Games of the Powerful

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  Celedryl sat by the fire staring toward village her mind numb with fears of the worst. When she saw the first hint of the smoke from the funeral pyre, she knew her worst fears had come true. Danielle moved closer to her and put her arm around her shoulders neither speaking resigned to the long wait for the men to return with what news they brought.

  By late afternoon, they could see in the distance the men walking back with a pull cart. Celedryl could not move; frozen with foreboding knowing they were bringing her father back to her either gravely wounded or dead. He would have to be in either condition for him to be in the cart, he was far too proud for that, she thought. Watching them get closer, she could tell by their drawn pale faces filled with exhaustion and sorrow what the answer was.

  They stopped at the edge of the camp but still she could not move. Danielle ran up to Ethan and briefly hugged him but his eyes were locked on her. Trying not to succumb to urge to run off screaming in pain and anguish, she focused on his eyes and the concern for her she saw there. Fortunately, her legs were too weak to stand from sitting cross-legged on them all day. Squatting on his feet in front of her he took both her hands in his looking deep into her eyes his full of sympathy and remorse. “I am sorry Celedryl we brought your father back to you for one last time,” he said in a tone indicating that it clearly pained him to tell her.

  Tears burst from her eyes blinding her but she knew she had to rise and go to her father but she knew did not have the strength to stand. Sensing this Ethan helped her stand but she immediately fell forward into his strong chest and arms uncontrollably sobbing, her legs felt as if hundreds of mice with their sharp claws were running up and down the length of them as blood flowed back into them. Holding her close, he gently stroked her luscious dark-brown hair trying to comfort her in her sorrow.

  Finally, when her legs felt more normal she gently broke away from him wiping her eyes with the back of her hands. Unaided she walked to the wagon pulling back the makeshift burial shroud to look at her father’s face. Even in death, he looked the strong proud man she knew and loved. Something changed inside her, she was no longer the little carefree girl that loved to roam the mountains and valleys but something else, something she feared to become that could change her for the worst.

  The men were exhausted both mentally and physically from the long grueling day but they knew they could not stop. They had brought everything they needed to set up a camp, wood for the fire, food, pots, with two tents. With Daniele’s help, Celedryl worked unthinkingly preparing the meat for cooking over the fire. Before long, the tents were up and lighted torches on tall poles surrounding the perimeter of the camp chased the darkness away. With time before supper, and after they refreshed themselves with fresh water they brought from the village the men started clearing an area of rocks to bury Celedryl’s father. With the tools they brought from her village, they started digging a grave for her father’s body using the rocks to protect the grave from scavengers.

  Supper passed in silence and the men went to finish digging the hole while the two young women cleaned up the dishes with the water and soap. When the hole was completed, the men carefully interred the body there filling the hole in placing the rocks neatly over the fresh dug grave. Ethan took the long-handled ax and buried the handle in the ground with the blade upright at the head of the grave bracing it with more stones. Lighted Torches on tall poles guarded the four corners of the grave.

  Walking to the grave Celedryl sat with her legs folded underneath her sobbing quietly. Father, what am I to do? I have this anger and hatred of the orcs inside me that threatens to consume me. I have lost you father I have lost everything and for what she silently asked herself with tears in her eyes. The evil plaguing our land has destroyed everything that I have ever loved and now you father, “oh father I miss you so,” the last she shouted leaning forward her long hair hiding her face while sobbing uncontrollably. Seeing her agony at the loss of her father Ethan could not stand to watch a moment longer. Reaching down he gently pulled her to her feet pulling her close in a strong embrace comforting her until she stopped sobbing. With his arm still around her shoulders, he walked her back to the campfire so she could she sit next to Danielle who wrapped her arm around her pulling her close while they shared the warm fire.

  Walking to the cart Ethan retrieved the sword they had brought back with them bringing it to where Danielle and Celedryl were sitting. “Celedryl, "Ethan smiled warmly walking up to her. A jolt of excitement raced through her as he approached her with his jerkin off and the sweat glistening in the firelight off his well-muscled body and she wondered at her feelings. “Here is your mother’s sword, we recovered it for you,” offering the sword.

  “Thank you Ethan,” on the verge of crying, she stifled her sobs taking the proffered weapon. “I never learned how to use this,” she said quietly to no one in particular.

  “May I see it?” Danielle asked tentatively standing next to Ethan. Celedryl mechanically handed her the sword not knowing what she intended to do with it. She learned quickly as Danielle soon proved she is more than adept masterfully swinging the sword using many of sword forms, lunges, cutting techniques, blocks, and turns all too fast to follow. Finally, exhausted from the display of sword prowess she slumped to the ground to catch her breath. She looked beautiful with her blond hair spread over her slumped form partially hiding her face her chest heaving for air. Celedryl was breathless from the display; she has not seen such ability with the sword since she had watched her mother practice with it. Her uncles for the first time were speechless at the display of swordsmanship they had witnessed.

  Sweat pouring down her beautiful face Danielle stood still catching her breath walked over to Celedryl to return to her a wonderfully made sword. The sword is an elf made katana with a keen single edge and a long blood groove bo-hi on both sides of the blade near the ridge. The length of blade is twenty-seven inches, with a ten-inch handle and the round guard made of polished steel like the blade. The white oak handle wrapped in soft leather and covered in black silk contrasted beautifully with the buttcap at the end of the handle made to match the guard with polished steel.

  “I bequeath the sword to you Danielle I am sure if my mother would have known you she would see that the sword is drawn to you as you are drawn to the sword. The sword has innate magic that it chooses who welds it so I knew it did not belong to me when not long after my mother’s death my uncle brought the sword to me. The name of the sword is Torwen it means forest. The spirit of the one it chooses defines what the innate qualities it may have. Treat the sword and those around you with uprightness and it will serve you in your greatest need.”

  Danielle is stunned at her words never in her short life could she have imagined she would have such a sword at this. Knowing somehow the maker of the sword made it for her; she could feel the swords attachment to her. She quickly hugged Celedryl in gratitude with one arm while holding the sword with the other.

  “I hate to break this up but here are some clothes you too can change in to,” Ethan said handing them the haversack full of clothes. “Hairytoes has a pot of water warming for you and bar soap so you can freshen up before bed.”

  Sniffing the air, Danielle burst out laughing, "Likewise I hope you repugnant men do too." Ethan was very happy to see the small smile hovering at the edges of Celedryl's mouth.

  “Whoa you do not have much room to talk about my not so sweet smelling rose petal.”

  Laughing Danielle lifted her arm smelling her armpit. “Whew, you are right about that,” she exclaimed. “Come on Celedryl let’s get away from these foul-smelling men and get changed for the night. Oh and Ethan please be a good man and leave the pot of warm water in front of our tent,” she laughed as the two girls headed for their tent.