Self Reflection

Scarlett sat alone in a small glade at the center of the ancient Temple that Queen Thia had led them to. Sagacious had retired to one of the smaller rooms, saying something about needing to talk things out. Scarlett was glad he'd decided to step away, she'd heard enough of him talking his way through problems to last her a lifetime. Ill at ease, she tried to process the events of the past week, but it was all too much for her. If only she had Mae here to help, if only she didn't feel so alone and afraid!

She was aware of the other presence within her, and it did lend some comfort, even if she didn't fully understand how it had gotten there, or even what it truly was. Images of Debwynn flashed through her mind, and Scarlett recalled the few lessons she'd had in those few moments they'd shared. The great river, its familiar and emerald presence began to fill her mind's eye as she slowed her breathing.

She could smell the water, the sweet scents of jungle flowers, could feel the current caress her body as it flowed around her. She opened her eyes, white and pupiless, to the blue sky above her and let the feelings flow through her. A small, shuddering sob opened the emotional dam, soon followed by deep wracking tears which made her entire body sway and rock. She sat for many minutes, simply feeling the fear, the loss and a deep simmering anger until she'd regained some small semblance of control. All around her, the glade sprouted new flowers, the grass grew several inches and all the avian life squawked and sang excitedly.

Scarlett stared at her reflection in the small pool, its green waters placid and unmoving as she wiped the tears from her eyes and stared at her reflection. The tattoos of fine green and black lines still ran across her cheeks and neck, glowing a faint green as she watched and raised delicate fingers to touch them. A sly smile appeared on the reflection's face, and Scarlett stared in wonder as the water rippled and the image of herself began to stand and raise out of the pool. She scooted back from the edge and looked around the glade at the guards that had been left nearby, none of them seemed to notice anything.

"Oh! That's a good trick." She began shakily, standing before her reflection. "Are you… my current other half?"

The image curtseyed floridly and smiled at her. "I am you, you are me."

Scarlett scowled and laughed drily. "I guess we are, at that. What did Queen Thia call you again? Everon?"

Her duplicate sat cross-legged in front of her and bade her to do likewise before it answered her. "That was to be our name, yes. In a kinder world, anyway. Now, it will serve as well as any name, although our other half has no concept of a name."

Scarlett sat and shook her head confusedly, "Our other half? The thing that's possessed that half-elf? The storm?"

"That is correct, Scarlett. It came for you before, in the desert. I am sorry, it was seeking me." Her duplicate's eyes looked sad and far away in that moment.

Scarlett shuddered at the memory of Arhi's pretty face, twisted and desecrated in undeath. "I remember. Did Mae know what you were?"

"She did not. She only knew that I was important and that I must not be allowed to fall into the wrong hands. She did intend for you to replace her when the time had come, that much I know. She did not foresee her poisoning, sadly, and passed before she could give me to you." Scarlett's shoulders sank and she smiled sadly again, wiping at fresh tears.

"Who killed her, Everon? All that power, surely you can see!" Anger crept into Scarlett's voice and the sad memories began to drift away from her.

"The one called Ciara. She who is bonded with my other half." The thing reached out and laid a hand on Scarlett's shoulder gently. "At the behest of Annatar's cult. They wanted me."

Scarlett looked up at her reflection, her own face a twisted mask of rage and pain. "I'll kill her!" she hissed through clenched teeth. "Again." She added wryly.

"That is not possible, Scarlett. My other half IS death. We must find another way."

"There is no other way. She deserves to die! How many innocents has she and that… that THING bonded with her killed?" Scarlett was truly angry now, possibly angrier than she had ever been in her life.

"Many thousand, Scarlett." Her other self began gravely. "And many thousands more will suffer if we attempt violence to stop them. You cannot kill it. I cannot kill it." She locked placid eyes with herself and grabbed Scarlett's hands. "There must be a better way."

Scarlett wrenched her hands free and stood up again. "A better way? I have had enough of your mysterious half answers. I didn't ASK you to 'bond' with me, okay? I didn't ASK Sagacious and his busybody Knights to get involved! All I have done since this all began has been run for my damned life, and I am fucking SICK of it!" Her voice was raised and the guards all looked strangely at her. They clearly couldn't see or hear the other half of the conversation.

"You are correct, dear one. You did not ask me to save you in the desert, and perhaps I was motivated by my own self preservation, but do not forget that I saved your life as well." The duplicate smiled softly at her. "And as for Sagacious, again you are correct. You did not ask him to risk his life, his love… to help you." Images of the fight back in the villa flashed before Scarlett and she sighed guiltily. 'She' was right. He'd lost everything to help her. Mercilessly, her image continued, "And yet, he did. Bravely. And he still stands beside you! As do these noble Elves, their Queen and Prince. The question is not what you have done to deserve such things, Scarlett." It paused a moment before continuing, "The question is, what will you do with these gifts now?"

Scarlett stood stunned and quiet for some time, struck by her own words. "I…" she began falteringly, "We. We should find a way to stop it. To stop them. Or all of their sacrifices are meaningless."

The image smiled at her and nodded. "We will find a way." It spoke solemnly and raised a hand to Scarlett's cheek, stepping forward. Reality warped for a brief second as the two images melded into one, and once more the wildlife chittered and sang as Scarlett stood alone in the sacred grove.