“Your Highness, I received no such warning from Prince Derian. Surely with your wisdom well beyond your years, you can see clearly when you are being fooled. Can’t you see that the prince longs to sit in your place as King of Greenhaven?”
Vartan shifted his gaze to Derian and pointed in his direction, his face turning grim as he growled the words of his accusation. “King Arman - Your Grace. It pains me to be the one to tell you that your own flesh and blood is the traitor, and that the gutless coward sits right beside you. His lies taint this very room, and poison your royal blood with his corruption and betrayal!"
Vartan smashed his fist into the ground in anger, the force of the blow sending shudders through the walls of the room. “Will it take the death of our beloved princess to make you see that Derian wants you dead?”
The prince’s calm smile turned instantly to a vicious scowl as he exploded from his seat. His voice broke and his body shook as he screamed, “These are all lies! How dare you accuse me without a shred of proof of this supposed treachery?”
He turned to the king. “Father, I demand that Sir Vartan be reprimanded immediately! I would never harm you, and if granted permission, I would kill Vartan myself for simply uttering these words.”
Arman gestured gently with his hand for Derian to sit back down before returning his gaze to Vartan. “I am afraid you have left me no other choice, Sir Vartan. However, your service to my throne is well-recognised by us all, and as such I will show you an appropriate amount of leniency. Guards, seize him. You are hereby banished from the city of Greenhaven, and are never to return. If you choose to ignore my order, you will face the executioner. May peace be with you always.”
Two towering guards approached and pulled Vartan up off the ground, marching him out of the throne room and towards the gates that led out of Greenhaven. His mind again filled with the dragon’s powerful words.
"My king! Remember my words!" cried Vartan.
Until we meet again, young knight… You are very brave indeed.
Meet again? Who and what are you? thought Vartan. His thought echoed in his mind as if it had been suddenly emptied.
The golden walls shook ferociously as Nymira launched herself off of them to dive freely into the humid air. She stretched out her wings to glide gently toward the earth before flapping them hard to begin her long flight back to Trahoterra, and a huge gust of wind blew past the guards escorting Vartan.
One of the guard's eyes widened as he blurted, “What in the name of Marithia was that?”
After a long pause with no answer, they both shrugged it off and continued on, letting the bustling sounds of the busy city drown out their concern. As they reached the main gate, other guards already had a horse prepared for Vartan, and sacks packed with supplies. A crowd had begun to build from all the commotion, and people stopped what they were doing to watch Vartan being taken to the waiting horse.
“Sir Vartan, you really must leave Greenhaven immediately, as we have to follow King Arman’s orders. But know that you leave the city with honour.”
Vartan nodded appreciatively to the men and swiftly mounted his horse as the main gate was gently lowered by its heavy chains.
“Vartan, you forget your armour,” said two guards in unison, displaying friendly smiles.
One of them held up his bloodied silver helm, and the other threw him a shiny new sword. He caught it with his right hand and brought it up to his face to admire the gift. Vartan tapped the blade against his helmet in customary acceptance and ran his fingertips over the weapon. The sword was still warm to the touch, and felt strong, but agile.
This is not the sword I thought I would leave Greenhaven with, thought Vartan as he let out a submissive sigh.
Vartan cocked his head and asked, “This is a sword of immense quality. May I ask what I have done to deserve this honour?”
The closest guard looked around to ensure that nobody else could hear them and whispered, “We heard of your ambush, and that your sword was damaged beyond repair in battle defending Helenia’s life. It must have been quite a fight to have wrecked a sword of Greenhaven. We trust that your replacement weapon will serve you well in your travels.”
“What are your names?” asked Vartan quietly, sheathing his new sword.
The guard lowered his voice and spoke with haste. “We are Aidan and Stenwulf, royal guards to the throne. If you hadn’t accompanied Princess Helenia on her journey, it would have been our duty to be alongside her during the ambush. I fear that, unlike you, we would not have had the abilities to make it back alive. Consider our debt paid."
Turning toward the crowd, Aidan slapped Vartan's horse, pointed at the gate and cried, "Now begone, as fast as your horse can carry you!”
“I won’t forget your kind deeds, Aidan and Stenwulf. I pray that we meet again,” said Vartan.
He roughly slid his helm back over his head, put his sword’s leather strap gently over his shoulder and rode as hard as he could out of Greenhaven’s gate. Looking back over his shoulder, he saw a furious Derian watching him closely through the throne room windows.
It had all happened far too quickly, as if it had been a freak whirlwind that had torn apart his structured and carefully planned life.
Helenia, when will I see you again? he thought.
Vartan left Greenhaven with a troubled heart.
Chapter 2: Humble Beginnings
“Darkness comes, whether or not we choose to acknowledge its existence. Events are taking place that will tumble down like an avalanche to wreak havoc on our peaceful world; even I do not hold the power to alter these events on my own.
Our kind has long awaited this moment, to once again honour our sacred alliance. We are not familiar with the pain of mortality, but that is not to say that we are unable to perish. We rely on the world to flourish for our kind to exist; for if it were to fall into darkness, then we would sadly crumble alongside it.
One life can stop it all from taking place, and it is this life that we watch closest, however fragile it may be. If we can prevent the foreseen events from unfolding, then we all have a chance to survive, together. Every end has a beginning; it is these events, which have been written into our memories, that help us understand times to come.”
(King Karven of the Dragons)
The sun sank deeper into the horizon as its warm rays gently caressed the earth in preparation for night. Leon relaxed in his old rocking chair. The sweet sound of wood creaking created an innocent ambience in the calm afternoon. In his hand was a piece of freshly cut oak, and with each precise stroke of his carving knife, it came a little closer to its intended shape. He led a peaceful life, tending to his many farm animals and growing food to trade for much-needed supplies at the local markets.
At rare times, he would trade in cities that were built in faraway lands. It was not the most glamorous of lives, but it was a lifestyle that was cherished by both Leon and his wife, Victoria. It was here that they proudly raised their two sons, Vartan and Finn. Vartan was the elder of the two boys and was today celebrating his fourteenth birthday.
The farm was built near a freshwater river, which could always be depended upon to provide fish for supper. There was one lonely dirt path which led from the farm to the nearest town. It made its way like a snake, slithering through thick forests that led past the Elven Woods. Marithia’s forests were thick and lush with greenery, with wild mushrooms and flowers painting a kaleidoscope of colours throughout the highlands that were worthy of an artist's brush strokes.
Leon felt Victoria’s warm, soft hands ease their way onto his sore shoulders as she spoke. "You‘re tense today and the day is long. It’s strange, isn't it? Growing old? I’ll never forget the day we found each other."
Leon placed the carving on a nearby table, leaned back to enjoy her massage, and breathed a deep sigh. "I’m just waiting for our boys to return home."
“Would you look at that? I never grow tired of its beauty. It’s such a wondrous jewel upon our land, s
hining like a diamond.” Victoria gazed out over the lush forest surrounding their farm, toward the golden city far in the distance.
It really was a majestic sight, even for those who had seen many of the great wonders of the world, and was one of the reasons their farm had been built where it was. Although they could never afford to live within Greenhaven’s protective walls, it almost felt like home ground after all these years sharing a horizon with the great city.
Leon stirred and his tension returned. “Victoria, it's getting late and the boys still haven't come home. Have the horses been fed? There’s still much to do, and I need their help to finish it all.”
“Sweetheart, they hunt in the woods. I’m sure they’ll return shortly. Vartan wanted to bring home a special meal for supper. It is his birthday after all, and he’s using the new bow you brought him from She’Ma’Ryn. Don’t worry about the horses. I shall tend to them,” Victoria said warmly. She hesitated for a moment, thinking back on the strange bow.
“I do have one question about that bow. How did you happen upon it?” she asked.
Leon thought back to his most recent trip to She’Ma’Ryn. “I won it from a traveling merchant, who told me he won it himself in a game of chance from an elven warrior, many years ago. That drunken fool sure was lucky to get his hands on such a finely crafted weapon. He did mumble some story about the bow being used to channel power, but I can’t quite recall the exact words he used. I thought Vartan would love such a gift; He’s always had a keen eye for quality.”
Suddenly, Leon did not feel so sure that the bow was the right gift for his son. He placed his head in his hands and Victoria walked around to kneel in front of him. She spoke softly. "What’s wrong? Please tell me."
"It worries me that we are raising them as if they aren't special. We can’t protect them when we are like this."
Victoria brought his hands down and looked deep into his eyes. "It is our way. We knew this when we agreed to be reborn. Only when the time is right will they find out the truth, when she deems them ready to know it. Let's focus on enjoying our life together. We never know how long our hearts will beat."
“A bit higher, Finn, and remember to strike using your full body weight as the sword comes down. There are forces you can use to your advantage. Use the ground’s pull to your favour,” said Vartan, leaning against a nearby tree.
Finn nodded knowingly with boyish confidence, returned to his stance, and once again hacked into the old tree trunk.
“I can do this, brother! I know I can. I want to be a great knight of Greenhaven and fight glorious battles for the king. Like the old tales Mother reads to us at bedtime, that are so exciting and full of wild adventures.”
As Finn took another swing at the old tree, Vartan slid his sword out to meet him. The sound of weapons colliding echoed through the thick forest. Finn immediately lost his balance and landed with a soft thud next to the tree.
“Ow! What was that for?” asked Finn, nursing his sore backside.
Vartan chuckled softly. “Remember, little knight, in a real battle you won’t face an old tree, but someone who will fight back, and most likely send you flying onto your rear. Have patience, young brother. The time will come for you to fulfil your dreams of knighthood and glory, but this poor tree cannot take too much more of your sword. Then again,” he laughed, “you're not really damaging it.” He helped Finn to his feet and dusted off the dirt and grass from his brother’s pants. He smiled and gave his younger brother a quick, reassuring hug. “You will be fine, Finn. You can’t expect to conquer the world in one day, you know. All good things will come in time. Are you hungry? I packed some spiced meat for us. We should eat now, to regain our strength.”
They sat beside the great roots of an oak tree and began to dig into the juicy spiced deer meat.
“So, what do you dream of, big brother? Surely you don’t want to help mother and father run the farm forever, do you?” asked Finn, watching his older brother with innocent curiosity.
Vartan stopped chewing for a moment to consider the question. “I truly don’t know the answer to that, Finn. Maybe I will travel the lands in search of a young damsel in distress, discover some famous treasure for all to remember me by, or be a trader like father and travel to She’Ma’Ryn. Maybe I can save enough gold to start my own farm. We are still so young, brother—do we really need to decide now?” He grinned mischievously. “Not every boy wants to be a glorious knight, you know, but don’t let anyone sour your dreams. If it is a knight you want to be, then we sure have plenty of trees around us for you to practice on, and enough for years to come. And of course, we have plenty of ground for you to fall onto as well.”
Vartan stood suddenly and whispered, “The sun’s setting, and we have to be careful in these woods. That’s more than enough practice and fooling around for one day. In all our fun, we’ve allowed the day to pass us by with no time left to waste. Stay close to my side and don’t fall behind."
The woods were fast slipping into the cold bosom of darkness. Vartan sighed deeply and let out a harsh breath. “Damn! Night is already falling upon us, and we have no lamps, and have found no beast for supper."
The sounds of the forest died down and even the crickets were silenced. Only their footsteps could be heard.
“Finn, I fear we may be in danger. We have to find supper fast, then head back to the farm swiftly. Father would be displeased if we return home empty handed.”
“Vartan?” Finn began.
Vartan snapped his head to Finn and brought his index finger to his lips. “Not now! Stay quiet—I think something moved up ahead,”
“But Vartan,” whispered Finn, “your bow, it’s glowing.”
Vartan stood still, suddenly realising that his back had warmed. Crouching down on one knee, he eased the elven bow off his back and saw purple light glowing from the runes carved deeply into the wood.
“What do you think it means?” asked Finn.
“I do not know, brother. I am unable to read this. It could only be some form of magic.”
Snap!
Vartan heard ragged movements only a short distance from where they stood, and he instinctively pulled Finn behind his back for protection. He reached into his hunting sack and pulled out a shiny metal arrow. Easing it into his left hand, he gently strained the bow into position and remained as silent as the night itself. Only a soft hum could be heard from the taut string of the bow. There was a faint light moving through the trees, and the sound of steps coming closer.
He whispered through stiff lips. "Don't... move..."
Vartan slowly lifted the bow in a smooth motion until the cold silver of the razor-sharp arrow rested on his cheek. The light became even brighter as the creature neared, easing its body through the bushes surrounding the trees. It came to a gentle halt and stared curiously at the two boys crouched on the forest floor.
“Finn, you need to see this—I can hardly believe my eyes. Come around me slowly, and try not to make too much noise,” whispered Vartan, gently lowering his weapon.
Finn's voice broke with his sharp intake of breath as he took in the sight before him. “Can that really be what I think it is? It’s so beautiful."
Directly in front of them, an adult unicorn stood proudly. Warily, it moved towards the boys and halted a man’s length away from them. Vartan stood slowly and raised an arm towards the unicorn’s neck. It instinctively moved its head away for a moment and stared at the glowing bow with wide eyes.
“It’s okay, my friend. We shall not harm you,” Vartan said gently.
Finn reached up and touched the unicorn’s horn, and he was surprised by its texture.
“Vartan, the horn feels warm,” Finn giggled.
The unicorn turned to Vartan and cocked its head to the side.
It is not your presence that I fear, human. Leave this place as soon as you can. It is not safe here for any of us, said a voice in his mind.
Vartan jumped back and looked around in confusion, only to
find no other presence in sight.
Did a unicorn just talk to me? Am I losing my mind? thought Vartan.
Of course I spoke to you. We should not be meeting like this. The time isn't right. Are you not aware—
Suddenly, and without warning, it turned its body sharply and stared deep into the darkness.
Vartan whispered, "What's wrong?"
The beast's voice reverberated in his head.
Run!
The unicorn snorted and galloped away at full speed until its white glow could no longer be seen.
Vartan caught a quick glint of moonlight through the blanket of trees, reflecting off a metallic object flying through the air with penetrating speed. There was no time to waste on thinking. As if time itself had slowed to a crawl, he leapt backwards and shoved Finn out of the path of the unknown missile slicing its way through the icy air.
Vartan landed heavily on top of his brother, who yelped in pain at the weight suddenly crushing him. Finn's voice shrieked, "I’m scared!"
There was a loud thud as the weapon embedded itself in the trunk of an oak tree, only a body length away from where the boys lay. Vartan looked up and saw what appeared to be a plain dagger, but just as it came into focus, it quickly dissolved into nothing.
Vartan blurted involuntarily, "Dark magic..."
A voice whispered from within the darkness. "Fools!"
Suddenly, something darted between the trees, like a moving shadow.
“Who are you? Tell us what you want with us!” growled Vartan angrily into the darkness.
There was a moment of uneasiness as the boys found their feet. Not a sound could be heard aside from their lungs expelling air. The night became noticeably cooler, and a chill found its way up their spines as their hot breaths formed mist in the air.
“Brother, I want to go home now,” cried Finn.
“Stay still and don’t move a muscle!” hissed Vartan, pushing his brother back onto the muddy forest floor and once again readying his bow. His slow steps crunched the twigs on the forest floor beneath his weight.
Legends of Marithia: Book 1 - Prophecies Awakening: Uncut and Extended Second Edition Page 3
