The Sword - Chapter One

Is It Magic?

Victoria, or Vicki as her friends called her, absently shuffled her feet, kicking stray pebbles angrily. She hurried up the gravel drive to the small stone cottage that was her home, near the side of a rather small mountain. Vickie had suffered from a very long day at school, a junior-high in the suburbs of Denver, and she was very glad to see its familiar coziness once again. Ahead of Vickie, her younger brother and sister skipped along, pink and blue backpacks bouncing just below their golden heads. Katie and Kyle were twins and only eight-years old, nearly six years younger than Vicki’s own thirteen. With a sigh, she wished she felt as carefree as they looked. Her young mind echoed with words spoken just hours ago, words that filled her with a strange uneasiness and anxiety, far too heavy for her fragile young shoulders. Vickie felt odd summoned from class by a phone call in the superintendent’s office. The trembling unfamiliar voice on the other end of the line had shaken Vickie to the core of her being. It had been the voice of her mother, strained and brave, but grief-stricken all the same as she said,” Your brother was lost during combat, a week ago, Vic. They believe he’s dead.”

Chad, Vickie’s strong, dependable eighteen-year-old brother, a private in the U.S. Army had left the States just three short weeks ago for Iraq. Who would have thought he would see action so soon or even risk his life? For her mother’s sake Vickie had stood strong, hanging on to the slight chance they had been given, but inside she felt knotted up, like a discarded ribbon after Christmas day. First it had been her parent’s divorce when she was ten. Second, had been the move here to Colorado from Texas her home since birth. Third, the disloyalty of her closest friend at age twelve and now this? Could she survive yet another blow to her fragile hold on life? Who would listen to her, sing his silly songs and laugh with her? Chad had been her only support, the one source of backbone. What was she going to do? Just listening on the phone, Vickie knew her mom was falling apart. Miriam St. John was a strong woman, but some things were just too tough at times. With her husband gone and the dependence of four children left on her hands Miriam had quite a challenge to overcome. There had been times when she seemed to have given up. It was there that Vickie had been the strong one, even more so than Chad, holding her mom up and giving Miriam the will to keep going. Vickie wondered if she could be strong once again, and the doubt mounted as she remembered her mother’s heart-rending cries over the phone.

Shifting her own heavy backpack on her right shoulder, Vickie wearily skipped up the steps behind the twins onto the porch and through the swinging screen door, letting it bang in loud announcement of their arrival.

Miriam, a slight dark-haired woman, with brilliant blue eyes, slowly greeted them in the kitchen, which was only half-cleaned, Vickie noted. Her mother’s blue eyes were not sparkling today, but tired and red-rimmed, her face pale and weary. Katie, ran to give her mother hug and looked up with an immediate question.

“Why are you crying mama?”

Neither of the twins yet knew about their older brother, and Vickie was reminded once more how horrible everything had become. She threw her backpack a little more forcefully then was needed into the lazy chair in the den as she stepped towards Miriam and Katie. Kyle was already past them looking in the fridge for something to eat. But he glanced up at his twin sister’s question.

“Mama’s just sad right now honey,” Miriam replied hoarsely, throwing a glance towards Vickie as she wrapped her arms around the little girl and kissed the top of Katie’s head.

Katie screwed up her nose curiously.

“Did daddy call you again?”

“No, Katie,” Miriam said, closing her eyes briefly as if in pain,” why don’t you and Kyle go do your homework in your room. I need to talk to Vic.”

Katie looked like she might protest for moment, but sliding from her mother’s arms she did as Miriam bid. Kyle grinning sheepishly with apple in one hand and a fruit drink in the other followed her. As soon as they were gone, Vic stepped forward and fell into her mom’s arms, holding her tight.

“He just can’t be gone, Vic.” Miriam sobbed, almost letting Vickie hold her instead of her holding Vickie.

“He’s not mom, they’ll find him,” Vickie answered soothingly, rubbing her mother’s back,” I know they will.”

Though her mother was openly crying, Vickie found no emotion to express what she felt inside and so every word she said came out quite calm, but devoid of any kind of feeling. For several long painful minutes, mother and daughter held one another, until Miriam’s sobs quieted and then pulling back, Miriam framed Vickie’s face studying her eyes.

“You’re not even crying? Still shocked I guess?”

Not knowing what to say, Vickie just nodded as if in agreement.

Dropping her hands and wiping her nose, Miriam took a deep breath,” I’m going to have to call your father now,” she paused, her breath beginning to tremble again.

Vickie nodded reaching to squeeze her hand.

“I think I’ll go for walk, I need to think things through,” she said.

Her mom nodded,” Go ahead,” and then bravely turned towards the phone on the kitchen bar.

Feeling dizzy, Vickie blindly lunged for the front door once more, wanting to run away from the house and her mother’s broken voice. Yet she still heard it as she flew down the steps.

“John, this is Miriam…”

Feeling her heart pounding, she raced around the house, through the backyard and across the narrow mountain stream that trickled past their house. She began to climb up the small mountain. It took her quite a while to reach the huge rock halfway up that overlooked much of the surrounding, suburban countryside. She and her best friend, Daniel Freeman had discovered it one day while exploring the mountain last summer. Daniel, who lived on a huge horse ranch just on the other side of the mountain, was a year older than Vickie. He had been closest friend since the terrible falling out with her former best friend, Samantha.

A bit winded from her climb, Vickie gained the rock and hauled herself up. She was delighted to see the late afternoon sun was still shining warmly down and had not sunk below the mountain range towards the west. It continued to heat up the surface of the boulder.

The turmoil inside did not let her enjoy this long and for at least an hour she sat there struggling with thoughts and feelings that warred against each other like opposing armies. No tears came, only more confusion and anger. She tried to pray, but no words could surface. How could God let such a terrible thing happen?

Vickie knew it was an age old question, but she couldn’t help it popping through her mind.

A noise near the woods to her right broke through this intense mind struggle and she glanced up surprised, realizing it was a footfall.

It was Daniel. She had told him about Chad on the bus earlier.

His blue eyes were full of worry and he quickly walked towards her climbing up on the boulder.

“I came by the house, but your mom said you had gone for walk,” he shrugged,” I knew there was

only one place you would go.”

She nodded,” I really don’t’ feel like talking.”

“That’s all right,” he replied,” I just wanted to be here if you did.”

She sighed and turned away from him to stare at the horizon where the sun was now half sunk below the mountains. The evening chill was settling over the land, creeping under the knitted cardigan she wore over a light school dress. Vickie could feel Daniel staring at her.

Like she had told him she didn’t want to talk. But Vickie also knew that Daniel knew her so well that if he waited long enough the words would start coming out. And they did…despite her efforts to contain them.

“I just don’t believe he’s dead, Danny (Vickie was the only one Daniel allowed to call him that). Nothing like that could ever happen to Chad. He-he’s big, strong. He’s not afraid of anything. How could he have been killed?”

Daniel shook his head,” I don’t know, Vic. Maybe he’s not.”

Vickie twisted her long hair between her fingers in frustration and continued to stare at the sinking sun.

“I’m afraid, Danny and I don’t know why.” She shuddered, biting her lip.

Daniel reached over and gently touched her shoulder,” You don’t have to be you know?”

She turned to look at him, wishing he didn’t have to be so kind. She almost felt like crying for no other reason than that.

“Maybe I shouldn’t be, but I just feel so helpless, Danny. I wish I could do something.”

He sighed and dropped his hand and looked away, the fading sun’s rays shining across his ruddy face.

“ I can’t try to understand, Vickie. But I want to,” he returned his eyes to hers,” Chad was like my brother too.”

Silence fell and neither said another word for several long minutes. Vickie finally stood to her feet, hugging her arms to herself, suddenly very chilled. The sun was now below the mountains, casting deep purple shadows over the countryside

“I’d better go back now,” she said quietly and turned to hop off the boulder.

Daniel followed,” I’ll walk you home,” he said, almost gruffly trudging ahead of her.

She glanced at Daniel’s face, but it was turned away towards the woods, as he pretended to look up into the trees overhead. He was crying. She knew this, but didn’t say a word. He was too kind for her to embarrass him.

They were halfway down the mountain when Daniel suddenly stopped in his tracks, causing Vickie to come to an abrupt halt beside him. She glanced about in surprise.

” What is it?” Vickie asked.

Daniel grabbed her arm and shoved her behind him.

“Danny!”

“Hush!” he whispered in a strained unnatural voice. He gestured towards something directly in front of them. That immediately silenced her. Vickie peeked over his tense shoulder, but saw nothing, only dusky evening shadows amongst the undergrowth. She started too giggle, thinking it was one of his jokes, but was again silenced when Daniel started walking backwards, into her.

His voice was still low as he said,” Back away, Vic, slowly.”

Still half-sure it was a prank Vickie slowly turned deciding to play along. Daniel continued walking backwards, pushing her behind him. She threw several glances towards the undergrowth, but still saw nothing.

“Danny what is it?” she asked in a low voice when he again shoved them both behind a tree, peeking around towards the direction they had come.

“A huge mountain lion,” he said his blue eyes big…honestly big.

“Danny, they’re only way up in the mountains,” she said,” are you sure?”

He was still peeking around the tree. He didn’t reply but suddenly jerked around and grabbed her pushing Vickie in front of him.

“Run Vic!” he shouted, his voice laced with fear.

Now frightened she did, heart racing as her legs pumped under her. This was not fast enough for Danny, who was frantically pushing her from behind as he shouted for her to run faster.. Pine and spruce branches slapped their faces. Roots and dead branches littered across the mountainside threatened to trip them with every step. With terrific suddenness they found themselves tumbling into ice cold water and tripping onto their backsides. Unknowingly they had stumbled across a mountain stream. Still shouting in panic, Daniel scrambled to his feet, pulling Vickie with him and staggered farther into the stream. The stream was only a couple yards wide and several inches deep. Then he whipped around, facing the stream bank and woods. Vickie, pushing hair from her eyes did likewise and her heart, as the old saying goes, leaped into her throat. A huge tawny form emerged from the trees, golden eyes glowing even in the dim evening light. Vickie grabbed Daniel’s arm and gasped. Not even pictures she’d seen in hunter’s magazines could match this gigantic beast that stood before them, his deep purring vibrating across the air towards their ears. If she’d lived in Africa she might have said he was lion, but that would have sounded too absurd. She lived in Denver, Colorado...for crying out loud!

He growled, low and fiercely. Vickie shuddered…they were about to die!

Daniel’s arm tensed under her hand and he stepped backwards farther into the river, pulling her with him. She felt the current tug at her dress. This wasn’t just any little mountain stream. Glancing down into the water she saw something glowing near her feet.

Vickie felt something akin to horror grip her heart. But she didn’t have a chance to wonder as Daniel shouted in terror.

“No! Get back!”

Glancing back towards the bank she saw the huge lion was crouching to spring, his eyes fixed on them both. She thought cats hated water, but seeing the intensity in the animal’s eyes, Vickie knew without a doubt he intended to attack them both.

She screamed, voice echoing through the woods and then Vickie lost her balance as something knocked her feet from under her. She lost her hold on Daniel’s arm. Her head went under the water and strangely it seemed to deepen, covering Vickie like a deep rushing river. She felt her body twisted around as if the waters had suddenly stirred up some sort of hurricane. Vickie felt herself being plunged forward even while she frantically tried to swim towards the surface. Her lungs began bursting for air as her eyes flew open revealing a shocking realization. The water around, a clear cerulean blue, was not moving but was as still as a frozen pond of ice. Yet she was moving at tremendous speed, spinning wildly. Everything surrounding Vickie remained stationary…no ripples, nothing. Glancing down she saw there was no riverbed either, nor could she see the reflection of the trees above; just transparent water, glowing blue. It was eerily unreal and strange, unsettling her stomach with every lurch of her body. This was not a mountain stream.

Had she already died?

Vickie had always thought of herself as a brave girl; not even the mountain lion or whatever that creature was, had frightened her bad as this water thing did. Without thinking she opened her mouth to scream. To late…Vickie lost her air and water rushed into her mouth. Realizing she was about to die if she hadn’t already, Vickie waved her arms frantically still trying to find the surface. Blue light flashed through her head and than she was falling. Everything disappeared in another flash of blue light. The last thing she thought before loosing consciousness was what had happened to Danny?

Daniel had tripped as well, when Vickie’s foot clipped his own. But he saw nothing of the strange sight she had. Everything went wild, the stream, the woods, Vickie floundering beside him and the mountain lion leaping towards them, its fangs bared. He landed hard on a sandy riverbed, the water barely even deep enough to submerge his face, and his head hit a rock. He immediately saw stars, not just as an expression, but he did indeed see a gigantic midnight sky full of twinkling stars, yet there was no moon. This he realized in the split second the scene flashed before his eyes and then everything faded into only black. For several more seconds he still felt the cold water soaking his clothes and heard the frighteningly near purring of the great cat and then he knew no more…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Slowly Daniel began to wake, groggily like someone after a drunken stupor. His head throbbed with pain and he groaned rolling off his stomach and onto his back. He did not realize until several minutes later that he was lying on something like stony gravel. Bewildered, wondering why he wasn’t in the stream, Daniel painfully opened his eyes. Both hands immediately shot to his head as a spasm hit him through the forehead. Breathing hard Daniel just stared above him puzzled and confused, a chill washing through his gut, even as a strange sense of familiarity settled in his aching mind. A dark sky swam dizzily above him, stars twinkling just as he had seen it as he fell in the stream. What was it…ages ago perhaps?

He moaned again, trying to sit up but only attacked by wave of dizziness which laid him out, back on the pebbly sand and his closed eyes again…wearily. What had happened? Where was the big cat? Where was Vickie?

His eyes flew open and, as quickly as his groggy head could handle it, he twisted his gaze towards the right and left ,looking around. What he saw took his breath away. Towards his left a gigantic river flowed, silently under the starry sky, just on the other side he could make out a dark line of trees…not the same woods he had been in before. Towards his right towering sheer cliffs rose, bare and ugly and they were not familiar Colorado cliffs. He saw neither the mountain lion nor Vickie; a fact that frightened him more than any of the unfamiliar surroundings or moonless sky.

“Vickie!” he shouted, almost crying.

Where was he? Had the river swept him miles away? But no…that had only been a tiny stream, several inches deep. Besides that he had never seen the stream before in his life. And he had lived every one of his fourteen years just half a mile away on the other side of the mountain; a mountain which he did not see. Ignoring the pain now as he panicked, Daniel lurched to his knees. He knelt for second, trying to keep his eyesight focused, even while his mind whirled. He staggered to his feet, nearly falling.

Daniel managed several yards away from the river and towards the cliff’s before he stopped. What was he doing? He had no idea where he was, why he was here or where he was going? He didn’t even know if he still was Daniel Freeman…was he dead or alive? Unable to bear the powerful thoughts assaulting him, he sank back to his knees and began to cry. And you must pardon him for you might have done the same. He was lost, bewildered and not even sure he was alive. Even the bravest of men might have felt like crying at this moment and Daniel was only a young boy.

Unexpectedly, through his sobbing he heard a deep voice speaking his name.

“Daniel…”

Glancing up through blurred eyes he found himself staring at an unfamiliar man. He could have stepped right out of Daniel’s medieval history book. His clothing was dark blues and grays, and his bearded face, though blurry through Daniel’s tears, was strong and stern. He might have been a young man or an old man.

Daniel continued to stare in absolute puzzlement as this stranger stepped across the rocky river bank towards him. Even in the dark light Daniel could see him clearly. His right hand was resting on a sword strapped by a leather belt to his waist.

But Daniel was not at all frightened...for the man knew his name. The boy hurriedly wiped away his tears and tried to rise, but the man stopped him as he knelt on one knee before Daniel and peered down kindly into his face. Daniel started, because the man’s eyes were the deepest, clearest blue he had ever seen. They comforted and frightened him all at once, stirring strange things inside, Daniel didn’t know he had.

“Why are you crying, Daniel?”

Daniel felt his face flush red in embarrassment. The man shook his head, his dark wavy hair, brushing his broad shoulders.

“It’s okay.”

Daniel took a deep shuddering breath and then the words came out like a flood,

” How do you know my name? Who are you? Why am I here?”

The man laughed and clapped a hand down heartily on Daniel’s shoulder. The deep laugh shook something down inside Daniel that despite his confusion and despair, made him smile, though he didn’t know why. Then the man sobered, looking down intently into Daniel’s face, causing him to squirm. It felt like the man was looking straight into his soul, like he knew everything Daniel had ever done or thought.

“You are here because I called you here. I have great need of you Daniel.”

Daniel’s head began to swim again at these words.

“It was the mountain stream wasn’t it? That’s how I got here?”

The man’s blue eyes twinkled,” There are many ways, but yes you came when you fell in the stream.”

Daniel shook his head,” That’s doesn’t make any sense.”

The man chuckled, it didn’t take a lot to get this man tickled,” No it doesn’t, but it’s not supposed to.”

Daniel stared at him questioningly and the man tightened his hold on Daniel’s arm.

“You have great heart, Daniel, great courage and a wonderful boldness.”

Daniel felt his face flush a little bit at the man’s straightforward talk.

“But to complete the purpose I have called you for, you must also have great faith, faith in me. Soon you must believe, though you cannot see.”

He stopped at these words when he saw the confusion in Daniel’s young eyes.

“This is not the United States, Daniel. This is Elder-earth and like your own world there is evil here, evil that hates, evil that wants to destroy, and evil that wants power. I’ve called you here to help defeat it. Will you?”

Daniel was having a difficult time taking in everything this man said at once.

“If I don’t what will happen?”

A smile creased the corners of the man’s burning blue eyes.

“I could send you back, if you wanted, but…” and here he gently touched Daniel’s chest, right above his heart. A searing heat hit Daniel, flooding him with a feeling so raw and aching it left him gasping…powerful love and longing seemed to sweep over him in waves, causing Daniel to yearn to do anything this man asked.

“But you were born for this, Daniel, only you can fulfill this purpose. It’s your choice.”

The man removed his hand and the heat receded, leaving in its wake a pulsating warmth…the love remaining.

“It would deeply grieve me for you to refuse,” the man’s eyes saddened, making Daniel want to cry,” but it still is your choice.”

Daniel hesitated. He would do anything for this man, there was just something about him that drew Daniel, something that whispered to him that this was indeed the purpose for which he was born. His former life, seemed to fade with every passing moment he sat within this man’s presence. But one question nagged at him.

“ Do you know where Vickie is? She fell in the stream too, you know?”

It was a crazy question...of course the man knew.

The man’s eyes twinkled merrily again and he rose to his feet.

“She is here and you will meet again, but for now her part in this story I’m writing is her own. Do not worry about her.”

Daniel straightened his shoulders, the decision made now. If Vickie was here he could never ask to be sent back.

“I will stay. What do you want me to do?”

Not at all surprised, the man motioned him to his feet and then bent down to whisper in Daniel’s ear. When he finished, Daniel looked up at him in surprise and even a little disappointment.

“That’s all?”

The man frowned, and shook his head,” It is bigger than you think, my son. Remember I’m asking for your faith?”

Daniel ducked his head, abashed.

“Yes, sir. I will do as you say.”

“Good, now I must say goodbye,” he turned to go.

“Wait!” Daniel called,” Will I see you again?”

The man’s eyes twinkled, almost disturbingly so,” Why of course, I’m always with you, even when you don’t see me.”

Daniel frowned, wondering how that could be, but he had one more question.

“What’s your name?”

The man smiled,” Darien,” and then he turned and began walking away, his voice carrying back one last command,” Look to your clothes.”

Daniel glanced down and gasped. His khaki shorts, white t-shirt and sneakers were gone, replaced by brown leggings, a leather shirt, belted at the waist and knee-high boots. He felt a weight hanging from shoulders and discovered a dark grey cloak. To his delight he saw a silver dagger lying at his feet and he scooped it up, tucking it in his belt. Daniel’s eyes shot back towards the riverbank to thank Darien. Shock rippled through him. The knight was gone!

- This is story I started many years ago, it's an allegory of many sorts, a fantasy, a coming of age tale, a love story, and epic. There are so many characters, so many different people, countries, worlds and histories. But mostly it centers around one family, the sons and daughter of a dead king who's kingdom was destroyed long ago. And now with the help of many others, including children from another world, they are unknowingly preparing to wage war against the evil that took away their father's kingdom. -