Chapter 5
The next morning, Matthias made his way to the tower roof, to talk to Raven after she did her morning mediation. He stopped, just after he left the doorway for the stairs. Not only was Robin with Raven meditating, but Starfire had joined them. He took a moment to review the scene before him. Robin was sitting on the roof itself, his legs crossed hand resting on his knees. On his left was Raven, same position, only she was about 3 feet above the roof. Starfire was to Robin's right, also 3 feet in the air.
"Azarath. . . Metrion. . . Zynthos. . ." the chanted slowly, and in unison. Mathias could tell that the trio had done this many, many times together in the past, and he quietly opened the door to the stairway back up, and retreated back to his room, to do his own meditation.
"I guess I can almost say I've seen it all." he muttered to himself, as he walked down the steps. "A Tamaranean meditating." he went on . "Robin I can understand, from his knowledge, and training in the martial arts.
"Azarath. . . Metrion. . . Zynthos." the trio chanted, and on the next go round, they let the 's' in Zynthos trail off, as they came out of their trances.
"The promise of a new day." Robin said. "Even better, being shared by my best friends."
"Isn't it glorious friend Raven?" Star asked.
"I've gotta hand it to you Robin, it is beautiful, and relaxing, in it's own right." Raven admitted, watching the play of colors on the thin clouds, as the sun started peeking over the horizon.
Mathias was down in his room, his mind open and searching. Not for the conversation going on up on the roof, but across the city, searching for a familiar mind. Not finding it, he stood up, and left the room, heading for the kitchen, where he knew they were supposed to meet, before heading out.
"Mornin' Mathias," Cyborg greeted him, as he entered the room. "Robin, and the girls should be down in just a moment." he added.
"And I'm here now." Beast Boy said, as he came in and headed for the fridge. "Man who took my tofu bacon!" he demanded.
"Right here," Cyborg replied, holding up a sizzling frying pan. "I got some of you meatless sausage in here too." he added.
"Something smells good." Robin said as he, Starfire, and Raven entered the room.
"Cyborg's world famous waffles!" Cyborg said proudly, placing a large plate of them on the table. "Dig in."
The five non vegetarian people divided up the waffles, along with some bacon and sausage that had been cooked.
"So where are we going to fight this thing?" Robin asked around a mouthful of food.
Mathias swallowed quickly. "In the oldest part of your city is a library." he said.
"We know of it." The Titans said in unison.
"And about the ancient library below that?" Mathias asked, drawing nods from the team.
"And the chamber below that." Robin put in.
"That's where Raven had to go, to be Trigon's portal." Starfire said softly.
"What we seek, is in the level below that one." Mathias said.
"That one I know about," Robin said. "Slade, and I, passed through it, to bring Raven back."
"Raven and I, will teleport, two of you each, to the library, but after that, she, and I, must be very cautious about using our magic, so we don't alert it as to our coming." Mathias explained. "Our empathic powers, and her telekinesis, should be useable."
"Well, lets get this cleaned up, and get going." Robin said, putting the last mouthful of his waffles into his mouth.
"Okay let's go." Mathias said a short time later, after the six of them made short work of cleaning up the kitchen.
"Star, Beast Boy, you're with Mathias," Robin said. "Cyborg and I will go with Raven."
"Right then lets go." Mathias said.
"Azarath. Metrion. Zynthos." Raven chanted calling forth her power. A moment later Robin and Cyborg were enveloped in Raven's soul self and vanished.
"Ashanti. Kinora, Anel." Mathias chanted, then his red soul self enveloped Starfire, and Beast Boy, and they were gone as well.
"Well, we're here." Raven said softly. 'Again.' she thought to herself.
"Raven, I want your thoughts on Mathias," Robin said, turning toward her. "can we trust him?"
"Robin he is an arch mage of Azar," Raven replied. "he's sworn to battle evil, where ever it may be, in what ever form."
"Yeah, that's the text book answer," Robin said. "I want your personal feelings on the guy." he prodded.
Raven blew out an impatient breath. "We don't have time for this."
"Not if you're going to argue with me," Robin shot back. "Do you personally trust him?
"Rob she has to," Cyborg cut in. "otherwise she can't trust herself."
Realizing that the conversation was going nowhere, and seeing Raven turn toward an empty space, he watched, as Mathias's soul self materialized then faded, leaving Starfire, Beast Boy, and himself standing there.
"Okay then lets go." Robin snapped, giving Raven a hard glare.
As they walked along down the winding stairs, to the lower chamber, Robin noticed that Raven seemed to be holding back. At first he thought she was simply covering their rear, but as they progressed nearer to the chamber, where she acted as Trigon's portal, she seemed to slow down even more. It was when he caught a look at her face, as she past a torch on the wall, that he got his first inkling as to what was going on.
"You sure you're okay Raven?" Robin asked softly, as he walked over to her.
"I'm fine." she replied testily, then glared at Robin, as he gave her one of his lopsided grins.
"Okay this is how it's supposed to work," he said. "I notice that something is bothering you, and walk over, and ask you if you're okay," he explained. "that gives you the opening to tell me why you're hanging back, and doing so even more, the further we go on."
Robin was almost ashamed at knowing Raven so well, as she turned her eyes on him, the fear blatantly evident in them.
"You know what happened the last time I was here," she said, pulling her cloak tightly around her, as if warding off a chill. "this is the last place on the planet, that I planned on going to."
"I kinda know how you feel Rae," Robin admitted softly. "remember last month, when Star kept bugging me to take her to the circus?"
"Like that compares to this." Raven shot back.
"To you no," Robin shot right back. "I know, perfectly well, what all you saw, when you entered my mind, when I thought Slade was attacking me, and you know, perfectly well, why going to a circus isn't something I would have done on my own."
Raven was silent, as she went over what memories the acrobatic part of the show would have awakened in her friend. That he had to remind her about it, only embarrassed her further, as it showed him just how out of sorts she was.
"Starfire thought she had done something wrong that night, to make you mad at her." she told him.
"I know, and we had a very long talk," he said softly. "now she knows too."
The two were silent for a moment, each sorting through their thoughts. It was Robin who spoke first.
"Back to business." he began. "Trigon is gone, and won't be back," he told her. "from him you have nothing to fear. You are no longer his portal, that part of your life, or your destiny, is over."
Raven was silent for a moment, then nodded in agreement. "Thank you." she said softly.
"Friends, is something wrong?" Starfire's voice called, as she flew over.
Raven took a step away from Robin, and pulled her hood up, hiding her face. "Robin was just giving me a lesson on perspective, and courage." she told her.
Suddenly, the roar of a lion came from around the corner up ahead.
"Titans go!" Robin shouted, and he, and Raven, on foot, followed the flying Starfire to the source.
"Azar's mercy, what is that!" Raven gasped, as they caught sight of their opponent.
"Going down." Robin growled, as he brandished his right fist, explosive discs between his fingers. "Star give me a lift!" he shouted, and the Tamaranean swung around, and grabbed his free hand, lifting him off the ground, and about ten feet up, level with the creature's face.
"Now Star!" he shouted, and felt the thrill of freefall as Starfire let him go. "Eeeeaahhh!" he shouted, throwing the discs with all his might. As he fell, he looked the creature over. 'Looks like a cross between a dragon and a centipede.' he thought to himself, as he watched his discs find their target.
With it's head blown off, the rest of the creature fell to the ground with a thunderous crash.
"So much for doing the sneak attack." Starfire said.
Robin chuckled, as he collapsed his bo staff. "Yeah I guess you could say that they know we're coming now." he said.
"Yo Robin!" Cyborg's voice called, from even further ahead. "Over here!"
"What is it?" he asked, when he and Raven caught up with the metallic titan.
"Two of Mathias's group, I'd say." he replied softly, pointing to two blackened skeletons in robes.
"Lethan, and Kelina," Mathias said, as he walked back from taking a look ahead. "and yes, they were the two that were killed outright. He looked over at Robin. "You did well to take off that creature's head," he said. "it spits acid, and they couldn't shield fast enough."
"Beast Boy." Robin called.
"You rang?" Beast Boy asked, as he came up.
"Scout ahead," Robin told him. "and be very careful."
"Right." the changeling replied, then morphed into a rabbit, and scampered away.
"Lethan was a friend of my mother's," Raven said, glancing at the blue cloaked remains. "and Kelina and he were planning on getting married when I left." she added sadly.
"They've been married for about three years now." Mathias said.
"May Azar guard their souls." Raven said softly.
Just then Robin's communicator beeped. "Yeah Beast Boy." he said into it.
"All clear to the next level." came his reply through the speaker.
"Come on let's go," Robin said. "let's finish their mission, in their honor."
Mathias looked at Robin in mild surprise. "Well spoken."
"How much further did you get?" Cyborg asked the red cloaked wizard.
"Halfway down the next level," he replied. "Anella, and I faced, what I can only describe as a three headed dragon." he related. "She moved in, and scored a near fatal blow to one of the heads, but was slammed against a wall by the middle one. The last thing I heard from her, was her telling me to go and get help." he paused for a moment, staring into space "I didn't take her advice, and tried to dash in, to reach her side and teleport us both out of here, when the right head, which breathes fire, hit me full on with a blast."
"If not for your shielding power, you have been incinerated." Raven said.
"Yes, you're quite right," Mathias said softly. "Anella must have used her last strength, to teleport me out, because the next thing I know, I'm laying on the shore of the bay, across from your island."
"Your wife sounds like a very brave, and loving person," Starfire said softly. "I grieve at your loss."
"How. . .?" Mathias gasped in wonder.
"Each time you say her name, your voice softened slightly, as id did during the briefing," Star replied "it is clear, every time you say her name, your love for her," she continued. "and her last act, to save you, sacrificing herself to do it, leave me very little doubt, that you were married."
The five Titans were surprised, when Mathias stood in front of Starfire, and bowed deeply.
"Forgive me, Koriand'r, for my underestimating you," he said formally. "from what I've heard of your up bringing, I did not think you capable of being so insightful."
"You are forgiven, my friend." Starfire replied, unsure what to make of Mathias's actions.
"We'd better catch up with Beast Boy." Robin said, smiling proudly at Star. As Cyborg went to go past him, he pulled him aside.
"How was it, that you and Mathias, were past that monster, and left Beast Boy behind?"
"I don't know," Cyborg replied rubbing his chin. "we were walking together, and Beast Boy said he thought he heard something." he related. "When I heard BB roar, I turned to tell Mathias to take cover, but he wasn't in sight. I looked for him for a moment, couldn't find him so, I headed back to help, when I heard your discs explode. The rest you know." he concluded.
Robin nodded, and they trotted up to catch up with the rest of the group.