By Charles Kirby
Eldin ran swiftly through the thick woods. The wood was covered with twisting woody vines and the forest floor was carpeted with dying leaves and twigs. His hooves crunched and snapped the debris beneath his hooves as he increased his speed. Elverion was the only rider confident enough to ride him; his knowledge of the woods gave Eldin a sense of security when with the ranger. His white body blurred in the woods as his rider followed their prey�s scent.
They had been on the trail of a corrupt wizard for four days now, and they were closing in. The wizard had killed two men in the town of Gillin, which was far behind them now, for some kind of wand. It was not Elverion�s job to hunt down such criminals, but his heart guided him to this path. As a young elf in the woods of Urie, he was taught the ways of righteousness and truth and how it applied to every living thing. He couldn�t let this villain get away with what he had done.
Night was falling upon the forest and he needed to rest. The leather clad Elvin stopped at a small clearing and climbed off his horse. He fed Eldin, apple, placed his weapons down off his back, and then lie down beneath a tree to sleep. He hated this time, when all was silent and the creatures were settled. It was when his mind wandered. To memories, good and bad. He could have spared their lives. They were all so young, he was only 17. He should have known they couldn�t have killed those trolls; it was impossible for many older more experienced elves. They were all slaughtered and eaten, their skin torn from their flesh, their blood covering his body. He almost saved the one Leonora, his love. They were almost back to Elvin halls when her soul left her, dying in his arms. Her last words echoing in his mind, �I love you�. It ate at his mind, destroying any chance of love, except for the creatures of the forest. They had comforted him in his time of despair, bringing a close connection with nature already there with his Elvin decent. He slowly slipped into a light sleep, his tears hiding behind his eyes.
* * * * * * * * * * *
He had gotten away with no one on his trail. He knew he was too quick for those oafs. He may have been a mere mage before this, but now, with this wand at his side, he would be an arch mage. �Sevyloth the arch mage of Athros!� he said to himself. He liked it very much. No one would believe he could become one, being a mere man, but he will show them what he could do. He had been riding his dark black horse, Eglin, hard for these past four days. He did not why he did this, but he just did. When the night came, he stopped in a small clearing and sat down beneath a tree a large oak tree his long dark robe surrounding him as he sat. He pulled out the stolen wand he was carrying at his side. It was about 12� long, and very thin; it was made of a dark mahogany wood. The moonlight gave the wand a mysterious glow to it. As the mage, or arch mage, caressed the wand an evil grin highlighted by the moonlight came across his young face. �The wand of the powerful Bolin. With the power you will give me, I could control all of Athros. It�s people falling beneath my awesome power. They would soon do whatever I want just so I would spare their lives. Yes, I could many things with you once I learn to use you correctly.� He placed the wand back at his side and fell to sleep, with dreams of murderer and deceit. He arose late in the morning and started back on his way. He would soon come to his tower, and there he would begin training with his newly acquired wand. He left the woods and entered into a large plain. The wizard started getting an eerie feeling, as if someone was following him. He turned around and looked back into the woods, no one.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Eldin burst from within the woods to the wide-open plains, quickly gaining on the wizard. Elverion had his bow and an arrow in hand ready for fire. He released his fingers and let the arrow fly. The arrow hit the horse�s hind leg and the black steed stumbled, falling to the ground, along with Sevyloth. The wizard arose and looked to the elf that had just fired upon him. His face became engulfed with flames of rage. He quickly pulled out his wand and fired some kind of blast at Elverion. The ranger tried to get out of the way, but his horse was hit and he went flying off. Elverion rose back to his feet and looked to the wizard that was now 5 feet away from him. His eyes narrowed on the young mage as he pulled his sword from his side. He started to run towards the wizard with his sword, but Sevyloth just waved the stolen wand and created a barrier around him. �Seems I will need to train little to use you.� Elverion chopped at the barrier, his sword sending off sparks every time.
�Fight like a true man, mage! Pull out your sword and fight like you did not just steal and kill from two innocent men!� Sevyloth cringed inside his bubble; the elf was a ranger and probably a very skilled fighter. He was good with a blade, but he may die if he does not win. The insults enraged him though and the thought of letting this elf do such a thing to him, a powerful wizard, prepared him greatly. Sevyloth pulled out his sword and let down the barrier.
�So be it, elf. I warn you, I will not give mercy!� With that final word, the two began to fight. Their swords both of quality Elvin make exchanged blows and scraped. Sevyloth backed Elverion quite a bit, so he raised the ground them 20 feet high, putting Elverion only a few feet from the edge. Elverion started pushing Sevyloth back into the middle. The sliced each other profusely, blood mixing with the earth beneath them as the treaded the ground. After a few hours of dueling, Elverion was eventually able to knock Sevyloth to the ground and put the blade to his neck.
�Tis time you ask for mercy� Elverion said to him with a grin coming over his sweaty and sliced.
�It would be, if I wasn�t Sevyloth, Arch Mage!� Then he suddenly vanished out of thin air and the ground lowered back down to its normal level. Elverion stood there with two horses lying on the ground and blade in hand.
* * * * * * * * * * *
The tavern was full of loud, obnoxious drunkards. Elverion could hardly stand them, but he had a goblet of Elvin wine in his hand so he put up with them. He was sitting in dark booth in the corner of the tavern with a hood over his head. If they saw he was an elf there was no telling what those drunkards would do. He sipped on his wine slowly as to not become intoxicated. Once he finished his wine he walked up the bar and motioned for the bartender. �Have you ever heard of a man called, Sevyloth? He is a mage.�
The old man pondered for a minute then smiled and said, �Yes, he lives north of our town. He stole some wand about a month or so ago I heard. Now he�s some kind a powerful wizard.�
Elverion thanked the man and walked outside to the street. He looked north down the road. It lead to some forest, he had never heard or seen before. In fact, that area was supposed to be barren of forest. It was as if it rose from the middle of nowhere. Eldin died had died from the blast given by Sevyloth, so he befriended Sevyloth�s horse. He climbed upon the midnight steed, and rode to the north. The town led out to a large plain with the dark forest far north of it. It looked as if it would be a two-day ride.
While gathering supplies for the journey to the castle, he accidentally walked into a dwarven man clad in dwarfish armor. �Eh! Watch where yer goin!� Elverion quickly apologized to the dwarven man and went over to the counter to pay for his things.
�Yer lucky he let you go like that,� the store owner commented,� Nimli usually gets very upset when men do that.� Elverion was still wearing his hood so the owner must have thought he was a human.
�Dwarves do not worry me at all.�
�Aye, but he is a mighty warrior. Rumor is he was the greatest warrior of the mines in Lileth. Fought many a war in his day. No one can count the number of goblins he�s killed, or more like massacred. But when his father died, he upped and left � Elverion stood in ponder a bit, then paid the store owner and left the store. He stood outside the store and thought to himself. He would probably need a companion along the way; there was no telling what was inside those woods. Such a warrior would be needed, but the dwarves were such a greedy people. How could he get him to come? Right as his pondering mind hit that thought, the warrior left the store. Elverion slowly approached him from behind and placed his hand on his shoulder to get his attention, but before he could even move his mouth to form a word the dwarf grabbed the rangers arm and knocked him to the ground.
� I have no time to talk, I must be off to eat.�
�But I have a proposition for you Nimli,� Elverion began as he stood up and dusted himself off,� I am going after the Arch mage called Sevyloth for killing two men and the stealing of a magic wand.�
�Aye, you some kind of paladin or something?� The dwarf asked, a bit intrigued by the sound of adventure.
�No, I am a ranger, but it seems I am the only one that will justify the men�s deaths.�
�Or justify anything of men�� started Nimli, but he stopped himself and looked back to the elf. �What�s in it for me, I don�t just go running around wily nilly fighting. I need a purpose.�
�He is an evil wizard, so of course he has plenty of treasure inside his tower. You may have all of that gold and I will split what he acquire along the journey there.� Nimli crossed his arms and stroked his long beard. He pulled out the axe strapped across his back and ran his hand up and down it a bit.
�I haven�t gotten the chance to use this for a while�Alright, I�ll join ya.� With that the two mounted their horses and started to the tower. They left the town into a large plain in front of the forest they needed to go through to get to the tower. �So, what about these woods up here,� the dwarf asked his hand in a salute looking forward, �what do ya know of them?�
�Nothing, but they seem very dark and evil,� said Elverion very clear and plainly.
�Aye, glad you know where we�re going,� retorted the dwarf in a mocking tone.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Sevyloth was casting many a spell to get back some kind of creature into a portal. Suddenly, a gust of wind came from behind the mage and blew the monster through the portal and closed it. �Tis the last time I summon creatures without experience.� He said to himself, huffing and puffing sitting in a large wooden chair. Suddenly a little goblin came through the door of the room and bowed in front of Sevyloth. �My lord, the ranger has been seen coming this, and he has Nimli with him also.�
The mage sat back in his chair running his hand through his long white hair, �Where are they now?�
�In the plains. What shall we do about them?�
Sevyloth leaned forward his face one foot away from the goblins, the mage�s black eyes staring into the goblin. He clenched his staff tightly and cringed his teeth, �Kill them! Now leave!� When the goblin ran off, Sevyloth stood and walked over to a window looking out over the woods. The wind blew his long dark robe back against his body. In one hand was his staff and the other was behind his back. �So, you have come back. It may have only been a month, but that was all the time I needed to learn the ways of the wand. I am much more powerful now. You will not stop me, you will not stop me, ranger!�
* * * * * * * * * * *
�So, Elverion,� the dwarf started, �why you so bent on getting this guy, aren�t you rangers supposed to stay in the woods alone, not go running around after killers.�
�When I was young, my teacher taught me of the paladins and their virtues. He told me the story of man stealing an apple, no one thought it was important, so they all just let him run away. The next day, that man the man poisoned the apple and gave it to our king as of that time, and he died. This man has already killed two men, there is no telling of how many he intends to kill.� Elverion�s face went almost blank as he stared forward into the plain, weakness almost covering over him. He quickly got out of that set of mind and looked into the purpling sky. �Tis time we make camp.�
When they were on the path the next day, it was completely silent. The wind blew in the grass like a musician blows into a flute. This was the day they would reach the forest. So dark, so secret, unexplored, it would be a challenge for both of the mighty heroes. Many stories have been told of secret forest, how they were the creations of evil wizards, intended to destroy unwanted intruders. They soon reached the entrance. The entrance was wide enough to fit two horses, there was one path covered with leaves and debris. The two looked to each other to try and find any fear, then they moved into the forest. They meandered through the forest, a mist filling the air and sending sweet scents into their noses. Woody vines and branches hung over their heads, and the wind whistled through the trees as if it was speaking to them. Then, a noise came to their ears, a thudding of large feet, a great many feet. Soon, they saw a band of about a dozen goblins coming at them, their faces sick and twisted just like their minds. The orcs pulled out there many of death and charged towards them. �This is why I wanted you to come.� Elverion simply said to Nimli as he jumped off his horse.
�Aye, you chose the best. This is my specialty!� The dwarf said a large smile showing beneath his thick beard. The mighty warrior hopped off his horse and pulled out his large axe and held it firmly with both hands staring straight at the orcs. Nimli ran towards the orcs yelling out some kind of battle cry in his dwarf�s language and sliced an or in half with his first blow. Elverion pulled out his bow, arched back three arrows, and released them into the back of an orch about to attack Nimli. He then fired two arrows, striking two orcs in the hearts as they charged him. Nimli sliced away at the orcs, mostly hitting armor and shields. Elverion fired arrow upon arrow towards the orcs, then Nimli finally sliced the last one across the chest, the creature�s heart splitting in two. The two put their weapons away, walked back to their horses, nodded to each other, and rode on down the trail.
Soon, they reached a high gate reaching up beyond the heavens and down into the pits of hell. On the other side, the path finally led up to Sevyloth�s Tower. Suddenly, the gate opened all by itself then the door opened itself also. The two cautiously walked up the path and into the tower, hand on weapon. Before they had a chance to even see the inside, it all blurred and they appeared at some ancient ruin, with Sevyloth sitting atop a statue.
�These foolish humans, worshiping some god,� Sevyloth said laughing to himself, �I have no need of such a person. I am my own god now and have no need for such a thing. But I�m sure you do, so I�ll just let you meet him in person!� Suddenly he jumped from the statue and towards the two with sword in hand. Elverion and Nimli both jumped out of the way and commenced to fight with the wizard.
They jumped from pillar to pillar, exchanging blows with swords in the air. Finally, Sevyloth knocked the dwarf to the ground with a wound to the chest leaving him and the ranger alone on a tall temple roof. �So, I am sure you want to kill me for many reasons. Beyond reasons of that in Gilin of course.� He grinned and raised his sword, �Now defend yourself, ranger!� Elverion raised his sword, the blade dividing his cut face. Then they charged each other with loud battle cries. They fought long and hard. They were ducking, spinning, and slashing each other. Sparks from their swords surrounded the ground beneath them, leaves falling innocently into the turmoil. At one point, they had their blades locked and Elverion looked Sevyloth into the eyes.
�My father was a good king that all loved, why did you hate him so, Uncle?� Elverion said with some compassion coming from his clenched teeth.
�He thought he was better than me, because he was an elf and I was only adopted. I should have had his throne, I was much more powerful than him, and much more than you!� Then he kicked Elverion in the stomach and they started again. Then, Elverion knocked the wizard to the ground and chanted some elfish and placed his sword to the killer�s neck.
�You shall not escape so easily this time, it is time you met your fate!�
�FOOL!! I am to powerful, I shall just come back in a different form, and I shall never leave you. This war will never end!�
�At least it will be done for now. When you die, remember my father�s grave!� He quickly slid the sword through his neck and back out. He cleaned the sword and placed it in its sheath. Then he picked up the body and through it into the woods. �Remove thy self from this holy place so that wolves may eat your remains.�
He jumped down from the roof and walked to Nimli�s side. He put his hand over his wound and spoke some words of elfish magic. The wound completely disappeared and Nimli raised his head. �Is it over?�
�It is, for now.�
* * * * * * * * * * *
Nimli and Elverion sat at a booth I the town of Gilin after Elverion had told the family of the men what had happened to Sevyloth. �So, he stole that apple there,� Nimli said through his beer drenched mouth, �That is why you wanted to kill the soul.�
�Yes, and for those men.� Elverion sat there, leaving his Elvin wine sit as he looked through the window at the falling leaves. �Sevyloth has paid for his crimes and for the killing, but Elverion said his eyes almost, but not quite watering, �He's still gone."