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And now for something different...
A Bent and Broken Man
The forest was immense and ancient. In the center of it grows the mystical Everglow Oaks; trees so enormous they seemed to touch the sky. Thirty adults could link hands and still not encompass the base of some of these behemoths. The bark of these trees always emits a soft silver-white light, even in broad daylight. Hence their name sake. The oaks are the home of the Elves. They and their use of nature magic have shaped and formed the mighty trees into their homes. They have literally made a city among the boughs of these trees. A figure wanders away from the central activity and enters a small meadow. The clearing has a large flat rock in the center of it. Carved upon the rock are a series of intricate runes. The figure climbs the rock and kneels there, bathed in the direct light of the sun. The figure pulls back the hood of a cloak and brilliant silver hair cascades down her back. She closes her eyes and turns her head up into the sun. Make complex and intricate motions with her hands, she starts to chant. In her mind's eye a vision forms. With terrifying certainty she sees events unfold... A piercing scream leaves her throat causing birds in nearby trees to launch into panicked flight. Indigo blue eyes wide open. Her heart pounds. The female elf flees the glade. She must travel far and fast to stop events sent into motion. The fate of the realm is at stake. Lira, the most powerful enchantress of the ancient elves has just had a horrific vision. One that threatens to bring about the end of peace, unleash tyranny, and usher in an age of evil. She alone has seen who is about to commit this atrocity, treason and inhuman sacrifice. She must intervene and save the life of a new born child. The life of her future husband. Lightning rips open the night, thunder shatters the stillness and the storm rages unchecked. Rain hammers down and hurricane winds blow. The storm pounds against the mighty walls of Sanctuary. Sanctuary, the mightiest fortress in all the land. The home of King Lexer and his family. From the depths of the cellar an ugly, evil green mist spirals upwards. Moving throughout the castle. All who encounter it, quickly succumb to it. Collapsing into a nightmare induced slumber. In the royal apartment both King and Queen struggle to awake from their own nightmare induced slumber. Both toss and turn, unable to wake. Unable to stop the madness that is happening in the waking world. As dream becomes reality. Reality becomes horror. The fortress is under siege. Never has Sanctuary fallen. It has stood tall and proud since its founding. All who have tried to bring her down have failed throughout history. Until now... Now living nightmares walk its halls, now unspeakable evil is being worked, now treason from within threatens to plunge the realm into chaos and destruction. Tonight the enemy comes from within. Treason has done what no army has ever been able to accomplish. Duke Nakor, the kings brother, has betrayed him. Twins, 10 minutes apart at birth. Nakor has always been Lexers second. It has poisoned his heart black. He is obsessed with being king. Always it has been so. Outwardly, Nakor has always seemed a loyal, loving, brother, supporting his King and liege. All to get into position to over throw him. As a master of the dark and forbidden arts, he has planned well. The storm and mist are his works. The king and Queen's unnatural slumber are his doing. Most of the castle staff and guards are also under his spell. Along with a squad of handpicked fanatics, loyal only to him, he is murdering all who have not yet succumbed. His destination, the royal nursery. There he plans on sacrificing the babe to the dark powers he serves. The royal blood of the babe will be used to summon a demon into this dimension. Nakor will unleash the demon to slaughter the King and Queen and any other loyal supporters. Then, of course, he supposedly vanquishes this demon. Leaving him as the hero and savior, not to mention, the only surviving member of the royal family left to rule. With the palace guards all dispatched and the Elvin nursemaid laying in a crumbled heap in the corner. Nakor leans over the crib and stares down upon the baby Prince Garret, wickedly grinning he says "Let us begin." Painstakingly, Nakor begins to trace arcane symbols on the floor. Using ground up precious gem powder he overlays the diagrams and begins chanting his summons. Any interruption or mispronounced word could be disastrous and fatal. His chanting reaches a crescendo and the powder ignites. Flaring up and burning a sickly pale purple. In the exact center of the diagram a black radiance begins to form and swirl. It is nauseating to the senses and everything about it exudes a putrid vileness to it. When gazed at, it seems to elongate and stretch downward. From the depths, a presence seems to approach. A sentience so evil that black hazy waves of hate, anger, and madness radiate from the forming hole. Still chanting his spell Nakor places the baby Garret next to this blackness. Pulling from his robe an ebony runed carved dagger Nakor begins to cut shallow wounds upon Garrets torso. As blood begins to pool in the wounds they take on the outline of mystic symbols and start to smolder. Raising the dagger high, to drive it through Garrets body, time seems to freeze. The evil presence at the bottom of the black pit, is now hurling itself upwards and rushes towards the opening. Screaming the fulfillment of his incantation Nakor drives the dagger downwards to impale the prince. All this seems to happen in exaggerated slow motion. Because, with his back to the prone Elvin nursemaid, she has regained consciousness. The nursemaid, although still somewhat groggy, cast aside her robe, unsheathes her own blade, and dives for Nakors exposed back. Simultaneously she buries her blade in his back as Nakors dagger strikes Garrets body. Many things happen all at once. The spell is interrupted and the portal slams shut. Sealing off and preventing the demon access to this realm. Nakor , grievously wounded, uses his dark arts to transport himself away. But not before driving his dagger into Garrets tiny body. Lira, Garrets nursemaid from birth , stares down in utter horror upon her charges impaled body. For the child is literally pinned to the floor, unbelievable still alive, though barely. Pulling a translocation device from her cloak she touches Garret and they disappear to reappear in the temple's infirmary. Using all the resources and considerable power at their disposal the baby continues to live. Priest, cleric, surgeon and wizard work on him tirelessly. Hours turn to days and miraculously Garret continues to live...But at what price. By some miracle or fate and, not to mention, the considerable power and skills of all involved Prince Garret will live. But the damage done to his body is horrific and permanent. Or so all believe it to be. His body is twisted and malformed by the evil nature of the magic used on him. His left leg is shrunken, twisted and shorter than his right. His spine is bent with a large humplike growth on his back and his skin is speckled with blotches of colored markings all over him. As the infant grew, he wanted for nothing. After all he is the heir to the throne. He was smothered and pampered as only a Queen mother could. He is taught by the nation's finest instructors. Attends all the greatest institutions... More years go by. Until finally Prince Garret has reached his twentieth birthday. He gazes at his reflection in a polished mirror and shudders. His entire life has been nothing but an extravagant failure. Full of loathing and self pity. In a few days he is to be formally acknowledged and crowned as Heir to the throne. What a sham and mockery that would be. He knows that the only people to support him are greedy, power hungry, ambitious evil men. That's sole purpose would be to place him as a puppet King for the own agenda. Or others that so totally oppose him that civil war would ensue if he were to be crowned. In a sudden fit a rage that has always been his trade mark Garrets savagely punches the mirror. Shattering it. With his eyes clenched shut he pounds the floor with his balled up fist screaming "I wish I were dead, why, oh why, couldn't I have just died." "So you wish to die do you" says a familiar voice. He opens his eyes and staring down at him is Lira. his lifelong mentor, teacher and tutor. She is exquisitely beautiful. She is the only person his entire life that has just treated him as a person. He loves and hates her so much it drives him mad with confusion. "Now Garret it is time for you to be healed!" Struggling to sit up he says "What do you mean, now is the time? Many through the years have tried. Including you." "Because only you can heal yourself. I can only assist. You will need all the courage and strength you possess; and that might not even by enough." Garret stands up "What do you mean?'' The process is extremely dangerous. We will need privacy. Touching Garrets forehead Lira transports them to the scared meadow. Garret is lying on his back upon the flat rock. The sun beats down upon him. He relaxes, closing his eyes to the warmth and brightness. "Garret are you ready to begin." Lira whispers in his ear. "Yes, but I'm afraid." Garret mumbles. Just relax and drift off. Listen to my voice. Most people wander through life: knowing no great purpose. We move through our lives never really learning anything profound about ourselves. We think in generalities, about why thinks are, the way they are. Even if we happen to glimpse some deeper purpose or meaning. Most will recoil in fear from it. Especially about the truth, about our real selves. Fear holds us, binds us. It kills us slowly from the inside. It is cunning and subtle. Keeps us from stepping outside our comfort zones. We always will have rational excuses as to why we didn't make a stand or take the risk. Fear makes us safe to fail without ever making the attempt. One must risk total failure in order to succeed. Listening to Liras' voice Garret breathing slows he feels like he is at the bottom of a deep hole. Garret, somewhere inside you loves your fear. It has flawed you. Kept you safely imprisoned. To be healed you must face the truth about your fear. You must embrace it, let it consume you. Surrender to it completely. Only then will you be able to banish it and let yourself be healed. "Are you ready to try Garret?" says Lira. Garret nods and weakly relies "Begin." From far away he hears "Then Know the truth." As all goes black. Searing white light explodes and he is above a room where His mother is holding him as a child. He is sobbing uncontrollable in her arms. Gently she is rocks him back and forth. Telling him to hush. " Nothing will ever hurt you as long as I am here. " She murmurs to him. Rage and pain overwhelm him. She lied to him. Oh god, how many times was he hurt, mocked and ridiculed. The image fades away... Flash... He is walking down the hall. A couple of young nobles are looking at him and talking to themselves. He knows it's about him. About his deformity. He stumbles down the hall further to his room. Slams the door shut and flings himself on his bed and cries into his pillow. The sobbing boy fades away... Flash... Garret looks down at himself in a schoolroom. He is sitting at his desk surrounded by circling students. They are throwing wadded up papers at him. Jeering him on the more he cries the more they tease him... Flash... He is lying face down in the dirt. A boy spits upon him and turns away in disgust. Over his shoulder the boy says "I can't spar with that thing."... Flash... A young beautiful lady leans in to kiss him. His eyes are closed and he is breathing heavy. He has never been kissed before. He hears mocking laughter and a resounding slap burns the whole side of his face. All is darkness and a frightened little boy huddles in a corner. His knees are drawn up and his head buried under his arms. A great menace is hovering over him. The little boy hears a voice "This is your fear, your pain, and your failure." The little boy is gasping for breath. He says "Father hates failure." The little boy crawls away, stands up and sprints away. The Menace right behind him. He can't out run it. Always its hovering right there behind him. Back in the glade , Lira gazes down at Garret. His body is twisting and struggling in unseen bonds. It looks as if he has suddenly turn liquid. Great rolling lumps form and rise up. Only to shrink away. Again Garrets vision explodes in whiteness. Now he sees himself as a teenager sitting on a horse. The teenager opens a saddle bag and pulls out a rope. Slipping a pre-made noose over his head he flips the rope over a stout limb. He secures the rope and viciously whips the horse. The horse bolts, jerking the rope taunt. The jerk doesn't break his neck. But he is suspended several feet from the ground. He tries not to struggle to much as he hangs there awaiting death and oblivion. Spots are dancing before his eyes. He can't breathe. Just as darkness is closing in; he thinks to himself. There now I've shown them all! No more pain, fear or failure. Suddenly he is falling and he hits the ground heavily. Garret opens his eyes, he is lying flat upon a plain that stretches from horizon to horizon. Pure and total desolation. The black menace hurls down upon him. It crashes into him; engulfing and devouring him. Warm and comfortable darkness surrounds him. A soft and sensuous voice tells him. " You are safe here. I am your life and love. Here you cannot be hurt or fail." Garret whimpers, "But I hurt and fail all the time." Ah, the voice says "But you have a reason." Garret feels an icy dread creep into the pit of his stomach. "What are you talking about?" Suddenly, mocking laughter surrounds him. "You failure is not because you are lacking but, because you are the deformed prince." More insane laughter "And here is where you will always dwell." An all encompassing certainty fills Garrets being. Here is his prison and his slavery. If he stays here he will be lost forever. Struggling mightily he starts to sit up. Pain explodes throughout his being. Instinctively, he knows that not to stand, will mean his ruin. All the images and people from his haunted past are flashing behind his eyes. All begging him to lay back down and be sheltered in there loving embrace. Screaming at the top of his lungs Garret heaves himself upright. Something inside him rips away as he stands. Momentarily he feels as if his soul was peeled from him and laid bare. A weight is lifted from him. A profound sense of peace and well being fills him to the point of tears---He opens his eyes to the dawn of a new day. Shakily Garret sits up. Then with the help of Lira stands up...Straight for the first time in his life. Hesitantly he reaches for her; she rushes into his arms, they hold each other a long time. Lira whisper to him " For two days you've endured a terrible and horrific struggle. At times it seemed like your body was bubbling like a soup. Others your bones snapped and broke, only to reform. Garret sighs wearily "I learned many things. Fear isn't always a great and terrible thing. But a lovely and seductive prison. It can bind us in bondage and slavery. Forever making us victims; incapable of making tough decisions, taking any risk or living as free men." Reaching up and cupping his face Lira looks deeply into his eyes "All your life Garret. Every time I've looked at you. This is the man that I see. In time, you will make a fine King." Garret smiles "I've so very much to learn." Grasping his hand Lira starts to lead him away " Of course you do. Maybe, now you will pay better attention to my lessons." With a hearty laugh Garret stops pulls Lira into a crush hug " Yes , but you will have to tell my parents where we have been for the past couple days."
The forest was immense and ancient. In the center of it grows the mystical Everglow Oaks; trees so enormous they seemed to touch the sky. Thirty adults could link hands and still not encompass the base of some of these behemoths. The bark of these trees always emits a soft silver-white light, even in broad daylight. Hence their name sake. The oaks are the home of the Elves. They and their use of nature magic have shaped and formed the mighty trees into their homes. They have literally made a city among the boughs of these trees. A figure wanders away from the central activity and enters a small meadow. The clearing has a large flat rock in the center of it. Carved upon the rock are a series of intricate runes. The figure climbs the rock and kneels there, bathed in the direct light of the sun. The figure pulls back the hood of a cloak and brilliant silver hair cascades down her back. She closes her eyes and turns her head up into the sun. Make complex and intricate motions with her hands, she starts to chant. In her mind's eye a vision forms. With terrifying certainty she sees events unfold... A piercing scream leaves her throat causing birds in nearby trees to launch into panicked flight. Indigo blue eyes wide open. Her heart pounds. The female elf flees the glade. She must travel far and fast to stop events sent into motion. The fate of the realm is at stake. Lira, the most powerful enchantress of the ancient elves has just had a horrific vision. One that threatens to bring about the end of peace, unleash tyranny, and usher in an age of evil. She alone has seen who is about to commit this atrocity, treason and inhuman sacrifice. She must intervene and save the life of a new born child. The life of her future husband. Lightning rips open the night, thunder shatters the stillness and the storm rages unchecked. Rain hammers down and hurricane winds blow. The storm pounds against the mighty walls of Sanctuary. Sanctuary, the mightiest fortress in all the land. The home of King Lexer and his family. From the depths of the cellar an ugly, evil green mist spirals upwards. Moving throughout the castle. All who encounter it, quickly succumb to it. Collapsing into a nightmare induced slumber. In the royal apartment both King and Queen struggle to awake from their own nightmare induced slumber. Both toss and turn, unable to wake. Unable to stop the madness that is happening in the waking world. As dream becomes reality. Reality becomes horror. The fortress is under siege. Never has Sanctuary fallen. It has stood tall and proud since its founding. All who have tried to bring her down have failed throughout history. Until now... Now living nightmares walk its halls, now unspeakable evil is being worked, now treason from within threatens to plunge the realm into chaos and destruction. Tonight the enemy comes from within. Treason has done what no army has ever been able to accomplish. Duke Nakor, the kings brother, has betrayed him. Twins, 10 minutes apart at birth. Nakor has always been Lexers second. It has poisoned his heart black. He is obsessed with being king. Always it has been so. Outwardly, Nakor has always seemed a loyal, loving, brother, supporting his King and liege. All to get into position to over throw him. As a master of the dark and forbidden arts, he has planned well. The storm and mist are his works. The king and Queen's unnatural slumber are his doing. Most of the castle staff and guards are also under his spell. Along with a squad of handpicked fanatics, loyal only to him, he is murdering all who have not yet succumbed. His destination, the royal nursery. There he plans on sacrificing the babe to the dark powers he serves. The royal blood of the babe will be used to summon a demon into this dimension. Nakor will unleash the demon to slaughter the King and Queen and any other loyal supporters. Then, of course, he supposedly vanquishes this demon. Leaving him as the hero and savior, not to mention, the only surviving member of the royal family left to rule. With the palace guards all dispatched and the Elvin nursemaid laying in a crumbled heap in the corner. Nakor leans over the crib and stares down upon the baby Prince Garret, wickedly grinning he says "Let us begin." Painstakingly, Nakor begins to trace arcane symbols on the floor. Using ground up precious gem powder he overlays the diagrams and begins chanting his summons. Any interruption or mispronounced word could be disastrous and fatal. His chanting reaches a crescendo and the powder ignites. Flaring up and burning a sickly pale purple. In the exact center of the diagram a black radiance begins to form and swirl. It is nauseating to the senses and everything about it exudes a putrid vileness to it. When gazed at, it seems to elongate and stretch downward. From the depths, a presence seems to approach. A sentience so evil that black hazy waves of hate, anger, and madness radiate from the forming hole. Still chanting his spell Nakor places the baby Garret next to this blackness. Pulling from his robe an ebony runed carved dagger Nakor begins to cut shallow wounds upon Garrets torso. As blood begins to pool in the wounds they take on the outline of mystic symbols and start to smolder. Raising the dagger high, to drive it through Garrets body, time seems to freeze. The evil presence at the bottom of the black pit, is now hurling itself upwards and rushes towards the opening. Screaming the fulfillment of his incantation Nakor drives the dagger downwards to impale the prince. All this seems to happen in exaggerated slow motion. Because, with his back to the prone Elvin nursemaid, she has regained consciousness. The nursemaid, although still somewhat groggy, cast aside her robe, unsheathes her own blade, and dives for Nakors exposed back. Simultaneously she buries her blade in his back as Nakors dagger strikes Garrets body. Many things happen all at once. The spell is interrupted and the portal slams shut. Sealing off and preventing the demon access to this realm. Nakor , grievously wounded, uses his dark arts to transport himself away. But not before driving his dagger into Garrets tiny body. Lira, Garrets nursemaid from birth , stares down in utter horror upon her charges impaled body. For the child is literally pinned to the floor, unbelievable still alive, though barely. Pulling a translocation device from her cloak she touches Garret and they disappear to reappear in the temple's infirmary. Using all the resources and considerable power at their disposal the baby continues to live. Priest, cleric, surgeon and wizard work on him tirelessly. Hours turn to days and miraculously Garret continues to live...But at what price. By some miracle or fate and, not to mention, the considerable power and skills of all involved Prince Garret will live. But the damage done to his body is horrific and permanent. Or so all believe it to be. His body is twisted and malformed by the evil nature of the magic used on him. His left leg is shrunken, twisted and shorter than his right. His spine is bent with a large humplike growth on his back and his skin is speckled with blotches of colored markings all over him. As the infant grew, he wanted for nothing. After all he is the heir to the throne. He was smothered and pampered as only a Queen mother could. He is taught by the nation's finest instructors. Attends all the greatest institutions... More years go by. Until finally Prince Garret has reached his twentieth birthday. He gazes at his reflection in a polished mirror and shudders. His entire life has been nothing but an extravagant failure. Full of loathing and self pity. In a few days he is to be formally acknowledged and crowned as Heir to the throne. What a sham and mockery that would be. He knows that the only people to support him are greedy, power hungry, ambitious evil men. That's sole purpose would be to place him as a puppet King for the own agenda. Or others that so totally oppose him that civil war would ensue if he were to be crowned. In a sudden fit a rage that has always been his trade mark Garrets savagely punches the mirror. Shattering it. With his eyes clenched shut he pounds the floor with his balled up fist screaming "I wish I were dead, why, oh why, couldn't I have just died." "So you wish to die do you" says a familiar voice. He opens his eyes and staring down at him is Lira. his lifelong mentor, teacher and tutor. She is exquisitely beautiful. She is the only person his entire life that has just treated him as a person. He loves and hates her so much it drives him mad with confusion. "Now Garret it is time for you to be healed!" Struggling to sit up he says "What do you mean, now is the time? Many through the years have tried. Including you." "Because only you can heal yourself. I can only assist. You will need all the courage and strength you possess; and that might not even by enough." Garret stands up "What do you mean?'' The process is extremely dangerous. We will need privacy. Touching Garrets forehead Lira transports them to the scared meadow. Garret is lying on his back upon the flat rock. The sun beats down upon him. He relaxes, closing his eyes to the warmth and brightness. "Garret are you ready to begin." Lira whispers in his ear. "Yes, but I'm afraid." Garret mumbles. Just relax and drift off. Listen to my voice. Most people wander through life: knowing no great purpose. We move through our lives never really learning anything profound about ourselves. We think in generalities, about why thinks are, the way they are. Even if we happen to glimpse some deeper purpose or meaning. Most will recoil in fear from it. Especially about the truth, about our real selves. Fear holds us, binds us. It kills us slowly from the inside. It is cunning and subtle. Keeps us from stepping outside our comfort zones. We always will have rational excuses as to why we didn't make a stand or take the risk. Fear makes us safe to fail without ever making the attempt. One must risk total failure in order to succeed. Listening to Liras' voice Garret breathing slows he feels like he is at the bottom of a deep hole. Garret, somewhere inside you loves your fear. It has flawed you. Kept you safely imprisoned. To be healed you must face the truth about your fear. You must embrace it, let it consume you. Surrender to it completely. Only then will you be able to banish it and let yourself be healed. "Are you ready to try Garret?" says Lira. Garret nods and weakly relies "Begin." From far away he hears "Then Know the truth." As all goes black. Searing white light explodes and he is above a room where His mother is holding him as a child. He is sobbing uncontrollable in her arms. Gently she is rocks him back and forth. Telling him to hush. " Nothing will ever hurt you as long as I am here. " She murmurs to him. Rage and pain overwhelm him. She lied to him. Oh god, how many times was he hurt, mocked and ridiculed. The image fades away... Flash... He is walking down the hall. A couple of young nobles are looking at him and talking to themselves. He knows it's about him. About his deformity. He stumbles down the hall further to his room. Slams the door shut and flings himself on his bed and cries into his pillow. The sobbing boy fades away... Flash... Garret looks down at himself in a schoolroom. He is sitting at his desk surrounded by circling students. They are throwing wadded up papers at him. Jeering him on the more he cries the more they tease him... Flash... He is lying face down in the dirt. A boy spits upon him and turns away in disgust. Over his shoulder the boy says "I can't spar with that thing."... Flash... A young beautiful lady leans in to kiss him. His eyes are closed and he is breathing heavy. He has never been kissed before. He hears mocking laughter and a resounding slap burns the whole side of his face. All is darkness and a frightened little boy huddles in a corner. His knees are drawn up and his head buried under his arms. A great menace is hovering over him. The little boy hears a voice "This is your fear, your pain, and your failure." The little boy is gasping for breath. He says "Father hates failure." The little boy crawls away, stands up and sprints away. The Menace right behind him. He can't out run it. Always its hovering right there behind him. Back in the glade , Lira gazes down at Garret. His body is twisting and struggling in unseen bonds. It looks as if he has suddenly turn liquid. Great rolling lumps form and rise up. Only to shrink away. Again Garrets vision explodes in whiteness. Now he sees himself as a teenager sitting on a horse. The teenager opens a saddle bag and pulls out a rope. Slipping a pre-made noose over his head he flips the rope over a stout limb. He secures the rope and viciously whips the horse. The horse bolts, jerking the rope taunt. The jerk doesn't break his neck. But he is suspended several feet from the ground. He tries not to struggle to much as he hangs there awaiting death and oblivion. Spots are dancing before his eyes. He can't breathe. Just as darkness is closing in; he thinks to himself. There now I've shown them all! No more pain, fear or failure. Suddenly he is falling and he hits the ground heavily. Garret opens his eyes, he is lying flat upon a plain that stretches from horizon to horizon. Pure and total desolation. The black menace hurls down upon him. It crashes into him; engulfing and devouring him. Warm and comfortable darkness surrounds him. A soft and sensuous voice tells him. " You are safe here. I am your life and love. Here you cannot be hurt or fail." Garret whimpers, "But I hurt and fail all the time." Ah, the voice says "But you have a reason." Garret feels an icy dread creep into the pit of his stomach. "What are you talking about?" Suddenly, mocking laughter surrounds him. "You failure is not because you are lacking but, because you are the deformed prince." More insane laughter "And here is where you will always dwell." An all encompassing certainty fills Garrets being. Here is his prison and his slavery. If he stays here he will be lost forever. Struggling mightily he starts to sit up. Pain explodes throughout his being. Instinctively, he knows that not to stand, will mean his ruin. All the images and people from his haunted past are flashing behind his eyes. All begging him to lay back down and be sheltered in there loving embrace. Screaming at the top of his lungs Garret heaves himself upright. Something inside him rips away as he stands. Momentarily he feels as if his soul was peeled from him and laid bare. A weight is lifted from him. A profound sense of peace and well being fills him to the point of tears---He opens his eyes to the dawn of a new day. Shakily Garret sits up. Then with the help of Lira stands up...Straight for the first time in his life. Hesitantly he reaches for her; she rushes into his arms, they hold each other a long time. Lira whisper to him " For two days you've endured a terrible and horrific struggle. At times it seemed like your body was bubbling like a soup. Others your bones snapped and broke, only to reform. Garret sighs wearily "I learned many things. Fear isn't always a great and terrible thing. But a lovely and seductive prison. It can bind us in bondage and slavery. Forever making us victims; incapable of making tough decisions, taking any risk or living as free men." Reaching up and cupping his face Lira looks deeply into his eyes "All your life Garret. Every time I've looked at you. This is the man that I see. In time, you will make a fine King." Garret smiles "I've so very much to learn." Grasping his hand Lira starts to lead him away " Of course you do. Maybe, now you will pay better attention to my lessons." With a hearty laugh Garret stops pulls Lira into a crush hug " Yes , but you will have to tell my parents where we have been for the past couple days."
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