The Master of Past and Present

[hourglassmajere]

raistlinsknight:

Caramon was about to take a bite when he glanced to his brother.  He  then put down the food when Raistlin told him what to do. “Alright”,he said without hesitation. He made his brother his tea and handed it to him. He didn’t feel like eating now,though if he didn’t he knew Raistlin would poke the subjet until he told him why. So he picked up his food and ate slowly. He didn’t eat much so he packed the rest away for later.

Raistlin took the tea, and sipped out it, watching his brother as he did so.  He knew Caramon well, and so noticed the way he was eating slower than usual, and less of it.  Obviously something was bothering him, likely the conversation they had the night before.  He decided not to ask.

As his brother packed everything away, he wiped out his cup, and put that away as well before grabbing his bag.  “Ready?”

[hourglassmajere]

raistlinsknight:

Caramon listened,glancing at the baby in her arms ever so often. He smiled though,he loved seeing children..as long as they weren’t crying. He didn’t have many parental insticts,the one thing the twins shared. Caramon nodded and spotted an Inn not to far.  “We can go there. Follow us.” He said as he began to lead them to the Inn. There he let the two grab a table while he grabbed some food and drink before joining them. He sat down and placed everything down neatly. “So what did you want to talk to us about?”

Raistlin wasn’t too interested in the food.  He rarely was hungry.  But he did take a cup of hot water, wanting to drink his tea again after spending time on the road.

For a moment after they all sat down Sara was quiet, needing some time to collect her thoughts as she decided how to begin.  “About a year ago, a little more than that now, your sister knocked on my door.  She was sick with a fever, and passed out in front of me before she could say anything, so I carried her inside and fetched the village healer.”

She paused for a moment, then continued.  “When Kitiara regained consciousness, she wanted to leave, insisted that it was only the fever.  But she was too weak to get up, and the healer told her that if she didn’t rest she would lose the baby.”

Sara’s gaze shifted to the child in her arms.  “She insisted that she wanted to lose the brat, as she called him, and only stayed because it was likely she would die as well as the child if she didn’t probably take care of herself.  I nursed her through the fever, and the birthing.  The birth was a difficult one, at first we didn’t believe she would survive, and so I asked her about her family, and the baby’s father.  She told me, but then made me vow to tell no one.  When she recovered, she left the baby in my care.  She intended for me to raise him as my own, I believe, and told me specially not him to you, or to his father.  At first, I was going to do just that.  But he should know his family, even if his mother doesn’t want a raise a child.”

[hourglassmajere]

raistlinsknight:

He closed his eyes,starting to drif asleep. “I know ,Raist.”

The next morning he woke witha  groan,streching himself out. He still hurt from sleeping on the floor but he wouldn’t  complain. He leaned up and streched himself out,witha  groan. He got up and got himself some food he had packed adn looked over to his brother.

Raistlin had woken up before Caramon, and like the previous morning, he spent the time his brother was still sleeping studying his spellbook.  When Caramon got up, Raistlin set the spellbook to the side, having finished studying his spells for the day, and watched him get out breakfast for himself.  

“Prepare my tea and then we can be on our way,” he told him when Caramon looked over at him.  His cup sat on the table beside the bed where he’d left it the night before.

[hourglassmajere]

raistlinsknight:

He nodded and began to contninue to follow his brother,until the woman came up to them. Caramon was a bit taken back by the woman. “Um, Yes. Might I ask who you are. You obviously know us.”

He looked the person over,eyes staying on the child on her arms. Did she need help? Hopefully not a baby sitter,he wasn’t to great with children.

“I am Sara, I know your sister Kitiara..She wanted me to give you something.” She said a bit nervously.

“Give us something?  You’ve seen our sister recently then.”  Raistlin was curious about this women, and the child she held in her arms, especially after she mentioned knowing Kitiara.  He stared intently at the baby for a moment.  There was something that seemed familiar about him, despite Raistlin being certain that he’d never seen the baby before in his life.

“I last saw Kitiara almost a year ago,” Sara explained, “But the two of you haven’t been easy to find.  Could we sit down and talk?  It’ll be easier to have this conversation if we aren’t standing in the street.”

[hourglassmajere]

raistlinsknight:

He went to speak but held his tounge. The argument was over and he knew that. “I am sorry if this made you uncomfortable. I just wanted to discuss this with you.”  He gavea  faint smile. “I’ll be by your side though. I don’t want you to go through it alone. I knwo it won’t be easy but…having someone there might help things go smoother. Right?”

He got himself situated again,ready go actually go back to sleeo now.

Raistlin both loved and hated the way that Caramon was willing to stay by his side through anything.  Sometimes it annoyed him, but other times it was useful to have someone so completely loyal to him, someone who would follow him in his quest for power despite not agreeing with it.

“Yes, having you with me will help me, brother.”

[hourglassmajere]

raistlinsknight:

Caramon chuckled lightly from the comment,it was true. “Maybe we can find some others teas here while we ar-”,he stopped as he heard the cough,about to go to his brother before he was suddenly waved off by him.  He frowned as he watched his brother slowly recover from his fit.

“I-eh as I was uh,saying. Maybe we can find some more Tea for you while we are here,right?”HE said trying to get the attention from his brothers cough.  Caramon couldn’t help but notice a woman from a far. The woman seemed to be staring at the two. Caramon glanced to Raistlin and then bent down to his ear. 

“Hey Raist, do you notice that woman staring at us?”

Raistlin didn’t even glance in the woman’s direction, having already noticed her, he didn’t see any need to draw attention to the fact that they knew she was there.  “Yes, she’s been watching us for several minutes now,” he said, voice even softer than usual, only loud enough for his brother to hear him.

He then carried on as if there wasn’t someone staring at them.  “I’ll collect some more herbs for my tea once we have rested and had something to eat.  They should have what I need here.”

It was at that point that the woman came over towards them, carrying a child, who looked to be about a year old.  “Are you Caramon and Raistlin Majere?”

[hourglassmajere]

raistlinsknight:

“And when will it ever be enough ,Raist ? How much till you are satisfied?” he looked back to him. “I want to go with you and help you but..I don’t want to watch you tear yourself apart….or die from it. ” he gulped and shook his head a little at himself. He knew better than to argue with raist. ..and here he was doing it again,

“I don’t know.  Maybe I’ll never be satisfied.”  His voice was soft, and he looked down at the floor.  It was likely that he would search for power and even as he gained it, would still want more, that no matter how much power he had it would never be enough.

He looked back at his brother.  “But I will gain more power.  I’ll walk the path alone if I must.”

[raistlinsknight]

The day was bright, hot and sticky. The two twins walked down a dirt path until they came across a small  town, old buildings, new ones being made and  small shop keepers here and there. The big burly man streched himself out as they got into town and smiled.

  “I am glad we found this town! Now we can properly rest! Haha and food! Man am I starving! Not that i don’t like what we have..but I am ready for some MEAT!” He smiled to his frail brother.

@hourglassmajere

[hourglassmajere]

“You’re always ready for meat,” Raistlin pointed out, although a small smile crossed his face.  He wasn’t very hungry himself, he rarely was, but he was used to his brother’s big appetite.  And he could use the chance to rest.  After walking for several hours, he was tired, not he would admit that to Caramon.

A coughing fit chose that moment to hit him.  He stopped walking, coughed into a white piece of cloth he pulled from his robes, waving his free hand at his twin, telling him that he didn’t want any help.  The cough wasn’t as bad as it sometimes was.  After a few moments, he stopped coughing and wiped the specks of blood from his lips.

[dalamars-nipple]

To the Tower

[hourglassmajere]

dalamars-face:

He nodded, pleased that his prowess and dedication to the magic had impressed Raistlin, that he was finally here. He looked past his Shalafi, with his odd skin and strange eyes, to the scorched Tower of High Sorcery behind him. It was more imposing than it’s Waywreth brother, and yet, felt just as, if not more welcoming, unlike the grove.

He drew his grey eyes back to Raistlin’s good. “I’m glad to hear that, Shalafi. I hope I can meet your expectations, if not exceed them.” Giving it a moment, he dares to add, “Might we go in? I am eager to see my lodgings, and peruse the library, if you’ll permit it. The Palanthas Tower is said to have the greatest collection of magical knowledge in the world.”

“Certainly.”  Raistlin had been about to invite his new apprentice inside the tower before Dalamar made that request.  There was no point in them just standing around, and not going inside so that Dalamar could see his lodgings and the library.

He turned and led the way into the tower, going straight for the set of stairs that would take them to the higher levels.  “There are many available quarters, so you’ll have your choice of lodgings between them.  You are permitted to make use of the library.  The spellbooks in my laboratory, however, are not to be touched.  You are not to enter that room without my permission.”

[hourglassmajere]

raistlinsknight:

“I don’t know ok?” he leaned up and looked to Raist. “ I wish I did bit I don’t! I don’t want a quiet life either bu..but when I look at you..” his voice slowly died down,eyes looking away now.

“Im afraid I will see her. That’s what people are afraid to see. Not you..but you turning into her.”

“I won’t become her.”  Raistlin wished that he was as certain as he sounded.  He knew that he couldn’t give up his search for power.  What would he be without that?  But he didn’t have to lose whatever morels he had left to accomplish that, not if he was conscious about how he went about it.  “But I can’t stop looking for power either.  I am nothing without that.”

[hourglassmajere]

raistlinsknight:

“And then what? Go for more power? Leave all your ..wait they aren’t your friends.. I guess just go for power.” He gave a shrug and laid on his side. He pulled the covers over himself.

“I don’t want you to be like her.  I’ve been trying to get you to see how people care about you. You just….have to stop pushing people away.” He closed his eyes, “I know it’s hard but I believe in you..I always have.”

That was what he wanted to do, go for more power.  Why shouldn’t he leave everyone else for that goal?  They meant little to him, not when he could seek out everything he ever wanted.

He already knew that after Takhisis was defeated, he needed to do something about Fistandantilus. Raistlin wasn’t about to let the evil mage have his body.  That problem wasn’t something he wanted to explain to Caramon though.

“What would you have me do, brother?  Return to Solace?  I want more than a quiet life there.”

[hourglassmajere]

raistlinsknight:

He didn’t want to answer now,he regretted ever starting this conversation.”I..I’m afraid that you will become like Takhisis..”He rubbed the side of his arm nervously for a moment. “Just..you are acting like her a lot and..I don’t want you to be alone or hated.”

 He turned from his brother,”i’m sorry I shouldn’t have said anything. I-I’ll just go back to bed.” He sat back down onto the sheet on the floor. He felt bad now, worse than ususal when the two argued. He knew Raist would scold him for years after this.

A lot like Takhisis.  Was that what he was acting like?  There was a yearning for power in his heart, as well as the desire to be respected, even if he wasn’t particularly well liked.  He just wanted the power, the knowledge, the magic.  But he didn’t want to be like Takhisis either.  Would his search for power lead him there?  Had it already?  Raistlin didn’t really want to think about that.

“I’m going to defeat Takhisis,” Raistlin said, “And I won’t be alone, because you’ll be by my side.”

[hourglassmajere]

raistlinsknight:

“They aren’t just my friends..Tanis is your friend..and the othesr care about you.’ His voice died down now,the anger rusedding to teh back of his mind again.  

 His eyebrowed furrowed at the answer,sadness now coming forth. “Then why do you just treat me so badly? You act like im trying to argue with you all the time,thats how you treat our conversations.It’s like what a parent does toa  child.” His fists unclenched hesitantly. “I-I’m afraid Raist..” He knew that his brother knew he was afraid of a lot of things,even when he never spoke of them. The small worries and horrors that constantly plaqued him.

“Do they?”   He didn’t really believe that.  It was more likely that the others would prefer him to be gone from the group.  He doubted any of them actually wanted him around, except maybe Tas.  But the kender was friendly to everyone.

Raistlin wasn’t sure how to even begin answering Caramon’s question.  How could he explain all the years of resentment, all the jealousy he’d felt over the years?  He didn’t want to talk about that.  And telling Caramon that he spoke to him the way he was because he so often had foolish ideas would likely just make things worse than they already were.  “What are you afraid of you, my brother?” 

[hourglassmajere]

raistlinsknight:

HIs fists clenched harder now,he was rght, they were just all puppets to him! He just played along with it. Raistlin barely even cared or showed any sign of sadness that his ‘friends’ were dead.

“Why would you even do that?Just use people? Allpeople ever do is care about you and want to help. I know people might stare or get nervous…but you know they are your friends…” He looked to the floor,thinking back at the times they talked to Tanis and Fargrim as children,how kind they were. 

“W-Would you even careif I died by someone elses hands? Would you even morn me or just go about your life like you are with our ‘friends’ ?”

“My friends?  They’re your friends.  Do you think any of them would have spent time with me if I wasn’t your brother?”  And how jealous Raistlin was of that.  Making friends came easily to his twin, which it never did for Raistlin, even among his peers at his school.  All he had was Caramon, and the friends who tolerated him because he was Caramon’s twin.

His expression softened a bit though when Caramon asked whether he would mourn for him if he died.  Oh, there was no doubt that he would go on with his life, what else would he did?  But would he mourn?

“I would care if you died, Caramon.”

[hourglassmajere]

raistlinsknight:

“Well I DO!” Caramon stood up now, making it more obvious he was upset. “Why do you never answer me!? You just act like im a burden to you then come asking for help when you can’t do things yourself! “ He  took a breath in and looked away from his twin. He probably shouldn’t have said that..but he did.

“And then you just….you just use everyone! You act like we are in your way and then always want things from us. All Tanis ever did was try to help you and you just pushed him away. The only person you ever cared for after mom died is Bupu! And you MADE her like you! “A-Are we just nothing but puppets to you?” ”  He balled his fists, he was ready to hit something now. All the anger he held inside of him was finally bubbling up and ready to burst. 

He wasn’t used to such an outburst from Caramon.  The things he said hurt to hear, but he couldn’t deny the truth in the words either.  For a moment, Raistlin stared at his brother, before he collected himself enough to respond.

“You’re right, my brother, all of you are puppets who can be bent to my will,” he said.  “But you’re wrong when you say the only person I care about is Bupu.  It would have been easy to leave you behind on that ship, easier than it was to kill you during my test, certainly.  But I realized that I didn’t want to live with myself if I killed you for a second time."

That was as close as he’d come to admitting that he cared about Caramon.  Talking about how he felt wasn’t something that came easily to Raistlin, and he didn’t like this conversation.

[dalamars-nipple]

To the Tower

[hourglassmajere]

dalamars-face:

Dalamar didn’t get through the grove quite as easily as Raistlin. Where vines moved out of their way for Raistlin, they snapped back into place for him, causing Dalamar to be quick on his feet or trip. It seemed while the master of the tower accepted him, the defenses seemed to only tolerate a new addition.

He left the grove mostly unscathed, save a small cut on his cheek. When Raistlin pulled down his hood, Dalamar stared. He had not believed the rumour of hourglass eyes. It was a horrid curse said to have been bestowed by Par-Salian, something Dalamar had thought beneath the nature of a white robe. Clearly that thinking had been wrong.

More fascinating was the man’s physical age. He looked old for what Dalamar understood to be young for a human. It took him a long moment to filter all this information and absorb it. It didn’t matter what his teacher looked like, Raistlin would not treat him different to bring a dark elf, Dalamar would give him all the respect he could offer for simply taking him on.

“Thank you for allowing me to study under you,” he said politely, finally focusing his gaze to meet Raistlin’s.

He did not mind that Dalamar stared when he removed his hood.  Let his apprentice stare as he took in his startling appearance.  Raistlin enjoyed watching the way Dalamar took in the hourglass eyes, his golden skin, and the hair that was too white for being only in his twenties.  Dalamar may be too polite to comment on his appearance, but it was obvious that he found the way Raistlin looked interesting, as did most people when they first saw him.

“The Conclave speaks highly of your abilities.”  Raistlin wouldn’t after all, take just anyone on as an apprentice.  He hadn’t considered taking on an apprentice at all until recently.

Having someone else around would make the tower less lonely though.  Raistlin didn’t particularly mind the quiet, but it would be nice to have someone else around, someone who appreciated the art of magic.  And when he set his plans in motion, having an apprentice meant there would be someone else besides the specters to watch over the tower when he was gone.  Dalamar would be useful to him, even if he suspected there was something suspicious about the Conclave sending him an apprentice like this.

[hourglassmajere]

raistlinsknight:

“Back when you took your test…back then."he felt his heart race faster now. "I saw your test,they let me watch..a..and I saw you kill me.” he hesitantly looked to his brother. “What do I even mean to you? Do you even consider me your brother?” He knew Raist wouldn’t want to answer maybe even try to avoid it…but he just had to say something.

Raistlin didn’t need to be reminded that his brother had watched him kill him.  He was well aware of that already.  The relationship between them never felt quite the same since that day, not that he could blame his twin for that.  He was lucky Caramon stayed by his side at all.

“We agreed never to speak of that again,” Raistlin said.  Why did his twin have to bring this up now?  Was it because he almost left Caramon behind to die on the ship?