Author note: and here comes the final chapter of Part Two, my dearest readers! I thank you with all my heart for having followed Meg's story all the way to here. Special mention goes to Nikoru Sanzo, Zhenta and Blinck22 for their support!
If you're still willing to travel with Meg and her party, I will see you in the final part of this trilogy, titled "Amber&emerald: the Throne War", which will begin in a few weeks, a couple of months at the latest if I'm plagued with writer's block. If I disappointed you and you don't feel like following Meg's journey anymore, I offer you my apologies and I thank you for your patience so far.
oxoxoxoxoxo
Meg's hands trembled a little as she placed the last Tear into the remaining open eye of the great stone door. The eyelids closed and as a soft yellow light enveloped her, she felt slightly stronger and smiled, "Well, a bit more strength is welcome. I would have liked to get more of it, but better than nothing". Slowly, with a loud noise of stone grinding against stone, the huge door opened and Irenicus walked forward, looking none the worse for wear, "So you passed all the tests", he addressed the Ilmatari, crossing his arms on his chest, "Somehow I am not surprised by it: you are remarkably resourceful, Margaret Dawn".
"So are you, Jon", she replied, "Are you okay?", she asked then, earning herself a hard cuff on the head by Jaheira. "How can you worry about him?". "Leave me alone, Jae! You can't understand!", Meg snapped. "You don't understand! He's a monster! He killed my Khalid!". "I am sorry", the elven wizard said and everyone froze and looked at him with wide eyes, save for the Ilmatari, who smiled softly.
Jaheira narrowed her eyes, "What?". "I know it means nothing to you and I am not asking for your forgiveness, I know all too well that I do not deserve it. But for what is worth, I deeply regret the pain that my actions caused to you all and the lives that were lost during my experiments. I am sorry", he said again. The druidess' lips curled in a snarl, "You are right: you don't deserve my forgiveness and your words mean nothing to me. I will only be satisfied when I will see your head on a pike", she growled.
Minsc had a strangely pensive look on his face, "The evil wizard killed Dynaheir and I should plant the Boot of Justice on his backside for it. But Boo says that he is really sorry for his evil deeds, so I'm not sure...". "You can't be serious!", Jaheira glared at him, "You utter imbe...". "It makes sense: having your emotions and your empathy back forced you to acknowledge the real extent of the consequences of your actions", Meg addressed Irenicus, a knowing look in her eyes, "And you can also feel Ilmater's touch through my soul, don't you?".
Jon nodded, "Indeed, I do. I should have remembered that the soul of a priest is closely linked to their patron, but I hadn't anticipated being able to feel that bond after the transfer. And your patron has turned out to be extremely insistent: He has not stopped calling out to you even for a moment". She shook her head, "He was not calling out to me, Jon, but to you. He wants to give you a chance at redemption".
The elven wizard was taken aback, "Redemption? There could be no such thing for me, not anymore: I have come too far, caused too much pain and death to hope for anything more than eternal damnation". "Tell me one thing: why were your Golems shepherding the children towards the southern part of the city?". He blinked, "Does it even matter?". "Just answer me, please".
"As you wish: I wanted to protect the children from the destruction my underlings would bring to the city. Even a year ago, I would not have spared a single thought about it, but now...I could not bring myself to let innocent children die. I also instructed my minions to avoid killing the adults if it was not strictly necessary, but I am afraid their definition of 'necessary' does not exactly match my own", he sighed, shaking his head, "It is of no importance, though: I doubt that a single act of mercy could...".
"Open your eyes, damn it!", she snapped, "How can you not see? Ilmater has been trying to reach you this entire time and that means He took note of your changes and is willing to take you under His wing, give you a chance, otherwise you would not feel His blessing at all!". He hesitated, confusion, fear and a weak hope washing over his features, "Do you really believe it?".
"I am certain of it", she confirmed, then turned to her foster mother, "I know you hate him, Jae, but revenge would not achieve anything. And you know as well as I do that dad would not want us to take a life in his name: he was not that kind of man". Jaheira flinched, "I...I know. Khalid was a good man, he had the kindest heart I've ever found in a man, he was so gentle and forgiving...". "Let go of the hatred, mom", Margaret Dawn told her softly, taking her hand is hers, "Please. The best way to honor father is to do what he would have done".
The druidess took a shaking breath and finally nodded, "You are right, child. Khalid would not have wanted for blood to be spilled in his name", she admitted and when her daughter hugged her, she held her tightly and broke down crying, letting out all of the pain and sadness she had kept buried in the depths of her soul until then. "It's okay, mom", Meg murmured soothingly, "It's okay, I'm here. Let it go".
For a long moment, the room was silent except for Jaheira's muffled sobs. At last, she straightened and dried her cheeks, sniffling one last time, "Thank you, child. I feel better now", she then turned and looked at Irenicus, "I will never forgive you for what you did. But for Khalid, I will let you live". Jon bowed his head, "I am grateful. It means much to me to hear such words coming from you, Jaheira".
"If the God of little Meg forgives the bad wizard, then Minsc and Boo will forgive him too", the Rashemi ranger said, "For Dynaheir". "Then I extend my gratitude to you and to your Miniature Giant Space Hamster", Irenicus said, causing everyone to raise their eyebrows at him. Imoen's eyes were wide as saucers, "Did he really say what I think he said?". "He did", Meg confirmed, laughing, "Seems like you learned a lot from my memories, Jon".
"I also noticed that you have many joyful moments in your past", he replied, his gaze softening, "I admit that it was good to feel happiness once more, even if it was not my own. It has been so long since I last could feel anything...", he was cut off by a loud rumble and the ground shook violently beneath their feet.
"What in Helm's name is this?", Anomen shouted, as he struggled to keep his balance. "The time is running out", Jon explained, "There cannot be two rulers in this place, so either Margaret Dawn, or myself, must relinquish the claim on her soul". Edwin stretched his fingers menacingly, "Easy choice for me", he commented, starting to mutter the incantation for a Fireball, but Meg stopped him.
"Wait, my friend, there's no need for violence", she turned to Irenicus, "Jon, I know it's not a small sacrifice I'm asking of you, but I need my soul back, or my family will be trapped here for eternity. Please, return it to me and put yourself in Ilmater's hands. He will not let you down, you know this: if you turn to Him, you will be saved from this place". Irenicus was silent for a long moment, mulling over it and at length, he sighed, "I cannot believe I am saying this, but...I trust your patron. I suppose I have known from the start that His calling was meant for me, but I thought it so unlikely that someone could care for me, after all that I had done...".
"Ilmater is the God of Mercy", she reminded him. "Fair enough. So be it: I, Jon Irenicus, formerly known as Joneleth of Suldanesselar, relinquish my claim on the soul of Margaret Dawn, daughter of Bhaal and place myself in the hands of Ilmater". As soon as he finished speaking, dark green flames burst out of his chest and enveloped Meg in a burning cocoon which gradually shrank until it disappeared inside her body. At the same time, a swirling blue light surrounded Irenicus, radiating a sense of peace, comfort and safety and the party members suddenly realized it was the same feeling they always had when Meg was healing them through the power of Ilmater.
And then, for the first time since their first meeting, Jon smiled and it was a real joyful smile, full of hope and happiness, "I...I can feel His blessing! He has accepted me!", he looked at the Painbearer and bowed his head, "Thank you, Margaret Dawn, for giving me a chance. I will never forget the kindness you have shown me. Farewell", he said and to their astonishment, he vanished inside the blue brightness. As soon as he was gone, the door changed and turned into a wide, circular portal of swirling black and silver mist, buzzing with power and magic. "The way to the world of the living is open", Meg told her friends, "Go now, before it's too late".
Anomen shook his head, "I won't leave you here, my love". "Don't worry, I will follow you soon, but I must be the last to pass through the portal, because it will close behind me", she reassured him, giving him a long, tender kiss, "Go now, beloved". He was reluctant to leave, but at last nodded and entered the portal, followed by Imoen, Jaheira, Minsc and Boo, Aerie, Yoshimo and Edwin. When they were alone, the Ilmatari turned to her brother, "Our turn, big brother". Sarevok shook his head, "I can't leave, Maggie. You must go without me".
"I won't leave without you", Meg stated, "The Slayer said that there is a way to bring you back to life and I bet that you know what it is. Tell me, Sarry". "I...I can't ask this of you, Maggie: you just got your soul back". "Oh, for Ilmater's sake, will you get it into that thick skull of yours that I don't give a damn about my soul!", she exploded, "I only care about you, nothing else! I'd rather stay with you in the Abyss for all eternity, than live another day out there without you! And now tell me what I have to do!".
The warrior hesitated, but he knew that she would never change her mind, so he nodded, "All right, you have to...To give me a small part of your soul. If given willingly and with our Sire's power in it, it will recreate my flesh, my mortal body. I won't be a Bhaalspawn anymore, thank Ilmater, but I will be alive again". His sister smiled, "Is that all? Of course I'll do it, big brother! You can have all...".
Sarevok hastily clamped his hand on her mouth, "Careful, little sister: your words have power in this place, so you have to watch them. I only need a little piece of it, do you understand?". She nodded and he released her. "I, Margaret Dawn, daughter of Bhaal, hereby willingly give to my brother Sarevok the piece of my soul he needs to be fully back to life in the flesh". As soon as the words were spoken, a small flame of mixed dark green and golden color came out of her chest and imbedded itself in the warrior's.
A shudder passed through him, but after a couple of seconds, he smiled, "I am alive! In flesh and blood and bone! I am alive!", he let out a triumphant laugh and hugged his sister, "Thank you, my little wild rose". The young woman hugged him back, overcome with joy, "Ilmater be praised. Now we can leave this place together, as it should be". "Yes, Maggie. Let's go", he took her hand in his and they walked through the portal side by side.
oxoxoxoxoxo
After the party members awoke from their trance, the Elves of Suldanesselar assigned a bedroom to each of them, including Meg, whose body had been carefully placed in the soft bed as they waited for her to come back from the Pocket Plane as well. Anomen had refused to leave her side, choosing to sit in a soft armchair by the window of her room as he prayed Helm to be reunited with his love, but tired as he was, he could not stay awake for too long and at length, he fell asleep, so he didn't see the golden light growing in intensity under the blanket.
A shape gradually appeared and solidified inside the light and when the golden glow faded, it left behind a strong, seven-feet-tall, dark-skinned naked living body, in flesh and blood and bone, beside the Painbearer. Both Sarevok and Meg woke up at the same moment and smiled at each other. "You did it, Maggie", the warrior murmured, stroking her hair tenderly.
"Thank Ilmater", she snuggled even closer to him, burying her face in his neck and locking her arms around his chest as if afraid that if she didn't hold him tightly enough, he may vanish like mist in the wind, "Please don't leave me ever, ever, ever again", she pleaded in a whisper, tears streaking down her face. "I won't, little sister. Not now, not ever", he promised, hugging her back and silently thanking Ilmater for the gift of being once again alive and reunited with his precious little sister.
They had conquered the Pocket Plane, stopped the destruction of Suldanesselar and cheated death itself. Now they could finally enjoy some peace…
Or maybe not?
END OF PART 2
CONTINUES AND CONCLUDES WITH "AMBER&EMERALD: THE THRONE WAR"