Of Gold in Silver seas chapter …. Uh …what chapter is this again? Six, right?
One chapter or so left after this!!!!!
Chapter 6, in which Rai must undo her mistake and face her worst fear (dramatic, I know.)
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Fire, everywhere.
"PIPPIN!"
A shrill scream from behind her. A swift movement, but not swift enough to miss. She held out her staff and halted the struggling figure. A cry of protest came and desperate struggling.
"Do something!"
Do something?
Oh.
Suddenly reality came flooding back to her eyes as time seemed to resume its normal flow. She could see everything : The two hobbits at the back of the cave, trying desperately to get past her to the edge, or at least get her to help. The smallest one was before her, hanging on barely and struggling with failing strength to get a proper grip on the crumbling rock face under the boiling falls, and the creature; the massive, winged creature of pure fire and hate and violence.
The creature awakened such fear in her heart. A fear she hadn't felt since the last time they met. She saw it her dreams, yes, every night; and she felt fear. But whatever fear she had felt in her dreams before was now doubled and trebled and multiplied a hundredfold. She felt a nausea of the soul, a hideous and sickening despair, a melancholy weariness so profound that she was going to die of it.
The beast flapped its massive wings and came around again, shrieking its ear-splitting cries. This made Rai shrink back in fear again, but despite her horror, she was still inching, little by little, towards the cliff edge.
Whatever Rai was feeling, it was beyond the hobbits. All their fear was forgotten now, and their eyes were fixed on Pippin, who, despite his efforts, was slowly sliding down the rock wall.
They wanted to just push past Rai, to get down to the little hobbit and pull him back up. Forget the monstrous bird; Pippin was their chief concern. But somehow, though they tried, they could not will themselves to get past the wizard. It was not fault of their will, no, they could have easily pushed past her; but somehow, she was not letting them.
Do something!
The cry echoed in Rai's mind, meaningless and faint. Without thinking, she raised her staff before her in defence, and cried out.
"Tua amin!"
"Help me!"
She did not expect anyone to hear her plea; she did not even know why she had uttered it in the first place. But as the creature wheeled and flew directly toward her, she felt new strength flow through her limbs and raised her staff higher.
"I am a servant of the Secret Fire," she whispered quickly. "Wielder of the flame of Anor …"
She felt this new strength grow, and the firebird began to slow as it approached.
"Amin n'tess uuvanimo …"
"I hold you now, monster …"
" … naur tinchor ostring naar cam …"
" …I freeze your burning hands …"
"Go back to the shadow, flame of Udûn!"
"Morier!"
A silver light began to envelope Rai, seemingly coming from her staff. She thrust it forward, sending the rays of light directly towards her foe. The monster screamed and thrashed, contorting its burning wings until it could flap them no longer, and it began to fall.
Rai let out a great sigh and dropped her staff. Trying to keep on her feet, she rush forward to the collapsing stones where Pippin was quickly losing his grip. She slid on her hands and knees, extending her arm over the edge towards the hobbit.
"Pippin!"
The hobbit, who's eyes were firmly shut from making such an effort to hold on, blinked and looked up. He looked so stunned he almost lost his grip, but reached forward just enough for Rai to grab his hand. Using all that was left of her strength, she hauled him onto the cliff ledge, helped by the two other hobbits. The immediately took shelter in the dark cave as what felt like a massive earthquake rocked the entire landscape, as the great firebird crashed, ruined and defeated, into the boiling pool at the bottom.
Rai slowly crawled out of the low cave and glanced around. The sky was slowly fading from blood-red to what looked like the color of dust, if dust had a color. She turned back to the three hobbits, curled up together against the wall. The youngest one watched her with glazed, wary eyes, and she realized that they were all exhausted and still a little frightened, and she needed to get them home.
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