Disclaimer: I do not own Dragonlance regardless of what any kender may have told you otherwise.
Author's Note: Hey all! Sorry it took a while to update I went to the county fair all day yesterday. It was tons of fun, I don't think I've ate them much junk food at one time in my life. Lot of hilarious things happened my boyfriend got mistook for the American Idol guy John Stevens and got all mad (apparently people thing all guys with red hair look the same...because besides being tall that's the only way he resembles him.) This chapter is long...really long actually. I'm sort of surprised...Anyway now to the important thing reviews:
Calli-Kurama-4eva: I'm seriously thinking about what you said about Palin, the idea would fit rather nicely into what I have planned, but it wouldn't be till much later. Also thank you very much for faithfully reviewing. I hope you like this chappie.
Guan: Thanks so much for reviewing. I was going for a funny chapter last time because I kind of had already planned on how I wanted this one to go.
Ahn-Li Steffraini: Yeah I'm trying to show how they are really kind of similar people despite which side they are aligned with. I hope you like this chapter too.
""Double quotes "" = Directly from Dragonlance text (basically I don't own those words either.)
Chapter 13: Surprises"Well Raistlin there will always be a room here for you should you ever need a place to stay." Caramon said with his big goofy smile.
"Thank you brother." Raistlin said quietly.
"I'll miss you both so much." Crysania said hugging them tightly.
"I don't know how I'm going to manage not being able to see my little nephew for too long." Tika said pouting. "You have to visit every chance you get." She added seriously.
"We will." Crysania said smiling. "I just hope Elistan and everyone at the Temple takes this as well as you guys did.
"I can't imagine them not being happy. I mean you radiate your happiness and... Raistlin you almost were pleasant." Tika added laughing.
"Pleasant?...Perhaps next time I'll have to blow up a few chairs and multiply kender. I can't have my reputation being ruined." Raistlin said sarcastically.
"Please Raistlin, it's bad enough with Tas here." Caramon pleaded.
"Where did Tasselhoff go anyway?" Crysania asked curiously. "I wanted to say goodbye to him."
"Right here Cryssi!" Tas shouted from Caramon and Tika's bedroom window.
"Tas! What are you doing in there?" Caramon shouted running towards the window.
Tas held out a frilly white lacy garment with pink satin ribbons. "Do you really where this Tika?" Tas asked with a wide grin on his face.
Blushing Tika ran after Caramon. "Put that away NOW!" turning to Caramon she whispered, "Tonight we change the lock to all of the doors, from the inside."
Laughing Caramon tousled her curly red hair; "Well at least he's not wearing it or anything."
Raistlin turned to Crysania who was holding Aidan and a small bag of clothes Tika and Laurana had given her. "Well are you ready to leave?" he asked in his quiet raspy voice.
"Yes but are you sure this spell if safe, I don't want Aidan to get hurt..." she asked worriedly.
"The spell of translocation is nothing for one as experienced as me." He said confidently but inside he doubted himself for a moment. He knew that this spell was nothing but he hadn't really studied in a long time, since his son's birth. When he tried to study he felt distracted, he would definitely need to find a solution to this.
Smiling and reassured Crysania held Aidan to her chest tightly with one arm and held Raistlin's hand with the other. "So where will we be when I open my eyes?" she asked giddily with her eyes clenched shut.
"My tower. I need to speak to my apprentice before we go to the temple. Besides I would like to retrieve my staff from my laboratory, I rather miss it." Replied Raistlin.
Closing his eyes Raistlin begin to bring the spell forth from his mind. He felt first the slightest tingling in his blood as his magic awoken. Then as he softly spoke the spidery words of the spell weaving a silken cobweb of magic around them the power within him increased causing the familiar and exciting ecstasy only magic brought. He thought of his tower, a lone black gem around the Diamond City of Panathalas. Much like he had been around his own friends and family. But his tower represented power and history that the rest of the city lacked, just as Raistlin had among his friends. He felt the magic begin to lift them from the cool, clean forest air of Solace. He felt them soar higher than the peaks of the Valenwoods, he felt them dive lower than the lowest cave of Thorbardin. They traveled through the tunnels of magic where time and distance ceased to exist. This was the feeling he had been missing. Magic was a part of him, it always had been and it always would. Feeling the familiar presence of his tower Raistlin sighed. As quick as the magic had came and filled him with its powerful ecstasy it left him dry and yearning for its feeling again. It made him want to fall to his knees and cry; he turned away from Crysania and his young son to gather his composure for a moment when he heard a familiar voice.
"Shalafi? Is that you? I thought something had happened..." Dalamar said in an excited tone.
"No, all is well Dalamar." Raistlin rasped feeling himself weaken from the use of his magic.
"Oh she s here." Dalamar said puzzled as he approached the room seeing the Crysania's back turned towards him. "Hello Revered Daugh..." Dalamar's jaw dropped.
"Hello Dalamar." Crysania said now facing him cradling Aidan in her arms.
Dalamar laughed for a moment he actually thought...no, that couldn't be true. "And who is that you've got with you?" Dalamar said with a tight lipped and forced smile.
"This is Aidan, my son." She said smiling.
"Your drunk of a brother didn't...you know. Did he?" Dalamar whispered towards Raistlin. "Or perhaps a soldier."
Raistlin's lips were pulled into a small frown.
"Well surely Great One you wouldn't...her? One of Paladine's Revered Daughter's?" Dalamar's look of bemused arrogance slowly faded into a shocked horror. "Oh my Goddess..." Dalamar looked closer at his child then his Shalafi. "Well he has your eyes." He said laughing shaking his head still in disbelief. "Wait a minute, he has your eyes? What happened?" Dalamar looked confused beyond belief.
Rubbing his temples Raistlin sighed. "It's all a rather long story."
Mystified Dalamar stared at Aidan who was staring wide eyed at the black robed handsome elf. "May I?" Dalamar asked his arms out to hold Aidan.
For a moment Crysania seemed as if she may say no, but seeing as though Raistlin made no objections she carefully handed Dalamar her son. "Just be careful and don't touch the top of his head, he still has his soft spot." She said her voice filled with concern. She never hesitated for a moment letting Tanis, Laurana, Tika, or Caramon hold her son but she couldn't help be worried handing him over to this black robed elven wizard.
Softly Dalamar cast a spell of seeking while touching Aidan's heart. His eyes opened widely. "Shalafi this child has more potential than any I have ever witnessed, he could be great, even greater than y..." his face went from a look of excitement to terror. "I...I didn't mean it Dalamar hesitated stepping back. As he said it he felt the five oozing holes in his chest throb in his fear.
"What?" Raistlin rasped, "Don't look so surprised I could have told you that. And stop looking at me like that. I'm not going to kill you today."
Dalamar looked relieved yet in the slightest way disappointed. Handing Aidan over to Crysania Dalamar cleared his throat, "Shalafi I believe I need to speak to you...urgently."
Raistlin nodded, "Crysania there are things I need to take care of here and I believe I will not be welcomed at the Temple, at least not yet. So you can go without me."
"But I don't want to go through that grove alone." Crysania said frightened.
"You have my charm, Revered Daughter now go." Raistlin ordered a little harshly.
Shaking her head angrily Crysania grabbed her bags with Aidan's clothes; "Well I see how it is now Archmagus." she spat out like it was venom tainting her mouth. "I should have figured the moment you get back to your tower you'd become the same selfish, arrogant..." Aidan was beginning to cry from her shouting. "What are you mad at me too?" she said aggravated.
Raistlin wanted to stop he but he saw Dalamar watching him with a judgmental glance his nose turned up from her emotional ranting. "I will see you soon Revered Daughter."
"If I even want to see you." She said as she exited the room angrily Aidan still wailing.
"Women." Dalamar said laughing. "Sometimes they're not worth the trouble for the sex." Said Dalamar as she slammed the door. "I must say I am relieved though. When I realized that you two had had a child I must say I feared the worst. I was expecting to hear you say you'd be replacing Ladonna as head of the black robes of something ridiculous like that.
Raistlin had thin lipped smile on his face. "No, I will not be taking your job. Apprentice. Being a slave for the Conclave holds no interest for me."
"I was never planning on taking over the black robes." Dalamar said a little to quickly.
"No of course you weren't, how wrong of me to think that. After all who am I, that I would no something like that? It's not like I'm the most powerful mage in all Krynn...Oh wait actually yes I am." Raistlin said sarcastically.
"I'm sorry Shalafi." Dalamar said his fear of his master now renewed.
"I have more important things to do then listen to you grovel Dalamar. Now where is the Staff of Magius."
"In your lab where you left it Shalafi. I did not touch it." Dalamar said seriously.
When they arrived at Raistlin's lab he saw that Dalamar had been honest. There covered in dust, was the Staff of Magius. Raistlin carefully cleaned it then walked out into the darkest corner of the room and quietly whispered "Shirak" causing the orb on his staff to dimly brighten the corner where he stood. Smiling Raistlin laughed a bit; "I missed doing that."
Crysania made her way through the grove without a single trouble. Even before when she had first met him and he gave her his "charm" she had still been taunted by the ghouls and specters of the grove. Now though they seemed to respect her...or perhaps her son. She looked at little Aidan who was staring wide-eyed at all of the crooked, tortured looking trees. Seemingly unfazed by the horror of it all. She shivered feeling ghostly arms reach for her as she steeped out of the haunted grove. As she walked a little farther she felt the freezing air of death warm into the calm warm air of her home city Panathalas. She breathed it in slowly letting it fill her lungs and lift her spirits. Aidan on the other hand seemed pouty and look behind him back at the grove. Crysania carried him through the city pointing out her favorite monuments to her small baby as if he was a scholar getting a grand tour of the city. "That building right over there is Astinus' library. He chronicles the history of all Krynn." Remembering that children had the most potential to learn at an early age she added, "And it is recorded that he was the first man on Krynn when it was created, and he will also be the last and then he will record when this world ends. You know your daddy is friends with him?" she said but as soon as if came out of her mouth her smile faded into a frown. "Anyway." she said her mood dimmed. "Next we are going to visit my temple. It's the Temple of Paladine, the god of good. You're going to get to meet some very nice people. Including Elistan a very wise and kind man, he is the leader of the church." She started to become nervous however with every step she took toward her old temple. It had been a long time since she left; at least it seemed that it had. And even then Elistan had seemed afraid to let her go, not trusting Raistlin for a moment. But she had done what she wanted being strong-willed and feeling she could change the world. She had been so young, so ignorant. She shook her head; she couldn't let these negative thoughts get the best of her. They would all be happy for her anyway, she was certain.
Three young female clerics were out for their morning walk around the temple gardens when they say a beautiful woman with long waving black hair gently flowing down her back, without ornaments in it. She was fair skinned but her cheeks had a natural rosy blush to them. Her gray eyes were shining with pride. In her arms she held a young boy judging by the clothes, with auburn hair and bluish gray eyes. The younger of the girls pointed at the woman and her child and whispered. "Is that Revered Sister Crysania?" she said her voice filled shock.
"I believe it is...this is interesting." Said the oldest of the girls.
"Do you think we should tell somebody?" the other girl asked.
"No, but I think she's probably going to see Elistan. And I know I wouldn't mind seeing this reunion." The girl said, her voice filled with and acid-like jealousy. "I have a funny feeling there's going to be a few new candidates to lead the church though."
The other girls giggled and headed back to wait outside the hallway to Elistan's room.
Crysania frowned as she saw some of the young female clerics run at her approach. "That's odd..."she whispered. Aidan began to coo as they entered the garden. She smiled. "So you can feel the peace of Paladine as well." As she walked closer to the entrance of the temple she heard more whispering from all around her. She felt a sick knot of nervousness and whispered to herself, "This is silly, I'm worrying over nothing." But she felt far less convinced than she had hoped. As she entered the temple all eyes turned on her. Male and female clerics alike were giving her strange looks and she felt them their eyes judging her.
Finally one of the other head clerics, Vina, less favored by Elistan, who had always disliked her stepped forward. "Well look who decided to come home. I sure hope that's some orphan you found crawling around the temple grounds, because if that's his child you shouldn't have brought him in here corrupting this holy place with his blood." Crysania felt anger rise in her chest, but she couldn't help but feel tears form in her eyes.
She looked around to see if anyone was going to step up and defend her but she realized she was wrong, her shoulders sagging with defeat, she asked quietly her voice filled with pain, "Where is Elistan?"
"He is in his bed resting, he is ill. Or did you forget when you were running around with your evil little wizard lover?" Vina said sarcastically. "I hope you aren't thinking of..." Crysania cut her off.
"Shut up Vina, I can't believe you all." She said sadly. Aidan cooing grabbed at his mother's hair and laughed happily as it tickled his nose. Looking around she saw them adorned in gold jewelry, far too expensive for them to be wearing with out dipping into the coffers of the church for other expenses. She saw new marble statues of all the gods of good with rare gemstones decorating them and felt a sickness start to form within her. She felt tears slide down her cheek as she made way to Elistan's room. None of this was supposed to be happening, they were supposed to be happy, like a family, for that's what the church was supposed to be. Instead they treated her like a pack of wolves. Smiling at her with their fangs only waiting for the ideal time to bite. She was reminded sharply of Istar and the King Priest and Raistlin's words to her about the church, before the god's sent down the fiery mountain.
(Flash back)
"" You have found the church far more concerned with running the world than teaching the ways of the gods. You have seen its clerics double-dealing, dabbling in politics, spending money for show that might have fed the poor. You thought to vindicate the church when you came back; to discover that others caused the gods in their righteous anger to hurl the fiery mountain down upon those who forsook them.""
(End Flashback)
Looking around her she was reminded so strongly of the Temple of Istar she felt she was going to be sick. The church needed some serious fixing before it was too late. Hopefully she would be able to do something about it. As she approached the door she saw the three young clerics who had ran away from her earlier. "Hello Sisters" she said formally.
"Hello Revered Sister Crysania. Is this little guy yours?" one of the girls asked smiling.
Another wolf, Crysania thought. "Yes this is my son, Aidan." She said sweetly. "Now if you could excuse me I need to speak to Elistan." She said pushing past the girls.
"What's her problem." One of them said angrily.
"Yeah I know. Don't tell me she still thinks she's Miss High and Mighty Holy Daughter." The girl said laughingly.
"Shhh...I think she's going to talk to him now." The other girl said putting her ear to the door. All of the girls quieted as they listened closely.
"Hello Elistan." Crysania said to the old man who lay in the bed facing the opposite wall.
"Revered Daughter Crysania." Elistan said weakly as he turned to see the young cleric sitting there holding a baby. "Is that you?" he said squinting.
"Yes it is I... this is Aidan." She said holding out the child before Elistan.
Elistan's face first seemed confused then he realized. "It is his son." He stated quietly.
"Yes, I'm sor..." she was cut off.
"Well what are you waiting for please let me hold the child." Elistan said with a fatherly smile. Crysania tears pouring out of her eyes smiled and handed Aidan over to Elistan. Crying openly now she hugged them.
"Oh you silly girl. Did you think I would yell at you?" He said smiling and stroking Aidan's hair gently. "He is a beautiful boy. Very strong and healthy. I'm sure you are an excellent mother. You look so much better, your soul seems happy. Paladine has truly blessed you." His face then became serious. "They didn't give you trouble did they?" he said in his hoarse whispering voice.
"Only a little...I guess I should have expected it though." She said wiping away her tears.
"No that's unacceptable. I won't tolerate it. If I could get up I'd go give everyone of them a piece of my mind. I haven't left this room but to use the privies in the attached room in months. I would have loved to walk through my gardens but the temple clerics keep telling me I'll become more ill if I go outside. I'm virtually a prisoner to this room."
Crysania's brow furrowed. "You haven't left this room in months?"
"Yes, Why...has something happened?" Elistan asked his voice concerned.
Now her fears confirmed she sighed. "Has anyone showed you the churches budget recently."
"No...What's going on Crysania?" he asked pulling himself up slowly to sit facing her.
"I am afraid there has been some rather serious incidents of misspending." She said gravely.
"I need to see this for myself. Crysania would you made aiding my walking." Elistan asked slowly standing using his bed for support.
Crysania looked at this weak, sad man and felt her heart break. How badly they had used him she couldn't imagine. Using her right arm to support him and her left to tightly hold Aidan to her chest they exited the room together.
The three girls who had been listening were about to run to warn the others but it was too late. As Elistan walked out the room they stopped in their tracks afraid to move a step further.
Elistan looked at the girls. They all were wearing golden hair- pins with several rare gems adorning them. The modest Cleric robes had been altered to show off their bodies. A rather inappropriate amount of thigh and cleavage was apparent. "Where did you get these things?" Elistan said weakly.
"They were gifts Revered Elistan. All of the female clerics got them." The youngest girl said defensively.
The oldest girl in a panic began to cry, "I tried to tell them no at first...it was all so beautiful though." Shaking his head Elistan continued to walk with Crysania.
"I hope this is the worst of it." He said sighing.
"I'm afraid it's not... You need to be prepared though. It is going to get much worse." Crysania said as she guided Elistan to the main hall of the Temple.
He looked around his thin hands clenched into fists. His entire body was shaking. Hoarsely he shouted as loud as he could. "What is the meaning of all of this!"
A small group of clerics stepped forward. An older male started to speak "Revered Elistan...you should not be walking around like this you need..." He was cut off.
"I'll tell you what I need." Elistan said shakily. "An explanation for this." He said gesturing to the gaudily decorated hall.
"Whatever she's told you is a lie." Vina said stepping forward. "How could you trust her over us. She has had a child with Raistlin Majere, the most feared and hated magic user..." Elistan cut her off as well.
"Stop telling me what to do, all of you right now. I'm not a child; I'm an old man who has been around much longer than all of you. As to Revered Daughter Crysania's son, I am very happy for her and all of you should be too. I have known Raistlin Majere much longer than any of you. He was there when Goldmoon first told me of the true gods, he believed in their existence when I didn't want to listen." He said shakily he voice tiring. "And though he may have made some decisions I don't agree with...I respect him for how far he has come."
All of the clerics were silent. Finally Vina seeing a need to defend them spoke up again, "We only did what we thought you would have wanted."
"To use the money for the poor and for orphans to build fancy statues and buy gaudy jewelry. Can someone remind me when I taught that? It seems in my old age I have become forgetful." He said sarcastically.
"I am taking the church back. All of you are ordered to return any new "gifts" you took from the church's coffers and begin strict regimens of prayer and service to the poor and ill. Lady Crysania will help me change the church back to what it was until all of you learn some humility." Elistan said his voice weakening each second. Suddenly they all felt a powerful presence. Elistan fell to his knees followed by Crysania. Before them stood an old befuddled mage in Grayish white robes with a long pointed hat that flopped messily to one said, he had a long white beard and wise eyes. The other clerics all looked confused.
"Oh stop it you two." Fizban said impatiently. "You're confusing the rest of them. Sorry excuses for clerics they are." He mumbled.
"I am so sorry. I had no idea what this had come to." Elistan managed weakly looking around at the church. Crysania just stood in awe.
"After how many times we've met you still stand there like a chicken with its head cut off..." his voice trailed off and he began talking about chicken feathers, kender, and disobedient puffballs.
"Fizban...?" Crysania said slowly.
"Fizban...hmm...the name sounds vaguely familiar. But I believe he is dead. I heard he was irresponsible old dolt though." Fizban said scratching his beard. "Why I came here was to warn you that a few people are beginning to raise their eyebrows at the direction the church is heading. I felt it was only fair to warn you as we did before with him.
Elistan realizing he was speaking of the King Priest visibly paled. "I assure you I had no idea. Please don't resort to that yet..." he said his face filled with terror.
"We aren't...I just felt you deserved a bit of a first warning." Fizban said gently. "Now I must be going." He said smiling. "Just be a good lad and fix it up." He said to Elistan. Nodding Elistan bowed with Crysania as he left.
"Well Crysania I suppose I will see you tomorrow. You look like you need some rest and I need to speak to the rest of them in private about their behavior. Nodding she smiled and made her way upstairs to her old room.
She got a crib from the delivery room and put it next to her bed with Aidan fast asleep she curled up trying to sleep. But in the darkness she felt so alone. She missed him badly but she tried not admitting that to herself. She missed seeing him gently tell their son goodnight. She began to cry gently into her pillow until she heard his voice.
"Crysania..." he said softly. Then she felt the soft velvet of his robes touch her skin felt the familiar warmth that seemed to radiate from his skin. Then she felt his thin soft lips touch hers and felt the heat radiate through her body like electricity.
She whispered slowly her moist breath tickling his ear. "I missed you."
His eyes glazed over taking in her beauty he whispered back, "There's something important I need to ask you." He said seriously.
"Hmm..."she said resting her head on his thin chest. Absorbing the warmth and letting he scent of his robes draw her in.
"Crysania of Tarinius will you..." he drew in a nervous breath. Crysania had suddenly gone silent and still waiting for him to finish. "Will you marry me?"
Author's Note: Mwhaha Evil Cliffy! Ahem...Why did Raistlin propose? What will Crysania's answer be? What will EVERYONE think? Don't expect it to be too mushy I'm going to try and keep it realistic. Sorry that was an evil place to cut off but I'll try and update quick. This chapter is already ridiculously long though. Please review, it makes it all worth while writing.