((This is, to me, at least two separate scenes. One is Simon’s confession and the testing of his magical talent. The other is the death of Poet. I would also like to see it told more in the “present.” I don’t mean make it present tense. I mean, tell it as it happens, in chronological order in the tale, rather than as flashback. I think it will be more dramatic if the pieces are scattered in between other things such that they begin to build to Poet’s death. What say you? For now, I just corrected the tenses. - Diana 070699 ))
Night descended upon the enchanted forest surrounding Wolf Keep. In the distance a wolf's howl greeted the coming of night as the Pack began to stir for yet another night of hunting. Deep within the ancient Keep, sitting back into the ornate wolf’s head chair, was the Ancient One, Lord Wolf.
The years weighed heavily upon him as his mind drifted over what had transpired in the past several days. The sound of the Lady Wenndolyne moving about within the library, reached his keen hearing and he smiled softly to himself, once more grateful for her presence. Somewhere else within the Keep, his scribe Night^Kat was as well about business for the upcoming trial. Thoughts of the trial caused him to sigh sadly and once more to recall the events that led to this sorry state of affairs.
Simon had come to call on Wenn and Wolf, as was his wont these days. After saying their hellos, he sat talking to them. Both noticed there was something amiss in the child's actions. They had questioned the lad over what might be troubling him.
Wenndolyne could not imagine what would cause a seven year old such concern as she brushed Simon's hair with her fingers. Lord Wolf arched a brow as he inquired, "Aye, little One, what does cause thee to fear Camelot?"
"Daddy told me..." Simon paused, scooting over to make room for Wolf who crossed to sit next to him, "He said that some folks want to take me...” Simon shivered, as Wenn and Wolf looked to each other, concern mirrored in their faces.
"Take you?" Wenn was rightfully very concerned at this news. "What do you mean?"
"I don't know why...." Simon replied as Wolf rose and started pacing. "He told me that some folks are mad at him and that they might try and take me...to kid map me".
Wenndolyne could not help but smile despite the severity of the subject and whispered to Simon, "I think you mean 'kid-nap.’ But we will NOT allow that to happen." Wolf nodded in agreement.
Simon looked at Wenn, still quite frightened, "Yeah...kim nap me. I'm just afraid...that they'll get hurt."
"Kid.. nap..." Wenn corrected him again gently.
"Kip nad." Simon agreed with her.
Wolf kneeled before Simon, "Little One.... Who will get hurt?" as Wenn graciously gave up on the problem of pronunciation and listened to the child's response.
“I dunno." Simon played with his fingers a bit, not meeting Wolf's eyes. Both Wenn and Wolf could see that he had some inkling.
Wolf laid one hand upon Simon's shoulder, "Though there be no love lost between thy father and myself," Simon looked up into Wolf's eyes, "still I will not allow anything or anyone harm you." Wenn’s eyes gazed lovingly upon Wolf, appreciating his compassion for the child.
Simon looked down, then back to Wolf's face and suddenly hugged him around the neck. "Thank you!" Wolf smiled softly and returned the child's hug, touched by the lad’s display of gratitude.
While holding Simon close, he quietly insisted, “You must tell us though, who shall be hurt?"
Simon closed his eyes, feeling safe within Wolf's hug. "The bad men… It’s happened before!" he replied. "I might hurt them." he added in a weak and frightened voice. Wolf raised one brow in question and looked across to Wenn.
"It's happened before?" Wenn shook her head discreetly to Wolf. She had no notion what this was about either. "I think you had best tell us from the beginning."
Wolf and Wenn listened as Simon told them of an incident some time ago at a nearby Inn. Simon and his friend Rosie had found their way to Rogue's End. They were playing when some men started being mean to them, teasing them, threatening, though Simon was too frightened to detail this further. Still, he made it clear he was sure they were going to hurt Rosie and himself. Finally one of the men pushed Rosie down and started toward Simon. What happened next, Simon was unsure of. He paused in his telling, as tears formed in his eyes.
Wenn, seeing the child's pain, scooped him up into her lap and wrapped her arms around him, gently rocking him as tears trickled down his face. Shortly, Simon continued the tale with his head cradled against Wenn's shoulder.
As the bad man came at Simon, there had been a bright flash of light and the man was sent flying into the stone wall of the inn. Simon stood in shock when the sickening crack of the man’s neck breaking, reached his youthful ears. People passing some distance away had seen the flash of light and started to gather, several came closer to look to the body of the broken man, then glared at Simon in fear. He was scared too, not knowing precisely what had happened. He grabbed Rosie’s hand and ran away, eventually returning to Camelot.
Lord Wolf stirred within his chair as his thoughts continued to review what brought them all to this pass. He could still recall how scared the child had been in the telling. Simon swore over and over that it wouldn't happen again. Wolf remembered testing the child for latent magical abilities as well. He had encountered something, though he was unsure as to what. The more he had tried to determine what it was, the more pain it had caused Simon. Finally, for fear of hurting the lad further, Wolf stopped, knowing only that the talent was at the very least, defensive reflex. It would take more probing to determine anything further. Sadly, thinking over what then occurred the following day, Lord Wolf wished he had taken the time and risk to discover more.
From what Wenn had told Wolf, Simon had gotten angry with his guard, placed there by the lad’s father for his own protection. Without warning, a bright light had appeared from within Simon and struck the guard Herman, knocking him unconscious. Simon, thinking him dead, had fled once more in a state of panic, running to Castle Camelot and climbing to the top of a tower. Wenn gave chase and with the help of Cloak, stopped the child from throwing himself to the cobbles down below. Though once more the light had appeared and this time struck Wenn, who, thank the powers that be, was protected at the time by the Wolf Pendant.
Lord Wolf rose from the wolf’s head chair and, noting the hour, slowly made his way toward the bailey, knowing the Pack would be waiting to begin the hunt once more. As he walked, his mind recalled the events of just two nights past which happened within the very walls of his home.
Simon, was visiting once again. Wolf suspected that the Keep was the only place the lad felt truly safe and protected. They had been talking of nothing in particular when a knock sounded at the door to the Keep. With a thought, Wolf opened the door and Sir Poet had stepped in, greeting them all with a smile.
Wenndolyne returned his smile, "Greetings Poet."
Simon chimed in as well, "Hello, Poet."
Poet looked about the room, "Greetings one and all! Good eve, Wenn….Wolf." With a pause he then gazed directly at Simon, the smile slipping from his face, "Simon…" Wolf watched Poet closely and nodded in greeting.
Wenn noted the subdued exchange between Poet and Simon, "Hmmm... Unfinished business?" Simon’s smile had faded, remembering what Poet had done.
Wenn still watched them as she spoke, “M'lord Wolf, perhaps we should away to the Library?" Wolf raised one brow in question and she further persisted. "And let these two... have a moment?"
Wolf turned his attention from Wenn to see how the lad might take her suggestion. "Simon?"
Simon folded his arms and walked to Wolf's side. He pondered Poet a minute then looked up to Wolf. “Yeah..." was his only confirmation. Poet nodded slowly to Wenn, though he was unsure it was wise to leave them alone.
Wolf kneeled down next to Simon, "Should you have need of us...." Simon nodded quietly as Poet watched the two of them. On impulse, Wolf leaned forward and kissed Simon on the brow then stood again to extend his hand to Wenn. "Come, my love, let us retire to the library."
"Aye..." Wenn responded, "and Simon... please do try to hold your temper, hm?" Wenn and Wolf then left Poet and Simon alone in the great hall. Simon turned and frowned to Poet, who had been watching closely, then quickly shifted his glance away beneath Simon’s more direct glare.
Wenn and Wolf retired to the library where Wolf sat in a large cushioned chair and drew Wenn into his lap and his warm embrace. They slipped easily into a stolen kiss. After a few moments, Wenn leaned back from the passionate kiss and paused to listen carefully. She hissed in a whisper "Wolf... do you hear that?"
Wolf listened then smiled to her, "They do but argue and from the sound of it, Poet is not winning, my love."
Wenn persisted, "But Simon... You did not see what he did to the guard Herman!"
Wolf frowned slightly, "Worry not, Love. They are within my keep after all." Wenn, not reassured by his words, turned her head trying to hear better.
Wenndolyne looked again to Wolf, "How can I not worry? It's Simon! and... and Poet." Just then, Wolf lunged to his feet taking minimal care to set Wenn on hers again. He raced from the room as sounds of commotion from the great hall suddenly reached his ears. Wenn, fearing the worst, gathered her skirts and raced after him down the hall.
Wolf burst into the great hall, seeing the place in a shambles with broken furniture and such scattered about. A strange light hovered above Simon, darting back and forth, almost protectively. Wolf quickly scanned the room, looking for Poet. Some hundred feet from Simon, he spied the poet, lying within a widening pool of blood upon the hall’s cold stone floor. Wolf quickly flung off a lightning bolt at the shining light as Simon yelled for him not to hurt it and called the light to himself.
Wenn stumbled into the great hall and scanned across the room as her heart sank. Upon seeing Poet, she rushed to his side. Quickly she kneeled then sat upon the floor, unmindful of the blood, and cradled Poet's head in her lap, gently stroking his hair. "Wolf! Simon!"
The lightning bolt struck the light over Simon and in the following explosion, Simon and Wolf were both knocked from their feet. All the light within the room then winked out at once. Wolf staggered back to his feet and called out a single word. The fire roared to life again and the candles all flared up once more, at his command. Wolf turned just in time to see a glimmer of light disappear within Simon's chest where the child lay upon the floor. Simon curled up then and whimpered.
Poet stirred, his eyes opened weakly at Wenn's touch, as blood trail sluggishly from his ears and mouth. Wenn looked down to Poet's head in her lap and hissed, "By the Mother... Poet..." Simon started to cry, still lying upon the floor, his head cupped within his tiny hands. Poet moaned softly and coughed weakly, a gush of blood rushing from his lips.
Wolf staggered to Simon's side, "Wenn!" Wolf kneeled beside Simon and picks him up into his arms, feeling the child shiver. Simon stared, eyes wide, seeing nothing.
Wenn looked up from the broken body of Poet, working to focus. “Wolf!"
Poet reached out and, with a hand now gone cold, grasped Wenn's arm, "Go…" he coughed, more blood trickling from his mouth, "See to the child."
Wenn’s eyes drew down to Poet again. She was crying helplessly, caressing his face, a hand across his chest but could think of naught else to do but comfort him. "But Poet... you have no notion..." Wenn flashed a look up to Wolf again, pleading with her eyes for help, as Wolf held the child Simon to his chest. Again her tearful eyes regarded Poet. "No... I will not leave you like this."
Poet smiled weakly, "Go, my love, I am fine." Wenn remained, not wanting to leave his side. "Go.." Poet tried to push her away but was too weak. "Simon may be injured and have need of you." At the other end of the hall, Wolf called for Wenn once more as Simon cried within his arms babbling to himself.
"Wenn glanced up to Wolf then back to Poet, torn between the two yet again. "Wolf has Simon…" Wenn cupped Poet's face in her hand, ignoring Wolf and Simon for the moment.
"Love, go. I will not leave you again….I swear." Poet told her as he coughed again, releasing more precious blood, which he could ill afford.
"I do not believe you!" she replied, trying to smile for him through the tears.
Poet pawed at his clasp and removed the silver broach with the stylized harp and scroll etched upon it. Pressing it into her hand he weakly vowed, "My pledge to you. Now go." Wenn sobbed and turned the clasp in her hand. She nodded to his wish then reluctantly slipped from beneath Poet and lay his head gently down again.
Before rising to her feet, she gazed upon his face, now so devoid of color, “Your word Poet! You have given me your solemn word!"
Poet nodded, "Aye, I have Lass, that I have." Poet coughed once more yet forced the blood to stay within him, lest she see and stay. Wenn quickly crossed to Wolf and took Simon from his arms. She begged Wolf to see to Poet, as much with her eyes as with her words. Wolf staggered over to Poet and soon realized there was nothing to be done. He cursed himself for not taking the time to learn the healing arts. Wenn could not carry Simon and so she set him on his feet and tried to lead him from the great hall but he was once again somewhat aware and broke from her grasp, running over to throw himself across Poet.
Poet smiled weakly to the lad he had come to love so dearly then his eyes took on a distant look. "Simon….Can you hear it?" Simon still cried against Poet's shoulder, clasping one of Poet's cold bloodstained hands in his small ones. "Can you hear the music, Lad?" Poet listens to some far off distant sound as Wenn and Wolf exchanged looks filled with sorrow.
Simon paused and looked up at Poet’s face through his tears. Softly at first but then growing in strength, he too heard the music. A soft flowing music, calm, warm and yet strong slowly filled his head then subsided to the background of his thoughts. "Yes….Yes, I can, Poet."
"Simon, now lad listen to me." Poet’s voice was fading more quickly do Simon leaned in to hear better as he continued. "I need you to do me a favor…" Poet's eyes seemed clear again, just for this moment. "Can you do that for me?" Simon nodded and silently waited for Poet to finish his request. "Good, good lad!” Poet swallowed but never took his eyes from the Simon’s big blue tearful ones. His voice was weak and soft. “Simon, I forgive ye," Poet continued with the last force of energy within him. "Now I need you to forgive yourself. Promise me."
Simon leaned forward, tears trickling freely down his cheeks, and kissed Poet's brow, "I promise Poet… I promise." Simon whispered for Poet’s ears only, "I can hear it…Poet. I can hear your music." Poet smiled and his eyes closed slowly as the last breath fled from his body.
Lord Wolf paused upon reaching the great doors to the Keep, with a visible effort forcing his thoughts to return to the here and now. Slipping through the door and stepping into the darkness of night, he saw that the Pack has gathered for the hunt. He sighed once more, thinking of the price that was set upon Simon's head by the child's own father. There were so many questions as yet unanswered. Who were the bad people that first attacked Simon, causing this talent to appear? What if it wasn't Simon at all, but someone else controlling the child? There were just too many possibilities!
Looking to the Pack before him he smiled slightly. "Brothers….Sisters… It is time." With a thought, his form shifted as he called upon his birthright. Blood and bone melted and reshaped as once more he assumed the form of the proud alpha arctic wolf. Ancient Wolf tossed back his head and let forth a howl to greet the moon. Soon the howl was taken up by the Pack as the white wolf led them from the Keep. Again, they went to find the child and insure that his night’s slumber would be uninterrupted.
(..)
