The Chronicles of Willow - Page 2
Two mounted minions soon flank Madmartigan's wagon as it lurches along
a muddy road, a Nockmaar chariot barrelling right behind. One minion jumps
into the wagon just as the other one is about to release an arrow at Madmartigan's
head. Madmartigan ducks. The arrow impales the first minion.
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| The minions don't give up easily as they attempt to retrieve Elora Danan from Madmartigan and Willow. |
The second minion leaps at Madmartigan. The two fight as Willow tries to get control of the reins. Madmartigan knocks this minion into the road, but the war chariot pulls abreast of them.
Willow reins the horses to a swift stop just as the chariot driver lets fly with a whirling blade. The chariot rumbles past harmlessly. But it swings around, horses laboring mightily. Madmartigan grabs the reins from Willow and sends the wagon charging at the war chariot. They are stampeding towards a certain collision.
At the last possible moment, the chariot veers off. Madmartigan whacks the passing driver with a spear. The chariot overturns in a flurry of tangled hooves.
When they are in the clear, Willow scolds Madmartigan for his reckless driving, which had endangered Elora Danan's life. Madmartigan counters that his skillful driving actually saved her life. He storms off, but Willow stops him, pleading for his help.
"A great sorcerer like you?" Madmartigan scoffs derisively. "What do you need my help for?"
"You're a great warrior and a swordsman and you're 10 times bigger than
I am, stupid!" Willow retorts hotly.
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| Willow makes his way to the isle where Fin Raziel has been exiled. |
Because they're heading in the same direction, Madmartigan reluctantly agrees to let Willow and the brownies tag along.
They trek on to Fin Raziel's lake, where Madmartigan takes his leave. Willow must continue on his quest alone.
Leaving the brownies to guard Elora Danan, Willow borrows a small boat and rows out to the lakebound island where Fin Raziel has been exiled. But there is no one on the island. He calls for the sorceress.
A possum-like creature scampers down from a large tree and scolds Willow in English. "I'm Raziel!" she insists. "One of Bavmorda's spells transformed me!"
After Willow explains his task, Raziel springs onto his chest, clutching his blue tunic with human-like hands. She urges Willow to leave the island, for the sudden storm brewing in the sky means that Bavmorda knows he is here.
Willow rows frantically. The storm abates when he reaches shore. In a deserted fishing hut, Raziel inspects the baby.
"It is Elora Danan," Raziel marvels. "At last, sky and earth rejoin..."
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| An enchantress under a spell, Raziel is now a possum whose only hope lies with Willow's shaky magic. |
Raziel implores Willow to use the wand to restore her to human form. But Willow's clumsy handling of the wand shows that something is amiss.
"You're not a sorcerer?" Raziel demands, aghast.
"Yes. Sort of," Willow says haltingly. "Well, I'm a farmer. But I know a few tricks and..."
"You can't just learn sorcery--it takes years and years!"
They leave the hut, only to fall into the hands of Nockmaar minions, led by Sorsha, who have captured Madmartigan.
Franjean and Rool watch as the prisoners are carried off. They quickly debate returning to the fairy forest.
Finally, in spite of the possibility that they will be captured and eaten by Daikinis, they decide to follow at a safe distance. "This is more fun," Rool says gleefully.
Willow, Madmartigan and Raziel are imprisoned and taken by caravan through
the snow-covered mountains that lead to Nockmaar. That night, they reach
a mountaintop camp where Sorsha proudly displays the baby to General Kael.
While everyone is asleep, Willow attempts to restore Fin Raziel to human form.
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| Hope diminishes when both Madmartigan and Willow are captured by Sorsha's men and taken toward the cold northern lands that lead to Nockmaar. |
In the middle of the transformation spell, Franjean and Rool show up. "We have arrived," they proclaim. "You are saved!"
They are roundly shushed by all concerned.
The wand smokes, but Willow has trouble concentrating. Raziel's voice drops into a raucous squawk as fur becomes feathers. Suddenly, Raziel is a dark raven, flapping angry wings.
"I'm sorry, Raziel," Willow says sadly.
"Farmers!" Raziel squawks. "Cherlindrea sends me farmers!"
Franjean offers to pick the lock of their cell. While he is at work, Madmartigan tries to help. Franjean whacks Madmartigan with his hip pouch, which contains the magical Dust of Broken Heart, a love potion stolen from the fairies. The pouch bursts, scattering the powdery substance. A goofy smile overwhelms Madmartigan's face. Dazedly, he offers to help Willow steal Elora Danan from Sorsha's tent.
But to Willow's horror, Madmartigan instead kisses the sleeping Sorsha,
crying plaintively, "Oh, Sorsha! Awaken from this hateful sleep! It deprives
me of your beauty!"
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Sorsha's eyes snap open. She pulls a dagger from under her bedsheet and places it at Madmartigan's crotch.
"One move, jackass," she warns, "and you really will be a woman."
As Willow sneaks the baby from its crib, Madmartigan protests his love for Sorsha, saying, "You are my moon, my sun, my starlit sky. Without you, I dwell in darkness. I love you!" Just as Sorsha begins to respond to Madmartigan's appeal, General Kael storms into the tent, blocking Willow's retreat.
"Deceiver!" Sorsha cries. Lunging at her, Madmartigan knocks the dagger from her hands, and breaks the tent pole with her sword. As the tent collapses about them, Madmartigan takes Sorsha in his arms and kisses her passionately.
A sword slashes up from the struggling tent canvas. It is Madmartigan,
wielding Sorsha's sword. Nockmaar minions and Death Dogs descend upon him.
But Madmartigan is now armed. His blade slashes like a quicksilver tooth.
Death Dogs and minions reel under his flashing attack. Willow crawls out
of the tent, Elora Danan in his arms, just as Madmartigan's last foeman
goes down.
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| The brave brownies, Franjean and Rool, arrive to free the captives from their imprisonment, but with strange results. |
Impressed by Madmartigan's display of swordmanship, Willow bows in respect. Madmartigan bows back. Overhead, Raziel screeches a warning.
General Kael abruptly tears free of the tent canvas, his barbed black blade in hand.
Madmartigan and Willow jump onto a fallen shield, using it to sled down the icy mountainside. Madmartigan calls back, "I didn't betray you, Sorsha! I love you!"
Recklessly, Madmartigan steers the shield into an ice tunnel, sending them hurtling into the air at the other end. He loses his grip and tumbles into the snow. The shield slaps the snow and keeps going--straight into the little village at the foot of the mountain.
At the village, Madmartigan stumbles up to Willow. "What happened up there?" he demands in a dazed voice. "I don't love Sorsha. I hate her--don't I?"
The villagers rush Willow and Madmartigan into a cellar before Kael's men arrive. They discover that they are not alone. Airk Thaughbaer also crouches in the darkness.
Madmartigan slams the burly Airk against a stone wall.
"You left me to die, Airk."
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| The Galladoorn warrior and the young Nelwyn use a fallen shield as a makeshift sled to make their getaway. |
"I probably saved your life," Airk counters. "We were slaughtered."
Madmartigan looks around. The war-shattered remnants of Airk's proud legions squat in defeat and fear. Madmartigan releases Airk as hoofbeats thunder outside. Willow clutches Elora Danan protectively. wants the baby. It is not long before troops invade the house above. They find nothing. Then, Sorsha spies the cellar door.
Cautiously, she descends. Madmartigan swiftly disarms her and warns the Nockmaar guards to step back or Sorsha will die. The minions retreat.
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| Sorsha follows the heroes to a rebel hideout, where she finds herself in Madmartigan's arms. From there, they try to make their way to Tir Asleen with Kael and the Nockmaar army in close pursuit. |
Madmartigan emerges from the cellar, holding a dagger to Sorsha's throat. Willow and Elora Danan follow fearfully. Madmartigan implores his friend to help them make their way to Tir Asleen. Airk declares that he wants no part of their mad journey.
"Since when are you a crusader?" asks Airk. "I thought you were loyal to no one."
Madmartigan addresses Airk with dead seriousness. "I fight on the Nelwyn's side."
Then, Madmartigan drags Sorsha onto his horse and gallops off with Willow
and the baby. Within seconds, Airk's rebels fall upon the stunned Nockmaar
soldiers, cutting them down like flame-blackened corn.