Hallowe'en challenge 4 - the finale
Sep. 8th, 2005 08:10 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sparkindarknessSee? I told you it was long!
And a twist ending (hey, how else do you think it was revitalised?)
They were all subdued that morning. Something bad was going to happen, they could feel it in the air. Of course, Sara reflected, that didn’t require any psychic ability. By the end of today either that beautiful forest would be destroyed with asll its power and glory or the killer would stop themf rom destroying it - and she didn’t want to think about that.
Idly she reflected on the circle still in place underneath the king. They had cast their rituals there for years, always the same place, the same circle. It had been walked by them,. Prepared by them and blessed by them so often that they felt uncomfortable anywhere else. She reviewed the paraphrenalia for tonight again, but without much enthusiasm. Them killoings had ended most of her propjects and now forced them to hold tonight’s Saimhain rite wiould have to be held in the garden instead of the forest. There was little to organise now, and there seemed little point in even that organisation.
She looked across the room and saw her gathered coven, all equally listless and saddened. Thir heart was being destroyed today, their core and their holy place. They didn’t know how to stop it and didn’t even know if they should try. All they could do was grieve.
Matthew pulled himself to his feet. He staggered outside almost drunkenly and sat on the moist grass of the garden and looked out towards the forest - visible between the houses. He lit a candle and set it to float in a bowl of water. He lit the incense burner in its stone stand. The musky smell of herbs reached them, herbs for memory, loss and grief. Appropriate Saimhain herbs, a time when you remember what was lost - but also look towards the new. There was little of renewal to be had, only looking out at the trees that would soon die and the mourning of their passing. Opne by one the opther 3 coven mates rose and lay on the grass around Matthew - not in a circle, in a line looking towards those trees. They sat and mourned and prayed.
***
DI Simmonslooked nervously into the darkness under the canopy, straining his eyes like every other armed police officer for any sign of movgement in the woods. He made a note to tell people to calm down,. There had already been stray shots at passing wildlife. He couldn’t quite bring himself to do it, though. The darkness was too thick, almost as if it were nighttime not the first light fo the day. He turned as he heard the first chainsaws start up.
***
They all looked up from their gloomy contemplation at the same time.
“What?..” Graham gasped. They all felt it. All felt the call…
Matthew rose and started to walk, not even pausing to grab some shoes, he briskly walked towards to woods, crossing people’s gradens to approach as directly as possible. Fiona was less than a second behind him, neiother looked back, neither so much as paused.
Graham and Sara stood and followed they tried to talk the other two into stopping, into coming back. It was useless, their pleas fell on deaf ears. It was only then that they realised that they were also walking to the forest, and they couldn’t imagine not following the call.
***
The first chainsaw bit into the wood. A shudder crept up DI Simmon’s spine and he couldn’t hide it. He looked at his men and saw that each one reacted the same, as if claws had run down their backs. A couple of men even cried out at the feeling. It had begun.
***
The trees were no obstical this time. In fact, it was almost eery how easily they passed under the canopy, as if the roots smoothed themselves and the branches bent aside to ease their passing. Sara found herself smiling without even realising it. It felt like home. No menace, just peace and safety and power and home. It felt like it used to - but more, stronger, deeper, even more beuatiful. The sun streamed through the branches, dabbling the world in sweet sunlight, auntumnal gold and playful shadows. They moved unnaturally, but they didn’t menace, they reached out to play and dance. Fiona’s face was lit by utter joy. Matthew had tears in his eyes that sparkled in the streaming light. Graham wore an expression of such peace that he could have modelled as a saint.
***
The tree fell. The first tree fell to the floor with an almost tortured scream. Simmons saw men around him cover their ears at the unearthly sound, people flinching back from it. Or perhaps mthey pulled back from the rage. He could almost feel it in the air, a sickening, burning rage that flowed out from the trees, utter outrage and blackest hate. The first fires were lit and chainsaws were brought to more trees.
***
They reached the king and grinned up at his beatific presence. There was no disapproval now, only warm loving welcome. He was too dignified to be playful, but they could feel his gentle amusement at the playing shadows under his boughs and the laughing faces carved into his mighty trunk and branches. The faces grinned down, teasing and mischevious, happy, innocent and joyous. Almost without thinking, the coven stepped into their places in the circle. Fiona didn’t think she had ever felt the passion of her faith so strongly as that moment. The sheer joy of it, the wonder of it, the awe of it. The world was beautiful, wonderful, incredible and here, here it was manifest. She just wanted to revel in it for all time, until the end of her days. After this moment she knew that she would never be the same, not after this. She looked at her coven mates beloved faces and saw the same glowing realisation on all their faces.
***
The darkness was thicker now. It was darker than midnight under the trees, darker than the deepest cave. Butchered wood and smouldering ash showed where they had advanced to. With every step, the rage grew. With every dead tree the screams became more furious and pain filled. The hate grew darker. Simmons shone his torch inot the darkness under the canopy. It was like trying to shine it through a wall, impenetrable and thick. If swirled like fog, seeming almost to reach towards them…
***
They worshipped. Never had they been so fervent or felt the connectiosn with the Lord and Lady so truly. Without thinking they danced around the mighty bole of the king. They had never practiced the steps, never worked on the graceful movements, but even if they had rehearsed for months they could never have matched the perfection of those steps. It was like something else rode their bodies. Around them the shadows danced, but they seemed to have more form now. They danced with wiuld abandon with the shadows graced with hints of hoof or horn or antler, with bark skin or leaves in their hair, with delicate wings and pointed ears and slanted eyes and shining lights that bobbed and weaved among them. They danced into a frenzy of ecstasy with all of fantasy cavorting in their steps.
***
DI Simmons stepped back, the motion followed by everyone in front of the forest. The chainsaws fell to the ground as people gasped in horro and backed away from the enraged trees. The darkness was oozing out between them. It came out from under the canopy into the full sunlight. It was impossible. Things moved in the shadows, half seen creatures lurking in the darkness. Gun shots echoed all around. He couldn’t see if they hit anything in the swirling dark.
There was a moment, one short second when the world held its breath as the shadow rose above them all. Then it released, rushing out among them. Simmons had time for one scream of horror before the darkness swirled all around him and the first of its denzines confronted him…
***
They half collapsed to the floor, the unearthly mjusic they were half hearing dying to a gentl;e back beat, the shadowy creatures drawing back until they were just on the edge of vision. The coven revelled in the after glow, gentle, sated smiles on their faces.
“Home,” Fiona purred, gazing at the beautiful patterns the sunlight laid all around them.
“Home,” Matthew hummed, hands brushing lightly across the gently dewed foliage.
“Home.” Sara whispered, peacefully drawing in the sweet, clean air.
“Home,” Graham rumbled, strong fingers digging into the rich, moist earth.
“Home.” A fifth voice added itself to theirs, seemingly taking the echoes of their own words and melding them together. The coven turned unhurriedly to the voice, everything was too beautiful and too glorious for fear.
Michael stepped confidently into the clearing, merry blue eyes shining happily. “We are all home.”
Sara’s eyes narrowed suspiciously, though she had to work at it. “You make that sound awfully permnant.”
Michael shrugged. “You have danced with the fae in the flickering shadows and burning sun. You have danced through an enchanted forest and lain beneath one of the woodland’s kings. Do you want to go anywhere else?” He blinked eyes that faded to purple. His hair was loose and far longer than they remembered, a shimmering black wave that floated around him to his knees. His cheekbones stood out, higher and sharper than they remembered.
“No,” Fiona smiled. “I can’t imagine being anywhere else. I can’t imagine going back.”
Matthew nodded, looking earenestly into Michael’s newly almond shaped eyes, seeming not to notice as the tanned skin paled and he grew taller and more lithe. “This is where we belong.” The others nodded. This was their home now.
Michael smiled. They gasped, staring at him rapturously. They had never seen anything so beautiful as the shining thing he had become. “Then stay and be always welcome with us. May you ever see truly.” The words echoed and when they died the forest was alive with creatures. People with horns and antlers and hooves. Trees that walked, rivers that danced, goblins and centaurs, giants and ogres and a thousand things they had no word for. It was glorious.
***
Still smiling, Michael stepped back into the crowd as the humans experienced the wonder of faerie unmaked.
“Nicely done, Ilatheril.” A voice said behind him.
He turned, grinning at the Sidhe behind him. “I thought so. What about your part, Sith? Are the forests safe now?”
Sitharensor shrugged. “There will be an enquiry. The forest has expanded to cover part of the town, several hundred people are missing. There was a lot of media attention about the grisly murders.”
“I really thought that would drive them off.” Ilatheril pouted.
“Never underestimate how stubborn humans are. You cannot really use fear to control them,. Not forever. They have a disturbing habit of killing what they fear.” Sitharensor soothed. “Still, the government will have an enquiry. It will, naturally, take several years as these things do during which the forest will be off-limits to people. By the time the enquiry is due to report the glamour we will cast here will mean most people do not even remember it. The forest is safe.”
Ilatheril grinned and settled back on a log. “Great. Thanks Sith, I mean it. We swore to the Forest King here that we would protect his woods. Don’t tell anyone I said this, but I don’t think we could do that without your help.”
Sitharensor shrugged modestly. “I dare say. Think nothing of it, Ilatheril, your family’s oathes affect my honour now - and vice versa. I’m actually surprised you kept faith with the humans as long as you did.”
Ilatheril gave the Seelie an unfriendly look. Sitharensor held up a hand placatingly and continued, “let me finish, Ilatheril. I would imagine an immortal being would have at least a little patience. You swore to lavish the town with blessings so it would always be prosperous if they kept the forest sacred. You would have been perfectly within your rights to remove your blessings - and exact vengeance - as soon as they stopped worshipping in the forest.”
Ilatheril shrugged, “they left them alone, which is pretty close to worship for most humans these days. They did what we needed them to do. It was enough.”
Sitharensor smiled, “I take it the blessings have been revoked now.”
“Too bloody right. And several hundred people killed and lots of property destroyed to pay for their oathbreaking.” Ilatheril grinned savagely. “They’ll pay large.”
“Except the humans you spared.” Sitharensor nodded towards the covorting fae. He could see the red haired woman dancing madly with a satyr, her laughter was wild and unfettered.
“Of course, they did worship the forest. You saw it,” Ilatheril also turned to watch as the shorter man twined himself into Sylph’s gentle embrace. Sitharensor nodded, he had been impressed. “Besides I think they belong here. Some humans are better suited to our world than theirs.”
Sitharensor smiled, a gentle, indulgent smile. “They could live forever within our lands. At least for a few centuries, becoming ever more fae and shining by the year, if their minds survive. I think they will. They do belong here. But what about this one?” He lead Ilatheril to a shadowed clearing. Hostile eyes watched from all directions. In the middle cowered the broken form of DI Simmons, trying to bury his head in the leafmold so he couldn’t see around him.
“He was a good man.” Ilatheril pointed out, quietly.
Sitharensor raised an eyebrow. “That is irrelevent, surely? He was one of the primary architects behind the betrayal. Not only did he break the huamn’s oath but he jeopodised your own oath to to the Forest King. Inexcusable.”
Ilatheril nodded. “Very much so, but I always spare one to spread the word.” He lifted the detective’s face with one finger, forcing the human to meet his eyes. The mortals panic glazed eyes widened in terror and wonder at the Sidhe in front of him. It was the expression you might expect to see on the face of a true believer who finally finds himself facing his beautiful, wrathful deity. Ilatheril spoke, focring the words deep into the human’s mind. “You will leave here and tell everyone what happened here. You will tell your superiors, you will tell your friends, your family, you will tell strangers on the street and the higest offices of government. You will tell them this is our land. You will tell them that no amount of paper or money will change that. You will tell them that we rule here and we will tolerate no violation. You will tell them that the wilds themselves rise up in fury against them. You will tell them and they will hear the pain in your voice and see the terror in your eyes and they will know. They will know that to come against us is to embrace death and pain and fear and the screams in the dark. Understood?”
Simmons nodded.
“Now go.” Ilatheril intoned. The human scrambled to his feet and ran, never pausing, never looking back. They watched him until the trees hid him from sight.
“Oh, while I remember, I have a present for you.” Sitharensor handed his husband a large sack with a dark red stain. Ilatheril opened it curiously, gasping in surprise as he pulled out Mr. Arnett’s head by the hair. “We found him in a hotel room about 200 miles from here.” Sitharensor explained.
“Aw, Sith, you always know just what to get me.” Ilatheril hugged the Seelie, being careful not to drip blood on his robes. Smiling tenderly, they walked hand in hand towards the revel, Ilatheril casually swinging the head as he went.
And a twist ending (hey, how else do you think it was revitalised?)
They were all subdued that morning. Something bad was going to happen, they could feel it in the air. Of course, Sara reflected, that didn’t require any psychic ability. By the end of today either that beautiful forest would be destroyed with asll its power and glory or the killer would stop themf rom destroying it - and she didn’t want to think about that.
Idly she reflected on the circle still in place underneath the king. They had cast their rituals there for years, always the same place, the same circle. It had been walked by them,. Prepared by them and blessed by them so often that they felt uncomfortable anywhere else. She reviewed the paraphrenalia for tonight again, but without much enthusiasm. Them killoings had ended most of her propjects and now forced them to hold tonight’s Saimhain rite wiould have to be held in the garden instead of the forest. There was little to organise now, and there seemed little point in even that organisation.
She looked across the room and saw her gathered coven, all equally listless and saddened. Thir heart was being destroyed today, their core and their holy place. They didn’t know how to stop it and didn’t even know if they should try. All they could do was grieve.
Matthew pulled himself to his feet. He staggered outside almost drunkenly and sat on the moist grass of the garden and looked out towards the forest - visible between the houses. He lit a candle and set it to float in a bowl of water. He lit the incense burner in its stone stand. The musky smell of herbs reached them, herbs for memory, loss and grief. Appropriate Saimhain herbs, a time when you remember what was lost - but also look towards the new. There was little of renewal to be had, only looking out at the trees that would soon die and the mourning of their passing. Opne by one the opther 3 coven mates rose and lay on the grass around Matthew - not in a circle, in a line looking towards those trees. They sat and mourned and prayed.
***
DI Simmonslooked nervously into the darkness under the canopy, straining his eyes like every other armed police officer for any sign of movgement in the woods. He made a note to tell people to calm down,. There had already been stray shots at passing wildlife. He couldn’t quite bring himself to do it, though. The darkness was too thick, almost as if it were nighttime not the first light fo the day. He turned as he heard the first chainsaws start up.
***
They all looked up from their gloomy contemplation at the same time.
“What?..” Graham gasped. They all felt it. All felt the call…
Matthew rose and started to walk, not even pausing to grab some shoes, he briskly walked towards to woods, crossing people’s gradens to approach as directly as possible. Fiona was less than a second behind him, neiother looked back, neither so much as paused.
Graham and Sara stood and followed they tried to talk the other two into stopping, into coming back. It was useless, their pleas fell on deaf ears. It was only then that they realised that they were also walking to the forest, and they couldn’t imagine not following the call.
***
The first chainsaw bit into the wood. A shudder crept up DI Simmon’s spine and he couldn’t hide it. He looked at his men and saw that each one reacted the same, as if claws had run down their backs. A couple of men even cried out at the feeling. It had begun.
***
The trees were no obstical this time. In fact, it was almost eery how easily they passed under the canopy, as if the roots smoothed themselves and the branches bent aside to ease their passing. Sara found herself smiling without even realising it. It felt like home. No menace, just peace and safety and power and home. It felt like it used to - but more, stronger, deeper, even more beuatiful. The sun streamed through the branches, dabbling the world in sweet sunlight, auntumnal gold and playful shadows. They moved unnaturally, but they didn’t menace, they reached out to play and dance. Fiona’s face was lit by utter joy. Matthew had tears in his eyes that sparkled in the streaming light. Graham wore an expression of such peace that he could have modelled as a saint.
***
The tree fell. The first tree fell to the floor with an almost tortured scream. Simmons saw men around him cover their ears at the unearthly sound, people flinching back from it. Or perhaps mthey pulled back from the rage. He could almost feel it in the air, a sickening, burning rage that flowed out from the trees, utter outrage and blackest hate. The first fires were lit and chainsaws were brought to more trees.
***
They reached the king and grinned up at his beatific presence. There was no disapproval now, only warm loving welcome. He was too dignified to be playful, but they could feel his gentle amusement at the playing shadows under his boughs and the laughing faces carved into his mighty trunk and branches. The faces grinned down, teasing and mischevious, happy, innocent and joyous. Almost without thinking, the coven stepped into their places in the circle. Fiona didn’t think she had ever felt the passion of her faith so strongly as that moment. The sheer joy of it, the wonder of it, the awe of it. The world was beautiful, wonderful, incredible and here, here it was manifest. She just wanted to revel in it for all time, until the end of her days. After this moment she knew that she would never be the same, not after this. She looked at her coven mates beloved faces and saw the same glowing realisation on all their faces.
***
The darkness was thicker now. It was darker than midnight under the trees, darker than the deepest cave. Butchered wood and smouldering ash showed where they had advanced to. With every step, the rage grew. With every dead tree the screams became more furious and pain filled. The hate grew darker. Simmons shone his torch inot the darkness under the canopy. It was like trying to shine it through a wall, impenetrable and thick. If swirled like fog, seeming almost to reach towards them…
***
They worshipped. Never had they been so fervent or felt the connectiosn with the Lord and Lady so truly. Without thinking they danced around the mighty bole of the king. They had never practiced the steps, never worked on the graceful movements, but even if they had rehearsed for months they could never have matched the perfection of those steps. It was like something else rode their bodies. Around them the shadows danced, but they seemed to have more form now. They danced with wiuld abandon with the shadows graced with hints of hoof or horn or antler, with bark skin or leaves in their hair, with delicate wings and pointed ears and slanted eyes and shining lights that bobbed and weaved among them. They danced into a frenzy of ecstasy with all of fantasy cavorting in their steps.
***
DI Simmons stepped back, the motion followed by everyone in front of the forest. The chainsaws fell to the ground as people gasped in horro and backed away from the enraged trees. The darkness was oozing out between them. It came out from under the canopy into the full sunlight. It was impossible. Things moved in the shadows, half seen creatures lurking in the darkness. Gun shots echoed all around. He couldn’t see if they hit anything in the swirling dark.
There was a moment, one short second when the world held its breath as the shadow rose above them all. Then it released, rushing out among them. Simmons had time for one scream of horror before the darkness swirled all around him and the first of its denzines confronted him…
***
They half collapsed to the floor, the unearthly mjusic they were half hearing dying to a gentl;e back beat, the shadowy creatures drawing back until they were just on the edge of vision. The coven revelled in the after glow, gentle, sated smiles on their faces.
“Home,” Fiona purred, gazing at the beautiful patterns the sunlight laid all around them.
“Home,” Matthew hummed, hands brushing lightly across the gently dewed foliage.
“Home.” Sara whispered, peacefully drawing in the sweet, clean air.
“Home,” Graham rumbled, strong fingers digging into the rich, moist earth.
“Home.” A fifth voice added itself to theirs, seemingly taking the echoes of their own words and melding them together. The coven turned unhurriedly to the voice, everything was too beautiful and too glorious for fear.
Michael stepped confidently into the clearing, merry blue eyes shining happily. “We are all home.”
Sara’s eyes narrowed suspiciously, though she had to work at it. “You make that sound awfully permnant.”
Michael shrugged. “You have danced with the fae in the flickering shadows and burning sun. You have danced through an enchanted forest and lain beneath one of the woodland’s kings. Do you want to go anywhere else?” He blinked eyes that faded to purple. His hair was loose and far longer than they remembered, a shimmering black wave that floated around him to his knees. His cheekbones stood out, higher and sharper than they remembered.
“No,” Fiona smiled. “I can’t imagine being anywhere else. I can’t imagine going back.”
Matthew nodded, looking earenestly into Michael’s newly almond shaped eyes, seeming not to notice as the tanned skin paled and he grew taller and more lithe. “This is where we belong.” The others nodded. This was their home now.
Michael smiled. They gasped, staring at him rapturously. They had never seen anything so beautiful as the shining thing he had become. “Then stay and be always welcome with us. May you ever see truly.” The words echoed and when they died the forest was alive with creatures. People with horns and antlers and hooves. Trees that walked, rivers that danced, goblins and centaurs, giants and ogres and a thousand things they had no word for. It was glorious.
***
Still smiling, Michael stepped back into the crowd as the humans experienced the wonder of faerie unmaked.
“Nicely done, Ilatheril.” A voice said behind him.
He turned, grinning at the Sidhe behind him. “I thought so. What about your part, Sith? Are the forests safe now?”
Sitharensor shrugged. “There will be an enquiry. The forest has expanded to cover part of the town, several hundred people are missing. There was a lot of media attention about the grisly murders.”
“I really thought that would drive them off.” Ilatheril pouted.
“Never underestimate how stubborn humans are. You cannot really use fear to control them,. Not forever. They have a disturbing habit of killing what they fear.” Sitharensor soothed. “Still, the government will have an enquiry. It will, naturally, take several years as these things do during which the forest will be off-limits to people. By the time the enquiry is due to report the glamour we will cast here will mean most people do not even remember it. The forest is safe.”
Ilatheril grinned and settled back on a log. “Great. Thanks Sith, I mean it. We swore to the Forest King here that we would protect his woods. Don’t tell anyone I said this, but I don’t think we could do that without your help.”
Sitharensor shrugged modestly. “I dare say. Think nothing of it, Ilatheril, your family’s oathes affect my honour now - and vice versa. I’m actually surprised you kept faith with the humans as long as you did.”
Ilatheril gave the Seelie an unfriendly look. Sitharensor held up a hand placatingly and continued, “let me finish, Ilatheril. I would imagine an immortal being would have at least a little patience. You swore to lavish the town with blessings so it would always be prosperous if they kept the forest sacred. You would have been perfectly within your rights to remove your blessings - and exact vengeance - as soon as they stopped worshipping in the forest.”
Ilatheril shrugged, “they left them alone, which is pretty close to worship for most humans these days. They did what we needed them to do. It was enough.”
Sitharensor smiled, “I take it the blessings have been revoked now.”
“Too bloody right. And several hundred people killed and lots of property destroyed to pay for their oathbreaking.” Ilatheril grinned savagely. “They’ll pay large.”
“Except the humans you spared.” Sitharensor nodded towards the covorting fae. He could see the red haired woman dancing madly with a satyr, her laughter was wild and unfettered.
“Of course, they did worship the forest. You saw it,” Ilatheril also turned to watch as the shorter man twined himself into Sylph’s gentle embrace. Sitharensor nodded, he had been impressed. “Besides I think they belong here. Some humans are better suited to our world than theirs.”
Sitharensor smiled, a gentle, indulgent smile. “They could live forever within our lands. At least for a few centuries, becoming ever more fae and shining by the year, if their minds survive. I think they will. They do belong here. But what about this one?” He lead Ilatheril to a shadowed clearing. Hostile eyes watched from all directions. In the middle cowered the broken form of DI Simmons, trying to bury his head in the leafmold so he couldn’t see around him.
“He was a good man.” Ilatheril pointed out, quietly.
Sitharensor raised an eyebrow. “That is irrelevent, surely? He was one of the primary architects behind the betrayal. Not only did he break the huamn’s oath but he jeopodised your own oath to to the Forest King. Inexcusable.”
Ilatheril nodded. “Very much so, but I always spare one to spread the word.” He lifted the detective’s face with one finger, forcing the human to meet his eyes. The mortals panic glazed eyes widened in terror and wonder at the Sidhe in front of him. It was the expression you might expect to see on the face of a true believer who finally finds himself facing his beautiful, wrathful deity. Ilatheril spoke, focring the words deep into the human’s mind. “You will leave here and tell everyone what happened here. You will tell your superiors, you will tell your friends, your family, you will tell strangers on the street and the higest offices of government. You will tell them this is our land. You will tell them that no amount of paper or money will change that. You will tell them that we rule here and we will tolerate no violation. You will tell them that the wilds themselves rise up in fury against them. You will tell them and they will hear the pain in your voice and see the terror in your eyes and they will know. They will know that to come against us is to embrace death and pain and fear and the screams in the dark. Understood?”
Simmons nodded.
“Now go.” Ilatheril intoned. The human scrambled to his feet and ran, never pausing, never looking back. They watched him until the trees hid him from sight.
“Oh, while I remember, I have a present for you.” Sitharensor handed his husband a large sack with a dark red stain. Ilatheril opened it curiously, gasping in surprise as he pulled out Mr. Arnett’s head by the hair. “We found him in a hotel room about 200 miles from here.” Sitharensor explained.
“Aw, Sith, you always know just what to get me.” Ilatheril hugged the Seelie, being careful not to drip blood on his robes. Smiling tenderly, they walked hand in hand towards the revel, Ilatheril casually swinging the head as he went.