The Fate of Ellen

Chapter 1. The power released

Ellen Richards stared blankly at the screen. The black letters danced on their white background as she typed.

She sighed as she deleted the previous work and replaced it with some thing more satisfactory. What could she do? She knew it had to be perfect to work. If Avinda wasn't summoned then Toren would die, and if He died... She didn't want to think what would happen.

She was pulled out of her self induced trance as the school bell rang. She immediately became aware of the darkness in the computer room, and how the cool breeze of the air conditioning chilled her skin.

She saved her work and left the room, stepping out into the bright corridor, still considering the properties of willow herb. She packed her bag for maths and stepped into the classroom.

She was five minutes early, but she wasn't the only one there. David was sitting at his usual desk, which was right in the middle at the front. It was positioned so that the front of his desk was adjacent to the top of the teacher's. This made many people wonder about his social sanity. David was a little odd though. He had an enthusiastic character; he wanted to tell everyone every little thing he knew. This often annoyed people, as the things he knew were of little or no us to others, and often consisted of matters most people thought to be childish and stupid - that coupled with his tangerine complexion made sure that he was quite low on the social ladder.

Ellen made her way to the rows near the back and sat down, waiting for Lucy to arrive.

"You might as well give up," David said quite suddenly from the front of the classroom.

Her head shot up from the text book. David knew her quite well, but she hadn't told anyone about her search..

"Give up on what?" She asked casually, hoping to throw him off.

"Trying to save your creation." He replied calmly, not even turning his head.

"I have to save him! He's my guide! It was a knight* like you who sealed him.. Can you help me, please?" Her voice was rapidly taking on a desperate note.

"I don't want to be part of the consequences this could cause, thankyou." He replied, finally turning to look at her. "Have you actually considered what you could do if you release him? Doing a spell of that kind of power could kill you!"

"I know. And that's why I'm summoning Avinda"

"AVINDA! Are you crazy! She only helps Fateies*!"

Ellen allowed herself a soft laugh before replying:

"I AM a Fateie,"

This simple statement caught David off guard, but he couldn't reply other than to look surprised. He had never seen Ellen as anything more than a Charmstress** working in the field of creation. But a Fate Angelic. That was a high order of magicians and he. a mystic knight. she was a natural ally. perhaps just perhaps he could do something with her power.

As students started to gather in the classroom and choose their seats, the idea of a conversation with David became rather less appealing to Ellen. She was not about to lose all the social status she had (for she had very little) because she needed to talk to him about how she was going to do this. He would only berate her anyway.

As Lucy sat down beside her, and Mr. Sheap's drone continued in the background, Ellen's thoughts wandered. She was planning to use willow herb as a sacrificial plant, and to represent the beauty of the Lady Avinda. But what if it messed up the spell? Enchanter's nightshade was a defiant, but she would have to check out the results of its combination with willow herb... The lucky clover was important too, as clover was the Lady's symbol..

Two lessons latter and lunch was ready, and as children of all ages poured from classrooms to eat their fill, Ellen decided to continue her work. So long as she wasn't caught.

Ellen had written a short, first writing it in common English and then in Malaxan Amaryan, the language of Fate magic

The translation of the spell she had prepared read:

Lady Avinda hear our plea For one request we summon thee

Under nature's bond we unite

To call the promises of your might.

Willow herb to you, offer we Eternally young as is with thee Enchanter's nightshade dark and fell, Is symbol of your dark power's spell

Lady, lady, lady bright Powers of darkness powers of light We call you now for your great might Shines in the darkness of this night.

She hoped it was good enough. She clicked on the internet icon and waited for a browser to load. When it finally did, she typed in "willow herb" the answer- willow herb, when used in fate magic had the properties of healing, de-ageing and love. Enchanter's nightshade was a power enhancer, but could also turn hearts black. But it was the only one (she discovered) that wouldn't cause explosive effects when used with willow herb. Perhaps the love element of willow herb could undo the darkening effect. She could always add the petals of a red rose to help it.

When the day of school had finally ended, and Ellen arrived home, she instantly took out the clay and unfinished pot. To make a pot for the ceremony was very important... it was part of the objects she would need. an offering bowl, a spell pot and a glass of pure water. Lambs bone, so Avinda could take embodiment, and calcite as a magic conductor.

As the pot became a little more finished, and Ellen became a little more tired, the world started to spin in colours. Reds, yellows and greens. blues, purples and oranges. Ellen came slowly too. She checked her bowl. It was made perfect. She could feel he magic traces in the room, and guessed that she must have incorporated it into making it. She thought a moment on what causes this would have. However, it was better in fact, as now the bowl was more receptive to magic. She finally realized how tired she was and decided to get some sleep. She was informed by the clock that it was one o'clock, and she lay down and slept immediately.

Ellen awoke without the aid of an alarm clock at six in the morning, and seeing as she had to get up in an hour she arose and got dressed for school. Feeling too hot she slipped quietly outside the house into the morning air. She felt a slight awareness creep over her, as though in the cold dim light her mind became more alert. She could feel the shadows around her, but then they started to swell and grow. She stepped quickly back inside and set off towards the kitchen, grabbing a glass from the cabinet in the dining room before she left. AS she sipped quietly at the water, the memory of what just happened began to be evaluated. What was so strange about the shadows dancing? They always danced when someone performed a curse in the area. And that wouldn't be that unusual, as she lived in a very intolerant village. But then she remembered - that was why she and David were the only casters in the area - that she knew of anyway, and why would it be so strange for David to perform a curse on the morning after a new moon? Today the moon would grow again, and that reminded her that she had two weeks until the next full moon, when she would have to perform the spell. Glass empty she left it by the kitchen sink and headed up the stairs to bed.

A week later and she still had no help - She was working on trying to persuade David that it really wouldn't hurt him to help - but she wasn't getting her way David was stubborn - too stubborn. For the eightieth time that day she went up to him puppy eyes a-glow and said in her most pathetic voice

"Pleeeeeeeeease,"

David removed his gassers (Which was a mistake, it made him look far less distinguished, and actually rather amusing.) He smiled an infuriating smile that made Ellen rather bloodthirsty. That was his second mistake, as now Ellen knew he was probably on the verge of helping her. It was also a disappointment because (knowing him better than she liked to think) she now knew he was going to demand something in return.

"Please David,"

An arched eyebrow in return.

"Why should I?"

There it was. His demand But first she had to try..

"Well.. If you don't Ill either be dead because he's my guardian, or create a spirit or something to haunt you forever - once I get my strength back,"

"Yeah, but how do I benefit in the whole affair."

Ellen sighed, and decided it was clearly time for her to play her last and final card.

"You know this is why nobody likes you." But she knew even before she finished her sentence she knew it was no point. Once again she was met with that infuriating grin.

"You know, I really don't care" Laughed David.

Sighing, Ellen replied:

"Fine, what do you want?" she asked irritably

"well, you know how you're a Fateie.."

"Yeah,"

"And you know how Fateies are supposed to save peoples lives."

"Yeah,"

This was getting annoying now.

"And create stuff."

"Yes! For gods sake hurry up David!"

"I want you to help me create something."

Ellen laughed.

"What? The all mighty David Robertson asking for help?"

Ellen couldn't help it she burst out laughing. In fact, Ellen wasn't laughing at David for asking help - she was laughing at her own reaction. But David (never one to see the funny side of such jokes) frowned at her and told her to quit it or he wouldn't help.

Two weeks later Ellen and him were seated in a wood near her house. It was five o'clock, and both were glad it was winter. Ellen had never worked magic with Robert before, and felt a little uncomfortable around him - his whole posture and sense had changed - He was dignified and honorable now, Instead of that bumbling boy he usually was.

The pure water, the bowl, rose petals nightshade and willow herb were laid out. Clover took precedence in the middle. Next to it the lamb bone was placed next to it. Incense burned in the spell pot and the bowl she had made held water with several floating candles in it.

They joined hands over the spell and began to chant. David, less familiar with the spell than Ellen was unsure of the words slightly, but All went without a hitch - until the magic began. The incense rose above and formed a shape over the crystal. Avinda's graceful form was forming in the air. The wind made no difference to the magic. But then Ellen felt the strain, and she could tell from David's eyes that he could feel it too. There would be consequences for this - but only small ones.

And then the crystal broke. The magical energy harnessed within it rushed over Ellen, and she fell unconscious. A large blackness rose around them in darkness and disappeared into the air. The incense smoke was blown away by the wind and all was silent.

**********************

O my God! I've finished the chapter! I'm sorry if you thought this was horrible. I'm A really slow writer - This has taken me since September! Please forgive me - I have a twelve hour a day school, and I don't get home till around 22:00 (ten o'clock)

I'd just like to say that none of the things in here are taken from any other source - Wicca too Harry Potter! So don't try to tell me I've got it wrong, 'cause I invented it.

But I wouldn't want to be a hypocrite so I have to say if this dose bear resemblance to any form of magic out there in the world, TOUGH COOKIES!

Definitions:

*Fateies: The full term is Fate Angelic. They are a bread of angelic creatures whom are in the world to prevent unnecessary death - In Ellen's world there is a huge battle between order and chaos - chaos takes too many so order takes more, and eventually the world would be destroyed so fate angelics are there to keep it in check. They are hated by both sides for this. Ellen isn't a Fateie herself, just one who serves them. All people like Ellen are referred to as Fateies. They are very powerful.

**knight: The full term is Mystic Knight. They worship the Mystics, who are a form of Gods, and in return for their praise they are given immense power. The Knight who sealed Toren worshiped Minatoros, the Mystic of Torment.

*** Charmstress: A very weak magician who can do mainly chars (they do have there own way of performing magic though)

Toren was Ellen's guardian, he is head of the Fateies. He was sealed in the abyss of Minatoros because the knight thought him dangerous.