The Pattern of My Life, And the Puzzle That is Me
"As I've already partly explained to Catherine, you are now on a world called Krynn. This is the Tower of High Sorcery in Palanthas, a Tower that had been inaccessible until the coming of my former Master, Raistlin Majere; the greatest dark mage to walk the face of Krynn. I am Dalamar Argent, called Dalamar the Dark for my allegiance to the god of evil magic. However, I mean you no harm.
"Recently, I found out, by way of a scrying spell, that Catherine was my daughter, of which I'd previously been completely unaware. This would explain her stunted physical growth, as half-elves age at half the rate of full-humans.
"And you, Mr. Dante, I believe are the descendent of a dark mage who lived four hundred years ago, and was second in his arts only to my Master." Dalamar continued to talk for a while, summarizing for the two teens the reasons for their presence on Earth.
When done, the teens stared at him speechless. Fie, still annoyed about the drugging was the first to speak. "So, you're saying that there's some old woman on Earth who's over four hundred years old, and she's my distant relation? And that you can do magic? I don't believe you, on either count."
Before Dalamar could respond, Catherine cut in. "So my dreams were actually memories? I've always wondered why my ears sometimes bothered me, and I guess that's why." Her voice trailed away.
"Yes, Catherine, I'm afraid it is true, and terribly sorry I could not prevent it. And Fie, I suppose your attitude is understandable, as you were unconscious when I brought you here. Since you are incredulous, I will show you some of my magic. I believe I will try to contact the Lady Evelynn, and bring her here if she wishes it."
Before the young man could react, Dalamar took his scrying bowl, still full of water, off of the shelf, and set it on the desk. He grabbed Fie's hand and nicked it with his small silver knife. A drop of blood fell into the bowl, and he dropped Fie's hand.
"What the hell do you think you're doing? Fuck! You could've given me AIDS or something!" The normally well-spoken and polite Fie was scared into cursing at this uncalled-for attack.
Dalamar merely shook his head and motioned the teens closer. Catherine moved her chair up and peered into the bowl. She gasped when she saw the blood swirling to form an image of Fie's mother. "Fie," she croaked. "You should see this."
Reluctantly, Fie came closer as well, shooting a death glare at the mage, who paid no attention. He too gasped when he saw his mother in the bowl. "This may take a while." Dalamar sounded resigned.
He muttered words under his breath, only glancing at each face before changing it. Catherine and Fie looked on in awe and amazement as every living member of the Dante line was shown to them briefly.
Finally, after what seemed hours of flashing faces, Dalamar allowed the images to stop swirling as the image of an ancient looking woman came up. She had long hair of pure silver bound in a single braid, and she was every bit as slim as she'd been in her youth, but her face was now wrinkled with lines born of age, laughter, and sorrow. She was apparently looking in a mirror, and to Catherine and Fie, it looked as though she was in a nursing home or hospital.
"Perfect," Dalamar murmured. He spoke another word of power, and the woman in the bowl's expression changed. It was obvious from her surprise that she could now see Dalamar, who was bending further over the bowl.
"No..." The woman in the mirror whispered. "I can't be going crazy. I they put me in a hospital, they'll see my ears..." She rubbed her eyes vigorously, crying out softly when the apparition in her mirror didn't go away.
"Lady Evelynn?" Dalamar's voice was soft and soothing.
"Who are you? Go away! If they see me talking to a mirror..."
She started to turn away. "Evelynn, celao. Nan moriquendi ve nalye. Lastlye." He turned to the teens. "I just told her I'm a dark elf, as she is, and that she should listen to me." They turned their attentions back on the bowl.
Evelynn turned back slowly. "Am I dreaming in Elvish?" An expression of awe was on her face.
Dalamar switched back to English now that he had her attention. "No, My Lady, this is real. It is over three hundred years after you were banished to Earth. My name is Dalamar Argent, born to House Servitor of Silvanesti. I was exiled for practicing dark magic."
"Argent? My mind is cruel to remind me of my servant. My sister." Her eyes were sad.
"My Lady? Do you wish to return to Krynn?"
"You're in my mind, damn it! Why bother asking? Of course I do." She started to weep.
"Do something!" Fie was obviously upset by his relative's distress.
However, Dalamar was concentrating too hard to notice Fie's call. He had taken some rose petals and what looked suspiciously like bat guano and was rubbing them together. He then took out a small vial and saturated the mixture. A revolting smell rose from it all, but Dalamar seemed not to notice. He put the small pile on the ground in the open, and started to chant.
Suddenly, both teens gasped as a glowing gateway rose from the floor upward about seven feet. Dalamar smirked at them; smile saying plainly "Believe me now?" He then took a step, half crossing the threshold.
Fascinated, Fie stared back into the bowl. Much to his surprise, he saw the portal behind Evelynn, and Dalamar's body half way through it. He tried not to look up, because it was nothing short of sickening seeing half of the elf in one room and the other half through a bowl in another. Dalamar cleared his throat gently to get Evelynn's attention and lightly took her arm.
"Where are you taking me? Don't lock me away!" Though the woman was obviously upset, she kept her voice low, so as not to attract any attendants.
"It's all right, My Lady." Dalamar's voice was the most gentle Catherine had ever heard it, and without any trace of it's usual bite or sarcasm. He brushed his hair back to reveal his pointed ears. "You can trust me. Come. We'll leave this place. You'll never have to go back." He pulled her through the portal. Having none of her former strength, Evelynn could not resist the elf's gentle pull.
"There." Dalamar conjured the most comfortable chair in the Tower for her, and she sank down into its soft cushions.
"Where am I? Am I dead?" Her voice was relatively joyful at that prospect. It was obvious that the elderly elf had given up on life long ago, and the only thing keeping her alive was the fact that elves held life in such high regard that she couldn't throw hers away.
"No, My Lady Evelynn, you are not dead. You are on Krynn, in the Tower of High Sorcery in Palanthas. I am Dalamar, a dark elf like yourself. After you left Krynn, the Kingpriest and all of his followers were punished for their hubris by the gods, who destroyed Istar and rearranged the face of Krynn. Fistandantilus passed away during the Cataclysm."
Dalamar decided not to let Evelynn know how much of a monster Fistandantilus became after her departure. He judged, most likely accurately, that that would be the last straw, and the woman's already waning sanity would fail.
"I would that I'd died with him. Then I could've given Paladine a piece of my mind." A bit of the Lady's old fire was returning. "Where is Ramalad? I want to talk to her."
Dalamar shook his head. "I'm sorry, My Lady, I know no one named Ramalad. I apologize most sincerely. Is there anything else I could do for you?"
"Do you have any fruit? I feel terribly hungry."
"Of course, Lady Evelynn." He conjured a bowl of fruit similar to that that was in the guest rooms.
Evelynn snatched the blue-purple fruit up. "A heartfruit! I haven't seen one of these in years." She took a big bite, and chewed with obvious relish. It was only then that she seemed to notice the others in the room. "You. Boy! Come here." She gestured at Fie. Fie walked over, hesitant. "You look exactly like him. You're one of my descendants, aren't you?
"I suppose so, Ma'am. Assuming that the story Dalamar told me was true, I'm named for your husband, Fie."
"Of course." She seemed to be gaining her old vitality more and more with each sentence. Fie recognized it- many old people had an excellent long-term memory, even if their sanity in the present was slipping. "So, this is real. I'm really back amongst magic again. It can't be a dream, because I've never seen a place like this, or this young man or that young lady. It must be real." She seemed to have completely accepted that she was just taken into another world.
For a moment, there was silence. Then, out of nowhere, Evelynn spoke. "It never came true you know. The prophesy."
"Lady, I just told you. After you departed, the Kingpriest was given death for his arrogance and ..."
Evelynn cut him off. "No, not that part. I may be old, but I'm not daft. The part about my son becoming great. The last part. If I remember correctly, it was 'Zivilyn says the child will be great, someday.' That horrible prophesy. Why couldn't the gods have chosen some other to deliver their message? Why couldn't I have fought it? Then I'd never have had to go to that cursed world. And it never even came true! Was he rich? No! Did he find true love? No! Nothing. He was a good-for-nothing thief of a noble, content to play their court games for his whole life. It never even came true..." She was obviously slipping closer to insanity again as she burst into tears.
"Do you wish to go to a guest room, My Lady?" Dalamar was obviously made uncomfortable by the woman's piteous cries. At her nod of ascent, Dalamar summoned one of the spectres and Evelynn followed it out to yet another guest room. He handed her a handkerchief as she walked out, which she took gratefully. Now, he turned once more to the teens. "Now, children. I think if while you're here, it would be best if you learned some things."
A/N: Well, I hope you enjoyed. Sorry that Evelynn went insane. I just had to! The bunnies made me do it! Oh, and this chapter is cause for celebration! Exact half point of the story! Only 8 chapters to go!!! Oh, reviewer poll, really quickly. And an honest opinion, please. Do you think the story would be improved if Raist entered the picture? Again, please don't say yes just because you love him; we all do. (Slashers: that comment was completely platonic, and if you quote me on it, you are so being used as a lab rat in my next evil experiment!) So, tell me if you think that would be a good plot device. That is, in the review, which you do have to write! Wow, long AN...
Jade: Thanks much. Maybe you'll be able to guess what I've planned then about the prophesy!
Pen D. Fox: Thanks for reviewing!
Kenderling: Glad you liked my little interlude with Fistandantilus. I figured there had to be a reason why he was so evil! Sorry about the confusion over Arash's parentage. I put Dalamar's comment in there for just that reason. About the Q&A scene, you're not sadistic, at least not more than I am. I had a great time writing it, and was likely cackling to myself as I did. Thanks for all of your helpful comments.
Casey: Thanks! Sorry this one took so long.
Guan: Glad you liked.
Spiritu Puro: (6) Thanks so much for the praise. I think it may be my favorite chapter too (hence, now it has its own fic) Thanks for the offer, though I'm good for now. (7) Glad you liked my planning, though how he's going to get involved has yet to be revealed to me even!
Aliana Archer: Glad you enjoyed. You were so close on the guesses. Hope you continued to read.
Petalwing: (1) Oh, yeah, if she does go back to Earth, which she hasn't told me yet, she is totally getting sued when she's older. (2) No, they didn't rape her. And the police were... at ... an office party! Yeah, that's it. The bunnies made them do it! (3) Oh, you good! (4) Yeah, you gotta love Parsley. Makes you wonder how he got to be a mage, let alone Head of the Conclave! The idiot... (5) Thanks for saying I potrayed Dally correctly, and I completely understand what you're saying. (6) Yeah, I love that chappie too. (7) I know, Fie is so innocent and naive. But, he didn't eat anything. He slept too late!
A. N. Winterz: This is the one you reviewed, no? Sorry, I deleted the note from my inbox before realizing I needed to write a response, and the note on the story hasn't come up yet. Well, anyway, glad you started this and are liking it. Thanks for reading and reviewing.