Randsford (prime)/Vignette: Love's Reunion
Title: Love's Reunion
Author: Randsford (prime)
Smoke rises from the south as fires burn intently lighting up the dark night sky. The wind howls viciously carrying with it echoes of screams and the scent of freshly spilled blood. High atop the Glatoph, perched upon a ledge, a figure all clad in white stares intently at the chaos below.
Adventurers can be seen scurrying across the battlefield, some rush towards the battle while others flee seeking shelter. Siege towers can be seen rolling through the forests on an intercept course to be met with sparse resistance. Meanwhile the Melgorehn's Reach shimmers in the distance adding an eerie beauty to the mix. Through all this, the figure remains still and silent with his gaze continuously transfixed darting across the battlefield.
A raspy gruff voice speaks, "Oiy! Whatcha starin' at?!" The figure breaks his gaze to look behind him and spots an out of breath halfling huffing with a cold sweat running down his face. The halfling wheezes, "Why ain't ya down der? You look built fer dat fight! You some sort of coward or deserter?!" The figure sighs briefly before returning his gaze to the battlefield.
Piqued with curiosity the halfling starts to move closer to the figure only to be met by a pair of deep wolfish growls. Startled, the halfling races down the glacier in a frantic flee towards Icemule. A few moments later as the first siege tower falls the figure speaks, "Goddess watch over you Landing for I cannot. My shield is not there to avoid further escalations between our towns however know that you still have allies. The time will come when we will all soon fight together again. I only pray it will be as friend and not foe."
The figure chants a brief prayer causing a vibrant red and pale pink light to coalesce around him as he stands. The light fades into the snow causing a small budding flower to spring from its place. The figure turns and wanders off in the direction of his visitor shouting after him to offer his aid for safe passage.
A clash resonates through the halls of Moonsedge Castle as a Grotestque's fists smash against the aegis of a figure all clad in white. The figure snorts in frustration defending from multiple blows as a swarm of enemies close in on him. A second Grotesque sneaks from behind and manages to hold the figure in a bear hug before dropping him out of breath onto the floor!
The winded figure struggles to regain his composure as a dreadsteed barrels towards him and is intercepted by an emerald green light that emerges from within his armor. A stocky wolf lunges towards the steed but misses its stagger, the wolf glances behind her only to see the steed's strike connect as the figure is kicked into another room with the swarm following behind.
The wolf hesitates its instincts to run to its master's aid as it is distracted by the glimpse of a silvery-white tabby cat towards a southern corridor, the feline glowing lightly in a pale pink light. The two lock eyes for a moment before beginning a mad chase! The feline hurdles between the legs of the remaining grotesque and dashes towards the southern bridge with the wolf in persuit!
The cat dashes through the castle's portcullis heading east through various doors and up a flight of stairs. The wolf pushes further in, the clashing slowly fading into the background as it darts between vampires giving further chase. The feline slides into the Atelier and is met by a portrait of a woman and a small brown cat curled at its feet yawning sleepily waiting on his companion. The wolf arrives to see the two felines curl up together before fading into a single wilted flower. The wolf stands still in its confusion.
A loud bang followed by a thud interrupts the bewildering moment as a vampire's corpses hits the ground. An out of breath voice speaks, "There you are! What has gotten into you?!"
The wolf remains still and quietly begins to whimper, her gaze fixed on the rose. The figure lowers his shield gives a perplexed look at his surroundings suddenly realizing the room that he is in and a familiar flower laying to rest. "I see...", the figure quietly laments as he slowly approaches the rose, kneels, and gently brings it into his hands. "This room is still a mystery and most likely what the coward, Barlan, refuses to let go of."
Glancing between the rose and the portrait the figure continues, "He could not let go of his lost Love and as a result we have all this evil around us. Love is the most beautiful and powerful force that exists, it can be a catalyst for good or evil. Losing his Love turned him mad, learning to accept the lose of his Love is the final step which Barlan may never cross. Holding on is not love but instead desire...". With his final words the flower in his hand disappears in a pale pink light leaving the figure with a pained sadness.
The figure closes his eyes, chants a quick prayer and rises to his feet. He glances in annoyance at the stocky wolf, "Come, we still have work to do." The wolf bows respectfully to her master before seeping back into his armor. The figure stares at the portrait one final time before raising his aegis, "True love is learning to let go but never forgetting. I will end this, you have my word. For your Love and for my own."
The figure clutches his aegis tightly before barreling out of the room, the halls ones again echoing in the clashes of battle.