Author's Notes: It's great to be back. I wanted to start this new short-fic of mine… Well, to get to the point, this is a long chapter and we're getting into the main idea of the fiction. Thanks. Oh, that reminds me… I've got to put up that picture of the dragon in this chapter…
Firefly-Dreams: You know what? I like this fic. I just kinda feel let down because I have no OBVIOUS way to tie Nida in with this fiction… Or at least not a way that will be obvious until deep into Angels of Hyne.
Chapter 4: The Trials Part 1: Trial by Water
"Though water may drown you, it will wash away imperfections. Though earth may bury you, it will harden you like diamonds. Though fire may scorch you, it will purify your soul. Though wind may cut you, it will wise your mind. Though darkness may welcome you, it will try you completely. Though light may blind you, it will save you from your end," the priest said as he anointed my body and armor with sacred oils and symbols. Corin watched over it all, a soft smile upon his face.
This small ritual was all the aide I would have during the Trial. Well, that and the sword and dagger set made for me by my favorite smith, the lovely Crysil Mercale. Thoughts of her instantly calmed my soul and suppressed my fears. Last month was the Ball, and since that night I'd taken whatever time I could to see her. So when the time came for the Trial weapons to be made, she was the obvious choice. Of course, father did not like her, being a commoner and all, but it was not something unknown in the Loire lineage.
"Then are you ready?"
"I will pass through all the return fit to lead my people," I nervously answered in the traditional manner.
Corin nodded to the Priest and pressed the gold and silver weapons into my hands. The things had no real function but to anchor me to the world of the mortals. No one knew just what a person would find during the trials. With that thought I passed consciously into the world of the immortals.
Drowning, drowning in a sea of azure and yet there was no water. Instead it was the shear absoluteness of the magic that was drowning him. Though his lungs brought in air and his body knew it was functioning, this magic fooled his senses. This is what it is to be blind, the Prince thought. But it was worse; he had no senses at all.
Stop trying to sense and merely EXIST, echoed in his mind. There is no sense here, simply existence.
The prayers came to mind and he took in one last deep breath before giving into the words in his mind. Slowly life ended in the mortal sense and began in an ethereal sense. Eyes that were not eyes opened and the world changed. Azure gave way to sapphire waves, drowning his body, but gentling caressing his new senses and his heart. For a moment he was along, and then the largest creature he had ever seen swam to him in the waterless current.
Drewel faintly remembered the creature from a necklace Crysil had worn to the ball. This was one of the four Angels of Hyne, Guardians of the world while Hyne slept. Still, the serpent was larger than even myths told. He doubted that even the tallest retainer of his family was even as tall as a tooth from this serpent. This was Forsaken, the Guardian of Water that none remembered the true name of. It was said that the Guardian lived at the bottom of the sea and wrapped around the world. Its head was supposed to be in the artic north, and its tail beside the head. Oh, what a terrible sight this creature was! Its hide was like that of a scale-less serpent, but thick as the darkness of the sea at night. The great hooked spines and large hooked tail seemed to flow like water, but were as solid and sharp as diamond. And most of all there was a great skull of metal protecting the head, hiding obsidian eyes from harm.
Prince Drewel, finally I lay my true eyes upon you, the voice echoed in his head.
It is the time of trials, Drew responded.
But are you ready? A different voice came from behind him. Drewel rounded and looked at a platinum clad knight. Beyond a full body of armor like Corin's, this unknown knight bore what looked like waves of blue on his armor, and large hooks much like the serpent's spines. The helmet was shaped like the serpent's head, complete with the long horn.
Who are you?
I am Nysil, the Angel of Water whose name was lost, the knight explained, and great wings of water spread from his back as they spread now from the serpent's.
Drewel stood in shock watching this platinum knight. Over his shoulder a great sword was visible, the hilt shaped like the serpent's tail, gleaming silver and gold with deadly intentions.
Your task draws neigh. Come Prince, now the true trials begin! The knight said before turning away. Drew ran after him and suddenly he was swimming in the middle of the ocean, no land in any direction. The armored male was no where to be seen. Swim, in any direction you chose. Reach land. That is your trial.
He swam for what felt like hours, swimming into the eternal waves, no clue as to where to go. Days of this immortal world he swam forward despite fatigue, until at last land was in sight. A musical voice cried out when he was nearly to shore, a voice filled with fear, a human-like voice. Drewel forsook the land and turned. Though he was exhausted he swam to a crystal platform. Upon it sat a woman, clad in sea foam scarves, hair cascading around her like waves. Her eyes were azure, and her voice like the gentle waves that rock sailors to sleep. Yet most notable was that she was a mermaid, and her tail seemed bent at an odd angle.
"Brave sir," the woman said, "Might you pull this platform to the deep sea for me? I am injured and cannot swim. My people will never find me here. Please sir, help me."
Though he knew that were he to help her he'd not have the energy to make it back to land, he agreed to help her. The mermaid cast him a chain from the platform and he bound it around his waist. Once more he swam off; now back in the direction he had come from. For days he swam until he could barely move. When finally he felt hope was lost, a song of joy reached his ears. He was surrounded quickly by beings much like the lovely woman he had been aiding. The creatures swam far faster than he could, and could jump from the water easily, their vibrant scales making rainbows in the air.
"Thank you brave sir," the mermaid sang as her people pulled her into the water. "I have a gift for you."
Drewel climbed onto the platform, barely alive, and one of the lovely merpeople lifted to him a harp of platinum, but it was somehow covered in thick water and ice that refused to fall from it, even if that meant defying the laws of physics.
"Take this Water Harp, and go in peace."
"Alas, fair maiden, I fear I cannot go. The Angel Nysil bade me to swim to shore, it is my trial. But now I am too tired to do so."
"Ah, so you are the human prince," the fair female he had aided said, two of her own kind helping her to swim. "That it is good that you helped me. The land you were headed too would have given you neither peace nor time with our Lord Nysil. My people will take you to the land you seek. One must repay kindness in like. That is a noble thing, something needed in royalty. It is what makes them great. Now sleep Prince. We will take you where the water flows eternally round, the paradise of the seas!"
Drewel's eyes became heavy with fatigue and he gladly obeyed the mermaid. When next he opened his eyes, he could swear that he was truly in paradise. All around him were sea nymphs, women with skin of blue, hair of white sea foam, and laughter like water in a fountain of youth. Relax, they told him as they cleansed and anointed him. They fed him things he had never seen, the bounty of the deep waters, and it was sweet and salty at the same time. The days passed happily and he was clothed in silks and garments he could not name. The nymphs fulfilled almost every whim he could imagine before he even said a word.
Eventually the human prince again felt fit, and he asked the head of the nymphs where Lord Nysil was.
"Lord Nysil has given us to you, great prince. You shall never want again," she said, her hands brushing his leg.
He quickly pulled away, horrified by her advances, "I am here to see Lord Nysil!"
"Maybe this form is more pleasing to you?" another voice said, coming in from just outside the mouth of the caves Drewel had been housed in. A male made his way towards the prince, his only clothing a piece of fabric much like that wrapped around the waist of the prince, and it was held up by a chain of platinum beads shaped like shells. The man had a distinctly foreign appearance. His eyes were like almonds and deep brown, like melting chocolate, and his skin was pale as flower petals.
'Were I not in love with Crysil…' Drewel thought.
"No?" the male asked of the prince.
"I am here to see Lord Nysil," Drewel repeated, "My trial is over."
"But, all this is for you. Stay here forever with us."
"I cannot, I must return. Please, tell me where Lord Nysil is or tell him that I must see him soon."
"You already see him before you," the scantly clad man said with a chuckle. "And my offer still stands. Stay with us Drewel. I can give you everything you ever wanted."
Drewel's eyes went wide in shock. This male was a far cry from either serpent or armored warrior. "Surely you jest!"
"The packaging does not always reflect the contents," he stated. "A sword in a cheap leather scabbard can kill you just as quickly as one wrapped in gold."
"Please my lord, I cannot stay here. Pass me that I might go to the next trial."
"Fine. You have passed my testes. You place others before yourself and refuse paradise for others. Close your eyes and pray that the earth realm will be as great and diligent in testing you as my water world has."