Thariel's Tale

[zeldaop]

Once upon a time
I lived in a small, peaceful valley bordered on one side by a river, and the other three sides by mountains.

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I lived with my mother Rienna, my father Beriel, my older brother Thran, and my older sister Cervoni. I was different from my parents and siblings in that I alone had pink hair and eyes, plus my ears didn't fully develop til I was a child.

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We were vegetarians who lived off the land. My father and brother would till the soil and plant and harvest the crops while my mother and sister, and I when old enough, would gather the nuts and fruits that Nature's bounty provided to us. We also had a cow which provided us with milk and butter.

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Despite being different in appearance, I was truly loved. As the youngest child, I was coddled and pampered by both parents and siblings. My parents guided by their example and seldom, if ever, had to raise a voice in anger. Laughter flowed freely through the forests and glens of my home. When I was judged old enough, my father took me to the river and showed me the magic that he possessed. He explained to me in order to keep his family safe, he had chosen to hide us away from the world of humans. He said that while the majority of humans were kind, that there were some who were distrustful of elves, for the feared what they could not understand. So that there would be no interaction, he had planted a forest that one could not pass through unless the exact way was known, and he had built a bridge over the river. The bridge was kept from prying eyes by a spell, and one only had to speak the magical word and it would appear. The only ones who knew the word was my family. My father whisepered a word into my ear. "Say it," he told me. I took a breath and said "Sethwrenne." To my amazement a bridge appeared.

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My childhood passed quickly and happily, and soon I was what the humans would call a teenager. During the morning I would do my chores, which included milking the cow.

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The rest of the day could be spent however I wished. Many times the three of us, Thran, Cervoni and I would spend talking. We would often talk long into the night.

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I was so happy then, and I knew that nothing could ever happen to change that. Little did I know what was on the horizon.

When I had entered my teens, my brother had come of marriageable age. Soon he would leave for Bellefontaine, the large elven city. There he would find a wife. I was sad to think he would be gone, but excited at the prospect of nieces or nephews to love. A few days before he was to leave, I was retiring to my bedchamber when Cervoni grabbed me in the hall. She threw her arms around me and whispered into my ear, "whatever happens, always remember my sister that I love you."

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She released me and walked away without another word. Bemusedly I watched her. I remember thinking that Thran's leaving must have been affecting her. Thinking no more of it, I went to bed. Several hours later I was awoken by my mother's screams. I jumped up out of bed just as Cervoni rushed into my room. She grabbed my hand and dragged me out of the house. She took me to a group of trees and told me to stay hidden. She then ran off. My hiding spot looked out onto the glen in fron of our house. From this vantage point I saw the bodies of my mother, father, and brother lying unmoving on the ground. A cold rain began to fall. I was about to leave my spot when a human male, a boy actually came into my view. He was carrying a bloody sword. He stopped, turned and watched as my sister was pushed in front of him by two other boys. She had tears streaming down her face. "Why Codian, why? I loved you. I thought you loved me too. That's the only reason I gave you the word and led you on the secret path. " My heart beat violently in my chest. Cervoni had let these creatures into our midst? Out of love. The boy laughed cruely. "How could you even think a human could love a freak like you? When I get back to my village, I'll be a hero for killing you all." The others laughed. Codian lifted his sword and ran my sister through. I watched in horror as my sister crumpled to the ground.

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He wiped his blade on her dress then the three of them headed for the bridge. Shivering with the horror of what I'd just witnessed, I followed them. I waited until they were all in the middle of the bridge, the whispered the word to make it disappear. The boys fell screaming into the rushing river. I just stood on the bank and watched as they drowned.

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After they were gone, I walked back to the glen. I checked each member of my family, hoping, praying that somehow they had survived. My prayers went unanswered and my hopes broke into pieces. In a matter of minutes, I had become the last surving member of my family. I was now totally alone.
I buried them in the garden. I roamed the hills until I found four perfectly matched stones to use as their grave markers. I planted a single rose bush in honor of my fallen family. To this day I still do not know how long it took me. Hours, days, it's all a blur. The rain continued as if the very heavens above were crying for my loss. Finally, I was done. I just sat there, in the rain, staring at the graves as the tears trickled down my cheeks. Inside I was numb. My only coherent thought was that love, which once I had held so precious, had been the cause of the devestation in front of me.

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I stood, and went into the house to gather a few belongings. For the last time I crossed the bridge and spoke the word that would keep it hidden from the world. As I looked back into the clearing, I vowed to myself, that never, never, would I again love, for love only causes hurt.

[zeldaop]

My first days alone were nothing I don't care to remember, but know I'll never forget. I wandered, heartsore and weary, through the forest. I saw no one, which was fortunate for them given as how I was not feeling kindly disposed to anyone; especially humans. I neither ate, nor drank, nor slept. I ignored the pangs as they hit me. After all, what were these minor physical pains compared to the emotional pain I felt? In the back of my mind was the vague thought that maybe, if I continued on this way, I would die and join my family in the afterworld. Finally, about dusk on the third day, my body could take no more of the punishment I was wreaking on it and I collapsed to the ground.

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When I awoke, it was full night. A gentle breeze caressed my cheek. Slowly, I sat up; fighting a wave of dizziness. As I sat there, I noticed a light glowing among the trees. Entranced, I watched it bob and weave through the trees. Now it was closer, now it was farther away. All thoughts of hunger, and thirst fled my mind as I watched the beautiful dancing light. A small rational part of my brain told me to get away, that what I was seeing was not natural, nor good, but I no longer listened to rationality and instead let myself slide down into the madness of what I was seeing. "Thariel," the light called out to me. Without hesitation, I stood and followed the light deeper into the forest.

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I followed the light into a clearing, where it stopped. I simply watched it as it grew brighter and brighter. At last it grew too bright, too intesnse for me to look at anymore and I averted my eyes. As I looked away a voice called out. A voice I recognized. A voice I had loved. The voice of my father. I dropped to my knees, and unaware, started to cry.
"Thariel, my beloved daughter, where we go you can not follow. It is yet your time to live. You must find your own path in life. You have a destiny to fulfill. Just remember there is good and evil in all races."
The light began to dim.

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"Please don't go Father. I don't want to be alone again. I miss you." I felt a light touch on my forehead, as if my father had kissed me. "You will never be alone my daughter. We will always be with you. Someday we will all be together again, but that time is not now. Live Thariel." The light faded, and once again I was alone. the hunger, and thirst, and weariness I had been feeling returned. I stood and stumbled to he nearby creek. I scooped up a couple of handfuls of water and ate some berries off a bush that grew close by. Afterward, I found a soft spot under a tree and lay down upon it. My last coherent thought was on the morrow I would start my new life.

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The next few years flew by swiftly, and soon I had matured into a young adult. My search for others of my kind, other elves, had proved fruitless, but I was no longer alone. One day I had watched as a farmer threw a scraggly kitten into a river. I rescued the poor beast and she soon became a trusted companion. I named her Larnia.

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I settled down in a seldom visited forest. I still made attempts to find my own kind, but all I found were valid reasons to keep to myself. My vow to never love again was borne out time and time again. I saw husbands and wives fight with each other out of the jealousy that love brings. I saw parents beat their children out of the love they felt for them. I saw battles waged all in the name of love of various gods. I became more and more disillusioned with the human race, and I finally stopped looking. I thought my life was now settled into it's permanent pattern, but I was wrong. Fate still had a few surprises in store for me.
Ine day I was at the river gathering some herbs which grew there. I must admit that I had not been paying close attention to my surroundings. A breaking twig made me look up from my task and I saw a human male on the other side of the river. We just stood there, staring at each other,

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"By the Gods, you are as beautiful as I imagined," he finally said, and took a step closer towards me. "Stay away from me human," I hissed and turned to run. Unfortunately, I slipped on the muddy bank, lost my balance, and fell into the river striking my head upon a rock. Disoriented, I slipped under the water. As I fought to remain concious, I felt a strong pair of arms lift me up. I looked up into two incredibly green eyes. that looked back at me with concern and compassion.

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My eyes closed and I knew no more.

[zeldaop]

I opened my eyes to find myself lying on a bed in a small cottage. Gingerly, I sat up, the mild throbbing in my head attesting to my earlier mishap. Recalling that I quickly looked around. It was only one room and contained a cooking area, a table and chairs, a fireplace, a bookcase, a bench, the bed I was sitting on, and an easel. There was a single door, which stood open. For now, at least, I was alone.

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I stood and walked towards the door and my freedom. I stopped as I passed the easel. On it was a half finished protrait of a woman and child. It looked so real that I reached out to touch it. Someone had obviously put a lot of attention and love into it. Intuition told me it was a mother and daughter. They had the same facial structure, and the same shade of blond hair. The only difference was the mother had bright piercing blue eyes, while the daughter had vibrant green eyes. I gasped as I recognized the eyes. The were the same color as,
"It's a portrait of my wife and daughter," a voice, tinged with sadness, said from behind me.

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I turned around to find the man from earlier standing in the door. At that moment I didn't know if he saviour or captor, hero or tormentor, friend or foe. All I knew was I wasn't ready for this, and he was blocking the only exit. I felt trapped, and was on the verge of panicing. Some of what I was feeling must have shown on my face for he lost the small smile that had been on his.
"My name is Haima and I will do no harm to you." He moved way from the door, and away from me. As I flew out the door and raced for the safety of the forest I heard him call out, "I will wait until you are ready to come back."
I ran all the way home. Only in the security of my treetop dwelling, did I feel truly safe. As I stood on my balcony, however, I replayed what had transpired this day. Larnia rubbed against my legs and I picked her up. I could not stop thinking of Haima. From his voice, and my observations at his home, I figured his wife and child were dead. A small part of me sympathized with him, but most of me decided, as I stood there, that he was dangerous to me in some way and that I would avoid him at any cost. As it turned out, most of me was wrong.

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Almost immediately, my curiousity proved stronger than my resolve. I found myself drawn to find out more about this Human named Haima. On a daily basis I would find myself going to his house and following him as he went about his business. I discovered he was, as I was, a vegetarian, for he neither hunted, nor trapped, nor fished for his dinner. He was a loner who entertained no others. He was gentle and kind to the animals that shared his world, and he was an artist. Many times I simply watched as he sketched in his book. At first, I kept myself hidden, but gradually I let myself be glimpsed by him. He would smile, but would not approach nor speak to me, and I began to respect him.
Peripheral observation turned to active participation one crisp winter evening. I'd had no intention of going to see him and instead was only out collecting winterberries. As I was picking I saw Haima pass by. Intrigued I followed him. He led me to a pair of stone markers. I watched in mute sympathy as he wept and begged them to come back to him. He started swaying and I realized he had been drinking.

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I stepped out from behind a tree. Haima finally saw me.
"Ah, my silent beauty. Are you an angel sent from the heavens to comfort me, or a demon sent from the netherworld to torment me? Either way I am yours to command milady." He made a clumsy bow and fell to the ground. I recognized the loneliness, the bitterness, the sorrow in his soul, for it mirrored my own soul. I held my hand out to him. "I am neither angel nor demon. I am simply Thariel, and mayhaps we can heal each other."

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We became friends. He told me of how his wife and daughter had succumbed to sickness while he was away at war. He never said, but I sensed he blamed himself for not being there. I told him my family had died. I did not give any details, and he did not press for any. He seemed to accept our friendship on my terms, and I was content for it to be so. The days passed and the season changed til two years had passed. Now it was fall, my favorite time of year. I thought the horrors of the past had been put to rest, but the demons were about to be raised. It all started with a walk.
Haima and I were talking an evening walk in the forest.
"Are not the trees lovely this time of year," I asked him
"Just beautiful, " he murmured. Something in the tone of his voice made me look at him.
"The view is absolutely stunning." he added in a husky voice as he stepped closer towards me. My breath caught in my throat as I became lost in the depths of his eyes. He gently reached up, stroked my cheek, tilted my head and kissed me. I felt my eyes close as an overwhelming sensation hit me.

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I loved you, Cervoni's voice floated through my head."No," I sobbed as I pushed Haima away in shock. What was I doing? And with a Human too. He looked dazed, then contrite.
"Thariel, I'm sorry. I do not know what happened." He shook his head. "No, that's not right. I do know. I love you, and I have for a long while." I held up my hand to stop him.
"Please stop Haima, please. I can't, I won't love you. I..," I trailed off and ran from him. I stopped by a tree, too upset to continue on. Haima caught up with me.
"Thariel, what's wrong? Talk to me. I know you felt it too. For the sake of all the Gods, please talk to me" Just as I opened my mouth, a wolf, large even for that breed, charged us. Haima pushed me out of the way just as the wolf lunged. I heard Haima's cry of pain as the wolf started to drag him off.

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Without thinking, I grabbed a branch and ran at them. The wolf released Haima and backed off several yards away. Keeping an eye on the wolf, I dropped to my knees beside Haima. His eyes were closed and he breathed still, but I winced as I saw the deep, bleeding wound the wolf had inflicted on his throat.
"Haima, please wake up," I pleaded with him, knowing that the wound was more likely than not fatal.
""He can't hear you missy, and I'd advise ye to back away from him now," a strange voice said from above me. I looked up.
"Who are you, and what do you know?"
"My name is Joachim, and I happen to know a lot about this," he said as he dragged me away from the body.
"What," I started but he cut me off.
"Shh. Just watch" I watched in shock as Haima's body lifted off the ground and started to glow.

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Five days later, I was walking through a fog filled forest. As I stopped to rest for a moment, my mind turned to Haima, and of how I'd last seen him, and Joachim.
"Unfortunately, your friend is the lastest victim of the werewolf's curse. I do regret I was the cause, but there is faint hope. If ye wish to save him you must make a quest deep into the heart of the Dark Woods. There, on a mountain lives an old enchantress. Only she will have the cure. It will be a perilous journey, and be ye warned. None that have gone before have ever returned."
"I will do anything to save his life, but I can not just leave him."
"I will stay with him, for that is also part of the curse. Now go, and be quick. For in a fortnight the change will become irreversble and he will be doomed to wander as a wolf til he bites another."
Now, with time running out, as I wandered the dark and evil wood, I began to despair of ever reaching the witch's mountain, let alone getting the cure and reaching Haima in time.

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Finally, about midnight on the sixth day. I reached the foot of the mountain. High above, I could see the witch's lair. No green thing grew, and the only trees had dead, skeletal branches. The whole mountain gave off an aura of evil and death. Was I really going to go up there?

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"For Haima, " I whispered and took a deep breath before starting the long trek to the top.

[zeldaop]

After an hour's climb, I finally reached the top. I paused a moment and took stock of my surroundings. The view was breathtaking. Even the evil wood I had just came through looked peaceful and serene from this height. It seemed like I could see for miles. The view was amazing, the smell however was not. As I stood before the door, I could see, on one side of house I could see, among the weeds and overgrown grasses, a dump pile. To my nose it smelled like everything from kitchen waste to chamber pots had been dumped there. I gasped in horror as I saw human bones among the waste, and there were rats, spiders, and birds picking among the carnage.

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I struggled to control the gorge that rose in my throat. I can't do this I thought to myself. He would do it for you, another, deeper part of myself said. Steeling myself, I went to knock on the door, but a voice calling out stopped me.
"Come in Thariel. I know why you are here and what it is you seek."
I pushed open the door and stepped into the darkness beyond. I walked down a long hall that emptied into a kitchen. A woman, with her back towards me, stood before a hearth stirring somethin in a cauldron. The smell in the room mirrored the one outside, and all over the floor I could see puddles of a grayish liquid and even one that looked like blood. Except for the hearth, a countertop, which held a cauldron and a mortar, a small table and a chair, the room was empty. The woman appeared not to notice me, so I said "hello," the tremor in my voice rang out in the still room. The woman turned and faced me. She looked like she had maybe bathed only last year. Her white hair was dirty and both matted and unkempt. As for her dress, only a sage would be able to discern what color it had been originally.


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"Thariel, child, you are to be commended for making it this far. Most who come to see me, perish ere they reach here." She cackled wildly. "Ah yes, the Dark Wood claims more than a few victims for itself it does." She paused and stared at me critically. "But you are different are you not, my beauty? I knew you would not succumb to the Wood, for you've know other horrors." I knew what she was referring to.
"How do you know? I've told none, not even Haima," I whispered. She cackled again.
I'm a witch, child, what did you expect? Your past and present have been written in the stars for ages. Only the future is wholly unwritten, and even that can be glimpsed."
"Who are you?"
"I am Mathilda, and I will show you the way to what you won't admit you need." She pointed to plain wooden door.

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"Through that door lie the answers to all you need to know. If you can face what's behind that door, if you can face your true self, you will gain the cure you seek for Haima. If you fail, you die, and the Werewolf's curse continues." I stood, rooted to where I was. Mathilda grabbed my arm and pushed, jerked me towards the door.
"Tine is short, child. Either go now, or leave my home. It makes no nevermind to me." She released my arm and turned back towards her hearth. With a shaking hand I pushed open the door and entered.
The room was narrow, and pitch black. I could feel walls on both sides on me as I walked forward. I bumped into a chair that was up against a wall.
"Hello," I called into the darkness.
"Sit Down," an eerie voice commanded me. I did so and almost immediately the room lit up. I screamed as two skeltons appeared on either side of me through whirling mist. Their eyes glowed deep red, as if with the all the fires of the Netherworld.

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"Ah, what have we here? Another victim for our whims," a male voice called out.
"Mayhaps she will be the victor this time," a female voice replied. I sat there, numb.
"Poor little elf. She's already lost her family and now will lose her future out of stubborness."
"Blind to what lays before her."
"What are you talking about," I finally said. They laughed. The lights started to flash and they began to move, almost dance, around.
"Don't you know what we mean little Elfie," the man jeered.
"She's just not accepting yet," the woman responded.
"We'll make her accept, or she will perish."
"Accept what? I don't know what you mean."
"Elf, why are you here?"
"I came to get the cure to save Haima."
"But why."
"Why what?"
"Why would you risk your life to save that of a male, and a human male to boot?"
"Haima's my friend, and he would do the same for me," I said, confusedly.
"And why would he do that for you." the female asked.
"Because he loves me." I stopped, thunderstruck.
"Ahh, the light begans to shine in our little Elfie's eye," the male voice yelled.
"I don't love Haima," I said. "I don't love anyone, not even my cat. I made a vow not to love," I pleaded with them.
"And he won't love me when he learns what I did long ago."
"Vow or not, reason or not, say it," they commanded me. Their dancing became more frenzied.

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"Say it," the male yelled.
"It was a vow no one wanted for you," the female said
"Do you think you're the only one who's suffered Elf," the male sneered.
"Look at Haima. He lost both his wife and daughter and yet has the courage to love again."
"Are you any less?"
"What think you your family would say? Do you think they wanted this life for you?"
"SAY IT, SAY IT, SAY IT," they chanted as they danced around.
I jumped up from my chair and yelled, "All right, you win, I love Haima." The room went dark and fell silent. A light came on and I was alone, and I loved Haima

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I made my way out the door. The kitchen was empty. There was no sign of Mathilda. On the table stood a vial filled with a green liquid, and a note in a basket. I picked up the note.
Thariel,
Well done child. I knew you would finally face your inner demons and admit your capability for love. The vial contains the cure for your beloved. Now hurry, for you have a long journey ahead of you.
Mathilda
I grabbed the vial and left the house.
After an uneventful journey, I reached Haima's house. After a brief conversation with Joachim, I entered the house. Haima lay on his bed, neither asleep nor awake. Gently I lifted his head and poured the content of the vial down his throat. After that there was nothing to do but wait.

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At dusk on the second day after I had given him the cure, Haima opened his eyes. I held my breath. Did the witch's cure work? He reached up and stroked my cheek.
"Thariel. I've had many dark dreams of late." I held his hand in my and brushed a lock of hair from his forehead.
"Sleep now, my beloved. The dark dreams are over, for both of us." Smiling, he closed his eyes and slept.
The next morning dawned clear and warm. I led Haima outside. I was finally going to tell him about my family. We sat on a bench and I began my tale. I told him of my parents, of my brothe and sister, of how my childhood was happy.

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At last I came to the part I had dreaded. I told him of how my family were killed, of how Cervoni had done it out of love, and finally, how I had killed the three boys. I didn't look at him, just lowered my head and waited for the denounment I was sure was coming. After many long moments, Haima slid over and put his arms around me. he lifted my head and looked deep into my eyes.
"Thariel, I am so sorry for what you've had to endure, and I'm even sorrier that it was ones of my own kind that hurt you. I want to spend the rest of my life making you happy."
"But what of the lives I took?" His eyes hardened.
"As far as I'm concerned the were met with more kindness than they deserved, if it had been me, I would've made them suffer." At his words all the pent up tension, sorrow, and rage let go. I just sat there, in the comfort of his arms, and cried. He held me, not saying anything, knowing I needed the release.
Five days later we married in a simple ceremony held among the trees. And soon we were expecting our first child. I was afraid Haima would be upset, be he told me that while he had loved his daughter with all his heart, he was ready to move on with his life. Everyday he'd rub my belly and talk to our child.

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Finally, at the end of my journey safe and happy with my husband, and awaiting my first child I realized that love, both given and received, is the best gift of all. No matter how you may rail against it and fight it, love does truly conquer all.

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