Disclaimer: I don't own Dragonlance
Author's Note: Alright, thank you very much everyone for reviews. I got some awesome name suggestions from my reviewers, my family (who freaked out for a second when I asked what baby names they liked), and my boyfriend (who also got confused when I asked about baby names). But my favorite is....you will have to keep reading the story to find out, but there's no guarantee that it'll fit into this chapter. Sorry it took so long to update, I hope you all enjoy.
Anon. Reviewer: I've always wondered that too....
Guan: something like that is probably going to happen...not necessarily them all getting delayed but, I sort of wanted the whole group to get to see the baby too.
Ahn-Li Steffraini: I absolutely love that name. However I was thinking, I really couldn't take a name you were already planning to use in your own story. I really appreciate that you were actually willing to let me use a name from one of your own stories :)
Calli-Kurama-4eva: The boy who saved Tanis should be identified in this chapter, or at least there should be a major clue. I really like the name Aidan, my step- sister actually named that as her favorite boy name as well, along with Conner (I just can't see Raistlin with a baby named Conner.) Oh and here's the next chapter :)
Chapter 9 Another Way
Two months passed by uneventfully. Well, actually there were a few events that happened in the past months. Caramon after pleading with Raistlin, had Raist send Tika a message saying that he was still alive and missed her. Tasselhoff wondered off and after he was missing for a week Caramon traveled into the city and straight to the one place he knew he could find him, the jail. Apparently Tas had seen a necklace that was about to fall off its stand and to prevent it from falling, caught it in his pouch. After an hour of trying to explain that it was his pet Kender Caramon finally got aggravated and paid the jailor one steel for Tas. The jailor smiled exclaiming to his buddies he had just received the highest bail for a Kender ever. Once they returned home Tas gave Crysania the necklace (you didn't think any self respecting kender would return something they didn't steal?). She was a little upset at first but after Tas assured her he didn't steal it, she wore it everyday along with her medallion. Raistlin and Crysania went back to pretty much avoiding each other. But, the moments when the two were alone there were passionate kisses, that always caused them to leave each other in panic, leaving them desiring more. Other than those few occurrences everything was pretty much the same.
Warm light filled Lady Crysania's bedroom, a sure sign that morning had come. She had gotten much larger over the past two months. Nowhere near what her full size would be, she knew from working at the temple, but she was getting there. She was so hungry, it didn't seem she could ever get enough food. She had begun to crave odd foods, that her personal chefs at home had made, and Caramon was learning to cook them all. She was walking downstairs thinking of what she wanted to eat and she barely noticed a small crack in one of the stairs. Her foot got caught and the next thing she knew she was in the process of falling face first down the stairs. She didn't fear for herself only her child, she cried out for Paladine to save her. Closing her eyes and covering her stomach with her hands she braced herself for impact and...was caught by strong arms. She knew it wasn't Caramon because he didn't wake up until she went in his room to ask for breakfast. It could be Raistlin she thought her eyes still clenched shut, but it doesn't "feel" like him. Slowly she opened her eyes and looked at her savior. It was a young man in golden robes, his face was overshadowed by his hood. "Who are you?" Crysania said weakly. A moment later her cheeks flushed and she added, "Thank you for saving my child...and me." She said.
The young man carefully set her down on her feet. "You do not need to thank me Revered Daughter Crysania," he said awkwardly. "I was just doing my job. As for who I am...you have never seen me. You are beginning to doubt that you met me even as I tell you this. You almost feel down the stairs but managed to preserve your balance. You also may want to have d... Raistlin check on your foot, it's broken." The youth turned and whispering the words of magic was gone.
Crysania carefully made her way down the five bottom stairs. She had never been so frightened in her life. She had nearly fallen down the stairs, fortunately she managed to preserve her balance before falling, but her foot didn't seem to be doing so well.
Caramon was making his way into the kitchen by the time she got downstairs. "Are you okay Crysania." Caramon said nervously. "I thought I heard you shout something and I made my way here as fast as I could."
"I almost fell, but I managed to preserve my balance." She replied meekly. "But I think I should sleep downstairs from now on. I'm beginning to be a little front heavy."
"I'm so sorry...if I would have known." Caramon said quietly
"Don't worry about it. My baby and I are fine that's all that matters." She said smiling. "Though would you mind getting Raistlin, my ankle is rather sore."
"Of course, I'll get him right away." Caramon said, already rushing to go upstairs.
Crysania sat down examining her ankle. It was definitely broken. She could probably heal it herself. She was afraid of trying to use any of her healing magic though, considering she wasn't sure what effect it would have on her son. She smiled as Caramon made his way down the stairs with a rather nervous looking Raistlin and a chipper as ever Tasselhoff.
"Are you alright Cryssi." Called Tas as he hopped past Caramon and Raistlin.
"What did you just call her kender?" Raistlin asked annoyed.
"What? Oh Cryssi." Tas said twirling his top- knot. "We're best friends now so I figured she needed a nickname.
Crysania laughed, "I rather like it actually." She said smiling. She looked over at Raistlin, "We're fine, you look as if you've seen a ghost." She said standing worriedly, then quickly sitting back down with a small gasp. "Well my foot is a bit sore actually."
"I've heard...you really need to be more careful woman." Raistlin said angrily.
"I was being careful. It's not my fault you put my bedroom upstairs." Crysania said offended. "I would never do anything to intentionally hurt my child."
"Your child? Let's not forget you're not the only parent. You're probably ready to name the poor boy Elistan or Paladynn or some other pathetic "good" name." Raistlin said sarcastically.
Caramon rubbed his head. He could hardly believe what he was hearing. Not only was his brother acknowledging his child, he was actually angry that Crysania had forget to acknowledge him as a parent. He was even going as far to care about a name. If he still planned on fighting Takhisis why would he care what his son was named. Perhaps, Raistlin had given up his quest to become a god. That would be too much to hope for Caramon thought, shaking his head. But, at least this was a start. He really seemed genuinely worried about his son.
"Sure I thought about naming him Elistan...What's wrong with that? It's a good, important name." Crysania said, now beginning to get angry as well.
"Why don't we just name him "Oh Holy One Who is Not His Father's Son," Raistlin said bitterly.
"Hmm...not a bad idea, I can't believe I never thought of that one." Crysania retorted.
"I'm still rooting for Pickletoes." Tas added in between there shouts.
Finally Caramon shouted, "Enough!" They all turned and looked at him, "For how smart you al are I'd have thought you knew that stress and yelling isn't good for a baby." Caramon said quieting down a bit.
"I'm sorry Raistlin I didn't mean it I'm just really irritable." Crysania said softly, looking towards the ground.
Raistlin didn't say anything but his expression calmed and he began to examine Crysania's ankle.
Tasselhoff was about to ask what they were naming the kid anyways, but before he could Raistlin's cat wondered into the kitchen causing the kender to run away in panic, not fear (kender don't feel fear!)
"So I guess I'll make breakfast what do you..."Caramon was quickly cut off by Crysania.
"I'll have fried ham and silver onions, fresh fruit slices glazed with honey, tree slices of wheat toast, and a glass of elven wine."
"You are drinking wine!" Raistlin exclaimed. "At this point of your pregnancy you shouldn't be touching alcohol." He said applying some healing salve and a bandage to her foot.
"No the Elven wine is fine as long as you only drink a glass a day, we even recommend to ease any sicknesses at the Healing Temple." Crysania said confidently, but she couldn't hide the worry.
He paused, "Well perhaps Elven wines have their differences, but I would prefer if you would drink some juice until I find out otherwise." Raistlin said calmly.
"Fine, then I'll also have fresh squeezed juice Caramon." Crysania said sweetly.
"Anything else?" Caramon asked truly hoping not.
"Actually I'll have a glass of Elven wine brother." Raistlin said smirking at Crysania.
Caramon laughed a bit and turned to get Raistlin's wine.
.........................(time shift)..............................................
It seemed like it had been an eternity since Caramon left. Tika pretty much ran The Inn of the Last Home herself, though that wasn't much of a change. Business hadn't been bad, but it hadn't been great either. There was a broken window from a fight between a Solamnic knight and a bitter ex-dragon rider of Takhisis' old army. She didn't have the time or money to fix it. When Tanis arrived all bloody and battered up she really thought she was going to lose it. After she got him cleaned up and called over a healer, he told her of the battle at Pananthalas. She worried that Caramon may have been trapped there. But Tanis said he hadn't seen him, and was shocked that he hadn't returned. After hearing that thing seemed to go down hill. She was constantly worried and filled with regret for sending him out. Sure he hadn't been the man she married anymore, but he was still her husband, and she still loved him. She was unable to work, she spilled drinks, and overcooked food. Customers began complaining and poor Otik had to come out of retirement to take over the Inn. She felt like she would die of heartbreak until one day she heard a familiar voice.
(Flashback)
"Tika, this is Raistlin. Can you hear me?" came the soft- spoken voice.
"I hear someone speaking to me, but that is not the voice of Raistlin." Tika said frightened.
"Trust me it is. Actually better yet...say something idiot." She heard him say to whoever was with him.
"Tika! Hey can you hear me? It's me Cara..." he was cutoff by an excited Caramon.
"Oh it's you! You're alive! You sound...healthy, like you used to. Did you quit..." she said hopefully.
"Yep I'm a hundred percent clean Tika. I'm in even better shape that I was during the War of the Lance. I miss you so much and your muffins, and the Inn, and..." he turned to talk to Raistlin for a moment. "Tika, Raist says I have to say goodbye, cause the spell is making him tired. "I love you and I'm sorry and I'll be back in two months, ok?"
"I love you too Caramon, I'll be waiting." Tika said happily.
(flashback ends)
She only got to speak to him for a moment. But that was enough to restore her faith in him. She had no idea where he was or what he was doing but at least she knew he was safe, and that he would be returning to her. With that comforting thought she fell asleep, dreaming about Caramon's big, warm smile.
............................(time shift)....................................................
Raistlin had began to slip into the nightmare again this time desperately fearing what would happen.
I walked towards the executioner's block and there stood my Queen waiting for me to approach my death. This time though I had a spell that I knew would destroy her, my mouth was not gagged, I was free to kill her now. As I began to say the words of my spell a young man in golden robes appeared before me, and several other young people appeared behind him.
"I know what you desire." The youth said. "There is another way, a way where the outcome is not failure. Because I assure you, though Takhisis may seem unready, she knows every move you plan to make, and shall you fight her you may succeed but at the price of all those you love." The youth said seriously.
"Those I love?" I'm sorry child but you must be mistaken. "I am Raistlin Majere, I love no one." Raisltin said laughing.
The youth looked hurt for a moment. "Well just the same, not even you would like to rule over a dead world, because a fight between you and Takhisis will result in just that." The young man said somberly.
"I don't believe you." Raistlin said frustrated. "Who are you anyway?" he asked suspiciously.
"I am the first messenger of the Golden Robes, an order dedicated to preserving the course of time." The youth said.
"I thought that was Astinus' job?" Raistlin said sarcastically.
"No." the boy said patiently. "Astinus records the events of time, he never interferes, and due to his neutral nature, never will. However we are not neutral in nature and therefore are not bound to such feelings." The youth said.
"Oh, well what are you aligned with?" Raistlin said smirking.
"Me? Well umm..."the youth seemed embarrassed, "Well you see I haven't chosen yet, my thinking tends to vary. I really enjoy the benefits and rewards of serving darkness, but part of my soul won't allow me to dedicate myself to evil. While I enjoy the concept of preserving good it just seems...boring." He laughed a bit. "I fortunately don't have to worry about that considering our master and god makes all decisions of where we need to be to prevent anything from happening that would alter the course of time. Otherwise some members of our order would try to alter time to benefit their alignment." He said looking back at one of the youths in golden robs with a black robe around their waste.
"What alignment is your god?" Raistlin asked now curious.
"Well he is aligned with darkness, though I truly believe it was just for the sake of power." The boy said growing quiet.
Things began to click in Raistlin's mind. "So how do I make the other choice, what is the other way?" Raistlin said curiously.
"The master said you would want to..." the boy paused. "But he also said you needed to find that out for yourself. Also I must inform you that you won't be remembering any of this that I told you. I guess I got a little carried away in my excitement...well you will remember that you had another choice, but that's about it." The youth added in a quiet voice.
Before Raistlin could protest he heard the quiet whispering of the spidery language of magic and the golden robed youths were gone.
Raistlin woke up and sat in his bed completely perplexed. He knew he had the dream again and that something was different, but he could not for the life of him recall what. All he could remember is someone saying, "There is another way." He vaguely remembered Takhisis being there. But...what could it mean? He assumed it must mean another way to become a god. But what other way was there? He shook his head, he was beginning to get a powerful headache. Laying down on his bed he heard soft weeping through the otherwise silent air. Knowing that he wouldn't be able to fall back asleep anyways he went down stairs to her room.
"What is wrong with you?" Raistlin asked softly from the doorway.
"Nothing, go away, I don't need you to see me like this." Crysania replied turning her face away.
"No, really I want to know tell me." Raistlin said sitting down next to her.
"It's just all today I've been thinking, our baby could've died because my carelessness...and you were right! I'm such a terrible mother." She said now crying a little harder.
Raistlin rubbed his temples trying to stay calm, "Crysania, I didn't mean it. I'm sor..."he paused. "You aren't a terrible mother. I just had a lot on my mind." He said quietly.
She sniffled a bit, "Like what?"
"Oh I don't know, what I'm going to do, why this all really happened, what is the other way?" he said thinking back on the million questions in his mind.
Wiping the tears out of her eyes, Crysania replied, "Well, this all happened because of the choice we made seven months ago. I'm not sure what you mean by the other way, but maybe I can help you figure it out, and as far as what you are going to do...I feel rather lonely, and though I'm not in the mood to do any of that." She said reading his expression. "I wouldn't mind having someone to sleep next to me and keep us company." She said stroking her large, round belly.
Raistlin smirked, "I'd almost think you enjoy my presence." He thought it over for a moment. "I suppose I can keep you two company." He then added "But only tonight, I'm not going to make it into a habit. Besides I can't have you keeping me up crying." He said trying to cover his smile.
"Oh thank you Raistlin... I promise, just tonight." She then slipped into her pajamas, causing Raistlin to blush and avert his gaze out of surprise. "What it's not like you haven't seen it before?" she said laughing a bit.
"Yes it's just...I wasn't expecting it." He said now looking at her in her cotton night slip. She looked happier than he had ever seen her. He disrobed into nothing.
"Raistlin I told you I wasn't in the mood for any of that." Crysania said confused.
"This is what we mage's wear under our robes. Trust me I would have brought something if I knew we were having a sleep over." He said awkwardly.
Crysania laughed, "Well I'll have to remember that for later." She said with a devilish look in her sweet eyes. This caused Raistlin to rather quickly jump under the sheets.
After looking at him rather strangely for a moment. She laughed and joined him under the blankets. "You know I would swear you were a teenage boy in disguise if I didn't know you better."
Raistlin turned on his side and adjusted his pillow. "I suppose I'm just making up for lost time."
They were silent for a few minutes before Crysania finally said, "You know we could stay this way forever Raistlin." She said in the faintest whisper.
"No, we could not." Raistlin said bitterly. "And for one moment I will tell you the complete truth nothing held back. I am considering not challenging the Dark Queen, not yet at least. I believe that for whatever reason there was a different way I could become a god, something better. However when we return to the present things will go back to the way they were, I will be weak, imprisoned in a half alive shell, I will have my rasping voice, my cough that weakens me to near death, and eyes that see all as if it were dying. Now even if you were able to get past all of that, which I don't think you truly could. What would we do? You are going to assume the ruler of the Church of Paladine upon your return. /are you going to just tell them all no, you've had a child with the most despised man upon all Krynn and that you're going to live with him in his haunted house of a tower, that not even the most evil beings around can enter without crying." He rubbed his temples and loked at her for a long moment. "You are so beautiful now, but when we go back I will see a withering corpse and so will you, because that is what I am. His voice sounded broken, almost pleading. "Don't tell me we can have this...because we can't."
Realizing that all of what he said was true Crysania began to feel tears slip down her cheek, "Then you know what? We'll have to find another way. There had to be a way for both of us to get what we want and both of us to be happy. I want to raise my child with his father. Even if things can't be perfect can't we at least try." She said gently hugging him.
"I don't know..." and it was true, he really didn't. Before he had known exactly what he wanted and exactly how he was going to get it. Now everything was conflicted his old wants and new wants. His ambitions and his new feelings that were developing that he couldn't understand. He could understand how Tanis must've always felt torn between two sides. But tonight he just wanted to feel like it was all going to work out. So turning towards Crysania he kissed her forehead then her stomach. "Yes, if there's a way, we will find it."