From jennyann@ix.netcom.com Sun Aug 4 00:42:21 1996 Date: Mon, 17 Jun 1996 21:13:38 -0700 From: Jennifer Lyon Reply-To: b5-creative@lists1.best.com To: b5-creative@lists1.best.com Subject: "Reunion" "Reunion" A Babylon 5 Fanfic story by Jennifer Lyon jennyann@ix.netcom.com Delenn stared out into the greenery at the center of the Babylon 5 spacestation. Her eyes flickered down to the a stone garden at her feet, and memory sparked. "Perhaps you have not spent enough time looking at it, Commander," she heard her own voice saying, even as her mind supplied the image of a man's face. Her heart skipped a beat; she felt her throat constrict. It was too soon. She needed more time to prepare. But could any length of time truly prepare either of them for what was coming? No, and yet....she wished with all her heart and soul that she could stretch out the short time remaining into a lifetime. But destiny called, and she would have to let a loved one go, or as Lennier had said, "The Dream will die." Even so, as selfish as it was, she wished that there was another way. Another path to take. - - - - - Lost in her thoughts, she did not notice immediately when a tall figure draped in a Minbari cloak stepped up behind her. He paused for a moment, gazing down at her, then in a deep, warm-toned voice, he spoke her name softly. "Delenn." She froze, then turned to look up into his dark amber eyes. "It is time," she replied in a haunted whisper. "Yes," came the response. Delenn nodded tightly, staring up at the face that only she could see beneath the red Minbari cowl. The figure held out his hands to her and she took them, as though clinging to a life-line. Her entire body shivered with the intensity of her emotions. "You understand what must be?" she asked. The figure inclined its head at her in silent assent, then took a step closer. "Petrosh," she replied in the gutteral language of the Minbari religious caste "Nemoshna," came the reply in the same tongue, the tone gentle and sympathetic before it shifted into certainty. "You have done your part, Delenn, this is mine. I accept it." "Then I am glad," she replied, though her tone was shaky. She drew in a deep breath, reaching for calm. "I honor your choice." He responded wryly, but not without warmth. "There was little choice. The Darkness is coming upon us, we must all do what we can to withstand it. The alternative is *unthinkable*. But I am at peace; my path is clear. I know what I must do, will you help me?" "Yes." They bowed to each other, then stared silently into each other's eyes. When he broke the quiet, his tone was deep and formal, issuing forth in strong, vibrant chant. "Will you follow me into fire, into storm, into darkness, into death?" "I will," she replied, dropping to bended knee, still clasping his hands. "Then do it in testimony to the one who will bring death, couched in the promise of new life, and renewal, disguised as defeat." The bass voice intoned slowly, rhythmically, and Delenn answered in the same formal chant. "From birth, through death and renewal, you must put aside old things, old fears, old lives. This is your death. The death of flesh. The death of pain. The death of yesterday." "Taste of it." "I will taste of it." "Then be not afraid, for I am with you, to the end of time." "And so it begins," Delenn's calm intonation nearly broke on this response, even as she threw herself the rest of the way to the floor, her arms hanging from her grip on his hands, her forehead bent to touch the ground itself. Gazing down at her, the other's affirmation resonated in the air, determination colored by an emotion that was not so much sorrow as resignation. Understanding, wrought from a heavy weight of knowlege. "And so it begins," he confirmed. - - - - - Still bent at his feet, Delenn stared up into his eyes, watching her so peacefully, his expression serene within the shadow of his hood. Gone was the uncertainty, the seeking, instead, every line of his angular face was drawn with purpose. He knew, and he accepted, and she gazed at him with awe and sorrow. He smiled, and it was like a burst of sunlight. "Stand, Delenn," his hands tugged upwards on hers, but she resisted. She couldn't. She had spent all of her life in preparation for this moment, to see the clarity of understanding in those steady brown eyes. She had been taught from birth to revere his name, to obey his word, and it had been difficult enough to watch and wait as he stumbled along his life's journey, unable to tell him what she knew, unable to help him find the answers he sought. He had to reach his destiny of his own choice and understanding, and now that he had at long last done so, how could she fail to revere him for it? "Stand before me, Delenn," he insisted again. "Please, if not in honor of who I will become, then in memory of who I was. Old Friend, for all that I am, stand with me." Letting his hands ease her way to her feet, she stood up and met his somber gaze. "I hear and will obey." Then her expression softened. "And I will always stand with you dear friend." "Thank you," he whispered, then repeated more formally, bowing to her. "Thank you, Satai Delenn." She shook her head, unable to hide the pain in her eyes. "Nai. Satai I am no longer." "Nai," he replied sharply. Then more kindly, yet resolutely, "Satai you are and always will be. It is not a matter of politics or power, it is a question of heart and soul. Nothing, not the foolishness of those drunk on power or frightened by what they do not understand, can alter that simple truth. Satai Delenn of the Minbari I name you, for now and for always." "You honor me," she replied, tears burning her eyes. "No more than you honor me." He withdrew one of his hands from hers, to reach up and tenderly stroke her cheek. She leaned into his touch, closing her eyes, then opening them to meet his steady gaze. "The journey ahead is a long one," he continued softly, "and I could never have come this far without you, Delenn. And I will need you even more in the short time remaining. Preparations must be made." "I know, and we are ready to move at your command." "Who have you told?" "Only Lennier and G'Kar. They had the right to know the truth of it. I have told Marcus only that you are here on an important mission that must be kept secret. I did not speak to anyone else. Sheridan will have to know, however. We will need his help." "Yes, and we must speak to him soon. Thank you for all you have done." "It is my honor to serve." She smiled up at him, squeezing his hands between her own. "But...come, my friend, you have traveled far to be here. You must be tired and hungry. Even with the hand of the universe heavy upon us, there is still time to drink tea and talk of simple things. It has been too long since you and I have done so." "Yes, far too long. Many times I have wished..." He broke off, then began again. "I would like that very much." He smiled warmly at her, and she returned the epxression with heartfelt sincerity. "Then come, come. I will tell you many stories of Babylon 5 and you can tell me of home." -- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- jennyann@ix.netcom.com Jenni10647@AOL.com http://members.aol.com/Jenni10647/jgedrick.htm http://members.aol.com/Jenni10647/fanfic.htm http://members.aol.com/JALyon/b5fic.htm "Sometimes the need to mess with their heads outweighs the millstone of humiliation." Fox Mulder "The X-Files" --------------------------------------------------------------------------