Eternity - 26/02/2011

In a secluded valley that's hidden between enormous mountains and an innumerable amount of coniferous trees sits a small glade. The setting sun, undisturbed by the thin clouds hanging over the sky, cast an orange, almost purple luminescent haze across the weeds and wild flowers. At the western edge of the glade, one could see the sight of those same beautiful colours touch at the undergrowth, dancing as the wind swept through the trees. At the eastern edge, the moon was stealing away the sunset. It's sharp, white light was falling upon the dew covered grass and frosted leaves, setting apart one long blade from another, producing thousands of tiny shining fragments. If one concentrated they would be able to make out movements upon those fragments, which are, without a shadow of a doubt, the animals of the day scurrying to their homes for safety. The nocturnal creatures would be rising from their slumber at the same time, in hopes of catching the former off guard and earning an early meal, or perhaps to quickly bask in the final rays of the sunset before they continue on to do the same in the low intensity of Luna.* In the stillness of the glade, in this moment of wondrous beauty, a moment time itself wished it could stop, a burst of light tore open the sky creating a thunderous roar that echoed for miles in the mountainous valley, causing the wildlife to flee the vicinity. From the torn open sky in which one could only see a vast, lonely, colourless emptiness, a small gleam of light shone through. The light and tear seemed to battle with the very nature of the glade itself. Though one could not see it, one could both hear and feel the earth below the tear groan, scream and writhe in agony. Many hours passed and the battle between the two forces eventually faded to an end, the tear and blinding light coming out victorious. Slowly, the light began to escape from the tear, carrying with it an object that glinted in both the sunset and moonlight. The object was encased in a perfect sphere which was filled with water. The water was raging violently inside, creating hundreds of shining ripples along the sphere's surface. As it's entire form moved out from the dark unknown emptiness, the tear quickly closed, leaving the sphere hanging above the glade. Seconds later, the sphere burst, sending water in all directions and revealing the object inside. If you looked at it, into the setting sun, you would see a sword that could easily contest those in a kings personal armory. It's hilt was a skeletal hand that protruded from the guard, as if it were waiting to shake with another. The blade was shining and glowing in the light, producing vibrant and warm hues of purple, green and blue, however; if one looked at the blade into the moonlight, the sight was very different. The sword didn't glow, instead a violet smoke flowed from the blade and hilt. In the moonlight, one could see the true colour of the blade's metal (as the overpowering hues masked it in the sunlight), it was darker than the night itself and gave off that same eternal emptiness as the recent tear in the sky. The sword was still hanging there above the glade, as if deciding if it's location was ripe, and then, suddenly and beyond doubt, it had made it's decision and plunged into the ground. As it came to a stop the ground around it began to rot, or perhaps age at an incredible pace. The corruption began taking over the glade, the weeds dried, flowers wilted and the grass seemed to shatter into millions of pieces. Everything was turning a pale grey colour, as if afflicted by disease, however; it seemed the glade had one last trick up it's sleeve. The screams of a female echoed across the valley and the glade began to revive itself, setting upon the sword with the ferocity of a mother avenging her fallen child. As the glade's nature quickly encroached upon the blade and finally reached it, vines grew up from the ground and forced the guard into the earth so that only the skeletal hand was left visible. It had not been seen by an animal, not a single being but one; and she was there, seen yet unseen, sleeping but always watching. And there the sword was, defeated by the power of nature, and there it would sleep with it's guardian for ten thousand years.



*Luna is the name given to the moon by the Romans and is the name I will be using throughout the story. The Greeks call it Artemis or Selene.

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I am writing this to improve my literary and story-telling skills as well as enrich my vocabulary. Criticism is welcome in any form, however; do not expect me to take you seriously if you do not reply seriously. I hoped you enjoyed reading the prelude, this is my first contribution to the writing section and you can expect more in the future. This work is under public domain, feel free to use it in any way you please, you do not have to give me credit, though it is appreciated.