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Post by minihagrid on Mar 16, 2002 18:19:32 GMT -5
Chapter 12: Ancient Sayings
‘How much farther is it now? Aeon asked. His legs were tired, and it had been hours since he had eaten. Dawn was approaching, and the red light was gradually gliding over the treetops.
‘About one hour, it is not far.’ Conversation between the three had been limited since their encounter with the shadows. They were all tired, especially Snape. He looked like he hadn’t slept for days. Aeon reminded himself that he probably hadn’t.
There had been no sign of any danger for a while now. Aeon was constantly checking over his shoulder for the Death Eaters, and was beginning to wonder whether Snape had been right in believing they were here.
One hour had passed, and there was still no sign of danger or of the temple. The forest was so dense around them that the sky was barely visible, although Aeon could tell that it was day as rays of sunlight penetrated the canopy. The beams of light danced around their feet, illuminating their path ahead. Eventually, Aeon spotted a bright light at the far end of their trail.
‘Is that it?’ he asked wearily. He was relieved when she replied that it was. They stepped into the clearing, and stood before one of the most beautiful buildings Aeon had ever seen in his life. The path leading to the grand oak doors was lined with red, sparkling objects. Rubies. The doors themselves had a large golden lock, sealing them together, and ancient runes bordered them. The spire rising up above them seemed to be made of pure glass, and shined brilliantly in the scorching sunlight.
They cautiously approached the doors, weapons drawn. As they approached the lock, Aeon noticed that the hole in it looked familiar…
‘It’s the key! I mean, I need to use the key to open the door. It’s the same shape. Let me try it.’ He pulled it out of his robe pocket, and slotted it firmly into the hole. It did fit perfectly, but nothing happened. The doors did not stir. ‘I don’t understand. Why aren’t the doors opening? The key fits!’
‘Uh, Aeon, maybe you should slot the ruby side in? I mean there are rubies here. Its just logical.’ Shayak said.
Aeon felt sheepish. He could feel his cheeks going red. ‘Yeah, I know. Just testing.’ He jerked out the key again, rotated it so the ruby was lined up with the hole, and placed it back. As soon as he did, the egg glowed red, and a whirring sound signalled that the doors were opening. They swung back, revealing a pitch-black corridor ahead of them. Aeon could faintly see a flight of stairs at the end, ascending out of sight.
Snape was reading the Runes around the door. He squinted, so as to see better in the darkness. ‘What does it say?’ Shayak asked.
‘I do not know. Snape confessed. It is a very ancient language. I can make out only a few parts… ‘vriaem distrey a seule quelt indencse.’
‘And what does that mean?’ Aeon asked. He could see that Shayak was just as perplexed as him.
‘It means Only the brave shall prevail.’ I don’t know what the rest says. I have never seen this language used in real life. Only in historical books.
‘Only the brave shall prevail. Only the key shall help thee proceed. Only the brave will reach the unreachable.’ Shayak continued the translation.
‘How’d you know that?’ Aeon exclaimed.
‘It is an ancient saying of my people. My mother used to say it to me when I was young.’
‘I don’t suppose she told you what it meant?’
‘No. But it is an ancient saying. So, it must have something to do with this place.’
‘Well that’s just typical. What is up with the ancient people of the world? Did they wake up one morning and think to themselves ‘Hey, lets leave around a lot of ancient sayings, just to confuse the hell out of people! There’s nothing better to do!’ God, why couldn’t they just tell us the answer instead of the riddle?’ Shayak looked offended by this outburst.
‘There is no point in getting worked up over nothing Aeon!’ Snape told him. ‘That wont help us either. I know you’re tired, we all are. So lets finish this task and get home.’
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Post by minihagrid on Mar 16, 2002 18:20:35 GMT -5
‘Ok. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you Shayak.’ She didn’t say anything, but the look that she gave him told him that he was forgiven. ‘Right then, let’s go.’ He took a few steps inside the dark temple. He turned back to them, as they were both just standing there, staring at him. ‘Well, come on then. No time to lose.’
‘Maybe you should be careful Aeon. A power like this is unlikely to be unguarded.’ Snape warned.
‘Yeah, whatever.’ He kept on walking down the corridor, whether they followed or not. But barely ten steps later, his foot plunged through the floor, and he felt himself falling. He quickly stretched out his arm, and grabbed hold of the smooth stone floor behind him. He couldn’t see the ground below him. For a few seconds, he just hung there, before slowly turning himself round and pulling himself up. He just sat on the floor on the edge of the hole.
‘Aeon? You ok?’ Shayak called. They were still at the entrance to the temple.
‘Yeah, I’m fine. Just fell down this great big hole in the middle of the floor. Stupid place to leave a hole really.’ Shayak and Snape slowly walked down the corridor towards him, and stopped.
‘I think we need some light…’ Shayak started, but before she had finished Aeon had pulled out his wand and started waving it.
‘No Aeon, we cannot risk creating more Darkness.’ Snape grabbed his arm to stop him.
‘Then how are we supposed to see where we are going? I don’t see any torches nearby…’ He cut off as Snape rummaged in his pockets and gasped when he withdrew a battery powered, industrial sized torch.
Noticing Aeon’s shock, Snape said ‘Well, just because I’m a wizard doesn’t mean I don’t know how to use muggle objects. They come in handy sometimes.’ Aeon was reduced to tears with laughter as he watched Snape struggling to make the torch work. He didn’t seem to notice that there was a switch, and Aeon only stepped in when he withdrew a pack of matches and tried to poke a lit one through the glass and into the bulb.
Drying the tears from the corner of his eyes, Aeon stood up and took the torch from Snape before he broke it. Even Shayak had started giggling now. He casually flicked it on, and shone it down the corridor, illuminating everything.
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Nimuee Macor
Slytherin Alumni
Ah....it's nice to see you in your physical form..
Posts: 621
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Post by Nimuee Macor on Mar 17, 2002 9:56:22 GMT -5
Silly Snape! *giggles* ;D
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Post by minihagrid on Mar 17, 2002 10:14:04 GMT -5
Don't worry. He wont be around for long... *evil cackle* ;D
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Nimuee Macor
Slytherin Alumni
Ah....it's nice to see you in your physical form..
Posts: 621
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Post by Nimuee Macor on Mar 17, 2002 10:40:53 GMT -5
What! You're not going to kill Snape are you?!?!? No, no, noooooooooooooooo!
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Post by Marcus_Flint on Mar 17, 2002 10:42:22 GMT -5
lol, that would be pretty funny.
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Post by minihagrid on Mar 17, 2002 10:50:36 GMT -5
Chapter 13: Leap of Faith
The light showed what Aeon had least expected to see. It was a normal corridor. No holes, no swinging axes, no giant monsters. He shone the torch at the hole he had just fallen through. It looked solid. Just as solid as the floor he was standing on now. He crouched down on his knees, and reached out to touch the ‘hole’. His hand passed straight through the stone.
‘It’s a trick floor. There’s nothing there.’ Snape explained
‘So how do we get across?’ Shayak asked.
‘I have no idea…’ replied Snape. Just then, a bird flew through the open temple doors behind them, and released a terrible screeching noise. They all ducked as it whistled overhead. Aeon swung the torch up and the light revealed that the bird was a large, scarlet and gold creature, which glided across the air as easy as a knife through butter.
‘A phoenix!’ Aeon exclaimed. He had heard of them in tales told by his father. As he gasped in awe at the bird, it flew over the floor before them. Several red feathers scattered from its wings, before it flew up the stairs and out of sight. ‘What’s a phoenix doing here?’ he asked Snape.
‘Look!’ Shayak yelled. ‘Some of the feathers have stayed on the path, whilst the rest sunk right through!’ Aeon shone the torch on the feathers one by one.
‘She’s right,’ Snape said. There must be solid floor beneath those feathers. That’s the path we need to take.’ Before Aeon could question him, Snape leapt towards the area of floor where the closest feather lied. He landed smoothly, and beckoned for Aeon to light his path with the torch. Eventually, Snape had traversed the chasm, and stood at the bottom of the staircase. Shayak prepared to follow him. She did so, leaping through the air with minimal effort, and reached the other side with minimal effort.
Now it was Aeon’s turn. He was still carrying the torch, which made jumping difficult, aswel as keeping his balance on landing. He had now crossed half the gap, but carrying the heavy torch was making his arm ache, so each jump got harder and harder.
Finally, he reached the last platform. ‘Shayak, catch’ he said. He threw the torch, but as he released it, the whole room shook violently. Shayak fell forwards, and just managed to grab hold of the floor. The torch landed hard on the floor, and the bulb shattered. The only light was coming from the top of the staircase.
‘Aeon, Help!’ She pleaded. Aeon could just make out her fingers slipping, her grasp loosening. Another shake caused her to let go completely. She started to fall, and without thinking, Aeon dived after her. ‘Aeon NO!’ yelled Snape. He grabbed her hand, but it was too late. They were both free falling, with no signs of the ground below them. Aeon put out his hands to break his fall…
Then the falling stopped. Aeon opened one eye, and was shocked to find himself lying flat on the stone floor. Shayak was sprawled next to him, and out of the corner of his eye, he could see Snapes feet pacing towards him.
‘You okay Shayak?’ Aeon asked.
‘I’m fine. You?’ she replied.
‘I’m good too. What just happened?’ But she didn’t have time to answer. A whispering voice echoed through the corridor. ‘Only the brave shall prevail’ it said. Shayak looked just as puzzled as Aeon.
‘I think you just proved yourself worthy Aeon.’ Snape explained. ‘Now, let us continue. Tempus fugit.’ He turned sharply, and swiftly climbed the steps, heading towards the light.
There were a lot of steps. After three flights, they emerged into a well-lit room with nothing in it, except even more staircases winding above them. They were inside the glass spire now. They could see the forest path that they had taken.
‘If we get higher, then we might be able to see the village!’ Shayak said excitedly. She hurried to the bottom of the staircase, and stopped. ‘Well, come on then!’ she said. She scuttled up them, and Aeon and Snape followed, although more cautiously.
The staircases above them went on forever. With each set they climbed, a new one appeared high up above them. Their view was getting forever greater, but there was still no sign of the village in the distance.
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Post by minihagrid on Mar 17, 2002 10:51:21 GMT -5
‘So, Snape…’ Aeon began. ‘Who exactly is Lord Vanadium? I mean, he must have been someone before he took over, became evil. He can’t have been born like that.’
‘To tell you the truth, I have no idea. No one does. He just appeared one day. There is no evidence linking him to any wizard on this planet.’
‘So, how can we possibly defeat someone we don’t know?’
‘That is why we’re searching for this power. There’ll be no need for exploiting his weaknesses if we can simply eradicate him.’
‘But what if the power fails? Or falls into Vanadium’s hands?’
‘Then we have failed, and managed to create a truly indestructible foe.’
‘Oh, okay.’ Aeon said. He stopped the conversation, until Snape pointed out an end to the mass of steps above them. They eventually reached the pointed glass roof of the structure, and emerged into a room similar to the one far, far below them. Except this one wasn’t empty. In the centre stood a large gold-framed mirror. Nothing else. Shayak had got here before them, and was leaning against a window, covering her eyes with her right arm.
‘What’s wrong?’ Aeon asked, although he knew the answer. In the distance, the village was clearly visible. Even at this long range, Aeon could tell that the houses and other buildings there were alight. Vanadium’s Death Eaters had arrived there.
‘I am sorry Shayak.’ Snape said. ‘But we have no time to spare. The Death Eaters will be here at any moment. Let’s not let your peoples sacrifice go in vain.’ With that, he went over to the mirror and began examining it. ‘There are no inscriptions. There are no writings anywhere in the room.’ He walked around it, and then stooped behind it, examining it closely.
Aeon absentmindedly walked in front of it, and saw his reflection. ‘I look so tired’ he thought. He was about to see how Shayak was doing when something in the mirror caught his eye. He turned to double check.
‘I’m gonna smash the mirror.’ Snape said. ‘Stand well back.’
‘NO!’ Aeon yelled. ‘There’s something odd in the reflection here. It shows me, but the glass wall behind me isn’t there. Have a look.’
Snape and Shayak both stood before it, and strained their eyes to try and see what Aeon was talking about. ‘I see you, me and Shayak, and the glass wall behind you. Nothing odd there.’
‘What? You mean you can’t see there’s no glass? Hold on a minute, something else has appeared now. There’s a silvery…ball hovering outside, about three metres from the edge of the floor. Can you see that?’
‘Uh, no Aeon.’ Shayak said uncertainly. ‘Just us three, and the glass wall. Maybe you need some rest. You do look very tired.’
Then Aeon heard the whisper again. ‘Only the brave shall reach the unreachable’ it said. And then it clicked. He turned, and faced the wall behind him.
‘Aeon, what are you doing now?’ Snape asked.
‘Only the brave…’ was all Aeon said, before he ran straight towards the wall. Before he reached it, he leapt forwards, spreading his arms out in front of him.
‘Aeon!’ Shayak screamed, expecting him to hit the glass. But he kept on going, and landed outside, in midair. As soon as he did, the glass wall before them dissolved, and a platform below Aeons feet revealed itself, aswel as a walkway connecting it to the main chamber. Hovering before him was a silver orb. He reached out, and grabbed hold of it.
When his fingers clasped round it, the three of them were amazed to find themselves back on the floor outside, a long way away from the room they were just in. Aeon still clutched the orb in his hand, when a voice rang out behind them.
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Nimuee Macor
Slytherin Alumni
Ah....it's nice to see you in your physical form..
Posts: 621
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Post by Nimuee Macor on Mar 17, 2002 10:59:14 GMT -5
Wow.....great! And Snapey's still alive......*sighs*
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Post by minihagrid on Mar 22, 2002 15:18:37 GMT -5
Next chapters coming up soon. And Im so sorry Nim!
The next chapter signals the end of the 2nd Volume. Next up is the quest for the Ravenclaw power.
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Nimuee Macor
Slytherin Alumni
Ah....it's nice to see you in your physical form..
Posts: 621
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Post by Nimuee Macor on Mar 23, 2002 5:02:11 GMT -5
Oh no....Minih....my poor Snape? Noooo....
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Post by minihagrid on Apr 4, 2002 17:19:53 GMT -5
Chapter 14: Sacrifice
‘Surrender the Orb now!’ cried out the voice. The three of them jumped, before slowly turning around and facing the crier. Their worst fears were confirmed, as stood before them were the six Death Eaters of Vanadium, towering taller then all of them. Their swords gleamed, and they flexed their muscles threateningly, before their leader spoke again.
‘If you give us the Orb, we will spare your life!’ He approached Aeon, and outstretched his hand towards him. They had clearly just arrived out of the long pathway from the village, as even these formidable creatures looked tired. Some of them even had wounds made by what Aeon guessed were spears.
‘Don’t listen to him Aeon. They’ll kill you the second you release that Orb.’
‘Then why haven’t they killed us already? They could have taken it from me by force now.’ He knew Snape was telling the truth, but was still unsure about why they were still alive. It wasn’t like Death Eaters to reason.
‘Maybe they need you alive Aeon,’ Shayak suggested. ‘They’re using you like a retriever. You fetch them the Orbs, they steal them from you.’
‘So…do I give it to them or what?’ Now he was even more puzzled. Why was he hunting for the Orbs if it was just going to help Vanadium?
‘No. Put it inside your robes and keep it there. Shayak, are you prepared to fight?’ She pulled out her sword and took up a defensive stance, nodding to reply. ‘They look tired and injured. We might stand a chance of escaping, possibly even taking one down. Aeon, be prepared to run.’ Snape secretly palmed the little silver box they had used earlier into Aeon’s hand, and he pocketed it.
‘Are you sure? There’s six of them, and only us three. With two swords between us.’ He couldn’t believe that Snape was risking their lives like this.
‘Just watch and learn.’ He quickly pulled out his wand, and pointed it at the pack. ‘EXPECTO PATRONUM!’ he screamed, and a bright flash burst from the end of his wand. A white shapeless mist rose above them and hung there, before forming a long, thin serpent shape, and darting at the lead Death Eater. It passed straight through him, and then flew to the other five, surrounding them completely with a white wall, which they seemed unable to penetrate.
‘Now!’ yelled Shayak, racing forward to meet the dazed leader with her sword. Her first blow struck him in the human chest, causing a large wound, which oozed blood. He recovered though to parry all her blows with his own swift swordplay, before Aeon joined in. Taking the initiative, he swung his own sword at the four legs of the wolf transport, slicing the front two clean in half. The beast reared up on it’s hind legs, before toppling to the floor, leaving the human passenger helpless, allowing Shayak to plant a well aimed blow on his neck, taking his head clean off.
‘Yes!’ yelled Aeon, but their joy was short lived. The spell on the other five Death Eaters seemed to be wearing off, and they were slowly forcing their way through the barrier.
‘Aeon, Shayak run, and when you get to safety, tap the portkey with your wand. It will take you back to the Order. I will hold them off a bit longer.’
‘Snape, no, you can’t. We need you for the rest of our trip! You can’t leave us now!’ Aeon looked at him in despair, but as soon as he had finished his words, the beasts broke free, and one of them leapt at Snape. With one last look at the two, he mouthed that they should leave, just as the creature seized his neck and flung him through the air. They saw him smash into the temple wall, before they turned and ran.
They heard the Death eaters crashing behind the trees behind them, pursuing them. Aeon fumbled about in his robes, pulling out both the portkey and his wand. ‘Put your finger on the box Shayak. Keep it there.’ He quickly tapped his wand on the top of it, and they were dragged round and round with the portkey. Aeon’s last glimpse of this place was the Darkness that they had just created pouncing in to fight the chasing Death Eaters. Then, there was black.
The two of them fell onto a very solid floor in a dark room. The wind was knocked out of Aeon. Almost instantly the lights flooded on, bathing them in a soft glow. They kept their heads low, but they could still hear the numerous voices communicating, as well as the steps growing rapidly closer. Within seconds they had both been hoisted up by several pairs of arms, and with words of support such as ‘Hang in there’ and ‘you’re safe now’ echoing in his ears, Aeon blacked out.
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Post by minihagrid on Apr 4, 2002 17:21:18 GMT -5
Okay, the end of volume two. Thats a shorter chapter, but I got lazy. And Im sorry Nimuee. Ah, who am i kidding...I wanted the slimy git to die! Right from the start I knew I wanted to kill the person who helped Aeon. It just happened to be Snape. Oh well..what a shame... ;D (evil grin)! Anyway, the next volume is about the Ravenclaw power. ill give a brief summary, although I havent actually written it yet (how the hell is it a summary then?) Aeon and Shayak travel to the wandering city of Premuroso to capture yet another Orb of Power before the dark forces of Vanadium get there first. (How do those guys know where to go?) Using the sword of Godric Gryffindor, Aeon must fight off Dragons, Vampires and strange little pink bunnies with a liking of flesh.. Ok ok, I lied about the bunny thing. But wouldn't that be cool? ;)I couldn't spoil all the suprises, although I just did. Bear in mind, i might totally change my ideas so...? Who knows what might happen? And unless I get more REVIEWING readers, I might just stop it. Ha, bet you feel guilty NOW dontcha?
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Nimuee Macor
Slytherin Alumni
Ah....it's nice to see you in your physical form..
Posts: 621
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Post by Nimuee Macor on Apr 7, 2002 12:28:17 GMT -5
Oh, you did it....you really did it.......*Nimuee dries her tears after crying for three days* Oh well, life goes on. More story Minih, please!
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dianella
Slytherin House Member
My mother told me to mend my wicked ways. But I never could sew...
Posts: 1,811
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Post by dianella on Apr 12, 2002 20:37:16 GMT -5
You know, Minih, you are a terrific writer. Absolutely terrific.
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