Ascension

Ascension
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Soris didn’t remember the conversation with the Matron Mother. He had said some things, and Viconia had given the Drow something, but he didn’t remember what it was or why it was important. The Matron Mother seemed pleased, and Soris was glad because that meant he could go. More words were spoken, and then he left. It was all a blur to Soris. He gave up trying to remember things. He didn’t care. He lived the night over, and over. Each time was more vivid and painful than the last. He tried to find other memories to replace the scene, but they were gone. Darkness reigned supreme. Soris retreated further, fleeing the demons that hunted both during his waking hours and his unwaking ones. Outside of it all, voices spoke, but he didn’t care. Another figure occasionally entered, and pulled him to the surface for a time, but he always retreated. His life as he knew it was over. He retreated further into despair.

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Good. He’s sleeping. Shar knows he needs it. The little beast was curled up at his side. Her hand still stung where the creature had bitten her. The little beast wouldn’t let anyone touch Soris and had even managed to recruit Minsc to assist it in its self-appointed duty. Viconia scowled. She knew Soris had been injured, badly. She could help him, if she could touch him, but the little beast refused to allow anyone to get close. It frustrated her. She could do little but watch and wait, and she rapidly grew tired of both options.

Eric was also worried. He knew the pretty lady wanted to help, but he couldn’t make her understand. The magic around Soris was all wrong. If she tried to heal him, she might kill him. Eric didn’t know, and he was not about to take that chance. He swore that he would protect his Soris, even if that meant he had to keep the pretty lady away. The only other one who understood was Boo, and Boo convinced his Minsc to help, so the job was easier. Minsc said he would apply his “boot of justice” to the rear of anyone who disturbed the sleeping Soris. Eric didn’t know what the “boot of justice” was, but it didn’t sound pleasant.

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In another room, the three women and the paladin were planning the group’s next move. Imoen looked at the group and outlined the situation.

“He is supposed to meet Phaere in about thirty minutes, but he is in absolutely no condition to do much of anything, much less meet with her.”

The entire group was in agreement there, but no one wanted to volunteer to go in his stead. Silence fell over the group. Finally, Viconia spoke. “I will go. I am accustomed to dealing with Drow. Trust me, I will handle Phaere.” It seemed odd asking the others for their trust, but Viconia would not let the elg’caress cow them into submission. She needed someone else to accompany her, someone who would not be seen as significant. She thought for a moment. Another female would not be appropriate. Keldorn, she decided. She didn’t like the paladin’s judgmental attitude, and after the previous night, she didn’t know what to think about him, still he was more intelligent that Minsc. She gestured to the paladin. “I will take you with me. It would not be fitting for me to approach her alone.” He looked surprised, but rose to follow her out the door. Once they were out on the street, he voiced his opinion.

“You speak as if you are going into battle.” Keldorn spoke and adopted a concerned tone. “I do not want this group to fall short of its goal. Not now, when we are so close.”

Viconia looked straight ahead. After the previous day, she did not know how to treat the paladin, so she did not look at him when she spoke. “I am going into battle, and I cannot afford to lose. Too much has been lost already, and much of it is my fault.”

“I won’t say that I disagree with you, but blaming yourself will get us nowhere, and neither will a personal quest for vengeance. You need to put aside your feelings, however strong they may be. I know it is difficult, but it is what must be done if we are to rise above this mess.”

Viconia glared at him with an intensity that he had not seen from her before. She did not need the human paladin to patronize her. She was doing everything she could. How can he think I would do anything to jeopardize our mission? How dare he? “Do not think that I chose to feel like this. They are weakness, and I would put them aside if I could. I cannot. They hurt, and they blind. They also remind me of what I have lost that I will never get back, but in spite of them, I will succeed in our mission. We will retrieve the eggs, and we will get Soris out of here. He has suffered enough for my weakness. But, if the opportunity presents itself, I will kill her for what she did to him, and neither you, nor anyone else will stand in my way. Do you understand?” She punched out the last words, and Keldorn fell silent. After a time he spoke. His voice was tinged with regret.

“Yes, I understand. If that is how you truly feel, then you have no choice. I know. Your anger and hatred may keep you going, but they will get you nowhere.”

Viconia had enough. “Clever words do not suit you well, paladin. Perhaps you should stick to ‘Die foul beast’. I think suits you better.” Viconia’s voice was flat, expressionless. She said the words, not because she meant them, she had gained a grudging respect for the paladin, but because she did not know what else to say. The discussion was over, but somehow, she knew he was right. It just wasn’t fair.

When they arrived at Phaere’s quarters, Viconia didn’t bother knocking. Keldorn gave her a disapproving glance, but Viconia cut him off before he had a chance to speak. “I know what I am doing. The elg’caress must be put in her place. That can only be done through a flawless display of strength.”

“Or foolishness.” The old paladin was still muttering as they approached Phaere, but he did nothing that might have compromised Viconia’s position.

Viconia was surprised by the lack of guards and other personnel in Phaere’s quarters. The elg’caress herself was sitting with her back to the door, and seemed surprised to find others within her quarters. Viconia’s thoughts rang loud within her head. No guards. Over-confident and arrogant. Strong. Ha! Let me show you what real strength looks like.

Phaere recovered quickly from her surprise, and she tried to regain control of the situation. “You are the female who travels with Soris? Where is he? I am most displeased with his tardiness. Perhaps we to spend some addition time together.” Phaere’s tone was controlled, but Viconia thought she could see a faint trace of a smile or a scowl on the other woman’s lips. She hoped, for Phaere’s sake, that it was a scowl.

“Yes, I am one of the females.” Viconia stressed the word one. She wanted Phaere to know that Soris was no ordinary male. “After your pathetic ministrations last night, Soris decided that you were not worth his time. I am here in his stead. I trust you will not waste my time. He considers it a very precious commodity.”

“Oh, so the pathetic fool now fears me, after only a taste. He quakes with fear, so he sends…his female. Don’t look so startled. It was painfully obvious what was important to him. He didn’t name you, but I could tell. He is very unique for a Drow. I look forward to…investigating him further. Tell me. How did he do it? Did he offer you sweet things, or flowers? Did he whisper weak, romantic words in your ear like an elf? Perhaps you are overly fond of poetry? I might even be persuaded to picture you in…a dress. Tell me, did you wear a dress for him, like one of the surface whores. You do a males bidding, and that is indeed what you have become, a surface whore.”

Phare’s taunts sent off a maelstrom of sensations within Viconia. The insults that the elg’caress spewed stung, but they were also close to the truth. Viconia had departed form the path of the Drow and endured many of the things mentioned. She also experienced things Phaere couldn’t possibly imagine, and those things gave her strength that the other Drow would never comprehend. Viconia also knew that she would endure any of the things Phaere mentioned just to have Soris back again. Anything. She knew that now. Still, Viconia DeVir was now a Matron Mother, and no female had the right to speak such things to a Matron Mother. She had to put the elg’caress in her place.

Viconia stroked the hammer at her belt, and then curled her fingers into a fist which she rammed into Phaere’ face. She was rewarded with a terrible pain and a satisfying crunch as the bones in her hand broke along with Phaere’s nose. A rather copious amount of blood began to flow down the other woman’s face, but she didn’t wipe it away. Viconia smiled. Now she had the elg’caress. She began to speak. “I am no man’s whore. I respect Soris because he has earned it. He has fought all of the way, and he has won. No enemy can stand before him. I would be a fool to even try. His strength alone makes him more than you could ever hope to be.” The violet flecks in Viconia’s eyes sparked dangerously. She was a hair’s breath away from pulling her hammer and bashing the elg’caress out of existence. She forced herself to remain calm. She told herself that they still needed the Drow, even if she was a pitiful was of air and space. “Why do you keep me waiting? I will not leave empty-handed.”

Phaere glared at her, and continued to allow the blood to drip from her crooked nose. She pushed a small box into Viconia’s hands. “These are replicas of the Dragon’s eggs that will be used to summon the demon. Replace the real eggs with these, and bring the true eggs to me. You attempt to deceive me, but remember, the city is sealed. If the demon were to run amok, you would also be affected. I doubt you could manage to protect yourself and your pathetic lover. You shall do as I command. One way or another, you are mine.” Phaere punctuated her last statement by flicking the blood from her face onto Viconia. Several drops landed on her hair. The blood stood out, a filthy stain against the perfect silver-white background. Phaere glared dangerously. “That is all. You are dismissed.”

As they left, Viconia smiled at Keldorn. The elg’caress is over-confident, and that will prove to be her undoing. Details of a plan swirled within her head.

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“You must switch these eggs with the real ones. Kill the egg guards quietly. If you leave them alive, they will raise an alarm.” Viconia was to the point as she outlined her plan to Imoen.

“That’s easy, but I still don’t see how we’re going to get out of the city. The Chief Hag sealed it.” Viconia found Imoen’s description of the Matron Mother to be very appropriate, but she wished the girl would just agree to the plan.

“It’s really quite easy, Jaheira, Keldorn, and Minsc will escort Soris and his little beast to the entrance of the city while you and I assassinate the Matron Mother.” The plan was ambitious, but Viconia knew they would get nowhere thinking small. Imoen did not share her confidence but reluctantly agreed.

“Then we run for our lives.” Imoen had the ending right. She took Soris’ Staff of the Magi and after twirling it fondly a few times, she slipped out of the tavern. Viconia looked at Soris’ form as it lay on the bed. His little beast glanced up at her with a doleful expression. She didn’t understand the creature, and she knew it must blame her for what had happened. She tried to make it understand that she cared for Soris as well, but as usual, the little beast just looked at her. “I’m doing all that I can. Just keep him alive.” She didn’t know if the creature understood, but the words made her feel better. At least she was doing something now. If she went down, she would go down in some measure of control.

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Viconia was fed-up with the little beast. He let her approach to feed Soris, but she could do little else, and her lover was hardly very responsive. It hurt to see him in such a state, but she knew she could do nothing about it. She hoped getting him out of the Underdark and out under his beloved stars would do something for him. She ran a hand through his hair and then jumped as Imoen burst through the door, a triumphant smile across her face. Viconia glanced at her and moved to a basin to wash her hands. “I trust you were successful.” It wasn’t a question.

“Better than that, and guess who I ran into along the way?”

“I know better than to play these games with you, besides we hardly have the time to be foolish.”

“I met Solaufein. He wished us luck and gave me another set of false eggs. He said he was sorry about Soris, and that he hoped things might work out. I didn’t understand it exactly, but he seemed sad.”

“What did you do with the eggs?”

“I have them right here, both sets. Now which one is…?”

Viconia looked as if she were choking on her own tongue. “You didn’t mix them up?!”

“Ha! No. Gotcha Vic. You need to lighten up and relax a little. We’re going to get out of here. I know it.”

“How can you joke at a time like this?” Imoen’s behavior confused Viconia. She had begun to respect the cheerful girl, and she could see why Soris was fond of her, but Imoen ever-cheerful demeanor sometimes grated on the Drow. This was one of those times. Viconia’s gaze involuntarily flicked to the prone form of Soris.

“Sometimes it’s the only thing I can do, Vic. Most of the time now I feel so helpless.” Viconia was glad to know that she was not the only one. Since they had entered the Underdark, she had seen the whole group look to her, but she seemed to do them little good. Imoen went on. “I was thinking, too. We could give Phaere Solaufein’s eggs. When the demon gets duped a second time, it’ll probably get mad and go on a rampage. That should provide us with an effective distraction. Might even kill the Matron Mother for us.”

Viconia grinned and suppressed a strange desire to embrace Imoen. She thought the girl might even make a good Matron Mother, someday. Not that she’d ever want the position. Viconia congratulated her. “An excellent plan, and with the proper timing…” It was deliciously ironic. Phaere’s own ambition and over-confidence had her trapped. Viconia would have her revenge. Viconia could almost see the fear in the elg’caress’ eyes now. She turned her attention back to Imoen, and the two women settled down to plot out the last minute details of their plan.

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Everything was in place. Phaere had accepted the false eggs with pleasure, and had told them all to be at the temple for her ascension within the hour. Viconia had noticed that her nose had been healed but thought that whoever had done it had put it back crooked. It fit. Everything was working out perfectly. Now she only had to rouse Soris.

“He won’t get up. Nothing we do seems to reach him, and Eric will hardly let us touch him.” Imoen looked particularly flustered.

“Has his little beast tried? He seems to have some sort of connection.”

Imoen turned to Jaheira, but the Druid only shook her head. She seemed to have trouble communicating with Eric, as did Minsc. Something about the creature’s magical nature disrupted their usual channels.

Suddenly, Viconia had an absurd thought. “What about the rodent? They are both animals.”

Minsc looked up. “Boo says he can speak with the larger furry one, but Boo wishes to be asked nicely. Perhaps you should say please.”

Jaheira and Imoen grinned, and Viconia thought she heard Keldorn chuckling softly. She rolled her eyes and scowled down at the rodent. “Rodent, will you please speak with…Eric. We must rouse Soris if we are to escape.”

“Boo says he will ignore the insult this time. He knows you are under much stress and would not be so rude otherwise. He is the best of companions with all things small and furry and will gladly speak to Soris’ tiger. It will only be a moment.”

Viconia wanted to strike someone, or something, but she checked her anger. “Then tell him to do so, and hurry up.”

“Boo asks ever-so-nicely that you be quiet. You make it difficult for him to hear.”

Viconia rolled her eyes, but shut her mouth. She watched expectantly as the rodent made various squeaks and chirps to the little tiger. The tiger gave no sign that he understood what was going on, but his eyes took on a glazed expression, so she knew something was happening.

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Eric made his way through the utter darkness. Shapes and nightmares occasionally attempted to bar his progress, but he ignored them. They were not his fears, and they could do nothing to him. He descended a great many levels until he reached the bottom-most reaches. What was left of Soris dwelled there, alongside the essence of Bhaal. Eric could see the hideous wraith that stood beside his Soris, and tormented him with its lies. It had assumed the form of the pretty lady, and Eric knew that pulling Soris away would not be easy.

Come now. We have a job to do.

What difference will it make? Besides, I have everything I have ever dreamed about right here. Soris looked with desire upon the wraith. Eric shuddered.

No, you lost your dreams, remember. That is only the evil one who wishes to hurt you. Come with me. I will keep you safe. Trust me.

Soris looked with confusion at the wraith.

Bhaal could see that Soris was starting to waver. He decided that it was time he put his current form to use. No, Soris. Do not listen to it. It merely wants to pull us apart.

That is not true. Eric was horrified that Soris might believe the wraith. That is not the real pretty lady. The real pretty lady waits and worries. Up there. He swished his tail and looked upward into the swirling darkness. Soris took a step towards him. He spoke, “Viconia?”

The wraith behind him adopted a seductive tone. But I’m right her, my love.

You’ve never called me that before.

That’s because you’ve never needed it before. Stay here with me. Don’t leave me. I need you. Something about the wraith’s words set off warning bells in the fragments of Soris. His Viconia did tell anyone she needed them. She was strong. She did not show weakness. This was not his Viconia. He started to follow the little tiger.

No! You do not know what you are doing. Come back. You cannot win this! Viconia’s form melted into that of the slayer and charged towards Soris. Eric juxtaposed himself between the two of them and gave his most ferocious roar. “Growf!”

The Bhaal-wraith laughed, but did not come any closer. He followed them to the fringe of Soris’ mind before retreating back to his lair within the murky depths.

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Soris awoke. Pain still dotted his vision, but he was awake, and he was grateful. Viconia was standing there, arms folded. She looked angry. He thought she looked beautiful. He wanted to tell her, but the words would not come out. He tried to sit up, but he couldn’t. He back was a burning mass of agony. Jaheira and Keldorn took him gently by his arms and stood him up. Imoen handed him a potion of strength. He drank it and staggered out the door, following Keldorn.

Viconia watched her lover stagger out the door. She had resisted the urge to embrace him. She wanted to take him aside, tell him everything and heal both his body and his soul. She thought that maybe she could, but she didn’t know how to start. She owed his little beast a debt, and she swore that somehow, she would pay it. With her emotions raging inside her, she put on her most impassive face and made her way to the temple.

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Soris watched Viconia throughout the ceremony. He didn’t even glance at the demon, or the dying Drow. They weren’t important. He tried to catch her eyes, to find some kind of compassion, some sort of forgiveness. He could see nothing. He kept looking. He would keep looking until he found it. Nothing else mattered.

Viconia watched her mrann d’ssinss as the elg’caress fell. His face betrayed nothing. From anyone else, she might have felt pride, but this was not her Soris. Her Soris hated killing and would have felt remorse, but now he showed nothing. He only gave her a blank stare. She damned Phaere for what she had done, and she wished for a thousand deaths more horrid than the hand of a demon. She turned to the group. “Take anything you think might be useful. They do not deserve it. We’re leaving.” She checked her pack. The bundle that held the eggs was still safely secured there.

“Then let’s get the hell out of here.” Imoen spoke for everyone.

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Adalon was true to her word, and even helped dispatch a waiting party of Drow before seeing them out into the passage that would guide their ascent to the surface. As they prepared to leave the Underdark, Viconia found time to speak with the silver dragon, alone. She tried to find some trace of anger, or animosity to put in her voice. She tried to find some way to blame the dragon for her pain, but she could not. Her pain was her own. Finally, she spoke. “You were right. This has been the hardest journey I have ever taken. It has made me question everything I have ever known. I have paid a price that I didn’t even know existed for something I didn’t even think I wanted. I am still unsure as to what I have gained, but thank you. Perhaps I will understand in time.”

The dragon nodded towards Soris. His eyes were still riveted on the Drow. “You have gained a second chance. It is a thing offered to few, but you have paid a high price. Do not waste it. You may yet regain his love.”

“I never lost it.”

“Ahhh…So you have gained understanding as well.”

“Yes, but it cost him more than me.”

“That may be the case, but you have not paid in full, yet.”

“What do you mean? Do not give me riddles.”

“Do you love him?”

“I don’t know.”

“Do you want him, then?”

“Yes, more than anything else.”

“Do you mean your words? You will have to give more than you can possibly imagine if you truly wish to keep him. It would be easier for you just to let him go.”

Adalon’s words chilled, but did not surprise her. She knew it would not be easy. “I will do what ever it takes.” Her violet-flecked eyes held the look of gray steel. Adalon looked into the Drow’s eyes.

“Then, perhaps, you have a chance. You will have to come to know yourself. Only then can you hope to save him. However things go, you are a brave woman. The gods have singled him out, and very few would choose to walk the path with one whom gods would destroy. I wish you luck.”

Viconia turned to rejoin the group. Whom gods destroy. The thought horrified her. She had no answers. She didn’t even know what questions to ask.

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They fought their way through the Drow that infested the passageways that led to the surface. They also met surface elves. Viconia thought the surface elves looked fairly weak, but she took no chances. She kept her helmet on throughout their ascent. Her whole body ached by the time they reached the surface, and she could not understand how Soris stayed on his feet. Her mind was also exhausted from constantly beseeching her goddess for aid. It was night by the time they finished the ascension. Viconia could see the stars through the holes in the forest canopy, and she wondered if Soris noticed them. She looked at him. He was still staring at her. She pointed upwards. His gaze slowly followed her finger. His eyes turned towards the stars, and he began to cry.
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It's just the same old sights
And the same old sounds
I want to take my car and drive out of this two story town
The same old **** is going around
I'm going down, down, down, down, down

It's just the same old sights and the same old sounds
I want to take my horse and ride him off this merry-go-round
I won't give in and I won't back down
I'm going down, down, down, down down
I'm never going down, down, down, down, down
I ain't going down, down, down, down, down
In a two story town
In this two story town

--Bon Jovi – “Two Story Town”

The lyrics to this song were motivational in writing this particular story, and I posted them when I posted it originally. Here, like before, they appear at the end of the work in question.