#baronyofthesilverwolf

Aiden returns to the hold, showers and changes, and seeks Nadeen.

Nadeen is tempted to shoot her vibrating cellphone, but she sees the Baron and takes a breath . Somehow it may have only been a few minutes but it felt like forever, "Thank you for coming. We have a grave problem"

"Tell me." He cuts to the chase.

Now that he's here, she's not sure where to begin "First, do NOT Destroy the dance hall statue or that thing will rise up and drainn this place dry. I have it warded for now. It's not a ghost, it's the result of Calanthe sealing your memories in an object and the magic going sour. "

He looks confused, certainly, but he nods. Magic going wrong, that makes sense. "I should have known. Cantrips can..." blank, whatever he was reaching for... an empty space in his memory.

His expression grows stormy with anger and frustration, but he slowly takes a breath. "Then she must dispell the thing."

"I am not done. Foolish as it may have been, i was to protect you from the truth. Aiden, you triffled with Daan...I dictumed Calanthe to tell me everything I could. ... you'rre blaming Connor so you don't blame yourself.. so you wouldnn't KILL yourself for your part in Dahlia's demise"

Slowly, trying to process - "...Who is Connor?"

"THIS..." She takes out her cell phone and shows a picture of a mortal boy who wears clothes meant to conceal "IS Connor. He is your son. A pooka of slipped seeming who you sent away and could barely speak of. He is the sacrificial lamb that Calanthe magiced you into blaming rather than deal with the grief." She flips another picture, this one of a dog at a convenience store, a puppy really "This is his canine form You left him in care of Rivervale because you could not bear the sight of Dahlia's and your only son. You couldn't bear it because of a lie. "

He takes the phone, looking at the pictures. Searching... searching... File Not Found.

"Nadeen... it's empty. I am EMPTY."

"You are... your memories lay in the form of some sort of chimera or nervousa shaped to resemble Dahlia... but whether it has been corrupted by your self loathing, or Calanthe's envy I don't know. It's not a ghost, it's a memory turned nightmare, your memories. I love you, even knowing your part in destroying Dahlia, I love you" She strokes his face "Calanthe has clouded your mind, she chilled your heart, and turned you against your son. She did it so you would endure, survive, but I fear you haven't lived ... I will go, face this creature, and hope that I can purge from her the hate while taking on what is bes in Dahlia. You... Da'an be kind, my sacrifice will maybe allow her to be reurned to you in my form. You'll have her again... so I need you to keep the thanes from interfering. To keep anyone from destroying that until I'm done"

He takes a moment to realize what she is saying, and then grips her hands. "No. I forbid this. Nadeen, I don't remember what happened then. I know I had a wife, I had a son... but that is all.

But I know you. I know the Baroness who swept in and turned my manor on it's end. You brought life into my Freehold, and into my life. I love you, Nadeen. I cannot lose you. Not even for my memories. They are the past. YOU are my future."

"Oh god, how much I wanted to hear you say that... but you can't have your happy ending while the past has such a form and rails with pain and fury and hate... I am Varich. I know he patterns.. the tide cannot ebb and ebb and ebb and never come in. I must do something or that tide will be a wave that will snuff us all out, even Silver wolf. The warninngs.. the Sun can thaw her. I am Varich. I am that sun. I must be, the other alterantive it to sacrifice the same innocent twice over!"

"I am sorry, my love... but you must let me go"

He holds her hands all the tighter. "I will not. You may be Varich, but I am Ailil. And I shall NOT sacrifice that which is mine."

"But you must. You couldn't let Dahlia go, and it let this all come to be! We are not sworn, I am not your baronness ruling by your side. I want nothing more, but it is for the best, because I am not YOUR Sacrifice to deny, just a young woman in love. If Dahlia comes out of this sane and forgiving, then you'll have your happiness, if I come out of this myself but you restrored, then by all means claim me. I long to claim and be claimed. But ... until then, I am a free agent, free to do this even if you do not wish it"

"And if you did not come out of it? One loss damaged me - I am told, would have been my end, if not for Calanthe. Another would destroy me, with no such respite. And such would be the fate I deserve should I allow you to go into this dragon's den."

"Don't give Calannthe too much praise.. mostly because she annoys me" Petty

His eyes search her face. "Tell me you will not do this thing. I will speak to Calanthe. We will find another way."

Belatedly realizing the misstep as they speak almost the same time.

"Calanthe refuses to help, would not come to me. Would not work with me... she's not goin to start now after I shamed her by dictuming her"

His expression goes dark. "She will. Or she shall answer to me."

A stubborn look then... "Ah, then go my love. See if she will aid, but be careful she does not be spell you while you two are alone."

He nods, and draws her in for a sudden, intense embrace.

She returns it, fighting tears don' say goodbye. He'll catch on if you say goodbye

"We shall conquer this together." He promises, then parts, seeking his Chancellor.

Once he's out of earshot "No love, we really won't" And she turns towards the ward ready to step through it

(Bum bum BUM!)