The Four Sided Triangle

By Zack

Jump to new as of August 29, 2000
Jump to new as of September 12, 2000

Part 1

Posted on Tuesday, 8 August 2000, at 8 : 26 p.m.

Elizabeth raised her hand against the bright sun. With a slight sigh she squinted against the harsh glare and walked down the dusty worn path toward the marketplace, her wicker basket in hand. This was the third time this week that she had need to visit the marketplace for bread and fruit. The crops had failed this year due to unknown disease that had struck the entire village. There was talk of the Prophecy, but Elizabeth just shrugged that off. Silly hearsay was nothing that could effect her. The heat of midday was beginning to become unbearable so she walked into the shade of a large Willowood tree and leaned against the gently twisted trunk. As she glanced down the road, she caught a glimpse of the castle. The kingdom of Pemberley was the largest on the continent of Derbyshire. As a result, it was the most populated. Elizabeth was always astonished by the magnitude of the city, as she came from her small village of Longbourn. She was ripped out of her thoughts by a movement on the road. Curious, she inspected the small glint that seemed to be off of a shiny metal. Upon closer inspection, she found nothing. With a slight shrug, she began her journey once again.

Enjoying the sun's rays, ignoring the heat for now, she approached the entrance to the city. Shading her eyes, she was a familiar glint in the path ahead. Her gait slowed as she saw a figure where the glint had once been. A small but fierce wind arose, bringing with it dust that made her throat constrict and her eyes water. She approached the figure further, only to become unnerved by the fact that his clothes did not sway in the fierce wind. In fact, he seemed untouched by the wind in general. She kept on until she stood just before him. She tried to speak, but all she could manage was a choking gagging sound.

Elizabeth let out a cry as a booming voice surrounded her. It came from the blindfolded figure, garbed in a forest green tunic, and a blue mantle and hood.

"Beware Elizabeth Bennet, the time of the Prophecy is near, and you are needed. The perils ahead are ones you will face, but not alone. Seek the wise woman of Pemberley, she shall provide you help."

She was about to reply, when the figure bowed his head in silence. For a moment, he was engulfed in blue flame...and was gone. The winds suddenly died down, and Elizabeth was left standing in the middle of the road, nature left seemingly undisturbed, but the encounter had rocked her to her core.

Part 2

Posted on Thursday, 10 August 2000, at 9 : 11 p.m.

Unsure in her steps, she looked about warily. There was no sign of any further evil, so she deemed it safe enough to walk once again. The city was closest to her, and she did not have the courage to brave the road home once again, she would stay at the inn in the city and make for home the next morning. The midday sun was soon to become the summer twilight. She quickened her step and walked through the city gates.

Her senses we assaulted with the usual smell of Pemberley. She would need to pass by the inn on her way to the market, so she would get herself a room there. She made her way hastily to the building with a faded wooden sign decorated with a horse that was once beautifully detailed, but now barely seen. The "The Horse and Master" was the name of the Inn. What an odd name she thought to herself as she entered the Inn.

Her mouth watered at the smell of freshly cooked food upon her entrance. She looked careful in her money pouch. One gold dragoon, two silver marks, and about 7 copper pieces. With a slight shake of her head, she approached the Mistress.

"Excuse me, kind Mistress. But can you tell me how much it is for a room and supper? And if there are any rooms available?"

The mistress of the inn was a well kept looking lady, perhaps a bit overweight, mostly from eating the surplus food. Her brown woolen dress hugged her stomach, and her white apron hung from her neck, the strings having long worn too short to tie them. Her manners and speech were coarse.

"Aye, I 'ave a room fer ye, but it'll cost ye. The room is one silver mark, and the food is gonna be three coppers."

Elizabeth bit her lip, she didn't want to spend any silver if it was possible. She needed it to buy what her mother had sent her here to buy

"Well, what if I work? May I pay for my room in that manner?"

The mistress snorted. "You!? Entertain US!?" She laughed in a loud boisterous manner.

"Ey!! You 'ear that guys? This lady is going to entertain us!!" she shouted to the general public of the room. The response was one of doubt and smug contempt. Elizabeth became somewhat annoyed as she turned red from the comments.

"I can sing and play the harp, will that do?"

"Yea yea, I suppose that'll do. But ye still need to pay fer yer food!"

Elizabeth nodded and paid the woman her three coppers. With a sigh of relief, she left the Inn with the promise that she would be back after her errands were complete. Walking back into the street, she was surprised to see that the sun was setting already. She needed to get to the market quickly. She jogged down the familiar streets, took her usual shortcut through the alley, and slowed as she approached the market.

There, she was at the most crowded point in the city. There were many shop owners, and hawkers crying their wares. She dutifully walked around the market, bargaining and heckling until she reached a price that was worth what she was buying.

Her basket now full, and becoming slightly heavy, she began back toward the Inn. Looking at the shops on her way back, she stopped short at the store with another faded sign upon it. The sign had two herbs crisscrossed upon it, and the writing was hard to make out, but it looked like it said "Wise Woman". The words of the mysterious stranger echoed through her head. Seek the wise woman of Pemberley... taking an involuntary step forward, her curiosity getting the best of her, she opened the door and stepped inside.

Her eyes began to water with the smells of burning incense and of boiling sage. Looking about the room was filled with pieces of glowing stone, small bundles of lavender, or of some other herb. Pushing her hair back out of her face she took a few steps further into the darkened house. To her left she saw a small altar fashioned with a bowl of stones, a small statuette of a... goddess it appeared to be, and a long wicked looking knife.

"Come in child, come in!" a voice spoke from the darkest corner of the house. It had the sound of leaves crackling in the autumn wind. Soft, yet powerful. Shaking now, she stepped back toward the exit.

"I--I'm terribly sorry, I must have come into the wrong shop." Elizabeth backed away reaching blindly behind her for the door.

"Stop!" The voice was commanding, and Elizabeth froze.

"You have come here because you have been visited."

Lizzy's mind raced. How could she have possibly known? This is beginning to become too frightening...I had best leave before she does some witchery upon me. But she could not move a muscle had she wanted to. Her fear and curiosity kept her in place.

"That's better," the woman crooned. "Now, come over here in front of me so these old eyes can gaze upon thee."

Carefully, Lizzy stepped up to the woman. Her eyes adjusting to the dark, she could make out the figure. She was an elderly woman, looking to be in the twilight of her years. Her hair was long and tangled, unrestrained. Her face was matronly, and her eyes bespoke of a kindness. Lizzy's heart slowed and she began to feel at ease.

"I pray thee, how did you know about...," her voice lowered involuntarily. "...about the meeting?"

"I know many thing, many of which you could not possibly handle right now. I am meant to guide you on your journey."

"Journey? I'm just going to stay the night here. Then I am to go home."

The woman gave a knowing smile, and sat back, leaning against the wall. She took out a worn leather pouch and reached in her hand. Watching, Lizzy noticed that the pouch was full of bones. The woman cast he bones out onto the small table in front of her. Bending over the bones and studying them, the woman frowned.

"You should not stay here tonight...danger lies if you stay at the inn. Go home tonight, travel by moonlight. You shall be safe, the roads shall stay clear for you."

"I--I must be away now. I shall take your advice M'lady. Good eve to you."

Lizzy fled. There was no other word for it, she needed to escape the woman who had sent her a cryptic message.

"You're journey begins small one! Be not afraid, you will not be alone!" The woman was yelling out to her. Letting out a small cry she pulled hard on the door that would not open. "You must believe me! You must leave here immediately! Do not delay!!" Pulling with the strength of utter desperation, she forced the door open and ran. Items fell from her basket, but she did not care anymore. All that she cared was that she get away from the madwoman. Seeing the inn ahead, she burst through the door and heaved a sigh of relief.

"Ah! 'Ere's the songbird 'erself! C'mon lass, it's time you earn yer keep!" the words flowed over Lizzy. She could do nothing but comply. Composing herself, and wiping the tears she did not know she had shed, she stepped on top of the counter.

"Very well...I shall sing you a tune my mother used to sing to me."

She got many sneering looks, some of them suggestive. She could hear small mutterings around her, but she ignored all of that. Slowly, she let out the first note, and became lost in the rest of the song, forgetting all else.

On either side the river lie
Long fields of barley and of rye,
That clothe the wold and meet the sky;
And thro' the field the road run by
To many-towered Camelot.
And up and down the people go,
Gazing where the lilies blow
Round an island there below,
The Island of Shallott.

Willows whiten, Aspens quiver,
Little breezes dusk and shiver
Thro' the wave that runs forever
By the island in the river
Flowing down to Camelot.
Four grey walls, and four grey towers,
Overlook a space of flowers,
And the silent isle embowers
The Lady of Shallott.

There she weaves by night and day
A magick web with colours gay.
She has heard a whisper say,
A curse is on her if she stay
To look down to Camelot.
Show knows not what the curse may be,
And so she weaveth steadily,
And little other care hath she,
The Lady of Shallott.

She left the web, she left the loom,
She made three paces thro' the room,
She saw the water-lily bloom,
She saw the helmet and the plume,
She look'd down to Camelot.
Out floew the web and floated wide;
The mirror cracked from side to side;
'The curse is come upon me' cried
The Lady of Shallott.

Heard a carol, mournful, Holy,
Chanted loudly, chanted lowly,
Till her blood was frozen slowly,
And her eyes were darkened wholly,
Turn'd to tower'd Camelot.
For ere she reach'd upon the tide
The first house by the water-side,
Singing in her song she died,
The Lady of Shallott.**

Her last note was long and mournful. The whole of the tavern looked at her, some of the women had even taken to crying. With a small smile, she took here food and went up into the room which she had been given earlier. She supposed that the shocked audience was enough of payment for the mistress. Taking a seat by the desk she ate and drank the rather sour wine. Content with the small meal she had eaten, she slipped the meager lock into place, and slipped under the covers of the cold, hard bed.

Her dreams had been fitful lately, but this night they had been particularly so, leading her to awaken in a cold sweat. But her heart raced as the knocking in her dreams hadn't faded, but had become steadily louder. After moments of thought, she realized it was at her door.

"Just a moment!" she called to the mysterious visitor. She yawned and groggily stepped out of the bed, guided by the meager light of the moon that fell through the smoky glass of her window. She undid the lock and opened the door.

"What is the meaning----" she trailed off as she spoke to no one.

A chill ran down her spine and the small hairs on her neck rose. She quickly shut the door and placed the lock back where it had been.

"That's good to know, you've locked yourself in. Tsk tsk my dear, now why would you do that?"

She gasped and turned around so quickly, she needed to steady herself before she could look the intruder in the face. He stood much taller than she, and in front of the window, making it that much harder to discern his face.

"Wh---who are you??" Her voice came out a small squeak.

The figure laughed. "Well since you shall never live to see the day, I suppose I shall give you the privilege of seeing your murderer." He waved a hand, and a illuminated globe just...appeared in a corner of her room. The globe glowed an angry red, making her attacker look that much more ominous.

In the red light, she still could not make out his face, he wore a robe of all black, with a hood that concealed his face. He looked slightly down, so she could not even see his eyes. In his hand, he held a knife, similar to the one that she saw in the wise woman's house.

Filled with terror, she turned and tried to unlock the door. But it would not budge. She became acutely aware of the man's laughter.

"You honestly have no idea do you? Don't you know what a mage is? Can't you see that no matter what you do, you can't escape??" his voice held a touch of contempt in it.

"A...mage? But they're only in legend! There's no such thing as mages and magick anymore!"

"Then what do you call the mage globe in the corner of your room?"

"Trickery! It's just trickery! I demand you let me out at once!" her voice was teetering on the edge of hysteria.

"I tire of these games. You amuse me no longer." his voice became hard and cold and he lifted his gaze.

Elizabeth screamed. She could make out no more of his face, other than his eyes, which glowed with the fires of hell itself. The mage laughed evilly and began toward her with slow, deliberate steps.

"HELP ME!! SOMEBODY! ANYBODY!!" her cries were loud and full of primal fear.

"Scream all you like, no one can hear you in the room, it's warded."

Elizabeth fell into a heap on the floor sobbing. There really was no way out, she was to die at the hands of a person thought to be of legend. I'm going to die....the words echoed in her head like a litany along with each step he took, his black boots clicking on the hardwood floors, causing new terror with each step.

~ Alfred Lord Tennyson, transformed into song by Loreena McKennitt

Part 3

Posted on Saturday, 12 August 2000, at 10 : 02 p.m.

"STOP!" a reverberating voice echoed throughout the room.

Her assailant stopped in his tracks, with a slight look of confusion on his face. The red mage-globe shattered in an amazing outrush of power. Elizabeth cried out as a brilliant blue flame erupted in the middle of her room, illuminating everything in a calm azure.

Stepping out of the flame, stood the man she had encountered on the road. Lizzy was amazed and terrified. The mage himself seemed shocked, and almost as afraid as she. This scared her more. If the mage was afraid of this unknown entity, then what might this entity do to her? She took to silent weeping as the mage and the man stood apart facing each other.

"Leave this woman alone, you know well that she is not ready. Go back to whom has sent you. You have no more business here." His voice was steady, but edged with anger.

The mage had, by now, regained his composure and resumed his haughty pose.

"I shall do nothing of the sort! You have surprised me, I'll admit. But no one can best me! I am a mage of the Crimson Night! There are few better than I!"

"Do you truly believe this? Then I challenge you mage," the name was said dripping scorn and disdain, "..to a duel of magic. We shall see who can best who," the man seemed so confident in his own abilities. Elizabeth was feeling dizzy, within her something stirred, and she felt sick.

"I accept. Where shall the duel be held?"

"In the Realm of Mysts," he spoke with a tone of mirth.

"W-where?" the mage had lost some of his composure and paled visibly at the mention of the unfamiliar place.

"You heard me mage, now let us be off, unless that is, you choose the consequences to backing out on a duel?" the man almost outright laughed in the mage's face.

"No...no I shall best you no matter where we are!"

"We shall see..." was his cryptic response.

In a dazzling display of light, Lizzy's vision began to spin and she could see nothing more. Weakly, she crawled to a corner and proceeded to empty her stomach. After she had finished that, she saw no more.

Smack! "Wake up!" Elizabeth awoke to a sharp pain. Slowly, she opened her eyes. It was morning now. The memories of the nights events were more like a dream. That's it...a dream...that's what it must have been.

"You were out fer a long time there. We thought you'd never come to," the harsh grating sound of the inn mistress's voice jabbing pains through Lizzy's skull.

"I'm sorry for worrying you all...I don't know what happened. I must have fallen out of bed and hit my head against something."

"Aye, that must have been some fall lass. But yer well now. Are ye well enough to break yer fast? It'll be on the house."

"I thank thee yes. I shall be down in less than a candlemark."

The mistress nodded slightly and left the room.

Getting up slowly, she walked over to the water bowl and rinsed her face with the refreshingly cold water. Grasping for the towel, she spotted something in the corner. She hurriedly dried her face and went to investigate the corner. Upon coming closer, she fell to her knees once again, tears streaming from her eyes. There, in the corner, was where she had emptied her stomach, proving with chilling certainty, that the night wasn't a dream. The men who had been in her room, were very real...and very powerful. Making then very dangerous. Crying hysterically now, she got up and ran down the stairs with one goal in mind. She headed for the door.

"Ey!! You gonna eat somethin' lass?"

But the mistress was not answered, Elizabeth had already left, running to grasp for the answers that eluded her...for now. In her mind, the answers were there, the key was finding them. And she knew just how to discover them...

Part 4

Posted on Thursday, 17 August 2000, at 9 : 47 p.m.

Where is it? Where is it? I know it's around here....Elizabeth searched the winding streets of Pemberley. AH HA! There it is! She stopped in front of a door with a small sign hanging above it, painted with herbs upon it. She boldly opened the door and stepped into the house that smelled of familiar plants and potions.

"Where are you old woman!? I demand to know who you are and how you know things about me before they happen!!" Elizabeth's tone came out much sharper than she was accustomed to. Her choice of words could have used to refinement as well, but that was not what Lizzy was worrying about at the moment.

"Well well well..." came the rasping reply. "It looks as if someone has become a believer haven't they? I told you to leave deary, didn't I? Now...what was it you needed?"

"I want answers. Starting with who are you, and how do you know about me?"

"My, aren't we forward. Come, sit and have a cup of mint tea with me. It'll calm your nerves; maybe I'll be more inclined to speak with you then."

Elizabeth could do nothing but listen to her and have some tea with the woman. So she took the ceramic mug from the elderly woman, and took a seat across from her, in the dark shadows of the house.

"Now, child, what bothers you so?"

Having calmed down some, Lizzy was ready to speak in a more civil manner. "I wish to know how you knew I was supposed to leave last night. What is this journey you spoke of? Why was that man after me? Who is the mysterious man who saved me? And what does the Prophecy have to do with me? What IS the Prophecy, I've only ever heard bits and pieces."

"So many questions for one so young! And some requiring much more of an answer than you would wish at the moment. I shall answer some of these questions for you, but most of these you must find on your own."

This answer was not satisfactory for Lizzy, but she knew that any knowledge she could gain was more than she had.

"I shall first answer to how I know things, which ties into who I am. I am what they have always called a Wise Woman. In the old days, they used to know me as a witch. The term never used to be the horror story it is these days. When I was young, a witch was something more of a village midwife, with the ability to heal beyond what only herbs and mixtures can do. Every witch has special talents. Some, are able to predict when bad weather happens. Others, can tell when someone nearby is in pain. I, had the curse of seeing things in the future. One day, I foresaw the death of a small child. He was to be trapped in a cave-in. The future is never certain however, and always open to change. So the parents wouldn't listen, and let him go off by himself anyway. Of course, the child wandered into the cave and died." Later that day...I was forced to leave the village or be stoned to death," the woman's voice had taken a reminiscing quality to it now.

Elizabeth decided to let the woman finish musing in her mind, while she thought about this. Maybe she was a witch, and that was why the mage was after her...but if that was true, what was so special about her that she should be hunted? The only talent she had, that she could think of, was the keen ability to barter with the tradesmen.

The wise woman had finished now. "Now, for your journey, I cannot tell you much. I know that when you leave this house, and head for home, you shall never see home again. I know that you won't be alone on your journey. And I know that you won't believe any of this until you experience it for yourself. That is a quality you should never lose Elizabeth Bennett, doubt them until they have proven you wrong. But remember, trust is vital to any companionship, never lose the ability to trust or all is lost."

"Y--y-yes M'Lady." Elizabeth could only take all of this in stride, but secretly, she was awestruck to the point of no words.

"You may call me Brigit, " Her voice took a meditative tone. "The Prophecy. It is a term used for so many years, but no one truly knows what it is anymore. If you were to travel the world, you would find bits and pieces of it that you could tie all together to form the actual Prophecy. There are a rare few who know all of it now. I am not one of those rare few. But I suggest you find someone who knows this Prophecy, for your life and it, tie in more closely than you can ever imagine," she smiled cryptically. "The rest of your questions have answers, and I may know some of them, but you are not yet ready to know the truth. You shall discover them soon enough. Now go child, leave this place and pretend that I never told you any of this..."

Lizzy looked curiously at the woman, and stood. Was she a mind-reader as well? No matter, the woman was right, Lizzy very much did doubt the words of the old woman. She opened the door and stepped out into the sun. Of course the woman was talking nonsense. She would go home and see her sister Jane. That would make her feel much better. She could imagine the amusement on her sister's face when she spoke of the old woman Brigit. However, she was thinking of keeping some parts out of the story.

She headed toward the gates. Her mother would be very displeased that she had spent most of the money on items that won't be brought back, but she could always lie and say that bandits stole them in the night. Her mother may be appeased with that. She stepped out of the gates, feeling happy once again, felt a sharp pain in the back of her head, and blacked out.

Part 5

Posted on Sunday, 20 August 2000, at 9 : 56 p.m.

Elizabeth saw nothing but throbbing red spots before her eyes. Her arms ached and her ankles felt as if they were on fire. To top all of that, she had a bad taste in her mouth. She tried to focus for a moment, her thoughts were hazy, and she couldn't concentrate. She tried to move her arms, but to her dismay, they would not move. Her head pounded as she fought for coherency. She looked around, the spots before her eyes were fading. She ... she was in the woods she gathered. Laying on leaves ... and ... her arms and legs were bound with rough rope!!! She was being held captive! The taste in her mouth was now what she recognized to be blood. She would not cry, not this time. Instead, she tried to let out a scream. However, it came out as a weak whimper.

"'Ello there, I think she's finally ... HEY GUYS! The lit'le princess has finally come to 'er senses!!!"

There was a rumbling laughter from the direction of what she supposed was the campfire. There was a rustle of leaves behind her, and suddenly an excruciating pain. She yelped as the man roughly undid her bindings.

"There's a good wench. Now, get up and eat something before there's nothing left. We can't have our prize slave being sold off looking scrawny now can we?"

She stood frozen as her mind slowly registered what he had said. A ... slave? They're going to sell me as a slave? But I thought that slavery was outlawed years ago ... how can they possibly ... ? Oh snap out of it Lizzy! These men are bandits, and they won't care a whit for the law! Oh how will I ever get myself out of this one?

The man, apparently not pleased with her progress, gave her a swift kick to the ribs. She cried out in pain this time, succeeding in a full cry this time.

"Stop yer cryin'! You'll get worse if you don't start movin'!"

Elizabeth, despite the shooting pains, scrambled to get up, not wanting to be kicked again...and fell into possibly the most handsome bandit she had ever encountered in her life. Not that she had encountered many bandits, she wasn't that kind of girl. But she always used to look at them in chains when her village caught them stealing chickens or something of the like. Those men had always appeared ugly and twisted to her ... but this man was nothing like those others. He was not quite clean shaven. His hair was a dark onyx, and his eyes an icy blue. He caught her with a dazzling smile that displayed teeth not perfectly white, but admirable for one living such a life.

"Easy there lass, you could damage our goods!"

Her heart sunk. He was after all, nothing more than a bandit, no matter how handsome he looked to her. With a hearty laugh he clapped her on the shoulder and headed into one of the tents. She winced and walked further to the campfire, starting to feel the effects of hunger setting in. She took a bowl and ladled some of the foul-smelling gook into it. She ate in silence not making eye contact with anyone. When she was finished, she silently walked back to where she was held. She could not afford to anger any of these men. She did want to make it out alive after all.

She ground her teeth as he retied all of her bindings.

"Will! You got night watch on the wench!" he cried out.

"WILL! Come on, I ain't got all bloody night!"

"I'm coming! Hold yer horses!" the voice had a faint accent on it, and it sounded familiar. Lizzy's heart raced as the man who emerged from the bushes was the one she had hopes for. Will was the same bandit she had fallen into earlier. He was going to be her watcher, and already she was formulating plans for the long night ahead.

Part 6

Posted on Thursday, 24 August 2000, at 3 : 14 p.m.

The rest of the camp had fallen fast asleep, and there was nothing left but the dim light of the bonfires, casting an orange glow upon everyone. Lizzy breathed slowly with her eyes closed, trying to create the illusion of sleep. Through the marred vision she had, she saw Will looking closely at her, examining her, but not in a lusty manner. She was somewhat confused, and beginning to get nervous. The plan that she had in her head depended on his physical attraction to her, which she hoped he had.

This has to work, it just has to. I won't be sold into slavery so some slob of a man can put his greasy hands all over me...

Tears had begun to roll down her cheeks as she shuddered at the thought. Will had caught this in his scrutiny and looked over at her. Bending down to one knee, he spoke softly.

"M'lady, are you alright? Are you ill? Can I help you with anything?"

"I thank you, yes. I was just...I cannot bear to think that someone as handsome and strong as you, could work for such a lowly band of thieves! You even speak like one of a better caste than these cretins!"

Her anger flared with despair as he began a low chuckle. This wasn't working, and she couldn't understand why, her feminine wiles had never before failed her, but this Will person was treating her as if she were nothing more than some..some girl!

"It's because I am not one of them M'lady, I am sent here to rescue you. I'm sure you know the Seer?"

Lizzy's jaw just dropped. She had nothing more to say, her hopes had gone beyond what she had expected. Someone was actually here to save her! She wasn't sure she knew who the Seer was, but she didn't care at this point. All she could think of was the joy that made her want to scream and yell out loud.

As if reading her thoughts, Will put a hand to his lips with a soft smile that made her heart melt. And as her heart fluttered, from the new knowledge, it sunk when she heard heavy footsteps in the trees behind her.

"Okay Will, I'll watch the wench now. You can get some shut eye."

With a knowing wink, Will stood up and looked back at the big burly man.

"Alright, I'll be in my tent, careful not to harm her though, she's prime merchandise."

"Of course Will, what do you think I am? An amateur? Now go to bed before I make you."

Will walked off in the distance and Lizzy sat against a tree, staring at nothing. Her breathing was labored, causing her to breathe more heavily. The man stared at her, a glint in his eye, and the icy grip of fear held her suddenly. The plan she had so long worked out in her head was working! On the wrong man...well perhaps she could still seduce the man before her, but she wasn't sure she wanted to. He took a step closer to her, and she looked at him wide eyed and innocent, batting her eye lashes.

"Why hello sir," she cooed. "Why do you need to place guards on little old me, I couldn't hurt a fly! I mean, I can scarcely move my legs, and why would I want to run away from a whole camp full of men?" her voice took on a dreamy tone.

This should be interesting, let's see how he reacts, I've never poured on this much charm before, I hope he doesn't go too far with his ideas.

She barely had time to react, he was much faster than she had anticipated. He was upon her in a moment, and she could do naught but scream in terror.

"Well wench, they won't know until after your sold anyway. You're mine tonight, and I intend to let you know who's in command. No more speaking to me as an equal, when I'm through with you you'll be begging for mercy..." he grinned and added, "and for more."

She could feel his dirty hands upon her, she felt sick, and her head spun. She fell unconscious.

In the finality of oblivion, something inside her boiled like a fire, but was held back by a force that wouldn't release the fires within her. She knew that if she could just reach that fire, then everything would be okay. In her mind, she dove deep into the void, reaching for the fire, only to be thwarted by a solid wall. She pounded upon the force that toyed with her like a child, feeling keenly aware of how time was running out for her body.

With a desperate attempt, she pushed and was rewarded with a crack in the wall. The fire tore at the crack in the wall, until Lizzy was engulfed in a torrent of icy power. She did not know if the wall were fully opened yet, and she didn't know what to do with he fire that burned within her...so she just let go.

Back in the conscious world, one would have seen her body convulse for a moment, before it exploded in light. The scream of the greasy man was abruptly cut off, silenced as his heart burst within his chest. The surrounding area caught fire as a storm roiled overhead. Lighting commanded the skies as the earth rumbled and heaved. And all of it revolved around a young girl, who hadn't any idea of what was going on.

Will ran outside to see what had happened, and began a string of expletives that would put a sailor to shame. He knew she shouldn't have left her with that oaf, but he had no idea she was strong enough yet to break the wards placed upon her. She was powerful indeed, so much raw, untrained power. He needed to get her to the Seer immediately, Colby and the Seer would know what to do. He ran over to her body, heavily shielding himself from her powers and felt dizzy as the sheer force of her release pushed him back.

Damn, how is she doing it? Not even the Seer is this powerful.

He put all of his power into the shield he held, and extended it to cover Lizzy as well, hoping that would contain her for the moment. After she broke each of his shields three times, he had barely the strength for a fourth. What he was going to do was dangerous, but leaving her like this was even more so. With a thought, he and his convulsing mate were gone. The land had stopped heaving, the skies cleared. And all that was left of the camp, was an ashen crater in the ground.

Riding the winds and carrying his companion was no easy job. But he saw the emerald glow of the Seer ahead and he desperately called for more power, praying he wouldn't get trapped in the Inner Realm with a berserk magess.

Part 7

Posted on Sunday, 27 August 2000, at 8 : 47 p.m.

A sigh of relief escaped Will's lips as the portal opened before him. Thank the gods for the Seer, he must have felt his presence. He fell through the opening, dropping Elizabeth to the ground making an audible thud. She was still convulsing, but her powers were ebbing. The Seer moved quickly, he shielded her and probed deep within her mind, healing he cracks in the ward that had been set upon her since early childhood. Will was confused.

"Why did you ward her again? Why not just let her come to her powers?"

"My dear Will...you saw how she reacted to that small portion of her powers. Would you like the be the one facing that twentyfold?"

Will shuddered.

"By the gods no...."

"I thought not."

".....Where's Colby?"

"Miss him that much that you've forgotten her already, eh?" there was a touch of amusement in the Seer's voice.

Will turned bright red. "It's not that...I-I just haven't seen him in a while...and I do miss him..."

"He's around back, go see him and I'll tend to the young mage."

Will's eyes brightened. "All right thanks!"

The Seer turned back to the woman lying in a heap upon the ground with a furrow in his brow. So much potential...so much power........so much fear. I'm afraid she'll never be a good mage with so much fear in the way...

He jumped slightly as she stirred. Great Gods! How can she do that! She should be sleeping for days now! Maybe I've underestimated the beautiful Lady...

Lizzy's eyes fluttered as she looked up at the strangely garbed man. Something in the back of her mind sparked, but she was too tired to pursue it. The man wore a dark cloak and had a dazzling smile. She couldn't help but smile back at his kindness. He was handsome as well, perhaps not so handsome as Will, but still enough to make the blood in her veins pump that much more quickly. She made an effort to stand and he quickly moved over to her, helping her up. She felt a bit frustrated at needing the help, but she accepted his hand gracefully. She precariously stood on her own two feet now and looked back at the man with deep, haunted eyes. She made a slight curtsey, fearing that if it were deeper she may not come back up from it. He gently took her hand, slowly, never breaking eye contact bent down on one knee, and kissed her hand. It was a chaste kiss, but the fire in that one, chaste kiss had sent her body tingling and her face burning. When he stood back on his feet, he gave a formal bow.

"Hello m'lady. My name is Darcy. But many choose to call me The Seer. I believe we've met once before..."

That's right! Now she knew where she had seen him! He was that strange man she had met on the way to Pemberley!! She cowered a little inside, thinking of the moment. She had also met him when that renegade mage had tried to kill her. He was powerful, and she feared him. Shakily she responded.

"A-aye m'lord. M-m-my name is Elizabeth B-bennet, and I believe we have met before." She cursed to herself as she stuttered. Foolish girl! Never show fear!! Never!!! she admonished herself.

"A pleasure to meet you Miss Bennett."

She suddenly had a thought, turning her head as if searching with a puzzled look on her face, she spoke. "Where is the kind man who saved me? Will I believe his name was?"

"Ah...Will is...indisposed at the moment. I believe he's reuniting with an old acquaintance. In the meantime Miss Bennett. Can you tell me what happened? What do you remember?"

Distracted for the moment, she related her tale to him, up to the point where she was in that semi-conscious state and she had pushed against that unknown wall. She saw his eyebrows rise slightly as she told him that she had broken the wall by herself. She told him of the icy cold fire that filled her body, and how she had just let go. As she finished her story, she waited for his response.

I believe Miss Bennett..." he said after what seemed like hours, "that you are the one the Prophecy speaks of. You hold within you, the power and blood of Althea the Sorceress."

With each word, her world spun faster and faster. Her thoughts all spun with her. He's mad. I can't possibly be....he's lying ... the Prophecy spoke of....knight who wasn't a knight....destined to.... She went to sit under a tree, unable to stand on her own anymore.

Meanwhile, Darcy looked at the shocked Lizzy. Dammit Darcy look what you've done. Presentation is everything and you've just hit her over the head with a castle. Tactless. With a resigned sigh, he left her alone and went to look for Colby and Will, they would know how to calm her down.

Part 8

Posted on Tuesday, 12 September 2000

Elizabeth rocked back and forth as the hated man walked away. How could he spew such lies at her? She refused to believe him. There was nothing extraordinary about her. She was just a normal woman, with normal impulses. But in her heart she knew that that wasn't true either. She had always been a little different from her sister. As she reminisced, she hadn't noticed the cold that had begun to form around her...

Darcy walked around the barn to find Colby and Will becoming reacquainted. Clearing his throat he waited. Will and Colby broke apart turning bright red. Colby was the first to speak.

"I..Darcy hi...I hadn't..I mean we didn't..."

Darcy held up one hand as if to say that that was enough.

"It's fine Colby, I know you haven't seen Will in a while. And I'm sorry to cut your meeting so short, but I need to you fix one of my errors..."

They both looked amused as if saying "again?" But if they were thinking it, they were polite enough not to say it.

You need to go calm her down, I think I've told her too early?

"You didn't Darcy...after everything she's gone through and you told her???" Will sounded slightly angry.

"I thought she needed to know..."

With a sigh Will shrugged at Colby and nodded to Darcy.

"I guess I'll see what I can do." When Colby started to follow, Will stopped him.

"You had better not, she's had enough shock for the day don't you think?"

Colby just nodded.

As will turned the corner to find Elizabeth, she was gone. The only clues he found were the tree that was shattered in ice, as if frozen to the core and then smashed. The scent he felt wasn't hostile, which meant that she probably wasn't attacked. Dammit, where could she have gone? I only pray that she hasn't wandered where we can't follow her...

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