Submitted: 9 September 1998

The Lady of The Locket

by Brukkel Aarathel

As time wore on, though, his days continued to be full of activity and happiness, but at the end of the night, when he made his camp in the forests of Ker Leor, an uneasiness would come over him. Sometimes at night he would wake up with a sadness heavy upon his heart, though he did not know why. At first the feeling would pass quickly, and he would fall into an uneasy sleep again. But after a time the feeling would stay with him, and he would spend many a lonely night seeking consolation and answers in the quiet constellations and moons.

One such night, he was able to give a name to his feelings, Jaril, an Elothean word which refers to the state of one who is separated from their kindred soul. The silent stars and moons were little consolation still, and he found his gaze wandering over to the Starry Road more and more often, and staying there.

One night, however, as he gazed towards the Starry Road, a slight wind arose, whispering through the leaves and past him on through the woods. He was startled to hear his name whispered upon this wind. He arose from his camp, searching the source of this whispering. At great length he came upon a pool, no closer to the object of his search but too weary to continue. Just then, the wind died down, and he sat by the pool to rest. The red moon Yavash shone clearly upon the pool, and he was amazed to see not his own reflection when he looked into the waters, but that of a lovely young maiden.

"What magic is this?" he thought.

He reached toward the reflection, sure that it would disappear at his touch and leave him to his musings. But when he touched the smooth waters of the pool, to his amazement, he could feel the waters touching him back, and the young maiden arose from the pool, calling him by name.

And as he talked to this vision, he could feel the cold grip of Jaril slip away. His heart felt light again, yet somehow stronger. Somehow cheating the laws of time, he felt in this short night that he had known this lady all of his life, and that somehow, some way, she had always been watching over him, waiting for him to find her.

And indeed, as the morning rays began to lighten the sky at last, and the lady made ready to leave, she turned to him, and quietly said, "Brukkel, I have been with thee always, giving you strength when you have felt weak, warmth when you have been cold, hope when you thought you had none, laughter when you felt sadness, and love when you felt Jaril. Now that you have found me at last, you know that I shall be with you always."

And as she said these words, she slipped a locket from around her neck, and gently placed it in his hands.

"I must leave now, but know that anytime you need me, simply hold this locket in your hands and think of me, and I will be with you. "

With those words, she faded.