Another instalment in if Gleekdom was was a fantasy novel.
One day there will be a YA book that your kids will be mad for and you'll pick it up to see what this newfangled thing the kids are crazy about is, and you'll be sucked into the magical world of Murdal and you'll thinks... all of this sounds so familiar. And I'll be sitting on a beach somewhere sipping tea with a troll face.
Seth didn't know what the choosing was. Some people said the choosing came about when the trilord had brought word in flaming emblem of a king to come, a king to rule them where there had never been a king before. While the people looked on these tidings with favor some had feared a sovereigns coming. Would he be just and fair, bringing with him a golden age for all of Murdal? Or would their desire for a king prove their undoing as they were forced to kneel before a man whose heart was wicked?
"How will we know him when we see him?" Many had wondered, and many braver still had traveled far on the wings of the great eagles to beseech the oracles of the east for guidance.
"The king of Murdal is fair of heart and form, and shall the purest among thee with him weather storm. He shall take him to husband and by this you shall know him."
Everyone knew that the fae were the purest and most beautiful creatures in all the land, the prince fairest and longest lived amongst them. It unsettled the people to learn of danger ahead for their beloved fae prince. Who would protect him? What man could be so fair of heart and form to capture the heart of such a being? Surely tho such a man would be worthy to call himself king.
"It is Finnegan of the border lords!" Had said the seven border countries. "Did not the prince speak highly of him whilst he provided him escort to the woods of solitude?"
"Nah surely it is Samuel, Knight of Garderob who is as fair in heart as he is of head?"
"Neither for Kar of Sky, lord of dragon keepers is-"
"A beast who is chief of a people at war with the fae!" shrieked the others agahst, and this was true. "If anything, Kar and his people will be the storm the fae prince must weather!"
Argument became dissent, dissent became challenges and though the fae prince beseech the countries of Murdal to consider peace before war, Murdal was sunk into the darkest war it had ever seen and will ever see since. A war of the ages whose causalities can never be counted. Some say Samuel committed trespass against the trilord and in punishment Garderob was set upon by Quin Queen of the Valkyrie.
"NAAAH. You defile our bravest Knight with your female ways. CURSE YOU. CURSE YOU!"
It was said the roar from that great battle could be heard from the trilords celestial seat. But he showed Garderob and its people no mercy and their cries went unheard as their land crumbled around them under the weight of so many females and they were sealed inside of it forever.
Seeking peace the prince of fae arranged a marrige between him and Finnegan, whose heart belong in truth to the starman's daughter. He spurned the prince's advances and resisted the arrangement with much fervor, breading strife between the fae and the border lords that would have resulted in further bloodshed if not for the treaty struck between the Lady of the Border realm and the Fae King.
And as predicted the Sky people continued to wage their war against the fae, a centuries old war that was only made worse by the prophecy of a coming king who would take the fae prince to husband. Prince Kar seemed particularly put out by that and vowed that it would never be so long as he breathed.
Kirklin of the fae was forced to flee into hiding. He hid deep in the forest of solitude amongst the shape shifters, shiftiest and most amusing of them all was Blae... who taught him how to dance with the shadows and change his form- though his was unique and that of a feline. Kirklin had never had such an mysterious friend, nor such a loyal one. The forest of solitude is an enchanting place, a place of secrets and wonder. It is both a haven and a hell, and Kirklin had spent long in it. He was glad for a friend like Blae and Blae was glad for a friend like him. But Kirklin knew he could not hide forever, that destiny could not be avoided no matter how earnestly one hid from it.
"What if we left the forest? Don't you feel as if you die here?"
"It will be dangerous. What if harm comes to you?"
"Then let it. I am not so easily broken," Kirklin looked to his shadowy friend and smiled. "We are not so easily broken. Will you follow me?"
"Nah!" Shrieked the ghostly souls of the people of Garderob.
"I... I..." Stuttered Kar, for you see his heart had begun a peculiar sort of thawing. And that was how Kirklin came to betrothal with Blae jarl of shape shifters and how the land was rent in two. For his love and for his remorse Kar declared and end to the war between his people and the fae and he fled from their wrath. He found no love amongst the fae for his past transgressions and the shifters were fierce protectors of their leaders chosen mate.
But shape shifters were feared in the land as well, for how could a person ever put faith in a being who is constantly changing form? These naysayers banded around the fallen lord of the sky people to see if in him was the making of a great king. The shifters were not pleased.
"Who among the people of Murdal would hand over Kirk to the man who had so fervently vowed to see his demise? If such a traitorous heart is found amongst any of you then be you gone from the good company of Murdal and may you never show your face in it again! A curse on you and yours."
And that is the reason for the choosing. No one knows how it is done and why it is done, only that one day there will be a final battle, one man crowned king and that when a child comes of age in Murdal he is brought to the sacred city and made to kneel before the Goddess who champions love.
"This one's heart is for sky. He will tame the great flying beasts and owe his heart to lord Kar, it is unavoidable."
"This one's heart belongs to the shifters. He shall take on the form of a wolf and run with his brothers and his heart will always be owed to Blae, Jarl of shifters."
"This one is strange and has no feeling. He will not do well here and will not dwell in our land for long."
"This one's heart is consumed by a dark obsession with the Valkyrie, why does thou bother me with this?!"
Whatever the goddesses judging, it changes a life forever. Seth has seen nearly sixteen summers and it is time for his choosing. He is terrified for his life, for his family and for his friends. What if the goddess looked into his heart and sees he has chosen wrong? What if like so many other youths before him he is rejected and exiled from the land or worse... allowed to stay only to one day fight men who were once his brothers.
It's a terrible thing to fear growing up, and Seth has feared this day his entire life.