The Lost Father

The light literally burst through the stain glass windows, the flowers lined the aisle of the church with colours of deep red and virgin white. Algaidos observed the empty hall with pride, he was fifty three and he was going to give away his first daughter on her wedding day. Giving a final smirk at the altar he turned on his heel and strode out of the church, the sight of the Redridge Mountains greeted his tired eyes, the sun just setting made the whole valley gleam with a dusty red that screamed, 'home'. The walk from church to home was only a few moments, as he strode through the streets he nodded to his neighbours; even though hew as a judge he wasen't corrupt, nor evil. People took a genuine liking to him for goodness knows what reasons, he was always a gruff man who lived a lifestyle suited for another. Throughout his life he was shadowed by a wealthy father, Algaidos always said, "My biggest curse in life is those bloody Is at the end of my damn name." He fled in his earlier life from wealth and privilege to serve his fellow man. However war was never to be a permanent escape, his father died and Algaidos inherited everything. Saying that he never cursed this as it led him to his wonderful wife; Sybill.

Striding through the hallway of the manor he placed his hat onto the hatrack and gazed round, "Odd." Slowly he walked through the archway to the dining room; empty. He began to become suspicious until he heard a girl squeel with joy from the floor above him. Abigail descended the stairs, her dress a bone-white, her veil covering her beautiful face. Algaidos gazed at the girl he'd held in his arms as a baby become a Princess in his eyes. Silently a small tear rolled down his cheek and Abigail laughed, "Wars, pain, suffering and you cry at this. It isn't even the wedding day yet. Do I look pretty daddy?"
Algaidos strode across to his daughter and took her hand gently, "You remind me of your mother, I am just.. .. So proud." The word, 'proud' left his mouth but Algaidos wasen't. He was sad, very sad. Five children and Abigail was the first to leave, to marry, she'd be the first to give him grand-children. -Grand-children-. It was all happening so fast and all he felt was saddness; he hid this masterfully however, he always had. Patting Abigail's hand gently he ascended the stairs and entered the master's bedroom closing the door silently behind himself.

Sybill was brushing her beautiful blonde hair in the mirror, her eyes briefly met Algaidos' in the mirror before returning to her reflection. The silence continued for several minutes before Algaidos muttered, "I don't like the boy. Clearly this line had been mentioned a lot in the past months because Sybill simply set her brush down and stood, the silk dressing gown trailing on the floor as she climbed into the bed. She remained silent. "What about that Duke's son? At least she'd have a title. I am just worried." Sybill again remained silent before speaking quietly, "The wedding is in two days, I suggest changing your attitude. He's going to be our son-in-law." Algaidos just nodded in agreement, he knew it was his anxiety attempting to make him hate the boy. "I've been called to Duskwood tomorrow to round up some bandits, i'll most likely stay and return the morning of the ceremony." Sybill's silence was a wonderful memory for it was shattered by her anger, "THE MORNING OF THE CEREMONY?!" It doesn't need to be said that the arguement couldv'e woke the dead.

The next day Algaidos set off, he kissed his daughter goodbye with a promise that he'd be back in time to walk her down the aisle and endured the hateful stare of his wife before setting off. Duskwood to round up bandits he thought, he'll go, say he couldn't find any and get back a day early. Piece of cake. The arrival at Darkshire wasen't exactly warm but he had a job to do and he was going to do it. So off he set into the woods, he was told he'd have to wait two days for armed escorts to arrive and he was not missing his child's wedding so he decided to head off alone. The woods weren't as scary as people made out, I think it was the lack of activity or how we all knew that the Worgen were just men. Just as he reached the center of the roads he heard the strangest noise, it was like singing, calling, alluring. That was the end of Algaidos Gorfix Casilia III, struck down by the Banshee that called him and turned into an abomination of the shadow. He opened his eyes, "I've been dead for a week. Did she wait?"

Five days earlier.

"Mother, stop pacing. He won't be late." Sybill gazed out the window only to catch a glimpse of two guards approaching the house with a third man; dressed in black. Silently she opened the door, "Ma'am, I am.. sorry." The day became full of silence broken only by tears and upstairs in a room that was to be her preparation room a young girl say in her wedding dress mourning the father who would never walk her to her husband.