Threat of the Shadow Mage

IT WAS EARLY MORNING AND A YOUNG ELVEN GIRL DECIDED TO GO OUT and enjoy the glorious rays of the rising sun, and dance in what was left of the moonlight. The trees of silver and blue seemed to dim their glow as the dense rays of the sun fell upon their smooth skinned bark. This young elven girl’s name was Aspen. Aspen was a descendant of the Silvertongue family, and the Silvertongue’s were highly respected throughout their homeland, but they didn’t always have the respect and honor they hold today; no. Before the story of Aspen is unfolded, there is a history to learn.

Some thirteen hundred years ago, a tribe of elves known as the Parisante Clan, had a leader at the time was an elf named Akoff. He was both a mighty warrior and sorcery extraordinaire. He had a wife, who gave birth to a son, and later that son married and gave life to a daughter. It was in this generation things began to get a little odd in the ways of the Parisante Clan. A young elven boy who was not in any noble line found himself playing with friends when she passed them in a very light silver cloak with white trimming and designs. She was walking with her father in the grass with her hands folded in front of her. This young boy, Auron, caught a glimpse of her as he ran, but then having caught her beauty, he looked again, and stared. Feeling another’s eye put upon her, she looked up slowly, but her eyes remained looking down until her head was at full height. Her eyes were light blue, and were elegantly placed in a soft white skin with silky brown almost raven hair hanging down on either side of her gentle face.

Auron continued to run and watched her look away to continued her walk, but he then ran full force into a tree. His friends laughed as he fell on his rear, not having watched where he was going, but he couldn’t explain to them what beauty he saw in that quick moment of majesty. They didn’t understand for they had not seen, but still sitting there, he looked back to try and get one last glance at her, but as he did, she was no longer there. “Word of advice, young one,” an elder elf said from the other side of him. Auron turned to look upon the one who spoke, and listened. “Set your standards a little lower. Forgive me for saying this, but no peasant will be able to marry a noble unless her kin allowed it by passing a law.” The elder told him as he leaned on his walking stick. Auron then lowered his eyes in disappointment, and looked back at the place she was last. “But she’s so beautiful.” He thought.

Several centuries passed before Auron became old enough to court the young elven women of the clan. Many elven girls lined up, as Auron had turned into quite the roguish specimen. Beautiful, shaggy, dirty blonde hair that just flowed perfectly to one side on his head, and gorgeous brown eyes to complete the look glistened in the light of day. He was tall, strong, and could very easily pass for a noble by the way he dressed. As he walked down the line of eligible women, he could hear snickers and giggles behind him. It was the girls laughing in admiration as he passed by, looking deep into their eyes. They knew to keep a straight face and look calm as he came to pass through. As he walked back and forth along the line of at least 30 girls, the girls would stop abruptly and quickly fix themselves, even though some would curl in their lips to keep from smiling. This made Auron chuckle under his breath and shake his head.

When it came to choosing who to court, it was the custom to first pull the girl aside and have a small conversation to see if she was what the man was looking for. If she wasn’t, they would always say that they’d come back to her in some form or another; however it always left the girl thinking she was the one. Yes, it was a little mean to leave her like that, but that was the way of the clan.

So, Auron pulled at least 5 different girls aside, but none of them were the young girl he saw all those years ago. After the fifth, and having looked at each and every one of their eyes, his heart began to sink. Then what should happen, but the sounds of the royal wood flute hummed through the air. This raised his spirits, but he couldn’t get too excited. The Royal Family was coming, and he slowly took a knee and bowed his head. The girls quickly fixed their dresses and held their curtsy until high king Akoff allowed them to rise. The family of three, plus the advisors, came forth, and then Akoff allowed everyone to rise: but Auron hesitated to do so. “You too, young elf,” Akoff told Auron. Auron lifted his head to make eye contact, and slowly stood. “Is this your courting party?” “Yes, sire.” Auron responded.

“Tell me your name.”

He didn’t hesitate, and said, “Auron, sir. My name is Auron.” Akoff smiled, and then gave a slight turn. “My daughter would like an audience with you.” Then, as if by magic, the young girl from all those years ago stepped forward, wearing what looked to be the same thing she had worn when he had first laid eyes on her.

His heart nearly jumped out of his chest, but he hid his excitement and looked into her captivating blue eyes. It was her. It had to be. Auron gave a slight bow out of respect, and she bowed her head and slightly bent her knees. Offering his hand, she took it, and they entered the tent where the other girls were lined on the outside wall. “Step forward, girls. Give them their privacy as you gave each other theirs.” They stepped forward to where they wouldn’t be able to hear what was said, and the curtain was closed.

Auron did his best in not being nervous, and continued with the questions. “Tell me your name, lady of light.” She looked up with modesty, and spoke softly. “Catalina, my lord.” “Catalina.” He thought to himself, admiring the perfect name for the perfect face. “Catalina. Your origin is plain to the eye, so what is it you want out of life?” Catalina was silent for a moment as she slightly turned her head. “I wish to have grace given to me.” She started, as she turned and walked a couple paces. “I want to find the man who is my equal, and start a family, as my father did.” “Single child?” asked Auron.

She smiled. “A girl.”

“And what would you call her?”

“Aspen. Aspen Leighanna. That name is precious to me, and it is a symbol of the nature that surrounds us.”

Realizing time was short, Auron shook his head and asked one of the final questions. “What is it you so desire this equal half to be like?”

Catalina turned, but still had her eyes down. “I desire him to be honest, and loyal to any means necessary.” She lifted her eyes, and turned her head to look at him directly. “I desire him to be strong, mentally, and ready, physically, for anything that may threaten the relation. As I said,” she continued, looking down again. “I look for the equal half of me, so that I may become whole.” Upon hearing that, Auron knew exactly what to say next. He stepped up so that he would be directly in front of her, and raised her head with his hand. Their eyes locked, but Auron’s eyes searched as if looking for something. Then finding the answer within her eyes, he gently kissed her, and pulled back. “Then search no more, my princess, for he stands before you.” Catalina grinned, and then softly said, “I knew this to be true since the first time I laid eyes on you those many years ago.” Auron smiled, and then took her hand in his as he stepped back to take a bow, and kiss her dainty, feather soft hand. “My lady.” He rose, and then said, “If I can get you to please have a seat over yonder,” She looked at the velvet red cushioned stool, and he finished his sentence. “I will be back.” Catalina took the designated seat, and Auron left to have an audience with Akoff. As he threw back the curtain, the girls gasped, wondering where she was, and started to gossip in whisper. Akoff raised his head a bit, expecting what was next. “My lord.” Auron said, taking a knee before him. “May I have an audience with you?” This Akoff did not expect, but replied with kindness. “You may, Auron. Rise.” He did so, and followed Akoff back into the tent. Catalina looked up, seeing her father, but he put his hand up telling her not to rise. Shortly after he entered, Auron came in, and led Akoff into another section of the tent.

“What is it you wish to speak with me about, Auron?” Akoff asked as he took a seat. Not wanting to be disrespectful, Auron knelt so that his head was not higher than Akoff’s. “A true nobleman.” Akoff thought. “My lord, I wish to speak with you about your daughter.” Akoff was silent, allowing Auron to continue. “I have heard her desires in life, and what she seeks in a man. I feel that it is I of whom she speaks. My lord, with your permission, I would desire to court your daughter.” Akoff straightened a little, surprised that he thought to ask first. “Before I grant or forbid permission to you, there are questions that need answered.” “Then I will answer them.”

“What origin do you descend from?” Auron was silent for a moment, but then Akoff continued. “I would say that you were a nobleman due to your actions and the way you clothe yourself.” Auron lowered his head as he spoke. “A just comment, my liege.” But before he could continue, Akoff stood, and put his hand down, so Auron could pay his respects. “Then that’s all I need to know, Sir Auron.” He quickly kissed the ring shown to him, and said not another word. “Rise, Sir Auron. I do now grant you the permission to court my loving daughter.” Auron stood, and watched as Akoff left the cut-off section and head for his daughter.

Staying in, and listening carefully, Auron heard what was said. “My darling daughter. I congratulate you in finding the man of whom you spoke so fondly of. I am happy for you.” He kissed her forehead, though it was slightly covered by the hood of her cloak. “Thank you for your blessing, father.” They shared a smile, and he took his leave. Auron raised his fists and spun in a circle as he cheered in thought. Then he put one fist to his mouth, and pulled it together. On his exit, Catalina stood, and they walked to each other. As they kissed, Auron heard this, “The rest of you young ladies are dismissed. Sir Auron has made his decision.” As one could imagine, years carried on, and the courting then turned into marriage after Auron asked permission again. The couple shortly turned into a family of three. “Aspen Leighanna Silvertongue. Welcome to the new world my dear,” Catalina said, laying there with her newborn child in her arms. Aspen yawned, and gave a small sound as she yanked her hand to her head. Auron and Catalina laughed, and then time went on too fast, and disaster soon hit the new family.

Sparks of fire and lightening shot everywhere, and Catalina ran with Aspen in her arms as Auron turned and fought back every once in a while. Then Catalina stopped and turned as she heard Auron struggle. “Auron!”

“No! Go! I’ll be there. Run!” He managed to say as he held the soldiers hands with their fingers entwined. As Catalina ran again, Auron used his head to knock the soldier unconscious, and quickly shot a lightning bolt from his hands. Once he saw the soldier lay dead, he looked around, seeing there were more.

Scared, Catalina found an abandoned shelter, and hid there until she saw Auron through a linear whole in the underground door. Aspen began to cry, and Catalina tried to hush her by bouncing and letting her hold her fingers.

Auron ran as hard as he could, but then a strange looking cloud blocked his way, so he stopped. Arrows and different kinds of spikes shot out of it. Auron put up a sort of shield with his powers, causing each of them to bounce away. As they stopped he let the shield down and gazed into the cloud; but it was no cloud. As it began to settle, he put himself back into defensive position, and it became clear what “the cloud” was. “Good evening, Auron,” a woman’s voice said. He straightened in recognition, and looked at the face that formed. Her eyes opened, and revealed white circles of nothing but light. The pitch black hair that lay upon her head gently fell to the sides of her face and the rest of the mist clothed her in mystic black leather that seemed to let off hints of smoke. “It’s nice to see you again,” she said. Seeing who she was, he answered back. “Orianna. You have no business here. I suggest you leave.” “Oh, naturally, but I bring news. It’s from the king.”

“My king doesn’t make deals with your kind.”

“Oh don’t be so modest. Say what I am, for there is no shame in it!”

“King Akoff doesn’t make deals with Shadow Mages!”

“There, that wasn’t so hard, now was it? I’m sorry to disappoint, but he indeed does. In fact, he is in the practice of becoming one.”

“You lie!”

Orianna just gave an evil smirk, and Auron turned, hearing that the soldiers were getting closer. “If it’s news you bring, speak now.” he said, still turned, and Orianna hovered over to him. As he turned, he kind of jumped, startled. “The lord high, King Akoff, says this. ‘I have found Auron Silvertongue to be guilty of falsehood and treachery. He is to be hereby wanted, and brought to justice. Sir Auron indeed. He is nothing more than a common peasant who has lied his way through courting and marriage into the Royal Family.’” Here Auron began to understand, and Orianna finished with, “’Auron is hereby sentenced to death!’” She then backed off, but just a little. Realizing what was happening, he then cast a fire-ball at her and had it followed by an electric pulse.

This was just enough to keep her distracted so that he could pass her, but regardless, she just waved them aside and watched him run deeper into the forest. Smiling, she took to the upper canopy of the tree line as she formed back into the strange cloud, and silently followed from above. “Auron!” Catalina called out as she gave a small signal of light to let him know where they were. He bolted over, and quickly dove in after he opened the door, and quickly closed it as he landed. “Auron, what’s going on? Why are they after us?” Auron didn’t want to say, but he knew he had to, and caught his breath. Looking into her worried eyes made it even harder, but he came out and said, “Catalina.” She listened. “My dearest, I’m afraid I haven’t been completely honest with you.” “What do you mean? Auron, what’s happen?”

“Huh. I am not the man I portray myself to be. I do not descend from the origin of noblemen.”

“Honey, I knew that from the moment we met.”

“You knew? Then, why…”

“It doesn’t matter. I love you, and that’s all that counts.” She told him as she put her hand on the side of his face. He leaned into it with comfort and relief, but there was still the news of him being sentenced to death. “I love you too.” He then told her, but Catalina could tell there was something else bothering him. “But that’s not all, is it?” Auron closed his eyes, put his head down, and then shook it. “What is it?” He looked up, and his eyes had become glossy from the development of tears. “I’ve been sentenced to death.” Catalina sat back in shock, and Auron continued to explain. “Your father thinks that I have deceived him throughout the time of courting you into the marriage, so he sees fit to deal with it by putting an end to my life. I never meant to deceive him, and I was going to tell him my ranking, but then he cut me off and said he assumed I was a nobleman due to my actions and what I wore at the time. I then said that that was a just comment, and was going to say, ‘but I am not but a humble man.’ And again he kept me from saying anything.” Catalina just remained silent to think things over, and Auron fell silent, not having anything further to say.

“That’s not good enough.” Catalina said after a moment. Auron looked back up at her in question. She put Aspen down on the pillow beside her, and stood. “Auron, give me your coat.”

“No. I won’t let you do that. You know you’ll be killed.”

“All the more reason to save the love of my life. I will not have my heart torn in two as it was before I met you.”

“Catalina.”

“Auron, if I don’t do this, we’ll all die.” They fell quiet, and Catalina crouched back down as they heard an unnatural wind that was followed by a thud. Footsteps were heard, and then hints of smoke trickled through the holes in the ceiling as the person stopped above them. Auron knew who it was, and motioned for Catalina to grab Aspen and get behind him.

She did so without a moment’s hesitation, and he held his right arm out in a protective manner. Then a flashback came to mind, and he closed his eyes to allow it to flow. “I desire him to be strong, mentally, and ready, physically, for anything that may threaten the relation.” He then opened his eyes, and began to create a rather nasty looking electric pulse in the palm of his left hand, and Catalina covered Aspen’s head as she curled herself into the corner. Feeling her do this, Auron then started to make another one in his right hand and brought it in front of him so it wouldn’t hurt them.

Orianna smirked, seeing the light come from the floor, and prepared herself for some fun. After getting the pulses to maximum voltage, Auron brought them together and shot them at the door. Orianna had her magic ready, but she wasn’t expecting the pulse to be so big, and shot back as she barely caught it to where it wouldn’t kill her. She fell on her back, and struggled to hold the pulse back, and continuously got stung.

“Stay here,” Auron told Catalina, but she grabbed his coat, and it slide from his shoulders, and caught him short, pulling him back. “Be careful, Auron.” She said as he fell beside her. He just placed his hand on her cheek, and gently rubbed it with his thumb. He kissed her, and then said, “I’ll be back.” And without him knowing, the coat slide off of him as he rose, and she sought to carry out her plan.

“Having trouble, Orianna?” Auron asked in a sarcastic manner. She turned her head to look at him, but not for long. “Well, you know that a warning would have been sufficient.”

“Now that would ruin the element of surprise, wouldn’t it?” Orianna was silent, and continued to struggle. “Should I put you out of your misery?” He then asked, creating two more pulses. “Should I do that for you?”

Secretly, Catalina changed herself to look like Auron, and crawled out of the shelter to go to the soldiers.

Orianna then pushed as hard as her strength would allow her and threw back the giant pulse, but Auron was smarter and made it loop to the side and hit a couple trees that were behind him.

“You there! Halt!” She did so, and the soldiers were surprised. “Come forward slowly with your hands flat on you head!” She did as asked, and went forward.

Auron glared at Orianna, wishing to end this whole thing. “Shall we?” he asked as he raised his hands above his head. Orianna propped herself on her side with her elbow holding her, and her other hand balancing her. Then she returned his glare, and looked up at what he was creating. Her eyes were uninviting and told Auron nothing but mischief was unraveling in her mind. Though her gaze kept going between his hands and his face, Orianna had a plan that would throw him off entirely. As he begun his lance, she quickly turned herself back into the fog so that it would not affect her, but his lance was not a lance.

It was a death spell, and it worked on anything, regardless of its form. Auron released it, and it fell upon her like a dome. She tried to get out of it, but as it shocked and crushed her, she knew this was her end.