Fiction Beginnings

King Falon

My name is Falon and I am King of Elm.  I have ruled over Elm for hundreds of years and seen it prosper.   Perhaps we have prospered too much because my people have begun to turn on each other.  The Elms have been at war now for a year and I fear greatly for them.  They have become greedy and sadly I have watched as many of my people have died fighting against each other.  I can no longer stand by and watch as my people destroy themselves as well as our home of Elm.

In secret I have been constructing three Amulets.  One for my Daughter Faith, one for my son Faolan and one that I believe will be the answer to saving my people.  It took much of my magic to create these three amulets, but it was something that had to be done.

I remember stepping out onto the palace balcony, watching as the sun began to set.  I knew that once the sun would rise, Elm would once again be back to its former glory and the wars would be at an end.  I began to speak to Elm and caused a great wind to come.  I pulled from my bag a potion and threw it into the air.  The wind on my command took the potion and went to even the farthest reaches of Elm.  It caused a deep sleep to come over all the people.

It was then I called the wind to return and bring me all of the darkness that resided in my peoples hearts.  Slowly a storm came upon the land, and darkness swirls.  It came to me and I called for it to enter the amulet as I held it up to the sky.  There was a large roar from the darkness and I felt as if it was laughing at me…mocking me.  I put forth all that I had pulling the darkness into the Amulet.  It was such a strong force and I remember falling to my knees.  I felt as if the darkness was killing me, causing my chest to tighten.  But I pressed forward.  The darkness swirled around me.  I felt consumed by it.  I could hear it talking in my head.  A thousand voices saying to stop fighting and to just give in.  But I climbed back up to my feet.  I let the magic and life flow from me.  I remember a white and blue light started to surround me and the darkness began to shrink and finally flow into the Amulet.  

I must have collapsed because the next thing I remember was my beautiful daughter calling to me.  I awoke to find her shaking me.  And as she did the sun began to rise.  And I cast my eyes back to the ELM.  It shined, as if it had been washed and renewed.  I had won the fight and now my people would be safe yet again.

I saw Faith holding the Amulet I had dropped and quickly grabbed it from her and placed it around my neck.  She asked me a few times what the amulet was and what had happen.  I simply told her I was fine and promised her I would explain one day.

Years past and all was well with ELM.  But I was not well.  I continued to keep the amulet around my neck protecting it, safeguarding it.  But I knew my time was short and I could not put this burden onto my children.  The Amulet was effecting me greatly.  I could feel it like a weight around my neck.  But it was the day my son Faolan came to me that made me realize I could no longer wear the amulet.  He said he found Faith crying by the lake.  “She says you yelled at her Father.  That she was fearful of you.”  I couldn’t remember yelling at my sweet Faith.  It was as if the darkness was taking me over as each day my life grew shorter.

So I set out on a journey.  I would take the amulet to the far reaches of Elm and bury it.  My children would never carry this burden as I have.  Maybe it was a mistake to do what I did, but I did it for my people, for my land.  

        I traveled to the High Mountains at the very edge of the Fire Elm.  I came to a large cave at the base of the mountain and called for the Dragon Soarin who lived there.  “My friend, I am in need of your help.”  Soarin came out from his cave and bowed down so that I might climb onto his back.  He took me to the very top of the mountain and it was then I began to dig a great hole.  I placed a box that contained the Whispering Amulet.  No more would this darkness plague me or my people.  I covered the box with dirt and poured a silver potion over the disturbed dirt.  I beautiful tree came forth, bright with radiant blue leaves.  This tree would serve as a reminder to my children of the sacrifice that was made for our land, our people of Elm.