[GW2] Return to the Ruined City

[Merila]

Chapter 1 - The Gathering Storm

The air was biting cold, and her breath came out in quick puffs of white mist. She made her way quickly through the frozen cavern, throwing fearful glances over her shoulder every few moments as she lurched forward, the old wound in her abdomen throbbing painfully. The ice emitted a strange blue glow that cast long shadows behind her.

A deep voice echoed through the cavern and all around her, "You think you have won?"

The tunnel narrowed, the ceiling pressing down towards her as she raced ahead, her breath coming in short gasps now. The sound of rushing water filled the cave, and as she glanced back again, she saw the wave speeding towards her. A strangled cry escaped her lips as she stumbled, sprawling out on the freezing floor, the ice biting hard into her face and hands.

The voice reverberated around her again, louder this time, closer, "You think you are safe? That your friends are safe?"

She crawled along, struggling to get back to her feet as the water slammed into her, knocking her forward. She staggered upright, making it a few more feet before crashing into a hard wall of ice as the cavern ended abruptly in front of her. The panic rose in her throat as she turned, backed up against the wall. The water was rising past her waist, her soaking clothes pulling her down further when the voice came again, "Do you think your pitiful efforts can stop me?"

As the echo ripped through her, the aching wound in her abdomen seemed to be burst into flames. She opened her mouth to scream, but the frigid water rushed in, choking her.

Her whole body shook, her chest burning from the lack of air. As the frozen darkness swallowed her, an agonizing pulse ripped through her as the voice shook her very core, "You cannot escape me. You are mine."

Merila Dorne startled awake, her breath coming in gasps and her bare skin clammy with sweat. For a moment, she was still trapped in the cavern, in the freezing cold, but as she took a deep breath and opened her eyes, the world came back to her. The sheer canopy above her swayed slowly with the wind from the open windows. The curtains fluttered, pulling against their tie-backs. The sheets felt smooth and cool against her skin. She sighed quietly. No amount of luxury could ease her into sleep for long, it seemed. Her mind raced, full of undead monsters, ancient magic, and worst of all, dragons. She had felt so helpless of late - stuck in Divinity's Reach, spending her days in the libraries researching what would likely turn out to be only another dead end.

Most of her Priory colleagues had moved on to other projects in the weeks since Zhaitan's defeat, though some were still manning the outposts in Orr while Vigil soldiers worked to eliminate the remaining Risen. But she knew that the dragon's stronghold contained secrets that would be invaluable if they could be uncovered, and Steward Gixx agreed with her. He had granted her request to let her keep her focus on Orr for the time being, but with few new leads, and Auren still off searching for the materials for his 'new weapon,' she had little choice but to sift through old dusty tomes hoping for a miracle.

There was one idea, however, that kept coming back to her. One reckless, absurd, impossible idea - that the answer was in the ruined city of Arah.

Merila knew just how risky it was. She had ventured there only once before, on the mission to defeat Zhaitan. She had had Auren's help then, as well as Destiny's Edge, and even then, Logan had nearly died in the attempt. The objective wouldn't be as big now, since Zhaitan should be long dead - she just wanted to explore the place in the hopes that there might be some new information to be gathered in what had been the dragon's stronghold. But without Destiny's Edge or Auren to go with her, it seemed like a suicide mission. The city was still crawling with the Risen, Zhaitan's minions, and no doubt even more monstrous creatures the dragon had created or recruited in his attempt to conquer Tyria.

She glanced over at the form of the man sleeping next to her. She listened to his soft breathing, debating with herself. If she went alone, she might be able to sneak past most of the creatures. She was adept at stealth, certainly. And Jeor, her bear, would be with her. But would that be enough? As she watched her lover sleep, she reminded herself that she wouldn't even get out of Divinity's Reach alone if he had anything to say about it. He would insist on accompanying her if he found out, as would any one of her friends. Which would just mean more dead bodies, she thought. But if I go without telling him where or why, he'll follow me anyway.

She tried to sort through her thoughts, but all her anxious, sleep-starved mind could conjure were images of her friends, dead and bloodied on the Orrian coast, and a frozen cave that she couldn't remember where she'd seen before. As Merila's mind flashed back to the icy cave and the swirling, frigid water, and her breath seemed to freeze in her chest. Though she tried to hold it back, a strangled cry escaped her lips. She pressed a hand over her mouth, but it was too late.

"Merila? What's wrong, darling?"

A hand reached out from the semi-darkness, taking ahold of her shoulder and steadying her. She looked over at Venitus; his black hair was sleep-tousled, the sheets pulled up only to his waist, revealing most of his bare torso. He had propped himself up on one arm and his head was cocked slightly, his expression one of concern. Despite the hour, he was alert, his eyes bright and fixed on her.

"I didn't mean to wake you," she said softly, feelings of guilt beginning to well up inside her.

"It's no matter. I wake easily," he brushed off the concern, raising himself up to a seated position and pulling her to him, his arms wrapping around her waist, "and I would rather be awake with you. What's wrong, my love?"

"I just..." she started, her mind a jumble. She pulled her knees up to her chest as fear crept in, and the words seemed to stick in her throat, "I- I just... had a nightmare."

He studied her, his concern deepening, "Orr again?"

She shook her head, "No... No, this one was different." She closed her eyes, trying to hold onto the swiftly fading image, "There was ice... and water. It was so cold. And there was a voice..."

When she opened her eyes, she noticed that Venitus was looking at her with a strange intensity. He place a hand on her shoulder, his grip a little tight as he asked, "What did it say?"

"I'm not sure... I think it said, 'you are mine.'"

"Have you ever had this dream before?"

She twisted her mouth, "I don't think so. Maybe? I don't remember having it before, but it seemed familiar."

She was quick enough to notice his eyes widen, and the tiny flash of fear that streaked through them. But he quickly regained his composure, a reassuring smile spreading across his face, "It's likely just a dream."

"Maybe," she sighed, still the image of the cavern around in her head, trying to make sense of it. She leaned her head down, her forehead resting against his shoulder.

He pressed a soft kiss onto her cheek, rocking her gently for a moment before remarking, "I had hoped that spending the night with me would help with the nightmares. But something tells me your mind will be on Orr whether you revisit the place in your dreams or not," he gave her a pointed look.

Merila twisted her mouth in thought, "I just can't shake this feeling that it's not over. That there's more there, more we need to understand."

"Such as?"

"Such as Zhaitan's use of magic. Was he eating it? Do dragons need magic to survive, or just to grow their power? Does it run out? If we cut off their supply, would they die, or just be weakened?" she paused, waiting to see if he had anything to say. But he only nodded, waving a hand to let her know to continue, "And what exactly was he consuming? Magical beings, or just magical artifacts? Are there powerful relics remaining in Orr that could be of use to us? Is there a way to shield items from being consumed by the dragons? I just have so many questions," she let out a frustrated sigh.

Venitus smirked at her curiosity, but he raised an eyebrow at her anyway, "So, you want to go back? Back to Zhaitan's stronghold, the land of the dead, the very place that haunts your dreams at night?"

"Actually," she paused, biting her lip. Finally, she looked him in the eyes, "I think we should go back into Arah." She clenched her jaw, determined to keep her face from betraying her uncertainty.

He looked at her seriously, his eyes full of surprise.

"You think it's a terrible idea."

He nodded, gesturing with one hand while he spoke, "Oh, certainly. Orr is still a very dangerous place to be, Arah even more so, and it's a lot of risk for what could turn out to be nothing worthwhile at all."

Merila shut her eyes, embarrassed, "Yeah..."

"And," he said, cupping her cheek with his hand, "It's honestly the most promising lead I've heard in some time."

Her eyes widened, "Really?"

He gave her a knowing smile, "You're not the only one to have theories concerning the dragons' use of magic. And you're right. We spent so little time in the city, and there's likely to be both ancient artifacts and magical residue left behind. So much information untapped."

Merila furrowed her brows, "Information we could use against the dragons."

He nodded, "Tell me more about what you've been thinking."

"Well," she twisted her mouth again, unsure of where to begin. "I find it hard to believe that Zhaitan would be consuming magic day after day if it wasn't a finite resource for him. I would think that the continuous creation of the Risen would be a huge tax on that power source, if it weren't for the fact that there wasn't a big increase in flow of magical artifacts to Orr when we began making serious dents in his forces."

When Venitus nodded, she continued, "If the dragons just need a continuous source of magic to sustain themselves, I don't seen how they could survive in hibernation like Zhaitan did. No, I think Zhaitan was replenishing his power."

"But not from the strain of raising his undead army?"

"No," Merila pointed a finger at him as she made her point, "I think he was replenishing the power drained by the Six when they built Arah."

Venitus thought for a moment, understanding slowly dawning on his face. He smiled, "That's brilliant. Of course, if magic is finite, even in dragons, the power they stole would leave him weakened."

"And that's the key," she explained. "If magic is finite, their power is finite. If drawing on that power weakens them, then finding a way to cut off their magic would be a step towards ending their threat for good."

"We could cut off their sources, starve them out."

"Or," she lowered her voice a little, "what if we could drain them ourselves?"

He considered her, one eyebrow slightly raised, "Are you suggesting we could drain an elder dragon of its magic?"

"Well, why not?"

"Well we aren't gods," he quipped. "But you might be right. The Six may well have used some type of focusing device to tap into the dragon's power, whether they knew that's what it was or not. It's a long shot, but if we could find it, we could likely modify it to suit our needs."

"Exactly," she smiled.

"You've had this idea for some time, from the sound of it. Have you been planning this venture without me?" he teased, waggling a finger at her. His tone softened, "I thought we agreed not to keep anymore secrets?"

Merila frowned, "I just wanted more time to think. I wasn't sure my theories were enough justification for going back. I just didn't want to be responsible for anyone getting hurt or killed in Orr without cause. I didn't want anyone else to die for me."

He gave her a reassuring smile, "Fair enough. But since you mentioned it, I was wondering if we ought to call in reinforcements."

She sighed, her gaze drifting down to her hands, "I'm not sure there are reinforcements to call on. The Pact is on its last legs. Without Trahearne, there's not much holding the orders together, and Zhaitan's defeat has given them a false sense of security. I doubt we could get much cooperation without a more active threat giving them motivation."

"What about the Priory? Wouldn't Steward Gixx help you put together an excavation team?"

"He might, if I really pushed. But I don't think any of my colleagues would volunteer to go right back into Orr after having only left a few weeks ago," she pointed out.

He nodded, "And Auren?"

Merila frowned. Her childhood friend would likely insist on going with her, but she knew how well that would go. She shook her head, "I don't think he's the best person for this. He would only end up rallying half a dozen Vigil squads as escort, and it would turn into this huge assault on the city. They would only get in the way."

Venitus gave her a skeptical look, "Though I agree with you on that point, you know how he'll take it if you run off to Orr without even telling him."

She took a deep breath. He's right. Auren would be beside himself if I kept this from him. Looking up at Venitus, she sighed, "I'll write to him. Maybe if I word it right, he won't overreact."

"Let's hope so. Anyone else?"

She furrowed her brows in thought, wracking her mind for the right person to ask. This needs to be small. Quiet... Suddenly it hit her, "I think know who to ask. He's an old friend. He might take some convincing, though."

He gave her a questioning look, but when she didn't elaborate, he simply nodded.

"And you'll come?" She realized that it might be a pointless question, but she wanted to hear the words from him before she committed herself completely to her plan.

He put a hand gently under her chin, lifting her face up towards his, his dark eyes looking deep into hers, "Of course. There is no where I would rather be than by your side, regardless of the risk. Any dangers you face are dangers I face. Wouldn't you do the same for me?"

To answer, she pulled his mouth to hers, pressing her lips to his in a deep kiss. After a few moments, she pulled back, looking into his eyes again. "I would stay by your side even if it meant joining you in the Underworld itself."

Venitus gave her a wry smile, "Good, because that might well be where we'll be headed when this is all over."

Merila, her mind flooded again with memories of Orr, only nodded.

[Merila]

Chapter 2 - Favors

Merila strode purposefully toward the plaza, the sounds of the city thrumming in her ears. The merchants hawked the wares that spilled out from their tiny carts and the small alcoves of the city walls that housed their storefronts, children raced across the cobbled streets, shouting and laughing. A few Seraph passed her, chatting idly while on patrol. But she paid little attention to the noise; her heart was beating high in her throat as she made her way to the statue of Melandru that towered over the grassy sanctuary. Venitus followed close at her heels.

"Are you sure we can trust this man?" he asked, catching his breath as they came to a halt in front of the statue.

"Don't be ridiculous. Of course we can trust Keyes. Despite all his attempts to appear otherwise, he is a good man."

"Those attempts have not been without consequence. The man has a long criminal record: theft, burglary, smuggling, looting, assault, impersonation of a priest of Dwayna... to think that the man is a guardian..." Venitus protested, his voice harsh and full of scorn.

Merila rounded on him, "because you and I are so above reproach."

"That is hardly the point-"

"Before Auren and Ariana found me, I was a liar and a thief, and well on my way to becoming a murderer," her eyes flashed and her voice shook slightly.

Venitus' face softened, his eyes narrowed in concern, "You did what you had to to survive."

"Sometimes," she sighed, her fire subsiding, "and sometimes I did stupid things out of anger and grief. I made a lot of bad choices. I'm a lot more like Keyes than Auren."

He pulled her into an embrace, his voice soft. "Well, we can't all be perfect like Auren. I think Tyria can probably only handle one Golden Boy anyway," he chuckled. Then he pulled her back, placing his hands on her shoulders and looking into her eyes, "I don't doubt you. If you believe this Mr. Harkner is trustworthy, then that is all the evidence I need."

She nodded, "Good. Because we're going to need him."

--

From her vantage point beneath the trees, Merila watched the man approach the fountain. His short brown hair hung uncombed about his face, his blue linen shirt was slightly wrinkled, and he wore no shoes. Venitus made a noise of disapproval next to her, prompting her to elbow him sharply in the side. The sudden movement brought the man's attention to the two and he turned and made eye contact with Merila. She beckoned to him and he made his way over to where they stood in the shade.

"It's good to see you, Keyes," Merila nodded to him, smiling warmly.

Keyes Harkner nodded, "I got your pigeon. Well, and the letter on it. Not just the pigeon." He glanced at Venitus, who inclined his head slightly in greeting.

"Ah, Mr. Harkner. My name is Venitus Lethos. It's good to finally meet you. Merila speaks highly of you," he said, extending a hand to Keyes, who took it and gave a firm shake.

"I'm honored to have praise from someone like Merila," Keyes said, turning his eyes back to her.

Merila blushed, embarrassed at the compliment. Then she relaxed a little, grateful that the two men were at least being civil. She smiled to herself, well, that could have been worse.

"So, what's up? Auren in trouble or something?" Keyes asked.

Merila shook her head, "No, not at all. I have a... proposition for you."

Keyes turned slightly pink and shifted uncomfortably, "Er... yes?"

"Well, it's more of a suicide mission," she admitted, frowning.

Keyes released the breath he had been half-holding, clearly relieved. "Oh, thank goodness," he muttered, smiling wryly.

Merila narrowed her eyes in confusion, then a look of surprise flashed across her face as she realized the implications of her phrasing. Her face flushed bright red.

"You have an odd set of priorities," Venitus observed, giving Merila a moment to recover her composure. He noted the relief on the older man's face. He smiled genially, but his eyes were still glinting with suspicion.

Keyes shrugged nonchalantly, "Suicide missions I can handle. Other things, well..." He glanced away, murmuring to himself, "Ewin would probably kill me." Then he straightened, clearing his voice, "But say- what's the trouble?"

Merila hesitated for a moment, looking the disheveled man up and down, "I need to make a journey into Orr."

Keyes wrinkled his nose as a look of disgust spread across his face, "You sure? I just got the stink out from the last time I went."

She nodded grimly, "Unfortunately. All my research is leading me back to the ruined city of Arah. Just hear me out before you agree to anything. It's a lot to ask, I know..."

Keyes shook his head, cutting her off, "We've been through a lot together. More than I've been through with most folks. It's not that much to ask. Not if it's you asking"

Venitus shifted his feet, visibly uncomfortable. Merila glanced over at him in time to see a small flash of jealousy streak through his brown eyes.

Keyes eyed them both before continuing, "If you need my blade, you've got it, such as it is. Tell me about this research of yours." He settled himself down onto the soft grass, leaning back against one of the trees. Merila and Venitus followed his lead, lowering themselves onto the ground.

Merila glanced around the sanctuary nervously, making sure no one was close enough to hear what she needed to say. The trees appeared deserted, but she couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. She lowered her voice, "Well... I've been looking into the magic that raised Arah."

Keyes hunched his shoulders up slightly, suppressing a shudder. His gaze hardened, "Dangerous stuff, that."

Merila nodded, "Dangerous and little studied. We know that the Six were able to tap into Zhaitan itself to create the city, albeit unknowingly. But we don't know how." She felt Venitus stiffen slightly at her side, his head turning to watch something off to their left near the fountain, but she ignored it, continuing, "I've been scouring every book the Priory has, everything in the Royal libraries, but nothing I can get my hands on can tell me anything more than that they did it."

Keyes nodded, "Don't expect the gods to go telling their secrets to us mortals, do you? So it's a mystery; what's it to you?"

Merila's eyes darkened, a determined look on her face, "Dragons."

Keyes shifted, crossing his arms in front of him, "Aye, dragons. What of them?"

"Dragons eat magic. They're pretty much just massive magic receptacles. If magic can go in, magic can come out. Has come out. Arah proves that. If the Six could draw on an elder dragon's magic to create the city of Arah, what's to say we couldn't affect it as well?" she asked earnestly.

"You mean other than the certain death and destruction that goes with it?" Keyes asked, raising an eyebrow and looking at her with a light smile on his lips.

"It wasn't Zhaitan that destroyed Arah, it was the Orrians themselves. We don't even have any evidence that the dragon noticed the city being built above him. It's dangerous, surely, but the gain? We could cut off the elder dragons' connection to magic, prevent their corruption from spreading. Or if my theory is correct, we could actually drain the dragons of their magic, eliminating them as a threat once and for all," she thumped her fist into her other palm, her eyes full of fire.

Keyes narrowed his eyes, looking at the woman in front of him more closely, the smile gone from his face, "You'll be burned by that, Merila."

She returned his stare, unflinching, "Maybe. But better I burn and we succeed than more innocent lives are thrown away in the fight against these monsters."

Keyes' eyes softened slightly. He turned to Venitus, "You care for her, don't you? And you'll still let her go back to Orr, of all places?"

Venitus, surprised, stretched an arm around Merila protectively. He looked at Keyes, "Of course I care for her. But I also happen to agree with her. Magic is a tool. Just as with any tool, if handled improperly, it can backfire. With care and study, it can be mastered."

They sat for a few moments in silence. Then Merila spoke, her eyes hard, her voice firm, "I need answers."

"And you think you'll find them in Arah?"

"It's the only place I haven't looked. I never even got a chance to map the ruins, we were in and out so fast. There's magic there, and history. Knowledge long thought lost. Even if all we succeed in finding out is that it's not possible, at least we'll know," she pressed.

Keyes eyed them both, then laughed, "Okay, I understand. You're both nuts." He continued to chuckle even under the angry glare Venitus gave him, but grew serious after a few moments. "But I did say I would help. So, when do we start?"

Merila smiled, relief washing across her face. She leaned forward, taking Keyes' hands in hers, "Thank you, my dear friend."

Keyes squeezed her hands before releasing them, but shrugged off her words, "Don't thank me yet. Not until we get out alive." He pointed a finger at Venitus and Merila in turn, then pointed it back at his own chest, "So, we've got three fools. I think we'll need a few more than that."

"Perhaps," Venitus replied, "but I don't think it's just us three." He gestured with his head toward the spot by the fountain that had occupied his attention for the past few minutes. Merila and Keyes looked up with startled expressions as a voice addressed them from the fountain's edge to their left.

"Four, if you're willing to pay," came the low growl of the female Charr. She stood easily seven feet tall, her horns stretching another six inches upward. Her tail, peeking out through a slit in the back of her leather duster, swept back and forth across the grass behind her as she made her way over to them. Half of her face was concealed by a mask made from the skull of some long dead creature, though what creature it was difficult to tell. A hawk wheeled once in the sky above them before swooping in to settle on the Charr's shoulder guard.

Keyes frowned, shaking his head, "Damn. I had no clue. So Charr can be suicidal fools too."

Venitus made a small noise of dissatisfaction and glared down at Keyes.

The guardian laughed, winking at Venitus and whispering, "Hey, I agreed to help. I didn't agree to like it."

The Charr grinned, baring her sharp teeth, her blue eyes glancing between the three humans, "Couldn't help but listen in. Maybe you ought to pick a more private locale if you're concerned about being overheard." She looked down at Keyes, her grin turning into a smirk, "I'm a fool, am I? So says a fool."

Keyes nodded, "One of the biggest."

Merila edged towards the Charr a step, "I'm sorry, but this isn't a mercenary venture. You'd best look elsewhere for easy gold."

The Charr scratched a patch of fur under her mask, ears flicking, "If it's an issue of gold, I'd be willing to haggle if you got something else of worth."

Merila frowned, "You're likely to be disappointed if you expect to make it out with any treasure. We'll be lucky if we escape the city with our lives."

Keyes muttered, "Nothing like confidence in the leader of an expedition."

Merila shot an angry glare at Keyes, "If you're looking for a rousing speech, go find Auren. I'm a scholar, not a soldier. I deal in facts. And the fact is, this mission will be neither easy nor profitable. Anyone not on board with that should leave now."

Keyes spread his hands defensively out of in front of him, "Apologies, Merila. I turn into an arse when I'm rattled."

Venitus held a hand up, gesturing for silence, "Excuse me, but could I have a moment with Merila?" He put a hand gently around her arm and pulled her to the side, whispering to her out of earshot of the Charr, "This creature could provide a good distraction. I could easily foot the bill for her services, especially if she's like other mercenary and could be bought at the price of a good brawl and an opportunity to loot."

She nodded, "As much as I'd rather not have more blood on my hands than necessary, you're right that she could be useful. And she is volunteering. You'll keep an eye on her?"

The necromancer gave her a reassuring smile, "Of course." He gave her hand a squeeze before moving back to where Keyes and the Charr stood. He smiled his most indiscernible smile as he turned to the newcomer, "So, what's your price, then?"

The Charr raised her furry brow, "You described it as a suicide mission, yeah?"

He nodded, "Yes, but maybe it doesn't have to be for you. We could use someone with your aptitude for stealth. How are you at spotting magical artifacts?"

Her tail stopped its rhythmic sweeping for a moment while she considered his question, "You mean, just spotting the item? Or using some weird sixth sense to find it?"

"Either one, really. Your job would be to come in behind us, taking an alternate path while we distract whatever creatures remain in the city. You would look for powerful artifacts and carefully retrieve them. This would be less dangerous for you but extremely helpful to us," he smiled.

"Huh, should be easy enough. I can move quietly enough when I want to as well. So just any and all magican artifacts I come across?" she asked, twitching her whiskers.

"We're looking for anything that might shed light on the flow of magic to and from dragons. It's hard to know what might be most useful - any artifact could provide insights," Merila explained.

The Charr nodded, scratching under her mask again before inquiring, "Should I be concerned with any residual effects? I've heard stories about such things rubbing off with some bad consequences to the person holding them."

Merila shook her head, "It's unlikely. These items would bear marks from exposure to magic, but the magic itself would be long gone."

"I'll take your word for it. Alright, just a search and retrieve job, then, I'd say about ten gold should do it. Five before and five when I've retrieved the items. Though, if I do deal with too much danger, I'll have to double my fee," she smiled, though her long teeth made it look like more of a snarl.

Merila glanced at Venitus, then nodded, "Very well. Five before, and five after we have received the items you find. But if you come up empty handed, or if the items you retrieve are damaged beyond use, you forfeight half of your fee."

The Charr nodded her furry head, the hawk on her shoulder cawing in displeasure at being disturbed from his perch, "Works for me. When do you set out?"

"We have a few more things to get in order before we begin. We'll send for you when we're ready to depart. You should hear from us within the week." Merila extended her hand, "Do we have a deal?"

"Aye," she nodded, stepping closer and grasping the woman's hand gently in her claws, "It's a deal. The name's Zyra Duststalker, by the by. And if you end up needing more manpower, let me know ahead of time. I belong to a company, and more than a few of my fellows would be up for lending a claw."

Merila nodded in return, "I will, thank you. And I'm Merila Dorne. Look for my letter."

The three humans watched the Charr saunter off before continuing their plans.

"So, three fools, and a suspicious Charr. Not quite a full party, hm?" Venitus offered, his face a mask.

"Likely four fools, now that I think on it," Keyes answered, nodding to Merila, "Ewin probably wouldn't let you venture into Orr without him, but he definitely wouldn't let me. I'll explain what you've told me and let you know for certain. Do you think any other brave fools might want to join us?"

Merila sighed, her expression full of concern, "I sent a letter to Auren, but I haven't had any response. I asked him to meet me here in Divnity's Reach if he could. Last I heard, he was setting out from Ebonhawke. If he wanted to join us, even if he took his time heading back to the city, he would have been here by now."

"It's just as well," Venitus said, his tone more than a little dismissive, "we meant to keep this group small, yes?"

Merila nodded, "Yes... you're right. We'll plan to leave in a week's time. If he doesn't make it here by then, we won't wait for him."

Keyes nodded in agreement, "Sounds agreeable. Well, I should be on my way. I'll send a pigeon about Ewin. Let's meet at the Three Sheets. We can set out from Lion's Arch."

Merila smiled a small smile, reaching out and giving Keyes' hand a squeeze, hoping the gesture would impart all the things she didn't have words for, "We'll be there."

The guardian tipped his head at Merila and Venitus before heading out of the sanctuary. Merila sighed and leaned against Venitus, her body still tight with worry. Venitus put an arm around her and the two stood, their thoughts on the journey ahead of them.

[Merila]

Chapter 3 - An Unexpected Ally

The sounds of the city drifted in through the open window. Sunrise had come and gone and the bustle of the nearby shops was at its height. A light breeze blew in, lifting the short curtains that hung on either side of the window and causing the bedsheets to billow up. Merila sighed, sitting up and turning her head to gauge the sun's position through the window.

"It's nearly noon," she pointed out to the man lying in bed with her.

"Are you kicking me out?" he asked, raising an eyebrow and smirking.

Venitus then raised himself up on one elbow, letting the sheet slide down to his navel. His naked chest held Merila's attention for a moment before she answered.

"Of course not," she frowned.

Laughing, he curved an arm around her waist, flipping her onto her back beneath him. He leaned in, pressing kisses into the curve of her neck as he whispered playfully into her ear, "Good, because I have half a mind to keep enjoying our last day of privacy right here."

The warmth of him between her legs awoke her passions again, and she couldn't suppress a soft moan at the feel of his lips on her skin. But she was tired, and sore, and more than a little hungry. She pushed on his chest with her hands, flashing him a look of mock outrage, "by the Six, are you ever sated?"

His eyes were bright and earnest as he answered, "On you? Never. I could live a lifetime by your side and never be sated. And I've already lost nearly a third of this one," he shot her a devilish grin, "so we must make up for lost time."

She gave him a serious look, "There will be time enough, I promise. But we agreed to meet Keyes and Ewin in Lion's Arch tomorrow, so we have a lot to do today. Maybe we could start with breakfast?"

"A splendid idea," his smirk spread into that dazzling smile of his. "I would not want you to starve."

Her eyes softened in discomfort for only a moment, but he noticed. His face fell, "Forgive me, poor choice of words. Did you have anything in mind, my dear?"

She nodded, gesturing towards the stairs visible through the open bedroom door, "I don't have much, but it will only go to waste in my absence."

--

Merila fetched what was left of a loaf of hearty fig and walnut bread, a block of hard cheese, and some fresh blackberries from her small pantry, arranging the simple meal on a spare tray and setting it down on the table. Venitus had taken it upon himself to pick up her travel gear from where it had been strewn across the floor. It was only the night before that he had been the architect of this disarray, clearing the table of its contents with one quick sweep of his arm before lifting her by the waist up onto it. They had made love then and there, breathless and eager. She blushed at the memory.

It was not the first time her lover had heeded the sudden urge to sweep her up in his desire - though he was perhaps a bit more earnest this time than before. She did spend whatever time she wasn't wrapped up in her research with him, but even the countless hours they spent together, either in her small apartments or at his large estate, did not seem to dampen his enthusiasm for her. Making up for lost time, he says. More likely making up for time thought lost.

She knew it was the looming specter of Orr that had kept him at her side for the past few weeks. She had had too many brushes with death in her efforts to combat Zhaitan and his forces and he knew that better than most. Though he had kept tabs on her movements in Orr as much as he could, there had been times when she disappeared even from the sight of his contacts, and only Grenth knew for sure whether she was alive or dead. Not that I knew whether he was alive either, she noted a little bitterly.

But she didn't really blame him. It had been hard for her to set aside her feelings and keep moving forward, unsure of their relationship, his feelings, or even his safety, but she wasn't a stranger to the unknown. She had gone 25 years without knowing if her parents were alive or dead - she could handle a few months of romantic uncertainty. But she had quickly learned that Venitus was not a man who was used to being left in the dark about anything, and the prospect of losing her had cut him deeply. He never said anything about it, but she knew those days of silence had left a hole in him that only her presence could fill.

Venitus settled himself into a chair, picking up a piece of cheese with one hand as he pulled a scroll from her bag with the other. He unrolled the scroll as he ate, revealing a map of the lands south of the Sea of Sorrows. He traced his finger to an area on the southern section of the map, "So this is where the city is?"

When she nodded, he continued, tapping his finger on the map as he examined her detailed drawings, "We'll be using waypoints, then? I imagine it's still not safe enough to travel down the coast unless we had to."

"Yes. The waypoints set up by the Pact should still be active, but we won't be able to port in any closer than here," she pointed to a small camp noted on her map, "just north of Compass Plaza. We'll have to skirt the royal tombs and slip in through the main city gate. From there in, we'll have to play it by ear. I only have a rough sketch of Arah itself - there aren't any accurate maps anymore."

"That doesn't seem like too far to travel on foot," he noted as he marked the distance between the Pact camp and the city gates on the map.

"It is in Orr," she reminded him. She bit her lip nervously. He doesn't have any idea what he's getting himself into. It had been Auren who had been at her side during the push into Orr, not Venitus. Though more than capable, the man sitting before her did not have enough experience with Risen to truly know what they were capable of en masse. He had never set foot in Orr - the Order of Whispers had had him stationed elsewhere, working on some other threat, one he had assured her was just as relevant as the one presented by Zhaitan.

He still hasn't told me what it was, though. Though it needled her, they had agreed that Whispers secrets were still secrets unless they affected her directly, and so far, whatever he had been doing in the few months she had spent on the Orrian peninsula had remained a general concern and not a personal one. And she certainly didn't want him to put either his safety or his position in jeopardy by demanding information. Still, she worried - he had come back from his travels thinner, and with more than a few new scars. And though the dangers he had faced were real enough, whatever they were, she knew Orr was worse. What if he isn't up to the task?

Venitus considered her, reading her worries on her face, "Fair enough. You're the expert here, I'll follow your lead on this. What else do I need to know?"

"Well..." she twisted her mouth, mentally pulling herself back to the ruined landscape of Orr, "It's exposed. There aren't any trees or bushes, any plant cover at all. The only cover you'll find are in ruins, and those are just as likely to be crawling with the undead as open spaces. Any animals are dead or Risen. Living things stand out like they've got targets painted on them. You have to stay vigilant, every second you spend there, because there's no shelter, no safe haven." She looked at him with a hard expression, and when he nodded, she continued, "The land itself is a danger. There are places so polluted with Zhaitan's corruption that simply lingering there will sap you of your strength. But lingering anywhere is risky. We must move quickly, and leave no trace of our presence. We cannot escape notice forever, and once the Risen are onto us, they will come for us."

"But their numbers are falling, yes?"

"They are," she nodded grimly, "but it takes fewer than you'd think to overwhelm you. There are Pact outposts to fall back to outside of Arah, but once we're inside the city itself, the only reinforcements we'll have are each other."

"Well, then it's definitely a good thing we'll have you leading us," he gave her a smile and a wink, clearly trying to reassure her.

Merila blushed, her train of thought lost in the charm of his smile. She popped a few blackberries into her mouth while she composed herself. Finally, she said, "I still haven't heard from Auren."

"You told him to meet you here tonight, though, right?" he asked as he carefully rolled the map up and slid it back into her travel bag.

"I did," she answered, her brows still furrowed in concern.

"Then I suggest you wait until then to worry," he offered, reaching across the table and taking her hands in his own. "We still have a few things to take care of today."

Merila nodded, a mirthless laugh escaping her lips, "Of course. I suppose we can't go off to our deaths without putting our affairs in order."

Venitus raised an eyebrow at her and gave her a teasing smile, "That's the spirit, my dear."

--

Merila had been standing on the bridge overlooking the main road into Divinity's Reach, watching the people passing through the city gates for almost half an hour when Venitus approached.

"Still no sign of him?"

She shook her head, her jaw tight. It wasn't like Auren to send no answer to her letters, but she wouldn't put it past him to not want to waste the time if he was on his way back. He often waited until he saw her again to answer whatever questions she had, preferring the ease of speaking to what he saw as the the toil of writing. But he always answered her, one way or another. If he couldn't make it back in time, he would have written. But here they were, on their last night in Divinity's Reach, and she had neither seen him nor heard from him since she had sent her first letter two weeks prior.

Venitus could sense her disquiet, and he wrapped an arm around her waist and gave her a reassuring smile, "I'm sure he's fine."

She nodded, "I know. It's just not like him to ignore my letters."

"Well, his birds will just have to find us in Orr. We can't put off our departure," he reminded her.

"No, we can't," she agreed, her eyes still on the people traveling in and out of the city, "I just thought he might still come. We have a little time still - do you mind if I keep waiting? At least until dark?"

"Of course not," he said, giving her a small bow and a gracious smile, "It isn't unreasonable to give him until nightfall."

She looked at him and smiled, giving his hand a squeeze before turning her eyes back to the gates. He stood behind her, his arms around her waist, holding her close as they both kept watch on the main road. The sun was dipping low in the western sky, giving the air a golden quality. She breathed in deeply, savoring the smells of the merchant district that sprawled nearly to the gate itself; the baking bread, the cooked meat, the spices and incense imported from as far off as the Black Citadel and Rata Sum. It was a pleasant evening, warm and breezy, with only a touch of the coolness of the approaching autumn on the wind. If this is to be my last day in Divinity's Reach, at least it is a good one, she thought, leaning into Venitus' embrace.

The sun had nearly disappeared behind the western city walls when something caught Merila's eye. A sylvari was walking purposefully through the gates, her bright red leaves and yellow-orange skin standing out like a firecracker amid the sea of humans. She came to a stop just inside the gates, looking around in wide-eyed wonder, before her eyes locked on Merila on the bridge above her. As Merila looked down in surprise, the sylvari waved up to her energetically before bounding up one of the nearby ramps and onto the bridge.

Merila took a slight step back, and she felt Venitus's arm tighten slightly around her waist as the stranger approached them.

"Hello there!" She gave them a wide grin, "You must be Merila Dorne!"

Merila gave her a wary look, "Yes, do I know you?"

"Oh no, no, I was sent to meet you! He said you would be here!" She looked around, her eyes wide, her mouth slightly open, "This city is so big! And to think, it's all made of stone! How strange."

"Who said I would be here? Did someone send you?" She tried to regain the sylvari's focus.

"Oh, sorry!" She giggled, her red leaves rustling. She reached into the pouch she had hanging at her hip and produced a rolled piece of parchment, "I have a letter for you! Auren said to give it you, that it would explain everything."

"Auren?" Merila's mouth dropped open in surprise as she reached for the letter. She quickly unrolled it, scanning the slanted scrawl that was Auren's handwriting.

Merila, I'm not sure what you're getting yourself into this time, but I'm afraid I can't accompany you. I'm too close to finding that 'gift' I was telling you about, and my travels have taken me much too far from Divinity's Reach to meet you in time. I didn't want to leave you shorthanded, however. Psitka and I have been travelling with Guin here for some time now, and she's more than capable in a fight. She's a little young, but you can trust her. But wherever you're headed, for Dwayna's sake, Merila, be careful. I hope to see you on your return. All my best, Auren.

Venitus had been skimming the letter over her shoulder, and when he reached the bottom, he turned his head to look at her, his eyes hard, "So you didn't tell him we're going into Orr?"

"Oh, is that where we're headed?" Guin smiled, raising her eyebrows, "Is it nice there?"

Merila gave the sylvari a forced smile before turning to Venitus, "Of course I didn't tell him where we're going. I planned to inform him here in person, if he came, but I don't even know where he is now. My letter could fall into anyone's hands on the way to him, and despite including our mercenary friends, I am still trying to keep our expedition quiet." She lowered her voice, "If we find what I hope to find, and that information were to fall into the wrong hands..." She shook her head, shuddering, "Gods help us."

Venitus nodded, before gesturing to Guin, "You're right, but Auren has sent us this... cheerful individual to help without knowing what he was volunteering her for. She should know the dangers ahead, and make the choice herself."

"Of course, yes," she hissed back, more than a little frustrated. She turned to the sylvari, who looked at her expectantly, "Uh, Guin... how much do you know about Orr?"

"Oh! Well, I know it was raised up out of the ocean. I imagine it's rather wet!" she said with a giggle.

Merila frowned, "Well yes, it is. But you do know about Zhaitan, right? The elder dragon? And his army of Risen? You know about the war?"

"Oh yes, I saw them in my Dream," she nodded emphatically. "That was Orr?"

"Yes, that was Orr," Merila explained, studying the sylvari. "How long ago did you wake from your Dream?"

Guin smiled, "About a month."

Merila's mouth fell open, though she quickly recovered herself and closed it again. A month? Gods be good. She heard Venitus let out a small sigh behind her. She put a hand to her forehead and closed her eyes a moment. At least she's seen the destruction of Orr in the Dream. It's not much, but it's better than nothing. She took a deep breath, "Well, Orr is still crawling with Risen. It's a very dangerous place to be, even without Zhaitan. But the research we're doing could be very valuable in the fight against the dragons." She paused for a moment, but Guin only nodded, still smiling. Merila continued, "But if you're up for the risk, we would be happy to have you along."

Guin put a finger to her lips thoughtfully, "Well, I may not know much about Orr, but Auren sent me to help." She flashed another wide smile, "So that's what I want to do."

Merila raised her eyebrows at Venitus before acknowledging Guin's statement, "Alright, if you're sure. We'll make for Lion's Arch at first light tomorrow."

[Merila]

Chapter 4 - The Three Sheets

Merila entered the small tavern known as the Three Sheets, blinking as her eyes adjusted to the low light offered by the lanterns hung on the walls. Though it was early afternoon and the sun was still high in the sky, the curtains inside the tavern windows were drawn, leaving the the room she stepped into in semi-darkness. The main room was large, with several small sets of tables and chairs in the center to her right, a short bar and a few bar stools directly ahead, and a set of stairs just beyond which led up to the few rentable rooms that filled the second floor. The ceiling was low, with a few lanterns hanging unlit from the crossbeams. Venitus strolled in after her, following by Guin, who was still looking around in a mix of surprise and eagerness. Merila glanced around as her vision improved, and when she spotted the familiar figure leaning behind the bar, wiping out a mug with a yellowed cloth, she smiled.

"Keyes!" she called as she crossed the room, weaving between the empty chairs and tables. He looked up and nodded his head in greeting, setting down the mug and moving around to the front of the bar. She gave him a quick hug, "I left Jeor outside, is that alright?"

Keyes chuckled, acknowledging Venitus and Guin with a nod as he replied, "Probably best."

A soft footstep on the stairs to their right caught Merila's attention, and she turned to see a sylvari, his blue skin glowing softly in the dim light, his reddish-purple head leaves bright against the dull brown wood of the stairwell. His quiet gaze found hers, and he gave her a genuine smile. She met him at the foot of the stairs, pulling him into a hug and giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. He gave a small sound of surprise, but returned her embrace.

"Hello, Merila," he smiled, his eyes bright.

"Ewin, it's so good to see you. It's been too long."

"It has," he nodded, the leaves on his head rustling softly. "So who are your friends here?"

Venitus gave the sylvari a quick nod, "Venitus Lethos. It's good to meet you," he said, holding out a hand to Ewin, which the sylvari took, giving it a firm shake. Venitus had only just stepped back towards the bar when Guin rushed in, coming to a stop a few feet in front of Ewin and giving an unsteady bow.

"I'm Guin! It's a pleasure to meet you, sir," Guin said with a wide smile.

Ewin eyed her with a curious expression on his face, "Steady, sapling. There's no need for formality here."

Guin only giggled nervously. Merila considered the two sylvari for a moment, surprised by the younger's reaction. Maybe she knows him from her Dream, she thought suddenly. She gestured with her head to Guin as she explained to Ewin, "She's a friend of Auren's. He sends his regards, but won't be able to join us."

He nodded thoughtfully. As Keyes crossed over to where they were gathered near the stairs, Ewin gestured a hand towards him, "And this is my..." He paused, clearly searching for a word. "My friend, Keyes."

Merila raised an eyebrow at Ewin, but he only gave her a puzzled look, clearly not aware that he had said anything odd. Guin didn't notice the exchange, however, and she strode over to Keyes and gave him a shorter, steadier bow.

"Pleased to meet you as well," she said with a giggle. "I'm always happy to make new friends."

Keyes chuckled to himself before replying with a wry smile, "Well that's me, Keyes Harkner, friend to all."

Merila only rolled her eyes at her friends before settling into a chair at the nearest table. Ewin took the seat opposite her, while Venitus sat in the chair next to hers. Guin took to looking around the tavern, curiously examining the various ship-related decorations on the walls between the lanterns.

Keyes turned a chair around and sat, leaning his arms on the chair's back, "We were expecting you a little earlier."

Merila shook her head and let out a frustrated sigh, "We left at dawn, but there were problems with the Waypoints. A few of the ones nearest Divinity's Reach are out of commission, what with the recent series of centaur raids. We ended up having to walk to the Holdland camp in the Krytan Freeholds before we found an active one."

"Well, we wanted to be sure of a headcount before gathering supplies, so I'll still need a few hours. Guess we'll leave on the morrow?"

Venitus glanced at Merila before nodding, "That sounds agreeable."

Keyes made a gruff noise of ascent before rising, gesturing a hand to the stairs, "You're welcome to the rooms upstairs. Jor let me rent the place out for the evening, so we'd have a bit more privacy. Just let me or Ewin know if you need anything."

She gave Keyes a grateful smile before heading in the direction he had pointed and up the stairs.

--

In the low, flickering light of the lamps, the two sat at one corner of the long table, a bottle of nearly opaque brown liquor and a small glass on the tabletop between them. Merila brought the glass to her lips, quickly pouring the liquid down her throat. She gave a small gasp as the whiskey burned down her throat, making her eyes water. The man beside her laughed.

"I'd forgotten how well you hold your liquor," Keyes remarked, his rough, unshaven face softening in a smile.

She shuddered and set the glass down, blinking, "You sure this is liquor and not shoe polish?"

He gave her a nod as he raised the mug of tea in his hands. "Whatever does the trick," he winked, taking a sip.

Merila laughed, reaching for the bottle and pouring herself another drink. She swirled the liquid in her glass, her gaze lingering on the tall bottle as her thoughts drifted.

After dinner, the others had retired one by one to the rooms upstairs, eventually leaving Merila and Keyes alone in the growing dark of the night. It had been then that Keyes had broken out the blood whiskey, and for that Merila was grateful. Though she was loathe to admit it, she was deeply anxious about the coming morning, and the nearly caustic drink was more than enough to quiet her nerves. She couldn't help but wonder how he had known she needed it, but when the chances that they would be seriously injured or killed were so high, she wasn't about to begrudge herself a drink or two to help her sleep.

Even Venitus didn't know about her drinking - she did her best to avoid it altogether these days, not wanting to blur the line between her troubled past and the present. It had been years since she had been a regular at the bars in Divinity's Reach, throwing back drinks and gambling with Quinn and her gang. She often felt like she was looking at someone else's life when she looked back on her earlier years. Another life, in another world, she sighed.

Back then, though she could drink even the burliest of her companions under the table, drinking had been more of a social necessity than anything else - sharing an ale or two was often the only way to seal the kind of deals she had been used to cutting in those days. But the more she had found herself struggling with Victoria's orders and the questionable morality of her lifestyle, the more she had taken to liquor to soothe her conscience. Only Auren knew how low she had fallen, and he was always quick to remind her how easy it was to fall back off the wagon whenever she seemed to be struggling. Not that she needed it - she was ashamed enough of her weakness for drink, even now.

"It's too bad your pretty boy couldn't join us," Keyes teased, bringing her out of her recollections.

She shook her head, avoiding his eyes, "Venitus isn't much of a drinker." Which is probably for the best, she decided. She nursed her second drink, enjoying the soothing effect it had on her worried mind. She leaned forward, her eyebrows up as she gave her friend a playful smile, "So you and Ewin are just 'friends' now, huh?"

Keyes sputtered in his drink, but quickly recovered himself, clearing his throat before replying, "You know Ewin. He doesn't always know what to call what we have."

She smiled at him, nodding, "Names aren't always important."

They sat in silence for a while, with only the occasional thump of the bottle on the table breaking the stillness in the empty tavern. He took another swallow of his tea and let out a long breath, his expression growing serious, "You're still set on this, Merila?"

She tilted her head and cocked an eyebrow at him, "When have you ever known me to give up on something?"

"I know," he nodded. "I just want you to remember, you can always turn back."

"I'm not running away from this."

"Sometimes running away is the wisest course. Foolish bravery-"

"I won't blame you if you want out," she cut him off, her voice rising a little. She took a breath, steadying herself, "But I can't leave without getting what I came for."

"Then tell it true," he pressed, his eyes narrowing. "There's more to this than you've said, more even than you've told your man upstairs. What are you really looking for?"

She swallowed, looking hard at the man across from her in the flickering light. She lowered her voice, "Bloodstones."

He let out a low whistle, "And here I thought you were just foolhardy."

She rolled her eyes, "Says the man who agreed to come with me."

"I never said I was smart. You're the Priory scholar, you're supposed to have more sense than this." When she didn't argue, his expression softened, "Does Auren know what you're planning?"

"Of course not," she sighed. "I can't risk something like this in a letter. There's a chance there are still shards in Arah itself from when the Six split the original stone. Those shards are some of the most dangerous magical items in all of Tyria. The White Mantle was searching for the stones for centuries, hoping to control magic itself - can you imagine the damage they, or anyone else, could do with just a few shards?"

"I can - which is why I want to know why you're mad enough to go after them," he asked pointedly.

She pursed her lips, "I found an old journal kept by a Priory scholar, Randall Greyston. He was studying the Seers, the ancient race that forged the Bloodstone the last time the elder dragons rose. The Six found the stone and moved it to Arah after they built the city, but Greyston's research suggests that the Six not only broke the stone into separate pieces, but that they actually enhanced its power."

Keyes shuddered and gave her a dark look, "With dragon magic."

"Exactly," she nodded.

"But wouldn't that mean that when the Six gave magic to humans, they gave us magic corrupted by the dragons?"

"Except they didn't," she explained, her eyes widening as her enthusiasm grew. When Keyes gave her a skeptical look, she continued, "Greyston thought of that too, but every test he did showed no evidence of dragon corruption in any of the four types of magic, in any of the races."

"So what does that mean?"

"It means," she spoke in a low whisper, "that the Bloodstone can purify dragon magic."

Keyes looked at her, his eyes wide with surprise. He slowly nodded, "Alright, I see why you're so dead set on this venture. But why all the secrecy? Surely you can trust your man there with this?"

She looked down into her drink, hesitating. She picked it up and took a quick gulp of brown liquid, savoring the burn in her throat as she steeled herself. Then she took a deep breath and met his eyes, "The wound I took on Claw Island hasn't healed completely. It burns in the nightmares I have of Orr, and it aches more and more the closer I get to its shores."

He reached out, grasping her hand in his, "Merila..."

"There's no sense in worrying," she said, pulling back from his touch and standing. She walked a few paces nervously, "There's nothing to be done. Dragon corruption can't be cured, not by any normal means anyway."

"But you don't think he'd want to know anyway?"

"I think he already does," she admitted. She could still see the worried expression Venitus wore when she awoke from her nightmares. He knows something, she was sure. Why else would he be so afraid of the freezing cavern I've been seeing? Though they never spoke of the seriousness of her dreams, she felt the dread they shared hanging like a specter between them.

"I woulda thought, with Zhaitan dead and all, his corruption would fade."

"I would have too, but his defeat has only slowed its spreading. Even if the odds are slim that I'll make it out of Arah alive, those odds are more within my own power than are the odds of surviving dragon corruption long term." She looked away, not wanting him to see the fear in her eyes, "My only chance is finding those shards."

Keyes set his jaw, his eyes narrowed with concern, "Then we'll find them. You have my word."

Merila gave a weak smile, reaching out and giving his hand a squeeze, "We should rest, then. Tomorrow will be difficult."

He returned her squeeze before jerking his head towards the stairs that led up to the rooms on the second floor, "You go on. I'll be up a bit longer."

With a small sigh, she turned and crossed the room. She hesitated on the first stair, however, her chest tight with worry. She turned back to Keyes, "You won't say anything, will you?"

He shook his head and gave her a sad smile, "We all have our secrets, right?"

Merila nodded before turning back and heading up the stairs.