Mysterious Illness
Solonund woke up, groaned, snorted to himself and stretched. It was the first time in many months when he actually slept instead of slipping into reverie. He did not like the way his body felt when he woke up like this. He ached all over. His chest hurt, making it difficult to breathe. He let out a cough and spit the phlegm into the chamber pot near his bed. He felt like his head had been stuffed into a barrel.
He rose from his bed and slowly dressed. It was more of a chore than usual. He felt terrible.
Once dressed, he made his way down the stairs to the main part of the inn where he, Drizzt, and Catti-Brie had been staying. He would have stayed with Khelben, but with all of the guests of higher prestige and rank than himself, there was no room.
The general public had been praising Khelben Arushun for his bravery. It did not occur to anyone who was not there that it was a group effort.
When Kordon was defeated, the city was turned upside-down by revels and parties all over the city. The constant merriment had gone on for three days. After the first day, the involvement of Solonund, Quile, Andrak, Drizzt, Catti-Brie, and all the others that came to the threat were completely forgotten.
Solonund staggered over to the table where Drizzt And Catti were enjoying their lunch. Catti welcomed Solonund to take a seat while Drizzt slowly picked at the kidney pie he was eating.
"Have you been to see Lady Lareal?" Solonund asked.
"Yes, we managed our way through them crowds, " Catti said, "The boy is still asleep. Lareal says he is mending well though. By the way, yer up late. It is well past noon already."
"Always happens when I sleep instead of taking reverie." Solonund said with a cough. Sweat started beading slowly on his brow.
"Yer a liar. Ye don't look well." Catti said as she placed her hand on Solonund's brow.
Solonund quickly waved her hand away, "I'll be fine. I just need some air, that's all."
"Ye are burnin' up with a fever. Ye need to get somthin' in yer stomach and get back to bed."
"I need to go see that boy."
"Solonund," Drizzt said with his mouth partially full of food, "Shut up, quit stalling and being so stubborn. If you are sick, you are sick."
"And ye don't need to be talkin' with yer mouth full."
"Yes maa'm"
Catti ordered some chicken soup brought to the table for Solonund.
"I'm not hungry."
"Well ye are going to eat a little of this and some bread anyway. Ye have been getting sicker every day since Kordon was destroyed. An don't tell me it is just from drinkin and wenchin too much. Ye been doing little to none of that in the last three days."
"I hate chicken soup."
"Too bad. Ye are going to eat it if I have to tie ye dawn and force it down ye meself."
"Promise?" Solonund weakly replied," maybe you can kiss me like you did down in Skullport too. That would help me."
Drizzt spit out what he had in his mouth. His eyes grew wide and looked at Solonund more with shock than anger.
"I thought you said you were not going to move on Catti again." He blurted out.
"I didn't. She was making all of the moves. It's nothing to get exited about. Nothing happened." Solonund slowly said as he tried to choke down a piece of bread.
Drizzt looked at Catti and raised an eyebrow.
"He's not lyin. I did it so the wizard could break the spell Kordon was usin on him. Nothin happened after that. Although he is a damn good kisser, I'll grant him that."
Drizzt glanced down at his food and refused to look at his two companions.
"Looks like I've lost her again." He muttered to himself.
"What was that, Drizzt?" Solonund said, "this is no time for a wenching contest. Catti-Brie belongs to herself. If you ask who won, I would say it is her."
"That's right, I ain't the wench to be won or lost. I am a lady and belong to meself."
The soup that came to the table looked more like gravy than soup. Solonund tried to choke down a couple of bites of it.
"This is horrible. I hate chicken soup."
"Ye said that already, now get some more of it down."
Solonund took a few more bites then stood up. The room started to spin and everything went black.
"Solonund!" Drizzt shouted as he caught Solonund. "His breathing is ragged and his heart is racing. Catti, we need to get him to a cleric, and fast. I have seen this sort of thing before."
"What's the matter with him?"
"If we do not get his heart to slow down, it will stop. He will die."
"Gods!" Catti yelled as she ran out of the inn. If she could reach the tower and Lady Lareal. She knew Solonund would be fine.
Drizzt rushed behind her. It was a good thing he had his boots of speed on, or else Solonund's weight would have slowed him down.
************
Solonund sat in a strange room across from a young looking Kordon. The figure laughed at him.
"I have you by the balls Natcooshie'Pira. You can not escape me now."
Solonund tried to rush toward the figure, but the image faded. The swirling expanse before him reminded him of Limbo or the astral plane. He could hear voices, but they were being drown out by the swirling clouds filled with lightening and thunder.
"Where am I?" he asked himself.
************
Catti-Brie screamed as she banged on the door of the black tower, "Let us in! Master Arushun! This is an emergency!"
A young apprentice of Khelben's opened the door. "May I hel.."
Catti quickly pushed past the youngster to allow Drizzt room to carry Solonund into the building.
The young wizard screamed and protested about Khelben liking his privacy, but Drizzt did not listen. Instead he headed straight for the room where Lady Lareal was caring for the young Wild Elf. The young wizard and Catti on his heels.
"Drizzt! Can you be quiet." Lareal started until she looked up and saw Solonund.
"His heart is racing and his fever is climbing."
"Oh gods! Solonund!" Lareal said as she began ripping off Solonund's shirt. She put her ear to Solonund's chest. " Quick, Drizzt, help me get all of his clothes off. Lay him on the floor. The cool stone may help. Catti, get me that water, over by the dresser."
Drizzt quickly disrobed Solonund and did as Lareal bade him to. Catti stood and stared at Solonund, her face turning red.
"Miss Battlehammer! This is no time for modesty. If we do not get him cooled off now, he will die."
"Yes, Milady!"
"You, Cameron, go get a bathtub and some more water. You are going to get a chance to practice your ice spells today."
***********
Solonund flew around the murk, looking for anyone who could explain what was happening to him. He saw glimpses of his mother and of Anaiys. Yet whenever he flew closer, the visions would fade.
"Someone, help me!" he screamed into the din, only to have his own voice echo back to him.
He decided to try and stay still. The quieter Solonund stayed, the calmer the murk became.
As a calmness settled upon his prison, he heard a quiet vice slowly rise.
"Hello? Is there someone there? Please, is there someone there to help me." the voice said.
"Hello! I am here. Where are you? Who are you?"
The figure of the Wood Elf boy materialized in front of Solonund. His face was puffy, like he had been crying for a long time.
The boy let out a gasp," I am not hearing echoes this time!"
"I am Solonund, who are you?"
"Solonund! Not Solonund Brasher!"
"The same."
"Oh great Rillifane Rallathil! What have I done?"
"It is alright, boy. What is your name? If we work together, I am sure we can make it out of here."
"No! We are trapped here. This is a powerful spell. I did not understand what that evil, shape shifting, litch meant when he said I would be a conduit. I was told if I submitted, he would set my family free, but he lied. What have I done?"
"Please calm down. There has to be a way out of here."
"You do not understand! You are no longer in your body! This is a soul cage! Kordon created it just in case his phylactery was destroyed!"
Solonund's eyes grew wide, "Am I dead?"
"No, both your body and mine are both still alive, but we can not enter them until we break out of this place. And to my shame, you may not be able to retrieve your body."
"What do you mean?"
The boy began to cry again. "Kordon wants to use it. It is part of this spell. He may already occupy your body as we speak."
"No! Boy, we need to get out of here. I know of a way to do it, but if Kordon is in my body, we will both have to occupy yours . Please, tell me your name. I can bring you into your body, but I must put you asleep, so I can do what is needed."
"I am called Olwa."
"Alright Olwa, see this talisman around my neck?"
"Yes."
"This is the talisman of Pilin'Solor, he was once a very powerful Elven god, answering only to Corellon himself . You see, Kordon underestimated me. He always has. This talisman allows me to travel through many planes of existence. Pilin'Solor was murdered by Malar. But, Malar could not completely destroy the god. I have part of this god's spark within me. I always have. It is that spark that will lead us back to the living. I do not know the way time works in this place, but it may be days until we get back to our bodies. We will need to take a round about way."
"Is it possible? I thought this place dampened all magic from within?"
"Most definitely possible. If it was not, this talisman would not have followed me into here. Tell me, have you ever been to Sigil?"
"No."
"Well, you can now say that your spirit at least has visited."
***********
As soon as the tub was brought in and filled with ice and water, Drizzt helped Lareal to place Solonund's feverish body into it. Solonund groaned.
"There," Lareal said as she listened once more to Solonund's chest, "His fever is coming down and his heart is slowing down. Drizzt, you see to this patient, I need to check on the boy over there. There is still no gurantee that he will live through this."
Catti sat next to the tub on the opposite side of Drizzt. She looked tearfully into Drizzt's eyes. Drizzt was stifling back his own tears.
"It's okay if ye want to cry. And Drizzt, I want te kiss him one more time, If ye don't mind."
"Go ahead."
Catti-Brie gently leaned down and kissed Solonund. She was surprised when the kiss became deeper, as if he was kissing back. She did not realize that he was kissing back until his hands went around her waist and pulled her into the icy tub.
"Now, that is the way I like to wake up." Solonund said.
"Damn this water is cold, ye pain in the ass."
"Solonund! We were afraid you would not wake up! You recover quick."
"Oh, that I do," Solonund replied as he stood up and grabbed Catti-Brie. He forced her to kiss him and made lewd movements with his naked body.
Drizzt pulled Solonund off of her. "No time for that, lover boy. You need to get dressed and get to bed."
Solonund turned to Drizzt and slapped him. A spell leapt from Solonund's fingers and threw Drizzt across the room.
"I can do with the bitch whatever I damn well please! I am all powerful." Solonund said as he grabbed Catti again.
"What in the nine hells has gotten into you!?" Drizzt yelled.
Lareal whirled round to see what was happening. Her eyes grew wide.
"Drizzt! Get Catti away from him and get out of here now!" Lareal said as she scooped the Wild Elf boy into her arms," That is NOT Solonund!"
"What!?" Drizzt yelled back as he wrenched Catti from Solonund's arms.
"Just get out of this room now! Shut the door behind you!" Lareal said as she rushed out of the room.
Drizzt and Catti followed quickly and shut the door. Drizzt leaned against the door to keep Solonund in.
"Catti, quick go get Khelben right away. Tell my husband he is needed here now and I am not taking no for an answer." Lareal said as she carefully placed the boy on the floor.
Lareal helped Drizzt slide the exterior door bolt into place.
"That will not hold him for long," Lareal said.
"What is wrong with him?" Drizzt asked.
"His body has been possessed."
Notes:
Rillifane Rallathil- The Treelord, Elven god of woodlands and nature
This chapter dedicated to my grandmother, who loved history and mythology.
Please review.
Solonund woke up, groaned, snorted to himself and stretched. It was the first time in many months when he actually slept instead of slipping into reverie. He did not like the way his body felt when he woke up like this. He ached all over. His chest hurt, making it difficult to breathe. He let out a cough and spit the phlegm into the chamber pot near his bed. He felt like his head had been stuffed into a barrel.
He rose from his bed and slowly dressed. It was more of a chore than usual. He felt terrible.
Once dressed, he made his way down the stairs to the main part of the inn where he, Drizzt, and Catti-Brie had been staying. He would have stayed with Khelben, but with all of the guests of higher prestige and rank than himself, there was no room.
The general public had been praising Khelben Arushun for his bravery. It did not occur to anyone who was not there that it was a group effort.
When Kordon was defeated, the city was turned upside-down by revels and parties all over the city. The constant merriment had gone on for three days. After the first day, the involvement of Solonund, Quile, Andrak, Drizzt, Catti-Brie, and all the others that came to the threat were completely forgotten.
Solonund staggered over to the table where Drizzt And Catti were enjoying their lunch. Catti welcomed Solonund to take a seat while Drizzt slowly picked at the kidney pie he was eating.
"Have you been to see Lady Lareal?" Solonund asked.
"Yes, we managed our way through them crowds, " Catti said, "The boy is still asleep. Lareal says he is mending well though. By the way, yer up late. It is well past noon already."
"Always happens when I sleep instead of taking reverie." Solonund said with a cough. Sweat started beading slowly on his brow.
"Yer a liar. Ye don't look well." Catti said as she placed her hand on Solonund's brow.
Solonund quickly waved her hand away, "I'll be fine. I just need some air, that's all."
"Ye are burnin' up with a fever. Ye need to get somthin' in yer stomach and get back to bed."
"I need to go see that boy."
"Solonund," Drizzt said with his mouth partially full of food, "Shut up, quit stalling and being so stubborn. If you are sick, you are sick."
"And ye don't need to be talkin' with yer mouth full."
"Yes maa'm"
Catti ordered some chicken soup brought to the table for Solonund.
"I'm not hungry."
"Well ye are going to eat a little of this and some bread anyway. Ye have been getting sicker every day since Kordon was destroyed. An don't tell me it is just from drinkin and wenchin too much. Ye been doing little to none of that in the last three days."
"I hate chicken soup."
"Too bad. Ye are going to eat it if I have to tie ye dawn and force it down ye meself."
"Promise?" Solonund weakly replied," maybe you can kiss me like you did down in Skullport too. That would help me."
Drizzt spit out what he had in his mouth. His eyes grew wide and looked at Solonund more with shock than anger.
"I thought you said you were not going to move on Catti again." He blurted out.
"I didn't. She was making all of the moves. It's nothing to get exited about. Nothing happened." Solonund slowly said as he tried to choke down a piece of bread.
Drizzt looked at Catti and raised an eyebrow.
"He's not lyin. I did it so the wizard could break the spell Kordon was usin on him. Nothin happened after that. Although he is a damn good kisser, I'll grant him that."
Drizzt glanced down at his food and refused to look at his two companions.
"Looks like I've lost her again." He muttered to himself.
"What was that, Drizzt?" Solonund said, "this is no time for a wenching contest. Catti-Brie belongs to herself. If you ask who won, I would say it is her."
"That's right, I ain't the wench to be won or lost. I am a lady and belong to meself."
The soup that came to the table looked more like gravy than soup. Solonund tried to choke down a couple of bites of it.
"This is horrible. I hate chicken soup."
"Ye said that already, now get some more of it down."
Solonund took a few more bites then stood up. The room started to spin and everything went black.
"Solonund!" Drizzt shouted as he caught Solonund. "His breathing is ragged and his heart is racing. Catti, we need to get him to a cleric, and fast. I have seen this sort of thing before."
"What's the matter with him?"
"If we do not get his heart to slow down, it will stop. He will die."
"Gods!" Catti yelled as she ran out of the inn. If she could reach the tower and Lady Lareal. She knew Solonund would be fine.
Drizzt rushed behind her. It was a good thing he had his boots of speed on, or else Solonund's weight would have slowed him down.
************
Solonund sat in a strange room across from a young looking Kordon. The figure laughed at him.
"I have you by the balls Natcooshie'Pira. You can not escape me now."
Solonund tried to rush toward the figure, but the image faded. The swirling expanse before him reminded him of Limbo or the astral plane. He could hear voices, but they were being drown out by the swirling clouds filled with lightening and thunder.
"Where am I?" he asked himself.
************
Catti-Brie screamed as she banged on the door of the black tower, "Let us in! Master Arushun! This is an emergency!"
A young apprentice of Khelben's opened the door. "May I hel.."
Catti quickly pushed past the youngster to allow Drizzt room to carry Solonund into the building.
The young wizard screamed and protested about Khelben liking his privacy, but Drizzt did not listen. Instead he headed straight for the room where Lady Lareal was caring for the young Wild Elf. The young wizard and Catti on his heels.
"Drizzt! Can you be quiet." Lareal started until she looked up and saw Solonund.
"His heart is racing and his fever is climbing."
"Oh gods! Solonund!" Lareal said as she began ripping off Solonund's shirt. She put her ear to Solonund's chest. " Quick, Drizzt, help me get all of his clothes off. Lay him on the floor. The cool stone may help. Catti, get me that water, over by the dresser."
Drizzt quickly disrobed Solonund and did as Lareal bade him to. Catti stood and stared at Solonund, her face turning red.
"Miss Battlehammer! This is no time for modesty. If we do not get him cooled off now, he will die."
"Yes, Milady!"
"You, Cameron, go get a bathtub and some more water. You are going to get a chance to practice your ice spells today."
***********
Solonund flew around the murk, looking for anyone who could explain what was happening to him. He saw glimpses of his mother and of Anaiys. Yet whenever he flew closer, the visions would fade.
"Someone, help me!" he screamed into the din, only to have his own voice echo back to him.
He decided to try and stay still. The quieter Solonund stayed, the calmer the murk became.
As a calmness settled upon his prison, he heard a quiet vice slowly rise.
"Hello? Is there someone there? Please, is there someone there to help me." the voice said.
"Hello! I am here. Where are you? Who are you?"
The figure of the Wood Elf boy materialized in front of Solonund. His face was puffy, like he had been crying for a long time.
The boy let out a gasp," I am not hearing echoes this time!"
"I am Solonund, who are you?"
"Solonund! Not Solonund Brasher!"
"The same."
"Oh great Rillifane Rallathil! What have I done?"
"It is alright, boy. What is your name? If we work together, I am sure we can make it out of here."
"No! We are trapped here. This is a powerful spell. I did not understand what that evil, shape shifting, litch meant when he said I would be a conduit. I was told if I submitted, he would set my family free, but he lied. What have I done?"
"Please calm down. There has to be a way out of here."
"You do not understand! You are no longer in your body! This is a soul cage! Kordon created it just in case his phylactery was destroyed!"
Solonund's eyes grew wide, "Am I dead?"
"No, both your body and mine are both still alive, but we can not enter them until we break out of this place. And to my shame, you may not be able to retrieve your body."
"What do you mean?"
The boy began to cry again. "Kordon wants to use it. It is part of this spell. He may already occupy your body as we speak."
"No! Boy, we need to get out of here. I know of a way to do it, but if Kordon is in my body, we will both have to occupy yours . Please, tell me your name. I can bring you into your body, but I must put you asleep, so I can do what is needed."
"I am called Olwa."
"Alright Olwa, see this talisman around my neck?"
"Yes."
"This is the talisman of Pilin'Solor, he was once a very powerful Elven god, answering only to Corellon himself . You see, Kordon underestimated me. He always has. This talisman allows me to travel through many planes of existence. Pilin'Solor was murdered by Malar. But, Malar could not completely destroy the god. I have part of this god's spark within me. I always have. It is that spark that will lead us back to the living. I do not know the way time works in this place, but it may be days until we get back to our bodies. We will need to take a round about way."
"Is it possible? I thought this place dampened all magic from within?"
"Most definitely possible. If it was not, this talisman would not have followed me into here. Tell me, have you ever been to Sigil?"
"No."
"Well, you can now say that your spirit at least has visited."
***********
As soon as the tub was brought in and filled with ice and water, Drizzt helped Lareal to place Solonund's feverish body into it. Solonund groaned.
"There," Lareal said as she listened once more to Solonund's chest, "His fever is coming down and his heart is slowing down. Drizzt, you see to this patient, I need to check on the boy over there. There is still no gurantee that he will live through this."
Catti sat next to the tub on the opposite side of Drizzt. She looked tearfully into Drizzt's eyes. Drizzt was stifling back his own tears.
"It's okay if ye want to cry. And Drizzt, I want te kiss him one more time, If ye don't mind."
"Go ahead."
Catti-Brie gently leaned down and kissed Solonund. She was surprised when the kiss became deeper, as if he was kissing back. She did not realize that he was kissing back until his hands went around her waist and pulled her into the icy tub.
"Now, that is the way I like to wake up." Solonund said.
"Damn this water is cold, ye pain in the ass."
"Solonund! We were afraid you would not wake up! You recover quick."
"Oh, that I do," Solonund replied as he stood up and grabbed Catti-Brie. He forced her to kiss him and made lewd movements with his naked body.
Drizzt pulled Solonund off of her. "No time for that, lover boy. You need to get dressed and get to bed."
Solonund turned to Drizzt and slapped him. A spell leapt from Solonund's fingers and threw Drizzt across the room.
"I can do with the bitch whatever I damn well please! I am all powerful." Solonund said as he grabbed Catti again.
"What in the nine hells has gotten into you!?" Drizzt yelled.
Lareal whirled round to see what was happening. Her eyes grew wide.
"Drizzt! Get Catti away from him and get out of here now!" Lareal said as she scooped the Wild Elf boy into her arms," That is NOT Solonund!"
"What!?" Drizzt yelled back as he wrenched Catti from Solonund's arms.
"Just get out of this room now! Shut the door behind you!" Lareal said as she rushed out of the room.
Drizzt and Catti followed quickly and shut the door. Drizzt leaned against the door to keep Solonund in.
"Catti, quick go get Khelben right away. Tell my husband he is needed here now and I am not taking no for an answer." Lareal said as she carefully placed the boy on the floor.
Lareal helped Drizzt slide the exterior door bolt into place.
"That will not hold him for long," Lareal said.
"What is wrong with him?" Drizzt asked.
"His body has been possessed."
Notes:
Rillifane Rallathil- The Treelord, Elven god of woodlands and nature
This chapter dedicated to my grandmother, who loved history and mythology.
Please review.