Hey there- just making a quick update- I now have a couple illustrations up to go along with my story, and you're welcome to check it out here on deviantart.
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Thanks guys!
She could hear only the loud thundering of guards over head, the crashes of collapsing columns and beams in the upper halls.
"Faster now, we must go little one!" the calloused hand of the dark man grasped hers, pulling her along. She stumbled and tripped, unable to see any further than the hand that tugged her about a sharp corner and another after that. Her tiny foot hit a sudden step, the sickening shock running through her, mingling with the dread of the loud crashes and shouts above.
The large hand continued to pull her along, faster and faster, though she could hear no footsteps following them.
"Where are we going? I can't see. Where's Mama?" her tiny voice squeaked with earnest concern. The broad figure only shushed her gently, glancing behind them. After a moment more he reached down, grabbing her up swiftly. His large hands felt safe as they held her securely to his broad chest, even as they sped off down the dark corridor.
She peaked around his shoulder, past the great horns that adorned his head, and the flow of soft wavy hair. She couldn't see any thing, but there was a flash every once in a while, like the eyes of an animal in the dark.
The great man spoke hurriedly into her hair, each word filled with strange emotion her young mind couldn't separate, or name for that matter,
"Dearest little princess," his voice tickled her neck, "I want you to listen very carefully to my, my darling," The man stopped suddenly, "no matter what happens next, you must be strong." She turned, barely seeing the outline of a decrepit old door, the rock walls crumbling about it. The man set her down in front of it, pushing forward gently. She could feel the ancient power surging forth from the wooden door. Shivers ran down her spine, bumps running up her arms.
She looked up worriedly at the tall man, he once again glanced behind them, and then knelt down to her, sighing he spoke, "You won't remember me, perhaps never will, but you must be strong." She didn't understand, and reached up with a pail hand to clutch his sleeve. He held her hand gently, stood and reached for the door with his free hand. He muttered words she had never heard spoken aloud, the doors power surging and engulfing them, allowing them to walk through to the other side.
The room beyond was small, mundane, and nothing like what she was expecting. The door shut tightly, all sound from beyond was silenced, and the tension seemed to fade for a moment. A torch flickered from a bracket, giving the room a quiet glow.
She glanced about the small room. It had a sink and toilet, a small cupboard, and a soft bare bed. At the foot of the bed there was an odd chest, every inch covered in strange keyholes, each a different pattern and color. The large giant of a man hunched over the chest, dwarfing it in his fierce shadow. Keys jingled in his large hand, hundreds of keys upon a ring. His brow furrowed with concentration, and he muttered about the amount of keys, flicking through them quickly.
"Father?" haunting mint colored eyes pondered at the man and his keys. He didn't turn, didn't react to her small voice. Finally he sighed, seeming to find the key he was searching for, made of red crystal, and brought it to a keyhole shaped like a bat.
It glowed faintly for an instant, the key clicking gently, and the chest echoing loudly with a metallic *click*. The man once again began to mutter in quiet sacred words long forgotten by the rest of the world. The young girl tried to glimpse into the depths of the chest, only to see the cover close back onto it with a snap.
"When you are older, you may learn what has happened here…" the mans' voice was filled with unshed sighs, and words she'd never hear. There was a tiny necklace in that mighty fist of the man, a tiny vessel with a bit of cork upon the top, fastened to a leather necklace. "You will only learn if you are strong enough to learn. In your heart, and in your mind." He knelt down, uncorking the tiny bottle, "You will remember nothing beyond the door, or of me." His great antler-like horns towered above her, ivy draping around her shoulders.
"I love you, my dear little princess."
He kissed her forehead gently, making her feel woozy, and light headed. She was calm and sleepy, though. She couldn't seem to recall where she was at the moment. She looked about, her eyes heavy. A great earthy man stood, his mouth pressed against his fingers. She cocked her head curiously, the man's form covered in earth and plants.
A small squeak caught her attention, as the man suddenly moved, holding a tiny glass jug on a necklace. It was very pretty, the inside seeming to swirl and move like bright green fog.
He looked to her kindly, offering it out, "Come close, little one," his voice was worn and old, but kind none the less. She shyly inched closer, a warm patch on her forehead making it itch vigorously. The man picked her up in one burly arm, sliding the necklace over her hair with the other hand.
"Listen carefully little one," the girl fingered the necklace as she listened, "I am going to show you how to open this chest only once, and then you will not see any one for a while." He set her down, and crouched himself, holding up a key from a large ring, "Only you will be able to open this chest, and all you have to do is hold a key, and tell it 'show me your treasures'. Do you understand?" He waited for her to nod before handing her the heavy ring and continuing, " you are going to be here for some time, and every thing you could ever want is in this chest," he patted it as he would a faithful pet, "Do you understand little darling?" Again she nodded.
The great man stood, his horns nearly scraping the ceiling. He turned away from her, "Promise me, little one, that you will not leave this room until the fox comes to fetch you. And never fear the lack of knowledge. It only means you have more room to learn." She nodded, confused, but knowing it was important.
The man turned towards the door, reaching for the knob, when the girls small voice finally chimed up, "What will I do here? I'm all by myself." The man smiled, his eyes sad and green as a peacock's last feather.
"Explore and learn. Poke and prod and learn what you can." He nodded to her, "Goodbye. May we meet in many years to come." He opened the door as he said this, quietly slipping through and away.
"So long…" she stood there, as the door clicked quietly shut.