FINAL REWARD: PART XVII
by: Taliaferro Erucolindo
General Jyleel was happy to welcome Tal and Kiren back to Felwithe, even though he looked very tired and worn out. Despite the lateness of the hour (for it was nearly midnight), the General took the illegible scroll with great care. "This is just what we need to prove to the people that these false "laws" were the work of imposters, not of the one true King!" raved the venerable Koada'Dal Paladin, "As soon as our top spellcasters have cracked the magical encryption spells on the scroll, we'll be able to read it and show all of Norrath what the enemy is up to!" He thanked both Elves profusely, but the two refused any further compensation. "I must go now, General, but please continue to fight the good fight," said Kiren, although the General had no idea just how final this farewell from Kiren was. As Tal and Kiren once more walked out of Felwithe, the two decided to make one more stop. Travelling quickly to the Ranger Outpost in Lesser Faydark, where Kiren had spent most of his early years, the two spent the last few hours before midnight laughing, drinking, telling stories, and remembering their many adventures together. At last, as midnight drew nigh, Kiren spoke a word of farewell to the Rangers, and then began to walk deeper and deeper into the Faydark forest. Still not ready to say his final farewell, Taliaferro walked with his friend. Soon, they were deep in the forest, well away from any signs of civilization.
"How will she....will you....do you have to die to go be with her?" asked Tal. Kiren shrugged, "I'm not sure, Tal. I can sense that the time is near, but I don't know exactly how I'm going to go be with her. I just know that she's calling me. She's calling me home." Tal frowned. "Kiren, THIS is your home! WE are your family. I know you have to do what you feel is right, but.....Kiren.....we've been through so MUCH together! I.....I don't know if....if I can keep doing this without you here." "Yes you can, Tal. You HAVE to. There's too much GOOD in you NOT to keep fighting the good fight. Remember when Rallos Zek spoke to you? He told you what your destiny was. You KNOW that deep in your heart, you won't let ANYTHING stop you from achieving it. This is MY destiny, Tal. This is what *I* have to do. I could no more turn down this chance than you could disobey the Warlord." Kiren stopped and put a hand on Tal's shoulder. "We've known each other for centuries Tal. The short-lived races on Norrath have no idea what that's like, but we do. In that time, we've fought many battles together, and won many victories. We've overcome every challenge that Norrath and the gods have thrown our way. Now I'm going off to face a new challenge. I'll face it better if I know that you're here, still fighting the good fight, still finishing the course, and still keeping the faith. Light will prevail, Tal, because people like you and the rest of Giliath Lang don't give up. I'll be watching Tal. Know that I'll always be with you in spirit." Kiren embraced his kinsman, and Tal had to fight back the urge to knock Kiren unconscious and drag him back to Felwithe. Instead, Tal just returned the embrace, then backed away and saluted Kiren, "You're one of the bravest and most honorable souls I've ever known, Kiren Tiradoio. The Warlord would have been proud to have you in our ranks, but his loss in our Mother's gain, as Tunare will now have one of her greatest champions to protect her." Kiren smiled and returned the salute, "It has been an honor to fight beside you, Taliaferro Erucolindo, and now I must ask two final favors from you." Tal raised an eyebrow, then smiled, "Anything, just ask." Kiren took his bow, his quiver, and his short sword of Morin, and handed them to Tal. "If you would, take these back to Felwithe, and place them in the Hall of Heroes. It's a small conceit, but I wish for my weapons to be there with Soulfire and the others." Tal took the weapons with great care and placed them with his own. "I'll put them there, I promise," Tal said. "And finally," Kiren said, as he removed the Losse Onde, the Artifact of Light he was charged with keeping, from his finger, "I entrust this to you. There is no one else I'd trust more to keep it safe." Tal's hand trembled as he reached out and accepted the Losse Onde. Placing it on his own finger, he said, "I will guard it with my life." "I know you will, my friend," said Kiren, with a smile.
As the two stood there, a silence fell over the trees. Even the animals and insects became still in reverence. A gentle breeze began to blow. Soft voices, almost inaudible, seemed to whisper on the wind, as though all of nature was aware of what was about to happen. Moonlight broke through the trees above them, and there, descending on the moonbeams as though they were stairs, appeared The Mother of All. Her golden hair streaming in the wind, the light of the full moon reflecting from her alabaster skin, the deep rich green of her robes matching perfectly the color of nature all around her.....Tunare....goddess of nature and creator of the Elves....stood before Kiren and Taliaferro. The two Fier'Dal knelt in reverence to the Mother of All Elvenkind. Speaking with a voice that was more beautiful than anything either Elf had heard in their life, Tunare addressed Kiren, "Rise my childe. Kiren Tiradoio, are you ready to walk the path before you? Are your ready to take your place at my side, as one of my chosen Guardians?" Looking his creator in the eyes, Kiren emphatically nodded, "Yes, Great Mother, I am ready." Smiling, Tunare nodded and then turned towards Taliaferro, who remained on one knee, with his eyes lowered. "Do you fear to look upon me, my son? I have nothing but love for all of my children." asked Tunare. Tal kept his eyes lowered. "Mother, I am a Warrior, one who serves Rallos Zek. While I do not feel this conflicts with my love and reverance for you, I do not feel worthy to look upon you," Tal replied humbly. Tunare laughed, and it was unbearably beautiful to hear. "My dear children, I am your Mother....Look upon me and know that my love is unconditional. Taliaferro Erucolindo, you do indeed follow the path of the Warlord, but you use the gifts that he gives you for the Good. War is an unfortunate necessity, and if Good does not fight to defend itself, then it will be lost to Evil. As Kiren said, you and your kinsmen, and your guild, must continue to fight the GOOD fight, no matter what. I am not taking Kiren from you to keep him out of that fight, I am asking him to come with me so that he can fight on a different battlefield. He will be with me, and one day, you WILL see him again, my son." Tal looked into his Mother's eyes, and nearly wept at the love and beauty he saw within them. "Bear witness to this, Taliaferro Erucolindo, for what you see now is not normally for mortal eyes. I grant you this vision, so that you may let your valiant friends know the final reward of their brother and guildmate." Tal looked upon his friend, who looked happier than he'd ever seen him look before. Kiren quietly whispered something to Tunare that Tal couldn't quite hear. Tunare looked back at him, thought for a moment, then nodded. Kiren glanced back at Tal and smiled like a child about to be granted his greatest desire. Tunare placed her hands upon Kiren's shoulders, and gently kissed her chosen guardian on the forehead. Kiren closed his eyes, and his form began to change. With the smile still on his face, Kiren's features slowly, yet with beautiful grace, began to change into those of a giant black panther! His clothes fell to the ground as though he were immaterial, then his form solidified again, and before the amazed Taliaferro, where once a Fier'Dal Ranger had stood, now stood an enormous, sleek, and deadly looking Guardian of Tunare! Turning to look once more at his old friend, the Guardian-that-was-Kiren seemed to smile, and in those big yellow eyes, Tal recognized, somehow, his dearest friend. Tunare rested her hand upon the head of her newest Guardian, and the two of them began to fade back into the moonlight.
For the briefest of instants, as his Mother and her Guardian faded from sight, Tal could have sworn he saw the giant black panther wink at him.
Until sunrise, Taliaferro stood at the spot where the Mother had called Kiren home. Then, as the first rays of the new day filtered down through the forest, Tal took a deep breath, and with a smile on his face, began the walk back to Felwithe, where he would keep his promise to his friend, and take the next steps down his own path.
The End - Epilogue