Pushing open the heavy oak doors, Daine stepped into the room. They were all sitting around a table, while the dragons sat to the side, and Rikash was placed on a perch at the table instead of a chair.
Daine received nods of recognition from the members around the table. Mithros didn't say or do anything. Weiryn gestured towards an empty chair next to Badger, and she sat down silently.
"So, what happens now?" Daine asked. The looks on the people's faces were concerning her.
"There seems to be a slight problem with how you came to be here." Weiryn replied. "The Gods keep watch of where people are in their lives, and they have predetermined dates of when, and how, people are supposed to die."
Daine looked up. She was curious about the information that she had just been given. How would her friends end? At the same time she wanted to know, and didn't. If the knowledge was given to her then she would be waiting for them to die, and not enjoying life.
Mithros spoke, "You were supposed to turn around the moment the archer drew his arrow, and kill him. You are not meant to be here just yet."
"Can't I just be sent back like the last time?"
"See, you actually died this time. And for you to go back to that world as you once were would create a shift in the realms. And the doors between the realms could open slightly, letting them combine."
"Always causing problems" Rikash added, with a wink towards Daine.
"So, I can't go back then?" Daine asked, grateful for the Stormwing's humor.
"Not quite." It had been the first time Badger spoke during their meeting at all. "We brought you here to give you a choice."
"What do you mean? What kind of a choice?"
The room was silent for a few moments.
"You are the first case of this type of an event happening. Since you lost your chance to have a future, we would like to offer you the opportunity to get it back, in a sense." Mithros said.
"As you are aware, there is normally a waiting period for new people to come in the Realm of the Gods. And technically you father still has a large waiting time for that. Seeing as though what happened was not your fault, we are willing to make and exception. You can remain with your parents in the realm, without powers.
Your second choice is this. For you to be able to return to the realm of the living, you would have to be bestowed with certain abilities so as not to create a shift. With these abilities, you could return as the Goddess of the Wild Mages."
Daine couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"I refuse to let my daughter's life end here. I won't let you stay, not for me." Sarra said tearfully.
"She can't just go back as a Goddess and not know how to use her powers, and abilities." were Weiryn's words.
"I'm sure her tall Friend wouldn't mind providing some type of…assistance." Rikash said teasingly.
"The mage does know a great deal about what goes on up here, and he has brought her this far…so to speak."
Daine was sad. Her decision had been made for her.
"Ma? I don't want lose you again it's no-"
Mithros interrupted her. "I'm sure that all of this is thoroughly confusing. But being a Goddess would permit you travel between the realms without the negative side effects, so contacting your parents will be even easier than before."
The rest of the table was buzzing with words, while Daine just sat there. She was happy that she was going back to Tortall, but she was aware of what would come next for them. Gods don't age, or die of old age. While Numair got older, she would remain the same.
She was overwhelmed with decisions. She had no idea what was going to happen, or what she was supposed to do.
The instant that Daine's tear hit the table there was a loud crack that was heard throughout the realms.
Everyone stopped, and was silent. They all turned to look at Daine, only, she was no longer there.
Daine "fell" through the realms and ended up in a hay pile in the middle of the field. It was the field where Daine met Thayet, and where she had first seen King Jonathan and his sapphire magic.
Panicking, she went to the only place that she knew was safe. Quietly making her way to Numair's quarters, she prayed that she wouldn't run into anyone.
Gratefully, the door wasn't magicked lock. He, was also no where to be seen. Closing the door silently behind her, Daine was shocked by what she found.
Numair was normally slightly messy, but this actually concerned her. The bed was in complete disarray, and there were piles of books that reached the middle of her shins, all over the room. Numair wasn't one for leaving his work unorganized, but it looked as if nothing had been touched in days.
Feeling overwhelmed, Daine leaned her back against the wall next to the door. If the door were to be opened, she would be behind it, hidden from the person entering. Sliding her back down the wall, she wrapped her arms around her legs.
Not knowing what was going to happen next, she sat in her own silence waiting for him to return.
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