A Fight for Mind and Soul
Ravenlight strode down the stairway and entered the Circle's quarters, mildly amused to see that both Drelasa and Gyrmallion had been settled down there as well. Veleth was near the back; she could see Zak standing vigil across from him, and hear Dreyla crying as she tried to get her husband to respond.
The twins stood guard near the bottom of the stairs and inclined their heads as she went past. She had never seen their faces so completely wiped of any sort of mischief. Nevano said something in Velothi to them and they both nodded quietly.
Ravenlight touched Dreyla gently on the shoulder, then went and sat by Veleth's head. She glanced up at Dreyla, then Nevano. "They're fighting each other in his mind. I'm going to try a technique I learned over in my brother's world to get into his head. It'll be easier to know they hear us if we're face-to-face with them. Nevano, I'll try to take you in with me, and I'll do my best to be gentle."
Nevano nodded. "Let's do it. Get the stubborn fetchers back."
"Touch his head," she instructed, "and close your eyes. Easier that way."
Nevano took a deep breath and did so. Hopefully they wouldn't get stuck in there either.
Ravenlight placed her hands so that they touched Nevano's as well as Veleth's head and closed her own eyes. Slowly, like slipping into a dream, she found herself standing in front of a maze of vegetation; a wall of thorny brambles as well as thick jungle greenery. It was a place she knew well, the edge of her first line of mental defenses. But rather than going inward this time, she turned out, looking for the other two minds near her. She could sense them, if not quite see them...and, wrapping a loop of ever-growing vine around her waist to guide her back the right way, she stepped away from her own mind, starting out for the others.
"Nevano," she called into the silky dark between worlds. "Nerevar."
"Here." His voice came off to her left. "What...is this place?"
"It's...I don't how to put it." She made her way toward them, reaching out as the light from his mind slowly became visible. "I call it the mindscape, but this is between them. A void between the worlds." She came in view of them, pleased to see them both together. "You don't have to both come; if one of you wants to stay back and act as an anchor, that's all right too. You'll still be able to...to hear each other. And you'll both know what's going on."
"Are you kidding? And miss you being able to actually hear the banter between this fetcher and I?" Nevano shook his head. "Nah. Besides...might help to have both of us. He's got Sul, I get Vel."
Nerevar shook his head with a slight eye roll.
She smiled. "All right, then. Take something from your mind and use it to wrap around yourselves; it'll guide you back once we're done."
Nevano pulled Nerevar close and pulled an arm around his neck. "Done!"
"Something to tether you to your own mind," Ravenlight said, trying to hold back a laugh. Behind her, she could hear the Dov sigh in frustration. She stepped forward, examining the barrier. It was...prickly and jagged, nails and blades and shattered glass...but here and there, there were softer images, including dark cloth, and what appeared to be very new patches of long, dark hair. She selected a strand of the hair; it would be ever-growing, like her vine. "Here. Use this."
Nerevar was echoing the Dov's sigh but it was a resigned one. He gave Ravenlight a look that said he had put up with this nonsense for far too long.
"Just keep it with me?"
"Wrap it around your waist. That way you can't drop it." She helped them do it. "Once you're secure, I'll guide you over toward Veleth."
"Is there a chance of getting in...trouble here?" Nevano asked, following her instruction. "The sort of them reacting badly to us being here?"
"There is. But I'm going to let them know we're coming, and ask to come in. It usually goes better that way."
"Yeah because not all that temper is Sul's." Nevano sighed. "I guess let's go. Place is kinda creepy."
"Yours is similar." Nerevar said.
"This way." She took their hands, gliding through the soft blackness toward Veleth's mind.
Nevano felt a bit squirmy about delving closer in. To him it felt invasive and he wasn't sure how well received it would be, especially with Veleth already warring with one intrusive being.
The first defense was a massive wall that reminded Ravenlight of the huge Bulwark outside Raven Rock in Solthsteim. But, in every wall, there was a gate, and she simply stepped in front of it and lifted her hand. "Modyn Veleth!" she called. "It's Ravenlight, and Nevano and Nerevar. We want to help you! Will you let us in?"
Nothing responded to her. If anything, the walls seemed to tighten.
She looked at Nevano. "You ask. And you, Nerevar. He knows you and he trusts you more implicitly. Specify that we're here to help him. There's always a way in past the outer defenses...but I don't like doing that. It's rude, and it can be dangerous."
"Vel! I know opening up is one of the hardest things for you but we just want to help!" Nevano stepped up. "Just one step at a time. We can go slow. Just start here. We can talk as we go."
The walls wavered slightly.
"That's as good as he'll get. Let's go."
"Right. This way, then."
She'd learned quite a bit about teasing her way through well-built defenses. There were little gaps and openings here and there that she made for, never quickly, and allowing Nevano to keep talking as they did. It was a little like threading a hundred needles not quite in a line; but she was polite about slipping through every little opening, and did not hide their passage.
On the other side it looked much like Blacklight. The streets laid out in their confusing circular pattern, Rootspire rising high over the city. The banners were different though. The insignia of House Redoran decorated the streets.
"We're here," Ravenlight called. "We're coming to help. We're not intruders in your mind. Once we know you're okay, we'll leave." She looked at Nevano. "Guide me through to the Heart, that's where they'll be. When you feel that your...inner being is threatened, that's where you retreat to and it's what you protect most, so we'll have to be really careful."
Nevano took a breath. "There's a few places he'd go. Let's check home first."
As they set off, a pack of children, about a dozen of varying ages, were playing near a fountain. Nevano stopped and looked at them. "Damn."
"What's this?" Ravenlight looked at them, smiling.
"This...is the pack he grew up in. Should have realized this isn't current Blacklight by it being nothing but House Redoran flags." Nevano smiled a bit as the smallest ones in the pack squealed when a lizard scurried along the fountain. "Decent sized group too."
The fountain suddenly seemed to erupt with frogs, causing all but the bravest of the children to shriek and scatter, many adults nearby jumping and swearing loudly as frogs leaped everywhere.
"I take it you were responsible for that, somehow?" Ravenlight grinned.
Nevano laughed. "I remember this! Jorun complained for months! And for once, no. Can't take credit for this masterpiece. That would be the mage school. Even they couldn't figure it out."
"It's a memory he's fond of." Ravenlight caught one of the frogs, then let it go. "We'll probably see it play out again when we leave. Further in, then."
"Wait...look." Nevano pointed.
One of the children who hadn't run was watching them, unlike the rest of the people who didn't seem to notice the strange group at all. The boy couldn't have been more than ten years old. Wild, dark hair fell over familiar red eyes. He wasn't laughing with the rest of the children, but watching them carefully from behind the assumed safety of the spray of water.
"Who is that?" Ravenlight paused, looking at him. "Modyn?"
"Yeah, that's him." Nevano crouched down. "I forgot he was this little thing as a child. Hla muhrjul. Yagla hom lo jo'ruhn?"
The Bosmer kept back. Nevano was familiar, she was not, and in a space like this, it was best to have the familiar one step in. Veleth would not have something as spectacular as the Dov to protect his dearest memories, but he was sure to have defenses.
The child made no move towards them. He looked at Nevano, his eyes flashing with hurt. "Ohuhn kuhr lo!"
Nevano rocked back on his heels, not expecting that response at all. Before he could say anything, the child bolted. He was soon lost as brick red clouds rolled in on them and ash began to fall.
"We...might be chasing him around." Nevano said with a sigh as ash slipped under his armor.
"Ash storms in Blacklight?" Nerevar twitched at the annoying ash.
"Rare but yes." Nevano nodded. "Bad one rolled in when he was small. I'm not sure where he'd go..." Nevano's ears twitched as a gasping cough echoed from a side street. "This way."
"Might also be a defense," Ravenlight muttered. "I'm not sure if I should try to calm this one or not. Let's get to a more sheltered place." She glanced at Nevano. "What did he say?"
He sighed as he took them under the relative shelter of an awning. "Said I left him."
"Well. Let's see if we can convince him otherwise." She raised an eyebrow. "Did you leave while he was small, by any chance?"
"Yeah. I did. I didn't live here I...didn't really live anywhere." Nevano sighed. "Felt a bit of a mess since Red Mountain erupted and it just spiraled down from there. Came back briefly but he had grown up and ran off to fight in the swamps. Then Chorrol happened."
"That's why. Remembered resentment." She pursed her lips. "Could make things difficult...or not. Depends on how much of that carried over."
"I thought we had worked it out." Nevano frowned. "I guess the adult accepted it but not the child. Small ones don't care for excuses."
"Sul could also be influencing this." Nerevar said. "He was nothing but negative energy, overwhelmed by it. If Veleth was caught off guard and already feeling negative himself...then they are both trapped in a loop of negative energy. We need to try and catch him. This sort of thing can kill him."
"We'll find them." Ravenlight concentrated. "I've learned a little bit about finding my way to the real...center of a mind. Not getting too distracted by memories and such. Further in. He'll be watching, but we can find him. Be careful as we go deeper. These are the outer memories. He'll probably have defenses up around the dearer ones."
"Would it be better to go straight to the source or should we try to ease the child first?" Nevano looked out into the storm. Though the child was merely in this realm of memory, he couldn't bear the thought of him running around angry.
"I think we'll be doing both, actually..." Ravenlight looked up. "This doesn't feel like a real storm. Nevano, call Veleth again and ask him to let us through. Remind him as often as you need to that we're friends and we're here to help."
"Vel, I know you're scared. These aren't things you like going over but it's okay." Nevano tried. "Let us help you get through it. One step at a time, remember? Next step is dropping this storm. I can't find you in this. Let us see at least."
The storm wavered, then died. Ravenlight smiled. "Thought so. Defense. Pretty good one, too. Okay. Let's keep going." She took their hands again and continued walking through the streets, slowly and carefully.
The streets seemed to shift under their feet as they went along. Nevano knew they should have been headed towards the bazaar but instead were going in the opposite direction.
"Something he wants us to see? Whether he realizes it or not?" Nerevar mused, glancing around.
They ended up by a large dark building, guards walking in and out. There was a definite feeling of comfort familiarity here. Of someone who has spent an enormous amount of time here.
"Watch building." Nevano mused. "Jorun would take him as a baby to work. Give 'Lasa a bit of a break. Grew up around them. Guards loved it."
"Good sign," Ravenlight said. "This is a...motion of trust. You don't let people you distrust or dislike near memories you're fond of. Even ones as simple as a favorite childhood place." She chuckled. "If we were intruders, we'd be slogging through battlefields and facing down Drelasa at her most furious."
Nerevar hesitated. "Please...don't corrupt this one..." he murmured.
Ravenlight turned to look at him. "What do you mean?"
Nevano spotted the child watching them. "Vel!" He called. "Please I...I'm so sorry I left. I didn't want to hurt you."
The child darted into the building.
"Wait!" Nevano took off after him before any of them could stop him.
"Nevano!" Ravenlight tried to catch him. "Not good. That's a good way to be lured into a trap. We need to get to him...but we need to be careful." She caught hold of the thin black line. "Fortunately, these can't be broken by any means in here. We'll use this to find him."
"I think up the stairs."
"Right. Watch out." They followed carefully, Ravenlight keeping her hand on the black line. Then, abruptly, a scream echoed from upstairs.
"Oh no..." Nerevar muttered.
"Nevano?" Ravenlight shouted. A child's sobs followed the screams. "Oh no." She quickened her steps, alert for any traps that might catch them in the stairs. Healing in a mindscape was extraordinarily difficult. Possible, but...it took a lot of energy. "Nevano? Modyn? Leiko, dii fahdon, are you hurt?"
The sobbing became more hysterical. They could hear Nevano murmuring in Dunmeri. Blood was dripping from the top of the stairs. Nevano was holding the child in the middle of all the blood, his face pale. Veleth's child self was screaming and crying into Nevano's armor.
Ravenlight knelt beside them, calling healing into both hands. "What's wrong? Nevano, is this a memory, or are you hurt?"
"Memory..." Nevano murmured.
"What happened?" Ravenlight glanced around, but it wasn't immediately clear.
"Ju'it? Mug'bahr khurh lo! Ata!" the child screamed. "Ose bahrjulihn! Yagl devahr!"
"Don't...don't look." Nevano said, hugging the child closer. "Just don't. Vel, dammit, this was not your fault. It wasn't, I swear. Someone betrayed you. Someone who was supposed to be your friend betrayed you and took away one of the most important things in your life and that is not your fault. I'm sorry I couldn't stop it. I'm sorry I wasn't faster. I'm sorry I can't change it. But I'm not going to leave you ever again, I swear."
"This...isn't a child's memory, is it?" Ravenlight closed her eyes.
Nerevar pulled her back before she could go to the room where blood seeped from under the door. "You don't want to see. This event shattered them. It seems it went deep enough that even the child feels it. I don't think he can even think of his father at all without thinking of this."
"It's Jorun, isn't it?"
Nerevar nodded. "Killed by one of those children who grew up close to Veleth."
"Let's get him out of here before he follows the rest of it." Nerevar hooked a hand under Nevano and pulled him up. "The rest is just as bad. Let's see if we can't obliterate it by changing the ending."
Ravenlight considered, then nodded. "It's actually possible. We have to be careful, though, sometimes, trying to change the ending makes them fight back harder. But I'll help. Any way I can, I'll help."
"I think I know how." Nevano said. "Remember where the shrine was? There."
"Yes. Lead the way."
Nevano hurried through the city, Veleth groaning in his arms. It seemed to take only a few moments before they found themselves in the clearing overlooking the city. Nevano avoided the spot where the shrine would be. Instead, he settled on the ground, looking over the docks, settling the child in his lap and motioning the other two to join him.
"Remember this place?" He asked. "Remember we'd take you here so you could watch us spar?"
Ravenlight came and stood beside him, alert and watching.
"You used to beg us to come up here. Just to watch." Nevano smiled. "Remember you wanted to hold Trueflame? You got so excited when the flames flickered you nearly dropped it. Thought you were going to lose a foot!" A small sniff answered him. "Your mother would have done more than throw a vase at my head for that one. As it was...just the vase for teaching you to swear in Velothi."
Ravenlight laughed a little. "I'd have done worse," she muttered.
"Considering the vase didn't even break when it hit the wall and Drelasa is pretty strong...it was going to be worse!" Nevano laughed. "You started begging to learn to fight at ten. We told you to wait until you were big enough to actually hold a sword. So you got a tree branch, insisted it was a sword and whacked the lead guar in a pack train and it took all day to get them all back again!"
"You were twelve, I think, when Jorun finally agreed to teaching you." Nevano went on. "You were full of yourself. So he made sure your primary view was that of the sky while your arse stung like hell!"
"Thirteen." Came a small murmur.
"Thirteen?" Nevano asked. "Took you that long to finally get some length in your legs?"
"Sounds like Blaise. He insisted eleven was old enough," Ravenlight said. "Well, between me and his uncle...there's a reason he goes for the staffs and not for a sword when he needs to defend himself, I'll say that! He's got promise...but he's got a long way to go yet!"
"I think this one dragged his feet the rest of the time but there's a lot of similarities between his fighting and Jorun's so some lessons stuck." Nevano hugged the boy. "Though once he started growing, he didn't stop until he turned into a damn ox and could just knock us over. Took him a hundred years to learn...well I can't say you learned finesse, but there's a certain grace in watching you knock things over."
"Anyone who can match blades with Zak for as long as he did definitely has some grace," Ravenlight said. "Even with him just testing you, power alone doesn't go very far. Drizzt always beats Farkas in less than a minute, and Vilkas doesn't last much longer."
"Everyone here is fast." The boy murmured from Nevano's neck.
"That's not a bad thing." Ravenlight reached out, waiting until she saw it would be all right, and stroked the boy's hair.
"Should tell Dreyla to talk you into growing your hair out." Nevano teased.
"No! It goes all over!"
"Exactly!" Nevano grinned. "Either that or I do miss you as a kid. Nevusa might be mine but you were the one I always viewed as being the closest to a child of mine I was ever going to get. Didn't go away even when I was gone. It was here, this exact spot, that I promised Jorun that if anything ever happened to him or 'Lasa, I'd look after you. You might be a full grown bull and not a calf anymore but that still doesn't change things. We got a weird relationship but I wouldn't change it for anything. We've been through a lot together. We got a bit more to go, don't we?"
"And he's not alone," Ravenlight said. "Your mother's practically adopted us, which makes you my brother. My uhelo. And I take good care of my family."
"Besides...there's no way I'm ever going to have any of my own, you know that." Nevano hugged him again. "So what I got now, I'm looking after forever."
The boy snuggled in. The world around them loosened and relaxed.
"There you go," Ravenlight murmured. "We really are here for you. You don't have to be afraid to ask for help."
"There are plenty to still trust. We've been very lucky in our friends now."
"There's me, Drizzt, Nevusa, the twins, Farkas and Vilkas...even Gyrmallion and Zak. And Drelasa and Dreyla, of course." She stroked his head. "We're all here for you."
The boy slowly sat up. "Promise?"
Ravenlight knelt down and placed her hand on his shoulder. "Zu'u vaat. I promise."
He pointed to the mountains. "That way. But get it out!" He whined. "I don't like it. He makes me feel sick!"
"He feels sick, too." Ravenlight said. "And there's nowhere for him to go. We'll try to make it so that he doesn't hurt you." She pulled Nerevar toward her. "He's a little like Nerevar, only the person who stuck him in with you wasn't so nice to either one of you. We'll try to make it so that you two can...at least work together, if not become friends."
"Not him." The boy protested. "He's just scared now. Well, and mad. He's always mad. He doesn't want to die again. The other thing!"
"The other thing?" Ravenlight went still. "Show us."
"I don't want to see it again!" The boy shook his head. "Go through the pass. It's big and it's got big teeth. I heard fighting."
"Should have known it wasn't all you being that stubborn." Nevano gave him another tight hug. "Go on back. Just remember what we told you and don't listen to anything else okay?"
Ravenlight rose slowly, speaking guttural words the others didn't know. The vine around her waist brightened: and slowly, as if it was feeding through a vein, she changed, until she stood in dragon armor, and not the light armor she'd been wearing earlier. "Whatever this is, it's probably nasty." She concentrated, and...either they moved, or the pass suddenly drew toward them. "Marvelous thing about a mental landscape: once it's owner is willing to allow it, you generally don't have to walk through it. Come on. Let's see what's got him pinned."
Nevano handed Nerevar Trueflame, holding Hopesfire in his left hand. They stepped forward...
And stepped shin deep into swamp water.
Nerevar made a face that looked so remarkably Altmer that it was easy to imagine that Dunmer once were Altmer.
"Mh," Ravenlight said, gingerly picking her way through the water. "One of the worst memories, I'm going to guess...delightful."
"...oh no, we need to hurry and find them!"
Ravenlight closed her eyes, then pointed. "That way!"
The swamp pulled at their feet, filling their boots with silty mud. The smell of rot and decay was overwhelming.
"Ravenlight...I like your swamp better." Nevano said.
"Yeah, this is making Morthal look better all the time." Ravenlight closed her eyes, changing her armor to something that would let her move more easily.
"No swamp is a good thing..." Nerevar muttered.
"Look, Your Highness, not all battles are going to be fought on solid ash," Nevano said. "We've slogged through sewers. This isn't so..." He presumably was going to say 'bad' but then he nearly stumbled over a body. What it had once been was impossible to tell. It was bloated and blackened, crawling with insects. "Never mind..." Nevano said weakly.
"It's disgusting," Ravenlight agreed. "It's also...not the undercroft of a vampire castle that was older than the Battle of Red Mountain." Her hand flashed, and Breatheater appeared. "We need to find this thing, but this...it's keeping it corralled, so we're not going to be able to move quickly. She lifted her hand and pointed. "That way. Does anyone else hear fighting?"
"None yet." Nerevar said. "But the child part of him said Sul was afraid and judging by the reactions we've gotten, Veleth is too. If they are afraid, they might be running instead."
"No. I hear fighting." She sped up, sloshing through the filthy water. "They're not the type to run when afraid. They turn and fight like hell to pretend they're not."
"About to say, the only time Vel ever ran was when Uliamu put him under a powerful fear spell." Nevano said, slogging after her.
A dead tree, draped with moss, presented itself. Ravenlight glanced at it, then sprang up, climbing it with surprising ease. She peered in the direction of the noise, then snapped her hand out. "I see them! They're fighting-what in Oblivion!? Is that a titan?"
"Another one? A mental one?" Nevano asked.
"They're in range. And I have no idea where it came from or how it got here...but either way, get ready. I'm going to get its attention." She nocked an arrow, drew it back to her ear, and fired. The dragonbone arrow slammed into the creature's shoulder-a painful, but not debilitating injury. But it certainly drew its attention The answering roar that made even the fetid swamp water shake certainly answered the question of whether or not it was a titan.
"Dammit!" Nevano looked for solid ground. "Hard to fight in this when your opponent has legs longer than my whole body in this muck!"
"Don't whine!" Nerevar called up a shield to pair with Trueflame. "There's bound to be a patch of solid ground. Those two wouldn't fight in waist deep water."
"Oh, now you say they are thinking about fighting!"
"Get in there and fight!"
Ravenlight braced herself in the tree, firing several more arrows to distract and anger the titan. "Veleth!" she shouted. "This is your mind! You're in control here! Give yourself and your allies good ground! You can do that!"
Veleth either couldn't or didn't hear her. He was busy trying to fight two fronts at once. Argonians, bigger than he was, were coming up out of the swamp water towards him. The only reason he hadn't been completely overwhelmed was the black demonic looking creature that stayed close by him, fighting tooth and nail.
Ravenlight switched targets, sending a hail of arrows flying down into the Argonians, each one a fatal shot. She shouted, telling what she'd seen to the other warriors running toward the fight. Her hands moved swiftly and steadily, arrows falling in a never-ending hail. In the real world, she would likely run out of arrows before all the enemies were down. However, this was not the real world-a fact she was quite happy to exploit.
Watching Nerevar and Nevano fight independently of each other was interesting. It took Nerevar a moment or two to remember how to handle himself but Nevano, who had never been without Nerevar, was very off. He finally settled for simply backing the other three up when needed, sliding in the small spaces where the others would miss.
As they kept fighting, Ravenlight started to wonder how many of the enemies were real attackers-and how many were simply Veleth's memories. The Argonians were not reacting as real creatures would to her arrows: there were mounds of them building up around the fighters, yet they continued to mindlessly run in to die.
"They're not real!" she roared, hoping the others could hear her. "The Argonians-they're not real! Tell Veleth to quit thinking about them and focus on the titan! The titan is real!"
"Vel!" Nevano got against his back as Argonians tried to flank him. "Vel, these aren't real! Do you know where you are?"
"I..." He wavered, nearly getting skewered.
"Whoa, don't stop, still sharp!" Nevano darted around him to quickly stop an incoming blade. "Small steps! Remember? Small steps! Yes, we are in the swamp but...think of solid land! Dry boots!"
Slowly the water receded. The ground wasn't solid but they weren't slogging as they had before.
Ravenlight watched the water fading away, crouching in readiness. Armor flowed around her; a strange cross between her glass armor and her dragonscale. Then, once it had dried enough for her, she leaped out of the tree and raced forward, Sunfang solidifying in her hands. They could handle the Argonians. She would deal with the titan. It might have been corrupted...but it was still a dragon. And she knew, in any landscape, how to fight a dragon.
She dodged and dashed, in and out of the danger zone, Sunfang lashing out to bite into the creature's flesh. Her technique, while it wouldn't help much against another swordsman, was painful and bewildering for the titan, which couldn't focus on her well enough to figure out where to aim its attacks.
Nevano had to separate himself from Veleth as enormous claws tore the ground up. "Veleth, try to imagine these Argonians gone! This is your mind! Imagine them dead or on fire."
"Clever." The titan rumbled. "But I wasn't sent unprepared for you clever rats."
Sul growled, his claws clicking, head tilted. Nerevar shouted at him in Chimeri and he instantly perked up. "Nerevar?" His voice was garbled and raspy, as bone-chilling as any demon; but the sudden hope and eagerness in his tone was plain.
Nerevar yelled again, bracing himself as an Argonian threw itself against his shield.
Sul seemed very torn; but the mer-turned-demon put his hands to his head. The swamp, as well as the Argonians, disappeared. The mud beneath their feet turned to brick and the air cleared. The titan laughed and launched into the air, the back draft from his wings knocking them all flat as he took off, taking the roofs off a few buildings as he went.
Ravenlight turned and looked upward, the vine glowing almost white. "I don't know what you're planning," she said, her voice taking on a strange tinge, "but somehow, I don't think you were prepared for this!" Her form suddenly glowed and shimmered-and the form of the Bosmer appeared to step back into the glow. And something else came forward.
She was easily as large as Odahviing, perhaps a little slimmer, and a little more serpentine. The scales along her back were almost scarlet: the ones on her breast and belly like snow. Her back was free of spikes, but several crowned her head: and her garnet eyes were fixed on the dragon overhead. With a roar, the Dov launched herself into the air to pursue the titan.
Nevano, half of his mind glued on the titanic battle in the sky went to Veleth and helped him up. "Guess you and Sul share the control of your headspace after all." He said. "Easy, easy. You're ok."
"My head hurts..." Veleth muttered.
"There's a small war going on in it." Nevano said dryly. "If it didn't hurt, I'd be making fun of your hard head for years."
Overhead, the titan roared in shock. It evidently had not guessed that the Bosmer and the Dov could switch places, and it was now fighting for its life. And the Dov was giving no quarter.
"Come on, you two...kick its ass!" Nevano cheered, watching them twist in the sky. The titan was snapping and clawing, breathing the horrible fire that had so burned Drizzt; but the Dov was far older and stronger.
She was also surprisingly skilled at avoiding breath weapons. Half the time that the titan belched fire, she had already twisted out of the way of the attack-and had lined up a shot of her own. Ice was already crusting across its wings and body, and she'd hurled several far nastier shouts as well, ones that made Veleth flinch and the titan scream.
And then she finished it, lunging past with a motion that cracked it across the jaw with her tail, then doubling back like a snake and burying her jaws in its throat. The two fell to the ground with a crash, the Dov on top, savaging the corrupted beast beneath her with fang and claw.
The titan struggled mightily but it was clear it was going to succumb to the Dov. It simply could not overcome the powerful creature. As its throat was ripped out, runes all along its body flared. Nevano thought he was imagining things but he thought he heard a laugh from somewhere.
The Dov flared again, and Ravenlight suddenly exploded back from it, shouting names. It was really astounding at how fast she could move. Then they heard the names she was shouting and stiffened: she was calling on all the Aedra and Daedra she knew she could count on, finishing with a scream of, "Boethiah!"
Sul roared but instead of going towards Ravenlight, he turned instead to Veleth. Nevano looked over just as Nerevar tried to catch Veleth.
"Ravenlight!" He called out, running over. "Vel, easy easy, what's wrong?"
"It was trapped!" She whirled to face it. "Get Veleth and Sul-damn it, damn it, damn it-get them away from this thing, fast, I-"
She stopped suddenly, looking up, as if listening to something, and then took a deep breath. "Geh, Bormahu. Oh, Drelasa's going to be furious..." She glowed again, the Dov reappearing, and flung herself unhesitatingly on top of the titan.
"What are you doing?" Nevano demanded.
There was a blinding flash-one smothered by another light blazing out of the Dov. A strange golden light that enveloped it, wrapped around it...then rose and bore what was left of the titan away. The Dov staggered up, her head down, swaying in place. Blood ran down from thin cuts all across the lower half of her body. She glowed again, the Bosmer taking her place; but she didn't look much better.
"Ravenlight!" Nevano ran over to her, holding her up. "What the hell? What the hell, what the hell, ku'ilm as dradihn."
"It was trapped," she managed to get out. "Damage Veleth, damage Sul...mark them, make them vulnerable to Bal. Tell him about Sul...for sure...ow...Akatosh hid them. I blocked the damage...he kept it from being bad as it might be...kept me from being marked...took what was left of the thing. Can't come back...ahhhh...ow..."
"I think you managed to stop Bal from knowing but it already hurt Veleth...and it hurt you too." Nevano carefully picked her up and carried her back over. "Nerevar, how bad is he?"
"She stopped the worst of the damage but I think it intended on bringing them both back to Bal with him." Nerevar had both hands on Veleth's belly, leaning his full weight on him. "It's a magic wound. Magic won't fix this but...I think I know what will."
Sul was sniffing, getting close, his claws feeling over to where Nerevar's hands were, growling when he felt the blood. He asked Nerevar a guttural question, Nerevar nodding as he gave a one-word reply.
"We have to leave." He said. "Ravenlight is hurt and I think this injury on Veleth has manifested itself physically. His body and soul have been injured. There is nothing we can do as both must be healed at the same time. However...Sul can. I think that Titan was hoping to keep things so destabilized in here that there would be no hope of them ever joining together but we calmed them."
Nevano looked around as the strange world around them began to tremble and crumble at the edges. "We can't be there for that, can we?"
"It'll hurt. I don't think you remember when you and I finally fully came together but Red Mountain did a reenactment of it." Nerevar said grimly. "We don't want to be trapped in here. They won't join fully and Veleth could die...dragging us with him. We have to trust them to handle it."
"Follow the lines back," Ravenlight said weakly. "That's why they're there. One of you, go back first and tell Drelasa to give what healing might help: just a hair to hold on to can keep him from dying. The other, follow my vine back; I'll open the defenses for you. Leave me at the Heart and then follow your line back to your own mind. I'll be okay. Sleep for a week, but I'll be okay."
"Problem, Nerevar and I are a bit connected. Once I go back, it's going to slingshot him right out." Nevano said. "And you aren't staying here!"
"Then send him first," she muttered. "The way's open. Go."
"The part about you not staying here still stands!" Nevano argued.
"Take me, you idiot," she managed to gasp out. "Take me, follow the vine! I'll open the defenses for you to leave me at the Heart in my mind!"
"You didn't say that!" Nevano glanced over at Veleth. "You got this, bull. I'll see you on the other side."
Nerevar leaned over, pulled Sul over so their foreheads touched. Then he let him go and ran over. Nevano wasted no more time, running along the lines, holding Ravenlight close and doing his best not to jostle her overmuch despite the shuddering getting worse around them.
Fortunately, Veleth's defenses were not at their strongest, and they were able to make it out before anything bad happened, emerging safely into the silky dark between their minds.
"We're out, Ravenlight. Where's the next step?" Nevano panted.
"Follow my vine," she said. "Get me back. If one of you can safely go back alone...do it. Tell them...tell Drelasa to put what healing she can into him. Going to be crucial. Then take your own lines. It's Serana's hair; she's one of your defenders. Hold it and think of her, and it'll draw you back."
"I knew it smelled familiar." Nevano said. "I'll hurry and take you home and we'll run out. I don't want to risk dropping you like this in this weird place." He and Nerevar ran along the vine, entering into Ravenlight's mind.
The menacing hedge of jungle plants and thorny brambles parted in front of them, and a sprawling landscape opened in front of them: much of it bright and open, other parts darkened, covered with gloomy trees or shadows. After a few steps, they found themselves in a closely-hedged glade, full of flowers and small brooks, with a high tree to one side, and an arbor covered with flowering vines in the center. Dozens of crystalline statues stood around them: a group of Bosmer they didn't recognize, Ravenlight's three children, the woman warrior who kept Breezehome, several Companions, Drizzt-and them. Drelasa, Veleth, Nevusa, and Nevano, grouped among the unfamiliar Bosmer and her children. Nevano was close to the Center, his statue holding hands with Serana, both in their wedding finery.
The Dov was perched on the arbor, draped across it as if in sleep. Her eyes opened briefly, but she closed them again, ignoring the two.
"Have to say, that's the most flattering statue of me. Making me blush." He murmured to her, walking on. "Though I only look that good because of the dark angel on my right."
"Memories," she said, smiling a little. "Leave me by the arbor. By Firefall, and Drizzt. I'll be safe here. Thank you."
He recognized Drizzt easily enough, in the same pose he always saw Ravenlight smiling gently over: holding Cattie-brie and Brie-Zara close. He assumed the Bosmer he didn't recognize was Firefall. He settled her between the two as comfortably as he could. "No...thank you. For saving Veleth and Sul. Rest up. You've more than earned it and I'll make sure everything is taken care of. Hopefully when you wake up, Gyrmallion and Vel will be up as well."
He gave her a quick hug and stood next to Nerevar. Surrounded by all the statues in the sweet poses Ravenlight remembered them best, it was easy for him to think of Serana. He barely had time to hold tight to Nerevar before they were yanked out.
In the waking world, Zak lunged forward, catching Ravenlight as she suddenly toppled sideways, falling off the chair. Nevano gasped as he, and Nerevar, slammed back into the world. " 'Lasa! Get 'Lasa!"
Footsteps raced down: not Drelasa, but Cattie-Brie. "Drelasa's asleep. What's wrong-" She gasped. "Ravenlight?"
Across from them, Drelasa stirred on Aela's bed and sat up.
Nevano staggered up. "Ravenlight gonna sleep. Vel...demon. Hurt. Was bleeding."
Cattie-Brie ran over. She gave the Bosmer a worried glance, but looked back at Veleth and gasped. There was an obvious, bloody wound on his torso. She laid her hands on him, eyes closed, and poured healing energy into him.
Veleth was breathing hard, sweat rolling off his forehead. The wound stayed exactly as it was, despite Cattie-brie's powerful magic. Dreyla held Dusty close, her eyes wide.
"Magic won't work, is what Nerevar said." Nevano shook his head, trying to clear it. "Just got to keep him from dying long enough."
"Long enough?" Drelasa rushed in. "For what?"
Ravenlight stirred a little. "Sul," she mumbled, before going limp again with a deep sigh.
"Yup. Sul." Nevano nodded. "Sul is the only one who can fix this. Just...wait. I'll explain as soon as it's over."
It wasn't the best choice of words as Dreyla's face went white and Dusty fussed at her grip.
"Right then...Twins!" Drelasa jumped into action. "Get something to stop this bleeding! And get Elealda! If this takes too long, we'll need more than just having something on it."
They were quick with both: a thick pad of linen appeared quickly, followed shortly after by Elealda, carrying a full healer's kit that she'd apparently been putting together all morning. She took one look and the wound and went to work, washing it clean with a strong-smelling wine before pinching the lips of it closed and stitching it together.
"Honey," she ordered. "Someone, bring me a jar of honey. I'll smear it onto the wound under the bandages. If magic won't work on this, we need to take every precaution to keep it from getting infected."
Nevano, exhausted and not really thinking clearly, started to go but Drelasa forced him back down. "You are done. The twins are on it. You said Sul is going to fix this?"
"Yeah. It might take a bit for it to fully set in. It's not a fast process." Nevano winced. "I promise you will know when it happens."
"That's probably the best we can do." Elealda glanced up at Zak, who was standing there awkwardly, holding Ravenlight in his arms. "I believe she has quarters here; probably easier on both of you if you take her there."
"She's going to need a lot of sleep. She'll be okay. Big bad Dov watching over her." Nevano said.
Zak nodded. "Could someone show me where her quarters are?"
"End of hall, on the left." Nevano said. "I can hear the rooster." He said by way of explanation.
Zak looked baffled, but nodded. He paused before walking off, looking at Nevano. "You get some rest, too."
"Soon as I tell what happened. I'm not waiting on this sort of thing again." Nevano said. "You might want to know something before this change happens."
"Change?" Elealda was not the only one to look at Nevano sharply.
"Becoming best buddies with your new mental roommate is difficult as is." Nevano said. "Like this? It's gonna be a bit of a show."
"Clarify, please." The surgeon glanced over as a twin came scrambling up with a pottery jar of honey. "Thank you, Min."
He blinked in shock, dumbly handing it over.
"I remember every stitch I've put in," she said wryly, "especially when the green stripe in question is still over your eyebrow. Go fetch the others, please, and quickly."
"I will. But I'm not telling it twice. It's a long story." Nevano said. "And a bit of an invasive one. Give me an audience and I'll share."
Min bolted out again.
"Giving them exercise today." Nevano snorted. "Sorry, Dreyla...keep scarring him up."
"Let me keep on having him, and I won't worry about the scars," she said, trying to smile.
"That I can promise. Wasn't letting him go. Though Bal hates him now." Nevano shrugged. "He might see that as a point of pride now."
Feet came down the stairs, and everyone else crowded in. Drizzt was in front, looking worried. "What happened? Min wasn't clear on that."
"Pull up a piece of floor, it's a bit of a long one." Nevano sighed. "And a weird one. I really, really don't ever want to have to do that to anyone ever again...or anyone have to do that to me. Oblivion knows what you'd find in there..."
It took a moment, but everyone was finally settled, though several people-including Nevusa, Cattie-Brie, and Serana-had to be settled on a lap, for lack of other room.
"So, this insanity starts with last night, with Gyrmallion managing to sleepwalk through one of Drelasa's sleeping potions. I want to know how you did that by the way." Nevano started. "But he was calling to Nerevar, since I realized the bastard knew more about this stupidly strong daedra we keep running into but was not...all that keen on saying much about them. With Gyrmallion's help, Nerevar finally told us that he had actually been to Bal's Vile Lab. He deliberately went there to save the one friend he had who didn't betray him. One who had been cursed on his death. A Chimer called Alandro Sul."
"He managed to get out with Sul though...Sul was beyond a little damaged from Bal's hospitality. Twisted, was the word used. To the point where not even Azura could fix him. So Nerevar hid him from Bal in between realms...until I was born, at which point he was shoved into me. He tried to help Sul but it was too much for him to handle." Nevano sighed. "So he threw out a plea for help...and Boethiah answered. In the fun, backwards way of Daedra Lords, she went and shoved Sul elsewhere. Namely, in Veleth. And he had no idea."
"Veleth?" There was a stunned murmur.
"That little trick he can pull when he starts to look like a demon himself? That is Sul. Or rather, what Sul looks like now. Thing is, they are not connected like Nerevar and I are or how Ravenlight is with the Dov." Nevano frowned. "They are two separate beings...and Sul is a ball of rage who can't see a damned thing and only speaks Chimeri. It's why Veleth never realized just what was in him. He just thought he had one hell of a nasty temper. Which, he still does. He just has extra too."
"When that venom hybrid jumped him on the Great Porch? It was actually targeting him. Sul had made an appearance during a previous fight and Bal wanted to know the truth." Nevano said. "When Drelasa did...that to that skull, it was a bit disastrous, as you saw. Sul felt Bal, the thing he hates and fears the most, and Veleth wasn't fighting. So he shoved forward. Too hard, too fast for Veleth to catch it or realize what was going on. Drelasa, or, rather, Mephala, took the hybrid back to her realm but it was a bit late. Veleth realized something else was in his head and it didn't go over well. All of you saw him hit the ground and respond to absolutely nothing. That was him warring with Sul...or so we thought."
"Ravenlight and I, or mostly Nerevar's ability to speak Chimeri, took a trip into Veleth's mind. Which, by the way, is the most disturbing thing ever. I don't like going through someone's mind like that. It's invasive as hell." Nevano shuddered a bit. "As we were getting past his personal mental defenses, we heard him ask us to get it out. We thought he meant Sul but he threw a bit of a curve in the road at us. Not him. The other thing. Of course, Bal had been watching during that ritual. Veleth wasn't fighting Sul in his head. They were fighting another gods damned titan."
"Another titan?!"
Dreyla shivered and drew closer to her husband, and Serana gave Veleth a look of sympathetic horror. In that moment of stunned silence, only Dusty remained unconcerned, crawling over to Zak, who he had developed a near obsession with.
"Big, nasty one who talked a big game." Nevano said. "Almost was able to back it up except Ravenlight had enough of the nonsense and the Dov made an appearance. Then it got its ass kicked. And its throat ripped out. Thing is, by now, we need to make a note that when daedra and demons start laughing at us, we need to be careful how we will defeat them. This one was trapped. As soon as she killed it...it was determined to bring Veleth and Sul back with it. Ravenlight stopped it from shredding Veleth and Sul's souls, and by extension ours, but Veleth got run through with something. As Nerevar put it, when someone gets hurt that way, it affects the body too. And nothing can heal it from this side. You have to fix everything on both ends or they die."
"And Sul...is fixing things on his end?" Elealda looked down at Veleth.
Drizzt had paled to an almost Dunmer gray. "Nevano...how did my sister stop that thing from shredding the rest of you?"
"She and the Dov...blocked it. Said Akatosh blocked her from being marked too. She got pretty cut up. She told me that Drelasa was going to be mad at her, and take her to the heart of her mind and let her sleep."
Drizzt nodded, his arms tightening around Cattie-Brie, his eyes still worried.
"We'll keep watch on her. It was very determined to drag us with it but Akatosh took the rest of it. It's not coming back. Hopefully...hopefully it'll be free under Akatosh, now that I think on it. Those things are corrupted dragons, after all." Nevano said. "But in answer to your question, Elealda, yes, Sul is going to fix things. Which is...mostly why I wanted to tell all of you this story now before I go pass out for the next few days."
"Any idea of how that will work?" Gyrmallion asked.
"Yes...yes I do. Rather well, actually." Nevano made a face. "I guess this was less of telling a story and more of a warning. Before, Sul had no control. He was basically in a cage in Veleth. Nerevar can sympathize because that's how he was before I knew he was there." Nevano sighed. "I took that news less than gracefully. It's not easy or pleasant to know there's someone else in you. Less so under stressful situations and triple that hurt like this."
"Actually...I think Ravenlight understands as well. She came to be aware of the Dov slowly...but it took her a long time to really trust that part of herself." Drizzt said.
"Hard to trust something that is always in your ear and never shuts the hell up. Like someone is wearing your clothes with you. Highly uncomfortable." Nevano stared off at nothing. "And joining together fully? It's not easy. At all. I've been on week long drinking binges that hurt less. Veleth doesn't have that time to slowly warm up and Sul is...we could see him in there. Bal about destroyed him. There's just enough shreds of himself in there for there to be hope that he will recover. In this way...they will heal each other."
"That's hopeful, at least." Elealda stroked his forehead, her hands glimmering. "I'll stay with him; of all the healers here, I'm probably the least exhausted. I'll do everything I can to make sure he stays alive through this."
"He's going to need it. Because we will all know when it finally happens." Nevano said flatly. "It's going to sound like daedroth are shredding him slowly. And he's going to feel like it."
"I'll remember that." Elealda said, glancing over at Gyrmallion with an odd twist to her lips. He sighed and rolled his eyes.
"But when it's over...well, Bal is going to get a nasty surprise the next time he tries to go after them." Nevano smiled a bit. "You thought he was strong before. And Sul fights dirty."
"Good," Gyrmallion said flatly. "I...vaguely remember hearing what he went through last night. And Bal...well, he deserves whatever he gets."
Nevano nodded. "Oh yes. And it will come."
Drizzt managed to stand, finding a clear spot to set Cattie-Brie down. He whispered something to her, his face tight and anxious. She nodded, stroking his jaw. "Go," she said softly.
He picked his way out of the room and hurried off.
"I don't know what Ravenlight did but...I hope she wasn't lying she told me she was going to be okay." Nevano said.
"She probably wasn't lying," Cattie-Brie said. "But...I have noticed that, when she's putting herself out for others, her definition of 'okay' is much looser than it whould be. But my husband probably knows her better than anyone else here. If she needs more than sleep...and perhaps shelter...he'll know."
"Sounds familiar." Drelasa raised an eyebrow at Nevano.
"Yes, very familiar," Elealda added, though she, at least, had the grace not to look over at Gyrmallion when she did.
"Okay, now that we are all caught up..." Drelasa shooed the crowd out. "There's still plenty for you lot to do. Gyrmallion, you know exactly what I'm about to tell you. Serana, darling, that one needs to be in a bed. Take the one I was in, since I know he won't leave Jorrvaskr until this is over."
"Right." Serana stood, lifting Nevano up with her. "Come, love; let's get you to bed."
Gyrmallion looked uncomfortable. "If it's about the sleepwalking...I honestly have no idea how it happened."
"No, Nevano wants to know so he can get out of whenever I drug him." Drelasa said. "What I meant with you, darling, is get your hind end back in bed."
He smiled and obeyed.
Elealda watched him go. "Master, teach me your ways," she said, her tone only half-joking. "There have been times I thought I was going to have to sew him into the bedclothes to keep him down while I had him on bed rest."
"Here I was about to comment how I wish they all were as compliant." Drelasa sighed, sinking into a chair. "Though I will forever employ Serana with Nevano now."
"She appears to be making quite a difference in him." Elealda smirked. "Though I suppose I shouldn't discount the fact that she's providing him with every possible incentive to obey in that respect."
"Drelasa?" Drizzt reappeared in the room, frowning. "I think you might want to come have a look at this."
She jumped up and followed him quickly. "What's wrong, darling?"
"I put an arm around Ravenlight and she flinched," he explained, leading her back to the Harbinger's quarters. "I thought it was just her shoulders at first, but..."
She was lying on her back, eyes closed. Drizzt closed the door, glanced at the Dunmer, and lifted the blanket off.
The front of the Bosmer's torso was covered in a pattern of thin, oozing cuts.
"What is this?" She gently turned her to see if it surrounded her.
"It's not on her back," he said. "I...well, I saw that already when I took her tunic off to see how badly she was hurt. But I don't know how far down it goes." He swallowed. "He said she...blocked the titan from hurting the rest of them, after she killed it. Do you think..."
"Ah, I see." Drelasa nodded. "While I think it is indeed the same sort of injury, I don't think it is of the same level of...direness. She and the Dov are connected fully and Akatosh was looking after her. I will see what I can do so help these."
He relaxed. "Thank you."
"I have been able to talk to Nerevar while Nevano was unconscious. While I don't know if I can talk to the Dov, I can certainly try to see how she is doing as well." Drelasa smiled at him. "Don't fret. Won't let her suffer."
"The Dov...does speak through her while she's asleep or unconscious sometimes," Drizzt said, briefly resting his hand on her forehead. "And...thank you. She would-and very nearly has-jumped down the mouth of hell to help me. It..." He closed his eyes. "I hate it that I can't do the same for her."
Drelasa pulled him into a hug. "Darling, caring for someone deeply like this, always being there for them, leaping after them into every misadventure...you are jumping down the mouth of hell every day for her. You are far more than you realize."
He seemed momentarily startled; then relaxed, and answered the hug. "I...thank you."
"Of course, darling." She released him and cupped his cheek. "Now settle and don't fret. The ones that are hitting the ground here are the strongest, most stubborn beings I can think of. They will absolutely pull through and in a week be comparing stories, much to our exasperation."
He smiled and seated himself across from her, reaching out absently to take her hand. Her fingers curled around his, and a slight smile appeared on her face.
"See? There's a good sign." Drelasa brushed a gentle healing spell over them to see how that would work. The oozing ceased; and while the cuts didn't vanish, the red, angry appearance did.
"Even more reassuring." Drelasa smiled. "I think this might be one of those where it's a gradual healing process. If the Dov did just as much as she did, they are both exhausted. The Dov will need some time between each healing session to recover her strength as well to heal on her side."
"Can you make it at least so that it doesn't hurt her to be touched?" He glanced up at her. "I probably will...hold her for a while. Just to let her know...she's safe. And I know Connlach will probably come sleep with her, and while I'll be careful, he won't know to be."
"Of course. Might be the extent of what I can accomplish myself right now, to be honest." Drelasa said, her hands glowing and covering Ravenlight in a soft gold light. "We might all be crawling along for a while."
"Maybe we need to," Drizzt said quietly. "I don't know if anyone else remembers...there are dragons that went to battle the vampires on their own. Strong ones. We've gathered the army in Skyrim; they look up to her, but they can all move without her there. We don't all need to be...running all this time."
"Considering you lot are taking on the Molag Bal front, you need all the rest you can possibly get." Drelasa said. "Taking on a Daedra Lord run mad like this is not easy. The last time, it called for a life in repayment. I don't want to see that happen this time around."
His hand tightened around hers, and he nodded in agreement.
Drelasa didn't push too hard, her hands were starting to shake, but by the time she finished, Ravenlight did seem more at ease.
Drizzt glanced up and saw this. He set Ravenlight's hand back beside her and stood quickly, supporting Drelasa against him. "Easy. Don't overdo it." He held her for a moment, letting her catch her breath. "We've been asking a lot of you, too, haven't we? Every other day, it feels like someone needs healing, and we've been turning to you for most of it." His arms briefly tightened. "Get some rest," he said. "There's a temple to Kynareth across the square, and Arcadia sells healing potions. We'll be all right for a while."
"Troublesome champions." She said without any heat. "Mephala took far more out of me than I'd like to admit. She should rest easier now. We all should get some rest, especially if this change is going to be as dramatic as Nevano insists it'll be."
Drizzt nodded. "I'm...going to stay here for the time being. They'll come fetch me if there's a problem, but..."
"Stay with her. Going through someone's mind is disturbing. She will want comfort close by." Drelasa said. "Don't hesitate to wake me up if something happens. I'll be nearby."
He nodded. "I will."
She gave him another hug and went off to find a bed. He stretched out beside Ravenlight, wrapping her in a blanket and putting his arms around her. "Rest easy, essiel," he whispered. "I'm here."