Forums » Fantasy Roleplay » ~Paying The Price~

Raven's smile would almost instantly disappear as her mother mentioned she could see right through her. She always had been able to see through the many facades Raven would pull, and it didn't surprise her that she was still able to do so. She would look up to her mother with tear filled eyes, before they would travel down to her mothers heart. She would place her hand upon her mother's heart before speaking up, choking on her words.

"You will never truly forget me mother...My memory will be engraved into your heart, always...so we will never truly be apart....I get the feeling that this isn't goodbye, but merely a see you later..."

She says through sobs as she noticed that a blue light was forming around her mother's spirit. She watched through tears as her mother started rising in the air, and would eventually turn into a blue form. Raven would sob even more, watching her mother fade from her, nodding at her last words to her before turning to see Sally. She would nod and cling to Sally, petting her head and whispering into her ear as she cried.

"Thank you..."

She says before letting go of her and watching her take the blue orb, and disappearing from view. She would watch as the tears flowed down her face, before a chill would go down her back and a voice would be speaking to her from behind as arms would wrap around her. She would look down at the set of hands, only to notice that they too were that of an ethereal form. The voice, though, she didn't recognize. She would slowly turn around and be face to face with a man that Raven had never met before. With that said, it was a man that Raven had never met before. Her eyes would widen still, as she felt deep down a sense of familiarity, and before she could say anything, the black smoke would envelop her once more. It would surround her entire figure, and would remain that way for several moments before disappearing, Crow staring wide eyed and shocked, tears streaming down her face.

"William...??"

She could barely hold back her shock as she slowly reached out to touch her husbands cheek, looking into his eyes, searching them with a deep sorrow. After staring at him intensely, she would slowly reach her other hand up to grab both sides of his face, and pull him into a deep and passionate kiss. Despite the fact that he was a spirit, she had longed to see him for decades. Her hand would stroke his face lovingly as they kissed, for she had been yearning to feel his touch once again, see his face once again, and be wrapped in his embrace once again. After several long moments, she would break the kiss, tears flowing down her face as she hugged him tightly, burying her head in his shoulder while she shook like a leaf.

"So you ARE dead...I-I'm so sorry....I tried to save you...I gave my life to save you...and your still dead....We promised we would always be together, even in death, and now I'm stuck inside the body of another..."

William smiled to Crow as she emerged, "Hello again my beautiful bird. I've found you at last." he says as he hugs her as tightly as he could, though this wouldn't be very tightly as his form would have passed through her, given Raven's physical body. Sadly yes... I died for a third time, my love... I'm really sorry that I did... But after coming home and finding your lifeless body, it killed me inside all over again... The thought of losing you was far more torture than wolves or arrows... and that coupled with what happened after you died... It was far too much to bear... But I resolved to find you again, even in death I would not allow myself to rest until I got to see you again at long last. Through sheer force of will alone I have lingered in this world without a physical body to call my own... Praying every day that I would find you again. And now... At long last... I finally have you in my arms again... I cannot tell you how happy I am to see you again, Crow. I've missed you so much." he says happily, hugging Crow a little tighter again, though eased up when his arms started to phase through her.

Merry stood calmly and observed all of the events, rather happy to be overlooked as she herself broke down in tears after her own song. She'd see Elesa lash out at Robin, finding her child-like defense of Will cute beyond reason, and watched as Robin tried her best to save Will from others touching him. One of whom was the spirit of Mother Gaia, which horrified Merry right off the bat, and she thought it only just to see Robin horrified at who he had just repelled, but in a way felt sorry for him, as he was only human and has never met nor conversed with Mother Gaia on as deep a level as most high level magic users.

She'd leave the water at last, approaching Mother Gaia's spirit calmly, "Mother Gaia... I beg you to forgive Robin... He is only a human and knows not what disrespect he shows... Please, allow your humble priestess to see to him. I will ensure that he does not dishonor you further with rash actions. Forgive me for not sticking around... Mother Gaia, may I call to you when Robin is safe and ready to apologize for his earlier behavior? I beg you to forgive him, please... Robin has been relatively kind to all of us since he's been with us." she says in a calm tone.

She'd give several seconds for Gaia to speak, and afterward would call upon her aura to surround her with wind and allow her to jump higher and carry her over longer distances. Organna's eyes would widen as Merry goes after Robin, "Blasted Elf is gonna get herself killed wandering off after a human all alone..." she says before taking off barreling after Merry. Pixel and Moonlight were close behind Organna, but Glitter would approach Gaia calmly, angling himself to her so that she may climb onto his back, "Allow me to be your support, Mother. Please, feel free to use my magic power to sustain yourself while we're away from this sacred place." Glitter offers selflessly.

He'd stay close to Gaia's side and allowed her to mount up if she wanted, then he'd take off after the others. He had faith in Merry being able to talk Robin out of doing anything rash.

Crow would be in tears, though rightfully so, as she clung onto her departed husband, looking up at him and reaching her hand up to his face, only to push the hair out of his face. She would remain in his embrace and hug him more tightly as she thought about what happened. She would become more angry, seeing what that man had done to the two of them, and she would shake her head as she looked at him with a fury in her eyes, though it wouldn't be towards William, no. It would be towards Pentre.

"Your old commander...Pentre....He was the one who officially sent the order to raid Merulan...He sent his men to finish you off to keep you quiet...I promise I'll avenge you one of these days, and then we will finally be together...."

She says, her expression softening as seeing her husbands face was reminding her that no matter how far apart they were, they were soulmates. And they would always find each other. She would tussle his hair like the old days, chuckling but still crying as she wrapping his arms tightly around her, only to watch as they phased through her. She would frown, watching his arms go through her body before she let his grip loosen. She sighed and brought a hand to her face as she looked down at the ground, facing him.

"How is any of this fair...I sold my soul to save you...I saved so many countless other people, only to use up the rest of my strength in saving you...I couldn't even move...I was chair-bound while you were struck by arrows, and I used up the rest of my strength to save you...I only want to be with you, and yet I was given another chance at life, at the cost of someone else's....how is any of that fair...."

She says unable to hold back as she sobs into her hands, leaning into her husband as much as she could without phasing through him.

William holds Crow close for several seconds, feeling her shaking like a leaf. He'd coax her back a little and slowly and gently used his thumbs to push her tears away and dry her eyes, brushing her hair gently with his fingers, "I know all of this, my beautiful bird... But we're together again. And I have more to the story that I want to tell you about... After you died... I was so hurt... And after Merulan fell we tried to rebuild... And while the buildings all came up just fine, the land began to suffer... Crops simply would not grow, and slowly the area around Merulan became barren. I fell victim to illness due to malnutrition one night, and as I fell asleep, my body was set to suffocate as my lungs themselves filled with fluid that I was simply too weak to cough up... But I prayed that I would find you again... And now that I have, I never want to be apart from you again." he says in order to offer some further closure on what happened to cause him to be a ghost presently.

After several seconds he spoke again, "Also I have been meeting with the Goddess Gaia. She told me so much as to why areas that have been attacked by Pentre's men have since grown barren and have become subject to plagues. And she has taught me how to use my spirit to accomplish small feats of magic. And there is a spell I'd like to try... If you and Lady Raven would be willing... It'll be a difficult spell to cast, and I will need your help, but if it works, I'll be able to possess Lady Raven's body just as you have. I'll only be able to occupy the subconscious long term though... But in times of crisis, maybe I can be of use to you. If you'll both allow this of me, then I'll always be right here beside you... And we can be together forever like we promised. I'll be on my best behavior always, I will promise you that right now." he says as he looks into Crow's eyes, wanting to hear what she thought of this idea.

Crow would place her hand atop his as he used his thumbs to dry her eyes and brush her hair with his fingers, and she would intertwine her fingers with his as she gazed up at him, the stars reflecting in her eyes. Though she would listen to him whole-heartedly, her eyes widening as she listened to him. She wouldn't be able to help but tear up even more, closing her eyes and shaking her head.

"My love...William...I would love nothing more than to be reunited with you...but I couldn't ask that of Raven...I couldn't ask her to-"

"Do it."

Crow's eyes widen as Raven's voice echoed and emanated from her body, and Crow would just stare blankly as Raven's words echoed inside her head, speaking up to address Raven.

"What..?"

"I said do it. Crow, you've been my best friend for as long as I can remember. I know we were fused together by force, but I don't regret it. And I know you would regret it for all eternity if you let your husband, the man you've lived your life for, slip away from your grasp once again. So I don't mind letting him fuse with us if it means you finally get to be reunited."

"Raven.....Thank you...."

She says, knowing that Raven wouldn't be taking no for an answer on this. She smiled up at William, grabbing his face and pulling him in for yet another long and passionate kiss, running her hands through his hair as she cried tears of happiness this time. She would continue to hold him in her embrace as she kissed him, before breaking it and smiling up at him, her hand tenderly holding onto his face, while her other would hold onto his hand.

"What must I do?"

Merry approached Robin calmly, lowering herself to kneel in front of him, "Robin... I didn't come for the horse... I came for you. I came to tell you that you are not beyond redemption even now. You cannot claim fault for facts you did not know. Listen to me... I witnessed the whole thing. You did not cause Mother Gaia harm. You can still apologize. And... No more blood, ok?... Too much has been spilt in this land as it is. You will need every spot on you healthy and in peak condition in the times ahead. Robin... Come back with me. Allow me to take you to Mother Gaia again so you may offer your prayers to her directly. You are not beyond hope, Robin. Please do not stain the land with any more of your blood. Instead, act to nurture the land with your heart. You can still learn to see the good in those around you. Just as the rest of us see the good in you." she says before slowly standing again, "Will you walk with me, Robin?" Merry asks as she holds out her hand to help him to his feet.

Organna and the others would appear a few seconds after Merry got done speaking, and Organna would gasp softly as Robin was seen kneeling before Merry and Merry was holding out her hand to help him to his feet as a gesture of kindness. Pixel and Moonlight would look on quietly, both feeling rather calmed once they saw that Merry was in no danger at present, though Moonlight began to get a feeling that this peace would not last as long as they hoped it would.

Glitter would appear behind the rest, carrying Mother Gaia on his back. He would be using his magic to help her maintain her corporeal spiritual form, walking slowly as he brought Mother Gaia closer to Robin and Merry.

William smiles to Raven and Crow as they both agree, "Thank you... Both of you. I will be forever grateful, Lady Raven. I will do my absolute best to help you when you need me. Goddess Gaia told me that there is a specific prayer we must say while we are surrounded by water. She said that all types of water welcome all other forms of liquid to become one with it. So it's symbolic, I think... I'm still learning about magic, so you'll have to forgive me for not knowing everything I should... But... Hopefully all we'll have to do is stand together in the stream and pray aloud while we focus our magic." he says as he looks to the river, then back to Crow, "Do you mind getting your feet wet, my beautiful bird? Or shall I carry you like old times?" he asks teasingly.

(sorry for short this time.)

(thats okie!)

"Don't mention it. My mother believed in finding true love, in finding your soulmate...and Crow, you found yours. Who am I to take that away from you??"

Raven says, Crow smiling all the while. She would hug her husband one more time, eagerly waiting for them to both be in Raven's subconscious so they could hold each other as tightly as they wanted to. They would be able to stand before one another in Raven's mind, and would be able to express their love however they saw fit. And while William might not be able to take control of their body, it would be enough just to be together again. She smiled as she learned that he was learning magic so that they could be together again, and held onto his hands tightly, before giggling at his statement, nudging him slightly.

"Normally I wouldn't say no to you carrying me, but..."

She says, before sticking her hand through his stomach. She shakes her head and smiles even bigger at him, teasing him right back before speaking up again.

"For you, I would do anything, if I haven't proven that already."

She says taking his hand and walking towards the river. She would lift up the bottom of her kimono and take her sandals off, dipping her toe in the water and chuckling. She would then step inside the water before turning to him and taking his hand, coaxing him in the water as well, before taking both of his hands and holding them in her own. She looks around and back up at him before nodding.

"Ok, what's the prayer?"

William walks with Crow into the water and stands hand in hand with her in the center of the running water. He'd smile to Crow and bow his head, closing his eyes to lead the prayer.

"By the moon and stars in the night sky above and the will of the water around us...
Mother Gaia, Goddess of the Earth, we your humble servants pray to you now to pool our strength together...
As the water welcomes all other liquids into its form, so too do we ask that our spirits unify...
I, William, surrender my form and power to Her Ladyship, Queen Raven Blackwing."

As they recite the prayer, the water would slowly climb their forms and coat them in a soft covering of water. And as William says his final line, his form would begin to vanish, being drawn into Raven's body until he would fully vanish and Crow would be left standing in the water alone. The water would then all fall from Crow's form and leave her comfortably dry once again, the water even parting a bit to give Crow a dry path back to the shore, though the path would become submerged again as crow walks back to the shore to stand with the others again.

"Crow?... Can you hear me?... I'm here with Raven in the subconscious. I believe the spell worked, my beautiful bird.

Raven... Thank you so much for this, again... I promise I'll be on my best behavior and you can call on me any time you need me. Oh, and I have knowledge you might find interesting. The reason the land is dying after the raids by Pentre and his men are due to a curse that came from the blood of the King Dragon under Camelot castle. The curse is carried in the armor and weapons of the knights and raid groups. When the King Dragons blood mixes with the blood of a freshly slain being, magical blood or no, it creates a plague of anti-magic. And without the presence of a living magical being, Goddess Gaia is unable to regulate her magic in that area, and without the magic of Goddess Gaia, the land inevitably withers and dies no matter what effort is made to save it by those without magic. Camelot will eventually become a lifeless, barren dessert nation if this war is allowed to continue and more innocents are slain by King Conrad's Knights.

William says before falling silent. He hugs Raven gently from the subconscious, whispering his gratitude yet again before awaiting Crow and Raven to switch places, knowing that Crow would be very eager to switch places with Raven just to be with him again at long last.

(And from here, Raven, I forfeit control of William the Blacksmith to his rightful creator. Thank you for allowing me to be part of your characters development and evolution. )

The sorcerer looked to Taff, "Maybe I do not. It is all I've ever been. I've grown used to the burden that I fear I may be lost without it." Audemar asked softly, "A bit selfish, isn't it?"

Will watched as William and Crow were reunited. He watched the two, glad for William to be back with Crow, in a couple of ways. He couldn't help but look at his side, at the sword William had made for him and named after Crow. Truly after everything was done, he would have to give them back the sword, but for now he would keep a hold of it, being his only weapon besides his magic and hand. He just stayed silent, rubbing Elesa's back and showing her enough attention she can sleep and regain some of her strength.

Merry looked to Mother Gaia as she spoke, passing it off that she was simply looking to Glitter. Returning her face towards Robin as her eyes remained closed, those treasured eyes of hers remaining sealed closed and hidden from the world, "When we return, Robin... I ask that you and I have a word with W-... With Captain Will... I will... summon a Basilisk Council of Judgment to hear your crimes, and I will preside over your hearing and let your commander pass sentencing for your repentance... Will you comply to these terms?" she says in a soft but attemptingly formal tone, rather happy that Robin couldn't see that well in the dark, because Merry was blushing rather brightly both out of modesty and out of uncharacteristic speaking.

Humbly, she didn't enjoy putting herself in a position of power as she was being more or less forced to do by Robin and his warrior's path and the better knowing Goddess of the Earth, Mother Gaia. She would respect Mother Gaia's words though, and relay the message of her Goddess as best she could. As long as she could get Robin to forgive himself without maiming himself or spilling his blood somehow or finding a way to be killed, then she'd consider that a victory. Merry was still very young, and still learning that there were often special ways that some people had to be dealt with, as not always do kind words coax a better mood out of someone strictly set in their ways. And for this knowledge, Merry was grateful, and reached out with her Aura Telepathy to speak to Gaia without Robin hearing.

"Thank you, Mother Gaia, for your knowledge of Robin's ways. I will do my best to appropriately accommodate my speaking to the way he will best understand. I pray that I'm able to get him to forgive himself without causing himself harm... Though I have my doubts he'll accept a slap on the wrist with a sharp switch as his... Punishment... Anything it takes though. As always, I will heed your wisdom, Mother Gaia."

If Robin agreed to Merry's relayed message from the Goddess, then she would turn and start to lead her party back to the spring, making sure Robin was in tow. She rather wished he'd walk a bit closer to her, but she'd let him stay where he felt his place was most appropriate.

(Thank YOU, Sally, for doing my characters justice! You did an amazing job at capturing both of their personalities!)

Crow would wait for William to be standing in front of her, and bows her head as well, closing her eyes and listening to his prayer. She would recite the prayer in her head alongside William, and would feel the water slowly climbing up her body and coating her. Though she would never once open her eyes, not willing to risk the prayer not working and never being able to reunite with her husband once and for all. She would hold his hands until she felt them slowly fading from her grasp, until eventually she could no longer feel any type of presence at all. She felt a force going inside her, but it was warm and familiar, and it wasn't difficult to let it in. She opened her eyes, to find herself standing alone in the water, and looked down at herself to see the water being drawn back into the water, except for her feet which were submerged in the water. She would step out and listen to her husband's voice echoing from their body, smiling at finally being reunited at long last.

"I can hear you my love!!"

She says, practically ecstatic. She would throw a glance at Will Stone and nods in approval, showing him that it would be ok. Meanwhile, Raven in the subconscious would hug William and shake his hand, never having actually met before. She listened to everything he said and nodded, pondering this for quite some time. The black smoke would surround them once more, and Raven would be standing amongst everyone. Raven approaches the grave and kneels down, taking her necklace off and placing it on the ground in front of the tombstone, smiling as she stood up and resumed her spot next to Lilim, holding her hand.

"We will never be apart...I promise..."

She says with a smile. With the ceremony ended, it would be time to go back to the village and sit down for the feast, as they remembered those that had departed. Or at least, that was the idea. She would nod to Lilim and hug her, then everyone else before pointing down at the village.

"Now that the ceremony is over, we hold a feast in honor of those that have departed...If that's ok with you guys. It's been a long day and I'm sure everyone is hungry."

She says before looking around and noticing Robin and Merry were missing. She raised an eyebrow, and couldn't help but feel like something was wrong, making it a note to set out and find them later. She would hold her hand up in front of the steep slope, before chanting something under her breath. The ground would shift and shape itself so that a stairway would lead from the top of the waterfall down towards the village. This way, anybody who wished to visit her grave would have easier access to it. She would look to Lilim one last time, hugging her to say thank you for everything, before descending the stairs and heading towards the feast. She would also have to give Sally her deepest thank you later. Meanwhile in Raven's subconscious, Crow and William were locked in each others tight embrace. After decades of being apart, they were finally able to hold each other once more, so their grip on each other was so tight that it made it hard for either of them to breath. They would hold each other closely before locking themselves in a passionate kiss. They had both yearned for the warmth of each other, as they were locked in what could almost be a romantic frenzy. It had been so long, and they were not about to let go of each other anytime soon as they continued ravishing one another, taking what they had so long yearned for from one another.