The time was set. In just a few days time, Simone and the rest of the council were going to meet with Reaper and his advisors to discuss the needed alliance. Everyone was nervous, everyone except for Simone. She knew that Reaper wouldn't turn them down. The man may have sold his soul for power, but he would have to be heartless as well to condemn his people to possible death just to spite the Council. She had tried to learn more about Gabriel as the others had known him, but no one seemed to want to answer her question. Simone suspected that Jack had warned them off. Her curiosity wasn't just reserved for the red eyes man either.
"Have you ever been to the Black Forest?" She asked one afternoon. She was in one of the larger pastures, picking newly blossomed flowers with a few others.
"No." Angela kept picking, not even bothering to look up.
"That place is super creepy." Lena said from where she sat, as Mei braided flowers into her tail.
"My people call that place the Forest of the Lost. Only lost souls can survive in there." Mei said quietly before giving a small shudder and continued her braiding. Simone frowned, if the Dryads believed the place to be so, it must be bad.
"It is not a place that someone comes back from easily." Genji agreed. Angela gave a sad smile, patting Genji lightly on the back, knowing he had lost a brother to the Black Forest a long time ago.
"But what makes it so evil? How is a bunch of trees that bad?"
"It's all the dark magic." Jesse explained, laying on his back in the grass.
"The dark elves live there and the forest has been tainted by all their dark magics."
"I've never met a dark elf." Lena said excitedly.
"Well you wouldn't would ya, they don't leave the Black forest."
"But what if you only wanted to visit?" Simone asked
"You don't just visit the Black forest, Simone. You either leave it be or it claims you." Angela said.
"But Gabriel did it."
"Yeah, and look where it got 'im."Jesse huffed.
"He's right. Gabriel was lost before he even started going there. The forest had its claim over him long before he left for good." Angela turned so the others couldn't see the broken expression on her face. Simone stared down at the bundle of flowers she had picked, thinking hard. Surely the forest wasn't as bad as everyone said, it made the people who lived beyond the forest seem much scarier. Could the Reaper from her vision and the real thing really be the same person?
"If we are too scared to visit, how do we know they are so bad?" Everyone thought about it, but no one answered. The subject was soon changed, the mood lightened rather quickly as everyone else moved on to happier topics. Simone couldn't though, her fingers stroked the flower petals, but her mind was far away.
The night before the scheduled meeting with the Darks, Simone was plagued by dreams. She was also aware that she was dreaming, so it could have been visions that haunted her as she slept. Her whole body felt heavy, and it was like she sank through the comfort of her bed, then through the floor. Then she was nowhere. There was nothing, not even ground under her feet. Then there was a voice. It was a deep growl, sending goosebumps across her skin and her breath caught in her throat.
"Doomsayer." When the voice finished echoing through the emptiness she was jerk violently back to her bed.
After waking up the next morning, she wondered at the one word that repeated over and over in her head. She was distracted as she dressed, remembering only as she rushed through the door that she would need her hooded traveling cloak. Clasping it around her neck she went to meet with the others so they could leave. Reinhart and Winston were both dressed in heavy armor, Reinhart with his hammer at his side. Ana had her staff and a dozen small bottles in a belt across her hips. Simone's eyebrows rose as she took in the weapons.
"It's just precautionary." Jack explained, strapping his sword belt on followed by his heavy cloak.
"They will most likely be armed as well."
"So yes, by all means, bring more weapons." Angela said, sarcasm heavy in her words as her distaste was obvious.
"Angela..." Jack started, but she interrupted him.
"Let us just get going, heaven above we show up armed and late."
"Where are we going?" Simone asked?
"We are meeting at a neutral space. The ruins that overlook the coast at the utmost edge of the Black forest."
"I can't take us there. I've never been that far out." Simone admitted.
"You'll just have to take us as far as you can. I wouldn't want to use such magic in front of them anyway." Jack said.
"Everyone ready?" There were responses of confirmation from everyone, and Jack turned back to her.
"After you." Simone nodded and concentrated. Gathering her magic and with a vision of where she was going, she took a deep breath and let her magic flow. The portal opened easily, a slight shimmer in the air the only indication that something happened. Putting up her hood, she stepped through. It was windy on the other side, and she braced against the seeping cold that came with it. The ruins they were headed to were ahead of them, looking tiny in the distance; it was going to be a long walk. The others came through the portal as well, gathering in a small group until everyone was through and she closed the portal. They walked together, up the slope until they finally reached the meeting point. The ruins blocked a lot of the wind, the howling quieted within the old stone walls.
"They should be here soon." Jack told everyone. While some felt the need to check out the perimeter and check for escape points in case things went badly, Simone left for a quick explore of the rest of the ruins. She didn't make it very far. Holding her hood in place, she stood behind a wall that had crumbled long ago, looking over to the very edge of the cliff. Below it, the waves crashed. She knew those waves, she knew that cliff; they were from her vision.
"They're here." Angela said, coming to her side with Ana.
"Is everything okay?" She asked Simone.
"Yes, just...taking in the sights. Where are they?"
"They just showed up at the edge of the forest. They will be here shortly." Simone looked over her shoulder one more time then followed the other two women through the ruins back to where everyone was. Rain started to fall, light drops of freezing water that seemed to find the gaps in the stone and drizzle all over them. The whole tone was very ominous, as they watched three black hooded figures coming closer and closer in the rain.
"A great many sacrifices are made in times of war, we have to be ready." Ana warned. Simone instantly thought of the taloned hand offered to her.
"I see the future, I'm always ready." Simone whispered, reassuring herself. And then they were there.
While there was only three of them, they were a very intimidating group. The leader, which was obviously Reaper, was wearing a white bone mask which would frighten even the bravest of men. Then next to him were two men, one tall and one short. The tall one was a dark elf.
"Jack." Reaper's voice was low and gravely, an exact match to the voice in last nights dream. Simone suppressed a shiver that had nothing to do with the cold.
"My advisors, Zenyatta and Torbjorn." There were polite nods as Jack made the introductions for their group.
"Now why did you call us out here?" Reaper asked, impatience clear in his voice.
"A war is coming, one that could potentially wipe out all of us."
"And how do you know of this impending war?" Zenyatta, the dark elf, asked in a very melodic voice.
"Our council advisor can see the future, as well as Ana, reading ruins to confirm."
"Then what is it you are proposing?" Torbjorn asked.
"An alliance." Angela supplied.
"We must bring our people together in order to survive."
"Aye, but how would that be benefiting us now?" Torbjorn asked.
"Well, by not dying for starters." Ana retorted.
"This is hardly the time for your sarcasm Ana, I want to know what Jack is proposing." Reaper growled. Jack stared down the other man but remained silent.
"Is it not common that in times of alliance, a bonding is formed to bring two powers together?" Zenyatta asked, breaking the tense silence. Jack couldn't stay quiet any longer.
"A bonding? How is that supposed to help?"
"It's a promise of peace and good standing between two rival kingdoms if royals from each side marry one another. In uniting the kingdoms; it unites them against a common enemy." Angela agreed.
"This is not a kingdom, and it is not a fairytale." Reinhart argued.
"But the principles are the same." Ana said.
"And if there is anything we need between our lands, it is peace and good standing before the war is upon us."
"If, and I say IF, we do agree to this, who would even be acceptable candidates for a bonding?" Jack asked.
"Someone from the council, or a clan leader that is in a high enough position of power to qualify for a candidate." Winston reasoned.
"The Doomsayer." Reaper said, cutting of the other discussion. Simone inhaled quickly, she had remained out of the discussion until now, but she wasn't sure how long that would last. Jack was clenching his jaw so hard she could actually hear his teeth grinding, and he reached out, grabbing her wrist.
"The fortune seer is a perfect choice." Zenyatta agreed.
"Why is that?" Jack asked.
"She is an advisor to your council, if she is bonded to from of our side, then she has an investment in not only both sides, but also our alliance as a whole." Zenyatta explained. Jack's grip on her wrist tightened. She pulled him aside before he could refuse. Everyone else continued their discussions.
"Jack, I will be okay." She whispered.
"Why aren't you more upset about this? They just want to give you away to them and you don't even bat an eye."
"We need to put our people first."
"And you would do this, for the alliance? Is it really a sacrifice you are willing to make?" Simone nodded and laid a hand on his shoulder.
"The trick is to not think of it as a sacrifice." Simone walked to the front and addressed the Darks.
"I accept."
"Splendid." Torbjorn beamed. The other outbursts were less pleased, but kept quiet. Simone stared up at Reaper, looking straight into his mask without an ounce of fear.
"You are the Doomsayer?" She gave a tiny nod of her head. He extended her a hand, sharp silver talons and all. She could have laughed at the sense of deja`vu as she placed her hand in his, her pale skin and lilac sleeves contrasting sharply with all his black.
"When should the bonding ceremony take place?" Winston asked.
"The present is always the opportune time for all great things." Zenyatta raised an eyebrow.
"No." Jack said quickly. He grabbed her shoulder, pulling her back slightly, making her drop Reaper's hand.
"But it needs to happen soon. The faster the alliance happens the faster we can pool our resources and prepare for war." Ana said quietly, several of the others nodding in agreement.
"We can meet back here tomorrow, have the bonding then." Torbjorn resolved. When there were no objections the groups split up, the smaller one heading back into the forest.
"Simone…" Jack started but she interrupted him.
"Let's go home, shall we." She opened a portal and stepped through without waiting for him to finish.