Atop a lone hill, amidst a dying forest, lies a castle in ruin. In the front of the dark, dreary castle, lies a huge broken statue of a falcon. Still, it sits upright with its wings spread wide, defiant, never giving up against the world. In a few months the forest will be dead, just as my heart is. I stand here alone in the tallest tower, of my castle, in the long forgotten kingdom of Falcos in the land of Comisha Prime, gazing out across the dying landscape.
I disappeared a week ago, from Beauty's Bend. I had to get away. Lately, now more than ever, I have been haunted severely by the ghosts of my past. But you know that already. The only place I could think of coming to was here. The place of my birth. The long ago abandoned castle known to history, legend, and lore as Falcos, kingdom of the falcons. I stand here now two turns of the seasons from my death. Of these last turns of the seasons of my life, I choose to pay for my crime. My crime of loving you. I can hear destiny call to me each time the wind blows. Each time I hear the laughter of a child, I feel a heaviness upon my heart so dark that the darkest shadow in the deepest cavern is hundreds of times brighter.
This morning I was gathering wood for carving. I was returning with an arm full of wood when I heard my three falcons screeching, and to my utter surprise, children screaming. I had found the young falcons here upon my arrival. It seemed as if their mother had abandoned them. I gave her the benefit of the doubt and settled on the idea that she had died trying to bring them food. They were old enough to fly but needed the push. They took the flying like fish to water. They seem to have adopted me as their mother. And in doing so have become my protectors. So be it.
At once I headed into the castle dropping the pieces of fine wood that I had spent the last three days looking for. The voices of children echoing throughout the halls came closer to me as I went. With my armor on I made no noise. The light reflected ghostly off of the black, purple, silver, with flecks of pick throughout the armor. It was well crafted by the best dwarven armorors and enchanted by the most powerful elven Wishers. It had served me for near two and a half centuries. I moved swiftly, and silently through the barren castle. I had decades and decades of experince to thank for that. I could see the soft wind blow past my falcon shaped head armor through the hood of my cloak. The silver beak seemed to absorb the light instead of reflecting it, thank the elven magic for that. At my hip was beautifully crafted sword, crafted by an Emmortal or so they told me. My black cloak, which played with my ankles, glided with the wind like a silk dancer. I imagined the ripples it was making through the huge emblem of the Warriors of the Light embroidered at the center.
Inverting light about my, cloaking me from even to sharpest of eyes, I walked into the room where the voices were coming from. There upon what was left of my throne was a girl crouched down, sobbing. She was no older than twelve seasons old. Her light brownish blonde hair hung around her shoulders. She had a sleeveless gray dress that hung down to her ankles. Underneath the dress she wore an white top that reached out and covered her shoulders and slipped down to her elbows. Her lovely dark blue eyes looked more confused that frightened. I could make out a trail that ran down her face. She had been crying. I could smell the fright leaving her. It was almost gone. At once my human half felt for this human child.
Before her was the female falcon. Her solid white feathers stood out well in the light. Her purple eyes were glued onto somthing. Her claws were extracted ready for the kill. This perplexed me because she was now in a mode of protecting the human girl.
As my eyes looked below the broken throne, I saw why the female falcon stood in front of the girl. A shaggy female dog was barking insanely at the falcon. Slobber hung from her mouth flying as she barked. Her white spotted tan fur moved slightly as she heaved each bark. Her tail was wagging to and fro, meaning that she didn't want to attack, only scare the falcon away. My first thought was that the dog was about to attack the girl and the female falcon was protecting her. But that thought was quickly shattered when two boys ran into room with wooden swords.
The older was about ten seasons old. He had dirty brown hair and blue eyes. He wore tan deer skin pants. This made my elfish half scream out, but I quickly silenced it. He wore a rabbit skin top, all tan-gray with streaks white here and there. The elven blood in me rumbled again about respect for the forest creatures, but I quickly silenced it.
The next younger one was about eight seasons old. He had light brown hair and blue green eyes. He wore blue pants and a gray top. Some symbol had been woven into the shirt.
They ran in screaming and tripping over each other.
"Sarah!" the older boy screamed to the girl upon the throne. "The other two falcons trapped Dayshar in a pit. He can't get out!" "Calm down," Sarah said in a warm, soothing voice. Her gaze moved from the boys to the dog to the falcon. "I think this falcon is trying to protect me."
"She is," I spoke in a monotone voice shattering the silence that hugged me like a warm soft blanket in the winter. The boys turned swords in hand and gasped their mouths hanging open as I let go of the inverted light and seemed to appear out of thin air.
"Easy now," I said raising my hand emerging from the shadows as if emerging from black water. "I surrender to you."
Their eyes got wide and then they held up their swords higher. I lifted up my arm and the female falcon took two steps sideways and struck down towards the girl. The boys gasped again. The falcon glided up through the rafters and finally landed on my arm. In her beak she had a copper viper. The dog began to bark at the falcon insanely.
"You trained those falcons to attack kids?" the younger boy asked. I could feel the elfen blood in him.
"Ben!" the girl yelled nervously. "Don't be rude. I told you and Dhovan the falcon was trying to protect me. And it's a good thing too. That is a copper viper. If it had bit me or you whelps you, would have died. There's not stragglish root and burm anywhere near here to make the antidote."
I looked to her. The things she was saying were true, but known only to the most powerful healers on the planet. Probing her I could tell she was going to be a powerful Healer. Not a normal healer of just physical world, but of near all the fabric colors. The Darnashi would name her a goddess.
The dog continued to bark at me. << I'm a friend >>, I put to her. << Susie thank bird for help my friend >> the dog sent to me. I knelt and stretched out my hand to the dog, the female falcon taking two steps on my shoulder. She whimpered and came to me.
"Careful Ben," hissed. "That dog is an attack dog."
"That's okay Susie," I said as I began to pet Susie. "Dayshar will be fine."
"How did you know their names?" Dhovan asked nervously stealing a quick glance at Sarah. He was very suspicious of me. The human adult world was indeed harsh. It had already began poisoning this one's mind.
Ignoring him, I stood feeling the room for other presences. There was a little girl in the closet on the far side of the room. She was really afraid and huddled down I could hear her heart thumping so fast as she strained to hear. She was no older that five seasons old. I probed with my mind and told her that her brothers and sister were all right. To my surprise she answered by thanking me. 'The younger the child the more powerful,' I remembered Shandor telling me once. 'For the world hasn't had enough time to poison them yet.'
"Don't you talk?" Ben asked me cocking his head with curiosity.
I felt for Dayshar. There he was about one hundred and forty four feet from the northern part of Falcos.
"He's probably mad that we trespassed into his home?" Sarah asked concerned. "We apologizes Sire. We didn't mean to cause trouble." She paused trying to read me. "We've been coming here to play for two years now. We never have seen anyone here before. We've heard ghosts here walking among the rafters."
I looked up and said, "Get your sister from the closet. She is terrified. Then let us go and get your dog."
The boys looked at each other and then to Sarah. Sarah startled nodded. The boys went to it and Sarah came to me. She curtsied and then said, "Please forgive this intrusion Sire." The falcon on my shoulder eyed her uneasily. I sent the female falcon. << It's okay. >> The falcon nodded. << You must find your brothers and return to me >> The falcon screeched << You be okay with children? >> she asked. << I'll be fine >> I answered.
"Sire?" Sarah asked knuckling her hands, concern painting her face. She wanted me to see she wasn't afraid by standing within an arms length of me. She addressed me lady like; her eyes meeting mine. This showed the utmost respect. I looked to her and bowed my head a little. "Please forgive me," I answered her. "My mind has been else where. And please, just call me Aerios."
She looked at me sideways. "Aerios? now where have I heard that name before?"
I turned and quickly hurried for the door. She followed only to stop to wave at her brothers and her little sister.
"He feels all tingly," the little girl giggled.
Sarah put her hand over her sisters mouth, "hush now Emily, none of that now. We must go and get Dayshar now."
"Okay!" Emily laughed as she ran on ahead. The other boys ran to catch up with Emily.
"We are in so much trouble," Sarah mumbled as she ran to catch up with the rest.
They caught up to me and fell back a little as I walked straight to where the other two male falcons had trapped the other dog. They were mumbling pointing at me. I saw all using the "all around sight" the ancient elf's had taught me. I could have heard what they were saying too, but I decided not to. I looked up and saw the three falcons circling high around me. Susie fell back to were the children were when she saw the falcons.
Dayshar was trapped in the tunnels, that surrounded Falcos's east side ending here at the northern part of the castle. They had been filled in. The rain and wind had weakened an old part of it. The falcons had discovered this a few days ago and warned me. I should have marked it but didn't.
Ben ran to the side of the cave-in and tears filled his eyes. "Dayshar!" he sobbed. He turned to the others and cried "how are we going to get him out?"
Sarah held Emily back as Dhovan ran to the side of the cave in. He paced back and forth. "Take heart," I said kneeling on one knee. They jumped back as I had startled them. Pulling my hood down I comforted them, "Your dog will be fine. Here back up." I pushed them back gently with my hands and began to concentrate on the Light. I felt the Light course through me; No-Magic, an elder Shalar had told me once. Shalar are known as those who walk outside of the boundries of all that there is. They are not as powerful as Emmortals, but almost. Their goal in life is to find Emmortals. I felt the dog and calmed him down. Emily began to giggle. "That tickles," she laughed. My head shot to her and Sarah held her closer. I turned to concentrate on the dog. I felt him lift up. The falcons landed in the trees around us. I felt the children begin to get scared, all save Emily. She was probing out towards me. I blocked her off. I didn't want her to find out too much about me. She poked at my shield but, I knew she wouldn't break through. She wouldn't be able to for another three years, without training. She was going to be a powerful Reality Twister one day.
A Reality Bender is one of the rare beings on the planet that could "bend" or shape reality to thier liking. After the Age of Harvest many of the most powerful Reality Benders were exterminated by three orders of knights, the Black Gauntlet, the Order of the Blue Orbs, and the Mystics. Now a days the most powerful Reality Benders can only influence reality to a certain extent. More feared amoung them were the Reality Twisters. These beings were like demi-gods, changing, and molding reality to thier pleasures. Only one out of ten thousand Reality Benderswere strong enough to survive the trials of Myrdoth in the land of the Sleeping Oaks to become a Reality Twister.
She was also going to be a magic user if I didn't miss my guess. I frowned when I felt Necromantic tendencies in her. I'd have to speak with her later.
I stood and walked towards them all the time feeling the dog raise higher. I felt the entire area for five miles to make sure there were no other surprises in store for me. The only things I felt were a family of rabbits, three squirrels and a wolf running in a meadow playing with the wind leaving the boundaries of my feeling. He tried to touch me but I wiped the feeling from his mind and made him forget he felt me. He then continued on. The closer I went to Sarah and Emily the more I could feel the pokes coming from Emily. Emily frowned confused. She didn't understand. The boy Dhovan was going to be a super powerful Mind Wielder in a mere ten years. A Mind Wielder was one who had perfect control over his mind. One could shape things from the raw power of its mind. These powers drained the person much. Mind Weidlers often spent time wandering other planes. I saw him at age thirteen five seasons from now struggling with the headaches. I'd have to give him my old Alographia Ring before they left, that would help with the headaches much. I let the Fabric of Time go. I didn't even remember reaching for it. Such power in the bloodline of this family. But that didn't matter to me. My probings were instinctive. I shielded myself and shut off my probing. I let the shield about Emily go. She shook her head. In the back of my head I could still feel her probing me. She stood confused feeling the No-Magic come from me lifting the dog and the No-Magic not coming from me. Another powerful trick I had learned from the ancient elf's. She frowned once more she had never felt anything like this, and gave up her probing. I was relieved.
"Fear not," I said. "Dayshar will be okay."
Sarah held Emily a little closer as Susie rubbed up against her. Her face said that she was really frightened. The others looked at her. Then Ben poked her. She gave him a dark look and them gulped. "You are one of those Falcon Knights aren't you?" she asked nervously.
I nodded, and the boys looked at each other and smiled greatly.
"Have you ever slayed a dragon?" Ben asked.
"I'm going to ask him," Dhevon said shifting uneasily.
"Don't!" Sarah warned. "We've already angered him enough."
Dhevon came before me and stabbed his wooden sword into the ground and knelt on one knee. He bowed his head and placed his two hands and the tip of the hilt of the sword towardsme, as I looked on in horror. "By all that you honor, will you sit with us and share your story?" At once I was bound by a promise that had come from my own lips and what was left of my honor. This was an extremely ancient form of communication among Knights of Old. Knights would ask this of each other, it was a noble way of getting to know of each other. I had no choice, I was bound by a promise of old.
"Who taught you to say that?" I rasped in horror. I'd hoped that these children would leave after I'd rescued their dog.
"I read the way knights did that to each other in an old, old book," Dhovan replied as he smiled. He knew he had done something important but didn't have a clue of what exactly he just did. He had bounded me to them. I'd have to do all they asked of me now. Maybe if I didn't say much I'd not endanger them. And they'd not ask much of me.
"Dhovan is always reading books," Sarah put in trying to releive the tension.
I placed my left hand over my heart and said, "By my honor as a Knight of the Falcon I am bound to offer you my home and most humble appreciation for your recognition. What is mine is yours. Will you sup with me tonight?" That was the proper response. It made no difference that they were not knights. I was bound by my promise.
They all looked at each other unsure of what to say. Finally it was Sarah that spoke up. "Well I'm sure that mother will not mind if we come in a little late this evening. Anyway I'm in charge now that she is gone to see Aunty Glemar." The others clapped and then she finished by saying, "Besides we've finished all of our chores early." She smiled. I almost smiled, then it caught my eye. I noticed what Emily was holding in her hands. A stuffed bear with one eye missing and blue ribbons tied about it's neck. My heart skipped a beat. That is when I felt the dog land safely on the ground in back of me. "Your dog is safe," I remember saying forcing my eyes away from the teddy bear. It instilled so much fear in me, but a sense of relief too.
We walked back to the castle and Sarah made us some chicken broth. The boys put kindling on the fire. Emily sat and continued to eyeball me. She was sitting by Sarah. I sat by three blank books. I wished Emily would quit eyeballing the way she did but, she was curious and would eventually figure out a way. She very determined to probe me. I could never let that happen though. I'd not endanger any others I remembered my oath. I quickly changed my train of thought to the boys, lest I broke down right there in the midst of them all. After a few moments the fire began to crackle. We all sat around in a circle just as the ancient Knights used too.
"Before I begin I must ask you to promise not tell a soul that you found me here today. And also I ask that you not repeat my tale to another living soul so long as I'm here." I held out my hands and Dhovan and Sarah took my hands. Then Emily took Sarah's and Ben took Dhevon's. Then Emily and Ben took each others. We now formed a circle. "In order for this promise to take place, you must submit to it. You must give your most heartfelt promise and I warn you now, when you submit, you will be held by this promise until the guidelines I've laid are met." I hated to do this, binding them to their word in the ancient wizardly way, but it was for their own protection. They all nodded in agreement and I reached out with the Light and touched each one with my soul. Then the trickle ended and I felt the bond there stronger than steel. The promise was made, cemented in honor. Now I could tell them what they wanted, without putting them in danger.
"Was that magic?" Dhovan asked.
"Yes," I answered. Emily smiled. "Let us eat." We ate and as we did I began to tell them my tale.
"I begin my tale with a question," I spoke. They all nodded with excitement. "You recognize me as a Falcon Knight right?"
"A Knight of the Falcon," Ben replied nodding with fire in his eyes. He held his sword tightly in his hands.
"Good," I replied. I felt comfortable in the fact that I knew I could share my tale with these children. For it is the child that truly understands without doubt or fear of belief. I felt like a Teller of Legends. I'd always wanted to be one of those. I continued, "My tale is not of the Knights of the Falcon as you know them today, but of the birth and the first Knights of the Falcon."
"The originals?" Sarah gasped. "The Knights of the Falcon of Legend? How can that be?"
"Yes," Dhovan replied. "All of that happened over two hundred thirty years ago."
"These tales I know," I replied, my eyes glossed over as I drifted a million miles away. "For I was there."
"You must be very old then," Ben laughed.
Sarah hit him in the arm and he made as if to hit her with his sword but then gasped as I suddenly replied, "I'm two hundred and eighty six turns of the seasons." A silence filled the room. I started the tale again. "These tales I'm going to scribe in these books so that all can hear my tale."
The children sat in awe. Then Sarah spoke up, "I can scribe for you."
"Yes," Dhovan answered. "She scribes well. She can scribe as fast as mother talks. And mother talks very fast."
"Are you one of the originals?" Emily asked.
I shuddered at her question. I turned to her, "Yes," I answered softly.
They gasped in amazement. "You lived through the Legendary Light Crusades?" Ben asked. I nodded.
"Did you know him?" Dhovan almost choked. "Did you know... the Falcon?" They all smiled and shook their heads all in amazement. "I did," I answered softly. These children knew much. They all laughed and clapped in utter excitment. Then they slew me with a huge barrage of questions. I held up my hand and said, "please, I'll tell you everything. But you must be patient. A story had a begining and an end, you must let it take you were it may." They settled down. The two boys lay on the rug in front of the fire place and Emily lay between them. "I looked at Sarah and nodded towards the books. "These tales I tell you, I'll let you scribe but, you must allow me to pay you in return. Sarah nodded and quickly made her way to the books. She took one and began scribing. I noticed that she could scribe as fast as I could talk. And so I began. "In the time before the Forging, better known as the Time of the Gathering, when all we children came together to form the Knights of the Falcon, the times were dark. When we created the Knights of the Falcon a bond was made between us all. We all felt what all the others were feeling. We all shared each others memories. So these words that I say are true for in a way I have lived the lives of each of the Knights of the Falcon. Yes even the good king Falcon himself. This tale begins with him in fact, well before the Forging, in fact a ways before the Gathering."
"The Gathering?" Dhovan gasped. "You really were there weren't you?"
I nodded, "The tales I tell you will be from the perspective of the Knights of the Falcon. But mainly through the eyes of the Falcon for this tale begins and ends with him in a great circle of fire. These legends that you are so familiar with, all began when two dared to love. The first part of the tale begins with him, so I'll tell it trough his eyes. I think his words would have gone something like this..." I felt an eerieness descend upon us as I began.
I'm here to tell you of a crime. My crime of loving her... Robyn. I admit whole heatedly that I am guilty of this crime to the fullest extent, and even beyond that. To pay for this crime, I will dwell back in my life to that adventurous time, forever reminding people of us the Knights of the Falcon. With all that has happened to us, I still can feel the searing pain. My heart never healed from the first blow of losing you. The pain from the past is starting to flood my heart. It is opening once again the scars that had at one time healed. I had forgotten how long, painful, and treacherous the road has been. I guess turning off your feelings makes you forget much. Only now do I remember. It only gets worse. I hope that I can bear the pain, and continue on with my story. I cannot believe that I choose to travel this road once again, but our story must be told.
My love for you is still undying. I will use my love for you to give me the strength to finish our story. I will finish this, because it needs to be said. I want this world to see what it has done to all of us.
"Such hatred, "Dhovan said.
"Do not judge," I replied. "Until you hear the whole tale. Sit back and listen and let the tale take you were it will." Dhovan sat back as I continued the tale through the eyes of the good king Falcon.
I do remember that you enjoyed my poetry, so the first part of this story, I will tell to you in poetry, in honor of you Robyn. God, there is so much, where do I begin?...Yes, I know, I will start from the beginning, when the Darkness from the south arose.....
I once had a kingdom full of peace and good,
A place where you and I together once stood.
But, when the Darkness from the south arose,
What happened? If only my heart could know.
I remember a day when joy filled the land,
For you and I were together, hand in hand.
Everyone knew that we were meant to be,
You and I together, so happily.
I showed you dedication and undying love,
To beauty that rivaled that of angels above.
I humbly placed a ring upon your finger,
To prove to you my love would always linger.
I gave you many beautiful treasures,
My heart thanked you for your beauty's pleasures.
I treated you best and asked you to be my Queen,
I loved you so greatly, as all had always seen.
Then one day I gave you a treasure apart,
For to you I offered, above all, my heart.
I would die for you, to protect your grace,
For you to the ends of the world would I race.
Bolting along on my fiery steed ablaze,
Any army, with my true might, would I amaze.
Your awesome beauty still leaves me spellbounded,
Your mystic essence was indeed well rounded.
My heart cried out for your beauty so bold,
For it reached out and touched my lonely soul.
Your beauty has the great might of a million stars,
Its more charishable than a trillion gold bars.
At first my heart didn't know how to love at all,
But you crushed that all and made the Darkness fall.
Oh, how I yearned to give you but a kiss,
That would have propelled me to utter bliss.
We would ride by each other on unicorns wing,
You the lovely and graceful queen, and I the king.
I truly loved you greatly my lovely queen,
For great beauty like yours, I, had never seen,
I treated you like a gentleman should,
I did, for you, everything that I could.
You were and are still my hearts deepest desire,
My heart, of loving you, would never dare tire.
Your shiny persona overpowered me,
Slayed the cold darkness and brought me to my knee.
I bowed, red rose in hand, before your grace,
And in your trust, my dark heart, did I place.
You conquered my dark world, brought life, and made it thrive,
You were the energy that kept my world alive.
Death claimed my father, what fate had created,
Was for me to replace the rash belated.
I wanted not to become a true king,
But, as long as I had you, bliss did sing.
In the kingdom of Falcos, peace reined with allure,
Our love bloomed like orchids with many a color.
Though we were attacked we survived peacefully,
Our love had to become a love secretly.
I loved with all of my hearts delight,
I loved you with all of my hearts plain might.
Just when I was to give you a kiss and a rose,
That time is when the Darkness from the south arose.
Silence riened in the room as I looked upon the childeren.
"The tale of the Knights of the Falcon starts here in this broken castle?" Ben asked. I nodded. I could tell that Sarah, Dhovan, and Ben now wondered just what ghosts walked this lonely castle. Emily nodded her head in anticipation as she clapped her hands together smothering her teddy bear. I shuddered at the sight of it. I continued, the Falcon speaking through me once more...
God, I had forgotten how deep the agony goes. The pain is overwhelming, but, I must press on. On the day the circle began, I knew something was amiss. I was walking in the corner of the royal gardens of Falcos where the wizards all said nothing would grow. Nothing had grown there for centuries. No matter how hard the royal gardeners would try to make things grow, they couldn't. Over time the gardeners gave up.
Well there, in the corner, amidst a bouquet of pretty, sweet, and sour smelling, flowers stood a single, dying black rose. I had a lot on my mind, becoming king and all, so I thought nothing of the dying, black rose. Now that I think about it, maybe someone was trying to warn me of what we were going to endure.
Two months before I had ascended to the throne of Falcos after my father had died of old age. I didn't want to become a king, still I don't want to be king. I am still. I guess you are what this world makes you to be.
On my head, I was wearing metallic head armor, molded to the likeness of a falcon. The head armor was all black and purple and its beak was silver. The beak protruded out and covered my entire face. A long black cloak was draped from my shoulders, and I had the hood of my cloak down. I also had my full plated armor on. My armor was black, purple, and silver with tiny bits of pink scattered throughout the armor. Although it was a burden, and very heavy, I didn't care. I liked it. Seldomly did I take it off. The only times I did was when I was with you, alone. I loved you, and cherished the times we had together.
"His armor was like yours?" Emily asked.
"All of the first Knights of the Falcon had armor like mine," I responded; she smiled, and nodded and I continued.
I remember as if it were yesterday. I was thinking of you. I was so wired and anxious to see you. Finally I was going to have an opportunity to see you. Your mom. the Queen of the Beauty's Bend, would never approve of our love. She was the greatest power in the world. I had been away for a week. I had been being trained in the use of a sword by a knight who had come from another country His name was Sir Honor. We got along extremely well. He taught me how to fight with a sword. The only thing that I did not like about my lessons, was that they kept me away from you. I was thinking about my lessons and the things that had happened over the last week. Deep in thought, I was suddenly snatched back into reality by a voice from behind me. My training kicked in. I drew my sword and my cloak flew when I thrusted around. It was only my Squire.
"Your majesty!" the Squire shouted as he crouched down and raised his hands in defense, "It is only me your Squire! I'm sorry to have startled you." He had a look of concern on his face. His long dirty-blonde hair hung in his face, hiding his deep brown eyes. His light skinned face relaxed.
"That is all right", I replied in a low, weak voice, putting my sword back into its sheath. "Had I known it was you, I honestly would not have drawn my sword. I have had a lot on my mind lately." I lowered my head and raised my hand. "Please, please forgive me."
"Yes, your majesty," the Squire replied as he stood up, "I have come to tell you that your love, and Queen, Robyn, awaits you in the throne room."
I raised my head; the mere mention of your name brought life to my soul. "Thank you," I replied with a great smile. " tell Robyn that I will be there shortly."
"Yes, your majesty" the Squire said as he began to run, then he stopped and returned. The Squire cocked his head and then asked hesitantly. "Your majesty, why is Queen Robyn queen of Falcos, when you two are not even married yet?"
"This is my kingdom." I replied with wrath in my voice; I mean how dare he say that about you? "I did not ask to be king, yet I am king. I will do whatever I wish, if I say that Robyn be Queen, then that will be so!" My voice lowered after I heard how mean I must have sounded. I placed my head in my hands and said, "Look at how I have become, talking to my Squire the way that I have." I reached out my hand to my Squire and he took it, "My dear Squire, please I beg of you..."
"No need," the Squire replied. He smiled and put his other hand on my shoulder to give me comfort, "I know the burden that has been pplaced upon your shoulders. Inheriting this whole kingdom, a people to take care of," he lowered his voice and added, "the death of your father. These are indeed trying times. Please, the only way that I will be happy, is if you go and see your... our queen. I know how hard it must be for you not to have seen Queen Robyn in over a week. Go now. I've never whitnessed a love as powerful as yours."
"Thank you, my squire." I replied, "No king in the world is more luckier than I to have a Squire like you in his court."
The Squire smiled and then rushed off. He turned back before he entered the castle. The Squire shouted back over his shoulder, "I will announce to Queen Robyn that you are coming!" The Squire began to run again but this time he ran into the wall, fell down, mumbled something and then took off running again. He disappeared into the castle as I turned around. I shook my head. I had known the Squire, before he had become my Squire, for five years now. We were good friends. I enjoyed his company and our talks.
I walked in through the royal gardens on the south side of the castle. Once again I passes the black rose, not paying any attention to it. The castle was emaculate. Flowers of all sorts bloomed everywhere. Statues of Angels and falcons and the sort were scattered everywhere also. Magic played there. Birds chirped in the air and the clouds were like cotton hanging in the air. The warmth of the sun was joy itself. The castle had all of the best fineries that money could buy. I cared not for these though. I had no need for expensive things. This had angered my father, my dilike of money. I could not help that I liked simple things. I didn't care though, I was me and no one could change that.
I soon found myself on the fifth floor of my castle, and stopped to look out of a window. I looked upon the street below, lined with merchants, selling the food, that the farmers had grown. I saw the hustle of the people below, and wondered, what kind of king I would make? I was very questionable about my being king in my younger innocent days.
"Your majesty," a ruff voice called, coming from a room near the window were I was. I turned to look and saw that it was Sir Rage, Ben and Dhovan, "I'm glad to see that you are back," Sir Rage said as he was grinning. He was clad in full plate armor. On his belt there was the symbol of Falcos on it. The symbol of Falcos is that of a falcon with outstretched wings. He had tan skin, curly black hair, and a heart to match his strength. I walked over to him and stood in the doorway.
"You knew Sir Rage!" Ben screamed. "The, Sir Rage!"
"Ben!," Sarah whisped harshly. "Calm down, sit." I smiled and continued through the eyes of the good king Falcon.
Sir Rage was not only my best trusted knight, he was also my best friend. We grew up together in Falcos. He had helped me out, greatly, with my dealing with being king. He was the reason that I had been gone all that week. He told me, in order to become a better king, that I should go and take lessons in how to handle a sword from Sir Honor, a long time friend of his and Sir Lost.
I had used a sword once, when one of my fathers knights had tried to teach me. I started to fling the sword in all directions and entered into the royal stables. I injured three knights, two horses, beheaded two chickens, and a rabbit, before a knight tackled me to the ground. He was angry. I told him that I didn't know that the sword was sharp. He got even more angrier. Soon, when word reached my father of what had happened. He decreed that I was never to use a sword, or any other kind of knives, even to eat! But that is another tale for another time.
Emily giggle and the boys began to laugh. A smile touched my face but quickly vanished as the Falcon took control once more, his words rolling off of my lips.
"I talked with Sir Honor," Sir Rage gruffed as he smiled. "He said that you learned to wield a sword with such quickness, that even he was amazed."
The reason for my learning to wield a sword so quickly, was that I wanted to get back to see you. Yes, you were on my mind the whole time I was gone Robyn.
"Come in and see the rest of us, we have all missed you." Sir Rage said. He stepped back, and let his hand flow across the air into the room. For being sixteen seasons old, he was by all standards huge. He wore dark blue, full plate body armor, and had two maces attached to his back. His maces, he called Quake Maces. When he would hit the ground with them, it would shake however much he wanted. The wise were baffled by this. It seemed Sir Rage was the only one who could make them do that. Sir Rage was a ruff person, never walking away from a fight. He was powerful for his age. What I liked most about him, was that he never abused his strength. He would stop and help a broken down chart, or be the first to help catch runaway cattle. He always stood up for those less weaker than him. He hated bullies. He was often quizzical about things, and he excelled at numbers and mechanical things. He would, most of the times, right wrongs, even if they put his life in danger. One day a stranger accused Maiden Rosepedal of stealing and wanted her beheaded. Sir Rage went in search of the real thief. He was attacked by the thief and his friends. Sir Rage came close to dying that day. He prevailed however and brought them all back. Maiden Rosepedal thanked him. He and I got along extremely well, it was as if, it was meant to be...
I walked in and saw Sir Drakken lounging, with his lion shaped head armor on the table. Sir Drakken was clad in full plate armor. I enjoyed Sir Drakken's company immensely. He was very funny and loved to laugh. He excelled at trickery and playing jokes on other people. He was also very mechanically minded. He and Sir Rage got along very well. They often went off to work on some contraption or another. They had a dream of a carriage that would move under it's own mechanical, combustable, power so that you could ride around in it. Great dreamers, they. Sir Drakken was light skinned and had short wavy brown hair. Although he was only sixteen truns of the season old he wore a goatte all the time. He stood as tall as Sir Rage, but was smaller in build. Sir Drakken had two swords attached to his hips. He called them Swords of Speeder. These were very odd swords. He would command them and they would speed through the air and rip whatever he wanted to shreds. He could bend them with his mind and fold them into a necklace. They had magical properties too, he could command them to dissaper and reappear at will. But, the neatest thing was when anyone else would touch them they would turn to rubber.
When we would all go out camping, we would play a game called 'find the fairies'. When it would be his turn to count, instead of him coming to find us, he would send his swords out. He explained to me once that he could feel them where ever they were. He would command them to find us and wait there for him. We were baffled at how he would find us all so quickly. We soon found out and when confronted, he merely laughed, as did we all. Sir Drakken had lion head armor because he was born in the kingdom of Knyghts, the lion kingdom. I had known Sir Drakken for a bout four years. He came in search one day for a king in need of a knight because, his kingdom had enough knights. My father saw how well he used his Swords of Speeder that could cut through anything and took him in at once. Sir Drakken and I hit it off well. Sir Rage introduced us and like that we were best friends. Sir Drakken had the might of a lion in battle. Although he was only sixteen seasons old himself, he was a mighty warrior and knight.
Sitting down beside him was, his maiden, Dubliet. Sir Drakken met Maiden Dubliet one day at a ball. They fell in love instantly, even though she was fourteen seasons old. Maiden Dubliet was dressed in a long, flowing, ice blue, dress made of the finest silk. She had curly jet black hair that played just below her shoulders. Her eyes were dark brown. Her light brown complexion seemed to shimmer in the light coming through the windows. Her smile could light up a room in the darkest of storms. She was laughing along side Sir Drakken. Don't let her beauty and fine appearance fool you though. I have seen her fight against an Ogre before, in a clearing one day. Dubliet fought that day with a weapon she called the Bo of Dreycond. Dreycond was a powerful plant deity. He was worshipped by a now long lost civilization of frogs. Anyway, Dubliet it seemed, with this Bo, could control the plants. She told the trees to carry the Ogre off and, to my surprise, the trees obeyed! The trees just jumped up and grabbed a hold of the ogre, and ran off with him! And if you think that I was surprised, you should have seen the expression on the Ogres face!
I asked her to stay in Falcos. That night while out in the gardens she met Sir Drakken. She would fall in love with Sir Drakken, and he with she. Next to Dubliet, was Sir Shadow. This knight was a most mysterious individual at best. It's no wonder Maiden Rosepedal fell for him, and it was no surprise that she was sitting by him, singing. Sir Shadow was an honorable thief. He was a free spirit at the age of fifteen seasons. If he saw a weapon that an enemy had that he wanted, he simply took it. Sir Shadow was clad in studded leather armor. His slightly shaggy black hair hung about his face. He had dark brown skin and seldomly smiled. His head armor, which was on the table by his drink, was in the shape of a black phoenix signifying that he came from the kingdom of Zetar, kingdom of the phoenix. He was as silent and deadly as a wild wolf. No lock on Comisha-Prime could stop Sir Shadow.
He wandered into the kingdom of Falcos one day, amidst rumors that there was a plot against my father, the then king. Sir Shadow found the culprit and challenged him to a duel. Needless to say fifty goblins showed in his place. Sir Shadow, along with his Daggers of Klorac which allowed him to be invisible and to disappear through the walls like a ghost, did not run, he chose to fight them. But alas a magi was with the group. The magi captured Sir Shadow in a ball of magic. Sir Shadow thought that all was lost. Just then beautiful music filled the air. Magical, archaic, music. That was when maiden Rosepedal came out of the shadows playing her flute. The flute was given to her by a water sprite, who traded her the flute, for a rare herb. That sprite later used that herb to cure many of her kind from a disease that was plaguing sprites at that time. Maiden Rosepedal was honored greatly amoung the fairies. After she was finished playing the flute, Maiden Rosepedal commanded the goblins and the magi to behead themselves. The goblins did as was commanded. It was an eerie sight. She and I talked once and she told me, in confidence, that her flute had a name. The Flute of Dreams she called it. 'What an odd name for a flute!' I thought. Later Sir Shadow and Maiden Rosepedal confronted and killed the culprit in front of my father, the king, and were rewarded. It was then rumored that the culprit's son was still alive. And was waiting for an opportune time to strike back at Falcos and avenge his fathers death, his name? Guile. Sir Shadow and Maiden Rosepedal were asked to live in the kingdom of Falcos, and here they were together and deeply in love. Rosepedal was happy at the invitation to live in Falcos, especially because she had been born in Falcos, but had moved off. They had both been in Falcos for four years.
Maiden Rosepedal was wearing a purple, beautifully laced, silk dress. She had beautiful long, flowing, black, slightly wavy, hair. Her dark black eyes seemed as if to hypnotize. She always kept and air of confidence about her, even though she was fourteen seasons old. She eminated beauty. We had grown close over the past few years. Sometimes we'd go for walks and talk for hours. Whenever I needed someone to talk to, Maiden Rosepedal was always there to cheer me up. I was always there for her too when she had problems with Sir Shadow or when she just needed somone to talk to.
Next to them at the table were Sir Baux, and Sir Red. These two knights were so much the same that even I sometimes got them mixed up. Sir Red sat at the table with his tiger shaped head armor in front of him and a cross bow strapped over his shoulder. The cross bow he called the Cross Bow of Spells. One day when Sir Red, Sir Baux, Sir Rage, and I were out chasing deer in the forest, I asked him why his crossbow was named so.
"Because," he explained as he took the cross bow and handed it to me with an arrow in it already. "This cross bow is magical. It took me a long time to make this but, finally I have perfected it. Here take aim. Before you release the arrow, think of a spell such as fire, then let the arrow go. See the spell that you want in your mind and see what happens." I aimed the cross bow at a rock. I thought of fire. I imagined it vividly in my mind. I could almost feel the heat and hear the crackle of the fire. Then I let the arrow loose. To my amazement the arrow turned into a huge ball of fire, disintegrating the huge rock. I was amazed, as were we all, save Sir Red. Sir Red was very good at constructing things having to do with magic. He had blonde hair and light blue eyes. He was taller than most of us, but not by much. He had no trouble stealing girls hearts. Most of the time he did so without even trying. He was a real sweet, and tender person inside. He had a dark side too. You just did not want him mad at you. He was fifteen seasons old.
Sir Baux and Sir Red came to Falcos amid a rumor that a nearby kingdom was going to attack. Afterwards when a treaty was signed, I asked them to come and live in Falcos. We hit it off extremely well. We were fast friends. I felt content that that was how things were supposed to be. Which was unusual, I hardly made freinds.
At the table behind Sir Baux was a bow. He too was fifteen seasons old. His bow he called the Bow of Trevor. King Trevor was a very powerful elfen king. Before he died, it was rumored, that King Trevor himself gave Sir Baux the bow for saving his daughter. Sir Red and he tinkered with it until they found out its magical properties.
One day when Sir Rage was dared to go into a dragons den he did so bravely. As he was coming out he tripped over the drake's tail and accidentally woke the drake. He quickly exited the cave with the dragon in pursuit. When he had a clear shot, Sir Baux took aim and yelled out "Stone!" As soon as the arrow hit the dragon, the dragon turned to stone. Then we all ran like a fawn from a forest fire.
Afterwards we all laughed saying that we were not afraid of that dumb old drake. Yeah, and pixies don't fly.In front of Sir Baux was a Falcon shaped head armor. Sir Baux was born in Falcos then took to wandering at a very young age and met up with Sir Red and the rest was history. Sir Red and Sir Baux were out of their full plate armor.
I got along extremely well with Sir Baux. Often at night, we would stay up until dawn, telling each other stories of dragons, and adventures, great, and bold. We would often write stories and let each other read them. Sir Baux was fair skinned and had short, well cut darkish brown hair. Sometimes when we read books he would wear spectacles.
Next to Sir Baux sat Sir Lost, leaning back against the wall. Beside him was his Maiden Maidron. She was sipping her drink and listening to the others. Maidron was dressed in a pinkish blue dress of a fine cloth that I could not recognize. Sir Lost had a hawk shaped head armor in front of him on the table. He came from the kingdom of Meeton, the kingdom of hawks. Sir Lost was a young magi. He loved magic, white magic, but mainly for the good of the forest creatures. He hated war and tried to stay out of wars way. Ironic though that he was a knight, and that he was so good at war. His weapon he called the Light Staff of Daypor. It was rumored that his staff fell from the skies, and he was the only one that could claim it. He could cast a variety of Light spells out of the staff. The rare times that he did was to either help the forest grow, or heal. He mainly liked to be by himself. He was seventeen seasons old. He had short straight darkish brown, hair, and eyes to match. He and I would often talk of girl problems. We'd sometimes wander off by the ponds and talk. He would teach me the plants and the animals and how to heal them. He told me that I had a flair for magic. I simply brushed it off as beginners luck. He also had confided in me that he was begining to show signs of being a Mind Bender. Maiden Maidron, who was sixteen seasons, had a weapon called an Acro Spear. It lay by her side. Her Spear did anything she commanded, from flying around corners, to shape changing in midair. I am not really certain how these two met, or how they fell in love, but they were in love. Each was so like the other that they could not stand it. Many times they broke up but, their love kept on bringing them back together.
Next at the table was my Squire, he was laughing at a joke that was said by Sir Baux. He was so into the celebration, that he did not even notice that Sir Rage and I had entered the room. He quickly jumped to his feet when he saw me and said "You majesty!"
Just then everyone got up and ran to were Sir Rage and I were. After endless hugs and kisses, we all sat down. They all were glad to see me. I was even more glad to see them. These people in this room were the people that I held most dear. Most of us all been together now for five years. I came to cherish them all. This was our own inner circle. We always looked out for each other, always content to being a ragtag bunch of outsiders. We would all have died for each other. Nothing that happened to one of us effected just one, but the whole. We were the best of friends and were a loud bunch. We ate, lived, cried, hoped, and dreamed together, all of us. I could not explain our closeness, but some how we found each other and that was the only explanation needed.
"What are you all celebrating?" I asked, a smile dancing with my face.
"We have just slayed a fierce dragon that was attacking a town nearby", Sir Drakken said with a smirk on his face.
"Do not lie to the king!" gasped Maidron. As she clasped her hand over Sir Drakkens mouth, as if to stop the flow of words.
"Your majesty," Dubliet said in a calm voice, "it was merely a wild dog and we did not slay it. We captured it and let it go by a nearby forest."
"Yeah," chuckled Sir Drakken through tears, "but all here would agree, no? The dog's breath was so fowl, if I would have grabbed him by his ears, and lit a torch in front of his mouth. Would he not have breathed as a dragon does?"
"Sir Drakken!" shouted Dubliet.
No one heard her over the roar of laughter that was coming from everyone including me. It was so weird. Rarely did I laugh. I loved our little group, for this was my family. Here there was no one watching their king, telling him what was proper. Here I could be myself. Sir Rage, and Sir Shadow and I all fell out of our chairs from laughter. Just as I got to my feet I looked up.
"Queen Robyn," said the Squire in shock. "I was coming to get you, to tell you that our King was back, but I saw everyone having a good time in here and I got..."
"That's all right" you said in a calm voice that cut through me like a huge dragon through fog.
"My love," I replied spellbounded. "I...I." I was at a loss for words, as I usually was while under the influence of your beauty.
"I missed you drearily," I replied. As my eyes scanned you hungrily for every detail, I couldn't help but admire your soft white with misty pink laced, dress.
"As I, you," you replied.
"Come." I said as I reached out my hand. "Let us go to our throne room. We have much to catch up on."
"You two have a good time," Sir Rage yelled over his shoulder grinning, as the rest exited the room. "The rest of us are going down to the stables for a ride on the horses." I nodded, still looking at you. You smiled at me and pulled me out of the room. Your smile brought life to me. We walked through the halls of Falcos, letting the moment speak for us. After a few minutes we walked into our softly lit throne room. Two cleaning ladies met us at the door and curtsied, then left. The sky was dark outside now. There was a full moon. I was about to profess my love to you. I was just beginning to think of what I was going to say to you. I was still holding your hand in mine. And as I gazed into your eyes, my heart full of love, there came a great crash outside.
I could no longer see the moon in all of its fullness. I could see a darkness flooding the sky, blotting out the stars and moon. Down a few floors I could hear my knights caught in a fierce battle. The flood of goblins, and ogres, numbered into the hundreds of thousands. I, at once, bolted for the door, then the room went dark. I looked around and I saw nothing. I called your name for what seemed like an eternity but, there was no answer.
Some of the blackness oozed into the center of the room like a small, jelly-like tornado. There he appeared, his name was HE WHO IS THE DARKNESS. He was hooded, all in black, and I could see red eyes glowing from within his hood. He had a foul stench around him. I could feel power emanating from around him. An evil dark power. The candles were extinguished. There was total darkness about me.
Darkness and his armies had attacked our castle. We were caught off guard. The main forces of our army were at a nearby kingdom fending off an attack from a heathen army. The remnants of our armies were scattered through our kingdom in the surrounding towns. Our kingdom was easy pickings.
He Who is the Darkness, in all of his might had taken our castle. He had come to challenge me, but why? I could not understand why he was there. I searched the room for you. My eyes focused upon the evil figure that towered above me. His eyes were shaking. I could feel a great supernatural force coming from him. Death was in the room. I could see that he was laughing. The laughter was becoming more and more louder. Until he was heaving with laughter.
"This," He Who is the Darkness cackled as he pointed his worm infested, rotting, finger towards me. "THIS!! is the one! This is the babe that the prophecies call to, nurture, and sing about?!? hahahahahahahah!!!!!!!" His laughter still echoes in my mind. He thrusted back and opened his mouth and a huge blast of dark light exploded toward me. It hit me with such a force that I had never even dreamed of. I was thrown up against the wall. I slid off of the wall. I don't know how, but I got to my feet.
"Well," the Darkness grinned fiendishly "you do have power. It will bring me much joy to destroy you." His power thrusted me at once back against the wall. I hurt all over, but I had to protect you. I drew my sword and was able to move through the power that was holding me back. I was within a few hundred feet from Darkness.
"She is not here," the Darkness replied evilishly, cutting through the silence and my soul with his searing words. "I have taken her from you. Robyn resides in my dark kingdom now. She will now be my pet."
I began to loose my grip over the power I had found. I knew at once, I had lost you. You were no longer there. I could feel it. I heard down below, were Sir Rage, Sir Baux, and the rest of my knights and their maidens were. It angered me to see that this thing in front of me, had taken you. It also made me angrier that my loyal knights and their maidens were down a few floors, and I could not help them. My anger was over boiling.
"Yes! Yes," the Darkness screamed in ecstasy, "MORE! More, anger I love it. Ha Ha. Foolish, foolish little kingy wingy mad?!! You want to kill me don't you? Join my forces. I offer you a position in my armies that will soon be triumphant over this world. I offer you the position of Overlord with your own lands. You also have another choice; this day you can die. Follow me!"
"Never!" I screamed out in rage, "never will I follow you!!!" My anger turned to molten lava.
"You insignificant fool!" the Darkness screamed out insanely, "YOU WILL DIE THIS NIGHT!!" the Darkness raised his hand and I flew and hit the wall, dropping my sword to the floor. Eerie blue, and purple lightning bolts danced around him fiercely. With a mere motion of his hand I came to him, sliding across the floor. I grabbed my throat with both hands. He was choking me with his power. With a quickness that I had never seen before, Darkness clasped his hands together. In an instant strange, dark, magic encircled the Darkness' hands. Then his eyes widened as if he realized something. The magic about his hands disappeared and it was clear to me that there, in his hands, was a dagger.
"This," the Darkness giggled is called the Dagger of Darkness. It stands ready to take your life...No!" He said with a glimmer in his eyes, "No, I will merely make you suffer and suffer, and suffer. The prophecies will be proved wrong!!" the Darkness gripped the dagger high above me. I could not move, I wanted to move so bad, but what was the use. You were not there. I had lost you. I felt it. Why was I feeling this?
The Darkness plunged down with evilish laughter. The Dagger of Darkness seemed to sing with glee as it glided down. The dagger pierced my heart, turning it to stone. Darkness had struck, but without the intent to kill. He wanted me to live, to suffer.
In a flash, I was all alone. I looked around the room but saw nothing. The moonshine was gently bathing the room with a slight luster. The fighting that was going on below had stopped. I heard nothing. Darkness had come taken you and my throne. I could not feel you anywhere. I was filled with an overpowering feeling that I had lost you. Somehow I knew it. That day our world was shattered apart. Without you I had nothing. I walked though the remnants of what was our world. There was nothing, nothing at all. Our world was now a world of abstracts.
I was filled with dread. I had walked a ways from Falcos, through the nothingness that was there. I slung a rope over a tree. I was going to end all of my suffering. I could not understand why I was feeling so lost. Something was controlling me. Never had I been so sure of something, as I felt about having lost you for good. Just then the sky opened up and a very bright light shone to the ground. There appeared a man. He took the rope away from my hands. He comforted me and showed me how really stupid I was being. He placed his hand over my heart and a black claw came out of my heart and dissipated. He calmed me down and I knew that the poison had been neutralized . My heart was still stone. He gave me comfort and told me to be strong. He then disappeared. I turned my dispair to hope. He told me to find you. He told me that if I failed, that my heart would turn to dust. If I really loved you he said, I would find you and reclaim you. Robyn, as you can see, that by losing you, I was totally devastated. I wanted to end all of my suffering right then and there. But he showed me the way. He also showed me a small glimpse of the Light.
I returned to Falcos and grabbed a black cloak. I decided that the best and easiest way to find you was to go disguised. I could think of nothing but getting you back. I went to the stables and mounted my steed. I looked around one last time and wondered if I would ever see my kingdom again. I had scarcely been outside the walls of Falcos. I didn't even know what to expect. I didn't care, all I cared about was getting you back. I vowed as I sat a top that steed that I was going to get you back.
I rode my steed over the lowered drawbridge and stopped. I thought it strange that no one was around. 'Were did everybody go?' Before I kicked my steed in its ribs, I looked down and saw a bracelet. It was yours. I dismounted and walked over to were the bracelet was laying. I remembered the bracelet, it was the one I had given to you on the first night we met. I was being reluctant to come to the ball room that night. I was out on the balcony staring at the stars, stardreaming. I loved to stardream. I was always fascinated by the stars and often wished to go up there. I was talking to Maiden Dubliet. She was talking about Sir Drakken and how cute she thought he was. I was listening intensely, but then it happened. My head was turned as if by some powerful magical force. It was supernatural, I swear it. It was your beauty, it had reached out and touched my soul. It was as if the fabric of all that there is was trying to bring us together.
"Who is that?" I asked Dubliet interrupting her.
"Who?" she asked, turning to look.
"Her, over there," I replied pointing in your direction.
"Oh her," said Dubliet with a huge grin on her face. "Her name is Robyn, she's one of my friends visiting from the Queendom of Beauty's Bend. Don't tell me you like her!"
"I..I...I," I said, I must have sounded so stupid, "She has the beauty of an angel. Never before in my life have I seen such beauty. My eyes are about to shed tears from just her radiance alone!"
"Would you like to talk to her?" Dubliet said as she grabbed my hands and leaned over.
''I wouldn't know what to say'', I replied nervously. ''What would I say to her?"
"I guess you will find out when the time comes." Dubliet laughed, and just like that she tore off after you. I could not get words out fast enough to stop Dubliet. My heart almost fell from my body when she tapped you on the shoulder and said something to you. Then she turned around and pointed towards me. I wished that I could have sunk into the ground to become one with it. I began to shake when you started to walk over to me. I was still on the balcony. It was a full moon that night.
"Hello," you said. I almost melted away into vapor at the sound of your voice.
"Hello," I replied nervously, "nice night we are having today don't you think?"
"Yes," you said carelessly, "Oh! look at the beautiful gardens down below. Have you ever seen a more beautiful sight before in your life?"
"Yes," I replied, "I have seen beauty, hundreds of times, as great as the beauty that you now behold, in the gardens below."
"Were?" you asked perplexed "tell me so that I might behold it."
"Why, it is here standing before me," I replied.
"Oh," you said blushing. Your haunting dark brown eyes hypnotized me. Along with the power of your beauty I didn't know how much longer I could stand up.
After awhile of talking we went to the gardens. We were walking together hand in hand. It was love at first sight. We stayed talking until almost dawn break. But alas, the night was going. We pledged our love to each other and I gave you this bracelet. Later in front of all of our friends I placed a ring upon your finger, to show everybody that we were in love. I remember, that I promised that no other would ever come between us. I also vowed that I would never do anything to harm you. I admit that the ring was a little big but you didn't mind. Sir Drakken came too late to see me put the ring on your finger so I did it again for him. Our love had to be secret though. Your mother, the Queen of the Bend, would never agree to let us be in love. So, you would come every once in awhile to Falcos. The times were brief but I still treasured the moments we had together.
My mind now focused on the bracelet in my hand. "I will get you back, Robyn, this I vow!" the thought crushed my mind as I gripped the bracelet in anger.
I mounted my steed with fury. We blasted out of the kingdom, across the drawbridge and a meadow with more fury than all of hell could have mustered up. Getting you back was the only thing on my mind. I felt my rage exploding, I drew out my sword and screamed out in rage. We thundered into the deep, dark, black forest. I suddenly felt all alone, as the cold wind raced across my face. After awhile of listening to the endless pattering of my muscular, black horses huge legs, I looked up at the stars. They seemed to be beckoning me forward. I began to wonder what I was going to do. It seemed strange that I was moving forward with such speed and I hadn't a clue of were I was going.
Finally my steed and I came to a clearing, the forest seemed to dance in front of me. My heart was hurting because I had lost you. I covered my heart with my hand and pulled it back. I looked down at my hand and saw blood. I dismounted and ripped off a piece of the cloth that was under my horses saddled. I pulled off my armor that was around my chest. I looked for Dagbar leaves and dressed my wound. I had forgotten that the Darkness had stabbed me with his dagger. I didn't care though, that the pain was ripping at my soul. All I cared about was getting you back. I kicked my steed in the ribs hard. My steed kicked up hard in defiance and blasted off into the dark forest.
Suddenly my steed stopped frozen in fear. There was an air of eerieness about. The forest seemed as though it had a million eyes all piercing through me. I dismounted and my steed ran away. There in that clearing alone, I was ready for an attack. I grabbed for my sword and that is when I noticed that my sword was not there. I looked up to the sky and the sky started to open up, Darkness' face was there and he was laughing.
"Pitiful Falcon king. So, so predictable. I have used you rage to lure you out here, weaponless and helpless. I used your anger to take your love away. It was much more easier than I though it was going to be. I don't see why the books with future sight exalt you. You will be easy to destroy and I will enjoy destroying you very, very slowly. ha ha ha ha ha ha! Meet my pet. His name is Red."
Just then I looked around and there out of the dead, dreary forest appeared the Great Dragon of Many Fears. I looked back to were Darkness was and I saw nothing but blackness. My attention focused to the dragon that was so red. He set the air afire as he approached me. His great black claws looked as though they could rip a castle apart with one fair blow. It never occurred to me that I could run. All I felt was anger submerging me. I looked at the dragons scaly face and could only see the face of the Darkness. I snapped, there was nothing around me. I could feel nothing or see anything. All I saw was red. I could not remember how long the battle took, but when I snapped back to my senses there I stood, alone. The dragon lay there before me slain. The ground of the forest and I were all bathed in blood. I stood there looking on in awe. I didn't know what had happened or who had killed this dragon. It was then that I looked down at what I was holding in my hand. It was the dragons heart, warm and black.
I was in shock. I felt my legs go numb. I wanted to pass out, but, I didn't. I had to push on. I dropped the dragons heart and began to walk, not noticing the scratches and claw marks all over my armor. Right across my chest plate there was little armor left. The dragon had clawed me there very badly. My heart called out your name, then listened. Nothing, it had called out in vain. 'Were are you? Why did you have to leave me? Why is this world against us?' My heart screamed out these and a million other questions.
I walked onward, slowly. I had journeyed a few miles across what was once beautiful forest, but now was a barren waste land.
Finally, I reached the edge of a high cliff. I looked down at the dark castle below. My heart knew at once that you were down there, it felt you there. My heart felt as though it was going to explode. The feelings of losing you and of all that had happened welled up inside me. I choked back a tear and could now feel the searing of the scratches that I had received from the dragon. I didn't care. All I cared about was getting you, the love of my life back, into my arms. I yearned so greatly to feel you in my arms once again. I wanted so badly to be down in that dreary, dark, stinky, putrid, dungeon that you were in. If I could have only been with you then it would have been heaven.
I climbed down and tried to sneak my way into the castle. I almost made it, but, one of the guards that was on the drawl bridge woke up. He was a smelly orc, dressed in studded leather armor. He had a hoggish looking face, all dry, warty, and bumpy. He had a sword. I thought that if I could just get my hands on his sword, I might just make it up to where you were and see you one more time before I died that night. The orc ran at me with a grunt and a vengeance. I jumped up and kicked him in the face. He got up and swung his sword blindly at me. He caught me in the chest and sliced me a little. He laughed and I punched him in the face. He fell back from the blow and his arms flung out. There went his sword over into the moat. I could think of nothing but to dive in after it. After a few seconds in the murky water, I found a slimy long foreign object. I thought the worst, and tried to swim away.
Suddenly it grabbed me with its tail. It was the monster of the moat. I turned to see it. It was a long, green, eel like creature of at least a hundred and fourty feet. It was pulling me to its lair. It wanted to feast on me. Then I felt the orcs sword, it brushed against my hand and I did not hesitate to grab it. At once I swung at the eel like creature and chopped off its tail. I felt at least twenty feet of it come off and begin to float to the top. At once I resurfaced and my oxygen starved lungs breathed in hungrily the air. I was in agony, but I didn't care, all I cared about was getting you back. I grasped onto the drawl bridge. I looked up and I noticed that I had resurfaced behind were the orcs were now looking over the edge for me.
I climbed up and sliced through the air with the sword. I beheaded them both and they fell into the moat. I can't really remember how many creatures fell before me dead that day. I do remember that I had nearly no armor when I had arrived at the top of the castle. The only thing on my mind was getting to you.
Darkness knew of my storming the castle and had moved you to the highest tower. I had to fight my way up to the top of the castle killing many, and, breathing in the blood that filled the air.
Finally I reached the Darkness' throne room. I, literally, ripped apart the doors. I was so filled with anger. I looked across the room and there was the Darkness, alone. His eyes were glowing red and the hideous smell coming from him was almost overpowering. He sat upon his throne as if he hadn't a care in the world. He was laughing. I didn't care, all I wanted was you. "I want my love back now!!!" I said with and exhausted voice so full of rage. I could taste a sudden sourness in my mouth, as he didn't answer. It was happening again, my rage was in overdrive. I lunged forward and stabbed him deeply. He bled. "Wha-?" he screamed out in shock, "how did you hurt me? I am unstoppable and untouchable."
"Well, unstoppable and untouchable," I replied back to the Darkness, "sit back and feast and drink on your own flesh and blood!"
My eyes, through my falcons head armor, were glowing red now. I sliced and tore at the Darkness feeling no compassion for him as he screamed and cowered in front of me. I could feel the fear rageing through him.
"Rage! Let me feast upon your rage. Mmmmm it tastes so good. Give me your power. Kill me some more!" He moaned as if in ecstasy. His eyes begin to power up. Your rage has allowed me to escape you again." the Darkness screeched. His head flung back as he said "The pain and the agony that you have caused me, ha ha ha ha!! what ecstasy!! I underestimated you, but never again." He disappeared up through the roof of the castle in the form of a yellow gaseous form. Screaming back he yelled, "know that this day you could have slain me, but you gave me the power to escape. Know that all of the pain I will cause you will be on your shoulders. How perfect." There I stood once again, in shock and alone.
Finally, I thought, I had conquered Darkness, true.
"Why," I asked, "my dear queen did I have to hurt you?"
I now see before me your beauty, grace, and charm,
I wished that it was only me that was done harm.
Had it been my fault that you had been hurt so bad?
Darkness had been defeated but why was I sad?
I searched the castle for you but you were not there,
I had been hurt badly but still I did not care.
What bothered me was why Darkness had to attack,
And what, what could I ever do to get you back?
The Falcon let me go and I sat there listening to my breathing.
As I looked upon the childeren, thier eyes were glued on me.
"That was romantic," Sarah said. The Falcon must have really have loved Robyn a great deal. Why did Darkness come and take her away?"
"He did love her greatly," I replied.
"That was mushy stuff," Ben spat. "I liked when he almost killed the Darkness."
"Yes," Sarah put in, "but when the king tried to kill the Darkness, the king in turn gave the Darkness the power he needed to escape. Why?"
I sighed and replied, "Some people are blinded by thier feelings somtimes and do things that they really don't understand. I mean how was the king to know that by attacking Darkness he was letting his rage get out of control. How could he know that he was giving him the power to escape?"
"I don't like He Who is the Darkness," Emily whispered smally as she snuggled close to Dhovan..
"You've nothing to fear from that evil," I replied. "So long as you walk in the Light."
Emily smiled her eyes full of life once more.
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