Swan Wood - RPG

[Manardariel]

“We might as well go then...”

Fiona gratefully looked at Elena, who had just posed the note on her pillow. Tomorrow, she thought, tomorrow I will be extra nice to her....

The two girls tiptoed out of the room. Fiona didn´t even dare to breathe. She lead them in the garden. Out here it was bright, though huge clouds seemed to be forming in the east. Swords seemed to kling in the background. Fiona turnred around to see a terrified Elena, trying very hard to be brave. “We´re going through the back gate. We can climb over it, it´s really small.” Elena nodded.

Without another word, both girls walked over. Fiona showed Elena where she could put her feet before climbing over herself. The old appletree´s leaves stirred in a breeze. She felt watched. The girls followed a path around the house. Shortly before they broke out into the main street, Fiona turned her head back to the house.

“We´ll be back.”

The village seemed sweeped empty. The streets were silent, and yet a very distant sound of battle could be heard, more like an echo. It was a heavy kind of silence, a silence that made the hairs on Fiona´s back prickle. This was not the village she knew. This was a place she didn´t want to see alone. Well, she wasn´t alone now! Elena was silently keeping up, her shoulders pulled up and her eyes wide open. By insticnt, Fiona took her hand. “Don´t be scared.” She wispered, squeezing it tight.

They turned around a corner, another. Signs of destruction everywhere. The bakery had burt out, Farmer Lidun´s house was only a pile of rocks. Fiona felt fury and grief rising in her at he same time. Why did they have to do it? It´s not fair, it´s not fair.... Trees had been cut down, even the streets showed marks of fire and dark stains. Blood, Fiona realized in shock.

They turned right. Fiona closed her eyes, measuring the steps towards her house. She knew Elena was doing the same. Time seemed to have stopped. She couldn´t bare it. She didn´t want to open her eyes, didn´t want to know...but she had to.

“On the count of three, we open our eyes.” She told Elena. “One, two- THREE”

[ September 03, 2003: Message edited by: Manardariel ]