“Whatever begins, also ends”
“Whatever begins, also ends”
24 YEARS INTO THE FUTURE FROM THE LAST ENTRY - EVERYTHING HAS AN END.
These are the tales of the last adventure Elyssa is to embark on. Her daughter Merilda is all grown up and has a life of her own. The Fearghal Clan is just a shadow of its former glory, but she kept them safe. The land had awoken and protected its inhabitant.
I first posted this on the 29th June 2011, 12:49 (2,776)
OOC: I have moved this and many other stories from the European forums. Since whole threads could not be moved, I took the liberty to Copy +Paste comments from friends as well :)
“Whatever begins, also ends”
“Whatever begins, also ends”
Seneca (Roman philosopher, mid-1st century AD)
24 years from now
The light flickered and made the shadows dance alongside her while Elyssa walked the short way to the city walls. It was pitch black inside the tower and she trailed her hand alongside the wall to get her bearings. She felt the cold when she exited the stairs and entered what once was a platform high above the gates of the Fearghal an Dun. She pulled the fur closer around herself. A feeling of gratitude overwhelmed her, she had lived a long life… and dying of old age is uncommon in Cimmeria.
A dim light spread itself above her and she turned towards its origin. Shapes formed and dissolved high above what was left of the Keep. “I can clearly understand why they say this place is haunted” she thought. The spirits offered a spectacular show with light and colors, leaving no one untouched. It was like nothing she had seen before the spirits took over the Dun.
For some reason she thought of her old friends … Calidius … brother in arms and a fine Captain; just and straight forward. Together with Merulus, Thorvin and Pattia they had traveled all the way down to Stygia in their search for knowledge and perfection. She had seen Merulus not so long ago… his brown hair had turned white and he spoke proudly of the many children he had. One of his sons had accompanied him, same built and strong wielded as his father. It had been a happy reunion. Only news about Calidius was missing. Thorvin had died many years earlier on the battlefield up in the snow clad mountains.
“Was I much different then?” she asked herself. “Young, maybe… and so restless.”
When the need grew dire, Calidius had sought shelter within another path, another clan. She could not blame him for doing so. Survival is nothing to be trifled with. She herself has chosen love… even though her family in the beginning had objected, they saw in time it was the right choice for her.
“Love…”
She sat down and awaited the sunrise, leaning against the railings. It was still early, and not even the birds had begun to sing yet. She pulled her legs up under her for more warmth. Love had brought her here so many years ago. When the winter never seemed to stop and a huge number of the Clan had joined other clans, she had come back and gathered those brave who had stayed under her, becoming their Triath. She had never quite understood why Teleia so easily walked away taking the clan with her. But it was not in her place to judge. She had preserved the Fearghal way of life. Of course times had been hard, but she never yielded and thus those around her stayed strong.
The ascendant sun warmed her face and glittered in her white hair. All the days of her life, she saw them passing her by. Her sister Briana had been killed in battle down in Aqulonia; Helshad had disappeared in Akhet, Oculus died in a fever so many years ago, Akselvee never became the same after Silvaras death and he journeyed beyond the realms of this world, never to return ... So many more, none forgotten. She began to understand why Silvara had lost interest in this world when all those she loved were in the next.
“It is time.”
A lifetime of preparations... and still it was a difficult decision to make. Winter had come for her, it was time.
29th June 2011, 12:49
