The Forging Chapter 6: Chance encounters

(Note: This story and all characters within are the sole property of the author, and is under the protection of United States copyright law)

It was his turn to watch, and Laith had no trouble staying awake. So many confusing thoughts rushed into his mind. Feryl didn’t seem to remember him, and, as he told himself time and time again, she likely wouldn’t have even if she wasn’t suffering from amnesia. She had no reason to, the encounter that had meant so much to him, likely meant nothing to her.

Egren Laith had wandered into Sparrow Haven nearly a year ago. He had been living in the wilds and traveling about earning his keep by hunting, and fighting. That winter had been particularly harsh, and Laith had wandered the wilds for a long time before he finally reached Sparrow Haven. Having become lost in a snow storm, he was barely alive as he reached town. Faelyn had been the first person to spot him and actually stop to help. She carried him to a nearby inn, he remembered how surprisingly strong she was for a woman, and paid for him to have room and board until he recovered. The first night she sat with him, fed him soup, and bandaged his frostbitten fingers. He was barely awake, but as he drifted from consciousness, he looked up into her face, and knew he would love no one else while she still walked the Earth, and perhaps, not even after.

As soon as he was able to leave his bed, Laith found out his Patroness’s name from the inn keeper. He also told her that he would repay her kindness in fresh game for her kitchen. The inn keeper was so pleased that she went on to tell him that his Patroness, Miss Faelyn Firecloud, had stopped in every day to inquire of his status, and had paid for him to stay at the inn the rest of the season. Laith’s ears burned a bright red at the tips and he felt both a fierce hope that she might lower herself to love him as well, and also a bitter pain to his pride that he should have to accept such charity from this stranger whom he had fallen in love with.

He asked for directions to her home, that he might offer his thanks in person, and headed off to do so. When he reached her home, he could hardly contain his excitement at seeing her. He carefully pushed those thoughts aside and pushed his feelings behind a mask of confidence he certainly did not feel, and he knocked.

Laith was quite surprised when a man answered the door. The man was tall and statuesque, with hair the color of fine ebony and eyes a piercing blue. “The gods are laughing at me again,” Egren Laith thought, “The woman who has so stolen my heart has to be courted by the perfect specimen of a human male.” The man who answered the door just stared at him, and for some reason Laith felt a chill surge through his body. “H-hello, my name is Egren Laith, and I have come to offer my thanks and pledge my service to the lady Faelyn Firecloud.” The tall man just sneered at him ”Oh, you must be that filthy elf she wasted so much money on. I should have had you killed and saved myself the coins.” Laith was sure his ear tips must be on fire so great was his humiliation and wrath. Then he heard a voice call down, and his heart melted, “Dastrius my love, to whom are you speaking?” and upon hearing those words, his heart shattered. She was in love with this beautiful, horrible man.

Until that moment he had held out some hope that he was just a friend, or a casual suitor, but he knew now she loved this man alone. He also knew that this man was not worthy of her love. He hesitated for just a moment, unsure of whether he should tell her how the man had treated him, or turn about and leave. Dastrius made the decision for him. “It is just a beggar my love,” Datrius spoke with a wicked gleam in his eye. “Here kind sir, take these coins and may your fortune improve. In fact, if you would like, come to my shop tomorrow morning and I shall give you steady work for steady pay, and teach you the pride of supporting yourself with your own hard work rather than the pity of others.” though he said it in a jovial voice, the implied jibe cut Laith to the core. The man then leaned in and whispered in Laith’s ear, “If I ever see you at this door again, I will nail you pathetic heart to it.” And with that he shut the door.

Laith stood there for a minute, dumbfounded, and as he did he heard Faelyn whisper, “Oh Dastrius, how was I ever so lucky to find someone with such a kind and generous heart?” Laith stood there on the doorstep for a very long time. He then returned to the inn, and to his room, where he laid in bed without the strength or will to rise. During this time, Laith was thinking. At first he thought only of his pain, but his pain turned into resolution, and then determination. Laith would make something of himself, would work to make himself worthy of Faelyn, and then he would prove to her that this Dastrius is not who he appears to be. From that day forward, he strove towards that goal.

Laith worked hard over the next year, making forays into the great forests nearby and returning with fine game that he would supply to the inn keeper. Word spread of the delicacies she prepared with it, and soon, the inn was the most popular dining place in town. Even nobles began to take notice and they began to make requests for these dishes to be made for their elaborate parties, and banquets. The inn keeper began to pay Laith a salary for his services, and he used the money in turn to expand the inn, and in time, he became part owner. While he was not wealthy, he was comfortable and well respected. Everything was going well for Laith, but he still did not feel ready to approach Faelyn, he needed to gain confidants and learn the secrets this Dastrius his behind his handsome mask.

Then came the day when a request came for him to search out a very rare game indeed. In the highest reaches of the forest, there were rumored to be a rare breed of Black Deer. These deer were larger than normal, and very exotic. A noble wanted to have it for a party he was throwing, as it was something unique, that no one else would have, and would surely increase his standing in the social circles of the town. In exchange for this service, the noble offered Laith a disused townhouse. Laith was ecstatic, if he could acquire this tall house, he would be in a position to be worthy of a woman like Faelyn.

Laith returned to Sparrow Haven with the prize black deer in tow only to find utter destruction. He stood there in shock, marveling at how he had lost everything. The inn, the house, his friends, and Faelyn. “Faelyn” he whispered as he fell to his knees. He began to frantically search the burned corpses, the toppled shops, and ruined streets for any sign of her. He was once again the young boy who had brought destruction to those he loved, and he couldn’t help but think that the Gods were laughing at him.

Feryl woke from a troubling dream she could not place, and saw Laith staring intently into the campfire. "Laith?” Feryl said, and when she received no response, she said it a bit more firmly. Laith looked so sad, “Faelyn” he said, then seemed to start out of his reverie. “Who is Faelyn?” she asked, a hint of jealousy tinging her voice. Laith thought of the irony, and almost told her, but instead he said, “Someone who I lost…who I…” but he could bear to say no more. “I’ll take my leave,” he said, and walked swiftly out into the cool night air.

Feryl felt confused by this, not only because of his reaction, but because of the way that name made her feel. It seemed like the sound of it tickled some part of her mind that she had kept walled away for a reason. She knew that name, and Laith’s face had seemed so familiar to her. “Oh well,” she thought, and she added a few more logs to the fire and settled in for her shift keeping watch.

(Note: This story and all characters within are the sole property of the author, and is under the protection of United States copyright law)