Stories from a Dream
Stories from a Dream
It starts in the wilderness, as a warrior travels towards a caravan... The caravan holds the Prince of an kingdom that has started to fail... All hope rests in his and his sister's hands, to keep the kingdom from finishing it's path to ruin. While the warrior does not make an appearance to the Prince, his being is noticed, and word was sent ahead to the kingdom.... What the Prince did not expect, was the word was sent to his sister, nor that she had..."plans" for the warrior when he arrived...
As the warrior approaches the damaged kingdom, cries are heard from the poor, begging him to spare enough to allow their children to eat, even if they themselves could not... One such lioness was bold enough to ask this... "Please kind traveller, I know you may have heard from others on your journey, asking for crusts of bread, or water enough to cool parched throats... I ask not for these things, but enough to have my children be spared from starvation... if you are unable to help, I understand....."
"Madamoiselle, you are correct that I have been asked such things, and I shall do now as I did then... Here are twenty gold coins, do with them as you please, but be warned... the wrong use may bring about not only your end, but your children's as well..."
As the warrior continued through the poor, he stopped occasionally and gave more money to those in need. Finally coming to the castle itself, a guard approached and forced him to halt... "What business have you at the castle, you rotten peasant..."
Taking no notice of what the guard said however, the warrior continued on, only to be halted once more by a larger crew of guards... "I'll take it that you have an 'earin problem... I won't warn you again, turn back now and we won't have to 'urt you"
As if thinking carefully about this statement.. the warrior put his hand to his right ear, scratched it a few times, and turned to the guard that had spoken... "What business I have at the castle is none of your concern, and if you try to stop me again, I will be forced to move you out of my way..."
Thinking the warrior to be bluffing, the guard just motioned to the others, telling them to remain at their posts. "Alright then sir, looks like you're gonna be forced to "move" me, as I aint lettin yer pass."
Sighing regrettfully, the warrior lowerd his belongings to the ground. Before the guard could move, however, he had a sword point at his throat, and was looking into the eyes of the warrior, locked in place by fear. "You should have kept to your business guard... When I warn people not to interfere, they should listen."
Returning his sword to his sheath, the warrior collected his things, and continued towards the castle.... Behind him, however, the guard was curled up in a ball as if he had been mentally abused...(some say crying, but no one is sure....)
As the warrior reached the castle doors, he found no guards to stop him. Instead, he was faced with the princess, a strong willed zebra who had very little....control... over her expressions. "You must be the warrior that my brother sent word of... Allow me to introduce myself... I am Nokona Diaka, princess of this kingdom."
Kneeling as was custom, the warrior gave his introductions... "I am The warrior that continues to travel, yet has no goal... I am The warrior that has protected this and many other kingdoms, in the centuries passed... I have no name to use freely, but you may use my name of old... My name is Eintar Kasai, and I have journeyed here to help your kingdom once again."
"Well then Eintar, welcome back to this kingdom, and hopefully you will be able to stop its destruction once again... Although, for some reason, I do not recognize your name from our histories... When was your last time here?"
Thinking carefully of the answer, Eintar once again scratched his ear, and replied with some trouble. "I cannot say for sure, but I believe that my last journey here was in the time of your ancestor, Sahida Diaka...though how long ago this was, I don't know."
With some alarm in her voice, Nokona replied rapidly, "Sahida Diaka ruled almost 800 years ago...how is it that you were last here then?"
Calmly thinking of how to word his answer, Eintar rose from his kneeled position, and stared at Nokona. "The only thing I can say freely on that detail, is that I have said I protected this kingdom in centuries passed... However, I did not state how many..."
Having trouble comprehending this information, Nokona lost conciousness, regaining it a few hours after she was placed in her bed by Eintar. As she awoke however, her thoughts didn't go to that of her previous meeting, but to the fact that Eintar was alone with her in her private chambers. As Eintar rose from a chair, he told her that her brother was to arrive within a few hours, and that he would be in his chambers, awaiting her call when she needed him. Turning to leave, Eintar stalled as Nokona's eyes travelled down his being. Realizing that he had noticed this, Nokona was forced to blush, and Eintar continued on his way.
part two... (one was too short again....)
Part Two of Stories from a Dream
As Nokona prepared her wardrobe for her brother's arrival, her thoughts drifted to Eintar. Why would such a warrior, far more powerful than any other being, take orders from royalty such as herself? Shouldn't he be able to make his own kingdom, protecting it instead of those that he has no need to? Questions like these kept breaking through to her, until she finally asked herself why she cared about them. All she really wanted to know was if she could get to "intimately" know him... Finishing her selection of clothes, she decided to pay him a visit in his chambers. Making sure that her servants would not disturb them until her brother arrived, Nokona crept inside, trying not to disturb Eintar, or wake him if he was asleep. Finding him breathing slowly in his bed, with his eyes closed, Nokona started to be nervous. While she had every right to be in Eintar's chambers, she felt uneasy, hoping that she would not be forced to explain her being next to him as he slept.
When Nokona finally was close enough to hear his breathing, she felt a sudden urge to turn around and leave. Not understanding this feeling, she decided to ignore it, and was about to continue when she looked up. Staring at her with no noticible expression, was Eintar. As Nokona fell to the floor, startled, he rose from his bed and went over to a chair that held his shirt. As he put it on, Nokona forced herself into a standing position, yet remained silent. "You seem to be startled easily, is there something I can do for you?"
"N...no... I was just going to come and ask you a few things, but you were asleep. I would have waited, but it seems you decided to awaken..." As Eintar continued to stare at her, all Nokona could do was blush, and sit in an empty chair near the door.
"Well then your majesty, ask me your questions and I shall try to answer them." As Eintar pulled a chair to face her, Nokona gave a slight cough, and thought of what questions to ask first.
"I'm not sure if this is exactly a question I should be asking, but why do you serve all these kingdoms, instead of creating your own? I am sure someone of your abilities would be able to cause a kingdom to thrive if you wanted."
Taking his time to answer, Eintar slowly replied in a quieted voice... "My reason for helping other kingdoms in their times of need, is that I did have one, very long ago, but there was no help for it, and it was destroyed. Since then, I have not stayed in a kingdom for more than a year, constantly helping others when need arises. I could make a succsessful kingdom if I wanted to, yes, but why keep my strengths to myself? Why not spread my prowess among those kingdoms that are falling into ruin?"
Thinking of what Eintar said made nokona even more confused, but she tried again, asking what he did other than travel and fight for kingdoms. "I drift onward throughout your history's. I am always here, it just takes a strong feeling of need for me to know where to go. After i am finished here, I shall again pass through time until another kingdom has need."
Feeling that she had already lost all hope, Nokona decided to ask a question that she didn't fully want the answer to in her present state. "Do you have any loved ones left in existance? I mean, like a Wife, a child, or some descendant that can help you?"
Sighing as he prepared to answer, Eintar thought of his past, coming up with no understandable images or thoughts. "I have not had a wife, child, or descendant in many many years. My last descendant died around the time I helped your ancestor, Sahida. He wasn't very strong, as he had risen to old age very early for his lineage. I wasn't able to be there when he died, as i had just finished stopping the onslaught that faced your gates, but I was there to bury him with his mother and other family that had since passed on. As for having a wife or child, it was some thousand years before your ancestors time when I last had these... I miss them greatly, but I know that where they are, time shall not disturb them or their remains."
"Where do they lie now, Eintar?"
"The last I knew its name, It was known as Dreamer's Peak, but it may have changed since then."
Thinking to her studies of maps, Nokona burst with happiness, and told Eintar of it's location. "Dreamer's peak, is three days march from the oak and holly grove outside our garden. It may be a hard trip, however, as bandits have constantly robbed caravans that traveled through in the past month."
With extreme speed, Eintar gathered his belongings, and said a quick farewell to Nokona, promising a swift return, after the path to his families resting place was cleared. As he left however, he failed to notice that a tear slid down Nokona's cheek. For she had just brought about the deaths of many, and perhaps lost her chance to woo him, and yet she decided to try again, after his return.
Later that evening, as her brother's caravan arrived, Nokona was shocked to see Eintar coming from the oak and holly grove. "Shouldn't you be finding your family's tomb?"
With a slight smirk, Eintar replied as he unslung a pack, "They weren't much of a hold up on the path. The bandits did however, have these "gifts" that they had recently aquired from a caravan. I thought it would be best to return them, as they do not look cheap or normal belongings." As he gave a guard the pack, and told what caravan had lost them, Nokona couldn't help but feel some suprise.
"How is it you made a three day trip in a few hours? Even without the hindrance of the bandits, you shouldn't be anywhere near here...."
"Let's just say, I know much...faster ways of travelling than most. However, I can return at a later time if you have no need of me.."
"It's not that, it's just that I was suprised you returned so fast... just in time for my brother in fact... Would you care to join me as I go to greet him?"
" I have no qualms about that, lead the way madamoiselle." As Nokona lead Eintar towards her brother, her thoughts went again to her "plans" for him. At her brother's request, Nokona had planned a special feast, so that he could welcome Eintar, and be welcomed home.
As Nokona came upon her brother, it was hard to tell that they were "royal" as they acted as two children just meeting again after a year's schooling. "Welcome home brother!" Nokona squealed as she jumped up to hug him.
"Easy sister, we haven't had time to really rest, and I think it would be best if you let us." As Nokona's brother set her down, he turned to Eintar and bowed. "Thank you for coming at such short notice, I'm sorry that you met hardships entering the city, but we are always in need of security lately.. However, you should not have been treated as you were, so I have altered the guard's placements in the city."
"Do not worry about me your majesty, I am not harmed by your guards, nor should you feel sorry for me. I can say however, that you need not worry about the bandits that plagued your caravans. They have been rid of, and do not plan to return." As Nokona confirmed this, her brother had reason again to thank Eintar, but decided to wait until the feast, so as to let everyone thank him at once.
As the caravan retreated into the castle courtyards, and after to their homes, a feeling of hope passed through Nokona. Finding an oppurtunity to continue planning, she made it known to her servants that she would not want to be bothered that evening, and to make sure that she had no unexpected visitors. When it came time for the feast, no one was shocked to see her in a magnificent blue gown trimmed with gold. Her brother, was likewise in blue, but with a white trim instead. What appalled almost everyone in the hall, however, was that Eintar was dressed in robe of the purest black, with a hood to match.
What suprised and angered them even more, was that Eintar kept his sword with him, instead of leaving it in his quarters where any "normal" person would have. A single male fox was bold enough to say anything about it. "You sir, who are you to wear a black robe and hood, carrying a weapon with you when you are in the presence of Their Majesties?"
As the fox's followers waited for an answer, Nokona couldn't help but blush as she knew how Eintar would answer. "Me? I wear what I wish to, as no being can force me to do otherwise. I carry a weapon anywhere I please, as only a fool would try to stop me. And as for doing this in front of Their Majesties, I hardly think they would care what I were to carry one or not. If you think I should remove my weapon, you may try to take it from me... but be warned, you risk your life to touch a warriors blade."
Feeling foolish after hearing this, the fox quieted himself, and tried to keep what little control he had left. Remaining silent, as if he had never spoken, Eintar returned his attention to Nokona and her brother. As Nokona gave a short speech welcoming her brother home, she couldn't help but stare at Eintar, as he was watching her every move. After she finished giving her speech, she crept off into the shadows, hoping to go unnoticed, as she wished to watch certain people without being disturbed. Scanning the feasting area for one in particular, she wasn't completely shocked to find that he wasn't there. As she continued to look, she watched people pass by, argueing, and of course, there was people making plans for "later".
As she watched these people, she had no notion that she was being watched herself. Sitting above her on a window ledge, was Eintar. (Now while he may have been who she was looking for, he didn't seem to want to be found. Maybe he had a reason though, as he was never a person that enjoyed company.) As Nokona finally grew tired of seraching for the being, she decided that she would retire to her room, and wait till later in the night. As with all good parties, however, there was certain beings that would get intoxicated, and try to bother her. As she passed such a being, she was appalled when he grabbed for her. Giving a slight scream, she barely noticed him backing off, because a blade quivered in the floor between his foot paws.
As she looked for the owner of the blade, she was suprised at where it came from. Showing himself to the others now, she saw Eintar coming from the window ledge, and slowly walking to retrieve his sword. As he pried it from the floor, it was apparent him that Nokona was extremely grateful, and somewhat.... hungry for something. Sheathing his sword, Eintar offered to walk Nokona to her room. As she wanted to try to do something, she accepted his offer, and hoped her plans would work.