The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Swan Wood

Aylwen Dreamsong · 03-11-2004, 09:10 PM

Cartil nodded, taken slightly aback by the sudden change of tone and subject. But the young man shrugged this off and let Laurel put her arm around his neck so that he could support her as they walked. The three companions walked away from Cuor's dead body, and Cartil did not regret leaving the beast there.

But soon, Cartil knew that it would be back to a battlefield, back to a world of hatred and bloodshed; a world of hope and pride. Cartil both loved and hated battle. It showed a side of beings that would never be shown under any other circumstances. It showed death that left lasting ache in the hearts of those left behind. Still, there were always reasons for fighting in the world, it seemed.

The battlefield was emptying as Laurel, Cartil, and Annunfuin left the guard of foliage. Wild Men scattered, and the people of Alphirion cheered without care. Cartil looked to Laurel's face, and saw a smile so relieved and so happy that could not be found any other way. Cartil brushed some of Laurel's long brown hair away and whispered in her ear. "Laurel, your people are safe, thanks to you."

Laurel smiled, but the smile faltered as she saw the bodies strewn about the battlefield. The people of Alphirion and the warriors that had died were mixed with the dead of the Wild Men. It was not proper, Cartil knew, to leave the courageous of Alphirion to rot with the likes of the Wild Men.

"Collect the bodies of the honorable dead," Cartil cried, calming the cheering warriors and townsfolk. "Let them rest seperate from those that terrorized them for so long..."

"Cartil," Annunfuin began, but his voice stopped before he could continue. Instead he pointed to a board laden with rich maroon cloth that was haphazardly placed outside the Wild King's tent. Cartil gently let go of Laurel and went to the board, seeing a body on it.

"No..." Cartil murmured before he'd even been able to see who was lying on the makeshift stretcher. He ran the rest of the way and dropped to his knees, brushing wispy black hair from the face of the fallen. He did not need to see the face to even confirm that it was indeed his sister. It was Jesslyn, his baby sister. Cartil's little sister was dead on the battlefield. It was certainly not her time, and Cartil's mind rushed with questions. What had happened? Why not him? Why Jesslyn? Who had killed her?

Cartil could not answer any of the questions. He could not weep. He was too overwhelmed to do much of anything. All he could do was take her small, cold, and lifeless hand in his and hold her. It was all he could do to keep from whimpering, but Cartil continued to think that it would be unmanly. But it was his little sister...it occurred to Cartil that he'd never see her grey-green eyes again, or see her smile.

"Goodbye, Jess."

03-11-2004, 09:10 PM	#34
Aylwen Dreamsong The Melody of Misery Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: The Island of Conclusions (You get there by jumping!)... Posts: 1,147	Nothing lasts forever... Cartil nodded, taken slightly aback by the sudden change of tone and subject. But the young man shrugged this off and let Laurel put her arm around his neck so that he could support her as they walked. The three companions walked away from Cuor's dead body, and Cartil did not regret leaving the beast there. But soon, Cartil knew that it would be back to a battlefield, back to a world of hatred and bloodshed; a world of hope and pride. Cartil both loved and hated battle. It showed a side of beings that would never be shown under any other circumstances. It showed death that left lasting ache in the hearts of those left behind. Still, there were always reasons for fighting in the world, it seemed. The battlefield was emptying as Laurel, Cartil, and Annunfuin left the guard of foliage. Wild Men scattered, and the people of Alphirion cheered without care. Cartil looked to Laurel's face, and saw a smile so relieved and so happy that could not be found any other way. Cartil brushed some of Laurel's long brown hair away and whispered in her ear. "Laurel, your people are safe, thanks to you." Laurel smiled, but the smile faltered as she saw the bodies strewn about the battlefield. The people of Alphirion and the warriors that had died were mixed with the dead of the Wild Men. It was not proper, Cartil knew, to leave the courageous of Alphirion to rot with the likes of the Wild Men. "Collect the bodies of the honorable dead," Cartil cried, calming the cheering warriors and townsfolk. "Let them rest seperate from those that terrorized them for so long..." "Cartil," Annunfuin began, but his voice stopped before he could continue. Instead he pointed to a board laden with rich maroon cloth that was haphazardly placed outside the Wild King's tent. Cartil gently let go of Laurel and went to the board, seeing a body on it. "No..." Cartil murmured before he'd even been able to see who was lying on the makeshift stretcher. He ran the rest of the way and dropped to his knees, brushing wispy black hair from the face of the fallen. He did not need to see the face to even confirm that it was indeed his sister. It was Jesslyn, his baby sister. Cartil's little sister was dead on the battlefield. It was certainly not her time, and Cartil's mind rushed with questions. What had happened? Why not him? Why Jesslyn? Who had killed her? Cartil could not answer any of the questions. He could not weep. He was too overwhelmed to do much of anything. All he could do was take her small, cold, and lifeless hand in his and hold her. It was all he could do to keep from whimpering, but Cartil continued to think that it would be unmanly. But it was his little sister...it occurred to Cartil that he'd never see her grey-green eyes again, or see her smile. "Goodbye, Jess." Last edited by Aylwen Dreamsong; 03-13-2004 at 05:48 PM.