The Invisible Foe

[Mathy Stockington]

The Invisible Foe 

Part One

Finding Leama

 
As I sit and think about the events of this past summer I get very teary eyed. There were some great times, but mostly it was a very sad summer for me. I will explain:

You see I come from far away. Leama is my sister, as you know. Did you know she ran away from home? You did not? Isn't she gutsy, right? Well Leama had some strange ideas that there should be love when you marry and there is no rush looking for the right person. As a matter of fact Leama wanted to make friends with as many people as she could. I think I know why, she loved to talk. If you ever have trouble sleeping, just let Leama talk you to sleep. It works for me, I am her sister, Mathy, and I would know. Actually I am just eighteen months older then Leama and I love her dearly.

So let me tell you how this all started. One day Mother came to me, I live on a nearby farm with my husband that Father choose for me. There is no love between my husband and myself, but it is a good life. He is kind to all our neighbors. As for me, he really does not talk to me unless he wants me to do a special chore for him. I cook, clean and take care of our small house and farm while he is out in town taking care of business. One day Mother came to me and told me that Father wished to see Leama. I told Mother that I did not want to bring Leama home. She wanted a different kind of life then we had and I respected her for that. So Mother left to tell Father what I said. Oh, I forgot to mention something, after Leama found happiness in Hydlaa, she sent me a letter telling me where she was. I never told anyone about the letter, but Mother always thought I knew where Leama went and she was right. The next day something happened that shocked me. My husband told me, not asked me, that I had to bring Leama home. He wanted me packed and ready to leave to get her first thing in the morning. I thought if I defied him, he would hit me of which he would have every right to do because I was his wife, his possession as it were.

Feeling that I was about to ruin my sister's life I headed out to Hydlaa to tell Leama Father and Mother wished to see her. It was a very long trip, but gratefully uneventful. Then I arrived in Hydlaa and as soon as I got there I knew why Leama wanted to stay here. Our home is different from here. At home hardly anyone talked mostly we worked hard on our farms all day. The wives spent the evenings cooking and cleaning all night. It was not an easy life, but not a bad one considering it put a roof over my head and food in my stomach. Hydlaa was different. Maybe it was the people walking all around talking as they worked or it was the sky, the bluest sky I had ever seen, or maybe it was just a feeling that this was a happy place to be. There was no question that this was different then our home town. Certainly there was a feeling that the people here were happy to be here. As soon as I arrived, I felt something that I never felt before, these people cared about each other.

It was easy to find Leama surrounded by people I knew she called 'friend' telling a story of how she left her home to find friends and love because she did not want to be like her sisters who were married off to complete strangers that had no love for them. My sister Leama looked so happy standing there in front so many people telling them her story. It broke my heart to take her from all she ever wanted. I knew I had no choice but to do as I was told or my husband might hurt me. I also knew Father and Mother would be very upset with me for not doing as I was told. So there I stood waiting for Leama to finish her story and see me standing there. Once she did, she let out a big scream and ran towards me and nearly knocked me over with the biggest hug I had ever gotten. 

Leama introduced me to all her friends. Being that I have never had to learn names because I had no friends at home, it was hard for me. So I smiled at everyone and was polite greeting so many people it was overwhelming for me. After a lot talking, of which Leama is good at, she finally said good night to her friends and took my hand to show me were we were to sleep. We went up a small hill and she told me she slept under stars right there. It was dark but the stars seemed to keep us company as they twinkled in the night sky. It was so peaceful again my heart was heavy for what I was about to do.   

As tired as I was I knew I would not get much sleep that night. Leama wanted to talk. First she told me about how nice everyone was to her. How there were so many races of people here and most got along very well. If there was ever a problem someone always looked out for her being she was so small, even small for a dwarf. Of course she told me of all the handsome dwarfs that lived here and how she hoped one day to meet a special one and marry him because she loved him and he loved her.

As the sky darken I still felt peaceful until Leama told me something that I never expected. She told me she had met someone who scared her. She thought that he left town, but found out that he was still around. Leama looked terrified, the moonlight making her look even more pale and fragile. I just had to hug her. She was genuinely frightened. This made me worry even more about what I had to tell her. When I sent Leama back home someone might be out there that could hurt her. It was bad enough to take Leama from her dreams of friends and having a lover, but to put her life in real danger, I was beside myself. Finally we went to sleep under the brightly glowing stars with the quarter moon shedding its light on us. I felt peaceful and yet very concerned for my dear sister that had no idea why I was even there because she never let me say one word, of which typical of her.

[Donari Tyndale]

Nice start, Mathy. I am looking for more

[Suno_Regin]

Very nice, good job.

One thing you might wanna change, though - you have too many spaces inbetween paragraphs; two suffice. Other than that, I'm surprised.

Is this your first story?

[Mathy Stockington]

Suno

This is my first attempt at writing, yes.

Thank you for the feedback.

Mathy

[Anumesa]

Oh Mathy this is so good!!!!!

One thing, if this is in Yliakum..i dont think there are any stars, seeing as we are all in a large stalagtite/mite whatever its called

Besides that, i loved it and I look forward to more

[Aerianna Kzin]

Very nice, was fun to read, hope there will be more to come as it it's called part one

and you can just say the crystal shining down on them..I've made that stars mistake in game as well.

[Mathy Stockington]

Part Two

Leama's Fear 


The next day we picked apples from the tree to break our fast. The day was sunny and warm with a feeling of good things to come here. I never felt that before. Instead of thinking about all my chores, I looked forward to the day. Leama looked at me and suddenly had a sad smile on her face. She said that she knew it was time to go home. I told her that Mother and Father missed her and wanted to see her again. Leama looked at me and knew I was lying, but never said a word. After breakfast she took me for a walk. We saw people working at the furnaces and she took me to the mines where people worked and talked. All the time as we went place to place, people greeted us. I was amazed about how different it was here then at home. Everything about being here was so different from home. The grass greener, the sky bluer, the air sweeter, the complete atmosphere of this place made me feel like I was welcomed. At home all people walked with their heads down and never said a word to anyone passing by. It was a nicer a day as I was expecting. I never expected to like it here.

Then suddenly Leama stopped and she turned white as a ghost. I asked her what was wrong and she told me not to worry. All the way back to our place where we slept she kept looking around scared that someone was there she could not see. There was fear all over her face. I took her hand as we walked slowly back to where she felt safe. Yet Leama still did not seem to feel safe even when we returned her place under the dark sky to rest. I held her until she finally stopped shaking and she went to sleep. This was not the day to tell her she had to leave soon to go home and her whole life was about to change. It seemed whatever, or whomever, bothered Leama so much did not want me to take her away from her new home and did not want me to mention anything to her yet.

The next day Leama explained that she had a terrible feeling when the man she was afraid of seemed to be around. She tried to explain how she knew he was there even though she could not see him, but I really could not understand it. I listened her tell me he was not there all the time, but when he was she knew it. It was like a strong gust of wind reminding her of his presence and to watch out for herself. Leama looked terrified and I was worried again about sending her back home but soon I would have to tell her that it was time to leave.

[Lolitra, Celorrim Purrty Twins]

wonderful story - keep it coming, I am looking forward to the next bit now.

[Mathy Stockington]

THE INVISIBLE FOE

Part Three

The Explanation
 

The next day Leama was very quiet of which was very unusual for her. She seemed oblivious of the beautiful day that lie in store for us and all the people of Hydlaa, instead she seemed to have a lot on her mind. There was not much to do; most of her friends were working. We decided to spend the day together because she could easily take a day off from work. I thought to myself, I wished I could do that back at home. So she sat on her little hill looking down at the furnaces and the people working at them in Hydlaa. The Azure Sun was a bright yellow ball in the sky warming everyone as they did their chores. It was a rather pleasant day with a slight breeze. This was so unlike at home where I never had time to notice the weather. A sudden sadness came over Leama that I had never seen before. Even at home she was always happy, seeing the best in every situation. She turned to look at me, smiled and said something in a small voice that I did not hear. Finally, loud enough she asked me when she had to leave her new home. I told her in a couple days so she could say good-bye to her friends. Slowly she nodded her head, smiled at me again and continued to look down at the people working. We just sat there, saying nothing for a long time. Then suddenly Leama told me she was scared. I took her hand in mine, feeling her soft skin next to my rough skin. Then she started to cry. My heart again was broken. I hugged her close as we sat side by side. Once she stopped crying, she told me she would explain it to me.

One day she was standing up here on this hill and a man came up here to stand next to her. He was not a dwarf therefore stood much taller then she. He was handsome but in a way unlike anyone she had ever met. He supported a beard and mustache of dark brown hair and had sky blue eyes. It was almost like he had powers that could she could not explain. Leama said she heard of magic that was used to heal people and to keep some people safe. She had the feeling if he had magic in him; it was unlike any that the people she knew possessed. This man was different, she had a feeling he would change her life forever. It scared her and intrigued her all at once. He looked at her and asked her if she knew the story of this hill and she could only stare at in total awe and shake her head no, unable to speak that simple word. Everything about him was so astonishing. So he told her a tale that was long forgotten because all she could do was look into his eyes and stare at him. Leama told me that she wished she could get closer to him and touch him, but she knew not to do that. There was an attraction to this man, it was a different feeling then she ever had before. He seemed to understand her without even saying a word to him. After he told her his story he bowed and said, "We shall see each other again" and left. When he left it seemed he took a part of her with him. It scared her to think of it. So she stayed there for a long while before taking a walk around. A strange feeling that something was different and would always be stayed with her all that day. Leama wondered if she would see him again, she wondered if she wanted to. Many days went by and this strange sensation would not go away. It was like he took something that belonged to her and she could not have it back or maybe he gave her something, she did not know. Leama did not know his name or where to find him, for she looked everywhere for him. Something inside her told her not to tell anyone about him and never mention it. I was the only one who knew.

After she told me her story we walked to the mine because she wanted to get some work done before she left for her journey. Suddenly while she was there at the mine with her friends digging for gold, he was there again. No he was not there, it was more like she sensed him, just his presence. Suddenly she went down to the ground feeling very faint. People just stared at her because she would not move. Slowly Leama rose dizzily and we walked back to where she slept on the top of the hill. That is how it all started she told me with a small whisper voice filled with fear, she also told me that no one knew about this and asked me not to tell, so I promised I would never say a word to anyone she knew about this strange happening.

[Anumesa]

Great!!! 

Cant wait for more

[Mathy Stockington]

THE INVISIBLE FOE 

Part Four

Strange Occurrence


I had been here for three days now. Never had I seen a more wonderful place. The people treated me like family just as they did Leama. I watched Leama as she worked hard to dig her gold as I sat under the magnificent blue sky and just give the gold to the person next to her. Possessions never meant anything to her. Once a handsome dwarf gave her some fish and ale for the gold she had dug and given to him.


This day she stopped half way through her work day to cook the fish and eat. So we sat and ate as she told me this was a real treat because she mostly ate the apples from the trees in the plaza. Then suddenly a shadow covered Leama, like someone was standing over her, but no one was there, and there were no clouds in the sky and she looked very frightened. I looked up above her and saw nothing to make this happen. It was a very odd occurrence with no explanation that I could see, just the darkness over only Leama, no one else. Then I looked at my sister, who at one moment was happy to be eating a special meal now looked very ill, pale and she held her stomach like it pained her. Leama looked like the life had been drained out of her, like someone or something took her soul from her. She gave the rest of her food to someone else who was happy to eat the treat. Leama smiled at me with her frightened eyes and said it was time to go back to work.


That night we talked for a short while, Leama still looked slightly pale. I told her the reason for my coming to see her here. I told her that Mother said she had to return home to talk with Father. I even told her how my husband demanded me to come and get her and how I feared reprisal if I did not get her to go home. She looked at me and nodded and we went to sleep. This night there was not the peaceful feeling that I had experienced during the last two nights.

[Suno_Regin]

Love the descriptiveness.

[Velh Krome]

Your story explains Leama's constant fears quite nicely! Looking forward on the next parts to come!
Besides its content I really like that narrating, first person style of it!
Keep it coming!

[Mathy Stockington]

Part Five

The Party


The next day Leama woke with a smile. She seemed her old self and we went down to the lake to freshen up for the day after we ate our apple for breakfast. Leama told me she only ate one apple at a time so there would be plenty for everyone that wanted one. She always impressed me at how she thought of others before she thought of herself.


We walked around and this time she showed me the library with all its interesting books in it and she showed me the entrance to the sewers so I would be careful not to fall down there. Once she had been down there and told me of the very large and dangerous one eyed rats that lived there, not to mention the smell, she said with a smile as she winked her eye at me. She showed me the statue called Laanx, one of the gods of Hydlaa surrounded by its pretty water fountain. Looking up I could see red temple of Laanx also.


Then she stopped walking and turned to face me. Looking at me, she told me she wanted to say good-bye to her friends before she left. I mentioned a party or a gathering. This made her smile so I put up a note telling anyone who wished to come; Leama was having a party that night.

 
Before the party we washed up and made sure our clothes were clean. We did not talk much. I could tell she was hoping that all her friends would come to say good-bye to her. Many of her friends worked very hard and might not be able to come. We slowly walked down the hill and to my surprise the people there were in great numbers. Everyone greeted Leama as she entered the group. There was food and ale for everyone. One person said they never would miss a party and especially if it was for her friend Leama and she would certainly be there.

 
Then she turned to stand in front of the group of all friends. The sky was just turning a bright red as the Azure sun set making Leama look angelic. With a smile and very sad eyes she told everyone that she had to go back home, her parents missed her. All at once there was silence. One by one each person went to Leama and hugged her telling her how they would miss her. They all wanted to know if she would return and when. Some gave her things she might need for a long journey like this. There was advice given so she could stay safe. By the time the night was over, Leama had a big sack full of food, water, ale, and daggers. There was more then just all the things her friends gave her, there was so much love for my little sister it made me want to cry at the thought that I was taking her from a life and people she obviously loved with all her whole heart. That night I was sure she would sleep well with all the food she had eaten and ale she drank.

[eldoth_terevan]

Thats good writing, not even taking into account the Planeshift aspects to it, which are woven in nicely.