The Curse of the Ancient

Where it began

I

Long ago, in ancient times where there were damsels in distress that were saved by charming princes and kings ruled over vast amounts of land, my ancestor, Larius, was a great general from a renowned army. Larius was rumored to be a brave and fearless man, who was admired by all of his men. He never gave up or gave in to his enemies; in fact he was creative in his strategies for battle. He always found a way to defeat his enemies in battle. He fought bravely amongst his men, which made his men respect him as if he was their father. Rumor has it that he was constantly celebrated in his kingdom for being one of the best and bravest generals in their history.

One day, Larius, upon wanting solitude from the festivities in the kingdom after winning another battle, decided to go into the forest to clear his mind. However, as the sun was setting more west, he noticed he was lost in the forest. Not wanting to go back to retrace his steps in danger of getting more lost, he continued forward. After hours of wandering, he noticed a small cabin like home in the depths of the vast forest. Curious and in need of shelter for the night, he approached the mysterious home. The closer he got, he noticed a beautiful woman hanging her clothes in the tree branches. Needless to say, both Larius and the women were frightened by each other's presence. The woman was not expecting company, and Larius did not expect a woman alone, especially in the forest.

Larius explained his situation to the woman, and she agreed to house him for the night and give him directions to go back to the kingdom in the break of dawn. Larius was intrigued by the mysterious woman, so he could not sleep. Instead, the woman and Larius talked until the break of dawn. He spoke to her about his adventures in the different villages he visited on his travels, foreign kingdoms that contained the most exotic spices and his successes in battle. She spoke to him about the animals, the stars and the whispers of the wind that dance around in the forest. As promised, she walked him back to the kingdom that morning. However, she gave him a piece of paper that gave directions to where her home was in the depths of the forest.

After that day, Larius would go almost every day and stay almost every night with the woman. As time passed, he began to fall in love with her. Not only was she a beauty, but an intellectual. She would teach Larius strategies that successful generals of the past would use in battle, and how to read the stars so he may never get lost.

Unfortunately, the kingdom waged war on a kingdom south of where they stayed so Larius had to leave in order to command his army. Before he left, Larius admitted his love for the woman. Luckily for him, she returned his feelings. He vowed to return after his battle to her, and love her for eternity. After their night of passion, he left to fight the kingdom of the south.

A couple years passed, and there was not a day where Larius would not think of his beloved in the depth of the forest. Battle after battle came and went with success. After 6 years of war, the men were allowed to go back to the kingdom and celebrate their successes of conquering the southern kingdom. When Larius returned, he was excited to return to his beloved in the forest, and that is where he headed first once he entered his home kingdom. The woman heard the wind whisper that her love returned from war. She was ecstatic that he returned alive and remembered her. Larius went into the depths of the forest and found her home. Larius, not wanting to time pass further without having her by his side, proposed to her the moment she ran out of her door. She agreed and they were happily engaged and wedded that night by a mysterious man who also roomed the forest and called it home.

However, lust is the weakness of man.

Larius would go between the kingdom and the forest constantly. He enjoyed life in the kingdom, but he loved spending time with his wife. They would talk to the stars, and listen to the secrets of the forest together. One day, Larius was commanded by his king to attend a banquet to celebrate his army, but there was a condition. Larius was not only obligated to meet the King's daughter, but to be her date in the banquet. Not wanting to anger his King, Larius agreed without a second doubt and did not mention his recent marriage.