The shuttle descended through the atmosphere and made its way down to the city of RhyDin. The pilot brought her round over the buildings, manuevering around the taller ones with ease and precision. He spotted the old landing pad in the same location just outside the gates to Ravensheart Academy... but something was clearly wrong or so it would appear by the look on his face. Those large puppy dog browns grew as large as saucers.

"What happened to the Academy? It's gone." Porthios brought the shuttle round to hover over the pad.

Lyndra's eyes widened as she took her gaze from glancing over the city to look where Porth was casting a worried gaze. "It's like it ne'er existed. I dunno. But the landing pad is there, aye?"

"Yep."

"Well, then let's land an see what we kin find. If I know Bri he's pro'ly got the academy under some illusion or stuck further into some other dimension. Can't say as I blame 'im, after what Sha did to 'im I imagine he had one hell of a wake up call." She was reasonably sure this was some paranoid act of protection...or something of that sort... NOT that she could blame him.

"True. Not every day that a God finds himself dead outside his realm. Smart move on his part, even if he moved. You don't think he didn't just up and move?" He asked as he eased the shuttle down gently to the ground.

"Nae." said without hesitation. "He'd hide and pack a ton of protections and dimesions 'round himself before he'd actually move from RhyDin or cut his connection wit' it."

The two exchanged glances and knowing grins while the shuttle was geared down to stay.

Lyndra was the first to get out of her seat and stepped to the door to open it. Curious hazel greens glanced round the seemingly abandoned place as she stepped carefully only a few paced from the shuttle to survey the area. The buildings that were once thriving with students were indeed barren. The place had been deserted and left in a state she could only imagine that it had once looked like before the Headmaster began his school. A time that was before her time...

"It's so strange to see this so abandoned ...." Porthios remarked, at a loss for the seeming condition of the place.

"Aye.. that it is." she agreed as she took those steps that brought her to the Gate. Porthios was barely a half step behind her while he escorted her that way.

The two ravens, which had looked like inanimate spectres simply made to be part of the gate, seemed to come to life as they approached. Their speech seemed to unnerve the guests and the two cast suspicous glances at them. Lyndra narrowed her gaze at them, studying them for the magical properties. Porthios, however, looked past them through the gates and saw a different view through them then what had been seen around or from up above them.

"You were right, M'Lady. He has done as you thought." Porth pointed through the gates and the Academy come to life through them.

A wry grin formed momentarily before she drew in a long breath and released a sigh followed by the purse of her lips together and a sheepish look.

"Come on now, it will be fine. You know it will." Porthios tried to assure her, placing a hand on the small of her back lending support as he gently escorted her forward.

"Aye.. hope yer right. But if he gives me any crap 'bout it, I'm out the door."

After all, that door swung both ways. All this time she'd been remorseful about not contacting him.. scared he'd be mad at her... but the more she thought about it, now that they were there, the angrier she got for him not contacting her or attempting to with any of them that she knew of. She knew he had not with herself or Alex. It was like he crawled under a rock and died... or could have for all they knew. And now she was coming here to get his help. Why oh why did Alex send her again?

Her train of thought was interrupted by the movement between the gates. She could feel the stripping the gaze of the ravens did to her soul, she could feel the shift in dimension from RhyDin into Bri's own domain world. She knew where they were.

"Noledor."

The two walked quietly toward the school heading for the offices.

Everything seemed so much the same as before, children bustling through the grounds inbetween classes laden with books and various projects in tow. The smells of the school drifted to her, science projects, Alchemical ingredients, cleaning chemicals and even the scent of the day's lunch drifted in the air. Choice of grilled cheese or turkey sandwich and broccoli cheese or ham and bean soups by Lyndra's senses.

"They forgot the carrots.." she commented.

"What?" Porthios replied, unsure of what she spoke of.

"Carrots.. I always put a bit 'o carrots in. They didn't do it."

Porthios sniffed the air, and though he could smell the scent of food, he couldn't distinguish things down to the carrots. "In what?"

"In 'th ham n beans of course!" They both felt the shift then and by the time Lyndra finished her sentence they were in Bri's office.

Confused would put it mildly. Both of them were confused but Porth could see the Headmaster's direction and backed away from Lyndra when Bri approached to hug her. "Good to see you too, Headmaster."

Lyndra gave Bri a curious look. Tears and hugs were the last thing she expected let alone the wave of emotions coming from him. It made her burst in tears, happy tears, too. She hugged him back.

"Aye, I'm alive all right. So are ye, and seemingly doin well at that." she pulled back just a little to take in another look of him, slowing down for this moment as she wiped those stray tears from her cheeks. "Missed ye... things are so different now. How are ye, Bri? Really now... how are ye?"

Porthios grinned gently and waved off the Headmaster's appologies as if to tell him there was no need to appologize. The faithful servant of the Arrowny/Woodshadow clan stepped aside to take a seat nearby.

Lyndra listened with curiosity, raising a brow now and then as key things were relayed, and noticing the relaxed casual demeanor that Briarius was displaying. It was something she decided she liked and it suited him well... kind of a relief for her to see him in this way, knowing he was involving himself in other places and speaking of the very thing he tried to avoid so much.. Love. Yet the cost?

Thoughts of her lost love stirred deeply within her causing her to glance away and move slowly back to sit in the chair behind her. She needed to sit down. Indeed the things that happened after Bri's demise was something Lyndra didn't relish talking about. It almost made her physically ill to even think about. Yet she knew it could not be avoided. She was very thankful for the chair.

"At least ye were able 't bring those children back. I wish there could've been more done .. here an on Exodii. Bri we lost so much there." Sincere thankfulness for the saved children warmed her voice even though sadness and loss rolled off her emotionally. It took her a moment to say the name.

"Voec.. he was killed when ... when SHe found us on the moon. We could nae bring him back because she devoured 'is soul. So we took our children an hid ourselves deeply on another moon. That's why ye nae heard about us in a long while an thought me dead. I'm only thankful we were able 't survive an we owe much 't Aquilonius, Lupinius... an others who helped." Cadence came to mind and the incident involving Voec's death hung in her thoughts, pulling her further into sadness and distracting her more from the thing she came here to do in the first place..

"She has a small army of children, now!" Porth pipped in with a broad grin. He hated to see her sadness and the children always seemed to brighten her up.

"We kin talk about tha' later, Porth. It's a bit of a story in itself." she couldn't help but grin herself, even if the grin couldn't stay long because of what she had to finish. Still, the distraction did lend it's strength.

"Anyway, war broke out across Exodii. They battled her an her forces on several occassions. Aquil finally cornered her to a one on one fight and it raged throughout all the lands there. They beat each other to a bloody pulp, an some 'o the land along with it. Finally, he cornered her in the antimagic zone and killed her.

"But somethin resurrected her there. She came back an Aquil returned with her an she had no memory of anythin. I mean aNYthing. She nae knew who she was. Since it is a controversy to convict someone of wrong doin when they so clearly do nae remember and they displayed nae trace of evil currently, an considerin no one knew who or what ressurrected her... It was decided by the Exodian government that she would be watched closely until such a time came that her memory returned. Then she'd be transferred 't RhyDin fer her crimes here. Until then she would be retrained but kept from using too much. She also needed to be taught properly how 't use 'th Force, which was left up 't Aquil 't do. She was kept under guard at all times, ne'r being allowed 't leave the Citadel.. which was put back an locked down in it's old place."

She briefly wondered if Corellon's garden still resided here where Sha'uri had put it. How that woman had been so different back then and not the killer Sha'uri had become in those days before her death....How Lyndra hated her then. It was not the time she wanted to remember, and being in this school did help to ease her thoughts to a more peaceful time. Her thoughts were side tracked by the memories this place held for her. Solstice came to mind as she remembered her first one here.. or anywhere.

"By the way... a belated Merry Solstice 't ye, Bri." her misted hazel green hues returned their heartfelt gaze to Bri as her thoughts came back to the present. There was more she needed to tell him, yet the distractions were needed too. A lot had happened, and there was a lot of catching up to do. She was thankful, though, that things were turning out far better then she had anticipated. She truly had missed this place, and Bri.

"Aye.. tha'd be just what I need. A hot tea with a bit 'o honey whiskey an a touch 'o lemon." Lyndra shifted in her seat to allow her gaze to follow the headmaster.

"Honey... that sounds good. Honey mead if you have it." Porthios replied to the offer. However, seeing the glance from Lyndra made him change his mind. Porth loved his honey mead... too much. One would lead to two, and then three... "Or just a honey lemon tea. I'm driving. Othewise I'd have a drink."

"A small honey mead fer Porth would be okay. I'm sure one will nae hurt too much. Ya might want somethin strong yerself Bri... I've got a few things more 't tell ye." Her accent went slightly thicker. Lyn took deep breath letting it out slowly trying to prepare herself to tell him those things. Her hazel greens shifted, glowing a bit more sapphire blue.

Porth took the mead with a nod of thanks and spent a moment sniffing in the sweet scent of the brew. He was just taking in a nice long slow pull of the drink when the headmaster made his comment. It was all Porth could do to keep from spitting out the mouthful he had. However, he managed to swallow it instead, with a cough and a laugh.

"Right.. us tell yOu, The god of knowledge, something! Ironic, no? Truth be told, we just want to know that you know..." his smile was genuine but here it faded, weighted with the events of late. ".. and to ask your help."

It had not been for him to do. One could imagine the droop of ears with the drop of his head. And with a cant of his head he sent the lady an appologetic glance followed by a soft nod relenting the rest to her. Porthios then shifted back into his seat intending to enjoy the rest of his meager sized drink.

"Thanks, Bri."

Lyndra took her cup and stared into it while blowing softly across the hot drink and watching the steam rise.. and wisp away with the gentle puff of her breath. The words... they came slow to her, struggling to rise through all her thoughts. So caught up in them she didn't hear Bri's prompt. It was Porthios' laugh that brought her out of her reverie. Her gaze locked momentarily with his brown hues. She was actually thankful because she didn't know how she was going to approach the subject.. yet the hardest part was yet to come. A small smile was given Porth letting him know it was okay. Then her hazel green hues shifted direction back to Bri.

"Aye... well.." Yet she hesitated. Her gaze shifted away.The brew was brought to her lips as she stole a quick sip. And still she hesitated. Stammered even.

"well... ya did ... did n nae know I was alive. he might nae know things..." Her brain argued the point that surely he knew of Sha'uri since he was so involved in RhyDin.. and yet... sip, sip.

"... all that commotion in town... I mean.. sh surely he n knew, r right?"

Who was she arguing with? Even though she could feel the prompt from within, she hesitated. The words weren't coming, or being let... she struggled with the anger and hatred against the concern and love welling up to take over ... and the prompt kept growing until her eyes glowed with that sapphire edge, so strong that it overtook her natural color just as her accent thickened to an old and very familiar tone. A struggle had been conquered within her. It was clearly Sharilis taking over. Love for her daughter swallowed the hate Lyndra had for the same.

"Bri, Luv... Sha got 'er memories back. I'm sure ye knew tha', righ luv? She needs help but nae anythin anyone kin do fer 'er righ now. I trust ye'll care fer 'er, see 'er treated fairly. I know ye kin do it. Cadence is another matter.... beyond even me own magicks. A struggle betwix time. A place out 'o place. A clash 'o good n evil.... meld 'em into one."

Lyndra's hands shook during this, spilling the hot tea into her lap. She seemed to not take notice of it while the words had been spoken. Her gaze seemed far off and further away as the words came to a stop. Breathless, she stared at the floor while her eyes shifted back to their normal hazel green hues. Confusion filled her.

"There's nae one answer... but all." she whispered, the meaning of it was unclear even to her. Clearly she was shaken as she continued to stare at the floor.... and the cup in her hands forgotten slipped from her fingers spilling the rest of its contents into her lap.

"Shara...what would you have me do?"

He spoke in a calm tone with no hint of malice or exasperation. Briarius gestured to a full length mirror in his office. His powers enchanted the mirror as a communication portal to Sharilis' realm. If she wanted to answer she was welcome to directly.

"I actively suppress my powers when it comes to Secakians out of respect for you. So, I do not know everything that is going on in your realm. I will help in any way I can, but I need to know the entire scope of what is going on. Sha'uri is welcome back here, but I moved the school here for one reason and that is for the safety of my students. I can, and will, undo any who would cause those under my protection harm. Once a being enters here, I have the abilities now to utterly destroy them."

He set his drink down. This whole time, he spoke with a calm and level voice. There was no threat in his voice, just tired resignation.

"I do not want to invoke that power, but I will not see another innocent die. For too long I have sat stoicly by, forgetting my righteousness and misappropriating it in arrogance. Those days are over."

He sighed.

"I have lost too much in my life. I do not want to watch any other lose as much as I have. I will help Sha'uri, but if she brings trouble, I will undo that trouble. She has made many enemies and I don't need those enemies getting the idea to target my students to get at her."

A moment of silence.

Briarius stood and approached the mirror, his own magicks soothing the slight burn on Lyndra's hands.

"As a matter of formality, you have permission to enter my realm understanding that by doing so, you will be unable to harm those within unless I will it otherwise. My realm, my rules."

He held out a hand and it passed through the surface of the mirror as it would pass through the surface of a pool of water.

"Shara, I d-"

He was pulled into the embrace. After a short moment, he returned the hug.

He whispered in her ear "It's been a while since we have done this..."

A moment passed as the two seemed lost in their own world.

"...however I have other guests."

He smirked slightly.

The burn had not really hurt her, but the cleaning and the magic involved and mixed together to heal her sent her gaze first to Porth in question.... and then it shifted towards the reunited couple. The glow in her eyes had faded away and with it a sense of the goddess had slipped from Lyndra. For all intents and purposes, she was by herself again. For the first time in a long time she was without the sense of another being with her. And to stare at that embrace... only served to make her think of Voec again, which compounded her own sense of loss and confusion.

As Porth whispered she looked to him again, a mist of tears were in her eyes. He was still holding her hands... and all she could think about was Voec. She felt like she couldn't breathe.

"I need to walk." she pulled her hands away and stood abruptly. The tone in her voice was thick with emotion. Confusion led her to the door. She wanted to scream. She wanted to cry. She wanted to hit something. She wanted to die. Most of all, she wanted to be free from all of that. She needed time...

Briarius made mental contact with Kyllendria and Melody as he watched Lyndra walk away. He could feel her pain and understood it, but was helpless to help her deal with it.

"Two very special guests are wandering about the Academy. Lyndra and Porthios will be visiting us for a short time. Make certain they are comfortable, safe, and most of all, allowed their space."

He turned his focus back to Sharilis.

"So...back to my original question. What would you have me do?"

Porth moved swiftly to catch up to Lyn, yet he stayed just behind her to give her space. He had no clue where she was going but his instincts told him that she would likely go someplace quiet and perhaps even private. He would give her the chance to get there. But as they stepped outside the building it became clear that she didn?t know.

As he came up to her and put his arm around her, he could sense she was calming down. He simply picked a direction and began to walk with her. As they came round to one side of a building he found a path that seemed to lead them into a garden. He was sure they?d find solace here. The flowers all seemed to be so magically in bloom. And before he took too many steps he realized just how familiar this place was to him. The moment they came round through the opening to the inner sanctuary, he knew why. It was Corellon's Sanctuary... and they weren't alone.

He sighed heavily. He often forgets that he had thousands of years by his reckoning to come to terms with his former life and his ties to it. In his mind, Shara had every reason to believe Bri was dead and gone. After all, a Paladin of his caliber doesn't just become helpless every day. It was a well orchestrated trap and no one could have ever known the truth of it. Briarius never blamed Shara for moving on and marrying again. He wanted her to. He wanted her to be happy. When he learned of Sha'uri, he was happy that his wife didn't die of grief and she moved on. His life was taken...no one abandoned him. Erique did his work very well.

He didn't need to forgive her...he never blamed her. He showed her that through their empathic link.

"We will handle this one step at a time."

He shuddered at the power and interference she showed him.

"I can only hope that is Karma or some other natural primal force... Sha'uri must atone for the atrocities she committed. That much is for certain. It may unfortunately be that losing Lyndra as a friend is a part of that atonement. I know that you worry for her, but there is little we can do until we have more information."

As she asked her question about how he saw her, memories flooded back, both good and bad. He sighed.

"No...I do not think of you as my wife. For me to be able to accept the loss of my past, I had to let you go...it was the hardest part We have both changed so much. You even have a different name for crying aloud."

He smirked at her as he sat.

"However, that does not mean we can't get to know each other again and see what happens."

He took her hand.

"Once Lyndra was freed of her cursed existence, I made certain she had something that she was denied. Free will. Only she can make her choices and only she has to live with them. If she is surrounded by family and those she cares for, she will make the right choice. If we force "the right choice" upon her, she will resent it and we will have pushed her to the darkness."

He chuckled darkly at her questions of divinity.

"I have seen the top...I know how it works and I can't tell you. It's a burden that all gods of knowledge have to bear. The greatest secret of divinity. Besides, the answer would drive you eternally mad."

Briarius looked puzzled and removed the barriers he set on himself to block influence on Exodii.

Certainly enough...there they were. Followers. They had held true and devout even though it'd been some time and they had no evidence their supplications were being heard.

"But...how?...why?"

...and then the miasma of voices began to make sense...

"Please...help my baby. She's not eating and getting sick.""I don't want the bully to beat me up at school. Please make him not beat me up anymore.""Please guide our little girl to a good afterlife.""Watch over the children..."

It wasn't worship as much as it was supplication. He was being asked to watch over children...and some animals.

To them, he was a guardian spirit of those unable to defend themselves. Not very powerful on the deity hierarchy, but more significant to him than anyone could ever know. He immediately began granting requests if they were fair and just. He also sensed Noledor would now be joined to pantheon realms of Exodii. However, he was certain to make it still under his control as far as who/what entered and exited. Some children's souls began to appear in the new parts of Noledor and he had his more gentle servants begin taking them to their afterlife. Sharilis would feel it change around her as well. She could sense that it would be easier to pass from her realm to his.


"So...it seems that even though I felt I wasn't wanted or needed, I gave hope after all. Protecting a few children from the boogie man won't infringe on too much of my time."

He smirked.

"It does seem however, Sha'uri may have a significant place here after all..."

"As a guardian spirit, I am still witholding my Kadorasilian powers from Secak...which means that i am terribly unfamiliar with proper customs..."

He smiled.

"I will need someone who can let me know what needs to be done and help me ferry the souls of the dead."

"However, Sha'uri can advise. Which is a good start."

He listened patiently about Cadence.

"I wouldn't be surprised considering her previous mentors if it were a realm of chaos."

He sighed.

"However, regardless of her less than appropriate, in my opinion, choices of friends and teachers, I will help find her."

"Of course I do. The sprite saved me on more than one occasion from wallowing too long in the pits of despair."

It was Corellon's Sanctuary... and they weren't alone.


She seemed unaware of all this as they made their way through the maze of flowers. She barely noticed their vibrant colors and perfumed scents. Her eyes were cast to the ground, feeling that sense of calmness creep in the further they went into the maze of paths. However, the moment that Porthios paused, she suddenly realized just how much she'd been feeling that sense of being watched and the presence of another before them. The sensation became so strong that it was more of an attention getter then the fact that Porthios had paused.

Her gaze shifted to look at him and had probably never seen those large puppy dog eyes widen so before. It was as much with fear as it was surprise and pleasure, a mixture of emotions that drew her attention to the one who's voice she felt even before her ears recognized it.

"It's about time somebody showed up." his voice was mellifluous, kind but not without a gentle sarcasm prodding her emotions like a warm hug. The voice was none other then Corellon's as he stepped from some unseen place on to the path ahead of them. His hands were open, spreading a welcome to them both. "It has been too long and we have things to talk about."

What could this god want to talk to them about? Lyndra wondered as her gaze caught with his and she wandered forward without Porth, drawn in by Corellon's gaze. She took his hands into her own. A thousand thoughts running through her head, questions she didn't know how to ask and it was as though he saw everyone of them. Why me?

"You know.." Corellon gently prodded with a fatherly air.

The reason seemed to hit her emotionally between the eyes. He wanted her to forgive Sha'uri. Her gaze widened with horror at the thought and more...

"NO!" Lyndra tried to pull away but his grip tightened on her hands.

"You must." he ordered her.

"Why?! She killed so much!" she screamed at him, anger rising swiftly.

"You will kill more!" His voice was harsh while emerald hues flashed with intensity, as if at any moment lightning would spring from his eyes and zap her out of existence.

The words froze her in place. His gaze kept her frozen but his voice reached into her soul as if giving it a good smack. She stared at him mesmerized by the power welling in him.

"Look deep Lyndra... see the truth... know the truth." this time his voice was gentle but firm.

There were no words for her to describe what she felt next. Anything she came up with were only soft attempts to the harsh reality that it was.

The power and connections she had known while Sharilis was within her seemed fragile and small compared to what Corellon was showing her. She came to understand connection running everywhere, from elements to spiritualities, from mortals to immortals... even to Briarius and, as much as she was repulsed by it... Sha'uri. She also became aware that these connections went much stronger and more vast then she could imagine, to places and beings far above even Corellon. Who or what or where was obscure. It was just simply too much for her to know.

She also became aware of past events and possible futures.. one that led to Corellon ripping Lyndra apart in more ways then she could bare because she had become just like the one she was hating so much.. just like Sha'uri.

Lyndra couldn't handle any more. The experience was too overwhelming. Darkness followed as she passed out into Corellons Arms. He caught her and began to carry her further into the maze with only a simple commanding glance to Porth that clearly told him to follow...

"...we do give pieces of ourselves to our domains. There are actually deities who sacrificed themselves entirely for their realm. It seems very personal and I don't know what rules govern this. I know there are rules, but which ones govern what are the mystery."

"I don't know if our cousin wishes to be disturbed. I think our cousin would announce themselves if they wanted our presence."

He shrugged.

"...but I could be wrong."

He laughed

"I learned very recently that other dieties tend to not like the presence of a God of Knowledge. It's the whole, 'they know everything' issue. It gets annoying. Additionally, being around Corellon is not so pleasant for me. If my theory about being different aspects of 'The One' is true, Corellon and I should both be pulled from the same aspect. The academic in me wants to study that, but out of respect, I keep my distance."

He smirked.

"Not to mention it is nice to not have something to do for a few moments."

"It relies on both, really. Academics for the sake of academics is trivia. However, with the understanding of relationships, comes wisdom."

He was reminded of his old life. He was so much more passionate then. Although that fire wasn't gone, it had become constant flame and wasn't prone to the flare ups of youth. The woman before him was the woman he pledged his forever to. What did his wisdom tell him to do?

She sighed gently, that soft sing song tone eased from her breath as her gaze took him in, smile forming even more as she leaned closer to him. Some things never changed, which was not always a bad thing. ?Aye, ya might ?ave somethin there.?

Her nose brushed his gently, lips lifting to his forehead leaving a soft kiss right between his eyes. Then she whispered in those sultry tones, ?But me thinks ye?ve got one thing right fer certain??

She let her lips trail to leave a kiss on one cheek, then glide over to leave another on the other cheek before her nose found it?s place nestled tip to tip with his. Crescent moon smiling eyes gazed into his. ?It?s nice ?t nae ?ave anythin ?t do fer now.?

Which clearly meant she had something in mind?..

Soft sigh, tinged with a slight cue of disappointment, escaped. It was more at herself then anything. But that twinkle of humor sparked in her eyes. "Does e'ry 'ting 'ave 't be a challenge with ye?"

Her lips dipped in towards his, ever so lightly brushing tender skin against skin but not lingering, teasing him as she pulled back to look at him with lips parted in an even more teasing grin of feigned innocence .... and a gentle touch of mockery? "Am I bein 't pushy? Mayhaps ye're righ... we should spend time 't get 't know each other again."

Nodnod. As if they hadn't spent time before...

...Be with me? The finished thought in her head caught her breath as she tried to quickly quell it from her mind. Her gaze shifted away and the emotion welled up inside filling her with the possible rejection. It just kind of hit her hard with that possibility that things between them wouldn't work out at all. Have we changed so much? Her perplexed expression almost said it aloud.

She knew he was right, though. They had changed. And for all she knew he might've had thoughts of seeing someone else. ... and am I even worthy?

It was hard to swallow that little pill down. Maybe she wasn't worth it. The thought did occur to her that she was also assuming some things. It helped her reign in her emotions over the whole matter. A soft nod was given, she would give him that chance to explain.

"Do nae want to... what, Bri? What exactly do ye nae wanna do?" She asked gently as she found the strength to return her heartfelt gaze to him.

"True, yer nae the half drow rose scented poofer I married." she said with gentle humor, snickering softly before resuming soothing but more serious tones. "An yet we dun know if we won't love each other even more."

"Deal." she said running the backs of long fingers softly against his cheek and a reassuring smile touch gently across her lips.

Back in the day, she wouldn't have quelled the urge to pull him to her and run a thousand kisses all over him. Yet now she did just that, quelled the urge for what he wanted. It wasn't hard when the objective was to see him happy.

Placing her hands back into her lap, she let her gaze fall to them, hands clasped together, slender digits entwined. She could hear the children out in the hallways and even the ones outside. The sound had picked up as if classes had let out between events... or something.

The bustle outside increased. That laughter seemed to give way to some other excitement mixed between fear and intrigue. At this new shift going on outside she glanced up from the rings on her fingers, the very rings her and Briarius had been married with, and caught the look upon his face. The emotion was unmistakable pouring from him. Fear? Why would he...?

"Bri? Luv... are ye alrigh?"

Her gaze went to those rings, worn now on the right hand. She lifted that hand posing it for display. "Somethin I should know about these?"

It would be her luck he had some contingent magicks on it that she was unable to detect... she, the Goddess of Magic in Exodii.

A smirk formed. "Well, ye did nae think I'd 'ave toss 'em away did ye? If it bothers ye that much...."

She started to try and take them off. They had been there for so long it was a bit difficult....

At the sound of his voice, she gave up the tug on those rings. Hazel greens flickered between the gold and emerald hues watching him head for the portal at the end of the room. She could sense Alex on the other side as well and a brow lifted to the comment of family. She couldn't help but add in a gentle whisper... "An yers too."

She stood but didn't follow him to the other end. "I need 't awaken Lyndra then. Meet up wit ya in a bit."

With a nod, she turned the other way and headed for the door. Two steps out and she seemed to vanish, her form fading from view.

"I 'ope ye saved me a piece 'o that..." came the sultry tones as Sharalis seemed to appear out of no where just a few yards from Porthios and Corellon. The two had hardly taken a few bites when she had arrived.

"I knew you were coming.." Core smiled and shifted a lazy grin towards the pizza on the pedestal.

"Mmm.. sausage ...smells wonderful." Sharalis commented as she made her way over and picked up a piece.

"Sweet Italian, one of the best I think." Core commented but his expression grimaced about something else. His attention shifted down to Lyndra.

Sharalis sighed gently and set the piece back down. "She's nae holdin steady is she."

Core shook his head. Porthios abruptly stopped chewing the piece he was eating. Sharalis frowned. Porthios tried to talk but all anyone could hear was muffled attempt at words.

"Then save me a piece... I best get to it if she's gonna remain wit' any sanity in that pretty li'll head 'o 'ers." Shara moved to stand by Lyndra but ginned at Porth. "An did anyone nae e'er tell ye nae 't speak wit yer mouth full, Porth?"

Porth quickly swallowed whatever was in his mouth. "Sorry."

"Nae worries, hun. Aye, she's shifting literally between existences. Ye are correct, Porth. I 'ave 't stabilize 'er or she'll nae wake up sane again. I'd hate 't loose such a fine avatar, too." Shara looked to Core to see if he was ready.

Corellon nodded as he took one last bite and tossed the rest in the air toward Porth.. who caught it quite adeptly in his mouth. The faithful servant wondered if the Goddess would be alright herself, but didn't ask with his mouth full again.

Sharalis helped gently shift Lyndra's body to one side before she got up on the alter and laid next to her avatar. All the while Corellon never let go of Lyndra's hand.

When the Goddess was ready, the God gently took Lyndra's free hand and placed it atop his hand that held her other one. Then he took Shara's hand and placed it atop Lyndra's, leaving his atop hers. This was not going to be easy on her either. It would take a toll on both of them.

Sharalis sighed and glanced to the servant. "Porth.... if I dun make it back, tell Bri Exodii is his 't protect."

"Because if she doesn't make it back, it means I won't be either." Corellon added.

Porth stopped chewing again... wide eyed... and again abruptly swallowed down whatever was in his mouth. He was helpless to say anything while he watched the two swiftly distort as if turning into gaseous form or perhaps some kind of liquid... and meld together swirling into a vortex that seemed to be sucked into Lyndra's hands.

The faithful servant merely sat there staring at Lyndra, letting it sink into his head that the God and Goddess were now inside of the avatar. He didn't know what to do as the Avatar's body stiffened, back arching and arms reaching out wide while her whole being was filling with the presence of such power...

The sound of the chanting startled Porthios causing him to shift form into a black Labrador. Silken black fur stood on end along the back of his neck and down his back. With his teeth barred, he jumped up onto the alter and growled, gazing around at the intrusion. The chanting was soft and the Wraths kept their distance while they turned their backs to him, as if the purpose was to keep others out. With a snort to cut the growls, he relaxed and shifted to sit. By then, Lyndra also seemed to relax, body softened to lay on the alter again. But her body was shifting, almost transparent one moment and solid the next. Colors still seemed to glow and swirl around and within her, shifting in color and intensity. Porth whimpered softly not knowing what to do, yet something spurred him forward just a tad to lay down beside her, resting his head upon her belly. He instinctually knew that he would be the anchor guiding them home.....

Porthios could feel it, the chaos surrounding the three. The hound closed his eyes trying to block out the images but they were too chaotic in his mind. God became Goddess who became God and the Avatar mixed in between.

As Porthios lay there in Corellon's Sanctuary, head on the belly of the Avatar, he sensed rather then saw the hand of Corellon reach out of her body. It was distorted and elongated. The arm stretched for what could seem like miles. Oddly enough, he sensed Corellon's presence far stronger then he had ever done before. It was overwhelming.

The hand seemed to reach through the pocket dimension they were in, crashing through the barriers Briarius had erected to protect the place yet the breach it created seemed to be plugged, for lack of a better word, by the arm of the Elven God. It kept the entire place from exploding, or imploding. The hand seemed to reach through the nexus into the realm of RhyDin. The other hand did the same yet to another place leading from the Avatar along another line of magicks.

Lyndra was using a token that Briarius had given her to find another matching token Cadence had also gotten from the Head Master. The magicks lead them straight to Cadence and specifically her room.

The path seemed random, twisted and torn yet the connection to the Nexus was firm, grounded and whole. He saw the Market area in RhyDin imposed over the image of Exodii city. The two fused and melted together as the path took them through the jumpgate. Then it opened forming a room of sorts. A whirlwind of chaos blew inside.

In the corner a bright red light from a pedestal was the only illumination in the room. Mangled bodies were pressed against the corners. Some would randomly dislodge and get blown out the door. The little fae held on to the door handle, a cloth in hand that she also held onto for dear life. Her body pulled taught by the force now sucking things out. Porthios saw them, the unknowns and those who had been sucked into the room by the vortex before, struggling to get Cadence inside before it pulled her or them out.

It was too late. The Avatar had formed and made her way to the door. The little fae screamed for help and tried to hand over the cloth, screaming something inaudible. But the Avatar had one thing on her mind... revenge.. even if it meant losing the little fae. Instead of helping her, Lyndra pulled a body from the corner and threw it at Cadence. It hit the little one squarely and sent them out the door. Cadence and the cloth disappeared in the vortex going out the door.

Lyndra reached for the gem to claim ownership. It fought her, but she prevailed though barely. Whirlwinds still stirred up the room but Lyndra was able to harness some direction with it. Perhaps it was the two gods inside her that gave the strength. The next time the door opened it would show the destination to be through the security barriers of the RhyDin Moon Penal Facility.

Red light illuminated Sha'uri as the strange vortex formed, the portal opened up and bodies flew out into the room An elongated hand reached for her, ripping her free from her bonds, which almost took her arms off, and pulled her inside the room. Then the real Chaos began.

Gods fought Avatar. Avatar fought Sha'uri and the former Soul Guardian fought the gods and Avatar. It seemed an eternity. Finally the door opened and a familiar soul stepped inside the room yet the looks were not so much. She seemed to be a fae of some sort or an angel with fully formed dark and platinum wings yet a reddish glow to her eyes. Her height was average tall for a human woman, hair was silken platinum. Her clothes were average robes, dirty and tattered from the road.

The cloth was in her hand. ?Enough!? she yelled then bit her hand enough to make it bleed, shedding a drop onto the cloth. Then she threw the cloth towards the gem. It landed and covered the red pulsing light in Lyndra's hands. But Lyndra couldn't keep hold of it. The woman drew her hand to herself as if pulling on invisible strings. The cloth closed around the gem and then it sailed through the air to land firmly in this woman's hands.

Sha'uri lay beaten at Lyndra's feet but the woman was not there to save her. She narrowed her gaze at the daughter of the Gods. ?You.. Yous will die horribly when I am done.?

But before either Lyndra or this woman could do anything, the hand of Sharalis picked up her daughter and threw her out the door. Then the woman and Lyndra and Sharalis began to fight ....

Before Porthios could see much more, Lyndra seemed to be pulled in a hundred different ways and the strange woman was also yanked and pulled then thrown out the door without the gem and without the cloth. Then with Lyndra, Sharalis and Corellon himself still there, the room exploded.

Porthios was hit with a force that knocked him far from the alter and almost to the doors. When he was able to get up, all was quiet. Lyndra's body was no longer there. There was no sign of Sharalis or Corellon yet he could feel their presence.

?Lyndra...? his good educated guess had her gone but the other two was unclear. ?Sha'uri... Cadence..? he whispered and moved to leave the room.

Sha'uri looked up, fear in her was overwhelming keeping her from speaking. But she also knew she had nothing left to live for. Her life was gone. Corellon would not be there to save her. He was alive and confined in his own sanctuary to recharge himself. The encounter had taken every bit of himself to deal with, pulling his tethers from other realms just to expend the energy to keep things from blowing up. Even so, he was still effective in his sanctuary though, but He would not interfere. She knew she had disgraced him and there was only one way to make amends.

It didn't even cross her mind until that moment but she had been holding onto the rest of them, onto Voec, because of her own jealousy. So much so that to let them go would mean her death.

Lyndra had known true love. It was because of her that Sha'uri had realized how she had not. She thought she had before.. So many she had fallen in love with only to realize later that it was never meant to be.

She was unworthy.

She had been selfish.

She no longer wanted to be.

Sha'uri nodded her head and bowed it before her mother. Sharalis stroked her daughter's matted hair while the young one took deep breaths. Sha'uri was remembering all the loves of her life. She could feel them all in some way or another, some faint and others stronger. She could even feel that Aquil was alive even though she knew not where he was. Alive and well is all that mattered to her. In her heart she knew He would've been the hardest to let go. ?Just as well it never was..? she whispered.

Then she lifted her head and expelled her last breath sending everything of herself out from her body. It was a struggle to keep herself from breathing, her spirit desperately wanted to slip back inside yet something within her was resolved not to backslide. And then like a rubber band stretched too far, she snapped away while her mother cut the spiritual ties.

Freedom! She soared high to the ceiling stretching wings out wide. How long had it been since her guardianship was taken? And now it was back! There was relief in her soul, a continence of structure and strength within her that had been missing for too long. Her heart could no longer take the chaos and let go so her soul could cling to a structured life. Something lawful, something good.

She turned just in time to see her former body fall into her mother's arms. Sharalis held and cradled her daughter's body for a few moments before letting it down to the ground to rest. Then she turned and pointed to a form on the other side. The figure was tall but it was clearly Voec come to life. A few others began to form here and there. All the other souls she had not let go of, souls that others thought were too far gone to bring back, began to appear. Some chose to return to life and others flew up to stand by her side. It would be her job to see them to their afterlife, to serve them and deliver them to their eternity.

Sha'uri smiled and it was clear.. as she looked to them and down to Voec who now had Lyndra in his arms once again ... that she was forgiven, redeemed and relieved. At least forgiven by those here. It was something she had needed. Then she gently tethered the souls going with her to her and slowly faded away with them taking them to their destinations.