The North (Closed)

[KieranSoares]

Sam nodded slowly, his gaze telling her without words that he trusted her completely. "All I ask is tha' you let me help wherever I can. I know I don't understand any of this. I know I can't possibly understand. But if you don't have to do something alone, then don't."

Taking her face in his hands, he admitted softly, "I'm scared, love... More than I've ever been, because I have no idea what to do or what to expect. But if I'm gonna put blind faith in anyone, it's you. Just... again... Please let me help with anything I can." Leaning in, Sam drew her against his chest once more and held her tightly.

"To whatever end, darlin'," he softly repeated the promise he'd made to her in moments that they'd faced down death or some of the hardest decisions of their lives. In the moment they were going to be shot down in an alley during the fall of Inverness, he'd said those words to her. And he'd stayed true to them ever since.

 

[heartofcourage]

"It won't be the end, I swear it." Fiona murmured as he held her tightly, making that solemn promise to her that he'd made so many times in the past.

After they had quickly packed up their camp, Fiona used Schaller's arm as a temporary desk and spread out her grandfather's works of poetry and the few journals that she had managed to keep hold of. She had Sam sketch out a map of Inverness and the surrounding territories and they all started to plot together: she, Sam, Schaller, and Dzana. As the dragons had a stake in what was happening, Fiona felt it fair that they voice their opinions as well.

"He knew Inverness and the highlands and the lochs perhaps better than anyone." Fiona said as she placed his stone out as well among all the papers. "The tribal people would have found the barrow if it was out in their territory, and we know that she was not placed in Queens Glen. So, maybe there's something we're missing that can be found in his works."

 

[KieranSoares]

"We know his work well... But I never felt like there were hints to it," Sam murmured. Thinking for a moment, he decided to walk over to the wagon where their things were being loaded, and he fished Ephriam's books out of a trunk and brought them over. "He didn't write much about the past. He was more concerned with the natural world. But I remember a few pieces where he talked about landmarks an' legends. Most of those were in the fifth book..."

Of the five, four had to do with the seasons respectively in some way. The fifth was themed around stars and legends. Some of his best-known work was in this book, but also some of his least understood. "We don't have time t'read back through it all, but we can see which poems might mention the highlands," Sam offered. "Might be worth it t'ask Markos too. Seems like he knows a lot about figures like Margaret."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Call for him. Call for Ahn as well before she and her rider take off." Fiona said as she glanced up at Schaller. "And I expect you to be on your best behavior."

She knew that Schaller didn't care at all for Markos, but she needed his knowledge. "Grandpa never rode once he was in Scotland. Seti, his dragon, was long dead, and his drakes all left behind. We always traveled by foot, carrying what we had on our backs."

 

[KieranSoares]

Schaller snorted slightly at her insistence to behave around Markos, looking away with a slight nod. Sam sent off spare soldiers to fetch the Caller and the old dragon, and it was only minutes later that each arrived. Markos came hurrying over on a borrowed drake and Ahn had her Rider guide her in the chaos til she was before Fiona and Sam.

The instant Markos dismounted and saw Ephriam's books, his face lit up, almost giddy as Sam offered the fifth volume out. "You've read all of these, Markos?"

"I have, but my mother taught them to me before I could read. I have quite a number memorized." Flipping open the cover, Markos's smile widened. "He originally wrote many of these in Greek." Looking to Fiona, he suddenly remembered she'd wanted his attention. "How can I help?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"We need to find Margaret's resting place." Fiona said as Markos seemed giddy at seeing all the books laid out. "Sam thinks that his fifth book might hold some clues that we can follow. If there's anything that jumps out, plot it out on our map."

Fiona then turned to Ahn, the old dragon waiting patiently. "Dear Ahn, I need information from you if you can give it. What do you know about Hesperus from your youth?"

 

[KieranSoares]

Markos was quick to take up both book and map, skimming the stories and occasionally writing a note. He didn't personally know Inverness, but Sam was able to take what notes he made and start placing points on their map.
Ahn sat down before Fiona, her Rider stepping away to help other soldiers but not going too far. Thinking for a long moment, Ahn murmured, "He had just gone to sleep when I was born... the year 640 I believe. The Byzantines were warring over Babylon... I hatched not too far from there, and my mother moved us near Kilamanjaro for safety. Hesperus had been rampaging across Africa, taking gold from temples. He nearly attacked Mecca, but he was grievously wounded. That was why he retreated to an island in Greece to hibernate, far from where anyone would think to look for him."

Furrowing her brows, Ahn added softly, "I remember the stories of whole armies clashing with him and being burnt to cinders. But it was a single person that struck him down. And not with a war machine, but something much smaller. I'm afraid I don't know who or how, but they must've been an Arbiter to know the right techniques to nearly slay such a monster. My mother said the warrior was able to drive the weapon into his heart. The only reason it didn't kill him immediately was simply because he was too big. Another strike to the same place and he might've died. I imagine it had to have been a spear or glaive, maybe a longsword. A normal sword would be too short."

 

[heartofcourage]

"The scar on his shoulder..." Fiona said softly, thinking about what she had seen about him in the vision that her father had helped her to curate. “A Blackstone most likely took him down. I wonder which one posed him the biggest challenge…”

She looked up at Ann and gently touched her scaled arm. “I’m sending you towards Trondheim. It’s too dangerous for you to be in the South without full sight. If anything else comes to mind, have your partner send it back with the first messenger.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"Respectfully, little one, I will not be sent away. I am still useful, and I am still a warrior, even if partly retired." Ahn gave Fiona a gentle nuzzle. "I will remain with the camps as a messenger. But I will be happy to run messages on one of the safer routes, if that will give you peace. If my end comes in war, so be it."

Markos glanced up from his work with Sam, and Fiona saw his eyes briefly change from deep brown to burgundy, his pupils turning to slits. In a blink, they were back to normal. "It will be a good end," he commented quite calmly before turning back to his work, leaving the dragons and Sam all confused.

 

[heartofcourage]

“Ignore him. It’s best not to know your own end.” Fiona said softly as she respected Ahn’s decision to stay in her role as a messenger in spite of her blindness. “If you remember anything else, you will send us back a message.”

 

[KieranSoares]

Ahn nodded, assuring her, "I will spend some time talking with my partner over some old stories... That may jog some memories. Five hundred years is a long time to recall." With one final fond nuzzle to Fiona's arm, she turned away and her Rider came to fetch her.

As Markos skimmed the book of poetry, he spoke over his shoulder to Fiona, "I do not see all things. Like you, I see potential and different paths, but they come to me in waking life instead of just dreams. Fate is not decided til the moment it happens, of course. Otherwise you'd have been dead in the streets of Inverness twenty years ago."

Sam's gaze grew stern as Markos called up that difficult memory. "I'd appreciate it if you focused, Markos."

"I am." Markos offered a smile. "When people break your mind, you either end up not being able to think at all, or think many things at once. My apologies for bringing up bad memories. I always thought it was quite heroic."

Turning to Fiona, Markos offered her the map of Inverness that Sam had been marking. Two major clusters had appeared on the page of places that Markos deduced from Ephriam's poems this far. "These are good places to start. They are mentioned multiple times."

"From what he's described," Sam explained, pointing to the first location, "one isn't far from your grandfather's cabin. The other sounds like... the area around our tree."

"There is a third place of interest, but infinitely harder to reach." Markos pointed to a line he'd draw from the loch to the keep. "There is a tunnel from the days of Queen Dianh, it was a secret way to reach Lady Invah's cavern hidden beneath the loch, just large enough for a person. There may be more in that tunnel, but as I understand it, it was sealed after the queen died."

 

[heartofcourage]

"All incredibly dangerous for the two of us." Fiona murmured as she thought over the ways that they could even get close to the locations. "Grandpa's cabin would be the easiest to get to. It's secluded and most likely gone, but we could use that as our base. From there, we would depend on stealth and cover to get to the other locations."

Fiona glanced up at Sam and moved her hand to her pocket. "Grandpa might have to guide our way. It's all a very daunting task, if I'm honest."

 

[KieranSoares]

"We can find other ways if this is too much," Sam reminded her quietly, bringing her a bit away from Markos and the dragons for a moment. "Margaret died centuries ago. So long tha' we don' even know exactly when. I don't know if anything she left behind could tell us much. Hell, I don't know if she even knew of Hesperus or if there were ever dragons like him in her time tha' she had experience with. But if you want t'do this, we'll do it."

Sam was willing to put aside his fears and relinquish his role as Commander temporarily, putting absolute trust in Fiona's idea despite going in blind himself. "I wonder..." he started, but paused. "It's stupid t'ask... but... I wonder if it's possible t'ask Reven. I've never understood how it works, but you an' Riley have talked to Reven before, probably Soma too. If you can talk to her, maybe she can tell you something. Or... is it possible to talk to Margaret herself?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"Ahn said that when she was young, her mother told her stories of an Arbiter that nearly took down Hesperus on their own with a personal weapon. It's clear that he wants me to challenge him personally, but with what, I don't know. He has a large scar on his body, most likely from this weapon." Fiona stopped herself as Sam spoke of finding other ways, of speaking to Reven if needed. "Sam, I don't know if any of this will do any good. If I don't choose the right thing, you'll lose me."

She was quiet for a moment as she turned to look back at Schaller and gave a small nod. "I'll...see if Reven can offer something." She murmured as she walked back towards her dragon, ignoring Markos as she motioned for Schaller to wrap himself around her to provide some protection as she prepared to focus and make contact with Reven.

 

[KieranSoares]

Markos scooped up all of the papers and the book that had been resting on Schaller's arm. As Fiona passed by and Schaller began to curl up around her, Markos retreated respectfully to stand beside Sam. Looking at the taller man, Markos offered a reassuring smile and found a different spot to perch and continue reading. Sam remained where he was til Dzana joined his side and he patted her arm in silence.

Schaller was soon entirely curled in around Fiona, his long body and tail creating a small but safe space and his wing covering her from the majority of light. That warm, dim space had been her personal haven for twenty years, and where she'd spent many nights when she needed a break from the world or wanted a quiet spot to be with one of her children when they were infants. Schaller's head lay alongside her, ready to offer his help if needed, or defend if someone else tried to interrupt.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona rested in his warm scales for a while, simply letting herself relax. She couldn't help the tears of worry and fear that came as she was hidden from the world. There was a force that she didn't know that she could defeat, even if he wanted a challenge from her. Every dream that she had wanted that had seemed in reach just days earlier was now dissolving and blowing away on the Spring breeze. A long sigh issued from her lips as she closed her eyes and focused, calling out for Reven.

When she next opened her eyes, she found herself in a land of ice and snow. It was brutally cold with only a crystal-clear lake before her. It was strange that the lake hadn't frozen as well, but it rippled with the wind that blew. Fiona wondered if Reven were beneath the water or elsewhere as she was want to do.

 

[KieranSoares]

Fog drifted off the water, cloaking the area in white mist. The lake itself radiated heat when Fiona drew near. It was the very same lake she had woken Reven from, but different. Ethereal. The water was crystal clear for a hundred feet down, til darkness enshrouded the ancient broken branches and trees and boulders in the depths. Strange, huge fish drifted lazily in and out of view.

As Fiona observed the water and nearby mountaintops just barely visible through the mist, a gigantic claw landed beside her as Reven silently emerged from the foggy valley and paused to loom over her.

"It's been a long while, little Blackstone," Reven murmured warmly. Her ancient scars and the wounds that had killed her in the North Sea were all gone. Her wings, ruined and useless in life, were whole. Her throat, once cut by an Arbiter to destroy her ability to breathe fire, was was flawless.

Lowering her great head to Fiona's level, Fiona was reminded that she outsized Schaller but was nowhere near as large as Hesperus. Even if a normal dragon was half the size of an elder, Hesperus made other elders look like fledglings.

"It's been years, hasn't it? Though your children have brought me interesting company recently. Especially young Soma. He visits often." Reven smiled lightly at that.

Soma had made no mention that he'd ever met Reven, much less built some kind of friendship with her. Reven slowly stepped past Fiona, still listening as she settled halfway in the water, her upper body still on the dry shore as she seemed to enjoy the warmth of the hot spring-fed lake. "What brings a great Caller to my humble doorstep after so long?" Reven asked softly, extending a claw to touch Fiona's hand lightly as she noticed the scars. "... I felt your recent pains... Never has a Caller of mine endured such cruelty. I wish I could've helped soften it, but another blocked my way."

 

[heartofcourage]

The giant claws appearing beside her would have frightened a normal human, but Fiona glanced up at the great Reven as the dragon smoothly landed and loomed over her, welcoming her with a simple greeting. She gave a soft smile at the mention that Soma often visited, a chuckle issuing from her chest.

"Soma is a student of the world. He will never stop learning from dragons, not even in his dreams." Fiona said softly as Reven settled and asked what she was doing there, her attention on her hands for the moment.

"That other wanted me to feel every moment. He hoped that it would feed my anger, maybe even help him to feel whole for whatever time my torture took place." Gently, Fiona gripped Reven's sharpened claw, letting her hands rest on the warm surface. "Hesperus has awakened. He wishes to rid the world of those that he doesn't see fit to inhabit it, which is why I've come."

"He wants a child of Margaret to give him a challenge and he believes that I am the one to do that. From what I've gathered, one of my family nearly killed him once upon a time, but no one remembers how. If I make the wrong choice, Reven, they all die."

 

[KieranSoares]

Reven's eyes closed as Fiona spoke Hesperus's name, the furrow of her brow showing a sudden and deep worry setting in. "I knew the monster lived... but I had hoped against everything that when he returned, his mind might've healed as well as his body." Opening her eyes, Reven didn't try to hide the forlorn expression that came over her. "He was dear to me once... The family he gave his gifts to were as precious to me as the Blackstones."

"Margaret herself put him to rest," Reven said softly and quite matter-of-factly. "I was there. We were too badly wounded to finish him off before he flew away to hide and recover. I did the same, but only needed a few years... We loved him dearly, and then something changed. I don't know if it was greed and gold, or illness, or something else that corrupted him entirely... But he once considered all of Europe his home to defend. When he began to ravage it and kill our own kind without reason, we knew we had lost him. We had no choice... In the end I was only useful as bait, luring him in. It was Margaret that struck the near-mortal blow. I couldn't believe she survived when he struck back before fleeing."

 

[heartofcourage]

"So, the story is true. The scar on his body is from Margaret's blow. If she had dealt a second blow, she might have finished him off." Fiona pondered as she took a seat on the bank on Reven's lake. "Reven, I don't relish killing dragons. Sam has to protect others, but I've never willingly killed another dragon. I suppose I don't have a choice because he wants to be put down like a wild dog."

There was a silence that stretched between them as Fiona thought long and hard about the position that she was being put into. "Where is Margaret at, Reven? I know that you dearly wish to protect her and give her rest with Ulf, but I need to know. I need her weapons."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I truly do not know, my dear," Reven told her softly, crossing her arms before her like a cat. "Skolgeir never revealed where her tomb was built, not to anyone. I think he feared her enemies coming to destroy it. In life, I treated the spot where she fell as my place to connect with her. All I do know is that it is somewhere underground. A proper barrow, hidden from the surface. He showed me drawings of his designs within the crypt... He put years into building it, and then spent the rest of his life working stone and iron and silver to honor his fallen wife and son. But I do know one thing that may be of use..."

Extending a claw, Reven drew out a few shapes that Fiona soon recognized as the area of Inverness including the loch. "The tomb is locked behind a door of stone and iron. Skolgeir kept the key around his neck. When he died, his nieces and nephews used his workshop to carve a gravestone for him. They carved out a hole in the stone and placed the key in it, and buried him near Dianhglen. It was him who created the first images there in the late queen's honor, so his family wanted to bury him near his most well-known work. You will certainly need the key to get into the tomb, as the lock was... well, it was a work unlike I've ever seen."

 

[heartofcourage]

Committing what Reven said to memory, Fiona gathered her courage to ask what she needed to know next. "Do you think my grandfather would come if I called?"

More than anything in life, she missed her grandfather greatly. She had always wished for one last moment with him, a proper chance to say goodbye. He had always been the elusive figure, however, never appearing in her dreams. She had always assumed that when he had been laid to rest for the last time, he had found the peace with her grandmother that he had always wanted. It was never her place to disturb it.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know for a fact that if he can answer, he will," Reven assured her quietly. "The question is whether he can. There are some that move on completely from your world, and some who stay between like me."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Then I'll patiently hold out hope that one day I'll see him again." She said as diplomatically as possible, tempering her hope with reality. "The same with Margaret. Perhaps one day I'll have the chance to meet the woman whom I'm named after."

"I would ask that you try and reach out to Hesperus, but he made it clear that he has no love lost for you." Fiona gently patted Reven's claw as she said that. "He has no love lost for any dragon, really. He's filled with hate and loathing."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I can try," Reven said with a nod. "I don't expect him to have any heart left for me. He lost it long ago."

Leaning her head down, Reven's maw touched to Fiona's arm. "I will lend my focus to you if you wish to reach out to someone. I can't say if it will work... but if there's a chance, we'll make it happen. Would you like to try?"