"Sharfteh? The Lord of Norkvolar?" The queen could hardly speak the words.
"Yes, Your Majesty. He is gathering an army together that will destroy the Azarathian royalty at which afterwards he plans to take the kingdom and make himself sole ruler." Here Seoden sighed, "He has also bred an army of fazaraths."
At this the king struck the table with his fist. "How has this happened? Were not all of the Fazaraths killed and their nests destroyed?"
"My Lord, many Fazaraths were spared." Seoden walked over to a section of the wall that was painted with a horse and its rider and stood for a moment. "They were hidden in the deep mountains by dark men for just a time as this."
"Where have the spies been? Have they gone blind to all that has been going on? Have they not seen any war tents, weapon forging, the sounds of war? Have they not felt its thunderous rawr? Have they not smelt it in the air?"
"My Lord", Seoden turned and stared at a section of the wall. It was of a young man dressed for war. He was saying farewell to his bride. They were newly married for she still wore her ceremonial dress. "They have a secret force. A force that has helped him to locate all those who are. . .were. . . spies and even those who were neither for or against him, just fighters, war dogs, men who have no other life but in battle. If a man was not completely loyal to his cause, then they would be. . . disposed of."
August 20, 2010
August 17, 2010
A Secret Meeting
Many years ago, when fazaraths ruled the air and threatened those on the ground, a young blacksmith arose from the depths of society and gathered to himself an army. This army he led into many battles and finally engaged in one final battle to end the long war that was known as the war between Heaven and Earth. He and his men smote the fierce creatures, found their nests, and took their eggs. When the eggs hatched, the men trained the young fazaraths and rode them into battle as a secret force from the sky. For many centuries, these beasts served man. And then a man, a soldier, a protector of Azarathia turned his back on his country and changed the world. With a fazarath of his own, a large black beast with ferocious claws and a bloodthirsty eye, he gathered all sorts to him. With a newer and more evil threat in the world, the lords of the four kingdoms came together in a secret meeting within a secret chamber and vowed to slay their common enemy.
It was this very chamber where the king and queen of Azarathia met with Seoden, son of Ecalar. It was a large room with an equally large table placed in the center. The table was decorated with a carving of the finding of the great Gem of Gorthea Dunea. The walls were painted deep red and there was a great purple curtain that covered the only entrance. There were no windows but murals. Murals of great events in the history of Azarathia; wars, famines, births, deaths, marriages. Many things covered the walls of this ancient room.
Seoden followed the two rulers into this secret room and sat at the end of the great table. Silence enveloped the room. Finally the stranger spoke, "Sharfteh is on the move".
It was this very chamber where the king and queen of Azarathia met with Seoden, son of Ecalar. It was a large room with an equally large table placed in the center. The table was decorated with a carving of the finding of the great Gem of Gorthea Dunea. The walls were painted deep red and there was a great purple curtain that covered the only entrance. There were no windows but murals. Murals of great events in the history of Azarathia; wars, famines, births, deaths, marriages. Many things covered the walls of this ancient room.
Seoden followed the two rulers into this secret room and sat at the end of the great table. Silence enveloped the room. Finally the stranger spoke, "Sharfteh is on the move".
July 26, 2010
The Messenger Arrives
"It is almost twilight", Trebor said as he and Salvania finished their evening meal. "We should leave soon." Salvania nodded in agreement and took one last sip from her wineglass. They arose from the long table and headed for the balcony. Salvania looked to her husband and whispered, "I can not help but wonder if this is a trick. What if the dreams were made from sorcery and were intended to keep us off guard to an evil that approaches?" Trebor wrapped a loving arm around his queen. "No such thing has happened or will happen." They reached the balcony just as the sun touched the earth's horizon. "I pray not." said Salvania.
They stood there watching the sun paint bright colors of red, orange, purple, and pink across the sky. Never had a sunset been so beautiful. It was truly breath-taking. The two beings were so struck with the vibrant colors and the watery clouds that they failed to notice a shadow moving across the earth. It was Trebor who saw him first. "Look my love! A shadow moves toward us in the light. It must be the messenger." Indeed it was. He was a tall fellow, stern gazed, golden hair that resembled the sun that shown down onto it. His hands were rough with years of war and hardship, his grip was authoritative. His steed was whiter than snow and its mane long and like silk. The stallion's legs were strong, a war horse, a beast who had been in the heat of battle. His rider was no different. They rode as one toward the castle gate and when only a few yards off, the rider took out a horn and blew it. The sound resonated throughout the kingdom. It was a sound that jerked the attention of all, of young and old, rich and poor, weak and strong to the one who sounded this horn. The king motioned to the guardhouse and the gates began to open. The horseman slowed not, but rode on with purpose and urgency. He entered the gate and continued to the courtyard of the palace. The rulers of Azarathia had already begun their decent.
They stood there watching the sun paint bright colors of red, orange, purple, and pink across the sky. Never had a sunset been so beautiful. It was truly breath-taking. The two beings were so struck with the vibrant colors and the watery clouds that they failed to notice a shadow moving across the earth. It was Trebor who saw him first. "Look my love! A shadow moves toward us in the light. It must be the messenger." Indeed it was. He was a tall fellow, stern gazed, golden hair that resembled the sun that shown down onto it. His hands were rough with years of war and hardship, his grip was authoritative. His steed was whiter than snow and its mane long and like silk. The stallion's legs were strong, a war horse, a beast who had been in the heat of battle. His rider was no different. They rode as one toward the castle gate and when only a few yards off, the rider took out a horn and blew it. The sound resonated throughout the kingdom. It was a sound that jerked the attention of all, of young and old, rich and poor, weak and strong to the one who sounded this horn. The king motioned to the guardhouse and the gates began to open. The horseman slowed not, but rode on with purpose and urgency. He entered the gate and continued to the courtyard of the palace. The rulers of Azarathia had already begun their decent.
August 27, 2009
Her Dream
Salvania entered the forest with awe. She was surrounded with tall, wide, and burly trees that seemed as old as the earth itself. The blossoms that hung on their branches filled the air with sweet aromas that instantly put the mind at ease from every trouble. She found herself entering into a secret grove of wild oaks that had grown together to form a solid canopy. The ground was covered in grass so soft that it felt as goose down to the touch and all around, there were flowers of every color and shade. It was, in a word, spectacular.
Salvania closed her eyes and listened to the song of the birds singing their song of love and hope and of all things good. She felt the wind caress her face and smelled a hint of jasmine in the air. "Lovely, isn't it?" The voice caught her off guard and Salvania turned to see a woman of ageless youth standing at the entrance to the hidden grove. The woman wore a garment of white and a golden sash hung to her feet. She also wore a golden headdress woven with silver and a soft white fabric hung from it.
"Who are you?" Salvania questioned.
"I am Haldinaar, daughter of Detimnira, messenger for my lord Athoraan. His Lord sends me to ready you for a visitor from his courts, a man by the name of Seoden, son of Ecalar. This man, I tell you, is a man of fire, of war, and of power. You will do well to watch yourself when in his presence."
Salvania became worried at this news. "What is his business here, Haldinaar, daughter of Detimnira?"
The woman walked up to Salvania and stared into her eyes, into her very soul. "He is to inform you and your husband of the future safety of your kingdom and I strongly advise you to listen."
Salvania gasped, "How could this be? We are a peaceful kingdom and we have no enemies."
Haldinaar came closer and stared harder, "My Lady, I tell you nothing other than the truth."
"Then when shall I expect him?''
"The sun will set twelve times before his shadow shall touch your lands. You will expect him at twilight on the thirteenth day. Your husband shall join you and you both shall wait facing the west until His Lord's servant arrives. You will do this?"
"I will do as you have instructed."
As these last words left the queen's mouth, a strong wind blew through the trees. It became stronger and stronger and the trees soon began to sway dangerously. The earth shook and the sky above grew dark and rain poured out of the clouds as water is poured over a waterfall. Salvania became terrified and searched for the strange woman, but she was nowhere to be seen. Then there was a crash and another after it. Light flashed across the sky in warning of something much worse that was to come. Trees then began to fall all around her and Salvania knew this was to be her end. But no, it was not to be, for just as all hope failed, she awoke.
Salvania closed her eyes and listened to the song of the birds singing their song of love and hope and of all things good. She felt the wind caress her face and smelled a hint of jasmine in the air. "Lovely, isn't it?" The voice caught her off guard and Salvania turned to see a woman of ageless youth standing at the entrance to the hidden grove. The woman wore a garment of white and a golden sash hung to her feet. She also wore a golden headdress woven with silver and a soft white fabric hung from it.
"Who are you?" Salvania questioned.
"I am Haldinaar, daughter of Detimnira, messenger for my lord Athoraan. His Lord sends me to ready you for a visitor from his courts, a man by the name of Seoden, son of Ecalar. This man, I tell you, is a man of fire, of war, and of power. You will do well to watch yourself when in his presence."
Salvania became worried at this news. "What is his business here, Haldinaar, daughter of Detimnira?"
The woman walked up to Salvania and stared into her eyes, into her very soul. "He is to inform you and your husband of the future safety of your kingdom and I strongly advise you to listen."
Salvania gasped, "How could this be? We are a peaceful kingdom and we have no enemies."
Haldinaar came closer and stared harder, "My Lady, I tell you nothing other than the truth."
"Then when shall I expect him?''
"The sun will set twelve times before his shadow shall touch your lands. You will expect him at twilight on the thirteenth day. Your husband shall join you and you both shall wait facing the west until His Lord's servant arrives. You will do this?"
"I will do as you have instructed."
As these last words left the queen's mouth, a strong wind blew through the trees. It became stronger and stronger and the trees soon began to sway dangerously. The earth shook and the sky above grew dark and rain poured out of the clouds as water is poured over a waterfall. Salvania became terrified and searched for the strange woman, but she was nowhere to be seen. Then there was a crash and another after it. Light flashed across the sky in warning of something much worse that was to come. Trees then began to fall all around her and Salvania knew this was to be her end. But no, it was not to be, for just as all hope failed, she awoke.
April 23, 2009
75 years later.........
They stood out on the balcony and looked out over the vast expanse of Azarathia. The grass glistened with the morning dew as the birds sang their song. A song that sounded of a new day and new things. The young couple stood there and took in the beauty of the morning. They gazed with eyes of wisdom over the expanse of the valley, secretly knowing that it could all change in a single instant.
Trebor had awoken in a cold sweat, trembling from the dream that had disturbed his slumber. And unlike most dreams that faded from memory as the body settled, this dream lingered in his mind as a dark cloud lingers over the sea. The dream began on the shores of the sea. The gulls called to one another, informing their comrades where to find the best fish, the waves crashed upon the sand, making alcoves for tide pools. The sky was a myriad of colors dancing with the rays from the sun. Trebor walked down to the water and stood in it's cool foam. He closed his eyes, lifted his head, and listened to the ocean. "It is beautiful isn't it?" The voice caught the man off guard and he turned to find a man dressed for battle. His sword, a hilt of silver inlayed with gold and a glorious length of folded steel intricately designed with runic lettering surely of some far off language, was unsheathed and ready for anything.
"Who are you?" Trebor questioned.
The man sheathed his sword and responded, "One you should be very afraid of. I am Ilima, son of Echnovor, and messenger for his Lord Athoraan. His Lord sends me to ready you for a visitor from his courts, a man by the name of Seoden, son of Ecalar, a man with a temper of a tiger and a fighter's eye as of a fazarath. He is to give you important information as to the future safety of your kingdom and I advise you to listen."
"When am I to expect this Seoden, son of Ecalar?"
"The sun will set twelve times before his shadow shall touch your lands. You will expect him at twilight on the thirteenth day." His voice became quieted and he leaned in closer, "You and your beloved are to wait facing the west until his lord's servant arrives. You will do this?"
Trebor turned and thought of all that the man had said. "I will do this."
Just then, a storm formed on the sea and the wind blew the waves to incredible heights. The sky became darker than the night and fear gripped even the earth below Trebor's feet. He turned to question Ilima, but he was nowhere to be seen. Trebor closed his eyes and wished for death, but death did not come. Help did not come. Only the darkness of fear surrounded him. Then, he awoke.
Trebor had awoken in a cold sweat, trembling from the dream that had disturbed his slumber. And unlike most dreams that faded from memory as the body settled, this dream lingered in his mind as a dark cloud lingers over the sea. The dream began on the shores of the sea. The gulls called to one another, informing their comrades where to find the best fish, the waves crashed upon the sand, making alcoves for tide pools. The sky was a myriad of colors dancing with the rays from the sun. Trebor walked down to the water and stood in it's cool foam. He closed his eyes, lifted his head, and listened to the ocean. "It is beautiful isn't it?" The voice caught the man off guard and he turned to find a man dressed for battle. His sword, a hilt of silver inlayed with gold and a glorious length of folded steel intricately designed with runic lettering surely of some far off language, was unsheathed and ready for anything.
"Who are you?" Trebor questioned.
The man sheathed his sword and responded, "One you should be very afraid of. I am Ilima, son of Echnovor, and messenger for his Lord Athoraan. His Lord sends me to ready you for a visitor from his courts, a man by the name of Seoden, son of Ecalar, a man with a temper of a tiger and a fighter's eye as of a fazarath. He is to give you important information as to the future safety of your kingdom and I advise you to listen."
"When am I to expect this Seoden, son of Ecalar?"
"The sun will set twelve times before his shadow shall touch your lands. You will expect him at twilight on the thirteenth day." His voice became quieted and he leaned in closer, "You and your beloved are to wait facing the west until his lord's servant arrives. You will do this?"
Trebor turned and thought of all that the man had said. "I will do this."
Just then, a storm formed on the sea and the wind blew the waves to incredible heights. The sky became darker than the night and fear gripped even the earth below Trebor's feet. He turned to question Ilima, but he was nowhere to be seen. Trebor closed his eyes and wished for death, but death did not come. Help did not come. Only the darkness of fear surrounded him. Then, he awoke.
February 05, 2009
The Awakening: Part 3
The silence spread throughout the kingdom as all manner of life seemed to sense this change of nature. The birds stopped singing, the insects quit their chirping and buzzing and foraging, the land animals were also silent as if waiting for a predator to attack them at any given moment. Fear gripped the doctor for he felt it too. All around, there was a heavy presence. A presence that penetrated the flesh and could almost peer into the inner being. Before the doctor could say anything all the nurses fled the room in pure panic of this unnatural thing.
The king rushed out of the way as the nurses fled in terror. At this he stormed into the room to demand that the doctor explain his dear brides condition and the explanation of the terrified nurses, and then, he stopped. He could not believe his eyes. There standing before him was his bride. She was covered in a white gown with silver thread woven into the silk fabric. On her feet she wore nothing except skin as soft as goose down. Her head was adorned with a crown of silver so intricately woven that one could see one's reflection in the shine. The crown was also interlocked with jewels made of ruby, sapphire, and emeralds. The last thing that held the kings gaze was a simple pendant that hung from the lady's neck. In this pendant was the same gem that was the cause of the transformations of these souls. The doctor knew not what to do except stand at his post and wait for a command. "You are dismissed." The order had not fully been released from his master's lips when the poor man left.
"I was so worried about you", the king said with heart. The queen smiled and came close to her husband, "my love, I was in no more danger than you were when you first touched the gem yourself. We are the same again and we will be for a long, long time." With this, they embraced and in that moment, in that one touch of those two entities, time began again.
It will be many years before the two will realize the full importance of this change and it will be a long and hard road that they will have to travel before they can even scratch the surface of understanding it. Dunui kai nates. Se omni ferch salk gomse. (Farewell my friend. May your day be blessed.) Haved nakir govnare bonhari yoonar. (We shall meet again soon.)
The king rushed out of the way as the nurses fled in terror. At this he stormed into the room to demand that the doctor explain his dear brides condition and the explanation of the terrified nurses, and then, he stopped. He could not believe his eyes. There standing before him was his bride. She was covered in a white gown with silver thread woven into the silk fabric. On her feet she wore nothing except skin as soft as goose down. Her head was adorned with a crown of silver so intricately woven that one could see one's reflection in the shine. The crown was also interlocked with jewels made of ruby, sapphire, and emeralds. The last thing that held the kings gaze was a simple pendant that hung from the lady's neck. In this pendant was the same gem that was the cause of the transformations of these souls. The doctor knew not what to do except stand at his post and wait for a command. "You are dismissed." The order had not fully been released from his master's lips when the poor man left.
"I was so worried about you", the king said with heart. The queen smiled and came close to her husband, "my love, I was in no more danger than you were when you first touched the gem yourself. We are the same again and we will be for a long, long time." With this, they embraced and in that moment, in that one touch of those two entities, time began again.
It will be many years before the two will realize the full importance of this change and it will be a long and hard road that they will have to travel before they can even scratch the surface of understanding it. Dunui kai nates. Se omni ferch salk gomse. (Farewell my friend. May your day be blessed.) Haved nakir govnare bonhari yoonar. (We shall meet again soon.)
September 07, 2008
The Awakening: Part 2
"Dana nashi kilonah salifnara. Eshlanhe nirnak bolshem..." On and on the queen uttered these strange words. This made the head physician nervous. He had felt that the Queen's heart was racing as fast as wild stallions and she also had a fever that was so extreme that the physician was sure she would not survive through the night. "Bring more water." The maid left and as the door opened the physician saw the king pacing back and forth in the hall. "He will do no better than her", he thought. As the physician looked at the queen for the last time before leaving to tell the king of her condition he saw a most dazzling sight. The light that had surrounded the queen grew brighter than day. Her eyes, now open, had become white pupil-less orbs. Her complexion took on an angelic hue of which no one has to this day been able to describe. "What is this?" The physician could not believe his eyes. The queen's features began to change as well. Her face, leaner, sharper, and more forbearing, her arms, legs and torso, these became longer, harder, stronger. Her ears became pointed like the elves of long ago and her hair turned white like a dove. Still speaking in the strange language, these transformations came to and end. And then, silence.
June 10, 2008
The Awakening: Part 1
"Is she alright? Please tell me she is alright." The strain in the kings voice was a sad thing to hear. "Please tell me what is going to happen to her or I will go mad." The nurse sighed and said," I don't know and neither does the doctor." She was getting nervous as well. What had happened to the queen? She had not been told anything except that the queen had fainted and that it was the utmost importance to the king to revive her.
The king paced outside the door to the queens private chamber. This the doctor knew, but what he did not know was what was happening right in front of him. The queen had opened her eyes but was not awake. Instead she seemed to be in a trance of sorts. She was speaking in a strange language, but this was not what was bothering the doctor. A light seemed to be emitting from her majesty. A light that moved and swirled around her. It would change colors and grow brighter and then dimmer, but never disappearing.
The king paced outside the door to the queens private chamber. This the doctor knew, but what he did not know was what was happening right in front of him. The queen had opened her eyes but was not awake. Instead she seemed to be in a trance of sorts. She was speaking in a strange language, but this was not what was bothering the doctor. A light seemed to be emitting from her majesty. A light that moved and swirled around her. It would change colors and grow brighter and then dimmer, but never disappearing.
February 14, 2008
The Kiss
The kiss caught the queen off guard and for a fleeting moment she was lost in a world, a world which she had only known when she was with her love. She lost herself in that kiss, that one gentle kiss that said so much. Then he pulled away, her breathing still labored, and gazed into her eyes. She saw then that the stranger was her love. She screamed for joy.
The king leaned over to his personal aid and wispered a command. The aid went to the carrage, brought back the chest, and opened it revealing the treasures inside. The king took out the diomond and presented it to his love. The beauty of the gem stunned the queen and she reached out to touch it. As her fingers brushed across the serface a light flashed and then darkness.
The king leaned over to his personal aid and wispered a command. The aid went to the carrage, brought back the chest, and opened it revealing the treasures inside. The king took out the diomond and presented it to his love. The beauty of the gem stunned the queen and she reached out to touch it. As her fingers brushed across the serface a light flashed and then darkness.
February 07, 2008
To continue the story....
The men that were still at the camp were baffled about the transformation of the king and they asked many questions. So the king told them everything that had happened. After this the king brought his belongings together and left for the his home.
When he arived at his palace the queen came to greet him, but when she saw him she was worried for she did not see her love and and did not recognize the stranger that exited the coach. She began to wonder if a terrible thing had happened to her love and this king from a faraway land had come to take the kingdom from them. She raced to the king and asked where her love was for she was worried. Then the strange king did something she did not expect. The king bent forward and took the queen in his arms and kissed her ever so gently.
When he arived at his palace the queen came to greet him, but when she saw him she was worried for she did not see her love and and did not recognize the stranger that exited the coach. She began to wonder if a terrible thing had happened to her love and this king from a faraway land had come to take the kingdom from them. She raced to the king and asked where her love was for she was worried. Then the strange king did something she did not expect. The king bent forward and took the queen in his arms and kissed her ever so gently.
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