Wenn & Wolf Tales

wwe1020
~~~~~~

Wenn, paced and fumed and stopped a moment to consider these things she had been told and about Wolf having a brother, then continued her pacing. She sat heavily on the small cot, pulled her knees up to hug them and lay her head down on them. She sighed. At least her love was alive and seemingly well, for the brief time she got to see him. Then she invoked the pendant to shift... and now here. Wenn jumped up from the cot again and began the routine all over. This mulling went on for some time, in circles of anger, fear, doubt, but always coming back to her love and trust of Wolf and comfort that he fairs well, at least for now.

Out of boredom and frustration, Wenn wrapped her fingers around the pendant and concentrated on the red wolf form, but nothing happened. She tried again, only this time she thought of the field she had been able to invoke to protect her. Again, nothing happened. She now knew that those were enchanted runes on the door and facing. She could not read them but they must nullify magic or serve as a damper. She sat heavily on the cot and sighed again. How can Wolf get to her now if she is locked away behind such a cancellation of his power?

Wenn took in a deep breath as preface to a heavy sigh, but it caught in the middle and her heart began to pound. She scented the air again. He was approaching. She shrank back on the cot in fear as she smelled her captor near. Indeed, as the scent got stronger, she feared he was coming for her.

A few words were exchanged outside her cell door and the dark wolf's voice sent frightened shivers through her. The bolt was tripped and the door swung open as he strode through it. He seemed larger and more frightening in the small cell. He was angered and his voice terse as he said, almost to himself "I grow impatient with my brother. He tarries too long. Does he care so little for you? " Wenn's eyes filled with tears. She could not answer. She felt certain if Lord Wolf could rescue her, he would... but the dark wolf's words bit her nonetheless.

Quietus angrily crossed to her, grabbed her arm roughly and his free hand picked up the pendant from its resting place. "Perhaps if we dangle the bait before him once again, we can force his hand." He laughed maniacally.

~~~~~~

Lord Wolf slept very soundly for a few hours but then a dream stirred him. He was once again with his love. She caressed his furrowed brow and traced his face with loving fingers. His head rested in her lap and she bent to kiss his cheek.

The kiss in the dream awakened Lord Wolf and for a moment he felt as though his head indeed rested in Wenndolyne's lap. He sat up quickly and in the last of the daylight he could see that she WAS there! Wenn wrapped her arms around his neck and he gladly embraced her but he was completely at a loss to understand how she came to be there. When she leaned back from their embrace and began to talk excitedly he heard not one of her words. He looked into her sapphire eyes for their sparkle. Where was her energy that first drew him to her? She no longer emanated this, despite her animated speech. The melody of her voice was wrong... and the pendant... was missing.

Lord Wolf rose quickly and stepped back from her. He glared down at Wenndolyne where she still knelt. "M'lord? My Love... what is wrong?" Her face was grieved by his action. His voice was harsh. "Where is it? Where is the pendant?!" Wenn looked down to where the pendant should have been and back up to him, her expression changing to one more relieved. "Oh... the pendant worries you... Alas, he took it from me." Lord Wolf arched an eyebrow and tried to still his anger. He spoke slowly and quietly, through great effort. "Who took the pendant from you?" Wenn stood and stepped to him, a deeply hurt look on her face, "Your brother, the Dark Wolf. I had no means to stop him. Please, love, do not be angry with me."

Brother?! He had never told Wenn this and had never mentioned that name to her! Furthermore, only he himself could remove the pendant. His face filled with anger he could barely contain. He scented again to verify that though there was a hint of Wenn, this was not his love! Her dress perhaps, a copy of her image, but not the heart and soul of Wenn!! He wanted to slap this creature to the ground and made a move to do just that, but stayed his hand. He could not do it. Though the image be false, he could not strike her.

The imposter Wenn caught his hand as her expression altered, then her image shifted in an instant. Standing before him was a slight elven beauty, flowing blonde hair and ice blue eyes that now gleamed with laughter as she began to cackle through her words, "Will you never change?" Lord Wolf's voice barely escaped his tight throat as he spoke her name, "Juliana..."

"Aye, my beloved!" Her words would have been loving but not the way she spat them at him. She threw his hand and turned quickly to walk away from him. He looked to see his staff was out of reach. Before he could make for it he saw Juliana stop. She tossed words at him over her shoulder. "If you want your precious bitch you will have to take her!!" Before he could move toward his staff again... the image of Juliana took another step and faded into nothing.

~~~~~~

Wenn sat huddled in a corner of her cell. Tears streamed down her face and she was racked with sobbing. She grasped the wolf pendant desperately with both hands. She was clothed in naught but a tattered black cloak and her slips. She had been thus since the dark wolf took her dress and swept out of her cell in his black robes, bidding the guards to lock her in again. He tried to take the pendant but could not disenchant it. His scent still lingered in the small cell and it sickened her. Wenn cried aloud and called Wolf's name in hoarse whispers through her tears.

~~~~~~

Lord Wolf stood within the woods, as the flames of anger slowly built inside him. Juliana... but how could that be? Then the name formed again within his mind and as if it were acid, he spit it upon the air "Quietus!" He had apparently found some way to preserve Juliana, though how, he could not fathom. Wolf was certain he had killed her. Perhaps she had not really died? If she and his brother were joined against him, then the task ahead might prove to be more than even Wolf could manage.

Shaking such dark thoughts from his mind, he once more went over the plans for this night's rescue. As the sun set and darkness descended upon the Keep below, he called the pack to him and told them of their part to play. As silent as the night, they listened and then as one, they turned and slipped off into the woods, dark shadows among a forest of shadows. Alone, once more, Wolf shifted, this time he emerged from the fading light as a snow white owl resting upon the ground. Swiveling its head from side to side, it looked around and then launched itself silently into the night air. In moments, it was winging its way toward the keep and hopefully to his waiting love.

The Ancient Owl watched the keep, his enhanced eyesight easily seeing the guards that patrolled the outer walls. Softly, Lord Wolf within this owl form reached out and probed the keep with his mind. His search met with strong shielding, rising up like a bubbled dome, encasing the Keep in its protective covering. Quickly his eyes adjusted and in a moment, the shielding was visible to him. He searched its silver shimmering form while riding the warm updrafts of air from the ground below, looking for an opening or weakness. Finally, he spied a small crack within the shield, a flaw in its creation. His brother must be getting careless to have left a blemish such as this, he thought to himself. Soon upon that thought followed another and he softly chuckled to himself within the owl form. "Good, brother, very good! You almost had me there for a moment. But ye will have to do better than that to catch this old Wolf."

Silently, the small white feathered form landed just outside the shielded area, within a small gathering of bushes. For a moment the owl paused, knowing that as soon as he shifted form, the light of his transformation would reveal him to the guards above on the Keep's outer walls. Then, off in the distance, the howl of a wolf was heard and soon joined by many others as the Pack voiced its presence to the Keep. Still the owl waited and the howls drew closer to the keep. His keen eye sight showed him the faces of the guards as they peered into the night.

Moments pass slowly when one does wish them to fly and yet, Wolf had not reached his age without learning patience. Soon an alarm rang out from the far side of the Keep and the guards upon the walls turned their attention from this side to that. Quickly the owl's form was shrouded in bright light which expanded and then dimmed, leaving the man once more.

With softly spoken words he created a shroud of darkness to cover himself and the area around him. Once more he touched the shielding with his mind, searching for the weakness. Probing the edge of the shield where it met the ground, he sent his mind downward seeking to see if the shield was in fact a bubble or just a dome, in shape and nature. Softly he smiled as his mind encountered the shielding's edge but a foot below the soil. "Oh Brother, you were ever the one for taking the easy way. Still, this fault shall aid me greatly this night," he said to the darkness.

Hidden from watchful eyes by the spell of darkness, he shifted his form to that of a furry little white mole. Working quickly, the white mole began to dig into the soil, making a shaft at such an angle as to bring him under the shielding. In the distance, a single wolf's howl ended the chorus and as silent as the night, the Pack as one, turned and slipped back into the forest's safety.

After having dug his way under the shielding, Wolf lost no time in making his way to the Keep's outer wall. Still shrouded by his spell of darkness, he shifted his shape back to that of a man. Quickly he moved along the wall, and as quietly as possible, for the spell of darkness does not mute any sounds he might make. He soon found that which he searched for.

Set within the outer wall was a small doorway, most oft used by servants and perhaps a guardsmen or visitor who wished their doings to remain secret. The door itself was made of metal and no doubt was secured from within. Wolf softly scented the air, filtering out the smell of the door as well as the oil used upon the hinges. By this means, he knew there were at least six guardsmen on the other side of the door.

Softly he chuckled to himself as a smile touched his brow. After thinking for a moment, he recalled the words to the spell. Quickly he uttered the syllables and his form changed, yet there was no bright light to accompany this change. The white robe was replaced with one as dark as a starless night. Emerald eyes once bright and shining now appeared gray, cold and flat. Walking to the door, he released his spell of darkness.

Wolf's loud rap on the door startled the guards within. There was the sound of whispered voices behind the door and then a small opening appeared. A ray of light leapt out and bathed him in plain view. His practice was easy, a look of annoyance crossed his face as he addressed the guards within. "Open this door at once, I have business to attend to!" Upon hearing his voice and seeing who it was the guard hastily complied and unbolted the door, swinging it open for his Lord while stammering out a quick apology. Wolf stormed past them, paying them no heed as he immediately headed down the hallway and turned left into a different passageway.

As soon as he was far enough away from them to not be seen, he once more sent out his mind, searching for the pendant and his love. The bond between himself and Wenn was very strong and yet he could only tell that the pendant was somewhere below him. Quickly he set out searching for a stairway leading into the lower levels of the Keep. Once in the lower level, among the damp and dark smells of a dungeon, Lord Wolf caught a faint scent of Wenndolyne and used this to lead him to the corridor where her guards were posted. As he rounded the corner into their view, he again wore his brother's arrogance like a mask. He swept up to the guards who stepped aside for him to enter the cell, but he dared not.

Wolf could see the runes upon the door and its facing. If he passed the runed threshold his magical disguise would be undone. Lord Wolf, as Quietus, glared at the guards with impatience and disdain "Well get her!" and motioned to the door then began to pace about angrily, muttering curses under his breath. The flustered guards did not hesitate and opened the door to drag Wenn from the corner where she huddled.

Lord Wolf's heart sank for he could hear her startled sobbing and feel her bruised spirit. When she crossed the threshold of the runed door and the enchantment no longer dampened their connection, Wenn's sorrow and fear pierced his heart but he could not allow himself to show even an inkling of it.

Barely glancing at her, he took her roughly by the arm and fairly dragged her down the corridor. He shouted over his shoulder to the guards, "Stay!" as though speaking to pet dogs. "She will be sent back shortly!" Wenn was so taken aback that they rounded a few corners in the dark maze before she could react. She then jerked her arm from the dark wolf and took off running. Lord Wolf out paced her quickly and as quietly as possible. He spun her about and with no way to avoid it, he pinned her against a damp wall, hand covering her mouth. There was barely enough light to see her face, even this close, but he could see enough to tell her eyes were red from many hours of tears and now wild with anger and fear.

Wenn tried to kick and tear at the dark wolf but he soon overcame her. She remained tense but for the moment stopped struggling, instead thinking about how to get away from him and wondering what it was he planned to do with her. He leaned in close and whispered most quietly against her ear. "Wenn, my love, let your senses unmask the truth".

She wanted to fly into a fit of rage again. That this dark creature should taunt her so! He leaned his head back just enough so she could see his cold, grey soulless eyes, but then on her next breath, she closed her eyes. She took an even deeper breath, drinking in the scent of her Lord Wolf and relaxed against his hold. He looked into her face as she opened her eyes which filled with tears immediately. Tears slipped onto his hand, still clamped over her mouth, til he moved it to brush her cheek gently.

Wolf shushed her ever so quietly and whispered "We haven't time, my heart. We must away. Now." Wenn took his hand, pressed it against her wet face, kissed his palm and nodded slowly. She barely more than mouthed her words for her tears had left her no voice "Where to? I came here from... his tower." Wolf took time to pull her into one brief embrace for he knew what he must tell her. "That is exactly where we must go." She began to shake her head against his shoulder but he hugged her more tightly and reaffirmed "Yes... and you must lead me there."

Wenn considered this a moment then backed away slowly. She took his hand and led him down this corridor and that, to the stairs which brought her to this damp, dark place which she was all too ready to leave behind her. In the middle of the stairwell, Wolf stopped her ascent and reached to place the pendant in his palm. He muttered a few words that she could barely hear and not at all understand. Wolf then lifted the chain over her head as his arm crossed over and around her to gently slide the chain and pendant from her long hair as well.

At last she was free of it, though with it went her protective field, her wolf form and her extended life with Lord Wolf. She looked a bit sadly to the pendant in his palm, just before he handed it back to her. Wenn blinked up to him, much confusion on her face. "Now, you put it on. If you place it there yourself, there will be no enchantment. You cannot use it to transform, nor will it extend your life, though he… and I… can still find it and therefore find you." He looked to her but she as yet could see no love in those shallow eyes. She closed her eyes again to scent him for reassurance and managed a weak smile. She slipped the chain over her own head and allowed the pendant to fall back into place.

Wolf's own kind voice came to her as loving as ever "I cannot explain now, Love, but I need you there to help me fight them, for he and Juliana..." Wenn's eyes went wide again. "But I have no magic, I cannot fight... wait... Juliana?" Wolf placed his fingertips quickly but gently against her lips. "Sshh... I will explain later. You need do nothing but stand near me." Wenn nodded, but solely on faith in him, not at all from any confidence in her own ability to be helpful in this.

Wolf removed his hand and leaned in with a soft kiss to her lips. He then whispered against her ear "Only one more thing... You must make me a promise."

She whispered back to him "Anything you ask, my love."

"If the battle with Dark Wolf goes not well... you must remove the pendant and escape any way you can."

She hissed "No! I will not leave you! Not if you need me to oppose him!"

Wolf took her hands in his. "Close your eyes. Scent me. Listen to me. You must promise! I cannot face them if I do not have your word on this." Eyes closed, Wenn nodded, though in her heart she knew she would rather die with him than leave him to be destroyed alone. He smiled softly to her, though she could not see it. He knew her promise was empty, but he would, with his last ounce of power, see that she escaped... if it came to that. He had no intention of letting it get that far.

~~~~~~

Wenn and Wolf made their way through the halls. Those they passed thought nothing of their Lord walking unescorted with the lady prisoner. In truth, Wolf did not need Wenn to lead him to Quietus' tower for this Keep was identical to the original Wolf Keep locked away within Lyric. With that knowledge, he took the lead from Wenn. In short order they were outside the doors to Quietus' study. Wolf puzzled why there were no guards here but thought little of it and opened the door, ushering Wenn and himself inside. Quickly he closed the door behind them and locked it. As the tumblers fell into place within the lock, a lavender light flared up, encasing the doors in a magical glow and sealing them. With a hiss Wolf snatched his hand away from the door and spun around, looking about.

"Greetings, Brother" said the cold uncaring voice of Quietus. "So nice it is to see thee again after so long." Quietus stepped from the shadows and leisurely walked to the center of the room, casually dropping one hand onto the crystal in its black dragon stand.

A low animalistic growl issued forth from Wolf. "Quietus!" Wolf protectively stepped in front of Wenn and allowed the image of Quietus to drop from him. "I cannot say the same upon seeing you." Wolf gently sent his mind out to the pendant and from there on to Wenn. There was a moment of startled contact before Wenn knew it to be her Love that touched upon her mind. With the recognition, came a flood of questions which were cut short as Wolf mentally shushed her. "To what do I owe this honor, Brother?" Wolf inquired, stalling for time.

Quietus smiled coldly. "What? Do I need a reason to invite my loving brother to my humble home?" He said the last in a sickeningly sweet voice. "No hug for thy long lost brother? Why Wolf, I am shocked! Perhaps thy Lady will allow me to kiss her hand in greeting then?"

Wolf moved his staff before him in what could only be taken as a threatening gesture. "You stay away from her, Quietus, or I will be an only child as I thought me to be all these years!" Wolf sent his mind out, taking Wenn's awareness with him, searching for the magical lines of power that span the world. His search finally found one, not up, but buried within the ground below the dark keep. Far below the Keep there was a node where three lines of power came together.

Softly, he whispered into Wenn's mind, **Love, you must release the control of yourself to me. I need your help and must show you what is to be done.** Wenn, knowing her beloved would do nothing to harm her, would release control to him without hesitation. Wolf quickly reached down through her and tapped into the raw power of the node below the keep. He tried to show her how to accept the raw energy and then redirect it back through the pendant and to himself.

Wenn was overcome with fear as she felt the raw power of the node rise up through her and seemingly blast within her mind. For a moment, she was lost within it and it almost broke free of her. Then she felt the reassuring presence of her Love and controlling the power seemed more a matter of releasing her resistance by forcing back her fear. Comforted by Wolf's voice in her mind, Wenn drew the power up from the node and channeled it to the pendant, then on to Wolf. The power rushed down the new channel within her mind, as a flash flood will race through a dry riverbed. Wolf, feeling the power contact the pendant, slowly released his portion of the control back to Wenn and touched the pendant with his mind, allowing the node's energy to flow freely into him.

Quietus, seeing Wolf's menacing move, stepped protectively in front of the crystal in the dragon's mouth. With a few muttered words, he raised a shield about himself and the stand in which the crystal rested. "So much for the pleasantries." Quickly, he spoke a word and a dozen lavender bolts shot from his hands and sped toward Wolf.

Wolf hastily raised a shield as well, but not before three of the magical darts struck him in the chest. Wenn flinched at this but knew she could not allow her concentration to slip from control of the link, or all was lost. Through clenched teeth, Wolf hissed at the pain and then blocked it from his mind. Wolf shouted a single word, activating one of the stored spells within his staff and suddenly there is a clap of thunder and a lighting bolt jumped from the top of his staff and struck against the shield surrounding Quietus, who staggered back under the blow, bumping into the stand behind him.

Wenn watched in fear for her Love, wishing she could help but knowing in this, she could not. She must close her eyes and concentrate ever more on her link to the node and the pendant, feeding Wolf as much power as she could or rather, letting it flow as freely as possible. The magical energy fluxed and shifted within her mental grasp as the magical battle between the brothers continued.

Quietus recovered his balance and quickly spoke the words of a spell, launching his own lightning bolt at Wolf. Wolf's shielding absorbed the magical lightning bolt as he smiled a wolfish grin at Quietus. "You are losing your touch, brother." Wolf once more sent a lightning bolt into Quietus' shield, driving him back a few feet. Quietus cursed and spoke more spell words, calling forth a sickly green mist which slowly crawled toward Wolf and Wenn. Wolf countered by hastily calling forth a wind that drove the mist back toward Quietus who hurriedly cancelled the spell lest he be caught by it himself.

Wolf continued to rain lightning bolts against Quietus' shield, driving him further back from the crystal. With each backward step Quietus took, Wolf advanced a step and Wenn was drawn forward with him. Sweat appeared on the brow of the Dark Wolf as each attack he launched was either absorbed by Wolf's shielding or countered.

Wolf once more touched Wenn's mind with his own as they drew abreast of the crystal. Wenn opened her eyes at her beloved's mental touch, seeing the two brothers clearly locked in battle. Softly Wolf's voice came to her. **Wenn, you must destroy the crystal! Smash it on the floor.** As if from a great distance, she could hear yells coming from outside the room's doors and she knew there were guards trying to get in. Quickly she crossed to the black dragon stand and lifted the crystal from its gaping mouth. Its weight surprisingly light considering its size.

Quietus, seeing Wenn's actions doubled his efforts to break through Wolf's defenses, without luck. Wolf called to mind the words to a spell. A power much like a huge invisible hand suddenly grasped hold of the shielding surrounding Quietus and started to squeeze it. The shielding, already weakened from the relentless attack of Wolf's lightning bolts, buckled and exploded, just as Wenn raised the crystal into the air then threw it hard onto the stone floor.

The crystal shattered into a million shards even as the shielding was destroyed. Quietus was knocked from his feet and tossed the remaining distance across the room. Wolf and Wenn were thrown from their feet as well, from the release of magical energy. Wenn's hold on the node's energy slipped from her as she was thrown part way across the room, falling heavily to the cold floor, unconscious.

Suddenly and as quietly as death, black tendrils formed where the crystal was smashed and hungrily they reached for the now stunned Wenn. In a few moments they found her and drew her to them. Wolf staggered to his feet, his eyes seeing Quietus lying stunned, slumped against the far wall. Turning, his emerald eyes beheld the form of Wenn wrapped within the black tendrils. With a cry, he rushed across the room to free her, only to be struck from behind by several magical bolts. His voice cried his own pain then as he stumbled and fell to the floor. Looking up, he saw the tendrils begin to shrink and within a moment's time, they were gone... and his Love with them.

With a snarl of rage he leaped to his feet and turned to face his brother across the room. "Where is she?! What have ye done with her?!" Slowly he advanced with murder in his eyes toward his brother.

Quietus chuckled softly as his form thinned and quickly turned to mist. "Fear not brother, she is well, for in truth, the trap was meant for you." Wolf stopped and growled in frustration as the voice reached him from the very air. "If you want her back, you will have to go get her. I cannot help but wonder how she will take to your late wife's company, dear brother." Laughter greeted the stunned look on Wolf's face as his brother's words finally registered within his mind.

Wenn was in Lyric… with Juliana.

(dj/dp)