Paradise Within…Happier Far
Chapter 21
Remember, I will still be here,
As long as you hold me, in your memory
Remember, when your dreams have ended,
Time can be transcended,
Just remember me
I am the one star that keeps burning, so brightly,
It is the last light, to fade into the rising sun
I'm with you,
Whenever you tell,
My story,
For I am all I've done
Remember, I will still be here,
As long as you hold me, in your memory,
Remember me
I am that one voice, in the cold wind,
That whispers,
And if you listen, you'll hear me call across the sky
As long as,
I still can reach out, and touch you,
Then I will never die
Remember, I'll never leave you,
If you will only,
Remember me
Remember me...
Remember, I will still be here,
As long as you hold me,
In your memory
Remember,
When your dreams have ended,
Time can be transcended,
I live forever,
Remember me
Remember me,
Remember... me...
Remember, Josh Groban
Sookie's feet found their way across the soft green covered island towards the odd voices that were calling for her in her head. The dark gray mist surrounded her, ebbing and flowing silently as she passed through. She stumbled once on a loose outcropping of rock, stubbing her toe which quickly healed because of Eric's blood pulsing in her veins. The chill seeped through her light nightgown and she shivered within her cape, wrapping it tighter around her. Her cape and gown snagged several times on low branches. She wished that she could glide rapidly or even fly like Eric to avoid these inconveniences, but also to quickly reach the distraught voices in her head.
Finally, she reached a clearing, the mists and trees parting showing her a large white temple. The columns were rounded stone with stone steps leading to the center. Her feet moved her forward, the voices reaching a fever pitch as she drew closer. She started to cry at their pain, their anguish as she pushed herself to the voices. As if in a trance, she found herself standing at the bedsides of two men. They were sweating but still as death, their minds locked within their bodies, crying out to her. Looking briefly around, she saw priestesses who must be healers working with the few patients that were there. One beautiful, petite priestess walked towards Sookie solemnly.
"Mistress Stackhouse," the woman spoke quietly. "My name is Ebarra. I am a healer here at Avalon."
Sookie smiled slightly at the woman, the pain in her head overwhelming her usual bright greeting. The priestess seemed to understand and continued speaking. "You must have been called to this place by their psychic pain. We cannot heal this sort of illness. We don't even know what caused it. They just washed up on our shoreline and have been unconscious since. We know the problem is in their minds, because one of our sisters can sense it, but she cannot do more than that. Even Queen Morgaine cannot help them."
"Who are they?" Sookie whispered, looking from one man to the other.
"They are the immortal ones, Achilles of Greece and Hector of Troy. They have been on our island before to pass the time. A day spent here is a month spent in the otherworld."
Sookie gasped in surprise at the mention of the names and looked at the priestess in disbelief. "Surely not! They would be truly ancient. They are not vampires?" In her shock, her mind briefly realized the comment on the time difference, wondering what had happened in her absence, but then the voices pulled her back to them.
"They are truly immortal and they are not vampires. And yes, they are Hector and Achilles." Sookie looked into the woman's eyes and knew the truth of her statement.
"How long have they been here?"
"Weeks in our time, almost a year in otherworld time. Before when they would come, they would stay for long periods of time and then return to the otherworld. They've been alive for two millennia, mistress. Time passes slowly for them."
"Oh, my God. They really are immortal. How…?"
"The gods of that time freed them from the chains of death. Their deeds were honorable in spite of the circumstances, and their respect for the other was high even though each was sworn to kill the other. The gods gave them immortality, to live as humans but not to be human. Now they travel together always, as if they were brothers. And now they both have the same illness. I fear if we cannot find a way to help them, their immortality will hold them here, in this agony, forever."
Tears began to stream down Sookie's cheeks as she listened to their story from the priestess and heard the ongoing anguish in the voices, drowning her in their sorrow. She sat beside the blond warrior with long hair, not unlike Eric's. She took the cloth from the bowl beside the bed and soaked it in the cool water, bathing his forehead gently. She heard one of the voices grow slightly softer. She went to the dark haired man, long hair and a beard, beautiful really. She wiped his brow with the cool cloth as well and heard his voice grow softer too.
Sookie reached out and placed her hands on either side of the dark haired man's temple massaging it lightly as she sang a soft song her mother used to sing her as a child.
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.
Sookie remembered how that song used to comfort her when she cried from the pain and agony of hearing so many of other's invading thoughts that she thought she would go crazy. And now, singing it, listening to the thoughts of both men calm and quiet, she knew it soothed them as well. Instead of allowing them to force their thoughts into her head, she tried opening her own mind into theirs to find out what had happened to them. She started focusing on the dark haired man whose temple her hands were massaging. Sookie closed her eyes imagining her mind as a warm and safe ball of energy slowly entering the man's mind. Her breathing sped up as she tried this new gift. She didn't know how she knew what she needed to do, but she did it instinctively, not knowing if it would suck her into his pain or help relieve it.
She gasped out loud at what she saw there. His mind, the tapestry of his memories, his life over two millennia had been shredded into long rents and tears as if by claws or fingernails. The threads of tapestry were loose and torn. All was in chaos. She could see scraps of what must be memories dangling loose. As she took in the damage she cried out in pain and shock, ripping her hands from his face. The dark haired man convulsed as she pulled away and she heard him cry out at the loss of her touch.
The priestess looked on in stunned silence, quickly deducing what had caused his brief convulsion but unaware of what Sookie had seen. Sookie cried quietly still sitting beside the dark haired man, bending her head down to his slightly moving chest.
She whispered to him, her words muffled by the hair that had fallen around her face and the sobs she couldn't stop. "I'm so sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry…" she repeated again and again. She knew what caused the pain, and had an idea of what was necessary to heal him, but wasn't sure she had the strength or the power to do so. She felt hopeless and tired, so tired all the sudden.
The priestess saw Sookie slump onto Hector's chest sobbing and called for some water. As an initiate brought the water, she ordered her to go to the Queen and bring her to them. Sookie heard this but was too paralyzed by the man's pain to take the water or respond to the need for Morgaine. Now that she had been inside his head and seen the damage, it was impossible to break free from his mind completely. Morgaine appeared out of a mist beside the bed and took Sookie's hand in hers. Sookie could feel Morgaine pushing healing and strength into her mind and body, calming her and making her feel stronger. She looked up into Morgaine's midnight blue eyes, her own eyes showing her pain and fear.
Morgaine asked, "What did you see?" She didn't bother with pleasantries like how Sookie was, or if she was alright. It was clear that she was not alright.
Sookie's sobs quieted as Morgaine continued to offer soothing calm through their touch. "His mind. His mind, his memories are ripped to shreds. It is almost like he has been mind-raped. Is that even possible?"
Morgaine was silent, looking at Sookie intently and then turned her gaze to the dark haired man. When she spoke her voice was grave. "I have heard of such a thing. It is terrible black magic, not used in a thousand years or more. It is no wonder we did not know how to help him, and his brother, Achilles."
Sookie looked at both men. Here she was in the presence of legends, and legends they were, the heroes of ballads and poems. No one was even sure they really existed, and now they were here, aching with a pain no one should have to endure, and she was afraid she might be the only one who could help them.
Sookie whispered softly to Morgaine, "I think I know how to help them, but I don't know if I can or even if it will work."
"If their minds are as you say they are, it will take great strength and patience to heal them. You will have to go into their memories and repair the tears. No one has ever done this before Sookie. I have no idea how this will affect you."
Sookie covered her face with her hands, feeling the wetness of her tears on her face and rubbing her temple as she had just been rubbing Hector's. That had been what the priestess and Morgaine had called him.
"This is Hector," Sookie stated as she touched the dark haired man's arm. Then she reached over to the blonde, "and this is Achilles."
"Yes." Morgaine stated simply.
Sookie looked at the priestess, "Can you go get Eric for me? I need him."
A deep soft voice sounded behind her, along with a rush of air. "I am already here lover. I felt your pain. What is happening?"
Sookie got up, her thin cotton gown hiding nothing. She was cold, not from the night air but from fear and the pain of the voices in her head. "Eric," she sighed as he drew her into his arms. "These men, they are the legends Hector and Achilles." Eric looked at her with a skeptical raised eye brow. "I know it sounds crazy, but I've been in Hector's mind. It is him. The priestess says they are immortal. But their minds have been raped, torn into shreds. Their minds cry out to me to help them and I think I know how, but it is probably dangerous and has never been done before."
Without hesitation Eric responded with a short and emphatic 'No!'
"Eric, I cannot leave them like this. The healer thinks that if we cannot find a way to help them, they will live out their immortality in this searing hell someone or something has caused them."
"And what if by helping them, you are endangered the same way, or even in another way? What if this kills you? You cannot do this, lover." Eric found himself pleading with her, but knowing that the argument was already lost. Sookie would not be able to leave these men in pain without trying to help them. Her compassion was one of the parts of her humanity that spilled over to him. He could not deny her need to give to these men whatever she could.
"Eric, you know I have to do this."
Eric's tensed shoulders eased in resignation. "I know baby, I know. I love the part of you that offers your gifts to help others. But it doesn't keep me from being afraid for you."
"And I love that about you," Sookie smiled at him. He could feel her fear and pain through their bond, and knew it would probably just get worse as she proceeded with her plan.
Sookie turned to Morgaine, still surrounded by the comfort of Eric's arms. "Do you have any healing herbs or prayers that might help while I do this? Anything that would help them heal and for me to stay focused? I will need complete focus I think. And I will need your strength and calm and Eric's will to do this. Eric, I will probably need your blood for the strength it offers me. If this even works, I may not be able to help more than one until I rest and rebuild my strength."
"Of course," Morgaine responded. "The healers and the others will form a circle around you with our strongest healing prayers and we will fill the air with the healing herbs. We will do this for as long as is necessary. I will stand near you as will Eric offering our strength. Once you begin, I will be able to monitor you and your progress. I'll just need to find the psychic link between you and Hector. If you become too weakened or it becomes too dangerous I will help pull you back." Morgaine clapped her hands two times quickly and the priestesses immediately went into action.
Morgaine turned back to Sookie, her tone very serious. "Sookie, you will have to be careful to not weave yourself into their memories. If you are successful, they will of course know you were in their minds healing them. But you must be careful not to interweave yourself or your own memories in with theirs. It could be dangerous for you both."
Sookie swallowed hard and nodded her head silently, her voice caught in her tight throat. She turned to Eric, who without a word opened the vein on his wrist for Sookie to drink from. In her fear, she pulled mouthful after mouthful, gulping down his strength. He finally pulled her away, keeping her from taking too much. Sookie wiped her blood smeared mouth on the back of her hand and leaned into Eric, her face tipped up to his. "I love you and your love will sustain me and bring them back to us as well." Then she stood on tip toe and kissed him deeply, willing all of her feelings and love into him, just as he willed all his love and strength into her. Sookie finally broke away as she heard the pain-filled voices grow louder in her head. "We must do this now," as she sat on the bed beside Hector. She closed her eyes as the priestesses calm and soothing chant filled the air around her.
A/N: Well, now I've gone and done it. Is this just getting too strange? Believe it or not, I know where I'm going with this (mostly), but fear I may have taken this too far adding immortals and such to the tale. They are important parts of the upcoming storyline, but if you hate it I'm not sure how I'd fix it at this point. I'd love to hear from you. Many of you have been with the story from the beginning. I hope you trust me enough to take this farther. Thanks, Renee p.s. I've set it up so you can send me email if that works better for you. PM used to be the only way to contact me, but email works better for me although either way is fine.