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Post by Admin on Nov 9, 2014 7:44:01 GMT
« Reply #15 on: Mar 22nd, 2007, 9:56pm »
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3/5 Beth and Medivh
“Old Woman’s Lament”
Beth felt her body next to Medivh before she actually felt herself all the way awake. His warmth surprised her because she was so used to waking up alone. She turned more into his embrace and sighed. Opening her eyes slowly she watched his peaceful face a bit longer before realizing she was not going to fall back asleep. Slowly maneuvering herself out form under his arm she was soon sitting on the edge of the bed watching him sleep peacefully for what she was guessing was a long time. Something told her his nights had been spent more in restless vigilance than in splendid slumber.
Medivh slept for a time till he heard and felt her move, his brows furrowed, and his hand sliding to find her along the blankets. Opening his eyes slightly he saw her form and smiled, though sleep was reaching for him once more. His eyes shut once more, a little longer asleep wouldn't hurt. Reaching out towards her once more he felt for her though fell asleep before finding her again.
Beth watched his hand slide towards her and took it laying it back on his chest and leaning down to kiss his cheek softly as sleep claimed him once more. "Sleep, Medivh, I will keep watch.... Slleeeeepppp" She let go and watched once more to make sure he wouldn't stir before putting her boots on, grabbing her sword and belt and stepping outside. Closing the door behind her she walked to Vlad's wagon, strapping her belt on as she went. She pressed her hand to the door and shoved once to be sure the latch was sound and sighed letting her hand caress down the door. "Wake well, Mlord... wake well." She then went in search of the nearest fire still burning and a hot drink.
The tribe’s men sat at the fire, women tending to cooking and talking around yet another. Looking up a few women stood and moved towards her, a few of the men as well. Reaching her then bowed slightly with their heads and smiled, each speaking a term of welcome, the men offering her a seat at their fire as the women spoke, " Would you like food or drink? " one woman walking up to place a shawl of sorts about her, the runes sewn into the fabric were runes of protection and good luck. Smiling as she placed it about her shoulder the woman spoke softly, " Welcome to the Grastari Tribe madam" Others moving to bring her a wooden bowl of food, egg and such mixed into an omelet sort of meal with meat and vegetables.
Beth was suddenly a bit overwhelmed and tried to resist, not wanting to be a bother. "Thank, no please... I can fix myself something. I just wanted a drink was all. Oh my, thank you..."She bit her lip as she suddenly found herself seated and covered against the morning chill. A cup of warm drink appeared in one hand and a small plate of food in the other. She took a sip of the drink and set it between her feet and began eating. She felt the power of her covering reacting to her and shifted her own shields to keep it from spreading beyond the cloak. No need to scare the others.
The men sat around, some muttering as they were of things such as the hunting near the oasis and one teaching a youth of leatherworking with the scales of a lizard found in the desert. One of the men looking to Beth smiled and nodded," We are thankful to you madam for your help, the (can't remember the word off hand so I'm gonna just put another word and replace it later.) Va'chere is powerful as well but you kept us safe." Smiling he placed a hand on her forearm and squeezed, a sign of welcome and thanks in the tribe. A woman approached, her words but a whisper as she leaned in to speak near Beth’s ear, “Our elder would like to speak with you, when you have finished meal and awakened Madam"
Beth nodded to the man and patted his hand. As the woman bent near she looked to her smiling. "I am awake, lady. I will go now." She lifted her cup to drain the last of it and set it and the empty plate on the pile of other dishes near a pot of hot water the women near the second fire were using to clean with. She then turned back to the man and bowed slightly. "I will help as often as I can." Then turned to the woman and nodded. "I am ready." She removed the cloak and set it over the bare shoulders of an elderly man as the headed off.
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Post by Admin on Nov 9, 2014 7:44:50 GMT
« Reply #16 on: Mar 22nd, 2007, 9:56pm »
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The elder man placed his hand upon her's, the calluses from working rough upon her skin as he smiled a jagged smile and nodded to her with knowing eyes. The woman approached a small vardo (wagon) separated from many of the others much as the one that kept Vlad, and the one that held Medivh were. It was a sign of importance and meaning in the tribe to be separated but remain whole, a circle with spokes, or a wheel. Stepping up the stairs the woman bowed her head and knocked lightly, an instant later a little girl opened the door inward, her eyes almost ancient as she looked for to the woman and waved a hand, then to Beth, motioning her hand inward and stepping to her side.
The little girl wasn't dressed as others; she had a long robe of dull gray, almost appearing a faint dirty white, and her eyes held almost no whiteness to them, big and observant as she looked Beth over. The little girl couldn't have been any more then 10 years of age, her hair long and braided carefully, the wreath of some herbs about her head signifying some sort of station in the tribe. “Elder Nara is in back Madam, please tell me you want and make your way to her" Her head bowed, her voice but a whisper as she shut the door behind Beth.
The vardo's interior was a literal occultists find, A crystal ball lay upon a shelf, wrapped in velvet and set upon bones intertwined with silver and gold thread, chalices of different markings, a mortar and pestle still holding the herbs freshly ground in it, vials and reading items hung throughout the place, different symbols of mysticism and some unfamiliar to even the most trained of eyes hung throughout the wagon. Behind beaded curtains a old woman sat, her skin wrinkled and worn, her eyes hollow and piercing, hair strung and wired out the sides as if she'd been struck by lightning. Her robes too held the same colorlessness as the girls, her neck adorned with bones and beads of priceless value, her fingers adorned with gold and gem rings each holding purpose and meaning, the backs of her hands covered in chainmail, the mail itself going up both arms in a weave of silver and gold, and her head constantly seemed to sway, like a cobra to an unheard melody as she gazed upon the entering visage of Beth.
Beth shook her head and politely whispered. "I am fine little one, thank you." Stepped towards the woman with reverence she looked to everything about the small vardo and smiled recognizing some things and smiling more at things she did not. She took the empty seat across from the woman and sat a moment before speaking. "You called for me, Wise Mother, and I have come." She not what else to say, but somehow she knew those simple words were right.
The woman's head stopped swaying, her eyes locking with Beth's with a nod. Smiling slightly the woman took up some small bones from the table cloth and cast them before her, the pattern falling exactly the same as they had lain before. Looking to her once more, she nodded before her, fingers digging into a bowl of powder beside her. “These have told me the same each casting, you were foretold to me Beth Rh'Jod. You hold more then you know within, you are more then a knight of Chaos, you know this right?" Holding up her hand she blew the powder, its swirling pattern showing the image of her within Medivh's embrace, “and you have many choices to make Beth Rh'Jod, one will be a choice not only of home, but also of heart."
Beth watched the old woman cast the bones and watched them fall as she had guessed they had fallen time and again as the woman confirmed a moment later. As the woman spoke of her being more, she nodded slightly. Vlad had said the same thing and at one point or another, her other teachers had said similar. But as Medivh's face appeared in the smoke and the woman spoke of choices of the heart, Beth rose shaking her head and stumbled knocking her chair over. "No... I am a Chaos Knight. I cannot be more or less than that. Perhaps there is more in me from what I was before that. But I cannot be made to choose." Her voice cracked and she looked suddenly very much like a caged animal seeking a swift exit but unsure where to look.
Beth shook her head and sighed deeply, Nara looked to her eyes and spoke softly, “Don’t be so rash Beth Rh'Jod. By allowing such things as title to cloud your judgment you may very well miss much of what you want." Reaching out she broke the cloud of powder, casting once more with a breath, the vision of Vladamere's bust showed, his harsh gaze looking into nothingness, “This is the man within the vardo, the one you came to find. The dragon you are close to yes, but he will not see you as a failure or think you abandoning your position if you were to choose another path."
Beth reached a hand towards the smoke then dropped it before stopping and pulling back. Shaking her head she whispered. "I know no other path. The Dragon needs balance, a guide back. I will be unable to choose anything till that is done..." She closed her eyes a moment the leaned to right the chair and sit once more in it. Looking to the woman, she shook her head. "Any path I have must come after The Dragon is well again.”
The old woman nodded and smiled knowingly, “I understand this. It is after all your calling is it not?" Reaching out she broke the vision within the dusts, allowing the particles to collapse upon the cast bones. Looking her over Nara smiled once more and spoke softly, “Ask of me those questions which awaken you, those which stay in your mind." Reaching over the bowl she whispered, “Ask to see anything, I can make it visible, ask of me any question, I will cast the bones. I am elder of this tribe Beth Rh'Jod, I am seer and at your service."
Beth watched the dust fall and heard the woman. One question came to mind but as she asked, her voice cracked. "How do I lead The Dragon home? Out of the Darkness?" She looked up to the woman and sat a bit straighter, determined to see it thru whatever the answer. "My life for his... I will do whatever it takes. Tell me how to lead him home, Mother." She bit her lip unconsciously as she awaited the woman's answer.
Smiled and nodded at the question, her fingers moving to take up the bones once more as she spoke, her hands shaking slightly. “The Dragon has been through this time and time again, he is ancient you know." She cast out the bones, this time the bones fell differently, her fingers reaching out to caress over each bone as she read them. “The dragon is careful; he has chosen here to be safe and to keep others safe. You may lead him in his weakened state when the darkness subsides, or you may await his recovery here with us to be in full and allow him to travel his own way. The dragon is not one to be led, but one to lead. You can either help or await him to ask of it... that is what the bones say, is it your wish to know what the winds say as well?" Smiling softly she looked to Beth, her eyes almost piercing as she spoke, “I am sorry they aren't more exacting on this issue, I can recast them if you like"
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Post by Admin on Nov 9, 2014 7:45:31 GMT
« Reply #17 on: Mar 22nd, 2007, 9:56pm »
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Beth shook her head. "I understand the meaning. Yes, tell me please, what does the wind say about the Dragon? Should I bring him to the skies or await him to rise on his own?" She leaned forward trying to remember her own memories. She knew He had been thru this time again, but something this time was different. If not, then why get the dreams, the images.... She had to know. She clenched and unclenched her hands awaiting the reading.
Reaching into the bowl beside her once more, the old woman’s hands shook as she closed her deep piercing eyes. Swaying now back and forth she spoke upward towards the ceiling as if talking to gods, “Tell us winds of the east, north, south and west.... tell us oh breath of the gods and goddesses, speak your truths on the question Beth Rh'Jod seeks." Her hand opened as did her eyes as she cast her breath upon the powders.
Swirling about visions would show in the particles, the vardo seemed to fill in breezes as more dust was taken up from the bowl to create images of Vlad upon his back. The image showing a background of time passing, moons phasing to suns, and back numbering 5. Then suddenly the image of Vlad would rise up, standing though shakily. The times would pass as he moved, shaking and seated by a fire now as yet another 8 cycles passed. His form becoming more rigid and sturdy. Moving now his cloak of particles moved into nothingness, the particles solidifying as forms writhed around it, and yet Vlad's image would move on through these forms. As if tortured souls and demons were screaming about him as he traveled a hall of nothingness, and Vlad's eyes would look as if looking to Beth's eyes, the sneer there as he lashed out, the dusts making him up vanishing as Nara's own words were spoken in a shaky cracked voice, "he lashes at the gods that would see his future. He travels a way foreign to me, dangerous ways.”
Beth jerked slightly, backing from the attacking form of dust and shadows as if it could harm her. "I have to help him. If I don't, I see another full season's turn of wheel before he recovers." She rose looking at the woman. "You said to lead him as darkness fled. Darkness is furthest when the sun rises highest. At noon I will seek to lead him out of his hell." She shifted her belt and sword. "Tell your people to remain away from The Dragon's vardo. No one must come close. I wish no one hurt." This last was spoken as she took a step back. She glanced to the little girl watching silent the whole time. Then back at the woman. "Thank you, Wise Mother. The Goddess shines on you and your Maiden. May she shine as well on those of us less in her favor." She headed for the door and paused to stroke the young girl's hair softly and whisper. "Stay safely inside, little Maiden. See to the Wise Mother. She will need your youth as much as you need her wisdom." She then headed for the door.
The little girl smiled at her praise though quickly snatched at Beth's wrist as she spoke, “Don’t go away, you have misunderstood, Madam Rh'Jod. The darkness is within the dragon, not the lands." Holding onto her wrist she almost pleaded as she spoke, “I am only an apprentice I know but please, I hold the gift of sight like the mother does, and please listen." She held firm, almost vice like to her wrist as she looked to Beth almost pleadingly, Nara on the other hand seemed silent, gazing as the particles swirled before her in a vision none but her could see.
Beth gasped at the strength in the young girl. Taking her hands she knelt down to place her closer to the maiden's eyes. "The Darkness inside. But the only time it is farthest from him is when it is in flight and on the ground attacking your people. How do I lead him away and protect you all? I do not understand." She pleaded silently in her words to learn the truth. There HAD to be a way to bring Vlad back. She would give her life if she had too, but she would not let these people die as distractions.
The girl sighed and took hold of Beth’s wrist once more, opening the door she looked about and whispered, "Come, come quickly. I'll show you what I mean." She reached up with her free hand, pulling a hood up over her head as she rushed out the vardo, Beth in tow as she headed swiftly for the vardo with Vlad in it.
Beth allowed the girl to lead but kept up and tried to keep herself between the girl and the people thinking that is who she was shielding herself from. When they got to the vardo she watched the girl. "Tell me... tell what to do..." She whispered to her already beginning to feel Vlad's mind even though she knew with mid morning approaching, he would be deep asleep.
The girl waved her hand over the lock, the door unlatching as she pushed forward to enter into the darkness saying softly, "Come come, I must show you exactly what I mean." Swallowing hard she crouched down and touched upon the toe of Vlad's boot, still holding onto Beth's wrist as suddenly she transferred exactly what she meant. The feeling of darkness welled inside of Beth, an infinite darkness swirling and growing. The hunger with that darkness was intense, moving, a driving force. There was a rumble as the darkness felt a presence, the darkness felt her and felt the girl and moved swiftly for them both, the girl spoke as she remained the conduit, "This darkness will never leave him, it only expands from him... he calls to more when night comes... tainting all about him."
As the darkness welled up, Beth fell to her knees on the floor of the vardo just inside the door, having been standing on the top most step. As the girl spoke she whispered. "When is the Darkness furthest, child? Tell me when it is safest to lead him out?" As the darkness lunged, Beth jerked hard enough to tug the girls hand from Vlad's boot. Looking at the child unwavering she spoke again. "The woman said I can lead him away when the Darkness was furthest... when is that? When is it safest to try and lead him back to us?"
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Post by Admin on Nov 9, 2014 7:46:12 GMT
« Reply #18 on: Mar 22nd, 2007, 9:57pm »
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The girl gasped as she was pulled away, gripping the door as she leaned heavily, her panting was deep as if she'd ran miles. “When he stands..... on his own for but the briefest of times.... it will be safest. But if you are in a hurry... if you feel you must leave soon.... it will take his son to awaken him enough to travel with you. I can do nothing to ... help in this endeavor.... without being consumed..... we must shut this now..." She began to pull the door shut, trembling slightly as she felt the building of shadow and darkness approaching quicker from within.
Beth took the door and pressed her shoulder to it, then used the ability of shadow manipulation to draw the lock back together. Looking to the girl she held her steady. "Let me take you back. You have helped more than you know." She lifted the girl as if her own child and headed back towards the Wise Mother's vardo.
The child nodded and collapsed into her arms, closing her eyes as she caught hold of her breathing. “We Grastari know this darkness in the Dragon, for we have dealt and studied it for centuries. Ask of anyone what the darkness can hold and they can tell you, but don't ask.... where the darkness resides... or you will hear the worst of your sire" She fell silent as she rested once more into the arms of Beth, she was exhausted by so little, though the energies she wielded were vast for her age.
Beth nodded and whispered half to the girl, half to herself. "I know of the darkness. And nothing will sway my love of my Sire." She opened the door and set the girl in the nearest chair. She glanced to the old woman and nodded then whispered once more before kissing the girl's forehead and leaving. "Be safe, and rest. You two need one another. Thank you." She left then, closing the door before either could speak again, and headed back to Vlad's vardo. She would wait till noon for Vlad to rise alone. In the meantime, how to ask Med for help was on her mind as she took up two fresh mugs of hot drink and headed back to Med's vardo with them and a loaf of bread.
Beth paused at Vlad's door to let her mind gently feel him settled once more, then went into Med's wagon and set the mugs on the table beside the bed before slipping off her belt and sword and boots. She sat then on the edge of the bed, resting against the headboard and stroked Medivh's hair softly and sipped from one of the mugs awaiting him to rise.
Medivh heard her enter his vardo, heard her step into the bedding area and set the mug down. He didn't make a move as he simply listened to her activities still growing use to her being around. Feeling her sit down, he smiled, opening his eyes as she caressed his hair. Watching her he spoke. His words but a whisper and still a little tinged with sleep, “What is on your mind Beth?" Reaching out he touched her thigh softly, his eyes still looking to her.
Smiling, Beth leaned down and kissed him softly smiling. "That I cannot even guess how many nights it has been since you slept for more than a candle mark." She reached for the other mug. "It's not breakfast in bed, but I fear I am not much of a cook."
Med chuckled and kissed her back, slipping to sit up and lean against the headboard as he took the mug and smiled. “Breakfast in bed just mucks up the sheets. And it's true; I haven't slept a great deal for a time, though it is worth it." Smiling he blew into the mug then took a sip, leaning back and relaxing a bit more as he whispered, " And as for cooking.... I cook decent enough, as do most of the tribe, really isn't hard to toss some stuff in a pot and brew it."
Laughing, Beth grabbed a small piece of the bread off and offered it to him. "You haven't tried my cooking." She sighed and leaned back watching him a moment then rose, finishing her drink and moving to set it on the table. Turning to lean against the table she looked down fearing the look in his eyes that may keep her from finishing. "The Wise Woman called me to her vardo this morning. Told me how to bring Lord... your father, from the Darkness." She looked up then. "I want permission to do it, Medivh. I know I have no right to ask, not when you and the tribe have always seen to him. But I believe I had these visions that led me here, for a reason." She came and knelt on the edge of the bed grasping one of his hands in her own. "Please, I have to try Medivh. It HAS to be why I am here."
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