The First Chapter (Perhaps?)
CHAPTER I: THE DARKNESS RETURNS
Loneliness was a feeling that Iterion was no stranger to. Being a knight he was banned from most companionship. Lately, he has been more alone than ever before in his life. For the past day and a half Iterion has been running, running from the servants of a man he abhors. Valdius Laniset, the most dispiteous man in the entire Westermark was the enemy of many, especially Iterion. Valdius ruled his lands with hatred and violence, a rule which differed vastly from that of his father, Edward’s, way of doing things. Iterion could remember what it was like when Valdius did not rule, times were good under Edward’s reign.
Iterion loved Edward, and he would have exchanged his life to have the good king Edward back in power. But, Iterion knew that the king was gone and could not return. Iterion also remembers the day the king died. As with most days in the Westermark it was a peaceful day. The royal flags flew happily from the top spires of his king’s enormous castle. Iterion used to love the way the sun shone through the spires in mid-evening, casting their silhouette on the ground. The grand castle stood atop a hill, in the center of a large plain. When one stood at the top of the castle the view lasted for miles. The castle was strangely placed, being in the center of an enormous plain left room for attack from all sides. No one quite knew the original reasoning for placing the castle in such an odd location. But, the inhabitants of the king’s main city, Natulia, were well protected. The city was massive; it held fifteen thousand people within its walls, not to mention the extra thirty thousand soldiers who guarded it. Inside the castle large draperies of red and silver, the colors of Edward, adorned the wall. Light streamed inside through portholes in the walls illuminating the damp and dark, yet, comfortable halls. Food was of great supply, the fertile fields just outside the castle provided most of it. The rest came from either trade or fishing in the sea half a days ride away to the west of the castle.
On the day of the king’s death Iterion was to be in the top towers of the castle on lookout duty, far from the main hall where the king would sit and meet with his beloved peasants. His peasants would bring complaints and praises; the good king would listen to them all. To complaints he would offer council and to praises he would offer praises of his own. He would offer kindness to all. But, on this day, the kindness would end.
* * *
Towards mid-evening a man approached the king. The man was hooded and cloaked in a rough grey cloth. His face was but a dark circle within the cloak. The man walked slowly and carefully, the king waited patiently for the man to approach; unable to fathom the horrors that awaited him. Once the man stopped the king greeted him by saying, “Welcome good sir, what tidings do you bring hither.” The man stood silent for a moment, the king suddenly felt quite uneasy. It was not a natural uneasiness the king felt as though he was being sucked into darkness. The darkness had no color, it didn’t even appear black. It came with the sensation of cold, extreme cold, and at the same time extreme heat. He was sweating and shivering at the same time. He could see nothing but he felt his clothes dampening from his sweat and his extremities shaking violently from the cold. The king’s fear at this point in time was the greatest it ever been in his life. No words can describe the utmost fear felt by the king. The king struggled against the approaching darkness.
After a few minutes of struggle the king suddenly became aware of his surroundings again, he thought his struggle had prevailed. He looked about he saw that his servants were quite unaffected and unaware of their king’s distress. The king was gladdened a bit by their calmness. The king attempted to yell out but his voice was deadened instantly. It was at this instant the man began to speak. “Shut up, old man. Can’t you see they can’t hear you?” The man’s voice was like a scream and at the same time it was a whisper. The king was frightened by the voice, he wondered to himself why his people could not see his distress. The man spoke again, “You don’t understand do you?” The king then heard laughter; the laughter came from no central point. It emanated from the walls; it filled the main hall with noise. Again, the man spoke, “You are dead my good king… your life is forfeit.” The laughter continued throughout his speaking. The king defiant now, struggled harder than ever before. The voice droned on, “You have always wondered what death was like, haven’t you Edward.” The king did not need to answer, the man already knew. “Yes, and now you know.” Thousands of thoughts streamed into the king’s mind, the most prominent of which were the thoughts about why he had to die, why at this time. Again, the man knew the questions without speech required. The terrible laughter which once filled the hall had ceased as the man began to speak again. “Oh, my good king, it is certainly not your health, you are quite fit for a human. So, my liege what could it be… what could it be?” The king had no idea what it could be, he thought on it for a few minutes, although, at this point time was irrelevant. The king knew he was dead he had no reason to rush. For, death is irrevocable, the good king thought to himself. Even so, the king did not know how or why he took what he considered an early demise. The man spoke only once more by saying, “Foolish man.” He then turned and walked out into the once beautiful day. The darkness returned, and the king ceased to be.
* * *
Iterion had remembered the death a different way, after the man left the king just slumped over in his throne. His body was cold and motionless, stiff as the throne he sat on. Guards ran out to find the man, but, he had vanished. Or so Iterion had been told; he never chose to believe the king would die so silently. Iterion cried foul play, to those who would listen. Most people were too saddened by their king’s death to even care to listen. Iterion had finally chose to bring his suspicions to the good king’s son, although he had never liked him, he thought he might find reassurance. Iterion was gravely mistaken, instead he found banishment. Apparently, Valdius thought that Iterion was disgracing the name of his father. When Iterion objected he was forced out of the kings city by the new servant’s of the new king. To the dark wood he ran, away from all that he ever loved.
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posted by Adam at 8:20 PM
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