Hehehehe—
Since this is really the second part to the last chapter, I don't have any babble for you.
Same disclaimers as always.
Thanks to Queen who answered my question about Moon's scepter thingie. (PLEASE! Read her fics! I'm telling you, she's FANTASTIC! It's the best choice you will ever make!) {She has eighteen at the moment}
And thanks to GlaiveGirl: Yes, I like your handle as well. *laughs* Glaives are COOL.
Please R&R!
Peace, Love and Anarchy!
~The Elemental.
Walk Through the Fire.
Chapter 11:
Readings of Fate.
Let it Burn!
Hotaru snapped out of her reverie, startled. The musicians played a final note. When did they join us? And why did I sing that? How did they know the song…More importantly, how did Duo know it?
Duo heard the applause and blinked. What just happened? And how did she know that song?
Seeing that Duo was once again disoriented, Hotaru grabbed his hand and pulled him into a bow. Questions could come later; they weren't finished here. Casting around for a familiar face, Hotaru spotted Dyan and looked straight at her. Seeing the girl's stare, Dyan nodded. Straightening both herself and Duo, Hotaru called out over the light applause:
"Dyan, please share with the group." Dyan accepted and made her way to the front of the fire as Duo and Hotaru attempted to find their former spots in the looming nightfall.
Spying Shanra and their log, Duo tugged Hotaru towards it when a voice cut through the darkness.
"A moment, if you please."
Everyone turned to see an ancient looking centaur step forward into the light cast by the fire. "I will share tonight. There is a need." Confused by her words, Hotaru found herself being ushered forward with Duo towards the woman. Shanra whispered from behind their backs "This is Grandmother Silverarc. If anyone can help you, she can." Stopping not far from the centaur, both Duo and Hotaru felt her glare as she examined them. They glanced at each other, then studied the woman in front of them.
She looked ancient, with wrinkles upon wrinkles and her hair a solid frame of silver around her face. Her eyes were hard, but held a glint of laughter and were framed with laugh lines. She wore a layered top that reminded Hotaru of a kimono with its long, bell-shaped sleeves, but it stopped at the bottom of her torso, as did all centaur wear. She carried a staff, and the sash across her chest held many small pouches, all full, though Hotaru couldn't say of what. The centaur nodded once, almost as if to herself, then motioned for Hotaru and Duo to sit. Shanra pulled them back to their log without complaint, telling them that "Grandmother will see you after the fire."
Duo watched intently as the centaur approached the fire, her hands held out in front of her in offering. For how old she is, she doesn't show it in the way she moves. What is she doing…? Duo watched as she raised her hands higher and higher, the fire growing in response. She suddenly brought her hands down, abruptly smashing the air underneath them. The fire condensed and flared, and when Duo looked again, all that was left was a bed of glowing embers.
"Goddess, I call upon thee!
Let your wisdom be our guide;
Let our troubles be untied.
May you let your glory shine;
May you grant us truths divine!"
She shuddered, and stared straight ahead, looking at no one and every one at the same time.
"I see danger closing in,
I see a battle we can't win.
I see help from off afar,
I see a name that we must mar.
In our ranks we have hid,
A truth all but forbid!
Seek you now the solace of life,
And be warned of future strife."
The fire died, leaving not even the coals glowing. With a single nod, the centaur headed back towards her home, a small cabin towards the edge of the village. The centaurs seemed to recognise this as the end of the ceremony, and began to head home themselves.
Hotaru looked at Duo. Duo looked at Hotaru. Both turned to face Shanra.
"What the hell was that about?"
Shanra looked shocked, then laughed, long and hard. "That's Grandmother Silverarc! She's the only known centaur with magic; she can look into the future. You'll both see her in the morning."
"But…What—? We're seeing her when?"
"In the morning. She told mother already to send you over at first light. You'd better get some sleep. Come on, I'll show you your room."
Shanra trotted towards her own home, leaving Duo and Hotaru with little choice but to follow.
***
"This is your room. I'm sorry it's not much, the closest to human visitors we get are elves, and they prefer to sleep outside." Shanra motioned inside a plain room with two mattresses on raised wooden slats. A few warm blankets were laid across each bed and a small pillow rested at the top. Duo sauntered over to the bed on the right.
"Don't worry about it. Compared to some of the places I've slept, this is paradise! When will we see your grandmother?"
"She's not my grandmother specifically….or at least, I don't think she is. She's always been called 'Grandmother' since I can remember….I don't know why… Anyway," Shanra shook her head. "You'll see her at first light. Will you need anything else?"
Hoteru shook her head. "I'm fine, Duo?"
"Nothing I need but sleep. Goodnight, Shanra."
"Yes, goodnight Shanra."
"Goodnight, both of you. And thanks." Bowing slightly with a smile, Shanra left. Duo looked over to Hotaru, who was sitting on her bed directly across from him.
"I think we've got to talk…"
"Yes, we most certainly do."
A moment of silence passed, both unsure of how to begin. Finally, Duo sighed.
"Ok, first things first. How did you know that song?"
"I could ask you the same thing."
"Damnit Hotaru! I really hate people who answer like that; I deal with it enough as it is! I heard it in a dream, ok? It freaked me out, popping up underneath a horrible nightmare I had before I got here. Suddenly we're dragged in front of a fire and we're trying to sing something we both know and can't think of anything that will work when you start singing. You look half-dead, there isn't any focus on your face, and suddenly I'm singing it, and I didn't even realise this until I finish. It freaked me out, ok? And I just want to know how you know that song, since I've never heard it anywhere but that dream." Duo blinked, then lied on his back, pulling up a blanket. "God, I'm ranting. I'm sorry, usually I'm the one on Wufei's case about his rants and here I am doing the same thing…."
Hotaru laughed quietly. "You remind me of Haruka. She does the same thing. What does Wufei rant about?"
"Oh, justice, injustice, the weakness of women, the weakness of peace, people's stupidity, the injustice of being paired with Sally Po, even though we know they get along great….You know, you never answered my question…"
Hotaru sighed, lying down as well.. "I had a nightmare…It was terrible, but the song seemed to be behind it…I only remembered the dream a day or two before I got here…I don't know why I started singing, it just happened."
"What was your nightmare about?"
Silence.
"Alright. Don't worry, I understand. I don't think I could tell you mine, thinking about it. How do you suppose the musicians knew the song?"
"I don't know. We could ask…That might tell us more about it, at least."
"I guess…Hey Hotaru? Do you think this 'Grandmother' is for real?"
"I don't know…" Remembering Rei's many divinations in front of the fire, she shook her head, though Duo couldn't see it in the dim light. "I can't say….But it feels like, I don't know, she's…"
"Faking it?"
"Exactly. Her entire speech, It sounded too…."
"Forced."
"Yes….So, what should we do?"
"I don't know. I guess hearing her out can't hurt…And it might help…" Duo sounded doubtful.
"You're right. We can at least try. I don't know what will happen tomorrow, but I do know one thing:"
"What?"
"We'd better get some sleep. First light means dawn."
"Oh. Good idea. G'night Hotaru."
"Sleep well Duo."
**********************
They rose early the next morning, and were escorted to meet 'Grandmother Silverarc' before most had woken up. Pausing at the door, Shanra twisted her hands nervously.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I'm just…."
"You look pretty nervous to me. Why?"
"It's nothing." She seemed to pause. "It's just …I heard Rothar was going to talk to Grandmother last night, and I snuck around to listen in…He was trying to convince Grandmother to declare you a threat and have you killed! If he convinced grandmother.…Her word means everything here! I don't know what she said either, mother caught me before I could hear!"
Duo patted Shanra's shoulder. "Don't worry about it, we'll be fine."
"But—"
The door swung open and a young-ish looking centaur stood behind it. "I am the Grandmother's aide upon such matters. She is willing to meet with you now. She says that you must stay, child of Dyan. These matters are for Her ears only." Shanra nodded once without argument. Hotaru and Duo followed the centaur into the small cabin.
"My name is Jaznica. She waits for you in here." Jaznica opened the doors in front of the pair and motioned for them to enter. "I will leave you here. Spirits Bless." She turned and left, closing the door behind her.
Duo and Hotaru glanced around as Grandmother Silverarc rose to meet them. She looked regal, for a centaur, clothed in a dozen shades and layers of lilac. She gripped her staff and motioned for Hotaru and Duo to sit in the two chairs positioned in one corner of the room. Her eyes hard, she waited for them to sit before she turned to Duo.
"What did you see in the fire?"
"W-What? What fire?" Duo glanced at Hotaru nervously. How could she know? And why did Hotaru just pale…Or is it just the light? The centaur looked at him as though he was simple.
"The fire last night, human. What did you see? Do not lie to me, things will worsen considerably if you do."
Duo muttered under his breath to Hotaru: "I can't see how things can get much worse."
Before she could respond however, the centaur's free hand sped out and caught Duo's shoulder.
"Tell me. It is vital that I know. What did you see?" Her face was millimetres from Duo's. Staring defiantly into her eyes, Duo was shocked to see that they were odd, one a golden yellow, one violet. They stared at him intently, and soon he realized he really didn't have much choice. If I don't tell her, how is she going to help up? And if I lie, and she knows…She may refuse to help at all. Sighing, he looked down at his hands, breaking eye contact with the unnerving woman.
"I saw Heero, fighting….And everyone…."
"What else?"
"Marie-Maya, when she was trying to take over the Earth Sphere Alliance….And Duke Dermail, before he died…."
"Ah….You saw the past. Correct?"
"I guess so."
Her hand left his shoulder and he felt, rather than saw, her turn to face Hotaru.
"And you, one who hides your past from even yourself. What did you see?"
"I saw nothing."
"You lie. I'll ask again; what did you see? You seek information from me, I simply wish for a fair exchange."
"I saw centaurs…and small humans in a forest, wearing the strangest clothing…I saw an earthquake destroying a cave….and someone inside it….and a woman, just her silhouette…."
"You saw this world, child. This future, perhaps."
"We came here looking for someone to help us. Can you?" Duo rubbed his temples.
"Of course I can."
"Will you?"
The centaur looked at Hotaru intently, then laughed. She laughed long and hard, while Duo and Hotaru exchanged confused looks. Finally, a fit of coughing stopped her laughter. Handing the centaur a glass of water Hotaru had found on a small table, they both waited for her explanation.
"Oh my…That was too much. You sounded just like a friend of mine, always looking for the hidden agenda…I'm sorry, you must be awfully confused…Here." She extended her hand to Duo. "We got off on the wrong foot. Let's start over again, shall we? This time without the ominous speech and me pestering you for information. My name's Cass." She shook Duo's hand and laughed again at the looks on both their faces. "I know, just plain old Cass. Rather boring for a seer, right? That's why I'm 'Grandmother' to everyone. It helps me appear more 'authentic' as a foreteller."
"My name is Hotaru. This is Duo. And all other questions aside, why would you want to appear more 'authentic'?" Hotaru looked doubtful as Cass shook her hand. Duo nodded.
Sighing, Cass kneeled centaur-style on a raised platform Hotaru and Duo hadn't seen until now. They sat back down in their chairs.
"Let me try to explain…First of all, scrying is an inexact magic. I see every possible future, if I look, and could not begin to tell you everything that might happen. That's the problem. I can't tell, because there may be a thousand outcomes to the simplest decision, and the greater the decision…"
"The more possibilities."
"Exactly. So while I know the future, I really can't do much with that knowledge. The most I can do is find a common strain, an event that occurs in a majority, if not all of the futures, then warn people or act towards that."
"But what about the 'authenticity'?"
"I'm getting to that. When I first started out, I was foolish. I simply warned every one of the probable outcomes, expecting them to heed my warnings. My problem was, most of them ignored me. When what I prophesised came true, they would blame me for causing it. Everything blew up in my face. I was cast out, eventually. I had thought everything was hopeless, but then I met someone…She helped me realize what I could do to help my people, after we dealt with our own problems at the time. My eyes are different because of that time with her. I returned to my tribe not long after, and after a few 'episodes' in front of fires, mirrors and pools of water, I was given the title of 'grandmother'. It's amazing how a few rhyming couplets in front of a fire will cause an entire camp to move, but the words 'We're sitting on a fault line, there's going to be an earthquake' will go virtually ignored- until it happens."
Duo and Hotaru looked to each other, registered the looks on the opposite's face, and turned back to face Cass. Hotaru looked thoughtful, Duo looked belligerent.
"So in other words, you're saying that the whole scene in front of the fire was…?"
"A complete fake. I thought it up when I found out you were here and Rothar started complaining. Now everyone is looking for someone to betray us, which means the one who will may think twice about it, now that I've 'seen the truth'. Would you like something to eat or drink? I doubt you've had breakfast, Dyan would've rushed you out to meet with me." She laughed at her own joke, and placed a kettle of water on a small wood stove. Duo's stomach rumbled, as if on cue.
"I'd love some breakfast."
"I am slightly thirsty…"
"Good, we have much to discuss, and it's always better to do so on a full stomach. Do you drink tea?" She pulled a delicate cup from a small cupboard over the stove, then paused for their answers.
"Yes please."
"What kinds do you have?"
Pulling out two more cups, she listed:
"Red tea, morning brew, spice, sleepy-time, energy, lightness, morning glory, summer fields, tree bark, ever-life, longevity, sweet and happiness…Oh, and a basic plain tea you can add others to."
Duo blinked. "Ok, well, I guess that answers the question about different worlds…. I'll just try the sweet. I can't go wrong there."
"You'd be surprised."
"I'll try the same." Hotaru remembered a question had been plaguing her since she'd last spoken with Saturn. "Why does Rothar hate us so much, and humans in general?"
Cass sighed and continued stirring the pot of something she'd placed on the stove for Duo's rumbling stomach. "It has to do with the fact that the only humans who come across worlds are wizards; and then only to further their own power. A few millennia of this and everyone develops a bias. Rothar is a little more so, his sister was killed by a human wizard that thought ground centaur hooves were an ingredient to his potion for immortality. He never found out though, Shananra killed him not long after."
"Who is she?"
"She was a magician who could change her shape at will. She could become any living creature she wished…." Cass paused. "She was one of the few nice ones, actually."
"She died?"
"I don't really know, no one does. Some say the Green Lady killed her when she crossed worlds, but no one's ever had the chance to ask her and live to tell about it. Either way, we haven't heard from Shananra in over twenty years, so it's save to say she's no longer here."
"Who's this 'Green Lady'? A wizard?" Duo graciously accepted his tea.
"Yes. One of the most powerful to come to this world, and one of the most deadly. Since her appearance, no wizard crossing over has spent more than a week in this world before disappearing. For the last century, she's kept all other wizards from taking her place or moving up."
"Sounds like quite the woman. Remind me not to cross her."
"That's a very good idea, since she is the one you will have to find."
There was the sound of one very fine teacup shattering on a hardwood floor, spilling hot tea everywhere.
******************************
I've said it before; I'll say it again. I love plot twists. Beautiful! Sorry about the cliff-hanger, but this chapter just wasn't ending, and I had to stop.
(Small reminder that this started out as the second half of part 10, and that was 8 pages long, so 15 pages in writing in total, plus writers block. I still don't know how I did it!)
Nothing monumental here….Question: What did you think of Cass? I always wanted a cynical fortune-teller that no one believed….Reviews are a good thing. They inspire me to write more. (Right after I tie myself down to stem off that pesky floating)
Shameless self plugs have returned! I've got three new Christmas carols, and will probably add another later tonight. Added: Mamorou- Earth's Sailor Senshi (Rudolf Parody) Majjin Buu (Christmas Tree DBZ parody) and Blasting Off Again. (Frosty the Snowman Pokemon style!)
I am the Breeze of Wisdom, I am the Wind of Insanity
~The Elemental