Time began to speed by while the Southern Falls prepared for another assault. Calmar continued to tell people about the urgent need to believe. Darkness was seeping in from every direction. The two forces of light and darkness were fighting against time itself. Calmar was alone in the world, working for a goal that no one else could see. He was working against the flow of nature. He tried to destroy those overwhelming doubts that filled their minds. At first the people were receptive towards him and they would watch patiently into the West, waiting for those noble beasts to come and save them. But as time wore on that hope became a legend and a tale, nothing more. They became hostile towards him and evil was in their every glance. His father sat withered and dark in his room, no more than a shadow of the past. The leaves began to fall now and they knew that winter was approaching.
The day was cold and an icy wind blew over the land. Calmar stood facing the sea to the South. Thoughts crowded his mind and nothing could shake them out. He was a silhouette against the sea, tall and handsome, his hair blowing across his face. His arms laid still by his side and he breathed deeply of the watery spray. His face was dark now from the sun he had bathed in on his journey. His beard was close-shaven and clean, and yet he was weathered and ready for battle. He never knew how it felt to not be loved. He had always had his father, but now he was alone and hated. He looked back at his father’s fortress and realized that he wouldn’t be there much longer, he was dying quickly. He turned to the mountains on his left. There was someone up there, looking out to sea. It was a small figure. Calmar began walking up the path to where Aviri lived. The figure was standing on the ledge outside his cave. He came up behind it and stood quietly watching. Suddenly someone began to laugh. It was soft and beautiful, flowing gently from its mouth. Calmar looked to where it was looking and saw two fish playing together in the water near the shore. He looked puzzled. Why was it laughing about that? And who is it? Then the figure turned gracefully around. Calmar looked carefully and saw a woman, slender and fair. Her eyes were a vibrant blue and they danced merrily. Her cape dropped from her shoulders and her hair flowed down her back. It was light and soft and wavy. Calmar had no idea where she had come from. She looked so different from those that lived in the Southern Falls; everyone was dark and tanned. He was dismayed that no one had told him about her, and why had she hidden here so long? What if she was a spy?
“Where do you travel from?” he asked.
“I come from the far Northern lands,” she gestured North. Her smile faded when she saw his grim face. Then she smiled again. “You are worried, aren’t you? I don’t come here to cause trouble, I came here for help and protection.” She became serious. “Tarole and his evil creatures drove out our people from their kingdom and now they are wanderers across the plains. I have been sent to ask for protection in exchange for soldiers and help. They are willing to fight on your side if you will let they stay here.” Tears now filled her eyes as she spoke and Calmar could tell she was remembering some terrible event that took place, that had scared her heart. “You have built a good fortress…one that will protect you from many a foe,” she said as she looked at the tall battlements that rose against the sky. “I’ve always wished to see the king’s great hall and walk in the halls of the brave. I’ve heard much about your castle.” Calmar looked back and the castle that stood tall and strong in the midst of houses and the town. It was built against the mountain and caves were dug behind it for extra protection in battle. On each side of the great steps in the front were eight large flags, each having the symbol of the Southern Falls. The town bustled beneath them as people did their daily things. It had always been a happy place and Calmar remembered running up and down the king’s hall in front of his father when he was little. They had always called it Ravenna’s Keep because Calmar III had built it for her after they were married. But she died soon after and never again had it been called that.
“Your majesty? Are you alright?” she asked quietly.
“Yes, I’m fine,” Calmar answered, jerking out of a dream. Suddenly a horn began to blow and the streets below began to crawl with people. Something was happening!
“I must go now!” Calmar said quickly.
“Yes, they need you.” She smiled sadly and turned.
Camar raced down the mountainside and rushed into the royal courts. “What’s happening? Why are they heralding bad news?”
The guards came and went quickly but no one stopped to tell him. He rushed to the top and looked towards the North. There was a band of men, mostly on horses, coming swiftly towards them. They had many weapons and they rode on the wings of the wind. No one knew what to expect or who they were. So they waited in suspense on the battlements. After a few minutes Calmar stepped down and stood at the top of a stone steps. Soon the they had made their way to the castle. Their horses were restless and always moving. The leader stood gracefully at the side of his horse. Light seemed to beam off their faces, though they looked tired and sad. He turned to his men and talked in a familiar language. “Av-’osto, there is nothing to fear,” he said. They all relaxed slightly. He turned to Calmar.
“Why have you come to the great Calmar’s fortress?” Calmar asked.
“Elen sila lumenn omentilmo,” he smiled sadly.
“Lle anta amin tu?” Calmar asked.
“Yes, but we offer you what we have now,” he said. Calmar looked around at the group of men, all so fair and light.
“What is your name and why have you come?” Calmar asked.
“My name isUrúvion, and I have come on behalf of my people. My sister has been here for quite sometime but we have not had a response. My father is still with the rest of our people. He is waiting for us to give him a report.”
“Who is your father and why would he come to me for help?” Calmar asked.
“His name is Glandur and he needs help. We offer you our swords if you will but let us stay.”
Calmar thought deeply.
“Hîr vuin, I know this would be strange since you do not know us, but we can help you. No one can overcome this power without help, we need each other.” Urúvion said.
“Did you send your sister here?” Calmar asked.
“Yes my lord, I did.”
“Dôl gîn lost! She could have died. You had no guess whether we would accept her! You fool!” Calmar cringed. He had probably ruined his only chance.
“I’m sorry,” Urúvion said humbly, “but it was my only choice, no one else would go, and my father put me in charge of these soldiers.”
“No, the apology is mine. The darkness is seeping into my mind. Please tell your father that his people may come and stay here so that we may fight this darkness together.”
A storm started brewing overhead and Calmar glanced back over his shoulder. There on the precipice over the sea stood the girl, beautiful and sad, always watching.
“She is very brave,” Urúvion said. Calmar turned back quickly.
“Yes,” he said absent-mindedly. The men and horses began to get restless. One of the men came up to Urúvion and whispered something.
“We must go now back to my father and tell him the news,” he answered.
“Tula, vasa ar’ yulna en i’mereth,” Calmar said quickly. “You will need your strength for the journey back.”
“Thank you for your kindness, but we must go quickly. Come,” he said to his men. They quickly sped off into the gathering dusk. Calmar looked back at the girl but she had left. Then he became aware of someone standing close to him. It was Tashur.
“I heard what they wanted…. you can’t let them stay here without putting us at risk! They could be spies for the Enemy,” he said.
“But trust is all we have now, and I can’t go back on my word,” he answered softly.
“What were they speaking? I did not understand those strange words.”
“That was their language, and it was our language long ago. I had almost forgotten it, it has been so long.” Calmar reminisced about when he was little, everything was so different then.
“Have you spoken to that girl in the mountains?” Tashur asked.
“Yes, briefly,” he said.
“What did she say?”
“Nothing,” Calmar turned away bitterly. Why did everyone have to pry? And yet no one told him about anything, even when he was the rightful heir to the throne? The rain began to fall gently on his face. Grief overtook him as he thought of his father, alone in his fortress with only days left to live. He was afraid though to cry because he knew as soon as that tear fell, they would never stop again. Never had the darkness been so blinding.
That night he lay on his bed in the darkness. Decisions and worry were heavy upon his shoulders. He began to dream, but it was a strange dream. He was in a dark room with only one window, and a smoke blew began to seep in from under the door. Soon he began to choke and cough and until he could hardly stand. The window was too high to climb but it was his only choice. So he started to climb up the brick walls, digging his fingers into the cracks. Then a light shone through the window and blew bid the smoke to leave. He looked up and saw a familiar face, one that he was fond of. But who was it? Then a quiet voice echoed in his ears…. it became louder and louder….. until there was darkness.
The next morning Calmar woke up to a great noise. Quickly he went to the look-out and watched as the red sun slowly set with a foreboding groan…. it was not seen again for four weeks. Real darkness ruled them and ensnared them until each one groaned under its weight. Questions were posed that no one could answer, and so they lived in uncertainty. Calmar walked often up the mountain to talk to Aviri about this turn of events. He didn’t have answers either but he seemed to deal with this darkness better, after all he had lived in darkness when he was little. On a cold and rainy day Calmar found that Aviri was not in his cave. Calmar walked cautiously around, wondering what could have happened that would take Aviri from his constant watch. He heard gentle footsteps behind him and he turned to see. It was the girl, beautiful and shining amidst the dark and dreary world.
“You are looking for someone, who is it?” she asked.
“I was just looking for Aviri, do you know where he went?”
“No, he has been gone many days now. But don’t worry, he’ll be back soon.” She looked over the sea with restless eyes. The waves seemed to pull her very soul with them, every tide pulling her closer.
“Who are you? What is your name?” Calmar asked suddenly.
“Why do you ask now? You have neglected this important question for quite some time,” she answered. “I am from the Northern Men, a people both respectable and strange. We are few and the evil is growing. We were very large and prosperous, but soon there will none left to inherit the riches passed down through the ages. My name is,” she turned quickly around and faced him, “Nieriel, and I am the daughter of the great king, Glandur, king of the Northern Lands.” Calmar whispered her name quietly to himself. A red light escaped through the clouds and cast an eerie shadow to everything. It shined through her hair and she seemed on fire. Her eyes shined with a brightness he could barely endure.
“You love the sea don’t you?” he asked.
“Yes, it is my only constant friend. Our people think of the sea as a person,” she sighed longingly.
“Here then, this will be of more use to you than me,” he said as he handed her a clear and small bottle with water inside. The water sparkled with radiance. “It is part of the sea, and has healing benefits as well. Take care that you do not lose it.”
She looked closely at it and smiled. “Amin harmuva onalle e’ cormamin.” Calmar looked at her face. A shadow passed over his face. Something stirred within him.
“Lle naa vanima,” he smiled. She reminded him greatly of Adanessa, for she was very beautiful as well. But something made him guard his heart, lest the love he once had for her would grasp Nieriel. There were some things better left alone, yet something about her called out to him. No, he thought, Adanessa will always be mine. He fondled the ring about his neck. It seemed an ancient piece of memory, but the night still remained vivid his mind.
“Thank you. You are very kind to let us stay here, and you will be rewarded for your kindness. I must go now,” she said hurriedly, and walked away.
He looked towards the North at the forest swaying softly in the breeze. I have a kingdom to rule, he thought, I can not be distracted from such things that call my attention. He began walking down the mountain, stumbling on the wet and dirty rocks. No one will get in the way of the throne, it is where I belong, and only me.
When he got back to the castle his father was sitting in the old hall on his throne; a strange place for such an old and failing man. Guards were standing around watching out through the door for some intrusion to unsettle their regular life. A small band of men played their pipes and horns in a mournful and wailing way, another reminder of the dark. Even music wasn’t the same as the darkness seeped into every crack and crevice of life. Now all he saw when he beheld his father’s throne was a way to stay rich and powerful, a way to rule the lands with a single command. Then something stirred in his head, and he realized what was happening to him. He was becoming a power monger, looking out for his good only. What would his father think if he were sane? He looked down at the bottle of sea, and his heart agonized as never before. He had pledged honor and loyalty to his country and now he was betraying them. He slipped to his knees and wept mournfully in grief, grief about everything that had happened and the battle that would inevitably come. If only there were a way to save all these helpless souls trapped in this eclipse. If there was some way to rid them of the grief that killed my father. But he could think of nowhere that they would be safe, they would have to battle the brewing storm together. Footsteps were heard in the hall and a guard approached him.
“They have returned, your Majesty,” he said quietly.
“Send them in and have their horses well looked after. They are a prized possession to them,” Calmar answered.
“Yes!” He left the room with resounding footsteps. A few moments later Glandur and Urúvion appeared. They were dressed in rich colors and seemed to bear no sign of the toilsome trip. Someone approached them from behind and stood quietly listening. He was fair and tall, with a kind and soft face.
“And who are you?” Calmar asked.
“I am Glandur’s second son,Calanon leader of the royal guard and warriors. This is not the way I would have wished to meet you. These are hard times, but we will endure,” he ended. The Court Guards stared disdainfully at him; strangers were not welcome during times like these. Calmar caught their looks and sighed quietly. Some evil was brewing in their minds and it could only grow.
“Come! Sit while we may,” he said.
“There is nothing we have, with which we can repay you, your Majesty,” Glandur said royally.
“Say nothing of that! In such times as these we must fight together. There is no other way of survival in these corrupt and wicked times. And whether we all die together, it is up to fate,” he added mournfully. So they sat down together around a long table and were served drinks and bread to their satisfaction, though the Northerners ate sparingly. Suddenly it became very quiet and they all sat staring at the statues decorating the hall, though now they only collected dust.
“I feel that we are drawing near the end of the ages,” Glandur spoke.
“Yes, it is a sad thing,” Calmar lamented.
“But it doesn’t have to be,” Calanon responded with haste. He was very persistent and outspoken. “This calls for a gathering of the armies, but together we can fight the coming darkness and restore peace and happiness to the lands.” Silence gathered around them.
“What armies?” Urúvion asked.
“There are many cities that we have not even considered! Dormount, Westerdragon, Linwyn, Stonelake, Bluehaven, Fairfay, and that’s just in the East. Many people are suffering from the darkness and will be willing to fight if it means help.”
The men sat and considered these things and soon Calmar spoke, “There is also Sathrion, Lana Allanar, and Lafa Anore in the West. My father often visited them when he was younger. But they are all a good two days journey from here. It might be too late.”
“But we can’t sit here and wait until all hope is lost; we must do something!” he pulled out a map he had in his bag and looked it over carefully. Calmar thought of what his father told him long ago about the King of the West, and he considered suggesting that they wait. But not everyone believed that hope and it would be rash to assume that they also knew about Him. After all they came from the far Northern town of Lighthaven, leagues from the Southern Falls.
“Alright, then we must send a party to both the East and the West in search of armies that are willing to fight with us.” He said bravely. “Perhaps this is rash, but it is our only chance.”
“We must be wary in these times but not forget our valiant spirit.” Glandur replied. There was nothing else to do and Calmar knew that well. The people were becoming discontent and wearisome of this life; always living on the other side of death, never knowing when it will rear its head in their lives. Too long had they lived like this and too long had they endured the wrath of Tarole and his evil. Calmar stroked his chin and looked sadly around at the men. For a moment he let his mind wander. Their eyes were bright blue like the sea; their skin was fair and their faces were soft and royal. He was almost ashamed to be by them. His face was dark and care-worn with soft brown eyes and a beard covering his strong chin and cheek bones. But he felt so unlike all of them.
“I’ve seen much in my life,” he said. “But nothing quite like this. If this darkness does not cease than we will all die, and I will die beside my people.”
“We must form a plan,” Urúvion said. “Something that at the very least will buy time.”
“Let me see the map closely,” Glandur said. It was faded and an ancient scrawl was written over the towns. He looked carefully at it and considered different ideas.
“I think our best plan will be to send out three parties that will go to the West, East, and down to Lynwyn. They will work their way up the East and West sides and as soon as they have an army they will return to the Southern Falls and surround it, cutting the enemy off. The only problem is Sathrion. It lies so close to Tarole’s Kingdom that some vigilant eye might see us gathering troops.”
“Unless,” Urúvion said slowly, “Maethorion reaches the King of the West.” Everyone was quiet. Suddenly Calmar remembered something as if from a dream.
“I think I have something that will help us,” he said holding up the horn.
“What is that?” Urúvion asked.
“This is the horn of Maethorion. He gave it to me for when I needed him again.”
“Again?” Calanon asked.
“Well, it’s a long and sad tale. Almost too sad to tell, but I will tell you because it may help us.” So he began telling them his adventure which seemed so long ago.
“So it sounds as if the next thing is to find a maiden brave enough to leave everything behind and talk to the King, am I right?” Glandur asked dismally.
“I had forgotten about it because I could find no one willing for this quest. But I have met one woman who seems fearless. One whose heart beats for her people and country,” Calmar said surely.
“And who is this noble woman?” Calanon asked.
“Your sister,” he responded quietly. Surprise raced across their faces and Glandur stared out the windows, as if he had known this was coming.
“She is but a girl!” Calanon said distressfully.
“She is a woman,” Glandur corrected. “She would be willing, but I am not so sure. Perhaps someone could go with her, someone that would protect her.”
Calmar shook his head sadly, “Maethorion said ‘A woman only’ otherwise it will not work.” It seemed hopeless once again. “I don’t like doing this any more than you do, and I would do anything to ensure her protection. But there is nothing we can do now. It is up to her.”
“Then it is time to let Nieriel go. She has been trapped here much too long. I can see behind those longing looks. She is a warrior at heart.” Glandur said unflinchingly. His eyes filled with tears and he loosed his grip on the chair, easing back gently. Calmar felt shunned. It’s all because of me, he thought. Then he remembered the spell that had been put on all of their land. One of his family had to be killed in order for this spell to be forever. Slowly their number were dwindling because of all the people who had sucumbed to the spell and were now in the Eastern Hills.
“Why can’t I go with her?” Calmar asked.
“Because he won’t accept that,” Glandur said. “She must go alone.”
“Any day now Tarole’s army will come out of those woods and ambush us. We don’t have enough men to fight them off!” Urúvion said.
“That’s why you came. You promised that your men would help us fight,” Calmar answered quickly.
“Yes, and we hold to our promises. But if they have as many as I have guessed than we are sorely outnumbered.”Urúvion replied sadly.
“Then it is decided. She must go or we are lost.” Calmar said. “Shall I tell her?”
“Yes, I think she would take it best from you,” Glandur said stoically. Calmar looked at him doubtedly but stood up from the table.
“She will be led by Maethorion, so she won’t be alone,” Calmar reassured. It felt like he was hanging on to a hope that would not last. He slowly walked out of the court into the blinding rain. There were blurred foot steps in the mud and yet life seemed absent from the town. He looked toward the mountains searching for that familiar figure, but it was gone like everything else. Things were leaving Calmar’s grasp and he was seeing things happen that never had he imagined would happen. Where was the world he remembered and loved? Was it too much to wish it back again? “Mani marte?” he questioned. His hands clenched together at his side and sweat rolled down his face. Suddenly a wind came up and blew the leaves and debris around, rousing him from his dream. He felt something strange stir within him.
The Spell of the Winterwolf 