It wasn't even midday yet and half the wagon was empty. "Ah Ehler goodmorning there lad," Gimile the dwarf shouted as he was walking away from the wagon. "The day has been good to your uncle. At this rate that there wagon will be empty by a little after noon," the dwarf said with a grin. "Good I would like to get home soon," said Ehler. Gimile chuckled, "whats wrong lad ye homesick already?" Ehler smirked and said,"yea just a little." "Or is it that you miss that young lass your unlce has been telling me about. You know the with brown hair who is trying to learn magic." Gimile said laughing. Ehler's face went red as he hit the dwarf on the top of the head. "Hey Ehler get over here I can't sell fast enough on my own!" shouted James waving for Ehler to help him. Ehler, James and even Gimile worked hard selling their apples and potatos.
All their produce was gone a little after what by the sun appeared one in the afternoon. "Good work to day Ehler," James said patting his nephew on the shoulder. "Uncle can we head home soon? I have a feeling something has happened at the farm," Ehler said with a scared look in his eyes. "Sure boy we can leave within the hour if you get the horses while I do a few things," James told his nephew looking him in the eyes. He could tell his nephew was scared, but he couldn't think of anything that could scare Ehler...except.
Ten years ago "Ehler age 8:
Many years ago Ehler made himself a wooden sword. He was playing war ith the other children. When a lone orc ,who's son was killed by humans, came down from the mountains. The orc saw the children and in his rage roared and charged at the children. The orc thought all humans were honorless cowards so the children's reactions didn't surprise him...much. All the children ran all but one. Ehler armed with nothing but his wood sword held his ground determined to stop the orc from reaching his friends. The orc stopped a few feet from the human boy. He looked the boy in the eyes. The orc saw fear and also honor. The same look was in his son's eyes when he fought and died to protect his family.
Ehler shouted, "draw your weapon warrior I will not fight an unarmed opponent!" "Very well boy I will let you die honorably," the orc said reaching for the battle-ax on his back. The orc roared and charged at Ehler. The orc brought his axe above his and slammed it down intending to chop the child in half. Ehler rolled to his right and sent his sword into the back of the orc's knee making it fall to one knee. Ehler swung his sword at the back of the orc's head, but the orc grabbed Ehler's sword and yanked it from his hands. Ehler jumped backwards to avoid getting hit with his own sword. The orc got back to his feet axe in his left hand sword in his right. "Not bad boy. You have skill that I am sure of. It was a mistake to underestimate you because of your age. For that I am sorry," the orc said as he bowed. "I forgive you," Ehler said putting his fist up to fight the orc barehanded. The orc threw the wood sword at Ehler. Ehler caught hsi sword and gave the orc a currious look. "I also will not fight an hoonorable unarmed opponent," the orc said taking his stance. Ehler grinned at the orc and took his stance with his sword diagnol to the ground the tip pointed in the orc's direction.
A firm hand grabbed his shoulder. Ehler turned around and there in front of him was his uncle in steel armor with his sword in his hand. "Your fight is with me now orc. You can leave now in peace if you wish," James said as he stared at the orc. "I have no where to the only one I have left is my youngest son and he is fighting the scourge, so I might as well die here in battle," the orc said as he started to charge. "GET BACK EHLER!" James shouted as he charged at the orc. James and the orc clashed steel against steel, skill agaist skill, will against will. James stepped backward to avoid the orc's axe and slipped on a rock. He fell to the ground sword flying from his hand. The orc placed a foot on James chest pinning him down. He raised his axe preparing to give the finishing blow. A sharp pain came from the orc's side. He looked down and saw Ehler with his uncle's sword covered in black blood. The orc placed a hand on his side. He pulled his hand away and looked at it. It was covered in black blood...his blood.
The orc fell to the ground in a puddle of blood. James stood up and looked at his nephew. Ehler stood there covered in the orc's blood the sword still in his hand. He was shaking a look of shock and horror on his face. Ehler dropped the sword and fell to the groundcrying. James realized the tears were for the life Ehler had taken. The sobbing stopped. James ran over to his nephew only to see him fast asleep. James picked up his sword wiped off most of the blood and sheathed it. He lift his nephew in his arms and headed home. After a few steps he stopped. He promised himself he would bring Ehler back up here burry the orc. With that promise in his heart he headed for home with the young hero in his arms.
When James arrived at the farm everyone was waiting. The children that were there saw Ehler covered in blood and thought he was dead. All the children started to cry except two of them. Ehler's closest friends Rushral and Ratchet both noticed that blood was black, and with all the stupid stunts Ehler had done they knew ,first hand, his blood was red. Ratchet ran off to get some water while, Rushral got a stick and started to poke Ehler with it. A young girl came up behind Rushral and hit him in the back of the head with a frying pan, and drag him off shouting, "you don't poke an injured person with a stick especially Ehler!" Someone started to laugh at what she had said. The laugh came from Ehler who was wiggling out of his uncle grasp, so his uncle dropped him. All the children looked up, brushed away their tears and cheered. Ehler stood back up with a big smile on his face till the young girl who conked Rushral ran him grasped him in a hug and sent them both to the ground. Ratchet came back with a bucket full of water only to see Ehler on the ground trying to wrestle out of a crying girl's grasp, and everyone around them laughing and cheering.
Present day "Ehler's age 18:
During that fight Ehler had a weird look in his eyes. It was fear, but not fear for himself it was fear for others. That look of fear was once again in Ehler's eyes. James knew something was wrong. He would wait till after they left town to find out what was wrong. Ehler walked to the stables at a faster pace then usual. He arrived in-time to see a young man fly backwards. Ehler looked in the direction the man came from and saw a black stallion with an annoyed look in its eyes. Someone tried to ride Charger. Ehler walked up next to Charger and said, "nice one boy. I think that is a new record." "Ah young master you have returned." The stable hand that had greeted Ehler the day before walked up and shook Ehler's hand saying, "you must be here for the horses. Your mare Epona is asleep in her stall, and I can safely say you found Charger." Ehler looked at the stable hand with surprise and said, "you remember their names?" "Of course I do lad. If you know a horse's name they are more likely to listen," the stable hand said with a twinkle in his eye. "I can also guarrantee everyone here will remember," the stable hand said as he pointed at Charger. "I'll go get Epona while you saddle up Charger." the stable hand said while he walked off to get Epona.
Ehler walked over to the wall the saddles were hanging on. He grabbed Charger's saddle and walked back over to Charger to strap it on. The stable hand walked over to Ehler with Epona next to him already prepared to pull the wagon. Ehler thanked the man and they both went back to their work. Just as Ehler had finished strapping the saddle on Charger his Uncle James walked in. "I'm done with my shopping boy lets head home," James said as he grabbed Epona's reins a led her outside towards the wagon. "Lets go partner," Ehler said to Charger as they walked out the door. James hitched Epona to the wagon. Whiskers was sitting in the wagon with a rat in his jaws. Ehler hopped up onto Charger while James climbed up on the wagon. James and Ehler snapped the reins, and the horses started to trot northward out of town.
They had made it a little over halfway by nightfall. Ehler and James pulled off the road and made camp for the night. James was going to ask Ehler what was wrong after dinner but Ehler fell asleep before he had the chance. They were up at the crack of dawn and traveling homeward. The question had completely slipped James's mind. The two stopped for a quick lunch before a hill. You could see the farm from the top of the hill. They ate their lunch of bread and cheese and then they started the short but annoying climb up the hill. When Ehler and James reached the top of the hill they stared in shock. The farm was...