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The Fallen—Introduction

She remembered falling. Every night, her dreams were filled by it, so real she woke in a grey sweat as she neared the earth, the clouds rushing past, the ocean racing up to great her with his blue wave arms outstretched. She remembered her hand, obsidian dark, clasped tightly, holding something precious, keeping it close. She remembered falling…
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Clavian gazed longingly from the vestry window, down to the courtyard below. Though she had been found washed up on the beach months ago, half drowned and battered by the waves, the young knight was fascinated by her. They knew so little about her and all that they’d learnt had come from her physical body telling the tale, rather than what she knew herself. All she could tell them was that she fell, and that she had held something precious.
So they’d been playing guessing games about her… three months, and no sign that she would recall anything. Even the templar doubted her recovery now, and they believed that her fall was a drowning woman’s dream, and that the grip she remembered was her grip on her life’s force. Clavian did not believe a word of it. She remembered it so clearly, he had heard her adamant declaration upon her arrival. No-one could dream something so clear.
As he watched her, he wondered what would cause a drow maiden to fall?
“Ah, Clavian! You’re here. I didn’t hear you come in.”
He stood and faced her. Lady Kyrian stood framed in the doorway, graceful and willow-slim. Anyone who saw her would never pick her as the Guardian of the Flame. Her pale, statuesque beauty was a stark contrast to the maid who had so drawn his gaze earlier.
“She’s really quite stunning isn’t she? Perfect ebony-dark skin… hair that shines like silver… and golden eyes. I’ve never heard of a drow with golden eyes before. Very rare. It’s really quite astonishing.”
“Golden eyes… beautiful.” He murmured.
“She has expressed a wish to join us, to become a guardian. I thought that perhaps she would be the perfect one to be your apprentice.” She turned to face Clavian, who looked at her with shock.
“But I am not yet ready to take an apprentice!” he insisted “I’ve only just received my own anointing! How could I possibly take on an apprentice?”
“You are a paladin petitioned by the flame!! You are ready when the She decrees it, and only then will you be ready!” Kyrian suddenly seemed to tower above him, her eyes shining like the sun, her hair wild. “When She commands it you will obey!”
“I’m sorry. I did not mean any offense. I simply do not understand this choice. I am so inexperienced. Why was I chosen and not some other, greater knight of the flame?”
“Child, it is not our place to question Her will. It is our duty to follow. I myself have consulted for days, to ensure I was correct. You will be her master.”
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“If you don’t mind my asking sir, what does ‘Clavian’ mean?”
“My name? You want to know the meaning of my name?”
“Yes, my lord. Is it an odd request?”
“Well, no, I suppose not, especially since you are an elf. When I first came here Lady Kyrian asked me the very same question. She truly believes that your name shapes the person that you will become.”
“I know. She told me.”
Clavian turned to face her. “You spoke with Kyrian?”
“Well, yes, of course, she summoned me.”
“She summoned you??”
“Yes. She wanted to know… she asked me my name.”
“Let me get this straight. She asked you to come to her rooms.” In all the years that Kyrian had been the flame guardian, no-one but the keepers of the flame, the flame disciples, had ever been inside her room. Four hundred years, and never a non-initiate. “She asked you to come, and then she asked you your name?”
“Yes.”
“She asked you your name? When we’ve been asking that very question of you for months?”
“Well, yes.”
“So, what did you say?”
“Excuse me?”
“What did you tell her when she asked you your name?”
“Well, I told her I was the fallen one, the seeker, trapped in darkness.”
“You told her what???” He was stunned. “And what is that supposed to mean?”
“I don’t know, but it is what I told her. It just felt right to tell her that.” She looked up at him. “Did I do something wrong?”
“No, of course not. If you told Kyrian that was who you are, then I guess it must be the truth.” But what does it mean, Clavian wondered.
He turned back. “So, what made you decide to follow the flame?”
“I heard Her speak, the Lady of the Flame. I heard Her voice inside of me. I felt myself being drawn to it, to Her truth. I sensed She does not lie, and I felt that I should seek my own truth through Her.”
“You heard the call of the flame?”
“I felt it, I feel Her calling. I know she cannot lie.”
“There is darkness inside the flame too. She is not pure light. Not pure truth.”
“I felt the dark inside the flame, sensed its coldness, its lies, felt the strength.”
“Then you must know that even the flame can lie.”
“No. She cannot lie. It is the darkness, the black flame, the very heart of evil that lies. The Silver Flame is truth and light, she cannot lie.”
“How can you know the true nature of the flame? You have only just become an initiate, and yet you lecture me on Her truth?”
“She spoke to me; I have told you this already. Do you doubt my honesty?”
“The flame only speaks to its kin. This is one of the first lessons all disciples learn. Do you deny this truth you already know?”
“I do not deny it. I merely put it to you that Her communing with me is proof that I am meant to be your servant, and Hers.”
“Then I suppose that is all I really need to know.” He said as he walked away.
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Clavian walked through the flame glades. The silver trees glistened with dew, their leaves gently reflecting the morning sun, their branches waving gently in the breeze. The mists swirled around him, gently caressing his cheek.
“Wylden, why have you come here?”
“Because you called us to you, Clavian.” A woman’s voice whispered. The mists parted, and she appeared before him, her silver mist hair flowing gently about her. “Why do you seek us?”
“I need your advice. A drow maiden has come upon us, and she has been made my apprentice.”
“The wood spirit has already told us as much. What bothers you about her?”
“She calls herself the fallen one, and she has golden eyes.”
“So it has been foreseen by the heavens, Clavian, why do you seek my guidance?” She asked, her voice echoing sweetly through the trees.
“What is her purpose? What do you see? Why has she come here to us? To me?”
“You are to be her master. That is the only purpose you need to understand. It is the will of the Flame that drives her, and the Flame is the only reason she exists.”
“That explains nothing!” Clavian fumed. “I command you to tell me what her true purpose is! You must tell me!!”
“I have told you all that is within my power to tell you.”
“Wylden. You are mine to command, and you must obey me. You will tell me her purpose.”
“You knew the nature of my obedience when you came here, and I have told you all the truth you need to know. The only purpose she has in this age is to belong to you.”
“You know that what you tell me is not the ultimate truth! You must tell me the real truth of this woman!”
“I have told you every truth such as it must be, as only your truth can be. Now I must return.”
“Wylden, you must not leave. I command you to stay!”
The mists around him began to disperse, and she started to fade from his sight.
“Please, Wylden.” He cried as he sank to his knees. “Please, I must know. I need to know.”
“But I have told you the only truth. You must believe me.” The mist fell away, and she was gone.
“But how? How can it be true? It makes no sense. How can it possibly be true?”
“Clavian! Clavian, you up there?”
Clavian stood and turned to se Ryota striding up the hill towards him.
“Clavian, for a knight of the flame, you sure are stupid. Who goes out in the glades at this time of year and tells no-one? You do realise the trees are alive, and they don’t take kindly to strangers wandering amongst them.”
“I am well aware of this. I just needed to…”
Ryota cut him off. “You need nothing but a good kick. Just because the Wylden are out here, it doesn’t mean that you will be safe. You should know better. And you should pay attention to what she has to say when you come out to see her.”
“Excuse me?”
“Well, to put it simply, the truth will always be the truth, nothing else you believe will ever change that. You must accept that the Wylden were telling you all that they could. Just because she is yours to command, it does not necessarily mean that they do not have their own will. She knows what is right, and they will continue to follow their own judgement in that regard. She is still her own being.”
“Yes, Ryota. The Wylden is her own being. But knowing that doesn’t make her any less infuriating.”
“Well Clavian, I was thinking that maybe I can help alleviate some of that tension.” She moved to his side, and looked up into his eyes. “That is, if you’d like my help.”
“Thank-you very much for your kind offer, Ryota, but my calling is not to you and the flame has not lead me in such a direction.” He said, and he began to walk further into the glades.
“God, Clavian!” She shouted after him. “When are you ever going to see that the flame is not everything?”
“I’m sorry, Ryota, but it is everything to me. And until the day I die, I will continue to follow Her will.”
“GOD! Men!!” And she stormed off, back down the hill.
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Ryota had been watching Clavian since the moment she first met him. She had only been four years old, but she knew from that moment on, that she was meant to always be with him. Never before had she ever seen anyone so beautiful, so serene, she knew that as long as he was around, everything would be alright. She also knew that she was the real reason he had taken the call to become a knight, it was his desire to protect her that drove him. She believed this with a passion and fervor that eclipsed everything else. He could deny it all he liked, she knew the truth.
She was fuming by the time she reached the range. She had decided that the best thing to do right now was to give him some space, although it felt like that was all she ever did was give to him, and he never seemed to realize how much she had sacrificed for him. She knew that she could nothing else for him, and focused on fitting her gauntlets. She looked down at the intricate writing etched into the leather, wishing she could understand what they said, why she had never learnt to speak the language of the gods astounded her. In a town like this, with the covenant of the flame abiding here, it was ludicrous not to, and yet her parents had insisted that she learn the dark writings instead, the languages of the abyss and the unholy. Unless someone translated these writings for her, she would never understand what powers they truly bestowed on her.
She lifted the bow and tested the string. Still tight, it never seemed to go slack, those artisans sure knew what they were doing when they made this bow, and she should probably go back and get some good quality arrows and a more appropriate quiver. She could never go into battle with the ratty quiver she used for practice. But she’d had it since her she turned six; it was a gift from Clavian and his family… maybe she’d just get it altered after all.
She fitted the arrow to the notch in the bow, stretched out the string, and took a deep breath.
“Fly fast, fly far, fly true.” She whispered, and released the arrow.
It slammed hard and deep into the center of the target 100 feet in front of her.
“You’re very good.” The soft voice startled Ryota, and she turned to face the speaker.
Before her stood the cause of all her and Clavian’s trouble. Slender and dark as night, with striking eyes of gold. “Really, you are. I have never seen such a confident strike. You will make a grand ranger.”
“Why, thank-you.” Ryota was stunned. She had expected her to be pompous and self-righteous, but she seemed truly sincere. “I’m Ryota.” And she stretched out her hand.
“Elhana.” She said as she took Ryota’s hand and shook it. “I hope you don’t mind, but I’d like to watch you practice if I may?”
“Of course. Are you studying the bow too?”
“No, I’m a blade warrior. I’m studying how to better use my skills with the long sword right now. But I’ve been told to take a break, and I thought I’d come here for a while and watch the archers.”
“And you found me here alone.”
“Yes. I did, and I’m quite glad to have finally made your acquaintance. Clavian speaks of you in a very high regard.”
“Oh he does? I was of the belief he didn’t think of me at all.”
“Oh no, Miss Ryota, that is not true. He thinks you are a truly talented archer, and a great woodsman. From what I have seen, it would seem that he is correct, at least as far as the archery goes.”
“You flatter me too much.”
“Well, I suppose I’ll leave you alone now.” She stretched out her hand again. “I hope that I am lucky enough to venture by your side one day.”
“I hope so too.” Ryota watched her wander off back to the sword pit. “I really do.”
And she turned back to the target, not noticing the slight glow from her gauntlets.
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As Ryota wandered home she wondered about Elhana. She was so strange, everything about her, from her mannerisms to her gold coloured eyes. Drow normally have pale eyes, palest shades of red, violet and blue. Why were her eyes such vibrant gold? It just didn’t add up.
She threw open the door to her parent’s home and was immediately bowled over.
“Geez, Ly, you want to be a bit more careful? I could’ve broken something!” she laughed, looking up into the deep, expectant eyes. “Ok, ok. Let’s go do something.”
The great wolf jumped up and seemed to dance around the room.
“Just give me a minute, ok Ly? I have to change first.”
Ryota walked into her room and changed out of her tunic and into her hunting clothes. As she fitted the old leather armour she wondered about where Elhana had really come from. She continued to talk to Ly, focusing her questions at him.
“You see, Ly, if she was a true drow, shouldn’t she have light coloured eyes? What’s with that? I mean, how can she have such bright coloured eyes? I just don’t understand. And shouldn’t she be really short? But she’s almost as tall as Clavian! I thought that drow were all short because of the living underground factor? And she can see in the daylight?? Aren’t they all day blind?”
He simply stared up at her as she refitted her gauntlets.
“Ok, yeah, she could have adapted to the daylight. There are plenty of drow who live above ground. So she could’ve just been one of those.” She stopped suddenly as she tied her boots. Ly looked up at her and made a low growling noise.
“You’re right. You’re right. I should stop thinking about her. There are more important things. Come on; let’s go catch us some dinner then. I’m sure everyone would love to have some nice venison or boar or something.” And she walked towards the door. Ly stopped at the door before she opened it and started growling ominously. Ryota felt it too. Something wasn’t right. The hairs at the back of her neck stood up as she plucked an arrow from her quiver and strung it to her bow.
“You ready Ly?” she asked. He looked up at her and she could see the expectation in his eyes. “Ok, let’s see what’s going on.”
She opened the door, but nothing seemed out of place here, although she obviously wasn’t the only person on edge. She could see people along the street standing at their doors and window, staring out onto the street. Those who were disciples of the flame were coming out into the street armed for battle, but she could sense that no-one knew what was wrong. Suddenly there was a huge crash, and Ryota turned her attention to the temple. The normally serene and awe-inspiring temple was in darkness. A spire of horrid dark flame spouted from the wing where Kyrian’s vestry once stood.
“Kyrian!!!” Ryota screamed as she ran towards the grounds. “This cannot be happening!”
Priests and clerics, surrounded by the many orphans came running into the street.
Ryota looked up and noted both Clavian and Elhana, fully armoured and armed racing on horseback towards the church from the direction of the jousting yards.
“Ryota!” Elhana called out. “What happened? Where’s the Guardian?” She leapt from the great war-horse and landed gracefully beside Ryota, both swords drawn and at the ready.
“I don’t know. There was an explosion, and suddenly the flames were enveloping the vestry. I haven’t seen Kyrian yet. How could this have happened?”
Clavian swung down from his own mount. “I’m not sure, but I’ve had the feeling for a while that Kyrian has been in the thrall of the dark flame. I fear she has become a zealot for darkness.”
“Clavian, don’t be ridiculous!” Ryota said as she started towards the temple again. “Lady Kyrian would never…”
“But she would.” Elhana whispered softly. “I noticed the divining mirror she uses that day she called me to see her. The edges were burnt. That shouldn’t happen if you’re communing with the divine. She has been talking with the infernal, the dire and debauched. I have seen it before.”
“You have? But I thought you couldn’t remember any of your past?” Ryota answered.
“I can’t, just some things come to me sometimes. I just remembered that mirror, and seeing an image in my mind of a Fey’ri with a crystal ball that had burnt spots. And I knew that Kyrian had seen the Abyss and her mind had been changed by it.”
“But how can you know for sure?” Ryota looked questioningly at both Clavian and Elhana. “You could be wrong!”
“We could. But you must admit that it is possible. That Kyrian was turned by her desire for more power. It has always been her most dangerous failing point, her greed.”
“Clavian, how can you say that? She’s your lord! Your commander!”
“And she’s also my mother! I know her better than anyone because she brought me into this world. My father has told me everything he ever knew about her, and I have watched her every day of my life!”
“Lady Kyrian is your mother?” Both Ryota and Elhana stopped in their tracks.
“But Clavian, I thought your mother was…” He cut Ryota off mid-question.
“No, she raised me, but Kyrian is my mother. My father married after I was born, after Kyrian left the Highlands for the war. She came here, and he went west. It was only after that we came here. You remember that.”
“Yes, but she never said. You never said.”
“I know. We didn’t want people to think that I came so far because of who my mother was.” He looked up at the burning vestry. “Come on. We should hurry. We need to find out what really happened, rather than making assumptions.”
They ran into the grounds, and saw the flame clerics standing in the courtyard, battling fiercely to stem the fire that the dark flame had started. Clavian could hear screaming from the higher floors where people had become trapped by the flames, their only escape to climb down from the windows. Elhana suddenly ran forward, swords up, into the smoke and flame.
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“Elhana! Stop!” Ryota screamed after her, and Clavian started to run after her, when she stepped back through the flame, whole and unscathed.
“It’s an illusion. There’s nothing really here. Come on, we’ve got to find Kyrian!” And she turned back into the flame.
“Come on Ryota, she’s right! We have to find Kyrian.” And they dove through the smoke and flame after her.
“You idiot! Why I still follow you around is beyond me.” She mumbled as she lifted her bow and followed the others into the smoky gloom.
Through the thick shroud of smoke it became obvious that it was all an elaborate disguise. The fire burned without heat, without destroying anything, the smoke made vision blurry but came from nothing.
“There’s some serious magic behind this. Not just anyone could create this sort of illusion.” Clavian mumbled as they walked through the gloom.
“Perhaps Kyrian isn’t behind this after all. She doesn’t have control of this kind of magic.” Ryota answered.
“If she has turned, then only the gods know what she is capable of. She may have been studying the arcane for years now.” Elhana turned to face them. “If it is as Clavian and I suspect, she can not be acting alone anyway. Even the most powerful wizard could not sustain this sort of magic for so long.”
“I still don’t believe that Kyrian could be evil. She’s always looked after us, watched over us. She can’t be evil.”
“Ryota. You cannot seriously be saying that! It may seem hard to believe, but given what’s happening, I don’t think you can choose to ignore it anymore.” He snapped at her, and immediately Ly leapt up, growling menacingly.
“Ly, calm down. Clavian’s our friend.” Ryota glared back up at him “He just has bad judgments sometimes. Lady Kyrian is not behind this. It’s all just some big mistake. Some sort of experiment gone wrong. She can’t be bad. We have to find her and set this all straight.” And she dashed off down the hall towards Kyrian’s rooms.
“Ryota! Wait! We don’t know what’s back there!” Clavian cried out after her. “Oh, damn it.” He turned to Elhana. “Let’s hurry; she’s going to get hurt!” And they ran after her.
Ryota reached the grand doors to Kyrian’s private library, and reached out to fling them open. But Elhana reached her before she could release the lock. Without thinking, she kicked out with her leg and tripped her, and the great wolf leapt onto the prone elf.
“Ryota, NO!” Clavian screamed out. Every fibre in his body warned him of the terrible evil within that room. “You’ll destroy us all!”
But she ignored him and flung open the door. There was a brilliant flash of light. She felt Clavian’s hand on her arm, and then there was nothing.