Hello. Sorry that this chapter has taken so long. At present, I am suffering from a rare batch of F.A.D (that is, Festive Affective Disorder) and I am finding it difficult to keep my enjoyment in writing the story. However, I know that I have just a few 'bridging' chapters to get into the meat of the story. If you can bear with my annoying slowness of updating, then I hope you get to enjoy this. Thanks for all the lovely reviews I've had. They are the main reason I have clawed my way from the Abyss to write for you all: thanks again! ~ G
Chapter Twenty Four: The Grove
Trademeet Grove, 14 Hammer, 1370 DR
The grove floated with the serene energy of nature. The wind stirred the grass, and it rippled like so many tiny whirlpools. Jaheira listened to the river giggling along, brushing like molten silver across so many rocks and stones. Within that water, she knew, trolls had died and spiders had leaked their ichors.
Many months ago, this place had been a wreck, crushed and broken beneath the feet of the Shadow Druids, and that misguided druid, Faldorn. Now though, under her patient tutelage, it had grown and flourished. Flowers with multitudes of colour had sprouted, and their light pollen whispered throughout the valley like pixie dust.
"All seems well, now."
Cernd spoke as his strong hands massaged her neck. They moved skilfully, knitting out any locations of unease and stress, and turning them into shivering delight. Jaheira smiled, and breathed in deeply, then out again.
"It is, my love. The grove has never seemed so… peaceful."
Her husband wrapped his arms around her, and kissed her neck. "Jaheira… my love. It is all down to you, this peace and bountiful flourishing... I feel weak and second-rate when placed beside the fire and passion of your strength."
Jaheira grinned. "Ever the poet, Cernd."
He nodded. "Poetic litany bestows such inner grace that we may fight against the beast of war and violence, except when that war and violence is necessary for the protection of nature in all her beauty."
She raised an eyebrow. "Ah, my sweet man. You begin to sound like a strange cross between a Shadow Druid and a bard."
Cernd shrugged. "Otherwise
known as a druid. When we are called to do so, the balance must be
protected. You have seen this; it is why we must act with your old friend, this
Kathryn, to preserve Amn."
Jaheira cut through his words with her
normal sharpness. "To preserve an empire founded on corruption, you mean."
The druid hugged her close. "An empire founded on unity, which grew into corruption. And if it can grow in to corruption, then it can certainly grow out of corruption. But that is beside the point. When the Balance is threatened, we must take action, Jaheira. That is the oldest law of a druid. Sitting here with the other druids will not aid the balance. We must march to Athkatla with all our number to offer the Council our aid."
She shook her head. "I will not offer our aid to the Council, Cernd."
"Not even for the Balance?"
Jaheira stared at him. "I will not offer aid to the Council."
Cernd sighed. "You will have to act eventually, Jaheira."
She rolled her eyes. "And when I have to, I will act."
A sense of unease washed through her as she said that, and her muscles tightened. Cernd whispered, "What's wrong? What have you sensed?"
Jaheira stood, and closed her eyes, sending her senses throughout the grove. Through every plant, through the eyes of every animal, the Great Druid could sense. A falcon soaring overhead saw a tree fall… a beetle was crushed underneath a hard foot- iron-shod and merciless.
"Invaders…"
An image flashed in her mind then, as, through the eyes of a nimble fox, she saw a massive ogre lurching through the forest, followed by more and more of the brutes. Behind them, masses of orcs lurched. She whirled and faced Cernd. "Quickly, gather the druids! There are orcs and ogres- hundreds of them!"
She watched as Cernd shape shifted before her very eyes, into the form of a falcon. He whispered in her mind, I will be back in moments, with the rest of our brethren. Do not do anything rash, Jaheira.
"I will try not to, Cernd. Now, hurry!"
And saying, Jaheira picked up a tall wooden staff that lay on the floor, and narrowed her eyes determinedly. Closing her eyes again, she summoned the powers granted to her as Great Druid. Immediately, the awareness of every animal in the grove became hers, and she issued silent commands…
Attack… Kill… Devour…
She heard the agonised roars of ogres and orcs as the animals of the grove started to attack. Jaheira sent more mental commands through the synapses of nature, and watched mercilessly as thorns and vines started to grow before her. All around the grove, the vines and the grove itself would be turning against the intruders.
Jaheira then raised her eyes heavenward, and shrieked, her human form melting away, becoming the sleek shape of an eagle, which ripped through the air with great speed, soaring towards the intruders.
Her keen eyes saw them, struggling to keep order while wolverines and wild dogs scrambled in their ranks, while vines tore at their eyes, while multitudes of beetles and insects bit and ripped at legs and vulnerable parts.
"Waste no time with these beasts, find the druids! Find the druids and kill them! Remember, the friends of the Bhaalspawn must die!"
Jaheira shrieked in fear. They had come for her?
The fear was swiftly replaced by anger. They had come for her!
They would find her, then, and realise what it meant to be a protector of nature!
She plummeted to the earth, and landed before the advancing orcs and ogres, and in an instant, had transformed back into her human form. Her eyes crackled with power as she surveyed the intruders.
"You wished to kill the friend of a Bhaalspawn, fools? Then come forth, do your worst, and see if nature will suffer you to continue your putrid lives. Silvanus, aid me now!"
And lightning struck the ground before her, as the orcs started to thrash towards her, axes and clubs and swords wielded firmly. Jaheira stared at the ground, uttered a few words, and watched as vines sprang out of nowhere, enveloping the orcs.
With another prayer, Jaheira sent swarms of flies and bees rushing towards the orcs, getting inside their armour, biting and searing. She shouted again, and felt the earth rumble. A circle of white light appeared, and from it raised a fire elemental, its shapeless mass of fire looking intimidating and strange.
Kill the orcs and ogres.
Her mental command sent the elemental charging into the vines, which attempted to grapple it. But its fire turned the vines that reached for it into ash, and it was soon wrapping long arms around the necks of orcs and ogres alike, sending them into burning, agonised deaths.
Jaheira took a step back, as more and more orcs marched towards her. Not enough of them were being held by the vines. She growled another prayer, and watched as more lightning sizzled to the ground, sending shards of dirt and earth exploding around the grove as it struck.
Orcs were flung, screaming, through the air. Ogres swayed slightly on their feet. Shouting loudly, Jaheira gave up casting spells, and rushed toward the orcs and ogres, swinging right and left with her staff. She watched as the elemental, surrounded by orcs, finally died with its pain echoing throughout her mind.
Swing.
An orc fell to the floor, its neck looking oddly lopsided.
Swing.
Another stumbled, its chest and ribs crushed beneath her vicious onslaught.
Kick.
A loud grunt from an orc as her hard kick to the midriff winded it.
Swing.
The winded orc soon lost the life from its eyes as her staff struck its forehead.
"Jaheira, fall back!"
She turned, her auburn locks moving wildly. "Cernd!"
Her lover stood, holding his own staff. Lighting splayed from that staff, as he called to nature with his own prayers. An ogre looming over Jaheira shrieked, and then fell to the floor, its flesh smoking. Quickly, she moved back, and took up a position beside Cernd.
"Where are the others?"
Cernd made a broad gesture, and Jaheira nodded as tiny mice, rats and birds disintegrated, and then formed the shapes of druids. Twenty-seven druids, all holding staves, all ready to defend the grove from invaders.
"Lightning, against the orcs: now!"
Every druid present started to chant. Jaheira did so also, her eyes gleaming with fury. She watched as fork after fork of violent, jet-blue lightning leaped to the ground. The smell of burned flesh filled the area, and smoke made vision hazy.
But still the orcs advanced.
Jaheira swore. "Once more!"
Again, the lightning flared, desperate and glorious with its furious power. Orcs and ogres fell by the dozen, but still there were more, and they marched with anger against the druids who dealt so much death.
By now, the druids were weary. Jaheira shouted, "Those who can, cast the lightning spell! The rest, use whatever spells you have left!"
Trust the orcs to attack when the druids had barely memorised enough spells to burn a log. Jaheira cursed. Whatever spells they had memorised, it would have to do. There was no-one else to defend the grove but the druids.
More lightning sparked, but now the orcs and ogres had reached the druids, and started to slash at them. Jaheira swung her staff again and again, bludgeoning the evil creatures before her. With every shaking whack, she felt the skill of her old adventuring days return to her. A year ago, she had stopped, but now it was coming back- the thrill, the pace, the wonderful pulsing feeling of excitement.
Beside her, Cernd had transformed into the dreaded werewolf form, and orcs grunted in fear as he thrust himself, a whirling cloud of fangs and claws, towards unprotected necks and eyes, killing them quickly, scattering their blood.
Jaheira cracked another skull, but saw one of her druids fall, surrounded by irrepressible orcs who swung with crude clubs, dirty swords and the like. Another druid fell, then another, and Jaheira knew that she would not survive the battle.
And then, with a scream on her lips, she saw Cernd go down, a spear through his chest.
Distracted, she failed to deflect the orc attack, and pain seared within her skull. Groaning, she fell to the floor, and blackness washed in a great tide.
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