To See a Door (and Hopefully Epiphany!) Open

[Armandeus]

"You can't put this off forever, Armandeus. Years are passing with speed to every month here; we are running out of time." Elessar sighed as he leaned forward to look out the window and beyond it at the moon hanging in the sky. It was not quiet full yet, but it would be in just a matter of days and yet it still wasn't enough time. The journey to reach the portal took three days with favorable conditions, but at the rate Armandeus was lolly-gagging on whether or not he was going to go it would be snowing by the time they left.

"I know. I know. . It's just . . Forget it." Armandeus groaned as he sank down on his bed, cradling his head in his hands. Silence hung in the air like a wall between them before he finally went on. "It's just that he was right - who would want to go with us to rescue her? I know what you're going to say, but I do not believe I ever mentioned my siblings to De'Ryanna or Epiphany. Why would they go to try saving someone they did not know even existed?"

"You give our friends too little credit." Elessar shifted, turning to rest his back against the wall as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Have you forgotten after all these years that Epiphany was the one to save us, to give us a place to stay, when we had nothing but our names? I think she would enjoy the adventure and De'Ryanna as well. It is high time you start being more open with her at any rate. It does not hurt to ask, the worst they can say is no."

"Yeah. . " Armandeus was resigned. Elessar was right, it wouldn't hurt to at least ask their friends to come along on the journey - and they both knew it. Although, that didn't mean he had to be happy about it. . .


That had happened three days ago, and after stalling for as long as he possibly could Armandeus was finally off to ask. In a last minute decision that had left Elessar grumbling behind, Armandeus had decided to take the easy route first and start by talking to Epiphany,

Though considering it was Pip he was talking about, easy might not have been the best choice of words - especially since the last time the elf had went to visit there had been a storm-tossed sea in the girl's room! It was that thrill of unexpectedness that made Armandeus feel almost giddy about this venture as he ascended the steps leading upstairs. What would he find this time? Armandeus had no idea though he had come somewhat prepared - having just came from the market his cloak was slung over his shoulders and a small traveling bag was upon his back.

Up the steps to the second floor and down the hall and the next thing he knew Armandeus found himself face to face with his least favorite semi-animated object: Epiphany's Door. Of all the magical and strange things the elf had encountered in Rhy'Din that door had to be the most unpleasant if only for the fact it had stolen his name the first time they had met! Since then Armandeus had taken care to avoid going near the door with pretty good success so far, but this time he had came prepared. Giving his pocket a little pat with a quite chuckle the elf marched his way up to the door and knocked. Now to wait. .

[Telguest]

• The Door •

It was the same story with the same character: the Door and whatever it was that was the source. It lay in wait for any unsuspecting person to knock upon the wood and, when it did, that's what it came to life. Such was the case when Armandeus knocked - would have thought that he knew the special knock but, alas, it wasn't something that was revealed.

Anyway, after he knocked there was a skittering sound that started at the bottom of the door, then it ran up through the wood all the way to the top where it stopped and a small door opened - it was no bigger than two square inches. Inside was blackness, a dark that was only broken by two pin-point silver eyes that looked down to see who had disturbed the 'solitude' of the Door. Next came a medium pitch from a harmonica followed by:

"Keep on knockin' butcha can't come in!"

Which was, in turn, followed by a loud slam - louder than that tiny door should have been able to make - that caused the walls on either side of the Door, and the floor for a few feet in front of it, to rattle and shake for a count of ten seconds. Then all was still. The Door stopped, there was no sound from within, it was simply a mundane door.

However, deep inside beyond the hearing of any normal person could hear, the one inside the Door was laughing. A hysterical pixy laugh after having shuffled through papers and was now looking at one that held the name of the elf who stood outside. What a glorious day that had been when the name had been given! And now, now that person was standing outside.

Oh what fun this would be if he actually stayed.

[Armandeus]

Ah yes, it was the same old story with the Door and it was one that Armandeus had seen before. Had the Door forgotten the last time they had crossed paths figuratively speaking? In any case the silver pin-point eyes and high-pitched voice and even the rattling was all taken in with barely a bat of purple eyes, even if the elf did back up a step or six when the floor started shaking.

But, wait, what was this? Was that noise coming from inside the door? It was hard to tell - the sound was so distant even to Armandeus' overly sensitive hearing, but clearly there was something there and the elf wanted to know what it was! So what was the elf to do but sidle back up and give the door a firm knock! "Now look here Door. I want to speak with Epiphany and I'm not leaving until you let me in!" Hopefully he wasn't going to regret this sudden outburst of bravery. . .

[Telguest]

• The Door •

Was the elf outside threatening the Door? A bit of bravado was always nice, it made the torture that much more fun! The laughing stopped and was replaced by a broad twisted and evil grin that may have been a bit scary had the one standing on the other side actually seen it.

Now, there was nothing to be heard inside of the Door. Silence. It went on for a minute, then two, and then three, hopefully Armandeus was true to what he said about not leaving for nothing came from that door for five whole minutes. When the time was spent the small door at the top of the Door opened up and a low solemn tune being plucked on strings spilled out followed by a verse:

I could do so much more.
So much more!
But this is what I get.
My reward.

The music stopped and the Door spoke, "You're too late. The reward has been given. Turn around and go back home."

And that small door started to close once more.

[Armandeus]

The Door was testing it's luck, and the elf's patience. The first passing minute saw the elf crossing his arms and staring the door down, though in the next passing minutes the stare turned to a scowl, then a growl. By the time the five minutes had fully passed the elf had begun pacing back and forth in front of the door all the while giving furtive glances in the Door's direction.

Truly he couldn't understand it - why Epiphany insisted on keeping such an infuriating creature about when it seemed there was no true need except to annoy anyone who came into contact with it. Case in point was the verse coming from the Door now that left Armandeus blinking in confusion for a moment. Reward? He hadn't gave the Door any reward! Well, not yet at least, but still! "Hey! Wait just a second there! I'm not going anywhere! Come back and fight like a man!" Okay so the Door wasn't a man, but what could you do? Armandeus wasn't letting it get away that easy!

[Telguest]

• The Door •

If the Door had eyes it would be peering at Armandeus right now. Peering with eyes so sharp they would penetrate the soul! Unfortunately, the Door only had those pin-point silver eyes that looked through the small door at the top and that was not currently open as it had continued closing after the Door had last spoke. Though, who is to say that the elf still was not being watched?

Hopefully Armandeus was full of more than just bravado because there was a *click* and then the Door swung inward, making a foot of space. There was nothing to see in that opening for it was pitch black in there and hot air drifted out from within.

"Are you sure you don't want to forget about Epiphany?" The voice sounded distant, but it was coming from within the Door. "It is not yet to late to turn around and leave, for once you go in you cannot change your mind."

[Armandeus]

Perhaps it was fortunate that the Door didn't possess eyes after all for whom knew what kind of dark and tangled web lay within the soul of the elf that currently stood before it. . .

As for the elf in question he was staring at the Door with a slightly upraised eyebrow as he regarded the pitch black opening that was reveled. Darkness and heat... Neither were overly concerning since he could see far better in the dark than most not to mention he was a wood elf from a tropical realm. Still, there was a thread of uneasiness as Epiphany was nowhere to be seen. The last time Armandeus had undergone the Door's song and dance routine it had opened to show Pip on the other side (even if that side had been a ship in the middle of a sea) but it seemed the Door was determined to make him work to see his friend this time. Well the Door was going to have to try harder than pitch black nothingness and hot air because Armandeus wasn't going anywhere!

Scoffing lightly at the Door's warning Armandeus hitched up the pack he'd been carrying on his back and stepped forward into the pitch black opening. Now, where was Epiphany in all this..?

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