| ## LoSt In ToRtaLL ## |
| Chapter 6 Brin could see trees and other forest greenery everywhere. It was such a beautiful day. The sun was shining on the leaves, which glistened with the new dewfall. Brin, Dom, Jon, Alanna, Numair, Daine and Raoul were leading a vast crowd of anxious mages, deep into the Royal Forest. Thayet and Kally had stayed behind to await their return. In truth there had been ordered by Jon to stay behind, he did not wont any thing to happen to them. Daine had risen near the beginning of dawn that morning and began searching for the terrorizing immortal. She did not have to look far. The Chimera was sleeping in the heart of the Royal Forest. Most likely exhausted from all the devastation it had caused during that day. King Jon and immediately sent word to all the mages -whether they had strong or a weak Gift - that they were going to destroy the Chimera once and for all. They had all gathered outside the palace where Jon had given them a brief plan of what they were about to do. Some were doubtful, as they were not told the full plan. But they all wanted to try and help. Their bravery and courage was outstanding. So here they were now. Marching through the thick foliage. All were nervous. The woods were deathly quite, making all uncomfortable. Suddenly they stopped. Daine turned and whispered something inaudible in Jon's ear. Jon, who was now white, nodded slightly. His face was a mask of purpose. He then motioned everyone into a circle. His voice was a whisper that was so quite that everyone (including those next to him) had to lean in closer to hear what he had to say. "Right everyone. I am sure you all nervous, and I will not hold anyone back if they decide they can't go through with this." Here he paused to see if anyone would object to going on. None did. "Right. The Chimera is just beyond that old hickory there. Numair and I will go through the clearing. And attack the monster first, and then the rest of you will follow. We will compose a shield to contain the beast. Use your Gifts to create a barrier between us and the monster." Jon finished the last part quietly. "What happens then?" Asked a determined mage. "You will have to wait and see." Jon replied uneasily, as he did not know himself what was going to happen. The group shuffled nervously. It was not a comforting thought that they did not know what was going to happen. "We will give you all two minutes to prepare yourselves." Numair put in. He knew it must be hard for them, trying to defeat something when none of them knew its weaknesses. They all went off in there separate directions. Of course none of them went but a few steps away. Dom then took Brin's arm and led her off to a near by tree. He looks really nervous. Brin thought to herself. "Brin, I knew we haven't been together long, but I know how I feel about you. I have never felt the same about anyone else. Every time I look at you I feel as if I am going to explode if I don't take you into my arms." Dom said this in one breath, and he kept looking around nervously. Brin smiled disarmingly, and silenced him with kiss on the lips. Dom gently pushed away. Determined to finish what he had started. He then got down on one knee. He took one of her hands in his and said, "Brin, I love you more than life itself. We have only known each other for about 2 weeks. I feel that I need to get to know you better. So, will you marry me? Not right now, but in a couple of months, or even a couple of years. When you are ready. This is not exactly a proposal, but like a promise.I promise that when we have gotten to know each other more and spent more time together, that I would like to spend the rest of my life with you. You could live in a castle by the sea, where we could watch the sun set. What do you think?" Here Dom closed his eyes and waited for her response. Wondering if he had been turned down. "I would love to. But what about your knighthood?" Brin asked incredulous. Was he about to give up being a knight for her? "I would give it up. I would give it all up for you." "I couldn't live with myself if you gave it all up for me. But I like the idea of a castle. We could have one near Pirate's Swoop. I here its beautiful up there in the summer. I could always come with you on your adventures." She added slyly. "Oh no you don't! If would not be safe!" "I could take lessons on self defence. I am sure Alanna would not mind teaching me! Also I do have protection remember!" She added remembering her magic. "I forgot about that." He added ruefully. "Well then its decided. We can ride off into the distance when this is over and.… " She trailed off. Remember the plan. Don't get carried away! Brin told herself severely. "We better get ready." She finished hurriedly. "Why don't you ask me when this is all over? Then we would have accomplished something together?" Dom just nodded smiling and led her back over where the rest of their group was. It looked like he was going to get the girl he loved. Well, that was what he thought anyway. Numair and Jon were just finishing a few last minutes tactics. When they saw Brin and Dom emerge from the side of the clearing, they took Brin to one side and asked her, if she was sure she knew what she was doing, and that she made sure she did not put herself in any unnecessary harm. Brin nodded. She would be careful. You don't need to worry. At that the group split up. Jon held up his hand to announce that they were ready to begin the attack. Numair stood at the edge of the clearing, watching the immortal breath. 'Those will be your last breaths. You will not get away with hurting the ones I care about.' Numair abruptly ran forward while shouting words that no one understood. The words were probably in Old Thak. A ball of black fire that glimmered with silver, gathered in his hands. He hurdled it at the creature, with as much force as he could. But by now the Chimera was conscious from all the shouting, and had managed to dodge the ball of fire with ease. The fire exploded when it came in contact with the nearest tree. There was smoke and fire everywhere. Most of the mages and Chimera were momentarily blinded. The Chimera regained its compositor quickly and charged in the direction of Numair. Jon appeared next to Numair. In one hand he held a purple glowing gem. The chimera halted in its tracks. It had never come encountered a jewel like this and it was not sure what it could do. But it sensed it was very powerful. Vines and other plants glowing purple, suddenly blasted out of the ground and entangled themselves around the Chimera.More balls of fire now appeared. Blue, green, purple, red and yellow. Most of the colours collided, and created new colours never seen before. The fire was now connecting with the other Gifts of the mages and had started making a wall. It was like building with different coloured blocks. A shield was being made to temporarily imprison the creature while the last stage of the plan was completed. Brin glanced at Dom and turned back to what was happening in front of her. Now was her time to act. But strangely she was not as frightened at she thought she would be. She actually felt calm and reassured. Brin still took a deep breath and prayed that all would go as planned and the Chimera would be destroyed. Brin looked back at Dom one last time, and took the first step and halted. "What ever happens, just remember that I love you." Brin said this with a fiery determination that for a few seconds Dom was taken aback. But he shrugged it off. Brin started walking, but she still hadn't turned away from Dom. She wished she could be sure of the consequences. But of course she couldn't. Brin turned back to look at the Chimera, and carried on towards the edge of the now completed multi coloured shield. She would have to act fast. She could she the effort of holding the creature on the mages faces. They were sweating, but some of them looked confident that this would work, even if they did not know the whole plan. A sudden gap in the shield appeared in front of Brin. She stepped through swiftly before the Chimera had a chance to escape. The Chimera soon caught sight of Brin and almost immediately lunged for her. Fortunately she was quick enough to side step it. The Chimera whirled around and prepared to launch another attack. But Brin was quick. She was facing the Chimera and was getting ready to start an attack of her own. As the Chimera slowly approached, Brin ran forward and placed her hands on the forehead of the immortal. There was a flash of rose coloured light that appeared to enclose the Chimera and Brin. Brin closed her eyes tightly and tried to imagine that the Chimeras strength and health would be draw into her hands and then to the rest of her body. Suddenly, she felt the barriers that were set up to prevent this type of intrusion fall apart. Brin felt the life, which was the Chimera, flow with ease into her hands and therefore the rest of her body. Brin started to sweat within a few minutes. The power that was required to draw another's life force was enormous. She could feel the Chimera resist what was being done to it, but with no avail. Brin was now struggling to hold all the existence that was the Chimera. She could feel it entering her own life force. Her own Gift and life source was being corrupted by the very presence of Chimeras being inside her. All that was chaos was corrupting her; and there was nothing she could do about it. The mages looked on in horror as they realised what Brin was trying to do. Dom was in a state of shock. He didn't know much about magic, but he knew what Brin was doing; and the consequences of what she was doing. 'So that's why she was acting strangely'. He thought, terrified for her safety. All of a sudden he truly understood how dangerous this was. The power of life in the Chimera would surly kill her! She would not be able to contain it! Why was she doing this? Even though Dom asked himself this last question, he already knew his answer. She was doing this for Tortall, for her friends and for him. He remembered her last words she said to him. His eyes grew wide as he realised the hidden meaning behind those few word. Everyone else around him seemed to be coming to the same conclusion. Everybody was now wishing that they could do something for the woman that was risking her life for theirs. But they all knew there was nothing they could do. Brin was now beginning to feel the toll of what she was doing. The pain she was feeling was immense. It almost felt like a thousand burning knives were being pushed through her skin. When she felt she could stand it no longer, the Chimera let out a final high-pitched scream and vanished. All that was left was a mass of swirling smoke. And some odd coloured light. The barrier too vanished, and over half of the mages collapsed. They were not used to this type of strain on their Gifts. Daine and Dom ran toward. Daine to Numair, and Dom to Brin. But as Dom reached Brin, she too collapsed. Then everyone saw what he or she had missed before. It was a sort distortion of the light. But it was shimmering all kinds of colours, and oblivious to everyone who did not look directly at it. That was why they had missed it before. Brin looked up one final time. Sadness was in her eyes. She mouthed the words; I love you. Always and forever. Then she was encircled by the distortion and disappeared. Dom ran forward faster, but was to late. The opening was gone, and so was Brin. He fell to his knees at the spot where she had vanished. Numair came forward with Daine and Jon at his side. Numair lifted his left hand and when black fire surrounded it he passed it through the air. Nothing happened. Numair frowned slightly. "What is it?" Jon asked softly. "This whole area is now covered with chaos residue." Numair stated puzzled. "But, how?" Dom asked, quietly. Still unable to digest what had happened to Brin. "What you see here is the result of a portal opening directly into the lair of Chaos." Said a sudden husky voice. Jon, Numair, Daine and Dom spun round at the sound of that voice. They knew that voice. It sounded like wolves at a hunt. There stood yet again, the Great Mother Goddess. The mages who still remained gasped and turned their head respectfully. The Goddess looked at them all meaningfully. They got the hint, and quietly left. The Goddess turned back to look at the group the stood in front of her. They either bowed or curtsied in admiration of the Goddess. She smiled regretfully at them. "The portal that has just opened was the creation of Chaos. As it turns out, that at the exact moment that Brin destroyed the Chimera, Uusoae decided that she would get a report in how things were fairing. So, she needed to open a channel to connect them. As the chaos that made up the Chimera, was in Brin that was used as a beckon to Uusoae. But as mortals all ready have some chaos in them, it provided too much for the connection to withstand. So instead of just communicating, Brin was transported to the Realm of Chaos." "WHAT!" They all screamed. "I am sorry for your loss. By now if Brin is not already dead, she will be undergoing torture. Uusoae will not forgive her for destroying one of her creations." The Goddess said finally. There was now deathly silence. No one knew what to say. Really there was nothing to say. "Is there a way to get her back?" Dom asked, hope coming into his voice. "I am afraid not. Not without opening a portal that would be too big, and then let the entire realm of chaos through as well. Please remember that this was her own choice and that she did what she had to do. There was no other way." Now the Goddess had said all that she was going to, she began to fade. Within seconds she was gone. It was a sad and dreary walk back to the palace. No one felt like talking. When they arrived, the nobles demanded to know what had happened. When they were told they went silent, in respect. There was a banquet held in the evening in the honour of Brin. People talked about the good times and the memories that they had shared and of what they knew of the young noble. Jon and Dom gave a speech, of her courage and bravery. It was inspiring. Although in the middle of Dom's speech he stopped, unable to continue cause of grief. He had left the hall in a hurry. Not able to bear it any longer. When he reached his chambers he wept. He would never again see that lovely face of hers. Never kiss her sweet lips. Never hear her laugh. Never see her cry. What would he do with out her? He thought long that night. Was there a way to bring her back? Could he? Should he? Dare he? How long could he resist the temptation to have her in his arms again? But what could he do? Nothing. He would just have to get on with his life. But he would never fully recover. He loved her too much. But she would always be in his heart. Always and forever. |