Forgotten Guardians

Silence hung in the air like a fog around the courtyard, as survivors gathered the dead and extinguished the fires. Black smoke and the smell of burned flesh lingered. With the arrival of the sea villages, the enemy was forced to retreat. The horde, trapped between two defensive fronts, was quickly whittled away to nothingness. Now came the time for the somber job of collecting the fallen. Huge funeral pyres where erected around the Keep, where most of the enemy soldiers were placed together. The goblins and orcs of the horde were carried away in wagons to be dumped in the open plains for scavengers.

The surviving men and women moved about like walking corpses, emotionless and detached as they went through the bodies looking for their loved ones. The toll from the battle was high for all parties. Solider solemly dug through the rubble discover more and more and enventuly retrieved Master Vell’s body. Grimmly could no longer hold back the wave of emotions as he looked apun the broken body of his beloved mentor. Crying and trembling he gently cradle the Head Watcher in his arms and walked to a pyre he had prepared. Watcher Gord and Marcus where busy heping the wounded, but many people, elves nad dwarves gathered around the falledn wizard as Grimmly lit the oiled wood. Miranda held his hand as the flames consumed their friend. After there was nothing but ash Miranda led Grimmly to the keep. There was still uch to do and many more to mourn.

Miranda sat silently as they awaited news of Josan. Uuger sat in her lap trying to entertain himself with his fingers while Frathe fiddled with his crossbow. Wolf sat at her feet, his eyes never leaving the door. Grimmly leaned against the wall staring at the floor. All through me evening the remaining Watchers had entered the room to tend to Josan. Miranda tried to push away the tears which threatened to overwhelm her. This waiting was worse than any torture that she could think of. Her garments were still stained with blood and sweat, yet she hardly noticed. Memories floated through her mind, scenes she remembered of Josan: the first time she saw him standing over her, looking like midnight in human form, the time he had ran into a tree, because he wandered upon her bathing, how she had sung to him the night in the cave to ease his night terrors, all these images flooded back to her now as the only man she ever loved teetered on the brink of death.

Finally the door cracked open. Master Gord walked from the room, closely followed by Marcus. Dark circles hung below their eyes from the exertion of their magic. Their expression was gave as the candle light flickered across the hall. Everyone’s attention was focused on the Watcher. Miranda set Uuger down and quickly came to her feet, eager for news.

“How is he?” she blurted out.

Gord opened his mouth, but before he could speak the thunder of armor echoed down the hall. A moment later Councilor Langon and an armed escort swept around the corner. He stopped, passing a disgusted look at each of them in turn. The soldiers hung their heads as Langon addressed Gord.

“Watcher,” he said respectfully in a mocking bow, “I’m here to remove the threat to the Keep,” he said with a small smile.

“And what threat would that be?” Grimmly said before the Watcher could respond, raising himself up to his full height.

“The demon spawn will be removed,” Langon said.

“What are you talking about?” Grimmly asked crossing his massive arms over his chest. Still the councilor remained calm, though his soldiers took a step back. They had all seen the fierce giant in battle and no wish to face him.

“Do not be coy, many people saw that thing when it was brought in here and I will not waste resources trying to save some monster,” Langon spat.

“By whose order?” Miranda asked, almost screaming the words as she stared boldly at the Concuilor.

“As the king’s councilor, it is my job to see that his people are kept way from such evil.” Langon explained calmly.

“We will see about that,” Frathe said as he stood from his seat, his hand resting on his saber.

“All of you are to be removed as well, by force if necessary,” Langon said enjoying how the scene was palying out.

“Touch them and you will have to answer to the elven and dwarven armies,” a melodic voice sounded from the back of the hall. The soldiers quickly parted as Aielia and Baile, accompanied by Raven and Mourn came forward. Aielia walked with a limp,favoring her right side.. Miranda rushed to Aielia and wrapped her arms around her.

“Are you alright?” Miranda asked as she hugged Aielia, being careful of her wound.

“I’ll live. How is Josan?” Aielia asked with genuine concern.

“We haven’t found out yet,” Miranda said as she turned to Langon with unrelenting fury burning behind her eyes.

“The dwarves and elves have no right in this matter,” Langon protested.

Raven walked up to Langon until their faces were only an inch apart, “That man and these people are friends of the elves and dwarves. You will treat them with the same hospitality you would show us,” Raven said with deathly calm. Frathe and Grimmly stared at the elf in disbelief.

“So make your move. Your hide would look nice in front of my fireplace,” Baile said as he patted his axe handle.

Moments of silence passed as the two sides waited for the other the other to act. The sounds of foot steps broke the stillness as Lord Tylin walked around the corner escorted by two guards. Still in his in battle attire, he wore a weary smile. As Lord Tylin approached he felt the tension in the air and halted, looking at each group with confusion.

“What is wrong here?” he asked.

“What’s wrong is your hospitality,” Baile bellowed without taking his eyes from Langon. Lord Tylin looked to Aielia to see if she woud explain further.

“Councilor Langon wishes to remove Josan and the other Guardians from the Keep,” Aielia said in a level tone.

“What! Is this true Langon?” Lord Tylin said as he turned and faced his councilor.

“Yes, my Lord. I believe...” Langon started, but was abruptly cut off by Lord Tylin.

“You wish to throw out the very same people who saved this land, while you were cowardly hiding with the women and children?” Lord Tylin accused . A few soldiers quickly covered their mouths to hold back laughter.

“I answer to the King, not to you,” Langon said as he puffed out his chest.

“You overstep your bounds. This is my Keep and my land. They are not to be touched, or another body will be added to the pyres,” Lord Tylin said as he narrowed his eyes at the councilor, “Guards escort Councilor Langon to his room, were he is to stay until I say otherwise,” the guards perked up and roughly ushered the councilor away. Langon squelled and cursed as the soliders dragged him down the hall and out of sight. Lord Tylin turned to Miranda, “I apologize. How is Josan doing?” he asked with concern.

Miranda turned to Master Gord for the answer. She already new the answer from the sorrow etched in his eyes. The Watcher lowered his head for a moment as he gathered his thoughts. “We have cast every healer spell and enchantment in our knowledge, but the wounds are fatal,” he said with a pained heart. Miranda trembled as tears welled up in her eyes. Grimmly wrapped his massive arms around her for comfort. She buried her head in his massive chest, muffling her sorrow. “Yet he still lives,” Gord explained. “Never in my years have I seen a man grip to life so, I believe that if he makes it through the night he may have a chance,” he said trying to sound hopeful, though it sounded force.

“Thank you, Watcher Gord. I know you did everything in your powers,” Lord Tylin said with a bow of respect, “You should all get some rest. I will see to it rooms are arranged for all of you.” Lord Tylin said quietly and departed to give them time to themselves.

“I want to see him,” Miranda said as she pulled away from Grimmly, wiping the tears from her eyes. She made her way to the door and gently opened it, trying to make as little sound as possible. A few candles flickered on the night stand next to the bed. Josan lay unconscious, with blankets around his waist, exposing the bandages which wrapped half of his chest and stomach. He seemed so pale and fragile; his hair was damp against his forehead, as he took gasping breaths. This was not the man she had met on the dusty little road. Slowly Miranda made her way to the bedside, tears falling freely down her cheek as she looked upon the man she loved more than life itself. She knelt by the bedside and prayed to the Creator to spare his life. As she opened her eyes she could see Josan start to thrash about. Concern welled up her; he could injure himself more during one of his night terrors. She crawled up on the bed and gathered him in her arms. She took a moment as she breathed in deeply, she could smell his scent in the air.e smell of oilng stones and leather.She opened her mouth and started to sing softly the lullaby she had sung to him nightly. As the song continued Josan began to calm. She gently laid him down and curled up next to him, resting her head on his chest lightly, listen to his heart beat as she sung. She continued to sing until the rhythm of his heart lured her to sleep.

Miranda’s eyes fluttered open, a soft breeze blew across her skin and moonlight filtered into the room from the window. She could feel something in the air as it brushed passed her tear stained face. She glanced about the dark room and saw nothing. She looked back at the window and saw only the moonlight pouring through the lead glass. She couldn’t understand it something must have awoken her. Then, to her shock, the moonlight started to move, not move in a direction, but gathered and rose up and take form. A moment later a figure stepped out of the moonlight, completely transparent except yet every detail highlighted by strands of moonlight. As the figure approached the bed, it became more defined. It was a woman, a beautiful woman. She wore a shimming gown which flowed around her body and had long strains of moonlight for hair. The figure glided across the floor, stopping at the edge of the bed. Miranda slowly reached down for her dagger as the figure stared down at Josan. Something in the woman’s movements held Miranda’s hand. The ghostly woman was looking at Josan lovingly as a mother would watch her sleeping child. The ghostly woman’s hand moved up Josan’s body, wincing in pain as her hand past over a wound. The woman’s hand came to rest at Josan’s face. The ghostly woman seemed to caress Josan’s cheek as she smiled warmly down at him. She leaned over and softly kissed Josan on the forehead. Miranda lay still as stone as she watched the transparent figure, awe-struck. The woman turned to Miranda and studied her for a moment, the woman’s gaze met Miranda’s eyes. Miranda could not move as the moonlight form of the woman’s body began to shimmer and dissipate, leaving only Josan and herself in the room.

Miranda awoke the next morning to the sound of song birds and the first rays of morning light. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and quickly scanned the room for anyone. No one. Did she dream it? She thought to herself. Who was that woman? A soft moan brought her out of her pondering. She looked down to see Josan breathing normally with color returned to his skin. Another moan escaped his lips as his eyes rolled open. Without thinking, Miranda threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck. She released him and leaned forward kissing him on the lips. At that moment she realized what she was doing and jumped off the bed.

“Let me check your bandages,” Miranda said turning red but trying to hide it from her voice. She gently started to undo a bandage on his arm. “Oh my,” she breathed as she removed the bandage to see only pinkish skin were a deep gash had been the day before. She quickly undid the bandage around his chest, again to only find healed skin. All the wounds had healed.

“They most have used a great deal of magic to do this,” Josan said as he looked down at his healed body.

“Yes, I guess so,” Miranda said softly. Was it the Watchers or someone else? She pondered.