Darkness and The Light - First Challenge Within the darkness, a furtive shape moves, quietly crossing the Black Gate's landing. Under the cover of a cloud hidden moon, a whisper of movement, quickly silenced. A sudden gust of wind pushes clouds aside, letting the starlight reflect upon cold eyes. Tendrils of light beckon from the open doorway, Drawing the shape to the soft laughter within. As the shape stealthily peers into the room, a voice lifts in sudden song, rising like a mist, flowing through the doorway and striking deep. The shape staggers and a dark hand grasps the door. With a cry the dark stranger flees into the night, the lilting voice following, a haunting refrain. And the singer, sitting in a chair by the warm fire, smiles as she sings, looking down upon the child, held fast in her arms, already asleep from the song. The lullaby ends and the mother puts the babe to bed, kissing him gently upon soft curls of gold. Moving to the open doorway, she raises her eyes, heart full with the bright moon's shining.
Darkness and The Light, Second Challenge Clouds raced across the moon bright landscape, throwing a flickering light upon the dark shape. Cold eyes, intent on the Black Gate, looked from it to the small house, and then back again. The faint sound of a voice singing softly, caused the dark shape to inhale sharply, hissing. Leaving the way it had entered, it turned only once, looking back at the Black Gate, eyes glittering with hatred. She felt its vile touch within her mind, even as she walked from the tiny room in the back, and an angry answering flame leapt in her heart. Her voice erupted into the sweet morning song, which she pointed as an arrow to its soul. When she no longer felt its evil presence, she abruptly fell silent, musing thoughtfully, her gaze touching upon the cradle briefly.
Darkness and The Light - Challenge's Prelude Confusion roils unseen behind the blackness, gleaming, within the mind of one who looks out with cold eyes, remembering. Distantly, a mist blows away, revealing a dimly lit forest, three figures sharply come into focus, animated by wild gestures. The taller of the figures, a dark shape not seen clearly, commands in a voice full of anger and fury, refused, by the smallest figure, a woman, golden hair held back by a clasp, set with the shape of a dragon, coiled in readiness, to attack. A challenge is issued by the man at the woman's side, sword raised, golden hair gleaming in a shaft of light through trees glimpsed. The tall dark shape is motionless, held entrapped by fury, then suddenly gone, a whisper of shadow marking the air. The mist once more covers the remembrance, as the cold eyes close, the dull thud of a heart which runs even colder, loud in the darkness. A dark hand comes crashing down upon the table, splintering it in twain, as the dark shape gathers his powers and heads out once more, to challenge the singer's vigilance in the blackness of night's covering, no moon tonight, at least, to aid her, he thinks... And with a shadowed whisper, he is gone.
Darkness and The Light - Final Challenge The soft light gathered the shadows and held them close, surrounding them in its happy glow, laughing. The scent of wild violets washed over the room, as she entered singing softly, the candle held high. Warm wood reflected the soft light, echoing the song, returning it to dance merrily out the open window. Going to the window and pulling the curtain slightly, she gazed at the starstudded sky and felt the darkness. The new moon's not risen yet, she thought, pondering, as she heard the night's melody of creatures stirring. She checked upon the babe, smiling sweetly in his sleep, and ran a finger down his soft cheek, her song lulling. She feels the touch before he even puts his hands on her. Icy fingers against her warm flesh, mouth covered. His wiry frame knocks her to the floor, light flickering, as the candle is knocked from her hand into the cradle. With superhuman strength she throws him off and leaps up, snatching the almost lit blanket and throwing it at him. From deep inside her wells her wedding song, spilling, as she releases it at the dark shape coming swiftly. The lilting melody hits him physically and he doubles in agony, writhing on the floor, his curses howling and rending the air. Her voice gains strength and is soon joined by another's, As her brother leaps through the open door, voice uplifted. Together they stand united, the purity of the song gathered, Into a joyful blessing, a sorrowful good-bye and an ending. To what once had been a beloved husband, father and friend. But was now only a black misty puddle already vanishing. But one golden glow seems to hover from the fading mist, Caressing and touching, then swiftly out the open window. Up into the starred heavens beyond it glides, dancing, and they smile as they hear the melody of a lullaby, star sung.
©1995-1996 Quelonzia/Terry Dean