In the place where few men would name, even if they posessed that Dark Knowledge, he recoiled. His touch upon the woman had been light, but sophisticated and dexterous like a skilled chirurgion.


This man could never oppose his will, but it was no man he faced. The Legions of the Shining Host, the Angels and the Almighty creator poured out their myriad powers upon this beloved child, and his grasp on he soul was broken.


The Faith of this man must be mighty indeed to allow him to channel the Will of God like that.


Azaeli was free of his corrupting touch, left only to her natural guilt, and his whispering urges fled before the touch of the Divine.


He was content to retreat, for he knew he was not in a position from which to challenge Heaven again... not yet, anyway.

Unlike those powerful demons many fools turned to, he was not blasted and scorched by the faith in God, he was not of the infernal hordes, though his name was now associated with them. The priests called him a Fallen Angel, though he knew he was really an Elevated Man, one who had reached high enough to face the Lord Creator and his wrath, and who had eventually been exiled from his home realm by the Powers that be.


He had been repelled through the faith of Tobyas, and would have to ensure that did not happen again. Azaeli now lived, because she was yet loved, instead of being damned. Tobyas must be removed, but for now he was willing to let them live.


Even the Nailed God would not stop his Rebirth...

Emlae walked over to her farmlands, and with a tear turned away. 'No... I can't go back to what I used to be.' she said to herself, and turned away. Gathering her armor she realized the one thing she must do. Coating her armor black she placed her helm over head, swearing to never lift the helm again. 'This is my pennance. Not being able to talk is a problem, but because of my failure Lady Hammerfel will never talk again either.' The voices around her softened as the helm blotted them out. 'I am a darkened warrior, fallen from the light of camelot. My armor shows my dishonor for all to see.' and headed out to do battle, and to atone for the crime she committed. 'If I was not there, Lady Hammerfel would be alive. She told me to leave, pleaded with me, I didn't listen... I didn't listen...'

Crispian went over the scrolls once again, trying to make sure all would be in Order for Sunday's festivities. He worried about Azi, and now Emlae had run off. He had to remind himself that Azi had wanted to be alone, and that Emlae was a young girl, and sometimes they run away. He sighed and went back to the records.

 

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“Azi?” Tobyas knelt before her, laying in the grass, and wiped his brow. Her head rolled to face him and she winced as she sat up, blinking.


“Tobyas.."


“You live at least," he smiled weakly as he helped her to sit up. Azi was at a loss for words, what he had done had been so powerful, so beautiful and terrifying all at once. She nodded to him as she pulled her helm free and felt fresh tears welling.


“How do you feel?" He asked gently, resting a hand on her shoulder.


"Weak. Drained.." She took a shuddering breath and wiped her eyes.


"I would expect that." He gave her a slight smile, looking beaten and exhausted himself.


"What..” Azaeli shook her head in confusion, still unable to find the words. What.."


"ou were touched by something...demonic," he answered solemnly, gesturing a blessing between them almost reflexively. Azi swallowed hard, staring at the glint of chainmail at his arm, and shook her head. "es, and it was very strong." Azaeli took this in, trying to go over the events of the past days in her mind.


"For how long?" she asked hoarsely, bringing her knees to her chest and clutching her aching head.


"That is hard to tell, but you were still in command of your senses." They sat for a moment in silence while Azi contemplated this.


"Still there is no excuse... I killed Hecathia.. and.. Lexi.. Lexi is burning beside her.." With this she broke down completely, leaning against Tobyas and sobbing.


"What?"


"She's gone.. my sister.. I may as well have slain her with my own hands!" She buried her face in her hands, the grief too much to bear.


"Lexi?” He questioned, “I must have stunned you harder than I thought." He took her hands away and looked into her eyes with a calm sincerity. "Azi, Lexi is alive." Azi looked away to the shoreline, unable to believe him. She had been grieving her sister for days, if it was true.. if she was alive..


"Tobyas, don't you try to comfort me with untruths.." She tested. Tobyas shifted beside her and nodded with a meek smile.


"On my honor, my faith, and my love, tis true Azi!" Her heart soared. Tobyas would never lie, and especially not with an oath like that.


"Tobyas..how? How can that be? I killed Hecathia.." Her voice trailed off as she pictured that woman’s body seeping its blood across the League’s floors.


"Some scouts found her, and overwhelmed the greeks." He smiled at her as she wiped her eyes. “Let your heart rest easy." Azaeli smiled, then frowned. Her penance, her solitude, everything was for naught.. Lexi was alive..


"Why has no one come to tell me this? I sent word to Crispian.. I've been grieving her," she drew in a deep breath, "wallowing in misery thinking she was gone...thinking so many horrible things.."


"Cris has been tied up in Camelot for a few days.” He looked distant for a moment, but turned to smile at her.


"Of course.. that was rather selfish of me.." She knew Crispian was a busy man, though often she felt left behind as he tended business, and now in her time of great need he had not been there. But she had asked him for solitude in her letter, hadn’t she?


"No, I am sure he would have come," Tobyas said softly.


“I think Tashtego came.” She changed the subject quickly, sifting through the blur of memories of the past days. “And Emlae! What of Emlae?"


"What of her? I've been hunting for near a week," he motioned to his soiled armor and shifted uncomfortably.


"She came and I tried to send her away. She stopped me from.. she halted my own blade.." She swallowed, unable to face the pain of that moment when she’d come so close to ending her life.


"And? Tell me," Tobyas prodded.


"If she hadn't arrived at that precise moment.. I would be lying here dead by my own hand.." She choked out the last word and looked away in shame. Tobyas sighed.


“Even that act would not have been your own." Azaeli remained silent, considering that as she played with her boot top.


“I'm so confused.. I feel so ignorant.."


"Why? Because you do not know about poesssions?"


"I don't know.. I cannot even think of the events as they've played out these past few days.."


“Azi, that's because some one else was in your mind, and warring for your soul,” He gazed intently at her, staring into her eyes. “Some dark force, not the Fallen One, wanted you." Azaeli shivered, not wanting to remember. She shook her head, tearing her eyes from his gaze.


“Solitude was the worst place for me..”


"Isolation is usually something they want...like when D'Vena was locked up," he shook his head as they both remembered that ordeal. “Because of her, I have started to study this." Azi nodded, staring out in a daze as they sat in the silence that Azaeli eventually broke.


“I must go to my sister, and also find out what happened to Emlae." She resolved. More than anything, she desperately wished for a return to a carefree life.


“If you are ready,” Tobyas offered his arm, “I would escort you home." He helped her to her shakey feet as she slipped her hand onto his arm, and together they walked along the shore toward Cornwall. As they made their way, she felt strangely better. The grief had lifted from her heart, knowing her sister was safe and alive, and now she would go home to the League. But would they welcome her? Had Crispian truly been so busy that he could not visit? Or was he angry with her for soiling the League’s reputation and spilling blood in its Halls? Her nervousness grew as they arrived at the Yarleys and purchased their fare.

Emlae stood in the caverns of Keltoi, fighting off the druidish prescence there. She had given up her Scimitar to another of her companions, using her archmace to fight.


<whish clump thud clang whish>


Her mace flew in the air, her armor giving her the protection she needed. The others looked at her, but she said nothing. She felt the rage pent up in her, and she took out her rage on these druids. Meurg stood in the hallway, and his skull splattering over the halls under her mace.


She looked at the disfigured body, no tears came to her eyes. Usually she hated to kill others, even those misguided like this, but she felt she had no tears to give. Her face if could be seen under the helm, was as dark and cold as her armor. The infiltrator looked to her curiously, then turning back to fight beckoning her forward. Yes, always the fight...


<swish thud clang swish swish>

Tashtego had gotten word that Lady Emlae had been seen in Ketoi Fogou by one o his many friends, dropped what he was doin, which was killin Telamons with others, and headed straight fer the place as quick as he could. On his way there, he could not think o what he would say ta her, only tha he had ta try. His fair Lady Azaeli had come home, tho she was not out o the woods it seemed, and Lady Emlae had the patience and perseverance ta help watch her an keep her safe from harm. He had ta try, even tho he knew their relationship was not the greatest it could have been because o his quick temper one eve, he had to try.

Finally comin ta the ol ruins, Tashtego entered inta the pit and began his search for Lady Emlae. Down one hall after the next not findin her, he almost stumbled upon her as he rounded a corner. Her archmace was in her hand, bein used against a Keltoi Visionary with grace and a deadly beauty. She saw him out o the corner o her eye, and took a heavy hit ta her side fer not payin attention ta the battle. Then she resumed her concentration and proceeded ta fell this heathen. He patiently waited there for her ta finish off her prey as he knew she would, but then a gremlin appeared from aroun the corner, spied her, and charged.

Tashtego's own asterite war mace came out in the blink o an eye before the thin could get a swipe at her. She could handle one at a time he knew, but two was another story. Watchin her fend off two creatures and then dyin was not his reason fer comin here. The gremlin bein much smaller than he, it was put out o its misery post haste, its blood sprayin the walls o the Hall. Emlae took her last swing at the Visionary and it crumpled ta the groun.

Grabbin her by the arm and pullin her towards a safe area, bein careful not ta let anythin lock its eyes on her, he finally got her to a corner where he could talk ta her.

"What are ye doin here Emlae? Fair Lady Azaeli is back among us, and we need, she needs your assistance. Now is not the time ta break ranks and run, for there are too many enemies about ta have our numbers diminish."

Emlae gave Tashtego a cold, distant stare as if she wanted nothin to do with any o it anymore. "Leave me be!", was all she could say. She stood there it seemed not wantin ta listen, but also wantin ta know any news o her Lady Hammerfel.

"I will not!" Tashtego blurted out. "Don think ye are the only one who has suffered here Emlae. From what I unnerstan, an from what I know personally, Lady Azaeli was unner grave peril from somethin unseen while she was away. Her thoughts and actions were not her own. And you, you saved her from herself!" Tashtego told her.

Continuing his plea fer her ta come with him, back ta the Guild Hall, he kept on. "It was you Emlae who took the blade from her when she was ready ta use it against herself, I know, she tol me. How is that failure? If ye would nae have been there, she would have taken her own life with her own blade right then and there. No matter what happened after, it is not you to blame for it. Ye did what any one o us would have done fer her. I myself would gladly have given up my life fer right then and there if she asked me o it. The actions she took are not your fault Lady Emlae. Do not make the mistake o thinkin that it is. She is home and she is safe, and she needs yer help fair Lady Emlae. Please, come with me...come back home where ye belong."

Hopin beyond hope that any o this had gotten through to her ta come home, he offered his hand ta her in a gesture of friendship, kindness, and a pleadin desperation for her ta come home with him. "Please Lady Emlae."

'Leave me be!' was the look she gave Tashtego, turning away from him. She wanted to so badly tell him everything, but she had said she would not speak again, she was not worthy to tell him. She could see Tash trying to say something, but the full helm blocked all that he said. She then readied her mace, attacking another of the druidish cult. Her mace arched high, though the druid was dead before her blow would connect, Tash's own mace bashing in its head. Emlae turned around, she could tell Tash was pleading with her. 'ou are not responsible for her death! You tried to do all you could! You are a worthy squire and you will be a knight!' she could almost picture him saying all that, trying to build up her confidence. She tightened her full helm, then shook her head to Tashtego. Her dark black that she now adorn made her look like a shadow in the halls of Keltoi. How Tash had known where she was, what she even looked like with this new plate was a mystery to her, but she didn't care... walking away from Tash, readying her archmace if he chose to stop her...

Not wantin ta walk up behind her, Tashtego made a bead roun her so tha she would walk up to him. He stood ready if she decided to take her anger out on him fer not givin up, tho he knew he could not swing his mace at her if she swung at him. That was not within him ta do. She could damage his plate mostly, and maybe give him some minor wounds, but losin plate and gainin a few bruises was nothin compared ta losin Emlae. He did have his shield tho.

"Emlae, I am not goin ta pretend I know whats goin through yer mind right now, but ye must listen ta me. You are NOT responsible fer what happened out there in Lyonesse. You did everythin ye could do for her out there, I know you, your dedication ta her was unwavering. Don throw that dedication away now, because it is needed once again. She needs you, Lady Hammerfel needs you. I need you. We all need you."

Tashtego could see he had affected, maybe jes a lil, but it was a glimmer o hope at least. Before she could turn aroun again on him, Tashtego told her, "She is speakin again. As you should ta me...tell me somethin Emlae. Talk to me. No matter what it be, it can be worked out, jes as Lady Azaeli worked out much o her problems with Tobyas. Ye have been a most excellent Squire ta her, do not let yer service ta her, ta our Guild, to YERSELF end this way. Ye can go far within our ranks, fer ye have dedication in ye, a dedication ta others."

"I'm beggin ye, please, for your Ladies sake, and fer our sake, lend her your noble dedication and friendship once more. She needs you."

Offerin his hand o friendship once more, and a way back home ta where she belongs, he pleadingly yet patiently waits for her answer.

Tash's pleads sounded like the chirping of birds in the morn... beautiful but distant. She could see the warmth in his face, but the noise of his voice was muffed by her helm, she couldn't make out barely anything he said, though she did not want to hear it. She shook her head sideways, then once again headed out to the entrance.

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