Avalon/Roleplay Section/Hector/Book 2/Dark Waters
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Dark Waters
Hector sat atop his steed, roling with the walk of the horse, heading towards Orombo trying to catch the main army. He had fallen several days behind the main army and was hoping to make up some time. His thought drift back to a day when he was in love.
A woman, whom now was lost, continued to consume his thoughts. He had grown sloppy. He was once one of the best swordsman in the land, now he rode a cavalry unit into battle. Not bothering to run or get off his steed, he rode a horse into battle. His depression had sunk in pretty deep when he lost his best friend in all the land, Revan. One day, he got a note that Revan had quite litterally vanished from Avalon. Never to be heard from or seen again. They found his sword, horse and belt at his residence, but he was gone and they never found him, or his body.
Hector had dropped out of the Druid faith he had sworn to uphold. He had become a priest for a time, but gave it up to get back into battle to kill, and quench his pain from his loss, but it doesn't really work. For a time, he helped the General and even became General to lead the armies into a few victories. But even that has not quenched the pain.
It was once read to him that through a man's pain, he defines his heroism. Hector laughs out loud while staring down, his men turn and look in bewilderment as if he were mad. He avoids their eyes, and tips back a skin full of ale. He's let himself go, quite a bit, he thinks to himself. What will it take to right himself? What will he need to become the man he once was.
The other night in yet, another bar fight, a woman yelled out to Hector as a man lay at Hector's feet, she said, "If you were half the man you thought you were, you'd be twice the man you are!" He shrugged it off, but it hit home. It hit home hard, and Hector wondered when this dark cloud would ever end. When, in the name of the Devine One, would this end?
His men were embarrassed to be several days behind the main army, but that's how long it took Hector to get over his hang over.
Something had to change, and something had to change quickly! Hector began to ponder at what it would take to surface from this dark water he was in.
Several days had passed and not only had Hector never caught up with the main army, in his druken stuper, he lead them into forbidden land, risking a war with a teatering ally, and getting rebuked by his fellow Avalonians. They had had enough, and so had Hector. He didn't know what it would take, but something had to give.
Hector returned to Cteduul and disbanded his men, after a few days of drinking, he had reached bottom. Some of Jessica's friends had come by to chear him up, but it didn't work. Hector had reached the lowest point he could imagine.
His self pitty was unbecoming of him. As the day went on, his fog began to lift. He peered into a room, where he saw something move. He got up, and staggered into the room. He opened the door, and the sunlight nearly blinded him. He lifted his hand t block the sun, but walked into the room. As he squinted and glared around, he suddenly saw a bright, shimmering figure. It was Jessica. Hector fell to his knees, his mouth gaping his eyes widening in disbelief.
"Jess? Is it really you"
A hallow, echoing voice spoke, "Hector, your path does not lead you to me. Your path is far greater now. I followed my destiny, it is time you follow yours. Go back to the Druids, go back."
Hector started to shake, one hand catching him from falling forward, "I can't, I won't! I need you Jessica, I need you!"
The apperation shimmered then vanished. The light dimmed and Hector could once again see. His chest was still. His hands were steady. He looked up and realized he had been in the room for hours. The sun was now setting, and Hector felt at peace, once more. what happened to me? Hector was feeling much stronger and thinking clearly for the first time in months. He rose to his feet and walked to his bedroom, where he started digging. Looking for his Druid Cloak.
Next: Return of the Druid
