Ensuing Storm
an excerpt

Rhian looked around the room, assuming that every tower from the Convention was represented by each of their High Ministers. If her count was correct there were 14 of them all together, only a handful of which she had briefly met. Jerek sat in a corner quietly with a quill and inkwell ready to record the proceedings. Or at least Rhian hoped that he was there to record and not to influence. She'd begun to have her suspicions about just how much of a part Jerek might have played in all of the events that had transpired since her arrival in Parrish. Dirianna's words stuck with her, "There are people in other worlds who have written about you..."

Dirianna sat at the very end of the table, near the foot. If Rhian was not mistaken the High Minister of Parrish's eyes were swollen and puffy, belying the collected farce she currently displayed. Rhian was not sure if she felt pity for the woman or not.

"Rhian," Davryn addressed her after everyone was seated. "You have fulfilled everything you agreed to do and more since your arrival here. Despite our... disagreement with Dirianna in the way she handled things, you do have our gratitude for what you and Gareth have managed to accomplish."

"It's not over though, is it?" she asked.

"No. Now we have our next task to accomplish while we await the ensuing storm. But at the moment you are faced with a decision. You are free to return home should you wish to do so. Your obligations are fulfilled."

"But?" She cast a sideways glance at Gareth. He stared straight ahead and gave no hint to his emotions, except a trace tensing that drew him up a little straighter in his chair.

"The fact remains we could still use your help. But you have already been forced into a compromising situation against your will," Drayden interjected. "We do not feel collectively that we can impose a demand on you that you stay and continue to assist us."

"But what about the Prophecies?!" Dirianna cried out. "We know that Gareth is the wielder, and Rhian is the only one who can be the bard that was foretold..."

"That is quite enough!" Davryn said sternly. "Were it not for your mistakes Dirianna we might not find ourselves in this position. But due to your manipulations we are backed against a wall on this issue."

Rhian drew a deep breath. "Does the prophecy not also mention an ancient mentor and a graceful student, as well as a dying muse and a pining youth? Without the appearance of these particular pieces of the prophecy I don't understand how any of you can be certain that I am the bard that is spoken of."

"The prophecies do mention these people, Rhian. And I have no answers as to why they are not yet found. As to the last we have no way of being certain that you are the bard that was foretold, however given the circumstances, it is easy to see how desperate fanaticism might lead some," Davryn looked pointedly in Dirianna's direction, "to believe that you are."

Dirianna pursed her lips and held her tongue, but the indignation and anger she felt over the implications Davryn made were not well masked.

It was Gareth that drew a deep breath and released an impatient sigh this time. "When would Rhian have to return?"

"As soon as possible," Davryn responded bluntly. He gave Gareth a flat stare for a moment, and Gareth's body language quickly suggested he regretted having opened his mouth.

"What are the consequences for this?" Rhian asked. "I can't stay here. I have a family and a responsibility to them. But what would happen to Gareth?"

"Your Joining would be undone, and you would be returned home. That is all you would need to concern yourself with."

Rhian was watching Gareth as Davryn spoke. Gareth dropped his gaze to the table top and closed his eyes. The expression on his face was akin to a man who had just learned that he'd been diagnosed with terminal cancer. "What would that do specifically?"

"It is likely Gareth would suffer through the typical symptoms of Severance, but we would quickly choose a suitable Priestess for him to be Joined to as quickly as possible to ease the transition."

Rhian released a frustrated sigh and allowed herself to fall back against the back of her seat. "From what I understand that's about the closest thing to a death sentence as you can give a person."

"Unfortunately you are not far from the truth, Rhian. But this matter was taken from our hands at the outset and we are left with very few options," Davryn replied with visible and audible irritation.

Rhian found herself shaking her head in outrage, but she was not sure which was the biggest source; Dirianna's manipulations, the Convention's obvious intentions to rub Dirianna's nose in her mistakes, or the decision she now faced to either have to abandon her family without explanation or risk the utter disillusionment of one of the main people this world was depending on.

"The truth of the matter is this, Rhian, Gareth's pending circumstances are not truly your concern. They are that of the Convention's, and since one of our own made this terrible error by acting outside the realm of their duties, it is up to us to do what we can to take care of Gareth. He nor or his situation should influence you in your decision of whether you will stay or return."

"So I'm just expected not to care?"

"You're expected to weigh your obligations to your world and this, and make a decision accordingly."

"Well do I have to give my decision right now, or can I have some time to think about this?"

"You are welcome to have time to consider your options," Drayden cut in before Davryn could respond. "We are not in the habit of pushing anyone into making hasty decisions," she said, her green eyes flashing as she gave just the slightest angry shake to her platinum tresses. Somehow Drayden reminded Rhian of the portrayal of the Elves in "The Lord of the Rings".

"We will reconvene tomorrow then," Davryn said. "Hopefully you will have reached a decision by then, Rhian. We do not have a lot of time, but sometimes it is a necessary luxury to insure the best course of action."

The various High Ministers stood, and began filing out of the conference room, but Dirianna did not. Gareth stood with the others, and as he left he gave Dirianna a torn look, as if he didn't know whether he should be angry with her, or come to her defense. Rhian on the other hand remained aloof, and did her best to ignore the dark haired woman as she left.

***

Gareth strode down the corridor, hoping to quickly make it to his favorite patio. From it he could see just above the Trythian Mountain range and catch sight of part of the Ratassen plains. Sometimes he felt if he just looked close enough he would be able to see the old farmstead, but that was not his reason for going there this night.

He needed a retreat. The possibilities he was facing were threatening to overwhelm him completely. He was still puzzling out how in the world he'd managed to be chosen as the wielder of the Elemental, and how that would be handled since he'd already been bonded to Serene. The sword was strangely quiet, and he could only imagine that withdrawal came from the knowledge that soon he would have to discard the specially forged sword.

Even more troublesome was the prospect he was facing with Rhian. If she did choose to go home, life was going to be as unpleasant as it ever had for him, and he was not sure this would be something he could steel himself against and weather as he had all the other hardships in his life.

As he stepped out onto the patio he was surprised to find it was already occupied. He was further surprised to realize that it was Rhian that stood there alone, gazing out over the distance. She released a despondent sigh, and after removing her spectacles with her left hand, she used the thumb and forefingers of her right hand to rub her temples. The thread hummed with concern and worry.

"It's a nice night for sight seeing," he commented as he came up next to her.

"Oh, I didn't see you there," she said sounding a bit flustered as she put her spectacles back on. He couldn't help but take her in right there, her honey colored hair, her piercing sapphire eyes, and her slight build. He found himself remembering the first time he'd seen her standing on the dais at The Choosing and how he'd found it difficult not to notice how beautiful she was.

Gareth leaned up against the railing of the patio, ignoring how high above the ground they were. He briefly thought of how surprising it was to find Rhian so near so high a drop, but pushed it aside. "I don't suppose you've come to a decision," he inquired quietly.

"No," Rhian replied grimly shaking her head. "It's a hopeless decision. If I stay, I may never see my sisters again. None of them will ever know what happened to me, and I don't know if I'm prepared to do that to them. On the other hand I know I'm not prepared to leave you with the consequences returning would precipitate." She pushed a strand of stray hair out of her face with aggravation, then let her head loll backwards to stare up at the stars for a moment, looking as if they contained all of the answers she sought. "Gareth, i need to ask you something."

"By all means."

"If you could ask me to stay, would you?"

"Rhian, I can't ask you that. I'm not allowed to influence your decision."

"I know you can't ask me Gareth. But if you COULD, would you?" she turned towards him and locked her gaze on his eyes.

He drew a deep breath and looked away with a brief shake of his head. "You're asking me to walk a fine line, Rhian."

"I know, and I'm sorry. But I need to know, Gareth. I can't make a decision for myself that i know is going to profoundly affect you without at least knowing if you care whether I stay or go."

"Of course I care, Rhian. Regardless of anything else, we are friends."

Rhian seemed to stand patiently for a moment, absorbing what he was saying.And then she asked barely above a whisper, "But would you?"

Gareth turned and put both hands on the railing and gazed out over the peaks of the mountains. He then closed his eyes, somehow knowing that what he was going to say would somehow set the course of the rest of his life, though he wasn't sure how. "Yes I would," he replied in a quiet tone.

When there was no response for a moment he opened his eyes and turned to look at Rhian. He realized that the thread had suddenly gone silent, and he had no way of gaging her reaction to what he had just revealed. When his eyes met hers the pain there was unmistakable though, and the only response she offered was a nod of her head before she turned to leave.

***

Rhian hurried through the blue mosaic hallway of the Cerulean Tower towards the very chamber she'd found out about her choice the day previously. Everything was ironically bright and sparkly. She herself felt as glum as a rain cloud. As she entered the doors of the conference room, everything appeared much the same as it did before, except Gareth stood near a window, facing out.

Rhian quickly bustled in and took her seat. Davryn stood and addressed her. "Rhian, have you reached a decision?"

"Yes, I have..."