" Percival Lunaris, I like that. " The old man smiled at me as my mother held me. The odd thing is I don't remember my eyesight being so good as a baby. Perhaps it's just a perspective thing.
As I recall events I seem to be reliving them. I can somewhat sense the baby observer and catch a faint " ah " or " ooh " sprinkled with feelings of happiness and love but this sensation is only fleeting.
The earliest days I recall were filled with sleeping and feeding. Mother would move me about the cottage as she did various chores, usually humming bits of country tunes. Father would tell me stories of faraway lands he had been to, often punctuated with mutterings of things like, " if only Alexandre could see you, " or " your sister would have loved you so, rest her soul. " With Father there was always a feeling of loss in the tales he told, the impression of an unvoiced wish he could have changed some things or that they might have turned out differently.
Father is the blacksmith of the village we live in. When I was three months old Father travelled one evening to a neighboring village help another blacksmith who had suffered a fire at his shop. Unlike other nights, on this particular one I felt an odd foreboding. Mother had just put me down for the night when three men dressed in black hooded robes broke in. Mother attacked them but was soon dragged into the back room by two of them. The third took me outside and I was handed to a large demonic being straight out of nightmare. It spread its wings and flew away with me. It held me, my back to its chest, and as we rose into the air I saw our cottage burst into flames. Forest and countryside passed quickly below us. It circled around a clearing before landing.
" Master, it is done, " the demon rumbled, placing me on the ground before a grey haired man in ornate black robes.
" Excellent. Place the child in the circle. Let the ending of his life usher in the legions of Hell, freeing our master on earth. "
Hands picked me up roughly and placed me within a circle made of ash and bones. I could feel power emanating from the symbols drawn around the circle. Several other robed men took possitions at various points about me, as the demon moved just behind its master. As they began to chant, an awful wailing roar could be heard in the distance, one full of sorrow and loss. I cried out in in response. The sound brought a cruel smile of delight to the leader's face. When the chanting had reached its height, a second roar could be hear overhead, this one of pure anger and hate. Looking up I saw only a flash of silver go by. It was quickly followed by a crash behind some trees opposite the leader. Father stepped out of the trees, not in his accustomed work clothes but in shimmering silver robes, with a large silver hammer in hand and a look of destruction upon his face.
" Kill him, " the leader commanded. The demon leapt over me.
At this point time seemed to slow down a bit. Father's eyes glowed silver as a feral smile appeared on his face. He swung the hammer, hitting the demon on the jaw, sending it up into the air. As the demon opened its wings to regain some equalibrium, Father opened his palm and tossed a crackling silver sphere at it, engulfing it in a net of power. Soon its wings were pinned to the body as it crash to the ground. Another swing at the circle of ash and bone which flared with silver energy, knocking the robed men back a few feet. Father walked over and picked me up, held me close for a brief moment. His kindly smile came back as he looked at me. He put me down behind him, approached the demon and swung again. The suprise on the nightmarish face creature spoke volumes as the hammer easily crushed a large rock by its head. The energy net dissipated. Th demon got up.
" Go back to the king of Hell and warn him. Any more attacks on my family and friends will end in his destruction. " Who/what is my father to give such a threat? " And take that one with you. "
The demon seized the robed leader and they vanished in a puff of smoke. The other men scattered into the night. I don't know how long Father just stood there holding me. An occasional sob came from him with mutterings of " she's gone, " and " I can't do this without her. " As the sky began to lighten, Father just took a step forward and we were suddenly in a different clearing. Sitting at a campfire cooking breakfast was a man of about forty and a boy about thirteen, both dressed in green and brown tunics and pants.
" Greetings, Moonie. " The man showed no suprise at our sudden appearance. The boy on the other hand looked shocked at our arrival. " Do you care to share breakfast with us? "
" No. I've come to seek a boon."
" What do you need? " came the concerned reply as he noticed the tear stains on Father's face.
" I need you to look after the boy. I can't. I need to know my son will be safe and you're the only one I can think of to do this right now. "
" What of his mother? "
" Dead. They killed her. They almost killed him to open a damned portal to the netherworld."
" Surely you can protect him better than I? "
" As long as the child is with me he's in danger. Not just from them but from me. I'm just barely keeping the madness at bay. I need to get away for a while until I come to grips with it. Please, I'm begging you."
" I will, though I think you are making a mistake and may rue what comes of it. "
" Thank you, " Father said in relief as he handed me over to the man. " Merlin, it might be better if he didn't know who or what I am. Just let him know that his father loves him and misses him. "
" He must know eventually, Lunaris. "
" He will one day. "
A bright silver glow engulfed Father and he was gone.
" Well, Arthur, it seems we have company for breakfast. "
Memory fades into the vast blueness again. I'm filled with sorrow of losing my mother and anger at a father who abandoned me. I seem to hear a sad baby's " ah " in the background. Probably a stray memory coinsidding with what i had just seen.
" Oh, Sweety, You know he loved you. He had his reasons for leaving. I'm sure you'll see him again and he'll let you know why he left. " The female voice of reason again.
I shall think on it but for now, the emotional turmoil is great and I need to deal with it..
" Aw, c'mon, honey, no more storytime? " the rough voiced man was back again though, like the other voices, nowhere to be seen. " I wanna hear more about Arthur and Merlin and the knights. Not like the rest of us got to hang out with them, fer cryin' out loud...."
Give me a few moments. I need to deal with how I feel and not shove it out of mind. Let's not let thorns fester.
Now where did that concept come from? And why do I feel it's a source of frustration to someone very dear to me?
(to be continued)
