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Gaia’s Fall – Chapter 1

Prophecy of the Slumbering Sage

Heaven’s Gate and Hell’s Gate
Opposites as twin

When one opens, so shall the other
Unleashing death unto Gaia

Fiend of Niflheim shall be let loose
A Hero shall arise

Battle will befall the land
One shall fall

Gaia’s fate lies with the victor
It’s life in their grasp

* * * * *

The Forest of Argoth, a few miles south of Etna, a village housing the Hell’s Gate. It was home to one of the Legion of the Oaken Leaf’s platoons, captained under a man known as Juno. The forest was home to fiends, the spawn of Niflheim. They were believed to be coming from the Heaven’s Gate, lost in ages past. It was Juno's role to keep the forest under marshal law. No civilian was to enter, on pain of death.

It was a dim evening in the forest that night. A warrior of the Oaken Leaf, hidden in the branches of a beech tree lay covered by his dark green hooded cloak. His green ring mail shirt made no sound in the gentle breeze. He stood there, with his bow bent and ready, lying in wait of trespassers to the forest, or worse.

“Get your hands off me! Let me go!” came the scream of a woman in the forest ahead

“What’s the matter? Can’t a guy like me have a little fun with a hoar like you?” replied the hoarser voice of a drunk

“Trespassers” whispered the Oaken Leaf climbing silently from branch to branch.

Ahead, the warrior saw a disgusting sight. A balding man, lacking most of his teeth, was attempting to tear the dress of a young, rather attractive lady. He took out an arrow with a crescent shaped arrow-head from his quiver and aimed carefully. He let the arrow go and watched it fly into the thigh of the repulsive man.
The man screamed as the arrow ripped through, piercing the skin on the other side of the leg, cutting tendons on its way through. He fell on one knee, grasping at the thigh, now pouring blood. The warrior jumped to the ground, and approached the woman.

“Are you alright, m’lady?” he spoke quietly

“Yes, thank you” she replied

“Now for you, you vile person. Do you not realise that this forest is under martial law, and that entry is forbidden under the king on pain of death. You shall be executed hence for this crime, as well as that which you were about to commit.” Spoke the warrior coldly

He bound the man to a nearby tree, and fired an arrow into the man’s neck. He died instantly, as blood poured down his front.

“And now for you, m’lady. Lio, champion of the Oaken Leaf at your service. I will escort you to the exit of the forest post haste.”

“Thank you, good sir”

Lio removed his hood, revealing a young face, housing large green eyes and surrounded by shoulder length brown hair. He wore Baggy brown trousers in addition to Heavy boots and his green ring mail shirt

Lio and the woman turned east, the shortest way out of the forest, and the closest to her village. A fierce growl came from behind the two. The woman, screamed, and Lio turned to face what awaited. There behind the two companions lay creatures of Niflheim. They looked like large cats, with two sharp black horns protruding forwards from the top of their heads. Just behind their shoulder, there was a tail, which appeared to be made out of purest flame. At the end of this tale there was a pointed hard tip designed to cut when the creature whipped its body around. Their putrid black skin gave off a pleasant smell of almonds, but this was a layer of poison that secreted across their skin. They drooled a black slime from their fang-filled jaws. They were hungry, and they had a taste for the meat of man.

“Run to the trees and climb” whispered Lio drawing an arrow

The woman ran for a nearby tree as Lio let the first arrow fly. One of the creatures darted forwards, and flew back as the arrow met the creature’s throat. The other creatures, three in all, charged forwards. Two ran for Lio, whilst the other went after the woman, now in the tree.

‘I’ve bought her a little time’ thought Lio to himself, drawing and firing another arrow

Another creature fell to the floor, arrow protruding from its jaws. Lio leapt to the side, barely avoiding the horns of the beast. The flamed tail flew round to the side, catching Lio’s arm. He let out a yell as the flames burned his flesh. From behind him he heard a snarl and a scream. Lio pulled an arrow from his quiver and forced it into the creature’s throat. Blood poured from the wound as the creature shuddered, and finally fell to the floor, dead.

Lio stood up and picked up his longbow. He took another arrow from his quiver and looked to the tree where he saw a horrific sight. The woman hadn’t made it. She hadn’t even reached the first branch. There she lay on the floor, torn open by the horns of the creature, who was at that moment, feasting upon her innards.

Lio turned pale, and proceeded to fire the arrow into the creature’s side. It reared up on two legs before falling to one side. Lio turned away and vomited, sickened by the sight. He dug a grave for the dead woman, and placed her into the grave. Then taking a necklace from around her neck, he made a wooden cross as a head stone. He placed the necklace upon the cross, and buried her.

“I knew not your name, fair lady, but hopefully this will be recognised after this mess is over” he spoke quietly, before turning to leave the forest.

Lio headed for the nearest river, the Sheppard, and washed himself and his clothes. He was covered in the woman’s blood. He had to wash or hiding from the fiends of Niflheim would be impossible. He got out of the river and lay upon the grass, waiting for his clothes to dry.

‘Dammit, why couldn’t I protect her?’ he thought to himself ‘Am I that useless?’

Lio awoke, it was cold, and the sun was just setting. He put on his now dry clothes and headed for the forest.

“Excuse me, sir?” came a voice from the distance.

Lio turned to face the voice, it was a person, on horseback, wearing a thin breastplate. He was a messenger.

“Sir, thank you for waiting, I believe you are of the Oaken Leaf, yes? Where can I find Lio?” rushed the messenger

“I am he” replied Lio

“Message from the King, you are to head for the capital immediately for a council. He specifically requested you, above all of the Oaken Leaf.”

“The King requested me?” came the astonished voice of Lio “I’ll leave right away”

“Take my horse Sir Lio” said the messenger, dismounting

“No, you have more need of it than I, return to your post. Oh and don’t call me sir”

“Yessir” said the messenger, mounting the horse and riding swiftly away.

“Damned fool” spoke Lio with a smile.