Binding of Valrath

## Context

This is but a tale in the story of how DiiZ and Oli Valtier met, and fell in love, eventually leading to DiiZ coming to live in Hallandren. Becoming the adopted son of the Caydefather, the creation of his own noble house. And finally, the merging of Oli’s house Valtier, and house Taurath into the noble house of Valrath

## Binding of Valrath

#### Part I : Kojak Bonburg

One chilling winter's night, a sinister figure named Kojak, a farmer known for his malevolence, cast a covetous eye upon DiiZ. Kojak, fueled by greed and a twisted fascination, concocted a nefarious plan to exploit the uniqueness of DiiZ. With cunning precision, he lured DiiZ away from his sanctuary in the moonlit meadow, capturing him with snares and shadows.

DiiZ found himself imprisoned in a desolate barn, its timbers groaning under the weight of secrets and suffering. Kojak, driven by sadism, subjected DiiZ to a life of unimaginable torment. Deprived of food and basic necessities, DiiZ's once-lustrous fur became matted, and his once-melodious voice grew silent under the weight of his anguish. Kojak reveled in his power, savoring the echoes of DiiZ's despair that permeated the cold, unforgiving air.

Days turned into endless nights, and DiiZ's spirit withered like a forgotten blossom. His eyes, once alive with curiosity and kindness, dulled with resignation. Yet, amid the darkness, a glimmer of hope flickered within him, a spark that refused to be extinguished.

One day, fate intervened in the form of Oli, a wanderer with a heart as vast as the cosmos and eyes that held the sorrow of a thousand lifetimes. Oli, guided by an inexplicable force, stumbled upon Kojak’s farm. There, he heard the faint cries of a soul in torment, and his compassionate heart stirred with a sense of urgency.

#### Part II : A Valtier in Shining Armour

I awoke in a panick and a cold sweat, my heart pounding out of my chest as I sat up quickly, I looked around the room for oli but he was no where to be found. So I got up and headed downstairs. Upon arriving at the bottom of the stairs I saw oli, standing in the doorway to the porch, there was something in his hand reflecting the light of the candles.

“Oli? What are you doing? Why are you up at such an hour?” I asked with a bewildered expression. “Shouldn’t you be in bed?”

“I’m just going for a walk, I need to clear my head. I’ll be back within an hour cowsband I promise.” Oli responded.

“Ok well stay safe, I’ll be here when you get back.”

And with that oli walked out the door, shutting it behind him.

I started the fireplace and set a kettle of water on it, I prepared myself a cup of tea and sat by the fireplace, letting the warmth embrace me. I began to drift off to sleep in the armchair by the fire but just as I did, oli opened the door.

“Welcome home dear, I made tea! Oli? Oli what’s wrong?”

As I stared at oli a sense of dread enveloped me, he had a look on his face I had never seen before, a mix of fear and regret. His hands and forearms were covered in blood and his fist was clenched tightly over an object in his hand.

“Oli! Oli what happened to you?!”

I exclaimed, fear edging into my voice,

Oli began to sob uncontrollably, i rushed over to try and console him.

“Oli here come sit at the table, I’ll make you some tea and you can calm down and tell me what happened.”

Oli pulled himeself together while I made him a cup of tea and set it on the table.

“Now, tell me what happened oli.”

“Well I’ve been thinking recently, that man, that hurt you. He’s still out there, and I couldn’t bear the thought that one day he could… he could come back and hurt you again. So I decided, I couldn’t risk him coming back. So tonight, I went to his house… and… I killed him.”

Oli revealed what he had been hiding in his hand and dropped a bloody dagger on the table

#### Part III : Live & Let Burn

“I… I don’t know what to say. Thank you oli. Thank you so much, maybe now the nightmares will go away. Maybe the fear will leave me.

I’ve had night terrors of that place ever since you rescued me from there.”

Just then I glanced at the window and I saw a dim orange glow on the horizon over the trees.

“It’s gone.” Oli said, “I burnt the barn to the ground. I never want you to have to remember that horrible place ever again.”

I started to weep as I remembered that terrible place, where I had experienced  so much trauma and so much pain, but hearing that my troubles were finally over, and there was no need to fear anymore, it felt like a weight had been lifted off my chest, me and oli embraced as we wept together, and before long the sun was rising on a new and beautiful day.