Chapter 22 - Epilogue
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Notes: There are several.
Subtitle for this chapter: The Aftermath
Listen up. Bullfrog owns Dungeon Keeper. I own Dungeon Secrets. I also own the weirdy concepts in here like the Darknesses and whatnot. Don't steal, unless it's from Bullfrog, in which case steal, but be nice about it and don't make profit. If you like my fic and want to archive it just ask and I'll probably say yes.
This story contains slash (male/male relationships)! If this bothers you, just leave now, don't waste your time and mine flaming me about it.
For a glossary of terms and concepts, as well as a map of this Realm, go to this address: http://dragonnest.freeservers.com/fics/dungeonviewshelp.html (Note: This page has recently been added to, including several polls. Please go vote and let me know your opinion.)
Pronunciation Key:
Kaelay: [KAY-lay]
Seiat: [SAY-aht]
Tarkasas: [Tar-KAH-sas]
Ramasha: [Ra-MAH-sha]
Mortagui: [Mor-tah-GUY]
Evain: [Eh-VAIN]
Kethian: [KEH-thee-un]
Zannos: [ZAHN-nos]
I think that's all, so on with the fic!
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Kaelay
I feel it. Or rather, the lack of it. The sudden ceasing of the Heartbeat, allowing mine to beat louder, greater! They did it then. Mortagui is dead.
Even if I couldn't tell, it would be obvious enough from his creatures. The few that are left (and there are very few) suddenly get a vacant look in their eyes, as their hearts stop beating. Soulless, they march towards the nearest Portal entrance, drawn to the Darkness of the Shadowrealm by the echoing of the emptiness within themselves.
I breathe a sigh of relief. I am nearly at the point of collapse from the energy loss I've sustained. But we won. We still won.
I feel Evain come back to meet me, supporting me slightly. Normally I would not accept the help, but this is a special case. And besides, it's Evain.
We won, I say unnecessarily.
Yes we did, he replies. I can hear the grin in his voice. Thank you. If it weren't for your energy, I don't know how I would have made it.
I shake my head. No, you would have been fine. His forces might have reached your rooms, but I doubt they would have gotten much farther.
Still, it was very brave of you. He pauses. I'd like to try it again sometime, maybe. In a less painful way, of course.
I hesitate. He did not just say that. Did he just say that? Is he coming on to me?
I move away from him slightly so I can turn to face him. He becomes uncomfortable and embarrassed under my scrutiny and long silence.
Finally I spare him by breaking into a smile.
That could be arranged.
Mana/A Red Imp
I am nothing. Just spirit. Liquid. I go where the Heart beckons. Only the Heart. The Heart is my world.
A deep connectedness. I am only part of the Heart, an extension of its beating. It calls. I answer. Yes...
Something... strange. What is it? Something else is calling me? A light. But no, the Heart! But the Heart is pushing me there. It wants me to go. Surely I can't! I will not leave the Heart!
But the Heart says go...
I emerge, startled by the sudden nakedness of the place around me. The mana is here, but not in the veins of the Heart! It is cold, and lonely.
Then suddenly- trapped! I am trapped! Cut off! No, I must reach the Heart!
Light! What is this? Conscious? What is consci-
I am.
The He- no, Keeper needs me. She needs me to work! There is a Pull! I must answer the Pull!
I leap forward, conscious of the beating Heart behind me. Something makes me stop for a moment and turn back to look at it. It seems familiar. Like home.
I turn around and scurry off to do the work that Keeper bids me to.
Tarkasas
I wake up, unaware that I had dozed off. I do feel better, as Jensor promised I would. My breathing seems to have returned to normal, and the wound in my leg has returned to the normal dull throb I associate with that level of injury.
I look around for Ramasha, but he is not here yet. Gods. Please don't let him be dead. Please.
I don't know what I'd do without him. I've known him such a short time, and yet he's already become the center of my world. I need him.
I look up, and there he stands in the doorway, as if in answer to my prayers!
He smiles, and strides quickly towards me. I can see that he's been through a lot. Despite the lack of a great amount of external injuries, he looks exhausted.
He collapses on his bed, facing me. "Tarkasas..." he begins, but falters. He takes a deep breath and begins again. "Tarkasas, the Imp, Seiat, he... he died. Mortagui killed him."
I swallow, suddenly feeling slightly sick. Seiat? Dead? The poor Imp didn't deserve that.
"He died nobly though," Ramasha continues. "I'll see if I can organize a small service for him and the Temple. He deserves that much, at least."
I nod. Seiat's death is saddening but... I push it to the back of my mind for now. I have something more pressing to discuss with him first.
"Ramasha? You won, right?"
He sees my intent immediatly, and smiles. "Yes. We did. So now there's nothing to hold me back. I love you, Tarkasas."
A huge weight that I never knew was there is suddenly gone from my mind. "I was hoping you would say that. I love you too."
Ramasha
"I love you too."
Gods. I never thought simple words could mean so much. I feel... I don't know. Free, somehow. Uplifted.
He rises from his bed, and I'm gratified to see that he seems much better. The magic of the Lair must have countered the poison nicely. He covers the few steps between our beds quickly, and leans over me.
"May I kiss you?" he asks gallantly.
Oh. Is this what perfect happiness feels like?
Unable to speak over the sudden lump in my throat, I nod. He bridges the small gap still between us and kisses me.
With nothing more holding us back, we both surrender to the passion that was there pretty much from the beginning.
It has been a long, hard journey.
But I think perhaps we may have just gotten our happy ending.
Oh God, that was hideous. Take me back.
or
Oh God, that was hideous. Let me complain to the author.