From: "-=[SLS]=-" <ssalter@silver.ucs.indiana.edu>
Subject: Trog - Jame - Morgana [CASTLE]
Organization: Indiana University
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1992 17:25:09 GMT
X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.3 PL11]


	Trog and Jame stood in the clearing looking at the Queen of
the Elves. She had given them three choices, follow the broad path to
"success", the stony, briar choked lane that supposedly led to heaven
and the straight path that led into the small hill if front of them.

	Jame glanced behind and saw that there was no track whatsoever
behind them. She had brought them here magically, complete with all
their gear and that meant they had to make a choice. If they followed
the broad path, they would inevitably get mired in a bog of stress or
trip over a ladder of success and end up with ulcers. If they chose
the narrow, thorny path they would travel slow and have to keep to the
straight and narrow. A hard cross to bear indeed, but supposedly they
would end up in divine circumstances.
	
	The last choice was a straight path that led into and under
the small hill directly in front of them, the entrance to the elf
lands. If they traveled there and served the queen for seven years,
not a day less or more, then they would find their heart's desire. At
least that is what she promised.

	"Pardon, fair queen, but our friend requires our aid. She will
not last seven years while we serve you. The broad way may lead to
success but, as you say, it also leads to wickedness. If we take the
thorny way we may find celestial glory but still our friend will not
be rescued." Jame remarked.

	"You must choose fair Knight", she said gently, her luminous
eyes glowing in the dimness of the forest.

	"I am a knight no longer, I am only a man who would help those
that need." he replied.

	"The quality of a knight comes from within, fair Knight. You
may drop your title but you carry it's badge within your soul", she
stated.

	"T'was a dark and stormy knight, and...mmmpphhhggg", Trog
started to jest but suddenly tripped over  his tongue.

	Jame stood and regarded the paths once again. He then turned
to the queen and saw her waiting with anticipation.

	"I scorn the road to success for it holds no allure for me, as
to the thorny way, well heaven can wait and yet I cannot serve you for
seven years whilst my friend languishes in darkness. Therefore, I make
my own path" he stated abruptly and turned to stride into the forest.

	"Your heart's Desire, fair knight. " she reminded as he took a
step into the tangled brush.

	"Yes, Jame, time passes differently in elf land, we can serve
and yet still rescue Morgana", Trog said droolingly as  he leered once
again at the queen.

	"Time traditionally passes much slower there, if I remember my
childhood tales rightly, friend Trog." Jame replied as he forced his
way between close growing trees. "My heart's desire? Would it mean
anything if it was just given to me?" 

	He paused and looked back at the queen, a truly radiant woman,
but her radiance was otherworldly. What tugged at Jame's heartstrings
was a purely mortal woman. 

	"I am sorry, but I must make my own path" he said and turned
to push  his way through the grasping brambles.

	"But...but...oh godinheaven WAIT for me" Trog sputtered as he
crashed off after the stubborn man. He tried desperately to keep an
eye on the queen and stay on his feet as he moved forwards but finally
gave up and with a helpless grimace, turned and followed Jame.

	The queen watched the two forge off into the forest,
unerringly making their way towards the mountains where their friend
was held captive. 

	"Farewell brave  heroes, we will never meet again" she said
softly. Light glimmered around her and she slowly faded from sight,
her eyes fixed upon the form of Trog. The paths faded also and the
hill became a meadow and the two adventurers blinked and looked about
as if they had just woken up. 

	They were high on the mountain, not in a forest at all. Their
legs ached fiercely as if they had been climbing all night. 

	"What is this magecraft? What of the queen?" Trog wondered
aloud. 

	"A test? Who knows, the Land is rife with strange peoples"
Jame countered. "But look friend Trog, there is a fallen tree and .."

	"Morgana!!" Trog bellowed as he skipped up the last few meters
to the blocked cave.

	"Trog, is that you? Thank the Goddess you are here. Who is
with you", Morgana asked, "Ahhh, now I can see, it is the Feral
Knight!"

	"Nay, he didn't like that name and is pretending to be someone
called Jame. Who knows, tomorrow he may be Maurice for all I know."
Trog replied saucily. 

	The three spoke briefly yet warmly, touching each other with
words of care. Then Morgana reminded them that she needed a rescue and
the two men looked critically at the tree that blocked the cave
entrance. High above a storm swept over the mountain and wind began to
blow coldly. 

	"We had better do this soon before the storm hits us, Jame"
Trog prompted.
--
	Jagged bolts of lightning ripped earthwards from the black,
roiling clouds accompanied by explosions of thunder that made their
teeth rattle. Trog and Jame stood outside the barely visible opening
of the cave and surveyed the massive tree that blocked the entrance.
Leaves and dirt and twigs flew through the air wildly as the storm
winds whipped across the mountainside.     

	The ponderous bole of the tree was easily a yard in diameter
and with the outflung limbs it prevented any passage to the cave. Trog
wondered if he would have to attempt the wylde magik to move such an
obstruction and internally, shivered at the uncertainty of the wylde
force. Anything could happen if he dared unleash his power, if indeed,
he was able to at all. His magik was unpredictable and uncontrollable
although it often worked out for the best.      

	"Stand back, my friend. We are still within the Land and thus
my ability to draw on the energies of the Land will serve well. This
is something you have not seen yet, but don't be alarmed" Jame shouted
over the violent rush of wind.    

	Trog look puzzledly at Jame but moved backwards a few feet.
Jame stood quietly for a few moments and then exhaled forcefully, his
body visibly relaxing. Trog's eyes bugged out as he saw his
companion's body begin to glow with a pale golden luminescence. The
brilliant aura increased in intensity until Trog had to squint to see
Jame clearly.     

	"STAND BACK MORGANA" Jame's voice rolled out powerfully as he
unsheathed the enchanted sword that the Goddess had given him. Trog
saw that it, too, glowed in the storm wrought dimness of the
afternoon.  Jame raised his sword and slashed at the huge limbs of the
fallen tree.     

	Morgana moved backwards, warded by her friends, and felt it
again. Goddess, time was running short indeed! The Feral Knight had
changed a lot since she had last seen and mind-touched him. There was
a depth of sorrow and also of strength that he had not had before. 

	Sharp reports echoed over the mountaintop as branches fell to
the stony ground. Jame sheathed his razored sword and took a deep
breath as he squatted next to the shorn bole of the tree. He shoved
his hands underneath the rough barked shape and took another deep
breath. He exhaled slowly and Trog saw his entire body tense as he
began to stand up.     

	It was incredibly heavy, he had never attempted to lift
anything like this before. He knew that he possessed superhuman
strength and endurance when he tapped the energies of the Land but had
never known the full measure of  it. The power he absorbed from the
Land infused every cell in his body and rendered him almost
invulnerable while it lasted. But, it was limited in duration by the
intensity he used it and the enormous weight of this tree was sapping
it rapidly. He could feel his tendons and joints snap and pop as he
strained to lift the crushing weight of the tree. Could he actually do
this? It seemed to much, even with his temporarily enhanced powers but
then, he had to do it. Morgana was trapped and must be released! Jame
shut his eyes and concentrated every iota of power into standing up.
    
	Morgana's eyes widened as she watched the trunk of the tree
slowly lift into the air. The light inside the cave dimmed as it
blocked the entrance off completely and then returned as it moved
away.  She could see the Feral Knight, no, he called himself Jame now,
standing erect, the tree trunk held tightly against his body, his
fingertips dug deep into the wood. He moved backwards excruciatingly
slowly, his breath rigidly controlled, a grimace of exertion
distorting his features.  She could see the brilliant aura surrounding
him fading with every passing second.  Morgana waited until she saw
just barely enough room to allow her and her companions egress from
the cave.             

	"That is enough, Jame, drop it now!" she called out in a clear
voice. 

	Jame faintly heard her voice through the pounding of his pulse
in his head. He peered towards the cave but it was only a wash of red
to his eyes. He took a deep breath and jerked his hands out and away
from the massive trunk, throwing himself backwards simultaneously! As
he tumbled backwards he felt something give inside him and a flare of
white hot heat raced across his body.    

	With a ground shaking thump, the tree slammed ponderously onto
the rocky ground. Trog ran over to Jame, who lay flat on his back
beyond the tree. Jame's chest rose and fell rapidly and he blinked as
his eyes began to clear.  Shakily, he sat up.    

	"Waaaay to gooo! I didn't know you could do that!" Trog
exulted, slapping Jame on the back and thus unbalancing him and
sending him toppling over again.  

	Jame took another deep breath, held it for a few moments and
then released it quietly, thanking the Goddess for Her assistance. He
felt his normal vigor return to his body and stood up. A flare of
pain raced across his back and he groaned softly. Ah well, not without
some cost, but well worth it.    

	"You also didn't know that , as the Feral Knight, I died in
battle with the Dark One. I died and wandered the astral planes until
the Goddess tested me, found me acceptable and returned me to this
world. I found my self  changed in ways and had more potential for
magic as well as this ability to draw on the energies of the Land.
Thank the Goddess that I was able to use it for this cause."        

	Trog gazed at him and %felt% the pain shrieking in Jame's
back. Suddenly, a flash of white light filled his mind and he blinked
to see Jame's expression change.  

	"What the...what did you do? The pain is gone!" Jame said
incredulously. 
  
	"Bless the both of you, it is so good to be out of the cave.",
Morgana said, walking around the bulk of the tree gingerly. 

	When Jame looked towards Morgana he noticed several things,
one very obvious one was the fact that he could discern a glow around
and within her that was less a product of the Land but of herself.  He
smiled gently and carefully embraced her.     

	"Welcome back, dear friend" he breathed as Trog hugged her. 

=====

-Jame.


--