To Just Give In
Disclaimer: I Don't own Dragonlance, but I'm trying to work something out with Tanis... drool half elf...
A/N: Thank you to all of my wonderful reviewers you are what make it worth while to update at a constant frenzy.
Calli-Kurama-4eva: Thankiez for reviewing, here is the next chapter I really hope you like it. (
Bluenose: Thank you, in normal scenes I'll keep in mind her eyes are gray. In all my favorite scenes, the ones I mainly referenced, they were high emotion and they described them various shades of blue and gray/blue. I really appreciate the review the and thank you for following the story that close, it's a good way to tell people are actually paying attention (
Guan: Thankyou for reviewing..hehe I know aren't cliffys evil.
And now, on with the story. Just warning you this is a long one.
Chapter 5: A Change of Plans
Caramon celebrated with his men at the capture of the treacherous gnome. They had a feast of fresh caught elk and strong dwarven booze, and they merrily shared stories around the warmly glowing fire. They had found him in a stinking prison with a loud mouth kender. It never crossed Caramon's mind that it could be Tas, considering the fiery mountain of the Cataclysm left him for death. Besides everyone knew that all kender were loud mouths, it didn't even strike him as odd when his men relayed the kender telling tales of fighting mighty dragons and travelling to the Abyss. Just another kender tale, besides his mind was on other matters, like where the Abyss his brother was? Raistlin had been missing since the previous afternoon, when he didn't turn up last night Caramon didn't let it bother him, after all any horrible thing that happened to him he rightfully deserved. One of his men patted his back asking if he was feeling alright, he had heard them all whispering since Crysania fainting spell, and the wizard disappearing didn't make matters any better. He could feel morale lowering, even in the midst of celebration. The gnome had been killed and buried and while his men sang songs of victory and passed around Dwarf spirits obtained from trading with the Hill Dwarves Caramon found himself desperately craving to slip back into that euphoric, untouchable state of intoxication. Then he could forget Tika's bouncy red curls, and the approaching dangers of Thorbardin, Crysania's broken crying voice, and the image of the Abyss in his twin's eyes.
Garic looked over to Michael who nodded, whispers slowly began to circulate. The meeting had to be tonight, as soon as the General departed for sleep. He felt horrible betraying him this way, but at this point it appeared drastic measures may be in order to ensure that they still left Thorbardin with their pockets fat.
Crysania sat on her bed holding her knees pulled against her chest rocking slowly back in forth. She had a child within her, another living being. His child...he hadn't returned yet and why should he? He made it rather clear that his plans were ruined and he had nothing left. But still part of her hung desperately to the thin sliver of hope that he might return to her taking back all that he said, and hold her like he had on that fateful day. Would she still enter the Abyss with him? She thought about it, she supposed there wasn't much she wouldn't do for him, no matter how he felt about her. She lay back on to the bed and stared at the ceiling the tan coloring of the tent began to morph into black, or no it was pure white...or perhaps it was grayness. It was so vast it seemed to hurt her eyes to look into it for more than a few moments. Suddenly mammoth stone statues surrounded her, no wait they were chairs very large chairs the three thrones she was facing dwarfed all other chairs in comparison and on the throne on the right she saw the inscription of the Platinum Dragon. Her heart swelled with joy. Paladine had not abandoned her in her hour of need, as she had so horribly feared, perhaps it was as Goldmoon taught, and she had closed her ears from him for fear of what she may hear. Soon the faces of her Dark Majesty Takhisis, followed by God of Neutrality, Gilean, and lastly in his elven form her god Paladine. All of the other gods appeared in the places, she saw Mishakal Paladine's lovely consort, and so many of the faces that till then had been legend to her. Finally she noticed standing a few feet away from her in his velvety black robes was Raistlin. He appeared puzzled and upset at seeing her there. "Hello Archmagus." Crysania greeted him formally avoiding his eyes.
"Hello Revered Daughter." Raistlin replied with a small frown, you must be disappointed they aren't quite as impressive in person as in books.
"No actually on the contrary Fistandantilus, my heart rejoices at all of their presence, I am quite overwhelmed." She replied coolly.
Raistlin flinched, he didn't like to hear her call him that...why should it bother him though, it is his name? "So what have you gathered us here for, I can think of a few reasons you may want to converse with me, but what does she have to do with this." He said emphasizing she and glancing toward Crysania's slightly trembling frame. "Look you've scared the poor thing either that or..." Raistlin's mouth continued to move but no sound came out.
"Enough from you Majere. I do not care for the way you address my Revered Daughter. Especially considering what you've done to her," Paladine said condescendingly towards Raistlin. "You can speak when I decide I want to hear you." He added with a sly grin much in imitation of Raistlin's, "and that may well be never."
"Brother dearest I think you are quite mistaken, not to defend my lovely little traitor, but the little slut did seduce him." Takhisis said smiling at Paladine then Crysania. "Not to offend your virtue Oh So Holy Revered Daughter."
Paladine stood shaking the entire vastness. "I will not tolerate such..." and he was then cut off by his brother's arm.
"Stop it all of you." Gilean said quietly. "You're acting like children, Raistlin barely respects us as it is, and you're making a rather poor impression on your cleric, brother." He added chiding. "Now I suppose you would like to know why you are both here? He said addressing the two mortals.
"Yes" they answered in unison; Raistlin then sighed in relief hearing his own voice.
"You have created a bit of a snag in the fabric of time." Paladine said in an aggravated tone.
"Yes, you see the problem is...this child of yours." Gilean said addressing Crysania's still completely slender stomach. At the mention of her condition she blushed and looked at her feet, and Raistlin's fists clenched at his sides his knuckles turned stark white, and gritting his teeth his expression went from arrogant to frustrated as his queen began to laugh into the silent air.
"Yes dear child it seems I forgot to congratulate you..." Takhisis said sarcastically still laughing.
The gods of magic stood. "That's enough mother," Nuitari said quietly. "This isn't all bad Majere, we may have one of the most powerful mage's in the history of Krynn on the way." He said hopefully. "And of course, the black robes everywhere will rejoice."
This caused Paladine to jump back up once again shaking the stone thrones. "The unborn babe of my cleric will not have his soul signed over to the black robes." He added menacingly.
"Stay out of this elf." Takhisis said with venom. "The son of my most powerful servant will not be some white robe wearing cleric boy."
"I am not you servant! I do not obey you!" Raistlin screamed.
"Well the boy could be one of my mage's." Solinari added hopefully, "Then he'd be serving the gods of magic as well as all that is good."
In the meantime tears had began to well up in Crysania's eyes. Lunitari seeing this used her magic to stand the same size as Crysania. She was absolutely radiant and she evoked more awe in to Crysania than seeing her own god had. "You poor thing...you probably didn't even want to know? They can be so ignorant to mortal emotion. To them they probably assumed you knew you'd be having a son."
Raistlin saw Lunitari standing off toward where her throne was empty consoling Crysania. He walked over there momentarily ignoring the argument. "What is wrong with you woman? Are you still upset by what Takhisis said?" he looked confused, aggravated, and a little bit worried.
Sniffling Crysania wiped the corner of her eyes. "I'm having a boy..." she said in a whisper her voice shaky from crying.
"I could have told you that," Raistlin said rather uncomfortably. He turned to speak to his former patron god Lunitari but she had resumed her seat and was conferring with the Gods of magic.
"How your magic?" Crysania said regaining her voice, with a tinge of curiosity.
"No...I had a dream about him." Raistlin said softly. He looked up at Crysania's tear stained face. Her hair was the most unkempt he had seen it, she wore no decorations in it, it simply hung loosely down her face. Her eyes were gray like the sky before a storm. Her cheeks were reddened, between embarrassment and crying, or perhaps yet another slowly appearing symptom of her pregnancy. For the first time since he'd met her she was not wearing her cleric's robe. Instead she wore a man's tunic so large it was a dress on her. It was light tan in color and she had a thin rope tied around her waist to keep it in place. Eventually Raistlin realized where he recognized it from it was Caramon's. With that realization came a powerful surge of jealousy. What had happened since I left? Caramon thinks he can claim her as his now that he was absent for a few days? He was so enraged he didn't even hear Crysania until she asked her question for the second time.
"Raistlin...can you hear me? What was he like?" Crysania asked her eyes lighting up a little. She took a step towards him so she was looking into his eyes.
Raistlin found himself speaking before his mind had a chance to think it over. "He is beautiful, he has hair my color but it has the cascading waves of a waterfall that are your own. His is thin, but strong, all that I had always dreamed of being. His eyes were the color of an ocean storm. His skin was the color of warm cream." Now Raistlin laughed slightly, but it wasn't a happy laugh it was rather hurt, even his eyes seemed to be shaded over with some small inner pain, "He has my smile..."
Crysania's face warmed completely and she hugged Raistlin before he could stop her, she looked up into his eyes, and then she saw... "Raistlin, what's wrong that seemed so wonderful?" she said quietly stepping away from him her face blushed, she felt ashamed for allowing herself to get so carried away in emotion.
The moment her skin touched his he froze. His mind screamed at him with insults sharper than daggers, but he couldn't do a thing, his body seemed to disconnect itself from his mind, the tension and stress that had built up this past week melting off of him. When she let go it was like a knife searing itself through his soul. His mind laughed at him, See she is revolted by you. Finally looking up at her the hurt only slightly evident in his eyes. "He killed me."
Chills ran from Crysania's neck down her spine, and to the core of her own being. She was about to embrace him again in to comfort him as best as she could but Paladine cut it off.
"Ahem...Magus, Revered Daughter... I'm sorry to interrupt anything but we still have some things we need to discuss with you." Paladine said with a slight smile on his face.
"Yes as I had been trying to explain, your child was conceived during this time...the event had not been expected." Gilean said almost angrily. "Therefore as my brother had tried explaining earlier, your child is the snag in the fabric of time. If you were to travel to any other time while she was still pregnant the snag would begin to stretch slowly unraveling the fabric of time itself. And from what I understand you are not planning on staying in this time until, next month I believe?" Gilean said turning towards Raistlin.
"Yes." Raistlin said feeling rather small suddenly, all of the gods knew what he was planning, and Takhisis even looked at him like the child trapped with his hand in the cookie jar.
"Well I'm afraid our little "confrontation" will have to wait Raistlin Majere or I am supposed to call you Fistandantilus. You mortals are so silly with your little schemes." Takhisis said laughing.
"Let me explain it a little more clearly." Paladine said. "You are not going anywhere for nine months." He smiled at the sputtering Raistlin.
"Actually..." Solinari said while yawning obviously growing tired of this charade. "Five months and seven days now. They have been here quite a while."
Then as if suddenly remembering time constraints Gilean quickly finished. "The time machine as well as any time spells will be non functional until the child is born." Now smiling he added. "Have fun children."
Suddenly there surroundings began to transform and the last thing either of them heard was Lunitari shouting "Good luck!"
Caramon sat in the prison cell that had been his home for the past three months after discovering the wizard in the same strange coma that the witch was in the men got nervous. Apparently mutiny had been on their minds and this was the last little push they had needed. They anonymously turned them over to Mountain Dwarves as traitors, plotting their demise. The only reason Caramon supposed they hadn't been killed yet, is he said Raistlin was an all-powerful Wizard who had a placed a curse over all of them. And whoever killed them would have bad luck spread against them and their entire civilization, the Dwarves who already distrusted magic didn't need anymore warning. They played drinking games and made bets to see whom would be the one bringing their food for the week. Raistlin and Crysania fed themselves and were able to take care of their bodies other necessities, but other than that they were complete zombies. Caramon had all but gone insane when one day he heard a familiar voice.
"Oh these?" the shrill voice of a kender but not any kender. "I found them on the floor. Are they yours? Well you should really be more careful with them." Said Tas while running from the jail warden whirling the keys around his hand. "Hey why is that? Yes it is! Caramon! And there's Raistlin and Crysania."
"Tasselhoff! I thought you died in the Cataclysm?" Caramon said jumping up and rushing towards the bars of his cell.
"Cataclysm? Whoa you really are cursed the Dwarf warden backed up nervously. "You got five minutes then back to your cell kender.
"Well I got to see the fiery mountain come down and everything, but the time machine would work, I meant to stop the Cataclysm, Raistlin had taught me how." Tas said his voice going from excitement to somberness. "But it broke, and then I was taken to the Abyss and then a gnome Gmish fixed the time machine for me...but some mean guys took him away a few months ago." Tas took a breath, "And now I play tag with that Dwarf occasionally, he is so forgetful, always dropping his keys and forgetting where he set them down. He kind of reminds me of Flint," Tas added sadly.
Caramon had frowned at hearing the mention of Raistlin tricking poor Tas, though he supposed it might have been an accident. Besides he was so happy to be able to see his old cheery friend again he couldn't feel angry.
"What's wrong with Crysania and Raistlin, they look worse than you did before we left on this adventure. Wow Crysania sure got kind of chubby."
"There practically zombies, they don't talk, they just go through the day without noticing where they are or anything. Crysania isn't fat either, she's pregnant." Caramon added quietly as if embarrassed.
Tas looked shocked; "I told you she loved Raistlin" he jumped around. "Raistlin's gonna be a daddy!" he held his hand out to Raistlin through the bars. After waiting a minute and not getting any response He turned to Caramon. "Wow they really are zombies... What happened did he turn them into zombies, like by a spell backfiring, or was it Takhisis. You know she is really a mean lady."
"I don't know Tas one day Crysania was just like this and wouldn't snap out of it. Later that day they found Raistlin in a field the exact same way. My men got suspicious and turned on me. They thought I had been lying to them, which I had but not by my choice." Caramon said sadly.
"Your men? You were a general like Laurana?" Tas said in awe
"No not as good as Laurana, but I really tried my best." Caramon said with a melancholy smile.
"Time's up kender!" called the jailer.
"Well it was nice seeing you again Tas" Caramon said shaking his little hand.
"Don't worry Caramon I'm sure they'll get better you just gotta keep hope, just like Fizban always said." Tas said seriously "And I'll visit you every chance I get! Bye Caramon."
"Fizban is a very wise person...I'll see you later Tas." Caramon said waving as the Jailer dragged him away, muttering something about being stuck in a loony bin.
And for the next month Tas visited him almost everyday, keeping his sanity in check. This morning like all others, Caramon finished feeding Raistlin and Crysania then went to eat his own breakfast when he heard a voice that he had been missing for four months.
"Well that was nice of her." Crysania said smiling. She then looked around and shrieked. "We're imprisoned!"
Looking around Raistlin hissed angrily. "A Mountain Dwarf prison to be specific." Looking through the barred window all he could see was stone and dirt. "See we're underground." Before he could say another word he found himself being smashed into Crysania, and crushed by his brother's mammoth arms.
"Raist, Crysania... What happened to you guys you've been zombies for the past four months?" Caramon said releasing them from his bear hug.
"Well we were meeting with the gods about our child." Raistlin said plainly.
Crysania smiled, "Actually what Raistlin meant was our son!" she hugged Caramon. It's great to see you again. You're going to have a nephew she said smiling.
"Would you stop that!" Raistlin said in an annoyed tone. He then frowned. "You absolutely stink." He said turning from her.
Her face reddened. "You don't smell any better!" she shouted
"Was it to much for you to take care of us brother." Raistlin said disgusted.
"Listen I don't think you guys understand. You were like zombies, but you still functioned on your own. You did what was necessary, but you wouldn't bathe yourself." Caramon's face was turning red.
"Oh my goodness..." Crysania said blushing.
"Yeah, she understands at least. It would have looked a little odd, me bathing you Raistlin." Caramon said trying to calm down.
"Hey you guys are back!" chimed in Tas' shrill voice.
"How on earth did the kender get in here?" Raistlin said getting steadily more annoyed.
"Well hello to you to Raistlin." Tas said hurt. "With keys of course, that silly jailer is always dropping them. "By the way congratulations Crysania and Raistlin." Tas said cheerily.
"Well now that we are all happily reunited," Raistlin said sarcastically. "It's time to go to where we need to be."
And before anyone had an opportunity to ask where that was Raistlin began to speak the spidery language of magic.
When the spell was complete they looked around. Crysania's face looked frightened, Caramon looked on edge, Tas was mystified, and smirking Raistlin broke the silence, "Home sweet home."
Disclaimer: I Don't own Dragonlance, but I'm trying to work something out with Tanis... drool half elf...
A/N: Thank you to all of my wonderful reviewers you are what make it worth while to update at a constant frenzy.
Calli-Kurama-4eva: Thankiez for reviewing, here is the next chapter I really hope you like it. (
Bluenose: Thank you, in normal scenes I'll keep in mind her eyes are gray. In all my favorite scenes, the ones I mainly referenced, they were high emotion and they described them various shades of blue and gray/blue. I really appreciate the review the and thank you for following the story that close, it's a good way to tell people are actually paying attention (
Guan: Thankyou for reviewing..hehe I know aren't cliffys evil.
And now, on with the story. Just warning you this is a long one.
Chapter 5: A Change of Plans
Caramon celebrated with his men at the capture of the treacherous gnome. They had a feast of fresh caught elk and strong dwarven booze, and they merrily shared stories around the warmly glowing fire. They had found him in a stinking prison with a loud mouth kender. It never crossed Caramon's mind that it could be Tas, considering the fiery mountain of the Cataclysm left him for death. Besides everyone knew that all kender were loud mouths, it didn't even strike him as odd when his men relayed the kender telling tales of fighting mighty dragons and travelling to the Abyss. Just another kender tale, besides his mind was on other matters, like where the Abyss his brother was? Raistlin had been missing since the previous afternoon, when he didn't turn up last night Caramon didn't let it bother him, after all any horrible thing that happened to him he rightfully deserved. One of his men patted his back asking if he was feeling alright, he had heard them all whispering since Crysania fainting spell, and the wizard disappearing didn't make matters any better. He could feel morale lowering, even in the midst of celebration. The gnome had been killed and buried and while his men sang songs of victory and passed around Dwarf spirits obtained from trading with the Hill Dwarves Caramon found himself desperately craving to slip back into that euphoric, untouchable state of intoxication. Then he could forget Tika's bouncy red curls, and the approaching dangers of Thorbardin, Crysania's broken crying voice, and the image of the Abyss in his twin's eyes.
Garic looked over to Michael who nodded, whispers slowly began to circulate. The meeting had to be tonight, as soon as the General departed for sleep. He felt horrible betraying him this way, but at this point it appeared drastic measures may be in order to ensure that they still left Thorbardin with their pockets fat.
Crysania sat on her bed holding her knees pulled against her chest rocking slowly back in forth. She had a child within her, another living being. His child...he hadn't returned yet and why should he? He made it rather clear that his plans were ruined and he had nothing left. But still part of her hung desperately to the thin sliver of hope that he might return to her taking back all that he said, and hold her like he had on that fateful day. Would she still enter the Abyss with him? She thought about it, she supposed there wasn't much she wouldn't do for him, no matter how he felt about her. She lay back on to the bed and stared at the ceiling the tan coloring of the tent began to morph into black, or no it was pure white...or perhaps it was grayness. It was so vast it seemed to hurt her eyes to look into it for more than a few moments. Suddenly mammoth stone statues surrounded her, no wait they were chairs very large chairs the three thrones she was facing dwarfed all other chairs in comparison and on the throne on the right she saw the inscription of the Platinum Dragon. Her heart swelled with joy. Paladine had not abandoned her in her hour of need, as she had so horribly feared, perhaps it was as Goldmoon taught, and she had closed her ears from him for fear of what she may hear. Soon the faces of her Dark Majesty Takhisis, followed by God of Neutrality, Gilean, and lastly in his elven form her god Paladine. All of the other gods appeared in the places, she saw Mishakal Paladine's lovely consort, and so many of the faces that till then had been legend to her. Finally she noticed standing a few feet away from her in his velvety black robes was Raistlin. He appeared puzzled and upset at seeing her there. "Hello Archmagus." Crysania greeted him formally avoiding his eyes.
"Hello Revered Daughter." Raistlin replied with a small frown, you must be disappointed they aren't quite as impressive in person as in books.
"No actually on the contrary Fistandantilus, my heart rejoices at all of their presence, I am quite overwhelmed." She replied coolly.
Raistlin flinched, he didn't like to hear her call him that...why should it bother him though, it is his name? "So what have you gathered us here for, I can think of a few reasons you may want to converse with me, but what does she have to do with this." He said emphasizing she and glancing toward Crysania's slightly trembling frame. "Look you've scared the poor thing either that or..." Raistlin's mouth continued to move but no sound came out.
"Enough from you Majere. I do not care for the way you address my Revered Daughter. Especially considering what you've done to her," Paladine said condescendingly towards Raistlin. "You can speak when I decide I want to hear you." He added with a sly grin much in imitation of Raistlin's, "and that may well be never."
"Brother dearest I think you are quite mistaken, not to defend my lovely little traitor, but the little slut did seduce him." Takhisis said smiling at Paladine then Crysania. "Not to offend your virtue Oh So Holy Revered Daughter."
Paladine stood shaking the entire vastness. "I will not tolerate such..." and he was then cut off by his brother's arm.
"Stop it all of you." Gilean said quietly. "You're acting like children, Raistlin barely respects us as it is, and you're making a rather poor impression on your cleric, brother." He added chiding. "Now I suppose you would like to know why you are both here? He said addressing the two mortals.
"Yes" they answered in unison; Raistlin then sighed in relief hearing his own voice.
"You have created a bit of a snag in the fabric of time." Paladine said in an aggravated tone.
"Yes, you see the problem is...this child of yours." Gilean said addressing Crysania's still completely slender stomach. At the mention of her condition she blushed and looked at her feet, and Raistlin's fists clenched at his sides his knuckles turned stark white, and gritting his teeth his expression went from arrogant to frustrated as his queen began to laugh into the silent air.
"Yes dear child it seems I forgot to congratulate you..." Takhisis said sarcastically still laughing.
The gods of magic stood. "That's enough mother," Nuitari said quietly. "This isn't all bad Majere, we may have one of the most powerful mage's in the history of Krynn on the way." He said hopefully. "And of course, the black robes everywhere will rejoice."
This caused Paladine to jump back up once again shaking the stone thrones. "The unborn babe of my cleric will not have his soul signed over to the black robes." He added menacingly.
"Stay out of this elf." Takhisis said with venom. "The son of my most powerful servant will not be some white robe wearing cleric boy."
"I am not you servant! I do not obey you!" Raistlin screamed.
"Well the boy could be one of my mage's." Solinari added hopefully, "Then he'd be serving the gods of magic as well as all that is good."
In the meantime tears had began to well up in Crysania's eyes. Lunitari seeing this used her magic to stand the same size as Crysania. She was absolutely radiant and she evoked more awe in to Crysania than seeing her own god had. "You poor thing...you probably didn't even want to know? They can be so ignorant to mortal emotion. To them they probably assumed you knew you'd be having a son."
Raistlin saw Lunitari standing off toward where her throne was empty consoling Crysania. He walked over there momentarily ignoring the argument. "What is wrong with you woman? Are you still upset by what Takhisis said?" he looked confused, aggravated, and a little bit worried.
Sniffling Crysania wiped the corner of her eyes. "I'm having a boy..." she said in a whisper her voice shaky from crying.
"I could have told you that," Raistlin said rather uncomfortably. He turned to speak to his former patron god Lunitari but she had resumed her seat and was conferring with the Gods of magic.
"How your magic?" Crysania said regaining her voice, with a tinge of curiosity.
"No...I had a dream about him." Raistlin said softly. He looked up at Crysania's tear stained face. Her hair was the most unkempt he had seen it, she wore no decorations in it, it simply hung loosely down her face. Her eyes were gray like the sky before a storm. Her cheeks were reddened, between embarrassment and crying, or perhaps yet another slowly appearing symptom of her pregnancy. For the first time since he'd met her she was not wearing her cleric's robe. Instead she wore a man's tunic so large it was a dress on her. It was light tan in color and she had a thin rope tied around her waist to keep it in place. Eventually Raistlin realized where he recognized it from it was Caramon's. With that realization came a powerful surge of jealousy. What had happened since I left? Caramon thinks he can claim her as his now that he was absent for a few days? He was so enraged he didn't even hear Crysania until she asked her question for the second time.
"Raistlin...can you hear me? What was he like?" Crysania asked her eyes lighting up a little. She took a step towards him so she was looking into his eyes.
Raistlin found himself speaking before his mind had a chance to think it over. "He is beautiful, he has hair my color but it has the cascading waves of a waterfall that are your own. His is thin, but strong, all that I had always dreamed of being. His eyes were the color of an ocean storm. His skin was the color of warm cream." Now Raistlin laughed slightly, but it wasn't a happy laugh it was rather hurt, even his eyes seemed to be shaded over with some small inner pain, "He has my smile..."
Crysania's face warmed completely and she hugged Raistlin before he could stop her, she looked up into his eyes, and then she saw... "Raistlin, what's wrong that seemed so wonderful?" she said quietly stepping away from him her face blushed, she felt ashamed for allowing herself to get so carried away in emotion.
The moment her skin touched his he froze. His mind screamed at him with insults sharper than daggers, but he couldn't do a thing, his body seemed to disconnect itself from his mind, the tension and stress that had built up this past week melting off of him. When she let go it was like a knife searing itself through his soul. His mind laughed at him, See she is revolted by you. Finally looking up at her the hurt only slightly evident in his eyes. "He killed me."
Chills ran from Crysania's neck down her spine, and to the core of her own being. She was about to embrace him again in to comfort him as best as she could but Paladine cut it off.
"Ahem...Magus, Revered Daughter... I'm sorry to interrupt anything but we still have some things we need to discuss with you." Paladine said with a slight smile on his face.
"Yes as I had been trying to explain, your child was conceived during this time...the event had not been expected." Gilean said almost angrily. "Therefore as my brother had tried explaining earlier, your child is the snag in the fabric of time. If you were to travel to any other time while she was still pregnant the snag would begin to stretch slowly unraveling the fabric of time itself. And from what I understand you are not planning on staying in this time until, next month I believe?" Gilean said turning towards Raistlin.
"Yes." Raistlin said feeling rather small suddenly, all of the gods knew what he was planning, and Takhisis even looked at him like the child trapped with his hand in the cookie jar.
"Well I'm afraid our little "confrontation" will have to wait Raistlin Majere or I am supposed to call you Fistandantilus. You mortals are so silly with your little schemes." Takhisis said laughing.
"Let me explain it a little more clearly." Paladine said. "You are not going anywhere for nine months." He smiled at the sputtering Raistlin.
"Actually..." Solinari said while yawning obviously growing tired of this charade. "Five months and seven days now. They have been here quite a while."
Then as if suddenly remembering time constraints Gilean quickly finished. "The time machine as well as any time spells will be non functional until the child is born." Now smiling he added. "Have fun children."
Suddenly there surroundings began to transform and the last thing either of them heard was Lunitari shouting "Good luck!"
Caramon sat in the prison cell that had been his home for the past three months after discovering the wizard in the same strange coma that the witch was in the men got nervous. Apparently mutiny had been on their minds and this was the last little push they had needed. They anonymously turned them over to Mountain Dwarves as traitors, plotting their demise. The only reason Caramon supposed they hadn't been killed yet, is he said Raistlin was an all-powerful Wizard who had a placed a curse over all of them. And whoever killed them would have bad luck spread against them and their entire civilization, the Dwarves who already distrusted magic didn't need anymore warning. They played drinking games and made bets to see whom would be the one bringing their food for the week. Raistlin and Crysania fed themselves and were able to take care of their bodies other necessities, but other than that they were complete zombies. Caramon had all but gone insane when one day he heard a familiar voice.
"Oh these?" the shrill voice of a kender but not any kender. "I found them on the floor. Are they yours? Well you should really be more careful with them." Said Tas while running from the jail warden whirling the keys around his hand. "Hey why is that? Yes it is! Caramon! And there's Raistlin and Crysania."
"Tasselhoff! I thought you died in the Cataclysm?" Caramon said jumping up and rushing towards the bars of his cell.
"Cataclysm? Whoa you really are cursed the Dwarf warden backed up nervously. "You got five minutes then back to your cell kender.
"Well I got to see the fiery mountain come down and everything, but the time machine would work, I meant to stop the Cataclysm, Raistlin had taught me how." Tas said his voice going from excitement to somberness. "But it broke, and then I was taken to the Abyss and then a gnome Gmish fixed the time machine for me...but some mean guys took him away a few months ago." Tas took a breath, "And now I play tag with that Dwarf occasionally, he is so forgetful, always dropping his keys and forgetting where he set them down. He kind of reminds me of Flint," Tas added sadly.
Caramon had frowned at hearing the mention of Raistlin tricking poor Tas, though he supposed it might have been an accident. Besides he was so happy to be able to see his old cheery friend again he couldn't feel angry.
"What's wrong with Crysania and Raistlin, they look worse than you did before we left on this adventure. Wow Crysania sure got kind of chubby."
"There practically zombies, they don't talk, they just go through the day without noticing where they are or anything. Crysania isn't fat either, she's pregnant." Caramon added quietly as if embarrassed.
Tas looked shocked; "I told you she loved Raistlin" he jumped around. "Raistlin's gonna be a daddy!" he held his hand out to Raistlin through the bars. After waiting a minute and not getting any response He turned to Caramon. "Wow they really are zombies... What happened did he turn them into zombies, like by a spell backfiring, or was it Takhisis. You know she is really a mean lady."
"I don't know Tas one day Crysania was just like this and wouldn't snap out of it. Later that day they found Raistlin in a field the exact same way. My men got suspicious and turned on me. They thought I had been lying to them, which I had but not by my choice." Caramon said sadly.
"Your men? You were a general like Laurana?" Tas said in awe
"No not as good as Laurana, but I really tried my best." Caramon said with a melancholy smile.
"Time's up kender!" called the jailer.
"Well it was nice seeing you again Tas" Caramon said shaking his little hand.
"Don't worry Caramon I'm sure they'll get better you just gotta keep hope, just like Fizban always said." Tas said seriously "And I'll visit you every chance I get! Bye Caramon."
"Fizban is a very wise person...I'll see you later Tas." Caramon said waving as the Jailer dragged him away, muttering something about being stuck in a loony bin.
And for the next month Tas visited him almost everyday, keeping his sanity in check. This morning like all others, Caramon finished feeding Raistlin and Crysania then went to eat his own breakfast when he heard a voice that he had been missing for four months.
"Well that was nice of her." Crysania said smiling. She then looked around and shrieked. "We're imprisoned!"
Looking around Raistlin hissed angrily. "A Mountain Dwarf prison to be specific." Looking through the barred window all he could see was stone and dirt. "See we're underground." Before he could say another word he found himself being smashed into Crysania, and crushed by his brother's mammoth arms.
"Raist, Crysania... What happened to you guys you've been zombies for the past four months?" Caramon said releasing them from his bear hug.
"Well we were meeting with the gods about our child." Raistlin said plainly.
Crysania smiled, "Actually what Raistlin meant was our son!" she hugged Caramon. It's great to see you again. You're going to have a nephew she said smiling.
"Would you stop that!" Raistlin said in an annoyed tone. He then frowned. "You absolutely stink." He said turning from her.
Her face reddened. "You don't smell any better!" she shouted
"Was it to much for you to take care of us brother." Raistlin said disgusted.
"Listen I don't think you guys understand. You were like zombies, but you still functioned on your own. You did what was necessary, but you wouldn't bathe yourself." Caramon's face was turning red.
"Oh my goodness..." Crysania said blushing.
"Yeah, she understands at least. It would have looked a little odd, me bathing you Raistlin." Caramon said trying to calm down.
"Hey you guys are back!" chimed in Tas' shrill voice.
"How on earth did the kender get in here?" Raistlin said getting steadily more annoyed.
"Well hello to you to Raistlin." Tas said hurt. "With keys of course, that silly jailer is always dropping them. "By the way congratulations Crysania and Raistlin." Tas said cheerily.
"Well now that we are all happily reunited," Raistlin said sarcastically. "It's time to go to where we need to be."
And before anyone had an opportunity to ask where that was Raistlin began to speak the spidery language of magic.
When the spell was complete they looked around. Crysania's face looked frightened, Caramon looked on edge, Tas was mystified, and smirking Raistlin broke the silence, "Home sweet home."