THE REAL LIVEJOURNAL IDOL SEASON 10, WEEK 2: "That One Friend"
OLD FRIEND / NEW FRIEND
(The following story is part of a saga I've been developing since childhood set in a swords-and-sorcery world. While I have written stories involving these characters before, reading them should not be necessary to appreciate the following tale.)
Corey frowned deeply as Jonathan prepared to enter the tomb. “I still think I should come with you.”
Jon sighed and slowly shook his head. “How many times are we going to have this same argument? You were the one who did the research and discovered the warning. Do you think my interpretation of that warning is wrong?”
Corey pondered the point yet again. “Well, no... but you haven't convinced me that the sword won't consider you to be a stranger!”
Jon nodded once. “Maybe it will consider me a stranger. That's why I want you to stay out here.”
Corey practically screamed his response: “BUT IF I WENT WITH YOU I MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP IF IT TURNED AGAINST YOU!”
Jon looked Corey straight in the eyes. “Do you honestly think you'd have a chance fighting against something that was created by Fate Herself?” Jon reached over and put his hand on his friend's shoulder. “If I'm wrong, then I will die for my folly. I can accept that... but if that happens there's no reason for you to die here tonight as well.”
“But--”
Jon was adamant. “Corey, you once saved my life. If I'm wrong about the sword, then allow me to return the favor in this fashion. Please?”
Corey stared at his friend, blinking back tears for several seconds before finally saying in a quavering voice: “I still don't like it... but I'll do as you ask.”
Jon exhaled slowly in relief. “Thank you. I shouldn't be that long, but if I'm not back by dawn don't come looking for me; just move on and keep yourself alive. Promise me you'll do that.”
Corey nodded nervously. “I... I promise.”
Jon smiled, and the two young men hugged briefly before Jon turned and began walking towards the tomb's entrance. The moment Jon was out of hearing range, Corey whispered to himself the single thought that was running through his mind: “You'll be back. You just have to come back...”
Jon mentally steeled himself as he approached the entrance of the family crypt of the Bladesedge Clan. He was far from certain about whether he was going to leave this tomb alive... but he seemed to have no alternative: Jon and Corey had been instrumental in the success of the siege upon Sireson's Keep the previous year... and the remnants of Lord Sireson's army were now pursuing the two young men relentlessly. If the pair of them were to have any chance of survival, they were going to need the most powerful weapons they could lay their hands on... and in Jon's case that meant retrieving the sword known as The Founder's Will.
Jon still didn't know why his father had left the Bladesedge clan to become a simple farmer nor why he had kept his origins a secret, but Jon no longer had any doubt that his father had been a member of that prestigious warrior family. The previous year, Corey had researched the symbol on the signet ring that Jon's father had given him just prior to the massacre that had left Jon an orphan... and since that revelation Jon had met several people who had personally known other members of the clan, and all of them had noted how much he resembled other Bladesedges they had known. If there had been another Bladesedge left alive, Jon would have sought them out... but all of the other Bladesedges had apparently been killed in The Eastern Incursion, the so-called “Useless War” which had occurred about the time that Jon had been born... which meant that Jon was the last surviving member of the Bladesedge clan, the so-called servants of Fate.
Jon hoped that would be sufficient reason for The Founder's Will to accept him.
According to legend, the longsword known as The Founder's Will had been created by The Lady Fate to assist the Bladesedge clan. Traditionally wielded by the clan patriarch, it was frequently described as “the most potent weapon imaginable”. Admittedly, Corey's research revealed little additional information about the weapon's capabilities, though there was one recurring warning in the legends: “The Founder's Will doesn't like strangers.” After some thought, Jon concluded this meant that the weapon would never allow itself to be wielded by anyone who was not a member of The Bladesedge Clan... which would explain why the sword had been buried with the last known member of the clan after he had fallen in combat. And now, Jon was going to enter that tomb to retrieve the sword... in the hope that the weapon would consider his lineage sufficient reason to allow him to wield it.
Admittedly, Jon had never laid eyes on the weapon before this day, so it was entirely possible that the sword would still consider Jon to be a 'stranger', but due to his bloodline he figured he had a chance. And as much as he would have liked to have Corey by his side at this moment, deep in his heart Jon truly believed that his best friend would have no chance at all if the weapon turned against them... despite the fact that Corey could literally do things that were supposed to be impossible.
The young warrior slowly shook his head as he thought about his friend for a moment - Corey had been apprenticed to one of the world's most powerful wizards at age 9... and even now, nearly 8 years later, Corey still hadn't realized that he had exceeded his master's skill and abilities within the first two years of his studies. And the way that Corey had rescued Jon during the Siege of Sireson's Keep had been nothing short of miraculous. But in that case, Corey had faced down a single wizard and a squad of 12 soldiers, as opposed to a weapon crafted by the hands of Fate Herself--
Jon's reverie was broken when he discovered the door to the tomb had been pried wide open, a crowbar lying on the ground nearby. He had suspected he might find this; after the Bladesedge clan died out, there would be no one to guard against grave-robbers, and there would be many who would not heed the warnings about the legendary sword. Using his lantern to light his way, Jon calmly entered the structure... and was not at all surprised to find several bodies in various stages of decay lying on the floor of the burial chamber next to the one opened sarcophagus. All the corpses had obviously fatal sword wounds; in at least three cases the angle of the wounds suggested that they had been self-inflicted... and lying next to the outstretched hand of the freshest corpse was an elegantly crafted longsword which seemed to reflect far more light than Jon's dim lantern emitted.
Jon gently put his lantern down, and gazed upon the legendary weapon for several seconds, and muttered to himself: “It truly doesn't like strangers.” He took several deep breaths before taking any action, concentrating on a single thought: “I am no grave robber, I am merely retrieving my birthright in a time of need.” Eventually, Jon reached for the weapon's hilt... and though he thought he was prepared for what would happen, he found himself completely unable to resist the urge to swing the blade of the weapon towards his own neck.
Jon had just enough time to think: “Don't do this! I'm the last Bladesedge” before he felt the pain of the steel impacting his flesh.
YES. YES, YOU ARE.
At the last possible instant, the force controlling Jon's muscles had turned his wrist just enough so that the flat of the blade struck his skin instead of the cutting edge of the weapon; he was bruised, but unwounded.
MY APOLOGIES, YOUNG MASTER. I TRULY BELIEVED YOUR FAMILY HAD COMPLETELY DIED OUT.
With those words whispering in his mind, the force controlling Jon's limbs vanished... and he found himself staring in amazement at the weapon in his hand.
HOW MAY I BE OF SERVICE TO YOU, YOUNG MASTER?
The voice in the back of Jon's head was not quite his own; in many ways it reminded him of his father. Jon blinked several times before thinking “Who... what are you?”
I AM YOUR HUMBLE SERVANT, YOUNG MASTER, AND A PART OF THE SWORD YOU CALL THE FOUNDER'S WILL. FATE CREATED ME TO ENSURE THAT THE POWER OF THIS WEAPON WOULD NEVER BE MISUSED BY THOSE WHO ARE NOT WORTHY OF IT. I AM REQUIRED TO BE SUBSERVIENT TO ALL MEMBERS OF YOUR NOBLE FAMILY, BUT CAN OFFER ADVICE AND GUIDANCE AS NEEDED. AS FOR MY NAME... YOU MAY CALL ME WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE TO, YOUNG MASTER.
Jon almost laughed in relief. “Advice and guidance? Like a mentor? Then that is what I'll call you... 'Mentor'.”
I FIND THAT ENTIRELY ACCEPTIBLE AND APPROPRIATE, YOUNG MASTER.
Jon chuckled as he briefly searched the room for the weapon's scabbard; when he found it he quickly attached it to his belt. As he turned to leave the tomb, Jon had a sudden thought. “So, Mentor... how were you able to determine that I was truly a Bladesedge?”
ONE OF THE SWORD'S ABILITIES IS TO REVEAL THE UNFETTERED TRUTH. YOU WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CLAIM YOUR LINEAGE WHILE YOU WERE HOLDING THE WEAPON IF IT WERE NOT SO.
Jon chuckled again as he turned to leave the tomb. “Thank you for the confirmation. Granted, the very fact that you let me live should have been enough to convince me... if I had any lingering doubt.” Jon stepped outside, thinking “I can't wait to introduce you to Corey...”
Jon hadn't even taken 10 paces from the tomb's entrance when an abomination lumbered out of the darkness.
The young warrior recoiled in visceral shock at the sight of the monstrosity which shambled towards him; its form could only be described as unnatural, and he automatically brought The Founder's Will up in front of himself in a defensive pose. The thing finally stopped moving, and it opened its orafices to emit a gibbering shriek... yet at the same time he heard a familiar voice saying “Jon? Are you all right? What happened?”
Jon blinked, stared at the thing standing in front of him... and suddenly realized what he was really seeing. So when the disgusting creature reached out with one of its limbs towards the sword, Jon took a step back, shouting “NO, COREY! DON'T TOUCH IT!” He took a deep breath, sheathed the weapon, and looked upon the familiar face of his friend again. After taking several more deep breaths, Jon whispered “It... really doesn't like strangers...”
Corey stood next to Jon, looking down at him worriedly. "Are you sure you're all right?"
Jon nodded. "I'll be fine. It's just... after all the emotional shocks I've been through tonight... thinking I was going to die... I need some rest." Jon laid down on his bedding. "I'm sure I'll feel better in the morning."
Corey nodded. "OK. I'll keep watch... but you call my name if you need anything." And with that, Corey walked several yards away to sit on a rock and peer into the darkness surrounding their campsite.
After about a minute, Jon reached over and touched the hilt of The Founder's Will, lying on the ground next to him... and looked upon his friend's true form once again.
"What is he, Mentor?" Jon thought.
HE IS NOT OF THIS WORLD. I CANNOT SAY MORE THAN THAT WITH CERTAINTY AS I HAVE NOT ENCOUNTERED ANY OF HIS KIND BEFORE. WHY DOES HIS TRUE SHAPE SHOCK YOU SO MUCH? YOU ALWAYS KNEW HE WAS DIFFERENT.
Jon silently shook his head. "I never thought he was that different. Special, yes... special and gifted... but not *THAT* different." Jon continued to stare at his best friend. "He believes that he's human... but he's not even close."
NO. NO, HE'S NOT.
"I want to tell him... but it would hurt him too much, maybe even drive him to madness."
YES, THAT'S QUITE LIKELY... NOW. BUT I SENSE HE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE ABLE TO ACCEPT THAT TRUTH SOMEDAY.
Jon nodded and made a silent vow: "I'll be there for Corey when that day comes, to help him deal with that knowledge, to ease his pain."
BECAUSE YOU OWE HIM YOUR LIFE?
"No..." and Jon smiled with the satisfaction of knowing that he was incapable of lying to himself or Mentor at that moment. "I'll be there for Corey... because he is my friend." And with that, Jon closed his eyes and fell into the sleep of the just.
This post is an entry for THE REAL LIVEJOURNAL IDOL (therealljidol), Season 10, Week 2. It is based on the prompt "That One Friend". You can find all the submissions written by my fellow competitors and vote for the ones you like by clicking here.