This was inspired by the Writing101 assignment for today. You were supposed to pick one of the pictures and write something from it, this is my creation.
Light and Dark.
She knew this was the point of no return. This was the time that they had all been waiting for. She looked upon the woods with a calm expression. They had clearly defined their territories. There was a straight path between both sides. Looking to the left she saw the unmistakable mark of the Light. Three white barked trees marked the beginning of the divide and it was noticeably brighter than the other. Looking to the right she noted the denseness of the trees. There were no white trees, there was little light, and yet, there was still something welcoming to the darkness. She wasn’t afraid of the Dark. It could be just as beautiful as the Light. One need only look at the night sky to know this. The Light could be just as scary as the Dark. You need only look in the right place or at the right situation to see that. Many things had been done in the name of “good” only to be tragedies people glorified in some parts of the world. The choice was hers to make though.
They could try to coerce her into picking their sides but in the end it was her decision to make. She pulled her jacket around her a little tighter and thought hard. Her brain wasn’t working to well at the moment. She didn’t know if it was the lack of sleep, the chilly morning air, or the fact that she didn’t have a clue what she wanted to do. She didn’t know who to choose. Was this really it? Must it be done today? Yes, this was the point of no return. There was no going back to who she was or back to her simple life in the small town. They had made that impossible for her. She would never just be Ella Green the woodworkers daughter. She would now be Ella Green Queen of the whatever side she decided to choose. They had shown up unannounced and tore her entire world to shreds. They had shown her that her world was so much bigger, scarier, and beautiful than she had ever imagined.
Sure, knowing that other races besides humans existed was awesome. She had always been a fan of fantasy novels. Knowing that there were real life elves, faeries, tree folk, unicorns, dragons, and all the other whatnots in the world and not just in her books and dreams was kind of cool. When she had first learned of the other races she had envisioned meeting her own Legolas in the form of a tall, dark, blonde haired Orlando Bloom. She had envisioned petting a unicorn and riding the back of a dragon.
She had not envisioned a bloody war that had raged on for centuries because the Light races and the Dark races couldn’t agree on anything and they had different plans for the future of their queen. A queen that had been apparently prophesied by some old powerful witch a thousand years ago when the races were ruled by something called the Council which was a ruling body made up of the head of the twelve main races both light and dark.
The witch had prophesied that the queen would be powerful and bring glory to the other races. That at the time of her coronation she would make the other races who sided with her strong and powerful beyond measure. So as most things go with prophesies, they waited for their queen to come. As the years turned into decades they again went to the witch demanding to know when this powerful queen would come. She intern made a crystal for the Council. Telling them that when the queen was born the crystal would shine. That was the best she could do, for even though she was powerful, apparently she couldn’t pick an exact date. So, the Council upset but content took the crystal, placing it at the cross roads between the light and dark territories. There they would sit and watch, waiting for the day their queen was born. That’s exactly what they did, they waited. And waited. And waited some more.
Eventually they again grew tired of waiting and when they went looking for the witch again, who by this point Ella had assumed was immortal. She had disappeared. Deciding they had, had enough of waiting they, being the dark and light, decided to split up and fight for the title of ‘head’ of the other races. Forgetting about the crystal over the centuries of countless fighting. That is until Ella was born. When she was little she could remember playing in the forest as her father worked and running into ‘creatures’ she thought were her imaginary friends. The old hag had been one of them. Appearing every time one of her other friends appeared. It wasn’t until later that she had learned that those imaginary friends were really the representatives of both sides and that the old hag was the witch who had prophesied her birth and eventual queen ship.
That’s convenient, Ella thought, beginning to walk the path. She gets them all excited about finally having a ruler and then when she cant produce said ruler disappears. Only to reappear when I’m born, expecting me to be all grateful because she ‘stepped in’ for me. Bah! She only told them to back off, allow me to grow up, and let me chose which side or shed kill me herself and they’d have no queen, and no power at all.
Ella knew she hadn’t gotten the whole story from either Aiden or Eli. The representatives, if you could call them that, of either side. Aiden prince of the Elves and head of the Light council had explained all about the witch with plenty of snide remarks and interjections from Eli prince of the Faeries and head of the Dark council. There were some unanswered questions though. Neither of them had either been willing or able to answer. The old hag wasn’t any help either. She only appeared when either sides representative showed up. “For your safety dearie. We don’t want them draggin’ you to either side and forcin’ ye into to somethin’ now do we.” Bah! The least she could do was answer her questions.
Like why hadn’t they just chosen a king or queen from among their council? Why, if things had been working out in the first place with a ruling council, was a queen even necessary? They were powerful enough in their own rights, so that wasn’t an excuse. Not to her anyways. However, if she had learned anything in all of her history classes or from the reading of many fantasy novels. People, and that went for the other races too, always wanted more power. They were never satisfied with what they had. Still though. How many people had died in a senseless war because neither side could wait for the time to come when she would be born? What exactly had been the point of playing with her when she was a child anyway. She wouldn’t have known the difference then anyhow. Hell, she still didn’t know it now and she was almost twenty. If the witch had not stepped in, what would have happened to her? and the biggest question of all, What should she do and which side did she choose?
There are things I like about both sides, she thought as she paused in the middle of the path. They both have their pros and cons. So that’s not really a way to choose. She looked around. She could feel it, the weight of many eyes on her. They were all watching, in the shadows of their respected territories. Waiting for her to choose. She turned in a circle watching for movement of any kind. There was none. Only the sound of the branches rustling in the morning breeze. She stopped facing the direction she had originally came.
There truly was no going back, she thought. It will never be the same. No matter what I choose.
She turned back to face down the path. So this was it. She had no choice but to go forward. but which path to choose. Light, Dark, Light, Dark. She wondered if she should just flip a coin. Maybe that would work. Laughing loudly and watching her breath form in a small puff she closed her eyes and thought hard.
She was human. Apparently when she became queen she would receive something called the Heritage. No one had really explained what exactly that entitled but she knew it came with the gift of immortality. Because what was the point of having a queen who wouldn’t live as long as her subjects? She chuckled again, this time not in amusement at her joke. It was a flat and unamused chuckle. She didn’t even know if she wanted to live forever. Her parents were gone and she had never made many friends as a child. People had always thought her weird because she had preferred the serenity of the woods and the creek to the local teenage hangout and current fashion craze.
She sensed more than heard the footsteps of someone approaching. Not wanting to see who it was and already having an idea of who it might be she left her eyes closed and breathed deeply.
“It is time Ella.” came the rich voice of Aiden the Elven prince. Smooth and silky it reminded her of the sun. Bright and full of hope.
“The choice is yours to make Ella but as the Elf says. It is time.” came Eli’s voice. There was something there. Something she couldn’t place. It wasn’t anger or impatience. Fear maybe? or Tiredness?
How long had they been fighting? Perhaps both sides were sick of the bloody war that had raged forever and just wanted some peace between them. It didn’t really matter how tired they were though did it? Because either way she chose, one side would dominate the other wouldn’t it? With her as their queen, which ever side she chose would gain her untold power. It would give them the one up and the war would rage on anyway until there was no one left of the other side or they gave up. What would them giving up entail? Would she be the cause of more untold deaths? Did it matter? there was still going to be bloodshed no matter what side she chose. Should she go with who she thought would shed the least blood?
The sigh that left her was a little louder then she had meant for it to be but she didn’t care. She opened her eyes to look at both of them. the witch stood between them silent as always. Merely watching her like the men did, waiting for her answer.
“You know,” she said scowling at the witch. “This is all your fault, I don’t blame either one of them. I blame you for all this mess. Had you just kept your mouth shut about all this queen nonsense they would still be working together. There would still be a Council not two separate sides fighting over some powerless girl for no good reason other than their own greed. Didn’t you watch Lord of the Rings? Mention something about power to already powerful beings and they’ll fight to the death over it. Don’t look at me like that, I know there was more to that story then what I’m saying but still. You knew they would split up and fight over this so called “powerful” queen. Why couldn’t you just leave things alone?” she demanded growing more frustrated as she went along. Aiden and Eli just stared at her, eyebrows raised but both remained silent. The witch just continued to look at her. Not saying anything.
Figures, she thought to herself. You’re always silent when I ask questions. ugh!
She closed her eyes again ignoring the trio. She breathed deeply. What to do? Since it didn’t matter which side she chose, there would be bloodshed either way. And she couldn’t determine who would shed less blood because she barely knew a thing about either side. She couldn’t go based on her feelings of pros and cons because they were about as even as they could get on those. She couldn’t flip a coin because humorous as that was, this was her future. This was their future. She paused in her musings. Opening her eyes she looked from Aiden to Eli and back. Ignoring the witch because frankly she was useless at this point. She had caused more harm than good.
Their future. Not just her future. Theirs.
As soon as it hit her she smiled. Knowing by the look on her face that she had made a decision the old hag finally spoke.
“Ye’ve made a decision haven’t ye?” she said in her crackly voice. That got on Ella’s nerves to. She didn’t know why but it just did. She looked past that though and nodded.
“Step aside and I will reveal my choice.” she said happy with her decision. She watched as they stepped back and the witch moved over slightly. Ella having finally made her decision, walked forward into her destiny. And kept walking forward. She didn’t veer into either side.
“I thought you had made a decision?” came the witches voice from behind her, moving closer as Ella came to a stop and turned.
“I have” she said watching Aiden and Eli share a glance and then look her way.
“I am confused, you have not walked into either side of the forest.” Aiden said skeptical and looking at her with raised eyebrows. Eli followed suit as the witch remained silent watching.
“I also am confused. Did you not say you had made a decision and yet you continue to walk the line, not moving to either side.” Eli’s voice was a little skeptical as well.
“I did make a decision and you’re both right I have not walked into either forest.” she said not taking her eyes off the witch.
“Explain dearie, or their not going to get it, they can both be a little hard headed and not the sharpest knifes in the box if ye get my meanin” she said a smile on her face. Ella noted she gained hundreds of wrinkles when she smiled. It was horrifying.
And so she did just that, she explained.
“I didn’t walk into either side because I’m not choosing either of you.” she simply stated and set back to wait for the explosion. They didn’t make her wait long. In fact, the minute she finished her statement she noticed not only Aiden and Eli on either side of the path but suddenly there were what seemed to be hundreds of creatures. For that’s what some of them were. Lining either side of the path and filling the woods. Their were some that looked either like Aiden or Eli which must have been other Elves and Fae, as well as other beings she had no names for.
“WHAT?” and “IMPOSSIBLE” left both princes mouths at the same time. Before they could get any farther and before anyone else decided to jump her. Because there were some seriously angry looking creatures around her right now. She explained further.
“Do you remember the witches prophecy? Do you remember what she said?” Both sides seemed to look at each other and then look at her for further explanation. She sighed, “I am fully aware that neither of you has shared everything with me,” bless them they actually looked guilty. “but I did get the gist of it all. She said and I quote “The queen would be powerful and bring glory to the other races. That at the time of her coronation she would make the other races who sided with her strong and powerful beyond measure.” So,” she paused for dramatic effect because really she was entitled to a little dramatisism they sure had it in spades. “That’s what I’m going to do.”
They looked dumbfounded. Really, they had to have known this was an option. Then again it had just come to her so maybe not.
“Okay look,” she said turning in a circle and meeting the eyes of all those around who seemed to share the same expression as the two princes. Turning to face the men she continued, “I know that each side had its pros and cons, you each have secrets, you each have agendas, you each will shed the same amount of blood no matter which ever side I choose. I don’t want anyone to die because of me and though I am sure someone along this line of choice is going to die because its a choice not everyone is going to like, but I’m not choosing either one of you. I’m choosing both of you. I am choosing both light and dark races. I am human, not elven, not fae, not a dragon or whatever else any of you creatures are. I’m human and as such I have a light side and I have a dark side. I embrace the dark as much as I embrace the light for they are both in me. It is not in my nature or my make up to choose one over the other, I poses both. How do you choose one or the other if you are literally made up of equal halves. Sometimes I do good things, and sometimes I do bad things. That’s who I am. This isn’t just my future though. It’s all of yours as well. Both Light and Dark races futures are on the line here. Who am I to condemn one of you when I poses a part of each of you in my being? It would be like killing half of myself and I’m just not prepared to do that. So, I chose both of you.”
They looked at her. Neither said anything, they just stared at her.
“You have to chose a side, how is it possible to chose both. You must choose.” Aiden said coming out of his stupor. Eli said nothing merely considered her. His eyes did not leave hers.
“Both.” he said finally. As if testing the possibility. Aiden looked at him then, dumbfounded.
“You cant possibly be considering this Faerie. It is lunacy, she can not choose both of us. She cant marry both of us. She must chose one or the other.” Aiden said anger apparent in his voice. Ella couldn’t help but raise her eyebrows.
“I can and I just did. I am choosing both. If I’m going to be a queen and from the way everyone has been going on and on about it, it’s inevitable. I choose to be the queen of both the light and the dark. The prophecy said I would make who ever sided with me powerful and that I would be a ruler to the other races not that I would make one side powerful and that I would make only certain races powerful. All other races, so that’s what I am going to do” she paused and started to turn in a circle. She spoke up so everyone could here her.
“I am choosing both light and dark. I am choosing to walk the middle. I am both light and dark. I will do the things I want to do, will make the choices I want to make, I wont always get it right, there will still be fights, there will still be bloodshed, I cant change that, I can only try to bring peace, it wont be easy, it will be new not only for those who choose to side with me but also for me. I’ve never been a queen before and I am warning you who decide to join me that I will make mistakes, a lot of them. But if I have to do this I’m going to do it my way and that means choosing both. This all being said let me say this, I will welcome all of the races to become my people. I have made my choice. It is time for you to make yours.” and that was that.
She was done with this conversation. Consider that her first decision as a queen. She was cold and hungry and she had done what they had asked her to do. She had chosen. It was their turn. She started back down the path at a slow pace. She didn’t look to see who followed her. She didn’t look to see who stayed behind. She made her way down the path and just kept walking. She heard Aiden yelling at her and she just didn’t care. She knew her decision wouldn’t be popular with everyone. Hell, as far as she was concerned she didn’t care if it wasn’t popular with any of them. It was her future and theirs and she chose a future where both could exist. For what was Light with out Dark and Dark with out Light?
“What was the real turning point for your decision?” Eli’s voice came from her left. She didn’t stop walking but she glanced at him from the corner of her eyes. Looking back ahead she stated.
“If you didn’t know Light existed, how would you define Darkness? and Vice versa, If Darkness did not exist, how would you define Light? You wouldn’t know either existed without the other because you would know only one. You would only know light or you would only know dark. In my being both exist. Humans have a touch of both in them. And each can be beautiful and scary. Take the night sky for instance. You cant view the moon or stars without it being dark outside, but likewise you cant enjoy the flowers or the view of a valley without the sun shinning. Each has a scary side but right now I’m going to look towards the bright side of things.”
He looked at her and smiled saying nothing and continuing to walk beside her. She supposed he had made his decision and would be walking with her on the journey. Then she paused for a moment stopping as he did and turning to him.
“What did Aiden mean when he said I had to choose because I couldn’t marry both of you? I don’t remember there being anything about marriage in this prophecy thing.” Eli looked at her for a moment and with a calm expression turned and continued to walk down the path.
“It is of no matter now, only one of us has joined you”
“Hey!” she raced after him “Wait a minute, what do you mean by that? HEY!” She continued to race after him as she heard chuckling from behind her and from him. She turned her head and couldn’t help but notice the large group of people who were following them. Apparently Eli wasn’t the only one after all. She caught up with Eli as the thought occurred to her.
We’ve all decided on our futures. They’ve put their faith in me. Oh momma, do I have my work cut out for me. I wonder if I should watch “The Princess Diaries” again. Nothing like Julie Andrews to teach me how to be a proper queen. The laugh that came from her caused Eli to raise an eyebrow but she merely shook her head and moved on.
“I still expect an answer” she said.
“In due time my queen, in due time.”
THE END
This was inspired by the Writing101 assignment for today. You were supposed to pick one of the pictures and write something from it, this is my creation.
SKC.com 