The Marakese

Ilvandir

Ilvandir lit the flames in the dark room of his work chamber. Ilkir sat there much like a student would. Ilvandir tossed Ilkir a torn apart book and told him to read. Ilkir took the books in his hand and started to go through it. Ilvandir offed the flames with his bare hands. "Read" he commanded. How can I read? asked Ilkir. Are you blind ? asked Ilvandir. No, i'am not blind, but is light not needed for a person to read? asked Ilkir. Yes, you are right. Light is needed for a person to read, replied Ilvandir. There was silence. And after a few moments, Ilvandir spoke. "Read" he said again. Ilkir thudded the book on the table. The noise caused ripples all around the place. Ilvandir lit the flames again. Ilkir took the book upon his hands to read. He went through page after page. He looked up from the words that were captured in the book. "I do not understand" he said. You could have read in the dark is it not then Ilkir? asked Ilvandir. yes, he replied. The outcome would have been the same, he said. Ilkir took the flames off again and Ilkir began to read. As Ilkir began to read , Ilvandir recited passages and explained the same. In the darkness, there was knowledge and wisdom spewed by the master to his disciple. Words of wisdom echoed the chambers and the flame itself lit itself. And without his knowledge Ilvandir began to read and understand the passages and did not realise that Ilvandir had stopped reciting. Hours had passed and when Ilkir looked up again, he was surprised to see that the dwarf was not ther in the chambers. He had left Ilkir all to himself a long while ago. Ilkir kept the book where it belonged and he too left the chambers. What was all that about? he wondered. 

Ilkir walked into the halls of the caves and he saw the children lighting the caves. And he watched them light the flames and something struck him that day. He was part of a family, his friends were lighting the flames and not strangers. For the first time in his life that he felt that he was not alone. He was part of something and then he looked at the caves he resided in now. There were these dwarves who have them in and they mean no harm to them. Even with the little they have for themselves, they are willing to share it. It was a stark contrast to the days they were locked up in a large hall, toiling day and night without sleep, without food. There was pain in their eyes, but now there was joy and light in their eyes now. Lets go Ilkir, the children said. Where he asked them, to the next part of the caves, they replied. They jogged up in droves with Ilkir following them from behind. They reached the next section and lit up the caves. Soon, by nightfall all the caves were lit. Time for supper! the children said and went downstairs and sat amidst the folks. The dwarven people sat there in joy and merry as they sat and enjoyed their dinner. Ilkir earnestly sat down and watched the storytellers tell their tales. Tales of bravery and comedy unfolded before them. Ilvandir told a tale so captivating that there was not a sound that was made. Everyone gave him their utmost attention and so did Ilkir. And then Borkir went on stage recited a tale of war, that made the adults creek of terror and the children brim with excitement. The tales of horror had a different role in the minds of adults and the children, thought Buskar. Who was seeking to tell a tale himself, but he kept to himself. I too have my story to tell, he thought. Borkir looked at him trying to encourage him to come forward and tell his tale. And like the days that blew past him, Buskar came up short. And he realized that he would always come up short in front his father. He would feel the same way, for the rest of his life. Buskar ran way from a war, than fight it. A terrible son to a great father, he would mutter. Ilkir brimmed with a fire enraged in his soul that reached beyond the great embers of the large caves that he saw himself sat in. "I will avenge my mothers death" he muttered. 

"I'm not my brave father" uttered Buskar. "I'm not my coward father" muttered Ilkir. The both of them got up and went their separate ways. Ilvandir sat down " I wish I was brave as my son" he shouted out aloud. The dwarves were in shock as the hefty man as put his mighty pride behind him.  "Bokrir tapped the shoulders of Buskar to console him" Not many are! he said to the Dwarf