In the Shadow of Ribbons: Part 1-07: Meliath: A Formal Introduction
Scene 7 of 'In the Shadow of Ribbons', set Within Thalenra. CCD Cell Xaelin have a tense encounter with Marnie.
The previous scenes are all saved Within Thalenra. Or go direct to scene one here, or scene 6 here. We now resume our tale, beginning just outside Gretham’s workshop, before Erian calmed the storm.
When Meliath and his team returned to their base, after a very long night, the last thing they expected to hear was shouting from Gretham’s workshop. They had just placed the evidence boxes in Anybia’s office, when they heard the commotion. A girl’s voice, high and too fast to make out her cries; Erian, shouting to ‘Hide that thing’, soon followed by Gretham yelling. ‘What am I seeing here? What are you doing?’
Meliath was already moving by that point, Anybia and Jaxmil following, all with their foci out, Thaumic sense up, expecting the worst. What they found brought them to a halt.
A multitude of identical small girls with purple hair, filled the space between them and Gretham. A girl falling through a window, another being carried by a shadowy shape, a third touching a glass case containing a staff Meliath recognised. A fourth, fifth, sixth- more than he could count, lying next to that staff, eyes wide open, with looks of intense fear on them. Each version of the girl was calling out a different string of words, creating a cacophony of high pitched noise, that at the same time came from the centre of the storm. Each image was infused with Thaumic strands, but un-entwined, seemingly controlling themselves. They too spooled forth from the storm’s core.
Where the floor met that core, was Erian on his knees, facing something hidden behind a cabinet. His eyes were closed, his face pale. Meliath could see intense concentration; he was wrestling with something, that much was clear.
Meliath’s instinct was to pull his brother away from that unfettered Thaumic energy, and away from the copies of the girl; but the faint bond they shared told him that would be a mistake. He instantly put his arm out when he felt Jaxmil move to enter. “Wait! We can’t stop this.”
Jaxmil stopped in surprise. “Are you sure? He’s going to get hurt again!”
Meliath shook his head, still keeping Jaxmil back. “This is different. It’s not an-“
“It’s slowing!” Anybia interrupted. “Whatever he’s doing, I think it’s working.”
Slowly, the strands began to slow and entwine, retreating back to the core, taking the purple haired duplicates with them. The cacophony of voices dwindled as well, becoming quieter, fainter. At last, the final version of the paralysed child faded from sight, leaving the space filled with silence.
No one said anything for a moment. Meliath was ready to demand an explanation, when he saw Erian stand, pulling Marnie with him. They were both facing Gretham, unaware of Meliath and the others.
“Before you say anything, Gretham, there is nothing to worry about,” said Erian, in his best ‘it’s all fine’ voice. “Marnie just has some traumatic memories with that staff, and it generated an excess of empathic energy that needed to be diffused.”
“Right … diffused, huh?” replied Gretham, catching Meliath’s eye, before continuing. “I can’t say I’ve seen you ‘diffuse’ it before.”
“I don’t think I have, either,” said Meliath; and got the rare pleasure of seeing his hyper-aware brother, jump out of his skin.
In the same moment Erian twisted to face Meliath, Marnie vanished. Not just from sight, but from Meliath’s Thaumic sense too, with a complete absence of the usual signs of imminent obfuscation. He raised his focus. “Where did she go?” He asked urgently, his gaze scanning the space for the slightest movement.
“She’s escaping!” Jaxmil immediately moving to block the exit, preparing to activate standard obfuscation dispels. Anybia did likewise, but cautiously, moving slowly into the room. Gretham meanwhile rolled his eyes at them, and muttered, ‘idiots’ under his breath, before saying. “Put those things away in here. You’ll unravel the infusions.”
Erian motioned for them to stop. “She isn’t escaping, Jaxmil. She’s hiding. You startled her, appearing out of nowhere like that. Just… Please, lower your foci, and let me speak to her. I just need a moment.”
Jaxmil and Anybia glanced at Meliath, who gave a small nod, and the pair returned to the doorway.
Erian moved to face an empty corner of the room.
“Marnie? I know you weren’t expecting anyone just then, but it’s alright, they aren’t a threat. Would you mind coming out and meeting my brother?”
“No,” came a whisper from another area of the room completely. “He’ll arrest me for disappearing, if I come out.”
“He won’t, I promise,” said Erian, sending a pleading glance towards Meliath.
“He is right, Marnie.” Meliath said, trying to sound calm, and welcoming. “You have done nothing wrong. I know you were defending yourself.” Erian gestured for him to continue, mouthing, “Keep going.”
Meliath cleared his throat, unused to talking a target down this way. “I apologise we startled you, and for raising our foci. Your… reaction, caught us unawares. I would like to formally introduce myself, and my team to you.”
She didn’t respond, but as Erian seemed to relax, Meliath waited. When she appeared, it was right behind Erian, her face peering up at Meliath, as if she had always been there.
Erian put a hand on shoulder, patting it, and Marnie came out after a little hesitation. She touched her hand to her chest and bowed her head a little. “I am Marnie, Mast-. Un-threaded Apprentice. I greet you.” She spoke softly, nervously looking up at Meliath.
Meliath caught the reflexive response of ‘Master’. It was clear she had the formalities drilled into her by Belaine. He filed it away for later, and responded in kind; with a bow of the head, and a tap of his chest. “I greet you Marnie. I am Meliath Lindall, CCD Cell Xaelin leader, Protector, Practitioner.” He gestured at his team, including Gretham. They did the same gesture and nod, but stayed silent, as Meliath introduced them. “Anybia Talow, Spirit Wielder, Practitioner. Jaxmil Nethers, Controller, Practitioner. Gretham Deelo, Artificer, Practitioner.”
“We greet you.”, they said. Not exactly together, but close enough, considering the team rarely greeted anyone formally.
Meliath nodded. “Now that is out of the way…, Erian, can you explain what ‘diffusing’ is for me?” He asked pointedly, staring at Erian as he did. “That had all the appearance of a thread storm, without the strength.”
Erian coughed, and averted his eyes. “Well I’m… It was, as I said, an excess of energy, that … Traumatic memories can sometimes assert themselves when… I mean, it…” He trailed off, glancing up at Meliath blank expression. Erian began again. “There was a congruence formed from disparate energy that manifested itself through…”
“Alright, stop there. You can explain later, when I’ve had some sleep,” said Meliath, tapping his temple. He was too tired to translate what Erian was saying right now, but it sounded like he did have an explanation; or at least felt justified being vague in front of the others for now. That would do.
Meliath sat on one of the chairs dotting the workshop, and indicated for Marnie to do likewise. Erian helped her move one opposite Meliath, and she sat as far back in it as she could. Erian sat down as well, keeping himself in Marnie’s eye-line.
“Before you stay here,” Meliath, said, gently. “I need to give you the official information on your status. It is long, but necessary.” Marnie nodded, twisting the sleeve of her robe a little.
Meliath glanced over at Gretham, who raised up a memory crystal and nodded. “I’m recording.”
“Let’s start with why you are here,” said Meliath, turning back to Marnie. “Erian has explained where he found you, and we have confirmed that you were held prisoner, by Telvor Belaine. While you are not a prisoner here, and are free to leave if you wish, I would request that you remain where we can protect you, in case Belaine attempts a retrieval. We will also have some questions for you, on where you were held, which Anybia will ask you in two days time.”
Marnie gave a furtive glance towards Anybia, who smiled back gently. “Don’t worry, I won’t push you. It will mainly be on your general treatment, and anyone who lived there.”
Meliath continued. “As a former prisoner of the Order, you are entitled to aid to transition back to society, if you agree to be assessed on your abilities and mental status.”
“I’m starting the assessment this afternoon,” Erian interjected, and then said to Marnie “It’s just what I talked about this morning.”
“Right, the tests, before we un-jumble my memories.” Her voice wavered less when speaking to Erian.
Meliath looked at Erian, an eyebrow raised. “It’s… I’ll explain later,” said Erian, shaking his head.
“That is going to be a long conversation,” muttered Meliath. There was a responding snort from Jaxmil, and Meliath caught Marnie flinch. He gave Jaxmil a pointed glance to settle down.
He cleared his throat and continued with the formal instruction. “We will be continuing our investigation for a few days, which includes into your past. Usually that would be so we can verify what you tell us-”
“I don’t really know much from before.” The waver was back.
Meliath spoke a little slower. “That’s understandable. We will share our findings with you. What we find will be used to aid your transition. In the event, our findings indicate you are a threat to the Council, you will be given aid in preparing a defence.” Marnie visibly retreated further into the chair when he said that, and Meliath tried to reassure her. “Based on what we have found so far, you don’t have to worry about that.” She nodded slowly, but didn’t look convinced. Few ever were.
“In three days, you and I will have an interview. I will verify that the faint weave markings I identified, when I analysed you last night, have fully faded. We will then go over the results of your assessment and our investigation. We will discuss what your future options are then.” He stopped, mentally checking he had ticked the protocol boxes. “Do you understand the information I have presented to you?”
Marnie looked between him and Erian, clearly off balance from the formality of it all. “I think so, but…”
“Just say if you understand, Marnie.” Erian said gently. “Meliath needs an answer, for the recording.”
“I understand,” she answered, quietly.
Gretham said the crystal was deactivated, and Meliath let out a sigh. “Whoever came up with that checklist needs posting to Galythien.”
Jaxmil snorted. “They probably got an office in Circle Stand instead, and a title to go with it.” He headed towards the door. “I’m going for some shut-eye. Try not to set off any more thread-storms while I’m sleeping, Erian.” He waved over his shoulder, as he left the room.
“It wasn’t a thread-storm! It was-” Erian began explaining again to Jaxmil’s departing form, when Anybia interrupted.
“I think I’ll do the same,” she said, covering a small yawn. “Gretham, there are some boxes of document scraps in my office. Can you take a look, and see if that recovery device you’re working on might help with them?”
“Yep, I’ll get the rest catalogued as well.” Gretham replied.
“Thanks.” Anybia turned to follow Jaxmil, and then paused, turning back with a glance at Marnie, the sleeve of her purple robe grasped tightly as she watched Jaxmil leaving. Anybia gave Erian a thin smile then. “Oh, and Erian, I’d like a chat later about what a ‘possession’ is, and the concept of ‘asking permission’.
Meliath was confused by the exchange, but when he heard Gretham trying not to laugh, and saw Erian turning red, he decided to stay out of it.
He gave Marnie what he hoped was a warm smile, and not a tired grimace. “Welcome to our base Marnie. Please make it your home while you are here.” He stood up, and followed Anybia out of the room, leaving Marnie to Erian’s care.
Thanks for Reading! As promised, the cliff-hanger was resolved. Probably too soon, given his name was in the title. This one was a balancing act, trying to match the tone with how things were changing, making each character’s voice stayed consistent while holding Meliath’s perspective on things at the front of it all. Where Erian sees emotions, Meliath picks up on visual cues, and trying to avoid being repetitive when describing reactions and body language is a challenge.
We return to Marnie in Scene 8. Assessment Time - Session One, just as soon as Erian finishes preparations.