Legends

Rala woke that afternoon refreshed and happy. She prepared breakfast for herself and the human. The man was asleep when she entered the room, but the fever had definitely retreated. Rala gently shook the human awake.

His eyes were clear this morning, and brown like a deer's hide. He saw her sitting at the bedside and smiled.

"Do I have you to thank for my life?" he whispered. His voice was hoarse from lack of use and he coughed for a few moments after speaking.

Rala nodded. "Who are you? And what happened to you in the forest?"

"My name is Reynald. I was taking a shortcut through the wood when a boar attacked me. I was able to drive him off, but not before I was badly wounded."

Rala nodded. Wild boars were not the most dangerous creatures in the forest, but they could kill an unprotected man when provoked.

Reynald looked around the room. "Where am I?"

Rala picked up the bowl she had brought for him. "You're among friends. Are you hungry?"

"Famished," he answered. As she helped him sit up her hair fell over her eyes. She pushed it behind her ear. Reynald froze, staring at the delicate point.

"What... what are you?"

Rala sighed and folded her hands. "I am an elf. You are in our community in the heart of the forest. You are the first human to visit us in centuries."

Reynald sat lost in thought. "Elves," he murmured. "My grandmother told me stories, but I never thought..."

"The stories are true," said Rala. "We are real."

Reynald looked in her eyes. "And beautiful."

Rala looked down, blushing. Reynald looked away. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that."

Rala looked up. "No," she said. Reynald looked at her, puzzled. "Perhaps not all the stories are true. Humans are not the monsters our stories make them out to be."

After a few moments of awkward silence, Rala took a spoon from the tray. "Now you should eat and regain your strength."

"Excuse me," said Reynald. "But you haven't told me your name."

"Ralanthula. But you may call me Rala."

"Ralanthula." Reynald fell silent again.

After a moment, he looked at her. "Rala, what will become of me?"

Rala didn't answer him, but concern showed in her eyes.

Time passed. Summer began to fade into autumn, and the forest readied itself for the winter to come. Rala continued to care for Reynald, and he gradually regained his strength.

The community watched and waited. Corenth asked Shelim regularly how the human was doing, and when he would be leaving. The lord would never answer the question directly, trusting Rala's judgment about the stranger's condition. But Shelim too watched and waited.

Reynald eventually became strong enough to take brief walks in the forest. Rala would accompany him on these trips, and they would talk of life in the elf community, and life outside the wood.

One day Fortenel confronted his father.

"Why don't you persuade Lord Shelim to throw the human out on his rounded ear? If he's strong enough to walk, let him walk home."

Corenth did not look up from the book he was studying. "Quiet, boy. Every time I bring up the subject, he changes it. There is nothing I can do."

Fortenel growled. "He's spending too much time with the Lady Ralanthula."

The advisor looked at his son, an amused expression on his face. "Do I detect a hint of jealousy?"

"Jealous of that ugly, round-eared, graceless son of a dog?" Fortenel snorted. "Of course not. I just don't think it is proper for a lady and future consort to the lord to spend all her time with a threat to our safety."

"I know that, you fool," snapped Corenth. "But as I told you, we cannot force Lord Shelim to expel this interloper without cause. So stop complaining and watch to see if he does anything that will force Shelim's hand."

Fortenel stormed out of the house, and headed into the forest. He walked without direction for some time before he heard voices in a clearing ahead of him.

He stopped and listened carefully. A silvery laugh drifted through the air. He crept through the brush and approached the sound. Rala and the human were seated under a tree, enjoying the sun's warmth. Something the human said struck Rala as amusing. The human's eyes were fixed on the maiden.

"You're beautiful when you laugh."

Fortenel put a hand on the hilt of his knife, anger boiling inside him. But he held still and continued to watch.

"Stop it, Reynald," said Rala, blushing.

"I'm serious, Rala," he answered. "I've never met a woman as wonderful as you are."

Rala looked at him, smiling. Reynald leaned over and kissed her on the lips.

Fortenel watched, disgust and anger raging. He thought of charging out and killing the human. He imagined cutting the human in half and gutting him like a fallen deer.

Before Fortenel could leap from his hiding place, Rala kissed the human back with obvious passion. Jealous rage burned in Fortenel's soul. Simple death would not do. He turned and left as silently as he had come, leaving the lovers behind.

That night, Fortenel returned to the forest. He carried a pack of supplies over his shoulder. With angry fires burning in his soul, he walked into the darkness of the forest.

He arrived in a clearing about two hours later. He set down the bundle and began arranging the components for the ceremony. Following the instructions in the crumbling tome he had stolen from the library, he arranged the candles and outlined magic symbols in silver powder.

At midnight, when the full moon was directly overhead, Fortenel spoke the incantation written in the tome. A chill wind blew through the clearing. A shadow passed across the moon. A shape materialized in the circle of flickering candles.

The beast in the circle stood a head taller than Fortenel. Muscles rippled beneath its dark blue scales. Claws tore at the grass beneath its feet. Breath steamed from its fanged mouth.

Who summons Morak?

The beast's words echoed in Fortenel's skull. "Fortenel, son of Corenth, son of Elioloras."

The beast's glowing red eyes appraised the youth. An elfling. Fortenel, son of Corenth, what do you demand of Morak?

Fortenel wavered under the demon's fiery gaze, but his voice remained firm. "I demand obedience from Morak and his servants. I have spoken the words of power, and demand this obedience by right."

The beast reached out with a claw and the silver circle flared, fire searing the shadowy form. Hissing, Morak withdrew. Very well, it said after a moment. What service do you demand?

"I demand that Morak send his servants to destroy the Lady Ralanthula and her human lover."

The beast nodded. And what payment shall Morak receive for this service?

"Their souls, to do with as you wish."

The beast was silent for a moment. Very well. When shall Morak perform this service?

"Send the servants of Morak tomorrow."

Morak hears and obeys he who spoke the words of power. Tomorrow, at sunset, the servants of Morak shall destroy the elf maid and her lover.

The beast vanished. The candles died. The shadow passed from the moon. Fortenel collapsed, exhausted from his struggle. After lying on the ground for nearly an hour, he climbed to his feet and left the clearing.

He slept well into the next day, waking in the early afternoon. He daydreamed about gloating over the bodies of Rala and the human when they were found that evening. Shelim would learn the folly of sheltering and aiding humans.

As sunset approached Fortenel grew more and more anxious. His friends noticed his unease and asked what troubled him. He snapped at them in response, and kept looking at the sun.

Dusk fell over the town, and a chill wind brought a fog that obscured the view. Dozens of figures materialized from the mist and attacked anyone near them. The sound of screams filled the air as the shadowy assailants tore the community apart.

Fortenel stared in shock. It wasn't supposed to happen like this! Only Rala and the human were to die! He ran towards one of the creatures, yelling. It turned towards him and bowed. It said, We follow the commands of Morak and execute the will of he who spoke the words of power.

"Stop!" cried Fortenel. "You aren't supposed to kill everyone!"

We follow the command of Morak, answered the creature, and it moved into the fog.

Panic seized his heart, and Fortenel ran, searching for Rala and the human. He could still save the community. When the lovers were dead the contract would be fulfilled and the demons would leave.

As he ran, Fortenel saw the dead and dying being torn to shreds by the iron beaks of the attackers. Teeth and claws ripped flesh and broke bone. He saw dozens of dead, an expression of terror etched into each of their faces.

He arrived at Shelim's house. Reynald stood in the doorway, a sword in his hand, defending the house from the creatures. Morak stood before the human, its evil red eyes staining the fog like blood.

Rala stood behind the human, a knife clutched in her fist. Fortenel watched in horror as Morak wore the man down, seeming to play with the human. Blood streamed down Reynald's face, and one arm hung uselessly at his side.

After several moments, Morak batted the sword aside and grabbed Reynald by the throat. The human struggled for a few moments, feet kicking at the air. Morak looked at Reynald like a cat looks at a mouse, and snapped the human's neck. Morak tossed the limp body aside, and turned his feral gaze on the terrified Ralanthula.

Morak studied Rala for several moments. Fortenel stood, gasping. Morak cocked its massive head, turned slowly, and raised one arm raised in salute. The bargain is complete. They are both destroyed.

Fortenel heard Morak's mocking laughter echo in his head as the demons faded into the fog.

Rala sat in the grass, cradling the dead human in her arms. His blood covered her, but she didn't seem to notice. Fortenel approached her, and she looked up at him. Tears engraved channels in the dirt and blood on her face.

"How could you?" she whispered. "He never did anything to you. Because he was human, you had to do this? How could you?"

Fortenel turned away. All around him were the reminders of his error. He fell to his knees, covered his eyes with his hands, and screamed.

The stranger finished the story. For several moments nobody spoke, and then the minstrel whispered, "Now that's a tale."

The other guests murmured in agreement.

One of the serving maids asked, "So what happened next?"

"The community was never the same again. The Lady Ralanthula went mad and was kept locked in her room. A few weeks later she hung herself. Her suicide broke Shelim's spirit, and he passed his office to the captain of the militia. He died not long after that."

The stranger stood and moved towards the stairs, weaving his way through the tables. "I'm going to bed. It is late, and I must leave early to continue my journey."

As he climbed the stairs, the innkeeper called out, "What happened to Fortenel?"

The stranger paused on the stairs. "Fortenel lived. He left the community and was never seen there again. He could no longer bear to face his mistake day after day. But even after he left, he couldn't forget what he had done because of his petty jealousy. He left the forest and began traveling the world beyond, seeking some way to redeem himself."

The minstrel called after him, "Did he ever find what he was looking for?"

There was silence, and then the stranger sighed. "No. Every waking moment he sees the tormented faces. He relives the instant of Reynald's death. He sees Ralanthula cradling the broken body in her arms. There is no respite. Even his dreams are haunted with the images of that day.

"No, he has not found what he seeks."

"Then Fortenel is still alive?"

"If you can call unending torment living."

There was no response. The stranger resumed his climb. When he reached the top, the large man asked, "How do we know your story is true?"

The stranger turned and lowered his hood. Blond hair fell to his shoulders, framing a face with almond-shaped eyes and delicately pointed ears.

"Because I was there."

With that he entered his room and closed the door. Outside, the wind whistled a forlorn cry and the trees rustled in sympathy. The crowd was silent for some time.

And the minstrel plucked at his lute softly, trying to put a tune to the tale.

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