I fought, we won.
I don't know how Greg Stafford thinks about the final stage of Great
Darkness, and "I fought, we won." were generally described as an
obscure
scene, that dissolves personality of main characters, such as Only Old
One,
Heort, Heart of Weakness, or other Heroes from every cultures. I read
King
of Sartar by Greg, Saga of Vingkotling by Jeff Richard, Kingdom of Night
by
Shannon Appel, and finally reached my original theory. But perhaps it is
not
good to all of Heortling Image.
Even after Heort came back to Winter Deer clan with Ivarne, he
hadn't long
wedded with her, because she wasn't shameless (though she entertained several
times his
clan with beautiful songs as she entertained her father) and
Heort had to
accomplish many great feats for marrying with her as Orlanth did
for
Ernalda. He awoke her with so many oaths that never could be solved
easily.
Anyway, there was no time for happy couple at that age, because the
World
itself shattered and the fabric of it was unraveled by
Predark.
Though Wakboth and Kajabor fought among themselves in the army
of Chaos,
(Wakboth sent Kajabor to Underworld to stop Orlanth) and Urox
finally sealed
Wakboth under the chip of Spike, already Spike was destroyed. Vinga took
care of wounded Elmal over the Kero Fin, there were no Divine
guardians to
Vingkotlings after Last Royal Betrayal. And Minions of Chaos and
Trolls were
always prowling among them and ate the last Good People by
chance, World
itself became very unstable and whimsical by the Will of Chaos. Unity Battle
was fought when everyone realized they could not survive by themselves...
but it seemed too late to notice this fact.
For Winter Deers, the worst report was come from the clan's
Hantrafali
augury. Some of them fell down in a faint by shock because they realized
"Orlanth is betrayed by Eurmal and he now lay down in the Deepest
Pit of
Hell and nearly dead." A few of stouthearted godar argued about how
they had
to do without any hope. "We must surrender to the minion of Chaos
for
survival..." "What a foolish word! We must fight until Death
will fall down
upon us!" Trolls were hostile to them as Chaos because Hidden Kings "ate"
Trolls as his subjects. Finally, without any decision, the men and
women,
children who could still wield some weapon or sharp things, armed and
went
to their last battle field. Because Chaos closed to them
again.
Ivarne and Heort ignored that pathetic sight and went to the
place where
they could still be couple. Heort told her,
"Now I am
frightened for perhaps I cannot keep my oaths."
Ivarne asked,
"Then, now
do you want to break your oaths?"
"No, I'll keep my oath or die in the way. I am frightened only
for our death
may useless and meaningless. I'm sorry if
awaking of you was a mistake."
Ivarne kissed him and she also took her
weapon.
The boy was the Second Son of Vingkot, who became
the Great King of
Orlanthi after Orlanth took Divinity and Humanity apart for unknown reason.
When he was born,
Three Kolati Shamanesses who knew better than any Godi about Underworld
and
deads visited to Summer Wife's tula and gave blessing and gifts to him,
as
they felt both Great Peril closing because the Sky Gorp appeared over the
sky,
and great Virtue in his heart which might
resolve the Peril. Third Witch named him Hengall and
gave a most precious
treasure...a Star to him, she buried it deep in his heart by her magic.
Someone poisoned Hengall in his drink of the Kodig's Great Feast,
Hengall grew up
to a giant by the poison in a night, so he could not
found his own tribe as
other Vingkotssons or daughters. He lonely armed
himself and left from his
family without any solace, because Chalana Arroy
was busy at that time for
healing other people. He went to the northern Edge
of the world as his
father Vingkot though he didn't know who poisoned him.
And he sought
honorable Death as his father, fighting with
Predark.
But he was bestowed by Kolati Witches magical sight, that led
him to the
border of Sky, Earth and Underworld through Shortcut. He found there Great
Clack to the
Hollow of Chaos. When he came there, he found he could not escape from
Shortcut again, and his Star in the heart twinkled than ever it had
been.
And monsters of Predark always sought light for eating, Hengall could
not
escape or die, because the poison running in his body didn't permit him
do
so, always healed his body. And Hengall could not escape from Great
Threat
to the world of his family, though they abandoned him. He forgot
anything
except constantly killing the minions of Chaos wanted to invade the
World.
Heort went to the last combat with his clan Fyrd, but he lost his
way,
because Chaos could cut down their world from distance and made
a crack, and
he strayed the way from his Clan and even from his most beloved,
Ivarne, and
he finally noticed he was alone. Though the trick of Chaos led
him to the
same shortcut which Hengall first found without intention. He
realized he
stood at the Edge of the World, where the Sky, the Earth, and the Abyss
crossed after
Umath divided them. He realized he also became a Giant, and he
found
Hengall. And Heort knew his tale.
Heort and Hengall traded proper greetings though it became already
useless
custom, for they were too good orlanthi to ignore proper Greetings, Hengall
realized Heort was a
descendant of his brother, Korol, and soon he recovered
the memory of his
home. Though he realised all of his known people went to
Underworld, he asked
many about Vingkotling after he left, Heort taught him
all he knew, though he
of course knew he must come back to his clan soon, he
felt great pity to this
tired warrior.
Eventually, Heort's tale went to the Last Royal Betrayal
of King Rastagar,
and Betrayal of Eurmal to Orlanth in the Underworld,
Hengall was greatly
shocked by his tale, because it seems his long struggle
against the First
Crack to the Chaos falling to useless, abruptly Hengall
fell to silent, and
talked Heort about the First Crack of Hell,
"This
Crack was made," Hengall said, "when Havan Vor was killed by
Eurmal.
Kinstrife always induce Chaos into Inner World. While Orlanth
murdered Yelm,
or Ragnaglar sacrificed Malia for inviting Wakboth to our
World, the Crack
opened more. Because the World is overclowded by the dream of Gods."
"But how Eurmal can be a kin of Havan Vor?
Or how Orlanth can be a kin of
Yelm? They aren't any blood
relative!"
"You don't understand where is here. Here is the Terminus Est
of all of
Existence where all of living things are relatives in blood.
Chalana Arroy
taught me when all of living things are all descendants of
Rasdandar and
Urgarndar. She taught me she will teach my grandfather about
Yelm now ruled
in Underworld. That is why he went to Lightbringer's Quest. If
I permit
myself Chaos to trespassing to this gate, our world will perfectly
shatter."
Heort fell to silent, and asked to his Great-Grand
uncle,
"Anyway, I now want to go back to my clan, though you may think I am
merely
a petty selfish nephew, and you met a crisis maybe all of your long
work
come to none. What is your advice?"
"Now I know all of mystery
of the Sky and the Earth because the Star which
shining in my heart, I now
know how I can reach to the place where my
grandfather is enslaved. I can go
there and rescue him from the pit. If
someone substitute my place and watch here while I should leave from here."
Heort shuddered with dread watching
the Void, but he realized what he
should do. He took the Star from the breast
of Hengall and put it on his own
breast, and armed with his weapon and
armor.
Hengall showed wicked smile to Heort, and suddenly disappeared
from his
sight. Heort sighed but felt minions of Chaos closed to his
position.
Orlanth lay down inside the Pit of Obsidian Palace,
full of mud and dust,
without any treasure and torc which indicate his position. Hengall came
there
by the route which passed through outside of
World, he tricked Heort because
he well knew he could not rescue Orlanth, for
Orlanth's body was too big
even for him and the Guard of Pit was locking
Orlanth very severely, Hengall
enjoyed the freedom and closed to his
grandfather, spitting at Orlanth.
Orlanth opened his eyes.
"You
poisoned me." Hengall angrily spoke to Great God, "You permited
the
Kolatdottirs to poison me. And I have fought helplessly while my
brothers
and sisters, even cottars and stickpickers enjoyed their lives, you boasted
in the joyous
feast in the Karulinoran while you know well I drank only my own blood
and
ate only dust."
"I didn't choose you." Orlanth spoke silently,
"They told me they would
choose most virtuous and honorable from my kinfolk,
I was happy that I could
not expect who they would pickup from one of my
children, I don't think they
wronged."
"Why didn't you teach me? I always hated the witches and the
unknown man who
wronged me. Even Swords of Death
have enjoyed the honor of fighting, even
Crazy Uroxi knew friendship which I
never have known fighting side by side!
I have fought lonely!"
"It is
natural you hate me." Orlanth replied, "Do you want a render from
me? But now
I can't repay anything for you now. You would soon realize who
poisoned you.
And I could not fight by side for you because I had to rule
Storm Tribe.
"
Hengall smiled wickedly,
"I am now free because Heort of the
Winter Deer foolishly substituted my
place, it seems our defeat is so
decisive, I now consider about siding with
Chaos. Why should I fight if my
kin forget my battle?"
"No one can make you do anything." Orlanth
replied, "I will never blame you
even if you abandon us now. Because I love
you so much."
Hengall was shocked by this statement.
"There is no freedom without responsibility, if you don't want
to
become Eurmali.
And Heort didn't forget your name, did he?" Orlanth taught
him what would do
for him if Orlanth succeed, and taught him about still
Eurmal was free in the
members of Lightbringer's Quest.
"Everyone will know you and join your lonely war, they will all know
who they are,
and why they must fight."
"I'll wait here, and I am not dead yet." Orlanth taught him,
"What will
you do?"
Hengall shuddered, and
went back to the Edge of the World, where Heort
still helplessly fought
against Predark. Orlanth smiled weakly and closed
his eyes.
Heort killed the Elder which lurked in the Shadow, the Chaos tried to destroy
him from inside,
but Heort discovered the meaning of the Star heart. After their trick failed,
they tried to defeat him by force.
Heort
nearly died for Chaos wounded him several places, he was not so great
warrior
as Hengall when he returned to his position. Heort asked him about
Orlanth
and Hengall replied, "He is not dead, and waits something." After
Hengall took back his Star and all of minions of Chaos was destroyed by
Hengall, Hengall taught Heort
how he
should do after he went back to his clan. He taught him how he could
unite
the survived Races of Universe, and he taught him how he could
go
back.
"But I cannot abandon this battlefield!" Heort objected
weakly because he realized. Hengall
smiled but forced him to leave. And asked him which he would
choose, his own
Clan or all of other Heortlings. As Orlanth sent a message to him.
"Your clan won't
survive if you choose this option, for the sacrifice of
lives of Other
Vingkotling clans." Hengall told him. "For your subjects
never treat properly
your children, by jealous, they'll deprive your legacy
and leave your throne.
Children of you and Ivarne will not succeed your
throne."
"I'll go
the same way of you." Heort fell silent for a while but replied,
"You
sacrificed yourself for Vingkotling, what a small sacrifice is it
compared to
your agony? Perpetual Fight without any honor, no hope, and
without any
friend?"
Hengall smiled again,
"I'll tell your decision to my grandfather when he will be back."
and kicked Heort down to one of holes to reach Surface
World. Hengall shouted to falling Heort,
"Teach your
people not to forget me and this Edge of World again!"
Heort realized he
was in the midst of many of members of his clan, all of
them miraculously
sensed what he experienced, and other races, Elves,
Dwarves, Dragonewts, River Folks and even Trolls were there and fought
the minions of Chaos
side by side, because Hengall and Heort reknit everyone's dream by their
sacrifice.
Elmal over the Kero Fin shone again that was all of minions of
Chaos defeated by
the Unity.
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