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Bob Giligand

Bob Giligand

Posts: 2,234 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
The Meadow of Time

I looked out at the line of shields on the horizon. A man stood with two soldiers at his side. He raised a scrap of white cloth on the shaft of his spear. I motioned to my general and one of his soldiers to come with me and began to walk out to meet them.
My general grabbed my wrist. “Sir, what if it is a trap? You shouldn’t go.”
“If it’s a trap, I’ll see in Eternity. I’m going.”
He released me and reluctantly followed as I jogged to meet with the enemy chief. I arrived, my dark skin glistening with sweat. I laid my spear on at the base of the tree by me as a sign of peace. My general and his soldier did the same. We were totally at the mercy of these bloodthirsty savages that raided our village yearly. This year was different for some reason though. Instead of attacking as they usually did, they proposed a meeting. ‘Maybe it is a trap after all,’ I thought. But my enemy and his men laid their spears down as well.
The chief touched his hand to his forehead in greeting. I returned the gesture, somewhat confused as to why he had not attacked. He began to speak slowly, thinking carefully on how he was going to explain, “There is another tribe that has formed. They are bonded by blood and will stop at nothing until they rule all of Africa. They have chased us from our home and will hunt us. Only our combined force will have any chance to stop their conquest. Will you help us?*
My general leaned towards me and whispered in my ear, “This is a bad idea, sir. This could be a trap.”
“I know what you are whispering, general. I wouldn’t trust me, either, if I were in your sandals. But you must believe that without our help all of us will surely die. You need us and we need you,” said the dark-skinned leader of the opposing tribe.
I stared deep into the chief’s eyes. Either he was being honest or he is very good at hiding his feelings. “I accept your offer of help.”

30-Jun-2010 19:00:01

Bob Giligand

Bob Giligand

Posts: 2,234 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
‘Was this a bad idea?’ I wondered as I stared out at the many temporary tents that my tribe’s former enemies were living in. I had scouts posted all around the village. I would know well in advance when this new war-tribe was approaching. I sighed deeply at the thought of another tribal war. Yearly raids can be dealt with. We’ve learned to cope. A war would obliterate us. I turned and headed for the small hut that my wife and I shared. I looked in at my spouse’s peaceful sleeping form. I lied down next to her slowly so as not to wake her.

I bolted up right and reached for my weapons. Battle cries continued to ring out from the surrounding tents. I charged out into the center of my village, my spear in one hand and my shield in the other. The other warriors in the village were doing the same. Our new allies were attacking. I charged straight into the thick of the enemy slashing left and right with my spear. I was awake now. I could feel the adrenaline surging through my veins and the superhuman strength flooding my muscles. I was ready for battle. I ducked out of the way of one attack and stabbed the aggressor in the gut. I blocked an incoming spear with my shield and hit him with the shaft of my own. He fell back stunned and an arrow finished him off.

30-Jun-2010 19:00:35

Bob Giligand

Bob Giligand

Posts: 2,234 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
The battle raged on for several minutes. I and my men were weakening. There were simply too many for us to handle. Suddenly, as these worries rushed around my head, my back exploded into searing pain as a knife was pulled down from my right shoulder to my left hip. I clenched my teeth, grunted and plunged my spear into the heart of the man who had slashed me with his knife. I turned back around to continue to fight, but I stumbled dizzily. I staggered right into the path of an arrow. It plunged deep into my left shoulder. The poison on the end of the arrow replaced the adrenaline in my veins. I wouldn’t last much longer. My tribe would fall. I fought the poison, but it brought me to my knees. I heard screaming and the village mage charged past me with twin daggers, her robes swirling around her. She brought down many soldiers, raising the morale of my own men. When they began to fight with renewed vigor, she ran to me, kneeling at my side. I lay on my back staring up at the perfect blue sky. I would finally be at peace. I smiled as the poison reached my heart.

I sat up in a field of tall grass surrounded by sheer, high mountains. I was sitting under a solitary tree in the exact center of the field. Four pools surrounded the tree at even intervals. One was perfectly clear and perfect in every way. Another had strange images floating around in it. A woman giving birth. A small boy and his father throwing spears. A third pool was filled with blood and the final one was bone dry with not a single drop of water in it. I looked back at the tree and a woman stepped from behind it. It was the mage.
“This is the Meadow of Time. Here eat the fruit of the Tree of Life,” she said, picking a fruit and handing it to me. “The pool with images is the pool of your past and the one filled with blood is your present, the here and now. The dry one was the pool of your future. The perfect pool is the pool of Eternity or the Afterlife.”

30-Jun-2010 19:01:02

Bob Giligand

Bob Giligand

Posts: 2,234 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
I finished the fruit feeling refreshed. My wounds were healed and I felt like a young man again. I nodded to the mage. I knew what I had to do. “Say good bye for me,” I said and entered Eternity.


Well this is it. I hope you enjoyed it. It might not be very good or make a whole lot of sense. I don't know much about African culture.

30-Jun-2010 19:01:59

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