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Join Date: Feb 2006
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A Fantasy Story - Chp 2... Please give Feedback
Chapter 2 - AND SO IT BEGINS
Alendric ran for hours. He had no plan of where to go or what to do but he ran. Nightfall was coming near, for it was getting cold and the sun was going down. Alendric was growing very hungry and couldn’t run anymore. He decided it was time to rest for the night and make camp. He didn’t have many supplies with him, so he would have to use whatever he could find. He gathered up some old sticks and leaves for a fire and pulled some of the bread he had out and began to eat.
The night came and went very quickly. At least it seemed that way to Alendric. He was still very tired and hungry but he knew he had to save his food and keep moving. He had heard tales of a great city far, far, away from Khran. This city was very peaceful but had gone through some mighty battles, so there were many brave warriors there. The boy thought that would be the perfect place for him to live and grow strong. All that was in his mind was revenge on Vladimir for his family. This, once kind and gentle, boy has been given the lust for taking someone’s life. It was not like Alendric to feel this way, but after what he went through, who could blame him?
His mind was set, he would head for the great city of Ghaild, and he would train and become strong enough to fulfill his lust for revenge. However, there was one problem. He had no idea of how to get there. All he knew was that it was a great distance from his home and that it would take him a very long time to get there. He had a general idea of where the city was because he was fascinated with maps and studied them thoroughly, all of the time. He, also, knew that once Vladimir began his reign, Ghaild cut off all communication with Khran, so the paths once leading to Ghaild would be covered by the forest life by now. If he was going to make it to the city he knew that he would need help. There were some outposts on the edge of the northern side of the forests, at least there used to be. He figured that if he could make it to one of them then they could help him find his way. It was just a matter of finding north and getting out of this forest.
So, Alendric set off again. He followed what he thought to be a path. It was not completely clear, but it did look like it had been used at some point in time. So, he thought it was his best chance at getting to where he wanted to go. As he walked he could slowly see foot prints coming out of the path. He figured that he was coming up to a point where someone or something would have came to and then left a little further up. He wasn’t familiar with the footprints. They were to small to be human and had a little different shape to them. It seemed like they came to more of a point at the top. All he hoped was that he could find someone who could help him.
As he traveled further and further, it seemed that, more and more, footprints appeared. And in the distance he could see smoke rising as if from a chimney or maybe just a camp fire. It was still too far for him to tell. The boy didn’t really know what he was getting himself into but, good or bad, he knew in his gut, that he needed to go towards he smoke. As he drew closer he could make out some figures standing around a campfire. He could hear some faint singing, then he thought he saw the figures begin to dance around the fire. He approached them and then could clearly tell that the creatures were not human. They looked like children, however, they had long white beards. So, he stepped up and introduced himself.
“Hello, may name is Alendric. I come from Khran and I’m traveling to Ghaild. I would greatly appreciate it if you would help me find my way.”
“nice to meet you, Alendric. My name is Vondorf and this is my brother Ferndorf.” said one of the figures.
“Good-day to ya. What would make a young boy, like yourself, leave his home all alone, if you don’t mind me asking?” questioned the other.
“I have my reasons, as we all do in everything we do.” Alendric replied.
“Yes, yes, laddy. I didn’t mean to seem intruding. It’s just we don’t get many travelers anymore, especially youngsters.” said Ferndorf.
“Ah, yes, ever since that devil, Vladimir, took power, the other countries have cut off their supplies to Khran.” added Vondorf.
Alendric spoke with the two strangers for a few hours. He didn’t know them, yet they seemed to be good fellows. They offered him food and drink, and in return he told them of the occurrences driving him to Ghaild. The two just sat there listening for the most part and when they heard about his mother, they just looked at each other and said “So sad”. Night crept along without any of them noticing and once Alendric realized how late it was he despaired.
“I’m afraid I’ve wasted mine and your time with my tale. I regret that I will not be able to find my way through this dratted forest now.” he said.
“Oh, dear!” said Vondorf. “Time has come and gone. We apologize for keeping you so.”
“Yes, very sorry.” Ferndorf chimed in. “Please, spend the night here. Many things lurk in these forests at night. It is quite foolish to stay alone. Our cottage is right down the road.”
“Hurry! Fore the darkness spreads more!” was what Vondorf was yelling has him and his brother began rushing down the path.
Alendric felt he could not refuse. They were kind creatures and he felt that he could trust them. They had already helped him once before, by nourishing him. So, they traveled down the path and came upon a small cottage. It was too dark to get a good look but it seemed, to Alendric, to be larger and nicer than his old home. “Home sweet home” the one said. And they entered the house. Candles along the walls lit up the hallway, which seemed to split of into a living area with a fire crackling and to a kitchen and dining area. It was not too large, but very cozy. Vondorf led Alendric to the living area and Ferndorf went to the kitchen and brought back some bread and drink. As they settled, they began telling the boy tales of adventures and encounters with dragons and ogres and other fascinating creatures. Alendric didn’t know if they were true but he liked hearing them. And who knows, he had never seen creatures such as them before. He had no idea of any of the wonders of the world.
Tales were told, food was eaten, and drinks were finished, and now the two knomes (they explained themselves to Alendric during the stories they told.) took on a new solemn look. Alendric thought this strange, because they were so cheerful the whole day. But they just sat and stared into the fire as if in great thought. No one spoke for quite sometime and Alendric began to feel uncomfortable. Unable to keep the silence anymore, Alendric stood up.
“I am quite tired. If you don’t mind, I would like to get some rest, I have had quite a day and I would like to get back on my way early.” he said and without saying a word, the other two just continued sitting and staring as if in a trance. He then turned and walked to the room which was appointed to him when they first entered the cottage. Even as comfortable as the cottage was, Alendric could not sleep well that night. Nightmares of his family being tortured clouded his mind all night. “How could one person be so evil?” he would ask himself in his sleep. He didn’t understand what he or his family did to deserve such a devilish fate. Growing up, Alendric was always told of a “greater Good” and when his father passed away he felt as if it was all a lie. Now that his family has been taken from him, he feels completely lost and like he is being punished for something. In his mind, he feels like the “greater Good” is non existent and that evil is all that prevails in the world. It is a shame when a young boy like Alendric loses all faith in everything and must live with the pain of having his family ripped away.
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