Cliodhna stands beside Memnon with her arms folded, scanning the camp of Governor Paul's soldiers. Ever since she had come back from her harrowing to discover that she had missed the final confrontation between Amon and Mehemet, and that Amon had taken up the mask of Osiris, she had been desperate to speak with Amon...to ask him why he took up the mask, and to ask him what this meant for him now. But when Governor Paul had asked her what the Amenti fleet's orders were now and she didn't know the answer, she realized that she now had a more-than-personal reason to try to contact Amon and get the answers to her questions. But how to contact him? Did...a god sleep?
Cliodhna shudders involuntarily, and looks over at Memnon-- who also has his arms folded across his chest. Cliodhna smiles, and motions for him to follow her. Ever since her first wraithly death earlier in the week, it seemed that Memnon had attached an invisible leash that connected him to her, because he really WAS never more than 2 steps away from her at any given time! And...well, she liked that very much, and wouldn't have it any other way. At a time when everyones' fates were held in so much uncertaintly now-- she'd never tell Memnon that she was just as worried about protecting him as he was about protecting her, but she was.
Cliodhna leads Memnon over to where Ahuru is standing, and as she stops before Ahuru, she places her hands behind her back and stands as if addressing a general. "Ahuru, I'm in need o' yer wisdom an' help," she says, bowing her head to him a little. "I need ta contact Amon. The Governor would like ta know what the Amenti fleet is goin' ta do, now that Amon has control o' them. And..." Cliodhna looks up and then back at Ahuru, "...I have some questions fer him, as well."
Ahuru nods to her, "Of course, Cliodhna. How do you wish to speak to him? And how may I help you?"
Cliodhna releases her breath in relief. "Well, the only way I know of is ta wait until he's sleepin' an' then enter his dreams, but...now that he's a...god...does he sleep?" When Cliodhna says the word 'god,' she turns the word up at the end-- as if asking if he really IS a god-- and then she waits to hear if Ahuru has any other suggestions for contacting Amon.
Ahuru nods and considers. "He does not sleep, for he needs none now. You may, however contact him through the dream world. I do not know why, but many times have I contacted Osiris that way. I would assume Amon would be no different."
"What do you wish to say to my son?"
Cliodhna nods as she listens to Ahuru's instructions carefully, and then gives a start when he asks what she's going to say to Amon. She considers, takes a deep breath, and then answers.
"Well, first off I'll start by askin' him what the Amenti fleet's orders are so I'll know what ta tell Paul-- know if we should be expectin' their help on the seas." Cliodhna pauses. "An' then I'll ask him...why he took the mask of Osiris. I'm worried, Ahuru. Worried because Mem told me that Mehemet said if Amon took the mask that he would be forfeitin' his reward." Cliodhna gestures to Memnon when she speaks his name. "An' I'd like ta know if he's the same Amon as he was before. He..." Cliodhna looks down and laughs. "...he was a childhood hero o' mine, an' still is. I guess, because of all he went through, I want ta look out fer his wellfare, as well." Cliodhna finally looks back up at Ahuru to gauge his response.
Ahuru nods and smiles gently at Cliodhna touching her shoulder.
"He shall always be Amon, the mask of Osiris will not take that away. He is still the man in your mother's tales. He has not forsaken his reward...he has given us back a chance to put an end to this."
Cliodhna looks at Ahuru as if transfixed, suddenly feeling like everything will be all right...until he mentions 'putting an end to this.' Then the pit of Cliodhna's stomach drops out, and she can only stand there wondering what will happen. After a long silence, she finally takes her eyes away from Ahuru's and glances at Memnon, then at the ground.
"Thank ye, Ahuru. It's a relief ta know that he hasn't lost his Issa...such a great relief..." Cliodhna ponders, and doesn't know what she would do if she lost Memnon. "I will try contactin' Amon through the dreamworld, as ye suggested, an' then once we know what Amenti's move will be, I'll give the news ta Paul." Cliodhna glances up at Ahuru and gives him a little smile, and then looks at Memnon and places her hand on his shoulder. "Mem-- I know this is a stupid question, but would ye come an' watch over me while I meditate?" She gives him a smile and tilts her head to the side a little, watching him.
Memnon smiles and nods his head, "Oh yeah, I'll be right here," he says pointing to the ground just a few steps away. He wriggles his eyebrows and hold up two fingers and twists his hand.
Cliodhna gives an uncharacteristically loud laugh when she sees Memnon give her their secret hand-sigh-- meaning that they'll be no more than two steps apart-- and then returns the sign to him and laughs again, glancing up at Ahuru apologetically. She gives Memnon a quick squeeze and leans in. "We should do it in one o' the tents-- not out in the middle o' the men, aye?" She raises her eyebrows at him and glances around at the hectic busy-ness of the area as if to give Memnon a smack on the back of the head for suggesting she sit down in the middle of the chaos to try to contact Amon.
Memnon grins broadly and raises his eyebrow, "Hey Amon can wait right?" he says nodding. He stands and takes her hand. "Yeah. It IS busy here, let's go use that one," he says pointing at an out-of-the-way tent to the far right.
Cliodhna flushes bright red and smacks Memnon's arm as he leads her away, and Ahuru can hear Cliodhna lovingly telling Memnon off about twisting her words like that as they move away towards the suggested tent.
Cliodhna waits as Memnon lifts the tent-flap for her, and then ducks into the tent. Ah, good-- no one home. Cliodhna sits in the center of the tent with her legs crossed and places the backs of her hands on her knees. "I'd have ye come with me, but I have no idea what ta expect since I won't be enterin' a dream, it seems. I...just don't want anythin' ta happen ta ye since I've only taught ye two lessons in enterin' dreams so far..." Cliodhna looks up at Memnon apologetically, and then a grin breaks out on her face. "Besides, all ye seem good fer is givin' men wet dreams, an' I don't think Amon would be very appreciative, aye?"
Memnon chuckles and brings her into his arms. He kisses her quick and smiles.
"You be careful, you hear me. Now I'm going to be right here, if anything happens, let me know, and I'll be there with you..."
Cliodhna smiles, looking at Memnon with soft eyes. "That's a good plan, ma hanla. An' remember, just think o' me an' ye should be pulled ta wherever I am." She squeezes Memnon tight, gives him another quick kiss, and then releases him and resumes her meditative stance. She closes her eyes, smiling, and Memnon can see the golden sparks leap from her corpus as she quickly and skilfully entered the dream world.
Cliodhna opens her eyes, and she's floating in that emptiness she's grown accustomed to in the dream-world. "All right...let's try it the same way as last time, then." Cliodhna concentrates all her energy on picturing Amon and trying to connect with his energy, and then waits for whatever's going to happen next.
Cliodhna finds herself in a tall room made of dried brick and stone. It is a lavish room, and somewhere she can hear a fountain tinkling. Looking down, the floor is decored with black and white tiles in an almost checkerboard design. A familiar laugh echoes from the room to the left, and then another voice says somethings she can't understand but she knows that voice!
Cliodhna quickly walks across the room, walking faster and faster until she's running-- turning to her left and running into the next room to see who's there-- her jacket flapping out behind her as she runs.
She sees through the double doors Marie laughing at Jack, waving her hand in front of her face trying to keep from falling to the floor laughing. In the corner by the bar Red Skygazer sips his drink chuckling. Totenmachen lays curled up on the rug his head looking up at at Jack, an almost-smile on his canine lips. Sanki is leaning on Marie on the barstool next to her, tears runing down her cheeks laughing silently. Amber is on the other side of Marie guffawing at the flailing Jack. Jack stands on the table, his arms spread wide like wings, imitating a plane-- his lips stretched out making an engine noise. The table wobbles a few times.
"Then I hit the throttle you see, and it came right out in my hands, see. So I turns to my co-pilot and say, I think it's time we discussed who gets the last parachute!"
Cliodhna stops and puts her hands to her mouth, and the tears start up almost immediately. Aunt Sanki...Aunt Marie...her mother...even Totenmachen...all dead now, yet here they are together again, enjoying a last laugh as Uncle Jack entertains them. This must have been how they looked when they were all young and carefree...before they all settled down to raise their children. Cliodhna's eyes are full of tears and she's crying silently into her hands, but she can't stop her feet from continuing to carry her slowly into the room, closer to the group of people she loves so well.
"I never knew anyone so full of life as they. Together it is no wonder they did so well. There was so much love in these rooms when they stayed here with me. They may not have known it, but they were perhaps the best of friends I had ever had," a voice says from her left. Amon, the old Amon of her mother's stories. He sets his cane on the floor and stands limping towards the bar.
"I cannot count the times this scene plays in my head. It comforts me, at times. I believe, had Issa been alive, she would have insisted upon having them over every night to have Jack tell us more of his outrageous stories."
Cliodhna quickly turns at Amon's voice, and suddenly she's sobbing and covering her face with her hands. When she finally gets control of herself, she hastily wipes at her tears-- blinking in embarrassment and sniffling. "Ach, Amon...I never wanted ta cry in front o' ye! Please don't think me weak-- my emotions are so close ta the surface all the time now! Anythin' can set me off, it seems." Cliodhna looks at Amon, and a little smile brightens her face. "Yer cane! I've never seen ye use yer cane, but mother talked about it like it was yer signature-piece! Ye almost seemed incomplete without it in the Shadowlands-- don't take offense at my ramblin', Amon..." Cliodhna quickly apologizes. "My mother raised me on the stories o' yer time together as a pack..." Cliodhna blushes a little. "Ye were my inspiration ta be a warrior. My hero, if ye will..." Cliodhna blushes deeper and looks around the room quickly. "This is yer house in Egypt, then..." Cliodhna gazes all around, trying to soak in all the details.
Amon nods, "My cane eh? I suppose your mother would see it that way," he says with a sad look. "Yes this is my home. It has been rather empty these last few decades. I had always wanted to visit them, but of course something held me back. Now I know what it is, however hindsight is wisdom they say. Perhaps I was a fool not to go." He stops at the bar and leans against it.
"All gone now," he says and takes a good stiff drink.
Cliodhna walks over to Amon and puts a hand on his shoulder tentatively. "Amon, don't blame yerself fer what happened ta them-- Marie died protectin' Uncle Jack, an' that's the way she woulda wanted it. No matter how long she coulda lived as a Garou, it still woulda been nothin' compared ta how long Uncle Jack can live. I think she never wanted Uncle Jack ta see her grow old."
Cliodhna stops and smiles. "Totenmachen...he's probably chasin' rabbits an' deer around on Turtle's back, happy ta be free o' humans! Sanki's with her son again...Mother is..." Cliodhna pauses and peeks behind the bar, and suddenly she's able to find the exact whiskey she was hoping would be there, takes a glass, and pours double-shot. She stands back up straight and takes a gulp-- wincing a little as it goes down. "I don't drink much," she explains in a suddenly-raspy voice, and waits a moment until throat clears.
"Mother has been in love with...Father fer a long time, Amon. Don't fear fer her. I think we're doin' some good-- makin' real progress with Father." Cliodhna takes another swallow of her drink and grimaces again. She looks at Amon's glass curiously, remembering her mother's words that at one time Amon had been a drunk. She takes her glass and gestures at Amon's with it, as if whatever's in his must taste better than what is in hers. "What're ye drinkin'?"
"Cognac," he says as he sets his drink back down and sits on the stool. The others who had been talking and drinking a moment before suddenly freeze as if they were mannequins. "I don't fear for her, Cliodhna. I...I let her down. Had different choices been made...had I not been so wrapped up in vengeance..."
Cliodhna looks at Amon questioningly as she changes the drink in her glass to cognac and takes a quick sip. "Hmmm...interesting! Not so harsh!" Cliodhna thinks, sitting on a stool and dropping her hands down to cup the glass on her legs. "What do ye mean, Amon? From what she told me, she's been in love with me father since...well..." Cliodhna gestures to herself and gives a little smile.
"Yes, yes," he says as he gestures to the others. "You are afraid that when I put on this mask I changed. That I was no longer Amon, true?" he says cocking an eyebrow that looks so familiar.
Cliodhna blinks at Amon and squints her eyes. For a moment she could have sworn...no, no...just a coincidence. Cliodhna blinks her eyes quickly and shakes her head a little, and then looks back at Amon. "How did ye know that?" she asks in surprise, and then gives a little laugh. "Ye're a god, right? I guess that was a daft question. Yes, Amon, I AM afraid...terrified that ye're goin' ta end up an emotionless statue sittin' on a throne...not recognizin' yer friends...forgettin' yer...loved ones..." Cliodhna looks down at her glass quickly.
Amon nods and walks over to the figures. "No no, that is not what it is like. At least for me. I have not changed, Cliodhna. I am still me, I just...when I put on the mask it seems everything was made clear. Not my perception but my knowledge. I could tell you what happened in this spot five thousand years ago as if I had truly been there." He turns to look at her his eyebrow raised.
"I could also tell you their inner thoughts-- yours as well if I tried to read them."
Cliodhna stands-- placing her glass on the counter-- and walks over to where Amon's standing. "Ye...ye could?" she asks hesitantly, a little streak of fear running through her. "Well...if it's not hurtful, or anythin', go ahead. What do ye hear them thinkin'?" she asks, motioning at her motionless uncles and aunties, and then folding her arms. "There it is again...damn, but he looked a lot like Mem just then! Maybe...maybe Amon had come ta Amenti a lot an' Mem picked it up from him?" she ponders.
"What could it hurt now? Your Aunt Marie for example," he says walking around to her. "She always regreted the way she treated him in the begining. She didn't understand his humor. But when she finally knew him, she loved him so great she died for him," he says touching her shoulder.
"Your Uncle Jack, now he loved her. She was the last thing he saw when he died and became...immortal. He was very excited when she came back into his life."
"Red Skygazer was a secretive type-- he did not speak much, and he would have rathered go traveling the Umbra than fight the last battle. But he did it anyway. When he became Embraced he nearly died inside."
He walks over to Sanki, touching her shoulder and putting his head next to hers.
"See anything? I did not know it then, but now...now I know. Sanki was a descendant of mine. Did you know that? My son had a few children in his day."
Cliodhna watches intently as Amon walks around to each person-- following him with her eyes. She feels relief when he only tells her things that confirm what she was always lead to believe...until he gets to Sanki. "Aunt Sanki...she's descended from your son?" Cliodhna quickly thinks to herself, and then her eyes light up. "Aaah, so THAT'S where he gets it from!" she cries, and grins. "Memnon-- even after all the thousands of years that have passed, he inherited yer...well, that thing ye do with yer eyebrow when ye're surprised...disappointed...tryin' ta make a point...all of that!" Cliodhna tries to raise her eyebrow to demonstrate, and then laughs and grins a big grin-- despite the fact that she couldn't raise just one eyebrow-- as she watches Amon for his reaction.
Amon flashes a rare smile, "Oh he is far more than that. Memnon...well." He motions with his head for Cliodhna to turn.
Cliodhna turns quickly to see what Amon's trying to show her.
A tall muscular man stands there. His eyes are fierce and protective, looking faraway. His cheekbones are different...but it's him. A little less muscled but it's him...it's Memnon.
"That is my son, Nefertu. Your mother met him once-- he was staying with his uncle for the most part. His uncle ended up raising him. I became...well it matters little now. Memnon is my reborn son...a few times removed."
Cliodhna stares wordlessly at Nefertu, trying to let this all sink in. She puts a hand to her mouth as her eyes grow large, and she looks off into the distance. "Oh my god..." Her eyes get teary as she considers all of this. "An' this whole time...I knew him...an' he was yer son..." she quickly turns to Amon, and he can see a tear spill down her cheek. "Oh ye must be so proud! He's such a good man, isn't he? Oh Amon-- " Cliodhna rushes forward and grips Amon's forearms. "I promise I won't let anythin' happen ta him! I love him SO much! An'...in a way...ye're like me father now, aren't ye? Oh, what an honor!" Cliodhna starts gushing as her thoughts pour out of her mouth. "Does he know?? Does Ahuru know? Oh what am I thinkin', o' COURSE Ahuru knows! Oh you three! Not tellin' me!" Cliodhna laughs, her flace flushed with excitement.
Amon raises his eyebrow and walks back over to the other figures.
"He doesn't know. He doesn't need to. But yes he is a good man. I have seen his mind...most of what he is thinking is of you," he looks at all of them again and bows his head as he sits next to them.
Cliodhna smiles one of her rare smiles that lights up her face. "Oh Amon, is he? Oh what's he thinkin', then?" Cliodhna laughs a little laugh and holds out her hand. "Wait, let me guess. He's thinkin' that I'm such a weak an' helpless woman...always gettin' inta trouble that I can't get outta-- it's a good thing HE'S around ta protect me!" Cliodhna makes her voice a little deeper as she immitates Memnon, right down to the flashing smile at the end and the puffed-out chest with arms folded across it.
Amon looks at her, his eyes soft, "He thinks of how strong she is, and he only wishes he could be as strong as her. If only he was there for her to prevent..." he raises an eyebrow, "...that bastard Sean from doing what he did. If only it was HE who was the one you were curious about. He is sad that so many years were wasted. If only she knew how I felt in life." he says.
Cliodhna's smile quickly disappears and she clenches her hands...but tears start up in her eyes, despite her willing them away. She closes her eyes and clenches her teeth, and when she's able to speak, she opens her eyes again, and Amon can see that they're filled with anger and pain. "WHY didn't he tell me he had feelin's fer me, then? I was a fuckin' idiot-- I couldn't see it! I couldn't see ANYTHIN' except fer the fightin'! Why didn't SHE tell me?" Cliodhna cries, gesturing at the motionless Amber. "Or SHE?" Cliodhna shifts to point at Sanki. "Or ANY o' them?? They all seemed ta know! An' then there was Mother tellin' me not ta ever fall in love! Bloody stupid advice, wasn't it? I coulda had a normal life! I coulda..." random images from Cliodhna's wonderful yet unrealistic dreams flashes through her mind, and she turns crisply and runs to the doorway leading back into the room she appeared in, and leans her head against the doorframe-- her arms above her head, one holding her head and covering her face, and the other pounding into the frame as she weeps tears of anger and frustration.
Cliodhna hears the click click of a cane behind her and a touch upon her shoulder.
"We all could have had normal lives. We didn't, it is for a reason Cliodhna. I too was a fool. A fool in love with a woman who passed on thousands of years ago. Issa was a good woman and she is happy where she is. And...I can feel her sadness that I did not see what was in front of me. Issa would not have wanted me to spend all these years in hate and loneliness. Issa liked all of them so much, especially one. She thought she was such a bright lively woman, and she was. She even had feelings for me, but I was too wrapped up in my vengeance. And then she met your father and everything changed."
Cliodhna freezes her pounding and crying, and slowly looks up and over at Amon-- loose hair clinging to her teary cheeks. "Are...ye sayin'...Mother...Mother...loved ye?" Cliodhna stares at Amon-- complete surprise on her face-- and then her eyes unfocus as she thinks...thinks about the great admiration in her mother's voice and on her face as she told Cliodhna the stories about Amon...so many, many stories about Amon...and suddenly it all seems clear and obvious! Her mother NEVER seemed to stop talking about Amon! Well...she never seemed to stop talking about Markova, either-- Cliodhna had to give her that-- but Amber was always so defensive of Amon! Something that she passed on to her daughter who sat listening in complete awe and admiration for this man...this man who...is standing beside her, telling her that...that he might have been HER father, had he not been so consumed in his misery!! Cliodhna presses her forehead against the doorframe and closes her eyes. What an insane mess all of this is...oh Gaia...
Cliodhna finally turns her face to look at Amon again, and her voice is hoarse and whispery from crying. "I would have been...honored ta be yer daughter, Amon. Honored." She closes her eyes again as a tiny trickle of tear escapes the corner of her eye. She looks at him again, turning and placing her back against the doorframe. "Please tell me, Amon...was she tellin' the truth? Did she love my father? Does she now? An'...are her feelin's fer ye unchanged?" Cliodhna's eyes are red with weeping, but Amon can see a determination there...a need to know the answers.
"She didn't love me, Cliodhna, just interested. She could have, had I given her the chance. And yes, she loves him. She has since that first night with him," he walks past her to lean on the door frame as well.
"Time has been shifted out of alignment. Things that should have happened have been skipped over. Your mother and her friends nearly righted it all. I was so proud of them. I miss them...I am regretful of the things I have done, but still I would never forget Issa. I can't-- for me it has not been thousands of years. It was yesterday...she was the love of my life and she still is. Everything I have done, I have done to be just one step closer to her. That I do not regret, Cliodhna. Do not concern yourself over what could have been, because it would have been false."
He smiles at Nefertu, "You know the apple does not fall far from the tree. My father waited all those years for Brianna...Memnon would do the same for you," he smiles and winks at her, "There was more than one person in that room that night who had never made love."
Cliodhna stares at Amon for a moment before she realizes what he means, and then the strength goes out of her legs, and she slides down to sit on the floor with a stunned look on her face. She stares at the figure of Nefertu standing there, and then at the floor. She is absolutely...speechless. She remembers that tender and loving look on Memnon's face as he lowered himself down on the bed above her that first time...how he had told her he'd waited a long time for this...oh WHY hadn't he told her?? Cliodhna closes her eyes and puts her head back against the doorframe. "But he's so damned HANDSOME!" she thinks, incredulously. "HOW can this be possible??" She opens her eyes and sees Amon smiling down at her, and she decides that OK, maybe it's somehow possible, but why...WHY didn't he tell her?? She tells herself that she'll ask Memnon as soon as she returns from talking to Amon...and then the questions she'd been meaning to ask Amon start returning to her, and her head finally clears. She stands shakily, and asks Amon if they can sit in the living room...her legs are a little unstable.
Amon motions to the chair just inside the room and he walks over to the piano bench and sits.
Cliodhna sits quickly, thanking Amon, and catches her breath. "I have ta admit-- I'm feeling completely overwhelmed by all o' this, but I want ta thank ye fer tellin' me. It...meant a lot what ye just told me about me sweet Mem. Thank ye." Cliodhna looks down for a moment, and then back at Amon. "There are more things I wanted ta ask ye while I could, so let me get ta the business first, and then the personal."
Cliodhna take a breath. "Paul would like ta know what the Amenti fleet's orders are, now that ye're in charge. Stygia has placed an embargo around New York so that nothin' can get in or out, an' we can't last much longer without reinforcements. Wire, Ivory, an' I believe Swar are all sendin' aid-- the Serpent in Clay said that we just needed ta hold the city fer 2 days, so I don't know if we'll need additional help, but I hate not havin' an answer fer Paul when he asks fer one. I want to be thorough an' accurate whenever possible." Cliodhna gives a little shrug as if to tell Amon that she's not trying to impose on him, she just wants to know what to tell Paul.
Amon nods and closes his eyes and looks back at her slowly.
"I and the fleet are thirteen hours, 4 minutes, and 53 seconds away...from New York. The others are...Swar is closer, the others are coming..."
Cliodhna looks at Amon in surprise and amazement. "Ye're already on yer way?? Oh that's WONDERFUL, Amon, just incredible! Thank ye! An' ye're with them?! It'll be so good ta see ye! That must be what the Serpent meant then!" Cliodhna clasps her hands together just under her chin and smiles at Amon with excitement. Suddenly two more questions pop into Cliodhna's mind. "Amon...what ye said earlier...I think Memnon would be thrilled ta know the truth about who ye are. Can I tell him? And also...what happens to ye now? Are never ta walk the earth as a mummy again?"
"No...I can never return. And no," he stands, looking at Cliodhna, "Memnon's identity must be kept from him. He can never know..." he says with a stern look in his eyes.
Cliodhna looks steadily at Amon, suddenly feeling apprehension and fear in her belly. "If Mem is not ta know, then somethin'...hard is goin' ta happen in the future." she thinks, closing her eyes for a second. "All right, Amon. I won't tell him." she says in a quiet voice. Then she slides to the edge of the chair and puts her elbows on her knees-- leaning forward. "Amon...why did ye put on the mask? I know ye didn't have to ta destroy Mehemet."
"I had to...it is the way it is to be. I have been made to do this, Cliodhna. It was destiny. You of all people should know about that..." he says.
Cliodhna nods quickly, "Oh I DO know Amon...but there's one thing that's troubling me, an' it may be the main reason fer my visitin' ye." Cliodhna stands and begins to pace with her hands held behind her back. "Ye see, me an' Mother have been workin' hard on helpin' Father ta see that his dreams can never come true or else the planet will turn to a ball o' dust. I recently discovered that the woman who told him ta feed his enemies ta his men was the Lady of Sorrows. Perhaps she works against us still. If she could be destroyed..." Cliodhna stops pacing and stands looking at Amon with her hands still behind her back.
"Amon...please don't try ta kill Father. We've been workin' SO hard, an' I think it's workin'. Even Ahuru said that time had suddenly changed from what it was supposed ta be!" Cliodhna brings her hands in front of her and grips them together. "Mother an' I are in the most terrible position of our lives. We want ta change Father an' keep him alive, but we want ta see ye get yer reward more than anythin'. I don't suppose there's a way we could have the best o' both worlds?" Cliodhna looks at Amon with desperate and hopeful eyes.
Amon cocks an eye at her and shakes his head. He rests both hands on his cane and lets out a long sigh.
"That, dear Cliodhna, is out of my hands. I cannot tell you yes or no. I understand your position...your mother, I believe, understands mine. If I am meant to face him, it will happen. If not..."
Cliodhna lets out a shakey breath of relief. "Then not even Amon knows what he's meant ta do yet..." she thinks, quickly sitting back in her chair and leaning her head against the headrest. "I understand, Amon. We'll all do what we must-- I just pray that those of us left aren't weepin' in the ashes."
Cliodhna rests for a moment, and then walks quickly to Amon and kneels in front of him, sitting back on her heels with her hands on her thighs.
"I want ye ta be with Issa again, an' I'll help in any way I can...but Amon, I do...care fer Father, an' want us ta be..." Cliodhna gives a wry laugh, "...well, one happy family, as corny as it sounds. Please...please don't think that Mother an' I are workin' against the Lady of Fate's plans, or goin' against ye in any way. We both care a great deal fer ye...but...but he's me Father! An' Mother's in love with him. We won't let Father take over if he's goin' ta destroy the world...but if there's a chance ta save him before that, we'll try with all our strength ta do it.
Amon looks down at her-- a hard look comes to his eyes. He returns his gaze to the others.
"We will all do what we must, Cliodhna." he says. He sighs and looks down at her.
"I am tired, this takes a lot out of me. I will see you in a few hours-- get some rest..." he says.
Cliodhna nods. "Thank ye fer yer time, Amon-- I'm sorry I kept ye so long." Cliodhna stands-- suddenly wanting to give Amon a hug, but knowing him well enough to stop herself. "Safe sailin', an' I'll see ye soon." Cliodhna says in a small voice.
"You did not keep me long, Cliodhna. I was wondering when you would come. I...tell your mother I miss her," he says and limps towards the other room.
Suddenly everything swirls around in Cliodhna's sight.
Suddenly Cliodhna can feel the backs of her hands resting on her leather jacket, and hear the sounds of the army milling around outside the tent, and she slowly opens her eyes. She turns her head and sees Memnon just turning to pace back towards her. She blinks her eyes and puts a hand to her head. "Aah, Mem-- how long was I gone?" she asks, letting herself rest for a moment before trying to get up.
Memnon kneels in front of her and puts his hand on her shoulder.
"One maybe two minutes. Did you find him?"
Cliodhna looks at him in surprise. "That's all?? It felt like I was there fer hours..." Cliodhna pulls on Memnon's hand to tell him to sit beside her. "Yes, I found him." Cliodhna puts her hands in her lap and looks down. "I learned so much..." She wonders how Memnon would react if he knew that she knew about his...secret. She decides to keep that secret a little longer. She looks up at him, and her eyes narrow just slightly as she studies him. Oh yes...now she can see it. He's definitely Amon's son. She gets a little smile on her lips and blinks quickly. But why didn't Amon want her to tell him? The smile fades just a little, but gazing at Memnon keeps it on her face. She reaches out and hugs him, holding him tightly and breathing in his scent.
Memnon puts his arms around her and holds her tight. 'What happened?' he thinks. He holds her a little bit longer then breaks the hug, but keeps his arms around her.
"What happened?"
"So much...just...so much..." she mumbles into his shoulder for a moment, and then pulls back so she can see him. "I was in Amon's home in Egypt...he had re-created a scene with...a scene from back when our mothers were stayin' there with Red Skygazer, Totenmachen, Aunt Marie an' Uncle Jack...he loves an' misses them very much. It was so touchin' ta see...ta know how important they were-- are-- ta him. He's still the same Amon, Mem, an' that's a relief, although he IS a god now...an' he can see inta peoples' hearts an' thoughts." Cliodhna keeps looking at Memnon, but still doesn't know if she should ask him about what Amon told her. Suddenly her face breaks into a smile. "An' guess what? Amon, himself, is bringin' the Amenti fleet here ta fight! They'll be here in less than a day!"
Memnon's eyes widen and he hugs her, "That's great! We have to tell Paul! There's hope Cliodhna! There's hope!" he says with a smile.
"Aye, there is!" she says laughing. "An' ye're right-- we need ta tell Paul immediately. This army does so much better under high morale...not ta mention everyone needs ta be alerted that the Amenti are our allies now." Cliodhna quickly gets to her feet and smoothes down her trenchcoat. "Ach-- better make that on the double, now that I think about it!"
Memnon watches her nearly run out of the tent. He looks around the empty tent with a sigh, "Damnit why'd I have to mention reporting to Paul. Stupid...stupid..." he says and heads out after her.
Wraith Side-Story 16: "The Return of a Faded Memory II"