The Forgotten Isle: Chapter 11 (01-09-07)
Hafise25:
Action and reaction, ebb and flow, trial and error, change - this is the rhythm of living. Out of our over-confidence, fear; out of our fear, clearer vision, fresh hope. And out of hope, progress.
~Bruce Barton
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I ran through empty streets and alleyways, following the voices that led me onward to the docks. That sirens call was never ending or so it seemed. My heart was pounding in my throat and my legs felt like they were made of jello. Finally, seeing the stone edges of the docks I finally realized the voices were gone. I wanted to weep with relief but I heard a familiar voice.
"Hello dear," the wizened voice rang out causing the few seagulls there to take flight.
"Morgause," I yelled over the pounding waves.
"One and the same," came the answering call, "Come aboard. There's no time to waste."
Although the boat looked older than time itself my feet moved on their own. My brain seemed to be sending out signals that I didn't want it to. Before long I found myself on the boat and felt it pitch forward.
I went in the first door I found and noticed a young girl sitting on the floor. She turned as I entered and motioned to the place across from her.
"You must be Sulwen," she said grinning.
"Uh, yes and you are?"
"Oh where are my manners. I'm Lark," she said still holding the grin on her face, "you might want to change."
"Change?"
"Yes, you can't wear that to the island. You'll faint from the heat," she giggled, "I have something you can borrow."
I will admit I was a little confused but I didn't argue mainly because I didn't know where we were headed. I put on the clothes and let out a little laugh. they fit me perfectly almost as if they were made for me but I dismissed that thought.
"Ah good," Morgause said as she entered the room, "I see you've met Lark. She'll provide you with all the information you need."
"Okay," I said twirling about. I really liked the boots!
"Where are you from," I asked.
"Here and there," Lark answered, "I spent most of my life on this little Isle off the coast of Lucius Point. You'll really like it there, I promise."
"Hm, I hope so," I muttered feeling the first drops of rain.
"Whoa, nothing like a summer storm," Lark said laughingly.
"Yeah," I agreed with a little jump as lightning struck the open water, "I think we should go inside."
"Agreed," Lark said cutting off a yawn.
"Sulwen. Sulwen dear wake up!"
"What the," I grumbled. I must have dozed off during the storm. I got up and looked around to see who called my name. I found wisps of black smoke spiraling up towards the sails.
I followed it all the way to the stern of the boat and looked out over the water. The boat was pitching wildly in the turbulent waves and suddenly I felt a hard shove on the small of my back. I was sent over the boat. My arms flailed out beside me hoping to catch on to something before I feel head first into the water.
I'm going to die, ran over and over in my head. The water was rushing up to greet me all to fast. I knew I was going to die. I wanted my mom and dad. I didn't know my journey would hit me like this. I just wanted to save my mom, make her better if possible.
Oh God.......
"I got you," called a male voice. He appeared out of nowhere and was walking on water.
"I...Th..," I mumbled but the darkness was fighting to take me under.
"Ssh, rest now," He said brushing my rain slicked hair out of my face, "You're going to be fine."
If he said anymore I didn't catch for the darkness had taken me under.
Hafise25:
Opening my eyes I noticed I wasn't back on the boat although I still felt the swaying. It looked as if I was in a forest. I could still hear the ocean waves so I knew I wasn't to far from the shore.
"The man must have put me here," I muttered. Where is here?
"Sulwen, over here," I heard the sirens call.
"No, go away," I screamed rising off of the bed of leaves.
"Over here. Come find us, come play with us."
"Great, playful little voices," I mumbled under my breath. Couldn't they just leave me alone!
"Sulwen," a louder voice boomed.
I turned around thinking it was behind me, but to my dismay and delight nothing was there.
"Come out, please," I begged.
"Find us," it called playfully.
"Wonderful," I called! Stupid, playful voices. I wonder if this is what my mother was hearing.
I walked to the edge of the flowers and noticed two people standing there. Well I thought they were people but the closer I got the more iridescent they seemed. I could see through them! I fell to the ground screaming for them to go away.
"It's alright," they spoke softly, "We mean you no harm."
"Get away from me," I screamed and jumped up running.
Tree limbs tried to claim my clothes but I ran heedlessly into the forest. I just wanted to get away from the things I had seen.
"Someone help me," I screamed.
"Come back," the voices called.
'No, get away! Leave me alone," I cried, my lips trembling in fear.
Hafise25:
"We do not know the true value of our moments until they have undergone the test of memory."
--George Duhamel
_____________________________
I ran finally reaching the edge of the forest. The voices followed me calling my name over and over. They wanted me for something but I wasn't about to find out what that was.
Night had blessedly fallen and I was in my element. I hate the day but that goes back to my childhood. I saw light piercing the darkness and hoped that it was a house or whatever they had on this place. My stomach growled at me and I new it was also long ago since I had eaten anything.
"Please be somewhere safe," I cried out in the dark.
The light lead me to a stone tower with nothing but bushes surrounding it. I looked around to check if it was occupied but I saw no one in the window. There was no one around. I sent up a silent pray for solitude. I just needed to think things through, figure out where I was.
"Don't you remember," came a male voice out of the tower.
How was that possible? I saw no one! It was empty.
"Humans," came the chuckled response to my thoughts, "You can never think outside of the box."
"Who is there?"
"Not who but what," the voice called, "I am Da'kar!"
A wolf with glowing yellow eyes bounded out the front door. I was a little surprised since he was black as night but looked friendly enough.
"I am Sulwen"
"I know who you are and I have a message for you," Da'Kar spoke, showing his wickedly sharp teeth, "Go to the lake at first light! Do not be late and do not forget!:
"Which way is this lake?"
"Go east and you will reach it. You may stay here tonight. There is food inside for you."
I ate what I could and found my eyes closing. I laid down on the floor next to some pillows and looked at Da'Kar.
"You will be fine here," Da'Kar answered, quieting the fear in my eyes and heart.
"Were you always as you are now?"
"No," he answered on a sigh, "Once I was a man. I crossed the Goddess' here one to many times and this is now my fate. I can not change it however much I want to."
"I'm sorry," I stated, reaching up to stroke him behind the ears.
"It was so long ago," he said moving back, "Don't forget! The lake at first light."
I drifted off before he finished and I never heard him leave. I awoke with the first streaks of red crossed the sky and headed east.
"I like promptness," a beautiful lady said, rising out of the lake.
"Prompt or not, I am here. What is it you want from me?"
"You don't remember do you, my child?"
"Remember what," I asked, frustration filling my voice.
"If you can not remember I can not tell you," she said smiling, " I am Eris, the Goddess of this lake."
"Yeah," I shrugged
"Insolent human," she sneered, "I am here to help you."
"Then tell me where I am?"
"I will not but I will show you and perhaps you can remember!"
She lead me further east and then turning south we arrives at a dried out shell of a house. There two other woman awaited her.
"Hail sisters!"
"Hail Eris," called the female with red hair, "Is this she:"
"Yes," Eris called.
"Nothing much is she," stated the raven haired beauty.
"Ah, Tralena, ever the pessimist!"
Hanging apart from them, I figured they all must be the Goddess' that cursed Da'Kar. I wonder if I could make them change him back!
"Well she will have to change. Aya and Phoenix are on their way here, Tralena muttered.
"Ah the messengers of the Queen," Eris explained to me, "Imena can you have her changed and ready, now"
"I would be honored," Imena called and caught my hand in hers,"It'll just be a glamour, don't worry."
It was a really quick glamour in my estimation! It took all of a second for Imena to change my other clothes into a golden dress. She also lengthened my hair, which was an annoyance.
"She is ready," Imena called.
"Wonderful," Eris said clasping her hands together.
"Just in time, my sister. I hear the beat of the messengers wings," Tralena laughed.
The ghost like creatures I had seen in the forest came up over the walls. This place is rather odd but it's better than home by far.
"Human," Aya and Phoenix spoke as one. Their voice bouncing off the hollowed out walls.
"Yes," I squeaked.
"You are to see her majesty, today. She commands your presence in her hall no later than sundown!"
"Commands," the icy hatred in my voice must have been evident.
"She hears and she obeys," Eris called to the messengers'.
"See that she does, Goddess!"
The winged messengers flew off and the Goddess' nudged me out of the house.
"Just follow us and say nothing unless you are spoken to," Tralena called over her shoulder as she started out on a stone pathway.
Hafise25:
Just before sundown we reached the castles outer walls. I noticed a shiny blue orb and asked Eris about it.
"It is what protects us. That is all you need to know. Now hurry!"
"Stupid Humans," Tralena called up to me.
"Ssh," called out Imena, "They will hear us!"
"They," I asked, deeply confused.
"Nothing," Eris stated, sending Imena a dark look.
Eris ushered me inside the hall and told me to kneel before the King and Queen. I noticed Aya and Phoenix standing guard behind them.
"Your majesty," I said kneeling but I refused to bow my head.
"So you are the human. You look oddly familiar," the Queen spoke in even and calming voice.
"I would not know, your majesty."
"Please, rise"
"Thank you. Your majesty, where am I?"
"She doesn't remember," the Queen shouted.
"I'm sorry Queen Zenobia! We had no idea she wouldn't remember," Eris said bowing.
"You must remember," the Queen shouted, steeping towards me with her fists raised, "That is the only way this will work."
"I...I.."
"Stop it! Put her in the dungeon until she remembers," the Queen roared.
"Your majesty, please," Eris pleaded stepping between us.
"NO! She will be sent to the dungeon. This is very disappointing, just be glad I don't send you and your sisters there as well!"
"Yes" Eris said hanging here head.
"Aya, Phoenix take her away. Get her out of my sight," the Queen raved.
"Yes, my Queen," they answered.
I found myself being hauled down flights of cold steps into the foulest place on earth.
I was in the dungeon for two days before anyone came to visit me. I was starving and bawling my eyes out. I just couldn't remember whatever it is they want me to remember!
"It will be alright," the King's voice drifted over to me. He sounded oddly like Da'Kar.
"I'm sorry, your Majesty," I hiccuped while trying to dry my eyes.
"My wife has came to her senses and has decided to give you a bedroom in the castle. If you will follow me," he said rising.
'Of course, lead the way!"
"Here we are," he said shoving open an ivy laden door.
"Oh, it's beautiful!"
"I'm glad you like it. I will have food delivered to you," he said walking out of the door. I heard the unmistakable sound of a click as the door was locked behind him.
"So I still remain a prisoner," I sighed, "Just on a grander scale."
I sat down on the divan that was in the room and tried to figure out how I could get out of this. It didn't come quickly.
Scanning the room I noticed a crack in one of the windows. I pushed the ivy out of the way and used it to pull myself out. I couldn't go down because it was a sheer rock face, so I went up.
I couldn't get down either way. On one side I had the sheer rocks and on the other a straight fall down to the ground. I didn't want to chance hurting myself and being stuck here in...
That's when it came to me. Standing up on that high wall the name of the place I was in hit me.
"Aslemor! I'm in Aslemor. I remember," I screamed at the top of my lungs, "I remember!"
It pleased the Queen a little that I remembered where I was but I still couldn't remember anymore. She let out into her private gardens to talk and try to remember more.
I had to! She told me I only had two weeks to remember and if I didn't it was back to the dungeon.
I want to remember!
"You will," I heard Da'kars voice whisper as if he was standing beside me.
"I hope so," I called upon the wind, for two weeks is a long time to wait to talk to anyone.
Hafise25:
My favorite thing from back home was snow. I used to play in it for hours and make snow angels. Imagine my surprise when it snowed in Aslemor. I had no one to enjoy it with, however as my two weeks were not up.
The odd thing about it was that it wasn't cold. The flakes that fell were as warm as pond on a clear summer day. I was wearing this odd dress also, with something akin to a crown gracing my brow. I thought it could have been a dream but I could feel everything.
Then as if I was watching a movie the scene switched and I was in a room I didn't recognize. I must say it was more than beautiful, it was breath taking. I didn't know what would happen next so I scanned the room for as many clues as I could. I couldn't even get the floor pattern down before the scene changed again.
"Da'Kar," I sighed, although it wasn't me.
"Ssh, my heart. Just let go."
"Yes."
I was dismayed that the scene changed once again, just when it was getting good!
"I wish they would let us wed," Da'Kar said wistfully.
"I know, but they will not allow it. I don't know why. Why does it have to be so difficult?"
"What is love without the trials and heartbreak?"
"I don't. I just don't know."
"Everything will work out I just know it," Da'Kar said giving my hand a gentle squeeze.
I wanted to know more. That was not to be as I heard shouting as if from a distance.
"Who moved here into that room," I heard Tralena shout.
"Can you not guess my sister?"
"If I could have guessed, I won't have asked!"
"Oh do shut up both of you. You might wake her!"
"Who cares," I heard Imena call, "She can't or won't remember anything."
Their voices started to trail off so I climbed out of the familiar bed and headed over to the door.
"I don't understand why the Queen wants her to remember so badly," Tralena whispered.
"Don't you," Eris asked pointedly.
"I know, I know but you would think," Tralena trailed off.
"I hear movement from inside," Imena calmly stated.
"Let's go then," Eris said and I saw her motion for the sisters to follow her.
I wanted to know where they were going at such a late hour that I just had to follow them. I once again found myself in the same woods that I arrived at. However, there was a little hut in the clearing that I did not notice before. Taking little baby steps I got as close as I could.
I almost wish I hadn't. The sisters were dancing around a cauldron, blood dripping from slashes on their palms.
"We call the Gods of sleep and the Goddess of memory to help the girl on her way," the sisters intoned, "Let her see only what needs to be seen."
If they were Goddesses themselves would they even need to call on others, I thought.
"Let us hope this works."
"If it doesn't," Imena asked.
"Then we get to have a bit of fun," Tralena answered with an evil little grin.
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