Fanfic:Haschel's Three Arches
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Through the First Arch
Haschel stood staring at the arches for a brief moment, this was it, pass this test and become a Dedicated. He thought about what might be through that first arch. "The first time is for what was" those words echoed in his head. He knew what must be waiting, there were really only two things from his past that he feared, the incident that landed him in the Grey Tower and not knowing where he came from. Haschel took a deep breath and walked through the first arch, the test had begun.
"The way back comes but once." The words resounded in his ears as he was swallowed by a blinding light. When the light retreated, Haschel found himself standing in the middle of Tear. He had not seen this place since the day he discovered he could channel, wait, what was channeling? He looked around and saw his father arguing with a tall man holding a spear. "Father, who is this man? Sir, I would appreciate it if you showed proper respect when speaking to a member of House Feldarian. This is Master Dariel Feldarian and you will show proper respect to my father when addressing him in public." Haschel couldn't believe the gall of this man, talking to his father like he was some sort of peasant.
"Haschel, it is alright son, this man does have a right to say what he wishes to me." Haschel couldn't believe what he was hearing. Who was this man, to make his father bow down as such? Then the man turned to face Haschel and begun to speak, "Haschel, you look as strong as your name sake, your mother would be proud. I am sorry to have waited so long to come for you, but things have been quite difficult these past 17 years. When you were born, your mother and I were busy fighting wars and did not think it to be best if you were with us. Well, actually I didn't, your mother thought you should remain to fight as a true... Never mind you should not know this information until we reach home." As a true what? , Haschel thought to himself wondering what information he shouldn't know. "I want to know what you are talking about, I demand that you tell me who I am." Haschel was furious at the man for not telling him who he was. "You will find all this out in due time. I made a deal with Dariel that should I decide to reclaim you that a price would have to be paid and that knowledge would be obtained through it." Haschel was getting even angrier, what was this man talking about? What kind of price?
"Son, it is alright, this man simply wishes to reclaim you since he is your true father. I knew this day might come and I have been prepared." Dariel was quite calm given the circumstances. "Haschel of the Reyn you shall come with me, but first I must collect the price of the exchange." As soon as the man finished his words he quickly pierced Dariel with his spear. Haschel stood in shock at what he had just witnessed. "Come now, we must go quickly if we are to arrive on time to meet with the Chief." The man said as he started to walk away. "You bloody... You killed my father, speak in riddles about some kind of rain, and now you want me to meet some bloody chief. I don't care who you are, you have NO RIGHT!!!!" At that the man burst into flames, as did Dariel's body, and Haschel watched him burn while he stood in stark terror. What is happening? Surely this isn't my doing. I don't understand, is it true that my entire life has been a lie? Haschel's mind was racing with every thought imaginable at this point. He stood there watching the bodies burn, the smell of human flesh burning in the night air, the awful stench that could never be forgotten.
Haschel saw an arch appear in the distance, oddly out of place, but somehow important. He looked around and saw the burning bodies, that horrid smell still swelling in the air, and wanted so bad to find out what had just happened. He turned and walked toward the arch, for some reason he felt that it was the answer to his questions. He was still hesitant, wondering if this arch was another curse, but he knew there was only one way to find out. He took a deep breath, looking around one last time, and stepped through the arch. I will learn the truth. He thought as the light began to blind him.
Through the Second Arch
Haschel felt ready for anything that could be thrown at him. His two biggest fears had just combined into one, and he had killed his real father in that first arch, without ever learning a thing, other than rain was important somehow. Haschel entered the second arch and was blinded by the light yet again. When he stepped though on the other side he saw Landrin waiting for him, as the Master of Soldiers should be. He saw a look of approval on the faces of the other Asha'man in the room. "Haschel Feldarian, you have emerged from the third arch." Landrin led him to the M'Hael to finish the ceremony, where the sword pin was placed in his hand and he was finally Dedicated.
Haschel returned to his room, eager to begin his new studies as a Dedicated. He had faced the combined fears of his origin and the incident in Tear, he had faced... What had he faced in the second arch, or even the third arch for that matter? He knew he had gone through them, but could not remember what they were. He laid down to rest after the exhausting test, only to be interrupted by a knock on his door. When he opened the door he found himself standing face to face with an Asha'man he did not recognize. "Dedicated Haschel, your time in the Grey Tower is over. We have discovered the act that brought you here and have developed the proper punishment in accordance with Tower Law." Haschel was afraid for his life, he had murdered three men by accident, were they going to gentle him? He couldn't bear that thought, not now, so he let instinct take over.
The Asha'man burst into flames and Haschel pushed past him, running down the halls as fast as he could to avoid being caught. They would not take this away from him, not after all his hard work, he refused to allow it. He turned a corner and saw an Aes Sedai strolling toward him, another victim of Haschel's flames. He weaved Fire and Air around her and watched as she burned instantly. He was weaving Fire and Air in such varying and complicated ways that even some of the brick around him was melting. He ran faster and faster, never looking back, his new life had been destroyed too. He was not meant to live a happy life; it would always be this pattern of destruction and rejection.
As he rounded the last turn toward the gates of the Grey Tower, there standing in front of it were Landrin, Celene, and Daric. He didn't want to hurt them, but he could not allow them to gentle him. He quickly weaved more Fire and Air, this time mixing in a little Spirit, and hurled the creation of destruction at them. As the huge fireball flew at them, it suddenly stopped and disappeared. He felt a shield slap into place, Landrin was channeling and so was Daric, Celene had been a decoy to distract him from what they were doing. He felt the power of Saidin fading out of reach. He could no longer draw upon Saidin, he was unable to channel his way out of this. He stared at Landrin, staring back at him with that cold disappointed expression. He felt ashamed that he had failed Landrin, but even that would not stop him from surviving this. He looked again and saw an arch standing behind Landrin. There is my way out, all I have to do is get through that arch, with any luck it will get me outside the Tower and then I can get away and hide. Haschel stood and lunged at Landrin, running as fast as he could then jumping over the Master of Soldiers' head, and into the blinding light of the arch.
Through the Third Arch
Haschel was relieved that the last one was just a test; he couldn't bear the thought of being attacked by or attacking any of those three. He was ready for what will be, and wasted no time stepping through the third arch. As he stepped into the arch he was consumed by the blinding light, and stepped out onto an overhang in some ruined castle. "Haschel, we do not have to do this, you can join me and serve the Dark One with pride. Please Haschel; don't make me have to kill you." Haschel listened as Shivan begged him to join his side. They had gone over this every time and yet Shivan still wanted him to join the Dark One. "Shivan, I will not serve the Dark One, and you can still choose a different path. I don't want to have to kill you either but if you remain a servant of the Dark One then I will have no other choice."
Shivan quickly lunged at him with his Spear; he was using Tapping The Nail, which Haschel easily countered with a Half Guard. Unfortunately, he was not expecting the sudden blast of water in his face. Shivan had become quite good at channeling in the middle of moves, but so had Haschel for that matter. Haschel quickly began weaving Fire, Spirit, and Earth. He moved in to use The Butterfly's Wings spinning his Ji Halberd as he rushed forward. It was then that his move was pushed away by Shivan's Wrapping technique, a move which Haschel had predicted, and he immediately blasted Shivan in the stomach with a flaming rock. As Shivan reeled backwards, Haschel followed up with a quick jab of the Halberd toward Shivan's Spear and used Winding The Spring to take the weapon out of his hands. He then used Tipping The Pitcher to knock Shivan off his feet. Placing the butt of his Halberd in the ground next to Shivan's head, Haschel gave him one last chance to change his mind.
"My friend, please, reconsider before I have to kill you." Shivan smiled, looking up at Haschel with that look of satisfaction he usually had. "Haschel, if it is you who must kill me, then I have deserved it. I would ask not one other person to have this honor." He begun channeling a ball of fire, his weakest strength as Haschel well knew, and prepared to blast Haschel with it. "I'm sorry my friend, may the Light guide you from the Darkness before the Wheel spins you out again." Haschel stabbed the end of the Halberd though Shivan's chest. "The Wheel Weaves as the Wheel Wills", were Shivan's final words.
Haschel turned away from his old friend. They had met shortly after Haschel had arrived at the Tower and a friendship quickly grew into brotherhood. They had stuck together all the way through the Tower and had both joined the Green Ajah. If there was one person Haschel had trusted more than Landrin, it had been Shivan, until he found out that Shivan was a Darkfriend. This moment had been coming for some time, when the secret was first revealed they had battled each other nearly to the death then. They knew after that battle that only one of them would walk away from this in the end, that was 20 years ago. A woman placed her hand on Haschel's shoulder, it was one of his Warders, a Ji'alantin'dar named Angelia Hammar. She had been by his side since his time as a Dedicated, and she was much more than just a Warder to Haschel. "Haschel, it was time for this to end, I know you didn't want this to happen but some things just can not be avoided." She placed a hand on his cheek and smiled. "You are right Angelia, but it hurts nonetheless, I knew this time was coming. It was foretold long before this day, I watched it all unfold, just as I am now. I just wish I would have believed this to be the truth when I witnessed it all those years ago, then maybe I could have stopped it." Haschel was saddened by the thought of... something. He was trying very hard to hide his thoughts even from himself, because he knew that at this moment in time the wrong thought could change even more than he wanted it to. "Angelia, get the others and let's give Shivan a proper burial, Darkfriend or not he is still MY friend." Haschel saw an arch appear next to Shivan's body. He felt that it was a doorway to take him away from all this, a doorway to a happier time. He looked at Angelia, her beautiful dark skin with all those piercings, a true Atha'an Miere if he ever knew one. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, and not because she was his Warder, but because she had made him the happiest man when she agreed to marry him.
The Arch stood, waiting to receive him. He kissed Angelia and began to walk to the Arch, as he got to the Arch he took one last look at her, and begun to walk back to her for he did not want to leave her. She saw this and called out to him, "Haschel, you asked me should this day ever come to remind you that the way back comes but once, I'm still not sure what it means but if you feel it is important enough to be reminded of then it is important to me as well." Haschel stopped and stared at the beautiful woman who wore his ring, he had asked her to remind him of that, but he could not remember why. "Yes my wife, I thank you for reminding me." He turned back and walked through the arch, saddened by leaving his wife, saddened by killing his friend, and eager to return to his dear Angelia.
