The Oathless of Sheverash
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_Midwinter Night…
Coldest of the year...
Darkest of the year...
Longest of the year..."There is no lie in these words." He thought, as he stared down into the valley, where the ceremonies were well under way.
The night air was crisp, when the wind didn't blow too hard for him to notice and he was grateful for his cloak. The full moon shone brightly, but did nothing to brighten the darkness, neither did the bonfires in the valley.
"And frankly, sitting here does nothing to make time pass swiftly either." He thought.
How many years had it been? Twenty? Longer?
Twenty years of preparation, of training, of blood, sweat and tears...
Twenty years of studying history, languages, skirmish tactics, weapon trainings... All for naught.
Twenty or more...He knew he couldn't hear Sheverash's will after a few weeks, he never could in the way that the clergy coul, but he stayed, he stayed to learn how to wage war against Drow, and all enemies of elf kind.
He had to stay. His family dead... presumably, his home destroyed. There was nothing left for him but this. He had failed then, and he would not fail this.
Yet... they had refused him.After all his training, after all his efforts, and with all the promise he showed... they had refused him.
The clergy had denied him to join in the ceremonies, they had denied him the right to take the oaths.
"You could never keep them." They had said. "You are not strong enough to live this way. We welcome your blade and your skill, but the oaths will destroy you."
Never smile, never laugh. Never to know joy until Llolth and all evil gods of the Drow are slain, and their followers destroyed.
You would think he could.He didn't fight, there would have been no point. But they underestimated him.
One day he would be strong enough, he would take the oaths, and he would... he would...He didn't know what he would. Were they right? Was he too weak?
Tomorrow he would travel home, to the ruin of what it was. Perhaps there he would find the strength and anger to hold true to the oaths...The ceremony came to an end. The elves shouted their vows of unceasing vengeance. They swore never to laugh nor smile... he sighed, not listening anymore, he knew the words by heart.
He made a vow himself, however. He swore that as long as he could hold his sword, he would stand by his brethern in their holy war.
Whether Sheverash approved of him or not.As the fires of the ceremony were doused, and the elves held guard until the longest darkness had passed, looking out for the new dawn...
A single tear ran down his cheek, wondering if he'd fail a third time._
