Yo ho ho! Sorry, too much POTC. God, I love Jack Sparrow! Anyway, thanks to
my reviewers, and to those of you that read and don't review, I have one
word: c'mon! C'mon! I need the ego booster!
Disclaimer: I don't own nuthin, savvy? I wish I owned a pirate, though. A sexy, Jack Sparrow like pirate.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I wonder if you'll notce the change within my eyes
As the light within them fades away, and darkens, and then dies
A mortal death is foolish, for who knows what lies beyond
Between my heart and body, ah! I shall break away that bond
For the heart is but a terror that lies deep within my chest
Conjuring forth that I wish not to feel at Eros's cruel behest
I shall take my time and cease its beatings before the pain can start
I shall cut it out and cease to be; my blackened beating heart
Oh damnable heart that causes that cruel loathing thing called love
That cruel, detetible feeling that the angels praise above
That leech, the detestable parasite that leads to the road of pain
That brings for the the devil Madness and drives back the angel Sane
Sweet nothingness, ah! Joy is truly in darkness's cold kiss
The shadows that numb you to the core, now that is truly bliss
I shall take my soul and cast it into the fiery flames of hell
My cries shall end, my eyes fall to black, my voice a toneless bell
Look at me, this cold monster in it's making you had a hand
Watch my lips curse your name as my body turns to sand
May you rot away, another day, and leave me to the dark
Leave this grave and leavethis palce and leave not a lasting mark
Yes! Now I can truly see the truth at last!
When love, that loathing thing called love is a thing of the past
Darkness was the only thing that met Imoen eyes as she rose to consciousness. It was black as night, and yet...... and yet she could see her friends surrounding her as clearly as if in broad daylight. It was an unnatural darkness, one that unnerved the young thief.
Quickly she moved to Jaheira and shook her. The druid groaned and began to awaken. "Where...." she murmured.
"No idea, but we better wake the others. I really, really don't like this," whispered Imoen, as if she feared someone would overhear them. Jaheira nodded and moved to wake up Sarevok while Imoen went to awaken Kelsey.
When all the companions were awakened, and after dealing with Sarevok's angry rant about his headache and Imoen's subsequent teasing of him, they stood still, in a tight circle, waiting for something to happen. Something was definitely going to happen. They could all feel it. The tension seemed to reverberate through the very air, almost choking them.
Then there was a soft laughter, that of a child. All turned to find a young girl who had appeared to them before their impromptu nap. She was smiling and dressed in the same shimmering white.
"Who..." started Jaheira.
The girl held up a hand. "There is no time for long, held out introductions. I am Amauna, and I am not here to harm you. I am here because you must help another regain that which she has lost."
"Who?" asked Imoen.
"That will become clear soon. Now, come."
The child beckoned to them, and despite their inbred instinct not to believe strange young girls. They followed her. There was something so pure in her that not even Sarevok could resist for very long.
Soon Amauna stopped. The others looked in front of her to see a cloaked, hooded figure in front of her, dressed all in black and facing away from them. There was a feeling of emptiness around the person, as if he or she was only a soulless void. She turned, and the figure's identity was made clear.
"What have you brought them here for, girl?" spoke Raziel in a cold, harsh voice.
"Liae?" asked Imoen, confused.
Amauna shook her head. "Nay. As she has been trying to tell you this whole time, she is not Liaedra. The caring, the joy, the inherent kindness that was what made Liaedra Liaedra is destroyed. The little part that remains is kept looked away in the depths of Raziel's heart, hidden from thought and view."
"It is better that way," snarled Raziel. "And once again I ask you, girl, what are they doing here?"
"They are here to help you in discovering that the darkness is not the path to take. You may never be able to return to the path of Liaedra, but you can keep close to that path. You can regain your love. You can heal."
"Why would I wish to?" growled Raziel. "I am better this way. I need no one!" She spread her arms wide, grinning. "I am strong!"
Sarevok watched her. He understood now why he had felt a sense of familiarity here. Raziel was him, or at least the part of him that had once existed. He had felt he needed no one. He had felt invincible and strong. The he had fallen at the blades of those he had thought weak. A stuttering warrior, a childish mage, an arrogant druid, an optimistic elf ranger, and his sentimental brother should not have been able to destroy him. But they had. He had died at their hands, seeing only the hard blue eyes of his brother Quinn and the pity-filled silver eyes of the elf Liaedra.
"Enough," said Amauna calmly, waving her hand. The cowled Raziel dissipated like mist.
"What was that?" whispered Kelsey.
"That," said Amauna, gesturing towards where Raziel had once stood, "is what Raziel is quickly becoming. It is the dominant part of her personality; one that, I fear, shall soon take her completely."
Her darkness, he thought. Her pain and fear, together causing this harsh creature to come into existence. So very much like me. But will she continue that path and fall as I did, or will she be redeemable?
"She must not be allowed to be come something evil. She will never be Liaedra again; she has lost too much. But if we can draw her off the current path she is on, a path that will lead to madness or death, she can be redeemed," said Amauna, answering Sarevok's unspoken question.
"What happened to her that caused her to become so..... monstrous?" asked Jaheira.
"That is what you are here to discover," said Amauna. "To understand the situation and how to solve it, you must understand her past first. And so I shall show it to you."
The girl motioned with her hands again, and they found themselves standing on a flowered hill. The breeze filtered through the grass, birdsong filled the air, and only joy was felt as the companions watched the peaceful scene. A young girl appeared, running up the hill. She was dressed in flowing blue and giggled happily as an older elf picked her up and swung her around, his happy laughter mingling with hers.
Amauna smiled. "Happiness in youth. Much of it was this way; her early life was filled with love. Let us.... skip ahead a bit."
The scene blurred, and then it returned. I was the same hill, but now the grass was dead, the ground burnt and blackened. A single figure, wearing dark green, stood surveying the damage. The person turned towards the companions and they saw it was Liaedra.
She was looking past them, it seemed, to someone approaching. They turned to see a figure dressed in pink and a figure dressed in dark blue walking up the hill. Imoen recognized the two as younger versions of Quinn and herself.
Imoen and Quinn stopped as soon as they saw the elf. She stared down at them, curiosity and distrust mixed in her eyes. "Who are you and what are you doing here?"
Quinn stepped forward. "Forgive me milady, we did not know we were trespassing. I am Tarquinn and this is my friend, Imoen. We are just traveling through."
"Are you allies of the iron throne?" she asked.
Quinn shook his head.
Liaedra visibly relaxed. "Then you are no enemies of mine. I am Liaedra, a ranger and protector of this place." She sighed. "I have failed, apparently."
"What is this place?" asked the young Imoen.
Liaedra shook her head. "It matters not now. It is gone, and I must avenge it, and my people. Might I ask where you are headed?"
Quinn smile. "Away from here."
Liaedra smiled back. "Then that is all I need to know. Might I join you?"
He held out his arm. "How could I resist so beautiful a maiden?"
She laughed and took his hand, and the three walked away and faded into the darkness that lay outside the vision.
The view blurred again and darkness covered the burnt field. Then a single light grew out of the darkness, a flowing pillar of light from the center of the room. The general area gradually faded into view, and all the companions recognized it immediately. It was the plane on which they had fought their final battle. This was the Throne of Bhaal.
"Quinn!"
A young girl dressed in brown leather armor ran out towards the light. From her voice they all recognized her as Liaedra. Then they saw Quinn, armored in shining plate, blond hair tossing lightly about his face as he looked down on the pleading elf.
"Quinn! Please, don't leave! Don't ascend! Just stay here with me!" Liaedra's silver eyes filled with tears, and even Sarevok's heart filled with pity for the poor elf.
Quinn shook his head. "Do you know what you ask of me?" he shouted. "I could become a god!" His blue eyes practically glowed with anger, and perhaps a bit of greed.
"Please! Stay with me! I.... I need you!" She fell to her knees in front of him. She sobbed heart wrenchingly, and Sarevok felt a sudden need to break every bone in Quinn's body. "I love you!" she cried, not caring for dignity, only openly begging him.
Quinn shook his head. "No," he said. Then, just as he had five years ago, he turned and walked into the light, ascending just as he had planned to all along.
"Quinn," Liaedra whimpered. She simply stared at the light the light left her eyes, leaving them dull and hollow.
"Must you show them this? They were there, after all."
The companions turned at the voice behind them. Raziel was there again, but the savage grin that had been on the previous shade's face no longer gracing her lips. There was only a painfully amused smile on her face, and eyes that showed only a lack of hope for any good future. Tears fell freely down her face, which Sarevok noticed held no scars. It was as soft and smooth as it had been during the day they had just been observing. Sarevok then saw that, since the untimely interruption, time had literally stopped.
"It is.... a refresher. To set the mood, perhaps. And to let them see what they may not have seen before," said Amauna, obviously expecting her to be there.
"Your face..." Imoen said.
Raziel nodded, running her fingers up her pale cheek. Without the scars it was even more obvious to Sarevok that she was like a woman half alive, for she was deathly pale, her skin practically translucent.
"Yes, I noticed that myself. It's a spiritually projection of myself, or so Amauna said. Spirits don't scar easily, unless the spirit itself was harmed in the process. Thusly why I don't have those scars on my face, but I still have these." She lifted her wrists, and Sarevok noticed two angry red lines along the veins. He had never noticed those before, and judging by the gasps of the others, they had not either.
"Let us not get ahead of ourselves, Raziel. And yes, all of you, before you ask, this is the real Raziel, not a shade of one of her personalities. Now then, shall we move to the real reason we are here?"
Raziel sighed. Sarevok could see past the passive mask on her face to the fear that lay in her eyes. What shall we see, he wondered.
"If we must," whispered the ex-ranger.
"As you wish," said Amauna, and raised her hand once again. Slowly, a new vision came into view around them. A dark forest glade, with Liaedra in the center, surrounded by black-hooded figures.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Next Chapter: Really disturbing, with lots of pain! I wrote it to Three Days Grace so it should be quite depressing. I do love torturing Raziel, it seems.
BTW in case you were wondering, which you probably weren't, that poem was written by me early this year. I tend to be as depressing as my stories. That, my friends, is what an hour period of freshman physics and an inept physics teacher can do to you.
Disclaimer: I don't own nuthin, savvy? I wish I owned a pirate, though. A sexy, Jack Sparrow like pirate.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I wonder if you'll notce the change within my eyes
As the light within them fades away, and darkens, and then dies
A mortal death is foolish, for who knows what lies beyond
Between my heart and body, ah! I shall break away that bond
For the heart is but a terror that lies deep within my chest
Conjuring forth that I wish not to feel at Eros's cruel behest
I shall take my time and cease its beatings before the pain can start
I shall cut it out and cease to be; my blackened beating heart
Oh damnable heart that causes that cruel loathing thing called love
That cruel, detetible feeling that the angels praise above
That leech, the detestable parasite that leads to the road of pain
That brings for the the devil Madness and drives back the angel Sane
Sweet nothingness, ah! Joy is truly in darkness's cold kiss
The shadows that numb you to the core, now that is truly bliss
I shall take my soul and cast it into the fiery flames of hell
My cries shall end, my eyes fall to black, my voice a toneless bell
Look at me, this cold monster in it's making you had a hand
Watch my lips curse your name as my body turns to sand
May you rot away, another day, and leave me to the dark
Leave this grave and leavethis palce and leave not a lasting mark
Yes! Now I can truly see the truth at last!
When love, that loathing thing called love is a thing of the past
Darkness was the only thing that met Imoen eyes as she rose to consciousness. It was black as night, and yet...... and yet she could see her friends surrounding her as clearly as if in broad daylight. It was an unnatural darkness, one that unnerved the young thief.
Quickly she moved to Jaheira and shook her. The druid groaned and began to awaken. "Where...." she murmured.
"No idea, but we better wake the others. I really, really don't like this," whispered Imoen, as if she feared someone would overhear them. Jaheira nodded and moved to wake up Sarevok while Imoen went to awaken Kelsey.
When all the companions were awakened, and after dealing with Sarevok's angry rant about his headache and Imoen's subsequent teasing of him, they stood still, in a tight circle, waiting for something to happen. Something was definitely going to happen. They could all feel it. The tension seemed to reverberate through the very air, almost choking them.
Then there was a soft laughter, that of a child. All turned to find a young girl who had appeared to them before their impromptu nap. She was smiling and dressed in the same shimmering white.
"Who..." started Jaheira.
The girl held up a hand. "There is no time for long, held out introductions. I am Amauna, and I am not here to harm you. I am here because you must help another regain that which she has lost."
"Who?" asked Imoen.
"That will become clear soon. Now, come."
The child beckoned to them, and despite their inbred instinct not to believe strange young girls. They followed her. There was something so pure in her that not even Sarevok could resist for very long.
Soon Amauna stopped. The others looked in front of her to see a cloaked, hooded figure in front of her, dressed all in black and facing away from them. There was a feeling of emptiness around the person, as if he or she was only a soulless void. She turned, and the figure's identity was made clear.
"What have you brought them here for, girl?" spoke Raziel in a cold, harsh voice.
"Liae?" asked Imoen, confused.
Amauna shook her head. "Nay. As she has been trying to tell you this whole time, she is not Liaedra. The caring, the joy, the inherent kindness that was what made Liaedra Liaedra is destroyed. The little part that remains is kept looked away in the depths of Raziel's heart, hidden from thought and view."
"It is better that way," snarled Raziel. "And once again I ask you, girl, what are they doing here?"
"They are here to help you in discovering that the darkness is not the path to take. You may never be able to return to the path of Liaedra, but you can keep close to that path. You can regain your love. You can heal."
"Why would I wish to?" growled Raziel. "I am better this way. I need no one!" She spread her arms wide, grinning. "I am strong!"
Sarevok watched her. He understood now why he had felt a sense of familiarity here. Raziel was him, or at least the part of him that had once existed. He had felt he needed no one. He had felt invincible and strong. The he had fallen at the blades of those he had thought weak. A stuttering warrior, a childish mage, an arrogant druid, an optimistic elf ranger, and his sentimental brother should not have been able to destroy him. But they had. He had died at their hands, seeing only the hard blue eyes of his brother Quinn and the pity-filled silver eyes of the elf Liaedra.
"Enough," said Amauna calmly, waving her hand. The cowled Raziel dissipated like mist.
"What was that?" whispered Kelsey.
"That," said Amauna, gesturing towards where Raziel had once stood, "is what Raziel is quickly becoming. It is the dominant part of her personality; one that, I fear, shall soon take her completely."
Her darkness, he thought. Her pain and fear, together causing this harsh creature to come into existence. So very much like me. But will she continue that path and fall as I did, or will she be redeemable?
"She must not be allowed to be come something evil. She will never be Liaedra again; she has lost too much. But if we can draw her off the current path she is on, a path that will lead to madness or death, she can be redeemed," said Amauna, answering Sarevok's unspoken question.
"What happened to her that caused her to become so..... monstrous?" asked Jaheira.
"That is what you are here to discover," said Amauna. "To understand the situation and how to solve it, you must understand her past first. And so I shall show it to you."
The girl motioned with her hands again, and they found themselves standing on a flowered hill. The breeze filtered through the grass, birdsong filled the air, and only joy was felt as the companions watched the peaceful scene. A young girl appeared, running up the hill. She was dressed in flowing blue and giggled happily as an older elf picked her up and swung her around, his happy laughter mingling with hers.
Amauna smiled. "Happiness in youth. Much of it was this way; her early life was filled with love. Let us.... skip ahead a bit."
The scene blurred, and then it returned. I was the same hill, but now the grass was dead, the ground burnt and blackened. A single figure, wearing dark green, stood surveying the damage. The person turned towards the companions and they saw it was Liaedra.
She was looking past them, it seemed, to someone approaching. They turned to see a figure dressed in pink and a figure dressed in dark blue walking up the hill. Imoen recognized the two as younger versions of Quinn and herself.
Imoen and Quinn stopped as soon as they saw the elf. She stared down at them, curiosity and distrust mixed in her eyes. "Who are you and what are you doing here?"
Quinn stepped forward. "Forgive me milady, we did not know we were trespassing. I am Tarquinn and this is my friend, Imoen. We are just traveling through."
"Are you allies of the iron throne?" she asked.
Quinn shook his head.
Liaedra visibly relaxed. "Then you are no enemies of mine. I am Liaedra, a ranger and protector of this place." She sighed. "I have failed, apparently."
"What is this place?" asked the young Imoen.
Liaedra shook her head. "It matters not now. It is gone, and I must avenge it, and my people. Might I ask where you are headed?"
Quinn smile. "Away from here."
Liaedra smiled back. "Then that is all I need to know. Might I join you?"
He held out his arm. "How could I resist so beautiful a maiden?"
She laughed and took his hand, and the three walked away and faded into the darkness that lay outside the vision.
The view blurred again and darkness covered the burnt field. Then a single light grew out of the darkness, a flowing pillar of light from the center of the room. The general area gradually faded into view, and all the companions recognized it immediately. It was the plane on which they had fought their final battle. This was the Throne of Bhaal.
"Quinn!"
A young girl dressed in brown leather armor ran out towards the light. From her voice they all recognized her as Liaedra. Then they saw Quinn, armored in shining plate, blond hair tossing lightly about his face as he looked down on the pleading elf.
"Quinn! Please, don't leave! Don't ascend! Just stay here with me!" Liaedra's silver eyes filled with tears, and even Sarevok's heart filled with pity for the poor elf.
Quinn shook his head. "Do you know what you ask of me?" he shouted. "I could become a god!" His blue eyes practically glowed with anger, and perhaps a bit of greed.
"Please! Stay with me! I.... I need you!" She fell to her knees in front of him. She sobbed heart wrenchingly, and Sarevok felt a sudden need to break every bone in Quinn's body. "I love you!" she cried, not caring for dignity, only openly begging him.
Quinn shook his head. "No," he said. Then, just as he had five years ago, he turned and walked into the light, ascending just as he had planned to all along.
"Quinn," Liaedra whimpered. She simply stared at the light the light left her eyes, leaving them dull and hollow.
"Must you show them this? They were there, after all."
The companions turned at the voice behind them. Raziel was there again, but the savage grin that had been on the previous shade's face no longer gracing her lips. There was only a painfully amused smile on her face, and eyes that showed only a lack of hope for any good future. Tears fell freely down her face, which Sarevok noticed held no scars. It was as soft and smooth as it had been during the day they had just been observing. Sarevok then saw that, since the untimely interruption, time had literally stopped.
"It is.... a refresher. To set the mood, perhaps. And to let them see what they may not have seen before," said Amauna, obviously expecting her to be there.
"Your face..." Imoen said.
Raziel nodded, running her fingers up her pale cheek. Without the scars it was even more obvious to Sarevok that she was like a woman half alive, for she was deathly pale, her skin practically translucent.
"Yes, I noticed that myself. It's a spiritually projection of myself, or so Amauna said. Spirits don't scar easily, unless the spirit itself was harmed in the process. Thusly why I don't have those scars on my face, but I still have these." She lifted her wrists, and Sarevok noticed two angry red lines along the veins. He had never noticed those before, and judging by the gasps of the others, they had not either.
"Let us not get ahead of ourselves, Raziel. And yes, all of you, before you ask, this is the real Raziel, not a shade of one of her personalities. Now then, shall we move to the real reason we are here?"
Raziel sighed. Sarevok could see past the passive mask on her face to the fear that lay in her eyes. What shall we see, he wondered.
"If we must," whispered the ex-ranger.
"As you wish," said Amauna, and raised her hand once again. Slowly, a new vision came into view around them. A dark forest glade, with Liaedra in the center, surrounded by black-hooded figures.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Next Chapter: Really disturbing, with lots of pain! I wrote it to Three Days Grace so it should be quite depressing. I do love torturing Raziel, it seems.
BTW in case you were wondering, which you probably weren't, that poem was written by me early this year. I tend to be as depressing as my stories. That, my friends, is what an hour period of freshman physics and an inept physics teacher can do to you.