Castle Walls

Once in a dream far beyond these castle walls
Down near the bay where the moonlit water falls
I stood alone while the minstrel sang his song
So afraid I'd lost my soul
There in the fog the song kept calling me
Leading me on with its plaintive melody
I knew I'd soon be wandering

Far beyond these castle walls
Where the distant harbor meets the sky
There the battle reigns like hell
And every dove has lost its will to fly

Far beyond these castle walls
Where I thought I heard Teiresias say
Life is never what it seems
And every man must meet his destiny

~Styx

The fog crept up alowly from the river, sneaking stealthy tendrils up the stone wall of my tower. I had seen the fog like that a thousand times before, and every time it brought the same sharp stab of bittersweet memory, the same ache in my heart. Once, in a dream, far beyond these castle walls, I heard a voice calling my very soul, with a compulsion I could not resist. I awoke to the faint sound of music. I arose from my bedroll and followed the silvered tones of a twelve-stringed gittern. The sound led me down near the bay, where the moonlit water falls from a shallow ledge to splash onto the beach below before completing its journey into the ocean. A man stood there, a figure of ethereal beauty in the moonlight, while tendrils of fog caressed his legs. I stood alone while the minstrel sang his song, so afraid I'd lost my soul... for this was the same calling I'd heard in my dream. There in the fog, the song kept calling me, leading me on with its plaintive melody. I followed the pull until I stood near enough to touch the minstrel, did I wish to. He was aware of my approach, but continued to weave his magic song. He was beautiful. The moon highlighted the planes of his face with a soft glow and his light tenor voice sent thrills racing along my nerves. When the song ended, he let the final chord die away into the quiet rush of the surf. Then he smiled at me.

"Perhaps the faerie folk had the right of it when they claimed my songs have power, for I wished for company as I played, and here you are."

"The faeries must have spoken truth, for I felt the call even as I lay sleeping, on yonder rise. I am Estarran, and am very pleased to meet you."

"Well met, friend Estarran," he said with a smile. "I am Pol, traveling minstrel and sometime songcrafter. Perhaps you shall be the answer to my prayers..."

He touched me then- laid a hand on my shoulder, a seemingly casual move. But I felt a jolt clear down to my boots at that contact. He felt it too, I could see it on his face. Somehow, deep inside, I knew I'd soon be wandering at the side of this minstrel, who sought in me an answer to his prayers.

"And what might it be that you are looking for?"

His smile grew and he set his gittern carefully on the sand. Then he cupped my face in both hands and kissed me.

That was one of the sweetest memories I held in my heart. Even after all these years, the memory still brought a surge of emotion. That kiss had led to more, so much more... a season of joy and happiness which knew no bounds. Pol and I were inseperable. It seemed as though indeed we had each found the answer to our prayers in the other.

But then came the disaster, the worst mistake I have ever made. Pol received a letter from his brother, calling for help in a hopeless war. I refused to go with him.

"But Estarran, you remember the place- it was where we met, where the distant harbor meets the sky. It is not a far journey, and it is my homeland. Lonus says that there the battle reigns like hell, destroying the land which gave me birth. He said that the Dark One has taken over even the Tribes, and every dove has lost the will to fly. Surely you will help us out, with all your millitary experience..."

He turned those beautiful green eyes on me then, begging me to reconsider. But I was young and foolish, and had no wish to throw away my life on a hopeless cause- not even for true love. So, far beyond these castle walls, we parted ways. I went on with my life as best I could, despite the gaping emotional wound the seperation from Pol had wrought. I even sought the advice of the Oracle, where I thought I heard Teiresias say, "Life is never what it seems... and every man must meet his destiny."

But I was a fool... I met my destiny, and I abandoned it. I should have stayed with him, should have been there at the end. I heard that the army of the Dark One eventually overran all of the smaller keeps along the west coast, including that of Pol's brother Lonus. There were no survivors- there never were, when the Dark One was involved.

So here I am, an old fool... still alive, still alone, and still seeing Pol's face in memory.