Humble Beginnings

A long time ago in a world not so far from yours, there was a beautiful seemingly living Kingdom. In which was lovingly looked for and sought after by King Winthryn, his queen, and his faithful knights.

A strange visitor

One day as the sun continued to shine and the people of the Kingdom were hard at honest work. A strange, dark, robed character came walking down the cobblestone roads through the farmlands, across the drawbridge, through the merchants district, down and around the courtyards, all the way up to the Kings hall.

Winthryns guards let the shady character through the doors, not because they were dull, but because at the time, the stranger disguised himself as the Kings son, Prince Gandran. Who were they to defy a prince?

Time to act

With the Words of the sorcerer echoing in King Winthryns mind. He felt sick and confused. It has been 1 month since the sorcerer showed up and prophesied his dark intentions. King Winthryn has stopped sending knights to the sharp mountains to take care of his burden, for they never return. His people have left and his beloved wife is crumbling, just like his once beautiful kingdom.

King Winthryn, now barely a King at all, but still a King, who has a colossal amount of heart, but not the mettle of a hero. Winthryn ponders with tears in his eyes and a shallow feeling in his gut, knowing what must be done... knowing he must do what the creature had asked of him. Winthryn has his son, Gandran, fashion him in his finest armour. With true courage and a clear mind, Winthryn gives his beloved, a kiss goodbye, hugs his children, and bids his remaining faithful knights farewell. Not knowing what will become of this endeavor, it may be the last time he rides through the courtyards and streets of his Kingdom. Still, he rides away, visor down, sword in scabbard.

The Encounter

After 3 weeks of traveling through the dark forest known to King Winthryns land, and crossing over countless peaks of the sharp mountains. King Winthryn finds hope in himself and his Kingdom. However, Winthryn also finds the moist stone step to the Sorcerers crypts. As he steps forward he can hear unsettling angry whispers.

As Winthryn proceeds through the stone torch lit entrance of the mountain caverns, he still hears the whispers in which are getting more and more clear.

Our Kings hand is shaking, and Winthryn grips his sword tightly for that is what will keep him alive, that and his own skill. King Winthryn walks down the dark, torch-lit hallways, until he finds a big open cathedral that is covered in candles, and decorated with his knights lifeless bodies and their blood.

He steps in, knowing there is no turning back. Him failing and dying... was the thought he had in his head when he left the safety of his castle. He hears the whispers clearly now, for they are coming from the other side of the dark room.

In a sickly, deep, groan like voice he hears.

"You are no King...Too many leaves have fallen since we last talked...I presented myself to you, and you took it as jest...you even sent others to do the task...You have failed...You have failed...You have failed everything you love...therefore...you will die."

Winthryn, shaking, has dropped his sword in the darkness. Winthryn grabs a stone in which he finds on the ground. "I will Not be afraid anymore foul beast, you have caused much harm to my people, my wife, my kingdom...I cant see you, the struggle will make me stronger eh?! You are but nothing, If I die here I want to die a King that gave it his all! I want to die in a way in which will send shivers down the spines of my comrades! I am strong! I have the heart to carry through, even if you do intend to kill me! You have brought struggle upon me and my land...and I AM HERE TO SHOW YOU STRENGTH!! Winthryn throws the medium sized stone as hard as he can towards the glowing eyes of the beast shrouded in darkness.

The beast laughs and applauds. For the stone did nothing.

The room grows with energy however, a similar but different, a more calming, assuring whisper echoes off the caverns walls. As a blue dim light starts to makes the ground visible. Winthryn looks around and sees that his sword has changed and is glowing. Winthryn dashes to it and grips it tightly with both hands, still meaning everything he had said...his mindset changed. For the first time in his life, Winthryn is in a trance of bloodlust. Ready to tear this sorcerer beast apart as it had his kingdom, his knights, and his honor.

The final battle

The sword in which he holds, tells him, "King of these lands.. the rightful King. You have stricken the beast, you have showed that you are not afraid to engage your problems, be it combat with a horrible beast, travel by yourself through uncharted lands...or by the quill. You are chivalrous Sir King Knight, you will walk among the greats in the cloud Kingdom. You have only but one more task, and that is to slay this beast which has poisoned your lands with its ill magic."

With those words, Winthryn gained much confidence and strength.

Winthryn noticed that the beast had in fact whimmed its magic an transformed itself to an even bigger form whilst in the darkness, and seemed as if it had the strength of 30 men.

Even though Winthryn sensed great danger in every fiber of his being, his emotions and creeds he made to himself would not allow his willpower nor might falter.

As the beast then came charging in from a furious stance, the hero dodged and swung his sword into the creatures leg. The creature screamed in pain for the wound was deep. Livid and absolutely blood crazed, and with a smile the beast smacked the hero into the wall the only thing holding him together was his armour.

The hero rolled toward the beast as the creature sprang forward, with claws unhinged and hands open, ready to grab whatever it could to rip off. However the hero rolled under the creatures grasp, and in this moment, this sacred moment, ...Our Winthryn, the King of these lands, felt his blessed blue sword slide into the flesh of the sorcerer and pierce his heart.

With a piercing, echoing, ear numbing shreak.

The beast fell to the floor shrinking down into robes once again. Winthryn rolled the heathen over with his foot to see his face.

It was but a man, a very old, withered man. Who had nothing significant to say in his time of demise or passing. He only but raised his hand towards Winthryn and smiled, laughed one last hardy laugh, and perished.

Winthryn felt a terrible pain within his chest and his heart grew heavy, he fell to the ground and layed there for a while and breathed for he felt like he could finally take in full breaths. However he felt as though he had grown heavy, and it burdened his mind.

Stoneheart

When our hero awoke from the faint he took naturally after fighting the great beast. He felt as if he should investigate why his armour on his chest felt so heavy and burdensome. After unbuckling his straps and unhinging his armour, the weight he carried did not leave him.

He stripped himself of his shirt and saw that stone was growing within him and peaking out of the skin as much as his heart was large. He held his mouth for the sorcerer did one final blow that would surely end him, for who knew when his heart would fully become stone.

Winthryn our hero, felt disappointed that this was how it was going to end. Our King left the cathedral and mountain caverns and put his armour upon his horse and climbed upon the saddle.

Winthryn looking up towards the sky... Got a very disgusted feeling, a feeling of hopelessness once again, for the skies have not changed. He climbed upon the highest peak of the sharp mountains and looked down on his once grand kingdom, to see to his horror that the green and the beauty was still diseased and that the sky still spewed illness.

(As silent thoughtful moments went by..)

The sword once again spoke to him, saying "Winthryn this will not end you, for I will help you." Winthryn, shocked and happy to hear his sword speak, since it had saved his life before. Listened eagerly to hear what advice it had to offer.

"Travel further east, across this mountain, across these forsaken mountains...you will find the evershade forests you will find me there, in the heart of the forest. I shall heal you...and once your heart of stone is no longer true rock, your land may return to normal...to its normal beauty, the beauty that attracts laughs and smiles, the land you grew up to love, the land you love to nurture, the land you want to rule."

The everseer dragon

After two weeks of sheer travel and hunting, Winthryn was a weary King, ... about to drop the weight of his heart, his breaths were almost too much to continue, but he wouldn't stop for any reason. For if he stopped he wouldn't be able to rebuild what was broken nor see what he loves most, ever again.

He kept going without boredom however for the sword talked to him like a friend and kept him in good spirits and good company. He made haste towards the heart of the forest.

A couple days pass, and he feels weak. Finally, his sword stopped talking to him. Winthryn was confused for it hadn't seemed to be the heart of the forest yet, and he still needed guidance.

His heart dropped and he heard a crunch and fell off his horse in agonizing pain. His eyes started to close.. and then felt a gentle breeze, as a light blinded him so he closed his eyes and feel asleep.

He awoke in a weird fashion, with odd feelings. For he felt replenished and as though he had a feast. No longer did he feel heavy, but he felt good. He woke up with a stretched and saw his horse. Slowly he made his way to his horse until he heard a thundering voice that stopped him in has tracks giving him the urge to draw his sword.

"Winthryn you've traveled far, you've traveled long. No need for the sword, King. Sheath your weapon."

Winthryn looked up and his eyes grew as big as the eyes in which the Sorcerer beast had. For he was looking at a dragon, a big beautiful, full of legend, but now fact...dragon. A dragon, a dragon that saved our Kings life.

"I have saved you for you are worthy of being saved, you have the heart of a true king that truly loves and cares for his people, and all his loved ones, you have learned true courage on this journey making you a pinnacle of perfection my King, climb upon my back, I shall take you, your steed and all your belongings...home"

"...Its been an honor helping a true man, finish such a true and honest quest."

Winthryn hopped on the dragon's back, and the dragon grabbed the steed with his talons, and flew off.

The Kingdom, still weary and flushed out, once again had color and happiness. The soil was healthy, the flowers were tall and beautiful. Winthryns Knights were waiting for him in the streets, he gave each one a hug and assured them "I've got quite the story to tell but it must wait till evening."

When he returned to his halls, his wife was weeping in fear that her beloved King was dead. And as she saw him she started weeping even more and couldn't help but notice the blood and scars covering his body worrying her more. He ran to her embrace and his wife called to their children. Where they all wept and soaked in thankfulness for there fathers return.

In addition to him being back, and the beauty restored, the populace started to regenerate only about two weeks after he returned. Later that year in about 7 months the kingdom was fully alive once again, beautiful, it seemed as though it breathed.

Winthryn would look at the evershade forest and ponder...and just stay on constant thought about when he might get to see his scaly friend once more.

King Winthryn went on to be a great King and won many glorious battles due to his new found courage and will to fight for what is right and what will better his family and Kingdom. The Dragon, the King, his family, and the people of Winthryns Kingdom all lived in abundance and happiness till ever after ends.