Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was frigid. They’d known to expect that much, but there’s a big difference between knowing it will be cold and feeling that cold. The air seemed to cling about them, as if trying to incase them in ice. Their breath came out in puffs of white. The wind felt like it was trying to tear into them. Elyse in particular shivered violently. She had never been anywhere so cold. None of them had.

They’d been out here for several days now, but none of them had gotten used to the temperature. It didn’t help that the further north they travelled, the colder it got. If days were miserable, nights were hellish. Once the sun had set, it felt as though no warmth could penetrate the ever present cold.They did what they could to combat it, swaddling themselves in heavy layers of clothing. Cassian and Astra used Prestidigitation to warm the clothes when even many layers weren’t enough.

It would be just over a week of travel in all from Watcher’s Respite—longer than Valentinian had thought. They’d been forced to abandon the cart early on, as it was unable to move through the dense snow. The two horses now walked with them, carrying packs but no riders.

“What I would give to be in Ospeia right now,” Elyse sighed, tugging her cloak tighter around her.

“Chin up, sapling,” Astra said, “Just try to enjoy the nice parts. It’s very lovely out here.”

“If you say so,” Boblem replied, kicking at the snow. He was still unaccustomed to wearing boots.

Astra was right about the view. The snow created a perfect, untouched landscape. Thick grey clouds had gathered overhead, forming a swirling, impressionistic sky. It looked like a painting.

“Oh!” cried Sariel, “Look over there!”

They all turned in the direction she pointed, to see a white hare with black tipped ears bounding across the snow away from them. 

Grinning, Boblem cast Speak With Animals on himself. “Hello there, mister rabbit!” he called out.

The hare stopped and turned towards Boblem. “Hello?” it replied.

“Tell it we mean no harm,” said Sariel.

“We’re not going to hurt you,” said Boblem.

The hare looked at him.

“You’re very handsome,” Boblem told it.

“I know,” it raised its chin proudly.

“Well, I hope you have a lovely day!”

“Yes. I will.” With that, it turned and bounded off, disappearing into the endless white.

“I’ve never seen a rabbit like that before,” said Boblem.

“I haven’t either,” Vanden agreed.

“I think they only live in snowy places,” said Sariel, “I’m glad we got to see it.”

The rest of the morning and early afternoon passed without note. They trekked on across the unchanging landscape, encountering no one. As they went, the sky began to darken, almost imperceptibly so. It was Vanden who noticed first, looking up at the sky, brow furrowed. The clouds, previously a light grey, were darker and thicker now.

“Is it just me,” said Vanden, “Or does it look like there’s a storm coming?”

The others looked up as well, and saw the same thing.

“That definitely looks like a storm,” Cassian affirmed.

“We should look for shelter,” said Elyse.

The wind began to pick up, biting at their faces.

“There’s no shelter out here,” Vanden replied, gesturing at the barren landscape.

“My Tiny Hut spell could give us shelter,” said Astra, “I can cast it at any time. I don’t know what we’ll do with the horses though.”

“We’ll probably have to leave them outside,” said Vanden.

“Maybe we keep walking then?” suggested Elyse, “And if the storm picks up, Astra can cast his spell and we’ll shelter until it’s over?”

“That works for me,” said Vanden, “As long as everyone else is okay with it.”

With everyone in agreement, the group set off once more. As they walked, the wind became stronger, and the first flakes of snow began to fall. As the snow fell more heavily, it was swept up by the wind and swirled about, until they couldn’t see more than ten feet in front of them. Bits of hail were mixed in with the snowflakes, and they stung at everyone’s faces.

“Shall I cast it now?” Astra called.

“Yes!” Vanden replied, hitching the horses to the immoveable rod, while Boblem threw blankets over them.

“What?” Astra asked, unable to hear Vanden’s voice over the howling wind.

“Yes, Astra!” Cassian yelled.

Astra took a bead from his necklace and cast the spell. Everyone hurriedly gathered inside the hut with a collective sigh of relief. It wasn’t too cramped, and they settled down around the edges comfortably. The wind outside seemed to curve around them. It looked as though constantly moving snow made up the walls of the hut.

“Shall I start a fire?” Vanden asked, “It looks like we’ll be here for a while.”

“Sounds great,” answered Elyse, pulling kindling from the bag of holding, which they’d gathered earlier in the journey.

Vanden started the fire in the center of the hut, and everyone scooted a little closer to it. The warmth filled the space quickly. Sheltered from the wind, this was the warmest anyone had been in a while. Astra and Boblem were both worried about the horses, prompting Cassian to go out and warm their blankets with prestidigitation. This, along with reassurances from the others that the horses would be fine, satisfied them.

Astra pulled around their lute, and began playing a jaunty song. It couldn’t drown out the roar of the wind outside, but it masked it a little. Soon enough, everyone was smiling. Together, they sat around a fire, enjoying music and each other's company. It felt like home.

After some time had passed, Cassian said, “Perhaps we should stay here for the night.” He looked out, where the storm still raged.

Sariel looked that way too. “It doesn’t look like it will stop any time soon.”

“Yeah,” Boblem agreed, “And I don’t want to go out in that.”

“No, of course not,” said Vanden, “I doubt we’d even be able to see where we were going.”

Elyse checked the arcane watch. “It’s evening anyway, so might as we'll just make camp.”

“I guess I’ll make dinner then?” said Boblem, pulling rations from his bag. He held up some bread. “I can try and toast this over the fire at least.”

“That would be wonderful,” said Astra, “I think we all need some hot food right now.”

Boblem toasted the bread and passed out portions to everyone. They ate together. There was no talking and no need for it either. They fell into the comfort of warm food and good company.

Eventually, Vanden broke the silence. “I can take first watch.”

“I don’t mind joining you,” said Elyse.

“I’ll take second,” Astra offered.

“I will too,” said Boblem.

“And Sariel and I will sleep then,” said Cassian, laying out his bedroll. Sariel put out hers beside him.

Boblem tucked himself into his bedroll, pulling the blankets tight around him. Astra turned away from the others to deal with his bag, before tucking in as well. Elyse and Vanden both settled down, looking out at the storm. Elyse shed her coat, instead wrapping a blanket around her shoulders.

The night passed uneventfully. Vanden slipped out a few times to check on the horses, and Boblem later did the same. As time went by, the wind quieted and the snow stopped. It gradually became a peaceful night. 

The next morning dawned clear and bright. There was no sign at all of the storm from the night before. Everything looked crisp and fresh. The sun reflected off the snow to an almost blinding degree. Everyone rose with the sun, packed up quickly, and set off. They knew by now to take advantage of the shorter periods of daylight.

“We should be getting close now. Maybe a day’s more travel,” said Vanden as they began.

Sure enough, Astra spotted something in the early afternoon. “Look,” they said, pointing, “There’s less snow over there, like a track.”

Everyone hurried over to investigate. Where the landscape had seemed uniform and flat elsewhere, here there was a distinct dent in the snow. It was wide, a little wider than a cart, and seemed to be a path, running parallel to the party’s own track. It looked as though the snow had been tamped down, and then covered by a fresher coat.

“This must be recent for the snow not to have covered it,” said Sariel.

“I guess the storm didn’t reach this far,” Elyse added, “It would have covered it completely.”

“Lucky for us that it didn’t,” said Vanden, “These tell us we’re on the right track. They must have been going to Frostguard too, whoever they were—probably some of the mercenaries who’d left Shadebourne.”

“So now all we have to do is follow the tracks,” said Elyse.

“What do we do if we run into the people who made them?” asked Boblem, “If they are mercenaries from Shadebourne, wouldn’t they be more powerful than us?”

“Probably,” said Vanden, “Maglubiyet’s Legions are incredibly skilled. However, we are on their side. Assuming that they’re trying to defeat the mage in Frostguard, we have the same goal, so they should have no reason to attack us.”

“Right,” Boblem nodded.

The party continued on, following the track further north. The clear weather held. The sky was a cloudless blue, in sharp contrast with the greys of the day before. The wind too was calmer. Nothing more than the occasional breeze interrupted the stillness.

After an hour or so, Vanden pointed ahead. “Look!”

The others followed his eyes, seeing a dark smudge on the horizon. Encouraged, they ploughed on across the tundra. As another hour passed, the shape got clearer and clearer: a thin line, pointing up towards the sky—and something else too, along the horizon line, some abnormality in the landscape.

It became clear in the later afternoon. The ground maybe a half mile ahead glimmered in a way the rest of the land did not. Vanden explained that it must be the frozen sea which Frostguard sat upon. The tower itself had become clearer too, like an arrow pointing towards the clouds. 

The wind became stronger as they approached, blowing straight into them and kicking up little flurries of snow underfoot. They pushed forward, reaching the shores of the sea. Snow mounded up at the edge of it, clearly blown off by the strong winds. Beyond was nothing but ice as far as the eye could see—nothing, that is, except a tower.

Sharp and knifelike, the tower jutted from the ice about a mile out. Between it and the shores stretched a long, black bridge. The party approached the bridge, examining it. It touched down at the shore, but seemed to have no support beams as it gently arched over the ice. Fifteen feet wide, with low railings on either side carved from the same black stone, It was a wonder of architecture, somehow appearing stable despite its lack of supports. It must have been held up by arcane means. The tracks in the snow led right to its base.

“Well,” said Vanden, looking out towards the tower, “It looks as though this is our way across.”

Chapter Text

The party stood on the banks of the frozen sea, a mile long bridge stretching in front of them. Beyond it sat a sharp tower full of certain danger. The horses were hitched beside them, with blankets and food aplenty. No one made a move to step onto the bridge. They stared into the distance, squinting from the wind.

Elyse broke the silence. “What’s our plan?” she asked.

“I. . . I don’t know,” Vanden admitted, “I have no idea what we’ll find here.”

“Here’s the plan,” said Cassian, “We know this mage has finished his golem and is doing Gods know what in that tower. We go in. We beat him. And we destroy the golem. Simple.”

Astra chuckled, “That may be easier said than done.”

Cassian shrugged, “Probably, but that doesn’t mean we should try to make some complex plan.”

“I think,” Sariel chimed in, “That we should wait until we’re closer and have some idea what we’re dealing with before we try to plan anything too complicated.”

“All right then,” said Elyse, “Let’s cross this bridge.”

With that, she stepped on. The others followed after her. It was slick, the entire bridge coated in a thin sheen of ice, and everyone had to be careful not to stumble. The gradual slope did nothing to help. Luckily, after about two minutes the bridge flattened out, now ten feet above the water. 

The wind only got stronger as they walked, and within another five minutes it felt as though it was pushing them backwards. They had to squint to look forward, hoods were thrown off heads, and Sariel stumbled back a few feet. Vanden caught her hand, pulling her forward.

“Thank you!” she had to yell to be heard.

Beneath them, the bridge gave an ominous creak and trembled. Everyone froze. As if in slow motion, the whole thing shook, and then the section of the bridge below them curved upwards with a fluid movement, tremors running over the surface. A splintering sound could be made out over the roar of the wind, getting louder.

Astra and Cassian grabbed onto the rails on one side, and Boblem did the same on the other. The bridge shook harder, as if trying to fling them off. Without thinking about it, Vanden released his wings and flew a few feet up, still holding onto Sariel. The splintering noise became ear splittingly loud, as the bridge fractured into three separate paths, all heading forward. 

The wind caught Vanden’s wings, pushing both him and Sariel into the air. They lost sight of the others, clinging tight together as Vanden tried to fly back towards the bridge. The wind roared around them, mixed with a dense fog which had come out of nowhere. It was impossible to tell which way was which.

Down below, Astra and Cassian remained safe. Still clinging to the rails, they ended up on the left section of the bridge. Elyse was not so lucky. As the bridge split apart, she was flung to the ground, and the bridge tore open beneath her. 

Before she could fall, Boblem threw himself across the bridge, relinquishing his grip on the railing. He grabbed her wrist as she disappeared through the crack. They held tightly to each other, Boblem flat on his stomach across the right path. The bridge creaked as it split even further, but Elyse did not fall.

Buffeted by the swirling wind and holding tight to Sariel, Vanden tried to head downwards. He finally managed to land on the middle portion of the bridge. The moment his feet had touched the ground, he felt the wind catch his wings again. He immediately let them burn away, not wanting to be swept up again.

As quickly as it had started, the movement of the bridge stopped. Three distinct paths were left, all heading towards the destination. The wind stilled as well, but it was replaced by a thick fog that seemed to surround the bridges, making it impossible to see any more than the path one was standing on. Scattered across the paths, the party was left unable to see one another.

Astra and Cassian

On the left path, Astra and Cassian tentatively let go of the rail behind them. The bridge had stilled, leaving them standing on a five foot wide portion of it which stretched out into the fog ahead. To one side, the railing was still intact, with a clear view of the ice below. To the other, there was nothing but the edge of the bridge and a dense wall of fog.

“Is everyone all right?” Vanden’s voice came through the fog, sounding slightly muffled.

“Cassian and I are okay!” Astra called back.

Faintly, they could hear Boblem shout, “Elyse and I are fine too!”

“Good!” yelled Vanden, “Sariel’s with me!”

“What do we do now?” shouted Elyse. 

“I’d try to Misty Step to one of you, but I can’t see a thing,” Casian yelled.

“I suppose we move forward then!” came Vanden’s reply, “Our path seems to be heading the right direction!”

“They all did look like they were still going the right way!” Boblem pointed out.

“We move forward then!” called Cassian, “Shout if you need help!”

“We’ll see you at the other side!” Astra added.

Cassian turned to Astra. “Well then, shall we go?”

“Yes,” Astra agreed, “I want to be off of here as soon as possible.”

“Exactly.”

Together, they set off across the bridge, sticking to the railing in case it moved again. However, it remained still. As the minutes went by, they began to feel more confident. It seemed they’d passed the only obstacle. But then the fog began to get denser ahead of them.

“Are you seeing this too, Cassian?” Astra asked.

“Yes,” Cassian replied, slowing down.

They continued forward, slower now. The fog felt thicker around them, seeming to cling to their clothes. It got thicker still, and began to feel as though it was tugging at them, grabbing onto their hair, pulling on the corners of their sleeves. They could barely make out each other’s shapes in the roiling mass. Then came an eerie noise, like someone exhaling, only amplified.

Astra froze, and Cassian ran into them. The noise grew louder, seeming to come from all sides. The sound now almost seemed to resemble words, if one listened hard enough. 

“ Cassian,” Cassian heard, like a whisper.

Meanwhile, “ Astra ,” was hissed into Astra’s ears.

“Astra,” said Cassian, a forced calm in his tone, “I think now would be a very good time to run.”

Both still keeping one hand on the railing, they ran. The voice seemed more insistent now, still whispering their names to them. The fog pulled harder at their clothes and hair. They ran faster. The voices tugged at the edges of their minds, as if trying to take over.

They each faltered for a moment, before Cassian pushed Astra forward. “I assume you’re hearing things too,” he said with a shove, “I would suggest we get out of here before it gets any worse.”

“I agree,” said Astra.

Together, they ran on. The voices became more desperate, but still they pushed on. The fog was a swirling, heavy mass, tightening around them. And then, all of a sudden, they burst out of it.

The sky was clear again. To the right, they could see both other segments of the bridge, each spaced around twenty feet from each other. In front of them was the tower, made of the same black stone as the bridge. The three paths converged at its base, and a heavy, wood door marked the entrance. The sound of footsteps approached, and Vanden and Sariel stumbled out of the fog on the middle path, panting.

Vanden and Sariel

Once they’d determined that heading forward was the only way, Sariel and Vanden had set off. They stuck to the middle of the five foot wide path. There were no railings on the sides, and thick fog blocked their view. It was as though they were in a tunnel.

Vanden in particular was nervous. He was careful to stay in the very center of the path, fearing what might happen were he to slip off the edge and out of sight. For the same reason, he kept an eye on Sariel. She walked ahead of him, careful not to slip. They continued on in silence. It wasn’t long before both of them noticed the fog beginning to thicken.

“Stay close to me, all right?” said Vanden.

“You too,” she replied.

They moved further forward, as the fog began to tug at their sleeves and hair. It thickened even more, and then came the strange noise. 

“What in the Hells is that?” cried Vanden.

“I don’t know,” said Sariel, “But I think we should hurry.”

They picked up their pace, jogging forwards. And then they heard their names. Sariel shook her head, ignoring the call. 

Behind her, Vanden stopped. This voice was calling to him. He had to obey it. He didn’t think, didn’t try to understand what that would mean. It was as though the fog had overtaken his mind. He stopped in place, feeling himself pushed towards the edge of the bridge. He obeyed it, taking a step nearer—

Sariel grabbed his arm. “Vanden!”

Her voice cut over the fog and he turned, suddenly aware of what he’d been about to do. She pulled at him, and the two of them ran, pushing through the thick fog, ignoring the voices calling their names. They finally emerged, panting. To the left, Astra and Cassian stood on a portion of the bridge. The right path was empty. They turned back, and saw nothing but a roiling wall of fog.

“Are you okay?” Astra asked.

“Yes, I think so,” said Vanden. Sariel nodded.

They all turned expectantly towards the empty path. 

“They have to come out soon,” said Sariel.

“Should we go in for them?” asked Vanden.

“Give them a minute,” Cassian said.

“I can send a message to them, ask if they need help,” Astra suggested.

“Good idea,” Vanden said.

Astra cast Sending to Elyse. “We’re all out. Do you need help? If you’re not out soon, we’re going in after you.”

Seconds later, he received a reply: “Running through now. We should be out soon. Don’t worry.”

“They’re all right,” sighed Astra, “And Elyse said they’re running our way now.”

Elyse and Boblem

The moment the bridge had stilled, Boblem pulled Elyse up onto the path. Once it had been decided that everyone should move forward, they had set off. 

“Y’know,” Boblem commented, “This kinda reminds me of Sanscra.”

“It is similar,” Elyse agreed, “Only much more dangerous.”

“Yeah. Why do we always end up on foggy bridges?”

“That’s a very good question.”

As they spoke, the fog became thicker. Before long, it began to tug at them.

“I don’t like this,” said Boblem.

“Me neither,” Elyse replied.

“I hope the others are alright.”

“So do I. Let’s hurry so we can get back to them soon.”

They began to stride forward more purposefully as the fog pulled harder. Next came the strange, exhale-like noise. The whispers in the fog solidified into voices, and, in unspoken agreement, they broke into a jog. Boblem hurried forward to escape the tricks the fog tried to play on his mind. Almost immediately, he collided with Elyse.

Elyse stood perfectly still, entranced by the voice. The fog tugged at her with intent, bringing her towards the edge of the path, on the side where there was no railing. She allowed it to pull her, as if in a trance. Suddenly, Boblem ran into her back.

“Sorry!” he cried.

She didn’t respond, taking another step towards the edge.

“Elyse?” said Boblem, “Come on. Aren’t we supposed to be getting out of here?”

She moved closer to the edge, unable to hear Boblem. The only thing she heard was the voice calling her name, pulling her to the edge. 

Boblem grabbed her arm, jolting her out of the trance. She stumbled back from the edge. She’d been about to step off.

“Are you okay?” asked Boblem, concerned.

“I’m fine,” she shook off his hand, trying to disguise the waver in her voice, “Let’s get out of here.”

They set off running again. The voices still came, but they didn’t engage them. As they ran through the fog, Elyse heard another voice, this one familiar, in her head.

“We’re all out. Do you need help? If you’re not out soon, we’re going in after you,” came Astra’s voice.

Elyse responded immediately, “Running through now. We should be out soon. Don’t worry.”

“What did you say?” Boblem asked, turning his head to her.

“Astra messaged me,” Elyse explained, “Everyone else is okay. They’ve gotten out of the fog. We should soon too.”

“We must be getting close.”

And sure enough, they were. They broke through the fog to find the others gathered in front of a heavy wooden door at the base of a huge, black stone tower. Astra hugged Elyse the moment she and Boblem had reached the rest of the group.

“Thank goodness you’re all right,” they sighed, “You had me worried there, sapling.”

Elyse forced a smile. “I’m fine. You know me. I’ve got a thick skin.”

“Are you sure?” Sariel asked, “Whatever that fog was, I know it rattled me.”

“Yes,” Vanden agreed, looking shaken, “That wasn’t anything good.”

“I said I’m fine,” Elyse snapped.

Boblem frowned. “We only want to help you, you know? Everyone’s just making sure that you’re okay.”

Elyse ran a hand through her hair, “Yes, I know. I’m sorry. Let’s just go in, okay?”

“Is everyone ready?” Cassian asked, reaching for the handle.

“Yes,” said Vanden, “Just all agree that no one will do anything rash. We want to be stealthy, so we can figure out what’s going on here. I hate how unprepared we are.”

“We’ll figure it out,” Astra said, “We always do.”

“Yes, but usually we have some idea what we’re getting ourselves into,” replied Vanden, frustrated.

“Do you want me to cast Pass Without a Trace?” Sariel asked.

Vanden nodded, “That would be great.”

Sariel cast the spell, and they all felt the familiar magic settle over them. With one last look at the others, Cassian pulled open the door. There was no resistance, no sign of a lock. It seemed the mage believed the bridge was protection enough. That, or he wanted them to come in.

Chapter Text

They stepped into a large, circular chamber which spanned the entirety of the bottom floor of the tower. It was large, about forty feet in diameter, with no particular decoration. The only thing of note in the room was a spiral staircase going up.

There was a quiet thudding sound above.

Elyse grimaced, “Upwards then?”

Together, they climbed the stairs. Eerily, their footsteps made no sound—a product of Sariel’s spell. Noiselessly, they reached the second level. The middle of the tower was enclosed by a curving wall, leaving only a five foot wide passage around. To the right, the staircase continued upwards, wrapping around the walls. To the left was a door into the central room.

Vanden held out a hand towards its knob, “Shall I?”

The others nodded. Gently, he turned it and opened the door. Inside was what seemed to be a living space. The room was perfectly circular, thirty feet in diameter. Rugs were thrown over the stone floor. A table with two chairs sat in the middle of the room, a couch was pushed up against the curved wall, and a bed sat at the opposite end with a chest beside it. No one was inside.

They fanned out, exploring the room. Astra and Elyse opened the chest and rifled through its contents. There were some simple clothes, several quills, a bottle of ink, sheets of blank parchment, and a few other odds and ends.

Vanden examined a low shelf to the side of the room. On it were some simple dishes and packages of preserved food. Frowning, he ran a finger over the shelf. Everything was coated in a thin layer of dust, as if it had been untouched for some time.

“The things on this shelf haven’t been touched in a while,” he said, turning to the others.

Sariel nodded from where she stood by the bed, “And the bed hasn’t been slept in either,” she said, “It’s covered in dust.”

“It doesn’t seem like there’s anything noteworthy or important in here,” said Cassian, walking towards the others from where he’d been surveying the room.

“I know,” said Elyse, “Maybe no one uses this space anymore.”

“Shall we move on then?” Astra asked.

“Yes,” said Vanden, looking upwards at the sound of another muffled thump, “I think we want to find this mage before he knows we’re here.”

“If he doesn’t already,” Cassian added.

They left the room, closing the door softly behind them. Cassian’s words loomed over their heads. Carefully, they climbed up the stairs, emerging onto the next floor. This one was completely open, with a high vaulted ceiling. The staircase continued to wrap around its walls, going further upwards. As Vanden and Elyse stepped out into the room, there was a creaking sound. They watched as a huge clay form in the middle of the room turned towards them, raising a heavy fist.

“I think we’ve found the golem,” quipped Elyse.

They all poured into the room, almost immediately leaping into battle. As they did, they noticed the only other thing in the room. Around a dozen bodies were pushed to the edges of the space. All were hobgoblins, clad in the armor of Maglubiyet’s Legions. Some still held swords, many bent and dented. Others were weaponless, perhaps disarmed in death, or perhaps before.

Sariel reacted first, calling down a Moon Beam onto the golem, which howled. Elyse shot lightning at it,  but it fizzled off the creature’s hearty body. The battle wore on, everyone giving all they had. They all kept an eye out for the mage, but he did not appear. The golem became more weakened, chunks of clay  missing from parts of it. It seemed as though it had already been hurt by the soldiers who lay dead on the floor.

The golem became more frantic, lashing out almost at random. It slammed a stony fist into Sariel’s chest, knocking her to the ground, before swinging for Vanden, who managed to duck out of the way.

“Sariel!” Astra cried, “You’re all right, sapling!” As he said it, he cast Healing Word. She took a shuddering gasp as she pulled herself up and jumped back into the fray.

Finally, Cassian hit the golem with an Eldritch Blast, causing it to shatter with a loud crash. Everyone stood still for a moment, panting. Boblem and Astra both rushed to Sariel’s side.

“Are you okay?” Boblem asked.

“I’m fine,” she gasped.

He held out a bottle of sweet tea, but she waved it off.

“Please take it,” said Astra.

“You should take it,” said Elyse, “We still haven’t seen this mage, and I’m sure he’ll put up a fight.”

“All right,” she accepted the bottle. As she drank it, color returned to her face. She smiled. “That’s better.”

Vanden pushed his hair out of his face. “Are you all ready to go? I'd say we should take a rest, but we still haven’t found the mage.”

“Yes,” Cassian agreed, “I think it’s better we find him before he finds us.”

“Does anyone else need healing?” Astra asked, “If we’re going to fight this mage, it might be a good idea.”

“I’m fine,” said Elyse, rolling her shoulder where the golem had hit her.

“I am as well,” Vanden said, though he had been hit more times than any of them.

Cassian smiled, “Don’t worry about me.”

“I barely got hit at all,” said Boblem. It was true. He looked to be in better shape than most of them.

“Well, if you’re all sure. . .” said Astra.

“We are,” Vanden said, starting for the staircase, “Let’s go.”

Upwards they went, Vanden leading the way. The top of this staircase didn’t go straight through to the next floor like the others had. Instead, it ended in a trapdoor. Vanden pushed it up and open, and they all hurried through.

This level of the tower was completely open. Several huge windows were evenly spaced around the room. They had no glass, and a cold wind blew straight through. Opposite the trap door through which they’d come was an almost throne-like stone chair. In it sat an elven man with red hair and a pointy beard, wearing black robes. The rest of the room held several tables and shelves, covered in books, parchment, potions, and many other items. Another staircase on the other side of the room led further upwards.

The mage looked over at them, frowning. “You destroyed my golem,” he said.

“Yes,” Cassian replied.

The mage’s mouth twisted into a sneer. “There are worse things than that in this tower.” He raised a crystal into the air, pointing it at them.

Elyse leapt forward and cast Thunderwave. It rippled over the mage, but he held his ground, still seated on the throne.

Everyone began casting their spells, and Vanden charged ahead with his sword. The mage seemed unphased, matching their spells with his own, as he finally stood from the chair. He managed to hit Boblem with a thunderwave, causing him to stumble back onto a runic engraving in the floor. The moment Boblem’s feet touched it, the rune lit up, and a cage of crisscrossing, silver wire rose up around him to the ceiling.

Astra rushed over, but found that he could not get through it. Boblem tried to get out as well, but was completely stuck. Seizing on everyone’s distraction, the mage grabbed Vanden’s shoulder, sapping him of energy. Vanden crumpled to the ground as a few of the mage’s wounds healed.

Cassian summoned his Shadow Blade, rushing towards the mage in an attempt to distract from Vanden. Astra ran towards the crumpled form, pulling Vanden up as they cast Cure Wounds. 

On the other side of the room, Boblem attempted to cast a spell from within the cage, only to discover that he couldn’t. Sariel rushed to try and help him, but the cage seemed impossible to break.

Everyone was becoming panicked. The mage, though looking weaker, was still fighting hard. They were all running low on magic. Plus, Boblem was effectively out of the battle, bringing them down a fighter. 

The mage hit Vanden again, along with Astra, who was still at his side. Vanden fell once more. Cassian charged forward, causing enough of a distraction that Astra could pull Vanden back, casting Cure Wounds again.

Elyse looked around at the others wildly. Cassian fought against the mage, clearly weakened. Astra held Vanden in his arms. Sariel still tried in vain to get Boblem out of the cage. Elyse herself had run out of spells. 

Feeling desperate, she clutched the arcane focus. “Shahrivar!” she called, “Please, help me. Please.”

She felt a warm hum from the arcane focus. It was radiating power. Holding it tightly, she pulled all she could from it. Electricity ran through her veins. Everything felt white hot. She was buzzing with energy. She thrust out a hand at the mage, channeling all of it towards him.

The others watched as a wave of electricity burst from Elyse. Her skin had gone purplish blue everywhere they could see. Her hair whipped behind her. The electricity slammed into the mage, throwing him through the window behind his throne. Other bolts of it ricocheted across the room, colliding with the walls.

The rest of the party were forced to duck as lightning fizzled throughout the room, making cracks in the stone, causing the walls to begin to crumble. Elyse stood in the center, electricity dancing over her skin. The walls began to come down, collapsing near the windows first. There was no time to run.

Astra shielded Vanden with their body. Sariel, Cassian, and Boblem covered their heads. Elyse stood in the middle of it all, still surrounded by tiny bolts of lightning, unmoving. She didn’t seem aware of her surroundings. The ceiling began to crumble above. Cassian rushed forward, pulling her aside before she could be hit by falling stone. An electric shock coursed through his arm when he touched her, but he didn’t let go.

Elyse

The moment she unleashed the electricity, Elyse felt her vision going dark. She peeled open her eyes, desperate to see anything. She wasn’t standing in the tower anymore. Instead, she found herself floating on storm clouds. Bolts of lightning flew through the air, emanating from her. The shadowy figure of Shahrivar floated opposite her.

“ Elyse,” it said, “ You have taken more than you can handle. Let go of it.”

She shook her head, unable to stop the electricity radiating off of her.

“ Allow yourself to let go, child. You can master it.”

She took a deep breath and tried again, releasing her mental hold on the lightning. She hadn’t realized she had been clutching it so tightly. The bolts fizzled out. She gasped. 

“I stopped it!” she cried, laughing in relief.

“ You did,” Sharivar replied, “ But you still have far to go in learning control. There are those who can guide you, but only you can master your power. Our time here is short. There are people who need you, and you must return to them.”

As suddenly as the wave of electricity had burst from Elyse, it fizzled out. The others watched in awe, as the color on her skin began to recede. The upper portion of the tower had almost completely crumbled away. They were left in a shell of a room. The side the electricity had aimed towards was completely gone. Parts of the wall still stood on the other side. Anything that had been above had fallen as well.

Sariel, Cassian, and Astra were battered, Astra particularly. Vanden had fared better, as Astra had taken most of the impact. Shockingly, Boblem was unhurt. Whatever cage he still stood in had protected him from the falling rock. Elyse as well seemed fine. Perhaps her magic had defended her. She came back to herself, gasping. In the air around them, stone dust fell like snow.

Chapter Text

Astra pulled themself off of Vanden, pushing aside rubble with their feet. It was a wonder he hadn’t been crushed. Most of the tower above had been thrown outwards and into the frozen sea below. 

Cassian let go of Elyse’s arm, examining the burn marks running up his wrist. Their pattern resembled lightning. Elyse, for her part, was shaking. The purple color in her skin had receded, leaving only patches around her eyes which were rapidly fading. Tears streamed down her face, but she didn’t seem to notice them. She clung tightly to the arcane focus.

“Are you all okay?” Sariel asked, brushing dust off of her clothes. She held her arm at an awkward angle, clearly in pain from where a chunk of ceiling had hit it.

“Yes,” said Vanden. Astra helped him to his feet.

“I’m fine,” said Boblem.

“As am I,” Cassian turned, “Elyse?”

She didn’t respond. Her eyes looked far away.

Astra walked over and put a hand on her shoulder, casting Cure Wounds, “Please talk to us, sapling.”

She shook herself and looked at him. Tears still rolled down her face, but she didn’t seem to notice. “I’m sorry,” she choked out, “I-I’m so sorry.”

Astra pulled her into a hug. “It’s okay. We’re all fine.”

“Truly, thunderstorm,” said Cassian, softer than normal, “That was an amazing display.”

“I lost control,” Elyse replied, “I hurt you. I could have killed you.”

“But you didn’t,” said Boblem, “We’re okay. It’s you I’m worried about.”

“Elyse,” said Vanden, walking over, “You may have lost control, but I saw you wrest it back. You stopped before you could hurt us.”

She broke down, crying in Astra’s arms. They were deep, cleansing sobs, washing away the fear and anger and pain. Astra held her tighter, humming under their breath.

Cassian walked over to Sariel and Boblem. He studied the cage and the glowing, silvery rune within it. 

“Try carving into the rune,” he suggested, “If you disturb it enough, the spell should drop.”

Boblem crouched down and began chipping away at the stone with his dagger. 

Slowly, the tenseness in the air began to dissipate. Vanden sat down against the remaining portion of wall, breathing deeply. Boblem continued to work at the rune, while Sariel stayed beside him. Cassian began looking at the few things in the room which had survived the lightning. Astra still held Elyse, gently stroking her hair as her sobs quieted.

The cage finally dropped from around Boblem. He rose to his feet and stepped out, immediately making for the others. Sariel followed behind him.

Elyse pulled back from Astra’s arms and took a deep breath. She offered him a watery smile. “I’m okay. I’ll be okay,” she said.

Boblem pulled her into a hug. “You know we don’t blame you, right?” he asked.

“Yeah,” she hugged him back, “Yeah, I do.”

“And Vanden’s right,” Sariel added, “You did control it, in the end.”

Cassian strode over. “The amount of power you wield is incredible,” he said.

“I just wish I could control it better,” said Elyse.

“Don’t push yourself too hard,” Astra cautioned, “You’ve already done so much. Let things come in time.”

Boblem walked over to Vanden. “Here,” he held out a bottle of sweet tea.

Vanden waved it off. “I’m sure we’ll be resting now,” he said, “You should save it.”

“If you say so,” Boblem reluctantly pocketed it, and offered him a hand. Vanden took it, pulling himself up.

“Did you find anything noteworthy?” Sariel asked Cassian.

“Unfortunately, no,” Cassian grimaced, “All that was left were notes on making a golem.”

“Who knows what else he was doing up here then,” said Vanden.

“Yes,” Cassian agreed, “It seems that secret died with him.”

Elyse looked down.

Catching this, Vanden moved the conversation forward. “Well, if there’s nothing to be found up here, shall we head down a level?”

“I know I’d like to get out of the cold,” said Boblem. 

They went down a level and were confronted with the huge golem, lying across the floor. Around the edges of the room lay the bodies of soldiers. Wordlessly, Sariel went and began looking one over. The others joined.

They turned up little. It seemed that these people had carried nothing but their weapons. No one bothered to take the swords or armor off them.

“There are so few of them,” said Sariel, “I wonder what came of the others.”

“The bridge may have gotten them,” said Cassian.

Vanden rose from where he crouched by one of the bodies. “Are we staying here tonight?” he asked.

“I think we should,” said Astra, “You all need rest.”

“Yeah,” Boblem agreed, “Rest’ll be good. It’s a long way back.”

They went down another level, and then one more. No one felt like talking. They settled around the walls, giving each other space. Everyone’s minds were occupied with the battle and all that had occurred. An hour passed, and evening set in. Without a word to the others, Boblem began passing around food. He didn’t cook it this time. They ate in silence.

Vanden finally broke it. “I’ve been thinking,” he began, “About whether we should go back to Shadebourne.”

“What?” said Boblem, shocked.

“Why wouldn’t we go back, Vanden?” Sariel asked.

“I’m not sure how much more value the city holds for us, at least at the moment. I know that I, at least, need to keep moving onwards. And also. . . time is weighing on me. Now that I know what Mattijn has done. . .” he trailed off, “It’s just a very long way back. I’m not sure I can afford that lost time.”

There was silence as everyone took this in.

“I’m with you,” said Astra, “All of you. Whatever it is that you need to do.”

“Where would we go?” Cassian asked.

Vanden unrolled his map, spreading it across the floor. The others gathered around.

“Back to Watcher’s Respite,” he pointed at the city, “It’s a hub for the East Caldera Company and generally has lots of ships. We could get passage from there to wherever we choose to head next. It’s closer than Shadebourne too.”

“This is a big change in plans,” said Sariel

“I’m sorry,” Vanden replied.

“I don’t mean it in a negative way,” she explained, “It’s just a lot to take in.”

“Elyse?” said Astra, “What do you think?”

“I don’t know. I just,” she paused, “I don’t feel like I can make any decisions right now.”

“That’s fair,” said Vanden, “Maybe we should put this conversation off for the morning? We don’t need to make any calls now.”

“That sounds good,” said Boblem.

They dispersed once more, now with even more to think about. Astra pulled out his bag, and did whatever it was he did with it. Boblem moved to sit by Elyse, not saying anything, not touching, just being there. Vanden studied his map, deep in thought. Cassian moved to sit by Sariel, away from the group a little.

“What do you think of all this?” he asked her quietly.

“Like I said to Vanden, it’s a lot to take in,” she replied, “But I wouldn’t be opposed to it. What about you?”

“I’m ready to move on,” he said immediately, “Shadebourne. . . was nice, but I became bored with it. I want to keep moving on. So Watcher’s Respite, and whatever comes after, seems best.”

Sariel nodded. “You certainly get bored with things quickly.”

He sighed. “I think, having lived in one place for so long—so very, very long—I can’t help but want to see more and more new ones. I don’t want to be stagnant.”

“That makes sense,” she said, leaning a head against his shoulder, “You know, Cassian, you’re one of the best friends I’ve ever had.”

He smiled, leaning against her too, “I’ve had very few friends in my life, but even if I had, you would still be the best of them. I could never grow bored of you.”

They sat together for some time. The night began to set in. Vanden rolled the map back up. Astra packed up their bag

“I’ll take first watch,” said Cassian.

“Wake me for second,” said Sariel, “The rest of you: sleep.”

Cassian leaned his back against the wall, surveying the room. The others rolled out bedrolls and settled down for sleep. Sariel stayed near him.

An hour went by, and across the room, Elyse heard a familiar voice in her head.

“Elyse—Amara and I have tracked you to Shadebourne. We have a plan to rescue the others. Where are you?” said Xander.

Elyse took a moment before responding. She thought of Vanden, his intent on moving forward towards his own goal. She thought of the people who had raised her, how they were now deep in the pit, behind bars but together. She thought of Shahrivar’s words, “ There are people who need you, and you must return to them.”

At the time, she’d thought they meant returning to her friends here, to the moment. But what if they’d meant something else? What if they’d meant her crew? She touched the arcane focus. “Please, I need your guidance,” she whispered, “Who did you mean when you said people needed me?”

There was no response. She was alone. This decision was hers to make. She took another breath. She already knew her choice, had known it since the minute she joined up with the others in this room. There were people who needed her, and she would return to them.

“In Frostguard,” she replied to the spell, “It will take a month to return. Can you wait for me? I miss you.”

She felt another spell come through almost instantly. “Of course we’ll wait. Meet at the barracks with the sun on the door, Dawnbringer. You have much to tell us about. Miss you too.”

Chapter Text

The morning rolled around at last. Slowly, everyone rose and began to pack their things. No matter where they went today, they would certainly be leaving here. No one broke the silence. The air was thick with things unsaid, all that they would need to decide.

Silently, Boblem prepared breakfast. Everyone took their portions and began to eat. Within half an hour of their waking, the bags were packed, breakfast was finished, and it was time to move on.

“Have you all thought on what I said?” Vanden asked, “I know it’s sudden, but time is of the essence.”

“I’m going back to Shadebourne,” Elyse blurted out.

“What?” said Astra, “Why?”

“Last night, Xander messaged me,” she explained, “He and Amara have been looking for me. They’re in Shadebourne, and they have an idea of how to rescue the rest of my crew. They’re waiting for me.”

“And you have to help your people,” Astra finished.

“Yeah,” Elyse agreed, “I couldn’t just leave them.”

Everyone sat in stunned silence for a moment.

“I don’t expect you to come with me,” she continued, “I don’t know where we’ll be going, but probably Arakhis. I know that you have things you need to do, Vanden. I can’t expect you to abandon them for me, just as you can’t expect me to do the same for you.”

“So you’re leaving us?” asked Vanden, shocked.

“Yes. I have to,” she looked around at all of them, “I mean, we didn’t think this would last forever, did we? It was always going to have to come apart some time. We all have things to do or people to return to. This was never going to last.” She wiped a stray tear off her face.

“I suppose you’re right,” Sariel finally said, “I don’t know what I thought, but. . . you’re right. We don’t seem to have much choice in the matter now.”

“And what of the rest of you?” Vanden asked, “You could go back to Shadebourne, travel with me to Watcher’s Respite, or. . . go anywhere really.”

“I’ll come along to Watcher’s Respite,” said Cassian, “I don’t want to go back the way I came, and. . . I’d like to reach the coast.”

“Okay,” said Vanden, nodding.

“None of you need to feel like you should come with me,” said Elyse, “I won’t be alone, once I’ve reached Shadebourne. I don’t want you derailing your plans on my account.”

“Are you sure, sapling?” Astra asked.

“Yes. It’s my time to leave this group, but that doesn’t mean it should be yours.”

“Then I suppose I’ll go on with Vanden and Cassian, see new places,” he smiled a little, but it was bittersweet.

“I’ll go on too,” said Sariel, offering no explanation. Cassian smiled at her.

“And you, Boblem?” Vanden asked.

“I’m going with Elyse,” he said.

“What?” replied Elyse, “You don’t have to do that, Boblem.”

“No,” he agreed, “But I want to. It’s a long way back to Shadebourne. I don’t want you traveling all that way yourself. Plus, it’s like I told you back on the ship when we were on our way to Lakeside: I want to help my friends. I told you then that I’d help you find your crew, and I will.”

Elyse looked touched, and wiped away more tears.

“If you don’t want me to come, I won’t,” Boblem went on, “But I’d like to be there for you.”

“No, you can come,” said Elyse, “I’d be happy to have you with me.”

He brightened at that. “Good!”

“So this is it then?” asked Astra, now wiping away tears too, “You two are just going?”

“There’s not another choice,” Elyse replied.

Astra pulled her into a tight hug, “I’m going to miss you so much.”

“We all will,” said Vanden.

There was another long silence.

“Can I hug you all?” asked Boblem.

They all nodded or expressed assent. All six piled together in a big, awkward hug around Elyse and Astra. They stayed that way for nearly a minute, before Vanden pulled away from his spot on the outside.

“Boblem and Elyse will take the horses,” he said. It was a statement, not a question.

“Are you sure about that?” Elyse asked.

“Yes,” he said emphatically, “Like Boblem said, it’s a long way back to Shadebourne. You’ll need them. Anyway, there aren’t enough for the four of us to find useful.”

Elyse nodded, then began rifling through her bag. She pulled out several items they’d all collected, including the dwarven ear cuff and the immovable rod. She held them out to Vanden, “Take these.”

“What?”

“You all will need them more than we will. I’m sure Xander and Amara have all sorts of cool magic shit on them in Shadebourne.”

“That doesn’t mean you won’t need these,” said Sariel.

“Please just take them. I. . . we gathered them together. It seems fitting they stay with the bigger part of the group.” The others still looked unsure. “Don’t make me argue with you about this.”

“I suppose we can’t make you keep them,” Cassian finally said, taking the supplies.

“No,” she agreed, “And giving them to you is the least I can do.”

“What do you mean?” Sariel asked.

“Consider it repayment for every time one of you has had my back in battle.”

“You don’t owe us for that,” said Astra.

“Not anymore,” Elyse replied.

They lingered a little longer, no one wanting to move closer to their separation, but eventually they had to get up. They crossed the bridge, now back to one straight shot, together. Everyone kept close to the railings, but nothing stopped their passage. At the other side, tearful goodbyes were exchanged, with more hugs. It was all a blur of tight clinging hands, whispered goodbyes, and a seemingly endless flood of tears.

“I want you all to know,” said Boblem, as the horses were prepared, “That you’ve been the best friends I’ve ever had. These few weeks together have been the best of my life.”

“I feel the same,” said Astra.

“Yes,” Vanden agreed, “I’ve never had anything like this.”

Sariel and Cassian nodded their agreement.

The horses were soon ready, but Boblem and Elyse lingered for a moment more. Elyse bit her lip, “I guess this is it, huh? It didn’t really feel real until now.”

There were sighs and nods of agreement.

Elyse took a deep breath, steadying herself, before she said, “Good luck to all of you. Represent the Dawnbringers well.”

“Yeah,” Boblem added, “I think that you four are the Dawnbringers now.”

“You still earned the title,” said Sariel.

“It’s a group name,” replied Boblem, “And you all are the group.”

There was one final round of hugs, and then Elyse and Boblem finally climbed on the horses. There was nothing more to be said or done. The end had truly come for their little group.

Astra, Vanden, Sariel, and Cassian stood and watched as Elyse and Boblem rode away. Boblem turned around and waved. They waved back. None of them moved, watching the figures get smaller and smaller.

Finally, Vanden took a step forward. “Are we ready to go to Watcher’s Respite?” he asked.

“Yes,” Cassian answered for everyone.

They set off, Vanden leading the way. Elyse’s words still hung heavy in the air. “This was never going to last” . 

Astra voiced what everyone had been thinking, “What will we do once we get there? Are we going to keep travelling together?”

“I don’t know,” said Cassian, “Elyse was right. There are things we all need to do, I’m sure. Our paths have crossed for a long time, but we may be nearing their divergence.”

“Let’s not think about that right now,” said Sariel.

The journey to Watcher’s Respite was uneventful and quiet. No one spoke much. There wasn’t really anything left to say. The air was thick with uncertainty. 

The trek was familiar, a reverse of the way they’d come. Still, the absence of two made the landscape seem foreign and harsh. After a week, they reached Watcher’s Respite. The city was precisely as they remembered it, busy and bustling. It was evening now, so they found an inn to spend the night. Still no one spoke of future plans.

The next morning, they sat around a table, eating warm porridge for breakfast. “Are we going to talk about this now?” asked Astra.

“I suppose we have to,” Vanden replied.

There was a long pause.

Before anything more could be said, a tall man with pale skin and dark hair came over to their table. He wore a dark blue tunic and cloak, a three eyed owl sigil over his heart.

“You’re the travelers from Shadebourne, yes?” he asked.

“Yes. . .” said Vanden, unsure where this was going.

“I am Vlad,” he offered a hand, “Captain of the Watchers.”

Vanden shook his hand, still looking confused. “I’m sorry, what are the Watchers?”

“The rangers from this area,” replied Vlad, with the air of someone explaining the obvious, “We watch over everything from here to Glasshaven, and further. You’ve never heard of us?”

“We’re from very far away,” Cassian explained.

“Ah, I see,” he looked disappointed that they hadn’t heard of the Watchers, but plowed on, “We’re in need of your help.”

“Our help?” said Astra.

“You’re adventurers, yes?” replied Vlad, seemingly annoyed at this point, “When the city got the missive from Shadebourne that you were to come, I was of course consulted,” he puffed up his chest a bit, “It’s my duty to ensure that the area be kept safe, so I’m always consulted regarding use of the teleportation circle. I was informed that you were skilled adventurers who had. . . what was it? Brought the sun to Shadebourne?”

“It was the dawn,” Astra explained, “Dawnbringers.”

Vlad spat on the floor, “Strange name. What I’d expect from Shadebourne, though.”

“What was it you needed from us?” Vanden asked.

“Your assistance, if you will help. I’m missing some of my rangers. They went after some adventurers from Glasshaven who disappeared in the far north.”

“And you want us to find them for you?” Cassian asked.

“Yes! The city will pay 40 gold each for each person returned. And do you have anywhere you plan to go after this? We can’t get you back to Shadebourne the way you came, but we could provide horses?”

“We’re not bound for Shadebourne,” Vanden replied, “Unless any of you think you’ll return there?”

“No,” said Cassian, “I imagine I’ll be travelling by sea.”

“You’re going different ways then?” asked Vlad, “The city can provide each of you with passage wherever you wish to go.”

“That sounds like a good deal,” said Sariel.

“I’d be happy to help,” Astra added.

“Cassian?” asked Vanden.

“Why not,” Cassian agreed.

“How will we be able to tell who your Watchers are?” Sariel asked.

“We wear this sigil,” Vlad pointed proudly to the three eyed owl on his uniform.

“Okay then,” said Astra, “We’ll do our best to find your rangers.”

“Good,” said Vlad. He gave them more specifics: numbers and names, plus the promise of horses waiting outside, before getting up, “May the Gods be with you.” With that, he left the inn.

“Well then,” said Vanden, “It looks like we have another destination.”

“Yes,” said Cassian, “One last adventure.”