This is where things begin to get a little strange. We meet the first of the OCs. I want to thank those of you who sent me reviews on my Yuyu Hakusho Fic: Son Of Fire. You Rock! For everybody else, read previously said Fic, and my Yugioh Fic: Agony Angel, God Of Hope. Remember, the more you review, the quicker my updates.
Disclaimer still applies.
Chapter 3: Lullaby
Death steered his boat quietly down the river. Neither he nor his passenger said a word, and the silence was driving Daniel mad. "So, this Hymn is a book?"
The black-shrouded figure behind him took a moment to answer. "I believe so…though I could be wrong."
Well, that was one question out of the way. Unfortunately it raised another. "Exactly how am I supposed to know when I've found it? Come to think, how DO I find it?"
The following pause was even longer that the previous one. When Death finally spoke, his voice was so soft that Dan had to strain his (ears) to hear him. "In answer to your first question, I don't know. You'll just have to trust your instincts. However, I do know how you can get hold of someone who does know. They'll also be able to lead you to the Hymn…hopefully."
Not much to go on but it's a start, Dan thought to himself.
The remains of a huge, towering fortress loomed ominously above them. Dan had to crane his neck just to see the top. The castle would have been taller no doubt, had not about half of it been lying in piles of rubble strewn all over the ground. Dan gave a low whistle. "Damnation! It's enormous!"
Death nodded. "Yes, it is rather large, isn't it? Well anyway, this is as far as I can take you. From now on, you're on your own."
Daniel whipped around and almost fell off the boat. "Wait! You said you'd help me find that person you mentioned." Yeah…real specific there aren't we? Dan mentally cursed.
"That I did." Death pulled a dagger from beneath his robe and handed it to the knight. "This is the RuneBlade. Whatever you do, DON'T lose it; under any circumstances. Do I make myself clear?"
Sir Fortesque nodded and took the RuneBlade in his bony hand. The blade was silver and came to a point so thin, it was almost like a sliver of ice. The hilt was deep, flawless copper with an equally flawless cut emerald set just above the blade. It's beautiful, he thought. "What do I do with this?"
"In the center of the fortress you will find an altar. Stab the RuneBlade into the mirror on the altar. This creates a portal that will allow the spirits passage to our world. They will help you."
Daniel tucked the dagger into his belt before stepping onto dry land. "And if they don't?"
"They will. Trust me." Death waved a final goodbye before turning his boat around and leaving the one-eyed knight standing on the shore.
Sir Dan had an awful time. Not only did he run into Zarok's boiler guards, but he also managed to get himself lost at least three times. Why, oh why couldn't Death have given him directions or a map or something? At last he found the center of the castle.
Just as Death had said, there was the altar and the mirror. There was a green cloth draped across the top of the altar and white candles surrounded the mirror. The candles lit by themselves as the solider approached. Dan pulled the RuneBlade out and, with a single mighty thrust, stabbed the knife into the mirror.
The first odd thing that happened was that the mirror didn't shatter. Instead, the RuneBlade sank right through the glass and the mirror rippled as if it was made of liquid. The second odd thing was the ghostly white hand that had reached out and seized the blade of the dagger. The third and final odd thing was the soft, female voice that echoed calmly from deep within the mirror.
"Hello, Sir Knight. We've been looking forward to your visit."
Dan gulped. "Y…you have?"
"Yes," the voice answered. "We've a favor to ask you."
"Now wait just a minute. Who are you?"
The voice chuckled and a face appeared from the darkest recesses of the mirror. "I, am Princess Lydith." The princess's face emerged from the mirror, followed by the rest of her. She was pale and transparent.
Daniel studied the apparition before him. She was rather pretty, in a ghostly sort of way. Her long hair reached to just above her waist and she wore a flowing gown that was trimmed in lace. "Are you the guardian of the Hymn?"
Lydith shook her head. "No I am not. When the sorcerer came, we safely sealed the guardian and the Hymn away."
Nothing's ever easy, is it? Dan thought grumpily. "Where do I find them?"
The princess pointed to the mirror. "That riddle will give you the answer you seek." She gave him a pleading look. "Please, find the Hymn and keep it safe. Zarok must not get his hands on it." And with that, she faded away.
As she did so, a strange song lingered briefly in the air. It was soft and soothing, just like a lullaby.
Let the memory fall to pieces
As the ruins of a city
Crumble down upon the ashes
Of what used to be
I'll be there to pick up the pieces
I'll be there to sweep all the ashes
I'll be there to light the way
When stars come raining down
The song sparked a memory of when Daniel was little. He had been playing in the grass one evening. It was just as the sun was starting to set that he began to hear a song floating on the wind. It was a lullaby much like this one. Somehow, this memory calmed Daniel's shaky nerves.
He looked over at the mirror. Words had formed on its glass surface in what appeared to be fire. They spelled out a riddle.
The Light of Heaven's song,
Lies sleeping in a crystal,
Sealed and frozen in time.
When the dreamer awakes,
The twin song will sound,
It is then that Darkness and Light will combine.
Dan read the fiery riddle. "Sleeping in a crystal…frozen in time…" the more he thought about it, the clearer it became. He had been to a place where creatures used giant crystals to put themselves in a state of suspended animation. This was where the Hymn was kept. This was where he had to go next… Crystal Caves.