"In fact we were afraid, yes afraid of each other."

- Christopher Middleton, "At porthcothan"

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Soundtrack of the chapter: Lelianna's Song, Dragon Age OST

Media: Sad Cady

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Chapter Thirty-Six: Reunion

Firaun Strauss held down Cady's arms as she fought against him. He couldn't help but to wonder what happened to her. Her face, once smooth and beautiful, was now covered in scratched and bruises. Two shiny streaks ran down her cheeks-dried tears. She wore no armor, and her Oracle robes were severely torn, especially by the sleeves. Her Walker tattoo, without the coverage of her robes was in full view, glistening like oil.

She screamed again. Firaun raised a hand as Calaeno rushed forward, eager to help.

"No need, I can take care of her."

Her screams were a distorted jumble, but most of the time he could sense a name forming on her lips-Jasper.

"It's alright," he murmured. "You're safe now."

Finally, fatigue took its toll. Cady sunk into an exhausted faint, going limp in Firaun's arms. Her head lolled against his chest as Firaun gathered her in his arms and walked toward the nearest Healer who had a tent set up at once.

Whispers of who is she burned the lips of his army of thousands. Firaun ignored them. Right now, all his attention was focused on the frail little bundle in his arms.

From the corner of his eye, he saw Master Calaeno gasp when Cady's right arm slipped loose and dangled at her side.

"A Walker," he snarled. "How is this possible?"

More murmurs, this time louder. Firaun regarded Master Calaeno coldly. "Now is not the time for old hatred and vengeance. We have a Hall to save."

"How are you so certain the abomination in your arms isn't the bringer of war?" he shot back, his Celestial Blade already drawn. "Let me finish her, her kind doesn't deserve to live."

Firaun glared at Master Calaeno. The huge man was suddenly on his knees, his hands clawing at his neck, struggling to breathe. His face turned from a rich beefy red to an ugly shade of purple. "Master Calaeno," Firaun said calmly. "You are, after all a High Priest. You should know the price of killing innocence. Speak out of turn again, and you will die."

He released his invisible grip on the Master's neck. He slumped forward in a pitiful mess, gobbling sweet air. Cady was stone-cold in her arms. Part of him burned with guilt. He was the one who sent her to the Hall of Spirits with the vestigial hope of her being able to thrive within disguising as an Oracle. Look at what you've done, he chided himself. She's hurt.

Mistress Corinth went forward. Her eyes were a shade of different color-green on the right and blue on the left-considered a gift of healing among the Oracles. "The tent is ready, Your Honor." She gestured at the makeshift tent in the clearing. "Lay her there, I will take care of the rest."

Her eyes fell onto Cady's Walker tattoo. She paled.

"Your Honor, is she-?"

"Yes," he replied before the Healer finished her question. "She's one of the last Walkers."

"One of the last?" she repeated. "You mean there are more Walkers?"

"The one now reveling in the Hall of Spirits, is a Walker. He is the one we are here for."

Firaun strode forward. Bending his head, he entered the tent and laid Cady on the pallet. Mistress Corinth then shooed him out of the tent and drew the shutters close. It was then, he realized, that he had been holding his breath the whole time.

"What was that all about?" A familiar voice appeared beside him. Master Damari, a sweet Naturam of nineteen strode next to him. "I had to call the entire army to halt, it was messy."

Firaun smiled. Damari was a responsible person, fit to be the High Priest-in-training for the Hall of Games. From his attitude and actions, he knew he had chosen the right Starlet. "An old friend," he said. "She's injured, probably running away from the attacks."

"I heard that she is a Walker. Is it true?"

Firaun clapped him on the shoulder easily, being at least a head taller than the boy. "Yes, she is."

"I thought Walkers were extinct," Damari said in wonder.

"The Stars surprise us in ways we can never imagine." He winked. "Now get back to work. Tell the captains we will camp here for the night and set out at first light. The Walker here might give us some insight on whatever hell that is going on within the Hall of Spirits. I have still yet to receive a reply from Elijah Sanguinis."

Damari bowed and went, leaving Firaun alone outside the tents. With his heightened Warrior senses, he knew that Master Calaeno was lurking somewhere close, ready to pounce on Cady and kill her at any given chance. He dropped onto a tree stump beside the tent, drumming his fingers on his legs, waiting for Mistress Corinth's verdict.

The waning moon was beautiful. It hung in the sky, a gleaming silver sickle. Firaun always liked the moon, it reminded him of the days he would spend with his family, of how his father used to train him relentlessly from night to dawn.

"Your Honor," Mistress Corinth called. "She's awake."

He leaped to his feet. Catching himself, he smoothed down his expression so that Mistress Corinth wouldn't suspect anything. "How's her condition?"

"I administered some healing potions to her, her wounds and bruises will heal. But Your Honor, there is something very wrong with her. I don't know if I could do anything about it."

Firaun stared at her. "What do you mean?"

The Healer wrung her hands. "She's still intact in person, but there is something missing. I just can't say what. Her entire person radiates sadness, and a darkness that lurks in the depths of her heart. I fear for her."

"Cady is light, not darkness," he said. "You must be mistaken."

"I am never wrong, Your Honor," she said. "Let's just hope that you can curb whatever she is struggling with. I'll leave you to talk."

The Healer hitched up her gown and walked over to the other side, her boots crunching on the wet grass. He took in a deep breath, lifted the flap and went in.

Cady was wrapped in a thick fur blanket in the middle of the tent. She was sitting lotus styled, but her shoulders were hunched forward, as if someone had heaved a mountain upon her. Her beautiful red hair, once lush and beautiful, fell down her back in tangled. She stared ahead, unmoving, unblinking.

"Cady?" he said. There was a note of uncertainty in his voice, and he hated it.

Her head turned toward his direction. "Well I never," she said. "It's the High Priest of the Hall of Games."

"Witty as always." He sat down beside her with a smile. "How are you feeling?"

She rolled her eyes. "Like sunshine and unicorns."

Firaun looked at her, drinking in the details of her face. She had lost weight, and her eyes were dark circles. "What happened?"

She turned away. "Eli is dead."

"What?!" he gasped. "The High Priest is dead?"

"Jasper killed him..." her voice trailed off. She bit down hard on her lip, piercing through the soft flesh. Blood oozed out. Firaun realized that she was trembling. It took everything in his willpower not to just loop his arms around her neck and give her a crushing hug.

"Is this Jasper the Walker?" he asked. Business comes first, and the safety of the Halls was his highest priority. She could fill him in with her life later.

She didn't react, but she scrunched herself into a tighter ball. "Cady, are you alright?"

Firaun could sense the darkness radiating from her-a black cloud veiling her from the strands of Celestial energy floating by the sides. Her shadow Affinities weren't as conspicuous as it was now when she first left the Hall of Games. Before, it was just thin strands, easily broken and faded. Now it had a choking grip on her, so thick, Firaun doubted that he could ever sever them.

"Just...leave me alone," she said.

"Josh is here." Her sad eyes took the words out of his mouth. He couldn't stand seeing her so...shattered. If he couldn't piece her together, maybe her brother could.

She raised her head, eyes glistening. "My brother is here?"

He nodded. "He quickly progressed to one of the finest Warriors in his batch, if not with the cockiest attitude. When he heard that the Hall of Spirits was under attack, he begged Mistress Avalone to join the army. He is willing to risk his life for you."

Tears blossomed in her eyes. "I want to see my brother, please."

"I'll send for him. Meanwhile, don't go anywhere."

She snorted. "As if I could, not with twenty million guards out there. I bet they all saw my tattoo, disgusted that a Walker has joined their company."

What happened to her? During their training at the Hall of Games, Cady had taken pride in her blood, eager to learn the art of shadows and her history. But now, her every word dripped loathe and anger.

She just needs time, he reassured himself. Once this is over, she'll be back to normal.

He rose and left. Maybe, she needed some family time. Now all he needed to do was to find that dratted Warrior and tear him from wrestling with his fellow Warriors. He would be utterly delighted to see Cady again, no doubt.

The High Priest vanished into the shadows, just as Cady had.

*****

When Cady left for the Hall of Spirits, Josh had heaped all his trust on Thomas, expecting that he would take good care of his sister. But he was mistaken. The person sitting before him hardly resembled the Cady from his memories. The Cady he remembered was always in for a good laugh, all sunshine and happiness. This Cady was all thunder and sadness, her eyes dead, her brows pulled down into a frown.

When she heard the tent flap lift, she jerked her head toward him at once, eyes wary. Disbelief crawled up her face as her eyes widened.

"Josh," she breathed. "Is that you?"

"Cady." He rushed forward, forgetting the heavy mail he was in, gathered his little sister up in his arms and hugged her. Her hair was all over his face, spilling over his shoulders and even into his mouth. But he didn't care. It was Cady, his baby sister, right before him.

"I missed you so much." Her voice was cracking. Josh blinked tears out of his eyes. If his friends saw him crying, he would never hear the end of it.

He nuzzled her neck and put her down. "I missed you more."

She plucked at his chain mail. "You've grown."

True, he had. Months of intensive training had turned his scrawny arms into muscular ones. His hair, once tidy, had grown into crazy curls which spilled all over his head. He had grown taller, too. Cady now seemed like a little child to him, with her small frame and all.

"So have you."

Cady touched his face tentatively, running her thin fingers over his nose, his chin before it came down to his chest where the emblem of the Hall of Warriors blazed even in the dim Celeslights.

"I heard what happened," he said. "The Hall of Spirits was under attack."

At the mention of the Hall, her hand sagged, as did her spirits. "It's a long story. I don't want to relive it."

He sat down beside her, clearing away the pillows. "You know you can always tell me anything, right?" He waggled his eyebrows, the way Cady loved and would always laugh whenever he did it.

A smile crept onto her face, but she didn't laugh. "Stop it, you look ridiculous."

He stuck out his tongue. "I am a handsome man, don't ruin my manly confidence."

She punched him in the arm. "Idiot."

Normally, his sister's punches held power. This punch was half-hearted and weak. He suddenly wished he had mind-reading powers so he could reach into Cady's brain and remove whatever that was troubling her.

"I'm serious, Cady. What happened?"

She bit her lip, again. The skin had already broken into beads of blood.

Cady started picking the hair off her fur blanket. "I don't know, Josh. I don't know where to start."

Josh ruffled her hair. "From the very beginning."

She inhaled before releasing it in a quick rush of air, sending her locks fluttering. Then, she told him, everything. Although shocked, Josh remained silent, giving Cady the encouragement she needed by squeezing her hand. Finally, when her story was done, she leaned in and threw her arms around his neck, weeping silently.

This Jasper boy will pay, he swore. He will pay for making my little sister suffer. To the Stars I swear.

*****

A/N

Firaun is back! And so is Josh! This chapter was so much fun to write, and it made me a little teary when Josh finally hugged Cady!

We only have a few chapters left before the end, so hang in tight!

Popsicles,

Stef