The period of intense mourning had passed within the House of Three Graces, though some amount of sadness and a growing unease echoed through the hallways of stone and candlelight. The inhabitants were becoming increasingly aware of a certain watchfulness coming from a source unknown. Most had kept quiet about it or shrugged it off as a mere oddity beneath notice.
One who had not was Calidis, who had, as of late, achieved a strange sense of calm in the midst of the usual internal storms that waxed and waned without any real control within her save for what the pendant about her neck could quell.
Xanderian found her first, sitting quietly as ever within the Hall of Memories, book she had already read thrice in her hands and the serene calm she expressed only broken intermittently by the slight furrow of her alabaster brow, as if her inner contemplations troubled her more so than they usually did. Thereafter, Ahmo too joined them, leaning against the wall, observing the both of them quietly, lost to her own thoughts.
They were soon joined by Nethrida and Eduwiges, that latter of the two tromping through the door like she’d just ended a war.
“I was ambushed by the bloody corsairs up the coast! They were many but meek,” proclaimed Eduwiges before she stepped over to the guardswoman and lifted her bodily from the floor to squish her in a tight, armored hug. “You! I am happy to see you!”
Nethrida accepted the hug with a bemused smile. “Hey! I’m glad to see you too!” she replied in a surprised tone when she was set down again.
“Allow me to change,” said Eduwiges as she left the room to garb herself in something less grimy, which Calidis was quietly grateful for, knowing that she would be embraced by the warrior next. When Eduwiges returned, cleaner than when she had arrived, the elleth accepted the ensuing hug and kiss to both cheeks, having long since learned to do so without any qualms. Still, when Eduwiges pulled away to then bestow her affections upon Xanderian, her pensive look returned to her expression and did not go unnoticed.
“Is there something bothering you, Calidis?” asked Eduwiges.
The ring mage looked up to the Rohirric woman and put on what she hoped was a reassuring smile. “It is nothing that I cannot handle,” she replied swiftly, sounding as if she had just made a decision of sorts. Eduwiges nodded and then grimaced a little. The elleth then set aside her book and reached out to take one of Xanderian’s hands within her own to gain her attention.
“Are you sure ‘tis naught for us to be concerned of?” inquired Nethrida calmly, to which Calidis nodded again. The jewller took a deep breath through her nose and exhaled it quietly as she could before looking up to the other elleth.
“Xanderian, in Imladris you asked for my aid. In all this time I have prepared for it as much as I am able to… I should like to render that aid to you now while I still have the nerve to do so without faltering.”
At this moment, the recently-elusive Addiela made her appearance; quietly slipping in the door like a serpent and closing it quietly. She glanced about the room, taking in the sight of those gathered there, until her hollow gaze finally landed and remained fixed upon Calidis. Her head tilted to the side slightly as she observed her.
“I understand, sweet Night Eye,” intoned Xanderian. “You wish Warsong.”
Calidis nodded once. “I do.”
Xanderian slipped out the room and returned not long afterwards bearing a greatsword, still in its scabbard, the blue crystal in its hilt pulsing softly with light. “Cyndwin sleeps,” explained Xanderian, carefully laying the sword at Calidis’ feet. “She has already given her consent for this.”
Addiela turned her hollow gaze to the sword and her eyes twinkled at the sight of the crystal. A wicked smile formed upon her lips as she felt the energy pulsing from it. Eduwiges, however, took a step back as her eyes widened upon seeing the sword.
Calidis looked to the blade at her feet yet did not reach down to pick it up. She regarded the weapon with a mixture of resolve, scholarly curiosity, and, perhaps, some lingering apprehension. At last she looked to Xanderian to give her a grateful nod and then shifted her dark gaze to others in the room, allowing it to rest upon Addiela for a moment longer, noticing that she was no longer smiling wickedly but sweetly and innocently; a complete change from just seconds before. Eyes darker than night met those of blue before Calidis deigned to speak again.
"... I confess I am unsure as to what shall happen, good or ill. Thus, I would have others about me, in case something takes a turn for the worse. But I would hold no one here hostage should they not wish to be present. What I am dealing with is... uncharted territory, even for myself.”
“'Do you all know the tale of this crystal, at least that little we are aware of?” asked Xanderian, looking to Eduwiges, Nethrida, and Addiela, and Ahmo in turn.
“'I would not object to a quick reminder,” answered Nethrida. “Much has happened.”
“Cyndwin discovered the crystal in Moria,” began Xanderian. “Then, it was a stone the size of her palm. She kept it as a remembrance until one day, completing some business in Carn Dûm, she disappeared as if she had never been at all. I spent a year seeking her until at last I found her. She said she remembered dreaming for but a few moments in a crystal prism and, when she awoke, a year had passed and she was covered in crystal shards and found that the stone was now embedded in the hilt of her blade.”
A moment of silence ensued as the assembled were caught up in the gravity of this situation. Until Xanderian broke the silence again, gesturing to Calidis.
“After examining it, sweet Calidis has some suspicions regarding its origins, as do I.”
Calidis took up the mantle again, her voice quiet and eloquent as usual. “Xanderian found me in Imladris by chance and asked me to render my aid to her and Cyndwin. It is my intention to ascertain whether our suspicions are correct as well as to prevent such an occurrence happening to Cyndwin again.”
Eduwiges chewed on her bottom lip in concentration. “So, what does all of this mean?”
“If our suspicions are indeed correct,” continued the jeweller, “That could be for good or ill. There are many uncertainties. What I am about to attempt is... dangerous. But I have prepared as much as I have been able to and would be grateful to have others about me. But, again, I would hold no one here that does not wish to be present.”
“Then what would you have us do?” inquired Ahmo from where she stood, silently but astutely observing the conversation.
“All of us are with you,” replied Eduwiges, looking to Nethrida, Addiela, and Ahmo with certainty.
“Hopefully simply witness whatever occurs,” answered Xanderian. “Beyond that, I cannot say what is possible. We may be dealing with forces from before Númenor rose, let alone sank.” The Rohirric warrior grimaced and rested her hand upon her sword.
Calidis looked to Addiela for a moment with an intent, bottomless gaze before turning her dark gaze to the sword at her feet once more. “Should I appear to be in pain or distress to the extreme, I would ask that you... try to stop it if at all possible. Again, how you could I am uncertain. But I would feel better and calmer knowing that there are those who would try.”
The eyes of both Nethrida and Eduwiges widened in slight alarm. “Stop what?” asked Eduwiges. “And how?”
“As we do most other things, my love,” Xanderian said. “We improvise.”
"Even having those to watch over me will be most helpful,” stated Calidis, trying to smile a little.
Nethrida nodded slowly. "Then we shall aid however we may.”
“By all means,” chuckled Eduwiges in a slightly exasperated manner. “As always, my sword and body are yours to command.” One look towards Ahmo resulted in a nod from the eldest elf present and, though Addiela said nothing, it was clear she was not going anywhere.
Calidis smiled in her relief and appreciation and bowed her head slightly. “Thank you.”
Without another word, she looked to the sword again, silently steeling her resolve, and then reached down to take it up in both of her hands, holding it upon both palms with a practiced air. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly and measuredly; entering a sort of half-trance like state of calm or meditation. Those present noticed that the anxious and hesitant Calidis they had come to know had melted away, replaced by the calm and practiced professional. The jewel mage began to silently reach out to the energy that resided within the crystal, searching for a song, heard only by those with experienced ears, while offering her own inner song; a gentle tone, much like rainfall.
One by one, each person in the room slowly became aware of a strange sound, like someone speaking in the next room in a slowly growing mumble. As the sound grew louder, they recognized that the tone sounded tender, like someone coaxing a reluctant child. As it grew ever louder and more distinct, they realized that the voice was speaking some sort of elvish… or something like elvish. It was smoother, softer, and impossible to grasp completely. Then, like lightning it shifted in origin, coming from the next room, then behind them, then perhaps inside each of them. The words it spoke seemed to not only have a sound but also a color, but not one that could be described. The voice was movement itself and embodied all the senses, and yet was no one thing in totality.
Nethrida tensed up and felt a little exposed without a weapon on hand. As the sound drew nearer, or at least nearer in her own perception, she took half a step backwards and darted her gaze around to try and find the source of it. After a brief moment, she did seem to ease a little, not feeling threatened. Eduwiges gasped aloud, both alarmed and curious. Ahmo remained where she stood, looking more intrigued than anything else. Addiela, however, seemed to ignore the strange sound and voice altogether and kept her gaze fixed upon Calidis and the sword, watching for her reaction.
Calidis felt Xanderian’s hand upon her shoulder and a whisper in her ear in Sindarin, “It stirs… It calls to me.” The jeweller tilted her head ever so not breaking her concentration for a single second. Her dark, bottomless gaze shifted slowly to each of her companions as she remained in a half-trance like state while still being very much aware of what was happening about herself. She maintained her calm professionalism with practiced ease and reached out even further with her own inner song. When she spoke, her voice seems to took on a lilting quality as she switched to Noldorin Quenya.
“I hear you and would speak with you. But, if there is aught that you wish to speak, say on, though I would ask that you speak in words that can be understood by all." Her tone was deferential and respectful but not meek or yielding. She could not afford to be so when in the presence of something with a will of its own.
Then there was another noise, almost like someone scowling and pouting. Each person heard the voice speak in the language they first learned as children. “You came to me and whispered a greeting anew Aegrod, and then you went away again. Have you finally come to seek the aid I was told that you have need of? We love you from old and will do all we can for you... For all of you.”
Xanderian bit her lip and rested her hand more firmly upon Calidis’ shoulder. Eduwiges closed her eyes as her mind folded to the warmth she felt from hearing her first language spoken to her. By the wall, Ahmo raised one brow in inquisition. Nethrida, on the other hand, looked around again, once more confused by the source of the voice she heard. So much so, that she murmured, “Can anyone else hear that?” in a subdued tone, as if afraid the voice would hear her instead. Over by the door, Addiela smiled impishly, still keeping her gaze fixed upon the crystal.
A line appeared between Calidis' brows for a brief second before disappearing again. She held tightly to her resolve and spoke again, still in the same lilting voice, but she choosing Westron this time, certain that the crystal would even understand that. “Aegrod, who you loved, no longer resides here in these lands. I will name myself before you now. I am Calidis, daughter of Aegrod, whom you loved. If you bear love for him still, I ask that you speak to me as you would to him, for I do need your aid."
“Then it is as the wandering told me,” the voice replied in Westron. “Not Aegrod. Aid I will give you. The time of your darkness is over. And, as I was beseeched, I give you the light…”
A rush of wind was felt, though they were all indoors, and those assembled were flooded with an onslaught of emotion; wonder, horror, desperation. In a moment they all felt as if they had died a thousand times and were born anew after each. And, when it passed, they could not be sure that any of it actually happened. But then another sensation, like someone standing next to each of them, was felt.
Xanderian gasped aloud and nearly dropped to one knee, still keeping hold of Calidis’ shoulder. Ahmo leaned harder against the wall, pressing a closed fist to it and looked somewhat dazed. Nethrida clutched her head and let out a cry of pain. Her fortitude failed her and she fell down onto her knees, panting. She grit her teeth and finally lifted her head up to look at the others. Eduwiges staggered, but her sword is in her hand in an instant, seeking for any threat. Her eyes focused on their companion, still standing by the door.
Addiela remained upright, as if some invisible force was keeping her afloat and detached. The odd rush of emotion and sensation left her mostly unphased. Now, however, she was left feeling intrigued, looking to the crystal with a new sinister curiosity; could this relic be useful for her purpose? Yes, yes... It might just be. Death and life, death and life. Could this be the life? Does she also need the death? Her mind began to plan as she glanced aside to where she felt this new presence standing beside her.
Calidis felt something within her break, shattering like ice during a spring thaw. She opened her mouth to question and inquire but, instead, a gasp of unconcealed pain escaped her as her dark eyes shut tight. Her head bowed, as if she were experiencing some great headache. Her hands, holding the sword still, clenched tightly, the blade cutting deeply into one of her palms, which leaked blood onto her dress. Upon seeing the blood when she opened her eyes again, she let out another gasp and released the blade of the sword with one hand still holding it tightly about the hilt. The expression on her face morphed into one of panic and horror and she scrambled to her feet, gaze flitting this way and that. It was clear to all that, in her mind, she was no longer here in the present, but walking in the world of something unseen.
All looked to the elleth with concern as the voice came again, this time laughing lightly. “Go with her. Go with Not Aegrod…" The world about them seemed to melt slowly, the present dissolving into nothing. And then it reformed again.
The company found themselves adorned as if for battle, weapons in hand. They stood beside an elleth whom they recognized as Calidis. But this was not the Calidis they had come to know. The long years had not settled upon her, ageless though she be. She was clad in sapphire instead of greys and blacks. Her dark eyes, wide with fright, glittered like the night sky instead of looking deep as a bottomless well. She did not register their presence at all.
About them was a ruined city put to flame…
(to be continued in "A Dirge In Red - Part The Second")
