Once upon a time, in the great wide Wilds of Karamoon, a small elven healer strode the forest paths. She was a timid thing and headstrong, but her heart was good and her intentions only to help. She spent much time in wandering and studying the earth and the Goddess Ambrea, learning what was needed to become Amandil to her people. She listened joyously to the songs the forest sang and the stories the earth told. She was happy
One day in her innocent wanderings she noticed a shadowy cloaked figure who did not belong. She followed him, stalking along his path as only elves can, shadowing the shadowed man. He seemed to me no harm, so finally she approached him, asking him who he was and why he had come to the forests. You see, the little healer was bold at times, and not always polite
The man smelled like he belonged, of the woods and deep forests. However, he kept his face in shadow, she could see little of his features even with her keen elven eyes. HIs skin was dark, as was his hair, though he spoke not like a drow. 'Vedui' he says, greeting her as she greeted him 'I mean no harm.' Did she believe him? It is hard to say. Regardless, she was intrigued.
(Image courtesy of Alastair)
So, the curious little healer stalked the man. She spoke with him every time she could track him down, though he would only pass a few words with her in a meeting. You see, the little healer had a gift. She could feel the emotions of others. And the dark stranger drew her like moths are drawn to fire. The shadowy man had demons on his soul and they were ravenging him. The little healer could not resist.
Finally the day came when the little healer finally pressed the dark man to the point that he revealed his chilling secret, the demon the gnawed at his heart and soul. The dark man was tainted. He was lycan. The headstrong little healer was not daunted. She told him he could be saved, she told him in all her confidence that he could still be good, safe, a protector, and a guardian. Oh, but the shadowed man did not believe her and ran from her in fear. Not fear of her, but fear for her.
Yet again, the little healer stalked him, stupidly, bravely, reminding him at every turn that she did not fear him, that she could help him, that she knew a place for him to call his own. And the little healer believed all she told him with all her heart, though the shadowed man could not give in to the hope she threw at him at every turn. He was too broken, too abused, too fearful of what he had become. One day, he gave in to his demons, he tried to suicide by attacking an orc.
"What the shadowed man didn't know was that the orc knew the little healer well, he knew that she would heal any left on her doorstep, and he had not wished to kill the shadowed man. So, the orc deposited the battered and broken man right into the little healer's hands. And what did she do, you might ask? Of course, she did what any self respecting moron would do. She kidnapped the shadowed man, spirited him away to her home and locked him in. She nursed him gently and sent word to the Elders, asking them to come and meet this broken man, to meet him and assure him and give him a place, a purpose.
(Image courtesy of Alastair)
And that meeting went nearly as perfectly as the little healer could have wished... except for one thing. She was taken to task for her headstrong ways, for her rather idiotic actions. She did not regret her choices though, she stood by them and still does. You see, the shadowed man lived up to her expectations. He became her brother in all but blood. Though he does not always make the right choice, rash by nature, his heart is pure. She was his savior and he repays that by being her staunch protector, even when she does not wish it. And he has lived up to her rather high expectations, even though many would not agree with her.
This story is my own history, my own story and that of the elf, Alastair. This is the story of how I saved him, not from death, but from himself. It was the beginning of his story, the turning point that changed his life forever, and mine as well. For good? I'd like to think so...... My tale is finished, though the story continues even now.
(Story from the histories of Kia SIlvercloud and Alastair Wylder)
No comments:
Post a Comment