Chapter THIRTY-NINE: Minor Discoveries-TALIA

...

What it has been like…

Deep in the lavish dwellings of the castle, the Sun Priest and Dreamer paced back and forth. Talia diligently followed Aydan's every step, waiting for anything he needed from her.

"...Talia, I'm sorry...I am so sorry..." his voice quivered as he spoke, now having said this same line for the millionth time.

"Sorry?...Sorry, for what? You have not done anything, my sweet-sunny druid," she defended. Her hand reached for his but he pulled away, causing her to feel neglected. But just knowing it wasn't really 'her' made the sun priest anxious and disgusted at himself, despite things getting a little better over the last weeks as the love potion wore a bit away.

"I know you think that I have not done anything wrong, but please, Talia, I need your help…"

"Anything, my darling groom...Groom?...Why is it that we have not married yet? Am I not worthy in some way? If there is something I can do better, my darling-husband-to-be, just tell me!"

He turned away, "No, you're going off topic again. But understand that it is MY fault. I only want you to know that…I don't blame you if you hate me- Please, I need you to be yourself…It's all my fault that you are not yourself, my love."

"But I am myself…Only for you. You know that. I always have been…But I do not hate you. HOW COULD YOU SAY THAT?! 'HATE'?! ...Even the mentioning of that word...You must actually...hate me! Tis me! I knew it..." Talia whimpered now on the verge of crying.

"Please, I am tired. Dameon needs you...I need you," he pleaded and wished and prayed at the same time.

"Now that you have mentioned how much I am needed, my only-precious- priest-of-this-whole-realm, you do look a little flushed. What is it that you need?" Talia grinned in an unnatural fashion.

"...Can you...Can you tell me if you know of antidote potions…I do not know what else to do..." he stopped, after seeing the same confused expression as always. Though this time, Aydan smiled instead, thinking of the good that had come out of all of this: Talia did love him; at least, at some point she started to before he had given her the first love potion so long ago. She had never acted this peculiar with the weak little doses he'd given her previously. If anything, he now wondered if it ever had an effect. Yes, she was helpless now, and perhaps it was for the best since she would not remember later on once he found a cure.

"…Talia, it is okay. I just need to rest. Can I trust you do look over Dameon?" Aydan sighed heavily, his mind now drifting from fatigue. He didn't trust her, but he needed sleep. "It's only for a little while. I need to go to Aveyond-No-the Dreamworld with you soon."

"Yes, of course! Dameon always takes so much of your time and all…The little brat," she answered eagerly; however, immediately beginning to feel pangs of jealous against her own son. "Now go lay down and I will go play with him. We shall have fun and you shall get rest."

"No...I will sit here. I can't leave you alone," he murmured as he turned to go find Dameon and brought him back to her. "Just stay here with him, Tal."

"Very well, I will. I shall think of your dreams my handsome-sleepy-warrior-of-love…"

..

Aydan's eyes wrestled to open after a short while. At once, he searched around to see what Talia was doing. There, in the corner of the room, she sat with a pair of sheers and Dameon on her lap.

"GAH! Talia what are you doing to our son?!" he yelled, as he raced to pull the sheers from her hand.

"Oh, nothing. He was asking for you and…Well, he did it! Do not listen to anything he tells you! Aydan, please, I was only giving him a haircut. Do not get so mad!" Talia began to chuckle at the boy who was clueless of what had happened on top of his little head.

Aydan pulled the boy away, who began to cry furiously. After so much distance from his mother lately, he wanted her attention and was now losing it again.

"Talia, he's your son! How…how…could this not bother you?..."

Talia began to whimper too.

"No. Never mind it. It is only hair, my love. Do not get upset over this. I will have to find a remedy later," Aydan assured her once Talia started crying, too. She reached for Dameon to hold and comfort the boy.

"…I don't know what got into me. It's all my fault!"

"No, it was me. Do not blame yourself. We must go to the Dreamlands now. I can work on antidotes tomorrow," Aydan said, unsure if he could make a growth potion for hair, since he couldn't even make an antidote for love potion; though, the antidote would be his priority for now.

He sat down beside his family. Aydan pulled Dameon closer to see his hair—or at least what was left of it. It was cut into patchy sections.

"Not bad, actually. It could be worse," he said, forcing a laugh to make Talia feel better.

...

A clan of squirrels lined up outside the Oracle's quarters. They had been waiting impatiently, occasionally, pestering the Star Priestess, who anxiously was waiting for the Oracle's return.

"So where iz ze Oracle?-He he heh," one of the squirrels asked to purposely annoy her.

"Bloody hell! For the last time, I do not know! These are no longer days for her to be sitting around waiting for such guests as you pathetic little vermin. I wish I could…" Trin gritted, but was suddenly interrupted when the door magically flung open. "Why so late? I summoned you hours ago. It is nearly dark!"

"Please, this has not been a good day," the Oracle said, frazzled. Trin looked at her realizing that the old woman was shaking.

"You are not well. Is-Is there something the matter?" Trin asked nervously.

"Child, the Demon…he has begun destroying kingdoms. The lands are in upheaval and I am being summoned often by those I cannot help. I have been with the priestesses of Mysten Far and the Druids of the World today—Some were not present, however," she said, implying the Dreamer. "So we will have to all meet later."

"Perhaps then, this is not a good time...I just…I…It can wait. It may not be important in comparison to what else I may be needed for," Trin said readying herself to leave or for orders if she needed to journey again.

"No, no. What you are to tell me cannot wait anymore," the Oracle said, looking at the line of fidgeting squirrels. One of them wagged its fluffy-ginger tail and pranced forward. The leader squirrel, she thought, as her calm eyes met its dark brown ones.

"Uh-um. The creature has some interesting news about the Dreamer and Druid of Light...Quite interesting news..." Trin began, somewhat beginning to hope that the squirrel was telling a lie in the back of her mind.

"So it seems," the Oracle responded, now looking at the leader squirrel carefully.

"Yes, it iz true. Ze red-haired priestess was given something in her drink many, many years ago. I would have given ze priest a good scare, but I decided to be nice to him. But I saw it all: he is wicked.-There, I said it! Where is my reward?" the squirrel finished quickly. It glanced at its mates who were just as eager for compensation.

"…Oracle...is it telling the truth?" Trin asked warily.

"Yes, indeed," the Oracle confirmed as she looked into the squirrel's beady eyes. At the same time, the Oracle wondered what the Sun Priest had given the Dreamer, and if it could be the same reason for her strange behavior now. More needed to be found out soon about this incident.

"What do you suppose it could have been?...It seems that whatever was given to her started their pitiful courtship," Trin said, having thought the same as the Oracle.

"All I know is that it was some sort of potion, so it sounds..." the Oracle managed to foresee, "…Potion…"

"Hey! We have waited enough for you foolish humans to make up your mind. Now where iz ze reward?"

"Very well. What is it that you want?" the Oracle offered.

They looked at each other and then huddled into a circle, murmuring amongst themselves. One of them looked up and chuckled at the two waiting women, before lowering back to the conspiring bunch.

"Squirrel! I must leave soon. I have been summoned again. We will have to arrange for something much later," the Oracle interrupted, suddenly sensing that she was urgently needed elsewhere.

"No! We have decided! Do not go yet!-We are very bored here in this stupid realm. We would like to leave this stupid realm and go to ze world-for good!"

"But your place is here…You are charmed creatures. It would be a mistake to send you out into the world. The world right now has never been such a dangerous place. It's a warzone. You would be out of place…My guess…creating mischief, am I right?"

"Yes, yes. We understand. That iz why we would like a safe place, and for you to find it. He he he."

"No!" Trin spoke out. She angrily contemplated as she pointed her staff at them. "Do you think we have time to scout around for your likes, rodents? I say we send you to the desert, or perhaps the witches and vampires will appreciate an appetizer, eh?"

"It's not fair! You promised us! You promised us!" they all cowered.

"THAT is enough! I will see was I can do for you!-I must leave now for my duties. Farewell, I will be back tonight…Please remain in the castle until I return," the Oracle ordered, as she disappeared in a haze of storming lights, leaving both squirrels and the Star Priestess alone.

"So-What shall we do now? It is late and we are hungry," the leader squirrel told the priestess menacingly.

Trin sighed, irritated that she had to watch them any longer. "Fine! I will see what I can do. Follow me…I shall stuff you-I mean feed you full."

They looked at her with contempt, and giggled mischievously as they followed.

..

They arrived in the western towers of the castle and entered the priestess' quarters. Moon Priestess Leana arrived at the same time as her sister. She looked down at their guests with a blank expression and opened the door to her room. A large white cat jumped out immediately towards the squirrels.

"Leana! Why did you do that?!" Trin snapped as she raised her staff and a stream of starbursts shot out scaring the cat into a corner. The white cat looked at them, and then the door, trying to decide which to turn to.

"I am sorry, sister. I only meant to rest in my room. My pet will not bother you again," Leana apologized, still eyeing the throng of squirrels that were inching closer and closer towards the open door. "Why are they here?" she questioned curiously as she grabbed the cat, which squirmed desperately in her arms, opening its mouth and spitting air.

"They had important information for the Oracle-Now can you please put that cat away!" Trin cried. Leana calmly turned to her room and shut the door behind her quickly.

Suddenly, the squirrels raced out into the corridors, "AHhhhhh! She is trying to feed us to ze animals!" some of them shouted as they disappeared into the dim castle.

"Come back, foolish rodents!" Trin yelled back in vain. "Return at once!" But it was no good. They had gone.

...

Sometime later...

Trinity waited for the squirrels, hoping that she would not have to look for them in the massive castle. Calling out one last threat, she finally decided to search for them. Before she left, she yelled back inside. "Leana, I will be out. I will be back soon," she said, but no one answered.

..

The corridors were endless. Trin searched in most of the western towers, in the places she thought the rodents were most likely to hide. Not wanting to give up, she heatedly turned towards the eastern part of the castle, huffing and puffing from anger.

Now that she had reached the side where the Sun Priest and Dreamer resided, she walked more carefully, not wanting to be seen by either.

The Sun Druid will finally get what's coming to him, she thought to herself, enviously.

Suddenly, many yards away in the shadowy corridor, she saw the Sun Priest walk into a room. She froze for a few seconds, wondering if he had seen her, or if he had found the squirrels.

Once her mind cleared, she realized what room he had entered: "The magical supply storage," she mumbled softly to herself.

...

Sun Priest Aydan walked to a counter with a cauldron boiling rapidly. Dazed and tired, he stirred the contents carefully. He tipped the mix quickly into a vial and smiled. He placed the blue elixir beside one of the many pink ones that rested nearby. Instantly, the pink potion erupted and turned black. A magenta mist heart-shaped cloud rose into the air and cracked before evaporating into nothing.

"This has to be it," he murmured happily as he covered the love potion vials and placed the blue one away. Nevertheless, he realized that he needed to experiment with it some more before giving it to his beloved. But he was at last certain that he had found an antidote.

...

Watching at a distance, the Moon Priestess surveyed her sister. She had wandered into the castle as well in search of the squirrels Trinity had brought with her.

Leana had left before Trin went on her search, wondering what news the squirrels had given the Oracle. Her heart raced, worried that she would startle her sister, as she was about to make herself known, but then she saw the Sun Priest and hid, as Trin had done too, while she spied on both now.

...

Trin walked into the storage room, having seen the Sun Priest putting away the pink potions. A thick colorful fog clouded the storage room. She held her staff out.

Aydan looked at Trin, baffled over her presence. He reached for his staff as well, but Trin knocked it to the ground with hers. He suddenly became cold from fear.

"What…what are you doing here, Trinity?" he asked, attempting to seem like nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.

Trin kept her eyes on him. She moved suspiciously closer to the counter and pulled the cover off the vials he had hidden.

"Don't touch that...It can be dangerous," Aydan murmured. Seeing the potions again made him unwillingly cackle.

Trin sneered and then looked at the bubble-pink potion, recognizing it instantly. Her hand began to reach for it.

"I told you not to touch that!" Aydan yelled. He grabbed her arm, startling her, making her drop her staff. She resisted, swinging her free arm at him, and accidentally threw the vials to the floor, leaving only one pink vial unshattered. She then noticed a blue vial a few feet away, but ignored it.

"It is love potion...You-you have been giving the Dreamer love potion?" Trin whispered in disbelief. "Answer me!"

"No, I…I couldn't stop," he admitted shamefully, but soon realized that he was talking to the woman that hated Talia the most. "- What business is this to you? I have nothing to explain to you. Go before I make you regret ever showing your face here."

"I…I…I can't believe I ever felt any empathy for you! You disgust me! Your father would be ashamed! How could you do that to…to…her?" Trin wailed. Hot tears fell from her eyes. Aydan let her go. "Do you realize what you have done? She is a priestess of Mysten Far! The Dreamer! The Guardian of Dreams!...She is not a whore, you foolish priest! How could you-" Trin stopped, covering her mouth with her free hand. She realized she had gone too far.

Aydan resentfully picked up his staff upon hearing her cruel words and held it towards her. "Do NOT Even Compare Her To That! Do you not remember what you did to me all those years ago, after my father died?…I needed you then as a friend...As a sister-You've hated her since you met her without reason! Do not deny it! You are the one who needs to be put in your place! How dare you insult the mother of my son!-You will pay greatly for that-"

Suddenly, having heard enough, Leana came out from hiding. Her staff ready to fire any defensive spells at her disposal.

"That is enough. Let go of her, Sun Priest!" the Moon Priestess demanded. Though, holding her staff at them seemed somewhat entertaining, but she immediately concealed a slight smile with her hand.

Trin looked at her sister in shock, somewhat surprised that she had been there all along.

"Leana…Have you heard everything?" Trin asked, "...I had everything under control. We were just talking..."

"Do not pretend you do, sister. I have heard everything. We ought to take him to the Oracle this instant," Leana insisted immediately.

Aydan remained silent, hoping to have time to get back to Talia and his son who were in the Dreamworld.

"…Yes…maybe...Perhaps..." Trin agreed reluctantly as she reached for her staff and the remaining love potion vial, obscuring it with a piece of cloth. She did not want to involve anyone else in this issue. "No, Leana...Perhaps we should let the Oracle summon him herself later. I have other things to do and as do you... This is not our problem to solve."

Trin turned around before she left and slapped Aydan to his knees. He remained silent on the ground. He didn't have any reason or excuse to argue anymore. All he could think of was getting to the Dreamlands, back to Talia.

"But we should…" Leana insisted, almost pouting, but she gave up once Trin began towards the exit. "I will be taking this with me," she said as she grabbed Aydan's staff, and turned to follow the Star Priestess.

Aydan's hopes of getting to the Dreamlands faded as he watched the priestess walk away with his staff. He ran inside to take the blue antidote with him, and ran towards his chambers, hopeful to find a traveling rune; now his last hope to explain things to Talia before anyone else could.

..

Leana looked back at the Sun Priest who ran the opposite way. Trinity had taken off in another direction still in search of her mischievous squirrel guests.

..

Now alone, Leana smirked coldly in the darker corridor: "Master will be pleased…Indeed, he will be…Mother would have been proud as well…"

...

Deleted scenes B

...

Years ago…

..

-Elden-

The Moon Priestess, Leana walked leisurely after appearing in a billow of white smoky mist. She made her way upwards along a wilderness-creeping path, swatting irksome bees that would come her way as she walked through the eastern forest in the world. She was a little lost, unsure where the Dreamer's banal village was situated.

Not long after, straight ahead, she saw a cross sign that pointed her in the direction of her destination: Elden was to the north.

On the way, she stopped on a small wooden bridge with a murky stream that flowed downhill. A little further over, were several timber cabins with people going about their simple business. Children played and women hung sheets to let dry as chickens pecked at the ground beneath.

Her long sallow-blondish hair dangled as she looked down into the brownish-water stream, barely seeing a reflection. For a moment, she thought it hard to believe that the Dreamer came from such a shabby, mawkish place like this. Just for a little while, she reminded herself, since she would only be here for the day, at most, to gather the belongings of the Dreamer's deceased grandmother as the Oracle had requested her to do. However, she was happy to be running the errand, though it was not in the most eye-pleasing of places, since it gave her a chance to escape from her duties, and perhaps deal with other manners in the meantime.

She exhaled as she made her presence known to the villagers.

On seeing her, some froze and fell to their knees to greet her, mumbling gracious discourse. A small boy, no more than twelve, who seemed a bit stupefied as well, went to her and handed her flowers; as villagers prayed, thankful for her expected but highly desirable visit.

..

After the untimely death of Grandmother Maurva, there had been rumors that at least a priestess of Mysten Far would come on behalf of Talia. But to see a druid, a celestial druid of all holy superiors that could have possibly shown up, was a great honor for the small village. It made them feel the reality that one of their own had just become the Guardian of Dreams-a true nobility and legend now-that had had her humble beginnings in the tiny community. Though proud of her, at the same time, they all felt for Talia's loss. After all, her grandmother had been her only caregiver and they had all enjoyed watching Talia grow up...Well, at least most had.

..

Leana let them continue their welcome greetings, beginning to feel somewhat smothered. Young and old gave her messages of sympathy and regards to tell Talia, as well as explaining what had happened to the old woman. Though, Leana hardly could keep up with anything they were saying. So much was being said and it began to feel more like a celebration than a time of mourning.

"Aye, aye. I will let the Dream Priestess know that you are well.-But, excuse me, will one of you show me to the Maurva premises. I have much to do and I would like to give Talia her grandmother's...meager inheritance, if there is any!" she snapped at the bunch, but quickly smiled. "...So, if all is packed and ready to go, since it is getting late, I would greatly appreciate it. I assume that there is not much?"

They all fell awkwardly silent as she waited for one of them to show her to the Dreamer's former cabin. Her eyes drifted first to a girl with vivid green hair and read a nasty expression on her face that seemed somewhat pleased about the whole ordeal. There, however, was something familiar about her, as if she had met someone that resembled her.

"Your Holiness..." a middle aged man wearing an apron started. His voice filled with sadness, "We have dared not gone into that cottage since lovely-lady Maurva's passing. It is said to be cursed or diseased. So if you will just purify the place, and perhaps the village, we would be in great debt to ye."

Leana thought for a moment. It all did seem suspicious that the old woman had suddenly died.

"Very well, then…Will one of you show me to her cabin?" she finally said to the small crowd. Several hurriedly walked away, pretending that they had something to do. The man, however, stayed.

"I will. It's on the way to the Hungry Boar Tavern. I'm the barkeeper there," he said trying to attempt small talk.

Leana looked at him, intrigued, and began to read him: He had had feelings for the old woman. How interesting, she thought to herself as they walked upwards on a small path.

They reached a small cabin with what appeared to be a vegetable garden beside it, except that it had been devoured by tall dark grasses and weeds.

"Here it tis," the man said as they got to the front door. He halted and sighed with grief. "I should get back to work. If ye need anything, I'm at the tavern," he said before leaving.

"Wait…What is your name?" Leana asked.

"Renald…Say hello to Talia, will you?"

"But of course!" the priestess called out as she shut the door behind her.

..

The inside of the cabin was dark. The only light that entered snuck in under the tightly drawn curtains. Everything seemed to be out of use, she noticed, as she lit a candle and placed it on the floor. Realizing that there was another room, she tipped-toed her way to the second room to peak further inside.

She suddenly covered her mouth, repulsed at seeing what was on the bed, under a sheet. Apparently, the villagers had been too afraid of burying the old woman; either that, or it was some strange tradition, but the former was most likely.

Strangely enough, there were no flies or scent in the dwelling, she also realized.

Not wanting to think more of it, Leana picked up a box and began to search for things she could take. Not a moment after, the candle blew out and the room grew dark again. Instead the furnace lit a deadly bright red-orange light. A figure emerged from the opposite shadowy corner of the room.

"Sssss! Master!-Ahriman, what are you doing here?" Leana stammered softly.

"Quiet you!-I am here collecting! What else?" Ahriman cackled in the shadows.

"I've been searching for you, Master...So this is what you have done with the information I have given you about the Dreamer? Kill a wretched old hag?"

"Ha! Big debts can be paid off in small sums. This is only the beginning. Oh, and I still have to collect from the princess, the lizard creature, what was it? Ah yes, a pesky shifter! And my, my, the foul mouth, quarrelsome knight, both of whom you have not found for me, Moon Priestess!" the demon said menacingly.

"My Lord, please, I have asked about the knight and it is assumed that he is still in Thais. As for the shifter…I cannot say. Just be patient, you are not strong enough yet, anyways. This is a terrible vice you have developed: taking petty vengeances-And do not forget our agreement-I want her out of the Demon Realm first! Understood?" Leana finished as she glared at him. He began to finally emerge, half way out of the darkness. His demonic purple skin glowed, showing hideous scars of what the mottled black robe he wore could not hide. She felt for her staff as he got closer, seething. "...My healing spells are working well, my Lord…"

"Yes, yes, of course. I will keep our deal, demon spawn! She will be of more use to me than to you! Now, do I tell you have much you look like her? How much more gifted she is than you are or shall ever be? Or shall I just tell you of her miseries before she became a daeva? As a demon, druid, and after?! I know everything, girl! Ha ha ha!"

"That is enough! I do not need to be reminded. I have been kept in the dark too long!" Leana screeched madly. "She tried to be good. I have tried to be good, and as you can see, I would not be here helping you if I had not sensed you. If you had not called me, I would have had to keep pretending as mother tried too. She should have never loved father-A Star Priest! A preacher of the light!-She should have never become the Moon Priestess and abandoned her kind! Yet alone, sentence one to an eternity in a Sword…I hope Trinity will someday understand..." Leana whispered the last words, once finding a tin can with something inside hidden under the dining table.

"That's more like it, priestess! Now that we have figured out your childish past, let us focus on the present. Oh yes, of course, let's begin with my revenge and conquering this mollycoddled world. It has been too long since my presence and might have been felt. Oh, you'll have your revenge too-Eventually! Muahahah!-Then we shall figure out your mommy-daughter issues later, say?" he ridiculed.

"Thank you, my Lord," Leana said, ignoring the last part as she opened the tin can. "Don't forget: you are too weak right now and I cannot be discovered. Everything will be ruined if others suspect you have returned.-Oh, what have we here?!" Leana paused as she pulled out a silver ring and a golden pendant. An image of a tornado decorated the shiny surface of the ring. "So the Dreamer's precious grandmother did leave something for her precious granddaughter. Oh well. I guess I'll be keeping this ring.-Here, you can have this. It's a charm pendant, you can have this old thing."

"I do not believe in luck. And demons do not GIVE things to other demons, foolish priestess," he snarled, taking it anyways just to make a point.

Suddenly, Leana's attention shifted towards the door. "Ssssss! It is someone…The friend of the Dreamer's: Devin Perry, I believe. He must be here for the girl's grandmother."

Ahriman began to chuckle. "So, the fool has saved me the trouble of finding him? Shall I have him die a slow and painful death like the old inhabitant of this dwelling OR quick and sharp."

"No! You cannot make it so obvious that you are around-Hide! He is here!" Leana said as she heard a fast knock on the door and it began to open. "-I will help you deal with him later, I swear, my Lord!"

"Fine! But this shall be the last time you ruin my plans, priestess. I am eager for reven—"

Leana quickly turned to banish him. She threw whatever she could into the collection box for Talia's inheritance as Devin walked in.

"Oh, it's you," Devin said surprised. "Priestess Leana, right?...I didn't think you would be here."

She looked at him from head to toe: he looked miserable. Well it had been only 5 months since he lost the Dreamer, she thought. Well, he could have lost more just now. Oh well, perhaps later...

"Oh yes, I am here to take some things for the Dreamer. I assume you're here to bury her grandmother? It truly is a shame."

"Yes...Does Talia know yet?" Devin asked disconcertedly.

"Most likely…I was not the one designated to tell her," Leana explained as she stared into Devin sad-stricken eyes. It was almost comical to her, the way everything had ended so tragically perfect between them-What moron, she thought.

Devin looked warily at her, taking a step back, "...I think I will return later. I probably should go visit my sister Lidia," he said as he turned away.

"Your sister?…" she half-hissed to herself.

Devin closed the door, thinking he would come later when he felt more comfortable to ask questions about his beloved friend.

...

The second she was sure that he had left, she saw a milk pail off to the side, and threw it in the collection box for Talia just for a laugh. She made sure to leave before Devin came back.