One always has the advantage if one keeps the opponent on their feet. Never relenting, keeping them up at night, fearful, and never sure what will happen. I've already lost that advantage. The one that's kept me up so long. Fear.
A turning point, perhaps. The turning point when I suddenly lost motivation. One's death can do that to you, you know. But what I lusted after before, now, and perhaps forevermore, is power. I cannot and will not deny it. But something else I seek, is to get this opponent of mine, back into that shadow of fear I used to cast over this forsaken land.
No, my nemesis doesn't fear me anymore. That weakness is gone, I know that. But something else...something else that will cause her to startle is easily within my grasp. I clench and unclench my fists, my eyes snapping open. It came to me then, why didn't I think of it before? Perhaps dying did muddle my brain a bit.
Rising from my chair, I walk over to the ash-filled fireplace. A few sparks still linger. Closing my eyes, I let the rusty flames jump from my fingers to feed the sparks, ever hungry for more.
The fire has started, leaping ever higher. I smile, think that it is so like me. If I let it, it would consume the world, like I am planning to do. I run my hands over the flames, letting the power flow through me. My eyes open and I see.
Sleeping, she seems vulnerable, but even then, I am vary. I learned that last time, time I felt the cold still stab through my chest. Oh yes, I am wary. I see her hair, the same copper as I saw last. A hand lies within read of that be-damned sword of hers.
But what is this? I smile to myself, another weakness noted. It's my sword now, as much as it is hers, maybe even more so. She's more scarred, more knowing for all those years I was away. But still the same. Always the same, so easy to read, so easy to trick.
She still has that charm, the one that caused my Princely--now Kingly--cousin to chase after her. I can almost see why. Just almost.
I pour out my Power again, the one that is so righteously old blood.
The Corridor. The Crypt. The Casket. Exactly the same as it was left. This will do perfectly. I lie myself down on the dark stone, and wait.
She approaches; I can sense her coming near. I wait for her to come closer. I thrive in her feeling of unrest. I cannot keep from smiling, and that smile grows. Opening my eyes, I sit up.
Her eyes widen in surprise and disbelief. That is all I can do for then.
I awake back at the dark room; the fire has died. I smile to myself. That was just the begging of my plans to turn the heavens and lands inside out to get that revenge I need to satiate myself. At least for now. I don¡¯t care if I turn myself inside out in the process. After all, that¡¯s what coming back from the dead is for, is it not?
Night comes all too soon. I am slightly tired from talking tediously with the court all day long. To restore myself, I tap that life-saving connection. To think that I thought that idiotic brother of hers was a bother!
I restore the fire and repeat what was done last night. I see her sleeping again, almost serene in her unconsciousness. I decide to use illusion this time. I summon shadows of the past, the crowded throne room as I was reintroduced as one of the living.
I turn around and stare into her wide violet eyes. Surprise is there, along with hatred. I don¡¯t detect fear, but it will come, all in good time. ¡°I don't kill easily, do I, Lioness? But thank your brother for this. And mind you bring back my sword," I remark, making it sound like the most normal occurrence in the world.
Everything disappears again, and I know she has awaken. One more night, and then I¡¯ll see her, face to face.
This time, I won't relent. I¡¯ll make her fear me, and we¡¯ll be back where we started. But of course, this time, I won¡¯t die. I let the Power take me back to my tomb. And sit and wait for her to come. She does.
I step down and extend a hand. "Welcome, loved one," I greet.
I encircle her waist with my arm, and lead her into a dance. A shiver runs through her; I smirk. "So Lioness, how do you feel?" She doesn't talk, I know she can't. It's a dream I sent her, and anything I do, I am in control of. We dance in silence, just for awhile. The dream can't last, and before she leaves I turn and brush my lips against her cheek. "Farewell, Lioness."
The kiss is not one of affection In fact, just the opposite. I am warning her of the death she will face when my plans begin. Farewell, Lioness, and beware.
And it ends. And again, I wait. She should be near now, almost in Corus. Thom has gone to visit her, I know that much. He burns with fever he has no idea of. They suspect me, but it is easy to play innocent.
I talk to the Lioness. I see she really doesn¡¯t fear me, but a bit of something resembling the fear is still present in her eyes. It will do.
That's it. They have tried to ruin me, the idiots. I walk quickly towards the room I know they are all lounging around in, acting like the fools they are. I slam open the door and enter. I look towards Delia, scolding the pathetic Malven. She's in for a scolding of her own.
Let the fools think what they like. At least I have one who is not a complete fool. But even my former squire does not anticipate my full plan. But I shall let him try. They all underestimate her. Of course they do, why wouldn't they? They think that I'm still trying to take the throne, as if that would satisfy me.
The least they can do is cause havoc and a diversion. I can work with that.
I'm waiting again. I've waited so long already, a little more wouldn't hurt. The momentum of the ground's shaking is soothing in its own way. I would almost applaud my cousin for his efforts of trying to hold the land together if it wasn't me who was causing it.
Footsteps. She comes, exactly the way my plans work out. I turn around to check the Gate; nothing can go wrong.
She enters and I smile. I prod her and summon the sword already rightfully mine. She will not let go, this I already know. She is dragged closer as the gate is approaching it¡¯s full power. I see fear in her eyes.
I smile but stop: the fear is gone! I realize now, and begin laughing. The sword leaves her hand and heads toward me, still laughing. I find it so ironic, how everything always seems to end this way. So very ironic and funny.
And this is the end of me, Roger of Cont? My body disintegrates as the cold steel enters me. I feel no pain, hear no sound. But I am still there, watching through the ghosts of my death. The Gate vanishes; the sword embeds itself into the ground. The Lioness collapses into blackness.
But she is not dead; I am. Not sleeping anymore, but truly dead. My ashes blow away in a breath of wind. And truly, I am turned inside out.
But the world is looking outside in, and finding itself liking what is there.
Yup, Roger again. What else would you expect from me. I don't have my books with me, so I couldn't do exact quotes, and improvised. The first two dreams I did with the help of Kes, who found the time to look for them. Thank you!
~Reaya