Quest For Fondramhay

                QUEST FOR FONDRAMHAY

 

Four thousand years ago, Fondramhay (Dragon’s gate) was opened and dragons wandered to earth and thus began one of the bloodiest wars humans ever fought. The war lasted neigh a century and left both races almost extinct. Eventually both races settled on a truce, one in which dragons would return to their world and humans shall never quest for or open Fondramhay. But the dragons could no longer find Fondramhay and it was soon decreed by seers  that he who shall find Fondramhay shall be chosen by Fondramhay itself, The dragons were harbored on the ice lands of earth while waiting for Fondramhay to open.

                                             ###

                The quaint village of Vallean lay secluded in the kingdom of Fawne. Vallean was only surrounded by forests and swamps; mountains and valleys. The nearest village from Vallean was Ceruden which was about a day’s journey from Vallean. Despite these encumbrances Vallean continued to flourish.

    ###

                Eventide was fast approaching; the sun was lost behind the mountains to the east of Vallean when Gwendolyn Crest a tall, round faced and shaggy haired girl of thirteen years got home. Her clothes were all in tatters and her face was smeared with dirt.

‘Good grief! Gwendolyn where have you been?’ her grandmother asked.  Maureen crest looked ancient as ever that evening wearing clothes way bigger than her.

‘I’m sorry grandmother I got lost in the green swamp with Beriul.’

‘Beriul! The mayor’s son? Gwendolyn you have no idea the kind of evil that resides in that god forsaken swamp and you took the mayor’s boy along!’

‘They are just stories for the babies’ grandmother and besides he wanted to come I didn’t force him.’

                She didn’t force him but she had shamed him into going with her.

‘Just stories you say? And you barely made it out alive! Look at yourself.’

 In truth it was the first time she had noticed how filthy she looked.

 ‘Anyways, I’m off to visit Mrs. Wenleydan,’ Maureen said and walked away. ‘Clean yourself up dear. And there is supper in the kitchen. Help yourself to it.’

        ###

                That night was absurdly warm but Gwen was shivering and muttering in her sleep. She dreamt of the swamp. She found herself walking into the green Lake Beriul had pushed her into. She tried to stop herself but she just kept going. She was going deeper into the water but still she had no control over her body. She went deeper and she was buried deep in the murky waters .she regained control, swam back to the shore, gagging and coughing. She head not noticed the creature awaiting her at the shore. It was dark as shadows and looked as if it wasn’t even there, it would have looked like a human but for the extra limbs it had. It stretched a talon hand and pulled Gwen close to him like a lodestone. He seized her by the throat and used another talon finger to stab at her forehead. She tried to scream but she forgot how. Her blood trickled down her face, warm and at the same time cold.

 ‘You are chosen!’ the creature screeched.

                She woke screaming and trashing about she felt her sharp pangs of pain all over her body but her hand burned and her palms were glowing blue. He kept screaming and trashing and did not notice when Maureen entered            . Maureen ran back out and came back a moment later with a pale of water. She seized Gwen’s hands with fierce strength and plunged it into the water. The water sizzled and smoked and Gwen slowly calmed down. As Gwen seemed to regain her sanity, Maureen released her grip and sank to the floor.

‘What is wrong with me grandmother?’

‘It saddens me Gwendolyn dear but Fondramhay has called you and you must answer.’

###

Morning came and Maureen was stuffing a burlap sack with food when Gwen walked to the kitchen, covering herself with a blanket.

 'What're you doing�"’?

 'Do you still hurt dear?' Maureen interrupted.

 'Yes, but not as much.'

 'Does your palm glow still?'

                She pulled a hand out if her blanket though it did not glow; it shimmered with a hue that resembled the ocean.

 'I'm sure you want answers dear;' she said as she tied the sack. ‘we are going to get some. Get dressed�"also, wear a glove.'

###

                They left for their quest for answers by midday. They headed east through the mountains' pass and arrived at the bright plains at dusk. They set up their camp and little was said that night. As dawn rolled in, they had broken camp and was ready for the day's journey. The sun was fierce that day, the plains provided no shade, it was a little while after noon before they got to the screeching woods named so, because it was home to most owls for miles around. Dusk had passed but they did not stop. Nightfall crept in, with it the chilly winds and the woods were alive with eerie sounds. Gwen expected Maureen to halt the journey but Maureen gave no such order and so Gwen kept quiet and plodded behind Maureen, who showed the enthusiasm of a wide-eyed child. Gwen collided with Maureen as she never knew Maureen had stop.

  'I'm sorry,’ she said, picking up the sack. 'Why did you stop?'

                It was then Gwen saw that she was staring at a small hut in the middle of the woods. She wanted so much to go in there and have a goodnight's sleep but she noticed the smoke from the chimney.

   'Who lives in the middle of the woods?' She asked.

   'The Gate keeper of Fondramhay, dear.'

   'How did you know where to find it?' She asked a bit appalled.

   'I didn't really,' she shrugged.' In my youth, I lived at Ceruden. Then, there was a cult dedicated to Fondramhay. It was said that the women who worship Fondramhay would ever have quick wombs. I joined the cult, and on the first day of each year, we would each give a sacrifice right on this spot.

   'How they knew what lived here, I have no idea, but I was hoping it still lived here. It moves around a lot you know.'

   'What happened to the cult?'

   'I left when I got married to your granddaddy dear. I know the cult is gone, but of how? All I keep hearing are rumors,' she said as she turned to face Gwen. 'Enough with the questions Gwen dear. Let's go and ask it the important one. '

                She took hold of Gwen's hand and led her to the front door of the hut. She knocked three times and waited. She sought to knock again when the door burst open but no one was behind it.

  'Come on in.' a rough voice called.

                They both stepped in cautiously. The inside of the hut was oval, warm and well lit; the fireplace crackled every now and then; Half a dozen wooden chairs were scattered around the hut; there was a straw bed at one corner which an old man dressed in black robe sat on. The man wore his years poorly, his long gray hair were all tangled his grey beard looked unkempt

   'Have a seat.' He said.

  Gwen took a sit next to Maureen.

   'I'm Maureen Crest and this is my Granddaughter, Gwendolyn Crest.' Maureen spoke up.

   'Yes, yes, I know who you are. I seldom get visitors around here,’ he said with an expression of disgust. ‘Once there were these human pests, they would come and slaughter animals and chant all night long. I grew irritated and slew them all.

   'Grave mistake I tell you. Living all alone can be disturbing at times. I believe they call themselves Spawn of Fondramhay.'

   ‘Be as it may, we came for answers not tales of ages past.' Maureen said

   'You,’ he said, pointing at Maureen with wide eyes as if noticing her for the first time. ‘You were one of those insane bunches. Good thing you gained your sanity. They kept saying what an honor it was to be killed by Fondramhay’s keeper. What fools!'

   'Why me?' Gwen demanded.

   'Calm now, chosen, you do not want to wake the spirits. You want answers, and I shall provide them.' He said and gave a yellow grin. ‘On the morrow and not before. You are weary and so am I. Rest now brave souls. You can have the bed.'

                He got up and left the hut. Gwen and Maureen helped themselves to the little ration they had left and waited for the keeper but soon fell asleep.

###

          Gwen woke to the scent of roast meat, Maureen was still fast asleep, and the hut was just as it was last night though only the embers of the firewood at the hearth remained. The door swung open and the keeper strolled in with a plate.

‘Roasted Deer. Humans seem to enjoy them,’ he said as he handed the plate to Gwen. ‘My name is Ton by the way.’

‘Thank you.’ She said as she accepted the plate from him.

‘You needn’t thank me. The sooner you can open the gate, the sooner I can leave this world.’

‘Why me?’ she asked with her mouth half full with meat.

‘I do not know the mind of Fondramhay chosen,’ he said then found himself a seat. ‘in all fifty centuries have been here, Fondramhay has chosen; a warrior, a mage, an emperor, and a thief, but they were all grown and seasoned with experience.’

                Gwen swallowed a chunk of meat, looked over Maureen with a perplexed expression on her face. She had never seen Maureen look so peaceful or even sleep for so long.

‘She never sleeps this long’ she said, half to herself.

‘But she has to. I fear the answer she searches for are lengthy and I am in no mood to answer such arduous questions.’

‘How did you…’

‘Fondramhay is made from sorcery, as are dragons. In fact the core of both our worlds are made of sorcery, it’s only fair the gatekeeper have some sorcery of his own.

                ‘That said, my world has more sorcery at the core that yours. Creatures of my world draw on the sorcery of our core for day to day activities. Since we have no access to our own sorcery we make do with yours. But I fear the sorcery at your core is failing as too many of us draw from it. Should you fail, should we stay for another millennium, this world and all in it will be destroyed from the inside out.’

                Gwen had no words for what he had just revealed. She liked being a rebellious girl but realizing the fate of the entire world rested on her shoulders left her numb.

‘But what am I to do’ she finally asked.

‘Simple, chosen,’ he smiled ‘open Fondramhay.’

‘Yes but how?’

‘Only you can decide that for yourself chosen. Eat for you leave at nightfall.”

‘Nightfall!  How am I to journey in the dark?’

‘The road to Fondramhay knows no darkness.  I’ll leave you to eat.’ Ton got up to leave the hut

‘Wait!’ Gwen called after him but he just open the door and slammed it behind him.

                She hurried to the door, tried to force it open but it did not budge.

‘Relay all I have said to your grandmother chosen, I will be back by noon.’

                She muttered a curse and sat back down at the edge of the bed while waiting for Maureen to wake.

###

                Ton returned just when he said he would. Maureen was pacing the room and Gwen was busy humming while lying on her back on the straw bed. This time, Ton entered with two plates.

‘Forgive me; I only know how to roast meat. It’s from this morning.’ He said.

They collected a plate from him but set it aside.

‘I want to know-‘Maureen began.

‘You can ask me whatever you want when the chosen is well on her quest. Now since you have no desire to eat, do follow me.’ He said and walked towards the metal door. Gwen had once tried to open it but it was locked. Ton muttered a few words too low for Gwen to hear but the door clicked open.

It was so dark that neither Gwen nor Maureen had noticed the descent of stairs. They plodded closely and carefully. Finally they reached the end of the stairs. And went through a curtain only to find themselves in what looked like an armory.

                The arms where neatly ranged. The amours were worn over clay sculptures of men. There was a great sword that had a pommel which glowed like fire. It had Gwen’s attention as she whet to it.

‘That one is not yours chosen. This one is.’ He said staring at a sculptured woman almost Gwen’s height. It wore a black circlet over its head, a black, sleeved brigandine with shades of silver on the sleeves, black gauntlets on each wrists, a rapier with a dragons head pommel at the hips and a black sabaton.

‘You’ll need these chosen.’ Ton said.

 ‘But I have never used a metal sword before.’

‘It does not matter. The art of swordplay is more than just experience,’ he said, then turned and walked towards the curtain. ‘Help her fitted Maureen; I’ll be waiting back in my hut.’

                A while later they came back up, Maureen, had a scowl on her face and Gwen dressed completely in her black and silver armor.

‘Splendid’ Ton said.

‘Who made this armor?’ Gwen asked. ‘It is no heavier than my previous clothes.’

‘That honor belongs to me, dear chosen. My little armory is my gift to humanity after I am gone.’

She nodded and unsheathed her rapier. She swung it effortlessly.

‘I will tell you all you need to know before going on this journey,’ he said and waited for them to sit but only Maureen did. Gwen just kept swinging her rapier. ‘You know the story of when the gate was opened. I shall now tell you of the ones who tried to close it.

‘The first was Harru Vat Yut, one of the most powerful sorceresses of her time. Somehow it took Harru the better part of a year to find me from the time she was called. I know nothing of her journey to Fondramhay from here, but I know she lacked the will to open Fondramhay.

 ‘The second was named Reginald Crysaylay, an emperor. He found me in just the first month. He even brought a dozen of his knights with him. I tried to discourage him from taking them along but he would not hear of it. He seemed to find glory in this quest, but he never returned. Of him all I can say is he lacked strength most of all. Amongst his other failures.

 ‘The third, whose name was Lonro Quickhand. A skilled thief. He found me on the day he was called. I have never met a more cunning or sly human before.  Of him I cannot say but for all his cunning he did not have the courage for this quest.

‘The fourth: Archibald Slonbe, a knight. He was and the finest swords man I have ever met. He also was an irritatingly arrogant fellow. He took his horse along but even with his skill with the sword Fondramhay found hi m to be without faith.

‘Fondramhay deems it unnecessary to bore me with details of their journey but when a chosen fails, she tells me their fatal flaw.’

 ‘Faith in what?’ Gwen asked as she sheathed her sword

‘Faith, that Fondramhay will open, should you try.’ He got up. ‘I will leave the both of you alone and I shall return when you leave.  When night falls, leave by the wooden door. Also, get the hearths going by dusk it gets awfully cold around here.’

###

 Nightfall came and goodbyes were said. Gwen opened the door and descended the stairs. He went through a curtain and found herself on a narrow road amidst thick woods. There was no sun but the woods were bright and no shadows were cast.

Follow the path, a voice in her head said.

Who are you? She whispered.

I am but a fragment of Ton’s soul, I forged your armor but a part of me is in it. I know I have been here before but I have no memory of it. But I am here to guide you. However I can.

Gwen walked along the path. The scenery changed little, she felt neither hungry nor weary.

‘Hello there!’  A man called. She had not seen him approach; it was as if he appeared from thin air. The man was a small short man. He wore a gray hood over his head.

Careful with strangers, chosen.

‘My name is Lonro. I see you search for Fondramhay.’ he said.

‘What is it to you?’ She asked.

‘Oh! I am just to show you the way child.’ He said bowing slightly. ‘Follow me child.’

He walked on the road for a while then they got to a cross roads. Gwen turned around and forgot where she came from. She unsheathed her sword as her suspicion grew

‘Calm now child, no need for weapons.’ he said.

‘Then you needn’t fear me.’

‘Very well. As you can see there are three roads here. One leads to a happy life where you can live and raise a family peacefully for all of eternity.

‘Another is the path to Fondramhay. A cruel road, that one is.

‘The last leads back to your world.

‘So tell me child. Which road shall you choose?’

‘It’s of no concern of yours.’ She said.

‘Fair enough' he said.

'How do I know what road leads where I want to go? '

'Whatever road you choose is the one your heart longs for.'

 Gwen walked towards the road by her left.

'So somewhere beneath all that scowling is a heart that craves adventure. Fool.' He said, and then pulled back is hood to reveal a skull. ‘Go back while you can.'

Gwen turned to give him a sharp retort. She saw the skull and reeled back.

'Stay back!' She waved the rapier. Lonro only stood laughing.

'We shall inevitably meet should you continue on this road. Only then shall you know the extent of your courage.' He said, and then disappeared into thin air just as he came.

Do not despair chosen.  I will aid you whenever I can.

Thank you, Gwen whispered.

                Gwen had been on the road a while, and in that while she had seen the scenery change from a few trees and a cloudless sky to a thick, dark forest and a starless night. She had seen no sign of life or even of the horrors she dreaded to see. Ton had been keeping her company through her journey but she got no help on directions from him.

'Halt!' A voice bellowed.

 She could not see the voice but she unsheathed her rapier.

 Run your palm through the edge of that sword.

 What? She whispered.

 Cut your palm with your sword! Hurry!

She wince bit as she ran the edge through her glowing palm. Her blood glowed blue on the rapier and as it trickled to the tip, the rapier was suddenly aflame. The bright orange glow of fire transformed into to a bright blue fire which burned cold and bright, lighting up the forest.

                In the light she could see the person who gave the command except he was charging her with a two handed broad sword.

He swung but Gwen jumped back. The sword dug deep in the dirt.

Do not attempt to parry.

He pulled the sword out with an upward strike. This time Gwen rolled to her left and lunged at his leg. She hit her mark, the flesh sizzled and the man bellowed. He swung again but Gwen was slow to react. She tried to parry with the flat of her sword, but the force caught her in the ribs. She yelped and stumbled a bit.

A rib is broken. I can mend it but you mustn’t take any more hits.

 She gritted her teeth and lunged for the man. He raised the sword to parry but she stabbed him low in the thighs the flesh sizzled and the man screeched. He kicked Gwen in the face with his other leg. Then pulled out the sword and flung it.

But before he had time to regain his composure, Gwen leapt on him forcing him back. She stabbed him with her dagger in the shoulder and rolled away just in time before his fist touched her. Still on her knees she picked her sword waited for him to turn around before she slashed at his gut.

 He dropped his sword and tried to hold his entrails with his hands. He fell to his knees and met Gwen's eyes. It was then she saw him for the first time. He had gray hair and a face ravaged by time. His gray beards were long and tangled.

'You are deemed more worthy than I was. My name is Reginald Crystalay. Do me a favor. Complete this quest and free me from this anguish. Let my plea give you strength, chosen.' He said

'You were the emperor�"'

A screeched rang through the forest.

'He comes chosen. Only my sword can destroy him should you possess the strength to wield it.'

'Who comes?'

'The thief'

 Gwen cried out in pain. Her thighs were soaked in blood from a blade wound.

'You should have turned back when you had the chance.’ the forest bellowed.

 She felt another sharp pain at her back.

'Beg me to end you quick! Beg!' The forest bellowed again.

 After a series of cuts and her sleeves were in tatters and wet with blood, Gwen fell to her knees beside the prone form of Reginald.

'End it!' She pleaded.

'Should I?' The voice came from a body that materialized in front of her.

'Yes. End it.' She said.

The body raised its daggers to deliver the final blow but Gwen rolled away, picked up Reginald’s sword with a single arm, swung it and cut the body in half.

 The body still wreathed and shrieked when Gwen walked close to it to severe its head. It was hooded but she pulled back the hood to find a skull.

'Lonro!' She gasped.

Do it chosen or it may come back to haunt us.

Gwen severed its head with a single swing if the sword.

 I will mend your wounds on the way.

It was the first time she felt her wounds. Every part of her body seemed to be wounded.

Fine with me. She said as she walked towards Reginald. She laid Reginald’s sword on his chest and continued her quest.

   A while later, her wounds were completely healed. Still she kept walking in the same direction.

‘You have made it far.' A feminine voice said.

Gwen unsheathed her rapier once again and set it on fire.

'Smart choice. Worthless, but smart.'

In the light if the forest, she could see the woman clearly. She was the most beautiful woman Gwen had ever seen. Her hair was long and white as snow; she wore a white robe and walked with a god-like grace.

  'Tripudio mihi puppet tripudio.' She said with a wave if her arm.

Gwen flew back and collided with a tree. She fell, face first on the dirt with a grunt. She lost grip of her rapier.

A magus. Ton said

I know! Do you have any help here?

I can only heal your wounds chosen.

The woman jerked her arm back and Gwen started choking. She swung the hand and threw Gwen away.  This time Gwen hit her head on a branch.

I am not healing Ton.

No answer came

Ton! She bellowed.

'He cannot hear you dear. I have severed the link you both share.'

The woman kept flinging her round the forest. Bones were breaking as were branches. Gwen was a large mass of wound.

‘Desist from this path!' The woman would bellow and wait for Gwen's answer. When the answer did not satisfy her, she would throw Gwen around again.

Stay down and keep shut.

Where in all worlds have you been?

I was mending the link she severed, stay down and wait for her.

                But the woman did not come any closer. She just kept throwing Gwen around. Eventually she stopped when Gwen did not yelp or cry out.

She walked close to examine Gwen's prone body.

She knelt beside her for a closer look.

Gwen seized her by the throat and stabbed at an eye with her dagger. The woman shrieked and cursed as Gwen ran towards her rapier. Gwen picked her rapier even as the woman began chanting a spell. Suddenly, a whirlwind was raging around the woman.

What now? She asked Ton.

Brave it, chosen.

Gwen gritted her teeth and charged the whirlwind. She barely plunged through it alive but still swung her rapier with all her might at the woman. She loped off the woman's head with a single stroke. And just as it came the whirlwind left. Gwen's chest was heaving. Even as Ton healed her wounds.

'You are Harru vat yut I’m sure. I hope to never face a foe as fearsome as you.'

I need a while to rest. She said.

She was covered in blood and of her armor, only the brigandine was intact. When Gwen was completely healed, she waited a bit before continuing her journey. There were life forms in this part of her quest she had heard crows caw and the hoots of owls. She had even seen an antelope leap away from her.

 Dawn was breaking and the winds felt cold.

This is a strange world. She said to Ton

This is the first world I have seen, chosen I cannot agree with you.

The sun had begun shining when she emerged from the forest. There was a cave before her. She could not read the inscription on it and so she turned to find another way.

Look again chosen.  Ton said.

She did not want to. Ever since she was a child, she had always been afraid of caves.

I know you fear caves, but recall, this might be a test.

Gwen turned and read the inscription again. This only read: Fondramhay.

 She entered the cave but it was dark and she could hear echoes of trickling water. She lit up her sword once again. The cave she could see was hollow. But she could see the faint glow of a light ahead.  It took her a long while to get there. And when she did, it was just rays of light escaping from a huge boulder used as a door. She placed her palm on the boulder. It rumbled and she leapt back. Barring her rapier. The boulder dissolved to dust to reveal a small cavern.

'Welcome.' Said a man seated on the floor. He was dressed in plate mail of no elaborate design. He wore his black back. She kept her sword up and watched the man with suspicion.

'We never asked for this,' He said getting to his feet. 'But it is our fate.'

'You are the knight. Archibald’

'Yes I was. Although I have no desire to fight a female, let alone a child. But since you have made it this far, you must be made of steel.' He unsheathed his sword. A long sword with a two handed handle. ‘Come child! Let me test your faith.'

Gwen charged him but Archibald only waited. She lunged at him but Archibald batted in away. He twisted his wrist and slashed Gwen on the arm. She cried out.

She stepped back and waited for Archibald to come at her. He attacked her with a fearsome speed. She blocked parried some attacks but others wound her flesh. The sword dance continued for quite a while. All the while, Gwen's rapier never found its way through Archibald’s defense.

Archibald slashed at her, but she caught the sword with her palm. She plunged her rapier through Archibald’s gut.

 He groaned and smiled. She pulled it out and Archibald reeled back.

 'You have proven to be more worthy than I was,' he said as he fell on his knees.' I have met no one like you Gwendolyn Crest. Go! Open that damned gate. I shall not stop you.'

 And for the first time, Gwen saw the gate. It resembled a giant double door, more than a gate, it had engravings she was unable to read but beyond that, it was plain.

She unsheathed her rapier. She pushed the doors inward. It gave a loud creak but it opened.

She could see beyond the door, a vast plain and beyond that, the top of what resembled a castle.

A hand rested on her shoulder, she turned to find Archibald next to her, clutching his gut.

'So this is what I died to open,’ he said then laughed. 'Thank you for releasing me Gwendolyn Crest. I shall remember you for all of eternity.' He said as he faded away.

The cave began to rumble and fall apart. Gwen ran through the gate watching the cave fall apart. Not even the dust found its way through the door.  The smoke cleared only for Gwen to find herself on a plain greener than any she had seen before. The human form of Ton suddenly appeared from thin air, grinning.

'I knew I could trust you Crest. You forever have our gratitude.' He said and walked past her. ‘There is an army heading your way Gwenie.’

Gwen looked away from him to behold the magnitude of dragons

Gwendolyn of house Crest, the biggest of all the dragons said in her head. It was black and as high as the Vallean’s mayor’s two story building and even wider.

‘We owe you our lives. You shall forever live on in our mind and hearts and even in our world you shall be remembered by both old and young. Allow us to give you this small gift.’

It brought forth a giant egg from its mouth.

‘Should it hatch Raise it well Gwendolyn Crest, and we name you Champion of Dragons.’ It stabbed Gwen's forehead with a black talon. The blood trickled but Gwen felt no pain. It wrapped Gwen with its tail and set her on its back.

‘Where do you wish to go?’

'Home, Vallean.’

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