CHAPTER FIVE.

A Gift from the Heavens The dream couches again. Cymoril and Tanglebones look down on Elric with considerable pity and frustration as he writhes in his sleep.

CYMORIL: "Still he is in torment. What can be happening to him, Master Tanglebones?" "Still he is in torment. What can be happening to him, Master Tanglebones?"

TANGLEBONES: "An inner conflict fills him, clearly. We can only hope he has the sense and the resources to save himself." "An inner conflict fills him, clearly. We can only hope he has the sense and the resources to save himself."

They look in on the next chamber. Sadric is leaving Yyrkoon's dream chamber but the human girl remains at his side. Yyrkoon looks decidedly happy.

SADRIC: "By the look of satisfaction on his face, my nephew has been thoroughly successful in his ambitions. Does this mean my son is dead?" "By the look of satisfaction on his face, my nephew has been thoroughly successful in his ambitions. Does this mean my son is dead?"

TANGLEBONES: "No, sire. But clearly Prince Yyrkoon feels no threat from Prince Elric ..." "No, sire. But clearly Prince Yyrkoon feels no threat from Prince Elric ..."

Sadric takes Tanglebones aside.

SADRIC: "I would not have my son die-is there nothing you can do to ensure he lives on?" "I would not have my son die-is there nothing you can do to ensure he lives on?"

TANGLEBONES: "I fear not, sire. For it is his soul which travels the Dream Realms, if his memory and his body do not..." "I fear not, sire. For it is his soul which travels the Dream Realms, if his memory and his body do not..."

SADRIC: "Soul and memory? Are they not the same?" "Soul and memory? Are they not the same?"

TANGLEBONES: "The soul's memory is not the same as the mind's, my emperor..." "The soul's memory is not the same as the mind's, my emperor..."

Sadric walks sadly up the stairs towards his own apartments. Cymoril and Tanglebones watch him leave.

CYMORIL: "He would deny it, I know. But I think there is something in that old man which loves the son he claims to spurn." "He would deny it, I know. But I think there is something in that old man which loves the son he claims to spurn."

TANGLEBONES: "He puts his nation first, however. And that is his duty..." "He puts his nation first, however. And that is his duty..."

The Melniboneans are on a ship about to leave the harbour. They are saying farewell to their Pukwadji friends (see Book One) who have also attained a much greater level of sophistication than when we first met them. Feneric has his hand on his sons shoulders.

FENERIC: "Farewell, friend. We thank thee for the loan of this ship. It will be returned when we get to Melnibone." "Farewell, friend. We thank thee for the loan of this ship. It will be returned when we get to Melnibone."

PUKWADJI MERCHANT: "May your brother give up the throne with good grace, sire." "May your brother give up the throne with good grace, sire."

ELRIC: "I suspect Uncle Ederic will not be so generous, Father. After all, he must think us dead these many moons!" "I suspect Uncle Ederic will not be so generous, Father. After all, he must think us dead these many moons!"

FENERIC (looks up at the filling sail (looks up at the filling sail): "It will be his duty to give the throne back to me, my son. And most Melniboneans will support us in that."

The ship makes good speed.

In a few days, the towers of Melnibone came in sight ...

From the deck of the ship we see the towers of Melnibone in the distance. Some are still burned out, some are restored, many have scaffolding still around them. There is a bleak, dark mood about the city.

ELRIC: "There she is, Father. After almost five years she seems like a different city. So bleak and ravaged." "There she is, Father. After almost five years she seems like a different city. So bleak and ravaged."

FENERIC: "Yet there must have been treasure aplenty in the public coffers to rebuild her." "Yet there must have been treasure aplenty in the public coffers to rebuild her."

ELRIC: "Unless Uncle Ederic keeps that treasure for himself and his cronies." "Unless Uncle Ederic keeps that treasure for himself and his cronies."

In the great throne room of Melnibone there is a dark, brooding, atrophied air to all. The throne is surrounded by harsh-faced, cruel men and women, some of whom are slaves, wearing neck rings and other manacles. There is a barbaric feel about the place some of whom are slaves, wearing neck rings and other manacles. There is a barbaric feel about the place.

A soldier comes running in and prostrates himself before King Ederic, who half-starts from his throne, scowling...

SOLDIER: "My lord! My lord, the king! The rumours are true. I have come from the harbour. Your brother, his son and their warriors have just disembarked. They are returned from the quest to rescue young Silverskin!" "My lord! My lord, the king! The rumours are true. I have come from the harbour. Your brother, his son and their warriors have just disembarked. They are returned from the quest to rescue young Silverskin!"

EDERIC: "By Chaos! This cannot be!" "By Chaos! This cannot be!"

We switch to the dockside. Feneric and Elric are waving to the cheering crowds who throng the harbour. There is no doubt that they are popular with the people.

FIRST MELNIBONeAN ON QUAYSIDE: "Hurrah! The king and his son return!" "Hurrah! The king and his son return!"

SECOND MELNIBONeAN: "Now prosperity, peace and justice will be restored and Ederic deposed!!!" "Now prosperity, peace and justice will be restored and Ederic deposed!!!"

The returning Melniboneans are embraced by their friends and fellow nobles. One noble speaks to Feneric: NOBLE: "Oh, lord king, you are most welcome. Your brother has taxed and tyrannized us almost since the day you left!" "Oh, lord king, you are most welcome. Your brother has taxed and tyrannized us almost since the day you left!"

FENERIC: "Fear not, my friend, we are here to re-establish the gravity and dignity of the State." "Fear not, my friend, we are here to re-establish the gravity and dignity of the State."

News spreads throughout the city ...

... while, back at the palace ...

EDERIC (murmurs to one of his minions): (murmurs to one of his minions): "The two must die. We shall do it with poison at the welcoming feast tonight. Put out the word that they brought a disease with them from foreign parts ..." "The two must die. We shall do it with poison at the welcoming feast tonight. Put out the word that they brought a disease with them from foreign parts ..."

As Elric and Feneric enter the throne room, Ederic rushes down the steps of his throne, arms spread to greet them.

EDERIC: "My brother! My nephew! We heard you were dead, that you had contracted a foreign disease while fighting abroad." "My brother! My nephew! We heard you were dead, that you had contracted a foreign disease while fighting abroad."

He grins a sinister welcome: EDERIC: "How good it is to see you. You look as if your hardships have wearied you. Please rest. Tonight we hold a feast in your honour, to celebrate your safe return. Slaves! Take the king and the prince to their apartments!" "How good it is to see you. You look as if your hardships have wearied you. Please rest. Tonight we hold a feast in your honour, to celebrate your safe return. Slaves! Take the king and the prince to their apartments!"

Cringing slaves take Feneric and Elric through gloomy passages to their own rooms, which are dusty and poorly maintained. They pause in Fenerics apartments first...

FENERIC: "These rooms are so badly kept. Slaves? We had naught to do with such barbarism. An air of terror hangs over the whole palace. There is much work to be done here, my son, though I fear we'll prove little if we accuse my brother." "These rooms are so badly kept. Slaves? We had naught to do with such barbarism. An air of terror hangs over the whole palace. There is much work to be done here, my son, though I fear we'll prove little if we accuse my brother."

ELRIC: "First we must begin rebuilding. Justice for Uncle Ederic must wait, Father." "First we must begin rebuilding. Justice for Uncle Ederic must wait, Father."

Back in the throne room, Ederic whispers to another minion: EDERIC: "Ensure every dish they eat is thoroughly poisoned. Meanwhile, spread the rumour that they are sickly, fearing death ..." "Ensure every dish they eat is thoroughly poisoned. Meanwhile, spread the rumour that they are sickly, fearing death ..."

Later, freshly dressed, Feneric and Elric and the surviving Melnibonean warriors come down the stairs into the great banqueting hall where again Ederic greets them, ushering Feneric to his place at the top of the table. Elric will sit on his father's right side, Ederic on the left.

The dinner hour, in the great banqueting hall ...

EDERIC: "Returning heroes, all! You are doubtless famished. Our chefs have prepared their best for you, dear relatives." "Returning heroes, all! You are doubtless famished. Our chefs have prepared their best for you, dear relatives."

The returned heroes seat themselves at the table. They are just about to be served with the first course when the doors of the hall fly open and through them flies flies a newcomer. It is Princess Dela-Fwaar and she carries a sack in her hands. Ederic rises, startled from his chair, eyes wide- a newcomer. It is Princess Dela-Fwaar and she carries a sack in her hands. Ederic rises, startled from his chair, eyes wide- EDERIC: "What? A new attack from the air? Guards! To arms!" "What? A new attack from the air? Guards! To arms!"

Feneric stays Ederic with his hand, smiling.

FENERIC: "No, no, brother! She is our friend. The Myyrrhn aided us. Without them we should not be sitting down to meat with you tonight!" "No, no, brother! She is our friend. The Myyrrhn aided us. Without them we should not be sitting down to meat with you tonight!"

ELRIC: "Greetings, princess. This is unexpected but a welcome honour. Will you dine with us?" "Greetings, princess. This is unexpected but a welcome honour. Will you dine with us?"

The princess alights on a nearby plinth, reaching into the sack as she does so.

PRINCESS: "Thank you, Prince Silverskin. I should be glad to accept your hospitality. But first I have a gift for your uncle ... which I have carried all the way from the Edge of the World!" "Thank you, Prince Silverskin. I should be glad to accept your hospitality. But first I have a gift for your uncle ... which I have carried all the way from the Edge of the World!"

She pulls out of the sack the simple wine jar in which Ederic had imprisoned the South Wind's soul!

EDERIC (starts backward in terror): (starts backward in terror): "No! It cannot be! That jar's in safekeeping with King Minak!" "No! It cannot be! That jar's in safekeeping with King Minak!"

PRINCESS: "King Minak's dead and most of his warriors with him. I took this from his prison when Silverskin rescued us from the Karasim who had captured us at your instigation!" "King Minak's dead and most of his warriors with him. I took this from his prison when Silverskin rescued us from the Karasim who had captured us at your instigation!"

EDERIC: "No! Kill her. The Myyrrhn bitch lies!" "No! Kill her. The Myyrrhn bitch lies!"

FENERIC: "Do not harm our guest. She tells the truth." "Do not harm our guest. She tells the truth."

King Feneric rises from the table, pointing at Ederic: FENERIC: "My brother condemns himself. That whole attack on Imrryr was his contrivance! He has enslaved you while pretending to protect you!" "My brother condemns himself. That whole attack on Imrryr was his contrivance! He has enslaved you while pretending to protect you!"

EDERIC: "This is just another trick by those who would bring terror and grief to Melnibone. Guards! Obey me. I am your true king!" "This is just another trick by those who would bring terror and grief to Melnibone. Guards! Obey me. I am your true king!"

The guards look uncertainly from one to another. Around Elric and Feneric their old guard assemble. None of them has swords or other weapons, however, whereas Ederics guards are heavily armed.

EDERIC (grins in his certain power): (grins in his certain power): "Seize them at once. They are traitors!" "Seize them at once. They are traitors!"

ELRIC: "We are not the traitors! It must be plain to anyone that my uncle planned this disaster! He had his own folk killed and imprisoned so he could take the throne!" "We are not the traitors! It must be plain to anyone that my uncle planned this disaster! He had his own folk killed and imprisoned so he could take the throne!"

As the armed guards close in on the little band of Melniboneans, the winged princess flies up and hovers above them, the wine jar held over her head.

PRINCESS: "Fear not, friend Silverskin. I know exactly how to settle this dispute!" "Fear not, friend Silverskin. I know exactly how to settle this dispute!"

And she flings down the wine jar...

... which shatters on the flagstones of the hall...

EDERIC: "NOOOOOO!" "NOOOOOO!"

... and from it begins to pour a dense, white cloud...

It is Shaarnasaa, Queen of the South Wind, her soul released from the wine jar where Ederic's sorcery had kept it...

PRINCESS: "I free Shaarnasaa, Queen of the South Wind, whose soul was imprisoned by King Ederic's foul sorcery!" "I free Shaarnasaa, Queen of the South Wind, whose soul was imprisoned by King Ederic's foul sorcery!"

The cloud grows and grows until it becomes the outline of a huge and lovely creature, whose hair curls around her like trees streaming in a powerful wind. Everything about her is reminiscent of the South Wind of which she is ruler.

SHAARNASAA: "So there is my captor, who by his bleak enchantments did trap me in a jar! I was foolish to trust him, as I had learned to trust the folk of Melnibone. But he tricked me as no doubt he has tricked you all. My imprisonment meant my servants were forced to obey him and his allies. But now I am free and shall not be tricked again!" "So there is my captor, who by his bleak enchantments did trap me in a jar! I was foolish to trust him, as I had learned to trust the folk of Melnibone. But he tricked me as no doubt he has tricked you all. My imprisonment meant my servants were forced to obey him and his allies. But now I am free and shall not be tricked again!"

Shaarnasaa moves towards the terrified Ederic, who cringes backwards.

EDERIC: "Men! Protect me. I command thee!" "Men! Protect me. I command thee!"

But the looks on the faces of his guards are hard and their eyes are like ice.

Shaarnasaa picks up Ederic who begins to beg her for his life.

EDERIC: "Spare me, I beg thee! Do not kill me, gentle queen!" "Spare me, I beg thee! Do not kill me, gentle queen!"

SHAARNASAA: "It is not the habit of the South Wind's queen to kill. I am sworn to bless and to heal. But you, little mortal, are an evil thing which pollutes the earth and stains it with every breath you take." "It is not the habit of the South Wind's queen to kill. I am sworn to bless and to heal. But you, little mortal, are an evil thing which pollutes the earth and stains it with every breath you take."

EDERIC: "Th-then have mercy, gentle queen!" "Th-then have mercy, gentle queen!"

SHAARNASAA: "Oh, I am not always gentle, as you shall discover. I will carry you off to the tall peaks of the world where you can never harm immortal or mortal again!" "Oh, I am not always gentle, as you shall discover. I will carry you off to the tall peaks of the world where you can never harm immortal or mortal again!"

FENERIC: "It is just he should be banished." "It is just he should be banished."

SHAARNASAA (looks down at Elric): (looks down at Elric): "And you, young Silverskin, shall be remembered by all the spirits of the air. When you or your descendants need our aid, you must call on us and we shall come." "And you, young Silverskin, shall be remembered by all the spirits of the air. When you or your descendants need our aid, you must call on us and we shall come."

With this the Queen of the South Wind leaves the hall. Elric and Feneric and the winged princess all watch from the steps of the palace as she goes up into the air, bearing the shrieking Ederic with her. Black clouds boil high on the horizon ...

SHAARNASAA: "Farewell, mortals. I go to fulfill this creature's punishment!" "Farewell, mortals. I go to fulfill this creature's punishment!"

They watch as she disappears out over the water. King Feneric embraces his son, then turns to take the princess's hand: FENERIC: "Princess, I thank thee most gladly for all thine aid ..." "Princess, I thank thee most gladly for all thine aid ..."

PRINCESS: "'Tis your brave son you should thank, o king. Without him, all our lives would be ended bloodily and dark villainy a shadow on our worlds and souls." "'Tis your brave son you should thank, o king. Without him, all our lives would be ended bloodily and dark villainy a shadow on our worlds and souls."

FENERIC: "Now, instead, this island city shall rise again in glory and beauty, to shine her light upon our lives and harmonize our destinies." "Now, instead, this island city shall rise again in glory and beauty, to shine her light upon our lives and harmonize our destinies." (He turns again to Elric:) (He turns again to Elric:) "And you, my son, shall continue that work when I am gone, making Melnibone's name a synonym for justice and integrity ..." "And you, my son, shall continue that work when I am gone, making Melnibone's name a synonym for justice and integrity ..."

ELRIC (smiling with joy, thinks): (smiling with joy, thinks): "Aye, but in future I shall trust fewer mortals or immortals and bring a sterner hand to our rule, lest our nation be threatened again with the doom we've so narrowly avoided." "Aye, but in future I shall trust fewer mortals or immortals and bring a sterner hand to our rule, lest our nation be threatened again with the doom we've so narrowly avoided."

The sun suddenly breaks through the black clouds on the horizon, sending deep shadows across the scene as the three all turn to go back into the tower and continue the feast.

FENERIC: "Let's continue our celebration feast, content in knowing our enemy has met his just deserts!" "Let's continue our celebration feast, content in knowing our enemy has met his just deserts!"

ELRIC: "Father, with respect to Uncle Ederic's feast, perhaps we should give his chefs the first taste. Of everything." "Father, with respect to Uncle Ederic's feast, perhaps we should give his chefs the first taste. Of everything."

We see a close-up of Silverskin as he frowns, turning away from his father and looking out towards the harbour where Melnibones ships are at anchor.

ELRIC (thinks): (thinks): "While my father lives, I'll honour my vow to him. But the time might come when I shall need the help of Chaos and that black blade. It's helped us once, and saved us, too. Mayhap it will save us again in years to come." "While my father lives, I'll honour my vow to him. But the time might come when I shall need the help of Chaos and that black blade. It's helped us once, and saved us, too. Mayhap it will save us again in years to come."

We make a transition now from Elric in the palace to Elric lying on the dream couch. Cymoril points at his face and Tanglebones is astonished: CYMORIL: "Master Tanglebones! Look! His face!" "Master Tanglebones! Look! His face!"

TANGLEBONES: "The gods bless us!" "The gods bless us!"

We see Elric's face. The torment has gone from it and now he smiles. While in the nearby chamber ...

Sadric is bending over Yyrkoon's dream couch and the human maiden is herself deeply concerned with something, though she seems to nurse a small, secret smile...