Chapter Two

Selena woke a few hours later to Salamar's cries. She was about to get up when Rurik sat up and walked out of the room to take care of him. She lay back in the bed as he walked back in, Salamar in his arms, and sat down beside her. "I think he's hungry."

"Likely," she agreed as she took Salamar from Rurik. "You know, I have not been with anyone else but you…"

Rurik went still for a moment, and then in a low voice pointed out, "I did not want that. There was not a day I wondered that if you have found another to replace me after I died when I found out how long I had been dead, and then animated. I hoped that someone would finally give me peace and that also someone was making you happy…"

She closed her eyes as Salamar fed, then crossed her eyes as he bit down on her. "Ow, your son has teeth…" she chuckled. "I think it's time we started weaning him."

"I was going to point out that he was getting rather heavy, as well as strong," he rolled over to his side. "I was thinking."

"I thought I smelled something burning," she wisecracked.

"Very funny. Cynn's acerbic personality is rubbing off on you, I see," Rurik rolled his eyes. "But seriously, I was thinking; it's not good for the boy to be alone. Now, I know childbearing is difficult on women, but I would love another—maybe even two…" he caught her glare, "…eventually? Maybe? Look, we will have another. Maybe not immediately, but it will happen unless we stop loving each other like we just finished doing."

"I'm surprised you're not sleeping off the exertion, actually," she pointed out, then noticed his tired eyes. "Oh, I see, you're about to. But you're able to talk instead of sleep."

"Well, yes, as much as I'd like the nap," he admitted. "But we have to talk eventually, and you do owe me answers."

"I do?"

"Yes, like what is this 'soul-bond' that Cynn talked about, the one that has something to do with what it cost you to even resurrect me," he finally came out and said. "As well as the truce with the Charr I still do not know the full story behind, and the strained relation between you and my father and Old Ascalon. Why he would call for your father and Devona to even return to Ascalon after he exiled us… why he would even be speaking to us."

For a long moment Selena was silent as she considered Rurik's demand for explanations. Finally she sighed as she burped Salamar and sat up. She took him back to his room and came back, stills strangely silent. "I wish you never asked that of me," she admitted, closing her eyes as she looked from him to out the window as she opened them again. "Very well, I will explain what even my father does not fully understand."

He started to speak, but she held up one hand, "Don't. Not until I finish one story. Then you can ask about it."

Rurik nodded his agreement, "I agree. Tell me."

"They are all very long stories," she began. "Pick one for today, then I will finish it and when you are ready to hear the next, I will explain it."

"What it cost you to resurrect me," Rurik asked. "It is the closest and more immediate of my concerns—that of my family."

Selena sighed, "Are you familiar with the 'Soul Bond'?"

Rurik shook his head, "No, that was a Monk or Necromancer term I never really learned about in school. My secondary profession was always Elementalist, so in between the army and the classes in school for that, I never had a chance to explore the Monk or Necromancer professions."

"The Soul Bond is a rare, often dangerous, divine area. It has everything to do with bonds, as the name implies. However, unlike most bonds that last for mere battles and require renewal, this is lifelong… for both parties of it. It can only ever be cast upon two people by the direct Will of Dwayna," explained Selena, and she sighed. "The only other case I have ever heard of with the Soul Bond was a barely known pair of heroes that have been so long dead that their very names are no longer known."

She continued, "But, once Soul Bonded, it can never be broken. Only death can break it, and if one partner dies the backlash for the other is…"

The pause caused Rurik to suddenly worry and he leapt in, "Is what? Selena… tell me… how bad is the backlash?"

Looked into his eyes with a haunted expression, "Death. If one dies, so does the other. Our strength is now shared, and as the bond grows stronger we will also be able to communicate at a distance through our thoughts. You see, with this bond the Gods consider us one whole soul. To break the bond would mean our deaths."

"Why?" he whispered, mouth dry. "Why was such a bond necessary?"

"Because," she whispered. "You had been dead so long that your soul had already been claimed. When you were animated, your soul began to deteriorate. If we had not destroyed Khilbron's hold on you 'Rurik' would have been permanently destroyed. No afterlife, no meeting again in the Rift. You were barely there as it was."

He was well aware of that. Long before they had taken him down he had felt his grip on who he was slip away by degrees. He had no doubt that if it had been allowed to go on longer he would have been no better than the undead that had haunted the catacombs in the Ashford Abbey before the Searing. All he would have been was one more lost soul—doomed to wander and wail his anger at both the gods and the living. Then he realized it, "Then how did you bring me back?"

"I gave your soul… I gave half my own soul to you to fill in what was missing and took half of what was left of you…" she smiled. "And then Dwayna was able to bring you back. But, there is no going back from this now. That is how you were able to cast a Portal to Droknar's Forge. You had never been there, but I had. You used the knowledge from me that you then had at that moment because the Bond had been sealed and were able to cast the Portal to a place you had never personally been. Even now, if you truly thought about it you could recall memories of mine and see what happened after you died in the Frost Gate and see how we fared to Kryta… and beyond. As I can also pull on your memories…" she closed her eyes and smiled, "I can see all the places you have been… as well as the horrors you've seen after you were animated. That, perhaps, is the ultimate cost. There can be no more secrets between us, and we can no longer protect each other from knowledge best left unknown. But you know that now because you are thinking about it."

Rurik laid back his eyes closed. He was not asleep as tears rolled down his face. "Oh Selena… I can see that… you don't have to explain Gatanx… you don't have to explain why my father sought you out and not the other way around as I first thought. I am so sorry that I was not there to support you as I should have…"

He sat up, kissed her full on the lips then pulled her down to lay on his chest as they simply lay there for a long time. Eventually, he was actually able to fall asleep given how much he had been told and had been given to absorb. Selena sighed. His knowing of the Soul Bond would change everything. He would now know about the Titan threat… and knowing Rurik he also would want to do something directly. Now he would also want to officially take over as Lord of New Ascalon, and, granted, it was his right to. But he was still weak from his ordeal, and perhaps with the Soul Bond he would know better than to push himself too hard.

Rurik woke a few hours later, and noted with chagrin that it was now full dark outside. He took a deep breath in and looked down to where his wife lay sleeping with her head in the crook of his shoulder, her arm over his chest. Closing his eyes he thought about what she had told him.

A flash of something… something not his to remember… pushed to his thoughts. He knew it was one of her memories.

Lady Rosa stood up by the beacon on the very summit of the mountain that Beacon's Perch was famed for, looking out over the path south, and west. A dwarf stood by her side. Rosa now was dressed in a mid way noble dress, although she felt that if she wore too much dress it would hinder her movements. So she wore what she had found of Rurik's clothing, tucking and pulling it in by using belts. Captain Greywind had brought her a spare cloak of Rurik's. She still wore her wedding band, as well as the circlet. Lina, as well as a Necromancer called Eve, was now a permanent fixture at her side.

"My lady, Terrence and Terryann La Rune, and Aidan, have gone with Devona, Cynn and Mhenlo to retrieve the stolen supplies," he stopped as she looked over at him. "Is there anything else I can do?"

"No, Captain," she said. "There is not. What of this other hero, Siuil La Rune?"

"He is leading a group of refugees with Orion, Stefan, and a few of the others in the Vanguard," answered Greywind. "There is another small matter that needs your attention."

"Yes?" she asked.

"Old Mack's devourer requires a lot of meat to feed," said Greywind carefully as he saw the woman frown. "Should I order him to put his… pet… down?"

"No, have someone leave camp and kill juniper barks," she said. "I remember someone saying that the devourer… Joe?… was partial to the meat of the juniper bark. We need all the willing hands… or paws… pincers… anything, really… to aid us. We will not kill perfectly good pets who defend us simply for eating too much."

"Yes, my Lady," said Greywind. "Your wisdom is, again, a valuable aid to us. May your reign be long."

"It would be better had I no need to lead," she remarked as he left.

Rurik winced as that memory faded. He certainly hoped that there was some measure of control over them. Then he realized it—Selena had always claimed she had no desire to lead, but now he could sense her dread whenever anyone asked her to lead. She might lead, and do a wonderful job as leader, but she meant what she said when she would rather he remain dead to the rest of Ascalon and let them live out their lives in quiet seclusion.

But, he also had her memory of the dragon Glint, and he knew as well as she did that this would not be. She would be Queen, and he would be King. Granted he was not sure of how that was to come to be, but given the memories they now shared he could see how it could develop.

So… his father had called for him to return to Old Ascalon. He had a vague and fuzzy memory of having such a conversation with his father in Droknar's Forge after his 'rescue' from Hell's Precipice. He also vaguely remembered Lord Darrin and Duke Barradin being there… but it was naught more than that—there was even an extremely vague memory of perhaps his mother hovering over his sick bed every so often, but he had thought that he had been dreaming it. But no, here was Selena's very sharp memory of conversations where Rurik had been up and around…

He sighed. Clearly he should wait for Mhenlo to clear him before trying to adventure again if, according to Selena's version of events, Rurik had since awakening in Droknar's insisted that he was well enough to help Siuil and Devona in clearing out a Titan problem—

Rurik sat straight up, and Selena grunted in protest and sat up, somewhat more slowly, as she brushed a few stray strands of hair from her face, "What is it?"

"The Titans! Ascalon!" he turned to her. "Ascalon is in grave danger as are we all. I remember that Khilbron said that once they were freed that he would control them—however, they are more powerful than the Mursaat and the—"

She held up a hand to his lips, "its taken care of. We know. Lay back down," she pulled him down until he relaxed into the pillows. "See, take a deep breath. Now, my father and Devona are taking care of it. They have already tracked them down to the very source to the far North of Ascalon. Gatanx is with them as both Ambassador and guide. Now, granted, there are a few holdouts to his peace, but those Charr who have accepted it are also backing us up. They don't like the threat anymore than we do."

"Charr and human…" he murmured. "Still so hard to get used to…"

He yawned, already slipping back to sleep when he sensed what his wife was doing. "Minx."

"It's working isn't it? Go back to sleep," she whispered.

He finally settled, his eyes slid closed and with one great sigh he fell back to sleep again. Selena patted his arm before settling back down to sleep herself.

Selena stood out on the doorstep as the messengers in the form of Duke Barradin and Lord Darrin stood with her. Darrin cleared his throat, "Now, I understand if this a shock to you, my… Queen…"

She looked at Barradin who seemed to have aged in the years that had passed since the Searing. "Gods… already?" she whispered. "He's not well enough yet."

"I was worried about that," admitted Barradin. "But there is no question. I spoke with Mhenlo and he agrees with me that if we do not 'rescue' Prince Rurik now then all of Ascalon will sink into chaos and the shaky peace will collapse. There will be no rescuing Ascalon. We need to bring him out before his people."

She sighed again as she looked up into the sky and to the general direction of the Gods, "Is how you serve to remind us of the path we must take?"

Selena looked down at Barradin and Darrin, "You called me Queen?"

"Indeed," Darrin shifted his weight from one leg to the other. "You see, no one has exactly found Rurik's body so everyone in Ascalon has assumed he survived anyway… they all believe him to be a prisoner of war with the Stone Summit, although no one knows exactly where. But, if we do not get him to come back now I know that the Lords will call for an expedition into Sorrow's Furnace to hunt for him."

"They should anyway," admitted Selena. "There are Ascalons in Sorrow's. Arya, Akruan and Ima have been busy freeing those they could find. But we know there must be more that serve as slaves and this cannot be allowed."

Barradin and Darrin exchanged a glance, and Barradin explained, "Ah yes, and how quickly you understand why you are now Queen, even if Rurik is not found soon. You led those of New Ascalon to this new land, and gave us Prince Salamar. You rule as Regent and Steward of Ascalon until Prince Salamar is of age. But, that would be if Rurik were dead… which he is not. Since he is alive and merely a prisoner you rule as Queen."

"You leave me with little choice. Have Arya meet me in Thunderhead Keep when she can, well enough to rule or not, Rurik will have to recover the rest of the way in Old Ascalon after his coronation," Selena sighed. "Tell the people that their new King is alive and well… and has been freed from a far worse place than Sorrow's. Don't go into detail, however. I will take Rurik to Thunderhead Keep and will meet Arya there in a few months."

Lord Darrin's eyes widened, "Very well my Queen. It will be done as you say."

"If it is not too much trouble, make sure Queen Farina is there as well. I think she would like to see both her son and her grandson…" with that Selena retired into her house, and her door closed.

Delei, her handmaiden bowed to them, "My lady will need time to prepare for her journey, but it would likely be wise to depart shortly."

"We're leaving," said Barradin. "We have an Flaming Scepter Mage that can teleport us directly to Droknar's."

Rurik walked down the stairs as he had seen Barradin and Darrin walk away from the house. He was dressed and ready to leave the house, but upon walking into the kitchen where he saw his wife reading a letter over and over again he suddenly didn't feel like chasing after them. He sat down at the table opposite from her. He could feel the incredible sadness and grief… as well as great trepidation and anger that rolled off her in waves. "What happened?" he asked.

She looked up into his eyes. Then she looked away, her hands falling into her lap. "Your father, King Adelburn de Drascir, is dead," she answered quietly. "He was killed during the mission to defeat the Titans."

He could only sit there, stunned into silence. But he was shocked out it when he heard her whisper, "Long live King Rurik of Ascalon."

The ship slid into port and bumped against the wood dock. Siuil watched as the crew threw the rope over the rails and to the dock where dockworkers tied off the ship to prevent it from suddenly moving and throwing those on it into the cold water when they disembarked. There was a bit of a crowd gathered. Mostly those who had been rescued from Sorrow's Furnace. Everyone had already heard about King Adelburn and so Queen Selena and Prince Salamar's arrival was a bittersweet one.

Sadsa Asd came to the top of the ramp, saw Siuil and Arya, nodded, then moved back out of the way as she knelt as a shadow moved to the top of the ramp. Taking her cue, Siuil and Arya also knelt. There was a collective gasp and they could hear the crowd bowing, and kneeling. One shaky voice, irony would have it that it was Old Mack's, as he cleared his voice and tried again, "Long live King Rurik and Queen Selena!"

This was echoed and Siuil looked up in surprise to see Rurik standing at the very top of the ramp, one step away from moving off the ship. Selena stood just behind him. Her handmaiden, Delei, held Prince Salamar. Slowly, and although the rest would mistake it for regally, Siuil could see that Rurik had still not fully recovered and so he knew it was actually carefully, Rurik walked down the short ramp and onto the more solid dock. Selena stepped down beside him, with Delei and Sadsa just behind. Rurik wore a warm tunic, an over tunic and pants. His cloak was longer and fur lined. And, although he was now king, he still wore his circlet instead of the crown.

Selena wore a dress, but Arya poked Siuil and pointed out that they could see the boots to her Necromancer's armor underneath. This could only mean that underneath the rich grey-blue dress she wore her Bonelace armor from the Granite Citadel.

"Please stand," Rurik said. "You never had to kneel before with me. Do not start now. I am honored at the reception although I wish it were under better circumstances."

He walked over to his old Vanguard and Captain Greywind bowed, as did Old Mack and Armin Saberlin. "My… King…" said Greywind, a sad smile on his face as Rurik clasped his hand. "I am glad to see you alive and well."

"As I am glad to see you alive and well," Rurik looked from one to the other of his leading members of the vanguard that chose to follow him into the Shiverpeaks and to Kryta. He looked around with a sad smile.

Duke Barradin stood by next and Rurik walked up the gathered Lords of Ascalon, the ruling nobility, and one by one they knelt before him. Barradin stood first then, with one half step forward pulled Rurik into a tight hug. "Ah… I wish this meeting was a better one," admitted Barradin when he pulled away as he noted the grey in Rurik's hair where before there had been none. "Time hasn't been kind to you either, my old friend."

Rurik shook his head, "No, it hasn't to any of us. I am… I understand that… that he died quickly. I miss him. We were not on good terms in the end and I wish I could have rectified that before this happened."

"As do we," said Lord Darrin, quietly. "Now that you are King, your Majesty, do you intend to rule from Old Ascalon or new?"

"I intend to head back to Rin and visit my mother. I have no doubt that she needs the kind face," said Rurik. "I am told that Old Ascalon recovers and a new peace has been forged. New Ascalon is now safe and secure. Old Ascalon needs the King's personal attention. Rin is, and has always been, the capital. And so it shall be… but… perhaps with the new peace we can rebuild Drascir and forge anew."

"Very good, sire," said one Lord. "We were worried you would abandon us altogether."

"Far from it," Rurik frowned. "But I do not wish to discuss this now. I am told that King Jalis wishes to meet us in his capital of Thunderhead Keep. And so, I would wish to travel there."

Rurik nodded once to Duke Barradin and then walked back to where Arya was talking to Selena.

"One last hill," Barradin smiled as he led Rurik to a hill overlooking Rin.

Siuil looked over at Arya as they saw Rurik turn silent as he approached the hill that would both overlook Stormcaller and the city of Rin. Rurik paused, turned to Selena as he brought her up to stand beside him. Before either of them stepped up to actually see the city she looked up at him. Devona explained in a whisper, "Rin is where Rurik would remember Adelburn… the clearest he can… and it also where Rurik was cast from Ascalon. Even though King Adelburn took back his harsh words mere months after it would also be the last Rurik remembers of Ascalon. I can imagine that this moment is likely rather painful…"

Finally, with a breath in and out, and Selena's hand in his they both stepped out from around the outcropping of rock and started upon Rin. For a long moment Rurik only stared at the rebuilt city, and the new growth of trees and grass, then he turned to look at his old friends. "It is just as I thought it would," he admitted. "I always knew that when the crown passed to me that my friends would be there to make sure I made it. But too many are missing…"

Duke Barradin cleared his throat, "Sire, it is time. Your people wait for your return."

With a sigh, Rurik walked the rest of the way down until he stepped onto the cobblestone street. There were still Charr present, but unlike before these Charr actually aided the Ascalons in different tasks. A few Charr even oversaw some of the tasks. It was a different kind of juxtaposition, and Rurik turned to Barradin in confusion, "I thought that my father did not think the Charr were capable of peace."

"Your father changed his mind about a lot of things before he died. Gatanx's courage, for one," Barradin leaned back. "Gatanx impressed King Adelburn, Rurik. I think it was mostly due to Ambassador Gatanx that made your father come around. I also think it helped greatly that once the true culprit behind the Searing and the war with the Charr came out that the Charr, warlike as they are, chose to side with us in repelling the White Mantle when they turned on us."

Rurik turned back to the rebuilt capital. "We could rebuild Drascir," he thought aloud. "I have always wanted to see Drascir rebuilt… but perhaps now is not the time for that. We have too many cities with people in them to rebuild first."

The entourage walked through the streets, and given the size of the group it was not too long before they were noticed. Someone above them cried out, "It's Prince Rurik! Rurik has returned to us! Praise be to Dwayna!"

Murmuring began and people lined up in the streets to watch. Rurik seemed to unconsciously straighten his back even more, and he put Selena's arm on his. Selena, for a moment, seemed to shrink from the sudden attention paid to her, but with a sigh she also stood straighter. Coolly, quietly, she let Rurik take over as he led her to the palace. Rurik smiled slightly, "You've been here before."

"Yes, however I was not in my right mind," she answered. "Before the Searing I admit I dreamed of being a princess, but I don't think I ever really wanted to have to be."

"True leaders never do," murmured Barradin from behind her. "You remind me of Althea. All cool and collected on the exterior, but all insecurities when in private."

As they walked through the city to the palace, people even threw blossoms into their path until it appeared to almost rain flower petals. As they drew closer, lengths of ribbon from the richer nobility rained down and cheering began. Upon stepping into the cool interior of the Rin Palace Rurik saw that things had not changed. The dust that had always been present Post-Searing was gone. The Tapestries were lovingly restored and the stone scrubbed to a gleam. The marble tiling was polished to a high shine. He sighed again, "Just like it was before the Searing…"

He felt Selena's grip tighten slightly as if to remind him that not all was as it was. Now he had her support. He patted her hand that was in the crook of his elbow, "I'm sorry, it's just a bit painful right now… too many memories I guess."

"We'll make new ones," she murmured.

Rurik looked around. In the massive entry hall to greet them was an honor guard and a gaggle of young noble ladies to the side who were doing their best to get his attention. His mother stood in the center of the room. Rurik walked forward, guiding Selena as he did so. Duke Barradin stayed behind, as he and Siuil stood just inside the doors with Rurik's own entourage and honor guard. Taking Selena's hand off of his arm, Rurik guided Selena as they both bowed to his mother. "Mother," he said as Selena let go of his hand to allow him to kneel in front of the older woman.

"Rurik," Queen Farina said, touching his shoulders with her hands. "Welcome home."