Descent of the Hawk Lords
[i]'Do not look for me. Do not think of me. Do not love me.'[/i] Those were her last words, colder and more bitter than the wind pulling at her hair. Though, it was what she didn't say that hurt me more. I suppose I had not really expected to hear her say it, not after all that had transpired in the days before I made my choice. Still, even a wolf will bring food to a trapped animal. Am I not trapped? I feel it, more so than ever before, caught in a gust, tumbling and falling towards...towards my doom and the doom of us all.
***
After she left, I made my way up to the highest eyrie to answer the summons I knew would come. As terrified as I know I should have been, I was still thinking of Aria. There had been so many lies, so much deception. I began to wonder if Aria too was false. It would not be beyond the witch to have somehow conjured Aria's love for me as well. [i]Go to her.[/i] She had bidden me. [i]Whisper sweet words. Show her bellflowers and snowbells. Fill her cup. Fill her mind with doubt and dreams. Make her love you. Make her yours. Make her ours.[/i] And I did. Ariel help me, I did. But to what end, to mine own, or to us both?
***
The two eternal guards stood as silent as ever, but even their ancient stoicism was no match for the howling wind that pushed and pulled at them like a stubborn child. There was no point announcing myself, for at this altitude the wind stole the words the moment they left your lips. Instead, I merely lifted my cowl to show my face. They knew me well. Once inside the walls of the mountain hall I stood still a moment in the silence trying to calm myself. As if to remind me of my sin, I was robbed of even this simple pleasure. [i]You are late.[/i] I wanted to hurt him, anyone, everyone - such was my anger. [i]She awaits you in the main hall.[/i] She? Main hall? Surely, the High Lord would not want to… [i]No questions. Go. Now![/i] Had I fallen so far that even the serving staff were above me? I grabbed the elf about the neck and drew his face close to mine. Mind yourself, I told him; the most dangerous creature is he who has nothing to lose. He smiled, which took me back. [i]But my Lord,[/i] his mockery was clear even through the choked reply, [i]she has everything to lose.[/i] I would not understand the weight of those words until much later, not until I would see Aria once more.
***
As I approached the hall, the giant doors opened from within. Stepping inside I gained my first glimpse at the true designs of she who had begun it all. There the witch stood, a delicate hand upon the High Lord’s arm, smiling down upon me. The dread and dismay froze me. Her vengeance went beyond those in the mountains, beyond the ones in the forest below, beyond the great seas. All elves, all men and all beasts would die. I cried out a warning to all the highborn that had been summoned as witness, telling them of her treachery and screaming my own part in it. At least I tried to. Roots from the pine trees that stood like gargantuan guardians along the sides of the hall burst from the rocky floor and wrapped themselves around me from mouth to foot. When calm had been restored, she spoke. [i]The High Lord does not wish to taste anymore of the poison that comes from your lips. You will listen to our Lord in silence, and as you can see, I have made certain that you shall.[/i] I glared at her, believing as all those consumed by rage do, that somehow my will alone would break me free from my captor. The roots only squeezed me tighter. The High Lord rose from the Eagle Throne and descended the stairs down to the floor. His face was expressionless, but his eyes betrayed the horror of his hate for me. I could not look at him. I closed my eyes. [i]Look at me.[/i] I could not. [i]LOOK AT ME![/i] The desperation in his voice and my last vestiges of pride compelled me. [i]She has gone. My daughter is gone and taken the sun and the air with her. Only darkness remains in here.[/i] He beat violently upon his chest above his heart. [i]You have done this to me. You have made our house the doom of the Asrai! You have filled her with poison and lies and so you shall be the one to remove them from her. If you do not bring her back to me and fill the dark void that remains of my heart and soul, I shall fill it with your blood and then Ariel help me, I shall have to fill it with hers also. She dooms herself. She dooms us all. We will take what remains of my kinband; all that Aria did not corrupt to her cause, and go. Go to this land beyond the sea and do what must be done.[/i] As I was dragged from the hall I heard the witch yell [i]Ariel save us all![/i], yet none heard the contempt in her voice, but I.
***
We left that night, and so followed the dark heart of Athel Loren.
***
After she left, I made my way up to the highest eyrie to answer the summons I knew would come. As terrified as I know I should have been, I was still thinking of Aria. There had been so many lies, so much deception. I began to wonder if Aria too was false. It would not be beyond the witch to have somehow conjured Aria's love for me as well. [i]Go to her.[/i] She had bidden me. [i]Whisper sweet words. Show her bellflowers and snowbells. Fill her cup. Fill her mind with doubt and dreams. Make her love you. Make her yours. Make her ours.[/i] And I did. Ariel help me, I did. But to what end, to mine own, or to us both?
***
The two eternal guards stood as silent as ever, but even their ancient stoicism was no match for the howling wind that pushed and pulled at them like a stubborn child. There was no point announcing myself, for at this altitude the wind stole the words the moment they left your lips. Instead, I merely lifted my cowl to show my face. They knew me well. Once inside the walls of the mountain hall I stood still a moment in the silence trying to calm myself. As if to remind me of my sin, I was robbed of even this simple pleasure. [i]You are late.[/i] I wanted to hurt him, anyone, everyone - such was my anger. [i]She awaits you in the main hall.[/i] She? Main hall? Surely, the High Lord would not want to… [i]No questions. Go. Now![/i] Had I fallen so far that even the serving staff were above me? I grabbed the elf about the neck and drew his face close to mine. Mind yourself, I told him; the most dangerous creature is he who has nothing to lose. He smiled, which took me back. [i]But my Lord,[/i] his mockery was clear even through the choked reply, [i]she has everything to lose.[/i] I would not understand the weight of those words until much later, not until I would see Aria once more.
***
As I approached the hall, the giant doors opened from within. Stepping inside I gained my first glimpse at the true designs of she who had begun it all. There the witch stood, a delicate hand upon the High Lord’s arm, smiling down upon me. The dread and dismay froze me. Her vengeance went beyond those in the mountains, beyond the ones in the forest below, beyond the great seas. All elves, all men and all beasts would die. I cried out a warning to all the highborn that had been summoned as witness, telling them of her treachery and screaming my own part in it. At least I tried to. Roots from the pine trees that stood like gargantuan guardians along the sides of the hall burst from the rocky floor and wrapped themselves around me from mouth to foot. When calm had been restored, she spoke. [i]The High Lord does not wish to taste anymore of the poison that comes from your lips. You will listen to our Lord in silence, and as you can see, I have made certain that you shall.[/i] I glared at her, believing as all those consumed by rage do, that somehow my will alone would break me free from my captor. The roots only squeezed me tighter. The High Lord rose from the Eagle Throne and descended the stairs down to the floor. His face was expressionless, but his eyes betrayed the horror of his hate for me. I could not look at him. I closed my eyes. [i]Look at me.[/i] I could not. [i]LOOK AT ME![/i] The desperation in his voice and my last vestiges of pride compelled me. [i]She has gone. My daughter is gone and taken the sun and the air with her. Only darkness remains in here.[/i] He beat violently upon his chest above his heart. [i]You have done this to me. You have made our house the doom of the Asrai! You have filled her with poison and lies and so you shall be the one to remove them from her. If you do not bring her back to me and fill the dark void that remains of my heart and soul, I shall fill it with your blood and then Ariel help me, I shall have to fill it with hers also. She dooms herself. She dooms us all. We will take what remains of my kinband; all that Aria did not corrupt to her cause, and go. Go to this land beyond the sea and do what must be done.[/i] As I was dragged from the hall I heard the witch yell [i]Ariel save us all![/i], yet none heard the contempt in her voice, but I.
***
We left that night, and so followed the dark heart of Athel Loren.