Iser's Rebirth
The Lady Iser tossed feverishly in her sleep. The dreams that raced through her consciousness were horrible and frightening. At one point, she sat up in bed with unseeing eyes wide open, clutching at sweat soaked sheets, screaming at the phantoms streaking around her. The screams woke many in Camelot from solid slumber, and those who wondered at another's terror rose to seek the person in pain. Iser lay back to sleep -- silent -- the dreams continuing...
...Iser was working at her herb table when a chill washed over her. Shrugging it off, she noticed a small brown spider begin to spin her web at the corner of the wall just above her. The healer smiled at the wild creature and continued to sort and hang flowers. When she next looked at the spider, it was sitting in the center of an intricately woven web. To Iser's astonishment, the spider's eyes began to glow crimson and a highly pitched female voice reached into Iser's head. "Behold," it cackled. The healer's eyes widened as an image began to take shape across the face of the spider web. Iser recognized the Ilharess Jasra Dark in the inn in Long Saddle. The image began to move in a stilted flickering fashion. Then Iser's heart began to break as she heard the voice of Sir Dagron as he professed his love for the Dark Elf. Iser turned away from the web and the laughing spider as Dagron's voice also entered her mind. "Lady, you have deceived me.." "NO," shrieked Iser. "Never - Dagron - never." The silence that followed became overwhelming. Iser felt the bonds of hand fasting that joined her to Dagron shatter into nothingness.
The healer clutched at her chest weeping as she felt her insides explode. She found it difficult to breathe. Panic began...Iser raced to her chamber door, pulling it open with such force that the wreathe that adorned it fell to the rush covered floor. The spider continued to cackle, and then scurried to the window, and out into the cold Wintry air. Iser did not notice. She rushed from her room, racing past startled knights and squires. The clap clap of her shoes on the stone floor echoed in her mind. She did not see Shumard running toward her. She did not see that she narrowly missed crashing into the Lady Nalika with her 2 new babies. Shumard reached for the healer and she pushed his hands away. She continued to run...
...Shumard and Lady Nalika were the first to reach Iser's room. The healer was sweat soaked and weeping. Nalika took Iser's hand in hers to awaken her, but was stunned at how cold it was. Her ragged breath was almost as fast as her racing heart. Shu and Nal looked at eachother and shook Iser's shoulders. Iser screamed and pushed them away -- almost knocking Shumard from her bed...she slept on...
...Iser raced through the increasingly more frigid corridors. She ignored friends who called to her. Her only overwhelming desire was to get to the open air. Her chest felt as though it was being crushed as she struggled to breathe and her heart raced.
The odor of freshly baked bread wafted to her as she passed the entrance to the kitchen area. It never registered in her mind. A young page was crying in the distance and even that did not stop her.
Iser reached the stable at full run. The bleak gray Winter sky threatened snow. The cold air instantly leaked through her dress. As she passed the barren rose bust that grew along the far wall, it seemed to her that the thorns waved at and reached to snag and tear at her. She continued her blind run away from her rooms.
The gate keeper saw the Mage racing toward him, and thinking that there was an emergency just outside Camelot, began to open the great gates. The noise that they made covered the yelling from a Knight on the walls to stop Iser as she ran by. Iser ran, never noticing the rent in her skirts and never seeing the startled castellian.
She ran towards the woods. Blossoming in her mind was the thought that she needed to find her grove.
Peace
Peace
She would find peace and love there.
Somewhere along the run, she became vaguely aware that she'd lost her shoes. Snow covered tree branches lowered themselves, catching at her hair. Frozen bushes reached their brambles into her path, causing her to tumble and fall. A tiny voice called to her. "Come to me dear...dark is the way of life." Iser shook the voices away and continued. The bottoms of her feet were bleeding and her arms and legs were torn. She ran on...
...The pale body in the bed was no longer sweating. It was cool and damp. The thrashing left her hair wildly splayed across the pillow. There were deep gashes that bled scarlet on her arms and legs. Clean rags were placed at the bottoms of her feet to stem the bleeding there.
The Knights and Ladies of KORT were seriously alarmed to see these changes in the now-still body of Iser. In the love that is KORT, they stayed with her through the night and day and into the night again. The body that was Iser, but not Iser at all took no nourishment. Only the dreams continued...
...The Lady Iser reached her grove to find the area stark and barren. The Goddess altar had tumbled down, leaving the sacred water to trickle back into the earth. A small basilisk shambles out from behind a mound to debris, fixing a blind withering stare at her. The tip of its nose wrinkled and flared, sensing her emotional distress. Then with a little hop, it turned and left her.
Iser shuddered and walked around the grove searching for rocks to repair the altar. All were slime covered too slippery to handle.
After a short while, Iser sat at the sacred spring to drink and collect herself. She was just slightly concerned that she could not feel the injured places on her body. She played with the strands of torn dress, now only showing small evidence of its original dove gray color. She could feel nothing about her dress, and soon found herself not caring about the dried blood on her arms and legs.
As she bent to drink, she heard a soft rustle in the bushes. The kobold came toward her, followed by several creatures that she remembered having healed. The small creature raised his walking stick in an act of anger and began to speak in a cool growl.
"Go away lady healer -- we do not want you here. You left us for others of your kind. You have forgotten us...you have forgotten your Goddess...we have tried to forget you...you have deceived us.
Go away
Go away."
General grumbling and hurt faces from the others accompanied the Kobold's words. Iser turned to face them, new tears streaming down her face. She knelt to face them pleading.
"I never forgot you...never deceived you. I have gone where I was needed most I..."
"Go away. Go away."
The Kobold brought his stick down on her outstretched arms. It was a small stick, the Kobold was a small animal, but the pain and hatred behind the blow broke Iser's hands. Pain shot through her as the delicate bones snapped, thus closing the healing abilities away from the human woman. Iser rose back onto her feet clutching her broken limbs to her breast. The other animals closed in on her with assorted weapons. Iser turned from the group and fled from her grove.
The pain in her hands kept her awake as she stumbled through the woods. This time, however, she did not run at all. The small voice came back to her. "Come to me dear, I will heal your wounds and love you." Iser walked, ignoring the buzzing in her head. She walked mostly north. Her feet were cold. She walked on frost covered ground. Her fingers and toes grew white and numb. She continued to walk. No thoughts -- just emptiness...
...The Knights tried to warm the body in the bed, but nothing seemed to help. Some Knights wept as they watched the body die. At one point the body roe to its knees. A faint crackled voice whispered "I never forgot you --never...Go away..." It then winced and fell back flat with both hands broken.
A healer came to clean and bind the wounds. A Mage came to try magic. Shumard called to the Realms for help. Different people and creatures arrived, each telling the Knights of KORT something different, each with a theory, but none with anything to help the sister in the body on the bed.
Shumard knew -- all of Camelot knew --Iser would be dead before the next day dawned...
...Iser felt the pain grow. It began in her belly, and erupted through her chest. She began to cough blood. She looked as a wild woman would. She had not eaten. Hunger was just a word that happened to something else. Iser's small frame hardly held the tattered dress in place. Her feet were badly swollen and blackened. Dried rivulets of blood traced lacy patterns on her arms and legs as it danced from one hurt to another. The broken hands dangled at her side. The lovely white hair was tangled with brambles and leaves, creating a cloud of nature around her head.
The healer walked for days, remembering little. Even the evil voice stopped calling to her. She found herself searching for Goddess places. Each time she came upon one, she experienced a small sense of joy. Each time she was bitterly disappointed to find the places barren. She continued on.
Her journey brought her to the crest of a hill. The sun was beginning to set in the West. The colors, pink, salmon, violet and gold... and the brightness startled her. The beauty touched the coldness in her core, and her spirit began to soar. Iser rejoiced and made a prayer to each of the 4 directions, and then sat to give thanks. Not too far to the East, she saw the sea. The sky had turned cobalt there, and the fragrance made its way to her...
...The Knights of the Round Table watched in dispair as the body in the bed began to wrinkle. Nothing moved. At one point, someone exclaimed and pointed. The body's face began to smile softly, and the pain went away. The room was filled with the smell of the ocean...
...The following day, Iser found her way to the sea. The sound of the waves rolling into the shore found its way into Iser's mind. The healer shed her tattered clothing and began to walk to the water's edge. She never felt the cold or the pull as the tide drew her out into its greater embrace...
"Mother, I have never forgotten you or deceived you or your creatures. I have gone as your instrument where I was needed. Now I need you -- take me home."
Iser closed her eyes as she washed out to sea...and finally Iser's spirit heard the voice of the Mother and rose from the floating body to join her...
peace...
peace...
...the body in the bed sighed softly and finally began to slip into the mist...
Iser floated in the primordial fluid of life. She felt the Mother's arms embrace her in the darkness. For the first time, she felt herself let go. The burden and pain of living slipped off her shoulders like the tattered dress resting on the shoreline. She breathed deeply once...then again...feeling her body expand. She opened her eyes to see the edge of light begin to peek into her place of darkness. The light, although bright, was comforting. A voice spoke in her head...
"Welcome to my Realm, dear sister Iser. Come now and walk with me. There are many who wish to see you."
...Iser arose to find herself sitting on the edge of a soft bed. A sweet breeze blew and she noticed the clouds part to show azure blue. As she stood, the bed disappeared and her feet touched soft Spring grass. A small piece of sheeting wound itself across her body. Its touch, silken.
Iser began to walk, finding the grass stretch to a meadow. She watched as flower blossoms bent with the gentle wind. She continued to walk, smelling the smells, and listening to the sounds of birds. She knelt to touch the earth and to give thanks. The ground pulsed, sending tendrils of strength into her body.
A sparkle caught her eye. Instinctively reaching for it, her hand closed over a dark roundish, almost pear shaped black stone with a golden spark at its center. As she looked closely, she realized that the dark shape reminded her of a largely pregnant woman, seated with her legs crossed and her arms surrounding her belly. The belly was so black, that it almost appeared to be blue and green swirled. Iser loved it instantly, and clutched it to her heart. Whispering "thank you", she tore a part of her sheeted garment. From one long strip, she fashioned a braided cord. From the other, she created a pouch. Then, tucking the Mother stone into the bag, and securing it around her neck, she was ready to go on. The amulet rested above her heart, and Iser felt lightened.
The Mage walked though the meadow and soon became aware of a golden clad Knight walking toward her. Her heart skipped a beat when she realized that she beheld her long dead husband, Brandor deLellan. She ran to meet him, laughter escaping her lips. Brandor embraced Iser, but pushed her gently away from him. He removed his helm, his blue eyes haunted and sad.
"Iser, what are you doing here?" He began in a soft voice. "It isn't your time, and I had not expected to see you until...well...never mind." He faltered, and then continued with pain and love in his words."...and don't you have friends, loved ones...and a loved one who care for and need you?" Iser began to speak, but he silenced her. "No, Iser, you dropped the 'deLellan' from your name. It was right that you should do this. I am long dead, and awaiting my turn on the wheel, but you ought to be a living breathing woman with children to love and raise." Iser looked at her flat belly, touching it with her hand, tears forming in her eyes. Brandor touched her cheek with a gentle hand. "Iser, love, one does not need to bear a child to raise and love one. Your gift of life to each child you deliver -- each child you kiss and caress -- is your welcome to Motherhood. Go now, and find your Goddess' gifts and return to the living where you belong." He then kissed her weeping face and faded into the mist...
...Iser touched the amulet at her neck, and feeling comforted, continued on her walk.
She walked and found that she was no longer walking in a meadow. The area had become wooded and soon she came upon a stream. The burbling sounds were the first to greet her, and she stepped gently to the water's edge. The Healer gathered the hem of her sheeted skirts and stepped into the cold water. Instead of being chilled to her core, she found the sensation invigorating. Iser waded to the center of the running water and peered into the small pool. She saw small fish darting in and out of the sunlight. Iser was delighted. She decided to walk in the stream for a while as it made its trip back to the ocean. She splashed as she went along, humming to herself.
Soon, she noticed that the stream was widening. Iser stepped onto the shore and basked in the bright warm sunshine. She dozed, and when she awoke, she became aware that there were two dark figures at the stream's edge. The afternoon was far advanced, and the figures stood in the shadow of the trees that overhung the bank.. Iser could only tell that one was a tall man and the other was a small woman. The two were kneeling at the water's edge. The man held a mithril chalice in his hands, and was offering a sip to the female. Iser stood and hailed the couple. Both stood and turned. Iser could not see their faces, but was stunned with the thought that these were her parents. And suddenly, she felt the overwhelming urge to run away. She turned to flee, when the man bade her to wait.
"So, Isserlie, child, you have come. Do not run. We mean you no harm. The harm we did will last for all eternity but was never intended to harm you." Iser turned and began to approach. Her Mother spoke, her voice rich and resonant. "Stay child. Come no closer to us. We have been granted a brief moment to see you, but we do not wish for you to see us. We are not proud of what we have become, but it was inevitable that it should happen thus. Sit, and we will tell you of your coming into the world."
Iser sat and listened to the tales of hatred and destruction that her parents had wrought upon eachother, and upon the villages that depended upon their Lord and Lady. Iser listened far into the night, tears dried up, her face ashen with grief. During the telling, Iser found herself hating first one parent, and then the other for the things they told her. She found herself hating the person of Iser. How could she exist, knowing that she had such terrible evil within her. She looked into herself, and dreamed.
At some point, Iser fell asleep. Her Mother, and then her Father emerged from the shadows and gazed at their sleeping child. Each knelt and kissed her. Time had carved lines into their faces. When they turned to leave, they whispered a prayer, and thanked the Goddess for giving them a brief halt in their eternity of battle to see the woman who was the only product of their union. As they faded, they began their swirl of battle...to be forever locked.
Iser slept, and dreamed sweet dreams. When she opened her eyes, it was morning, and she felt refreshed. During the night, she saw her parents for what they were. She forgave herself, and understood that her parents could never be what she wanted them to be. She also understood that for there to be 'good' there also needed to be 'evil'.
Iser sat in the morning sunlight and found that her parents had left their chalice for her. The stunning mithril cup was short, but beautifully carved. On one side was a scene of chaos, the other a scene of serene order. The Healer walked to the stream's edge, and drank deeply. She then stood and continued on her journey, knowing more about herself and who she was.
...The Healer walked to the stream's edge, and drank deeply. She then stood and continued on her journey, knowing more about herself and who she was.
Iser turned her footsteps east towards the dawn and some mountains that she could see in the distance. Silhouetted against the blue sky, they looked purple and inviting. The wooded path followed the stream for a while, and Iser walked, smelling the flowers, and touching the green leaves on the trees. The butterflies darted on wind currents and little birds sang in the distance. Slowly the mountains came closer.
Then before she was really aware of it, Iser found herself walking up hill. The air was crisper and just slightly cooler, but still comfortable on her bare skin. Soon, she was climbing over rocks moving higher and higher. A small brook burbled by and Iser chose to sit and take her rest. She drank of the clear water from her chalice, and ate some plump berries that she'd gathered before she left the wooded area. She spent the day in the sun, dreaming and thinking about the gifts that she'd received so far.
The night passed quietly, and softly.
In the morning, Iser woke and gathered her belongings and continued her journey. A small part of her was mildly irritated that the Goddess had not spoken with her since she first awoke in this land beyond life.
She continued to walk, relishing in the abundant life all around her. As she turned a bend in the path, she saw a young woman sitting on a large stone. The Woman raised her hand, waving a greeting. "Hail Iser," she shouted. Iser approached the woman with a vague memory pricking her mind. She knew this woman from somewhere. Iser greeted the young woman with a hug and a kiss to each cheek, and sat down to share her berries. "Ah, Iser, ye never change, do ye. Sharing yer last wi' a stranger?" The strange green clad woman gently refused the proffered fruit. "D'ye remember me, Iser?" she began. Iser shook her head slowly, knowing that she ought to remember this woman. "Well," she continued, smiling at the Healers confusion. "Several years ago ye might remember ye came upon the remnants of a battle in a forest. It was a small but vicious battle, between the forces of (oh what's 'is name) Tyr, and those of hmmm...let's say... a less benevolent God. All were dead but me, and I was, alas, nae one of yer goodie warriors." Iser began to remember...the last time she'd seen this woman, there was a blossom of red upon her chest, and her blood was mixing with the soil. The woman continued. "Well, Iser, I could see that ye were saddened to tha core and achin' inside fer the good forces, but when ye'd checked everyone else, ye came to me. Ye cradled me head in yer arms and eased the pain in me chest. I was less than polite te ye, and spit venom at ye. Ye just sat there wi' kindness in yer eyes and sang to me. Ye said that yer healin' skills couldnae heal me, but that ye could help me ta die wi'out pain and wi'out fear. Then, Iser..." the woman, taking Iser's hands into hers. "Yer eyes changed, and I could see me God in them. Ye said that death was just that end to a turn on tha wheel, and ye kissed me. I died wi' yer kindness in me heart."
Iser's eyes began to mist. "I had no idea," she faltered. "I just believe that all living creatures should meet their death with ease."
The woman smiled brilliantly. "I have a gift for ye, me dear Iser. I ken that I willnae be needin' it in me next turn." She then withdrew a silver dagger from its sheath at her side, and handed it to Iser. It was a simple dagger, with long lines moving from the hilt through the blade, to the tip. Iser took it and inserted it into a pocket that she suddenly found in her sheeting.
The woman suddenly looked up and acknowledged some unheard summons. She then kissed Iser, and faded into the mountain air. Iser sat for a long while, thinking about the woman, and about the dagger. When the evening approached, Iser dedicated the dagger to the Goddess and then began her trek off of the mountain. Serene thoughts comforted her mind, as she headed South.
... When the evening approached, Iser dedicated the dagger to the Goddess and then began her trek off of the mountain. Serene thoughts comforted her mind, as she headed South.
Iser spent the night on the side of the mountain. Her dreams were filled with masses of swirling color. From the center of this chaos, she could almost see the form of a small child. At first Iser thought that it was herself as a little girl, but it was not. The child was unknown. Iser watched as the child held her hands out in supplication, and then disappeared.
Iser awoke feeling refreshed, but mildly disturbed. These were the first dreams that she'd had since she came here to the land beyond the living. It was too much like being alive. And Iser knew that she certainly was not alive anymore.
The Healer continued to walk in a southerly direction. The mountains began to recede and the air became much warmer. The lush grassy ground began to give way to sand. Iser watched as a desert blossomed in front of her. Small scaly creatures scurried in front of her as she walked. There were tiny purple and yellow flowers perched brightly on thick green stubby plants. The day warmed more and Iser continued to walk in wonder.
She spied a large rock in the distance and turned her steps towards it. The large gray mass was even larger than she had first imagined, and as she inspected it, she noticed that it was really a large group of smaller stones that came together in a mound. The sand was hot, and so Iser decided to climb the rocks to the top and look into the distance from there. When she reached the top she was startled by a rattle and a loud hiss. She looked down and was stunned to see a small snake poised to strike at her. Iser backed off quickly, giving in to her old living fear of snakes. When she had moved out of range both she and the snake settled down. Iser took a moment to look at this curious animal. It was small, and colored as a rainbow. The snake slithered toward her, and she tried to back up, only to find that she had cornered herself against a wall. She looked back at the reptile and began to tremble a little bit. The snake began to hiss, but Iser thought that it sounded a little bit more like a laugh.
"So, Lady Iser, you have not shed your mortal fears, even here in this land of after death." It slid closer. "Come touch me," it hissed. "You know that you are dead. How could I hurt you... Come now Iser, are you dead, or not...can you overcome your dread of me and brave what is to come?"
Iser's eyes began to tear. She knew that she was not living as she knew it, but this place felt too real for her to be truly dead. The snake reared and began to sway slightly, pulling Iser's eyes to stare into it's own. Iser trembled. But for an inatant she had a flash in her mind of that frightened child in the pain of her dreams. Iser took a step. She reached her hand toward the snake. She fought not to close her eyes. She took another step, and knelt down. At the last moment as she felt the snake move to strike at her, she closed her eyes...closing her hand over a softly grey wooden stick.
The Mage opened her eyes and beheld a shimmering green and blue form. It had no real shape, but Iser could tell that it was the form of a woman.
"Come with me now Iser, and tell me what you have learned." Iser stood, and reached for the Lady's hand. In an instant they were walking through a crowed market place. The air was festive but ordered. Iser walked beside the Woman, the wand cradled in the crook of her arm.
She sighed.
What had she learned?
The Two spoke as they walked, and Iser began to feel human again. As they walked, Iser began to notice that there were lines of creatures, all moving slowly toward an object in the distance. She passed the green warrior whom she had helped to die, and the woman waved to her with a smile. There were hundreds..no thousands of people here...all moving...
The lady took Iser past them all. She smiled. The feeling of excitement grew as they neared the center. All of a sudden, Iser realized that she was looking at a great Wheel. Lines converged here, and creatures were climbing onto it. "This is the Wheel of Life, Iser," the Lady began. "My wheel." Iser stared, stunned. The Lady drew Iser away from it, and Iser's heart sank. She was not going to be given the chance for rebirth. The sadness was overwhelming.
"So, you think you want to live again, Lady Iser? Well, your jobs for me were not completed when you had your lapse in faith. It's your choice...to return to the land of the living to finish what you need to do, or reside here in my land 'in between' for the rest of eternity."
Iser had barely thought the thought when she suddenly she found herself in a whirl of color and pain. In the mist she could see the child again. The child screamed silently, desperately, and Iser, without thinking held out her hand to help.
In that place, in-between, the mosaic of color and sensation abound.
The wheel of life that passes souls onto new lives, or in this case, passes the soul back into a body that it was never meant to leave, sometimes draws other souls farther into the Abyss. Such was the case as Iser stretched her hand to the pleading child, Jouvence. Iser found herself pushed in one direction, while Jouvence was sucked away. Iser knew, on some level, that this child was connected to her, and that it was very very wrong for her to be alone in a place like this.
...In the halls of Camelot, life resumed its previous existence. Knights, Ladies, Squires, and Pages went about their duties. Most continued their journeys in life, and love, and the battles between good and evil. Some came and some left. Some were deeply touched by the loss in their hearts of their friends and loved ones, Iser, Jouvence, and Sir Dagron. There were a few, whose lives would never be the same. So, it was no wonder that from time to time, a knight or a curious squire would walk into Jouvence's room and stare at the black dust scattered on the floor, where Jouvence and the Grand Knight Dagron disappeared from this plane. Or perhaps, sit beside Iser's empty bed, wondering at the strange manner of her death.
Shumard recovered, and much to his Lady's distress, much too slowly. His thoughts were wracked with pain and worry. The Lady Nalika sat beside him and nursed him back to health. She also did an unusual thing. She ordered that both Jouvence and Iser's rooms remain undisturbed. None dared to question her and so the rooms were untouched and barren.
The Arch Mage, Tuvor walked slowly down the corridor that passed Iser's chambers. The sound of his feet echoed loudly. His heart ached, for he'd shared far too many adventures with Iser. He also suffered from an emptiness in his soul that would not heal. He and the Healer were bonded much as Iser was with Dagron. When a healer heals the body and soul, a small part of each lives within the other for evermore. Iser had healed Tuvor's body and mind when he was rescued from the Zentharim Fortress, so very long ago. Thus it was, that he felt he loss so very keenly.
Tuvor entered Iser's chambers and saw the seated form of BlackCoral. Her back was towards him, and he could tell that she had been crying. He reached his hand and placed it on her shoulder, squeezing gently. Coral smiled, and both sat for a long moment in silence.
Slowly, they noticed that the air above the bed began to whirl softly. The Knights could see vague outlines of color and shape. Both watched, entranced, as the air became more turbulent. Pain reached out of the abyss, and entwined in their heads. Coral turned away, clutching at her head, her eyes closed tightly. Tuvor reached down for her, trying to hold his own head, and shield them both. They needed to scream, but could not.
Suddenly, the air lightened, and began to smell freshened. The pain was gone -- almost as if it had never been. The horrid sounds stopped, and both turned when they heard a soft sigh. When Tuvor looked up, he gasped. The Lady Iser was lying in her bed, serene and asleep. Her silver hair was fluffy around her thin face. She wore a sheet around her body and a pouch around her neck. In one hand, she held a dagger, and in the other, she held a chalice. Resting in the curve of her arm was a staff.
Tuvor and BlackCoral stared, spellbound. The Healer sighed again and opened her eyes, bathing her friends in the radiance of her smile.
The Lady BlackCoral wept openly as she hugged Iser fiercely. The one or two times that she tried to speak, she found that the words got caught in her throat. Coral smoothed Iser's hair and kissed her cheek, and was content with hugs and loving thoughts.
The Lady Iser was terribly confused. The last thoughts that she had were of the Mother giving her a choice, that was no choice; followed by noise, color, and pain. There was also a child
A CHILD
Iser sat up in her bed. She looked around and saw her room for the first time with new eyes. She saw Lady Coral, bathed in color, tendrils of emotion extending outward. Iser grabbed Coral by the arms, looking into her eyes. Her manner was so intense that Coral was stunned.
"Coral, you must tell me. Is there a child here...a strange or ill child...tell me, I must know." Iser was almost frantic.
Coral was shaken. How could Iser know. She responded tentatively. "There was a child, Iser, Caladan's daughter, Jouvence. She is...she is..." Coral did not know how to continue. She took a deep breath. "Iser, she is gone...she took Shumard's black dust after you ummm...died, and now her living body lies in Caladan's chambers. She breathes, her heart beats, but that is all." The words tumbled out in a rush.
Iser sat straight up on the edge of her bed and took her friend gently by the shoulders. "Coral," she began softly. "Coral, I need the child's body and Shumard's too, if he took the dust. I can get them back for us, but I need them here with me, and I need them now. I can bring them home."
"Iser, Shu survived, and I'll tell him that you are back. I will also have them bring Jouvence here...but, Iser, its Dagron too." She stopped suddenly as Iser took in a sudden breath.
"Dag is there too? I didn't feel him," the healer sighed. "I didn't feel him at all, I only felt the child...Oh, Coral," Iser cried. "I only felt the child in the abyss. I never knew that Dagron was there. Oh Milord, where can you be."
Coral hurried out of the room, and Iser got up to get dressed. She placed the four items in the middle of the floor, and found several candles. She then dressed herself in a dove gray dress, and brushed her hair. She used a satin ribbon when she pulled it back into a somewhat neat mass at the nape of her neck. She found that she had enough time to take a few sips of diluted honey mead before Caladan came into her room, carrying his tiny daughter. He said nothing, but his eyes pleaded with the healer.
Iser then drew an invisible circle on the floor with her wand. She sat down in the middle of it. Cal placed his child on the ground, next to Iser, with her head in the Mage's lap. Iser caressed the child's face and ran her fingers through her fine hair. Yes, this was the child in the abyss. Iser, then placed her hand above the child's heart. "I'm coming," she whispered.
Boshiro and Auggie came into the room, carrying the body of Sir Dagron. They were followed by several others of the KORT family. Iser noticed, Allsie, Ldy Nalika, and a somewhat weary looking Shumard. All were stunned into silence at seeing Iser alive and in the flesh once again. Bo carried Dag to Iser's side and placed his head in her lap. Iser fought tears back, knowing that she had to be strong this one last time. (Little did she know that this was only the beginning .)
Iser lit the candles, the flames surrounded the three, and incense filled the room. She then placed one of her hands over Dagron's heart, and the other over Jouvence's heart. She closed her eyes and began to chant very softly. The words were unknown to the knights present there, but the melody was musical and soothing to hear. Iser was centering herself, and offering honor to the Goddess. In her mind she stood and faced each direction and offered praise.
The healer then closed off the outside sound and entered the bodies of the people beside her...
...The abyss was cold, very cold. The colors swirled wildly, like bubbles racing in their wild dance to surface of water. Iser felt 2 slow and steady heart beats within her. She concentrated on their rhythm, and sank deeper
Wraiths flitted by, frightened and alone. Iser began her search. She looked carefully at each shadow -- hoping -- reaching out to touch. None answered her call. Iser went deeper, to a place filled with monsters...to that place where children's nightmares have their birth. Jouvence had been here. Iser was becoming afraid...
...The KORT family watched the three within the circle. The candles shed soft light and fragrance. Nothing moved...
...Iser began to follow the feeling of the child; that scent that she knew was hers. Sometimes, she thought that she could feel Dagron too.
Iser descended through the screams of pain. Colors intruded into her eyes; pain and sound, grabbing for her core. Still, Jouvence was not here...The healer went deeper, her fear increasing. A voice gentled into her mind. "You've been her before. Be my instrument again."
The descent felt slippery. Iser felt herself losing control as she fell down...Down...DOWN. A maw loomed below -- a great snake mouth. Iser fell faster, her heart pounding in her ears, the two other hearts, beating slowly and steadily. The healer reached out her hand, and steadied herself. She concentrated on the slow beats, and she began to sing again.
Slowly, the falling stopped, and Iser found herself in nothingness. The healer continued to sing in the rhythm of Jouvence and Dagron's hearts. Suddenly, she became aware of two shadows moving toward her. They reached their hands out, and Iser grasped them. It felt right. She had them. It was now time to go home...
...The KORT healer and Mage opened her eyes. She looked at the heads in her lap. Jouvence opened her eyes and smiled. Dagron opened his eyes, and focused on Iser. The Lady first kissed one, and then kissed the other. Everyone was finally home again.
Iser
Mage, Healer,
...and Shaman
and so it continures...