Serpentis Family/Gregor Eyolf/Summer's Almost Gone - Part I
Gregor Eyolf: "I love you, my beautiful Lady..."
Carina Falkner: "No more than I love you, M'Lord."
The Lord of Abilotiel kissed the fervent face of his wife. Despite his advanced age, she still had an austere beauty and a spark of youth in her eyes. She had been offered to him in marriage in Ikalak when she was little more than a child. Carina was an honorable wife, a devoted mother and a faithful lover. Together they had three children who were kneeling near the bed.
The eldest son was the house protector in the absence of his father. The young girl at marriageable age prayed silently. The youngest son stay quiet without understanding what was happening. The healers were concerned and respected that moment of family intimacy. They did everything they could to save the Lady of Abilotiel. But the fever was inclement.
Gregor took the war hammer and left to the palisade. Hunt and kill monsters was a common sport in Abilotiel but under the sun in that hot day, Gregor couldn't harmonize his warrior spirit. He just couldn't stay with his wife, watching her wither and die. Then, his mighty hammer crushed the bestial creatures. When the final blow was given while the sun set it's shine, a roar erupted in the late afternoon.
Henrih Eyolf: "FATHER!!! By the Gods!!! FATHER!!!"
Gregor turned his body bathed in blood to face his son. He knew that the Fate had tissue webs of death. The soldiers lamented and drew their swords from the bloody monstrous corpses. Henrich fell in her knees as the tears escaped from her dull eyes. His voice was a plaintive whisper:
Henrich Eyolf: "She's dead..."
If the Hero was still young, he would roar like a lion and would howl like a wolf. He would dive into a sea of blood and pain. But the old age had brought wisdom and understanding. So, he kept his tears. With his son and his soldiers forming a little procession, he returned home while the night fell with bright stars and a waning gibbous moon. The employees and the first commoners who heard the rumors were waiting at the door. The fastest scouts crossed Abilotiel from south to north to spread the sad news.
Gregor was followed by the children and dismissed the healers that tried to explain the situation. The warrior didn't need explanations to understand the death. He looked at his wife's deathbed. With a final nod he dismissed the children to stay in peace with his wife for a moment. He sat beside her and held her cold hands. And then he sang a marriage song that only they knew.
Summer's almost gone
Almost gone
Where will we be
When the summer's gone?
Morning found us calmly unaware
Noon burn gold into our hair
At night, we swim the laughin' sea
When summer's gone
Where will we be?
Summer's almost gone
We had some good times
But they're gone
The winter's comin' on
Summer's almost gone...
Gregor washed the blood away and wore his wife with a white ceremonial mantle. With his strong arms and hands he held her close to his large chest. Outside the procession had increased in number and the people was wielding torches. The women were crying the loss of their precious and beautiful Lady. A rich herder of Swamp Yaks offered his strongest animals and a great carriage for the travel to the temple, but Gregor declined the offer. He would take his wife into his arms, where she always rested night after night during all those long years of marriage. Silently, the procession moved northwards.
Along the way, farmers have joined the procession. As was the local tradition, the farmers reaped the most beautiful white flowers that grew in the swamps and made garlands to adorn the altar where Lady Carina would rest during the funeral. Under the stars, the torches dueled against the darkness. In the north, the fishermen abandoned their homes with decorations and shell necklaces.
That would be a long night of tears, pain and longing.
