Forgotten Fate

The Keeper continued his tale. "Aemulor spent hundreds of years soaking in the healing power of the waterfall. Then, when he had recovered enough, he traveled to the Source itself. He took it captive, cutting the rest of us off from the Magic and the Maker.

"It was a trying time. At first, we did not know what the problem was. Things just felt wrong. But as creatures started dying, Aemulor made himself known. By then, it was too late. We were overwhelmed.

"The Fates are resilient so none of us perished in the battles, but many of our allies did. We had all but given up hope. 

"But then... something changed. Aemulor's hold on the power faltered for a moment and by the grace of the Maker, that was when I gave my final effort to defeat him. We were victorious." 

The Keeper paused. He did not seem happy about his victory. Aurora understood. She had hated the idea of sentencing Alaron to death when he betrayed her. Having to put him down by her own hand would have been more than she could bear. 

"I wish there could have been another way," the Empress whispered sadly. 

"As do I, and I wish that is where our problems had stopped, but new ones often rush in when old ones are solved. With the Source suddenly unguarded, there was the worry that it would happen again. 

"As we were the most powerful of all the creatures, Justum and the others all voted to take turns tending the spires so that no one individual would have sole access to its power. But I wanted to take it a step further. I want to split the power and guarantee no one could fully possess it.

"Most of my kin did not like the idea, but eventually we took it to a vote and decided it was the best course of action. Splitting the Source was no easy task and took years of careful work. When we finally succeeded--the real argument began.

"Because we realized that with it, a new waterfall could be grown. I saw the eyes of my brothers and sisters. Aemulor's greed was reflected in them. I could not let them rip apart the world again. My soul would not be able to withstand another battle like that. 

"So, I spoke with the Maker and told him my plans. Then, I closed my mind off from the rest of the Fates and went as far away from them as I could. They tried to reach out over the years until I told them if they tried again, I would do my best to disrupt the connection of all the Fates forever. At last, they stopped. They know I am not dead, but they are dead to me for their inability to protect the world." The Keeper looked out at the group. "So you see, you are part of their scheme to get back what they think I have stolen. If they had come, they knew I would strike them down where they stand." 

Aurora took in all the information. It was...a lot. 

"I am sorry for what happened in the past," she said slowly. "I cannot change what Aemulor did. But as for the current situation, it is not the Fate's fault. It is the humans." 

As succinctly as she could, the Empress explained how things had occurred during the war with the Abominations. Aurora did not hide her share of the blame. 

"So you see, the Fates had no part in what happened with the Magic. They were not even there!" The fiery-haired woman desperately tried to exonerate the blue-skinned beings.

"They should have been. They suddenly see their own weakness and they hide away in their tower. A cowardly thing." The Keeper shook his head.

"I think they were trying to find a solution to beat the abominations," Aurora tried.

"You haven't known them as long as I have," the Keeper stopped short of his rant. "I am sorry they sent you. It was cruel of them to trick you like that." 

"They did not trick us," Brinn countered. "Up until we made it inside the storm, my magic was gone. Are you saying the Fates are holding it captive as some plot?" 

"If they wanted to do such a thing, they could," the Keeper would not answer directly. 

"Try and connect to them then. Ask them why they are holding it captive," Reyan was not about to let the hiding Fate get away with his claim. "You cannot reach them because they are suffering worse than we are." 

"You think I am too stubborn to do it? You think I will just take your word for it, hm?" 

The tall, thin Keeper went completely still. He looked like little more than a statute with his pale blue skin and white cloak. The leopards mimicked his action and ceased movement. 

Aurora held her breath. 

After what felt like an eternity, the Keeper grunted. "It has been too long since I last tried, I must have forgotten how to do so." 

"You cannot do it because the connection is lost." Brinn tried, but the Keeper flicked his cloak. 

"Enough of this foolishness. Your company is too much for me. You can stay the night out here if you must, but in the morning you will go home. As soon as the Fates realize that they will not get what they want, they will fix whatever was broken and all will return to normal." The Keeper held his head and turned away. "And I thought talking to Zeru was exhausting. Are you coming?" he asked the plump fairy. 

Zeru looked at Reyan then back at the Fate. "I think I shall stay out here for a while, if I may, Sir." 

"Do as you like." The Keeper turned his back on them. "I will take my leave."

"You cannot! Please!" Aurora limped the rest of the way up the icy stairs. Brinn was astonished by the woman's sudden speed. But then she realized what the Empress was after. 

The Keeper had taken the Fate's chain from Aurora's neck and still had it in his grasp. 

Brinn furrowed her brow. She pulled every bit of magic she had into shutting the door so that the Keeper could not go inside the Forbidden Tower. It wasn't as much as if she were connected to the Source, but it was enough to close the entrance.

The Keeper wheeled around and scowled. "What is the meaning of this?" 

"Give back my friend's necklace!" Brinn came on to the landing beside Aurora. 

"What? I have relieved the Empress of her burden. She is now free of the Fates. If my kin want their leash for the human leader, they can come and ask for it back themselves." The Keeper pursed his lips in annoyance. 

"It is not a leash, it is a gift." Brinn placed her hand on her heart.

The Keeper narrowed his gaze at the elf. "Ah, you have a leash too. I had not sensed it until now. And you too, old Fairy? I would have thought you would have become wise to the Fate's games by now. It makes sense why you all came together now. I will take yours as well if you want to be free." 

"Give. Back. The Necklace." Brinn balled her fists.

"I need back that chain. My father gave it to me. I will not let you leave with it." Aurora continued to limp, pulling her brace along the ice. 

"Alas, you have no choice," the Keeper tucked the chain into his tunic. 

"Is there anything that I can do to prove I am not lying?" Aurora would have fallen to her knees if the brace would have let her. 

"Nothing that comes to mind. Free yourself from the Fates. The sooner you do, the better." The Keeper spared her a glance of pity and then lifted his hand. The door behind him flew open despite Brinn's best efforts to keep it closed. 

He walked through the entrance and the doors began to shut. 

"No!" The Empress used the last of her strength to stop the forgotten Fate from taking her most prized possession. 

"Stay back," Zeru warned. "Touching the tower will kill you!"

Reyan and Brinn surged forward, both trying to stop the Empress from making a fatal mistake. 

But it was too late.