I awoke with a start and looked about me. My knife in my hand ready. But I saw nothing dangerous. A few old men sleeping off their drink heads down upon the tables where they sat.Snores filled the silence well. My eye adjusted to the dim light of the one lamp that burned in the corner of the room. The fire was banked only a soft glow came from it. I found that someone had draped me with a wool blanket. I shrugged it off and rose silently. I did not wish to disturb the sleepers. Moving Silently I exited the tavern and looked about the empty streets. All the houses were dark but for a single candle that burned in the windows to help wondering souls find their peace. I snorted as I knew better. For those dreams were never to leave me. I moved silently towards the stables and awakened the stable boy. "Quietly bring me my horse and make hast." The boy ran off as quickly as his sleep drenched mind would take him. I found my saddle and saddle blanket and waited...I heard my beast snort his puzzlement as the boy lead him towards me. He caught my scent and came to me without hesitation. The boy held the reins as I saddled my horse. Making sure the straps were tight I mounted. I seemed to feel safer upon this great beast as I looked to the boy. from my pouch I pulled out a copper coin and tossed it to him. "Go back to sleep." I said as I turned my beast towards home. We exited the small town and entered the dark forests. My nightmares seem to grow in the shadows that lived among the trees. Dark shapes appeared and disappeared. Damn I cursed myself as we rode deeper into the wood. I remember the tales I bring to them to vividly. They being so fresh in my mind. The people did not realize that those tales of Honor and fear and pain were real. They would never know the horrors I have been through. I urged my horse to travel faster. I needed the forge. My horse knowing me well enough through all these years of war felt my need and picked up the pace. We both knew the dangers of running head long into the darkness but He knew. For he was in many a battle with me upon his back. The Shadows grew braver and came at me faster and faster. My heart pounded inside but I did not show it on the outside for they would have pounced on me taking me to their hells. I reached for my sword but it was not there. Nor was my shield. I was naked before them. My eye narrowed as man and beast ran forward with only one goal in mind. The Forge and safety from these horrors for that place was on sacred ground blessed my my Lady. I felt a sharp pain on my right side..my dark side for I could no see through that open space. They grew bolder. They strike knowing I was defenseless. I cried out to my patron as We two moved as if lighting was about to strike us. I would not fall to them...not this way. Not without sword and shield in hand. I could hear their growls and hoots as the word spread among them that I was easy meat to take. My horse and I made it to the clearing across from the forge. all we had to do was cross the stream and we would be within out boundaries. He pulled up short. Lifting and pawing the air. I gripped hard the reins for I did not wish to fall so close to home. He dropped and looked towards what seemed to be a wall of darkness. Red glowing eyes peered at me. From before me and around me. I sat up straight in my saddle looking about me. My war horse snorted a challenge. "My Lady. If this is foretold in the pages of fate then let it be done. But give me my sword and shield so that I can die in Honor as a Warrior." My answer came in a burst of wind and the howls of the wolves. From the trees came a thousand screams of the night owls and night hawks. I looked about as did my enemies and there from the very woods I traveled through I noted a light. Blue white it was. It surged toward my position with a clamp of thunder that just about through me from my seat. Then out of that light came Warriors on foot and on horse back. Their armor I remembered from some of the battles I fought along side of them. Their shield held the markings of their homes. There an eagle, there a hawk, a wolf, a crow, crossed sword, my friends and comrades from past battles who died with their Honor. I felt a weight hit my hand and I looked to this wonder and found my sword in my grip. It too glowed a bright white. I pulled form deep in my heart and soul my War cry. And charged into the Shadows. My Horse grow powerful as we sliced through the beasts. They fell before us. Like grain during the harvest. Soon it was over. I sat there breathing hard looking about me. And found not one of the Shadows lived. I looked to my friends and lifting my sword up in front of my face I saluted them. They in turn saluted back and faded into the darkness. I felt something touching my face. I opened my eye and found my horse nudging me. I sat up and looked about. I lay but a few feet from my Forge. The sun was rising and the sounds of day creatures all sang their greetings to the new day. The stream ran clean and pure before me as I stood. My mind remembered a battle that took place just over yonder. And yet I saw nothing. The grass was undisturbed. No bodies could be seen anywhere. My brows grow downward as I looked about me. Where was my sword? My shield? Did I not fight for my very life last eve? Did not the dead warriors come to my aid? I stood there silent for a moment then began to turn. I felt pain in my right side. I stopped and looked down upon my tunic. There was dried blood. My blood. I lifted my shirt and found a gash. A glancing blow but in need of cleaning and wrapping. I looked once more across the stream and wondered. Was it but a dream?
Posted on: Mon, 05 Aug 2013 03:19:51 +0000
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