The Search For Kathea, A Leap Into A New Direction Or Not

 The Search For Kathea, A Leap Into A New Direction Or Not

      Iriisii wakes feeling something is different, she sees Rigmor and remembers her being cradled until she fell asleep. Then she vaguely remembers someone else slipping next to her other side, and falling into a deep restful slumber. She glances at the arm and hand draped across her middle, ah, either Illyria or Desidarius. Hmmm, does it really matter which one? She answers her own question, no, it really doesn't. I love them both, a bit differently, but both equally nonetheless.

     She sees Rigmor's eyes open and gaze into her own. An unspoken question forms and then Rigmor puts a finger to her lips to say, be quiet. She then shifts herself, to lean over Iriisii, very gently, like a mild breeze, touches Desidarius' face. As she wakes, she starts to see it is Rigmor and not Iriisii touching her. Rigmor smiles and simply says, "Join us?"

     Iriisii turns her head to look at Desidarius with her own smile on her face. Desidarius whispers, "are you sure, you want me?" And Rigmor replies, "I have never been more sure in my life."

     A thrill like no other she has ever experienced runs through Desidarius. And that is but the start of the thrills that follow.

     Later Iriisii is looking at the book Sanshae found in the library. As Sanshae comes up, "did you find this on a shelf or if not where did you find it at?"

     "Let me show you." And they proceed to the library.

     "When I entered and looked around I saw a few books out of place. I went to them and put them back into position."

     "Wait, were they in the wrong order or just not aligned with the rest of these?"

     "They were out of alignment, either sticking out too far, tilted outward, but in the correct order. When I got the last one, I heard a sound like a click, and a small panel over here opened up."

     Sanshae goes to where there is a small opening in the wall. "The book was in here."

     "When you touched it, did you feel anything?"

     "I just felt a need to bring it to you. Did I do something wrong?"

     "No, not at all. I am just trying to put the pieces of how it came to be here together. And maybe see if there might be more to find out. Stay with me and let us see what we may find."

     Iriisii goes back to the book first and opens it to the first page. She feels pressure against her mind, which she extends a bit of her own rather than opening hers.

     "Who are you and what do you wish with me?"

     "I am one of the volumes in the book set known as the "Books of the Shadowlands". It is my task to seek those who are beyond all others."

     "To what purpose?"             

     "To see if they are capable to enter the Shadowlands and find the answers to the questions they seek."

     "And If I were to decline?"

     "Then I move on in search of the next one."

     "Are answers the only things to be found?"

     "Answers take many forms, some physical, some spiritual, some magical, others require deeper seeking."

     "What kind do I seek?"

     "Only you know that answer, I am only to point the way to the entrance. And I can offer a glimpse into what can be found there, a tease of sorts. But only if you wish this and by your direct request."

     "Very well then, show me this tease of yours."

     In an instant or could it be forever, she is taken to a vista of nigh-infinite proportions. She sees landscapes that verily take one's breath away to view. The most fantastic of animals, some only hitherto read of as legends, hunted to extinction in past times. There are gardens of beauty and other forms, some simple, some dangerous and lethal, others so different there are no words to describe.

     Buildings so light and frail, she cannot see how they could be supported, yet they stand or twist around, or bridge between others. Everything is supported here, light, dark, good, evil, and others of the lefthand and righthand paths that take different roads, nothing is forbidden, yet she is assured no one comes to harm. No inhabitants nor visitors are harmed or do harm.

     For those who wish that they must look elsewhere. She asked as to its age, and she is told it has always existed. This surprises her as all evidence she has experienced says all things have a beginning and an ending. But the voice says although that is true in her reality, here it is not. This place has always been and will always be. It stands apart from everything else. She cannot shake a feeling that there is something about this place that reminds her of another. and then it comes to her, the Dreamlands.

     The voice smiles if she could see it. The Dreamlands came from this place, the first Gods came here, saw what you see, and went back to dream of what they saw. The power of the visions interacted with the fabric of reality to create the Dreamlands. And now the dreams of those who live in reality, keep the Dreamlands growing. New dreams grow and replace old ones that wither and die, but dreams are different things from life, or rather perhaps just a different kind of life. And never, really, truly, die, but can be revived if enough will dream of them. But that is there and this is here. Here different 'laws' reign and hold power. If you wish to know more, ask and I will tell you what you must do to find the entrance.

     "Is this all that you do?"

     "Oh no, I am a book after all. My pages contain a great deal of information to one who can read it."

     "So, how does one go about reading your pages, I saw the script on your cover as my fingers brushed it."

     "And if you were not one chosen to be able to read me, you would not have seen even that. No, to read me in my entirety, you must anoint my title with your blood. The markers within will activate and allow you to see all that you wish within my pages."

     "So I just give your title script some of my blood and I will be able to read your pages?"

     "Yes, that is all. Once you are recognized, it remains that way for all time, even if you find any of the others, you will not have to repeat the anointing."

     "Thank you, I look forward to seeing what is written within your covers."

     "From what I know from our current interaction, you will find much to interest you, and to be of help to you in your future endeavors."

     "I should hope so, but I must admit, I have had good luck with entities buried with the covers of a book."

     "Then may it be so this time as well."

     "Sanshae, if anyone asks of me, I will be here reading for a while. How long I will be, I do not know. If I am still here when dinner time comes, please have someone bring me something here. I think once I start reading this, I will not want to stop until I am done."

     "Of course, my Lady."

     Once she had left, Iriisii extruded a fang and drew blood from a thumb. Running the bloody thumb over the title script of the book, the lettering turned a deep violet and she saw she was now able to read the script. Once she read the title, she knew it was going to be a long night, because she was not going to stop until she was done. Quietly she muttered the title to herself, "A History of the Great Dragons, Dragon Gods, and Goddesses"

     "Hmmm, maybe there will be mention of Ragnarok in here. Well, I need to start if I am going to ever get done."

     Hours go by, the plates of food come and go. Still, she sits reading, absorbing every word, every nuance of meaning. So much is coming clear, what the titles she has been given concerning the Dragons, what they mean, how they interact with others, what power do they give. What are her duties and responsibilities in response? She sees how and why her own maternal feelings toward dragons have changed, expanded, strengthened. What her abilities to take on dragon form, merge with others to become even more powerful in dragon form.

     She reads about the previous Crystal Dragons, the Dragons of Destiny, and still others she had no idea existed. What she could gain from them, and what could be if she learned to merge the different ones all at once. There are even more tantalizing bits of lore, some she had thought there was more, now she sees she was right.

     Whether Akatosh knew dragons existed in other realms, other realities, she has no idea, but he did not give the ones he created the full range of their capabilities. Even Kyne in helping to expand on the knowledge within the Rotmulag and Dovahzul in general had no idea of the truth embedded within. Dovahzul is indeed the language of the Divines, but if so why is it so narrow, so straight, and linear in its application.

     The answer is that it is not. It is the true language of power, as it derives from the primal power itself. Other languages used to create spells mirror the words through incorrect and partial translation, thus lessening the power of the spell. The same spells cast in the full range of Dovahzul are both miraculous and frightening. If Akatosh knew this, then he deliberately chose to limit what parts of the complete language he taught his children.

     Iriisii wonders if this might have a bearing on why so many of Nirn's dragons are so overbearing, dominating. Their knowledge and use of Dovahzul, being only a part, is unbalanced. They have no knowledge of the rest, its rich complexity, nuances. Literally, anything imaginable can be said and understood using it. That had to be why, for if they knew the full language within themselves, they would be able to go beyond him, as Iriisii has. And in part, she now sees how what Kyne taught her opened the way for her advancement. Even as she still has a far way to go, she knows that one day she will master all of Dovahzul and what will she become when she does.

     She comes to the pages that speak of the Dragon Gods and Goddesses. Where are they now? What happened to them? Why are they not here guiding their charges? Just a few of the many questions that cross her mind as she reads of them. Some perhaps grew such that they had to move on, as the Child of Infinity could not remain within this reality along with Iriisii. But if so, where did they go, do they still watch over their brothers and sisters? And a single fleeting thought, flashes across her mind, barely registering on her consciousness. 'Maybe they do still watch and have brought up one to guide them in their stead.' 

     Of the ones who stayed, what happened to them, where are they? And another fleeting thought crosses her mind, 'you will find them and bring them home from their deathly slumber. She reaches the last few pages and sees it blank.

     "You have done as only a few before you have done, read this entire book from beginning to present."

     "Then the blank pages have yet to be written."

     "Indeed. The passages are preparing themselves to be written as we speak. But when they will appear within my pages, only they know."

     "Before reading this, I would have questioned you about how writing can direct itself in its revealing. Now, however, I understand and know more of what you are. Nothing more will be said by me of this, no one else would understand anyway. But to have scholars, philosophers, sages, and all sorts of others constantly seeking for you and being denied the ability to read what you contain within yourself. Better they never know you exist, than endure the 'hell' that would chase them their entire lives."

     "I thank you for your consideration. I know you are not ready to go forward along this path as yet. I will however give you what you need to know to find the door to the Shadowlands, for when you are ready to make that journey. For as you were touched by the Gods of Eld as a mortal and were born Aasimar, so you have now as a goddess been touched by the Draconic Divines. They, name you, Dovahhe Hahnu, wear it in pride and humility, for no other has ever earned that name."

     "Wait! What does that mean for me? What have they done?"

     "You now have a hidden destiny, one that will guide you from here until the ending of all existence. It will not interfere with anything else you do. But all dragons will feel its presence within you, know what it portends, and aid you along the path."

     "What path! Tell me straight and true!"

     "The path to join with the Draconic Divines, as one of them. Your 'name' is the gift you will give all dragons when you ascend that one last time. Know I am eternally grateful for the chance to not only meet you but to set your feet on this path."

     Iriisii has been stunned at different times in her life over things that she learned about herself, but this time, this time is different. To join the Dragon Gods and Goddesses as one of them. To gift all dragons with something they do not already possess. She digs into her knowledge of dragon lore to examine this new name, Dovahhe Hahnu. She translates it to mean, Dragon's Dream. Is she to assume it is literal, as is she meant to give them the ability to 'dream'. She tries to remember if she had ever heard of whether they could or not. She has met some within the Dreamlands before, but then she thinks, they were there in their true bodies, not in a dream self.

Does this mean they truly do not dream? I am going to have to talk with some and find out just what this could mean for them.

     As she stands up from the reading table, the book fades from this reality and she knows where to find the door to the Shadowlands, but they will have to wait until I know more of why I have been chosen for this and what it portends for the future.

     Illyria walks in to check on Iriisii and, "you have finished it! Wait, you do not look well, what happened."

     Sanshae comes in as well, "I was here just a few minutes ago and left since she seemed to be conversing with the book. Maybe it has something to do with that. Where is it? It was right there on the table in front of her!"

     "It is gone, left for somewhere else. It did what it was to do and now has moved on."

     "What did it say to you that has you like this?"

     "What it told me is a huge shock, something totally unforeseen, and I have no knowledge of just what it could mean."

     "Sit, tell me, maybe we can at least determine if there is someone else that may be of help?"

     Iriisii sits and as if in a half trance state, repeats the last conversation she had with the book.

     Illyria and Sanshae are both speechless, looking from each other back to Iriisii. Wondering if there is anything they can say or even if they should say anything.

     "Well obviously this is a high lore matter involving dragons, but I know only a few. Of them, only Varthlocuur or Alduin might know something, but it is also probable that this predates them."

     "And I know there is nothing in this library about it unless another mysterious book has appeared in the last few minutes. But this new name, Dovahhe Hahnu, she said it meant, Dragon's Dream, could there be information in the Dreamlands?"

     "Iriisii, could there be someone in the Dreamlands who might know something?"

     "The Great Sage in Illek Vad, may know if anyone does."

     "Then you need to dream walk. Come, Sanshae, Desidarius, and I will watch over you while you go. And I pray to the Mother that he has answers."

     They carefully walk Iriisii to her quarters and get her into bed. Then they place themselves where they can watch her and the door in case of further visitors.

     Iriisii opens her eyes, standing on a hillside overlooking the great city of Illek Vad. If anything it looks even more glorious than it did the last time she came. Then she feels the presence of one of the dragons that had taken up residence in the wildlands. As he lands near to her, he arches his neck to put his head on the ground at her feet. 

     "Word has reached out to all dragons, no matter where they reside, or when in time they exist. They say that, 'Dovahhe Hahnu', has been born and that you are she. As I was closest to you when you came into the Dreamlands, I found you and sensed the truth of those words. This one is honored beyond words, even words of Dovahzul cannot describe what I see in you. Please tell me how I can be of help to you."

     Iriisii instinctively walks to his head, leans down, and kisses him on the ridge that runs from his nose, between his eyes, to form a row of spikes from the top of his head and down his back. As her lips touch this ridge, a deep violet glow illuminates the ridge and follows it up to his head and down his back.

     "In my name, in the name of Dovahhe Hahnu, carry my blessing to all of your brothers and sisters that live within the Dreamlands. You are now the first of the Heralds of Dovahhe Hahnu when all of the dragons here have been told, have seen my blessing upon you, ask them to come to me. That I may send them out into all of existence, into all periods of time, and bring my blessing to all dragons. The message is simple, upon my final ascension to join the Draconic Divines, my name will be my gift to all of my dragon children. By the Nine Names of the Quantum Lords, by the Twelve Who Rule The Shadowlands, by the Draconic Divines, first of all, the Gods, ZU'U ZAAN THDRO WAH MEYZ WAH PASSE!"

     A pool of deepest dark shadow forms beneath their feet, above them a pool of the brightest primal energy swirls high above their heads. The darkness rises and the brightness descends, they meet and blend until a tower of grey mist stands surrounding Iriisii and her new herald. Then ghostly dragons appear seemingly out of nowhere, circling around the grey tower of mist.

     They start to spread their flight outward and the tower expands, then they spiral upward and the tower grows still higher. It grows more solid as more shadow and primal energy pour into it. Then it takes form as a kind of crystalline stone, with a clear crystal of a pure violet hue forming atop the tower, anchoring it into the Dreamlands, and inside, visible to Iriisii's eyes only are two doors. And she knows where those doors go.

     The pools vanish as one by one the ghostly dragons fade back to the realm they came from. And as the last one starts to fade, his shout is heard across the Dreamlands, "Pah mindok thdro los fin hahnu tower, fin first do pogaan wah kos creataan acrosse fin planes, acrosse tiid, ko vokun ahrk jun. Fin Monah do Dragonne hdro graspaan rek destinaan dez, aal rek grasp pah dragonne voder rek wingge". (All know this is the Dream Tower, the first of many to be created across the planes, across time, in shadow and light. The Mother of Dragons has grasped her destined fate, may she grasp all dragons under her wings.)

     The last ghostly dragon fades away, and Iriisii sees vines growing across the crystal stone, in thin trails from the top down to the ground. And from those vines bloom flowers of deep violet, with flame-red traces along the veins of the petals. The scent from the blooming flowers reaches her nose, and the scent evokes the most precious memories of home in all who smell them. In the future, they will become highly prized to have them growing in one's home, and they will be known by the name, Dovahhe Hahnu.

     "Go now, my herald. Go and fulfill your task. I will be here waiting for your return."

     The new herald spreads his wings, jumps from the top of the tower, wings grasping an updraft, and he begins his flight to find all of the dragons living in the Dreamlands and to pass the blessing he has been given to them.

     After a while, she sees a mounted party approach from Illek Vad, and she walks down the stairs to the door at the base to greet them.

     As the soldiers slowly approach, "come on up, I mean no harm to those who respect me. Besides, King Kuranes knows who I am."

     "I am certain the King does indeed know your identity, but as you can see he is not here with us."

     "And unfortunately I cannot leave for a while as I am expecting scaly visitors. And I do need to speak with them regarding recent matters, yet could I impose on one, of your number to inform the Great Sage that Iriisii Dovahkiin needs his counsel, and would he please consent to meet me here. Besides I am quite certain he is going to want to look over this tower when he gets here, most especially the flowering vines growing all over it and the jewel that is anchoring the tower here."

     "Private, go inform the Great Sage as the Lady Iriisii has requested, and let the King know that she has arrived and is well."

     "You knew who I was the moment you rode up here!"

     "Not really, my lady. It was not until you asked for the Great Sage that I was certain."

     "Ah, well then you are forgiven."

     "May I ask just what it is that is happening?"

     "Too much, really. Some exceptionally huge events in the waking world and some others that I think will prove to be just as big that will cause ripples here. I have names that I must investigate and these pesky destinies keep piling up at my feet. I swear I am starting to trip over them every direction I turn."

     "I cannot say I know how you feel, but I do not know anyone else that comes close to being capable enough to handle that kind of situation."

     "You are not trying to 'butter' me up, are you? I hope not because it is working and if my mates find out, I cannot say with any certainty how long you would last under their tender ministrations, but I can say they would sweep up your ashes in short order and deliver them to your next of kin."

     "No, your Ladyship, I was just speaking the truth, no embellishment at all."

     "Good, I would hate to have half the ladies in Illek Vad lining up for your funeral, and the other half trying to sneak out from their husband's gaze to go as well."

     "She sure has your number Captain!"

     "And if you want the promotion to Sergeant..."

     "Yes sir, shut my piehole, sir."

     It isn't too much longer before the Great Sage, rides up in a carriage. As he steps out and catches sight of the tower, "so this is what all that noise was about, amazing! I swear it looks like one of those..."

     "Best not to go down that path just yet, this is only one and not connected to those others you are thinking of."

     "Lady Iriisii! It is so good to see you once more. The stories coming from the waking world are almost unbelievable."

     "If I were not directly involved, I would think the same. But please come inside, I need to talk about some of these things. I am finding out about things older than the Creation that birthed all that led to me, and I am out of my depth here without reliable information."

     "I am honored that you came to me. I will do all I can to help you in any way. Off subject for a moment, those flowering vines on the outside, I have never seen anything like them before."

     "They grew there after the tower became solid. I do not know if they have a name, but I feel a connection to them somehow."

     "Well, then we can come back to them later tell me how I can help."

     Iriisii tells him of the recent events, and how they are coming around and tieing together. Who seems to be involved, some of the names that have been revealed. Then she brings in the dragons and what she learned from the book she read.

     "This is serious indeed. Some of these I have heard of, others I believe I know some others I can ask. And I believe I can be of help with knowledge of the Draconic Divines. When I was mortal, learning to be a Sage, my teacher knew of them."

     "Just how old are you, then, I mean how far back do they go."

     "When I was a mortal, well, there are no common frames of reference to determine how long ago that was, but I was already here long before your 'First' creation was birthed in the waking world. But as I remember, the Draconic Divines were literally the first gods and goddesses to exist. How long from their birth until they faded, no one is sure of that."

     "Wait, you said they faded, yet I was told that upon my last ascension, I would go to join and become one of them. How can this be? Unless, oh no, no, no, no, it cannot be can it?"

     "No, you will not join them in a faded state of being, according to what was written in our scrolls and passed down, they knew they would fade but not die, that one would come and restore them first. Then they would return to their old home, there to learn of all that had happened while they were dreaming, and then await the one who restored them to join with them. There was also mention that this one would bring a 'gift' to all dragons to celebrate the ascension.

     They knew they could not just pick up where they left off. They needed someone to act as a bridge, to guide them in understanding all that had happened."

     "Then who or what is setting all of this in motion? And do we really want an incredibly old, faded pantheon of Dragon Gods to pick up the reins again without knowing if that is actually the best thing for everybody? No one alive, that I am aware of anyway knows how they were when they were active. What kind of Gods they were, I mean they could have been the most moral, compassionate Gods that existed, or not. We just have no way to know the truth."

     "When you put it like that, I can see your point. There may be a way to find out, but I must talk to some of the oldest hermits. They are old Sages who went to live apart, away from everything and everyone. Some were hermits when I started coming to the Dreamlands in my dreams. I made friends with some and learned a great deal, I think that is why when my mortal body passed I came here. There are places where they could go and would be ignored by the beings that live there, and no one would be likely to journey there to find them. After enough time passes, nearly all memory of them passes by. When I return to the city, I will look there first, then go farther afield.

     But tell me of your rescue of the 'Second' Creation, and of this one, you feel is the one who planned it. Maybe I can look for information on him as well."

     Iriisii tells him what happened to start with how she found her way there and continues on through the destruction, Rebirth, and rehoming of the 'Second' Creation. The Forge of Stars comes next with the Asgardians and whatever other tidbits that showed up like the Red Woman and a possible connection with the Wamphyrie.

     "This will take some time, and I do want to look this tower over to see what effect it might be having with the Dreamlands. And King Kuranes will want to see you before you leave."

     "I will make time to see him, for now, I am waiting on the dragons to come. Something is guiding me to use them as heralds to the other dragons scattered throughout existence. Somehow, I do not feel any ill in this, something different than what I have felt so far, but not ill at all."

     "That eases my mind considerably, I know you would not do anything to upset the Balance. And you are very finely attuned to both sides, so if it is not showing up as ill, I will take that as a positive thing."

     "I hope you are right, but for now let me show you around. And you can poke and prod around as you like."