Agondre

[cellio]

May 24 (Tuesday)

Oh wow. That is not at all what I expected.

The second age of Agondre has begun.

May 24, much later

This morning Mairead treated Turok for his disease again and we teleported to Cardior. Tobin met us there anxious with worry. He had done an augory and seen both great good and massive woe; a further divination brought the message "Agondre's greatest blow brings Agondre's greatest good". (So why should prophecies suddenly start making sense at the time?) When he sought further guidance he learned that we must strike hard and follow through, and use all our protective magics. Whatever was going to happen, it appeared, was going to be big.

I so, so misunderstood just how big. We were fully prepared to carve through legions of creatures oozing out of the pool. We're used to that. We were not prepared for what we met.

So we loaded ourselves up with magic, and Tobin imbued Liandra and me with some of his spells as well. I don't think I've ever had so many spells active on myself before. I was also shielding Kyle magically; I can absorb more damage than he can and he would be in melee more than I would (I thought), so this made sense. The Dragon's Heart followed me, magically floating behind me as it did for Kepta-Mor.

Seven of us entered the chamber -- Kyle, Turok, Viggo, Liandra, Elys', Hrolf, and me. Given the prophecy, I wondered how many would emerge.

When we entered we found but two creatures waiting for us. One was a beast that seemed to not always be there; the other seemed demonic. Kyle charged the demon and Turok the beast; I hurled fire at the beast and Agondre breathed on it, and Viggo fired many arrows at the demon. Both were dead in a matter of seconds. This could not have been the battle for which the oracle told us to gird our loins.

And then I really looked at Agondre. He was taking an active role in this fight, and while he was writhing in pain he was still majestic! Last time we were here I was so focused on healing him that I never really looked closely. This time I did and I was in awe until Hrolf jerked me out of it and reminded me that we were here to do a job.

So I flew to Agondre, hovering in front of his face above the pool, and asked what to do. We all saw the vision in his eyes -- Kotara-Nar was cutting open Agondre's chest to allow the Dragon's Heart to be pushed in. I felt a wave of strong, mixed emotions -- joy, sadness, relief, and maybe a bit of fear. But I didn't have time to analyze it then; that came later.

I heard Elys' behind me saying "hail, mighty monarch" -- she had never seen Agondre before, as she was in Laryn with Therion when Renard was here. And then Turok was at my side, casting an enchantment on Kotara-Nar to make the blow land true. I think we both held our breaths as Turok got into position and, with apologies, struck a mighty blow.

Searing hot blood -- hotter than any fire I've felt -- sprayed out, and Agondre flew into a savage rage, striking out at everyone. I tried to push the Dragon's Heart into the wound but Agondre jerked away; the wound started to close and Turok slashed again. I heard and felt other things happening around me, but I was focused only on the Dragon's Heart and that wound. Liandra shouted out that while it feels wrong we must attack Agondre.

I tried again to push the Dragon's Heart in and again failed. Agondre slammed me with a wing and a claw, but I held on and my third try succeeded. At last, I thought, we can truly heal Agondre.

But as I pushed the Dragon's Heart into his chest, the searing blood enveloped it and cracks began to form. Wait, I thought! We can't have the heart be damaged after all of this! And then Liandra and Hrolf both said it was cracking like an eggshell.

Agondre continued to attack us, and Liandra told us we must press on. Everyone attacked, and when Turok dealt two mighty blows Agondre staggered and collapsed with a mighty roar and a look of gratitude in his eyes. I was stunned. We weren't supposed to kill Agondre! What would that mean for the land? But he seemed grateful -- huh? In sadness, we all gathered around to say our goodbyes to Agondre and pay tribute.

At that point, the egg in Agondre's chest split open and a small dragon emerged. The pool surrounding Agondre was burned away by his searing blood, leaving a young dragon and Agondre's corpse on the stone floor. The baby looked curiously at us.

Liandra was the first to speak. She pointed out that we'd just witnessed a birth and the custom of her people is to give gifts of our strengths (as I've seen once before). When I placed my hands on its head -- it was not so hot as Agondre's blood -- and said "I give you courage", it nuzzled me. When Turok breathed on it, it giggled. Kyle waved his cloak of smoke and gave him stealth; it leapt in excitement like a cat. Liandra gave it peace and healing and it purred. Viggo gave it a keen eye and Elys' gave it magic that she was given; then, finally, Hrolf flew down and said "I give you a sense of humor". And through all of this, I felt an ever-increasing sense of awe and I somehow felt like I, too, was receiving parts of these gifts -- as if the young dragon and I were truly linked. I later learned that others felt the same way; everyone who was there for the birth has a special bond with the young Agondre.

I don't know how long we sat there with the dragon; it must have been hours, and the dragon visibly grew before my eyes. The feeling of warmth and awe and cleanliness was overwhelming; I had no desire to leave. And yes, everything was clean! Turok was no longer afflicted, and Weeping Wounds had transformed into an old rusty dagger with a greenish tinge and no magic. Actually, if I had to sum up my feelings, I would say that I felt the purest sense of joy that I've ever felt. Which is strange given that we killed the dragon Agondre, but death is necessary for rebirth to happen. I had thought we were going to heal Agondre, but that was not possible. Agondre, instead, had to be reborn. I can see that now.

We returned to the sanctum and told the others what had happened. Tobin said that the sky had darkened and the whole world had held its breath for a moment when Agondre died and was reborn. And they felt the new cleanliness, too -- the whole land did, I think. Tobin said it was as if the world had been pulled apart and put back together.

We knew that if the land was healed then Therion should be waking, so we teleported to the caverns of Laryn with Elys'. She rushed into Therion's chamber just as he was awakening, and they had an exhuberant reunion. Therion returned with us to the sanctum and he and Elys' have spent every moment since together, catching up.

Some of us have returned to the dragon's chamber to spend the night. I don't want to be away from the young Agondre for long on his first day in the world. While Garrett is no longer a threat, we still must guard him and guide him -- or let him guide us; I'm not sure which yet. And besides, I want to give the bond between us every chance to grow and strengthen. Tomorrow we will deal with the rest of the world, but tonight Agondre and I will grow together.

Comments

[ralphmelton.livejournal.com]

Wow, this brought a lump to my throat and tears to my eyes. Thank you so much.

Do you happen to have notes about what people said over the fallen Agondre?

[cellio]

Thanks.

Sadly, I have no notes on the parting words to Agondre. I think I was so caught up in the role-playing that note-taking just fell by the wayside. It was a powerful session. :-)