The Dead Tree

The Dead Tree

(part 3 of 3)

"New strength is forged through destruction"....... hidden shrine

Shadowfax, that great horse of a man, was filled with joy at the sight of his two friends on the road before him. Shad had set out the day before to find Palantiri and Agarwaen. And now, scarce a days ride away from Tristram, he had found them. Oh, great indeed was his joy at seeing his fellow guild members!

Palantiri and Agarwaen had left the guild about a month earlier in search of Dragluin of Westmarch, a fellow guild member that had gone on a quest and had not sent word back to the guild at the appointed time. They had searched along Drag’s trail for some sign of what had happened, but the trail had suddenly vanished at a solid rock wall high in the mountains and as they had no other choice they had set course for home and the Guildhall. About three days ago they had been filled with a urgency they had never known to return home, so they had slept little (just enough to rest the horses) and rushed towards Tristram with an ever growing fear with each mile closer they got to home.

“Shad, my friend, ‘tis good to see again.” Pal said as Shad rode up to them. The three guild members were in a densely forested section of the road. Great oak and elm trees were all around them and they could scarce catch a glimpse of the sky. “Yes, I am very glad to see you Shad.” Said Agar. “We have found no trace of Drag and feeling a great need to come home we have hardly slept in our haste to return to Tristram and our Hall.”

“You can not know the joy I have in my heart at seeing you, my friends. I have terrible news of the guild and Dora has sent me in search of you both. I had hoped and prayed that I would find you with friend Dragluin, but perhaps he is better off wherever he is now.” Shad quickly told Pal and Agar of the deaths in the Guild at the hand of Tree the Dark. Both weary men were appalled to hear of such deeds by their fellow guild member and vowed that this madness would end.

As the three men rode along on their journey back to Tristram, Pal suddenly looked up and shouted

“ Look there, a great smoke cloud fills the sky!” The three had just come out of the forest and could see the sky above them again. Agar and Shad looked up, and all three knew without doubt that it was the Hall being burned that caused the smoke they saw. “We must hurry, or there will be nothing left to return home to.” Shad said. And so they spurred their horses ever faster…

Dora, MordorBound, and Sting were still standing there watching the last of the fire that had burned the Guildhall to the ground, when they heard riders coming towards them at breakneck speed. “Praise be given!” Dora shouted as she saw Shad, Pal and Agar riding towards them. “ Our salvation is at hand!”

All six guild members took some few minutes to bring each other up to date and then turned as one and headed straight for the crack that had opened behind the healers home. Standing there, breathing the brimstone that rose from the opening to Hell, they decided that they would find Tree and end this now. The Guild could not survive any more of these attacks. It was decided that they would stay together in their search; for Tree had become so powerful that they feared that even there combined effort might not be enough to end the destruction of the Guild.

Pal and Sting took the lead, Dora and Shad in the middle, with MordorBound and Agar coming last as they went down the crack in the earth that led straight to Hell and Diablo. They were sure that they would find Tree there also. They were also sure that Tree knew they were coming and he had laid a trap for them.

They prayed that they would have the magic and strength to overcome this trap whatever it may be and either somehow save Tree from Diablo’s mastery over him or (and they knew that this was the most likely to happen) have the ability to kill Tree forever.

Without warning huge serpent like monsters surrounded them! Monsters that spit glowing fireballs and lunged at them with huge swords gripped in their clawed hands. Swiftly they all stood back to back and using magic and swords quickly delt with the vile creatures. “Well, now we know we are expected.” Shad said with a small grin on his bearded face. “Yes, and let’s hope that is the worse we face in this evil place.”

MorderBound replied. They all knew that the way would get much harder the deeper they ventured into Hell.

The six guild members suddenly stopped near the edge of the steps that lead down to the next level of Hell. Pal turned to the others and said, “I know how to end this. When we face Tree I am sure that the only magic power we have that will work against him is Holy Bolt. Tree is a pawn of Diablo. I have read in certain tomes of power that Holy Bolt, cast by a powerful enough mage, has the power to destroy Diablo himself. If we all use our powers to cast the Holy Bolt spell at Tree, when we find him, I am sure that this will defeat Tree the Dark.” And without another word they all started down the steps.

Agar agreed with his friend. He too had heard that Holy Bolt had such great power over evil. His only concern was how were they to make sure that Tree stayed in one place long enough for them to hit him with the spell. He knew from what Shad and the others had said that Tree had the magic of teleport. If they were not lucky enough to drop Tree with the first spell cast, would they get a second chance?

The six of them had spread out a little in the walk down the steps. There was now some five to ten feet distance between each of them. Except for that first attack they had not seen or heard any sign that there was anything else alive (or dead, for that matter) down here with them. Pal was still in the lead and had just rounded a corner in this cavern of hell, when Tree struck.

Suddenly walls of flames separated them all! Instead of waiting for his wall of fire to burn away, Agar charged through it and wrapped his great armored arms around Trees chest! Tree, caught completely by surprise, hesitated for just a moment unsure of what to do and that was his undoing. For Sing, Shad, Dora, MB, and Pal cast the Holy Bolt spell in unison straight at Tree. They knew the spell would do no harm to Agar, but hoped that it would either cleanse Tree or destroy him! Tree did not have a chance to move or try to teleport away as the Holy fire tore at his body. For one brief moment all he saw was a blinding white light and then Tree the Dark was gone…

Agar now held only a very small and unconscious young mage! The Holy Bolt had destroyed the hold that Diablo had placed on Tree. They all could feel that Diablo was no longer in control of the unconscious mage that was in Agar’s arms. It would take a great deal of work and prayers to heal the young mage of all that had been done to him in the last few days, but his guild mates were very glad that they would be able to be there to help Tree grow strong in the goodness and honor of The Keepers of The Fellowship.

Dora, tears streaming down her face, reached out and took Tree from Agar and they all returned to Tristram to rebuild the Guild and to grow strong enough to someday destroy the evil of Diablo forever.

They were sure that with the trials that the Guild had undergone in the attack of Tree the Dark, the day of the end of Diablo would not be that far off…

The Fallen Tree

The Fallen Tree

(part 2 of three)

Prologue

Treebeard stepped out of the Inn and into the darkness of night. He had

been sleeping on his cot until just a few moments ago when he was

awakened by a yearning to go … somewhere. He had taken up his staff

of chain lighting and quietly left the Inn. Now he stood silently, head

bowed as if waiting for someone to tell him where he must go. Then he

set off towards the fissure that had recently opened in this cursed town

of Tristram. A fissure that led down to the depths of Hell itself. As he

approached it, smelling the brimstone thick in the air, a red portal

opened before him. Without pausing and with no look of surprise on his

young face he stepped inside the glowing doorway. He emerged to find

himself standing in almost total darkness and facing a huge dark Knight.

"Follow", the Knight said, though Tree heard nothing.

A small part of Tree was terrified by these things that were happening to

him, he tried to understand what would posses him to go into the portal

and now meekly follow this minion of Diablo. For he knew that the

Knight must answer to the Dark Lord himself. And then, suddenly, all

thought left Tree as he looked up and into the face of Diablo…

"You are mine! I will give you a small taste of my power, then send you

to do my bidding."

Diablo said, with no words at all. Just by placing his clawed hands on

Tree's face he imparted this information into what was left of Tree's

mind. For with seeing Diablo grinning before him, Tree's mind had run

away. Going ever deeper into himself in his attempt to flee Diablo.

"My Guild is dying!" Dora said, as she cried softly into her hands that

covered her strong and beautiful face. "This dark Tree is killing us all!"

Three days had passed since I had stood in front of Tree's empty coffin,

after it had thrust itself up from the ground to open before me. Dora, one

of three leaders of our guild, had summoned me to her but moments

before. I wanted to tell her that all would be well. That this evil would be

purged from us and we would need think of it no longer. But I did not

believe this lie, thus I could not speak it.

"My Queen. What would you have me do? I have searched for

Treebeard, but always I am too late. He seems to know that I am

coming even before I receive word of where he has last struck."

Somehow Tree, since his resurrection, had gained great powers indeed.

Where before Olwe and Lumpkin had been able to stop him, now it

seemed as though there was none in the guild with the power to slay

Tree.

Two nights before, the first deaths had taken place. Olwe and Lumpkin

had been on their way back from Odgen's Tavern when a fiery blast that

seemed to come from hell itself had consumed them. All that had been

left was their melted armor smoking on the ground and a small branch of

an olive tree totally untouched by the fire. We were later to learn that this

was a "calling card" of Tree's. For he had sent another such branch to

the Guildhall attached to the head of Bard. Along with a note written in

blood that read "Now you die! Now you will all die!"

He had signed it, Tree the Slayer of Fools. The next night seven more

guild members lay dead. All killed by Tree. If someway was not found

to defeat him, the guild would be no more very soon.

Dora looked up at me, wiped the tears from her face and said, " You

must journey to the north and find Palantiri a powerful mage and

Agarwaen a warrior of great strength. These are the two greatest fighters

of our guild. I hope that they will have the power to defeat Tree. And I

pray that we survive until your return!" With a bow to my Queen, I set

out on my task.

Elfsheen, the most beloved and bravest of all the Sisters that were in the

Guild, looked up and into the face of Treebeard, The Dark. She stood

before Glamdring, a new warrior to the guild and was prepared to give

her life to protect him. She and Glamdring had been in the caves near

Tristram searching for some magic amulets or rings in the hopes that they

would gain the ability to better defend the guild against the attack of

Tree. They had just finished searching the closest level of the caves to

town and were preparing to walk down the steps to the next level, when

Tree had appeared before them. He had said nothing. Then with a small

smile upon his lips, he had sent a wall of fire towards Elf and Glam. They

jumped and ran towards the right side of the cave in hopes of putting

one of the large stalagmites between themselves and Tree. They almost

made it. Suddenly Tree was in front of them again and blasted them both

with chains of white lighting. Elfsheen quickly brought up her bow and

shot arrows into Tree until she died. Glamdring had tried to charge at

Tree, but had been knocked back by the force of the lighting and had

died at almost the same moment as Elfsheen.

Tree walked over to the dead bodies of Elfsheen and Glamdring and

blasted them with fire 'til there was nothing but scorched rock to show

where they had lain. Then he whispered a few words and an olive

branch appeared beside the black spot on the floor of the cave. Turning

around, and casting a red portal before him, Tree walked away humming

a child's lullaby.

Dora, MordorBound, and Sting, the three leaders of the Guild, stood

before what remained of the Guildhall. Cain had summoned them from

their homes at the edge of town just moments before when he had seen

the Hall burning. There had been no noise to alert him to the power of

the blast that had hit the Hall. He had been standing beside the fountain

in the center of town when he had become aware of a great heat coming

from the direction of the Guildhall. He had turned and been shocked to

see that the Guildhall of The Keepers of The Fellowship was burning.

Screaming for help he had raced to the Hall. He could not get close

enough to even see if anyone was left alive, let alone be able to try to

save them. Within a few moments the Hall was gone, all that was left

was the rock fireplace that had stood in the center of the Hall.

"I am sorry, my friends. I wish that there was something I could do to

help you all." Cain said to the three leaders. " I will pray for the safe

passage of Shadowfax and his swift return with Palantiri and Agarwaen."

Almost half of the guild members were now known to be dead. Five

were missing and were surely dead also. The three leaders had searched

everywhere for Tree, hoping to find him and end this madness. But not a

sign of him could they find.

"Thank you, my friend." Dora said and reached out to clasp Cain's hand.

"I will pray that prayer also. It would seem that is all we have left to do."

The Fall Of Tree

The Fall of Tree

(Part one of three)

It is with heavy heart indeed, that I sit here and begin the task of telling the past day’s events. For it is my duty to tell you all of the death of one of our own. Treebeard, the young mage, is dead. Killed by two others of our Guild.

It all began early yesterday morning. Tree, a mage of but 15, was nowhere to be found.

It was an hour past the time that he was supposed to be at his lessons in magic and as he had never been late before we were quite worried. We had searched all of Tristram, but had found no sign of him. No one had seen him since late the day before. It was decided then to expand the search to include the Cathedral.

Olwe (a valiant and strong warrior) and Fatty_Lumpkin (another young mage, but very learned in the art) were dispatched to search for the missing Tree. It was feared that, during the night, the minions of Diablo might have taken Tree to the Cathedral for evil deeds; perhaps to kill him there. Ah, if only that had been so…

“If Tree has indeed been taken to the church, I pray that we are not too late to save him.

Perhaps he is but lost.” Olwe said hopefully, but not really believing it. “Yes, I hope Tree is only lost.” Replied Lumpkin. But he, too, had a feeling that was not the case.

Olwe had not been with the Guild as long as Lumpkin or Tree, but he was nevertheless an older and very experienced warrior. Many are the times that he had helped the town of Tristram and the Guild by killing the horrors from below. Lumpkin was a young and easily excited mage, almost the same age as Tree, in fact. But ever more so experienced in the magic arts.

Tree was a fine lad. I loved him dearly. Ever the dutiful student and always there to help the Guild in any way that he could. I know not why he changed so though. He had always been the perfect mage-in-training; studying and learning the Art. Enjoying the thrill of killing all the servants of Diablo. Until… well, I had best leave that for a time at least.

The two friends began searching the first level of the church. Killing what devils and fiends they found there. The way was easy for them. But always the creatures would return when the church was left, and thus the Guild (The Keepers of the Fellowship) was born to guard and protect the town of Tristram.

It was not long until the first level of the church was cleared of the evil. Old bones, dead and swiftly decomposing monsters, were strewn over floors. And no sign of Tree anywhere. Olwe and Lumpkin had the magic of the Town Portal. That magical, blue tunnel that once in place gives one direct travel from anywhere below to the town above. Olwe cast the spell for the portal, turned toward Lumpkin and said, “Let us go to town, perhaps Tree has returned in our absence.”

The words had scarcely left his mouth, when they heard a slight noise some distance behind them. It sounded like it had come from the room that led up the steps to the front door of the Cathedral. A sound as though someone or something had closed a door and quickly opened it again. Lumpkin said, “I’ll check that. You wait her for me, ‘tis nothing I’m sure. But I will make certain.”

“ I had better go with you, my young friend. Though, I dare say, that there is nothing here that you can’t handle.” Olwe replied.

“Very well.” Lumpkin said with a nod, and headed towards the sound.

Somehow they both knew it was Tree that they had heard. And they felt a certain… uneasiness. As though someone was trying to tell them to beware what lay ahead.

Tree walked down the steps that lead to the first level of the church. No one in town had seen him enter, a mage has that ability to go unseen if he so desires. Tree walked over to an open door, swiftly closed it, and opened it again.

“I’m sure those idiots heard that, was surely loud enough for even their dull ears.” He said to himself. My god, how wonderful he felt today. Truly alive, basking in the glory that was Diablo.

Tree, sometime very late the night before, had felt a … calling… a yearning to go somewhere. He knew not just where. And so, reaching for his staff of chain lighting, he had gotten up from his cot at the Inn. Quietly he had left the building; not a sound was allowed to be made. And that was the last that he remembered ‘til he found himself walking down the steps that led into the church.

He was filled, literally consumed with hatred for his former friends and comrades in the guild.

His only desire now was to kill them all. “Now you die!” He chuckled to himself. “Now you will all die! And these two will be just the first ones to go to serve my new master. With each death I will grow stronger. Killing them all for my Lord and Mater, Diablo.” Tree was consumed with a deep, black darkness. All he could think of was, “KILL! KILL! KILL!”

Olwe stopped walking. He felt … something. He knew not what. Some inner voice telling him indeed it would be best if he waited here. Right here in this room that was very close to where the noise had come from. “Lumpkin, I must wait here. Truly I know not why. Just that I need do this.” Lumpkin looked at his friend with concern. This was unlike Olwe. “Very well.” He said after a moment’s hesitation, and proceeded on down the hallway towards the steps that led back to town.

“Tree is up there ahead of me.” He thought. “But not the Tree that I knew.” Lumpkin knew this with a certainty that he did not understand, but he did not doubt it. Over his few short years with the Guild he had learned to heed these feelings.

He was now in the room that the noise had come from. He quickly looked around, but saw nothing. All was as he and Olwe had left it. Then, with a suddenness that he had not expected, balls of fire were blasting him! He quickly jumped behind a sarcophagus, and seeing Tree standing a little to the left of him, let fly with his own powerful fireballs straight at Tree. For a few seconds Lumpkin could see nothing. When his vision cleared, after quickly chanting a healing spell, he saw that Tree lay dead before him. Lumpkin was filled with a great sadness. He had not wanted to kill his friend. “Olwe.” He screamed “I have found Tree.”

But then, as he began to walk towards Tree’s body, Tree disappeared! Where once his former friend had lay there was nothing. Lumpkin quickly chanted the spell for the Mana Shield and carefully headed back towards Olwe. He was quite, for he knew that Tree would be somewhere close.

Olwe had heard his friend call to him, had heard the blasting sound of the fireballs, and had started to open the door that he waited behind. When, with a certainty that he did not doubt, he knew that Tree was in front of the closed door before him. Setting his sword and shield to the ready, he jerked open the door. Before him stood Tree. Olwe chanted the spell for firewall and with a hot crimson blast of flame, Tree lay dead before him. It had happened so fast, that only then did Olwe realize what he had done. “Oh, Tree. I am sorry that it came to this.”

Lumpkin had come around the corner just as Olwe had dropped Tree with his firewall. Here was Tree dead for the second time. Would he vanish again? Or would this horror be done with?

Wearily both he and Olwe approached the body. Tree did not vanish. And saying nothing to each other, they lifted Tree’s charred body and headed back to the guildhall.

I saw them coming towards the hall carrying what looked to be a body. I knew that they had found Tree. And I was soon to learn the rest of the sad story of what had happened from Olwe and Lumpkin. A great evil had been done to the Guild. And now we must find someway to arm ourselves against it.

Epilogue

Two days later, after we had buried Tree in an unmarked grave in the back of the church graveyard, I stood before it lost in thought. What could I have done to prevent this tragedy?

I knew not, only that we must be ever vigilant and try to guard ourselves against Diablo so that this evil does not happen again.

Suddenly I was knocked to the ground, as Tree’s coffin thrust itself up from the ground! “What new evil is this?” I screamed, as I sprang up from the grass on which I lay, and pulled my King’s Sword from its sheath. The lid to the coffin slid off then and I saw that Tree’s body was not inside! “Oh, Lord. My the Heavens preserve us.” I whispered. “This evil is not over.”

For I knew that with his ancient and unholy power Diablo had resurrected Tree and had shown me the empty coffin so that I would know that the Guild was still in grave danger. I also knew that when next we saw Tree he would be powerful indeed…

The Past, Seen Through the Eyes of Today

                                    I wonder if I would want to change her death,

even if I could somehow travel back to that day and save her?

I miss her. Yes, indeed, I sorely do miss her. I miss her smile, her long slim tan legs. I miss her laughing at all the smart-ass remarks that I used to make. I miss kissing her, feeling her body pressed to mine. But if she had not died, then I would not be here today. Because you see she died to save me…

“Let’s go and just do it!” she said. Laughing and pulling her tunic over her head. God, she was beautiful! I loved to just look at her body. To see her breasts rise and fall with each breath, to see the curve and sway of her hips as she walked.

“Are you sure?” I asked her. I would have much rather just stayed in bed with her all day. There was no need for us to leave the Inn at all.

“Of course I’m sure. I am ready for this. I’ve worked hard. I’ve trained for days to be able to go down into the depths of Hell with you. I know that I am only a level 17 Rogue, and you are a level 30 Warrior. But I also know I’m ready. Especially with you there, ya’ big ‘ol stud!”

How could I say no?

We finished dressing and getting our gear together. She had her Windforce bow,a present from me on our first meeting. I had found it two weeks before on one of the upper levels of Hell. And being a warrior I had had no need of it, but seeing it’s worth I had taken it to town in search of a young rogue who would… appreciate… such a gift. I had not been disappointed. I had noticed her the moment I stepped into Odgen’s Tavern. Beautiful raven hair, jade eyes, and a body to make my arms yearn to hold her close. I walked over to her and said, “Hi there. I was wondering if a gorgeous woman such as yourself would have any use for this old bow I found.”

She had turned me and I could tell that she was about to tell me to leave when she saw the bow.

“Oh my! You have got to be kiddin’. That’s a Windforce!! The best bow there is.”

“Really? Well maybe I should find someone else to give….”

“NO!” she said and pulled me down to sit at her table. “You just sit right there and tell me what I can give you to repay you for such a great bow.” I could tell by her look that I could ask for anything and she would give it. Just my kind of woman.

“My name is Theizadock. But people just call me Doc” I said so as not to appear at all to eager to let her now just what I wanted. “What’s your name?

“Mine’s Raven, of course.” She said and smiled at me and I knew that very soon I would have her in my arms.

“So Doc, wherever did you find such a wonderful bow?”

“Oh, I was doing a hell run and found it when I broke open an old chest. Pretty kewl huh? I don’t know much about bows but figured that maybe someone could use it…”

“Um… I might have some other stuff you could use up in my room if you would care to come and take a look…”

“Sure, let’s go.”

My God, but she was incredible…

From then on when she was not training in the use of her new bow, she was with me. She really seemed to like me for some reason. No other woman had ever liked me before. Oh I had had many women before, don’t get me wrong, but after the first night they would get mad at me over something and then they would be gone. But not Raven. The more time she spent with me the better she seemed to like me. I had no one else in Tristram. It had been just me doing my best to find the one Great Find in the depths below so that I could leave this cursed town. And now I had found her. And I would never let her go. At least not until something better came along, that is.

We walked over to the crack in the ground behind Pepin the Healer’s house. And I asked her one last time. “Are you sure you want to do this? Why don’t we go and work the Caves for awhile and then we can go back to my room. I got something I need to give ya’.” She laughed at that. “Oh I just bet you do. Mr. One Track Mind. Don’t you ever get enough?”

“Never of you, my sweets. Never of you.”

“I need to do this Doc. I can’t explain it, I just need to do this now.”

“Ok, then. Let’s go and kill us some baddies! Maybe today we make The Find, eh?”

‘You always say that Doc. And you never do…” She smiled as she said it and I knew it was just a good-natured jab at me.

“You just never know darlin’. Today could be the day.” And it was…

We had been workin’ Hell for maybe half an hour. Killin’ monsters and demons and not finding anything good at all. Raven was doing great. She did not need me to guard her at all… She really knew how to use that bow. As long as we went slow and took our time, I knew that we would have no problems. But I got way to eager and screwed everything up. We were on level 15 of Hell. Laz’s room was close by and I knew that we needed to be really careful. One mistake could cost us our lives. And I made that mistake.

I had just come around a turn in the tunnel, Raven was right behind me, when suddenly we were set upon by a host of Balrogs and Black Knights! I screamed for Raven to stay behind me, and then waded into the mass of monsters. My sword flashed and stabbed at blinding speeds. Nothing could stop me. I was killin all that was near me when suddenly a huge Knight stood before. I hacked at him with my sword, expecting to see him fall as swiftly as all the rest, but I missed. I guess in my haste to show off for Raven and since the others had been so easy to kill I got cocky. I screamed in pain as his axe slashed down on me and split open my side. And then Raven was beside me and her bow was shooting arrows almost to fast for my eyes to follow. But she got to close to him… His axe came down on her and cut her in half. In a blind rage I flew at this armored demon and with one great swipe of my sword I removed his head from his body!!

With a flash of fire he fell and lay dead before me. And so was Raven. Her wound was just to deep for me to heal with what potions and elixirs that I had brought with us. I looked down at her and noticed that the huge Knight had dropped something when he had died. It was unlike anything I had ever seen before.

I had no idea what it was. It was a coat of arms that was all covered with gold and jewels. I had no more room in my pack for it. I made the choice then to leave Raven’s body and carry my find back to town.

I picked it up and with nary a look back I headed for the stairs.

“Master Cain! Can you tell me what this is?” I said handing him his one hundred coins.

“I will try. Let me see, Doc. What have you found this time?”

I handed him the armor and by the look on his face the moment he held it I knew that I had finally found my ticket out of this town.

“This is the Heavenly armor of the Gods! It is said that this fell to earth eons ago and then was lost. Whoever wares this armor is unstoppable. No man or demon can stand against him!”

And thus my legend was born. No army or horde of demons can stand against me. I now sell my services to the highest bidder. And all this wealth and fame I now have is due to Raven…

I would not go back and save her. Even if I could.  No way

the first dream...

I look into your lovely bright and shining green eyes and I can see myself falling in love with you. My lady, you have no idea at all how much this frightens me….


I had seen her in passing for much of the past year. Our travels in this town had us going the same way it seems. And yet, I had never really seen her. I had not noticed her quiet beauty and poise until two weeks ago…. When she spoke to me for the first time.

A mutual friend of ours had recommended that I had some arcane knowledge that would be of use to her and she had stopped me on the square to ask for my assistance. I could not help but agree to the request of such a comely lady. And there was something about her name, Melanie, that spoke to me. I had never heard that name before. We spent a few moments conversing over her problem and I was able to give her the technical assistance that she required. She flashed me a happy, eye glinting smile of thanks and was again about her errands. I watched her walk off and was amazed that I had never noticed just how pretty and delightful a person she was.

In the passing days she again came to me for assistance on the same problem. It seemed that she could not quite remember the sequence of the spell and needed additional training from me. I tried to tell myself that she only required knowledge and that she was surely not interested in me as a man. Part of me believed this, yet another part hoped that she was only making excuses to spend some time with me.

With each passing day, I found my thoughts more and more on Melanie. Brightly lit visions would fly across my mind of kissing her sweet and inviting lips. Feeling her arms folding about my neck as our lips embraced. I tried to no avail to put these thoughts from my mind. I knew next to nothing of this woman.
Such a lovely woman as this is most certainly married. It would not be right to have such thoughts about a married woman. With this thought I was able to put the visions of her from my mind.

This morning she stopped by my alchemy shop and stayed to just chat and talk to me. I could scarce believe it. During the course of our conversion I learned to my utter delight that she was NOT married. Her smiles at me caused such a feeling of warmth and happiness to invade my heart that I truly did not understand this sudden change this woman had on me. After the love of my youth had died, I had thought never again to know the happiness of a woman’s love. And yet here it was standing before me. Or so I hoped at any rate.

We talked for almost an hour and then as several more patrons came into my little shop, she begged her leave and was again on her way. I kept my mind focused on my business for the remainder of the day. But it was a fearsome battle to banish the softness of her eyes, the swell of her breasts, the smoothness of her skin from my thoughts.

That night, in my small and sparsely furnished home, I sat at my oaken dining table and prepared to have my supper of fresh apples, a small but thick cut of ham, and a few cuts of bread when a knock came to my door. My heart skipped a beat. Was this her? Had she been thinking of me as I had her and had been overcome with a desire to spend more time with me?

I opened the door and there she stood. Dressed in riding clothes and a beautiful black mare beside her.
She was an absolute vision of loveliness. She smiled at me and said, “Hello Caesius. Do you ride? I was
hoping that you might accompany me on a small adventure this evening.” Her smile seemed to illuminate her entire face.

“For you my dear Melanie, I would gladly ride upon a dragon’s back.” The words were scarce out of my mouth ere I regretted saying them. She did not look away in embarrassment, as I had feared she would, she only continued to smile at me and reached out her hand to take mine. “Good. Then mount up and I will lead the way.”

In but a few moments we were winding our way across the cobblestone streets and headed towards the iron gate that lead out of town. We chatted as we road along. I have no idea about what really, I was just so taken with her beauty that I drank in the fragrance of her and thanked God for sending me such a happy woman to be with this evening.

I have always been of a melancholy nature. Prone to see the sadness in the world around me, and missing the sights of happiness and joy. Now my heart beat with such a feeling of high spirits that I felt heady with the wave of it all. This woman before me had somehow changed my heart in such a few days. Now I noticed all the wondrous spring flowers and the blooming trees that surrounded our small village. The smells of the flowers filled the air around us and I was just happy to be alive.

We rode into the forest and along a seldom-traveled lane. The leaves from last fall still covered much of the hard packed earth the horses trod upon. We were silent for a time, both of us enjoying being together and seeing beautiful foliage around us.

We broke free of the underbrush and tall oak trees into the most peaceful and wonderful glade that I had ever seen. “I wanted to share my favorite place with you, Caesius. This has been my secret home for many years. All my life actually. As a little girl, whenever I would feel lonely or sad, I would come here and feel such a closeness to God and His power that I was able to go on.” Melanie turned and said to me.

“This is such a wonderful and peaceful place Melanie. I thank thee for sharing this with me. Forgive me, dear lady, but I do not understand why though. Why are you here with me?" I looked into her soft green eyes and fear gripped my heart. Now comes the truth, I thought, now I learn that she does not feel for me what my heart beats in loves rhythm for her. Now I learn that I have mistaken simple human kindness for so much more.

She was silent and merely held out her hand for my assistance for her to dismount. I hastily obliged her and then with her still holding my hand she looked up into my eyes and smiled. Her lips parted and the sweet smell of her breath wafted across my face. I could contain my self no longer. Pulling her into a heavy embrace, I kissed her soft and wanting lips. Her body melded into mine, her breath flowed into my lungs. My head rushed as with a roaring waterfall from the passion of our embrace.

Slowly we parted and I whispered “Melanie, my dear lady, I love you with all my being. Every thing that is me burns in love for you.”

She wrapped her arms around my neck, pulled me close and with her head upon my chest said, “And that, my love, is why I brought you here.”

Tears began to slowly flow down my cheeks and a happiness that I had never even imagined filled my soul.
Falling on my knees before her and clasping her hands in mine I asked her the question now burning thru me. “My love, will you marry me?” What had come over me? Such madness, such desire for this woman that I had only known for scare three weeks. I did not know, I only knew that I loved her with all that I was. And that I desperately wanted to spend the rest of my life with her as my wife.

She brought my hands up to her lips and laying a soft, wet kiss upon them answered, “Yes!”

intro

Greetings my friends, I am so pleased that you have found your way here...in this place I will seek to entertain you and mayhaps even cause you to pause and think and dream with me...stories will be shared here and dreams and wishes and those things in-between will be shared here as well.. I hope that you enjoy your time here and that you return often!