Forgotten Land

9/28/2010

SUM: Endymion stumbles upon the hidden world of the Moon.

THREE

Endymion's walk was smooth and perfect as he headed to the one place that held the one person who could tell him what he wanted and most desperately needed to know.

The doors slammed open and his great-great-grandfather lifted his tired head off his chest and looked up wearily at the boy who rudely announced his presence. The old man, weak and gray and spotted was the oldest man alive, oldest one to have ever lived, had more knowledge than the rest of the planet combined. He was hidden away, out of sight and unknown to all but the Royal Family. It was whispered that he couldn't die and yet each year he aged and grew weaker but still clung on to this life.

"I welcome death." The old man muttered as soon as Endymion closed the doors again and Endymion paused in his step towards his ancestor. He had not said anything to receive this notice, and only after a slight hesitation, did he continue forward to the old man's side.

"Grandfather-"

"I know what you seek. You would not be here otherwise." The old man held out his hand and motioned for Endymion to kneel. "You are not the first, and will not be the last." The man placed a hand on Endymion's shoulder and used him to help him stand. He moved on shaking legs towards the wall of books. He did not use a crutch or accept Endymion's help, even fighting off the hands as he walked towards what he wanted.

"I only want to know if it is possible to-"

"You do not listen boy." The man's eyes were dark, darker than Endymion's darker than anyone Endymion knew, yet they were blue and pure blue ran in the family, even when they married into brown eyed families, with no trace of blue in their lineage. "Though with your arrogance and self-assurance, it may do you good." The old man looked thoughtful before he waved it off. "Nah." He turned back to the books. "You are no different than any of the other children at your age."

"I will go, if there is a way."

"There is a way." The old man's long boney finger with long hairs growing at different angles, his yellow and brittle nail skimmed the titles of books. "This place is all that everyone has forgotten or no longer wanted to know, they could not stand to face the truth. If what you want is here, then what you seek must be earned."

Endymion came up to his side. "Grandfather, you speak in riddles. I want-"

"To go to the moon." The old man cut him off, finishing his statement, but the way he said it was mockery, it sounded as if it was a toddler demanding a treat yet had a rhythm to it. "You are not the first, child!"

"Others wanted to go?" Endymion pressed, looking at the book the finger landed on briefly before continuing its search.

"Boys, girls, all at some point desired to venture to the only uncharted land, or at least in their minds. All gave up the notion quite early on. Some stuck it out, but none were worthy. Your father got the furthest." The dark blue eyes glanced sideways at Endymion for a moment, letting that information seep in. "But even he was afraid of what might happen if he succeeded." The man stopped and rubbed his eyes. "I tire of these trite passions that are only fleeting. No one is serious enough to reclaim what has been lost. I pray one day someone can put an end to my long miserable life. I think I have paid enough for my sins."

"Grandfather-"

"No! Hush! Go away and leave an old man to his peace!" He turned back to his seat and never pulled out a book. Endymion grabbed both the one he noted earlier and the one the old man finally stopped at. "All die in the end. Not I." Endymion turned towards the door, he had gotten what he had come for after all, even if it wasn't handed to him.