All Things Are Dead

[Beardicuss 487]

 

All Things Are Dead

 

Konrad laid upon the hard wood of the bench the wounds from his dance of ash and blood still fresh. His face was covered in bruises, deep cuts and even a crooked nose. Then a little bird flew through the open gapes in the fortress dropping a letter upon his sore body

 

“Whats this?”
 

Konrad stood up groaning as he did and tore the letter open and read what was waiting for him inside. 

 

He dropped the letter and it fluttered to the ground his mind raced.

 

First denial: could not happen, it could not be true.

 

Second regret: years lost in his own stupidity warded away in Alduun half a decade without seeing, without talking to her. Too great was his foolish pride and shame he could not even pick up a pen to write to her. But slowly the truth came to settle over him.

 

His mother was dead

 

====================

A few days later…

 

 

 

Konrad walked down the wide and winding streets of Petra. Purpose drove a rite for his mother given to him by one he considered both mentor and friend and done with the hope it might help his grief. A rite of cycles and what came next. But first an offering: a branch from the lands his mother knew and he knew just the tree to cut for this branch. 

 

Eventually the stone roads of Petra filled with noise and and steps of people ended, replaced with a quiet corner of nature in the city of man. The song birds in the air and the rush of wind upon his skin Konrad made his way to the sacred tree of silver bark and red leaf: The Aldtree. 

 

 

“I need aid in cutting a branch from the tree”

Konrad spoke to his cousin. In truth he did not need it but wanted company as he finished this task

 

 

His Aunt Maettee protested he knew she would but after a conversation and a promise of taking only a small twisted branch she relented allowed him to begin his task.

 

He waddled through the water as he did so he took notice of the green turtle swimming among and in between its roots chumping lazily on small fish. It reminded him for some reason of his brother but he continued on in his task.

 

 

He climbed up the ancient and well kept roots of the silver tree groaning as he took his steps upon them. As he climbed Konrad thought back to all his memories of his mother of the time when she held him as he sobbed after he had returned from the ill fated adventure to the black church how she had cooked food for him made juices for him told him stories of her brothers and their adventures and her sweet sing song voice he tried desperately to hang onto but slowly as much as he tried it began to slip away from him as it would until he could not remember even how she laughed. 

 

 

He then suddenly was brought back to reality and saw the branch he wished to pluck at the top of the tree a twisted and garbled branch with not a leaf growing on its white wood shining silver in the golden rays of GOD's light. 

 

Konrad slowly drew his axe from his waist and grabbing the twisted root drove the axe into the tree sending wooden flesh chips and sappy blood flowing downwards as he cut the branch from the tree.

 

 

Silver Branch in hand Konrad slowly descended back down the white trunk of Aldwood care to climb the same way down he came up. He did not cry yet although he deeply wanted to, he would not stain the sacred tree with his tears.

 

Now he was ready for the rite.

 

====================

 

 

 

Konrad walked through the meadows just outside of Petra the sweet song of birds filled the air but Konrad took no pleasure in their songs, not when work was still to be done. Eventually he found a small clearing in the tall grass surrounded by old mossy stone. 

 

A Perfect Spot

 

Konrad placed the silver wood branch of the Aldtree in the center of clearing and knelt before it. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath taking a moment to absorb the sensations of the world around him. Finally arms shacking he took out the two objects one of steel and one of flint and hit them together.

 

CHHHK!!!  

 

A spark of ignition hit the silver wood of the Aldtree for a moment it sat upon the wood unchanging until slowly it grew and the wood turned black. Konrad did all this in melancholic silence until the flame had consumed the wood and a small fire burned before he spoke the words he had been instructed to speak at this moment both because he was asked perhaps in the hope they would bring him any small comfort from his grief.

 

“All things are dead. And I am among them”

Then he fell before the fire and spoke in a much softer quieter voice through chockfull sobs

 

“Bye Mom”

And at last he wept

 

 

 

Spoiler

This post was done in reaction to yuiilindaos post on the death of her character vannessa please if you can check it out and give it an upvote!