Here we go again! This time our heroes face the Ancients in battle, and face their hearts in truth. The end looms, the question becomes who will know life, and who will know death? R&R and thanks!
XXI. Facing The Giants
"Why did you do that?" Tracus questioned, rubbing his jaw with one hand, while holding up the other to ward off any further blows the Amazon intended to shower on him.
"Why did I do that? You seriously have to ask?" Freya was incredulous. "No more than a few hours ago, we were mourning your girlfriend, and now you're in here trying to kiss me? What kind of low-life are you?"
Anger boiled in Tracus. "You know damn well I love you Freya, I have always loved you! Yes, I cared for Raine, but that was simple lust. My heart has always been yours!"
It was Freya's turn to become enraged. "Your heart was always mine huh? Even as your manhood bedded her night after night? Where was your heart then? Where was your supposedly loyalty to me? You've spent nearly all the time we've been together proclaiming your love for me, yet you hump the first woman to give you the time of day? Get out Tracus, before I do something you'll regret!"
Tracus sucked in his breath sharply. "Freya, I love…"
"Get out!" Freya roared, raising her hand to strike him again. The blow was not needed, the Necromancer complied, ducking out of the shack. Freya huffed, and took a few steps backwards, plopping down on her bed. Thoughts raced through her head, and she tried to hold onto them, to shake them loose, understand them, but they were too fleet for her. She had been so intensely jealous of Raine while the Druid lived, but now she was gone, and Tracus was again begging her attention. No more than a week beforehand she might have taken him into the tent, maybe even had let him ravish her, if not for any other reason than to spite Raine.
But now something was different. She realized that his actions had really disappointed her. She was disturbed when he had dropped his pursuit of her so quickly for the Druid, but that was somehow a little understandable. But now, to turn from her memory the same day they ceremonially laid her to rest and make moves on another was inexcusable in Freya's eyes. She had to admit she did carry some feelings for Tracus, but to see him dishonor himself made her heart ice over yet again.
Lana's memory danced in Freya's mind. She couldn't understand someone who could just let a lover go. If she wanted anything, it was to pay respect to the one she had loved. The one that she still loved. A new emotion swept over her, raking her heart and mind with confusion and pain. She realized with a start that she was jealous of how Tracus conducted himself. She lost someone dear to her, and she had wrapped herself in misery for so long, thinking her pain must somehow please her lover's memory. Tracus, however, lived in the moment. The ease in which he accepted his loss irritated Freya, mainly because she couldn't understand it.
She knew a Necromancer understood death better than anyone, and she mused that his training and experience left him with the ability to let the dead be dead, and live on with those still alive. Confusion danced through her mind. While she admired Tracus for his ability to instantly get go, it also infuriated her, and made her feel as if love as a whole concept was cheapened for it.
Finally she laid on her bed, curling up in a ball and crying out of frustration, crying because she might have wasted so much time suffering for one beyond death's veil, for someone that would never again be able to honor her pain. She cried because she was, in a place in her soul, considering returning Tracus' advances. She cried because she didn't know what to do, or how to do it.
The Amazon was awake before the sun had fully risen. The cold morning light brought Freya's cold demeanor with it, and she decided that her disappointment was well earned, and she was not going to give the Necromancer the chance to drop her for another the instant the winds changed, as he had done with Raine. Freya rededicated herself to doing nothing more than destroying Baal, and leaving everything else for the time after the victory, if there was such a time. Secretly she hoped she would die when Baal did, sparing her from having to face a life without an enemy she could focus on. She wished to be spared of facing her feelings and living a normal life.
She headed to the small square, intent on using the waypoint portal to return to the Frozen Tundra, and enter the Cave of the Ancients beyond before Tracus could realize she was gone. Before she could reach the stone platform a familiar shape appeared in her path. Deckard Cain hobbled toward Freya, a look of stern determination etched into his weathered face. "Hold, young Amazon. I need to speak with you."
Freya leveled an icy stare at the elderly sage. "I don't have time for history lessons, old man. I have a Prime Evil to kill!"
"Ignore me, and you will never survive to face the Lord of Destruction," Cain said.
"Go preach to Tracus if you need to prattle so badly. I have better things to do." Freya stepped on the waypoint, and attempted to activate it. Nothing happened.
"I may be old, but I am not totally bereft of power. If you do not heed my words, you will not leave this settlement." Cain said, his staff encased in a soft magical glow.
Freya tried to activate the waypoint, but again nothing happened. Impressive for an old fool, Freya thought to herself, sighing in frustration. She stepped off the stone platform. "Speak your peace."
"Thank you," Cain nodded, hobbling over to the stone bench. Freya noticed that even as the Horadrim sat, his staff continued to glow, effectively locking the waypoint. "First a question: where do you think you were going?"
Freya frowned. "Well, see, I'm sort of hunting Baal, like I've been doing all along, and if you're not hiding him in Malah's hut, I'm pretty sure he's not here in town."
"A smart mouth will gain you nothing," Cain warned. "Why are you going alone? Why isn't Tracus with you?"
Freya opened her mouth to speak, but Cain cut her off. "Don't answer that. I know full well what happened last night, and I know how you think. I know how headstrong, defiant, and proud you are, and finally I know if you go at it alone, you will fail."
Fire flared in Freya's eyes. "You doubt my power, old man?"
"Power? Where was your power when Nihlathak, a mere mortal man, cut down Raine? Where was your power when you yourself were nearly killed by a lesser demon less than a month past? You are strong, Amazon, but not that strong. Without Tracus, you will die before you ever see Baal." Cain lectured.
Freya opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. She closed her mouth, and her shoulders slumped. "You're right. I know you're right. I am just so…angry at him right now." She took a seat beside Cain on the bench.
Cain's voice softened. "I know you are, but you two are our last hope. You owe it to yourself, and all Sanctuary to do everything in your power to ensure you're successful in your mission. The biggest thing you can do is continue your partnership with Tracus. His power is not to be underestimated either." Cain reached out and patted Freya's hand.
Freya just nodded, sincerely trying to let go of her anger and pain and focus on what had to be done. The two sat on the bench in silence for a few moments. Tracus came striding up with purpose in his steps. "Good morning Cain," he said, nodding at the old man. Cain returned the nod. He turned to Freya. "Freya, about last night…"
"Don't. Just don't," Freya said sharply, waving her hand dismissively. "We don't have time for that. We have to focus on the job at hand. There will be time to talk later."
Tracus hung his head shamefully. "I understand," he said, turning away from the Amazon, and almost taking a full step before what she had said sunk in. "Wait! You said 'we', didn't you?"
Freya blinked. "Why wouldn't I? We are allies in this struggle, are we not?"
"Oh, yes, of course! I will always stand with you, no matter what!" Tracus' face lit up.
"Don't start with the nonsense. I didn't say I was your friend, I said we fight together, that's all. If we are to survive destroying Baal, we must focus on that to the exclusion of all other things. Understand?" Freya said firmly.
"Oh, yes, right. Well, let's get to it then."
Cain stood slowly, the glow encasing his hand finally dissipating, releasing the magical lock on the waypoint platform. "May the heavens themselves smile on you two," he said before moving to hobble away. The warriors silently reentered the battlefield and quickly made their way into the Cave of the Ancients.
Once inside the pair made good time, tearing through enemies as if they were nothing. With each encounter both warriors seemed to become more in tune with each other, each compensating for the weaknesses of the other without a word, and each augmenting the other's strengths. Though Freya was still incredibly angry with Tracus, she couldn't stop her heart from swelling with excitement and hope. Perhaps destroying Baal would not be so difficult after all.
With their newly found harmony, it was not long before they reached the cave opening that led to the Altar of the Ancients, if Malah was to be believed. Freya stopped, staring at the mouth of the cave, lost in thought for a moment.
"What is it?" Tracus asked, standing beside her.
"We do not have the Totem, so the Ancients are going to make us prove our worthiness, aren't they?"
"That's what Cain and Malah said, yeah." Tracus studied the Amazon's face. "Are you afraid?"
Freya's eyes narrowed. "Never. I will destroy Baal, or die trying. If the Ancients don't find me worthy to enter the Worldstone Keep, they will have to kill me to keep me out. There can be no other outcomes. Question is, are you prepared?"
Tracus nodded grimly. "If my death serves the Great Balance, I am ready to embrace it anytime. Now, let's do what needs to be done!"
The Necromancer summoned a fresh golem, and renewed his bone armor. Freya took to her knees and clasped her hands in prayer. She prayed to the spirit of Lana, and all of her Amazon ancestors for the power to face the test of the Ancients. Like a bolt of lightning, power coursed through Freya, and she jumped to her feet, raising her bow over her head. With a voice like thunder she shouted, "Valkyrie!"
A small cloud of white smoke appeared in front of Freya. The smoke coalesced into the crude shape of a woman for a split second before blasting out of existence, revealing an Amazon warrior underneath. The woman was nearly identical to Freya, except for ashen colored skin and glowing eyes. The Valkyrie carried a massive spear, its head composed of solid black metal, the wooden shaft was the color of fresh blood. The Valkyrie did not speak, but stood prepared to attack any foe that dare threaten Freya.
"We must hurry, the Valkyrie cannot stay manifested in this realm very long before she has to return to the spirit realm," Freya said before making her way out of the cave and back into the light, with Tracus in tow.
Freya gasped at the sight that met her eyes. They were nearly to the peak of Mount Arreat, standing on a fairly small shelf of snow and ice. The entire highlands spread out around the mountain, making for an impressive view. Looking down on how small the world seemed from that height moved Freya's heart, but she quickly reminded herself she wasn't sightseeing, that she had a job to do.
Instead she turned her attention to the middle of small shelf. In the middle of the area stood an altar made of gleaming gold, with a large book resting on top of the pillar-like altar. Around the altar, fashioned in a semicircle stood three golden statues of massive Barbarians, each wielding different weapons. One was holding a huge halberd in both hands, the second had two axes, one in each hand, and the final Barbarian held a longsword and shield. They were all incredibly large and intimidating, rippling with muscles, and towering at least a foot over Tracus and Freya.
"This might be interesting," Tracus said nervously.
"Believe in yourself. We can do this," Freya said, approaching the altar. "Ready?" Tracus nodded grimly, taking his battle stance. Freya laid her hands on the altar, her eyes wandering over the runes on the open pages of the sacred book. The altar glowed, and a chorus of voices boomed out. "We are the spirits of the Nephalem, the Ancient Ones. We have been chose to guard sacred Mount Arreat, wherein the Worldstone rests. Few are worthy to stand in its presence; fewer still can comprehend its true purpose. Before you enter, you must defeat us."
The gold melted away from the statues, revealing the true appearance of the warriors underneath. Movement caught Freya's eye, and when she looked, she witnessed the sword Ancient's weapon become enveloped with flames. This distraction played directly into the Ancients' favor, as the halberd Ancient immediately took the offensive, leaping directly from his pedestal into the air. He held his weapon high, intending to deliver an incredibly powerful blow to the Amazon.
Freya saw the leaping Barbarian just in time to duck into a tight roll forward and to her left. The Barbarian Ancient missed her by no more than a hair's breadth. But the Ancient had missed, and that gave the Valkyrie an opening. The spirit warrior rushed forward, slamming her spear into the Barbarian's armored stomach. His armor protected him from harm, but the Valkyrie did manage to shift his attention from Freya to the Valkyrie.
Freya came up firing at the next closest Ancient, the one that carried two axes. She launched into strafe mode, firing several arrows in rapid succession. The first few arrows bounced off his armor, but the fourth penetrated, along with the fifth, and the Ancient was slowed just slightly, but he quickly recovered. He began throwing his axes at Freya with alarming speed.
The Amazon focused and tried to evade the incoming blades, but they were coming too fast. The first two passed harmlessly, but she couldn't recover her balance to avoid the next two. They crashed into her armor right about her left breast, throwing her backwards to the ground, knocking her breath from her lungs. She struggled to breathe, but still quickly forced herself to roll backwards away from her attacker and clamored back to her feet.
Freya glanced around quickly, checking the positions of the other two guardians. The halberd Ancient was still engaged with the Valkyrie, wooden shafts smashing into each other as they both parried and thrusted, both landing solid hits, but neither wavering. The sword Ancient was attacking Tracus' clay golem by sticking his weapon out horizontally and spinning with ferocious speed while moving forward. The attack looked like a flaming tornadic whirlwind.
It was an impressive sight, but Freya had no time to take it in. The axe Ancient started tossing his weapons again, directly at her. Once again she focused hard, trying to dodge the attacks. This time, though, Tracus had seen his chance, and had moved around behind the axe slinger. In position, Tracus fired bone spears directly into the Ancient's back.
The Ancient howled in surprise, whirling around to face the Necromancer. Tracus immediately broke into a run, knowing he had no chance to dodge like his companion, and not wanting to test his bone armor against the power of a guardian spirit. With the axe Ancient's back turned to her, Freya resumed strafing him with arrows. Again the Ancient turned, and again Tracus stopped and resumed spellcasting. The pair worked as a team, duck, dodging, and outrunning the protector's attacks while slowly chipping away at his health.
The dance did not last for long. As the axe Ancient turned to attack Tracus, Freya was finally able to score a hit just below the guardian's jawline, the arrow tearing through his throat and coming out the other side. The Ancient roared, and instantly melted into a golden fog that retreated to his pedestal and reformed as a golden statue. One down, Freya thought, we just have to hang on against two more.
Before Freya could readjust her focus on another target she heard another roar, and at the same time the ethereal shout of the Valkyrie. She turned just in time to see the Ancient melt away into a golden mist that returned to his pedestal, and the Valkyrie thrust her spear in the air and vanish back to the spirit realm. Thank you Sister, Freya prayed silently to the Valkyrie. She focused on the final Ancient, the sword bearer, who was still attacking the golem.
The golem tried its best to hit its attacker, but it was just too slow. By the time the golem could swing its heavy arms, the Ancient had already whirled past it, cutting gouges into the construct. Freya snapped off an arrow as the Ancient slid past the golem one last time. The golem crumbled into dust. The Ancient wasted no time shifting his attention, raising his shield just in time to deflect Freya's projectile.
The Ancient ran towards the Amazon, but even a Barbarian spirit was not as fast as an Amazon, not by a long shot. Freya bolted away safely, lingering in place just long enough to make sure the Ancient stayed focused on her. "Tracus!" she shouted, moving away from the guardian just as he came close enough to attack. "Right!" Tracus yelled back, forming a bone spirit in his hands and releasing it towards the Ancient.
The guardian did not seem to notice the incoming magic, and the bone spirit struck true, the sound of magic meeting metal ringing in the air. The dance had started as all three warriors ran around the area in a circle. Freya would wait for the Ancient to get close enough to attack, and then dash away as he whirled around, striking nothing. She would then fire several arrows, wearing down the Ancient slowly. Tracus would also stop and send another bone spirit towards the Barbarian spirit. Then the pattern would repeat, all three moving around like it was some coordinated plan.
Finally the dance came to an end as a final bone spirit slammed into the Ancient, and he evaporated into a mist and returned to his pedestal. Victorious, the heroes stopped to catch their breath. Before they could recover they heard the thunderous trio of voices once more. "You are worthy heroes! We augment your skill and grant you entry to the interior of Mount Arreat, wherein lies the Worldstone. Beware. You will not be alone. Baal, the Lord of Destruction, is already inside.
"The Archangel Tyrael has always been our benefactor, but even he cannot help us now. For Baal blocks Tyrael's spiritual presence from entering the chamber of the Worldstone. Only you, mortal, have the power to defeat Baal now. Baal threatens the Worldstone - and through it, the mortal realm, itself. You must stop him before he gains full control of the sacred stone. With it under his control, Baal could shatter the boundaries between this world and the Burning Hells, thus allowing the hordes of the Prime Evils to pour forth into the mortal realm like an unstoppable tide!
"If you are weak, the world as you know it could be lost forever. You must NOT fail!"
Tracus bowed towards the three statues. "Thank you, great guardians of Mount Arreat! We will stop Baal, and purge his taint from this world."
Freya nodded in agreement, her determination and resolve stronger than ever before.
"Before you go, warriors, you must face your own weaknesses and overcome them in your soul, lest Baal use them to destroy you," the voices boomed.
"What weaknesses?" Freya said with a hint of exasperation, "we have already bested you in battle. We are ready for what awaits us."
"The eyes of Mount Arreat see all," the voices boomed. "Necromancer, we see your dependence on others, and it is your weakness. You lean on the Amazon instead of standing on your own strength."
Tracus' face twisted. "What do you mean? I do not…"
"Silence!" the voices commanded. "You may fool others, and even yourself, but you will not fool us. We can see through your soul. You must fight for yourself, believe in yourself, not place all your hope in another, or Baal will turn your very emotions against you."
Tracus' eyes went cold as his gaze darted from statue to statue. "So you are saying that love is a weakness?"
"Love is the only salvation Sanctuary can hope for," the voices said. "You must let her go, Necromancer. What you are doing now does not help her any."
Freya blushed slightly, thinking the Ancients were speaking of her and her relationship with Tracus.
Tracus closed his eyes, dropping his head in shame. "I loved her, and she still died. I thought I could lose the pain if I became a Necromancer, if I came to understand death. But even with all my knowledge, I still carry guilt for my impotence that day. I will not let that fate befall another I love! I will protect Freya until my last breath, in honor of my mother's memory!"
Freya was shocked. Tracus had said he was at peace with his past that night on the wall, but he had lied. He was only attached to Freya because he was trying to prove his own worth. Anger boiled in her.
"Do not rage, Amazon," the voices turned their attention away from Tracus. "You are as deeply flawed as the Pale Knight. Where he gives his heart in an attempt to redeem his honor in his own eyes, you bury your heart in ice and bitterness, filling it with hatred. You hold your heart back, living in the past, for a soul that is now beyond mortal concerns."
Something in the voice of the Ancients cut Freya to the core, and she also hung her head shamefully.
"There is no room for despair in the fight to destroy Baal. Necromancer, you must forgive yourself, and likewise love yourself, only then do you do your mother's soul honor, but you will be free to love the Amazon in the proper manner."
Tracus bowed, tears in his eyes. "Thank you for your great wisdom."
"Amazon, you must thaw your heart and let others in. You cannot win alone, nor would your fallen beloved wish you to suffer alone. Love and trust others, and you will gain the power to win your vengeance," the voices instructed.
Freya's heart opened at the words she heard, realizing that they were right. She did hold the world at arm's length, afraid to love again, to even be close, because she might suffer another devastating loss. But she also realized it was not any way to live. Bitterness had swept her away, drowning her, fooling her into thinking she was stronger for it. Tears ran down her cheeks as well as she looked to Tracus. Without a word, the two fell together, hugging each other tightly.
"I'm so sorry," Freya whispered.
"I am too," Tracus replied. The pair remained in their embrace for a lingering moment. Finally separating, Tracus forced a smile on his lips. "Now let's go do what we came to do!"
Freya laughed. "Let's go!"
"You are now worthy. Enter the Worldstone Keep and destroy all evil in your path!" the voices boomed before falling silent.
The gate barring the entrance to the Keep opened, granting the warriors the ability to enter. With a renewed vigor, and confidence boosted by facing the Ancients' physical and emotional challenge, they fought through the first two floors of the Keep, facing a mix of foes they had defeated enough times to face with little worry. Moon Lords and teleporting spotter demons strengthened the hordes of Slayers and Death Maulers, but they all fell like chaff before the sickle.
On the second level the pair found a waypoint platform. They decided to return to Harrogath for a time, to restock and rest. Facing the Ancients had been a tiring ordeal, and they couldn't afford to face a Prime Evil and fight exhaustion at the same time. On returning to town, they were met by the whole population of Harrogath, there to celebrate their victory with the Ancients, and revel in the fact that very soon Baal would face his own destruction.
Freya did not care for all the adoration, her Amazon upbringing taught her modesty about herself, and that one should never celebrate victory until it was actually won. She did not protest, nor did she allow bitterness to consume her, the words of the Ancients' fresh in her ears. She played along, smiling and shaking hands with all who came to her, if not for herself, then for the people that had given so much to help her on the way.
When the festival finally died down, Freya headed to her little shack, somewhere in her heart hoping it would be the last time she slept there while the other part was scared to death of the fight to come. She slipped inside and lit the small lantern. She plopped down on her cot, thinking about the words the Ancients had said to her. She leaned back, resting against the wall, and opened her heart.
Freya's emotions, finally released, washed over her. She sighed deeply, coming to know the truth her heart held, but her mind had been rejecting. She loved Tracus, he had indeed won her heart, but she had been too afraid to admit it, even to herself. But now it was all coming out of her, and she was still sitting alone in her shack. This might be our last chance, Freya thought, I can't let it slip by!
She stood quickly, moving for the door. When she opened it, she found Tracus standing there, just about to knock. "Tracus! I was just coming to see you!"
"Is that so? I just couldn't wait to see you. We likely go to our deaths tomorrow. Freya, I need you. I love you." Tracus looked the Amazon straight in the eye.
"I…I love you too, Tracus!" Freya said, falling into his arms. "Stay with me tonight."
Both of them knew in their hearts it was indeed the last chance they would ever have, that the end was nigh, but whose end would it be? Baal's, or theirs?