nunofyorbiz: I assure you there will be atleast two showdowns. But they'll have to wait for later.
Lost Inside: I know, stupid sleep can be so annoying. lol
FantasyObessesed: Well I need to write more so i guess we both need each other.
Angel Star-727: Thanks, i'm glad to have reviewers like you.
Starfire-is-not-a-whimp: Thanks I personally think RobStar is the best couple there is but that's jsut me.
Me: Nice subtle name, lol.
GS Dragono: No I do not think he will, sorry if its what you wanted but i never really thought about it.
soaring-bright-flame: Oh there's plenty more to write about. Sorry but i just can't turn my brain off. I keep thinking of more updates and story lines. It's inexplicable really. I did go to that web site and it was sooo funny. And me a being a huge fan of Lord of the Rings. Thanks.
CelticHeriessFiona: -Shruggs shoulders- Well can't say for sure, no one can predict the future. Excpet me cause I'm wirting it. Hee hee hee. Glad you like itso far.
Luvya: Yes that's true, you shouldn't do that. Maybe he's up to somthing. Hmmm we'll just have to read and find out.
gladdecease: YesI know poor Hayward, bad things happen when your in a fight against evil. Thats really what I'm trying to do is portray evil in its most real form, and thatscruel, vicious, and incapable of mercy. I hope you like hwo the whole rign thing turns out, i thoguth it was prettycool. See ya!
Story Weaver1: Yup poooor Hayward.
Thanks for all of yoru revews and now let us continue with the chapter!
Chapter Twelve
No worries Raven
Starfire had something ask. "Robin, though I realize it was not I who nearly brought about your death and/or enslavement; I wish to ask you something."
"Sure Star, what is it?"
"Will you give me your word, that you will never leave me..us!" Robin parted his mouth somewhat. He wasn't quite sure if he should say yes or even answer. True he did whatever he could to make Starfire happy, but was this a promise he could keep?
"I'm sorry Star, but I can only do my best." Starfire's face fell somewhat wondering if there was some kind of hidden meaning behind his answer. She then thought herself being silly and inwardly shook her head.
"Then….that will have to suffice," she said with a warm smile. They remained in silence for another moment before going back down to the great hall.
THE GRIFFYDOR COMMON ROOM…………..
"You know Rorek I realize this may be a bit of blunt question but……..can you please come out now!" Beast Boy stood before a mirror gazing into it with stressful anxiety. Staring back at him was not his own reflection but Rorek's. Rorek slumped his shoulders and sighed.
"I am sorry Beast Boy truly I am. I sincerely do not know what to say."
"Well you can start by telling me why you're still inside my body, ya know not that I don't like having you around or anything," he added quickly. "It's been fun and everything being host to a thousand year old spirit, but I weren't you supposed to go back inside the book with Malchior?"
"I am as perplexed as you my friend. You need not fear I am consulting every bit of knowledge I possess to find an answer." Beast Boy's spirits didn't look any better.
"That's great to hear, you do that. You consult, read, study, let me know how it turns out, keep me posted, keep me prized." Rorek looked a bit confused at Beast Boy's rambling but nodded nonetheless. "Rorek, is there any chance they can bring back those dead guys now that they have Malchior more or less." Rorek arched a brow.
"It would only be possible if they returned him to his dragon form or channel his soul into a host body, without that I cannot see how they could accomplish such a feat. As I recall there are also a number of other obstacles that stand in the way of anyone wishing to raise the Dead Ones."
"Like what?"
"I am not entirely sure; all I know is that at this point it would be extremely difficult to complete their mission." Beast Boy nodded as everyone else entered the common room. He turned away from the mirror and faced his friends.
"So this is where you've been all this time," said Cyborg.
"Just having a chat with our favorite ancient wizard," replied Beast Boy.
"Well we're glad you're here," said Raven. "Harry, Robin, and Hermione said they had something they wanted to show us."
"Check this out," said Harry. He removed the bit of parchment and spread it out on the table before the fire. They all gazed down at the mess of writing, the strange symbols, and the ring shaped picture. Starfire tilted her head in curiosity.
"Very interesting, but what is its significance?"
"We found it in the late Professor Frost's office," said Robin. "Now we talked to Scott a while ago and we found out that Frost used to be an Auror for the Ministry, a very high ranking one at that." He then passed on the floor to Harry.
"Apparently before he took up retirement the Minister had him carry out one last assignment; this thing." He point to the strange document.
"You mean like to guard it," asked Ron.
"Exactly," said Hermione. "We think this might be why he was killed not too long ago. If we knew more about it then we might know why except there's a considerable problem."
"What's that," asked Cyborg.
"It is in another language," finished Starfire looking over the page.
"Correct," said Hermione. "It looks like some kind of ancient language that we though Raven might recognize." Raven looked up from the table.
"Me? Why would I know what it is?"
"Well you are into this kind of stuff," said Beast Boy. Raven gave him a funny look. She bent over the page all the same and took a good look. After examining it for a few moments she began to frown either from confusion or slight comprehension.
"Hmm."
"Hmm what," asked Robin.
"It looks like a very early form of Latin, the dialect is too old I don't think I can tell what it says."
"Oh come on Raven you can read Latin can't you," pushed Ron.
"I can read most languages yes," she replied a little annoyed. "But this form is very very old, I doubt even the Pope speaks it this way." (A moment for the Pope) This really was annoying; they had finally come across another lead only to face a dead end. "I think I can tell you what it looks like though."
"We thought it was some kind of map," said Robin. Raven was shaking her head however.
"No, no I don't think so." Hermione raised her eyebrows and looked the page from top to bottom.
"Well then what could it be?" Raven moved her finger along he outer edge of the ring and around the strange symbols.
"For one thing if this is a map then where is the legend or the key, there's nothing to identify a scale of any kind. No, what this looks like to me…is a cartouche." They all opened their mouths in surprise.
"Bless you," said Beast Boy. Raven rolled her eyes.
"No I meant it's some sort of pictogram or a 'de-coder' if you will."
"Okay but what does it de-code," asked Ron. Raven shook her head.
"I have no idea; remember I can't read this it's too old a speech."
"Why do we not ask Rorek if he can translate the Latin text," suggested Starfire. They all around at each other wondering why they hadn't thought it before. They all then turned to Beast Boy who was currently backing away.
"No no nononono, listen guys I think I've had enough of 'Merlin' using my mouth and my body like a sock puppet." Robin rubbed his forehead.
"Aww come on Beast Boy, you know he's actually being really nice. He could assume control anytime he wanted, the difference him and Malchior is respect for the host."
"That's another thing! Would everyone please stop calling me that? My name isn't host it's"- He stopped and looked as though he were listening to someone. He rubbed his eyes and let out a long sigh. "Rorek is insisting that he come on up and have a look at the cartouche."
"Well it's about time," said Ron. Beast Boy reluctantly lowered his head and paused for a moment. After a few seconds he raised it back up and his eyes glowed a soft white.
"My friends," said Rorek with a nod. Cyborg leaned over to Robin.
"Ya know I'm just never going to get used to Beast Boy's face looking like Spock every time Rorek comes up." Robin shrugged as Beast Boy/Rorek approached the table. He looked it over, line after line taking in every detail. With each line and word he read his face seemed to get more and more interested in what he was reading. When he got closer and closer to the end it looked as if he had struck an entire cavern full of gold. He looked up at them with that excited look.
"Please tell me it has good news," said Robin. Beast Boy/Rorek looked up at Robin with yet another excited look.
"Oh if only you could read as I am now."
"Indulge us please," said Raven sarcastically. Rorek read another bit of text before giving his report.
"It only has a small history documented here but as it reads; The King of Calchus had to utilize a special obelisk of some sort in order to raise the Dead Ones. What its name was is irrelevant but it does exist."
"Where is this structure located," asked Starfire. Rorek re-read another line.
"Apparently almost at the time of Christ's crucifixion a fading order of wizards found the obelisk and moved it to a secret location where they erected a barrier to guard it from being used again. Over the centuries the knowledge of this 'doorway' was degraded into legend and became known as the 'Dream catcher'."
"Dreamcatcher?" Cyborg, Robin, Harry, and Hermione all repeated in unison.
"Yes you are aware in most cultures a Dreamcatcher is meant to sift through our dreams and catch the nightmares in its webbing. According to this the ring only allows the living to pass through, in or out. The proper sequence of the right symbols must be somehow encoded into the ring in order to fully unlock it for the Dead Ones to pass through." Harry shrugged his shoulders.
"So all we need to do is make sure no one gets this piece of parchment." Beast Boy/Rorek nodded. Robin however turned the page toward him.
"What if by some freaky quirk of fate we need to open this thing?" They all looked up at him. He tore his gaze away from the page. "Ya know it's a really big 'what if', but if we needed to how could we open it."
"I'm not so sure if we should even consider it," said Hermione with a stern look. "In fact I am all for placing this document into the fire. Even if Voldemort and Slade have Malchior they wouldn't be able to march on through the dream catcher without this."
"She has a point," said Ron.
"But he doesn't need this piece of paper," said Robin quickly. "You heard Rory." They all glanced around at the new nickname. "All they need are these symbols and the proper order, and then it's Army of Darkness all over again."
"Yes and that was a most unpleasant experience," said Starfire remembering a movie they had rented not to long ago.
"Do you recognize the symbols," asked Raven.
"No they appear to be of a different origin," replied Rorek. "Perhaps a mixture of Latin and early Greek, but that is only a conjecture." Cyborg checked the clock on his arm and blinked several times.
"This all fun and educational yall but it's late and time to sack out." There was a general consensus among the others and the boys and girls separated between the two dormitories. After making her bed ready, brushing her teeth and all that other bed-ready paraphernalia, Raven poked her head out of the dormitory door to see Beast Boy hunched over the table looking over the page and a number of other books along side it. She had removed her cape as she routinely did for sleeping. She quietly made her way down the stairs and crept up to him. Hearing faint footsteps behind him the green elf turned and saw Raven.
"Rorek? Is that you?" She looked at him uncertainly.
"It is," replied the wizard. She shifted around a bit.
"Would it be any trouble for you to give us some privacy for a sec?" Asked Raven. Beast Boy/Rorek shook his head.
"Certainly not. As it is there is nothing in any of my ancient scrolls or manuscripts to give any kind of reference for these symbols. In short I have reached 'a dead end'." Raven smiled slightly and nodded.
"Then you should probably take a break." He agreed and after lowering his head Beast Boy had resurfaced in mere moments.
"Hey Raven, what's up? Wait hold that though." He said walking over to a mirror. He jumped in front of it and once again saw Rorek staring back at him. "You won't be doing any eaves dropping will you?"
"You have my word," replied Rorek. Beast Boy left the mirror.
"Okay, just wanted to make sure." Raven walked over to a large window and opened it to reveal a large balcony area. They both walked out onto it and leaned against the edge. "We, I mean Rorek and I, were reading more about this ring thing and there's also a fort on the other side just in case the dead ones ever rose up again. It sounded pretty cool; the wizards who built it called it Antioch." He stopped when he noticed Raven looking out over the balcony aimlessly. "Is something wrong Raven?"
"I just wanted to see how you were doing." Beast Boy glanced sideways at her. "You know, still being Rorek's host and everything. I honestly can't imagine what that must be like." He shrugged his shoulders.
"Well it's not so bad most of the time, ya know there are times when it can get really annoying. Like take lunch for instance; there's a type of pie and I hate it but Rorek loves it. So of course I've gotta eat just so he can be happy. And there are some other advantages." He showed her a small cut on his arm that he had sustained during the fight, a wound normally taking days to heal without Raven's help was now almost completely gone. Raven however didn't look like she felt better.
"That's great but…"
"But what Rae what's the matter?" Raven bit her lip wondering if coming down in the first place was a mistake. She felt his hand on her shoulder. "It's okay, I don't care if it's good or bad, you can say anything to me."
"I'm-I'm worried about you." This was obviously taking her a strong bit of courage and restraint to spit out. He was gazing at her curiously. She finally shook her head buried her face in her hands. "Beast Boy you carry another soul inside you don't you understand what that means!" She sounded like she was crying but gave no other indication of it.
"Umm does it mean I get double presents at Christmas?" He felt the table beside him shake and he regretted his answer. "Sorry Raven I didn't mean to insult you or anything."
"Beast Boy if when Rorek leaves you, you may have some of his knowledge and/or his memories. Robin, Starfire, and Hermione could have Malchior's knowledge and memories and not even know it. They would resurface in bad dreams or times of great sorrow. I'm worried that….you might be hurt." She looked up and indeed there was a single tear escaping her eye. "What if he takes a bit of you with him and you're never the same?" Beast Boy looked mildly perplexed at this.
"I thought I annoyed and irritated you twenty-four seven."
"Really? Is that what I've been telling you?" Beast Boy straightened up. "Of course I wouldn't want this to get around but, you really are the one who gives me hope. No matter what's happening, I thing I might have re-thought allowing Rorek inside me but you…you just upped and volunteered when no one else would. Your one of the bravest people I know. And I'm worried about you." Beast Boy smiled.
"Raven, you don't have to worry about me. I'll be fine I promise." She looked at him uncertainly and closed her eyes. He leaned forward and pecked her on the cheek. "Good night Raven." With that he walked back inside. Wide eyed Raven stood paralyzed right on the spot. She reached up and touched where he had kissed her and small table suddenly flew over the side and broke on contact with the ground. She looked down at it and let out a heavy sigh.
That was for all you BB/Rae lovers out there. I hope you're liking it so far and thanks for reading. Sees ya! This is for Soaring-bright-flame: "Robin you never write, you never call, you don't even send me hate mail. It hurts really."