Story four: Blair's Journey Starts

Blair woke as always with the sun streaming through the windows, lighting his heart and the room equally. Today however there was an added sense of excitement. Today he was going home. Home to Elwaith and his soul brother James. Time had flown past here in Abraithe. Years it seemed and yet only days. He was no longer sure and it mattered not for he would be with his family by sunset. For now he had one final lesson to learn.

Atos would be waiting, as always, in the main hall. There would be food, drink and stories until Blair was ready for the daily lesson.

"Morning, Child, enter and fill your belly, we have much to do today and you have once more over slept." Atos said to the rush youth as he entered the Great Hall. Blair blushed, chagrinned at having been caught sleeping late.

"Sorry, Atos. But your beds are so comfortable and I… well I…"

"I know you got caught up late reading again. Ricca told me you were in the library again after last candlemark." Atos shook his head in fondness as the boy blushed deeply once more. It was so easy to tease the youth that it had become something of a favoured pasttime. He had quickly made his home here. Everyone loved him dearly. His friendly manner, happy face and witty sense of humor had made him quickly one of their own. Atos and his daughter, Aril, especially cared for the youngster. But time was passing quickly.

Atos watched until Blair had finished eating. The mood in the great hall was a somber one and for once, the young man did not speak effusively. Finally he pushed his plate back and leaned against the highbacked chair.

A servant approached and took the plate and left on silent feet. Blair watched Atos as the older man approached. Even after all this time, he was still stunned by the beauty of these people and Atos and his daughter were prime examples. Both were tall, graceful creatures with long flowing blond hair and high-arched eyeebrows over very deep and expressively wise eyes. Their fair skin and pointed ears gave then an other-worldly look which was striking to the young human.

"So, Chosen One, you have one last lesson, are you ready?" Atos asked, motioning for Blair to join him.

"Yes, Atos. What's next?" Blair bounced eagerly. As much as he was learning and enjoying his stay in Abraithe, he was anxious to get home.

In your room you will find the armour that Baeil made for you. Wear it and join me in the exercise ring. And bring your weapon and your gear." Atos ruffled the young man's hair as he strode past, heading outside.

Blair took a deep breath and headed for his room. This was the one part of his training he hated. He was okay fighting but it hurt his head something fierce when he actually made contact. So badly that he would usually back down first. Baeil, the weapons master had measured and weighed the young man, helped him choose a weapon and generally tsked tsked him when he fell before his opponents.

Entering his room, Blair immediately noticed the dark brown leather vest, breast plate and arm guards. A small helm stood nearby also. He heaved another sigh but after packing his few belongings, he quickly donned the gear. It would do no good to keep Brai and Atos waiting.

The merely thought of the huge swordmaster, Brai brought a shudder to Blair. The man scared him. Not that Brai had hurt him, far from it. When they were not in the ring, Brai was the most gentle, caring and hilarious man it had ever been Blair's priviledge to meet. He had a wicked sense of humor and was constantly pulling practical jokes on him and because of that Blair had settled in much more quickly.

But Brai was relentless in his training. He worked Blair until he was exhausted, pushing him to his limits and extending them with each class. He insisted that by the time Blair had finished his training, he would be able to defend himself and others with skill. So far, it seemed, Blair had been learning, but not quickly and Brai had expressed his disfavor, especially in light of the remaining time left to the Chosen One.

With a sigh, Blair finished buckling the last strap into place and picked up his sheathed knife. "Well, I guess I am ready." With that he turned and headed for the training ring and his last lesson.

~*~*~*~

"So are you ready, Young One?" Atos asked with a chuckle. Blair entered the ring slowly, his knife held before him with ease but it was his attire that brought the chuckle to Atos' lips.

The leather mail that young man wore seemed almost bulky even though it had been molded for Blair's body. The finest armourers had worked long and hard to devised the perfect armour for the Chosen One. It needed to be light weight, malleable but strong. The Elvin leather was considered the strongest of all natural materials. The steel was too heavy for Blair to carry easiely and the lighter Elvin metal, Lorishial, interfered with his magic.

The Chosen One, Atos thought, had been well chosen. He was still learning of his powers, strong in Earth's power. He could draw on it at will and without realizing what he was doing. His fighting skills with the knive were improving steadily but his gift of empathy held him back. Today, Atos would teach the Chosen One to block that empathy in a fight. If he could not learn, he would die.

"I am ready, Atos. But is this necessary, it feels funny." Blair whined as he approached his teacher.

"You must get use to it, Blair. This armour was matched to you and in time it will feel like a second skin. But you must wear it to gain understanding of it."

"Yes, Atos." Blair hung his head as he shifted his shoulders once more, trying to settle the vest more comfortably.

"Chosen, today we have much to do." Atos turned and motioned for two men standing at the far end of the training ring. They stepped forward, each carried a weapon and wore heavy chain mail. Both towered over Blair by nearly a foot.

Blair stepped back quickly. While his heart told him these men were not really enemies, his head was reeling from the feelings of loathing he felt projected towards him. He nearly staggered under the weight of it.

"Chosen One, today you will learn to block your gift while fighting. If you can not block it, you will continue to fall back until you are dead and those you seek to protect will fall soon after." Blair heard Atos say. The emotion were too strong and he continued back until his hit a solid, immovable object. Without looking he knew it was Brai.

"Hello, Little One. Going somewhere?" A huge hand slasped down on his shoulder and the emotions suddenly muted.

Shaking his head to clear it, Blair turned his face to the swordmaster. The hand fell away as he did so and the emotions returned. He leaned back into the solid mass of his instructor and let his presence mute the emotions once more.

"No, Young One. You must learn to block on your own. Do you feel the connection with me?" Brai asked.

Blair hesitate but then noticed a shimmering light connecting him to the huge man. He nodded hesitantly. "I think so. It is kind of faint.

"It will be, I am not your Swordshield. That is your Sentinel. He is your Swordshield and you are his. When you fight together, you may draw on his strength and he on yours. This is the way it is between Sentinel and Shaman. You must learn to drawn without draining."

"I don't understand." Blair told Brai, his concerns once more flooding his mind.

"You will learn." Brai took his face and turned him back to face the two other men. When Bria released him the loathing he'd felt earlier returned.

"Focus on the Earth, let the Earth Mother give you strength, let her support you," Atos called from the side lines. "Let her absorb the feelings, learn to shunt them away from you in battle. If you can not, you will never be able to defend your Swordshield."

"Blair heard but had some difficulties understanding what was required. However, he knew the feeling of the Earth, the strength beneath his feet, the feeling of that strength as he drew from it. He could feel life in it and it was powerful. He saw the same connection with Brai in his mind, the shimmering light but a different colour. Softer somehow yet bolder too. Like the sun and the fresh growing grass. Natural.

Blair smiled as he imagined that power flowing into him and he focussing that loathing and anger that was directed at him back to that power source. Strength filled him and he felt stronger, lighter and definitely more in control.

Without realizing it, his whole stance shifted into something almost primal. His weapon, a long knive was held in a deceptively loose grip. His eyes, clear and intense upon his attackers. He never saw Brai give the signal for the combat to begin, he only saw when the two Elves moved in to attack. His motions were fluid, unfaltering. He pushed the attack instead of falling back. Before, where emotions have buffeted him so badly now was only peace and calm. He held the two men back without concious thought.

He continued to press, until both men sought Brai to end the battle. Blair was unaware of it. He continued on until two mighty arms wrapped themselves around him, he was unable to break free although he struggled, twisting and writhing in every attempt to free himself.

It took several minutes and a successful attempt to disarm him before he came back to himself and realized where he was and what he was doing. His breath coming in harsh gasps. Brai released him but remained nearby in case he was needed.

"wha… what happened?"

"I believe, Young One, that you were successful in learning that lesson."

"I… I felt the Earth's power. It… it flowed through me, filled him and hide me from the emotions." Blair stammered as he struggled to regulate his breathing.

"You did well, Child. Very well indeed. With your Swordshield you will be very powerful, and you will remain in control. Let Mother Earth guide you as you guide your Sentinel. And now, Chosen One, begins your final test."

"Test?" Blair asked, coming to stand before Atos.

"Yes, a Quest. Come." Atos turned and left the training arena.

Blair followed Atos to the front gate of the castle.

They stood at the top of the steep stone steps. Atos cast his gaze out over the land spread before them. "This is your quest. You are to return to your Hero."

"Return to James? That is all?" Blair bounced at the joy of finally being able to go home and see his brother once more. For months or weeks or even years he had waited mostly patiently but at time impatiently for the chance to return and now that it was here, that was all he had to do, return to James. He was confused but he listened closely to Atos who was speaking once more.

"This journey will not be as easy as it first appears as it is fraught with dangers and troubles. Keep true to your heart, fear nothing and trust in yourself and you will succeed. Forget your true goal and you will fail."

"Keep true and remember my goal. I can do this. I can do this."

Atos grinned at the mantra that issued from his young student. In the time he'd been with them, Blair had become endeared to Atos. He found that Blair's youthful enthusiasm and joyful love of learning was a touch of spring in an already perfect place. He had pushed Blair hard to learn his lessons and while he was ready for anything that was thrown his way, Atos was still concerned that emotionally the youth was not prepared for what he would find.

"Okay, Atos, I am ready. What will I need?"

"Nothing, Young One. Everything you need you will find on the journey. The day is warm, the sun shines and all is within your reach. Do not ever forget that."

Blair stared at his mentor as the strange tone to Atos voice hit him. Heturned his head to look at his mentor but Atos had already turned away. "Atos?"

"Yes, Young One."

"Thank you."

"You are most welcome, Child. Remember all you have been taught. Remember yourself." Atos opened his arms and Blair flew into them, his own arms wrapping tightly around Atos. Atos bent over and resting his cheek against the softness of Blair's hair letting the slight breeze blow the fresh fragrance around, teasing him. He memorized it as if it would be the last time he'd see the boy again. Finally he pushed him back. "Be off. Good journey!"

"Good bye, Atos and thank you for everything."

He waved as Blair headed down the stairs and onto the main path. He'd given the youth no direction, everything he did now would be of his own choosing and Atos had no doubts that Blair would chose right.

With one final look, Atos headed inside.

End Story Four