The Apprentice and The Warrior

​Rune slowly opened the door to Faye's study within the Mages Guild. The heavy wooden door groaned as he pushed it into the room.

"Faye?" he softly beckoned. "Are you in here?"

​Faye's study was a clutter of tomes, scrolls, and artifacts strewn across a huge, dark-colored oak table. She loved to read all the old tomes and the stories they held. This day she was not in her study; she had been down in the lower library grabbing some tomes about an ancient mage labyrinth.

​She was so consumed with her reading that she didn't see Rune standing in her study's doorway as she came up the stairs, crashing into him and knocking him down.

​"Oof." Rune grunted as he landed on his chest.

​"Oh, I am so sorry, Rune," she quickly muttered. "I did not see you there. Let me help you up."

Trying to hold her tomes in one arm as she reached out with the other, she managed to lose one heavy tome as it slid from the pile in her arms and fell right onto Rune's head.

​"Ouch! Are you trying to kill me, Faye?" he joked as he took Faye's hand.

​Blushing and a bit embarrassed, "No, I am not!" she exclaimed as she helped Rune to his feet.

​"You know, Faye, this is almost exactly how we first met all those years ago," he said as he dusted himself off. “Without the giant book you dropped on my head, that is.” He smiled as he looked into Faye's eyes; he always found himself lost in her silvery-blue irises. He leaned in, pressed his lips gently to hers; the kiss was soft and warm.

​As he slowly pulled away, he saw her eyes still closed and a smile curling the sides of Faye's lips as she basked in the warmth of the sudden kiss. She began to blush even more; her cheeks, normally a light onxy skin tone, turned as red as an apple.

​As she placed her hand on Rune's chest, "Tell me, Rune, tell me this story of how you remember our first meeting." Faye giggled as she moved Rune inside her study.

​"How I remember it?" He laughed. "Faye, I still have the bump on the back of my head from it," he said, rubbing the back of his head.

​Faye placed her tomes onto the table, looked back at Rune, squinted her eyes. "Okay then, love. How did we meet?" she said with a coy smile rolling across her lips.

​Rune moved to the couch, brushing aside a few scrolls. He sat down with a loud sigh as he leaned back into the couch.

​"Well, I had just finished my sword skill training with my father," Rune recounted as the memory overtook him, and the room faded away.

​Ten years ago... My mother, the Mage Guild Head Mistress, had requested for me to come to the guild after my training with my father. I often would study some minor spells, examine some artifacts, study tomes and scrolls with her. She wanted me to have brains with the brawn my father was trying to instill in me.

​That day as I entered the tower, I could overhear some of the elder mages bickering about a legendary sword. I could hear one of them saying it is too powerful to be brought back to the world, while the other shouted that it is not the weapon that is dangerous, but the wielder that could use it for good or evil.

​This piqued my interest. “A sword with that much power?” I thought, how amazing.

​Then a familiar stern voice called out, beckoning me to hurry. I turned my attention away from the squabbling mages and towards my mother, who was clearly annoyed with me dawdling.

​I rushed to her as she started up the winding staircase of the tower, curious about what she wanted to show me that day. I asked if it has anything to do with that magical sword the other mages were going on about.

​She didn't look at me but gave a nod as she continued up the stairs. We had gone up to the top of the tower, where her study was. I remember the smell of the candles and the Night Lillies, my father has sent over daily to her, as I entered her chamber.

​As I walked in, I saw a map sprawled out on her desk. She had a picture of a sword crudely sketched onto a parchment next to it. She went on to tell me that I was to meet this "Apprentice" at Baroon Keep and retrieve the sword. Little did I know that I was going to be on my way to nearly being killed by this apprentice.

​“Eh-hem,” Faye said, pretending to clear her throat.

​Rune gave a chuckle as he adjusted his posture.

​Faye giggled as she settled into the couch with Rune. "Go on," she teased.

​I mean, little did I know that the apprentice was the most beautiful, smart, and adventurous in the whole guild.

​My mother told me that this apprentice had already left for Baroon Keep a day ago, and I had best hurry up to catch up to her. So she handed me the map, the drawing, and practically shoved me down the stairs, all while shouting to keep her safe.

​I didn't know what to expect as I headed out of town to Baroon Keep. I had gathered my sword, a bedroll, and some food. I figured it was a quick task. Baroon was no more than a day's walk to the north of Evershade. There hadn't been any reports of monsters or bandits in the area for months, so I didn't need to bring anyone or more gear.

​I left Evershade mid-morning. The road was lonely, aside from the occasional merchant or farmer. As I reached Baroon Keep, I could see smoke breaking through the tops of the overgrowth in the ruins; I thought that must be the apprentice's camp. The sun was just setting, and the last outstretched rays danced through the branches and ruins, casting shadowy images all around.

​As I winded down, through the trees and past ruined buildings, walking the reclaimed streets of Baroon Keep, I could smell the campfire on the breeze. The day's light now faded and gave way for the darkness of the night to blanket the world.

​I knew I was getting closer to the campsite; faint flickers of amber light popped further down the road. The silence of the ancient city was disconcerting. I was used to the noisy streets of Evershade, merchants bickering, the clatter of the knights' guard patrolling the streets. Out here, all I could hear were the crickets and my footsteps.

​I continued down the dimly lit path, the moonlight almost choked out from the thick treetops. When I finally arrived at the campsite, I thought I would find some slinky bookworm, with a wart on her nose.

​Faye sucked her teeth as she batted Rune in the arm.

​“Ouch!” he shrieked with a mischievous smirk on his face.

​“You're so mean, you didn't think that about me, did you?” Faye asked as she gave him an evil stare.

​“No, no. I am just teasing, love. Just checking if you are still listening to my story, that's all.” He laughed as he rubbed his arm where Faye had punched him.

​Faye grinned at Rune, her big strong protector, hurt by her little punch. She knew he was playing along with her. She knew he was teasing but didn't want to let him know that, so flopping back into the couch, she gave him a grimacing little smile. “Well, continue,” she said, trying to hold back her laughter at the sight of Rune on the other side of the couch.

​Rune, looking at Faye, seeing her smiling and trying to hold her laugh in, just winked at her.

​I didn't find the apprentice at the campfire when I turned the corner. The site was empty. Her tent was cluttered with tomes, scrolls, and artifacts. Her bedroll was still bound by its leather straps; she had only been there one day before me.

​I followed her footprints in the dirt; they led off towards a crumbling building. Its door long gone to time, the air around the ruin felt heavy and smelt of dust. As I followed the footprints up the cracked stone steps, into the ruin, there was a long corridor. Roots and vines pierced down from the floor above, lining the ceiling of the dark corridor. I saw a faint flicker of light seeping from under the stone wall at the end of the corridor. As I continued down the darkness, the flicker my only guide, I could hear muffled talking.

​As I reached the end of the corridor, the talking stopped. Did they hear me? Is it the apprentice? Are they bandits? My mind was frantic with curiosity, and my heart was pounding against my chest with anticipation.

​I pushed against the wall, trying to figure out how it opened. Pressing my shoulder against the wall, my boots slightly sliding on the stone and dirt floor, then I heard it—the sound of stone rubbing against stone. The wall was giving way. A light stream of sand poured from the ceiling as the vibration of the stone wall moving shook the ceiling.

​The faint flicker of light turned into a flood of amber glow, spilling through the seams of the opening wall. I finally opened the wall with much more ease now; I pushed it fully open with one last shove. The door swung open and came to rest against the inside wall of the new chamber.

​The room had lit scions, one on each of the four walls. There did not seem to be another way in or out of the room. There were weathered and crumbling bookcases along the left wall, lined with tomes and scrolls. A few shelves had decayed and broken under the weight of the books it held, spilling them onto the floor.

​I wondered where the apprentice was. Who lit the scions? As I stood there, distracted in my thoughts, that is when I felt it: a gentle wisp of perfume, a hint of lavender and lilies. Where was it coming from? As I scanned the room, hoping to find another hidden door, that is when it happened.

​Through a magic wall the apprentice came, her eyes engrossed in the tome she was holding. She was upon me before I knew it and had slammed into me. I lost my footing on the dirt-covered stone floor; I tumbled backwards and cracked the back of my head against the bookshelves. Then the room went dark.

​When I came to, I thought I must have died; there was this angel staring at me. Her long silver hair cascading down behind her ears. Her eyes were big, a mesmerizing silvery-blue. Her skin looked soft like velvet with its light shade of onxy. Then I heard her voice; it was warm, comforting, and enchanting.

​“Are you okay?” The apprentice said.

​All I could do was nod; I was captivated by the apprentice. When she placed her hand against my cheek, my heart began to race. I felt my heart race before from battle, but this time it was different. It felt as if she would remove her hand and my heart would stop.

​Rune looked over at Faye, took her hand in his. He brought her hand to his lips, gave it a gentle kiss. Then placed it on his cheek.

​“Ever since that day, my heart beats only for you, my love,” he whispered as he held her hand to his cheek.

​Faye looked deep into Rune's eyes. She took his other hand, placed it on her heart, and smiling she said,

​“And my heart only beats for you as well, my love.”