Aureon: An Elven Epic by DarkSeraph

[DarkSeraph]

Prologue
We Are the Elders
In my ears the willows whispered, so that I knew what they wished.
That time had come, for I was called upon to fulfil my destiny; to complete my obligation to the elders...

The spirits steadfastly grasped me, pulling me into an ethereal whirlwind.
I could see the world before me blur into dots racing across my consciousness, like the breath of a restless wind. I could see that world fade and vanish before me... and I heard their voices.

Their voices trembled the ancient rocks, not because the voices were thunderous, but because the voices were wiser than they. The voice of the elders, who aged and outlasted each and every generation of compounded, erected sediment. The ancient rocks knelt before the elders.

And now, the elders spoke to me, to my spirit- an occupied dimension devoid of time. They spoke, and I knew.

We are the elders. We are the spirits of all life given life by our sacred matron. We remember all that has passed in time beknownst to your kindred, and we foresee all that will pass unbeknownst to your kindred. We exist for a small purpose, and that purpose is to keep time flowing the way it should and shall, proportionate to your world, your universe, guided by the hands of our sacred matron. Your time has come. Your journey into life will begin shortly. It was meant to be, just as we were told. So, since it was meant to be, we will not meet again, until your time ends. We are the elders.

The spirit that was once my own was now not. My spirit was now torn into an innumerable amount of components. Each component was separate, and each component had a purpose. Somehow... all but one of those components felt... felt... physical. That strange term now made sense. This was what it felt like to have a physical body that accompanied a corporeal state of mind. Such a phenomenal combination, the merging of mind and body, could only be named as...
The Birth of Life

End Prologue



[Edited on 21/11/2003 by DarkSeraph]

[DarkSeraph]

Part One
A Lost Memory

What exists in my memory?
All it is is a grand book filled with blank pages- pages then randomly selected to be drawn in, finelined, and colored. Eventually, these pages have water spilt upon them, and this exemplifies the effects of long-term forgetfulness. Everything that used to be is now blurred between the lines. Is it so for everyone, or just me?

"Aure, Aure... wake up~"
I woke without lifting my eyelids.
"Aure, come on, don't make me wait all day!"
I turned my head in the direction of the childish voice.
"If you don't wake up, I'm going to kiss you! On the mouth this time!"
I opened my eyes and looked at the girl hovered over me.
"Aww, Lutia, too bad, because it's impossible to stay asleep when you yell as loudly as you do. I don't think I'll ever get that kiss."
"Hehe, I'm just kidding. Boys are so weird."

Although I'm still a child, I understand the meaning of the word "beauty," for it lay before my eyes. I'm allowed to witness this rare beauty each day of my life as an Elf of the Shaaran. As an ordinary kid of a village. This beauty was Lutia- adored and pampered by those much older than her, longed for and admired by those not much older than her, and looked up to by those younger than her.

I was not much older than Lutia. In fact, we were born under the same shattered moon hanging in the sky of the same night, only hers was lower in the sky than mine. While my moon was high against the blanket of stars, half of hers was concealed by the peak of a distant mountain.

"Aure, play with me today. You have the day off, right?"
"Why do you always make me play when there are hundreds of other boys who are willing to play with you?"
She frowned, having no particular answer. Well, that's just how she is. I guess I'm one of those boys who would do anything for her because I am insanely infatuated. I'm going to be used, although I don't really mind being used.

"Fine, what should we play today?"
"Something new, something fun. Let's go to the batch of trees at the far end of the delta across the river!"
I slapped on my light boots, snatched a few ricecakes off of the dining table, and the two of us headed out of the hut and also out of the village.
It was an ordinary day for the two of us. We were just kids living in an Elven village, living peaceful lives without learning about what pain was. We only dealt with minor emotional pain from time to time. Well, most of the kids in the villages. I, however, was a special exception. I had already grown out of the childish state of mind before any kid I knew did. This made me an outcast. But Lutia still followed me around. I, in turn, vowed to take care of her, like an affectionate older brother would.

To me, I was not her brother. I was someone who wanted her to hurry and grow up to recognize my feelings for her. I poured my soul out at her.
To her, I was her weird brother. I said weird things, but I always found time to play with her and always had new and interesting things for the two of us to do.

What hurt me was that, Lutia had the beauty of a seventeen-year-old at the age of 11. I couldn't stop peering into her eyes and being captivated by her appearance. Knowing that she had the mind of a normal eleven-year-old, and I the mind of a seventeen-year-old, I could not get close with her. We were truly just friends. The love between us came from just me- a one-sided romance. As each day wore on, I felt exasperating pains inflicted upon my skin as a result of this one-sided love.
I came to know the feeling of deep sorrow early in life. No one was there to notice my grief. I was alone, and I felt that I would always be alone. In this cold forest, I was by myself. I could only embrace the cold and allow it to overtake my senses. No one knew, and no one who seeks warmth should know.

... Our thirteenth birthday arrived.

"You two are going to see the Elder today, aren't you? Today is going to be the most important day of your lives, for this is the day that you will begin your service to the Shaaran territory. Make us all proud."

Today was the day we began our service, huh? I heard about this a lot, but I didn't think much about it- about being a soldier, a fighter, a warrior. I didn't care about my devotion to the village, nor did I care about my devotion to my family. The only things I really ever thought about were myself, my Elven heritage, my brother, and Lutia. My thoughts centered only on those four subjects; everything else was a blur.

My brother was already 'serving' the Shaaran territory. He was a skilled elemental swordsman at the age of sixteen, and already enlisted in the official army. I hardly ever got to see him, and even then, we never talked. We were complete strangers, breathing the same air and having the same blood run through our veins.

Lutia and I began the long walk through the dense forest which separated the small village we lived in from the Council Village. Side by side, we glided over the vegetated forest floor. Above us, the thick canopy let in random rays of sunlight.
I kept my glance on Lutia out of the corner of my eyes.
Both of us have grown considerably over the past few years. Slowly, Lutia has matured just a little bit, has gotten even more beautiful, and has grown about four inches in height. She was blossoming into an enchanting flower. I was still just a bud, awaiting the day of glory. I doubt that I would become anything beautiful, for nothing really cared for me.
Lutia was still just a friend who used me. She used me to cry on, she used me to complain to, and she'd ask to sleep next to me on my bed on the nights that her parents fought. Her parents always fought. Well, all the better for me. I learned to keep my room and body clean, so that I would not put Lutia in any discomfort of any sort. I would not taint her purity with the recklessness and savageness of a normal boy.
Of course, I got nothing in return. I felt nothing special coming out of her and flying towards me. She treated me like she always did, while my desire for her knew no limits. She thought she had a brotherly friend to spend hours playing with. What she really had for a friend was an outcast admirer who only lived to one day gain her acceptance and make endless love to her.

[Edited on 30/12/2003 by DarkSeraph]

[DarkSeraph]

Years passed...

Part Two
Lutia

What strange dreams I had, just about every night. Dreams filled with emotion... human emotion. The dreams are always about an explanation of how I came into this world... and they always have me showing human emotion. I can't stand such an annoyance.

Leaning forward and off the tree trunk on which I was sleeping against, I peered out over the sea of trees. Yes, this was my home, the only home I ever belonged to. I am a wood elf of this vast forest ocean, and no one shall ever take it away from me.

The shattered moon hovered over the tips of the distant mountains much like a pendant hovered over the breast of a beautiful Elfe. Its glow filled me with an empty isolation, a solitary sadness that deprives the heart of warmth. I didn't mind feeling my blood surging through my veins like icy rivers, but I wish I could know a different feeling once in a while. I want something to protect. Something to destroy the sharp knife that drives deeper and deeper into my heart as each winter night passes...

Of course, being an Elf of the beautiful Shaaran territory, that would be denied from me. Feelings of lust must be withdrawn at all costs, because they only bring the harshest pains, and finally, death. I wouldn't mind getting hurt or even dying, if I could know what it felt like to have that warmth cradled in my arms.

" Naa."

I turned around quickly to see my childhood companion hanging on the trunk beside me and lifted her onto the steady branch. She looked at me with her head turned at an angle and threw me a small smile. The first time I saw that smile, I couldn't speak to her for days. Lutia grew up to be the most beautifully enchanting Elfe in Shaaran territory. Now, she was sitting beside me as I sank deeper into depression. She saw my melancholy disposition and layed her head on my shoulder. My hands trembled.

"Even after I've known you for six years, I still can't sit still when you do that."

"Mmm Mmm. I could never once read your face... always so beautiful, sad, serene... emotionless save for melancholy. It hurts me to look at you. Like trying to hold a wisp in my hand. It's beautiful to look at, but when you try to touch it, you will be burnt."

"Nnh... But this is all I feel. I don't think you'd understand, but you really don't like seeing me like this, you do?"
She caressed some of my hair among her fingers and sighed.

"Yeah, only... it's not my hands that burn, but my chest. It's a cold burn, filled with loneliness and pain. Yes, I do hate it. I wish you weren't so... sad all the time."

" You don't seem to notice that you're the one who brings me so much grief..."
I whispered inaudibly. She nudged her nose against my neck a little, and my body went stiff.
No one ever hurt me more than Lutia... her words tore at me; My breath stopped for a moment, my vision blurred... It was the same with me as with her. She hates the side of me that enjoys being lonely and miserable, the side which I am direly fond of... and I get hurt because she seeks warmth. If we are together, the pain is incredible, unending... so much so that perhaps she cannot stand being near me any longer. If she cannot stand being hurt by me, then I will do her a favor and leave her, forever, so that she can forget me, a sad excuse for an Elf.
I'm not worthy of her anyways... I never was. She never said she liked any part of me.
I was probably still just a comfort tool for when she had no one left to go to.
Ever since we were kids... but I could never leave her. So intense was my desire for her touch that I would...

Lutia wrapped her arms around my back, and her head gently eased upon my chest. Her body might have been warm if I were someone else, but I felt nothing of that sort. I was still utterly cold, inside and out, but somehow, I managed to fall asleep...

The shattered moon was now obscured halfway by the mountains in the distance.

End: Lutia

[Edited on 30/12/2003 by DarkSeraph]

[DarkSeraph]

Part Three
The Dark Ones

As soon as the sun rose and light directly shone in my eyes, I woke up. Being a light sleeper has its advantages. I got to see Lutia's morning face. Not that I hadn't seen it before, but this morning... well, she had a little drool creeping over the side of her mouth and almost to the edge of her jaw. What was interesting was she was murmuring some gibberish. At least I thought it was gibberish, until I put my ear next to her mouth after wiping the saliva off her skin...

"Errahnoh, geddid in yurr hedd. I don lite yoo. Nor do I hab ennie reazzon to..." I recoiled slightly as I heard this, shifting my shoulder a bit inward. Did she just say Eronau? Eronau was my older brother that had died long ago in the war with the Kalenus territory. His body was never recovered, just like hundreds of others. That war was an obliteration... a useless waste of Elves on both sides. In the end, we stopped invading the Kalenus territory, because there was no way of penetrating it. Thousands of our Wood Elf comrades were annihilated... None of the original Crescent Army returned...

Then it hit me. No, not the fact that my brother once liked Lutia, but something hit me. An arrow had pierced the top of my shoulder and scattered off somewhere, leaving a large gash where it made contact.
SH&@ !! What the f#@$ is this supposed to be ?!

I had no time to try and guess the location of the attacker, so I immediately picked up Lutia and tree-hopped at an incredible speed. As I was hopping I tried to feel for the presence of a chaser. There were none, but back at the spot where I had been attacked, I felt a Dark presence. My attacker had lost his chance. I headed straight for the Shaaran council village...

The forest was peaceful, just like any other day. The swaying emerald leaves and the innumberable arms of trees flew past me as I continued to leap from branch to branch, maneuvering through a dense, remote forest area of the Shaaran territory. The wound wasn't deep enough to paralyze my arm, luckily. I was glad Lutia was light-weighted, just as I was, only I was a warrior, a fighter, so naturally, I was muscular. Extreme Elven training through the use of 'survival of the strongest' situations payed off. I truly despised the way things worked around here. If you're a warrior, you'd better not be befriending yourself with any other warriors. Most likely, you're going to kill them at the end of the week. Either that, or you'll be killed. That's how it is here. Elves have it tough- they choose only the best, and the rest simply die. That's why each and every one of us is an intensely skilled being.

I stopped for a moment to look down at Lutia. She was staring back up at me with wide eyes. Rather, she seemed more focused on my injured shoulder. She closed her eyes, placed her hands upon the injury, and began whispering a spell.
" Imaposis Manos"
The wound closed, the flesh reattached itself to each other, and a fresh scar appeared.

When I began approaching the boundaries of the fortress village, I smelled blood. Lutia clasped her hands over her mouth and nose. Then I saw the bloody bodies deformed by cruel weapons and necromantic spells... There was something wrong with this picture. Many of these bodies were the bodies of the elite guard squadron of this fortress. The rest were bodies of Dark Elves, those who had been exiled from or left the original lands of the Wood Elves and embraced the Dark. These were the men the Crescent Army of Shaaran had fought, the men my elder brother had fought. The nausea crept in again from the horrible stench, and I had to fight harder to break off the sick feeling growing in my head and stomach.
"These are the..." I was about to explain to Lutia, but-
"Elite Guard and the Dark ones" she answered for me.

When I was about a quarter of a mile away, I heard it. I heard the clash of swords and the fiery casting of magic. Were the Dark ones planning on invading the fortress? Still carrying Lutia, who was now upon my back, I stole along the side of the creek that ran parallel to the western wall of the fortress. I could feel the heat of war, and I could hear Lutia gasping for air because it was a heavy atmosphere. Lutia was never exposed directly to battles, because she was a Cleric. She needed too much time studying and cultivating her inherited skills to have experience in real battles. As I sprinted along the bank of the creek, I pulled from out of my side knapsack a small vial filled with an orange liquid substance. I held it in front of Lutia's eyes; she took it from my fingers, threw away the cap, and downed the solution. She leaned her head closer to mine.

I had already passed the southwestern corner formation, which, along with the whole of the western fortress wall, was built almost directly on the bank of the creek. I spotted a tall tree which towered over the western wall, jumped up on the wall, used it as a plant support, and lunged to the second tallest branch of the tree. From here, I could spot the whole invasion of the eastern wall. The Dark ones had utterly destroyed the magical seal upon the walls and simply stampeded it, tearing it down. The main Elite Guard was still fighting with the Dark ones, trying to rid of them, because pushing the horde back outside the walls would have accomplished nothing. This battle was simply going to be decided by the side still standing at the ultimate end.

I jumped over the wall from the outstretched branch and landed on the sentry outpost catwalk. I let Lutia down on her feet, and motioned her to follow me. She nodded, and I made my way along the catwalk, down some wooden stairs into the barracks, stormed the barren hallways and was outside once again. Lutia was still right behind me. I then made my way directly to the council buildings, passing several longhouses which caught on fire.

The rest of the Elite Guard were assembled in front of the council buildings, awaiting final orders from the top commanders. They were planning a strategy to make a last stand. The Dark ones must have invaded with a full-scale horde, which is gravely serious. If the last of the Elite Guard had to make a last stand, then that must mean the Shaaran territory had fallen...

I, closely followed by a panting Lutia, reached the house of the village elder. I entered, and with Lutia close behind me, the guards allowed me to pass without another word. They looked a bit relieved to see Lutia, since this was probably going to be the last day of their lives. I reached the room where there was a crucial, quick meeting of the commanders. They were now filing out and ran past me and Lutia. Then I reached the council meeting room. I walked straight into the center and knelt before the village elder.

"Elder, please excuse my intrusion. I have brought your daughter here safely."
The elder immediately stood up and Lutia ran into his arms, tears falling down her cheeks, but surprisingly, she wasn't crying. She rarely cried, anyways.
"Grand Matron, I am forever indebted to you for bringing me my final messanger of peace. I can now die relieved, knowing that my daughter shall escape." He turned to me.
"You are Aureon." I looked up at him. This was the first time I had ever met the elder, yet he knew my name. I was about to open my mouth, but-
"Silence. You have brought my daughter to me safely, amidst the invasion of the Dark ones. I am eternally grateful for you. Just allow me to explain everything before you speak." The Elder let go of Lutia, and turned around. He walked right up to the wall in front of him. He began speaking in an ancient Elven dialect. Strangely, I understood what he was saying...

"Mou etra de Aldre... pas fortu de brade et de st'aph."
I am the Elder... bring forth the blade and the staff.
Suddenly, inscripted, ancient Elven characters lit up upon the wall, etched with fire. The characters reassembled upon the wall to form the border of a large triangle. Some of the characters then unwound and formed straight lines that cut through the triangle and formed 4 triangles inside the large triangle.

The Elder reached his right hand into the center triangle, which he was able to permeate, and pulled out an ancient Elven sword. He then did the same with his left hand, this time pulling out an ancient Elven staff. Then he spoke more words.

"Dormou qulle il rendu."
Sleep until they return.

The Elder turned back to me as the characters quickly faded back into the wall.
He placed the sword in my hands and the staff in Lutia's. Then he led us quickly outside... Outside, where the three of us stood behind the last line of the Elite Guard. The Elder walked right through the center of the line, and waited. Then a Dark being came forth, clad in a black mail and carrying a dark sword upon his back.

The Elder spoke. "Eronau."
Eronau, my 'dead' brother, came forth. My whole body stiffened. His Dark aura was incredibly powerful, and his corrupt spirit nearly defeated my spirit.
The Elder spoke. "Eronau, lord of the Dark, child of the Shadow. It was just as the elders said." Eronau reached behind his back, over his shoulder to pull out the dark blade, embedded with a dark aura. Eronau walked up to the Elder and thrust the blade into the heart of the Elder. The Elder did not cringe. A black wisp spirit emerged from the blade and slowly swallowed the Elder, engulfing him in dark flames. Then the spirit and the Elder vanished, as well as the dark blade. Eronau roared.

"Bastard!!!" Then he finally glanced over at me and Lutia. He saw the sword and the staff. His face was overcome with maddened shock, and he quickly distorted time and space and pulled forth the blade that had just disappeared out of a dark hole. Behind him, the horde stood still. Eronau charged towards me and Lutia, still frozen and partly overcome by the aura of the Dark. Lutia's staff shone, engulfing the immediate area with a blinding light. The last image in my mind before I was completely blinded was the image of my brother covering his eyes with his hands, which seemed to be bleeding.

Then, everything faded to black...

End: The Dark Ones

[Edited on 30/12/2003 by DarkSeraph]

[DarkSeraph]

Part Four
The Rain Upon the Mountain

Everything was black. There were no red or green or blue dots flying from place to place against the black. It was simply black, and the black stretched infinitely beyond my comprehension. I could not feel my physical body. I was simply my spirit again. But I could think. I could remember the events from what seemed like seconds ago. That blinding light... my brother and his Dark aura... and... and...
His eyes bled... He was coming closer to me now... the blood dripped in crooked lines down his hands... closer, closer, until he was millimeters away from my face... and he moved his hands away to reveal...

I felt my physical body return to me like a club to the stomach. It was a revolting shock, and I immediately opened my eyes to face a low cavern ceiling. I blinked a few times, caught a regular breathing pattern, twitched my fingers, perked my ears, and slowly raised my back up into a sitting position.

Now I was facing the entrance of the cavern, and my hearing came back to me. Faint at first, and gradually I regained the sharpness of all sounds and clarity of every echo. Outside of this cavern it was raining, and steady streams of water cascaded from the top of the entrance to the cavern.

My extraordinary sense of hearing was, of course, standard for an Elf of Shaaran, but I possessed an even keener sense than any single elite sentry guard. That's why the Elder appointed me as a scout and spy. That's right. I was a scout, but I was off duty when the Dark horde began to invade with their own spies. I hadn't sleep for four days until that night on the tree... and Lutia came up...

I scanned the cavern for Lutia. She was looking at me directly from my right side. Guess I didn't notice her until I regained all of my consciousness. I looked at her face, and then straight into her eyes... Such a blank expression on her face. Well, a lot has happened. Neither of us has fully accepted nor comprehended the events of not long ago. I bet I have a blank expression on my face as well. But I'm always like that. I don't have any feelings for anything but myself, and that feeling is a selfish depression. I could really care less about everything I left behind in Shaaran, and whatever state its in now. But, there is my brother. The only thing that interests me other than Lutia is him. Just how did he come to lead the Dark horde? Lord of the Dark? Child of the Shadow? Hell, I don't even know why the Elder gave me this sword, or Lutia the staff...

I blinked a few times while thinking about all that and looking at Lutia.
"So you're awake?" she asked. I swear she got more beautiful since we were in Shaaran. Even after we escaped, somehow. This cavern isn't in Shaaran.
"Yeah... I think. We're not in Shaaran, eh."
She nodded, and stared out at the view from the opening in the cavern. I crawled closer to where she was sitting to catch the view, as well...

It seemed we were at the base of a mountain or hill made of rock, about six feet above the ground. From here, flat, green plains stretched as far as the eye could see. I then presumed that we were in a valley, at least at one of the far ends of it. Mountains stretched on either side of the wide plains towards the horizon, as well. Such an enchanting, mystical place for two who have never passed the boundaries of the Shaaran territory. And we were alone... utterly alone, and I bet she was feeling cold. The rain outside and the air of the cavern made what was already (I presumed again) a naturally cold valley even colder.

I peered over her again, and not to my surprise, she was even more beautfiul. This strange feeling pushing against my chest... Stronger than it was before... but then the pained returned, and even worse as well. With each breath I took, that knife that was merely penetrating the surface to my heart before sunk deeper. I remembered the feeling I got when Lutia told me how she felt about my self-inflicted grief, which is what it was, put plainly. I felt the strong, icy blade of isolation and sorrow drive deeper towards the source of my soul. I put the feeling away for a second; my sense of worry for Lutia overcame it. I noticed her shivering in her light cleric robe.

"A... h. I... bet you're cold," I said pathetically.
"... Yeah... t-this robe is pr-pretty useless-s." She continued to shiver, and turned her head a bit so that I couldn't see her expression.
I could hardly speak. I untied the knot that kept the cloak upon my shoulders. "H-here. Use m-my cloak." It was freezing without my cloak, but I really didn't care for myself at the moment. I reached my arm towards her and offered her the cloak. Lutia slapped away my arm.

"I d-don't need it."
She wouldn't even accept my cloak. Has it really gotten like this between us? When was it ever like this? When was there really anything between us? Now I offered the cloak to her purely out of worry for her, putting aside the heavy feeling stirring up in my chest again. My voice was firm now. "No, just take it. You're going to get sick staying like that. I've survived Elven training, so I really don't need the cloak." I reached my arm over to her again, but this time, she pushed it away fiercely.

So she actually hates me... that's... how it is, isn't it. I really was her tool of comfort. On all those cold nights when I'd return from scout duty, she went to me because she was tired of either having someone else or ran out of people to go to, and felt like being around someone. I've cared for her all my life, but she's never really shown to me that she was grateful for all my services. I don't mind getting nothing in return... really... just as long as I know she's ok... then I can just grasp all that pain and loneliness and hold it inside my chest, keeping it all inside of me as a secret, so that no one will ever know how long I've really had it there, and no one will ever touch it- my heart of ice.

I tried one last time. "Please, just put away your hate of me already, and take my cloak. Dammit, I don't want you to die... I know I'm just another person in your life, but you don't have to take it out on yourself, ok? I really..." I can't believe it. I don't ever remember having this many tears on the verge of overflowing, or feeling so cold inside, but this was all just too much. I lowered my head a bit, not able to face her.

"... Put away my hate for you... another person in my life... You don't get it, do you? I don't want your stupid cloak, Aure." Her voice was trembling, probably from anger and cold. "I don't want your cloak, nor do I want you to make me a pillow out of your trousers, or to give me your tunic to wear. Do you understand, now? I don't want you to do anything for me! Didn't you ever notice how I would always find you up in the tree at night? Whenever I was cold, or lonely, or needed someone to talk to? How I would always go to you, for this, for that? It was always me going to you! You never needed me, did you ?! You never needed my help! You just kept everything to yourself! I never saw you ask anyone for anything, ever!"
She turned her face to me as she said this, tears falling endlessly past her cheeks, eyes desperate for something, gasping for breath. I wasn't expecting such an outburst of emotion from her. Too many thoughts were trying to try to make me understand the depth of every word she had just said. My mind went blank, but the pain I felt was still there. A few tears fell from my eyes, but I couldn't say a word.

She turned away again, not wiping off her tears. Her soothing, calm voice came back.
"The only thing I want right now... is you. Don't you ever need me...? I want you to warm me up, not some material object without a heart. I want you... to need me." She hugged herself, rocking back and forth a little. I watched her for a moment.
Then I finally got my body to move, and crawled closer to her, right behind her...
I slowly wrapped my arms around her, pulling her against my body from her chest, and I rested my chin upon her neck and shoulder.

Different from last time, I felt a strange warmth emitting from her body and warming mine up. I never knew such an incredible sensation existed. However, it didn't match my feelings of intense sorrow when compared in beauty. Nothing could ever melt my icy heart. No feeling was or will be strong enough to melt it. Not even my surging need of Lutia, whom I cherish dearly.

"You're needing me for the wrong reason, though... I don't give warmth. I want to show you the feeling that I long for. The feeling I had when I thought you didn't want me. I've always known it, because you never showed me how much you cared. That feeling is the strongest I've ever felt, and will always be the strongest."

She took a moment to soak this all in, then answered. "I don't care anymore if I get hurt or get deprived of warmth by staying by your side anymore. I just want you to hold me like this, from now on, once in a while, for as long as you want me. I don't have a world to myself anymore. All I have is you; all I ever had... was you."

Outside, the rain poured down endlessly, seemingly determined to reshape the formation of the mountain.

End: The Rain Upon the Mountain

[Edited on 5/12/2003 by DarkSeraph]

[DarkSeraph]

Part Five
The Living Valley

The rain stopped pouring down; the last treckles lingered lazily down onto the moist earth. Gray clouds still blanketed the sky above.
I slowly unwrapped my arms from Lutia's body, which wasn't as fragile as it looked. It was a strong body; utterly beautiful, but strong and agile. She must have trained herself physically apart from her official training as a Cleric.
Lutia was now dozing lightly; I laid her upon the cavern floor and placed my folded cloak below her head. I quickly glanced at her lips- always moist and soft, so unlike mine. Her facial tones, her skin, all so impossibly delicate as the new petals of a blossoming flower. Of course, I decided that I was not worthy of her. My own traits could never be as fair as her, and I'm sure she would be uncomfortable gracing herself upon my rough features.

I stood up and set out to the entrance of the cavern. The cavern itself was only about 20 feet deep, and light reached its farthest corners even in the afternoon. What was interesting was there were scraps of small animal and fish bones beside what looked like an area for a small campfire. There were still a few cut trunks of trees in the far back. Someone must have been here recently, was the obvious inference.

I took a small step outside of the cavern. The air outside was shockingly refreshing and thicker than the air inside. On my immediate left side was the base of a mountain that stretched far and curved to form a long row of mountains that stretched towards the horizon straight ahead of me, and on my immediate right was the exact opposite. The mountains were incredibly steep and tall for anyone but those with wings to fly over. This natural hallway was an enclosed valley, extremely remote and enchanting. Lutia and I were at one extreme end of the valley. There was only way to go, and that was to venture along this valley hallway, and find a way out...... or so I thought.

I wouldn't call it a forest, but numerous and various trees dotted this valley. Each grew about eight feet away from each other. I made my way down the stairs of random rocks and was now at ground level, six feet below the floor of the cavern. Looking straight ahead into the 'loose forest', I could see that the loose forest was the same anywhere ahead. Trees that grew almost symmetrically in a rhombus-shaped pattern, always eight feet apart from each other. Well, it might be an easy journey through here, but it would be incredibly dull, as beautiful as the trees, foliage, and canopy were.

As far as I could see, the entire floor of the valley was carpeted with a knee-high grass-like plant. I, with much effort and strength, managed to uproot one of the plants. Its tiny roots reached deep into the soil, about four feet deep. Goosebumps popped up on my arms when I saw that in place of the single gigantic leaflet of the plant I had just uprooted, another took its place, growing into a picturesque replica in seconds before my very Elven eyes. This valley was undoubtedly magically enchanted with a powerful spell... The loose forest must be the creation of the spell as well, possibly the whole valley. The valley itself looked quite symmetrical.

Then, I heard it. A faint whistling sound, like a small vortex ripping through the air and heading towards my direction. I looked to my right, but didn't move an inch. The arrow landed a foot in front of my boots. I kneeled down to pick the arrow up. It had a short but incredibly smooth shaft, and at its end were trimmed feathers of a great bird I had never seen before. I stood up to try and locate the launcher of the arrow, and spotted a small figure just at the edge of the forest about half a mile to my right. So, this arrow traveled half a mile in less than three seconds... this marksman must be a legendary Elf of some kind. I sensed no danger when the arrow approached, so this stranger must be a neutral and passive being by nature when meeting someone for the first time. I decided that I must somehow learn from this stranger how to shoot with such precision and might without the use of magic, for I detected none along the trail of the arrow.

I whispered arke into the air while stretching my arms out in front of me and my Elven bow appeared in front of me. Its shaft was nearly the length of my body, delicately winding into curves from the center and attached together at the ornate ends with a strong string, pressured into holding the bow at its current arched position. I then whispered enkante iki while stretching the end of the arrow against the string and pulled until the string reached its maximum point, firmly planted my feet on the ground, and launched the arrow into the sky at an angle of thirty degrees to the ground, aiming for a point one foot ahead of the stranger.

Satisfied with my launch, I tried to relax and walk towards the stranger, but found that I was not the one responsible for firmly planting my feet to the ground, and that the grass-like plants were what kept me planted to the ground.

Appalled and somewhat frustrated, I pulled out my dagger at my waist and tried freeing myself of the plant by cutting off its grasp of my leg. Of course, the plants kept regrowing and reattaching itself to my leg so quickly that I had no choice but to try my luck with magic. I tried to burn off the plants using the enchanted touch of my fingertips, but the plants quickly grasped my right hand as well, resisting the element of fire.

I then awaited the arrival of the stranger, as I could not detach myself from my bonds with the living valley.

End: The Living Valley

[Edited on 5/12/2003 by DarkSeraph]

[Edited on 5/12/2003 by DarkSeraph]

[Edited on 5/12/2003 by DarkSeraph]

[Edited on 6/12/2003 by DarkSeraph]

[DarkKnightX]

someons got a LOT of time on their hands......Its a good story though... and you got to appreciate the effort!