The Emerald Inn: Part 5

[Enigma]

Anariel considers what Bithan is telling her and then thinks that perhaps her former future husband might have been involved. "If he died when we last fought him...and his soul went to the final gate...he might have been able to escape...and if he was able to escape...strike a deal with the Prince of Darkness to exact his revenge!" She thinks aloud.

Quasan thinks that this hypothesis makes more sense than the Prince of Darkness bringing about havoc alone. "If Indris was as powerful as he was when I last saw him in Scotland...then perhaps he could have had a hand in this. It is the only suspiscion that makes sense. He may just be working with the Prince of Darkness to get back at you and stall-"

"-me from claiming back my soul!" Anariel finishes, with a look of horror on her face. She clenches her fists in anger - which is very unusual for her as a woman to do - and screams so loudly that the birds in the skies fly in the opposite direction. "That menace of a man does have a hand in this and swore that we would see him again! Once the Prince of Darkness completes his rise, he may no longer have any need for my soul and thus...Indris would be able to claim it for himself and force me to do anything he wishes!"

Quasan clutches Anariel's hand and tries to calm her down. He strokes it softly and gathers the correct charter marks to form a grand mark of tranquility. He then sends the marks to her and waits for them to be absorbed into her skin. "But he will not succeed, Ana," He says in a warm voice, "Because we will not let him succeed and bring about chaos! Come, let us rescue your soul and be done with this!"

[Staranos]

"We stopped Indris before, and we can do it again. Even if he does have the Prince of Darkness on his side."

Grimly. "And if he hurts you, I shall slay him myself."

[Enigma]

Anariel looks at both Quasan and Bithan and smiles sadly, knowing that she will one day have to decide between them. "Thank you both," She murmurs, as if she is in pain. She decides to walk in between them again and not be biased towards who should claim her heart.

Quasan holds Anariel's left arm and pulls her close to him. He stills the bells on his bandolier that can easily be rung with a slight wind blowing, and then looks at her. "Courage, Ana...we can do this," He whispers in her ear.

Anariel senses something that is not right and looks ahead. She is getting negative signals and suspects that someone or something is lurking in the trees and forest. Although she has strong feelings about danger, she says nothing. I will not let anyone control my soul and be able to control me! I am who I am and will remain that way until I die. By the grace of this earth and everything that is good, I pray that we will be able to stop them...

[Staranos]

Indris...He kidnapped Anariel, was going to force her to marry him...and claimed responsibility for the attacks on me and my family...I will not allow that man to gain Anariel's soul.

He constantly keeps his eyes moving as they walk, feeling uneasy.

[Enigma]

As they all continue upon a winding path for countless hours, they pass the time talking quietly and saying little. When Anariel finally sees the last point before entering the mountain of which they must enter to find the Prince of Darkness, she gulps. "This is it..." She says.

Quasan nods grimly. "There is no turning back after this. We are about to pass the point of no return..." He also gulps and then whispers something that cannot be heard aloud. "Are you ready to do this?"

Anariel agrees by nodding her head up and down. "I was ready the moment you came into my dream that night..."

[Staranos]

"The Lord God hold each of us in His swift, sure hand..."

[Enigma]

Quasan hears Bithan whispering a prayer and assumes that he is ready. "Let's pursue then..." He murmurs, while taking out Kibeth, Mosrael and Ranna from his bandolier.

Anariel sees him doing this and stops him. "Wait!" She cries, "Should we not use a diamond of protection first? Think of what could happen while we abandon our living states for treading into death!" She feels that they should probably use extra precaution before going where they cannot return...or at least will have a hard time of returning.

Quasan gives this some thought and then reasons with her. "A diamond of protection will alert our enemies of where we are. We best not use one for if we did, we could notify them of our presences...like a fire burning through a forest," He argues. He looks down into the mountain one more time and gulps again. "Trust me on this one."

Anariel forces herself to no longer argue. "I trust you," She says and then lowers her head. She takes out the bells that he is not holding from his bandolier and stills them in her hands. "Lead us on!" She rings Saraneth, Astarael, Belgaer and then Dyrim, casting them all considerably far into Death.

Quasan rings the rest of the bells and fully casts them into Death. A cold wind blows against his face that is both chilling and fearsome. He fears that he may soon meet his end, but tries to not think so negatively. I will succeed and do my best, for I am a necromancer and soon to be Abhorsen. He takes the first step onto the path ahead of them and gives them the signal to follow. Everything is clear...for now.

Anariel walks closely behind him, ever watchful for anything out of the ordinary. Her presence is very dark, as she does not have a soul like Bithan and Quasan do. She looks at Bithan to make sure that he is all right, and then sees his semi glowing figure. He is glowing because he is of royalty and has one of the purest types of souls.

[Staranos]

So...this is Death... He notes Anariel looking over at him and smiles reassuringly.

She's so dark...It's not right. "You should glow like I do."

[Enigma]

"I used to glow like an Abhorsen - a guardian and protector of those threatened by the dead - but lost my soul and as a result lost my glow. But do not worry, for I do feel that we are getting nearer and near..." Anariel replies, optimistically. She sees nothing but greyness and pure darkness ahead of her and thinks about the first time she entered Death.

"What do you mean?" Quasan asks, interested in hearing what it is she feels.

Anariel tells him exactly how she feels. "I feel a force drawing me closer and closer to my soul, which is trapped in shackles. The Forbidden Mountain is not a grand distance from where we are now. In fact, we may even be able to get there in a few days, if not five days." She reveals.

"That is assuming we do not encounter any resistance...and I am not compelled to banish any more minions who may escape." Quasan adds.

[Staranos]

"It's too bad we can't move through the Dryad's realm here. That would shorten the time considerably."

[Enigma]

"It truly is a pity," Quasan concedes, "But that is how it has to be. We dare go against evil...so we must go through what we fear and dislike the most. I have not been as far into Death as the Forbidden Mountain, although I do know a lot about this terrain."

Anariel remains silent, still watching for something.

(Gotta go!)

[Staranos]

"Thank you for this Quasan. I do not know many who would do something like this, even to help a friend. Thou art truly a remarkable person."

[Enigma]

Quasan is shocked to hear Bithan compliment him. I was under the impression that we were foes...but maybe foes can become friends... He thinks to himself. "And you are also remarkable, Bithan. I've not met one like you." He responds.

Anariel still remains silent.

[Staranos]

He smiles slightly. "Simply doing my part as best I can." He looks into the distance. "And praying that my best is good enough."

[Kierenan]

winces a little as his broken leg is poped back into place,he feels the bit of leather in his mouth snap in half with the jaw pressure he was putting on it,he spits the leather out and leans up a little,seeing she put a splint on his leg,he smiles at her,small tears in his eyes from the sudden pain,he says "thank you love.."*