I hope some of you still remember this story. I am really, truly, deeply sorry. Hope you will accept my apologies and read it.
- Now I'm really getting worried! – Elenthe was sitting on a branch with Naryd.
- Why? – he asked, shaking his shoulder-lenght dark green hair – I think they make a lovely couple…
- It's not that! Just… this isn't the Mégane I'm used to. They hardly got out of that tent for a week!
- Well, they're really in love…
- Fine, fine, and of course I'm glad she's happy with him, but… this isn't natural. I'm afraid Fenthick's execution touched her too deeply, or… I don't know. But if he breaks her heart, he won't live long enough to do it to someone else!
Naryd smiled.
Aarin Gend, in the meantime, was getting even more worried than Elenthe. He feared Mégane was tracked down by the Cult, and she wasn't showing up because of that. But he couldn't let his feelings show… especially with Aribeth. Her recent nightmares were worrying him; he couldn't leave her alone, or stress her with his own problems. Strangely, the paladin didn't even mention Mégane since she had left them.
Diary extracts
Amin mela Viverna:-) Today Viverna took me to a secret creek with mysteriously sweet waters. I loved it! I don't know, but I have the strange feeling I have forgotten something… - Mégane? – said Wyvern on a sunny morning, caressing her cheek – I think it's time to keep on with your quest. The Spirit of the Forest.
But really, I do!
- Our quest, Viverna – Mégane hugged him – yes. I think it's time.
While walking in the deep woods, suddenly Thya raised her head and screamed loudly, flying towards a cave.
- She said someone's calling! – Mégane, Elenthe, Naryd and Wyvern quickly followed her.
- I think we's better be going! SAVE MEEE! – Mégane screamed hysterically at the sight of a gigantic spider crawling towards them at considerable speed.
- Hush! – Wyvern shot right through it with a single arrow.
- Is it over? – asked Mégane, eyes still closed – phew.
Elenthe suddenly yelled louder than her master a second before, pointing at a bulb of spiderwebs.
- IT'S MOVING! I swear, in a second there'll be hundreds of poisonous spiders jumping out of it and… oh.
A halfling freed himself from the webs.
- I am Orlane, fellow druid. Thanks for rescuing me! That spider wanted to eat me for dinner today! I'll have to get back to Aawill now. Thanks again!
A bit later, they got to another cave, protected by a large, ornate gate. Elenthe picked the lock and they entered. Libraries… corridors… all empty and silent.
- Do you hear it? – Naryd raised his head – that way!
A young, beautiful duid woman was screaming for help, trapped in a cell.
- Free me! Free me!
- Calm down! – Mégane sent Ellie over to pick the lock.
- I am Bree – she said – now, keep my beauty in mind! I'm going back to Aawill.
- A „thank you" would have been nice of her – said Mégane. Wyvern shrugged.
- Ew! I mean… good day! – Mégane said, as a horrible creature, barely recognisable as some sort of woman, looked at her coldly.
- I am Setara. Leave my home now!
- I'm sorry, I was just exploring…
- Exploring what?
- The forest, I…
- The Nymph!
- Yes… what?
- She has refused to give my beauty back!
- I don't get it…
- She has a mirror that could make me beautiful again!
The witch stared at the five of them.
- Do you have it?
- I have some sort of a thing, but it's fake…
Setara snatched it from Mégane's hands, then just kept on staring into it.
- I'M BEAUTIFUL! BEAUTIFUL AGAIN!
Mégane shook her head and left.
They soon got to the altar the Nymph had mentioned. Mégane raised the dagger.
- Wyvern?
He shook his head.
- Get back soon, my love. I'll guard the altar in the meantime.
- Ellie? Thya? Naryd?
- Well, I'll go with you even if I don't want to – the pixie opened her arms. As for Thya, the same. Naryd!
- Ellie, I…
- You'd die for me, right? – she asked cheekily – then…
- Okay… I'll go. I'll tie a bond between us, so I'll folow you anywhere!
- Wow, thanks! – Elenthe kissed him.
Mégane smiled brightly.
- Courage! – she screamed and planted the dagger in her chest…
She woke up lying on soft, green grass, an unusual calmness around. Shiny little stars floated in the air and sometimes rested on the ground. Thya seemed smiling.
- Are we… where I think we are…? – asked Elenthe, holding close to Naryd.
- Yes, Ellie – Mégane picked up one of the tiny stars – this is indeed the Realm of The Spirit of the Neverwinter Woods.
It was all so strange, looking like a dreamland. As if there was a soft veil around them, beyond which… nothing. Mégane walked slowly, taking deep breaths of the sweet-smelling air.
Suddenly they ran into a dwarf.
- I am Mégane Fireland – she said to him – and you?
- You don't have to know my name, I'm here to play a game!
- Excuse me…?
- What are you doing here, half-elf? I'm used to be all by myself!
- Please, stop speaking in rhymes, I…
- Understand or at least try: it's time that you DIE!
- WHAT…!
Mégane pulled her shield in front of her just in time. Thya and the two pixies attacked immediately.
As soon as the dwarf was dead, Mégane searched his corpse and found his diary. She had a repugnant feeling opening it. It was oozing evil.
Those mages directing the Cult of The Ancient Ones in the Host Tower at Luskan…
The Cult…!
Mégane suddenly remembered her duty to Aribeth. She put the diary in her pack. Her attention was attracted by a shiny small bottle of golden fluid lying before the dwarf's corpse.
- What is this?
- Hmm… let me see – Nayrd smelt it – it looks like a cure… an antidote to something…
Thya screamed. Mégane nodded and put the bottle away.
For another half an hour, they just kept on walking in the magical dreamland know as the Realm of the Spirit. All of a sudden, some sort of creature appeared in front of them. It looked like a shiny white deer. All four of them could feel it was a crucial moment.
The animal raised its head, and Mégane could see a deep sorrow in those black eyes. She felt what to do, rather than knowing it. She made the creature drink the golden fluid…
The little stars started swirling around, as their light grew. Mégane and her three companions lost consciousness.
They found themselves lying by the altar, beside the waterfall.
- Did we…?
- Did this all happen? Did we just dream it?
Mégane searched for her bag and found thróe dwarf's diary.
- We did.
The forest seemed so calm now…
- Viverna!
Silence.
- Viverna, where are you?
Nothing. Just the frush of the leaves, and the wind.
- Viverna!
- Mégane, look! – Elenthe pointed at a small pack lying beside the river.
Mégane sahkily picked it up…
Dearest Mégane, Beside the letter, there was Wyvern's ear wrapped up in leaves.
thank you for all you have done for me. No one ever has shown such unselfish love to me. You have taught me to feel again, to find the right way. I truly love you, but I feel that I can't. We're worlds apart, Mégane, we could have been happy for a while, but not forever. I understood it right at the beginning, but not so clearly. I'm sorry. Be happy, Mégane, find your true match and take up the money for the bounty hunt.
With love,
Wyvern - for you, always Viverna
Mégane knelt there, completely mute. Nor Elenthe, Naryd or Thya dared to say anything.
A minute later, Mégane slowly stood up, putting the letter and the ear in her bag. Then she unfolded her sword and stuck it in the ground. She leant forward, as if meditating.
- Let's go – she said then. Her companions followed her silently.
- Thank you, fellow Mégane. Terari, Orlane and Bree have returned at the camp, and the Woods have calmed down.
Mégane bowed and walked back to Port Llast. She seemed numb.
Inside town, a handsome young man ran to her.
- Oh, milady! Excuse me, your smile stunned me. What's your name, apart from „Perfect" and „Beautiful"?
- She'll melt in his arms in a second – Ellie whispered to Naryd.
- Stop with this useless adulation! – Mégane shouted angrily – I'm in no need of faked feelings! What do you want from me?
R&R, if I could ask you. Constructive criticism is welcome.