A Glance into her Mind - Relief... or is it? (part 6)

@Maelthe was holding a letter in her hand. She told me I should read it. I unfolded it slowly, and read it. So... The House of Asgard decided to accept our help... we were supposed to meet them in the evening. We were supposed to bring Zethrion back. Finally. Finally, it would be over. Would it be over... really?

We mounted our horses and left to meet the House of Asgard. I was feeling so horribly weak. I was so confused. Meos, Caspian and Kinur joined us. Meos... he was still alive. Good for him. And Caspian... I wished I had more time... some time to talk to him. When we arrived at the city of the House of Asgard, there were... a lot of them. Standing in front of the gate, waiting for the four of us. They seemed rather displeased with our presence. I was wondering... were they really willing to work with us to bring back Zethrion? Or... were they just luring us into their trap to get revenge?

The pain suddenly grew. My legs were trembling. My knees were slowly giving up and I was struggling with all my strength to remain standing.

'No... not now... I kept my life for so long... I will not die now that all is about to end!' These thoughts were strong. My life was slowly dripping out of my mouth. But I... I would not die.

The chatter kept going... and going... it felt like an eternity. They kept going on about Tyrnan wanting Zethrion dead. And about me killing Zethrion. Damn it, they were pissing me off. Meos was in pretty bad shape. He was suffering just as much as I was. Of course...

'If you... want me to drop dead here... then so be it. But Meos... he does not deserve it...' I spoke with my weakened voice as I was fighting just to stand.

Sorry Maelthe. I said we would go thtough together, yet... if they wanted my life... so it could all be over...

'No one here deserves it.' Caspian sounded rather calm and convincing.

The gate behind the men of the House opened, and a big part of them went inside. And... Imortal. He appeared. Many warriors grabbed their weapons. What for? Nothing would work against him... What point is there to...

Caspian... why did he not back off like everyone else? He was standing there, staring directly at Imortal. A chill ran down my spine. That bastard's hand... into Caspian's chest... No... Not again... Not him... Not him! And... why was Imortal saying I asked him to do this? I... I never did! I wanted Caspian to be safe! He fell to the ground and Imortal pulled his hand out. He said...he had a gift... for Caspian. Did he...? Caspian coughed. Blood. Imortal was still trying to get the necklace.

The men of Asgard who left behind the walls came back. The gate opened and Dessel... was carrying Zethrion's corpse. He dropped it on the ground and Imortal seemed quite surprised.

'What is that doing here!?' he shouted. Was he getting scared?

We formed a circle around the body and Maelthe told us to not break it. She made sure Imortal would be unable to get to the body, as long as we would not break the circle. We had to carry the corpse somewhere... where the energies were stronger, I believe she said. Any place was as good as the other for all I knew. But Maelthe knew best. Someone told us where that was and we carried the corpse to that place. Dessel broke at one point. 'Get out of my head!' he was screaming and waving his weapon around. He would start attacking anyone... It was best to knock him out. We started bashing him good when he suddenly apologized and somehow calmed down. We finally arrived at the place... the body was dropped on the ground and we formed a circle around it again. We all had to focus on only one thought. Wanting Zethrion back. Nothing else.

Everyone was doing all in their powers. Calling spirits... Summoning dark powers... Prayers... It was a mess. And I did not understand any of it. What could I do? I have no powers... Spirits... Prayers... None of that. All I was able to do... was... call Zethrion. Call for him to come back.

Was it... not working? They were all getting drained of their strength and power. But... Nothing was happening! Why!

'Nash! The necklace! Let's try what you said!' I heard my sister's voice through everything that was going on. The necklace... of course! I had to get the necklace and get to Zethrion in that realm! The dark templar who took it from me that day still had it. He gave it back to me.

I was holding it in my hand, still asking Zethrion to return to our world. When it suddenly started to glow, just like that time in the room... I blinked and... everyone was gone. Everything was black. And... there was Zethrion. Chained. Still waiting. I heard his voice... so clearly.

Nashara?

'Zethrion!'

What are you doing here?

'I am here to take you back!'

You wanted me dead.

'I never meant for that to happen! We need you! I... I need you!'

Then give me the necklace.

'Yes!' I walked towards him. I put the necklace around his neck again, where it belonged.

My vision returned. My mind was back in our world. Only to see Zethrion's body going further and further away. I was knocked back hard. I flew quite a distance away. Just like everyone else. Everyone was tossed through the air away from Zethrion's body... as it slowly came back to life. They cheered. I chuckled quietly to myself and passed out. What was happening after that... I do not know. I heard a voice. A familiar voice. It was close. It called my name.

'Zeth...rion...' I did not know if I was conscious or not at that time.
'I am... sorry...' I said. Was it real or a dream? I felt his hand on my chest. It was pulling something out of my body. It was painful. For a few moments. Then the pain was gone. I opened my eyes slowly. A whole bunch of people was still gathered. And Zethrion... was alive. And he knew. He knew Tyrnan was not behind the attempt on his life. That was a relief...

He offered me a hand. I grabbed it and he helped me back on my feet.

'It was someone close to Tyrnan.' What? Was he saying... someone betrayed us? But... Who would do something like that?! I was used... Not by Tyrnan, but this person? Used... So I... was... just a tool... Was I really, a puppet... in someone else's play?

I did not know what to say. I just said I did not know. That I could not believe that. I had no idea what happened. My thoughts were suddenly swirling inside my head.

His voice was calm. Almost... understanding. And I was just confused.

'Think, Nashara. See for yourself.' he spoke as he touched my forehead with his finger.

I saw something. I saw Tyrnan. Tyrnan and... someone. Someone bearing the mark of Fearghal. Someone who was close to Tyrnan. The image was blurred. Who was that? Perhaps I could no tell. Perhaps I did not want to tell. I refused all the thoughts that were coming out. I refused everything. I just said I could not recognize the blurry image. The House of Asgard left. They carried their weakened master back to their keep. Meos and the bard, Kinur, were still nearby. They were talking. Where was Maelthe? And... Caspian...

Maelthe came back. Alone. I did not want to ask about Caspian. We simply decided to return to Conarch and take some rest in the tavern. And so we did.

When we arrived, I told them I would join them in the tavern shortly. I stopped by the river and sat down. I took off the mask. That horrible mask. Stinking of all the blood and everything I coughed into it in the past days. I quickly washed it in the water. And as I was splashing water on my face, cleaning the blood off around my mouth, Meos came looking for me. He did not come to sit by the river. He had something to say. I knew it. He sounded rather confused. But it was something about... Caspian. What did Meos know about Caspian? So important?

Apparently Caspian said something. Something very important, while we were working to rejoin Zethrion's spirit with his body. It must have happened while I was in the other realm, talking to Zethrion. Something very important... What did he say? And why did he leave!

We joined Maelthe and Kinur in the tavern. Meat. I was starving. They ordered a lot of meat and it was just waiting on the table. But... something was amiss. Maelthe still seemed troubled by something. I really wanted her to tell me, but... I did not want to bother her. She will tell me if she will want me to know. She went outside, with the excuse of needing some fresh air. Meos followed her. Apparently he had something he wished to talk to her about. I kept stuffing the meat into my mouth as I was exchanging some words with Kinur. And he was doing just the same. He is not a bad fellow.

I was really getting impatient about those two. And apparently it was quite obvious, as Kinur asked me what is troubling me. He said we could take a peek, but no. I may be worried, but I will not spy on them. They came back just before Kinur really decided to take a look. Maelthe told Kinur to tell us a tale. He is good at telling stories, I will admit. But something was bothering me and I was unable to shake it off. Meos was getting sleepy. He must have been tired of everything, so he left to take some rest. Kinur asked Maelthe about Caspian. Where did he go. These words sent a chill down my spine and made me shiver. I closed my eyes with my head leaning low, just shaking it slowly.

I heard Maelthe's voice asking me what I saw, what did Zethrion tell me. It sounded so distant and silent...

'No...' was the only word in my mind.

I heard her voice again. 'No?'

'No... No...' I felt my mind shattering all over again. I suddenly opened my eyes and raised my head so fast it rammed in the wooden wall I was leaning on. That sure woke me up. I told her what I saw and heard. That someone... close to Tyrnan was behind it. Told her about my vision.

Kinur was certain it was just a trick. That Zethrion lied. But Maelthe and I knew better. Zethrion never lied to me. He always spoke what he believed was true. Kinur said something about... who would gain most from all of this. But who could gain most? Who could gain ANYTHING?!

I choked. I kept staring forward, but it felt like I could not see anything. Who could gain anything?

A hurricane of thoughts and images stormed through my mind. I saw Tyrnan, speaking of rumors that he should step down from his position as father of Fearghal. I saw Myrtis in the company of that masked Stygian. I saw Caspian, severely injured, talking about nearly being killed by the House of Asgard in the battle at Moragh. I saw Meos standing beside me, talking about Caspian saying something 'important' and leaving, while we were saving Zethrion. I saw the blurred figure beside Tyrnan. I saw myself... sitting beside Caspian, with my head leaning on his shoulder. I saw myself in Caspian's arms, with his lips pressed against mine. I saw... nothing. Everything went black. I came back to my senses, I was still leaning on the wall in the tavern, Maelthe and Kinur were still talking. It all happened in a split second...

I decided not to say a thing. Maelthe said she should sleep over all of this. I stayed there with Kinur for a short while. After a short talk, I decided I should take some rest myself. I was feeling lightheaded. I did not know if it was from the loss of blood, or the overload of thoughts in my head. It was probably both. I had to talk to someone... someone who would only listen. Someone who would not say a thing to anyone. I mounted onto Nasher's back and smiled as I rubbed his neck with my hand. We left to the usual place by the river, where I have been spending most of my time in the recent days.

It is one thing after another... Damn it... What the hell is going on!"

Story written by Nashara, Clan Fearghal
www.clanfearghal.com