[Fuzzysabeast]: 282.The Legend of Astaria.Chapter 1: The Beginning

I began my life on the 23rd of July, in the year of Our Lord 1223. My Father and mother were very proud to finally have an heir to their Kingdom! As I grew, I watched while my father ruled our Kingdom wisely and with great care, for our Kingdom consisted of many races and creatures, all of whom could easily be offended. The trolls from the Forest of Unlight and the dwarves from the mountains and hills were especially short tempered and would go to arms at the slightest hint of betrayal.

The first years of my life I spent being watched over by my elvish nursemaid Ashlight. She spent many a day looking after me while I ran off to play at the side of my best friend, a half-giant named Treeshaker. Treeshaker and I spent many hours chasing after treasure, catching fairies, and dueling with our wooden swords. We spent much time exploring the countryside looking for new conquests and adventures, all the while learning the countryside and all the life and people that lived in it. Most days I would return to Ashlight crusted with mud or dirt and reciting tall tales of my daily exploits until I fell into deep slumber.

When I reached my fifteenth year of life, rapidly approaching manhood, our Kingdom, strangely, began to change. The dwarves had moved deep into their mountain tunnels and caves and not been in contact with my father in some time. The trolls moved further into the forest and cut off all ties to my father’s Kingdom, even attacking messengers and the occasional caravan that entered into the forest.

My father called all of his trustworthy advisors to a secret counsel in his chambers to discuss the growing problems in the Kingdom. He, to my great pleasure, allowed me to be involved in this. The counsel had hardly begun when in burst a great cloaked figure followed by my father’s Royal Guard, their swords drawn, ready to impale this intruder on the ends of steel blades if he so much as made an attempt to harm their lord.

“Guards, hold your swords ‘til we see what this intruder intends,” my father ordered. “That goes for you also young Darvan. Hold your blade. Now intruder, what is your intention?”

As the stranger pulled back his cloak, we were all relieved to see that it was the great wizard Flameholder, my father’s most trusted friend and advisor.

“I have come bearing dark tidings my friends,” bellowed Flameholder. “For far to the north a great shadow is forming and with it comes great evil and a dark time for us all!”

Flameholder then strode to my father’s table and pointed to a place on the map that was laid out upon it. “ Here to the north at the far reaches of the Kingdom, in the Desert of Desolation, an evil wizard named Malefic has commanded that a great fortress be built for him. He has ensnared the trolls into serving him as his personal army. Malefic also brought with him a full army of goblins at least thirty thousand strong,” Flameholder stated gravely.


“Then it must surely be Malefic who has pushed the dwarves into hiding,” I interrupted.


“Quite right you are, young Darvan,” said Flameholder. “Malefic ordered the extermination of the dwarves after they refused to build his fortress for him, but the dwarves hid away deep in the mountains where the trolls could not reach them. Though I have also been to see the dwarves and they have sent word with me that they are awaiting your orders, My Lord.”


“Who do we have that stands with us, then?” inquired one of the Royal Guards.


“That is a very good question indeed.” the King said gravely. “Flameholder, things may be very grave indeed if we have no one to turn to in this time of need.”


“The elves will stand strong for you, My Lord.” boldly stated Windmere, the leader of the elves, as he entered the room and bowed before the King.


“Now Windmere, never should you have to bow before me, my old friend,” said the King. “your presence is always welcomed in my Kingdom.”


“But My Lord, that still isn’t enough troops!” cried out the General of the Army Arias.


“Tell me Arias, how many troops do we have?” asked the King.


“We are ten thousand strong My Lord, and the elves are fifteen thousand strong. Then there are the dwarves, but at last count there were only eighty-five hundred that were trained for battle My Lord,” stated Arias. “Malefic has thirty thousand goblins and at least twenty thousand trolls under his command. How do we hope to defeat numbers like that with less than forty thousand troops?”


“Poor Arias, you forget about our friends the giants, and my old friend Mardrik the dragon.” replied the King. “The giants are easily ten thousand strong and Mardrik more than equals two thousand troops in strength alone.”

With just shy of forty-three thousand troops, a dragon, and Flameholder, the counsel began to make plans to defend the Kingdom and put an end to Malefic before he had a chance to implement any further plans.
At this I left the counsel to make their plans and went back to my chambers to take in all I had just heard. It was all too much to bear. How had such an evil being been allowed to come to this much power without anyone noticing?

I had only been in my chambers for a few minutes when Ashlight strolled into my chambers and gazed at me with much concern in her eyes.

“Why does your face show so much worry Young Master?” inquired Ashlight.

“Have you not heard the news of the dark wizard, Ashlight?” I asked her.

“Yes My Lord, I have heard the stories, but you should let your father carry the Kingdom’s burden upon his shoulders.” said Ashlight. “You are far too young to look so concerned; what would all the pretty maidens think of such an agitated looking young man?”

At this, I broke out in laughter. After all these years, Ashlight was the one who had always been there for me. She was always there with kind eyes, a warm smile, and soft arms to hold me tight. I glanced up at Ashlight’s smiling face and only hoped that someday I would meet a maiden that could be there for me as Ashlight had been for so many wonderful years. I only wish that my father could give me half as much concern and care as Ashlight has.


“Ashlight could you send a messenger to my old friend Treeshaker and ask him to meet with me at the Fire Lake Pub this night?” I asked. “I need to discourse this disquiet with him!”


“As you will My Lord.” Ashlight sufficed.


Later that evening as I slipped out of the palace, I paused to think of what my father would do, if I were to stole away, and join into the battle alongside the giants. I resolved to discuss this with Treeshaker when I arrived at the pub. I had determined that I would not let my father bind me within his protective walls any longer. My spirit yearned to be set free! I longed to determine my own fate, not to follow the fate my father had dictated for me.


As I entered the pub, Treeshaker greeted me warmly with a great embrace as he cried for the barkeep to bring each of us a pint of their best ale. We arranged ourselves at a table in the rear of the establishment and exchanged pleasantries. After the wench had brought us our ale, I divulged all that had been told at the counsel earlier that day to him. Treeshaker gazed at his ale for what seemed like an eternity before he made any remarks about what I had just told him, and when he did, it seemed to be out of frustration.


“What is it that you are planning Daravan, for I know that you wouldn’t have called for me just to tell me news that I would hear of by this eve?” He questioned.


“What makes you think I have some sort of plan, my old friend?” I asked.


“Come now Daravan, do you actually expect me to believe that you don’t?” He queried. “After all these years, you still think I don’t know how that mind of yours works?”


“You are right my friend! I do have a plan, just so long as you believe it to be possible.” I answered. “I plan to leave the palace and join the battle alongside you and your people!”


“Ah, now that would be a sight to see, you’d have to be on a strong steed to even keep pace with us!” he exclaimed with a smile growing ever larger on his face.


“My friend all I ask is can it be done?” I asked quickly.


“Yes, I believe it could be done, all I ask is that you wait three days so that I can make the necessary arrangements.” He sharply replied.


“Three days it is then.” I rang out as we raised our glasses in toast.