Part II: The Dragon Lady
Chapter 9
When the companions left Lathander's tomb, they were surprised to find themselves walking into a chilly spring night. They had been below ground long enough that they had lost all track of time. The heavy fogs had begun to roll in through the moorland. Godric hurried over to the spot where she hid the horses, relieved to find them still secured and unharmed. She chuckled when she inspected them closer, the horses had begun to eat part of their camouflaging blind. "Silly feed bags," Godric teased, "fat lot of good a mouthful of leaves would have done you if goblin's had found you!" While the druid was doing this, the rest of the group conferred on what their next step would be.
"We cannot travel tonight." Lafayette stated as she wrapped her silken violet cloak around herself, in order to protect herself from the night's chill. "We should camp here for now and make our way back to Hulburg in the morning." The sorceress summoned the simplest of fire spells to burn the air around her fingers, keeping herself warm and lighting the night briefly.
Vivificus was already shaking his head while the sorceress was still finishing her thoughts. "Azara may have allies coming. It is far too risky for us to stay here." The swordmage did not care to meet any other allies of Azara seeking revenge. Little did he know how right he was, that her partner was on her way to the tomb as they spoke. Vivificus slipped his hand to the holy mark of Bane hanging from his neck. He had thought about removing it after the fight, but something halted him. Bane cherished winners and practicality, things that Vivificus relished as well. Had the swordmage found his calling?
"Treks tired," was all the dragonborn added to the debate before he walked away to assist Godric. He liked Godric, her positive attitude always managed to cheer him up. He trudged through the freezing mist without a care, cold had never bothered Treks.
Orion understood both of the eladrin's points. They were easy prey here in front of the tomb, but who knew what trouble they would run into on the road back to the Harmarch? He tried desperately to think of their travels and whether or not they had passed any hospitable areas nearby. He shook his head, thinking that in all of his lives he would never become a woodsman.
Before he came up with a solution, Godric rode out of the brush on the back of one of the horses. Treks followed behind the young druid on foot, holding the harness of the second horse. "Let's get going!" Godric exclaimed. She led the horse with only her hand on his mane and a few whispered whinies.
"Going where?" Orion shouted after her, but Godric was already reaching a canter with her horse.
"Just trust me!" She yelled over her shoulder at the deva.
Treks helped boost Lafayette onto the awaiting horse and the companions hurried after the shifter. Centuries of lycanthrope blood allowed Godric to see by Selune's light. After a quarter hour of hurried travel, the four stumbled upon the druid setting up camp. She had found a peaceful grove, hidden from any passersby. There was a babbling brook leading further into the forest and a duo of tall stones which gave Godric the perfect place to start her campfire, as it would hide the fire from any who were not looking for it. Lafayette was stunned by her daughter's abilities. Her perfect daughter had found the perfect place to rest and was setting up a perfect campsite. It reminded Lafayette of their home back in Cormanthyr, with its sunny little garden that Godric had planted. She would give up all of her magical abilities to return to that happy place.
The crescent moon shined down as the sorceress walked to her daughter, leaving the men to set up the tents. "How did you know of this place?" she asked, positive that they had not travelled this way earlier in the day.
"I asked a squirrel." Godric said, plain as day as if it were an obvious answer.
Lafayette searched for a response as Godric turned back to tend the fire. With a resigned chuckle, Lafayette turned to help Vivificus' set up his tent. She knew she would never understand her daughter, but from a quick glance over her shoulder she knew that she would never love another the way she loved Godric.
***
An hour after camp was set; Lafayette had to help Treks escaping from a collapsing tent. Shortly after that, she then had to stop the Dragonborn who was trying to rush the tent with his sword drawn, screaming how he had to "kill bad tent." Finally, the sorceress found time to approach her daughter with a heavy heart.
"What are you planning on doing when we get back to Hulburg?" Lafayette asked quietly.
Godric looked up at her mother, not surprised by the question. She knew when Lafayette volunteered to stay up with her for first watch that the unasked question that was plaguing Lafayette's mind was soon to come up. Godric picked her words carefully, trying hard not to provoke a fit of rage from the sorceress. Her mother would never harm her, but Godric would not see this peaceful glen destroyed by Lafayette's explosive temper.
"Well, Orion told me earlier that he had other missions that the town needs accomplished. The tomb was just the first one that he wanted to complete, as it was a 'travesty against our gods'," Godric mimicked the deva's dry tone, breaking Lafayette's cold stare. "But I was hoping that when he goes to face his next quest, whether it be a strike against the orcs that are building their numbers to the north of us," Lafayette was surprised that Godric knew of the orc threat to the town, but didn't say anything, "or some other quest, whatever, I was hoping that he would have the need for my talents."
Godric waited for her mother to respond, but Lafayette sat by the fire, staring into it silently. "What are your plans, mother?" Godric asked hesitantly.
"Ideally, returning to our house and enjoying the life that I have been building for you. However, what good would that life be without you?" Lafayette sighed; knowing that nothing short of taking Godric prisoner would prevent the druid's need to adventure. Even tying her up however probably wouldn't work, Lafayette could just imagine the druid turning into a mouse or some other little animal and scurrying away. "So I suppose I'll have to ask Orion if he would take this brash eladrin into his services." She turned to face Godric, not surprised to see the biggest smile on Godric's face. The shifter jumped forward, wrapping her mother in a tight embrace.
"I love you, mom." Godric said happily.
"I love you too dearheart. You can ask Orion if we may accompany him when our shift is over." With that, the sorceress spun around, removing her cloak. With a flourish, she wrapped it around her daughter's shoulders. "The night is brisk, keep warm dearheart." She kissed the druid on the forehead before turning to tend the fire.
With that, the druid turned to look at the deva. He was standing, not sitting, over by the tents, eyes wide open, unmoving. He claimed that this was how a deva rested. When Orion was telling this, Vivificus was obviously shaken by this, the deva disturbed him so much that it amused Godric.
"Do you think he can see us?" Godric whispered, staring at Orion.
"Don't stare Godric, it's rude." Lafayette mothered. "Get some rest, I'll finish our watch."
Godric turned away, per her mother's request, and missed the slight smirk appear on Orion's face. The deva was completely aware in his rest and was listening to the conversation, not because he was trying to eavesdrop, he did not have a choice. He felt as though he would remember these companions for many lifetimes.
***
Vivificus and Orion, each only needing four hours of rest, took the second watch. Lafayette sat cross-legged next to her daughter, meditating the way eladrin do. Godric was snoring contently, her head resting on her mother's lap, occasionally barking slightly in her sleep.
Vivificus poked a stick into the flames, adjusting a log to keep the flames burning brightly, and turned to check on Orion. The deva made some excuse to why he was not able to sit by Vivificus. Orion was currently down by the brook, wading through the water and washing himself. Vivificus turned back to the fire, glad that the deva was the one who came up with an excuse. Vivificus was wondering how he was going to get away from Orion during these four hours.
It wasn't so much that he hated the deva, indeed he respected him as a leader and a combatant. It was just that his belief in justice and what is right was too rigid for the swordmage. The deva was just too caught up in these foolish ideals which made him hard to manipulate… or even stand.
A strong breeze came through the camp, ruffling the tents and nearly extinguishing the campfire. Vivificus' first thought was to aid the flame, but he stopped in his tracks, paying attention to the wind. After the one strong gust the wind turned back to the way it had been blowing.
Which was in the opposite direction of the gust, something had changed the way the wind had been. What could it be?
He acted as if he was concerned over the fire, but his eyes were scanning the trees, looking for some form of movement. He found himself actually wishing that Orion was not standing so far away. There was no way to alert the deva to what was going on without alerting their intruder that someone was near. The swordmage wondered for a second if Treks' snoring would scare the intruder away, since his snores sounded more akin to a wild beast.
Unfortunately, Vivificus could see nothing. He settled back into his seat slowly, on edge of another attack.
Nothing came though.
Vivificus was not sure how much time had passed. He was so focused on looking for an intruder that he was shocked to turn and see the brook was gone, no trace of Orion or the water was left. He silently cursed, wondering where the deva had disappeared to. What could banish the waters? A powerful nature spirit? Vivificus briefly thought he had seen something like this before and found himself cursing him amnesia.
The sun was just beginning to come over the horizon, illuminating the grove slightly. This light was all Vivificus needed to see a small figure huddled behind a nearby tree, watching him.
The eladrin stood, pretending to stretch and walking away from the figure. He acted as though he was checking on his sleeping companions. He passed Treks and the women, circling back to the other side of the fire. From his new angle, he could see the mysterious man better. Crouched in the bush, still convinced that he was invisible to the swordmage, lay a gnome, spellbook in hand as if he was preparing to cast another spell.
Well, we cannot have that, Vivificus thought and started to draw his sword, lunging towards the gnome. The mage yelped and slammed his book shut, turning and rushing back into the woods. Vivificus closed his eyes, calling upon his innate abilities to enter the Feywild, hoping to use the momentum to get ahead of the gnome. For some reason, however, he could not enter the Feywild.
Part of Vivificus desperately wanted to know why this was, his ability never failed him on the natural plane before, but he shoved that mystery to the back of his mind. For now, he had to think on his feet for a backup plan.
He chanted a few arcane wards and a lash of arcane energy sprawled from his swordblade. The whip flicked forward, wrapping itself around the gnome's leg, causing the gnome to yelp out in shock as he fell to the ground. Vivificus was over the intruder in an instant, his sword drawn and at the gnome's throat.
"Why are you here?" He asked calmly, pressing the sword tight against the gnome's neck. He felt his sword nick the gnome's flesh, drawing blood. Good, I need him to be afraid.
"Why are you here?" The gnome repeated, terror in his eyes. "This is Yhvon's home!"
Standing over the unmoving gnome, Vivificus got his first good look at the creature. Yhvon had black war paint smeared on his cheeks, hair frizzled out to the side with bits of bark and branches stuck in it. This gnome was no foe, Vivificus realized. Yhvon lived out here in the wilderness, some sort of Wildman or nature worshiper.
"Please sir, I'll give you anything, just leave me in peace," the gnome said, tears starting to form in his bright eyes.
"Don't worry." The swordmage said coldly. "I'll take whatever I want when you're dead." Vivificus raised his sword, prompting Yhvon to close his eyes and bite his bottom lip. He wondered what he did to deserve this; he was only casting his cantrips at them as a prank. He had only changed the direction of the wind and hid the companions from each other's view with a little illusion. He did not want to die. He prayed to Barrar Wildar, gnomish god of nature.
Vivificus' killing blow was stopped short by a scream. He looked up to see Godric staring at him, her large brown eyes filled with shock.
"What are you doing!" Godric yelled, running towards them.
The swordmage hesitated, watching the anger in Godric's eyes. When she reached him, she struck recklessly, pushing Vivificus away. A flash of rage flashed through Vivificus, but his anger dissipated as he watched Godric turn to the gnome. The anger in her eyes turned to compassion as she helped this creature up on his feet. How could she feel this pity for a creature she did not even know?
"Are you okay?" Godric asked the gnome, picking some twigs out of his hair.
"Oh, thank you thank you thank you!" Yhvon said, grabbing Godric's hand and kissing it.
"Just go." Godric said, not taking her threatening glare away from Vivificus.
As the gnome ran off, still babbling his thanks, Godric turned her back to the eladrin, staring off into the distance in silence.
A tense moment passed as Vivificus pulled himself up. "Godric…" he started, placing his hand on her shoulder, only causing the druid to shrug it off.
"Don't. Just," a slight pause "don't." She said, walking back to the camp. As tears started to form in her eyes, she felt relief, despite her anger, that the commotion did not wake Lafayette. For Vivificus' sake.
***
The next morning, as Treks awoke and Orion returned to camp from his morning prayers, the two of them did not understand what they were seeing. The brook was dried up and where the forest of trees once stood was an scrubland and brambles. Lafayette understood when she came out of her reverie, although she did not understand the cause of it. Vivificus and Godric knew better.
The gnome's magic had caused them to enter the Feywild, and with his departure this grove returned to its natural state.
Lafayette noted the tension between her daughter and Vivificus as the group packed up camp, but she decided to leave well enough alone. In her mind, it still stemmed from Vivificus' mock betray and if it was anything that Godric wanted to talk about, she would.
As the companions headed down the path, leaving the grove that Yhvon once called home, Godric stuck her hand into her pocket absently. She felt something that did not belong, and pulled a gold necklace out. She felt dazzled by its beauty. She turned to regard Vivificus, who was acting as though he was not watching her. Godric frowned and dropped the necklace in the dried creekbed. She would not have her values compromised by a silly trinket, no matter how beautiful. Besides, if the swordmage wanted to apologize, he would have to be a man about it.
Her sullen attitude was noticed by Treks, who made his way up to her. "No sad, Gogo!" Treks said as he snuck up behind her and gave her a big hug. "Owe said all go on many quests. Together!" The Dragonborn twirled with the laughing druid in his arms while Orion and Lafayette watched on, chuckling at the overeager friends. Godric broke into a giant smile, grateful for Treks' love.
Vivificus smirked, thinking how they were all fools, but at least they were useful.
This group of adventures had seen many perils already and would face many more to come.