Sharing Joy
The Never Ending Quest - Episode 18527
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"Save your philosophizing prattle for later," Embron growled. "We have a
battle to prepare for." "Quite so, Your Majesty, and I believe this may part of it." "How so?" Joan asked. "Ecstasy and Agony are supposed to be perfect counters to each other," he said. "That they should make one another uncomfortable is certainly no surprise, but why should Agony's sorrow overwhelm Ecstasy's joy - unless it were being done deliberately?" "Do you think the other you is doing something?" Uxton asked. "I wouldn't put it past me - he's learnt through our merging that Ecstasy was on our side, so he'd certainly try to somehow neutralize her. I'd bet they're connected somehow, in some ephemeral, quasi-sorcerous manner, and that he's forcing Agony's sorrow through that connection." "Can we stop it?" Joan asked. Belboz thought for a moment. "Possibly - yes, and perhaps even turn it against them. Ecstasy is a creature of joy, of all things bright and positive in life. If we were to share with her our own joy, it might restore her to her old self. Even better, it might feed back over the connection and overload Agony with happiness, which would paralyze her as much as Ecstasy is now." "Well, we have to do something for her," Joan said. By now, Ecstasy was curled up on the floor, with a stream of hot tears rolling down her cheeks. "Very well," Belboz said. "All present, gather around Ecstasy. I shall cast a spell, and when I say now, lay a hand on her head or shoulder and concentrate on a particular moment from your life when you were happy." The group stood in a circle about Ecstasy and waited. Belboz clasped his arms together and began to mumble something in a language Joan almost, but not quite, understood. After a moment, he looked up and simply said, "Now." All five reached out to grasp the mournful figure that lay on the floor. "Arise, Frederick D'Honaire," the King said, "And in reward for your service to the Kingdom of Allaria, be known henceforth as Sir Fred." Fred stood up, beaming, and bowed to the King. Soon afterward, he found his parents and family. His father, Lord Dredrick, embraced his eldest son and said with a smile, "My boy, today you have made me prouder than ever before!" Gently, the Midwife placed the small, squirming bundle into Uxton's outstretched hand. Nervous but overjoyed, he got his first good look at his daughter. He was surprised how much she looked like his wife - except fo the small pointed chin he seemed to have contributed. Then, wondering what strange new world she'd been thrust into, she opened her eyes and looked directly into her father's. "Hello, my small treasure," Uxton said, so happy he was almost crying. Though he was the King, he'd lived four-plus decades without taking a bride. Then came the moment he'd laid eyes on Jastina, youngest daughter of the Duke of Stapshire, and he was caught. Though he'd faced many foes in battle, he'd never been more nervous than when he'd asked this ravishing beauty, twenty years his junior, to marry him - and never happier than when she agreed. She'd always held King Embron as her image of the ideal man, even though he was older than her by two decades. She was startled when he began asking her to accompany him to royal functions, but she dared not dream it was anything special - until the night he took her in his arms and asked her to be his bride. She felt as though her heart would burst with love. "I've watched you for some time, lad," said Edquist, the strongest mage in Allaria. "There are plenty of would-be mages who can do fancy parlor tricks with those ostentatious sparkling trails, but when push comes to shove, they've got as much business practicing magicks as a meadow- thrush! But you - you've got real talent waiting to be tapped. It won't be easy, but if you're willing to try, you can be my apprentice." They all blinked, aware that they had just shared some of the most intimate moments of their lives with each other. Jastina and Embron were looking at each other as they probably hadn't for years. Finally, there was a sniffle from the floor, and Ecstasy rose, unsteadily, to her feet. "Ecstasy!" Joan exclaimed. "Are you all right?"
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Bill L.
3/28/2004 1:59:55 PM
Extending Enabled
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