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Crepuscule	By : Skullbearer Category: A through F > Dragonlance Views: 2832 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the book(s) that this fanfiction is written for, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 15
- 16
- 17
In which everyone, including Tanis, has a chance to get revenge on the old character we all love to hate- at least, everyone who's read Second Generation...

Crepuscule
Chapter 16- Of Revenge
To all the fights I've conquered and beyond
The times have changed and I will now move on slowly
-Lost Prophets, Sway
Though meant to be a joyous occasion, the feast in their honour was anything but. An uncomfortable hush hung over the table, which was laden with food that no one was eating.
Raistlin and Dalamar were not even at the table, for which the human mage was glad. Dalamar might have recovered somewhat from his melancholy mood, but he certainly didn't need to be reminded of it by the cold remarks of their so-called 'guests'. Instead they both sat beneath on of the aspens, away from the main group and to the shadows.
Neither of them ate much, Raistlin didn't have much of an appetite even at the best of times, which this certainly wasn't, and Dalamar barely ate at all, picking at his food worse than Half-elven.
Raistlin looked over at the elves seated at the main table and scowled. He would not forget their actions this past day, and having to watch Dalamar being treated so viciously had drawn cold anger. The Dark elf had compared this place to Darken Wood and Raistlin could understand, the people here treated him no better than the spectres had.
And here, as in Darken Wood, he would remember, and when the time came, he would pay them back in full.
Finally, Dalamar pushed his barely touched plate away, leant back against the tree and sighed, looking over at Raistlin almost apologetically.
The Red Robed mage put aside his own nearly untouched meal andsmiled back.
Dalamar craned his head back and closed his eyes for a moment, "This isn't very enjoyable, is it?"
Raistlin shook his head, so far, it hadn't been. They had been treated, at best, with strained cordiality, and at worse with outright revulsion. Dalamar had been depressed by even being here and had made no secret of his wish to leave as soon as possible. While Raistlin hadn't be treated nearly as badly as the Dark elf, his lover's mood was wearing on him. While he understood completely why Dalamar felt that way, he was also glad they would be leaving soon.
But not soon enough for one member of the elven court, who had been entertaining himself by sending them both foul looks throughout the entire supper. Raistlin recognised him as the one who had protested Dalamar's presence at the Speaker's chamber, and his dislike only increased. As if they didn't have enough problems already.
By the table, a soft chant in elven was starting up, slow and sad, as the day drew to a close. Raistlin could see the shapes of Lunitari and Solinari in the early evening sky, and the small smile on Dalamar's face told him that the Dark elf's patron was also in sight.
His lover's firm faith in Nuitari was something that evoked both amusement and fondness in Raistlin. While his belief in the deities of magic was unshaken, the Dark elf's devotion to his patron was something Raistlin had never seen, except, perhaps, lately from Goldmoon. The comparison made him smile. He knew that neither would ever acknowledge the similarity.
One by one, the lamps around them were lit, until Raistlin's eyes had accustomed to the light enough that he could barely see the moons.
But once the song ended; a long, sighing note of loss, the lamps were blown out, and Lunitari and Solinari once again seemed huge in the night sky.
Judging by Dalamar's unshaken smile, he had barely noticed the light- or lack of it.
The Speaker of the Suns stood as the final chords died, Raistlin looked at him impassively. The Speaker was one of the few elves he saw die, and it was hard to accord respect to what- to him- appeared to be a shrivelled, rotting corpse.
Morbidly, he wondered how long it would be before Dalamar himself died in his sight. Raistlin was glad that he would likely be long dead before such a thing happened.
"And now, it time for the meeting of the High Council. It will be held in the Hall of the Sky, Tanthalas, if you will your companions there."
Both mages got to their feet and followed Tanis.
The Hall of the Sky was well-named, Raistlin decided, seeing as it had no roof. Only a few torches lit the square, enough to illuminate without dazzling. The Speaker stood in the centre, with their little group around him. What appeared to be half the population of Qualinesti gathered around them.
"Here you see our situation." The Speaker explained, gesturing at the ground. Raistlin looked down and noticed that everyone was standing on what appeared to be a huge map of Krynn. The Speaker was standing where Qualinost was, he himself was on a range of bumps that marked the barrier mountains, and Dalamar was actually standing on Xak Tsaroth. Beside them, the map-loving kender could barely contain his excitement.
"There's Solace!" He pointed out, delighted.
The Speaker nodded, "Yes Kenderkin, and that it where the dragonarmies mass. In Solace and in Haven." He touched the spots on the map with his staff, "Lord Verminaad has made no secret of his plans to invade Qualinesti. He waits only to gather his forces and secure his supply routes. We cannot hope to stand before such a hoard."
Despite having seen the formidable defences of Qualinesti for himself, Raistlin had to agree. After Gilthanas' tale of the red dragons destroying Solace, he could well believe they could level this place.
Sturm clearly did not have the sense to come to that conclusion and had to have it explained patiently by the Speaker, who wasn't at all comforted by the reminder, "It was only with the Dragonlance that the Mighty Huma defeated them. There are none now- at least that we know of- who remember the secret of that great weapon."
Next to him, Fizban started forward to speak, but Raistlin held him back. He
doubted the enigmatic old mage had anything sensible to say, and would most likely just use the excuse to act- and Raistlin was sure it was an act- insane.
The Speaker continued, the elves were planning to abandon Qualinesti and go into exile, but they had lately heard of a nearby dragonarmy that would attack them before they were ready. The army was in Pax Tharkas, and it had been Gilthanas' plan to infiltrate the place and lead the slaves who worked the mines there in a revolt.
Raistlin sighed, and he wasn't the only one to have caught what the Speaker truly meant. Tanis spoke up "And you mean for us to lead the revolt."
"Yes, Tanthalas, Gilthanas knows a way into Pax Tharkas- the Sla-Mori. He can lead you into the fortress. You have not only a chance to free your own kind, but you offer the elves a chance to escape."
The Speaker scowled at Dalamar, who glowered back insolently. "I have been torn as to whether you should accompany them, Dark elf, and I still believe it would be best for the others to head off without you."
Oh Gods, not again.
"You would be heading without the two of us, then." Raistlin stepped forward, one hand of Dalamar's shoulder. The Dark elf him gave a small smile, an odd look in his eyes.
Tanis sent the Speaker a pleading look, and Raistlin had a feeling they had disagreed about this before. But before Caramon could step forward to offer his support, the Speaker nodded reluctantly. "Very well, so be it. But understand this, exile. Understand that if you betray us, we will never stop hunting you. You will never know a moment's safety or a moment's rest until you are dead."
Raistlin's grip on Dalamar's shoulder tightened painfully and his eyes narrowed, boring into the Speaker's. He saw a spasm cross the other elf's face at the sheer baleful anger directed at him.
"We must have time to consider," Tanis broke in.
The Speaker nodded stiffly and they were led to a small grove away from the crowd. Tanis turned to them, sighing, "I will go Pax Tharkas, but I believe that it is time we separate, my friends. Before you speak, let me say this. I would send Tika Goldmoon, Riverwind, Caramon, Dalamar and Raistlin, yes, and you Fizban, with the elves in hope that you may carry the disks to safety. The Disks are too precious to risk in a raid on Pax Tharkas."
Tanis hadn't even finished speaking before Raistlin shook his head, by what he had seen in the people of Qualinesti, he could have told Half-elven he was wrong, but it was not this that prompted him to speak, but the soft whispers, quieter yet clearer that at any other time save the last. It was enough to reinforce the young mage's certainty that to carry the Disks with the elves was to do nothing, and worse than nothing, to jeopardise their hopes, although how, Raistlin didn't know yet.
He said none of this to Tanis though, simply stating that it would not be amongst the elves that Goldmoon would find who she sought.
Half-elven blinked, "How do you know?"
Sturm snorted, clearly, the idea of putting up with the two mage again was more that he could stand in silence. "He doesn't know anything, Tanis, More talk-"
But for once, Tanis seemed ready to listen to sense, "Raistlin?"
"You heard the knight," Dalamar sneered, "We know nothing."
Sturm looked at them with loathing, and Raistlin wondered how long this uneasy truce would last. He had not forgotten the knight's words in Xak Tsaroth, when he had screamed that should have left both of them for the dragon. Nor did he suspect Sturm had forgotten Dalamar's cold promise at the slave caravans, to leave them to their fate and save only Raistlin and himself. Perhaps splitting up would be a good idea, before one of them snapped.
And if Sturm didn't stop glaring, that person might well be Raistlin himself.
One by one, the others pledged to follow Tanis, Goldmoon agreeing with Raistlin that the one she sought would not be among the elves.
Half-elven sighed, admitted defeat, then turned to Fizban, ordering him to go back with the elves.
Raistlin had been expecting a reaction, but nothing quite so dramatic as what happened. The old mage looked directly at Tanis, not simply somewhere over his left ear as he was wont to do, but straight in the Half-elf's face. His expression was one of such focus- such power!- that even Dalamar took a step back. The Dark elf shot Raistlin a look and the young mage nodded almost impercivably. Dalamar inclined his head in response and Raistlin smiled, at last, the Dark elf saw what Raistlin did.
The look on the old man's face was reminiscent of no one so much of Fistandantilus, and Raistlin had actually suspected there might be a connection to begin with. He had later discarded the thought. The old man was not connected to the old lich, but the power surrounding him was much the same- perhaps even greater.
It was more than enough to pique Raistlin's interest, even without the old mage's knowledge of his Test.
Tanis looked dazed, clearly this was not the response he had been expecting.
Instead of arguing with the old man, he turned to Raistlin. Clearly even Half-elven could see there was something strange about the newcomer.
He was mildly surprised when Tanis spoke to him in Camp-talk, the gutter cant of mercenaries, but then nodded to himself. Half-elven didn't want Fizban to understand what he was saying, and while Raistlin honestly didn't think it would do much good, it couldn't hurt to help Half-elven's delusions.
"We talk if want." Raistlin answered, 'but not too much', he thought, 'there's much I want to find out about this old man, without your bumbling', "But little know I."
"You fear, why?"
For obvious reasons, "I know not, Tanis," He lied, "But- you right. There power be within Old One. I feel great power."
"And you hunger," Dalamar had leant close and whispered in Raistlin's ear. The Red Robe shivered.
Raistlin smiled coldly at Tanis, "But, he right. Try to stop him? Very much danger."
"As if there wasn't enough already." Tanis said bitterly, "We take our own in with us in the form of a doddering old magician."
Sturm's eyes narrowed, "It's not the old man I'm worried about," He said darkly.
Raistlin locked eyes with the knight and felt the cold chill of dread climb his spine. Yes, Dalamar had been right. This one would kill them if he had half an excuse, and to go into an enemy fortress with such at his back was not a comforting thought. He simply hoped the Solamnic wouldn't get it into his head to attack them during the operation.
Dalamar's hand closed around Raistlin's upper arm and the two stepped back into the shadows. "Come now," he said softly, "Let's go to bed."
They turned away, hearing the faint strains of Flint's "As if two crazed mages wasn't bad enough!" as they headed away.
Raistlin turned to Dalamar, puzzled, as they walked,. They had slept soundly earlier and he didn't feel particularly sleepy.
"Are you tired?" He asked curiously, had the events of the last few hours taken more out of his lover than expected?
The Dark elf paused, and smiled. "No, are you?"
Raistlin shook his head, then understood what Dalamar meant and smiled. "Oh."
"Yes, 'oh'." The black robe stepped closer, close enough for his robes to brush against Raistlin's and for the younger mage to see the undeniable desire in his lover's eyes.
Raistlin stepped in, feeling the warmth of Dalamar's body against his own and sliding his hands under the Dark elf's robes to draw him closer still.
Dalamar made a sound close to a purr, rubbing his face against Raistlin's white locks as he reached over to hold him in turn.
Raistlin smiled, nuzzling the crook of the Dark elf's neck. It had been far, far too long since they'd been together like this, and decided that next time, they wouldn't let something as petty as company get in the way of taking pleasure in each other.
He was just leaning for a warm and very welcome kiss, when the angry voices reached them. By the sounds of it, Tanis and the others were arguing.
"No! I don't believe it!" Half-elven's voice cut through the night sharply, "You two are wrong! I'll stake my life on it. I grew up with Gilthanas, I know him! Yes, there is a score to settle between us, but we've discussed it and the matter is closed. I'll believe he's turned traitor to his people the day I believe you or Caramon turn traitor. And no, I don't know the way to Pax Tharkas. I've never been there. And one more thing! If there's people I don't trust in this group it's that old man, not to mention that brother of yours and his dark lover!"
Dalamar blinked at Raistlin, who blinked back. They were both still wound in each other's arms, hands warm against skin.
"Well," Dalamar said, and shook his head as if unsure what to say.
Raistlin winced. He had expected there would be whispers of traitors, but he hadn't expected them to come so soon, or that Gilthanas would be implicated. In truth though, that was probably a good thing. He had known their names would be thrown in at some point- he doubted if even Caramon trusted him completely any more- and if the elf was also distrusted it might draw attention away from them.
Not that he expected Gilthanas to actually be the traitor-
Raistlin's thoughts died away as Dalamar pressed his lips against his own, tongue sliding in past his teeth. The younger mage groaned deep in his throat and reached up to cup the Dark elf's face as his mouth was utterly and quite deliciously ravaged.
By the time Raistlin forced to break the embrace in order to breath, he was pressed tightly against Dalamar, and Half-elven's argument was the furthest thing from his mind.
Dalamar grinned at him hungrily, licking swollen lips. "Come on."
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By the time they had made their way back to the grove where they had spent the afternoon, sleep was the last thing Raistlin was expecting. The had stopped several times on the way back; to kiss, touch and pull hungrily at each other's clothing.
Raistlin didn't think they could reach the grove quickly enough.
Unfortunately, they weren't as alone as they had hoped. Although none of the others had arrived yet, the young mage found himself held still suddenly by Dalamar.
It took a few moment for his eyes to spot what the Dark elf's keener ones had seen, a small group of elves on the edge of the clearing.
Raistlin caught sight of the leader, and his heart sank, it was the very same Senator that had spoken up in the Speaker's chamber and that had sent them ugly looks all through the feast.
Somehow, Raistlin didn't think he was here to apologise.
The elf- Rashas- stepped forward, sneering at the sight of them. "Solostaran is an doddering old fool to allow the likes of you to sleep and-" He wrinkled his nose- "/befoul/ our sacred groves. I however am neither foolish or old. You will stay out of this place, or my guards will be forced to keep you out." He turned to leave.
"And where are we supposed to sleep?" Dalamar snarled after him.

Rashas turned, an ugly look on his thin face, "Why, on the ground, like a dog," before turning again and walking away.
Dalamar looked back at the elves that remained and sighed, and Raistlin knew the Dark elf was wishing, once again, that they had left this place, or better still, never entered.
Raistlin looked back to where the arrogant elf had vanished, and a clenched his fists. It was pointless to except any help from any quarter, and they could hardly fight the guards Rashas had left- as he well knew. Dalamar was detested here and Raistlin, after the Dark elf's possessive proclamation in the middle of the Speaker's chamber, would hardly be welcome.
Rashas would not have the support of the Speaker either, as he was acting against his wishes, but unlike them, he didn't need it.
All that was left then, was to find somewhere to sleep...
He had had enough, through the whole day he had been forced to watch Dalamar be cursed, derided and physically hurt, all the while knowing that any action he took would simply make things worse. This was enough.
A small smile suddenly twitched Dalamar's lips, Raistlin stared, cocking his head as the cold grin broadened.
Quietly the Dark elf took Raistlin's hand and pulled him away from the grove and as soon as they were out of sight of the elves, he confided his plan, whispering so that the guards might not hear.
The younger mage's frustrated face lightened into a slow, evil smile. "Oh yes, but wouldn't they-"
The Dark elf shook his head. "They need us, and this Rashas is acting against the Speaker's orders, he can no more go to him than we can."
Raistlin's grin was truly wicked, "All we need to do," he whispered, is work out where he lives."
Dalamar tapped the side of his face thoughtfully. "As to that, I have an idea. We weren't the only ones that arrogant lordling was scowling at during the feast."
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They found Tanis as the Half-elf was walking back to the grove. Caramon and the others must have hung back or taken a different route back, because he was alone.
Tanis sighed and rolled his eyes at the sight of them, "What do you want?"
Dalamar's face was steeled impassivity, "You lived here before, correct?"
Tanis nodded warily, "So you must know where /Senator/ Rashas lives?"
This time Half-elven blinked, surprised by the odd question. "Why do you-"
Dalamar waved a hand to cut him off, "Never mind that, where does he live?"
Tanis was silent for a moment and Raistlin could almost see him thinking. He had to know the two of them certainly didn't mean any good, but as Dalamar had guessed, the half-elf had suffered from Rashas' attention before and he shrugged, as if to rid himself of any involvement in the plot. "It's the last house at the end of the row."
Dalamar smiled evilly and gave a small bow, Raistlin did the same and the two hurried down the path.
Raistlin saw Tanis look back, sigh, shrug again and continue on his way. The Red Robed mage wasn't sure, but he thought he might have seen a smile on Half-elven's face.
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Two hours later, the elven guards escorting the two mages almost threw them into the grove where the others were sleeping. Raistlin shivered, the night air was chill against his bare skin and the guards of the outraged Senator hadn't allowed them to even put their robes on before throwing them out.
It was with a welcome sigh that he slid into one of the empty beds, Dalamar getting in beside him. The Dark elf was still sniggering shamelessly.
Raistlin had stopped finding it funny after they had been marched, mostly naked, through the trees. He was glad he had drunk his tea during the feast and still had some left to ease the tightness around his chest.
It hadn't been too bad before, with Dalamar's burning body tight against his, atop and around and inside him, he doubted he'd have noticed if Fistandantilus himself decided to take possession of his body at that moment, but he had certainly noticed the cold after Dalamar had been pulled off him.
Raistlin sipped the tea, even cold, it helped dispel the crushing band around his lungs that warned of an impending coughing fit. His chest had been getting tight even before the guards had dragged the two of them off Rashas' front lawn, and the long march back had certainly not helped.
It had been worth it though, Raistlin decided, as he set the now empty cup aside and burrowed down under the covers beside the now sleeping Dalamar, the look on Senator Rashas' face had been worth a dozen coughing fits, as had been hearing the words he shouted from his bedroom window. Raistlin hadn't known know the Senator knew gutter cant.
A grin pulled at his lips at the memory of Rashas' face, part sickened, part horrified, all outraged. Still, it had been the Senator's own fault.
After all, Rashas had never actually said /where/ they had been meant to sleep...

Yes, a shorter chapter. The NC-17 version will be up shortly.
Skull Bearer
- 15
- 16
- 17
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Crepuscule