Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with One Tree Hill. This is the second volume of A Time of Fortune's Favor. If you have decided to continue with my tale, I am grateful. Please read and review. I remain as always, confuzed1978.
Prologue
Whispers of the past float upon the gentle wind…
Falling, fast and never ending, Nathan's body presses thunderously against the floor of the gym. Eyes of blue close and as his eyelashes fan against his cheeks, unexpected visions of Haley materialize before him. Through the darkest tunnel vision of despair, he sees her still. The sounds of the gym and the basketball game fade into stillness. The world around him disengages, the crowd stops, as his heart races irregularly beneath his jersey. The pain erupts from disappointment in himself, but culminated when he pushed his love from his side. His game on the court seemed more intense due to the performance enhancers, but then he collapsed. Clenching in fear against the torment, his heart begs to see her once more.
When he can move, nothing and no one will keep him from Haley ever again. His mind opens as a warm breeze flows solidly against his form despite the heavy air in the gym. Her lovely face swims before him, her sensual lips open to form words, but the only song Nathan can hear contains words written by the wind.
Light swarms and he envisions the pair of them very young, hands clasped together, walking against the wind together. Her hair is long and blows rapturously behind her in a blur of auburn beauty. He feels weak and ineffectual as they struggle together, moving forward, far and away.
Abysmal movement of time slows as fortune reminds Nathan of his inexplicable need to keep Haley near him. Any distance remains too great and painstaking, the force of a wind so wild threatens to rip her from his arms. Holding tight with an iron grasp, their love remains immovable even in the gusts of devastation.
A new love, tested by mistakes and outside forces, often breaks due to the weak bond. The bond between the couple is already more secure than those whom have been married for years. This love has been tested and reborn many times before their souls reunited in Tree Hill.
Nathan falls into a slumber from the effects of the drugs he has taken, his mind falls through time to see another life, in another time, rushing through the winds of the past.
5,000 years ago
Unger created the world many ages ago, but his vision of the world continued to change. A world so brutal, softened with time. The first people were long forgotten. Change, more even so than in the humans below, forced its way in the heavens. The gods became more arrogant. Unger became less a father and more like a cruel ruler. He no longer used his previous moniker. The only calls or answers that he entertained began with his new name, Unuus. He is often distracted and bothers not in the affairs of man at this time. His brothers and sisters entertain themselves with the interactions of the humans below.
The humans are adrift in the winds sent by the gods. There is no purpose except to survive. The wandering tribes have begun settling in various areas around the world. Many times the gods send disaster toward the people for entertainment. The gods are cruel and narcissistic. They have decided to send a sadistic message to the people living below.
A wise man sits on the cliff of the lush land in the aftermath of a violent windstorm. The water tumultuously slams against the rock of the precipice. He sits alone, most of his clan blown away during the tempest. A small group of his people move about helplessly searching for the hope of finding loved ones swept away. Death has come yet again, he laments to Unuus and the other gods.
"Why, Unuus?"
Clouds subside and a majestic voice cracks through the vast open sky.
"Gnaru, your people have not bowed to me in ages. They sacrifice nothing for me or the other gods. Disaster will continue to befall the people below until the gods are appeased. We are justified in our anger."
"O great Unuus, what are we to do?'
Without prompting from the other gods, Unuus has devised a plan for bringing his people back into the habit of worship. The other gods wait to learn of his plan.
"The great storms will cease in your land. Your people will be able to settle in a land of still wind. Your people will flourish when worship of Unuus returns. Worship will be sealed by blood. Unuus will require one virgin sacrifice each year on the longest night of the land. When your people follow my command, untold blessings will fall upon them."
The voice evaporates into the gloom of the sky. Gnaru hears the rushing of the wind and contemplates the burden of setting this covenant with Unuus into motion. A tiny child moves to Gnaru's side and takes his hand.
"I cannot find mother."
The day is short and Gnaru recognizes this day as the shortest of the year. The cold has been upon them for a time and the reckless storm reminds them of the desolation of the coming months, waiting for the warmth to return.
Gnaru looks sadly at the child, he must make the first sacrifice. He picks the small child up into his arms and kisses his plump cheek. He then sails him into the winds. The winds accept the sacrifice and then subside into meekness.
Unuus is pleased as he watches the beginning of a return to his worship. He welcomes the child into the sky.
Gnaru sick with purpose, begins to gather the wandering clan. He tells them of the covenant of Unuus. The clan is frightened by Gnaru's words. They do not believe his words. One man moves forward to punish him for murdering the child.
The lightness in the sky darkens menacingly, the wind speed increases and sweeps across the rocks of the cliff.
The voice that had led Gnaru to killing the child returns. The people look to the heavens as they hear the ominous presence of Unuus.
"Return to me! Listen to the words of Gnaru and I will be appeased!"
The darkness subsides and the small group gathers around Gnaru.
Years fade into the past, as the group of people increase in number. They make their yearly sacrifice. Unuus and the gods are appeased.
One goddess remains separate from the others, she sends the winds when commanded by Unuus, but does not relish the harsh treatment of the people below. She has always preferred the soft winds to punishing ones. Aura secretly sends a soft wind, strong enough to carry the remains of past across the sea to the present.
Under a tree, the roots of this ancient tree spring from the cooled magma of a long ago eruption. The souls of the tethered ones remain entombed. The tree was the first sign of life to return to the ravaged land after the volcano unleashed its wrath upon the land. It is time for love to return to the people of the land.
Aura expels a soft breath onto the leaves of the tree. The limbs of the tree shake as her breath increases. The tree stretches in the wind and the leaves of the tree begin to lose their grip on the branches. Leaves holding a seed of rebirth blow across the water in a whirl, flowing above the winds of the deep sea, until they reach the cliff where the clan commits the sacrifice each year.
The goddess of wind, expels one more soft breath, hoping that her soft winds will elicit a return of love. She holds her breath and sighs as she remembers the devotion and tragic magnificence of the tethered ones.
The seed of the tree from a faraway land buries itself into the earth. Aura sends one more gentle breeze and waits. The gentle breeze whistles through the grass on the cliff. The air seems to call out softly. The song of the wind seems to whisper always and forever while the seed takes root.
The tale of the tethered ones endures even these thousands of years later. Their love, so epic and unending, renews softly and earnestly. Their legend continues with words written by the wind.
