Darkon

We all have truths, are yours the same as mine?
-JCS

Born on: January 20, 1998
It tooks us months to journey out of Borra, we sailed north into Moravia (The land of Slavery) and then marched are small group north into the Mages realm of Aielum. I studied the book intensely along this journey, puzzling out what I could and yet there were certain passages I would have better luck talking to a rock *heh heh* than translating. So while in Aielum I traveled a lot and took the book to many to try to get the translation of the parts I could not read. From what I puzzled out, it seemed to talk about the Champion of the world who needed to save it from the Dark God. Couldn't imagine who that could be.... I searched for months looking for someone who could translate the text, and I studied many many libraries for the knowledge yet to no avail. So I journeyed back to Demuron, a bit dissapointed and not closer to the knowledge that I needed... I went to visit my son Gwydion. And by some fluke, some chance I was studying over the book of the Library in my sons palace. And wouldn't you know it, this young girl approaches me. I would guess she was no more than 13. She stopped in front of me, peering at the book. I looked up with a puzzled look. She turned immediately to the section I could not for the life of me read. She leaned her head close to my own and whispered very carefully. I did not believe what I heard. She finished and dashed away, I never saw her again. She spoke of the passage, the top read

Reborn again, age long friend. To death and to die, the bringer of lie. For plague and hate, a perilous fate. Screams of Death, a jesters jest. Doom and despair, there is no repair. From Pestilence pain, True swords bane. Evil and greed, a powerful creed. The death and to die, there is no reply. So, come now and bring a powerful blight. Forever are we, doomed to this plight.

I puzzled over the first briefly, then looked at the other section. She had said the answer lies within the heart.... I did not understand, *shrugs* Then I decided, to search for her with whom does my heart reside. I walked off in search of Eilonwy. I carried the large book beneath my arm and hurried along until I found her sitting in the garden with someone I did not know. I kissed her than sat next to her. I told her of the occurence in the Library and showed her the book, opening to the mysterious passage. She looked at it for a moment and began speaking softly. Eilonwy talked of an arrow, but not just any arrow an arrow fletched by the gods. An arrow that flew so true that it could cut the very evil from a being. She read on, my heart leaped and then sank as she read that it had been lost to the sea. I sighed and hugged her asking where she had learned to read such writing. She shrugged, she had always known it. I had a new problem to worry about now... And the journey for the arrow began, I studied the book for a place where it may mention the location of the weapon. I find a few passages but nothing definate... One said it was in the Palace of Fire. Wherever that was... I read on about the old Mages who had sealed the arrow there for fear its power would be unleashed on the world. Eilonwy helped me with most of these translations for I could only make out pieces. There was a passage in which it spoke of the Bringer of Death being betrayed by his heart, and after his betrayal his life shall be forfeit for the life of his heart. Chaos shall reign the land, and in that the Bringer of Death must ride the wave of pain to vanquish the foe. In his sucess shall the world live on and in his failure darkness.... And in the union of him and his heart shall a child be born marked to rule the world of light or free the world of darkness... I felt chills shoot up my spine, I took out a book and copied that passage in a more familiar tongue... I knew that it was very important, very important indeed... I walked to the gardens my hand resting on the pommel of my blade I squeezed it for reassurance, if nothing else. I sat there all day puzzling, fearing that it spoke of me in the prophecy... I did not think I could take being betrayed and I did not believe my heart could betray me but I feared it would. I sat there the rest of the day and into the night, pondering and contemplating... Finally, Eilonwy found me and told me to go to sleep. I kissed her gently and then walked to my room. So much I feared was true, and yet could not believe... I slept fitfully and nightmares plagued me throughout the evening. I could feel a great evil falling across the land and I was helpless against it, and just as I was about to vanquish it betrayed by those I trusted most... I awoke in a cold sweat and walked around the keep. The cool night breeze calmed me little and I just wandered. Twice I stopped outside of Eilonwy's door to seek comfort from her both times I dismissed myself and walked on. Alone with my thoughts was a frightful thing, I could think only of my own death and that which I would not be able to accomplish... And I became so worried that I would fail in the one thing I could not fail... I journeyed back to Aielum after that to search in the libraries for anything about the Palace of Fire... I found a few things, it had been in a valley somewhere in Moravia. I journeyed there next, my only companions were Eilonwy and Tarran. We searched all over for anyone who may have known something. For the first time in perhaps my entire life the first person I went to knew something. We went to where we were directed, we found nothing but some ruins... But they were strange, I decided to have a look inside. As soon as I entered I told the other 2 to be careful, I could feel the danger emitting from the place. I looked around but found no arrow, I did however find some writing on the wall in a room I assumed was once some sort of magical chamber. It read in the strange tongue and I needed to get Eilonwy to help me with the translation. The arrow shall appear to save the world, it shall be brought forth with the dawning of love for the object of hate. The joining of this love must be brought within this place and then shall the arrow bring itself once again to this world. I puzzled over this, and thanked Eilonwy for her help with the translation and kissed her lightly. I sat there for a few hours thinking of the writing and how it could be used. Tarran had camp setup a few hundred yards from the cursed place... I desparately needed that arrow, the lives of countless people rested upon it and all I got were cryptic messages... So much to think about and so little time to think in. I walked late into the night that evening, I couldn't sleep. Or perhaps did not want to, I cannot say for sure. I was tired of all this, I just wanted to take Eilonwy and live away from all the fighting . Maybe on a lowly mountain some where by ourselves. That actually sounded like the perfect place to me. But I'm Elfric Pendragon, my life isn't allowed to be that easy. I came across a clearing a drew my evil blade. I stood toward the middle and began my forms. My blade seemed to come alive as I twirled and spun parrying against imaginary foes and running them through with various steps and stances. Each form more complicated as the night progressed. I had always hated fighting, now more than ever. And what was I best at? Fighting, and so I was damned. To do what I hated most better than anything I would prefer to do. It was then and there that I decided my Mercenary days were over. And there would be no fighting, not for myself anyway... The sweat trickled off my brow as the sun rose from the horizon. I panted in slight breathlessness and sheathed my sword. I took my shirt off and used it to wipe the sweat away from my eyes then walked over to a small stream that was fairly close by. I kneeled down and took a drink of water, it seemed more refreshing than usual. As I went for another drink I saw the light glint off something on the bottom. I reached down into the stream and fished around until my hand came across something metal I closed my hand on it, which was a mistake because it was rather sharp. I pulled my hand out and healed it then resubmerged it. I was a bit more careful this time and managed to pull out the foreign object. And what to my wondrous eyes should appear, a very strange arrow. It was then I noticed a giggling from the bushes... I quietly got up and walked toward in a most obscure manner. When I came upon it, I no longer heard the noise and wondered if I had been seen. I soon found out I had... AS quick as lightning, something shot forth from the bushes and entangled itself about me. I did not get a very good look, but it did not seem very big. But that hardly matter since it was at least as strong as I was, if not stronger. I struggled to gain an advantage on the attacker, but to no avail. I had just started turning the tides when I was hit on the back of the head and everything went black.
I shall finish the tale in a bit.
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