It was a grey, sullen day when the Thanes and their strange hosts prepared to leave for the place of the trial. The Hairy Men, if they could speak a tongue the Thanes understood, said nothing of what this Trial was. The Thanes were grim, and they longed to hold weapons at their sides. They felt the shadow of doom hang over their company, certain that they must surely see their captain be led to an ignoble death, for the sake of the hated Grey Rat. But Erasmus, ritually bathed and painted with strange runes across his skin, came before the company with no hint of fear or despair. He gave them all a reassuring look, though when his eyes turned to Myra, she could only look away.
There was a stir among the men, and Erasmus turned to see Pike emerging from a tunnel into the large cavern. Pike was shuffling weakly on, looking gaunt and weary in the pale cavern-light.
"I see you’re up now Pike. Though if you intend on joining us, it might be a bit of a hike. You aught to be resting.”
Pike looked up with a strange, cold anger. "If you're looking for thanks, you can have it. But don't expect me to kiss your hand or anything…"
"Pike I would expect the sky to fall on our heads before you kissed anyone's hand." Erasmus laughed.
"Well I don't see what's so funny. What the hell possessed you to agree to this?”
Erasmus shrugged. “Something looking out for us, I hope… If I had time to think about it, I don’t think I’d be bold enough to do this. But here we are. No use in regretting it.”
“If you really wanted to help,” Pike said with a sneer, “you should have smuggled a sword into my hand. I would have made my own way out.”
Erasmus shook his head. “This quest has already gone off to a bad start as it is. We should not stain our purpose with more evil and death before we even meet the true enemy.”
Pike rolled his eyes. “And how is all this supposed to help our quest exactly? Won’t your oath go unfilled?”
“You’re a good fighter, Pike. Better than me for certain, of which you’ve readily reminded us all. If my death will be the price to get your sword where it can fight for Erda’s cause, then I will have fulfilled my oath. Simple as that.”
Pike said nothing, holding Erasmus’ gaze for some time, as if trying to read some hidden motives in the Paladin’s face. The Hunter huffed and looked away.
“Fine. Do what you want. Just make sure not to die. Your little band will never let me hear the end of it if you do.” With that, Pike walked away to sit on a rock away from the others.
Erda came walking up to Erasmus. “So I suppose Pike will be coming with us. Maybe it’s for the best he doesn’t stay here alone. What were you two talking about just now?”
Erasmus smiled. “He was just thanking me.”
“Did he? He looked rather upset.”
“He’s just worried about me. We’ve become quite good friends.”
So anyway, all the gang got set up and started making their way to where the trial is supposed to take place. Fill in the rest with your imagination. It was around about midday, and although the storm had let up, it still rained pretty consistently.
They party had to go on foot through the woods. That sucked, but everyone was glad that they didn't have to go blindfolded this time. Pike lagged behind somewhat, more because his limbs were still weak and shaky than his usual anti-social behaviour. If the occassional scowl from the Thanes ahead of him weren't bad enough, the feeling of several pairs of eyes aimed at him from behind only made Pike's mood that much worse. He knew that there were wild-men both ahead and behind the group, but he could barely catch sight of them. There were few men that Pike had ever met before that could come close to matching his skills as a forester, and he could only think of them as enemies. He was supposed to consider these wild-men as allies, but Pike could not help but hate them. The entire time, the Voice stirred, and his hand twitched for want of a sword-hilt.
But enough of that any of that, because quite suddenly the company came upon what seemed to be great hill or mound of earth, rising much higher than its neighbours and crowned with sickly, drooping trees. On the face of the hill, a large gateway framed with impossibly large stone slabs stood open, yawning into pitch blackness. There was no wind, yet despite that and the steady downpour, the place around that hill seemed colder, and somehow crueler. The company all gaped wide-eyed at the black gate.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Nim the handmaiden shivered. “This is an evil place…”
Erda turned to the leader of the wild-men. “What is the meaning of this? Why have we been brought here?”
“This is to be the place of the trial.” The grim man said. “Once, the evil of this place spread far over our hills and forests. You know this place.” It was not a question.
Erasmus tore his eyes away from gate to Erda. She seemed to grimace, as though at some painful memory.
“This is the Black Barrow,” she said. “Once this was a mighty hall of an Elven king. But then something dreadful happened here…”
The wild-man nodded. “This place was entrusted to the care of men, to guard an ancient power for all time. Until deceit and murder unleashed that evil upon this land. But there is little time for stories.” The chieftain turned towards Erasmus. “This is the blood-price we demand for the life taken by the one known as Pike. A single life must descend into that place.”
“That is all?” asked the Paladin.
“Yes. Within those halls walks nought but darkness and death. One of you must brave the Black Barrow, the dwelling of death itself.”
Erasmus stared into that abyssal darkness. He swallowed hard and gave a nervous grin. “I suppose there’s some terrible beast in there then? Something waiting to devour the unwary?”
“Not always,” the wild-man said cryptically. “In the Dark, all things may be. The only danger you are sure to find in there is yourself, and what you take in with you.”
“Then what must I do in there?”
“Endure. And find your way back to the light, if you can. But live or die, once you enter that place, the price is paid. Do you still accept?”
Erasmus said nothing. The sight of that gate and the nothingness within held him as if he were a rabbit in the viper’s gaze. It froze him in place, and yet it beckoned him, foreboding and alluring. He felt tired then, the weight of his wears of battle and lost love pressing down on his shoulders all at once. Come in, the darkness said, and forget…
“How many… how many have gone in and come back out again?”
“There are stories…” the chieftain said, but he said no more.
“Don’t do it Erasmus!” The young Ranger Conn rushed forward to the Paladin’s side. “If one must go in there, let it be me! If my Lady will allow, I will take up this task for your sake.” Erasmus forgot his peril for a moment. How much the Ranger looked like a boy then, though he was a young man and battle-tested. He put on a brave face, yet his knees trembled. Erasmus smiled sadly, remembering all the young lads who looked at him the same way, before riding into the battles which killed them.
“Hang on there!” Joren the red-haired Thane cried as he marched forward. “Erasmus is our captain. This should be a Thane’s duty. Just say the word ‘Ras, and I’ll do it. If these hairy buggers want it, I’d gladly shove a knife in my heart on the spot and save us the time!”
So then there was a big commotion, and lots of people probably made the same offer or something.
“Everyone, enough!” Erasmus bellowed. The others stood back, abashed. “Friends, loyal shield-brothers, that moment I swore the oath to take up this quest, I knew that I would have the honour of being followed by true-hearted Thanes. Yet I am not your lord, nor the most deserved of loyalty among our band. Already you have all fought, bled, and seen one of your countrymen given to the earth, all because I could not refuse the chance to act the Hero. You are neither here by command, nor by choice, and all that befalls you is rightfully my fault. I should not ask any more of you, other than what you have sworn to do for Erda and the Rangers.” Erasmus looked past the crowd and saw Pike, who turned his eyes to the ground, almost sorrowfully.
A hand gingerly clutched his arm. The Paladin looked Myra straight in the eyes. She was on the verge of tears.
“Erasmus… please don’t do this… I…” but she did not finish. The Thanes were parting, and Erda passed among them like the queen she was, almost seeming to stand high above the Thanes, though she was shorter than them all. She stood before Erasmus while the others backed away. The Paladin knelt before her, and the queen took his head between her hands and kissed his forehead. (Pike and Myra both had the same reaction to this).
“May the Great Song guide you, warrior of life, and return you to me.” Erda almost sang the words.
“I will, I promise.” The Paladin rose to his feet, and removing his cloak revealed his naked chest. Painted with strange symbols that only half-covered his many scars. Pike pushed his way through the Thanes.
“You damn peacock… don’t die in there.” Pike said it in a whisper.
“If I do, will look out for them? My Thanes that is?”
Pike nodded.
“And Myra?”
“I…” Pike chewed on his words. With a sigh he said, “I’ll do what I can.”
Erasmus took Pike’s hand before the Hunter could recoil in disgust. “Good luck Man Hunter, we’ll both need it.”
Erasmus, standing tall and straight, returned to the chieftain. “Aye, I still accept this trial. Your women did such a good job painting me up, it would be a waste not to.”
The wild-man nodded, and handed the Paladin a clay jar saying, “This holds the glowing mushroom things from our caverns. It will light your way.”
“And weapons?”
“They would not help you.”
With that, Erasmus knelt, sang the chant of ancient heroes, calling upon the higher powers for aid. Then he rose, and without looking back, disappeared into the abyss.