Theron of the Dales
Chapter One: He Never Cried
Part One
Marethari followed slowly in the wake of her clan hunters, she had only been Keeper a few years so she still enjoyed venturing away from the camp to see what new wonders the hunters came across. Marethari wasn’t sure what to make of the tale the hunters brought her but it made her decide to see for herself the truth of things. They had been seeing a group of wolves in the distance and they claimed to hear the voice of a Dalish toddler mixed in with the wolf language. One of the hunters claimed to have seen a small figure riding on the back of one of wolves. Marethari could not imagine that it was possible for even a Dalish child to survive in the forest alone, let alone be in the company of wolves. The hunter’s voices had gotten more excited as the area they had last seen the wolves came into view and suddenly they cried out in warning as a large female wolf appeared in the path ahead of them. Marethari’s eyes widened as she sighted the small Dalish lying on the back of wolf. The other hunters melted out of the way as the wolf slowly stalked toward Marethari. When the wolf stopped before the Keeper the child raised his head and then sat upright and Marethari could see the child’s face bore the complex blood writings of the Elven Pantheon, Dirthamen. “Aneth ara, Keeper,” the child’s voice was that of a three or four year old child but his tone and his brilliant blue eyes spoke of a maturity beyond his years. Marethari was shocked to recognize the child’s platinum blond hair and eyes as those of a Dalish woman they had heard had passed away in childbirth, some four years before. Everyone had assumed the child had been lost as well.
“Aneth ara, Da’len.”
“She says you will take care of me now.” The child leaned over and hugged the wolf tightly and then sat up again and lifted his arms up to Marethari. Marethari shook off her surprise and picked up the child and held him in her arms. He wrapped his arms around her and pressed his face against her neck as he sadly watched the wolf slip away into the forest. The child did not cry but he looked so sad that Marethari carried him in her arms all the ways back to camp hopeful that her physical comfort would ease his sadness.
Seven year old Theron Mahariel leaned against the Keeper’s Aravel with his hands over his eyes and counted to ten before shouting, “Ready or not I am after you!” Theron removed his hands from his face to reveal the vallaslin that he had had for as long as he could remember and then he rushed around the aravel and crashed into one of the clan hunters. The hunter caught him before he could fall and set him upright. “Ir Abelas,” stated the young Dalish lad to the hunter he had just bumped into.
“Be more aware of your surroundings, Da’len”
“Ma nuvenin,” called out the Dalish lad as he ran to catch up with his friends.
As he watched the lad run off the hunter remembered how Theron had been found by the clan when he was four years old and he already had the complex blood writings of Dirthamen. The clan Hahren often expressed that she wondered if it was the way his father was to recognize him or if there was some other significance to the child; the Keeper of Secrets indeed. The platinum blond hair and brilliant blue eyes of the child were unusual even for the Dalish, but the clan did know of a woman from another clan who was said to have died in childbirth that had that same hair and eyes. Theron’s resemblance to the women ended there because his distinct facial features were nothing like hers. Ashalle of the clan had been a friend to Theron’s mother so she had taken over caring for him.
Ten year old Theron notched his arrow and then drew his bow back as he stepped into the clearing. It was a child’s bow but he had hunted with it enough to know it could kill. The shemlen noticed him immediately and shook eleven year old Tamlen roughly, “You lied to me when you told me you were alone. I’ll show you what happens to uppity elves that lie to me.” Theron released an arrow that thudded into the ground inches from the man’s feet and quickly he notched another arrow and drew the bow back.
“Shue shah tauthau toetoi thuet.” Theron often lapsed into the language of his ancestors when he was under stress.
“What did he say,” the human bandit asked Tamlen in a trembling voice? His eyes were fastened on the ten year old in anger and a bit of fear.
“He said he doesn’t want to kill you, shemlen. Let me go.” The human let Tamlen go more in surprise than fear of the younger hunter. “Come, Lethallan.” Theron kept his bow and arrow trained on the man; threatening and watching closely. His menace must have enraged the man because the shemlen let out a roar and grabbed for Tamlen, but just as he touched Tamlen he paused and stared down in surprise at the arrow protruding from his chest. As he stood there in his surprise and disbelief another arrow joined the first and the man knew no more. “Lethallan, you killed him!”
“He was going to harm you.”
Tamlen looked around checking to see if anybody was near and then he rushed to Theron and gripped his shoulder. “We’ve got to go before the other hunters come.”
Theron shook off his friends grip and went to the body. He placed a foot on the dead shemlen’s chest and gripping both arrows he yanked them from the body. One of the arrows came out whole so he cleaned it with a cloth and returned it to his quiver and then he pulled his other arrow from the ground returning it to his quiver as well. He stood staring down at the dead human for a moment with the broken arrow shaft in his hand wondering if he should dig out his arrow head but just then he began to hear rustling in the forest and Tamlen ran to him and gripped his arm. Theron allowed Tamlen to pull him away into the woods and they lost themselves in the trees just as a couple of their clan hunters came upon the dead human.
Tamlen and Theron had stayed in the forest longer than they were allowed the day that Theron killed his first human. The shadows had lengthened past the time when they were to be gathered at the fire for lessons with Paivel when they came in sight of the camp they were met by two of the older hunters. Neither the hunters nor the two adolescents spoke as the hunters strode beside them to the fire side, where Paivel and Marethari awaited them. Marethari spoke to them sternly. “You are late. Did something happen to you in the forest or were you just being disobedient.”
Tamlen opened his mouth to speak but Theron spoke first. “Abelas for being late, Keeper. Nothing happened in the forest, we just lost track of the hour.” Tamlen was envious of how easily the lies fell from Theron’s lips, but one look to Paivel made him realize this time the lie was known as such.
“I see.” Stated the keeper and in a displeased voice she questioned, “And you didn’t run into any one in the forest?”
“No we did not.” Lied Theron, his chin raised high in defiance and his eyes narrowed in a glare.
“I see. Well somebody killed a man where you two were seen to be hunting today. Are you sure you don’t know anything about it?” Keeper Marethari’s voice had a warning note in it almost as if to say, ‘Lie to me again at your own risk.’
“I know nothing of what you speak.”
Tamlen’s eyes opened wide at the defiant tone in his friend’s voice and he almost groaned as the Keeper’s eyes met his for a moment. He was afraid she was going to ask him and that he would have to chose to lie to the keeper or betray his friend. She turned her gaze back to Theron and asked again in a much sterner voice. “Did you see any humans in the forest, Theron?”
“No. I did not.”
There was a long moment of silence and then Master Ilen made his way to Theron and held out a hand. “Give me your bow.” Theron stared at the elf who had given him the bow not a year before. When Theron didn’t move to do as he was told Master Ilen spoke again. “Give me the bow and I will return it when you show yourself to be worthy of it. I will not abide your lies.” It almost looked as if Theron was going to object but instead he closed his eyes and handed the bow over to its maker.
“Consider your self confined to the camp, Theron,” announced the keeper, Marethari, as she headed to her aravel. “You as well, Tamlen. We will be moving on tomorrow so you can both busy yourself helping Master Ilen pack.”
Theron glared around at everybody as if daring anybody to speak ill words to him, but even Tamlen could see the guilt and regret lurking in his eyes behind the glare.
Modifié par DreGregoire, 23 juillet 2011 - 02:19 .





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