Hill of Sorrow
June 2nd, 2008 by silverprince
Author’s Note: This story is a detour from its original main story, "The Silver Prince" Please, I do apologize if there are loads of typos and grammatical errors..this is unedited…and i usually write without technically thinking. Comment away..just…VIOLENCE towards the author is STRICTLY prohibited. XD
ON WITH THE STORY!!!
Somewhere at the Northern tip of the
Baleer Mountains was a small town left alone by the Fortian Horde. It was a part of the great Tellana lands once, but now an independent town with no sovereign to rule over it. The Fortian Horde did not forget this certain piece of land. In fact, they thought they needed to get it for the town produce wonderful silk cloth and printed clothes that can not be found elsewhere, they just chose not to come close to it for it is situated just a hill apart from the Ancient City of Teles, the Draconian’s territory.
They were called the clothe-makers. They are the experts in designing clothes for bards, dancers and other performers. Only the highest quality of silk and other materials are used to make their unique creations. And only well-known bards and performers come to them for help. There is no bard in Tellana that doesn’t dream of a costume made by these artisans of clothe.
One of the five families that have mastered the ancient techniques of weaving and spinning golden threads are the Heebla Clan. At the time the Fortian Horde took over Tellana, there were five members of the clan left – the only successor, a girl of twelve. Ealuh Heebla, the last hope for the clan.
Ealuh grew up alone. Being the youngest in the family, she usually runs around the meadows all by herself picking flowers or just feeling the wind pass by. One of her favorite spots to spend her time is atop the hill overlooking the
Ancient City of the Draconians. She always was curious of the immortals – what they’re like or how they live.
When she was in her sixteenth summer while she was taking a rest beside a lone tree atop that same hill, she saw several Draconians fly over her. The mere presence of the immortals made her smile. Even if it were for just a few seconds, she saw one. She saw their strong wings beating the wind as they flew. She also noticed they look different. This even made her more curious of what the immortals would look like up close. From then on, she wished she’d see one and talk with them.
Her parents were worried when they knew where she was going in her free time. They told her not to disturb the immortals and that the immortals will look down upon a lowly human such as her. The clan also told her that the Draconians are descended from the dragoons – human-eating creatures that once ruled the lands. Despite the warnings, she continued wishing she’d see one up close before she dies.
One day as she was sitting under the large tree on top of ‘her’ hill, a strong gust of wind blew. The fabric she was weaving; a very important material for the costume that was ordered by a rich merchant got caught in the wind and flew up into the sky. She immediately ran to catch it but it seemed the wind has fallen in love with the golden prints tinted on the cloth. The cloth went higher and higher. Ealuh stared at the sky and prayed that the cloth fall down. Her mother and father will be mad if they know that she is working atop the hill she was forbidden to visit. At last, she gave up and went back under the tree. Tears began to fall as she realized that she will never again visit the hill. But then again…
“Is this yours?”
A voice soft and yet deep as that of the soothing wind made her look up. Ealuh’s eyes grew in wonder. Never has she seen a man this tall and with such long intricately braided hair. Is he…an immortal? She thought as a smile graced her lips. “Yes…it is mine…” She answered.
“Wonderfully made…” The tall man smiled back as he gave the human back her possession.
She realized by then that there is something different about the man. “Wings…” The word got out in a soft whisper. Ealuh then stepped back remembering her parent’s warning. The glint on the wing’s edges showed that it could cut through her easily – this made her more nervous.
“I was afraid you’d respond this way…” The immortal chuckled lightly as he gave the human a kind look. “As you know by now, I am an immortal – a Draconian from Teles… I am Byrne. You are?”
Ealuh blushed. What will I say? I have been dreaming of a time like this…and here I am…speechless. She stared at the Draconian. Mother is right. They are indeed beautiful… She began to feel insecure. She looked down. “Ealuh…of the Heebla Clan… I’m a Tellanian.” She mumbled.
Byrne smiled and cocked his head to the side. “I barely heard that, Ealuh…”
Ealuh looked up at the sound of her name in his lips. For some reason, her name sounded sweet when he uttered it to her. “I’m sorry…” She said with an unsure look in her face. She could see the immortal called Byrne staring at her through her peripheral vision.
“I have been watching you for years Ealuh… You always seem to watch us…”
Ealuh blushed even stronger.
“Are you worried I’d devour you?”
Ealuh reluctantly nodded her head. After all, she is afraid that he might eat her. What a dreadful end! She said to herself. She then heard the immortal laugh. And what a wonderful sound it was. She looked up and found the Draconian in joyous laughter.
“I can not believe you people think we’d eat you!” The Draconian continued laughing until he realized the young lady staring at him. “I apologize…” He stared seriously at the human girl. “It’s just that this is my first time seeing a human…”
Ealuh shook her head. “There is nothing to apologize for…” She said softly. She took notice of the Draconian’s long ebony tresses and his sharp features. And it seemed that the immortal was also studying her. They stared at each other for a long time until Ealuh’s name was called out from the small town below.
“You should go, Ealuh.” The Draconian smiled ruefully as he floated away. “Be safe…”
Ealuh saw him fly away. Suddenly, she felt an angry feeling in her heart. Why aren’t humans blest with wings? Why aren’t we beautiful like the immortals? She asked herself as she trudged back towards the town. Somehow, she became jealous at how unfair the gods are to their kind. How unjust! She would say every time she remembers how the Draconian looked like. She never went back to the lone tree atop the hill. She never wanted to remember how ugly she is. For years she dedicated herself into learning the secrets of her clan. Little by little, she began to surpass her parents and her relatives. Many people became aware of her talent. Bards began to place orders. She became busy. She forgot about the immortals.
One night, in her twentieth summer, the Fortian Horde went back to claim the last town of
Tellana – their town. Ealuh woke up that night and found the town burning. Her parents told her to pack and leave. She resisted telling them that if she will, she’d end up caught in the end. They all went to the
Temple of the Muses in the middle of the small town to pray. There, Fortian soldiers began killing them, one after the other. Ealuh saw her parents die in front of her. She cried and cried not knowing what to do. She wished she could fly away. She wished she could take revenge on the soldiers. She wished she could just vanish. And again she was pushed to remember… I am just a lowly human…I can not possibly do something great…something spectacular… She waited for the sword to strike. But there was none. When she opened her eyes, she saw the immortal she met years ago. “Byrne…”
The Draconian told her he saw the town burning bright that night so he came to see if there is anything wrong. Unfortunately, he must go through the guardians of Teles first before he could fly off without notice. And he was too late. Ealuh Heebla is the only one who survived the tragedy of the town.
Ealuh cried for nights. Ealuh cried for days. And after crying, she stayed silent. The Draconian visits her everyday since the burning of the small town. He has built a small cottage by the lone tree atop the hill for the unhappy Ealuh. He tried to talk to her, but Ealuh would look away and ignore him. He even brings flowers from Telesian meadows to cheer her up. But nothing made her smile. The young lady never uttered a word. Byrne would sit on a branch of the large tree and watch the human girl stare into nothingness all day long.
One day, he accidentally tore a part of his sash as he was flying just above the canopy of the forest on his way to visit the lone tree atop the hill. When he arrived, he found Ealuh sitting under the large tree, looking up to the sky. He sat beside her and stared at the sky himself.
“It has been two moons since your loss… You should let go, Ealuh…” He began. “Your parents have joined your ancestors in the afterlife; there is nothing to worry… If there is, it should be you. You must – “ And to his surprise, the girl answered,
“Do not tell me what to do, immortal… You do not know what I have gone through. You do not know how it is to live…like cattle.” Ealuh cried. “You do not know what it feels like to be powerless! You do not know anything! You and your people…are magnificent! You do not know how it feels not to fly! You do not know how it feels to be ugly!”
Byrne stared, confused.
“Why do I have to live as a human?! Why can’t I be an immortal?!” Ealuh shook her head frantically. “Why can’t I be just as strong as the immortals? It is not fair!”
Byrne smiled by then. “Be careful of what you wish for…”
“What?” Ealuh glared at the Draconian.
“You might think we are magnificent…” Byrne started. “But I don’t think there is anything magnificent about hiding from the outer world…” He continued.
Ealuh mellowed down. “Do you hate being an immortal?”
“Why do you want to be immortal? So that you can fly? So that you can be stronger than twenty men? So that you can be beautiful? So that you can live forever?” Byrne asked, partly irritated. “There is nothing beautiful about our race… Too many rules… Too many secrets… I wished I could be human. You people live life so wonderfully. You know that your time in this world is limited so you live a day like it’s your last… You cherish every moment in your memory. We? We forget things…we take things for granted…”
“You only say that because you are an immortal…” Ealuh mumbled. “But if you will live a life of a human, you will understand me better…”
“Are you asking me to abandon flying?” Byrne asked slowly. “If it’ll take that to make you believe that I truly hate being a Draconian, I will do it.”
Ealuh shook her head vigorously not looking at the immortal. “No. I do not wish you trouble you. I haven’t thank you enough for saving my life… Pardon me for being too harsh. Thank you for everything, Byrne…”
“I have a question…”
“Yes?” Ealuh asked softly.
“Why haven’t you come back after that afternoon when you almost lost your golden cloth?” Byrne looked at the human intently. “I came back everyday to see if you’re there. You left…”
Ealuh looked away. “I simply do not want to go back.” She took notice of the Draconian’s torn sash. “Give me your sash, Byrne. I’ll fix it.”
The Draconian and the Human. They met everyday from then on, talking about the things around them. They spend each moment in each one’s company. They would run after one another in the meadows, play hide and seek or just wander about the nearby forest. Sometimes, the Draconian would carry the Human with him to the heavens and they’d glide over the trees and the lakes. If there was ever a paradise for them, it was this. And friendship blossomed into something else – love.
In her spare time, the human would weave different golden sashes for the Draconian. Byrne would in turn, bring her food and water everyday making sure that there are logs for the hearth and dried fruits for her to nibble on. If one would see them from afar, it would look like they are man and wife. They were madly in love with each other. Time passed. Days turned to months. Months turned to years. In her 24th summer, sickness befalls the human, Ealuh Heebla. The Draconian tried his best to heal her. Everyday, he would have some new medicine for her to try. But not one made her feel better. He has given her many elixirs to soothe her pains. But none lasted.
One night when Ealuh could almost feel her life draining away, a shadow appeared in her room. She made Byrne go home early telling him she needs to take a rest. She never told him her pains. She doesn’t want him to worry too much. She doesn’t want him to see her dying.
“Ealuh…Ealuh… How are you, my dear?” The voice asked. “I know you are suffering… I can see your pain…”
“Byrne?” Ealuh asked.
“I am not the Draconian prince.”
“Draconian prince?” Ealuh was confused.
“Ah! But you do not know? Prince Byrne is the third prince of the immortal race, my child… Didn’t he tell you?”
Ealuh did not reply. Byrne never told her of his rank. He only told her his family is well off.
“But it wouldn’t be of any use now that you’re about to die… You’d never see him again…” The shadow uttered.
Ealuh wanted to cry. I’m going to die…and I won’t be able to see him again… My fate as a human… She cried. I was a fool to think it would last…
“Oh! But it will…” The shadow said. “You can survive this if you’d want to…”
Ealuh listened carefully.
“My child… I have been watching over you since you were small… I always find your longing for immortality, admirable. The gods as unfair, aren’t they? Yes… I know. But not quite.” The Shadow paused. “I am here to grant it to you…”
Ealuh suddenly felt a chill run down her spine. For some reason, though the bargain is so tempting…it felt wrong.
“Prince Byrne will be devastated if you die…” The Shadow hissed. “But he will forget you in time. Draconians live quite a long life… They’d have plenty of other women about them…”
Ealuh’s heart churned at the mention of other women. Byrne wouldn’t… He promised me his heart… He wouldn’t… She looked away from the shadow. “There is nothing beautiful about our race… Too many rules… Too many secrets… I wished I could be human. You people live life so wonderfully. You know that your time in this world is limited so you live a day like it’s your last… You cherish every moment in your memory. We? We forget things…we take things for granted… “ She remembered his words. We? We forget things…
“Besides, the prince will never wed a mortal like you…” The Shadow started again. “You’re not even from a royal line… Don’t you think it quite wrong for an immortal prince to marry a mortal commoner like you? But…”
“But?” Ealuh looked back the shadow.
“But if you accept my immortality, you will no longer be just any commoner.” The Shadow grinned. “You will be a queen…you will be immortal at the same time…”
“How?” Ealuh asked.
“No need to ask, young one. There is only one question that I should ask to determine if you really want to be immortal…” The Shadow glided closer to the bed. “Do you love the Draconian prince, Ealuh?”
Ealuh’s tears streamed down her face. Death is close. She could feel it. “Yes.”
The moment she woke up she realized something. She feels wonderful – as if nothing happened to her. It was all a bad dream? She smiled as she went out and ran to the nearby tree, raising her hands up to the air. And then, she saw Byrne just a few feet away. “Byrne!” She shouted as she ran towards her beloved. I feel so light, it’s strange… For a moment she wanted to know why. But all these doubts were banished as Byrne encircled her with his strong arms.
“Ealuh…you’re well!” He shouted joyously. He carried her up to the skies, laughing. “How?” He asked when he slowly placed her on the ground.
“I…I do not know…” Ealuh laughed. “I was actually dreaming last night… I dreamt of a shadow…”
Byrne’s smile faded at the mention of the word. “A shadow? What happened…in you dream?” He looked curiously at Ealuh.
“Well… She said something about immortality…” Ealuh giggled. “She said she’d give it tome if I’d agree to have it… It was kind of silly, actually… She knows I wanted it badly since I was small…”
Byrne swallowed hard. He listened carefully.
“Byrne…tell me the truth…please…” Ealuh looked up at the Draconian with pleading eyes. “Is it true that you’re a prince?”
Byrne looked down. “I’m sorry I did not tell you earlier… I thought you wouldn’t like the idea of it…”
Ealuh smiled ruefully. “I know you’d say something like that… You’ve always think of me first before anything, have you…?”
“Always, my love.” Byrne answered.
“That’s why…in my dreams… I was worried about you. I was so sure I was about to die… But then, I know you’d be devastated…if I die.” Ealuh explained as her smile widens.
Byrne can’t help feeling something’s wrong. He kept staring and waiting for what Ealuh is about to say.
“In my dream, when the shadow asked me if I will accept her offer… I thought about you…and me. I will never live long, Byrne. I know I will die sooner or later. And last night…I thought I was to die… I told the shadow I will accept her offer… That I will be immortal.” Ealuh beamed at the stunned prince. “Do you think it came true? Even if it did not, I’m happy I did not die… I’m such a lucky girl, right?”
She doesn’t even have any idea… Byrne wanted to cry out. She was tricked by that witch! He gritted his teeth in anger. He slowly looked away, trying hard not to scream.
“Is something wrong, Byrne?” Ealuh asked worriedly. She slowly took the Draconian’s arm in her hands. “Why do you look troubled?”
Byrne sighed and shook his head. He forced a smile. “Nothing, my love.” He held her to him tightly. She doesn’t even know she’s no longer human… My Ealuh…my sweet Ealuh… Tears streamed down his eyes as he realized he can not feel her heartbeat. Can’t you see? You already died…
It was not a shadow that Ealuh encountered that fateful night. It was a Maranheeg – the undead. The royalty of this race chooses willful maiden or men to follow their footsteps. They do not have children. And the former queen of the race chose Ealuh because of her will to live an immortal’s life and her strong feelings for the Draconian prince. The dream was never a dream, it was all true. For what Prince Byrne is holding in his arms is a corpse.
This story pronged from the original story which is MAUD™ created by MK Tecson and Illustrated by JW Yip. Copyright 2006©
For inquiries: k_tecson@lycosmail.com/ katztecson@yahoomail.com
