The Dreamweaver

by Nancy Joseph Peterson

  Once again a Knight of King Arthur’s court, Acclon stood tall and proud. His face a mask of determination as he strode from the small cell Nivane had granted him as his chamber centuries earlier.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  Emrys to the Rescue

  Emrys hoped he’d accomplished what he’d planned with Acclon’s dream. He’d avoided making his dream too psychotic, which if strong enough would’ve destroyed Acclon’s mind, and effectively removing him as a danger to Anna and as an ally to Nivane. What he’d opted to do was something purer and strategically more precise; he’d shown Acclon the truth. The only risk he’d taken was gambling on the hope that even a fraction of light remained in Acclon’s soul. If there was a tiny spark of goodness remaining from the Acclon of old, the honourable Knight of King Arthurs Court would make the right choice.

  It was a gamble, but one that Emrys believed worth the risk.

  Emrys now hurried to the vat, rehearsing his calculations as he went. Using Anna’s fragment of tapestry to locate her, as he misted into the bubbling cauldron, his last thought was of Anna.

  Emrys materialised into total darkness. The small piece of tapestry, influenced by Anna’s DNA and programmed by Emrys to lead to her, had opened a strong portal, so he knew she was near.

  Kneeling and listening quietly before making a sound or creating light, Emrys rubbed the slightly damp sand between his fingers. Breathing in quietly, the cool, musky odour of stale air confirmed his guess that he was in a cave, and probably the one Nivane had called home for centuries near Caerfyrddin.

  It would not do to reveal himself too early, potentially damaging his chances to rescue Anna, so Emrys remained silent and still for five full minutes, listening intently. After no sound came except the normal drips from the wet stalactites, Emrys decided to chance the creation of a light orb to help him see his way to explore and locate Anna.

  Softly muttering an incantation, a bluish light appeared hovering over Emrys head. It cast a pale, but navigable illumination over his surroundings. Looking around he discovered he was in a tunnel near a cell, and within the cell and chained to the wall, was Anna, her head drooping and eyes closed she was silent and motionless.

  Emrys rushed to her side, his heart pounding in fear, “Anna, he whispered, as he tried to lift her body to remove the pressure on her reddened wrists from the heavy shackles.

  Her eyelids slowly fluttered open, “Emrys…? She muttered weakly, and then her eyes opened wide in fear as she tried to back away… from him, “You brought me here…I didn’t do anything but love you…why, why did you turn me over to the witch?” Anna’s voice cracked, her voice weak with sadness.

  “I have no time to explain now, Anna. You’re going to have to trust me — it wasn’t me, I need to get you down from there, hold still.”

  Emrys didn’t wait for Anna to agree, he touched his forefinger to her shackles, willing a small bolt of energy to release the chain from the wall. Supporting her wrists above her head, and holding the irons so they didn’t make a racket, he carefully lowered her arms.

  Anna started to speak, but Emrys put a finger against her lips, “Unless you want to alert whomever put you here, speak very quietly.”

  She nodded, her eyes wide and fearful, but she did as Emrys asked, “Are you going to get me out of here?”

  “Yes, but first I’m going to get the irons off your wrists, Anna it’s going to hurt a little, take a deep breath and try not to cry out. Are you ready?” He whispered, looking into her eyes and willing her to have strength.

  Anna nodded, holding her breath as Emrys had suggested.

  A small sob escaped her parched lips, but she didn’t make a sound despite the excruciating pain that shot up her arms as Emrys removed the tight cuffs.

  “Good girl, you’re doing great. Now I’m going to remove the irons around your ankles. I don’t think it will hurt as much, but it looks like they rubbed a bit so it might sting a little. Ready?”

  Again Anna held her breath, but as Emrys had said, the pain wasn’t as bad as had been in her wrists.

  Emrys held her as her knees gave out, he slowly guided her down to rest for a moment.

  “Anna, I am going to get you out of here, just…”

  “OH! Isn’t this romantic! The two young lovers reunited at last! I told her you’d come, and wasn’t she a good girl to wait so patiently for you too?” Nivane waddled towards them, her cane thumping in the sand as she came nearer.

  Emrys rose to stand between Nivane and Anna, “You don’t want to fight me Nivane. I am not the untried boy that you last challenged.”

  “Oh, dear me, such aggression, no, no - I have no intention of battling you again, Myrddin. Indeed when you learn all the facts, I suspect you’ll be staying for a while!” She cackled with delight at her secret joke, “Have you noticed your sweetheart is looking a little, umm…unwell?” Nivane’s watery eyes danced with mirth, “I think if you look closely, you’ll see what I mean.”

  Emrys turned to look at Anna. Her eyes were red-rimmed, and her lips chalky white and beginning to crack. She looked up at him, her scratched face pale, “What’s happening to me?”

  “What have you done.” He whispered, as he gathered Anna into his arms, and turned to face Nivane.

  Nivane twirled, nearly dancing with delight upon seeing the desperation on Emrys face, “A slow acting poison, but don’t worry, she shan’t die for a few hours. There is an antidote, but I’m keeping it to myself.” She laughed gleefully.

  Emrys carefully laid Anna on the floor and turned to face Nivane, “The. Name. Of. The. Poison.” His voice low.

  “Um…let’s see…the answer is no? It would take away more fun than I’ve had in…I don’t know…centuries perhaps? So, the answer, to your not very nicely asked question, is decidedly, no.” She smugly pretended to be inspecting her yellowed finger nails.

  Thrusting his palm towards her, Emrys sent a burst of energy from deep within his core, striking Nivane full in the chest.

  The impact of Emrys bolt threw Nivane across the room and against the hard cave wall. She laid on the floor for a moment, her head twisted at an unnatural angle. Slowly she gathered her knees under her and pushed her back against the wall.

  “Do you think that little burst of temper could stop me? Have you not yet worked out who I am, Myrddin? I’d have thought you’d have finally uncovered my illustrious pedigree with all the time you had to think as a dreamweaver. There is only one thing that can permanently end me, and your precious King lost it long ago.” Her neck made an audible crack as she pushed it back into place with bony hands, and twisted it to face him, “Besides, if you killed my body, you’ll be killing your chance to save your precious Anna too.”

  “The name of the poison. Give me the name of the poison or besides just killing you, I will send your spirit into the most unholy and horrific of all nightmarish dimensions.” Emrys said in a quiet voice, and yes…he’d learned exactly who, or what she was many years ago.

  “Enjoy the few hours I have granted you. It is generous of me, and far more than you deserve. I am keeping the antidote to myself, but do not worry, Anna will stay alive long enough to restore the beauty that your wicked seduction cost me.” Nivane slowly pushed to her feet as she shook a bony finger at him, “You owe me…” Her voice rising, “I left my lovely lake, forsaking my life as a Goddess, my immortality — all forfeit to live as a mortal woman whose beauty would give me the status and power I deserved in the human realm, and you … you took it from me!” Nivane was now screeching, her fury echoing throughout the cave.

  Nivane edged closer to the door of the cell, and with a speed that shouldn’t have been possible, darted through it, slamming the door shut behind her.

  Emrys body hit the door just as it was closing, his arm snatching at Nivane through the small barred opening. She giggled insanely as she danced just a few inches out of his reach.

  If he couldn’t get to Nivane, he needed to get Anna to Caerfyrddin quickly, and
diagnose the poison himself to create an antidote.

  Standing back a few feet from the door, Emrys quickly wove a calculation to gather the minuscule dark holes that were present in all space to open an inter-dimensional doorway, but the portal that should’ve appeared moments later didn’t even shimmer, nothing happened.

  He gathered himself, and taking a deep breath, carefully drew the precise equations in the air to pull the particles together to form their escape route…again nothing.

  “Nivane! What have you done!” Emrys thundered, his fists pounding on the cell doorway. A peal of laughter met his question from the other side of the door.

  Stepping back a few feet, he tried to open the cell door with a burst of energy, the bolt hit the door full force but made little, if any, impact.

  Nivane’s voice, oddly soft came from the other side of the door, “Haven’t you worked it out yet, genius? Where do you think you are? My old cave in Caerfyrddin, I suppose?” She laughed, delighted with herself, “Let me give your testosterone addled brain a clue; where else have you been in recent times that your oh-so-clever calculations and dyn hysbys druid powers did’t work?”

  Emrys jaw dropped. He knew where Nivane had taken Anna and where he’d inadvertently trapped himself; they were in the Dreamweavers realm, a dimension that was not subject to the same laws of physics as was the Earthy plane. The only way in or out was a casting urn. He’d been lured here to rescue Anna and was now just as trapped as he’d been for the indeterminable time he’d spent weaving dreams.

  “My body may be old, and my magick may be fading, but I still can beat you, Myrddin Emrys. All your cleverness is useless here, your bolts against the cell are warded, so don’t tire yourself, love.” Nivane gloated, “You’ll get to watch your lover suffer in pain, until I need her in a few hours that is. Then I’ll put her out of her misery, don’t thank me…it’s really no problem.” Another cackle and a shuffling noise as she made her way down the tunnel.

  “Emrys…” Anna said hoarsely, “Please, Emrys, I need you.”

  Running to Anna’s side, he gathered her into his arms, cradling her close.

  Anna turned her head, burying her nose into his chest she breathed in … his old aroma, woodsy with a musky smokiness comforted her more than anything else could have, “It is you. I figured it out, Emrys. It wasn’t you that came for me in my apartment, was it? It was someone pretending to be you.”

  Emrys shook his head, “You are right, my darling, it was not me. I am so sorry, Anna. I should never have left you alone, even for a moment.” Tears filled his eyes.

  “Ssh…don’t cry, even if you’d been there with me it might have still happened. I love you, Emrys. No matter what, I don’t regret anything, I just wish we’d had more time.” Anna reached up with an icy hand to cup his cheek.

  Emrys turned his head and kissed her palm, “I will figure this out, baby, don’t worry. You are going to be okay. I promise.”

  Anna snuggled closer, relishing the warmth and safety of his arms.

  Emrys hugged her tightly to his chest, “You are not going to die, I can’t lose you, it took me too long to find you. I will find a way out of this place and the antidote for the poison.”

  He would not give up, not under any circumstance, but to still Anna’s fears, he needed to tell her something important, “Death isn’t what you’ve been lead to believe, Anna. Just like the concepts of time you once thought to be true, death is not what you think either. Only the shell that houses your spirit dies, the part of you that makes you who you are,” he touched her lightly between her eyes, “here, only moves onto another dimension. I know, I have been to some of those dimensions. Death is yet another doorway, just like the one I took you through to Caerfyrddin, 576AD.”

  Anna’s stomach cramped painfully, she winced but not wanting to alarm Emrys, said nothing, “Thank you for telling me, Emrys, but I’m not afraid of dying, not for myself. But you, and my family…my Mom especially…” Her voice quivered a little, “You have to promise me that if I don’t make it, you’ll somehow help my family, they’d take it hard.”

  “The life you have now is not going to end and I will return with you to your time, Anna - we’re going to be married, remember?” He tilted her head up so he could look into her eyes, “But if it makes you feel at ease, yes… of course, I would always look after your family.” Losing Anna, was incomprehensible; it would take him forever to find her again and he wanted this life with her — now!

  “I am going to help you to sleep for a while, Anna while I try to find a way to get you out of here.” Emrys began to sing, the same song she recalled hearing before…a lullaby. As her eyes drifted closed, she felt at peace, calm somehow…Emrys was with her, everything would be okay, he’d said so.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  Blaise and Cath

  Blaise waited with Cath near the altar while the men searched the cave. They'd been gone the better part of an hour when Cador emerged. Walking over to Blaise he shook his head, "We went as far back as we could, the cave narrows and no one could get under the rock shelf at the end to go any deeper." He hung his head sadly, "Poor Anyon is heartsick with grief — he'd really hoped to find them today. He has nothing now, with his wife gone and his two children missing."

  Blaise reached out to rest his hand on Cador's shoulder, "There may yet be leads we can follow. When Emrys returns his abilities as a mage may enlighten us into the whereabouts of the children."

  The soldiers and Anyon returned a few minutes later, "There was nothing, Sir." Their leader saluted Blaise, "The cave is about a thousand feet deep, and has several shorter tunnels shooting off from the main one. We searched every one that would've been possible for even a smaller person to crawl under. There was evidence that people have been using the cave, we found some supplies, candles and robes mostly, we've brought it all with us, but we found nothing really incriminating.” He looked regretfully at Anyon, "And no evidence that anyone was held or…injured there."

  The soldiers gathered the things they'd confiscated and led the way out of the glade.

  As the group left the glade, Blaise spoke quietly to Anyon, “As I explained to Cador a few moments ago, Emrys had to go attend to an important matter, but he'll soon return and we'll have him cast to try and locate your children. Remember we haven't found any reason to indicate anything…serious has happened to them, so we should assume they are being held somewhere. They’ll need you to remain strong for them, Anyon. Keep your spirits up, my friend.”

  Anyon's shoulders straightened somewhat, "Do you think Emrys can find them?" A fraction of hope creeped into his voice.

  "My friend, there is no greater mage, wizard or necromancer in this or any realm than Merlin Emrys Ambrosius, so yes - I think he can give us some help in finding them.” Blaise rubbed his chin as he considered the process, “He will need some of their clothes, or if you have hair brushes that each of them have used, that would be even better. Something personal from each of the two children will help Emrys cast accurately.”

  Anyon's steps lightened considerably, "Thank you, Blaise. I will walk with you only as far as the road that leads to my cottage, and I’ll go collect a few of the children's things to bring Emrys crannog in the morning. I know I said thank you, but anything you or Emrys can do…”

  “I know, truly, Anyon. I understand your desperation to find your children. We’ll do everything we can, I promise.”

  Anyon nodded silently, his eyes glistening, he turned his head to one side so no one would see his tears of relief as he walked a little faster.

  Cath remained silent. Her face a stony mask revealing nothing.

  Blaise turned to her as they walked, "I understand you’re not here of your free will, Cath. But despite that, I am deeply appreciative of your help at the altar. Closing the fairy ring portal may save a few lives. I know it wasn't easy for you." Blaise offered her his flask of elderflower wine that he always carried in his coat pocket.

  She took the off
ered flask, sniffing its contents curiously, but handed it back without drinking, "Blaisbheum, you help these ignorant villagers, while scholarly and wise, are you. I remember well your teaching of young Merlin, all of Sidhe watched from afar the young wizards progress. Why do you help these ignorant humans?” Cath’s expression was genuinely puzzled as she regarded him with her catlike eyes.

  Blaise took his time as he carefully weighed a response; as a sociologist, he understood the culture and hierarchy of the Sidhe, and so did not consider Cath's comment to be rude, only oddly…ignorant. He smiled at the irony.

  Cath could not relate to compassion or mercy because her race did not value that kind of sentimentality. Any charitable action, or merciful gesture; either by the giving or in receiving, were considered an insult. The Sidhe culture valued power, strength, courage, athletic ability and intelligence above all else. The weak, the defeated, the infirm were left to survive or not on their own. The Sidhe had little in common with human culture, but they did understand love. They loved their mates, their children, family and their land. Although their expression of it was a version of the ’tough-love’ variety in many ways, it was still a powerful force within the Sidhe culture. So it was this emotion that Blaise decided to use to explain his reason for coming to the aid of the 'ignorant' people of Caerfyrddin.