bard_linn

Set right after "Marked by Death", before "Eyes" Will try and get theoretical archive post up by tommorow. No promises.

Wise Woman (LG)

“Are you sure you are alright?” Masuta frowned.

Edward waved off the concern. “She just startled me, that’s all.”

“Who startled you?” Thomas asked approaching the trio.

“We had an encounter with a woman on the way back,” Roy hedged.

“You mean Ciara I suspect,” Thomas replied. “The old gypsy fortune teller. A lot of people are unnerved by her.” The three travelers looked noticeably relieved. “I’ve been sent to tell you dinner’s ready.”

Edward brightened noticeably at this. Roy and Masuta exchanged amused looks. Crisis adverted.

After dinner Ed grabbed his coat and headed towards the door.

“Ed?”

“Library,” Ed replied.

The air had a sharp feel that night. Ed smiled to himself as he walked down the street. It felt as if it would snow soon. His cheer faded as he remembered neither Alphonse nor Winry was here to build snowmen as they had as children. He hurried his steps toward the campus.

The Oxford Library was nearly deserted. Ed nodded to the librarian and made his way into the stacks. He didn’t have a subject in particular yet; they’d been scanning just about everything for options. But after today he needed something to rest his mind and he’d already read all of the books at the Hugheses’. He selected two thick philosophy books and settled down at a nearby table.

The day had been long and had drained Edward’s energy more than he realized. He found himself fighting to keep his eyes open. All too soon he lost the battle.

Once asleep, Edward found himself in a very familiar setting. He groaned. Now was NOT the night for one of THOSE dreams. So, in typical Edward fashion, he began to rant about it loud enough to wake the dead.

“Silence!”

Ed napped his mouth shut. Obedience was an automatic when he heard that voice. “Master?”

The stern woman frowned. “I’m not your master young man. I’ve never met you before. But some of us are trying to rest.”

“You have dreams like this too?” Edward blurted out in surprise. Maybe he could get some answers.

The woman frowned. “This is no dream. This is the realm of the dead.”

Ed froze. “That CAN’T be. I’ve been here before.”

The woman examined him closely. “You are alive, aren’t you? Then you must be wandering in spirit form. Though I’m surprise you haven’t discovered this yet by now.”

There was only one woman this could be, now that Ed thought about it. “Mrs. Masuta?”

Mrs. Masuta looked surprised. “How did you know my name?”

“I know your son,” Edward explained. “Look, I have NO idea what’s going on. Where am I?”

“This is the realm of the dead,” Mrs. Masuta repeated. “It lies between the realm of dreams and the forbidden realm, that which divides the two worlds.”

Ed really didn’t like the sound of that.

“You are here in an astral form; your spirit has separated itself from your body. How you have managed to journey so far without being trapped here forever I do not know.”

“Be careful not to stray to far bright child. You have a longer line, but stretch too far and it will sever.”

Ed shivered remembering the old woman’s words. He could be trapped here? “What is the forbidden realm?”

“It is the realm of those who are non human. The darker spirits dwell there as do those of the greater light. It is blocked from access from both sides by a great gate.”

Edward felt his breath catch. Maybe it was just his heightened sensitivity, but he imagined he could feel his energy draining. Slowly the blond noticed an approaching spirit. He knew that feeling; he remembered them from years ago when he first opened the Gate.

“Go!” Mrs. Masuta ordered. “Quickly! This one comes for you!”

Ed didn’t hesitate. He rushed back to his body, jerking his head up as he awoke.

“Oh!”

Just in time to see a familiar face.