Forgotten Guardians

They awoke the next morning to the smells of breakfast; eggs, bacon, cheese and fresh bread. Grimmly had awoken early and prepared a fine feast for them before heading to Eagles Eye. They ate eagerly and the conversation was light. After breakfast the group gathered their things and helped Grimmly lock up his home as he was going to stay a few days in the village for the festival. Grimmly gathered his sheep and started down the mountain trail with the rest in tow.

Miranda was bubbling with excitement at the idea of going to a festival. She remembered long ago her people having festivals in her land, but that was when she was a small child. Still the memory came to her as they made there way down the trail. She felt as if she was a little girl once again, everyone’s mood seemed to lighten as they walked. Even Josan seemed to walk with a little zest in his step. Small conversation went on throughout the hike, which was usually Grimmly pointing out something; a small cabin or a tree and telling its history. Wolf stayed away from the group at Grimmly’s request, as not to spook his sheep. His sheep huddled around him as if he was a light in a dark cave. If something spooked them, he would gently sooth them with a few words and a couple of soft head rubs. About midday they stopped for lunch by a nearby stream. Grimmly had picked a beautiful grove the snows had not touched yet. Small winter flowers broke through the frozen ground and blossomed in the sunlight. The air had a chilly bite, but the sun was bright and the sky was clear. The wind had all but died, except for the occasional breeze. In the late afternoon they came out of the forest onto the open plains. The village could be seen nestled in the distance. As the village came more and more into focus, they saw five grand stone spires reaching for the heavens. Four of te towers faced one of the four directions with one in the middle. The towers were made a brillant white marble which glowed inviting in the afternoon sun. As the group approached the spires, more details became clear. They gawked in awe like common travelers. Surrounding the maginicient towers was a small cozy village. From apperances the village did well for itself. The houses were made of stone instead of wood; the roofs were shingled instead of thatched. Every road was paved and had small parks in every intersection, which were impeccable mainlained. Grimmly watched his new companions with a smile of pride.

As they entered the town, people hurried about setting up for the festival. Women ran around with arms full of food, men moved tables and built stages, even children ran about delivering supplies to those who needed mem. The entire air was filled with excitement. People greeted Grimmly with warm smiles and waves, as if he was just another villager coming to the festival. Many men came up to him and talked as they walked, mostly about the weather or aboul Grimmly’s prize winning sheep. Grimmly always had a friendly smile and a hardy laugh for each man who approached him. They made their way through the streets and came to a row of small pens. Many young boys strolled around keeping an eye on the livestock inside. One boy came up, greeted Grimmly warmly and led them to a pen near the end of the row. The boy shepard the sheep into the pen and quickly closed the gate. Grimmly gave him a copper coin and tussled his hair as he lead the group towards the spiraling towers. It was shortly after Grimmly penned his sheep when Wolf appeared as if out of nowhere. He casually strolled beside Josan and the others. Most people never gave a second glance to the peciular group as they made their way to the towers.

They reached the base of a large complex which contained the five towers with beautiful gradens surrounding it. Little paths wove in and out of trees and small pools. Trees blossomed even in the coming of winter with branches filled with fresh fruit. In the middle of the garden stood a building with a huge domed roof. Each tower connected to the domed building by a covered walkway and the middle tower jetted straight out of the roof. Grimmly walked up the main path to find a young man dressed in simple gray robes muttering to himself in front of a bare free while he rubbed his chin. The man didn’t even notice Grimmly until he was almost on top of him.

“Oh, Grimmly, it’s a pleasure to see you,” me young man spoke, a little startled.

“Hello, Branlen, how are you?” Grimmly spoke warmly.

“Oh just fine, expect for this tree,” he said as he turned, scowling at the tree.

“Is it sick?” Grimmly asked.

“No, no, just being stubborn,” Branlen said, still eyeing the tree as if it could see him.

“Is Master Veil available?” Grimmly asked, changing the subject.

“Oh...Yes,” Branlen said just then noticing Grimmly’s companions. “He’s in the library, I believe.”

“Thank you, and I hope you can convince your free to blossom,” Grimly said. He turned and headed back up the path toward the complex. Barlen turned back to me tree and started to rub his chin and continued murmuring to himself.

Miranda hurried to Grimmly’s side and asked: “How do you convince a tree to blossom?”

“As you can tell, the trees and plants here blossom all year round. Some of the plants want to hibernate during the winter, sometimes they need a little coaxing to bloom,” Grimmly explained.

“What do these ‘Watchers’ do?” Josan asked as the neared two large wooden doors.

“They watch. They watch every thing that happens in the world. They are scholars of life; they study what effects life and the outcomes of an event. See the towers?” Grimmly asked, even though he knew they were hard to miss. “Each tower faces one of the four cardinal directions. Each tower has a Senior Watcher, the watchers see everything that happens in their direction. They record everything and study the way life exists. The middle tower is the for the ‘Head Watcher’. He watches all directions,” Grimmly explained.

“If they see everything, do they ever intervene?” Josan asked a little skeptical.

“Oh, never. That would go against their oath and destroy their ways,” Grimmly answered.

They walked through the huge doors to find the interior of the complex looked just like the outside, small gardens with little ponds sprang up everywhere. Even though there was not much to the floors, the walls were beautifully carved to resemble a forest. The carving was so expertly done they could swear they were walk in a forest frozen in stone. Every detailed was painstaking etched into the wall. Even the leaves seems that would fall from their branch and float to the ground. There was no need for windows, light seemed to seep through the carved branches. Columns rose from the floor and were carved into every type of tree imaginable. The group followed Grimmly down the stone path as it twisted and turned. There didn’t seem to be any inner waits, but the gardens and columns seemed to separate the place. Many men walked by, wearing the same simple gray robes as Branlen. They all stopped to greet Grimmly and introduced themselves to the other. They reached a huge column which resembled a giant oak tree. Stairs were carved into the side , spiraling upward. When the group made it to the top of the stairs, their eyes swelled: The floor was made out of the same stone, but carved like the top of a forest canopy. Tree carvings still decorated the walls and smaller gardens dotted the floor. Grimmly continued to lead them through the twisting paths until they reached the first solid wall made to sesembale a grove of pines. Their branches interlocking from floor to ceiling forming an effective wall. The little path they followed led to a small opening between two of the massive senteils. Stone pillars rose from floor to ceiling and were carved into ancient pine trees as well, with long extending branches receding as they reached the top of the ceiling. Along the outer limbs of each pillar, cubbyholes were carved where scrolls and books wear careful placed. Tables and chair were placed around me room with little gardens surrounding them. Several men in the same simple gray robes sat at the tables with their heads buried in books, not even noticing the visitors. Grimmly walked over to one of the men and spoke softly into his ear. The man raised his head from his book and noticed the group, he quickly whispered back into Grimmly’s ear. Grimmly thanked the man, turned and beckoned for the rest to follow. They walked through the grove of stone trees until they came upon a elderly man sitting at a lone table in the back of the room. Josan noticed that the man wore the same simple gray robes as the others, but the hem of the robe was gold embroidered into a delicate wavy pattern. Grimmly strolled up and knelt before the elderly man. The man looked up from his book and smiled widely.

“Grimmly, it has been too long. How do you fare?” the old man asked with a smooth, friendly voice.

Grimmly looked up and smiled, “I am well, Head Watcher, and how do you fare?”

“As well as an old man can. I remember the days when I dreamed of adventures, now I only dream of a warm blanket and a mug of hot tea. So, my old friend, did you bring your price winning sheep with you for the festival?” the old man said with a smile that would warm the coldest of hearts.

“Yes, I have, and I shall sheer the finest one to make a blanket for you,” Grimmly said with a hint of sadness for his friend. Grimmly knew that the Head Watcher would not likely see another Last Harvest festival. The man was older than Grimmly could remember. He had outlived most of the senior watchers and then some, but still it seemed the man was full of life and vigor.

“Who are your friends you have brought with you?” the man said as he turned to the group. It was then that the group saw that the man’s eyes were completely white. He was blind.

Grimmly motioned them over and introduced them. The man seemed honestly happy to meet them and bade them to pull chairs up and sit with him. The Grimmly hurried around and collected the chairs for everyone. For himself, Grimmly had to pull up a beautifully carved bench which resembled a stump to sit on.

“So what brings such an unusual group such as yourselves to Eagle’s Eye?” the elderly man asked.

“Well, Head Master...,“Miranda started.

“Please, call me Vell,” he said casually.

“Well, Vell. We came through the Dark Cave and on our way through, we found an ancient temple. There we discovered a prophecy about six so-called ‘Guardians’. We were wondering if you knew anything of them,” Miranda asked.

Veil sat and studied the group in silence, watching them individually with his white milky eyes, finally settling back on Miranda. “I do know of this prophecy. It is a very old and clouded one. How did you come upon it?” he asked, in a manner which seemed to say he knew more than he was letting on.

Miranda hung her head as if ashamed and lightly whispered: “I...I have visions sometimes and when I touched the altar at the temple, images flashed before me and a woman’s voice spoke through me.” Miranda continued and explained every detail of the event she could remember. While she talked Vell studied the rest of the group as they listened to her repeat the prophecy.

After Miranda finished her tale Vell sat silent for a moment, gathering his thoughts as he rubbed his chin. “Opposite side of the same coin,” he murmured more to himself than to the others. “I know of the prophecy you speak of, it was first spoken a millennia ago. No one has spoken of the ‘Six Forgotten Guardians’ since, oh, before any of you were bom. Their legend has died and so has their story of sacrifice. They were the supreme protectors of life, who were chosen by Fate to fight against the Shadow at all costs. Now their legend is reawaken and a prophecy speaks of six new Guardians. Prophecies are confusing things. You can’t always take what they say for truth. Many times they bring truth through perspective. Now at this temple you spoke of six statues: an elven maiden, a priest, a mage gnome, a hawk, a barbarian and a dwarf.” he said as he ran his eyes across the group again, “The opposite of the same coin,” he said again. “I do not think you happened upon this prophecy by chance.”

“What do you mean?” Miranda asked as her face furrowed with confusion. “You don’t think, I mean, that’s impossible. Could it have been my visions that triggered it?” She asked with a raised tone.

“I have studied life for a long time. I have looked from the four lowers and seen the world run many times and one thing I have learned is that nothing happens by chance, at least nothing of importance,” Vell said matter of factly.

“If you are thinking we are them, I think you are mistaken,” Josan said calmly. “We are only four and Frathe only traveled with us because of the storm and Grimmly just lead us here, so no, I think you are mistaken,” he said flatly.

“I see six in front of me and don’t you think it is odd that you are all unique compared to your respective races.” Vell said with a smirk, “Opposite of the same coin. Opposite of a dwarf is a giant, elf to goblin,” he said as peered at Frathe, who tried to pull his cowl over more. “Barbarian to farm girl, hawk to wolf, mage to magicalcreature, priest to….. ” he stopped and stared at Josan with milky white eyes. Josan stared back through his hood his anger rising red hot through him. Vell turned away back to the rest of the group, “Fate has brought you all together, and has chosen you to fulfill the prophecy, you can either accept it or run from it, but fate has a way of making you see what it wants you to see. The more you run, the more fate will force you to see your destiny,” he said with a determined demeanor.

“So we are stuck with it? I knew I shouldn’t helped you two; now look at what you got me into,” Frathe said as he hung his head and rubbed his forehead.

“Are you sure? I’m mean can’t this just be a fluke or something?” Miranda asked desperately. She had wanted to be an adventurer, but this was too much. She didn’t know anything about being a hero.

“I’m certain. When you get to be as old as I am, you learn a thing or two about the world and I now sit in front of the ‘Six Guardians’,” he said with his natural good humored voice.

Josan jumped up from the table and stormed away. Wolf jumped up and quickly followed in Josan’s storming wake. Miranda looked up and called his name but he ignored her and kept walking. She turned back and saw a troubled look on Vell’s face.

“Much danger and trouble surrounds that one, but he must accept what Fate has laid out before him. Not even he can fight against his own destiny and a dangerous one it will be,” he said then almost suddenly he realized he had spoken aloud and quickly brought a smile to his face, “Enough of this talk of prophecies. You must stay for the Last Harvest festival; it is the grandest of times. You are welcome stay the winter if you like, we have plenty of rooms and all roads out of the valley will not be passable until spring. Now if you excuse me, an old man must take many rests through the day,” he finished with a joking smile.

“Thank you for your invitation, we will have to think about it but we will stay for the festival, I wouldn’t miss it for anything.” Miranda said, but her worry for Josan was plain on her face.

Vell nodded and Grimmly gently helped him out of his chair and would have carried Vell to his bed, if Vell hadn’t politely denied the invitation and walked away stiffly.

“Uuger a Guardian?” Uuger asked with a confused look upon his face.

“I guess so. What do you think Frathe?” Miranda asked.

“There’s an old saying among my people: You can’t bend the river, only flow with the current. I’m not going to say I’m not a ‘Guardian,’ but I can only see were it takes me. Besides, you guys aren’t that bad, most of the time,” Frathe said as he leaned back in his chair.

Miranda looked at Grimmly, who only sat there with a his head down. “Grimmly, I know that we haven’t known each other very long, but if what Master Vell said was true, then you are a part of this as much as we are,” Miranda said softly.

“Master Vell has never lied to me and I would trust my life a thousand times over to him. So if he says that I’m a so called Guardian, then I guess I am.” Grimmly said as he still tried to come to terms with it. “Strange, sheepherder to legendary hero in one day. What will tomorrow bring? Maybe king?” He said with a chuckle. “What about him, what do you think he will do?” Grimmly asked as he nodded his head in the way that Josan walked off in.

“I don’t know.” Miranda said.

Quickly after Vell left, another man approached and greeted them. Grimmly and the Watcher talked for a moment then the Watcher showed them to their rooms for the night and brought each of them a small platter of food. They sat and ate. Conversation was sparse as each of them dealt with their own thoughts. Miranda was somewhat distracted, she kept looking at the door hoping Josan and Wolf would walk through, but they never did. After their meal Miranda excused herself and walked through the moonlit hallways.

Miranda asked many of the people she passed if they saw a dark man with a wolf near by, and after awhile she finally learned where the two were hidden. She walked onto a small balcony on the third floor and found Josan leaning against the railing. Wolf walked over and nuzzled her hand, then went and sat at the entrance. She walked up and took a place by Josan on the railing, neither of them saying anything, only staring at the open star filled sky.

“It just isn’t possible,” Josan said as he continued to look at the stars as if defying them.

“Josan, I can’t say for sure, but the more of us that came together the more secure and comfortable I have become. I don’t know how to explain it. It just feels that now I’m whole, almost as if we are a family. Josan, why do you fight this? I not saying we are, but I don’t totally deny the possibility either,” she asked calmly.

Josan felt the same way. It became more evident with each new addition to their group; after they met Uuger, Frathe and Grimmly, it was like he was more complete, but he still didn’t believe he was an ancient hero. “People like me aren’t heroes,” he said with a hint of shame.

“What? Josan, if anyone is a hero, you are. Aren’t you the one who saved me from the soldiers? How can you say..,” she said in shocked tone.

“And because of that, your home was burned and your father killed. Weldon for another example. The monastery. Don’t you see, where every I go, I bring only destruction,” Josan cut in as his voice became harsh, recalling of the memories.

“Josan, those things weren’t your fault,” Miranda said softly as she looked at him for the first time.

“Demons aren’t heroes,” Josan yelled as he turned and met her stare from under his hood.

Miranda stared at him for a moment trying o think of something to say but nothing came to mind. Her heart arched for him and all that he had suffered through. She reached up and started to pull down the hood. At first Josan flinched, but Miranda gently held on and slid the hood down. His eyes shown brightly, almost as though they absorbed the moonlight. How she loved to look in those eyes and see the millions of star like sparkles shine in them. She lowered her hand and softly caressed Josan’s cheek.

Josan meet her gaze. Her big beautiful almond eyes so full of life. He felt as if he could drown in them and never want to come up for air. They stood there staring into one another’s eyes for what seemed like an eternity. A sudden cough brought them back to reality. They both turned in unison and saw Frathe, Grimmly, Wolf and Uuger standing in the entry way, smiling like village idiots.

“Did we interrupt anything?” Grimmly asked with mock inncoents.

Josan and Miranda looked back at each other and quickly stepped away from each other.

“Nothing. We were merely talking,” Josan explained as his face flushed. Miranda also turned away from their stares as her face became crimson. Frathe snorted through his smile, walked over and took a seat on the railing as the rest came over. They knew what Josan’s answer was without even asking. No one said a word. They all sat and watched the stars, feeling the comfort from one another. They were whole, they were the Guardians.