Wars of Eredhar: The Dawn of Darkness

"The beginning of a journey."

It was the first month during the year of 195, of the 3rd Era. The weather was rather unpredictable for that time of the year. Even though the sun was shining brightly in the sky, the heat that was coming from it could easily deceive even the most experienced of travelers. It could get from a warm and soothing temperature to a harsh cold in just a few minutes.

Even nature was unpredictable. The calmness of a flowing river would turn into a deadly trap for those who had the courage to cross such a beautiful, but treacherous ribbon of water.

The Alhans was one such river. It was the only one that pierced the continent to its very heart. It was known throughout the land as the "Living River". Unaware travelers could easily fall into its trap. At every step, on every twist and turn on its way, the river acted differently. It was like it had a mind of its own and some people said that it acted like a living being, having multiple faces along its flow. It had its own story, but, in every kingdom it crossed, it was a different one.

The townsfolk of Isemeldin had an ancient tale about a great battle that took place in the land that was once the proud Kingdom of Shelfron. It was said that a curse was cast on the battlefield and every dying soul was damned to be bound to the will of the river Alhans. That was the battle where king Glandur, the last of the Abythien Dynasty, gave his final breath, on the Bridge of Baren.

In recent days, it was more of a ruin and as time passed by, a great oak tree grew under it. The tale said that it grew from the drops of the blood of every fallen warrior. From up above it looked as if the tree was weeping for the ones that died there. The roots went deep in the ground and into the river banks. Its branches curled around the bridge, and the leaves dressed the ruin in its own natural robe.

No one would walk on its old bricks nowadays, apart from curious creatures that ventured beyond the Barid Forest, for it is in the nature of every being to wander, be it small or large, young or old. But from time to time, the birds that flew above it would see someone leaning on the tree's roots, a silhouette of a girl. She gracefully walked among the oak's roots and from step to step caressed the tree with great tenderness.

"Shelfron, my dear, for so many years we knew each other. We went together through so many memories, happy ones as well as sad. You were my ancestors' home, but we failed to keep your borders safe. I lingered in sorrow for so long that I failed to see something has changed. It is time for me to move on from my past mistakes, to mend my heart while I still can, for dark times I sense before us. Goodbye, my old friend." Her hand slowly brushed the oak's leaves as she moved away, the oak bending to her will, forming a bridge of leaves and branches. In a blink of an eye, she made her way to the other side of the river. She smiled as she looked over her shoulder at the tree that was curling back over the stone bridge.

As she walked along the road, leaving the oak and the ruin behind, at every step she took she could feel the moisture of an early day of summer under her delicate feet. The grass was sparkling from the dew of an early morning, and the birds were carrying songs from every corner of the land, deep into the Barid Forest and beyond it.

"It is said that each bird has its own tale, its own song, depending on where it has been in its life." A voice gently came from behind her.

"I was wondering when you would decide to make your presence known. You have been following me for some time" she said, slightly turning her head around.

"Pardon me ma'am, I did not mean to startle you. I just happened to spot you from a distance as I was walking down the road." He smiled as he walked to her side.

"Well, I see. If that's what happened, no harm done." She nodded and continued on her way, almost ignoring him.

"Glad to hear that! I am impressed that you didn't fall, moving like that, down there", said the stranger as he nodded towards the oak. "I have seen many things in my travels, places surrounded by a veil of mystery, but I have never seen someone do what you just did, bend nature to one's will. One might say that my eyes played a trick on me." He laughed a bit. "So, did my eyes betray me? Who are you, or better yet, what are you?" he asked as he shifted his gaze from the oak and looked into her eyes, intrigued.