Book One: The White Havens
by Nathaniel, 5th grade
Part One, Chapter One:
Kkarovoier Village, Apheros * * *
Euphora was running. Running fast. She had to run faster, or the Shadow would consume her; swallow her into infinite darkness, never to see light again. She felt hot steam on her neck: it must be gaining on her. Any minute now, she would be dead. But, as she was saying her prayers and farewells, a golden scimitar whistled through the dense air and struck the beast through its membranes, killing it. An ear-splitting cry came from the beast as it died: “I swear I shall kill you!”
Euphora awoke, drenched in cold sweat. “What is this deed I have done, to anger the spirits so? Why do they torture me with these terrible dreams?” she asked, scared of what the vision had meant. She drifted off into another uneasy sleep . . . . Darkness. Fire. “Have I been slain?” she thought. No. The fire turned into the screaming faces of the villagers in a village ablaze with light, and burned a sickening black. The Shadow. Euphora awoke, this time at dawn, convinced her terrible dream was true. She got up, put on a dress and a cloak, and stepped out into the village. What she saw nearly terrified her to death. The village was aflame, with smoldering bodies on the ground. If she thought it couldn’t get worse, she was wrong, for suddenly a grey and withered hand wrapped around her ankle . . . .
Kingdom of Light, Apheros * * *
“My King, the Shadow is spreading. Soon it will reach us. You can not get ill, not now.”
“I know, my trusted page. But everyone must face death, someday.” “Then not today my lord, not today.”
Kkarovoier Village, Apheros * * *
The hand, apparently, was attached to a blackened and smoldering villager. He was still aflame . . . and bald. Probably a monk. As he spoke, his voice chilled Euphora to the bone. It was flat and raspy. If what he said must be recounted, then here it is: “You mussst travel to the kingdom of light. Save Apherosss from the . . . . “ He said no more, for he had burned up in a flurry of flames. Euphora buried his ashes on the outskirts of town. That was when she saw it: A large, moving black line on the distant horizon. “Apheros, preserve us! Or, at least, those who still live,” Euphora thought, as she ran into the forest for protection.
The Gates of Kkarovoier village, Apheros * * *
The Kraggatts were invading fast. They had already broken down the giant stone door that guarded the village, raided it, and burned most of the village itself. They served the Shadow. And they had carried out its bidding. Or, at least, part of it . . . .
Chapter Two. Somewhere in the Forests of Falbador * * *
The trees seemed to whisper, “Go to the kingdom of light! Save Apheros, Euphora!”, as she walked through the forest. “I must and I will,” she thought. She slowed her pace to a walk, and turned to the west, toward the sea. The sun was setting to the north (instead of the normal eastward setting), and that meant death. Later on in the evening, she reached the shore and found the village priest’s boat. She knew just what to do . . . .
The boat sailed smoothly over the rippled water. Euphora’s hair blew in the salty wind. At dusk, she recounted the day’s events, and drifted off into the welcoming or unwelcoming abyss of dreams.
She awoke at dawn, and yearned for food and water, but decided to press on, to whereever it was she was going. She rowed on, until about noon, when a dark, moss-encrusted isle appeared on the distant shore. There were lush forests on the island, and…Water! Euphora quickened her rowing, and reached the isle by sunset.
As soon as she stepped foot on solid ground, she went off in search of the water she had seen earlier. At last, she came to a shady stream, and she drank greedily from its cool depths. Now with her thirst quenched, Euphora set off in search of food. She found some herbs and berries, and they suited her fine. As the sun withdrew its last orange tendrils, Euphora rested her head upon a tree.
Abruptly, the tree said: “Please stop. You are hurting me.” Euphora jumped up in alarm. Had the tree just spoken to her? She kicked the tree, and it let out a moan of pain, confirming it had spoken to her. Just then, a young and joyous lad melted out of the tree. When he spoke, he sounded as if he popped out of trees almost every single day of his life.
“I am Rhoanon, an elf. What brings ye to this isle, traveler?” he asked.
“I seek the kingdom of light. Why are you here?” said Euphora.
“Ah, that I shall not reveal. And who are ye?”
“I am Euphora. I come from a distant village. Can you help assist me in the downfall of the Shadow? And guide me through this isle?”
“Aye, but we must be cautious of the- well, never mind. Best be on our way, we have a long ways to travel before we can rest.” And so, the journey of Euphora and Rhoanon, began . . . .
Part Two, Chapter One
“I am being consumed. Consumed by darkness. I will die.” That is all that went through Euphora’s mind, as she was sucked down into an immense black pit. The hand’s grip tightened as it pulled her down, down, down.
“Euphora! Euphora!” The hands receded, and a golden blast engulfed her . . . She sat up and realized Rhoanon was kneeling over her, calling her name. “Euphora, you scared me. I thought- I thought you were dead. You stopped breathing for a minute. I was really scared. We have nearly reached the Shadow’s domain. We must hurry, before the. . . .”
Rhoanon was cut off by a sound. Deep breathing. Jaws snapping. “They are upon us!” he squealed. Suddenly, a black, drooling wolf leaped out from the shadows. It bounded forward and sank its jaws into Rhoanon’s waist. He let out a cry of surprise, shock, and pain. Then his world went black.
Euphora screamed as the wolf turned on her. It growled menacingly, its eyes burning into her. She tried to run, but she couldn’t move an inch. The wolf let out a long, shattering howl. Suddenly, more and more wolves closed-in on her. She was surrounded by a dark mass of fur, and hot steam ran across her body, engulfing her. “The Shadow- it has consumed me. I have failed Apheros. Farewell, Rhoanon.” That was the last thought that went through Euphora’s mind, followed by a cry of shock, as a wolf wrapped its jaws around Euphora’s neck . . . . . . . . . . . .
Part Two, Chapter Two
Euphora woke to find herself chained to a boulder. Rhoanon was in a pool of blood on the floor. Euphora tried to call his name, but she had been gagged. She also had a deep gouge in her neck.
Suddenly, a man with a scraggly beard stepped-out from behind a boulder. “Your friend won’t live. Neither will you. The poison from the wolves of darkness spreads fast. You have only mere minutes to live. Do you have anything to say before you pass to the White Havens? If you do, it will probably take you all the time you have left to live, traveler.”
Euphora gawked at him, as she realized she was going to die. The odd man come over and un-gagged her, so Euphora could speak her life’s lament. “I- I,” she stammered. “I have failed to reach the kingdom of light. I have failed to save Apheros from the Shadow.”
The scraggly bearded man let out a low laugh at this. “You fool. I am the Shadow!” As he finished his unlikely sentence, he burst into what seemed like a thousand tortures: the Shadow. He laughed a hollow laugh.
It chilled Euphora to the bone. Or maybe it was just the poison. “Goodbye, Rhoanon. Forever.” She whispered, tears falling from her eyes . . . .
* * *
And so passes another, to the White Havens. Euphora’s soul stopped at the grand gates to the White Havens, to be greeted by a soul keeper, who leads souls to the havens. He smiled.
“Welcome, Euphora of Apheros. Aah, so the Shadow, who you so willingfully tried to stop, killed you. You shall find only what you wish in this haven. For this is the best of all havens, for those who have done good, but died in tragedy. Do you have any questions before I show you the wonders and beauty of the White Havens?”
Euphora hesitated, lingering over the fact that she was dead. “Is Rhoanon here?” she finally summoned up the courage to ask.
“Aye. Rhoanon just got here before you did. He was as shocked to be dead as you were. Ha ha ha!” he replied.
“But what about the Shadow? Is he dead? Will he reap life forever?” Euphora asked.
“The Shadow is immortal. He can take the form of anything. Even you, if he wished so. Now, shall we be on our way?” he said briskly.
"Just one last question,” she said.
The keeper replied swiftly and impatiently, “Oh all right. But make it quick.”
“Has my quest ended, now that I am dead?”
“Oh, no! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Oh, have thee no brains??? Your quest, has only . . . Begun” * * *
End of Book One
Begin Book Two
