sorry i havent updated sooner but i rented Zelda Twilight Princess for the like the third time and wanted to get as far as possible, only two level-things left, yay!!
also, i have recently become obsessed with Wolf's Rain, even though i hated the ending it was still totally awesome, XD
anywho, here's the next chappy..
claimer: same as the others...
59.-Vision of madness
Murky images swam sluggishly across my mind. I was in the world between consciousness and unconsciousness, my brain devoid of comprehensive thoughts and my dreams full of dark and twisted creatures that appeared in my sleep regularly now.
Then suddenly there was a burst of light accompanied by searing pain and I gasped in agony, but all I got in return was the image of a man cackling manically, his eyes brutal and bloodshot, dark robes cloaking his pale and powerful form. The sight of him was too much to bear, but I had no choice but to stare appalled at him, how was he invading my mind like this? Unless he was capable of magic of course…
Then the picture vanished in a flash of red light and my eyes shot open. I lay there, shivering violently; sweat covering every inch of my body and my breaths coming in great gasping heaves.
Somewhere to the right of my head a candle was lit and I winced at the pain, the light seeming to burn my eyes with the extreme force of a thousand suns. I blinked away the red spots that swam before my eyes and looked up into the concerned face of Dorran, his dark eyes worried and his hands wiping the damp from my face gently.
"What was that?" he whispered to me, confused, and I realized that he was pale and clammy as well, our minds had obviously been joined in our sleep and he had seen the mad man too.
I shook my head and sat up slowly, willing the nausea to clear so I could think logically. The man's face was unfamiliar and yet I felt as if I had seen him before, but I couldn't for the life of me think where or when.
"I have no idea, but if he is able to break into our minds like that then there is no telling what else he is able to accomplish, we need to speak to Nasuada immediately." I said, my voice dry and cracked. I slipped off the bed and headed towards the door, my movements slightly uncoordinated and jerky. Dorran looked as if he wanted to protest, then obviously thought better of it and followed me out into the still dark stairway, the early morning sunlight having not yet reached the gloomy halls of the tower.
I realized that I had come out of a different room than to the one I had shared with Cadara and I looked at Dorran questioningly. He shrugged, "You blacked out and almost fell down the stairs, but I caught you before you hit your head and just took you to my room because it was closer and I didn't want to disturb your roommates." He explained, not meeting my eyes and instead paying close attention to his boots.
I smiled, "Thank you for saving me, I doubt a blow to the head would do much good against my mental welfare at the moment, so I'm glad you didn't let me fall or the results could have been none too pleasant."
He smiled back then looked in front of us as we approached the four guards guarding Nasuada's chambers.
"We need to see Lady Nasuada, it's an emergency." Dorran stated, the fact that we were pale and sweaty obviously helped our cause because the young guard from before rushed off to get her, leaving an uncomfortable silence as we waited for his return.
Nasuada arrived a few minutes later looking tired but alert, her eyes scanning our faces and a worried and curious look on her features.
"What is it, what's wrong?" she asked, her tone serious and her eyebrows pulled together in confusion.
"We need to talk to you, alone, now." I said, pushing our way into the room, passed the burly guards.
I shut the doors behind us and turned to face Nasuada, Dorran by my side, his arms crossed.
"While we were asleep someone invaded our minds, we do not know who he was, but he must be pretty powerful to break our barriers." I said, my eyes locked with her dark brown ones which went wide with surprise and worry as she registered what I had said.
"That is exceptionally troubling; maybe this war is going to begin sooner than we anticipated. I will need to send a group of messengers to tell the elves that the battle is upon us and we need them to fight in Urû'baen in no later than two days, for that is all the time we can spare. But alas, there is no creature that could make it to Ellesmèra within such short a time." She sighed, looking frustrated. I smirked at Dorran and we morphed together, stretching our wings out in pleasure.
"You have obviously forgotten our…abilities," I grinned, baring my fangs, "we will fly to Ellesmèra and inform the elves, and meet you on the way to the battle." I said, waiting for her reaction. She smiled gravely and nodded, waving an arm towards the large balcony window that adjoined her bedroom.
"Thank you two, tell Queen Islanzadi I will meet her with her army of elves at the dark gate of Urû'baen. I bid you two a safe journey and hope you are able to return in time for the fight for our lives." She said, grinning savagely at the thought of the upcoming battle, but then her face turned sad once again, as if remembering something that distressed her greatly.
"I just wish my father could have been here to see this." She whispered, a tear glittering below her eye in the half-light. I put my head on her shoulder, giving her a sort of half-hug.
"Even though I did not know your father, I cannot imagine anyone who would not be proud of their daughter if she had accomplishments as great as yours. He is watching over you right now and even if he were here I doubt he would have done anything different."
I sighed and headed towards the window, turning back to Nasuada as Dorran unlatched it with his talon.
"We will meet you and fight for the land that is rightfully ours, or die trying. Until we meet again, Nasuada." I said, leaping out the window after Dorran and snapping out my wings, feeling the early morning air swirl around my wing membranes and in between my scales.
We sped over the forest and were soaring over the Hadarac Desert within a few hours, the scene below turning from a green blur to gold as the land became barren and lifeless.
Who do you think that man was? Dorran eventually asked me, breaking the sound of the wind roaring in my ears with his thoughts.
I know not, but there's a good chance that it was the king, in which case we will have to keep on guard…more than usual anyway. I thought back, grimacing once again at the thought of the mans' mad face, his red eyes rolling and his hysterical laughter ringing in my ears.
I shivered and floated on an updraft in an attempt to free myself from the icy clutch of the mans' insanity.
You do realize that when we get to Ellesmèra I will have to hide and you will have to pretend that you are still convinced that the fake Dorran is me. Dorran thought to me after a while and I grimaced at the thought of what was to come. Not only did I have to act as if everything was fine and dandy between the imposter and I, or as fine as finding out that he betrayed me anyway, but I also had to apologize to Boden. This visit just wasn't going to be fun.
As we came closer to the elf city we swooped in between the trees and landed, taking on our wolf forms so that we would not be spotted from the air and shot down by the elves, thinking we were some kind of air invasion.
Wait, Dorran, how are we going to get passed that old man? I suddenly thought to him, remembering the wizened elf that guarded the entrance into that part of the forest. The black wolf closed his eyes in annoyance, I have no idea, assuming that he can tell whenever any creature comes near the barrier I really don't know how we're going to get in without a crest or official pass or anything, and I do not know the words that are spoken that will allow us to enter either. He thought back, irritation coloring his tone.
I growled in annoyance and morphed into my human/elf form, knowing that even though I may have looked like an elf I wasn't a true one and that would get by the guard-elf unnoticed.
Dorran morphed too and we walked towards the invisible fence, our senses scanning the endless trees for any indication that the warden was there. We emerged into a clearing that was bathed in sunlight and the elf was standing in the middle, his blank eyes staring at us, making no motion that he had seen us.
Just as I was about to talk to the old elf something emerged from the shadows and I relaxed as I recognized the face, it was Boden.
I quickly glanced to my right and noticed that Dorran was nowhere in sight, he had obviously sensed his presence and gone to hide otherwise the fact that there was also a Dorran currently in Ellesmèra might have raised some awkward questions.
He smiled to me, "So Casiphia, decided to return have you?" he asked, his tawny eyes attempting to mask the happiness he was feeling, but not doing a tremendous job. I wondered for a while why he had called me Casiphia, then remembered that was the fake name I was using and responded in a unemotional tone.
"Believe me, it was not my choice. I return only under orders from Lady Nasuada, the war is about to begin and she needed someone fast enough to deliver the unpleasant news." I said, careful not to mention my abilities and let him just assume that I ran the entire way.
He nodded and spoke some words in the ancient language to the guard, who closed his eyes and opened his arms, welcoming us into the city. Boden walked by my side as we went passed the warden and along one of the many almost-untraceable paths to emerge once again in the beautiful paradise of the hidden elven world. But I knew, as I walked to the side of a peacefully babbling brook, this visit was going to be far from pleasurable.
yes the story's ending is coming up soon, but do not fret, for i have decided to do...a sequel!!
hehehe, yes i have a life, i just choose to spend it writing fanficiton...
PLEASE REVIEW!!
-Firesilk:D
