The Day After - Part One
A brothers revenge
Red was the rising sun that shimmered through the orange and yellow leaves of the trees. It was as a beacon of hope, a ray of guidence. Though the beauty was recieved with less than open arms by Etheirgrum as the rays beamed into his eyes through the thin tent that he spent the night in. A grunt came from his mouth, his large soft skinned hands worn from travel rubbed at his eyes, trying to shield him from the unwanted guest. A light smile though crossed his features from the night before, his wedding day. It had not been as he expected, but it was much more to his liking than the expected none-the-less. His hands grabbed the furs that layed softly over him, pulling them off as his large form shifted from it's care, his arms removing from the figure next to him carefully. As if a mouse being stalked by a cat he silently stood, dressing in the bulky iron mess that he seemed to love so well. After wrapping the furs around Abellenda he strode from the flaps of the tent, cursing as his daily foe shot hateful beams of gold into his eyes. Though he had the remedy close at hand, and remedy himself he did, sighing pleased as the rum rushed down his throat. His eyes glanced to the campfire, seeing many figures about it already awake but this day he did not feel like bothering himself with his companions.
Down the slope of the ruins he strode as a silent metal figurine. The soil softening under the cold steel of his boots. Forward he strode through the woods, running his fingers through the bushes and leaves that sourrounded him as he walked. Upon the ford his feet lead him, the murmur of water dissagreeing with his pressence as he rod through it. He looked around the waters, for once in his life admiring the beauty of nature, admiring life. His smile had never left him, not even when durring his stroll he noticed elk dung stuck to his boots. Oh no, for this day he was happy, more than he had ever been. From his back he took his trusty yew rod, casting it out to the water that accepted it as a old friend, licking his lips he starred to the reflections in the water, the shadows. A slow tune started to fill the air around him as he hummed, awaiting the waters to feed him. Hours did he wait, though to him it was mere seconds before his line was tugged, and a salmon was soon in his pouch. Grinning at his accomplishment he put his rod across his back again, walking deeper into the land, the forest, following the shimmering waters without a thought.
Etheirgrum came upon a small fishing cottege further down the river, nodding to the man whom dipped his net through the calm surface of the ford. The man watched the iron clad man wander down the stream, seeming cheerful with light interested, supprised that a man would be in such a out of the way place in such a mood. The fisherman smiled to himself, pulling in his net before dragging his catch to his wife. That night the fisherman ate well with his wife and son, thinking upon the man he saw earlier still as the sun set. His son giggled as he was picked up and placed in his crib, the candles being blown out after one of the many stories the fisherman told. Creak like a tree in the wind did he door as he opened it to join his wife, whom smiled to him hapilly. Walking as if on feathers towards him before wrapping him in a embrace, kissing his lips softly.
''Dear...the man that walked by earlier on the other side of the bank...'' The fisherman suddenly asked as his wife lay next to him in bed.
''Yes darling? What about him? i've seen you thinking...your mind has been on him all day. He is but a man on a walk in a strange land, probally on his way to start a new life.''
''No, not him exactly dear...the men behind him...''
''Oh..you mean those four that trailed after a while later then? i'm sure they were nothing..''
The fisherman decided to agree with his wife..that he was not in wrong by not warning the man in the shining attire, after all whom would be tracking a man of such attire in a land like his?
The four men looked down on Etheirgrum as he lay unconcious on the ground, one of them spitting towards the stone of a body. Two of the men drug him with great effort to a near by tree, tieing him up after removing his armour. They sighing in relief when their deed was done, returning to their leather clad leader with the stone hammer to inform him their deed was done. Nodding to them he told them to get to bed, the following day would be long. After he insurred his fellows had gotten to their sacks and fallen to sleep he strode to the tree, placing a few fingers upon the man's hairy chin and tilting his head up, looking across his face. He spoke to the unconcious man with his deep voice, almost emotionally as a light tear of joy fell from one of his eyes. ''I finally found you my friend....My sister misses you....and her...your son would like to meet you i'm sure. She will get the chance before I get to see the cowardly look on your face as you watch your life ebb away..'' Glancing to Eth's hands he saw a ring, chuckling lightly. ''Irronic isn't it? you left my sister and now your married...let us see how your wife feels when her husband does not return...as my sister felt when the man who gave her a child did not return...you...'' Sighing in triumph the man strode away, leaving the unconcious man behind.
The head of etheirgrum slowly looked up, watching the figure dissapear into darkness, tears pf sadness slowly streaming down his cheeks for the first time in years. He only allowed three to drop before resisting more. After pulling at the ropes and seeing it helpless he closed his eyes and rested sleeplessly, thinking to himslef how to get out of his past catching up to him. Before slipping back into unconciousness he saw the shadow from earlier looming near by, and would swear that he heard a light whisper.
'' Sleep well my brother.....for this sleep is your last.''
