The Fortress of Fear

[Morgana LeFay (PoV)]

I opened a gate and went through it, and then the rest of the guild stepped through. Immediately, I could see their shock as they realized where we were.

"Why are we here?" John Henry asked.

"Because we really don't have anywhere else to turn" I said.

I approached the gate. At first, the Royal Guards did not seem to recognize me, then suddenly I heard someone yell out "It's 'er!! That LeFay woman!!"

"Wait!!" I screamed out. "I want to turn myself in!"

The gate to Lord Blackthorn's Castle opened and four guards came rushing out and surrounded me.

"I will only surrender to Lord Casca himself!" I said.

"No deals! Just put your hands in the air, and slowly march forward!" one of the guards said.

"I will not move one step!!" I said. "And if you kill me, I will become a ghost, and you will not find me!"

That seemed to give them pause...then one of them asked "What about them then?" motioning towards the guild.

"They wish to surrender as well" I said.

The apparent leader of the group of four stood silent for a moment or so..then said "All right! I will take you all to Lord Casca, that is where you would end up anyway! Now everyone, hands up!!"

With that, the guards began removing our weapons and equipment.

"What's wrong with this one?" one of the guards asked Bill, who was carrying Clean.

"He ate some bad meat" Bill said.

I could barely prevent myself from laughing, and I swear I heard a stifled giggle or two from the rest of the guild.

They marched us into the courtyard, and then ordered us to halt.

"Wait right here!" the lead guard instructed the other three.

A moment or so later, two Dark Elves emerged with several more guards.

I heard Jade whisper to Sheol "I sure hope she knows what she is doing."

And with that, the guards surrounded us.

One of the Dark Elves walked up to me...regarded me for a moment...and then backhanded me across the face with a plate gauntlet. I nearly blacked out, but I managed to steady myself, and I stood back upright. I could feel the blood running from my nose and down my face.

"You insolent human wench! That is for my brother!" he said curtly.

"Sorry, but I do not know your brother..." I said, tasting the warm salty blood in my mouth.

This time he grabbed me by the back of the hair and said "You killed him! And if I did not have orders from Lord Casca, I would do the same to you right now."

I thought it best to not say anything.

"Lord Casca wants to see you, and after that, perhaps he will allow me the pleasure of slaying you slowly" he said.

I thought it best to say something...

"Was your brother the stupid one that walked into the room without looking, or the pervert that stole my underwear?" I said.

Of course, this earned me another smack across the face...but it was worth it.

 

[Morgana LeFay (PoV)]

We were escorted into the dungeon, where I had apparently killed the brother of one of the dark elves.

What is the big deal? I thought. If I killed his brother, why didn't he just get resurrected?

We were locked into cells, separately. At least I am not naked this time I thought to myself.

Some time passed, and soon, I could hear the door of my cell being opened. The Drow that had smacked me, and two Royal Guards were at the door.

"It is time" the Drow said with a smile. "Lord Casca will see you now."

I was led up the stairs and through the halls until I reached the make-shift throne room that Casca had set up for himself. Across the room was the usurper himself. I was thrown to the floor by the guards...and the Drow said "Behold Lord Casca, the new King of Britannia!"

Lord Casca remained seated on his throne...and he spoke "Bring her before me!"

With that, the two guards grabbed me by the arms, and dragged me to the base of the throne, where they once again threw me down on the ground.

"The Dread Lady LeFay" Casca said grimly "and it would seem you have given yourself up willingly? This is most peculiar. Most peculiar indeed. Now, why would an outlaw, such as yourself, willingly surrender yourself?"

"I know of a plot to assassinate you" I said.

"As do I. You have made no secret of your plan to dispose of me, and to place your sister on the throne" he said, leaning back in his throne.

"It is not I that you have to fear" I said. "There are greater forces at work."

He smiled and then said "Really? And what makes you think that I would believe a cold blooded killer like you? Hmmm? Do you think I am not aware of your excursions in Felucca? Your killing sprees with that so-called Soulless monster? Do you think that I am not aware that you have discovered the secret of the Enlil'nishar?"

There it was again! What is an Enl'nishar? I thought.

"Well, answer me!" he said, growing visibly angry.

"You have no reason to trust my word. But it would serve you well to do so" I said. "There is a alliance being forged, between the Underworld and the Shadowlords. They seek to dispose you."

He sat for a moment, and then said "A lie. If there were any such plot afoot, I would be aware of it!"

"Really?" I asked. "Then how do you think I came to know the secret of the Enl'nishar? And more importantly, how do you think my sister, the true Queen, came to learn of it?"

He looked a little perplexed for a moment. Then he said "The secret of the Enlil'nishar is a closely guarded secret. There is no way that you could have learned of it from anyone other than..." and he stopped himself.

"No." he said. "A clever deception, but no. There is no alliance between the Shadowlords and the Abyss against me."

I could see that he was questioning his own statement.

"You know that the Shadowlords were seeking out Clean to kill the Lord of the Abyss. Of this I am certain. But did you know that the Lord of the Abyss has resurrected an old friend of my sister's, and lured her into the Abyss? Do you know what she is capable of, now that she knows the secret of the Enl'nishar?"

He shifted on his throne uncomfortably and said ... "Go on."

Got him! I thought.

"Clean, the Soulless monster as you called him, cannot be harmed by the Lord of the Abyss...as long as they are both in the Underworld. The Shadowlords knew this, so they seek to capture me to force Clean to do their bidding. But you knew that part." I said, wiping a bit of the dried blood from my mouth. "Might I trouble you for a cloth, and some water?" I asked.

"What? Uh..oh, yes. Guard! Bring forth a cloth, and some warm water!" he said.

"Thank you" I said.

"Please, continue" he said...looking rather uncomfortable.

"The Shadowlords recruited the necromancer Alhalzred, to capture me and my guild" I explained. "This did not work to his advantage. I slayed him, using an Enl'nishar."

This was a gamble on my part.

"And he ended up before the Lord of the Abyss and told him everything!" Casca said, standing up from his throne and running both of his hands through his thick black hair.

"Exactly" I said. "Now, the Lord of the Abyss wishes to see you dead, and burning at his feet."

This caused Casca to turn his back on me, and I approached him slowly...saying "Do you know what the Abyss is like? The smells, the screaming. Do you know the pains they will inflict upon you? I have been there. I have suffered these pains, these horrors."

Casca caught me approaching him out of the corner of his eye, and took a step away from me saying "This can't be!"

"I have come here to help you" I said.

"Why would you help me?" he said, looking very nervous.

"Because if there is one being in the universe that I hate more than you, my Lord...it is the Lord of the Abyss" I said, placing my hand on his shoulder.

He looked me directly in the eyes. I could see fear.

"What is it you wish me to do?" he asked.

 

[Morgana LeFay (PoV)]

Soon the guard returned with water, and a cloth. I cleaned myself up, as a plan was forged.

The door to the dungeon opened, and I yelled to the Protectors..."Ok PoV! Break time is over!!"

The guards unlocked their cells, and they stepped out.

"Morgana, what happened?" Anasazi asked.

"There is no time to explain right now, but I will" I said, as we all hurried up the stairs and back out into the courtyard.

Here, Lord Casca stood, along with the Drow that had hit me.

Casca said "I have returned your assets to you. And, I will do what you have asked."

"When this is done, it changes nothing between us" I said, looking him squarely in the eye.

"I would not expect it too. My Lady" he said to me, and he did something I did not expect. He kissed my hand.

I must admit, there was something about the look that he gave me, and something about his persona...I felt something deep inside, something...I had not felt in a great while...I was turned on.

As we left the castle gate, Jade hurried to my side and whispered "How was he?"

"Jade!!!" I said, almost stopping in my tracks, and blushing a little.

"Okay, don't tell me" she said, and walked ahead of me.

"Where are we going?" Sheol asked me.

"The first place we need to go is to the stables. I need to see Tiamat." I said.

 

[Morgana LeFay (PoV)]

Most of the guild went to their bank boxes, and I went to the stables. I spoke with the stable master, and all of my companions were there. I had the stable master bring forth Tiamat. She was well. We conversed for a time, and then I had the stable master return her to the stable. Next, I spoke with Pazuzu, and I had him stabled as well.

I made my way back to the bank, there I found the rest of the guild...

...in the custody of the Royal Guards.

"Morgana!! I thought you said Casca was going to help us!" Anasazi shouted to me.

I walked up to them and said "He is, my friends. He is going to keep you safe until I do what has to be done."

"Don't do this Morgana!!" Sheol shouted. "I know what you are doing!! You cannot do this!!"

"I have to Sheol. I have to" I said. And with that, I recalled to the Guild tower.

 

[Morgana LeFay (PoV)]

Once at the Guild tower, I pushed my way through the wreckage. Moon's army had done quite a number on the place, and Casca's guards had nearly finished the job. The tower was still standing, but it would need a great deal of work. I was relieved to see that they did not destroy the Unity Arch. The Unity Arch, for those that do not know, is an archway that leads into the small garden that lies before the doors to the Guild tower. This arch was built from the remains of the original PoV guild stone that was destroyed when the world was split by the gods. And growing on that arch, is a separate strand of ivy for each and every member of the PoV both past, and present...and recently, I had done something that I had never done before. I added a sprig of ivy for someone that had never been a member of the PoV...and it was still growing, as it is to this very day.

Upstairs, I dug through the broken trunks, and smashed crates until I found what I was looking for. Two summoning balls. Next, I moved downstairs to the forge room, where I found the last thing I was looking for...an indestructible valorite runic hammer.

I then set about my work.

 

[Morgana LeFay (PoV)]

After much preparation, I was ready. I pulled out the rune, and said the words "Kal Ort Por"...and I was back at the Fortress of Fear.

No one was around, so I crept up to the front gate. It was open, so I went inside. I could hear faint voices from inside. I made my way through the busted front doors, and into the main hall. The voices were growing louder. I proceeded up the stairs, and into the room that the voices were coming from...

...here I found Alhalzred, talking to Lord Casca.

"Ah! Morgana! My darling! Please, do come in and say hello to our friend, won't you?" Casca said to the amazement of Alhalzred.

"We have met, my Lord" I said, with a smile. I proceeded over to Casca, and draped myself on him, like a lady of the evening. He proceeded to put his muscular arm around me.

"You see necromancer? There is a new plan!" Casca said, and five of his Drow stepped out of the shadows.

"You are doublecrossin' da wrong man!" Alhalzred said.

"An Ex Por" I said...and Alhalzred was frozen.

Now, I cannot be sure if this was part of the deception or not, but suddenly, Casca dipped me, and gave me an extremely passionate kiss. I felt my knees go weak.

"You are not goin' ta git away wit' dis!" Alhalzred said.

"Do you know what an Enlil'nishar is, Alhalzred?" Casca asked him.

Alhalzred said nothing, looking at the floor.

"Why don't you show him darling" Casca said.

Oh crap! I thought. I had no idea what a Enl'nishar was. Hell, I couldn't even pronounce it!!!

I had to think fast "I don't think that is necessary my Lord..." putting a sexy emphasis on the word lord. "I think he will cooperate."

Casca regarded me with a questioning look, so I put both of my arms around his neck, and began, sort of grinding myself on him, giving him my most seductive look.

This brought an even more questioning look...but at last he did say "Per...perhaps you are right darling."

Oh gods that was close! I thought.

"He will cooperate, won't you Alhalzred?" he asked the necromancer.

Alhalzred just nodded, but kept looking at the floor.

 

[Morgana LeFay (PoV)]

I took Alhalzred to the Guild tower. There we waited on the roof.

"What is it you think you are goin' to accomplish wit' dis nonsense!" Alhalzred asked me.

"Oh, that's easy" I said. "When MoonlightMyst comes to try and capture me, I will simply explain to her that I have captured you...and that you are a servant of the Shadowlords. She will take us before the Lord of the Abyss."

"You are crazy girl! He gonna roast us both!" Alhalzred said, struggling against his bonds.

"Most likely" I said, casually.

"How did you seduce Casca so easily?" he asked me.

"Casca? I didn't seduce Casca...I just explained how you were slain with a Enl'nishar, and how you had gone before the Lord of the Abyss and told everything" I said.

"I was not slain with an Enlil'nishar ya mad woman...I was..." and then it hit him. "You lied! And Casca thought dat since I was alive, dat da Lord of the Abyss done sent me back to betray him!!"

"Yeah, and you know the sad part? I don't even know what a Enl'whatever is" I said with a laugh.

"By da gods!" Alhalzred said, and began struggling harder against the ropes he was bound with.

I grabbed him by the ropes in the front, and looked him in the eye and said "You know who I am. You know what I have been through. And let me tell you...in the Abyss, pain is your only god."

"You gotta stop dis!" he pleaded. "What do you want?!"

"Nothing that you can give me" I replied.

 

[Morgana LeFay (PoV)]

Soon, as predicted, a black gate opened on the top of the tower...and the smell of rot and decay wafted forth from it. Alhalzred started to struggle violently, so I paralyzed him. A moment later, out stepped a dark figure...with smoke rising off of its form, like a giant cinder.

As the figure emerged into the light of day, it took the appearance of MoonlightMyst. Seeing this, Alhalzred froze in place, with a look of abject horror on his face.

"Ah...that's sooooo much better" she said, in a cat-like manner, tossing her long, now white, hair to one side. "So, shall we try this again doll?"

"Hello Moon" I said. "I am not going to fight you. I know that you have taken Abigail."

"Oh, that's too bad" she said playfully. "I was hoping to get to watch you in action. It's been too long."

"I have something here that your lord will be interested in" I said.

"Oh? Is this that soulless freak then? He looks a little old for you Morg!" she said, as she slowly circled Alhalzred, looking him up and down slowly.

"I-I am not da soulless one!!" Alhalzred said.

"Oh?" Moon asked him. "Well, we can fix that."

"This is Alhalzred. He is the servant of the Shadowlords...and he has been helping them to try and slay your boss" I said.

Moon stopped, looked at me inquisitively, and the said to Alhalzred "Oh my. You are in trouble, aren't you little man?"

"No! No!!!!" Alhalzred said, as he desperately struggled against his bonds.

"You know that this does not take you off the hook, right doll?" Moon said to me.

"I know" I said. "But I know that Clean will come to save me...like he did before."

"I wouldn't count on it" Moon said with an evil smile. "Shall we?"

And with that, the black gate opened again...and out stepped the Collector of Souls.

"This one is with me" she said, putting her arm around me. "That one...he is yours."

I said before that I remembered the way her hair smelled the night that AoD destroyed the Guild tower in Fel. It never smelled like this...for now, it smelled like ash.

We stepped through the gate, and into the Abyss, together.

 

[Morgana LeFay (PoV)]

Alhalzred's screams were ear piercing. The Collector had grabbed him in his usual manner...claws through the gut. Moon was walking ahead of me, holding my hand. The smell was almost overpowering. I was not sure that I could go through with it. As we walked through the black tunnel, the faint sounds of screams of unbelievable anguish could be heard echoing.

"Almost there Morg" Moon said, lauging slightly. "You sure we don't have time for one more quick fling?" she added, turning to face me.

I could barely see her face, but what I saw was horrible. She was almost nothing more than a skeleton, burned beyond recognition. I couldn't help but scream. Moon laughed, and began dragging me toward the rim of the Abyss. I lost control and began fighting against her, pulling back the other way. She was cackling like a witch, and her nails, or what was left of them, began to dig painfully in to my wrists. Then the Collector caught up with us, and he swatted me forward. I hit the rocky wall hard, and landed on the ground. Now, Moon was dragging me across the hot rock floor...and I could see the faint red glow coming up ahead, as the screams got louder and louder.

I began to fight frantically, screaming, and crying. I lost it. But the Collector just kept kicking me along if Moon would slow down. By that time, my knees were broken and bleeding on the now scalding hot rocks, and my wrist had gone complete numb from Moon's death grip.

We reached the edge of the Abyss, and the Collector wrapped his large demonic hand around my body, and gripped me tightly. Moon let go, and climbed upon his back. He took flight, and carried us down, down, into the searing depths of the Abyss.

About halfway down, the heat caused me to partially blackout, and I thought that I was on fire. My mind began to slip into itself. I was back in Skara Brae, and I was a young girl...and I could see Abigail, she was only a baby, and she was crawling to me, and calling my name??

"Morgana! Morgana!!" I heard, as I came to. It was Abigail! She was kneeling above me. "Morgana!! Can you hear me?? Oh gods! Please! Morgana!!"

"Abi?" I managed.

She grabbed me in her arms, and held me.

"Where are we?" I asked.

"We're in hell" Abi said.

 

[Morgana LeFay (PoV)]

The Lord of the Abyss had not allowed Abigail to be tortured. I am not sure why. It could have been because she was virtuous, or because he wanted to wait until he had Clean and I as well...but there she was, looking down at me.

"Morgana. Why did you come here?" Abigail asked.

"To save you" I said, my knees were killing me.

Suddenly, there was a loud sound, a crash...or a clap of thunder, and we were teleported to dark, and cold, room.

"Greetings from the Lord of the Abyss" I heard a voice say.

I looked up, and there was a small bluish demon standing next to the Lord of the Abyss on his throne.

"Kneel before the Lord of the Abyss!" the demon said.

"Don't do it Abi" I said...remaining standing.

"KNEEL!!" it said, and suddenly I was wracked with pain, and fell to my knees.

We were both on our knees...before the Lord of the Abyss.

"Rise" the demon said.

This was easier said than done for me, my legs were no longer functioning. Abigail saw this, and helped me to my feet.

"The master has some questions for you" the demon said.

"I will answer" I said, in great pain.

A twisted, thin, black figure walked in, dragging something that resembled a cocoon.

"Master...MoonlightMyst." the demon said.

The Lord of the Abyss did not seem to notice.

Suddenly, the bluish demon became stiff...as if possessed, and said in a different, deeper, voice "Servant. What is this you have brought before me?"

"Master" the black figure said, dropping to its knees "I offer you the servant of the Shadowlords."

The small demon produced a blade, and the cocoon was sliced open. Something that resembled Alhalzred was pulled from it. He was charred, naked, and missing his arms.

"What say you...servant?" the demon asked this form. And suddenly, it stiffened, as though possessed...and began screaming.

"Silence!" the demon said...and remarkably, it did silence itself. And suddenly, Alhalzred was whole again, and in perfect condition. He fell to the floor, as though begging.

"Ma-master..." Alhalzred managed through tears. "I b...beg of thee..." he said sobbing.

The small demon motioned, and a larger demon appeared from no where with a large metal spear. Alhalzred was impaled upon it, and lifted high into the air, face to face with the Lord of the Abyss. No audible words were spoken, but after a few seconds, Alhalzred burst into flames. Then the large demon, and Alzhalzred were gone.

"You have done well servant" the small demon said to the figure that was Moon. "Now, back to the fires with you."

"Noooooooooooooooooo" was all that the figure managed, and in a column of flame, it was gone.

"You...servant, speak" the small demon said to me.

"The Shadowlords sought to destroy you. I have brought their servant here, so that you could destroy him!" I said.

"Where is the soulless one?" the small demon asked.

"I do not know" I said...but I knew what was coming.

Suddenly, I ripped a large piece of glass from the skin on my inner thigh. Just as the large demon appeared with the spear...Tiamat appeared.

"Tiamat!!!" I heard a voice say. This was not the small mouthpiece demon, this was the Lord of the Abyss himself.

Tiamat reared up on her hind legs, and let loose a breath attack on the Lord of the Abyss. This toppled him from his throne, but he rose, and drew a large sword.

Suddenly, I looked at Tiamat and said "I release thee!!!!" and then ripped another shard of glass from my other thigh.

And there appeared Pazuzu.

"I release thee!!" I shouted.

And the awful Pazuzu turned his fury onto the large demon with the spear. Quickly, the demon was defeated.

"Abigail!!" I said, in incredible pain "I have to find Apollyon!!"

"Who?" Abigail asked.

"The Great Red Dragon!!" I said.

 

[Morgana LeFay (PoV)]

"One more" I said, as I ripped the last piece of glass from underneath my skin.

As I screamed in pain, Rayder appeared before me.

"Rayder! Help me!" I said, in unimaginable pain. And my wounds were healed.

The jet black horse of hell approached me, and rubbed me with his snout, and I hugged him greatly. I think I was crying, but there is no water in the abyss, so probably not. Anyway, both Abigail and I hopped onto Rayder, and we were off.

Everywhere the eye could see were souls being ripped apart, burned, mauled, crushed, and tortured in every imaginable way...but we rode on.

Everywhere around us were the fires of hell...but we rode on.

Everywhere around us was despair...but we rode on.

Eventually, we found what we had been seeking.

There, chained in the great Abyss, lay sleeping the Great Red Dragon. Known by many names, this great beast, once the true master of the entire universe, lay there before me.

"Rayder...I release thee" I said. But Rayder did not leave my side.

I carefully approached the sleeping giant...and as I got close...I heard:

"Who dares to approach me?"

But this was not a voice, not a sound heard with the hears.

"It is I, Morgana LeFay" I said.

"To approach me is to forfeit all, be gone!"

"I...I need your help" I said.

"This is your only warning lesser creature."

But, I moved closer, and he did stir. As he turned to face me, he caught my gaze, and I his.

Somewhere in that moment, without a single word spoken, my soul ... my very existence ... was laid bare to this great and powerful deity. And I understood. And so did he.

With no words spoken, the Great Apollyon rose up, and broke his bonds. Abigail looked on in fear, as the Great Red Dragon levitated me in the air, and together, we approached the throne of the Lord the Abyss.

In what seemed like a dream, I was floating above the whole of the abyss. I could see into each and every soul that was trapped there, and my heart wept, but I could also see into the heart of each and every demon and beast that tares at the souls of mankind, and I understood. And as we passed them, everything stopped.

Tortured souls and demon alike stood and watched in awe as the Great Red Dragon and I floated by them. A great silence cut through the Abyss.

And as we approached the throne of the Lord of the Abyss, I gazed upon the body of the Great Tiamat, slain by the Lord of the Abyss, and the body of the Dreaded Pazuzu, also slain by the Lord of the Abyss.

And then, Apollyon spoke, in a voice that was felt, and heard by all that dwelt within the great Abyss:

"What was has now come again. What was undone is now remade."

And with that, Tiamat was risen.

"Rise, my child" Apollyon said.

"Great and powerful father" Tiamat said, as she bowed to Apollyon.

"This shall not be!" a great voice cried out. It was the Lord of the Abyss. "You! LeFay!"

"You will not harm this lesser creature" Apollyon said, and I was surrounded in a brilliant light.

"I am taking my sister!" I said defiantly.

"You will take nothing!!" the Lord of the Abyss cried.

"You will comply with her will" Tiamat said.

"And I am taking back the soul of Cle'ahn!!!"

"Take them!! And all of you depart my realm at once!!" the Lord of the Abyss said.

"Not yet!!" I cried out. "I want MoonlightMyst to go free, and Alhalzred!!"

"Never!!!" the Lord of the Abyss said, squaring himself for an attack.

But as he gazed around him, he noticed something amazing. All of the souls trapped in the Abyss stood behind me...and the Great Red Dragon, Apollyon. And the Demons, and Devourers, and Slayers, Wanders of the Void stood behind me, and Apollyon.

"Make your choice!!" I said to him.


And with that, Abigail, Rayder, Tiamat, Pazuzu, MoonlightMyst, Alhalzred, and I were on top of the Guild tower.

 

[Morgana LeFay (PoV)]

As we all laid there, Abigail crawled over to me, and wrapped her arms around me. I could hear Alhalzred weeping, as well as Moon.

I sat up, and hugged Abigail, and then moved over to check on Moon. She was sobbing uncontrollably. But when I touched her, she seemed to notice me. I looked into her eyes, and they no longer seemed cold, rather, they seemed like that of a child.

"Moon?" I said.

"Morg?" she said to me.

And we embraced for what seemed like an eternity.

Abigail came to Moon and said "Can you forgive me?"

"Can you forgive me?" Moon said, and they embraced.

I moved over to check on Alhalzred, but he was still in shock, so I walked over to my companions.

"Thank you, all of you!" I said to them, and then something amazing happened...

They each dropped to one knee before me.

I began to cry.

 

[Morgana LeFay (PoV)]

I took Tiamat, Pazuzu, and Rayder back to the stables...and they each bid me good night. And as I was walking from the stable to meet Moon and Abi, I looked up at the star filled sky, and I noticed something. A Great Red Star shone brightly in the night sky...and I understood.

Sheol is going to have some questions I thought with a smile.

I arrived at Britain bank, and there was Abigail, Moon, and Alhalzred.

"We need to get to Castle Blackthorn Abi" I said. "Moon, please take Alhalzred here..." and I handed her a rune marked for the Fortress of Fear.

Abigail hugged me again, and we began to approach the castle.

As we arrived, the gate guards stopped us. We provided a code word, and we were allowed to pass. Two of Casca's Drow met us in the courtyard.

"Lord Casca is expecting you" one of them said, and we made our way into the main hall.

"Wait here" he said.

Soon, Casca arrived, and asked me "So, were you successful?"

"That depends. What did you expect the outcome to be?" I said.

"Is he dead, the Lord of the Abyss?" Casca asked.

"No. But he will not be attacking you" I said.

"What? How can you be so sure?" He asked.

"Because. He never wanted you in the first place" I said "he wanted Clean."

"So, I betrayed the Shadowlords for nothing?!!" he said angrily.

"Oh, no my Lord, not for nothing..." I said "...you secured the people of Sosaria!"

He stood there for a moment, and then shook his head with a slight smile and said..."Very well. But just remember, this changes nothing between us."

I returned his gaze, and there was heat there..."Why would it?" I asked, with a wry smile.

"I believe you need to collect your guild, Ms. LeFay" he said.

"No...need to collect my family" I said.

And with that, he let us go.

It took a great deal of explanation to the rest of the guild, but eventually, they did understand.

But we still had the problem of Clean.

 

[Morgana LeFay (PoV)]

We recalled back to what was left of the guild tower, and once again, the PoV was whole.

Sheol and I could simply not understand...Clean's soul was released, why was he not getting any better?

"There is only one person I know that might be able to answer this question, and unfortunately, I had to send him back to his own fortress with one of our historically worst enemies!" I told Sheol.

"Is that all?" Sheol asked, and shot me smile. I could not help but laugh.

As Abi and I stepped through the gate to the Fortress of Fear I thought to myself I need a serious vacation.

We arrived, and we found Moon standing on top of the guard tower.

I yelled up to her "Tried the teleporter??"

"Um, yeah...how does one get down?" she asked.

"I did the same thing!! Hold on!" I yelled back. Maybe I'm not such a flake! I thought.

After getting Moon down, we went downstairs, into the dungeon where Moon had secured Alhalzred.

"Alhalzred...I have some questions for you...can you answer them...???" I asked gently. I knew very well what exposure to the Abyss could do to you.

He was sitting on the floor wrapped in a blanket, rocking himself back and forth, and he said "I...I will do my best."

"Clean, Cle'ahn, do you remember him?" I asked.

"Of course I do" he said, looking more lucid.

"The Lord of the Abyss freed his soul, but he is still dying" I said.

"Da Lord of the Abyss done freed his soul, but he cannot make it come back to him" he replied. "He got to find it himself."

"But how can he do that?" I asked.

"Perhaps it is time that I showed you something" he said "Can you let me outta da cell?"

Abigail agreed, so I let him out.

Out in the moonlight, he, Abi, Moon, and I, walked into the courtyard garden in the Fortress of Fear...and he stopped before the two statues that stood there.

With some magic words, and a gesture, the area was as bright as day.

"Look here, Lady LeFay...tell me, what is it dat you see?" Alhalzred asked.

I looked hard at the weathered statues, but I did not recognize them...not at first, and then I saw it.

"That's me. And that's Clean!! What is this??" I asked.

Alhalzred just stared into my eyes and said "I done told you, I can see much dat is hidden my girl. Did you t'ink I was gonna let my son go t'rew life wit'out a soul? Or...wit'out da woman he love??" And he smiled at me.

"You...you are Clean's father??" I asked.

He laughed ... "You t'ink you are da only one dat care 'bout 'im?"

"No, but I ... I just don't understand!" I said.

"Maybe...maybe tis one time, you don't 'ave to understand. Yes?" he said.

"But how does this help Clean?" I asked.

"He's name is Cle'ahn...not kleen! You silly woman!" he said with a laugh. "And I will show you, how dis will 'elp 'im!"

I followed Alhalzred back down into the dungeon, and here, in a cell in the back of the dungeon, there was a black curtain. Alhalzred drew the curtain, and behind it, there was a solid black stone...a Soul Stone.

"You bring 'im here. We set dis t'ing right" he said to me.

 

[Morgana LeFay (PoV)]

We brought Clean to the Fortress of Fear...and none too soon, for he was on the verge of passing into the Underworld...into the Abyss.

"You put 'im here!" Alhalzred said.

Alhalzred had prepared an elaborate black magick ritual. There was blood on the floor, candles, an oddly shaped stone, two black braziers, and a large dagger.

I asked Sheol "Have you ever seen anything like this?"

"Never" was all that Sheol said.

Alhalzred began the rite.

"Ancient gods, and spirits of the Sky, hear me!
I lay before you, a deadly serpent."​

...he produced a snake...

"Dis serpent venom is da bane of our blood.
And our blood does run like da serpent.​

...with this, he spattered blood from the floor onto Clean, and the Soul Stone...

I call upon da spirt of da serpent.
I call upon da spirit of da sky.
IA IA IA! IA XAKUL!!​

...with that, the Soul Stone seemed to glow briefly...

T'is body I lay before you
It has lost its soul.
DINGIR ZI KANPA!​

...with that, Clean's body shook briefly...

I cut da serpent.
I spill da blood!!
KA! KA! ZI! KA!​

...with that, he used the dagger to split the snake open...

Spirits of da Sky Remember!!
Spirits of da Serpent Remember!!
ZI ANA KANPA!​

...with this, the candles in the room went out...

I call upon da serpent.
I call upon da sky!!!
I call upon da spirit!!!
And I call upon da Enlil'nishar!!​

...with that, Alhalzred plunged the dagger into his own heart...

...and died.


We watched in amazement, as the black Soul Stone began to glow a brilliant white, and Clean's body began to float above the alter.

I really cannot explain it, because it was very bright, and over quickly, but to me, it looked like lightning flashed between the stone, and Clean's body...and then, the Soul Stone cracked, and fell to pieces.

And with that, it was over.

I approached the alter, and I looked at Clean...and he was no longer pale white, but his old dark skin color, and he was coming around!!

I put my arms around him, and as he gazed up at me, he did the same.

"Where are we?" he asked.

"The house of your father" I said.

"My father? My father is dead" Clean said.

"I love you" I said to him.

"I love you too. You know something?" he said suddenly. And he sat up. " I am hungry!"

I waited a moment, afraid that he meant that he needed to "feed"...but then he said...

"By the gods, I am hungry...for FOOD!!! Do you know what this means??!!" he said, looking at me.

"I sure do" I said.

 

[Morgana LeFay (PoV)]

After much explanation, the guild finally emerged from the dungeon of the fortress. The sun was rising, and in the garden, I saw something miraculous. From the center of all the dead trees, and the dead plants, there was growing a single orange flower...one like I had never seen before.

"Where is Moon?" I asked Anasazi.

"I don't know, she was here a moment ago" he said.

But she was no where to be found. And to this day, I have not seen her.




Some time later, I would find out that flower was called a Halzred flower...and since that day, I have I taken to growing them all around Sosaria, where ever I can get them to grow, for it is all we have left of Cle'ahn's father...for I would finally uncover another secret...

The Enlil'nishar:

An Enlil'nishar is a ceremonial dagger used by the ancient ancestors of the Drow. It is engraved with the proper set of runes, and if used to kill someone, it prevents that person from being resurrected, for it utterly destroys the very soul.

Fortunately, every Enlil'nishar is different, and creating them is a lost art. When one uses one of these daggers, it will immediately turn to dust...so there are very, very few of these in existence.



We each rebuilt our homes, including the PoV guild tower. A sprig of Halzred was added to the Unity Arch...and it grows there today.

Lord Casca and I still know no peace, but he believes that I possess the knowledge to craft an Enlil'nishar, so for the moment, the PoV remains safe from whatever diabolical plan he is hatching.

As for Clean...he is well! Now that he is reunited with his soul, he no longer needs to feed on the lives of the innocent, and he is working hard to make amends for his past deeds...although, his reputation proceeds him, so it is not easy.

And as for me...I am still doing everything I can to make sure that Sosaria is safe, and that the PoV, my family, are taken care of. I have finally stopped having flashbacks about the Abyss, for now, when I think of the Abyss, I recall my victory over the Lord of the Abyss, and Apollyon.

I do hope that I can discover what has become of MoonlightMyst, for I think now that we have forgiven one another, a great friendship can be forged.

 

[Morgana LeFay (PoV)]

I'd like to thank anyone that made it through this long story!!

I really enjoyed writing it, and hope it was as fun to read.

If you have comments or questions, please feel free to post them here!

As the newest member of the PoV would say...

Namase!!

 

[Syfka]

This is an amazing story i love it! Thank you for a great read!

 

[Draken-Korin]

One hell of a story Morgana. Do yourself a favor, if you have'nt written a book irl, WRITE ONE.

 

[Syfka]

One hell of a story Morgana. Do yourself a favor, if you have'nt written a book irl, WRITE ONE.

I agree!!

 

[Lady_Rachel]

*applaudes*

Bravo Morgana!
Well done indeed!
You know I heard you guys when you were in the Trinsic Swamps, but by the time I got a basket of food together you were gone!

Keep the stories coming they are marvelous.
*and you really should write a book*

 

[Seanen]

WOW! This has convinced me that I want to join your guild... Are there any openings??

 

[Morgana LeFay (PoV)]

WOW! This has convinced me that I want to join your guild... Are there any openings??

Certainly! We are always looking for new players.

 

[Seanen]

Excellent! After this and our little excursion to Ice the other day, I'm convinced your guild would be a place I would enjoy, and I think I would be a valuable asset to your team. Just let me know when and where.

 

[Cear Dallben Dragon]

Tell your friends!
And make an alt that wants to cast armageddon!
Ending the world isnt easy