Scene Forty Four
The same scene seen through Miranda’s eyes.
Now, what should she do, and whom should she believe? Her uncle, whom she’d learned to consider evil, had asked her help.
Was he telling the truth? Did villains beg?
Miranda stared at him, her eyes wide.
“My kingdom,” he said. “My life if you believe yourself wronged--all of mine is yours if only you will free me. For if you do not, then will my friend be killed, and you, and your troll also.”
Should Miranda trust again, when she’d been most cruelly deceived?
Yet, if she trusted not....
She looked on Caliban, who had after all not been a deceiver--or not of her, but lying in wait till he could avenge her. Was Caliban alive still?
Looking close at the furry body, it seemed to Miranda that she saw him breathe. His head upon her ankles still trickled blood.
She looked at the mortal, arms wide, sparks of magic flying, his hair -- possessed of a life of its own -- standing around his head.
If she said no, if she did not help her uncle, all this would be lost. Well she knew that neither she nor the mortal nor the both combined could oppose the might of these beings trained in magic.
Yet if her uncle lied, what would he do? What could happen that was worse than what awaited them already? Miranda would die, but maybe Caliban would be saved. And the mortal would be rescued, if Quicksilver had any say in the outcome of this.
She’d risk her life in saving Caliban because her uncle — like Proteus — might not wish to have competition for ruling in elvenland. Once the game was won, he might have her killed.
Yet her life was already forfeit if she didn’t help Quicksilver.
Besides, was Miranda’s life worth all that much?
She’d stolen from her father and she’d left her home, all in pursuit of a false, foolish love.
If she died now, redeeming the mortal and Caliban, what was she doing more than what she must do? Her duty was to redeem herself now and, in so doing, to save all these others.
Trembling, she sat up, afraid that Proteus would notice her and kill her with a magical blow before she could free Quicksilver.
But Proteus and the centaurs, in close, hot battle with the mortal, looked not at her.
Trembling with nervousness and fatigue, Miranda reached for her uncle.
Gambling her life to save those she prized, she reached over and, with nimble fingers, pulled Circe’s net away from Quicksilver and threw it wide.