*~Luthien~*
New member
Heres the first Chapter:
Chapter 1: Eben
The day was bright and the rays beamed down upon the city of Armen. The waterfalls sparkled as the waters danced down to the Herena Lake. Queen Anna stood on the balcony of the stronghold and peered down at the city. The city was swarming with life. Farmers were tending their crops and others were making their way into town to sell their goods. She smiled as she looked down at the infant she held tightly in her arms.
“Isn’t it beautiful Arianna?” She whispered as she bent her head to kiss the princess atop her brow. Kind Buran arrived next to her; carrying the prince. Buran’s gentle face smiled at his wife as they felt a spark of happiness within them.
“Tis a wonderful gift we have, my lord.” Anna smiled as she ricked the princess in her arms. The infant let out a small smile as the rhythm of her mother’s rock sent excitement through her body. The waterfall echoed pleasant melodies off the mountains. The stronghold was a massive palace, crafted from white stone. It was engraved in a mountain as balconies hung off sturdy cliffs, overlooking the city miles below them. Such height allowed the king to keep watch for enemies beyond the city’s walls. The stronghold was more looked upon as a castle of elegance. Its beauty was not meant for war, but for peace. Waterfalls streamed down the mountainsides all around the city, giving it life. Armen was stretched for hundreds of miles within a curved mountain range, and for good reason. The population was massive, and would not halt in increasing.
As the King and Queen laughed along with the joys of their infants, a large bell was sounded in the distance. The bell echoed off the mountains, sending the city into terror. Buran quickly rushed to the edge of the balcony and looked down towards the castle’s walls and saw nothing. He scanned the borders of the city searching for what the commotion was about. Anna stood beside him grasping his arm in fear.
“Have they come? Is your brother here?” She questioned in a soft whisper.
“No, I don’t see anything.” He responded in the same soft whisper Anna had presented.
“Over there!” Anna shouted as she pointed her finger. Buran followed her direction and spotted a small figure slowly walking towards the city’s gates. He squinted his eyes, but could not make out whom the figure was. It was holding something against its chest and seemed to be in pain. The king turned to one of the guards that stood upon the balcony.
“Send for captain Gerthold and his men to ride out and bring the visitor to the courtyard. I will meet him down there.” The king instructed as he threw on his red tunic and grabbed hold of his sword. The Queen watched in excitement as she laid the princess in a cradle of soft white silk next to Hedlund. She ran to the edge of the balcony and looked down to see what would happen next.
Below she could see the line of knights; charging toward the cities gates as they followed their commander who rode upon a white horse. Gerthold was a young man, but a skilled swordsman. His talent rightfully placed him as the King’s top vassal. As he rod he kept his steed at a steady pace, preparing to charge out into the open. As the gates parted, they squeaked piercingly as if they haven’t been parted for the longest time. Gerthold turned his steed and searched for the stranger. When the stranger was spotted, it was upon the ground; crawling towards them.
“Men over here.” He said gently as he rode over to it. The creature was unusually small. Many other features surprised Gerthold. The creature was female; her long black hair fluttered over her face. She had human facial characteristics, but Gerthold was focused on her bottom half. She had the legs and tail of a white goat. Gerthold jumped off his horse and gently bent to the creature. He turned her over and was amazed to see an infant of her species wrapped in a brown blanket. She gasped for air and looked at Gerthold in fear. He gently placed his hand on her face, trying to comfort her.
“Keep him safe.” She whispered through painful gasps of breath. The knights all looked at her in curiosity. They watched Gerthold as he held such compassion. He took the infant from her and clutched it against his own chest; showing her that it was safe. She gave a soft smile. “Bless Eben with every bit of hope.” She whispered. “Keep him safe. I beg you, keep him safe. He is a faun worth honoring.” She whispered once more, then she gave her last exhale. Gerthold’s eyes filled with tears as she passed. He bent his head to honor the creature. He then examined her to find the cause of her death. As arrowhead had pierced her in the side, it was broken off, but the wound was surrounded by puss and her veins were polluted with a mucky green substance.
“Poison arrow.” He whispered. “Men retrieve this creature, we will not leave her out here.” He instructed as he arose with the infant. His blue eyes studied the orphan, he lifted the blanket to see if the creature was the same as the female creature. He smiled as he witnessed two dark brown goat legs. The infant was sleeping, and full of filth.
“Eben, that is your name?” He questioned in a whisper after reviewing what the female had said. As he swung atop his horse he kept Eben in his arms as he looked back to make sure the female was carefully strapped to one of the horses. As they rode back into the city, clutters of people crowded around the knights. They had a hard time reaching the courtyard through the cloud of curiosity. Gerthold kept Eben covered; he clutched him tightly, protecting him as if the creature was his own. King Buran was waiting for them in the center of the courtyard. It took the knights almost an hour to reach the courtyard. As they arrived Gerthold dismounted his horse and gave the kings a bow. The other knights followed his actions.
“Tell me Gerthold, what was it you found.” The king asked.
“A creature and her infant.” He said as he presented Eben to the king by uncovering his head. Eben yawned and his eyes slowly opened.
“Where is the mother?” He asked, looking down at Eben with a gentle expression.
“Here.” One of the knights interrupted as he brought his horse foreword. She was spread across the horses back, motionless. The king looked at her in horror.
“What happened?” He asked furiously as he walked over to her. He took hold of her limp hand and brushed back her hair exposing her face. Her beauty was beyond belief; almost angelic despite the paleness of death.
“Looks like she took a poisoned arrow.” Gerthold explained as he pointed to the infected wound. “But there is more; more than her lack of height. Come to this side and look at her legs. She is not human nor dwarf.” He explained. As King Buren witnessed her white goat-like feet he cursed to himself.
“What on earth? Is she a demon?” He asked pulling away from her. Gerthold shook his head in disagreement. “What of the child? Is he the same?” He asked as he walked over to Gerthold and pulled the blanket off Eben. He gasped as his brown furry legs were exposed. “He is an abomination; be rid of this…this monster. Throw it into the fire pits were it belongs!” The king scowled.
“He is not a monster! Nor is she.” Gerthold protested. “He is a faun, that’s what the female told me before she passed. She said honor this faun. And that is what I shall do. We will not take the life from him, he is as innocent as your own children.” Buren’s eyes filled with rage as he looked at Eben with disgust. He then turned to one of the knights.
“Burn her body, let the beast’s offspring live.” He turned to Gerthold. “Then you shall take it. Take it and do with it as you wish. It can stay here, but he will always be looked upon as an outsider. He does not belong here.” Buren explained with anger.
“You have failed to learn your lesson foolish king. Treating other as outsiders creates enemies. Don’t you remember?” He noted with a smirk. The King grew fierce, but had nothing to say. He turned and walked away. The crowd of villagers looked at Eben with wonder. The other knights took the female’s body to be burned.
“What am I to do with you? I have now skill in raising a child.” He whispered as he stared down at Eben. The faun just stared back at him with a blank expression. Gerthold couldn’t help but give him a gentle smile. He sighed as he thought of caring for Eben, then after much thought he gave a small grin. He mounted his horse and made his way toward the foothills.
Chapter 1: Eben
The day was bright and the rays beamed down upon the city of Armen. The waterfalls sparkled as the waters danced down to the Herena Lake. Queen Anna stood on the balcony of the stronghold and peered down at the city. The city was swarming with life. Farmers were tending their crops and others were making their way into town to sell their goods. She smiled as she looked down at the infant she held tightly in her arms.
“Isn’t it beautiful Arianna?” She whispered as she bent her head to kiss the princess atop her brow. Kind Buran arrived next to her; carrying the prince. Buran’s gentle face smiled at his wife as they felt a spark of happiness within them.
“Tis a wonderful gift we have, my lord.” Anna smiled as she ricked the princess in her arms. The infant let out a small smile as the rhythm of her mother’s rock sent excitement through her body. The waterfall echoed pleasant melodies off the mountains. The stronghold was a massive palace, crafted from white stone. It was engraved in a mountain as balconies hung off sturdy cliffs, overlooking the city miles below them. Such height allowed the king to keep watch for enemies beyond the city’s walls. The stronghold was more looked upon as a castle of elegance. Its beauty was not meant for war, but for peace. Waterfalls streamed down the mountainsides all around the city, giving it life. Armen was stretched for hundreds of miles within a curved mountain range, and for good reason. The population was massive, and would not halt in increasing.
As the King and Queen laughed along with the joys of their infants, a large bell was sounded in the distance. The bell echoed off the mountains, sending the city into terror. Buran quickly rushed to the edge of the balcony and looked down towards the castle’s walls and saw nothing. He scanned the borders of the city searching for what the commotion was about. Anna stood beside him grasping his arm in fear.
“Have they come? Is your brother here?” She questioned in a soft whisper.
“No, I don’t see anything.” He responded in the same soft whisper Anna had presented.
“Over there!” Anna shouted as she pointed her finger. Buran followed her direction and spotted a small figure slowly walking towards the city’s gates. He squinted his eyes, but could not make out whom the figure was. It was holding something against its chest and seemed to be in pain. The king turned to one of the guards that stood upon the balcony.
“Send for captain Gerthold and his men to ride out and bring the visitor to the courtyard. I will meet him down there.” The king instructed as he threw on his red tunic and grabbed hold of his sword. The Queen watched in excitement as she laid the princess in a cradle of soft white silk next to Hedlund. She ran to the edge of the balcony and looked down to see what would happen next.
Below she could see the line of knights; charging toward the cities gates as they followed their commander who rode upon a white horse. Gerthold was a young man, but a skilled swordsman. His talent rightfully placed him as the King’s top vassal. As he rod he kept his steed at a steady pace, preparing to charge out into the open. As the gates parted, they squeaked piercingly as if they haven’t been parted for the longest time. Gerthold turned his steed and searched for the stranger. When the stranger was spotted, it was upon the ground; crawling towards them.
“Men over here.” He said gently as he rode over to it. The creature was unusually small. Many other features surprised Gerthold. The creature was female; her long black hair fluttered over her face. She had human facial characteristics, but Gerthold was focused on her bottom half. She had the legs and tail of a white goat. Gerthold jumped off his horse and gently bent to the creature. He turned her over and was amazed to see an infant of her species wrapped in a brown blanket. She gasped for air and looked at Gerthold in fear. He gently placed his hand on her face, trying to comfort her.
“Keep him safe.” She whispered through painful gasps of breath. The knights all looked at her in curiosity. They watched Gerthold as he held such compassion. He took the infant from her and clutched it against his own chest; showing her that it was safe. She gave a soft smile. “Bless Eben with every bit of hope.” She whispered. “Keep him safe. I beg you, keep him safe. He is a faun worth honoring.” She whispered once more, then she gave her last exhale. Gerthold’s eyes filled with tears as she passed. He bent his head to honor the creature. He then examined her to find the cause of her death. As arrowhead had pierced her in the side, it was broken off, but the wound was surrounded by puss and her veins were polluted with a mucky green substance.
“Poison arrow.” He whispered. “Men retrieve this creature, we will not leave her out here.” He instructed as he arose with the infant. His blue eyes studied the orphan, he lifted the blanket to see if the creature was the same as the female creature. He smiled as he witnessed two dark brown goat legs. The infant was sleeping, and full of filth.
“Eben, that is your name?” He questioned in a whisper after reviewing what the female had said. As he swung atop his horse he kept Eben in his arms as he looked back to make sure the female was carefully strapped to one of the horses. As they rode back into the city, clutters of people crowded around the knights. They had a hard time reaching the courtyard through the cloud of curiosity. Gerthold kept Eben covered; he clutched him tightly, protecting him as if the creature was his own. King Buran was waiting for them in the center of the courtyard. It took the knights almost an hour to reach the courtyard. As they arrived Gerthold dismounted his horse and gave the kings a bow. The other knights followed his actions.
“Tell me Gerthold, what was it you found.” The king asked.
“A creature and her infant.” He said as he presented Eben to the king by uncovering his head. Eben yawned and his eyes slowly opened.
“Where is the mother?” He asked, looking down at Eben with a gentle expression.
“Here.” One of the knights interrupted as he brought his horse foreword. She was spread across the horses back, motionless. The king looked at her in horror.
“What happened?” He asked furiously as he walked over to her. He took hold of her limp hand and brushed back her hair exposing her face. Her beauty was beyond belief; almost angelic despite the paleness of death.
“Looks like she took a poisoned arrow.” Gerthold explained as he pointed to the infected wound. “But there is more; more than her lack of height. Come to this side and look at her legs. She is not human nor dwarf.” He explained. As King Buren witnessed her white goat-like feet he cursed to himself.
“What on earth? Is she a demon?” He asked pulling away from her. Gerthold shook his head in disagreement. “What of the child? Is he the same?” He asked as he walked over to Gerthold and pulled the blanket off Eben. He gasped as his brown furry legs were exposed. “He is an abomination; be rid of this…this monster. Throw it into the fire pits were it belongs!” The king scowled.
“He is not a monster! Nor is she.” Gerthold protested. “He is a faun, that’s what the female told me before she passed. She said honor this faun. And that is what I shall do. We will not take the life from him, he is as innocent as your own children.” Buren’s eyes filled with rage as he looked at Eben with disgust. He then turned to one of the knights.
“Burn her body, let the beast’s offspring live.” He turned to Gerthold. “Then you shall take it. Take it and do with it as you wish. It can stay here, but he will always be looked upon as an outsider. He does not belong here.” Buren explained with anger.
“You have failed to learn your lesson foolish king. Treating other as outsiders creates enemies. Don’t you remember?” He noted with a smirk. The King grew fierce, but had nothing to say. He turned and walked away. The crowd of villagers looked at Eben with wonder. The other knights took the female’s body to be burned.
“What am I to do with you? I have now skill in raising a child.” He whispered as he stared down at Eben. The faun just stared back at him with a blank expression. Gerthold couldn’t help but give him a gentle smile. He sighed as he thought of caring for Eben, then after much thought he gave a small grin. He mounted his horse and made his way toward the foothills.
