A/N: Yeah.. well here we go again. Me and my long pauses between chaps. As always, sorry about that... : ) On with the story!

Disclaimer: Blah, blah..you know what I own and don't own by now.

Shadows in the Night

In a brilliant flash everything changed. Mirror felt the ground beneath him move, causing him to nearly fall. Sable staggered like a drunkard as the space around them solidified and became dark, damp and chilled.

The young mage in the black robes remained crouched at Ryan's side.

Ryan let out a pain filled sob that shook her whole body. She couldn't, wouldn't believe it..he was dead...

"It's alright." the stranger mage soothed. He gently tried to pry her fingers from Keryl's corpse.

She closed her eyes tighter and her grip on Keryl became death-like. She began to cry uncontrollably.

Mirror looked around and finally released Sable who promptly fell to the floor. Sable gave a loud moan and fell still, unconscious, on the floor.

The black robed mage finally stood leaving Ryan alone. It was then Mirror realized that the mage was much younger then he thought he was..at least consider his race. He was an elf, a very young elf, with raven black hair and deep emerald eyes.

"Thank you young master." Mirror said, unsure of what to think or say.

"I am no master." the young elf replied, with a humored sneer. "My father in the master of the Tower."

"Tower?" Mir asked, "You mean.. The Tower of Palanthas?"

"Yes sir." the boy replied. He smiled, "The Tower that happens to not be in Palanthas anymore." he seemed to find humor in this and began walking away.

"Wait! Where are we? What's going on?" Mirror ran after the boy. He paused, "My father would like to meet you. Follow me." he continued up the stairs.

Mirror look back at Ryan who was rocking back and fourth clutching Keryl's head in her hands. Sighing he followed the young elf.

"Who is your father, may I ask?" Mirror asked trying to ease his own worries.

"You will see." was his simple reply.

They climbed may steps before they came to the main hall. The elf led him to a large mahogany door and knocked respectfully.

"Enter." came a muffled, distracted response.

The young elf opened the door and bowed. Mirror filed in behind him and stared at the desk that was before him. An older elf, by several hundreds of years, that look just like the boy. He looked up annoyed by the disturbance, like most magi would be.

"Father..I brought this man from Silvanesti.. Proof that I succeeded in your test."

The father looked doubtful, "Is my son telling the truth? Are you from Silvanesti..you look more human than anything.."

Mirror looked angry now, he was being dragged through this tower without knowing names or anything. "I'd like some answers myself !"

The mage behind the desk smiled, "Dakar? You have told this man nothing?"

"I..uh..no.." he finished quietly, embarrassed.

"Where were your manners? Did I raise you to act like this?" Dalamar nearly spat. He stood, "I apologize for my sons rudeness, sir. I am Dalamar, Master of the Tower of Palanthas, and this is my son, Dakar."

Dakar bowed to Mirror, "I'm sorry.." he began.

"Don't be." Mirror said shortly, "You saved our lives."

"'Our?' There are more people in the tower?" Dalamar asked his son.

"Yes..a girl..another man and..a dead man."

"Dead man?" Dalamar didn't like this, this was more guests than he had, had in years. Just the fact that one was dead unnerved him.

Seeing his fathers nervousness, "He is not a member of the 'living' dead."

Dalamar sighed, "Good...". A wave of emotion passed across his face, a memory that still haunted him.

"Excuse me." Mirror interrupted, "But my friends and I, we are thankful that you have taken us in but we would like to know where we are so we can leave."

"Leave?" Dalamar seemed confused, "You can't 'leave'."

"But..why not?" Mirror asked, thinking he was being threatened with imprisonment.

"We are in Nightlund..no one exactly 'leaves' it."

"But..I...how? You left!" Mirror glared at Dakar.

"Because I made a magical ring to help him.. It takes great power to leave this place." Dalamar explained. "I myself haven't left the Tower in years."

"Years...?"Mirror felt uneasy.

"Dakar, you said there were others?" Dalamar asked abruptly.

"Yes father, down in the dungeon. Where I teleported..."

Dalamar sighed, "They'll catch their death down there. Go get them, take them to the empty rooms."

Dakar bowed and quickly left.

Mirror stood there and watched Dalamar pick a book from his many shelves, "So you say there is no way out of Nightlund but by magic?"

"Correct." Dalamar replied shortly.

"I have heard stories of Nightlund..Are they true?" Mirror asked curiously.

"I don't know of any stories of Nightlund..but I can tell you facts..In Nightlund day is night and night is hell..." Dalamar said casually as he thumbed through the book in his hands, as if he was talking about nothing more than a sunny day in Solace.

(Time lapse)

Ryan lay on a velvet soft bed, with multiple scented candles burning. A warm fire in the fireplace, many books to read, food to eat...

She saw, nor smelled or tasted any of it. She hated life..such a cruel and fragile thing. To loose everything in a single moment and to suffer the pain of a violent death...

It was all she could see now. The sword impaling Keryl as he jumped to defend her. Not knowing that he was drawing his last breaths. Not knowing he was leaving someone all alone... so very alone.

Ryan had been laying in the bed for hours now and Mirror was worried. She didn't seem to hear her friend's pleas for her to eat or drink something. She heard nothing..only saw death. Mirror feared that Ryan would soon be following Keryl if she didn't eat soon. He even tried to force feed her but had failed miserably.

"She is deft, and blind to all I say and do.." Mirror moaned brokenly. He had finally submitted to the fact that they were going to be Dalamar's guests for a while.

"We must find something to break the 'spell'. Give her something else to cling to in this world. For all she knows, loves and longs to know is in the world Beyond." Sable commented darkly. He spoke the truth, everything that she had wanted was dead now..all she had to do was follow it and she'd be at peace.

"I won't let her die!" Mirror said fiercely.

"I'm not saying that. I'm saying save her! Find something, or she is lost." Sable said calmly.

Mirror stood and began to pace. He and Sable had been in the huge dinning hall for several hours plotting and coming up with ideas to save Ryan. None had worked so far..none, and that frustrated the two dragons immensely.

"I owe it to Keryl...I have to help her." Mirror whispered to himself. He gazed with guilt filled eyes out at the River of Souls that flowed past the Tower..a river that Ryan would soon be joining...

(Time lapse)

Ryan weak and fevered crawled out of the bed. She fell to the floor too weak to stand. It called to her from the window..

She crawled along the floor and dragged herself up by the window ledge. She leaned against the glass, and shuddered at it's coldness against her hot skin.

But there she saw it...a River of Souls...It glowed eerily against the night. It radiated death and pestilence..horror and wonder.

Ryan stared at it for several minutes, not caring that just standing here was sapping her energy. Hearing something behind her she suddenly turned, weak she staggered but remained standing by some miracle.

"You need rest.." said a black robed mage, his cloak fringed with silver. His hood was drawn far over his face, masking his features.

"Who.. are you?" she managed to croak.

"You knew me when you first saw me." the dark figure responded calmly, knowingly.

Ryan rubbed her face, disoriented. "I.. dunno..who you are.." she moaned as her body began to feel colder.

"During the fight with Beryl? In the forest when I warned you of Mina?" the man relied, trying to poke her mind into awareness.

"Yeah... yes." she tried to stand up strait, "I couldn't believe it." she looked at him in wonder.

"It is true that I do not live..but my spirit if free to do as it pleases." she could see his mouth curve into a smile, "I have escaped my fate for now..but that's besides the point for which I came." he said with a careless wave of his hand.

"Tell me your name.." she asked feverishly.

He ignored he question, "I must recommend getting rid or this 'Mina'. She sees you as a threat now and of course..you have a dept to repay.." he smiled again.

Ryan's hands clenched into fists, "Keryl.." her skin afire.

"But not only for your repayment.. but for the world.." he began to approach her, "You have heard Takhisis's plan. You must thwart it."

"Yes... I must stop her..but how?"

"All will be told to you in due time." he said simply, "Just stick to the shadows, travel at night and listen. Listen for anything about Mina..learn about her, know her."

"Keep your friends close..and your enemies closer..." Ryan mused, unusually sane. Ryan unconsciously walked over to a large rocking chair in front of the fireplace and sat in it. The cloaked man walked up beside her and crouched down at her side.

"Rest..." he soother her touching her hand. His touch felt like the whisper of a breeze.

"Your name?" she prompted drowsily, her fever breaking with his touch.

The man smiled, "All in due time.." and was gone.

RESPONSES:

Dalamar Nightson: Yeah, I meant for Mina to be like this. It'll fit my future plot a lot better. : )

Guan: yay! thanks. I love the fight scenes! Their so much fun to do!