A Night Of Love And Hate (Original Epic Story)

“Good night,” Drazen replied his men as he drew his bloodsword closer and closed his eyes to sleep. He and his men had spent the day scouring Error Nemore for the women of Endor. After their encounter with the witch-girl earlier, they had taken their time to search the woods. There were sure to be others lurking in the woods. However, it was too dark to see the path before them. Besides, they were tired and needed to rest. Each man had found a spot around the big fire and slowly drifted to sleep, with the exception of Grindr who had first watch.

Just as Drazen gradually drifted into a sleep, he felt someone walk beside him. He opened his eyes and reached for his bloodsword. He couldn’t find it. Instead, he heard a rich and familiar laughter. It sounded like a female. He looked around, trying to wonder who had gotten the slip on him. He wondered what had happened to Grindr. He looked around and then saw a figure sitting on a fallen tree stump holding his bloodsword. He stood up at once and began to approach the figure. Just then it stood up and began to run.

He broke into a trot after the figure. The woods were dark with only a faint light escaping the canopy of broad leaves that rested on top the large trees in the woods. He was struggling to find his way using the filter of moonlight. While he struggled to avoid tree stumps and dodge low hanging branches, the figure just kept on laughing as it ran as it the woods were its home. There was something strangely familiar about that laughter which he couldn’t place. It felt soothing. He couldn’t understand himself any more. He ducked just as he approached a low branch. When he looked up, he couldn’t find the figure.

It was almost too late for him before he realised he was running towards the edge of a cliff. A cliff? There weren't supposed to be any cliff in Error Nemore, The Woods of Deception. Perhaps that was why it was called the woods of deception. He broke into a stop just at the edge and looked around. He heard the laughter again. He turned around to see the figure standing very close to him. She smiled. He could tell by the long brown hair under the hood of her robe. He was about to reach for her when she pushed him off the cliff.

Just as Drazen started falling, he felt a soft hand on his back of his neck and warm lips on his mouth. He was being kissed passionately, even while falling. It was then he saw the love bite on her cheek. He was being kissed by Salima. Salima! He pulled her closer and kissed her with great passion. She then suddenly broke off the kiss and started laughing. Trust Salima to always find something to laugh at. Wait! Wasn’t he supposed to be falling? He looked down and gulped for air. He was standing on thin air.

“Salima,” he began, “are you real? Is any of these real?” He questioned, knowing the answer within him.

“No Drazen. I am dead and you know it.” She announced struggling to hide the twinkle in her face.

Of course she was dead. That was what everyone thought. Everyone but him. He looked at her and smiled. He had always been the taller and stronger one. But Salima had always been the wiser. He pulled her close eager to be lost in the warmth and comfort of her embrace. Salima only smiled.

“I’ve missed you,” He murmured as he drew her closer.

“Well, your men are going to be missing you very soon.” Came the reply.

“Let them miss me. I don’t care. You are all I ever wanted. You know I would give all of the world just to spend one more day with you”

“Awww…. my sweet Drazen. Have I ever left you? I am always with you and you know it. Right now, your men need you. Your king needs you. You are Captain of the First Guard and heir to the High Commander. The kingdom needs you.”

He slowly released her to stare at her face. He made to take off the hood and then felt the texture. It was his robe. The robe she was wearing the day she drank the poison. Tears began to well up in his eyes. He tried to push them away as he took off the hood and stared at her face lighted by the bright moonlight. He saw her young small face and long brown hair packed at the back. He pushed down the rest of the robe and starred at her beauty wrapped in a black shining gown. He was in love all over again.

Salima back dress shimmered in the moonlight as she made to cup the back of her neck.

“Your men need you, Drazen.” She muttered as she drew him closer and laid her head on his chest. She suddenly began to draw back and Drazan caught her right hand. He held on to her wrist while he drew her closer again. Salima sighed. She listened to his throbbing heart and knew she had to make him leave her. She then produced his bloodsword in her left hand. Drazen had forgotten about the sword. She pushed him away and dropped the sword. Drazen followed the sword with his eye until it landed beside his sleeping body.

He looked on as a woman walked to his side with a short dagger in his hand. She was about to stab him in the chest when he woke up with a start. He immediately reached for his bloodsword and rolled over. “I’m awake. I’m awake.” Grindr announced as he jerked and raised his head. He turned to see Drazen standing beside him with his drawn sword. Instinctively, he drew his sword. His other men awoken by the noise woke up and drew their swords too.

“Every man on me,” Drazen commanded as he scanned around for the woman. Instead he heard Jule, one of his men, scream as he fell down. Everyone turned around but they could only see Jule with his sword arm served from his body. Fear gripped Grindr who then tried to run. He was stabbed and fell down with a large report. No one saw who stabbed him or the weapon that was used.

“You trust too much in your eyes, Drazen. Listen to your heart. An angry mother doesn’t whisper.” It made sense. The girl he had killed earlier was the daughter of the woman who wanted to kill him. Drazen closed his eyes and tried to meditate. It was then he heard the loud beating heart of the woman. She had turned invisible but he could sense still sense the hate.

He slowly stepped away his men, hoping to bring the fight to himself. Suddenly, he slashed to his right and his men heard a shriek. He had struck the woman. Drazen could sense the growing anger and tried to steady himself. Suddenly he heard Bonzo attack from behind. Drazen dodged as Bonzo’s sword squished over his head. Bonzo was possessed. It was only a matter of time before Das was possessed too. Due to Salima’s constant presence, no spirit could possess his mind but his men didn’t have that protection.

Bonzo parried as Drazen lunged and the fight began. Das watched, trying to understand what was going on. Why was Drazen attacking Bonzo? Had he really gone mad? Since Salima’s death he had heard rumours of how Drazen heard voices in his head. Das steadied himself as he watched the skilled Drazen fight against the huge Bonzo.

Drazen’s patience was growing thin. Salima had told him that the only way to prevent Das from being possessed was to make it seem like Bonzo stood a chance against him. Bonzo was called the beast for his huge style and aggressive fighting style; but even the beast was no match for Drazen who had being learning swordsmanship since he was five in his father’s castle.

At Salima’s prompt, Drazen immediately made a strike at Das. It was so sudden and swift that Das didn’t expect it. He closed his eyes and expected the worst. He than began to wonder who had screeched so loudly. He opened his eyes to see a woman laying at his feet. Instantly, he felt compelled to attack Drazen. A quick thrust of Drazen’s sword into the woman’s heart ended the urge at once.

Drazen looked up at Das and turned away. He dragged himself to a tree stumped and slowly fell into Salima’s waiting arms.

This is my entry for The Fresh 5 Second Writing Prompt Challenge by @mikepm74. The picture is provided courtesy of @katalinaooma

I've written about Error Nemore, Drazen, Salima and Bonzo. You can check out the stories too.

Error Nemore (Original Short Story)

The Writing On The Wall (Original Epic Story)

Thanks for reading

Blessings