft and gentleness of what she use to be and replaced with cold, careless and hard features. Her eyes were the most compelling with its glow of piercing white light and sharpness that was now staring at Wren.
Coll and Morgan ran into the cavern with Par and Damson behind them. Coll immediately drew the Sword of Shannara, while Morgan did the same. Par sent the Wishsong to surround them and protect them against the malevolent within the cavern.
"Wren, please, you must listen to me!" shouted Walker.
"No!" Wren insisted.
Walker saw Coll standing in place and holding the Sword of Shannara and he sent his thoughts to Coll. 'Coll, open the swords magic to reveal the truth of Llewellyn.'
Coll blinked and his eyes stared at Walker Boh from across the room. Nodding, Coll willed the sword's magic to Llewellyn.
The empty broken stone that lay upon the floor just underneath the image of Llewellyn illuminated a light of truth and revealed the spirit of what use to be Llewellyn dead within the dull stone.
When Wren saw this with her own eyes, she opened herself to Walker Boh and allowed his link with her. The two powers combined as one sent a force so strong that with it hit the malevolent power and it screamed and shrieked and its power suddenly faded.
Matty Roh scrambled from off the floor and ran to Morgan who wrapped his arms around her.
Walker shouted out to Par and the rest. "Take a crystal in your hand and hold on to it!"
This time no one questioned the Druid and did as he requested. Walker trickled his power into each stone held by his companions.
"Now will yourselves to fly!"
Par's eyes widened as did the rest of them, but no more so than Morgan whose heart raced within his chest. He felt his stomach lurch and felt he would sick up in fear. Morgan looked into Matty's eyes and he found his courage. She was counting on him to save her and he would no matter if it meant to be suspended in mid-air while holding on a clear stone and then being hurled through caverns of the mine.
Damson wrapped her arms around Par and tucked the Mole's small coat securely in front of her. She held on to Par for dear life, as Par did the same while holding a crystal in his other hand.
Within moments, their feet left the ground and they hovered within the cavern. Walker still held his magic upon the malevolent creature for the safety of his friends. He knew he could not kill this thing, but its power was severely weakened. This would give them all a chance to escape the mine.
"Now, use your magic and get out of this mine!" Walker shouted.
He watched as crystals glowed with power and began to gain speed as each one flew through the entrance of this cavern.
Par willed his crystal to slow when he noticed a large boulder that had fallen and pinned Cullinan to the floor of the cavern. Par could see that he had not survived and died in the mine with his friend Griffin to be buried forever together. Par hugged Damson tighter to himself and willed his crystal to fly.
Walker Boh waited and held his power on the creature and looked upon the image of Llewellyn's face for the last time and he closed his eyes to remember how she felt in his arms and her kiss upon his lips when he had saved her at death's door when Llewellyn had saved Wren's life. Walker thought to himself whether Cogline was right, Could a Druid truly love someone when his life was giving to service and protect the delicate fabrics that bind this world from the evil forces that would destroy it? A question he had no answer for.
Walker trickled some of his power into his crystal and rose off the ground. His crystal radiated energy and it glowed in his hand. He again closed his eyes, and cast the power he used on the creature to the walls and ceiling of stone and watched it a moment when it came crashing down upon the creature. The linked power with the elfstones and his druid magic made the mountain shudder and shake until the entire mountain seemed to move. Walker sped flying through the caverns while the walls and ceiling tumbling down just behind him. Huge boulders pounded the ground as they fell and the stone floor cracked leaving huge crevices that easily filled in with smaller rock and kimberlite dust. Faster Walker willed the crystal to fly and he was whipping and whirling through the cavern as fast as light itself. The crashing of walls and ceiling were within a toes touch behind him and almost over-taking him as he was propelled forward. Walker only hoped that Par, Wren, Coll and Morgan got out safely.
XXX
"Hold your bloody places or I'll cut anyone in half if he doesn't!" shouted Parishar Creel. He stared into the entrance of the mine waiting for the slightest movement.
"That mine is going to come down at any moment!" shouted Rhys to their leader. "If anyone is in that mine, they are forever lost to us!"
"Hold your place, Rhys!" Padishar snarled and clutched the hilt of his sword tighter and threatened anyone else if they so much as moved. Raymere grasped his cousin's wrist to warn him not to push Padishar too far.
Triss and Tiger Tye came closer to stand by Padishar's side and wait for any sign. As long as Wren was in there, they would not move from this sight.
A rumble echoed out the opening of the mine and Padishar almost went in to see if the sound was made from his daughter.
The dwarves were covered head to toe with grime, dust and dirt as they poured out of the opening and almost ran into Padishar and his men.
Parishar grabbed the first dwarf he could get his hands on and held him in place. "Are there any others down in the mine?"
Tuonin all but collapsed in Padishar's arms from seer exhaustion from his run within the entire length of the mine. He could barely get his breath out let alone any words. Suddenly the entrance rumbled as if someone had shot of a string of fireworks and Par and Damson flew out of the opening.
Padishar and his men had only a moment to hit the ground before they were bowled over. Par pulled his magic away from the crystal to slow himself down and glided downward with his feet running until they touched the ground.
The men raised their heads for only a moment and lowered them again, when Morgan and Matty came darting out flying upon the wind. As soon as Morgan saw open sky, he let go of the crystal and fell downward and rolled upon the ground. His crystal shot skyward until it all but disappeared. Then if it wasn't for Matty hugging and holding on so tightly to Morgan, he would have hugged and kissed the ground, but he decided to kiss Matty instead.
Next came Coll, who ran with his feet in the air and kept running when they finally touched the ground. He too, let go of his crystal and it sailed just like a rocket just above the thousands of men's heads all gathered together in the cup-hold of the Dragon's Teeth.
Wren came after Coll and gracefully landed upon her feet and stood before Padishar, Triss and Tiger Tye, while they lay on their bellies upon the dirt.
Triss and Tiger Tye climbed to their feet and they both threw their arms around Wren, laughing, cry and shouting all at the same time. "Thank Arborlon's blessings you are all right!"
Wren dropped her crystal and hugged the pair of them, while Padishar climbed to his feet and ran over to Par and Damson. He too threw his arms around them and hugged and kissed them both. "Par, I am ever in your debt. I would have sworn I lost you both!"
The mountain shook with such a rumble and a quake moved the ground under their feet. Everyone staggered trying to keep their balance. Par pulled away from Damson and Padishar and raced to the opening of the mine. The walls of the cave began to break apart and rock began filling in the empty space.
Par screamed out loud, "Walker!"
Coll raced to Par side and knew that Par had readied his magic and was about to go back in after the Druid. He clutched onto Par's arm, "No, Par, please! I can not lose you to this mine. Please, Par, No!"
Par stared into Coll's eyes and knew he had to let Walker Boh go.
Putting his arms around Coll, he hugged him tightly. "Its okay, Coll."
Par no sooner turned around then Walker Boh came shooting out of the mine at such a speed it almost boomed. He sailed straight up in the open air and then hovered for a moment and gently lowered himself in front of Par.
"Walker!" Par cried with tears running down his cheeks and embraced his uncle holding him tightly. Walker tossed the crystal upon the ground in front of Raymere's feet and put his arm around Par and held him.
"It's all right, Par. It is over with."
Raymere's eyes popped staring at the crystal as it was red hot and smoking and guarded it until it cooled to handle.
Rhys walked over to Wren, "I think I remember a promise I made to you if we both lived through this together."
"Now Rhys, that promise was spoken when we thought we would not live to see this day."
Rhys put his hand over his heart and teasingly smiled mischievously at her, "You wound me to my heart, Wren. A promise is a promise." He tried to grasp her hands to hold them.
"A promise that I can not keep," stated Wren and moved her hands away so he could not touch her. Rhys looked boyish at her and he tried again saying, "Come away with me, Wren and we can travel the land as we once did when we were young."
Wren almost smiled just thinking of her days when she ran wild with the wind and never the cares and worries that she had today. Shaking her head, Wren knew that a queen of her people could never possess a woman's heart and her people would always come first and foremost. "My place is Queen of the Elves, ruler of my people, Rhys, and to their future. This out-weighs the love that I could give to only one man. I am sorry, Rhys, but I can not, not ever."
"Wren, I can not live my life in one spot even if it is in a palace, my Queen. Perhaps one day, our paths will meet again in a better time with less demands placed upon us." Rhys took one of Wren's hands and gently placed a kiss upon it. Turning, he strolled back to where his left his cousin guarding the Druid's stone.
Wren walked over to Triss and Tiger Tye. "Is your Roc ready, Tiger Tye."
He only nodded. "We have a long journey home."
Triss could see the tears running down Wren's cheeks when Tiger Tye left them to get his Roc. He approached her and wiped the tears from her eyes and looked deeply into them.
"It is over with, Wren. Our battle to free the people from the Federation is over with. We have done our deed."
Wren put her arms around Triss and hugged him crying on his shoulder. Triss tenderly wrapped his arms around her and held her until she had stopped.
Rhys walked over to Raymere who still stood in one place guarding his stone that Walker tossed upon the ground.
"Well, Raymere I think it is time we turned our wagons east and travel the four lands and find us another adventure."
"I think we should head to the Southlands and the Seaports," commented Raymere and lightly touched the crystal with his fingers to test it making sure it had cooled down to hold.
"The Seaports?" asked Rhys and watched his cousin pick-up the crystal and put it in his pocket.
"Yes, the Seaports and more importantly March Brume. I think our Uncle Sterret would be very interested in seeing this stone here. It could mean passage on one of his sea vessels. You know how he loves to collect things. I'm betting this here crystal he'd be very interested in. Now that lad, could be an adventure!" Raymere winked at his cousin
"Diapson Sterret! I have not seen him since I was just a small lad. Perhaps you are right, Raymere, March Brume sounds like an adventure to my liking," commented Rhys
Damson unfolded the small coat that she had wrapped in her arms and handed it to her father. "He's gone, Padishar. The Mole died in the mine. This is all I have left of him."
Padishar took the coat from Damson, while Par put his arms around her to comfort her.
Padishar Creel's smile at seeing his daughter and son-in-law alive, quickly turned to a heated, red-faced grimace when he saw that the entrance of the mine was sealed in large boulders, rock and stones. Padishar paced quickly back and forth in front of the mine as if he hoped to see a small hole he could crawl through. Fists clenched to his side and turned around glaring and shouting at Par, "Did you have to blow up the entire bloody diamond mine!" he fumed. "I have debts with this war, Par. My men need to be paid and I've spent every coin that I owned just getting into this bloody cup-hold to fight the bloody Federation soldiers! Those diamonds were to pay my debts and tide me over into my golden years! Now what in the bloody hell am I going do now, Par!" He kicked a boot full of dirt at the enclosed entrance of the mine and growled with his arms outstretched in anger. In one clutched fist, Padishar held on to the Moles small coat and was muttering faster than what anyone could comprehend. Damson noticed that one of the deep pockets were bulged and weighted. She slowly approached her father and took the small coat from his hand in the hopes of finding something useful. Knowing the Mole as she did, he had away of finding things that were either straight from the garbage or from a treasure and Damson was hoping treasure. He had an eye for sparkly things and had collected many shiny rocks, a lost ring or necklace. Some Damson knew were every expensive things. Lifting the pocket flap, she reached her hand into the coat and pulled out a handful of small cut diamonds and there were still more within the deep pocket. She giggled when she held them up to her father.
Padishar looked at Damson and blinked. His hard grimace faded immediately and his eyebrows rose in approval. He was so happy that he about hugged himself laughing. Instead he hugged his daughter and shouted out loud.
Even though Par and Coll did not want to look at another diamond ever again, Damson kept a few of them to start their own Inn in a small town in Callhorn.
The end………………….
Until my next story….Loveofthering….