The eb and flow of the wind died down all around.

Basking on the edge of the cliff she stood.

One step forward and she would fall. But Shea was the Lady of Light and Dark, she was a wind mage. And death would not come to her that way.
Shea stood feeling the pendant about her neck glow and pulse. Something was happening. She could feel it. She reached out to sense it.

But she hit a wall. Power surrounded her, taking her captive in a ball of fury. The ground under her shifted. She felt the wind grow cold. She was trapped in a bubble of power.

The land underneath her pusled with power. It flowed up in to her, like lightning. It coarsed through her body and she heard her own scream. She saw flashes of Rhydin. Of Edhel Ndor , of GreenStone Castle in flames. Then pain ripped through her.

Blackness. Shea felt herself fall. Off the edge of the cliff where many years before she had nearly died in facing down Alaric. The images of that day flashed in her mind. The sound of clashing swords. The feeling of flames that writhed over her body. The fear she had felt. Shea glanced to her arms now, there were no flames. But she could feel them, feel the bite that Alaric had wroght. Aiden was going to be left motherless. No,no that wasn't right. Aiden was a grown man now, with children of his own. But she could see him, a little bow, his full life ahead of him.

Shea shook her head. The ground should be closer now shoudln't it? Had she really fallen or was that just another sensation?

That day so long ago played in her mind. How the fire had torn at her. Made her go blank. The pain that coarsed through her now was ten times that of the fire magics Alaric had once wielded. There had been sun kissed feileds,and no pain then. Now it seemed there was only pain.

The view changed again and yes she was falling. But falling slowly. The magic bubble around her made things seem as if they were going twice as slow as normal. The trees were still distant enough for Shea to grasp on to hope.

She had grapsed on to her fathers sword the day long ago when she had fallen from the very same cliff. Jinnalt had fallen to his death Alaric had been taken with him. Her fathers sword had saved her. Victor now carried that sword. he had it with him in battles. Shea looked to her side, where her sword would have beens heathed.But times had changed. She had not needed her sword since the battle in Nosgoth.

She had a feeling that there was nothing that would stop her falling. Not even Dae the silver elder dragon who had really saved the mage that fateful day so long ago.

Now she free fell towards the ground and trees below. She felt her pendant pusle and nearly could hear her sisters voice. Salice was in danger, something was happening. Reaching still Shea tried to break free of the pain and saw a face.

Alaric's face. But that was impossble the man was dead. She saw the flash again. Etten ran in to the throne room, wielding their grand fathers blade. She saw the flash of blood then nothing again.

Shea saw the ground coming. Knew she was bound to die, even with the power that surrounded her. She saw a new flash. Salice was well and fine.Sitting with Lona. Etten was teaching Dalryn archery. They were well and fine. But there was something, something that lurked. She had felt it before. Weeks ago before Beltane. when Hera and Jade had been in dnager. Yet none of the allies had felt it.


Something was blocking the power.Shea had sworn to both warriors that she would break through it. She had new pendants made for the allies outside of The Relams. Those of Rhydin. Different magic. She had gone to evey member within the current alliance and cleansened their pendant.

They were working again. But would they all sense this?Her falling to her death?

Shea saw the ground coming.She braced for it.

But the ground never came. The light did. It took her up on a wing, it surrounded her and floated her above the ground. It pusled in to every inch of her. It shot through her skin and bones. She saw flashes of the land as it had been decades before. More trees, wild grassland. The rise and fall of citys towns and kingdoms. the encampments of her grandfathers peple, and the small camps of those who came before her. She saw a woman with starlight hair Arcaena, the first in their line standing before the sacred tree her hand in the hand of a man.

Shea watched as the shadows crept on the ground then reached for her. Mixing and melding with the light. There was pain and pleasure. There was too much sound to much sight. She felt very bone in her body break and reset itself. She even felt as more of her dark hair went silver.

Shea felt the lives of the women who had come before her. Their power, their love and loss. All they gave to the realm.

The light had come. It had given her everything it had, all the power and knowledge of the realm. Now the dark took over. It dove in to her, showing her everything, the shadows, the death, the darkness of the realm the pieces of the world that had to be there for the balance. It showed her pleasures she had felt herself. Ones tinged with darkenss and shadow.


Shea felt herself give in to it as she had to the light. She could see Cala before her,the woman wore dark robes and hel dwhat looked like a glwoing full moon in one hand, and in the other it was pure darkness. Purple and black and pulsing with bloodlust.

She felt her self move through time. Back to the beginning. Standing in the Valley of Dae, the sacred tree stood tall, strong and powerful. The moon was high and it glittered own through the dark green leaves of the tree. It shown off the lake in the distance.

Shea knew some how that she stood in that valley long before Arcaena had come there. Long before anyone had set foot in Edhel Ndor. That world belonged to the wild things. The dragons. Shea felt herself glide forward as if her feet did not touch the green grass underfoot.

The tree called to her. It spoke in a deep langauge that Shea had heard in her heart and soul from the moment she was born. Now she knew where it had come from.

The sacred tree seemed so much larger, standing there before her now. It loomed a massive force. Its branches streched towards the moon light night sky. The trunk of the tree would take many men standing arm to arm to eclipse.

Standing under it Shea felt as she always did. Safe. Warm and welcome.
She reached out to touch the tree and felt a sharp stabbing pain shoot through her hand.

"Amin Hin." The voice spoke to her. Calling her my child. Shea felt her fingers bursh the bark of the sacred tree. "Hello Shea."

Shea saw the essance of the tree. Not male nor female. But of light and shadow. Of all people and all creatures. It took on every form and none at all. She was not sure what to say.

"The day is coming, child. Today was merely the beginning. Prepare yourself." There was more pain,the scent of blood and then nothing once more.

"Atara.. Atara!"

Was that Aiden's voice?

"They are coming as fast as they can." That was Mila's voice. "Has she moved?"

"No, but she's alive."

"What happened?" That was Victors voice.

"I think she fell from the cliff." Aiden spoke.

"Somethings happening.I felt it. We need to try to move her back to the castle."

Their voices flowed like the wind. They spoke and she felt herself being moved. There was no pain. But if that was just the beginning of her transition, what else lay in wait?


cross posted from History

She took them to the Valley of Dae. She told Victor all she had been shown. And when he touched his hand to the tree and clsoed his eyes she knew he felt it as she had. The power, yet it did not strike in to him as it had in to her. It ebbed and flowed around him.

When he stood back she knew he now understood.

"Gather the others. I will be there shortly."
He stood there a moment, then reached out to tuck a strand of that silver hair behind her ear. "Don't be long." He vanished much as they had arrived. Shea looked to the tree. She felt a pull from some where she had not been in some time
.
The city of Rhydin wa slong ago lost to war. It had burned and died. But it had drawn in so many, so many lives. Shea was drawn to an odd place, with a chess board, where she felt compelled to place a piece.

Then once that was done she returned home. But not right to the castle. She went to the spot where Cala's temple once stood. Where it had been taken apart by dark magic and fire. Now only one of the onyx collums remained. The new temple was being built upon the same soil closer to the woods.

New collums of crystal and onyx. Old words inscribed upon the floor. Dur e' Tel' Me'a ar' Huine. Belief in the light and the dark. Meiva, balance. A new alter woudl be built new chambers for the Lady and Lord of Light and Dark.

Of the realm but not. Part of the world, but part of the beyond as well. Guardians, gods, those fo power, thosr to be called upon and looked to. Wise, powerful and all seeing. But even Cala had ot seen it all, nor Shea quessed had any of them. Somethings were hidden, and with reason.
The new temple was nearly done. Justa few minor details. But still Shea would not enter it. It was not meant yet.

Turning she looked tot he woods. Once long ago darkness had dwelled there. But now they had become changed. The darkness of The Black Thorne was gone. Alarics tower in shambles, Kati Rena gone. Old dark foes no longer lingered.

Closing her eyes she let the wind take her back to the castle where the alliance members were gathered.

Shea wondered if her father had felt this biting fear when he ruled. When he was preparing for war. Surly it had been hard to create the first legions of warriors. The Rangers,The Riders, The Archers. Each was made and commanded by those who had proved their metal. Every man and woman was trained in the art of blade and bow. All learned within time to ride a horse.

Magic was not as openly learned in those days. But that did soon change.
There was some of that blood of old still about these days. Shea looked to Aldaya. Who's grandmother had served Astalder and her mother Alcander. Now she served both Nosgoth and GreenStone.

There were others scattered through out the alliance.

Shea sat back now against the large arm chair. All that had to be said was said. There had been much talk. Much planning. But there was still the looming question. What was coming?Or who?

What foe would they all face?

After seeing the specter in the grave yard n the eve of Beltane. The ghost with many faces. She knew that the voice in her head had been honest. They would face death. Death could take on any form, and those faces the specter had taken had been old foes and worst fears for each of those who had stood there on that hallowed ground.

Allies left to go to speak to others. As Hera rose Shea went to the warrior. "You have yet to give the pendant to your allies. Do so. And let Isuelt know I will be coming to see her very soon."

The fire elf nodded and head out with Jade in toe.

Sira had gone to speak to the tribes of Sim'Tahl. Willow to Crendia to speak to the men and women who held high ranks. Salice had sent word to FairWinds,Silver Waters and Golden Vine and those men and women of rule would be here tomorrow.

Shea sat back in to the high backed chair and closed her eyes. She thought of the words that had been spoken . "It has been stirring for some time. It is worse than darkness or death. There will be battle war and blood. There will be loss. And when it is over. I fear my child you will never be the same. Nor will this realm or those you have allied with. Arcaena's words echoed in her mind. And the vision she had of Salice in danger, of the blood.

She felt a chill creep up her arm and rose form the chair. It was time to make plans. Time to lay down the ground work for war. the first thing would be making sure the children were safe. So with a heavy heart Shea walked towards the steps and up. She knew her sisters and the other mothers would face this as well. Where could they send the children?
That daunting question was one of so many.

She knew what had to be done. What they all had to do. Yet she had shared that news with only Victor and now he was telling the others. While Shea prepared Mina for her trip

Shea had not been to Rhydin often as of late. She had been drawn to the city once. But since then she had stayed away. She could feel the eb and flow of the city even with out setting foot within it.

She could feel those who had been give alliance pendants. She could feel their lives. Like a beating pulse of a heart. She could close her eyes and pick them all out. Shea had not stood before the place before her in some time. There in the northwest cliffs of the city. Tucked away in to the hill side over looking the sea beyond. It stood like a temple of the old world. A wash of white in moon or sunlight. Shea did not know from what era the place was from, for it had an ancient feeling to it.

Iron gates stood open. As they often did. For anyone even those with out magic would feel that the place was warded. It was protected from magic. Shea had appeared outside the gates as a respect to those wards. Though as she was now she could have easily just appeared before the doors. The magic there would not hold her back nor away, no matter its powers.

But Shea had a deep respect for magic and protections. She walked lowering her green hood from her head. She had come unarmed save for the magic eb and flow about her. The wind caught in her hair. A mix now of dark blue and silver. Her eyes trained upon the doors were an eerie pure silver.

She could feel one of those pulses here. Within this building. Hera Fyre called the sisters of Scathach allies and friends. But Shea had also at one time been an ally and friend to them. It had been an age since she truly aided them here within the city. But Shea had woven a spell of protection over those she knew well. It was all she could have done before she had left the forsaken city to care for her daughter.

It was for the children of The Alliance that Shea GreenStone returned to the The Scathachian Sanctuary. She had bid Hera to give Isuelt "Illea" DeRomiano one of the alliance pendants, not only as a token from Shea but as a token from the fire child too. Hera did not often show affection to anyone. But Shea knew that she held the women within those walls in high regard.

The time was midday, the sun cast its warm glow over the court yard as Shea cross to the main door. She knew there were people within, she could sense them mulling about, getting ready for the night. Night brought battles and war to Rhydin most every night.

Shea stepped up to the door and knocked. She could have easily opened it and gone with in even if it was locked. But again Shea could stick to others rules even if she was beyond them now.

She could only hope that Issy was indeed within the compound and that she had not left the alliance pendant behind for then it would be harder to find the warrior within the city. Harder but not impossible. Shea had something to discuss and hoped that Issy was not to busy. She a knew the nightly war and battle in Rhydin came first, and she could respect that.
Now she waited to see who would answer the door.


(cross posted Here

Turning she looked to Shea. Thought he mage was inches shorter that Hera herself. The firechild felt as if the mage had grown a full ten feet. "Its time isn't it?"

Shea looked off towards the castle and nodded. "There is something I must tell both you and Jade. You wont recall it after the battle. But I feel it is only right to tell you."

Hera leaned on the near by tree and crossed her arms over her chest.

" I have sensed death in this battle, but I do not think it will be a normal death. When I took Victor to the Sacred Tree he saw all that I have seen. I sent the children away to keep them safe. And I have sent the men we all love away to Nosgoth. Those who did not already go with the children to protect them. At the end of this battle none who are here save the very powerful in Edhel Ndor will recall Nosgoth. Nor the Alliance. Memories of love and history's will fade. We will not forget our children, but it is the men we love that we are all destine to loose. "

"All of us?" Hera asked calmly.

"For the few men who went with the children to protect them, their memories may fade. I can not see it for them. For those I sent away." Meaning Dark, Victor, Lang for the most part, for many of the others had returned for the battle. "They will forget, it will not go all at once, they will not forget their children. But Nosgoth will be cut off from us. It is a breaking of magic. "

"Victor went willingly?"

"No, nor did any of the others. It was not easy for any of them. In the end it may come that magic rips those of Nosgoth away. That would mean all of them, every last one."

"You said we wont recall this after the battle?"

"Those of great power will. And though you are of great power Hera Fyre. Your memoires of Lang will be washed away. You will recall your son, and a love you had. But he will have no face, no form. And even if you see him again in Rhydin, he will not know you, nor you him. At the end of the battle, it will feel as if they have died a honored death, and be washed from minds. "

"But you'll know."

"I will. Radella, Willow and Anarya. None else. For all else there will be mourning. It is a burden we must all bare."

"Why tell me this if I am going to forget?"

"You have an hour, to gather anything you may need from Nosgoth and say goodbye. After that The portal to Nosgoth will close, perhaps forever."

Hera nodded. She had most of her things with her, she had taken them to GreenStone days ago. But she would go she knew to say goodbye. She pushed off the tree. "Does Lang know?"

"Yes, I have spoken to all the men whom we love who may be taken from us. Even to those who may not."

Hera nodded once more and headed off to the closest portal.

"So it has begun." Shea stood looking over those gathered. For those who knew the truth, it was a heavy burden to bare. But the utter truth was if they won or lost this battle that Nosgoth would be ripped from what was known as the Alliance. Though Shea knew they would harbor no ill will to the realm or those there. For those of the land that had chosen to stay and fight, they knew what would happen.

For those of Nosgoth that had gone to help protect the children. They knew as well what could happen. There were some of the women of the alliance that had chosen to stay with their mates, no matter the cost. Cadaria would not be parted from Drake, Vanessa was bound to Rune. Audrey was bound to Kahn, but Vanya's future Shea could not see. Lori and Georg would remain in Nosgoth, and their daughters future was also a blur to the wind mage.

Magus' future was in flux. Novella accepted this. Gabe and Raz's futures were a blur. Both Anala and Aldaya had said their goodbyes, and readied for war. It was their own choice to stay or go. But Shea felt that fi they stayed that at the end of the battle if they lived, they would be torn away. But she said nothing. She was losing her beloved, and many friends in this. It was a deep wound that she would never be able to forget.

Shea wished she could spare them all the heart ache. But she could not. She knew that there would be more blood and death if the magic did not do as it needed. She had gone once more to the Sacred Tree. She had pleaded with the gods of old and new. T not bring this upon them, to rather take her life than make so many part from their loves. To break so many families. But the answer was the same. This was meant. For the children one day, there would be a way, but for now. They would survive.

Now Shea looked at her family. The a massed warriors. All had come who were called. Armor worn, swords, bows at the ready. Magic ready to be called.

"My friends, my family. I wish I could spare us all this. But I can not. Some of us know very well what destiny is like. Having to face it, and deal. I know you have all bid your farewells to those who may leave us at the end of the battle to come. Know that if there is a way in the future to bring Nosgoth and those who we may loose through this magic back.. then it will be found. Know that the children are protected and safe. I know it is not fair. We will loose, friends, family, lovers, powerful allies. Children will loose a parent, perhaps more. Life is not fair. But we go to battle when the sun sets. I still can not see what we will face. Nor who may live nor die." Those bright silver eyes looked over them all.

"No matter what we do not consider Nosgoth our enemy, nor those of that realm. They remain our ally, even if none here nor there recall anything after this fight." She looked to Willow, Anarya and Radella. They would recall, as she would. They would never forget.

"The realms people have been given safe passage in to castles and keeps, on to the sea and away. There will be blood, but the realms will survive. The main fight will be here, but there will be battles else where in the realms. Warriors have been called and made ready. " She looked to her sisters then back. " Quel fara, and if you find your self in green fields with the sun on your face, know that your in the hands of the beyond. And you are at peace. Aa' menealle nauva calen ar' malta. " She bowed her head then the warriors filed out leaving her standing with her sisters, Jade and Hera.

Shea had wanted to believe that she had long ago slayed her demons. Keir, Alaric, her own brother. The fire mages that had wrought vengeance upon her and her kin since before she had been born. But there he stood the man who had killed her mother and her father if she looked at it the long about way.

He did not speak merely stood there looking down upon her with those eyes as red as embers. She knew he was real, as real as he had been ages go. But he had been formed by the magic that was going to engulf the land, Keir was one of the greatest foes that the kingdom had ever faced. Her father had faced him, and the power of the fire mage had killed her mother. Shea understood then what everyone else would face.

Their greatest foes and worst fears come to pass again. Risen from the grave by magic to test them, before their world became torn apart.

Shea took a breath. Understanding what they were all facing Shea was glad that she had armed herself for battle. Tel Hyanda en Tel Sul Val'istar :Sul Bael .The blade of the arch wind mage: Wind Guardian. Hung at her left hip. It was a blade she had not used in sometime. For she had no need of it. But now she was glad to have it with her. She was also glad to have another blade at her side .Tel Megil en Tel Tari: Sulelda. The sword of the Queen:Wind of the Stars. Her mothers blade.


There was a part of the mage that flashed back to whens he first faced the wickedness of the fire mage. Alaric had been born of fire, through the power of the dark orb. Her father had slayed Keir, but the power had lived on. That spirit had lived on and sought to kill her and her kin. To burn Edhel Ndor down. And Shea had face Alaric and won the day, but it had been at a great cost. Jinnalt had been over come by the dark magics and had also sought to kill them all.

Shea looked to Keir now. He had been born of the dark elves, his skin held that slight bluish black tint, his hair was white. His eyes were dark red pits of despair. They held the deepest fires. None could have matched him. Not even Kegan, one of the most powerful elemental mage of Feanor had not been able to stand alone against the power of Keir.

He held his stave of gnarled wood that held rubies along the shaft. It was topped with a black orb that had been destroyed long ago but there it sat. It was older than anyone knew, the orb had been forged long before her time, long before her fathers or grandfathers time. The orb had be forged by daemon of fire that had reigned in the blue mountains. One of the first daemons to dwell within the land. To over come this darkness Alstalder was born in to the land.

The battle had started then and had never truly ended. Though Keir,Alaric and Jin were gone. Others had come, others in the bloodline and those who followed the wicked ways.

Shea had been only a girl when her mother gave her life to save the lives of people she had barely known. Yet it had been in vain, Adamina had died. Aluora Eleyna Aelaryn had died that day, and Lance Aelaryn had become Alaric through the powers of the dark fire orb.

Alcander had returned to his kingdom, and children. But later Alaric did return. He returned with his intentions. He had seen the anger in Jinnalt, and used it against him and the rest of his family.

Though Shea had never faced Keir she had faced Alaric. He had nearly killed her. Shea stood there. She did not fear death.

The fire mage looked at her and smirked. Still he did not speak. He merely spun that staff in hand and pointed at her. Shea could feel the power. But it was not the same power. No. She was not the same woman. The woman who had nearly died facing the power before. This daemon before her faced a different woman. A woman who had embraced her destiny, and taken in more power than she had ever known before.

So while she felt the power that ebbed from the staff, the fires that would have been called to burn her flesh did not come. She felt merely a soft tingle along her arms, and knew then. That though Keir had been the greatest foe the realm had known, he would fall again here and now.

When their eyes met again. Shea knew the battle had begun.

This was the price of it all. The price the alliance had to pay.

Shea could hear the battle cries. She could hear the screams. The sound of blades. SHe could feel it all. She had faced her final foe and he had fallen. Ina form not of one face but of three.

Shea fell to her kenss in the grass. She felt everything. The whole fo the realm, every ally. She felt them as if she stood beside them. She felt thsoe who fell, thsoe who ahd already passed. She felt the peace that some felt. Knwoing that Cala was there. Yes, Shea felt her. The odl goddess was there. Serving as witness and nothing more. Granting rest to those who would need it and ever lasting peace to the fallen.

The battle was coming to an end. But it was just beginning. She ehard the vitcory cry of the kngiths that had won the day. She felt her sisters tears as the queen knelt in to the grass. She felt Shay alive and well the ebb of the earth warm udner the earth mage.

It was then she felt her son. She turned her head and for a moment, even through the fog she saw him. He was woudned but alive. And in that moment she knew he saw her. He turned and screamed.

"Atara!"

Aiden stood frozen in fear. He knew just what he had seen. His mother,kneeling in the grass, bathed in blood. She had looked like hell itself had come upon her. Her eyes had been pure silver,they had cut through the fog and gone right in to him. Her dark blue hair held more silver streaks in it, the magic that had ebbed about her was more powerful than any he had ever known.

And when they had locked gazes she saw her smiled once then the fog surrounded her. He had screamed for her then. ow he fog was parting, and he could see just what the battle had wrought.

Some lay in the grass, gone. Their souls given to every lasting peace, others rose slowly. Battle wounded. He locked gazes with Sira across the way, then with Hera as the warrior rose to her feet. All eyes were on the fog that stayed there int he center of the battle field surrounding Shea.

One would have to be free of all feeling not to feel it . The power that ebbed under them all. The battle was won, but the war it had only just begun.

Shea felt the sword as if it was real, made of iron, steal, or mithral. She felt it cut through sinew and bone. She felt the shock of the elements as they ebbed in to her. Shea saw them then, her family standing on the edge unable to reach her. She saw her son, tears streaked his face.

Shea wished she could comfort him, say something that would help him understand what was happening to her. But the power ebbed through her crackling with wild fire, cleansing her with pure water, ripping her soul free with violent wind, soothing her with nurturing earth. She felt the darkness pulse in and felt the pain then the pleasure of it. She felt the blinding light of the great lightness. That which was the soul of the alliance hit her last, it was love she felt pure love.

In that last moment before it all came to an end, she felt Victor's goodbye.
The fog burst free then. Allies rushed in to find a battered, beaten, bloody elf upon the grass. Aiden reached her first. "Atara!" He slid in to the grass that was covered with her blood. "Atara open your eyes.."

"Seler'" Both Salice and Shavyn came to Shea's side. "Radella!" The queen cried over her shoulder to the wise woman and healer. Jade and Hera knelt there looking at the battered and beaten elfess. They both had been through enough battles and wars to know. They shared a glace between them.

Radella came slowly in, flanked by Willow and Anarya. They were three women now with a heavy burden of recalling everything that had been, of what could have been. Radella knelt slowly to Shea. Though the mage drew breath and her heart still beat, Radella was sure that Shea's spirit was gone.

"Do something." Aiden begged. He had seen his mother fall in battle before, and had she not been brought back? What was the difference now?

"I can not." Radella said with a solemn look. "Radella, she will die." Salice pleaded as well, tears streaked the queen's face.

"It is her destiny to die. Shea knew the costs." The elder looked upon Shea. "She knew far more than she told any of you. She had foreseen great death in this battle."

"Its true. Cala came to me." Hera stated and Jade looked to the warrior.

"She came to me as well." Jade muttered softly. Salice looked up, so that was the power she had felt, the sudden peace that had washed over her. Looking over the battle field Salice could be grateful, so few had fallen.


Shea had taken it all, all the magic that had brought their foes back, every ounce of power that had ripped Nosgoth free and closed it off from them. Shea had taken the largest hit.

"We need to take her to the counsel house to the healing room. I will tend to her wounds." That was all the wise woman could offer.

There was a few slow nods and Jade, Aiden, and Hera lifted the fallen mage off the blood ground and walked with her between them.

Radella looked over the battle field. Twenty had fallen here, the numbers were larger in Sim'Tahl. She felt the soft ebb of someone in the alliance starting to fade. Her eyes moved to Sira. It was Damien the wise woman felt. He had stayed in Sim'Tahl to lead the warriors.

Radella walked slowly to Sira. "You need to go to Sim'Tahl, take Willow with you." Sira's brows rose. "Do not ask, just get the goddess and go."

Sira nodded and ran forward to get Willow.

Only brave warriors had fallen in Crendia. None of those closely dear to Willow or her family, so the goddess could be spared to go with Sira to Sim'Tahl. Radella surveyed those near by, she saw Emily standing not far off and gave the young woman a nod. All the pain and heart ache of the losses of those of Nosgoth was gone. Radella felt it though. For she felt it all. She could not grieve for Kraven's loss, he had gone to fight in Nosgoth.. or rather she had sent him there. She had seen his death. She would rather be with out him then have to bury him.

She walked slowly after those who carried Shea. It would take much more than a miracle to save the mage this time.

It was an out of body experience. Shea could see them all gathered within the great counsel house. She saw her family. She saw them mourn their losses. Warriors had fallen in battle. A battle that had been won. But Shea knew the costs of battle.

This was not her first battle, nor had it been the realms first. Now there floating some where in the either. She could hear the voices of the old ones. She heard Arcaena Laerune's voice. The first of the great bloodline.

"I am sorry that this falls to you child."

She stood before Shea dressed in tones of brown and green her hair was ink black, though Shea knew that was not its natural color. Once when Shea had seen her before it had been silver, flowing waves of silver.

Arcaena looked young. In fact she was, in the terms of the long lived elves. For they were immortal, battles, and diseases were two of the few things that could kill them. Arcaena was barely four hundred. Young indeed for an elf.

"This is the cost of it. Its happened before." Shea just knew, for why would have there been need for such a power in the realms if something like this had not happened before?

"Yes, long ago. Reneli Is?ng was my great love. And the moment he stepped foot on these lands, it was set. The world we came in to was not ours, and this realm was once wild. A place far different from what it became. With all the new magic, and new people. The realm had to latch on to something, someone. It was me. It was my blood line. Which has led to you. You have seen some of my life, in your dreams, to prepare you for what is still coming. I am sorry it happened the way it did."

She stepped forward. "You have lost much, allies, friends, family and loved ones. I can not bring them back."

"No more than you can bring Reneli back. This, the ripping of the realms it happened then too. After you became with child." Arcaena nodded. "Yes Dasyra, she was a blessing to me. But you are correct, soon after she was born, the realms you now know again were torn from the land I knew. And with them, my beloved. "


"But Crendia and Sim'Tahl were found again, why did Reneli not return to you?"

"He could not. He was dead."

Shea nodded softly. "So, it was not the first time."

"No. It happened with me, then again with my beloved daughter, when Cala was born. The realm was ever changed, she became the essence of balance. And when she loved Illv, and your grandfather was born, that broke the cycle. For he was a son, not a daughter. Then another son, your father was born. The power could have passed to Anarya, but her destiny was set now in motion. The dragons needed her. So the powers set their eyes upon your mother, when she was round with you. Yet when she died."


"The power passed to me." Shea understood all that, she had seen some parts of those history's. Arcaena nodded. "Yes. It was set in to you. Cala was alive still, holding the balance well. And she would have held it, if..she had not been murdered in cold blood. It was that murder that set this all in motion."


"So it had nothing to do with Nosgoth?"

"No. And I am sorry that the realm and those you knew and loved had to be taken from you."

"No. I am not." Shea looked down again and the floor under her was solid she could no longer see below her to where her family was. " I saw what would have happened. All the death, the battle field bloody. I may have lost my beloved. But he is alive, as are my friends and family who went to Nosgoth. I can no longer feel them, or the realm. But I know it was here..my family.."

"Some of them will recall. That in the end will be up to you and the realm."

"So am I dead?" Shea chuckled.

"Your in transition. It will be long and hard, you will be shown much, there is much history left for you to see. Power that must be fed to you. I am sorry, but it will not be easy."

"I meant what I said on the battle field. I am ready." Arcaena took a step forward and placed her hand on Shea's shoulder. "I hope so."