Mikage's Dream Of What Is Not and What May Yet Be
-----

After spending the evening with Anthy, you end up retiring alone to 
your quarters, where sleep swiftly takes you. 

Mikage tsks and begins to sit up.

The rabbit says, "You gotta come with me."  It whips out a 
switchblade.  "Or I'll have to get nasty." 

You notice there is a large hole in your floor which didn't use to be 
there, rather like a super-economy size rabbit hole. 

Mikage asks, "What is this...?"

The rabbit shrugs.  "Just doing my job."  He points at the hole in the 
floor.  "You have to go jump down that, and then I get to go hang 
around the dreams of the cast of Baywatch for a while.  So we both 
win.  Really." 

Mikage says, "Dreams, you say?" He scratches his head. "Oh, why not?" 
He gets up and looks down the hole.

It looks like a long dark shaft down.  Loud Wagnerian Opera drifts up 
from somewhere below. 

Mikage shakes his head. "That last glass of rose wine was a bad idea."

The rabbit shrugs.  "It's all insightful and stuff, or so they say.  
Me, I'd rather watch Baywatch while I sleep, but..." 

Mikage says, "Well, here I go, then." He jumps in.

You zoom downwards, past a series of small dioramas, showing various 
events of Amber's history. 

You can see Gendo's deathbed, his marriage to Anthy, many battles and 
other marriages, and then... 

You plummet out of the hole and into a tree.  This is rather, 
well...painful. 

*Crash!  Shatter!  Break!  Snapple!*

The tree breaks your fall, and you land on the ground, more hurt in 
dignity than physically. 

Mikage says, "OW."

You are lying next to a road in your pajamas, and now you hear the 
clip clop of horse hooves. 

Mikage asks, "Oh, now what?"

The road is made of odd blue bricks, and the sun shines brightly. 

A young man, looking perhaps to be in his late teens, is riding up 
towards you, mounted on a magnificent white charger.  "Hello, 
traveller!" he says, as he rides closer. 

The man is well muscled, average in height, with close cropped dark 
brown hair. 

Mikage stands up, dusts himself off, and greets the rider. "Good day, 
sir. Could you tell me where this is?"

He looks vaguely familiar, though you can't think of where you might 
have seen him. 

He says, "Well, at the last village, they told me this was the road to 
the Tower of the Sword.  So I'm hoping they're right and I'm not 
hideously lost."  As he draws closer, you can see he's wearing a grey 
surcoat with the Unicorn Rampant on it in white. 

Mikage says, "Tower of the Sword... Mind if I join you? I am known as 
Mikage."

He looks around.  "Though this doesn't look like the forest of 
despair."  
Turning back to you, he says, "I would be glad for the companionship.  
Long have I journeyed alone through Shadow.  My name is Gendo.  A 
pleasure to meet you."  He whistles, and a black horse that matches 
his rides out of the woods.  "A mount for you, good sir." 

Mikage asks, "Thank you, kind sir." He mounts the horse. "For what 
purpose do you seek this sword? What is this sword?"

Gendo says, "Every king needs a good sword, and Father tells me this 
one has the power to reveal the truth."


Gendo says, "It's name is Justice, and I will be able to use it both 
to protect and lead my nation."

Gendo laughs nervously.  "My nation...it doesn't even exist yet.  But 
it will."

"I suppose that probably sounds a little crazy." 

Mikage says, "Not at all. It sounds like a noble dream."

Gendo relaxes.  "Father is building the city while I gather everything 
we will need."

The forest slowly becomes more dismal as you ride along, and the sky 
clouds over. 

Mikage asks, "What do you already have. if I may ask?"

"I fought the Dragon of Hate to gain the Heart of Flame, and wrestled 
the North Wind for the Bag of Winds, and swam across the ocean to 
petition Neptune for the Cup of Life.  I need to get my sword, and 
then I have to find the Seed of Hope, wherever that is." 

He looks around.  "Now that's more like a Forest of Despair." 

Voices begin to wail in despair in the distance. 

Mikage nods. "Indeed."

"I wanted to go get the sword first, to use to fight the Dragon, but 
the Dragon came looking for me before I could find it." 

A tower can now be seen, poking its head above the trees. 

"Then I'll have to go out and find people for our city, and then a 
crown, and then a wife." 

Mikage says, "Well, there's the tower..."

He nods.  "So what is your quest?" 

Mikage smiles. "I don't know. To bring the world revolution, I 
suppose."

Gendo nods.  "What's that?"

Wolves begin to howl in the distance, and the horses whinney a little 
nervously. 

Mikage says, "It's even more vague than your dream, actually. I'm 
beginning to wonder if I'm chasing the rainbow."

Gendo nods.  "I spent a month chasing a rainbow once, and never caught 
it.  Then I went home and asked Father why he told me to catch it, and 
he just gave me that infuriating smile of his."  He pauses.  "I 
suppose you wouldn't know what that looks like, though."

Akemi pages, "Your psychic senses register some great power ahead in 
the tower." to you.

Mikage says, "I have an idea... Of the smile, I mean."

Mikage says, "That is the tower that holds Justice, indeed."

The road bends, then comes to a small river.  A bridge stands over the 
river, and upon the bridge stands a black horse, with a rider upon it, 
clad in a red surcoat with a black serpent. 

Under the surcoat, he wears black platemail with a helm that hides his 
face. 

Gendo glances over at you, "Do you always run into a knight every time 
you try to cross a river?" 

Mikage whispers, "I've not had that experience, no."

He nods.  "Hail, good sir Knight!" 

"NONE SHALL PASS!" 

Gendo shrugs.  "Would you like the first go at him, Sir Mikage?"

Mikage says, "I... defer that honor, Sir Gendo."

Gendo nods

Gendo gets his lance and shouts, "I accept your challenge!"

"NONE SHALL PASS!" 

Gendo shakes his head.  "Not much of a talker."

"NONE SHALL PASS!" 

Gendo levels his lance and charges, as does the other knight.  They 
both unhorse each other, then start to whale away at each other with 
swords. 

Mikage sighs and sits back on his horse.

Meanwhile, their horses glance over at them, then at each other, and 
slip off together towards the trees. 

The two men whale away at each other, unable to penetrate each other's 
armor, anticipating each other's moves. 

Meanwhile, their horses are lost in a mating frenzy. 

And out of the woods, a half-dozen goblins begin to creep towards the 
horses. 

Mikage asks, "Do you require assistance, Sir Gendo?"

Mikage draws his sword and creeps toward the horses, himself.

Gendo exclaims, "I'm just fine!  Should have this fellow dealt with in 
just a minute!"

Gendo exclaims, "I'd appreciate it if you made sure my horse gets his 
afternoon tea!"

Mikage says, "I... doubt tea is what it has in mind, sir."

The goblins approach the horses, then pause, obviously not sure if 
they should interrupt. 

Whang!  Clang!  Whack!  Parry!  Counter!  Feint!  Thrust!  the knights 
continue whaling away. 

The horses finish their business, and the goblins now notice you, 
staring at you warily. 

Mikage asks, "Say, fellows," adressing the goblins, "what do you 
intend to do with our mounts?"

"Well, uh, we wuz figguring we wuz gonna take 'em to the Red Queen as 
presents, see.  'cause she like, likes horses, ya know." 

Mikage asks, "The red... queen?"

The second one nods, pausing from picking his nose.  "Yeah, like the 
Red Queen rules the forest of Despair and all that jazz.  She's 
like...Red." 

The third one says, "She makes great poisoned apples too." 

Mikage says, "Ah. Good of you to tell me these things."

He holds out an apple to you.  "Here, have one." 

Mikage says, "Er.. thank you." He tries to pocket the apple.

You succeed. 

The fourth one says, "So, like, we'll just be stealing these horses 
now." 

Mikage says, "could you steal the black one? We'll be needing the 
other two."

"Well, we wuzn't gonna take yours, 'cause you were still on it." the 
fifth one says.  "What 'cha gonna do with the white one?" 

Mikage says, "My friend, the one in white," CLANG! "is going to need 
it after the battle."

"Hmm.  If you say so."  They take the black one and scamper off, 
leaving Gendo's horse behind. 

Gendo finally pushes his foe back to the ravine and knocks the knight 
into it. 

Gendo says, "Now, THAT was a fight," he says.

As the Black Knight falls, it shouts, "Strike me down and I will only 
return more powerful than befoooooooorrrrreeeee!!!!!!!!" 

Gendo returns.  "Time for us to ride on."

Mikage sheaths his sword. "I took care of the goblins."

Gendo says, "Thank you, good sir knight."

Mikage nods and mounts his own horse. "Let us away."

Gendo rides across the bridge with you.  Down below, you can see the 
Black Knight being carried off by the current.

The ground begins to slope upwards, and finally, you emerge from the 
forest, riding up a steep slope towards the tower, which stands on a 
great outcropping of rock which thrusts out over the ocean. 

A huge serpent is coiled round the tower. 

Mikage says, "Cheery place."

Gendo says, "Well, if the life of a knight was easy...well, it would 
be easy."

The serpent, which has only one eye, raises its head and stares 
unblinkingly at you. 

Mikage asks, "Why does it have one eye?"

Gendo says, "Good question." 

Mikage says, "Must have a depth perception problem."

"It was stolen from me, children of Amber." 

The serpent's voice is raspy, but powerful. 

"And I can smell the thief's blood in your veins!"  Its tongue darts 
in and out, tasting the air. 

Mikage asks, "What is the Serpent of Chaos doing out here?"

Mikage says, "Ah, well. Dreams aren't supposed to make sense..."

Mikage places a hand on his rapier.

Gendo says, "It's obviously the guardian of the tower, probably bound 
by some sorceror"

Gendo shrugs.  "That's how it usually is.  Yield up your treasure, 
Serpent, or perish!"

Its head moves back and forth, almost hypnotically.  "Answer my 
riddle, and I will let you pass," it says. 

Mikage says, "I hate riddles."

Gendo sweatdrops.  "Can we try a chess game instead?"

Mikage asks, "Give us the bloody riddle, all right?"

"What have I got in my....no wait, I don't have any pockets." 

Gendo sweatdrops.

"What is the chain which no sword can break, but words can shatter 
with ease?" the Serpent asks. 

Gendo. o O (Oatmeal...back bacon...very small rocks?  Churches?  The 
Mason-Dixon line?  No, no no...I should have asked for the...no, wait, 
I DID ask for the Chess Game...)

Gendo asks, "Do we both get a guess?"

The serpent looks vastly amused.  "Certainly." 

Gendo thinks for a very, very long time.

Gendo finally says, "The chains of one's memories!"

The Serpent shakes its head.  "You can't break memories with words." 

Gendo exclaims, "But it fits the first half!"

"Cut yourself in half and I'll let half of you pass." 

Gendo sweatdrops.

Gendo glances over at you.  "Got any ideas?"

Mikage says, "Hmmm."

Mikage says, "A promise."

The Serpent sighs.  "Hrmph.  Go on in."  It uncoils and gets out of 
the way 

Inside the tower is a large room which reminds you of a church, 
although it has two altars. 

Each of the altars has a sword thrust into it. 

One of the altars has the words 'This Sword Waits for the King of All 
Colors and None." 

The other reads, "This Sword Waits for the Ever-Burning Brand" 

Gendo scratches his head, then says, "Well, I'm not ever burning, so I 
won't worry about the other one."

Gendo walks over and pulls out the sword.  A glistening tracery shines 
along the blade, showing a segment of the Pattern.

Gendo looks thoughtful. He takes his sword out of his sheath and 
sticks it in the altar, then uses his sheathe for his new blade.

The writing on the altar rearranges itself.  "This Sword Waits for 
Someone Who Needs a Sword" 

Mikage asks, "Who is the the Ever-Burning Brand?"

Mikage asks, "Oh, wait... that would be the Pattern, wouldn't it?"

Gendo hrms.  "I don't think the Pattern could come and draw the sword 
itself, though."

Gendo scratches his head.  "Maybe it's someone named Brand who is 
always on fire...no, that's too silly."

Mikage says, "..."

Gendo says, "Well, you could always give it a pull.  Couldn't hurt."

Mikage nods and steps to the altar

You attempt to pull the sword.  Your hand tingles briefly, but it 
doesn't come out.  However, the sky does crack open, and everything 
turns a pleasant shade of purple. 

And then you're standing in a hallway, holding a doorknob. 

It looks somewhat like Castle Amber, but cruder, all of wood and less 
well decorated. 

Mikage says, "Odd."

Beyond the door, you hear a man and a woman having a discussion about 
whether to use the Bag of Winds aganst some sort of invasion fleet. 

You recognize the man's voice as that of Gendo.  He sounds a bit 
older. 

Mikage presents himself to Gendo. "Sire."

You can see Gendo seated with a lovely woman with short cropped brown 
hair and a pleasant smile, dressed in an expensive dress.  The room is 
a small study of the type common in Castle Amber, though the furniture 
isn't as nice as it should be.  

Gendo says, "Ahh, Sir Mikage.  Do you bring news of the approaching 
fleet?"  He is seated her in a parlor with a woman you recognize from 
portraits as Queen Sakura. 

Mikage says, "I'm afraid not, your Majesty. I must admit to being 
somewhat disoriented."

He nods.  "Worn out by your journeys, no doubt." 

Mikage says, "You could say that, yes."

A messenger runs in.  "Sire, I have bad news.  The forces of the 
League of Harad have been defeated again by the Catalans." 

Queen Sakura blinks.  "That's a problem for us?" 

Mikage remains silent, taking all of this in.

Gendo frowns.  "Litherai has fallen?" 

The messenger nods.  "Their ambassador has arrived to beg for aid, and 
will probably be at the castle later today." 

Sakura says, "Well, given how badly the Harad lords treat their 
peasants, they'd be better off under Catalan rule anyway." 

The messenger keeps his face carefully neutral as Sakura rambles on 
about how wretched a place Harad is. 

Mikage does as well. Sakura apparently exuded more quiet dignity in 
portraits.

Gendo says, "Tell the Chamberlain I will need to meet with him in a 
few minutes, Kevin."  Kevin the messenger nods.  "Yes, Sire."  He then 
leaves. 

Gendo turns to Mikage.  "So what do you think about this?" 

Mikage says, "If I may be so bold, your Majesty, I believe one only 
concerns oneself with the affairs of other kingdoms when the safety of 
one's own is at stake."

Mikage quickly stifles a smile.

Sakura nods firmly.  Gendo frowns.  "It is an unfortunate part of 
reality that the affairs of nations interact in strange ways." 

Gendo says, "Especially for a trading nation like our own."

Mikage says, "No doubt, your Majesty. Which is why I bow to your 
superior judgement."

The left corner of Mikage's mouth twists upward for a moment. 

He nods.  "I believe..."  The door opens and a little brown haired boy 
runs in.  "Daddy, I wanna fly!" he announces. 

Gendo laughs and pats the boy on the head.  "Daddy has to go do work 
right now, but..."  He looks around with the look of a man trying to 
find someone else to play with the child.  Sakura has a look of 
irritation on her face, so he turns to look at you helplessly.

Mikage asks, "Of course, your Majesty. Good day, young prince. What is 
your name?"

"I'm Prince Shinji!  I'm gonna be king one day!" 

Sakura just shakes her head and laughs a little, looking a bit less 
irritated. 

Mikage says, "Indeed... I am... known as Mikage."

The boy begins jumping up and down.  He is perhaps somewhere between 
five and seven.  "Make me fly!" he says.  You have the impression he 
probably wants to be spun around over your head. 

Mikage lifts the boy up. "Here you go!"

Mikage . o O (If I only had the Bag with me...)

You spin him about easily, and he laughs happily.  Gendo smiles, and 
even Sakura seems a little amused.  She turns to Gendo.  "I will see 
you later."  She kisses him on the cheek and departs.  Gendo says to 
you, "Would you mind taking care of Shinji for a little while?  His 
mother is too sick to run herd on him right now." 

Mikage says, "As you wish, your Majesty." He looks up at Gendo and 
chuckles.

Then Mikage starts laughing, heartily.

Gendo nods and heads out of the room, leaving you with laughing Prince 
Shinji. 

Mikage asks, "King Gendo, eh?" lifting the boy into the air. "Never 
thought this would happen, did you?"

Prince Shinji laughs.  "Can you show me a magic trick?" 

Mikage nods and closes his eyes for a moment, leaving off the 
materialization of the object until the last moment. "Young Prince, a 
lesson, if you care to listen."

Mikage says, "In the game of power, as in the game of magic, it is not 
the magnitude of the spell that determines your skill..."

Shinji listens. 

Mikage opens his hand with a flourish, and a dove flies from his hand. 
"...but the effortless delivery."

He applauds, clapping his hands. 

He says, "Did your daddy teach you that?" 

Mikage smiles, softly. "No, Shinji, he did not. I learned it on my 
own. And someday you'll have to learn things on your own, as well."

He says proudly, "I learned where to find earthworms in the garden all 
by myself today!" 

Mikage chuckles. "Well, that is something to be proud of, then! Good 
for you!"

Mikage pats Shinji on the head.

He says, "You wanna see them?" 

Mikage nods. "Lead the way."

He leads you down to the gardens, which are much simpler in this time 
than in your day.  They're lovely, but in a very simple sort of way.  
You come around to one corner, where the ground has been dug up; 
earthworms crawl around.  Looking more closely, you can see there's a 
roughly rectangular depression here, about an inch deep. 

Shinji begins digging about randomly with a trowel. 

Mikage asks, "What's this? Did you dig this hole, Shinji?"

Shinji says, "Nope.  I saw people digging around here last night, so I 
came out today and found these neat Earthworms."  He offers you one. 

Mikage takes the earthworm. "Thank you." He places it aside and begins 
to study the depression.

Three feet wide, about four feet long. 

There's some fairly fresh, small flowers planted here. 

Mikage examines the flowers.

Just a bunch of innocent looking begonias.  You sense no special power 
within them.  They smell nice, though. 

Mikage uproots a few, and begins digging.

Shinji joins in with the trowel, making a mess.  You soon find you've 
dug down to a metal box. 

Mikage exclaims, "Look, Shinji, treasure!"

Shinji looks excited.  "Maybe pirates buried it!" 

Mikage says, "Let's dig it out and see."

You soon dig it up.  It's locked shut with a built in lock. Rather 
nice craftsmanship.  Rattling it reveals it has some things which are 
at least partly metal inside. 

Mikage asks, "Want to see another magic trick, Shinji?"

He claps his hands.  "Sure!" 

Mikage claps his hands together thrice, closes his eyes, and as he 
pulls them apart conjures a crowbar.

Shinji applauds. 

Mikage bows. "Now, let's see what's inside the box, shall we?"

"Let's! I want pirate gold!" 

Mikage nods and begins prying the box open with the crowbar.

The box turns out to have ten rifles in it. 

And several boxes of bullets. 

Mikage exclaims, "Look, Shinji, pirate's rifles!"

Shinji claps his hands.  "I bet there's gold somewhere around here!"  
He starts digging up another set of flowers. 

Mikage picks up the box of bullets, conjuring an ocho reales as he 
reaches down. "Look, Shinji!"

Mikage hands the boy the gold piece.

Mikage studies the bullets in the meantime.

He laughs and jumps around.  "Wow! I'm rich!" 

They look like ordinary bullets mass-manufactured in a late 20th-
century style.  The rifles could have come from any sporting goods 
store. 

Mikage pries open a bullet carefully.

It EXPLODES dramatically, quietly knocking you out.  When you wake up, 
you find yourself lying prone on the steps up Kolvir to the castle. 

Mikage says, "What the..."

Mikage stands up and dusts himself off. "Now what...?"

Gazing out across the seas, you can see a large fleet sailing up the 
Gulf towards Amber. The ships are all flying a flag you don't 
recognize, but which is certainly not Amber's.  There seems to be 
panick in the city and not much in the way of any fleet to stop the 
invading force. 

Mikage reaches for the Bag instinctively...

It's stuffed into your right pocket. Not very comfortably. 

Mikage flies out over the Gulf, raising a gust of wind strong enough 
to make arrows useless. "Identify yourselves!"

As you fly closer, you can see the crews have dark hair and bronzed 
skin.  They seem to mostly have Greek Style armor, and in fact, it's a 
fleet of triremes.  When you get close enough, some of the men stare 
up at you.  Finally, a man says, "We're the fleet of the Euboean 
League.  Who the hell are you?" 

Mikage asks, "I'm asking the questions around here. What is your 
business here?"

Mikage shouts, "ANSWER ME!" using the power of the Bag to carry the 
sound of his voice.

"Oh, we've come to burn Amber to the ground, you big pink-haired 
poof!" the man shouts back.  "And sow salt on the rubble!" 

Mikage says, "Indeed." A massive storm has begun to form above him. "I 
suggest you reconsider that course of action."

Mikage points, and lighting strikes the man who insulted him. "Never, 
ever, insult a Prince of Amber."

The man is burned to rubbish. 

Mikage says, "EVER." He proceeds to demolish the rest of the fleet.

The fleet is blown apart into tiny bits, scattered before you. 

And then another fleet with blue sails, all following a small yacht 
with Tylor at the helm, appears in the waters.  Tylor stares at the 
wreckage, then looks up at you.  "What happened?" 

Mikage says, "Foul weather. Pity."

Tylor nods.  "Those storms can just blow up by surprise this time of 
year." 

And then the world flashes again. 

Mikage's mouth twists in annoyance.

You are standing on ice and snow in the middle of a howling snow 
storm.  As you look about, you can see two armies closing in on your 
position. 

Mikage flies up, observing the battle from above.

One army is a horde of fur-clad barbarians who have gathered into a 
shield wall.  The other is a mixture of chainmail wearing horsemen and 
ill-armored footmen with spears. 

Mikage addresses the horsemen. "Identify yourselves!"

The horsemen say something, but with all the howling wind and snow, 
you can't hear them.  They fly many different flags.  Oddly, a young 
red haired girl, probably no more than 16 or so, seems to be riding at 
the head of the largest group of horsemen.  Their flag...you think 
you've seen it around Amber, though it's not the actual flag OF Amber. 

Mikage says, "... It can't be."

The armies blow horns at each other and form up into ranks.  The 
ground in places shifts and sags beneath them. 

Mikage exclaims, "Eowyn! Be careful!"

The redhead looks around, having heard you, but apparently she can't 
see you through the storm. 

Mikage says, "The ground isn't stable... Damn!" He flies toward her.

She prepares to order a charge, then halts as you come zipping down.  
"Sir Mikage, what are you doing here?" 

Mikage says, "I'm... here to warn you... the ground isn't stable. This 
isn't the time to attack."

She frowns.  "But if we retreat, we will leave the way open for them 
to march south and ravage more territory." 

Mikage says, "Leave it to me. I'll deal with them. They're too well-
entrenched for a ground attack."

She frowns.  "Oh, we know how to break a shield line.  On the other 
hand, we are out on the middle of a frozen lake right now..."  She 
sighs.  "Are you sure you can handle them?" 

Mikage nods. "If I cannot, you will know."

Mikage flies over to where the barbarians are, partially obscured by 
the storm. He evokes lightning to dance around him. "Identify 
yourselves, if you've half a tongue!"

"We are the Cimbri, the undefeated rulers of the world!" they shout.  
And then through the swirling snow, you can see something approaching 
in the air.  It's a red haired, red bearded man in a chariot drawn by 
goats.  He holds a HUGE hammer and has muscles on his muscles. 

Mikage says, "We shall see who the god of thunder truly is, then."

Mikage waves his hand, striking row after row with sheets of 
lightning. Meanwhile, he is obscuring himself from the sight of the 
charioteer with mist.

You rain down death on the Cimbrians.  And Thunder boy hurls his 
hammer, shattering the ice around one section of the retreating 
Amberite army.  The section where Eowyn is.  Heavily armored Cavalry 
begins to sink quite nicely... 

Meanwhile, the Cimbri begin to break and run under your assault. 

Mikage, routing the Cimbri, heads toward the hammer-wielder, pointing 
a finger. "If you're half a man you'll face me in combat. Otherwise, 
you're obviously too weak and cowardly to deal with a 'pink-haired 
poof' like me."

Mikage asks, "Are you half a man? Are you?"

Mikage exclaims, "Can't even look me in the eye and say it, can you? 
Say it!"

The man finally notices you.  "Who the hell are you?" he asks. 

Mikage meets his gaze. "I am Mikage of Amber. And you, my stupid 
friend, are dead." And he lashes out at the man's mind.

You make psychic contact and fry his brain.  His hammer, on the other 
hand, flies at you and makes physical contact, breaking some of your 
ribs.  But he goes crashing down into the ice, ripping it further 
open. 

Mikage cries out, clutching at his side.

Below you, the ice is breaking open, and both armies are falling into 
the water. 

Mikage flies over the ice. "Eowyn! Eowyn! Where are you?"

Especially the knights.  The ill-armored footmen of Harad have the 
easiest time getting to safety. 

You see her struggling, trying to get her armor off before she sinks. 

Mikage flies toward her. "Grab my hand!" reaching out with his good 
arm.

She grabs your hand and you manage to pull her up.  She clings to you 
desperately.  "Bless you, Sir Mikage," she says.  "Bless you."  Then 
she begins to cry as she sees all the knights drowning. 

Mikage says, "The ground... was too... unstable, like I'd said... I'm 
not sure I have the strength left... to save the others." Even as he 
says this, he makes his way toward the nearest knight.

She nods.  "I know...I know...my poor men." 

She does her best to help you try to save men from the ice.  You're 
able to save some, though by the end, she's pretty close to being the 
one carrying you, you're so tired out. 

Mikage starts to drop off, from the fatigue and the biting cold.

Mikage says, "Nnngh... must stay awake..."

Mikage asks, "Eowyn... how... do you know who I am?"

Eowyn blinks at you.  "You're Sir Mikage.  You've been around since 
before I was born." 

Mikage says, "I... have, haven't I?..."

She says, "I remember when I was really little, you said something at 
dinner that made Mom get mad and she dumped an entire soup tureen over 
your head."  She laughs.  "Father was so hideously embarrassed.  He 
was as red as a tomato." 

Mikage says, "... Hmmm. What did I say? I can't remember..."

"I don't know.  I was really little...maybe three or four." 

Mikage says, "Oh... never mind, then..."

You stagger off the lake with her and the army, struggling to remain 
conscious as the army encamps along the shore.  You finally end up in 
Eowyn's tent with her wrapping you in blankets and telling you to 
rest. 

Mikage nods and drifts off...

You wake up still wrapped in the blankets, but with Eowyn curled up to 
you in her blankets, still asleep. 

You feel much less crappy now. 

Mikage props himself up and regards Eowyn's face.

She's asleep.  It's a quite lovely face; it reminds you strongly of 
Juri's face, especially with the hair, but soft and innocent with 
hardly a line or a worry, unlike her sister in the future. 

Mikage smiles, and finds himself wondering what he's doing...

She wakes up and sees you gazing at her and blushes a little.  "Are 
you feeling better, Sir Mikage?" 

Mikage asks, "Quite." He smiles. "You?"

She says, "I still feel chilled to the bone.  But there's no way to 
light a fire safely inside a tent, I fear."  She shudders a little. 

Mikage starts to chuckle. "There is one way..." He looks at Eowyn and 
it is very clear what he means.

She gulps, then smiles at you nervously.  "I thought...you'd never 
ask..." she says softly...

After a period of passion with Eowyn, you slide into sleep.  And then 
you wake up... 

You wake up in the Pattern chamber under the castle. 

You're fully dressed and warm. 

And then the door opens, and Gil-Galad walks in, looking young and 
confident.  "Oh, hi, Uncle Mikage," he says. 

Mikage says, "Hnnnh... Damn. And it was getting rather pleasant."

Gil-Galad cocks his head.  "I'm sorry, were you doing some weird 
meditation thing with the Pattern?" 

Mikage asks, "Hmm? Uh, no. Why?"

He looks at you, then shrugs.  "Okay, whatever."  He turns and looks 
at the Pattern.  "In a few days...I'll be walking that.  And then 
it'll be time for me to go find Morgoth and kick his ass."  He smiles 
confidently.  "He'll never know what hit him." 

Mikage smiles mirthlessly. "No. He won't."

Gil-Galad smiles.  "First I'll strip away his power...then maybe turn 
his fortress into his own personal torture device.  Make him feel 
everything he did to my ancestors.  Then hand him over to the Valar.  
I'm sure they can do worse to him than I could ever dream of."  He 
gazes in awe at the Pattern.  "So much power in a funny looking 
squiggle.  The power to be a virtual...well, a virtual God." 

Mikage says, "And yet..."

He says, "I just...the one thing I'm worried about is...well, I mean, 
I'm pretty sure Gendo is my father.  He thinks so.  Mom thinks so.  
Even Fuyutsuki thinks so.  But if I'm not, the second I step on 
it...poof. Instant, inescapable death."  He steps back slightly from 
it.  "That just seems kinda harsh." 

Mikage says, "Well... it's just. Gendo earned the right to rule Amber 
more than you could imagine. He earned the right for his children and 
his children's children to gaint power over Shadow. It's only fair 
that the price for failing to gain godlike power is instant death."

Gil-Galad shudders.  "Well, I've decided that in three days, I will 
walk it,and then I'll go stomp on Morgoth.  I have to show everyone 
what I can do, and I have to avenge what happened to my people."  He 
frowns.  "Have you ever wanted to get revenge on someone, Uncle 
Mikage?" 

Mikage says, "Yes. But then something greater overcame the need for 
mere revenge."

Mikage says, "Someday you will know, when you are older and wiser. And 
maybe on that day, you will look behind you and settle all your 
accounts that are not fueled by the kindling of mere revenge. Remember 
this one day, and perhaps you can tell me something greater than 
vengeance."

Gil-Galad nods.  "Still, I gotta do this.  So many people died..."  He 
frowned. 

He looks over at you.  "You can't imagine what it's like being me 
sometimes.  All the whispering and everything.  Everyone loves you, 
because you saved Aunt Eowyn from dying, and me...I'm just a bastard."  
He sighs. 

Mikage says, "Well, do what you have to do, then."

Mikage says, "If that's what it takes to prove your worth to yourself, 
then do what you have to."

Mikage says, "And believe me, I do know what it's like, to have 
whispers and distrust around you. I do know."

He nods.  "Well, not today.  I'm waiting for some of my equipment to 
be ready.  I just felt like I needed to come down and psyche myself 
up." 

Mikage asks, "Equipment, you say?"

Mikage asks, "Ah. Well, whatever you feel prepares you. A small, 
trifling question... are you prepared to fail?"

He continues, "And a magical hat of disguise that High Priestess 
Michiru said she'd make for me." 

He blinks at Mikage.  "If I go into something expecting to lose, I 
might as well not do it." 

Mikage says, "I didn't ask if you expected to lose. I asked if you 
were prepared to lose."

He says, "I'm prepared to win." 

Mikage says, "Then you're only half-prepared."

He stares at you.  "Huh? 

Mikage says, "You'll understand what I mean, in time."

Mikage says, "I wish you luck, then, Prince Gil-Galad."

He stares at you, then nods.  "Thanks a lot, Uncle Mikage."  He stares 
out at the Pattern. 

Mikage says, "I'll see you on your return, then."

The door opens and an Elven woman walks in.  She has long pink hair 
and is quite lovely.  "There you are, Gil-Galad.  Come along, there's 
a lot you have to do today." She grabs his arm, then turns to you.  
"Oh, hello, Mikage-san." 

Mikage says, "Hello..."

Mikage studies her face.

It is Findulias, mother of Gil-Galad.  Looking into her features, you 
can recognize some of your own looking back at you. 

"Gil-Galad isn't causing you any trouble, is he?"  Gil-Galad frowns at 
that.  "Mom!" 

Mikage asks, "No, not at all, my lady." He smiles. "And you?"

She says, "I'm doing well, other than my son having decided to commit 
suicide out in shadow." 

"Mom, I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING!" 

Mikage chuckles. "Who knows? He may return a better man."

"Yeah, what he said!" Gil-Galad says.  "Everyone else gets to go out 
into Shadow and go on grand crusades!  Why can't I?" 

Mikage smiles. "Crusades are wars fought for something greater than 
yourself, Gil-Galad. Make sure your cause is worthy, and your 
conviction is steadfast."

Findulias says, "I don't want you to end up like Shinji or Van, Gil-
Galad.  You're my only son, and I don't know if I'll ever have 
another." 

Mikage nods at this.

Findulias says, "You're not ready, Gil-Galad." 

Gil-Galad says, "I'll never GET ready by sitting around the house, 
waiting for old age to set in!" 

Mikage says, "Perhaps you should prepare for this in less... 
contentious shadows."

Gil-Galad says, "I just...I suppose you're right, Uncle Mikage." 

He glances over at his mother who nods.  "Listen to your uncle, son. 
He doesn't want you to die." 

Mikage begins to hover, slightly. "The fact that there are things 
greater than mere Shadow does not make Shadow any less dangerous, 
especially one such as Morgoth."

Findulias nods.  "Your father couldn't even FIND Beleriand when I 
asked him to try.  Do you really think you're ready?" 

Mikage's left hand goes to his rapier sheath, and he unsheathes his 
sword with a flick of his thumb and catches it with his right hand. He 
then makes a thrust at Gil-Galad. "Do you think you're ready, boy?"

The boy draws his sword and parries the blow, then grins.  "Aunt Juri 
taught me pretty well." 

Mikage flies upward, far above Gil-Galad's head. "Then strike me down. 
Prove it to me."

Mikage says, "Just how ready are you, Gil-Galad?" The air begins to 
crackle.

He gulps nervously, then shouts a power word.  Unfortunately, it's not 
strong enough to do more than briefly flicker your power off. 

Mikage laughs. "Are you going to defeat Morgoth this way? I'm not even 
using one-tenth of my power on you. I'm not even attacking your mind. 
I'm not even dashing you onto the Pattern with the wind. Strike me 
down, Gil-Galad."

He says, "But...I haven't even walked the Pattern yet!  And you're not 
a shadow!" 

Mikage says, "But I'm not using the Pattern, Gil-Galad, and there are 
shadows stronger, faster, and psychically more powerful than even me. 
Are you prepared to lose, my boy?"

He pales.  "Well..."  He gulps.  "I just..."  He glances over 
desperately at his mother, who just shakes her head. 

Mikage looks into Gil-Galad's eyes and whispers, into his mind... "Are 
you prepared to lose?"

Gil-Galad runs out of the room screaming.  His mother sighs.  "Thank 
you, Mikage.  hopefully, you've scared some sense into him."  She 
shakes her head.  "I'd like him to go and deal with Morgoth one day, 
but...He's not ready."  She wrinkles her nose.  "Ever since Gendo 
couldn't find Beleriand...I've had a bad feeling about it." 

Mikage floats down, next to Findulias, and places a hand on her 
shoulder. "As do I. I wish it were different, that Gil-Galad were 
indeed ready, but..." He shakes his head.

She nods.  "Beleriand isn't going anywhere if it still exists. 
Sometimes... Sometimes I wonder if Gendo created us, in order to get 
guardians for Arden..." 

Mikage ponders this. "Beleriand could be well-hidden, like some 
shadows. It's hard to find some shadows, especially those which do not 
wish to be found. I... possess such a shadow, myself."

She nods.  "I hope that is the case.  That Gendo would not casually 
discard a no-longer needed shadow...but...Gendo can be very ruthless 
if he feels it will help Amber." 

Mikage nods. "He has changed much, since I first met him..." He 
touches her hair, much like his own... "Sometimes I wonder about my 
own creation, myself... I do not remember being born, having 
parents... I watch your concern over Gil-Galad and can help but feel 
envy, which is why his disregard for your attention strikes me as 
rather... childish."

She says, "He's a good boy, but it's not easy being the bastard son of 
the discarded lover of the King."  She sighs.  "He wants to prove 
himself equal of the other princes."  She sighs more.  "And I must 
envy you for having the love of the Lady Eowyn.  My love life has not 
been very kind to me, in the long run." 

Mikage nods... "Love... I find myself surprised over my own unexpected 
blessing. I'm... not accustomed to receiving love, you see. I don't 
know what to make of it, sometimes."

She smiles.  "It's wonderful.  Treasure it while you can.  The 
memories will sustain you, even if it fades." 

Mikage says, "What happens, then, when the memories fade? When you 
cannot trust your own recollection..." He looks at her, sadly. "Would 
that I met you, Findulias, when I was young..."

She says, "You could almost be Gil-Galad's brother," she says.  "You 
look a lot like my father, Feanor." 

"Though with my hair instead of Father's deep red." 

Mikage smiles. "Perhaps we are related, in some manner unknown to us."

She nods.  "You do have a bit of the Elven look about you.  Well, I'd 
best go chase down my son."  She curtseys.  "Good day to you, Sir 
Mikage." 

Mikage nods. "Please take care of him well..."

Mikage closes his eyes... "Time... where shall you take me now?"

Mikage smiles wistfully as he watches Findulias exit. "Farewell, 
grandmother. Farewell."

Your eyes open, and...you're still in the Pattern Chamber. 

There's footsteps in the hallway. 

And then you realize you feel another presence in the room, though you 
can't SEE anyone. 

Mikage asks, "Who... is here?"

Mikage reaches out with his mind to find the presence...

No one answers. The footsteps draw closer. 

You find the mind way some twenty feet across the room.   The psychic 
imprint isn't too familiar to you. 

Mikage awaits the entry of the newcomer.

The door opens, and a very beautiful long-haired blonde enters, 
carrying a baby in a basket. 

Although most people don't put butcher knives in the baby basket. 

Mikage draws in a sharp breath.

Then she notices you and her eyes widen.  She has the look of someone 
looking desperately for an excuse and not finding one. 

Mikage asks, "What are you doing here... your Majesty?"

Mikage asks, "What do you intend to do with young Nanami?"

"I...well...Well, damnation."  She points at you and a ring on her 
finger glows.  "DIE!" she shouts, and you can feel building spell 
energies about to surge at you. 

Mikage dashes up and to the side to avoid the blow.

The spell tries to stop your heart.  Fortunately, your will is 
stronger than hers. 

Mikage says, "How dare you."

Mikage asks, "Do you have any idea who you are dealing with?"

Mikage draws his sword and walks toward her.

She grins ferally.  "I have dared more than you can possibly imagine.  
I have stared into the Abyss and climbed the steps of Tir'na'nog. I 
have watched Amber burn a hundred times.  All preparing for this 
moment.  You are nothing but a pathetic obstacle." 

She shouts more words of power, and flames rise up around her in a 
spiral. 

Mikage says, "I am Mikage. I am Nemuro. I am murderer. I am savior. I 
am subjugator, and I am Freedom. And I am the last person you will 
ever dare to cross again."

"How pretentious.  Then you may call me the Wrath of Woman Scorned."  
And then the flames erupt at you.  Baby Nanami sits on the ground near 
her feet.  She's trying to grab the butcher knife, but isn't 
coordinated enough to succeed. 

Nanami is still in the little baby crib. 

Mikage opens the Bag in order to keep the flames at bay.

Mikage grins ferally. "Will that be all, your Majesty?" He points and 
directs the lightning toward her chest.

Wind parts the flames.  She shouts more words of power, which dispell 
your lightning. 

Mikage walks closer and closer to Charlotte.

Mikage says, "I never thought I could weather the Wrath of Woman 
Scorned. Thank you for proving otherwise."

She grabs the baby and backs towards the Pattern, holding Nanami and 
the Knife.  "You'd best stop, or I'll use her to break the Pattern!" 

Somewhere across the room, you hear the faintest of mechanical 
squeaks, like a trigger being cocked. 

Mikage says, "And just how do you intend to do that, your Majesty?" 
saying the last two words with unnatural emphasis.

Mikage keeps talking. "Should I bow now? Should I surrender to your 
superior wisdom?" all the while searching for the source of the noise.

She grimaces.  And then there's a crossbow twang, and a bolt sprouts 
from her chest.  She's been shot in the back.  She topples forward.  
Baby Nanami is flung into the air and begins to howl. 

Mikage rushes to catch the basket.

You catch it.  Charlotte falls to her knees, and then her body ripples 
like water.  You can see the whole crossbow bolt is made of Silver.  
She becomes Sakura, coughing up blood. 

Mikage says, "It's about time," to the unknown assailant.

And Touga strides out of the darkness.  "I can't let you destroy the 
Pattern, mother." 

There is the sound of running feet in the hallway. 

Mikage says, "I was wondering how much more nonsense I would have to 
spout."

Mikage says, "Hush, Nanami, don't cry. Everything is going to be all 
right..."

Touga says, "I had to make sure I didn't miss." 

Mikage chuckles. "You didn't. That's all that matters, now."

Baby Nanami slowly begins to calm.  Sakura says, "Damn you, Touga.  
All my children betray me.  I curse you Touga.  As I have been 
betrayed, so shall you be.  And your damnable murdering Father as 
well."  And then she begins to glow. 

The door opens and Gendo runs in.  "What is going on...Sakura?" His 
face drains of color.  "What's going on?  Where is Charlotte?"  He 
sees the crossbow.  "Touga...what have you done?" 

Mikage says, "He saved the pattern, your Majesty."

Gendo takes everything in, then says sadly, "Sakura, you know I never 
wanted to hurt you." 

"Tell that to the Furies," she spits.  "You should have thought about 
that before you murdered my BROTHER and destroyed my homeland just to 
spare your precious AMBER.  Well, I'll take it all from you!  It'll 
all fall down around your ears!  The Walking Man is coming, and you 
can't STOP HIM!"  And then she bursts into flames and burns away to 
ash. 

Mikage says, "Apparently, she didn't, Gendo."

Mikage regards Gendo. "Are you all right, my friend?"

For a moment, Gendo just stares sadly at the ashes, and then he turns 
to Mikage.  "It has been a long time since I have been alright.  I 
have been a fool.  Thank you for saving my daughter." He turns to 
Touga.  "She was right.  The Furies will come for you.  And even the 
Pattern cannot save you." 

Touga says, "If I had not, there might have been nothing for them to 
come for.  Father, I..." 

Mikage says, "He's right, my friend."

Gendo holds out his arms to you and takes the baby basket.  Baby 
Nanami begins to coo at her father.  He makes cooing noises back for a 
few seconds, then says to Touga, "My son, there is nothing I can do to 
stop the Furies, but I owe you more than I can ever repay." 

Touga stares down at the ash, then says quietly, "If they came for me 
now, I would welcome it." 

Gendo says, "Let us go, everyone.  I'm going to put Nanami to bed, and 
then I'm going to have to figure out what to tell everyone."  He 
stares at his daughter.  "You'll be as beautiful as your mother some 
day."  He shakes his head.  "Let us go, old friend and second son.  
Let us go." 

Touga says, "Tylor should have been here." 


Mikage nods. "Lead the way, old friend."

Gendo says softly, "Tylor would have thrown himself on the boat to 
save her and tried to use as leverage to convince her to repent." 

Touga says, "Perhaps it would have worked."  And then you all step 
through the door, and the world flashes again. 

You find yourself in the conservatory, playing the Flute.

There are running feet in the hallway, and then two little blue haired 
children, maybe four years old run in.  They seem to be playing tag.  
The boy runs and hides behind your legs, then sticks his head out and 
says, "Nyaah!  Home base!" 

"Cheater!" the girl replies. 

Mikage smiles and pats the boy on the head. "How are you two today?"

"I'm fine!  Kozue won't accept I won, though!"  Kozue jumps up and 
down irritated.  "You cheated!" 

"Play us a song, Uncle Mikage!" 

Mikage asks, "A song? What sort of song would you like?"

"Something funny!" he says.  "I want a battle song!" Kozue says. 

Mikage says, smiling, "A battle song and something funny... hmmm..."

Mikage plays a quick ditty called 'Palom and Porom'.

Mikage stamps his feet in time to the song.

They both sing along, making up random words, but singing remarkably 
well for four year olds. 

And they both try to dance. It's like mini-earthquakes, really. 

Mikage smiles as he continues playing to the end of the song.

As the music plays through to its end, you notice a silent witness. 
Queen Rei stands at the door, watching silently, her face so blank, 
it's hard to believe she's alive. 

Unlike her pale flesh, her clothing is a riot of color, with nearly 
the whole spectrum in her elaborate dress. 

Mikage finishes the song and begins clapping. "Very good, both of you! 
Do you know what that song was about?"

Miki says, "Fish!"  Kozue says, "Knights in armor!" 

Mikage says, "Nope! It's about two twins, a boy and a girl, who 
quarrel a lot, but care about each other." He chuckles, then turns to 
the queen and gives a bow. "Your Majesty."

They both smile and Kozue glomps onto Miki.  "I love my brother very 
much!"  He blushes a bit. 

The queen comes a little closer.  "Good day, Sir Mikage." 

The children run over to their mother.  'Hi, mommy!  Come on and dance 
with us!" Kozue says. 

Mikage smiles at the children, then turns to the queen. "What brings 
you to the conservatory, your Majesty?"

She says, "I heard music."  She reaches down and takes the hand of one 
of each of her children, then falls silent, as if that explained 
everything.  "Can you play for us?" 

Mikage nods. "What sort of music would your Majesty wish?"

She looks thoughtful.  "Like the sea." 

Mikage says, "The sea... I have just the song."

Mikage closes his eyes and plays 'Time's Scar'.

She listens, and as she listens, she begins to cry. 

Confused, her children cling to her legs. 

Mikage invokes the power of the Bag and fills the Conservatory with 
echoes of the song...

Tears stream down her face as she listens and clings to her children 
desperately. 

Mikage's playing builds to a crescendo, and then lulls into a calm 
interlude...

...and suddenly the tempo changes once more, like a storm at sea, and 
then the song ends at the height of the crescendo.

Mikage pauses for a moment before taking the flute away from his 
mouth.

And then, as you finish, another woman appears at the door.  She is 
tall with dark hair tied back in a long pony-tail.  She wears a rather 
low-cut alluring dress, and her whole manner of carrying herself 
screams 'Sexpot'. 

Rei doesn't notice her, and keeps crying.  Her children try 
desperately to soothe her.  The woman watches, looking amused. 

Mikage says, "My apologies, you Majesty. I should have chosen 
something more... joyful."

Rei shakes her head.  "It was beautiful.  Thank you." 

She picks up her children and hugs them tightly. 

Mikage says, "Your Majesty is most welcome."

The woman at the door says, "Rei, Gendo wants to see you." 

Mikage looks at the woman and shakes his head sadly... "Gendo... what 
are you doing, my old friend..." he whispers to himself.

Rei stiffens, but says nothing, her face again becoming a mask.  Her 
grip tightens on her children, who squirm uncomfortably. 

The woman says, "Rei, you know he doesn't like being kept waiting.  
Even I don't have that right." 

Mikage chuckles. "You wouldn't..." he says softly, leafing through his 
sheet music.

Kozue shouts, "Go away, Evil Bad Lady!  You're making Mommy unhappy!  
I'll be Queen one day, and then I'll chop off your head with my big 
axe!" 

Rei just stands stiffly, then says, "Can you play me another tune, Sir 
Mikage?" 

Mikage asks, "What does your Majesty wish?"

The woman laughs.  "Oooh, I'm so scared, Kozue." 

Rei looks thoughtful.  "How about the Traitor's March?" 
Played at the execution of Traitors... 

Mikage smiles. "Very well." He beings to play.

The woman pales for just a moment, then says, "Fine.  But you know 
he'll be angry."  She struts off to the tune of the Traitor's March. 

Miki says thoughtfully, "She's not very nice." 

Kozue says, "She's the Evil Bad Lady."  It seems that sums it all up 
to her. 

Pale-faced, Rei listens with a stony face as you play, but her body 
slowly relaxes. 

Mikage finishes the end of the tune with a flourish.

She nods.  "Thank you, Sir Mikage." 

Kozue says, "Mommy, why don't you kill the Evil Bad Lady?" 

Miki says, "Killing is bad." 

Rei says, "Your brother is too little."  She curtseys to Mikage, then 
picks up her kids.  "Narwhale's Blessing," she says to you. 

Mikage bows. "I am your humble servant, your Majesty."

"Mommy, you made it too little again," Miki says. 

She kisses his cheek.  "The Narwhale's Blessing upon you, may he guide 
your ships to shore," she says to you, her voice sounding strained.  
"Good day."  And then she sweeps out with her children. 

Mikage whispers after Rei leaves, "And yours, your Majesty."

And then the bench becomes a boat, and you're out on a lake in a 
steady wind.  A wind you're making. It's a huge lake; you can only see 
the shore in one direction.  The small yacht has three other 
passengers. One is Eowyn, clad in sailor's garb, in the full beauty of 
maturity.   The second is a tall woman with long green hair and a 
slender figure, clad in an expensive, modest dress.  The third is a 
young girl with her mother's features, but dark black hair and her 
father's eyes.  You recognize them from portraits as Queen Lorelei, 
sister of the King of Therin, fifth wife to Gendo and Princess Mara. 

Mikage says, "...no..."

Mikage shakes his head. "This is a dream. Make the most of it."

Mikage walks toward Eowyn. "Hello there."

She laughs.  "What, just noticed me?  We've been out here an hour."  
She kisses you on the cheek.  Princess Mara giggles, and the Queen 
just smiles. 

Mikage smiles. "I was afraid you might have forgotten about me."

She shakes her head.  "We'd still be becalmed without you, dearest." 

Princess Mara asks, "This lake is so big!  I've never seen so much 
water." 

Her mother laughs.  "Besides the ocean." 

"This looks bigger!" 

Mikage smiles. "Well, we've caught the wind again, so we should be 
fine for now."

Eowyn says, "I haven't been this far out on the lake since I fought a 
battle on it in the ice and snow..." 

She shakes her head.  "It looks quite different in summer." 

Mikage nods, smiling knowingly. "I remember."

Mara dashes about, from side to side, while her mother sits quietly on 
a bench by one side, gazing out across the water.  "Is this as big as 
Lake Champlaign?" 

Eowyn says, "Twice as large."  She smiles.  "The largest lake that 
isn't salty we know of." 

Far across the water, you hear a boom of thunder.  There's clouds on 
the horizon. 

Mikage says, "Hmmm. Odd. No sign of this storm earlier."

The queen sighs.  "I suppose we shall have to cut our trip short." 

Eowyn looks at you meaningfully. 

Mikage nods. "Let's head back, then." He smiles at Eowyn and says, 
"Unless you want to stay out here and.. get cold and wet again." He 
raises an eyebrow in mock-questioning.

She says, "Can't you just get rid of it?" 

She grins.  "Although storms always have been exciting to me." 

Mikage smiles. "Well, then. Since you asked me so nicely."

Mara claps her hands.  "Magic!  Magic!" 

Mikage reaches out to the storm and tries to dissipate it.

It struggles a bit, then breaks up, shattering into clouds which 
scatter.  You sense for a moment, a knot of female frustration in the 
storm, but then it breaks and is gone. 

Mikage gives a deep bow.

Eowyn's arms wrap around you and she smiles.  "You're a miracle as 
always, my husband." 

Mikage smiles as well. "I aim to please, as you know."

Mikage embraces Eowyn and kisses her, deeply.

There is a kiss, and a wind, and the splash of water, and the world 
whirls again, and you find yourself in a meeting room.  Gendo is here, 
and a much older Mara, now an adult.  Lorelei, looking to have aged 
much more than Gendo, but her hair still a vibrant green, sits on the 
other side of him.  You sit off to Lorelei's side, and on Mara's left 
is a cocky looking Drake.  Two nervous looking men in expensive 
clothing sit across the table from the five of you.  

Gendo looks amused.  "So why should Amber take sides in your moronic 
quarrel about Eregnor?" 

The first man says, "Our treaty of Alliance!  You're sworn to protect 
us from assault!" 

The second says, "We are only retaking what is OURS by right!" 

Mikage says, "Hmph."

Lorelei sighs.  "I spent a year arbitrating your last quarrel, but now 
your nations are at again.  Am I going to have to do this every twenty 
years?" 

"Only if the Begmans persist in stealing OUR LAND!" 

Mikage whispers, "I've half a mind to take both their minds and twist 
them into lusting after each other."

Gendo sighs.  "The last treaty explicitly released Amber from having 
to send forces to help either of you fight over Eregnor." 

Lorelei laughs loudly. 

Mikage chuckles softly.

Drake sneers at them.  "Your pathetic armies aren't fit to wipe our 
bottoms.  What we ought to do is annex Eregnor to Harad.  That way 
neither of you would have it, and there would be a buffer zone.  
Either that, or a good spanking." 

The two ambassadors splutter frenetically. 

Gendo says, "I still say splitting it in half would be fairest." 

"It is the home of our ancestors!"  "It is the birthright of our 
kings!"  Glare at each other. 

Gendo looks over at Mara.  "And what do you think, Daughter?  How 
would you resolve this." 

Mara . o O (I think Sir Mikage's solution is best, but...) 

Mikage whispers, "Well. The birthright of our kings is to rule over 
the lot of you. You don't see us whining about it..."

Mara says, "I'd settle it as a land dispute in our law courts.  They 
can bring their arguments and argue their case.  And while it's being 
disputed, we could get the...umm...hrm....the Talmans to send a 
neutral force to occupy it and keep both sides out.  Whoever wins the 
case gets our help in holding it." 

Mikage smiles and nods.

One of the Ambassadors says, "But...that could take fifty years!" 

Drake says, "Oh, most land cases only drag on for about forty." 

He says, "You have to know these things when you're Lord High 
Chamberlain."  He spins a coin on one finger.  "I'd even promise you 
one of the honest judges." 

Mikage says, "Unless the parties quibble about minutia, which could 
add another decade or two."

Mara looks over at her father for approval, and he nods.  "It sounds 
reasonable to me." 

The Queen nods. 

The two ambassadors both slump.  "I will report to the King."  "I will 
tell the Prime Minister."  They get up and leave together. 

Mikage says, "Well done, Mara."

She smiles.  "You make it all look so easy, Father." 

Drake snorts.  "You should have seen him up on the castle walls 
ranting and throwing rocks at the ocean last night." 

Gendo looks slightly embarrassed.  "Well...everyone needs a way to 
deal with idiots.  Without killing." 

Mikage says, chuckling, "What does the poor ocean have to do with any 
of this?"

"It can't fight back," Drake says.  He looks over at Mara.  "You know 
they may end up teaming up to drive the Talmans out of Eregnor.  Not 
everything can be settled peacefully." 

She says, "At least it means they'd be working together for once.  
They've all been at each other's throats forever, though I can't 
understand why." 

Mikage says, "Because they're too short-sighted to see the 
ridiculousness of it all."

Drake says, "Because long ago, Father had Uncle Ura assassinated, and 
his heirs fell to fighting and never stopped, even when barbarians 
conquered them...the barbarians got dragged in."  Gendo sweatdrops at 
Drake's bluntness.  "Being the Queen won't always be dances in maytime 
and sending nations to court, you know.  Sometimes, it can be very, 
very ugly." 

Lorelei says, "That's enough, Drake." 

Mikage asks, "Well, well, Gendo. Never thought this would be the 
consequences of it all, did you?"

Gendo says, "No, Drake is right.  In some ways, this all flows out of 
a choice I made long ago.  And I'll wonder for the rest of my life if 
I could have protected Amber in some other way.  And I'll keep paying 
the price as long as I live.  But I try to learn from my mistakes, 
with people like Drake and Sir Mikage to keep me honest." 

He says, "I wish I could lay this burden down, but duty is heavier 
than a mountain.  One day, this mountain will be yours, and you will 
feel the weight.  But I want to make you ready to carry it.  You will 
have to be very strong.  Do you understand, Mara?" 

She nods.  "Yes, I understand." 

He looks over at you.  "What do you think, Sir Mikage?" 

Mikage says, "I think she'll carry it well, if today is any 
indication. I'll still be around by then, since I plan on outliving 
you." He chuckles.

Gendo smiles.  "Perhaps you shall.  Perhaps you shall." 

Gendo says, "But until the day comes when I hand over my mountain...so 
who is next, Drake?" 

Mikage smiles. "Maybe we need another ride into the Forest of Despair. 
Just to cheer us up."

Drake checks a sheet of paper.  "I believe the Uilan Ambassador is 
planning to pointlessly demand we hand over Singh to them.  I suggest 
we just defenestrate him and get it over with." 

Gendo laughs.  "Perhaps one day we'll have enough grand heroic quest 
like in our youth, my old friend.  I wonder if the Forest of Despair 
is still out there..." 

Mikage says, "I'm sure it is, Gendo, waiting for us to stride in 
courageously in our pajamas again."

And then there is a whirl, and you find yourself on horseback again, 
riding a black horse.  Eowyn rides alongside you on a grey horse, and 
Gendo, clad in a long black coat and trousers, rides a white horse. 
You all carry rifles.  Oddly, you're in your pajamas again.  You're 
atop a dusty ridge in a desert.  A train is roaring along at the base, 
and across the vale, you can see a horde of banditos riding down 
towards the train.  Gendo turns to the two of you.  "Well, here's 
where we seperate the men from the boys, eh, Mikage?" 

The guns look familiar...the ones you dug up in the garden so long 
ago. 

Mikage snorts, smirking. "See you at the bottom, boy."

And then, down the ridge you ride, your wife laughing wildly and 
firing her rifle in the air, your horses kicking up dust.  And the 
world whirls again... 

You sit alone on a HUGE tree branch.  The tree stretches downward for 
miles, finally spreading out into a great network of roots, constantly 
shifting and moving.  Above you, branches stretch skyward, each tipped 
with a Pattern.  And on the branch you sit on, a great rope holds a 
man hundreds of feet tall, who hangs in writhing agony below the 
branch, high above the ground.  He babbles derangedly in pain. 

Mikage asks, "Good man! What is this place?"

YIG...THE WORLD TREE...THE NAVEL OF THE WORLD...THE NAVEL OF ALL 
WORLDS...AS BELOW, SO ABOVE...AS ABOVE, SO BELOW...THE PAIN...THE 
PAIN... 

Mikage asks, "This is the sephiroth?"

FINALLY, ONE UNDERSTANDS...THE PAIN...THE PAIN...ALL WISDOM COMES OF 
PAIN...MY SIDE...IT HURTS...DO YOU UNDERSTAND? 

Mikage asks, "Are you... is the point I am standing on the Fixed Pin? 
Axis Mundi?"

WHERE ORDER EMBRACES CHAOS, THE WORLD TURNS...THE PAIN...TAKE THIS 
CUP...I SEE...I SEE...ALL THE WORLDS...BEWARE THE TERMITES... 

Mikage asks, "How deep into the Tree have the termites eaten?"

THEY BORE, UNSEEN...WHERE MAN RULED, THEY SEEK RULE AGAIN...THE PRINCE 
OF FREEDOM IS ETERNAL VIGILANCE...THE PAIN...NEVER CEASES...BUT TO 
ESCAPE PAIN...IS TO ESCAPE...JOY...BUT IT HURTS, YES MY PRECIOUS, IT 
HURTS...IT IS THEIR NATURE...THEY CANNOT HELP IT...BUT THAT IS NO 
EXCUSE... 
EVEN WITHIN OUR MINDS...THEY BORE...CHILDREN OF THE BLIND APE OF 
TRUTH...WHO CANNOT SEE...THE TRUTHS WITHIN...THE PAIN...MY PRICE...THE 
PRICE... 

Mikage asks, "Who are you?"

MIDDLE BROTHER AM I...THREE OF ONE WOMB...ONE TO CREATE...ONE TO 
DESTROY...AND I TO KEEP THE PEACE BETWEEN...TOGETHER...WE DEFIED THE 
GODS.  I PAY THE PRICE...SWEET ECSTASY OF PAIN...THE BALANCE...THE 
PAIN...THE PLEASURE...MY GIFT TO YOU...KEEPER OF RAVENS...CHILD OF THE 
WIND...YOU MUST UNDERSTAND... 

Mikage asks, "But the gods have arrived to end the space between 
creation and destruction. What must I do? What is the Gift you speak 
of?"

THE WIND...THE DREAMS...FREEDOM...THE OUTSIDERS...DO NOT 
UNDERSTAND...THEY CANNOT HOPE TO TOUCH...THE PAIN...THE PAIN...THE 
ROOT OF YOUR POWER...FOR THEY DO NOT...AGONY...WHY...WHY HAVE 
YOU...NO...THEY CANNOT HOPE...REMEMBER HOPE...REMEMBER THE 
DREAM...DUTY IS A MOUNTAIN...BUT DREAMS...ARE WINGS...TO SHOW WHAT 
COULD HAVE BEEN...AND YET MAY BE...DO NOT SURRENDER...TO WHAT IS... 

Mikage says solemnly, "I never will. I swear. I will never surrender 
that which is not, and what could have been. I promise you."

I HOPE...YOU ENJOYED IT...THE PAIN...I WORKED VERY HARD...TELL MY 
BROTHERS...I WILL NOT RUN AWAY...UP...LOOK UP... 

Mikage looks up... 

Looking up, you can see Eowyn on another branch high above you.  She 
blows you a kiss. 

Mikage says, "Farewell, my beloved... I will never give up."

EVERY BRANCH IS REAL...FOR THEY DREAM OF US...AND WE OF 
THEM...BELIEVE... 

Mikage says, "...believe..."

And then your eyes open, and you find yourself lying in bed with a cat 
using your stomach as a trampoline. 

Mikage blinks. "What in the...?"

The cat bolts and leaps through the wall as if it wasn't there.  Your 
eyes open, and you're lying on your bed.  No cat this time. 

The moon shines down gibbously through the window, swelling towards 
the fullness of its glory, and the stars sparkle behind it, and high 
above, Tir'na'nog flickers in and out of existence. 

Mikage rubs his temples. "What a dream..."

And across the moon, the Alicorn flits by, soaring above even 
Tir'na'nog.  And the night lies peacefully upon the earth like a 
blanket. 

-End-