The Free Plain

Once everyone has finished eating, Lum’Valia stands and clears her throat. She gives her friends a serene smile, and she says calmly.

“Before we depart, I have a story I wish to share. I was originally only going to share this with those undergoing holy training. However, recent events lead me to believe that there would be some benefit in Maelik hearing this tale as well.”

The dragoness looks each person in the eye: Jun of the Celadine, Arya Shieldheart, Maelik The Fellblade, Doobie du Shoobie, and Jeffery. Once she is certain she has their attention, she begins to speak once again.

“I was not born a holy dragon, I was born a red dragon. In my youth I was cruel, malicious, and destructive. I roamed the countryside razing villages, slaughtering peasants, and gathering lucre to build my hoard. For centuries I was a terror until, finally, inevitably, a group of knights hunted me down. They grievously wounded me, drove me from my cave, and though I escaped I eventually collapsed in a field. At that moment I was certain I had reached my end, and I was filled with such rage and hatred for the people who had laid me low.”

Lum’s normally bright and joyful face has turned dark with her reverie. She pauses, letting her words sink in for a long moment.

“Then the farmer came to me. He was old well past his prime, living by himself. His wife was dead, his children had their own farms, all that was left was him and his dog. Had I the strength I would have killed him. Simply because he saw me in a weakened state, and this hurt my pride. I didn’t have the strength, though. I was forced to watch helplessly as he walked right up to me, there was nothing I could do. I, a mighty red dragon, was completely at the mercy of this old farmer.”

Again a pause. Lum’s face has not yet returned to its usual brightness, though she now wears a small smile.

“He tended my wounds. Not well, and not swiftly, but as best as he was able. He brought me food, as much as he could afford. He brought me water, as much as he could manage. At first I did not question his actions. It seemed natural to me, this small pathetic creature should pay me tribute. Still, I needed him to know that I would not let him live simply because he aided me. Every day I told him that when my strength returned I would devour him. Every day the old farmer would listen to my threat, smile, nod, and then tell me about his life. He told me how he met his wife, he told me how he struggled to afford his own farm, he told me of the joy he felt when he had enough money to marry, and he told me of the happiness he felt when she said yes.”

Another pause. Lum’s face shines with joy at the memories. Her smile is bright, but her eyes are glassy.

“He told of when his first child was born, of sleepless nights, of watching him grow up, of his second child, his third, eventually of his grandchildren. One day he even brought his youngest grandchild to meet me, she had bright blue eyes, golden locks, and the sweetest smile. She looked at me not with terror, but wonder! To her I was a grand secret her grandfather had shared with her, and I was beautiful. One day I surprised the old man, when he came to visit I stood up. I had recovered enough to move, and he asked me if I was finally going to eat him. I remember how calm he was, not an ounce of fear, just calm acceptance, and absolute faith. I did not eat him, I told him he was far too old and stringy. He asked if I would go to the village, eat the people there. I told him I wasn’t well enough to fight a village. He asked if I would got to his eldest son’s farm, they were nearby and would be easy prey. I told him I would not. He asked me why.”

Though Lum still smiles, tears are now rolling down her face. Her voice is now choked and coarse.

“I told him that I couldn’t eat them, because that would upset his granddaughter. The old farmer then smiled at me, and he nodded, and I left. I would return every few months to spend time with the farmer, and his granddaughter. Eventually he brought his other grandchildren, then his sons and daughters. Soon his entire family became mine, and the whole village spoke of the farmer who tamed a dragon. I had stopped preying on human settlements, instead hunting in the wilder lands. One day I returned from a hunting trip, to find the village a smoking ruin, the farms razed, and my family dead. The only survivor was the old farmer, crucified in the centre of town. He was left to die, for his hearsay, for tending to me instead of killing me.”

Lum stops then. She covers her face, and her shoulders shudder. Great wracking sobs can be heard. Eventually she lets out a few shuddering breaths, and regains her composure.

“I had never been as angry as I was then, and I had never felt as helpless. I could not save the old farmer. Back then all I knew was fire and destructive magics. I could do nothing to help him, but cut him down. He was still conscious, I told him I would avenge him, avenge everyone in the village. I would become a righteous wrath! I would rain fury, and death upon those who had done this. He told me no. I asked him why. He told me another story, one he had never told me before. He told me how his wife died, bathed in fire, while visiting her sister. Her sister who lived in a village near my lair, one I had destroyed. He told me how he found me in the field, how he knew who I was. He told me how, when he first saw me, he had been filled with such anger. He told me he had thought about killing me. He told me how he thought about driving his pitchfork into my throat. Finally he told me why he didn’t do it. He told me of his wife, how she had believed everyone deserved forgiveness, love, a chance at redemption. He spoke and I wept. I wept for him, I wept for what had happened, I wept for what I had done, I wept because for all my strength I was powerless.”

Silence, soft, quiet, serene. Lum smiles, and once again stares into the eyes of her friends one by one: Jun, Arya, Maelik, Doobie, and Jeffery.

“After that I trained, I wanted to learn how to heal. I traveled the land learning all I could of light magics. When that proved insufficient, I learned holy magics. Even holy magics were not enough, so I took the pilgrimage I am about to take Jun and Arya on. I mastered holy magic, I conquered my inner demons, and I was reborn. I was as you see me now, a holy dragon.”

Lum sits once again. She is emotionally drained, it was a hard story for her to tell. Still she hoped those gathered gained something from it.