Fic: Maestra (Part 9)
Title: Maestra
Fandom: Legend of the Seeker
Author: cakeandqpm1138
Rating/s | Content: PG-13
Word Count: 1541
Summary: Set immediately after 'Tears.' By performing the Spells of Undoing, Zedd grievously altered the course of history. Now, Richard, Kahlan, Cara and Zedd must team up with Nicci and Rahl to find a way to appease the Maestra, the Goddess of Time, before she decides to correct the problem by destroying the entire universe, past, present and future. This, however, will be no easy task; Zedd's spells split the course of history into three paths. Which one, if any, will be saved?
Warnings: Spoilers through 'Tears'
Author's Notes: Written for the Legend of the Seeker Big Bang Challenge. Feedback is craved!
Sister Vanthia was right: just before the last rays of sun died out the next evening, she and Kahlan were within sight of the manor where Sister Nicci was hiding. It was a massive structure, glooming and imposing, built into the side of the cliffs themselves. Wolves howled in the distance, sending a chill down Kahlan’s spine and making her horse shift uncomfortably beneath her. She put on her Confessor’s face, setting her jaw as Sister Vanthia dismounted.
“I’ll see to the horses. Sister Nicci is waiting for you inside.”
Kahlan said nothing, eyeing the gates of the manor uneasily. She too dismounted and handed her reigns to Sister Vanthia who led the horses off into the rolling fog without another word. Kahlan was left alone in the all-but-darkness, dread and the cold mountain air making her shiver. For a few moments she considered turning around and heading back the way they’d come on her own, but the wolves howled again, closer this time, and she thought better of it. The voice in the back of her mind warned her that she was walking into a trap but she ignored it, raising a hand to knock at the looming, rivet-strewn door.
To her surprise, the doors swung open before she’d even touched them, though when she stepped hesitantly inside no one was in sight. Torches flared to life on either side of the entrance hall, illuminating a single Sister of the Dark standing on the hallway’s threadbare crimson carpet.
“This place was once the haunt of a powerful sorcerer,” she said by way of explanation, indicating the doors and torches. She offered no further introduction but merely turned and limped off down the corridor. “Sister Nicci is waiting.”
Kahlan watched her as she walked away, dumbstruck momentarily. The woman paused, glancing back at Kahlan in annoyance. Kahlan followed without another word.
The sister led her through a maze of dark hallways, at last ushering her into a dimly lit room, a dining room by the long dusty table set with old, tarnished silver, candles flickering from brass candelabra in the center.
“Eat. Sister Nicci will join you shortly,” the sister commanded. Before Kahlan could argue she had stepped back through the doorway, shutting the heavy door behind her.
Alarmed, Kahlan tried to follow but she found the door locked tight. She hadn’t even heard the bold slide into place. She pounded on the door, trying to keep the panic out of her shouts. When no answer came, she willed herself to regain her composure and turned to examine the table. A single bowl of some sort of stew steamed at the side of the far end, near the head of the table. She eyed it warily, the hunger from her hard ride battling the suspicion and mounting panic. The stew smelled quite good, but she resolved to wait until Nicci arrived. Kahlan sat uneasily in one of the table’s high-backed chairs and waited.
And waited.
The minutes stretched on and still there was no sign of Nicci. The steam stopped rising off the stew and still Kahlan waited. At last the gnawing hunger won out and she held a spoonful of stew to her lips, tasting it hesitantly. It was indeed quite good, if somewhat cold. She took a second spoonful and as soon as it touched her lips the door swung open.
Sister Nicci strode into the room and settled into the chair at the head of the table. Kahlan glared at her, her face flushing with a powerful surge of emotion. She had not heard her approach, nor had she heard the lock release, but she did not stop to wonder about that now.
Kahlan hated her, this witch who had taken her Confessor powers and used them against her, compelling her to turn against the man she loved. When last they’d parted, Kahlan had left Nicci for dead, flying into the Con Dar to avenge her death. Phantom pangs of grief and rage flared to life in her memory even now that she’d been released from Confession.
Nicci watched as Kahlan struggled to beat down her tangled emotions. The merest hint of a smirk hung on her lips, but her murky hazel eyes were shadowy, devoid of their usual defiant gleam, Kahlan noticed, and it cooled her rage. She took in Nicci’s whole appearance. She wore a dark gown that covered her from chin to foot. Her hair was swept back in a simple, modest braid. Though she carried herself with her usual regal grace, Kahlan noticed that the edge of haughty confidence had left her. She eyed the long sleeves of Nicci’s dress and wondered how many of Rahl’s scars were concealed beneath them. Sister Vanthia’s story must have been true; Kahlan tried but could not feel any hint of magic around Nicci.
As if she could read her thoughts, Nicci chose that moment to speak. “I don’t want your pity, Mother Confessor, only your help.” Her voice was steady but subdued. “With the fate of the world at stake, let’s put the past behind us, shall we?”
“The fate of the world, Nicci? That’s a very weighty claim. I assure you, it’ll take at least a world-threatening disaster to make me even consider helping you. You claim you heard something while you were in the Underworld, something that frightens even the Keeper. Another weighty claim. Speak quickly. You’ve wasted enough of my time already.”
Indeed, Nicci wasted no more time. She drew a deep breath and began. “At first I thought it only rumor, horror stories whispered amid the flames to make the torments of the Underworld pale in comparison. The spirits spoke of a terrible nothingness, the end of all light, all darkness, everything, brought about by a power greater than the Creator or the Keeper themselves. They were the same stories I’d heard as a child. I’m sure you’ve heard them too. There’s not a person alive that doesn’t fear nothingness more than even the darkest pits of the Underworld.”
Despite being unsettled by the haunted look in Nicci’s eyes, Kahlan remained unconvinced. “It’ll take more than vague superstition about the end of the universe to scare me.”
“That’s how I felt at first. But the murmurs grew louder, the stories more specific. Something happened during the war between the Keeper and the Creator, something that should not have happened. Neither the Keeper nor the Creator know what it was, but they both agree: something has happened that changed the course of history itself.”
Nicci’s words hit Kahlan like a blast of icy wind and she gasped, sudden understanding throwing her eyes wide with fear. “History has been altered? Are you saying…”
Nicci nodded solemnly. “The Maestra is furious. It is said she spoke to the Keeper and Creator, admonishing them for allowing such a thing to happen during their war. It is said that the tear in the fabric of time is so dire that the Maestra would rather destroy this timeline, past, present and future - and heaven and hell along with it - instead of allowing history to continue on this new course. I myself saw the terror in the Keeper’s eyes before I was pulled back into the world of the living. I have no doubt that it is true.”
Kahlan dropped her head into her hands. “The Maestra. I thought she was only a myth. Dear spirits, I’ve prayed she was only a myth. The end of the universe…” she trailed off in despair. “But you said you needed my help. I’ve no power against the Goddess of Time. What do you want from me?”
Nicci swallowed hard. “I need you to take me to Aydendril. If there’s a way to stop the Maestra from destroying the world, key lies in the Wizard’s Keep. I also need your protection. I escaped Darken Rahl once. I won’t get the chance a second time. He doesn’t know the things I’ve just told you, but he tried his hardest to find them out.” She unceremoniously pulled back the sleeves of her dress to display the burned, scarred and blistered flesh underneath. “If he catches me he’s sure to find out and if he does he’ll do everything in his power to stop us from thwarting the Maestra’s destruction. He, for one, would rather face nothingness than go to the Keeper after having betrayed him.”
Kahlan remained silent for several moments, deep in thought. Finally she raised her head and met Nicci’s eyes. “I will take you to Aydendril and protect you from Rahl, but you need to understand that nothing has changed between us. I can’t forgive you for what you made me do to Richard.”
“I’m not asking you to. I can’t forgive you for stopping me. We can go back to being mortal enemies after we’ve saved the world,” Nicci drawled, sounding more like herself by the second. Kahlan was unsure whether to be relieved or unsettled.
“Bargain struck.”
“Good. If you’ve finished eating I’ll show you to your room. Send word to the others so that they may start looking for answers as soon as they reach Aydendril. We’ve no time to lose. We’ll leave for Aydendril at first light.”
Fandom: Legend of the Seeker
Author: cakeandqpm1138
Rating/s | Content: PG-13
Word Count: 1541
Summary: Set immediately after 'Tears.' By performing the Spells of Undoing, Zedd grievously altered the course of history. Now, Richard, Kahlan, Cara and Zedd must team up with Nicci and Rahl to find a way to appease the Maestra, the Goddess of Time, before she decides to correct the problem by destroying the entire universe, past, present and future. This, however, will be no easy task; Zedd's spells split the course of history into three paths. Which one, if any, will be saved?
Warnings: Spoilers through 'Tears'
Author's Notes: Written for the Legend of the Seeker Big Bang Challenge. Feedback is craved!
Sister Vanthia was right: just before the last rays of sun died out the next evening, she and Kahlan were within sight of the manor where Sister Nicci was hiding. It was a massive structure, glooming and imposing, built into the side of the cliffs themselves. Wolves howled in the distance, sending a chill down Kahlan’s spine and making her horse shift uncomfortably beneath her. She put on her Confessor’s face, setting her jaw as Sister Vanthia dismounted.
“I’ll see to the horses. Sister Nicci is waiting for you inside.”
Kahlan said nothing, eyeing the gates of the manor uneasily. She too dismounted and handed her reigns to Sister Vanthia who led the horses off into the rolling fog without another word. Kahlan was left alone in the all-but-darkness, dread and the cold mountain air making her shiver. For a few moments she considered turning around and heading back the way they’d come on her own, but the wolves howled again, closer this time, and she thought better of it. The voice in the back of her mind warned her that she was walking into a trap but she ignored it, raising a hand to knock at the looming, rivet-strewn door.
To her surprise, the doors swung open before she’d even touched them, though when she stepped hesitantly inside no one was in sight. Torches flared to life on either side of the entrance hall, illuminating a single Sister of the Dark standing on the hallway’s threadbare crimson carpet.
“This place was once the haunt of a powerful sorcerer,” she said by way of explanation, indicating the doors and torches. She offered no further introduction but merely turned and limped off down the corridor. “Sister Nicci is waiting.”
Kahlan watched her as she walked away, dumbstruck momentarily. The woman paused, glancing back at Kahlan in annoyance. Kahlan followed without another word.
The sister led her through a maze of dark hallways, at last ushering her into a dimly lit room, a dining room by the long dusty table set with old, tarnished silver, candles flickering from brass candelabra in the center.
“Eat. Sister Nicci will join you shortly,” the sister commanded. Before Kahlan could argue she had stepped back through the doorway, shutting the heavy door behind her.
Alarmed, Kahlan tried to follow but she found the door locked tight. She hadn’t even heard the bold slide into place. She pounded on the door, trying to keep the panic out of her shouts. When no answer came, she willed herself to regain her composure and turned to examine the table. A single bowl of some sort of stew steamed at the side of the far end, near the head of the table. She eyed it warily, the hunger from her hard ride battling the suspicion and mounting panic. The stew smelled quite good, but she resolved to wait until Nicci arrived. Kahlan sat uneasily in one of the table’s high-backed chairs and waited.
And waited.
The minutes stretched on and still there was no sign of Nicci. The steam stopped rising off the stew and still Kahlan waited. At last the gnawing hunger won out and she held a spoonful of stew to her lips, tasting it hesitantly. It was indeed quite good, if somewhat cold. She took a second spoonful and as soon as it touched her lips the door swung open.
Sister Nicci strode into the room and settled into the chair at the head of the table. Kahlan glared at her, her face flushing with a powerful surge of emotion. She had not heard her approach, nor had she heard the lock release, but she did not stop to wonder about that now.
Kahlan hated her, this witch who had taken her Confessor powers and used them against her, compelling her to turn against the man she loved. When last they’d parted, Kahlan had left Nicci for dead, flying into the Con Dar to avenge her death. Phantom pangs of grief and rage flared to life in her memory even now that she’d been released from Confession.
Nicci watched as Kahlan struggled to beat down her tangled emotions. The merest hint of a smirk hung on her lips, but her murky hazel eyes were shadowy, devoid of their usual defiant gleam, Kahlan noticed, and it cooled her rage. She took in Nicci’s whole appearance. She wore a dark gown that covered her from chin to foot. Her hair was swept back in a simple, modest braid. Though she carried herself with her usual regal grace, Kahlan noticed that the edge of haughty confidence had left her. She eyed the long sleeves of Nicci’s dress and wondered how many of Rahl’s scars were concealed beneath them. Sister Vanthia’s story must have been true; Kahlan tried but could not feel any hint of magic around Nicci.
As if she could read her thoughts, Nicci chose that moment to speak. “I don’t want your pity, Mother Confessor, only your help.” Her voice was steady but subdued. “With the fate of the world at stake, let’s put the past behind us, shall we?”
“The fate of the world, Nicci? That’s a very weighty claim. I assure you, it’ll take at least a world-threatening disaster to make me even consider helping you. You claim you heard something while you were in the Underworld, something that frightens even the Keeper. Another weighty claim. Speak quickly. You’ve wasted enough of my time already.”
Indeed, Nicci wasted no more time. She drew a deep breath and began. “At first I thought it only rumor, horror stories whispered amid the flames to make the torments of the Underworld pale in comparison. The spirits spoke of a terrible nothingness, the end of all light, all darkness, everything, brought about by a power greater than the Creator or the Keeper themselves. They were the same stories I’d heard as a child. I’m sure you’ve heard them too. There’s not a person alive that doesn’t fear nothingness more than even the darkest pits of the Underworld.”
Despite being unsettled by the haunted look in Nicci’s eyes, Kahlan remained unconvinced. “It’ll take more than vague superstition about the end of the universe to scare me.”
“That’s how I felt at first. But the murmurs grew louder, the stories more specific. Something happened during the war between the Keeper and the Creator, something that should not have happened. Neither the Keeper nor the Creator know what it was, but they both agree: something has happened that changed the course of history itself.”
Nicci’s words hit Kahlan like a blast of icy wind and she gasped, sudden understanding throwing her eyes wide with fear. “History has been altered? Are you saying…”
Nicci nodded solemnly. “The Maestra is furious. It is said she spoke to the Keeper and Creator, admonishing them for allowing such a thing to happen during their war. It is said that the tear in the fabric of time is so dire that the Maestra would rather destroy this timeline, past, present and future - and heaven and hell along with it - instead of allowing history to continue on this new course. I myself saw the terror in the Keeper’s eyes before I was pulled back into the world of the living. I have no doubt that it is true.”
Kahlan dropped her head into her hands. “The Maestra. I thought she was only a myth. Dear spirits, I’ve prayed she was only a myth. The end of the universe…” she trailed off in despair. “But you said you needed my help. I’ve no power against the Goddess of Time. What do you want from me?”
Nicci swallowed hard. “I need you to take me to Aydendril. If there’s a way to stop the Maestra from destroying the world, key lies in the Wizard’s Keep. I also need your protection. I escaped Darken Rahl once. I won’t get the chance a second time. He doesn’t know the things I’ve just told you, but he tried his hardest to find them out.” She unceremoniously pulled back the sleeves of her dress to display the burned, scarred and blistered flesh underneath. “If he catches me he’s sure to find out and if he does he’ll do everything in his power to stop us from thwarting the Maestra’s destruction. He, for one, would rather face nothingness than go to the Keeper after having betrayed him.”
Kahlan remained silent for several moments, deep in thought. Finally she raised her head and met Nicci’s eyes. “I will take you to Aydendril and protect you from Rahl, but you need to understand that nothing has changed between us. I can’t forgive you for what you made me do to Richard.”
“I’m not asking you to. I can’t forgive you for stopping me. We can go back to being mortal enemies after we’ve saved the world,” Nicci drawled, sounding more like herself by the second. Kahlan was unsure whether to be relieved or unsettled.
“Bargain struck.”
“Good. If you’ve finished eating I’ll show you to your room. Send word to the others so that they may start looking for answers as soon as they reach Aydendril. We’ve no time to lose. We’ll leave for Aydendril at first light.”