Nightshade: Chapter X
Share
X–The Mural and The Mountain Gate
Noë heard spirits calling in the night.
She lifted her head and searched the quiet abandoned storeroom they all rested in. The sleeping fire low and orange in the makeshift wooden pit warming the cold mountain walls around them.
She sat up on the bed roll Orion lended her and looked to him sleeping with his back against the wall, facing the entrance with his bow beside him.
He wouldn’t mind a minute of solo adventuring, would he?
She stepped carefully past him to allow him to continue to sleep.
Orion observed as she left the room of sleeping elves, lanterns flickering as she passed by into the darkness.
Compelled to ask her where she was going, the fates whispered to him to allow her to venture.
“Ten minutes. Then I’ll go after her.” He whispered, promising himself as she rounded the corner.
He closed his eyes once more.
In the dark hallway, she could hear clanging of metal and feel the heat of a forge. She followed to the right, seeking the residual energy that was calling to her.
As Millir appeared before her beckoning her to follow the path she instinctively wrapped her head in her blue shawl, covering her nose and lips.
Drawn past a large iron forge, quiet and still, Noë could still feel the embers in the cauldron. “This is where you worked?” She whispered to Millir as he examined the ceiling high machine, three large slats for ventilation in the door covering the inner core.
He motioned to the decayed wood in the basin mixed with still rancid oil. Noë turned her nose up in disgust as the smell of rotten coal overwhelmed her. “I really don’t want to light it. Are you sure?”
As Millir shook his head aggressively, holding his breath in frustration, Noë laughed. “Hold your breath all you want, you’re already dead.” Still she motioned a hand over the oil vat focusing on the cold heat. “Alight.”
Pleased as she saw sparks catch on the oil and slowly spread to the thin layer on top of the vat she gave him a grin. “I’m getting better at that, you know.”
Millir gave her a silent round of applause.
Noë watched as the roared to life, lighting several other connected cauldrons revealing a long hallway going upwards towards the mountain peak, few holes showing the moon high in the night sky with pipes running the length of the stone floor.
“I can’t believe you carved your home into the mountains. It must have taken a long time.” She eyed the carved stone murals in the walls as she followed the light hallway, gears and cranks going from the energy source she rekindled.
She pointed to one depicting a battle with the sun and moon. “What’s this one?”
As Miller told her the tale of a night queen blessing them with bridges, she nodded her head. “That’s how you came here from Nidavellir? That must have been an amazing journey. Your people lived here for quite some time.”
As he spoke more about the dwarven home world Nidavellir, the sun, the great trees and the technology, Noë could feel his sadness. As she looked at him she felt a message for him on her tongue. “Don’t worry, perhaps your time trapped here is coming to an end.”
“Sleep walking?” Orion said behind her, startling her in the dim hall.
She met his questioning gaze and regained the breath he stole from her.
He folded his arms over his broad chest. “I seem to recall telling everyone before bed not to wander off alone. Are you not included in the word everyone?”
With a roll of her eyes and sling of carelessness to her hip–he felt his lip twitch. Her curiosity and reckless abandon would get her harmed or worse.
Noë saw his lip twitch with restrained warning. “This is my first time in a real dwarven mine. How many times am I going to get this opportunity to explore?”
He stepped closer.
So did she.
“I did not say don’t explore, I said don’t go off alone.” Was she challenging him already? He saw her eyes flash purple, mischief in her gaze.
Unbothered by his concern, Noë smiled sweetly and began walking backwards away from him, further up the brown stone stairs leading to the peak. “If you’re too scared to explore all by yourself…”
Orion couldn't help but smile. “Who's scared?”
He moved closer to her, closing the distance between them. Noë smiled at his nearness as he leaned down. “You can't mean me?”
Noë switched the hip she leaned on as she stared at him defiantly. This little game they were playing was loosening her inhibitions with him that surprised even herself.
“I don’t know… do you feel certain that I mean you?” She echoed his testing at their first meeting, elongating her words.
He tried to hide the spark of lust she stoked within him, but it was no use. She saw it in his eyes, in the way his body tensed, and in the way his breath caught in his throat. It was not often he was spoken to this way, and he found himself both aroused and intrigued.
It wasn't fair.
He wanted to know what she would do next.
“Are you… challenging me, Vala?”
Noë felt the courage within her slipping but she held on tight. “Maybe. Unless you think you can’t handle it?”
He smiled at ease. “I am not afraid.”
She looked at him with false appraisal. “Prove it.”
Orion watched her walk down the hallway, unsure if he should follow. The darkness, the isolation, and the warm mountain walls were not ideal conditions for being alone with her. There were too many places where he could act on the unspeakable things her taunts had planted in his mind.
This was much unlike himself.
He couldn't tell if it irked him, or if he was already a slave to it.
With renewed purpose Noë moved forward, hearing Orion's steps behind her as they continued to climb, the air up high growing thin as the gaps in the mountains became more significant, covered in moss and decaying fissures.
Noë tried to shake him from her mind as Millir continued talking. He kept referring to her by a word she didn’t quite understand. “Orion?”
He put his hand behind his neck, gripping the stem of his bow as she called him, prepared for whatever was occurring. “Yes?” He looked at her, his cold blue eyes searching the darkness around her.
She saw the hunter in him clear the area as safe before his eyes slid to hers. “What is Aenor?”
Orion released his bow as the walkway grew tight, the walls pushing them close together as they moved through shoulder to shoulder.
The blue and purple paint of the murals rubbed on their clothes from the coarse painted rock.
“In this mining vault and many others are depictions of Gods and Goddesses. They are referred to as Aenor by the dwarves. In Vertan we say Valar. You would be Vala, your father Vali. But it is preference rather than gender.”
Noë made a circular form with her lips as she hummed with understanding.
He stared a few seconds longer than he preferred.
She looked at Orion as she contemplated the way he said it. When he spoke it was… sinful, euphoric, as if he always whispered it against her skin.
Hearing him truly call her name would be heart stopping.
“You like this giant. Don’t you?” she heard whispered in the dark, deep and gruff from her dwarven companion.
Noë rolled her eyes at Millir, his long white beard stroking his hands as his golden bronze armour clattered from movement. She smiled knowingly and tutted her tongue. “Nosy.”
Soon Millir led them to a closed golden door. With a motion he demonstrated to a wheel on the side of the mountain and showed her how to turn it to get it to open. Unable to turn it herself, Orion placed his hands on hers, spinning the worn metal from its rusted positions and stepped back to allow the mechanism to slide the door on the rails to open.
As it creaked and groaned, shaking rust from the hinges. Noë peaked into the dark room it opened to, the pipes connecting the chamber to the rest of ruins allowed the white fire to flood into the room and move towards a decayed empty stone archway above them on top of stairs lined with statues.
In the renewed light she could see they were surrounded by murals, some dwarven, others clearly Aenor, depicting the archway filled with blue light and people moving back and forward between them like gateways.
Overhead was the night sky, the moon reflecting on the ocean far–very far–below.
Orion looked over his other shoulder as she went to his left, eyeing the aged blackened tapestries with Gods kneeling before the archway. As he moved closer he heard whispering calling into his mind, and twitched his neck, hoping to shake the fates off a little longer.
As the fire slowly made way, filling canals in the floor leading to the archway, Millir climbed the steps slowly, his figure beginning to glow.
“Millir?” Noë called to him as the fire reached the arch, swirling into blue light filling the stone with what looked to be a portal.
Drawn in by the intense shine Noë began to climb the stairs after him only to be stopped by Orion behind her. “Not yet.” he said quietly, stopping her in her tracks.
Her presence alone was awaking what little magic remained in the realm, stirring the ancient gateway awake.
Noë looked where he stood, his eyes focused ahead on where the portal pulsed and the archway cracked further, unable to support the energy within it. She watched as Millir turned back to her and thanked her for her help and companionship.
“What’s he saying?” Orion asked as he saw only the portal continuing to crack.
Noë hesitated, finding it hard to say goodbye. “He’s saying thank you. The portal won’t be able to stand for much longer, we’ll have to leave quickly.”
Orion looked to where the walls themselves seemed to be shaking. “This entire ruin is going to come down with it. We have to go.”
Noë looked up at him, wanting to stay even a little longer. Something about it called to her. “But the portal–”
Orion looked calmly into her hopeful eyes. There was no skipping ahead with fate. “What lies on the other side is not yet for you to discover. We must leave.”
Knowing he was right, she took his hand and waved goodbye to Millir as he stepped through the light. At once it grew cold, its luminescence vanishing with a tidal wave of energy through the temple peak.
Orion stepped in front of her, shielding her from the blast.
Noë hid her face in his warm tunic, feeling rubble fall into her hair as the ceiling shook and rumbled. The ground between them began to split, sending her towards the opening crevice.
Orion closed the sudden gap between them and gathered her waist from falling forward into the new gorge. Stunned by his firm grip she looked into his face as he steadied them both, concern drawing his dark red brows together as the entrance and staircase fell into the darkness beneath them.
There was only one way down now.
“Hang onto me!” He shouted over the crumbling rock as pieces fell from the mountain above. She clung tightly, her scream echoing as they slid down the crumbling mountain slide, plummeting to the darkened depths of the exposed cave below, his hands gripping where he could–spare branches and jutting rock– to lessen their speed and lead them safely.
With a splash they landed in spring water, cold and grassed as long, thin watergrass swung in its depths.
She gasped as they surfaced, climbing out to the edge of the darkened cave, no light so far beneath the earth.
She panted, her mind racing at the quickly turning events. She would have to stop questioning the wild things she saw in his company.
“I can’t believe we survived that.” she panted harder. “We fell… down a mountain!”
He couldn’t help the small laugh that he caught from her, checking himself for life and limb as his own heart beat out of his chest. “Told you I wasn’t scared.”
She laughed loudly, breathing in and out as they caught their bearings. “What now?”
Completely dark, he had no clue where they were. “Any chance you could make more fire?”
She tried, her wet hands not sparking from lack of energy. “I think the gateway tapped me out. If I push harder–”
“Got it. It’s alright.” He felt the walls, hearing hollow as he knocked along the cave. “The mica is thin here.” He reached down for anything to use as a hammer, finding a large black rock to knock against the wall, shards of sheet rock breaking as she covered her face.
As the makeshift doorway grew larger her eyes opened wide.
The moon beamed down on the exposed walkway back up to the mine, reflecting off green-blue crystals and gold soft and yellow within the black white walls. “Is that…”
He nodded and helped her through. “Emeralds and gold. It must have been lost for aeons until we disrupted it. The dwarves had no wealth left towards the end of their reign. They stopped getting support from Vertan. It’s why they turned to Hel before she forced their continued compliance.”
She felt the soft ore through the wall as they walked against the laid stone path, gold dust rubbing on her fingers, striking against her skin.
He climbed the broken staircase, jumping to reach before pulling her up to the doorway alongside him. He gripped the heavy iron door and tilted his head for her to come close. “Help me with this?”
She joined his side and pushed it open, moving underneath his arms as he held it himself to allow her through before releasing to allow it to slam closed.
Arms gathered her before she could react.
“Gods! We thought you both had died!”
Orion shook his head at Haemir squeezing the life from her as the other rogues climbed over debris to reach them.
Glea looked disappointed at them both. “I thought we weren’t to wander? We thought you were in danger.”
Noë looked to Orion. “It's my fault. I… had a hunch about something and Prince Orion saw fit to drag me back.”
“Kicking and screaming.” He said with wink at her.
Glea saw the goddess smile at Orion’s newfound charm.
Quaking turned their gaze upwards as the mountains continued to fall. “We have to leave quickly. Any idea how to get out from here?”
Haemir turned, setting her down. “If we head back, we can clear some weight to go the way we usually do.”
Reminded of Millir’s parting wisdoms, Noë pointed to the end of the hall that looked to be a dead. “Millir said some of these walls may be false. There should be a switch in the wall that leads to the other side of the mountain.”
Haemir argued, “The mine is coming down right now. We may not be able to waste time on a new path.”
Noë watched as they all stood weapons at the ready staring at her for rebuttal. Millir had been clear that if they strayed from the path they would not make it. But what did she know compared to scouts who had done it several times over?
Just as she was about to give in, Orion looked to her with patience. Noë kept his blue gaze and nodded. “That's the way we should go. I know it.”
Orion accepted her answer. “Haemir and Rilneed cover us on the rear. Noë and I will open the path and let you all through, we’ll follow behind.”
Noë ran with him to the stone wall and felt the corner of the mountain crevice where he said the switch would be.
“Careful of your hand! The rock is shifting!” Orion shouted above the rockslide as her hand went into the crevice fumbling for a moment before hearing a switch turn.
As the moon door turned, showing morning light from the incline they had to climb to get out, the rogues shouted in relief. Orion held the door open as they all funnelled through, climbing the steep incline as fast as they could.
Noë stepped through and allowed Orion to release the door, slamming back into place as he put his bow away. Wordlessly he grabbed her hand, lifting her to help her put her arms around his neck. “Hang on!” he said as he jumped from the exit upwards and grabbed rock handles to pull them up.
Unable to watch as anticipation built, Noë hid her face in his cloak, smelling sweet earthen spice in his sweat. Safe on his back he climbed quickly, pulling them from the mountain pass as the mine sunk far into the earth below.
Orion gripped the last handle, helped up by Haemir as the scouts cheered in victory at their exit. He bent down, allowing Noë to get off his back as they all stood grateful to see the night sky.
Haemir hugged Noë tight. “Vala! Well done.”
Their cheering too soon, the earth shaking brought bone thin hands from the ground around them.
Haemir cursed indignantly, readying his sword as the other rogues did the same.
The wetlands shifted as Orion forced her backwards into the shallow water with a corpse’s lunge, removing its head as the others began to surround her, protecting her from the cursed dweller weapons as they lifted their veils preemptively.
“Glea, take Noë ahead!” Orion shouted, wanting safety for them both as they cleared a way through the rising corpses that had followed them through the mine.
Glea took her hand, his shallow sword in his other as they moved through the swamp trees, putting distance between themselves and the battle before they rose amongst the water.
Noë sensed Glea’s fear as a tall corpse fell from the trees, hissing, landing on top of him with a plunge to the side. His curdled fear broke Orion from his own fight, his face cut by a clawing dweller before he shattered them next.
Orion ran quickly, arriving as Noë stood over the clattered corpse, Glea’s sword plunged through its chest as it began to wheeze, half boned, half flesh as the dweller begged for death.
He took her shaking hands, her first kill scaring her into a frozen state as she struggled with taking life.
Noë felt sick.
Irrevocably sick as the life left the half rotted Dweller’s eyes, his pupils widening as his soul disappeared into Hel’s hands yet again. Tears sprung hot and warm against her cheeks as she tried to accept Orion’s words.
“He was already gone, you freed him. Come back.” still she shook, her hair curling black, her breath stopping.
He took her fingers to his throat, allowing her to feel his heartbeat through his sweating skin as her eyes met his.
Noë felt herself returning, her irregular heartbeat turning steady with his own.
“Orion?” Haemir leaned by Glea’s gushing side. “We can take it out, but he’ll bleed. We have to shut the wound but we have no more sweet lily.”
Orion came to his side, holding his hand as his wide green eyes shook in fear just as the human’s had. If it wasn’t for his own quick, unthinking mistake they wouldn’t have had to use what little Narwe they had left.
He looked around. With the wet wood all around them they had no hope for a fire. “Noë? Look at me.” he took her hand and brought him to Glea’s side. “We need your help. Do you think you can make a fire now?”
She took her shaking hands to the sides of her head, nodding slowly through her tears. She moved her hands over the blade they extended before her. More cold, death-bringing steel shaking within her vision as she spoke too softly. “Alight…” she said without a spark. She began to sob.
“I’m sorry… I’m trying….” she cried over him, feeling suddenly useless.
Orion turned and held her lightly as Haemir struggled to keep Glea down. He brought her eyes to him. “Breathe.” he blew out steadily, his mouth coming together in gentle display as she eased her heartbeat with him, her breath coming too fast. “Easy.” his soft elvish came softly until she righted.
She nodded again and extended her hands, “Alight.”
White flame previously unseen lit the sword, turning it bright red as they pulled the dweller knife from Glea’s flesh and cauterised the blood stained wound.
“Hold him!” Haemir shouted as Glea screamed out into the night, his pain and panic overwhelming Noë’s mind.
She gripped his shoulders, gasping as she slipped into his mind unintentionally, flashes of his life going through her vision. His mother in his small village, his training, and…
His love for Orion.
She took his thoughts, showing him joy instead of fear from these feelings, easing his body to be cared for. His body relaxed as Haemir continued to treat him.
“Noë?” Orion called as her eyes returned silver from not blue, but gold, her soul returning to her body as Glea lay quiet since she entered his mind.
She returned to her own mind, unsure of what she had seen as everyone around them calmed, finally able to catch their breath from the troubles of the sinking mine.
“Are you alright?” he asked softly as she stood, Glea’s panting calming as they rested him against the wet tree. “Your eyes… they looked like… What did you see?”
Glea met her surprised eyes, his heart pounding in fear though his life was saved–begging for her silence.
Noë shook her head. “Nothing important. Just… his life. His home.” Orion held her shoulder, silently asking if she was sure. “I’m okay now. I swear.” he nodded.
Orion watched her battle with what just happened as he caught his breath. “You did well. We wouldn’t have made it without you.”
Noë smiled as he complimented her. It felt good to contribute. Although woefully unprepared for this journey she swore to keep her hopes up. Her own purpose would make itself known to her when it was meant to. Until then, she would do all she could to prepare for it.
Orion watched the sunrise with her, the purple sky giving way to the bright yellow sun beyond the mountains they had just left behind. The black green trees rustled with the morning wind, the sweet sea of the morning grass hanging in the air.
He savoured the feeling of freedom that came with scouting outside of Tiere, hanging onto the breath of the wilds he never wanted to part with.
He looked over to the scout they had nearly lost. Glea’s colour returned as the morning sun rose. “I should check on him. Sure you’re alright?”
She hummed. “Go to him.”
Noë looked on at them together, her conflicting emotions tiring her considerably. She turned away, disappointed that through everything, she too had begun to feel a step past admiration towards Orion.
Perhaps even possessive.
But, he belonged to another.
To be continued...