To Just Give In
Author's Note: Sorry I wasn't accepting anonymous reviews I honestly didn't even realize. Sorry for misspelling on Fistandantilus, the source I used was incorrect. Thanks for reviews:
Guan: Trust me early on it will be a bit close, but there will definitely be some HUGE differences pretty soon.
Ahn-Li Steffraini: Thank you very much, I will try to review every chance I get, (and considering I have nothing to do ( it will be quite frequently).
Chapter 3: A Fork on the River of Time
I was being led to the executioner once again, I desperately tried to leave this twisted dream world. Panicking I turned to avoid seeing my cynical smirking face as the executioner lifted his hood. My entire body tensed, I began to cry, beg and plead for mercy, my queen began to laugh, the laughter suffocated me, then another voice joined but...it wasn't mine. I looked up to see the execution pull off there mask fear and exhilaration mingled in my blood, power surged through me words to a spell began to formulate in my mind. I have thwarted my queen and escaped the unbending river of time that would have lead to an unavoidable male storm. Triumphantly barely fearing my own demise at this new executioner's hands I looked up...and it was him.
What could this mean? Surely this must be better; I wasn't trapped following Fistandantilus' footsteps any longer, but this I don't understand it makes no sense. What reason would he have to stop me, or even how would he? He is utterly powerless against me; perhaps I should consult Astinus soon.
Caramon stretched out looking around his camp, his men willing to do anything to serve him, this was what he was truly made for. There was Raistlin walking towards him as if lost deep in thought, he should give him a piece of his mind for what he did to Crysania, and this was his chance it appeared his brother meant to actually speak to him. "Raist...I mean Fistandantilus I need to discuss the treatment of my witch with you." he said quickly correcting himself after noticing one of his soldiers in the nearby vicinity.
"I have no time to discuss the repercussions of the lack of morals your witch possesses at this moment. There are much more important matters that have arisen." Raistlin said in a cool tone that left little room for discussion. "It has come to my attention that there is a gnome that has the intent of murdering me, and possibly you and your witch in some area near the fortress of Zhaman. I believe it would be a wise decision to send scouts to find this gnome and take care of him before we arrive at our destination." Raistlin said as more of an order than a suggestion.
"There wouldn't be a chance of this gnome in anyway hindering you ultimate goal." Caramon said with a tiny bit of hope in his voice.
"Nothing will stop me from entering the home of the mountain dwarves and gaining the riches for you and your men." Raistlin said sarcastically glancing at a near-by soldier, his voice then changed to a determined and loathing whisper, "My dear brother, I will have what is mine and there is nothing you or any damn gnome can do to stop me. However if you care for your witches safety, which I don't you should consider what I've said" He then gave his trade- mark crooked smirk at his "dear brother" and walked back towards his tent.
Watching his brother walk away Caramon shook his head he then cleared his throat and prepared to call his men to form a scouting party.
She dreamt of him again last night holding her telling her she'd be alright and when she awoke to the creeping tormenting light of the sun, she cried to have to leave her dream world and return to this cruel reality. Caramon had left her some porridge and wine, he was kind to be so concerned for her. Sometimes she wanted to tell him she didn't care for him they way he seemed to care for her, he had a wife for Paladine's sake. He may be away from her and she knew her old life seemed a bleary memory compared to the recent events in this timeline, but you couldn't pretend that had never been your life. Why she still faithfully served Paladine, didn't she? Her heart suddenly stopped she gasped in her breathe, she didn't, she had been unfaithful to her god in body, in mind, and in soul. She could even feel him punishing her for it. Her stomach was jittery, her head felt weightless, she was weak and dizzy. Though that could've been the fact that she had barely ate any of the food Caramon had been leaving her, and she had been crying almost non- stop, but she couldn't shake that horrible feeling something terrible was on the verge of happening.
"Alright men I have information that there is a treacherous gnome spy working for the mountain dwarves who has plans to kill the wizard and I, leaving you men unable to enter Thorbardin and gain your riches. We don't want that happening do we." Caramon shouted trying to rally his men.
"NO!" they shouted in unison causing Crysania to run out of the tent.
"Then lets catch that double crossing treacherous gnome before he does something we all regret." Caramon spoke loud and clear in a serious tone.
"Let's kill him!" shouted one of the younger soldiers.
"I'll capture the gnome for you general!" screamed more enthusiastic young men.
"Then lets get to it men." Caramon picked fifty or so men to cover there tracks and behind them and fifty more to go ahead, and fifty to each side, assigning leaders to each group. "Search until twilight, I expect one of you to come back with a dead gnome. Now lets have a bit of a good luck for the men. "FOR VICTORY, GLORY, AND RICHES!" shouted Caramon at the top of his lungs.
"FOR VICTORY, GLORY, RICHES, AND OUR GENERAL!" shouted back the men.
Caramon smiled and patted some of them on the backs then explained other minor details of the capture.
Crysania held her hand to her heart...this was all her fault. She had suggested murder of some innocent gnome. Sure he would lead to Raistlin's and her own demise but...it wasn't right, yet somehow she felt relieved. As long as Raistlin was ok that was all that mattered. "How odd?" she spoke aloud to herself truly sounding perplexed. "The sky seems to be spinning a storm must be approaching... but why aren't there clouds?" color began to drain out of her face as her legs wobbled and she slid against a near by tent for support, "Ah, there now it's getting darker."
A nearby wife of one of the soldiers who was washing clothes saw the general's witch faint. She ran through the crowd of men not bothering to excuse herself. "General I think your witch is sick, she just collapsed to the ground. The tent seemed to break her fall but I'd hurry up she's gone deathly pale." The woman spoke urgently.
Caramon's face went rather colorless as well. He all but knocked down the woman and his men running over towards Crysania. "Raist hurry something's wrong with Crysania!" he shouted towards his brother's tent while running, not even noticing his slip of tongue. His men did however and they began to whisper amongst each other almost immediately.
Raistlin heard Caramon shout for him and was almost immediately infuriated hearing his name, he had been trying to contact Astinus but the dragon orb was not cooperating for some reason. When he heard something was wrong with Crysania wasn't quite concerned; women always had something wrong with them. Besides, Caramon had been too worried about her health in general lately, but something in his mind made him go. "I was in the middle of something extremely important, the wench better be on her damn deathbed." He said angrily, but part of his mind told him that wasn't true as he spoke it. Then he saw her lying there white as snow...she had always been fair of skin but she looked like a ghost. He felt his stomach knot up and swallowed as his fists temporarily clenched. How could have he let this happen to her, it must have been the stress his treatment towards her caused, he needed her...to defeat Takhisis, he quickly added reassuring himself.
"Fistandantilus it's not the plague is it? I thought her medallion protected her from that but, I didn't know if recent events might have stopped him from listening to her anymore." Caramon said nervously kneeling over her weak looking body.
The crowd or soldiers huddled around them stepped back at once at the mention of the plague. Their faces were stony, and there was a murmuring passing through the crowd of a meeting needing to be held soon to discuss their beloved general's rather odd behavior.
Raistlin thought it over for a moment. "It could be general, but I know the symptoms for the plague very well and she doesn't seem feverish, but to be sure she hasn't been coughing has she?" he asked hoping not.
"No, at least not that I've heard." Caramon said trying desperately to recall a moment she might have coughed at all.
"You would remember it General, it's rather distinct sounding." Raistlin said relieved.
Sighs of relief passed through pretty much everyone else and many of the soldiers began to leave to go search for the gnome, only a curious few still stayed with in earshot distance to found out gossip for the meeting.
"Now, General I will take her to my tent for examination to get to the root of the problem." Raistlin said bending down to pick up Crysania.
"Don't worry wizard, I'll carry her I would want you wasting any of your precious strength." Caramon said staring straight into his brother's eyes.
"Fine suit yourself, but you will leave during the examination. I don't need you fumbling around distracting me." Raistlin said coolly staring Caramon down until he flinched.
As they walked Caramon finally broke the tense silence. "I can see the damned Abyss in your eyes." Caramon said gravely with a hint of brotherly worry.
"The eyes are the mirrors of the soul." Raistlin said nonchalantly, he laughed a bit. "Perhaps it's because that's all that's been on my mind lately." His voice changed to a determined almost dream like whisper, "I will defeat her, and create a better future for all of those who are forgotten in the shadows, and left for death." He said remembering his childhood and his near death during test, and the deplorable conditions in which gully dwarves like Bupu lived in.
When they arrived at Raistlin's tent Caramon set her down gently on the ground. "Take care of her please Raist, do your best for me, just once." Caramon said pleadingly as he left.
Looking down at the frail body below him Raistlin shook his head, "No Caramon." He whispered quietly to himself his voice filled with unfamiliar compassion, "For her."