Ben Jordan: Me? Who?
Rinoa Williams: He was known in certain circles as the Scourge, you might say. Quite the remarkable man. A miracle unto himself. Blind. Deaf. Mute. Thrice afflicted but somehow, in some miraculous way, he became the most fierce and famed hunter of what lies in shadows the world had ever seen. The so-called 'witch hunters,' that you now know of? The one you saw condemn Kedron's family?
She shook her head in disgust.
Rinoa Williams: Pale imitations of what once was. A truly tragic fall of such a distinguished line. Until you came along.
Ben Jordan: You're joking. My last name is Jordan, not Winchester!
Rinoa Williams: Droll, dear. But if you wish to continue not taking me at my word, then do this for yourself. Look up a single name in history, match it to your own ancestry; Nicolai Dalca. I believe then your eyes and hopefully your mind, would be open.
Silence reigned between the two conspirators for seemingly endless minutes. Rinoa stared at Ben as everything she confided to him was being processed. Ben took it all in with an open mind, whether it was hard to believe or not, he could not just flat out say he didn't believe her. He was a marvelous judge of character, and there was something about her that told him this woman did indeed love her husband and wanted to do right by him. That thought alone brought one more question to the forefront of his mind.
Ben Jordan: So when all of this is finished, if it works out the way you hope ... what then? Hoe does it end?
Rinoa Williams: Hopefully with a little luck, and your assistance, Kedron will become the man he used to be, and the man I know he remains deep down. I do love him, Ben Jordan. I would give up everything to save him. And for all he has, for all he can do, the one thing he has asked of me, I can not give him.
Ben took this in with interest and leaned in.
Ben Jordan: And ... what's that?
And it surprised him perhaps when she showed him the first true signs of emotion she long withheld, as her eyes grew moist with tears while she gave him the answer.
Rinoa Williams: A child. Kedron wants nothing more than to be a father, and it is not something I could have allowed. I knew who and what he was, and I knew his line was cursed. As much as I love him, I could not do such a thing to a child, so I took steps to ensure it did not happen.
Years ago, not so long after the 'Handfasting' ceremony that had joined Kedron and Rinoa in matrimony. Kedron slept soundly in their shared bedroom, while Rinoa was elsewhere that late hour. In her own private room where she had many potions and elixirs, ingredients for one or the other stored on tables and counters, some of the more rare and dangerous locked behind glass cabinet doors. Ingredient collections that even impressed her husband.
She stood there, alone. The two had spent a pleasurable night making love, as they did every single night since their took their vows to one another. And Rinoa knew, that without a doubt, she would soon carry a child. Something that she could not allow now, or ever.
Dittany.
Mandrake.
Monkshood.
Ladies glove.
Poinsettia.
A simple concoction, really. When prepared correctly, and in such matters, Rinoa was a professional. Brewed over a double boiler as a tea, she held the cup in her hands, staring into the surface of the brew which had taken on a deep purple color which steam arose from. Once this step was taken, it could never be reversed. She lifted the rim of the cup to her lips -- and drank deeply. It tasted surprisingly sweet, not bitter. She downed it with one swallow, and set the cup down, then she just stood there.
Slowly the pains came to her abdomen, and she clutched her stomach and fell to one knee.....
Ben Jordan watched Rinoa as the tears fell from her eyes and pooled at her chin. The first true sign of vulnerability she had displayed, and a secret she had confided in him.
Ben Jordan: Jesus.....
She wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand, as if she believed it would suddenly make Ben forget she had shed tears in front of him. He brought a hand up, as if to offer her some form of comfort, but knew deep down it was a bad idea. He lowered his hand and could only ask...
Ben Jordan: ... What, next? How does this end?
Regaining her composure, Rinoa drew her black shawl around her shoulders.
Rinoa Williams: I will return to him tonight what he hid away, what you returned to us. Then I need you to do two things; defeat him in your last match.
Ben Jordan: And then?
Rinoa Williams: Then the most difficult part in all of this. Afterwards, I ask you be yourself. Speak with him while he is vulnerable.
Ben Jordan: What ... makes you think he'll talk to me, or would even want to???
Rinoa Williams: Because angry people all have one thing in common; they love to talk. And when he does? Get him to confide his greatest regret. With this returned...
She held the box up between them.
Rinoa Williams: I hope... I believe, he will give up what was given him, and in return, he will regain what he lost.
Ben Jordan: You are risking an awful lot on this....
Rinoa Williams: More than you understand.
Ben then took a closer step toward her.
Ben Jordan: Then answer my question, what was in the vial? And, what's in that box?
Rinoa Williams: Your wife was indeed correct, Ben. That was preserved blood in the vial; my own, as a matter of fact. It is, after all, the only way to break a blood lock.
Ben Jordan: And the box?
Without hesitation, Rinoa stepped up to Ben with the box held out, and with one hand, she flipped the lid open so that he might see...
Ben Jordan: BLOODY HELL!!!
In their suite that night, Kedron slept soundly without risk of waking -- thanks much to a glass of red wine tainted by a sleeping draught crafted expertly by his on wife. The wife that say on their bedside and turned at the waist so that she could watch over him. Her fingers glided down his face in a loving caress, then continued past his jaw and down his neck, and stopped over the left side of his chest. With what had been in the box in her other hand, she closed her eyes and pressed both hands, palms down, against his 'heart' and pushed.....
Kedron gasped, his back arching suddenly and startled her, but slowly, his frame relaxed and his sleep resumed. She closed her eyes and exhaled sharply with much relief. She drew in a shaky breath and gazed adoringly at him, astounded that a man that had done such evil, could look so angelic in his rest.
Rinoa Williams: Sleep well, love. You are about to have a challenging time.
Kedron Williams: Tell me something Ben. is this where it all ends? Between us, on this ship, out in the middle of the ocean and in front of the eyes of hundreds of witnesses? Is this where the evil warlock gets burned at the proverbial stake, or will it be where the angelic hero finds himself robbed of heart and soul, condemned to suffer for an eternity and a day for the wrongs committed by those that came before him?
We have been through a lot together, you and I. And if I had my way, we would continue on this little journey for a long time to come because I am simply having too much fun. But you are stronger willed than I had first anticipated. You have a stubborn streak that is making this between us an even better challenge that I had anticipated. And no, Ben, that is not a bad thing. Quite the contrary!
I have been alive for quite a bit longer than I would care to admit, or you would be led to believe, but without a shadow of a doubt, I have had much more fun than I ever believed possible, and I have you to thank. But, sadly this is not up to me, and it is a matter of business before pleasure. Now I don't know if you orchestrated this or not, our final encounter on this ship crafted of iron and steel, or if you knew what effect that and the ocean waters have on ... myself. If you did, then bravo to you! If not, well I suppose anyone can be lucky by chance.
I suppose the bottom line is we each share a victory over the other, which will make this end result even more satisfying than watching the realization of defeat and disappointment appear in the eyes of you and that lovely wife of yours. I was fated to end this in the only way possible; by delivering your soul to the Master. I would prefer doing so quickly, and without a fuss if you could be so kind? But if you would rather continue your stubborn streak, that is fine. After all...
I have all the time in the world.