Faithfully Yours

Part 6: War is hell

 

Chapter 47

"The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what Fiction means." 
 Oscar Wilde

Almost on cue, a spiralling mist appeared on the front of the ranks not far from where the Charmed Ones were grouped.

 

"Got us right front and centre under their eye" Piper shook her head in disgust.

 

"That could be handy" Phoebe told her.

 

"Or not" said Paige.

 

Phoebe swallowed hard.

 

Out of the mist, a Warrior Elder type in a sparkling gold robe with the hood thrown back appeared. The robe almost seemed like shining armour. The Elder was flanked by eleven other Elders, in similar warrior getup, who all appeared to hover above the assembled minions. Rainbow light sparkled around them and flashing, lightning lit the mist making it look as I the Elders were bathed in fiery light.

 

"That's not a run of the mill Elder'" Paige said.

 

"No" said Piper "I think that might be an Elders' Elder, or even the Elders' Elders' Elder."

 

"Still nothing but a warmonger" said Phoebe "No matter how fancy the title or many Elders you add."

 

A sound like a crystal bugle brought the ranks of the minions to attention.

 

Murmurs and gasps came from the assembled minions and many burst into applause and called out in excitement, as the Warrior Elders all benignly smiled and nodded at them. The lead one turned and raised his hands indicating the Warrior Elders behind him who also raised their arms while the assembled minions cheering became a roar.

 

A few of the minions like the Charmed Ones group were neither clapping nor cheering and one of the Elders seemed to direct the whitelighter warrior types to stand close to those groups.

 

Piper glanced at them. She put her hand on her heart "I'm to overwhelmed to even breath "she told Paige in a stage whisper.

 

"Me to" said Paige half clapping.

 

The whitelighter warrior narrowed his eyes and moved away slightly.

 

The noise reached a crescendo, as the Warrior Elder and the eleven followers stood glowing in the applause.

 

Paige elbowed Piper "Not everyone agrees" she said and she pointed out behind the Warrior Elders a number in goldish robes that did not seem to shine in the mist, stood half faded, hoods pulled low, bodies rigid with disapproval. As Paige and Piper watched they seemed to fade away.

 

"I guess no-one's listening to them" Piper whispered and glanced toward Mark who nodded.

 

"So they just give up'" sighed Paige.

 

"Maybe they don't have the power to stop it" said Phoebe.

 

"Have we?" asked Paige.

 

"I hope so" said Piper.

 

The Warrior Elder with hands raised higher, was enjoying the applause for some time. Finally the Elder with lowered hand and announced "You are assembled here for a great calling" in a voice that rumbled and echoed through the whole of 'up there'. "Our cause is just. Note that our brethren, the warrior guardians of magic" and he indicated the archangels "take their place in our great battle. They define the justice of our cause."

 

"I know another type of warrior guardian who may disagree" muttered Phoebe. "And he really knows about justice."

 

The assembled minions looked up at the Elders and the archangels, many, like Matilda Riggs and her group with rapt and overawed expressions.

 

"They do a good show "murmered Edna.

 

"You have been called or an undertaking the like of which has never been taken by Good" the Elder told them, now using a soft melodious voice that still seemed to resonate off the mists in a whisper they could all hear.

 

"I think that is what they mean when they say voice of an angel" said Piper "Gets in your ear and won't get out." she banged her ear viciously.

 

"Propaganda" muttered Paige as Matilda, Sara and her group and many others, clapped their hands and shouted out in excitement.

 

"You have been called to protect the very centre of magic, the heart of our magic the core of our existence from the greatest, most dangerous, vicious enemy that Good has ever known." The Warrior Elder almost sang.

 

"They need to make the enemy worth fighting" Phoebe observed

 

"Propaganda" muttered Paige again, even more viciously.

 

'"The source of all evil" several witches in the ranks called out hopefully. And the ranks ripples with excitement and anticipation

 

"Í thought you said it's the Geztalt?" Leslie asked in loud whisper, curiosity beating her fear.

 

"It is" Phoebe whispered back and the whisper carried to many around. "Don't need an army to beat the source of all evil. We beat him. Just the three of us Charmed Ones."

 

"We face an enemy that has not been faced by Good for hundreds of years" intoned the Warrior Elder still speaking in the whispered, melodic voice.

 

"That is because the cowardly bastards let everybody else do their fighting" hissed Phoebe "Hell we've been beating their minions once a week for the last three months."

 

"Propaganda" said Paige nodding" 'This is just garbage."

 

"So they're lying" Leslie asked bitterly.

 

'"No" said Piper "Didn't Leo say that is how propaganda works. It is based on a truth. Only you distort it so much, it's more dangerous than a lie."

 

"Oh" said Leslie swallowing hard.

 

"You've been defeating an army of the minions of Evil once a week?" asked Edna incredulously.

 

"More like a brigade than an army" said Piper.

 

Phoebe glared at her.

 

"We aren't starting propaganda wars" Piper told Phoebe firmly.

 

Phoebe turned her nose up.

 

"We go to liberate a realm that has been torn apart by evil" droned the Warrior Elder and the Minions of Good began to cheer while the Warrior Elder looked back at the eleven companion Elders and smiled in satisfaction. "We go to free a people that evil has all but decimated.'

 

"Blah. Blah, blah" muttered Piper.

 

"It wasn't evil that did the decimation" muttered Paige "Propaganda. Bloody propaganda."

 

The rainbow burst its disapproval around her and several whitelighter warrior types moved closer. Mark put his hand on her shoulder and she looked around at him. Then she saw around at the rapt faces of the witches around them,

 

 ''Propaganda's working" Paige said bitterly

 

"We go to liberate a people who have been torn apart because evil wants what they have " droned the Elder. "A people who have been torn apart by civil war and decimated because of Evil wanting to control them. A people whose simple faith in magic was broken because Evil takes what it wants. A people who can no longer protect their own realm form the intrusion. An innocent people decimated by the incursions of evil

 

"Propaganda, propaganda, propaganda" muttered Paige angrily as Mark's hand bit into her shoulder

 

"We go to lead these people to the way of magic… we go to teach them what good magic is, to introduce them to the way of Good, to free them from the shackles of the civil war that Evil force on them." The Warrior Elder's voice rose in a crescendo like a chant. "We go to secure for Good the greatest, most important force of magic. When we have finished, the magic world will be free for ever of the insidiousness of evil controlling the source of all magic. It will be in our hands, it will be for ever controlled by Good."

 

In the loud cheering from the minions, the Charmed Ones became aware of the odd witch and magic creature not cheering. In fact some were suspicious.

 

Finally from near the back of the ranks some-one with a very loud voice called "Do we go to secure this great force or do we go to free an enslaved people?"

 

"Who do we fight?" called some-one else "Evil or the owners of where we go."

 

"Both in order to protect "droned the Warrior Elder in a voice that was almost mesmerising as moved between whisper and crescendo. "These people have lost their way. It is our role to show them the path back to the way of Good."

 

"By killing them" muttered Tisha.

 

One of the whitelighter warrior types moved closer and Mark shook his head.

 

"There are those in this lost world who have found the way." the Elder announced with an almost sly glance at the companion Warrior Elders. The people, the good people, the ones who are most at risk from this extreme invasion of evil "droned the Elder. "Out friends have helped us. They show us the way, they have informed us of the passage, the ground, the place. To arrive. They have lighted our path."

 

Piper frowned "We know damned well the Burvjarians are not calling Good in."

 

"I thought the Burvjarians hated the Others, thought nothing of using them and betraying them" said Paige.

 

"Yes" said Piper. "That is what Glock told me."

 

"We come at the behest of a people at risk from a great evil." toned the Warrior Elder leader.

 

"Behest. What does behest mean?" muttered Phoebe.

 

"It's what you say when you haven't got an invitation." Paige answered her voice cracking "This is all garbage. It's …"

 

"Propaganda" said Tisha

 

Paige grimly nodded.

 

"So we not invited?" said Leslie as the assembled Minions of Good began to cheer.

 

Piper shook her head. "I don't think Others are high on Burvjarian guest lists" she answered.

 

"The plan is that you will arrive close to the great evil where we can overwhelm by sheer strength of numbers, quickly. A day's work and the magic world will be controlled by Good. We are good." The hands of the Warrior Elder leader were raised as if in prayer. “The liberation of a once great realm, to take its place amongst the realms of Good will be the greatest achievement of the lives of you here assembled."

 

"So they can do as you tell them, say what you tell them to say." Interjected Phoebe under her breath.

 

"Propaganda, propaganda," said Paige almost past anger "they are not even telling where or what. Wait until they find out it’s a destroyed land that is hell to walk through."

 

"Maybe we can trust Glock to end the war" Piper whispered. "Maybe we should tell them that. Maybe if these witches knew that they would not be so anxious to invade or at least kill or steal Burvjara." she said

 

"What do you mean stealing?" demanded Leslie her voice high and uncomfortable with fear.

 

"Shsh "said the Charmed Ones

 

"We will show the Great Realms what Evil unchecked can do. What could happen to any realm, your realm, if evil is allowed to continue its infiltration and invasion of this sad realm."

 

"They don't even say it Burvjara and the magic pole" said Paige.

 

"We will liberate this land" droned the Elder as the cheers in the ranks of the minions started to rise. '"We will bring good magic to this land. We will scourge it of the forces of evil. We will ensure a land decimated by evil is once more a land where good magic can flourish and the great resources of magic are no longer at risk to the control of evil.

 

"Í think I can fix that "said Phoebe. "About not saying its Burvjara."

 

"What do you mean?" asked Piper.

 

"You remember that history paper I wrote at college" Phoebe said "the one where the leader walked his people through the liberating army without firing a shot.. Demonstrated how good they were, did it to show how they could own their own country how they could protect to protect their country.

 

"I hate history "muttered Piper.

 

"It has its uses" said Phoebe.

 

"What do you mean?" demanded Paige whispering.

 

"I think I'm going to have a premonition" Phoebe whispered. "In fact I am sure one is coming on. All about Burvjara." She looked around "A loud one .About how noble Burvjarians are. And how brave. Think the masses will believe a good premonition." She asked "I love this having an active power I can call on" she added as she pushed off into a levitation.

 

Phoebe levitated high in the rainbow mist, the white dress flapping and Piper's long wool coat flowing out behind her like a robe.

 

As she rose higher and higher, the rainbow light reflected off the dress and she seemed to float in the face of the Warrior Elder who stopped talking and losing some of the magic glow, glared at her.

 

Slowly the assembled minions stopped cheering and gasped as they saw Phoebe

 

"Oh" Phoebe screamed her hands clutching at her head "Oh" she moaned "OH OH OH" she said her voice becoming a shrieking wail as it echoed off the mists of 'up there'.

 

"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" moaned Phoebe taking her hand to her face. And undoing her hair so it fell out of it band and swirled around her like a halo.

 

"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" she moaned at the top of her voice. While Piper and Paige exchanged glances.

 

"That's how witches got the broomstick image. Phoebe doings something like that when we went back ion the past" sighed Piper. "This will have consequences."

 

Witches stared at her. Some moving closer and some moving way. Several magic creatures looked to all bewildered and some whitelighters and high creatures looked perplexed.

 

"EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" moaned Phoebe spreading her hand wides "Burvjara "she moaned Burvjara " she screamed "Burvjara, Burvjara Burvjara'" she screeched

 

"What did she say?" asked several whitelighter warrior types nearby.

 

"She said Burvjara"' cried out Piper.

 

''What did she say?" called someone from the back.

 

 "She said Burvjara" yelled Paige.

 

"What?" called someone else way on the other side of the minions.

 

"She said Burvjara" screeched Piper at the top of her voice and there was a satisfactory murmur of the word Burvjara through the assembled Minions of Good.

 

Phoebe half opened her eyes

 

"No" she screamed "give way, give way. They are good" she called "No " she screamed her voice pleading.

 

"Wow" whispered Paige to Piper.

 

"Phoebe was the lead in her fifth grade play" whispered Piper.

 

"Ah" moaned Phoebe "They are good" she cried "They are good, the people of Burvjara are heroes and good stand back for Burvjara" she moaned "Burvjara is for Burvjarians" she screamed. "No stand back "she called. "No stand back. Burvjara belongs to Burvjarians.

 

Three Warrior Elder types in gold robes pushed their way from the space behind the Warrior leader.

 

"What is the trouble?" one of them asked in a mild and yet tight voice.

 

 "My sister is talking about Burvjara" Piper said loudly.

 

The Warrior Elder types looked at each other with concern an apprehension. "How does she know of Burvjara?" whispered one.

 

"My sister has the gift of premonition" Paige explained as loud as she could "We are the Charmed Ones" she added.

 

"One sister had the power to move, one to freeze and change molecules, one the gift of premonition" Piper interrupted very loudly. "We are the Charmed Ones, the most powerful witched of good"

 

"Charmed Ones "murmered the witches and magic creatures around them

 

"What do you mean premonition?" hissed a Warrior Elder in a peeved whisper that still carried some distance

 

"My sister sees the future" said Paige loudly.

 

"Or a possible future" almost yelled Piper

 

"Burvjara. Stand back. Stand down "moaned Phoebe. "Burvjarians.... Burvjarians. Burvjara for Burvjarian. No" she screamed so loudly witches in the back rows of the minions shuddered.

 

"That must have been a hell of a fifth grade play" Mark whispered to Paige who half giggled as the rainbow light around crashed and sparkled furiously.

 

Another Warrior Elder in dark gold appeared and the three others stood back clearly in awe.

 

"The witch is having a premonition" they explained. "Ä Charmed One" said one, "About Burvjara."

 

"We there was an embargo" said the Elder severely and stopped as those minions close by listened intently. "Which Charmed one?" He looked up at Phoebe "That one" the Elder said scornfully "We didn't send any prem..." then stopped cold.

 

"Isn't that the witch who you said has premonitions connected to higher magic?" asked a whitelighter type looking at Mark.

 

"Yes" said Mark softly but his voice echoed in the rainbow light.

 

Phoebe high above, white dress floating, arms extended screamed "Stand down" then moaned and floated down to earth as gracefully as a pregnant witch could. And with ane effective flutter she neatly collapsed in a graceful swoon at the Elder's feet.

 

"Stand back stand back" moaned Phoebe as Piper and Paige half lifted her.

 

"Oh oh'" moaned Phoebe

 

Piper and Paige noticed the witches and magic Minions of Good pushing forward.

 

''What did you see Phoebe, honey?" Piper asked her voice shaking with concern.

 

Mark stuck his hands in his pockets to stop clapping.

 

"I saw the future" said Phoebe in a loud stage whisper.

 

"How did you get the premonition?" demanded the Elder.

 

"It just came to me" Phoebe said struggling to get her pregnant self up.

 

"I saw" she said dramatically: "I saw an army of good in Burvjara, a burnt and tortured land orange and rocky and no life. I saw a land destroyed by war and bursting with flame from magic powers."

 

"Oh good one to get that in" whispered Paige.

 

Phoebe pause dramatically "I saw the winds burn  the land to an orange wasteland. "I saw great army of good and evil, I saw them face each other and I saw the Burvjarian, noble creatures like, warriors of old, meet in a great mass to march through the ranks of Good and face the army of evil .I saw these creatures claim their land and I saw them do it for the projection of all magic, for the protection of the magic pole. Beautiful people, well not beautiful sort of ugly actually, noble" she said. "Sort of pissy when they don't get their own way" she added thinking of her experiences with Glock.

 

 Piper glared at her.

 

"I saw how the battles had destroyed the land" Phoebe continued "and how the noble Burvjarians rose above it to take their land back."

 

''This vision is not of the ones we send" one Warrior Elder snapped to another Elder

 

"Phoebe's gift is connected to great magic" said Piper sweetly.

 

"I saw the Minions of Good hold their ground" sobbed Phoebe, "I saw witches dead. I saw Burvjarians dead, I saw Evil control the magic pole."

 

"Good one to get that in" muttered Paige.

 

"Oh god" groaned Phoebe "I saw everyone die "and she fell into theatrical sobs.

 

The Warrior Elders around her sucked their breaths. "Care for your sister" they told Piper and Paige "Care for you charge" they told Mark.

 

All through the ranks the murmur went through archangels, witches, warrior whitelighters and creatures of magic that the witch with the premonitions connected to great magic has seen the Good fall, because they stood in the way of the Burvjarian army."

 

"That was a good start "Paige whispered to Phoebe.

 

"Yes" Phoebe agreed brightly.

 

As she staggered to her feet with help from her sisters, the Charmed Ones became aware of a certain discontent going through the ranks as they passed on the news of her premonition, and a certain murmuring from some who knew of Burvjara and the magic pole , that the Burvjarians were hardly the innocents to be saved, that the Elders where claiming.

 

"Goddamned vicious" was heard murmured from what they strongly suspected was an androgenous archangel voice.

 

The Warrior Elder leader took charge. Realising the moment was lost and that the word Burvjara was out, and that the words magic pole were being spread through the minions, with not complete approval, the Elder began giving instructions on how the assembled minions would arrive in Burvjara. The minions were told what they could expect and how they would get more orders from their whitelighter escort. The Warrior Elder went to some length to assure the minions, they were well prepared, that they knew what it would be like when they arrived because the Burvjarian loyalists had shown the  way and  that victory would be theirs. In a very short time

 

Which did nothing to ease the Charmed Ones concerns that the Powers that Be had the slightest idea of what dangers they faced in Burvjara.

 

"You coming?" Paige turned to Mark hopefully

 

"Whitelighters are pacifists "Said Mark "at least most of my type of whitelighter is. You look after yourselves" he told all his charges as they were shunted away by the warrior whitelighters

 

Paige looked back to see his plain intelligent face frowning concerned before he faded into the mist.

 

As his charges disappeared form his sight, Mark half turned to one of the other whitelighters "I hope to god they really find this a just war" he said

 

He was startled to see a gold robed Elder, hidden behind a hood standing behind him.

 

"Whitelighter" said the Elder "never invoke justice. Pray justice never finds you, because you cannot hide form justice. Justice invokes no mercy. Justice invokes no rationalisation. Justice demands you pay for your sins. All of us are sinners. Pray you never face justice."

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