Reign Of Rulers, book 10

by Guardian of the Isis Light

The Universe is dead! The Liberator's and Soldier's Of Darkness seek for Delenn and the prophecy on K'ha'dum, but John Sheridan and Neroon try to hold the line. This story ties up all 9 others. Special features...Ties in with Lord Of The Rings and Surface

18. The Swamp of Curse

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN The Swamp of Curse

As day light chased away the night, the prophecy can smell the stench of volcanic gasses in the air, the winds are blowing from Khazad'dum turning the lush green valley into a pale grey landscape. Delenn has fixed breakfast, it has been some time since they have truly eaten, the last good meal was at Carn Dum before they ventured into the harsh mountains of Angmar. As the odor of food awakens all the prophecy the sun begins to fully light up the sky, they see the volcanic cloud from Mount Cerfire. As they eat, Delenn David Mir and Delenn III are talking to one another, as for Bri Delenn and Delenn II, they talk to one another, and Delenn and her son are chatting. As they talk, Delenn looks around as volcanic ash begins to fall again. As Delenn gathers her cooking devices, David gathers the others to begin walking. As they continue down the road the volcanic ash begins to get into their eyes. As they come to a divide in the road, Delenn does not know which way to go, so she chooses to go to the trail heading to the southwest. As they walk by a river they come to a wooden bridge, it looks unsafe. As Delenn goes first on the bridge, it shakes hard but it holds, as Delenn stops on the bridge she looks back at David, but David does not budge, so Bri Delenn and Delenn David Mir step on the bridge, as they approach Delenn, Delenn begins to walk slowly to the other end as Bri Delenn and Delenn David Mir enter the middle of the bridge, Delenn III is one-third the way on the bridge. As Bri Delenn and Delenn David Mir continue walking they begin hearing cracking, as Delenn enters three-forth way of the bridge, with the end of the bridge in view, the wood snaps in half and Delenn, Bri Delenn, Delenn David Mir, and Delenn III fall into the river. As Delenn, Bri Delenn, Delenn David Mir, and Delenn III grabs onto wood to keep afloat, they leave the view of David and Delenn II as they go into the main river called the Cursed River which drains into the Cursed Swamp. As the four are banged into rocks, Bri Delenn tries to grab the rocks, but the current is to strong. As the river turns to rapids it finally dumps them into the Cursed Swamp. As Delenn gets up she sees Delenn David Mir helping Bri Delenn get up, as Bri Delenn looks around, Delenn III staggers up to Delenn. As Delenn looks at the other three, she speaks. "Where is my son and daughter?"

Bri Delenn looks at Delenn David Mir, Delenn David Mir looks at Delenn III, only Delenn III only knows where they are. "They are still at the bridge, we are on our own."

Delenn looks at Bri Delenn, "How are you doing Bri Delenn?"

Bri Delenn feels some pain in her arms. "I am doing fine Delenn, there is some pain, but it is nothing I can't handle...I can't believe I did not lose a single sword!"

Delenn notices that she still has the weapon that she got at Carn Dum. "Me too, it is as if the weapon is hooked to me!" Delenn looks at Delenn III who has a deep cut on her arm. "Are you okay Delenn III?"

Delenn III looks at her cut, "It hurts Delenn, but it is not that bad."

Delenn looks at Delenn David Mir, "How about you Delenn David Mir?"

Delenn David Mir slightly smiles, "I'm doing fine," she looks around the swampy landscape. The land is over grown with rich green plants with standing water everywhere. A light fog lingers waist height with a thicker layer of fog about 20 feet above. As Delenn III walks one of her legs falls through the muck and her leg is in swamp water.

As Delenn III forces her body to pull her leg out, she looks at the water pot. "What is this place...it's a bog!" Delenn III pulls her leg out of the muck, and tries to wipe off the green algae. Bri Delenn looks around, she knows what this place is...the Dead Marshes, but as Bri Delenn looks at the water pots there is no dead bodies. As Bri Delenn looks at Delenn, Delenn III speaks again, but this time her voice was more shaky. "We are in a swamp." Delenn III looks around "Where do we go now...look at all the water...everywhere...swampland as far as the eye can see, probably further then that!"

Delenn looks around, the land is way to moist. "I don't know, we should at least be going for we need to find some dry land before tonight." Delenn looks at Delenn III and Delenn David Mir, they both shake their heads in agreement.

Delenn David Mir begins to walk towards the mountains, which were belching out smoke, "We should head towards those mountains." Delenn David Mir points to the wall of Asron's realm.

Delenn looks at Delenn David Mir, "I agree, we need to reach Khazad'dum. But we need to be careful, this swamp will swallow you if you are not careful." Delenn looks at Bri Delenn. "Did the Witch-King tell you about any passage through the swamp?"

Bri Delenn looks at Delenn. "No, Murezor stated nothing, but he did tell me to be aware of the swamp outside the Great Gap between Angmar and Khazad'dum, this is this swamp! It is called the Cursed Swamp, it receives most of its water from the Cursed Lake." Bri Delenn pauses for a second then continues, "there are many passages through the Cursed Swamp, but no one will go through this swamp."

Delenn looks at Bri Delenn. "Why not?"

Bri Delenn looks at Delenn, her emotions fall, but Bri Delenn does not want to create a panic, so she lies. "Unknown. According to the With-King, this was a great barrier the stopped all his enemies. I guess you can say if anyone enters this land, they will be cursed, but we can redeem ourselves."

Delenn looks at Bri Delenn, she like to hear this. "Oh, how?"

"According to the Witch-King we need to go to Almon Sul, once there we need to drink from the spring, the mineral water is the only type of cure."

Delenn looks at Khazad'dum, "So we have to go to Almon Sul, that is in the Old Realm of Angmar, we need to head north to find the trail again once we find it we take it to Almon Sul."

At the bridge, David and Delenn II look down the ragging river. There is no way anyone could have survived that fall, it is hard to believe, but David has to accept the Delenn, his mother is dead. As David looks at Delenn II, he makes a decision. "Are you alright Delenn II?"

Delenn II remains staring at the river. "Yes, I am fine, do you think mom is okay?"

David looks at the river. "It is hard to say Delenn II, that river is harsh, but mother is strong, if the Shadow's could not kill her, I don't think any river will stop her!"

Delenn II looks at her brother. "I wish I had the same belief you do, I look at the river and all I see is despair. No I don't believe anyone could have survived that fall, and second, I don't believe mother could have survived the river. She does not know how to swim."

David looks at the water. "That is true, but I won't give up till I see a body." David looks at the gigantic volcanic ash cloud. "We should be going, mother would want us to complete the mission, we should go to the other road, hopefully it will lead us to Khazad'dum." David turns around and slowly walks away from the fallen bridge, Delenn II follows.

Delenn II looks at her brother. "It is hopefully impossible to beat Asron, we will be killed." Delenn II says emotionless.

David turns around slowly, ashamed of his sisters fear. "So what do you want us to do? Delenn trusted us to restore order to the universe so I am going to do that."

Delenn II looks at David as David continues down the path. As they reach the fork in the road, David goes on the other trail heading towards the outskirts of Khazad'dum. The trail is more rougher then the other trail, there is more rock on this trail. As David continues with Delenn II at his feet, they come apond a bridge. As David and Delenn II stops they look at the bridge, afraid to cross it. As David looks at its construction, it is a gigantic stone bridge built of stone and wood, it looks more sturdier then the other bridge. As David steps onto the bridge it does not even shake, it is stable. As David proceeds to cross the bridge, he makes it to the other side safely. Now Delenn II crosses, Delenn II is as nervous as David, but she too crosses safely. As both Delenn II and David continue down the path, the horrors of the river are in the past. As the land leaves its rocky appearance, it transforms into a swampy vast wasteland, not boggy, just soggy. The ground is moist, but at least the trail is sturdy and dry. The mountains of Khazad'dum are in view, but as they continue a thick fog rolls in and the odor of methane gas fills the air. Delenn II looks at her brother, the land is down-right daunting. As Delenn II looks at the mucky soup she breaks the long silence. "What is this place?"

David looks at the swamp, at the dead trees, methane fire, and water puddles. "It looks like a marsh."

Delenn II looks sarcastically at David, "I can see that, but how do we get to Khazad'dum through this muck?"

David looks at the bubbling water and stagnant water. "We don't, we will remain on this road, to go out there in that marsh would be suicide. According to Bri Delenn, this road will lead us to the Watch Tower Almon Sul."

Delenn II looking at the vast swampland. "What is at Almon Sul?"

David does not even turn around, "I don't know Delenn II, but if mother is alive she will go there, so there is where we must wait."

"But what if she does not come?"

David stops and turns slowly to look at Delenn II. "We will wait for awhile, if she comes we will know and if she does not, then we will go to Khazad'dum alone." Delenn II does not reply, she is scared to travel to Khazad'dum, but as the sky darkens, who would not be scared to go to Khazad'dum?

As Delenn leads the group through the muck, it pains her to think that the prophecy may die in these horrible lands. But strangely enough to say, Bri Delenn seems not afraid of these lands, she walks as if she is being guided. Not once has Bri Delenn fell into the muck as for herself and Delenn III and Delenn David Mir, well it seems that every few minutes one of them steps into one of these nasty puddles. As Delenn proceeds onward, Bri Delenn becomes very cold, it is the same feeling she gets when the Witch-King came into her presence, but this feeling was much different, like as if a ghost was coming to pluck her off this world. As Bri Delenn stops, that feeling increases, then as Bri Delenn looks up in the air she sees visions, she sees a ghostly figure looking at her, his face is old, flesh stuck to the bone structure, his eyes replaced with whiteness, his hair long. On his head is a crown, it is the design of Numenor...it is a Nazgul, one of the Lords of Numenor. As the vision fades away all four then hear a noise. Bri Delenn who has snapped back to reality yells to Delenn and the other two. "Hide, hide now!"

Delenn sees a thick bush and runs to the bush, Delenn III and Delenn David Mir follow. As Bri Delenn joins, they await under the bush like mice hiding from the watchful eyes of a hawk. As Delenn looks at Bri Delenn, she wonders what it is. "What's wrong Bri Delenn, who is it?"

Bri Delenn's eyes do not move, transfixed in the corner of his eye. "The Lord of Numenor comes."

Delenn looks up through the bush, but at first only sees fog, but as Delenn keeps watching she then sees it, it looks like a black blob moving in the sky, the creature make a noise which sounds like a deep bark. As the creature beats its wings there is a gigantic wind follow by a boom. The creature has a long neck with a medium size head. There is spikes that run down the back of this beast. Its mouth has two rows of teeth. The odor of the creature is like rotten flesh, the odor makes Delenn David Mir gag. The creature also has two gigantic wings, which are creating the wind. Behind the body of the creature is a gigantic tail with spikes on it. Riding the creature is a black robed individual who holds two ropes hooked to the creatures head. As the creature makes a turn it heads towards them. As Delenn watches in horror, the creature passes overhead only 20 feet off the ground. As the creature makes another turn it rises up to 100 feet and flies to Khazad'dum. As Delenn, Delenn David Mir, Delenn III, and Bri Delenn look at one another in relief, Delenn moves out of the bush, she watches the winged creature fly away out of sight. As Delenn David Mir and Delenn III join Delenn, they look at Bri Delenn who has removed the heavy helmet to breathe from the sudden rush. As Delenn David Mir looks at Bri Delenn, she questions her. "What was that?"

Bri Delenn looks at Delenn David Mir. "It was one of the nine, a Nazgul, he was once a king of Numenor, his name is Khamul, he is as brutal as the Witch-King, but he has one weakness, he does not have magic, but Khamul is good at killing, all Nazgul are well at killing...he knows we are here."

Delenn looks at Bri Delenn, "How do you know he knows?"

Bri Delenn shows the ring. "For nearly two centuries they felt the power of this ring. They are drawn to it like moths to a light, but they all fear it. Sorcery is the only protection here."

Delenn III looks at the sky darken, Khazad'dum is spreading the shadow over the land. "We should be going, Khamul will be back." Delenn III herself feels as if her back was burning, but she ignores it. As Delenn takes the lead, she leads Delenn David Mir, Bri Delenn, and Delenn III north. As they keep on walking, the sky is becoming twilight, night is coming again, but earlier then yesterday. The days are getting darker. As Delenn finds a hill, she checks it out, and it is very dry. There is standing trees with green grass, a perfect stop to stop and rest. As Delenn started a fire, Delenn III, Delenn David Mir, and Bri Delenn sit around the warm fire talking to one another forgetting the horrors of today. Delenn creates a meal from plants and swamp water and they dine well.

As David and Delenn II keep walking on the gravel road, the sky is becoming dark, but David knows that night is not to come for another seven hours, the world is being casted in shadows. As David looks forward down the valley, he sees that the swampland is ending and the mountains foothills are beginning. But fatigue is setting in an David decides to stop and to set up camp. As Delenn II sets a fire, she boils water she collected out of the swamp. As David uses plants from the road he creates a soup to dine on. As David and Delenn II sit around a fire, David looks at the stars and knows that his home is up there. As the night carries on, David puts out the fire, he and Delenn II go to sleep, the hard trek begins tomorrow.

Near the Great Gap, the orc's from Tsiegret'lop keep on marching towards Khazad'dum, the Poltergeist are driven by anger. They will murder every creature of Khazad'dum. As the Poltergeist keep on marching, they finally come to the bridge, once they cross they will be in the Realm of Asron. But as night fell on the Poltergeist, they decide to rest, fatigue had set in, tired of marching and running all this way from Tsiegret'lop, they need a breather. As the orc-possessed creatures build a fire, some rest while others train for combat and other keep guard.

Back at the Swamp of Cursed, all the prophecy are asleep, tired of the long day and the fight of the Nazgul. It is amazing that most of the prophecy can sleep, since being so close to Khazad'dum would mean you would be closer to the enemy, but a new change is coming to the prophecy...they are changing.

Near Sigma 957 a fleet loyal to Lord Anubis is keeping watch on a local disturbance in this sector. Captain Ha'fla had heard of strange sightings in this area, a ship which looks like a spider and your worse nightmare has been seen guarding this planet...now Lord Anubis wants to know why, and if this ship may be responsible for the destruction of his fleet back at Sector 1257. As Ha'fla orders Captain Kre'fa to go and investigate the dark planet, Captain Kre'fa does not argue with the officer in command, to do so could get you killed! As Kre'fa's ship approaches Sigma 957, there is no disturbance to be aware of, Sigma 957 is as dead as it can be! As Captain Kre'fa orders scan of the planet there is a sudden spike of energy, something is coming from the surface of Sigma 957, as Captain Kre'fa orders scanners at full power, the Soldiers of Darkness obey the command and adjust the scanners at full power, but as the image begins to show up on their screen, a gigantic black mass emerges out of the clouds and opens fire against the ship that is in command of Captain Kre'fa. As the laser mixed with the colors red, pink, and purple slices through the vessel, Captain Ha'fla watches in terror, as the vessel races towards Captain Ha'fla, he contacts Lord Anubis. "Lord Anubis, Lord Anubis, we have found it, please come back my Lord!"

Back at K'ha'dum, Lord Anubis goes to the communication consol to accept the call. "Lord Anubis, what do you got?"

Captain Ha'fla watches the ship come closer, the spidery vessel is ready to fire, as Captain Ha'fla picks up the communication device he is only able to blurt out one word, "Shadow!" The Shadow vessel fires killing Captain Ha'fla. As Lord Anubis listens to static, he decides to contact Asron by using the palantir. As Lord Anubis goes to his palantir, he calls out to Lord Asron. As Lord Asron goes to his palantir he is worried that the Witch-King may be watching, but he must show he has complete power.

As Lord Asron answers Lord Anubis, Lord Asron keeps watch for the Witch-King, but he does not see him, so he opens conversation with Lord Anubis. "What do you have Lord Anubis?"

"I lost my fleet at Sigma 957 to a shadow, we are no longer alone. It is the second time since I lost my fleet, once at Sector 1257 and now at Sigma 957. We need to do something about this problem."

Lord Asron stops to think, "We are only successful if we find this races homeworld, locate this races homeworld and I will launch the attack against them...they will pay Lord Anubis." As Lord Asron puts a cloth over the palantir, he goes outside to gaze at the stars. "Who are you?" As the night carries on the armies of Asron are beginning to empty Khazad'dum, Lord Asron heard about the rise of the Tsiegret'lopian's, this worries Asron, so he commanded 10 thousand orc's and 10 thousand Soldiers of Darkness to begin to march to Tsiegret'lop, as Asron knows, there is only six thousand Tsiegret'lopian's to deal with. Lord Asron also is worried about the six aliens moving in the north so he sends two thousand orc's to the north, but the road they must take is through the Cursed Swamp, Lord Asron knows the trail to get through the swamp, once through, the war against Angmar will begin.

Back at the Cursed Swamp, Delenn, Bri Delenn, Delenn III, and Delenn David Mir sleep on the dry cool ground, it is about one in the morning and it is dead silent, but as they rest the flesh on Delenn, Delenn III, and Delenn David Mir begins to move, the skin is alive, changing, but not everyone is suffering the same results. Delenn's skin in not bulging out, but instead her flesh is becoming harder and is cracking. Between each finger and toe, flesh is connecting the gap. The flesh webbing her fingers is not harding, it remains smooth. Delenn's crest bone grows longer to form three peaks, Delenn's eyes are covered by a thin layer of mucus. As the skin begins to secrete a layer of mucus, Delenn has become a close relative to a fish, but she is still changing. As for Delenn III she is also changing, her legs are stretching to four feet long, her knee caps grow a carbon bone spike, her ankles grow spikes that tear through her shoe. Delenn III's crest bone disappears and her hair grows long and turns silver. Ice white is her skin. Delenn III is now an enchanted Numenor, just like the Witch-King. Delenn David Mir is becoming a mess. Her body is morphing out of shape, she is becoming profound looking, possibly one of her closes ties she looks like is the species, Vorlon. Tentacles have consumed her stomach and have rearranged her digestive track. Delenn David Mir's skin is shelled over with slimy scales, each finger has become a tentacle and her toes have become small tentacles. Delenn David Mir possibly has became quite horrifying, but as they sleep the curse is not over yet, two others have drank from its waters, David and Delenn II lay sleeping the curse begins to alter them, poor Delenn II is transiting quite violently, the flesh is shelling over, she looks as if she is changing into a fish. As her skin turns into scales, fins grow out of her wrist and ankles. Her vocals are clogged from nasty gill rakes that feed on microscopic life forms like bacteria, it is best to say that the process is embarrassing and affects Delenn II very much, it is very painful, but as the process slows down. The change is now taking its time. At least the change is not occurring while awake. As the night grows short, the sky is lighten up, morning has come. In the Cursed Swamp, Delenn begins to awaken, it feels as if she has slept for days, but as she moves, pain comes to Delenn something has happened to her, ass she opens her eyes she can't see, everything is blurred, as she rubs her eyes, she is able to see, no longer has the film covers her eyes, but her hands seem moist to touch, almost sticky. As Delenn stands up, she feels more heavy. As she looks at her hands, she sees a bluish-green shell, which can move when she moves part of her hand. As she looked at her hands she is confused at what she sees, in her mind she thinks it must be a dream. But as she closes her eyes to close the change away, she opens her eyes expecting to see her flesh, but only scales greet her. Delenn is bothered, how could have this happened? As Delenn looks at the sleeping Delenn David Mir, she gazes on a horrifying view, the young female Minbari-Human hybrid is no longer Minbari-Human, she is alien! Delenn gazes on a young girl who has an enlarged abdomen, her rear also enlarged, something is in her clothing! As Delenn gazes closer to Delenn David Mir, she does not have fingers, there is now ten slimy appendages that resemble the Earth creature, squid or octopus. Delenn David Mir's face is covered in scales and thick globs of mucus, which are clogged with debris off of the ground. The characteristics of Delenn David Mir are almost unrecognizable. As Delenn looks at Delenn III, she too is no longer a hybrid as she remembers, she looks like a victim of a stretching device. Delenn III's face is very thin now, but she looks like a full "freaky" Human. Delenn III's limbs are all over the place. As Delenn looks at Delenn III, she reminds her of the Witch-King of Angmar. As Delenn thinks of the Witch-Lord, she looks at Bri Delenn, wondering what she has become. But as Delenn looks at Bri Delenn, she has not changed, why? As Delenn looks up to the sky, the sun is rising in the sky. The volcanic ash has created a red sunrise. As Delenn looks at the three prophecy she knows that their is going to be questions, but she feels that Bri Delenn may become the target.

As the cool air blows near David and Delenn II, Delenn II awakens, the sky is darken in the horizon, but towards the west, a red sun rises. As Delenn II moves around, a feeling of change has come apond her, but this is not a strange feeling, she is a hybrid, an unique combination of Minbari and Human, but as she remains laying down, she closes her eyes. As she lets her hand spread away from her body, her left hand falls into one of the pools of swamp water, but she does not realize the difference, the feeling of the water actually is relaxing, as she lies there with her eyes closed moving her left hand slowly in the fluid, she is thinking of home. As David stirs to the point of awaking, he opens his eyes to the red sky, as he looks AT Delenn II he views a female with scales and fins, this is a shock to him, as he gets up quickly he pulls out his pike, Delenn II turns in shock to her brothers reaction, as she tries to talk to him, no sound, only gurgling sound that replaces vocals. As David remains standing with pike drawled against Delenn II, Delenn II looks at her hands, they are covered in small but thick scales, a silky fin connects from her pinky and runs to her wrist. As she tries to scream in terror, again no sound, only gurgling, gillrakers now obstruct her vocal cords, but telepathicy now is her vocals, not like the type of telepathicy as created by the Vorlon's, or telepaths, but the same skills that marine fish use, also a rare skill used by the Anterians. As Delenn II tries to assemble her words, she speaks to her brother. "David, it's me! Help me!" Delenn II extends her hand out towards David, David looks at it freaked out. "Help Me!" Says Delenn II, with the need of help in her mind.

As the words came to David, it hurts him, the mind speaking is like someone screaming at him, as David grasp his head he drops his head as he hears the words from this creature, speaking like his sister. As David, now unguarded, since he dropped the pike, looks at Delenn II he shakes his head. "Who are you?"

Delenn II looks at David, she no longer knows. As she looks at David she speaks again, but more softly. "I am Delenn II, your sister!" Delenn II gets up on her feet, mucus drips off her wet left hand, it would seem as if water makes her condition worse.

As David looks at the clear slimy fluid, he then looks back to Delenn II, "How could you be Delenn II, you are a aqua creature?" David slowly picks up his pike and closes it and places it back into his cloak. "Convince me!"

Delenn II stands looking at David, wondering how to convince him. "Do you remember Minbar?" Says Delenn II.

Delenn II watches David, David looks at Delenn II, looking at her eyes, the same color of the water in this swamp. "Yes, I remember Minbar, what is it to you?"

Delenn II slowly walks to David, "Do you remember when we met the prophecy of Valenra?" David nods his head. "We talked about the Liberator War, we got into an argument...I just want you to know you were right!" Delenn II stands looking at David.

David looks at Delenn II, he was right about letting her to fight them, even though it was suicide, of course that was the past, now here is the present, and how does he tell his sister that she is a fish? What will happen when she leaves water? As David looks at Delenn II, he goes to her and hugs her. "I am sorry, but I had to be certain."

Delenn II releases David and looks at him. "I understand." Delenn II looks at David more closely, David's flesh is becoming more softer, unlike his once hard callused skin. As Delenn II looks at David's hands, they are thin unlike his once hands, and second his fingernails are long, what is happening to him? As Delenn II looks at David, she drops her smile. "You're transforming David."

David looks at Delenn II, he does not notice any difference. "What do you mean Delenn II?"

Delenn II takes David's hand to show the thin, fragile hand and long fingernails. "Look at your hand, your hand was larger and longer then mine," Delenn II puts her hands to David's, David's hand is smaller then his sisters thin hand. "Your hand is smaller, your bones are thinner. You also can't see your face, but you lost the ruggedness in your face, it too has thinned, also you hair." Delenn II touches it, which is now to his shoulder. "Has grown." Delenn II removes her hand. "If I was to tell you, you are transforming into a...female!"

David looks at Delenn II sharply. "How?"

Delenn II looks around, but as she looks at the water, it finally comes to her. "It's the water, we drank from the swamp before we went to sleep, after we drank, we began to change."

David looks at the swamp. "So we are cursed, it is final, we will go to Almon Sul, if Bri Delenn is correct we will find the cure there. Hopefully, mom did not drink from the water, but because they bathed in the swamp when the bridge fell, then they too will be cursed, they will go to Almon Sul also." David looks towards Khazad'dum, but David also knows the second warning given by Bri Delenn. "We should be going, time is against us."

Delenn II looks at her brother. "What do you mean?"

David looks at his horribly deformed sister, "We won't stop transforming, longer we wait longer it will take to transform back." David looks at Khazad'dum, he watches the lightening dance in the mountains, he sees the gigantic volcanic ash cloud casting shadows over the land. As David remains transfixed on the mountains, he begins to move forward, towards the mountains. "We need to get to Almon Sul...and quickly!"

Delenn II follows behind her brother as they walk to Almon Sul. "Hopefully mother will make it to Almon Sul."

David thinks of Bri Delenn, "I believe they will quickly make it to Almon Sul, for Bri Delenn knows what will happen if they do not...but they have one major obstacle blocking them." Delenn II looks at David, wondering what it may be. "They are stuck in a swamp closer to Khazad'dum then we are."

As Delenn watches the sun finally rise the volcanic ash cloud makes the Cursed Swamp look grey. The morning is cool and thick fog begins to settle near the landscape. As Delenn looks at the morning sun, she thinks of John, how much she misses him, but as Delenn looks at the three, she decides to fix breakfast for when the prophecy awaken they are going to have a great surprise. As Delenn cooks up some organic plant life in the swamp she makes a soup, for almost two days they only eaten stew, Delenn is personally becoming sick of stew, but it is all she can make with what is around her. As Bri Delenn awakens, she has no armor on her, she finds it easier to sleep with the armor off. As Bri Delenn looks at Delenn, she sees a person with an enormous crest bone, at first Bri Delenn thinks she might have fluid in her eyes, but as Bri Delenn blinks out the sleep out of her eyes she still sees the creature. As Bri Delenn quietly takes out her Morgul Blade, which was the first weapon she could find Bri Delenn stands behind the creature, she calls out to it to turn around slowly. "I have a Morgul Blade, turn around slowly." Delenn turns around to show her scaly flesh. "Who are you?" Bri Delenn looks at Delenn sternly, almost wickedly.

Delenn looks at Bri Delenn, upset that Bri Delenn does not recognize her. "Put away you blade Bri Delenn, the Morgul Blade is a dangerous weapon." Delenn looks at Bri Delenn into her eyes. "It's me Delenn." Bri Delenn is not budging. "Bri Delenn, this is not the place to draw your sword, save it for Khazad'dum." Delenn slowly gets up and faces Bri Delenn. "Do you remember the Cursed Lake?"

Bri Delenn pauses for a second and recalls the frozen lake in the Mountains of Angmar. "Yes I remember."

Delenn looks at the rugged blade, knowing that Bri Delenn will not back down. "So think this, when we were at the bridge, we fell into a raging river which drained into a second river running from the east, from the Angmar Mountains, we fell into the drainage of the Cursed Lake, which drained into the Cursed Swamp, the one swamp warned to stay away from by the Witch-King, we were dumped into this swamp...we are cursed!"

Bri Delenn thinks about this swamp, she puts away her blade. "So you know what we have to do Delenn, we have to get to Almon Sul, we will keep changing until we are no longer recognizable."

Delenn looks at Delenn David Mir and Delenn III, "What do we tell them?" Delenn points in-between Delenn David Mir and Delenn III.

Bri Delenn has an idea, "I will awaken them, this will cancel fear, and I can warn them of what they became."

Delenn nods "Okay, I will finish breakfast."

Bri Delenn goes to Delenn III, Bri Delenn can't believe that none of them awoke last night, for what she sees looks very painful. As Bri Delenn gets on her knees, she slowly awakens her. As Delenn III awakens, she looks at Bri Delenn. "Hello Bri Delenn." Says Delenn III tiredly.

Bri Delenn smiles. "Hello Delenn III...how are you?"

Delenn III thinks, but something does not feel right. "Alright I guess, but I am cold!"

"Well it is morning, Delenn is making breakfast...I have to ask you a question Delenn III, do you trust me?"

Delenn III looks at Bri Delenn confused. "Yes, with my life Bri Delenn. Why do you ask?" Delenn III tries to touch Bri Delenn, but Bri Delenn stops her.

As Bri Delenn looks at Delenn III, Bri Delenn keeps her attention on her. "Do you know where we are?"

Delenn III is totally confused by Bri Delenn's question and wonders if this is a dream. "What is wrong Bri Delenn?"

"It is a simple question, do you know where we are Delenn III?"

Delenn III looks at Bri Delenn and at the swamp. "We are in a nasty marsh, somewhere near Khazad'dum and in-between the Angmar Mountains and Misty Mountains. Yes I know where we are, but not totally."

"We are in the Cursed Swamp, between Khazad'dum and Angmar, this is the place we were warned to say away from by Murazor, and if we end up in this place, we were not to bathe or drink the water. If we did, we would be cursed to transform beyond reconciliation." Bri Delenn looks at the swamp. "We are in that swamp, and we are cursed!"

Delenn III smiles, "But you are not different."

Bri Delenn smiles back, but her smile does not remain long. "No, no I am not cursed, when I took the ring of the Witch-King, it protects me from magic and energy." Bri Delenn lets Delenn III look at her hand. As Delenn III sees her thin and long hand, terror fills her mind. "You are part of the curse. You are becoming a Numanorian, just like the Witch-King. Delenn is becoming a fish and Delenn David Mir is becoming a Vorlon."

Delenn III looks surprised at her new form. "How do I change back?"

"We must go to the Hill of Wind, there we will find the one spring which will break the curse. But we must understand that the curse won't go away quickly, longer we wait the longer it will take for us to reform back into our hybrid form." Bri Delenn looks at Delenn David Mir who is beginning to awaken due to all the chatter, Bri Delenn knows she needs to help her. "Excuse me Delenn III, I might need your help, I think Delenn David Mir might be harder to contain her change."

Delenn III looks at Delenn David Mir, she seems more horrifying then she looks. Tentacles replace every finger, they are at least seven inches long with suckers at the tip of each finger. Her once clear flesh is now a will organized layer of deep blue scales which are caked with debris, which has stuck to her scales due to mucus that covers her body like a second coat. As Delenn David Mir awakens, she first notices that she feels slimy, but as she looks up she sees Bri Delenn. As Delenn David Mir looks at Bri Delenn, she wonders why she is looking at her...nervously. "What's up Bri Delenn...you look like a Pak'ma'ra ate your cat."

Bri Delenn tries not to distract herself, "I am alright Delenn David Mir, how are you?"

"Well other then feeling slimy and cold, I am fine." Delenn David Mir looks at Bri Delenn studying her emotions. "There is something wrong, isn't there?"

Bri Delenn looks at the water in the swamp. "Yes, we have a major problem Delenn David Mir. We are cursed, an ancient curse has cursed us. We are transforming."

Delenn David Mir looks confused at Bri Delenn, "But you don't looked transformed Bri Delenn, you look the same."

"Yes I do, but I am protected by the ring, but you, Delenn III, and Delenn did not escape the curse." Bri Delenn points to Delenn III, and Delenn David Mir gazes apond on an out-stretched Delenn III. As Delenn David Mir gazes in horror at this creature, she looks at her hands, but she sees a scaly hand with tentacles wiggling around. This grossed her out. As she looks at Bri Delenn, she at first can't speak, but then does, as she gets up on her feet, Delenn David Mir opens her mouth and tentacles emerge out of her mouth, they were 20 feet long. As they snagged Bri Delenn, the tentacles drag Bri Delenn closer to her mouth. As Bri Delenn calls out for help, Delenn III goes to help Bri Delenn, but as she comes closer to Bri Delenn, tentacles burst out of Delenn David Mir's shirt and entangle Delenn III. As Delenn goes to get her sword, the sword of Carn Dum, she goes to help Bri Delenn and Delenn III, but as she comes closer another set of 12 tentacles emerge out of Delenn David Mir's anus and grab the sword and entangle Delenn, as Delenn David Mir struggles to keep control, she tries to speak, but the two tentacles stop her from talking, as she tries harder, she pleads telepathically and strangely enough Bri Delenn hears it. As Delenn David Mir tries to speak telepathically to her, she does not want to harm them.

As Delenn David Mir speaks to Bri Delenn, a biological key comes to her, she knows how to release them, but to communicate with Bri Delenn, she has to implant one of her tentacles in Bri Delenn's mouth, in the back throat, just before the lining of the esophagus, as Delenn David Mir fights to get the tentacle into her mouth, once in the tentacles stop dragging her closer to Delenn David Mir's mouth, and the tip of the tentacle mutates a spike and injects it into the back of Bri Delenn's throat. As the pain inflicted by Delenn David Mir's tentacle becomes reality, the tentacle is latched to the organic smaller implanted tentacle in the back of Bri Delenn's throat. As Bri Delenn screams in pain, she almost passes out, but gains control. As Delenn David Mir tries to speak, the words come to Bri Delenn, "Bri Delenn, I want to release you all, but I need help, I need you all to stop struggling!"

Bri Delenn looks at Delenn David Mir, the tentacles are speaking to her, but the voice is in her head. As Bri Delenn looks at Delenn and Delenn III, Bri Delenn tries to speak, it is like when she had tubes down her throat when she was a patient at Children's. As Bri Delenn summons up the words they come out her mouths, but slurred. "Everyone needs to stop struggling, it is the only way Delenn David Mir can free us." As Bri Delenn stops struggling, Delenn follows, and then Delenn III. As they stop struggling, the tentacles let go and Bri Delenn, Delenn, and Delenn III falls to the ground. The tentacles leave them and go into Delenn David Mir's body. As Delenn David Mir looks at Delenn, Delenn III, and Bri Delenn, she steps 30 feet away from them. As Delenn David Mir opens her mouth, no tentacles come out this time.

As Delenn David Mir looks at themselves, Delenn David Mir speaks to them. "I am sorry you guys, I don't know what happen?" Delenn David Mir looks at Delenn, but Delenn is nervous to even approach her.

As Bri Delenn thinks it finally comes to her. Yes they are in the Cursed Swamp, but the transformations are a mix of what each person has in common. What Bri Delenn has notice is a possibility of two things. As Bri Delenn pieces the truth together, she asks a few questions hoping they will help her come to a conclusion of what type of curse they are dealing with. As Bri Delenn keeps her distance, she looks at Delenn David Mir who is in disbelief that no one will trust her. "Delenn David Mir, explain to me a few questions. I believe I have the answers."

Delenn David Mir does not move, she looks at her torn clothing, still in disbelief of the event which has just occurred. As she looks at Bri Delenn, a since of comfort comes over her. "Explain what, if I may ask?"

Bri Delenn does not remove her eyes from Delenn David Mir, still in shock of the event that has just occurred. "I believe I have a better understanding of the curse, but I need your assistance."

Delenn David Mir looks at Delenn who still refuses to even look at her. "What service can I help you with?"

Bri Delenn watches her mouth closely. "I am just concerned with your transformation, you've became quite a deadly species, but before we go on, it might be best if we discuss this new ability." Bri Delenn looks at Delenn. "You stated that it was like a Vorlon, but what concerns me is why did the tentacles emerge when they did. I sat only a few feet from you and nothing happened. This worries me. I guess the question I am asking is...did you ever had any personal connections with the Vorlon's or any other aquatic creatures?"

Delenn David Mir looks at the ground, she is remembering her long past. "I once had a fight with Kosh Nanarke, he found great influence with me, but I guess that was my only time I had a confrontation with Vorlon's, but there might be a second possibility." Bri Delenn raises her left eye brow. Delenn David Mir looks at Delenn then at Bri Delenn, "When I was on the German vessel, I was introduced to my third chrysalis, but something happened that was not meant to occur!" Delenn finally looks at Delenn David Mir. "Before the plague entered our vessel, I was in my cocoon, but I should be dead!" Delenn knows what Delenn David Mir is talking about. "Ambassador Delenn shielded my cocoon, and thus I survived, but paid a great price...I was transformed into a exact replica of Delenn, and here I stand, possibly Delenn's use of the triluminary was why I am becoming Vorlon?"

Bri Delenn looks at Delenn, so does Delenn III. "Is this true?" Delenn looks at Bri Delenn, she nods. "So that must be it, our curse is making us into our main influences."

Delenn III looks at herself, she does not believe in this theory. "If this is true, then what influenced me?" As Delenn III points to herself.

Bri Delenn looks at Delenn III, it is true, the Numenor's are strictly a Lord of the Rings title, as Bri Delenn thinks, she draws conclusion with Delenn David Mir's characteristics as related to the Lord of the Rings, in the Fellowship of the Ring. "Well consider this, what if the curse is a bond of your time and this worlds creatures." Bri Delenn looks at Delenn David Mir. "There is one creature on this planet that shares your characteristics Delenn David Mir. It was created in the dark ages by the Dark Lord Morgoth Bauglir, his real name was Melkor and his realm was Angband. He was the Lord of Cruelty, he also was a creator, he made many shadows, demons, and manifested creatures. Some of his servants were balrogs, spiders, Old Man Willow, Fall Beast, dragons like Smaug, and one creature called the Watcher of Moria. The Watcher of Moria is a fresh water octopus. It is a 24 tentacle giant beast, its arms were almost 50 feet long and two feet wide, the only major difference of this species is that it has no suckers on its arms, it does not need any, for it has fingers. You can not kill it, you can only escape it." Delenn David Mir looks at herself, she can not think she might be a Watch of Moria.

Delenn III looks at Bri Delenn. "Does the Watcher still live here on K'ha'dum?"

"I don't know, might be here, we just don't want to go to Moria."

Delenn III looks at Bri Delenn, she wonders if any of the other creatures are alive. "I know it is a far-fetched question, but does any of the other creatures live, could we come apond them?"

Bri Delenn looks at the bubbling pool of water trying to remember the movie. "Well dragons no longer live except for the Fall Beast, we've already met one, as for the rest of the dragons, they were all killed, the last great dragon was Smaug, the Lord of all Dragons, he died at the Lonely Mountain." Bri thinks of the other creatures she stated. "I stated Old Man Willow, an ancient tree corrupted by Melkor and still remains outside of the Shire, but when back asleep when Sauron's shadow reached him." Bri pauses again then remembers a creepy creature. "Melkor's closes servant, except Sauron, was Ungoliant, an evil spirit, which took the form of a spider, Ungoliant died, but Shelob remained, she lived in the passage to Cirith Ungol. I don't know if she died, Samwise stabbed her. But Shelob was not the only spider near Mordor, in the Ashy Mountains, five spiders related to the brown recluse family exist up there. They guard the passage from Mount Doom to the East Shores. The last servant were five balrogs of Morgoth, all four died except one who slept in the fires of the pit of Khazad'dum." Bri Delenn looks at Delenn III. "It still lives!" Delenn III takes a deep breath. Bri Delenn knows she has digressed off the subject, so she gets back to Delenn III question. "Now that we know about Morgoth, I come back to your question." Bri Delenn walks slowly to Delenn III to look at her new form. "You have the form of a Numenor who has been introduced to magic, but another creature is stretched out...the creature Gollum, the guide to Mordor, but one difference with you versus Gollum was that he was corrupted by the ring. But to relate back to the Numenorian's, there was another changed by magic. The Mouth of Sauron." Delenn looks at Bri Delenn, she had never heard of this name. "The Mouth of Sauron, was a corrupted Numenorian who was twisted by Black Speech. Now to relate to your universe, when I was on Earth I watched Babylon 5 from 2241 to 2263, it began with the Earth-Minbari War and ended with John J. Sheridan's death and the destruction of Babylon 5. Only one creature I can think of was the Shadow's, thin, spiny, scaly creatures who stood on four feet and had two hands with five long fingers."

Delenn III interrupts Bri Delenn quickly. "There is no way in hell I am a Shadow!"

Bri Delenn takes back the argument. "Yes, I am not accusing you of becoming a Shadow, it's just tying realities." Bri Delenn is becoming tired of arguing.

Delenn walks to Bri Delenn. "It's alright Bri Delenn, you are doing fine, go on." Delenn pats Bri Delenn on her back.

Bri Delenn looks at Delenn. "Thank you...I think we are all stressed out!" Bri Delenn looks at Delenn. "To consider you, well that is difficult. The Lord of the Rings had no mer-people, but Babylon 5 did, they were called Anterians. An secret race near the Drazi stronghold, they were an aquatic race, but they could breathe oxygen and H2O. I never seen their race, but only heard about them."

Delenn nods in agreement, "Yes the Anterians were evolutionary advanced, but reason why you saw none was because they wiped themselves out in a nuclear holocaust, they mutated and became a new race called Asmaraqua. They look almost like Earth's own Mer's, which were called the Respiratorians."

Bri Delenn looks at Delenn. "So you are becoming a mermaid?" Bri Delenn smiles and shakes her head in disbelief. "Never thought they exist!"

Delenn looks at Bri Delenn, "Never did I, not until the Liberator War."

Bri Delenn looks at Delenn, she is confused. "What do you mean?"

Delenn looks at Delenn III. "In the final war with the Liberator's, I became involved with a vessel called the Invincible which gathered all the prophecy to fight the Hand of Thirdspace and the Liberator's of X'ha'dum. The fight with the Liberator's caused us to change. The crew of the Invincible suffered transformation after the second vessel crashed into the Marianas Trench where we were transformed into the tri-hybrid of Asmaraqua, Human, and Minbari. We looked like a creature with a crest bone, fins on our wrist, scales, advanced respiratory system. We were quite a unique race, but some of us reformed back to a Minbari-Human hybrid, but the Asmaraqua gene remain in my DNA. This could b this gene manifested!"

Bri Delenn nods, "Sounds like it." Delenn smiles, she knows Bri Delenn has figured out the curse. "So that is final, we are cursed to become our influence...perfect, at least we will remain in the fields of normality." Says Bri Delenn. Delenn looks at Delenn David Mir who is still unsure about herself. In her mind the echoes of the past events rattled her severely. As Delenn walks to Delenn David Mir, fear is building between the two. What happens if Delenn David Mir can't control herself? Delenn was unsure, but one thing was certain, if Delenn David Mir can't control herself, she won't struggle...it only make matters worse. "Are you better Delenn David Mir...is it safe?"

Delenn David Mir watches Delenn approach her. She keeps telling that Delenn is her friend. As Delenn only stands five feet away, Delenn David Mir has gained complete control, she knows how to control her new profound abilities. As she looks at Delenn she is finally no longer fearful of herself. "Hello Delenn, I believe I got complete control of my abilities, I am safe!"

Delenn looks at her, still unsure. "Are you sure, you nearly killed us back there!"

Delenn David Mir looks at her tattered clothing in which the slimy tentacles came out of. "Oh, I am quite certain. I guess it is easy to say this, when I woke up, I was unaware of what had happened to myself, but when the knowledge of my new appendages came to mind, it is like new arms reemerging and as I tried to gain control, the struggling caused the tentacles to tightened, that is why I tried to speak, but it is hard to talk when you have two appendages in your mouth!" Delenn David Mir looks at her hands, the sight of slimy tentacles on her hand, which had replaced her fingers is overwhelming. Slimy scales cover her hand and covers her arm. This discusses her, ten wiggling tentacles.

Delenn is still unsure, but she knows how to test it. "Show me you have control. If you can prove it to me that you have control I will stand by you and support you."

Delenn David Mir looks at Delenn, she does not know how to prove to Delenn that she has control. As Delenn David Mir thinks for a second, Delenn, Bri Delenn, and Delenn III wait breathlessly it finally comes to her, she knows how to prove to Delenn she has control. As she thinks of her throat, she pictures the two tentacles in her throat, she tries to bring them out. As Delenn watches Delenn David Mir stands in a meditative way, Delenn notices the scales on her neck begin to move, begin pushing upward towards her head. As Delenn David Mir opens her mouth, mucus and saliva drip out of her mouth. As Delenn watches, all of a sudden two tentacles shot out of Delenn David Mir's mouth, they only stop only a few feet from her neck, as Delenn watches the two appendages move around in front of her, mucus drips off of the appendages and slowly drips to the ground leaving a thin line to the mucus covered appendage. As Delenn looks at the mucus covered tentacles, she walks slowly to look at them, if Delenn David Mir has complete control, they wont hurt her. As she reaches out her hand, Delenn is scared sick, but as she lightly touches the warm tentacle, the mucus sticks to her hand, but as she looks at Delenn David Mir, who keeps watch over Delenn, Delenn smiles and wipes off her hand, but her own mucus is mixed with Delenn David Mir's, so it really does not phase her as it would to a regular Human or Minbari. As Delenn David Mir retracts her tentacles back into her mouth, the process is actually amazing to watch. It seems impossible that those long arms can even fit in her body. As Delenn smiles, she walks to Delenn David Mir, and hugs her. This emotion came as a shock to Delenn David Mir, but she accepted the respect. As Delenn stands with Delenn David Mir, she looks at Bri Delenn and Delenn III. "Delenn David Mir has proven herself worthy, we need to go to Almon Sul, longer we wait longer it will take to reform back."

Delenn David Mir nods. "I agree, if Bri Delenn is correct we are still reforming. Valen only knows what else we might become."

Delenn agrees with Delenn David Mir's statement. "I agree." Delenn gathers her cooking devices and puts them in her carrying backpack. "We should continue, we lost a lot of time trying to trust one another." Delenn begins to walk and the other three follow. Delenn III finds it difficult at first to walk in this untamed land, but as she learns to keep walking, it becomes easier. Even the great deep puddles she does not even get her waist wet. As for Delenn David Mir, she knows she has made a successful win against her transformation, but walking with tentacle toes is not easy, it is like walking without no toes, you feel like you are going to fall over. Bri Delenn, well she has no complications, but wearing all this armor weights her down and sometimes her sword becomes entangled in the thick brush. And Delenn, poor Delenn, she is beginning to change again, but with being awake it's very painful. It is her legs, they are changing slowly. At first she does not let it show, but as bones begin to move, this is just to painful to hide. As Delenn falls onto the swampy ground, she groans in pain. Holding her legs, she cries.

As Delenn David Mir goes to Delenn, she tries to help her. "What is wrong Delenn?" Delenn David Mir looking at Delenn's stressed face.

Delenn looks at Delenn David Mir, it is hard for her to talk. "It's my legs, they hurt!" Delenn lays back wanting to squirm in pure pain.

As Delenn David Mir parts Delenn's robes to expose her legs, Bri Delenn, Delenn III, and Delenn David Mir watch her legs change. The scales are moving, the scales near her ankles are parting and flesh begins to move out, as the flesh begins to grow longer, it is spreading up her legs, and connecting at the base of her legs. As Delenn's feet begin to grow fins near the base of her heel, her toes begin to seal together, it starts with flesh growing to the toe tips, but strangely the flesh begins to force the toes to fuse together, and as the toes seal together they begin to grow longer. As scales begin to grow on the base of her foot, the fins on her legs connect finally, the skin begins to bring her legs together to fuse them together, as Delenn fights it, she is losing the battle. As Delenn David Mir looks at Delenn III she tells her the blade. Delenn III looks at Delenn David Mir as if she is crazy. As Delenn David Mir looks at Delenn, she then looks at Bri Delenn. "Bri Delenn give me your sword!"

Bri Delenn looks confused at Delenn David Mir's request, "What are you going to do?"

Delenn David Mir notices that Delenn's legs are almost fused. "If Delenn's legs are fused, she will be stuck here, she won't be able to walk, we need to cut the flesh pulling her legs together!" Bri Delenn looks at the legs of Delenn which almost look like one giant column, Delenn looks at Bri Delenn, she agrees. Bri Delenn takes out her sword, the Sword of Angmar and hands it to Delenn David Mir.

As Delenn David Mir takes the heavy sword, she first wonder how Bri Delenn could even use this sword, but as crisis comes back to Delenn David Mir she till Bri Delenn and Delenn III to hold down Delenn's hands to hold her down. As Delenn III and Bri Delenn hold down Delenn's fin infested, slimy, scaly hands, Delenn David Mir takes the sword and strikes the flesh in half. The blade collieries the wound. Delenn screams out loud and passes out. As the two flaps of flesh lie on the cool ground, it would seem that they stopped the change. As Delenn David Mir looks at the flesh it begins to heal and grow again. As Delenn David Mir panics she hold the two layers of flesh apart, but it is sealing at the base of the legs and is beginning to fuse around Delenn David Mir's tentacles. As Delenn still struggles, Bri Delenn has an idea. As she removes her ring of Angmar, she places it on Delenn's finger, as Delenn III and Delenn David Mir struggle to stop the growing manifested flesh, it stops growing. As Delenn III and Delenn David Mir look at one another, they are confused, why did it stop? As Delenn David Mir looks at Bri Delenn, she is looking at the ground, Delenn David Mir thinks it's because of her struggle to help Delenn. But as Delenn David Mir looks at Bri Delenn's fingers, the ring is missing, as she then looks at Delenn, Delenn has the ring now, it is on her finger. As Delenn David Mir looks at Bri Delenn, she is concerned, what will happen to Bri Delenn now that her protection has been passed to Delenn? As Delenn awakens she looks at Delenn David Mir then at Delenn III. As Delenn smiles she looks at her legs. She sees the two skin flaps, she almost lost the ability to walk, but reality dawns on her when she looks at her feet, they have turned into fins and part foot. As she tries to stand up, it is difficult, but possible. As she looks at her feet she does not understand why her legs did not change into a giant tail. As she looks at Bri Delenn, Bri Delenn looks sick, she does not know why, but when she looks at Bri Delenn's fingers she does not see the ring, it is missing, but as she looks at her hand she sees the ring of the Witch-King on her finger. This makes Delenn worried, now she is the new Witch-Queen. As she looks at Bri Delenn she walks to her. "Are you alright Bri Delenn?"

Bri Delenn looks at Delenn, "Hello Delenn, how are you?"

Delenn looks at Bri Delenn, she wants to give back the ring, but as she begins to remove the ring, pain begins to well up in her legs again, so she puts it back onto her finger. She now understands why Bri Delenn gave it to her, to stop her transformation. As Delenn kneels to Bri Delenn, she looks at Bri Delenn's hands, flesh has grown to the first joint, Bri Delenn is transforming into a fish like species. As she looks at Bri Delenn, she helps her up. "We need to keep going Bri Delenn, can you go on?" Delenn holds Bri Delenn's hands.

Bri Delenn looks at Delenn, "When I was on Earth I feared everything, when I came here I feared nothing, now I am afraid! But yes I can go on, it is now my personal mission to make it to Almon Sul." Bri Delenn gets up, she feels tired. As she looks at her fingers, the flesh between the fingers has grown, her hands are becoming fins slowly. "It is starting, I don't know what path the curse has chosen for me."

Delenn III looks at Bri Delenn's fingers, "Why are you becoming a fish?"

Bri Delenn thinks about a possibility. "It's a possibility because I am asthmatic. Having asthma is like being part fish, you breathe fluids, allergic to most terrestrial environments and some may get eczema, which is a nasty scaly rash." Bri Delenn beings walking, Delenn assumes the lead. "We make it to Almon Sul, then to Khazad'dum." As Delenn, Bri Delenn, Delenn David Mir, and Delenn III keep walking through the mist, they come closer to leaving the horrid swamp.

As David and Delenn II keep walking, David has been noticing changes occurring in him, with his thin hands and long fingernails, he notices that his long hair on his arms, a trait he got from his father is gone, his skin is silky smooth. As David and Delenn II stand on a hill they gaze at a mountain range. As David and Delenn II begin to walk out of the Cursed Swamp, they walk up the steep trail, there is no wind, no chirping of birds, no sound at all, just an eerie silence, as David turns to see how Delenn II is holding up, she is right behind him. As they continue up the path the rocks become moist, they are climbing into the mist from the Cursed Swamp. As the sky becomes grey, the air is thick with moisture. The one question that is one David's mind is, what is this place? But one problem David has is that he is beginning to transform, transform into something. As David and Delenn II climb up to the dark Watch Tower of Angmar, a storm is coming, the sky is darken. As Delenn II looks at her brother, she notices that he is changing...into a female...a female who is coming of age, but the process is unlike Human-coming-of-age. David has began his changing into a daughter of Delenn, Delenn II does not say a word to her brother, because she feels as if it is not her duty. As Delenn II eats her meal, David watches Delenn II eat. David feels Delenn II is not telling him an important information, what is Delenn II not telling him? As David looks at Delenn II, he speaks to her gently. "What are you eating?"

It is head for Delenn II to look at her transforming brother who is becoming her sister. As Delenn II looks at David she sports a smile. "A combination of plants I found along the way, some grass, root, flowers, leaves."

David smiles, "Is it any good?"

Delenn II smiles back, "Yes, it is very good, but I would prefer flarn over this stuff."

David looks at Delenn II, "Is there anything wrong Delenn II, you've been unusually quiet for yourself."

Delenn II stops eating and looks at David, "No, nothing is wrong David, it is just something's have been set in motion."

David looks at Delenn II, he is confused. "What do you mean?"

Delenn II points to a pool of water. "Take a look for yourself."

David looks at Delenn II strangely, as he walks to the pool of water, he looks at his reflection. As he gazes into the pool he sees a slender face, his inch long hair has grown to his shoulders. His crest bones main curves and horns smoothed out. As David gazes in horror he watches his eyes change and watches his tight lips become swollen. As he touches his lips and touches his skin, he is almost completely female, this sickens him. As he looks at his sister he speaks in the voice of his mothers. "Why?" David stops in mid sentence, his voice sounds exactly like his mothers voice, high, but demanding! As David touches his throat, he can't believe what is happening to him. As he looks back at Delenn II, he looks at her, he needs help. "Why is this happening to me, what is happening to me? Delenn II shakes her head.

As Delenn II looks at her brother, she speaks to her new sister. "David, I don't know how to explain this to you, but you are becoming like mother, the curse knows your weakness, but you might be becoming female to protect your true identity from Asron." Delenn II watches as David's hips extend out and watch as a rib case tighten giving him the stereotypical hour-glass form. The curse has completed David's transformation, he is no longer himself, he is now female. As David stands before Delenn II, she is shocked to see her brother transformed into her new sister. As Delenn II looks at her sister, David holds the same characteristics as their mother. As David looks at her feminized body, she notices that her body is transforming, coming of age. As David watches her bone structure grow she is becoming older and mature. As Delenn II watches in horror, for the next 10 minutes she sees things she seen in both Human and Minbari sex education classes. As David looks at her legs they are growing longer and wider, as she looks at the pool which supplies her reflection she begins to feel her bones in her face beginning to break and expand, as David watches her skin become older, her eyes become more hazel as accustomed of her mothers. As she keeps watching she notices that her hair is growing and is as long as her lower shoulder blades. As David watches in complete horror she knows that her body is becoming hybrided. David's crest bone is finally matures and comes down to her eyes, the skin near the ends of the crest bone is smooth, David's hands are silky smooth. As she looks at her hands she begins to feel her chest warming, it is growing, her maturity is complete, her body believes it is ready for adult life, but David, who only has lived his life as a Minbari-Human hybrid male, this ruins his belief that she is still David, she is now embarrassed. As David looks at her new body, she looks at Delenn II. David knows that Delenn II will know what she will need to do to remain in good health, and most, stay un-productive. "What do I do Delenn II, I don't know what I've become."

Delenn II looks at David, "It's natural David, you are an exact replica of our mother." Delenn II thinks for a second, "But you will need to leave your old name here at the Watch Tower of Angmar, it is not safe where you're going."

David looks at Delenn II, she is becoming more confident with herself. "I don't think it matters Delenn II, once we reach Almon Sul this will be over, we will be back to normal."

Delenn II looks at David, her eyes hold pity. "I wish that to be true, but I know some information about this curse, every time we change it will take longer to transform back."

David looks at Delenn II, terror fills David's mind. "How long?"

Delenn II looks at her sister, "If you transform again you won't change back till one month, so as long as you no longer transform you will be back to your normal self." Delenn II smiles. "Well you better get some sleep, we got a long day tomorrow." Delenn II looks at her cold meal. The chit-chat has caused it to become cold.

David looks at Delenn II, "One more question Delenn II, say one of us was to change three times before we make it to Almon Sul?"

Delenn II thinks, "If that was to happen you would spend three months in your cursed form, that is why I believe it might be wise if you took a second name."

"I will consider it...goodnight Delenn II, see you tomorrow."

Delenn II looks at her mature sister. "Good night David." Delenn II smiles as David goes to sleep. As Delenn II rests her head, to soon fall asleep in the dark Watch Tower of Angmar. As Delenn II sleeps, the worse begins to well up in her, it begins in her neck. As the scales begin to bulge out, the skin splits into slits and begins to form gills, but these gills are made for two purposes. The curse is so old that it has thought itself as an evolutionary guide and thus because of the thickness of the air mixed with volcanic gasses, it makes Delenn II's lungs into an advance system alouding Delenn II to be able to breathe under water and volcanic gasses. As the curse goes on it focuses on Delenn II'S digestive system, Delenn II's stomach has been in turmoil since arriving here on K'ha'dum, the curse believes Delenn II is not able to feed herself, so it will help her, but the only species that can be used to advance this feeding system is a Vorlon species, a squid like creature that once feed on sea creatures with its tentacles, so it will do the same. As the curse begins to focuses on Delenn's digestive system the only possible spots to advance feeding is the mouth, so it does. As Delenn II's mouth swells, mucus, saliva, and alien fluid is secreted out of Delenn II's mouth, two gigantic tentacles develop in Delenn II's mouth, but they do not take up much space. One modification is the removal of Delenn II's gill rackers, the tentacles will prove to be quite useful. As the mutation ends for now, Delenn II and David rest in the Watch Tower of Angmar.

In the Cursed Swamp, Delenn, Delenn III, Delenn David Mir, and Bri Delenn sleep, they are at least almost free from the swamps deadly hold, for two days they have tried to get out of the Cursed Swamp, and as the sun was setting the northwestern shores show promise. They were close to the Old Realm of the Witch-King, a realm not to be mistaken for the Witch-King's other realm, the Realm of Angmar, a realm in which David and Delenn II have been in, but they now sleep on the boarder. As Delenn rest, she dreams of home, but as she sleeps the curse goes to Delenn III, the Numenorian. The curse will reform her again. As Delenn III's spikes go away and as it would seem, as if the curse was reforming her back, it was not, it was about to change her again, but this time change her into a creature like Delenn David Mir, or even Delenn II. As the cures enchants her, her stomach begins to bulge out, the flesh turns into tubes, 12 tubes grow out of her stomach, but then all twelve tentacles retract back into her stomach. The curse is over, but not for long it begins to focus on Bri Delenn, but strangely will not change her, something is stopping the transformation.

Khazad'dum, near Minas Morgul. Gorbag is talking to Khamul. Gorbag is a thick skin creature, he comes from Minas Morgul, but was breeded at the pits of Ungol. "So what brings you back to Minas Morgul my master?"

Khamul looks at Gorbag, Khamul really hates orc's, he really hates their guts, they are filthy, and foul! "I want into the Lord Witch-King's lair."

Gorbag looks at Khamul, "Why are you interested in the Witch-King's lair?"

Khamul looks at Gorbag, "Just open the bloody door you maggot."

Gorbag looks at Khamul, Khamul looks at Gorbag, and they share views, Khamul pulls out a knife. As Khamul approaches Gorbag he stabs Gorbag. Gorbag goes staggering out of Minas Morgul. "Khamul tried to knife me!" Say Gorbag who is bleeding black blood out of his chest.

Some of the Morgul orc's look at Gorbag, they see black blood oozing out of his stomach. As most of the Morgul orc's grab their blades and go into Minas Morgul in search of Lord Khamul, some of the orc's run into one of the Nazgul, his name is Adunaphelte of Numenor, he serves Khamul. As the Nazgul pulls out his knife he slashes up all the orc's, looking like a madman, he shows no mercy. As the fighting spreads through Morgul, now Nazgul Khamul, Akharil, Adunaphelte, and Dwar are under attack, fighting for their lives because some of the orc's are using Morgul blades to fight the Nazgul and the stab of a Morgul blade releases them from the curse and alouds them to be easily killed, the only side affect is that whoever uses the Morgul blade will also die, or lurk in a deep depression if not cured. As for the other four Nazgul, they flee to the fields of the Soldiers of Darkness near Mount Cerfire to escape the wrath of the mad orc's. As Hoarmurath of Dir makes it to the Fields of Soldiers of Darkness, there are orc's waiting for them there, they heard about the attempted murder of Gorbag, so they want to fight with the Nazgul, beginning with Hoarmurath. As Hoarmurath takes out his sword he is joined with Indur of Komande, Ren of East Endor, and Urathar of East Endor. Ever since the Witch-King of Angmar left his post and went to Minbar the balance between orc and Nazgul is horrible to say the least. As the orc captain charges at Hoarmurath a shadow comes in-between Hoarmurath and the orc captain, the shadow strikes the orc's blade and the blade shatters. As the orc looks at the shadow he sees that the shadow is the Witch-King of Angmar. As the Witch-King of Angmar and the orc captain hold with swords braced together, as the orc's shattered blade begins to melt, the Witch-King's sword is successful. As the orc's look at the Witch-King, the Witch-King looks at the in his menacing stare...the orc's flee. As Hoarmurath looks at the Witch-King, Hoarmurath looks at the Witch-King, Hoarmurath bows, so does Urathar, Ren and Indur. As Hoarmurath looks at the old king, the Witch-King of Angmar leaves the field. As Hoarmurath looks at Mount Cerfire, he then looks at the Barad'dur angrily.

As the night goes on, the battle at Minas Morgul is beginning to wrap up, with the sight of the Witch-King, Khamul is worried that the Witch-King will hear about his behavior. As Khamul leaves the door of the Witch-King's room, he returns to his room to await the call from Asron.

As the night ends, the volcanic ash cloud is blowing towards the south, the sky near the Old Realm of the Witch-King is clear and the sun is warm. Delenn awakens to see the beautiful sun, she looks at herself expecting to see more changes, but there are none. The only one who changed was Delenn III, her leg spikes changed and disappeared. But other then that small transformation, the prophecy survived the night. But the north shores of the Old Realm of the Witch-King is very close, thus enemies may be very close. As Delenn wakes up Bri Delenn, they wake up Delenn III, then wake up Delenn David Mir. As all the prophecy wakes up, Delenn looks at Delenn David Mir. "We need to get going, can you get up the others, the shores of the Old Realm of the Witch-King is in sight." As Delenn David Mir helps up Bri Delenn then Delenn III, Delenn looks back again. "Are you ready to go?"

Delenn III smiles, "Yes Delenn, I believe I am ready, but mostly ready to get out of this swamp!"

Bri Delenn nods her head, "Yes, I am totally ready to go, I am tired of this stinky swamp!"

Delenn nods her head, "Well lets go, quicker we get to Almon Sul, quicker we can be cured." Delenn, Delenn II, Delenn David Mir and Bri Delenn keep walking through the swamp. As the dry land comes in view, Delenn David Mir begins to feel ill, her stomach is aching, she feels the curse welling up in her. She already has to deal with the tentacles in her stomach, anus, and in her mouth. What else could happen, her body is already scale covered, with small tentacles on her fingers and toes. As they keep on walking, Delenn David Mir looks at her hands, but what she sees is flesh moving up her fingers, her hands are turning into fins, on her wrist the flesh from the pinky to the middle arm, bones beginning to push up through the flesh, the flesh begins to harden and become translucent. As the curse works through her, her feet begin to turn into fins, but unlike Delenn, between each toe the gap is filled with flesh, Delenn David Mir's ankles begin to do the same as Delenn David Mir's wrist, the bones near Delenn David Mir's ankles are harder then the other bones, the feeling is awkward, just Delenn David Mir says nothing, as they reach the outer bank of the swamp, Delenn, Delenn David Mir, Delenn III, and Bri Delenn are free of the Curse Swamp. As they walk onward. The four believe that the curse is not going to be influencing them since they are out of the Cursed Swamp. As Bri Delenn goes on the trek to Almon Sul, the land is well washed, there is some soil on the ground, but plants are scarce. As the group moves quickly to Almon Sul, Bri Delenn feels the curse welling up in her as she feels her skin tightening as bones pierce the flesh and push up the flesh. As Bri Delenn ignores it, but as the bone structure in Bri Delenn's body changes, the major transformation begins, as Bri Delenn's skin stretches near her stomach, a second rib is growing in her. She is changing back into her old self. As Bri Delenn's hair becomes shorter, she calls out to Delenn. "Delenn, I need your assistance!"

Delenn turns to see that Bri Delenn is transforming into his old self, but he is no longer himself, he is adding new abilities, he is still becoming male with fish parts. As Delenn goes to Bri Delenn, he has lost his female appearance, he is back to his old appearance. As Delenn Views at her new son, this curse is strange, she has a Human male, no longer a hybrid of Human-Minbari, now it is a hybrid of Human-fish. "Are you alright Bri Delenn?" Say Delenn knowing it is a redundant statement seeing Bri Delenn's current condition.

Bri Delenn lays on the hard ground, he feels that his body has reformed, but he does not know he is male, at least not yet. As Bri Delenn looks at his hands, he sees that his hands are now mostly fish-like, his arms are stretching into tentacles, his arms are now five feet long and are bluish-purple colored due to the internal scales. As Bri Delenn looks at the tentacles he feels his legs, something is moving on the base of his legs, near his thighs it feels slimy and cold. As Bri Delenn looks at Delenn, he feels the appendages growing, it is quite a bazaar feeling, it is like stretching your body, the feeling is like stretching while removing a nail out of your body...painful and slimy. As Bri Delenn looks at his legs he parts the robes and sees eight tentacles, the view of the tentacles look like a round tube inserted in the flesh. As Delenn touches the tentacles it retracts into Bri Delenn's flesh, but it is not the only one that has tentacles, his body has been starving and so the curse implanted tentacles into Bri Delenn's mouth. Bri Delenn is becoming just like Delenn David Mir. As all eight tentacles retract back into his legs, the process has its pain. As Bri Delenn watches in horror, he speaks, but the voice doing the talking is not his as he remembers, it is deeper. "Delenn!" Bri Delenn covers his mouth, he hears his old male voice, the voice is that of the once Human child Bri, as Bri Delenn looks at Delenn, Bri Delenn tries to speak without freaking out. "Delenn, what have I became?"

Delenn looks at her son. "I don't know Bri Delenn, but I will call you Bri for now."

Bri looks at Delenn. "Yes I am Bri." Bri feels the transformation leaving him. "It is over...for now...we must make for Almon Sul. All of us are two months within our transformation, we will be long cursed if we remain here."

Delenn looks at Bri. "Yes, we must make it to Almon Sul." Delenn helps Bri up and they continue to Almon Sul.

Back at the Watch Tower of Angmar, Delenn II awakens, she is happy that no transformation has come to her, as she wakes up David, David looks at his sister. "Is the sun up?"

Delenn II looks at the suns glare on the wall. "Yes I believe it's out."

David gets up, "Then we should go if we go to Almon Sul, we can be cured of this disease...this..." David clutches her stomach. "This curse!" Says David with pain.

Delenn II looks at her sister, "David, are you alright?"

David looks at Delenn II, "Call me Senna, I chose this name after a close friend when I was young. I first need to meditate the pain for the curse is transforming me again." Senna watches as her veins are turning deep blue, her skin is secreting a blue ooze, as it hits the air it makes a shell, Senna is scaling. The process is sicking to watch, but as Senna watches the deep blue scales creep up her arm and up her legs strangely enough there is no pain anymore. As Senna looks at Delenn II, she looks at Senna in amazement, watching these transformations is like watching the universe playing tricks on us poor sentinels. As pain increases the reality of the transformation comes to bear. Senna's skin is pushing up, she is going through the same process that her sister went through, growing fins, a very painful process indeed. As Senna holds her wrist, she feels the flesh moving under her palms. As she feels bones growing, it begins growing out through her hand. As the fins keep growing, Senna releases her hand off her wrist. As Senna looks at the bent down fins, Senna touches the silky skin, as she moves her hand sideways the fins pop up and stand at least eight inches from the end base of her arm. Just like Delenn II, Senna's fins origin at the base under her pinky. As Senna stands up, the movement of the many scales is like wearing a skintight armor. As Senna looks at Delenn II, the pain dies away and for once in a long time she smiles. "I am ready to go Delenn II, are up prepared to go?"

Delenn II looks at her sister. "Yes, lets get to Almon Sul, quicker we get there, quicker we can be cured." Delenn II and Senna leave the Watch Tower of Angmar, the sun is out, the sky is deep blue, but as Delenn II and Senna reach the ridge and view the long plain ahead of them, in the distance horizon they see the Mountains of Khazad'dum, the range is called the Shadowy Mountains, this range houses the ancient house of Almon Sul, the castle of the ancient kingdom of Arnor. One amazing fact about the name of this mountain range is sometimes thought to be named by Asron, but this mountain range actually belongs and was named by the Witch-King of Angmar. The mountain range that Senna and Delenn II slept in is connected to the Mountains of Angmar, but the name of the range is called the Cursed Mountains due to the Curse Swamp near by. One reason why Delenn II and Senna know is because while at Carn Dum, Delenn and Delenn II took maps to get to Almon Sul. As Senna looks at Khazad'dum, she sees lightening flashing over and over again. The enemy is ready, his shadow is spreading across the land. As Senna looks to the south, the land is darkened, the winds from the north are in Delenn II and Senna's favor. As Senna and Delenn II proceed down the mountain, they find the trail is rocky and the trek down the Cursed Mountains is slow, but Delenn II and Senna are making great time. The idea of time against them alouds them to move quickly and as they know it they are at the foot hills of the Cursed Mountains, as Senna and Delenn II run down the trail, they are raising up quite a bit of dust, but the temperature is comfortable here in this valley and the bounded energy in both Delenn II and Senna is unleashed. They are completing one mile every ten minutes. Senna, back on Minbar was a good runner, when he first joined the Rangers he could complete a mile run under six minutes, Minbar are great runners, but because he was a Human it also brought the time down because Human's have one special gift that Minbari don't have, the ability to store short blitz's of energy. But here on K'ha'dum, Senna and Delenn II are weighed down by armor and mucus in their respiratory tract, asthma, what Bri Delenn told them. As Senna and Delenn II reach the two and a half miles, they have been running for 30 minutes, but at the two and a half mile mark, Delenn II and Senna are tired, as they stop running they are panting hard and the sound of wheezing...the asthma has been awaken. As Senna tries to catch her breath she looks at the gigantic mountains, the Shadowy Mountains hold up to their name, these monoliths are darken by some unnatural force. These mountains rise to the height of ten thousand feet. But not a single mountain has snow on them. As Senna and Delenn II walks on, they are tired, but the drive to get to Almon Sul is higher then the feeling of being tired.

As Delenn and Delenn David Mir looks at the Shadowy Mountains, Delenn looks at the mountains, they are like giants, somewhere in these mountains is the fortress Almon Sul. As Delenn looks at the map, they have walked almost two miles, they should have came apond the road to Almon Sul. As Delenn looks at the map, the ground beneath her feet turns rocky. As Delenn looks from the map, she looks at the ground, it is a barren rocky surface, as Delenn looked north she sees a road. They found it, the road to Almon Sul. As Delenn David Mir, Bri, and Delenn III look at the road, they are pleased to find it. Delenn III hugs Bri, and Bri looks at Delenn III, he is pleased with the compassion of Delenn III, but mostly with finding the way to salvation.

END OF CHAPTER 18, NEXT CHAPTER 19