The Invisible Foe

[Anumesa]

oh wow...... SO vivid!! Great writing

More!!!

[Mathy Stockington]

Part Twenty-Six

Day 10–The Day After


I woke the next day. Somehow I had survived. There I was completely covered in mud looking up at the sky. It was a beautiful blue sky with big white clouds in it. This day made it seem yesterday never happened. I was buried half way in the mud. There was a good event in all this when I got thrown away from the rock I landed with my body toward the sky or otherwise I would be dead. It took some effort to sit up because the mud seemed to be holding me there.


Once I was able to sit up I noticed that my sack was not far from me. It had some mud on it, but the rains had washed most of it away. I was so thirsty and I hoped my water was still there. Again the mud stuck to me; making a horrible noise as it released me. The mud weighted me down so it was hard for me to walk. My one foot came out of my boot as I tried to move it. So I put my boot back on and with shear determination I got up. And I fell back down because I could not move my feet being they were buried in the mud.


All I wanted was a drink of water. So I dug my feet out of the mud with my hands hoping I could move the mud that seemed to be holding me down. With much effort I rose and picked up my feet to walk with small steps. It took a long time to get to my sack, but once I did I opened it and saw everything was wet inside with a little mud, but mostly everything was in satisfactory condition. I pulled out my water and drank of it, put the top back on it, and put it back in my sack.


There was plenty left until I got back to see Mother and Father to get more. Now I had to lift up my sack and see if I could carry it. I could not get it out of the mud. So on my hands and knees, I could not be any dirtier then I was now anyway, I dug my sack with my hands.


Finally standing with my sack I started what I knew to be a very long day of walking. Each step took incredible effort being that my feet seemed to weigh twice what they should with all the mud on my boots. I thought of the beautiful day that I walked without my boots in the soft green grass. I could not be any dirtier then I was, maybe I could walk without my boots and it would easier. Then I thought of how to get my mud encrusted feet back in my boots later and decided to keep them on and walk the best I could. It was a slow way to travel though I managed to go forward.


After what seemed like hours of being in the sun walking I realized I was dry. The land around me was now dirt, awful brown dirt, the heavy mud was gone. I walked to the side of the road and sat down for a rest. I was exhausted, but instead of napping I started to remove the large clumps of mud off my clothes and my boots. This would make it easier for me to walk the final distance I needed to.


Still terribly dirty, I felt better without the large pieces of mud on my clothes. A nice hot bath was in order and it was coming soon. I knew I had to talk to Father and return to Hydlaa. I wanted to tell Mathy to stay and not return also. Now I knew there was a better way of life.


To think I did it all by myself, then I realized I did not take this long journey alone. I even thought he must have been watching during the storm or certainly I would be dead. No longer dreading seeing him with his wonderful comforting smile, I wished he was here before me now.


I gathered my things and thought about exactly what to say. Father had to understand that I was sincere in what I had to tell him. He had to realize what I wanted to do was right for me.


This is my life and wanted to live it my way.

[Mathy Stockington]

Part Twenty-Seven

Day 11

The landscape changed as I walked on this day. Ahead of me I was beginning to see green grass again. Maybe I would be to my childhood home by nightfall or by midday tomorrow. This excited me to think I did it all by myself, and then I realized I did not take this long journey alone. I even thought he must have been watching me during the storm or certainly I would be dead. No longer dreaded seeing him with his wonderful comforting smile, beautiful face, warm hands and gentle touch, I wished he was here before me now.


There were so many questions I had for him. He guided me back to the right path, he healed my ankle, and he protected me during the storm. Silently I thanked him and felt him smile at me. I would see him again soon I knew it. If I had just one more day to get there I better know what to say to Father.


I gathered my things and thought nervously about exactly what to say. Father had to understand that I was sincere. He had to realize what I wanted to do was right for me. I walked with my head down frightened and uncertain about my future.

[Mathy Stockington]

Part Twenty-Eight
 
 Day 11 Almost Night Fall


I could no longer go on, exhausted from walking all day and the brutal storm from the day before. The Azure Sun had not darkened yet though I had to rest. Finding a place to stay near a large rock I sat down on the cold hard ground. I had not eaten anything this day so I looked into my sack to find I had two apples left. I looked at my dirty hands and thought I cannot eat with these hands so I checked to see how much water I had left. I brought water to drink never thinking I would need it to bathe with.


Suddenly the sky turned dark over me and I looked up with a smile. There he was standing over me. How I wished I would see him once more before I arrived at my childhood home. There he was smiling his wonderful smile at me as if he knew I wanted to see him. I was in awe of him, just his presence made me feel so blissful. It was more then a happiness that I felt; I felt complete when he was next to me. We were a part of each other and being together felt so right to both of us.


He walked away from me being gone for a short time. I knew he would return so I sat there happily waiting for him. Once he returned he knelt down besides me with a large bowl of water that I could see steam coming from. I looked at him in wonder as he smiled at me. Taking a large cloth out of his bag he dipped it into the warm water and cleaned my muddy hands.


I felt his warm fingers touch mine, feeling my body tingle as he touched my fingers, then my palms, then the top of my small hands. My hands now clean; he put his hand under my chin, and held me still as he washed my face. Without words he told me to close my eyes, but I did not want to. He looked at me and I realized he was not going anywhere so I could close my eyes as he washed me. Then he lowered my shirt some to expose my neck and shoulders as he rinsed all the mud and dirt off me. He finished touching my face with his gentle warm hands again as my skin tingled everywhere he touched. I wished he could always be there to touch me like this.


Then he took off my boots and put my feet in the bowl of warm water to clean them. I looked at him and realized something. This was what a man and women should be like if they shared the love I was looking for. He then took my boots and shook all the mud out of them cleaned them and put them back on my feet, again with such a light touch, I hardly knew he did it.


Then he sat next to me smiling. He said that this is what I should expect from a man who loved me. To have someone that would take care of me as I would take care of him. He told me in his sweet voice that is what love truly is about. Now I knew why he came to me. He wished me to find what I always wanted to know about love, and to be loved, and to understand.


He told me how completely and totally wonderful it was to have someone to be with always, someone to talk to, and someone to share all my fears, hopes, needs and wants. Love was something to cherish and hold close he told me. It takes work to make it continue because sometimes it could die between two people, but he thought that if a couple worked on it they could be happy together forever.


As he talked I watched his face, eyes and hands and then he held my little hands in his to keep mine warm. He told me love is a feeling that makes a person tingle, can make their stomachs hurt, and even make a person loose sleep because all of all the thoughts, feelings and desires they have for each other. Love is the greatest thing that could happen to all the different races, and that were so lucky to be able to love. He took out an apple from my sack and handed to me. I took it and ate some of it and then gave him some. He took a bite and gave it back to me.


He said love is sharing each other's thoughts, minds, and souls so completely that nothing else mattered then the joy of each other. As I stared at him I finally understood why he came to me. He had a lesson to teach me and wanted to show me by actions rather then words so I would understand.
 

One day he told me when I was not looking for it, I would have all this and more. We shared my apple and he stood up to walk away again. Upon his return he carried a large blanket of which he wrapped me in to sleep. Without any words again I knew he would stay with me through the night. He held me and comforted me for my big day yet to come. I had to be brave and he was helping me.
I leaned against his warm body so tired, but I had so many questions for him. He said to me as he held me close to him that one day I would understand when I experienced love for myself.


We watched the Azure Sun darken, turning the sky into brilliant colors of red and purple, so very peaceful. We stayed together that night and slept under the blanket he brought to keep us warm. I thought that if this is love I wished it for both Mathy and I. Nothing could be better.

[Mathy Stockington]

Part Twenty-Nine

Day 12
 

This morn was unlike all the others since I started my journey. Though there were times I felt him near me, having him here, and right next to me, made me feel safe. We rose to a beautiful blue sky the exact color of his eyes and then smiled at each other. Again I felt that same tingle as before. Such joy I thought I would never have that I did not want this moment to end.


He slowly moved away from me and got to his feet. After a short while he returned with a plate full of food. He asked me if I remembered the day I felt sick to my stomach at the gold mine. Yes I remembered, and he told he wanted me to feel love, but it did not happen as he planned and we laughed. Now I understood I told him. We shared our meal, touching hands, looking into each others eyes, totally contented. It was a wonderful feeling that I cannot describe. The oneness, the safety, the joy and the total ecstasy was overwhelming. It was like I felt complete.

 
As he sat next to me I knew he felt the same. We just looked into each others eyes and felt at peace as he fed me and I him. He then said do not let anyone stop me from finding the lover I seeked. He knew I was a seeker of knowledge, and now I realized I was also a seeker of feelings too.

 
We finished our meal and laid back down on the blanket happy to be near each other holding hands. We turned to face each other and he said now that he taught me what he came for he would leave. I was saddened, but I understood. He would never truly leave me, but I had to find what I needed, love. I had a small idea of what love was about and wanted to know more.

 

Now it was up to me to convince Father so I could return to Hydlaa.

[Mathy Stockington]

Part Thirty

Day 12


By the time I was walking to my final destination the sun was almost as bright as possible. It would not take long to finish my journey. As I walked I thought of my new friend. When we finished eating our meal and he stood looking down at me and suddenly surprised me by starting to cry. He said he did not know why he had to do these things he did but he always tried his best.
 

It was fate that sent him to me he told me. So there we stood looking at each other until he put his warm inviting arms out to me and I tried to hug him though he towered over me. Picking me up like I was nothing more then a small sack as he held me close to him and I put my head on his chest.


It felt perfect. So this was love I thought as I tried to snuggle closer to him as he held me closer. Whispering in my ear he told me that he would miss me, but it was better to have known each other for this short time then not at all.
 

I just held him close, this man that showed me kindness and love and so much more. He had no idea how much he taught me and how grateful I was to him. Now face to face as he held me I kissed his check, wet with his tears and touched it with the back of my hand whipping his tears away smiling.


He put me down on the hard ground as a small puff of dirt came up around me. This land of nothingness brought me such joy that I no longer looked at it as a place of death, but one of new beginnings. As I realized he was not my foe, not even just a friend, but someone much more.


Thinking all these thoughts as I walked must have made me walk faster because I could see my hometown come into view. It was time to sit and think of what to say to Father so I could put the lessons I just learned to good use.

[Deckchair]

    this is awesome! more! more!!! (please )
i really like your style too

[Mathy Stockington]

Part Thirty-One

Day 13


I hoped I was prepared to talk to Father. The day was very cold adding to my nervousness. It was a long eventful journey that I would not forget. This was another story to tell, well at least part of it to my friends once I returned to Hydlaa.


My steps slowed down as got closer to the place I knew as home until I went to Hydlaa to live. My stomach was churning with anticipation of what was to come. Father was not one to be reasoned with; he wanted things his way and only his way. Though it was a cold day the Azure sun shone brightly in the blue sky and suddenly there was darkness over me, the familiar darkness that meant I was not alone. I smiled as he told me to be brave and gave me the encouragement to go on.


Then I realized I still did not know his name, but it no longer mattered. Again I thought this person who I feared was not really my foe after all he was here to help me to make my dreams a reality. I smiled up at the dark cloud over me and said thank you and he smiled back at me as the cloud lifted and was gone.



I was very close to town now. I could see how the terrain was going to change from this dry dirt to that of green grass with homes and farms behind them. These were very hard working dwarfs. A day started before the sun brightened and ended way after it had darkened. There was one rule here and that was the females worked very hard for their men. The men were never questioned or talked to unless asked nor did they question what was expected of them.


All the marriages were prearranged for the good of the male population. It was not a terrible life it just was not a life for me, and that is why I ran away from it before. This time I hoped to be able to walk away with my head high with Father's blessings. My stomach hurt at the thought. I was afraid of what I was about to do.


Slowly I entered town seeing ladies working in the fields. The town was really very organized with its small homes and large fields behind them. Each house was exactly the same made of stones so they would last for many years to come. The houses were just one room where the families divided the room into an eating area and a place to sleep. There was a big fireplace in the middle of the largest wall that was used to make the meals and keep warm while the family was there. The roofs were made of straw tightly packed together that sometimes leaked making the dirt floors turn to mud. It was a simple life for these people, my people as I thought about it, hard working good people that did what they had to because this was their way of life for many past generations.

[Mathy Stockington]

THE INVISIBLE FOE
Part Thirty-Two
Day 13


First I went to Mathy's farm to give her husband the letter she wrote. A lady dwarf answered the door when I knocked and I gave her the letter that somehow made it through the storm telling her it was for her husband. She took it without correcting me and I thought he must have remarried in Mathy's absence. This was a good thing I thought. Maybe he thought she died during her travels, but it made me sad to think I might not had to return after all.


Then I thought quickly of the lessons I learned during my travels knowing I would not have changed a thing. Then I walked to my parent's house. I stood there looking at it for a very long time. I remembered the day I found the perfect opportunity to run away when no one was around and of how I picked vegetables for weeks before I left putting them in a hole I dug for storage until I was ready to take them heading for a new life outside this town.


As I stood there in front of this house that I grew up in I felt sad because I did not want to go in. I did not want to knock on the door to see what awaited me inside. Slowly with very heavy feet I walked up to the door and still hesitated to knock. I felt his presence telling I had to be brave and do this. Then I raised my freezing cold hand to knock on the door, but I knocked so gently no one answered. I felt him take my hand and make me knock harder so they would hear it. I stood at the door and waited completely frightened.

[Lolitra, Celorrim Purrty Twins]

I am amazed at this story, it is wonderful, and has kept me entertained during my time in Hospital, thank you so much.

[Mathy Stockington]

Part Thirty-Three

Day 13- Part two
 

It was time for their late meal of the day by my estimation of the brightness of the Azure Sun so I thought they would be home. There was not an answer to my knocking so I tried again. This time the door opened to me as Mother stood in front of me. She looked at me and frowned and said that I caused a lot of trouble for her and let me into the house. It was warm, but not inviting by any means. I closed the door against the cold and stood there wondering if I would be greeted or even spoken to.
 

My parents sat at the table eating in silence not even looking at me. Finally Father finished his meal and stood up leaving Mother to clean up after him as usual. He turned to me and said I was to marry tomorrow to a man he found for me. There was no asking me, he just told me. He also told me to clean up the house. I stood at the door not moving and finally I said it. I defied Father and I said no. He looked at me and walked over to where I stood, where I hoped he would not because I feared his reaction. He loudly said that I was to do as I was told. Again I said no and he hit me hard across the face making my skin turn hot and sting where he hit me. I put my cold hand there to stop the pain and thought of how gentle a man could be.


So this was why I came home I thought so he could marry me off to some stranger for profit. As much as it hurt where he hit me, it hurt more now that I realized he did not love me. I asked him if he did and stood looking at me as I tried not to cry and he laughed. I was not invited to eat nor was I greeted. I still stood right where I was by the door and felt so sad it was all I could do not to cry after learning what true love was all about.

 
He glared at me and said I must be ready by the time the Azure Sun started to shine for the ceremony. I just looked at him and said no. He hit me again and pushed me out of his way so he could go out the door. There was nothing more to say it was going to be his way and I could not think of a way out of it.

[Mathy Stockington]

Part Thirty-Four

Day 13


Now both hurt physically and emotionally I went to the table and started to help Mother clean. She said nothing to me as I put the stone dishes in the pot of heated water so I could wash them. I turned to look at her, she had no joy in her eyes, and she looked very old to me as I thought this is what this way of life does to a female dwarf. I did not want to be like her. I felt sorry for her.


Then I put my hand on her hand feeling her dry old skin against mine. She looked at me with a sad look and tried to take her hand back. I thought that no one probably ever touched her with affection in her whole life. I brought her hand closer to me and took her in my arms and held her close. As I held her I thanked her for all she had done for me. Then I moved away but still held her in my arms so I could look at her eyes and told her that I loved her. She stood before me looking very old for her age, worn out from all the work she did day in and day out, and cried. No one ever told her she was loved before and it broke my heart so I cried also.


We just stood there holding each other close as we continued to cry. Once we stopped and could talk again she told me to run away far away or I would have the same life as she did. She knew I wanted a different life.

[Mathy Stockington]

Chapter Thirty-Five

Day 13– My Final Destination
 

I wanted to leave the house, but I was totally exhausted. It was very late once Mother and I finished cleaning the house and got it ready for the next day. Still Father had not returned so I thought maybe I had time to leave in the morning before he returned. My last chore of the night was to build up the fire in the fireplace so we would be warm for the night and I could sleep.

 
Mother was already resting on the floor by the fire so I did not mind helping her so she could sleep. Then suddenly he appeared before me as I put the logs on the fire. I looked at him as his eyes showed anxiety for me as they glowed by the fire a brilliant blue that I so loved. I touched his cheek and smiled. He wanted to give me the strength to leave now. I was beyond being totally exhausted from my trip and he knew it. Besides the idea of starting to head back now in the middle of the night seemed like a bad idea.

 
He whispered to me that he would stay with me and protect me for the night. Again I smiled at him and told him not to worry though he looked very concerned. As he left me after he reminded me not to give up on my dreams. My body ached from my head to my toes from the long walk today and all the housework I had done all night. I sat in front of the fire to ready myself for my nights rest.

[Mathy Stockington]

Part Thirty-Six

Day 14–My Final Destination–Day One
 

Father came into the house like a storm. He grabbed me off the floor where I had been sleeping. The Azure Sun had not even brightened yet. He yelled at me telling me I was lazy to be still sleeping at this hour. I was scared of him to say the least. His eyes showed total scorn for me. I feared he would hit me again. I looked away to see if Mother was still sleeping and saw she was sitting up where she had slept looking at both of us helplessly.
 

Father carried me out of the house in his arms holding me so tightly it hurt my ribs as he walked me to another house in town. Once we got there he knocked on the door that was opened by an old dwarf with a grey beard. Father tossed me on the floor saying there would be no ceremony and if the old dwarf wanted me, I was his and left to go back to his house.


There I was on the dirt floor of this strangers house as I looked up at him he kicked me. Get to work he screamed at me as he reminded me I was now his wife and should always do as I was told. My body hurt now from Father carrying me so harshly, being thrown on the hard dirt floor, and being kicked by this stranger. It was difficult for me rise, yet alone breath, but I knew I had to or otherwise I would be hit again or worse.
 

Slowly I rose to my feet to make the morning meal for him. I found vegetables and dried meat to cook. I wondered where his first wife was as I prepared his meal. Then he stood before me and told me to tend to the garden and make sure the house was in order by his return for the evening meal. He left with the food I made for him.


As I looked around I saw the house was in terrible disarray. It would take all day just to clean it. By this time the Azure Sun had brightened the sky and I could go outside and see the farm behind the house. It was totally overgrown with weeds and had very little vegetables growing in it. I was distressed to say the least. So this was to be my life anyway. I had finally found out what love was about and now I realized I would never really experience for myself.


Would it have better if I had never known what it felt like to be loved and know the wonderful feelings that came with it? At that moment I realized my invisible foe as I used to call him was gone. Had I defied him and all he taught me, was it like what he taught me meant nothing? I realized something else and that was the other side of love was a deep hurt that seemed to grow inside me filling me up with total despair.


I looked up at the ceiling of tightly packed and weathered straw, and cried for him to come back. I screamed how sorry I was, but he did not appear nor did I have the feeling that he was there with me. He was gone as was my hope of ever finding love and being happy. I knew I could not run away again. Tthis was to be my life for as long as I lived.


Again looking at the old tired house I started to work as I cried tears of sadness. I was alone and now and I will always be. I cried in total anguish. Now I will never realize my dream, I lost my best friend and I lost my life, as I wanted it to be. Never would I return to Hydlaa. Everything I ever wanted was lost and I knew I would never be able to recover it again. I was all alone.

[Anumesa]

More please

Nice writing