Chapter 15: The Least She Could Do
Arianne closed her eyes, mentally bidding Jack to do the same just before Liayela touched their foreheads. As Liayela began her chant, Arianne found that she knew the words an instant before the elf-woman spoke them, and before she realized it, her lips were moving in unison with Liayela's, though she had not yet begun to speak the words aloud. The words sank into Arianne's soul, putting her at peace and stealing wariness from her thoughts.
She knew this ceremony, but it was not what these elves seemed to think it was. This was a serenade to the stars, to the moon, not something that could transform one from human to Elvin. If one was truly Elvin-born, then one already knew what it was to be an elf. This ceremony simply gave them memories, made them weep for something that was lost to them now.
Tears slid down her face, though she hardly felt them, so wrapped up was she in the Song--and she was singing now, singing as Liayela was singing. Arianne's voice wove in and out, under and above Liayela's, adding a harmony that had not been heard since those peaceful times when the elves had danced and played so carefree under the sky.
************************
The golden light dimmed, he thought, and opened his eyes to find himself in a world so different from the one he had known all of his life. There were trees--real trees!--all about him, and a Song more beautiful than anything he had ever known filled his heart and soul with peace and joy. Laughing, he danced, hardly noticing the pulsing golden glow emanating from the trees about him.
************************
The rest of the elves were experiencing similar images, tears pouring down their faces as they danced beneath the trees the vision showed them.
Even the old ones who had not left their beds shared the vision, and they died peacefully with happy tears upon their cheeks at having finally experienced the Star Dance.
************************
Jack did not share the vision the elves did, but he had a vision nonetheless. He was completely at peace; nothing harmful or unpleasant could touch him here in this starry field he found himself in. Above, below, all about him were stars. He was weightless.
But something was missing.
Then he saw her, gliding toward him with wings of golden stardust.
************************
Liayela felt a twinge of resentment as Arianne took the Ceremony into her hands, but it quickly faded away when she found herself in a forest clearing, stars twinkling merrily down upon her. Her voice was suddenly choked as unbidden tears welled up in her eyes and emotion overcame her. She lost the Song, but Arianne carried it farther than Liayela could ever have possibly done. She stood staring at the trees and the beautiful sky, lost in many emotions she had not felt in a very long time
Hope. Joy. Faith. Remorse for all of her wicked actions.
Tears poured down her face.
************************
When Arianne reached him he enfolded her tightly in his arms. He felt completely right, here. Nothing could make him any happier than to be in this place, his beloved in his arms.
They made love amongst the stars, neither needing to speak a word but both feeling as if this was the most perfect thing in the entire universe.
************************
She came to him, smiling, Her hand outstretched. He immediately put his hand in Her own, not even questioning that She wanted him to do so.
"Dharketh," she said, smiling, "You have done well. I thank you for believing, and more importantly I thank you for awakening me to what I was. You have played a large role in the salvation of our people, and you will not be forgotten."
In the blink of an eye, She was gone, but his spirit was still uplifted.
************************
She found Liayela standing in the clearing, still weeping silently. "My child," Arianne whispered softly, "what have you done?"
************************
She stared at Arianne and knew beyond all doubts that She was indeed the true Goddess. "What have you done?" She asked of her, and Liayela wanted to answer, wanted to tell all of the terrible things she had done, but she could not for the lump in her throat.
The Goddess knew anyway. Of course She did.
Liayela fell to her knees, bowing her head in submission to the punishment that was surely to come. When lightning did not strike her down, she dared to peek upwards at the Goddess and was surprised by the deep sadness she saw in Her face. Where was the anger? she wondered, where was the righteous fury?
"I do not wish to strike you down," She said softly, resting a hand lightly on top of Liayela's head. "You know the error of your ways now, but you have done much harm--far too much for even me to ignore. It pains me, but you must be punished for all that you have done.
"However, you have also done much to prove to our people that I am your Goddess, and I have not forgotten you. For this act, I will allow you to decide your own fate."
Liayela did not speak. She did not need to.
"Very well," Arianne whispered, and it seemed as though a sob held itself behind her lips.
************************
The Song ended, bringing all in the room out of the glorious visions that had befallen them. They immediately felt the loss of that beautiful place, but were still joyful in knowing that She had finally returned to them. They watched Her, understanding that yet another very important event was about to take place.
************************
Liayela knelt before Arianne, feeling at peace for what felt like the very first time. Arianne began speaking softly, though Liayela did not doubt that every elf in the cavern could hear Her. She spoke to the people about the horrible crimes 'Ela had committed, and she felt her people's anger behind her bent back. A tear slid down her cheek.
When Arianne's speech came to a close, Liayela began to whisper to Her the crimes She had not mentioned, fearing that She had somehow missed those. A gentle hand caressing her hair stopped her, and she knew that the Goddess had already known, but had chosen not to tell the whole of them.
For this mercy, Liayela was eternally grateful. Before Arianne could inflict the death upon her that she desired, Liayela decided to spare her the pain of having to kill one of her own children.
It was the least she could do.
************************
In spite of himself, Jack felt sorrow when Liayela slumped over to her side on the floor. No one needed to touch her to know that she was dead.
Arianne turned to him, tears in her eyes, and he wrapped her in his arms, knowing how much she needed the comfort.
************************************************************************
This chapter started out as something incredibly relaxing to write...I actually feel kind of sad that Liayela is dead. Sure she was a bitch, but I had kind of hoped that she would stay alive and be a better person. Ah well...hope you enjoyed!
Arianne closed her eyes, mentally bidding Jack to do the same just before Liayela touched their foreheads. As Liayela began her chant, Arianne found that she knew the words an instant before the elf-woman spoke them, and before she realized it, her lips were moving in unison with Liayela's, though she had not yet begun to speak the words aloud. The words sank into Arianne's soul, putting her at peace and stealing wariness from her thoughts.
She knew this ceremony, but it was not what these elves seemed to think it was. This was a serenade to the stars, to the moon, not something that could transform one from human to Elvin. If one was truly Elvin-born, then one already knew what it was to be an elf. This ceremony simply gave them memories, made them weep for something that was lost to them now.
Tears slid down her face, though she hardly felt them, so wrapped up was she in the Song--and she was singing now, singing as Liayela was singing. Arianne's voice wove in and out, under and above Liayela's, adding a harmony that had not been heard since those peaceful times when the elves had danced and played so carefree under the sky.
************************
The golden light dimmed, he thought, and opened his eyes to find himself in a world so different from the one he had known all of his life. There were trees--real trees!--all about him, and a Song more beautiful than anything he had ever known filled his heart and soul with peace and joy. Laughing, he danced, hardly noticing the pulsing golden glow emanating from the trees about him.
************************
The rest of the elves were experiencing similar images, tears pouring down their faces as they danced beneath the trees the vision showed them.
Even the old ones who had not left their beds shared the vision, and they died peacefully with happy tears upon their cheeks at having finally experienced the Star Dance.
************************
Jack did not share the vision the elves did, but he had a vision nonetheless. He was completely at peace; nothing harmful or unpleasant could touch him here in this starry field he found himself in. Above, below, all about him were stars. He was weightless.
But something was missing.
Then he saw her, gliding toward him with wings of golden stardust.
************************
Liayela felt a twinge of resentment as Arianne took the Ceremony into her hands, but it quickly faded away when she found herself in a forest clearing, stars twinkling merrily down upon her. Her voice was suddenly choked as unbidden tears welled up in her eyes and emotion overcame her. She lost the Song, but Arianne carried it farther than Liayela could ever have possibly done. She stood staring at the trees and the beautiful sky, lost in many emotions she had not felt in a very long time
Hope. Joy. Faith. Remorse for all of her wicked actions.
Tears poured down her face.
************************
When Arianne reached him he enfolded her tightly in his arms. He felt completely right, here. Nothing could make him any happier than to be in this place, his beloved in his arms.
They made love amongst the stars, neither needing to speak a word but both feeling as if this was the most perfect thing in the entire universe.
************************
She came to him, smiling, Her hand outstretched. He immediately put his hand in Her own, not even questioning that She wanted him to do so.
"Dharketh," she said, smiling, "You have done well. I thank you for believing, and more importantly I thank you for awakening me to what I was. You have played a large role in the salvation of our people, and you will not be forgotten."
In the blink of an eye, She was gone, but his spirit was still uplifted.
************************
She found Liayela standing in the clearing, still weeping silently. "My child," Arianne whispered softly, "what have you done?"
************************
She stared at Arianne and knew beyond all doubts that She was indeed the true Goddess. "What have you done?" She asked of her, and Liayela wanted to answer, wanted to tell all of the terrible things she had done, but she could not for the lump in her throat.
The Goddess knew anyway. Of course She did.
Liayela fell to her knees, bowing her head in submission to the punishment that was surely to come. When lightning did not strike her down, she dared to peek upwards at the Goddess and was surprised by the deep sadness she saw in Her face. Where was the anger? she wondered, where was the righteous fury?
"I do not wish to strike you down," She said softly, resting a hand lightly on top of Liayela's head. "You know the error of your ways now, but you have done much harm--far too much for even me to ignore. It pains me, but you must be punished for all that you have done.
"However, you have also done much to prove to our people that I am your Goddess, and I have not forgotten you. For this act, I will allow you to decide your own fate."
Liayela did not speak. She did not need to.
"Very well," Arianne whispered, and it seemed as though a sob held itself behind her lips.
************************
The Song ended, bringing all in the room out of the glorious visions that had befallen them. They immediately felt the loss of that beautiful place, but were still joyful in knowing that She had finally returned to them. They watched Her, understanding that yet another very important event was about to take place.
************************
Liayela knelt before Arianne, feeling at peace for what felt like the very first time. Arianne began speaking softly, though Liayela did not doubt that every elf in the cavern could hear Her. She spoke to the people about the horrible crimes 'Ela had committed, and she felt her people's anger behind her bent back. A tear slid down her cheek.
When Arianne's speech came to a close, Liayela began to whisper to Her the crimes She had not mentioned, fearing that She had somehow missed those. A gentle hand caressing her hair stopped her, and she knew that the Goddess had already known, but had chosen not to tell the whole of them.
For this mercy, Liayela was eternally grateful. Before Arianne could inflict the death upon her that she desired, Liayela decided to spare her the pain of having to kill one of her own children.
It was the least she could do.
************************
In spite of himself, Jack felt sorrow when Liayela slumped over to her side on the floor. No one needed to touch her to know that she was dead.
Arianne turned to him, tears in her eyes, and he wrapped her in his arms, knowing how much she needed the comfort.
************************************************************************
This chapter started out as something incredibly relaxing to write...I actually feel kind of sad that Liayela is dead. Sure she was a bitch, but I had kind of hoped that she would stay alive and be a better person. Ah well...hope you enjoyed!
