(With Alex Baker and Bob Francis)
The sun was beginning to set in the West and twilight had settled in the small tree filled valley of the tower. Be'ornhelm stood on the balcony just off of his rooms in the upper area of the tower. It had been three days since the unfortunate occurrence in Midmeadow. Two days since his horrible discovery. As Be'ornhelm watched the sun go down behind western hills and sink out of sight, he felt as though his spirits sank along with the sun.
'How can I tell her? What could I possibly say to comfort her? I was told that she was in good spirits and that she was looking forward to seeing Britage and nursing him back to full health. Of course, had all Britage needed was a resurrection spell he would not need nursing. No. Shamu, in his haste and inexperience, did not realize the Britage's' brain was destroyed and that a regeneration spell was needed first to restore the brain before a resurrection spell could be effective. When I administered one of the regeneration spells from Bretonius' Scroll, the shock to his system was too great and his system shut down. Shamu used the final charge in his wand without me knowing it. He did resurrect Britage's body. It breaths and its heart beats, but that which was Britage, his brain, is dead. A hundred resurrect spells could be done and because of my bungling with the regeneration spell, the best that could be done is a heart beating and breathing corpse.' He sighed again, mind searching for a good way to tell Elea the truth.
Be'ornhelm knew that there were only two clerical orders in all of western Greyhawk that could, or would even, try to perform the two high level Necromantic spells in one setting. Iuz and Nerull, both of whom would require conversion or his soul. 'That, neither, I, nor the Mistress, would allow or even consider. If Elea chooses, I can set up a Magical Jar spell that will maintain his body, keep it nourished and allow the heart to beat and the lungs to breath, but nothing else. She can keep his living body in the tower; she can see it what ever she wants. But - ' Just then the tower monitor called out to Be'ornhelm breaking his thoughts.
"Yes, what is it?" Be'ornhelm asked.
"The Mistress wishes to know when she can see Lord Britage. She wishes to begin helping him with his needs for recovery" the tower said.
'Well, she has to be told sooner or later, and what ever she decides to do, I will carry out her orders.' Be'ornhelm thought as he said to the tower, "Take me to the Mistress' location."
*
Valaria sat in the chamber she and Donnan currently shared, watching the same sunset that occupied Be'ornhelm's thoughts. Her clear amber eyes reflected back the cool reds and purples arrayed before her. Sitting in a wooden rocking chair, she absently pulled the shawl she wore tighter around her. 'Getting colder.' she thought. 'It's been so long since I saw seasons this way...how long until winter? How long until...summer?' As she contemplated a future she had not envisioned, her slender hands covered her stomach protectively.
So she sat, and so she waited, as afternoon passed into evening. The shadows had grown long against the far wall when Valaria bestirred herself.
'There.' she thought, 'He's made the decision. Now he's off to go tell Elea. Dear gods, I wish I could spare her this...her and Donnan both.' Thoughts of her husband made her smile for a moment, but the moment was fleeting, and soon passed. Melancholy slipped around her again. 'I thought I was used to people dying. I've seen it all the time, in my duties for Bretonius. Why am I so worked up over...'
To Valaria's absolute surprise, a harsh sob broke the silence of the darkening room. Then another. And as Valaria's cheeks began to grow wet with her own tears, she thought 'I LIKED Britage! I liked him! Oh, gods...' Conscious thought fled as Valaria, for probably the first time in her life, began to cry uncontrollably; not in petulant anger, as she had done so many times before Bretonius and her brother had recruited her into the Archmage's service, but in real sorrow for a passed friend. Warm, strong arms encircled her shoulders and chest, and she instinctively laid her head on Donnan's shoulder without even pausing to wonder how he had come upon her so silently.
Donnan, for his part, had been in the room only scant seconds before Valaria had begun to cry, and it had taken him totally aback. In the time he had known her, she always seemed so utterly self-possessed. Now, in the light of the dying day, he looked on her grief-contorted features as if for the first time. 'By my fathers,' he thought, 'She's so YOUNG!' He went to his new bride and, kneeling on the floor next to her chair, folded her into his embrace. With his right arm slipped around her back, he laid her head onto his chest with his left, stroking her soft brown hair.
"Shhhhhh....it's all right. It's all right...." Donnan whispered. Slowly he rocked her, until her tears had slowed. Sniffling, Valaria raised her head and looked into Donnan's crisp blue eyes, and immediately began to cry again.
Now, Donnan began to get unnerved. "Love, what's wrong?"
Valaria shook her head. She had already committed one of the cardinal sins of her order by taking advantage of the knowledge of the future to help her win the hand of this man. It had almost ruined their union. 'I can't...not again. Ballarius would be so angry...' But when she looked again into the face of the man who loved her, and saw the deepening worry lines around his mouth, her heart melted.
Cupping Donnan's face with her long, slender hands, she kissed him softly on the brow and lips, before drawing him in closer. "I am so sorry, my love." She whispered, as their foreheads touched. "But I have horrible news..."
*
Ballarius watched as Donnan first stiffened in shock, and then began to shake with uncontrolled grief and rage. Then Valaria took him in her embrace, and gently laid his head in her lap, and stroked his long, golden hair. And both wept.
Nodding to himself in satisfaction, Ballarius let the curtain drop and withdrew silently, warping the reality of the tower with his strange powers. Even his sister, as gifted in her powers as she was, could not detect him when he wished to pass unseen.
'Thus, my sister, he thought, you learn the harsh lesson I did. There is a time and a place for everything...even breaking the rules.' He looked back at the pair, illuminated in the soft glow of the western sky. 'You sought to win a man whom you had fallen in love with, and so used your powers to gain an advantage unfair, and nearly lost all. You used your powers now to prepare your husband for a time of grief, and to make him strong enough to carry the burden for not only the both of you, but those that will need that strength.' With a wave of his hand, gentle Eldrich magics washed over the pair. 'Soon you both will sleep, and that sleep will be good. Well done, my sister. You have learned your lesson well.' With a bitter smile, Ballarius silently stole through the door to the chamber, and closed it behind him.
In the corridor beyond, he looked up to where he knew Britage to be laying, as if in state. 'Ahhh...Elea. Would that others could learn these harsh lessons of life as easily.' And with that thought, he silently faded into the deepening gloom.
*
Elea, being the creature of habit, was in her favorite garden, sitting on the arm of Bretonius' chair. She was watching a butterfly meander, alighting on one flower and then another, wondering when it was going to head home for the evening. She stood and turned when she heard Be'ornhelm's discreet cough. "Oh, hello, Be'ornhelm." Then she saw the look on his face and knew something horrible had happened. "What is it? What's wrong?"
Be'ornhelm paused for a moment and then decided that telling her directly was the best way to go. "I'm afraid I have some bad news for you, little Mistress." He dearly wished that he did not have to do this. The feeling in the Tower had been light for the past couple of days, as it seemed to take on the mood of its' owner.
Elea tilted her head. She could feel her heart pounding. She nodded. "OK. What?" She tried to brace herself for whatever it was, not being able to imagine something so awful to make Be'ornhelm look so sad.
"Britage is dead." There. It was out in the open. Be'ornhelm watched Elea flushed red and then pale to an ash gray.
The words hit her like a slap to the face. Elea felt herself get very hot and go very cold. This could not be happening. "How? Why?" Was all she could ask. Her mind simply would not function beyond that.
Be'ornhelm gently explained what had happened and difference between regenerating and resurrecting. He explained the mistake made as best he could but, in truth, Elea was not listening. All she knew what that Britage was dead. He had never really been alive after the arrow, meant for her, took his life. She silently fought for every breath she took.
As expected, when Be'ornhelm told her of the Necromancy spells and what was required, Elea would not consider it. She silenced that train of conversation with a wave of her hand. She tried to think as her mind spun, thoughts jumbling up upon themselves. 'His body is alive but his mind and soul are gone. Does he have an family who want his body? No. It's been almost two centuries since he was cursed. What to do with the body? It's not him. It shouldn't be alive...'
Be'ornhelm interrupted her chaos of thoughts. "Mistress?"
Elea looked up "Yes Be'ornhelm?
"I was saying that I could keep the body alive, if that is your wish." He paused to see her reaction.
"No. No." Elea felt calm. Very, very calm. "Britage is dead. His mind and soul are gone. The body should not be." She stopped. "Does he have family who will wish his body returned?"
"Not that I know of, Mistress." He knew she must be in shock. Elea was taken this too well.
She nodded. "Then, I would like him buried here, in the garden, at the North Point. Make it a nice area with a nice head stone. And... put something appropriate on it." She could not think of what would be appropriate but she was sure Be'ornhelm would come through for her. "Does Donnan know?"
He nodded. "Yes, Mistress."
"How is he taking the news?"
"He is very upset."
Elea nodded. "Poor Donnan. He's with Valaria?" She idly watched a hovering bug, the last rays of light glinting on its silvery wings.
"Yes Mistress." He put out a hand and let it drop as Elea skillfully moved out of the way of it. "I'm truly sorry for your loss, Elea. I really am."
All Elea could do was nod. She was not feeling anything at the moment. She was glad that Valaria was there to comfort Donnan. He and Britage were so close.
"Will you be OK?" Be'ornhelm asked, clearly concerned.
"Yes. I'm fine." And she was. For a moment it made her wonder, then she let the thought slip away. The fact that she was fine did not matter. It was the fact that Britage was dead that weighed heavily upon her. "I'm going to go to my room now. Please, don't disturb me unless it is important."
"Of course, Mistress. What should I tell the others?"
She stopped at the door, silent for a moment. "Tell them the truth." She answered without looking back. Then, she walked away.
*
Ballarius, who had been watching from the shadows stepped forward. He had been there as a safety precaution, just in case Elea lost it. Be'ornhelm turned and nodded to him. "I figured you were near."
The Time Warden nodded back, looking at the door that Elea had walked through. "What do you make of her reaction?" He was very disturbed by her lack of emotion. Yes, it was clear she was upset but her reactions were not what he had expected.
"I don't know." Be'ornhelm shook his head. "I expected yelling. I expected things thrown. A lot of anger. And a lot of tears."
Ballarius nodded. "So, did I. I was ready to toss up a mage shield. I wasn't expecting a calm, quiet, rational woman. She was too calm."
"I think I would have rather dealt with tears." Be'ornhelm never could seem to keep up with his young charge. She was always doing the unexpected.
"I, as well. Now, I think we have an explosion waiting to happen." He silently decided to keep a closer eye on her for couple of days.
"And I don't think it's going to be very pretty when it does." Be'ornhelm finished both of their thoughts out loud.
The two men stood together, silent in their own grief at the loss of Britage and worried about the young bard who still had so much ahead of her.
Continue on to: 16. Dark Night of the Soul