Dreams of the Past Chapter 3 Part 1

[tyrsol]

FIVE YEARS AFTER THE END OF CHAPTER II

Melin sat at the table in the room at the back of her shop and watched the sun sparkle through the window.  She wanted to close up shop, but she had to wait for one of the priests to come by to pick up some incense the church had ordered.  The stuff was making her sick and she hoped the priest would arrive soon.  A bell tinkled as the door to the shop opened and closed.

"Hello, is anyone here?"

"I'll be right out."  Standing up Melin stepped into the shop and smiled at the young man who was looking around at the various jars of herbs and spices.  "May I help you?"

The young man stepped away from a shelf filled with jars of dried flowers and turned to face Melin.  "Yes, I have come here to-"

"Pick up the incense?"  Volunteered Melin.  She smiled at the man's shocked expression and pulled a large bundle from under the counter.  "I take it I guessed correctly?"

Blushing the young man took the bundle and handed Melin twenty gilders and three pieces of silver.  "Well, yes, but how did you know?"

Melin placed the money into a pocket on her dress and leaned against the counter.  "Your robes gave you away.  I was also waiting for someone from the church to pick up the incense.  You must be new though, I haven't seen you around before."

"I just arrived from Dinge last week.  Forgive me, I have forgotten to introduce myself, my name is Jean Paul.  And your name is?"

"Delena Troullifeou, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Jean Paul looked around the shop.  "How did a young woman like yourself come to own a shop like this?"

"My husband and I bought it and we take turns running the shop while the other goes out on errands."  She felt a tug on the sleeve of her dress and looked down to see Jehan standing next to her.  "What is it sweetie?"

"Father's returned and he wants to talk with you, I think it's urgent."

Melin smiled.  "All right kiddo."  She turned back to look at Jean Paul.  "I'm sorry but I need to close up the shop.  My husband-"

"I understand.  The church thanks you for your service.  A blessing on your home and family."  Jean Paul made the sign of the cross before him and left, the shop bell ringing momentarily before going silent again.

Turning to Jehan Melin smiled and tousled her son's blue hair.  "Would you be a dear and close up the shop for me?  Just go over, lock the door, and pull the curtains all right?"  She wiped her hands on the apron she had tied around her waist and walked into the back room, where she picked up two large bundles from the table and headed for the stairs.  As she reached the top she stopped for a moment and listened to the noises coming from the living room on the other side of the door.  It sounded as if Clopin was struggling with someone.  She could hear the sound of metal clashing against metal and drew her dagger from under her dress.  Bursting into the room she stopped short to see Clopin fighting with a person decked out in royal armor.  "And just what in the nine hells is going on here?"  She shouted.

The man in royal armor froze up at the sound of Melin's voice and turned around slowly to face her, giving Clopin enough time to move up behind him and smack him on the back of the head with the butt end of his dagger.  As the man crumpled to the floor Clopin rubbed a nasty cut on his cheek and grinned at Melin.  "He followed me home, can I keep him?"

"Very funny Clopin."  Melin smirked and knelt down next to the prostrate figure.  "So who is he?"

"Damned if I know."  Sheathing his dagger Clopin shrugged and took off his traveling pack.  "He started following me about the time I reached the border.  Kept attacking me, no matter what I did.  I thought I had lost him back at the gates but," He looked down and kicked the guy none too gently.  "As you can see-"

"Kick me again and I'll rip off your legs ya filthy gypsy."  The man coughed and sat up, his helmet tilted off to one side revealing a shock of auburn hair.  "I see your manners haven't improved any."

Clopin looked down at the man and gawked.  "It's the sword wielding brother!"  Grabbing Melin he pulled her behind him and drew his dagger again.

"It's the annoying human gypsy."  Sneered Michea.

"What the hell do you want?"

"Michea?"  Melin skirted around Clopin and knelt down next to her brother.  "What are you doing here?  And in that getup no less."  She looked over to Clopin who was bristling with anger.  Shaking her head she turned back to Michea and helped him up.  "You can give up the human guise Michea, he knows about us, what we are."

Michea's body suddenly became more slender and tall.  Bright gold eyes glared at Melin from under lavender bangs.  His sea blue skin turning purple with rage.  "You told him!  Of all people, you told that human!  A gypsy!  Didn't I ever tell you-" His eyes widened as he watched Melin adjust the hold on her dagger.  "What are you going to do to me?  Kill me?  Your only living relation?"

"You're no longer my only living relation brother."  Melin lowered her dagger and slipped it back under her dress.  "Turn around and say hello to your nephew Jehan."

Jehan poked his head into the room, his hat askew.  "Mother?  Who's that?"

Michea's jaw dropped.  "You've got to be kidding me Melin!  You actually bred with a human?"

"So?"  Melin held out her arms and lifted Jehan up as he ran up to her.  "See that man Jehan?  That's your uncle Michea."

"Is he magical too?"  Jehan's bright eyes fixed on Michea, seeming to pierce his soul.

Michea glared at Melin.  "How could you do this?  I knew I shouldn't have left you alone.  Look at you!  You've been humanized, and not only that, but you look like you're living the happy house wife life here."

Clopin's face was red with anger.  Stepping forward he pushed Melin and Jehan to the side and stood face to face with Michea.  "What makes you think you have the right to-” He cocked his head to one side as cries erupted down on the street below.  "Now what?"

Melin set Jehan down and moved over to the window.  Peering through the glass she ducked down just as a rock came crashing through, followed by a throng of arrows and a burning torch.  She quickly doused the torch with a jug of water that was sitting on a stool nearby and moved away from the window.  "I'd say it’s either a riot-or-” An arrow went whizzing past her head and embedded itself in Clopin's hat.  "The war has reached Paris."  Waving her hand over her body her dress transformed into a grey tunic and hose.  "And you said nothing interesting happens here anymore."  Grabbing hold of both Jehan and Clopin she transported them to the Court of Miracles, which was full of heavily armed gypsies.  "I'm going to find somewhere safe for Jehan, and then I'll return."  Kissing Clopin on the cheek she disappeared and reappeared in front of the miller's dwelling.  "Please let us in!"

The door opened a crack and the miller's wife peered out.  "Delena?  Come in quickly!  It’s not safe out there!"  She opened the door just wide enough for Melin and Jehan to slip through and quickly shut and bolted it again once they were inside.  "The new judge has gone mad!  He's on a crusade to find and destroy all the witches in the city."  Pulling the curtains shut she looked over at Melin with a sad look in her eyes.  "Many innocents are going to die.  These fools don't know that a real witch can stop herself from being burned."

Melin blinked.  "How do you know this?"

"Because I am one.  You are too are you not?  And your son?"  The miller's wife knelt down and pulled open a hidden trap door.  Ushering Melin and Jehan through she followed close behind, pulling the door shut behind her with a creak.

"Actually we're not.  We're um-something different.  I think Clopin calls us fae?"  Melin moved down the dark stairs with ease, her eyes shining dimly to light her way.  "Though I don't think that's really what we are."

"Then what are you?"

"Märchenlanders, well he's a half-blood."  Melin gestured to Jehan as they reached the bottom of the stairs and found themselves in a dimly lit cellar.

"Ah, so then you weren't all killed off in the war of Englamiri.  Well that explains a lot."  The miller's wife smiled and pulled out a thin wooden wand.  Waving it she spoke a quick word and the room lit up as several tiny candles appeared from thin air.  "Where is your husband?"

Melin sat down on one of the empty chairs and sighed.  "In the Court of Miracles.  But that is not why I'm here.  Though Clopin doesn't know it, I've been having dreams of this day for the past several years, to the point where I no longer sleep.  I need to ask if you can watch Jehan for me, for I fear that both myself and Clopin are about to fall into the hands of the judge."

"If you've seen this, then why don't you just-"

"Because the dreams always come true, no matter what I do.  It’s my curse, to have prophetic dreams."  Melin looked over at Jehan who was busy looking around at the various piles of books stacked in the corner.  Sighing she put her head in her hands and closed her eyes.  "The only thing I can do is try to make sure Jehan will be safe.  I promise that I will try to come back to get him as soon as I can, I don't want to have him be a burden on you."

"Oh he won't be, our daughters have already gone off to school, so it will be nice to have him around.  And besides, if he gets the letter to go to school, we can help him more than you could."

“If he gets a letter?  How could that be possible?  I thought only witches and wizards could.”

“Didn’t your husband ever tell you about his childhood?  He’s a wizard, well should have been one, but for some reason he was expelled and his wand was snapped.  No one knows why he was expelled, well except maybe for him, but that’s old news, and you should be happy that your son will most likely get his letter.”  Smiling the miller's wife sat down beside Melin and put her hand on her shoulder.  "We will watch him for you."

"Thank you."  Melin blinked back her tears and stood up.  "Jehan, come here sweetie."  She knelt down and took Jehan in her arms.  "Mother has to go away for a little while, but you will be safe here."

"Don't go!"  Jehan clung to his mother.  "I had a dream that you won't come back, and that father is going to die!"  He looked up at Melin, tears streaming down his face.  "It’s not true is it?"

Melin sighed and ran her hand through Jehan's hair.  "I don't know kiddo, I wish I could say that all of this will be over and we can go back to our old lives, but I can't...yet."  She looked over at the Miller's wife and did her best to smile.  "Thank you so much.  All of his stuff is at the shop, and feel free to take whatever herbs you want from it.  And Jehan can show you where we keep the money hidden, should the worst come to pass."  Closing her eyes she disappeared and reappeared next to Clopin, who was sharpening his dagger.  "Jehan's safe."  She knelt down next to Clopin and took the dagger from him.  "Let me do this."  Running her finger along the blade she spoke something in a language Clopin did not understand.  After a few seconds she handed the dagger back to Clopin and smiled.  "There, razor sharp."

"Well at least you haven't given up your magic I see."  Michea appeared before Melin and Clopin and smirked.  "Good thing too, you would have died if you had given it up like this fool here wanted you to."

"If you are here to make fun of us then leave Michea."  Melin conjured up a crossbow and a quiver of bolts.  Tying the quiver to her waist she quickly conjured up a long dagger and slid it into her belt.  "We have no time for it."

Michea smiled and turned back to his human form.  "Of course you don't, you have to stop your dream from coming true don't you?"  He laughed at the look of shock on Melin's face.  "I listened in on your conversation with the miller's wife.  Now then, are you planning on fighting an entire army or do you want my help in getting you out of here?"

Clopin scowled at Michea and stood up.  "I would sooner trust Frollo to come back from the grave then to trust you."  Turning on his heel he stalked off towards a group of gypsies gathered around a large fire.

"Touchy little human isn't he?  But oh well, I was going to tell him that the new judge is Frollo's nephew Jacques, and that he is about a thousand times more of a gypsy hater than Frollo, but he's gone and walked off."  Michea pulled his helmet back on and lifted the visor.  "I'd get that crossbow ready."

Melin raised an eyebrow.  "Why?"  As if to answer her question the room was suddenly filled with cries of terror and shouts of anger.  Whirling around she gaped in horror as the room broke out into chaos.  Armed guards were pouring in from all sides, killing any who stood against them.  She heard someone cry her name and turned to see Clopin rushing towards her.  "Look out!"  Raising her crossbow she let the bolt fly.

Clopin ducked and rolled out of the way just in time.  The bolt flew over his head and imbedded itself in the chest of a guard that had been about to attack him.  He quickly scrambled to his feet and made it the rest of the way to Melin.  His face was haggard and he had lost his hat in the fall.  Blood was seeping through his tunic from a fresh wound on his back and there was a large cut on his forehead.  "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine-duck!"  She set another bolt in her crossbow and fired it at a guard who was rushing at them.  The guard stopped in mid stride, made an odd gurgling sound as the bolt passed through his neck, and fell to the ground, where he lay twitching in his death throes.  "We can't stay here!"

"We can't leave either.  Jacques has employed the help of some real witches to make sure no one can escape, and that includes us."  Michea drew his sword and brought the pommel down hard against the base of Melin's skull.  Watching her crumple to the ground he dodged out of the way as Clopin swung his dagger at him.  "I'm trying to help you you bloody moron!  This way they will take her alive instead of killing her."

"And what good does that do for her?  To burn at the stake?"  Wiping the blood from his face Clopin staggered for a moment before regaining his balance.

"Look, you're hurt, and unless you want to die I'd play dead-or at least out cold."  Michea bent down and scooped up the prone form of Melin.  "I promise you she will not be harmed."

Clopin paused for a moment but then let out a cry and crumpled to the ground.  Laying there he listened to footsteps growing closer.  A rough voice began talking with Michea and he grit his teeth as someone picked him up and slung him over their shoulder.

Clopin awoke to see a blurry figure kneeling over him.  Closing his eyes again he let out a quiet moan and tried to rub his head.  He was not surprised to find his hands bound behind him.  "What's going on?"

"We're in the Palace of Justice, awaiting trial."  Melin's voice cut like a knife through the fog that was surrounding Clopin's mind.

Opening his eyes again Clopin waited for them to focus.  As they did the blurry form slowly transformed into that of Melin.  He smiled weakly.  "I can't wait."

Melin helped Clopin sit up and undid the bonds on his wrists.  "The guards have been walking by here every two hours to check on us.  Apparently we are the only ones they took alive...well except for the women."  She shuddered and tugged at the iron manacles on her wrists.  "Michea told them I'm a young man, so they put me in here."  Tugging against the manacles she let out a growl and lunged away from the wall, but the chains attached to the manacles held fast, and only helped in flinging Melin back against the wall.  "They're using magically laced iron and it's canceling out my magic.  I'm stuck."

Clopin pulled Melin close to him and picked the locks on the manacles with ease.  Smiling he wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly.  "I want you to take the first chance and escape.  If I can I will follow you."

Melin shook her head.  "No, I will not leave unless I can guarantee you will get out as well."  She tried to say more but her words were cut off as Clopin leaned down and pressed his lips tightly against hers.  Closing her eyes she surrendered to his embrace and found herself clinging fiercely to him.  As Clopin made to break their kiss she reached her hands up and pulled him back into the kiss, silently praying that she had magic enough to transport them both to safety, all she needed was a few more seconds....

"What's going on in there?"  A stout guard unlocked the cell door and stamped inside.  Reaching out he grabbed hold of Melin and wrenched her from Clopin's grasp.  "Well now, what have we here?"  He reached out a chubby hand and grabbed the fabric of Melin's tunic.  With a swift tug he ripped the tunic wide open, exposing Melin's chest.  "A woman!  How did we miss you in our little round up?"  Leering he grabbed one of Melin's breasts and squeezed it, his grin widening as Melin gasped and cried out in pain.  "What's the matter wench?  Never been touched by a real man?"  He hefted her over his shoulder and walked out of the cell, slamming the iron bars behind him.  Satisfied at the sound of the lock clicking he opened the cell across the way, tossed the struggling Melin inside, and followed after.  "We'll have to change that."  A chubby hand shot out and grabbed Melin's arm, the other ripping apart the rest of her tunic and tearing off her hose.  "Now lie down on that bed."

Melin did the best to stand defiantly as she stood there naked.  "Never."  She let out a gasp as a gloved hand slapped her across the face and sent her stumbling backwards.  Raising a hand up to the large bruise that was forming she glared at her captor as he calmly undressed himself.  "If you think you will EVER be able to get near me-"

"You'll what?  Hit me?"  The guard laughed and threw Melin down on the stone bed.  "Now just lie still like a good girl and I won't hurt you too much."

Melin cringed at the thought of that flabby pale flesh touching her.  Lying perfectly still she channeled what little magic she had been able to muster and used it to unlock the cell holding Clopin.  She gasped as the guard neared her.  Clammy hands grasped at her breasts, while the man's face came ever closer to hers.  Closing her eyes she prayed that the man was too distracted by her to notice Clopin emerging from his cell and creeping up behind him.

The guard laughed as he looked down on Melin's frightened face.  "Just the way I like them too, not to firm...not too soft."

Clopin couldn't stand it, he could not let this man handle Melin that way.  With a roar of rage he lunged forward and tackled the guard, sending both of them tumbling to the floor and out of the cell.  He was quicker than the guard and was up on his feet before the guard had a chance to figure out what was going on.  Lunging forward again he was about to reach for the guard's neck when he felt a sharp pain in his back.  Gasping for air he turned his head to see another guard standing a few yards away.  He reached up behind him and felt the handle of a throwing axe.  His rage finally overcame him and the pain died away.  With a yell he leapt on the stout guard and knocked him to the ground.  The world was beginning to grow blurry and he knew he did not have much time left, but if he was to die, he was going to take the guard with him.  "I hope you've cleansed yourself of your sins."  He snarled, a wicked grin spreading across his face as he took hold of the axe behind him, wrenched if free and brought it down on the guard's neck with a sickening sound.  "See you in hell you bastard."

Melin watched the entire scene with an odd detached sense of terror.  She quickly did her best to cover herself and leapt up from the stone bed.  Rushing forward she caught Clopin as he collapsed.  "No, my love, don't leave me!"  She held him against her and kissed his forehead, her eyes brimming with tears.  "Please, don't leave me!  Hang on for just a little while longer and I can heal you!"  Brushing the hair from Clopin's eyes she sobbed as she felt his body growing limp.  She completely ignored the guard behind her and she leaned down and placed her forehead against her husband's.  "Clopin!"

"Save your magic Melin, there's no way I can last long enough, please take care of Jehan."  Clopin raised his hand and stroked Melin's cheek.  "I'll try to keep an eye on you two from the other side."

"No you can't go!"  Melin took hold of Clopin's hand and shook her head, tears streaming down her face.

"I love you Melin."  Clopin sighed as his world began to fade to black.  "Remember that."  Closing his eyes he smiled faintly as the world slipped away.

"Clopin?"  Panic began to take over Melin as Clopin's body went limp and began to grow cold.  “CLOPIN!”  He couldn't be dead, he just couldn't!

Michea walked up behind the guard who had thrown the axe and slit the man's throat with a flick of his wrist.  Sighing he wiped the blood from his dagger and moved over next to Melin.  Taking off his cape he draped it over his sister and gently pulled her away from Clopin's body.  "He's gone sis, there is nothing more you can do.  Rest now, you need to replenish your body’s magic."  With a wave of his hand he cast a sleep spell over Melin.  "Some day you will understand."  He knelt down beside Clopin and pulled a small green crystal from inside his tunic.  Holding it close to Clopin's mouth he muttered something under his breath and watched as a thin silvery wisp came from Clopin's mouth and entered the crystal.  "Maybe this way you will be able to find peace.  I would have considered you my brother had you not been human."  He slipped the crystal back into his tunic, took Clopin's dagger and hat from the hook outside the cell, and picked up his sleeping sister.  Closing his eyes he disappeared, leaving behind him the dungeons and Clopin's corpse.

"NO!  LET ME GO MICHEA!  I MUST GO BACK THERE!"  Melin broke from her brother's grasp and staggered forward a second before collapsing to the ground.  "Take your spell off me!  I must save Clopin!"

Michea sighed and conjured up a simple white silk gown.  Kneeling beside his sister he slipped it over her shoulders and, with skill derived from centuries of care, pulled Melin's arms through the wide flowing sleeves.  "He's dead Melin.  There is nothing you can do anyway.  You've completely exhausted your magic."  With a small sigh he lifted Melin up and carried her over to a crystal casket.  Laying her gently on the silk cushions inside he smiled faintly and pulled a green crystal from his pocket.  "Here."  He tied the crystal on a black silk cord and slipped it around Melin's neck.  "You're going to begin to feel sleepy in a few seconds.  I promise you, no harm will come to you while you sleep little sister."

"Will you be here when I wake up Michea?"  Melin's eyes began to get heavy.  With a yawn she closed her eyes and wrapped her hand around the crystal on her neck.

"I will do my best to be here."  Michea kissed his sister on the forehead and watched as she fell into the dreamless sleep that always came when one of their kind exhausted their magic.  With a sigh he pulled Clopin's hat and dagger from a bag on the floor and gently laid them in the casket with Melin.  He calmly arranged Melin's hands and slowly closed the lid.  "Sleep well my sister.

THREE YEARS LATER

Jehan sat on the riverbank staring down into the water.  He had been sent out to catch some fish for dinner, but the fish just weren't biting.  "Come on you stupid fish!"  Picking up a rock he tossed it down at the fish swimming lazily about and watched them swim away in a panic.  "Stupid fish."

"Jehan?  Are you out here?"

"I'm down here Madame."  Standing up Jehan did his best to dust himself off.  "The fish aren't biting though."

The miller's wife strolled over to him and smiled.  "That's all right, we can always buy some at the market.  Here," she pulled a rolled up piece of parchment from the pocket on her skirt and handed it to Jehan.  "this just arrived for you."

Jehan removed the string tying the parchment and unrolled it, reading as he did.  "To Jehan Troullifeou, you have been accepted to Le Feu et Glace Academy.  The new term will begin at the beginning of summer, so please be at the healers district, Paris no later than June 1st.  Your required belongings are as follows;"  Blinking he read off the list of books and other items, his eyes growing wider with each line.  "What is this?"

Smiling the miller's wife hugged Jehan.  "It means that you are a wizard.  I always knew that there was something special about you.  Well now," She straightened up and looked at Jehan with a serious expression on her face.  "We need to get your supplies as soon as possible, the term starts in two weeks.  Come with me."  Taking Jehan's hand she led him to an old gnarled, and quite dead, oak tree.  She pushed on a knot in the middle of the trunk and the tree split apart, revealing a large black door inside.  "Go on, you first."

Looking at the door Jehan reached out a tentative hand and grasped the handle.  He quickly turned the knob and stepped back as the door swung inward of its own accord.  "Where are we going?"

"To get your supplies.