Disclaimer: I don't own any of the D&D characters nor am I making any money off of this. This is my third attempt at a story and I am placing it a few weeks after the death of Megan. Thanks to Amy Rummi for checking this over for my atrocious grammar and some plot holes.
Pride, Power and Promises
Part 1
By
Day Dreamer
Copyright. © Day Dreamer2000, all rights reserved
Eric rolled over towards the fire. It was no use; he wasn't going to get much sleep again that night. He looked over at Hank. He was on watch for the moment, always looking around in case of danger. 'Wish I was like you Hank. You wouldn't let what happened to me get to you. You'd just carry on as normal. But I can't. I keep thinking she's sitting here beside me still,' Eric thought as he watched his friend. He still couldn't bring himself to even think her name because he feared he'd start crying again.
Dungeon Master had appeared and had told them to head for the mountains south of Dexton, and he had given Eric a sword, saying it would help him in his quest. Presto had spent ages studying the fine engraving on the hilt of the sword and had determined that a dragon carved it.
Eric's glance shifted to Presto. He smiled at the magician as he remembered the awkward speech that had been given to him by the auburn haired boy. "You know you can always talk to me…..if you need to that is…….cos we all care about you……we were all going stir crazy when you got captured," Presto had said.
The other three had been very nice to him for about a week, but they had started slipping back in to their old routines. 'It's true what they say: Old habits die hard,' Eric thought again. He sighed quietly as he dropped his head back on the pillow he had made with his cape, knowing who would fill his dreams.
Hank's ears heard the soft sigh and he saw Eric drift off to sleep. Hank shook his head. His friend's wounds were healing slowly but Hank was getting worried. He hardly ever said anything to anyone, his snappy comments were down to a minimum, and he wouldn't even answer the Dungeon Master back. 'I know you're hurting, buddy, but Megan's always with you in your heart and in your mind,' Hank thought to Eric, hoping that by some chance he could hear it.
Over the soft sounds of the forest Hank heard a low whispered growl of an orc. He drew his bow and slid over to Eric, nudging him with his foot to wake him up. Eric saw the bow and soon heard the voices. He grabbed his shield and his new sword.
Soon everyone was up waiting for the orcs to arrive. Before long, they got close enough for the children to hear what was being said.
"Ya know, Grait, that sword that Venger was talking about has the ability to….," the orc had started to say as he entered the clearing and saw the six Young Ones ready for battle.
The first orc charged for Bobby but soon got propelled backwards after meeting the Barbarian's club landing in an unconscious crumpled heap. The second orc headed for Sheila and was very surprised when she disappeared from his grasp and he was met with an energy arrow instead, tying him to a tree.
"Well, that was easy!" Presto remarked. "I didn't even have to use my hat!" he continued. Everyone waited for the customary comment from a certain Cavalier and were surprised when it never came. They all started looking for Eric but they couldn't see him anywhere.
"Hey, you guys, up here!" Eric called. The gang looked up and saw Eric dangling by his sword from a tree. "Don't just stand there, get me down from here!" he called again. His answer was a resounding crack as the branch snapped in half, leaving Eric very dazed on the ground. That was too much for the rest of them. They all burst out in heaps of laughter. Bobby and Uni were rolling about on the ground with tears streaming down their faces.
"Man, Eric! How in the world did you get up there in the first place?" Sheila asked, being the first one to calm down.
"Probably climbed up there when the orcs showed up!" Diana teased.
"No! When I lifted this damn sword it pulled me up and embedded in that damn tree!" Eric answered, trying to hide his reddened cheeks. But his obvious embarrassment over not being able to control the power in his sword just made them laugh louder. Eric stormed off into the woods to let them calm down.
As he was walking, he squealed as something grabbed him from behind. A hand was quickly placed over his mouth and he felt a spear tip in his side. He watched with fearful eyes as his friends walked by, shouting their apologies. He really wished that he was with his friends. To his surprise the sword grew warm in his hand. He waited for a second, then tugged himself out of the grip of his captor. Eric spun around to face him, finding his sword two inches from the orc's nose.
The other Young Ones, hearing the commotion, ran to where Eric was standing and all stood behind him in a line.
"Tell me why you tried to jump me!" Eric ordered, a stony edge to his voice that none of his friends recognised.
"That sword you're holding, it was made with the life force of the most powerful dragon that ever lived: Drake, the grandfather of the reigning Queen of the Dragons. The sword holds ultimate power, but no one has yet been able to harness it and they are soon taken over by the curse. Lord Venger sent me to retrieve it," the orc explained, his eyes never leaving Eric's.
Eric felt the sword begin to go cold and heavy in his hand. "Go now and tell Venger if he wants this sword he'll have to pry it from my cold, dead fingers!" Eric yelled, pointing the sword toward the orc's defeated comrades. Even after the orc had fled Eric stood in a wary stance almost trance like.
"Wow, Eric! Way to scare an orc!" Bobby called, admirably thumping him on the back. Eric yelled in pain. "Oops, sorry! I forgot!" Bobby apologised. The blow seemed to snap Eric awake as he stumbled forward.
"Well, we have to move now or the orcs might try again," Hank said, not able to shake the feeling that his friend hadn't been bluffing.
Eric didn't say a word. He was trying to make sense of what had just happened, when the sword had got warm he had felt confident, powerful. He picked up his fallen shield and looked at it in his hand. Whenever he wanted protection all he had to do was kind of wish for it. He wondered if that was how the sword worked. Whenever he wanted power he had to will it to happen.
"Hey, Eric! I wonder what that orc meant about a curse?" Presto asked, jogging up beside his friend.
"I dunno. Just have to wait and see," Eric responded, slowing down his pace to make it easier for his friend. 'The only curse that comes with the sword is confidence. That orc was just trying to scare me in to giving up,' Eric rationalised his friend's doubts to himself.
They walked for the rest of the night, for which Eric was thankful. He had been having nightmares about Megan ever since she had died. He would wake up in the night, sweat pouring off of him. Lately, he just avoided sleeping but that was starting to affect his performance. Last time they had fought Venger he had almost dropped off. A shout from Hank was the only thing that saved his skin.
Diana walked on. She hated night treks. She needed her sleep. 'So does Eric,' she thought as her eyes brushed over him. He had dark bags under his eyes and he was nearly dropping off at every second. Hank finally called for a stop. Diana sank down gratefully and was about to fall asleep when she heard Eric offer to take night watch for the rest of the night. She walked over to him.
"I'll do watch if you want. Get some sleep. You deserve it after getting rid of that orc," Diana offered.
"It was nothing and I don't mind staying up," Eric answered.
"Diana's right. You should get some sleep if you wanna be alert in the morning," Hank added.
Eric just ignored them and walked over to Presto who had already set out his things for Eric's nightly treatments. Eric obediently removed his chain mail tunic and sat with his back to Presto.
"Here, Eric, drink this. It has pain killing effects," Presto offered, shoving a mug into Eric's fingers. Eric took deep sips of it as Presto rubbed his back with some healing herbs. Presto brushed off his hands when he was done.
"Well, Eric, all finished!" The Magician announced but Eric was slumped by a tree, asleep. Presto just smiled and moved his friend into a more comfortable position. He walked over to Sheila and Bobby who were about to go to bed.
"Phew! I thought that relaxant I put in Eric's drink would never kick in. Thanks for the idea, Sheila," Presto thanked.
"Aww, it's just that Eric looked so tired and miserable. I'm sure he'll feel better after a good night's sleep," Sheila responded. She didn't know how wrong she was.
********Dream Sequence********
Eric was floating over Venger's torture hall. He could see himself being held by Diana and Hank while Megan rushed out at Venger. Everything that happened was engraved in his mind forever; everything up to the single tear that had run down her face when she said she loved him.
Suddenly out of nowhere a dark, dark shadow crept towards the Cavalier. Eric felt his breath come in as a gasp when the blackness engulfed the world around him. He stopped with a panicked yelp, turning around sharply, unsure of what was threatening him. His agonised cry echoed through the nothingness as he reached a hesitant hand to touch the lightless cloud. Cold, icy cold travelled from his hand, up his arm. Eric doubted he had ever felt anything as painful in his life. It froze his senses powerless as it reached his head, white flashed in front of his eyes and he knew no more.
*******End Dream Sequence*******
Eric sat up with a gasp. His body was drenched in sweat and he was trembling. He got up quickly, went to the nearby lake, and splashed his face. He sat down beside a rock and laid the back of his head against it, his breathing never slowing for a moment. 'God, these nightmares are driving me nuts! That last one felt so real!' Eric could still feel the icy numbness from the dream. 'What am I going to do?' Eric thought. He jumped when a short figure in red robes appeared beside him.
"Maybe you should tell your companions how you are feeling," Dungeon Master suggested, guessing, or perhaps reading, the young boys thoughts.
"But, Dungeon Master, they don't need to know what's going on. And, anyway, what could they do if they did?" Eric complained.
"You're right. They don't need to know, but they want to know. Each one of them has noticed a change in you and each one is very worried. The Magician even slipped you some laverlack to help you sleep," Dungeon Master said.
"He did what?! I'll kill the little weasel!" Eric yelled.
"Don't be angry, Cavalier. For anger when it is wanted most and at its highest will break your tie to your homeland forever," Dungeon Master advised cryptically.
Eric put his aching head in his hands. "And what is that supposed to mean?" he asked, looking up. But, as expected, the DM was gone.
~~~The Next Morning~~~
Bobby looked over at Eric. He looked worse than ever. He was grouchy and he looked as though he had a fierce headache. "Maybe he's allergic to that stuff that Presto gave him," Bobby suggested to the little unicorn trotting beside him.
"Bleah!" Uni agreed.
~~~At Venger's Castle~~~
Venger glared at the orc grovelling in front of him. "I gave you the simple task of retrieving that sword and you could not even do that! You're incompetent" Venger snarled.
"I'm sorry, sir! I'm sorry, Lord Venger! But the young Cavalier said that if you wanted the sword you would have to pry it from his cold, dead fingers," the orc told him.
"Oh, he did, did he? Well, there will be an opportunity for that soon enough, for no one has escaped the curse yet," Venger said. Then he cackled.
****************************************************************
"Slow down, Eric! We aren't in a marathon you know!" Hank called to Eric's cape, which was way out in front of him.
Sheila shook her head at him and commented to Presto, "Maybe he found out his tea was drugged"
"I hope not! He'll rip my head off if he does!" Presto said, worried.
Eric was up ahead, cursing Presto under his breath, but he had promised Dungeon Master that he wouldn't kill him. "Not that a promise to his Royal Shortness would stop me anyway!" Eric muttered.
Hank finally caught up with Eric. "Hey, man, what's up with you? Yesterday you were dragging your feet and today you are acting like Venger's after you," Hank asked.
Eric managed a small smile. "Nothing's wrong, Hank. Just eager to get home, as usual," he reassured.
Hank glanced down nervously at the sword tightly clutched in Eric's hand. "You seem to have gotten used to that sword pretty quick," Hank commented.
Eric shrugged off handly. "Just feels right, I guess," Eric muttered.
Hank looked back at Diana and shrugged.
Bobby was racing Uni and tore in front of Eric and Hank. He burst though some thick bushes and gave a frightened start. He was teetering on the edge of a canyon. Hank notched his bow to help him, but before it had even gotten half way to his shoulder Eric had pulled Bobby back.
Presto blinked. "Wow! I didn't know you could move that fast, Eric!" he exclaimed.
Eric still had an iron grip on Bobby's leather straps and didn't answer his friend.
"Hey, Eric! You can let me go now," Bobby said.
Eric let go and looked at the canyon. He judged the distance as too far to be jumped. He grabbed a vine and quickly swung across. Everyone stared at him again. "Are you guys gonna hurry up or what?" Eric asked impatiently with a small smug smile.
They all swung over and Presto consulted the map that he had pulled out of his hat.
"According to the map, we should be a mile North of the mountains," he told them, adjusting his glasses.
Eric looked at the map over Presto's shoulder. "That might be so IF we were trying to get to the Himalayas in India!" Eric mocked. Presto reddened in embarrassment. Eric just gave a disgusted snort.
"Did he just snort?" Sheila asked Hank. He nodded. "Something is definitely wrong here," she continued.
"You are right, Thief. Something is definitely wrong here," the Dungeon Master said to them from his sudden perch on a tree branch, "You see, peril lies ahead of you, but there is also hope. Find that hope and ignite it into success."
"Awww, be quiet, you little midget! We've managed this far without so much as an energy bolt of your help. We can continue that way!" Eric snapped.
"Hey! Lay off, Eric!" Bobby said.
Eric snarled at him and raised his hand as if to hit Bobby but Hank tightened his fingers around Eric's wrist. "What in the world is wrong with you, Eric?" Hank asked. 'What the heck am I doing?' Eric asked himself alarmed just before an overwhelming anger clouded his judgement.
"Nothing much. Just that his Royal Shortness is NEVER gonna send us home, someone I thought was my friend drugged me, and now we are being sent on another pointless quest to save a place that isn't even our home!" Eric yelled, pulling his wrist from Hank's grip. Before anyone could answer, Eric turned away from them and stormed off.
Diana was about to follow him when Dungeon Master called to her. "Wait, Acrobat. It is too dangerous to follow the Cavalier now. The sword of Drake is filling his mind with anger and increasing his skills so Drake can use the Cavalier's body to take over the Realm," the Dungeon Master explained.
"So that's what that orc meant by a curse!" Presto exclaimed.
The DM nodded gravely. "Yes, I'm afraid to say that this curse is one that is yet to be broken," he said solemnly.
Hank shook his head slowly, covering his eyes with one hand. "I don't get it, Dungeon Master, if you knew this would happen, why give Eric the sword in the first place?" Hank asked, worry in his voice. He looked up for an answer but there would be none because Dungeon Master had gone.
*****************************************************************
Eric was mumbling to himself as he walked farther and farther away from his friends.
"Idiots! Idiots the lot of them! I'll show them! I'll get home all by myself, without their help! Without that half pint wizard Dungeon Master either!"
He stumbled into a village full of orcs. They turned to attack him. Eric just laughed and said, in a voice that was not his own, "I am Drake! Greatest king of the Dragons! I told you all that death would not keep me from completing the ultimate goal! Taking over the Realm! Now bow down before me or you shall be punished!" he ordered.
The orcs recognised the sword and the voice. They had heard the legends of Drake's spirit entering the mind of whoever possessed the sword and they bowed down, grovelling.
So it started………