This choice: Another Place, Another Time • Go Back...Chapter #5Another Place, Another Time by: eyestar~*   Once upon a day rising Emma of the House of Martell left the world. She just didn’t get up one morning as the others went with their daily rites. They didn’t even notice her absence at first. After all, what is one less vieing for attention?
When they finally missed her, they went to her chamber and found her sleeping. Try as they might they couldn’t rouse her. She simply went on sleeping, oblivious to their call.
So began she first adventure of Emma to Otherworld.
When she awoke, she was in a strange yet familiar surroundings. No comfort in the familiarity, for it was dark and dank and her nerves were tingling. Yes, she knew the place now. It was the world of her reveries, when , at times, she’d just stare off in some distraction. Usually, it was a fair place but recent ones were ominous like this hall of darkness. Once it was a place where you were meant to face your own fears, your fearful self. Now it was menaced by a horrid beast set on turning those entering into his minions, using their dark selves permanently.
She shuddered as she remembered something impressed upon her in the last contact before the darkening images began:
“We are in serious danger. Without our visits to the Hall of Dark, where we face new levels of understanding, wisdom and strength, our society will stagnate and die or worse. Should we give in to the Morbidane, we become evil and turn in on ourselves, becoming a threat to others, even your world, eventually.
We have always served as peacemakers of spheres, constantly shifting to preserve a balance, as we have for all time, as directed by the Master. We serve to keep others at bay. The dark force too, is ever present. Greater it grows. Now it even enters our domain. A test, perhaps.
You are a rare one to have been able to delve into our world and we welcome peaceful intrusion. Now, it seems, in our hour of greatest need, you may be of service. In fact, he has already crept into you as well, so that you have stopped fighting in your own world. Little does he realize he may have played into our hands. Yes , the Great One makes use of evil to turn it to good.”
As she stood silent in the hall, she had so many questions battling for expression. How did she get here? What was she to do? Oh, she didn’t understand this. She just wanted to rest! Now she was to be a worse battle and had no clue. Worse still, it was not just for herself anymore, but would effect these gentle beings fo her reveries. Where would she be without them?
She made herself quiet and concentrated, to make contact.
“Yes , Emma , I hear you. Cannot help, I’m afraid. On ly to say that you have all you need to face this foe. We will support you and pray for alone we cannot defeat this evil. You have been chosen, so believe….”
“Wait!” Emma panicked. “Don’t go! Don’t leave me alone here!” she cried as the voice faded. A gentle echo reminded her: You are never alone , dear one.”
Emma leaned against the smooth rocky interior of the cave-like hall and took a deep breath, wondering what her next move should be. Should she wait for whatever was to happen or go in search of it? She was not eager to find it but wanted it to be done. She was about to decide when she heard the most raucous nerve tingling voice she’d ever heard.
“Welcome , young Emma. See how easy it was to just give up fighting and come to me? Fatigue is an easy tool to manipulate, don’t you agree? He laughed.
“I do not willing come to you, whoever you are! I am merely resting and you are totally imaginary!” she responded with all the courage she could muster on being confronted by this eery being.
The Morbidane roared with laughter, tossing his gigantic head back. “oh, no! I am quite real, though not know well in this form. And you, you are one of many falling, or rather coming to our ranks.”
“Never! Why me , anyway?”
“Why not? The higher they are , the more power I gain whrn they fall. It happens sooner or later, my dear. So face it?”
“Yes , we all make mistaken choices but there is always a way back. You may think you have me, but I will not stay! You cannot make me, If I will against you.” Emma retorted.
Morbidane merely grinned at the challenge. “Not easy, ma petite. I have several of these sickening peace creatures in my clutches, already primed and now, with you too, I’ll soon take over this domain. It is much too restful for my taste.”
“I will not help you. The others you tricked were not expecting subterfuge. I know you. I have forewarning. I will , but the Maker’s grace, not stay here.” Emma firmly stated as she stood, arms crossed, head held high in defiance.
Morbidane squinted at her steady clear eyes and rubbed one grubby had across his chin. “We’ll see,” he said , as he turned away. “You have yet to face the secrets of this hall.”
“That you have tampered with, no doubt. You are not in charge of me, do you hear?” Emma yelled after him. “You do nothing but take orders and hurt innocent beings, ignorant uninformed people. You have none of your own power. Only use theirs, you parasite.!”
Emma was quite angry at his confidence and a trifle afraid as well. She was not used to anger. Was she drawing on his? She didn’t know what to expect. The unknown was always a frightening concept, and for all her bravado, she didn’t know if she was strong enough to withstand the great tempting to come. In little things she even failed. Yet she learned from them and grew stronger. Now so much depended on her. Oh , she wanted to go home and cry in a corner at her fate. But somehow, with her anger turned to potency she knew she wouldn’t give in.
As she turned to begin her trek down the corridor, she saw a flash of light reflected off of a mica stone wall. Instantly she recalled Camil’s words, “You are never alone.” That’s right, she thought. She looked around for a dry spot and knelt to pray. She knew , in all humility, the only way through this was with the Maker’s help. She could not manage it alone but knew, if she asked in faith, He’s give her strength. It was a magic the Morbidane could not fathom.
“Oh Great Maker, I kneel before you, seeking, in my little faith, your help. Help my weakness in this grave time, for your peacemakers and for your greater peace. Let not this evil one win the day with his pride and arrogance. Surround us with love and strength, here in this darkness. Thank you." She ended in a whisper. As she signed the blessing she heard the faint echo of "unbowed, unbent, unbroken" the chant of the Martell Sunspears as they headed to battle, and with a lighter heart , she rose and began the trek into the Hall of Darkness.
She wondered, as she heard it just then, if it was happening back in her own time.
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