In the Veil
"What!" Rhapsody exclaimed. "How is that possible?"
"Dear, what do you know about the Thrall ritual?" The Lady asked calmly.
"Only that when complete, the Dhracian is able to hold the F'dor inside of the host so that both host and demon are able to be destroyed at once," Rhapsody heard herself saying as the rest of her mind was racing. She couldn't even imagine how something like this could have happened. Both of the F'dor that they had killed in the last few days had been locked in Thrall when she had killed them. There was no way that Achmed could have become a host within that time. Jewel had told them that it would mean certain death for a F'dor to use a Dhracian as a host, so why would one even try?
"That's mostly correct. What you don't know, and I would guess even your husband does not know, is that there is one final option left to a F'dor once the Thrall is cast. When a F'dor is held in Thrall, they are unable to leave their host due to the fact that the winds have trapped them in a type of net. But they are not alone in this net, the Dhracian casting it is also in this net as well, leaving the Dhracian vulnerable to the F'dor."
"But a F'dor told us that it is death for a F'dor to use a Dhracian as a host," Rhapsody said. "So why would a F'dor even attempt to?"
"That is the last defense that a Dhracian has. All F'dor know that it is impossible to bind to a Dhracian, so they generally will never even try, even in the most desperate situations. But it is my guess that this F'dor knew that King Achmed is only half Dhracian and was hoping that this could save them."
Suddenly all the color drained from Rhapsody's face as she realized that this was probably true. But which F'dor was it? They had killed two in the last few days.
"Do you know how long it is that he has been host?" The Lady asked.
"I'm not sure. Yesterday we killed one and then two days before that."
"When did he begin to become ill?"
"I'm not sure. He had been through a lot before we killed the first one. I assumed that he was still recovering from that up until the second one. After that was when he first collapsed."
"Did the second F'dor say anything before you killed him?"
Rhapsody thought back to the scene…
As Rhapsody rushed to bring the F'dor down, she watched as he slowly looked to Achmed. For a moment, there seemed to be a hint of surprise on his face, as if he had never thought that he would be in that position. Then slowly an evil smile crossed the demon's lips as he clearly said…
"He said, 'you may have destroyed me, but you have already lost.' At the time I didn't know what he meant and later when Meridion said that another F'dor was in Ylork, I figured he meant that the other F'dor would find the Sleeping Child before we could stop him."
The Lady thought for a second and then slowly shook her head. "I believe that he was able to sense that Achmed had already become a host. He may have even been trying to use that out himself when he discovered that there was another already there."
"But if he had been a host, how was he able to maintain control?" Rhapsody asked.
"He is a Dhracian; they don't fall very easily under a F'dor's control. Though, I am amazed that he has lasted this long as a host."
"Why?"
"Usually with a situation like this, both Dhracian and F'dor are dead within a matter of hours. Even being only half Dhracian, I would not have thought him to survive this long. We are going to have to work very fast if we are going to yet save him."
"What are you going to do?" Rhapsody suddenly had a sinking feeling that she knew exactly what must be done.
"You have seen this procedure done before… Many times before, taking seven years to complete."
They had been walking quickly towards a small building ahead and now Rhapsody stopped dead in her tracks as she realized that she recognized this building. "You're going to remove the demon from his blood…" She whispered.
"Yes, but this time, we don't have seven years to work. At most, we may have seven days, but that is only assuming that he is not too weakened by the extractions to continue to fight the demon with in."
"Didn't you say before that if you took more out at a time with the children it would be risking death?" Rhapsody asked, afraid to hear the answer.
"Yes, but in this case, to not take more out at a time would be certain death. There is no way around this child. There is only a slim chance of hope here and I will not proceed if you think that this chance is not worth the pain it will cause. You know more than anyone how painful this will be for him and this time it will last longer and have less time in between."
Rhapsody paused. Her first impulse was to go with whatever could possibly save Achmed. But even this option had so little chance of success that she wondered if she had the right to decided for him. It would mean unbelievable agony with no certainty that it would save him.
"I don't know if I have the right to decide this," She answered quietly. She wanted to risk it. Anything to potentially save his life, but it shouldn't be up to her. Even as his wife, she was not qualified to answer for him.
"That is wise of you to understand, child." The Lady said. "We will ask the Bolg King if this is what he wishes before we proceed."
Rhapsody's head snapped up to look the Lady in the eye. "But he is unconscious; how will you be able to ask him?"
"I am able to bring him out of it for a moment and help him to be lucid enough to understand what it is we are asking him."
Rhapsody thought for a moment, wondering if what she wanted to ask the Lady she had a right to do. "Lady Rowan, couldn't I take the pain from him, like I did with the children?"
The Lady sadly smiled at Rhapsody. "You could, but he may not wish you to. Do you think that if he knew that you would be suffering so in order to save him that he would allow us to proceed?"
Rhapsody knew the answer, but still wished that she could make this easier for him. Slowly she shook her head.
"Then let us go to him. You may ask if he wants us to attempt to save him. Otherwise, we will make him as comfortable as possible."
With that, the Lady took Rhapsody's hand and ushered into the building gently, yet hastily. Time was not on their side and the longer they waited, the less likely they would be able to save Achmed.
As she entered the room, a rush of memories hit Rhapsody. She could clearly see the first day that she had been in that room. She watched as Constantine was brought into the room and placed on a cot. Rhapsody winced as she remembered his screams of agony as the Lady stabbed him in the heart to remove the demon blood. She had been shaken and appalled then for that man who had tried to rape and kill her and now it was Achmed who lay on the same cot.
Tears once again began to flow from her eyes thinking about what was about to happen. A gentle hand came to rest between her shoulders. It felt as if a strength flowed form the hand of the Lady into her. Looking up at the Lady, Rhapsody gave a single nod to acknowledge that she was ready.
The Lady left her side as Rhapsody came to the side of the cot and knelt beside her husband. A moment later, the Lady returned carrying a bowl. A faint bluish light shown from inside and a heavenly fragrance crossed Rhapsody's nose as the Lady brought it closer to Achmed.
Gently, the Lady used one hand to raise Achmed's head slightly and the other to pour some of the liquid into his mouth. Rhapsody watched as Achmed swallow, something that she was unable to get him to do with the water.
After he had drunk most of the contents of the bowl, the Lady lowered him once again and left the room. Rhapsody watched Achmed for some sign that the liquid would take effect. It seemed to take forever, but finally he began to stir once again.
It took a few moments of him struggling for consciousness before his eyes once again opened. But this time his eyes were lucid and contained none of the delusion that had been there before.
"Rhapsody?" he said, almost too softly for her to hear.
"I'm here, Achmed."
"Where am I?" he said, trying to sit up and look around, but unable to do so. He was still too weak.
Rhapsody gently put a hand on his chest and held him still. "You're in the Veil of Hoen," she answered softly.
He stared at her for a moment before laying still and saying, "That F'dor have better be dead for you to bring me here," he would have snarled if he had had the energy.
"Achmed, that F'dor is dead, but I'm afraid that the first one isn't as dead as we had thought." There was just no easy way to tell him that he was now what was keeping his enemy alive.
"What do you mean?" He snapped at her. "You lit her yourself; she is nothing but ash in the bottom of a Nain pit."
"Her body, yes. But she changed hosts before we killed her."
Shaking his head as much as he could he said, "That's not possible, she was in Thrall. I could feel her there."
"Yes, she was in Thrall," Rhapsody answered, not sure how to tell him.
"Then how…" He began and then it suddenly hit him. He didn't know how this could be possible, but he knew now why he was so sick.
Rhapsody watched as understanding hit him. He looked horror stricken for a moment before his face cleared into a hard mask. "Kill me," he whispered.
"No, Achmed. There is a way to save you," Rhapsody said. She knew that he would automatically want to end the beast then and there, but she had to convince him to try something else.
"It will be faster and surer if you kill me now," he said in his most stubborn tone.
"No, listen to me," she began to plead. "I brought you here to the Veil. The Lady can remove the demon from you. I have already seen her do so for the Raksha children. She won't risk allowing the demon to go back into the world. She'll make sure that it has been taken from you completely."
Achmed was about to shake his head once again but Rhapsody continued. "Listen to me. I nearly lost you once, I don't want to go through that again…" She trailed off as she realized that Achmed was listening to her now.
"I'm not saying that this will defiantly save you," she continued. "It is only a small chance. The fact is the procedure itself may kill you. But I promise you, no matter what, the demon will die."
He looked at her for a long while. Finally he said, "you swear, on everything that you are? You stake your Naming ability on it that this F'dor will perish?"
"Yes, I promise," she said, clearly using her naming ability of speaking only truth. He looked ready to accept but she hadn't told him everything yet.
"Achmed, before you agree, there is one other thing you must know. This procedure…" She searched for the right words. "What must be done will probably be the most agonizing thing you have ever been through. It's more than physical; it's as if a piece of your soul is being ripped out."
A tear unnoticed rolled down her face as she waited for his answer. She knew that he had no fear of pain, but still, the thought of possibly his last moments of life being agonizing should cause him some pause.
Achmed watched as the single tear fell from her face and hit him on the chest. She was right, he didn't fear the pain. He only feared for her to witness him in pain. She had never seen him so weakened in his life and he knew that that alone was causing her pain.
But he also knew that she wanted nothing more than for him to live. That thought alone was what made him wish for life.
Swallowing, he nodded to her. She smiled at him and gently kissed his forehead before looking up to the doorway across the room. The Lady had since returned and waited for the answer there.
The Lady nodded back and entered the room with her attendants close behind her. Rhapsody moved out of the way. The Lady signaled for her to take a position above his head. Rhapsody wondered for a moment why the Lady was allowing her to stay in the room. She had never allowed her to stay when the children had under gone the procedure. Then she realized that not only would it be a way for her to make sure that she didn't take the pain for Achmed, but he would be able to know that she was still with him.
The Lady knew that Rhapsody was the reason that he wanted to cling to life and she wanted to make sure that his reason never left his side.
The Lady picked up the long needle that she would use to remove the tainted blood. Rhapsody cradled Achmed's head between her hands, knowing from watching the children that he would need to be restrained. Now she understood why it was that he had such a high fever and why she was unable to draw the heat from him with her fire lore. It was fire lore that was heating him and she was unable to draw it out because that would have required drawing the F'dor itself out of him. It was a very good thing for her sake that the F'dor was trapped inside; otherwise she may have drawn the F'dor out of him and into herself.
The Lady Rowan brought the needle over his chest. Rhapsody couldn't bear to watch and turned her face away. She could feel the muscles in Achmed's neck tense as he waited for the plunge.
The Lady was right that she was going to have to take longer per session. Rhapsody realized that this had already gone on much longer than any of the children had. Achmed no longer could scream; his voice had long been lost. It was merely a heartbreaking whimper now as sweat and tears continued to stream down his face.
Rhapsody began to wonder if she should have ever asked him to go through this. The color was fading fast from his face as more and more of his blood was taken from his heart along with the tainted F'dor spirit. Too much more of this and he was going to go into shock.
The Lady seemed to sense this as well and finally removed the needle from his chest. Rhapsody felt Achmed shudder at the needle came free. At last being free of the agony, he immediately lost consciousness once again.
"He is very strong," the Lady said as she placed a hand on Rhapsody's shoulder. She was still crying after what she had just witnessed. "He may yet make it through this."
"But should we even ask him to continue?" Rhapsody sniffed.
"He has made his decision. I'm sure that even after this, he would wish to see it through."
"I'm not so sure," Rhapsody replied.
"Remember child, it is not just his life that we fight for, but his after life as well. If we do not fully remove the demon from him…"
It was a thought that Rhapsody hadn't yet considered. "The Vault," she whispered.
The Lady nodded.
Rhapsody knew that Achmed was probably the only person alive who had ever looked into the Vault. The mere sight of the place was enough to make him do something he had never done before… run. He had been in the control of a F'dor at the time because the F'dor had possessed his true name.
The demon had him go to a place in the old world and make contact with another F'dor who was in the Vault. The experience had been enough for Achmed to risk everything and flee the island. Luckily he had run into Rhapsody along the way and she accidentally changed his name, releasing the F'dor's hold on him.
Now he was facing that Vault once again and Rhapsody knew that he would want to do whatever it took to stay out of that place.
Then, suddenly a completely different thought took her. For the first time it truly hit her that her advisor and friend, Rial, was a host as well. He too was facing the same fate as Achmed if the F'dor remained in him.
But there was little that Rhapsody could do for Rial. His demon was not being contained within him. It would be nearly impossible to safely bring Rial into the Veil. Her friend was obviously lost. Much like her mentor had been only a few short months ago. But she was sure that the F'dor had died before Heiles had. She still hoped that he had been able to find peace in his death and was not dragged with the F'dor to the depths of the Vault to suffer out eternity.
"Come child," Lady Rowan's voice broke through Rhapsody's musings. "It will be a little while before we can begin again. You should take what rest you are able to. I will send for you when we are ready to begin again."
Rhapsody looked hesitantly down at Achmed for a second. The Lady followed her Gazed and said, "Worry not. He will not awaken until we begin once again, I will make sure of it."
With that, she waved a hand over his head and immediately the lines of pain erased from his face as he fell into a deep and dreamless sleep.
"Come, I will lead you to your room."
Rhapsody slowly stood and placed a kiss upon Achmed's forehead before following the Lady from the room.
It felt as if she had just fallen asleep when a knock sound at her door. She rose and went to open the door. One of the attendants that assisted the Lady was standing there. "Lady Rhapsody, it is time once again," the man said.
"Thank you," she said and closed the door behind her as she followed the man back to the dreaded building once again.
She entered the room and saw that Achmed still slept on the cot. He was still in the deep and dreamless sleep that she had left him, but it was obvious that he was still suffering from the illness caused by the F'dor. She wondered if there would be a point in this if his symptoms would at least lessen as more and more of the F'dor was removed. But so far, what was taken didn't seem to have been enough.
The Lady was already in the room and signaled for Rhapsody to take her place once again. Dread filled her as she knelt at Achmed's head once again. It was horrifying just watching him go through this but it had to be done.
After just a few moments of preparation, the whole scene was repeated once again. But it seemed that Achmed was loosing his strength even fast this time. Rhapsody knew that when she stopped, the Lady did have near as much of the F'dor essence as she had gotten the first time.
As the Lady sat the vial aside, Rhapsody looked to her questioningly. "I'm sorry child, this is not going as well as I had hoped. At this rate, I don't know if I am going to be able to remove it all in time."
"You'll have to take more at a time," Rhapsody said.
"If I took any more now, I may have killed him. You saw how pale and weak he was getting at the end."
Rhapsody felt all of the terror and frustrations of the last few days completely hit her at that moment. She had reached her end and just simply collapsed on the floor. "No, no I won't have it. I can't loose him," she whimpered through her sobs.
The Lady knelt on the floor and brought the sobbing Rhapsody to her shoulder. She didn't say anything, she just let her sob herself out. "Lady please…" Rhapsody pleaded through her tears. "You have to save him. He is all I have left."
"No child, you have so many others. Your son, your friends, the Cymrians, the Lirin. You will move on if we cannot save him."
Rhapsody sniffed and sobbed a few more moments before she brought herself under control once again.
"I know all of that. And your right, he's not all that I have. But right now I can't even imagine how I could cope if I lost him."
"That is why I will try my hardest to save him. Remember, this is not the first time that I have had one you love here and fought against odds to save him."
Rhapsody suddenly remembered that Ashe had once been brought to the Veil of Hoen when the F'dor had stolen part of his soul. She had not been there that time, but she could imagine that things were just as desperate. Things had become so grave that Oelendra had taken the piece of the star that had rested in Daystar Clarion and had the Rowans place it in Ashe as a last resort to save him.
Rhapsody nodded. She realized that the Lady would not give up on Achmed, but she was going to be as truthful with Rhapsody as she could be.
"I know you'll do your best," Rhapsody said.
The Lady smiled at her, "it is time for you to go and rest now child."
"If it is alright, I would like to stay here this time."
The Lady looked at her for a moment and then nodded her assent as she rose and left Rhapsody alone with the now sleeping Achmed.
Rhapsody sat on the floor for a few moments where she had collapsed moments ago. She tried to order her chaotic thoughts and emotions but found that there was just too much to be able to rein in.
Abandoning her effort of control, she crawled over to kneel beside Achmed once again. She looked down on him, appalled at how small and drained he seemed. He was sleeping peacefully, but there was so little health and color to him that she was afraid that he would fade from her right there.
Throwing her arms over him, she laid her head upon his chest and continued to cry. Crying was all that she seemed to be able to do now a days. It was all that she could remember and all that she could think to do. Some where between her tears she heard an echo of a song in her head. Without even thinking about it, she began to sing it.
Mo Haale Maar
My hero gone
World of star
Becomes world of bone
Grief and pain and loss I know
My heart is sore
My blood tears flow
To end my sorrow I must roam
My terrors old
They lead me home
As she finished, she continued to lie there, crying. She had no idea how long she had been there that way when a warm hand came to rest on the top of her head. She nearly jumped at the touch. When she looked to see who it was, she realized that it was Achmed's.
"I thought I told you not to cry," he rasped.
Rhapsody had no idea how to react. Her tears of despair turned into tears of hope and joy. "Oh, Achmed," she cried, placing her head once again on his chest, holding him as tight as she dare.
"I mean it, to more crying. It hurts my ears," he said, keeping his hand on the back of her head, slowly running his fingers through her hair.
"What ever you say," she answered too relieved to say anything else. For the first time in what felt like years she was able to staunch her tears, not just for his sake, but because now there was a bit of hope where there had been none.
They lay like that for a while before Rhapsody once again broke the silence. "Achmed, I need to know that what we are doing right?"
"Is the F'dor being destroyed?" he asked.
"Yes," she replied simply.
"Then there can be nothing wrong."
Again they allowed the silence to settle between them. There was an unspoken comfort passing from body to body in each other's presence.
"I can take the pain from you next time," Rhapsody finally said. She knew what his answer would be, but she felt that she needed to offer it to him.
She could fell him sigh before he answered. "You were wrong, Rhapsody, I have experienced pain much like this before. It was when I thought I was going to lose you after Joe's death. That is why I know that you are already bearing the same pain that I am. There is no need for you to bear double for I would hurt just the same knowing the pain that you are in."
Rhapsody only nodded slowly, knowing that what he said was true.
"This is not your pain to bear Rhapsody. I don't want you to feel guilty for it either. I chose to go through with this. Don't blame yourself for it the same way that you blamed yourself for Ashe. He chose his path as I have chosen mine."
A tear rolled down her cheek, but she kept herself from crying anymore. Everything he said was true and cut a little too close, but it was what she needed to hear now, when their time may be drawing to an end.
And that was all that Rhapsody knew until a while later when the Lady was gently shaking her awake. Rhapsody awoke, still lying against Achmed's chest. He lay soundly asleep with his arm no longer on her head but to his side in the same way that he had been when she had laid against him.
For a moment, she wondered if everything they had just said had all been a dream. This land was one where dreams could become real. But she refused to believe that it was just a dream. And even if it was, chances were that they had both shared the experience just the same, if only in a dream.
"Child, it is time to begin once again," the Lady said gently.
Nodding, Rhapsody moved back to her position, feeling much more confident about this whole operation. She may still feel horrible to watch her husband go through this, but she understood now that there was no other way and that he truly wanted this rather than the alternative.