Hi guys. I'm sorry but I fell into the big Christmas hole and I still haven't climbed out of it yet. But I'm still alive.

Ahn-Li: You're such a mean person: Here I sit, giving my best to build a dark, creepy atmosphere of horror and mystery and you destroy all my efforts that with THAT comment. ROFL Well, thinking about your idea...I can still skip the whole thing into a parody and call it "Attack of the Sues" but... no... better not...

Childlike Empress: No, don't strangle me! Here it comes, here ist comes... (ggg) And happy Christmas to you, too.

Guan: This dream sequence just screamed for cliffhangers... ;)

Humble Master: Yup. I'm a blind Guardian Fan since I was 14 or so. If you like Blind Guardian, you will probably recognize the title of chapter 38 which will be "Journey Through the Dark" LOL By the way, most chapter titles here are song titles, that's like a running gag.

Hilary: Yeah, I tried to hurry. I didn't do too well, though...

Dally: "Poor ickle Raisty-poo"??? Oh my god, we definitely need another dose of Esgame. Its been way too long...

singvogel: Yes, I know what you mean. Christmas IS torture... at least the preparations. And yes, the title was referring to the BGs. (see above) LOL "Imaginations from the Other Side" was my first Blind Guardian CD. Did you know they also made a song about Raistlin?

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Chapter 37 - Light and Shadow - It Takes Two

In the very same moment that Raistlin knew that his enemies had surrounded him leaving no chance for escape, when the panic had finally gotten the best of him; an abstract, scholarly part of his mind asked curiously what would happen to the girl when he died now. Would she be caught in this Mirror-world for the rest of her existence or would she simply wake up?

Not that it was of particular relevance; his own death would arrive in a few seconds but just for curiosity's sake it would have been nice to know. Slowly he sank onto his knees and succumbed to his unseen attackers. It seemed simply inevitable, now that he had failed. A tugging on his robe. A cold touch. The clicking was all over him now. Great. In the few fleeing seconds before death approached, people were expected to think of the deeds they had done or the persons they had loved. And he? He had found nothing better to think of then an annoying kender, Nima...

In the moment that his inner voice formed her name a nearby door opened and he heard the kender yell. Instantly the spook was gone and the candles burned lustrously in the candelabra as if nothing had happened. The tavern room was back. A wave of relief rushed over him when the girl approached him, her usual happy face shining brightly.

"Wow, Raistlin-mage. Every time I find you, you're lying somewhere. Did you make this a habit?"

"Where have you been?" Raistlin asked rising up from the wooden floor. He took some time pretending to brush off non-existent piles of dust from his robe. Only when he was sure that he was in full control of himself again did he raise his head.

Of course the kender needed no second invitation to tell him her point of view. For once her detailed prattle gave him the time he needed to regain his self-control. It seemed that her cheerful presence had rescued him a second time. No, he really didn't want to make this a habit. If he became dependent on a kender, he could likewise stab himself with his own dagger right away. The result would be the same. Anyway, she had worked twice as an effective weapon against his own subconscious. Meanwhile, Nima rambled on about her little adventure.

"Wow, I went through this door and I was in another floor and it was not very long, only some feet. And then I was in front of yet another door. But this was strange. I tried to pick the lock but it just didn't want to open. I ask myself if it was wizardlocked or something like that. I already thought about about giving up when I suddenly heard my name being called. I don't know. Did you call me? Never mind, at that moment the door opened by itself and I was here. But how can you be here too? Not I wasn't happy to see you but you were right behind me and I never turned back and now you're directly in front of me. That shouldn't be possible. Even for me that seems illogical."
A bitter, resigned smile crossed his face at the fact that her chatter had already gained a consoling quality.

"That is simple." he answered eventually. "The house is moving."

"HA! I knew it!"

Raistlin had settled down again on the floor, legs crossed. It was high time he reasoned his way through the situation logically. The aimless opening of doors and search of rooms wouldn't get them further. So at least that much was clear now - the solution could not be achieved through physical means.

"Stay here." he commanded the girl. "Sit down and be quiet."

"Hey!" Nima complained slightly upset. "You're not my mama."

One dispraising gaze from the hourglass eyes and she found herself next to him on the floor in an instant. Though, not without crossing her arms in front of her chest and pouting demonstratively. Of course he totally ignored her. He always ignored her, except when she could do something for him or when he wanted to keep her from doing something. Apart from that he always behaved as if she was an ugly piece of furniture. She remembered his words.

'You are not important.'

Fine, if this was his usual way with people, it was quite obvious why he didn't have friends. Poor brother. It must have been hard with such a brat as a brother. Yes, Nima decided, nodding to herself, this man was a royal pain. On the other hand, he had a certain air about him. A dark kind of charisma she couldn't help but notice. It was the alluring beauty of a flame. You knew it would hurt you, but you couldn't stop putting your hand into it until it burned you. Just now, in that very moment that he sat in front of her, his looks were eerie and captivating at the same time. And for a reason she didn't understand, the sight of golden skin against black velvet made her want to cuddle him or at least stroke those high cheeks of his. Of course if she dared this, he would get angry at her since he didn't like to be touched at all. The idea was tempting, though. And only sitting here was so boring. If she flung her arms around him in the next moment, it was solely his fault. How could he expect her to sit still for so long? Stupid, creepy, attractive mage! Nima was about to ask herself when she had started to find human males, or rather, this particular human male, attractive, when his dark, rasping voice suddenly interrupted her thoughts.

"Balance." he muttered softly. "Balance is the key."

In the face of such enigmatic utterances, Nima instantly employed Kendermore's interrogative number one.

"Ha?"

He spoke. But he didn't address her, it was as if he still talked to himself.

"I was balanced. At least I thought I was. I believed I had banished the darkness within me. Now it seems that my balance was only an illusion, though. I need to get it back. I need to find a new form of balance which I hadn't contrived before."

He opened his eyes and faced her with a resolved expression that allowed no refusal.

"However, I can't develop this right now and so quickly. But fortunately that is not necessary. For now, I think I can manage with an external balance. You will be all I need."

Nima choked visibly.

"Now why in the Abyss doesn't that sound too good to me..." she muttered under her breath.

"You will not have to do much. I will call for the darkness and you will keep it at bay. Bright as your feelings are, that shouldn't be a problem. Then we both focus on waking up. Thus I will regain the control I need and you will be transported in your body- my body- again. We'll either meet in the globule or sleep dreamless until the morning. Though I would prefer the latter."

It sounded good. She hadn't understood what he had meant about her keeping the darkness away but it sounded like a plan. Nima liked plans. Plans were helpful during a crisis. And sometimes they even worked. Still, something disturbed her.

"That's a bit too easy, don't you think?"

"Too easy, kender? What do you expect? Don't ask for more trouble than you can handle."

"No, I do not ask for trouble. But I just thought that if it is your task to get your emotions in check again it feels like cheating if you use me for that. All you are doing is lying to yourself again. I mean, I'll help you gladly, but it's your quest."

"Oh, so now it is 'me' and 'you' again."

"No that wasn't what I meant-"

I know what you meant." he hissed. "But you are not aware of the consequences. As I said, this is not an average dream. Do you have any idea of what happens to us in the real world while we are trapped in here? No you obviously do not. Let me enlighten you, kender. What we're currently experiencing is likely a deep trance. Considered our raised temperature, our bodies compensate the absence of our minds with a feverish sickness. That means in fact, that I'm likely lying down with a fever. Probably after a physical breakdown. Due to the mental link between us you have been pulled into my vision and now share its effects. To whomever is with you, maybe Dalamar, it must appear as if you have fallen into a comatose state. I have seen the dangers of such trances before. We have no idea how much time we have already passed in that state. It can be hours or even days. Do you get the point, girl? After a day, our bodies begin to dehydrate and we will die from lack of water in about 72 hours. Maybe the fever is already a noticable result of dehydration. Even if we're cared for and they manage somehow to give us water, we will not get enough food to keep us alive! That will kill us over the course of some weeks! And before you ask, yes, it is easy to spend weeks in a state like this. I guess that we have a very good reason to hurry! If we wait until I make peace with my inner demons we can also just start crafting our tombstones! Any more things you want to add?" he finally spat at her.

"No!" she squeaked surprised. The idea of dying slowly didn't seem to be too appealing to her after all.

"Fine!"

"What do I have to do?"

"As I said, not much." Raistlin answered. "You will only have to sit down in front of me keeping in touch with me. That will make it easier for us to get our energies in tune with each other. You're a kender and you haven't done magic before, so you will likely find your concentration inadequate. However, I believe that I can make up for your lack of experience. Besides, due to the special circumstances we already should have achieved the necessary level of mental consonance. When we begin, I will call for the darkness and its messengers. I think that will happen more or less consciously."

He suppressed a sigh.

"You will notice the light to grow dim and finally vanish. When we're completely surrounded by darkness- mind you girl, this is important- you will probably hear a clicking noise and other sounds. They will become gradually louder. You will ignore them. You will ignore everything besides yourself. You will ignore even me, if necessary. All you have to do is just staying where and who you are. As long as your heart is pure they will not be able to touch us. If you feel that I tense or utter something, you will ignore it. You don't care."

He waited for her until she nodded hesitantly, showing that she had understood.

"Thus you will serve as my shield. You will enable me to get near to them without giving them a chance to touch me. This is intrinsic. If you fail on this we both may get killed during the process. And if we die in here, return is not an option anymore."

Nima shivered involuntarily at the seriousness with which he spoke.

"You surely know how to motivate people, Raistlin." she retorted glumly. "You should consider a career as a priest."

Her response surprised him a little. Had the little kender just begun to grasp the concept of sarcasm? That could have been almost amusing had the situation been less grave.

"I've never claimed to be a patient teacher." he continued. "Anyway, with your help I can confront my foes and likewise be safe from their attacks. The knowledge that they cannot touch me will be enough to rebalance my own concentration and to snap out of this dream. The dream will end in that moment and we will be back were we belong. That's all. Not too complicated a task for you, I dare say."

Nima nodded. It sounded easy indeed.

"Who are they?" she asked after a while.

Raistlin, however, was not pleased with her question.

"That is not your concern. The less you know the less it can distract you. Just ignore everything you see and hear and we are fine."

They sat down in the advised position.

"Can we begin?" he asked when he had ensured that she knew her part in the ritual.

"We can." she answered trying to make it sound convinced. Suddenly the odd adventure had developed into a desperate struggle for life or death. Was it always like this with him?

TBC

OK, this will be continued next year, folks. But I hope you make Pet a little Christmas present anyway, and leave a review.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!