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One moment it was dark, the other he could see hordes of undead walking towards him. It was shocking, but there was no time to lose. Like an old habbit, Elendirill started to focus on the flame. This was a trick he learned from a man long long ago. The man seemed kind of strange, and he was carrying a boy he had found somewhere in the mountains. That seemed ages ago, and the man is probably dead by now. But back then they walked together for awhile, and although Elendirill didn't like humans at all, this one became his friend. The practised the sword fighting together, and in the end the man told him the secret which made Elendirill lose every fight.
The man told him about the inner flame, it was hard to notice, but once one could hold it, it became a source of power. It resembled the way the elven elders reached for their magick, but this flame didn't use magick at all, it was a source for concentration. Once you can hold the flame, you have to feed it with all your emotions, untill you are empty.
Elendirill threw in his sadness first and at the same time the hate he felt for the kidnapper. It felt kind of weird, it was like both of them had become a part of him. He felt like he lost something, but on the other hand he felt free after a long time of slavery. Then he threw in his tiredness, there was no time to be tired in a fight like this. Now Elendirill was empty, he could still see them coming at him, but his only thoughts were with his sword.
He saw Mari stading still a bit behind him, so he jumped between her and the undead. If there was anything he hated more than dragons, it were the undead. They were not just abominations of nature, they were against it. Elendirill stared at the ground when the first corpses attacked him, a quick step sidewards while turning around and he let the sword do its work. The first two undead had lost their heads. Elendirill didn't stop but continued his dance with the undead, empty inside ...

Mari reacted without thinking: Thrusting her staff into the next undead - the stomach or a bit deeper, let him double up and sink. With a final blow on his head, what a terrible squishing sound - the corpse flared up and died.
She continued without thinking, thrusting, hitting, bashing - a real whirlwind, trying to keep Elendirill's back free - and she didn't even wonder when the staff used its magical powers. Her only aim was to prevent the elf from getting hurt.

Shana heard the unearthly cries from a creature behind her, something about food – but she was having all she could do to protect herself from the walking skeletons. She saw DQueene was pulling on the bridle of her (Shana’s) horse and trying to maneuver her own Appaloosa in her front. DQueene was focused on her battle with those shambling creatures in front of them; trying to clear a path of safety to ride through.

“”Well,” Shana thought grimly, “it’s up to me to keep these skeletons off both of us while she clears our path.” She quickly kicked her left foot out at a new skeleton reaching for her leg, connecting solidly with its bony chin and sending it tumbling back into two others, causing them all to crash to the ground in a tumbled bony heap. Simultaneously, she swept her arm to the right, beheading another grinning skeleton as it sought to grab DQueene’s leg.

“Wow,” Shana couldn’t help thinking to herself, “I’m kind of good at this.” She smiled, and yelled “Eeeee Youh” as she continued fight.

DQueene smiled grimly and thought, “If I have to I can transform to a dragon and save Shana. I don’t know if I can save the others, but I can save Shana.” She quickly cast two more fireballs, both striking the heads of the poisonous Undead coming toward them. They dropped instantly, “Ah ha! Shana, take their heads! That’s the key!”

DQueene felt something warm running down her left leg, and glanced down to see a skeleton's teeth buried in her leg just below the knee, apparently trying to chew its way to her knee. "Feast while you can foul beast." She brought her hand down with a sharp chopping motion onto the neck of the gnawing creature, severing the head from the body in one swift move; leaving a head dangling from her left leg as she turned back to fight the ever closer Undead shambling toward them.

As the creature stopped transforming, it inspected himself ver closely looking at his claws, feet ... Then he remebered how mad he was, he had to protect his prey so he jumped into the horde of undead, and fought the off, undead bodyparts flew everywhere into the sky. He was outnumbered but could destroy every single one coming near him, still there were too much he could handle.

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meanwhile Drakonis and Dulartus were coming closer at high speed they could see the blackness, it was just like thousands of huge black flying snakes were swirling around the mountains.

The Abbot dozed during most of the journey on his return to the Abbey. The final hours of the trip along the foot of the massive glacier were numbingly cold, as usual. As the shadows grew long in the afternoon, he saw the familiar scenery of the Abbey. The road wedged itself between the dark forest and the icy glacier wall .

As the glacial melt pond came into view, he peeked his head out of the black lacquered coach to spy the top of the Abbey's tower. Out of the corner of his eye he could see the ice-encrusted beard and cap of the coach driver, and he heard the clip-clop-crunch of the horses' hooves on the icy gravel road. For a moment, he envisioned himself warming his fingers and toes at the Great Hearth, eating a loaf of Mrs. Kegger's cheddar and dill bread, and sipping some warm wine. "Aaaaaaaah, heaven, here I come" he appraised the dream vision and smiled contentedly.

Meanwhile, Kegger had placed Elmo and JVB in a small handcart, and was dragging it westward through the forest toward Vordasto. When Drakonis and Dulartus left in such a hurry, she had become concerned and called for Sparkl at the Great Hearth. Sparkl came, of course, and they talked for several minutes -- the longest conversation she had ever had with Sparkl. Mrs. Kegger left the Abbey in less than ten minutes without a word or even looking back.

An unnatural darkness writhed across the glacier from the north and north east, converging on the Abbey. Within its billowing folds, a creature winged. It played with the shapes of the landscape, skimming along the surface and ducking into crevasses here and there. When the darkness came at last to the Abbey, the sun was setting below the treetops to the west. Tendrils of the darkness probed the workshop and stables and wrapped around the Abbey's tall stone walls. The winged creature landed at the Abbey door, ducked its head, then disappeared inside.

A deep and wide crater formed beneath the rising column of light and fire, as the world lost the recipe for Sparkling Wine. As the glacier melted into a tsunami of water and steam, the Abbot's coach became a momentary parody of Noah's Ark, then of Jonah and the Whale, before it was gathered up into the rising column of steam, fire, and fury toward the heavens. The twilight became brighter than high noon on a midsummers day across the land, overpowering even the unnatural tendrils of darkness as far away as the foothills of the Forbidden Mountains and the shores of the Eastern Sea.

A bright flash from behind Dulartus took his attention, it seemed to be near the Abbey, has something happend to the wine? "that would be unfortunate, it's good wine."

Drakonis climbed up almost vertical, Dulartus almost fell off, the Drakonis hovered some seconds while taking a big breath, followed by a very fast decent into the horde of undead, unleashing a inferno instantly reducing a hundred undead to ashes. As Drakonis got in position to climb again Dulartus jumped off and landed next to the group, remmebering the stories he read he had to say something catchy, to brighten up the mood even for single moment, so here it goes he tought: " I was in the neigbourghood and I tought i could drop by" he said with a big smile on his mounth releaved to see everyone was allright.

Then he noticed the big creature who seemed to be on our side, "what's that?" he asked pointing to it.

The Creature was still bashing, and kicking all that came near, a real frenzy was it.

From a distance Elendirill saw how the undead were swiped away with dozens at a time, it seemed unreal and without a meaning. But a calm voice started to come to his attention. At first he couldn't clearly make up what it was saying, and he didn't care, but after awhile the sound grew stronger ... and there was something that forced him to listen. The voice was speaking very slowly, like it was the source of all calmness in the world.

It seems like this attack didn't came without a reason. Why would an evil force use so much of his power, and why only now? Maybe it means something, something important ... Maybe it means you are finally coming closer.

The last sentence hit him like a rock. He almost stopped in the middle of a swing, and instead of chopping the vitems head of, he only slashed halfway. The head fell to one side, but that didn't mean the undead was giving up, and the mace he swung hit Elendirill hard in his side, possibly breaking some ribs ... Before the pain took over he managed to strike one more time, this time with more effect, the head fell entirely off, and the body fell to the ground. He looked around and saw Mari just behind him, he dragged himself a bit towards her before he fell on the ground. Pain was pulsating from his side, but he had to pull through ... at least long enough to defend himself from the remaining undead ...

Mari saw with horror what had happened. Anger rose in her, dreadful raging, burning anger.
"NOOOOOOOOOO, I won't let this happen.."
Her staff came to life and burst into a cascade of lightning, fire and wind: The undead had no chance at all, they fell apart, burnt, scorched and blown away.

Dead silence...

Mari dropped the staff, rushed up to the elf and knelt down.
"No, Elendirill, noooooo! We're nearly at our goal now, don't give up," she sobbed.
Her anger slowly eased and something else took place, colours welled up in her and flowed out of every pore, shrouding both figures: the silent one on the ground and her. Soothing, giving strength and determination, slowly mending the broken ribs. It took quite some time and after the healing task was done, the colours did not fade away, they formed a globe around both. Mari knew, this was the end, this protection would stay until both had reached the cave and freed his wife. And after that? Who knows?
"Come on, get up, nothing will keep us from entering the cave now. Come on, give me your hand...Hang on, I'll just get the staff."

She turned around and grabbed it, it felt warm in her hand and gave her additional confidence.

"Up you go.." She grasped Eledirill's hand and hauled him up. Supporting each other they slowly walked towards the cave entrance.

Suddenly all of the undead that had been surrounding us just disappeared in a burst of light. DQueene glanced around to make sure all of her companions were doing okay. She saw that Mari and the elf were surrounded in a globe of light and it looked like Mari was healing the elf with a surprising amount of power. She narrowed her eyes and studied the staff that was glowing in Mari's hand, it was very magical indeed.

Just then Shana walked up to her grinning. Shana laughed, with only the exuberance of someone so young and said: "That was great! What caused them to all die so suddenly?"

DQueene pointed at Mari, "I think that staff she carries must have played a big part in ending our battle so quickly."

Just then Mari and the elf started hobbling toward the cave entrance. DQueene and Shana quickly fell in behind them, knowing that soon they would find Elendirill's wife.

At the same moment the dark creature fell down, unconcient and slowly transformed into a male elf, lying naked on the ground.

Dulartus quickly took his coat and covered, and said "something tels me he won't be any problem, even better"
I looked around, the landcaped was covered in bodyparts, but still somethin moved, it was small, but to far to have a good look at it, It seemed to be a crawling creature, howcome it survived?

Shana and I walked into the cave just behind Mari and Elendirill, each of us wary of what might happen next. It was dark and dank in the cave, and there was the smell of fresh blood wafting through the air.

"I hope it's not his wife's blood I smell," I thought to myself. "Whatever it came from, it's not a good sign."

Just then I hear a moan coming from further back in the caves. I glanced at Shana and whispered, "Come on let's go this way."

She nodded her understanding and told Elendirill, "We'll check back this way. Why don't you two check over that way." She pointed to our left with a wave of her hand.

We started down the dark passageway, dreading what we might discover at its end.

I, and Drakonis will guard the cave's entrance and watch on that guy, said Delartus pointing at the man on the ground.

The others ventured into the cave, Dulartus tought "Is it my imagition or is it getting chill here?" A snoflake dropped on his nose, wich iched a bit so he twitched his nose and said "No, not my imagination" out loud.

"hu? What?" said Drakonis who just transformed to his human form.
"nevermind, I think we'll better make campfire before he freezes to death, I'll collect the wooden weapons laying around. You take care of the fire Drakonis"

"Couldn't you told that earlier? morphing ain't that simple you know, it takes great energy" grumbled Drakonis while Dulartus walked towards some weaponery.

Drakonis looked around trying to see where he could find some firewood. He spotted a few pieces and started gathering them. Soon enough he had a decent amount of firewood stacked atop each other. Then he took a few rocks and formed a circle, taking the wood he started placing them in order. It sort of looked like a indian hut. When he was finished he stated cursing. Thinking by himself he thought if he just stayed in dragon form the fire would already be lit. But now he must find another way to light the fire.

Elendirill was still feeling fuzzy, but it got better since Mari picked him from the ground. Her touch felt warm, not the kind of warmth you would get from a fire though ... and it seemed like he felt this before.
For now that was enough thinking, he just walked along with Mari ... or he tried to, he stumbled every now and then, but Mari didn't seem to notice ...
When they split up in the cave, Elendirill was feeling better, it was like the warm feeling had spread all over his body ... wait, that's strange ... again Elendirill reached into his pocket and he felt the leaf glowing, but in a different way as before.
There was something else ... the warm feeling started to feel like it was trying to get away from him, and by doing so it was leading them through the cave ...
Elendiriil glanced at Mari, Do you feel it too? He asked her.

"Yes, I feel it, let's follow it. I don't know how long our protection globe will last," Mari whispered, "Elendirill, when this globe vanishes... I don't know if I have these powers anymore - but for now, let's go."

Mari smiled at him, trying to give him courage. He was weak, she knew that - but they had to move on, this was final. She concentrated and then saw a silver gold thread soft and thin as a breeze wavering in front of them. Supporting him even more with her shoulder he pulled and dragged him onwards, following the light path. Sadness grew slowly in heart, she realized a parting would soon come - but even this had to be done...

Vuldaran left the cave and headed for the castle, there he would receive the final destination of his journey from his master

The further down the passageway we went the stronger the blood smell became. Shana looked at me and her lip trembled, she feared what we would even more than I did. Suddenly from out of nowhere a beam of light straight from the heavens transfixed us in our steps. Shana and I both struggled, but to no avail - we couldn't move.

Then a beautiful melodious voice rang out, [color:"yellow"] "My children you will not understand what is about to come to you ... your destiny is elsewhere, this is not your quest to fullfill." [/color]

I heard Shana whimper and turned my eyes, the only part of me I could move, to see her shrinking. "No, leave her be!" I screamed and struggled against my invisible bonds even harder. Then Shana was a baby, Wait I know that child! She is mine! and then a card floated out of the heavens, twirling and twisting, and for just an instant I saw a world of giant speeding monsters and millions of people and then Shana's baby hand touched the card and she disappeared. "No!" I cried, "Don't take her." I sobbed, "Please, please don't take her again."

[color:"yellow"] You will find her again. Now forget, forget. [/color]

Glancing up through tear filled eyes I saw another card fluttering down. It was a picture of my love, just as he was before he was killed. The card touched my cheek in a caress and then my world turned black ...

I woke up with a start, my heart pounding and tears in my eyes. "Oh wow, that was a really vivid dream." I rubbed the tears from my eyes and looked over at my love sleeping, and yes, making little snoring sounds - well maybe not so little snoring sounds. I groaned to myself, "I have to sleep, tomorrow we start driving to Seattle ..."

When we made our fire, the naked man came back to the contient world, he looked around, tried to say soemthing but all that came out was "o a i" or something, He took a deep breath and said "who am i?" Then suddenly noticing he was butt-naked he covered his special bodyparts.

" I have no Idea," I said "you were somekind of monster just a while ago", I posed a bit and then continued "and came in our defence, fight hordes of undead", he became pale and looked around him "Don't worry they ARE not anymore"

After a while, Elendirill couldn't even guess how long, what's the meaning of time anyways when there are more important things to think about, they reached a more artificial part of the cave.

It seems like these parts have been crafted by human hands ... maybe even dwarves, it almost looks natural.
Let's be careful from now on.

It was hard, but Elendirill tried to resist the force for a while, which drove them forward, it was futile he learned, so he needed to be ready when they were pulled around a corner. Untill now all curves in the cave seemed natural, and no intersection was conceiled from the eye, but when they entered parts made by human or dwarven hands, this could change ...
Suddenly they stood still, the force seemed to have stopped drawing them in .. and even if it didn't, Elendirill doubted if he could have moved another muscle after what he saw ...
It was not only the cruel shape of the altar, it seemed like there was an unnatural feeling coming from it. This altar wasn't made from ... anything from this world, it wasn't natural in the most horrible, literal sense of the word ... And even worse, he could feel pain echoing from it, like thousands and thousands of voices were trapped inside ...
Feraila he whispered ...

Mari went up to the altar in trance and laid her hands on it - oh, the pain! This dreadful pain! Her life force was starting to drain and sucked in by the stone, her colours were taken from her, feeding the stone. The whispers grew louder and louder, by the look at Elendirill's face she knew he heard it, too. His face was distorted...

"It's Feraila? She's in there? Quick, Elen, we've not got much time - my colours are too weak, my globe is fading ... This stone is a soul cage, feeds of the pain in there and sends its message out to the world here. It's so old, it's ageless - we must free them, Elen!"

Mari tried to take her hands away, but the stone had already started to draw her energy inside, weaving his spell around her, her globe was only a mere shadow now... Then she felt a ghostly hand from inside, trying to get contact to her ... a friendly hand? Mari's gift took over: her soul fingers reached out and penetrated the stone, a long pointed forefinger, glinting in pure gold - it made the surrounding darkness within the stone even darker. A dense of grey, an outlined mist were the voices - but the finger moved on, searching - searching for the hand in there. It seemed to last endlessly. It left a trail of light, an echo, melted, eaten up greedily by the other whispers, but the core remained... and then... the finger was held - had contact.