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Just as a note, this story was written years ago, back in 2005. Back when my writing was stupid.....well, more than it is now, anyways.
The sound of thundering hooves echoed throughout the once quiet forest. Shadow Woods, they called it, for dark as it’s name, it was known and blamed for many disappearances and murders. The trees all lay barren of their leaves, the curse of darkness still upon them. The only creatures that could survive there were monstrous beasts, with fangs; that could survive without food for weeks, maybe even months. It was one of the reasons that nobody had ever come back from the cursed woods once they entered.
Crashing atop leaves, a white horse galloped through the forest, faster then any creature, or so it would seem. Its rider wore a silver veil, and rode bareback without reins. Like a candle in a cavern, the horse and it’s rider lit the forest, but behind it followed a being so dark, it’s name had been forgotten in the centuries that had past.
On top of it’s own darker horse, rode a hooded man, stronger then any human. The exact opposite of the white rider, Slade carried a crooked, slick silver sword. As legendary as Slade, the sword glimmered in reflection of the white rider, it’s opponent.
In a quick flash the sword came upon the white horse, sending a ripple of pain toppling both the horse and it’s rider. In a strange accent, the rider cried,
“Let the wind hasten your hooves, Phada, there isn’t much time!” Gentle, but urgent was the rider’s voice. She took off her cloak and draped it across a package she carried. Slade behind her cursed, not being able to see what lay in the woman’s arms.
Phada sent a thought booming through the woman’s head. Leah, if Slade’s power is great enough to cripple a unicorn and an Elvish maiden, then what lays in your arms truly is mankind’s last hope.
Leah, the Elvish rider, nodded while wincing at the deep gash in her shoulder.
“True, Phada, that tis why we must hide it. Slade draws nearer by the second, we must hurry before all is lost!” Phada snorted, a mist surrounding them.
“I will buy the time needed. Make haste, there is a village nearby. It is no castle, but there the secret will remain in shadows until the time arises. Go, leave all your energy with me, it will take Slade the time we need to realize what we have done.” So that was the plan. She would leave her energy, her healing powers with Phada, in order for it to mist Slade’s vision.
“Bless you Phada. May your horn stay smooth, the world will not be able to pay for your sacrifice.” As the Elven maiden spoke, Phada snorted.
“I do not lay dead yet. It comforts me that you believe that at the end of this I shall be. I despise humans, but not all are evil, just greedy. Fools they are, yet they have yet to stop surprising me. Go. Slade’s forces grow stronger by the minute, we can not face him alone, not yet.”
Tears filled Leah’s eyes. Elven Tears are rare to come upon, for their emotions generally are calm. Kissing Phada’s horn, Leah whispered,
“May angels bless you.” With the mysterious package still in her arms, Leah leapt from Phada, right up into a tree. Climbing franticly in her Elven dress, Leah raced up the tree. Her golden hair losing it’s glow, Leah looked at her energy sapphire. She sighed, seeing that it was not glowing any more. She had given her long life to be able to save what she carried, to hide it so Slade could not destroy it.
Reaching the top of the tree, she looked over the land. Next to a rather large hill, the village that Phada had spoke of lay in silence.
Her white gown caught on the tree as she leapt down, tearing a rip in the beautifully woven seams. Nay, Leah did not care, for she was almost safe, if only a moment.
The night still upon her, Leah ran, her heart pounding against her chest. Not turning, she heard a shrill shriek echo in the air. Slade had found that Phada rode alone, and Leah’s heart thoughts were strained by panic.
Her bare feet grew muddy as she ran, and Leah felt the life being drained out of her. That could only mean that Phada was being hurt, and using the healing powers that Leah had given her.
Finally reaching the top of the hill, Leah looked across the vast valley. A sheet of snow lay quietly over the expanse, waiting for the sun to rise. It was morning, to be sure, but the sun would not rise until Slade left.
Treading a path in the snow, Leah dared not to take the time to cover her tracks. More and more, Leah felt her heart being strained, having the energy sucked out of her.
“Phada.” Tears filled Leah’s eyes, a sense of shock flooding through her. Her healing powers were gone, and Leah sensed that Phada’s energy flow had been cut off.
“You were a loyal horse, my old friend.” She said, her voice choking. Still running, Leah whispered,
“You gave up everything to save what is most important to me. My husband rests among his kind, but you were braver. May your head stay high and bold; may your horn remain soft.” A proper death speech, for a unicorn by an elf was unheard of, but yet again, so was what they were doing.
Leah felt her feet go numb, and as she looked down, she realized that the earth was tearing the flesh. Wincing, Leah kept swiftly on her feet. She could see the nearest hut from here, and she had to reach it before Slade found her tracks.
The hut lay there, snow covering it from the top to the bottom. It looked new, but it was obviously poorly made. The roof already looked worn, and the wood looked unstable. But it was a home; she could hide it there.
“May the peasant who lives here be wise.” Leah sighed, tears slipping down her pale cheeks.
Quietly, Leah slipped the bundle onto the wooden platform, and placed her hand on it.
“May it be blessed.” A single tear fell upon the cloak, and then, instantly, her eyes cleared. Her job was not finished. She had to draw Slade away, even if it meant giving up her life.
“So many lives were taken in able to save others.” She said, her emotions fading. She stood up, and looking once more back on the world’s destiny, and then nodded to the sky.
She would probably die, but she didn’t care. She had only cared about what lay in that bundle, Phada, and her husband, and all had been taken away from her.
Running back over the hill, she refused to look back. It was over now; there was nothing she could do about it. Now she would just run. She would do the very thing her husband had refused to do. She would do it without the honor, without others thinking of her fondly in memory. But right now, by saving the only thing left that she loved, she didn’t care.
Sensing Slade’s dark magic approaching, Leah was careful to enter the forest. She couldn’t let on that she had been near the small village.
Walking further into the woods, Leah felt dizzy. Almost to the center of the cursed woods, Leah felt something clutching her throat. Unable to breathe, she collapsed and, the world swirling around her, looked almost blindly around. The last thing Leah saw before being overcome by darkness was Slade’s crooked sword glinting off of the moonlight.
In shadow the legend will remain.
In secret the heir shall be.
Among heroes there will be spies,
Among the truths there will be lies.
Where there is fire there is rain,
Among peasants, there are heroes to see.
