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It is I, Goedleimneidr with yet another chapter of Tales of Rhia.
Apologies beforehand for making the forthcoming scenes underwhelming even though we have a tragedy tag. Looking at you Ivanator the Great. ^_^ Also, beautiful fan-art there.
I am definitely surprised at the great reception I have received so far. Looking at the follower count, favorites, comments and whatnot. It definitely spurs me to continue writing so do keep me well fed with compliments and whatnot. :3 I am greedy like that.
-.-keu-.-
We are progressing quite fast with the story and honestly, I had thought I would have made it much much much slower than this. However, I write however I feel fits the moment as I tend to simply sleep on whatever I decide to do next and then ad lib it. Although I do have plans on where I want to go with the story. It is simply how we get there that I just make up as I write.
I won't spoil what plans I may have for the future. However, I intend to fulfill those tags. I love realistic stories with consequences, death, moral dilemmas, fantastical beasts and beings, corruption, brutality, torture, murder, rape, brothels, dark ages things and all between. So you can imagine what authors I tend to follow. Perhaps I should put an 18+ tag before it is too late as I just may add anything.
Well as always, feel free to ask questions and whatnot. Also do share your thoughts and dreams for the future for Rhia. It is always fun to read what you have in mind. :3
Sincerely yours
/Goedleimneidr
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Chapter 6
-Questions-
Feeling and knowing you are powerless when it truly matters is a curse.
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The troll grunts and hums a merry tune of some sort, seemingly not caring about my wellbeing at all. Pain throbs all over my mauled body as I am constantly reminded whilst being struck by roots and whatnot on the way. The trees are growing thicker and the forest darker as the troll lulls his horrid tune. Too tired to scream any longer nor resist although I have not given up on escaping this hell. There may not be much time until we arrive. A harsh fate awaits wherever this creature is taking me to, I am sure of it. However, I do not plan to stick around waiting for whatever it has planned for me. No, my plan to escape this torment have already been decided. Silently reaching for my dagger, feeling the hilt against my hand whilst my other hand collects most of my hair. The next step is crucial and I pray to whatever god there is, even Flidae that the troll does not notice what I am about to do. With a decisive cut I remove parts of my hair and with a thud I am grounded, no longer moving. Slowly, quietly I crawl under nearby roots to hide, searching for the darkest place there is. It did not take long for the troll to notice my escape. With a crazed roar it rushes back, the ground shake with each step. The troll is near but it does not seem to notice me hiding. Praying, holding my breath hoping it stays that way the troll suddenly roars something so powerful that my heart skips a beat. My heart pound so hard and fast that it hurts. With a clenched hand I keep pressure on my chest giving slight respite from the pain. Its heavy steps getting closer. Whatever urge I have to scream and cry, alleviated by the sheer terror I feel. The troll walks past, standing with its back towards me. It looks about as I see its massive figure in plain sight from my sanctuary under the roots. It brings the remains of my hair towards its nose and with a deep breath in breathes in my smell. Defeated, it falls down on its knees still sniffing my hair as it cries something so sad. Whatever sadness that creature feels brings me great relief as it means that I am safe for now. It is truly an ugly sight. Snot run down his face and his cries sound more like slaughter. The troll however does not give up chase as it with a roar leaves towards the location he found me first, south.
The forest, now quiet. The troll is nowhere in sight nor can I hear it. My legs work themselves hard as I push myself out of my safe haven. My eyes wander the surrounding area. It is dark even though night should be a couple of hours away.
My throat is sore and my head is hurting. Rhia’s armour surely saved me as I would have been far worse off had I not put it on. “I should remind myself to thank her should we ever meet.” I whisper to myself. It seems that this whole endeavour has cost me a bow and all of my arrows as well. “I must reimburse her.”
Struggling to keep myself up straight I head towards what I presume is west. Slowly accustoming myself to the pain. Telling myself that if I were to stay then I would surely die. Hopefully, I will find that rivulet again and from there I will head south to safety. My vision slowly begins to blur as I feel faint.
“No I must.”
Darkness cruelly takes a hold of me.
“Liam, wake up.” A soothing voice beckons me. Who is this? I ask myself, searching my memory for whomever this voice belongs to. It feels so familiar.
“Liam, please come back.” The voice sounds so sad.
“Who are you?” I ask and I hear her gasp in response.
“Liam! You are awake?!”
Bright light tries to keep my eyes sealed but slowly I adjust to the sudden change. Her beautiful face looks straight at me with tears flowing. It is Chloe, the girl I have been in love with so long. Brown, gentle flowing hair and freckles. My heart skips a beat; she is far too close but somehow it feels just right. Her blue eyes stare directly into mine. “Chloe, what are you doing here?” I shockingly ask her.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
“Liam, you’ve been in an accident but don’t worry! I’ll get a doctor, don’t move!” She quickly runs out of the white room leaving me here in a bed. It does not take long for a doctor along with nurses to arrive with Chloe in queue.
“Alright miss, how are you feeling?” The doctor asks.
“I am quite alright, just a tad dizzy.”
“Well it’s not surprising considering you’ve hit your head quite severely. But you’ll be alright, no need to worry.” The doctor says reassuringly. However, it all feels so strange. Chloe and I were never that close, why is she here? Where is brother and where is father?
“Chloe, why are you here?”
“Silly, of course I would be here for my bestest friend in the whole world.” Red hair slightly falls into view before my eyes. Looking down I see two mounds have taken form. Gasping for air I feel the whole world spinning. My head is hurting all over.
“Rhia!” Chloe shouts. The doctors and nurses are quick to react.
“She is going into shock!” Someone shouts.
Bright coloured lights in all manner of colours are disturbing my comfortable sleep. A beautiful chorus or hymn is being sung and I have no idea what it says. However, it calms me, it soothes my soul. Curious I slowly open my eyes to peek at what transpires before me. Nine fairies as the one I saw before are dancing before my eyes. They dance and sing and as they do, glittering dust falls down over my body. The sparks cause ripples of faint light over me as they land.
Somehow I feel invigorated, the throbbing pain as if it never been there. The fairies giggle as they notice that I am staring at them. Their dancing stopped and with it the soothing feeling and the sparks. One of them lands on my chest looking straight at me. If I am not wrong, it is the same one as the one I saw by the rivulet earlier. With a bright smile it looks at me, patting my chin. The rest clamour as they land on me, all wanting to pat me for some reason. They giggle and seem like a merry bunch. One begins tugging at my hair and the rest follow queue.
“Did you lot save me?” I ask.
The fairies look at me stupefied. They all begin pushing me with their small bodies. Seeing there is no harm in doing as asked, I rise up. The group begins flying in a direction, beckoning me to follow. They are asking me to go deeper into the forest with them. It is dark, probably late night but there seem to be no reason not to follow them. It just might be safer with them than spending the night alone. Their luminescent light act as a guide in the dark.
It is pitch black but the fairies lead the way although I do stumble occasionally which seems to greatly amuse the fairies. The path seems to be never ending, the light but reflect slightly on trees further and further away. The Fairies seem to not mind at all but walking in utter darkness is quite tiresome.
The trees begin to change eventually as we delve deeper into the forest. They glow with small orbs of luminescent light. Great vines swing atop the grand trees and the whole area seem to glow softly. It is as if nature give way for us as we cross. The area buzzes with night life. There are small creatures climbing around the trees, dark creatures. What are they? They somehow look like larger, more feral fairies due to the wings on their backs but I cannot tell. The fairies do not seem alarmed however so I simply follow queue, keeping a watchful eye for any possible attack.
Some grunts and some threatening voices are heard as we walk further in. However, the fairies are quick to reprimand and keep whatever creatures they are at bay with their voices. A sizzling sound is flying overhead and with a slight thud, the ground before me is penetrated by an arrow. Surprised I take a step back having no idea where it came from. Clamouring sounds are heard in the whole area and there seem to be infighting amongst themselves. A larger creature moves forth, standing before the fairies and myself. It is short by human standard, holding what seems to be a long spear. The darkness eludes its form although it seems to be a humanoid two legged figure.
“We apologize. The youngling’s action, be punished.” The figure speaks with a crisp broken accent.
“Ah wait. No harm done.” I answer with a nervous chuckle.
The creature nods and disappears once more into the darkness. The fairies beckon me to continue forth with them. The creatures seem to keep a watchful eye on me. Although that incident seemed to have quieted them down quite a bit. However, it keeps me on my toes as a feeling of death roams over me.
The fairies stop in an area that seemed darker than the rest. With a quick wave they fly away leaving me there alone.
“Wait!” I shout surprised at this development. The forest seem so dark here and there are but distant light whence we came.
A once dark tree is slowly beginning to glow. Terrified I look at it.
“Ah. Welcome child.” The tree speaks in a deep tone. A mouth formed on the aged tree along with a face. Slowly three other trees begin to glow and each welcome me in the same way. The area lights up in a soothing low light. The trees are before me in a half circle formation. There seem to be a fifth tree in the middle but it does not glow yet nor does it welcome me. It is much larger than the four other trees here. Larger than any tree I have ever seen before. One branch as large as one of the speaking trees.
“Do not worry about the elder tree child. It has not woken up for ages past. We, the elder council speaks for the elder.”
“Can you not speak child?” The trees ask in unison.
“Apologies, it is just a bit much to take in now.” I confess wishing I never left home today. The trees stand silent, unmoving as they watch me. Somehow upon looking closely, they all have distinct faces upon their trunk. They seem to be waiting for me. Waiting for a question or perhaps a more proper response. “Why have you brought me here?” I decide to ask.
“We did not bring you here. It was the whims of the Fairies that brought you here. Wilful as intended. For one reason or another they saw it fit to bring you here. You are brought here because you need to be here.” They all seem to fill out each other’s thoughts with their own sentence.
“You are brought here to listen oh unfortunate child.” A booming voice is heard silencing, darkening all other trees. It is the elder tree speaking.