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I was camping near a small lake when I had my first encounter with the monster I searched for. I quickly averted my eyes as I saw the creature crashing trough the bushes surrounding the clearing. In the reflections of the pool I saw my prey: a scaly beast on six legs with a disgusting head and piercing yellow eyes. Luckily it seemed more interested in what lay beyond the other side of the pool and it ignored me. I quickly followed its trail from a distance, meanwhile hoping it would not notice me. The trails led me to a small hole, only just big enough for my size. Giving the beast some time to do whatever it was doing in there, I dismounted and tied my horse to a tree. Impetuous a youth I was, I crawled into the hole, my sword in my one hand and my shield on my back. It was pitch black within hole and a foul smell hung there. Here and there I found remains, some to my horror were apparently human. It took me a while crawling within the damp and dark earth before I seemed to reach a hole that seemed larger than the rest. Unshouldering my shield, I stood up, glad that I didn’t have to crawl anymore. I had nearly decided to strike up a torch as my eyes caught something which made my heart skip a few seconds. In the darkness of the hole there I saw its eyes. The eyes were so bright, it shone in the dark and it stared directly at me. Minutes passed and I dared not move, fearing to provoke an attack. I gathered all the bravery within me and clasped my sword tighter as I slowly started to advance on the beast. It kept on watching me with those horrendous eyes as if it would strike dead any moment. Few steps later I stood right in front of it and it still hadn’t moved. I know now it was asleep with its eyes open as a cruel trick of nature to defend itself in its sleep. How would anyone in their right minds attack such a creature with its eyes still open? I didn’t hesitate nor did my hand tremble as I slashed downward right through its neck. Quickly I averted my eyes as it woke and cried a chilling shriek of pain. For a short moment it thrashed about in agony. Two heartbeats later it lay still with my sword still impaled in its neck.
I couldn’t believe it: I had done it! I had slain the basilisk. I had completed my Errand! I thanked the Lady for granting me such honour. Then I struck up a torch so I could collect its head as proof of my valour and bravery. Suddenly I stiffened as I heard scraping and earth being crushed underneath scaly paws. Something was climbing into the hole… What would possibly want find its way into such a peril-filled hole? I managed to quickly divert my eyes away as I saw its ugly head in the torch light. At the opening to the tunnel stood a second Basilisk! Lady, protect me! I had no choice but to make a frontal attack in the little cramped hole. As I charged the beast, I heard it snarl in anger. We were just a few steps apart when its eyes drew mine. Instantly I felt like an axe shattered my skull and became lodged into my brain. As I fell to the ground, writhing in immense mental pain, I fell into a dark tunnel with only those deadly eyes in front of me. It talked to me; it tried to make me despair:“What youngling is this who they threw before me? Who have they made into a sacrifice unto me? Surely they had no hope in defeating me? You have been betrayed, youngling, by your honour, your friends and kin. Your father and mother betrayed…”“No!” do not listen to the voice, young Knight,” said a second voice as before my eyes I saw an explosion of thousands of bright colours: “Believe in your strength! Hold true to your honour! Stand fast and you will slay this beast.”“Youngling, you have been betrayed. I will love to feel your broken flesh in my…”I remember yelling in agony as I thrust my blade forward. The point pierced its jaw and exited through its skull. Sobbing and with immense pain I fell to the ground. It had bitten me while I had lain unconscious on the floor.
On top of the terrible pain in my head I started feeling feverish. Every muscle in my body protested as I stood up and tried to lean on my sword. I abandoned my shield in the hole: it was too heavy to carry. It took almost every last bit of strength left in my burning body to chop of the head of the second one and bind the two with a rope to my belt. The rest of my strength I needed to crawl out the smelly and damp earth. My eyes hurt like a thousand knives as I reached the above ground. The sun seemed to burn itself into my skull as my eyes were trying to adjust to the light. I tried to stand up again but my strength failed me for the first time and I fell back on the forest floor. I managed to look up to where I had tied Sandorin but he lay dead in a puddle of his own blood: the Basilisk had attacked the helpless creature while it was unable to flee and had started devouring it.
This sorrow was too much for my powerless body, I passed into a dark and nightmarish dream, dominated by fear and fever. I remember that the eyes hunted me everywhere in my dreams, I couldn’t look away, run away, hide nor fight it, even when I closed my eyes those two cursed eyes, cursed threefold by our Lady, seemed to penetrate my thoughts. I don’t know how long my torment lasted but at last the eyes became to change: they became round, friendly and absolutely divine. The colour changed from hellish yellow to dark-blue like the sea just off the coast. The world materialized before me again as I slowly opened my eyes but those divine eyes didn’t leave me nor they ever will! My eyes immediately locked with those of someone I knew had to be my soul mate, my love of life, the woman I would love and hold forever even beyond death. I knew all this just from looking into those eyes. For minutes which seemed to last an eternity I kept on looking into these beautiful lifesaving eyes, those eyes and the wisdom that lay within, were meant just for me.The Lady had stolen some of her grace and locked it into her eyes just for me, I was certain. My firm gaze turned into a soft, loving one, which obviously confused her and made her feel uncomfortable. She turned her head sideways to avert my eyes and I could finally look upon my saviour and love. One of the Fay folk of Loren! “What does one of the Fay Folk do in Arden except saving me from death?” I asked in a weak and trembling voice: “You must have been sent by the Lady to save me!” At long last she responded in an accented Common: “I have my own reasons of visiting this ancient forest, young mortal. You seem a brave Knight, carrying those heads. But will honour help you in pursuing happiness?”
I was startled by such an odd question. Why would she ask me such a thing? Of course honour was all. Would that make me happy? Definitely! I took her hand as I tried to sit up and failed, for my strength had not yet returned to my tormented body. She had taken care of the wound and succeeded in combating the poison. As I could see now, I was no longer lying in front of the hole but in round hut made of entangled branches in what seemed in a natural way, but what I now know to be magic. I could see other Elves of Loren outside, armed and packed, and I realised they were merely passing through. Still holding her hand I spoke to her in a voice most stern: “Milady, do not leave me. Stay with me or better: return with me to my home.” I was a bit surprised to see that those words didn’t startle her nor that it did surprise her. I continued whilst I laid her hand on my heart: “My love is true and inspired by the Lady. Feel my love for you pulsing in my honourable heart. Feel the love that we share. I know you only for a few minutes but in this heart of mine I feel like I’ve lived a lifetime with you by my side. Sit by my side, Enthanniel Myrthelith.” I firmly believe the Lady granted me her name yet it did not have the wanted effect: instead she rose, startled and eyes wide open. She was breathing heavily and as I tried to rise from my bed of forest leaves to calm her, she said: “How… how did you know my name? This is all very unsettling. I need to think this over.” She looked at me one last time but I saw something had changed in her manner towards me: I felt like she became more open to me. Yet then she hurried outside like a startled deer and I did not see her again for a long time.
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