To Troy

[balancingminds]

When he stepped through the door and feels the ground shake, he briefly close his eyes in a small prayer that this plan will work. Then walked through to the quiet rowing deck of a trireme as he adjusted his tunic, his sandals and the leather and cloth seemed like not enough to make him disappear here.

The thoughts that swirled around were hard to understand as they were Greek in dialects he'd only ever read mixed with another language that must be Trojan and a deeper layer of thoughts that he didn't dare to touch.

He ran a hand through his hair to mess it up as he was aware that while his coloring would help him to blend in, this was a strange land where he didn't belong.

Comments

[chrysopteron]

"^{Welcome, Iris Chrysopteron.}"

"And the new stranger to the land of the Greeks. Welcome to you."

"_{But you should not be here. We will take care of this.}"

[balancingminds]

"How?"

He does his best to keep his voice steady since he feels young and small.

Oddly he's reminded of the first time he went to New York City and how the press of all the minds deafened him. Now though its the age and power of the Fates.

[chrysopteron]

"Any way we please. It is an easy thing for us."

Iris finally opens her mouth to speak, and the crone with a spindle in her hands raises a finger for silence.


"We do not fault you, rain-messenger. Do not fear."

[balancingminds]

"I came here because I love her and miss her. I wished to be with her for any moments we could have,"

It doesn't feel like enough but its the truth and he knows how to speak the truth.

[chrysopteron]

Iris' head snaps to look at Charles.

"And you, rain-messenger? ^{What do you say to this?} _{I do not believe you are surprised.}"





"I am not, my Kataklôthes. There is no surprise when his thoughts are my own."


"In more ways than one, we see. He is a seer."

[balancingminds]

A seer is a title he wouldn't choose for himself and he grips Iris' hand once more. He can't think of how to answer that.

[chrysopteron]

"He sees not the events yet to be, but men how they are now. The reasons underneath the actions."

Iris shifts her feet as though ready to take flight.





"He is the first in my life I have loved beyond duty. I would ask to go with him, back to the End of Worlds.

"You told me I would be made to make choices."

[balancingminds]

Its one of the best explanations of what he does and its humbling but he's scared for Iris.

She doesn't have the freedom he does to choose where she goes and he lifts her hand to kiss it, "I want you to be happy and yourself."

[chrysopteron]

"Perhaps she no longer knows who she is, seer. You ask complicated questions."

In an uncharacteristic reaction, Iris smiles. You have no idea.

[balancingminds]

Her smile is reassuring and he releases a small breath,

"I look for the truth."

[chrysopteron]

"Would you be willing to return the sigils of your office?"

Here, Iris hesitates.

"Will I lose my wings, as my sister did?"

[balancingminds]

He doesn't want her to lose her flight and stays silent, holding her hand.

[chrysopteron]

This is the first time since being transported here that the light in the room has risen. There are three women - presumably - sitting in low-backed chairs on a small dais.



Atropos, when she speaks, does so completely hooded.

"I have no charge with you yet," she offers simply.

There is no cord to be cut here.

[balancingminds]

That seems hopeful but he knows that the Fates are never as simple as they seem.

[chrysopteron]

It is hopeful.

Iris holds out her free hand, letting her ewer and her staff materialize out of the aether. When they do, they almost immediately move from Iris' hand to Klothos'.


"We will return you to the shore now. You must leave immediately."

"I understand."

Atropos finishes with, "You will return, rain-messenger."

[balancingminds]

It all seems to happen quickly and he wishes he could see the future.

For now, he holds her hand tightly, using his free hand to find the badge, which he attached to his belt.

[chrysopteron]

You will return, rain-messenger.

And -- they're back where they had once been, before the conversation with the Moirae.

"Are you alright?" Iris asks. "Not many mortals meet the Moirai Thanatoio and live."

[balancingminds]

The shift surprises him and he gasps and nods, "I think so. Are you?"

[chrysopteron]

"I will be."

It's the only response she has at the moment.

"What do we do to leave?"

[balancingminds]

"We find a door we can open and go back to Milliways,"

He hugs her and kisses her hair before turning to look for something that can be a door.

[chrysopteron]

The tents will do.

Iris lets Charles lead the way back to Milliways.

Before she leaves, she sets a rainbow over the river Thaumas.

I will return.