Marguerite

A stranger comes to visit a small town's enchanted librarian.

There was no balance.

He sat across the table from her, stiff and quiet.  And silence filled the room, his thoughts were slow and precise as he waited for her to continue. And still no word came from her, not since she had shown him in and to the table. And strangely, no expression from her face. So he sat, saying nothing, continuing to wait for her next word.

- Does she know why I am here? -

Silence.

He was dressed in gentleman's clothing, a long dark jacket, linen shirt, matching pants, black boots, a wooden cane, and a simple hat. He asked a question, which lead to her knowledge of myth and lore, then he provided proof he could pay her well.   With her deep, dark eyes unblinking, she took him to her library, to the table where they now sat.

He sat, still and silent, just as she was. After another awkward  moment, he bowed his head and rose, picked up his hat, cane and began to walk to the door. It was then that the long silent was broken.

"Then you must seek the Distollovph." she finally spoke.

He attempted to not freeze in his tracks, not whirl about suddenly to her words - and he was successful. New thoughts, filled his mind.

- She knows its name -

He stood, near the doorway, looking at her. Her face showed little, and the atmosphere was sterile, and dark.  She waved a hand to draw him back to his seat, but he only walked over to the table, and towered over it, over her, as a sly smile appeared on his face.

- Does she know the three elements? -

After some time, she spoke again, "I know how to summon it." The words came distinct and clear - and cold.

He nodded once, with a slight tilt to his head, and waited again.

She stood up, walked over to a chest, and opened it up. She moved several items about and then pulled out three metal objects. He  acknowledged what she had shown him.Quietly , she placed the items back in the chest and closed it. Then she returned to the table and placed her hands in front of her, fingers interlaced. He raised his eyebrows to her. A small smirk appeared in the corner of her mouth and she blinked slowly once, looking up to him again.

He looked at her face, her dark brown eyes and dark brown hair, braided and tied with a blue ribbon. He knew she was but eighteen.  She appeared plain, yet her features were hidden, hidden in the spell she was under.

"I know this is what you seek," She said with cold, hard words. "I knew it when you first came into my shop, first asked me your questions. I felt you are a man of great power, if you want" and she leaned forward and spoke softer, in a whisper, "I can bring it here, to this place."

Again, he made a small smile as he watched her keenly. "What of the signs?"

She nodded, stood up again from the table and made three distinct gestures, all separate from one another. He closed his eyes and nodded once more, as inside he formulated his plan. She sat down, as she had before.

His source was always right, except once, and that had been almost a century ago. His eyes narrowed, "What will you request of me to do this task?" His eyes were upon her face, but he had a difficult time reading her thoughts. She seemed to stifle them behind her emotionless face.

"To be able to live forever." she replied.

This time, he could not hide his surprise.

- Does she know who I am, what I am? -

"You ask for something only a handful may grant." He watched her, intently, figuring how to break the spell over her. She breathed in relaxing somewhat.

"I see you are one who may help me in this." Her face remained and she did not move

- I must be certain -

His face appeared to darken. "How will you do this deed for me? Many know the name, but to - "

"Summon it?" she cut him off, completing the sentence. Her eyes showed a bit of fear and her voice trembled at the end as she spoke.

On the table, she wrote three words with her finger.

- She knows! -

He now had a limited number of choices: Death, obliviousness, and -

"Will you grant me this life?" she asked.

- Life -

He pondered the words.

Time was short, pressuring the decision, yet he pondered...

- Life -

He thought, slowly, precisely. No one who knows how to summon it is allowed to... And his mind began to whirl. Three choices: Death, obliviousness, and...

He brightened. "Will you come with me, now?" he asked, gently.  She looked up, breathed in deeply, quickly, as she had not the entire time he had been there.   As if a spell had been broken over her. She came alive, she blinked and looked up into his face, and was confused. He seemed different now, no longer was he some tall, dark gentleman seeking great power. It was if he were...

- A Sentina! -

He  held his hand out to her. "You will never need to say those words. I see more clearly now, you have learned that which was hidden long ago." Then his tone changed, and darkened. "And it must remain so."

She reached out to him with trembling hands and took his. She was weakened now, and vulnerable. Unlike before: ominous, silent, and powerful. He pulled her to her feet.

"I cannot grant your request, but I will take you to one who can. Though you may never see this world again."

As he spoke, he changed. His eyes and face became bright and his clothing seemed to fade and then illuminate.  Color filled her face as the light struck her, her mind was in a whirl, confused and fearful as she realized the great danger she had placed herself in - and the whole world.  The room, once dark, was now filled with light.  She relaxed, she felt safe and warm as she stood next to him now.  And for the first time in ages, she smiled.

They disappeared in a blinding flash. All shadows fled the room, except on the table, where she wrote the three words.  As the light faded and the room grew dark again, the words on the table faded. 

And still, there was no balance.

Reviews

[ImSJ]

I quite liked this chapter, sir. I hope that there will be further chapters illuminating both characters and their parts in the story. The fact that you left some mystery to explore makes your story intriguing.

[Merovech]

Thank you, glad you liked it.

I'll review the next part and get that up. There rest is in works.