Fanfic:Ceralyn's Three Arches
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First Arch
Ceralyn stepped through the silver arch, and was consumed by light. She opened her eyes to find herself on a staircase, dressed in the dark skirts of the High Lady's attendants. At the top, she could see her father, standing there, with his arms open, waiting for her. She began to run up the stairs, when something grabbed her. She whirled around, but there was nothing there. Shaking her head, she continued up the stairs, but her father was no longer there. Instead, a tall man stood there. He looked vaguely familiar, and threatening. Suddenly, it hit her like a rock. She had seen her mother with this man.
"Who are you?" she called up the stairs. He did not respond, but remained still. She raced up the stairs, hiking her skirts up. She ran as fast as she could, but she seemed to make no progress. Suddenly, an idea came to her. She started walking backward, down the stairs. She grinned as she realized that she was quickly making her way towards the man. She was within a step of him, when he turned, and disappeared through a gateway. She opened it, and found herself in a field. Looking around, she caught sight of the unknown man across the field. Groaning, she sprinted towards him. Out of breath, she paused at the foot of a giant tree. She was within reach, when she saw a silver arch light up the sky with its brilliance. She hated to give up on her goal. She had to reach the man. She had to know. But there was something...The way back will come but once. She turned and leaped through the arch.
Second Arch
Taking a deep breath, tears streaming down her face, Ceralyn stepped through the silver arch and into the light. She found herself in a long corridor with high ceilings and faded tapestries lining the marble walls. The blue tiled floors were covered with a layer of dust left by months of neglect. Staring down at her green silk seeded with pearls, a lone tear rolled down her face, already worn from weeping. This can't be. She thought. Surely not here. In disbelief, she ran down the hall, past open doorways revealing purple velvet drapes, silk covered beds and full-length mirrors. Sprinting through the corridors she knew so well, she reached the white marbled hallway that opened into the large domed foyer. She had to cross it to reach the servants' stairway. Moving stealthily from statues to fountains, she slipped silently around the outer border of the painted rotunda. At the other side, she paused, as if to brace herself for what she knew she would find. The way back will come but once. Be Steadfast. The thought came out of nowhere. Brushing it aside, she slowly placed one slippered foot on the staircase, and then another. Step by step, she descended into the passage that had once held the voices of children as they played beneath the palace walls and the hustle and bustle of everyday life in the Palace of Tear. Memories flooded her head- memories of running down the hall into the arms of her father, playing in the halls with Estande, and fetching things for the High Lords and Ladies. Not all of the memories were pleasant, but they were all welcome. Pushing open a door that was no different from any other, she brushed aside a spiderweb and peered in, hoping against hope. The room was deserted. She collapsed on the moth-eaten blankets, all hope lost. Breathing in deeply, she thought she could almost smell her mother, and then the tears came. Lost in her sorrow, she almost didn't hear the long moan coming from down the hall. Lifting her head up, she listened closely for the sound to come again. The way back... Not hearing the moan after a minute, she got up, curious. Her despair forgotten, she hiked up her skirts and scurried down the hallway and into the room that had been her parents'. Skidding to a stop at the foot of the bed, she dropped to the floor at her sister's side. "Mieryam!" Her sister lay sprawled on the floor, blood gushing from the welts on her side, her face drawn and eyes haggard.
A weak whisper came from Mieryam, as though every breath was agony. "They came for you. And you weren't here," Anger filled her sister's voice. "They hurt me. Because of you! What have you done to us??" Halfway rising, she reached for Ceralyn, hand outstretched. Reaching for her sister's hand, Ceralyn wept in anguish. She had done this. The palace, the people, her family, all gone because of her. She screamed, a wail from the depths of her soul. "Help me, Ceralyn. You're the only one who can." The way back will come but once. Be steadfast. Looking over her shoulder, Ceralyn saw a silver arch fill the doorway with white light. She took a step toward the arch. She could almost touch it. "Ceralyn! PLEASE! Help me! They're coming!" Her sister's voice was filled with pain, and her words tortured Ceralyn. But there was something she wanted badly on the other side of the arch. Torn, she hesitated, halfway between her sister and the arch. Her eyes locked on her sister, she whispered, "Forgive me, sister. I cannot." Backing up, she fell through the arch, into the light.
Third Arch
Bracing herself for what she knew was to come once more, Ceralyn stepped through the glowing arch. The pain was sharper, sweeter. She filled herself with it and stumbled into the light. Sunlight lit the forest up in patches, where wildflowers were sprinkled among the moss. She pulled her shawl lower on her arms to bare her shoulders to the warm light, and bent down to pick a few of the flowers. Hearing laughter behind her, she turned and smiled, expecting Crauhr. Her smile froze as she stared at the woman standing before her, and she fainted. When she next woke, she was lying on a bed, bound by thick strong rope, her dark skirts ripped and dirty. Blinking her eyes open, she shifted to see an Aes Sedai, Keirah, by her side.
"What's this?" she demanded. "What is going on?"
Without speaking, Keirah bent over her bed with a hot drink that Ceralyn assumed was tea. Accepting it gratefully, she sipped, and her throat became coated with a think fiery liquid. Opening her mouth to speak, she found that she could not. Her throat on fire, Ceralyn gasped at the horror of losing her voice, but more of the fact that it had been done by an Aes Sedai
"Now, here's our little deal," said Keirah. "We don't want you. We need you to confess that your husband is a Darkfriend, and since you can't speak, your husband will die thinking you betrayed him." She laughed heinously.
My husband? She thought. But she knew. Crauhr. Why would they want to name him a Darkfriend? He was the most wonderful man...Memories flooded her head, of their children in the fields, battles fought side by side, and their wedding. She had to do something to stop this...Darkfriend. Black Ajah- that was the only explanation. Trying to focus on a plan, she found herself feeling very drowsy. She must have put something else in my drink, was her last thought before she drifted off.
Ceralyn woke when Keirah emptied a bucket of water over her face. Dripping, she followed obediently as Keirah lead her to a room that she recognized as one of the lower meeting rooms of the Tower. Crauhr was sitting bound in a corner. She almost wept as she saw his agony. Clearing her throat, she realized that the potion was wearing off. She could almost speak. Crauhr would be saved. She almost jumped for joy, but was careful not to show her exuberance. The way back will come but once. Be steadfast. Wriggling her hands out of their bindings, she waited as Keirah and the others listed Crauhr's heinous crimes, all of which were lies. Seeing her chance, she leaped for Crauhr, just as a silver arch filled the doorway.
"Ceralyn, please. Hurry!" Looking over her shoulder, she saw the arch, glowing brightly. In front of her, Keirah was a few steps from Crauhr. He entreated her to save him. She reached for him, but turned and ran for the arch. His pleas tore at her soul, but she could not turn back. The last sound she heard was his entreaty as she was swallowed in the light.