The Flames of Life (Arthur)

[Selena Fireheart]

Each of us is given a destiny that we cannot forget. In this world of myth, magic and wonder fate and destiny are the most important part of our lives. But fate can also be cruel to even the purest of heart, somewhere deep within our worlds lies the fate of one young girl who had been a cruel past but has found a hopeful future. For her entire life Selena Fireheart lived a normal life but even that was a lie, for eighteen years Selena had lived in the city of Southaven under the evil eye of her father and watched over by her brother.

For eighteen years Selena faced many challenges. And each time she succeeded in life, from the vicious beatings from her father to the hard training sessions with her brother to finally facing and killing her father who had become a man who thirsted for power. Southaven had become a slightly safer place now that Zerion was dead. But it came with a heavy price; Selena's only friend and dear brother died that very day. Now she was alone and the only surviving family member of the Firehearts, or so she thought.

After narrowly escaping D'Harran soldiers Selena had to face one last test. The former Mother Confessor Serena hid a terrible but yet hopeful secret; the Fireheart family was not her real family. Serena revealed to her that in fact she was born in Stowecroft. And that she had a sister who was serving someone called The "Seeker". From then onwards Selena knew the truth about herself and even though the past had changed her she silently vowed to find her sister Cara reunite the family once more.

Now this is her story about her journey to find a sister she knew met. And now the wheels of fate turn once more, the flames of life burns forever in her heart.

Nature continued to show the human eye just how beautiful it truly was. The trees and flowers revealed their full glory as if a rainbow of colours littered the grasslands. However the tree themselves revealed its yellow and orange coloured leaves. The sky was like an ocean gently guiding the white clouds just like ships trying to cross its majestic beauty, the wildlife was a happy and care free as the wind. All was just as quiet as a trickling lake, but a sound disturbed the gentle peace that nature had offered to anyone within its eternal serene beauty. Footsteps trotted a peaceful pathway that stretched out across the distant lands of although it was dusty, covered with weeds and old it was still used by different travellers, today a single traveller traversed its direction while keeping the path company with the sound of footsteps.

However footsteps weren’t the only ones to trodd across the peaceful path. The sound of hoofs were also heard as it gently walked beside the sound of footsteps, travelling across Natures beautiful creations was a young girl and a beautiful pale white stallion. The girl had black hair, which shone with health due to the power of the ever-bright sun; her eyes were a sea blue colour that was of the sky itself. The garments the girl wore were black soft trousers, chocolate brown coloured soft boots, and a silver shiny tunic. A weapons belt that held the scabbard of her sword that beside her waist and finally an over her tunics she wore a long very light green coloured robe that went down below her knees.

The robe itself looked like a long but large shawl. But it had arm sleeves; it also had a large hood that stood in the middle of the robe like shawl. Just beside her waist was a bronzed scabbard, which held the blade of her sword, her wrists, was covered in steel silver coloured vambraces. Walking beside her was the pure white stallion, which was carrying a saddle, and saddlebags containing much needed supplies and amongst other things to help her on the journey to find her long lost sister Cara.

Guiding her stallion by pulling the reigns gently Selena slowly marched eastwards across the wilderness. Her mind was focused on the words that were given to her by the Confessor Serena, Cara was her sister. Selena was determined then ever to face all challenges until the day she meets her sister face to face, thanks to Serena she was given one clue as to find her long lost sister Cara and that was the Seeker. On her travels she was given a some information to meet someone nearby who could help her find the Seeker and Cara, it sounded like a trap but Selena was trained well by her brother.

Taking a few steps forwards Selena stood still in her tracks. Quietly taking the reigns she gently tied it to a nearby tree and slowly headed by herself towards the destination which was literally in the middle of a large part of the wilderness. Standing in the very spot the young one looked at her surroundings and patiently awaited the informant, but soon her eyes began to narrow as the informant appeared with a handful of D'Harran soldiers.

With one single word the soldiers surrounded Selena in a circle. The informant ran away with a handful of coins leaving Selena high and dry, the soldiers laughed in amusement. Although the situation looked dire the younger sister to the Mord-Sith Cara remained as calm as a tiny lake and pointed her eyes towards the soldiers. Using her training Selena stood really still and look northwards towards what appeared to be the leader of the D'Harran soldiers who had surrounded the young Selena, the leader stepped forward and said" So your the one that killed Zerion! You will pay for disrespecting Lord Rahl!”

With a sigh Selena replied" Stand aside! I have no quarrel with you!". Two soldiers stepped forward and grabbed Selena's arms; the leader stepped forward and literally punched Selena in the face, the soldiers holding Selena's arms grinned in sure delight. Despite the leader of the soldiers enjoying throwing a punch to Selena's face his face turned from a smile to a surprised look as Selena moved her head back to look at the leader with a look that could kill.

The punch did its target but Selena took more vicious beatings then that. A punch simply reminded her about Zerion as he did this many times and some kicks that added to her beatings, a normal girl would have ever be knocked out or stand there crying in fear. But Selena was the sister of Cara and because of her horrible past she became a strong willed woman who never gave up, shaking her head she said in total focus" Don't say I didn't warn you!". With that said she threw her head against the leaders issuing a head butt to his face, then she threw her feet into the two feet of the soldiers that was holding her arms.

While the soldiers cried out in pain Selena thrusted both her elbows into the two soldier’s stomachs. Then she grabbed both of their helmets and slammed them together knocking them both out in an instant; the leader gritted his teeth and withdrew his sword. Without showing fear Selena slowly grabbed the hilt of her sword and withdrew it from its scabbard, the blade of her sword shone brightly in the sun and held it closely near her. The remaining soldiers circled her once again, only this time the leader clashed swords with Selena while the soldiers watched and cheered on their captain.

[Arthur Mandragon]

Arthur looked through the woods warily searching for any possible threat. Though he doubted there was one since the war had ended. Still one could never be to over cautious. It was how Arthur had stayed alive as long as he had. Plus with the veil to the underworld torn one might never know when bane lings would pop up.

Arthur slipped a hand to his sword feeling its reassuring wieght on his side. He always felt safer with a weapon it was a safety policy for him. He sighed maybe he was being a bit paranoid but it didn’t matter Arthur knew the dangers of life at least he knew them better than most. The scar on his chest made sure of that.

Arthur moved his horse into a faster trot thinking he would probably feel better once he was out of the forest which might be unlikely as he was cautious everywhere. His dragon like blue eyes scanned ahead trying not to over look anything and he sniffed the air to try and catch a scent of possible danger. It turned out no good he was upwind of any danger it seemed.

Arthur finally stopped to rest his horse after awhile by a brook to let it drink. Arthur got down from his horse and filled his water skin and looked at himself in pool of clear water. A man in his late twenties looked back but the face was a lot harder than most men his age, draconic like eyes also looked back. Probably the only thing that seemed non-human about him.

He was rugged and handsome looking with chainmail and leather armor protecting him and he was powerfully built a man bigger than most. As he was finishing with his other skin he caught the scent of soldiers. He looked up knowing them to be a good distance away but still he would try and avoid them. He however noticed another scent it was a woman but not the usual type. It was not as powerful as he could what but he knew she was heading directly toward the soldiers.

It wasn't really any concern of his happened but his conscience would not let him not check it out. He got upon his horse and galloped following the scent and finally he found what looked to be a pitched battle between a woman and to his disgust D’Haran soldiers.

Arthur got down off his horse and drew his sword the soldiers the woman not aware of him yet. He finally came up to them and the D’Haran saw him and Arthur said," Now boys you should know better than to treat a lady this way". All eyes turned to him and Arthur only smiled a deadly but enigmatic smile. The D’Haran captain said," This is none of your concern boy. I suggest you move along".

Arthur flourished his sword showing his expert skill and prowess in that simple motion and he said," I think not, better for you to surrender right now while you still have your live". The D'harans only jeered at the thought and some started coming toward him and Arthur said," It’s your funeral". He honed down his sword and said," Dance with me Death I am ready". With that Arthur swung into action cutting down two D’Haran soldiers with effortless ease. However their surprise did not last long as more started to concentrate on him than the woman.

HE only smiled relishing the fight and his sword was a blur as he cut into all the D'harans with a master’s grace and skill.

[Selena Fireheart]

The clashing of steel Vs steel echoed as blades of good and evil struck against each other. Each blade revealed its craftsmanship to the other like two kids arguing to see which one was the best; the hands of both soldier and fighter clenched the hilts tightly in their hands. Until finally the swords clashed against each other in a deadlock, each side pushed with all their might. But soon the pure hearted Selena pushed her arm upwards forcing the blades up towards the heavens, then with one last push she forced her opponent's blade away from herself and then aimed one stiff kick towards the section between the opponent’s legs.

The soldier she clashed swords with gasped in pain held that area with his hands. Clenching her available hand as tight as she could Selena pushed her hand forwards and used a left hook punch as hard as could that twirled the soldier around so that his back was facing her. As he stood facing the others Fireheart threw her foot into the muscle area of the soldiers leg forcing him down on both knees. Gritting her teeth in anger Selena reached to grab the top of the soldier’s head then placed one hand on his chin. Then putting her muscles to the test Selena then twisted the head of the Soldier to the point where his neck was twisted and broken for an instant kill.

Having a twisted neck the soldier fell to the ground face first. The other soldiers were shocked as a young girl had fought her own battle against a top D'Harran soldier and then killed him just by using her hands! Blood seeped out of his mouth in a small trickle like motion. Although it was an instant kill Selena was used to killing since she killed her own adopted father, it may have sounded troubling but Zerion did serve Darken Rahl and now his spirit was in the Underworld. Turning to face the remaining soldiers the young woman held her sword close to her and stood still looking focused as ever, but the chessboard of destiny was being played.

As she stood silently before the other remaining D'Harran soldiers she soon noticed something was wrong. It seemed that they were focused on someone that had entered the fray, she watched the stranger and the soldiers like a hawk gazing down at its prey. She wondered if he was just a guy who would show off in front of a woman like herself, but actions spoke louder then words as Selena watched the stranger easily dispatch the other D'Harran soldiers. Whoever he was he was pretty good with a blade as its razor sharp length sliced threw the soldiers armour like butter, luckily she noticed that the stranger was also wearing armour but it didn't match the design of the D'Harran soldiers.

Each one fell in a sickening like motion and every single one of them uttered out a gasp in pain. Pretty quickly they fell to stranger’s blade like dominoes and the battle had come to a rather messy end, she was surprised by the strangers art in using a sword but Selena did hold back against the enemy. It made her realise that she had forgot something important that her brother had told her, when fighting D'Harran's soldiers never show mercy". Luckily she redeemed herself by snapping the neck of the person that she was fighting with.

Despite the battle being over Selena wondered if the D'Harran's had some kind of hidden archers around. So she stood still and used her eyes and ears to listen to the battle field around them, but luckily her sea blue like eyes and her hearing couldn't hear anyone else except for the stranger and her own breathing. She felt glad that the battle was over and luckily the soldiers were dead and couldn't report back to their superiors. While holding the brown covered hilt of her sword Selena swiftly placed the blade into the tiny slot of her scabbard and pushed forwards forcing the blade to be covered up by the safety of the bronze wooden scabbard.

Taking a punch would have made anyone’s face hurt. But for Selena she was used it and once again regained her composure while strengthening her courage and determination, she even brushed herself down and pulled her robe like shawl tighter around herself. With a sigh she scanned the area of the dead bodies and then pointed her eyes towards the stranger, she didn't know what to think about him. But like all strangers she couldn't trust him, still he did deserve some kind of gratitude for helping her when he could of just rode off towards his destination.

Turning towards her white stallion Selena marched southwards towards him. The beautiful snow white coloured Stallion gently snorted as Selena stood before him and gently untied the reigns, then grabbing the reigns with her left she guided her horse northwards and walked beside him while heading to the stranger. Looking into his eyes with a look of respect she said in total focus"Thanks for the assistance stranger I appreciate your help". She said with a gentle nod of approval, it was only the second time seeing and meeting someone with a good heart, it seemed to be rare these days to meet such good people.

It was also the first time both Selena and the stranger had met. But what she didn't know was the fact that they both shared something in common, while making sure her horse was nice and calm she gently have him a nice pat on his broad neck and patiently awaited the strangers reply.

[Arthur Mandragon]

Arthur was lost in the motion of his fight. For him there was no other than his blade and his opponent. It was his life or theirs. Nothing else mattered to him. This was the thing Arthur lived for. Conflict, warfare, blood, death were things he learned from the cradle. There was no other life for him than that of the sword. That was the way of the dragon men to fight to the last man and to spit in the Keepers eye when the end of the world came as it one day would.

Arthur was the strongest of his people now. He wasn't always so but with the war with D'hara he now was. His people had all but been destroyed there no more than 300 legt where once there had been thousands. That din't matter to Arthur now though. He would go back only after he had defeated the seeker. Finally the short battle ended and his opponents were dead. The girl lived for he could hear her breathing.

He had saved her fighting these D'harans had just been a bonus. He took his sword and wiped it on one of the D'harans long cloaks to get the blood off. He little attention to the girl as he stepped over each man closing their eyes. After that was done Arthur knelt and said," May you shelter in th palm of the Creator and may the warm embrace of the mother welcome you home". It was an old battle prayer he muttered. His people belive that all men came from the earth and should be returned to it when they died. They called the earth The Mother.

Finally the girl approached him with her horse and spoke. He looked at her. SHe was pretty and he could tell she was used to fending for herself. The way she walked he knew she knew how to use a sword. How good she was he could not tell but she had at least killed her opponents. Arthur then said," A pleasure mam, killing the D'harans was a bonus. To many of them still alive for my taste though some were better than others in the war."

He then sheathed his sword and held out his hand and said," Arthur Mandragon, blademaster, and former resitance fighter thanks to the Seeker".

[Selena Fireheart]

To Selena it seemed that Arthur was a man of honour and respect. He had even respect for the fallen D'Harran soldiers, it was rare seeing someone with a good heart in a world filled with magic, monsters and evil. While Arthur paid tribute to those that fallen in battle the young Selena quietly sighed and watched him silently, as she watched like a hawk a memory appeared in her mind like a bronze wooden chest being opened. The memory of a few days ago when her brother was dying in her hands, although she was not related to him by blood he was in fact related to Selena by their hearts, she remembered kneeling down before him with her side covered in blood from a sword wound.

Luckily the wound was not too serious but it began to really hurt. But she didn’t care as long as she was there to be with her brother while he was dying, as his spirit was slowly being taken away into the Underworld he spoke his last words and said"The Flames of Life burns forever in your heart". It was then that he left that world and died in her arms, at that time she didn't know what her brother had meant. But now she understood his last words. Her brother basically told her to live her own life and forge her own path but at the same time never forget the training she was given and fight for those she believes in with all her heart.

The final memory was of her burying her brother in his favourite spot within the woods, while silently showing her respect for her beloved brother. With the memory slowly passing from her mind she once again focused on the stranger who had paid his respect to the dead D'Harran soldiers, when he spoke about the D'Harran's she silently agreed with them. These soldiers that once served Lord Darken Rahl were merciless and cruel, they would even punch women and butcher women and even children all in the name of their lord, but something was wrong.

Why were there D’Harran soldiers in the wilds? And what did the soldier mean by disrespecting their lord, wasn't Darken Rahl killed by the Seeker? Selena decided that she needed to find her sister fast and learn what was truly happening. While the stranger revealed himself as Arthur Mandragon she could understand why his skill with a blade was truly a sight to behold. He was in fact a sword master and was once a resistance fighter, as held out his hand in friendship Selena looked down at his hand.

As she looked at Arthur’s hand Selena did owe him a great debt. He did come to her rescue even though she didn't need it, and somehow she'd had to trust someone in her life. By following her instincts and heart Selena nodded and gently pushed her arm forwards and placed her hand into his and replied" Selena, Adventurer". It felt strange shaking the one of a person she hardly knew, after all the only person she trusted in eighteen years was her brother but he is dead. But perhaps Arthur might know something about the Seeker, if she finds him then she finds Cara her sister.

While gently rubbing the horses nose giving it some encouragement she said" So what brings you here to the Wilds Arthur?"

[Arthur Mandragon]

Arthur wondered what she thought of his little display of respect to the D'harans. Most would complain not that Arthur cared. He respected his enemies and he could kill them with respect. Everybody deserved a quick death though some did not always get it. Arthur only hoped for one himself someday. He hoped that day was a long time away.

Still he was surprised she mad no comment about what he had done so he guessed she was okay with it. A strange woman then again could she possibly has done the same thing. She took his hand and spoke her name. He looked at her and doubted the last part of her name was real. An alias perhaps though there had been no hesitation in ver. voice when she used it so maybe he was wrong. Yet Arthur felt something was off with it Adventurer was no real last name.

He said," A pleasure mam". He wondered what a lone woman was doing in the wilds. She must be incredibly brave or incredibly stupid. It was more than likely the former for he could see intelligence in her eyes. She then asked what he was doing here and Arthur said," I was born here is one reason. Seeing my home again. Another reason is that I am tracking the Seeker. Hes four days ahead of me but I am gaining if rather slowly he is rather good at covering his tracks". IT was true but one thing he could not mask was smell and he could smell where the Seeker had been. He had a distinctive smell that Arthur could easily track.

[Selena Fireheart]

Luck had taken its first steps towards Selena's destiny. It seemed that Arthur was home among the Wilds but it seemed he was also searching for the Seeker. But she find the news abit disturbing since the Seekers tracks were well hidden, despite this news not all was lost. Arthur seemed to know how to follow the tracks with ease, and since he told her why he was in the Wilds Selena decided to reveal her reason why someone as young as her was travelling alone on a dangerous journey. Building up the confidence within her soul she explained her reason why she was in the Wilds" I am also searching for the Seeker. But it is not him whom I am searching for, The Seeker travels with someone that I must meet".

Although she spoke in honesty about her journey she didn't completely reveal why she wanted to find the Seeker. For many years her brother taught Selena everything he knew about fighting and how to use a sword, but not only did he teach her how to act but taught her how to use her mind as well. An idea appeared in Selena's mind; it seemed that they did in fact share something in common even though it was the first time they had met each other.

Arthur was searching for the Seeker and so was Selena but for personal reasons. Arthur's reason seemed to be unknown to her but since the Wilds was a dangerous place she figured that she and Arthur would travel together hence the phrase "Two heads are better then one". Knowing what to do Selena decided to propose her idea to Arthur and wondered what the blademaster would say, looking towards Arthur she said" It seems we are both searching for the Seeker. May I suggest we travel together? That way we both can help each other until we find the Seeker". It was going to be hard for Selena to trust another person since her not pleasing past but for her sister’s sake she was going to try.