Surrounded by the Darkness

“You can’t run forever” The cold sharp cackle echoed throughout the stony chamber. Fear, silver and icy washed over Faelan. The fast warm pulsing of blood pounded in her ears. Her fingers gripped the cold stone behind her as her eyes darted across the dark recesses of the cavern. Her heart beat desperately like a trapped bird trying to escape its cage. Faelan tried quieting her breath, but she could barely focus. “Come now little rabbit” The familiar voice echoed louder in the chamber, “How much longer are going to make… me… WAIT”. The sickly breath was now directly in her ear. “NO!” 

Faelan sat up abruptly gripping her heart, hot tears were streaming down her face. Her eyes blinked rapidly as they adjusted to the darkness of her tent. She tried controlling her breath as she quickly looked around the small space. Panic arose then dissipated as reality sank in. Faelan brought her knees up to her chest, her arms limp at her sides. She sat there in a puddle of sweat-soaked sheets in a daze. The darkness of the tent pressed in on her as she finally placed her head in her hands. Another dream, no, a vision. She blinked in the darkness. Her brain was numb from her subsiding panic. She felt her heart pick up again. That voice… why did it sound like? No. She thought. There is no danger. There can’t be- this must have been a nightmare, that’s it. The dark feeling slithered back into her thoughts- but why did this feel like last time I had a vision. It happened right before Seren- NO. She shut down that train of thought. Reopening old wounds was too much to bear right now. What time is it? Maybe a few hours until dawn. She considered waking up the others, or at least Lyra, but she decided against it. What would I even say? She sighed and pulled on her cloak and fastened the belt that her sharp obsidian dagger was fixed to. Drawing in a deep breath, she quietly opened her tent and stepped out into the chilly night air. The fire at the camp had gone out and Alrick lay there slumped next to the cold ash: mouth wide open fast asleep. Faelan gently kicked his boot and tisked. Out cold. Some lookout we have. She crept around the rest of the tents and made her way to the edge of camp. She climbed effortlessly up a rocky overhang that opened to a clearing. Faelan sighed as she looked down at the expanse of treetops below and sat on the edge, letting her legs dangle off. The air was sharp and clear. Blue moonlight showered the landscape in a luminescent glow. As she looked up into the starless sky, her mind began racing with her past tormenting visions. Am I responsible for what happened to Seren? It was the same question that turned over and over in her mind countless times since that fateful night. She felt a tear roll down her cold cheek and quickly wiped it away. Suddenly the distant snap of a twig reached her sharp elven ears, and she couldn’t help but smile. 

“Okay, you can come out now Lyra”. The clumsy fumble of small feet sent rocks tumbling down below. 

“Dang it!” A quiet chuckle came from behind Faelan.“One of these days I’ll sneak up on you.” 

The petite form of a gnome girl stepped into the moonlit clearing brushing off her dusty cloak. As soon as Faelan turned to meet her gaze, the gnome smiled widely and tip-toed her way over. She sat down using Faelan’s shoulder as support and peered down over the edge past her barely dangling feet. Her kind face peered up at Faelan. 

“So… whatcha doing out here?” Lyra’s eyes, like bright blue orbs, glimmered in the moonlight. 

“I thought I heard a shout from your tent and then I saw you leave…” Faelan stiffened for a second and then sighed and looked out at the treetops. 

“Sounds to me like you didn’t sleep very well either Lyra. Are you having trouble sleeping again?” Faelan looked up and noticed the light in Lyra’s eyes flicker for a second as her smile faded and she looked down at her hands. 

“Oh… yeah. It’s been hard ever since, well… you know-.” 

“Yeah. I know” Faelen answered. She felt a sudden flush of warmth as Lyra placed her tiny hand on her arm and gave it a gentle squeeze. 

“Is that why you came out here tonight Fae?” Lyra stared up at her intently.

They sat there for a few seconds in silence. 

“Yeah, something like that.” Faelan sighed and looked up into the empty darkness. “It hasn’t been…easy.” 

She glanced at Lyra and saw that her eyes were shiny with unspilled tears.

“Oh Fae it feels so wrong having her gone” Lyra burst out. “Like a part of my soul was taken with her. Everybody feels it too, but I know you’re the only one who feels the same way I do.” 

Faelan felt a lump swell in her throat and she looked away. Lyra continued, the tears falling down her cheeks.

“I just feel like I could’ve- no, I should’ve done something. I can’t stop thinking about where the plan went wrong. Fae I could’ve saved her-”

“Don’t blame yourself Lyra. You did nothing wrong. There’s nothing we can do now. We can’t bring her back.” Faelan’s voice broke on the last word. Shifting uncomfortably, she cleared her throat and looked down at Lyra who was wiping her eyes and softly sobbing. Should I tell her about my visions? No. I can’t. I just can’t. It would break her even more if she knew that it was my fault- that I could have saved Seren. Faelan closed her eyes and regained her composure. She slowly unclasped her thick black cloak and put it around Lyra’s shivering shoulders. Lyra sniffed and accepted it gratefully and Faelan couldn’t help but think she looked like a child gripping onto her favorite blanket. 

“You should probably get back to camp and try to get some sleep. I’ll wake up Alrick and keep watch for the rest of the night.” As Faelan started to get up, Lyra caught her arm.

“Fae.” Lyra was no longer crying, She looked up at Faelan with a stern expression.

“I know that there’s something important you’re not telling me.” Damn- Perceptive as ever, Faelan thought.

“You know you can tell me anything right?” There was a second of silence, and then Faelan smiled and gave Lyra a gentle pat on the head.

“Of course Lyra. I’ll tell you if there’s anything that comes up. I just haven’t been feeling myself lately. This mission’s just got me feeling a little on edge that’s all.”

Lyra softened a bit.

“Yeah, I feel the same way. I fully trust Corrin, but something feels off. I can’t explain it.” She looked back at Faelan. “If there is something though, you’ll tell me won’t you?”

“Of course I will. Now, we should be getting back.” 

They carefully made their way back down to camp. They had to stop a few times so Faelan could help Lyra over the jagged rocks. The campsite looked the same as they left it. Everyone was still sleeping in their tents and Alrick still lay by the cold campfire. Lyra handed Faelan’s cloak back, gave one last smile, and disappeared into her tent. Faelan shrugged on the cloak and walked over to prod Alrick awake, who grunted loudly, then gratefully shuffled back to his tent. The rest of the night continued uneventfully as the sky turned from purple, to red, and finally to pink and orange as the sun peeked over the mountains. 

As expected, Corrin was the first to emerge from his tent, arms outstretched with a wide grin on his face. His golden hair shined in the light of the morning sun, not a strand out of place. 

“Ah Faelan! Finished the rest of the night’s watch I see. Even got the fire started again for breakfast!” She nodded silently and took a bite of her sausage as he strode over opening his pack. Corrin rifled through for a minute then pulled out a breakfast sausage and sat down. 

“Today is the big day Faelan! We’re finally back in business. You do remember your part of the plan right?” 

“Does it ever change?” Faelan said flatly. “I go in first and scout it out. Estrid follows behind and then you, Lyra, and Alrick follow behind her.” 

“Ha! Yes good good. Hey, we can never be too safe right?” Corrin held eye contact for a second longer than Faelan did. 

“Yeah of course.” 

Corrin smiled and clasped Faelan on the shoulder. 

“Hey, today is going to be a big success. I can just feel it in my bones! We’re going to be rich!” He released his grasp then clapped his hands together in excitement. “Not to mention we’ll be on the chancellor’s good side after bringing back this artifact! I can’t wait to see how he’ll reward us…” Remembering his sausage, he happily chomped away as he continued rambling on about the plan and how it might all turn out. Faelan couldn’t help but feel her stomach twisting in knots. Something is just not right. The memory of the familiar cackle flashed suddenly before her again and the hairs on her arms stood up. She only realized Corrin was still talking when he suddenly gasped dramatically. 

“My my speaking of our mage, here’s our mystical beauty joining us for breakfast now!” Estrid, a stunning purple tiefling, emerged from her tent, jewels and delicate silver circlets shining on her horns. She smiled and gave a twirl. The bangles encircling her wrists clinked together, and her slender form danced gracefully over to Corrin, who kissed her hand as she sat down.    

“My, what a vision you are my dear!”

“Oh Corrin love, you do know how to flatter don’t you.”

As if on cue, Faelan got up and walked away quickly to her tent. I cannot listen to those insufferable lovebirds this morning. She got inside the tent and zipped it up muffling the sound of the giggling couple.

Faelan sat twirling her dagger in her hands over and over mindlessly until she heard the announcement from outside her tent that they were ready to pack up and be on their way. The group packed their tents quickly, aside from Alrick, who was bleary eyed and constantly yawning. Lyra, who had put on her full armor, picked up her sword and playfully poked at Alrick’s large foot. 

“Hey stop all that yawning big guy! You’re like an illness spreading through camp.” Lyra yelled up at the orc. Alrick smiled down at her and bonked her on the head with his great fist which sent her flying straight down onto her bottom. From a distance, Faelan leaned against a tree and smirked as she watched the pair play fight. Whispers caught her sharp ears, and she peered to her left where Corrin and Estrid were deep in a quiet conversation. They both looked serious which was an unusual change from their light hearted demeanors. Faelan saw Corrin’s eyes dart over to her then back at Estrid. She tried but couldn’t make out what Estrid was saying, and then suddenly the conversation was over. 

“Everyone! Let’s be on our way!” Corrin said, showing two rows of pearly white teeth. Alrick and Lyra stopped punching each other for a second to listen. “We’re not far from the place. According to our instructions, we just keep heading straight north for a few hours.” Faelan watched Estrid closely, who remained slightly turned away with a concerned expression on her brow. Corrin turned to Estrid and she looked up at him and smiled back. Faelan continued to watch the pair as everyone prepared to leave.

Corrin and Estrid led the way as the group walked. They only stopped to have a quick lunch before continuing on their journey trudging through the dense forest. Lyra kept pace with Falean in the back and they walked mostly in pleasant silence. Faelan always felt more at ease with Lyra around, but as they walked, she couldn’t help but feel slightly anxious. The feeling seemed to grow as they continued on, getting closer to their destination. Faelan felt her forehead break into a light sweat.

“Hey Lyra, I don’t know what’s going on but-”

“Ah everyone!! Here it is!” Corrin interrupted loudly. The whole group stopped suddenly as Corrin held his hand up.

“It’s clear right here, the markings we were told to look out for. Estrid darling, would you mind revealing the entrance if you can find it in this mess.” In front of them was a great stone wall covered in moss and thick vines. Underneath, barely visible, was a large strange symbol etched into the rock. As Estrid began to cast a spell and clear away the vines, Lyra turned back to Faelan.

“What was that Fae? You don’t know what?”

Faelan stood there, still as a statue, gazing at the stone wall. 

“Uh I don’t know honestly.” She was telling the truth. Her mind seemed to go completely blank as she stared at the stone wall being uncovered. She remembered there was something she was finally going to say to Lyra, but the harder she thought about it, the more it slipped away. 

“Yeah I don’t know Lyra, I can’t remember.” Lyra smiled at Faelan and chuckled.

“Hey, you don’t know what you don’t know.” Faelan smiled back but she couldn’t help feeling slightly unsettled. Dang it. There was something… Why can’t I think? Estrid, with one last stroke of her hand, finished clearing the stone, and before them stood a doorway, ten feet high, with the now visible rune etched in the middle. 

“Beautifully done my dear!” Corrin exclaimed. He stood in front of the doorway and looked down at a piece of paper and read aloud a chant in a tongue unfamiliar to Faelan. When he was finished chanting, the rune glowed a bright blue color, and with a loud scrape, the stone door began retracting upwards. Everyone stared curiously as the great entrance opened up into pure darkness. Corrin jumped in the air with excitement. 

“We’ve done it! Now for the easy part! There shouldn’t be any trouble snooping around this cave. But we shall follow protocol and send in first our elven friend whose eyes are admittedly better than mine.” He winked at Faelan, and she felt a gentle pull as if the entrance was drawing her in. She walked over daze-like to the entrance, and slowly made her way across the threshold. The air grew cold immediately, and she felt a sudden shockwave hit her. Wait. No. She remembered everything. The uneasy feeling was overwhelming. Just as she was turning back to tell the others this was a mistake, the high stone door collapsed with a great crash, sending her flying back into the darkness. It was pitch black. Stone and rock and dust sprayed her as she lay coughing on the ground. In the complete darkness, her eyes could barely make out the walls around her. No. This can’t be happening! She scrambled to her feet and ran to where the stone entrance was. There was complete silence. “No!” She yelled out loud this time.

“Faelan?”

She whipped around at the sound of Seren’s voice coming from the darkness. She was paralyzed with fear. She couldn’t speak.

“Faelan, where are you?”

“S-Seren?” Barely more than a whisper escaped her lips. Complete silence surrounded her.

“Seren?” Faelan pinned herself against the stone wall and slowly inched her way further into the darkness.