--Actually, the mountians do come first, but since the story has already gone this way, I'll just work from the assumption the forest comes first. Then the mountians. It will take (story time) 2 days to get through the forest and 3 days to get through the mountians. (Time being measured by when ever the party makes camp at night.) I'm glad you liked it Gebohq. No it won't all be comic releif, that is just my style, I mix emotional times with an ocasional burst of humor to balance it out. (BTW in the following I will make a refernce to something in my version of the tale concerning that part where Ji'tory gets taken over by Bazaal. In my version she is nearly raped by Bazaal (so you get the refence). I also implicated it with what Bazaal said to Ji'tory back at the monestary, but in the version he it wasn't explicit. Just trying to be clear). Also I wish to say that there will come a point in the tale when Merlin and Ji'tory will be force to face Bazaal alone. I will write that in myself. In the next to the last plot post (the one part way through the battle with Bazaal) I will announce that the next post will close the story (that'll be the signal for everyone to wrap up their battles and I will not finish the Bazaal battle for another day after I make the next to the last post signal. So everyone will have time to do what they wish. In esence everything will build up to that moment. And in the end Merlin and Ji'tory will be trapped alone with Bazaal, they will have to face him alone.) After that there will come an epilouge section (where I will end the story, but then I EVERYONE to tell of what happened to their characters (like such and such returned to their world, or stayed in this one, ect.) I'll do my own epilouge section first as an example (it will include Ji'tory and Reyaun) I just wanted to tell everyone so some one didn't try to jump in and save the day (no matter HOW much they may want to) cause it is vital I bring it to a close the way I do or else the other things that happened won't come to completeion (like the secret of the Elven Prophecy). After this tale is done the next one I've been thinking of will begin. Thank you. Back to the tale.--
Merlin and his party continued throught the forest. The trees looked as if they had been seared by fire, their barks blackened, lacking all leaves. They were as dark spires in the mist. The party marched on.
Now Ji'tory was walking next to Merlin. Merlin's staff (the one he brought with him from the citadel) taps softly against the ground. Suddenly they hear a voice cry out from the mist.
Voice: Help me. Please. Is there anyone there?
Merlin: We are here.
From the mist emerged a man. He walked slowly toward them.
Man: Where are you?
Lina reflexively took a step backwards upon seeing him. Merlin and Ji'tory rushed foward to help him. The reason why he couldn't find them was not because the mist obscured his vision, but that he lacked eyes. He bled a little from his eye sockets.
Merlin (giving the man his hand): How did you get all the way out here?
Man: My name is Jason. I am . . . or was a scout for the King. I found Bazaal's castle. Or rather I was taken there. Bazaal did THIS to me! (he pointed to his face speaking bitterly).
Ji'tory: Here Merlin. Let me help him. She took him by the hand and began to lead him toward the rest of the party.
Jason: Your a girl. A woman shouldn't see have to see such a wound.
Ji'tory: I'm a warrior. And I've seen worse.
Merlin taking a part of his sleve he tears off a peice of cloth.
Merlin: I'm sure the air must hurt your wound. Here, take this.
Merlin hands the cloth to Jason.
Jason: It does hurt. Thank you.
Jason takes it and covers his wound and ties it around the back of his head.
Apathis: Are we an army or a hospital?! Leave him here.
Merlin: One of the defining things about good is it's compassion for others. If we left him, we would be no better than Bazaal.
Reyaun: He speaks the truth Apathis. We can not leave him here. Let us take him with us. Besides he may have knowledge about this area we don't.
Jason: Where are you marching to?
Merlin (softly): To Bazaal's castle.
Jason: Back to the lion's den. Tell me do you see any particular land marks around here?
Ji'tory: Yes. There is a large stone ahead of us, the path branches there.
Jason: Go to it's right. If you follow the path to the left it leads to a gorge. But the right path leads eventually to the mountians.
Apathis: I know this area! Take the path on the left! It is the short cut! If you listen to this bind SCOUT you'll take the long way around.
Merlin: Not to sound ungratefull for your aid. But somehow I trust Jason.
Apathis: Grrrrr. FINE! Take the long way around!
The party took the right hand path and continued there journey. The mist soon darkened as night fell about them. They decided to make camp by the road. They pitched their tents and started a fire. Most of them sat around the fire and listened to Jason tell tales of his journeys. They all had to admit, he was a good story teller. Most of them bid the others good night and went to their tents. Merlin bid Ji'tory, Reyaun, and Jason good night. Merlin went to his tent and went into an uneasy sleep leaving the other three alone by the fire. Apathis was somewhere near the road standing in the mist a ways away from the camp.
Reyaun: Ji'tory I'm going to check on Apathis. I don't fully trust the man.
Ji'tory: Alright.
Reyaun got up and headed out into the mist toward Apathis. This left Jason and Ji'tory alone.
Jason: You're an Elf. Aren't you?
Ji'tory (with suprise): How could you know that since your. . . (she trailed off).
Jason (softly): blind. I could tell by the sound of your voice. Some of the refernces you've made while we spoke. Just because I can't see doesn't mean I am helpless or unaware of my soroundings.
Ji'tory: I'm sorry.
Jason: No offense taken. I know I am blind and I have to deal with that. I'm not afraid.
Ji'tory: I can see you are a very brave man.
Jason: Thank you.
Meanwhile Reyaun had reached Apathis out of earshot from the camp. As he approached Apathis from behind Apathis spoke to him.
Apathis: Ah, that Ji'tory is something isn't she?
Reyaun: You could put it that way. She is a wonderful caring person.
Apathis: No. I meant she is a whore.
Reyaun (with an edge to his voice): Excuse me.
Apathis (calmly): I said she is a whore.
Reyaun begins to get angry, but Apathis continues.
Apathis: Didn't she tell you how she liked what Bazaal almost did with her.
Reyaun: Be silent now!
Apathis: Why, she warming up to that blind man back at the fire!
Reyaun becomes enraged and punches Apathis between the eyes. (Reyaun is wearing a metal gauntlet!). Aptahis stares foward as if nothing had happened. Then Apathis just smiles. An expression of shock and disgust comes over Reyaun as he returns to camp hoping Apathis would be gone in the morning.
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With magic comes powerful responsiblity. One can limit oneself in love for others, or one can revel in power and do acts of great evil. I know I have seen evil and its power. I have felt it in my hands and mind. But in the end choose to love others, not power. The choice is yours. Choose wisely.
~The Wizard Merlin~
You can find the tale of the
"Saga of the Thrid War" at my library.
"I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good. So then it is no longer I that do it, but sin that which dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin which dwells within me."
~St. Paul to the church in Rome recorded in Romans 7:15-20.
So that we are set free from sin by Jesus, so we celebrate his birth on Christmas. Remeber this day with joy, when the angels sang, peace on earth good will toward men.
~Merlin