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A Paladin's Path
Posted: 21 Jan 2005 05:29 AM |
Trent left the academy halls in frustration. Everything he wanted to say came out the wrong way. Was he really confused like the High Captain said? He knew that he wasnt confused, he knew what he wanted, he knew that it meant, and he knew he was worthy - being a Paladin. He truely wished it in his heart, and he knew he was ready.
At the academy he tried to explain to the High Captain what he feels, what he knows. But he was worried he'd choose the wrong words, while in the end, he ended up doing the very thing. His hope to return to service nearly left him, even as his faith in Midoran only grew. He left the halls in frustration, with the words of the High Captain echoing in his mind, and his frustration only grew as these were the worlds he felt.
Being a Paladin is about knowing - knowing what is right and just.
The High Captain may or may not know what Trent truely felt, what he believed and knew to be true. Trent, however, could not simply wait for the High Captain to consider his words, when truely, they were not really his.
He went to the temple of Midoran. He had to prove himself, to prove that he is worthy. Actions speak louder than words. He knelt on his knees, closed his eyes, and prayed to the Just Hand.
"Midoran, the True God, I am here to ask only to be in your service. I broke my vows, and doubted myself and you. But I saw the truth now, and I know I am worthy to be in your service as a paladin. I understand the meaning of being a paladin, the vows and duties and commitments, and I know I can hold up to those now. I have made my mistakes in the past, mistakes I will not repeat again. I tried speaking to the High Captain, to explain myself and my mistakes, and to prove I am worthy, but I was worried, and did not speak what I truely wished to say. I worry now the High Captain may not see me as I truely am, but I wanted you to know it. I plan to prove myself, by actions and not words, and I pray to you that these actions will be noticed and noted. If you find me worthy, then let the order find me worthy as well. My faith in you will not fail again."
He rose slowly, ignoring the presence of all those around the temple. He walked off, hoping that his actions will be seen, that they will prove that he is truely worthy of being a paladin.
His path to return begins, and only time may tell how it will end... |
WickedArtist: I think he needs a proper elf.
WickedArtist: A christmas elf!
Tasra: Any sort of elf that actually smiles ;o
Gasp! Scandalous!!! |
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Corruption
Posted: 23 Jan 2005 04:58 AM |
It was the assembly that day. All the Paladins of Midoran were to go to the academy for a mysterious reason few really knew. Trent could have guessed the reason, but it was only a guess. For him, this was perhaps an oppritunity to redeem himself, to return to the order, or at least present himself better than he last did.
As he walked into Midor, he only thought of her, whom he left behind at Brandibuck. She saw in him what few could really see, she had faith in him that he did not have in himself, and it gave him confidence. But there was more than that in her, however he did not have time to wonder about it - the holy city was before him, and the assembly only a few steps and a boat away.
As he reached the halls of the academy, he only saw two there; Suzanne and Xixili, two Paladins of Midoran. In his usuall shy manner, he did not speak; again his thoughts were about her, and his cheeks were blushed ever so lightly as he thought of her. At last, one of the others spoke a greeting, breaking his line of thought. They began talking, about the world and people outside of Midor, about the blindness they possess towards the holy city and the true faith, and even Suzanne showed some confidence in his ability to redeem himself. He expected little welcome from the paladins, but he received much more than he expected. High Captain Goodman came to the three and said they may enter the cloisters. Trent followed Suzanne with uncertainty - should he even be there?
He was surprised to see many knights in the cloisters, and the three High Captains among them, however he pondered at the absence of the High Paladin. One familiar face among the crowd shocked him - that of Blanche, who has been supposed to be dead in the eyes of Midor. He knew the moment he saw her why she was there, and what was the meeting about - his assumption was correct.
Blanche stepped up and spoke to the crowd, and revealed the true cause for the meeting. The corruption of the church of Midoran, a corruption comming from one man - Vidus Khain. She told this to Trent before, now she told it to everyone. She has shown her evidence, and he knew that despite any faith and trust that should be put in the church that the evidence are too many. She seemed to have convinced many, save one - High Captain Uvanle. The arugment was rapidly heating up, Blanche stood there seemingly broken and lost as Uvanle continued to show his faith in Vidus as Lord Bishop. Trent knew it was right. He remembered what the strange man told him in Port, that if Midoran is not shown as the god of true light and justice as he is, then something must be wrong in the city that presents his will. Was it so hard to believe that a Lord Bishop could be corrupt? The evidence were too many, and Trent knew he would have to stand on Blanche's side.
The meeting ended abruptly. Uvanle demanded that the knights leave or they might pass into the realm of herecy. Trent was hesitant, he was not even a knight, but did not wish to be an heretic. Eventually, he left, after the three High Captains left themselves in their debate. One already knew, one seemed to be convinced, however Johanas remained in his blind faith. Trent remembered the words of another, Shaz'jen Direth, who told him that being a paladin is not about blind faith, but about doing what is just and right. Johanas told Trent the last part of that as well. Trent knew beyond doubt that something has to be wrong; Midoran viewed as a god of injustice, Midor viewed as murderers, the priest stabbing the "guilty" to death at the executions, Blanche's evidence - it was all too much for him to put in doubt. He could only hope that Johanas will be convinced, and something would be done in the matter, however Blanche did not have that hope, and all he could do was try to keep her strong for what might come. Again his thoughts wandered towards her, the one he left to go to the assembly, and he thought these thoughts out loud.
"Go find her", the said simply. He nodded, and left to find her. What would happen now, concerning his redemption, his return to the order, and the corruption of the church - it was all left in question, left behind. He had to clear his mind, so he searched for her... |
WickedArtist: I think he needs a proper elf.
WickedArtist: A christmas elf!
Tasra: Any sort of elf that actually smiles ;o
Gasp! Scandalous!!! |
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Caught in the Act
Posted: 25 Jan 2005 01:19 PM |
“Come on, Zach! Pick that dang lock!” he whispered nervously, a kid only at the age of eight years and has already fell to a life of thievery, a life of crime. He and another were crouched infront of a door an an estate’s entrance, the other, Zach, was attempting his best to pick the lock at the door – his anxiety and haste making the proccess much longer.
“I’m working on it! Damnit!” Zach replied in the same nervous manner. He only recently reached the age of seven years, and was the youngest of the group. In spite his age, he had the greatest skills among the three in the manner of handling locks.
“Got it!” he whispered again in relief. The two quickly entered the hall of the Strothenbaum Estate in Midor, closing the door behind them. “Now lets find anything valueable and get outta here” he spoke again, a little louder, “Trent can’t keep them busy forever”.
The estate was empty at that time, at least empty enough for the three kids to attempt and gain a little more than they usually did. Trent was outside, the oldest of the three, at the age of nine years. He was not as skilled as the other two, but he proved to be an essential part of the young trio. While Zach and Daniel (or Dan, as the other two called him) did their work in sneaking and stealing, Trent was there to make sure no one would be there as they do their work. Trent was charming and friendly as a kid, always making the best of bargains, always managing to become the center of attention. He was bursting with confidence at his younger years, and he did his work in exceptional success.
This time Trent’s job was to keep Jeric Strothenbaum and his guards busy. They were all outside the house, enjoying the entertainment provided by young Trent; the comical immitations of a priest and paladin and guard, the enjoyable and mirthful childish songs, the occasional joke, and even some entertaining tricks. Trent kept the observers busily laughing on the street.
“You! Sir Guard! Your helmet is rusty! How dare you walk with a rusty helmet? You will shame the respected name of Strothenbaum!” Trent walked around in a fittingly posh manner, below his shirt a pillow which stuffed his stomach to a comically fat belly, as well as a comical immitation of Jeric Strothenbaum.
“I apologize, sir Strothenbaum. I will clean it right away!” The guard played along with Trent, clearly enjoying the act.
“I bet you would! Show me that helm! Quick quick! I am a busy man and I don’t have all day. I have dinner at eight, and supper later, and a mid-night meal afterwards! This didn’t grow by sitting around doing something useful!” Trent patted on his stuffed belly, the observers laughed and the guard handed his helm down to the boy.
“Aha! A thief!” Trent proclaimed and took off some simple copper jewellery out of the helm, one of his many tricks. He showed them to the guard, who could only ponder how these jewels reached Trent’s hands. Trent quickly pointed at two other guards. “You, and you! Take this man to the court! I will not abide for thievery in my estate!” then he mumbled “This things belonged to my life. The insolence of that man!” he looked around and stuffed the copper jewels into his pocket. “I never found that dang thief…” They all laughed. Jeric was not among the crowd, however the act drew him to the window as he watched with a reddened face.
“Come back into the estate! I don’t pay you to laze around and watch some childish amateur preformance!” Jeric shouted at the guards.
“Ah! Sir Strothenbaum himself left his dinner table! Or was it supper? Or lunch? Mid-night meal? Afternoon meal? Late-Afternoon meal? Early dinner? I cant keep track!” Trent spoke in his normal manner, taking the pillow out of his shirt with one hand while pointing at the angered Jeric with another. The crowd laughed.
As Trent continued his preformance, back in the estate, Zach and Daniel made some progress. Some golden jewels, a few gems, and anything else that could fetch a price. They did not take too much, not to raise suspicions or cause Jeric to blow the thievery out of proportion. They snuck to one room and watched Trent’s preformance from the window, but they were spotted. One of the guards looked back at the estate and watched the peeking faces of the two kids, and immediately shouted at the others of the inflitrators.
“Thieves?! Get the boy and don’t let them get out!” Jeric shouted commadingly at the guards, who did their best to return to their duty and catch the three boys. Zach and Daniel ran to the entrance from the room, while Trent found his only escape rout was to enter the estate himself. He quickly entered the hall and crossed the previously locked door, Zach and Daniel waiting on the other side, ready to bar the door from the chasing guards. With the door barred, the three quickly made it to one of the back rooms and escape through one of the windows. As they watched the front of the estate from a room, they noticed two knights coming towards the estate.
“Damnit, Dan! We really blew it this time.” Zach looked worriedly over at at the advancing knights.
“It was your idea to peek, Zach! We should’ve made our way out!” Dan replied angrily. The group already began to break – they never argued before.
“We’ve got to leave through the window. We can still make it!” Zach desperately attempted to encourage the group. Daniel nodded and quickly ran over to a back room along with Zach. Trent stood there, watching the knights with awe. He always looked up to the knights of Midoran, but he knew they were on the opposite sides. He was a thief, and they are the law.
When Trent finally made it to leave, Zach and Daniel were already at considerable distance. The guards managed to break the barred door and were advancting towards the room, and left Trent no chance of following his friends. He quickly jumped out of the front window and planned to run away as fast as he could back to the docks, but he was stopped short but one of the knights, holding him by the shirt.
“Ah, so there’s one of the little thieves. Where are your friends, kid?” The knight spoke harsly at Trent.
“I- I don’t know! Let me go! I- I wasn’t doing anything wrong!” Trent stammered.
“Look me in the eyes and tell me that little preformance was not made to draw attention away from your friends.” The knight kept holding the boy, who was now on the edge of crying in helplessness and gave up his attempt to release himself from the knight’s hold.
“Y-you cant prove that! I- I…” he choked and began to cry.
“Come now, boy. I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation to why you chose to commit such deed. Just tell me the truth.” The knight spoke in a more gentle tone.
Trent took a long pause, and finally managed to talk between his sobs. “I- I was just trying to earn some gold, sir. W-we werent gonna take too much, honest!”
“It was still wrong, boy. Do your parents know of this? I doubt they will be pleased.” The knight’s tone was now gentle, comforting to the kid.
“I- I don’t have any parents, sir.” Trent began calming down.
“I see…” the knight took a long pause “What is your name, kid?”
“Trent… Trent Kelten, sir…” he stammered in reply.
“Listen, Trent. You’re a kid, you made a wrong choice to keep yourself alive. The church will understand that. Trust me, it cant be worse than the life you have now.”
Trent calmed down, he was no longer afraid of the knight. He looked up at him, and for once he was not the enemy, he was not the law while Trent was a criminal. The knight was a friend. “A-alright, sir…” he replied quietly, the knight took him away to the temple.
Zach and Daniel stayed hidden, untill the way was clear, and then they stormed off as fast as they could. On their escape they split up, and the trio came to it’s end. Daniel, Zach and Trent never knew what became of each other since that day.
Trent’s life were indeed only improved. The church took him in to their care, and he had to work to repay for everything he had stolen in the past. Trent used the same talents he did for the trio to make his penance. He preformed and entertained publically in taverns, and he occasionally found job along with more proffesional enternainers. He was raised by the church, and in time the Midoran faith cought on to him. Eventually, he left the life of a young bard and joined the academy of Midor, where he was trained as a paladin – the kind of figure that he always looked up to, as a young thief, and even more in his life with the church.
What happened to Zach and Daniel, Trent never found out. It was part of his past, a part he sought to forget. He was a paladin now, and he could only hope the others have found a better way of life as well. |
WickedArtist: I think he needs a proper elf.
WickedArtist: A christmas elf!
Tasra: Any sort of elf that actually smiles ;o
Gasp! Scandalous!!! |
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The True Faith
Posted: 26 Jan 2005 02:10 PM |
It was nightime. There was a thick darkness outside, a darkness that made Trent’s blood go cold as he peeked through the door of his new home. It was barely two months since he was put under the care of the church, and it had little impact on him at that time. He stayed with the very knight that cought him in the Strothenbaum Estate, though his wife usually took care of the boy.
“Trent, close the door and get into bed. It’s late” Said a gentle female voice. She was a devoted follower of Midoran, and the knight’s wife.
“Ooh, cant I stay up for just ten more minutes and see if Nick comes back?” Ge turned his head back and looked up at her, speaking in a pout.
“Trent. Bed. Now!.” She spoke more harshly this time, pointing at Trent’s room with an outstretched arm.
“Ooooh, fine!” he whispered in an almost angry tone. He took a last peak outside and watched a small dark figure moving quickly through the street, before closing the door and heading back to his room.
Trent always looked up to the knights of Midoran, especially to his new caretaker Nicholas, or Nick as Trent called him (and Nicholas never really liked that name). He used to wait for Nick to come back home every night before heading for bed. Usually, like this time, Trent had to go to bed before Nick’s arrival.
The following morning, Trent was woken up by Nicholas’ familiar voice. Nick never had a great talent with kids, but it was different with Trent. “Wake up, Trent. You’ve been sleeping late again.”
Trent covered his head with the blanket, speaking in a scratchy morning-voice, “Oh, just five more minutes, Nick.”
“Come on, Trent,” He patted on Trent’s covered head “If you don’t wake up I’ll tell the priest you asked me an awful lot of questions about Midoran.” He smiled.
Trent rose from the bad almost immediately, looking up at Nick. “Oh, but then he’ll start explaining all those boring stuff to me again!” Nick laughed at Trent’s rapid awakening.
“Is hardly boring, Trent. Maybe if you listened one day he’ll stop trying to explain it.”
“It is boring!” Trent rubbed his eyes. “He always talks about Midoran and how he’s like this and how he’s like that. Priests are not really fun. At least paladins do all sorts of neat stuff like killing baddies!”
Nicholas grabbed Trent by the shirt and pulled him up to his feet. “Up! You still have to make your penance, you know. I’m amazed at how much you managed to steal with those two other boys, and Midoran knows who else.”
“Oh, more carrying for those fat merchants? At least preforming in the taverns is fun…”
“Work isnt always fun, Trent. Now get dressed, eat your breakfast and off you go.”
“Will you be home early this time, Nick?” Trent started taking off his pajamas and getting dressed up for another morning of work.
“I don’t know, Trent. I’ll do my best.” He tossed a shirt over for Trent to wear.
After getting dressed and eating his breakfast, Trent made it off to the market. He never lived doing manial work for the merchants, carrying merchandise and the likes. It was how he made his penance for his former thieveries, which were discovered to be plentiful. He hoped to see Zach or Daniel every new day, but he never did. In addition to his morning work with the merchants, he also preformed in taverns at evenings. Either in the Unicorn, the Slaughtered Dragon, and even the occasional trip to Brandibuck’s “Ye ‘ole in da Ground” (The halflings loved the little boy). He usually preformed for his own gain, he found it an enjoyable work with a good enough payment. He liked to have some gold for himself on the side for whatever he might want, and for a “rainy day”. After finishing his morning-work at the market, Trent was to give account to one of the priests of his job, and a written note from one of the merchants that he truly did it. The priests usually tried to teach Trent of the true faith, and raise him as a follower of Midoran, though Trent never truly listened to their constant preaching – he found it to be extremely boring.
“Trent! Pay attention, child!” The priest was again trying to teach Trent of the true faith. As usuall, Trent was not paying attention.
“But it’s boooooring! Cant I do something fun?”
The priest gave a desperate sigh. “Very well, you may go. There’s no point in talking to someone who doesn’t even want to listen.”
Trent laughed happily and ran off the temple’s door, only to bump into Nicholas on his way out.
“Woah, careful there, Trent.”
Trent was pushed a few steps back by the force of the bump, rubbing his pained nose. “Who’s to say you didn’t bump into me? You should be more careful, Nick!”
“I am pretty certain the one who was running gets most of the blame.” He smiled.
“Sure, but not all of it! If you were running, you would enter the temple sooner, and-“ Trent was hushed in mid-sentence.
“Okay, okay. You win this time, Trent. Where are you going?”
“Away from the boring priest!” Trent replied in a melodramatic manner.
“Do we have to go there again? It’s not boring. If you only bothered to listen…”
“The priests make it boring.” Trent shrugged. “I don’t wanna grow up and become a boring priest that doesn’t have any fun. I wanna be like you!”
Nicholas smiled. “You are your own man, Trent. Following the true faith doesn’t mean you have to be boring like the priests.”
“Aha! So you do think they’re boring!” Trent proclaimed triumphantly. Nicholas taken back by his statement.
“Uh… well… you know what I meant…”
“Yeah! You meant the priests are boring!”
Nicholas took a short pause. “Uh… well… I suppose they sometimes talk too much for my taste, but…” He stopped as he watched Trent smiling up in triumph. “Just go there and listen, will you? If you want to be like me you still have to be a follower of Midoran, and for that, you need to learn about the true faith.”
“Ooh, fine. I’ll go. But it’s just because I want to be like you! Do you think I could be a paladin?” Trent asked the question with a gleam of hope and awe in his eyes.
Nicholas grinned mysteriously at the boy. “I think you have potential. But first, go hear the priest.”
“Okay… but I’m not gonna enjoy myself!” Trent entered the temple again, this time with Nicholas. It was one of those rare times Trent got to spend time with Nick, and he clearly did not want to spend it listening to the priests. But this time, with Nick there beside him, Trent truly listened.
Trent left the temple with more knowledge of Midoran and the True Faith. It was his choice if he wished to become a follower of the true faith or not, as Nicholas told him. Nicholas tought Trent to respect everyone and everything that deserves of respect, even if he does not agree with his views, and even if he knows them to be utterly false. This lesson has been carried on by Trent for the rest of his life.
Trent ended up a true follower of Midoran, and an aspiring paladin. His preformances at evenings were less and less based on comical mockeries of the Midoran priests and guards and knights. He grew to respect them, and looked up in even greater awe to the paladins of Midoran. He occasionaly prayed at the temple, donated some of his gold to the church, respected the laws and people of Midor, and even learned of his step-father's paladin code.
Two years have passed. Trent already completed the penance for his childhood crimes by that time. He joined the academy at the Isle of Midoran, where he began his training as a paladin. |
WickedArtist: I think he needs a proper elf.
WickedArtist: A christmas elf!
Tasra: Any sort of elf that actually smiles ;o
Gasp! Scandalous!!! |
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Abandoned
Posted: 31 Jan 2005 03:17 PM |
It was a dark and stormy night at Midor. The deep darkness was like a thick veil of black fog which covered the entire city. The black rain clouds hovered in the sky like tendrils of black smoke which sent forth lightning and thunder as the rain kept lashing down on the city. The sea was raging like a crazed beast. It was a true night of horrors, especially in the docks of the Holy City, where safety is sometimes in doubt.
“The Blessed Mother weeps for life today, and her tears fall down from the heavens to nurture life itself.”
The elf spoke to himself in thought, as he walked along the docks and gazed up at the black clouds. The occasional flash of lightning lit up the docks like a torch, followed by the terrifying booming thunder. He was an old elf, one of the few who ever lived in Midor, and well aware of the potential danger of the docks, and not unprepared for it.
“I lived in Midor for a hundred years, and I do not remember such a terrible night.”
He spoke to himself again. When you live alone for so long, speaking to oneself can be the only thing which keeps you from madness. His thoughts were broken at the sound of a baby’s cry, faint and covered by the sounds of the lashing rain, the raging sea and the booming thunders. His keen ears, however, allowed him to note such faint sounds and he quickly followed their source. To his amazement, he found a baby crying in his cradle, barely covered from the cold winds and the descending rain. A baby would not survive on his own, and would meet too-soon a death in such horrible storm.
The old elf lifted the cradle and made it back to his home…
“The Mother’s tears may nurture the nature, but they will just as well end the life of such as yourself.” The elf laid the cradle on a table, lit a warm fire and took off the soaked coverings of the baby.
“Trent Kelten…” He spoke to himself as the wet blanket spreaded out from his hands downwards, the name beautifully woven into it. He quickly folded the blanket twice and put it aside. “That is your name then, child.” He found another cloth folded and wrinkled into a lump, which when opened revealed a simple silver chain and the symbol of Midoran hanging on it. “This is your’s, I believe, little Trent.” The elf put the chain aside. This very symbol, hanging from the silver chain, can be seen worn by Trent up to this day, however tucked behind his shirt at most times.
After that night, where the baby slept secure in the modest home, the elf began his search for the child’s parents. Posted notes around Midor and Paws described the child, along with the name and the mention of the silver symbol of Midoran. Days have passed with no response to the notes… weeks, months. No one came for the child.
~*~
Severals years have passed in an ordinary, though modest life. Trent continued to live with the elf through his early childhood, and learned much from the old Elrebril, who traveled much through the lands in his long years (and for elves, long means beyond the lifespan of a human, maybe even two or three of them). Trent carried his last name through all his years living with others, “It is your legacy, Trent”, Elrebril kept saying, “You should carry it for the rest of your life, and your future generations”.
Elrebril already lived a modest and unwelcome life in the city of Midor. The docks were none too pleasant, and being an elf following Elbereth living in a human city who’s people believe in only one god, did not make matters much better. With Trent, whom he grew to love as his own child, under his care, life became even more difficult. He would leave this life for Ferein one day, but what of Trent?
Eight years have passed. It was time to leave…
~*~
“Trent, son… I wish to talk with you” Elrebril delayed his departure day after day, for as long as he could, but he could delay it no more. It was time, and Trent would have to accept it.
Elrebril was sitting in a chair, his gaze turned downwards. It was night, only the corner of the house, where Elrebril sat, was lit by three candles on a table. The wind was blowing and howling like a spirit wailing in anguish. It was a sad day for Elrebril, to leave one whom he considered a son, but he knew Trent could not come with him to Ferein. The gloomy aura in the house was immediately broken as Trent stepped towards Elrebril with his perky smile. “Yeah, dad?”
Elrebril’s eyes were almost tearful as Trent called him Dad. Though he always did that, in that very day, at that very time, it touched him most. Now more than ever he did not want to leave, but he could no longer exist in Midor and raise Trent. He spoke in a low voice, barely above a whisper. “You remember that I told you I do not come from this city?”
Trent smile widened, he did not percieve the intentions of Elrebril. He heard him talk much of Ferein, and his travels, but it was never enough – he was always happy to hear more. “Yeah. You come from Ferein, where all the elves live. I wish I could see that place one day.”
Elrebril gave a low, brief sigh and looked at the child’s eyes. “And you remember when I said that one day I plan to return there one day?”
Worry slowly crept to Trent’s expression. “Yeah, but-“ He was hushed by Elrebril who raised his palm. “This is this one day, Trent.” Elrebril paused as he considered his next words carefully.
Trent quickly smiled hopefully, not leaving Elrebril time to choose his words. “Are we going there soon? Are you gonna take me to Ferein?”
Elrebril’s sadness grew even greater as the child built up these false hopes. “No, Trent. I go there alone. Ferein will be as unwelcomming for a human citizen as much as Midor is for an elf, perhaps even worse. It is not a life you deserve. Here is your home, child.”
Trent’s eyes widened, tears slowly welling in them. He could not let out his words. “B-but… but… y-you…”
Elrebril gazed back downwards, unable to face the child’s growing misery. “I have spoken to some friends of mine. They are human, and live a more prosperous life than I do. They welcome you to live with them, to be your new family.”
Tears began running down Trent’s cheek. “But I don’t want to live with them! I wanna be with you! Cant you stay? Cant you take me?!”
Elrebril slowly rose from his seat. “That is impossible child. I have delayed that day for too long. Another friend of mine is waiting for you at the entrance to the docks, you know the way, he will take you to your new home” Elrebril kneeled down to Trent, who was already sobbing. “I am sorry, my son. Your new family will make you happy, I am certain. This is how it has to be”.
Elrebril gently blowed on the candles, and the room grew instantly dark. He took Trent, who was now crying, by his hand, and led him to the entrance of the docks. There another man escorted him through Midor, though Trent refused to take the stranger’s hand. Elrebril made his way to the boat, it was making it’s last sail today. They would never see each other again.
~*~
Trent kept crying, the stranger was helpless in calming the child who followed him through the streets of the city, meeting many gazes of others. Along the street, there was an open door, two figures could be seen waiting, the house had a welcoming look to it. The stranger looked at the house, speaking quietly. “Here we are, your not home. Trent, isnt it?” He looked back, but Trent was nowhere to be seen.
He ran back to the docks, in full hope of catching Elrebril. It seemed to him as if the way was endless, that no matter how much he would run, he could not reach the docks. It was like a nightmare coming true, and Trent ran harder and harder, too weary now to even cry. As he reached the docks, the boat was already sailing away. He was too late.
Back at Elrebril’s old house, Trent was stunned by the darkness. Alone in the docks, at a house full of memories, his fear and sadness paralyzed him. He turned to go back, when suddenly he saw a small light flickering in the corner. He carefully treaded inside, his fear lessening at the light, though growing at the unknown. He saw a kid, even younger than him, trying to sleep to the light of the candle. The child rose quickly at Trent’s arrival and was ready to bolt out of the house, though as he gazed at Trent he quickly calmed. “Who are you?”
Trent stepped to the child, no longer afraid. “Trent. I live here… I used to”.
The child waved him over to him and the small light. “I’m Daniel, just call me Dan. Where are your parents?”
Trent’s thought quickly turned to Elrebril, and then to his real parents whom he did not know. “I don’t know… the guy who took care of me here left…”.
Dan laid back against the wall. “The elf? I saw him leave, that’s why I came here.”
Trent remained silent, staring at the flame of the candle.
“Do you want to stay here tonight? I wont mind” Dan spoke after a long moment of silence.
Trent nodded and leaned back to the wall next to Dan. The two covered themselves with what they could find at the abandoned house, and quickly fell fast asleep.
~*~
“Trent? Wake up” Trent quickly woke up to Dan’s voice and gentle shaking. “I got a friend, Zach. He got a home and parents, but they don’t live very well, they cant take care of us. Just say your one of Zach’s friends visiting, they’ll give us something to eat, that’s all we can take.”
Trent nodded. He did not want to burden anyone like he did to Elrebril, or live with other strangers. That is why he ran from his new home. The two children made their way to Zach’s home, it was not far.
“Zach sometimes help me get some stuff from the market. It’s not too much, but it helps me stay alive. One day I’ll leave Midor and become a great adventurer, like those who sometimes wander around. You can join the team if you want.”
Trent remained silent, following Dan with a lowered gaze.
“Zach keeps saying I should go to the church. Don’t want to. They’ll put me with some family that will never let me be an adventurer. I’m fine on my own. You should go the church… if you want.”
Trent looked up. “I don’t want to live with anymore strangers. I’ll be fine… I guess.”
Dan smiled at him. “You can go with me, if you want. We’ll take care of ourselves long enough untill we can both become adventurers!”
Trent smiled back and nodded. They’ve already reached Zach’s home.
Such life of lonliness matures a child. Trent never truly had a proper childhood. Him, Dan and Zach quickly became close friends. Their little gang of three was formed, though it was short lived. Little more than a year have passed before they were finally caught in a foolish attempt to steal from the wealthy house of Strothenbaum. |
WickedArtist: I think he needs a proper elf.
WickedArtist: A christmas elf!
Tasra: Any sort of elf that actually smiles ;o
Gasp! Scandalous!!! |
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