Chapter 21 ( Rejoicing Around The Fire and Preparing For War)

Meanwhile in South America. 

Hadassah and Richard conjured a large coffin with plush cushions inside it. They spent the rest of the daylight hours building a roof over the sleeping area. They stopped for some food by the fire and continued making the roof before it got too dark. So they were up off the ground, check. roof over head, check. Deluges happened a lot this time of year. Smiling to herself she got in the lidless coffin and realized that it was quite comfortable and soft. Richard was bouncing around trying to negotiate what the best way to go about getting into the temple was. There was just the two of them and Rasputin and whatever demon Richard could conjure up out of the pits of hell. 

By his count they needed at least one more person to join their little fiasco in the making. Sensing what he was thinking she murmured, " Remember , what I am when the jewel is off. I am quite strong. Don't worry come back over here and get in this coffin." Richard sighed and knew she was right and returned to the makeshift hovel and got into the coffin. In the light of the fire he smirked and said," Well, look at this. Who  would have thought I wouldn't have to sleep single in my double coffin." Then he started laughing because she would never, ever get the reference. She looked at him quizzically and leand over to kiss him softly.

Back in Avalon.

Kerari danced with Valudaz, He smiled at her as memories of their youth came flooding back to him. It was so very long ago. Many people had lived and died and been reborn over in the time since they last danced.  Slayde stepped forward and touched Miralania’s bared shoulder and held out his hand. Somewhere along the edge of the fire her father , King of the fauns began to play a flute where she left off. Nodding to his child as the couple began to dance. It was her time to shine. The time was coming for her to rise forth for her to become the Paladin she always was. For tonight though, she could just be Mira. She smiled at Slayde and turned as he motioned his arm wide and pulled her back to him. Her delicate hooves never missing a step." Tears of joy fell from her eyes to be surrounded by such love.

A few hours later as they all sat resting around the fire they began to sing songs and tell stories. Old Marley smiled and came over to King Valudus. “ Good sir, we know you can fight, we know you can dance but can you play the blues?” Val looked at Rahnyah and chuckled softly. “ Can I sing the Blues? Give me that axe Andronus! Come over and help me here.” He said as  his brother came up and sat down smirking slightly.” You knew someone was going to ask didn’t you. It had to happen. Marley knows you though, he has heard you sing in Old Salem and in the Big Easy.” His older brother stated sardonically. Looking at his brother sternly he jabbed his elbow in his side . “ “Ok come on let’s get to it. Follow me.” Marley smirked, " Don't worry my brutha, it ain't no thing, bring it to the hizouse." The old troll leaned back and took a rip off his doobie and held it for a moment and let the smoke out slowly.

The Old druid remembered a song from ages gone by, from the Kenny Wayne Shepherd band. Ambrosious had brought it through the portal when it was deeply popular and Val and Andronus learned how to play it together and began to strum the guitar , he and his older brother began to sing. “Night falls and, I’m alone...Skin….Chills me to the bone. Yo..u turned and you ran. Oh yeah. Slipped, right from my hands.. Hey, Blue on Black, tears on a river, push on a shove it don’t mean much. Joker on jack, match on a fire. Cold on ice it’s a dead man’s touch. Whisper on a scream, doesn’t change a thing. It wont bring you back aak, Blue on Black."The song continued on for another verse and round of chorus everyone sat enthralled as the King jammed with his brother beside him. When the song was done everyone cheered and someone else started playing a song from the ancient past. The dulcet tones of "Watchtower" began to play and reverbeated across the lake that sent chills down Rhiannon's spine. She had missed so much and drank up every moment of happiness as if it were her very last. Pennance was over at last. She looked into Ambrosiuous's eyes and he seemed to know exactly what she was feeling and cupped her cheek and kissed the tip of her nose." Enjoy it my beloved. Breathe the air. The Mares really no longer need you there are adventures to be had. I feel it coming my love."

Old Marley was still puffing on the huge Doobie he rolled from the flowers of his necklace. This necklace of Vision flower never seemed to dissapate no matter how often the old druid pulled buds from it. Half of it was Sativa Vision Flower, the other half was Indica and right in the middle front and back where the two sides met was a hybrid of both. He stomped his troll feet and bobbed around the fire light handing the doobie to people and then taking it back to the next person. " You all Gone be Flyin' high here in a minute or two. There always be an herb for everything that ails you my Nizzles." He said chuckling. And somewhere in the back a little gobblin named Meech Charin yelled. " Hey man, us Gobblin Americans need some smokey love too."

Marley took a big toke and nodded his head as he motioned for the little guy to come up to the fire. He helped him hold the big doobie as he puffed his little heart out. " Ok little man don't be bogarting it. There's alot of peeps that need some. Walk with me, tell me sumthin' I don't know." Meech Charin walked with him as the druid dosed as many people he could with his magic necklace. He talked about Gobblin rights and how they couldn't get the spider people to leave them alone. They kept stealing the gobblin women and making them slaves. Old Marley nodded as they went along and tried to make the little fellow feel better. " Hey man, My little Nemotode, how about you bring your lady to New, New Orleans and set up a vision flower shop? I'll give you the flowers from my wonderful necklace here and you sell them to everyone who wants them. We will call it Meech Charin's Legendary Herbs. Then you ain't gotta worry about all those Spider homies jackin' shit up." The little gobblin took a puff and said," Oh yeah Homes and I could put pink fluffy dice and baby booties in the window. I put cut plush carpet on the floor and on top of the display counters. It'll be amazing!"

Old Thibideau interjected his thoughts for a moment . " Now I don't know about you but this is getting good." He said as he looked around the room .The youngest of the children fallen asleep…Their parents sat in rapture as they listened to the old Paladin trainer speak. Tears were in Old Rahnyah's eyes as she remembered that night. " Ok now, take those babies to bed, I'll hold on a moment till you get back." The moms and nannies took the children to the nursery wing and came back quickly," Ok where were we. Ahh yes right here."Thibideau said as he continued. Then he paused and injected something he was thinking.

“ They worked flawlessly off one another. For the song being over a thousand years old brought a new perspective to just the vast amount of knowledge the elves really held. How many ages of the Earth they had weathered? How many times they had to fade from the view of mortal men? But the blues? The blues never fade in time. Someone , somewhere , has a broken heart, been screwed over or just screwed someone over. So the blues my friend, will never go out of style even after we are dead and gone. 

There are so many things that live on long after we pass from this Earth, children. So many things I have to teach you. That we all have to teach you. Like I said before , Life isn’t easy, nor will it ever be my sweet , sweet little friends. Nor is life fair. Just look at all the bad things that happen to good folks. That my children is The Gods’ of this universe testing us. Testing our mettle to see how good our souls really are.” The children sat mesmerized by the old man as they always did drinking up his knowledge and experience. “ Knowledge. Knowledge is the one thing a bad person can not take away from you. They can take your pride, they can bully you, they can hit you and hurt you and even starve you. They can even kill you. BUT, they can never take away from you what you have already learned. Knowledge is your greatest gift and greatest treasure of all things you could ever want or need. For with Knowledge all things follow. The riches, the glory and the love, all of it pales in comparison to the gift of knowledge. Ok let’s continue on with this story we are almost to the end. No not really , I was just testing you. YOU know this story is long and fraught with danger. Ok they were around the fire. Let's get back to it shall we?”

"We are still at Avalon , Ah, Ok here we are."Thibideau continued.

“ Is this how one prepares for war?” A dwarf asked from behind someone close by. Rahnyah stood up and walked up to where she could see all the fires that dotted the landscape and raised her hands and spoke loud so it would ring through the fields. “ Humans of Lorthramar! How do we prepare for war!” Looking up from the mage he was sitting beside Weiblich motioned for Sherari to join him and went to stand beside the queen. “ Pretty soon many people will loose their lives to protect this planet from the one who would destroy it. This is how my people call to war.”

Taking a deep breath with hands wide open she began to sing .

‘ Sound the alarm , gather the people, Let the ministers wail, Take back the years that enemy has stolen come to our nation with a holy visitation. Sound the alarm awaken the watchmen open their ears let the voices be loud." Rabbi Allen pulled the Shofar from his bag that was sitting on the ground near him and sounded the shofar loudly. And continued to blow it as Queen Rahnayh sang.

" We prophesy you’ll come to this nation touch this generation with a holy visitation. We return to you , with fasting and weeping and mourning. Oh Lord we return to you. We lie here weeping between porch and Altar , pour out your spirit on your sons and daughters. We lie here weeping between porch and altar pour out your spirit on your sons and daughter,. We dance , we shout! Lift up our voice let your kingdom come down! We dance! We shout! Lift up our voice let your kingdom come down." She reached out her hands to the people near the fire and they danced and shouted as the Shofar sounded. "

 I was made for war! I was made for battle Lord, I was made for war! I was made for battle Lord! Release the crying! Release the broken. Pour it out on your sons and daughters , We lie here weeping between porch and altar.!”

Looking around she pointed to the drummers, release the drums! Lifting her hands up as were Sherari and Wieblich. The whole of the human nation was up on their feet singing with them. Drummers were drumming and Shofar was being blown somewhere by Rabbi Allen. Sherari looked at him and knew in her heart this was her soul mate. She had lived one and a half thousand years to come to this point.

Holding her arms out wide and turning slowly she yelled above the din.” This.. Is . How. We. Prepare Ourselves. For .War! Now that I have your Attention, We need a group of people to take these Trucks of Gold to The Blackwell in Buenos Aires! We must venture to Drow to rally the nations of the world to fight Upon Gahenna? Vallium you will need to go. Janice you as well, Ishellia you too. You are the guarantee the others wont get killed when those trucks drive up into the Blackwell throne room."

Ten  more men stepped forth and bowed before their queen. “ I will open a wormhole for you to drive the trucks through right into Drows court yard. Ishellia honey you will speak with Drow and tell him where to have his people meet with us.” Ishellia touched Rahnayh's cheek. Enjoy your wedding night my dear. she said with tears in her eyes tinged with blood." Rahnyah reached out and caught them. Ishellia's hand came up and stopped her." Don't touch them anymore sweetie, we dont know if it can seep in and hurt my God son. Daz my son, I love you. She said as she kissed his cheek and hugged him tightly."  Rahn, I can do it." Ishellia said as she began to flick her fingers rotating them clockwise a green wormhole began to open. Slowly it swirled as it grew larger. The men and Ishellia boarded the trucks and drove the gold through. Everyone watched as the wormhole came to a close on this side.

 For several hours after they all sang and danced and drummed their drums and played their flutes and Violins. It seemed one pure moment of joy. The fires of Beltane would be remembered for many years to come as the defining moment in many of their lives.Too many things fall by the wayside over the passage of Time but the memories garnered here would not be forgotten in this life or the next. The tales spun here would live on in infamy with the heros that would venture forth and rescue this world from the oppression of evil and demonic forces.

Kerari reached out and took Valudaz by the hand and pulled him into the darkness. Faint firelight caressed her face as she turned to him.” I may never get another chance to say this. I followed you one day and I don’t know why. Maybe it was because I missed you. You were so torn and angry and I didn’t know how to say anything. So I watched you from afar, sitting int eh chapel. Then, near the mine, I heard a noise and went to check it out and it was you again. Still I didn’t have the strength to say anything, so I backed away not knowing we were headed to the same place.” 

Daz looked into her eyes and slowly began to understand what she was saying. She had felt his pain even though they had been separated from the grove and each other for over a thousand years.  Slowly he leaned down and kissed her lips , gently caressing her face with his thumbs. ”Come.” He said in a husky voice as he led her back to his family home. He would know the way if he was blind. It was a hundred yards out behind his grandmothers home. His mothers home before the elves came back into the land of men. The home of his father when he chose to be a watcher upon this earth. It had become his home when his mother and father married and he came of age.

Within minutes he had a fire blazing in the hearth and fur and blankets brought from one of the bedrooms and lay them on the floor in front of the hearth.He motioned for her to join him on the floor and held her hand as she sat beside him. He brushed the hair back from her face and kissed her softly as they lay down and snuggled under the furs .

The next morning dawned slowly.. There had been much wine and beer drunk the night before and as Kerari sat up holding the soft furs across her breasts demurely. They had definitely honored the Goddess last night with their love making. She looked around for her clothes. Gently she tried to pry the halter from beneath Valudaz’s back. She inadvertently woke him up and he grabbed her arm and pulled her to him and kissed her deeply.” Good morning,” He murmured. Smiling at him she playfully tugged her shirt from under his back and kissed him again.’ “Good morning yourself, old man. ”She said softly as her hair fell over her shoulder while she dressed quickly. “ Get dressed old man, we have places to go, people to kill. Chop, chop.” Smirking slightly at her gusto he realized they were really very much alike. I have a feeling that we are going to be going somewhere very soon."

He sat up and began to dress as he watched the young elf looking through his father's old kitchen. “ I found some herbs, do you want me to make some tea?” Smiling at her he replied,” Yes of course that would be lovely.” She made him some Black tea with cardamom, cinnamon , clove and nutmeg and brought the steaming cup to him.” Daz, all the herbs were fresh how did they know we would use the house?” chuckling softly while taking a sip. “ This is my grandmother we are talking about , she is not High Queen for no reason. I assume she had a priestess come stock the herbs a couple of days ago.” Nodding her respect. ‘ By the way, my father asked how old you were and I told him I assumed you were near one thousand and fifty am I right?” Stunned slightly she smiled ,” I’m so flattered I am one thousand five hundred and fifty five good guess. Good man always tell a woman she looks younger than she is.” She hugged him quickly and pulled on her boots lacing them up her thighs. 

"Ok let’s go see what everyone else is doing.” She grabbed his hand while he tugged his left boot on with the other and closed the door behind them. As they walked out of the forest and into the glenn, people lay scattered on the ground for a mile. Last embers of their fires still smoking . Walking to his fathers tent he tapped the wooden pole. Rahnyah’s voice came from inside.” Come in.” They both ducked their heads and entered the tent and sat on the chairs to the side. “ Father, you said the dagger was in the Vatican?” Val looked over at his son. “ Yes. Twenty feet under water I think.” The room is a sealed vault from what I understand from your mother. So once you find a way in you have to protect the dagger from getting wet or Yeshuah’s blood will wash off.” Daz nodded his understanding and then spoke,” What a sweet child he was. Very talented. It is such a shame they killed him and from what you said he resurrected himself? I think that boy was a shaman father. I was thinking, Maybe if we go in from above and then possibly find a pocket of air to get in and out of If the vault is sealed then we would have to come in from the top . Maybe Kerari and I will build a small section above the vault then syphon off the water. Blow the top and get into the vault and get the blade. Simple in theory but nothing is ever as simple as it seems now is it?” With the quest in hand they looked at one another and smiled and Rahnyah hugged him tightly. 

The couple exited the tent and saw to the left his aunt free from the lake she and Ambrosious had not even been to sleep yet they watched the sun rise together for the first time in over five thousand years. They waved at them but did not go and disturb them as they both knew what had transpired over the years. Kerari always felt sorrow for Rhiannon and would leave flowers upon the shore of the lake for her when she emerged from the waters at the time of the dark trees. She would stay up and watch her speak to the mare s when she was a child and always wondered why she still sent them out into the night. Little did she know it was to bring visions to those who would need them. So to Italy they go. Kerari and Daz went to the stables and procured two horses from her father and hugged and kissed him goodbye after she told him the news and that she would return to the grove soon.