The Quest for Aramiel

Nathaniel urged the horse forward on the steep path. The horse's muscles rippled and his hooves made gentle thuds on the grassy path.

Nathaniel's mood tugged his weary heart. Sun beat down on them both and he felt a wave of sleepiness creep into his bones, threatening to take over.

His wise Grandfather urged him to ride this trail. His words couched in mystery. The moment his fading eyes layed on him, his Grandfather sensed a hollowness in the once little little boy he helped raise and taught to ride and hunt. He offered no advice other than to find and follow the trail.

Nathaniel grieved a deep loss. Aramiel was gone. She was his promised bride from youth and the time approached of the Sunflower. They were to wed this year. It was speculated that she was kidnapped right under her parent's nose. One morning her bed was cold and unmade. Curtains blew in the quiet seclusion. Nothing else was missing.

Cresting a Hill, Nathaniel reined up the horse with a quick hand on the leather reins. Before him fell the most magnificent waterfall. The water carrying a tinkling, soothing, musical tone.

Jumping from the horse with a quick leap, Nathaniel edged nearer the waterfall, marveling at both sight and sound. Colors danced in the water with the sun's reflection; blue, red, orange and violet tones.

Below, near a pool, sat a woman. Her hair reflected light, and something indeterminate. He slid down a hill to approach and get a closer look.

Arriving near the woman he approached her with mystified caution. She shimmered in the sun and held a crystal bowl on her lap.

She looked up and directly into his face. "Nathaniel, I have been waiting for a century for you. Come close. I have a gift for you." Her eyes were deep pools of white with what appeared to be snowfall in them. Warm and inviting. He came as requested then knelt at her feet without a thought.

Placing her hand gently on his head, she spoke in a clear flutelike tone and patted his shoulder as if to say, "Rise"

"Eat these, and take a pouch of them with you. Just one seed will last you for 24 hours on your search. Do not delay."

In his hand were sunflower seeds; large, perfect sunflower seeds.

"You will find your love before this sack is empty, but do not allow a seed's strength to wear off before eating the next seed.

Her image faded and appeared for seconds in the waterfall until only the waterfall's haunting melody remained.

This is today's five minute weekend freewrite.This freewrite took beyond 5 minutes, but it was a freewrite with grammar correction
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