EPILOUGE: An End to the Night.
Ckorik walked though the torch lit halls of the keep. Three days had passed and still the sun hadn't risen. Other monsters had risen up as well but the Ring attacked them with reckless abandon, keeping them from becoming an even bigger threat. Such things however were not on Ckorik's mind at this moment.
"Hello Ckorik," said Meiera. "I can guess where you're headed."
"Has she made any progress?" asked Ckorik.
"No," Meiera answered with a frustrated sigh. "It's been two days since Seek ran off into the Plane of Fear and brought Arclight's body back. He's alive Ckorik, I know he is. Our spells just don't seem to be able to wake him up."
"I take it Aen is still with him?" asked Ckorik.
"Ya she needs to get some sleep but she just keeps casting healing spells on him." Meiera explained shaking her head. "You know how Aen gets when she's determined."
"Yes I do, and few can change her mind," chuckled Ckorik. Both of them walked up into to the tower where Arclight lay in bed unconscious. Upon entering the room they saw Aenau sitting there exhausted, much as they expected.
"How is he?" asked Meiera.
"The same," replied Aenau sleepily.
Ckorik just shook his head and said, "You should get some rest-"
"I'm fine," interrupted Aenau. "Drop it dear."
Meiera shot Ckorik a look that said I told you so.
"Hey guys what are ya doing in my room?" a groggy voice spoke from the bed. Everyone looked at the bed where the paladin was stirring.
"Umm you're not in your room Arc," pointed out Ckorik.
"Ooh did Meiera buy the drinks again?" groaned Arclight as he tried to sit up.
"Umm no Arc. Do you remember what happened?" asked Meiera.
Arclight stopped trying to sit up and stared into space for a moment. "Bits and pieces…ya I remember."
"We saw the Lance of Thunder go black. We thought you had fallen." Aenau said.
"I did fall," replied Arclight. A cold shiver passed though him recalled the experience.
"Its ok Arc there is no evil that can't be redeemed," said Meiera trying reassure him.
"I know," answered Arclight. "Its like I told ya before Aen. Every knight falls, it's the just ones that rise again."
"It is good that you were able to Arc," nodded Aenau.
A slight grin crept onto Arclight's tired face, "Nice to hear you call me Arc instead of knight or paladin. Just wish I wouldn't always have to get the crap kicked out of me to get ya to do it."
Aenau glared at the grinning paladin trying to fight down a laugh and a retort at the same time and knowing he did that on purpose. "You…you don't ever quit do you paladin?"
"Well at least not before the fourth beer," replied Arclight snickering.
"Hey Arc glad to see your awake," said Ilyeana as she entered the room. "Just wanted to let you all know its getting lighter outside. I think the sun's coming up."
Arclight tossed off his bed covers and tried to get to his feet.
"Arc I'm not sure if you should be standing so soon," Meiera pointed out.
"I just want to see the sun rise," explained Arclight. As he stood up a look of puzzlement and confusion crossed his face as he promptly dropped to the ground. Sighing Meiera helped him get up and walk to the balcony. Leaning on the rail, Arclight watched as the sky slowly but finally brightened and sun revealed itself.
"Happy that the night is over?" asked Ckorik.
"Just glad to see the sun rise," replied Arclight grinning again. "There is a lot of promise in a sun rise. In the start of a new day. A new start. To many good things to miss and too many new paths to take."
"I don't know where you get all that energy all that determination," Ckorik said.
"I like to live, as much as I possibly can," replied Arclight. "It's what I want more then any physical riches you can dream of. Wandering, adventuring, learning, or even just hanging around drinking with my friends are all good ways to live a little more. So I like to greet every new start as a chance to live a little more and a little better. That's why I like the sun rises."
"It can't last for ever Arc" Ckorik pointed out.
"No it can't," agreed Arclight. "That's why I do so much of it. Awhile back I had to give it all up cause my family needed me. Once they had what they needed I was back to wandering and learning as fast as I could. It's the only way I know how to live. So far…its also the best way I've seen. I'll probably be doing this for a long time whether it gets me somewhere or not, simply because it is the best way to do things."
"Speaking of which I've been carrying this on me for when you woke up," said Meiera as she handed Arclight a beer.
Chuckling Arclight took the beer and cracked it open, "What can I say guys? Having a drink with a few friends is a great way to greet the new day."
The End……..till it's time for another adventure.