//A little forewarning. This part of this story doesnt really contain any sex or intimate parts at least until the very end. There will probably be a second part at some point with more story. I apologize if this is bad its my first story and I can already tell that my sex scene is pretty bad so pointers or whatever would help! Anyways ill stop chatting at you as i know it can be annoying. I hope you enjoy the read!
Three days. Three days is what it took to remake me, but they were the best three days of my life.
I was once a warrior. I traveled from village to village taking contracts and helping the people. I however made the mistake of entering the territory of Scarwood named after the Scarwood Fort which was the first settlement in the area. It's a beautiful territory filled with forests, as one would expect, as well as rivers, lakes, and the odd homestead or town.
I remember distinctly how content everyone seemed to be. Everyone was provided for, and the sense of community was staggering to say the least. I saw no indication of rivalries or feuds like in the other lands I had visited. For a while I just figured everything was just good for these people until I met Jovan, this hermit out in one of the especially large woods. I had been given directions to the hut he lived in by a little old woman who wanted to make sure he had some food to eat.
Upon entering the hut I found out what I expected. Dirt floor, dingy dusty everything, and him rockin back and forth in the corner. Seeing me he jumped to his feet rushing over to me, his eyes wide with surprise.
"Who are you? What are you doing here? Did she send you? Is she finally getting rid of me?" The barrage of questions was a little overestimating to say the least, so I showed him the basket of food.
"I was sent by Botila. She was concerned that you might not be eating well out here by yourself. So she asked me to bring this to you." A look of relief crossed his face was good to see though it didn't last long.
"Are these poisoned? How do I know if you are telling the truth?" It occurred to me at that moment that this man may have been paranoid, because of who or what was unclear.
"I don't believe so... may I ask, are you well sir? I can't imagine that you are like this all the time?" He moved away from me waving his hands and resuming his sitting position on the floor.
"You don't know what I know... I know that all those happy people in the village are being controlled. They... they go about their lives not knowing what horrors lie in the fort... that our benevolent Queen is a witch! She practices dark magic raising the dead and keeping the village folk unaware with her evil powers," Jovan then jumped up clearly not done telling his tale, "but worst of all is the fact that everyone thinks she is kind and peaceful and loving and provides for us! But I know the truth, it's all lies!" He was being more eccentric by the moment raising his voice, and marching around the room with more energy then I had seen thus far.
"If this is the case then why haven't you told anyone? Gone to a neighboring kingdom or found mercenaries willing to take up the cause of releasing you." I was skeptical at that point. Dark magic was a rarity in this part of the world. It was outlawed centuries ago by a coalition of magic users and kings. Everyone proven to be practicing it was hunted and put to death.
"I did tell the people they didn't believe me! They said someone who asks for no taxes yet gives away some of their food stocks each year can't be evil. They laughed at me... that's why I left. I am too weak and poor to travel long distances." As sudden as everything else he did he looked at me, an idea seemingly springing into his head.
"Would you be willing to go and see? You can tell everyone what's going on! They would believe you! You could bring back some evidence! I'm sure a woman like yourself is capable of that." He watched me with hopeful eyes wanting me to confirm that he wasn't crazy. I being the noble woman that I was... arguably still am said yes.
"I will go to this castle. Where is it?" He quickly grabbed a piece of paper writing down directions. I was surprised that this peasant knew how to write. That was uncommon, something I didn't see much in the other kingdoms.
"Here take this... it's about a day's journey from here, so I would recommend leaving in the morning. I'm sure her powers only get stronger in the dark." Jovan seems adamant about this. Not a single ounce of doubt that the queen was evil.
"I will return in a few days then... if I don't I suppose you were right." I still didn't believe him not fully. He seemed unhinged and crazy but sometimes people like that are right.
I set out back to the village and stayed the night in this lovely little family's home. I told them about the encounter with Jovan relaying his tales about their queen. The family laughed and said it was nonsense. Sure the queen didn't really leave her castle, but she never demanded anything from them. All she asked was for the people to live their lives free of worry. They told me that if anyone was down on their luck if a harvest failed they were helped by the queen. Receiving gold or food or any manor things to help them live without worry.
This idea of a benevolent queen was far flung from an evil one. They were like two sides of a coin. I needed to see for myself.
The next morning I set off with a bag of fresh food and happy wishes from the villagers. They were all so kind and a delight to be around it honestly was a shame to leave them. However the journey to the castle was equally pleasant. The roads were well maintained and fairly empty. However on approach to the castle the scenery changed drastically. The trees began to look more twisted and withered, the road was more overgrown and not nearly as smooth. A thick fog set in almost as if I were in a swamp.
Next thing I knew I was in front of a gate overgrown with vines, the walls surrounding it were crumbling, and the battlements looked broken.
I called out to see if there were any guards, "Hello! Anybody here!" I was met with a deafening silence that made my whole body shiver. I knew that I shouldn't be here. This place felt dead, everything about it permeated with signals of evil. As I was about to leave though the gate opened, lifting slowly upward with a clang from the large metal chains lifting it. I was confused and hesitant as it appeared the gate had opened on its own. I stepped into the courtyard seeing no signs of activity. My curiosity got the better of me driving my legs forward to an unknown destination.
I made my way inside the castle wandering the halls looking for any signs that someone lived here. To my surprise the inside of the castle was kept very well. No dust or cobwebs could be seen, the torches lighting the walls were lit and the decor was all in its place. I idly traced my hand over the walls tracing the lines in the stone as I moved forward. The layout was even eloquent, yet simple at the same time. The hallways linked everything together, but I had a destination in mind. I headed for the largest doors I could find hoping to find a throne room. The gold ornate doors that I came across rather early were as tall as the ceiling reaching higher than a hill giant. The symbols carved in them reminded me of the magic heirlooms some of the wizards of the Highlands had.
I pulled on one of the large rings. Finding that the doors, despite their size, were easy to open. I peeked inside seeing pitch black darkness other than a small glowing orb at the other end of the room. I pushed the door all the way open, taking a step inside reaching for a torch. That was when suddenly the whole room became light with this blinding white light that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust, but when they did I found something that horrified me. Rows upon rows of skeletons on either side of the long red carpet leading up to the throne. Skeletons in and of themselves are not very scary; however, they are quite disturbing when they are standing up with their eye sockets looking lifelessly at you.
"May I ask why you have come to my castle, miss?" The voice came from the throne, but noone was sat upon it. That was when I realized a small woman in a red dress was walking in from a door near the throne. She had her nose in a book evidently not too concerned with both my presence of the skeletons.
"I was told that an evil queen lived here. I had my doubts but these," I motioned to the animated skeletons, "Have changed my mind. I reached down placing a hand on the pommel of my sword ready to draw it at a moment's notice.
The woman looked up ever so briefly giving me the once over with an almost bored look, "Oh... is this some sort of joke? Can a woman not have some Skeletons in her employ without being evil." She scoffed, taking a seat in the throne she crossed her legs and placed the small table next to her.
"How can someone practice the art of necromancy and not be evil? This magic is forbidden because it creates power-hungry tyrants." I drew my sword ready to move forward to begin the battle. I could feel it coming. Every fiber of my being knew that this evil doer needed to be stopped. No dark magic could be permitted to exist because it was evil by its very nature.
"Really? You think that little sword scares me? I have seen warriors far greater than you in my time... Not one of them was here to kill me though. Now that I mention it, it has been a long time since someone has visited." She seemed to muse that over for a moment. I took a step forward and all of the undead in the room didn't like that however. They all moved bringing their weapons to bear, moving in front me placing themselves as a shield in front of the queen.
"Well I will, No evil can exist if I can help it." I pulled my shield from my back, taking up a stance ready for battle waiting for the unseeing horde to make the first move.
