The Last Legend: Awakened

by Joshua B. Wichterich

  “Thank you, and you are as well,” Tairren said as his face turned a light shade of red again.

  “Where is your father’s sword, if you don’t mind me asking? It wasn’t left for you?” she asked, knowing that she was prying too much on a sensitive subject.

  “When my father died—we buried him not too far from the creek—where we found him that day... We did not have enough money to get a nice stone made, so I took up my father’s sword and drove it deep into the earth at the head of the mound, marking his grave. Only the hilt is seen. But both the grave and the sword are now covered with white lilies—my mother had planted years ago. I dare not pull the sword from the earth—I feel it is a part of my father, and should not be disturbed—only left near his body.”

  “Tairren, as long as I’ve known you—you have never shared that with me.”

  “I don’t speak of my father too often,” he said looking back down at the patch of grass, picking one long blade at a time and tossing it into the breeze. “I know I should—because he was a great man and father.” He became quiet.

  The grass moved in the breezes that fluttered by, and the tree limbs swayed and creaked while the leaves chattered above their heads and all around them.

  “What happened?” Marrisa finally asked in a low tone, tossing her half eaten apple away from the tree. The apple bounced on the earth a couple of times, catching Lilly’s attention who was a couple of yards away, eating random apples on the ground, even the rotten ones. “How did he pass?”

  Tairren was still quiet for a moment. The noises of the trees and the song of the birds covered the silence.

  “Forgive me, Tairren. I’m too bold sometimes,” Marrisa said as she wrapped her arms around her knees.

  “No my lady, everything is well,” he looked up at her. “I am thankful you take much interest in my life.” She smiled at his comment. He smiled back, then looked out upon the tranquil orchard. “I remember mother wanted me to go look for my father because it would’ve been dark soon and he said he would be back hours earlier. He was hunting some conies for supper that night,” Tairren said with a small smile. “He was a great hunter. I remember I wanted to go with him—and how angry I was with him because he told me to stay home. I was twelve then and thought I was a man. But mother needed my help with some chores…

  “We thought it was strange that he did not come home because rabbits were the easiest for him to hunt… I was out chopping some firewood when my mother came to me, asking if he had come home yet. She began to get worried, but I wasn’t—my father was brave and strong. I thought he might have gone too far out into the forest, losing track of what time of day it was. Mother insisted that I go call for him—so I did. I called and called—no answer… I went a little deeper into the wood, looking into the spots where we normally hunted. He was not at any of those spots… So I continued to call for him, even louder because by then I was becoming a little alarmed…,”

  Tairren became quiet as tears began to swell up and twinkle in his deep-blue eyes. Marrisa was still quiet as a look of pity formed on her beautiful face.

  “I—I found him not too far from the creek. He was lying on his back, quiet and peaceful looking. At first—I thought he was sleeping… But I knew in my heart that something was wrong—because he looked—he looked different…”

  Marrisa placed her elegant hand upon his shoulder as tears rolled down his cheeks.

  “I thought he may have taken a nap after a long day of hunting, so I tried to wake him… But he would not budge. His peaceful face was ice cold and his lips were the same shade of his skin…pale, white.”

  Tairrens chin began to quiver as he held back his emotions. Marrisa immediately hugged up against him, rubbing his back and arm. The beautiful weather still lingered on, comforting them as they sat in silence amongst the shaded grove, seeming to contradict their emotions. Tairren rubbed his face and forehead. It felt good as the tense muscles in his face released some stress.

  “I remember I ran and ran, but seemed not to run fast enough—my feet were heavy and my chest was throbbing. I felt so scared and lost. I burst through the door, scaring mother nearly to death. I remember I could hardly speak as I was in shock and so emotional. She was frantic. Then we were off into the forest. I remember me thinking that I had never seen her run as fast as she did that evening… I remember it was the darkest hour of my young life—watching helplessly as my mother feverishly screamed and cried over my father’s lifeless body…”

  Marrisa wiped the tears that went down his cheeks with her long sleeve. Her eyes became glossy as sympathy arose in her heart.

  “When my mother went to clean his body, before anointing it with oils, herbs and flower petals, she found the wound on his upper back. It was bloody and deep—really deep—appearing as if he was stabbed from behind with a long blade. His heart must have been punctured because there was a lot of blood beneath him when he was lying upon the earth, his blood sopped up by it… I know if it was just an ordinary wound, he would have made it back to us… His sword was by his side, still in its scabbard, clean and gleaming and that way still when I thrust it upon his grave.”

  Tairren put his hand upon his forehead, as if it ached. He partially covered his eyes, embarrassed because of him becoming emotional in front of Marrisa.

  “He didn’t even have the chance to fight back… What happened when he was alone in the forest? I do not know. But I do know that someone killed him, attacking him from behind,” he said with an angry edge. “Someone smote my father with an evil hand and heart! Who, you may wonder? That I do not know! But I do know that he did not deserve to die—especially in that manner… He did not deserve to die…”

  Marrisa began to rub his back again, trying to calm and comfort him. He began to become quiet again, not saying anything as he held his head down… After a moment, he looked back to her.

  ”The thing, Marrisa, that eats my heart up like a pack of ravaging wolves—is that I never told my father goodbye,” he said, looking into her eyes. “I never told my father goodbye or that I loved him when he told me first before he left the house that day—leaving forever…”

  Marrisa was quiet with tears in her eyes, not knowing how to respond. All she could do was listen to him.

  “I still remember to this day how he waited for a moment at the door, for my response… I never responded. I was too childish—angry, because he was leaving without me… I was acting selfish… And the worst feeling of all—is the feeling of penitence in my heart—for dishonoring my father—for not telling my father goodbye and that I loved him before he died, for being angry at him and resenting him at that moment… And If I was with him I could have done something to protect him… I could have seen who it was that took my father’s life.”

  Tairren tried to hold back his tears with an angry brow as the soft breezes of the day touched his face. The sun still sparkled through the branches while Marrisa looked lovingly upon her friend, wiping away the tears that flowed down his cheeks.

  “Tairren…” Marrisa finally said, placing her hand on his cheek while turning his face towards hers. His eyes were sad and full of remorse, glistening like two deep-blue jewels. “Your father knew that you loved him. At that moment when you were angry, he knew that you were just simply angry… You were just a young boy—who loved his father very much, and he you,” Marrisa said with a smile. “It only matters that your father knew that you loved him—very much. He smiles tenderly as he watches over his family from The Great Kingdom in the sky...

  “And there is a reason why you didn’t go with your father that day… You don’t know what could have happened—to you,” she said with a now serious face. “This world is full of wicked people—anyone who can kill an innocent man, can kill an innocent child… What would have happened if your mother lost you both? It is fate—you being alive—you and I speaking together right now… Everything happens for a reason…”

  “…Thank you,” Tairren said with a half smile as his
emotions softened; feeling better as he always did when he was with Marrisa. “The God of Light has put you in my life—for a reason…”

  She smiled a tender smile at him, still looking into his eyes. A lock of red hair blew in front of her face, caught by the breezes. Tairren lovingly moved it from her beautiful face.

  “…You are welcome, my dearest friend…,” she said with another tender smile. “You know, when I am sad—and feeling alone—I just walk into the deepest parts of the castle gardens and just lay there in its quietness and seclusion—my dwelling place. I close my eyes and think of what paradise might be like,” Marrisa then said shyly, as if embarrassed. “I imagine it would be like walking through the most beautiful forests and hills, with healing breezes on my back and consoling flowers beneath my feet…

  “And then I walk into the courts of the great castle in the sky—and I see my mother, smiling at me… And she tells me that she was so proud to be my mother… And then after I rest in this great kingdom, I then open my eyes to reality and somehow—I feel better.” Marrisa just smiled and looked into his eyes. “I know it is just part of my imagination—but it helps… I am truly sorry Tairren…,” she said as she laid her head upon his shoulder. “I probably should not have asked about your father…”

  “I am happy I’ve told you,” Tairren responded truthfully. “You are the only person now who knows—besides mother and I of course.”

  She looked up at him and smiled, patting his chest.

  “And I am happy you’ve told me,” she said, still looking into his melancholy-filled blue eyes. “Tairren, you have a mighty heart of gold. If your father was alive today he would be so proud of you—the man you’ve become… Any girl who captures your heart will be proud to say that she belongs to you…”

  His cheeks turned that light rosy-red shade again as a smile crept upon his face. He thought what a great compliment it was—but at the same time he wished that she was that girl whom was proud of him. He wanted her…

  †††

  “Tairren!” a familiar call broke his sweet day-dream…

  Marrisa floated away from his mind like a lost wind in the fields.

  “Tairren!”

  He looked through the mists towards the call as a soft silhouette of someone on a horse galloped towards him. Tairren smiled, waving his torch as Natalia approached him on a light-brown colored horse, who was called Orchid. She rode up with a smile, wearing a wine-red colored hooded cloak, and a gown to match.

  “Good morning Tairren, I apologize for my tardiness,” She hollered as she came near him, parking Orchid right beside Lilly.

  “Good morning Natalia,” he said as he tossed the apple core he ate from to the ground. Lilly ate it up in one gulp. “Don’t worry, the prince hasn’t even arrived.” He smirked.

  “I would have found you sooner, but I ran into one of our servants, Alexa,” she said.

  “She saw you?” Tairren asked, alarmed. “Do you think she will tell anyone?”

  “No, she is such a fool… I threatened her anyways,” she said nonchalantly.

  “Threatened? What do you mean?” Tairren asked with a curious smile.

  “Sora tells me everything, Tairren. Even what goes on between the servants,” she said, smiling. “Sora once told me that Alexa had been taking food from the pantry. It didn’t affect me then because I didn’t care. But now I do and I had to use it against her—it was urgent that I did! So, I simply told her that I knew it was her who had been stealing from the kitchen, and that I would reveal to my mother and father that she is an insolent thief—if she ever told anyone of me leaving. Because I would find out if she did tell. And for every missing piece of food that was ever questioned—it would be taken from her pay, meanwhile one of her hands would be cut off and thrown to the dogs and then she would get sold—to a tyrant. But of course she would not be sold for that much… Who wants a one-handed servant girl who steals anyways?”

  “You are malicious,” Tairren said, facetiously, “threatening that poor girl.”

  “I had to, she would’ve told!” Natalia said with wide green eyes. “I wouldn’t have told my parents, really Tairren, who do you take me for? Even though Alexa annoys me, I wouldn’t want her to get sold—or have one of her meaty little hands removed. At least she now knows that she has been discovered as a thief, and she will most likely never take from the pantry again.”

  Tairren shook his head with a smile, crossing his arms.

  “That is true,” Tairren said, snickering at her. “But even if anyone was on to us, it would be hard to find someone in this heavy mist without knowing where to look first.”

  “That is very true,” Natalia said, looking off into the mist. “Tairren, I was so relieved when I found you. The mist is strange and thick this morning. I saw the soft glow of your torch,” She said, pulling the hood from her head.

  She pulled her long mane of dark-brown hair out over her shoulder. Her hair was partially up in braids that went around the crown of her head, with a small golden dragonfly-shaped clip in her hair.

  “Must you always look your best? Even with a long journey ahead of you?” he smirked.

  “Indeed, I do,” she said, smiling. “I’ve also come prepared,” she said as she pulled open her cape to reveal a small sword in its scabbard, hanging from a thin belt around her waist. The hilt of the sword was very feminine looking and the sword itself looked like a very long dagger more than a sword.

  “Is that your sword?” Tairren chuckled, “It’s fit for a child.”

  “I have you know I’ve had this since I was a young maiden—Marrisa has one identical to it,” Natalia said defensively, “It is a fine sword and the blade is still sharp.” Natalia hastily pulled her cape back over her sword.

  “That incredible dagger will come in handy,” Tairren stopped chuckling. “I’ve only a dagger myself.”

  Natalia just scoffed at him. “Even though it’s a small sword, it will work fine. It’s better than nothing,” she said, as if trying to convince herself that it was a good weapon. “I don’t believe we will be in any kind of real danger… We will rescue Marrisa from that Lilith and easily come back home.”

  “…I hope that is true,” Tairren said in a lower tone, looking off into the mist and wondering if she had forgotten about his attack last night. After experiencing the things he did that night—he didn’t know what to expect. He didn’t know what kinds of horrifying things awaited them. “I hope it’s just that easy,” he thought to himself…

  They became quiet for a moment as Natalia slid off of Orchid and began to rummage through one of her saddle bags.

  Tairren began to become nervous as the thought of the quest before him entered into his mind. He didn’t know what to expect, but he had a feeling their journey would be a perilous one. He remembered what Malakh had spoken of, and the horrifying evil that emitted from Lilith. Natalia didn’t experience what Tairren did… Even worse, he thought of what Marrisa would be experiencing, how much in distress she probably was. He knew he had to be patient, but he did not know how much time they had, or what kind of condition Marrisa was in. He didn’t even know how the world could possibly be in any kind of danger. According to Malakh they all were—which left an unsettling feeling in his stomach.

  His heart began to quicken and he became worried as he thought of Marrisa. He clutched the wing pendant in his clammy palm as he closed his eyes, thinking of Marrisa’s beautiful eyes and smile—and the kiss they shared together. The pendant was cool to the touch. He became more at ease somehow—and somehow, in his heart, he felt that everything would be okay…

  “Hello there!” Phillip hollered as he galloped toward them on his black horse, which was apparently named Sable.

  Tairren came out of his thoughts, looking towards Phillip. He felt relieved, seeing that the prince had finally arrived. He was not happy to see the prince, but he was happy to finally be off on their quest—one step more in their journey and one step closer to Marrisa…

&
nbsp; “Forgive me, for I am late,” Phillip said, pulling up to them. “I had a time sneaking out of the castle unseen.”

  He tossed the part of his cape over his shoulder that was covering his chest, showing off his gear. He wore a leather vest over his tunic and other protective equipment on his arms and legs. His cape was made of thick black velvet, and his tunic was a deep-gray. Instead of the usual coronet a prince would’ve worn, he had a thick golden circlet on around his head with red jewels embedded on the front. His sword dangled by his side, contained snugly in its scabbard.

  “It shouldn’t have been that hard for a crafty prince like yourself,” Natalia said, smiling up at him.

  “And good morning to you, my lady,” he said with a big smile.

  Natalia easily pulled herself back onto Orchid, straddling the horse with no sign of embarrassment, showing the prince that she was not the usual lady he might have been used to. And even though she was not fond of coming into contact with nature, she was ready for an adventure. She smiled a witty smile at him as she grabbed the leather reins.

  “Everything is well with the letter written to King Julpen?” Tairren asked Phillip with a serious face.

  Everything had to happen according to the plan.

  “Indeed, Master Tairren,” Phillip said, nodding his head, “I never fail.”

  “Are you both ready then?” Tairren asked them, wanting to get going.

  They nodded their heads.

  “You know where Marrisa was taken, Master Tairren?” Phillip asked.

  “In that direction is the southern parts of Minslethrate,” he said, pointing to the left from where they were gathered. “Lilith is taking her to the south to the Dark Tower of Sacrifice, which rests on the outer edges of the Fiara Mountains. Just beyond these fields of Minslethrate are the The Forest of Old and then The Great Wall of Division, which is the half way point to the Dark Tower. Beyond that point is The Black Forest, which is the beginnings of the Forbidden Lands—anything can happen,” Tairren said in a serious manner.