A Golden Ending (Part 4)
Log Info
- Title: A Golden Ending (Part 4)
- GM: Riptide
- Place: The Golden Sands (the Golden Fate's demiplane)
"Next... We free the Bride."
With Kiira's words, the group sets off across the desert. Kiira is surprisingly quiet all the while, and when someone does try to talk, she simply asks for silence. The look of concentration on her face does eventually give way when, finally, after what feels like forever and yet not long at all, there's something new on the horizon.
A cage. A giant gilded birdcage. Inside of the cage is someone who, from a distance, looks nearly identical to Kiira. She's dressed in a beautiful white gown, something that looks like it was spun from starlight itself. She sits on the ground, slumped over a bit and turned away from the group.
"I... I think this part should be easy, if you've broken the curse," Kiira says softly to the group. "There shouldn't be any interference."
Cages again. Telamon isn't sure how much of this is metaphor and how much is real, here in the world of dreams. But it doesn't please him. His expression grows a little more stern as his eyes fall upon the gowned woman in the birdcage.
But then something flickering up from his memories. His father's voice: 'Trust your instincts. If it looks too easy, don't be afraid to give it a second look. Sometimes things aren't what they seem to be.' He takes a deep breath, and glances at Kiira, before approaching the cage. "Miss? Are you the Bride?" Maybe it's foolish to ask, but... sometimes it's a good idea to make sure.
Cor'lana goes with Telamon, seeming incredibly loathe to leave him alone in his approach. "I'm with you," she murmurs to him, before calling out more loudly, "We are here to help you!" Careful, careful steps in the sand.
The dream manifestation of Slixvah smiles brightly at this outcome, only for them to unravel away into cyan nothingness. The true Slixvah awakens, half slung over Aelwyn with some drool falling out of her beak. She's almost about to say something, looking quite pleased, but is hushed by Kiira.
The landscape faintly morphs. Slixvah squints, then her feathers press against one another. A birdcage. Feh. She gives a faint nod towards Kiira, following the others as she rubs her face, trying to wake up.
The moment the last threads are snipped away, Rune steps back, clutching the scissors in her closed hand. She watches the movements like a person watching a ghost, that mixture of longing and disbelief in her eyes that suggests that all of this still carries with it the uncertainty of just where all of this will lead.
So, when the red-haired woman moves to embrace Rune, it is stiff at first. The reaction of a child for whom the last time anything like this had happened, it was in the final moments of her mother's life. Just before she watched her version of the woman before her, take her final breath. However, Rune is not heartless, and as much as she doubts this vision, this connection, she also can't manage to push it away, either. So eventually, her arms embrace the woman who is her same height, same build, the same freckles on her skin...
Then, when released, Rune's arms drop back to her sides. There aren't words, only a nod. Another step, another journey, even if this one should be a short one. However, Rune is too quiet. Lost in her own thoughts, lost in what she has to do and what she has done.
The sight of the cage, the sight of the woman inside of it, it hauls her up short for a moment as she looks between the two. "I wasn't given any words of guidance for this step. Nothing to tell me what to do from here." She admits, though her words are soft. Telamon's question seems to also be echoed in her own eyes. It is something she had actually considered for a long time.
"If this isn't you... then it seems that you should be the one to complete the quest you've been on for so long. If it is... then I'm ready to face it together, whatever this is." She looks from the woman in the cage, back to Kiira, her hand still white-knuckling the necklace.
"What in the-" Aelwyn had begun, before Slixvah had literally collapsed onto the (only slightly smaller) makari. Magicks. It always came down to some notion of weird, nonsensical magick that made poor folk like him hold up winged egalrin witches against their wishes - but not today!
Flashing his teeth at Slixvah, Aelwyn also quiets when Kiira tells them to be quiet, and with a respectful bow he does just that - even if he had quite the many word to say at this point, most of his attention was on the others, seeing how take in the strange scene.
Silence comes rather naturally to the Deathsinger. Laying his hands behind his back and rising to a full posture, the armored Sith-makar sways his tail and remains close to Rune and 'this' Kiira as a stalwart defender. He's learned a long time ago, not to believe in anything being 'easy'. No matter what, challenges will rise against those who call themselves Adventurers. And in turn, they will heed the call.
And here, Rune heeds this one, once more. Reaching out a hand to another who has tried over and over again.
"Let's go." He finally rumbles, as Rune finishes speaking. "Together."
"It's not me," Kiira says gently in response to Rune. "The Golden Fate took an interest in me long ago because of my resemblance to her wife. But... I think perhaps... We should at least go together."
When the group begins to approach, everything remains quiet. The figure in the cage doesn't move. One could easily mistake her for a statue, until she lifts up her chin.
There's the sound of breaking glass--
And then the world goes black. Except that everyone here can still perceive each other just fine--despite the absence of light, it's like they're lit in the exact same way they had been in the desert. Except that there's nothing. No light. Just the dark void of... some sort of existence. Kiira's gone. The cage is gone. The Bride (if that is her sitting in it) is gone. Only the group of adventurers remains.
Then a swirling form appears in front of the group. It's just blue magic that looks like stardust, but then it comes together into... The shape of a young boy. His skin is the color and luster of obsidian, his hair cut short, and his eyes a startling blue, like a summer's day.
"Salutations," says the young boy, in a voice that's startlingly similar to... someone else's. "Please state your reasoning for entering this temporal zone."
GAME: Telamon rolls knowledge/religion: (7)+13: 20 GAME: Harkashan rolls Knowledge/Religion+2: (11)+16+2: 29 GAME: Slixvah rolls knowledge/religion: (1)+6: 7 (EPIC FAIL)
Telamon lets out a startled yelp, his head turning left and right as the world just vanishes. Well... at least they're still together. "Oh for... not this again! I think we're in the interstices, maybe..."
His voice trails off as the young boy materializes, and another twitch -- this one of recognition, as it speaks. Then he brushes off a speck of imaginary lint, as he fixes the boy with a polite smile. "Good day. We are attempting to free the Bride of the Golden Fate, as well as Kiiran Theran, from the temporal loop they've been caught in. Once that's done, we'll be back to Ea and out of your hair." He tilts his head. "You look oddly familiar, friend. Are you perhaps acquainted with my adoptive little brother, Apotheosis? Usually goes around as a cute white raven?"
Slixvah pats Aelwyn on the arm as he gives her a grin, pausing to watch Rune and her mother embrace. Her eyes crinkle in a warm smile, unlike her usual ego-filled ones. Following the group, she's about to speak out, but then the world breaks.
Reflexively, egalrin nature kicks in and Slixvah squawks, wings splaying out to catch air as nothing is below them. And then an otherworldly yet humanoid figure manifests in front of the group. Blink. Blink blink. Her face feathers floof up, and she coughs into a hand. "Oh, hi. Hey- wait a sec- why you sound like- yeah what Telly said." She squints. "You wouldnts happens ta be a time lizard wizard would ya? Last time that happened, I was caughts in a supercell in da plain of air."
Cor'lana frowns heavily as she looks at the boy. "My husband's just asked the question that was on my mind exactly," she says. "You're not like... Pothy's older brother? Twin brother? Reflection?"
Then her brows furrow together. "We weren't like... Authorized to be here by anyone, if that's what you're asking? Why did you take us out and not Kiira? Or the Bride?"
Aelwyn easily keeps taking steps forward - only briefly tensing as if about to catch himself in a fall - but then his yellow eyes look at the blackness around them. Dreams; he twists his lips, and worriedly glances towards Rune. "Is this the interference we were spoken of?"
Then he glances at Cor'lana and Telamon talking with the boy - and he quietly leans towards Slixvah. "... the raven of the Ravenkeepers is a real boy?" He asks quietly.
With so much about the situation that still eludes her, Rune nods before looking to Harkashan. In times of uncertainty, he had become her stable place. She whispers the command word to return the necklace to its original form, and then slips it over her neck before reaching for one of his hands, if only to brush her fingers against it briefly before stepping forward.
And then, that sound of shattering glass. It's something that feels all too familiar to Rune. It reminds her of that pain that sometimes spikes along her back in the worst of her dreams. Yet, even in this darkness, they are not alone, it seems.
An ear twitches, but she seems to instinctively know that this is not Pothy, though... perhaps something similar. "I'm here to free the spirit of Kiira Theran, and to release the bride of the Golden Fate." The words echo those of Telamon, but it is Cor'lana's words that seem to remind her of something, "We were given guidance by Glasina, the blue butterfly, to find this place."
With a glance over to Aelwyn, she lifts her shoulder slightly, "I don't think so. But I also don't know what this is, either..."
Instinctively, as glass breaks and the world shifts, Harkashan grabs for Rune's hand... only to not fall. Black, yet their bodies, perhaps their souls themselves, illuminate their presence. No light, just a presence. This is not a plane he recognizes. But intead, before them, a 'raven boy' appears. And most certainly, those eyes and that voice are most telling.
Except, they do not bid for Snacks.
His head tilts for a moment. This is not the God itself, he believes.
"A kind expression we recognize?" He wonders to himself. "Or more unusual ties to great powers." He glances to Telamon and Ravenstongue as he whispers these words, before looking back to the boy.
He then touches his chest and bows his head. "Salutations, Servitor to the Blackfeathered Dragon." The Sith-makar instead expresses, before yielding the floor to the others to speak of purpose.
To Ravenstongue, Harkashan offers a proposal that; "Because they do not belong to the same 'time' as us, I imagine."
The boy doesn't move even an iota as everyone asks questions or makes observations of him. He's remarkably passive. "I am not a 'time lizard wizard'," he states rather dryly. "I am Observer Number Two-Thousand, Nine-Hundred, Ninety-Nine, in the employ of #####. My name is Zenith." The last word of the second sentence is a noise that's almost painful to the ears. Whatever he said, it falls away from the mind, unable to be recalled.
Zenith looks at Telamon then, blue eyes resting on him with a flicker of... Something in them, just for a moment. "Apotheosis and I are related. Except I have completed my mission, whereas Apotheosis has not."
He clears his throat, which is the most human-sounding noise he's made thus far. "This is a problematic area," he says. "Kiira Theran, the Golden Fate, and the Golden Fate's bride are erratic entities. By associating with them and entering this space, you are at risk of becoming erratic as well. Normally, the protocol would be to completely eradicate all existence of the entities--including yourself. However, I have one problem with this."
He looks at Rune. "You possess an artifact blessed by #####." Another word that's painful to the ears and falls off of it. "This means I cannot eradicate you from the record. Troublesome, just as she usually is." Now he sounds more boyishly annoyed. "Where did you get it?"
Telamon seems completely unfazed by the prospect of being eradicated. "That's because Apotheosis is tasked with being the companion of the inheritor, as well as being a repository for all known knowledge. He's not done yet." In fact, he seems less annoyed at the threat of obliteration and more annoyed at the perceived slight against Apotheosis.
He winces at the distorted name. "Yes, that sounds something like what Pothy has told us about his creator. At least, the name. Erratic, though? This is more a case of threads becoming tangled and improperly extricated. Besides," and here his eyes twinkle mischievously. "I can think of much more erratic entities to deal with. Why not just let us finish this and tidy up?"
GAME: Riptide rolls 1d100: (5): 5
Slixvah leans back to Aelwyn, "Dunno, hon. I do knows they a talkin' bird like Fiadh, but..." She gives a light glance down to her robes, probably to where her familiar is hiding. "... is this more emissary bananagins?" she whispers to her familiar.
No response.
Huffing and pulling her attention back to the entity at hand. She looks actually crestfallen at them not being a time lizard wizard. "Awh man- owwwowow," she hisses from the sound. "Buh, it's like I'm preppin' my mojo, ow."
The witch blinks. Glances between Telamon's confidences in the face of potentially easy eradication and the entity that is only letting them by on a technicality. She looks at Rune, her necklace, then back to Observer 2999. Sometimes the best thing to do when dealing with entities such as these whose logic exists outside the bounds of mortal minds, is to shush. Her beak clacks closed.
Aelwyn tilts his head annoyedly at the static noises, and he glances at Rune again. "... whichever it may be, they seem to be interfering." He rumbles and then snaps his head towards the Observer of... way too high of a number.
"There shan't be none erased today." The Dragoon warns with a briefest of anglings of his dark glaive - a bravado that may have been very, very misguided. Leaning back towards Slixvah, he quietly whispers, "What is a 'bananagins'?"
The strange noise is enough to cause Rune's ears to twitch back visibly, as if trying to protect themselves from the painful nature of names. She gives a quick flick of her eyes towards Harkashan, since he seemed to refer to this entity with some measure of familiarity. However, her attention snaps back to Zenith when he begins to mention eradicating 'erratic' entities.
"I have no idea what you mean by 'erratic' entities. Kiira, the Bride, the Golden Fate, they've all been suffering for years at the hands of someone I would argue was a far more 'erratic'." Unlike Telamon, Rune isn't unphased by the threat, but she seems far more worried for her companions than for herself. "And if your idea of erratic is that you don't know what path they will choose once freed... well, they deserve that chance."
As for the 'artifact' in question, it can really only be one thing. She reaches up, running her hand along the necklace. Her connection to her mother, to the Sky-singer, to her past... "My mother gave it to me, the night she died. She gave it to me, to lead me here. Which seems pretty damn intentional if you ask me..."
One of the foremost skills of a Speaker, is not to Speak. It is to Listen. And though as of late, Harkashan's primary role has been that of a Shaman, he is also listening. Over the long time he's now been interacting, on such a short notice, with Angels, Gods, and further powerful entities, something has slowly been awakening within him. So when there's a moment, that first time before the Observer speaks its name, there's a painful trace that feels like it rakes across his scalps at first. The others would see him touch for the side of his head for a moment, a small moment of what looks like a small headache at first.
"We understand. I believe we are willing to take on the risk of becoming erratic, if we can resolve this problematic area and do away with it." He rumbles, and is about to speak more when the boy speaks that word once more.
#####
A flash. A moment. Something gazing back at him. That pain sharpens, and Harkashan grimaces and moves to a partial kneel. So innocently tuned into the world around him, that it catches him by surprise. A dream's image, a part of him bursts away for a moment. Red-and-White light seeming to fracture across part of his scales and the 'outline' of peoples' perception of him for a moment. A divine touch upon him in that moment, as he grits his teeth... and then releases a long huff of a sound.
A painful reminder of the unimaginable rift that stands between mortals and those that lie far beyond.
Yet the first thing to come from him after that is an; "I'm okay." Towards Rune. One that perhaps, doesn't sound as legitimate what with the pained expression that comes with it, and the fact that his tail is as stiff as a rock. But his shape slowly 'recovering' in this realm.
Zenith stares at Harkashan, almost through him, before he sighs. "Erratic," he says, in almost a defeated tone. Then he looks back at the group.
"To be erratic is to possess qualities that suggest there is an undue influence on the flow of time. To write reality and will according to your own actions. Every actor is permitted a certain threshold of erraticism, some more than others depending on their nature--the problem is when one exceeds their threshold. They become a threat to Time itself. As an Observer, I am tasked with monitoring erratic entities and taking care of places where the temporal nature is structurally unsound because of their nature. Hence why I am here."
Those blue eyes turn back to Rune's necklace. "Her blessing is in opposition. She does not seek to destroy Time, but Her domain is the gleaning of time and divining it. All paths are likely in Time, but Her calling is that of helping those choose the best path."
Then the boy sighs again. "If you are insistent on taking responsibility for these entities, however, I will file an exception. Although..." Here he looks at Telamon meaningfully. "This will reflect poorly on Apotheosis's file."
Telamon has the good grace to not roll his eyes at Zenith. "Time and magic are already becoming twitchy, what with the ley lines jumping like water on a skillet. This shouldn't even be high on your priority list -- unless there's more to it than just Kiiran Theran and the Golden Fate." He gives Zenith a flinty look. "But then, you probably wouldn't tell us because of the rules, right?"
He waves his hand a bit dismissively. "Oh, I'm sure Apotheosis will be annoyed, but he'll get over it. He's got many more generations of inheritors to accompany. Now, why don't we get moving? Ni'essa knows we don't have all night, and if Rafael Prince has to come collect us, we'll have to listen to him yelling about cloaker country."
"It's like shenanigans, but like, with bananas mixed in, don' think 'bout it too hard," Slixvah whispers back to Aelwyn before her attention turns to the group opining for Kiira and the Bride's more fair and golden fate. She steps up behind the others, nodding in approval with her hands on her hips.
And then Slix squawks in surprise as an outline of the Deathsinger fractures out from him. "Ay yo, ya good, sugar?" she asks of him, a hand on his back.
Only for Observer 2999 to elaborate upon their prerogative. Slix stares. Glances aside, and pulls upon the nape of their collar. "Uhhh, yeah, heh. I'm right glad actors got a threshold, because uh, yeah. The Tapestry and all dat bein' an in progress woven thing, not every weave is meant ta go where its supposed ta." She gestures to Telamon. "Especially now. I figure Her helpin' us now is helpin' you keep ya records a lil' cleaner."
"Undue influence..." Rune repeats the words, and then shakes her head, "There are endless possibilities, and so many paths that we could choose to take. The gods guide us, but so do our choices. I'm here because my mother gave me the map to find my way. I'm here because I chose to follow in her footsteps. I'm here because the Sky-Singer chose to bring me back when I found myself in the halls." She looks to the others, then. "And I'm here because other people believe in me enough to follow my fool ass to the end of reality and back again."
It is then that she notices the strange impact all of this has on Harkashan. Her lips press into a thin line, not about to question exactly what happened, especially with him telling her that he is 'okay'. However, her eyes dart back to the Observer.
Even if Telamon doesn't seem concerned about the comment of Pothy's responsibility, Rune is, "Apotheosis has nothing to do with this." She moves to step forward, if that is even possible in this strange negative space, "You said it yourself. I'm taking responsibility here. This is my family we're talking about. My mother. My path. I won't let anyone else carry that burden but me."
Cor'lana seems bolstered by Rune's comment, as she nods defiantly and says, "If you're going to put anything on anyone's file... Put it on mine. I don't care if you're related."
She glowers at Zenith, violet eyes glowing a little with the enchantment on them to perceive the normally-unseen. "He's my brother. Has been since the day I was born, and will be until the day I pass into the Halls."
"Apologies." Harkashan rumbles, bowing his head to the defeated remark of 'Erratic' - clearly being indicated as one of those. He supposes one connected to the one he is bound to, is certain to be Erratic. A being that wishes to watch exactly those moments. Moments where Fate might be changed, nudged, or otherwise important moments.
At Slixvah's worried voice, he gives a grimacing smile at her. "Sometimes I listen too closely." Is all he will say for now. Letting the others do the Speaking for now, while he's still out of it.
Aelwyn continues to Slixvah, "This one has been trying to not think hard, but it feels as if it was time to relearn critical thinking." He tells the egalrin, but he straightens and walks towards the others - completely at a loss, as usual.
Up until Harkashan falls over, and he is there as well. "Tch, naturally one is okay." He reaches behind and fetches out for one of his potions, offering it to the cleric. "Though one hopes one does not carry such pained expression all the time."
Zenith finally moves something besides his head as everyone talks. He lifts a hand.
He puts it to the bridge of his nose, which he pinches as he sighs deeply.
"If you are insistent on carrying through with this motion, then I will permit it. I will observe. But I will offer a warning: please be mindful of any abnormalities with reality and time going forward in your future endeavors. Your actions may have an effect on Time that I cannot account for as of this moment, and your future actions will assuredly impact Time in ways that are irreconcilable with the course charted eons ago. But..."
His hand falls away as he points to Rune's necklace. "In this instance, I will permit it because of Her influence. Go then."
Zenith looks at Slixvah last. "Your actions will be remembered," he says--
And then desert. Birdcage. Bride. Kiira. Kiira is at the door to the cage now. She blinks. "There's a lock," she says. "There wasn't one before..."
The Bride--who, now that the party is closer, has ears like an elf woman rather than a human woman--looks at the gathered adventurers. Curiosity's in her eyes, but she does not speak.
Telamon keeps the polite expression on his face until they're returned to the desert with the birdcage, Kiira, and the Bride. Then he rolls his eyes. "Bureaucrats," he grumbles. "Mortal or immortal, they're always such a nuisance..." He gives Lana's hand a squeeze, as he moves back over to the cage to inspect it.
"Now, where were we? Ah! Good day, miss!" Telamon addresses the Bride with a winning smile. "Would you perchance be the Bride of the Golden Fate?" He glances at the lock, then looks to Rune. "I think you're up, Leirune." He smiles at her. "Have faith. Wherever we go, She is there to light the way."
GAME: Rune rolls perception+6: (8)+32+6: 46
Slixvah gives Rune a reassuring smile. "And I'd do it again!" she quips, trying to bring some levity to it all. And, well, she says stupid things when the stakes stack up so high, shaking her nerves.
The egalrin gives Hark a wan smile in return. "Honey, trust me when I say I knows exactly what's you talkin' 'bout."
She rises to her full stature, elbowing Aelwyn. "That's the spirit, learn hows tha think again." But, finally, Zenith seems done with it all, and permits them passage. "Oh! I'm glad!" she grins-
Only to have the Observer stare at her. "O-Oh. Yes, of cour-"
A tiny bird pops out of Slix's robes, golden eyes narrowed in frustration at Zenith. "By the Tapestry one must Weave with their hands, not watch the loom roll and say they fabricated the stars- *chirp*" They're shoved back down into robes. "Hush."
And now they're back in desert. Slix visibly relaxes, half slumping back. "Pheeeew-" Kiira is here. And now notices a lock? A lock on the cage. Did they just- "Me thinks we just got blinked outta time for beat there."
"I am insistant. I'm stubborn like that. Must have gotten it from my mother." Rune replies, folding her arms across her chest. Oh, the warning doesn't fall completely on deaf ears. Even so, Rune had known her actions had a piece of Intention behind them, or Fate if one saw it that way. She'd known that since she awoke in the Temple of Eluna, taking her first breath after being dead for quite some time.
"Well, you'd best hope the Sky-singer knows what she's doing, then." Raising a brow.
And then, they are back in that desert. She nods to Telamon, "Right, I got this." Of course, being a rogue, she does take time to look at the lock in question, because one can't be too careful at a prison that the Corpse Eater was involved with creating. Eventually, she takes the necklace off and murmurs: "Unlock." Revealing the key form.
"Guess I should try this before I break out my tools..." So, she reaches out to click the key in the lock.
"Heh..." Harkashan rumbles, leaning on Aelwyn as he comes to aid. "You'd be surprised how long I could hold a scowl." He jokes, before the dream comes back to them, and they're pulled into the realm of this anomalous time. He has to wonder, how a God would have permitted a 'moment' of anomalous time to persist. Why it would seek to guard it, and only allow it to be undone through guidance and permission of another God. A nod follows towards Slixvah.
Though there is commentary about bureaucracy. And he just has to wonder about the damage that might come from this. The warning left by Zenith.
Still, he will stand by Rune's side. Though he does deem fit to comment; "Something tells me, you would have been able to do this with your tools..."
The key clicks into the lock. It opens. And then...
The birdcage falls away. It dissolves into glitter golden dust, flying into the desert on a gust of wind that takes it so, so far away. The Bride's eyes are wide as she rises to her feet. "I am," she says at last to Telamon's question, before she looks at Kiira, and then at Leirune. Her voice is unlike Kiira's in that it's a gentle little whisper, something that would easily be eaten and taken by the howling desert wind. "I... I'm free?"
"For the first time," Kiira says, smiling.
"And the last."
The voice comes from behind the group. A tall woman, shrouded in a dark veil that covers all but half of her face, black-painted lips on marble-white skin. She lifts her hand, just as pale as her face, and pulls down the shroud. Her eyes are a stunning gold. Her hair is a color not that far off from Telamon's. She's beautiful. "For at the end of all of our torment and all of our sorrow--for at the end of the curse laid upon us, you are locked away no more."
Her golden eyes trace over the group of adventurers. "And all of you helped. How may I ever repay all of you?"
"Yes, that is the one thing I will be surprised by in this realm." Aelwyn replies to Harkashan with a flash of his teeth and a bump of his hips against the larger male. "Try not to explode before we return, yes?" When the other is in more stable footing, the Dragoon steps aside and moves to observe the going ons with his glaive held high.
"Tch, this one was always told locks were mere suggestions of privacy,." The draconian rumbles quietly by himself. Then, when the new voice appears - he twists on his heels and takes a step forward, ready to defend against... anything, really, but then pauses as there are no immediate threat. He turns to look at the others with a questioning tilt of his head.
Telamon gives a polite bow, as the lock is opened, the cage dismissed. Freedom seems like such a simple word, but it encompasses so much more -- and now the Bride is free, the last machinations of the Corpse-Eater broken.
Stepping back to stand next to Cor'lana, his hand in hers, he smiles at Kiira and Rune. "This is your moment, ladies. But if you desire my opinion, you need but to ask."
Cor'lana curls up to Telamon, smiling between Rune, her mother, and the Bride, although she seems a little tense upon seeing the new woman. "The Golden Fate?" she murmurs. "I have to admit... I didn't think she would be that tall."
Is that a hint of jealousy in Cor'lana's voice?
Slixvah grins at Hark's observation. "Now that'd be a hoot," she snickers quietly, only to fall silent as Rune produces the key from before to use on the lock. And it all but vanishes into dust. This dream realm was starting to grow on Slix. She smiles as they realize they're freed- And she whirls around to face the new voice. Her eyes widen. "... oh! It's you...!" she whispers, recognition flashing across her face. Following Telamon's example, she takes a half step back, bowing to the Bride and the new entity. "Plus one on Telly," she enthuses, grinning.
"You are free." Rune confirms as she motions for the woman to step forth.
The sound of this other voice has her head snapping in the direction of the shrouded figure. For a moment, her breath catches and she stares at the person she has only ever seen or heard in visions. The Fey always did have an otherworldly beauty to them, but Rune quickly sends her gaze towards the sands.
At the question, the one at the heart of all of this, Rune turns to look at the woman who was and would be her mother. "The only thing I've ever wanted... was to know my mother through her journey. To understand why I am the person I am, because I'm so much of her even if she died a long time ago." Her eyes blink, forcing a swallow to keep from giving in to the tears that want to follow.
"Once I knew what befell her, what was holding all of you, all I wanted was to see this end. That's enough for me... to know that you'll all be free." And one of those tears falls, so Rune wipes at her cheek and looks away again. Trying to hold herself together.
Harkashan... steps aside. This is not his moment, so this is what he will do. Move aside, and let Rune and the others speak. Turning his head in surprise for a moment to the alabaster-and-black woman, who he'd seen only once before. Some things yet lay unexplained to him. But he's okay with this.
Yet, he remains close. His hand constantly hovering close to Rune's. He will be her strength if she needs it.
The Bride comes forward and quickly, quickly closes the distance between herself and the Golden Fate. The Golden Fate is a bit taller than her wife, but that doesn't stop her. She embraces the other woman, and they simply hold each other tightly. It's the first time they've been able to do this since the Corpse-Eater laid his curse.
Finally, the Golden Fate lets her go. Golden eyes lock onto Rune and Kiira both, and she smiles. "I think you know exactly why you are now, aren't you?" she says. "Kiira, in all of the time I have known her... She has never given up on reuniting my wife and I. Not even death has stopped her."
Kiira smiles at her daughter, putting a hand gently onto Rune's shoulder. "I know, my dear," she says. "I wish... I wish you didn't have to join my struggle, but... This has been more than I've ever dreamed of."
She laughs a little as she says, "This is the part where... I think I should die?" she asks. "After all, I did get to live my life. I had wonderful adventures. I learned wonderful songs and stories. And I got to teach you so much--and yet there was so much I never got to say. I ran out of time, but oh, Leirune..."
Kiira's eyes water as she embraces her daughter again. "Every single moment was precious to me. I have, and always will, love you."
The Golden Fate looks at Kiira for a long moment. "Her strings of fate have been cut," she says. "Her fate... Is her own to make."
She looks at Rune and smiles tenderly. It's clear why she's called the Golden Fate then. She shines like the sun when she smiles. "Go with her. Go learn all the things that you didn't have time to learn. All the things that you didn't have the time to say. You gave us another chance... It is only fair that you get your 'another chance'."
Telamon is silenced for the moment. To give Rune back something that precious -- and Telamon can completely sympathize. If it had been one of his parents... he then smiles, his arms going around Cor'lana. "Sometimes," he says quietly. "All we want is our time under the sun and stars. With our family and friends."
He bows to the Golden Fate. "I can think of no better thanks than this. It has always been in my nature to wish families restored, as much as I can. This is no different."
Cor'lana nods firmly, her own eyes watering. "They exist," she says quietly. "Golden endings. Where the evil is vanquished, and... everyone lives."
She remembers, not all that long ago, a sword she held, a sword where she killed a demon, and she uttered those words. "Today, everyone lives," she says. Everyone except the darkness. Everyone except the despair.
Harkashan cannot help but smile. In as far as a Sith-makar can make a 'smile' with those big maws of theirs. It's a bit toothy, but it's a habit he's learned to express a bit better than the previous 'full toothed smiles' he used to put on. His eyes express warmth as he witnesses this all.
As there's words of death, the Deathsinger shakes his head. "I do not sense the Deathsinger's pull on you." Is all he says, before looking down at Rune.
"Go give your mother a proper hug, won't you?"
Slixvah smiles warmly as she watches The Golden Fate and her wife be reunited, as well as Rune's wishes being laid bare. She leans against Aelwyn, eyes growing misty. Well, this was the part in the story where Kiira would fade away into the sands- she blinks. "... hot damn," she whispers, finding herself grinning, infectious from the Golden Fate's winning smile. "That is... very kind. Another chance is a boon of possibilities."
A large exhale leaves her, and she throws an arm around Aelwyn, leaning back a bit to soak up the moment. "Everyone lives," she echoes Cor'lana in total agreement.
Aelwyn's teeth are also all visible in a very macabre grin. He moves to touch Rune on the shoulder. "I am glad for you, Rune."
And then he gets full egalrin'd, not that he minded one bit, just let out a rumbling sound in his throat. "Tch, it is a good day." He agrees, and the draconian leans in closer to wrap his arm around Slixvah as well, looking at the family reunion with a bit of a whip from his tail. "Twin does deserve many of those."
"Giving our lives for those we care about... is certainly something we share." Rune's eyes turn towards Harkashan. Then, looking back to the Golden Fate, she inclines her head, "I know who I am. And I know just how much of it I have to thank her for." Those blue eyes turn to her mother, her lips pressed tight.
Saying goodbye as a child is one thing, but to be faced with having to do so again, even for that briefest of moments, is heartbreaking in a way few would ever have to face. Rune's mouth opens to say something, but it is the Golden Fate who speaks, instead.
For a moment, she looks between the two, then around to her friends as if she were struggling to believe any of it was real. A touch, a smile, a look of bone deep appreciation to each and every one of them. All to believe in just what they have found. This moment, this Golden Fate of their own.
Then, Rune moves forward and throws her arms around her mother, burying her face into the woman's neck. There would be time for talking later. Time to fill her in on the years that have passed between them. Right now, Rune is just a little girl again, and having her mother back is the greatest gift.
Eventually, Cor'lana returns the group to the material plane. The Lupecyll-Atlons carry with them the knowledge of Zenith, seemingly a strange relative to Apotheosis who cares little for the boy. Aelwyn carries with him the weight of this strange experience. Harkashan carries with him the weight of having seen that which a mortal does not normally see for but an instant in time. Slixvah carries with her the weight of knowing that she and Fiadh will be watched.
And yet there's Rune and her mother. For the first time in a long time, Rune does not have to say goodbye to her. Because who is there waiting in the morning, making food and humming to herself just like she used to do?
For the first time in a long time, Rune gets to say hello to her mother.
For the first time in a long time, everyone lives.