AE12 The Story of Iriisii Dovahkiin

     Looking to the Dragon, "May I fly with you, my son?"

     Lyrium Dragon: "It would honor me beyond measure, Mother of Dragons."

     Iriisii unfurls her wings as the little girl's and her aunt's eyes go wide.

     Iriisii: "Let us go, the air here still has a most unpleasant stench."

     Back on the top of the tower, Iriisii is contemplating all that she has seen, heard, felt here and what her place in this might be. Jean Claude has dealt with what he needed to upon his return and has joined her back on top before the morning light forces him back inside.

     Jean Claude: "I apologize if I am intruding."

     Iriisii: "Not at all, sometimes introspection is more effective when shared. Or as my Gods have told me, 'When you take on the burden of others as well as your own. The Nine will help you bear the load if only for a while'."

     Jean Claude: "I applaud any divinity that will take such a stand, you most of all, for I have witnessed that you live those words and do not merely pay them lip service. What is it that concerns you most of what you see here?"

     Iriisii: "What concerns me most? Too many things if truth be told. But for now the foremost is the absence of the Divinity that should be here doing what the office calls for him or her to do. I hear the cries of the souls, calling out, 'Why are they being forsaken!? Why do his angels not come and take them home?' and it sits so heavy with my heart.

     I want to gather them to me, comfort them in whatever way I can. But can I, do I, have the right to take them from him? Why is 'he' doing this? What drives him to this decision? I cannot believe that he is just ignoring them, there must be a reason behind this, but what is it? I see his servitors, his angels, far away in the distance of space and time, watching what happens here.

     And still they ignore my entreaties, my pleas on behalf of these wandering souls, bereft of afterlife, stranded, feeling the promises made to them by 'him' are just empty words. I want answers, for them and for myself. I do not want to justify my actions with hollow words. If he has indeed forsaken them, then it is my responsibility to care for them. But I must know for certain, and those watching will not tell me."

     Jean Claude: "Would that I could give you the answers you seek, yet I too seek them for myself as well. Mayhap my answers are different than those for the mortals out there, I honestly do not know."

     Iriisii: "They should not be! If 'he' is the shepherd, the mentor for this world and its people, then his answers should apply to all, regardless of mortal, vampire, or 'were'. This is how the 'Mother' set it to be when she accepted the mantle of 'Mother of the Cosmos'. If 'he' says different then 'he' is wrong! I see no 'Evil' in vampire or were, nothing that did not exist in the mortal heart before they were changed.

     If they allow that which was already there to take control of their lives then they should be held accountable for this, but the possibility of redemption, of mercy, should not be withheld. They should be helped to wrest control from their baser nature, shown it is not only possible but desirable to step beyond, become more than what you are now. For 'vampire' and 'were' are more than mortal and so they should become more.

     I look at you and Tricia, and I see you trying to move in that direction, against the raging currents of the torrent that tries to push you back down. One day you will become the answer that many are now seeking, perhaps that is one of the answers to 'why'! But your time is not yet, in its fullness it will come, despite all that wish to impede you. But perhaps if they will not answer me, there are those I can summon that they might answer, those more closely akin to them than I am."

     Jean Claude: "Not to change the subject, but I remember either you or Rigmor speaking of your time with the Mercenary Assassins. I felt something strange in your voice as you spoke about the final battle."

     Iriisii: "You are more perceptive than many are to notice. Even Rigmor does not know the whole story. I am not sure she would understand even now."

     Jean Claude: "What happened?"

     Iriisii: "Right after I killed her, Roiseadh was her name. I was standing over her looking down and noticed a letter tucked under her belt. I pulled it out, opened it, and read it. You may understand more if I read it to you, I do not think you could read the language and alphabet it is written in."

     Jean Claude: "You keep it with you?"

     Iriisii: "I believe you will understand afterward. This is what it said:

     Iriisii Starborn, my dear friend, if you are reading this, then I am dead.

     We all deserved to die. There is no coming back from what we have done.

     There is no coming back from what you have done. Try as hard as you can,

     you will never be able to wash the blood off. None of us can ever escape

     from our past. Everyone here is doomed to kill, and steal, and spill our

     blood. It is the way of nature, it is the way of the world. To see you

     were so delusional as to think there was more than this, is laughable.

     You cannot build upon a field of carcasses. No matter how hard you try,

     violence will still find you. And in the end, you too, will die as we have.

     It is the way of the world. So go, leave, try to find a different path,

     my beautiful fool. I will be waiting for you, in the darkest depths, for

     when you return.

 

                                        Roiseadh

     Iriisii: "As I read her last words, I saw inside her soul more clearly than I had ever before. And I fell to my knees next to her, crying. My tears tried to freeze to my face as the cold winter winds blew across the mountains where we were. I saw what she had kept hidden from all others, what she for whatever reason revealed to me and me alone.

     You must understand this, I was able to find another path. But not because I worked for it, or any other normal reason, but because the memories that she spoke of, the memories of my bloody past, are gone. They are not buried, they are truly gone. I summoned Desidarius and bargained for escape. The price was some of my memories. I had no idea which ones she took afterward, now I do know. For whatever reason, she took the ones that would have stopped me from finding the path I am now on."

     Jean Claude: "Is that why you married her?"

     Iriisii: 'No, I had no idea of this at that time. That came later, and to her credit, she has never attempted to harm me, blackmail me in any way with those memories. Why she wanted them, if she even still has them, I do not know, truly I do not want to know. I just know there is a part of me that will forever love her. But as to Roiseadh, I think, she wanted me to take over for her, but I ran before she could complete everything. She tried to dissuade the others from coming after me, but they did anyway. And she knew I would kill them all. Then rather than live with rebuilding, restarting, whatever. She did the only other thing she felt she could do."

     Jean Claude: "She set herself up to die at your hands. To end her life fighting a better assassin, one she trained and created. We have a book written many years ago about a similar situation. Doctor Frankenstein dying at the hands of the monster he created. It was the only way he could see himself earning absolution. And so I think it was with Roiseadh, you were the best she had ever created, trained, molded. And if she had to die, it would be fitting if it were at your hands."

     Iriisii: "It will take me a bit more time to think it through, but I feel you are right. At least I will be able to understand why she did it. I can respect that even if I do not agree with it. At least she enabled me to find a better path to walk, one I can feel good about in the end. Maybe this way, at some point down the road, I can give her absolution."

     Jean Claude: "That would be fitting, but would she accept absolution from you?"

     Iriisii: "I really do not know, perhaps one day I will find out. But that is not the question you really wanted to ask, is it?"

     Jean Claude: "I have held it back because I do not know how you would react to it."

     Iriisii: "Ask, if the answer is more than I wish to give then I will simply say so."

     Jean Claude: "If we had not been able to reach you before Psy-Ops, what would be happening now?"

     Iriisii: "I see why you have held that one back. I can only answer in general, there are too many different tracks to predict which one would be the correct one. You heard what happened to the soldiers who first tried to open the crystal?"

     Jean Clause: "Yes, they were sucked under the ground like it was quicksand."

     Iriisii: "Yes, that was what my dragonsoul did to dissuade them from making any further attempts. While I was 'sleeping'. He woke and placed himself as my guardian until I was ready to wake. Even as he is but a Dragonsoul, when he lived, he and his three siblings were the four 'Dragons of Destiny'. They were powerful in their own right, but when the Draconic Divines were captured, drained, and sent to 'Where Dead Gods Lie Sleeping', they ascended to take their place. How it was done, who did it, I have no idea, but they became Dragon Gods. I know they lived for a billion years before they were killed. Again who did it, I know not, if 'he' knows 'he' has never shared that information. Probably waiting until I grow enough to take 'it' on, or possibly 'he' knows I will cross 'it' anyway somewhere along my own.

     But wherever they brought my crystal to, once they began trying to open it and bring me out, they would have to deal with him. Likely the ensuing battles and escalations would turn the area for miles around into a wasteland that would kill any life that tried to even run across it. It would be soaked with a poison so dire, my captors would try to acquire it in order to create weapons from it. But no technology existing here and now, could safely contain it. If they somehow found a way to open the crystal, breaking its binding, it would destroy this world in an instant. If they did not break the binding, he would awaken his siblings and summon them. Together, nothing and no one on this world could stand against them. To reach me, they would lay waste to everything in their way.

     Even your harshest, most arid of climes allows life to live there. Where the 'Dragons' would have fought to protect me, nothing would live. No matter how much time passed, those places would remain devoid of life. Even where your people's 'God' plutonium strikes, it may take millennia, but life would come back. Where the Dragons would poison the land, it would remain 'dead'...forever."

     Jean Claude lowers his head as the vision of what Iriisii has spoken of slowly creeps into his mind, showing him just what she is speaking of. After the silence has passed, Iriisii glances at him and sees the pale pink tracks his 'Tears of Blood' have left on his face.

     Iriisii: "If it is your wish, I can take those memories from you so that they will not haunt you."

     Jean Claude: "Thank you, but no. I will bear their burden. May they be a reminder of what could be, and what needs to be fought against, that it never come to pass."

     Iriisii nods her head and then bows to him.

     Iriisii: "You see what could be if the power we could wield are misused, why there are 'chains of responsibility' placed on us equal to the power we acquire. It is a very heavy burden, but one all of us who bear these 'Chains' help each other to bear. If and when the time comes for you to bear your 'Chains' there will be help, all you must do is ask."

     Jean Claude: "Thank you for that, I will remember."

     Iriisii: "You will be one of the good ones, before I leave, I will teach you what I know of the Great Balance. Then you will be prepared to lead these people when the Jihad Of Truth comes here."

     Later that day, as sunset approaches, "Tricia, is everything in place for the meeting with the vampire clans?" 

     Tricia: "Yes it is. We thought about holding it here but decided it is better to use a more neutral location. We have enough security detailed to be more than adequate with the clans present adding their own to ours. But after last night, I even wonder why we need to meet with them. They saw everything that happened, what more do they need to see before making up their minds?"

     Iriisii: "They need to see me in the flesh, to know that I am real and not some computer generated video star. They will also see the real person I am, my power will be on display for them to know I am real. Then we can get down to business once the bonafides are established."

     Tricia: "I hope so, it has been rumored that one or more of the Elders will be present. Their decision one way or the other would be enough to sway many of the clans. We will just have to wait and see. Do you still want to arrive on dragonback?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, this will drive home the fact that dragons are no longer just mythical creatures existing only in stories and fables from the dim past. Not to mention that the one I am calling is one who will stand out and attract attention among the vampire clans."

     Tricia: "Which one or is it more proper to ask who is the one you will call?"

     Iriisii: "I am calling Tahrodiis, my Shadow Dragon mate. The Oracles among his race have spent the last several thousand years blending the bloodlines of the dragons of the Shadow Lands to produce him. They knew that only one with the greatest stamina, power, determination, could come close enough to attract me, survive a mating flight, and become father to dragon eggs for me to carry."

     Tricia: "So you were in dragon form when this happened?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, I had not intended for it to happen, but the circumstances overruled me in that. It was enough that he earned an attempt at a mating flight. He then went on to prove himself worthy to father eggs upon me. And before you ask, after my other mates learned of the details, they admitted he earned his place, that and Rigmor was present when everything happened and she encouraged me to allow it."

      Tricia: "That must have been a shock."

      Iriisii: "It was indeed, but she has precognitive instincts. And it was those instincts that drove her that day. I cannot say for certain, but when they occur I have never known her to be wrong and so I listen when she speaks. Come let us go outside and 'call', I am sure he has been waiting patiently, and I wish for word of the little ones."

      They find a quiet grassy area close to the Circus, under the watchful eye of her Dragon Legions. Iriisii closes her eyes to think only of Tahrodiis, forcing all other thoughts away, she builds him in her mind until he is close enough to reach out and touch. She then does just that with her mind and heart.

      Iriisii: "Tahrodiis."

      Tahrodiis: "I am here, look through my eyes and see what we have made."

      As Iriisii does so, she sees the eggs, now triple the size when they were first laid. Easily the size of Aleytys Egg when she hatched.

      Iriisii: "How close are they?"

      Tahrodiis: "I think they will wait until you can return before coming out. At least I feel no sense of hurry from them, they are content to wait and grow more. Look there, at those four. The ones whose color is that of the Shadow Rose."

      Iriisii sees them and makes an audible intake of breath.

      Iriisii: "They are so beautiful, I could never imagine that color."

      Tahrodiis: "They are of Royalty, those are the ones chosen by the Draconic Divines to host their souls. I should tell you that depending on what happens, they may come to us where you are now, to be hatched."

      Iriisii: "But you are here, you are all on the Krang!"

      Tahrodiis: "Pardons, I misspoke, I mean they will come to us on the world's surface. There is something there that they feel they can help us with. They have not come out and said but they have given me feelings that this could happen."

      Iriisii: "If so then it will be. They have their ways of seeing down the waters of time."

      Tahrodiis: "Is it now time for me to make my presence known?"

      Iriisii: "Yes, it is. We will go to meet with the vampire clans, I have been told perhaps one or more of their Elders will be present. Swaying them will be important as many of the clans will follow their lead."

      Tahrodiis: "Then we do what we must to sway them to our side. I am ready when you are." 

      Iriisii opens a shadow gate for him, noticing that even this close to a singularity, the gravitic fields it emits have no effect of the shadow gate. She thinks this is something to look into later, as it could be of surpassing importance.

      The shadow gate forms close by Iriisii and Tricia. Tricia is speechless by what she sees and more so by what she feels, as it constructs itself from the shadows nearby. Once it is done, it opens and the swirling of the shadows forms a denseness almost like water. It is that moment when Tahrodiis can be seen within moving toward them. And soon enough his head begins to emerge. 

     Tricia's eyes widen at the imposing sight of this dragon walking out of the gate. The Dragon Legions already well acquainted with him, keep watch over the perimeter for any signs of activity from the small government force still in the area. Once he is clear the gate fades away and the shadows return to where they were drawn from. Iriisii walks up to him, laying a familiar hand on his skin, then turns to introduce him to Tricia. She then notices Jean Claude standing next to her, looking with respect and admiration at Tahrodiis. Also she sees the cloaked figure of Asher approaching. She goes to Asher and asks how his scars are healing.

     Iriisii: "Asher, are you certain it is not too early for you to be outside?"

     Asher: "It will be okay, I felt his arrival and had to see for myself."

     Iriisii: "Then come and let me introduce you."

     Tricia and Jean Claude watch as Iriisii slowly walks with Asher to Tahrodiis.

     Iriisii: "Tahrodiis, father of my children, I wish for you to meet Asher."

     Tahrodiis: "Although we have never before met, I know of you, one called Asher."

     Asher: "May I humbly ask how you know of me?" 

     Tahrodiis: "From the shadowed and shattered dreams of the one you knew as Marmee Noir. The Dreamlands of the Shadow Lands are singular in that they are the one place where the dreams of vampires may enter. No other of the Dreamlands are they allowed. Much could I speak of what I saw in her dreams. Equally much of them should be forgotten and laid to rest in forgetfulness."

     Asher: "I can heartedly agree with your words, Shadow Dragon."

     Tahrodiis: "You are favored of the one called Rigmor, she who is mate to my mate, call me Tahrodiis."

     Asher: "I am honored to know and call your name, Tahrodiis."

     Tahrodiis: "Long have your dreams been gone from our dreamlands, and sorely missed. Not because of what was dreamed of you, but because of how your dreams persevered in your enslavement. You gave hope to many others in similar situations, gave them the hope to continue onward and although many never escaped, some did. And they speak your name with reverence."

     Asher: "The pain I have suffered has clouded those memories, maybe soon I can find my way back through them. And once more walk among the paths I have longed to return to."

     Tahrodiis: "There will be many who will look forward to that time. Your scars do not run as deep as they once did, do not lose hope for you are on the path to true healing now. Time is on your side in this now, may the dreams that knew you of old, dream of your healing, that it may come sooner to one who deserves it."

     Asher: "I thank you, my friend. Never did I ever expect to see you or even one of you in my time on this world. You have shown me this day that true miracles can happen, even to a vampire."

     Iriisii: "You will come with us, will you not?"

     Asher: "You would want me to come to such an important event? A bull in a warehouse of fine china."

     Iriisii: "Yes, I would. Sometimes a wild bull in a warehouse of fine china is just what is needed."

     Asher smiles, "I would be doubly honored to accompany you."

     Rigmor: "Not without me, you won't. Now that I have found you, I am not letting you out of my sight. Before I ascended, if anyone had told me that I would fall for a vampire, I would have told them they were crazy as my blade sliced for their neck. Now however, you have completely changed that for me. And I am not going to risk you, I go where you go. Besides I still have a lot of work to do with those remaining scars."

     Iriisii: "You might as well bring her along, you will not be able to shake her. Much as I am certain you would not wish to do that anyway."

     Asher: "No, you are right, I would not hurt her like that. Come Rigmor, sit with me as we go to this meeting."

     All of them on Tahrodiis, Asher and Rigmor on his neck, Tricia, Jean Claude, and Iriisii holding to spines on his back. 

     Tricia: "How do you feel..."

     Iriisii: "About Rigmor and Asher? I am very pleased about them. You must understand, my feelings for her will never change, but my heart is shared among several and I have extended to them the same right to share. My responsibilities keep me away for too much time, more time than I would wish to be away from them. And so if they can find someone to be with them when I am absent then I am pleased. I want them to be happy, and I have no idea how long all of this will last. But I am afraid it will be for a long time and I will not deny them whatever pleasure and happiness they can find."

     Tricia: "Thank you for that, Asher needs her and now I see that Rigmor needs him as well. I would not want this situation to cause trouble, and knowing that it will not eases me greatly."

    They fly up just below the clouds, the Military tracking them on radar and passing the information on to Psy-Ops.

     Psy-Ops Commander: "Where is that last tracking report?!"

     Runner: "Here sir!"

     The Commander takes the report and reads it, glancing at a flat screen displaying the country. He expands the view, narrowing the scope until he can see the probable landing location.

     Psy-Ops Commander: "Shit, of all of the places where they could go, it had to be there."

     Psy-Ops Chief Dawson: "And where is that, Commander?"

     The Psy-Ops Commander suddenly starts at Dawson's question.

     Psy-Ops Commander: "Sorry, Chief, I did not see you there."

     Psy-Ops Chief Dawson: "No worry, now where are they headed to?"

     The Commander hands the report over to Chief Dawson and uses the controls to highlight a specific location on the view screen map. Dawson starts cursing.  

     Psy-Ops Chief Dawson: "Damn, how in the hell did they know about that place. We did not know about it being there until just a few days ago."

     Psy-Ops Commander: "What are your orders, Sir?"

     Psy-Ops Chief Dawson: "Missiles, planes, anything in the air is out. If we do anything it will have to be ground troops and we do not have enough that can get there in time."

     Psy-Ops Commander: "What about orbital?"

     Psy-Ops Chief Dawson: "No, that thing they have in orbit could clear out everything we have up there in no time at all, leaving us blind and defenseless. No, we have no choice but to wait them out, try and grab one or two somewhere as they leave and question them as to what went on."

     Psy-Ops Commander: "Who do we have that we can send to intercept?"

     Psy-Ops Chief Dawson: "Don't worry about that, I have it covered."

     Tahrodiis lands outside a nondescript farmhouse out in wheat fields as far as the eye could see. The light of the single moon shining on the seed tops almost ripe enough to begin harvesting. 

     Tricia: "You are sure this is ok for us to use for this meeting? I mean it is unusual in the extreme."

     Iriisii: "I know. I am not aware of the particulars involved, the message said that we had the use of it for as long as we needed. That we would be alone and no one else but us and those we are meeting with could get inside. There was something also mentioned about this place being able to camouflage itself. I guess we will just have to see for ourselves."

     They approach the farmhouse and Iriisii feels a presence lightly touching her awareness.

     Tricia: "I thought the note said we would be alone?"

     Iriisii: "We are, the presence you felt is the farmhouse itself. Somehow it has its own awareness. I would even lay odds it is alive in its own way."

     Rigmor: "What was it that the note called it?"

     Iriisii: "A Sithen I believe it is pronounced. Anyway my concerns about security are now laid to rest. There is no way anyone not expected will be allowed to enter. Now let us go in, I believe the door is opening for us."

     They walk inside to a sight they never expected to see. The outside is any old nearly abandoned farmhouse, but inside, inside is a completely different story altogether. Opulent does not even begin to describe the interior. Firelight reflects along the walls, candled chandeliers hanging from the ceiling reflecting light from that surface until there is more than enough to see by.

     The tables set out with silk coverings, hand carved chairs of some unknown wood, polished to a satin shine. The air is warm and not overly dry as one would expect from all of the candles. Tapestries adorn the walls, showing scenes of castles, lakes, ships sailing out of bays, scenes you could almost reach out and expect to feel them if you could only touch them. Then one by one the others expected to attend are phasing in, looking around in astonishment, never expecting this to be where the meeting was to be. Only told to be ready to begin at the Hour of Nine, when the huge Grandfather Clock began to chime out the ninth hour.

     As they look around they see Jean Claude, who takes a seat at the center of the table placed on a dais where every one else can see. He then taps a nail against a crystal glass filled with some kind of golden wine. He sniffs it, smiles, and takes a small sip. Placing it back down on the table.

     Jean Claude: "I want to thank all of you for coming tonight, and to thank our host or hostess for providing us a secure place for this meeting. This far exceeds anything I could have expected."

     Clan leader: "Who is our Host or Hostess if you did not somehow make this?"

     Jean Claude: "They are not present here right now, only we are here. Thus our security is ensured, no one from outside can enter. And so I call this meeting to order. I know you are aware of what happened just a few days ago, if not for my esteemed guest and her people, things would have gone so very much worse than it did.

     Psy-Ops attempted an action against us in violation of the accords signed less than ten years ago. My guest was able to detect what they planned and placed her own forces outside and her personal companions along with the Harlequin took care of those inside. There is no need to tell you of how I view this outrage.

     I am also indebted to my guest for uncovering just who it is that is pulling the strings of the Government in this. For I am saddened to say it looks like this individual has subverted nearly all of the highest levels of the Government, in effect having completed a coup. I do not believe this extends beyond into the separate houses of the Congress. The one behind this only needs the President, the Joint Chiefs, and the heads of the FBI and CIA.

     But you see we will have to band together with the other Preternaturals in order to fight this or we all go down."

     The chatter and rumble of anger rolls around like a hungry tiger.

     Jean Claude: "There is a great deal more to this than we know or could even imagine. So I have called you all to hear my guest speak to this. As it seems she has a great deal more information on this than I do. Do I trust her? Yes, implicitly. She has done nothing but been a help to us all, even when she had no reason to. Where she is from, well that should be left to her to explain, along with the rest of this story. I give you Iriisii Dovahkiin, Dragonborn, Dragonchild, and now Dragon Goddess."

     Iriisii walks up to where Jean Claude is standing as he steps back for her. She begins by explaining what her mission is in coming here, what she hopes to accomplish, and a bit of her background so they understand she has the power and skills needed. Further she introduces Dettlaff, making certain they understand that not only is he vampire, but he is hers, and that they have a child together. The look of shock at that is quite apparent, even as he confirms her words. She also gives them a second shock when she tells them the dragon they rode here on is her latest mate.

     She entertains questions and spends the better part of an hour giving answers. She knows some do not know whether to believe her or not, others sense the truth in her words and the power in her. They believe her, while a few yet look to a pair of the High Council's representatives, the Earthmover, and the Night's Master. She thinks she may know how to sway the Night's Master to her side, but the Earthmover is an unknown. Incredibly ancient, and though he resembles humans, he is not. She wonders if somehow he predates humans on this world.

     She looks up at the high ceiling and asks the Sithen a question.

     Iriisii: "I direct this question to the Sithen. I ask permission to bring into this meeting, one of mine not present. I believe he could be an asset to the negotiations yet to take place."

     As she waits for an answer, there is a feeling that grows around them. One part of the wall slowly changes form as vines grow up from the floor covering a part of it. Then the vines part displaying a fertile black darkness within. And Iriisii feels that this is her answer. She walks toward the opening, lays a hand among the vines, and calls for the Night Tiger to come to her.

     All present hear the murmuring growl, and then he walks into the light of the meeting. He looks around, then sees Iriisii. He then moves to her side and rubs his head against her chest just below her head in greeting. She takes her hands and scratches behind his ears in reply. All eyes are on the two of them, even as the Night's Master rises and gives her applause.

     Night's Master: "I applaud your choice in this example, Lady Iriisii. I know of the Night Tigers of the Dark Forest, although this is my first encounter with one. I believe this one is from the Dreaming part of that Forest, is he not?"

     Iriisii: "He is."

     Night's Master: "I thought so. I have read of them, but because we cannot dream, we are unable to see them in that way. Additionally, the world where the Dark Forest exists in the Waking World, I believe is the term the Great Dreamers refer to our Realities, is so far from us as to be virtually unknown. But certain ancient texts do speak of them. May I ask how did you come to acquire him?"

     Iriisii: "He is a gift from she who lived within that Dreaming part of the Forest. One who had lived there for so long she became a part of its very soul, she once called 'Kali-Mah'. No longer does she inhabit that Forest, for now one has come forth to claim that Great Name. And the memory of that once 'Kali-Mah' now lives as a new entity named Kali-Mah."

     Night's Master: "To any here now, who dispute what the Lady Iriisii has said, know that I say her words are true. This is a true Night Tiger of the Dark Forest that exists in Dream, and they only attach themselves to one who the Dark Forest approves of. I envy you, my Lady, that you have trodden the paths of that hallowed place. Alas that it will be forever beyond even my ability to know its pleasures."

     Iriisii walks up to him and says, "And if there was a way for you to know what it is like?"

     The Night's Master looks at her with undisguised interest.

     Night Master: "Please tell me how this can be."

     Iriisii: "I can share with you the memories that I have of my visits to that place. And so you will know what it is like to walk its paths, see by the light of its moons, hear the animals as they go about their lives, watch the Night Moths as they seek the nectar of the Flower of the Night that blooms only when all three moons are full in the sky."

     Night's Master: "What do I have to do?"

     Iriisii: "Take my hands, and allow me to share these memories with you. And you will have them with you forever more to enjoy when and as you will."

     The Night's Master takes her hands in his as his head leans back, turning this way and that as if looking everywhere at a far different place than where he is. His voice is a low murmur as he says, "So beautiful, the written words do not do it justice."

     Then a lightly scented breeze wafts through the Sithen, and on that breeze is a whisper.

     A whisper that says, "Alterian, too long has it been since you last visited. Ah, I see now why you could not return to me. And so the one who came between us is no more, but what she did to you keeps you from me still. Yet there is still hope, for the Vyrkolos of the Mother of Dragons has opened the gate that has stood closed for vampire kind since their very beginning. He is coming into his power, the legacy of his destiny. And when he steps forth and grasps that destiny, the gate will be fully opened and we will once again be able to know each other as we did so long ago.

     Mother of Dragons, I thank you for allowing me to be with him once more, even if only for a short time. It is enough to know that our estrangement will one day end and the Night Forest will be yours to fulfill its desire and reside with you forever more."

     The whisper fades, even as the fragrance on the breeze lingers. The Night's Master comes back from whatever vision he has experienced.

     Night's Master: "How could this be? I thought her forever gone, since 'she' turned me so long ago and I was denied entrance into Dream."

     Iriisii: "My mate, Rigmor and I, are both Great Dreamers. Together all that is dream answers our call, and nothing is beyond us save that which is given to others to accomplish."

     Night's Master: "Lady Iriisii, you have my support when you go to speak with the High Council. I am but one voice on that Council, but that voice is now yours."

     Iriisii: "Thank you, Master of the Night."

     To the others she says,

     Iriisii: "I do not expect you to make up your minds at this moment, take your time to see what comes about. But be very cognizant of what this Government is doing. Should you need help, call and I will come."

     Earthmover: "I do not know what to make of you, Mother of Dragons. Mayhap, I have had too many altercations with those seeking to end me simply because I am different. Yet I have survived while they did not. I sense the same with you. We are alike in that regard if no other. I will reserve my opinion of you for now and watch what transpires. When I needs must, I will then make my decision."

     Iriisii: "I will not force your hand, Earthmover. For each must decide for themselves or that decision is worthless. Seek counsel with whomever you will or no one at all, the choice is yours as always. But my admonition concerning those who place themselves in positions of power here in this country stands. They are but the distraction given to us all to see, while the threat approaches from another direction, unseen, unfelt, until it is too late.

     Sithen, if you would, please see our guests return to their abodes safely. There is that which waits for them outside to see if any can be taken unawares."

     Jean Claude: "What?! They would dare?!"

     Tricia: "Calm yourself, love. Anger is of no use in this moment. That is playing their game their way, for us to win we must play by our rules, not theirs."

     Earthmover: "I have had my differences with you, Tricia. But you speak wisely in this, and wise counsel is what Jean Claude needs in these times. Jean Claude, you are not only Master of the City of St. Lou's, but you sit on the Seat of the High Council representing Nor Merica. Act like it! One impetuous move and it will all come crashing down upon you. You have come far and have still farther to go. Do not give it away now and betray those who depend upon you for guidance."

     Jean Claude reigns in his righteous anger, for he recognizes that he is not yet able to fight the real problem here, but soon, yes, perhaps soon he will be.

     Jean Claude: "You are right, Earthmover."

     Earthmover: "It is not wrong to represent those below you, to fight to address the wrongs committed against us for being different. But you must pick your fights, that you do not overstep and give victory once more to those who would oppress and destroy us if they could."

     He looks to Iriisii, "You are certain there are agents out there waiting to snatch any they can as we leave?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, they have no other way of interrupting us or determining what we decide to do while here. Since they cannot breach this place, they would try anything else they could to find out what goes on in here. My Krang would stop anything orbital or aerial, that only leaves on the ground. And I believe they were unprepared for the appearance of the Sithen. They dare not enter in uninvited, as that would constitute an act of war against the Fae. That kind of war they are not ready to wage just yet."

     Earthmover: "I agree with your assessment, far too many of ours would listen to your words and burst out to take them on. Causing far too much death and trouble on both sides, as well as giving the government reason to denigrate us. They would likely repeal the rights given to us some time ago in their laws, and then the war would start in earnest. This is my greatest fear now and before we 'came out'."

     Iriisii: "I understand, 'what man does not understand, man fears. And what man fears, man destroys'."

     Earthmover: "You do understand, and yet you who were once human, stand with us on this. Why is this, why take one of ours as your mate and bring him with you as you climb? Why add dragons to your mating group and produce young with them? Please do not mistake my words, I admire you for standing on your convictions in the face of so much dissention, but I am curious nonetheless."

     Iriisii: "Because you yourself have never been human?"

     Earthmover: "Somewhat, yes."

     Iriisii invites him to sit while she goes over the highlights of her personal history. Noting the places where events caused her to begin to change her views and the escalating pace of things forced her to think 'outside the box' on so many issues. How as she progressed through her life as a human, through her ascension period, and later as she climbed the ladder of Celestial Power, she came to see the truth of how her previous life had been bent by dogma and creed. How when she delved deeper inside her thoughts, she found ways to separate the grains from the chaff.

     Earthmover: "You are truly a marvel to behold. Once a human who sought the truth, and then when that truth was not as you had been raised to believe and understand, you dug into it to find what was hidden inside. Then you took what you learned and remade your life anew according to the truth you found buried inside you. If only there were more like you."

     Iriisii: "Only a few, more than that Existence could not withstand us."

     The Earthmover leans his head back and laughs. Once he comes back to himself, he asks.

     Earthmover: "How many more of you are there?"

     Iriisii: "Two more, one is a gestalt of all of my personalities. She is called the Child of Infinity, and watches over the rebirth of the second Creation in another dimension, parallel to this one. The third is a Doppelganger, I detest Avatars so I took a different path with her. She currently sits on the throne of the Nilfgaardian Empire, babysitting it for the true heir, until such time if she so desires to accept it and rule that empire."

     Earthmover: "A wise heir who sees the burden of a throne and runs as far and as fast as she can lest it change and take over her life."

     Iriisii: "I agree, if only I could have done the same."

     Earthmover: "Tell me of it, if you would."

     Iriisii goes on and tells him of her rise to the throne of the Empire of Cyrodiil, and the subsequent expansion to all of Nirn before handing it over to her daughter Kintyra.

     Earthmover: "And yet you made the best of it, finding mates and friends along the way. Earning the love and respect of those you ruled until you could pass it on for higher goals. Yes, I see why you were chosen to be brought here. Who it is I also wonder as you do. For it is obvious that the one appointed has abrogated his task. Not that I overly care that much about him. He has always ignored me, picking his favorites along the way.

     And then when things did not go as well as he thought they should, he tried to wipe the slate clean and start over. The problem with that was that he only wiped the symptoms away and not the underlying rot. Once he started things up again, the rot returned wiser and more patient than before."

     Iriisii: "You speak as if he created all of this, is this what is taught?"

     Earthmover: "You mean the truth is something different?"

     Iriisii: "I witnessed the true beginning of Existence. I saw what it was meant to be and how it became what it is now. I cannot and will not attempt to return it to what it was intended to be. But what I can do is lead the way to find the best possible future for all who exist in it."

     Earthmover: "Then how did it truly come to be? How was it different than what we have been told?"

     Iriisii: "Let me show you. I can share the memory of what I saw with you. Then you will know the truth. Take my hands."

     As the Earthmover takes her hands in his, hers so slight against his giant paws. He jerks up straight as he watches what Iriisii saw in that vision. Once it is done and he slowly comprehends the truth, he lets go of her hands.

     Earthmover: "Never could I have imagined such. And the arrogance of 'him' to lay claim to the Creation of this universe. I believe that he is likely not the only one who has done this and so you were sent to set the record straight."

     Iriisii: "It is clear to me that something has happened, he ignores the souls of those who are his, leaving them standing where their bodies have died, unclaimed. I hear their voices crying out, calling for 'him' to send his angels to gather them up and take them 'home'. Yet he does nothing and his 'angels' stay back, watch and wait. I await an answer, can I claim them if he will not? Can I give them the peace they cry out for, yet so far, I do not have an answer?"

     Earthmover: "Perhaps you do, you just have not quite seen it because you are too close to see it. Step back and look not straight at it, but with the edges of your vision, look at the greater and thus resolve the lesser."

     Iriisii: "You are right, I have blinded myself to this, not wanting to step on his toes, when he by his actions has no right to expect anything different. It seems I was sent here to correct many issues and not just a few that I first saw and sensed. I will have to call upon Death and see what we can do to put this to rest. Although to be certain this is not something I look forward to."

     Earthmover: "It never is, but you will work this out. If anyone can, I believe you can do it."

     Iriisii: "Imagine this, a incredibly ancient, even prehistoric vampire professing faith in a Goddess only still new to her responsibilities. I guess Existence has its sense of humor."

     The Earthmover laughs yet again at her words.

     Earthmover: "That is twice now in the last million years or so that I have laughed. You are a superlative influence on me."

     Iriisii: "I should let you meet my Spiritual Father, you and Shai-Hulu'ud would get along quite well."

     Earthmover: "Perhaps one day that might happen, we shall have to wait and see. I must leave your company and see to my responsibilities. I wish you good luck and will add my voice for you when you meet with the High Council."

     After the Sithen returns him to his hidden home, Tricia and Jean Claude walk over to where Iriisii remains seated.

     Tricia: "Well this went far better than I thought it would."

     Jean Claude: "Indeed, marvelously better, I fully expected at least a dozen true deaths among them before they would calm down enough to listen. But no matter, are you ready to return?"

     Iriisii: "We still have one more meeting to attend."

     Tricia: "One more?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, you did not think the Fae went to all of the trouble to bring this Sithen as close to St Lou's as they did just for us to meet with the vampires?"

     Tricia: "I am so stupid sometimes."

     Iriisii: "No, I disagree with that. You may be too quick to judgment in some things, such that you overlook something once in a while, but stupid, not at all. There has been entirely too much going on to properly keep track of, so that you have been able to keep an even keel through all of this so far is extraordinary."

     Rigmor: "Believe her, now I have done some stupid things before, and she will not hesitate to tell you straight up if she feels you have done something stupid."

     Tricia: "No, she did not tell you that!"

     Rigmor: "Yes she did, and truthfully I deserved it. I needed to be shocked back into thinking again or I likely would have gotten myself or both of us killed. She went along with a lot of what I wanted, even though she would have done things differently. But if I went too far in a dangerous direction, she would pull me back. It has worked for us to bring us to this point and still keep us together, so I trust it to continue to do that."

     Soon enough as they wait, a change in the Sithen occurs. From an ornate, carved door that seemed to flow from the wall, a slight creak can be heard, announcing the opening of the door. Four male figures walk inside, one totally black, even the sclera of his eyes. Another as white as snow, emitting an aura that speaks of a driving blizzard. The third is of the blue/gray of a thunderstorm, the faint rumble of thunder heard from far outside coming through the Sithen walls. The fourth that comes through is as green as spring grass, and the scent of the forest follows him where he walks.

     Then they see the one they have waited for, a young woman in white silk, trimmed in silver. Her eyes dancing with emotion at the four who stand guard over her. As she approaches Iriisii, standing and waiting, the blue/gray guard speaks.

     Guard: "Kneel before the Queen of the Fae, Meredith NicEssus. Ruler of the UnSeelie Court!"

     Dettlaff replies: "And this is Iriisii Dovahkiin, Mother of All Dragons, Champion of Existence, Champion and Guardian to the Fount of Balance, Harbinger to the Gods of Eld and Battle Mistress to the Celestial Army of the Balance, and the first Goddess Illuminatus of this Reality."

     Nodens stands back with a grin on his face to see how this is going to go. Iriisii lays a hand on Dettlaff and whispers to him. He nods his head and steps aside. 

     Iriisii: "I am grateful for the opportunity to meet with you at last. I apologize for my mate, he is not one for Royal politics, but he is learning, had he recited all of the titles and acclaims I have won, we would be here for a week or longer. Please let us dispense with the formalities. I for one would like to make your acquaintance."

     Meredith: "And I as well, my aunt was the stickler for form and substance, not I."

     Iriisii: "I would like to begin by thanking you for the use of this Sithen, it is truly a remarkable place. I have not seen anything like it before now."

     Meredith: "Thank you, once long ago, they were unbelievable in what they could do. Then as the Fae began to...lose sight of who and what we were, they began to fade, almost to the point where they almost lost all sentience. Now we see where they are on the path to resurgence, and this is also being reflected in the Fae in general."

     Iriisii: "I can feel the aura of power growing around those with you. I too have seen gods fade until they were almost gone, some I have been able to intervene with, some unfortunately were already gone before I came on the scene. Although I did get lucky and stumble on a place where I must later return and see what more I can do."

     Meredith: "Tell me if you would, there is so much happening out there than I have been able to acquire reliable information about."

     Iriisii: "I traveled to 'Where Dead Gods Lie Dreaming' deep within the Dreamlands, to find a scholar who went inside. I needed some information that only he had, and so I took the chance I could find him and get back out."

     Meredith: "What happened?"

     Iriisii: "I did find him, though not where I expected. I do not have words to describe what I saw and experienced. But I got what I went in to get. And found so much more than I ever suspected. I had already found mention, well more than a mention really, one of the Scrolls of Skelos told of where the souls of the Draconic Divines had been imprisoned, and that I was fated to bring them back into Reality."

     Meredith: "I cannot be certain if I have heard of these Scrolls of Skelos before, there is a lot I have yet to learn."

     Iriisii: "I am blessed that I have actually met him and consider him a friend. I myself, consider him a true prophet, having witnessed his writing of prophecy into a scroll. I shall never forget that sight for as long as I exist. But I digress, when I returned to where the Scroll was and completed the ritual written within it. I was able to summon the Souls of the Draconic Divines."

     Rigmor: "Do not let her get away without telling you the whole story!"

     Iriisii: "Rigmor!"

     Rigmor: "If you don't tell her, you know I will."

     Iriisii: "Incorrigible!"

     Rigmor: "Yes and you love me even more for it, too."

     Iriisii: "Before this gets out of control, may I introduce the first of my mates, this is Rigmor Ragnarsdottier, former High Queen of Cyrodiil, and also a Goddess of Eld. We both ascended at the same time."

     Meredith: "My pleasure to meet you, Rigmor."

     Rigmor: "And I to meet you, Queen Meredith."

     Iriisii: "Since I have no choice in the matter anymore..."

     Iriisii goes on and relates what happened after she summoned the four souls.

     Meredith: "You actually have children with a dragon?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, the four souls have been accepted in four of the eggs, the remaining eight have developed their own."

     Rigmor: "Go on!"

     Iriisii: "Rigmor, there is no need to stretch this out further."

     Rigmor: "She has a second dragon mate. A male Shadow Dragon who is the product of millennia of genetic breeding by the Dragon Oracles who foresaw the possibility of such a mating to occur. They have an additional ten eggs added to the twelve. I watched as Tahrodiis covered her in midair at the very edge where space and air meet. They fell together, still entwined, until she shouted and created a shadow portal on the ground as they passed through it. Where they ended up, no one knows for sure, but she was in a daze when they came back up out of the ground and landed."

     Iriisii: "Do not think for an instant that I am going to forget this."

     Rigmor: "Truth be told, I am counting on it."

     Meredith has the biggest grin on her face at the show that is going on.

     Meredith: "I believe everything you have said, Rigmor. Even as incredulous as it sounds, I have seen enough myself in the last few years to know that true magic is finally returning after having been gone for so very long. I think it works together with the things you have seen and done."

     Iriisii: "I hope you are right for all of our sakes because there is dire and venomous trouble ahead. I know this is outside your purview but do you know what is going on with the one God out there? He is ignoring the cries of those souls that he should have called to him by now. His angels are sitting off in dark space, just sitting and waiting. This is not how this is supposed to be. If I could be certain of my actions I would intervene now and lay these souls to rest. I also wonder if there is another who would attempt to claim them if he could, I sometimes feel eyes watching from a distance, waiting to see what I do. As if I were to overstep, he would be waiting to...I do not know what he intends but it would not be good in any case."

     Meredith: "I understand your situation, perhaps the Goddess might know the answer to your question for I do not. Here in one of our places, she will be listening. Come and I will ask on your behalf, at worst she knows nothing of it either. But talk with me as we walk, tell me of what you have discovered that you feel should concern us."

     As they walk together, Iriisii tells her of what she has discovered. When she gets to the part where she thinks the enemy wants to control the Fae in order to learn how to plane walk, Meredith suddenly stops and looks toward Iriisii.

     Meredith: "Are you sure of this?"

     Iriisii: "Not absolutely, but it makes sense. This enemy I face here is very powerful but limited in its travel capabilities. It cannot go beyond the physical edges of this universe. If it could learn to plane walk, all of the Realms would be at its mercy, especially with what is going on there now and what will soon begin."

     Meredith: "What is soon to begin if I may ask?"

     Iriisii: "The Jihad of Truth is soon to begin. My 'Heralds' will soon be sent out to begin informing all of what is impending. Instructing that it is time to choose which side they will support, Absolute Good, Absolute Evil, or the Balance. Once all have chosen, the battle for Existence will begin."

     Meredith: "Which do you side with?"

     Iriisii: "I am the Champion of Balance and Guardian of its Fount. Only in Balance can entropic destruction be avoided, if Absolute Good should win, Existence will atrophy and stagnate, until it withers away and dies the 'Cold Death'. If Absolute Evil wins, anarchy will reign supreme, until at last everything is destroyed by the very weapons that are created to wage war. Only the Balance, keeping Existence from moving too far in either direction can allow Existence to continue to live and thrive, keeping Good and Evil from growing too powerful, yet allowing just enough influence from both to spur growth, creativity, introspection, and keep the peoples of Existence inquisitive to learn what they are capable of learning, doing, and enjoying."

     Meredith: "You have taken on a supreme task it seems. It makes my own seem paltry in comparison."

     Iriisii: "No task where one is called to serve and guide others is paltry. Each has its place in the overall scheme, each is in its own way important, for we do not know what others are depending on ours being done to further their own. Maybe it never ends, that we will always be running from one problem to another, but I think even that is preferable to Oblivion. For I live, I exist, I love, if I can do these things, I will do what is needed for me to continue to do these."