Not even five minutes after Sia had laid down to rest, Vail entered the temple. Both Darien and Melanie looked up as the doors opened and the young woman's hesitant query. Brother Darien gave a warm smile and moved forward to shut the door behind the young woman.

"Come in, come in," he urged. "It's not a fit night out for man nor beast, milady, and you don't look dressed for the weather." Even with his considerable strength, he had to tug at the heavy wooden door to get it closed. It was almost as if the winter storm had a mind of its own and wanted to thoroughly invade the holy place.

Darien shivered and held a hand out in a gesture of leading Vail farther into the sanctuary. "So, please...tell us what we might do for you. I recognize your face from the village, but I'm..." he paused and looked sheepish. "I'm afraid I'm not very good with names. I'm Brother Darien, at your service." He waited for her to tell them both why she was there.

 "Mielikki bless you!" the man exclaimed as Vail sneezed. Darien looked at the young woman with deep sympathy and laid a warm hand of comfort on her shoulder as she sat in one of the pews. "Mother Siannodell is resting, Vail, but I can take the items and make sure they're buried with Angel and Winter." Then his eyes looked up over Vail's shoulder and in a moment, Siannodell sat next to Vail on the long, smooth wooden bench. Darien gave a respectful half-bow and left them both alone.

 

 Siannodell was wrapped in a thin sheet over her robes, and she looked worn out, but she managed to give Vail a tired smile full of concern. "Vail, I'm so sorry," she said in a quiet voice. "You know they both died heroes' deaths, and we're going to build a shrine to them both tomorrow morning. " Sia looked at the helm and sword but made no move to touch them. "I'll make certain Winter is laid to rest with both of these if that's your wish. You're welcome to attend the service, or..." The high priestess thought for a minute and then spoke again, "you can take this bundle back to the Inn to give to Raven tonight." Sia motioned to the sheet-wrapped bundle which held Angel's staff and the tiger's eye brooch. "It's imperative that Raven gets those items, Vail. But if you're too tired to make the journey, you can rest here tonight and go with us to the burial site in the morning. and I'll take Angel's things to Raven tomorrow, afterwards."

Siannodell nodded in understanding as Vail spoke. "You may stay here with us, tonight, Vail. Don't worry. I'll take the items to Raven tomorrow after the burial." The High Priestess gave Brother Darien an odd look and then shook her head. "Unfortunately, Vail, we have no paladins in the village right now to use Winter's things. If you'd like, We'll keep them here at the temple, in case someone suitable comes along, or we can go ahead and bury them with Winter. I leave the decision in your hands, but know that the graves and shrine will have spells specifically protecting them against robbery." Siannodell wrapped the young woman in a gentle embrace and then yawned. "Dawn will come too soon for us. We should get some sleep while we might. You may sleep close to the fire, if you like, Vail." With that, Mother Sia returned to her cot and pulled the thick fur blanket close.

 

When Brother Darien gently shook her awake, it was still dark. Siannodell felt better for the short rest she had taken, but was still tired. She did not look forward to the grim task before her, but knew it needed to be done. She sat up on the cot and stretched. The fire was still going, but it had been banked to a smaller size. The chill of the early morning air helped invigorate her and got her blood stirring.

 

Sia rose and approached the Temple's altar, taking time to fully awaken and still her mind before her morning meditations. She noticed that Vail was still sleeping and brought the fur from her own cot to cover the girl as she slept. With a quiet sigh, Mother Sia knelt on the stone in front of the altar to Mielikki with her hands folded in her lap and closed her eyes, concentrating upon her breathing.

 

After about ten minutes, she lifted her voice in a soft song of worship to her goddess.

 

The sun was just beginning to crest the horizon as Sia, Melanie, Darien and Vail arrived at the burial place which Sia had decided upon (Area 8 on the Map). The morning was cold from the snow which had continued to fall throughout the night, and their breaths steamed in the chilly air of the new day. It had taken a little over an hour to make the trek from the temple and the exercise had warmed their blood.

 

Their procession was solemn and when they arrived at the place where the previous shrine had been destroyed, Sia exhaled a sad sigh. The graves that were already there had not been disturbed, but the headstones and small shrine that had been erected for Obsidian and Jadzia had collapsed in a recent fight between the Silenni, Hi'el Troiye, Lita and a rogue CatLord.

 

 They set the shrouded forms of Angel and Winter down on the ground not far away. Sia looked at Darien and nodded. Then they both shifted to their were-forms, Darien becoming a huge were-bear and Siannodell changing into her were-wolf form. The two then used their enhanced strength to clear away all the rubble and loose stones, stacking them between the white stone pillars of the shrine in a rough, pyramid-shaped cairn.

 

 It took about forty minutes, and they rested on the white marble floor of the shrine when they had finished. Their tasks were only begun, however. Both Darien and Siannodell drank deeply from the waterskins which Melanie offered to them as they took a break. Then, the two morphlings began to dig. The graves for Winter and Angel became deeper and deeper as the soft earth was thrown to the side from the priestess's and acolyte's clawed efforts. It would have taken hours with shovels, but Darien's wide, bear paws and Sia's thick, lupine pads made short work of the project. Both climbed out of the deep holes covered in dirt and breathing heavily.

 

Vail stayed quiet throughout the process and none of them seemed to have much to say. Siannodell and Darien once more drank from the waterskins and caught their breaths. The sun was rising higher in the sky as the hour neared nine o'clock in the morning. Soon it would be time for the real ceremony to begin, and they would pay proper tribute to the fallen heroes of Elmshade.

 When they had rested, they each shifted back to their natural, human forms and bowed thier heads in a moment of silent prayer. Darien and Melanie gently lowered each of the shrouded forms into their respective graves. Then all four of them held hands in a semi-circle around the edges of the earthen holes. Siannodell bade them to bow their heads and close their eyes again, and then led them in prayer.

"Holy Mother, Mielikki, grant these two faithful rest and peace as you guide them upon their journey in the next life. Guard their paths and keep them close to your bosom, as they died to protect those who follow you and yours. Angel and Winter gave their lives, the ultimate price, so that others who serve you might live. We humbly ask that you bless these resting places so that none may disturb or desecrate them." Mother Siannodell gently let go of Darien's and Melanie's hands and raised her own to the sky. "Revered Forest Mother, we ask your light to shine brightly upon Angel and Winter, that they may never be forgotten for their sacrifice and keep this ground sacred in their memory, as we have tried to do for Jadzia and Obsidian, before them. We ask your blessings and light in this place, Mother Mielikki, now and for all time to come."

 

The High Prietess lowered her hands and the sun chose that moment to stream down in two distinct beams directly upon the places where Angel and Winter laid. It was as if the Goddess had heard Mother Sia's powerful prayer and responded in a way that would be visible and accepted by all those gathered. Sia consecrated the graves with holy water and several prayers of blessing. Then she and Darien changed again and filled in the graves with the loose earth. When it was done, the two burial plots were not quite full, as the earth removed was never enough to fully fill the graves. They packed the dirt more firmly by walking atop it and then sat down again to rest. Both shed quiet tears, for the task of laying their friends to final rest had torn them, emotionally.

 When all was said and done, they made the journey back to the temple. Sia and Darien stayed in their were-forms and when they arrived at the temple, they changed back to human shape again. There was not much to say, and each wrestled with their own thoughts. Siannodell looked at the others and then at the bundle of Angel's things. "I'm going to the Root to meet back up with the others and give Raven Angel's things. Vail, you're welcome to stay here or come with me, if you wish. Darien, Melanie, I assume that you will stay here and continue the clean-up. As soon as we decide what to do to protect the village from the coming assault, I'll be back to let you know. Perhaps the dwarves in Sundabar will respond soon, and we can begin rebuilding the temple." The high priestess gathered Angel's belongings and started back to the tavern where she knew the others would be meeting. 

((K, joe. I have good ideas! ))

 

 

The meeting over the past day was long and draining on the already war torn mage. But finally a plan was laid, and things were underway. Raven lumbered slowly on the animated chair Amagato had enchanted for him, down a trail that lead from the Twisted Root tavern. Its thick wooden framed creaked slightly as it moved to a fresh grave. Stopping at the foot of the grave, Raven looked down to the gathered flowers and gifts left by his daughters friends. It seemed she was at least loved for the short time she lived here in Elmshade. Across his lap, Raven held her RuneStaff feeling the power slowly leave its enchanted core. For without the owners lifeforce to maintain a RuneStaff, they soon would revert back to a normal stick. Grabbing his own RuneStaff from the back of the chair, Raven activated its telekenetic powers and levitated Angels RuneStaff upright out and over near Angels headstone. He then drove the staff deep into the ground with several hundred pounds of force till it was stuck in the earth halfway up its shaft. He thought it fitting it should die here with its maker. Tears streamed down his face as he sat there for a few minutes looking out over her grave, and thinking quietly to himself. Then before turning away he muttered something... "I will avenge you my sweet daughter. The Barbarian and the Red dragon will die... I promise you this." After saying this, Raven turns the animated chair and rides it slowly up a different trail... one that led to the Trinity Hilltop where Amagato waited for him.