Legends of Belariath
Elthorion
Elthorion's Tale - Part 1
There are no words to explain it. The feelings of helplessness, utter despair, and pain. The wound on his chest cut deep, deep enough to leave him in shock. The flashing blades of the large, black cat person causing hideous amounts of pain. The last thing heard before slipping into unconsciousness is his name, yelled out as his brother dies ‘Elthorion!! Get home. Get away.’ Followed by the sickening crunch of metal going through a body.
Even though the sun never shined in Tierrah’Nah, he could tell it was morning, if for no other reason than the growling in his stomach. As he tried to sit up, the pain shot through him like a bolt of lightning. Looking down he noticed the bandages wrapping his chest and then began to remember what happened. As he lay there, crying lightly a voice floated in from the next room.
“Elthorion, are you up?”
He looked up as his mother stepped into the room, an older Dark Elf woman of thicker build, this not being out of the ordinary, as the Dark Elf females are usually stronger and bigger. Groaning he looked up at his mother’s worried face.
“Yes mother, I’m awake. Did Garrent make it back?”
“No Elth, he didn’t make it back. You almost didn’t make it either.” she replied, looking forlorn and sad. “You wonder WHY we always told you NOT to go to the surface until you were ready. Well, this is why, its not safe for untrained Dark Elf up there. Now your brother is dead because of you.” Upon hearing those words, something in young Elthorion’s mind broke, and he knew, from that moment, that his calling was one of a warrior, a Knight of the Coiled Serpent.
………
Standing in the temple’s training grounds, his whip coiled tightly at his side, he stared across the ring at his master. Master Anandale, the gruff old Serpent Knight stood before him, his whip lashed to his back.
“Kinslayer, it’s been 2 years since you joined the order, and so far you’ve learned more than most students. That whip is almost as dangerous in your hands as it is in mine. The only real difference is experience, which I have a lot of.”
“Yes, Master Annandale, I understand that, and I’m ready to learn more.”
“Good, now tell me why you came to this temple.” Stunned, Elthorion looked at his master
“For my brother… We have always been curious of the surface world, so we would go and explore. Of course, our parents warned us numerous times not to go, but who were we to listen. I originally found the path to the surface, through a few caves and then up to a forest. We met several cat people in this forest, a group of 3. There was Rente, a Ranger and a superb shot with a bow. Sheelia, gorgeous kitten with an uncanny ability to steal whatever she wanted. Fellinos, their ringleader, was a bard. Fellinos could tell a story that anyone would believe. Garrent and I spent a lot of time with those 3, and after a while we became close. I grew particularly close to Sheelia, she and I would sneak away for days at a time, doing nothing but spending those days fucking like crazy. Eventually, it got back to Fellinos what we were up to, and it went downhill from there. The next time we came up to the surface, only Rente and Fellinos were there to meet us. I asked where Sheelia was and all of a sudden Rente had his blade out, cutting me down, fortunately, it wasn’t deep enough to kill, but it was deep enough to levae a very large scar. As I lay there bleeding I heard Fellinos kill Garrent. Apparently, they thought I was dead too, because they left. I managed to make my way back to the caves and collapse, when I woke up I was home. That day I decided to join the temple and become a Serpent Knight. The next day, I showed up here.” Annandale looked over at the young Dark Elf, nodding his approval.
“Well then boy, you are doing your brother a great memory by your training. What will you do when you get done?”
“Simple Master, find Fellinos, Sheelia, and Rente and kill them.” Annandale stared at the boy’s pale blue eyes, the intensity contained in them proving his dedication.
“If that’s what you need to do. Come now, time for dinner” With that, Annandale stood up, followed closely by the boy and headed off towards the mess hall.