Thomas and Trish - 1

Thomas and Trish had served the evil witches for many years unable to find an escape, forced to serve as slaves while the witches spread corruption and hatred in the world.
Thomas had become a man, strong in body, and ready at all times to throw himself into danger to save the innocent and pure. He had saved many lives from the brutality that he himself was forced to endure, while he suffered great pains and degradations for doing so.

Trish had become a woman, and though her life under the scarring lash of the witches had robbed her of the beauty of her youth, her trials had purified her heart. She was ready always to give her life, enduring deep physical scars, to free another creature from the tortures of the witches.

I heard about their plight on a trip to Kith. I was researching some disappearances that had happened in the area, and found evidence that the perpetrators had fled toward that retched city. My leads went cold, however, and I was left with nothing.

It turned out, though, that I had run across a trapper that claimed an enslaved man and woman had saved his life from some evil witches. Apparently he had been up in the mountains north of the city trapping at the time. Curious, I asked directions, and decided to take a look. The man’s directions were clearly deranged because his description of the land was completely wrong.

But as it turned out I did discover a stream flowing down from the mountains that was poisoned and fouled with necrotic flesh. I myself drank from the stream before I realized the poison, and for a night, thought I might die from the poison. With some herbs and magic, I was able to recover, but the poisoned stream concerned me greatly. I began to follow the poison up stream, and found a great many animals suffering or dead from the filth.
Eventually, after climbing two freezing waterfalls, and suffering through several days in a small cave, while a late blizzard blanketed the land, I found the source of the pollutions. The was a hollow with a small stream in the forest that was filled with the carcasses of dead and dying animals. All of them had been clearly tortured, and the smell of the area was unbearable.

Somehow I managed to wait there for two days hoping to see what evil creature could create and foster such a horrible scene. To my surprise that second morning, a man came into the clearing. He was large man, young, but his shoulders were broad and he was over six feet tall. His body was coated with blood and filth, and the sight of him nearly made me retch.

As I watched, I saw him walk up to a deer, not far from me, that was hanging by its antlers from a tree. The deer had been partially skinned, and I had assumed the creature was dead, but as the man touched the dear it began to kick. The man said something to the tortured created, and then killed the dear with a single movement of his strong arms. He then looked around as if guilty of some evil, and took a couple quick steps to where a pile of dead animals lay by the stream, and began sifting through it.
As he did so I heard the sound of shrill and cracking voices approaching from the direction the man had come. I was surprised to see a young woman enter the clearing. Her face was scarred badly from scratches of some kind, some of which were still healing. She walked with a noticeable limp and had a small silver chain wrapped around her ankle that trailed into the forest from which she had come. I knew immediately that the chain was enchanted, but I was not sure what type of enchantment it might be.
As I watched, she carried a large bowl that was filled with something that seemed to be very heavy. I saw the chain around her ankle go taught causing her to stumble. Some of the liquid in the bowl spilled, and from the woods behind her went up a most horrible screech. I was sure a harpy would appear at any moment, but instead, I saw a twisted only woman holding the end of the chain come hobbling out of the woods cursing and carrying on. She wore long rags that might have been a dress, and was also covered in blood and filth. She seemed intent on tearing the woman throat out because she was hauling on chain with her might, reeling the woman in like a fish on a line.
I was about to leap from my hiding place to rescue the woman from certain death but saw two more putrid creatures emerge from the woods, and the young man in front of me had begun to race toward the young woman. I heard him call out: “Trish watch out.”

As he approached the young woman and the old hag he was suddenly hit by a four barbs of light that came from one of the two old women that had just emerged from the woods. They both shrieked with delight as the man was thrown back, his chest smoking and badly burned from the barbs. The man quickly leapt to his feet, and again began to race towards the young woman.

Suddenly the old woman that was holding the chain stopped, and blasted the man with a lightning bolt. All three the old women howled with delight as the man was once again thrown to the ground. This time he did not immediately get up, but lay writhing on the ground his entire body seemed to be smoking now.

The old woman finished reeling the young woman in, and cast a spell right in her face. The young woman went stiff, and seemed unable to move. The old woman reached up with her long fingernails and dug a gouge into the woman’s cheek that began bleeding immediately. She then released the spell, and began gloating and cackling as the woman screamed in pain. She was unable or unwilling to release the bowl, and could not raise her had to her cheek to slow the tricky of blood running quickly toward her chin.
The old woman paused her cackling and pulled out a stone jar. She retrieved some white powder from the jar cackling, “We don’t want to to heal too fast now do we. It is important that we learn our lessons.” She then blew it in the young woman’s face. She cried out again, but just stood there shaking while the old woman lectured her about spilling the stuff in the bowl.

Eventually she ordered the bowl placed on the ground a few feet away, and then let the woman wash in the putrid stream to try to clean the wound, and see to the young man moaning on the ground.

The old women gathered around the bowl chanting, and throwing various putrid things into the liquid. Soon the liquid began to show some distant place, and the old hags ooed and awed at what they saw. They stirred the liquid a couple times changing the scene in the bowl before they all howled together: “That one! Yes, that one!” The screeched and howled and licked their lips.

The one holding the end of the chain then dragged the young woman close to a tree, and threw the end of the chain around the tree magically sealing the end so the young woman was unable to wander more than a few feet from the tree. The young woman sat down by the tree and buried her face in her hands.

Back at the bowl the three old hags began to chant again, and this time shining clouds began to appear around them. Their chanting reached a fevered crescendo, and the three of them and the magic clouds vanished.

I ran to the bowl, which was still active and tried to determine where they had gone, but all I could see was the face of a young boy playing in the grass. I guessed that I did not have much time so I quickly went to the young man. I cast a pretty strong healing spell, which brought him to his feet, but saved my most powerful magic for the girl.
We both raced to the girl who was still crying and dabbing at her cheek. I could now see that the scars on her face were all received in the same manner that I had seen. I took my sword and, as I feared, the chain would not part from physical trauma. I next tried a magic opening spell, but no avail. The magic that forged the chain was stronger than my open spell could break. Stumped, I knelt hold to chain to think.

The young man was fussing over the girls new gash, and dabbing at it with the cleanest parts of clothing. He took the chain from me and tried again and again to break it. He even grabbed my sword and swung over and over before I could stop him and explain that it was enchanted and would not break.

I then had an idea. I stood up and cast a waking spell on the tree. It promptly greeted us in a low rumbling voice that elicited a scream from the woman and startled the man. I calmed them both, and turned back to the tree asking it if I could have the chain around its trunk. It agreed and one of its long branches reached down, separating it where it has sealed and handed me the end.

Now that I had control of the chain, I simply told the woman she could take it off; which she promptly did, throwing it aside with disgust. I turned back to the tree, thanked it, and dropped the spell sending it back to sleep. I then put the chain in my pocket. It was a fine magic chain after all.

The man and the woman were both elated and were hugging, and thanking me all at the same time. The young man introduced himself and Thomas, and the young woman as Trish. He quickly said they had been trapped by the old hags and forced to work for them as slaves. He then said that they should all the get out of there, the witches would be back in just a couple minutes.

I shook my head and said, “No we must try to save the child.”

They both cried out desperately that they had tried many times, but the witches were just too powerful. There was nothing we could do to help the child once they had selected it. They pled with me to come with them as they began to hurry down the valley.

I began to go with them, but it was to late. Just at that moment the witches appeared beside the bowl dragging the crying child. The cackling about dinner and how to cook the child when the noticed Thomas and Trish frozen only a few yards away.

One of the witches look over to the tree where she had left woman chained, and saw me. She turned to the other two witches and said, motioning in the direction of Thomas and Trish, “Hold them.”

The two witches each cast a spell and Thomas and Trish, still clinging to each other began to float a few feet above the ground.

The third witch then smiled a grotesk toothless smile and said, “Well, well. What have we here?”

Here eyes and voice were a torture to behold, and my mind raced preparing for the magic assault that would soon come.

“What a pretty man.” she continued. “…and wizard too I would bargain. What can we do for you?”

A little to brashly I said, “You can banish yourselves from existence, and rid the world of your ugliness and filth.”

She then broke into the most horrible sound I had heard yet. It was probably a laugh, but it sounded like a screech of horrible bird of prey followed by short grunting sounds. The sounds scared the poor child at her feet, who bolted for the trees. This gave me just what I needed.

I quickly reached down retrieving my sword, diving into a roll as lighting lit up the valley, missing me by several feet.

“Oh, a spry, pretty mage.” she cackled. “This is going to be fun.”

As I rolled to one knee I unleashed a cone of cold that engulfed all three witches. They screamed, and writhed, but I could tell it had only partial affect on them. I then realized my stupidity. The lived high in the mountains and wore little more than rags. Of course they were resistant to cold.

Again I saw lightning explode from the witch near me, and again I dove to get out of the way. This time I escaped by mere inches. She screamed a horrible tortured sound when she saw that she had missed again.

She screamed to the other witches, “Kill those two and help me.”

I saw the other two witches swing their arms over their heads and Thomas and Trish went flying across the valley. I knew they were dead if could not help them, but I was suddenly hit by a barrage of light barbs, and was thrown off balance.

Just at that moment I heard a great booming voice, “STOP!” it said.

The world then froze. Even Thomas and Trish froze in mid flight nearly a hundred feet above the ground. I recognized the voice, and relaxed knowing the situation was about to get a lot better.

The booming voice continued, “Stand forth thou spawn of filth!”

The spell holding us all frozen was released, and I looked up to see Thomas and Trish gently descending. Looking toward the witches I saw them writhing and slithering slowly toward the voice behind me.

I knew who stood behind me, and was about to turn and face him, but realized that the child was now running barefoot through the forest scared out of his mind. So, knowing that the witches were in good hands, I bolted into the forest to find the child.

As I ran, I heard the booming voice begin to list the horrors and atrocities that the witches has spawned. The list was terrible to hear, and sickened my mind. I found the child held him, whispering soft songs into his ear until the voice had finished listing the horrors. I then carried the child back to the glad to see the resolution of the situation.

Standing about ten feet in the air near the tree that had once held Trish captive was a shining figure, clothed in silver armor. In his right hand he held a sword of pure light. It was raised as if to strike. His left hand was also raised, and from it beamed a brilliant light in all directions.

On the ground below him lay the witches writing face down in the filth that they had created. Thomas and Trish had landed softly not far from them, and were standing in awe as they watch the proceedings.

The booking voice continued, “For these crimes I banish you to the deepest level of the abyss, and erase all trace of your filth in this world.”

The child was frightened by the voice and buried his face in my shoulder. I stroked and sung to him in a low soft voice to help him be calm.

The man then opened his hand and let the ball of light rise out of his hand illuminating the small valley. The light grew brighter and brighter, and the witches screamed in fear and pain. I closed my eyes and looked away as the light began to burn the witches and the filth of the valley into nothingness.

The witches cries faded away and the light began to diminish before I turned back to see the man standing on the ground now. His sword sheathed and his arms outstretched to Thomas and Trish. He bid them come to him, and then turned and called across the valley to me to bring the child.

As I crossed the clean grassy field, I explained to the boy that this was a friend, and only had to be loud to get rid of the mean witches. When we arrived, the man bent down and kissed the child on the head. The child giggled, and writhed as if being tickled, but I could feel the magic coursing through his body; he had received a blessing of some kind.

He then looked and me, thanked me, and motioned for me to stand to the side while he turned to Thomas and Trish.

“Thomas Jones” he began. “Come forth. I am Torm the Just. I have been send to free you from the tyranny of the witches, and set you the path for which you were brought here. For your deeds of heroism and honor I bestow upon you Vengeance, the Truth Bringer.”

In his hand materialized a sword of shining white silver. On the blade were written characters of white. The grip and guards were white with gold bindings, and on the base of the pommel was set a clear gem that shined and sparkled.

“With this blade I charge you always seek to defend the right. You will be the hand of god to deliver swift judgement to the evils of this world. Use it well, and it will never fail you.”

Thomas shyly received the grip with both hands, and held the sword up admiringly.

“I also bestow upon you the armor of light. May it always protect you, and be a shining light to the armies of good and justice.”

Torm raised his right hand, and Thomas began to float in the air. His skin began to glow brighter and brighter until I had to close my eyes. When I opened them, the filth and rags had been seared of his body, and replaced with silver and white armor from head to toe. A white cloak draped from his shoulders and a large steel shield hung on his back. Even his head was covered in a helm of silver and white.

Torm set him back on the ground and Thomas sheathed his sword as he drop to one knee and thanked him.

Torm nodded and turned to Trish. “Trish Roland!” he began. “Your humility and long-suffering has earned to the companionship of Mercy, the Greatstaff of the Heavens.”
In his hand appeared a pure white staff about six feet tall and an inch in diameter that narrowed as it ran from top to bottom. The top was crowned with a ball of gold and some simple gold bands. The bottom was capped in gold as well.

“This staff will help you find truth and extend mercy and healing to those you meet. Go and bring healing to this dark world.”

She stepped forward and accepted the staff. Then dropped to one knee and bowing her head she said softly, “I will.”

Torm continued, “I also bestow on you the beauty of angels. Never again will your body endure the scars of evil.”

Again he raised his hand, this time Trish was raised and cleansed, return to the ground dressed in a pure white dress from her neck to her ankles. The dress had tiny gold threads embroidered around the sleeves and hem with a fine design of gold vines across the bodice. Around her waist was a belt of gold ivy, and around her head was a fine band of gold that sparked with a million tiny diamonds. Her ears, wrists, and ankles also bore a gold bands. Her feet bore sandals of white, but her nails were, both hand and feet where gold. Her eyes were shadowed with gold and her perfect red lips were lined with a very fine line of gold.

As she came to rest again on the ground, she cradled the staff in the crook of her neck and ran her hands across her face and neck feeling the perfect skin devoid of the smallest blemish.

With a wave of his hand a great mirror appeared before her, revealing her in all her beauty. Her green eyes teared up and overflowed, she leapt into Thomas’ arms and planted kissed him deep and hard, and then laid her head on his shoulder.

After a minute Torm again spoke, “I am authorized to give you one more gift, if you wish it.”

They both turned to face him but never fully releasing the embrace.

“If you will, and with Anarion and Trug as witnesses, I am authorized to wed the two of you.”

They both looked like a they had been struck over the head. Their faces flushed, and they both tried to stammer out some nonsense. After a few moments Thomas looked into Trish’s eyes and said, “Nothing would bring me greater joy.”

Trish lit up light the morning sky and said, “Yes.”, she then turned to Torm, “Yes.”, then back to Thomas, “Yes!”. She then kissed him again until they had to part to breath.
“Then kneel facing each other, and Thomas take her hands in yours.”

He then led them through the wedding ceremony. At its conclusion he asked them to rise before him. He took their left hands and place them in his own and said, “…then by the authority bestowed on me, I now pronounce you man and wife.”

At that moment a flash of light erupted from their hands that rested in his own. On Thomas’ left ring finger appeared a band of golden ivy, and on Trish’s finger appeared a similar ring of golden ivy capped with a perfect diamond.

“You may kiss the bride.” he said smiling.

After the lengthy kiss, Torm spoke again. “Now, I have one bit of sad news. It is clear that you love each other deeply. You will reach out and bless the lives of many people, but you will not have children of your own.”

The two blushed shyly, and Torm quickly turned their attention to other things.

“Look at this valley.” he encouraged spreading his arms turning to view the beautiful can clean land between to great peaks. “I have cleansed and hallowed this ground that has born your blood, and sweat, and tears. It will be holy and protected for you whenever you need rest from your labors.”

He them beckoned up the valley, and said, “Come. I have more to show you.”

Then as if an afterthought called over his shoulder, “You two as well. Come and see.”

Thomas and Trish walked arm in arm, and Torm walked ahead commenting on the flowers and trees and animals that we passed. I carried Trug as we followed, feeling more like a third wheel than an invited guest.

We walked up the path they had trod to reach the meadow. It climbed steeply through perfect, clean, and beautiful forest until we drew near the head of the valley. There the valley floor leveled out from wall to wall of the canyon. The space covered about five acres of land. At the back of the canyon a lovely little waterfall cascaded a hundred feet into a small pond before finding its way down the valley.

It was clear that Thomas and Trish were very surprised and they kept pointing to different areas, and making comments like, “Look!”, and “Its all gone.”

Torm escorted them them over to the side of the waterfall, and began to slip behind it when both of the lovebirds froze, unwilling to continue. Their eyes showed of fear and horror, and they could say nothing except, “No.” and shake their heads.

Torm turned and saw their hesitation. His voice was full of compassion and sorrow as he said, “I know. …but come and see. It has been cleaned and hallowed. You will find only peace here now.”

As he spoke he waved his hand toward the waterfall, and it swayed to side as if a great wind had taken hold of it.

Behind the waterfall was a short slope to a cave entrance covered with a white curtain that was tied to one side like a curtain. The entire area lit up, and we could see that the cave too had lights within.

When I was able to get into the cave, I could see that it had been set up as a simple home. The entire floor was covered in a wood panelling. A large bed was on one side of the room, a table and chairs in the center, a large fireplace on another wall, and on the far side of the room, an amazing kitchen like setup. A small trickle of water ran from a crack in the wall and into a large small stone basin area. At the back of the basin was the crack reopened such that it could be covered to allow the basin to fill with water. The walls were caved and painted with scenes of clouds, animals, and plants. The bed was covered in deep thick furs and fluffy pillows. There was even a small room in the back setup as a lavatory, much like the kitchen.

Thomas and Trish were in awe as the looked around the apartment. They gave each other a big hug, and I could see that Trish’s cheeks were wet. They looked so happy and grateful. Trish even went over to Torm and gave him a big hug.

I never figured out how the place was lit, but there were no shadows, and no direct light source that I could see. Whether that remained after I left cannot say either, but it was beautiful.

Torm motioned for them to sit on the bed, and took Trug from me. “I will return the boy to his home.” He said.

He turned to me and nodded a farewell then began to glow brighter and brighter. He seemed to fade away, then the bright glow faded as well, leaving the three of us alone in the room. He always did like to make a show for the mortals.

I quickly began to feel very out of place, so I bowed to them, they thanked me deeply, and I left, closing the curtain behind me.