Disclaimer: I do not own the "Avalon: Web of Magic/Quest for Magic" series or the song "Blackheart", they belong to Rachel Roberts and Darkwell respectively.

Happy Day of Silence, everyone.

All my desire are the flames of the eternal fire
Strange winds of time killed the flames blew out all that was mine

Ruin led her to the sorcery room, and Emily was shocked as she realized what was happening. Everything was placed just as it had been in one of her visions! She glanced at the doorway but then remembered that she had been here in her vision just as her real self had been leaving. She halted just inside of the dark cave, and Ruin calmly lit a couple of wall scones and the white candles placed in the corners of the room for extra light. The sorcerer turned to her after a few moments of silence that seemed to last hours. He looked straight into her hazel eyes with his green ones. He did not talk for a few more moments after that, and seemed to be studying her, trying to figure out what was the best way to start a conversation that would most likely end badly. The Healer mage as beginning to grow impatient.


My heart was
My soul was
Never-ending source
of devotion
And spirits

"Can you say something?" She snapped, crossing her arms across her chest.

Ruin's eyes seemed to flash, but it could have just been the flickering candlelight tricking her own eyes. The sorcerer laughed, as much of an unpleasant sound as it had been before. "You have no authority here, girl. I do. Your friends are my prisoners now."

All my desire are the flames of the eternal fire
Strange winds of time killed the flames blew out all that was mine

Ruin glared at her again, and any trace of the former lighthearted facade vanished. "I need you for the next part of my plan, but you must do it willingly or it will not work. Damn fairy magic, but those are the conditions."

"And I say no?" Emily asked, thinking that it would be incredibly easy for her to just say no and get out of there.

"There's a reason I took your friends prisoner," The sorcerer replied, a hint of humor in his voice. Emily's wrinkled her nose at his sneering tone.


His heart was
His soul was
Impending doom
Of desperation
And submission
Undying bloom
All that I tried to reach
An immortal bond
In the end it fades away

"Leave them alone," she growled.

"They'll be unharmed if you cooperate, dearest." Ruin smoothed back his blonde hair. "Now, will you help me?"

Emily weighed her options. She couldn't attack him; he'd just call the orcs and he'd still get what he wanted, one way or another. She sighed.

"What do you want me to do?"

Ruin grinned widely at his apparent victory. "Good choice, Ms. Fletcher. Come here."

Emily crossed the cave-room, glancing at the seeing pool as she walked around it. It wasn't boiling with color as it had been in her vision, and the Healer wondered when, or if, her premonition would come to pass.

All my desire are the flames of the eternal fire
Strange winds of time killed the flames blew out all that was mine

"Emily," Ruin called, breaking her from her thoughts. She lifted her head from string into the water and noticed that he was looking at her strangely-- a combination of confusion and... Fear? What did Ruin have to be scared of her for? The redheaded Healer walked closer to the sorcerer.

"What?" She asked, somehow keeping the tremble from her voice. Ruin told her to hold out her hands, something clasped in his own. He opened his palms and poured a fine, bright red sand into her hands.

All my trust
All my pain
Wasted hopes
Never
Will I hunger
For this again
Take this curse from me
Let me walk alone
In the end all fades away

"What is this for?" She asked.

"Hold on," He replied, seemingly distracted as he searched the surface of his oak table for something. Papers with ancient writings fluttered to the floor, and various magic talismans were shoved tro the side. He reached out a hand, and picked up what he was apparently looking for. He placed a clear, uncut quartz crystal on top of the sand. "Wait."

Emily waited. As she stared at the crystal, it began to emit a pure, white light, which grew stronger and stronger. Emily looked at her healing gem. The rainbow stone was glowing with all of its colors, the two magic beams touched, and began to spark.

All my desire are the flames of the eternal fire
Strange winds of time killed the flames blew out all that was mine