poemtry and prose

Morrigan smiled sadly at the young girl. "Are you sure you want to go through with this? You can take time to think about it a bit more, if you like."

Anger flushed through Cassie's face, she cackled, "You ask me that now, after all the things you have just told me? I thought I had no real choice here. Hazel is sick, he's dying. I can ignore all that, and spend the next two weeks here watching him die. Stick may be next. And then what? Will I fade away with the world, when there is no magic left? No, I don't think so. I love Hazel, with all my heart and soul, but I would much rather know he is alive and safe here, than locked inside the plague, vanishing. I'd give anything for him, and I know he'd do the same for me."

Morrigan nodded, "I know this is hard for you. Hazel was not meant to get sick so soon. Or so I thought. The plague has a mind of its own now, there is very little that I can do to stop it now. Okay, if you feel you are truly ready, I will transfer the power of the word to you. You do not have to do anything but sit there."

She pushed herself off the bed, and turned her back to Cassie. The air in the room surged around Morrigan. The hermit closed her eyes and stretched her towards the sky, "Holy Mother, Maiden, Crone. Earth Fire Water Air. Gather to me now, I call to thee."

Cassie closed her eyes, holding onto the medallion around her neck, she prayed that this would make everything right. Her heart skipped and her mind scrambled to remember everything that happened in this world and her friendships with Stick and Hazel. Mostly, she held to the image of Hazel and the love she had for him. Whatever the hermit was doing, she hoped it would not steal her memories.

"We gather here tonight, on this sacred ground to pass the torch, the power of the word, from crone to maiden. An honor that has passed down from generation to generation, keeping the old ones young. I call upon thee, to release me of the power and to pass it to Cassondra, daughter of Adam, so that her stories weave breath and life into this world of fantasy and myth."

Cassie's eyes snapped open as she heard Morrigan cry out in pain. The hermit's arms gripped her chest, as if something had been ripped from inside her. Cassie reached forward, hoping to steady the woman. At that same moment, something slammed into her own chest, knocking her back to the bed. It burned, then tingled, spreading from her heart throughout her whole body. Her vision blurred and the world exploded in a array of colors. The power that was the word, left Morrigan's body and was now inside Cassie.

Morrigan collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily. "Thy will is done. We praise thee for coming. So Mote it Be."

Once Cassie regained the ability to move on her own, she jumped off the bed and squatted next to Morrigan, "Are you okay? I feel it, the power. It is inside of me now."

The old woman nodded. Her words spoken silently as she gasped for air, "Yes. It is done. It is now your turn to write. Be strong and write your truth. Now go to Hazel, he needs you more than I do now. I will be alright, now leave me."

Cassie hugged Morrigan and kissed her on the forehead, "Thank you. For teaching me the meaning of love. For unlocking this power inside me. I can only hope that you see Delul soon."

Cassie saw Morrigan smiling at the thought of being reunited with her beloved faerie as she ran back down to the grand cavern. She had no idea what she was going to tell Stick or Hazel. Neither one would be too happy with her decision. Cassie only hoped that they would understand she did it for them, out of love and respect for all they did for her.

Stick sat next to Hazel, who was awake and drinking the steaming stew from a mug. "Cassie, he's awake. His fever has broken. I don't think he's got the plague."

Cassie hugged Stick, "Yes, I think you are right. He'll be okay now."

Stick saw that Cassie had changed somehow. "So what did the hermit say to you? You were gone for an hour, we were getting worried that she did something to you."

"I'm fine," Cassie said. Then she calmly told her friends what Morrigan had said to her. About the stories, the power, the plague, and the cure. Her voice tottered as she struggled to keep a positive attitude while telling them her decision. Her eyes grew watery. Shock reflected back to her on her friend's faces.

"I did it for you Hazel. You too Stick. But mostly for Hazel. This journey, being at Blackwell and hearing Morrigan speak made me realize something. I love you Hazel. More than anything or anyone I have ever known. I felt helpless watching you grow sick. I had to do something. And unfortunately there was only one thing and one way for us to get through this."

Stick turned away from Cassie, hiding the tears. She was mad for what her friend had done. Madder still for Cassie having done this without asking for their opinion. Cassie hugged Stick hard.

"I know you're mad. But I hope in time you'll realize that I did what I did because I care and had to. You'd have done the same for me."

Stick turned around, "No I wouldn’t have. I'd have come and asked you for your opinion first. And then made a decision." She frowned and looked down at the ground, "But yes, you're right Cassie, if it came down to what you said, I'd have done it too. I don't want you to go. I want it to be like it used to. I'll never forget you and what we've done."

Cassie smiled and held onto her friend, "I know. I want the same. But it can't be. I can't stay here and you can't come with me. But I'll never forget you and will always consider you my best friend ever."

Hazel sat frozen with his eyes closed the entire time Cassie spoke. Even as the girls were saying their farewells he didn't move a muscle. He felt like someone had torn his heart to shreds. Instead of turning out to be Cassie's knight it was he who ended up in need of rescue.

Stick hovered off into a corner, allowing Cassie to have time alone with Hazel.

Cassie sat down next to him, leaning her head on his shoulder, wrapping her arm around his waist, "Hazel, when you kissed me the other night, I felt like I was the luckiest person on any world. You are amazing. You have my heart always. You know that? I've always loved you, but just didn't know how to put it into words or feelings at all."

He forced his lips into a smile, "I flipped when you disappeared. You were all I could think about. And when we found you again, I vowed to stay with you always," he sighed, "It looks as if that can't happen now. It just wasn't meant to be was it?"

She wiped a tear from her eye, "No, it was. I can't see myself loving anyone but you. However, Morrigan is right, all the love we have for each other cannot keep us both alive together in once place for too long."

She kissed his lips. They were rough from the fever and mountain wind, but she didn't mind. They let the kiss linger for a bit, while they memorized the way it felt and smelled and tasted before the dream ended.

"I'll never forget you Hazel," Cassie cried, refusing to let him go. Stick came back from where she sat, and held onto the embraced lovers. Together, they shared one last embrace of friendship.

Suddenly, the room shifted around them. The flames from the fire died down into nothing, leaving them in total blackness. A weight pressed against Cassie's body and she found herself unable to speak. And when she thought the darkness was going to swallow her, she sat staring at Atim's black leather pants.

Morrigan had given them one final gift before dying, she had teleported them back to the Obelisk. The Elders stood, staring at the still embraced friends.

"By what magic?" he exclaimed.

Cassie, Hazel and Stick scrambled to their feet. They bowed in greeting to the Elders before speaking.

"We did it sire," said Hazel, "The plague is gone."

"Gone? How can it just be gone?"

Cassie cleared her throat and started telling the Elders about their 2 day journey. She told them about the hermit, and that it was the human presence that caused the plague to appear. Their expressions darkened into sadness when Cassie told them about her sacrifice. She did not tell them about the power of the word and how it was human creativity that helped to keep them alive. Hazel held her hand the entire time she spoke.

"Cassondra, daughter of Adam, we knew we could count on you to relieve this world of the plague. But we are sad to hear the cost you paid for our salvation. We shall honor the memory of the hermit, this human named Morrigan, as she did us a great service as well."

Bridget sat up, "I can feel your pain. After you leave, I will assemble the best seers and shamans in our realm together, to see if anything can be done to allow you to come visit us again. Or to allow Hazel and Stick back to see you."

Cassie squeezed Hazel at the promise of being reunited, "Thank you. I would like that very much. But if it causes any more pain, to either of our worlds, then it was not meant to be. I do have one request, before leaving your world, that is?"

The Elder smiled, "Anything daughter of Adam. Ask."

"Can you give me five minutes to say good bye to my friends?"

The Elders nodded. Cassie pulled Hazel into the hallway, back towards the balcony. They stepped outside, into the cool air. Hazel hugged her once more.

"How about this? Remember the day we met, by the river?" she said.

He nodded, "Yes."

"Well, how about that every year, on that date, I will return to that spot and sit. All day, and think about you and what we've done and shared. You can come here, to this porch. Where you first held me close, wrapping your arms around me like you are now. And you can sit here. All day. And think about me. That way, no matter where our lives lead us, we can always have that one day. No matter what."

He cuddled her close, "Mmmm... I love that idea. I agree. Every year, no matter what."

"And who knows, maybe one day, maybe those seers will find a way for us to be together again. Or maybe someone from my world will discover a place that connects to yours. Whether it's through your magic or our technology. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Hazel kissed her again, "Ah, my princess. Ever the dreamer, ever the optimist. I love you. And will miss you with all my being."

The moon rose high above them. Hazel turned Cassie towards him and they kissed one final time. Long and deep, with their entire bodies and spirits. Joining as one. And when it was done, they returned to the Elder's Chambers.

Twelve mystics stood in front of the Elders. Cassie recognized the three seers that helped them start their journey to find Morrigan. Innowen also stood among the them.

She walked over to Cassie and lowered her voice, "This will not be the last time our paths cross, Cassondra. I knew all along what you had to do. What you had to go through to make the decision. Morrigan did not choose you, although it was her writing that set the call into motion. It was the power of the word, the story that connects everything together. How do I know this? Because she was my grandmother."

Cassie was speechless. Morrigan never said she had a child. Perhaps that was a story best left for another day. She let Innowen guide her into the middle of the room. Her eyes scanned the room until they spotted Hazel, Stick perched on his shoulder. The tiny faerie held onto one of his hands and tried hard not to cry. Hazel only nodded at Cassie, mouthing the words, "I love you."

Cassie nodded in return as the mystics circled around her humming strange words, drawing symbols in the air in front of them. Innowen cried out, and thrust her hands into the air. Cassie's heart beat faster and faster, focusing on Hazel until she couldn't see him anymore.

A howl rose from the vocal cords of the thirteen mystics. Innowen dropped her arms down. Cassie vanished.