Author's Note:
As this chapter indicates, this is just the beginning in the new lives of Lyn and Keldor. Several future stories are in the works--the next one co-authored with Evelyn CMB--and like my buddy, I'm not saying anything else about what's in the works. However, here is where the story must stop for now. (Frankly, I need some rest, and school has just started, so I need to give myself time to readjust to my regular schedule.)
Oh and this is the T version not the G version. I'm sorry but when it comes to Lyn, Keldor will always be the bad boy. I actually had to do some major work to tone it down to this point. (No don't ask me for the first version…It's too much for me, and I wrote it!)
I have LOVED writing this, and hope that some of you have enjoyed watching Skeletor and Evil-Lyn stumble into the light. There will be an Epilogue that I will try to publish in the next few days to tie up a few loose ends and set up a bit for the next story.
Thanks go out to my wonderful beta's Mistwalker and EvelelynCMB. Without you two, I never would have been able to do this. I owe both of you lots of chocolate!
Thanks also goes to all of you who took the time to review. I have been encouraged by it. I only hope I have given you a story you can enjoy.
As always I own no part of MOTU—just my characters and cultures, and I make NO money from this so please don't sue.
Chapter 21—Beginnings
The blue wizard groaned. His head was pounding as though it were a drum. He reached up to stop the pounding when his hand touched flesh. "What?" Keldor asked astonished, moving his hand about his face. His face?
"It's about time," said Lyn sardonically. "You've been asleep for over a day and a half."
Keldor's eyes flew open and he sat up quickly—too quickly. He closed his eyes against the spinning in his head as Lyn reached out to steady him.
"Slow down. You've had a rough few days."
"Thanks," he said, then stopped. The sound of his voice shocked him. It was deeper and richer. 'Of course it's different,' Keldor chided himself. 'Nasal passages, flesh to fill the gaps that were once open, and an undamaged voice box will do that for anyone.'
He slowly opened his eyes, blinking at the unfamiliar sensation. He looked up to see Lyn holding him steady by his shoulders. He stared at her for a moment. Flowing down the right side of her face from her snowy hair was an inch thick line of Truth Scores. More complex than he had seen on any other Truth Sworn, the designs stopped only for a moment at her open eyes and then continued beneath them down her cheek and onto her neck. The designs from her face trailed down and joined with the white markings that curled and wove around her upper arms and collarbones to make an ornate yet delicate diamond that was around a finger length long and half as wide. Keldor reached out and traced her Truth Scores with his fingers only to notice an intricate pattern on the back of his left hand. He looked at the strange symbols that appeared to be, in a very abstract way, a lion's head and a ram's head joined.
"What?" he breathed, looking at his hand. Lyn smiled at his shock and moved to sit beside him. She held the back of her right hand beside Keldor's left.
"Looks like that little procession turned out to be a wedding after all," said Lyn with a smirk. "Since these markings are exactly alike."
"Since that's the case," said Keldor, a wicked grin lighting his face, he pulled Lyn to him in an instant, bringing his lips to hers in a hungry kiss. Unrestrained passion flowed from Keldor as he completely lowered his mental shields. His lips took possession of Lyn's, and he leaned into her, pushing her back to the recovery chamber's floor.
Lyn felt Keldor's passion flow through her as if a dam burst. She lowered her shielding, so her desire for this man she loved so much could flow as freely into him. Lyn's ivory fingers ran through his midnight-blue hair, as Keldor began to kiss his way down his wife's neck.
"Skeletor?" asked Lyn, breathlessly.
"Keldor," he murmured, not slowing his kisses.
"Keldor," Lyn corrected as her breath caught. Keldor had turned to his back and brought Lyn over on top of him, "do you think we should take things so fast so soon?"
Keldor looked up at Lyn, impish mischief playing in his eyes. "I am Truth Sworn now, dear Lyn, and I made you a promise about how things would be after we married," he said, sliding his hands low on Lyn's hips. "And by the Ancients," he said in a husky growl. "I'm going to make that promise true."
"Keldor," squeaked Lyn, as her husband lowered his hands and rolled quickly, so she was now beneath him. "Some—" Lyn's protests were cut off mid-word as Keldor claimed her mouth with his own.
"Oh! Sorry," stammered Idril as she slammed the door behind her.
Keldor pulled away, and looked to the door, "Oof," he moaned, as Lyn pushed him from her.
"I was trying to say that someone was at the door, bone brain," Lyn explained, as she adjusted her dress and stood to answer the door.
"You know," he called, sitting up, "that insult doesn't exactly fit me anymore."
"Just because you've got your pretty face back," Lyn said with a wink as she tossed Keldor a sliver tray, "doesn't mean your intelligence has improved any."
Keldor scowled at Lyn. He held up the tray. "Oh, Ancient's," he whispered. He'd forgotten what he used to look like. Midnight blue eyes looked back at him from the tray. "I'm a beardless, blue, Truth Scored Randor." Keldor suddenly felt sick. Now he would be wearing the face of his enemy—and the one person to whom he owed the greatest debt. 'No,' Keldor thought, mentally shaking himself. 'I can't deal with this now. I won't.'
Lyn opened the door. "Want Keltor!" Neara wailed and shouted. Idril was bright crimson. She was trying to calm the child with no success.
"Hush, child, they're bus—" started Idril.
"Wyn!" shouted Neara. She practically leapt out of Idril's arms.
"Neara, calm down before you fall," Lyn scolded gently, taking the child from her friend.
Micah rushed to hug Lyn. "Is Skeletor really all right? They told me he had changed," the boy asked in a single breath.
Lyn steered the lad into the room and lowered Neara to the floor. "See for yourself," she advised with a smirk. "If pretty boy over there can stop staring at himself in that tray long enough for you to get a good look at him."
"Keltor," squealed Neara, running toward the blue mage. "Boo boo 'way. All better!"
Keldor laughed and hugged his heart's child close. "Of course I'm all better you tiny twit. I had Princess Neara's magic kiss to make me well." Neara showered Keldor with kisses, her small embrace tight around his neck. "But Neara, you've got my name wrong again. Say Keldor."
"Keldor?" asked Neara, her head tilted to the side.
"Finally," he sighed, as he stood to hug the boy he'd risked everything for. "Your baby sister has finally learned how to say my name."
"Skeletor, Keldor, I mean?" Micah started nervously, unable to take his eyes on the wizard's new face after he had released him.
Keldor raised an eyebrow to the boy, "Yes?"
"Well, I was thinking," the boy began shyly, "when the Truth Sworn take care of kids who aren't their own, they sometimes, well, sometimes they…" the boy trailed off looking very uncomfortable.
"Well spit it out, Micah," ordered Keldor. He sat on the low cot in the center of the recovery chamber and motioned for Micah to do the same. Micah did not sit, however. He stood, his eyes averted, and finally continued, "Sometimes they sorta adopt the children they take in and the kids get to call their new family Ma and Da—Father said those words are ancient Carinian words for mother and father. And Idril told me that the Waters of Truth chose you two for each other, so I was hoping..."
"I will be honored to be your Da," said Keldor, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Now I can get all of the work I want out of you, without having to give you another tiresome magic lesson."
"Skeletor!" said Micah, stunned for a moment.
"It's Da to you. Now go help Idril with her basket, and I might consider giving you a lesson now and again for old-times' sake," Keldor finished with a wink.
Grinning broadly, Micah rushed to help Idril.
"I didn't mean to interrupt," Idril whispered. Blushing bright red to her ears, Idril gave Micah the basket, and the boy placed it on the low table by the bed.
"I'm glad you did," said Lyn, passing her husband some bread and cheese from the basket. "Keldor needs to eat, and if you three hadn't shown up, I doubt he'd let me get a word in edgewise to make him aware that fact."
"Keldor, food," demanded Neara, crawling beside him on the cot.
"Bothersome bratty beggar," muttered Keldor with a grin, as he broke tiny bites from the loaf he was feasting on.
"Call him Da, Neara," coached Micah.
"Da Keldor?" asked Neara puzzled.
"Don't confuse her Micah," teased Keldor. "I just got her saying one name right. Who knows how long it will take her to get the idea of Da?"
"Idril, sit down and eat with us," invited Lyn.
"I can't." she apologized, "I just came to tell you about the Rites of Position that will take place this evening."
Lyn and Keldor shot Idril looks filled with worry and concern.
"Another rite?" asked Lyn warily.
"Oh, don't worry about it," Idril rushed to explain. "It's not painful like Taking the Waters. It just allows the Truth to define your position, your role, in our community. You'll both be given a branch and a stone."
"Well that makes a lot of sense. You know you people are still incomprehensible to me," said Keldor with a grimace.
"Us people," laughed Idril. "In case you've forgotten, you and Lyn are one of us now, and the first time you feel Truth's compulsion I hope I'm there to see it."
Keldor shook his head. Neara, finished with her meal, and stood up to investigate Keldor's new appearance. She patted his head. "Pet-ty hair, Keldor."
Lyn, Idril, and Micah laughed while Keldor coughed on the bite of food he had just started to swallow.
Forcing down the bread, Keldor turned to glare at Neara. "You almost caused me to choke, you tiny terror."
"Love you," said Neara, oblivious to the irritation in Keldor's voice. She started to play with his hair again.
"Looks like you have your own personal hairdresser," Lyn said with a chuckle. "So what do with the sticks and stones?" she asked, turning to Idril.
"You place them in the Pool of Truth—" Idril started.
"No," shouted Lyn.
"If you think I'm getting within walking distance of that pool again you're crazy!" Keldor spat, his arms crossed.
"You've already been purified by the waters. They won't harm you. In fact, a small handful of it each day is part of a dedication ritual we do each morning. It keeps us close to the Truth we serve and purifies us from the taint of deceit and evil that touches us as we walk among those not purified. Without a touch of those waters each day, you won't feel right. I've already thrown your cleansing basin on my wheel. As soon as it's ready, I'll set it up for you," gushed Idril, excited
"Cleansing basin?" asked Lyn.
"It's the large clay bowl in the entry to every Truth Sworn's house. You'll keep small amount of the Waters of Truth in it. The bowl sits on a low table, and there are pillows on either side facing one another. Each morning, you will dip your fingers in the waters and place a small amount around the lobes of your ears, on your eye lids, and across your lips. Sometimes," Idril continued, blushing slightly, "if you have a spouse, you can cleanse your partner as they cleanse you. But, oh I'm getting ahead of myself. I'm just so thrilled that you're Truth Sworn. There's so much to tell you."
"What do they do with the branch and the stone, Idril?" asked Micah eagerly.
"They're going to place them in the pool."
Lyn and Skeletor looked at each other, still unconvinced.
"As you can see by Keldor's face over there," said Idril with a wide grin. "The Waters have a transforming ability. Keldor and Lyn had to throw away every connection to their former life when they entered their pool—including their magic staff and wand."
"You would have to remind me of that," muttered Keldor, picking up Neara and looking her in the face. "You know you little liability, I'm not sure that you're worth it."
Neara giggled.
"What will those things turn into?" asked Micah, enthralled.
"The branch will become whatever tool that symbolizes the job they will have in our community. When Jonas went through his purification, he was working with me and my family in the pottery shops. He threw away his clay tools when he entered the water and his branch became a sword, the symbol of a warrior. I threw away my bag of clay tools, and afterward, at my Rite of Position, the branch became a pouch of the finest clay tools I'd ever seen."
"So whatever tool we pull out of the water is our job for the rest of our lives?" asked Lyn, an eyebrow raised.
"You've felt the power of Truth, now. You tell me. Could you make a better choice?"
Lyn stopped, stunned. She hadn't thought about much of anything, but Keldor's well-being, but she was amazed at how quickly she knew the answer. "No," Lyn said, shaking her head. "I know I can't."
"What does the stone become?" Micah questioned.
"It becomes a Truth Stone."
"Like the ones at the gates?"
"Sort of," said Idril. "We get all of our Truth Stones from the large ones taken from the Rites of Purification. Every Truth Sworn is given a piece of their Truth Stone as a pendent to wear about their necks," Idril explained, as she fingered the pendant around her neck. "And the rest of it is cut and shaped to be used in different places around the community after the stones are placed in the waters then they are placed on the Oracle's Dias."
"Oracle's Dias?" asked Skeletor.
"It's a small a stone pedestal on the other side of the pool of Truth. When a new Truth Sworn places their stone on the Dais, the Stone itself gives the first truth-revealed about the new Truth Sworn. It's usually something personal and very important to the new Truth Sworn. You two have nothing else to fear from the pool. But I have to go. Your basin is ready to be glazed and I want it finished by the time the two of you return to your quarters." She turned to Micah and Neara, "Come on you two. Let's go play in the clay. Cacila needs to see Keldor and Lyn to get them ready for the next rites."
"No," whined Neara, "want to stay with Keldor."
"Neara, come on. We can make Keldor and Lyn welcome-home presents."
"No, I don't wanna," Neara said, clinging to Keldor's neck.
"Neara," said Lyn in a stage whisper. "You could make, a comb so you could fix Keldor's pretty blue hair."
Neara grinned and ran to Idril. "Wanna make pesent."
Idril laughed, "Come on you two. Let's go." She turned back to grin at Keldor and Lyn. "I'll tell Cacila that you both are up." She added with a wink. "I'll be sure to warn her to knock. Loudly."
Lyn chuckled as she watched them leave. Keldor stood and escorted them to out. He quickly barred the door.
"This time," he growled, his eyes filled with desire, "I will not be so easily interrupted."
Lyn stood up. "Promise?"
Skeletor wrapped his arms around her and steered her to the wall. Crushing her lips against his, he leaned fully into her.
Lyn gasped as her husband's firm muscles pressed into her flesh. She pressed her fingers close to his head. Directing his kisses back to her neck, she commented, her voice husky, "For someone who hasn't had lips for over twenty years, you are amazing."
Keldor chuckled and lifted up to look into Lyn's eyes. "And that, dear Lyn, is only my kiss."
Lyn pushed him away from her and let her hands trail down Keldor's sculpted chest. Hooking her fingers under the edge of his wrap, she teased him. "Shall I?"
"Yes," he hissed in delight as he felt her slowly lower his wrap. It was low on his hips when a knock sounded on the door.
"Blast!" he shouted. Keldor turned to open the door, but Lyn grabbed him by the shoulders and kissed him with such intensity that all coherent thought flew out of his mind.
Without warning, Lyn pulled back and ducked Keldor to rush to the door.
"You little minx," he ground out as he pulled his wrap back to his waist.
Lyn blew Keldor a kiss. With a smug smile on her face, she opened the door.
"Lyn and Keldor," said Jonas, rushing in to hug his friends. Cacila followed behind them. "I have no words to tell you how happy I am that you're okay."
"Yet you speak anyway," said Keldor, with mock irritation. He shook his friend's hand. "You did the right thing Jonas, even if I do owe you a sound thrashing on the training field."
"Provided you don't pull a plow out of the pool. Then I guess you'd owe me a sound threshing."
Even Cacila groaned at that joke.
"Oh, that's horrible," laughed Lyn.
"Yet you smile," teased Jonas.
"If you're through with the seedy jokes," said Keldor dryly. "I'm assuming you had a good reason for interrupting a pleasant afternoon with my wife."
Cacila nodded. "Idril told me that she described the Rites of Position to you."
"Yes," said Lyn, walking up beside Keldor.
"There are a few things I need to tell you about the actual ceremony, but it won't take long and then you can join Elandor and Juleani beside the waters."
"We have gathered here to welcome our newest Truth Sworn brothers and sisters today into their place among our people," announced Cacila to the mass of onlookers surrounding the pool.
"Elandor, Juleani, Lyn and Keldor, you have all been accepted by the Waters and from the Waters your place among our people will be decided. Then you will place your Truth Stone in the waters and we will hear a truth-revealed about you. Afterward, we will all feast and dance as we celebrate the four newest companions in our journey along the path of Truth."
"Juleani, please approach the waters," said Antaris solemnly.
Juleani paused by the waters as she took the branch handed to her by Antaris. Holding it with both hands, she lowered it under the water.
The branch glowed for a moment. When th glow faded, Juleani pulled a bag of tools from the waters. Cacila examined the tools and announced happily, "A midwife. That bodes well for us, my people." Cacila placed a large stone over both of the new midwife's outstretched hands. Juleani placed the stone beneath the waters. When she pulled it out a second later, it was glowing. "My sister, if you would do the honor of placing your Truth Stone upon the Dias?"
Juleani reverently lowered her stone on the Dias. A voice—that strange voice Keldor recognized from his time within the Water—spoke. Juleani, servant of Truth, you will be the first of many to aid your brothers and sisters as the Truth Sworn once again multiply to take their place as rulers and guardians of the people of Carina. Know that the champion will arise from the waters, a prince to lead Carina to freedom."
Keldor and Lyn looked at one another.
Cacila was calling forth a stonecutter. "Brother, strike well, and place a piece of this stone in our sister's hands that she may always know that Truth knows her name and has called her as a valued member of our community."
The stone mason made a sharp, well-practiced blow and a small shard fell from the rest glowing rock.
The mason picked up the shard and passed it to Juleani. Her eyes bright, she held it as if it were treasure.
Lyn looked at Elandor. "What was all that about a champion?" she whispered.
"Oh, that is a truth-revealed that has been with us from the time the Horde first took over our world. Each truth-revealed on the Oracle's Dias ends with this. It gives us hope that we will not live under Horde tyranny forever."
Cacila resumed her position by the Waters. "Elandor come forth."
Elandor walked between Cacila and Antaris. He turned to Antaris and accepted the branch that he lowered with both hands into the Waters. As with Juleani, the branch glowed for a moment and Elandor pulled out a soft brown bag. Cacila examined the contents of the bag and smiled—something that seemed so foreign on her stern countenance. "Potter's tools. Looks as though the Truth has made you apprentice to your wife."
All of the Truth Sworn gathered around laughed heartily, as Elandor's face took on an expression that was amused, happy, and embarrassed all at once.
Cacila laid the clay tools to the side and placed a stone on Elandor's outstretched hands. He dipped the muddy brown stone under the Waters and lifted it from the Waters a glowing white.
"My brother, if you would do us the honor?" asked the Conductor of the Rites. She gestured to the Dias. Elandor nodded and walked to the Dias. Very gently, he placed his stone on the bench and stood back.
"Elandor, the Truth Sworn will return to their place of honor soon, and many things will be needed as their numbers return to what they once were. You will help make some of these things. Know that the champion will arise from the waters, a prince to lead Carina to freedom."
The stone mason came as before and placed a piece of the glowing Truth Stone in his hand.
Keldor reached for Lyn's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
"Lyn, please approach the waters," requested Antaris.
Lyn walked forward and took the branch in both hands as Antaris indicated and knelt beside the Waters. She cringed as she saw the pool.
"The Waters will not harm you now," whispered Antaris.
Lyn nodded. She took a deep breath and dunked the stick under the water. The wood began to glow in her hands and she felt the branch break and change in the Waters. By the time the glow faded, a large object was in each hand. Lyn stood to pull the things from the pool.
"By the Grace of Eternia," Lyn whispered. In her right hand was the most exquisite staff she'd ever seen. It was of the same warm amber wood that was so common here and atop it was a clear crystal with streaks of lavender and midnight blue sparks of power swirling within the oval translucent stone. Holding the crystal to the staff was a delicate cord of gold in a twisting and swirling pattern. It traveled around the top of the staff and wrapped around the crystal in organic unplanned patterns.
In her left hand was a sword of the finest photonium, upon the sword's hilt was the symbol of the Ram Stone.
"So," said Cacila. "You will serve us as a warrior and a mage. We welcome your skills." Cacila smiled as she took the sword and staff from Lyn and passed her a large stone.
Lyn lowered the stone under the waters and it began to glow. She pulled the luminous rock from the waters.
"My newest sister, would you do us the honor of placing the stone upon the Dias?" asked the Conductor of Rites, gesturing toward the stone bench.
Lyn walked up and lowered the glowing rock to the Dias with an irrational fear gnawing at her stomach. 'What if it says it was a mistake?"
Lyn stood away from the glowing stone, her body tense.
"Lyn," called the voice, "you who have always sought to prove yourself worthy of love and respect. Know that you are loved and respected by the Truth who has chosen you." Lyn's eyes gathered tears. "You have been cleansed from your evil, and you will walk among the people of Carina, and Eternia bringing healing to those in your path. You will mend the hearts of all Truth leads to you with your great passion and stubborn refusal to give up on anyone. You will know your father's love again." Tears began to flow freely from Lyn now as she lowered her head hoping to hide her face. "Know that the champion will arise from the waters, a prince to lead Carina to freedom."
The Truth Sworn male came toward Lyn's stone and with one sharp tap a shard the size of her smallest finger fell onto the Dias with a soft clatter.
"Sister," whispered the mason, offering the stone fragment to Lyn.
She wiped at her tears quickly and took the shard in her hand.
Lyn walked to where the others were waiting and watched as Keldor approached the Waters.
Antaris placed the branch in his hands. Keldor knelt beside the waters and lowered the branch with both of his hands beneath the surface.
The branch glowed with such brilliance that Keldor had to look away. He felt the wood break, and two long heavy items were in his hand when the light subsided.
"By the Ancients," he whispered, standing as he looked at the staff he'd just pulled from the water. Taller than Keldor, and carved with the symbols of the past kings of Eternia, the rich golden wood staff was a thing of power and beauty. Rising from the body of the staff was a scepter-like orb and atop it, his father's symbol, a great-maned lion's head that shimmered and sparked with the glow of great energy. In his left hand was a sword of the finest photonium with his father's crest inscribed into the hilt.
"It seems that we have another mage and warrior among our midst," said Cacila, her voice bringing Keldor out of his shocked haze.
She took the staff and sword from his hand and placed a stone that covered both of his hands. He bent to lower it into the waters, and like the others before him lifted the glowing stone out of the waters.
Keldor, if you would place your stone upon the Dias?" requested Cacila.
Keldor shook his head as he walked to the low stone bench. Cacila sounded almost excited. He placed his stone on the Dias and stood back a few steps.
"Keldor," called the voice that had demanded to know his name in the waters. "Prince of Eternia, you, who once walked in darkness and great evil, have found the way back to the Light. You will bring to us, great prince, a princess as devoted to the light and goodness as you were once to the dark, and together you will lead a vast army to end the evil within the Horde for all time. You are the champion that will lead Carina to freedom, and the sons and daughters of Carina will love and respect you ever as one of their own."
Keldor's mouth dropped open in shock as excited murmurs broke out all around him. He had almost convinced himself on the walk down to the ceremony that all of the things he'd seen in the waters were just delusions of a pain-filled mind, but here, in the presence of everyone, what he'd seen in the pool was confirmed. He was to lead these people to freedom. He was their champion. Keldor lowered his head as the stone mason gathered himself and with a shaking hand chipped away a fragment the size of Keldor's thumb. 'How can I be a champion? I destroyed so many lives. How can I ever be a hero, or a leader? I don't even deserve to live.'
"Brother," said the stone mason, holding out the shard to Keldor who was still lost in thought. "Brother Keldor," the mason repeated with, a look of awe on his face.
Keldor shook himself. He reached to take the shard.
"Now more than ever," shouted Antaris ecstatically, "we have reason to celebrate, my people. Our champion, Prince Keldor of Eternia, has arisen to lead our people to victory!"
Everyone gathered around the pool shouted and cheered. For several minutes the noisy celebration continued around him as Keldor stood as in a trance, staring at the fragment of Truth Stone in his hand. 'How can this be?' he wondered. 'I don't deserve to live.' Lyn walked up beside Keldor and took his free hand in hers. He turned to look at her, his eyes bright with tears he refused to shed. She pulled his head to hers and kissed him gently, drying the tears that fell from his eyes against his will before anyone else could see them.
Cacila lifted her staff and all stilled. "Let us adjourn to the feast, my family in Truth, for we have much to celebrate today!"
With these words, the Truth Sworn began break apart in laughing and talking clumps. They traveled down a wide path that led away from the quiet waters of Truth.
Lyn and Keldor stood hand in hand as the others broke apart until only they Antaris and Cacila remained.
"Come brother and sister. We celebrate your entry among our number," said Antaris.
The two Truth Sworn leaders approached Keldor and Lyn. Smiles shown from their faces and joy lit their eyes. Antaris passed the new staffs and swords to them.
"We don't deserve this," whispered Keldor.
"You have been chosen by Truth as its servant," began Antaris, clasping Keldor on his shoulder. "I do not doubt that choice, and neither should you. Besides, being Truth's servant brings as much pain as joy, my friend. Take the joy from your new service while it is given."
Keldor and Lyn looked at each other. Lyn smiled and took his hand in hers. "Come on, Prince Keldor, we have a party to go to." Giving his hand a squeeze of reassurance, Lyn led her husband to the celebration thrown in their honor.