A/N: I just wanted to say a quick thank you to the anonymous reviews -- I reply to the ones I can, but to the ones I can't, I appreciate your feedback! And some apologies for the slight delay in this chapter -- it's quite long, was quite difficult to write, and I'm still not sure if I'm completely happy with it. Thanks also to Kulyok, who would have gladly beta'd it for me, but I ended up finishing it far too late, and with another working week coming up... best to post now, I think! Thank you to everyone who's still here with us -- I'm not sure how many chapters to go, in all honesty, as this one ended up having to be split due to the extreme length. There are slight Artistic Licenses taken with various game aspects, but er... you could take this as preparation for the Throne of Bhaal segment, I guess... :D
General disclaimer: I own nothing, even Maiyn generally decides her own path.
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Hell
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Lilarcor tore through Irenicus' robe, leaving a deep gash in his side. He cursed loudly, stumbling to the side and sinking to his knees as the others watched Maiyn. As soon as the purple glow had reached her, she'd sunk to the ground. Her eyes had fluttered once, then closed; and all strength just seemed to be drained away.
Imoen watched with horror, unable to take her gaze elsewhere. She took one step, cautiously, towards her sister, but then stopped. Something was wrong; something was happening...
"No!" she cried, her hands rising to her mouth as she watched the first few golden particles drift into the air, floating above the elf's body.
Slowly, Anomen got to his feet, groaning as he saw the body of Jaheira. When he turned and saw Maiyn, his eyes widened, and a look of bewilderment crossed his face.
"What's happening?" he asked, his voice barely loud enough to be heard.
"She's dead," Xan choked, his voice hoarse. Minsc roared in anger.
"No! Minsc and Boo will not fail again!" the berserker yelled, raising his sword high into the air. It plunged into the mage's slumped form, causing him to shudder briefly, then fall as lifeless as the two women he'd killed.
"I... I m-must get Elhan," Solen said shakily, backing away from the scene with widened eyes, and turning to run up the stairs.
The golden specks had paused with Minsc's action, steadying their swirl to hover just above Maiyn's body. Then, slowly, they began to spread out, forming several tendrils that stretched from her prone corpse. Coran frowned slightly.
"What is that?" he asked.
Xan's brow was also furrowed. "Her... soul, I would have initially guessed, but..." He sighed and glanced over to Irenicus before returning his eyes to his fallen companion. "The taint, possibly?"
"Is she... will she..." Imoen looked over to Xan with despairing eyes, leaving her question unasked. He sighed heavily.
"It is said, yes, that the body dissolves into dust," he confirmed. "And it certainly appeared to be the case when your brother met his end."
Imoen sobbed, her hands returning to cover much of her face. The tendrils had snaked their way forwards, and one was swaying in the air before the young human girl.
Another approached Xan, and one wound its way over to Coran, drifting easily past Nalia and Anomen. There was already one floating in the air beside Minsc, and the Rashemeni was staring at it with puzzlement.
"Should the taint not... just... go somewhere?" asked Coran eventually.
Imoen gasped suddenly. "Look," she said, pointing to Jaheira. Some of the golden specks had settled on the druid's side, causing her whole body to glow with a faint golden light.
Coran shook his head helplessly. "But what does it mean?" he asked.
Anomen had moved over to kneel beside Irenicus. He was frowning slightly. "He's not dead," he said quietly, moving aside to avoid the specks that had begun to swirl above his body.
"He still has her soul," Xan noted. "She is... fighting for it? But she cannot be..."
"Then... she's not really dead?" Imoen asked, looking over to Anomen hopefully. The knight made his way to the ranger, kneeling by her side as he gently reached out to examine her. He frowned.
"She appears to be fatally wounded," he said thoughtfully, "but there is... something..." He paused, looking up to Imoen apologetically. "I don't know what it is."
Imoen nodded slowly. "I think… I think she needs our help," she said suddenly. The others stared at her.
"How?" Coran asked. "What can we do? Kill him?"
Imoen closed her eyes, reaching out to the tendrils that were still dancing before her. "No..." she mused softly. "It's not about him, now. It's about Maiyn. She... she needs us. I know it." With a smile, she opened her eyes and nodded. The golden particles surged forward, seeming to go into her, and she fell to the ground motionless. A faint golden glow emanated from her.
"Imoen!" Anomen called, scrambling back to his feet. Minsc roared once again, and Coran had to grab hold of the berserker while he could, trying to coax him from the rage that threatened to consume him.
"Wait, Minsc -- just wait," the elf said urgently. "Let Anomen speak."
Minsc nodded, but anger still shone in his eyes as he stood there, tense and ready to unleash his strength on their enemy.
Anomen sighed heavily as he pulled back from Imoen's body, running a single hand through his hair as he stood again. "It is quite unnatural," he said, his voice carrying the worry that was etched into his face. "Lady Imoen is... well, she is alive..."
"But?" Coran asked.
"But she is beyond reaching," the priest said. "Healing will not affect her state, and Helm sees no way through the darkness to reach her... her soul."
Xan paled. "She has allowed her soul to follow Maiyn," he said quietly. "The battle is not over."
Coran threw his hands up in the air in frustration. "You are all talking in riddles," he exclaimed impatiently, glaring around at his companions. "What are you saying?"
Xan gave a short, mirthless laugh. "When Irenicus killed Maiyn, he thought it would be over. But, unfortunately for him, Maiyn seems to be rather attached to her soul, and is unwilling to die without it in place."
"With his wounds being so severe, he has been unable to fight her, and so she has pulled him..." Anomen hesitated.
"Where?" Coran asked.
"I don't know," the knight admitted. "But Imoen has willingly allowed her soul to join them. I fear she will not return to her body until... until it is over."
The companions fell silent. Eventually Minsc nodded, then reached up to his shoulder and scratched Boo on the head.
"Boo is right," he announced. "We cannot allow little Maiyn and little Imoen to face evil on their own."
He reached out, letting the specks rush into his fingertips. Almost immediately, he fell to the ground, a golden hue glowing, and Anomen moved over to check on him.
"The same," he confirmed. "Both he and the hamster. Just as the Lady Imoen."
"Is it waiting for us?" Coran asked, eyeing the train of particles that waved in the air before him. Another was still drifting around Xan, but none remained near Nalia.
Anomen hesitantly reached towards the wispy trail that lingered in the air beside him. It shied from his touch, not allowing him to get close enough for contact. He frowned slightly.
"She cannot call you," Xan said quietly. "She has not had the time to know you enough."
The priest nodded, and looked over to Nalia. The young mage was standing alone, quietly, beside the stairs. At his look, she moved forward hesitantly, and also reached out for the thread. Once again, it rippled away.
Xan nodded quietly. "It is waiting."
"For us?" Coran asked.
Xan shrugged. He wondered what lay beyond; he couldn't help himself. The specks danced around, almost as if trying to entice him to come close, to touch them... just as she had done in life, even when she hadn't realised it. He'd come this far with her, stayed true to her cause despite his fears and concerns over the direction -- over the duties he was overlooking for his People while he travelled with her.
To know that Imoen and Minsc were not dead was not reassuring to Xan in the slightest. He was well aware of his mortality, and knew his doom would come one day. But then...
He gazed down at the sword sitting innocently at his side. Could he willingly walk into a situation that might ask for death as the price to offer Maiyn his assistance? Would the blade allow him the foray into the unknown, or would the pull be too strong from it. Would it, perhaps, berate him for his decision?
There was so much uncertainty. He looked over to Coran; the other elf was watching the specks with a look of horrified fascination. What was holding him back? Why had he not bravely given himself to the cause yet?
"Is it... is it changing?" Coran's gaze didn't move. Slowly, the enchanter turned away, letting his own eyes settle on the dancing particles. They seemed to gleam less, now... they were duller in colour, and the trail was less dense than it had been. Time was running out.
"Xan? Xan, tell me what's happening!"
Xan's throat felt dryer than it had ever felt before. He knew his legs were shaking, and he could see his hand trembling as he reached out. A sudden blankness swept over him; the fear of dying, the concern of the unknown -- it was all washed away, and for the vaguest moment, he felt almost at peace.
And then he fell.
Coran swore loudly as the enchanter tumbled to the ground. Frantically he looked up to Anomen, searching for answers. The priest shrugged apologetically, unable to offer any advice. His gaze then fell to Nalia.
She was watching him intently; there was worry and fear in her expression, but also curiosity. She was waiting; waiting for him to decide.
The specks had almost completely dispersed, and the glows on the bodies of those who Maiyn had summoned to be with her were fading. He swallowed hard, staring down hatefully at the sword in his hands -- a painful reminder of the first time he'd lost himself from the mortal plane. This time, though, it was to be his choice.
"I'm sorry," he said, staring back at Nalia, before closing his eyes, and desperately reaching out for the faint thread that remained. Almost immediately, he felt the warmth engulf him, flooding over him and washing away all his feelings and thoughts. He felt himself falling to the ground, and then it all went black.
The last thing he heard was Nalia crying.
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Everything was dark. It was the first thing Maiyn noticed when she opened her eyes, and it was the worst possible sign to receive. It meant she wasn't on the Tree of Life -- she most probably wasn't even in Suldanessellar. And she had no armour and no weapons.
So... where was she?
Her eyes adjusted to the lack of light, and she shakily sat up, glancing around. She appeared to be in a large cavern, beside a massive set of double doors that reached up to the ceiling, easily four or five times taller than her. Across from them, nearer the centre, was a tall statue, twisted and snarling; she looked away from it as quickly as she could. Beyond it lay vast darkness, and she could see nothing beyond it or in it. She sighed slightly, deciding she might as well stand up.
"Ah, you have arrived."
She leapt to her feet, backing away from the creature. She'd not even noticed it sitting there, at her side, and she took in its sharp teeth, scaled skin, leathery wings and pointed tail. She found herself backed up against a wall, and her heart felt as if it was racing.
But if her heart was racing...
"Where am I?" she asked, frowning slightly. The demon just watched her with an amused expression.
"Oh, you are in Hell," it replied casually. There was a long pause.
"So... I'm dead?" One of her eyebrows rose.
"Well, technically... I suppose you are," it said thoughtfully.
"Technically?"
"One has to be dead, to a degree, to get here. You, however, Bhaalspawn... you should never have reached this plane."
Maiyn stood up a little straighter and crossed her arms. The demon swished its tail idly.
"Why am I here, then?" she asked.
"Because you want what is through that door." It sounded surprised by her question.
Maiyn turned to look at the door, and found herself walking backwards to get a better look at it. The demon flapped its wings once, and two floating balls of flame appeared in the air, helpfully bringing some light to the area.
"Thanks," she said, regarding the creature with less caution than before. If it had wanted to cause her harm, it would almost certainly have done so by now.
Her attention returned to the entrance before her, which was irrevocably shut securely. The doors appeared to be made of some metal, iron possibly, and wrought with depictions of demons and devils, of fire and force. Around them was what appeared to be the stone wall of the cavern, glowing with an eerie purple colour. More carvings were upon it, but the predominant ones were eyes. There were hundreds of them, most open and looking straight at her coldly. Five were larger than the rest -- they were the only ones closed, and there seemed to be a sense of sadness about them that she couldn't quite put her finger on. She shook her head slightly, trying to shift the melancholy feeling she was picking up.
"How do I get through?"
"You must open the eyes and allow them to see," the demon said.
She looked back at the door. "How do I do that?"
The demon let out a low growl. Maiyn turned around to see five faint blue lights shining on the walls, dark passages leading away from the cavern beneath them. They were all located between the doors and the statue. She looked back towards the endless darkness beyond.
"The Abyss lies beyond," the demon said. "Where you should have gone, I wager. We do not normally have a passage leading to it, like this. Your presence here has... altered it."
"I see," Maiyn said quietly. It suddenly appeared even more ominous that it had originally.
"Would you like to take a look?" the demon asked. "So you will know what to expect if the time comes when you properly die."
"Er... no. Thank you," she said quickly. She turned back to face the creature; it was a lot less intimidating than it had appeared originally. The teeth were sharp, but they were crooked and broken. The wings were red and leathery, but also far too small for the tan-coloured body. Its eyes were glowing red, but there was no menace in them. If anything, it looked... bored. Its tail was twitching slightly on the ground.
"What are you?" she asked, unable to help herself.
"I'm the Keeper."
"The Keeper?"
The demon gave her a pointed look, then used one extremely short and scrawny arm to point to its left. "Of the door," it added, making sure she understood.
"Oh," Maiyn nodded. "I see. Can't you just let me through, then?"
The demon stared at her. "I could, yes."
Maiyn waited. "And... will you, then?"
It sighed. "If you ask it of me, I cannot refuse; but I give you a warning now. The lights will help the eyes to see clearer."
"Is that important?"
"He does not stand alone. He who you seek will have allies by his side. To defeat him, you need to see clearly."
Maiyn stood in thoughtful silence for a few moments, looking over towards the hazy blue lights as they flickered in the dim gloom of the chamber. Together with the demon's conjured orbs, the statue was much more visible, and Maiyn could clearly see the expressions of torment and agony on the faces of the writhing masses encircling the centre column. She sighed.
"Which should I go to first?"
"All eyes can see as well as the other," the demon said. "And together, they create perfect vision."
Maiyn just nodded and took a deep breath. After some more internal deliberation, she headed towards the closest of the lights, and plunged into the dark passage.
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Maiyn followed the stairs down and into a room lit with several torches hanging from plain sconces, much smaller than the cavern above. The surroundings were quite bare; simple stone slabs lay neatly on the floor, and a grey marble bench ran along the circular wall. In the centre was a bronze plinth, an iron cage surrounding it and a thick mist concealing the contents.
As she moved forward, the mist cleared, and revealed Minsc standing on the platform, Boo perched on his shoulder. He smiled down to her, looking completely unaffected by the restrictive bars of his cell.
"Can you get out?" she asked, working her way around the cage, examining it for some kind of door or opening. She found nothing.
"Boo says that we must wait here, that little Maiyn shall free us."
She looked up to him helplessly. "I can't free you -- I don't know how to. It's… it's like when we were back in Irenicus' dungeon, remember? You broke free of the cage, then -- you can do it again!"
Minsc shook his head and reached out through the bars, taking her own, smaller hands in his. "Boo says that you will know what to do when the time comes. And it comes soon."
She nodded, feeling his hands squeeze hers reassuringly before the berserker pulled them back within the confines of his cage. He looked so relaxed, that Maiyn felt her own panic abate slightly, and she managed a weak smile in return.
I can be as courageous as Minsc, she told herself, frowning in determination as she looked around. Nothing had changed in the room, but suddenly she was wearing her armour again, and the familiar weight of her bow and quiver landed softly on her back as her blade appeared in her hand.
She tensed. Several long moments passed with nothing further happening, but then she began to hear a faint noise. It sounded like something scratching, very far away, getting louder as she listened. As it became clearer, she heard it better; it wasn't scratching, but a chittering noise, echoing slightly in the bareness of the room. She began to sweat, she felt her heartbeat increase. She'd heard the sound before; she'd been managing to fight the fear slowly, but this time she had no Xan by her side, using his magics to reinforce her confidence.
This time she was on her own.
And they came; hundreds of them, swarming into the room, scuttering over the floor. She shrieked, leaping up onto the bench and running as far from the door as she could go. The spiders homed in on Minsc, crawling between the bars and scurrying onto the ranger as he tried to fight them off, nipping and biting him with their mandibles. He let out an agonising cry as the poison began to build in his system.
"Minsc!" Maiyn shouted desperately, watching as the creatures continued to flood into his cage. For every one that faded from existence after biting him, another dozen would have scurried between the bars. It wouldn't be long before he was overwhelmed.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then grabbed the nearest torch from the wall and leapt to the ground. Cautiously, she made her way forward, waving the fire before her.
The spiders didn't stop coming. She cleared a path to the door, burning all who got in her way, then concentrated on holding them off there. Eventually, the room was clear of them, though Minsc was badly injured from their attacks. Maiyn wondered how long she was expected to hold them off, shrieking slightly every time a few managed to get past the torch, and stamping at them with her boots.
The swarm lessened, and she felt relief flooding over her. When she was sure it had stopped, she turned to face Minsc and gave him a huge smile, then looked expectantly at the cage.
"Why isn't it opening?" she asked, a frown beginning to develop on her face. The berserker was looking at her solemnly.
"Minsc and Boo think that you should look behind you," he said calmly.
A shiver ran down her spine, and the torch dropped from her hands as she felt her whole body begin to tense. She tried hard to keep her breathing even, then forced her arm to tighten its grip on her sword, as she cautiously moved around to the side of Minsc's cage, making sure she didn't look behind.
When she thought there was enough distance between her and the entrance, she peered over her shoulder. She promptly screamed.
The arachnid blocked the doorway completely, and chittered in response to her cry. It managed to dart into the room, only just able to manoeuvre in the space between the walls and the cage in the centre. Maiyn ran from its reach.
"Little Maiyn needs to go for the legs," came Minsc's encouraging voice.
"Little Maiyn doesn't want to be anywhere near it," she wailed in return, whimpering as she abruptly changed her direction, avoiding the spider as it doubled back on itself towards her.
"Little Maiyn is braver than this," Minsc said sternly. "Little Maiyn must defeat her fears to gain her courage."
She ducked as the creature swung a leg towards her, putting distance between her and it once again. Minsc grimaced in pain; the poison was still in his system, and while he was in the cage, Maiyn could not help him.
She had to fight.
She dodged another advance from the spider, but moved forward instead of retreating, and weaved away from its maw. With as much force as she could muster, she pushed her sword forward and into the carapace, doing very little damage. Minsc was right; she needed to go for the legs.
She darted away from it again, racing around the cage and reaching it before it could turn to face her again. She took her sword in both hands and drew it back, swinging it forward violently towards one of the rear legs.
It easily sliced through the flesh, causing the creature to cry out shrilly. Ichor poured from the wound as it scuttled away, but she pursued it, following up the stroke with another blow to one of the other uninjured legs. She achieved the same result.
Minsc was cheering her on now, and the arachnid was desperately trying to retreat, finding it hard to get through the doorway with its injuries. Maiyn kept hacking at it, ignoring the stench and the ooze, concentrating on bringing it down so she could free her friend. Eventually it fell to the ground, twitched, then disappeared.
There was a soft click, and part of Minsc's cage sprang open, allowing the berserker to walk freely. She raced into his arms, returning his bearhug with happiness and relief, before pulling away and opening her mouth to speak.
But she had nothing to say; the wounds on his body were healing as she watched, and he gladly informed her that he felt no more poison in his system. She nodded with relief, only backing away when his armour and weapons started appearing on him. Eventually he looked more like the Minsc she was used to seeing on the battlefield, and she felt even more reassured.
"Stand back, evil!" he declared, waving Larry around. "Minsc and Boo are here to cleanse the wicked from within these walls!"
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Apparently, Maiyn was the only one who could pass below the blue lights, and so Minsc and Boo had to wait with the demon while she took another passage, after the berserker promised that he wouldn't kill it.
Again, the passage took her down some stairs, but this time the room was much larger. Grass appeared to grow underfoot, but when Maiyn examined it closer, it felt fake and dry -- a poor imitation of reality.
"I wondered how long I'd have to wait here," came Jaheira's irritable voice. Maiyn looked up to see the druid standing in front of a brick building with two doors. There were no windows to be seen, and both doors were firmly closed.
"I thought you were dead," Maiyn said, rushing forward to embrace the woman, who readily returned the hug. "Where are we?"
"You do not know?" Jaheira asked, raising an eyebrow as they pulled apart. There was a glint of humour in her otherwise grim expression. "I assume it is something to do with you -- if you do not know, I am sure I will not. Regardless; I was, and possibly still am, dead -- but I was taken here from the plane I found myself in. I assume that I am still to aid you, as best as I can."
"You can remember what you saw?" Maiyn asked quietly, incredulously. "I mean, before you came here?"
The druid nodded slowly. "It was... not what I expected," she chuckled. "I had hoped that the afterlife would provide some peace and serenity after the turmoil of life; I wished for nothing more than the open expanses to remind me of nature."
"But?"
"I found myself standing in a darkened place, stone and people surrounding me. It was... it was just like being in a city!"
Maiyn couldn't help but grin. "People?" she asked. "You mean..."
"Others who had passed to the other side," the half-elf affirmed. "There were portals appearing, disappearing. Some people would pass through them, others seemed to be waiting. I had only begun to wander around, when I felt a pull and I appeared here."
Maiyn nodded. "And did... did you see Khalid?"
Jaheira's mouth pursed. "I did not," she said, not unkindly. "Though he would have passed through that area some time ago. I have... I have faith that our destinations will be the same, and he will wait a little longer for my company. But now; you must concentrate."
Maiyn peered past at the building behind the druid. "I take it I have to go inside?"
"I would assume so," Jaheira replied dryly. "I know little of what is expected of you, and only that the path you choose is important. I must come with you as you go."
Maiyn nodded and wandered closer to the building. Both doors were similar in appearance, though one was red and one was black. Inscriptions lay across the tops.
"'Acts of honour, heart not so true. All that matters, in short, is you.'," Maiyn read from above the red door. She frowned slightly, and read the one above the black. "'A good deed done, a way to meet the ends. What matters to you, is the fate of your friends.'."
Maiyn threw a quizzical look at Jaheira, but the druid avoided meeting the gaze, intently studying the signs for herself instead. Maiyn shrugged, and pushed open the black door, cautiously going inside.
A lantern lit to welcome here, and she found herself in a small unfurnished room, with two further doors. This time they lay open, showing what lay ahead. She cautiously approached them.
The leftmost door led into another room, lavishly furnished with cushions and thick rugs, and with a long table covered with dishes and goblets full of food and drinks. There was the faint sound of music drifting into Maiyn's hearing, and a large fire burned in the hearth at the far side. Above the fireplace was one simple painting; in it, several half-elves looked to be screaming and crying, their bodies covered in scars, and blood covering the ground where they stood. Painted above them was a shadowed figure, a hand raised high in the air as it held onto a whip.
A figure, unfamiliar to the elf, formed in the centre of the room. He was a kindly looking man, smiling towards her and beckoning her to come through. "Come and rejoice," he said, his voice smooth and warm. "The powerful are welcome here, the followers..." He motioned towards the painting. Maiyn frowned, and pulled away from the entrance. Wordlessly she moved to the other doorway.
This room was cold and almost bare. The stone floor had only the barest scattering of rushes over it, and one single, old table had been placed against a wall. A few pieces of crusty, stale bread were on a plate, and a large jug of water stayed cool due to the chill in the air. Maiyn looked at the walls -- all were plain brick, and there were no paintings, no disturbing images or carvings. She glanced briefly back towards the other exit, and shook her head. Then she moved into the bare room.
Jaheira followed her as she walked straight towards the next two exits. The first opened up to show a large hall, the soft sound of harps filtering in from it. The walls were plain wood, only the occasional painting of the scenery of Faerun hanging as decoration. The floor was simple stone tiles, covered with a thin, plainly woven rug. One large window allowed sunlight to stream inside, creating an atmosphere of warmth.
And in the middle stood the image of Galvarey, smiling smugly over towards her.
"The Bhaalspawn," he sneered. "She of such self-importance, that her own thoughts and feelings matter more than the good of the greater Balance."
Maiyn frowned, intense hatred flowing through her veins. She moved to peer through the other doorway; another hall lay before her, the stone floors and walls lying coldly bare, and only a few torches lit around the room to provide any light. Two figures stood here, standing beside a wooden workbench covered with jars and pouches, some of them spilling their contents out across the surface. Maiyn grimaced at the sight of the eyeballs and organs, some looking as if they'd been freshly procured.
Montaron grinned over to her, a dangerous glint in his eyes. She could hear Xzar's humming in the background, watching in fascination as the silver knife he held in his hands glided easily through the various pieces of flesh and muscle he was working on.
"Ye be debatin' yer path," the halfling noted softly. "Can ye see beyon' yer own narrowed goals, and take the bigger picture into consideration, tho'?"
Maiyn's brow furrowed slightly. "What do you mean?" she asked. "And who are you? You can't really be..."
Montaron barked a laugh, but didn't reply. Maiyn moved, looking back towards Galvarey -- he stared back at her, a venomous look that pierced right through her. Helplessly, she turned to Jaheira.
"I don't understand," she said. "What am I meant to do?"
The druid shook her head. "I cannot see what lies beyond the doors, and you must not tell me. You must decide this on your own."
"I don't know how," Maiyn protested.
Jaheira smiled slightly. "I have faith in you. You know what is right."
Maiyn nodded slowly, her mind working furiously. Galvarey -- how she hated the man for what he'd done to her friend! -- was, nonetheless, a recognised Harper; a member of an organisation that strove to be right and just, no mater how interfering they could be. Xzar and Montaron, on the other hand, were members of the Zhentarim, an agency of evilness and corruption. Galvarey had tried to kill her; Montaron and Xzar had saved her life.
But there was more to think of, than just her.
Without hesitation, she turned back to the doors and strode through the first one, feeling slight satisfaction as Galvarey's apparition disappeared into nothingness, and two portals appeared in the air instead. They shimmered with a rainbow of colours, enticing her to look at them closer, but first she threw a curious look back to Jaheira; the druid was looking quietly pleased at the progress so far.
With slightly more confidence, the ranger walked over to the first portal, and waited patiently as it slowly swirled into focus. The picture of a small home appeared; not overly spacious, but extremely cosy. A bedroom could be seen, the door ajar. The main room was comfortably furnished, and a woman bustled in with a bundle in her arms, smiling as she knelt on the rug nearest the hearth. Maiyn's heart skipped as she noticed the resemblance between the woman and herself; and then as she noticed the bundle moving as it was laid gently on the floor, hands waving in the air as its gentle gurgling spilled through the portal.
Another figure entered; Maiyn strained to see who it was, but it remained hazy, on the edge. Her likeness turned to smile fondly to the person, before returning her attention to the child squirming free from the blankets wrapped around it. Maiyn found herself smiling, her hand reaching out to the life beyond her; but then the view began to pull away -- out of the main door, revealing a small cottage nestled into a hill, surrounded by woods. The scene was carried across the forest, over many hills, across plains and acrid landscaped, before eventually settling on a town. It was on fire.
Flames were still consuming many of the buildings, and people fled from the destruction, weeping and screaming. Women carried their children, fleeing as heavily armoured men closed in on them, their deadly blades effortlessly bringing down any who got too close to them. Smoke and ash filled the air, together with the sound of laughter; crazy and possessed, getting louder and louder, and mixing with the increasing shrieks. Maiyn pulled away, her heart racing in her chest. Fearfully, she turned to the next portal, waiting in anticipation as it began to reveal its own version.
The town was revealed again -- this time it was not burning; people could be seen cowering; running through the streets, and ducking into their homes, but they were not fleeing. A group of people were standing in the middle of one of the roads, surrounding a central figure. As the view moved in towards them, she recognised herself -- giving out instructions, looking around herself sternly as she waved her hands, pointing in various directions. One by one the people around her were nodding, occasionally speaking back.
Jaheira was there, her face grim, and Minsc was readying his sword in his hands as Anomen stood in quiet prayer, his eyes closed. Imoen and Xan were passing scrolls to each other as they listened to her words. One by one they seemed to be preparing for battle, and then, with one last nod, her likeness began to lead them away, towards the city gates. Maiyn only had a quick glimpse of the amassed army waiting for them, before the portal dulled down again, returning to the swirl of colours it had been before, and mirroring its twin. She sighed softly to herself, and closed her eyes.
"Child?" Jaheira's voice sounded concerned. Maiyn only managed a weak smile as she looked up.
"There is a great price to pay to be selfless," the ranger noted quietly. "But in all good conscience, it's one that... it cannot be avoided." She turned to the second portal, glancing wistfully back to the first one, briefly -- remembering the picture of her and the baby, and hoping it would stay with her, if nothing else did. Then, with a deep breath, she plunged through towards the scene of the battle, and came out back at the beginning, beside the stairs leading back to the main cavern. The druid appeared by her side.
Maiyn looked over to her expectantly. Within seconds, Jaheira's armour and weapon had appeared, and the half-elf nodded grimly towards her.
"I made the right choices, then," the ranger said thoughtfully.
"It would appear so," Jaheira agreed. "I can... listen to them, now, if you wish to speak?"
Maiyn nodded. "Come -- I will tell you what happened as we go upstairs. Minsc is already there."
Jaheira's eyebrow rose. "Minsc?"
The elf grinned. "I guess I'll tell you about how I managed to find him, too..."
-----------------------
After she'd fully informed the druid of everything that had happened since she found herself in the strange place, Jaheira decided Maiyn should do the final blue light on that side of the cavern. So the ranger went down another set of stairs and into what looked like a dusty circus ring.
A small wall marked the edge of arena, and walls of jet black stretched up behind them giving the place a very eerie feel. Standing forlornly in the middle, was Xan.
She rushed over, throwing her arms around him, and he awkwardly patted her on the back, sighing deeply when she removed herself from him. She gave him a worried look.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
He stared at her as if she'd gone mad. "What's wrong?" he asked. He looked around, sweeping his arms around in a big circle. "I am assuming your eyesight is still in working order, as you managed to spot me. Why, then, you've failed to notice the complete and utter doom surrounding you, I have no idea."
She shook her head. "It's not so bad -- no, don't look at me like that. Really! Minsc and Jaheira are upstairs-"
"Jaheira?" He'd arched an eyebrow.
"Yes! She was floating somewhere, waiting to go onto the afterlife or something, but was pulled here. So, like I say, she's upstairs, and so is Minsc, and I'll have to do something here, and then you can come with us too and we'll get away from here."
"There is no point," he stated simply.
Maiyn rolled her eyes. "There is. I know it might look hopeless just now, but you probably won't have to do anything, and when I finish... well, whatever I'm meant to do here, you'll get your robes and spellbook and sword back-"
"No, Maiyn. There is no point," he repeated gently, taking a step towards her. "There is no guarantee I will be able to assist you, even if you achieve your goal here."
She frowned. "I don't understand."
He smiled at her; it was a weak smile, but it was genuine and warm, and it only served to make her even more worried.
"I had to die, in effect, to get here," he explained. "And now... now I belong to the blade."
She shook her head slowly, and took a few steps backwards. "No. No, you didn't -- because Minsc is here, and he wasn't dead-"
"He chose to follow you. You called for us."
"I..."
"You might not be aware of it, but you did. Your body... you're dead, Maiyn. Yet, you've fought death and taken Irenicus here with you, to continue the battle for your soul. And for what? So you can die with it in place?"
Maiyn slumped to the ground, sitting there in a daze. "Dead?" she whispered. "I... I thought I might be, at first. But then… then I felt my heart racing, and... And I felt so alive."
"Did you truly feel it?" Xan asked. "Perhaps... perhaps you can still save yourself, if you save your soul. You are a Godling, after all. The rules of mere mortals do not apply to you."
She looked up at him. "Are you..."
"Dead?" He laughed humourlessly. "Almost certainly."
She frowned in concentration. "What happened?"
"As I said. We followed you. Your body did not dissolve; instead there was dust, as we expected, but it reached out for us. It would not allow Anomen or the young mage girl to touch it, but it drifted before everyone else. Imoen decided it was you, calling us to your aid. She touched it, and she fell to the ground."
Maiyn's hand went up to her mouth.
"Don't worry," Xan continued. "The priest informed us that she was still alive, but he had no way to revive her from the place she'd gone to. Of course, Minsc refused to let you both be in possible danger and alone..."
"But Jaheira... she was already..."
"She seemed to have little choice," the enchanter remarked dryly. "Your essence flowed into her first. I think that was why your sister got such an insanely daring notion."
"And you... you took the chance?" she asked. "You thought it might kill you, and yet, you still did it? Why?"
"What else would I do? I cannot remember my life before you entered it, and I cannot imagine going my separate way when this is concluded. Yet, I would have had to, wouldn't I? There was no room for me by your side any more. There never really was, at all."
Maiyn shook her head. "That's not true-"
"Hush," he said, smiling again, a little. "It is a simple fact; not an accusation or a declaration of my hurt. I must… thank you. Yes... thank you, for allowing me to experience your company. It was never meant to be, of course, but I am glad it happened, nonetheless."
"Don't speak like that," she hissed, feeling the tears coming into her eyes. "You're not dead, Xan. You'll come out of this just as well as Imoen and Minsc will."
"And Coran?" he asked. "Oh yes, he is here too. I am certain of it."
"Everyone," she replied firmly. "Even Jaheira, if I can help it."
"No, Maiyn," he said softly. "You are powerful, but you are not quite a Goddess yet. People die all the time in your company -- most of the time, however, it is because they are your enemy. Though it does not take much for someone to attain that status. Shhh -- I have something I need to say. I can feel something approaching, so our time for discussion is limited. I want you to make me a promise."
Maiyn nodded. "Of course... but-"
"No buts; make me the promise, and leave it at that."
Maiyn watched him, waiting expectantly. He moved closer to her, taking her hands in his and sighing deeply. When he spoke, his voice was cracking slightly.
"Look after the child," he said, hardly louder than a whisper. "It will need you."
"Xan-"
"Promise me," he said, gripping her hands tighter. She nodded to him, and he closed his eyes with relief. "Then Fate can take me at her will -- I am her pawn to command, and I await the embrace of my blade. Until then, I will do what I can to help you survive here. Remember when I said that I would stay with you, I would help you to defeat him, even if it meant my end? It has come to be, but my words are no less sincere; everything I can do to aid you will be done, in the hope that I can see you leave here, safely, returning to the mortal plane..."
"And you?" Maiyn whispered.
"You are as aware as I am. It is how it is." His smile faded slightly, and his touch brushed her cheek again. She felt another presence in the room, and when Xan pulled away, retreating to watch her from a distance, she slowly turned to face it.
"Hello, child. We meet at last."
She stared for a long moment towards him, at the other side of the room; the voice came from a large humanoid figure, clad in scale armour and shrouded in a long black cloak which was pulled far over the face, leaving no detail distinguishable. She spat in his direction, and he chuckled back at her.
"Still temperamental," he noted. "I have waited a long time for this moment."
"You waited in vain," she hissed, her hand twitching at the hilt of her sword. "I fought you before, and I'll fight you again!"
"Foolish girl. Your previous 'battle' was not with me, but with your own self. It was... amusing to watch, nonetheless. A particularly welcome scene to witness as you finally opened up to me."
"And I'll find a way to get rid of you yet," she muttered darkly. "What do you want?"
"What do I want? What are you willing to offer?"
Her eyes narrowed, and she threw a curious glance over at Xan for support. His eyes were fixed to the form of her 'father', widened with abject horror. She sighed slightly. "Nothing, I imagine, that you'd want."
"An interesting perspective," he mused. "You already know what I want. Forsake the pitiful cretins who hang onto your power and inhibit your true nature. Open up to yourself, and embrace the destiny you were born to have."
She shook her head. "Once again; no."
The voice was incredulous this time. "Why? Why do you turn down such a chance?"
"I don't want it! For the... for the absolute last time; I. Do. Not. Want. This. Any of it."
"I see." There was an uneasy silence. She assumed the figure was looking at her -- he was certainly facing her direction, but since she couldn't see his face, she wasn't entirely sure what his attention was on. She shifted uncomfortably.
"You realise, of course, that your words can be taken... very literally. You do not want… any of this?" His arm waved lazily towards Xan, and a bony hand extended from a long sleeve. He clicked his fingers; Maiyn watched as Xan was entombed in a covering of stone, a pained expression wrought on his face for eternity.
"Monster!" she screamed, launching herself forward until she barrelled into the figure, barely causing him to even flinch. Her hands rammed into his sides, and she ignored the pain her hands as they hit against the heavy armour protecting him from her onslaught. Eventually she felt his hands pushing her away, almost gently. She battled against it, returning to him to vent her anger and frustration, and this time the push was much rougher. She stumbled backwards, falling down into a sitting position as she looked up at the indifferent figure with hate-filled eyes.
Such energy when wanted," he noted. "If only it could be harnessed when needed..."
"Turn him back, or so help me, I will-"
"You will what, child? Further bruise your hands in your feeble attempts to cause me harm? Perhaps resort to kicking me, and damaging your foot or ankle?"
Her hackles rose at his dismissive words. She slowly rose to her feet, clenching her fists at her side as she glared at him. "Release him, or when I leave here I will end it. Completely."
Another pause. "Your threats are hollow. I know what you carry within you, and it will deter you from any such actions. And you fail to realise; you asked for this. You said you did not want any of it -- and that includes the people you now travel with. Were you not what you are, destined to do what you will, you would not have them by your side. I have given you what you want."
"No," she protested. "You've twisted my words again!"
"I have interpreted them," he corrected her. "I have given you what you wanted. This is more than you have given me in return."
She gaped at him, almost overwhelmed by his logic and audacity. It took her a reasonably long time to get to grips with what he was saying, and for her brain to process it. She also noticed, for the first time in a long time, that there was no voice there, nestled into the background, urging her to go forth and kill the man standing in her way.
But that was because the man standing in her way was the voice.
"What is it you want from me?" she asked simply. "To say that I will... what? Strive to bring around your resurrection via my own sacrificial death when the time is right? To murder enough innocents to take the Throne as my own and continue it in your name? What?"
The voice was amused. "I want you to accept your destiny."
She nodded slowly. "Then... I will accept my destiny," she said slowly. "I will not fight against Fate; I will not try and avoid whatever happens in the future that happens due to my heritage. I will be... I will be what I was meant to be. I will be what I am."
The hood nodded. Another swirl of the hand dispelled Xan's encasement and he gasped for breath as he adjusted to his living form once again.
"You will leave your companions."
Maiyn shook her head. "I will stay with those loyal to me, for my own protection. I will need allies if I am to face others holding similar powers in the future; and I know I come from an... extended family."
"I... suppose that is sensible. But you will allow yourself to be weakened through emotional attachments."
"You assume I will be weakened," Maiyn countered. "How close was Sarevok to those who stood by his side in the Temple in the Undercity? I doubt that his relationships with those fighting by him are as strong as the ties that bind me to my companions. For one thing, my lover has not sought to betray me and to initiate the beginning of my downfall."
"Perhaps not yet -- but you point out the exact reason why it is folly to rely on these mortals."
"I am a mortal."
"You are a Godling. There is a difference."
"I have the blood of a dead God flowing through my veins. I bleed like anyone else, feel pain like any one else. The only difference between me and the others is that when I die, there will be no body to bury. And then, I will be gone -- your hopes, your attentions, will have to go to another."
"There are plenty of others. Many are powerful."
"Then go to them," Maiyn shrugged. "You said that they weren't as simple to get to, that they had their souls -- but Imoen has her soul, too. And yet you are happy to let me believe that you are also carried within her -- so having a soul is no real obstacle to you. You're with me, because... because I killed your last hope. That's why, isn't it? Your trail will follow the strongest of your offspring, until the final one remains; but secretly, you hope I'll be the last one remaining, because you'll have been with me for so long by then, that you'll be able to manipulate me into doing whatever it is you want of me."
"Do not test my patience-"
"Do not insult my intelligence, then!" she snapped back. "You made a mistake coming here, thinking that I would be easy to mould in this state. If anything, I am thinking much more clearly than before, and I am well aware of the way you've phrased yourself before, leaving me to guess at your true intentions. Well, listen to me now -- if you've got such high hopes for me, then feel free to come along for the ride -- but you'd better keep it buttoned," she continued, drawing a finger along the length of her lips, "because I'm getting really sick and tired of your incessant veiled threats and bullish behaviour. We might be even at the moment, both being dead and all -- but at least I have the way to control my chance at getting back to life, whereas you... you're pretty much reliant on me, aren't you?"
"You dare talk to me like this?" Angry now. The figure began striding towards her, and she had to bite her lip in concentration, fighting every urge she had to run.
"I am your father, ungrateful brat -- were it not for me, you would not even exist!"
"And were it not for me, your potential for existing again would be severely diminished, would it not?"
The figure stopped less than three paces away from her. "There are always others," it repeated.
"Then go to them," Maiyn said quietly. "Kill me for my insolence. If my existence matters so little, why do you hesitate?"
The silence lingered for an achingly long time. Maiyn felt small beads of sweat form on her brow; she could sense Xan's anxious gaze -- was amazed by his continued silence. The figure did not move, and Maiyn wondered if he was seeking a replacement. And if he found one, if her heart would simply cease to beat -- if her life-force would be taken from her as she'd asked-
"I rely on no one," he announced, turning away, his cloak billowing out from behind him as he stalked back into the shadows of the room. "You continue to live because you will fulfil your destiny; you will serve me." He paused, not turning back, coming to a standstill in the darkness. "I will be with you, child, for the rest of your life. Know that."
And then he was gone. Maiyn's shoulders sagged, her head sank until she was looking at the ground, and the adrenaline she'd felt vanished completely from her body. A glow enveloped Xan, as his equipment materialised on him, and within seconds, she felt his arm around her waist and smiled appreciatively at his support. She only barely managed to register his whispered words, soothing her and comforting her, as he guided her to the stairs, and back to Minsc and Jaheira.