The Four Founders

The Truth Unveiled

Godric sat on his windowsill, peering out into the distance. A boy of fifteen, he had managed to be thrown out of his own house after a series of complicated misunderstandings.
Now in Little Star's Home for the Homeless he sat. The setting sun casting a bloody tinge across his pale, scrawny face.
DING-DONG sounded the familiar bell as Godric made his way downstairs for dinner.

The Dining Hall was in complete chaos. Hungry children fighting their way through the line, towards the beckoning aroma of the scrumptious dinner and a few elder children stuffing parsnips and broccoli into the mouths of the 'inferior ones' as they were infamously called, wasn't an uncommon sight. The matrons were engrossed in their magazines as usual, which offered tons of advice on beauty, boys and branded apparel. Even in all this din, Godric couldn't possibly miss the breath-taking sight of her. All alone at one of the tables she sat, toying with her food.
Rowena.
He quickly grabbed his food and advanced towards her, consciously trying to fix his hair. He staggered forward and awkwardly pulled a chair opposite to her into which he clambered. "Um...hi Rowena", Godric let out in a low voice.
Having not noticed that she had company, Rowena looked up with slight surprise.
"Hi Godric."
"So do you like the food?", Godric asked, desperately trying to make conversation.
"It's alright", came her soft voice in response.
They then ate in silence for what seemed like many bright, sunny days, before Rowena said:
"When did you come in here?"
"Oh about two years ago I guess. My parents threw me out of my house and till date I don't understand why."
"What exactly happened?", asked Rowena in a some what concerned tone.
"Well...let's just say something really absurd happened and it seemed like I had done it, even though I had no idea what had happened."
Rowena's face suddenly displayed a cautious look as if she were reminded of some unhappy memories of the past.
"Godric, there's something I'd like to discuss with you which might explain everything that's happened to you. So could you please meet me in the vegetable patch in ten minutes?"
"Yeah okay sure", said Godric in a clearly bemused way.

Ten minutes later, Godric walked into the chilly night air, with the wind brushing against his cheeks. He could see a dark tall figure next to the many plantations and quickly identified it as Rowena. He hurried forward,with a pang of guilt in his heart for keeping her waiting.
"Have I been long?", he questioned between slight pants as he had broke into a jog to reach her fast.
"No no, of course not. I got here about a couple of minutes ago. We can wait while you catch your breath though", she said.
"I'm alright Rowena. What did you want to tell me?"
"So have you ever wondered why I live here at Little Star's?"
"I have but I didn't want to ask", Godric replied truthfully.
"I'm going to entrust you with a momentous secret of mine which I'm sure you'll maintain as one", Rowena said in a grave, serious voice.
"Yeah sure. I definitely will", Godric said in an apprehensive manner, hesitant to find out what she was going to say next.
After taking in a deep breath, Rowena began:
"Four years ago it was, but nothing can rub away this memory which will remain etched in it's place, forever. A storm prevailed on my homeland, which didn't seem to abate any time soon. I had fallen asleep to the pitter-patter of the rain with books scattered all over my bed. And then, I dreamed the dream which I would have never dreamed of dreaming."
It took Godric a whole five seconds to process what she had meant but soon caught on with her story.
Rowena continued, "I was in a deserted wasteland with high mountains on either side. Out of thin air, an elderly woman appeared from behind and placed her gnarled hand on my shivering shoulder. I turned around, startled to find a kind, gentle face looking down at me. She some how knew my name and addressed me by it. She told me that I was a witch and I had magical powers. Instantly a picture of a green hag with a crooked, warty nose on a broomstick appeared in my head. Seeming to have read my mind, the old lady let out a small laugh and said that it had nothing to do with what I had just thought of. She told me to leave home and go to Little Star's where I would find a wizard. I wasn't very reluctant to leave home as living with my obnoxious step-father was worse than death. But before I could question her about how she knew I was a witch and who she was, she had dissipated like smoke blown by wind."
"Wait, wait, wait...so you're saying that some old hag told you to leave home and told you something quite unbelievable and you just took her word for it?", said Godric in a puzzled fashion.
"Firstly, I wouldn't refer to her as an old hag as she seemed quite knowledgeable to me. And secondly, yes I took her word for it because she helped me delve deep into this matter by giving me equally knowledgeable books", said Rowena in a matter-of-fact tone.
"How do you know she wasn't giving you phoney books?", Godric asked, still confused.
"Even if she was a fraud, what gain did she have and I had either way been benefitted by escaping that oaf of a father", Rowena said in a placid voice.
Godric considered for a moment and then said:
"Well you've got a point there. So why exactly did you want to tell me all of this?"
"Because however crazy it might sound, you are the wizard I have come searching for."