The Valinor War Chapter 1 Of Divided Oaths and Fading Light
The sun set over the green fields and bright blue waters of Myralia. A castle stood on the highest point in the country and looked shining white in the fading light. One cloaked figure looked over the land that smelled alive, gifted with something indescribable. The sun passed the horizon and the smell dissipated. The figure’s breath caught and tears welled in his eyes. He pulled his cloak tighter to him and entered the castle.
He walked slowly down the passages into the great hall. He looked at the small gathering and sighed, his throat tightening. Voices were hushed in soft conversations so as not to disturb the sobriety of the hour.
As he entered, a man asked him, “Did you watch it, Theo?” Theo turned to two men leaning against the wall nearest the door. They were dressed similarly to everyone in the great hall, simple brown utilitarian clothes. The men were both years older than Theo, and he nodded to them respectfully. He dropped his cloak from his head and revealed light brown hair, cropped short. His gray eyes looked to the man who had spoken and studied him. His face showed signs of age and responsibility and his bald head added to his command rather than detract from it. Theo could see the anguish in the face of the man. His companion was an older man with short steel gray hair and features similar to Theo’s stern jaw and high cheekbones.
“Yes, Lord Ilaron. I watched the end.” Theo looked around the room, his strong face clearly showing pain for those gathered there.
Ilaron smiled sadly. “A time will come, Theo, when all of us would have wanted to see the end come. Though it would only be one more thing to keep us bitter and filled with hate for those who would do this.” Ilaron’s green eyes looked piercingly at the younger man. “We need that hate if we are to win.”
Theo frowned and shrugged into his cloak as though seeking warmth. “You know that if we feel hate, we’ve already lost. I feel sorrow and anguish and will feel worse in the months ahead, but we were conquered and must pay the consequences of fighting them. Every land has lost something to the winner.”
The man to Ilaron’s right grunted and ground his teeth. Ilaron looked to him and put his hand on his shoulder but was shrugged off. Ilaron said, “When we surrendered three days ago, we had no idea the price we would pay for fighting. They still had the right to destroy us and take away the beauty.”
Theo looked ill. “I feel like someone who has cut out their own heart.” He looked at a group of women huddled together in a corner. “I fought hard for this. We all did. And we lost. Now we must pay for the struggle.” Theo went to one of the tables and sat down hard. He looked at the relics of the past hanging around the hall. The banners of battles waving from the ceiling, the swords and shields clinging to the walls, the tapestries interspersed throughout, and the stands of armor placed against each wall. He shook his head and grabbed a jug and goblet from the table and poured himself a drink of mead. He closed his eyes and murmured a prayer before gulping down the entire contents.
A young woman entered the hall and Theo looked up. Her dark hair was braided down her back and she wore a blue gown that swished as she walked. The room seemed to lighten when she entered. Her eyes were deep green and full of tears. She searched the faces in the room and her eyes settled on Theo. She sat down across from him. She kept her back straight and her head held high and she met his gaze. They watched each other for a long moment before Theo spoke.
“How could you watch it?” he asked.
“I had to. It gave me strength.” She frowned. “Didn’t you?”
“Yes, though I didn’t want to.” He poured himself another drink and offered her one. She shook her head. “What are you going to do now?”
“I’m traveling to Carian Port and joining my sister on her journey east. We’re to end our trip in Galvi.”
“You are running away from your future?”
“No. Merely for protection.”
“I thought you would realize there is nowhere to run. The Wizards of Carlon have chosen to fight with them. The world is practically theirs for the taking.” He dropped his head.
“No,” she whispered. “If the Unm-” she stopped suddenly, straightening her back. “If the Wizards have been converted, then we are doomed.” She paused for a moment.
“But that doesn’t align with their history.”
“There’s much that doesn’t align, Garbi, but what do you mean?”
She was about to speak but was cut off.
“Garbiana!” Ilaron called from the far side of the hall, “I need a word.”
“Why does he still treat me like his little girl?” she asked herself then stood.. “Meet me in the library tomorrow, Theo. Please? I still need to speak with you.”
Theo nodded and he watched her go to her father then they left the hall together. Theo sat alone for awhile, content to wallow in his own thoughts when a young lady walked over to him.
“May I sit with you?” she asked, her voice was soft, almost a whisper. Theo only nodded. She sat next to him, fixing her plain brown dress. Her dark red hair was coiled up on top of her head. Her eyes were a plain brown that gave everything away.
“I don’t know why you keep company with her. She’s abandoning us.” The young lady scowled after Garbiana.
“She won’t be abandoning anyone, Eil. She’s stronger than even she knows and we’ll need strong women if we’re to survive.”
“Will you teach me to fight? All the girls want to. We want to protect ourselves.” Eil put her hand on his arm, pleading with only a touch.
“You should be asking Garbiana. She’d be a better teacher. She’s better than I am.” Theo admired Eil’s strength and knew she’d survive.
“How can she be better than you? You’re an Armsman.” Her voice held an awestruck quality that Theo recognized.
He smiled at her, seeing adoration in her eyes – a look he never knew how to answer. “The Armsmen are only human,” he stated. “Garbi was taught to fight at an age younger than I.” Eil sat back. “I wish the order had been here for the battle, though.” He stopped smiling.
“Why were you not there? Everyone says you were overwhelmed.”
“Six weeks ago we were tricked to go to the mainland, to the mountains in the north. We heard about the deception too late to ride back and assist. Myralia should not have fallen so easily.” He stood and removed his cloak. She studied him in his plain white shirt with a blue tunic over it. The Armsman symbol of a vertical key with no teeth and a handle with an open broken circle cast in silver was pinned over his heart. Theo draped his cloak on the table and sat down again. “I’d love to teach you to fight Eil, but truth is I won’t be here much longer. I’m heading to Calvert in Thelonia to pledge my allegiance along with the other Armsmen.”
She gasped and pulled back, ready to stand. “Pledge to the undoers of our land?” she asked quietly as she stood.
“I was ordered by my commander. Without our order, thousands more could die. Maybe everyone. Do you want that? Now sit down.” He was filled with anguish and ran his hand through his hair. He looked back at her and saw hatred in her eyes. He sighed, and rubbed at his eyes. Many would be disappointed and worse by the Armsmen’s actions.
She didn’t speak but turned and walked out of the hall. No one had even noticed their conversation but it weighed heavily upon him anyway. He stood, grabbed his cloak and strode out of the hall. He went down the corridors and up a flight of stairs to his chambers. His things were already packed so he collapsed into the chair by the fire. He had wanted to leave for Calvert before the land had been cursed. Now he’d have to travel through it. He wondered how his steed would handle it, and decided not to worry. Wildfire could take care of himself - he’d proven that time and again. Theo remembered when Wildfire had found him and their ordeal to save each other. He rubbed his arms and shivered slightly finding no warmth next to the fire. He was worried about what would happen in the future, but decided to try to ignore what was to come. Whatever the future held in store for him, he’d find out eventually.