Pacing back and forth Caramon was steaming with worry for his little niece a little too over protective of her. Tika sat silently back still unable to believe that Anna had left the safety of Solace to go to the Four Lands. Tanis was trying his hardest to calm Caramon down with no luck at all. During all the commotion the one person who should be the most worried was sitting by the fireplace sipping at his tea. Calm and collective as usual.
Raistlin wasn't concerned about his daughter at all. He knew for a fact that she was safe and that all Anna had was what he had termed 'controlled freedom'. She was fine and would remain that way. She thought she was doing this all on her own without her father's help. She was dead wrong.
"Raistlin how could she have known that she had a grandfather in the Four Lands?" Tika asked paler then the sheets, "She was in her room the whole night how could she have over heard us? We weren't speaking that loudly."
"She was doing what any child her age does when they want to know the truth," Raistlin whispered calmly back, "She climbed out the window and down the tree to sit on a branch. I thought I had heard something when Caramon broke those plates but I thought nothing of it. She's quite a resourceful young lady I must say."
"Resourceful!" Tanis exclaimed finally sitting down tired from trying to calm Caramon down, "She's just like you god damn it! You never allowed anyone to keep secrets from you. Now that's exactly what she's doing except she had a real reason to do it, you won't tell her anything even if she asked nicely. She wants the truth and she'll find out from this grandfather of hers."
"No," Caramon whispered shaking his head, "That's not what she wants. Well yes she probably wants to know more about her mother. But she heard us talking and that means she knows that it's going to be hard on her mentally and physically. She wants to prove herself to you Raistlin. She wants to show you that she is strong that she's not a child. Besides she wants one more thing Tanis."
"What?" Tanis asked already knowing the answer.
"She wants her grandfather to love her as her father should," Caramon whispered sitting glumly down on a stool, "Having love from her uncle and aunt isn't enough as much as I wish it was it isn't even I know that. She needs to know if her being born was a mistake or not."
"It was," Raistlin hissed, "Her mother and I never planned on having kids. Sure her mother had been happy to have a baby girl, but neither of us were consider adequate parents. First of all as a Druid she was forbidden to have kids. I on the other hand just didn't have the patience for them and I still don't have the patience. Her mother had ran away from her live, from her father. I don't think Allanon will be able to stand how much Anna looks like her mother. She might be in more danger then she thinks."
"Why did her mother run away?" Tika questioned walking over to her husbands side seeking the comfort she desperately needed, "Was her life that bad?"
"No it wasn't it was perfect, too perfect for her liking," Raistlin replied smiling at the fond memory of Anna's mother, "She hated being coped up in the Druid's Keep hidden form the real world. She was really never allowed outside. Her father had told her it was too dangerous. She found it was refreshing living in Krynn."
"What about Anna though?" Tanis stated turning the chair Raistlin sat in around away from the fireplace, "Will she be alright? She's just a child she doesn't know the dangers of Krynn like we all do. Especially if anyone finds out that she's your child she might be in more danger then you even think."
"Anna will be fine she has a protector with her that can't die," Raistlin responded, "He won't let a thing happen to her."
"How do you know?" Caramon inquired his eyes narrowing suspiciously.
"He has been warned that if he fails to protect her that he will suffer as I told him ten fold of what she suffers," Raistlin said grinning wickedly.
"Look Peter it's huge!" Anna exclaimed smiling as her gaze fell on the Great Library.
"Yes I know Anna I've been here before," Peter said stepping out of the carriage offering his hand to Anna, "Remember I told you that."
"Of course sorry," she muttered lamely taking his hand and stepping out of the lovely carriage.
They had been given a carriage by the Temple to help them around town. They had seen a many things that Anna could only have dreamt of. Though she was happy she couldn't help but feel that something was wrong with Peter he wasn't as free and happy as when they were in the country. He must not like the city living that had to be it.
She walked up to the Library and was astounded by the size. It must hold so many books she thought. Bet no one's red all those books yet she stated in her mind laughing on the inside. The two of them came up to the gate and what looked like a doorbell. Anna didn't know what else to do so she pulled the rope that let these bells ring and toll. Jumping back Anna's eyes were wide with fright and looking to Peter saw that he was smiling. Grinning she hit him and muttered under her breath 'jerk' and pushed on the gates. They let loose and she walked with Peter by her side up to the massive door to the Library.
She was nervous but she knew she had to find out more about the Four Lands. Knocking this time on the door a man with no hair and in flowing brown robes opened the door. Bowing to them he gestured them to come in.
"Welcome to the Great Library my name is Bertrem how may I help you?" he asked smiling warmly at them.
"Uh well hello my name is Anna and this is Peter," Anna replied smiling at the Aesthetics kind warmly manner, "Is it possible at all to learn some things about the Four Lands here? You see my grandfather lives there and I'm going to see him but I don't know that much about the place. Can you help us?"
Anna was a little taken aback when she saw that the Aesthetic's face was pale as though he was going to be sick. He was shaking also and staring right at into her eyes. She was becoming uncomfortable but what was it she could do? Not as though she could be rude to him and yell at him, that be cruel just like her father was. Shaking the thought out of her head she stood there waiting for a reply staring him in the eyes.
"Bertrem would you quit staring already the young lady is scared enough without you looking intently at her as though you wanted to eat her," a deep almost even voice sounded from the top of a staircase not far from where the three were standing, "Anna Majere I wondered when you might grace the Library with your lovely presence."
"You know me?" she asked looking up at a man that seemed as though he was ageless as though time had stopped for him, "Uh I mean how do you know me sir? I don't believe we've ever met, have we sir?"
"You don't have to be so formal your father and I go far back," the man said giving her what she supposed was a slight smile, "Back to when he was just a lowly red robed mage still struggling with his ambition. He almost died on those steps outside."
"What?" Anna shouted turning her head to look out the window near by she ran to it.
Looking outside she could almost picture her father struggling to live laying on those perfectly white steps. A red blot on a parchment almost. Her eyes went downcast and she fought back a swarm of tears.
"I didn't mean to startle you I had thought that he would have told you," the man said walking effortlessly down the stairs, "After all he wouldn't let you go to the Four Lands without knowing. Would he?"
"You know my father like he would ever tell me anything," Anna stated bitterly, "I'm sorry this isn't why I came here. I just wanted to learn some more about the Four Lands. Do you have any books on the matter?"
Anna turned to face the historian only to find that while she had been talking the man had walked right up behind her. Startled she jumped back and hitting her head on the window.
"Oh my I'm sorry I…you startled me," she whispered looking up at the man's intense eyes, "I seem to be causing you trouble I'm sorry."
"It is I who is sorry my dear," he said softly taking a glance at where she hit her head, "You'll be fine no lasting damage. But I'm afraid that I only have one book on the Four Lands. Bertrem will take you there immediately while I have a conversation with your company."
"You don't have to do that my Lord Astinus time goes by unrecorded," Peter quickly added, "I'll just go with Anna and we'll be quiet and not disturb you anymore my Lord."
"No I'm afraid Peter you and I need to have a long conversation that actually might keep miss Anna waiting," Astinus, stated his severe gaze directing at him, "Come follow me Peter. Anna if you need anything the Bertrem will help you."
"Thank you," Anna said watching Peter and Astinus climb up the staircase, "Well Bertrem can you take me to that book."
"Of course follow me," Bertrem bowed and turning ran into the staircase's banister.
"Are you okay?" she asked coming up next to him.
"Yes I'm fine come the book," he quickly said stepping away from the stairs he led her down a long hallway.
Anna couldn't help but feel as though someone was watching her. Maybe it was that Takhisis woman who had come into her mind last night. The thought of that five-headed dragon's tail wrapping around her body still brought creeps to her body. How could such a monstrosity exist? It was frightening to her.
Anna had been so absorbed in her thoughts that she hadn't even heard Bertrem when he said to give him a second he would recover the book for her. He came back with a single leather bound book and set it right in front of her face. Jumping she gasped in shock and calmed herself down.
"Are you alright miss?" he asked concerned for her health, "Are you like your father do you need something to drink?"
"My father?" she asked looking up at him, "What do you mean?"
"Your father Raistlin Majere needed a specially made tea of herbs needed to calm his dreadful cough," Bertrem replied a little shocked that Anna didn't know, "I hear that it's calmed down but he still needs the drink. Are you like him?"
She shook her head and came back in a small voice, "I'll be fine thank you very much for you help I'll begin to read now."
"Of course feel free to take liberty of our tables and chairs," Bertrem said smiling at her, "As the Master wished it, if you need anything I'll be over here studying."
She nodded and sat down to a table. Sighing she studied the book and saw that it was completely black all over. Even the ribbon that was inside of it was black. The Four Lands really must like black she stated sarcastically in her mind. Taking a deep breath she opened the book and was surprised that the first thing she saw were the words 'Property of the Druids of Paranor given to the Master of the Great Library of Palanthas by Allanon'. Her grandfather had given this book to Astinus. Astinus knew her grandfather, which must mean that he knew her mother. Well maybe her mother might have been there when the book was given to Astinus or not.
Flipping the pages she began to read about the council of Paranor and was entranced to know that her great grandfather had been on the council. Though he turned away to learn magic to fight the evil Warlock Lord Brona. Weird it reminded her of a fantasy book in the other world she had grown up in. shrugging her shoulders she continued to read and found out that the Druids were a very mysterious people. They had many secrets and they even kept secrets from those they traveled with. Would her grandfather keep secrets from her even? Well if he did she would never know. Continuing on she read that her grandfather was a historian. Well that made sense why he gave the book to Astinus, a book going from one historian to another. What joy the two must've had.
She read the whole book and when she finished she saw that a man in black robes was standing near a bookcase looking intently at the books. He looked almost ethereal and it startled her at first. She regained her composure and walked over to him.
"Hello," she said smiling at him, "Are you here for research also? This place has so many books its so astounding too me. What about you?"
He didn't reply. That was rude of him. She was just being friendly. She didn't think it was so bad. Turning she saw that Bertrem was staring at her with wide eyes. Why was he looking so weirdly at her? Oh she understood he was afraid of the black robed man. Turning to look at the man again she saw that he had disappeared and a sharp ringing sound came to her ears. Letting a shriek out she cried out in pain. The sound wouldn't go away it kept drilling into her mind. As though it was searching for something. Continuing to scream she fell to the ground. She could see Aesthetics around her but for some strange reason they couldn't get any closer to her then they already were.
In the deep stretches of her mind she asked that the gods bring her father to her. She needed his help desperately right now.
Peter and Astinus entered the historian's study in quiet. They hadn't talked to each other since they had left Anna's presence. Peter knew exactly what Astinus wanted to talk to him about. Nothing was hidden from Astinus; he knew that Peter wasn't who he said he was. Now though Peter knew that Anna and his Master were connected.
"Peter you walk a dangerous path," Astinus snapped, "You know the rules as well as your Master knows them. You cannot travel to the Four Lands without your Master. It's impossible. Not only that it's dangerous, it could kill you and I am not joking."
"Well I have to he has ordered me to protect the girl and I can't disobey an order you know that as well," Peter muttered crankily sitting in one of the chairs in the study, "I can't and you know it. What do you want me to do? Run away from the girl, run away from my Master. Yeah like I could get that far away from him."
"She's too much like her father she'll only bring you trouble," Astinus said shaking his head he sat behind his desk picking up his quill he began writing, "Her father brought trouble to the last person who tried to help him. I'm sure you know the stories as well as I do. She is too stubborn to turn from her path just like her father. She is determined to get to her grandfather even though her grandfather might not even want to see her. Even now as she gets closer she knows that it won't get easier that it will only get harder. It won't be easy on you especially without your master with you. Just turn away from this path and go back to your Master Peter."
Peter remained silent as the historian wrote what he had missed. His strokes purposefully and sharp, he never faltered as he wrote. It was unnerving to watch.
"Peter just turn away," Astinus said seductively.
"I can't!" Peter yelled standing to his feet, "Look he's going to the Four Lands anyways were meeting him there, in some small town."
"Where does he want you to bring her to in the Four Lands?" Astinus asked softly, "Where are you meeting him?"
"ShadyVale in the Southlands," Peter replied, "I don't know why he wants to go there he just does and I'm not in any position to argue with him. Do you know why?"
"I do unfortunately know why. His plan's a concealed one but it doesn't escape me," Astinus said continuing to write, "If you go then you go without the protection of him. Do you know that?"
"I know."
"Then you best be prepared. Your charge is going to be a handful. She is as she told her father a teenage girl. Those are not easy to handle."
"I already know that. I've had to experience first hand what it's like being with one in the country. Not a fun experience I wish to become any more familiar to ever again."
A hurried knock of desperation came at the door.
Astinus looked up and frowning at the interruption, "Enter!" Astinus shouted angry at this disruption.
The door opened and a tiny Aesthetic hurried in standing trembling form head to foot as he stood in front of his Master.
"What is it?" Astinus asked.
"Master it's the Majere girl she's in pain!" the Aesthetic stated, "She's screaming and some sort of force field is preventing us from helping her."
"So it already begins," Astinus whispered and in that fraction of a second Peter saw how truly old and tired he was, "Come Peter you must see what you will have to deal with when you leave for the Four Lands. As you come closer to her mother's birthplace. She'll experience what your about to witness."
"Yes sir," Peter replied following the historian out of the study.
Anna saw a mixture of things. Mainly blood and fighting, how much blood was there? It was so much and it was everywhere. As though it was following her, a huge trail behind her stalking her like death. Shaking she screamed as one after another she felt something sting her in some knew muscle she had no idea existed. She began to think that these sensations might be what her mother had to endure here on Krynn. Her mother had seen so much war that all her memories of Krynn were about that. So much blood. How could her mother stand it? How could her mother live with it? It was so gruesome and terrifying that Anna couldn't stop screaming from it. She wanted to escape and if that meant running she wasn't afraid to admit that she was scared. As a final point the memories and all the blood vanished and she stopped screaming. She just laid there on the floor shaking, just as who should come but Astinus and Peter running into the study area.
Peter ran to her side checking for a pulse. He found one and exhaling heavily he was relieved that her pulse was still strong. Even though it was a little faster then a normal pulse. Looking to Astinus he saw that the historian's face was once again the ageless uncaring man it had been in the beginning.
"Is this what will happen to her as we get closer?" Peter asked his tone having a slight edge to it he had a feeling that the man had know that Anna would experience this here in the Library.
That thought did nothing to diminish his hatred of the man if nothing it increased by ten fold. A newfound hate wanting to come out in a physical way.
"Yes," Astinus replied, "She is remembering memory that her mother had been entrusted to as a Druid. She's even remembering memories of her mothers."
"Will she be alright?" Peter questioned moving the raven black hair from Anna's face showing him her pale face, "She'll be alright, won't she Astinus?"
"Yes Peter she will be fine after every time I'm afraid she'll be different though," Astinus replied, "She'll change, she might even change into her mother. No one knows what will happen to her. This is why a Druid isn't supposed to have children. It creates complications."
Peter nodded unable to bring his voice forth to speak to overwhelmed by what he was hearing. Anna was going to change.
The Aesthetics helped Peter carrying Anna out of the Great Library. He laid her down on one side of the carriage he took a blanket that Bertrem offered him and covered Anna with it. They weren't leaving today, he was going to make sure that Anna was okay before he let her on one of those ships that went to the Four Lands. Dalamar was going to have to wait.
"Take us back to the Temple," Peter told the driver closing the carriage shut.
"Wait Peter!" Astinus yelled walking towards the carriage with the black book that Anna had read in his arms, "Give this to Anna tell her if she wants her grandfather to believe she's going to need proof. This will show her grandfather that she is too be trusted that I believe her to be Raistlin's daughter."
"Alright," Peter muttered taking hold of the precious book.
Closing the door he sat down holding onto Anna's hand he prayed to the god's to protect her, to keep her the same way she was. Please if nothing else let her still have her lively personality that won people over.
"Raistlin are you going after her?" Caramon asked softly sitting by his twin looking up at the moons, "I wonder if Anna's looking at the moons this exact moment."
"Don't be ridiculous Caramon she's probably sleeping," Raistlin snapped.
It was late and the two of them had stayed up to talk about Anna without Tika or Tanis interrupting them every chance they got. For the two of them they had conflicting issues when it came to Anna but that was to be expected Raistlin being so cold hearted and Caramon such a softy.
"Raist are you going after her?" Caramon asked again still looking at the moons.
"Of course I am," Raistlin muttered, "I'm meeting her and her protector in ShadyVale in the Southlands. Let me guess you want to come with me."
"Damn right!" Caramon exclaimed, "She's my niece and she's terrified of you at least if I'm there I can at least give her some comfort. Whether you like it or not Tanis and Tika are coming with us. Especially Tika she won't stay behind she'll go to her niece. At least if we have Tika with us she'll be able to help us understand what a teenage girl's like."
"Loud, rude, and noisy," Raistlin stated shrugging his shoulders.
"Raist!" Caramon exclaimed looking to his twin.
"Fine you can come and the others also I don't care!" Raistlin snapped waving his hand dismissing the situation.
"How do you know this protector or hers?" Caramon asked.
"You could say he's a good friend of mine that was placed exactly in the right position for this mission," Raistlin said grinning at his brother.
"What did you do?" Caramon questioned narrowing his eyes dangerously, "If it hurts Anna I'll never forgive you!"
"Oh it'll probably hurt her she probably thinks that she's falling in love with him I made him that way," Raistlin stated laughing as he set his tea down on the little stool.
"Yeah well she is just a girl they fall in lov-" Caramon began then doing a double look stared dumbfounded at his twin, "Made! You made him that way!"
"Yes made him that way," Raistlin said rolling his eyes, "Must I repeat myself for you too. This is going to be quite annoying."
"How?" Caramon managed to get out of his shocked brain.
"Magic I've been working on it for years before I met Crysania," Raistlin whispering coughing a little as the dry night air began irritating his lungs, "I finally was able to perfect and made him a little while ago. That is why I must go to the Four Lands either he'll die if he's not at least close to me or on Krynn. This way I keep my experiment and I get back Anna all in one before Allanon knows the truth."
"I can't believe you would do this to your own daughter," Caramon whispered shaking his head, "She's your daughter your going to break her heart when she finds out. The poor thing's going to be so devastated."
"I know I'm hoping for it," Raistlin said smiling at his twin.
Rolling on her side she pulled the blankets around her and yawning opened her eyes to be greeted with a face right in front of her. It was Dalamar he was asleep right beside her. He had fallen asleep on her bed apparently watching over her. That was creepy and kind of weird even for a black robed mage.
She poked him and whispered, "Dalamar wake up."
His eyes fluttered open to be greeted with one blue one gold eye right in his face. He jumped back and almost fell out of his chair. Anna couldn't help but give him a smile. He was distraught with some sort of worry, probably over what happened to her yesterday.
"Are you alright Dalamar?" Anna asked sitting up in her bed noticing that she was back at the Temple, "How'd I get here?"
"Peter brought you back and don't worry about me I'm fine you just startled me that's all no big deal," Dalamar said yawning and stretching his cramped limbs, "How are you feeling? Peter told me what happened yesterday that couldn't have been easy to deal with."
"I saw a man looking at the books he seemed familiar as though I knew him already," Anna whispered shaking from the memory, "He wasn't like you or my father in his black robes. He chose to wear black robes cause he had to hide not to scare people. He seemed sad as he was looking at the books. I remember hearing faintly a crying sound. Do you think it was him crying?"
"Maybe Anna I don't know," Dalamar stated softly laying a hand on hers, "You'll leave today in a couple of hours your vitals are all normal and your completely healthy don't worry at all."
He got up and walking to the door opened it and stopping in the frame looked back at Anna and stated, "You should know that your mother and father met in the Great Library during the period where the companions of the Lance were separated for five years. They loved each other immensely. Farewell Anna Majere, good luck to you."
He left in a whoosh of black robes flowing in his absence. Anna couldn't help but cry as she thought of all the memories now coming to her of her father. They had met in the Library, and loved each other a lot. That made her happy to know. She was also leaving today. She was going to the Four Lands with Peter.
She got her things together and dressed herself in some clean pants and a tunic that was laid out for her. Peter must've asked them to get those for her. Smiling she pinned her cloak on and pulled her boots on. Going to the door she opened it only to be greeted by a standing Peter outside her room.
"Hey how are you feeling?" Peter asked hurriedly, "You okay to set sail today?"
"Just fine Peter no need to worry about a thing with me!" Anna stated smiling at him, "Come on don't want to be late."
"Alright a carriage is here to take us there," Peter said smiling fondly at her, "Crysania wants to say farewell first though before she lets us go. She's waiting by the carriage."
Walking together side by side they were ready to leave Krynn and go to the Four Lands as excited as they were they were anxious to get there. Anna noticed that Peter took occasional glances at her ever now and then as though he was worried that she was about to keel over soon. How sweet of him to worry but she was fine.
They got to the steps and standing by the door was Crysania smiling at both them. She gave Peter a kiss giving him Paladine's protection and she told him to wait for Anna in the carriage. The two of them watched as he ran to the carriage putting his stuff and Anna's stuff in the compartment. Anna turned to look at Crysania and smiled warmly at the woman, she had grown to like her vastly.
"Anna take this your father gave it to me a long time ago it was your mothers," Crysania whispered softly taking her hand she laid in it a dagger ornately ordained with a tree with white bark and red leaves, "He told me that the image on the sheath is an ancient tree in the Four Lands called the Ellcry you should visit her. He told me that she's an amazing tree."
"She?" Anna asked laughing a bit, "Come on even I know that there isn't a human tree."
"Afraid there is my dear she's an amazing woman she knew your grandfather so go and visit her," Crysania said laughing, "Now with Paladine's protection go to the Four Lands and find your grandfather. Find that love you so desperately need. Farewell Anna Majere."
"Farewell Lady Crysania Revered Daughter of Paladine," Anna replied hugging the woman hard, "I'm glad I met you and thank you for all your help and your stories of my father I greatly appreciate it. I'll come back and visit soon."
Crysania nodded and waved Anna to go on before the ship left without her. Anna put the dagger at her hip and ran to the carriage. Climbing in she smiled as she waved out at all the other clerics outside bidding them farewell.
The carriage took them off to the docks where they boarded a massive ship that had a crew and everything they were ordered by Dalamar to protect her while she was at sea. She found it unnerving but she was okay with it after awhile. They were setting sail for the Four Lands and she was excited to see what else she would learn.
As Anna set sail for the Four Lands pumped for the adventures ahead. Her uncle and father were entering Palanthas having gotten there so fast with the aid of magic. They were missing her just by a couple of minutes.
That though didn't seem to bother Raistlin he smiled and whispered to the winds as he stood on the deck, "Good luck Anna you need it more then me."
Authors note:
Alright another chapter yeah! Okay so this chapter actually brings Raistlin and the others back yes they are going to follow Anna by ship and keep an eye on her. They might even board the ship while Anna's dead to the world as she learns more about the Four Lands through her mother's memories. Never know a new more terrifying enemy working on behalf of the Dark Queen might just be a shape shifter on Anna's ship killing the crew one by one till there's only Peter fighting to keep Anna alive. But is Peter keeping her alive cause he might know how to love now or cause he's ordered by his Master Raistlin?
Juicy stuff to come next chapter so keep reading, keep enjoying, and keep laughing at my stupid chapters!
Oh yeah just cause I'm like so excited about this I have to tell everyone. I'm legally allowed to drive a car by myself! Oh yeah everyone bewares of the roads now! (Sorry just passed like two days ago had to tell everyone)