The Beast Must Die: Chapter 7

Indas Vorros Requiennne…

Indos Varros Domuna…

The chanting echoed off the dank walls of the massive chamber, rising and falling in long monotone, until it filled the entire room. The hundred odd voices joined as one, repeating in chorus over and over again the sacred incantations. Though robed and hooded, each and every one could now see clearly, for they were all versed and well experienced in such doctrine. For each one, save the newer converts and apprentices, this was a gathering like any other; they filed in, single file, gathering silently, stealthily from all areas around Cair Paravel, all making their way in the pitch blackness, the younger ones groping, the older ones slowly walking, blind in the pitch blackness of the subterranean tunnels, but familiar with them nonetheless. Once every one of the fold had gathered, and the doors locked, they began to sing…well chant, really. Each one lifting their voices as one to fill the great black chamber; it was here that no light had ever fallen since the beginning of time, here light had no reach, no dominion, no place whatsoever; for here, only darkness reigned, and for the Order of the One, this was their sanctuary. Now the chorus reached a somber climax, and as the incantation filled the room, the room began to glow. The older ones noticed it first, a soft, dark light seeming to come from nowhere. Building in intensity, till the entire room was bathed in it, casting no shadows, pulsing in time with the Order's voices. Soon the purple-red glow raged like a fire, fanned stronger and stronger still by the songs of the Reverent. At last the Ceremony of Illumination was complete, and each hooded figure now looked around them, mumbling greetings to their fellow brothers and sisters, all seeing clearly in the pitch blackness that surrounded them. At last, the Great High Priest Alstros of the East addressed the brethren.
"Greetings and welcome, Brothers and Sisters of the One, I come to this gathering with great news: The One has chosen! Our Redeemer has come!"

A shockwave of hurried whispers spread throughout the crowd. Was it true? Had their hour finally come?

"I tell you now, Brothers!" Alstros continued, "The time has come! We stand together to see prophecy fulfilled! Was it not written "and I shall come when thou art all ready to receive me, when I am called will I not answer?

"In Truth, It is written!" The hooded crowd answered.

"And will I not stand to bring Justice to your land when it is so scarce to find in it?" Alstros continued.

"In Truth, It is written!" came the unanimous reply.

"I tell you now, the One has at last chosen its Right Arm! He stands now, filled with the great Powers of the Dark Judge, who has been prophesied!" The dark one commands we now provide the strength and support this chosen one requires…The One has Spoken! By our reverence shall the One receive power! Narnia now stands on the brink of cleansing! When Justice is served and the Beast is dead, then shall the Great Darkness cover this land like a cleansing tide! What can stand but darkness when the Light is snuffed out? Nothing! In the same way, when the Beast is dead, the One shall rise in power, and when the Darkness falls, we shall rise with it! Narnia will be cleansed! The Beast's time has come! Too long has he twisted and polluted our land, too long has his heinous crimes gone unanswered. When the Redeemer's power is complete, He shall find the Beast, and it will die! This time fully and permanently! Praise be to the One! May his Reign of Darkness be complete and Eternal!"

"Praise Be the Dark One!" The massed order now broke into a frenzy of discussion about the news. How exiting! The time was coming! From the midst of this babble, one lone robed figure made his way to where the High Priest stood. Alstros turned to greet the wizened old elder.

"Ah, Seer, what word have you?"

The old man looked up, a smug grin crossing his wrinkled old face. "I have made contact with the Redeemer."

"Excellent! And how fares he?

"The Darkness Healing has served him well. His strength is great. Each day it grows stronger within him. His mind is still somewhat his own, a minor annoyance, The Darkness is taking that over as well, and when all is complete, his old self will be once again as dead as it was when he was slain in battle, his body will be but a vessel of the One. When this has been completed, then will we have full control, but not until then."

"So, we must wait and watch for this to be complete, and when it is, we may act."

The old man smiled and nodded. Alstros turned to face the brethren again. "My Brothers! My Sisters! Servants of the Dark one, All! We have reached our Redeemer! When His Power is full and the remnant of vessel is purged by the Great Dark, then shall be our Day of Reckoning! The Beast's days are numbered! Is it not written! "The Great Lion shall answer for all He has done!"

"In Truth, it is written!"

Suddenly, a soft note was heard, a horn sounded far away, up the tunnel a ways, perhaps at the mouth. All recognized it as the coming of dawn, and thus the ending of the Gathering. The Order made their way back to the surface, talking exitedly amongst themselves of these new revelations. Eventually, the power of the Illumination Ceremony began to wear off the farther they walked from the sanctuary, and by the time they reached the surface, each one was groping blindly again in the pitch blackness of predawn. By the time the sun finally found its way to the horizon, all were long gone, back to their homes and lives…all to await the next Gathering to be called.