Prolouge

Jadora speaks to the Guardian of The Gate.

Prologue

 

     “Do you believe?”

     “I don’t know.”

     “Look inside yourself and tell me what you believe.”

     “I can’t.”

     “Yes, you can.”

     “There is no way…”

     “Trust yourself.”

     “But how can I know?”
     “If you believe, you will survive.”

     “But”                              

     “Believe.”

     “What if I don’t make it? It will all be for nothing!”

     “Would it?”
     “What do you mean?”

     “Have you learned?”

     “Learned?  I guess I have.”

     “Then you have already succeeded.”

     “Have I truly?  I do not feel any different.”

     “Look inside, Believe.  Have faith.  Trust yourself.  Let your inner voice guide

 you.  It is never wrong.”

      “How do I know my inner voice?”

      “You feel it.  You are it.”

      “I don’t understand.”

      “Believe in yourself as you believe in your god, as you believe in the power of

good.  Only you are more real than those at the moment.  You are the only real thing.”

      “How can I be?”

      “Why do you seek me out for answers?”

      “Huh?”

      “What do I have that you do not? What makes me more right than you?”

      “Me?”
      “You.”

      “So you are saying that you are wrong?”

      “What do you think?”

      “I don’t know.  I am confused.”

      “Push all thoughts from your mind.”

      “But….”

      “Are you doing that?”
      “Okay.”

      “You listened to me?”

       “Of course.”

       “Think for yourself or you will never get anywhere.”

       “You are right!”

       “Then I must leave…”

       “Don’t go.”

       “You must believe.”

       The light faded and I was all alone.  This was, by far, the hardest part of my quest.  Despite my physical strength, my powers and my armies, this I had to face alone, unarmed and use my strength of spirit instead of my bodily strength. I was lost, scared and confused.  I remained on my knees pondering over the conversation that I had just had with the Guardian of the Gates. It gave me no clue as to how I was to get past the impossible barrier.  The invisible barrier.  There were no doors or secret passages, only air, yet I was assured I could get to where I wanted to go simply by believing.  Never in my life had I heard such a preposterous idea!

      “Where do I go from here?”  I thought out loud.  What could I do? I closed my eyes and tried to relax.  I let my thoughts drift, although they always went back to the problem at hand.  I felt helpless.  I had no idea how to reach my goal.  I’d come this far only to fail at my task.  It wasn’t fair.  I’d worked so hard, only to lose. My pride, my honor and my destiny where all at stake.  Was it my fate to die?  It couldn’t be!  I wouldn’t let it be.

       A warm light bathed me.  A peace filled me.  Colors swirled beneath my eyelids.  The plain silver field no longer existed. The cool grass fell from beneath my knees.  I felt like I was drifting.  What was happening?  I felt little fear, only wonder.  I went with the flow as the colors before my eyes shifted and changed patterns.

       I was taken back to where it all began�"to how it all started.  The memory wasn’t pleasant.  It was an average day�"the day I started this whole quest. 
       The colors swirled and slowly they became more vivid and began to take shape.  At first they were blurry as if my eyes were out of focus.  It slowly became clear enough to make it out.  Suddenly it was perfect.

        I descended lightly into the scene.  I heard sounds, but could not distinguish them.  After a moment I heard recognized some voices in the jumble.  Then I smelled the pleasant aroma of the camp and felt the warm sun on my skin. 

        I blinked.  I was back now.