HammerFall

Chapter 006: Castle Vara:

Black was the stone of Castle Vara, and dark is the cloud that forever rests over the magnificent castle. Towers jutted up from the center of the circular castle. A heavy silence lay over the land surrounding Vara as Jasper, Rosenbrim, and Johan rode into the Vara. The peasants looked grim as they performed their daily chores under that dark gray cloud. The air felt stiff here to Jasper, and the mood of all quite somber.

Jasper and Johan rode at the sides of Rosenbrim as they made their way to the great castle. None challenged them as they entered the courtyard of Castle Vara. The guards cast them unfriendly glances but they were neither greeted nor hindered.

At the steps leading into the castle a woman with flowing black and gray hair waited. Rosenbrim knew her at once. But he knew that she should not look so old; since the Queen of Vara was only five years his senior; her flesh was now blemished with wrinkles and liverspots.

She spoke in a rasping voice, "Welcome, Wizard Rosenbrim. My husband is away on statecraft with the other cities else he would greet you himself. Shall I get warm water for you and your companions?"

Rosenbrim held up his hand, "It is not necessary, Dionna. I merely wish to speak with you."

Rosenbrim did not trust her. Not when he had been addressed so formally. There was something
wrong here.

Her voice rasped, "Then come in, Wizard Rosenbrim. I shall have a banquet made in your honor."

The wizard told her, "No. I can speak with you here; out in the open air."

A faint smile seemed to touch Dionna's lips. "Have it your way, wizard." the queen sat down upon the black stone, steps and gazed towards him. Their eyes locked and he knew at once.

Rosenbrim smiled as the two warriors beside him were silent. The doors of courtyard slammed shut behind them; locking them into the courtyard. The archers along the walls of the courtyard had their arrows aimed at them.

"You are not Queen Dionna. What have you done with the King and Queen of Stratsovara?" Rosenbrim demanded.

A hideous laughter erupted from the lips of the false queen, "So you do not recognize me, Magnus?" The woman stood up. "I have longed to see you with my own eyes. Do you not like this puppet's body? I made it especially for you."

The false queen sauntered sensually towards the wizard as Jasper and Johan urged their horses forward to protect Rosenbrim from an attack from her.

The puppet raised up a hand. At that simple gesture both men were flung from their horses. They landed with a sickening crash to the walls. Rosenbrim felt fairly sure they had been knocked out from the sound of how hard the hit must have been.

Rosenbrim did not dismount. He remained in saddle as she approached him. Her dress she wore was very conserative and yet somehow that appealed to the wizard somewhat. He felt himself being drawn towards her. Rosenbrim shook his head and placed the image of Stephen before it.

There was a loud cracking sound. The puppet hissed, "Damn you."

The wizard spoke truthfully, "Your glamours will not work on me, demon."

The hand reached up and lightly caressed the thigh of Rosenbrim. Her voice seemed to pur when she spoke, "My master and I want you, Magnus. Ever since the war fifteen years ago we have desired you to join with Iced Earth. Only we can truly appreciate your strength."

Rosenbrim brushed her hand away, "So it is that mercenary band that is behind the recent demon increase in West."

Her voice continued it's sensual pur, "Peace breeds weakness in a warrior. We need war to be strong and to live, Magnus. Do you still not remember me?"

The puppet's body began to slowly transform. Rosenbrim stared in shock as the face became youthful and familiar, "Rosalyne?" his lips voiceless mouthed.

Her voice begged for him, and sounded and tasted like sweet, delicious honey to him, "Come back to me, my brother."

It was hard for him to resist, "No! You're supposed to be dead."

The puppet fell to the ground without a single word. It rested there lifeless. The memory of his sister's death came back to him. It had come so suddenly that he fell from his horse from the shock. In that moment the puppet sprang to life; pinning him to the earth.

"Let me tastes your lips just this once. Let me be one with you and I shall tell you everything about Iced Earth." the voice hissed with need and desire, her hands held his wrists so tightly that it hurt. Strings wrapped around his wrists tying them together. Her hands caressed up and down the sides of his body as he was pinned beneath the demon puppet.

It was still the face of his sister as those hard, wooden lips pressed to his mouth. He tasted not flesh; but oaken wood. Rosenbrim struggled against her; but the puppet had some unearthly strength.

It hurt him inside; but he saw no other choice. He spoke the holy word; but he felt her resisting it as the kiss deepened. Once more the word came muffled from his mouth. Because it was a puppet it did not need to pull back from the kiss. He could hear the woman puppeteer enjoying their touch upon him. The link of magic making the kiss seem like exctasy to the demon woman.

He could not believe it. He had prayed that she would be safe in heaven; but for some reason his sister now lingered in this world as a demon.

The black haired wizard spoke the word a third time and the body of the wooden puppet started to crumble into dust. The whole time she disintegrated she hissed out the word as she tried to keep Rosenbrim pinned down.

It hurt inside as he watched this image of his sister fall away into dirt. He stood up; brushing off the wooden chips, dust and strings. Rosenbrim quickly made his way towards the two fallen warriors. Inside the courtyard the archers stood in awe and confusion in just what had happened. It was obvious they had not realized that their queen had been replaced by demonic magic.

Rosenbrim knelt over Jasper. He pulled a few herbs out of his robe's pouch. He applied them to the head wound and chanted softly before doing the same to Johan.

Rosenbrim stood up as one of the archers approached him. He knew from the markings on his leather armor that this man was a captain.

"I am sorry, Wizard Rosenbrim. We had no idea.."

Rosenbrim cut him off, "Where is the King and Queen?"

"The King has marched an army north to Xasthur. They are headed for an assault upon HammerFall." He replied concisely and simply.
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Tears streamed down her face at the memory of him. SHe wanted to feel his flesh against her own. Then came the pain inside of her head. It stabbed deeply into her.

A strong, domineering and definitely male voice barked inside her mind, "Enough. Your foolish desires have nearly ruined all our plans. Magnus Rosenbrim is no longer your brother. Have you forgotten that he choose that King over you. Rosalyne is dead. You are now Lauriporra of Iced Earth, the Marionette Witch."

"I am sorry, my lord Schaller. I shall try to remember that." A few more tears fell from her amber eyes.

Another jolt of pain stabbed through her. She cried out in pain as she felt the memories of her former life once more being repressed; but this time deeper into her unconscious then before. A dark smile then formed onto the dark haired woman's lips.

"Lord Rosenbrim belongs to me alone. I want you to capture him and bring him to our stronghold in the East." The voice ordered.

Her head lowered demurely, "Yes my lord." Her eyes then turned toward the unconscious Queen Dionna; whom laid in sorcerious sleep.