The Order by Jammies2000

[JRK Archiver]

Part 12


Elizabeth stood there for a moment looking at them while they watched her. “Thank-you” was all she said. Then she continued, “You have my word should I survive the battle I will stay with the Legion and work off the debt I owe no matter how long it takes.”

“Agreed” the General said standing holding out his hand to her. She looked him in the eye and took his hand to seal the deal.

“Um… I am going to need that back,” Elizabeth pointed at the medallion of the Order sitting on the small table. Stavros turned and picked it up and handed it to her. She nodded her thanks to him as she took it.

“Now where exactly is this army going to be gathering?”

“The Ramoth Plain” Elizabeth stated and then looked sharply at Mikkos as she heard him hiss.

“Do you know what that place is?” Mikkos questioned his face darkening

“I didn’t until this morning. My understanding is that it is the last place the First Ones of the Order faced the darkness before they banished her and then died.”

“It is also a place of great power.”

“Yes, I learned that also. It is also supposed to be a small grassy knoll surrounded by trees, but I have never been there so I am not sure”

“It will be dawn here in a few hours. What time was it when you left?” The General asked, “I want to send someone to check the place out”

“It was right around noontime I guess”

“Ok so at dawn I want Stefan and –“

”Me” Elizabeth interrupted him “I need to go”

The General nodded agreeing, “Yes you probably should be one of the ones to check out the place. You know them best. After you come back we will start planning. We should be able to leave by nightfall. It will be just before sunrise there and still dark. We should be able to open the portal without being detected as long as we don’t open it too close. Then we will have about 4 days to get everything ready there.”

The captains agreed and Elizabeth nodded grimly the Black Legion was still the only army that she knew off that could reach any place in the world in one day. They were the only ones that had the magic to open portals of that sort. Elizabeth could with the use of the necklace she had, but the necklace only opened a portal to where the Legion was she could not open a portal to anyplace else. They had not given her that secret.

“Ok, I know it was still early when you left but would you like to rest?”

“No that is all right but there is something I need to do. If it is alright I will meet you here at dawn”

“Certainly”

Elizabeth turned and left the tent gathering her weapons the others had followed “I need to leave the camp”

Turning to Noah, Mikkos said “Escort her to the edge of camp and give her the watchword so she may be allowed entrance on her return”

“Yes sir”

Elizabeth nodded to them and then followed Noah to the edge of camp he gave her the watchword and she proceeded to leave the camp. She walked for about a half hour before she stopped. “Celeste?” she questioned gripping the hilt of her sword.

“Yes?

“You know what I am getting ready to do.”

“Yes. Are you sure about this?”

“I am sure. What do I do? What will happen?”

There was a slight pause and it seemed as though Celeste gave a great sigh and then said “I don’t know for sure”

“You don’t know? How could you not know? Did you forget?” Elizabeth asked her brows lowering in confusion.

“I never bonded with the armor or weapons.”

“You never bonded – What do you mean I don’t understand. You had to have –“ Elizabeth stammered getting more confused by the second.

“No. My brother and I were rather arrogant and at the time we didn’t think we needed to bond with the armor and weapons. So we were not able to tap into the full power that the Gods had granted us when we forged them in the holy fires. We were told we should but we were prideful and believed we didn’t need to that was our downfall. If we had maybe the events of the battle at Ramoth Plain would have ended differently. Things have come full circle again. This time hopefully things will be different.”

“That is why you merged your soul with the sword isn’t it? You wanted to be sure the next person that carried these items didn’t make the same mistake you did by not bonding with them.”

“Yes. Although had you chosen not to bond with them I would have respected your wishes.”

“Will you still be here after I do this?”

“Yes”

“Good I would miss you my friend. Now do you at least know how to start this bonding?”

“I would miss you also and yes I do know how to start the bonding. You must first cut your palm with your dagger to draw blood and then touch the armor over your heart with your palm and then touch the sword. You may also wish to plant the sword in the ground so you can kneel before it. Then you must name the Gods to yourself anyway whose symbols are carved on the sword or armor. They are the same so it does not matter which one you read them from.”

“Symbols of the Gods? But there are no symbols”

“They will appear once you touch the items with your blood”

“Oh” Elizabeth took her sword and planted the point firmly in the ground so the sword stood on its own and then kneeled on the ground before the sword. “Is there anything else I need to say?”

“No”

Elizabeth nodded in response then took her dagger from her belt and brought it to her left palm. She hesitated for a moment and then made a shallow cut the length of her palm. Her blood seeped out of the cut into her palm staining it red. She laid her dagger aside and brought her palm up and touched her heart and then brought it to the flat edge and smeared the blood down the blade. Celeste was right the symbols did appear. As she read them she began to see flashes of her life they came faster and faster until she could not tell them apart and she grew dizzy and started to sway and then she fell to the side in a faint and lay there motionless on the ground.

~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Back at the camp of the Black Legion the General and his captains were going over some preliminary plans.

“I don’t think we should take the whole Legion right away until we know for sure what is happening.” Mikkos thought out loud

“Agreed” Stavros commented and the other nodded their agreement

“Yes, then the enemy will not know our true size or strength,” the General stated

“What about the deal she offered us” Stefan asked bringing up a subject none there really wanted to address but knew they had to.

They had accepted her offer but how long would be a reasonable time for her to stay and work off her debt. They all looked around each not meeting the others eyes for a moment and then the General sighed his voice rough with emotion “Are we really going to make her stay? After what happened when she was here the last time. If it wasn’t for her we could have been the army of darkness that she is trying to stop.”

“That is true but if we don’t have her stay she will feel that she owes us a debt. Her honor would not let her believe anything else. She gave her word to stay so we need to help her honor her word.” Mikkos said, “Her word means much to her and she does not make promises lightly. She has no money or valuables so except her word if she cannot honor the promises she makes then she would feel worthless and unworthy. And for a person such as Elizabeth to feel that way could mean death.”

“Mikkos is right. We will need to have her stay if only for a short while. I also think when she comes back we should show here the history scrolls of the Legion.” Stefan suggested

The others looked at him for a moment and then Stavros gave a short chuckle “Yes she might like to know at one time the Legion fought with the Order many times against dark forces until Blackie had taken command after he killed General Webber. He wasn’t such a moral man and things changed but it seems things are coming full circle again”

Everyone nodded “Now back to who we should take –“ they continued to plan through the night until right before dawn.

~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~

Elizabeth woke suddenly and the first thing she noticed was she was not outside anymore. She sat up with a jerk and looked around. She was in a large open room that was completely void of anything. Nothing decorated the white walls, the floor was plain white marble it was just a big square room. She started to push herself up to stand “Ow” she muttered looking at her left palm the cut still there. She stood and looked around her boots echoing on the floor as she turned “Where am I?” she asked aloud the only answer she got was the echo of her voice against the walls. “What am I doing here?” again no answer then she thought she heard something and whirled around to find nothing there. “How did I get here?” asking aloud “Wait – I was doing the bonding and then I got dizzy and woke up here. Is this part of the bonding? It has to be. What was I doing?” she asked herself racking her brain trying to remember “That’s right I had just read the symbols and then I got all of these memory flashes and got dizzy. I never got to name the gods so I guess I will start with that. Hope I remember them correctly” her brows lowered and she nibbled her lower lip remembering what she had read “The first was the High Lord creator and protector of us all, the second was the Blind Goddess said to be the justice bringer of the gods that is where the saying justice is blind came from, third was War said to ride into battle on a mighty dragon, forth was the Lady of healing and love and the last one was Death” no sooner had the name of the last god left her lips did a circle of flames rise up to surround her and start to move closer to her and she panicked “What did I do wrong did I not name the right ones? Did I forget one?” she screamed. She got no answer and the flames drew ever closer her breath started to come in short gasps and she feared she would be burned to death in the holy flames but they stopped before touching her. Then out of the flames come two hands cupped together holding what looked like water. Drink she heard so she stepped closer and sipped the water from the hands and then the flames disappeared and she felt herself riding a horse but she could not see. She felt in her hand a bow and she raised the bow and notched and arrow and let it fly. The next thing she knew she was on the back of a dragon riding on the wind holding a mighty sword. Then she was in a great meadow and she could smell wonderful herbs and feel the warmth of the sun and for a moment she was reminded of the nights she spent just sleeping in Jason’s arms. Then she was back in the room and she looked around and saw a talk figure on a pale horse smiling at her and she remembered the saying Death smiles at us all and then the figure was gone an the room was empty. She looked around again and the holy flames came to life once more and this time they did not stop when they closed in but they did not burn. They danced across her skin and tickled it was then that she noticed that her armor was gone and she also realized Celeste was not with her. But before she could get too worried the flames went out again and she was alone again in the chamber. “Now what?” she asked aloud after a moment when it seemed nothing else was going to happen. She heard laughter float through her head and then it was as if several voices spoke at once.

“Welcome Paladin”

“Paladin!! but there are always two”

“Yes the other will be with you soon”

“But if I am a paladin that means the Grand Master –“

“Yes, you are no longer under the command of the Grand Master”

“I see and the deal I made with the Legion?” she asked the empty room

“Look at your medallion”

Elizabeth looked down at the medallion of the Order and her breath caught in her throat no longer was it the 8 pointed silver star of a journeyman Hunter. Then chain had been changed so every other link was either silver or black. The star had been changed so the black crossed swords of the Legion were there but it also still had four silver star points and it still had the blue stone in the middle. So the gods agreed to let her honor the deal she had made. She said nothing and just looked around chamber some more and then it seemed as if everything started spinning and she decided to sit down for she was getting dizzy. She closed her eyes for a moment and when she opened them she was laying outside on the ground. She sat up and looked around Celeste was where she had put her and her armor was back on.

“How did I get back here?” she asked not knowing she had spoken aloud.

“You never left” Celeste said

“What do you mean? I was in this big chamber and there were flames, I rode on a dragon and drank water from someone’s hands. Death was there and smiled at me”

“You never left. Celeste said is awe “A paladin”

“That’s what they said. But there are always two. I suppose when Duo does this he will be the second”

“That is possible. But it could be someone else entirely”

“Who else could it be?”

“I don’t know but it is getting close to dawn. We should be going back”

Looking around Elizabeth noticed she was right “You are right we should go” she pushed herself up taking care not to irritate her left palm. She was going to wrap it in a bit of cloth but it was healed as if she never even made the cut. She frowned for a moment and then shrugged her shoulders then gathered up her dagger and put Celeste back in the scabbard and headed back to the camp. On the way back she decided to put her medallion inside her shirt. She wasn’t ready for everyone to know yet it was still very new and she wished Jason were with her so she could talk to him.

She made it back to camp just before dawn and gave the watchword in response to the challenge and was allowed back into camp. The General and the captains were waiting outside his tent.

“Are you ready?” Stefan asked she nodded that she was.

He turned and cast the spell to open the portal near the Ramoth Plain and they stepped through. When they got to the other side they were in a dark forest. The portal closed behind them. They walked for about 10 mins and came to an open meadow.

“I thought it was supposed to be a small knoll surrounded by trees?” Stefan asked confused

“It is” she responded

“Are we in the right place?” he asked

“Yes” Celeste told Elizabeth. She gripped the hilt of her sword “Yes this is the right place”

“Great” was all Stefan said looking around taking in that there were many fires out on the meadow it appeared many of the followers of the Mistress of Webs were already here. They skirted the meadow staying in the trees trying to see as much as they could. They decided to go back and report what they could so they went back into the forest and Stefan opened the portal and they were back at the Legion camp again.

“We have a problem” Stefan told them “The plain has been changed it is no longer a small knoll surrounded by trees. It is now a large meadow. There are many camped on the meadow they are followers of the Mistress.”

The General nodded “I see that could present a problem”

[JRK Archiver]

Part 13


“We have a problem” Stefan told them “The plain has been changed it is no longer a small knoll surrounded by trees. It is now a large meadow. There are many camped on the meadow they are followers of the Mistress.”

The General nodded “I see that could present a problem”

“Could you tell how about how many of the followers were there?”

“Judging by the number of fires it could be up to a thousand to 1500.” Stefan replied

“That does not include the demon horde that she may bring across with her.” Elizabeth commented. “Who knows how large that will be? And we will not know until she gets here.”

“Why no just stop them from letting her into this world? I mean by letting her into this world it also opens the doorway for the demons to come?” Stavros asked confused

Elizabeth started at him for a moment and took a deep breath to reply when Mikkos answered for her “She can not be truly killed unless she is allowed to manifest in this world. She must be allowed into this world if she is just stopped from entering then she has the chance to try again.” Then looking at Elizabeth “Your goal in this is to stop her for good isn’t it?”

“Yes. Even though there is a chance some of the demons will escape into this world. My goal is to stop the Mistress. If some of the demons escape it will be a small price to pay.”

“Small price to pay how can you say that?” Stefan asked incredulously “You of all people. Letting demons lose in the world?”

Elizabeth met him with a level gaze and clenched her fists “Do you think I like the idea? But once she is killed the demons will not be that powerful. They will be easy to stop. The Order will be able to hunt them down. The main thing is to stop the Mistress.”

The General nodding and then sighed “Well then we need to get a better look at the place. You and Stefan will have to –“

~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Back on the road to the Ramoth Plain.

Duo was sitting on the ground and had Deathscythe sitting next to him “So what is going to happen when I do this bonding? He asked his weapon

“I don’t really know. We never went through the bonding ceremony. My sister and I were full of pride and did not think we needed to. It was a mistake. In the end we decided to bond out souls with them so we could help the ones that carried the weapons and armor.

“I see. Well do you at least know how to start the bonding?”

“Yes that I can help you with. You will need to use your dagger to draw blood and then touch the armor above your heart and then touch the weapon. Then you will need to name the five gods to yourself at least whose symbols will appear. Also you may want to stay sitting.”

“Alright” Duo silently pulled his boot dagger and held out his right hand. He drew it across his palm making a shallow cut. His blood welled up staining it dark in the moonlight. He touched his heart and then placed his hand on the scythe running it along the side of the blade. The symbols appeared to him and he silently named them. He started to see flashes of his life. They came faster until he could not see straight and he fell to the side and then darkness came over him.

~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Another camp also on the way to the Ramoth Plain.

Jason was just drifting off the sleep missing Liz and the fact that she wasn’t there so he could hold her while they slept. The next thing he knew he was awake. He looked around and he was in a large meadow. He jerked up looking around wondering how he got there. He stood and turned around trying to figure out where he was. He was not anywhere he had been before and he had traveled much in he life. Turing around once more he saw what looked like a path and decided to follow it. The path lead through some trees and then opened up to a small clearing that was before some high cliffs. Looking up at the cliffs he saw carving and upon closer inspection he noticed that they were carvings of gods. There was the High Lord, the Blind goddess, War, the Lady of healing and love and Death. Jason looked around some more and saw that there was a small opening to a cave in the cliffs and then he heard “Come forward.” Jason hesitated and then moved forward who was he to argue with the gods. Once inside the cave the door shut plunging him into darkness.

~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Duo woke with a jerk he was no longer outside. He was in a big room that contained nothing. There was nothing on the walls, the floor no furniture there was just nothing. He stood turning to see if there was a way out. “This is great. Trapped in a room and there is nothing to look at. What was I doing anyways? Ah, yes the bonding I was just naming the symbols. Guess maybe I should name them again. Lets see there was the High Lord, the Blind goddess, War, the Lady of love and healing and Death” No sooner had he said the last name then did the holy flames surround him. Looking around Duo muttered, “This is great. Now what?” Then the flames parted on one side so he could walk through them and he heard “Forward, oh Grand Master” Duo started forward and then stopped when it registered what the voice said “What are you talking about I am not –“ He was cut off when it seemed like an invisible hand shoved him from behind. Whirling around to face who was there Duo found no one and turned around again and continued to walk. As he walked he saw images on each side of him. They were images of his life as a boy and then later after joining the Order and then he came upon some that he didn’t recognize. They were of him and he was wearing the medallion of a Grand Master he reached out to the image only to have his hand pass through it. “What does this mean? What are you trying to tell me? Are these pictures of what will be or what maybe?” The only answer he got was the images disappeared the holy flames burst forth again. They moved closer to him until they almost touched him and then he heard several voices say “You have been chosen”
Confused Duo asked “Chosen? Chosen for what? I do not understand.”
“It is not for you to understand now. When the time comes you will understand” Then the holy flames died and Duo again found himself in the room. The room seemed to start spinning and then he jerked up to find himself back outside.

~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jason spun around looking for the entrance but could see nothing it was totally dark. So he stood still and listened trying to find out what was going on. Then a small light appeared to he left and he moved toward it. He did not get very far for flames burst forth surrounding him and moved closer to him. Not know what he should do Jason stood but the heat from the flames made it almost impossible to breathe and then as quickly at the flames appeared the disappeared leaving him in darkness again. Allowing his eyes to adjust he again so the light and moved toward it again. As he got closer he noticed that it was actually a small pool of water and the light came from the crystalline rocks at the bottom of the pool. Jason slowly reached down and dipped his hand in the water and drank from it he did not notice that the pool was shaped like two hands. As soon as he swallowed the water he panicked he could not see everything was dark again. Jason looked around he saw nothing and then he heard the distinct sound of an arrow being release and on instinct he ducked down to the ground. When he hands touched the ground he could see again. But he was no longer in the cave he was high above in the sky he could feel the wind blowing in he hair and moving across his face and he had a sword in his hands. Then he was falling fast toward the earth only to be caught by gentle arms and he thought of Liz and the nights he held he close. He landed in a beautiful field full of wild flowers. Then it was dark again and he looked around for the light only to be greeted by a figure on a pale horse smiling at him he blinked and the figure was gone. Jason stood by the pool for a moment until the doorway opened again, Jason moved toward it and when he was through he was outside again. He walked back across the clearing to the path he had followed here, before he left the clearing he turned to look at the carving one last time and as he turned he heard several voices say:

“Welcome Paladin"

“Paladin? What are you –“ There was a touch on his shoulder

“Jason time to wake up we need to get moving.” Jason’s eyes flew open and he looked around and he eyes landed on Johnny. “You alright?” Johnny asked

“Yeah, just a strange dream” Jason replied sitting up pulling on his boots and then rolling up his bedroll.

~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At the camp of the Black Legion

They were making plans they had already moved a good number of the legion close to the Ramoth Plain. They could have moved everyone at once but they did not want the followers of the Mistress to find them there fore they had setup came in the tree about a half day from the plain. On the day of the battle the legion would move to the plain and they would open the portal to allow the rest of the Legion through.

Elizabeth was also having some strange trouble trying to figure why she was chosen to be a Paladin. She needed someone to talk to, she would normally talk to he brother but he was not there. She also knew she could talk to Jason or Sonny but they were not around either. She was pacing her tent when someone asked for entrance. “Come in” she said absently.

The person entered the tent and watched her pace for a bit and then they cleared their throat “Ahem” she jumped and looked around. “Sorry” she said sheepishly and then she looked at them waiting.

“We thought you might want to take a look at these,” he said holding out several scrolls

Her brows creased looking confused “They are the history of the Legion” he explained

She looked even more perplexed “Why would I want to read those?”

He gave her a small smirk “Just read them. You’ll figure out why” she looked at him for a moment and then held you her hands to take the scrolls.

“Will you stay in case I have any questions?” she asked him

“Certainly” he said seating himself in one of the chairs.

“Thanks Mikkos. Who is the current record keeper anyway?”

“A girl her --”

“A girl?” she asked raising an eyebrow. “Not many girls in the Legion and now one of them is scribe? That is new”

“Yes well anyway. Her name is Gia. Rather nice girl fights well.”

Elizabeth merely nodded and started to read. As she read Mikkos watched the emotions play across her face. Then went from intense concentration to horror and even surprise. After about an hour of reading she came upon a part that made her jump out of her seat.

“Are you sure these records are true?”

“As true as they can be. Some are very old the only way to verify them would be to find someone that was alive then.”

Elizabeth stood for a moment staring at the parchment and them picked it up and turned it over looking at it closely then she turned to Mikkos “This one. How old is it?” she asked holding it out to him

Mikkos took it from he and looked at it and then found the marking for the date “About 500 yrs. Why?”

“This picture drawn. What does it mean?” she said pointing to a drawing on the parchment.

Mikkos squinted at it a moment and the read the notation. “It is the symbol of the Paladin. It appears at one time a Paladin rode with the Legion”

Elizabeth started to pace.

“Why do you ask?” Mikkos questions looking at her closely

Elizabeth stopped her back to him she said nothing and then she sighed, “Because a couple of night ago my medallion changed into this,” she said pulling it over her head and tossing it onto the table.

Mikkos could only sit there and stare at it. It was the same as the picture.

[JRK Archiver]

Chapter 14


Mikkos sat there staring at her changed medallion in disbelief, then reached out as if to touch it but his hand stopped a mere hairs breath away.

“Oh for gods sakes Mikkos it’s not going to bite you” Elizabeth snorted as she reached over scooped it up and put it back around her neck.

Mikkos stared at the empty table for a moment and then turned his wide eyes upon Elizabeth “W--when—how – I mean what ---“ he stammered in awe and looking at her as if she was some beautiful princess or something

Elizabeth stood there and crossed her arms over her chest and raised and eye brow. “You are not going to start bowing are you?” Mikkos continued to stare unable to speak, “Because it will make fighting rather awkward. As for your question.” She began to pace again “As I said two nights ago as for how well I don’t really know. I carry a set armor and weapon of the First Ones my brother Duo carries the other set. Two nights ago I performed the bonding ritual.” She paused when she heard Mikkos’ indrawn breath and then continued, “During the ritual the medallion was changed and the gods that were present said I was chosen as paladin”

“There are always two chosen” Mikkos commented

“Yes, I assume the second will be my brother”

Mikkos opened his mouth to say that according to record most paladins were ‘soulmates’ and not siblings. Then he had another thought “Why did you not say anything until now?”

Elizabeth stopped pacing sat down and let out a sigh “I don’t know what to think about this. Me a paladin? I have to be the most unlike a paladin person in the world. I used to be a thief for goodness sake. Why would they make a thief a paladin?”

“It is not my place to know the reasons the gods do anything. But I am sure they had one or many for making the choice they did.”

“Thanks” she scowled at him “You are a big help”

Mikkos chuckled “You are welcome, but in this case the General would be of more help then I” Elizabeth looked at him raising an eyebrow in question “I am old Elizabeth but not that old. I know much about things because I have taken time to learn. But the General is the one that would truly be able to help for he was alive when this scroll was written” pointing to the scroll she had been reading and Elizabeth gasped “Yes Elizabeth” nodding at her “the General was in the Black Legion 500yrs ago when paladins rode with us.”

Elizabeth sat there her mouth agape and she leaned back snapping it shut still not able to say anything. She shut her eyes thinking about when she first came to the Legion. She had started out as soldier of the lowest rank but her fighting skills quickly advanced her and got the attention of the General as well who kept tabs on her. The day she went berserk in battle so to speak was a turning point for her. She saw the enemy killing women and children, burning them while alive and she lost all control. To this day she hardly remembers anything but a red haze until she stood with her weapon raised in front of a child no older then six staring up at her its face a mess of dirt and tears. She ended up protecting that child and it was one of a handful to make it out alive. She had nightmares for weeks after that battle but when she woke she could never truly remember what the dream had been about. The dreams finally left her alone but not the memories of those peoples screams. And her rage had been replaced by fear. Fear that it might happen again and she would leave none to stand in her path, fear that she would turn around and again see the trail of those she had cut down, fear of seeing her sword, armor and cloths covered in her enemies blood and fear that next time she would not be able to stop. That fear had almost cost Elizabeth her life for now she went into battle hoping it would be her last, hoping against hope that someone would stop her before it happened again. But it never happened and Elizabeth grappled with her fear and the rage that never truly left but had just been buried. She fought until she beat them back and she was able to struggle to her feet again. She may have once believed that Liz and Elizabeth were two different people but she knew Duo was right no matter what name someone called her, she was still the same person. She was Elizabeth and Liz both and she accepted that now.

Elizabeth gave herself a small shake when she realized Mikkos was speaking to her “I’m sorry Mikkos, what did you say?”

Mikkos smiled at her “I said I think the General would be able to speak to you, if that is what you wish. It might be better now then closer to the battle when he has his mind on other things.”

Elizabeth nodded getting up she gathered her sword and turned back to Mikkos “Shall we?” gesturing to the door of the tent with a sweeping of her arm.

Mikkos stood and grinned at her “Yes”

~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Somewhere on the road to the Ramoth Plain.

Duo was having a hard time dealing with what he saw when he had done the bonding with his armor and weapon. It had showed him as the Grand Master of the Order. He had asked them if it was what might be or what will be and he never got an answer. The gods had just said he was chosen. He also wondered what Liz had seen when she did the bonding for he was sure she had done it. He knew his sister and if she had the time she did the bonding. And he wondered who she was asking for help, he wondered how Emily was doing back at the camp he was wondering about a lot of things. He wished he had someone to talk to but he did not feel close enough to the Amazons to talk to any of them about what was plaguing his thoughts. So he rode silently they would get to the plain tomorrow and have 2 days before the full moon.

~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On another road to the Ramoth Plain

Jason also road silently. He was not sure what to make of the dreams he had. He had 2 dreams both proclaiming him to be chosen as a paladin and his medallion from the Order had changed to a set of black crossed swords with for silver points but it still had the blue stone of the Order in the center. He had not told anybody in the Order yet what had happened but he could feel a couple of the Marshals watching him like they knew something was wrong. He had talked to Sonny. Talked Jason snorted after he had told Sonny what happened Sonny sat there slack jawed for almost a whole minute before he closed his mouth and then it looked like he wanted to bow to him of something. Which Jason didn’t understand he was still the same person he was before but Sonny seemed to think differently. He did finally get to talk to Sonny about what happened and found out there were always 2 paladins called but Sonny didn’t remember the last time paladins were chosen, which most likely meant it was before Sonny was born. He wished Liz were here maybe she would be able to help or even the magical sword she carried from the First Ones would help. He gave himself a small shake sighed inwardly they would be at the Ramoth Plain late tomorrow which would leave them 2 days until the full moon.

~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Back at the camp of the Black Legion

Liz was in her tent trying to get some rest the last few days had taken a lot from her. She had spoken to the General and his reaction to her being called as a paladin had been much different then Mikkos’ had been. The General had sat there for a moment and then burst out laughing, he had laughed until tears flowed from his eyes. When he finally got under control he wiped the tears from his face “I’m sorry I shouldn’t laugh. It’s just I should have known the gods would do something like this. They have a strange since of humor the gods. Calling paladins now with less then a week before a battle that could decide the fate of the world.” When she asked why he only laughed again “You really have no idea do you? A paladin has great powers but it takes time to master them. Many would be of use in the upcoming fight with the darkness, but then again maybe the gods don’t want you to depend too much on those powers and believe it is better for you to use what you know. I know a paladin has all the powers of a Journeyman Hunter only more so and also they have a few other tricks as well. That was when she asked him if he could explain or even maybe show her what some of those tricks were. That is why she was so tired trying to learn the rudiments of the things the General had told her had taken its toll and it seemed that every night she fell into bed too tired to even dream. But tonight was different for she knew that if Duo had predicted right he would be at the Ramoth Plain with the Amazons then the two of them could maybe help each other with learning the tricks of being a paladin. Liz frowned for a moment that was the other thing that was bothering every time she said that Duo would be the other paladin the General, Mikkos even Stavros and Stefan gave her a funny look. When she asked them about it they would tell her nothing. She would get it out of them soon she thought as she turned on her side. If she calculated right Sonny and the others would also be arriving at the Ramoth Plain tomorrow then she would get to see Jason again. She sighed to herself rolling onto her back and sitting up, she was never going to sleep she thought to herself. They would be moving the most of the Legion to the new camp in a few hours. They had already put cloaking spells and glamours around the new camp the keep the followers of the Mistress for detecting they were there. The rest of the Legion would open a portal close to the battlefield the day of the full moon. The General had told her he was taking everyone except those unable to fight this would be the first time since he had taken command of the Black Legion that he took everyone able to fight into battle. This had surprised Liz for all the time she road with them he had never taken everyone into battle it had never been necessary. This also helped the enemy under estimate the true strength and size of the Legion. For most people thought the Legion was just a force of about 1000 when it was truly closer to 5000 strong if you included the ones that didn’t fight, if you included the blacksmiths, healers, cooks, scribe, etc. So for the first time the General was going into battle with a force numbering over 4000. A force that was going into battle all because she requested help from them, a force that if she read the scrolls right could have been the one she would have been fighting against. Four thousand she thought, she would like to be close enough to the enemy to see the look in their eyes when they see the whole of the Black Legion facing them on the battlefield. And not just the infantry, there would be bowmen, catapults, wizards; the General was holding nothing back for this battle. She almost felt sorry for the dark forces almost but not quite because she knew the army of the Mistress would put them to the test and the Black Legion could very well suffer their first defeat in 300 yrs. Liz flopped back down on the bed and rubbed her hands over her face sleep she told herself she had to get some sleep she turned on her side closing her eyes willing herself to sleep. Mikkos wakened her later.

“Its time” was all he said

Liz stood and splashed some water on her face from the small pitcher in her tent dressed put on her armor gathered Celeste and her ‘bag of holding’ where she kept all of her ‘little extras’ that she had acquired in her travels as a Journeyman Hunter. Some of them she had before she married and some of them she had gotten afterwards and some of them had belonged to Frisco. Liz smiled to herself the bag itself had been given to her by a thief as a thank-you for helping his family. Its was pretty ingenious item actually it was for all purposes a ‘bottomless bag’ it could hold almost anything as long as it was not a sharp object like an unsheathed knife or that it was not bigger then the opening of the bag. Oh yes and you could not put one bag of holding inside another something about the magical properties of the bags causing an explosion opening a void into nothing. The nice thing about the magical bag is that no matter how much you put into it the bag never seemed to be heavier. She gave a big sigh and exited the tent outside she looked around at all the activity.

Liz walked over to where Stefan and the General were waiting they would be going through the portal now, Mikkos and Stavros would be following later in the day. They expected to have most things moved by the end of the day. The heavy stuff they would move the day of the full moon it made it easier they didn’t need to move things like catapults so far and they could keep some of the horses back at the stables until the day of the battle.

The General and Stefan gave her a curious look when she walked up. She raised an eyebrow in question.

“You changed what you are wearing” Stefan gestured to her attire.

Liz glanced down out herself and then looked back at them “Something wrong with that?”

“No” the General answered this time “But you have to be the most unlike a paladin the gods have ever chosen” chuckling at the look she gave him.

Liz glanced back down at herself again; she was dressed like the rest of the Legion in all black. That was partly where their name came from they used some sort of magic in making of their armor so it came out black instead of silver or any other color even their weapons were black including the long bows and catapults. And the horses of the mounted infantry were either black or dark gray. What was wrong with the way she dressed so she wasn’t wearing all silver and sparkly armor like maybe any other paladin would, but she was not any other paladin. “I suppose you are right General, but if the gods wanted a normal paladin they should have chosen somebody else”

“True” he replied and then he looked at her again and frowned

“What?” Liz asked

“How did you manage that?” the General asked

“Manage what?” she asked him confused

“You armor, its black now.”

“Remember I told you I bonded with the armor. Well it seems that there are some things this armor can do that I didn’t know about until I bonded with it. One of those things is changing color. The sword too but she was rather upset so I let her stay silver. The other thing that happened is now both the armor and weapon bear the mark of the paladin. The one on the armor is right where I touched my heart when I did the bonding and the mark on the sword is on spine of the blade right below the hilt. The one on the armor is hard to see because it is just the outline.” She finished turning slightly so the light reflected enough so the could see.

They both nodded the turned back in the direction that the portal was being opened. Once it was opened they stepped through it was almost dawn here.

Hours past and in the early afternoon Duo arrived with the Amazons. They were surprised to see the Legion there and almost attacked until Liz stepped out and assured them that all was well and that the Legion was there to help.

“We need to talk” Liz told Duo once they got everything settled with the Legion and the Amazons.

“You’re telling me” Duo replied

Together they went to the tent that Liz was using now and sat down. They both started to talk at once and then stopped. “You first” Liz said

Duo nodded and proceeded to tell her about the bonding and the things he saw. That he saw himself as the Grand Master of the Order and that the gods had said he had been chosen.

When he said that Liz demanded to see his medallion, confused he pulled it out of his tunic to show her. It was still the same as it has always been. Liz started to pace and she muttered to herself.

“What was that?” Duo asked

“Huh?” Liz stopped pacing to face him

“I asked what you said”

“Oh, I said, I thought for sure it would be you”

“Be me? Me for what?”

Liz sucked in a long breath and sat down. “This” was all she said as she pulled her medallion over her head and set it on the table.

Duo stared at the medallion in shock for a moment and then his eyes shot back up to Liz in question who gave him a nod that yes it was true. He reached out and almost reverently touched the medallion. “My sister a paladin. Well they sure know how to pick the best”

Liz snorted at him “Then why didn’t they pick you also. There are always 2 chosen, you should have been the other one. You carry the other set of weapon and armor of the First Ones.”

“No, Liz the last few years I spent staying at the temple with the Grand Master I had the opportunity to read many things. Some of it was about paladins and how they are called. The gods usually called soulmates as paladins.”

“NO! That’s impossible!!!” Liz jumped staring at him “He’s dead!!! They would not be so cruel as to bring him back from the Table of Light where I know he sits. They would not would they?”

“Liz—“ Duo began

“No, they wouldn’t send him back to this darkness would they?” she questioned her voice growing thick with pain at the thought.

“Liz, I don’t know but do you really think that if they did that Frisco would think he was being sent back to darkness if it meant being with you again?” Duo said standing up and putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Besides, “ he continued as he picked up her medallion and put it around her neck “just because they usually chose soulmates doesn’t mean they always chose them.”

Liz just nodded in return “Then it is one of the others”

“Most likely”

“But who?” she wondered out loud

“I don’t know, but pray it isn’t Robin”

Liz actually cringed at the thought being a paladin with Robin and having the listen to that screechy voice. “I might have to ask the gods to chose someone else and let them put up with her”

Duo just shook his head “I don’t think it will be her. But I don’t know it could be almost hunter or marshal we have met so far. Or someone totally new.”

“True.” Liz agreed “Listen they should be getting here soon maybe we should meet them so they don’t get the wrong idea like the Amazons almost did”

“Good idea”

Both of them left the tent and waited at the edge of the camp. It was almost dark by the time Sonny and the rest showed up. They almost did get the wrong idea until Duo explained that everything was ok and that this was the help that Liz had gotten them. Some were rather upset and didn’t want to stay that was when Liz stepped forward.

“If you do not wish to stay that is your choice no one here with judge you. But know this should you decide to leave you will tell no one of what you have seen here.” Liz stated

Everyone nodded they understood what she meant. They did not want rumors getting back to the minions of the Mistress to alert them about anything. What was even better was that no one left.

Liz was walking through the camp after they got everything settled the General would meet with Sonny and the War Leader of the Amazons on the morning. Suddenly Liz felt a warm tingle down her back and she turned to see the most intense blue eyes staring at her.

Jason had been walking back from the cooks fire thinking that he needed to find Liz and talk her when he felt a warm sensation down his back and he turned and found a pair of blue eyes looking at him.

“Jason” “Liz” they said together then their gaze fell to each other’s medallion.

Both looked at the other “We need to talk” they said together.

[JRK Archiver]

Chapter 15


Both Jason and Liz looked at each other “We need to talk” they said together.

Liz nodded and said, “Follow me” turning going toward the tent she was using Jason following her. Once inside she turned and asked, “Did you want anything to drink before we start?”

“Um…water would be ok” Jason said

“Alright” she said gesturing for him to sit on one of the stools by the small table that was inside the tent. She turned and took a cup from the hook on the small water barrel in the tent and dipped out some water and in turn got some for herself also. She went back to the table and set on of the cups in front of Jason and set down on the other stool facing him across the table.

Jason sat there for a moment and then took a sip of water and then setting the cup down looking back up at her. She sat there looking into her cup clasping her hands together in front of her on the table. He could feel her confusion no matter how hard she was trying to hide it. He reached over and touched her hand, she gave a start and looked up into his eyes and Jason found himself lost. Then the visions came; he saw two kids running and hiding in the street seeing one of them had some very long hair, seeing the two holding each other to keep out the cold, seeing them getting caught and then Sonny talking to them. … He was seeing her memories, her life, he realized he saw her help rescue Sonny, he saw the fight at Raven’s Castle, their trip to the dwarven mines and meeting the dragon. The next memories almost knocked him out of the spell he was under they contained so much pain and torment of her capture, her husband being killed and her hope dying as she lost the only thing she had left of him, her child. The rage she felt afterwards, her mistrust for those in the Order. He saw her meet the Black Company and saw the battles she fought and how she battled the rage inside herself and her fear of loosing control of that rage and then her leaving the Order after she came back. As the memories progressed they became more clear her getting the summons and her meeting Sonny on the road and then her meeting himself. When he got here he could feel what she felt for him and the confusion her had over it she had not felt those feelings since her husband was killed. Then he saw her meeting again with the company asking them to help and her bonding with her armor and weapon getting called to be a Paladin. Jason blinked he was still in the tent looking a Liz who was gaping back at him.

Liz had set the cup of water in front of Jason and then sat down on the stool in front of him. She looked down at her cup and clasped her hands in front of her on the table not knowing where to begin she said nothing and then Jason reached out and touched her hand starting her. She looked up into his eyes and found herself lost. She saw a small boy running through the woods playing with other boys and girls. She saw the boy being told a story by the woman she assumed to be his mother. She saw the village the boy lived in being destroyed and she felt the pain at him finding his mother in the rubble that she was almost knocked out of the spell she was in Jason’s memories, these are his memories of his life she realized She saw him go to live with his human family and how only his father really accepted him. How his grandfather tried to manipulate him into running the company all because Jason would live longer. How he almost went insane not being able to control all the feelings he felt not knowing he was an empath. And the elf that had helped him to understand what it was. When he decided to join the Order to become a Marshal so he could help others. As the memories progressed they became clearer. She saw him meeting Sonny and saw how the Hunter he was with died. She saw herself meeting him only it was from his eyes that she saw, she also felt his feelings for her. The warmth and the caring, the love he felt. She knew then the reason why the gods had chosen him to be a Paladin. She saw him looking after her as she rode off to get help and she saw his dreams when he was chosen. Liz blinked and then she was back inside the tent staring at Jason and he was just staring right back a look of total surprise on his face.

~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Outside the tent the General was greeting Sonny. “Hello, old friend”

“Hello, Victor” Sonny greeted tensely “It has been a while” slowly extending his hand

The General looked down at his hand and slowly took it “Yes, almost a century I believe. How have you been?”

“Pretty good but all of this brings back some pretty dark memories. How about you last I remember you were only a captain. Now you are the general of the whole company how did that come to pass?”

The general frowned at Sonny mentioning some dark memories but did not want to press the subject since he knew that he would never get Sonny to say what memories those were unless Sonny wanted to tell him. So he instead decided to answer his question about how he came to be the commander of the Black Company. “It’s a pretty long story, how about we go to my tent and we can have a cup of malak”

Sonny nodded and they turned to go to the general’s tent when someone come storming by them and just stomped into Liz’s tent.

~ ~~~~~~~~~~~

“I can not believe you actually are doing this? You are going to get use all killed!!!” A screechy voice said startling both Jason and Liz.

Both of them turned to see Robin standing in the tent staring at Liz angrily her fists clenched at her sides.

“How could you make a deal with them?!?”

Jason stood facing her “I think you better leave” he said to her calmly when calm was the last thing he felt after what had just happened between himself and Liz

Outside the General and Sonny heard Robin and looked at each and both turning to go see what was going on. They also noticed that many people near the tent heard also and were moving closer to see what the commotion was.

“I can not believe you of all people is going along with this Jason. You were chosen as a Paladin how can you go along with this? These people are horrible have you heard about the things they have done? And even since I have been here I have seen several wizards, some dark elves and at least one necromancer!!! They are evil they do not belong here. You should tell them to leave. We don’t need them helping us.” Robin said her voice getting higher as she spoke

“You need to leave” Jason said his voice tight and when Robin didn’t move he stepped forward and took her elbow turning her around and shoving her out of the tent. He followed her out to make sure she stayed out.

Robin stumbled out and turned around still furious. “I can not believe the Grand Master would go along with this. He would never agree to having them help with something like this.”

“You are right he probably wouldn’t. But then again the Grand Master didn’t ask us, Elizabeth did” the General said behind her

Robin whirled around facing him her eyes flashing, “What do you mean by that?”

The General glanced up seeing that Liz had followed Jason out of the tent, he could see she was angry the way she stood with her arms crossed in front of her. He looked back at Robin “It means that when Elizabeth asked for our help she mentioned nothing to us about the Order or the Grand Master. Our deal is with her and no one else”

Robin’s nostrils flared at that and then she turned around and looked at Liz “So what did you promise them. You don’t have any money to pay them so it had to be something else” she implied

Liz’s lips thinned and before she could retort Robin continued “You must be pretty good if you can get this many to help. You must have been pretty busy the last few days. Tell me did you have to sleep with all of them or just the officers?”

“That is enough!!” Jason said in a deadly voice stepping toward her

“Oh come on Jason. What else could she offer them?” Robin smirked as she looked over at Liz who had said nothing so far “I mean look at her. She hasn’t even tried to defend herself so it has to be true.” Looking back at Jason “She is going to get us killed you know just like she got her husband killed that time and his child if that was his child I mean if she does stuff like this – “ Robin was cut off from saying anything else as the General grabbed her arm in a painful grip.

The General grabbed Robin’s arm in a strong grip “You will be quiet now if you know what is good for you. I will not have you disrespecting a Paladin in my camp” giving her a small shake

“What are you talking about?” she said glaring at him and looking over at Liz who had not yet moved but Jason had turned to her.

“Are you all right?” Jason asked Liz quietly. She still stood there with her arms crossed but she gave a small nod yes

“I was not talking about Jason I was talking about her. Besides I don’t have to answer to you.”

“But you will answer to me” Duo said stepping out of the crowd of onlookers his violet eyes flashing, “As the highest ranking member of the Order present you will answer to me.”

“Oh of course you would defend her. She is your sister after all. You are no better then her both of you going along with this. A couple of gutter rats and thieves, you fit right in with this company and I bet the ones she doesn’t service you do.”

Duo’s face became darker as her speech progressed and he stood there for a moment before taking a step toward her “Duo” Liz said quietly in warning and he stopped and took a breath regaining control over his anger. He glanced at Liz seeing her gripping her arms tightly knowing she too was fighting for control. “She’s not worth it” Liz said to him. He glanced at her and gave a small nod then turned back to Robin with a scowl. Then an idea stuck him and he grinned “General I will leave it up to you how you wish to deal with situation” he stated turning on his heel and stalked off.

“What are you talking about leave it up to him?” Robin screamed after him jerking her arm to get free “You no good little – ouch” she stopped looking at the general who had tightened his grip “What do you think you are doing?”

The General said nothing to her but looked around at the people gathered there “Sgt Drake you and Jagger take her.” He said handing her to the Sgt “Holt get the chains”

“Chains? What are you doing?” Robin asked her voice starting to waver her eyes widening

“You should have listened when he told you to be quiet, Robin” Liz said unfolding her arms and everyone got a look at the medallion she wore that until then had been covered by her arms. She heard several people make startled comments and Liz looked to see several Marshals and Hunters present they were among those that had just arrived and they did not know she was the other Paladin until now. Liz walked over to Robin “Be happy that both Duo and I agree that you are not worth the trouble or the small amount of time it would take to challenge and defeat you in a duel. But then again after the general deals his punishment you may have wished we had taken the time.”

Jimmy Lee came forward with the chains and secured them to her wrists and ankles there also was a part that went around her waist with an end to hang onto like a leash. He handed it to Sgt Drake.

“What are you doing? You can’t do this!!! You need every sword you can get for this fight.” Robin said starting to panic

“Not if the person carrying it has a heart like yours” Jason said turning to follow Liz back inside the tent after glancing at the General and giving him a small nod.

The General then turned “Holt make sure they are not disturbed” he gave a quick salute and turned starting to bark orders and the onlookers “Ok folks shows over…”

“I want her put in stocks.”

Both Sgt Drake and Jagger nodded “How long sir?” Noah asked

“Five days –“

”FIVE DAYS!!!” You can’t be serious? Just for telling the truth they are nothing but trash. Who do you think you are?” Robin screeched

The general looked at her “I am the commander of this company is who I am and you will not disrespect that woman or her brother in this camp.” He bit out and then he stepped up to her and looked at her his eyes deadly and she started to shake “Five days in the stocks banned the first two days. Bread and water after that, be happy I let you keep your clothes and that I can’t spare the men to assemble the rack.” With that he turned seeing Sonny still standing there “So my friend I believe we were getting ready to have a cup of malak and share a story” smiling at him gesturing in the direction of his tent.

Sonny glanced at Robin and then nodded and walked off in the direction the general had motioned.

Sgt Drake looked at Robin with distaste and gave the chain a jerk “Come on you” walking a little ways way from the camp so they could open the portal to take them to the base camp where the stocks were. He walked quickly wanting to get this person out of his presence as soon as possible so he didn’t care that Robin stumbled along behind him.

“Wait you can't do this.” Robin started to plead and then realized the Sgt wasn’t listening nor did he care when he gave the chain another jerk almost causing her to fall this time.

Back inside Liz’s tent Jason was standing there looking at her stiff back. She had her arms wrapped around herself. “Liz?” he said quietly he could tell she was no longer angry but he was worried because he felt pain and loss coming from her now. “Liz?” he questioned again moving toward her slowly knowing she was feeling this way because of what Robin had said about her husband and her child. He reached up and put his hand gently on her shoulder to turned her around to face him when she moved faster then him and he found himself with his arms full as she flung herself into his arms trying to hold back a sob. Jason just enfolded her in his arms and started rubbing her back in small circles. He rubbed his cheek against her hair and murmured to her telling her it was ok as he felt her start to shake trying to hold back her tears.

When Jason’s arm encircled her Liz felt the dam break and she started to shake trying to hold back the tears but his quiet words and soothing hands were just too much and a small sob escaped her lips. Another sob escaped and then she couldn’t hold it back. Robin’s words bringing up the memory of the loss of Frisco and their child was just too much saying it was her fault. She already blamed herself for not being strong enough and letting their child die. She didn’t blame herself for Frisco’s death that was the result of the betrayal of the Marshal they were with at the time.

Jason’s arms tightened when she started to cry harder and finally he just picked her up and stepped over to the small cot in the tent and set down with her cradled in his arms. He slowly rocked back and forth still whispering to her rubbing small circles on her back and stroking her hair. After what seemed like hours but was in reality only a few minutes she quieted and he only heard a quiet sniffle now and then.

Liz gave a final sniffle and leaned back to look at Jason “Sorry, I shouldn’t have let her get to me” she said looking away from him

Jason raised his hand to her cheek turning her to look at him. He used his thumb to wipe the last of her tears away and brushed her hair away from her face so he could see her clearly “I never want you to be sorry for what you feel, Liz.” He said softly

Liz smiled at him softly and then looked down “We still need to have that talk you know” then looking back up at him

He grinned, “I know” his hand still on her cheek

“I missed you” Liz whispered

Jason smiled at her and leaned forward noticing Liz take a sharp breath “I missed you too” he said right before his lips met hers in a tender kiss. The kiss slowly turned more intense as Liz’s arms circled Jason’s neck and his arms tightened around her. A moan was heard by both of them neither knowing which one or if it was both of them as Jason slanted his lips across hers and his tongue invaded her mouth. Jason broke the kiss taking a deep breath and then continued to rain kisses on her face following her jaw up to her ear giving it a small lick before taking it between his teeth giving it a small nibble. Liz gave a small moan and ran her hands up his back to run through his hair “Jason” she said in a breathy whisper.

Jason pulled back looking at her “Tomorrow” he said and then lower his head to kiss her again

“Tomorrow?” she questioned pulling back

“We will have that talk tomorrow” Jason stated giving her a small kiss and then setting her on the cot next to him. She looked at him strangely as he go up for the cot wondering what his was doing until he went over to the lamp and blew it out leaving only the small fire in the fire pit as light. He turned around and she caught her breath at the sight of him standing in the firelight. It’s golden light making shadows dance across his features and making his eyes almost glow as he looked at her.

Jason stood memorized by the sight of her in the glow of the fire. The way it danced off her hair and made she skin glow not to mention what it did to her eyes. He swallowed she was so beautiful; he slowly moved back over to the bed and sat down next to her.

“Tomorrow, huh?” she said giving him a small shy smile

“Tomorrow we’ll talk. Tonite there will be no more talking,” he said seductively as his lips came crashing down on hers once more.