The plan Delenn had suggested to Neroon, the one for which his assistance was crucial, had, to the warrior’s surprise, been entirely logical, rational, not at all what he would have expected from one of the religious caste, much less Delenn herself, and yet… Delenn was not precisely as he had once thought her to be, hungry for power at any cost. Perhaps he had been ascribing character traits to her that should more properly have been ascribed to members of his own caste, himself among them.

So, he had accepted his role in Delenn’s plan, carried it out precisely as she had proposed, and now, here they stood, in the Temple of Varenni, the war ended by the surrender of the religious caste. Now would come the true test, not merely of Delenn’s plan, but of her convictions.

Neroon found he could not doubt Delenn’s sincerity. That of Shakiri, leader of the warrior caste, was another matter. He spoke well, claimed that death was not to be feared, should be considered as simply a release of obligations, and yet while Delenn willingly and without hesitation stepped into the energy beam of the Starfire Wheel, Shakiri faltered, made excuses, called the act madness. He resisted, behaved in a manner not befitting a member of the warrior caste, showed himself for the coward he was!

Oh yes, he was shamed into entering the circle, but while Delenn stood, calm and composed, accepting the pain being inflicted upon her, Shakiri endured only a few moments of the torment before fleeing and falling to the ground, burned. That should have been the end of it; Delenn, having made her point, should have followed Shakiri out, and yet she did not, and that… That Neroon did not understand. She had won. What was to be gained by letting the Starfire Wheel consume her? Had she not already proved her devotion to her people?

Something stirred within Neroon, something he had never expected, never even imagined. He could not allow Delenn to needlessly sacrifice herself, and entering the beam, he passed her into Lennier’s waiting arms. Without realising it was happening, his allegiances had shifted. Delenn was more worthy of his respect than any.

“I was born warrior caste, but I see now the calling of my heart is religious! Listen to her!” Neroon could only hope his last words would be heeded, and obeyed.


The End