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A matter of faith...

"You worry too much", he said as he walked into the other room.

She sighed. "That's what sisters are for.... good night, brother." she whispered, though she knew he wouldn't hear.

She paused with her hand on the door, and looked around the large room. At the mess, the desolation caused by those with evil in their hearts. Her face hardened, taking on a look rarely seen by anyone.

Stalking out, she slammed the door harder than she intended, making it rattle in its frame.

Standing in the dimness outside the wreckage that had once been a source of so much peace for her, she stopped and breathed slowly, letting calm wash over her like a soothing balm. Finally, shaking her head and smiling a small smile to herself, she turned and walked towards the stairs to Upper.

She would make him see sense, if it killed him.

Darkness.. everything is black.

She struggles to use her other senses. The chaos of battle around her makes it hard... too hard. She knows her friends are there with her, but she is alone. She flails about with her sword, feeling it connect once or twice. It makes no difference.

Blows rain down on her from all sides, glancing off shield and armor. Locked in darkness, her defense is desperate.

No! Not again! she cries in her mind. In desperation she throws herself at the attacker in front of her, elven senses prickling. She feels the jarring impact as her sword thrusts home.

Pain. Sharp agony in her chest. The inky darkness lifts. Time slows to a crawl. She looks down, seeing a shaft crackling with malignant energy protruding from her armor, still in the grip of the menacing dark figure before her.

She looks up, sees her brother fighting for his life, her sister battered and broken on the ground beyond him. Their eyes lock, as she stares at him with mute appeal.

Her vision tunnels, seeing only him and hearing a distant voice cry "Eo!".

Knees buckle and she slides off the point of the evil spear, slumping to the dirty stones of the floor. In slow motion, she sees the same spear driven into her brother's side.

Her face presses to the floor, she feels her life blood pumping... pumping out of her in a growing pool. Darkness descends again, for the final time.

No! her mind rings, No! but her broken body can't form the words.

With her final strength, she prays.

Eilistraee! Not like this! Take me, but save them..please, for the love of all I hold dear. Save them!

As her eyes dim, she sees something... light, burning the darkness away. Light inside her, outside as well. With her last ounce of failing strength, she smiles...

She feels a gentle touch, dispelling the pain like it did so many months before. Whispered words sigh, "Come, daughter... It is time to rest."

The light claims her.

Light.

Warm, gentle light, caressing her like a mother's embrace. She floats in the light, and feels peace at last.

The peace is fleeting, as she feels a wrenching pain. Sharp agony infuses her spirit, and she cries out soundlessly. The light flickers, falters then disappears, and she finds herself standing in a strange place. A vast cityscape stands before her, and behind. Vague misty figures move about randomly as far as she can see, and as she looks down, she realises she has the same form.

A voice, kind and loving, speaks to her in her mind. Memory crashes in with a jarring impact, along with the crushing realisation that her sacrifice was meaningless.

She opens her wraithlike mouth, and wails...