Constance, Vivainne’s beloved, had recovered after her injury and had been travelling as fast as she could to re-join Vivainne in her Quest to rescue the Die of Destiny. She felt that she was close on Vivainne’s heels and that they would soon be re-united. She rode on into a land of rolling grassland, covered in wild flowers and home to numerous wandering herds of wild horses. Suddenly, over the brow of a low hill came a group of heavily armed cavalry, moving fast and with purpose.
Constance stopped and remained still, her sword still sheathed, and awaited their arrival. There was nowhere for her to hide and so she awaited her fate with stoicism. The Cavalry reined in around her and she found herself faced by a fully armoured knight with visor down.
‘Do you know the whereabouts of Death’s Hat?’ came the hollow voice from within the helmet. ‘Someone has stolen Death’s Hat and we have been tasked with it’s return. You will recognise it when you see it, it is Large and Black. Death cannot go about his duties without his Hat and he has business hereabouts’
‘I have no Knowledge of this Hat,’ replied Constance, ‘You may search my belongings if you see fit, but I can assure you that you will not find that which you seek.’
The Visored Knight came close to Constance and appeared to stare into her eyes for some moments. Constance, for her part, stared back through the slit of the visor, attempting to discern a pair of eyes. But all tht she could make out was a darkness deeper than the darkest night.
Finally, breaking his gaze away from Constance’s glare, the Knight motioned to his entourage and together they galloped away.
Intrigued, Constance rode on again until she came to a place where a skirmish had taken place. Bodies lay scattered on the ground, bloodied and still. Their baggage and belongings were strewn across the grass as if they had been searched. Constance dismounted to check for signs of life and incredibly, although the bodies had mortal injuries, they were all still alive but unable to move.
Constance knelt down beside one of the bodies to offer her some water.
‘Did they take it,’ whispered the undying woman, ‘Did they find the Hat? Look beneath the Breastplate of the knight with the green tunic who lies nearby and under it you may find the Great Hat that Death must wear to do his duty. Take it, if you dare, only know this, The Hat cannot be taken from one to whom it is freely given and no one can die until Death puts on his Hat.’
Constance searched the Knight with the green tunic and as she had been told, she found a Large Black Hat. The Knight whom she had searched looked up at her in some pain and said to Constance, ‘I give this Hat to you freely and without obligation, I only ask that you return this Hat to it’s rightful owner when the time is right. We should not have stolen it and now I am in need of Death’s ministrations which he cannot give without his Hat.’
Having thanked the knight and assured him that she would do what she could, Constance continued on her journey.
As she neared the next settlement, she could see smoke rising from some of the buildings and so she strapped on her weaponry in expectation of the need to defend herself. In the small square, a sight of mayhem assailed her, and she saw to her horror, Vivainne, standing tall, surrounded by several soldiers who were attacking her from all sides. Vivianne had already dispatched three of her attackers and appeared to be holding her own when an arrow, fired from a short distance, pierced her armour and passed through her heart. Constance cried out and leapt from her horse, she attacked the soldiers with a fury she had not known that she possessed, and in some minutes they lay about her, overcome or in submission.
Constance approached Vivainne who lay mortally wounded but unable to die and as Constance held her for what she thought may be the last time, Death arrived and stood by her side. Constance lay Vivainne down and stood to face Death.
‘Give me my Hat that I may fulfil my duty,’ said Death in a hollow voice. ‘These people have a right to my services so that they may pass from this realm and the broken bodies that can no longer sustain them. If you do not give me that which is mine, I will take it from you by force.’
‘You cannot take it from me as it was freely given to me by another hand. I will, however, concede that there can be no Life without Death. Consciousness cannot remain unembodied and existence would not taste so sweet without the sourness of it’s absence. I only require one boon from you at this time in exchange for your Hat. Restore my beloved, Vivainne, in Life and Limb so that we may continue our Quest together and the Hat is yours.’
Death stood quiet for some moments before speaking, ‘I accept the bargain that you have described,’ he whispered, close to her ear, ‘but I must retain one caveat to our deal. Vivainne shall become whole again, but she will only remain alive as long as you are alive. When your time is ended, so must our bargain end and Vivainne will pass away with you.’
‘If this is the price that I must pay, so be it.’ said Constance, and so saying she gave the Great Black Hat to Death. Before he put it on, he passed his hands over Vivainne and the arrow that had pierced her heart disappeared and the wound whereby it had entered was seen no more.
Then, rising, Death put on his Hat and there passed over the world a great sigh as all the undying dead, throughout the world, were released from their broken bodies that had been waiting to pass away since Death’s Hat had been stolen.
Vivainne now regained consciousness and leapt to her feet, seeing Constance facing her, she dropped her sword and held Constance in a tight embrace for some time.
‘I felt as if I were pierced through the heart before you came,’ said Vivainne ‘it must have been the pain of your absence that caused such a thing, but now that you are restored to me, I am made whole again. The joy in my heart is almost too much to bear. Now come with me and together we will free the Die of Destiny and ensure that the fate of the world is harmonious and good.’
Together once more, they left the place where Death had come so close and resumed their Quest.
The Guardians of the Cave 