Courage, Haidren.

by **Eodan** Tue Mar 29, 2011 3:21 pm

A rather sad story about Eodan's past, a painful memory that's recently been pulled back up. Hope you enjoy it!

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“Come on, it'll be fun! Ye'll see!” spoke a cheerful voice on a warm summers afternoon. “Bu' t'is no' a goo' idea, Clemence..” replied the reluctant boy as he got pulled along outside the gates of Stromgarde. Clemence was smiling widely, his usual playful twinkle in his eyes that never seemed to end, a continuous joy and thirst for adventure could be read all over the twelve year old Arathorian.
“Oh c'mon Eodan! We're Haidren! Ge' goin' ye big wuss!” laughed Clemence as he began running without another word. Unable to call him back, Eodan set on a run after his younger cousin, a few of the Arathorian women and elders watching the two run off to the far stretching plains of Arathi. None seemed to mind, as the sight of the pair seemed all too familiar for the most of them.
It was with a shock, his eyes widening that Eodan finally caught up with Clemence after what seemed to be hours of running only to see him climb onto a steep hillside, leading closer to a Troll settlement. His heart began to race as he called out to his cousin in a hushed tone: “Ge' down 'ere, ye'll ge' yerself killed!”. Clemence did not heed the warning as he reached the top of the hill, hidden by bushes and an old, bent tree. Leaning down to peer at his worried cousin, a wide grin as he replied in the same tone, “How d'ye ever thin' o' doin' yer rite if yer such a gutless idio'! Ge' up 'ere, I'm nay comin' down.”
Eodan's face contorted to a frown, his eyebrows furrowing as he leaped to the hill to begin his own climb. The fourteen year old child seemed quite agile and built for his age, reaching the top much faster then his younger family did.

His heart thumping is his throat as the two young children crawled through the bushes, peering out at the settlement stretching out below them. They seemed to be unseen as multiple trolls walked around, some armed with spears, others wearing robes and strange trinkets.
“Look a' 'em tuskmouths, Eodan. Thinkin' they can claim our lan' as 'ome. They 'ven smell funny.” whispered Clemence, a hushed chuckle coming out of his small frame. “C'mon, I want te' ge' a closer view.” he said. Before Eodan could grab Clemence's already torn shirt, the boy went sliding down the grass-covered hill, crouching behind a large rock only a few steps away from the road heading into the troll vilage.
His face grew pale as he saw his cousins reckless approach. As he moved to join, he found himself diving back into the bushes, watching how two armed trolls walked down the road, intwined in a discussion as they walked past Clemence who remained still, crouched behind the rock with his still adventurous gaze. It was only when the trolls walked away that Eodan spoke, his voice trembling as he called out to his cousin. “T'is dangerous 'ere.. We shoul' go back. They'll come lookin' fer us, Clemence.”

Clemence rolled his eyes, throwing an arrogant grin up at Eodan as he stood up. As they young boy moved towards the hill to begin his climb, a loud yell erupted from the path. Eodan's eyes darted towards the sudden trollish scream only to find himself frozen in fear. The village rummaged, sounds of footsteps came from the numerous tents around the settlement. A loud scream, a wicked laugh. Everything seemed to happen so fast.
“Ya not be goin' anywere lil boy, da Witherbark like deir visitors!” spoke a grinning troll, holding up the struggling Clemence by the ankle while a handful of their tribesmen gathered.
Eyes filled with fear, little fists flinging towards his agressors, Clemence grunted, screaming, struggling to get free.

Should I go? There's so many.. Clemence. What do I do? Eodan paniced, his mind racing as he forgot to breathe. He remained frozen in place, as if he became the bush he was hiding in.
Another yell shrugged him out of his thought, Clemence was on the ground, a bloodied troll dagger in his hands as he stabbed around wildly. A troll on the ground, blood, screaming in pain as he held his hands over his face. Clemence had hit him in the eye as he managed to snatch a tooth-shaped dagger from one of his captors.
“Eodan!! Eodan help!! Eo--” His voice stopped, Eodan gasped, slamming his hand over his mouth, Clemence's eyes stared up at the hill a large bleeding gash over his throat as a large troll held his hair, pulling his head back as his eyes remained locked on the frozen Eodan in the bushes, a wicked grin on his tusked face.
“Now ya can wach an say ta ya people ow ye failed to be dere for your friend, weak human.” he spoke loudly, Eodans tear filled eyes widened as they remained locked with Clemence whose gurgling sounds and shocking body seemed to be an endless scream to Eodan' ears. A loud trollish command came from the same large tuskmouth, causing all the trolls to stand still. His dagger raising again as he peering up at a terrified Eodan, slicing through the tissue of Clemence's throat once more, beheading him as he held the head up high, the small frame falling to the ground lifelessly.

Eodan ran, screaming, stomping, crying. His eyes shut tight as he ran, he didn't stop before reaching Stromgarde, his eyes still widened, his feet bleeding from his run, his heart empty. He blinked forwards once as one of the Arathorian stepped up to him. “He's... dead..” he whispered, tears streaming down his face before it went dark, collapsing to the floor before the gates of his home.