a tired man's return.....

[Galor Martek]

then……

he told himself that he traveled the longest paths….the farthest reaches…..that she wouldn’t have to…..he would see to possible trade in those far off lands…….

they both knew better though……his feet grew restless…..he sought out the times between destinations….when a mountain stream shone like a road of purest diamonds…..where a deep forest grove hid wonders that few may ever see….where he might be the only human to witness a fawn’s first steps……where that first frost of the season so changed a pine forest from a green land of natures sound…..to that near eerily silent land where not a thing seemed to move…..he did so love the land…..

and so he went…..to the farthest places….for the longest times…..but always….they both knew that he would return…..his feet always found their way home…..they always had….they always would…..they both knew that…..they both believed……

now…….

so many miles walked….how long had it been…..years….he moved with purpose…..he had to get back…..had to find word…..he hunted when he could….foraged when he could….ever closer…..ever closer…..

then……

the village of Tilverton….by no means huge….but there was something wrong……these people….they were suffering…..the fever had reached this place….how could he help them….what could he do……it was his way…..to help those he could…..

now……

they had heard of her…..many knew her goods…..they had heard that she was in the Darken Wood…..that she had gone there for some reason….and been imprisoned…he was furious….what reason could anyone possibly have to do this…..he remembered every path through Camelot…..well he remembered that dark bridge that passed into a darker land…..

then…..

he found himself in a bed….the abbott speaking with him….he was aware less and less of what was real and what was fantasy….when he was himself he spoke of the past…..of the places…the people…kings….queens….a reluctant princess…a blind man that saw more than he ever would….fae folk….a noble pirate….children long since lost…rangers….maids pure…dark elves…great cats that followed royalty…vikings…spaniards….folk with hidden pasts…criminals….simple folk of hearts more noble than any knight….and of her….of his Giselle…he spoke of her most often…it was her memory that the abbott used to calm him when the fever brought terrors to his mind….

now…..

a far outlaying homestead…..they knew nothing of her…..but if she was indeed in that dread place….then Wynter Kyss would know…..he was shocked….they refused to speak more of it….of why she would know anything….she was a friend of both of them…..but it had been years…..even before he had left for Tilverton…..and why would she be in that place…..he would find answers…..

then….

the demons…..they were here….he saw them….they were here for him….he had to get away somehow….somewhere….he waited…until the night…..he didn’t know where he was…..but that hardly mattered….only running mattered….that bag….he took it and ran…past the fires where the demons burned the bodies of those they had slain…he slunk away into the darkness…running from the nightmares of his darkest dreams……

now…

that grove…..he had started a woodsman’s stash there years ago….before he had left Camelot….he wondered if any of the supplies he had placed there would remain….he found the old oak…his mark was indeed there…but so were others…the quiver full of silver tipped arrows…..a fair cloak…..boots….a spare belt knife….he placed his mark after the others….to let the rangers know that he intended to return….to replace what he had taken in need…..now he could enter that wood…..

then….

he had run…he had run until his feet were raw….he had run until he saw the fire in the trees….years of experience crept into his clouded mind…..he was silent as the hunting owl as he drew closer…..sitting by the fire…he saw them…..two of them…demons….the third face down in the dirt, he missed…..they would catch him….he had to stop them…this heavy branch…..they were more intent on the one on the ground….the first fell quickly…..without knowing what befell….the second turned in time to see the makeshift cudgel arc toward his temple…..the woman looked up from the ground where the bandits had left her…her savior, a club wielding madman….screaming about demons….striking the two men over and over again…..he frightened her more than they did…..and so, she quietly faded into the darkness….eventually making her way home as the madman collapsed in exhaustion…….

now….

the small village held a chapel….he remembered that…..he entered quietly and lit a candle…..kneeling, he offered a quick prayer….Lord, please grant this servant strength and courage as this task is undertaken…..that Wood….it frightens me….and yet, that matters little…as she is there….be with her, and keep her safe……amen…..he nodded briefly to the priest as he left….hoping that this prayer….if any he had ever offered…would be heard…..it had to be…..

(to be continued…..)

[Lady Edfeil]

((*smiles brightly ooc-wise*))

[Galor Martek]

then….

the abbott had succumbed to the fever as well…..before the man had fled….his survival a gift from the lord….when he awoke he found that they still burned the bodies…..so many still died…..and the patient that had told him those marvelous stories….was gone as well….he knew without asking what had happened….so many died every night that the name of a wandering stranger was easily forgotten…..faces faded….no one had seen the man leave…..his body now must lay in that damnable pit of ash and bone……

the abbott had made a promise when the man still saw this world….not the nightmarish world of his fever ridden mind….and he had kept it…..he had written the letter…..and prayed that it offered some semblance of closure to a woman he knew only from a traveller’s stories……

Goodwoman Giselle Elouise Mar’tek La Morte,

I am Abbott Gerenson of the township of Tilverton, and I pray that this letter finds ye in fine health.

I am charged by my promise with bringing ye ill tidings. Your husband Galor Mar’tek was with us in Tilverton, and has fallen to the fever that has ravaged the land. It tears my heart to not be there with ye to present this news in person, to help show ye merciful God’s love. And while I know that you have suffered a loss unimaginable, I must tell you more.

Your Galor entered our township as the fever was at it’s peak. Most others passed on at the first sign of the illness. He did not. He stayed and aided me. He stayed with those that were passing when no others would be with them. When others feared to be near the infirm, he offered comfort. In the short time he was here, he made a difference in my life, and it the last moments of those that had no one.

He spoke of you daily. So much so, I feel almost as if I know you. He spoke of your beauty, your large heart, your deep and abiding faith, your inner strength.

Until the last moment I saw him, he spoke of his love for you.

I pray that the Lord brings you the love and strength that your soul will need. While we may never meet in this world, know that ye will ever be in my prayers, from this day, until we meet before our maker.

Ever the Lord’s servant,

Abbott Gerenson

now…

his feet carried him across the bridge that separated Camelot from the Darken Wood….the mist thickened about him…..he felt the eyes of the wood upon him…he sped along the trails….eyes tracking side to side…..bow in hand….quiver near….he ran….the citadel…there it was…..the guards were enough….but the hulking man that ventured forth to meet him…..towering closer to seven feet that six….Adrian he introduced himself…..and personally escorted him to the Hall…..the young giant asked that he wait whilst he fetched Wynter…..and so…..he waited…..

(to be continued)

[gisellelamorte]

then .....with him

A man, some wooden buttons, a coat that would not close....... Then there was him, his hair grey in places near white...........she smiled as he handed her the button, moving away almost instantly as he continued to speak to one dear to him..............she tatted.......... his voice she heard ........ it opened her heart...........a har mourning, her husband Alanon, their child Annie.....

now.....without him

at times she closes her eyes, strains to still hear his voice, asking her for honey, no milk, or was it was milk, no honey? Loosing the memories is what hurts most, for are they not all she has left of him.....for there is nothing of him…………..only memories

then....before him

She travelled many lands, trading her wares, her serene smile known to many. Her steps alwas leading her on, seeking to find no home, no place to fix her heart and truly care for people.....

now........without him

She prays...her prayer to seek comfort, to balm a heart which breaks again...to sooth her mind as it reaches out to find him still.......but the letter..........the words..........those destructive words........for how can she go on without him, live without him.........

then..... with him

so many years.........always tea iwth him...in Camelot's kitchen.......the Last What If........the end of the day.......when the sun opens the day....... travelling with him........times of laughter and innocent merriment.....times when words speak of love and need.......when hearts reach out to seek forever......

now....without him

Her heart cradling what she feels, how he feels, how he smelled........his laughter, his touch.......the way he drinks his tea, his moustache wet, his smile beyond value making her pulse race.....his hands tickling, teasing, his feet chasing her through the common room when all are asleep...and yet she can barely reach out far enough to touch his love now......for he is no more, no more...

Then with him….

Looking up, finding him look at her as she bakes bread, serves ale……….a blush…..a smile, a fleeting kiss………their life, a n Inn, a last what if…no more what if, for all they are is there….no regrets….never again regrets…..to live on, grow old together, but always together


now.....without him

days follow upon days........days where she smiles....days where her hands seek to keep busy........days where she works her miracles in the kitchen....where her feet walk the hallways of Emaine, Camelot, Caerfernon...her smile for all who treat her with kindness.....and yet she feels alone, so very much alone....

then .....with him

A day like others and yet......their day, like none other.... a white veil, her veil.....a man, her man......Eiluna, a friend, their friend........... her friendship so precious for she joins what is one, was always meant to be one, and will be forever one....how odd to know what many had wished for, for so many years, took place with hardly a one present........a marriage....their marriage before God....

now ....without him

A day which lingers longer than she can wishes....for she sleeps alone.....she eats alone....she sits alone as she tats, cooks, sews....even with many around her she is alone, ...... the abbot's words engraved on her heart, they resound in her head over and over again.....

then .......with him, without him

she works, she smiles, her day filled with thoughts of him.........his return.....the words, on pale parchment, smudged as it has been carried by so many hands.....she reads, ....no.......she reads again.......the world black, her world black........sounds and sights, time is lost.......she cannot.......she will not……………..how can she live on, without him, her heart, her breath, her life.........how………..how can she ever.........


then..... alone


now......alone

[Dream Loxley]

Just had to say how beautiful this is.........and such a privilege to read it.

[Galor Martek]

then....

he ran.......the demons.....they were everywhere....they would find him......but at least they followed him......as long as he ran.....they followed him.....he knew what he must do....he must take them as far as he could before they caught him.....so far that they could never....never find her.....she was his duty....his reason.....his strength.....his only guiding light......he would not fail........

and so....unknowing that the fever still burned his mind.....he ran on....leading his demons away from her.....far far away......

(to be continued....)

((ooc note, the home computer is at the doctors, literally. Posts will come from work as I am able. Hope to be back in a few days. Hugs all around. Jeff))

[Galor Martek]

now.....

and waited......his pacing that of a caged animal.....the guards watched him closer than he would expect....he knew not what had befallen the Queen of this place......indeed....he did not even know he was about to meet her himself......

she seemed in ill temper as she entered the hall.....her guards having nae given her the visitor's name....he had not even offered it......it simply.....hadn't occurred to him....

Wynter's face changed as she saw the man's face.....one that she knew to be dead.....Giselle had told her as much.....before......well...that was another story.....

the two talked of old times.....friendship shared.....she spoke little of why she was in this place...her current life.....had he been less consumed with reaching his goal....he would have noticed....pressed her for more information.....rendered what aid he could.....

but then she said these words......

Windstorm.......Galor, I think she be in Windstorm.

she was not here......not imprisoned.....she was in a land he knew to be safe.....or one that had been.....before......his darkness.....

and so he ran again.....for all he was worth....back toward that bridge......noting with dread that the eyes of the wood followed.......as did those that possessed them......fear found him.....briefly his mind screamed that what he had sought to leave behind.........had found him.......

[Galor Martek]

then....

he had awakened with blood on his hands.......again.....

he must have fought them.....that must be why......he was still tired....every ache blended with the next.....he knew not how long he could continue this.....but that mattered little.....running...hiding....all were the same.....

he was awake.....and thus....the gaunt reflection of the man he had been moved on.....always moving.....not noticing the tree stump he had left behind.......

the one that was broken and bloodied....as if someone had beaten it, savaged it, with their bare fists......and knew not that the blood on his hands...was his own......

[Lady Edfeil]

((waits eagerly))

[Galor Martek]

now....

they had nae been demons......but goblins......close enough by many a sane man's standards.....and so....he fought a running battle back to what he hoped would be safety......years of skills....honed through practice and use.....finding a path where one should not be.....hiding behind the slightest of cover....making every shot of his bow sow confusion and fear among the beasts ranks......

and then......the bridge......free lands beyond......they did not follow across that simple border.....they would not.....not for such meager gain as one.......annoying.....old man.......


then....

the dreams....always.....demons.....until......

questions....

he wanted to return....but what if they followed him?
he needed to see her again...but what if they found her?
his friends.....but what if they remembered him not?
his love.....but what if.....she had moved on..........?

the dreams.....they finally changed.......

twas the two of them....before a frozen pond in Camelot....remembering their pasts...what might have been had they made other choices......and she spoke the words......

No more what if's........

his life changed that day.....her simple words had seen to that....they had saved him from himself those years ago......




they did so again.........

[Galor Martek]

now....

he had sped through Camelot.....it's forests and fields falling behind him as fast as his feet could take him.....what small game he had managed to take.....eaten.....he had turned toward what civilization he could find.....the next land.....a place called.... Emaine Macha.....

he had been greeted kindly....offered food and a warm, dry place to sleep.....none of these people knew him....and yet....kindness was shown.....

and then......the man.....that...giant....

he had introduced himself as recently departing Windstorm....one Sighehelm of Kent.....though the old hunter cared not truely.....he simply needed to know....had he heard of her....was she well....

the Kent lord seemed not to trust him....though he cared little....the man offered to share his horse.....making the journey faster.....and though he knew the offer was made such that the Kent giant may keep a watchful eye on him....he agreed....anything.....anything to bring him closer.........

anything to bring him......home...

[Galor Martek]

then......

no more what if's......

he awoke.....eyes finally seeing the real world around him......and he knew not where he was.....

somehow...he still had his satchel.....he didn't remember taking it in his flight from Tilverton.....torn....ragged....what could it still hold of any use.....

opening it....it held one thing.......a small tin.....empty yes....but to him it was the world.....it would always smell of tea to him....it would always remind him of her....as she had pressed it into his hands so many years ago....bidding him to return it to her.....and him with it..........

he knew not where he was.......though that seemed unimportant.....

he knew.....he remembered who he was.....and where he should be.....


now.....

lands passed swiftly....they spoke of many things.....they rode when the horse could bear it....walked as the noble beast needed the rest....indeed time passed swiftly.....

the Kent lord watched him.....judging ever word....protective of the queen and lands they approached.....the only pause came when the giant of a man mentioned his courting of young Edfeil....the old hunter remembered her....young and vulnerable....a reluctant princess....she was to him a dear friend before all else.....as such....perhaps he spoke out of place....truely...he cared little....Lord or no....he would stand by his words.....and stand between a friend and any harm....let the man put that in his pipe and smoke it....


then....

the river had led him to civilization....of sorts....a half dozen farms....sturdy folk determined to make a patch of wilderness a home.....he nearly collapsed as they challenged him....he knew they were well advised to be suspicious....far worse things than ragged old men had been known to wander the backwoods....

he shortly convinced them that he bore no weapons.....malicious intent....nor currently....ability....

how long had he run.....no boots....his feet were tended....body nourished.....

these people were good of heart....as he could...he repaid them....small things at first....fletching their arrows that the men could hunt.....suprising them by cooking....

when he could walk easily again....he joined them in the woods....offering his years of learning to help fill the stew pot.....

by the time he was ready to travel freely again....the snows had come....blocking the pass.....and so...he stayed.....sharing stories....memories....with these newest of friends.....waiting for the thaw to come.......

[Galor Martek]

now....

he walked.....as the man rode rapidly ahead.....the Kent lord had been correct in his thinking.....what shock would she suffer if he simply appeared from nowhere.....they must talk with the queen......she was now queen....he had been gone too long.....

he left the hood of his traveling cloak in place....let none recognize him....and spread the word to her ears....tact....caution....he damn near spat the words....why should he wait......to protect her...twas that simple

he knew not what Lord Sighehelm had said to the Queen....but it mattered little....he tied the long belt knife to it's sheath, making the guards a titch less edgy....why were they on high alert....he would ask....after....

pushing through the door to the great hall, he saw them....the man from Kent and the Princes....no...she was queen now....he would have to remember that....

she had only recently received the news of Galor's passing...from Giselle herself.....the shock clear on her face....she though him a ghost perhaps....only with Lord Sighehelm's help did he assure her he was indeed flesh and bone.....indeed a friend of old.....one that had assisted a younger princess and the Lady Andrea with a daring pastry hiest.....

she had requested that he rest....and bathe....that they would see to her being here in the morn.....destpite his objections....common sense won out....and so......

he fell into a fitful sleep.....waiting yet again......

[Galor Martek]

then....

he had spent the winter fashioning a new bow.....and tending animals.....hunting....helping repair the Tellinham's roof when the snows proved to heavy to hold....tracking that late born calf..the one that's cow had died in birthing....young Cora was sure she would have simply died had her calf been lost to the snows.....and making friends.....

trying not to dream.....twas there that he was helpless....there that he was once again.....hunted....captured............the rest he refused to think on.....instead....he thought of these folk.....

these people had taken him in....nursed him to health....sheltered and fed him the winter through...and asked not but a little help lasting another winter when he was able.....

he thought of friends from lands he called home.....

he thought of her.....

spring came ever closer.....

he doubted he would return this way....far from familiar lands as it was.....but they had shown him compasion....hope....friendship....and the direction to Camelot....

and so....spring came....the snows melted....the pass opened.....and a warm parting of ways occured.....these folk were unto him friends.....and to him...friends were family.....they would always be remembered.....and missed....

yet still..........he had to return.....to find her.....

he had his bearing.....nothing would bar his path....he was on his way......





home..........

[Galor Martek]

finally....

he had waited......hardly slept.....still he hadn't shaved....his stubble making him seem even more worn....more tired than he was.....he didn't seem to notice....or care....

he paced the hall.....the Queen had asked of him patience.....and what little he had he gave.....but at every sound his eyes shot to the large doors....

put your hood up....she had said that he should wait...until they could ease his apparent return from the grave.....how...he could not imagine.....yet still.....

as he settled the hood in place.....the door behind them opened....and there she was.....his heart stopped....mind froze...he had wanted only one thing for so many years....to see her once more....and now he feared that wish would be granted....having seen her again he may simply fade away....and yet

banter...easy....what had the Queen just said.....Giselle thought she had been attempting to matchmake....herself and the Lord Repsol....no....he took a step forward....that wasn't what was happening.....

the Queen assured her that no such thing was happening.....spoke of dreams....of wishes....fullfilled....and pointed her to the stranger.....

tentative...his steps as he approached....slowly hands raised to the hood....lowering....raising his wet eyes to gaze upon her face fully.....

she colapsed.....short of breath....he reached out to catch her....of course he did....yet to her...he was a ghost....she knew he was dead...had been told such....by a man of the cloth....who was this....wearing the guise of her lost husband....reaching for her......she shrunk back....

he pulled his hands back.....spoke softly....he was here he told her...he loved her.....needed her....

he had died she said.....his shouted denial stung her.....startled him as much as it did the others gathered.....he looked ashamed of the outburst.....appologetic....no....he hadn't.....he survivied......he returned....as he always promised he would......always had.....

questions......so many questions....they answered few....raised more.....but eventually....she believed....and that was more to him than any other thing in this world......

gingerly....he reached out....untying the black ribbon in her hair.....telling her.....telling himself.....she would nae need it anymore........





he was home......