A Novel Begins

Wednesday, January 12, 2005

Hello everyone. I find myself inspired by the Poem posted below. I have decided to post the first portion on the book I am writing. If you don't know me, I'll tell you that I absolutely LOVE Fantasy novels. Anything Weis & Hickman, Salvatore, Jordan, Mallory, Tolken... If you don't recognize these names then consider yourself far removed from the world of fantasy novels, but for those of you that recognized a minimum of 2 of these authors, I'd really appreciate your opinion of what you read... Well here goes... Chapter 1 He woke as the fourth moon was rising. If only I could sleep through one night, he thought to himself. He looked across the smoldering ashes of the fire and could see the glow reflected back from her auburn hair. She had loved him once… It was long ago when the Vadim was still standing and Humans and Elves alike flocked to their doors to receive the gift of Magic. Few were chosen, but on one fated day two strangers were accepted, not knowing that their lives would forever be entwined. It was said that the gods themselves ruled the Vadim and blessed the lives of those chosen, but what was legend was nowhere near truth, a truth that he must remain silent about or forever lose the Magic and his life. He never thought that they would be brought back together. There had actually been an easing to the pain in his heart, but seeing her there sleeping by the fire, he was reminded of the innocence she once held. The gods, or rather their absence had taken that from her and given her Magic and immortality. Immortality… quite a change in living for a human, but as an Elf he was accustomed to seeing his friends grow old and die. If she could just understand why he made the choice he did. Ruairc heard a faint twig snap and whispered across the smoldering fire, ”Shallis…” “I know I heard it too”, she whispered in response with her back still facing him… It seemed she was unable to sleep as well. “I’ll go check it out”, he whispered back. In a silent instant Ruairc was consumed by the darkness with his Elven senses and Magic scouring ahead of him in search for the intruder. Knowing he should see nothing he glanced back towards the camp and only saw the protective shield created by the Magic. Only those gifted with Magic or entranced by a spell could see it’s effects and all was as it should be. If someone had found them it would mean they were sent specifically looking for them. They were camped high in the Stone Mountains, which was known for it’s vast Dwarvish colonies buried beneath them, but none dared to climb this high without Magical protection, as the air was thin. There were very few people left in this world with the gift of Magic, all of whom he knew by name and none of whom except for Shallis did he care to meet again. Although she knew the Magical canopy held in all sound and light, Shallis quietly rolled off her pallet and drew her sword. Her sword glowed a faint green showing the presence of an Elf, most likely Ruairc, but you can never be too sure. Her swords Magic had saved her many times warning her of the presence of other beings. She had come to rely on it and think of it as a companion. She quickly remembered the potential danger she was in just as a figure broke into the protective circle of the Magic. Her sword seemed to act before she did swinging directly for the figures neck. It stopped just short of a kill leaving a thin line of blood as a pair of familiar elvish eyes stared down at her with no seeming emotion. Shallis had learned long ago to control the Magic of the sword though it always seemed to be just within her grasp. She withdrew her sword from the unflinching neck of Ruairc and returned it to its sheath as she casually asked, “Well…? Did you see anything?” It had always bothered her how Ruairc would never share his feelings… his hatred, his fears…. his Love. “There was nothing… nothing I could see, but something wasn’t right. I could feel something that seemed familiar, but so distant… It was nothing, I’m sure.” There he went again choosing not to talk about things. She had learned a long time ago that it was futile to think of pulling thoughts out of Ruairc. He would talk about things when and where he wanted. It seemed there would be no sleep for either of them tonight and with no spoken words Ruairc stoked the fire and started making some tea. The elves were known for having a tea for every occasion, but you always wondered where they carried it all. Shallis dug into her pack and pulled out her healing salve. It was the natural way to heal surface wounds and Ruairc obviously needed some attention, though he would never admit it. They sat silently by the fire sipping their tea. Why hadn’t he chosen to stay with her; he could have waited for her to recovery, but instead he rushed off and had been unreachable. They had pledged their lives to each other. They were bound by their Magic, but he left her there alone to heal and didn’t return. She was surprised when he finally showed up. hg “I’ll take another.” Shallis told the guy behind the bar. “Haven’t you had enough there, Lady. Are you sure you can handle it?” He said with a scruffy voice. If he only knew who she was and what she was capable of, he never would have questioned her. “I’m fine. Just leave the bottle.” One more time Shallis found herself losing her thoughts in the whisky she was drinking. It always made her forget, at least for a little while the pain she felt, being abandoned by the one she loved. Why had he left, when she needed him most. She was completely alone; she had outlived her entire family and all her friends and the one person she had counted on… had left her to seemingly die. As she became lost in her thoughts a cloaked figure entered the tavern. He wore a dark green cloak with the hood pulled forward. No one paid him any attention, but a close look would reveal a pair of emerald eyes glaring from beneath the hood. He explored the tavern with his bow tucked beneath the cloak and moved as if he were gliding on air. To the trained eye there was no mistaking that this was an elf. He stood nearly a head taller than most in the room but didn’t have that large massive strength humans often carry, but there was no mistaking that he could best anyone in the place… except for maybe the lady sitting at the bar. Elves were not welcome in this town. They were thought to have been the reason for the uprising and even thirty years since the fall of the Vadim, the people still placed their blame on anyone but themselves. Well... that's all I got... What do you think? Really I want to know.. Pat__Man