Behind the door / Hinter der Tür

[Mairead]

((deutsche Übersetzung unten.))

((I will use this thread for posting occasionally while my absence. Everyone who feels like posting something, may do so. It's no board rp, but a telling of the happenings.))



After drinking the potion of the halfling Willi, Mairead lay awake some time in her bed and stared at the ceiling. The potion should help her to fall asleep better and above all: to stay dreamless.
Because of some days already Mairead wasn’t able to sleep more than 1 or 2 hours per night, since her nightmares became worse and worse.
She didn’t know if this was related to why she was feeling so bad. She coughed lightly and seemingly had slight fever. She hasn’t told her mother… but it was Athian who put her into the bed immediately after recognizing her state.

Dizziness overwhelmed Mairead and she felt like the whole room was spinning, before the tiredness conquered and she felt asleep finally.
It was a deep sleep and for 2 – 3 hours she didn’t dream a thing.
But then it began again…

...
…
Mairead stood in front of a closed door and discomfort spread in her.
“Be brave”, she whispered silently to herself. “Be brave.”
With a sudden jar the door opened and Mairead tried hard not to panic.
There was nothing behind the door. Just darkness. Ebony.
The door to the subconscious. Exactly what Mairead scared so much.
She knew, that behind this door was the cause of her nightmares. She had to go thorugh it… but without light…?

“There's nothing scary in the dark my angel, it's the not knowing that’s scary, but if I remember correctly you have your star now, and in your dreams I'm sure you can make it shine brightly enough to fill that darkness.”, she remembered Athians words.

Slowly she looked to her hand and it only needed one thought to have the star in it. It shined so brightly that it nearly hurt in the eyes. She raises her arm against the darkness and made the first step.…
...


As Mairead opened her eyes everything was blurred. She felt how her nightshirt was soaked with sweat and she shivered. Beads of sweat ran down her forehead and her lungs burned.
“Mom...? Daddy…? ”, she whispered silently… but no one was in the room. She was alone. The cloak of her mother concluded that she had been here. Probably she was searching for a medico.
How long did she sleep?

She tried to move from the bed, but didn’t make it. Why was she alone? Where was everyone? Farel, Dei, Mephistus or Bear…
Why was no one here to tell her that the fear in her heart would go away…

***





***


Nachdem Mairead den Trank von Willi, dem Halbling, getrunken hatte, lag sie noch einige Zeit wach im Bett und starrte die Decke an. Der Trank sollte ihr helfen besser einschlafen zu können und vor allem: traumlos zu bleiben.
Denn schon seit ein paar Tagen bekam Mairead nicht mehr als 1 oder 2 Stunden Schlaf pro Nacht, da ihre Alpträume von mal zu mal zunahmen.
Ob dies damit zusammenhing, dass es ihr so schlecht ging, wusste sie nicht. Sie hustete leicht und schien ein wenig Fieber zu haben. Ihrer Mutter hatte sie davon noch nichts gesagt,… jedoch war es Athian der sie sofort ins Bett steckte als er ihren Zustand wahrnahm.

Schwindel überkam Mairead und sie fühlte sich als würde sich das ganze Zimmer anfangen zu drehen, bevor die Müdigkeit sie dann doch besiegte und sie endlich einschlief.
Es war ein tiefer, bleierner Schlaf und für vielleicht 2 – 3 Stunden träumte sie nicht.
Doch dann fing es wieder an…

...
…
Mairead fand sich vor einer geschlossenen Tür wieder und Unbehagen machte sich in ihr breit.
„Sei mutig“, flüsterte das kleine Mädchen zu sich selbst. „Sei mutig.“
Mit einem Ruck sprang die Tür auf und Mairead fiel es schwer nicht in Panik auszubrechen. Es war nichts hinter dieser Tür. Nur Dunkelheit. Schwärze.
Die Tür zum Unterbewusstsein. Genau das war es was Mairead so angst machte.
Sie wusste, dass hinter dieser Tür die Ursache ihrer Alpträume liegen würde. Sie musste einfach hindurch gehen. Aber ohne Licht…

“There's nothing scary in the dark my angel, it's the not knowing that’s scary, but if I remember correctly you have your star now, and in your dreams I'm sure you can make it shine brightly enough to fill that darkness.”, erinnerte sie sich an Athians Worte.

Langsam blickte sie auf ihre Hand und es kostete ihr nur einen einzelnen Gedanken, da befand sich auch schon der Stern in ihrer Hand. Er leuchtete und strahlte , dass es schon fast in den Augen weh tat. Sie hob ihren Arm gen die Dunkelheit und machte den ersten Schritt…
...

Als Mairead die Augen öffnete sah sie zuerst alles verschwommen. Sie spürte wie ihr Nachtgewand völlig verschwitzt war und trotzdem zitterte sie am ganzen Leib. Schweißperlen rannen über ihre Stirn und ihre Lunge brannte vor Schmerz.
„Mom..? Daddy..? “, flüsterte sie leise… doch niemand war in dem Raum. Sie war alleine. Der Mantel ihrer Mutter lies darauf schließen, dass diese schon da gewesen war. Womöglich tätigte sie grade ein paar Besorgungen.
Wie lange hatte sie geschlafen?

Sie versuchte sich aus dem Bett zu bewegen, doch schaffte es nicht. Wieso war sie allein? Wo waren alle? Farel, Dei, Mephistus oder Bear …
Wieso war niemand hier um ihr zu sagen, dass die Angst in ihrem Herzen wieder vergeh’n würde…

[Athian]

Athian awoke, at the end of the bed in the quiet inn room. His daughter cuddled gently to his side. He smiled gently as he rubs the sleep from his eyes; the child was slipping in and out of sleep even as she lay there at his side no doubt. Her sickness was of the nature that would indeed keep one from decently slumber for days on end, yet Athian did not mind risking the illness for sake of the girls comfort, even if it were brief amidst her troubled state.
As he moved beneath the blanket that had been pulled about them as gently as he could, however regardless of his care as she did Mairead stirred to wakens right away. He smirked to himself; she was always good at catching him as he left.
“Hello sweetie, did you sleep alright?” he asked the child softly. She smiled a bit though obviously weak from her sickness
“Not sure…I dreamed a lot.” Replied the girl in a soft voice. The raspiness of her tone brought a tinge of worry to the warlock as he looked down upon the ailing girl, but he quickly hid it behind a smile and pushed himself off of the bed.
‘Will you excuse daddy for a moment?” he asked the lass as he continued to smile. She gave a small nod in return offering no resistance to his abrupt exit for a change. How sick she must have been he thought to himself as he slipped out of the room, locking the door behind himself.

…

Upon his returned he unlocked the door and stepped back into the room, the young girl sat quietly waiting for him as he slipped onto the bed once more. The girl crawled up and slipped under her father’s arm once more. He smiled to her.

“So you were saying something about your dreams?” he asked her once she had settled in. she nodded briefly and smiled once more

“You were right.” She said softly ‘I thought in my dreams of Mairian and then I had the star in my hand immediately…”
This brought a smile his face. Mairead was such a young girl, but had much strength of soul and character within her. He was proud to call her his daughter, and happy he was able to gift her with a talisman against the darkness that lurked ever constantly in her mind. One day he would find a way to free her from that torment forever, but until then at least she had a light to keep her path.

“No matter what the dream or how scary it is, the realm of dreams is a place where the spirit knows no bounds, your will is your star.” He told her with confidence; it was a truth so rarely remembered in these rough and dangerous times. That it might provide some comfort would do his heart good.

“Daddy?” Mairead chided gently?

“Mh?” he responded in turn.

“My lungs are hurting so much.” She told him. Her discomfort had been obvious for the past two days or so, however the remedy he had on hand still seemed a bit too strong for a child. Perhaps just cutting it back a bit would do. He questioned her briefly about her pains and smiled at her answers, yes changing the portions would do for a chest ache, he could care for her a bit more before putting her to rest.

“Let me check my herb pouch.”

[Mairead]

Mairead stepped forward through the darkness, the ground slightly lightened by the star in her hand.
She could feel the sandy ground underneath her. Where was she?
Everything around her seemed to grow cold and Mairead shivered a little as she suddenly saw a staff lying before her.
It was black and long - no typical wand of a mage.

She bend down and examined it slowly in the light of the star and wondered if she should pick it up.
The staff felt so familar. Hesitatingly she reached out a hand...


Maireads fever has lowered, yet the coughing and her general state became worse. She slept all day long and even if it seemed she was awake, she wasn't really. Her mother didn't move from her side and watched out that Mairead drank enough. Quietly she prayed Oldra to save her daughter...


Mairead drew her hand back without touching the black wood.
"No, I shouldn't", the girl whispered silently to herself and turned around to continue her way.
"It's yours, take it" - she heard a cold whisper close to her ear, though there was no one.
The little girl closed her eyes as she spoke out loud.
"No, it's not mine and I will not take it. Go away. "
"It belonged once to your mother, then to you. Take it or I will force you to. "
"You can't harm me... ", she whispered.

...

[Mairead]

...


From the corner of her eyes Mairead could recognize a sudden movement. She turned around once more and saw how a cloaked figure picked up the staff from the ground.
Mairead couldn't see the figures face, nor anything that would gave away who it was.
The figure bent down and drew foreign runes into the sandy ground. Runes which Mairead had seen before in her dreams...
she made a sudden move backwards as it occured to her what was coming.

Five or six skeletons freed themself through the surface after the figure was done with drawing the runes.
"You can't hurt me! ", Mairead yelled in despair as the bony creatures approached and reached for her. "You can't! Because this is MY dream ."
The little girl held up her arm with the star and let it shine brighter than before. The darkness seemed to retreat and skeletons backed away from her... just the figure appearently wasn't harmed by it.

"Why don't you shy away from the light... ", Mairead asked quietly while fear crawled into her tiny heart. "... this is my dream."

"I'm a part of you. " - the figure replied. The voice was a female one.

"Liar! You are not a part of me... but... "
Mairead paused. Her childlike eyes lingered on the figure which was holding the black wooden staff. A sudden, deep sadness overcame the little girl.
"I ... I... ", .. she wasn't able to find the words she was searching for; instead she changed her mind and extended her free hand, reaching for the wooden staff.

The cloaked figure lowered it's arm, holding one end of the staff as Maireads little fingers touched the other.

...

[Mairead]

...


Maireads hand started hurting as she held the staff, as if the wood would be out of pure darkness itself.
She narrowed her eyes and tried hard not to flinch back her hand.
"We should destroy it... ", Mairead said quietly - she could feel how the darkness tried to crawl into her heart.
" ... it was the cause for all the pain. How it all began."

The cloaked figure didn't reply. Mairead rised her eyes from the staff and finally could look under the figures hood...
"It's over... all is good now... "
"Is it? "
"Yes. Nothing is naturally good or bad when it is born. We decide ourself which way we choose. It's time now to make up for what happened. Everything has its time... and now it is time for healing."

The figure slowly let the end of the staff go and so did Mairead. It fell and as it hit the ground it broke into two pieces and then decayed into ash.
"You know what you have to do... ", the female voice said to the girl.
"Yes I know... ", Mairead replied and a smile came across her lips.

...

[Mairead]

From this night on Maireads state got better again every day. She was able to eat again properly and the coughing decreased.
Tarja spent every moment with her daughter looked after her and tried to make it as much as comfortable for her as possible. She was very relieved as she recognized that her child was on the mend.

[Mairead]

~~~ ***~~~


Mairead had her head layed upon Taylors shoulder and her eyes closed. It was after midnight and since she has been awake since the early morning, she slipped into sleep quickly, with Taylor being her last thought.

***

Everything was silent around her and she stood infront of a door. The door was opened just slightly and all that could have been seen behind was darkness. Her heart began to pound heavily under the sight of this door. She has been here before. But... it was years ago. She never expected to come here again.
With careful steps she approached to the door and gave it a soft nudge to open it further and stare into the familiar darkness that spreaded before her.
She remembered everything that happened the last time she was at this point, like it would have happened yesterday. But she wasn't the little child anymore, but a nearly grown woman. In only a few months she would become 18. All this,... all this should belong to her past, not her present.



Mairead swallowed and stepped slowly into the darkness, knowing it would be futile to resist. The dream would come back every night til she has seen she what had to see. Til she faced what ever would lie here.
Under her feet she was able to feel sand and Mairead clenched her fist, lowering her eyes upon the ground. "Why,... ", she mumbled. "Why am I here? "
But there was nothing she could see at the ground. It was too dark so Mairead raised her gaze again. She couldn't deny that with every step more fear crawled into her heart. But hasn't she forgot an important thing?

“There's nothing scary in the dark my angel, it's the not knowing that’s scary, but if I remember correctly you have your star now, and in your dreams I'm sure you can make it shine brightly enough to fill that darkness. ”,

A small smile crossed her lips as she remembered her fathers words that he had spoken long ago. She reached for the necklace she was wearing and took it into her hand. For a moment she examined the ring that was strung on the golden necklace, before she thought: "Light. I need light." - and even before she had finished the thought, the ring began to emit a warm light that brightened the area around her.
Satisfied with herself she raised her gaze once more. But the save feeling disappeared right in the moment she looked across her. In close distance was a woman sitting on the ground, drawing in the sand with her finger.

Mairead shivered for a moment and gathered all her courage before she slowly approached to the woman. With every step she was able to make out the womans features more and more and her heart grew heavy. The similarity between them caused a deep anxiety in Mairead.
After there were only a few more steps betweem them, Mairead stopped and the lady looked up to fix her pale green eyes on hers. It was like a stab into her heart.
Though it felt like looking into a mirror, Mairead still noticed the many small differents between them. Let alone the womans look. Her eyes were sparkling of mischief and her lips curled into a smirk, while her frame was frail though attractive in the fancy black dress.

"You should overthink your style", the figure suddenly said and broke the silence betweem them. " ... you look like you would spent all day long at the farm, feeding gooses and pigs."
Mairead blinked. That was not what she had expected and she caught herself how she was looking down at herself and examining her beige, lovely dress. Resting her eyes on the woman below again she replied: "Unless you, I at least don't look like I would earn my money by offering myself to men at the harbour."
" Ha! ", was the reaction she got and a laugh. "Tough answer. Good to know that at least a small part of me still lives in you."

Mairead wrinkled her forehead and slowly lowered herself into the sand, next to the woman she knew as Maeve. "There's too much of you in me, that I would feel comfortable with."
"Really? "
"Yes, I notice it every time someone questions my age and my experiences that go with it or treat me like a child who has seen nothing yet of life. I tend to become arrogant at this point. An arrogance that afterwards always feels strange to me."
Maeve smirked in a nearly satisfied way.
"But I guess that's not the reason why I'm here. So enlighten me."
"Oh? Maybe I just longed to see you again? ", she replied in a sarcastic tone.
"Tell me what the reason for this is.", she repeated.
Maeve rolled her eyes. "Fine. Little Miss Innocent is not up for a bit of friendly conversation. Well then: Be prepared."
"Prepared? "
"Yes, you hear right. Prepared. What do you think Mairead? That we get gifted a new life and play the good-hearted, humble novice of Oldra and we are forgiven? "
"I'm not you." Mairead said in a determined voice.
"And that's exactly the foolish mistake you do all the time over! You are WRONG. Maybe our bounds aren't the same as in the life before and we generally had a better situation to start with, but we are one and the same. Stop lying to your own. You think you are in harmony with yourself, but you aren't because you treat our history as something odious. You treat me as something odious. And this is what will seal our fate in the end. Because Bjolmur knows...! "

***


Mairead winced heavily and opened her eyes, staring at the ceiling while the words echoed still in her mind. Her heart was pounding heavily and she felt the cold sweat upon her forehead...

[Mairead]

It was difficult for Mairead to fall asleep this night. Though the fever came back again and she had quite some travels behind her, but the happenings of the day troubled her mind. What had happend this 6 long hours. Where has she been. And what had she done...

... and Taylor. Mairead wouldn't forget the cold look in his eyes. His voice. For a fraction of a second she had thought he wouldn't love her anymore. And this feeling, this stab into her heart, was worse than everything she has ever experienced, alltough it was just a moment. But it was a moment where she had considered to end her life. There was no life without Taylor. Without Taylors love. Never.

After two hours Maireads body finally gave into the exhaustion and she fell into a deep sleep.

...

And stood infront of the door again. There was no hesitation in Maireads move. Though she feared the encountering with Maeve, but it was necessary. Her fears were unfounded, she knew it.
She opened the door and entered the room and with a single thought of 'light', the area around her lightened.
"Maeve?", Mairead called. "Maeve?!"
The young woman looked to the sand covered ground. There were runes drawn into it. Not only a few, but countless.
Mairead widened her eyes.

Hundreds of bony hands made their way through the sand. First the fingertips, the wrists, the arms. Nearly mechanically they digged themselves out of the sand and surrounded the girl, trying to reach for her. Mairead defended them off. Or tried to.
But she knew she had no chance. She would not be able to reach Maeve. After all what had happened today, after her sickness that was draining the energy from her body and after everything that troubled her mind and made her weak - she would not come up with the willpower to lead this dream into the directions she needed.

"MAAAEEEVE!", Mairead yelled in despair as the hands of the undeads got a hold of her.
And an emotionless whisper reached her ear,... replying.
"What does it matter, Mairead, we will die in five months anyway..."

"What?!"

...

Covered in sweat Mairead woke up. Her skin was burning at the spots where the undeads had gotten a grip of her. And her heart was pounding heavily...

[Taylor]

Taylor stepped over the bodies of all the dead bandits he had taken his anger out on that day, his cold yellow eyes eying over all their corpses, the lays the blade of his axe down on the blood pool, then turns it over to get the otherside. Drink Wolf Axe. you'll be drinking alot of blood. so better get used to it He thought to himself as he did so. Just then a bandit runs at taylor, seeing his dead comrades, taylor brings the axe across quickly and with so much rage, that not only does he kill the bandit, he cuts him clean in half. His black clothes soaked with blood and his face caked with drying scarlet blood. He couldn't remember a time he had been so angry with himself..

Taylor stood up, took the coin from the half of a bandit, and walks back towards his camp, a cold vacant look in his eyes. Taylor gets back to his camp and just goes to sleep, not a care in the world, but what waits for him is more than he wants.

"Taylor." cried a voice in the pitch black dark of his dream. The voice cold and emotionless
"What is it you ungratefull pig?" he replied in a cold tone
"Is that any way to talk to your master?" replies darlok coming out of the shadows
"I keep my guard up. Plain and Simple."
"So, you are saying you don't realise then?"
"Don't realise what?"
"That your fiancee is dead."
"You're a liar Darlok."
"Oh no, I must say, her blood did well at my altar"
"You bastard!"

Taylor slashes the axe in his hand, but the image disapears and it all goes black again, as the light starts to return, the axe he swung is laid deep into Caitlin's side he jerks startled

"Mother? But, you're dead."
"Darlok found more use for me than Mairead, so get used to it Taylor!"
"Mother, whats wrong with you?"
"I'm not your Mother Taylor! you are an inbred half dimwitted kid who can't think straight. I never considered you my son!"


Taylor falls to his knees and the dream goes black again, when the light comes back, Revlen is standing behind taylor, with a sword held executionary style to the back of his neck

"Captain? What are you doing?!"
"You must die for your crimes taylor, Causing Mairead to cry, Killing Mairead and Daividh"
"I'd never kill Mairead or Daividh!"
"You broke her heart, she had no reason left to live Taylor. She didn't make it through the sickness. She died, and no one took care of Daividh, so he died also."
"Why..why am I to be blamed for this, I told Mairead I still love her captain!"

Taylor grabs his head with both hands, dropping the axe, and leans over, pushing his forhead against the ground, tears streaming down his face, the lights go dark, and then when the lights come back, the way taylor envisoned Maeve stands infront of him. He looks up at her, with tears streaming down his face.

Maeve smirks and taylor and says coldly "Thanks little half-breed, you set me free from that stupid little girl. She was so helpless."
"Mairead was not helpless!"
"Oh? Then why was she sick all the time? She was going to die, I made her die."
"You killed Mairead?! Get away. Get AWAY!"

He grabs both sides of his head, covering his ears and yells at the ground in anger. It's obvious taylor is losing his composure. Out of the shadows walks Kamik and Dominik. He merely blinks and looks at them

"Such a pathetic exucse for a Windslasher. What is this pathetic thing, a worm?"
"Leave me alone Kamik."
"Oh ho, Taylor talks back now. Little dogs got some bark. But does he have bite!?"

Kamik lunges an axe at taylor, he parrys it aside and throws a punch at kamiks face, but instead of punching kamik, he's thrusting a dagger through Maireads heart. Taylor immediately lets go of the dagger, and falls to his knees, not able to stand

"No..what have i done.."
"You've let you're anger and pain get the best of you Taylor."
"Who is that?! Get away from her, you can't touch her"
"My wolf, I don't want to touch her, she's a tainted soul, You are my warrior, But you are so weak. I feel ashamed. You kill your own Fiancee..you should work for Moshran,. not me"

The figure closes his hand around the boys next, choking him untill one last word crosses his mind before he dies.


"Mai..Mai..Mair..Mairead..I'm sor-"

[Mairead]

((deutsche Übersetzung unterhalb))


Staring a few moments longer at the ceiling, Mairead finally noticed the crying. It was the crying of Daividh that had woke her up from her dream. The second time within a day Daividh has saved her now, without knowing.
The young woman leaned over the bed, towards the crib at the end of it and reached for the crying boy. Gently she took him into her arms and sat back down at the bed, leaning against the wall.

"It's okay, Daividh, I'm here. Everything's alright."
The small boy with the green eyes became silent in her arms and calmed, listening to Maireads voice. "Everything will be alright... ", she whispered once more while her eyes filled with tears.
Mairead was tired and exhausted, but she couldn't dare to fall asleep again. Her skin was still burning and she wouldn't be surprised if there were marks at her arms. Beads of sweat were running down her forehead...

...

... and unwillingly she slipped back into sleep. But there was no door, no skeletons and no Maeve.
Mairead found herself in a small room. A room that was known to her. She had been there two days ago together with Nerian. But this time, the room had other furniture.
There was a woman sitting upon the chair. She had dark blonde, curly hair and brown-green eyes. She was rather pale and didn't look very well. Her right arm was bandaged and it was easy to notice that she was pregnant. Her dress was slightly torn and tainted with blood.
Behind her stood a tall a man, with a hand resting on her shoulder. He had red-brown hair, as well as a red-brown beard and his look was calm, though serious. With the soft grip on the womans shoulder he made a protecting impression.
„Deirdre“, Maired thought. „ ... and Dival. “
Then her gaze raised to the other man that was standing infront of the couple. He was clad in heavy armour and the helmet was clamped underneath his arm. The coat he was wearing was of blue and silver colours, showing a dragon. The coat of arms of the Town Guard.
„Who's the child from, Deirdre? “, the blackhaired man asked and fixed his stern eyes upon her. John Irencius, captain of the Town Guard.
Mairead looked back to the woman and she was able to see the pain and fear in her eyes. The fear for her unborn child. Maeve. It was noticeable that it was hard for her to find the right words and before she was able to answer, Dival interrupted her and replied:
„The child will carry my name, is that enough for you, John?“
Johns stern gaze faded and with slight disbelief he looked at Dival. „So it is yours?“, he asked and added. „Are you sure about this?“
„Otherwise I wouldn't give the child my name, John.“, Dival answered in a nearly harsh tone and John had to be content with it.
But Mairead saw in his eyes that he still didn't believe Dival, but would not dare to put Divals honesty in question. He nodded and left.
Deirdre took a deep, relieved breath. A few moments after they were alone, she whispered in a quiet tone and Mairead had to step closer to listen.
„Dival... Trystan is...“
Dival nodded and Deirdre paused. „I know he is the father of the child. But that does not make any difference to me. I will protect you and I will protect this child, like it would be my own. And it shall I have my name. Deirdre...“
He released her shoulder and walked around her to kneel infront of, taking her good hand. For a few moments he was lacking the words.
„... I love you Deirdre, as well as I love this child... do you want...to become my wife?“
Deirdres eyes widened and instead of answering him she simply fell into his arms. Dival reached into his pocket and got two golden rings from it. Slipping one of it over her ring finger, she returned the gesture with the other ring and they sealed it with a deep and loving kiss.

...

Mairead opened her eyes slowly. They were still filled with tears and she wondered how long she slept. Daividh was slumbering peacefully in her arms and she couldn't help herself but smiled, throwing a short glance at the golden ring she was wearing.
„See Daividh“, Mairead whispered to the sleeping child in her arms. „... this story began with love. And it will end with it.“



*******************



Nach ein paar weiteren Momenten die sie die Decke anstarrte, bemerkte Mairead endlich das Weinen. Es war das Weinen des kleinen Daividh gewesen, dass sie aus ihren Traum gerissen hat. Das war nun das zweite Mal, dass Daividh Mairead gerettet hatte, ohne es zu wissen.
Die junge Frau beugte sich hinüber, zu der Krippe am Ende des Bettes und griff sanft nach dem kleinen Jungen. Zärtlich nahm sie ihn in ihre Arme und setzte sich zurück auf das Bett, an die Wand lehnend.

„Es ist okay, Daividh. Ich bin hier... alles ist in Ordnung.“
Der kleine Junge mit den grünen Augen wurde still und ruhig in ihren Armen und lauschte Maireads Stimme. „Alles wird gut werden...“, flüsterte sie einmal mehr, während ihre Augen sich mit Tränen füllten. Mairead war müde und erschöpft, aber sie würde es nicht wagen nochmal einzuschlafen. Ihre Haut brannte immer noch und es würde sie nicht überraschen, wenn sie Spuren an ihren Armen finden würde, an dem die Skelette sie in ihrem Traum festgehalten hatten. Schweißtropfen rannen ihr über die Stirn...

...

... und ohne es zu wollen schlief sie wieder ein. Aber dieses mal waren da keine Tür, keine Skelette und keine Maeve. Mairead fand sich sich selbst in einem kleinen Raum wieder. Ein Raum den sie bereits kannte. Ein paar Tage zuvor nämlich, war sie dort zusammen mit Nerian gewesen, aber hier, in diesem Traum, hatte der Raum andere Möbel.
Eine Frau saß auf einem der Sessel. Sie hatte dunkelblondes, lockiges Haar und braun-grüne Augen. Sie war ziemlich blass und machte generell keinen gesunden Eindruck Ihr rechter Arm war bandagiert und es fiel sofort auf das sie schwanger war. Ihr Kleid war leicht zerschlissen und blutbefleckt.
Hinter ihr stand ein großer Mann, dessen Hand auf ihrer Schulter ruhte. Sein Haar war von rot-brauner Farbe, gleich wie sein Bart und er wirkte ruhig, wenn auch ernst. Mit dem sanften Druck auf der Schulter der Frau, machte er einen beschützenden Eindruck.
„Deirdre“, dachte Mairead. „... und Dival.“
Dann wanderte ihr Blick zu dem anderen Mann der vor dem Pärchen stand. Er war ganz in schwerer Rüstung gekleidet und seinen Helm hatte er sich unter den Arm geklemmt. Der Umhang den er Trug war blau und silbern und zeigte einen Drachen. Das Wappen der Stadtwache.
„Von wem ist das Kind, Deirdre?“, fragte der schwarzhaarige Mann und fixierte Deirdre mit einem strengen Blick. John Irencius, Hauptmann der Stadtwache.
Mairead sah zurück zu der Frau und sie erkannte den Schmerz und die Angst in ihrem Blick. Die Angst um ihr ungeborenes Kind. Maeve.
Deirdre schien kaum einen Ton über die Lippen zu bringen und grade als sie etwas sagen wollte, antwortete Dival statt ihrer dessen. „Das Kind wird meinen Namen tragen, reicht euch das, John?“
Johns ernster Blick schwand für einen Moment und machte leichter Ungläubigkeit platz als er zu Dival sah. „Also ist es eures?“ fragte er und fügte hinzu: „Seid ihr euch sicher?“
„Ansonsten würde ich dem Kind nicht meinen Namen geben, John.“, antwortete Dival in einem fast harschen Ton und John musste sich damit zufrieden geben.
Aber Mairead sah in seinen Augen, dass er ihm nicht glaubte, jedoch würde er es nicht wagen Divals Ehrlichkeit in Frage zu stellen. Er nickte und ging.
Deirdre nahm einen tiefen, erleichterten Atemzug. Ein paar Momente später als sie alleine waren, flüsterte sie leise und Mairead musste näher treten um sie verstehen zu können.
„Dival... Trystan ist...“
Dival nickte und Deirdre unterbrach sich. „Ich weiß, dass er der Vater des Kindes ist. Aber das macht für mich keinen Unterschied. Ich werde dich beschützen, genauso wie ich dieses Kind beschützen werde, als wäre es mein eigenes. Und es soll meinen Namen tragen. Deirdre,...“
Er ließ ihre Schulter los und ging um sie herum um sich vor sie zu knien und ihre Hand zu nehmen. Für ein paar Momente haderte er mit den Worten...
„... Ich liebe dich Deirdre, so wie ich dieses Kind liebe, ... möchtest du... meine Frau werden?“
Deirdres Augen weiteten sich und anstatt ihm zu antworten fiel sie ihm in die Arme. Dival griff in seine Tasche und brachte zwei goldene Ringe hervor. Er streifte den einen Ring über Deirdres Finger und Deirdre erwidert die Geste mit dem anderen... dann besiegelten sie das ganze mit einem innigen, liebenden Kuss.

...

Mairead öffnete langsam ihre Augen. Sie waren noch immer mit Tränen gefüllt und sie fragte sich, wie lange sie wohl geschlafen hätte. Daividh schlummerte friedlich in ihren Armen und sie konnte nicht anders als zu lächeln als sie einen kurzen Blick auf den goldenen Ring warf den sie trug.
„Siehst du Daividh“, Mairead flüsterte sanft zu dem schlafendem Kind in ihren Armen. „... diese Geschichte hat mit Liebe begonnen. Und damit wird sie auch enden.“

[Mairead]

Mairead sat on the floor infront of Daividhs crib. Beads of sweat were running over her forehead and she felt like she had to throw up any moment.
"Why didn't he come here", Mairead mumbled and closed her eyes. "Why didn't he at least reply to my letter... maybe he hasn't received it... maybe.. he doesn't .. care.. no.. that's not the case.. he loves me..."
It was hard for Mairead to get a grip on any clear thought. The sickness was draining her energy and it felt like everything was fading around her.
"No.. not yet..", she thought ".. Maeve, don't... don't."
She stood up slowly and made her way towards the door... reaching for its handle.

Then everything turned black...

[Mairead]

Mairead looked at the closed door and though she had doubts she would have to try it. It was important and after the happy encountering with Callith and receiving a letter from Taylor she felt strong enough.
Reaching out for the door she opened it and only a single step later she was surrounded by the undeads that had grabbed her the last time. Mairead stayed calm.
Light emited from the ring on her finger and the creatures backed away.

„Maeve?“, Mairead whispered while she watched the skeletons fleeing from the light. It was her dream.
And Maeve appeared next to her. A smile spreaded upon Maireads lips, though Maeve was starring into the darkness and would not look at her.
„Maeve... what have you done yesterday?“
„I used our blood for a ritual. A ritual to make our knowledge conscious again.“
Mairead wrinkled her forehead and for a moment the light that the ring emited seem to fade.
„But why, Maeve,... why?“
„I'm considering to return to 'her' side, Mairead. You know that our father is Trystan. But did you know that Trystan was not much of a normal human? Do you know that a part of our blood is demonic?“
More of the light around them faded ... and Maeve finally turned to her other half...

[Maeve]

„We could become powerful, Mairead. She would embrace us with open arms and give us everything we want. There is no alternative option, Mairead. Don't you understand? The shadows will hunt us til the last of our days. Destroying everything we love. Look at Taylor. Where is he? What is he doing. He is supposed to be at your side. Have you ever had a closer look at him or is love making you blind? You are supposed to be a novice of Oldra. A novice of the goddess of life. And yet you are engaged with a young man who calls himself 'the demon of Varshikar'. Who kills without hesitating and without regret? He has so much blood on the hands he is touching you with. Isn't the thought disgusting you?“

Maeve rested her pale green eyes upon Maireads. Coldness was spreading around them and the protecting light would fade further.

„You still see the eleven year old boy in him, Mairead, without noticing that he had changed. How did you imagine to become happy with a person that does the exact opposite of what you are doing. While you were healing and treatening the wounds of others and hold life as something precious; he was the one who slashed the wounds, who killed and treated life with disrespect. You've pretended to be blind to that fact for too long now. It seems that it always draws us back to all evil.“
The silence that followed seemed to last an eternity before Mairead was able to reply.

„Maeve. Bjolmur will never take us back in. You know that yourself. She will never forgive us our betrayal and returning to her would only make it easier for her to destroy everything. Two days before I've dreamed about Deirdre and Dival, Maeve. When she was pregnant with you and turned on Bjolmur because she wanted to protect you. She loved and so did he. Knowing you are not his own child, he lied to his knighthood and married Deirdre. And loved you like his own child. What does blood matter, Maeve? Nothing. Not at all. All that matters is that you've been loved when you were born. All that matters is that we are loved now. Dival died for you. And so did Deirdre. How many more lifes does it take for you to notice that you are not only responsible for your own life. Let us stop with this nonsense, Maeve. I beg you.We might be still seperated, but.. in four months...“

„In four months...“, Maeve repeated thougtfully.

„Let us get this story to an end, Maeve.“

„You know this will not become easy...“

„... but it will be worth it.“