Chapter Forty-nine: Look To The Stars Part IIII
It was starting to get dark now. Callum was, unfortunately, prepared for what he found at the top of the spire, especially after what they'd just seen. It was lucky, then, that Umbra was present not only because Callum was too tired to fly, but to assist in the gruesome task awaiting them as the dragon touched down at the Storm Spire.
The first thing Callum and Rayla saw was Claudia, laying on her back, still as a statue, not responding to the feel or sound of the two getting off of the dragon or walking up to her – or limping in Callum's case, with Rayla propping him up with one of his arms around her shoulders. Callum didn't have the energy to run anyway. He knelt down with Rayla's help, taking in Claudia's appearance; she was paler than usual, covered in clotted cuts and dried blood – including a nasty wound in her stomach that was caked with dried blood – but she looked to be peacefully sleeping in spite of it. The lack of any heat coming from her body, though, told him she was clearly not sleeping.
Neither of them were really surprised, but he did close his eyes and lower his head in a silent moment. Rayla did the same, if only as a common courtesy. She and Claudia had certainly never been friends, but she had been Callum and Ezran's friend once, and she was also Soren's sister. From this, surely there had been something before Rayla had entered the picture; a kindness, maybe even wit or a sense of humor. In the past year or so, Soren sometimes told her that it was too bad that Claudia had chosen to follow Viren, because he could so easily see the girls becoming friends, or at least getting along if they avoided certain topics. At the time, she'd written it off as his usual joking, if not him severely misjudging a situation, but now she couldn't shake the feeling that an opportunity really had been lost. Whatever the elf's personal feelings had been, this certainly wasn't a happy occasion.
Umbra, sensing his companions' quiet grief, bowed his own head in respect, and didn't protest when Callum and Rayla carried the human to him. With Callum being hurt and Rayla being an inch or two shorter than the fallen human, this was done by Rayla wrapping her arms around each of the shoulders to lift her up, with Callum propping up the legs with his free arm and slowly struggling forward on the agonized foot. By the care they showed, it was clearly a fallen comrade and thus deserving of a proper funeral. Umbra knew what was being asked of him and didn't protest, but moved closer to shorten the trip, at which Callum gave him a grateful smile. He allowed Callum to load the human onto his back as Rayla walked over to a shaded spot.
"Callum." came Rayla's voice, now tinged with discomfort. He had just finished settling Claudia in when he looked back at her. She was frowning down at a figure that they all had seen but had wanted nothing to do with. Amer had grown pale, also with many cuts, a knife still deeply imbedded in his back, and a broken horn. Not far from him was a second knife, in the middle of a blood trail that connected the two resting spots. Callum gave huff. He didn't like it, but it wouldn't be right to leave that wretch here, if not for Janai's sake than because of how improper it was on principal. It would be an insult to those who called the Storm Spire home.
If Callum had carefully carried Claudia to the dragon, the one dignity he gave Amer was grabbing him by the wrist, along with Rayla who grabbed the other as if it was covered in filth, her other hand holding the two blood-stained knives, and together they dragged the body. Umbra didn't know Amer, but this was all the contrast he needed to know one thing. This elf wasn't worth the care with which the human had been handled. And to rank lower than a human in simple worth, an elf had to have done some hideous things. Even he, who not half an hour ago had devoured the broken body of Aaravos himself, didn't want such a putrid being on his back. He instead took the body of the elf in his claw, to the surprise of Callum and Rayla. Deeming this as acceptable as anything, the pair finally boarded, and he flew from the top of the spire and descended to Novus.
Sorrowful cries filled the house. Lissa held Claudia tightly. It was the one sobering event on what would have been a happy reunion, but it was heavy. Instead, Amaya, Ezran and even Janai's tight hugs were ones of relief that Callum had made it. Even Zephyr and Wendell, who had held themselves up upstairs for hours had come down to at last see what all the fuss was and were so happy to see Callum was safe. He only awkwardly returned Ellis's embrace, and again caught Ezran's uncomfortable eye. He still needed to talk things over with him about this. Besides that, the warmth of an insulated house was lovely after this day and the smell of dinner cooking had his and Rayla's mouths watering.
"You came back!" yelled a small, vaguely familiar voice from above; a voice they'd all heard before only though whimpers, laughs and hums. All eyes save LIssa's – who was still focused on her daughter – turned to the balcony upstairs, seeing nothing at first. What they then saw was Mira, still wearing Callum's scarf, running as fast as she could down to stairs and flinging herself at Callum and Rayla, who each looked astonished. Amaya, who had only looked to the balcony in reaction to the others, was the only one of the spectators who didn't wear an amazed expression. The little elf soon happily found herself in the space that was quickly becoming the most secure place in the world for her; between her two guardians as they embraced, encircling her in warmth and protection as if she was the most precious thing in the world. She'd been so scared that she'd never see them again.
A sniffle pulled them out of their bliss, and Callum pulled away from his girls to turn around, only for he and Rayla to be hit with guilt. What right did they have to cherish their reunion while Lissa cried over her lifeless daughter? It was a painful sight that made Callum want to take them back in his arms and never let them go again. It brought back the losses of Soren and Ibis that morning, which seemed so much longer ago, but led to his remembering the revival spell.
Callum didn't need to think about it before he knelt down before them, drew the constellation-like rune and spoke the words "Reduc Illas." He reached through the rune, dissolving it, but his hand had become bathed in a soft blue light when he did. Taking this as a good sign, he gently placed the hand over her heart. He closed his eyes, thinking that it wasn't right that Claudia couldn't reconcile with her mother. It made his heart hurt. His father and mother, King Harrow, Ibis, Soren; he had lost so many people he never got to say goodbye too. These two didn't deserve that. This had to work. He drew away when, after a moment, he felt a slow, slight heartbeat. He backed away to give mother and daughter their space.
Lissa's eyes stretched in wonder as Claudia's eyes slowly opened. She looked at Callum in horror for a moment, and Claudia's eyes also lazily slid down to him questioningly.
"It's star magic." Callum quickly said, "It's for saying goodbye. You guys only have a few minutes."
For a few seconds, there was silence. Surprisingly, Claudia, her eyes and voice soft, was the first to speak. "I met Soren on the other side. He says 'hi'."
"Please, forgive me, Claudia." Lissa said, her tears having never stopped, and they didn't seem to be stopping anytime soon. "I really shouldn't have left you and your brother with your father."
"It's okay." Claudia said, for the first time since she was a child, looking her mother in the eyes. Tears welled up in her now dull green eyes and she gave a weak but sincere smile. "I'm…happy. Happy that I at least got to see you again, Mom." The word 'mom' made Lissa smile, but it didn't last long as her daughter's smile disappeared. Her voice became small and breathy. "This pain." she said, trying to look down at her stomach wound. Her tears came faster, now falling without her needing to blink. "This is what I-I-I put them through. I-I owe this to them."
Claudia finally moved, pushing herself up on weak arms until she was sitting up, and she reached for the Scepter of Darkness. Janai, perhaps understandably distrustful, allowed human to draw the staff to her but did not release her own grip on it. Claudia held the blackened stone just beneath her face and tipped herself so that her tears fell onto the stone. Though Lissa's mournful eyes remained fixed on Claudia, everyone else watched, amazed, as the tears pierced through the blackness, allowing pokes of bright yellow and orange light to seep through in small, concentrated rays. More tears fell and the pokes grew into holes that expanded, bleeding into each other to reveal the sun magic bound in glass, until not a shred of darkness remained. Claudia let go of the staff and as Janai looked at it in wonder - How had she...? - Claudia once again leaned back onto Lissa.
Feeling her energy draining, Claudia looked at Callum. There wasn't time now for everything she wanted to say, but there was time for a final request.
"Callum, I-I've done terrible things." she said, the cry returning to her voice even though her tears had been spent. "I don't know where I'll end up, but…bury me under that birch tree. Next to Soren, okay? That way, we'll never be apart again." Callum, suddenly wishing to comfort his old friend but not daring to interrupt, only nodded. Claudia smiled at him, and for a moment, Callum and Ezran could almost pretend that she was her old self again; that playful, goofy girl who had once been so hard to even get mad at. She closed her eyes and leaned into her mother's embrace. The warm, loving touch was the last sensation Claudia felt before she returned to the afterlife. Lissa sniffed and kissed her on the forehead.
For maybe a minute, no one spoke. Callum and Ezran couldn't help but remember the girl who had been their friend, which led to the brothers needed to wipe away some tears themselves. Soft-hearted Zephyr also let out a couple of cries, and Rayla, still largely unsure of her feelings about this death, only placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and bowed her head solemnly. Everyone else just stood with bowed heads in mourning, with the exception of Mira who was starting to nod off.
"We need to go tell Opeli." Callum said. He had barely turned to the door when Amaya stopped him with an hand on his shoulder. Gren translated her signs.
"Hold on, Callum, you're not going anywhere on that leg." he said. "Besides, you've done more than your fair share today. I'll go, you get fixed up in the meantime and dinner's on the table."
The mention of food coupled with the fact that, it was true, Callum could barely walk like this, gave him no choice but to concede. Amaya and Gren left without another word. Wendell, having seen the limp before, looked Callum over quickly.
"It looks like you just twisted something." he said. "Just sit down and I can have you fixed up in a few minutes."
Callum did so Wendell returned upstairs, finding a seat next to Kimaare, who was sleeping soundly. She briefly woke up and purred to see him back safe before falling back asleep. When her scales sparkled like stars, somehow Callum knew that the little star dragon had been granting him luck all day. Without it, who knows how long he would have really lasted?
"Atta girl." Callum said softly, giving her a scratch near the frills that had her stretching out in comfort. Wendell soon came back with a poultice for Callum's cuts and some sort of dust for the leg. His leg was the first thing to be healed, sprinkling the dust over it, and performing some sort of spell that made it tingle, but it worked, he just needed to keep off it for a few more minutes. The poultice was cold and had the reek of herbs, and by how some spots stung and others didn't, clearly something was happening. The whole process took around five minutes, during which time he occupied himself with the goings on of the others. Lissa and Zephyr were talking softly, and it seemed Zephyr had told Lissa about her pregnancy by the tender way she smiled and hugged the girl with her one free arm. Rayla had taken Mira into the kitchen because it was getting too late to wait, so she'd be eating now.
"Callum." came Janai's voice, and his attention went to her. It was clear she was trying to be regal, even though they both knew there was no need for it; they were practically family. "The Sunfire elves thank you from the bottom of our hearts. The Scepter of Radiance has been recovered and restored. Lujanne and I shared our plans, and first thing tomorrow we will return both scepters to our people."
"They'll probably be happy about it," Callum said, "but what about Amer? Are you taking him home?"
"A sun dragon already came to pick him up." She said, quickly, as if getting the explanation out of the way so she didn't have to think of this any longer. "He is to be buried in an unmarked grave back home, without a funeral or mourners."
"Speaking of dragons…" Ezran trailed off, with Zym at his side looking expectant.
"I had Umbra go find Queen Zubeia." Callum explained, only just noticing that the poultice had dried. "She should be on her way back to the Storm Spire now."
"Hear that, Zym?" Ezran asked, and Zym perked up. "Your mom's coming back soon, and you can go home. Everything's safe now." Zym yipped happily.
"Okay, Callum, it looks like some of those cuts are going to scar, but your leg's as good as new." Wendell said, and Callum rose to his feet without trouble.
"Come on, let's go eat." the mage said, the hollowness in his stomach now starting to get uncomfortable. "I think Aunt Amaya might be a little longer. No point in waiting."
Janai proudly held the Scepter of Radiance beside Lujanne who held the Scepter of Shadows. Together, the light of the sun and moon lite up the night quite well; Callum, Rayla, Amaya and Gren had set to work coordinating a second last-minute funeral, as Claudia had requested, beside Soren under the birch tree.
It was a much smaller turn out than Soren and Ibis had received, partly because of the hour. This long, grueling day had at last come to an end. Lissa, Callum, Ezran, Rayla, Amaya, Gren, Zephyr, Janai, Lujanne and the two young dragons were the only mourners present. Wendell, who had never really known Claudia anyway, volunteered to stay at the house to look after Mira, who, after dinner, had been tucked into bed before they left. On Claudia's coffin sat two feathers – brown and gray – and as the coffin was lowered and buried, Callum bowed his head.
"Callum, look." Rayla's voice whispered, making Callum look at her; she was looking at something far away, and Callum's eyes followed her gaze. This prompted him to direct Clover to do the same, and her eyes shown, and soon everyone was seeing it. A trio of brightly shinning stars, seeming to be hovering just above the tree. One of the stars gleamed a bit brighter than the others and gave a little blink. Immediately, the old elven superstition about stars came to his mind. While he wasn't sure who else present knew the superstition, let alone believed it, it was clear that this sight was a comforting one to everyone, who all seemed to relax and smile for the first time that day.
It might have been Zephyrs imagination, but as she watched, her hands covered her lower abdomen with a sort of reverence. Huh. She could have sworn she felt Soren's strong arms around her, his hands over her own, helping her to cradle the precious life within her.
A shadow cast over the village and lifted in a moment. It was Queen Zubeia, who's scales blended into the night sky perfectly, and who they watched return to the Storm Spire. It was difficult to tell from here, but she seemed to be well again. Zym and Kimaare erupted in a burst of excited yips and calls when they saw her; Zym took off with more grace then one would assume for his young age, and Kimaare followed him, a bit more clumsily, into the sky. The two were watched fondly until they disappeared from view as two little dots just approaching the mountain.
At last. At last, this day was truly over. Everything was quiet, dark and, in the house, quite warm. Aaravos and Amer were gone, the Dragon Queen, Prince and Princess were home safe, and…and Claudia was finally at peace. As were Soren and Ibis. Ellis had gone home before the funeral, Janai, Lujanne and Kiara would be going home first thing tomorrow, and everyone was asleep. The only visitor that would be staying was Wendell, who insisted on staying and keeping Zephyr company for a while before he went home. And Callum was finally back safe in his own bed.
By all accounts, Callum should have been out like a light after a day like today, but something was keeping him up. Maybe it was Aaravos. It was an unsettling thought to think of someone dying in the throes of insanity. The man had been so sinister and calculating, and he had been so out of it that Callum, who only had luck, a handful of spells and not a scrap of combat training, had bested a powerful archmage of untold centuries. Even back in the mirror, the Aaravos from millenniums ago had seemed more collected and dangerous. What must it have been like?
Maybe it had been that huge rush of power all at once, it might have done some kind of extra damage to his brain. Surely that wasn't the way primal magic worked. He hadn't even shown understanding of the arcanums. In fact, something in him had seemed almost…human. He had been too impatient for the sky, prideful for the moon, cynical for the sun, stubborn for the ocean, and short-sighted for the earth. Huh. Callum felt a small epiphany as he realized that these were all traits common to humans. Perhaps that's why they were born without magic. He would have to look in on that someday.
For now, he needed to get to sleep. Before he could begin unraveling some age-old divide between the races, he still had four primal sources to master, which meant a trip around Xadia. He had purposely neglected telling Ezran this and that he wanted to take him along with them this time to give him his little adventure, otherwise he'd get no peace in the meantime. And there would be an expensive meantime because even before that, they all had earned a nice, long rest.
Author's Notes: And so, the story proper comes to a close. "Reduc Illas" is Latin for 'bring them back.' And to clarify with Aaravos, I actually had Azula in mind when writing his downfall; you know how she's built up as this cunning, manipulative little psychopath but ends up so far off her rocker that she's defeated when a character lures her into what is an almost comically obvious trap, she's just too far gone to notice. We have one more chapter to go to truly end things off on. In the meantime, anyone care to speculate on how Claudia was able to purify the Scepter, or even how she knew it would work? Maybe she acquired the knowledge during her hours in the afterlife. Or maybe she has elven ancestry. Maybe dark magic can be healed, so to speak, by true repentance, which would tie in with that 'power of love' thing from way earlier. Hmmmm. See you guys in a few days. Review!