Storyboards: Ordici (Briana)

Note: these storyboards written between Briana and Ordici. The compiled version here is easier to read and understand.

Section 1: Briana
Delivery | Haunted in the rain | The meeting | The return journey | Goodbye and hello | Reidia's advice | Practicing my moves | The next meeting | The second meeting | The preparations | Tables turning | Fixing breakfast | Back in Camaar | Father's note | The prophecy | Blind dash to heartbreak | Realisation hits | Baring my soul | Lost for good | All in a daze | Emotions suck | Pain and loss | Things at home | Indecision The note
Section 2: The Prophecy

Delivery

Ordici is seen leaving Camaar through the North gate as we catch up to him. He is on foot and alternates between brusquely walking 100 paces and jogging 100 paces.
As the sun is falling beyond the western horizon Ordici stops to take a look at the scenery. The forest he is walking through looks peaceful and the horizon has turned into the orangish-red that Ordici finds so peaceful.
All of the sudden the face that has been haunting his dreams comes into his mind. The beautiful Sendar girl who couldn't be that much older than him. Ordici mumbles to himself,
"Who is she, and why can't I get her out of my head?" Stopping at a small stream Ordici decides to rest his tired legs. He has been travelling for several hours and he is kind of beat. As he rests his head on his clasped hands and looks into the sky he sees a cloud that reminds him of this young woman that he desperately wants to find again. He shakes his head as he remembers her face. "I didn't even ask her name, I could have approached her. I am an Idiot,” he tells himself.
Finally after about a half an hour he stands back up and resumes his journey to Sendaria. As time passes he finally finds himself in front of the gates to Sendar. Knowing it is in the middle of the night he decides to stop at the tavern in the guild of the rangers.
Out of the corner of his eye he sees the waitress passing his way, and he catches his breath. It's Her. It's the young Sendarian. Not wanting to be rebuffed again he stands up from his stool and walks over to the Serving wench. As she turns to ask him his order, his heart sinks. It isn't her.
He tips his hat as he walks out the door thinking to himself, "I need to get a hold of myself. What is wrong with me?" As he pays for his room at a different inn he heads decides it is time to rest. He takes his key and goes to his assigned room and locks the door behind him. Without removing his clothes he jumps onto the bed and buries his face in his pillow.

The sun is shining brightly in the window as Ordici raises his head from his pillow. He reaches over like he is going to grab somebody and finds nobody next to him. He jumps up and looks around.
"Damn, Just my rented room. But it seamed so real!” As Ordici looks around and rubs his eyes, his face takes in his reflection in the mirror. "Oh! It's hopeless,” he groans. "How could she want somebody like me?" Ordici sighs and takes one final look around wishing his dream would have been reality as he heads out of the room.
As Ordici is heading out into the street he remembers the letter in his shirt pocket. Urmela did want him to take that letter to the priest at the temple of UL. Running his hand through his hair, making it worse than it was, Ordici turns the corner to the temple.
As he sets eyes on the holy temple he thinks about the time that Maochro and him were here last. Two blocks south is where he first spotted his fantasy girl.
"Man, I hope she is there again. But that was two weeks ago. There is no way she would have remembered me. Someone that pretty has to be walking out with some guy," Ordici mumbles to himself as he takes that first step to the temple.
Ordici delivers his letter to the High Preist of UL and then heads back to the market square. When he gets to the Market Square he walks over to the same pub that Mao bought his ale.
"I'll have an ale please," he said, lowering his voice to pass for an adult.
"Ale? Son you can't be more than 8 and ten. How about a hogshead of goat milk? Freshly squeezed today-" The tavern worker replies with a laugh.
Ordici sits on a stool, keeping his eye on the market square. From his vantage point he can see the full square. Ordici sat there until after dark. He paid the tavern keep what he owed and started heading to the west gate of Sendar, hoping to spend some time in Vo Mandor.

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Haunted in the rain

Ordici is nervous as he sits under his canvas shelter. The rain that started as a light drizzle had just become a full-blown storm. Cold and wet, he is cursing the day he thought of camping out. Why couldn't he have just stayed in Sendar? With a sigh he once again looks at the pile of deadwood that just refuses to light. Sighing, he gets out from under his shelter.
“Belar,” he says, “This isn't turning out the way I thought it would. Sure, save a copper or two, Ordici. You are one with any forest! Geez what I wouldn't give to be dry right now!”
Hoping he can make it back to Sendar and a cheap hostel, Ordici begins to pack up his things. He knows that Maochro would give him hell for packing up his canvas shelter wet. But Ordici isn't about to freeze to death in the cold.
Ordici starts back to Sendar carrying his things, muttering curses all the way. Suddenly lighting strikes a tree not 30 paces from Ordici. Ordici gets thrown by the force into the mud. Cold and suffering he beats his palm against his ears.
Nothing is worth this. I am going to die out here if I can't find some place dry tonight!
Cold and hungry, Ordici starts back in the direction he thinks he was going. After about an hour Ordici realizes that he is lost. Knowing all he would have to do is walk south until he hit the road to Camaar he berates himself for not knowing the direction. He can't get a proper direction until he can check the sun. And the moon’s big sister won’t be up for a while, if the clouds don't hide her!
From out of nowhere a man appears directly in his path. There is something very eerie about this man. Ordici can barely make out the details, but he can tell the man is gnawing on an old pipe. The man points to the right and Ordici looks off in that direction. There is nothing but forest in that direction!
Looking back at the man for guidance, Ordici finds him missing. Ordici looks closer at the mud the man was standing in, and notices that no footprints have been left. Shaking in fear, Ordici, with no better destination in mind, starts walking the direction the man… no, the spectre pointed out to him.
All of the sudden, in a small clearing Ordici spots a small cottage with smoke rising out of it. It only takes a minute for Ordici to decide. I just hope the people are friendly! Ordici knocks on the door. He hears the most beautiful voice yell “Give me a minute!” as he hears the locks being drawn.
I must be hallucinating, Ordici thinks. This can't be real!
For standing there, is his dream girl. Her auburn hair is just as he remembered it. Her eyes are a very attractive shade of silver. Eyes that look right into his soul. He is mesmerized by this girl.
After what seemed like hours, but was only a few minutes the girl says,
“Get in here out of the rain. You’re soaked through!”
Ordici enters the cabin he realizes as he looks around, dripping mud and water all over a floor that looks freshly scrubbed.
“My name is Orrr... Orrr.. Ordici... The uh.. Ordici the Youthful Ranger.”
She shocks him by saying, “I know.”

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The Meeting

Belar! How could I have been so stupid? Ordici thinks to himself as he looks into Briana's beautiful eyes. Her expression turns from one of shock to denial.
‘No!’ she whispers, ‘You have to be wrong. Uncle Dunrick is dead! How could you have seen him?’
Berating himself silently, Ordici attempt to take Briana's hand in his. Briana pulls back as he touches her hand, her expression becomes one of deathly fear. ‘How could you have seen him? Ordici he is gone!’
I can't do this to her. How can I tell her what I saw without scaring her more? Ordici thinks as he looks into her silvery eyes. I can't lie to her. It wouldn't feel right. How can I do this?
‘Briana,’ Ordici says with a broken voice. Please sit down. I will tell you everything. Allowing him to take her hand Ordici leads her back to her chair. He sits back down across the table from her and looks down at the table. He tells her everything that happened to her out in the storm, as he is absently unrolling and rolling his right sleeve. When he is finished he looks back up into Briana's beautiful eyes.
Dreading what he would see there, he is surprised to see tears falling down her cheeks like two small rivers running down her face. Ordici stares for a couple of seconds, not believing his eyes. His dream girl is crying. His Briana! Jumping up from his chair he rushes around the table and kneels in front of her. Belar, how could I ruin this. I have broken her heart all over again with this news I brought. Ordici thinks as he puts his arms around her. Briana clings to him as if her life depends on it. She begins to cry into his chest as Ordici rubs her back thinking Please Belar, Please let me be able to make this up to her.
Continued here.

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The return journey
Ordici takes one final look back into the woods from which he has come. As he begins the journey to Camaar he let's out a groan and begins mumbling to himself,
' How am I going to do this? She doesn't even know that I have been dreaming of her since I have seen her in Sendar. How am I going to get
her to fall in love with me?'
As he continues on his way he looks at the scenery. The rains from last night have made walking the road unpleasent, but the flower still have beads of water on their petals. As Ordici sees a pretty yellow flower, he plucks it from its stem and inhales its sweet frangrance. As he continues to study the flower, he remembers a game that he saw his little sister Oriana and her best friend Dalchar used to play.
Ordici resumes walking up the trial smiling at this memory. Just to see what would happen he begins to play the game. Ordici removes petal number one and says, 'She loves me' and then he removes the second petal. 'She loves me not.'
As he sees Camaar in the distance, he gets to the last of the ten petals. 'BELAR!!! he screams, scaring some birds into flight from some nearby bushes, 'HOW COULD SHE LOVE ME NOT!!!'
With a tear falling down his cheek and catching in the scar on his chin, he resumes his desolate walk back to Camaar. He begins thinking. That was only a child's game. I just need to learn what women like in a man. He silently wipes the tear out of his scar as he begins to think about the problem. As he enters the gates to Camaar, he suddenly snaps the fingers on the his right hand.
' I got it! I will ask Reidia! She's a woman! If she can't help me out, then nobody can! I'll show that flower who loves me not when I finally have Briana declare her love for me!'
Suddenly feeling his old self since he left Briana, he runs through the city of Camaar, not stopping at the Old Man for a chat he just waves as he runs into the Adventurer's Hall on his way to track down Reidia.

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Goodbye, old love. Hello, new love.
A freshly bathed Ordici is closing his bedroom door. He checks over his clothing meticulously and then begins to walk down the hall in the direction of Reidia's and Wylset's room.
As he is walking through the halls of the keep he begins to remember the past, as he always does. He remembers a time when Maochro and he were sitting by that window over there with Maochro embellishing a story about some lass who gave him a kiss.
‘You, Ordici, when you get older, you will need to know how to catch and hold a girl,’ Machro was explaining, ‘It's all in how you act. You can't be afraid to tell a woman how it is going to be. Women respect a man who orders them around.’
‘They do?’ a younger Ordici asks in awe, ‘But what would I say to her?’
‘You just walk up to the filly,’ Maochro tells him, ‘And you tell her "You are looking good today. We are going to go dancing tonight. I will pick you up three hours after sundown!" That always works fella me lad.’
With a groan at the memory Ordici mumbles, 'I did it all wrong again. I wasn't supposed to ask her if I could see her again. I was supposed to tell her that I would see her. And give her the time. I am never going to get my Briana to love me.'
As Ordici knocks on the door to Reidia's and Wylset’s room he begins to fidget. Opening the door wide Reidia looks out and with a smile invites him in.
‘Ordici, what a pleasant surprise! Come on in and have a seat.’
Ordici catches his breath as he looks at Reidia. Belar she's beautiful! Ordici thinks as he takes his seat. Ordici doesn't hear Reidia's question, he is only thinking about the turmoil in his heart. Is Reidia going to laugh at me? Will she help me? Belar what am I to do?
After several minutes of just staring at Reidia and only seeing Briana's face Ordici swallows and says, ‘Reidia, I have a problem.’
Reidia laughs and with her rich voice says, ‘I knew something had to be going on in that head of yours, Tiger. You haven't heard a word I said in the last five minutes.’
Ordici blushes a deep red at Reidia's laugh. What a fool she must think I am. Aww, how did I get myself into this? he thinks. As Ordici tries to speak, his heart is in his throat. He attempts 3 times to ask the question he has came here for as Reidia smiles and watches him suffer. Finally he can speak.
‘Reidia, I met a girl and I can't get her out of my mind. I think I love her, but all I managed to do is make her cry!’
‘You think you are in love with her?’ she asks him, as he blushes harder, and finds it harder to swallow.
‘It's more than that Reidia. I love her, but I am at a loss on how to get her to love me! What am I going to do? How am I supposed to act? I really love this girl Rei!’ Ordici finally says in a rush.

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Reidia’s advice
By Reidia
I began to giggle as I stood there looking at Ordici.
"Come in, have a seat and I’ll see what I can do to help ya." Ordici shuffled his way in, looking bashful. He sat on one of the overstuffed chairs near the fireplace, never taking his eyes off of the floor. "Would you like a cup of tea? I just made some."
He just shook his head. "I have always thought of the day you would welcome me into your bedroom, but it was under entirely different circumstances, " he chuckled shyly.
"We all grow up at some time Ordi, and move on." Sitting down opposite to him, I looked at him pointedly. "OK, you are head over heels in love with this girl, and you don't know how to win her heart, right? " He nodded. " It's very simple, just be yourself. Don't listen to ANYTHING Maochro tells you, and seduce her."
Ordici just about fell out his chair. "Seduction? Me? Umm.... Rei, I never have.... Umm... Well…"
I giggled at the blushing boy. "Ord, you have met her and fumbled all over yourself. In a seduction, you are in control, you hold all the cards. It's not just about sex. It's about winning her over, making her feel special. That's is the way to a woman's heart." Ordici nodded, blushing furiously. “Every time you see her, talk to her. Don't try to impress her but tell her how amazing she is. Don't over-flatter her. Show her that she's on your mind. Once you have her attention, do something nice for her. Pour her a glass of her favourite drink, hold open a door for her. Then when you are alone, sit close to her. Hold her hand, touch her hair." I begin to giggle. "Hair touching is a DEFINITE turn on. Light candles, make a mood. Listen to what she has to say, and don't talk too much unless she asks you to. But most of all: be yourself!"
Ordici nodded and stood up. "Thanks sooo much, Rei! I will try and remember everything you have told me. " I stood watching as he walked down the hall towards his room, looking much more confident. With a tear in my eye, I sighed, thinking that was one lucky young lady. I smiled as I felt the loving arms of my Wylset embrace me from behind. Turning around, I smiled.
“Howdy hun!”

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Practicing my moves
‘I could lose myself in your eyes for hours. Your hair is the loveliest I have ever seen. How about you let me take you out tonight?’ Ordici says to his reflection in a mirror.
Nervously he reaches out and tenderly kisses the mirror. He can't stand it any longer and begins to laugh. As he laughs he hears another laugh behind him. Turning around quickly he stares straight into the face of an amused Qethia.
‘Ordici, What in the world are you doing?’ Qethia asks as Ordici turns a deeper shade of red. Seeing his blush Qethia begins to laugh in earnest.
Oh Belar! Ordici thinks to himself, I will never be able to live this one down. Soon everyone is going to know. Why was I so stupid? Didn't I lock my door? Out loud Ordici gasps, ‘Qethia what are you doing here?’
Qethia sticks her head out the door and looks both ways, noticing that the hallway is empty. As she gently shuts the door, she whispers, ‘Shhh... I think Maochro might be coming.’ Qethia silently walks to Ordici's bed and takes a seat, then pats the bed next to her as she invites Ordici to join her. ‘What were you doing Ordi? I didn't mean to intrude, but your door was wide open!’
‘Ahh, Qethia. I... I... I didn't mean for anybody to see me. They are all going to laugh at me now!’ Ordici groans as a tear falls down his cheek.
Qethia gently wipes the tear off of Ordici's cheek and tells him, ‘Not from me they wont, but what were you doing?’
So Ordici tells her all. About how he first saw Briana and how they met, but he leaves out the ghost's part. No reason to make her think I am going loony, he thinks to himself. As he tells her what Reidia told him to do, he begins blushing harder and can't meet Qethia's eyes. He finishes by saying, ‘Qethia, I have never felt this way, and I have never known a woman in that way. I... I just needed to practice! I can't BELIEVE I didn't shut my door. But how am I to approach her?’
‘Ordici,’ Qethia says gently, ‘It doesn't matter if you fumble or stutter. All that matters is that you show her how you feel. Reidia was right, be yourself. If she feels the same, then it will not matter if you get flustered.’
Ordici calms down a little as he realizes that Qethia isn't going to tell everyone about this. As he gets calmer he actually can meet Qethia's eyes. He smiles a little smile and says, ‘I hope you are right Qeth, because Briana takes my breath away at the sight of her. And I just lose all perspective. I've got it bad don't I?’
‘That is what you should tell her Ordi, just be truthful,’ she tells him, ‘Don't lie, and DO NOT listen to Maochro!! He is full of really bad advice.’
As Qethia rises to leave she kisses Ordici on the cheek and Ordici blushes harder. As she reaches the door she turns around and says in so low a voice that Ordici has to strain to hear, ‘And don't worry, I won't tell anybody!’ She giggles as she opens the door and walks back into the hall. And as she shuts the door softly behind her Ordici breathes a sigh of relief.

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The next meeting

(About a week has passed since the meeting of Briana and Ordici.)
As Ordici makes his way over the next rise he is amazed at how beautiful this forest actually is. He is holding a document pouch in his hand as he turns down the small, unmarked path that leads to Briana's cottage.
Ordici notices the smoke coming out of the chimney and grins. Yes she is home! I think this just might work. Briana's going to love me for this, I am sure! He mumbles to himself as he walks in the opposite direction of the cottage. Ordici goes to his first destination, a deadfall tree, as he looks around for a good spot to put his letter. He takes the letter out and reads it over one last time.
First stop brings you closer, but you didn't think it would be that easy! Now you got to go south. Look for the hill of relatives. That is where you will find your next clue.
As Ordici heads for his next destination he can't help but to giggle. I hope this works. Belar, She's a Ranger, like me, she HAS to approve!
Finally spotting his target he pulls out his next letter and reads it.
"This small gift is beautiful, but compared to you it's beauty means nothing. Next and last stop. Find a woodcutter’s trail to the east, and follow it to the old deadfall. Turn east and walk through the clearing. Just over the rise you will find what you have been searching for."
Ordici smiles to himself as he lays a single red rose on the letter away from the enormous anthill, on a tree stump that is clearly visible 20 paces beyond the hill.
As Ordici makes his way back to Briana's cottage he begins to have self-doubts. Briana is looking for a man, and here you are playing games! Ahhh... This is never going to work. But it has to! She is a ranger! She has to like it!
As Ordici gets near the cottage he stalks quietly around the clearing and comes from the east, hoping that the trees on that side would hide him better. As he nears the cottage he attempts to sneak to her door. He re-reads his letter, hiding behind the well, hoping he won't be seen he pulls out his first letter and reads it through.
"Briana, I can't seem to get you off of my mind. If you would find it in your heart to give me a chance then I ask you to follow these simple instructions and you will see a sight that is almost as beautiful as you. To the west you will find an old deadfall. It is here you must make your first commitment."
Ordici smiles to himself as he takes his letter and places it on the porch. As Ordici goes back to make sure he has everything in his hidey-hole he returns to the door and knocks. After knocking he runs as fast as his legs can take him back into the bushes as he hears the sweetest voice in the world sing out,
‘Who is it?’ As the door opens Ordici ducks deeper into the bush. He watches Briana bend over to get the letter and smiles as she begins to read it. When she closes the door, he heads back to the final destination to wait for his beloved.

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The second meeting
I can't believe it. She loves me! Belar, what did I do to have the woman I love return that love to me? And now, how am I going to keep her? As we were finishing up our meal by the small pond she told me,
“Thank you Ordici, The food was great.“
Xanya fixed the lunch for me, but how could I tell her without losing her? I swore to myself that I would never lie to my Briana, so I swallowed my bite and looking down at the blanket, a blush creeping up my cheeks, I just told her. “Umm. I didn't put the food together,” I said softly. Then in a rush I said, “Xanya, My clan mate did.”
Fearing to look up into her eyes I continued to stare at the blanket. I couldn't meet her eyes, I was so ashamed. Then she did something that melted my heart and made me fall in love with her more. She lifted my chin made me look directly into her silvery eyes. I couldn't speak. She just kissed me. Belar, she kissed me! Then she softly said,
“That's alright, my love. I loved it. And I love you.”
She loved me in spite of my failing. What in this world or any other did I do to deserve this beautiful Sendar? For the rest of the day we were in constant contact. I just had to touch her to know this was real. We kissed a little, held hands a lot, and I enjoyed being with the girl of my dreams.
It had to be the best day of my life.
As we were walking back to her Cottage I just couldn't let go of her hand. She had my rose resting on her ear, and her hair just looked so beautiful. As we finally reached the door, I didn't want the day to end. I stood there looking at her, trying to remember her like this. Then she kissed me again! She asked me to wait for her, she had something for me.
With reluctance I let her go. I entered her cottage and I decided it was time to take some of Reidia's advice. I just hope I know what I am doing!

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The preparations
Ok Ordici, time to get a grip on yourself. She will be coming back any minute, you got to do this quick. I told myself as Briana left me in her cottage. I went into my backpack and I started to set things up. Candles over here on this table, candles on that table. I pull out my lute and I test its strings. Yes, perfect!
I went to the well to get some water. I filled the tub half way with the cold water, then I went to the hearth and I began to boil water. I couldn't help being nervous. At any time my Briana could be back. I could only hope that it would take a while longer.
Finally the water on the hearth was just right. I added to the water in the tub. Belar! The steam almost knocked me back. I went back into the main room and got a couple more candles. I set them up in the room with the bath and then I started lighting all the candles I had laid out. As I get to the candles in the front room I accidentally knocked a parchment off the table.
I mumbled to myself, ‘Need to move this, I don't want it getting burned!’
I took a glance at it, but the light wasn't good enough to see what was written, so I opened the drawer and stuck it in there.
All of the sudden the front door slams open.
‘Ordici, I can explain!’ My Briana stood in the doorway looking as if all the Gods were going to strike her down where she stood.
‘What happened?’ I said, with fear in my voice, as I started moving towards her.

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Tables turning
I smiled to myself as I closed the bedroom door. Things were going great with Briana. But I couldn't help but wonder why she seamed so terrified when she came back.
As she was taking her bath I left the cottage to scout around the cottage to make sure everything was ok. Not seeing any tracks, or any disturbances on this quiet, star filled night I went back into the cottage.
‘She should have been out by now,’ I mumbled to myself, ‘I guess she must be relaxing.’ I went around the cottage lighting more candles. And I picked took my lute out of it's case. I strummed it a few times. ‘Have to tune the third cord,’ I mumbled.
As I tuned my string I thought back to the picnic earlier. I couldn't believe how big Briana's eyes got as she looked down at the blanket and the basket. Gods I loved the look in her eyes as I started to pass out the food.
Setting my lute by the couch I went and knocked on the bedroom door, calling Briana's name softly. ‘Funny,’ I told myself, ‘She isn't answering.’ I knocked a little louder and opened the door a crack.
Briana is everything... I gasped. I couldn't help it. Briana's body was just perfect. I stood their like a fool as she opened her beautiful eyes look right into my eyes. I couldn't help it. I started blushing furiously and I made my move towards the door almost knocking over a candle.
‘I'm... I'm... Sorry... I am so sorry Bri,’ I said as I was about to close the door.
‘Ordici, wait!’ Briana's voice stopped me in my tracks. ‘Ordici please don't leave. Come here, it's ok,’ she said in a quivering voice.
‘I... I.. I cccc... Can't. Briana,’ I said in a rush, ‘How can you ever forgive me? I am so sorry!’
‘Ordici,’ she said, turning me to face her, ‘It's all right, my love. Everything is all right.’ Then she kissed me. Standing there in nothing but what the gods gave her. We started kissing tentatively at first. The next thing I knew we were kissing seriously. My knees started to turn to jelly. I reached out for her waist and felt her smooth skin. Belar, what was I doing?!! I pulled away quickly.
‘Bri.. Briana.. We got to slow down. I... I want to but...‘ then she stopped with a finger to my lips.
‘Shhhh. It's ok Ordici. Don't apologise. Let me get dressed and I will see you in the main room.’
I quickly went back out to the main room, sitting on the couch next to my forgotten lute.
‘Awwww!’ I groaned, ‘I am going to hate myself in the morning.‘

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Fixing breakfast
‘Belar what must she think!’ I mumbled to myself as I headed for the pantry. ‘I hope I didn't scare her away!’
I got out the things I would need as I started the fire in the hearth. But, Belar what a way to wake up! I couldn't believe it. Waking up with Briana in my arms felt so right. But what must she think of me! As I fixed a stew in the kettle upon the hearth I took the bacon that I salvaged from the pantry and I put them on the lid, the sizzling helping me to think my way through this.
Reidia will know what I should do. She knows all about women! Feeling better, I went to the cupboard and pulled out a plate. I went back to the hearth and ladled out the stew, putting the bacon on the side.
Now for the final touch. I took a yellow rose from a vase on the table and put it on the plate to the side of the food. I then took some oranges out of the bag near the cabinet and cut one in half with my dagger. As I was widdlen on the orange, I couldn't help but think back to earlier in the
morning. Belar, I prayed I haven't asked for much in this life, and pa throwing me out was a heavy blow. But please, Belar, please help me to keep my Briana!
With a small sigh I looked at the orange. It was perfect! Then I took the rest of the oranges and I made some orange juice. I gathered all the food and the special orange in the shape of a heart with an arrow going through it and I silently went back to the bedroom door. I creaked the door open and peeked inside. My heart almost burst. Briana was sleeping and she was holding the pillow I used tightly against her. The pillow had my hat on it, and she had her cheek against it.
‘Belar,’ I mumbled, ‘she does love me.‘
I couldn't help what I did next. I just put the food on the bed beside her, and then I leaned over her beautiful sleeping face. I kissed her tenderly and as she woke she kissed me back and pulled me close. And what she whispered to me made me smile.
‘Thank Belar last night wasn't a dream.’ She opened her silvery eyes and kissed my cheek. ‘I love you, can I keep you?’

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Back in Camaar
I can't believe it, I thought to myself as I was sitting in my room back at the Clan Hall. She actually loves me. I just couldn't believe it. I was shocked to the core.
I got up and looked in the mirror, felling my scar with a finger. I couldn't get her out of my head. I went down to the dining room grinning when I got back from reporting to Urmela. Sure she was worried, but I am at the stage in my training where she knows I will be coming back alive, and she has bigger things to worry about.
Suddenly there was a knock on my door. I came out of my daydream and opened the door. Xanya was standing there, she looked at me and said Ordici,
“There is a young girl waiting for you in the lounge. She says it is important she sees you. I don't remember her name.”
As I made my way down to the lounge I couldn't help but remember my last moments with Briana. She just turned my knees to jelly as she kissed me goodbye. “Please come back soon,” she told me as she said goodbye, then she ran back into her cottage. I started walking back to Camaar, back to my duties, and I felt as if I was leaving a piece of myself behind.
I came back upon that small hill and saw the same kind of flower that I played She loves me, she loves me not with and I picked one. I inhaled it's lovely fragrance and then I gently held it as I walked back to Camaar. As I looked again at that flower as I saw Camaar in the distance I just chuckled. Well, She loves me. No matter what that stupid flower said!
I enter the clan hall and my jaw just drops. Sitting there by the fountain is one of the prettiest girls in all the lands. She turns and smiles at me as I just stare. She rushes over to me and gives me a big hug, followed by a peck on the cheek.
“Ordici,” she breathes at me, “I thought I would never see you again!”
I just stood there with my mouth wide open. This was the last thing I expected. She rushed over to me and gave me a really big hug. And then this pretty young woman kisses me on the lips. I begin to sweat as I hug her and kiss her back.
“Ordiana, You've grown up beautifully,” I say dumbfounded as her dimples light up the room as she smiles. “What are you doing here little sister?”
“Pa sent me. He... He told me you needed to see this!” She winces as she sees the rage in my eyes.
“Torak take our...” I almost screamed as she put her fingers to my lips to stop me.
“Pa said the world may hang on this Ordici. For me, will you read it?”
I could never tell my sister now when she threw her puppy dog eyes in my direction. But should I read it? I thought as I was handed the parchment.

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Father’s note
I stood there looking at the fear in Ordiana's eyes as I held the sealed note in my hand. Should I read it? I couldn't help but think. It would serve the old man right if I just threw this in the Fire. After throwing me out of the house at 13 to fend for myself I owed Pa nothing! Nothing! I could keep telling myself that, but looking into my little sisters eyes and Thinking about her words The fate of the world rides on this! I couldn't not read what that bastard sent me!
I looked once more at my little sister and she put her hand to her mouth. She could always tell what I was feeling, and the pain must have been showing in my eyes. How could that bastard put her into this position? And how could he use the one thing he knew I loved above all others against me? All others that is until I found my Briana.
With a tear rolling down my cheek and catching in my scar I broke the wax seal to the letter that damned my life forever.

Ordici
I know I have never been much of a father to you, I threw you out of the house at such a young age because I couldn't bear to watch you grow up, knowing that I would be the one to crush you in the end.
My son I know you will never believe me when I say that I loved you before all others, and know that I have had to share the pain that you will undoubtedly go through.
I don't know how to tell you, so I will just show you the prophecy, and hope you will abide by it. Please my son, The fate of the world depends on this. Dad.

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The prophecy
After reading my pa's letter I couldn't believe what I read.... He loved me! That is a lie, you do not push away those you love. And what Prophecy was the old man talking about? I look at the next parchment, old and faded and this is where my world truly ended. And I realized I must lose my Briana.

Rhellan men Beware! You are to form no attachments for your path has already been chosen. You must not marry for love, for upon you falls a duty, and a sacrifice.
Your house is very old, and your blood will need to be merged with the blood of another house. Equally as old and equally as important.
Know that when your house has a third son, that the time of this boon shall be soon. For unto the third son will be born one that will shake the world, and shall have a small part to play before the Final Meeting can take place.
For this third son shall have to find another whose own prophecy shall be revealed. And unto her shall fall this greatest of burdens to be shared by thee. Hasten therefore to my design for when thou sire's knoweth that thou hast taken a part in my design.

I dropped the parchment and pulled my sister to me.
“Ordiana, say it isn't so. For I have found the woman I love beyond all others! Please little sister. Tell me that there is another way!” I cried onto her shoulder as she gently held me, her tears falling with mine.

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Blind dash to heartbreak
I held my sister for seemed liked hours as she rocked my back and forth slowly, whispering in my ear everything will be ok. But how could it? I was just told by the man I hate most in this world that my heart doesn't matter.
Some moth eaten' old prophecy that needs my Sacrifice so the world will turn out it's way. How would anything ever be alright again. And Briana! What of Briana's heart. She finally said she loves me, and it can come to naught.
I pulled away from Ordiana and looked at the tears flowing down her face. My little sister, now three and ten, and Pa sent her here alone looking for me. How could she! I wanted to hate her, but it wasn't her fault. Damn the old man for this anyhow!
"Ordiana," I asked with my heart in my throat, "I have to ask you do something that you probrably won't thank me for. I can not face Briana alone. Would you, I mean could you please come with me?"
“Yes Ordici, I will go with you. You need me more than Pa does right now, “ she answered as she caressed my cheek. I can't tell you how much I love that girl. She is the best part of me.
So we headed to the stables and I saddled my horse, and picked a nice roan for my sister and we headed off to the forest around Sendar, there to break more than just my heart, but my entire life.
So there we were, Ordiana and I, leaving through the North Gate of Camaar on the road to Sendar. We didn't really talk too much, except for me telling her about Briana. I just couldn't let go of the fact that the one thing I wanted in all this world would forever be denied to me. She tried to tell me about my Older Brothers and about Ma and Pa, and I yelled at her it didn't matter. I have never yelled at my sister, so it took a while for her to talk to me again.
I immediately apologized of course. But what does a family that had no need for me really matter. But Ordiana, she was different. She was my sister. The one woman I could count on to always be there for me, when I needed her.
As we reached the rise in front of her cottage I just dismounted and fell to my knees. Oriana didn't say a word. She climbed down off her horse and sat down next to me. Just looking at the scenery. God how I love her. She gave me the time I needed to pull myself together. Then, walking our horses we made our way down to the cottage. We tied the reins up to a birch tree and the horses started Grazing. Then we made our way to the door.
Nailed to the door was a note. It was addressed to me.

Ordici,
I had to get out in the open air again, to feel the stars overhead. If you come back and find this here know that I am on My way to Darine, and I am going through the forest.
I will mark my trail by marking every maple I come to with an X. Just go the way the X's are on the tree. If you are facing the tree the X will show you I went Straight ahead from that direction.
Know that I love you and I can't wait to see you. Please hurry and find me.
I love you,
Briana.

I conferred with my sister, and we decided to walk to Darine. We put the horses out in the penned in field, got some supplies from the cottage. Ok so I picked the lock, but Briana would understand. And then we started through the forest, following all the marks we could find.

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Realisation hits
It had just gotten dark as Ordiana and I noticed the smoke, and the small beacon in the distance that could only be a campfire.
“Ordiana, sister...” I said as she took my hand, “I am not sure that I could do this.”
Ordiana knew everything about Briana and I. I had to keep talking, one of the major rules of mine I have never broken on the trail. But I couldn't help it. Prophecy demanded that I give up the only thing I have ever wanted in my life. And I just kept imagining the hole I would feel in myself when I was forced to walk away from the girl of my dreams. That isn't to say that Briana was the only thing my sister and I talked about on the trail. Apparently my brothers were pleasing my father, where I could not. How in the hell could that Bastard say that he loved me above all others! He had pushed me out of his life, to fend for myself!
I stopped in my tracks as I gasp in astonishment. My sister looked at me with her eyebrow raised. What's wrong? my sister asked me. I couldn't move, I couldn't respond! I was going to have to push Briana out of my life... And she would feel about me, the way that I feel about my father!
Finally, after what seamed like an eternity, but was probably more than a few minutes I wiped my eyes and started towards that campfire, both hoping that that was Briana down there... And praying to Belar that it wasn't.

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Baring my soul
I looked up at Briana and I said through clenched teeth, “I can not marry you, I belong to another!” Those words left my mouth and put a hole in my heart.
“What do you mean you are promised to another?” Briana looked at me and put her hand to her mouth as tears filled her eyes. I couldn't help it. I looked away and told her my tale. Oriana was beside me the whole time, with her hand upon my back, her tears flowing as well.
I told Briana about how My father threw me out at three and ten. I told her how I had to survive until Reidia and Wylset found me that day near the cliffs. I told her how Mortiris invited me to join the Adventurers.
Things she already knew. She let me speak, she didn't interrupt. She sat back on the log she was using as a chair and just listened. I am sure her heart was breaking seeing me like this. To tell the truth, my heart had already broken.
Then I finally got to the point. The stars were winking overhead and the fire was running low. I told her about that damned Prophecy that the old man had sent me.
I showed her the letter, and she read it and gasped! Here it comes, I thought as she read it over. Here is where my life is to end. And I will go on forever without my Briana.
Briana dropped the parchment on the ground and gasped. I saw the fear in her eyes as she looked back at me. And knelt there, waiting for the hammer to fall.

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Lost for good
“Briana! Nooooooooooo!!!!” I shouted out in pain and grief, crying my eyes out like never before. Oriana was safe. My little sister who just witnessed my loss.
I can't tell you how long I held my Briana. Lost to our memories of the few short months I had with her. Her smile and how it lit up my world. Her beautiful eyes and how I could lose my soul for hours.
I continued to rock her body and to speak incoherently, Oriana by my side. She reached down and picked up the parchment that Briana so recklessly got out of her bag. I couldn't read it, the tears and smoke from the fire were in burning my eyes.
But somehow I dried up my tears, and my still bloody hands left fingerprints all over the parchment.
After reading the words I fell into a stupor. All this worrying and all this running around was for nothing. Briana was the woman named in my prophecy.
I couldn't believe it. I showed it to Oriana and she just gasped. I saw the fear in her eyes as we both came to realize just what those words for Kal Torak meant. The dark prophecy had won this round. And beyond that.
I have lost the one thing most dear in my life...
I had lost my Briana.

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All in a daze
I guess that you could ask me how long I held Briana's lifeless body their by that fire. I guess you could ask me what I did. To tell you the truth, I just don't remember.
Let me rephrase that. I just don't remember it all. I remember bits and pieces of that night after my world came crashing down upon me. I can remember walking back to Briana's cottage with her lifeless corpse resting on my shoulders, carrying her as if she was a freshly killed deer.
I can remember setting her down on her porch while I picked the lock and went inside.
But I just can't remember how Oriana and I got Briana back to her cottage. I know I must have been crying, cuz I had mud streaks on my face as I gently laid Briana down on her bedroom floor next to the empty tub.
After heating some water on the hearth I poured out the kettle and got a damp cloth. I sponged around the hole in her stomached and the hole in her back. And then I removed the rest of her clothing and washed the corpse down.
Those silvery eyes that have haunted my dreams, that I could lose my soul in for hours were unresponsive. As I cleaned up her corpse I went to get my pack where I got some catgut string and a curved needle and I began to stitch my poor Briana.
After all this I couldn't help it. I just began to cry again. I don't know what came over me but I picked up her lifeless hand in mine and I leaned over her for one final kiss. As i kissed her lifeless lips I felt her hand clinch. I looked back into her lifeless eyes and realized it was a muscle spasm.
You can tell me what you like. But until my dying day I will remember that spasm for what I felt it was meant to be. One final I love you from the woman I loved.

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Emotions suck
I can honestly tell you that I was dead to the world at the point of realizing my Briana was dead. Like I think I have said before I only have flashes of what happened that night. But I think I started to live just a little again, when she squeezed my hand one final time.
You may think that I was mad, and to tell you the truth I had to be a little crazy back then. But you will never be able to talk me out of thinking my Briana squeezed my hand one final time in a goodbye.

Now where was I in my story... Oh yeah. One of the worst parts. You know you should really make sure I stay on point here.

There I was I had just kissed Briana goodbye a last time. I got the Flower I picked from my last walk back to Camaar from this very cottage and I put it in her hair. Her clothes were perfect, even though I know she would have looked beautiful to me in anything. I laid her to rest under a tree at the small pond that I first had a picnic with her. I didn't really know what to say, I was alone, one last time with the woman I loved.
I asked Oriana to stay at the cottage, I couldn't let her see the pain in my eyes. I took one final look at the crude headstone I carved out of a huge cut of wood I spent the afternoon before carving just right.
On it were carved these words: Here lies my Briana The love of my life, taken all too soon.
I just stood there for what seemed like hours crying on my knees after everything was done. How would I go on? How would I find the strength?

Now, as I look back on it, maybe I was kinda crazy. But back then all I could think about was how was I supposed to go on when the woman I loved died in my very arms. And how was I to save the world from the results of a Prophecy unfulfilled.

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Pain and loss
I walked under a star filled sky back to the cottage. As I crested the small rise near the cottage I stopped, like I always did, just to take a look around. The night was so quiet and peaceful, I couldn't help thinking, How could this night be so perfect, when I have lost the only thing that matters in my life. Belar, why did you take her away from me!
I can't tell you how often I cried, or how often I thought I saw my Briana when I turned around, or out of the corner of my eye, just to realize that the woman looked nothing like her. But on that night, looking at her cottage, at the light showing through the windows from the hearth fire I just sat down on that rise, and thought of how Briana would want me to live, to feel, and how she would never want me to mourn in this way.
I finally wiped the tears from my eyes and made my way down to the cottage. As my footfalls were clearly audible on the porch, my little sister, Oriana, had opened the door as I got to it.
“Ordici,” she breathed to me, “hurry up and get inside, you shouldn't have been gone so long.”
“Gone so long?” I asked, “I haven't been gone enough sis. But that is a tale for another day. Did you find anything to drink?”
My sister looked at me with pity in her eyes as she poured me a glass of wine that she had found in the kitchen cupboard. She admonished me. “Only one brother. You will not be like father!”
Like Father? What was she talking about? The old man never once drank in his life! How soon I was to realize that things have changed at home.

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Things at home
There I was, a glass of wine in my hand and sitting on the couch with Oriana right next to me. “Be like our father!” I almost screamed I must admit. “How can you even think that? If he loved me he would never have thrown me out. I could never be like him!”
Looking at the fear in my sister’s eyes brought me back to myself. There I was standing above her, my baby sister, shouting at the top of my lungs how I could never be like that bastid of a father we shared.
“I... I am sorry Oriana. Please, I didn't mean to take out my grief on you. But what do you mean you will not have me be like him? I have never seen him drink in my life!”
And for the first time since I was thrown out I actually allowed myself to think of my boyhood home. Oriana sat me down, and quietly told me how the old man was behaving. Apparently after throwing me out, he turned to the bottle. Ale for starters, rum for now. And from what she said he got mentally abusive with my older brothers, and my loving little sister.
Would you believe that I didn't even once think that I was glad the bastard got what he deserved! I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I just began to cry for the man I had lost. Can you believe I actually still loved that prick? Of course, at the time I must have convinced myself I was crying for Briana again. Belar, how I loved her! So I sat there listening to stories from home. I couldn't bring myself to talk.
That is when Oriana handed me something that would change my life forever. She handed me a piece of parchment, a gob of wax closing it tight. On it were three words that made it all come crashing back on me. I must have lost my mind for a while.

For these three words were:

Ordici, My husband.

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Indecision
Ordici, My Husband.

What could she have possibly meant? We were never married. How could she play with me this way? Then it suddenly dawned on me like the sun rising over the hills to the east. This note was meant to be read after we had been wed. Belar, what could be in it? And how could she have known we were going to make it that far? I tell you, she had more faith in me than I did in myself. Marriage? Yeah sure, I wanted to marry my Briana. But at the time I was full of indecision.
“Oriana,” I said with a quiver in my voice, “should I read this, or just throw it in the fire? I am not sure I can handle this now.”
Oriana looked at me and wiped a tear from her eye. “You promised, no more wine!” I just looked at her with a glance, then drained my wine. “But, I think you should read it. Ordi, she knew about The Prophecy. Maybe you might learn more from reading it!”
But how could I read these last words from a woman that loved me enough to want to marry me? By Belar, she died in my arms. I was not sure I wanted to read this. Somehow I knew that if I read this, then my life would never be the same again. It would never be my own. Maybe you should call me mad. But I don't think I was.
Somehow, I got the nerve. I lit a branch of candles from the hearth, and just stared at the note for what seemed like hours.
I broke the wax, without even registering what I was doing. Then, blinking the tears out of my eyes, I began to read what would change my life....
Forever.

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The note
Author's note: I asked Briana's handler to write the letter you are about to read. She has graciously written it for me. For the contents of the letter I thank Briana for her last act of writing in this story.

I finally wiped the tears from my eyes, and like a moth to an open flame my betraying eyes went straight to the beginning of the letter, and would not stop until I read it to the end.

My dearest Ordici,
If you are reading this, then our first son has been born and I can tell you something I've held back for so long.
When I met you, my Uncle came to me in a vision and told me that our bloodlines must be joined to fulfil a prophecy long in coming. I didn't tell you before, because I wanted you to make sure that you knew I loved you for you, not for some prophecy in my family history. I loved you, and I would marry you, prophecy be damned. But if you're reading this, then our son must have been born.
My love, I know you will hate it, but we must go see your family, and find out if there is any prophecy in your family line. No matter what we find, you are, and will always be, my husband. I love you, my Ordici, with all of my heart and soul. Please forgive me for not telling you sooner, but I simply could not take the risk you would leave me. Forgive me, my love. When you finish reading this, come out onto the porch and join me and our baby boy, and we will talk all we need too.
All my love,
Briana.

I dropped the letter on the table, and took one look at Oriana. I willed my eyes to hold the tears back as I went out on the porch and looked up at the stars. Looking at the stars, I realized that Briana knew I would eventually have to face my father. And she did try to prepare me.
And now, for the prophecy to be fulfilled, I would have to go back to that Sendarian farm of my heritage, and look the old man in the eye one more time... And let him know of my failure.

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