Subject: Old Souls pt. 9
From: Shannon Richmeyer
Date: 11/30/1996, 5:01 PM
To: fanfic@fanfic.com
Reply-to:
trichm@iu.net

She hated to deceive him but she had already sworn to her Uncle and she
intended to keep that oath. Nathan looked at her suspiciously, then was
distracted by the booming voice of the gong that rang through the
courtyard, biding those that gathered there go to their stations at the
walls of the city. Endymion kissed her on the forehead then pushed her
into Nathan's arms. They held each other gently. The tears she had been
so determined not to shed started.

	"I love you, Nathan," she got out around the tightness of her throat.

	He rested his cheek against her soft hair, then straightened and tipped
her head up towards him. He traced the angles of her face with his
fingertips, imprinting this image of her forever in his mind.

	"I love you too, 'Thea."

	They shared one last soft lingering kiss, then he strode away from her,
moving to his place at Endymion's side. Princess Serenity came up from
behind and stood next to her. She reached out to shyly to wrap her
fingers around Althea's hand as they watched their men leave for war.

	

	"Your supposed to come with us, Queen Althea," Sailor Mercury smiled at
her as the Senshi gathered around Serenity.

	"I will come when and if the Darkness reaches us. Until then, I will be
with my Uncle," she said it with as much command as she could.

	The Senshi traded uneasy looks, but Serenity nodded and gave her a
sympathetic smile.

	"I understand. Go and stay with him. You won't need to come. Endymion
and Mother will send those Dark monstrosities back into the depths they
sprang from."

	Althea gave her a thank filled smile and hurried back to her room. She
changed into her uniform and tossed a cloak around herself to hide the
fact that she was wearing it then strode to the Healer's Hall. The
shield that Queen Serenity had raised over the palace shimmered against
the failing light. There was only one exit in or out of that barrier, at
the main gate, creating a last refuge for the people if the walls should
be breached.

	There where only ten of them that where in any shape to fight. She
checked on Innish, who was still asleep, thank the Powers. Having him
awake and prowling the hall would set everyone's nerves on edge. Then
she asked the Healers what they could do to help them prepare. The tasks
they assigned where menial ones, but things that would keep the hands
busy and the edge off nerves. She took her pile of bandages over to
where her Uncle slept and started rolling them.

	Innish's eyes snapped open.

	"They are coming," he stated calmly.

	"It's all right Uncle, go back to sleep," she soothed as she put the
bandage she had just finished rolling into the basket by her side,
thinking he was still caught in a nightmare.

	One of the Queen's people had come not more than five minutes ago with
the news that all was still well.

	"They will focus on the Healing Hall first, to kill the Healers. Summon
those who can fight, Althea. Get them ready," he struggled to sit up.

	"Uncle, you are caught in a dream," she murmured to him and tried to
push him back down. "The shield is up. They can't get through."

	"They can Althea. They are..."

	The palace shook on it's very foundations as a huge rent in time and
space opened below the arc of the shield and the malformed things of the
Darkness dropped out of it like an evil rain.


	Innish held his power in reserve, using only his sword and closed his
ears and heart to the screams that rang around him. Those of his
Guardians that could fought well, their powers and weapon's flying as
they tried to protect the Healers and the wounded members of their
Order, but still they died. And he could not help them. He had to keep
all the power he could muster for the task that lay ahead.

	The youma he had foreseen towered out of the smoke and dust, plowed
toward Mara and Althea. He cut a path after it and feared for a moment
he would be too late as the youma killed Mara with one swipe of it's
claws. Althea had her back to it, struggling to clear her sword from the
ribs of the thing she had just slain. He cut it's head off from behind
as it rose to it's full height to strike the slender woman in front of
it. He gave it a shove to make sure it fell forwards onto her to pin her
under it, unconscious.

	"I'm sorry Althea. But it's the only way," he whispered in a strained
voice. Then he summoned a Gate and fled.

	The Gate left him in front of the ruins of a small temple that lay at
the edge of the grounds of Caer Dythal. He moved cautiously through the
crumbling walls, alert for any signs of the Darkness. Butterfly's wicker
greeted him and he relaxed a little as the big horse loomed out of the
darkness. He let the horse come to him as he marshaled his strength and
his soul for what he was about to do. He wrapped his arms around the
gray's neck and buried his face into his warmth.

	"It's time. You will have to bring her to me when she comes, help me
remember," he imprinted the time and place he had seen onto the horses
spirit.

	"Remember your Mistress," he laid the geas on it as he started his
spell.

	The opalescent blues and grays that where the signature of his power
flared and flowed to wrap them both in a sphere of light. Then the
colors started to change, the grays overtaking the blue, blackness
appearing to slowly mingle with the gray as Innish opened a part of his
soul to the Darkness. When only a few flickers of gray shot through the
black cocoon, it peeled away. Two youma now stood there. One in the
vague shape of a man, the other in the shape of a horse who was now as
black as the power that had created it.

	  

	Althea came back to consciousness pinned under the heavy body of a
youma. She made a little sound of disgust as she pushed at it and
squirmed until she was out from under it's weight. She rose shakily to
her feet, her mind slow to register the still silence around her as she
reached for her sword and yanked it out of the rib cage of the youma who
had just attacked her. She straightened and turned in a slow circle and
her chest tightened in distressed horror as she took in the remains of
the hall. Nothing but the dead of both sides lay around her. And so
many. She could hear the sounds of fighting, but it was muted. The
battle had moved beyond this place.

	*Mara...* she went to one knee by her friend and didn't need to check
to see if she was still living.

	Althea leaned over to closed Mara's eyes and whispered a hurried plea
to the Powers to guide her friend safely through the Darkness around
them and take her into the Light.

	*Uncle Innish!* she used the sword for support as she heaved herself
up, then began to hunt among the bodies looking for her Uncle.

	She had just finished that grisly task, somewhat relieved that she
hadn't found him among the dead, and assumed that he had been carried
forwards with the flow of the battle. She was getting ready to head for
those sounds when the first group of wounded staggered into the hall.

	"Where are the Healers?" One of the Captains demanded of her as he
sagged under the weight of the comrade he supported.

	"Dead," her voice was hard and harsh.

	The captain stared at her in stunned disbelief.

	"What has happened?" She demanded back.

	"The walls have fallen," he whispered, his eyes going glassy with
shock.

	*No...* she helped him lower his burden onto the floor.

	"Use what supplies you can find to help the others," she reached out
and shook his shoulder, demanding his attention.

	"Can you do that?" She questioned.

	He blinked and nodded at her, then stood and started bellowing orders
as she hurried out of the entrance and started running down the gently
sloping path toward the Main Gate.

	*The walls have fallen...where are they?*

	Three familiar figures formed out of the smoke and shadows at the
bottom of the path.

	*Alive...they are alive!*

	Then her relief turned to fear. Nathan and Julian where supporting
Endymion between them, the swords in their free hands dripping with
gore. She ran flat out to close the distance between them, squinted
through the darkness trying to see how badly injured Endymion was.

	"Althea? What are you doing here!?" Nathan thundered at her as she
skidded to a stop before them.

	She ignored that question as she looked them over. Nathan was sporting
a variety of gashes, but none seemed too serious. Julian's face was a
red mask of blood and cold fury. He swiped at the blood seeping from the
cut across his forehead, trying to keep it out of his eyes as he glared
back over his shoulder. Endymion sagged between them, the lower left
side of his armor covered with blood from the wound that he'd taken in
the unprotected space where the chest plate met the hip guard.

	"Take him 'Thea," Julian growled and steadied 'Mion as she moved in
beside him and took his weight against her side and shoulders.

	"Get him and yourself to the safety of Serenity's chambers, for the
Love of the Light, Althea!" Nathan bellowed at her, his worried and
love-filled eyes contradicting the fury of his voice.

	"Nathan..." she wanted to explain, but there was no time. She could
hear the gibbering whisper of the things advancing on them.

	He touched her cheek and gave her a reassuring, quiet smile as Julian
turned beside him, bringing his sword up to the ready.

	*He looks so tired.*

	"This time, do as you are told!" He commanded her firmly, then turned
to stand shoulder to shoulder with his friend, waiting for the Darkness.

	
	She hurried her brother as fast as he could go back up the path, her
eyes flicking from his pain-filled face, his eyes narrowed in
concentration and the will to keep on his feet as he pressed his hand to
his side, to the path before them, then back to him. She got him into
the ruins of the Healing Hall and guided him to the pallet where their
Uncle had lain and eased him down. She had to see the extent of the
injury, afraid that if she didn't tend to it he would faint on her.

	He leaned back against the wall and gasped and gritted his teeth as she
moved his hand and undid the buckle to loosen the strap so she could
move the chest plate enough to see. She closed her eyes for a moment,
thankful that she'd stopped. Without some help he would have bled to
death before they'd made it to the inner courts. She reached wearily
into herself and found some hidden reserve of power to cast the healing
spell. The gaping slash stopped bleeding and drew in on itself a little.
She grabbed a handful of bandages from the basket, made a quick pad and
reached around him to secure it against his waist with a longer length.
He winced as she tightened the knot against the wound, but nodded at her
and gave her a small tight smile.

	"It feels better, 'Thea. Thank you."

	The hall rocked as some outside power was flung. She leaned over him,
protecting him with her body as some of the ceiling rained down. He
grabbed at her shoulder and levered himself up.

	"Come on, I've got to get you to Serenity."

	They supported each other as they stumbled through a shattered wall and
picked their way through the ruins and bodies. Endymion and Althea both
traded troubled glances as they skirted the battle raging between the
Senshi and the High Youma, but didn't stop. His need to get his sister
to safety and protect his Lady love kept him from lending his aid. Her
need to get him to safety kept her at his side. The inner courts where
strangely quiet and untouched and their steps and harsh breathing echoed
eerily as they stumbled to the closed and locked doors of the Princess's
inner chamber.

	Endymion pushed himself away from his sister's support and pounded on
the doors. "Serenity, let me in!" 

	They opened before him. 
	
	They both took in stunned gulps of air as they stared at the scene
before them. Malikai smiled at them from inside the glowing sphere of
force that was to have kept the Princess safe as he finished wiping
Serenity's blood from the blade of his dagger against her dress.

	"No!" They both gasped.

	The sphere flickered and died with the Princess it was created to
protect.

	"NO!" Endymion bellowed as he drew his sword and flung himself at
Malikai.

	Malikai turned and guided the blade past him with his dagger and threw
his shoulder against Endymion's own as he drew his sword into his other
hand, sending him reeling away. Althea leapt forwards and grabbed
Malikai's sword arm in both hands, pulling him towards her.

	"Malikai, what are you doing?" She yelled at him in disbelief.

	"Don't touch me!" Malikai hissed as he whirled and struck at her.

	The tip of the dagger in his left hand cut a shallow grove across her
breasts, the sphere of dark energy that followed it lifting her up and
sending her flying over Serenity's bed to crash into the desk beyond it.
Darkness closed in around the edges of her sight as she struggled to
pull air back into her body. She could hear blade ringing against blade
but from where she'd landed, couldn't see anything of the battle that
raged.

	*He'll kill 'Mion,* she untangled her limbs, managed to get onto her
hands and knees. 

	"It was too easy, 'Mion. She trusted me because of you, let me right
in," Malikai's laughed taunt rang over her brother's ragged breathing.

	*Wait for me, 'Mion...you're hurt, just keep him at bay and I'll help
you kill him...*

	She heard her brother bellow, his anger mixing with his anguish as she
reached up and grabbed hold of the bed post, used it to pull herself up.
She saw 'Mion's sword arc through the air as Malikai took it out of his
hand with a flick and toss of his own blade. 'Mion sank down to one
knee, one hand pressed to his side, the other going to the floor for
support as Malikai towered over him, his blade hovering close to her
brother's throat. He offered his hand.

	"I don't want to hurt you, 'Mion," he told him gently. "Let me take you
home. Your new Lady waits to tend you, to ease your pain."

	Endymion shook his head and glared at Malikai as he struggled to push
himself back to his feet, then sank back down.

	"You don't have a choice, 'Mion," Malikai told him softly.

	Althea saw the darker area of air form next to him that signified the
coming of a Gate. A small ball of iridescent light formed in her palm
and she threw it at the dark shimmer, destroying it before it could
open. Malikai whirled on her with a shocked growl.

	"You're still alive? Good. I wanted to have some sport and that
pathetic Princess was hardly worth the time," he closed the distance
between them in a rush,.

	Althea barely managed to turn away from the blade as she ducked and
rolled. Pain sang through her shoulder as she came back up to her feet.
Malikai's dagger was lodged just under her collar bone. Her mind was
calm and cleared and focused as she faced him.

	*When you need the power, Althea, it will be there,* she heard Uncle
Innish's voice from a time long past when she had been a little girl
studying at the temple.

	She had never been able to tap that power. Until now. A part of her
mind registered the fact that Endymion had struggled to his feet in the
periphery of her vision, but all of her focus was on Malikai.

	"Your light show doesn't impress me, Althea," he smiled at her as he
advanced slowly, bringing his sword up over his right shoulder in
preparation to strike.

	*Almost...almost enough...come on...*

	The blade flashed downward as she pulled the power into being, ready to
cast. Endymion threw himself between them. Malikai's blade cut a path
through his body from left shoulder to right hip. Endymion stood
straight for a moment as their gazes met, each full of stunned disbelief
as the sword still moved downward in Malikai's hands. Confusion, horror
and pain flashed across Malikai's face as he watched Endymion fall back
against his sister.

	Althea screamed in anguished fury as Endymion fell against her. She
struck back with everything she had. Malikai didn't have time to cry out
as the blast of light lifted him and slammed him back into the wall. By
sheer force of will she kept a hold of her consciousness as 'Mion's limp
weight took her knees. She pressed her hands against his wound, tried to
staunch the blood, unwilling to accept what her mind knew. He shuddered
against her once, then was still.

	*He's dead. 'Mion's dead!* she wailed to herself as she stared at the
slowing seep of her brother's blood between her fingers.

	She sat for a moment, numb, then reached up and wrapped her fingers
around the hilt of Malikai's dagger. She drew it out with a hiss and put
it next to her, then gently moved Endymion's head and shoulders off her
knees and let him rest on the floor. She took it back into her hand and
crawled toward Malikai's crumpled form with cold determination. If he
wasn't dead yet, he soon would be. The Dark power hit her from the side
and sent her sliding across the floor. She curled up around herself in
pain as the foot board of the bed stopped her flight. The world spun and
blurred around her. She knew she was dying. Bones had gone where they
shouldn't.

	*I'm so sorry, baby,* she thought to the little life that wouldn't be.

	"Althea?" She turned her head, forced herself to focus. *Zuriel?*

	He squatted down beside her and shook his head sadly.

	"You hurt him, Althea, but didn't kill him. I thought you'd like to
know that before you died. Oh, and I have something for you," he took a
ring off of his finger and pressed it into her hand.

	She stared at it. It was the ring she had given Nathan when she had
pledged her heart.

	"You tried to take my love from me. I return the favor ten fold," he
gave her a small, cold smile.

	Then the light came. She wondered why Zuriel was screaming in pain as
it enfolded her in warmth, removed her from the agony of her body. She
giggled as she started to float, then the light told her to sleep, to
forget this pain. It was easy to obey it, she was so tired.


	The youma who had been Innish stood beside the shadow horse and forced
himself to watch the horrid clean light turn the moon into a huge star
against the night sky.

	"I'm sorry. It was the only way to keep you both out of the Darkness,
give you both another chance for life," he shed one single tear, the
last one left to him, then turned them both to mingle with the fleeing
forces of the Darkness.


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