The Undertaker's Brides

Kaliegh blinked in confusion. One minute she had felt herself descending into darkness as Paul Bearer choked the life out of her and now she was standing at the foot of what seemed to be a hill surrounded by a high earthen bank which was topped with a wooden palisade. It was difficult to tell, though, because she was too close to the structure to see the general layout.

The path she was on looked as if it might circle the hill but she had no idea which direction to go. Then she heard the bark of a dog and seconds later a white coated, chestnut-red eared hound bounded round the curve of the hill with lolling tongue and wagging tail.

She heard a voice in her mind say "Hi Kal. I'm still in dog form but I can talk to you telepathically."

The dog stopped in front of her and then sat down to look at her with sparkling eyes. Kaliegh noticed how those eyes were outlined in chestnut as if she was wearing eyeliner and that her nose was pink instead of the usual black.

"Where am I?" Kaliegh asked, feeling and sounding very confused.

"Well, before I tell you, you've got to understand you aren't dead. This is VERY important," Jean told her. "This is Annwn but you're only visiting here in a dream."

"But Bearer strangled me and killed me," Kaliegh argued. "I've got to be dead."

"No, that was all part of the dream. In fact, we've all been dreaming this together." Jean told her firmly.

"Including Mark Calaway and Glenn Jacobs?" Kaliegh asked.

"Er..no. I'll explain about the Undertaker, Kane and Paul Bearer later. But right now it's far more important to convince you that you aren't dead." Jean said, sounding very urgent about it. "The mind can affect the body and when Bearer strangled you, your belief that you were dying was so strong that you nearly died for real. And you could still die now unless you accept that you're still alive and kicking. Anyway, the Lord Arawn is keeping an eye on us because he regards the Undertaker as a kind of newborn brother. He's been leaving us to get on with things ourselves up to now but he didn't want you to die and so saved you by bringing you here. Thunder's here too, by the way"

Kaliegh was very relieved to know her dog was safe but she was alsopuzzled. "But isn't the Lord Arawn supposed to be some kind of..of GrimReaper or King of the Dead?"

Jean's tongue lolled out of her mouth again so she looked as if she were laughing canine style.

"Think of him as a very old and powerful being with some similarities to our own Undertaker. He's also the Celtic idea of an ideal chieftain; a great warrior in battle but kind, wise, perceptive and very generous in peacetime. For all that he's a personification of death, he decided it wasn't your time to go yet and he's offering to let you stay here until this latest mess gets sorted out."

Kaliegh looked a bit dubious about it all. "He's not going to turn me into a dog too, is he?" she asked worriedly.

"Not unless you've always wanted to run with the Hounds of the Underworld," Jean assured her. "It was the Lord Arawn's gift to me. As I said, he is kind and generous and it amused him that I wanted to be one of his dogs. Anyway, this is Caer Pedryvan. It's an enormous Ancient British style hill fort and the four times revolving turns out to mean it's got four terraces of earthworks and palisades before we reach the actual settlement at the top." She suddenly scratched behind an ear with a hind leg. "Bloody fleas. They've got an afterlife too. They don't bite any more but they still tickle when they're running through your fur."

Kaliegh started taking more notice of her surroundings and looked at the landscape away from the hillfort. She saw she was in a valley surrounded by yet more hills and cultivated fields stretched ahead of her until they ended with a forest.

"Anyway, follow me," Jean said. "It's a long walk to the top and we could get up there by just thinking about it. But I've got a lot of explaining to do so going on foot will give me time to do it."

Kaliegh followed her friend round the base of the hill until they finally came to a gateway set in the earthen bank. The massive wooden gate itself was open and guarded by a spear and shield carrying warrior who was bare footed but richly dressed for all that he lacked shoes. His loose fitting pants, tied at the ankle, were of an early plaid design in red and yellow and he also wore a knee length tunic of blue and green check and a plain green woollen cloak fastened at the shoulder. His leather belt was stained red and secured by a large gold buckle, his cloak was fastened by an ornate gold pin, a gold torque was around his neck and there were gold bracelets circling his bare upper arms. Startling as this outfit was his hair was even more outlandish. It had been cut fairly short and stiffened into a spikey effect with what looked like whitewash. And, adding the finishing touch, he was clean shaven save for a long, drooping moustache which had been left it's original dark brown.

"The Lord Arawn doesn't have many guards," Kaliegh whispered.

"This is only one of them. There are two stationed on each terrace ready to summon the other warriers should trouble arive." Jean informed her."Look up above the gate."

Kaliegh did as instructed and saw the top half of a another warrior who was standing behind the palisade, presumably on some kind of platform. She also noticed a pair of stag's antlers fixed to the gate's top lintel with an unlit torch either side."

"The horns of light which aren't burning because it's daylight," Jean pointed out. "And don't worry about it being a cold, unwelcoming place either, because we come in peace, not to steal a cauldron."

They passed through the gateway which was roofed by the guard's platform and began their ascent of the hillfort. Kaliegh was fascinated to see sheep grazing everywhere and came to the conclusion that they were organic lawn mowers to keep the grass down. Then she was too busy listening to Jean's explanation of how the Undertaker, Kane and Paul Bearer had come into being to take much notice of her surroundings.

"So we can't really be TOO hard on Bearer," Jean concluded.

"But he's evil," Kaliegh protested.

"You can say that again," Jean confirmed. "But he was created that way and has had little chance as yet to choose NOT to be evil. Also, those memories and such they were given as character backgrounds are probably as real to them as our memories of our own lives are to us. Lucky for us the Lord Arawn was perceived as being very formidable but a decent sort of chap unless he's crossed. Some of the others Dark Lords probably aren't as nice."

"How many of them are there, then?" Kaliegh wanted to know.

Jean tried to shrug before realising it was impossible in dog form. "I don't know. But some of them originated in our hunter gathering past and are so ancient they've been forgotten except for hints which turn up in cave paintings. So," she continued "you can understand why the Undertaker is regarded as newborn. He wasn't even invented as a character until a few years ago and he only woke up to self awareness during this dream."

They finally passed through the last gate into the settlement which covered a number of acres because it was a very large hill. Kaleigh thought it an odd sort of place for a Lord of the Underworld to live because the houses were round, wattle and daub huts with conical thatched rooves. It was also very crowded with men wearing clothes as gaudy as the gate guards' and women whose dresses were ankle length versions of the male tunic and just as garish. Here and there, however, were people wearing much plainer clothes and Jean explained these were servants.

"Of course, everything's more opulant and splendid than it was in real life," Jean went on. "And here and there you'll see medieval influenceswhich had crept in by the time the old stories were finally written down."

Jean led her friend through the settlement and Kaliegh soon realised it was crowded with more than just people. Chickens scratched and fluttered underfoot, dogs of several varieties, including the red eared hunting hounds, sniffed and scavenged their way around while in the background were the lowing of cattle, neighing of horses and some distant grunting and squealing noises.

"Can I hear pigs?" Kaliegh commented.

"Yes, those are definitely pigs although they're more like the wild variety than modern domestic breeds," Jean told her. "In fact, according to the old stories, pigs were unknown in the living world until the Lord Arawn gave some to a chieftain he'd befriended. His hall's over there by the way. It's got it's own ditch, earthbank and pallisade round it. It's also huge compared to the other houses and has been given a coat of whitewash to make it look really posh."

At long last they reached the entrance to Lord Arawn's hall and Jean trotted inside with Kaliegh following after. The interior was very gloomy because the only sources of light were the open doorway, a fire burning in a central hearth and a small hole in the roof for the smoke to go through. After a few seconds Kaliegh's eyes grew used to the lesser light and she saw men and women seated on furs and skins around the fireside. The floor was covered with layers of bracken, there were what appeared to be sleeping stalls around the walls of the house, some hung with woollen curtains and very little else apart from cups and platters, all of which were of gold decorated with jewels.

"The Lord and his Lady are on the other side of the fire," Jean told her friend and led her across to their host and hostess.

The Lord Arawn's style of dress was the same as his people's except that the material of his tunic was gold brocade, a materal which Kaliegh presumed to be one of those medieval influences she'd been told about. His arms were practically covered with gold bracelets and his torque was more massive and ornate than those worn by his noble warriors. Although a much smaller man in build than the Undertaker, he radiated an aura of power which made the Brides' Lord of Darkness seem like a pussycat in comparison. The Lady of Annwyn was also dressed in gold brocade and along with gold bracelets and torque, was adorned with a beautiful amber necklace. She was also the most dazzlingly beautiful woman Kaleigh had ever seen.

The Lord Arawn smiled at Kaliegh and said "Welcome to Caer Pedryvan. Thunder is outside exploring but I will send someone to find him and bring him to you."

He called to a servant and instructed him to fetch Kaliegh's dog while the Lady of Annwn beckoned to a serving girl who came over bearing a bowl and a cloth.

"Please be seated," the Lady of Annwn invited and as soon as Kaliegh did so the servant put the bowl and cloth down before her.

Jean having told her what to expect on the way up, Kaliegh washed and dried her feet to indicate she was intending to stay the night rather than just paying a brief social call. By the time she'd finished and the bowl had been removed, the male servant had returned with Thunder who was delighted to see his human again.

The Lord Arawn smiled at his new guest and said "You must have many questions, Kaliegh."

"How did you know what happened to me?" she asked.

"All the Lords of Darkness are linked on a very deep level," he replied. "The Undertaker was our equivelent of asleep at the time and heard your cries for help in his dreams. But he is too inexperienced to realise you were really in danger so he did not wake up. I, therefore, stepped in to save you from dying in reality although it took a while because you were so convinced Paul Bearer was killing you."

"Why can't I go back to the others now?" she enquired.

"Because the Brides are also linked telepathically on a very deep level and you made them believe in your death. By the time I had brought you back from the brink they had created the body they were unconsciously expecting to find. Now their belief in your death would prevent them from seeing you as anything but a wraith and the same would be true for the Undertaker and Kane. You do not have the experience yet to resist the power of their combined minds so they could draw you into their delusion and make you believe you're dead again."

"Jean has learned how to be aware that she's dreaming and is now experienced enough to resist group suggestion like that," the Lady of Annwn explained. "But you need more practice in lucid dreaming before it would be safe for you to go back under such circumstances."

"It would also be better if the Undertaker realised the truth of the matter himself so I suggest giving him some time to find his own answers." the Lord Arawn said. "But if he has not succeeded by tomorrow, Jean can return and try to convince everyone that you are still alive. Meanwhile, Kaliegh, we can teach you techniques to help you stay aware. If Jean hasn't succeeded by the time you can handle the situation you can join her in trying to make them see the truth."

"I feel that the Undertaker will need help," the Lady of Annwn put in. "He is suffering greatly from grief and a sense of guilt and this is affecting his reasoning. And besides, he lacks knowledge and experience because he is the equivelent of an infant no more than a few days old."

"But what if neither of us can convince the others that Kaliegh's not dead?" Jean wanted to know.

"Then you will have to use other means," the Lady of Annwn told her. "One way would be to persuade them that the Lord Arawn will permit what they believe to be Kaliegh's body to come to life again if a suitable ceremony is performed. It would not matter what the ceremony is as long as they believe in it enough." Then she smiled and added "But there is nothing to be done for the moment and it is time for the feasting to begin."

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

Kaliegh was very drunk by the time the court of Annwn staggered off to their respective beds. She, Thunder and Jean were allocted spaces in a hut reserved for some of the unmarried girls and there was a lot of tipsy giggling going on before everyone but Kaliegh fell asleep.

She lay there trying to remember what had happened that evening because she had never been to a Celtic feast before and had been bemused by the strange mixture of high culture and rowdiness which had attended the evening. There had been harpists playing beautiful music, a great deal of singing and a story teller relating an exciting tale about a cattle raid. But there had also been a great deal of drunkeness and bawdy repartee plus a couple of fights between warriors, the latter events being greeted with much enthusiasm by their fellow diners. Even more surprising was the fact that the Lord and Lady of Annwn could be as raucous as the rest of them when they'd downed sufficient ale and mead.

She finally fell asleep only to be woken in the early hours of the morning by a servant who had come to take her and Jean to the Lord Arawn. She was pleased to discover that she did not have a hangover but was too concerned by the summons to wonder why this might be.

"Something must be up," Jean said worriedly as she trotted after the servant and her friend. "Jean must return," he said. "The Undertaker has started seeing what he believes to be Kaliegh's spirit. And, through the link he has with his Brides, I get the impression that another has been seing imaginary phantoms too."

"Good luck," Kaliegh said. "Tell them all I'm having a wonderful time here but I miss them and want to come home."

"I have a gift for the Undertaker which you can deliver for me, Jean," Arawn said. "He is a Lord of the Underworld and therefore entitled to wear this as a man of high rank," the Lord Arawn explained as Jean took hold of it in her mouth. It was very heavy so she was even more relived when he added "You do not have to return the way you came. I can send you directly to the Parlour. However, the Undertaker seems to be holding a vigil at some kind of ceremony so you would be advised to use discretion when gaining his attention."

He then waved a hand and Jean found herself in the hallway of Kiri's mansion. It was dark and there was nobody about so she dropped the torque on the floor and barked to let people know she was there.

"Undertaker," she thought at him, deciding it was worth a try. "I'm back and I've seen Kaliegh in the land of Annwn. The spirit you've been seeing isn't her."

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

The Undertaker sat next to his brother in the outer part of the circle, watching Kiri's vacated body and thinking.

He knew his past was a fabrication but his memories felt real and the pain and sorrow they caused were certainly genuine. The life that had been written for him had been one of morbid horror and he could recall only one moment of true happiness when he became the WWF heavyweight champion. Now he was truly alive and had his Brides, each of whom was devoted to him in her own way, but tragedy had struck here too with Kaliegh's death.

He glanced across at his brother. If his own memories were bad then what must it be like for Kane who had been given a past of disfigurement and years of reconstructive surgery to look back on?

His miserable reverie was interrupted by the sound of a dog barking and then he heard Jean's voice in his mind. He knew he had to go to her but he was loathe to leave the circle in case this put Kiri in danger.

Kiri solved his dilemma by coming round a moment or two after Jean's barking. She was annoyed by having been interrupted yet again but when the Undertaker explained the message he'd received she calmed down and let him out of the circle. Having just seen this spirit who claimed to be Kaliegh, she wanted to know what was going on.

The Undertaker found Jean in the hallway surrounded by the rest of the Brides who had been woken up by her barking. It was a lively conversation because they all wanted to know where she'd been and why she'd brought a gold torque back with her.

"I'll give you all the details later," she told them. "But I've got information from the Lord of Annwn for Taker and I must speak to him first."

The Undertaker opened the door to the sitting room for her then closed it behind them. He settled himself on the sofa and she sat on the floor by his feet, still holding the torque in her mouth.

"It IS alright to call you Taker, isn't it?" she asked, suddenly worried that he might resent being referred to as this. Then she remembered how she'd bitten him the previous night and was even more worried.

"That's fine with me," he assured her. "After all, the only personal name I've ever been given is Cain and I don't think I can use that one now."

"Can't you choose a name of your own?" she suggested.

"Perhaps I will if the scriptwriters don't come up with something I like," he said. "But Taker will do for now. Anyway, what's this about seeing Kaliegh in Annwn? And why are you carrying a gold torque around with you?"

"It's a very long story," she said " But the torque is a gift for you from the Lord Arawn. As you're a Lord of the Underworld you rank as a Chieftain in his eyes."

He took the torque from her and regarded it with a faint, sardonic smile.

"And what a wonderful realm they've given me to rule," he said in a tone to match. "A tract of barren desert, a workshop where I can build caskets and a few druids to be my subjects."

She raised a paw and laid it on his knee in a gesture of canine sympathy.

"And you've also got your Brides," she reminded him. "And a Hell Hound which every respectable Lord of the Underworld should have."

He reached out a hand and tickled her behind the ears. It was a delicious feeling and her tail thumped the carpet in happiness.

"But isn't it about time you changed back into your own form?" he asked.

"I suppose you're right," she said and thought herself back into human shape.

"Er...very good, Jean. But hadn't you better put some clothes on?" he suggested.

It was a highly emabarrassing moment. She snatched her hand away from his knee as if it had been made of red hot metal and hoped she wasn't going as red as she felt she was. Then she equipped herself with her normal clothing of a black tee-shirt with a dragon motif and a long, black Indian cotton skirt.

Book Nine of The Undertaker's Brides

© 1998 by The Brides of Darkness

**This story cannot be used in any way without written permission