Time passed and their love grew deeper as their kingdom prospered. Anthony's abilities only became more intense as he learned how to control his emotions. To his enemies he was a monster, but with Lenore he was a passionate lover and companion. Their world seemed to be perfect. Anthony never wanted it to end.
One night when Anthony had fallen asleep after making passionate love to his wife, he dreamt of a stranger, who possessed a powerful force with gray eyes that beheld the strength of a storm. The stranger wrestled with him in his dream and pinned him to the ground. "Meet me by the secret spring tomorrow at sunset," he said before he vanished into nothingness.
Anthony awoke the next morning confused by his dream. He dismissed the mysterious stranger and continued on with the business of his kingdom. The next night he had a similar dream and was once again overtaken by the mysterious stranger. "Meet me by the secret spring tomorrow at sunset," he commanded. Anthony instantly awoke, disturbed by this recurrence. He pondered going to the secret spring but decided the idea was ludicrous and continued on with the business of his kingdom.
The next night he was hesitant to sleep but felt if the stranger visited him again, he would take his request seriously. As he slept, the mysterious stranger visited him again armed with a sword. Anthony fought him in the darkness to the point of exhaustion when the stranger lunged at his side grazing Anthony's arm with his blade. Anthony dropped his sword and was struck to the ground as the stranger's eyes brewed a storm of rage and fury. "You will meet me by the secret spring at sunset if you value your life," the stranger threatened.
Anthony awoke suddenly and felt blood dripping from a wound on his arm in the same spot the mysterious stranger had injured him. He looked at Lenore who was still in a deep sleep. Her face looked peaceful and her thoughts free from the stranger's presence. At sunset he would visit the secret spring and meet him face to face. The stranger would pay for his intrusion. He would see the monster that could be unleashed.
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Anthony's POV:
Sunset grew near as I rode Xanthos to the secret spring. I discovered the map to the spring hidden in my mother's garden after I killed my father and took the throne. There were times of year the spring was hidden rendering it impossible to find and other mystical enchantments but I knew how to yield them and reveal their secrets.
As far as I knew, no one else knew this spring existed so when the mysterious stranger demanded my presence here, I knew this would be no meeting of normal men. The stranger bore my unique qualities and he appeared to be able to invade dreams. His eyes also grew a storm of fury that I had only seen in myself. There must be some sort of connection between us but the stranger invaded my heavenly reality and for this, he would pay.
I rode through a rugged pass towards the cave that led to the secret spring. After dismounting, I tied Xanthos to a tree before proceeding deeper into the pass. I spoke the words necessary to continue through the pass as I yielded each enchantment along the way. As the sun set, its glimmering rays revealed the entrance to the cave. It had been a long time since I visited this spring, but found the magic willing me to enter. I kept moving deeper into the cave until it opened up revealing the secret spring. It was beautiful and serene listening to the trickle of water welling up from the earth.
There standing by the waters edge facing him was the mysterious stranger from his dreams. He was tall and handsome. His hair was tied back neatly and his clothes were made of fine black fabric that accentuated his muscular form. He had a sword sheathed and his hands crossed in front of him.
"Finally we meet," the stranger said.
I stood facing the man in a trepidacious manner and said nothing, just slightly nodded my head.
"Come," the man said as he approached me. "We have much to discuss."
"I will discuss nothing and just take out my vengeance for your intrusion," I threatened him as the storm continued to rage inside me.
"It is for your protection that I entered your dreams. A more traditional method would have drawn unneeded attention and I would not have been so forceful had you listened the first two times I came to you," the man replied as he stood calmly in front of me. His eyes did not exude the natural fiery as mine did and he seemed determined to not fight but have civilized conversation instead. "I do genuinely apologize for the intrusion but I do believe it is time for us to meet so our journeys can continue as the forces above see fit," he said in a sincere manner.
I breathed deeply and began to calm the storm internally so I could listen to what the stranger wanted to say. I didn't know what to expect, but I was certain whatever was coming would disrupt the perfect life I'd built for myself.
"You highness," he bowed. "My name is Collin of Teramore, the elven country beyond the great sea. We are kin from the same bloodline. My father was your mother's brother. He sent me here to make our relationship known and to warn his highness that you and your kingdom are in grave danger.
"I don't understand," I replied.
"Your mother, Audrina, was from Teramore. She was captured while visiting these lands by a cruel king who faked her death and deceived our people. He forced her to be his wife and she died in childbirth but not before baring him a son. For decades we were deceived and knew nothing of the child until word of a fierce warrior with supernatural abilities reached our lands. We uncovered the truth and I was sent to confirm your existence and alert you to the dangers that lie ahead," he said.
I stood still and did not speak a word as I waited for him to continue.
"Your highness will turn 25 years of age this fall. To the Telamore, a warrior's 25th birthday is very important. It marks a right of passage to achieve greatness or perish during the trials. Your trials will begin 5 weeks hence at first light of the autumn's moon on your 25th birthday," Collin told him.
"My mother may have been Telamore, but I know nothing of your lands or people. I will take no part in this right of passage as I have matters of business in my own kingdom to attend to and have no desire to prove myself to you. I have already proven my strength and honor on the battlefield," I replied in a stern yet diplomatic manner.
"You cannot deny your lineage and escape the trials. You either participate or you will perish. That is why our meeting was so important. You need to prepare for what is to come or else you will not know how to best defeat each trial," he said.
"The hell I do," I exclaimed with such anger the storm inside me began to brew. Who was he to tell me what I had to do? Did he think I gave a fuck about his trials or his people? "I do not give a fuck what you think or about your people."
Collin closed his eyes and the walls around us began to shake. Bits of rock and rubble began to fall as he controlled the atmosphere urging an earthquake from his soul.
"Your supernatural abilities and the richness of your lands are because you are Telamore. If you deny your eleven heritage, you will be destroyed under the hands of our people. You will not prosper by elven blood and deny it flows within your veins," Collin opened his eyes with a fierce intensity like nothing I had ever seen. It appeared if I were to hold on to what I held dear, I would have to embrace my mother's lineage as well. I nodded my head, fully understanding the severity of denying my eleven decent. "Good," he replied as the rumbling ceased and earth grew quiet once again. "I am glad we have come to an understanding. I passed my trials long ago and will do everything I can to help you be successful, cousin."
I raised my eyebrow in suspicion. The man who stood before me could not be much older than I was. "Long ago, that's impossible. You look like you have just taken the trials yourself," I replied.
Collin smirked at my remark. "No, I am a bit older than you think," he said. "I took the trials hundreds of years ago and passed them with honor, gaining my immortality and rightful place as an elven warrior."
I nodded my head once again, not fully understanding the depth of these trials and the abilities I would possess when I proved myself as an elven warrior. I did not know what was to come, but I was certain I would do whatever it took to protect Lenore and maintain my rightful place as ruler of this kingdom.
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