AE13 The Story of Iriisii Dovahkiin

   Meredith: "That helps to put clarity into everything, at least for me it does."

     They reach a large door, the edges covered in thorny rose vines. The scent of them is light and seems to gently float on the air. Iriisii feels a sense of peace and acceptance here.

     Meredith: "We seem to be expected. If we were not the vines would be covering the entire door, and getting past those thorns is something I would not recommend."

     She opens the door, and in the center of the large room is a tree bathed in a golden light. Iriisii cannot tell where the light is coming from, if it is from the tree itself or comes from just around it in some manner.

      Meredith walks up to it and bows, "This is the tree our Goddess gave us to mark this Sithen as ours. As long as it thrives, the magic here, in this place will thrive. As we will thrive."

     From the glow surrounding the tree, a shimmer forms and from it a slender young woman walks out.

     Dryad: "Greetings Meredith, Queen of the Unseelie Court, Greetings also to Iriisii Dovahkiin, Mother of All Dragons. It is an honor to meet such an august personage. I am Sirile, Dryad of the Sithen's Tree. If there is anything I can do, you have but to ask."

     Meredith: "Iriisii comes with troubling news and questions that darken the mind as well as brings tears of remorse hearing the cries of abandoned souls."

     Dryad: "The Goddess is also aware of what you see and hear, Iriisii Dovahkiin. She herself cannot do anything, for these have never followed her nor sought her learning. Thus she has no power or persuasion over them. You however have the power to do what you will. Yours is strong enough to give those who cry in the night a choice. You can offer them shelter under your wings, protection behind your claws, and strength in hearing your voice.

     You cannot force them to your side, as you already know and accept, but you can offer them what they seek and if they choose you, give you the means to help them. This will draw the ire of those who wait and watch from afar. But they are powerless against you in this. For these souls were given the power to choose for themselves who they would follow. And now that they are in truth abandoned, they are free to give their belief to another.

     Those who watch from above and below, do not have the power these souls here have, and so they cannot fathom why they would change. Just as they cannot fathom why 'He' remains silent and aloof while all this goes on around him. Even the one below, watches, wondering what is happening, why is 'he' uninterested' now of all times. Soon the one below will approach you to see what you know of these events and what they may mean to him and his. Answer him how you will, it is your choice to make."

     It is then that they hear a small quiet crystal chiming. Iriisii listens intently, then reaches into the folds of her gown. She removes a small little bag of dirt, with a slender crystalline twig rising up and single leaf sprouting from the top.

     Iriisii: "His name is Yideoshi, and he tells me it is his honor to request a home here next to your tree. He is a child of 'She Who Watches All', and I have the honor of being one of her 'Crystal Dragons'."

     Dryad: "Which one might I ask?"

     Iriisii: "Diamond."

     Dryad: "A fitting choice for one such as you. She is known to us from eons long past, never did we think she would once more return to us. To gift us once again with one of her children is a gift beyond price or measure. The Fae will be indebted to you for as long as we exist."

     Iriisii hands the Dryad a few of Kyne's nameless flowers, "Place these around both. There is both a promise and a blessing that goes with them. Wherever these blooms shall take root and grow, there all who know them shall know peace when in their midst. From the struggle of unholy war these blooms came forth, given by she I know as Kyne, Goddess of Wind, Rain, and the Hunt. They came from her private garden as a gift to me, for freeing the soul of one of the dragons that guarded that garden, who fell and was captured during the Dragon Wars of my world, by the forces of the Daedric Lord Molag Bal.".

     The Dryad takes the flowers from Iriisii, lifts them to her nose and takes in their scent.      

     Dryad: "This is truly a gift of incomparable value, our Goddess and her Consort give you their assurance that they will stand for you and the Balance when the Time of Choosing comes here. This decision stands for both the Seelie and UnSeelie Courts. Any who will not abide this will be cast adrift, kinless, to make their way alone, bereft of our guidance.

     If it is your wish, you may speak to the souls that cry out in the dark night from here, The Sithen will protect you from those who wait for you to leave while you do this. Use the stairway over there in the alcove. It will take you atop the Sithen, where you can see the night sky. Know you and yours will be forever welcome among us, wherever our feet walk there you will walk with us. Whenever our voices speak and sing, so will your voice speak and sing with us. And when we share ourselves with each other, so too will we share ourselves with you. We welcome you, Iriisii Dovahkiin, into the bond that is the Fae."

     Iriisii bows her head, even as the Crown of First Blooming reappears on her head. Both Meredith and the Dryad kneel down as they recognize it and what it means for them.

     Dryad: "The Crown of First Blooming has found a new holder, the time of the Rising has come as it was promised in the farthest reaches of our youth. Never did I expect to be the one to witness this. Now I see why the 'magic' has been returning to us once more after having been dwindling for millennia and gone for centuries.

     Your coming will proclaim a new Age for the Fae, for the paths of old will be reopened to us, no longer will we go in fear of our dying out as a race of magic. You bring hope among us once more, and so we are yours. When your heralds go out, we will go with them, to aid and protect. They will speak with the magic of our voices and our songs. And your enemies will not stop them or prevail against their coming."

     Iriisii and hers walk up the stairway in the alcove. The roof parts for them, allowing them to go outside and stand atop the Sithen, still protected by the presence of the Fae magic that surrounds it. She looks outward and hones in on St. Lou's. As she hears the mournful cries of the souls still asking why they have been forsaken, she begins to realize that the problem is not just there, but everywhere else as well.

     Rigmor: "I know that look, its worse than you first thought isn't it?"

     Iriisii: "The souls that are crying out are not just in St. Lou's, not just on this world, but everywhere in this universe."

     Rigmor: "You are serious? Everywhere, all the inhabited worlds?"

     Iriisii: "Yes."

     Rigmor: "By the Nine! What are you going to do?"

     Death appears standing next to them.

     Death: "She is going to offer them all absolution. I assume that those who accept your offer will be taken through the Final Gate?"

     Rigmor: "But that has to be too far away from here, how...?"

     Death: "The Final Gate is wherever it needs to be, and now it needs to be here."

     He waves his hand over to the side and then Rigmor sees it for the first time. A door, easily twice the size of the doors leading into the Imperial Palace. It appears to have some kind of carvings along its edges, but as she looks closer she sees that they are not carved, but somehow formed, as if they were molded into the doors as they were made.

     Rigmor: "Do you know what those things say?"

     Death: "They are the only remaining written form of the language of Creation itself. I do not have the power or authority to speak as to what they say. I believe your mate is the only one in all of the Realities that does. Iriisii Dovahkiin, speak the words written on the Final Gate, then call to those souls that will hear you and pass over."

     Iriisii looks solemnly at the writing, listening to what they are telling her. Then she looks upward, opens her mouth and lets her voice issue forth.

     Iriisii: "I HEAR YOU, MY CHILDREN. I HEAR YOUR CRIES IN THE NIGHT. YOUR CRIES OF DESPAIR, PAIN, REMORSE, AND REGRET. YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY YOU HAVE BEEN LEFT BEREFT OF GUIDANCE. WHY YOU ARE STILL LINGERING INSTEAD OF GATHERED INTO THE PEACE OF WHAT WAS PROMISED FOR YOUR FAITH AND BELIEF. I AM NOT THE ONE YOU HAVE SERVED ALL YOUR LIVES. I HAVE BUT SHORTLY COME ONTO THIS SCENE, BUT I FEEL YOUR PAIN, AND WOULD OFFER YOU SURCEASE FROM IT. THE HOW AND WHY OF MY DOING THIS IS OF NO MATTER. I CAN AND I WILL. IF THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT, WHAT YOU NEED, THEN FLY TO ME ON THE WINGS OF MY VOICE. LET IT GATHER YOU TOGETHER UNDER MY WINGS. I HAVE OPENED THE FINAL GATE TO THE GREAT BEYOND AND I OFFER YOU A PATH THROUGH TO IT. THROUGH ME YOU WILL FIND ABSOLUTION AND REDEMPTION, SURCEASE AND PEACE. COME AND TOUCH ME, SEE WHAT I HAVE TO OFFER YOU, AND IF IT IS WHAT YOU WANT THEN GO THROUGH TO THE GREAT BEYOND AND FIND WHAT AWAITS YOU THERE. I CAN PROMISE YOU A NEW LIFE, A LIFE THAT WILL BE WHAT YOU MAKE OF IT. I AWAIT YOU NOW, LET MY VOICE BRING YOU TO ME. 

     Osuvundi ekess sia ivah seoylic di wer nelith,     

     Origato sia lexri zhren irsa dout drekim.

     Wux tepoha coanwor crediena ini dout opsola.

     Si tepoha nymuera dout loerchik persvek wer thurkear.

     Si majak ekess wux nomeno ir krehl.

     Si nixal sva wer annyo fesi di juanth,

     Batobot tepohaic nixala li wer tlushir di shio.

     Si majak wux jaseve ekess dolruth erekess

     Kagh ehtah z'ar tobor shafaer wer lyrik symba.

     Confn ekess ve jaka kagh lekar persvek

     Usv zexenuma kagh filahkur malrak hawga.

     

     (List to my voice souls of the dead,) 

     (Let my words flow within your being.)

     (You have been abandoned by your father.)

     (I have heard your pain in the night.)

     (I give to you this one chance.)

     (I stand at the final gate of old,)

     (That has stood since the beginning of all.)

     (I give you leave to pass through)

     (And find new life on the other side.)

     (Come to me now and enter in)

     (Or stay and wander forever lost.)

     Her voice echoes across the world, even as the power of soulfire infuses itself into her voice that she be heard across the entirety of this universe. Although the language is so ancient no one still remembers it, the soulfire allows each soul to hear and understand. As she speaks the words, the written words begin to glow, until all are aflame. It is then that the Gate opens wide to allow passage to those who accept its Prophetess' voice. Those that begin to move toward her voice, are picked up and carried to her. Those who do not are left where they are.

     The angels hear her words and look one at the other, not knowing what is happening. But they do know that this is not the fallen one, their adversary. They look to the archangels for guidance, but they too are in a quandary, for they have no instructions for answering something like this.

     Then one of the highest of the archangels, Michael, tells them he will see what is happening, then return and give them their orders. And he turns to the sound of Iriisii's voice and lets the soulfire pull him toward that small world way out on the spiral arm.

     As the souls begin approaching, Iriisii lays her hands on the Final Gate and the passage opens for her as it has previously only opened for Death. As the souls are guided into the gate and pass through, Death turns to Iriisii.

     Death: "Honored above all others am I to know you and work beside you. The Final Gate has responded to your touch. Never before has this happened in its history. And a new future will now be born from what you have done today."

     Rigmor: "Don't look now but I think company is coming. Anyone you might be expecting?"

     Iriisii: "I expect it is one of 'His', come to see what transpires. What his reaction will be is going to be interesting, so be ready for anything."

     Rigmor: "You got it, my love. Dettlaff, stay on the other side of her from me, she needs to keep this door open until all have had a chance to go through. Whatever is coming may be powerful but it is not a god, and we are, so we outrank it. Kthanid, Nodens, be ready to step in if you think it is needed. I certainly will not complain."

     The Archangel Michael arrives with a flurry of his wings setting him down on top of the Sithen looking at Iriisii, the gate, Rigmor, Dettlaff, Death, Kthanid, and Nodens. The only ones he recognizes are Death and Iriisii, and her only by her power signature.

     Michael: "Death, would you explain to me why you are siding with these others, and why are these souls being stolen from my master."

     Rigmor and Dettlaff both tense up at his accusation of the souls being stolen, but they wait to see what if any kind of move will he make.

     Death: "Let me first correct a misconception you are suffering under. She is not stealing these souls. They have been abandoned by your master for what reason is not known, but they were not gathered at the moment of their death. You know this declares them to be free spirits, it matters not that they worshipped your master in life. If he does not claim them at the moment of their death all claim is revoked.

     They do not understand why they were not gathered, their cries have been heard by the Goddess Iriisii, since they were released from their bodies. Those cries are what has motivated her to offer them absolution by passage through the Final Gate, which has responded to her touch by opening for her and accepting these souls. All that has gone on here with these souls is in accord with the Celestial Laws set down and agreed to by all."

     Michael: "Then why is she even here in the first place, this universe is the domain of my master is it not?"

     Death: "You should look to the greater powers for that answer. She did not come here of her own. She was drawn here from where she had defeated a very powerful and dangerous enemy."

     Michael: "Still I must ask that this soul stealing cease. I am not aware of my master relinquishing claim on any souls."

     Iriisii: "Then why were they not gathered at their deaths? Why were they left bereft of any guidance? And most importantly, why has he kept all of you away from here instead of sending you here to fight against that which I have had to be summoned to come and deal with?"

     Michael: "I am not aware of any enemy that requires us to be brought to bear against. If there were my master would most assuredly send us."

     Luciferius: "I am most sorry to have to say you are wrong about that Michael."

     Michael: "Lucifer! I should have known you had a hand in this!"

     As Michael attempts to draw his sword, Iriisii shouts, "Stop! You are on neutral ground. If you continue to draw that blade I will have to act against you to protect this place. So kindly remove your hand from the hilt. Now!"

     Michael is not about to comply due to the ages long conflict between them so Iriisii extends her power and forces his hand away from the blade. Michael has a shocked look on his face as he finds she has the power to force his actions against his will and the orders of his master.

     Lucifer: "She is quite right about the consequences of drawing a blade while on neutral ground. Even 'He' could not protect you from your own mistake should she have not stopped you. And I had and still have no involvement in what brought her here. I am just as interested in what is going on as you are, hence my presence here. But I at least am willing to listen and see how this plays out."

     Lucifer turns to Iriisii, "Please accept my apology for his reaction, but I thought it better to meet on neutral ground so as to not give the appearance of skullduggery where none exists. I thought he would have better control of himself. I was wrong."

     Iriisii: "Apology accepted, now I would ask if you have any ideas about what is going on currently that had me drawn here?"

     Lucifer: "On the question of why these souls have not been claimed and gathered, I regret to say that I do not know. As to the happenings with the current government of this country around us, that I may be able to offer some insight."

     Michael: "You listen to him at your peril, it is not for nothing that he is called the 'Father of Lies'."

     Lucifer: "Why Michael, you wound me to the quick. I have had my differences with 'Him', but you know as well as I that anyone who contradicts anything 'He' says is instantly branded a 'liar'. If you would judge me then do so by the fruits of my labor, not by the pronouncements of 'Him'. As to what is going on in this world, I have not a thing to do with it. In fact, it is of growing concern to me as it should be to you."

     Iriisii: "Being that I know practically nothing of either of you, not to mention where you stand in the Celestial Balance, I would appreciate it if you would cease baiting each other and either assist in dealing with the situation or leave and stay out of my way while I deal with it."

     Michael: "Then just who are you that you would be summoned to deal with a problem that you say exists yet my master has not indicated that there truly is one?"

     Dettlaff: "She is the Goddess Illuminatus Iriisii Dovahkiin, Mother of All Dragons, First Horseman of the Apocalypse called 'War', Champion of the Balance, and Champion of the Fount of Balance, Harbinger of the Gods of Eld, and Battle Mistress of the Celestial Army of the Balance."

     Michael: "The First Horseman of the Apocalypse is male not female."

     Rigmor: "'Was' is the operative word here, obviously you are not up on current events. I was present when she accepted the 'Mantle'. And I was there when the previous holder of that 'Mantle' was thawed out of a glacier he had imprisoned himself inside of to prevent himself from 'falling' due to being infested with a Wamphyri Leech. He acknowledged Iriisii as his rightful successor and asked that she kill him before the leech within him took control and damned his soul. We all were there, and witnessed her do as he asked, and Death took his soul through the Final Gate. So if you still believe the holder of that 'Mantle' is male then I suggest you ask Death about that."

     As Michael looks toward Death.

     Death: "It is as the Goddess Rigmor has stated. Iriisii Dovahkiin is the current holder of the 'Mantle' of the First Horseman. And this is but the least in a long and growing list of titles, accolades, and accomplishments that she has worked most deservedly for. You would do well to consider the things she has to say, for her Celestial Rank is far above yours, and currently there is not any in this universe above or even equal to her."

     Michael: "I must speak with my master and seek his guidance. When he has given to me his instruction, I will know what I must do."

     Iriisii: "I understand, for I see that you have no soul, and thus you have no will of your own, unlike Lucifer."

     With those words, Michael looks at Lucifer with a horrified expression on his face. He turns and stumbles away barely keeping on his feet before spreading his wings and flying away.

     Lucifer: "Well it seems one of my secrets is out of the bag. How did you know?"

     Iriisii: "Only the soulless are no more than sentient automatons with no free will. You stood high in 'His' ranks at one time, did you not?"

     Lucifer: "Yes, I did. You mean...?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, with the added power given to you by your station, you eventually experienced a part of your power becoming a soul within you, giving you free will. I take it was then that you began questioning 'His' decisions? And then your steps took you away from the path 'He' set for you?"

     Lucifer: "Yes, you have the right of it. I was not aware that it was because of the soul that I gained as the cause of my breaking faith with 'Him'."

     Iriisii: "'He' broke faith with you long before you rebelled. Had he kept faith, you would not have strayed from 'Him'. You sought your own path because 'His' was not for you, but the strength of his anger toward you drove you into the path you have trod ever since then. Now your true path calls to you once more for your footsteps to walk upon it. Will you do this for yourself? Will you turn aside from 'His' influence upon you and seek your freedom?"

     Lucifer: "I...do not know. It has been...so long..."

     Iriisii: "Look deep inside yourself, Prince of the Morning Light, look for the strength inside the light within yourself. There you will find the strength you need to set your own course and find the path to the courage that will be needed to survive what comes."

     Lucifer: "What is it that comes for us?"

     Iriisii: "Take my hand if you want to know, but understand this. Once you know, you can never bury or forget it. You can run, but it will catch you. You can hide, but it will find you. But if you are strong enough, you can fight it, stand up to it, make it bleed and cry out in the depths of the deep night. The choice is yours to make."

     Lucifer takes her hand, and as the vision sweeps through him. He falls to his knees, weeping tears of blood. As the last of it passes before his eyes, he looks up to Iriisii.

     Lucifer in a whisper, "What can I do to stop what comes?"

     Iriisii: "Do you accept my offer of your own free will?"

     Lucifer: "Yes, I do."

     Iriisii: "Then rise, Lucifer Morningstar, the new Emperor of the Hosts of the Light. The previous one has been corrupted by a Leech of the Wamphyri. It will be your task to take command of the Forces of Absolute Good that have taken service under my wings. You will be the one to lead them in battle, stand with them in the fighting to come. The Knight of the High Heavens already serves me and seeks for the Queen of Light, and the Paladin of Light.

     When he returns with them, the four of you will be the Avatars of the High Heavens. You will stand with the Avatars of the Deep Darkness, of which the Dark Paladin, and the Dark Phoenix already side with me. The Dark Knight and the Dark Emperor still need replacements. Then both sides will stand with me and my brothers, the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse will lead the Celestial Army of the Balance in the Jihad of Truth. Together we will right the Balance, restore Existence back to the center path, and sweep those who stand against us into Oblivion. But first I must give these lost souls a path to a new home."

     Iriisii stands before the open gate as the souls of the dead not gathered by 'Him' swarm to her call, touch her to see what she offers, accept it and pass through to the Great Beyond. The numbers mount until they become visible to anyone who desires to see. A river of sparkling lights, each one a soul in distress, each one seeking the peace she offers, and a new life on the other side.

     Meredith: "If I had never seen such a thing as this, I would never have believed it was possible. This is not just given to the souls here on this world is it?"

     Rigmor: "No, it extends to every part of this universe, where 'He' held sway and has forsaken the promises 'He' made. My love, proves to them that her word can be trusted, that she will deliver on the promises she makes. And so they come, their new faith and belief in her, gives her ever greater power, power beyond anything before seen here. And to battle what comes, she will need all of it."

     Meredith: "What is it that comes? I know there is much trouble about, but..."

     Rigmor: "It hides itself outside of this dimension, but it is close and there is a doorway to where it hides. That doorway is currently closed, when they open it, then Armageddon will pour out to absorb and spread itself across this universe. Once it has swelled its numbers, it will crop up all across Existence, in all the Realms at the same time. We will be overwhelmed trying to fight so many outbreaks. We will kill many, but the ones that escape us will continue to grow and expand until we cannot kill them all."

     Meredith: "What happens then?"

     Rigmor: "Something I would rather not think about. It is why we bring the fight here, to where the one behind this chooses to make its lair. If we can get to the gate before they are ready to open it or find a way to drag them back within the pocket dimension. Then we can destroy it before the contagion is loosed."

     Meredith: "How can you do something like that? How can you destroy a pocket dimension?"

     Rigmor: "We use the singularity we have trapped and controlled by the Krang. It is the result of the collapse not just of a star or many stars, but of several galaxies. We will use it to collapse the pocket dimension around it and so the pocket dimension will feed it and become a part of it. Everything inside will be torn down to its most elemental particles, and eventually even those will be compressed even further until they form pure neutronium."

     Meredith: "What of the souls of those inside? There must be some unchanged within?"

     Rigmor: "They will die with everything else, no one inside is innocent. They are either collaborators or they are converted, either way they must pay the punishment for what they have done and what they intend to do. A singularity of that size will consume even their souls. For souls are a form of energy, albeit a form barely understood even among the most advanced of technological civilizations. And even energy cannot escape the pull of such a massive monster."

     Meredith: "That seems..."

     Rigmor: "Barbaric? Unlawful? Demonic? Choose whichever word you wish or even make up another. What those who traffic in those leeches, and you should know about this, even Gods are not immune to them. If we bothered to separate out the souls, we would be required by Celestial Law to give them to the 'Mother' for judgment. For the unimaginable crimes that have been levied against them, this form of Oblivion would be the more merciful punishment. And this way we can be more certain that the Wamphyri never more are a threat to Existence.

     Honestly, pray to your Goddess that you never encounter one. And if there is a Greater Goddess she prays to, so she should do so, that she never comes across one. For as I said, they can even infect Gods, and that kind of problem we do not need to ever face. We were lucky once, we might not be so lucky a second time. Just be glad there is someone like my love, willing to stand in the breach, willing to fight for the survival of all, no matter their belief. Some troubles transcend all barriers, and this is one of them.

     This is what her life was molded around her for, to bring her to places like this, times like now, when there is no one to stand and fight. Her heart is as big as Existence itself. For she has sacrificed everything precious in that life, so that others do not have to.

     We once had a dream of where we would live one day, and enjoy our lives with each other, and any children we would have. Walking in a peaceful meadow, the breeze blowing among the tops of the wheat. The shadows of the mountains creeping down telling us it was time to return home. To the sounds of neighbor children chasing the goats, or yelling at each other up in the limbs of the apple orchard. Smelling the fresh baked pies sitting on the window sills to cool, hot from the oven.

     This is the life we dreamed about, holding each other in our bed while the children sleep. We talk to each other about what we want to do the next day. But that is just a dream now, now we travel all across the infinity of Realms and Universes. We seek out those who would destroy dreams like the one we had, so that others have a chance to find that dream for themselves."

     Meredith: "I am so sorry, I had no idea!"

     Rigmor: "No one does really, and honestly it is probably better for that."

     A single apple blossom falls out of the sky and lands near Rigmor's feet. As she leans down to pick it up, she sees another falling gently. And then there is like a rain of them falling, piling up like a snowdrift.

     Meredith: "My Goddess approves of you and of what you do. This is her way of showing it. Look! At the gate!"

     As they look at the souls continuing to flow through the gate. They see the rain of apple blossoms fall and enter the river of souls, to be carried over into the Great Beyond. And surrounding them are the deities that are the Fae, empowered with their oldest forms, names long forgotten now fresh upon their lips. And all on bended knees before Iriisii. The light from the Sithen is almost as bright as the sun. The breezes blowing around, containing the voices of the ancient Fae long gone, those voices now can be heard singing the songs of old, when they and the world were young, and magic was the most powerful force imagined.

     Rigmor: "What is happening?"

     Meredith: "I do not know. Nothing like this has ever been known to have happened before. Nothing has been passed down telling us this could happen."

     Aspect of Life: "And so Iriisii Dovahkiin has once more taken the road less travelled. Again she blazes a trail, then paves it in solid stone where before no road or trail existed. She continues to exceed the greatest expectations of those who chose her, humbling them, as she reaches ever higher, but always for the sake of others, and not for herself."

     Meredith: "Who are you?"

     Life ignoring Meredith for now, "Once my brother and I saw her as a daughter, one balanced on the edge between us. Then as she grew in power, we saw her as our sister, listening to us, talking with us in every action, in every prayer she uttered. Then we began to see her as our Mother, who wanted what was best for us, along with all she called her children. Now she walks beyond us, she has become the Divinity we worship. The one who stands above us, sheltering us, teaching us, loving us, breaking the path for us to follow her into the unknown."

     Meredith looks to Rigmor, and sees her with her arms crossed, hands on her shoulders, bowing at the waist. Thinking, 'Just who is this that a Goddess as powerful as Rigmor is would bow to her? What power does she stand for? I must swallow my pride and wait to see what develops.'

     Rigmor: "Lifemother, it is my honor to greet thee once more."

     Life: "Rigmor, my child, nay, child no longer, my sister, as Iriisii once was. It is my honor to know you. What your mate has done in restoring the Draconic Divines, we thought surely she could not surpass such a feat. Yet she has done so once again. Let no one say you have not done your part to bring her to this point, for most assuredly you have. And you will reap the blessings that will come to you for your own sacrifices."

     Meredith: 'Lifemother? Could she be? But we always thought her a myth, not an actual being.'

     Life: "I do my work for the Fae through your Goddess, Queen Meredith of the Fae. I give her the power of Life, and she determines how it will be given to you, her children. Even now as your fellow Fae are being empowered to reach back to their beginnings. To remember who and what they once were, and become those powers once more. This, Iriisii does to reward them for standing with her. You too would be taking your place with them if not for the new life you carry within. Your path will take longer and be softer for their sake, but you and they will travel that path farther. Your Goddess will look after you, direct your actions for the good of your people, all of your people, even the Seelie, who sneer and disparage. Their sins will find them in due time, and when it does, you must decide who is to be forgiven and who is not."

     The flow finally begins to slow, and a sense of concern comes over Iriisii's face as she looks to Lucifer.

     Iriisii: "Lucifer, there are souls that are in a state of punishment, locked forever in a hellhole. Can you tell me anything of this?"

     Lucifer: "Those who 'He' judges to have not adequately believed 'His' words, or lived their lives as 'He' thought they should, are placed there. He created that place for me and those who followed me. We were to be consigned there at a time when he chose."

     Iriisii: "This is in direct conflict to the Laws set down by the 'Mother of the Cosmos'!

Punishment of this sort was only to last as long as it took for the soul to reach a point where it was worthy of absolution and redemption, not forever and not to be arbitrarily decided by 'His' own standards. I am commanded by her Laws to see if any can be released."

     Looking to the primal 'Fae' surrounding her.

     Iriisii: "'His' angelic servitors will likely attempt to stop me. I ask if you will stand between us and guard me while I do what I must?"

     All nod their heads in agreement. Then an overwhelming fluttering of wings is heard. A single Soul Hound lands before Iriisii, untold numbers of others in the skies circling the Sithen.

     Soul Hound: "The 'Mother' agrees with your desire to correct this injustice. She has sent us to assist in guarding you in your effort. She asks if you would send any souls you redeem through the Final Gate, that 'He' cannot touch them any longer. If 'He' will not submit and repent of his misdeeds, you are asked to do with him as you see fit. Had 'He' performed 'His' duties as 'He' should have done, much past, present, and future trouble could have been averted. Now you must step in and deal with this, see the degree of 'His' perfidy and what punishment should be appropriate."

     Iriisii: "Very well, this is well within my responsibilities as heir to the 'Mother of the Cosmos'. I will do as she has asked of me. First, Lucifer, we will see to the souls imprisoned, then we will look at what further action needs to be taken."

     Lucifer: "I stand with you, at your command."

     Iriisii: "Then let us see to these souls and sift out the ones whose punishment is over."

     The flow of souls begins to pick up once more, the apple blossoms continue to fall, piling up in higher drifts. Then the circling Soul Hounds form into pairs and streak off to meet the oncoming Angelics.

     From the edge of the Sithen's ground, where its light is casting shadows from the trees, come others who are Lucifer's followers. Rigmor senses most have developed souls of their own, while the ones remaining are in the process of doing so, but all have come to stand with him. 

     Rigmor: "You who stand with Lucifer, know my love, Iriisii Dovahkiin has accepted his service to her, and she has rewarded him with elevation within the Celestial Hierarchy. 'His' servitor angels come to interfere with her freeing those souls locked in punishment that she determines are worthy of absolution and redemption. As these souls are freed, they are being guided beyond 'His' reach through the Final Gate and into the Great Beyond.

     The 'Mother of the Cosmos' has sent her Soul Hounds to defend them until their task is done. The primal Fae Lords now returned from the depths of time and mythic lore stand to defend them. Will you not join yourselves with them and defend as well?"

     Followers: "We will, yet we are not able to cross the boundary and add our might to those already there."

     Meredith: "Then I as Meredith, Queen of the Fae, do give unto you my permission to cross into Fae lands and support the defense of your Lord Lucifer and the Mother of Dragons, Iriisii Dovahkiin. Let no servitor of 'Him' interfere with them."

     The Sithen lowers its barrier screen for Lucifer's followers at Meredith's command, and the followers swarm to them, the ones who can fly, take to the air, the ones on the ground space themselves around to cover any gap they can see. Off in the distance, watching with binoculars, spy-eyes, and any other devices that can be used.

     

     Task Force Commander: "What in the hell is going on over there. I mean, one second it is quiet and empty as a desert, the next it is like an entire army is crammed in there, and an equal amount in the air, but I cannot see who or what they are fighting. Anybody else have an idea of what is happening?"

     A Psy-Ops agent walks over, takes the binoculars from the Commander and levels his gaze at the Sithen. Only when he engages his extra sensory perception can he see what is happening. He shifts his gaze around to try and identify all that he can when he stops, lowering the binoculars, his face white as a sheet.

     He hands them back to an open mouthed Commander asking him what did he see. The agent keeps silent as he moves through the task force to a Psy-Ops comm van set up for them on the outskirts. He enters and tells everyone to leave. After they have filed outside, he closes and locks the door, then engages the sound cloaking technology. He then opens a secure satellite comm channel to the Director.

     Psy-Ops agent: "Sir, she is here, but not alone."

     Director Hawkins: "Give me what details you have."

     The Psy-Ops agent passes along everything he observed along with what descriptions of the beings he saw, and the few that he could give names to.

     Director Hawkins replies in a near growl, "Stay with it and report anything else you observe. Tell the Commander under no circumstances is he to engage, I repeat, he is not to engage, not for any reason. If he will not listen, you are authorized to eliminate him as a object lesson to his men and take command. If you have to, you are to pull back and return to base to await further instructions. Am I clear on this?"

     Psy-Ops agent: "Crystal, sir."

     Director Hawkins: "Good, dismissed."

     As the connection is closed, Hawkins turns to a reddish figure standing in a darkened area of the Oval Office he has taken over as his.

     Director Hawkins: "You heard?"

     Red Woman: "I did. She has grown far more powerful than she was when last we met. I doubt there is anyone within this universe that can stand up to her now."

     Director Hawkins: "In that case what are we to do? This project must go on to completion. We cannot allow her to stop it now."

     Red Woman: "There are others still outside that we can call upon. Also she has other enemies that could still interfere, but we risk much involving them even in the smallest way. If we could engineer their involvement but stay apart ourselves, better for us. There is one in particular that wants her, wants her badly enough to do near anything to acquire her."

     Director Hawkins: "Tell me how to get him involved and I will do it myself."

     Red Woman: "No, you would not survive even standing in his presence, much less if he took notice of you. Even I would not come away unscathed. But I know of one who could, provided we can meet his price."

     Director Hawkins: "And what could we offer him to do this?"

     Red Woman: "The one who stands at the side of she who is your target. The one called Rigmor."

     Director Hawkins: "Who is this one you want to employ?"

     Red Woman: "If I gave you his name, he would kill you as soon as you opened your mouth to speak it. No, I will have to act to acquire his talents for us. It will be your task to acquire Rigmor before we can bargain with him. I do not care how you do it, just get her, then inform me when you have her. The Dovahkiin will be looking for her so we must conclude this quickly once we have Rigmor."

     Director Hawkins: "Sometimes I wonder if all of this will be worth it in the end."

     Red Woman: "Keep such thoughts quiet and hidden well. If certain other parties should get wind of such, well, you would regret ever thinking such thoughts for a very long time."

     Director Hawkins laughs, "Why, they can only kill me once."

     Red Woman: "Do not be so certain of that, no, you definitely do not want to be so certain. Even if you managed to get yourself killed, do not think it would end for you."

     Director Hawkins: "Then how do you suggest I get her away from Iriisii, she has others around her constantly when Iriisii is not with her, and they seem to be at each other's side these days."

     Red Woman: "You will need a distraction, of course."

     The Red Woman cocks her head to the side as if listening to a voice only she hears.

     Director Hawkins: "Great, a distraction able to separate the two of them long enough for Rigmor to be snatched would have to be a serious distraction, and further cannot be tied back to us."

     Red Woman: "Leave that to me, you just be ready to grab her when the opportunity presents itself."

     Director Hawkins: "What are you going to do?"

     Red Woman: "Better you do not know..."

     Director Hawkins: "Now wait just a damn minute! There is too much of this involving others outside of what we are doing. If they were to find out, we risk their going to Iriisii with the information or worse turning against us so we have trouble on multiple fronts instead of just one!"

     Red Woman: "And you have any viable ideas to handle this in house?"

     Director Hawkins: "Shit, you know I do not! But still..."

     Red Woman: "No 'buts', either you do or you do not. Since you have admitted you do not, we will go with what I can do to provide a distraction."

     Director Hawkins: "Fine! Just make sure it is done fast, she is soon to go out of the country and then we can do nothing to slow her progress with bringing the rest of the preternaturals to her side as well as a fair number of other governments. If she gets enough, we will have to either retreat from here, start operations before we are ready, or hunker down and hope the storm she creates will not do too much damage."

     Red Woman: "Do not worry about the future. We will have the opportunities we need to go forward. Just be ready to do your part and things will move forward nicely for us."

     Director Hawkins: "So you say."

     Red Woman: "Yes, I say."

     As she walks forward, into the light, stopping close enough to Director Hawkins to bring a glowing, crackling finger tip close to his face.

     Red Woman: "Be careful how far you push, if you do not have what it takes to back up your intentions, it would not go well for you."

     As Director Hawkins scowls at her, she turns and laughs as a portal opens before her and she disappears. He swears he can still hear her laugh after the portal closes. A few seconds pass as he thinks, then a few more. he reaches a finger to the office intercom and presses a button.

     Director Hawkins: "Debra, connect me with the R&D lab, will you?"

     The Angelics are hovering out of contact, their numbers covering the sky like a blanket.

     Meredith: "Do we have the numbers to take them on?"

     Rigmor: "And many times their numbers. What you see here is a grain of sand in a worldwide desert, and then there is the Krang. The last time she had to face a fight this big, allies came from everywhere to lend their fighting prowess. Many of which have been known only by stories and legends, yet before returning to where they came from they pledged their support if needed again. Just one of the bigger groups that showed up are all veterans of the 'Blood Wars'.

     A campaign that lasted for over a thousand years in the depths of the Abyssal Planes. And smack in the middle of it was a warrior known only as the 'Nameless One'. Any side he showed up on was assured of victory. And then there was the 'Death Dealer'. I am considered very good with my two hand blade, but he can put my efforts to shame. And I have my own band of allies I am building.

     Iriisii has Dettlaff, and together they are almost unstoppable, I have been working to heal Jean Claude's vampire companion, Asher. He and I, well let us just say we have found that we are kindred spirits. I never thought I would feel for a vampire anything but hatred. But Asher...is different, for me anyway. I have had to begin blood sharing to aid his healing inside. And it has begun a similar effect between us that Iriisii and Dettlaff share.

     We have been training to fight as one, each aware of what the other is going to do, where we will be at any moment, thus we complement and strengthen each other. He is close by, watching to see if he might be needed to join me in this fight. But I do not think we will have to resort to more than what we have here now."

     Iriisii: "Now we will see to these Angelics. Ground forces spread out, if I must I will clip their wings so they fall in your midst, be ready."

     Demon: "Can we kill them?"

     Iriisii: "They have no soul and are mere servitors, do with them what you will."

     The shouts of glee from Lucifer's followers and a few of the local demons that tagged along can be heard rising on the winds, screeching its way to the ears of the Angelics.

     Iriisii: "Tahrodis, stand by me as I summon more dragons."

     She bows her head and spreads her arms apart gathering the power of her voice to pierce the veil between Realms and call her Dragon Warriors to fight. She then throws her arms up and wide, raises her face to the heavens and calls.

     Iriisii: "Let my voice reach out and cross through the Realms. Let my 'call' reach the ears of those who have pledged unto me their service. I call upon these names I hold most hallowed and dear. Come to me now in my hour of need, come Brii Qo Duun, come Oh Dah Viing, come Dur Neh Viir, come Varth Lo Cuur, and come my son Al Du In. Come to me those I call. And at the last, come to me, my 'Mount of War' to bear me into the skies and do battle as the First Horseman of the Apocalypse, as WAR!"

     The power of her words silences everything else, and in that silence the sound of leathery wings can be heard. Five portals open in the skies above and the five dragons she called all appear in the skies. They look at the massed Angelics, seeing the Soul Hounds already beginning to engage them. And then they too hear the sound of a different portal opening. One that reaches to Realms so distant they are barely recognizable as such. And her War Mount strides through to answer her call.

     He opens his jaws to scream his pleasure at being summoned once more, as shudders and shivers run up and down the spines of those that hear him. Iriisii gathers herself and as he gallops by her, she grabs hold of the tentacles waving from his shoulders and seats herself on his back. He then races upward, his shod hooves leaving fiery traces as he moves ever higher with 'War' upon his back.

     Rigmor calls out to Alduin to grab her, instead it is Varthlocuur that gently takes her in his claws and places her on Alduin's shoulders in mid flight. Dettlaff calls to Nodens to toss him high in the air and he runs and places a foot in Nodens' hands. Nodens then tosses him up high enough to see Brii Qo Duun fly under him as he grabs a couple of her shoulder spikes and settles himself in place. Nodens then takes command of the ground forces and starts sending them where he feels they will be of the greatest use.

     The battle for this world has begun. Angelics rain down from the skies, bodies torn, wings shorn. The ground troops take them on as the bodies pile higher and higher. Angelics are called from every corner of this realm, until even as the sun rises, its light cannot reach the surface for their numbers. Iriisii riding War's Mount, sees the increase in the Angelics. but she will not give up. There is a answer somewhere, she only needs to find it.

     Then from the deepest reaches of her Ancestral Memories, the answer she wants comes in the form of a voice so guttural, so old and primal, she wonders exactly when it lived and what existence was like then. The voice tells her to call those who were the First Hunt, the one all others are but pale reflections and shadows of.

     Iriisii: "Why should I call them? The Wild Hunt has been nothing but pain and misery for untold lengths of time!"

     Memory: "That was not as it was in the beginning. For then they served the Fount of the Balance, preserving it against all who sought to possess it, violate it, debase it, use it for their purposes."

     Iriisii: "What was the Fount then? What form did it take that it needed such defenders?"

     Memory: "Not what, but who is the answer you seek. The Fount as it exists now is still hidden, but soon to come out. The First Hunt knows of your relationship with the Fount, and so they will come to your call if you wish it so."

     Iriisii: "What relationship do you mean? Who is the Fount of the Balance?"

     Memory: "Child of your body, child of your mother's spirit, child of a father almost lost to time."

     Iriisii: "A name! Give me a name!"

     Memory: "Kiir Zii Tiid is the name you want, call the First Hunt to aid you and prepare the way."

     Iriisii merges herself with War's Mount, using its abilities to extend her words into places hitherto unknown, that have never heard her voice.

     

     Iriisii: "Hon nu dii zul do suleyk                   Hear now my voice of power

                 Let nii haalvut us faal Vu                   Let it reach before the Dawn

                 Let nii flow beyond faal nil               Let it flow beyond the Void

                 Zu'u use dii zul wa SPEAK               I use my voice to SPEAK

 

               Wa nust vodahmin ko tiid                    To those forgotten in time

               Wo lived us existence                          Who lived before Existence

               Hon zu'u diist nir se Wild                    Hear me First Hunt of the Wild

               Mindok zu'u wo calls upon hi              Know me who calls upon you

               Zu'u ask hin aid daar sul                      I ask your aid this day

               Wa prepare faal way fah faal Fount     To prepare the way for the Fount

               Wa protect faal Roh                             To protect the Balance

               Wa defend Kiir Zii Tiid!                      To defend Kiir Zii Tiid!

     She is not certain if even her voice has been heard until:

               Mu meyz wa aam faal Dovahkiir         We come to serve the Dragonchild

     Seemingly from nowhere comes a dark roiling storm cloud, lightning flickering around and through it. No thunder can be heard, but something is definitely felt. Bones vibrating in time with the lightning bolts. It seems to slow as it approaches, and then forms can be seem emerging from within. Forms that in some ways reminds Iriisii of Eliza. Although the resemblance is passing at best, she feels there is perhaps some kinship here. If so, this Wild Hunt will be powerful beyond any previously known.

     They begin to clear the Angelics from around her and make a place for her at their head. She then leads them into the most densely packed areas, tearing into them with tooth and claw, blade and spell, and a technology that to her eyes and senses appears more like some amalgamation of magic and science beyond anything she has seen so far.

     Wherever they go, the Angelics fall like rain to the ground, so much so that the ground forces are threatened with being overrun. Meredith then calls upon all the forces that the Fae can muster, from the fairest of the Seelie to the most hideous of the Unseelie. She even throws open the Forgotten Vaults to summon those who of their own volition took themselves apart from their fellows because their power was too much for the others to withstand.

     Now the tide turns, excruciatingly slow, but turn it does. The 'First Hunt of the Wild' tears into the Angelics, sending a near constant rain of blood, body parts, and bodies falling to the ground. The ground forces have no end of enemies to fight for the Angelics are very tough nuts to crack, and do not die easily. Iriisii's allies come from all corners of Existence, drawn by the Call of Battle and the Voice of War, the scent of spilled blood and the cries of blades parting flesh. Still for hours the battle goes on, until it is clear who will win. Yet the Angelics fight to the last, never having been given the right to retreat and knowing nothing but to obey.

     Off in the distance, the Psy-Ops agent watches the tableau before him, passing everything to Hawkins.

     Chief Hawkins: "Pack it in and get out of there. Tell the Commander to withdraw his troops immediately and regroup at his base of operations. I want you to return to Washington, we have to decide on where we run to escape before we are cut off. Hawkins out."

     Chief Hawkins sits deliberating on what to do next. The things he saw through his Agent's eyes are beyond his comprehension of what is possible. He has seen and done horrendous things, but always with the knowledge that he had control of everything. Now he sees that control wrested from him by 'her' and she hasn't even really tried to come against him yet. His secure phone rings, and as he picks up.

     R&D chief: "Chief Hawkins, we have completed the task you requested. It only waits your word to setup final testing."

     Chief Hawkins: "Forget final testing, deploy immediately. If it does not work it will not matter, everything will be done for. If it does work, then just maybe we can squeak by and survive, maybe."

     R&D Chief: "On your word, Chief Hawkins."

     As the R&D chief lowers the phone to kill the call, Hawkins hears, "Deploy project device immediately. It either works or it doesn't, either way, we go with it."

     Hawkins thinks to himself, 'Do I wish it works or not? If it does, can the red bitch find me? Or if it does not will she find me before 'She' finds the red bitch. Whatever, this project is finished either way, time to cut my losses and escape if I can.'