Vivien walked up to her rooftop garden, she had always enjoyed looking at the scenery, it calmed her, and brought the peace nothing else could. Looking towards the nearby forest. An Owl could be seen slowly circling above it. As if looking for something. But surely it could not hope to spot something to eat on the forest floor, so what was it looking for. Suddenly it dived too the ground, out of sight. An owl hunting by daylight in a forest, well it isn’t the strangest thing I’ve seen lately, but strange it is. And as quickly as the thoughts had entered her mind, they disappeared again, once again thinking about the matters at hand.
***
My old friend landed on my shoulder, greeting me like she always had.
Mirvota: “May your path shine as bright”
Gatok: “As the stars at night. How are you old friend?”
Mirvota: “I am good, not as young as I used to be, but I can still spot a mouse from a mile away, so I think I’ll live a bit longer, but I doubt I’ll outlive you.” And they laughed, and if anybody would have been around to hear it, they would surely have thought it to be a strange sound indeed. “I have much to tell you, although the Earth has probably told you much of it already.”
And so we talked. And my old friend was right, I knew most of it already, too those who listen, the Earth will tell much, but apparently not even the Earth knew all there was to know about the events unfolding. Or maybe I just hadn’t listened closely enough.
Gatok: “Old friend, although I’ve grown to be an observer, like yourself, I feel the time has once again come, to play a more active role. I’m all out of Tia, my bottle of Baileys is almost empty, and I haven’t given a good back rub ……”
Mirvota; “Ahem …”
Gatok: “I am sorry my friend, although I’m old, some things never age. But then I imagine, you haven’t had one” His face showing an almost evil grin. “even half as good as mine, since the last time we met.”
Mirvota: “I don’t remember them to be that good”
Some of the younger trees, who where listening to the conversation, found it to be, at the very least, a bit disturbing. A half-giant giving back rubes to an owl. But the older trees showed a smile, looking at the reunion of two old friends, who where both older then even the oldest of trees in this forest. But who where youthful enough to play like two young kittens. And as their own youth came flooding back to them.
Gatok: “Perhaps old age is getting to you after all, I remember you being quite fond of them, but let’s continue this conversation over a nice meal, and something to drink.”
And so we moved too a small clearing not far ahead, where on a tree trunk some white bread a jar of honey and a jar of butter awaited us. I turned to her, with a smile, she knows me well I thought. The magic could be felt as she walked over to me, with a brown bottle in her hand, which contained a greyish brown liquid. And so we sat and ate and drank, and we talked about the more pleasant things in life, for it had been long since we last saw each other. And as I looked at the sky when there was a moment of silence. I could see the new morning approaching and I realised it was time to tend too the task at hand.
Gatok: “I will ask you to do something for me. I think some form of an introduction to the Flames is necessary. They have been through much,” But the only image that entered my mind clearly was that of Gwalchmai, a kitchen table and two bright Flames. But as I once again looked at my old friend, the pleasant thought was replaced by a sadness that had not left me, since I last saw her, and never would. “and my appearance may startle them.”
Mirvota: “Is that the only reason, you want me to go to them first, an introduction to the wonderful world that is you.”
The sarcasm in her voice could not be ignored. The last time I asked her to do something for me, I hadn’t been there when she returned, but it had been so long ago, and we both knew there was no other way, but still my heart jumped of joy, to see that she still felt so strongly, about life’s cruel joke. So I further explained my plans to her.
Gatok: “Knowing their response to what I ask you to tell them, will, I hope, give me some aid in deciding how they can benefit the most from my aid.”
***
Both Gwalchmai and Vivien where enjoying the peace and the view of Vivien’s rooftop garden. Looking once more in the direction of the forest. Vivien suddenly looked up, to see an owl circling above her, slowly descending.
Vivien: “It’s the same bird I saw yesterday, a strange sight it was, circling above the forest, as if looking for something, or someone.”
Gwalchmai: “I wonder if it hopes to find whatever it is looking for over here.”
Mirvota: “No I don’t, for I have already found him. You are right Vivien, I was looking for someone, and old friend of mine.”
Gwalchmai: “What….”
Mirvota: “Sleep Gwalchmai, sleep and listen”
An owl that could speak the common tongue, and make Gwalchmai shut his yap with a single word, this would surely need an explanation. But as Vivien opened her mouth to ask for it. The owl continued talking as she heard in her mind; “Time, time will tell” And so she decided to just listen, listen to the strange bird that was now sitting in front of her.
Mirvota: “The winds had whispered of him, the trees where slowly remembering the songs that had once been sung about him. And the Earth already murmured about his coming weeks ago. And I was eager to see him, it had been long, much too long.”
Vivien could see a hint of sadness quickly moving over her face, but it was gone, when she continued.
Mirvota: “And then I found him. Looking the same as last time, and I will tell you of what I saw, and of that which you will see. He’s a big man, standing taller then most humans, but his form was not that of a human, he looked more like a giant crossed with a dwarf. Well that was the first thing to enter my mind when I first saw him, and if have yet to find a better description. His sheer size made an ogre look like an elf, when standing next to him. He was wearing a cape, the same greyish cape he had worn when I first met him. Under the hood of the cape, the face of a young man could be seen, but it didn't go too well with the troubled look of his grey eyes, and the length of his beard. He wore black leather armour, or so it appeared. I think it will be all right if I tell you a bit more about the armour, but the story of why it was made I will leave up to him. The armour was made out of three layers, the first layer was the first because it would have made even the calmest of paladins weep and attack in rage. It was made of the skin of a silver dragon. The second layer was dwarven chain, he had crafted himself, and if not for the last layer many a rune could have been seen upon it. The third layer was made of the skin of a black dragon. The combined thickness of the armour made him look even bulkier then he already was. And it would have made an impressive sight, if he had walked upright. But he walked like an old wizard on his final journey, leaning heavily on his staff made of grey wood. Two hammers hang on his belt, blacker then the blackest of nights, one engraved with the rune of making, one with the rune of unmaking.”
Vivien: “Who is he?”
She was more interested in me than in the armour I wear or the weapons I carry. I had hoped as much but hadn’t been sure, until then. I hoped the others would have a similar response.
Mirvota: “I will tell what little I know, he is ancient, older then the birth of the humans, but younger than the mountains, and that is all he has told anyone about his age, and it would be wise, not to ask him about it, unless you have a lot of free time on your hands. Not even Thantor can rival his art of endless discussions about things mystical and philosophical. But knowing you I should tell you a bit more, your curiosity is widely known. For some immortality seems like a divine dream, but for those who are, it becomes a nightmare. He has seen more battles then you have years, he has lost more friends then you have fingers, he has seen more death than a forest has trees. But you will know, when you look into his eyes, what I mean. Both he and Waverly could probably tell you a bit more about the blessing turning curse, but I will not. He was created from magic, so much so, that the magic that created him is not a part of him, but he is a part of the magic. Why, how, and for what purpose he was created, not even he knows. He was raised by dwarves, in the time they had not travelled outside the mountains that where there home, it was they who taught him the power of the forge, and it was there that he forged his hammers. But details about these times are vague and long forgotten, even by him. For he outlived them all, and seeing the grandchildren of your brother die, is something nobody should have to experience. It was then that the wish for an end too his life first appeared. Even back then he felt stretched, almost torn apart, surely he was not meant to live this long. He wished too die, but with honour, and so he fought, fought in many a battle against evil. His dwarven upbringing can be thanked for this. If he had fought without honour and against good the world would surely have been a different place. Although they are now long forgotten, many a song has been written in his honour. Using his sorrow and despair to throw him into a rage, not unlike that of the battleraggers of today, but uncontrolled, and not too survive but too die, he fought ferociously and claimed many a life. It never worked as it was truly intended and he always survived. So he left the way of the warrior, for seeing so many being granted the gift he craved for, didn’t do his mind much good. His mind a stretched out mess filled with death, destruction and the craving for his own, he took long to recover.”
Mirvota paused a little, rethinking all she had told.
Mirvota “I’m telling too much already, he will tell more if he thinks it’s necessary. But the following must be told. He travelled long and far and learned much, about both nature and himself. And with age came both wisdom and calmness. For he realised the irony, that many a man wanted to be, that which brought all who where, so much sorrow and grief. He joined a group of elves, realising that they would understand him better than most. He knew much about what had happened to them while he was travelling. Listening to the Earth had always come natural to him. And he learned much from the elves, after he had earned their trust.”
And with a smile on her face she continued.
Mirvota: “And a small library could be filled with stories of that time. But now, I must go, he will not like that I’ve told so much.”
Vivien: “But what’s his name?”
Mirvota: “Gatok”
And with that she flew of, back towards the forest.
Upon hearing that name Gwachlmai woke up, clearly remembering his dream of Vivien talking with an owl about some old dude called Gatok. Looking at Vivien she seemed to be in deep thought, and their conversation could wait a bit longer, so he decided to leave her alone for a while. His head turned as he walked away, only to see the owl from his dream flying away. The only thing anyone could get out of him the next few hours, kind of resembled; “I’m going mad”. But everybody knew that that couldn’t be true, he had been mad for quite some time.
***
Gatok: “How did it go?”
Mirvota: “Can’t you at least wait until after, I know you’re eager to leave me again. But you could be decent about it, you owe me that much.”
My very core, the essence of my being, felt as if had been torn apart, ripped to pieces, and crushed by the violence of a horde of stampeding dragons. Never before had I felt such pain, and we had shared so much of it already. And the trees watched an old man age before their very eyes, before there had still been some colour in his beard, but now, now it was gone.
Gatok: “You know I don’t want to leave you. If it was possible I would stay. Oh, how I want to stay with you. But I can’t, I have tried, you know this, I’ve tried for so long, but I cannot join you. They still don’t allow it. Why do you torment me so?”
Mirvota: “I’m sorry my friend, seeing you again has brought me great joy, how I have longed for you. But what you say is true. I do not wish to torment you. For they have done so, more than enough.”
And as I looked at her, once again assuming her true form. I felt my love and admiration still growing every second I spent with her, but so did the pain. And I cursed, I cursed my creator, and I cursed my own immortality, as I had done so many times before. But it would not help, it never had and never will. I would not die, I would never join her. I had asked every God who’s name was known, and they had all answered the same. And I had cursed them all for it. My life would not end, so it did not matter, what they thought of me. They could not destroy me, for then I would have my wish, and my love. They where powerless to stop me. And as my mind was ragging I felt my sanity slipping. But like she had done so many a time before.
Mirvota: “Come back to me, my friend. You have a task, maybe it’s your final one.”
Gatok: “May it be so.”
She had preserved my sanity, something only the sound of her voice could do. It could wake the dead, but if only it could slay the living. I couldn’t suppress a smile, and seeing it, neither could she. I grabbed her tightly, and we both cried, one eye crying tears of short lived joy, and the other those of eternal pain. And then she spoke the words I had not expected to hear for at least another day.
Mirvota: “I must leave, I am sorry, I just couldn’t wait to see you, so I came too soon. I will miss you. With eternal love. May your path shine as bright.”
Gatok: “As the stars at night, goodbye my friend.”
And as the last word left my throat, she had already disappeared.
[edit: both spelling and phrasing
]
[ 01-02-2002: Message edited by: Gandalfgal The Talking Variant ]