The Search For Kathea, A Leap Into The Keep Of The First Ones P5

      "I feel you should know I have other mates as well."

      "Please go on."

      "They are all female, Rigmor of Bruma, High Queen of Cyrodiil, my first love, Illyria, also Aasimar like me, but older, much older, her story as well is...complicated, and then there is Byrsael, a ranger of Gondor of Middle Nirn. I had thought I had lost her when we parted ways, as her body still retained a shard of a 'Morgul Blade' that was slowly working its way to her heart. Had it pierced her heart, it would have damned her soul to eternal servitude to a Dark Lord who has plagued her world for ages.

      When the Elves of her world could not save her, she left and came to me to say goodbye. By then I was sitting on the Ruby Throne of the Empire of Cyrodiil. She was but scant hours away from death. Illyria saw what was happening, went to her, and started trying to deal with the shard. I went to help, but even the two of us were not enough. Rigmor came and I placed her to provide healing energy to Byrsael, while Illyria and I dealt with the shard.

      It was close, but we managed to draw it out, even while my Court Sorceress came with a small casket made to isolate magically active things like that shard. I later had it destroyed by Dragonfire, the stone pedestal where it was melted and boiled away still stands in the field as a testament to the cleansing. It was later that day I asked Byrsael to marry myself, Rigmor, and Illyria."

      "How do they feel about sharing you with Dettlaff?"

      At first, it was varied, not without problems to resolve, but we came to understand what was going on. And then, just recently, we all gathered for a special ceremony. We all underwent the 'Rites of the Mother' as we wed each to the other according to the 'rites' of the 'Mother of the Cosmos'. All of us are equal to each other, charged to care for and love each other, with but one exception, the 'blood sharing' is between Dettlaff and me alone, anything else between him and the others is up to them, but not the 'blood sharing'. Should they wish to partake in that, they must find another higher vampire to bring into our midst, and then the 'blood' that they share will be between them alone as well."

     "You are all right with sharing him otherwise?"

     "I know where his heart, mind, and soul lies, that is enough for me. Especially now that we have Kalle Kiir Aaz, our first child together."

     "You have a child! But that has never happened before with one partner not being a vampire! How is that possible?"

     "By fate, and the blessings of the 'Aspect of Life' and the 'Mother of the Cosmos'. Nothing is beyond their combined strength."

     "Her name, it is like nothing I have heard before."

     "It is in the Dovazul speech, the language of Dragons. As I am Dragonchild, so too is our daughter, and so her name is, by tradition, composed of three of the Rotmulag, the words of power. Her name means 'Champion, Child, Mercy' and she is the 'Dragon of Spirit' spoken of in the 'Hallowed Scrolls of Skelos'."

     "That means she is a part of the prophecy concerning Ragnarok does it not?"

     "Yes, she is."

     "And if she is the Dragon of Spirit, that means you are the Dragon of War?"

     "Again yes."

     "By all that is holy, the 'End Times' come."

     "That is what I am to stop. To stop the slide to destruction, to restore the balance."

     "But it is said the 'Mother' will pass away."

     "Yes, she will pass the 'Final Gate' into the 'Beyond', but not before anointing her successor and passing on the 'Mantle of the Mother' to another, thus bringing about the reordering of the Creations."

     "You, you are her successor, aren't you?"

     "She has declared me to be her 'Daughter' and thus the one to take up her 'Mantle' when the time comes. She searched the 'Streams of Time' to find someone who she felt could do what needed to be done. At some point, she found someone she felt could in fact do what she wanted to be done, once the God grooming her for a task of his own was done with her. And so she went back to the birth of her chosen one and began with small changes to prepare her for what was to come."

     "Changes?"

     "Time enough later to delve into all of that, there is a visitor that seems familiar to me in some way, that I feel I need to acknowledge."

     "Thank you for indulging me, my questions. I look forward to speaking with you again."

     "I too have enjoyed this and look forward to more. Especially when you get your first look at the 'Krang'. It will take your breath away."

     "That has something to do with the one you call Reaper, I heard Nodens call him an 'Avatar'?"

     "Ask Reaper about it, he will tell you all you wish to know, if you still have questions after, then find me again and I will see if I can assist your understanding."

     "Thank you, I will."

     "Later then."

     Iriisii moves on to the few visitors still remaining. One, in particular, piques her interest. She feels she either has met him before or someone like him, which is strange in that he is not human. Then as she comes closer it dawns on her. He is of the same race as the attendants of the Great Library at Carcosa. The differences must come from his being a more mature member of his race than the attendants. She remembers how she greeted the attendants with respect and gained their ready assistance as a result, so she feels it appropriate to do the same here.

     "I greet thee, though I know not your name. I remember younger ones of your kin as Attendants to the Great Library at Carcosa. I am pleased to call them friends and would do the same with you if it pleases you."

     "You may speak of me as 'Llyure', Dragon of War. It be the honor of all my ancestral forebears to meet you at last. Those of mine who serve the Great Library give speech of high praise to you and yours. The manner in which you dealt with those who would harm rare oracles, was and will always be just."

     "I thank you for your words of praise, but feel I was simply doing what I was called to do."

     "And so, you see more than many who believe they see yet are blind to truth."

     "May I ask, how I may be of service to a friend?"

     "Already you have been of service. Much you have done that I find benefit in. Few enough truly are of service to the 'Mother', glad am I to know one she calls 'Daughter'."

     "As am I to call her 'Mother'."

     "You say the words, and others hear only that. I see the deepness within the words, the soul within you that speaks with your voice when you say the words. The voice that worships the 'Mother' with every breath. Strong are your ties to her, stronger still they will become. This is the truth that so many will not see, to their sorrow."

     "Know you how I can reach them? Turn them from their path? Bring them back to 'her'?"

     "Alas, it is not your task to do this. It must come from them or it is dross. Some are ready to hear truth and truth will reach their ears, eyes, mind, soul. Others are happy in their blindness and will not hear. Nothing can be done for them, and as I feel your sadness for them and share it, in blindness they still must play their role. And in this, they serve as well, though they know it not."

     "Then onward we must go, not let ourselves be slowed by those who see only blindness, hear only deafness, and speak with no voice."

     "The 'Mother' hears the voice of her 'Daughter', and her soul sings with yours across all where life gathers. You have honored this one above all others, to hear the 'Song of the Cosmos', may all who hear come unto you to the 'Mother'. All that is ours, is now yours. We declare for the 'Balance'. Let all know our decision, that it is right, that it is just."

     And this Elder of Elders, extrudes from his own limbs, forming a garland crown, a crown of flowers that look very similar to a flower she has seen before, first in Coldharbour, and again after Kyne blessed the battle site where she defeated the Tsaesci Army.

     "When first life came up from the soil and from the water, from the desert and from the cold, these were their first sight, their first scent, their first touch. The 'Daughter' embodies all within these sights, scents, and touches. Let these follow in her steps, that all know what she sees, what she scents, what she touches is holy and worthy of life."

      As he raises his gnarly 'hands', she instinctively leans her head toward him. And he places the 'Holy Crown of First Bloom' upon her head. It grows very small tendrils that weave into her hair, holding the Crown in place. And in that very second of time, she feels transported, she sees the endless darkness that was the void. Dark, cold, silent, then she hears the faraway notes of a song. A song of unimaginable power, that flows and spreads outward, bringing light into the dark, warmth into the cold, and the Song of Creation into the silence.

      Then she hears the endless raging cry of Sithis as Creation begins, and as he fights it, strikes at it, it splits and there are two Creations, then four, then eight. On and on he fights, and Creation continues growing in number, until he finally tires of the battle he can not win and retreats to where Creation does not extend, and there he sits and waits.

      Then she looks toward where she heard the notes of the song that started it all, and she sees a gate closing. But before it shuts, it slows as if noticing her for the first time. And a whisper, or is it a shout, or is it a gentle voice, says to her, "well met, Daughter. That you are here at this time of the beginning, says things are moving well in the future. The angry one knows not who you are yet, one day he will, and so will move against you, setting events into motion that he will come to regret. For you will become his nemesis, at least within his limited vision. You are far, far more than that child."

      "Who are you?"

      "You will find out one day. Although the count of those days is a number to stagger the imagination. It will come when you deem it is time. And we will gather to await your return, in joyfulness, in passion, in fulfillment of the promise of Life. You approach the beginning of the greatest chapter, shy not from what you must do, for there must be 'Balance' in all things. When there is, all flourish in their own way.

      You wear the Holy Crown, and now no other can wear it, for it has decided only you are worthy. It will be the symbol of who you will become when the Jihad of Truth is over. Rejoice in truth, mercy, and compassion, even as those who meet justice at your hands and by your will, spurn and curse you. Both sides must be in balance, for this is the First Sacred Law and you are its governor. Return now and know we watch, waiting in anticipation of when next we shall meet."

     As she wakes from the vision, Ciri is standing close to her, concern showing on her face.

     "What happened, you looked like you were going to fade away!"

     "I...I was gifted with a vision. A vision of the very beginning of Creation."

     "The very beginning?!"

     "Yes, I saw the blackness of the void stretching in all directions. Nothing to interrupt it. And then I heard the notes of a song, the most beautiful and powerful song that could ever be. I saw Sithis howl in rage and vicious anger at the first Creation."

     "Wait what do you mean the 'First Creation'?"

     "He struck at it, hit it, and it split into two, then four, then eight, and on and on it kept growing until finally he stopped and retreated away into the farther darkness.""

     "How many were there then?"

     "I do not know, more than I could count."

     "By all that is holy."

     "I turned to look at where I first heard the song. There was a gate far in the distance that was closing. It stopped and I heard..."

     "What, what did you hear? Who did you hear?"

     "I do not know who it was, but they knew me, knew why I was there like they expected me. They said they would wait for me, and that we would meet again. I cannot say more, some must yet remain secret until the time of revealing comes."

     "When will that be?"

     "I will know when, they said to wait and all would be revealed."

     "Blessed is the 'Daughter', Keeper of the First Sacred Law, destiny is yours now to determine. You are risen above the Fates, you are 'Keeper' now."

     "Keeper? Keeper of what?"

     "Keeper of the First Sacred Law, Keeper of the Balance, both sides must be in balance, light and dark, good and evil. This purpose is now yours."

     "I understand now, Elder. I will undoubtedly learn more as events progress. If there be anything I can do to help any who declare for the Balance, you have but to ask."

     "When next you visit the Library, tell the young ones they are missed and their families wish the best for them."

     "I will most for certain tell them when next I see them."

     "Thank you, Dragon of War."

     The Elder moves off and two other visitors approach.

     "How can I be of assistance this night?"

     "It is we who owe you a great debt, Dragon of War. We would ask of 'him' who remains your prisoner. We heard the 'Black Emperor' sought to free him and of your coming to stop his efforts. Are there any thoughts on strengthening the security around 'him'?"

     "I have been giving thought to that very thing, yes. I intend to take 'him' with me when I leave. There indeed may be a way to strengthen his prison, and I will look for a more secure place to hide him away. Failing that, I am prepared to destroy him, completely."

     "But would his soul escape?"

     "Not with what I have in mind, I must keep this means a secret from all. If no one knows, no one can attempt to stop me. But rest assured, what I will do, should it come to that, will destroy even his unholy soul. For once it is started, nothing can stop it, nothing, and it will not stop as long as there is a single speck of 'him' remaining."

     "Good, with that question settled, did you like the gift we gave you for your efforts?"

     "You could not have given me anything that I treasure more. I currently have him in training with the 'Blade Dancers'. They say he is among the best they have ever taught and I could not be more proud of him. I thank all that had a part in giving me that gift. Know that I call all of you 'friends', if ever you need help, just call upon me and I will do whatever I can."

     "We are honored, Dragon of War. We will continue to listen to the Aetherial Winds, anything we hear that may be of interest to you, we will pass your way."

     "Then I am honored to have been of help in the former matter."

     The guests have all left, things look to be settling down as Ciri makes her way over to Iriisii.

     "I guess you have issues with the way I handled the oracles?"

     "Not really, I have had a chance to speak with Lady Aranessia and understand more of their history, life, all of these things. She is very patient with me, and I am beginning to understand them a bit more. I see now that I have misjudged, no prejudged them by the actions of a few, and those few placed in circumstances far beyond their understanding or control."

     "You are now going through a period of learning, just as I did, and truth be told still doing."

     "Does it ever end?"

     "No, it does not. We learn, we accept, in many cases, we tolerate things we do not agree with, at least until we understand the cost of changing them. Then we must decide if the cost is too high to pay. There is much that I have seen that I loathe to the core of my being, but I realize that it must exist for a reason. It does not help that I sometimes see and understand the reason, just that sometimes I must accept it and go on."

     "But you are a greater goddess, why can you not just change these things? Surely you have the power?"

     "Yes, I do. But that does not mean that I should use it like that, on whatever whim I choose. Even if my intentions are the best, the results will not be. Just because I can do something, does not always mean I should. The most horrific tragedies that have ever happened, did so for that very reason, for that very decision. And sometimes, well, I think this is the time for me to tell you of something I had to do somewhat recently."

     Iriisii speaks to Ciri of the encounter she had with the Wamphyri leeches. Of what she discovered, what she saw, what she, in the end, had to do.

     "I am so sorry, I had no idea."

     "It is in the past, and I am learning to deal with the grief. Doing what you know you must, can be, and often is the single most difficult thing you will ever have to do in your life. All you can do then is focus on what is best for all and do it, no matter the personal cost to you. And the higher you go, when it happens, the higher the cost will be."

     "How do you withstand it? How do you keep going?"

     "With the love and support of my friends, mates, and family. Without them, I would have given up and passed beyond, long ago."

     Ciri gives Iriisii a hug and moves on. Lady Aranessia comes forward.

     "She is indeed trying to see beyond her personal issues with vampires. Not that I blame her for her opinions because of what she has experienced. I think it is your influence that has sparked her to look at the larger view and so I wanted to thank you for trying to get others to look further than the surface."

     "My life has been one near-constant learning trial, with sorrow and pain never more than a step away. I never understood why it had to be so until I unknowingly began climbing the ladder of power. As I go on, I learn more and more of the truth of our beginnings. Will I ever learn all of it? I doubt it. Maybe I will learn enough to be a better guide and mentor to the Creations than I otherwise would be."

     "If what I have seen with you and my nephew is any indication, you will be more than up to the task. But what I wanted to speak with you about, it has come to my attention that there are those who begin to move against you in other than direct ways. They will strike from the shadows, and they will not strike directly at you but rather at those close to you. Any that are far from you in distance are the ones in greatest danger, and even then the danger will be aimed at those close to them not directly at them.

     By using this stratagem they hope to cause pain and dissension, that will cause those close to you to question their loyalty. I do not know specifically who will be targeted, but I do know they are not directly involved in what you are doing. In this way, your enemies feel they stand a better chance of both getting to their target while still causing pain to those close to you.

     There are too many possibilities for you to consider, spread across too many places for you to protect, so the best you can do is to be ready to act when it happens. I feel the most likely one, unfortunately, needs to happen in order to clear a path for an important future change."

     "What kind of change?"

     "I only know it will be personal to the one involved. That she is close to a branch in her destiny, and one side needs to be closed for her to take the other. I wish I could be more helpful, but where ever these visions come from, they do not always tell me all I would wish to know. Perhaps when it comes about, it will be clearer for you to understand and make the right decision."

     "I see, at least I know to expect something in the near future, and so I will not be totally off guard. Thank you. And now, if you please, I still have a few tasks left here before we can move to the Krang, and I am now anxious to finish this part and return to the Library. I still have research on Tanelorn to do, for that is my next major destination."

     "When will you go to seek Kathea?"

     "It will take a few more sharings with Dettlaff before he is strong enough to begin dreaming on his own, he is now able to share in my dreams, but that is not enough for the Dreamlands to accept him and allow him entrance, even though I am a Great Dreamer."

     "I have never heard that name before, what is a 'Great Dreamer'?"

     "First you must understand a bit about the 'Dreamlands'. They are a part of and in part separate from the 'Creations'. They are as vast as all of the 'Creations', for each race who dreams has a role in its beginning and its continuance, all are represented there. It encompasses the past, the present, and the future, all at once.

     As a Great Dreamer, I have the power of the 'Dreamstride', I can enter the Dreamlands from any Realm, any Creation, and come out in any other Realm or Creation simply by going to the appropriate place within the Dreamlands and 'awaken'. My Rigmor is also a Great Dreamer, and once I asked the Dreamstride to bring her to me here, at an Inn in Novigrad, during a performance of a very talented young lady. Her songs evoked such need and desire within me to cause me to want my Rigmor next to me. And so it acted to bring her to me until the dawn's light crept through the windows. Quite a few have disbelieved that it could happen as I have described until I show them this", and Iriisii reaches into a slim pouch she always carries at her side, drawing a crystal pendant. She cast a ball of magelight to hover above her and gives the pendant to Aranessia.

     "Look into the pendant with the magelight, and gently spin it."

     As Aranessia does this, she sees the image of two young women within. Recognizing one as Iriisii, she assumes the other is Rigmor. It is then that she sees the two dance with each other, and begins to hear the melody of the song they are dancing to. Entranced, she does not notice Ciri come up and look within for herself.

     Ciri looks to Iriisii and mouths silently, 'I know this place, the Kingfisher Inn in Novigrad.' Iriisii nods her head. 'I see Geralt, Triss, Dandelion, Priscilla, and Zoltan.' Iriisii smiles. 'That song, I have heard it before, but I do not know from where.' Iriisii knows, but cannot yet tell her, that she has yet to hear it, that it is reaching out to her from her future.

     As Aranessia finishes watching the dance, her own emotions draw back into the depths of her memories, to a time when she loved another with all her heart. In her mind's dream, she is dancing with her long-lost love, before he was swept away in the first 'Conjunction of the Spheres' to where she never knew and was unable to ever find a trace of him again.

     Slowly she gives the pendant back to Iriisii, pale pink tears running down her face.

     "Thank you for that vision, I believe that it is real now."

     Just then a rustle of feathers is heard.

     "Blessed art thou among your kind, Lady Aranessia. The 'Magic of Dreams' has seen fit to give you a gift, from now on you have the ability to dream. Further know that he who you once knew and to whom you gave your heart, holds it still close to his. Never has he given up hope of ever finding you and even now still searches. Follow the path of her 'Daughter' and along this path, you will find him again. This is the gift the 'Mother' gives to you for your sincere faith and belief.

     Ciri, daughter of Geralt, of the 'Blood of Lara Dorren', one day you will find 'he' whom the 'Mother' has set aside for you, 'he' will be one who can touch you in ways no one else can. Follow her 'Daughter' and she will lead you to him, this is the 'Mother's' promise to you."

     Then the rustle of feathers fades off into unfathomable distances.

     "Wha..?"

     "That was one of the 'Soul Hounds of the Mother'. They act as her servitors, speaking on her behalf, giving her 'gifts' to those she wishes, and many other duties."

     "The scene in the pendant, it happened at the Inn in Novigrad, while Priscilla was singing. I heard about what happened that night. There was nothing else on the lips of the city for months afterward."

     "It was a very special time for me, one I will never ever forget."

     "Priscilla said the same, in fact, I think Dandelion may be close to asking her to marry him."

     "You are kidding me, Dandelion? I know he loves her, but he has much fear within to overcome before that could happen."

     "I think that night, started him on the path."

     "Then I must make time to return to Novigrad and pay him a visit while I am so close. If he does intend to ask for her hand in marriage, the least I can do is arrange the wedding."

     "I wonder? Can you?"

     "If it is the 'Rites of the Mother', yes, I can. She has blessed me with the gift to do so in her name."

     "Then leave it to me, if he is serious, then I will make it happen."

     Meyrlyniq walks up.

     "Things have gone well, I take it."

     "Much better than I expected, to be honest."

     "Are you ready to see the 'Wisdom of the First Ones' then?"

     "Yes, let us do this. This seems to be a day for surprises."